SWINDON

1952: Mr W N Fellow (Motive Power Superintendent) presented awards to the British Rail Western Region Staff Association Arts and Crafts Exhibition in Swindon. The exhibitors, he said were widely dispersed along the line and the exhibition was indicative of the railways family spirit.

1962: Bells which summon worshippers to the 16th century parish church of St Michael’s Highworth, were rung by a group of four teenage girl. The girls, Gillian May, 15, of Wrde Hill, Sandra Whitenhall, 15, and her sister Stephanie, 14 of Market Square, and Diana Griffin, 17, of Cherry Orchard first started practising in August last year.

1972: Sam Kydd who appeared at Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre, was invited to crown the Wootton Bassett Carnival Queen. Mr Kydd appeared in more than 150 films and was best known for acting in Up Pompeii with Frankie Howerd.

the world

1642: Montreal in Canada was founded.

1804: Napoleon Bonaparte was proclaimed Emperor of France.

1909: Fred Perry, three times Wimbledon men’s singles champion, was born.

1954: The European Convention on Human Rights came into force.

1961: The first London production of The Sound Of Music opened.

1990: A treaty was signed in Bonn introducing economic and monetary union

between East and West Germany.

BIRTHDAYS

Miriam Margolyes, actress, 77; Nobby Stiles, former footballer, 76; Rick Wakeman, rock musician, 69; Chow Yun-Fat, actor, 63; Toyah Willcox, singer/actress, 60; Holly Aird, actress, 49; Danny Mills, former footballer, 41.