BRITAIN roasted in the summer of 1976, but firefighters felt even more heat.

In addition to dealing with a profusion of grass and woodland fires, crews also had their usual duties to attend to.

One of our front page stories in the second week of June began: “A spectacular fire at an old gas works in Gipsy Lane, Swindon, is believed to have been caused by sparks from demolition equipment.

“They ignited oil-soaked timber stored in tanks once used for making gas.

“Clouds of dense black smoke were visible from most parts of Swindon until the 62 firemen who attended the blaze brought it under control.

“Eight appliances were sent to the fire from Swindon, Wootton Bassett, Stratton, Marlborough and Faringdon, and three others were held on standby.

“It was feared that gasometers and other containers at the site could have exploded if the flames had spread, and traffic in the Gipsy Lane/Elgin Drive area was routed away from the area by police.”

The gasworks had been used to produce coal gas, and had been rendered obsolete when the country switched to natural gas.

One of the most popular TV shows of the era was Superstars, in which sportsmen from a variety of disciplines competed to see who was the best all-round athlete. At the time the competition was for men only, although a women’s event began the following year.

The format was such a draw that local versions sprang up across the country, and Swindon was no exception.

The Adver ran a photograph of perhaps the town’s best-known sports stars carrying women on their shoulders.

It was captioned: “Swindon sports celebrities, boxer Eddie Neilson and soccer star Don Rogers, prove their fitness for the forthcoming Superstars contest in the Thamesdown Hambro Festival by giving a lift to Hambro girls Gene Darmody and Tricia Reynolds at last night’s festival preview.

“The preview also featured musicians and artists who joined forces in Swindon’s Henry Street car park to whet the public’s appetite for the festival week, which begins on June 19.

“Thamesdown’s Community Arts Project organised the art exhibition, and local musicians and folk singers provided the mood music.”

Hambro, which backed the festival, later became Allied Dunbar and was eventually sold to Zurich Financial Services.

A sporting contest of a rather different kind took place in Cricklade.

Spectators were lured to the town’s Recreation Ground by the aroma of a roasting ox, and nibbled slices at 20p apiece before the annual pie-eating contest.

“Ten contestants,” we said, “faced a mound of 100 half-pound meat pies.

“But once again they all lost to Cricklade champion pie-eater, lorry driver Mr Brian Selby, 31, who won for the fifth consecutive year.

“This time, he even beat his own previous record of eight pies by consuming eight and three quarters of a ninth.

“To win last year he only had to win six and three-quarter pies. ‘But last year he was not really being pushed,’ explained an enthusiastic spectator.”

Sadly no Adver photographer seems to have been on hand to record Mr Selby’s triumph for posterity.

In Wroughton a champagne party for senior citizens was organised by charity Age Concern at local stately home Overtown House.

Princess Anne had been due to visit but found herself unable to after losing her voice, which was a great disappointment for 96-year-old staunch monarchist Miss Helen Marsden, who had planned to hand over a bouquet.

Fortunately all was not lost, as the princess’ then husband, Captain Mark Phillips, was able to make the trip, and Miss Marsden presented him with a bloom for his buttonhole.

“I was so disappointed not to see Princess Anne,” she said. “I’d been looking forward to it for several weeks.

“But still, I’ve given a buttonhole to Captain Mark Phillips and he’s taking the bouquet home to his wife.”

Another senior citizen pictured in the Adver that week was making a sentimental pilgrimage to his home town and one of its oldest buildings.

We said: “Swindon-born Charlie Wilson was surprised to find the Bell Hotel still standing when he paid a flying visit.

“For Charlie last saw the building 70 years ago when he was three years old.

“Then he emigrated to Canada with his family and later farmed in Saskatchewan.

“His father used to own the Bell Hotel, and Charlie can remember when guests arrived on horseback to book in for the night.”

We printed a photograph of Mr Wilson outside his former home and also one of the hotel as it was when he knew it.

In those days guests strolled to the front door under the shelter of a pillared portico.