It was this week in 1977 that an Adver headline marked the end of a sporting era.

Don Rogers, hero of Swindon Town’s 1969 League Cup Triumph and countless other victories, revealed that his playing career was at an end.

“The 31-year-old winger,” we said, “today announced his decision to retire, four days after being given a free transfer from the County Ground.

“And he revealed that a crippling hip injury has brought the curtain down on a 17-year career of triumph at Swindon, Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers.

“Plagued by the damaged joint since his return to the Town a year ago, Rogers was warned by specialists at Princess Margaret Hospital last week that he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair if he continued playing.

“The injury - caused by the loss of two cartilages in his left hip – has been a closely-guarded County Ground secret all season.”

The man himself, who went on to found the Faringdon Road sports shop he runs to this day, told us: “It’s a horrible injury to suffer, and when I saw the X-rays, which showed up internal bleeding, I knew it was time to pack up.

“Apart from the pain, the big handicap has been my loss of pace.

“Once that went I wasn’t half the player I used to be.”

On the day we broke the story, a hero of a different kind shared the front page.

Shopkeeper Emily Lay, 54, was working at Eastcott Food Supply in Eastcott Hill when a man walked in, brandished a pistol and demanded money.

Within seconds he was fleeing after Emily seized a meat cleaver she kept behind the counter and did some brandishing of her own.

She told us: “I was ready to use the cleaver. I think he was more frightened than I was.”

As this was 1977, there were no attempts to prosecute Emily for assault or possession of a deadly weapon, and nor was she sued by the would-be robber for frightening him.

Indeed, the police gave their tacit approval, with a spokesman saying: “It appears that this lady assessed the situation correctly.”

In local showbusiness news, the Wyvern Theatre announced that its Number One Dressing Room would now be known as the Fonteyn Room. An Adver story explained why.

We said: “A living legend danced her way into the hearts of a packed Wyvern Theatre audience last night.

“Dame Margot Fonteyn, possibly the greatest ballet dancer of all time, received the sort of ovation reserved only for the greats of classical art.

“She gave the audience a glimpse of her giant, wonderful talent – and they gave her their heart.

“Dame Margot and the seven accompanying dancers which comprised the performance took bow after bow before the hugely impressed audience let them go.

“She was showered with bouquets – a scene which has been repeated time and time again on this farewell tour.

“It was the first and last time Dame Margot has played Swindon. Approaching an incredible 60 years she has decided to call it quits and quietly let her legend grow.”

Dame Margot, whose best known dance partner was fellow great Rudolf Nureyev, died in 1991.

Another celebrity in town that week was Percy Thrower, founding father of personality-driven TV gardening.

Thanks to Gardener’s World he was instantly recognisable, although by 1977 he no longer presented the programme, having been dropped by the BBC for agreeing to appear in commercials.

He remained a popular figure on the personal appearance circuit until his death in 1988, and he was in Swindon for an open day at the newly-extended Kennedy’s Garden Centre in Stratton St Margaret.

“Throughout the day,” said the half-page advert, “he will be available to offer invaluable gardening advice and answer your gardening questions.”

The country was gearing up to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee with street parties, shows, thanksgiving services and a wealth of other celebrations.

Many people created works of art to honour the 25-years of the New Elizabethan Age.

One of the more unusual pieces was created by a Swindon man, Hasibhai Dossa, who lived in Eldene. He had originally come to Britain from Uganda, presumably as one of the Asian-heritage people expelled by bloodthirsty dictator Idi Amin.

His tribute to the Queen was an exquisitely-crafted model house. It came complete with light and sound, which was no mean feat using the technology available in 1977.

We said: “Mr Dossa has spent more than two months designing, building and painting the seven-foot monument – and now it’s finished he doesn’t know what to do with it.”

Mr Dossa, who had spent £75 on materials, told us: “I suppose you could call it a monument.”

Local jubilee party committee officials had originally planned to raffle the piece, but decided that it had grown too big to be sold and appealed for a permanent home to be found.

We would love to hear from Mr Dossa, his loved ones or anybody with information on the whereabouts of his remarkable creation.