Friday November 20

1948: Paying his first visit to the Victoria Hospital, Swindon, Mr T Reid, MP for Swindon, spent two hours on a tour of the hospital chatting to patients. He said he was favourably impressed but that the staff would need more accommodation in the future.

1958: Bride-to-be Molly Beckett, 22, a Swindon factory worker, is waiting to hear one little word from her fiancee, Colin Drury. Since a motorcycle crash, Colin, a LAC, has been unconscious at Wheatley Military Hospital. Although he is still on the dangerously ill list, nurses prop him up in a wheelchair, and he is receiving physiotherapy. The couple got engaged last Christmas and Molly, of Harris Street, Swindon, stays at the hospital every weekend.

1979: About 100 swimmers made a huge splash to keep Cricklade Leisure Centre afloat. They swam a total of 54 miles to raise the life saving cash. The swimmers aged from seven to 60 paddled, spluttered and dived through the night.

Saturday November 21

1948: Almost like a dream come true is the success of Veronica Dean, of County Road, Swindon, who at the age of 19 has gained the position of solo vocalist with Tommy Sampson's Broadcast Band. Miss Dean sang with Swindon's own Johnnie Stiles Band for four years, and is at present a sales woman in a women's gowns shop.

1958: The Wind Quintet by Graham Whettam, the young Swindon composer, received its London premiere at a concert given at the Wigmore Hall by Dutch Radio Philharmonic Sextet. The composition has been played on BBC Third programme and Paris Radio. Graham was called on stage to share the applause at the concert.

1979: Property giants Taylor Woodrow are to fly a nine-man delegation of Thamesdown councillors, officers and board members from developers Bradley to the USA - just to see a shop. The trip is part of the major commercial battle between five companies fighting for the contract to build Swindon's planned multi-million pound superstore.

Monday November 23 

1948: About 346 acres of land at Penhill which its hoped will accommodate 1,656 houses and 5,382 people was the subject of a public debate at the Civic Offices, Swindon, when objectors included the tenant of Penhill Farm Mr W J Denly.

1958: Stall holders wore costumes from the Gainsborough Lady period, at Swindon Central Townswomen's Guild's My Lady Fayre, in the Town Hall, raising £70 for Guild funds. Lady Young performed the opening ceremony.

1979: Swindon's newest restaurant has opened with a punch. Britain's top boxer weighed in at Bacchus, in High Street, Swindon, for the opening. Former World Light Heavy Weight Champion John Conteh, without his gloves, was the star guest along with Swindon Town Manager Bob Smith.

Tuesday November 24 

1948: Included in a scheme for further education in Swindon is a new college, to be built at Lawn, at an estimated cost of £500,000. The new college will provide courses of subjects up to graduate standard and later post graduate standard.

1958: Celebrations of the 2nd Swindon Scout Jubilee at the Frome Hotel Swindon was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress Alderman and Mrs F J King when a special service was held.

1978: A company founded as an offshoot of Swindon Viewpoint plan a bid for the town's commercial radio station. Great Western Radio Ltd will try to convince the Independent Broadcasting Authority it can run a successful station.

Wedesday November 25

1948: Two hundred extra seats had to be provided to accommodate the congregation which heard a performance of Handel's Messiah at the Parish Church, Swindon. It was given by the Swindon Choral and Orchestral Society under the baton of Samuel Underwood, conductor of the Bristol Choral Society.

1958: Swindon Art Collection has just returned from an 18-month tour of the South West, and for a few days can be visited in the foyer of the Swindon Central Library. "The exhibition of middlebrow quality with its mix of traditional and contemporary art went down well with everyone on the tour,'' said Cyril Wood, director of South Western Arts Association 1979: Seventy-year-old Phyllis Willis had a smashing birthday surprise when staff and friends at Bradley, where she works as a shorthand typist, arranged a party for her at the Post House, Swindon. She was given a birthday hug by entertainer Max Boyce who was in town for two successful concerts at the Oasis.

Thursday November 26

1948: A fine specimen of a stone axehead ploughed up on the Downs, south of Swindon, has recently come into the hands of Mr J B Jones of St Margaret's Street. The British Museum authorities described it as a fine Neolithic celt of the first farming period, which is 2000-1800 BC. The axe, made of quartz-dolerite, will be on show in the windows of the Evening Advertiser's Newspaper House.

1958: Two Swindon men who saved two of three non-swimmers, after their punt overturned in Queen's Park Lake, have been awarded testimonials on parchment by the Royal Humane Society. They are Andrew Ryan, 22, a plasterer and Peter McManus a labourer.

1979: Artist and teacher John Taulbutt, of Elcot Lane, Marlborough, has a wood carving of a small bird on show at the current West of England Academy Exhibition in Bristol. John teaches part time at children's remedial classes.

Friday November 27

1948: These girls are not going to be spivs or drones when they get older, said Mr R W Naish, Youth Service Officer, speaking to members of the Swindon Girls' Own Club at a concert in the Prospect Methodist Hall, Swindon. The concert was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Swindon Alderman and Mrs W J Davis.

1958: Outside the Evening Advertiser's Newspaper House, on his 65th birthday a street mason, Harold Blake, laid his last paving stone. Harold, of Kingshill Road, Swindon, has officially retired after 32 years of service with Swindon Corporation. He served in the 2nd Wiltshire Regiment during the war in France and Belgium, after his call up in 1914.

1979: Bombs away chaps! It's airmail with a difference. An RAF Hercules parachuted four sacks of postcards on South Marston airfield. The 40,000 commemorative postcards celebrate the 150th birthday of Swindon Post Office and the drop was them arriving in Swindon in style.

Saturday November 28

1948: England's first provincial children's Gaumont-British Cinema Club celebrated its fifth birthday. Coun A J B Selwood, who opened it in 1943, was present at the Palace Theatre in Swindon to take part in the celebrations.

1958: The Swindon British Electricity Ambulance Centre team took part in the annual competition for the Grand Prior's trophies at the Porchester Hotel, London. The team from Swindon was led by their Captain Miss R Taylor.

1979: A fine all round performance by Randy Roze helped Swindon 1 to victory over Swindon BR1 in Group A of the Swindon Indoor Cricket League. The victory left Swindon with an unbeaten record, four point clear at the top.