Monday December 14

1948: Two Government ministers have accepted invitations to speak at meetings in Swindon. The Rt Hon Alfred Barnes, Minister of Transport, will speak at East Street Co-op Hall, when Swindon MP, Mr T Reid will also attend. The Rt Hon James Griffiths, Minister of National Insurance, is to speak at a meeting sponsored by the Labour Party.

1958: Three to six months prize tours of America, for outstanding apprentices, are being contemplated by the Plessey Company, said Mr A E Underwood, resident Swindon director of Plessey, when prizes were given to the successful apprentices at their ceremony, in the works' canteen. Prizes were given out by the Mayor of Swindon Ald F J King.

1978: Model Yachts will be on show at the Earls Court International Boat Show, including yachts built by members from the Fairford Model Club. The club is one of many, from all over the country, who are affiliated to the Model Yachts Association. Fairford members, Chairman Chris Bowler, Pat Wood and Geoff Chick, will take their turn manning the stand for a day.

Tuesday December 15

1948: A private in the ATS, M Fluck, of Bibury Road, Swindon, is currently serving in Australia. She has been driving for the ATS for seven years, and has been the other side of the world for 14 months, so she has no fears of getting down in the maintenance pit to clean the chassis on her staff car.

1958: Members of Swindon's Bath Road Methodist Youth Fellowship gave up part of their pocked money, to give a party for children who otherwise might not have got one. They took the children to the party, entertained them, gave them tea and a gift of a piece of fruit.

1978: Eight members of the Swindon Young Musicians Club entered a nationwide musical competition organised by Thames Television. ABout 1,000 tapes were submitted and from these 400 groups were chosen for live auditions. Thirty groups then were asked to record at Thames TV. Swindon Young Musicians are appearing on the programme on Wednesday in the finals.

Wednesday December 16

1948: Swindon In Fiction was the title of an article by Mr N W Jones, which appeared in the British Railways Western Region monthly magazine. There was reference in it to Swindon Junction and a reminder that many years ago all trains stopped here for 10 minutes for refreshments. Swindon junction of that time was described in one book as "a spacious and gorgeously decorated refreshment roof.''

1958: The Mayor and Mayoress of Swindon Ald and Mrs F J King pulled the switch that illuminated the Royal Order of Moose Christmas Tree outside the town hall in Swindon's town centre heralding the start of the festive season.

1978: A £4 and half million Government office complex in Swindon is to be opened by the Education and Science Minister, Shirley Williams. She will be in town for the official launch of operations by the Science Research Council and the Natural Environment Research Council.

Thursday December 17

1948: Residents in the Highworth Rural District may find that dog racing will be helping to balance their Council's budget next year. Councillors will not be attending the local greyhound meeting, and hoping to get long odds on the favourite. They have been told, however, that some meetings, to be held in the future, are in their district, and the clerk is to explore the possibility of increasing the rates of the fields where they are held.

1958: Swindon MP Francis Noel-Baker, and his father Philip Noel-Baker, who are on a surprise visit to Russia, have had a lengthy talk with Russian leader Mr Khrushchev in Moscow. according to the official Russian news agency Tass.

1978: Davidson Ngini, managing director of Kenya Railways, was in Swindon to visit the Swindon Railways workshops to watch progress of the Kenya-bound locos under construction. The first of 20 locos, being built under a multi-million pound contract, is due for delivery next month.

Friday December 19

1948: Forty-five former war-workers, who were employed at the South Marston factory of Vickers-Armstrong Ltd, held their fourth annual re-union dinner at the Oxford Hotel, in Swindon. Mr C Rolly entertained on the piano and songs were sung by Nellie Stanton.

1958: Swindon's Old People's Welfare Committee is to circularise coal merchants in Swindon, to ask their assistance in providing fuel for the elderly people at short notice in emergencies.

1978: A young computer operator from Swindon has won a foreign holiday in a Christmas draw. Andy Bocko of Roseberry Street, bought a ticket from a colleague in the computer department of Thorn TV Rentals. Andy's holiday will be eight days in Torremolinos for two.

Saturday December 20

1948: Owing to food control restrictions the bread and the beef gift which has been distributed every Christmas beyond living memory, except for the war years, will not take place this year.

1958: Swindon Education Ancillary Staff Association which has adopted the Central School, Swindon gave a Christmas party for 65 pupils. They gave a present for each child of toys for the younger ones, and a fountain pen for the seniors. They played games and tea was organised.

1978: Lonely old folk at St Margaret's Hospital near Swindon can now unwrap at least one present on Christmas Day - thanks to Vickers. They are playing Santa Claus to nearly 50 pensioners who rarely get visitors.