Wednesday, December 30

1948: Watchfield RAF Training Station is to close in February. The school of Air Traffic Control is to be moved to Salop. Wing Commander H A C Stratton said that the company had received notice that the contract had been terminated.

1958: Trouble is brewing down by the old mill stream in the heart of ancient Wroughton. The stream runs through The Pitchens, a byway of rustic charm where Rowland Hughes, 58, has bought an eight-bedroomed cottage. He wants to build an access road of 56 feet but the villagers are up in arms about it. Mr Hughes feels that is an injustice as it was him who cleared the stream in the first place, but it will be the Parish Council who have to make the decision.

1978: The outspoken headmaster of Park School, Swindon, Philip Cossin gets an OBE in the New Year Honour's list. Mr Cossin lives in Cricklade and came to Swindon 18 years ago from Cumberland when the Park was formed as a grammar and he piloted it through the transition to comprehensive.

Thursday, December 31

1949: Mr R Tuckwell was elected President of Swindon Branch of the Electrical Trades Union at the annual general meeting, which was held at The Rolleston Hotel in Commercial Road, Swindon.

1958: The old dilapidated Memorial Hall in Wootton Bassett was turned into a BBC Broadcasting studio for the Wiltshire edition of Have A Go!. Heard on the Light Programme with Wilfred Pickles and his wife Mildred at the table and Harry Hudson on piano, interviewing six residents.

1978: It was full marks for four young Swindon musicians when they took their music theory exam from the Associate Board of the Royal School of Music. the pupils are Ivan Marchington, Susan Write and Leigh Olivier all from Ferndale Road School of Music. Leigh scored 99 marks to win grade A.

Saturday, January 2

1949: Santa Claus had to use a ladder when he distributed toys from the giant Christmas tree. More than 100 youngsters attended a social, organised by Upper Stratton Labour Party in the Junior School.

1958: One of the 3,000 experimental new style khaki walking out uniforms have be been issued to Sgt l J Bennett, Swindon's Army Recruitment Chief. This uniform is being tried out for a period of three months. The 10th Hussars stationed at Tidworth will be the only regiment stationed in Wiltshire to have the new uniforms.

1978: An exhibition of photographs giving a behind the scenes look at the work of the Wiltshire County Council, opens in Marlborough Library. The photographs are a major part of a touring display. Alongside the photos is a model tram representing the Aladdin's Cave of material available for use in schools.