Monday, February 15

1949: A book of Tobacco Duty Relief Coupons, issued to old age pensioners, has been handed in to Newspaper House in the hope that we may be able to return it to its owner. The coupons were found in a Swindon street, but the pensioner has not filled in the name and address on the front cover.

1959: Well known Swindonian, Ellen Daley, has died at the age of 89. Ellen was sent to White Ladies College at Clifton to be educated thanks to the kindness of the Viscountess of Suffolk. Her father was a tenant farmer on the Viscount's estate. Ellen became a governess in London, and during her time there met the famous playwright, George Bernard Shaw. Her husband worked for the North Wiltshire Herald, when it was produced in Bath Road, Swindon.

1979: Swindon's entire road system jammed when snow showers, whipped up by strong winds, produced ice rink surfaces. Roads were snow covered and no gritting had been done. Swindon's hills were impassible and workers froze at bus stops waiting for buses that didn't arrive. Yet outside the town motorists found that the Wiltshire County Council had things in-hand with roads all salted.

Tuesday, February 16

1949: Sixty-one contestants took part in the Stable Lads and Apprentices Boxing Tournament at Marlborough Town Hall. One of the boxers, Freddie Mills, in his anxiety to escape the attentions of a crowd of youthful autograph hunters, gave out a loud bellow and dashed up the stairs, with a dozen youngsters on each arm.

1959: Mrs L M Bond of Belle Vue Road, Swindon is going to Buckingham Palace Garden Party, to mark the 21st birthday of the Women's Voluntary Service. Mrs Bond belongs to the Swindon Unit of the WVS and is the only woman from Swindon attending the royal event.

1979: Dr Jonathan Orchard Webb, 38, of Fernham near Faringdon, was on a walking trip when he slipped down a slope, and lunged into a gulley. He fell 600ft down Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis. He was rescued by an RAF helicopter. His wife said he was lucky to have got off so lightly as he only had cuts and bad grazes to his face.

Wednesday, February 17

1949: International Night was celebrated by the Swindon Business and Professional Women's Club. The Progressive Candle Ceremony was organised by Miss K Carter the club's representative at the Federation's International committee. This first international celebration in Swindon was followed by a social.

1959: A viola player, since she was 12, Ruth Lawrence, now 16, of Broome Manor Lane, Swindon, a pupil of the Commonweal School, has been chosen to take part in a National Festival of School Music at the Albert Hall in London.

1979: The crippling sit-in at Vickers South Marston plant is over, and the 450 manual workers will be returning to work. The men have been on strike for three weeks. The peace package included an offer of talks on the workers' pay claims.

Thursday, February 18

1949: The New Era Swingtette performed at a social in St John's Hall, Aylesbury Street in Swindon. The MC was Mr Edwards and proceeds were in aid of St John's Church funds.

1959: A group of manorial records of Lydiard Millicent, believed to have come out of a loft or attic of a bombed house in Bath, have been presented to the Wiltshire County Records committee.

1979: David Bellamy, the famous botanist, could not solve the weather problem, when he was snowed in at Bishop Auckland. Members of the Swindon Sub Aqua Club were looking forward to hearing him speak at their dinner dance in the Wiltshire Hotel. David will still be coming to Swindon when he opens a new club house in Dixon Street, next month.

Friday, February 19

1949: Mr W Bradshaw, secretary to the Sergeants Mess at the Shrivenham Military College of Science, with 20 members of the Mess, visited the Milton Road Club in Swindon for a games night. They showed their superior skill on the rifle range before enjoying curry puffs made by the stewardess. Mrs Cheetham had spent seven years in India, when her husband was in the Royal Artillery.

1959: Turquoise brocade is the choice of Sanford Young Ladies Choir for its new uniform. Enough material, bought in bulk, to make dresses for all 22 members, and some of the girls have made up their own patterns. The new uniforms will be first worn at a concert for the NSPCC.

1979: A great team display earned the Swindon Girls' Table Tennis team a place in the fourth round of the National Cup Competition

Saturday, February 20

1949: Dr Kathleen Lonsdale, the famous scientist, will be speaking on the alternatives to atomic warfare, when she visits Swindon, at a meeting of the Fellowship of Reconciliation in St Barnabas Vicarage.

1959: Estimated completion date for a new school was presented to the Swindon Education Committee. The county architect expects that Park Grammar School will open in 1960.

1979: Jayne Gibb, 18, from Stratton St Margaret is now one of the country's top photographic models. Jayne was the Evening Advertiser's Steam Queen at the Fairford Steam Rally last year and this began her career. She has since appeared on Page 3 of The Sun, been pictured in The Mirror and Guardian, auditioned for TV commercials and was photographed in Germany for the front cover of one of their leading magazines.