Monday, May 2, 2016

1949: Today marks another step forward in the speedy production of newspapers, with the introduction of a new system for transmission and reception of national news. Elaborate equipment has been installed at the Evening Advertiser office, known as the Six-Channel Voice Frequency Telegraph system. News received direct from London now comes at nearly 400 words per minute. The new system replaces Morse code.

1959: Swindon's first contribution to international understanding is the Caribbean Club for West Indians.The club's first social was held at the Pinehurst Labour Hall when the guest of honour was the Mayor of Swindon Ald F J King.

1979: David Polden, 17, of Merrivale Grove, Swindon, an apprentice with British Car Body Builders, Swindon, has been awarded the Swindon Motor Agents Association trophy for the best 1st year apprentice for motor engines at The College, Swindon.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

1949: Swindon Public Health Committee has decided to support Wrexham and Cheltenham councils in their efforts to obtain a definite minimum standard for ordinary milk such as that allowed by the Ministry of Food for the Channel Islands milk.

1959: The Wiltshire author and dramatist, Reginald Arkell, 76, of Marston Meysey, whose novel Charley Moon, was made into a film with Max Bygraves in the title role, and was shown in Swindon three years ago, has died. His widow Elizabeth Arkell is a Cricklade magistrate and they have one son, David.

1979: Barry Andrews, one time keyboard player with XTC, has just completed a mammoth recording session in a London studio. It has taken almost 100 hours for Barry's new band to put out a four track EP called Town and Country. The band, which includes David Marx on guitar, is recording at the Virgin Town House Studio.

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

1949: A Swindon area committee for the Newsvendors Benevolent and Provident Institution - Old Ben - was formed at a special revival meeting at the Town Hall, Swindon. Mr S C W Disney, OBE, secretary of the institution addressed the meeting recalling the objectives of Old Ben.

1949: Swindon Corporation has completed 778 houses it was reported to Swindon Council. This total is made up of 100 aluminium, 100 temporary bungalows, 50 Howard, 418 BISF, 102 traditional and eight Airey houses. 156 men are currently employed, five fewer than last month. Subject to Ministry of Health appeal conditions being met with, Roads Reconstruction Ltd will be instructed to lay roads for two building sites in Moredon.

1959: The Swindon Artists Society annual meeting at The College, Swindon, heard from the Hon sec and treasurer, Mr J W E Jarvis, that the Hon Mrs John Betjeman had accepted an invitation to open the society's exhibition in the new Central Hall in Swindon.

1959: In wind and rain more than 2,000 members of the British Legion took part in the annual Wiltshire British Legion Rally held at the County Ground in Swindon. The rally was watched by a similar number of spectators who sat in the ground's covered stands. General Sir Brian Robertson took the salute at a march past, and a drumhead service was conducted by the Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Rev OSJ Tomkins.

1979: As a triumphant Margaret Thatcher becomes Britain's first woman prime minister, the great Tory onslaught sank all opposition in constituencies around Swindon. At the end of a dramatic general election, Swindon was again the only red spot in a sea of blue. Swindon MP David Stoddard kept his seat.

1979: John Winterflood, 25, whose parents live in Wroughton, is probably the youngest bandmaster in the British armed forces. John took part in the fanfare at Princess Ann's wedding at Westminster Abbey. He was taught to play the cornet by his grandfather, Fred Cowley who played with the Methodist Band.

Thursday, May 5, 2016

1949: A personal invitation from Mr Geoffrey de Freites, Under Secretary for Air, has been received by Mr T Reid, MP for Swindon to attend the latest Royal Airforce exhibition, Man Takes Wings, which will be shown in Swindon.

1949: A joint committee of Swindon Chamber of Commerce and the No 111 Group with the British Legion met to discuss a carnival parade for June. Local bands will be invited to take part, also there will be public and youth organisation in fancy dress and tableaux. A standard bearer competition and a Legion Queen will also be chosen.

1959: About 900 production men at Pressed Steel Stratton plant in Swindon marched out today. The protest walk out at the plant brought double trouble for the company as the draughtsmen at Cowley went on strike yesterday. The angry pieceworkers, most of them press workers, claim new operators are being offered die-setting jobs in preference to men with longer service.

1959: Swindon Town scored all their goals in the first 10 minutes when they beat Trowbridge Town 3-1, at Trowbridge, to retain the Wiltshire Professional Shield. With such a devastating opening Swindon were able to take things easily in the first half, but had to be a bit busier after the interval as Trowbridge came back.

1979: Eight boys from Churchfields School, Swindon are far to full of beans as they tried hard to break the Guinness Book of Records by sinking more than 41 pounds of beans, roughly eight large tins. It was a valiant effort but Tony McLeish, of Monkton Close, Swindon, said they were all just too full up.

1979: Compton lead Section A of Swindon Women's Skittles League with 130 points from 28 matches. They are two points ahead of Wanderers who have a game in hand. Wanderers lost 207 to 198 to North Swindon WMC.

Friday, May 6, 2016

1949: Considerable mirth at the antics of a monkey caused amusement for the people of Longcot near Faringdon. Mickey the monkey escaped from his owners, show people, and by various methods he managed not to be recaptured until the evening. He darted up a tree and delighted in his audience. Mickey was eventually caught.

1949: The fascinating subject of sailing small boats was the theme of a talk by Rotarian G E Beard. He used a scale model to illustrate his points on how to handle a craft.

1959: A canal milestone uncovered in the wall of the bank of the old canal adjacent to Lloyds Bank, at the junction of Regent Street and Bridge Street should be erected along the new Fleming Way, suggested Ald L C Mobey at a Swindon Town Council meeting. The milestone announced that it was 26 miles to Semington.

1959: Peggy Miles, of Goddard Avenue, Swindon who is secretary of Live Theatre Campaign is to appear on TV in the Friday Special programme. John Bartlett, who has arranged her appearance, has asked her to speak on the campaign, which aims to establish a theatre in Swindon once more.

1979: One man campaigner for old folk, Francis (Staf) Steffani, 71, of Montague Street, Swindon, has finally been forced to throw in the towel. For the last 10 years he has tramped the Parade and other main shopping streets of the town with his home-made posters trying to get better recognition for old people. He has only given up because he is getting older himself.

1979: The building that Watson's Swindon Ltd, the wholesale newsagent and book distributers, now occupy on the new Hawkesworth trading estate, Swindon, is a far cry from the small warehouse on Bridge Street where the firm was founded by Dercy Watson Mercer, 90 years ago. The company is now controlled by Mr Mercer's son, Vernon, as managing director, and his grandson, Clive Mercer as director.

Saturday, May 7. 2016

1949: The Mosaic Singers who recently gave a successful concert in the arts centre in aid of one charity are now giving another concert in aid of the Royal Air Force Association. Neal Hipperson, Pearl Dixon, Esme Pagett and Marion Ball will also take part together with the choir.

1949: Plans for the chronic sick sub committee, set up by the Swindon and District Hospital Management Committee, to decide on the increase in the number of elderly people requiring medical attention, should include in addition to hospital treatment, a scheme for providing adequate medical supervision in the patients own homes.

1959: Mr J Dale Ward, 20, son of John Ward, a Plessey official of Windsor Road, Swindon, has been awarded an Honourary Degree in Anatomy at London University. He is to attend a presentation ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall when the Queen Mother will preside.

1959: Parents, members of the Swindon Education Committee, school managers and the Rev J Poarch, curate of Christ Church, were among those who watched the May Day revels at the Church of England junior and infant schools. Yvonne Goddard was crowned the May Queen.

1979: Overcast skies did not deter 10,000 people from attending the Wootton Bassett and District Lions Club May Fayre and Show at Lydiard Park. A highlight of the show was Don Lindbergh's high dive aquatic show where he dived into a huge fiery water tank, thrilling the crowd. Arkells superbar contest in the style of It's A Knockout was fast and furious fun for 32 teams.

1979: The irrepressible botanist, David Belamy, came to Swindon to open Swindon Sub Aqua Club's new club house in Dixon Street. He brought the club a present from the seaside, a bottle of salt marbles he picked up from a prehistoric dried-up sea bed in East Africa. He is a longstanding friend of the club since meeting club diving officer Ian Purvis on an expedition in the Indian Ocean, five years ago.