Monday October 24

1950: More than 40 acres were ploughed at the annual Avebury and District Ploughing Association competition held on the farm of Mr A Horton, Winterbourne Bassett. The British Falconers' Challenge Cup for the best work in the five open classes was won by Mr E H Hancock.

1960: A former pupil of Commonweal School, Swindon, had the honour of being introduced to the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, when they visited the new Orient liner SS Oriana at Barrow In Furness. Senior Second Engineer Officer Toni Mazonowicz of the Post Office, Wanborough, has been supervising the fitting of the engine room machinery for the last year.

1970: Nine composers were represented at a concert by the Swindon Young Musician Club, at Walcot Secondary School. The concert was the culmination of four weeks coaching at a half term, orchestral playing course. The children were able to show off what they had learned. David Gow, who teaches at The College had written a work called A Pride of Marches for the wind section. This was given its world premier at the concert.

Tuesday October 25

1949: The half yearly meeting of Wiltshire Federation of Brotherhood and Sisterhood was held in Central Hall, Swindon and there were 39 delegates, representing 14 societies. The Mayor of Swindon Coun F E Akers said he hoped that the organisation would take part in the Jubilee celebrations.

1960: Brenda Howard, six, watched her father on parade in front of 450 soldiers, their officers, and a military band, at the Chiseldon Camp. Staff Sgt Robert Howard was presented with two more medals to add to the three he has already earned. He was awarded the BEM for outstanding service at the War Office and the Long Service and Good Conduct medal. After the ceremony Brenda went home to get warm with her mum, while her father went back to his duties.

1970: It was getting harder to keep Britain tidy as the dustmen's strike went into its fourth week. The strike was taking its gradual toll on the streets of the town where rubbish from overflowing bins spilt on to the pavements and are kicked along by passing pedestrians. Litter in the gutter threatens to clog up drains.

Wednesday, October 26

1949: The annual meeting of the Swindon Cricket Club was held at the Oxford Hotel in Swindon. A loss of £14, 15 shillings and 11 pence left the Cricket Club with £198, 17 shillings and 11 pence in the bank. The annual report showed that the search for young players had continued, but the call up of military service just as the boys began to show promise had been a handicap.

1949: Swindon Speedway at Abbey Stadium, Blunsdon plays host to Kavanagh and Hollywood Hell Drivers. Defying death in American standard cars are drivers performing stunts including tilting, jumping, fire crashes and high speed roll-overs. The stunts are all on display as they are in the films. Special buses have been put on for people to get to the performance leaving from the Town Hall.

1960: Work this fortnight has been a piece of cake for Swindon baker Cyril A Gray. The baker made a 30lb masterpiece in the shape of a church, for the Immanuel Congregational Church, Upham Road, to mark its 21st anniversary. Churchman himself, Mr Gray presented the cake for its Silver Key Bazaar.

1960: The old people's reading and recreation room at The Bungalow, Pinehurst, Swindon was opened for the first time. Mr G Hobbs, the new caretaker, opened up and there was a steady steam of visitors throughout the day, but it was the evening when most headed for the room to see the telly. The room also has two pianos, 10 new chairs and magazines for reading.

1970: Young people from Lower Stratton Methodist Church won a Christian Endeavor trophy at a Methodist Church Eisteddford at Cheltenham. It was the first time they had won the trophy since the competition began in 1957. Young people from methodist churches all over the West of England took part.

1970: Guides and Brownies at Lydiard Millicent did their bit to cheer up the village by planting a tree outside the village hall, as their part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The tree was handed over by Jennifer Price, nine, to Jack Shailes chairman of the village hall committee.

Thursday, October 27

1949: Dennis Hunt, 24, of Hunter's Grove, Swindon, is well known as the blind pianist of the Harry Smith's Band at the Bradford Hall. He will be listening closely to the wireless when Wilfred Pickles Have A Go programme is broadcast from the British Royal Institution For the Blind, as Dennis was a pupil there learning his trade of piano tuner and repairer.

1949: The high quality of school meals was praised by the mayor of Swindon Coun F A Aker, when, accompanied by the mayoress, and members of the Swindon Education Committee he had dinner with 75 pupils and staff of Commonweal Grammar School in Old Town to mark the official opening of the new school canteen.

1960: When George Hunt retired from Number Four shop at Swindon Railway Works, his colleagues literally gave him a rattling good send off. He was presented with a TV table, a lamp, tools, cigarettes, tobacco and a pouffe for his wife. All was quiet until he stepped outside when a crescendo of noise from bells and rattles greeted him. The noise followed him to the end of the tunnel entrance.

1960: The first youth in North Wiltshire to gain the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award was 18-year-old Queen's Scout Raymond Manning, eldest son of Mr and Mrs J Manning of High Street, Haydon Wick. A senior members of the St Barnabas Scout Troop, Ray had to reach a high degree of physical fitness as well as First Aid proficiency to receive this award.

1970: Wootton Bassett traders exhibition at the town's Memorial Hall was a tremendous success. The Chamber of Trade and 10 local firms had stands and the Secretary Mrs D Lawrence said they were continually on the go all day. Thanks to the success of the exhibition Wootton Bassett High Street will have illuminated Christmas trees.

1970: Swindon's T A Drill Hall was stormed by an army of angry people at a dirty jobs strikers' meeting. They rushed the hall when the sounds of the Colonel Bogey march were played loudly through the window drowning out the speakers. Swindon MP David Stoddart has complained to the Secretary of State that the act of playing the recording sparked the 2,000 crowd into action. The MP was calling for an immediate investigation into the incident.

Friday, October 28

1949: The senior light keeper crew of Selwood School, Swindon recently took part in a Missionary Seamen's Rally at London at which Princess Elizabeth was present. Their representative Julian Freeth presented the Princess with a purse containing £10. The princess also contributed to the fund from the Royal wedding and together the cash would go toward purchasing a new launch, named after the princess, which will be used for mission work on the Clyde.

1949: Halloween was the occasion for Swindon and District Scottish community to hold a social evening at Gorse Hill Community Centre. It was arranged by the local Caledonian Society. The party was attended by about 70 members and friends. One of the features was Dookin' For Apples. A fancy dress parade for children was won by Tom McMeeking and was followed by games and dancing.

1960: The Duke of Gloucester accepted a message from Michael Harris, 17, of Lawn Estate, Swindon when he was the representative for the Britain's Boys Clubs gathered at St James' Palace. Michael, a member of the Park Boys Club, carried a message from the Mayor of Swindon Coun Miss E C M Millin.

1960: A violent thunderstorm broke over Lechlade pelting the village with hail stones half an inch in diameter. The floods have spread and the Thames is now about 2ft above normal summer level. Holiday caravans at St John's Priory can only be reached by wading through a foot or more of water and the tow path is under water.

1970: The Mayor of Swindon Ald John Pass read out a letter from the Duchess of Gloucester at a ceremony in the Mayor's Parlour. Leo Bushell from Park Youth Club attended a meeting of the National Association of British Youth Clubs where the duchess, representing the Duke of Gloucester, gave him a message for the mayor, praising the association and its works.

1970: The Cotswold Water Park which Wiltshire and Gloucester County Councils plan as a large inland water resort will be extended if Wiltshire Planning Committee give their approval. It will cost £20,000 to purchase Cullimore's Pit and develop it for £5,000 as an additional lake.

Saturday October 29

1949: Swindon Town Council will be asked to approve the newly constitutional Civil Defence Committee being associated with the neighbouring rural districts of Highworth and Cricklade, and Wootton Bassett with the view to unifying civil defence arrangements through the whole area. Throughout the country County Councils are the authorities of Civil Defence but Swindon has been made an accepted district by special delegated power under the Civil Defence Act.

1949: Himself a methodist, the Mayor of Swindon, Coun F E Aker, expressed particular pleasure in opening Ye Olde Village Fayre bazaar a Trinity Methodist Church and Church Hall had been transformed into a village street bordered by stalls. In the evening Mother Goose was performed by the Gorse Hill Community Centre Players.

1960: A cheque for £1,350, the major part of the profits for Swindon Jubilee Carnival has been presented to the Mayor Coun Miss E C M Millin. The money will go towards helping the town's charities. The presentation was made at a meeting in Swindon Town Hall by Mr J D Averies, chairman of the Swindon and District Roundtable, sponsors of the carnival.

1960: Thirty-eight members of the Institute for Mechanical Engineers and the Swindon Engineering Society attended The College to hear a lecture on modern aids and the design of Railway Bogies. The speaker Mr A W Manser, Chief Mechanical Engineer of London Transport was introduced by the institute's chairman Mr J J Kelly.

1970: Nearly 200 girls watched as 20 hairdressers created styles in the annual contest of the National Hairdressers Foundation, Swindon Ladies Branch at The College. It was organised by Mr A O Lloyd. In between Triumph International put on a swimwear fashion show.

1970: Swindon Arts and Recreation Committee endorsed a five-point policy for running the Wyvern Theatre and the Arts Centre. The policy was drawn up by Brien Chitty and included a programme with attractions across all sections of the community, providing light and serious entertainment from both amateur and professionals. An arts club is also planned.