THIS week in 1979 Swindon saw more famous faces than it might usually expect in six months or more.

Four were here in connection with a special event called the Swindon Shopping Spree, which was intended to promote local stores and raise charity funds.

The visitor with the highest profile was Princess Anne, who in those days had yet to be made Princess Royal.

We said: “The town’s first royal visitor since the Queen in 1971 was greeted with rapturous applause as she stepped from her chauffeur-driven Ford Dorchester limousine.

“Streets were lined on both sides by young and old keen to catch a glimpse of the smiling Princess.

“Looking radiant in a green and beige knitted coat over an oatmeal silk dress, matching turban with tassel, gold and pearl earrings and brown shoes, she was welcomed at the Town Hall by Lord Margadale, Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire.

“Swindon Young Musicians Brass band added their own salute with six bars of the National Anthem.

“Princess Anne, on her first official visit to Swindon, was then introduced to the Mayor and Mayoress of Thamesdown, Coun and Mrs Gordon Law, the High Sheriff of Wiltshire, Mr Michael Stratton, and his wife and other civic dignitaries.

“She also met members of Thamesdown Council as well as staff from the major stores, who organised the Shopping Spree.”

The Queen’s Silver Jubilee had been celebrated only two years previously with an outpouring of patriotic fervour, and royal visits were major public draws.

We added: “Thousands of men, women and children craned their necks to watch the Princess as she strolled past the shops in Regent Street and the Brunel Plaza.”

Another two visitors helping to promote the Shopping Spree were major sporting heroes of the era.

Swimmer David Wilkie had taken gold for Britain in the 200m breast stroke at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.

He made a public appearance at the Oasis Leisure Centre to sign autographs. He also posed for photographs with that year’s Miss Thamesdown, Carole Birley.

Also at the centre was Judo expert Brian Jacks, who had won bronze at the 1972 Games in Munich. He was photographed with Swindon Town Crier Ann Evans.

Both Jacks and Wilkie often appeared on popular TV show Superstars, in which stars of various sports competed across a range of disciplines from pull-ups to rowing.

In Faringdon Road Park the Shopping Spree spirit took to the air in a publicity-generating balloon flight.

The pilot was Kathie Applebee and her passenger was actress Diane Cilento, who lived near Malmesbury. Cilento appeared in classic films including The Wicker Man and The Agony and The Ecstasy, had been married to Sean Connery and was the mother of future Robin of Sherwood star Jason.

The only celebrity visitor that week without a Shopping Spree connection was television personality Leslie Crowther, who was best known at the time for comedy sketch shows, margarine commercials and a sitcom, My Good Woman, which had aired a few years previously.

He appeared at the Goddard Arms for a Cystic Fibrosis Group fundraising event, and was photographed with group secretary Christine Skidmore and Swindon Ladies Circle chair Angela Sheen.

As if the week’s infusion of famous folk was not enough to satisfy the town for a long time, we were also promised the opportunity to meet Isla St Clair less than a fortnight later.

Scottish singer Isla was best known as Larry Grayson’s assistant in The Generation Game. It was announced that she would be opening the Bradford and Bingley Building Society’s new branch at 29 Regent Street on Saturday, November 3.

The advert said: “Come along and meet her. She’ll be at the office until 12 noon signing autographs. If you open an account with Bradford & Bingley on the day, you’ll get a free T-Shirt too!”

The branch remained for 29 years before being rebranded as Santander and later closed.

Away from the Shopping Spree and visiting celebrities, one of our more unusual local stories of the week concerned a self-proclaimed psychic and the biggest murder hunt of the decade.

The psychic was Dennis Kirkham, who has already men mentioned in Rewind on several occasions.

We said: “A Swindon man claims he chatted over a pint with the notorious Yorkshire Ripper.

“Faith healer Mr Dennis Kirkham says he bought the killer a pint in a pub in Pudsey last week, and talked to him for about ten minutes.

“Mr Kirkham, of Aymer Place, Eldene, claims the man fitted the description of the murderer in a ‘vision’ he had.

“He has been to Yorkshire twice in search of clues and is also working on the theory that two killers are responsible.

“Dennis described the man he met in the Oddfellows as 5ft4ins tall, of stocky build, balding slightly on top with bushy hair on the back of his neck, about 30 years of age.”

Mr Kirkham said he thought the man’s name was Norris, and didn’t call the police at the time because he feared for his own safety.

In 1981 the slim, bearded and almost pompadour-haired Peter Sutcliffe would admit to being the Ripper.