Monday, December 5

1950: Swindon and District Organists were addressed by Mr J H Woods, a Bristol organ expert, who told them that organs, like humans, are sensitive to atmosphere. Ever since the Egyptian barber invented the first water organ more than 2,000 years ago, organs have a thirst for humidity, so a warm, snug church full of a singing congregation can effect an organ's sound.

1960: An audience of nearly 400 people watched a programme of national and modern dances, tap and ballet presented at Drove School by pupils from Tanwood School under their principal Mollie Tanner. It was the fourth time the school had presented a show in aid of newspaper charities in conjunction with the Press Ball.

1970: The new £35,000 day hospital at the St Margaret's Hospital in Stratton St Margaret was officially opened by Ernest Le Q Herbert, chairman of the St Margaret Hospital Management Committee. The hospital has been unofficially open for the last two weeks and 30 patients attend daily for services from physiotherapists, occupational physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and medical social workers.

Tuesday, December 6

1950: Mrs T G M Sheldon, assistant secretary of the Swindon and District Local Savings Committee, has just received a card bearing six stamps issued in Cardiff in 1918. The design on the stamp is a swastika which would be viewed with surprise today. The stamps were issued as part of the membership of the Yearly Savings Association, the equivalent of the National Savings Club.

1960: Swindon's coffee-bar society was spotlighted on BBC television during a programme in which View cameras visited the town. They had some penetrating comments to make about the town. During the 15 minute feature many aspects of Swindon life were filmed. Interesting insights into the estates of Swindon were given by a man sitting in a coffee bar. Rounding off the programme was a chat with Swindon MP Francis Noel-Baker.

1970: An 18-year-old girl was among the 69 apprentices who received engineering awards at the Plessey Company's prizegiving at the Cheney Manor plant in Swindon. Janet Luce a second year apprentice won a special mention in the training report, presented by John Angliss, the regional training manager. Janet was the first girl technician engineer among Plessey's apprentices.

Wednesday, December 7

1950: Graham Whettam, son of Mr and Mrs F Whettam of Evelyn Street, Swindon, is making a name for himself in London as a composer of serious music. Three Songs of Shakespeare written by Graham were broadcast on the radio as part of the West Home Service programming.

1950: Mrs Hayward, builder of Stratton, presented plans for the proposed new Women's Institute Hall at a meeting of the Upper Stratton Women's Institute in the Kingsdown Inn club room. Members agreed that he was to be instructed to proceed with the work. Mr F Mason and Mrs B A Clack were appointed trustees.

1960: There were no pompous after dinner speeches at the Swindon Rotary Club Ladies Evening. Instead the speeches were a delightful vocal entertainment, Mr S Clayton, the president, told the 160 members, wives, visitors, and visiting Rotarians that one of the most difficult skills a journalist has to acquire is to say in 70 words what it would take most people to say in 700. His speech was at the Goddard Arms Hotel, where dancing to the Trevor Matthews Orchestra followed .

1960: Floodlights at Swindon Town Football Club cost an extra £20 a match but proved to be a sound investment. Economically most clubs are finding floodlighting sound. To offset the cost the club have gained numbers far in advance of those which they could reasonably expect if the match had been played on an afternoon or midweek. In addition they can use the lighting for training or junior games.

1970: Hundreds of people thronged Swindon Town Hall for the Goddard Townswomen's Guild Bazaar opened by the Mayoress Mrs J W Pass. Stalls were stripped within an hour, many sold handicraft products made during the year by the guild. The bazaar raised £250.

1970: Cricklade Show Committee has decided to have a bumper carnival day. For the fist time in almost 20 years there will be a horse show and gymkhana on carnival day. The committee decided on a carnival procession, a bird show, a flower show and many sideshows. They are raising money for a town swimming pool.

Thursday, December 8

1950: Mayor of Swindon Ald J Bond and Mr T Reid MP were among the guests at the Wiltshire Regimental Reunion at Church Place Drill Hall, Swindon. The first postwar reunion was organised by D Company the 4th Battalion The Wiltshire Regiment TA and by the Swindon Old Comrades Association. It was an official home coming for D Company after an absence of 11 years from the Drill Hall as they were mobilised in 1939.

1950: More than 100 children from Even Swindon Junior Mixed School took part in a concert presented at St Augustine's Church Hall. Plays were given by first, second, third and fourth year pupils.

1960: Swindon workers staged their second protest march as MP Francis Noel-Baker said there were strong hints that the Government wanted, eventually, to rid British Railways of its factories all together and hand them over to private industry. The second protest was demonstrating against redundancy and the protesters heard the MP say that the outlook for workers in the carriage and wagon shops was very murky.

1960: Before he goes to work at 4.30am in the morning, dairy worker George Jarvis, 16, of Penhill, Swindon, fancied a cigarette, but often he runs out. Now, George has his own private cigarette machine, installed free of charge. There are 300 packets of his favourite cigarette in the machine and all he does is pop in the money to get them out. The money is then collected once a week and the machine refilled.

1970: The Department of the Environment agreed to change its plans for the Cricklade bypass. It has accepted Cricklade Parish Council's suggestion for a filter road for traffic going north, but has refused a request for a roundabout at the junction of Marston Meysey.

1970: Eleven young people in the Swindon and surrounding districts received gold award certificates in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme at Buckingham Palace. The award winners aged between 19 and 20 years received their certificate from the Duke of Edinburgh himself. They included eight apprentices and three girl award winners.

Friday, December 9

1950: Faringdon Hockey Club is the first team to beat Swindon this season. They notched up a decisive win of three goals to two over Swindon. Faringdon are on a winning streak as they also entertained The Bedford Stragglers and won that game by two goals to one.

1950: All tickets were sold out for the NALGO ball held in Swindon's town hall. Proceeds from the ball are for the benevolent orphanage of the association. The annual event attracted 200 dancers performing both old time and modern dances to the music of the Johnnie Stiles Band.

1960: Each pupil has contributed to raising the standard of education and behaviour at Penhill Junior School, said the headmaster, during his report at the annual prizegiving. The prizes were presented by Coun D Jones, the Vice Chairman of the Swindon Education Committee. Items were given by the choir and recitals from the pupils.

1960: A Mediterranean-style bar at the new country club at Compton Bassett RAF station is officially opened. The club, a NAAFI canteen before its conversion, was mainly converted by the airmen themselves.

1970: Swindon's Regent Street was jammed as the elderly and disabled for miles around did their Christmas shopping. Many shops in the centre of Swindon, manned by volunteer staff, stayed open between 6pm to 8pm. A collection service organised by the Swindon Rotary Club brought in the special customers, and the police turned a blind eye to Minis, Land-Rovers and Bentleys parked on double yellow lines.

1970: The first meeting of the Open University held at its Swindon Study Centre was attended by a large proportion of the 90 students who had requested to join courses there. They were joined by their tutors and counsellors who will guide them. Swindon is part of the university south west region. The Open University was granted a Royal Charter and has accepted 25,000 students from all over the country.

Saturday, December 10

1950: ABWE Kidd, a native of Swindon, husband of Joyce Kidd of Maple Grove, is serving in HMS Charity in Korean waters. Mrs Kidd was pleased to read in the Evening Advertiser of the HMS Charity's destination, as no mail had arrived for the last six weeks. A B Kidd, had already served between five and six years before re-enlisting in 1949.

1950: Swindon has the youngest members in the country belonging to a National Savings Group. The Swindon group was started by Mrs A Davies, matron of Pinehurst Day Nursery, and she has 96 per cent of her tiny tots signed up for membership. Thursday is savings' day and the children have great fun sticking stamps on their cards.

1960: For the first time in its academic history Swindon Technical College has its own colours. In response to the persistent requests by Swindon College Students Association members a vivid red, white and black official college scarf has been designed. Christine Messenger, 17, a member of the commerce department, was the first student to own one.

1960: About 60 children aged between 10 and 13-years-old, members of the Penhill Free Church Youth Club, enjoyed themselves at a party organised by Mrs Saunders, who also helped serve the refreshments. Entertainment included films featuring Charlie Chaplin and Carol singing led by Mr D Fryer, accompanied by Mrs Greville at the piano.

1970: Wootton Basset Methodist Junior Club welcomed parents and friends to an At Home evening in aid of the Royal National Mission To the Deep Sea Fisherman. It was held in the church hall and Mr M Horner, the mission's regional representative showed a colour film called For Those In Peril.

1970: Alf is the Post Office's fastest worker in Swindon and he sorts letter three times faster than any of the others. Alf's full name is Automatic Letter Facer. He places the letters stamp upwards, franks them and divides first and second class. He can track 22,000 letters an hour. His secret appears on the stamp in the shape of the dull phosphor band that tells Alf how to sort it.