AS is still traditional today, our earliest stories of 1972 included one about the first local newborn.

The Swindon honour went to the as-yet unnamed daughter born to Mrs Janet Kinnear, of Edinburgh Street, at 1.14am on January 1 at Princess Margaret Hospital.

If the infant is reading this, we congratulate her on her recent 45th birthday and would love to hear from her.

We seem to have photographed only one New Year baby, and devotees of all things heart-warming had to wait until later in the week for further sustenance.

That came courtesy not of a baby but of a black and white mongrel dog which had decided to camp on the doorstep of a Mrs Kathleen Jones in Park North.

We said: “Despite repeated attempts to find its owner Mrs Jones has failed, and the dog has also failed – to go away.

“This is very distressing for its new ‘owner’ because unless a home can be found for him soon the dog will probably have to be put down.

“With a cat as a pet already, Mrs Jones appeals to anyone living in the area who might own the dog to contact her.

“And in case the dog has literally been turned loose she would also like to hear from anyone who might consider giving it a home.”

Within two days of our story appearing, it was revealed that the dog was called Bobby, that he was very much loved and that his distraught owners had been searching for him for more than a week. Bobby had somehow slipped out of the house and wandered off.

Mrs Jones said: “He’s a dog you can’t help feeling fond of.”

The week saw history made at RAF Fairford, home of Britain’s Concorde testing programme.

We said: “Three magnificent flying machines stood together on the tarmac at Fairford yesterday to form the first ever Concorde fleet.

“It was the first time that the only three aircraft at present flying in the supersonic test programme had been together.

“But it was nearly a non-event.

“At one stage it looked as if the French prototype aircraft, 001, would not be able to land back at Fairford because of a blanket of fog that drifted across the airfield.

“And earlier in the day there was a touch of drama when 002, the British prototype, had to cut short a planned supersonic flight and jettison fuel because of an air conditioning fault.

“But eventually everything turned out all right when the fog lifted and the two prototypes joined 01, the first pre-production Concorde, for a photo call for the world’s press.”

Today 01 is at the Imperial War Museum’s branch in Duxford, Cambridgeshire. 001 is in a French museum and 002 is at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton, Somerset.

In addition to reporting on the high-technology future we brought readers a story of what would soon be the past.

Today a visitor to Tockenham, near Royal Wootton Bassett, wouldn’t guess that one of the renovated cottages they stroll past used to be a pub.

The Duke of Beaufort was so small that it didn’t even have a bar. Drinks were served from a kitchen table and a cellar.

Due to close that week and become a private house, it had been in the hands of a single family for three generations.

The current licensee was Alice Gleed, who had been born at the pub during the tenure of her father and taken over from him in 1964. Her father had taken over from her greet aunt in 1904.

Mrs Gleed’s retirement spelled the end for the pub, which was the only one in Tockenham.

Cellarman and assistant Mr A Woods recalled that electricity had come only in 1953, and that darts matches used to be held by candlelight.

He added: “We used to have an oil lamp in the corner – just as well, because the darts sometimes used to put the candles out.”

Mrs Gleed herself said: “So many have rallied round to help – it’s wonderful.

“My customers are very good. If I’m busy they do all the serving and I just sit down and take the money.”

In show business news, we updated readers about a man who would shortly become one of Swindon’s most famous exports and an icon of the decade.

“Swindon pop star Gilbert O’Sullivan,” we said, “has started the year off in fine fashion by qualifying for a silver disc award for selling 250,000 copies of his latest hit record, ‘No Matter How I Try.’

“It is estimated that world sales of the record are approaching the half-million mark.

“Next month Gilbert will issue a follow-up single, the title of which isn’t being disclosed yet.”

That single, Alone Again (Naturally), would propel O’Sullivan to international stardom.