Swindon

1951: Swindon Borough Council was preparing for its annual elderly people’s outing to the Town Gardens. The event was a popular one among many senior citizens. We said: “Ever thoughtful, the council, realising that some of the old folk may not be able to walk far, has arranged that they should be picked up at their doors by motor coach.”

1951: The biggest queues in Swindon were for rummage sales. It was not uncommon to see between 50 and 100 people waiting for a venue to open. Stallholders reported that they needed to be quick-witted and quick with money, as plenty of customers knew exactly what they wanted and weren’t squeamish about driving hard bargains.

1961: American evangelist Billy Graham was due to preach at Manchester’s Maine Road stadium, but Swindon people learned they would be able to hear him without travelling north. A live radio feed was to be relayed through to the Baptist Tabernacle in the town centre, with everybody welcome to come along and listen.

1961: Proud Garrard apprentices showed family and friends around their workplace in Fleming Way during a special evening laid on by the audio firm. Earlier, they and their loved ones attended the apprentice prizegiving in which awards were distributed by managing director Hector V Slade.

1971: George Gibbs, 93, was honoured for having been Wanborough Parish Clerk for 50 years. A commemorative plaque on a local sarsen stone was unveiled, and Mr Gibbs was also presented with an armchair and a writing case. It was also decided that an annual prize would be given in his honour for special projects at the village school. He had been a parish council member since 1911.

1971: Swindon MP David Stoddart, pictured, said redundancies were threatening the town’s growth. He was especially worried about a recent announcement of redundancies among heavy engineering staff at the Railway Works. He said: “It’s no good sticking up houses without jobs to go to. Men aren’t going to stay in Swindon if they can’t get jobs.”

The world

1431: Joan of Arc, French peasant girl who became a national heroine, was burned at the stake in Rouen for heresy. She was canonised in 1920 on the anniversary of her death.

1498: Christopher Columbus set sail on his third voyage of discovery in which he would discover the South American mainland.

1536: King Henry VIII married Jane Seymour, the third of his six wives, in the Queen’s Chapel, Whitehall, 11 days after the execution of Anne Boleyn.

1593: Christopher Marlowe, English playwright who greatly influenced Shakespeare, was killed in a tavern brawl.

1656: The Grenadier Guards, the senior regiment of the British Army, was formed.

1672: Peter the Great, Emperor of Russia, was born in Moscow. He decided that all Russians should be clean-shaven. Those exempted had to pay a beard tax.

1842: An attempt was made on the life of Queen Victoria as she drove down Constitution Hill with Prince Albert. The would-be assassin was John Francis.

1946: Labour minister of food John Strachey announced that bread would be rationed, with the greatest allowance going to manual workers in heavy industry.

1959: The first full-sized experimental hovercraft, built by Saunders-Roe, was launched at Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

1989: Cliff Richard released his 100th pop single.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: It was revealed that the first episode of the new-look Top Gear, with Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc at the helm, had failed to reach the viewing figures of the last series with Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.

BIRTHDAYS Bob Willis, broadcaster and former cricketer, 68; Harry Enfield, comedian, 56; Wynonna Judd, country singer/actress, 53; Tim Burgess, rock singer (The Charlatans), 50; Andy Farrell, former rugby player, 42; Steven Gerrard, former footballer, 37. Jennifer Ellison, actress, 34; Jonathan Fox, swimmer, 26.