Swindon

Friday August 4

1951: An outbreak of German measles at Marlborough College prevented the RAF school cadets from joining the camp holiday held at Hullavington aerodrome.

1951: Swindon film star Diana Dors was offered a seven-year contract to make pictures in Hollywood. Her father, Mr A E S Fluck of Marlborough Road, Swindon, said it would mean her going to America this year following the lapse of her contract with J Arthur Rank.

1961: Last year 90 dead bats were found among the pews of the parish church of St Andrew's in Shrivenham. This was followed by a second attempt to get rid of the bats in the belfry by a similar fumigation. The Vicar, the Rev R F W Durrant said he had not wanted to kill the bats as they did no harm to the church but they were a nuisance to the cleaners.

1961: Three Swindon model enthusiasts have attended the 34th Model Engineering Exhibition in London. They were Brian Mercer of Penhill, Graham Butler of Devon Road and Mr D Bryant of Walcot. All three had built model aircraft which were on show among the1000 exhibits.

1971: A stay of execution for the 371 men officially declared redundant by the British Rail Engineering Ltd at the Swindon works began while the management worked out which men were to go. The Men's Work Committee also had to take a look at the books. A mass meeting was held at the factory to put workers in the picture.

1971: Improvements to the footpath at the corner of High Street and the Brow, Haydon Wick have begun, Haydon Wick Parish Council heard. Coun Mrs M Farrell had complained that the corner was a serious danger to children. Also complaints from residents were heard by councillors about the poor state of the fence around the playing fields.