Swindon

1951: Mrs G Hill, president, told South Marston Women’s Institute members she had received a visitor from Waiata Women’s Institute in New Zealand. She then distributed tinned cheese, a gift from that institute.

1951: An American girl, Marian Walsenbach travelled more than 3,000 miles from her home in Long Island, New York, to be married in Swindon. She was met at Southampton docks on the gangway by her fiance Capt Nathan T Lassiter, United States Air Force. They were married at Holy Rood Catholic Church and with no one to give the bride away they walked down the aisle together. Capt Claire P Egan was bridesmaid and carried orchids, like the bride, but like the best man, Capt Gerald G Sears, she was in uniform. She was in the US Air Force Nursing Corps and had to return to work at Burderop Hospital directly after the marriage.

1961: Kathleen Cunningham adjudicator at the Swindon Music Festival said the speech section was of a good standard. She spoke after the finals of the preliminary tests held earlier. Walcot East Junior School won the Under 12s trophy for choral verse – speech classes.

1961: A miniature whirlwind struck Rodbourne Road, Swindon, at the speed of lightning and within 10 seconds a 50 yard stretch of road was devastated. Slates were snatched from roof tops whirling through the air and into shop windows or crashing on to the pavements.

1971: A revolutionary book calling for the overthrow of organised religion in Britain was written by the Vicar of Hilmarton, in his quiet country home near Calne. The Rev L Roose Francis wrote Christ Incognito and the Church Myth, which demands that church should be controlled by the state. The Bishop of London said the book has provoked a good deal of thought!

1971: Some old bones have been dug up by men working on the construction of a new weir on the River Kennet at Marlborough. Employees of the Thames Conservancy Board were working underneath Pewsey Road Bridge. They also found small clay tobacco pipes and a complete green glass bottle. The bones are believed to be that of a horse.

The world 1741: A weary Handel finished his Messiah, 24 days after he had started it. Supplied with the libretto, he confined himself in his room at Brook Street, London, living almost entirely on coffee until he completed the music.

1812: Napoleon entered Moscow, which had been abandoned by the Russians and their scorched earth policy. But winter was approaching and Napoleon soon had to retreat.

1852: The Duke of Wellington, English military commander, the ‘’Iron Duke’’, victor at Waterloo, statesman and Tory Prime Minister, died aged 83 at Walmer Castle in Kent.

1886: The typewriter ribbon was patented by George Anderson of Memphis, Tennessee.

1891: The first penalty kick in an English League football game was taken by Heath of Wolverhampton Wanderers against Accrington. Previously, an infringement resulted only in a free kick for the wronged side.

1901: US president William McKinley died in Buffalo, eight days after being shot by an anarchist. He was succeeded by Theodore Roosevelt.

1927: Isadora Duncan, the American dancer, was strangled by her scarf in Nice when the fringe caught in the wheel of a Bugatti sports car.

1964: The British daily newspaper the Daily Herald ceased publication and was replaced by The Sun.

1974: Chia-Chia and Ching-Ching, giant pandas, arrived at London Zoo.

1982: Princess Grace of Monaco, sometimes better known as American actress Grace Kelly, died in Monaco’s hospital without regaining consciousness after a car crash the previous day.

Birthdays Amanda Barrie, actress, 82; Walter Koenig, actor, 81; Sam Neill, actor, 70; Ray Wilkins, football coach, 61; Mary Crosby, actress, 58; Morten Harket, singer, 58; Kimberly Williams, actress, 46; Andrew Lincoln, actor, 44; Tinchy Stryder, rapper, 30.