Friday June 24

1949: There was a noteworthy gathering at the City of London Club when Guy Kindersley (the chairman) and more than 20 members of the Old Marlburians entertained the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor and Lord Justice Goddard. It is believed to be unique in the history of any public school for three of its old boys to fill these great offices of state at the same time.

1949: On the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya colony, East Africa are situated the kennels of No 3 Dog Company, Corps of Royal Military Police. Here, 50 dogs of all breeds are trained to deal with thieves. One of the masters is Corporal Brian Millard whose home is at Chestnut Avenue, Swindon. Brian is a regular soldier serving in the Royal Artillery before joining the Military Police. His dog is a six-year-old Alsatian called Bob.

1958: Members of Rodbourne Cheney Townswomen’s Guild Choir took their husbands and children on an outing to Southsea. They travelled by coach and despite the poor weather had an enjoyable day.

1958: A travelling exhibition of photographs on the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland will open a tour of Southern and Western England at the Central Library in Swindon. The exhibition is one of several shows which were shown in Swindon recently providing up to date and authoritative background information on Commonwealth developments. The Swindon show consists of 18 panels dealing with the people of Rhodesia, the way they live their lives and the scenic beauties of that part of Africa.

1979: First it was Wiltshire rates shocker - and now it is Thamesdown Council's turn. Hard on the heels of a warning from the county of a 30 per cent increase, comes a second threat. Thamesdown's rates could rocket by more than 40 per cent. This would be a serious blow for Swindon area ratepayers so now the fight is on to cut to the bone.

1979: Garry Walker showed his mettle as a hill climber when he won Swindon Road Club's 33-mile Downland Circuit event. Owing to clashes with other races only six riders took part. Walker starting at number 5 soon made his mark and was clearly leading at Hackpen Hill.

Saturday June 25

1949: There is a possibility after all of a last minute reprieve for the Playhouse Theatre in Swindon. It is understood that it depends entirely on the Swindon public's support next week. If there is an 11th hour rally of theatre lovers, which justifies carrying on the theatre, it may not close. More than 200 representatives of amateur dramatic societies will attend Monday night's performance.

1949: After spending three years in Sarawak, Ernest William Cousens and his wife have arrived back in Swindon for a six month visit. Mr Cousens, 33, was born in Swindon and educated at Commonweal Secondary Modern School. He went out to Sarawak in 1940 where he was later interned by the Japanese when they captured the island. Four years later he was released, returned home, and married Margaret Beard. He is now employed by the Sarawak Administration Service.

1958: Another fine spell from fast bowler O Harrison was a big factor in the Morse Shield victory of Morse's at the Country Ground in Swindon. Harrison followed up his previous 23 against Swindon British Rail Locomotives Sport in the previous run with five for 11 against NALGO who were beaten by 23 runs.

1958: In 1956 Johnny Morris broadcast on the BBC about his trip on the River Thames with Bernard Braden and Barbara Kelly. Now he is back with a programme called Lechlade - A Journey On the Thames with Bruce Campbell. He is going by motorboat from Lechlade and will describe the wildlife be sees on the Upper reaches of the Thames.

1979: Seconds after a pilot ran clear of his crashed helicopter at Aldbourne, the machine exploded in a ball of flame. Pilot Brian Taylor, 30, of Aberdeen was spraying wheat at Ladbourne Warren Farm. He was trying to avoid electricity wires when his plane plunged to the ground. The pilot was taken to the Princess Margaret Hospital in Swindon where he was treated for slight cuts.

1979: There was indeed some strange pebbles that a Broad Town woman found at her home, scattered on the driveway. After a shower of rain they gave off a terrible smell. Swindon fire chief, David Paine, said the pebbles were 6lbs of calcium carbide pellets. When soaked they give off a potentially explosive acetylene gas. Firemen came in to deal with the problem.

Monday, June 27

1949: Swindon railway men at a special branch meeting of the National Union of Railwaymen decided to reject the amended offer given to their Union by the Railway Executive in reply to the Union's claim for a 10s a week wage increase. Swindon No 2 Branch met at the Labour Room in Milton Road.

1958: Miss J M Calley, patron of the living of Chiseldon, opened the fete in aid of Church General and Bell Fund at the Memorial Hall. Doreen Johnston, three, daughter of organiser, Mrs J Johnston, presented Miss Calley with a bouquet. A novel feature at the fete was a set of handbells which visitors were able to ring if they made a contribution to the bell fund. Miss D Hare told fortunes.

1979: Thamesdown Council's industrial advisor, Douglas Smith, has taken a £30,000 gamble to bring American investment to Swindon. He is to meet representatives of 140 American countries on a three week tour of the USA. Mr Smith said that if the trip resulted in 500 jobs coming to Swindon it would be a tremendous success.

Tuesday, June 28

1949: While cycling along Highworth Road, in South Marston, Mr Large of Council Houses, South Marston, witnessed a fight to the death between a rat and a grass snake. The rat scurried away when Mr Large approached but it had been the victor as the snake died a few seconds later.

1958: A mystery germ which has made 80 employees ill in a South Marston aircraft factory is baffling medical experts. Food poisoning is suspected but so far there is no evidence. About 50 men and women became ill after a pork and stuffing lunch at the Vickers Armstrong plant.

1979: Tons of thousands of fish are dying at Swindon's Coate Water and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Great shoals of young fish, mainly Bream, are being destroyed by a horrible disease, almost certainly columnaris. Fishing at Coate and down river has been banned. Experts say that as the disease is only attacking little fish they hope it won't be too serious for Swindon.

Wednesday, June 29

1949: Following her success in the All England Dancing Competition at Reading, when she carried off the first prize with honours in Tap Dancing event and fourth in the character class, Gillian Clarke, four and a half, of Swindon, was placed fourth in the Tap Dance finals in London. Gillian from Cunningham Road, is the youngest and smallest to enter the London final.

1949: The exhibition at the Upper Stratton Secondary Modern School was planned to show visitors the progress of individual pupils through the school's various stages. This was not a display of selected work but the everyday results from the classroom and no attempt to embellish. There were appetising dishes created by the cooking class, art, needlework, dressmaking, metal and woodwork examples alongside the Three Rs.

1958: Eighty-two main line diesel hydraulic locomotives for the Western region were ordered last year. 30 of them are being built in Swindon. The 82 represent the first major stage of the region's dieselisation plans for complete replacement of steam by diesel traction in all freight, passenger and shunting services including the Paddington to Bristol line that runs through Swindon.

1958: The Band of Swindon Bellringers performed a record peal at the South Marston Church - 5,040 changes in 62 different methods. The six-man team were conducted by Anthony Peake.

1979: Man of war Mike Hoffman of Eastrop, Highworth, is returning triumphant in his 1945 Daimler Dingo armoured scout car from battle. Along with wife Caroline, Mike won the Wilkinson Sword trophy for the best restored vehicle at the International Air Tattoo near Newbury.

1979: To mark his memorable mayoral year in office, Coun Ashley Roberts, Mayor of Thamesdown, was presented with a press cuttings book. The presentation was made by Pat Wheare editor of the Evening Advertiser at Newspaper House, Victoria Road. The press cuttings book contained stories and photographs recording the mayor's events during the year.

Thursday June 30

1949: Children and parents danced together on the lawn outside the new school in Highworth, when a folk dancing festival was given by the school children. Senior boys gave a demonstration of exercises with gymnastic apparatus. At the end of the festival the Headmaster Mr A Barker-Jones invited everyone to join in the Circassion Circle dance.

1949: One of the most astounded men in Swindon this week was Mr W H Selwood of Brunswick Street, who went to his fowls’ house and found an egg weighing five and a half ounces. The egg had been laid by a two-year-old Rhode Island Red crossed with a Black Minorca and it was nearly 4” long.

1958: A glider, flown by David Preston, 29, a furniture designer from Cranmore Avenue, Swindon came down in a school playing field near Southampton. The German-built machine belonging to the gliding and sailing club RAF Upavon broke in two but Mr Preston was unhurt.

1958: A certificate signed by the Queen was presented to a Swindon Girl Guide at the Drove School, Swindon. Mary Winslow of the 11 Swindon (St Saviour's) Company was presented with her Queen's Guide Badge and certificate by Lady Oaksey the North Wiltshire Division president.

1979: Swindon Teddy boys are planning a peaceful demonstration against Tony Blackburn the BBC disc jocky when he comes to Swindon. The Teds want more rock 'n' roll played on the radio and Tony doesn't play it, they say. Tony is bringing the Radio One Roadshow to the Brunel Centre.

1979: A former polio victim on a 480-mile cycle ride will stay in Swindon tonight. Dr David De La Motte, a 40-year-old biologist from London, plans to put up for the night at Roughmoor Breakthrough Trust Centre at Shaw. The doctor, who is partially deaf, set off from Westminster on the marathon pedal and is raising money for the heard of hearing. Polio put him in a wheelchair when he was 20-years-old and left him with weakened legs but he still cycles daily into work.