Swindon

1950: A ratepayers’ meeting in Upper Stratton came out overwhelmingly against a proposal to absorb the community into the Borough of Swindon. A resolution opposing the merger was carried unanimously, and there was overwhelming applause by about 250 people. They wanted instead to remain under the umbrella of Highworth Rural Council. The will of the people was readily acknowledged by the parish council.

1950: A £27,000 order for the Festival of Britain – the national celebration of all things British which was scheduled for the following year – was secured by a Swindon firm of architectural metal workers. Wessex Guild Ltd of Morley Street was contracted to provide complete exhibition features for the Transport Pavilion on the South Bank in London and most of the public seating in Battersea Park.

1961: The official blue pennant was stolen from the car of Mayor of Swindon Alderman TG Gay. The car was parked outside his home in Broome Manor Lane while Ald Gay and his assistant were inside, discussing the day’s schedule of official engagements. During the previous 18 months, at least three of the pennants had been stolen, and each cost 15 shillings – 75p in decimal currency – to replace.

1961: The first stage of what would eventually become Debenham’s and its associated office block in the centre of Swindon was due for completion early the following year, according to developers Oddenino’s Property and Investments. It was expected that the £1m development would be complete by the end of 1963.

1971: A documentary play about Swindon by a local headmaster was to be included in the 1972 spring playbill of the new Wyvern Theatre. Also in the package were a musical, a Shakespeare tragedy, a concert by old-time bandleader Syd Lawrence and his orchestra, and performances by folk singers the Dubliners, progressive rockers the Strawbs and jazz musician Chris Barber. Lovers of classical music could look forward to appearances by Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the Bristol Sinfonia.

1971: Father Christmas arrived nearly a month ahead of schedule at Rodbourne Cheney Junior School during its festive bazaar, where he gave away presents. In a remarkable coincidence, he the kindly man with the beard bore more than a passing resemblance to equally kindly school lollipop man Bert Cowshell.

The world

1530: Following his arrest for treason, Cardinal Wolsey was recalled to London and died on the way at Leicester. He was buried there in Abbey Park.

1797: Gaetano Donizetti, opera composer (Lucia de Lammermoor), was born in Bergamo, Italy.

1832: Louisa M Alcott, author of Little Women, was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania.

1895: Busby Berkeley, choreographer and director who devised a style which revolutionised Hollywood musicals, was born. His kaleidoscopic ballets, with overhead shots to show the changing patterns his dancers could create, were his trademark in films such as 42nd Street and Gold Diggers Of 1933.

1907: Nurse Florence Nightingale, the “Lady of the Lamp’’, was presented with the Order of Merit by Edward VII for her work during the Crimean War.

1929: US admiral Richard Byrd, with pilot Bernt Balchen, became the first man to fly over the South Pole.

1932: The first performance took place of Cole Porter’s The Gay Divorcee in New York starring Fred Astaire and featuring the song Night And Day.

1934: First broadcast of a royal wedding - that of the Duke of Kent and Princess Marina in Westminster Abbey.

1954: Sir George Robey, comedian and actor, died. He introduced the song If You Were The Only Girl In The World during the First World War.

1986: Debonair British-born actor Cary Grant died.

2010: A French couple came forward with 271 previously unknown works by Picasso - a staggering trove worth £50 million.

Birthdays

Dame Shirley Porter, former politician, 87; Jacques Chirac, French politician, 85; Diane Ladd, actress, 82; David Rintoul, actor, 69; Don Cheadle, actor, 53; Ryan Giggs, footballer, 44; Anna Faris, actress, 41; Simon Amstell, comedian/television presenter, 38.