1952: A replica of old Royal Flying Corps badge, beautifully carved from the blade of a wooden propeller, was given to the Swindon headquarters of the Royal Air Force Association to decorate its wall. It was presented by Mrs M Tibbitts of Baydon. The crest formerly belonged to her father, Group Capt William Millett, who joined the Flying Corps in its pioneering days. It was carved for him by his batman.

1952: The end of a geological controversy occurred when a three ton stone was lifted by crane to surmount a cairn of stones on a grass island at Greywethers Avenue, Swindon. It was the completion of a geological monument of considerable importance, and a tribute to the Swindon man whose interest in geology ended a 100-year controversy. Mr J B Jones of St Margaret's Road, was convinced that the Greywether stones were 40m years older than the downland sarsen stones. When the Greywether stones were unearthed in their natural sand he was proved right.

1962: The inaugural meeting of the Swindon and District Far East Prisoner of War Association was held in the Rifleman's Hotel, Swindon, when constitution and rules were adopted. About 20 people attended the meeting.

1962: More than 300 people attended the Marlborough Children's Convalescent Hospital ball held in the town hall in Marlborough. Guests were welcomed by the Matron Mrs D Harral and they included the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Marlborough. Dancing was to the music of The Eric Pearce Band. The supper room was transformed into a woodland.

1972: Following the walk out by men at the Plessey Company's Cheney Manor plant in Swindon, Union leaders and company officials have been meeting with Full Time Transport and General Workers Union Secretary Mr Albert Davey and the man at the centre of the redundancy dispute.

1972: The railway's golden age of steam was captured in an exhibition at the Museum and Art Gallery in Swindon. Using large coloured slides and encased model engines the exhibition on loan from the Science Museum in London explored the early development of railways.

THE WORLD
1488: Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Diaz became the first European to round the Cape of Good Hope.
1730: The first stock exchange quotations were published in the Daily Advertiser, London.
1762: English dandy and gambler Richard “Beau” Nash died.
1877: Chopsticks, the novelty piano piece, was registered at the British Museum.
1935: The jingle “We are the Ovaltineys, little girls and boys” was first sung on radio. Listeners were invited to join the Ovaltiney Club (with badge and rule book) and a coded message was given out each week.
1959: Buddy Holly, US singer and guitarist, died in an air crash, aged 22. With him were fellow rock ‘n’ rollers Ritchie Valens and JP “Big Bopper” Richardson.
1960: British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan made his historic “wind of change” speech to the South African Parliament in Cape Town, predicting the growth of national consciousness.
1966: The Russians made the first rocket-assisted controlled landing on the moon with Luna 9.
1977: The Government said it would hold referendums in Scotland and Wales on devolution.
1983: UK unemployment hit a record high of 3.22 million.
BIRTHDAYS
Dave Davies, rock singer, 71; Morgan Fairchild, actress, 68; Kirsty Wark, TV presenter, 63; Tim Flowers, former footballer, 51; Darren Peacock, former footballer, 50; Warwick Davis, actor, 48; Isla Fisher, actress, 42.