1952

THE new infants' school at Akers Way in Moredon,with places for 240 pupils, was rapidly nearing completion. Part of the building had originally been planned as a nursery catering for children aged three to five, but education officials soon realised that there would not be enough space until the completion of the 480-pupil junior school on the same site. In the meantime, infants and some of the local junior pupils would share accommodation.

MR JL Thomas, who had succeeded Mr Paul Cherrington the previous September as Bristol University's resident tutor in North Wiltshire, was about to make his debut with Swindon Debating Society. He was to oppose Mr NG Liddiard's motion: "That economic planning impairs the true nature of freedom."

1962

A HIGHWORTH couple, Mr and Mrs LC Elbrow, who lived in High Street, were due to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary the following Saturday. When the two were married, Queen Victoria had died only the previous year. They had met at Longcot School. The couple had 16 children, 12 of whom survived, but Mrs Elbrow said two children were enough for anybody.

SWINDON music lovers learned they had only a month to wait before hearing the new partnership of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and its recently-appointed principal conductor, Constantin Silvestri. For their appearance at the Central Hall, the conductor had chosen a programme entirely for strings, which was described as not only the most popular pieces but also more obscure works.

1972

SWINDON MP David Stoddart spoke at a meeting of the local Labour Party in the town centre, ahead of the Conservative government's budget. Mr Stoddard said he very much hoped there would be a substantial increase in the state pension, as he believed senior citizens had seen their incomes dwindle in real terms. He also hoped there would be extra help for young families on low incomes.

SWINDON choirs came away with three trophies from Bristol Eisteddfod, and earned high praise from the event's adjudicator, Mr Hervey Alan. The Olive Love Singers won the Joseph Jenkins Shield in the adult choir class for any number of voices, and their 91 marks put them narrowly ahead of the runners-up, a Bristol choir.

THE WORLD

1413: Henry IV, also known as Henry of Bolingbroke, died aged 45 after suffering a stroke at Westminster Abbey.

1549: Death of Thomas Seymour, Lord High Admiral of England, who married Henry VIII's widow Catherine Parr. When she died, he planned to marry Princess Elizabeth - but was arrested for treason and executed.

1806: The foundation stone of Dartmoor prison in Devon was laid by Thomas Tyrwhitt.

1815: After his banishment to Elba, Napoleon returned to regain power in France. It was his "Last Hundred Days", ended by defeat at Waterloo.

1819: The famous and exclusive Burlington Arcade opened in London.

1852: Uncle Tom's Cabin, an anti-slavery novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe, was published. It became the best-selling novel of the 19th century.

1890: Beniamino Gigli, great Italian tenor, who succeeded Caruso at the New York Met, was born in Recanati, near Ancona.

1969: Beatle John Lennon married Yoko Ono in Gibraltar.

1974: An attempt to kidnap Princess Anne was made by a gunman who fired six shots, then tried to drag her from her car in Pall Mall. He was later charged with attempted murder.

1980: The pirate radio station Radio Caroline, on the ship Mi Amigo, sank after 16 years of broadcasting.

1989: The IRA killed two senior Royal Ulster Constabulary officers in an ambush.

2017: TV viewing figures revealed Ant And Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway had trumped its competition once again to dominate Saturday-night ratings.

BIRTHDAYS

Dame Vera Lynn, singer, 101; Brian Mulroney, former Canadian prime minister, 79; William Hurt, actor, 68; Spike Lee, actor/director, 61; Theresa Russell, actress, 61; Holly Hunter, actress, 60; Paul Merson, former footballer, 50; Michael Rapaport, actor, 48; Alex Kapranos, singer and guitarist (Franz Ferdinand), 46; Jane March, actress, 45; Freema Agyeman, actress, 39.