1952

SWINDON magistrates gave a helping hand to a 65-year-old man called Clement Arthur Dale, who was homeless and had been arrested for begging. Hearing that he was able to drink only milk following a stomach operation, they ordered a bed for him in the police cells and added a request that he should have milk for his supper. A probation officer was asked to put him on the following morning's first train to Stoke-on-Trent, where he had relations.

THE second-youngest visitor to the Moredon Ladies' Guild's fourth birthday supper at the Co-operative Hall in East Street was eight-year-old Carol Selwood, who was awarded the prize for being the youngest because the actual youngest, Carolyn Follitt, was too shy to compete. Carol immediately gave most of her prize, a bar of chocolate, to Carolyn.

1962

THIEVES had been busy overnight in Swindon. Groceries and a spare wheel were stolen from a mobile shop parked in Sanford Street, while five more bicycles were added to the tally of those stolen across the town in recent days. The police appealed for cyclists to lock their bikes, and appealed for motorists not to leave valuables in their vehicles.

PARK Girls' Club, a group of teenagers best known for charity work, was investigating the possibility of moving to a permanent home. We said: "Formed 10 months ago, the club has been holding its weekly meetings in one room at Princes Farm, Cranmore Avenue, but with increased activities and growing membership, its members are now feeling the need for more spacious surroundings."

1972

SWINDON MP David Stoddart presented a local petition against the provisions of a new housing Bill amid cheers in the Commons. The petition, sponsored by the Swindon United Tenants' Association and bearing 3,500 signatures, protested that the planned new law would add £1 a week to council house rents for 18 months, doubling the sum paid by millions of tenants.

A MEMBER of a Canadian women's organisation, the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, visited a friend in Swindon. Dorothy Laundy, who lived in British Columbia, was the guest of Yvonne Johnson, who lived in Windsor Road. Mrs Laundy also met members of Swindon's Business and Professional Women's Club at a coffee morning.

THE WORLD

1599: Oliver Cromwell was born in Huntingdon. He became Lord Protector of

England - Britain's first and only dictator.

1859: Work began on the 100-mile Suez Canal.

1872: C B Fry, all-round sportsman, was born in Croydon. He played football,

cricket and rugby and was also an athlete, hunter, fisherman and novelist.

1915: Australian, New Zealand, British and French forces landed on the

Gallipoli peninsula.

1926: Toscanini conducted the first performance of Puccini's last opera,

Turandot, in Milan.

1945: Fifty nations gathered in San Francisco to begin the United Nations

conference on International Organisations.

1969: The radio serial Mrs Dale's Diary ended after 21 years and 5,400

episodes. Her last words were: "I'm rather worried about Jim."

1975: Portugal held its first free elections for 50 years.

1983: In Germany, Stern published extracts from the so-called Hitler diaries,

also published by the Sunday Times in Britain. They were later found to be

forgeries.

2005: Bulgaria and Romania sign accession treaties to join the European Union.

2007: The world of football paid tribute after Alan Ball, the youngest member

of England's 1966 World Cup winning side, died of a heart attack at the age of 61.

2017: A child's risk of obesity as they grow up can be influenced by modifications to their DNA while in the womb caused by their mother's 'health, diet and lifestyle', new research suggested.

BIRTHDAYS

Al Pacino, actor, 78; Bjorn Ulvaeus, pop musician (Abba), 73; Talia Shire, actress, 72; Andy Bell, pop musician; (Erasure), 54; Renee Zellweger, actress, 49; Jason Lee, actor, 48.