SWINDON

1952: It was reported that the introduction of the Lawn system at Whitworth Road Cemetery was to be recommended to Swindon Town Council by the Parish committee. The Lawn system meant that headstones would not be allowed to exceed 2ft 6in in height, 3ft wide and 3in thick. Also there would be no mounting of graves or other monuments. The Lawn system was adopted by the War Graves Commission as it permitted the use of mowing machines.

1952: Miss E Beechey of Graham Street, Swindon, who for the past three and a half years was night sister at the Kingshill Maternity Hospital in Swindon has become a missionary. She sailed from Southampton to take up a sister's position in the Mission Hospital at Johannesburg, South Africa.

1962: Chiseldon villagers were dissatisfied with the state of their disused railway station, which they declared was an eyesore. Among the concerns were that Chiseldon station was in the centre of the village which meant it was seen by everybody who passed through. Also its dilapidated state was a danger to children playing there. The concerns were put to a meeting of the Parish Council.

1962: An account of the six and a half years she had spent with the Women's Auxiliary Air Forces was given to members of Swindon Goddard Townswomen's Guild at their meeting, by Mrs W G n Cutts, MBE of Hilperton. Mrs Cutts described her career as a singer before joining the WAAF in 1939 at the outbreak of the Second World War. She was made corporal with Bomber Command.

1972: It was reported that Dudley Tyler, the Swindon born, hole-in-the-heart footballer may sign for West Ham. Tyler was the star of Southern League Hereford's Football Association clashes with Newcastle and West Ham. The manager at West Ham Ron Greenwood was in talks with Hereford and promised to pay a record fee for Tyler.

1972: A Great Bedwyn stone mason has lost his fight to keep open a village church. Mr Benjamin Lloyd, 49, says there was a memorial to a member of his wife's family on the wall of St Nicholas' Church, Berwick Bassett. His appeal against making the church redundant was refused by the Privy Council Judicial Committee.

THE WORLD

1471: The Yorkists defeated the Lancastrians at the Battle of Tewkesbury in the War of the Roses.

1780: The first Derby was run at Epsom.

1839: The Cunard shipping line was founded by Canadian Sir Samuel Cunard.

1896: The Daily Mail, founded by Lord Northcliffe, was first published, priced one halfpenny.

1904: Charles Rolls and Henry Royce signed a provisional agreement to produce Rolls-Royce cars.

1926: The General Strike began, the first in British history. It was called off on May 12.

1974: Abba reached the top of the pop charts with Waterloo, the Eurovision song contest winner.

1979: Margaret Thatcher became Britain's first woman prime minister.

1982: HMS Sheffield was struck by an Exocet missile during the Falklands War. It was the first British ship to be lost to enemy action since the Second World War.

1990: Latvia declared itself an independent democratic republic in the first stage of withdrawal from the Soviet Union.

2000: Ken Livingstone became the first Mayor of London.

2017: The Duke of Edinburgh's contribution to national life and his ''steadfast support'' of the Queen were praised following his decision to step down from public duties.

BIRTHDAYS

Hosni Mubarak, former president of Egypt, 90; John Watson, former racing driver, 72; Michael Barrymore, TV personality, 66; Randy Travis, country singer, 59; Jay Aston, singer (Bucks Fizz), 57; Kate Garraway, TV presenter, 51; Julian Barratt, comedian/actor, 50; Rory McIlroy, golfer, 29.