SWINDON

1952: A few days earlier, Mrs Joan Singer had called a flat in Swindon’s Bath Road home. Now she lived in an eight-roomed bungalow in Nairobi, Kenya. Mrs Singer had flown out to join her husband, Leslie, along with the couple’s three children. Mr Singer, formerly employed at the Railway Works, had worked for the past year as a foreman-turner with East African Railways and Harbours.

1952: Members of the Swindon branch of the Royal Artillery Association were to have a chance of meeting their national chairman, Lieutenant General Sir Otto M Lund, at a forthcoming get-together organised by branch chairman Mr WA Exton. Later in his visit to the area Sir Otto, who was also Colonel Commandant, Royal Horse Artillery, was to inspect the St John Ambulance Brigade at Bradford-on-Avon.

1962: The Swindon Amateur Light Operatic Society (SALOS) appointed a professional producer, Miss Pat Donovan, to direct its next production, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel. The show was to run at the Mechanics’ Institute from October 17-28. Miss Donovan’s CV included several productions for the Worthing Light Operatic Society, including New Moon, Lilac Time and The Desert Song.

1962: Gordon Taylor, chairman of Bath Floral Decoration Society, gave a talk to Swindon Central Townswomen’s Guild at the Town Hall. His advice included a tip for keeping tulips fresh: “If your tulips show signs of wilting after you’ve picked them, the thing to do is wrap them completely in newspaper and plunge their stems for half a minute into boiling water. Then put them into a bucket of cold water and stand it in a cool place. They should last as long as you want them to.”

1972: Garrard Engineering, the Swindon manufacturer of turntables acclaimed by hi-fi buffs all over the world, was preparing to welcome a party of about 20 West German retailers on a fact-finding tour of the company’s Cheney Manor and Newcastle Street factories. Bosses said this reflected the fact that West Germany was a very important market.

1972: With the Swindon Market building about to be demolished as part of the Brunel Centre scheme, the town was to have new market location. Unfortunately, nobody seemed able to say where it would be. The Association of Swindon Market Traders called a special meeting to discuss the issue, and demanded more clarity from the council.

THE WORLD

1671: Irish adventurer Capt Thomas Blood made an unsuccessful attempt to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower Of London.

1800: John Brown, US abolitionist, was born.

1860: JM Barrie, Scottish playwright and author of Peter Pan, was born inKirriemuir, Angus.

1955: West Germany joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

1946: Victor Emmanuel III, King of Italy, abdicated.

1971: Elizabeth Bonner ran the female world record marathon in a time of 3:01:42.

1978: The body of former Italian prime minister Aldo Moro was found in the boot of a car in central Rome, a victim of the Red Brigade.

1988: Australia’s new parliament house was opened by the Queen in Canberra.

1994: Mass murderer Joel Rifkind was found guilty in New York City.

2012: United States President Barack Obama officially stated his support for same sex marriage.

2017: Tim Farron took to a hovercraft as he launched the Liberal Democrats’ General Election push in the South West.

BIRTHDAYS

Alan Bennett, playwright and author, 84; Albert Finney, actor, 82; Glenda Jackson, actress turned politician, 82; James L Brooks, writer, producer and director, 78; Candice Bergen, actress, 72; Billy Joel, singer, 69; John Corbett, actor, 57; Dave Gahan, singer (Depeche Mode), 56; Neil Ruddock, former footballer, 50.