SWINDON

1952: Tony Hollick, 16, whose family home was in Bruce Street, won a bird identification contest on a |BBC television programme for children and young people. He correctly named six species - green woodpecker, woodpigeon, stock dove, kestrel, sparrowhawk and spotted woodpecker. Tony, an apprentice with Teesdale and Jones, the Fleet Street homewares shop, was invited to the BBC’s studio in Lime Grove, Shepherds Bush.

1962: The Deputy Mayor of Swindon, Alderman TG Gay, spoke out about modern attitudes to the National Anthem. He told an Adver reporter he was very impressed when children at a Commonwealth Day ceremony stood for the anthem, but was less impressed by the conduct of older people on other occasions at cinemas. At the time, the anthem was usually played at the end of films. He said: “I have often noticed that many adults take little notice of the National Anthem and rush to the exit doors when it is to be played at the end of a programme.”

1972: It was revealed that the planned North Star site of the new Swindon College extension and sports centre faced a special challenge - spontaneous combustion. The site had previously been part of the Railway Works and ashes from locomotives were deposited there for many years.

THE WORLD

1455: In the War of the Roses, the Lancastrians defeated the Yorkists at the Battle of St Albans.

1611: James I created the title “baronet”.

1813: Richard Wagner, operatic composer, was born in Leipzig.

1859: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (pictured), creator of Sherlock Holmes, was born of Irish

parents in Edinburgh.

1897: The Blackwall Tunnel under the Thames was officially opened.

1908: The Wright Brothers patented their flying machine.

1972: Ceylon became the Republic of Sri Lanka.

1981: ‘Yorkshire Ripper’ Peter Sutcliffe was found guilty at the Old Bailey of murdering 13 women and attempting to murder seven others. He was sentenced to 30 years minimum.

2017: The birthplace of the human race may be Mediterranean Europe and not Africa, a controversial new discovery suggested.

BIRTHDAYS

Charles Aznavour, singer, 94; Cheryl Campbell, actress, 69; Bernie Taupin, songwriter, 68; Morrissey, singer, 59; Naomi

Campbell (pictured), model, 48; Katie Price (Jordan), model, businesswoman, 40.