SWINDON

1952: Inseparable friends for 70 years, Mrs K Simpkins, 85, and Mrs A M Taylor, 88, of Chelworth House, Cricklade, were among the 400 Wiltshire pensioners who enjoyed a cut-price holiday at Weymouth. Mrs Taylor last enjoyed a holiday 50 years ago. Some of the old folk went on a cruise to the harbour where they went aboard the aircraft carrier Indefatigable as the Home Fleet were in Portsmouth.

1962: A display of Great Britain's Penny Blacks and Reds and some details of the postal history of Cheltenham were given at a meeting of the Swindon Philatelic Society, by Mr R C Alcock of Cheltenham. He was thanked by Mr A Wood and Commander O Arkell. Mr K Carter, president of the society, presided.

1972: Judging took place at the Keep Britain Tidy Competition organised by Highworth Rural and District Council. The result was a win for three of the 11 schools taking part. The Senior section was won by Warneford School in Highworth with an enterprising survey of Highworth environment.

THE WORLD

1533: Henry VIII divorced Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn, wife number two. The result was a break with the church in Rome.

1701: Scottish pirate William Kidd was hanged at Execution Dock in London for piracy.

1706: Marlborough defeated the French at the Battle of Ramilles in Belgium.

1795: Sir Charles Barry, architect, was born in Westminster. With assistant

Augustus Pugin, he designed the new Houses of Parliament.

1873: The North West Mounted Police were established in Canada - the name was changed to The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1920.

1887: The French crown jewels went on sale and raised six million francs.

1931: Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire opened.

1934: Bank robbers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were shot dead in an ambush by Texas Rangers near Gibland, Louisiana.

1945: Heinrich Himmler, Hitler's minister of the interior, committed suicide.

1960: The Israelis announced the capture of war criminal Adolf Eichmann.

2917: Former James Bond star Sir Roger Moore died aged 89, following a battle with prostate cancer.

BIRTHDAYS

Joan Collins, actress, 85; Johnny Ball, presenter, 80; Anatoly

Karpov, chess champion, 67; Marvin Hagler, former boxer, 64; Drew Carey, actor, 60; Graeme Hick, former cricketer, 52; Phil Selway, rock drummer (Radiohead), 51; Rubens Barrichello, former F1 driver, 46; Jewel, singer, 44; Heidi Range, singer, 35.