swindon

1952: Opening with a bedtime scene, in which all those taking part were under the age of six, a programme of classical, ballet and national dances was presented at St Saviour’s Church Hall, Swindon, by pupils of Mrs E Fisher. The event was watched by an audience of 170 and soloists included Brenda Stallard, Judith Hockaday and Pat Bennett.

1962: A crowd of more than 200 watched the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment Band Beating Retreat at Regent Circus in Swindon. The salute was taken by the Mayor Coun A E Cockram who also inspected the band. Also on the salute platform were Mr M J Scott, chairman of Swindon June Dairy Festival Committee, and the Dairy Maid Hazel Gibson.

1972: A squadron at RAF Lyneham paraded for the last time for inspection by the Air Officer Commanding-In-Chief, Air Support Command. The command was planned to be disbanded and Lyneham become part of Striker Command. The final inspection was carried out by Air Marshall Sir Harry Burton.

THE WORLD

1768: Captain Cook set off on his first voyage, to explore the Antipodes.

1787: The Philadelphia Convention, headed by George Washington, began drawing up the USA constitution.

1840: The first drama school in Britain opened. Miss Kelly’s Theatre and Dramatic School in Dean Street, London, later became a theatre.

1871: The House of Commons passed the Bank Holiday Act, creating public holidays on Easter Monday, Whit Monday and Christmas Day.

1935: American athlete Jesse Owens set six world records within 45 minutes at Ann Arbor in Michigan.

1951: British diplomats Burgess and Maclean were first reported missing - they had defected to Moscow.

1962: Coventry’s new cathedral, designed by Sir Basil Spence, was consecrated.

1967: Glasgow Celtic became the first British football club to win the European Cup when they beat Inter Milan 2-1 in Lisbon.

1986: Bob Geldof’s Race Against Time had 30 million people worldwide running for Sport Aid to raise money for the starving in Africa.

2017: The University of Cambridge recruited a Lego Professor of Play, following widespread interest in what was billed as a dream job role.

BIRTHDAYS

Sir Ian McKellen, actor, 79; Alastair Campbell, former director of communications for the Labour Party, 61; Paul Weller, rock musician, 60; Julian Clary, comedian, 59; Anthea Turner, TV presenter, 58; Mike Myers, actor, writer and producer, 55; Anne Heche, actress, 49; Robert Croft, former cricketer, 48; Jamie Kennedy, actor and comedian, 48; Cillian Murphy, actor, 42; Jonny Wilkinson, former rugby player, 39.