SWINDON

1952: For the second year running Mr Alfred Simmonds, Marlborough’s Town Crier and Borough Beadle, won the Best Dressed section of the National Town Crier Championships at Hastings. Among the judges were Sgt Major R W Smiths of the Coldstream Guards and Miss Annette Mills, star of children’s television show Muffin The Mule.

1952: With the Mayor of Swindon, Ald A E Long, at the driver’s controls and a band of aldermen, councillors and their friends in the carriages behind, the miniature steam engine pulled on to the tracks at the opening the railway season at Coate Water in Swindon. After the trip, and back at Coate Water Station, a wooden structure with a nearby miniature water tank, the mayor was congratulated on his driving.

1962: The Imperial Service Medal was presented by Group Captain D W Densham to Mr F L Starlett of Somerset Road, Swindon, a civilian instructor employed at No 2 Radio School, RAF Yatesbury, in recognition of his long and meritorious service in the RAF.

1962: The Minister of Education, Sir David Eccles, has heard objections about the transfer of Park South Swindon children to schools in other parts of the town. At the House of Commons he met four representatives of the Park South parents who signed a petition against the compulsory move. A new school in Priory Road was expected to take 18 months to build.

1973: Sixth formers from Wootton Bassett School broke the world record for bed-pushing but it had looked at one point as if they would have to abandon the attempt as one of the struts supporting the wheels of the bed snapped. A workman at a nearby site came to the rescue and welded it back while they were still going - literally a running repair!

1973: Jockey and racing journalist Lord Oaksey co-scripted a film called Dead Cert, based on the book by ex jockey and thriller writer Dick Francis. Lord Oaksey, who ran the 100-acre Hill Farm in the Wiltshire village of Oaksey, was also adviser on the film.

THE WORLD

1643: In the English Civil War, the Cavaliers scored an early success with victory over the Roundheads at Roundway Down.

1793: Jean Paul Marat, French revolutionary leader, was stabbed to death by Charlotte Corday while in his bath.

1837: Queen Victoria moved into Buckingham Palace, the first monarch to live there.

1930: The first World Cup football tournament kicked off in Uruguay.

1939: Frank Sinatra made his first record, From The Bottom Of My Heart, with the Harry James Band.

1947: Europe accepted Marshall Aid, the US financial package to help recovery after the Second World War.

1951: Composer Arnold Schoenberg died in Los Angeles. As he was born on September 13, 1874, and was superstitious, he always said he would die on his 76th birthday because seven plus six equalled 13. He died on Friday, July 13, 1951, at 13 minutes to midnight, in his 76th year.

1955: Nightclub hostess Ruth Ellis became the last woman hanged in Britain when the sentence for murdering her lover David Blakely was carried out at Holloway Prison.

1973: The Everly Brothers parted on stage in California when Phil smashed his guitar and stormed off, leaving Don to finish the gig.

BIRTHDAYS

Patrick Stewart, actor, 78; Harrison Ford, actor, 76; Roger McGuinn, rock musician (The Byrds), 76; Erno Rubik, Rubik’s Cube inventor, 74; Michael Spinks, former boxer, 62; Cameron Crowe, film director, 61; Ian Hislop, Private Eye editor, 58.