Swindon

1952: A Swindon soprano, Miss Pamela Davies, won the adult section of the Marlborough and District British Legion Amateur Talent Contest. The winner of the juvenile section of the contest, which attracted 23 entries, also came from Swindon. Wendy Reid, we said, enchanted the packed audience at Marlborough town hall with her singing and dancing. Prizes were distributed by the Carnival Queen, Miss June Noble, who was attended by Miss Ann Keen and Miss Jo Blunsdon, with pageboy Alan Robinson.

1962: An outline planning application by Swindon builders EH Bradley and Co Ltd to develop land south-east of Oxford Road in Stratton St Margaret was approved. The firm had approached Highworth Rural Council for permission to develop 125 acres, enough for 1,000 homes. At the time, the land was east of the boundary between the rural district and the Borough of Swindon, which were separate entities. A school and a shopping centre were included in the plan.

1972: After 14 years as bandmaster with the highly-respected Aldbourne Band, Bob Barnes retired due to business pressures. His successor was announced as Don Keene, of Swindon, the current deputy bandmaster. Mr Keene had served for three years in the band of the Royal Horse Guards - the Blues - and played solo cornet with the Aldbourne band. Mr Barnes became vice-president.

the world

1485: Morte D’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory was published. He wrote the tale of knightly love and chivalry while in prison for armed assault and rape.

1635: British public inland postal services were established, with charges of two to eight pence.

1910: Wife-poisoner Dr Hawley Crippen was arrested on SS Montrose as it was entering Quebec. He had left his dismembered wife in a cellar at home and was travelling with Ethel le Neve, his mistress, who was dressed as a boy. Crippen was the first criminal to be captured by the use of wireless telegraphy.

1912: The world’s first film censorship law was passed in the United States. It was not against obscenity but the interstate transportation of films showing prize fights.

1919: The Weimar Republic was established in post-war Germany.

1950: Britain’s first self-service store, Sainsbury’s, opened in Croydon.

1956: At Old Trafford, England bowler Jim Laker took all 10 Australian wickets in the second innings for 53 runs, after a first innings haul of 9 for 37.

1964: Jim Reeves, American country singer, was killed in an air crash.

1965: Cigarette advertising on British TV was banned.

1975: Irish pop group the Miami Showband were ambushed and murdered by Protestant gunmen near Newry in Northern Ireland.

2010: A four-strong British rowing team smashed a 114-year-old record for crossing the North Atlantic. Their time - 43 days, 21 hours, 26 minutes and 48 seconds - knocked 11 days off the previous 55-day record set in 1896 by Norwegian fishermen George Harbo and Frank Samuelsen.

BIRTHDAYS

Geraldine Chaplin, actress, 74; Jonathan Dimbleby, broadcaster, 74; Evonne Cawley, former tennis player, 67; Andrew Marr, journalist, broadcaster and political commentator, 59; Wesley Snipes, actor, 56; Norman Cook, pictured, record producer (aka Fat Boy Slim), 55; JK Rowling, author, 53; Dean Cain, actor, 52; Emilia Fox, actress, 44.