Here is our thought-provoking round-up of the year... we bring you March and April.

Thursday, March 10

A TOWERING figure of 20th Century music died at his home in Coleshill near Highworth. Sir George Martin, the son of a London carpenter, was already a successful and respected record producer when he was invited to listen to a tape by an up-and-coming band called The Beatles.

His influence on their subsequent career was so profound that he was often referred to as the fifth member.

Local people remembered him as an unassuming man who guarded his privacy but was at the same time very friendly. In 1998 he switched on the Highworth Christmas lights.

Friday, March 11

A WOULD-BE developer of the Swindon Advertiser’s building in Victoria Road released an artist’s impression of what they had in mind - and all hell broke loose.

The public response to the proposed 148-flat tower block and community space was almost universally negative, with commenters on our website and letters page saying the structure wasn’t in keeping with the rest of Old Town. The proposal was withdrawn shortly afterwards.

Monday, March 21

THE Natural Research Council, based at Polaris House in Swindon, learned a valuable internet-age lesson in March: “Don’t ask questions you might not like the answer to.”

The organisation announced that it wanted the public to name its new £200m research vessel, and the ensuing furore generated headlines across the globe.

The people’s choice was, of course, Boaty McBoatface.

In spite of the fact that obeying the poll would surely have kept the vessel and its work in the public eye for decades to come, the research council instead opted to name it after David Attenborough instead.

Although RRS Sir David Attenborough is a perfectly fine name, advocates of Boaty were disappointed. They drew comfort from the fact that one of the ship’s remote-control submersibles was given the Boaty McBoatface name.

Wednesday, March 23

A LITERAL blast from the past was heard across Swindon as part of the Swindon 175 celebrations marking the origin of the New Town.

We said: “The iconic hooter that once called the people of Swindon to work at the old Railway Works sounded over Swindon for the first time in 30 years.”

The reproduction of the original hooter was crafted by expert local engineer Colin Hatch, who also supplied the traction engine which powered it.

The hooter was operated by 86-year-old John Walter, who had also sounded the final blast of the old one in 1986.

Monday, March 28

AS all cat owners know, the creatures are often prone to wandering. When one vanishes for a year or more, however, the wandering is likely to be permanent. That made the return of prodigal puss Bailey all the more joyful for owners Lisa and James Downey.

Bailey had gone missing when the couple moved from Moredon to Eldene, but the microchipped moggy was sent home after finding her way to Eastcott vets.

Her adventures had included a well-fed stint as unofficial mascot for Tyco Electronics UK in Dorcan.

Friday, April 1

SWINDON’S Magic Roundabout, we exclusively revealed, was to be the centre of a civic May Day Fiesta. Even as our story went to press, school children across the borough were apparently preparing for the enormous and intricate dance in which hundreds of ribbons would be wrapped around a giant pole placed at the centre of the roundabout.

There was also to be traditional music broadcast from enormous speakers on the roof of the fire station and an assortment of entertainers.

If the advance publicity material was anything to go by, visitors could expect something a bit like a live version of classic film The Wicker Man, albeit with a greater risk of traffic congestion and less emphasis on human sacrifice.

Cannier readers noted that the story appeared on April 1 and was written by one Tom Fullery.

Wednesday, April 6

QUICK-thinking New College student Hannah Godwin saved the life of her father, Steve, as he lay dying in front of her following a heart attack at the family home in Highworth.

The 18-year-old was panicking at the thought of losing her dad, but still had the presence of mind to administer CPR until paramedics arrived. She had learned the technique as an air cadet.

Hannah said: “A lot of people congratulated me for being able to react in the way I did and saving my dad’s life at 18. But at that moment it was just the reality of either trying my hardest to save my dad or not having me in her life at all.”

Wednesday, April 13

WHEN Swindon PCSO Lee Hare and Sgt Penelope Sprawson stopped am erratically-driven car in the town centre, they ended up having to confiscate the vehicle. Then Lee noticed a hot Chinese meal on the back seat, and that is how an unsuspecting couple came to have their takeaway order delivered by a PCSO on foot.

Filling in for the driver of the confiscated delivery vehicle earned him plenty of praise for going beyond the call of duty – and plenty of banter from colleagues trying to place orders with him.

Saturday, April 16

A RUNAWAY bus smashed a wall in Mannington Lane, Westlea, after the driver left the handbrake off when he exited the vehicle. Passengers screamed and braced for impact, but nobody was hurt.

The bus had become stuck on the kerb at a stop, and the driver got out and tried to dislodge it with the assistance of another Thamesdown driver who had been passing.

A woman living opposite to the smashed wall said: “We saw the lamp post come down and we ran to the window. Then we saw the driver wasn’t even on the bus. The bus company promised an investigation.

Friday, April 22

THE X Factor rolled into Swindon’s town centre and invited would-be stars to try their luck. The auditions weren’t in front of Cowell and the gang – that stage comes later in the process - but in front of producers.

Sadly nobody from the Swindon area came close to X Factor glory this time around.

Perhaps our performers should try to be bland in the future. Either that or develop rap acts embarrassing enough to curl the toes of a corpse…