Swindon Advertiser: Blob Thursday, November 9 – “We are getting more drunks in Swindon than we ought to do. We are breaking the record altogether,” declared magistrates clerk Mr A.E. Withy, imposing a fine of 7s 6d on labourer William Petrie of 131 Chapel Street, Swindon. Petrie was found by the police fast asleep on the pavement at 12.20 am on October 22, during a very cold night with a white frost. Escorted home by a policeman, Petrie said, “I must have had a few drinks and laid down thinking I was at home.”

Swindon Advertiser: Blob Thursday, November 9 – President of both Swindon’s Labour Party and Trades Council and described as a ‘champion of the workers,’ Coun. H.R. Hustings officially took office as the 40th successive Mayor of Swindon.

Swindon Advertiser: Blob Friday, November 10 – Wartime legislations and the effect on the man in the street was the subject of a talk given by Swindon Solicitor Mr R.J. Parker to the Swindon Rotarians at their weekly luncheon (Thursday). Since the war started the Government had passed dozens and dozens of statutes and orders which in the normal course of events would have taken at least ten years, explained Mr. Parker.

Swindon Advertiser: Blob Saturday, November 11 – As men aged 20-22 who registered for military service on October 21 were informed they would received their call up papers during November, more than 30,000 railway men were released for military service.

Swindon Advertiser: Blob Saturday, November 11 – Another 3,500 Jews were ordered out of the Suvalki district of German occupied Poland. About 1,200 Jews in other small towns were ordered to leave by November 16th.

Swindon Advertiser: Blob Saturday, November 11 – Swindon Scouts were actively engaged in the war effort. Local troops had collected about 4 tons of waste paper for the governments salvage campaign. Local boys, joined by evacuees, also distributed Ministry of Information posters in and around Swindon.

Swindon Advertiser: Blob Saturday, November 11 – Father Christmas arrived early in Swindon, pictured, when McIlroys opened the Nursery Rhyme Castle at their Regent Street store. Joining Santa in his Castle were ‘Aladdin and his Lamp, Mary had a Little Lamb and last but not least Thom Thumb.’ Among the toys on offer for Christmas 1939 were ‘every kind of modern warfare toy’ along with traditional tricycles, Teddy Bears, prams and dolls.

Swindon Advertiser: Blob Monday, November 13 – A two week old baby girl was found abandoned in the waiting room at Chippenham railway station on Saturday. The child’s mother Enid Hitchings, a young woman of no fixed address, was later traced to lodgings in Chippenham.

Swindon Advertiser: Blob Wednesday, November 15 – After a 5-2 thrashing by home team Stratton Villa, a team of soldiers were treated to any evening’s entertainment at the White Hart Inn. The football match was described as ‘interesting’ during which the soldiers made a rousing start, scoring twice in the first 20 minutes. Villa players C. Woolford and D. Woolford delivered four of the goals while Martin scored with a header from a corner kick. Mrs Butler and her helpers provided a good spread and the game was followed by a darts match and a sing song.

Swindon Advertiser: Blob Wednesday, November 15 – The Bath and West Show, which was to have been held at Cheltenham in May, has been abandoned.

Swindon Advertiser: Blob Wednesday, November 15 – Lt Col BHD Hurst, formerly manager of the Government Vocational Training Centre at Chiseldon, was fined £13 3s at Swindon County Police Court for illegally storing petrol. Three tanks containing 68 gallons of petrol were found in a garade near the Colonel’s home in Chiseldon.

Colonel Hurst did not appear in court but sent a letter in which he admitted to storing petrol without a licence but denied any intent to hoard, explaining the petrol was bought at a time when his mother was ill and he was engaged in moving to his new posting.

Mr W Ireland, prosecuting, described it as a case of hoarding and all the more reprehensible because of the Colonel’s position.