SWINDON...

1947: The Bishop of London officiated at the christening of the grandchild of Viscount Addison, leader of the house of Lords and former MP of Swindon. The child was named Christina.

1957: Nine one-bedroomed homes for old people, converted from three pairs of former MAP bungalows at Moredon, were to be let by Swindon Corporation at 12s 6d (62.5p) a week including rates, an increase of 6s 6d (32.5p) that would only apply to new tenants.

1977: Both the Over-15 and Under-15 trophies in the Wiltshire Schools’ Gymnastics Championships at Dorcan School, Swindon, were retained by last year’s winners. The Over-15s went to Churchfields and the Under-15s to Dorcan.

2013: Two closing birdies allowed Swindon champion golfer David Howell to bring himself to within three shots of the lead heading into tomorrow’s final round at the Tshwane Open in South Africa.

 

AROUND THE WORLD...

1845: Florida was admitted as the 27th US state.

1875: Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen received its première at the Opéra-Comique in Paris.

1931: The United States adopted The Star-Spangled Banner as its national anthem.

1938: Oil was discovered in Saudi Arabia.

2005: Steve Fossett became the first person to fly an airplane non-stop around the world solo without refueling.

 

BORN...

1847: Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish-American engineer, invented the telephone

1869: Henry Wood, English conductor

1911: Jean Harlow, American actress

1953: Zico, Brazilian footballer and coach

1958: Miranda Richardson, English actress

1961: Fatima Whitbread, British Olympic athlete

1968: Brian Cox, English physicist

1977: Ronan Keating, Irish singer

1982: Jessica Biel, American film actress

 

DIED...

1959: Lou Costello, American actor and comedian

1983: Hergé, Belgian writer and illustrator, created Tintin

1987: Danny Kaye, American actor

2010: Michael Foot, English politician