SWINDON...

1947: The first meeting of the newly formed Swindon and District Organists Association was held at the Parish Church, HIghworth. More than 30 organists attended. They were welcomed by Mr G H Harris, organist of the church and chairman of the association.

1957: Officials at Swindon Co-operative Horticultural Society’s third spring show had to find an extra rose bowl trophy, at the last minute, because two exhibitors had tied for the same number of points, so two rose bowl trophies were awarded instead of the usual one.

1977: Swindon’s own TV station said they would be off air unless they find £42,000 by the end of June. Viewpoint needed the cash or firm promises to cover its costs for the next year.

2013: A total of 96 motorists had been issued with fines for using the Torun Way bus gate, which came into operation in the previous September. The long-awaited bus gate was installed as part of the Priory Vale development but did not officially open until more than a year after the markings and signage were put in place.

 

WORLD...

1648: Construction of the Red Fort at Delhi is completed

1787: Captain Arthur Phillip leaves Portsmouth, England, with eleven ships full of convicts (the "First Fleet") to establish a penal colony in Australia

1880: In Menlo Park, New Jersey, Thomas Edison performs the first test of his electric railway

1912: The Royal Flying Corps (now the Royal Air Force) is established in the United Kingdom

1954: The original Broadway production of The Pajama Game opens and runs for another 1,063 performances 

1958: The trade mark Velcro is registered

1989: Large groups of students occupy Tiananmen Square and begin a hunger strike

 

BORN...

1842: Arthur Sullivan, English composer (d. 1900)

1882: Georges Braque, French painter and sculptor (d. 1963)

1907: Daphne du Maurier, English author and playwright (d. 1989)

1914: Joe Louis, American boxer (d. 1981)

1941: Joe Brown, English singer-songwriter, guitarist

1949: Zoë Wanamaker, American-English actress

1950: Stevie Wonder, American singer-songwriter, pianist, and producer

1966: Alison Goldfrapp, English singer-songwriter and producer

1986: Robert Pattinson, English actor, singer, and producer

1993: Debby Ryan, American actress and singer

 

DIED...

1835: John Nash, English architect, designed the Royal Pavilion (b. 1752)

1961: Gary Cooper, American actor and singer (b. 1901)

1977: Mickey Spillane, American mobster (b. 1934)

1988: Chet Baker, American singer and trumpet player (b. 1929)

2011: Derek Boogaard, Canadian-American ice hockey player (b. 1982)