SWINDON

1952: A revised scheme for Chiseldon sewerage and sewerage disposal was approved in principle by the Public Health Committee of Highworth Rural Council, subject to approval being given by the Ministry of Health. The scheme included improvements and a sewer at Draycott Road.

1962: Films spanning from a famous child actress to a famous singer were shown at the ABC Cinema, previously The Savoy, in Swindon, which celebrated its silver jubilee. Twenty-five years ago Shirley Temple starred in the black and white film The Buccaneer, the first movie to be shown at The Savoy. At the 25th birthday celebrations it was Elvis Presley in the Cinemascope Technicolour Blue Hawaii. Special guest was George Baker who had starred in the feature film Moonraker.

1972: Swindon supermarkets continued to ration sugar supplies because of the large scale panic buying by housewives. Fine Fare’s granulated sugar was sold out by lunchtime so housewives stocked up on icing and caster sugar. The rush was sparked by reports that factories were having difficulties getting sugar packed because of the power crisis.

THE WORLD

11849: Britain annexed the Punjab at the end of the Second Sikh War.

1910: Sir Douglas Bader, Second World War fighter pilot, was born. Despite losing both legs, he continued to fly, and is regarded as a hero of the Battle of Britain.

1916: Germany launched an all-out attack on the French fortress of Verdun.

1949: A Woman To Remember, one of the first television soap operas, began in the United States.

1952: Identity cards were abolished in Britain.

1965: American Black Muslim leader Malcolm X was shot dead while addressing a meeting in New York.

BIRTHDAYS Robert Mugabe, former president of Zimbabwe, 94; Jilly Cooper, author, 81; David Geffen, entertainment mogul, 75; Tyne Daly, actress, 72; William Baldwin, actor, 55; James Dean Bradfield, rock singer (Manic Street Preachers), 49; Jennifer Love Hewitt, actress/director, 39; Charlotte Church, singer and TV presenter, 32.