SWINDON

1952: Mrs I Alderman, departing chair of the Old Town branch of the British Legion Women’s Section, revealed she had been accused by people connected with the New Town branch of trying to poach members. She indignantly denied having done any such thing, and pointed out that there were more than enough members of the Old Town branch.

1962: Swindon’s central area development plan was intended to provide adequate office space, public buildings and car parking for a population of 175,000, according to Mr Nigel Bridge, who represented the county council at a public inquiry into the proposal. He spoke of an almost completely new road system in the town centre, with pedestrian walkways and underpasses connecting key locations. The scheme was generally thought of as the most comprehensive change Swindon was ever likely to experience.

1972: A section of Swindon’s County Road was closed to traffic after a water main burst. The 18-inch pipe ruptured just after 6am and water gushed up through four sections of the road. The flood was stopped inches from the front door of the County Ground Hotel when water workers shut down the supply.

THE WORLD

4004 BC: According to Archbishop James Usher, this is the day God created the world. Although there are 140 conflicting versions of the date, Usher’s is the only one that matches the chronology of the authorised version of the Bible.

42 BC: Brutus, whose army was crushed by Anthony and Octavian at Philippi,

committed suicide by falling on his own sword.

1642: The Royalists narrowly beat the Roundheads at Edgehill in the first major battle of the Civil War. Both sides claimed victory.

1707: The first Parliament of Great Britain met.

1844: The “Divine” Sarah, actress Sarah Bernhardt, was born in Paris.

1915: The legendary cricketer WG Grace died.

1942: The Second Battle of El Alamein began with a thousand tanks aimed on

Italian and German troops.

1950: Singer Al Jolson died. He starred in the first talking picture, The Jazz Singer.

1956: The Hungarian uprising against Soviet leadership began in Budapest.

1987: Lester Piggott, former British champion jockey and later a top trainer,

was jailed for three years for tax evasion.

1991: The House of Lords ruled that husbands could legally be convicted of

raping their wives.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Two people were taken to hospital after they were attacked by a brown bear in central Romania.

BIRTHDAYS

Pele, football legend, 78; Ang Lee, film director, 64; Graham Rix, former footballer and coach, 61; Sam Raimi, film director, 59; Cat Deeley, TV presenter, 42; Ryan Reynolds, actor, 42; Alex Tudor, cricketer, 41; Jessica Stroup, actress, 32.