Swindon

1952: The Duke of Edinburgh visited the Military College of Science at Shrivenham. The Duke planted an oak tree to commemorate his visit, after he was given a tour of the base. He was introduced to Major D Laird RA who was on a technical staff course at the college. The Major described his work on a vertical milling machine to the Duke.

1962: A Marlborough man was among a team of RAF men in Cyprus who provided lighting for a recently excavated theatre in Salamis. Senior Aircraftsman Keith Lawson of London Road, Marlborough was present when the theatre was used for the first time in 1,500 years. The aircraftsman, was among other members of the team under Flt Lt David D’Arcy, who had put much of their spare time into working on project in Cyprus.

1972: The 100,000th Garrard Zero 100 record changer unit made at the Garrard works in Swindon was given a special home. It was presented to the Cheshire Home at Greatbourne, Kington Langley, along with a stereo amp, radio tuner and two speakers worth £400. Mr Ken Davies, engineering manager, handed over the gift at a special ceremony.

WORLD

1428: Richard Nevill, Earl of Warwick, so-called Kingmaker who was the power

behind the throne during the Wars Of The Roses, was born. He died at the Battle of Barnet in 1471.

1497: The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope in his search for a route to India.

1718: Edward Teach, English pirate who sailed under the name of Blackbeard, was killed off the coast of North Carolina.

1808: Thomas Cook, who pioneered the holiday package tour, was born in

Derbyshire.

1819: Mary Ann Evans, who took the pseudonym George Eliot and wrote The Mill On The Floss, was born in Arbury, Warwickshire.

1830: Container transport was introduced by Pickfords, the carriers, in an

agreement with the Liverpool & Manchester Railway Company.

1913: Composer Benjamin Britten was born in Lowestoft.

1946: The first ballpoint pen went on sale, invented by Hungarian Laszlo Biro.

1963: John F Kennedy, president of the United States, was assassinated in

Dallas, Texas, during the run-up to the 1964 presidential campaign.

1975: The monarchy was restored in Spain when Juan Carlos was sworn in as King in Madrid.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Coffee is ‘more likely to benefit health than harm’, a new review found

BIRTHDAYS

John Bird, actor and satirist, 82; Terry Gilliam, animator/film-maker, 78; Tom Conti, actor, 77; Billie-Jean King, former tennis player, 75; Jamie Lee Curtis, actress, 60; Boris Becker, former tennis player,

51..