FEBRUARY 28

SWINDON

1953: For the first time since before the war, The College, in Swindon, held two open days. A large number of people took advantage of the first day to see the premises, equipment and facilities. The addition to The Victoria Road building, The Lawn annexe, where mechanical engineering and building were taught, were also open. Demonstrations of the work of each department were on show all day.

1953: After only two days of her summer holidays, last year, 17-year-old Loveday Pedder of Greenhill Drive, Swindon was bored. She was a shorthand and typing student at Swindon College, but she craved excitement. She saw an advertisement for a magician's assistant and applied by the next post. Back came the offer for a conjurer's assistant or the girl in the tomb of ice - she chose the latter. So, Loveday was spending her days lying in the tomb of ice for 30 or 40 times a day to entertain the crowds at Kings Lynn, Norfolk Mart.

1963: A man who joined Vickers Armstrong at the firm's head office in 1912, retired from his position as service manager at the South Marston works. Mr Charles Barter was appointed service manager in 1950, and three years later he took an active part in organising an attempt at the World Speed Record, with the Vickers Armstrong Swift. He saw service with The Royal Engineers in the 1914 to 1918 war, and he was awarded the MBE in 1943 for his services as manager of the Vickers onsite Spitfire repairs, during the Second World War.

1963: The Mayor of Marlborough, Coun Miss M E N Pearce, was among a delighted audience, at Marlborough Town Hall, to see a demonstration of dancing by pupils from the Barbara Wheeler School, in Swindon. The display was in aid of the Mayor's Appeal for the Freedom From Hunger Campaign. More than 40 children took part in the show.

1973: Proposals for the redevelopment of a controversial area in the centre of Swindon were accepted at the meeting of the council's policies and finance committee. The proposals were discussed in secret sessions, with reporters being asked to leave the meeting. The proposals contained a report submitted to the council's chief executive Mr David John Murray by the committee.

1973: Sharp-eyed Lewis Gilmore, 46, a senior railwayman at Swindon station, was one of only two winners in the Western Region's accident prevention competition, run by the British Railways' staff newspaper. The nationwide competition, the first of its kind, asked railway staff to spot 14 platform hazards. Lewis of Gipsy Lane, Swindon, listed all the potential dangers. He won an accident prevention service tie and £3.

THE WORLD

1784: John Wesley signed the deed of declaration of the Wesleyan faith.

1874: Arthur Orton, claimant to the Tichborne estate, was found guilty of perjury and sentenced to 14 years' hard labour.

1900: In the Boer War, General Buller relieved Ladysmith, besieged by Boer forces for 118 days.

1912: The world's first parachute jump from an aeroplane was made over Missouri, USA, by Albert Berry.

1940: Sandy's Half Hour began on radio, with Sandy MacPherson at the organ. It was the start of the modern listeners' request programme.

1948: The Royal Family went to see Danny Kaye at the London Palladium, the first "non-command performance" attended by a reigning monarch.

1966: Liverpool's Cavern Club, where the Beatles made their name, went into liquidation.

1975: A train from Drayton Park crashed through buffers at Moorgate tube station and killed 42 people.

1986: Swedish prime minister Olof Palme was shot dead by an unknown assassin in Stockholm.

1989: In London's Covent Garden, the world's biggest litter bin was unveiled - it was sponsored by fast-food operator Kentucky Fried Chicken.

2018: A few months before marrying Prince Harry, Meghan Markle talked passionately about starting her life as a working royal, saying she wants to: hit the ground running.

BIRTHDAYS: Stephanie Beacham, actress, 72; Mercedes Ruehl, actress, 71; Mike Figgis, film director, 71; Ainsley Harriott, TV chef/presenter, 62; John Turturro, actor/director, 62; Barry McGuigan, former boxer, 58; Robert Sean Leonard, actor, 50; Tim Bresnan, cricketer, 34.