SWINDON

1952: Swindon pigeon fancier Mr B Townsend, who lived in Cornwall Avenue, looked out of his window, saw birds flying around and assumed he'd left his loft door open. On investigating, he had a pleasant surprise when he realised that all 10 of his entries in the Swidon and District Club's race from Weymouth had arrived together. None was the winner, however. That accolade went to a chequer hen owned by Mr A Midwinter, of Stratton.

The Adver announced a new edition to its team. He was Muffin the Mule, a string puppet who was arguably Britain's first children's television superstar, and he was to appear in a daily comic strip alongside other characters from his BBC programme such as Peregrine the Penguin and Louise the Lamb.

1962: An 83-year-old Swindon woman, Mrs E Tunley, turned her back garden in Swindon's Newhall Street into a local landmark. Every summer she filled the small space with containers and pots of brightly-coloured flowers together with an assortment of ornaments, and every winter she carefully cleaned them and packed them away, ready for the next year. We said: "Even the birds treat it as a peaceful haven from the rushing feet and screaming tyres of Commercial Road."

The repair bill for Stratton St Margaret Parish Church, one of the oldest churches in the district, was now expected to reach £2,500, which was £500 more than the last estimate in May. The work was necessary because of the havoc wrought by death watch beetle in the rafters and problems with the ancient stonework, some of which was crumbling.

1972: British Rail introduced a special new service which left Swindon for London just before 8am in weekdays. It aimed to cater for the growing number of people who made their homes in Swindon and their working lives in the capital. The total number of workers in question was currently estimated at 100 and rising, with the impending arrival of oil firm Burmah expected to swell the figure further.

WORK was about to begin on a £175,000 British Legion Housing Association development of flatlets in South Dorcan. It was set to include 20 single and 18 double flats, with an emphasis on providing comfort and safety for elderly residents.

THE WORLD

1867: John Galsworthy, English author, was born in Kingston Hill, Surrey. When

his Forsyte Saga was dramatised on BBC TV on Sunday nights in the 1960s,

clergymen had to change the times of evening services to get a congregation.

1880: Cologne Cathedral was completed, having been started in 1248.

1893: The world's first car registration plates were introduced in France.

1908: The first international beauty contest in Britain was held at the Pier

Hippodrome in Folkestone.

1945: Japan surrendered unconditionally to the Allies. VJ Day was officially

celebrated on the following day, August 15.

1948: Don Bradman played his last innings at The Oval. After a standing

ovation, he was bowled for a duck - blinded, it is said, by tears in his eyes.

1967: The Marine Broadcasting Act came into force after midnight, outlawing pop pirate radio stations broadcasting within British territorial waters.

1969: British troops were deployed in Northern Ireland to restore order.

1975: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the longest-running release in film

history, opened at the USA Theatre in Westwood, Los Angeles, California.

1979: The longest lasting rainbow on record shone over North Wales from the

coast of Gwynedd to Clwyd, remaining for more than three hours.

2010: Summer Youth Olympic Games - the first ever Youth Olympics, officially

started in Singapore.

2013: Egypt declared a state of emergency after security forces killed hundreds of demonstrators supporting the former president Mohamed Morsi.

BIRTHDAYS

Frederic Raphael, novelist, 87; Liz Fraser, actress, 88; David

Crosby, rock singer, 77; Steve Martin, comedian/actor, 73; Danielle Steel,

writer, 71; Gillian Taylforth, actress, 63; Marcia Gay Harden, actress, 59;

Sarah Brightman, singer, 58; Halle Berry, actress, 52; Darren Clarke, golfer,

50; Adrian Lester, actor, 50.