SWINDON...

1947: If you posted a letter in Stratton at 6pm after the postman has gone it may not be delivered until the next day but one, even though it is addressed to a house in the Swindon area. This was to be one of the unfortunate results in the rural areas of the Save Manpower change in postal times which came in to operation.

1957: The new mayor of Swindon, Coun H Dimont was elected. He was accompanied by his wife for photographs after his election to the mayoral office.

1977: Wootton Bassett was introduced to Cabaret Sitzung, an evening of German-style carnival fun. Some 150 people including families went along to the Memorial Hall for the event that was believed to be the first of its kind in England. The Cabaret Sitzung included songs, dancing and a Council of Fools presiding on stage.

2013: Two lucky school leavers got the chance to become Ferrari apprentice service technicians at Dick Lovett Swindon after the dealership located to new premises on Frankland Road, Swindon.

THE WORLD...

1894: The Manchester Ship Canal in England is officially opened by Queen Victoria, who later knights its designer Sir Edward Leader Williams.

1917: The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is established through royal charter to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations military forces.

1927: Charles Lindbergh touches down at Le Bourget Field in Paris, completing the world’s first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

1981: Irish Republican hunger strikers Raymond McCreesh and Patsy O’Hara die on hunger strike in Maze prison.

1992: After 30 seasons Johnny Carson hosted his penultimate episode and last featuring guests (Robin Williams and Bette Midler) of The Tonight Show.

1996: The ferry MV Bukoba sinks in Tanzanian waters on Lake Victoria, killing nearly 1,000.

BORN...

1780: Elizabeth Fry, English philanthropist and reformer (d. 1845)

1904: Fats Waller, American singer-songwriter and pianist (d. 1943)

1944: Mary Robinson, Irish politician, 7th President of Ireland

1948: Leo Sayer, English-Australian singer-songwriter

1952: Mr. T, American actor 

1973: Noel Fielding, English comedian, actor, and screenwriter

1985: Kano, English rapper and producer

1994: Tom Daley, English diver

DIED...

1471: Henry VI of England (b. 1421)

1952: John Garfield, American actor (b. 1913)

1988: Sammy Davis, Sr., American dancer (b. 1900)

2000: Barbara Cartland, English author (b. 1901)

2000: John Gielgud, English actor, director, and producer (b. 1904)