SWINDON...

1947: Mr OD Gilmore of Indigo House, Highworth, was announced as Examining Surgeon under the Factories Act, in succession to Dr JD Robertson, for the district of Highworth. 1957: A call for increased co-operation between Swindon Labour Party, the Trades Council and the Co-operative Movement was made by Mr SH Gannon at a meeting of the Trades Council. It was suggested that a joint fete should be organised.

1977: Former championship jockey Johnny Francome backed a loser with his bid to open a hospital for sick horses at his training stables in Lambourn. Council planners turned down the plan. They told the Stratton St Margaret rider that he must wait while talks were completed between local trainers and the council over the future development of the horse racing industry around Lambourn.

2013: Swindon Shuffle 2013 got under way with a host of unsigned bands playing across the town in a mix of rock, pop, folk, acoustic music, poetry and even an art show.

THE WORLD...

1503: King James IV of Scotland married Margaret Tudor, daughter of King Henry VII of England at Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh, Scotland.

1588: The Battle of Gravelines ended the Spanish Armada’s attempt to invade England.

1918: The Battle of Amiens began a string of almost continuous victories with a push through the German front lines in the Hundred Days Offensive.

1969: At a zebra crossing in London, photographer Iain Macmillan took the photo that became the cover of the Beatles album Abbey Road, one of the most famous album covers in recording history.

1990: Iraq occupied Kuwait and the state was annexed to Iraq. It led to the Gulf War shortly afterwards.

2010: A mudslide in Zhugqu County, Gansu, China, killed more than 1,400 people.

BORN...

1929: Ronnie Biggs – English criminal.
1937: Dustin Hoffman – American actor, director and producer.
1953: Nigel Mansell – English race car driver.
1966: Chris Eubank – English boxer.
1981: Roger Federer – Swiss tennis player.
1988: Princess Beatrice of York.

DIED...

1985: Louise Brooks – American actress and dancer. 
2004: Fay Wray – Canadian-American actress. 
2005: Barbara Bel Geddes – American actress and author.