SWINDON...

1947: An announcement in the Sudan Herald said that Mr H A L Tunley, 47, whose mother lives at Bellevue, Swindon, had been selected for promotion to the post of Director of Accounts. He said he started learning accountancy on a high stool in the offices of the Evening Advertiser before going on to join the Sudan Government in a junior post. He then worked his way up.

1957: At the end of last year Swindon and District Co-operative Society Ltd had a membership of 34,969, 2,615 more than the previous year. This was announced by the president Mr T Marsham at a quarterly meeting. He declared it was very satisfactory.

1977: Plans to improve Swindon Bus Station were to go before Thamesdown Council’s traffic and transportation sub-committee to make the station safer and cut down on congestion.

2013: Swindon Council planned to use cameras to catch motorists driving illegally in bus lanes and through bus gates – and slap them with a fine of up to £90. Cabinet was to meet to consider plans to spend £180,000 on four special cameras to start enforcing the regulations on bus lanes and gates, which can only be used legally by buses, bicycles and emergency services and other authorised vehicles.

THE WORLD...

1781: Astronomer William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus.

1894: The first professional striptease took place at the Divan Fayonau Music Hall in Paris. Le Coucher d’Yvette, as the act was billed, showed a girl undressing to go to bed.

1900: British forces under General Roberts captured Bloemfontein in the second Anglo-Boer War.

1927: The lance ceased to be an official weapon in the British Army.

1928: The St Francis Dam near Los Angeles burst, flooding the countryside and killing around 450 people.

1935: The driving test was introduced in Britain. It was voluntary at this stage, becoming compulsory in June.

1938: Hitler invaded Austria.

1947: The Government announced a mid-week ban on sport to try to boost productivity.

1996: The Dunblane Massacre, when lone gunman Thomas Hamilton shot dead 16 children and their teacher in the local primary school before turning the gun on himself.

2013: Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio took the name of Francis after accepting his election as 266th head of Roman Catholic Church.

BORN...

1884: Sir Hugh Walpole, novelist (d. 1941).

1939: Neil Sedaka, singer-songwriter.

1950: Joe Bugner, former boxer.

1950: William H Macy, actor.

1958: Linda Robson, actress, 56.

1960: Adam Clayton, rock musician (U2).

1981: Stephen Maguire, snooker player.

DIED...

1881: Alexander II, Tsar of Russia (b. 1818).

2006: Jimmy Johnstone, Scottish footballer (b. 1944).