Monday 25 February 1963
“The sensation of Paris, I nominate the Shift (pictured) as the dress most likely to succeed in 1963. As a style it does most for most figures. It glides tactfully over the shape beneath, looks brilliant on good statistics, and cheats a little over bad ones.” – Felicity Green.
Out came the sun yesterday – and so did thousands of motorists attracted by the best road conditions since the Big Freeze began two months ago. Although temperatures were a little above freezing the RAC estimated that in London alone 8,000 cars an hour were leaving for the coast and country.
The Loch Ness Monster reared its ugly head again yesterday, this time on television. Furthermore, viewers were told that the monster may have several mates, in Loch Ness and other lochs. Mr Alec Campbell, thirty years water bailiff at Loch Ness said, “I saw something. The hump simply rolled up out of the water and sank gently out of sight. The skin was exactly like that of an elephant.”
The Conservative government has announced that married women employed as civil servants will be sacked if they do not return to work within three months of having a baby.
Classified Advertisements: Do you want to sing like Helen Shapiro or Cliff Richard? Phone the Maurice Burman School of Modern Pop Singing for details.
Television highlights: Blue Peter. BBC News (two ten minute programmes). World in Action – the fashion business.
Radio highlights: Mr Acker Bilk Requests. Big Ben Banjo Band.
Weather: mainly dry, sunny spells, very cold. Outlook – similar. Maximum temperature 1c, 34f.
Tuesday 26 February 1963
Mrs Elein Mialila, 53, has given birth to her thirty-first child in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Extra-small coal is being put on the market to keep homes supplied with fuel during the Big Freeze. The small coal, the Coal Board said, will be of normal quality, but cheaper. Coal merchants are being asked to “encourage” customers to buy it.
The United States Supreme Court set aside breach of the peace charges against 187 students who demonstrated for racial equality at Columbia, capital of South Carolina. The court ruled that arresting, convicting and punishing the students infringed rights of free speech and free assembly.
Skoda, the Czechoslovakian manufacturer, is offering cut-price cars – rugged family saloons and gay sports cars. Their Octavia saloon is selling for £521, Octavia Super for £550, and their Felicia Convertible for £638.
The Rev Ernest Marvin who produced a Rock n Roll Passion play “A Man Dies” told his congregation at Bristol that his church might have to close through a lack of money. “We are broke,” he said.
Birmingham and Bury’s Third Round FA Cup tie remains unresolved. The latest attempt to play the game was abandoned after 45 minutes with Birmingham leading 1 – 0. The game featured a vigorous punch-up before an icy pitch curtailed the encounter.
Television highlights: Adventures in Learning. European Centre Forward – British footballer Gerry Hitchens in Turin. Beat Your Neighbour.
Radio highlights: Listen to the Band. Pete Murray.
Weather: dry and sunny, but still cold. Maximum temperature 4c, 39f.
Wednesday 27 February 1963
A massive research programme is to be carried out in the hope of producing a vaccine effective against the common cold, it was announced in the House of Commons last night.
A spokesman for the London Electricity Council said, “We reckon the average increase on last winter’s bills for our 14,000,000 domestic users will be 25 percent. But many will find their bills have shot up by much more. The average quarterly electricity bill currently stands at £10. The average quarterly gas bill is £5.
Thieves smashed a plate-glass window in Golders Green, London and stole £12,000 worth of jewellery. They escaped in a white Jaguar car. It was the second time in three months that the shop had been raided. Manager, Mr Leonard May said, “We are going to take more precautions.”
American jazz trumpeter Chet Baker was yesterday jailed for a month on drug charges. The magistrate at Marlborough Street Court, London told him, “I am afraid you are a drug addict.” Baker denied charges of illegally obtaining heroin and cocaine. He was also recommended for deportation.
Billy Fury has pulled out of the BBC’s Top of the Pops concert. He was told that he would top the bill and close the show. However, he was also required to make an appearance during the first half, but he couldn’t agree to that.
Television highlights: Let’s Imagine Predicting the Future (repeat). Professional Boxing. Here Come the Girls – Alan Freeman talks to Susan Maughan, and sees her make a disc.
Radio highlights: Modern Jazz – Johnny Dankworth and his orchestra. Big ‘O’ Show.
Weather: cold, misty, frosty. Outlook – dry, frosty. Maximum temperature 4c, 39f.
Thursday 28 February 1963
Two Labour MPs, Mr Harold Davies and Mr Will Owen, have put down a Commons motion suggesting that a world fund be set up under the United Nations for the relief of distress due to natural disasters.
N Hart Ltd, whose office in Gerrard Street, Soho, is upstairs from Ronnie Scott’s famous basement jazz club, sued Mr Scott claiming damages and an injunction to stop nuisance by noise. Mr Scott denied excessive noise or causing a nuisance. The case was adjourned until today.
A national campaign to persuade motorists to use dipped headlights was urged yesterday. The call came from Birmingham, a city that has achieved sensational results in its own campaign. The city’s casualty figures have been drastically cut, and it is now the safest city to drive in at night, the Lord Mayor claimed.
The Duke of Argyll was still giving evidence when his divorce action against the Duchess was adjourned last night. His evidence had lasted ten hours and will resume today. The Duke alleges adultery by the Duchess. She denies the allegations. On a courtroom table were bundles of documents, red-backed diaries, photographs and a tape recorder. The Argyll action may prove to be one the most expensive divorce cases of the century by the time it ends.
A new LP out this week, Music from Mathematics, is loaded with music, without one musician or singer taking part. The album was made electronically by the IBM 7090 computer machine. Punched cards were fed into IBM 7090 and music came out. The singing voice is rather toneless, with an American accent.
Pop Charts: top three 1. Please Please Me – The Beatles 2. The Wayward Wind – Frank Ifield 3. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes – Bobby Vee.
Television highlights: Moonstrike – secret operations series. World Figure Skating Championships. This Week – discussing wages by cheque.
Radio highlights: Workers’ Playtime. Smash Hits.
Weather: sunny, but rather cold. Frost. Outlook – similar. Maximum temperature 4c, 39f.
Friday 1 March 1963
This winter has been the coldest for 133 years – and that’s official. For the three months ended yesterday Britain has had its coldest shiver since 1829-30. The average daily temperature recorded at Kew, London was 33.3 Fahrenheit – just above freezing point. This is seven degrees colder than the normal three-month average.
Still fewer people are going to the movies. And there are fewer cinemas for them to go to anyway. Total admission to Britain’s cinemas in 1962 was 415,000,000 – twelve percent down on the 1961 total. Nearly 400 cinemas closed in 1960, 330 in 1961 and 300 in 1962. Currently, 2,715 cinemas remain open.
A £10,000 trust fund to establish all-Welsh speaking schools in Wales has been launched today by Mr Trefor Morgan, an ex-insurance man who has made a fortune in the past five years.
Agony Aunt: When I swear at home, I get a clip across the ear. But my dad swears. What do you say? Jane Adams’ reply – Your dad deserves a clip across the ear too.
Agony Aunt: My boyfriend – we are not engaged – has gone to America for eighteen months. He says I am not to date. What should I do? Jane Adams’ reply – You are not engaged so go out and enjoy life.
Football: A World Cup television treat is in store for British viewers. In 1966, matches will be played every evening except Sundays, and the games will be televised live. On the pitch, England have plenty of problems to resolve following their 5 – 2 defeat to France.
Television highlights: Miss England 1963. The Metal Music Man. This World of Wales.
Radio highlights: Smooth n Swinging. Wandering Minstrel.
Weather: sunny after light frost. Outlook – little change. Maximum temperature 7c, 45f.
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