Saturday 7 September 1963
Christine Keeler has been accused of perjury and conspiracy. Providing she surrenders her passport, she will be allowed £3,000 bail. Her arrest concerns the “Lucky” Gordon assault case. Two male journalists provided sureties of £1,000 each for Miss Keeler.
The West Indies cricket team proved so popular this summer that they have been invited to tour Britain again in 1967 instead of having to wait until 1971. However, due to the South African government’s racial segregation policies, there is some consternation that they are due to tour in 1966.
More British drivers have been stranded on the Continent. Around 300 cars were denied access to ferries in Boulogne and Calais. The problem is centred on British holidaymakers who failed to make return bookings.
Greengrocer Peter Elcombe found two piglets apparently dead amongst a litter of fifteen on his farm in Kent. He saved them with the kiss of life. “I thought that if it worked with humans it should work with animals,” he said.
The Mayor of Blackpool, Alderman John Symthe, has been called to a crisis meeting to resolve a dispute over the result of the Miss United Kingdom beauty contest. The organiser of the contest, Eric Morley, gave the first prize to model Diane Westbury, even though the judges didn’t vote for her. Mr Morley said, “I see no reason for the decision to be changed.”
It’s going to be all cleavage at parties this winter – Dior says so. He’s plunging the neckline to waist level. However, acres of cleavage can become wearisome. The party girl who cottons on to that fact and goes for the cover-up look could well end up smiling at the end of the evening.
Television highlights. Cricket – Worcestershire v Sussex, knockout cup final. Juke Box Jury with Shirley Anne Field and Jane Asher. Wish You Were Here! – Eric Sykes in Stockholm.
Radio highlights: British Open Brass Band Championship. Remembrance of Things Past.
Weather: sunny spells then rain. Outlook – showery. 18c, 64f.
Sunday 8 September 1963
James Hussey, 30, a painter, was charged in Aylesbury yesterday with taking part in the Great Mail Train Robbery. He is the tenth person to be arrested in connection with the raid.
Forget about the seven-year itch, it’s the twelve-year mark in a marriage that’s important. Three doctors, who have researched the subject, also found that differences between husbands and wives in religion, social class, nationality and education were unimportant, but an age gap of more than five years could lead to difficulties.
An appeal is being made by the RAF Benevolent Fund during Battle of Britain Week. Cash is needed for future welfare work.
Prediction Spot. Two for the top – Searchin’ by the Hollies and Then He Kissed Me by the Crystals. This week’s number one – She Loves You by the Beatles.
The latest dance craze is The Machine. It’s all the rage in the Hertfordshire jazz clubs, and it will hit London soon. The idea is to imitate a robot with mechanical movements of your arms, head and legs.
Cricket Knock-Out Cup Final: Sussex 168 all out. Worcestershire 154 – 7, innings closed. Sussex won by 14 runs. Jim Parks top scored for Sussex with 57.
Football Results: First Division – Arsenal 4 Bolton 3, Blackburn 7 Spurs 2, Chelsea 1 Liverpool 3, Everton 3 Burnley 4, Stoke 3 Leicester 3, West Ham 2 Sheffield United 3. Current league leaders – Manchester United.
Television highlights: Service for the hard of hearing from St Katherine’s Cree, London. Double Playbill – See the Pretty Lights and Wedding Bells with Julia Foster and Wanda Ventham. Robin Hood – A Bushel of Apples.
Radio highlights: British Folk Songs. Join in and Swing.
Weather: dull and cloudy with rain and drizzle.
Monday 9 September 1963
The Great Beauty Queen Rumpus concerning Diane Westbury and Maureen Gay – the judges voted for Maureen, but contest organiser Eric Morley gave the prize to Diane – is to be put to a national vote. Hughie Green is arranging for both girls to appear on his Double Your Money programme. Diane won £1,500 in the original contest, Maureen £150.
A “University of the Air” is being planned by the Labour Party. People would study at home via radio and television. Educationalists would set the courses and mark the papers.
Since the new year, 14,500 people have left Britain to settle in Australia. Australia wants as many migrants as it can get, but an official said, “There’s a limit to the number of sea berths and plane tickets we can book.” A million Britons have left for Australia since 1947.
Fans wreck soccer train. Railway chiefs and police are investigating the destruction of a weekend football special. Nine times the train screeched to a halt as the emergency cord was pulled on the 100 mile journey from Birmingham to Manchester. Girls and women were involved in the ruckus, forming a screaming and shouting mob on the ten-coach special. Four-letter words were scrawled on windows and mirrors in lipstick. Tables were ripped loose and windows smashed. Light fittings and lamps were torn out. In the match, Birmingham and Manchester United drew 1 – 1.
The Big Beat. Music that throbs and pulsates. Music that has taken the disc fans of Britain by the ear. Music made by young British groups with voices as well as instrumentals. From tomorrow, an in-depth look into this phenomenon, starting with the Beatles.
Television highlights: Outlook Europe – France. Hockey – Unicorns v SD Dickens XI. Survival SOS – Rhino.
Radio highlights: In a Sentimental Mood. Historic Performances on Record.
Weather: sunny periods, showers. Outlook – rain at first, brighter later. 18c, 64f.
Tuesday 10 September 1963
The villagers who live near “Banknote Farm” in Oakley were furious last night with their MP, Mr Roger Gresham Cooke. The MP said that the villagers should have caught the Great Train Robbers. He told the Young Conservatives, “Too often, people are content to phone the police. Instead, they should revive the ‘hue and cry’. I very much blame the people of Oakley for their negligence.”
Village publican, Wilf Welford replied, “If the MP would like to come down to the village hall we would welcome a debate on this. He’d be lucky to get out without being lynched. This is a very public-spirited village.”
Two men wearing nylon masks escaped with jewellery worth £4,000 after coshing a jeweller in Golden Square, London, yesterday.
Mr Royston Attwood pleaded guilty at Bristol to stealing 3,500 gallons of top quality petrol from the Esso depot at Avonmouth. Mr Attwood was a fuel tanker driver. He was sacked and fined £100.
It’s been called the Liverpool Sound, the Mersey Sound, Rhythm and Blues, Beat with a Drive and Pop with a Beat. In Liverpool alone 250 groups are producing this music. The leaders of this movement are the Beatles. They are pleasing to look at, friendly and well-mannered.
What about fame? Paul McCartney said, “My auntie went to a holiday camp this summer and they asked her to judge a beauty competition.” Ringo said, “My dad’s gone right off his nut with excitement over it.” George Harrison said, “We’re quite a normal bunch really.” John Lennon said, “You know the way people begin to look exactly like their dogs. Well, we’re beginning to look like each other.”
Football results: West Ham 0 Nottingham Forest 2. Wolves 1 Liverpool 3. Manchester United still lead the First Division.
Television highlights: The Sky at Night – moon base. Play of the Week – A Question of Morals. Animal Magic with Tony Soper.
Radio highlights: Boxing from the Empire Pool, Wembley. A Scrapbook for 1953.
Weather: early sunshine then rain. Outlook – changeable. 16c, 61f.
Wednesday 11 September 1963
Detectives believe that two of the Great Train Robbers – Bruce Reynolds and Thomas Daly – may try to get new faces from plastic surgeons. Interpol have been asked to look out for them, especially in Austria, Germany, Denmark and Sweden. Another theory is that Reynolds and Daly have already had their face-lift operations and are in hiding while their scars heal. A third man the police want to interview – Roy “the Weasel” James – is believed to be in South America.
Tory MP Ian Gilmour said that Lord Denning’s report on the Profumo Scandal should not be published. “It’s a boring business,” he added. “What has the interviewing of prostitutes got to do with national security? What has the Argyll case got to do with security? This is more akin to compiling a sort of Kinsey Report than looking into matters of national security.”
Twenty-two top fashion models were involved in high drama over the English Channel when their plane developed a technical fault and had to return to London. The models had been on their way to Zurich to show off British autumn fashions. Blonde Veronica Carter said, “It was frightening.”
Melody Maker Readers’ Poll. Top singer – Cliff Richard. Top vocal group – The Beatles. Top vocal disc – From Me To You. Top instrumentalist – Jet Harris. Top comedian – Norman Vaughan. Top disc jockey – David Jacobs.
No one can predict how long the Group craze will last. Billy J Kramer, like many others, recognises that the Beat Bubble could burst overnight. For now, Billy is content. He said, “I’ve been all over the place touring, I’ve got some smashing suits and everything is swinging.” Billy J Kramer – he can now join kippers, bloaters and multi-coloured rock as the pride and joy of Great Yarmouth.
Football Results: Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 0 (Baker hat-trick), Burnley 4 Fulham 1.
Television highlights: Citizen 63 – a rebellious teenager. Is Wresting Phoney – interview with Mick McManus. Glamour 63 – the final.
Radio highlights: The Navy Lark. Writers on Themselves.
Weather: rain or drizzle. Outlook – changeable. 17c, 63f.
Thursday 12 September 1963
George Harrison has lost his job as a beetle trapper. He’s been using a traditional method of trapping beetles, up to seventy daily, for eight years. The beetles are trapped because they can destroy new trees. However, George will now be replaced by DDT.
The eleventh arrest has been made by detectives investigating the Great Train Robbery. Bookmaker Thomas Wiseby was charged with taking part in last month’s robbery at Sears Crossing.
Another 2,000 people in Britain slipped into the caviar and yacht set last year. A Government report shows that 16,000 people now earn more than £6,000 a year – £115 a week. The number of people taking home less than £10 a week stands at 10,940,000. Landlords, in particular, saw their income rise. Britons spend £92,000,000 a year on drinking and smoking.
“I can’t understand all the recent fuss about choosing beauty queens. I think there are far too many of these silly contests anyway.” – (Mrs) Clark, Hitchen, Herts.
Jessica Mitford’s The American Way of Death will be published on 30 September, price 25s.
Gardener Leslie Leadbetter has grown a cabbage, 5 foot 2 inches across. He explained, “I give it a regular bottle of beer.”
Agony Aunt: “My boyfriend’s trousers are so tight, he can hardly sit down. What should I do?” Jane Adams’ advice, “Why don’t you make a standing joke of it?”
Football Results: Birmingham 0 WBA 1, Everton 2 Bolton 0, Leicester 2 Sheffield Wednesday 0, Manchester United 3 Blackpool 0, Sheffield United 4 Stoke 1.
Television highlights: The Good Old Days. Double Your Money. Prayers, weather, road works, closedown.
Radio highlights: Masters of the Keyboard. A Slight Case of Obscenity.
Weather: sunny periods. Outlook – rain, showers, brighter. 18c, 64f.
Friday 13 September 1963
Stolen loot from the Great Train Robbery may be concealed in an isolated farm property 150 miles from London. An informant has told police about the location. Meanwhile, police are looking for a former London club owner and ex-boxer, Christopher Edwards, known as Buster. Police believe that Buster Edwards can help them with their inquiries.
A Government report reveals that 5,000 people in Britain now earn at least £20,000 a year before tax. In 1954 only 2,000 earned that amount. Hundreds soar well above the £20,000 mark – some are earning £30,600 apiece.
In Britain, a disaster is countered with a “nice cup of tea”. But now something very un-British is going on – we are becoming a nation of coffee drinkers. We are drinking twice as much coffee as we did five years ago. The reasons for the British coffee habit? Expresso bars and holidays abroad.
Jimmy Gault, Britain’s all-time biggest pools winner with £300,684 has died aged 53 at home near Belfast.
BBC bosses have ordered “no more smut”, especially on the That Was The Week That Was show. The BBC are also hoping to screen programmes of major appeal at about 6.35pm because most of the country is back home by then. They also plan to screen two or three major programmes after the 9pm news.
Television highlights: Adventure – the riddle of Easter Island with Thor Heyerdahl. International Film Season from Sweden – A Doll’s House. Ready, Steady, Go! with Roy Orbison and Freddie and the Dreamers.
Radio highlights: Chamber Music. Speedy Disc Show.
Weather: sunny periods, mainly dry. Outlook – dry with sunny periods. 18c, 64f.
Available for order and pre-order, my Swinging Sixties Mystery Series
https://books2read.com/u/bMqNPG
For Authors
#1 for value with 565,000 readers, The Fussy Librarian has helped my books to reach #1 on over thirty occasions.
A special offer from my publisher and the Fussy Librarian. https://authors.thefussylibrarian.com/?ref=goylake
Don’t forget to use the code goylake20 to claim your discount 🙂
Hannah Howe 