Saturday 28 September 1963
Another fortune in old banknotes was grabbed yesterday by gangsters who ambushed an armoured bank van. Eight masked bandits held up the van in Kent and stole £90,000. Onlookers thought a film scene was being shot. One of the van’s guards was a well known baritone who sang the first song at the BBC’s 2LO network in 1927.
The daughter of the first Normandy family to be freed by the British in 1944 gets married today – to an Englishman. On D-Day Mr George Gondree opened ninety-seven bottles of champagne for wounded paratroopers carried into his house. He will open more today when his daughter Arlette weds Theodore Pritchett.
More than 43,000,000 people watch television in Britain. And the main question on their lips – why do the BBC and ITV put my favourite programmes on at the same time? Captain Tom Brown-Rigg, General Manager of A-RTV said, “We did approach the BBC to avoid programme clashes. We suggested that both channels should not show sport and drama at the same time. But the BBC sent us a very hot reply – they turned us down flat.”
Beauty queen Diane Westbury has turned down quizmaster Hughie Green’s challenge to allow viewers to decide who won the hotly-disputed Miss United Kingdom title. The judges voted for Maureen Gay, but organiser Eric Morley gave the title to Miss Westbury.
Cigarette smoking in Britain has increased by 3%.
Television highlights: That Was The Week That Was – return of the satirical series. The Avengers – return of the adventure series. The Sentimental Agent – new adventure series.
Radio highlights: World of Books. Pick of the Week.
Weather: mostly fine. Outlook – mostly cloudy. 17c, 63f.
Sunday 29 September 1963
A Scottish religious sect, the Love Family, is about to be launched throughout England. At their meetings they Twist for hours, sing, dance and embrace. Meetings – Love Parties – occur three times a week. Members donate a tenth of their income. Alcohol and tobacco are forbidden. Smiles are in. Members correspond regularly through the Glory Mail. The sect’s leader, Mr Simon Cameron, said, “Britain is ready now to receive our warmth.”
Mrs Average owns a television set, radio, vacuum cleaner, water heater, cooker, electric iron, and a portable space heater. One in two housewives own a washing machine. One in three men own an electric razor. One in three families keeps its food in a fridge. The same ratio own an electric blanket. One in four families has a hair-drier, and one in five a record player. The least popular modern gadget is the dishwasher – found in only one in 250 homes.
Britain has gone into the Space tailoring business with a natty line in Moon suits. When the well dressed man lands on the Moon he will be wearing a suit that sprays his body continually with water, to keep him cool. Excess heat will be exhausted as a vapour from a small valve at his back.
Football Results: First Division – Burnley 0 Arsenal 3, Liverpool 2 Everton 1, Manchester United 3 Leicester City 1, Spurs 3 West Ham 0, Wolves 4 Chelsea 1.
Television highlights: Do it Yourself. The Saint. Indoor Soccer.
Radio highlights: Advertising in Modern Society. Family Favourites.
Weather: cloudy, drizzle, cool.
Monday 30 September 1963
The search for the nine people – five men and four women – wanted for interview over the Great Train Robbery is still on. One of the nine, Roy “Weasel” James, is thought to have left Britain about a week ago. Detectives believe the nine have split into family groups, but the groups are thought to be keeping in touch with each other.
The great suspender problem – the button bulge that shows through a skin-tight skirt – might have been solved. Engineer Alan Barton has developed a plastic button instead of a metal one. Mr Barton has helped to design cars for several international racing drivers, including Reg Parnell.
A town’s brass band can’t get a look-in. Every suitable rehearsal room is booked for bingo – every night of the week. The brass band, at Preston, has been going for sixty years. But the craze for bingo means that the band are struggling to find a place to rehearse.
Personal Advertisements: Shirley Driver phone Seaton 753 Monday 7pm. Urgent. London School of Bridge, 38 Kings Road – practice, meet people, make new friends.
On its return to Britain’s television screens, That Was The Week That Was received 177 complaints. Twenty viewers congratulated the BBC for the programme.
Television highlights: Panorama – the Senate crime investigation in Washington. The Horse of the Year Show. Dancing Club.
Radio highlights: Sing Me a Souvenir. Harvest Thanksgiving Service.
Weather: sunshine and showers. Outlook – dry. 17c, 63f.
Tuesday 1 October 1963
The Beatles, Britain’s leading pop group, are to top the bill at Sunday Night at the London Palladium on 13 October. A year ago, the Beatles were unknown. But now the Liverpool lads are number one in the LP, EP and singles polls. They are also in the surtax bracket.
A nationwide Old Folks Week is to be launched on 13 October to highlight the problems of the old. In 1961, 17% of the population was over 60. This is expected to rise to 19% by 1976. All the leading newspapers and magazines will be running features during Old Folks Week.
The housewives of Britain are on the biggest shopping spree of their lives. Shopkeepers’ takings broke all records in August. The biggest share of the extra spending went on clothing and shoes. Never-never sales of cars, furniture, TVs and radios also spurted.
On trial stretches of road pedestrians can now press a button and hold up traffic. Pedestrians may cross the road at these crossing, but at no other point along the road. If they do so, they will be fined up to £20. When a pedestrian presses the button a matchstick man like the Saint in the tv series lights up to inform motorists to give the pedestrian the right of way.
Eight hundred fans clapped and cheered when 69 year old grandmother Mrs Catherine Richardson yelled “Bingo!” and won £1,300 in a national Lucky Scoop contest. But she was told that she can’t have the money because her son, Jim, manages a bingo hall. Mr Eric Morley, chairman of the Lucky Scoop contest, said, “It’s a shame, but we must stick to the rules.”
Television highlights: The Good Old Days. Maigret – return of the crime series. Five o’Clock Club featuring Harry Secombe.
Radio highlights: Notes for the Prosecution of Dr Crippen. Continental Cocktail.
Weather: mainly cloudy, some rain. Outlook – changeable. 16c, 61f.
Wednesday 2 October 1963
Since 1949 there has been a 72% rise in fires attended by the fire brigade. Home Secretary Mr Henry Brooke puts this rise down to “carelessness, irresponsibility and forgetfulness”. The number of fires reported last year – 73,500.
Housewives were warned that too many square meals produce round dads, and that obesity causes more illness than malnutrition. Instead of a heavy meal and an evening gazing at the television, sedentary workers should have a light meal followed by mental relaxation and some physical exercise.
I read with dismay that women may soon be able to preach sermons in Anglican churches. As things are there is too much yakity-jak in churches. Putting women in the pulpit will only make matters worse. K.E., Epsom, Surrey.
A new flying taxi service for businessmen will commence at Luton Airport. The service will be run by Robert McAlpine and Sons, civil engineers.
A hillside in Devon has been covered in “snow” made of nylon bristles. The bristles are slower than real snow and are ideal for beginners to practice on before their winter holidays.
Farmyard hens may soon be fitted with rose-coloured contact lens to make them more docile and sociable – and produce more eggs. The idea might also be tried on bulls and boars. The lenses would make everything look red, so the hens would not notice blood.
Television highlights: Sarah Sings and Basie Swings – Sarah Vaughan and Count Basie. Our Man at St Mark’s – comedy. Three Twos are Six – light entertainment.
Radio highlights: Ken Dodd Show. Sno-Mist Show.
Weather: sunny spells and showers. Outlook – showery with bright periods. 13c, 55f.
Thursday 3 October 1963
Christine Keeler was in court again yesterday, accused of conspiring to obstruct the course of justice and perjury at the “Lucky” Gordon trial. The court heard how John Hamilton-Marshall had a “struggle” with Miss Keeler. Throughout the evidence, Miss Keeler took frequent notes. The case continues.
At Lewes Assizes in Sussex, a prosecutor alleged that beautiful Swiss-born Micheline Lugeon was a spy for a nationwide gang of horse dopers. Forty-three trainers and stable men had identified her. She lied to gain access to the stables and horse doping followed her about as if it were a contagious disease and she was the carrier. The case continues.
In Birmingham, a proposal to run free buses for motorists so that they will leave their cars at home when travelling to work. The plan would address Birmingham’s drastic travel problems and the car drivers who are “becoming more neurotic and bad-tempered as they drive to and from work each day “.
New in Discland, and a certain hit, Gerry and the Pacemakers with You’ll Never Walk Alone. Meanwhile, the Beatles continue their long stint at number one with She Loves You.
Football Results: First Division – Chelsea 1 Manchester United 1, Everton 2 Arsenal 1, Tottenham 6 Birmingham 1. Wolverhampton 0 WBA 0. Top three – Tottenham, Manchester United and WBA.
Television highlights: Out of Town with Jack Hargreaves. Double Your Money with Hughie Green. Dickie Henderson Show.
Radio highlights: Science Survey. Swinging UK.
Weather: showers, brighter later. Outlook – changeable. 15c, 59f.
Friday 4 October 1963
At the Christine Keeler perjury trial, jazz singer Aloysius “Lucky” Gordon said, Christine is a kickster…she is worse than me.” Mr Gordon said he wanted to speak with Christine at a nightclub, and she insulted him. “She told me to … off. I was holding her right hand and I went to hit her. She turned through the door and fell. I don’t know if I hit her because someone grabbed my arm.” The case continues.
A runaway lorry loaded with fifty drums of oil ploughed through the garden walls of eight houses in Merthyr Tydfil. No one was hurt. The lorry burst into the lounge of Mr and Mrs Lowe. Mrs Lowe later said, “The whole house shook and we were terrified. This is the second time this sort of thing has happened, and we’ve only just finished decorating the lounge.”
One-fifth of all the food we buy is now frozen, canned or ready-prepared for us in some way. If your storage space is limited the answer is quick-dried foods. This weekend, for the first time, we will be able to buy quick-dried beans, and quick-dried sprouts are coming soon.
Four raiders fled from a Paris bank yesterday after a cashier stepped on a secret pedal, causing the cash drawer to disappear through a trapdoor.
I’m a Cockney. It used to give me a thrill to return to the city, smell the warm, petrolly air and see the dear old red buses. Alas, London is not the same. Now we have skyscrapers and foreigners. Progress, I suppose, but I prefer the old place. – D. Mitchelmore, Sussex.
Television highlights: International Swimming and Diving. From a Town in Tuscany. Ready, Steady, Go! featuring the Beatles.
Radio highlights: The Living Poet. Spanish for Beginners.
Weather: sunshine and showers. Outlook – changeable, continuing cold. 13c, 55f.
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