ZUM4880837: Sep. 09, 1953 -” Lucky” Lithgow Will Probably Attack Duke's Air Speed Record. A new speed record attempt will be made soon in a Supermarine Swift. It was learned at Farnborough that the pilot will probably be Test Pilot M.J. Lithgow and the attempt will be made at Castel Benito in Tripoli. In order to set up an official record, Lithgow would have to average almost 735 m.p.h. The present record (subject to confirmation) is 727.6 m.p.h. which Neville Duke set up last Monday. Keystone Photo Shows: - The Supermarine Swift. / Bridgeman Images
ZUM4880911: Sep. 09, 1953 - Introducing” The Black Bomber” Vickers Valiant B. MK II: View of the new Vickers Valiant B. Mk. II known at its home airfield, Wisley, Surrey - as “The Blake Bomber”. It is a new and longer version of the four-jet Vickers Valiant. It will carry a greater weight of bombs faster and farther. New bogle under carriage wheels are fitted. This is one of the new machines to be seen at the Farnborough Air Display. / Bridgeman Images
ZUM4881807: Sep. 17, 1953 - The” Bridesmaid” at Church Was A Chimp: A Chimpanzee went to a church yesterday- dressed as a bridesmaid. The two-year old chimp, Midge, wearing a white satin frock with frilly underwear - handed a lucky horseshoe to the bride, Miss Hazel Sixsmith, outside the church door. Then Midge kissed the bride and tried to kiss the bridegroom, Mr. David Harrison. After the ceremony at the Saviour's Church, Bolton (Lancs), the vicar, the Rev. Ernest Broadbent, said:” More than twenty Parishioners have complained about the chimp. “I was not told about it before the ceremony.” The bride and groom, both of Bolton, wer3e last night on honeymoon in Blackpool. Mr. Harrison said: “There was nothing vulgar about the chimp being at the wedding- t was never in the church.” Midge got an official invitation to the wedding, said Mr. Charles Charlton, Senior, who employs the bridegroom as manager of a Bury pet shop. Picture Shows: Wearing a white frock, Midge, the chimpanzee greets the newlyweds, Davis Harrison and Hazel Sixsmith, outside the church yesterday. / Bridgeman Images
ZUM4886093: Oct. 10, 1953 - Four Escape when Masonry Crashes: Four people had split-second escapes when-tons of Masonry and scaffolding collapsed into Queens borough-terrace.Bayswater, today.Twenty Yards of Cornice, 50ft.high, fell into the street, dragging down the scaffolding, and collapsing the porches of three Victorian houses. three of the men who escaped. were workmen / Bridgeman Images
ZUM4886275: Oct. 10, 1953 - Huge Crowd acclaims Franco in Madrid A huge crowd of 350,000 gathered in front of the National Palace in Madrid, to acclaim General Franco on the occassion of the 17th anniversary of his assumption of power in Spain. Special pleasure was shown by the crowd of France's recently signed pact with the United States and the conclusions of the Concordat with the Vatican / Bridgeman Images
ZUM4885925: Oct. 10, 1953 - Petrol strikes threatens to halt London: Empty petrol tanks face London and the Home Counties this morning as the result of the unofficial strike of, 000 petrol tanker drivers. Ministers were meeting today to prepare emergency plans to use troops to distribute petrol if the strike continues / Bridgeman Images
ZUM4886400: Oct. 10, 1953 - Nurses to join British Red Cross Teams in Malaysian re-settlement Villages: Two British Red Cross trained nurses, Miss Dora C. Whitehead of Broadchalke, Nr. Salisbury, Wilts and Miss Maureen Rance, of Catford, leave London next Monday to join the British Red Cross team working in the re-settlement villages in Malaya. They are the first Red Cross nurses, going overseas, to be issues with the new Red Cross uniform designed by Mr. Norman Hartnell / Bridgeman Images