Back in the day: We delve into our archives to see what was going on 10 years ago, 25 years ago and 50 years ago this week
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10 years ago – January 28, 2015
Sci-fi students
A class of Hungerford pupils look on with horror as a giant, menacing cloud materialises outside their classroom window.
And if they knew what was coming next, they would probably run.
The Year 7 pupils at John O’Gaunt School were recruited by school alumnus and filmmaker Drew Casson for his latest project – a science fiction movie called Sweet Water.
Mr Casson, aged 20, said: “Sweet Water is going to be a short science fiction film with very high production values.
“Full credit must go to (drama teacher) Deb Browning’s formclass as they acted their socks off – they were brilliant.
“The school has always been supportive and offered us the class of students – and Toby Locke, one of the school’s budding actors – for the morning.
“They had to react as if they had spotted a giant cloud materialising in the skies over the school.”
He added: “The students were amazing.”
25 years ago – January 27, 2000
Crackdown on cars
Errant drivers violating Newbury’s car-free town centre were hit with £20 fines yesterday after public pressure forced the police to crack down.
Meanwhile, Newbury bus drivers have found their own way of keeping cars out of Northbrook Street and Bartholomew Street – by blocking the roads until the bollards have risen behind them.
Bus drivers have adopted the practice following requests from West Berkshire Council, which hopes it will stop tailgating drivers nipping over the bollards while they are down for buses.
The trick proved costly for two drivers last week when the bollards rose underneath them, leaving one car so badly damaged that it could not be driven away.
50 years ago – January 30, 1975
Quiz kings
In the first round of the Reading Horticultural Federation ‘Plate’ competition for teams that were eliminated in the first round of the knockout quiz, Kingsclere Gardening Association competed against Bucklebury and Marlston Horticultural Society in the Memorial Hall, Upper Bucklebury, on Wednesday.
After five closely-fought rounds Kingsclere were the winners by 43 points to 39.
Bucklebury were represented by Mr B Williams (captain), Dr LE Watts, Mr H Copas and Mrs I Baker and Kingsclere by Messes J Eckton (captain), L Randall, R Butler and MB Sharman.
The questionmaster was Mr WH Tuersley and the scorer M. Furnell.
