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 – March 19, 2015
Magic display
A talented magician from Wash Common is celebrating after making it through to the finals of a national competition.
Chris Head, a former Park House student, will attempt to wow judges with a series of tricks when he takes part in the coveted Young Magician of the Year competition later this month.
The 17-year-old had beaten off stiff competition from 15 other magicians in the regional heats to land a place in the finals of the biannual competition, which will be held at The Magic Circle’s London headquarters on Sunday, March 29.
Mr Head said: “It is a great honour and I’ve been busy cramming in practice every day. I am quite nervous but really looking forward to it.
“For the regional heats I had to do an eight to-12-minute routine and I’m trying to expand on some of the tricks I used in the heats for the final.”
Finalists will be assessed on their technique, handling, presentation and general magic ability.
Judges will also consider the appearance and personality of the competitor, routining and magical content, originality and innovation and overall entertainment value.
Mr Head says he started performing tricks three years ago, but only started training professionally in the last eight months and has enlisted the help of renowned magician John Hotowka ahead of the final.
The youngster says his favourite trick is similar to the one performed by Dynamo, which involves flicking lottery tickets into the air and turning them into £20 notes.
25 years ago – March 16, 2000
Fringe festival
Newbury is set to stage its own version of the famous Edinburgh fringe festival in May, provided that rain does not stop play.
Town councillors and local arts lovers are planning to hold a ‘Mayor’s Fringe’ to celebrate the town’s artistic and civic heritage on May 14, when the official Newbury Spring Festival and the mayormaking ceremony in the town coincide.
Details of the festival emerged during Monday’s meeting of Newbury Town Council’s civic pride committee, when the committee chairman Sue Farrant asked her fellow councillors to pray that rain did not disrupt the proceedings.
Dr Farrant, who recalled that Newbury had been hit by what she called a ‘tropical downpour’ on May 14 last year, admitted that there was no wet weather plan for the fringe event, which is set to take place mainly in Victoria and Goldwell parks.
50 years ago – March 20, 1975
Home alone
The bridegroom will be spending his honeymoon with his puppy Old English Sheepdog at Paynesdown Road, Thatcham, while his wife flies off to Sydney, Australia, to spend her honeymoon in her former home, with her parents.
Spending their honeymoon together is just not possible for Barry Edmund Pinnock and Suzanne Marie Downey.
Barry is the eldest son of managing director of Pinnocks, the Thatcham coal merchants, Mr BJ Pinnock and Mrs Pinnock, of Chapel Street, Thatcham.
Suzanne came to England two-and-a-half years ago, but her home is Collaroy, Sydney.
Last week Suzanne decided it was time to go back home and visit her parents, Mr and Mrs JJ Downey, and so she booked her flight.
She intended to return to England later this year to be with Barry, who has been her steady boyfriend for 18 months.
But late last week the couple decided to get married before Suzanne left for Australia.
The wedding was at Newbury registrar’s office yesterday.
Barry cannot afford to go with his bride, to Australia… and then there is his month-old puppy to consider.
When the couple are reunited in two months time, they will be living in Paynesdown Road,Thatcham – with the Old English Sheepdog of course!
