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 – April 16, 2015
Library saved
Community spirit saw the re-opening on Tuesday of Kingsclere Library, which remains as a thriving local facility, thanks to a dedicated band of volunteers.
The George Street library, contained within Kingsclere Village Club, had been under threat of closure, due to Hampshire County Council cuts, in a move to cut £23,000 as part of £300,000 slashed from library costs county-wide.
Appalled at the prospect of losing their library Kingsclere villagers formed a voluntary group to save it.
The group comprises some 34 people, determined to keep the library open by staffing it on an entirely voluntary basis.
Chairman of Kingsclere Parish Council, Alan Denness, said the library had been totally redecorated and re-carpeted after being closed during the refurbishment, which was funded by Hampshire County Council.
The opening days and times will remain the same, thanks to what he described as a “marvellous group of volunteers”.
25 years ago – April 15, 2000
Mill jobs threat
Colthrop Board Mill workers and union representatives are bracing themselves for an announcement which could result in the closure of the mill and the loss of all 170 jobs.
Speaking after an unofficial meeting on Tuesday, at which workers were told the mill was likely to close within three months, union representatives said they were due to meet with the Colthrop management on Monday, where a formal announcement will be made concerning the mill's future.
The branch secretary of the Graphical, Paper and Media Union (GPMU), Mr Tony Kingston, said: “At the moment, the 90 days notice for closure of the mill has not been announced officially.
“But we are expecting that to come at Monday’s meeting between local union representatives and Colthrop management.
“We are trying to pre-empt the situation and we will try to get the best possible terms available. But the main thing is to save job losses.”
Colthrop Board Mill, which has been operating in its current form in Thatcham since the 1950s, produces several grades of waste paper-based carton board, and is owned by the Mayr Melnhof Board Group, a family-owned company based in Vienna, Austria.
50 years ago – April 13, 1975
Red Cross reward
Mr Harry Piper, Commandant of Berks 15 (men’s detachment) was honoured on Thursday by members, on completing 40 years’ service with the British Red Cross Society in Newbury.
The event, which took place at the Dolphin hotel, was highlighted by the presentation by Mr Jim Harvey to Mr Piper of an inscribed silver tankard, embossed with a Red Cross.
Mr Harvey, who has served with Mr Piper in the Red Cross since 1938, paid tribute to the Commandant’s devotion to the Red Cross, and his insistence that his subordinates in the detachment should, whether in or out of uniform, set an example to the community and be credit to the society they serve.
Mr William Brown, a Red Cross member and regular ambulance driver, presented to Mr Piper a clock, on behalf of the staff at the Newbury Ambulance Station.
