On this day ...
10 years ago Camberley News Friday July 16 2004 Music on Fire raised funds
REVELLERS in Sandhurst exploded through the 20th century last weekend as “the greatest show in Britain this year” was staged at the Royal Military Academy.
Music On Fire, which has been planned since February and featured dancing flames 25ft high, took place on Friday and Saturday night in front of crowds of 5,000 and 10,000 respectively.
The musical extravaganza was arranged by top national events wizard Sir Michael Parker – famous for arranging the Queen’s jubilee celebrations and the Queen Mother’s 100th birthday party – and raised around £250,000 for the Army Benevolent Fund’s 60th anniversary.
The two-hour show took the audience on a journey through the highs and lows of the last century by using the media of fire and music.
The Boer War, World War One, the rise of the Nazis, World War Two and the cold war and Armageddon threat all featured in the fiery display.
And the six tonnes of explosives and full symphony orchestra made the show a spectacular experience for the picnickers from Berkshire and beyond who watched the century unfold in front of the Old College building at the academy.
The event was arranged by John Burley Public Relations Consultants.
50 years ago Aldershot News Friday July 17 1964 Development plan delay forcing shops to close
THE delay in publishing the Aldershot Development Plan is preventing residents from selling their houses and shops, and if it continues dozens of small shopkeepers may be forced to close down, members of Aldershot and District Chamber of Commerce declared on Monday.
A trader who owns a shop in Queens Road said he had been told to give up work for health reasons, yet three prospective purchasers of this shop had backed out because of the uncertainty over the lines the Development Plan would take.
“My wife can’t control the business alone much longer, and as far as I can see we shall have to close it down,"” he said.
Mr R W Bennett, reporting on a meeting between chamber representatives and the Council on the town centre proposals, said that if the rest of the plan was not published soon, they would run into a great deal of difficulty.
100
years ago Aldershot News Friday July 17 1914 Good for the bootmakers
A PLEA for the poorer class of ratepayer was made to the members of the Farnborough District Council, at their meeting on Tuesday evening, by Mr C Peacock of 92 Park Road, South Farnborough, who wrote a letter to the following effect: -
“I beg most respectfully to direct your attention to the terribly dusty condition of the above road.
“Everyone is complaining of the dust and dirt, which rises on every occasion when motor and other vehicular traffic passes along the road, the water cart is only a temporary palliative, and to suggest, in the interest of the ratepayers of this neighbourhood, that immediate steps be taken to rectify the nuisance, by the road being covered with tar.”