Running out of time
Townsman forgets to reset clocks for wintertime, October 6, 1921 OLD MEMORIES REVIVED Extracts taken from past columns of the Newbury Weekly News
150 years ago October 12 1871
Blown away
A GALE which occurred last week, appears to have raged with considerable violence in the neighbourhood of Wash Common, Sandleford and Greenham.
Several trees (oaks and elms) were damaged, and two or three on the farms of Mr Asprey and Mr Litten were blown down.
One large tree on the east side of the road at Sandleford was quite uprooted and a large portion of the bank dislodged. A woman was, it is said, blown against a tree in Monkey Lane, and slightly hurt; but the fright was greater than the injury. A shepherd at Sandleford states that he was carried off the ground a distance of several yards, the wind blowing with such terrific force.
The scene of the gale was visited on Sunday by a considerable number of persons, the day being so exceedingly fine.
125 years ago October 8 1896
Cars are coming!
THE act regulating the use of motor cars comes into operation in November, so that before the year is out we shall see them in our streets. The vehicles must be so constructed that no smoke or steam is visible therefrom, except from any temporary or accidental cause.
Power is given to make byelaws preventing or restricting the use of such locomotives upon any bridge within their area where they are satisfied that such use would be attended with damage.
The Act provides regulations as to the exhibition of lights at night, and every locomotive is to carry a bell or other instrument capable of giving audible and sufficient warning of the approach or position of the carriage. Fourteen miles an hour is to be the maximum speed.
100 years ago October 6 1921
Stop the clocks
HERE is the sad story of a townsman’s experiences on Sunday night.
He supped wisely and well, and was reminded of his responsibility with regard to the alteration of the clocks. He took it on lightly, simply stopped them at nine o’clock, intending to set them going again at ten.
Then he settled down to a book and a pipe. The book was absorbing, the pipe soothing.
When he roused to a sense of duty, he found to his consternation he had allowed his watch to run down according to pre-arranged plan.
The family were in bed, determined to get their extra hour in full, and he was in the silent house with the titled clocks all indicating nine o’clock, and he without the slightest knowledge of what the time was.
He bethought him of the ancient wheeze, “If you want to know the time ask a policeman.”
But that would be a silly thing to do. Nobody asks a policeman the time nowadays.
They would tell him to consult the town clock.
75 years ago October 3 1946
Party profits
THE financial result of the Victory celebrations held at Hungerford in June was disclosed at a meeting of the committee held under the chairmanship of the Constable, Mr Edward Pratt, last week.
The hon treasurer, Mr AE Berry, reported that all expenses had been met and that there was a net surplus of £72 2s 6d.
The largest item of revenue was the net profit on the gymkhana of £137 6s 9d, which proved popular despite the bitterly cold day.
The competition produced £52 2s 6d net, and the whist drive £28 8s 4d.
In addition, darts yielded £18 1s 6d and the County Council grant had been received of £9 9s 6d.
Entertainment tax was waived by the authorities.
50 years ago September 30 1971
Royal runner-up
PRINCESS Anne lunched on a hot dog when she competed in one-day horse trials at New Barn Farm, Bucklebury, on Tuesday.
The snack came from a caravan vendor and it was typical of the day which the Princess spent, often mingling almost unnoticed among competitors and spectators.
She arrived in her blue Reliant sports car with trainer Mrs Allison Oliver, wife of international show jumper Alan Oliver.
Her equerry and three detectives were always close at hand.
A lot was expected from the new European champion, but though she rode well she only managed a second and seventh in two of the four sections.
Riding the Queen’s six-yearold grey gelding Columbus in the opening section, she started with a dressage score of 44.
She completed the show jumping and cross-country sections without adding any further penalties, but still had to take second place to Folkestone entrant Mrs S Pride, who finished with 41.
25 years ago September 26 1996
Cancer concerns
A QUESTION mark hangs over the Government’s promise to look again at the incidence of childhood cancers around Greenham Common.
The watchdog group that studies health risks near nuclear sites (COMARE) was told to revisit the results of its 1989 investigation of West Berkshire, following allegations that a nuclear accident in the 1950s was responsible for a cluster of leukaemia cases in Newbury. The government told the Berkshire Health Authority in July that the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) would revisit the results of the West Berkshire study, and re-examine the data with particular regard to Greenham Common. However, the Department of Health now says West Berkshire will not be treated as a special case.
10 years ago October 6 2011
Save our pool!
A PLAN to tear down a longstanding Newbury leisure centre and replace it with housing has sparked a furious community backlash.
The Newbury Weekly News has been inundated with calls, emails and letters in the wake of an announcement by house builder Bloor Homes Southern, of Newbury, that it has reached an agreement with Greenacre Leisure Centre to put 42 homes on the current site of the centre. It also wants to build 17 affordable homes on greenfield land adjacent to the site.
A public exhibition on Thursday and Friday, highlights Bloor’s intention to move the indoor and outdoor tennis courts, which are amongst the finest and most popular in the county, on to greenfield land next to its current site, but the developer will not replace the Greenacre swimming pool and gym.
The move has not gone down well with members.
Diana Merchant from Wash Common was horrified to hear of the news.
“That is why I joined Greenacres in the first place; to swim. The pool provision, in my opinion, should be put right to the top of the list, not in phase three,” she said. Jacqui Letsome, from Highclere, was disappointed at the way the members had been treated.
She said: “The club’s membership has demonstrated loyalty to Greenacres over the years, and indeed – we have all paid a good price for our membership.
“Is it not time for the club to show us some gratitude for that by keeping us better informed – a meeting for members perhaps?”