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
Today’s picture, taken from our files, is of Park House School back in 1991. Do you recognise yourself or any family and friends?
10 years ago - October 6, 2014
Chef comes home
MICHELIN-starred chef John Campbell has ‘come back home’ and will open the doors to a piece of Woodspeen’s history this month, as he launches a new bar and restaurant in the building that was formerly the Five Bells pub.
Mr Campbell, who won two of the renowned Michelin stars during his eight-year stint at nearby Stockcross hotel The Vineyard, has undertaken his first, entirely solo project in this latest restaurant, The Woodspeen, which has taken two years to come to fruition.
It will open on October 29 as a 66-cover restaurant and 18-seater bar.
Walking into the historic building, which dates from 1827, patrons will be greeted with views of the countryside through floor-to-ceiling glass panels, as well as an abundance of natural light which floods through a skylight the length of the restaurant.
When asked why he had chosen Woodspeen as the location, Mr Campbell, a regular guest chef on the television programmes Saturday Kitchen and Masterchef, said: “You know when you go somewhere and it just feels like home?
“I have lived in Poland, Geneva, London and France. I was born in the countryside, and here feels just great.
“I know the area, I know the suppliers, I know the customers. It makes sense.
“I’m glad this is where we are. I’m incredibly excited.”
25 years ago - October 14, 1999
War memorial
RELATIVES of those who died in the Falklands War will gather at Pangbourne College next month to witness the dedication of a chapel built in memory of their loved ones.
The £2.2m Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel will include a virtual garden of remembrance, where visitors can use computers to find out more about those who died in the war.
There will also be prayer kneelers, embroidered with the names of the dead, and an education room, giving information about the war.
The secretary to the chapel’s trustees and project fundraiser, Angela Perry, said that relatives of those who died in the Falklands welcomed the memorial.
“Everybody is absolutely delighted that at last there is somewhere that is totally dedicated to the people they loved, who were killed,” she said.
“It is lovely that there is this place, that they know is all for them.”
50 years ago - October 17, 1974
Dinner concert
ANOTHER season of dinners and concerts started at the Chequers Hotel on Sunday with a group of performers who are the high level of excellence, which we have come to expect of these concerts.
The London Harpsichord Ensemble are noted for their stylish performances of eighteenth-century music and their selection of works on this evening showed off their virtuosity effectively.
In the first item, Telemann’s Concerto in A minor for flute, oboe, violin, bassoon and harpsichord, the flute and violin seemed at first not to settle in but this impression soon passed as the flautist
displayed marvellous breath control in a long and elaborate passage.
Millicent Silver played JS Bach’s Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue for harpsichord with deceptive ease.
A concerto by Handel for the Ensemble without flute had a bassoon part independent of the bass of the harpsichord, Cecil James played it on a French bassoon, so much more fitted to this kind of ensemble than the modern German orchestral bassoon.
A Trio by CPE Bach was also played but it was no fault of the players that this work from a dull period in musical history did not match up to the other works.
