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

Back in the day….Starting a new online series, we delve into our archives to see what was going on 10 years ago, 25 years ago and 50 years ago this week.

If you have any photos or memories you would like to share with us, please email us at newsdesk@newburynews.co.uk

10 years ago – February 27, 2014

West Berkshire Council wanted to build flood defences to protect Shaw cemetery and nearby houses three years ago, but was unable to due to objections by some residents and issues with land ownership.

Following the floods in 2007, the council designed two flood defence options for Cromwell Road and Wellington Close.

The first option was found to be very expensive and was not acceptable to the affected landowner in Wellington Close.

The second, involving the construction of a bund in the field to the north of the cemetery, was submitted to the Environment Agency for funding.

25 years ago – February 25, 1999

Television star Carol Vorderman came to Newbury this week for the filming of her latest show Better Homes.

Two families from Greenham had thousands of pounds spent on their homes for the programme, which shows how people can make improvements to increase its value.

Mr Spencer Allen and his wife Sarah, of Westwood Road, were stunned to find a state-of-the-art loft conversion in their three-bedroom semi-detached house when the builders had finished work.

When the work was going on, we spent five days in the Chequers Hotel and we were not allowed anywhere near the house,” Mr Allen said.

Mr Allen said that a dusty old roof space had been converted into a master bedroom with a corner bath, shower and toilet.

“We now have two Velux windows letting in oceans of light, and a wooden floor imported from Scandinavia,” he said.

The couple’s friends, Mr Terry Weatherhead and his wife Jeanette, who only applied to go on the show last month, now have a two-room extension to their five-bedroom detached home in New Road.

The extension features a further bedroom, living area and kitchen.

Mr Allen explained that the owners of the house whose value had increased the most would receive cash to the same amount.

“Ours was valued at £110,000 and went up to £118,000,” he said. “The other house went up by a total of £9,000, but we had agreed to split the money.”

50 years ago – February 28, 1974
Two sisters decided to keep the neighbours guessing over which party they were going to support in today’s election, so they stuck three stickers – one for each candidate – in the window of one of their homes in Paynesdown Road, Thatcham.

Mrs Gina Hibberd and her sister Linda Fappiano, of Craven Road, Newbury, think there’s not much to choose between the parties… in fact they aren’t going to bother to vote.

“We put the stickers in the window to keep them all guessing after several of the neighbours had asked us what party was going to have our vote,” said Mrs Hibberd.

“My sister and I are both a couple of nutcases when we get together and when the politicians told us how they were going to help with our problems, we thought there was no difference between them so we stuck all of them in the front window,” she added.

Younger sister Linda agreed: “I am not going to vote because they give you all sorts of promises before an election but as soon as the fuss is over, you don’t see the candidates again until the next election.”

And pictured above are pupils from Lambourn School, in 1930. Obviously, not a mobile phone in sight!