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 – August 7, 2014

‘Lone Wolf’ dies

Prolific spy writer and veteran investigative journalist Harry Chapman Pincher has died at his home in Kintbury at the age of100.

Chapman Pincher, described by his son Michael Pincher, as a “former journalist, author, fisherman, and ‘scourge of politicians of all hues’” passed away on Tuesday, following a small stroke suffered some weeks ago.

Michael said his father died “with no regrets, no fear and no expectation”.

Chapman Pincher led a colourful career as a journalist at the Daily Express, where his colleagues called him ‘The Lone Wolf of Fleet Street’.

He was the newspaper’s Defence and Science correspondent until his retirement in 1979.

25 years ago – August 5, 1999

New-look church

Burghfield Common Methodist Church is planning the grand opening of its new £182,000 hall in September, after more than three years of fundraising.

The idea to build a new hall emerged back in January 1996, inspired by the church windows.

The minister at the church, The Rev Valerie Fisher, said: “The original windows in the church were in such a poor state that they had to be replaced.

“That was going to cost something like £20,000.

“Then the people in the church began to have a much larger vision.”

The church hall was a prefabricated building, which was well past its sell by date, so the church launched a fundraising campaign to build a replacement.

Now, more than three years later, they have a new Norwegian pine hall, which is modern and bright and will see the church well into the next century.

The money to pay for it has come from fundraising efforts and grants, although there is still some to raise.

The hall will not only be used by the church but also the Guides, Brownies, Mortimer Area Stroke Club and other community projects.

Miss Fisher said that church members were thrilled that the campaign for the hall had been a success, especially as the project had become a lot bigger than originally envisaged.

50 years ago – July 25,1974

Summer schools

What to do in the holidays has always been a question facing mothers and children alike.

Six weeks summer break from lessons sounds great for the children, but, with the holiday only four days old, mothers have already been asked by their offspring ‘What can we do?’

One answer is ‘Go back to school’ for on Monday a holiday play scheme starts at two Newbury schools and in three parks and open spaces.

Each weekday for the next four weeks children will be able to play under the watchful eyes of qualified supervisors at Winchcombe and Fir Tree Lane schools and also at Stroud Green, the City playground and at a playing field at Essex Street.

The scheme is based on one run for the first time last year by Newbury Town Council.

Organiser is former town councillor Chris Waterman, who is teacher at Fir Tree Lane Primary School.

He said: “The scheme is valuable in that it helps with the social education of children and provides them with a safe place to play.”

Last year about 200 children a day attended the Newbury play centres and Mr Waterman is hopeful that, with better publicity this year, this will rise to 500 spread among the five centres.

There is no charge and children can come and go as they please.