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
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 – August 28, 2014
Historic digs over
A £5m archaeology project to excavate Silchester’s pre-Roman and Roman origins has ended this year after 18 summers of digs in the village.
Director of the ‘Insula IX Town Life’ project at the site of Silchester’s Roman town – Calleva Atrebatum – was Professor Michael Fulford, of the University of Reading’s archaeology department.
Prof Fulford, who has overseen the dig, alongside archaeology lecturer Amanda Clarke, students and visitors, said that the dig’ had ended simply because: “There is no more archaeology to be excavated within our trench in Insula IX.”
The aim of the project, he said, had been to explore a sample of the history of the town, from its origins in the pre-Roman Iron Age in the 1st century BC, to its abandonment between the 5th and the 7th centuries AD.
Prof Fulford said: “We now have the evidence for a rich characterisation of changing town life over these centuries and the priority now is to fund the publication of the results and the research on our finds.”
25 years ago – August 26, 1999
‘Learning is fun’
A village preschool has been described as ‘a calm and happy environment where learning is fun’ by an OFSTED inspector.
St Peter’s Bradfield Pre-School Nursery, in Southend Road, Bradfield, was also found to have ‘a programme of activities likely to promote the desirable outcomes in each of the six areas of learning’ by inspector Ms Janet Gould.
In her report, Ms Gould praised the nursery’s programmes for personal and social development, language and literacy, mathematics, knowledge and understanding of the world and creative development.
She described the quality of teaching at the nursery as ‘predominantly good’, and planning as ‘effective in providing a good balance of activities’.
Children at the nursery were found to behave well, and developed their confidence and independence.
The inspector did find some minor weaknesses in the planning of the nursery’s programme of education.
Ms Gould set out key issues for action to help the nursery improve the quality and standards of its education provision, including identifying more of the opportunities available in each activity and allocating specific activities to staff.
The inspector also recommended that the nursery extends its assessment records and keeps observation notes which are currently discarded, sharing records with parents to allow them to contribute to the assessment of their children.
50 years ago – August 29, 1974
Tractor trophy
A ploughing match for veteran tractors was a new event at Lambourn festival on Saturday, held at Mr James Bracey’s Foxbury Farm.
The actual ploughing was on Mr James Radbourne’s North Farmland, which adjoins Foxbury.
The ploughing trophy was won by Mr M Broughton with a 1942 Standard Fordson and a Ransomes Motrac 3A two-footer plough.
Mr J Adnams of Newbury with an International 10/20 was second and Mr TF James of Culham, in Oxfordshire, with another Standard Fordson and Ivor 10TSG plough was third.
There was a fine show of stationary engines and first prize was taken by Mr RA Dobson with a 5hp Lister engine dating from 1923, carefully restored by the owner.
In the class for working horses, 12-year-old Lucy, jointly owned by Mr W Hunt and Mrs J Williams of Woodlands St Mary, won first prize pulling a seed broadcaster.
There were a great many other tractors and implements of interest to the enthusiasts and to those less well-infor- med as examples of farm machinery over 30 years ago.
