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 – September 25, 2014

Rave rumpus

The Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner has defended the police’s handling of a rave on his doorstep which saw 800 revellers descend on Combe for 18 hours at the weekend.

The peaceful corner of West Berkshire was shattered when ravers started arriving at Combe Gibbet late on Saturday night.

Thames Valley Police, who were alerted by alarmed residents at 12.30am, issued a section 63 order stating that all participants must leave the site by 10am on Sunday.

But the last of the party-goers did not leave until 6.45pm on Sunday – more than 18 hours after the rave began.

The aftermath of the event, which saw the number of ravers swell to 800 at 3am and music continue to blare until 10am despite the police presence, left the well-known West Berkshire land scattered with litter, broken glass and drugs paraphernalia.

Police and crime commissioner Anthony Stansfeld, who is also the district council ward member for Combe, defended the police’s handling on the night.

“If we go in mob-handed with people we will probably make the problem worse.”

Owner of Combe Manor, David Russell, said residents as far away as Inkpen and Buttermere were kept awake by noise.

“It was very obvious and not very pleasant,” he said. “A lot of people heard it because it was quite a quiet night.

“They weren’t a very nice lot from all accounts.”

25 years ago – September 23, 1999

Model racer

A teenage model car racer is hoping for pole position when he takes part in both the World Championship and European Finals next month.

Nick Goodall, aged 17, of Dalby Crescent, Newbury, has been racing model cars since the age of 11, and started competing at national level three years ago.

Last year, he finished seventh in the national two-wheel drive championship, qualifying for both the World Championship for Finland and the European Finals in Vienna.

“A lot of kids have model cars, but don’t realise that you can race them,” said Nick.

As well as competing internationally, Nick is a star at regional level.

He recently won the regional four-wheel drive race, and is hoping to do the double this weekend when he enters the two-wheel drive race.

Nick will be accompanied on his trips abroad by father Mr Brain Goodall, an engineer at Plenty’s, who also acts as his mechanic.

50 years ago – September 26, 1974

Office control

Strict controls on future office development in the Newbury District Council area were approved by members of the authority.

The measures which will form an interim yardstick for planners pending the arrival of an overall policy in the West Berkshire Structure Plan, were passed by the council’s development committee on Tuesday.

The interim policy restricting development has come about as a result of concern expressed at the growth of office floor space in West Berkshire.