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 – November 13, 2014

Garden of peace

Greenham peace women returned to the site of their historic protest against nuclear weapons at the weekend to hand over ownership of a commemorative garden to Greenham Common Trust.

On September 5, 1981, the Welsh group, Women for Life on Earth, arrived at Greenham Common to oppose the decision to hold 96 nuclear cruise missiles at the RAF base.

When the debate was ignored, the women set up a peace camp outside the perimeter of the airbase in protest and led a challenge against illegal by-laws at the site that went all the way to the High Court.

At its height, 50,000 women surrounded the airbase and their protest became known worldwide as the Women’s Peace Camp.

The protest lasted nearly 20 years and led to frequent court appearances for obstruction, wrongful arrests, trespassing and assaults.

The women claimed victory in 1987 when the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed, leading to the removal of the missiles within four years.

But some weren’t satisfied and called for the common to return to public use.

In 1997 the common was bought from the MoD by the Greenham Common Trust for £7m and sold to West Berkshire Council for £1.

25 years ago – November 11, 1999

La belle bière

A West Berkshire brewery has launched a “tongue in cheek jibe at the French” by producing what they say is a French bière – but made the British way.

Butts Brewery has produced Le Butts Bière from its site in Shefford Woodlands, following the controversial row over the French refusing to accept British beef.

A partner in the brewery, Dave Price, who is known to customers as Sydney Butts, said: “Obviously everyone is aware of the current British beef ban in France.

“Most of our local community is supported by agriculture and most of our customers are country pubs… so our small local cottage industry is fighting back,” he said.

“We have created a French-style beer and there was clearly only one name for it, Le Butts. This is our tongue in cheek jibe at the French.”

50 years ago – November 14, 1974

Risque business

Restaurateur Maurice Vane drew the line when he saw the painting.

It was enough to put people off their potage, he declared, flatly refusing to allow the picture to remain.

The colourful oil – View of Land’s End – was one of a dozen works by 33-year-old artist Colin Scott that Maurice had agreed to exhibit in his Thatcham restaurant.

He thought his clients would welcome the opportunity to “see the work of this up-and-coming young artist.”

But this particular bit of exposure was going too far, he ruled.

“Someone could easily take offence at the picture,” he said, “so I’m not taking any chances.”

The censored painting included a naked man who is said by the artist to be Robert Kennedy.

“Actually I think it’s a bit of a giggle,” smirked Maurice, but he was concerned that the less broadminded of his diners might choke on their charlotte russe if the picture – with its £60 price tag – were allowed to stay.

The eleven remaining paintings will be on exhibition at Vane’s until December 6.

Surveying the canvasses – valued at almost £1,000 – on show at the restaurant Maurice confessed to being no connoisseur of contemporary art.

“Landscapes are more in my line,” he said... providing, it seems, they are decently done!