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 20, 2014
Simon’s marathon
People talk of going the distance for charity and a Thatcham man has done just that for Children in Need.
Simon Prout, aged 36, ran from Thatcham Broadway to Newbury Clocktower, back and forth 15 times during his 12-hour fundraising mission, covering 51 miles between 8am and 8pm on Friday.
Father-of-five Mr Prout, known as Prouty or Trigger by the Canal Bar football team, said that he had wanted to do something for a few years but never got around to it.
“I must be pretty mad, but I better do it now before my muscles and everything else starts playing up,” he joked.
Mr Prout, a support worker for adults with learning difficulties, set out to raise £200 on his online donations page and had raised more than £600 before he set off on Friday morning.
His online total stands at £1,010 and he has raised more than £1,200 including other donations.
He said: “My legs were a bit stiff on Saturday but it’s been fantastic.”
25 years ago – November 18, 1999
Festive warning
Newbury Samaritans are warning people to look out for signs of loneliness and despair among friends and family, because this time of year is not always filled with festive cheer.
Spokesman Peter Rayner said that the Samaritans usually saw a 10-per-cent increase in calls over Christmas and New Year, but it could be more this year because Millennium Eve was still an unknown factor.
He said: “People will see others around them happy and remember times when the New Year meant something to them too.”
Mr Rayner said the Samaritans were now preparing for what he said would be a difficult time.
He appealed to the people of West Berkshire to help to watch out for people with telltale signs of despair.
He said “We ask people to take time and listen to those around them, to find out who is feeling alone and for whom the new Millennium is anything but a time to celebrate.
“The whole thing can conspire to make this time of year very difficult for those in crisis.”
50 years ago – November 21, 1974
Crash landing
Two RAF men had a miraculous escape when their 16-seater Puma helicopter plunged into a ploughed field only yards from the busy A34 at Beacon Hill on Friday.
The aircraft disintegrated on impact and debris was strewn over a wide area.
The wreckage burst into flames but both men were able to get clear.
Emergency services from Hampshire and Newbury were at the scene within minutes and the pilot and crewman were rushed to the burns unit at Odstock Hospital, Salisbury.
A statement issued later said that both were satisfactory.
Friday’s accident happened only three days after the inquest on two men who died when their helicopter crashed into a hilltop a few miles away at Inkpen earlier this year.
Pilot of the Puma was Sqdn-Ldr Keith Cartlidge (30), of 33 Squadron at RAF Odiham.
His crewman was Flight-Sgt John Jenkins (37), whose home is at Calne.
Both men are married with three children.
A spokesman at RAF Odiham said later “They are very lucky people. Their injuries are not as serious as we thought.”
The men were on a routine exercise over the countryside between Basingstoke and Whitchurch, RAF Odiham’s normal training area.
