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 – February 12, 2015
Cancer unit bid
A charity has revealed plans for a £7.2m cancer treatment unit at West Berkshire Community Hospital.
Newbury and District Cancer Care Trust’s ambitious project aims to site the chemotherapy and radiotherapy facilities, to include a day unit and CT scanner, at the London Road hospital over the next three to five years.
The cancer charity was set up in 1984 with the aim of helping local people diagnosed with cancer, by offering practical help including transportation to hospitals for treatment and equipment loans such as wheelchairs.
The community hospital, officially opened in October 2004 by Princess Anne, combined the services previously offered at the now defunct Newbury and Sandleford Hospitals and is currently in the process of siting a renal dialysis unit, expected to be finished before the end of the year.
Speaking of the need for the facilities, trust chairman David Ball said: “We have already identified the need.
“We are confident we can raise the money and we have already received significant pledges of support from within our community.”
Mr Ball said: “The project will take around three to five years and it will cost a lot. We have already received significant pledges of support from within the community.”
25 years ago – February 10, 2000
Eggs agony
A Wash Common vet has saved the life of an egg-bound tortoise after removing calcified eggs in a type of operation he has never performed before.
The owner of Matilda, Mrs Jenny Kitchen, from Greenham, became alarmed at her pet’s out-of-character behaviour last autumn, when she refused to hibernate.
“She wouldn’t go to sleep and kept fighting her way through her box,” said Mrs Kitchen.
Mr Carl Gorman, of Falkland Veterinary Clinic, decided to take Matilda’s X-ray.
The X-ray revealed four eerily glowing, calcified eggs inside the poor tortoise and he decided she needed an operation to remove them.
Anaesthetising Matilda took one hour, owing to her slow metabolism.
He removed the ping-pong ball-sized eggs, in a delicate operation lasting a further hour.
50 years ago – February 13, 1975
Land sale vote
A public meeting is being called in Thatcham to decide if land at the Memorial Playing Fields should be sold to Berkshire County Council.
The land is a strip on the east side of the car park which will allow road access into the Bath Road community complex.
A public meeting is being called on February 26 at the parish hall.
Thatcham residents will be told then how much the county is offering for the land, and be asked to vote for or against the proposed sale.
The planned access road would allow entry into the District Council’s old people’s flats and bungalows which are due for completion in May.
The road would also allow access to the planned health centre, library, old people’s home and meals-on-wheels centre.
This section of the community complex is yet to be started.
The county council agreed at the beginning of the scheme that the access into the whole complex would be provided by them.
