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 – February 25, 2015
Church to close
Newbury’s United Reformed Church is to close after more than 300 years this April.
The reason for the closure is owing to “ageing and overstretched church officers”, according to a spokeswoman for the church, Eve Parker.
A final service will be held there on Saturday, April 11.
The site was first used for communal worship in 1687 when a rented barn stood in place of the current church.
In 1717 this was demolished and a new building was constructed, which was rebuilt again in 1822.
The current building was built in 1958 and opened in 1960.
The interim minister of Newbury United Reformed Church, John Downing, said: “It has been a difficult decision for the congregation to make.
“God has enabled this community to offer independent Christian service, witness and worship in Newbury for nearly 330 years.”
25 years ago – February 24, 2000
Pancake pitching
There is obviously more to pancakes in Newbury town centre than might first meet the eye.
Newbury and District members of Soroptimist International have said that that they have found out more about the tradition of pancake throwing from St Nicolas’ Church, in Newbury.
The source of this is local historian and former Newbury Weekly News contributor Frances Berry, who says that until 1924, pancakes were thrown from the tower of St Nicolas’ Church on Shrove Tuesday.
She writes: “A bell rang before the event – summoning the faithful to confession before entering 40 days of fasting through Lent.
“Parishioners would bring their cooking fat to the parish clerk to distribute to the poor.
“This practice developed into pitching pancakes from the tower as a result of the clerk’s wife having given pancakes to some hungry children, saying when asked to account for them: ‘They came from the top of the tower.’”
By tradition thereafter, the clerk’s wife and assistants cooked 150 or more pancakes.
50 years ago – February 27, 1975
Elizabeth’s 100!
There will be celebrations at Colthrop at the weekend when the oldest resident notches up her century.
She is Mrs Elizabeth Pickett who will be one hundred years old on Sunday.
Born at East Woodhay in 1875 Mrs Pickett moved to her home at Colthrop Cottages in 1933.
She lives with her only son Mr Jack Pickett and her daughter-in-law Marion.
Mrs Pickett left East End school when she was 13. For three years she stayed at home helping her mother and then at 16 went into domestic service in Somerset.
She moved back to the area after a few years as a housemaid at Inholmes.
It was there that she met Harry, her husband to be, who worked on the estate as a gardener.
After they married the couple went to Swallowfield.
For several years they moved from district to district, wherever Harry could find employment as a gardener.
In 1914 he was called up to serve in the Army, and posted to work on a farm in England.
It was then that Mrs Pickett came back to the Newbury area to live with her sister.
After the war the couple and their young son went live at Brimpton and Harry worked on the land for the Goddard family.
They moved to Colthrop when he was taken on by the Henry family who then owned the mills.
Harry was employed again as a gardener. He died in 1939.
On Sunday there will be a centenary cake for tea and, it is hoped, a congratulatory telegram from the Queen.
