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 – March 26, 2015
Roman reward
A Reading university professor who oversaw a £5m archaeological project at Silchester’s Roman site for almost two decades has been named Archaeologist of the Year 2015.
Professor Michael Fulford, of the University of Reading’s archeology department, who returns to Silchester tomorrow evening to give his annual talk in the village, was recently awarded the top honour by the publication Current Archaeology Live! 2015.
Presented at the University of London’s Senate House, at a ceremony hosted by archaeologist Julian Richards, presenter of the BBC4 TV programme Meet The Ancestors, the awards paid homage to those judged to have made outstanding contributions to archaeology, with votes registered online by members of the public.
Professor Fulford has directed excavations at Calleva Atrebatum, Silchester’s Roman town, for the last 18 years, until the project ended last summer.
During that time, he and his colleagues unearthed artefacts and evidence of how life was lived in Roman times – and centuries before that during the Iron Age.
Accepting the award, Prof Fulford paid tribute to all the archaeology students who had taken part in the dig.
He said: “They made us what we are today. I would also like to thank Amanda Clarke [archeology lecturer, University of Reading] who has been a mainstay of Silchester for about a million years. ”
25 years ago – March 23, 2000
Cleaning up canal
Eighty-five shopping trolleys, two armchairs, a tractor tyre, security fencing and signposts, complete with concrete foundations, were among the items a team of volunteers pulled out of Newbury’s rivers and canals at the weekend.
Members of the Newbury Britain in Bloom committee were joined by local canoeists, residents, representatives of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust and canal enthusiasts, actors Timothy West and Prunella Scales, for the sixth annual River and Environmental Spaces Clean Up Event (RESCUE).
On Saturday, the volunteers worked on the canal from the Old A34 bridge through to Northbrook Street, using grappling hooks and ropes to dredge the bottom.
Passers-by were amazed at what came out and soon a crowd had gathered to watch, said Mrs Gillian Durrant, one of the event’s organisers.
“It got to the point where we just threw the grappling hooks in and would pull something out. It was a lucky dip,” she said.
50 years ago – March 27, 1975
There’s a catch...
“Any jumble – anything at all?” asked Newbury Lions in their drive to hold the biggest jumble sale ever seen in Newbury.
They expected to be offered old bikes, chairs and the like, but they never expected they would have to chase after a pondful of fish.
But it happened on Monday, and it will happen again when they go back to the pond for a second attempt to catch them.
For the goldfish that an old couple said the Lions could have proved to be slippery customers.
“We spent over two hours trying to catch them on Monday but it was rather difficult because it was a deep pond and the water became murky as we tried to catch them in nets,” said Lions welfare officer Les Daniels.
John Brown, Lions events organiser, with colleagues. Jeremy Law and Mr Daniels, managed to catch some by hand using the technique of “tickling.”
They are going back to try to catch some more and expect to net about two dozen for their massive sale to be held at the Plaza early next month.
“We have been told that some are quite valuable, possibly worth much as £5 each. We will be getting an expert to look them all over,” said Mr Daniels.
