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 – May 28, 2015
10k triumph
The Bayer 10k race was a huge success for individuals, teams and families alike on Sunday morning.
Runners set off in fine, warm, conditions from the Market Place, returning to the town centre to receive their medals from the mayor of Newbury, Howard Bairstow, and the chairman of West Berkshire Council, Peter Argyle.
First man over the line was David Morgan, who lives in London and was visiting his mother in Thatcham.
Mr Morgan, who ran this year’s London Marathon in two hours and 22mins, said: “I loved the course with its road and off-road sections, and that also made it very tough.
“But because I ran the London Marathon, I’d put in a lot of training prior to this, and I also run to work, which helps my fitness.”
The first woman, and ninth over the line, was Laura Woodley, of Newbury, who said: “I keep forgetting how much of the course is crosscountry, and that makes it quite hard work.”
Russell Barrett, who collapsed with a heart attack yards from the finish line last year, completed this year’s race without mishap. He said afterwards: “I crossed the line at one hour, 32 minutes, so I’m pleased with the end result.”
25 years ago – May 25, 2000
Croatia mission
A Hermitage firefighter has this week flown to Croatia on a fact-finding mission aimed at helping the war-torn former Yugoslav province back to health.
Lee Howell, who works as Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s community safety manager in Reading, flew out on Monday as part of a high level group investigating the needs of the Croatian Fire Service.
The delegation, which also includes chief fire officers from Lancashire and Lincolnshire and the head of the RAF fire service, will visit Vukovar, which is being redeveloped after suffering heavy damage during the war, as well as meeting Government ministers and MPs.
Mr Howell will be representing the Commonwealth and Overseas Fire Services Association, which works to promote co-operation between fire services.
He will focus on finding out ways of setting up scholarships to allow students to visit other countries.
Mr Howell said: “We are hoping our visit will enable us to forge links that will help us to assist the Croatian service’s future development and also offer them practical assistance in the short term.”
50 years ago – May 25, 1975
Job cuts on hold
Workers at Reeds North and South Board Mills at Colthrop have been assured that there are sufficient orders to keep them all fully employed until Monday.
After that the situation will be looked at again.
A falling off in orders earlier in the year meant that not all the machines could be kept working.
But last week a sudden upturn in demand for board allowed the mills to revert to full production for the first time in three weeks.
At Reeds Corrugated Cases and Fields, workers are on a five-day week with no over-time. The situation is being reviewed weekly.
