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 – July 16, 2015
Arctic reward
A war veteran from Hungerford has received the Arctic Star medal, honouring his bravery.
George Morris, aged 98, has finally received recognition for his role in the heroic Arctic Convoys during the Second World War.
Mr Morris, who was aged 21 at the time, served during the four-year campaign from 1941 to 1945, transporting food and aid to Russia – a route famously described by Winston Churchill as “the worst journey in the world”.
More than 3,000 men lost their lives during the campaign and Mr Morris recalled: “I witnessed the sinking of HMS Curacoa when it was hit by the Queen Mary in 1942.
“I was working on one of the nearby ships when I saw the collision, so my crew and I got to work in trying to help the survivors as much as we could.
“I lost my best friend in the war – I held on to him as he died.
“We were waiting for the life boats to take us, and I tried to save him but couldn’t.
“I received therapy for my time in the war because of what I saw so, and while all the memories have faded – or I have forced them out of my mind – I am proud to have done this service for my country, and for everyone fighting the war.
“I still get flashbacks, though, to this day.”
25 years ago – July 13, 2000
Midnight mission
You may love the book and some certainly loathe the hype.
Whatever your view, a small, fictional boy called Harry Potter had the children out in force in Newbury, way past their bedtime on Saturday morning.
Come the fittingly witching hour of midnight on Friday, more than 200 wide awake youngsters and their resolute parents queued for the first copies of the latest book from JK Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, to go on sale.
Staff at Waterstone’s in Northbrook Street, not usually given to opening the store at midnight, nevertheless welcomed the eager buyers through the doors and by all accounts it was great fun.
Manager Simon Kesteven served hot chocolate to those who waited for their books.
Clutching their precious copies, satisfied youngsters made their way home, but one wonders how many read it under the bedclothes by the light of a torch instead of going straight to sleep as they had promised their parents.
For those who valued their rest, there were still some copies available from the store on Saturday morning – but they were going fast.
50 years ago – July 16, 1975
Sneaky thieves
While morning service was in progress at St Mary’s Church, Thatcham, on Sunday thieves were at work at the vicarage.
They got away with a black racing bicycle belonging to the son of the vicar.
Twenty-one-year-old Tim Cornish had spent time renovating the cycle and had planned to take it to Watford where he is working.
But at the weekend it was parked in the shed at the vicarage.
A passer-by saw two boys acting suspiciously near the vicarage on Sunday morning, and believes he spotted them making off with the cycle to- wards Thatcham marshes.
He told the police what he had seen and later returned to the vicarage to inform the vicar.
Deciding to try his hand at a spot of do-it-yourself- detection the Rev. Stanley Cornish donned bicycle clips and set off in pursuit on another of the family machines.
“I hoped I might find it dumped in a ditch,” he told the NWN.
But his search proved fruitless.
