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 – August 13, 2015
Club under threat
A Kingsclere sports and social club, which this week revealed it was under threat of closure due to financial pressures, has called a special public meeting in September to discuss the crisis.
Alan Hambridge, the chairman of charity, Kingsclere Community Association (KCA), which runs the Fieldgate Centre in Fieldgate Drive, urged everyone with an interest in the centre remaining in the village to attend.
He said: “The financial situation at The Fieldgate Centre is such that it cannot continue in its present form.
“The current committee of Kingsclere Community Association, our borough councillors and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council are working hard to find a way to keep the centre viable.
“The purpose of the meeting is to explore ways in which the community of Kingsclere can help to find a way to keep their community centre open.”
Secretary of KCA, Lesley Farey, said income from hiring rooms at the centre had remained stable, but income from other sources had dropped considerably in recent months.
25 years ago – August 16, 2000
Library’s a hit
The new library has gained more than 500 new members and loaned nearly 14,000 items, its most memorable week ever.
It has loaned more than double the number of items compared with an average week in the old library and the new IT facilities have proved a real hit with the public.
Nearly 12,000 books were loaned and the remaining items were videos, DVDs, CDs and PlayStation games.
West Berkshire Council’s head of library and information services, Ken Richardson, was delighted with the figures and encouraged that a large percentage of the books had been borrowed by children.
He said: “It is well beyond the council’s expectations, especially the incredible amount of new members that joined. Long may it continue.”
He said that the old library would be lucky to have seen 60 people joining in a week.
50 years ago – August 14, 1875
Girls stole cheque
A group of girls went on a two-day spending spree after two girls forged a £70 giro cheque.
The girls gave some of the money to friends and between them they managed to spend all but 95p of it.
Some went on drink for a party and the rest on items like shoes, records, meals, drink, a taxi fare and fairground rides.
The story was told at Newbury juvenile court on Tuesday when five youngsters involved in the theft and forgery of the cheque and the disposal of the money appeared.
A 15-year-old former Newbury girl admitted stealing the cheque and dishonestly cashing it at Newbury Post Office.
A friend, also aged 15 and from Wash Common, admitted being involved in obtaining the money.
Three other youngsters appeared for dishonestly receiving some of the money.
Two girls, aged 14 and 15, admitted the offences but a 15-year-old boy denied being involved.
The case against him was found proved.
