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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Published: 05:00, 30 August 2025

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This week’s picture shows volunteers ready to leave Newbury Station early in the First World War on their way to France – and their turn in the front lines. The soldier standing in the middle of the photo and smoking a cigarette is William Shadwell. Unfortunately, he was one of many who did not return. He was killed on May 2, 1916, in France, and his name can be seen on the war memorial in St Nicolas’ Church, Newbury.

10 years ago – August 27, 2015

Mini marvels!

Thatcham and Cold Ash based Mini Band are to rock out with legendary heavy metal band Metallica at the Reading Festival.

Harrison Read, Harry Esson, Zoe Thomson, Charlie Emmons and Archie Zolotuhin first caught Metallica’s eye after an online video of the youngsters performing the iconic Enter Sandman at Bucklebury Beer Festival in 2011 went viral.

Metallica were so impressed that they replied with a video of their own.

Drummer Lars Ulritch said that the mini band “rocked ” and if they needed an opening act, Metallica, which he joked were “an up-and-coming hard rock band”, were available if the Mini Band would have them.

25 years ago – August 31, 2000

Exotic exhibition

Unusual animals and exotic flowers climbed the railings of Victoria Park, Newbury, last Sunday as Art in the Park came to town.

The railings surrounding the park were adorned with a huge variety of different forms of work by local artists, giving people the opportunity to view and buy original pictures.

Some craftsmen and women also gave demonstrations of their skills and the basket weaving proved popular as the sun shone on Newbury’s bank holiday showcase.

50 years ago – August 28, 1975

Gang’s £7k haul

Police have launched a nationwide hunt for the gang who got away with £7,000 in cash from the M4 Membury service station on Monday after kidnapping a senior employee from outside his Hungerford home and stealing his office keys.

The service station controller was grabbed by two men as he walked from a car park near his flat at Wiltshire House, Church Street, Hungerford.

He was bundled into the back of a van, bound and blindfolded and driven back to Membury.

There the men, who were unarmed, used office and safe keys taken from his pocket to get into the service station.

They stole about £7,000 in cash and made off down the motorway towards London.

The van, with the controller still inside, was dumped near Holyport.

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