Reading Nostalgia - Can you remember these stories from 1988?

Some of the feelgood stories from that time saw a 72-year-old man receive a special award for his work at the Reading College of Technology.

Sounds normal, right?

John Wood was 72-years-old when he was a plumbing student in Berkshire

Well, the most interesting thing about this was that Mr John Wood was actually a student, not a lecturer.

In fact, he was more than two generations older than his classmates.

Yet despite the massive age gap, he was a popular member of the group, as he studied a two-year plumbing course.

Course tutor, Roger Powell, said at the time: “Mr Wood has only missed one day attendance in the two year’s and during this time, he has shown interest and enthusiasm.”

Other stories to make you smile from the time saw local resident Mr Jack Smith, who lived in Twyford, win £250.

This was through the Reading Chronicle’s former bingo competition, which was residents and readers enter to try their luck at winning a large monetary prize.

And in 1988, it was Mr Smith’s numbers were up as he won the large sum.

The £250 winnings would be the equivalent to £714 in 2022.

Mr Jack Smith with his winnings

That same year saw several students and participants from the Caversham Youth Drama Club take part in their production of Alice in Wonderland.

The show, which consisted of eight to 14-year-olds, was in aid of Great Ormond Street Wishing Well Appeal.

The production of Alice in Wonderland was in aid of those at Great Ormond Street

Finally, a story from 34 years ago saw how a two-year-old girl was saved thanks to the telephone instructions from an ambulanceman.

That year, Sarah Halsey, who was just a toddler, suffered a severe fit at her parents’ house, and began to convulse.

Her father, Chris, immediately phoned the emergency services and told the operator what was going on, as little Sarah began to lose consciousness.

Sarah, who was two-years-old in 1988, with her mum, Diane

The call was answered by ambulance superintendent, Steve Poole, who calmed the worried father and told him exactly what to do to help Sarah.

As the dad carried out the directions from Mr Poole on the other end of the line, medics made their way to Caversham to try and help the ill two-year-old.

Mr Halsey managed to keep his daughter alive for another 10 minutes by the time the emergency workers arrived.

Sarah was taken into a nearby hospital but was released two-days later.

Her mother, Diane, said: “She’s a very lucky girl.”