Words and archive pictures by Chris Forsey

The peace of a quiet cul-de-sac in eastern Reading was shattered by a violent thunderstorm in 1968 as a freak bolt of lightning left a 60-foot pine tree lying across the road.

The tree, which had stood for over 100 years, was torn to pieces and debris was flung far and wide, hundreds of windows were broken by vibration and flying branches.

As the local fire brigade arrived they found that nobody was hurt and no fires had been started by the blast.

Mrs. Lesley Crabb, who was sitting in the rear of her house, described her lucky escape: “It knocked me out of my chair onto the floor and blew the fire out-my clock stopped at two minutes past four-I’ve been trying to get it started again ever since!”

Another lucky resident told the Chronicle on surveying the scene from their damaged doorway: “I’ve never seen lightning cause such damage, it’s incredible.”

90 auxiliary members of the Berkshire and Reading Fire Brigade gathered together for the last time 50 years ago at a farewell dinner prior to their being disbanded.

For the previous 30 years they had worked side by side with full-time staff and considered that the ‘cost cutting’ cutback by the then government was a waste of talented and fully trained fire-fighters.

Divisional Officer Leslie Evans told the Chronicle:” Members of the regular service and the auxiliary service got on extremely well together, but in Berkshire the bond was even closer, they were part of the brigade.”

Over 400 local Scouts assembled in Hill’s Meadow, Reading for their annual St. George’s Day parade in 1968.

After an inspection by the Mayor of Reading, Alderman F. Taylor they then marched to St. Anne’s Church, Caversham, headed by the Sea Scouts band, to attend a special service.

The Chronicle announced that the fans had voted for Reading FC’s player of the year and (by a large margin) they had decided it would be Mike Dixon.

Mike, in his first season as a part-timer, polled 918 votes and the Chronicle’s photographer pictured him busy with his full-time occupation of running a Tilehurst newsagent’s shop.

It was standing room only in Reading Town Hall in 1968, as children from all over the borough sang, played instrument ensembles and danced at the Primary Schools Festival.

The Mayor of Reading Alderman Frank Taylor summed up the proceedings when he announced: “How proud you mums and dads must be of your children, and very grateful to the hard-working teachers who provided them with such opportunities.”

A new petrol station opened Berkeley Avenue and the Chevron Oil Company made sure drivers didn’t ‘get the hump’ by employing a camel called Susie, although the impromptu photo-call nearly caused a few accidents on the road opposite.

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