THE former headquarters of the Berkshire Constabulary in Abbey Square, Reading, was under threat of demolition in 1976, as the County Council had no money set aside for the urgent repairs required.

Despite moves from the Department of the Environment considering protecting it as a building of architectural and historical interest, nothing had been done for the previous two years.

A council property sub-committee had also met, deciding that it would prefer to knock down the building and use the area as a car park.

In the swinging sixties one of the first informal BBC TV chat shows, “Dee-Time”, established Simon Dee as a major star of the airwaves, earning him over £1,000 a week for his Saturday night programme.

Six years on Simon was looking to get back on the air-with a DJ slot on Radio 210 to broadcast across the Thames Valley-hoping to put behind him a string of troubled years after his contract was ended at the BBC in 1970.

A complete ban on heavy lorries using the A4074 Woodcote Road was being called for 42 years ago, after numerous accidents had occurred on a notoriously dangerous stretch known locally as:” The Thirteen Bends of Death.”

Two local councils, Reading and Oxfordshire, were disagreeing as to how to deal with the problem and residents were anxious that the matter should be settled by the Department of the Environment.

Meanwhile, many collisions had occurred during this consultation period, with two in one day opposite the Fox and Hounds pub at Cane End, involving a moped, a lorry, two cars and a large van.

Shoppers in Reading were being urged to check all their light bulbs in 1976, as a fault had been discovered by the Prices and Consumer Protection department at Berkshire County Council.

People buying the bulbs were being asked to check for protruding wires at the base of the device which normally are inside the metal cap.

Woolworths, one of the largest retailers to announce they were checking all their stocks, told the Chronicle:” We sell millions of bulbs nationwide and are working our way through them as fast as we can.”

Childhood polio victim, Jenny Orpwood, had every reason to smile after returning to her Wokingham Road home in ’76, as she had won a bronze medal at the ‘Olympic Game for the Disabled’ (later to be re-named the Paralympics.

The 20-year-old came third in the 50-metre breast-stroke race in Canada and told the Chronicle:” I’ve grown up with my disability and I can live with it.”

Jenny also revealed that her positive attitude also extends to her work, hopefully becoming a teacher after three years studying at Bulmershe College.

Reading FC’s midfield maestro, Eamonn Dunphy, was celebrating two special moments at the start of his sides season in 1976, as he launched his new book and helped the Royals beat Swindon 4-0 at Elm Park.