Traffic wardens were set to enforce stricter no-parking regulations on the streets of Reading in 1966 and traders in the town centre feared that shoppers would ‘go elsewhere’.

It was anticipated that the Home Secretary would be making an order, covering Reading, to allow wardens to impose a fixed penalty of £2 for parking offences.

A spokesperson for the National Grocers Federation told the Chronicle: "The new parking restrictions will mean motorists will be driven into the car parks and will shop outside of the town centre.”

A building project to improve the old bridges in Bridge Street, Reading, began 53 years ago, at a cost of £175,000.

Formerly known as “Seven Bridges Road” the area south of St Mary’s Butts was prone to flooding in ancient times, with multiple channels running across the area, such as the River Kennet and Holybrook stream.

The work was undertaken to strengthen and widen the structures along its length, and was due to last for two-years, with traffic diversions to be announced at the time of closures.

When 20-year-old Gloria Latter married at Reading Register Office in 1966, she immediately became “mother” to 10 children, six older than herself.

Her bridegroom was 53-year-old lorry driver Wilfred Wade, from Mortimer, who had six children by a previous marriage and, if that wasn’t enough, Gloria was looking after her four brothers and sisters.

The couple met three years previously, when Wilfred ran a café in the village, but had to wait until Gloria’s parents gave their consent.

For her wedding the bride wore a full-length gown of white lace and carried a bouquet of freesias and carnations, they would be living in Mr. Wade’s caravan in Burghfield, until they could get a house.

The Reading Music-makers posed for a publicity photo for their forthcoming production of the musical “Carousel” at the Rainbow Theatre, where it would run for a week.

Members of the cast, including Joan Lawrence, a former D’Oyly Carte opera star, happily posed her beloved dog, Sukie the dachshund.

West Reading FC was making an all-out bid to win the Premier Division championship in the 1965/66 season, but they were being given a run for their money by local rivals, Rabson Rovers, who scored a last-minute winner against Woodley.

Reading YMCA were also in the running, having already beaten Rabson earlier in the season, whilst at the other end of the table, Reading Exiles and Thames Vale were struggling to avoid the drop.

Reading Technical College was arranging courses designed especially for young people in 1966, helping them to to learn more about what life challenges would face them after leaving the education system.

Thirty young men and women signed up to their first course, where they learnt about finding money for a house and then furnishing and decorating it.