Vandalised buildings at Reading West Railway Station were under threat of demolition in 1975, after an arson attack had left the waiting rooms ablaze.

Plans for new buildings we due to go before Reading Borough Council and would include a new ticket office and waiting shelter.

The exterior of the structure had also been daubed with graffiti by ‘artists’ who, it seemed, enjoyed the music of the Bay City Rollers pop group, whilst supporting Manchester United football club.

A massive redevelopment of the Heelas department store was also being planned 44 years ago, and a large-scale model went on show in the store for shoppers to view.

Outlined in the plans were improvements for parking, removing delivery vans from Broad Street , a new service road and the use of walkway bridges from Yield Hall car park.

A Heelas spokesman told the Chronicle:” What is planned is a complete rebuilding of the rear part of the store, with new frontages along Minster Street and Chain Street, plus an underground service area, which will keep delivery lorries out of pedestrian areas.”

A night of glamour, colour and excitement was being promised at the Top Rank Suite in Reading (no it wasn’t an evening with the Bygones team) when “Hair ‘75” gathered for its annual Gala event.

Young hair stylists from all over the world (well Swindon to Slough) would compete to win the Chronicle sponsored “Gala of Hair” competition, with a first prize of cash and a luxury holiday.

If this wasn’t enough there would be a C & A fashion show, disco and a demonstration of the latest hair accessories, including a new American ‘automatic shampooer’.

Thousands of enthusiasts flocked to the Bantam Society’s Annual Show in Reading Town Hall in 1975.

With over 1,200 birds on display, exhibitors from Cornwall to Scotland competed for the 120 different classes and many local winners took away cups and rosettes.

An entire Reading family were celebrating being awarded their black belts in the Wado-ryu style of Japanese karate in ’75- and setting a record or two in the process.

Raymond Richardson and his wife Ruby and Raymond Jnr - all members of the Reading School of Karate- picked up their belts at a competition in Finchley.

Another club member, Douglas Bell from Whitley, also gained his black belt- one of only 14 out of 30 from the UK.

The Chronicle’s motoring column featured a new car hot off the production line in Solihull, the Rover 3500S, a car “ideal for the company director, doctor and high-ranking officials”.

With the Rover’s top speed of 122 mph it was also being used by many police forces as it also had “tremendous acceleration”.

Motoring correspondents in the 1970’s did come straight from the Top Gear school of thought, so we will end this week’s Bygones with this quote:” This car does succeed in combing tautness and excellent handling, with a goodly blend of bump absorption.”