Reading Racer’s speedway ace, Anders Michanek, was lucky not to be badly injured during a race at Reading Stadium, Tilehurst in 1972.

Chronicle photographers, Dave Crossley and David Doe, were both on hand to capture the moment when the Swedish rider collided with an opponent, in the first heat of the evening’s meeting.

Both of their cameras caught the aftermath of the crash, with paramedics and officials rushing to aid of the semi-conscious rider, before lifting him on to a stretcher and being taken away for further treatment.

Greyhound racing was also staged at Reading Stadium in the 1970’s and private trainer Barbara Thompkins, smiled broadly for the Chronicle camera as she won the Reading Hunt Cup.

Two long standing track records were broken at the same meeting during the Rockingham Stakes race, and at the presentations afterwards, the Australian-based sponsor presented the club with a ‘surprising’ memento, of a stuffed Kangaroo head.

History was made at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, when the new Bishop of Reading was consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Michael Ramsey.

The new bishop, Ven. Eric Wild was succeeding Bishop Eric Knell, who had recently retired and in his speech the Dean of Christ Church told the congregation:” This diocese of Oxford is notoriously large, but the presence of the Christian Church within this variety of parishes is deep and wide.”

Caversham lock-keeper Richard Knightley proudly posed for the Chronicle camera in 1972, when his lock was awarded the Thames Conservancy ‘Best-kept lock’ on the River Thames between Reading and Maidenhead.

Local rivals, Sonning had won the Sir Reginald Hanson Challenge Cup 20 times before, but only managed third place, Richard admitted:” It was just luck of the draw really, but I suppose we have a bit more colour here than on the normal lock.”

Mr Knightly, who had worked at Caversham since 1957 planned to share the £30 prize with his wife and the assistant lock-keeper, who had both helped to tend the winning garden.

A new petrol station was opened in Tilehurst Road, Reading, 47 years ago and it had a special offer of 3 pence off every four gallons purchased by motorists. The average price at the pump in 1972 was 34 pence a gallon, which equated to roughly 8 pence a litre, compared to today’s forecourt unleaded which is £1.30 a litre, or £5.85 a gallon!

A ‘new’ strategy board game, which was invented by the Chinese thousands of years ago, was being played by the newly formed British Go League in Blagrave Street, Reading.

The first match between local teams and London Go Clubs resulted in a win by Reading by three games to two.