THE most enterprising project ever undertaken by Bracknell Round Table reached its climax in 1975, with the opening of a children’s adventure playground.

Work had started on the scheme in 1974, and after 16 months of toil, the wooden towers, spiral staircase and underground tunnels were officially opened by TV sports commentator, David Vine.

Many donations had been made by local organisations such as the Post Office, who donated some telegraph poles and British Rail, who gave them some old railway sleepers.

David Vine, who had recently hosted the Miss England competition, told the News:” This playground is extraordinary and will give kids a lot of fun, a lot of areas in Britain would like these facilities.”

Wokingham’s Dr Barnado’s Home had a ‘royal visitor’ 45 years ago, when Rachel Reddaway, the National Dairy Queen, visited the children and staff.

Her second stop on her tour was at Clifford’s Dairies in Bracknell. where Rachel was treated to a tour of the company’s new yoghurt production and packaging department.

If this wasn’t enough excitement for one day, she was also shown the museum of dairy equipment from the past.

There was a surprise for six fathers who went to collect their children from a dancing class at the Legion Dance Studio in 1975, as they were asked to act as judges in the Easter bonnet parade.

Over 70 children had brought their creations with them, some made with the help of their parents, and the best nine bonnets were each given an Easter

egg.

Having just returned from a six-week trip to Australia, Laura and Albert Rodd, from Wokingham, described their visit to the News and an “experience we wouldn’t have missed for the world.”

The Rodd’s visited their son Tony in Sydney and undertook a trip to Queensland, which included Albert playing his first ever round of golf and surfing for the first time.

Before arriving down under the couple stooped of for three days in Singapore and Bangkok where they visited religious temple sites and local sporting events, such as kick boxing.

The Bracknell Lions Club raised £400 towards a Foetal Heart Machine when they held a cabaret dance at Brakenhale School in 1975.

More than 200 members and guests danced the night away to the sounds of Glenn Miller, provided by Jim Hames and his 17-piece band.

A display by the Royal Polynesian Dance Troupe, from Samoa, was followed by a concert by Bren and Dee, who, like all the entertainers, gave their services for free.