Winkfield Parish Church played host to a wedding with a difference 46 years ago, as Bracknell firefighter, Michael Leonard married Pauline Wright, from Ascot.

The happy couple left the church under a guard of honour from the bridegroom’s fire station and then drove away on an old fire engine to their reception. As was the style in local newspapers at the time, a long description was given as to the bride’s dress (aquamarine) and her bridesmaids (blue and white), whilst a full description was given to the various bouquets.

Torrential rain caught Bracknell residents unawares in the summer of 1974, many motorists suddenly found themselves coping with flooded roads, especially around the Downshire Way roundabout.

After the water subsided it was discovered that a gully, adjacent to the road, had been blocked with debris during the previous long dry spell.

A new location for Bracknell’s market was opened in 1974, at the bottom of the Broadway and in the shadow of Winchester House.

The new site’s owners promised local shoppers a well-balanced range of goods in a friendly atmosphere, plus a few new vendors who would be offering shoes, home baked bread and an antique stall.

Market Superintendent, George Thom told the News: “We had a lot of applications for space, but I have given careful thought to putting the traders in good positions.”

A Wokingham bee-keeper, Arthur Spragg, was extoling the virtues of eating honey in the summer of ’74 and it was his belief that you could avoid suffering from hay fever.

Although Arthur would not commit himself too definitely he told the Bracknell News: “Honey is the one remaining pure food that has nothing added to it, I am the only one in my family who doesn’t suffer from arthritis or rheumatism.”

American blues guitarist, Micky Baker, played to a packed house at South Hill Park and the News reported that his audience were all die hard fans, sitting on the edge of their seats in due reverence. The singer’s set list included “When you’re Down and Out” and “Ole Man River”, all played with Micky’s trademark humorous style.

The 17th century Ashridgewood Estate, Wokingham, was finally sold at auction 46 years ago, but not at the expected sale price of over £200,000.

The 11-bedroomed mansion house went for £55,000, and the rest of the estates 20 acres and pasture land only reached £129,000.