BERKSHIRE BYGONES: Footballers’ fear that club is jinxed in 1965

Queen Elizabeth had stepped in to help the town of Reading in the 16th century, after the dissolution of the monasteries by her father, Henry VIII, witnessing herself the towns ruinous state.

Probably painted in about 1580, the picture’s artist had never been verified and hung in the corporation’s council chamber.

WHERE THERE’S A WILL: Elizabeth I portrait off

Reading footballers Colin Meldrum and Arthur Wilkie, confirmed a fear that the club was ‘jinxed’ whenever they played Luton Town FC, as they clashed heads during an away match in 1965.

Knocked unconscious for over five minutes, the pair were revived, only to find that the player they were tackling, had stepped over them to score.

Whilst an ambulance took his teammate to hospital, Colin Meldrum staggered back on to the field of play and promptly scored Reading’s only goal in their 3-1 defeat.

CLASH OF HEADS: Two Reading players knocked themselves out

Ticket facilities at ‘Reading General Station’ were transformed by the installation of electrically operated automatic machines 46 years ago, also issuing pre-printed stubs.

A British Railways spokesperson did admit to the Chronicle that the machine was not much faster than the old method: “As the staff become more conversant with the equipment the issuing will be progressively speeded up.”

TICKET TO RIDE: Reading station got some new technology

Ampex Electronics were moving into their new 45,000 square foot Reading headquarters in 1965, as the company forged ahead with their ground-breaking videotape recording products.

Using magnetic tape to directly record from television cameras, this new technique enabled broadcasters to immediately playback the ‘filming’ through TV sets, with (it was claimed) a higher quality than traditional film.

The company had also just launched the first screens in an airliner, enabling passengers to watch the latest films on long-haul journeys.

ALL ON TAPE: Reading lead the way in video technology in 1965

In a column entitled “Meet the Groups” the Chronicle highlighted all the local pop groups for younger readers and in April ’65 they put the spotlight on the “Rave-Ons”.

Founder member, and lead vocalist Terry McCarthy, had previously fronted another local band the Countrymen and all five members of the group posed happily for the Chronicle photographer.

The varied style of the Rave-Ons had already taken them to engagements in London, such as the Flamingo Club, these and many more future bookings included a summer tour of Germany.

POPTASTIC: The Chronicle highlighted a new band that was on the up

More than 170 young musicians attended the seventh Easter music course at Alfred Sutton Girl’s School, sponsored by the Reading Education Committee. The course was designed for string and recorder players from schools in the Reading area, with many having attended for several years.

COUNTY RECORDERS: Reading hosted a childrens music festival