SCREEN legend Michael Caine played his happiest supporting role back in 1981, when he gave away his daughter Dominique as she married international show jumper Rowland Fernyhough near her home in Winkfield. 

Dominique’s love of everything equestrian was reflected in the wedding’s guest list, parts of which read like a “Who’s Who” of international show-jumping. 

Not a lot of people know that there is a little bit of Wokingham (and England) in its German twin town of Erftstadt,near Cologne. 

A familiar red telephone box had been installed in 1979 a part of the two towns twinning celebrations and had become quite a tourist attraction. 
During the Mayor’s first official visit a ‘Euro photo call’ of dignitaries from both towns marked the occasion. 

Sunningdale Station scooped the first prize as ‘best kept station’ 36 years ago and staff at the rail transport hub were ‘chuffed’ as they had won three times in the past five years. 

All stations were judged on their cleanliness,public information and general appearance and one nice touch the judges noticed was the display of old photographs taken during the age of steam. 

Bracknell District Council unveiled what it hoped would be the ‘final’ plans for the town centre development between the railway station and the existing shopping area. 

The proposals would include a new bus station and open spaces within the central area plus office development separate from the retail scheme. 

In an interview with the Bracknell News, Nick Irvine, of London Equitable said: “The latest recommendation for planning approval is the result of 18 months of very hard work.” 

Bracknell residents claimed they were risking life and limb when attempting to pick their way through the ‘Twin Bridges’ roundabout construction site which was causing chaos for cars and pedestrians alike, particularly during the rush hour. 

Mother of three Patricia Hawkins told the News that she feared for her family when trying to take them to school through the collection of potholes,mud, ramps,barriers and traffic lights. George Ponsford, a resident of Skimped Hill, told the News: “It is a death trap. It is totally dark at night.It is badly planned and it won’t be completed for another year!” 

Christmas was approaching and the ‘must give’ presents of 1981 were taking on a very digital form although when compared to today’s high-tech offerings are positively pre-historic. 

The featured games from Woolworths included Fabulous Fred, Astro Wars and the Petite Talking Typewriter-incredibly some even came complete with batteries!