BENTALLS Department store was due to open in April of 1973 and nine 30-foot windows were being installed on the first floor with the help of a robot.

The glass panels were moved into position by the ‘Hilorobot’,which used six giant suckers to grasp the fragile windows into place-with the aid of no less than 16 glaziers.

Wokingham residents were watching closely if the imminent opening of the Winnersh Interchange on the M4 would lead to increased traffic through the busy town centre.

This was not the only road under construction-the A329(M) dual carriageway would be open at the end of the year-linking the motorway to Amen Corner, Binfield.

Building work on Bracknell’s £1,800,000 Winchester House office block was brought to an abrupt halt 45 years ago as Mitchell Construction went into receivership.

The 13-storey sky scraper was due to be completed by the end of the year-losses already totalled over £2 million-also Mitchell’s African contract to build a power station in Zambia had encountered ‘unexpected rock conditions’ thereby increasing the total company debts.

When Wokingham-based carpet salesman Richard Hawkins decided to visit 12 public houses in his town (in less than 24 hours) one might assume that this would result in a visit to the local hospital’s A & E.

But his sober task was not to go on a pub crawl,but to make a film entitled “Taverns in the Town” and entering his movie it into a contest called “Audiovision”.

Richard also uncovered a few little known historical facts on his pub visits, such as a Roman cellar at the Roebuck, and that many pubs were originally two houses knocked through to make one.

The Bracknell News went ‘down market’ in 1973 and focussed on the town’s market place,which had been moved three years previously, to the back of Woolworths.

In particular, the report highlighted whether traders were actually making a living from having the pitch open to the elements. Harry Jones, who sold garden produce, told the News: “Everything here depends on the weather, some days you don’t sell enough to be here-no one makes a fortune.”

Emmbrook W.I’s ‘late, late New-Years party’ filled their small hall with 40 elderly villagers for an extra treat 45 years ago and one guest brought along his accordion to help with an impromptu sing-a-long.

After games had been played such as ‘pass the parcel’ the visitors had tea whilst being entertained by the ‘Leisure Mums’ who sang a medley of popular songs, accompanying themselves on guitars.