SUNNINGDALe train station was closed as a bomb scare – using a recognised IRA codeword – sparked off a full evacuation and search for suspect devices in December 1993.

Traffic piled up as the main A30 was shut and local roads were closed with cars and buses being redirected through Sunninghill, fortunatley no suspicious devices were found, but a device did explode the next morning outside Byfleet station.

Crowthorne Scout Group had a waiting list of more than 90 youngsters and was in danger of closing unless they could find more helpers. Assistant Scout Leader Jim Applewoth told the Bracknell News: “We desperately need more leaders to look after the beavers, unless we get help, these children will miss out on something important.”

Bracknell caught the festive spirit as the annual Christmas lights were switched on in the town centre.

Entertainment was provided by a carol concert and a performance of ‘When Dinah saw a Dinosaur’ was staged by the Wilde Theatre before the Mayor arrived on her ‘sleigh’–pulled by the town’s horses Braken and Bramble.

It was panto time 24 years ago and actress Una Stubbs the star of ‘Till Death Us Do Part’ gave an interview to the Bracknell News before she appeared in Peter Pan. She told the News: “One of my first ever roles was in Panto at the Theatre Royal in Windsor and I have always tried to choose parts that allowed me to be with my family as much as possible.”

Una Stubbs is less well known for appearing in the classic comedy Fawlty Towers but she told the News that one of her favourite roles was as Aunt Sally in Worzel Gummidge,Una admitted: “I enjoyed the part of Aunt Sally because she was a strong character - my son couldn’t bear the fact she was so nasty!”

Aslan, the King of Narnia visited St Michael’s Primary School in Sunninghill on a whistle-stop tour to publicise the Novello Theatre’s production of ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’.

Two of the cast from the famous CS Lewis tale, Jenny Kenna and Ross McCall had recently appeared on Bruce Forsyth’s Generation Game and ‘The Borrowers’.