ONE of UK athletics finest moments was been rightly celebrated by the village of Moulsford (at that time part of Berkshire), as Ann Packer won the 800 metres gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

The Chronicle reported that halfway through the final Ann looked ‘out of the hunt’, but a super-human effort sent her racing past everyone to secure the best win of her career.

Officials at Reading Athletic Club, where she was a life member, announced that in recognition of her achievement, she had been made a life vice-president.

Royals player Ralph Norton had a match day he would never forget, when he married his sweetheart Angela Joy in the morning, and then donned his football boots in the afternoon to play against Bristol Rovers.

Although the happy couple were all smiles as they posed for the Chronicle photographer whilst signing the register, a few hours later Ralph suffered his first defeat as a married man.

After standing for over 500 years, the Chequers pub in Woodley was being emptied prior to demolition 44 years ago.

The sad occasion was not without its lighter moments, especially when one of the workers found an old sign that said “Sorry, Sold Out” sign and displayed it from an upstairs window to the crowd below.

The site was earmarked for a new car park after being demolished which would have spaces available for the ‘new’ Chequers and adjoining shops.

After their smash-hit “World Without Love” the ‘young balladeers’ Peter & Gordon were set to play at the Olympic Ballroom in Reading in 1964.

Their performance had been delayed for several weeks as the duo had been on tour in North America when their song topped the US pop charts.

The track had been ‘gifted’ to them by the Beatles and earned them a gold disc, reaching No 1 on both sides of the Atlantic, Paul McCartney was (at the time) dating Peter Asher’s sister, Jane.

Berkshire-born Jeremy Taylor was appearing on BBC2 TV in a new show “Time to Breve”, which was being broadcast at a prime-time slot on Saturday nights.

The cast, which had been taken from the west end revue “Wait a Minim”, were taken from the South African show especially for television and the pre-publicity promised the programme would have a ‘fresh feel’ to it.

Berkshire’s Federation of Townswomen’s Guilds held an ‘International Cocktail’ event at Reading Town Hall with an evening of folk songs, dancing and lectures from around the world.

Irene Atkins from the host guild, ‘Reading Afternoon’, admitted that she had sat up into the small hours stitching together her ancient Greek costume.

The theme for their stand had been changed and Irene explained:” I had my heart set on another theme, I own a super Honolulu outfit and was dying to wear it- then we were given Greece!”