The first pure-bred Charolais calf to be born in the UK, arrived in January 1967, on a Mapledurham farm and was given the name “Crusader”.

The Charolais breed (originally from Burgundy, France) had been used for many years to cross with British established breeds, such as Angus and Hereford cattle.

Proudly holding the calf for the Chronicle photographer 51 years ago was breeder Roger Chapman, with his 14-year-old daughter Deborah, an Abbey School pupil.

A three-day exhibition to educate Reading’s children on the importance of studying the Highway Code was attended by the Mayor of Reading, Alderman W.J. Allum at the Town Hall in ’67.

The centre piece of RoSPA’s display was a miniature pedestrian crossing, complete with two ‘road users’ in their miniature vehicles, who waited as the Mayor walked back and forth over the black and white lines.

Reading’s skyline was changing fast in the sixties and the twin-forge smithy in Merchant’s Place was pictured with the looming skyscraper of Western House towering behind its 16th century roof.

The Tibbetts family had recently become the last blacksmith in the town centre- associated with the building since 1945- although the family had been smithy’s for generations.

The name “Merchant’s Place” first appeared in the local directory in 1871, when the area was associated with wine and ale merchants and a small brewery.

The BBC visited White Waltham airfield to demonstrate a revolutionary American film camera, especially designed for use in a helicopter.

The lens on the cine camera was the first to go from a close-up to a vast panoramic view, or vice-versa, all in one take.

During the demonstration, the chopper-mounted camera began with a close-up of the lips of a model in a car, then (with a steady zoom out) flew up into the sky until both were mere specks on the runway.

Bulmershe School Association, Woodley, held its annual masked ball in the school hall in 1967, with over 130 parents, governors and members of staff attending.

Music for the evening was provided by the Rhythm Aces, and the Chronicle photographer got there just in time to get a photo of Daphne Petty, reflecting on her evening, as she put on her mask.

Bygones has finally gone ‘bananas’, (OK, that happened a while ago) but in the New year of ’67 the Chronicle published the perfect antidote for all the ‘figgy pudding festive stodge’.

The opening paragraph in the cookery section hoped that readers:” should have recovered sufficiently from your Christmas fare, to try this rather unusual banana cream pie with your lunch or dinner.”

Here at Bygones HQ, we normally fill our faces with cake, but this tempting creamy banana treat would definitely slip down our pie holes, with a nice cup of tea of course.