Bracknell is 70 years old. I have lived here 50 years and celebrate the inspiration of the Bracknell Development Corporation who created our New Town.

Each of the estates was developed as if it was a village with its own primary school, shopping area, doctors, community centre and pub. Residents identified with their estate rather than with the Town. Bungalows for the elderly were scattered amongst the family homes, to ensure inclusion of all. Huge areas of green space accompanied each development - Jock's Lane, the Elms, Braybrooke, Birch Hill recreation ground, Mill Park, Great Hollands Recreation Ground as well as all the smaller play areas - all now maintained by Bracknell Town Council.

On the second phase of estates, main roads were built around the houses, with homes built around pedestrian squares where children could play safely. Superb cycle routes linked all the estates and the town centre.

For many, moving from London, this was the first time they had lived in a home with an inside toilet, a bathroom and a garden. Nearly everyone lived and worked in Bracknell at Rowney's, Sperry's, Clark Eaton, Clifford Dairies, the Met Office, ICI, ICL. The only time the station was full was on a Sunday when families returned to London to visit those they had left behind.

Easthampstead School was opened in what is now the conference centre and a new school was to be built on land nearby. A second new Catholic school was planned in Birch Hill. Money ran out, the students at Easthampstead Park School had to have their classes in three different locations. When I joined EHP School, in 1977, double decker buses took the children from Great Hollands across to Birch Hill to their next lesson! This was quickly replaced by students remaining on site and teachers travelling back and forth. After many years, the site at Birch Hill was sold to Sainsbury's and housing and the present school at Great Hollands was completed from some of the money received.

South Hill Park was not sold off, but became our Arts Centre and I remember bailing out the flooded cellar so that the first director, Peter Stark, could live there for a while.

There have been many, many changes, including our New Town centre, but those original plans to create a real community were realised – a lovely place to live.