In 1961, the headteacher of Charters School, Sunningdale, made a rash promise that his pupils (two years later) did not forget.

John Waddleton had promised: “When our new swimming pool is officially opened, you can throw me in-fully clothed.”

But he had his revenge on a few of the pupils when they lifted him high on to their shoulders, fully clothed, in the pouring rain, but he managed to grab two of the boys and drag them into the water with him.

In spite of the bad weather, a profit of £250 was made at the accompanying fete, which was held inside the school instead of in the open air, as usual.

Forest Grammar School, Winnersh, threw open its doors to parents and friends 56 years ago, to show how public money is spent on local education, which had recently come under some criticism. Throughout the school there were exhibitions of pupils work and ingenious electrical devices and gadgets, with a large British Railways model railway lay-out. A display of the sporting aptitudes and physical welfare included swimming and PE (Physical Education), followed by a cricket match between the school and an old boys team.

The Director of Research at the “Met” office in Bracknell, Dr Reginald Sutcliffe, became the second ever staff member to be presented with the International Meteorological Organisation Prize in 1963.

The prize, which consisted of a gold medal, a certificate of citation and a ‘substantial sum of money’.

59-year-old Dr Sutcliffe, who lived in nearby Ascot, had joined the Meteorological office in 1927 and had worked both in the UK and abroad.

Bracknell Tennis Club held their championship finals day in the summer of ’63 and the News published a spread of photos from the day, which culminated in the men’s and women’s singles finals.

The singles titles went to Mr N Haymes and Mrs L Clarke respectively.

When Wokingham Methodist Church hosted a “strawberry tea” to raise funds for building repairs a young baby stole the show in a picture published in the News the following week.

Whilst all the ‘grown-ups’ clearly knew how to pose for the camera, the toddler didn’t have eyes for the strawberries on the table.

Proud parents, Mr and Mrs Fuller of Froghall Drive, helped the church raise £17 towards the building’s essential repairs.

Bracknell Sports Stadium was gearing up for the Carnival Jazz Festival, which was due to be held at the end of July, and the News carried a ‘pre-piece’ beloved of all local newspapers. Headliners, Terry Lightfoot’s Jazzmen, supplied their own publicity group shot and it was announced that the Gerry Brown Jazzmen would also be on the bill.