WARFIELD teenager, Aliscia Watson, received the best 17th birthday present she could hope for in 1960 - her Student Pilot’s licence.

At lunchtime, her father Captain Charles Watson, collected her from St George’s School, Ascot, to take Aliscia for her first solo flight at White Waltham airfield.

Bad weather then threatened to spoil the occasion, but by the early afternoon it cleared sufficiently for her inaugural flight to take off.

On her return, the Bracknell News asked the 17-year-old how it felt to be piloting alone at 1,000 feet, “Lovely” she said.

The Wayne Canteen Christmas puddings were being made 49 years ago, in preparation for the festive season and the News published a marvellously ‘staged’ photo of the ‘bake off’.

The caption to the photo tried (and failed) to lighten the mood of the ‘stiff and starchy’ pose:”Our picture shows Mr R.G. Redgwell, Wayne General Manager, giving the final stir to the mixture, with Miss B Le Huguet, the cook, and Miss R. Warren, the canteen manageress, showing justified pride in their efforts.”

The 1960 Golden Jubilee Cycle and Motorcycle Show at Earls Court was previewed in the Bracknell News with a two-page special, but the article did nothing to improve relations between four-wheeled drivers and their fellow road users, cyclists and motorcyclists.

The editorial described the average car drivers view of motorbikes as “cold, nasty and uncomfortable”, but went on to extol the virtues of the bicycle and bike as a way of reducing traffic congestion.

Bicycles, it was argued, were more convenient, cheaper and a good form of exercise, being improved in recent years, as new and lighter manufacturing techniques had made them more attractive to users.

Coopers Hill Youth Centre hosted an “At Home” event in 1960, to showcase the activities at the centre, with the help of parents, volunteers and members.

For the show, warden Mrs.Fergusson-Kelly, passed the reins to 19-year-old chair of the committee, Mary Nash, who arranged the entertainment, which included, boxing, judo and football exercises.

MP Bill van Straubenzee spent three hours at the show trying out the sporting equipment and admiring the model aircraft display.

Bracknell and District Caledonian Society, just 15 months old, held a big charity dance in aid of Binfield Park Hospital, having already raised £75 from its one hundred members.

Highlight of the evening was a performance by the Pride of Murray Pipe Band, whilst 200 guests also danced to the music of the Bob Shaw Group and the Empress Trio.

In the News’ weekly column “Meet the Teenagers”, the spotlight was shone of 15-year-old Vic Cheneler, an apprentice motor mechanic at Timms’ garage, Binfield.

Although Vic would have to wait another 3 years to get his driving licence he admitted:” I am quite happy working underneath a car bonnet, I didn’t like school and I am much happier at work.”