Priestwood community centre was facing a desperate shortage of funding in 1989 - because nobody was using the building.

Town Mayor, Jacqui Ryder, told the Bracknell News that newer structures were taking business away from older ones, situated on adjacent estates.

Residents were being canvassed with leaflets asking Priestwood householders to make more use of local facilities. and community association spokesman, Terry Mountjoy, explained:” Less and less people are using it and evening after evening it lies empty, it is a crying shame in this day and age.”

“Let’s hope this idea of dropping leaflets works, it is in need of publicity, we have been short of money for years, but it’s getting worse now.”

Actress Lynn Kitch, who was appearing in the Wilde Theatre’s Christmas show 30 years ago, visited Wokingham Animal Rescue to highlight the charity’s problem of unwanted animals.

With the festive season rapidly approaching she told the Bracknell News that cats and dogs should not be given as Christmas presents.: “We all know that puppies and kittens are cute, but they grow up and will need responsible owners to take care of them.”

There was good news for ‘Ziggy’ the cat, who posed with Lynn for the News photographer, he had just heard he’d been adopted by a local family.

The Forest School in Robin Hood Lane, Winnersh, held its 32nd annual prize-giving in 1989, and headteacher, Stan Grue, was full of praise for his pupils in his keynote speech.

Roger Smee, Chairman of Reading Football Club, was guest of honour and he heard Mr Grus praise the club for its encouragement towards the school.

Finishing on an optimistic note, he believed the school was in good heart and that everyone was approaching the national curriculum “with great optimism”.

Church goers managed to raise a staggering £2 million to help build the Kerith Centre in Bracknell in 1989, and its minister Ben Davies, was full of praise for the commitment of his congregation.

He told the News:” People here have given up luxuries such as holidays abroad, house extensions, new clothes and even food, I have been amazed by their generosity.”

“I had a vision and knew we had to build our own church in Bracknell, if we had to build a 20,000- seater then we would do somehow.”

The Cellar Bar in South Hill Park Arts centre was welcoming a Jazz legend 30 years ago, as Kathy Stobart’s quintet was due to play their mainstream jazz. Kathy had played with all the great names of British Jazz and appeared with The Andrews Sisters and played to Glenn Miller and Clark Gable.

The Royal Berks Radiotherapy Unit was gifted £420 after the Hanworth Community Centre held its annual charity dance.

Organiser Carol Hill, who had undergone treatment at the cancer centre, told the News:” If we could have sold more tickets we would have- it was a very popular event.”