PLANS were unveiled for a £1.5 million tennis and bowls indoor centre in Birch Hill, Bracknell 35 years ago, and the ‘man with the plan’ was none other than former tennis player, Robin Drysdale.

The covered sports hall would house eight tennis courts and then double-up as bowling rinks, once the special surface has been marked out.

Mr Drysdale had helped set up similar centres across Europe and in an interview with the Bracknell News he explained: “My aim is to promote tennis and get it played by the average person, so I will keep the charges down. I want the whole family to come here and be able to afford it.”

Work was well underway on a major reconstruction programme at Broadmoor Hospital, Crowthorne in 1985, and it was hoped the building would take the complex into the 21st century.

A new ward block, medical centre, kitchen and administrative offices were also improving living conditions for the patients.

The spirit of “Ben Hur” swept into Sandhurst in 1985 for the town’s first Roman pub chariot race, which swept through the town via three of its local hostelries.

‘Friends, would-be Romans and members of the residents’ association’. formed eight teams and stopped at each pub to drink half a pint of beer.

The winning time was a death-defying eight minutes and organiser Jill Homewood told the News: “As it is the first time we have held this event, we are very pleased at how well it went.”

A Wokingham rally driver, David Holmes, was hoping to improve his chances for the new season so he enlisted three times British champion, Bill Gwynne, to analyse his driving.

Using a test track the pair went ‘back to school’ and then studied the in-car video later, to see where David was making mistakes and losing time.

David admitted: “Bill’s comments have been encouraging, I am already going faster than last year and with his help I should improve further.”

A Finchampstead man met Britain’s most famous birthday girl-The Queen Mother-on the occasion of her 85th birthday in 1985.

Mike Hill, the marketing manager of 3M, showed her around the new photographic exhibition at St Paul’s Cathedral which displayed pictures of the cathedral staff and personalities.

Visitors to the Western Industrial Estate in Bracknell were in for a surprise as the wide roads were being used by new stunt riding team.

A group of riders that included Mark Harvey, Tony Mace, John Pattimore and Frank Harvey were honing their balancing skills on top of a ten-foot pole, attached to a Honda 50cc moped.