WHEN Winkfield Working Mens Club opened its doors for the first time 60 years ago, dozens of eager new members flooded in because the drinks were ‘on the house’.

Chief Steward Jan Hasselt, resplendent in his brilliant white coat, needed more than two pairs of hands to cope with the rush for the bar, which had been built by an eager group of thirsty volunteers.

Binfield Football Club were strengthening their grip on the first division title in 1960, having beaten Broadmoor Staff 6-0 and enjoying their best season since 1947.

Previously, Binfield had netted 13 points (only two points for a win) from seven different opponents, so barring illness or injury they looked certain to be challenging for honours by the end of the season.

After a flippant remark regarding the British Army’s engineering apprentice scheme by News columnist, Steve Valentine, the garrison at nearby Arborfield invited ‘another scribe’ to come and have look for himself.

Reporter, Derek Ramsey, was given the task of ‘mending bridges’ with the Army base- spending time with the 3rd and 5th REME Battalions- where young apprentices were learning how to maintain complicated electronic equipment, worth thousands of pounds.

After his tour Derek (rather sheepishly) admitted: “Having seen all this, there is little doubt that the Army does have plenty to offer. The confidence, pride, skill and tremendous knowledge which these soldiers have, made me feel a little less worried about nuclear warfare. They certainly seem ready to meet it.”

Table Tennis had a new star in the shape of Geoff Pillin, who had recently secured a place in the county squad in 1960.

The ‘ping pong’ new boy had a good start when playing Kent, but came up against their star player, George Elliot who eventually won the match by two sets to one.

Pet-loving dog rescuer, Bernard Cuff, of Pine Ridge Farm, Ascot, revealed he was taking 40 stray dogs a month from local police pounds in 1960.

During the past two years Mr. Cuff had rehoused 730 canines, saving them from extermination, but when asked by the News if his own two dogs, Brig and Lion, were available he replied: “There isn’t enough money in the world to buy either of them.”

When Gandey’s Circus visited Bracknell for two days local youngsters dashed from school to crowd into their big top show.

The News photographer managed to capture the moment when two clowns made the children in the front row scream with laughter, but one young girl was obviously unimpressed as she was more interested in opening her packet of sweets.