THREE Mute Swans had a lucky escape when they were poisoned during an oil tanker spill in the Western Industrial Estate, Bracknell, in 1960.

A nearby stream became polluted with thick black oil, but the birds had a large stroke of luck when the local RSPCA Branch President, Sir Geoffrey Lowles, spotted the distressed swans and called in staff to rescue them.

But despite their best efforts to catch them they had to call the Royal Swan Keeper, John Turk and some of his boatmen to finally rescue the struggling birds.

The swans were taken by the RSPCA officers to a nearby stable, where they were given a lanolin shampoo and laid to rest on a bed of hay, under infra-red heaters.

A group of teachers from Wick Hill and Borough Green schools took a trip to the Austin car factory at Longbridge, Birmingham 60 years ago.

The ‘day trippers’ learnt how the production line assembled hundreds of cars- in an area the size of a small town- with its own railway sidings, restaurants, medical and welfare centres.

Bracknell Photographic Society were preparing for their first portrait session in 1960, with model Shirley Nelson sitting patiently under the floodlights.

The society were looking for new members and although many had reached a high degree of skill levels, the outright beginners were being encouraged to join.

Equipment would be at the novice’s disposal as the society had its own enlarger, projector and developing tanks, all of which members were at liberty to use.

The new Rector of Binfield was announced as Rev. Gerald Champion Streatfield in 1961, but his induction would not be until the January of 1962.

Rev. Streatfield, who had been ordained in 1928, was the rector of two parishes in Winchester and he told the Bracknell News: “I am sorry to leave my current parish - but I am looking forward to my new appointment and Binfield seems most acceptable.”

Crowthorne’s Edgbarrow County Secondary Modern School welcomed a special guest to help open its doors “officially”, when Mrs V.L. Pandit, the High Commissioner for India arrived 60 years ago.

Although the school had been open since September, 400 pupils packed the assembly hall to applaud the opening ceremonies.

During her speech the High Commissioner said: “It is not only a great joy, but a tremendous privilege to share this day with you, I do believe that the world will be a better place if our schools get better and better.”

Another ‘bird’s eye view’ of Bracknell was published in the News, centred on the new Dorothy Perkins building, taken by photographer Cliff Watts.

In the foreground were the new town houses of the Priestwood estate, which were adjacent to the Western Industrial Area.