Bracknell Nostalgia - Looking back at the summer of 1977

This is because after we looked into our archive, we noticed that a lot happened in and around the Bracknell area 41 years ago.

For example, that summer saw the second annual baby beauty pageant take place in Binfield.

Numerous mothers put their children forward but the overall winner was six-month-old Suzanne Potter, who won her second baby beauty content in as many months.

Baby Suzanne Potter nibbles on the trophy after her win

Many babies took part

Babies and toddlers were entered in by their parents

Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves

It took place in 1977

The baby from Ollerton, Bracknell, managed to secure the Clifford Challenge Cup after she defeated 81 other youngsters in her category – six months after winning another contest in Selsey, West Sussex, whilst on a family holiday.

That same year also saw the first man to win the Ascot Flower Show.

The yearly summer event sees participants enter with the best Victorian style flower display, and in 1977, it was won by a Mr Eric Snow – who has displaced the same woman who had won the competition for the previous two years.

The event was organised by the Ascot Horticultural Society.

Drinks were on offer at the flower show

One of the flower displays

In one of the most entertaining stories of that summer, a pet cat caused chaos after they visited someone’s house…and wouldn’t leave.

The tortoiseshell feline turned up at the home of June Staden of Avon Grove, Bracknell, and despite the moggie having registered owners, the pet wouldn’t want to leave its new ‘home’.

The cat that wouldn't leave

This caused problems for Mrs Staden, as she, along with her family, had planned a family holiday that month, but were struggling to find arrangements for the animal that arrived unexpectedly.

It was also reported that the RSPCA, along with Mrs Staden, struggled to locate the pet’s owners.

Speaking back in 1977, Mrs Staden said: “She’s a very determined cat indeed.

“Last Thursday, she sat outside the house crying loudly from 11pm until 5am, and in the end, desperate to get some sleep, I let her in and fed her.

“She has been with us ever since, but unfortunately, I cannot keep her as I already have two cats and one of them is a tortoiseshell who won’t accept this intruder.”

She also revealed that door knocks took place in her neighbourhood to try and return the cat, but no-one claimed that the pet was theirs.

Barry James' police badge collection

Mrs Staden added: “Perhaps she wandered from the other direction.

“There is no way of knowing how far she many have come, or how near her owners may really be.”

That same month also Bracknell taxi driver Barry James show off his impressive police badge collection, which he started 12 years previously in 1965.

David Greedy fixing a lamp

Finally, an image of Crowthorne man, David Greedy, shows him tending a lamp.