Bracknell Nostalgia - What was life like back in 1993?

One of the many feel-good stories from 29 years ago saw several children from St Margaret Clitherow RC School make items out of recyclable items, which were later given to a local sculpture artist.

Sally-Anne Armitage (centre) with the piece of artwork

Pupils aged seven to 11 from the school helped sculptor Sally-Anne Armitage turn their refuse into art.

Working throughout the day with different groups, Sally-Anne used the middle of toilet rolls, empty bottles, cardboard boxes and paper to create a three feet bird, whilst a total of 19 empty drinks bottles became the bird’s ‘chicks in the nest.’

The phoenix stayed in the school hall until the end of 1993.

Sticking with children, youngsters from Harmans Water School visited a RAF staff college in Bracknell to learn how aeroplanes fly.

The 140 pupils, who were aged between five and six, were shown a Hunter aircraft which acts as a gate guard for the college.

Many children were at the RAF base camp

The Hunter is no longer operational, but it gave children an idea of the size of a jet aircraft in the RAF.

Next, the children were given a presentation where they were taught the theory of flight, before they were given a tour of a retired Purna helicopter which had flown several decades previously.

To end the day, the children watched a different helicopter take flight as it did a fly by across the circuit before returning.

Finally, another feel good story from ’93 saw a dinosaur Christmas show arrive in the town.

Lots of children went to the RAF base

That festive season saw, ‘When Dinah saw a Dinosaur’ hit the stage with the production being aimed at four to 11-year-olds.

Written by Bracknell playwright, Mike Snelgrove, the show focused on Dinah who makes friends with an affectionate baby dinosaur whilst visiting a museum.

She then takes the baby dino through an adventure of time and travel.

When Dinah saw the dinosaur was a big hit

The synopsis caught the attention of many schools across the Royal Borough of Berkshire, as more than 40 schools in the region booked up slots to watch the show.