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10 years ago – April 10, 2014
New park plans
The town council is planning to demolish the old kiosk and boat store in Victoria Park to make way for a new building which will include a café, changing rooms, public toilets, a boat store and a park warden’s office.
The chairman of the town council’s Victoria Park working group, David Allen (Lib Dem, Victoria) said the majority of residents attending the public consultation running at Newbury Town Hall had reacted positively to the designs, although the very first person through the door suggested the design of the building should be less modern.
According to Mr Allen, comments from visitors have included “we often thought the existing facilities were poor”, “we think it looks fantastic for the heart of Newbury”, and “this is long overdue”.
Outside seating that could hear the bandstand on Sundays “would be ideal”.
25 years ago – April 8, 1999
Pony appeal
Police who rescued five neglected Shetland ponies from a field near Midgham at the weekend are appealing to local animal lovers to give them a safe new home.
Thames Valley Police’s animal welfare officer, Mr Albert Honey, found the five ponies and another horse kept with them, suffering from emaciation, lice infestation, and with grossly overgrown hoofs and rain sores after being left outdoors without proper shelter over the winter.
He said their owner, who has now signed away the rights over the horses, could not afford to look after them.
“They’ve been going downhill all throughout the winter,” said Mr Honey, who has already called in a vet and a farrier to treat the animals and taken them to recover at a farm near Newbury.
“Their feet were overgrown, lice were walking all over their bodies, and they were in what could best be described as a poor state.
“They will be all right now. We are just looking for someone to look after them and give them tender loving care.”
50 years ago – April 11, 1974
Still going strong
Every week for the past 22 years Mr Frank Burge, of 31 Bowling Green Road, Thatcham, has defied weather and advancing age and gone out on foot collecting for the Spastic League Club.
His many clients in shops and residences in and around Newbury would be surprised not to see him at his usual time even though they know he is nearing 80 years of age.
None of the 164 contributors to the league’s top 10 promotion pools whose names and addresses are listed in Mr Burge’s book is ever left out.
Each pays him 8p when he calls and looks forward to the results of soccer matches that will determine the winners of the weekly competition, funds from which are used to help the handicapped.
To get around all his clients Mr Burge walks about nine miles on each of the two days of the week he goes out collecting.
Over the 22 years, this would mean he has walked some 1,000 miles on his rounds, and he is still doing it although, at 79, Mr Burge’s legs are not what they used to be.
