20052021

42

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Newbury Weekly News

LOCAL HISTORY

The worst yard in town Police called again to a brawl in Northbrook Street, May 25, 1871 OLD MEMORIES REVIVED Extracts taken from past columns of the Newbury Weekly News

150 years ago May 25 1871 Street fighters HENRY Bright was

with the firm for eight years and carries out brickwork, glazing and similar building maintenance work, did not think grass cutting a suitable job for him to do.

summoned on remand for assaulting Thomas Jones. The parties are neighbours, living in Dredge’s-yard, and the alleged assault occurred on Sunday morning, May 7th, in Northbrook-street, but by what transpired it appeared to be the continuation of a great row on the previous night. The defendant’s explanation was that Jones met him in the street, and challenged him to fight, that they fenced, and that it was impossible to know who struck the first blow. Mr. Mason – I believe it is not as uncommon thing to have a row in your yard? – O no, sir; but I am generally away with the boats. Supt Deane said it was one of the worst yards in the town, and that the police were continually being called in to quell the disturbances. It was a great deal worse than the City, which was now one of the quietest places in the town. The Bench dismissed the case, as there was no way to indicate who was the transgressor. The defendant had to pay 5s expenses. 125 years ago May 21 1896 Books for boys A PLEASANT little function took place yesterday

25 years ago May 9 1996

Ice to be back DO you remember hot summer days, when the only relief came from Mr Leopardi’s award-winning ice creams? Well, after an absence of five years, Leandro Leopardi is back in Newbury. The veteran ice cream maker is returning at the age of 65. Mr Leopardi learned his trade in his native Italy, and has won a string of honours in France and England. He first set up his ice cream factory in Pound Street in 1972, and moved to Bone Lane in 1985. With the help of his wife Madeleine, he sold his products to local shops. He sold the majority shareholding in his firm in 1989, and it soon moved to Devon, with Mr Leopardi retained as a consultant. Despite his warnings, the new firm got into difficulties and went into receivership in 1993. Mr Leopardi took early retirement at his historic home in Speen Lane. Now he has been tempted back into business by a merchant banker from Hamstead Marshall. Mr Anthony Buckwell has joined Mr and Mrs Leopardi to form a new company, and the first products should be in the shops by July. High-rise row A MORE reviled planning application in Newbury’s recent history would be difficult to recall, but plans to build two 12-storey blocks of “inner city” high-rise flats in the town are back on the agenda after the developers lodged an appeal. Nelson Geneva’s application to transform the heavily- contaminated site at Sterling Industrial Estate, in Kings Road, into what would be the second tallest structure in Newbury after the 44m BT tower, was unanimously rejected by members of the council’s western area planning committee last year, who tore into the application, with one calling it “the worst ever received”. Undeterred, the developers of the 38m high structures have now appealed to the secretary of state for the environment. District councillor Roger Hunneman (Lib Dem, Victoria) said he was incensed to see the proposals given life again. “I am appalled by the developer’s decision to appeal against the unanimous decision of the planning committee,” he said. “People accept that something needs to be done with the site, but not at the cost of replacing one eyesore with another and creating a precedent for further high-rise development in Newbury.” 10 years ago May 19 2011

JOHNNY Morris was one of the most recognisable faces – and voices – on television in the 1970s and 80s. Morris, who lived in Hungerford until his death in 1999, was fa- mous for his nature programmes, in which he voiced many animals. Tales of the Riverbank was a huge success, but it was Animal Magic in which he really made his name, recording more than 400 editions from 1962 until 1983, with inserts shot at Bristol Zoo Gardens. Morris is pictured here on a visit to Speenhamland Primary School in 1984. n Anyone wishing to submit an image for this page should email editor@ newburynews.co.uk, attaching a copy of the picture with details, or send it to: Local History, Newbury Weekly News, Newspaper House, Faraday Road, Newbury RG14 2AD. a school in Newbury made an inspection of 56 bicycles belonging to the pupils. He found only 11 machines were in a roadworthy condition. Twenty-five of them had no brakes, 11 possessed one brake, 20 were without bells, nine had faulty steering, 12 pedals needed renewing. What is the reason for this? Is it carelessness, complete disregard for the rider’s safety – and for other people’s – or is there a logical excuse? We asked a well-known cycle firm in the town what was the position as regards the supply of accessories. “Plenty of spare parts are available. Tyres and tubes are about at the moment, they sell quickly,” said the manager. Strike over grass TWO hundred men went on strike on Tuesday in a row over who should cut some grass. The men, at British Hoist and Crane Ltd’s works at Compton, walked out after a maintenance worker had been sacked for refusing to cut grass outside the premises. They demanded that the sacked man, Mr Paddy O’Shea, of Wantage Road, Didcot, be re-instated, but talks between Mr Jack White, who is the works convener, and the management failed to reach agreement when the firm insisted that Mr O’Shea would have to agree to cut the grass. With the men still on strike, further discussions were held yesterday morning. The trouble arose after the firm pensioned off the man who used to cut the grass. Mr O’Shea, who has been 50 years ago May 13 1971

everything was cheerful and smiling, the look of expectancy on the faces of the boys, indicating the amount of gratification that was likely to

afternoon at the Boys’ British School. Outside the weather was gloomy and tearful, but inside

be found in the distribution of desks and handsome volumes which were ranged along the headmaster’s desk. It has been a time-honoured tradition that the Mayor of Newbury should distribute the prizes, and the present Mayor, Mr Councillor Harris, declared it to be one of the most pleasing and gratifying events of his official year.

pi c ture GALLERY

TO ORDER ANY PICTURE TAKEN BY OUR PHOTOGRAPHERS* JUST FOLLOW THESE SIMPLE STEPS... Log onto www.newburytoday.co.uk Select Picture Ordering from the menu Click on the Gallery of your choice

100 years ago May 19 1921 Ideal home

THE congregation at St Luke’s, Wash Common, and the parent church of St John’s, Newbury, have during the past few years considerably developed their activities in that suburban district. Not only has a new church, St George’s, been decided upon, but the most immediately practical proposal to provide a parsonage also undertaken. There had not been a house in the centre of the district set apart for St Luke’s clergy, and the housing difficulties added to the difficulty in procuring one. Fortunately a most desirable house on the Skinner’s Green road, close to the Falkland Memorial, had been secured. The Rev TG Tylee, who has earned a high place in the esteem of the congregation, urged that the Parsonage should be secured. It was recently purchased for £2,000, and Mr Tylee generously gave £1,000, leaving £1,000 to be raised by the congregation.

You can then browse and search for the photo you would like to buy and download the digital image to use as you choose

You are also able to order from our office at Faraday Road, Newbury. Current pictures available from 12 noon every Thursday

* all pictures taken by our photographers will be accompanied with a picture reference number found with the picture caption No reference number indicates the picture was not taken by the NWN and therefore we cannot supply these copies.

75 years ago May 16 1946

Battered bikes A MASTER on the staff of