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1974: Television star and future MP Gyles Brandreth paid a visit to Maidenhead’s library to speak to excited school children about his new book of party games (main picture).
Gyles, then artistic director of Oxford Theatre Festival, decided to try out some of his games on children from four junior schools.
1984: Marlow Peace Group members demonstrated against Wycombe District Council’s bunker at Court Garden in Marlow, which would have been used in the event of a nuclear war.
“What we are trying to emphasise, whatever your views of disarmament are, is that there would be no survival in the area in the event of a nuclear war and to waste money on this is ridiculous,” said group member Mike Homfray.
1984: Teams from local public houses pulled their weight on a sponsored dray pull to raise money for the Maidenhead branch for the Guide Dogs for the Blind.
The enthusiastic teams – some of whom were in fancy dress – set off from the Farmer’s Boy in Harrow Lane and spent four hours touring Maidenhead, ending up at the Fir Cone.
1994: A mysterious link between Cookham and Tsarist Russia was causing problems at the village’s cemetery chapel.
A heavy bell, cast in pre-revolution Russia, had been hanging there since 1906 – but no one knew when or why it was brought to Cookham.
It was causing the bell tower to lean and attempts to remove it proved difficult due to its weight and the sensitive graveside setting.
1994: Under a grey sky 476 walkers – 100 up on the previous year – trod the pavements and pathways of Maidenhead for the 13th Boundary Walk to raise thousands of pounds for a variety of charities.
The annual event brought in £13,500, which organisers believed was a new record.
1999: Postman Pat and his black and white cat visited Birdwood Nursery in Allenby Road to tell children how a letter gets from one place to another.
Postman Alistair Galloway, from Windsor, put on his Postman Pat costume as part of his voluntary ambassador role for the Royal Mail, teaching children about the Post Office.
1999: Staff at the offices of commercial cleaners Prestige, in Cordwallis Road, came to work in football tops on to raise money for homeless charity Shelter as part of the national Get Your Kit One charity day.
Managing director Trevor Smith wore one of his most prized possessions – a Chelsea top signed by the team.
