The Slough Observer was reaching out to its readers back in 1984 because the ‘Dystopian’ view of the town had reared its head again-on the occasion of the death of former Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman.

Publishing a parody of the infamous poem ’Come friendly bombs and fall on Slough’ entitled ‘Twice as ghastly now’ the Observer invited letters to the editor for locals to explain how the felt about their much maligned home town. The direct question to readers was: “Are you proud of our town?-proud to tell your friends you live here-or do you agree that we would all be better off if it had been razed to the ground and completely rebuilt?”

Nearby Langley Fire Station put its ‘faith in Faith’ when they had their open day 33 years ago and invited local comedienne Faith Brown to open the fun day.

Bracknell News:

CUTHBERT, DIBBLE AND GRUBB: Faith Brown was in Langley

Children were encouraged to climb over an old fire engine which raised over £400 for the Fire Service Benevolent Fund.

As Fireman Sam was not created until the late 1980s it seems hard to believe that such an event existed without the hero of Pontypandy.

Slough’s Mayor Cllr Lydia Simmons certainly had to put her faith in the law when she found herself temporarily ‘under arrest’ and handcuffed by two local bobbies at a photo call in the Queensmere Shopping Centre.

During the special visit to urge local youngsters - especially from ethnic minorities - to join the Thames Valley and Metropolitan police, Cllr Simmons told the Observer: “We need to have more black policemen,they should get involved.”

The newly-built Wilde Theatre in Bracknell was happy to blow its own trumpet when more than 1,000 youngsters watched the Band of the Life Guards give a special concert. Bandmaster Captain Gerry McColl told the Bracknell News: “This is the first children’s concert I have done since being transferred from Hong Kong where we had to use an interpreter when performing for Chinese youngsters”. It was a busy month for the Wilde in May 1984 as it welcomed HRH Princess Anne and her three-year-old daughter Zara to officially open the new venue and whilst her ‘Royal mother’ toured the building Zara was presented with a toy ‘Punch and Judy’ playset.

Bracknell News:

SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP:Sainsbury's opened in Bracknell

Princess Square in Bracknell Square shopping centre welcomed a shiny new Sainsbury’s supermarket which opened its doors 33 years ago.

First in the queue was Binfield Road resident Beatrice Atkins who was greeted by Chairman and Chief Executive Sir John Sainsbury.

Hundreds of mourners visited Sunningdale Cemetery to pay their respects at the burial site of actress Diana Dors who was laid to rest at a celebrity packed funeral service in the nearby Sacred Heart Church.

The guest list of the ‘famous and infamous’ included Shirley Bassey, Lionel Blair and Barbara Windsor whilst wreaths were placed on the graveside by Elton John and Ronnie and Reggie Kray.

Henry Cooper-the legendary heavyweight boxer-was delivering a knockout performance at the opening of a new business in Bracknell and played up for the news cameras at Delta Colours new headquarters.

Bulmershe College students were also ‘clowning around’ in Woodley for the annual Rag Week celebrations and the Reading Chronicle reported that it was all for a good cause as Jayne Denning and Timandra Harkness then set out on a trip to the Eiffel Tower in Paris-to raise £200 for local charities.

The Top Rank Club in Station Hill (formerly a ballroom and night club) reopened as a Bingo hall in 1984 and “Mr 3-2-1” himself-TV quiz host Ted Rogers-cut the ribbon and then called the first ever game of bingo at the legendary Reading venue.