Bracknell police officers were involved in a national operation called ‘Kill Your Speed’ back in the autumn of 1997 in an effort to highlight how excessive speed can endanger lives.

During the operation nine fixed penalty fines were imposed with one driver being clocked driving at 57mph in a 30mph zone and many other traffic offences were detected including drivers using their mobile phones at the wheel. Insp Rob Povey told the Bracknell News: "We hope this operation highlights how seriously we take road safety and several members of the public approached us and voiced their appreciation of what we are doing.”

Bracknell was top of a national list which showed that the number of cars on its roads was growing at 13 per cent a year - faster than anywhere else in the UK.

Wokingham district saw an increase of 4.6 per cent - just below the county average and Bracknell MP Andrew MacKay told the News: "Improvements in public transport will lead to more people using public transport and changes in lifestyles, such as working from home could mean that rush hour congestion could be a thing of the past.”

A ‘Wolf’ visited the newly refurbished Hollywood Bowl 20 years ago but thankfully it was the muscle-bound star of the hit TV show Gladiators who launched the reopening in Bracknell.

The ‘fearsome beast’ tried the new bowling lanes and posed happily with staff although it was not recorded how he faired.

Harmans Water Primary School pupils was treated to a cycle fun day which included a display of two-wheeled skills by professional stuntman Rod Ridge.

The day also included two sponsored rides and a unicycle demonstration,but the serious side to the day was when the local Road Safety Team chatted with the children about cycling safely.”

A 14-year-old Bullbrook boy was appealing to callous thieves to return his bicycle after it was stolen outside the home of an elderly resident that he was doing odd jobs for.

Gerry,who suffered from cystic fibrosis and asthma was visiting the old man since his wife had passed away and his father Anthony told the News:”After his wife passed away Gerry has been getting his shopping for him and generally doing things for him around the house-it takes his mind off the fibrosis.”

A touch of the old west came to Pinewood leisure centre twenty years ago when the line-dancing troupe Stateside entertained visitors with their Stetson ‘ten-gallon hats’.

Ends

Words and archive photos:Chris Forsey