British Rail was calling time on the old-fashioned clocks at its stations in Bracknell and Ascot and entering the digital age. 

The new time pieces were not well received by local rail passengers-especially as the Bracknell News revealed that they would cost £15,000 to install.

Commuter Rob Holmes told the News: “It is pathetic,they would do better to use the money to improve the trains-at the moment they are cramped and uncomfortable.” 

Sporting success was in the air in Bracknell and top of the world was 29-year-old Terry Coke who battled against 45 other cars to win the Banger Racing World Championship 29 years ago. 

But Terry had not been at all confident of winning as he had suffered a broken leg earlier in the year when a car fell on him at work-all this was after he had just recovered from a broken collar bone. 

Speaking to the News a ‘bubbling’ Mr Coke said:”I really didn’t think I had much of a chance-but everything went right on the day.” 

After the ice rink at the John Nike Leisuresport Complex had been open for a year the benefits to local competition skaters was paying off. 

At the Skate Electric match in Bristol British Pairs Champions Cheryl Peake and Andrew Naylor,easily won the pairs section and 13-year-old Robert Webb scooped the Junior Men’s group.

Head of Bracknell Academy of Skating, Chris Howarth told the News: ”Bracknell skaters certainly raised a few eyebrows,it reflects well on the hard work put in by our pupil,many of whom have only been on the ice since the complex opened last year.” 

Wokingham’s tennis ace Paul Hand was celebrating winning two tournament finals in succession against the top players from three counties. 

Competing at the Ibis Club in Reading,Paul overcame the Buckingham number one and,at a previous tournament,he had triumphed against the top players in Surrey and Kent. 

A new micro-computer network was installed in 1988 at the RAF Staff College and it included a simulated war games software to train 90 officers from the higher ranks such as Squadron Leaders.

Wing Commander Tony Gross from the College told the News: “We needed a system with complete integrity-one that could continue functioning even if one part of it is put out of action.” 

Dry rot was threatening to destroy part of a church roof in Sunninghill and parishioners were launching a building project appeal. 

St Michael and All Angels was first built in Saxon times and the present church is the third structure to be built on the site, speaking to the News the Vicar Tim Gunter revealed: “This part of the roof that has been affected was put up in 1827 and the whole north-western section of the roof is now in urgent need of repair.”