A NEW headquarters building for the high street retailer Dorothy Perkins was opened in Wokingham Road, Bracknell in 1961, with enough space left over for doubling its size in future years.

The firm provided a champagne luncheon for the invited guests, with a scampi and water-melon buffet to celebrate the opening of the £400,000 distribution centre.

Eighty houses and flats were being provided for the 200 employees by Bracknell Development Corporation and Managing Director, Alan Farmer, told the assembled audience: “When we came to this town to have a look round, we decided that this was the best of the New Towns.”

Clifford’s Dairies enjoyed a double celebration 58 years ago, when Mr W.Dale of Broad Lane, Bracknell, had his milk delivered by Ken Barrow, the manager of the local branch.

By an amazing coincidence Mr Barrow had started working in Hounslow 25 years previously, delivering milk to none other than his first ever customer, Mr Dale.

Easthampstead Parish Church Restoration Fund swelled its coffers by the princely sum of £300 by holding a garden fete at Wood Dalling, Bagshot Road, the home of Major-General Johnstone.

Several hundred people visited the spacious lawns, with the event being opened by Peter Rose, chairman of the local Rural District Council.

There were over 20 side-shows and stalls, but the highlights of the day were the children’s fancy dress and novelty races.

Local pilot Dennis Farmer, of Stoney Road, Bracknell, helped Handley Page of Reading to win the Hannibal Trophy at an air display in Woodley in 1961.

Flying in a Chipmunk single-engined aircraft Mr. Farmer was joint winner of the spot landing competition and gained top marks in navigation and flour-bag bombing.

An interesting ‘advert’ for vacancies at Wayne Tank & Pump Limited, Western Road, Bracknell, caught the eye of Bygones this week, as it certainly would not be published in quite the same way 60 year later. A two-page spread featured photos of office staff with the caption:” We thought we’d lend tone to this page by publishing pictures of some of our Secretaries who certainly look happy in their

work.”

Another ‘spot the difference’ moment was when the job descriptions for vacancies in the Works and Office Departments listed whether the role was for male or female employees only.

The teenage section of the News featured the Shirelles, four singers who grew up in New Jersey, about 15 miles from New York, who were ‘Top of the Pops’ in ’61, having had a string of hit singles. Their debut disc, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” was the first number-one hit by any girl group, which was followed by chart success with “Tonight’s the Night’’.