50 years ago

THE main point which came out of this year’s Henley Town Forum was that the public would like to see the town council retain control of as many services as possible when local government is reformed in April — even if it means paying more for the privilege.

The official opening of a newly refurbished Hart Street bank, described by the Mayor as a “local institution, just as much as the office I hold” took place on Monday. The reception given by the Thames Valley Savings Bank was the culmination of five years of dreaming and three years of planning as well as nine months of construction work costing in the region of £30,000.

Drivers familiar with Sonning Bridge will know that traffic can only pass one way across it and that lights regulate this. The bridge is therefore responsible for considerable hold-ups during the rush hours and frustrated drivers often follow the line of traffic over the bridge after the lights have changed. Accordingly, police have been on duty at Sonning Mill, which affords an excellent view of the bridge, and two people were caught on July 10 and subsequently fined by magistrates.