25 years ago

A HIGH-POWERED steam cleaner could be banned from Henley after a claim it damaged the very pavement slabs it was hired to clean. Traders also complained it splashed dirty water on their shop fronts and town centre residents were annoyed after hearing it being operated at 3am as contractors worked through the night. The council paid £4,000 to hire the industrial machine for a one-off trial to spruce up the town ahead of the Queen’s visit today.

Children in Henley can hardly contain their excitement at the prospect of meeting the Queen today. Pupils from the town’s six junior schools will meet Her Majesty as she tours the River & Rowing Museum. One child from each school will be selected to be in a welcoming party.

Henley MP Michael Heseltine has been attacked for the second time in recent weeks by local Conservatives who have described his European stance as “disloyal” to the party leadership. James Turner, honorary treasurer of the Henley Conservative branch, said there was a “groundswell of feeling that it is time he went”.