50 years ago

THIS year’s rates for commercial premises in Henley will be almost one-and-a-half times as high as last year’s. The average Henley householder will have to find an extra £19.43. Hardest hit are those with business premises. Their rates will rise 54.20 per cent. Henley Chamber of Trade president Peter Hilson called the rises “a hammer blow” to businesses.

There will be another adventure playground in Henley this year but on a different site. It will be on the YMCA sports ground, off Reading Road. The playscheme will be open in the evenings to cater for older children while younger ones will have a special area and leader of their own. The Henley Adventure Playground Association hopes to employ five full-time leaders and three part-timers to recruit parents to help on a rota basis.

Michael Heseltine was elected as MP for Henley on Friday with a majority of 8,900 over his nearest rival. He received 24,367 votes. Three days later he was out of his job as minister for aerospace, with the resignation of Edward Heath’s government. Runner-up Simon Caradoc Evans polled the highest number of Liberal votes ever in the constituency with 15,467.