Remember When: Victorious Olympian Steve Redgrave welcomed back to Marlow

1973: Firefighters had to cut short an open day at Maidenhead Fire Station as they received a 999 call.

Crews had been demonstrating how to rescue people from car crashes and carrying out firefighting displays when they received an emergency call to respond to an incident in Oldfield Road. Thankfully, it turned out to be a ‘well intentioned’ false alarm.

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1978: A red sky at sunset on the eve of the 135th Royal South Bucks Agricultural Association ploughing match proved to be a good omen.

The annual event had been beset by bad weather throughout the 1970s but more than 200 farmers were able to enjoy a fine day in 1978.

Organisers said the host venue, Bourne End’s Well End Farm, played a key role in enticing more local people to the show.

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1983: Youngsters crowded around to listen to librarian Joan Threlfell read the story of The Stare of the Cat.

Marlow Library also organised a comic book swap and art competition to mark Children’s Bookweek and promote the use of its facilities.

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1988: Olympic gold medallist Steve Redgrave returned to a rapturous reception in Marlow after tasting access at the Seoul Olympics.

The legendary rower enjoyed a champagne reception in the town with Britain’s victorious hockey team and gold medal-winning yachtsman Bryn Vaile.

Redgrave was non-committal to the Advertiser about his future in the sport. He went on to win a further three Olympic gold medals, establishing himself as one of Britain’s most decorated Olympians.

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1988: Talented disabled athletes said their farewells to friends and family as they prepared to jet off for the Paralympic Games in the South Korean capital.

Six members of the Windsor and Maidenhead District Sports Association for the Disabled (WAMDSAD) were selected to represent Great Britain. 18-year-old swimmer Jeanette Esling, of Hobbis Drive, and Holyport archer Terry Winter were among the travelling party.

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1993: ‘There is just so much information now available without having to search through text books.’

Sir William Borlase’s head of geography, Robert Birtwell, couldn’t contain his excitement as the Marlow school became the first in the UK to link the whole school by computer network.The pioneering grammar already had a designated computer room but it took the next step by kitting out every department with a new PC.

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1998: The success of the Shopmobility scheme in Maidenhead saw the initiative extended to Windsor.

The launch of the scheme proved particularly helpful for those needing disability scooters to navigate Peascod Street.