Remember When: International restaurateur eyes Skindles Hotel expansion

1973: An empty premises in Market Street was transformed into a toy shop to raise money for children with learning disabilities.

Toy lovers could get their hands on a range of goodies for as little as 24p. All proceeds went towards Maidenhead MENCAP society’s quest to raise money for a specially adapted swimming pool at Holyport Manor School.

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1978: Celebrations took place for the 350th anniversary of the historic Jesus Hospital in Bray.

The building, run by wardens from the Honourable Company of Fishmongers, provided a roof over the heads of some of the borough’s poorer residents.

A maypole dancing display helped mark the occasion.

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1978: The new owner of Skindles Hotel revealed his grand plans for the venue’s redevelopment.

Louis Brown, the latest in a long line of owners of the riverside spot, submitted plans to build an 81-bed hotel in the Skindles car park.

The international restaurateur said he wanted to restore the venue’s worldwide reputation.

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1983: When Margaret Jones gave up her job as deputy headteacher of Great Marlow School in July, she casually told the Advertiser she would like to drive a racing car.

But when she agreed to visit the Silverstone circuit with two former colleagues, she never imagined she would find herself behind the wheel of a Formula Ford driving down the famous Grand Prix track.

Staff had pitched in to pay for the unique driving lesson as a leaving present.

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1988: Young dancers performed numbers from famous West End shows including Cats and Bugsy Malone during a show at Marlow’s Court Garden Theatre.

The performance featured toe-tapping displays from the Marlow-based Expressive Dance Group.

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1993: New classrooms and a fully-equipped modern gym brought Cookham Dean Primary School ‘bang into the 90s’.

The school’s two new classrooms offered stunning views across Cookham Dean while the new-look gymnasium was created in the former school hall.

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1998: Council staff paid £1 each for the privilege of going to work in jeans to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The Royal Borough raised more than £500 for the nationwide Jeans for Genes Day which also supported a range of other charities.