Remember When: White Hart confusion prompted Fifield Inn name change

1975: Work on the much-discussed Nicholson’s shopping precinct continued, including a new access for shoppers from the multi-storey car park.

New signs were up at the entrances, while shop fitters were busy working on vacant spaces.

1980: Infant classes at Holy Trinity School in Cookham were so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.

Youngsters held a sponsored silence in conjunction with the upper school’s sponsored ‘spell-in’, with the aim of raising £600.

The money would go towards a new prefabricated classroom.

1980: Plans for the extension of the Ivy Leaf Club were presented at its annual meeting.

The club had moved from Marlow Road to Holmanleaze in 1976, and the improved facilities saw an immediate boost in its popularity.

Put the pressures of increased membership and additional use meant plans were afoot to go bigger with a new hall with a permanent stage and dance floor.

1985: Thanks to the efforts of the Maidenhead and District Talking Newspaper Association, a cassette recording of the Advertiser news reached 30 blind and visually-impaired people in the area.

The association had been formed the previous summer, and recordings had started to go out in November 1984.

1985: The Saturday evening roller-disco sessions at the Magnet Leisure Centre were attracting up to 600 skaters a week.

Young people of all ages were spinning around under disco lights to their favourite records under the supervision of the leisure centre marshals.

1990: St Mark’s Hospital staff stopped work for 15 minutes to show their support for ambulance workers’ pay claims.

As part of a national ‘ambulance support day’, doctors, nurses, cooks, clerks and porters joined ambulance crews in a good-natured demonstration outside the hospital’s entrance.

1995: The White Hart became the Fifield Inn.

With three White Harts within a three-mile radius, pub owners Peter and Susan Protheroe felt it was time for a change to clarify which pub was which.

“Frequently you get four people going out for a drink and find two in one White Hart and two in
another,” explained Mr Protheroe.