Top Bracknell stories from the 1990s

In August 1991, Stuart Mansfield, a 15-year-old from Little Sandhurst, was declared one of the country’s top paperboys after winning a competition in the Daily Mail.

He was given the Paperboy of the Month accolade for July after he comforted an elderly lady during one of his paper rounds whose husband had just died.

In October 1991, baby Erin Melissa was born in Heatherwood Hospital’s car park after a quick labour of an hour and five minutes meant mum Julia Humphrey, from North Ascot, never made it to the maternity ward.

The bouncing baby girl arrived a day early weighing 6lb 15oz, and was delivered on the tarmac and into her father’s arms as nursing staff gathered around.

In November the same year, bestselling novelist Jeffrey Archer turned up to help local Conservatives to get their annual ball rolling.

He was the guest of honour at the bash staged at the Hilton National Hotel in Bagshot Road, Bracknell, and signed copies of his then-new book, As the Crow Flies.

In January 1996, Priestwood mum Hayley Cameron had an unexpected Christmas Day present with the arrival of her baby boy Louis Anthony Cameron.

He made his entry into the world at 2.01am weighing 5lb 10oz.

In the same month the News reported that Bracknell swimmer Sarah Hardcastle travelled to South America just before Christmas to compete in the world short course championships, and triumphed in spectacular fashion to win the 800 metres freestyle in 8.26.46 minutes.

She also collected a bronze in the 400 metres freestyle and dubbed her wins “the greatest moment of my sporting life”.

Also in January 1996, Claire Wright, of Edgebarrow Trampoline Club, competed in the European Championships for the senior Great Britain team.

She and club mate, first reserve Kirsten Lawton, travelled to Antibes, in the south of France, with Claire and her partner, the then-reigning European Champion Sue Challis, finishing in third place and Claire taking her first European synchro medal.

And one of Wokingham’s oldest residents, Gertie, celebrated her 104th birthday in January ’96 with her devoted sister Lillian, then aged 96, who she had lived with all her life.

In other news, Ascot resident and racecourse worker Colin Keen was named in the New Year’s Honours list – he was given the silver royal Victorian medal for his work as a standman in the silver ring – while pupils at Eagle House Prep School, in Sandhurst, welcomed the Duke of Kent who saw the science labs and computer rooms at the school, and was treated to a short concert.