Bracknell Bygones - What was going on in 1998?

The country was in World Cup fever, kids were getting computers and money was being donated to charity.

So, what was going on 23 years ago?

Well, more than 400 children from 14 local primary schools gathered at the Easthampstead Park Conference Centre for the Primary Schools Chemistry and Science fair.

It was organised by the South East Berkshire Education Business Partnership and Zeneca Agrochemicals.

At the fair, it gave children the opportunity the chance to experience science courtesy of 18 local employers.

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That same year saw year two, four and five children from Birch Hill Primary School produce monoprints with the help of artist, Christina Taylor Smith.

Away from education and onto music, that summer saw Bracknell band, Sons of the Tribe, give an interview to the BN as they were preparing for their performance at that year’s Bracknell Festival.

The sixsome formed in 1992 in Great Hollands.

The year was also a good one for the Bracknell Army Cadet Force as they won 40 trophies at the Arborfield Cup Championship.

Taking place at Arborfield Garrison, the team, which were aged between 13 and 18 from the detachment based on Coopers Hill, Crowthorne Road, won trophies in individual and team events which included tug-of-war, shooting and football.

Going back to students, 1998 saw two Bracknell and Wokingham teenagers get an opportunity that impacted many young people’s future.

The two 18-year-olds in Karl Driscoll and Steven Michael Doyle were appointed by pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingleheim to design a trophy that will be admired in years to come.

The trophy that Karl and Steven designed would be used annually in the Young Enterprise for South East Berkshire event in the award for innovation.

Karl said at the time: “We wanted something very striking and simple with a very innovative look.

“We had to work closely with Boehringer Ingleheim to ensure that we wee on track at each stage.”

It was a time to celebrate for lots of students in the area as in the summer of 1998, several school kids from the Uplands Primary School in Sandhurst enjoyed being on TV for an advert.

The 16 children, who were in years 4 and 5, were chosen by the commercials company, Blink, to star in the advert to the promote the then brand new Fiat Seicento.

Each child got £20 for their time with the shoot lasting for two-days.

The advert was shot in Southall, West London.

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At around about the same time, the Wokingham District Council’s Westmead Day Centre for people with physical disabilities has purchased a new computer programme to help rehabilitate those with brain injuries.

This was made available with a £250 donation from the Berkshire Masonic Society, with the programme helping those who have suffered strokes or head injuries.

Moving onto sport, and we all know that it didn’t come home when England battled it out during their Euro 2020 campaign, but for every fan who watched the Three Lions play live during the one month tournament will no doubt hold onto those memories for ever.

It was a similar situation in July 1998, as a football fan from Barkham won the prize of a lifetime.

Christine Couper, who was 33 at the time, picked up four free tickets to watch England take on Argentina in the round of 16 at the World Cup in France that year.

She was lucky enough to win the tickets through a radio show, and got herself, along with three others, seats at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in St Etienne.

Little did we know what would happen in the game at the time, as the match was infamous for David Beckham’s red card, and Glenn Hoddle’s men were knocked out on penalties following a 2-2 draw.

On a lighter note, that same month saw the Sandhurst Cricket Club open its new clubhouse.