The good people of Berkshire would 'feel accursed' that they didn't see the latest attraction at Windsor Safari Park back in the spring of 1981.

The 'Amazing Parrot Show'-based on Florida's famous Parrot Jungle-included one bird who could count to ten and another called Polly (of course) able to ride a bicycle on a high wire.

Needless to say if this show was on today the subsequent mobile phone video's would go viral on social media!

A team of Edgbarrow School pupils from Crowthorne were celebrating winning the £1,000 first prize in a national “Buildabike” competition.

As the four pupils posed for the Bracknell News with the bike they had nicknamed 'Arnold' and the team leader's teacher told the News:”They've worked for four hours most days since last June-even coming in during the holidays!”.

A special feature in the News highlighted the rising crime statistics published by Thames Valley Police and focussed on burglaries in particular with two being committed every minute-at a cost of £48 million p.a.-roughly £150 million today.

A handy list of recently stolen cars for readers to keep an eye out for included such classics as a Triumph Dolomite,Austin 1100 and a Vauxhall Victor.

Reading's Courage Brewery launched a new promotion for its Jackpot lottery tickets with a photo call that saw a very 'non-pc' Miss UK Lovely Legs jumping out of a helicopter.

Thankfully the chopper was firmly on terra firma but some pub-goers were quick to point out that the dodgy promotion money could have been better spent on reducing the price of a pint.

The Chronicle focussed on a true legend of the Second World War, Air Transport Auxiliary Lettice Curtis-from Twyford,was the first female pilot to fly four engined bombers in the Second World War.

Although the ATA was a civilian organisation it provided pilots to ferry war planes to RAF squadrons throughout the country.

Lettice joined up in the autumn of 1940 and by 1941 was piloting Spitfires and Hurricanes, she told the Chroncile: "We were constantly to-ing and fro-ing with the planes and sometimes it would take three days to ferry a plane up to Scotland-especially in winter”.

A new road sign was introduced in Burghfield Common for the first time 36 years ago and it was not for a speed restriction-but a rather more pedestrian warning.

Motorists would now get a heads-up for the elderly crossing the road on the streets of Berkshire.

Charity swimmers in Reading's Central Pool had no such warning when a 'topless' Nicholas Parsons launched the annual sponsored swim for leukaemia research.

But, ever the professional, the Sale of the Century TV host took 'just a minute' to enter into the fun and the deep end for the Chron's snapper.

Dorney resident Ernie Wise-famous for his 'short fat hairy legs'- was the star attraction at a charity night at Slough Police Club to raise funds for the relatives of two police officers killed in the line of duty.

Despite some energetic dancing with nearby 'Bunny Girls' the Slough Observer rather unkindly noted that his legendary wig was not dislodged by these exertions.

Another two TV legends also appeared in the Observer that month and they could not be more different.

Metal Mickey was a strange mixture of Star Wars R2-D2,the Daleks and the Cylons from Battlestar Galactica-but at its peak the TV audience was over 12 million-a figure that most TV executives could only dream of today.

Hinge and Bracket on the other hand were from a bygone age of 'The Good Old Days' variety style female impersonators.

The comedy duo donned the guise of two elderly eccentric spinsters and were top of the bill at the Windsor's Theatre Royal Gala show which had the Duke of Edinburgh as its guest of honour.

Ends words and archive photos: Chris Forsey