Bedford
Yesterdays News
1976
Places > Bedford
All the articles referred to in this news summary have been taken from The Bedford Record, which can be consulted in the Local Studies Library at Bedford Central Library.
Royalty
The Queen and Prince Phillip visit Bedford on Tuesday 11th May. Between stops at the John Bunyan Upper School, County Hall, Puttenhoe Old Peoples' Home and Bedford Modern School, the royal visitors will drive through the town's main shopping centre and residential areas (11th May)
The Duke of Gloucester opens the new Eagle Brewery owned by Charles Well, the new brewery is on a 11 acre site in Havelock Street.(25th May)
Fashion
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Weather
Destruction by hurricane, worst storms for over 40 years years, with winds up to 96mph. The St. Clarence public house in St. John's Street had part of its roof torn away at the height of the storm. Eastern Electricity reported the worst damage ever experienced in the Bedford district.(6th Jan)
Ban on the use of hosepipes for watering private gardens and washing cars comes into force. (15th June)
As the temperatures reach 93 degrees production at the Tobler Suchard factory in Bedford becomes seriously disrupted as the hot spell meant that the chocolates would not set.(29th June)
Heavy rain over the past two weeks has led to some restrictions on the use of water being lifted by the Anglian Water Authority.(19th Oct)
White Christmas in most parts of the County, with freezing snow, ice and frost over the four day holiday period. (28th Dec.)
Entertainment
Harry Secombe at the Nite Spot on the 3rd and 4th Sept. (10th Aug.)
Dick Emery at the Nite Spot on the 24th February. (10th Feb)
Frankie Vaughan at the Nite Spot on the 1st-5th June. (25th May)
Leisure
The hot weather meant record attendances at Newnham Open Air Swimming Pool. From the end of May to mid August 39.256 people used the pool. (24th Aug.)
Cinema
Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Granada (13th July)
The Outlaw Josey Wells, Granada. (19th Oct)
Diamonds Are Forever, Granada. (7th Dec.)
Shopping
Argos Showroom, "The Shop in a Book" opens in the Harpur Centre. (28th Sept.)
Littlewoods Store opens in Bedford's Harpur Centre on the 3rd November. (2nd Nov.)
Music
Bedford's Top Three, 1 Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen; 2 You Sexy Thing, Hot Chocolate; On the Trail of the Lonesome Pine, Laurel & Hardy.(6th Jan.)
Bedford's Top Three, 1 Combine Harvester, The Wurzels; 2 No Charge, J.J.Barrie; 3 Shake it Down, Mud.(8th June)
Bedford's Top Three 1 Don't Go Breaking My Heart, Elton John & Kiki Dee; 2 Let 'Em In, Wings; 3 A Little Bit More, Dr. Hook. (31st Aug.)
Planning
Batts Ford Bridge plan is revived, the bridge would go from Batts Ford to an area between Mander College and County Hall. (19th Oct.)
Redundant St. Mary's Church may be turned into a heritage centre..(19th Oct.)
Demolition
120 foot former boiler chimney on the old Charles Wells Brewery site in Horne Lane demolished. (23rd Nov.)
Motor Cars
Fiat 126 999, Ouse Valley Motors, 9 Kingsway, Bedford.(20th Jan.)
1968 Morris 1100 395, Plough Service Station, Ampthill Road, Bedford.(13th April)
BMW 2500 6,639, Alec Norman, Shuttleworth Road, Bedford.(29th June)
Traffic
Six month experimental traffic ban in Silver Street although buses are allowed.(27th July)
Railways
80m plan solves rail link crisis, approval given for the electrification of the Bedford-St. Pancras Line. (23rd Nov.)
Household
Dressing table unit, teak and white finish 75.50, drop flat dining table 49.50, two piece wall unit 99.50, Harrison & Gibsons, 23 High Street.(6th April)
22" Murphy colour TV 320, Bush 12" portable black & white TV 85, Bush stereo system with radio 96, Michael R. Peters, 19The Broadway, Bedford.(27th April)
Belling electirc cooker, dual circuit economy rings, extra waist level oven 135, Eastern Electricity, 9 High Street.(12th Oct.)
Food
Heinz Soups 13p, Kellogg's Cornflakes 24p, Maxwell House 55p, Scotts Porage Oats 26p, Birds Eye Beef Burgers 32p, Kempston Sainsbury's.(12th Oct.)
Public Houses
The last remaining public house in Cauldwell Street, The Wool Pack, opposite County Hall, demolished. At one time there were 13 pubs in this street.(6th April)
Children
Calypso pram, finished in fuchsia with fabric body 40.95, High Swing 10.95, slide 17.95, Longhurst & Skinner, Midland Road.(18th May)
Housing
Goldington, 3 bedroom detached house, lounge/diner, kitchen, downstairs cloaks, central heating, carpeted throughout, garage, gardens 13,900.(13th Jan)
Putnoe 3 bedroom semi detached house overlooking secluded green, lounge, kitchen, dining room, detached brick garage, greenhouse, good size garden, 11,585.(4th May)
Bamford Road 3 bedroom terrace, full gas c/h, large lounge/diner, cloakroom, detached brick garage 9,800. (21st Sept.)
Page last updated: 22nd January 2014