When we inquired about the glory days on the Old Reading Facebook page, users were overcome with nostalgia.
Everyone loves a trip down memory lane.
And when getreading asked users of the Old Reading Facebook group for their memories of “Old Reading” an epic nostalgia-fest developed.
As of right now, 399 people have commented on the thread, which features nostalgic memories of Reading from the group’s bygone era.
We’ve already discussed the requirements for being a true Readingite, or the rites of passage.
Now we look at what the town’s older generation fondly remember from the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
Long-lost pubs, shops and businesses all feature heavily.
Not in any specific order:
1. The pub at Target
The Butts Shopping Centre housed the pub.
The boozer played a significant role in Reading’s live music scene and was extremely well-liked there.
It’s obvious that Reading residents had a great time partying all night long.
The actual building is still standing, although being boarded up.
Here is another view of the ancient town that we had.
2. The Butts
It seems “Old Reading” people only refer to the Broad Street Mall by its “proper” name – The Butts.
The thread on Facebook is choc-full of memories of shops in the centre, before it smelt of popcorn and was populated by people trying to sell you Sky TV.
Everyone remembers the Food Circle.
Apparently it also had a waterfall in it at one point and a shop called Trents, which brought a wave of nostalgia over Linda (below).
Linda Grover: “Ooh yes I forgot Trents. There was a great little independent card shop out of side door of M&S too in the arcade.”
Beverley Endean: “wow! I’d totally forgotton the waterfall in the Butts!. as kids we went to see it before going to see father christmas in his grotto at the coop (now primark) upstairs past the furniture! Happy days.”
3. Existence prior to IDR
One of Reading’s most infamous characteristics, the IDR, didn’t exist at one point.
Diane Abery turned to gaze back (recalling a huge fish).
Diane Abery: “I lived on Lower Brook Street near to the IDR when it was being built. It was being destroyed to make room for it, and yes, for years, nothing happened.
“And the biggest fish I ever saw in that part of the Kennet was a 27lb female pike.”
4. When the pavements melted.
Roy remembers what is always referred to as the “long, hot, summer of 1976”
Roy Bloomfield: “Squidgy pavements in the town centre in the summer of 1976, when the Tarmac melted!”
5. Roller-Dancing
The Majestic was the place to be.
Mary Reed: “I use to go roller skating – it was called ‘The Corn Exchange’before The Majestic.”
6. Going waaaaayyyy back
Rosemary Jarvis “Remember getting a bucket and shovel when the horse & cart came with the fruit & veg or milkman just in case there was some dung left for the roses. This was in the 1950’s.”
7. Did Big Daddy come to town?
Raymond Hicks: “Wrestling in the Town Hall(?)”
8. The Courage Brewery
Remember the smell? Paul does….
Paul Gardiner: “When the wind was right the smell of yeast from the Courage Brewery all through the town.”
And Bob worked there…
Bob Clements: “I remember Courages building dept, I worked there in the school holidays for a few years.
“They had their own sawmill, joinery workshop and an Artist studio where the pub swing signs were hand painted.
“I remember the Courage Cockerel being applied to the red swing signs with gold leaf!”
9. Speedway
Tyrone Emery: “The sound of the speedway making its way to the top of the cowsy.”
Karen Dawson: “Speedway stadium at the bottom of Norcot Road – happy days.”
10. Some businesses have stood the test of time
Linda Grover: “No one has mentioned the Rafina (I don’t think) in West St.
“We used to go there for a frothy coffee, no posh names for it in those days, and it’s still there and has hardly changed at all.”
11. Local heroes
Dan Woodbridge: “Lenny “the tramp” had an old canel boat on the Thames.
“He ran into some problems and the boat was sinking.
“The scout leaders at 1st Reading went to rescue him – with success.
“He then went and camped on the “whichcoats” land above The Warren.
“After this he moved to “cow lane bridge”.
“In the mid 80’s he found a lady’s purse in the town centre, he opened it, found her address – in Tilehurst – and walked all the way there to return it.
“When she offered him a reward; he refused it. A true legend.”
12. The memories don’t fade over time
Check out this recollection from Debbie:
Debbie Gelbard: “3 cinemas: Granby, Gaumont, Odeon (more expensive) – B- films/Pathé News/racing down the aisle in the break for Walls ice-cream from the ice-cream lady
“Ha’penny and farthing chews.
“The Green Monkey – Wokingham Road.
“Summer job at Gillette packing hypodermic needles – 11 pounds a week (1968).
“The circus in Hill’s Meadow.
“Millwards shoe shop (Clarks) – the foot X-ray, aquarium, high wire shoe box conveyor system.
“Thames Valley Buses and open-top buses.
“County Delicacies – exotic aromas – open sacks of beans, lentils, spices.
“The Taj Mahal restaurant (King’s Road?).
“Prefabs and allotments.
“The Berkshire Chronicle and the Evening Standard.
“William Smiths.
“Barnes & Avis.
“The old post office (‘The General’) in Friar Street.
“Battle Hospital.
“School milk breaks – third of a pint bottle, frozen in winter/defrosted on radiator.
“Fish’n Chips and Off-Licence – Southampton Street.
“Stuffed animals at the Museum.
“Tow path by the gasworks.”
13. Now THIS is old Reading
John Knott: “Where do I start other than my ancestors welcomed the Romans to Reading when they arrived (well from at least 1578)!
“Seriously though with the hundreds of great “X things” already posted, my “X thing” is knowing most of the things posted in other posts!!”
14. And of course
Jane Guppy-Smith: “This guy Elvis never seems to age he appears to be a sweet soul.”
15. Great Memories
Ramsey Soudah: “The Target (mentioned again as best thing to come out of Reading) the Friars cafe, the little cigarette kiosk next to Heelas that would sell me ciggies at 13, Genesis at the Hexagon, MEP Personell agency above the delicatessen.
“My part time job as a teen washing Ian Gillan’s Rolls Royce in Purley.”
16. But how did you get to Swindon?
Chris Brown: “When the M4 finished at Theale.”
17. Queuing for ages to get into Reading nightspots has always been a thing then…
Glen Tank Robins: “I remember queueing to get in the Central, the doors always seemed to be shut for ages.”
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