Father Christmas left behind his sleigh and jumped into a fire engine back in December 1988 and local children had a chance to meet him in veteran engine outside the Queensmere Centre.

By giving a small donation,youngsters were also raising money for a new guide dog-who they could also name in a competition-and win a prize,the fireman raised £1,487 for the new puppy and he was named “Blaze”.

Staff at Barclays Bank branch on Slough Trading Estate swapped their uniforms for broomsticks and pointed hats to get into the festive spirit as they greeted customers inside.

Other staff donned 1920’s period costumes and some male tellers dressed up as 1950’s teddy boys-complete with drain pipe trousers and boot lace ties.

Administration manager Richard Orme told the Observer: "We do it every year just to get into the Christmas spirit!”

Dachet’s very own Morris Men danced the day away at their traditional festive meet on The Green and the Slough Asthma Society was set to benefit from passing their hats around.

The society was very close to their hearts 29 years ago as Morris dancer Fred Turvill told the Observer:”My grandson,whose father dances with us,has suffered from asthma for a long time,as have a couple of other dancers.”

Mr.Turvill also explained how the group stage the historical ‘Mummers Plays’,which have a theme of good versus bad running through them,with plenty of rehearsal lines and ad libs during the performance,before finishing up with the popular sword dance.

TV and sports personality Emlyn Hughes was all smiles as cheered on a group of charity swimmers at Langley’s Holiday Inn pool where the new ‘Together We Care’ events were re-launched.

Staff at the hotel were sponsored for a Sportathlon which included jogging,rowing and swimming and together they raised over £2,000 Camp Mohawk,a holiday centre for handicapped children,near Wargrave.

The Slough Observer’s very own photographer,Rowena Caverly made the news herself in 1988 by winning a Daily Telegraph/NCTJ award and a prize of £250.

Rowena,who had joined the paper 18 months previously was awarded luncheon with the then editor of the Telegraph Max Hastings and her winning entry had the unusual (and obviously eye-catching) theme of ‘collectors’.

Father Christmas was too busy to deliver the nine bonnie babies at Wexham Park Hospital on Christmas day in 1988 but the little bundles of joy started to arrive at 1.44am that day.

First up was a daughter for Cathy Sowerby of Cippenham and staff in the maternity unit presented her with a special baby coat to honour the first arrival.