EX WORLD snooker champion, Steve 'interesting' Davis was pictured 33 years ago, cutting a ribbon at the opening of a new factory in Oxford Road, Reading.

The Slington Group’s new facility was going to make diesel powered generators and employ 30 new staff, with most of its £10 million product being exported all over the world.

Another star cutting ribbon locally was none other than TV's Hughie Green, who presented Opportunity Knocks, one of the very first talent shows ever screened on British screens.

Hughie admitted to the Chronicle it was an emotional return, as he had suffered a severe car crash in Reading some years before, recovering in Battle Hospital for many weeks afterwards.

Ever the professional, he quipped whilst opening new flats in Kendrick Road:” If you buy one of these flats Opportunity certainly Knocks!”.

ALSO READ: Man robbed of mobile phone and cash by group in Reading - three arrested

A dramatic photo taken by Chief Photographer, Neil Lofthouse, dramatically caught the aftermath of a collapsed crane at a building site in Kings Road, Reading.

Thankfully nobody was badly hurt during the accident, but the surrounding roads were closed off for many hours afterwards, causing long traffic delays.

A huge amount of redevelopment was taking place in the town centre during the 1980's and the list of changes reads like a 'who's who' of lost iconic structures.

Courage Brewery, Sutton Seeds and Abbey Corner all fell to the wrecking ball, with the latter being redeveloped as a £3 million office development.

Another landmark losing its battle to survive was the old brick kiln chimney near the Meadway in Tilehurst.

ALSO READ: Someone has created a tube map of Reading – and people are loving it

The area had produced tiles and bricks for decades and a number of stacks dotted around the locality had already been demolished, but the last remaining example was toppled in 1982.

For 80 years the weather had taken its toll on the structure, making it so unstable that it would cost too much to restore, although it survived a few more years, eventually the site was redeveloped for housing.

Nearby at Elm Park, the then home of the Royals, it was the time for Chronicle readers to cast their votes on 'Player of the year' for the season 1981/82.

It was the closest result ever, with right back Jerry Williams winning by a slim margin from a young Neil Webb, with goalie Ron Fearon collecting third place.

Jerry Williams was dubbed the 'Quiet man of Elm Park', having been signed as an apprentice by the former manager Maurice Evans in July 1976.