NOSTALGIA: Hockey players head for Russia

This week’s photograph appeared in the Bury Free Press on July 3, 1992, and features a group of pupils from Culford School who, together with staff, were preparing to travel to Russia for a week-long stay.

The older pupils were due to spend most of their time sightseeing but the younger age-group were due to pioneer a sporting trail as well as see the customary tourist sights.

Organisers of the tour had contacted Russian sporting authorities and arranged for the Culford girls’ under-13 hockey XI to play two matches in St Petersburgh and two in Moscow.

The students pictured above were brushing up on their Cossack dancing ahead of the trip. HEADLINES FROM THE PAST

10 YEARS AGO

A town council, which had been using a cramped room for more than 17 years, was celebrating this week after unveiling its new offices.

Needham Market town councillors gathered to mark the official opening of its new facilities at the community centre in School Street.

Town mayor Brian Annis said the council had used the centre as its base for around 17 years and, when it became clear the clerk’s office was too small and the working conditions unacceptable, the decision was made to build a new office alongside the green room at the centre.

“This is a wonderful new facility,” said Ray Melvin, chairman of Mid Suffolk District Council.

25 YEARS AGO

Hundreds of people in Bury St Edmunds were expected to support a new action group set up to defend one of the town’s last green spaces against developers.

The group was formed to lead a campaign to preserve the Spring Lane Wildlife Trust site, which was under threat from a huge development planned for the Tayfen Meadows area.

A letter protest and a petition were planned as part of the campaign to prevent a consortium of local business people developing the 30-acre area which included a five-acre wildlife reserve created from disused allotment land.

The Trust’s legal adviser said they would oppose the borough’s plans when it came to a public inquiry.

100 YEARS AGO

Mr F Edhouse, of Prospect Row, Bury st Edmunds, has received a letter from W Penfold, former professional Bury and West Suffolk Cricket Club.

In it he mentions being sent ‘home’ to have shrapnel removed from his right hand: “A small bit went in the back of my hand and nearly out the palm so they didn’t have to search about for it.

“I also got one in the finger of the left hand and a bit in the ribs.

“A pocket book I had saved my life. “I was extra lucky as a shell pitched within three yards of me and my coat was in rags, also trousers.

“Well I expect they will give us a bit of leave before I have to return; if so I will try and get a couple of days at Bury.”