Ten years ago Ann Keen, MP for Brentford and Isleworth has been appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Frank Dobson.

Derelict land at the old Marshalling Yards off Godfrey Way, Feltham has become so overrun by vandals that its owners are unable to find security guards willing to patrol.

Rod Stewart’s marriage break up was predicted in the Brentford, Chiswick and Isleworth Times two years ago. Helen Best, a paranormal consultant from Sutton Court, said the ageing rocker would split from his model wife Rachel Hunter in the August 9th 1996 edition of this paper.

25 years ago Hounslow Council has vetoed giving a licence to a sex shop, the Private Shop, sandwiched between a pottery shop and a baker in Chiswick High Road. Rev Paul Downes of Chiswick Baptist church was “extremely relieved” and Dickie Arthure of the Old Chiswick Protection Society commented: “Absolutely first class. I don’t want to see Chiswick become the next porn capital.”

Chiswick resident Cheryl Robson’s dual talents are on display this week. Living in Geraldine road, Strand on the Green, Cheryl is a 25 year old trainee producer with BBC Television and working on the Sixty Minutes news programme. She is also an aspiring writer and her first play will open at The Man in the Moon Kings Road Chelsea on Monday.

50 years ago Five angry men are the social committee of the Steam Packet public house Strand on the Green. They are hotly indignant at the treatment the Welfare Department of the Middlesex County Council has given them. They are bitterly disappointed at the slap happy attitude of the officials who asked them to give Brentford and Chiswick spastic and handicapped children a Christmas party.

Middlesex County Council has again suspended its scheme of loans for house building, after the introduction of the seven per cent bank rate.

100 years ago A case of some interest to travellers by tram was heard when the London County Council proceeded against a passenger, Reginald Wellbye, residing at Kingscourt Road, Chiswick, for non payment of fare. Having heard the defendant on oath state that he had paid the full fare on taking the transfer ticket and that he had lost it, Mr Cluer said he thought the council should have accepted the statement. It would be sufficient if defendant paid a fine of 1d, without costs.

An exceedingly enjoyable terpsichorean entertainment was given at the Chiswick Town Hall by pupils of Mrs Bedford, teacher of dancing, in aid of the Chiswick Soup Kitchen.