Ten years ago Barnes Cricket Club's match on Saturday nearly ended in tragedy, when a car careered through the boundary fence. The driver avoided death by inches after a 5ft stake from the fence crashed through the windscreen and shot past his head, landing on the gear stick.

Christ's School, Richmond will close if a recommendation which went before last night's meeting of the governors is approved. Nearly 500 pupils and scores of staff members will have to find new schools if the church comprehensive shuts its doors in a year's time as is suggested.

Attacks on staff at the Civic Centre in Hounslow have led council bosses to consider fitting bank style "shoot-up" security screens. The safety devices - which blast up at the touch of a button - are designed to protect housing advisers from rude and abusive residents.

John Proudlock, a white minicab driver from Brentford and Ealing Radio Cars, donned a turban for the day to see what life is like for his Asian colleagues. He said he was shocked by drivers' hostility and with the abuse he had to put up with from normally friendly passengers.

25 years ago The Conservative hold on Richmond upon Thames Council, always "shaky" since the 26-26 hung result in the 1982 council elections, has taken another knock with the news that Whitton ward councillor Ray Gillum has decided to resign the Conservative whip.

A man was killed by lightning, shops, homes and businesses were flooded and children and commuters were stranded in a ferocious storm on Wednesday afternoon.

Microwave Ovenware of 70 Church Road, Teddington, is riding the crest of a boom which has seen these time-saving ovens installed in five per cent of British kitchens.

Rush hour traffic came to a standstill on most of the main roads in Chiswick, Brentford and Isleworth on Wednesday and the Underground service between Turnham Green and Richmond was completely stopped as a result of freak storms.

A deaf and dumb woman who created a disturbance at her home in Chiswick appeared at Acton magistrates court on Wednesday and was bound over to keep the peace. Sheila Brown, aged 21, of Upham Park Road, Chiswick, pleaded guilty through a deaf and dumb interpreter to causing a disturbance of the peace.

50 years ago Richmond Council's highways committee has decided that the lighting on Richmond Green and Kew Green, Riverside Walk, the Town Hall Gardens and Bridge Gardens will be converted from gas to electricity.

The Nato mobile exhibition dealing with the aims and history of Nato arrived in Richmond and was set up in the Old Deer Park.

Richmond Council will be recommend to agree to raising a loan of £31,000 to repair the campshedding on Corporation and Glovers Island and the two Flower Pot islands. Unless erosion is checked there is a likelihood they may disappear.

The Mayor of Brentford and Chiswick Mrs Alice J Burden of 5 The Ride, Brentford is planning to move because of the ill health of Mr Burden, a retired police officer. Mrs Burden has 42 years of public service. She is the only woman to be elected Mayor of the borough and was the first person to serve twice in the office. Until she lost her seat in the aldermanic elections this year, she had served since 1932, the borough's charter year.

Records were shattered at the 33rd annual athletic meeting of Chiswick Grammar School. R Baldwin achieved the astonishing feat of throwing a cricket ball 250ft 7ins. F Farley bested the long jump record by eight inches, while Geoff Hazell broke his own high jump record by two inches and the discus record with a throw of 122ft 8ins.

100 years ago Two innovations at the annual distribution of prizes at the King's Schools, Kew were one, the function was held in the open air and two, there was a miniature pageant.

Considerable excitement was caused in the Avenue, St Margaret's on Monday evening by the fierce actions of a dog. It attacked several people and was eventually destroyed by Mr F Smith who used an iron bar and was assisted by Mr Smith, the builder.

There was a large and fashionable gathering at Petersham House on Thursday on the occasion of the annual garden party given by Mr and Mrs Lionel Warde.

Mr R V Hook of 9 Barrowgate Road, Chiswick secured a remarkable photograph of lightning in the thunderstorm early on Saturday. His negative shows a series of great rents in the clouds, apparently running to earth.

Hounslow Hospital Committee reported a balance of only £3.13s.2d. Mr Cleaton had obtained permission of Claridge's Hotel to hold a concert and the famous violinist Annette Ellis had offered to perform. It was decided that a deputation ask HRH the Duchess of Connaught her patronage for the concert.