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Parks to become mass burial grounds if the bomb dropped

The prospect of nuclear war may have dissipated somewhat by late 1988, but tensions between the West and Russia remained and the threat of annihilation still loitered at the back of many people's minds. Read

The day the people's princess dropped in to visit veterans

Veterans of the First and Second World War were granted a rare audience with Princess Diana when she dropped in to St David's Home for Disabled Servicemen 20 years ago this week. Read

Gang warfare and a tragic blaze recalled

Gunshots shattered the Saturday evening peace on February 10, 1968 in a gangland slaying in Hazlebury Road, Sands End. Read

People of Sands End remember their past

Pub bombings, shootings and terrifying fires are just a few of the stories contributed by members of the community to a new website charting the history of Sands End. Read

The impact of the Luftwaffe on High Street trade

Times are tough on Ealing's high streets, with traders already hit with the fallout from the international banking crisis now bracing themselves for the impact of the new Westfield mall at White City. Read

Bill Molloy - the lifelong EU nein-sayer (and singer) at the heart of our politics

Longstanding residents of the borough will recognise the face of the MP at the centre of events in these two photographs from the 1970s. Read

Gunnersbury Park - how a proud estate fell apart

Controversy may now surround the plans taking shape for the future of Gunnersbury Park, but these photographs from our archives paint a picture of the gradual dilapidation which has blighted the once-proud estate. Read

Industrial action nothing new here - ask the teachers of 1969

Striking bus drivers may have been causing chaos for people trying to get around the streets last week, but Ealing has a long history of industrial action. Read

Remembering bravery of navy officer awarded Victoria Cross

An Ealing war hero awarded the highest honour the nation can bestow died earlier this month. Read

Blunders by MI5 opened escape route for Russian spy

With threats of a new Cold War marking the lowest point for Anglo-Russian relations in decades, the story of how notorious 1960s spy George Blake escaped from Wormwood Scrubs prison makes for timely reading. Read

Aircraft crashes into cul-de-sac, killing seven people

A sleepy dawn became a waking nightmare 50 years ago this week when an aeroplane plunged into a row of council houses in Southall. Read

Archive 1968

THE former ABC Cinema in Ealing - now the Empire - can be seen advertising the film Villa Rides in the background of the photograph (bottom of page) taken during the 1968 Sikh election. Read

Town halls still redolent of our political past

The political landscape may have changed significantly over the last 40 years - along with the high streets of Ealing and Acton - but the history of the borough still echoes around the stonework of our town halls. Read

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