Final countdown to Shrewsbury It's A Knockout anniversary get-together

An anniversary dinner is being held at the Lord Hill Hotel, Shrewsbury, on May 25 at 6pm, and organiser Mrs Bernice Williams is hoping to trace "lost" team members, including the cheerleaders, to invite them along. They can contact her on 07817 529750.

Shrewsbury's journey in the BBC's madcap televised games began with victory over Chester in a heat at the Quarry on May 18, 1969, before a crowd of 10,000, and culminated in the town becoming joint European It's A Knockout champions in the September.

Bernice, who back then was team member Miss Bernice Davies, says overall response to a previous appeal was disappointing, although it had resulted in her hearing from a couple of people who had disappeared off the radar.

She is hoping that a renewed appeal for some people by name might bear fruit.

Catering

"There were two sets of twins, Dianne and Shirlee Brayn, who came from Roden, and Graham and Bernard Williams, who were from Nesscliffe, and there's also Malcolm Cowdrey I'd love to hear from, but I would welcome any others not in touch to make contact as soon as possible because I need to give the numbers to the Lord Hill for catering," she said.

Former team members are coming to the event from as far away as Canada, Norway, and Scotland.

Bernice, who recently moved from Shrewsbury to Southam in Warwickshire, says certain aspects of the get-together are intended to be a nice surprise for the people attending, and there will be music from 1969 in the background to set the scene.

A dip into the Shropshire Star files reveals that there was a mascot for the heat against Chester in the form of Ann Mills. According to a report in the paper Ann was chosen in a competition run through the Shropshire Star.

Bernice said: "I have asked several other people if they remember us having a mascot in Shrewsbury, and we none of us remember her."