FORTY years ago, in June 1984, Newbury staged its first historical community play. In June 1984, a piece of wasteland in West Mills, just metres from St Nicolas’ Church, temporarily became a bustling Tudor fair by day and the scene of a dramatic re-telling of the trial and burning of the ‘Newbury Martyrs’, who died for the Protestant cause in July 1556. It was a huge undertaking, a leap of faith. It turned out a triumph, one still talked about in local amateur dramatic circles today. Do you remember Martyrs: A Community Play for Newbury? We look back with BRIAN HARRINGTON Pictures courtesy of …