WELCOME to a place so near that the streets are familiar, yet so distant that it might as well be another dimension.

Or to put it more succinctly, Christmas 1987.

Thatcher’s in Downing Street, Reagan’s in the White House, Gorbachev’s in the Kremlin and Terry Waite’s a captive in places unknown.

Pet Shop Boys are number one with Always on my Mind and VHS is king of the video formats.

If you’re an average worker you’re making about £13,500 a year before tax.

A series of Adver Christmas supplements brimmed with suggestions about making the most of the festivities.

In a pullout entitled Christmas Special we wrote: “Pantomime time at Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre this Christmas has taken on an international flavour.”

The panto was to be featured on a cable show beamed all over the UK and Scandinavia, with theatre production manager Tony Ford interviewed by former Magpie presenter Mick Robinson.

That year the show was Babes in the Wood and starred former Blue Peter presenter and Flash Gordon actor Peter Duncan. Also on the cast list were Bruce Montague, best known as Wendy Craig’s clandestine love interest in Carla Lane sitcom Butterflies, and Peter ‘Pogo Patterson’ Moran, late of Grange Hill.

The publicity drive included the Adver organising a huge charity conga line through the town centre, led by Peter. Perhaps you remember it. If so, please get in touch, especially if you have pictures.

The same supplement included a TV section for readers to keep by their sets, having circled forthcoming favourites such as The Russ Abbott Christmas Show, Hi-de-Hi and That’s Life! The Most Talented Pets in Britain.

If you were short of a decent set on which to view these delights, the Swindon Sony Centre in Havelock Street was offering rental Trinitrons from as little as £3.02 per week, with written details on request.

In Debenhams’ pre-Christmas sale, ladies’ tweed coats could be had for £49.99, and cashmere and wool blend ones for £89.99.

Various vendors advertised real Christmas trees at £1or £1.50 a foot, which will be a jaw-dropper to anybody who’s bought one these last few years.

Toys and games flying from shop shelves included 16-inch figures of Phillip Schofield’s sidekick. No, not Holly Willoughby, who was six at the time, but Gordon T Gopher. Also popular were Sylvanian Families figures and accessories.

At the Tower House Cafe and Restaurant on the first floor of the David Murray John Building, a three-course Christmas meal, complete with coffee and a free glass of wine or beer, was £12.50.

In one supplement we asked members of various faiths and cultures about their religious festivals and traditions, including Muslims Khan and Manzurakhtar Nawaz, Hindus Dilip and Sabita Dutta and Polish couple Stanislaw and Krystyna Nowicki. We’d love to hear from them all.

The Adver offered advice on everything from healthy eating options to gifts. The page devoted to car stereos contained a nugget of strong truth: “If the car already has a tape player, you can extend the musical repertoire by buying more tapes.”