Six facts you didn't know about Slough

Yet some of the history of the town may come as a surprise to even the most seasoned of residents.

Here are some interesting and unusual facts you may not know about Slough.

READ MORE: Police CCTV appeal after Slough woman is robbed outside her home

Most ethnically diverse towns in country

Detailed figures from the last census in 2011 found the town had the highest proportion of Asian/British Asian residents anywhere in England and Wales, with 40

Slough also had, outside of London, the lowest proportion of white English/Welsh/Scottish/ Northern Irish residents anywhere in England and Wales at just 35%.

Fiona Mactaggart, Slough MP at the time, said she was delighted by the town's varied ethnicity.

"Companies tell me that this diversity is one of the reasons why they invest in our town."

The zebra crossing

The very first zebra crossing was invented in Slough at The Road Research Laboratory in Langley.

Sadly, the original, created in 1951, is no longer in existence as the area has since been pedestrianised.

READ THIS: Covid-19 Berkshire: Map shows where cases are rising

The invention of wheelie bins

The modern plastic wheelie bin was invented by the Slough based company, Frank Rotherham Mouldings, on March 12th, 1968.

It was initially used only for the movement of refuse from one area to another inside the factory. However, the novel design was spotted by a sharp-eyed Health and Safety Inspector.

He saw the potential to reduce back injuries suffered by refuse collection operatives when lifting the heavy metal wheel-less bin which was common in Britain at that time.

The first female scientist to be paid

Pioneering astronomer Caroline Herschel moved to Slough in 1786, having been born in Germany 36 years previously.

The female scientist discovered eight comets, rediscovered another and assembled a catalogue of 560 previously unrecorded stars and was also the first woman to be paid for her contribution to science.

Making of Thunderbirds

Gerry Anderson’s iconic British puppet show Thunderbirds was filmed at SEGRO’s Slough Trading Estate.

It was originally written, produced and filmed at Slough Trading Estate between 1964 and 1966.

Station Jim

One piece of Slough history that everyone should know about is the stuffed dog which stands proudly in a glass case on Platform 5.

The dog was a canine collector for the Great Western Railway Widows and Orphans Fund from 1894 until his death in 1896.

After his death, he was placed on display in a glass case with a money box to allow collection for the fund after his death.

Station Jim was brought to the railway station aged three months old and when he was small, he was carried in the railway's porter’s pocket.

He was first taught to use the footbridge rather than crossing the rails which he continued to do until his death.

How many of these did you know? Have we missed any, let us know below.