The Black Arts in Reading to be discussed at next history meeting

THE History of Reading Society is continuing its in person meetings with the next taking place on Wednesday, April 19.

Paul Joyce will be giving a talk entitled The Black Arts in Reading: the story of our local printing industry.

Following the lifting of restrictions and severe taxation, Reading set up its first venture in 1723. Growth of print works continued in the town right into the 1960s.

Paul has researched this trade using original evidence. We met in March for the AGM, and afterwards, Richard Stowell gave a talk entitled From the White Man’s Grave to Cemetery Junction: the Life and Times of Mary Smart.

A larger-than-usual audience heard the story of the daughter of a freed slave in Sierra Leone, who by a strange quirk of fate, became one of the first people to be interred in the new Reading Cemetery which opened in 1849.

Her family lived in a village called Regent, in the hills above the capital, Freetown. The Church Missionary Society was very active in Regent, and Mary’s family were Christians. At the same time, the CMS was also active among the church people of Reading, where one of the earliest branches had been established, the Berkshire Auxiliary Branch, in 1823.

Missionary activities in tropical Africa had been frustrated because of the heat and the mosquitoes, and few of the missionaries arriving from England ever returned home.

By the 1840s, the CMS. was training Africans to become teachers and evangelists.

One of the Church of England missionaries involved in this work was the Revd Nathaniel Denton, and it was he who brought Mary Smart to Reading to train as a teacher, along with another girl, of whom nothing seems to be known – not even her name.

They were to stay at a ladies’ seminary at the top of Castle Hill, a respectable and middleclass establishment. But sadly, Mary died, little more than a year after her arrival in 1848. She was looking forward to returning home, but never saw her family again. The causes of death were erysipelas and “congestion of the brain.”

An account of her last days, told in sentimental and pious tones, appeared in The Church Missionary Intelligencer.

The talk, which might well have been rather gloomy, was anything but. Our speaker had worked in Sierra Leone, and had been intrigued by the names of the people living there, and the African names of Mary Smart’s family in the 19th century.

He had been able to trace and meet the descendants of Mary’s family. A tremendous amount of research had been done, including the seeking out of contemporary accounts of what life was like in Sierra Leone, for Africans and Europeans, and what it was like in Reading in 1848.

One could not help but wonder what must have been in Mary’s mind, aged 16, during the sea crossing, and then on arriving in a strange place.

There were many examples which showed the attitudes of English people towards people of different races, from “heathen lands.” n For more information please visit www. historyofreadingsociety.org.ukor email historyofreadingsociety@ yahoo.com.

Other quotations illustrated attitudes to the poverty, crime, overcrowded graveyards and lack of clean drinking water and drainage with consequent disease in 1840s Reading. We were left with a lot to think about.

This meeting is open to members and visitors (visitors £2 each). No need to book, just turn up on the night.

Next week’s meeting takes place at the Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square, Reading RG1 3BE, at 7.30pm on Wednesday, April 19.

GUESTS: The Berkshire Youth Symphony Orchestra welcomed a number of VIPs including Sir Alok and Lady Sharma, and the High Sheriff of Berkshire, Simon Muir

Young musicians come together for VIP concert at The Hexagon

YOUNG MUSICIANS showcased their talents at a special concert held at The Hexagon last week. Member of the Berkshire Youth Symphony Orchestra took over the Reading theatre for an evening of popular music from silver screen.

The programme included the Raiders March by John Williams, Where Eagles Dare by Rob Goodwin, Beauty and the Beast by Alan Menken, Gladiator by Hans Zimmer, The Sea Hawk (Theme) by Erich Korngold, Lawrence of Arabia Overture by Maurice Jarre, and the Magnificent Seven by Elmer Bernstein.

And watching them were a number of VIPs, including the High Sheriff of Berkshire Simon Muir, Sir Alok and Lady Sharma. Also attending were mayors and their deputies from across the county, including the deputy mayor of Reading, Cllr

Debs Edwards, and the deputy mayor of Wokingham, Cllr Beth Rowland.

The orchestra is organised by Berkshire Maestros, and they held intensive rehearsals ahead of their performance on Monday, April 3.

There are more than 110 musicians, aged 10 to 18, and are some of the most talented musicians in the county.

Conducted by Pete Harrison, their three-day rehearsal period saw them start with their sections before coming together as a full orchestra.

Organisers say it is an intense weekend of music making.

A spokesperson said: “It is a wonderful experience for these young people to work with a guest conductor and play in large venue.

“The concert was opened by a massed string ensemble, created using the intermediate string ensembles across Berkshire at Berkshire Maestros. After the group opened the concert for BYSO, they went to watch the orchestra from the choir stalls at The Hexagon.

“The aim for this to show the younger bands what they can aspire to with their instruments.”

They added: “Overall it was a wonderful evening full of high standard music making highlighting the incredible opportunities Berkshire Maestros can give to young people in the county.

“It was also lovely to have so many invited guests come along in support of the work we do and the talent we have in Berkshire.” n Auditions for the orchestras will take place on Saturday, July 15. Anyone interested in an audition for BYSO, or wants further information, can email: jessicawilkins@ berkshiremaestros.org.uk

Reading Borough Council

THE BOROUGH OF READING (ST MARY’S BUTT) (TEMPORARY ROAD RESTRICTIONS) ORDER 2023

Reading Borough Council proposes to make an Order in accordance with Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended, because works are being or are proposed to be executed on or near the road. The effect of the Order will be to temporarily suspend the disabled parking bays in the following lengths of road:

• St Marys Butts outside number 66 to a point approximately 10 meters north, from: 24 April 2023 – 22 May 2023 between 0800hrs – 1400hrs daily.

• St Marys Butts directly outside number 66, from 22 May 2023 – 11 August 2023 between 0800hrs – 1400hrs daily.

If made, the Order will come into operation on the dates above but should the works take longer than expected, the Order will remain in operation until the works are complete for up to 18 months, whichever is sooner. The Order is necessary for the removal and replacement of dangerous and non-compliant cladding.

DATED: 13 April 2023

Legal and Democratic Services, Reading Borough Council, Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading RG1 2LU