Reading Today, December 21/28, 2022

2 To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, December 21, 2022

RBH unit is Trust of the Year

The ICU team took home the Trust of the Year award at the Intensive Care Awards, in recognition of their hard work treating the sickest patients at their toughest times.

It also acknowledges the work the team has done to become an accredited department of critical care medicine with Reading University.

This marks excellence in clinical outcomes, research, and education, and will provide the unit with additional support to continue this work.

Helen McCarthy, the ICU sister who nominated them, said: “It has been an immensely challenging few years.

“I’m humbled every time I walk onto the unit, at the dedication shown by every single member of the team caring for our patients.

“From housekeeping to consultants – they all put patient care front and centre.”

Lead ICU nurses Rachel Crisford and Nicola Davies said: “We’re absolutely delighted to win these

awards. It’s privilege to work and lead our team in ICU – each and every day their dedication and passion shines through.”

The Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust also won in the Team Support category.

This was awarded to the ICU’s health and wellbeing team for their work to make sure that staff feel supported, valued and able to develop in their careers.

Janet Lippett, acting chief executive at Royal Berkshire Hospital, said: “These awards are so well-deserved because they recognise what we know to be true.

the

patients they

“It is a reflection of the exceptional work that happens in our ICU – and I couldn’t be more proud.”

NHS: have a ‘winter plan’ for staying well

By JAKE CLOTHIER jclothier@rdg.today

NHS TRUSTS in the south are encouraging residents to have plans in place this winter to help them stay healthy.

Services within the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire integrated care board are encouraging a series of steps people can take to stay safe and combat illness.

The board is encouraging residents to stay up to date with vaccinations, including flu jabs which may be free of charge for those eligible, and covid booster jabs.

It is also recommending that repeat prescriptions are collected in time for the festive break and that cold and flu remedies are stocked up on.

For elderly or frail friends, neighbours, or family members, make sure to check in and to keep a

list of emergency numbers at hand in case they are needed.

For those who get colds, coughs, or the flu, make sure to get help early and seek advice from your local pharmacy where appropriate, or call 111 for nonemergency advice.

The NHS recommends that homes should ideally be heated to at least 18°C, if possible, or, at least, the room you spend most of your time in.

It also recommends a boiler service for help keeping your home heated where applicable, and stocking up on some winter supplies, such as food.

Those with care responsibilities, either professionally or personally, can find more information about NHS England’s cold weather plan via: www. gov.uk

Dr Abid Irfan, interim director of primary care at Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire, and Berkshire West ICB, said: “It is critical that we prevent people’s health suffering from cold

temperatures and winter weather by having a personal winter plan to ensure we are prepared when we start to feel unwell with a cough, cold or flu.

“Having a personal winter plan might include making sure you have cold and flu medicines ready at home just in case you start to feel ill and that you have the prescriptions you need especially over Christmas and New Year.

“It is also important to have your flu jab – to keep both you and those around you safe.

“This is especially important for people over 65, people with longterm health conditions like diabetes and asthma, pregnant women, people living with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 and children.

“Flu can be unpleasant for most of us, but it can be much more severe in some people.”

Christmas chemists

THE pharmacies listed below should be open as shown. The details are correct at the time of publishing but can change. You are advised to contact the pharmacy before attending to ensure they are open and have the medication you require.

Details of pharmacies can also be found at: www.nhs.uk

Christmas Day

Erleigh Road Pharmacy 9amnoon; Rose Street Pharmacy, Wokingham 10am-1pm

Boxing Day

Asda Lower Earley 10am-4pm; Asda Tilehurst 10am-4pm; Boots The Oracle 9am-6pm; Lloyd’s in Savacentre Calcot 10am-4pm; Boots, Market Place, Wokingham 10am-5pm;

Christmas Tuesday

Asda Lower Earley 10am-4pm; Asda Tilehurst 10am-4pm; Boots The Oracle 9am-6pm; Lloyd’s in Savacentre Calcot 10am-4pm; Superdrug Broad Street 8am-6pm.

Boots, Wokingham 10am5pm; Lloyd’s in Sainsbury’s Winnersh 10am-4pm; Morrisons Woosehill 10am-4pm

New Year’s Day

Asda Lower Earley 10am-4pm; Asda Tilehurst 10am-4pm; Lloyd’s in Savacentre Calcot 10am-4pm; Oxford Road Pharmacy 8am-8pm; Tesco Extra, Napier Road 10am-4pm; Day Lewis Pharmacy, Finchampstead 10am-5pm; Lloyd’s in Sainsbury’s Winnersh 10am-4pm; Rose Street Pharmacy, Wokingham 9am-6.30pm; Tesco Finchampstead Road, Wokingham 10am-4pm

Holiday Monday, January 2

Asda Lower Earley 10am-4pm; Asda Tilehurst 10am-4pm; Boots The Oracle 9am-6pm; Lloyd’s in Savacentre Calcot 10am-4pm.

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are, including the ICU Team.

Festive firs take over St Mark’s, and a wassail in the streets

RotaKids raise £1k in 30 minutes

IT’S PROBABLY one of the fastest fundraising sessions ever, and it’s even more impressive as it was organised by children aged 10 and 11.

Members of the Acorns RotaKids Club at Crosfields School in Shinfield collected more than £1,000 in just half an hour during a Christmas fair, held during break time.

There were cakes, books, drinks, toys and Christmas decorations on sale, and it was also possible to arrange to have a photo with Santa.

The proceeds will go to the Ambitious About Autism charity.

The pupils organised the entire event, seeking permission from the school to host it, then publicising the details to the school, and working with the maintenance department to arrange the setting up of 20 stalls.

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today

St Mark’s in Cranbury Road opened its doors for a festive fir celebration.

Groups, businesses and individuals decorated trees for people to admire, while the church choir led carols singing sessions around them.

And the event also saw them leave the building to take part in a wassail on the streets around the church.

People could enjoy seasonal refreshments and vote for their favourite tree.

Church administrator Jackie John said: “It was amazing.

“There are two churches in our parish, All Saints and St Mark’s, and some people think St Mark’s is closed, so one of the reasons was to show people we’re still open.

“We have a wonderful choir, and this was a chance for them to hear the beautiful music they make.”

She said they have held a festival once or twice before, but this was one of the most successful.

“It was a lovely community event,” she added.

The church is already making plans for next year, but first it has its Christmas services.

At 4pm on Christmas Eve, there will be a Christingle in All Saints Church.

Then, at 9.30pm in St Mark’s church hall, there will be a first mass of Christmas, with a midnight mass at All Saints from 11.30pm.

A joint parish service takes place at All Saints on Christmas Day from 10am.

n For more details, search facebook.com for StMarkandAllSaintsReading

The Rotary Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh member Robin Edwards, who is the lead Rotarian at the Crosfields RotaKids meetings, was thrilled with the children’s efforts.

“I am amazed at the enthusiasm and creativity of these young children. We can all learn something from their fund-raising expertise,” he said.

A RotaKids club is for children aged between seven and 12, and there are around 200 across the country, all supported by local Rotary clubs.

Each club is run by a democratically elected team of officers: a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer.

A Rotarian from the sponsoring club usually attends as an adviser at the weekly RotaKids meetings.

The Rotary Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh supports two RotaKids clubs, one at Crosfields and the other at Winnersh Primary.

n For more about Ambitious about Autism’s work, log on to: ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk

CHRISTMAS trees took over a west Reading church on Saturday for a special celebration event.

CHRISTMAS CHEER: Members of St Mark’s church choir take part in a Wassail, part of the Christmas tree festival the Cranbury Road church held on Saturday Pictures: Steve Smyth

Wendy Griffith looking at jewellery made by Jo Williams

Garfield Vaughan, Sandra Prince and Juliet Crichlow admire some of the trees

Hilary Pitcher with her tree, created with her husband Norman, which takes walking football as its theme A nativity scene around a tree

Reader travel

RBH staff ‘at breaking point’ over conditions as they strike

By JAKE CLOTHIER jclothier@rdg.today

THURSDAY saw nursing staff across the country striking in the largest instance of industrial action from nurses in the history of the NHS, with a second date yesterday.

Nursing staff from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland walked out after ministers had refused to reopen pay negotiations.

Only “life-preserving” and some urgent care went ahead during the strikes, with routine surgeries and planned treatments disrupted.

Further action is proposed for the new year.

The Royal College of Nursing has said that it had “no choice” but to take industrial action due to the government “not listening” regarding the protection of staff.

More than 300,000 nurses were balloted across individual NHS Trusts, including the Royal Berkshire Hospital which saw a staff picket.

Last week, around 40 people were attending the picket line outside the Craven Road entrance of the RBH, including the Royal College of Nursing’s general secretary, Pat Cullen.

Speaking at the picket line, Ms Cullen said: “Nurses should not shy away from the fact that they are entitled to a decent salary for the fantastic jobs that they do.

“If we are going to address the retention and recruitment issues within within nursing, then they have to be paid a decent salary to do that.

“But this is about much more than pay – this is about us being able to provide safe care for our patients.

“We can’t do that with 50,000 vacant nursing posts in the NHS alone in this country, so it’s about those wider issues as well, it all goes back to that one particular issue.”

During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, December 14, Rishi Sunak said that Labour leader Kier Starmer’s urging of the prime minister to “get round the table” was a “political formula for avoiding taking a position”.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said that his “door is always open” to talks, however Ms Cullen said this was “disrespectful and disingenuous.

“Taking me into those rooms with open doors and telling me I can talk about anything else but pay –why is that?

“Is it because I’m representing a 90% female profession and that caring isn’t valued in their minds?

“There’s nothing more important than providing care and treatment for our patients – and there’s nothing more important than looking after these brilliant nurses that are standing out here today losing a day’s pay.”

The Health Secretary has refused pay negotiations after having accepted NHS Pay Review Body recommendations of a pay rise of around 4%, which is below the level of inflation.

Ms Cullen said that pay had to be part of the conversation in any negotiations: “So no more bringing me into rooms and telling me I can talk about whatever comes, but not about pay.

“It needs to be talking and

negotiating about these nurses, their pay, and the conditions that they are working in.”

Ms Cullen also spoke with a number of the nurses attending the picket, addressing concerns and comforting many of the attendees.

Members of the public were also seen bringing coffee and pastries to staff to show solidarity.

Filipa Vicente, one of the Royal Berkshire Hospital nurses attending the picket, said that the industrial action was about safer conditions.

“We want colleagues that can come to work and they are happy to do their job, but not feeling constantly burnt out and overwhelmed with the load of work and lack of staff that we’re facing every day.

“We want fair pay and to come to work and be appreciated – a lot of people will give up nursing, and those who are here passionately fighting for the profession, picking up the slack.

“And it’s just not fair to work in such precarious conditions, we’re not able to provide the care that we want for all of our patients.”

Elizabeth Line to hit by industrial action

ELIZABETH Line workers voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action for the first time after rejecting the latest pay offer, writes James Bagley, Local democracy reporter

Members of Prospect at Rail for London Infrastructure (RfLI) have rejected a 4% pay offer for 2022, which the union said was well below inflation. The dates for the industrial action are not yet known.

Prospect members carry out safety work on the Elizabeth Line – which runs between Reading and Shenfield in Essex and calls at Maidenhead, Slough, and Langley – as well as Heathrow Airport.

In a statutory ballot, 94% voted for strike action with 92% backing other forms of industrial action on a turnout, well above the regulatory threshold of 50%.

Mike Clancy, general secretary of Prospect, said: “Our members have worked incredibly hard to get the Elizabeth Line ready to go safely into operation yet they are being treated significantly worse than equivalent workers on the rest of London’s network.

“The Elizabeth Line itself is now bringing in large extra passenger revenue for TfL, and is underspent on its budget so there really ought to be room for some movement on pay.

“Our members don’t want to go

on strike but pay is so far behind inflation that they simply cannot manage.

“We remain open to negotiation and it is our hope that RfLI will come back to the table with an offer sufficient to avert industrial action.”

Reacting to the news, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council leader Andrew Johnson tweeted: “At a time when we should be working to power the UK and southeast economy back to steady growth and continuing to promote sustainable transport, this is really not good news.

“Both parties need to work to resolve this ASAP.”

She said also that the use of agency staff to fill positions was not tackling the problem properly.

“It was found that 40,000 nurses left after the pandemic, and this year we find out that there are 50,000 places to fill in.

“It’s a lot of work and we have to fill in every day, especially when you see new faces working with you, teams with one experienced nurses working with agency people.

“It’s a lot of responsibility on just one person to oversee all of that–it’s demoralising.”

While she said that her position in hospital theatres was slightly more fortunate than a lot of colleagues, the system was a “breaking point.”

“Nurses are unable to take breaks, and it’s demoralising, getting home feeling very uneasy, especially when you feel you haven’t been able to do it to the best of your abilities.

“Even though you are quite stressed and I think you put a lot of effort in your personal self to keep providing the outstanding care, sometimes you just can’t because you can’t be everywhere all the time.”

Emergency services called to collision

A ROAD traffic collision took place in Hartland Road on Tuesday, December 13.

Fire crews from Wokingham Road and Whitley Wood fire stations were sent to the scene at 7.59pm, alongside one RBFRS Officer.

Two vehicles were involved, and one person was trapped inside one of them.

Fire crews worked to get them released, where they were then looked after by South Central Ambulance Service.

The area was then made safe, before Thames Valley Police took over.

In all, the fire and rescue service were on the scene for 51 minutes.

ON THE LINE: Nursing staff from the Royal Berkshire Hospital attending the picket line, including Filipa Vicente, furthest left, and Royal College of Nursing general secretary Pat Cullen, third from right Picture: Jake Clothier

Victorian Santa makes 21st century appearance at Reading Museum

FATHER Christmas came to town on Saturday, but probably not the one you were expecting.

The red-robed friendly present giver took up a residency at Reading Museum in Blagrave Street, but children asking for hi-tech goods and fancy gadgets might have got short shrift.

The reason?

He had come through the mists of time to show good boys and girls what happened during Victorian times.

The special Victorian Christmas experience returned to the museum for the first time since 2019, and saw youngsters write a letter, before presenting it to Santa in his themed grotto.

While toys and games might have changed in over a century, some festive traditions endure: children received an early present from the white-bearded man as they left.

Santa might have returned to the North Pole via his time

machine, but there is still fun to be had at the museum before Christmas.

There is a special Eddie The Elf trail running until Friday. The little scamp has overslept and left items around the gallery that will help him help Father Christmas.

Families are invited to help find them. On completion they can collect a prize from reception.

Entries cost £1 per trail. n For more details, log on to: www.readingmuseum.org.uk

Golf course homes plan faces revision

By JAMES ALDRIDGE Local democracy reporter

THE developer planning to build a housing estate on Reading Golf Course is hoping to make changes to its proposals to the scheme.

In March, outline planning permission was granted to build 223 homes on the site, off Kidmore End Road in Emmer Green, despite opposition from residents and councillors.

Approval for development was secured by Fairfax and Reading Golf Club which later sold the plan to housebuilders Vistry Thames Valley.

Vistry has applied to make changes to the development in a detailed application laying out information regarding the housing mix, energy efficiency measures and more.

One of the key changes would be increasing of the number of three-bedroom homes by reducing the number of two-bedroom and fourbedroom homes.

The outline approval contained a total of 63 three-bedroom homes, 50 on market and 13 designated affordable.

This would change to 74

three-bedroom homes, with 57 being on market and 17 affordable.

It has also applied to make changes to parking, with 37 homes having approved garages removed and a second outdoor car parking space provided instead.

The number of visitor parking spaces would rise from four to 46.

Vistry wants to remove a condition to install environmentally friendly airsourced heat pumps.

Pegasus, the planning agency for Vistry said an electricity provider warned it does not have the capacity to provide all homes with these pumps, so it intends to install just 81 homes with the green technology.

The development has been opposed from the outset by the Keep Emmer Green group, which unsuccessfully campaigned for it to be rejected.

Although the campaign scored a victory in June 2021, when a plan for 257 homes

on the site was shot down, ultimately the council’s planning committee approved a 223 home application despite a record breaking number of more than 4,000 objections.

In an objection letter, the Keep Emmer Green campaign argued the detailed application is “a major step away” from the approved plans.

The campaign also pointed out that Vistry’s attempt to change conditions 19 (regarding habitat enhancement) and 20 (regarding the Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP), application reference 220738, was rejected by the council’s planning department in November.

Keep Emmer Green has highlighted that the refused changes to these conditions have resurfaced in the most recent application.

The revised application, reference 221312, can be viewed in Reading Borough Council’s planning website.

Motorist airlifted to John Radcliffe

A MOTORIST was airlifted to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford with life-threatening injuries following a road traffic collision in Whitely.

Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses to the incident, which took place around 11.30am on Saturday, December 17, at the B3270 junction with Whitley Wood Lane.

The man in his 30s is from Reading, and was driving a silver Toyota Aygo.

The other vehicles involved were a white Iveco tipper truck and a black Mini Countryman.

The driver of the Tipper, a man in his forties, from West London was taken to the Royal Berks with minor injuries. He has since been discharged.

No one else was injured and no arrests have been made.

PC Gareth Miles, of the Roads Policing Department based at Three Mile Cross, said: “We are carrying out an investigation into the circumstances of this collision that has left a man in hospital with life-threatening injuries.

“If you witnessed this collision and have not already spoken to the police, we would encourage you to do so.

“We would also ask anyone with a dash camera to please check their footage and to upload it via our online portal page using the reference 43220565594.”

Finley (2) doing craftwork, watched by his nanna, Teresa and mum, Claire Skeet

Fun with the craft session

The Victorian Santa with Danielle Humphfreys, Ava (8 months), Ollie (4) and Liam Evans Ivy (5) shows her craftwork

ON THE GOOD LIST: Victorian Santa with Ollie (4) & Ava Evans (8 months) at the The Victorian Christmas Event at Reading Museum Pictures: Steve Smyth

Residents rally to raise funds for burgled mobile community bakery

By Jake Clothier jclothier@rdg.today

A MOBILE community bakery has been burgled and vandalised just months after it was taken over, causing residents and fellow businesses to rally round to help.

The Wolseley Street Bakery provides pastries, cakes, and coffee to businesses and residents across Reading, but was vandalised last weekend.

Following a break-in to the van, the bakery has been left with a smashed serving hatch, putting it out of action.

A quantity of cash float was also stolen from the vehicle, adding to the loss in takings that the business now faces.

The upcycled van is the work of Davy Bonte, who came to the business in June following a number of community kitchen projects through the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Previously having run the kitchen at The Lido as head chef, Bonte went on to create his own business bringing French food to a number of venues and events from his home kitchen, including the Shed and Reading Biscuit Factory.

He also created a mystery box service during 2020’s lockdowns, working with fellow local chefs to create patisserie delivery boxes to residents.

In June, Mr Bonte took over the coffee van situated outside Tilehurst’s railway station and combined its original use with his passion, baking.

The resulting project became the Wolseley Street Bakery, which combines his baking

skills and The Anonymous Coffee Co’s hot drinks offerings.

Mr Bonte said that the van was: “A big part of my business – it pays the wages and the rent and the wages and the rent of an employee.

“I spent the whole afternoon on Sunday repairing the hatch, because I had to reopen on Monday. I couldn’t even keep it closed for three days for police to arrive to look at it.”

He says he feels it is part of wider trend, too: “I’m not giving excuses, but everyone is feeling the pinch, and if someone can’t afford bread, they’ll steal bread, or milk.

“In this case, the inside was ransacked for valuables, but all they took was cash, and I like to look on the bright side of things.

“They haven’t damaged

the fridges, freezers, or coffee machines, so now, as a chef, I’m focused on Christmas.”

A fundraising page has now been set up by Charlie Bond, who said that Mr Bonte was: “one of our own”.

Mr Bonte had made repairs already, and was unaware that the community was seeking to help him with the costs.

“Davy’s been an amazing support to local businesses– he keeps everybody chipper, and there have been times that he’s turned up halfway through our livestreams with cake to keep us going,

“Everything he does supports the community – he was helping people grow food with talks at some of the allotments, offering flour and eggs during the panic buying in

Three charged with multiple burglary offences, including a 17-year-old boy

THREE people from Reading have been charged following a series of incidents across Berkshire, following a Thames Valley Police investigation.

Ajay Coaker, aged 19 and of Benson Close, Reading; Reiss James, aged 20 and of Shirley Avenue; and a 17-year-

old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons were charged with one count each of; burglary dwelling, conspiracy to steal, conspiracy to commit burglary, criminal damage, arson with intent to endanger life, violent disorder and

attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.

Each was charged on Friday, December 9, before appearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court the following day.

They have been remanded to appear at Reading Crown Court on Monday, January 9.

The 12 fostering days of Christmas revealed in new campaign

THE CHILDRENS’ services body in Reading has launched a campaign to encourage fostering, just in time for the big day.

Brighter Futures for Children, the organisation which provides fostering services on behalf of Reading Borough Council, themed the information event on the 12 Days of Christmas.

The campaign will explore different aspects of fostering, including the qualities that make somebody a suitable

foster carer, the benefits of fostering, and busting myths about the system.

BFfC is posting across social media until Christmas Eve, asking those who are able to consider fostering.

Di Smith, Board Chair of BFfC, said: “Christmas is a time for giving and I cannot think of many better gifts than providing a vulnerable child or young person with a safe, loving home.

“Friends and family are

particularly in our thoughts at this time of year but sadly there are children who will not be experiencing the magic and joy of Christmas they deserve.

“We need more foster carers in Reading to ensure vulnerable Reading children can stay close to their families and friends.”

She also encouraged those who can to help in preparation for next Christmas: “If you enquire about fostering with us now, you could be giving a child or young person their best ever Christmas next year.”

lockdown.”

Now Ms Bond is appealing for help from the community with costs of repairing and securing the van to get it back on the road.

“He started at the Lido, but branched out and took over the van, providing coffee and breakfast to commuters, and it was just getting intro its groove.

“Then over the weekend it was broken into, a couple of hundred pounds of damage

was done, and he feels totally violated.

“He’s just about holding together at the moment, but any downtime means a loss of takings, especially at this time of year.”

As a fellow business owner, Ms Bond said as part of her fundraising appeal that: “we cannot stand by and watch him suffer these repairs alone.

“We’ve decided to do this for him because he does so much for everybody else.”

The Just Giving page has set a target of £300 to help Mr Bonte with the cost of repairs and adding security measures to the van.

The page encourages members of the community to give what they can, “even if it’s just the price of the coffee you might have bought this morning, it will help.

“If you’d like to help but need a tasty incentive, you could buy Davy’s Christmas survival box, and even a share out to your networks would be so appreciated.”

n The fundraising page for the Wolseley Street Bakery repairs can be found via: www.justgiving. com

n Anybody with any information about the break in is encourage to contact British Transport Police.

Car catches fire while in garage

A CAR that caught ablaze while in a garage caused fire crews from three stations to attend.

The incident took place at 10.59am on Monday, December 12.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service crews from Wokingham, Wokingham Road, and Ascot fire stations were sent to the property in Wychwood Crescent, Earley.

Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the fire using one hose reel, before clearing the remaining smoke.

Crews also provided emergency care to one person and were on the scene for just under an hour.

Message arrest

A READING man has been arrested following an incident of malicious communication.

After a football match between Birmingham City and Reading on Friday, December 16, Thames Valley Police officers became aware of “distressing” messages that had been posted on Facebook groups following the loss of Reading against Birmingham.

A 21-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of malicious communication.

Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Gareth Perry, based at Reading, said: “We have taken swift action.”

DAMAGED: Thieves left the van with a smashed serving hatch as well as stealing a quantity of cash

Picture: Courtesy of Charlie Bond, via Just Giving

Out with the old: new times for buses

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today

BUS USERS in Reading will see timetables receive a shakeup in the new year to meet changing demands.

Reading Buses says the first day of the revised services will be Tuesday, January 3 – for many, the day they return to work after the festive break.

The Emerald 6 will have more resources allocated to help improve reliability and timekeeping with the frequency staying at every 12 minutes.

The timetable change also helps spacing with the Emerald 5 at Whitley Street to provide a better service for customers.

The royal blue 33 will have more resources allocated to help reliability and timekeeping, with the frequency remaining at every 20 minutes.

Green Line 702 is returning to a normal timetable following the conclusion of roadworks in London. There will be some additional changes to help improve reliability and timekeeping, and to restore evening through journeys to Windsor.

The Leopard 3 will see its journey through Arborfield Green reworked so it can use the newly-opened section of the Nine Mile Ride extension.

As a result, it will no long run along Park Lane, or use the Orwell Drive bus stop.

Instead, they will use the new road in both directions. The timetable will be amended to reflect this new arrangement.

The Lion 4 and X4 will see some journeys changing from 4 to X4, or vice versa, to better reflect commuter journeys.

There is a new timetable on Saturdays, but the 20-minute frequency remains.

The Mereoak park&ride 600 timetable has been adjusted to reflect operational experience since the service was extended to Riseley and Shinfield.

The loop in Riseley will be reversed to allow buses to use the lay-by opposite The Bull as a waiting point.

One week later, on Monday, January 9, there will be changes to the Claret 21 with the

frequency of the claret spritzer 21a increasing to every 15 minutes, and coordinated with claret 21 around University lecture times.

The Claret 21 will remain every 20 minutes, but there are changes to improve reliability and ensure that there is more capacity for Lower Earley residents.

Robert Williams, Reading Buses’ chief executive officer: “January is a key time for us to mop up any issues that have developed since the start of the academic year.

“Since September, we have seen changes in commuter habits and a significant increase in roadworks and traffic congestion so we must ensure that our service levels reflect this.”

n Timetables are available on the firm’s website, www.readingbuses.co.uk

Say ‘ah’: new dental practice opened by EastEnders actor Rudolf Walker

A NEW dental practice in Caversham has opened with a little help from soap royalty.

Actor Rudolf Walker was in attendance as Prospect Street Advanced Dentistry opened another branch, across the road from its current home.

Mr Walker is known for his long-running role as Patrick Trueman in EastEnders, as well as other roles such as PC Gladstone in The Thin Blue Line.

However he swapped shouts of ‘cut’ for cutting the ribbon at the official opening ceremony for the new branch as it welcomed its first patients.

More than £1 million has been invested in the new facility on Prospect Street, Caversham, which was overhauled from its previous occupants, Jennings the Butchers.

It contains three new surgeries, catering for 3,000 new private patients, and provides advanced dental services such as implantology, specialist gum care, and straightening.

The existing practice, just

across the road, will remain in use to increase capacity, though the new branch is more accessible for wheelchair users and those with mobility difficulties.

Dr Eileen Buckley, Principal Dentist at Prospect Street Dental said:

“Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, demand for dental care has been unprecedented, limiting access to dental services for many.

“As healthcare professionals caring for local patients since 1975, this has concerned us

greatly, so we set to work on plans for our extension to increase our capacity to provide local private dental care and advanced dental services.

“We often get asked about availability of NHS dental care and I empathise with patients’ frustrations trying to access this.

“Unfortunately, we only have a restricted NHS child only contract here which we are willing but unable to extend due to limits on availability imposed by local commissioning boards.”

Man jailed after being caught in Reading with a knife

A SLOUGH man has been sentenced to prison time after being convicted of possession of a blade.

Mohammed Rehman, aged 19 and of Bowyer Drive, Slough, pleaded guilty to a count of possession of a knife blade/sharply pointed article in a public place following a hearing at Reading Magistrates court on Wednesday, December 14.

Rahman was stopped while driving in Kings Road, Reading, in the early hours of Tuesday, December 13, due to the manner of driving.

Officers searched Rahman and the vehicle and he was

found to have a knife in his possession.

He was subsequently arrested, charged, and remanded to court, where he admitted the offence.

He was given an immediate custodial sentence of six months.

Sergeant Ben Beasley of Thames Valley Police said: “This is another example of Operation Deter’s robust approach to those caught in possession of a knife in public.

“Op Deter is prioritising the charging and remanding of offenders found in possession of knives.

“It is completely

unacceptable for anybody to carry a knife, and Thames Valley Police will continue to pursue those who carry them and seek swift charge and remands to court.

“As a result of Rehman’s actions, he was arrested, charged, convicted and sentenced all within one day, and he will now spend a period of time in prison to reflect on his ill-judged decision.

“Knife carrying will not be tolerated in our communities and I hope that this sentence sends out a strong message that we will seek to prosecute those who do so.”

CHANGES: The Leopard will see its pick-up spots change

AND WE’RE OPEN: Rudolf Walker joins staff in cutting the ribbon at the official opening of the new branch of Prospect Street Advanced Dentistry in Caversham Pictures: Courtesy of Prospect Street Advanced Dentistry

Palmer Park leisure centre and stadium opens its doors

SNEAK PEEK: The mayor of Reading, Cllr Rachel Eden (centre) was among those having a preview of the facilities on Friday

Pictures: Phil Creighton

AFTER a six-year gap, east Reading finally has a swimming pool once again.

On Monday, The Palmer Park Leisure centre and Stadium opened its doors for the first time.

The facility includes a brand new, 25-metre, six-lane swimming pool, a 100-station gym, a velodrome, and an athletics stadium.

It also features new changing rooms and toilets, as well as an information hub, soft play facilities, and a cafe on site.

There are also specialist installations such as the Pool Pod, which allows those with mobility needs to enter and exit the pool in a safe and discreet way.

Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading’s Lead Councillor for

Leisure and Culture, said: “I am delighted residents will be able to enjoy the new and improved facilities over the Christmas break.

“Those of us making New Year resolutions to go to the gym more often will also have a 100-station gym with beautiful views across the park.”

Craig Woodward, GLL’s partnership manager for Reading said: “At Palmer Park we now have state-of-the-art leisure facilities for the people of Reading.

“The benefits of these new facilities for the local community are huge.

“Reading’s improved provision will offer an inviting and welcoming environment,

for all local residents to enjoy, in addition to enabling us to provide dedicated courses and activities that encourage better health and wellbeing.”

Gert-Jan Peeters, director of Pellikaan UK, said: “We are delighted to have delivered the new facilities at Palmer Park and we know the new centre will be a welcome addition for the local community for years to come.”

Reading Borough Council is will open a sister site at Rivermead next year.

Its pool will have eight 25m lanes as well as dedicated diving provisions.

It also follows overhauls of both South Reading Leisure Centre and Meadway Sports Centre earlier this year.

Author’s book heads to the silver screen

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today

A BOOK created by a Reading author is currently being turned into a movie due to be released this time next year.

AF Harrold wrote The Imaginary in 2014. Illustrated by Emily Gravett, the novel won awards and created fans across the globe.

Now, Japanese-based Studio Ponoc is creating an animation that will do the story justice.

It is the tale of Rudger, a boy no one can see, from a world where imaginations can live –and eaten by others.

He has to team up with friends from The Imaginaries Town to go on an adventure at the risk of the fates and futures of those they love, and stop a mysterious man from destroying them.

It will be directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, who worked with Isao Takahata on several animations including 1991’s Only Yesterday, and 2001’s Spirited Away.

Mr Takahata described Mr Momose as “The one who will evolve animation”.

The film will be released in Japanese first, and an English

language version will follow.

AF Harrold is a University of Reading graduate who has written a host of famous collections of poetry and novels including Fizzlebert Stump: The Boy Who Ran Away from the Circus (and Joined the Library), and is a regular guest at schools in the town, as well as appearing at Fourbears Books in Caversham.

“It’s a real thrill and an honour to have Studio Ponoc pick this story of mine to make into a movie,” he said.

“Knowing the pedigree of the filmmakers involved and having read the script and been gifted a glimpse of some early snippets of animation… I’m wholly confident that Rudger and Amanda and Zinzan and Mr Bunting and the rest of the characters in the book are in safe hands.”

Animation is a long, intensive process, and Mr Harrold has had to sit on the news for a while.

“This was a secret we had to keep for a long time, so when the existence of the film was finally announced to the public, it was like being able to breathe properly again – I’m no good at knowing secrets, they make me feel uncomfortable,” he said.

Mr Momose is looking forward to sharing the story.

“It is a very difficult task to materialize ‘imagination’, to portray ‘something that has never been seen’ in a film, and this is why I find it interesting – and at the same time challenging – to present it in animation,” he said.

“Rather than depict a world seen from the perspective of ‘the Imaginaries’ with only a sense of entrapment, I am creating a film full of abundance and opportunities for liberation, offering strength to those of us living in our era.”

The studio’s previous work was Mary and the Witch’s Flower, based on The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart. The English language version featured the vocal talents of Jim Broadbent and Reading-born Kate Winslet.

Producer Yoshiaki Nishimura said: “It was right after I finished making Mary and The Witch’s Flower that I picked up the original novel The Imaginary by A.F. Harrold and Emily Gravett.

“It offered a glimpse of life that we all have experienced.

“It was funny and a bit scary. Most of all, it moved me.”

Five years jail for two robberies

A READING woman has been sentenced for two robberies.

On Friday, December 9, Siobhan Maven-Hazelton, 35 and of Northumberland Avenue, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

On Monday, July 4, stole between £60-£80 worth of goods from a Sainsbury’s store in Lower Earley.

When challenged by staff, she threatened them with a needle and escaped.

Then on Sunday, September 25, she stole around £150 worth of goofs from Smyths Toy Store at Reading Gate Retail Park.

When challenged by a member of staff, she again threatened them with a needle.

Arrested on Tuesday, September 27, Maven-Hazelton was charged the next day.

She pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and two counts of possession of a bladed/pointed article in a public place at a hearing on Saturday, October 31.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Phil Marchant, based at Reading police station, said: “Her actions on those days were dangerous and children were present during the incident at the toy store.

“The sentence reflects the seriousness of her actions and shows that we will not tolerate this behaviour, working hard to bring offenders to justice.”

The new six-lane swimming pool is open and ready for business

The exercise machines have views over Palmer Park

The soft play centre is a new addition to the popular centre

A steam day out to Bath or Gloucester

The Bath & Gloucester Steam Express

Saturday 4th February 2023

From Reading. Enjoy a nostalgic steam journey reliving the Golden Age of rail travel with a choice of destinations – Bath or Gloucester. We shall steam along the Kennet & Avon canal, climb up to Savernake summit and steam on through the attractive Vale of Pewsey and pass the famous White Horse at Westbury. You can choose to visit the Georgian city of Bath, renowned for its fine architecture, magnificent Abbey, Roman Baths, Pump House and small independent shops.

Alternatively, stay on board for Gloucester where you will find the 11th Century cathedral. Gloucester’s historic maritime connections are centred around Gloucester Docks home to the National Waterways Museum.

• Premier Dining £285pp/£870 family – price includes a full English breakfast and a four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

• First Class £185pp/£565 family – price includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

• Standard Class £115pp/£358 family – price includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

£10 per person discount quote: WEI

Steam to Cheltenham or Worcester The Cotswold Venturer

Saturday 18th February 2023

From Reading. Join us for a scenic rail tour by steam train through the beautiful Cotswold Hills with a choice of destinations – Cheltenham or Worcester. With our magnificent steam locomotive at the head, our train will travel through the Vale of the White Horse and along the Golden Valley line. You can choose to spend the afternoon at spa town Cheltenham enjoying the fine Regency architecture with its Pittville Pump Room. Alternatively, stay on board for the fine city of Worcester. Set on the River Severn, Worcester’s 12th Century cathedral is the resting place of King John. The final battle of the Civil War between Oliver Cromwell and King Charles II took place here and you can also find the Museum of Royal Worcester.

• Premier Dining £285pp/£870 family – price includes a full English breakfast and a four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

• First Class £185pp/£565 family – price includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

• Standard Class £115pp/£358 family – price includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

£10 per person discount quote: WEK

Star-studded carols raises nearly £20,000 for Launchpad

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today

A CAROL singing celebration held in Reading last week has raised nearly £20,000 for a charity that works with some of Reading’s most vulnerable residents.

Launchpad held its Carols by Candlelight celebration in a new venue, the Blagrave Street Concert Hall, and the star-studded event was a sell-out.

The charity’s patrons, Matt Allwright and Danyl Johnson, hosted the evening, welcoming performances from the Reading Community Gospel Choir and Bulmershe School Chorus.

The event was attended by The Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, James Pluxley; Alka Kharbanda, the High Sheriff of Berkshire; Graham Barker, Vice Lord-Lieutnant of Berkshire; TV host Chris Tarrant; and ITV Meridian’s Mel Bloor.

There were readings by special guests, a raffle with prizes donated by local Reading businesses, and inspiring stories about Launchpad’s work with people in housing crisis. In all, £19,528 was raised.

The charity says ticket sales will help its supported housing which offer warm, clean and safe accommodation for up to 104 people in need – a lifeline to the many individuals, couples and families due to be made homeless by the rise in the cost of living over the coming months.

Vicki Lewis, fundraising manager at Launchpad, was delighted with how the event, held on Wednesday, December 14, went.

“For many local people, we know that Carols by Candlelight kicks off their Christmas festivities and it was lovely to have so many people join us last night,” she said.

“It was a truly special event and I think the 400-strong audience were blown away by not only how beautiful the Concert Hall looked with all the twinkly lights and candles, but also the

incredible performances from both choirs During what is a difficult time for so many, we’re really grateful to everyone who bought a ticket, made a donation or took part in the raffle.”

Debs Edwards, Deputy Mayor of Reading and Launchpad Trustee spoke at the event, and said: “If we have been taught anything by the events of the last few years and months, it is that life can change in an instant, and absolutely anyone can find themselves in a situation where they are homeless or at risk of losing their home.

“Sometimes all it can take is an unexpected change in circumstances, a fuel bill, a few poor decisions or bad luck.

“While there are many reasons someone could face homelessness, the individuals, couples and

families we support are from all walks of life, who through no fault of their own have found themselves in an impossible situation.

“We know the rise in the cost of living will leave many local people without a place to call home but with your kindness and generosity, we can continue our vital work providing warm, clean and safe accommodation for Reading’s most vulnerable.”

Plan to turn test centre into flats rejected for a third time

PROPOSALS to demolish Reading’s driving test centre, which is currently in use by learner drivers, and replace it with flats, has been rejected, writes James Aldridge, Local democracy reporter

Based on Elgar Road South, the one-storey brick building is in the sights of developer Maxika Homes, which wants to replace it with an apartment block.

This is the third time the proposal has been rejected.

In December last year, Reading Borough Council’s planning committee refused a plan for 18 flats.

The council’s decision notice criticised the application for its ‘poor and insecure choice of layout’, lack of information about affordable housing and having ‘substandard’ cycle storage which would be ‘at risk of break-ins’.

Maxika Homes appealed, but the government’s planning inspector James Blackwell dismissed it, as the developers had failed to agree a financial contribution to mitigate the lack of outdoor space.

Its most recent plan, for 16 apartments, was refused at a recent planning meeting.

This would have been a three-storey apartment block containing eight one-bed, seven two-bed and one three-bedroom flats.

Council planning officers said acceptable changes had been made, which involved moving cycle storage inside the proposed building, changes to the entrance and exits to make them more secure, adapted window arrangements to provide more daylight, and the removal of front private outdoor amenity space in favour of communal space.

The committee had reservations.

Cllr Andrew Hornsby-Smith (Labour, Church) said the plan did not comply with the council’s housing policy, which states that for proposals for 10 new homes or more, 50% or more of them should have at least three bedrooms.

n

The charity has a Christmas appeal: launchpadreading.org.uk/donate

Earlier, officers pointed out that inspector Blackwell sided with Maxika Homes regarding the character, appearance, cycle storage and crime prevention concerns.

Cllr Josh Williams (Green, Park) disagreed with inspector Blackwell’s conclusions, calling them “subjective”.

The latest plan was refused unanimously by the committee when it met on Wednesday, December 7. The main reasons were the lack of outdoor amenity space provided and the failure to comply with housing policy H2, which is outlined in the Reading Borough Local Plan 2019.

The plan can be viewed on Reading Borough Council’s planning portal, searching for reference 220258.

The Bulmershe Chorus performed

Launchpad patron Deb Edwards at the lectern

Zandi Zungu gives a reading

Reading Community Gospel Choir peform

Members of Reading Community Gospel Choir singing hallelujah

Choir members were in fine voice for the show

Reading Town Hall was decorated carefully to have a festive flavour

THE JOLLY AND THE LIVELY: Bulmershe School were among the performers at Launchpad’s annual Carols by Candlelight event, held in Reading town hall last week Pictures: Dijana Capan/ DVision Images

Tips to start 2023 in top condition

AS PEOPLE look at their new year resolutions for the year ahead, the first meeting of 2023 from the Woodley Business Club could help.

It is welcoming Andy Degiorgio (pictured) as the guest speaker at the breakfast time virtual event.

He is a financial planner with Penrose Wealth Management, and specialises in advising professionals, businesses and business owners on retirement planning, investments, and protection.

He previously worked in the energy and home services industry, holding several leadership positions, including in sales, forecasting and pricing, as well as being a trustee director of one of the UK’s largest occupational pension schemes.

The event takes place online from 8am on Tuesday, January 10, and is free to attend.

n Places should be booked in advance, by logging on to: woodleybusinessclub.org.uk

Chocolate maker donates £60,000 to local good causes

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today

MORE than £60,000 has been donated to charities over the past nine years, thanks to a chocolate maker with a base in Reading and Wokingham.

Mondelez, the owners of brands such as Cadbury, Oreo and Toblerone, said the support comes from its Cadbury Foundation, which launched in 2013.

Staff from its Berkshire-based operations have chosen charities including Babies in Buscot, Thin Blue Paw Foundation, Sport in Mind, No5 Young People’s Counselling Service to receive a £5,000 grant.

The grants were highlighted in the international firm’s latest economic and social report, which shows how it has contributed £933 million in overall Gross Economic Value Added to the UK economy.

The company has two sites based at the University of Reading, and one in Wokingham, employing 372 people directly, and an additional 359 roles through supply chain procurement.

In all, it accounts for £46 million of its contribution to the UK economy last year/

And its base at the university’s

Reading Science Centre has a crucial role: it is at the heart of its product development, formulation and testing for products sold in more than 150 countries.

The firm says that since 2013, £30 million has been invested in the centre and its sister R&D

site in Bournville. A £4.7 million investment in 2019 expanded the business’ UK Food Research and Development Programme, creating an additional 50 jobs.

Michael Geary, director, Global Cocoa Research & Development, Mondelēz International and site

lead comments: “At Reading Science Centre, our Scientists work on the molecular science for the products of the future, our team are enormously proud to play an integral role in developing the building blocks of technology innovation for the business.”

The firm’s Wokingham site is home to the Chocolate Tasters, a team of 12 whose lab-based roles specialise in Food Science and are required to understand the complexities of the human senses and mechanics of chocolate eating.

Since 2017, Mondelēz International has utilised the UK Apprenticeship Levy to create new pathways into the business, totalling an investment of £2.5 million. To date, the business has employed 20 Apprentices at Reading and Wokingham supporting the next generation of talent across the South-East.

Food science researcher Roger Angold and lead scientific consultant at RSSL, a subsidiary of Mondelēz International, was recently awarded the Food & Drink Federation’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding dedication to the industry.

Law firm seeks charity applications

CHARITIES are being invited to apply to become one of two that will be supported by a Reading-based law firm during 2023.

For the past two years, Blandy & Blandy has raised funds for Babies in Buscot Support (BIBS) and the Royal Berks Charity, both based at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

It follows on from previous support for other regional charities including Age UK Berkshire, Daisy’s Dream, Reading Samaritans, Younger People with Dementia, Camp Mohawk, Thames Valley Air Ambulance, the League of Friends of the Royal Berkshire Hospital and Berkshire Vision.

Its efforts have seen more than £100,000 donated, in addition to its support for community events including the Reading Legal Walk, the Reading Pancake Race and Readifood.

And during the past 20 years, the firm has also helped to raise over £1.5 million for Cancer Research UK, for which it received a gold award from the charity in 2019.

Sarah Critchley, chief executive of Babies in Buscot Support, appreciated the help.

“It has been an honour to be selected for a partnership with Blandy & Blandy, alongside our friends at the Royal Berks Charity,” she said.

“For a small charity like ours, this support has meant we have been able to weather the storms of turbulent times and continue to provide lifesaving equipment for sick and premature babies, improved facilities and invest in improved emotional support for families whose babies are being cared for in Buscot Neonatal Unit.”

This view was echoed by Jo Warrior, charity director at the Royal Berks Charity, who said: “Our partnership with Blandy & Blandy came at a pivotal moment for the NHS and their unwavering support throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, and extension of the partnership, meant that we could support our keyworkers and continue to provide the best

possible care to our staff and patients.

“Working with Blandy & Blandy has been more than just a financial gain for us, they are an engaging team and have supported us at events and by volunteering at the hospital, all while sharing their networks with us and treating us as part of their extended team.”

Now the search is on for two more charities to get behind.

The closing date for applications is February 28, with the year starting on July 1.

Only charities based in a 15-mile radius of the firm’s Reading and Henley offices can apply – it is not open to national good causes.

n For more details, or to request an application form, email: david. lamont@blandy.co.uk

SUPPORT: Blandy & Blandy seeks charity of the year applications

COMMUNITY LINKS: A Mondelēz International, Inc. Chocolate Taster at Reading’s Science Centre, which has helped to donate £60,000 to community initiatives

Special Occasions as choirs come together to sing of Christmas

IT WAS a special Occasions in Reading town centre on Saturday as three musical groups came together to celebrate Christmas.

The Occasions Singers teamed up with the Reading A440 Choir and the Reading Male Voice Choir to sing of the season.

And the special guest voice was the audience.

Held at Reading Minster Church in Chain Street, the popular event started with the

Carol of the Bells, before Emily Widdicombe performed a solo for the first verse of Once In Royal David’s City.

The came a selection of popular pieces including Ding Dong Merrily On High, Silent Night, and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

Other festive tunes included Joy To The World, Jingle Bells and The Twelve Days of Christmas.

The concert closed with the choirs combining to sing The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, before leading the audience in the singing of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

Jacqui Voller from the Occasions Singers said: “We were very excited to perform, as we haven’t been able to do this concert since 2019, because of covid.

“It was very special.”

Consultation opens on health priorities

By JAKE CLOTHIER jclothier@rdg.today

RESIDENTS in West Berkshire healthcare region – including Reading and Wokingham –are being asked to contribute their views on public health priorities.

The Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire West integrated care partnership has launched a consultation to residents to help shape recent proposals for services across the partnership.

Representatives from health and care systems have collaborated with partner organisations, volunteers, and other stakeholders to draw up the system’s strategy going forward.

Now it is seeking opinions from local communities to help refine the proposals so that it can deliver best on its aim to help residents live happier, healthier lives.

The draft strategy proposes as its priorities:

n The promotion and protection of health – to support people to stay healthy, protect people from health hazards and prevent ill-health n Start Well – to help children

achieve the best start in life n Live Well – to support people and communities to stay healthy for as long as possible n Age Well – to support older people to live healthier, independent lives for longer n Improved quality and access to services – to help people access services at the right place and right time.

The partnership covers nearly two million residents across the three counties, which include Reading and Wokingham through Berkshire West.

It includes local authorites, NHS Trusts and organisations, GPs, public health bodies, care providers, research partners, and volunteer organisations.

Cllr Jason Brock, chair of the BOB ICP and leader of Reading Borough Council, said: “We have to work together to best achieve those things which are most important to the people who live and work across our area.

“As such, public feedback and

input will be hugely important as the strategy develops.

He explained: “The Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West area is geographically vast, and it also has a very diverse population in all sorts of ways.

“This engagement is about finding common ground on broad strategies which can help give people the best possible start in life, to be happier and healthier and to ensure they have access to support when they need it.

“This draft document is intended to promote thought and discussion – the detail comes later on, in particular how all partners can direct limited resources to have the biggest positive impact on people’s lives.

“Please take some time to read the priorities our partners have identified and tell us what you think via the survey.”

n The survey is open until 29 January 2023, available online via: yourvoicebob-icb. uk.engagementhq.com

Hunt on to find indecent exposure man in a car

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following an incident of indecent exposure in Reading.

At around 4.30pm on Friday, December 9, a man was sitting in a vehicle on Elm Road in Earley, when he began touching himself in front of a member of the public.

He has been described as white, in his thirties and of normal build, with short, brown hair and a long, brown beard.

He was driving a white, medium-sized, five-door vehicle.

Investigating officer, PC Beverley Kaur said: “We are appealing to any witnesses to this incident to please come forward with any information or footage they may have.

“If you have any information or footage of this incident, or want to make contact with us, you can let us know online, or by calling 101, quoting reference 43220554196.

“Alternatively, if you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.”

Reading Minster was packed with people wanting to hear carols and festive tunes

A selection of carols including Joy To The World were performed as part of the concert

Conductor, Clive Waterman Sophie Baylis performs

SING TOGETHER: Occasions Singers, the Reading A440 Choir and the Reading Male Voice Choir teamed up for a festive concert held at Reading Minster on Saturday Pictures: Steve Smyth

In a bleak winter, hope of Christmas

THIS year is certainly a Christmas like no other.

The highest inflation since the 1970s, strikes causing disruption and many of us struggling with the cost of living. It is a bleak midwinter.

Yet despite all that, Christmas is a time of comfort and joy. Comfort in the traditions, the carols, and the food. Joy in the hope that a baby brings, a new year promises.

However you celebrate, pared down or extravagant, we wish you the happiest of times.

We are taking a Christmas break, the next print edition is on January 4. The website, rdg.today, will be updated daily.

Love is all around us – it is fantasticLight

WHAT a year we’ve had!

We had all breathed a sigh of relief as we emerged from the pandemic, and then sucked our breath in again as we faced political chaos, interest rate hikes, huge cost of living increases.

We’ve had war in Europe, and disappointing international climate talks. We’ve had weather which has swung from scorchingly hot to way below freezing – neither of which is normal.

An increasingly chaotic asylum process and deaths in the Channel.

The job market is very odd. Many unfilled vacancies.

Nearly 9 million people neither working nor seeking work.

An epidemic of mental health conditions, especially anxiety and depression. Nurses, train drivers and rail operators, posties on strike. And many of these things are interrelated. It doesn’t look good.

So why am I not feeling anxious and despondent? It’s because everywhere I look I see good people doing good things.

Kindness and hospitality towards strangers, food for those who are hungry, warm spaces for those who are cold and lonely, care and concern for those who are distressed, financial support, friendship, generous hearts.

Everywhere I look, I see Love. Churches, charities, individuals, businesses reaching out and offering a hand.

Love came to us at Christmas as a tiny, vulnerable scrap of a baby in an occupied land, under political and economic pressure, and faced opposition and eventually execution. It didn’t look good.

But Love cannot be quenched like a candle flame. Love is the foundation of our existence and the end towards which we travel.

It is Light fantastic, beating back the darkness. The baby was Christ, the Prince of Peace. May the God who is Love bless and keep you and those you love this Christmas.

Rt Revd Olivia Graham is the Bishop of Reading

IAM by nature an optimistic person.

At this time of year

I like to see my glass of mulled wine as half-full rather than half-empty, but even for an unrelentingly positive person like myself it’s been a challenge to stay upbeat these past 12 months.

Covid is still with us, but the flu virus is giving it a run for the top spot for hospitalisations this Christmas after some time off.

Thanks to years of the Tories refusing to give NHS workers pay rises in line with inflation, coupled with the exodus of

From the Chamber

Cllr Rob White

qualified staff from the EU following Brexit, we face a scary winter.

The cost of living crisis caused by the mistakes of successive Conservative leaders is forcing workers from all walks of life to take the serious step of withdrawing their labour in an attempt to try and force an out of touch government to listen to them.

Our own Tory MP in Reading West championed climate action last year, but his words proved utterly pointless as his own government restarts coal mining in the UK.

Years of Conservative rule

have led to a refugee crisis, which shames our moral standing on the international stage, whilst Brexit and the infamous ‘mini budget’ have trashed our financial reputation and national economy.

The Christmas glass of cheer certainly appears to be half empty from this angle.

But if you turn your gaze away from the mess that our short sighted rulers have created and look at the people of our town and country, there are still things to give us hope and make us smile.

Despite having less themselves people are still giving to foodbanks and charities. There is an increased awareness that we don’t need all of the stuff that clutters our lives and that we can recycle and repair what we already have.

More and more people are moving their money away from planet damaging companies and are insisting on ethical products. People are waking up to the idea that they have power, which is pushing the cause of electoral reform up the agenda.

Christmas is a time of reflection and celebration and in that spirit I choose to continue to nurture and feed the optimist in me. I hope that you are able to do the same at this special time of year. As Martin Luther King JR said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

Cllr Meri O’Connell is the leader of Reading Liberal Democrates and ward member for Tilehurst

I know that as well as recognising that times are tough I will be thinking about some of the positive stories from the year.

Everyone who has stepped up and taken in a refugee.

From the leader

Cllr

Jason Brock

A great present to Reading

IT’S very almost Christmas, and I’m sure at least some of you share my panic at having not bought presents yet. At least I hope I’m not alone…

Our town, though, already has a treat for residents, with the new Palmer Park Leisure Centre & Stadium in east Reading now open and ready for use. I paid a visit last Thursday for a tour of the facilities just before they opened to the public, and I’m confident that they won’t disappoint.

As well as the fully accessible pool – which is suitable for families, learners, and confident swimmers – there is an inviting new café, an exciting soft play area for the kids, and a state-ofthe-art 100-station gym alongside fitness studios.

I confess to being aggrieved at being too tall (at a mere 6ft 6in) for the soft play area, because it looks really great. Oh, and don’t forget to sign up for your free Reading Resident Card and benefit from 30% off the standard prices (or up to 50% for concessions).

Thanks to the Palmer Park Leisure Centre, Reading now boasts a modern 25 metre sixlane pool linked to existing sports facilities. In combining the benefits of a pool, velodrome, and athletics stadium all in one easy-to-reach location we have delivered a unique facility in the region, helping to put Reading firmly on the map as a top sports destination.

Hot on Palmer’s heals will be our flagship new leisure centre at Rivermead, which, when it opens next year, will provide outstanding new facilities including a 25m 8-lane competition pool with dedicated diving provision.

As I say often, addressing the climate crisis remains a top priority for us and we are also working hard to ensure all our new facilities have integral measures to reduce carbon emissions, being both energy efficient by design and making use of renewables.

Our new pools and centres will not only be the best leisure facilities Reading has ever had, they’ll also be the most environmentally friendly.

Green councillors give thanks to all who keep the country going

THIS Christmas with inflation rising and the cost of living going up it’s tough for many.

Green Party councillors give strong support to everyone as they campaign for better pay, better working conditions and decent public services for all of us.

Greens standing shoulder to shoulder with nurses, posties rail workers and teachers

The Royal College of Nursing started strike action this month for the first time in its history, left with no other option after decades of under investment most recently from the Conservative government.

Across the country, key

sector workers – our heroes of the pandemic – are campaigning for fair pay and conditions, for the simple recognition they deserve.

We all clapped them in 2020. Now it’s time to pay them.

One thing was obvious as we stood alongside the striking nurses outside the Royal Berks Hospital last week, there is strong and clear public support for paying nurses a fair wage.

Unlike the Conservatives and Labour, Greens at all levels from MP to councillor stand shoulder to shoulder with them and offer our full support for their cause.

Merry Christmas and happy New Year to all from your Green Party councillors

All of those working to plug the gaps in our public services and the many people campaigning for clean air, clean water and clean energy.

This Christmas if you’re lucky enough to have a bit of extra money or time think of what you can do to support others.

As the second largest party on Reading Council Green Party councillors are also doing what we can to look out for residents.

If you are struggling please check out the Reading Council website www.bit.ly/ rdgcostofliving, and please get in contact if there is anything we can do to help.

We’d like to take this opportunity to wish Merry Christmas to all our friends and neighbours in Reading and send hope for a better year ahead.

By Green Party councillor Rob White, leader of the main opposition group on Reading Borough Council and ward member for Park reading.greenparty.org. uk/get-involved

This all marks a new chapter for leisure investment in Reading. We are improving and modernising services and facilities across the town so that every resident can benefit. That includes major investments in Reading’s parks and other leisure facilities, including the Ranger Station at Prospect Park, with its current ninehole mini-golf and low ropes climbing for younger kids to be joined by a café and new outdoors play area coming next year. South Reading Leisure Centre and Meadway Sports Centre also both underwent significant overhauls earlier this year with fantastic new open-plan gyms and revamped studios.

And we aren’t running out of ideas – I’m hopeful that next year will allow us to announce some further innovations.

Our new, modern services will contribute to Reading’s recovery from the pandemic, helping improve the mental and physical health and wellbeing of our residents. The new facilities are just one facet of our activity and investments in this goal, with public health funding targeted towards activities to reduce health inequalities.

I’d be the first to admit that our leisure project has been a long time in the making, but it is fantastic to see it finally coming to fruition. I hope everyone enjoys their dip in the new pool – and there is now no excuse not to make keeping fit and healthy one of your New Year’s Resolutions in 2023.

Just don’t ask me to do the same.

Cllr Jason Brock is the leader of Reading Borough Council, and member for Southcote

The

FROM THE BISHOP OF READING

Council’s fresh grants for communities

By JAKE CLOTHIER jclothier@rdg.today

READING Borough Council has released new funding to help some of the town’s most marginalised communities.

Following the doubling of its small grants fund to £200,000, next year will see a number of projects and organisations given boosts.

The council has given £105,000 with a particular focus on breaking down barriers of prejudice, discrimination, language, and culture.

Nearly 70 bids were considered, but 24 projects will share the funding pot over the next year.

Children with disabilities and sensory needs will see support from Berkshire Deaf Children’s Society, which has received funding to provide British Sign Language Interpreters for its events during the year.

Assisting Berkshire Children (ABC) to Read has received funding to train and support 10 new one-onone mentors.

The Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Equality has been given support for its Reading Windrush Festival in partnership with Reading Caribbeans Association Group, Age Concern UK, and Reading Museum.

AutAngel CIC and Dingley’s Promise have received funding to support of those with Autism and under fives with special educational needs respectively.

Also supported are Berkshire Vision, Berkshire Cancer Rehab, Food4Families, Home-Start Reading, Reading Islamic Cultural Centre, Samaritans, and the Weller Centre.

Cllr Jason Brock, Reading Council leader, said: “Reading’s unique blend of diverse communities is something to celebrate, but we also know those same communities face diverse challenges.

“Offering financial support for local groups to put on activities is one way the Council can ensure nobody is left behind, and of breaking down barriers.”

The small grants fund is part of £1.375 million for voluntary sector organisations in the council’s budget.

Hospice receives £5,000 in memory of Hilary

A WHOPPING £5,000 donation will boost the funds of the Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice in Reading, courtesy of the Pride of Reading Awards.

A cheque was handed over by awards organisers Sally Swift and Marc Allridge in memory of Hilary Scott, a founder organiser of the annual event, who died recently after a short illness and was nursed at the hospice for a while.

Each year the event’s host Chris Tarrant donates his time to the fundraiser and accepts a sum on behalf of a charity of his choice. This year he chose the hospice in Liebenrood Road in tribute to Hilary.

Chris said in praise of the hospice: “They make the insufferable sufferable.”

The hospice won The Chris Tarrant Award last year.

Sally said: “We were pleased to

contribute to such a worthwhile cause and celebrate the vital work they do for the community.”

The 18th Pride of Reading Awards were held again at Reading FC Events & Conference earlier this month, when 17 worthy winners were honoured for their contribution to making Reading a wonderful place to live and work in. n For more, log on to: porawards.co.uk

IN MEMORY: Sally Swift and Marc Allridge present a cheque for £5,000 to nurses from Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice

CLIMATE

Spacephiller

Phil Creighton

Put a tiger in your Christmas shop

THE point of advertising jingles is to stick in your head. And the best ones linger for longer than the products themselves.

Ask people of a certain age what colour Esso is, and they’ll tell you: blue. Which mints are too good to hurry? Why, Murray Mints, of course.

And they can’t tell you this anymore – nanny stateism or something – but a Mars a day helps you rest, work and play. That’s my excuse at least.

Every Christmas Eve, around 11pm, while busy with my festive shopping at the local petrol station I recall some that really obscure adverts that have stuck in the noggin, taking up valuable brain storage space that could otherwise be used for important stuff, like the kings and queens of England, or other MasterMind-winning trivia.

The first is a promotion Shell did back in the early 1990s with Star Trek. It was a scratchcard game where you had the chance to win holidays and cash, all backed up with a pretty advert.

Enthralling.

But the jingle that lingers longer is one for its competitor: back to Esso, but 1984, where an advert told us to find the tiger and win £20,000.

The internet has no memory of it, so this could be a load of old toot, but it was another scratchcard game. Find three tigers, or something, and you’d walk away with the cash.

No such thing as a free lunch, unless you’re a tiger and there’s some picnickers at the safari park, so the chance of winning was minimised.

These scratchcard promotions straddled initiatives such as Tiger Tokens and Collect and Select. Essentially a late 20th century take on Green Shield Stamps, they allowed drivers to amass points which could then be traded for items, including drinking glasses, T-shirts, and teasmaids. Other garages offered model cars in exchange for these tokens. I tried to give one away as a Christmas present and said friend complained bitterly that it was a cheapskate thing to do, despite having to buy a squillion pounds worth of petrol to get enough points to get the hot wheels.

Petrol stations have long since stopped giving tokens away, and people can no longer trade in their stamps. Times have changed.

Just as they have with the instore shop. Whereas once my Christmas shopping list was restricted to Magic Tree air fresheners, overpriced chocolate bars and two litre tubs of screenwash, now they’ve gone a bit upmarket. It’s not the same.

My late-night desperation supermarket sweep isn’t just limited to Christmas Eve for starters. I can now have a leisurely lie-in and get gift ideas on Christmas Day as many garages stay open.

They are no longer little cabins of despair, but full-blown retail experiences, often courtesy of supermarkets such as M&S and Sainsbury’s. So, alongside the road atlases and the troll doll keyrings, the several years old CDs and gallons of oil, there are exquisite chocolate boxes, Christmas cakes, gift sets and surprises.

It takes the fun out of it.

After all, Christmas shopping is a rather stressful experience at the best of times.

The beauty of the petrol stations of old was the range was limited, the choice was take it or leave it, and often the response from girlfriends was to leave. Me.

Still, I never learn, so look out for me this Christmas Eve, joining the ranks of others who prefer to leave their Christmas shopping to the very, very, very, very last moment.

Ad jingle bells aside, there’s no tigers with £20,000, and Scotty won’t be beaming me up. Well, not this side of Christmas Day lunch.

A merry Christmas to all of you at home.

Six sides, 1,000s The Hexagon celebrates

By JAKE CLOTHIER jclothier@rdg.today

ONE OF Reading’s most iconic buildings is celebrating its 45th anniversary with a gala performance of a classic show and a brand new exhibition.

The Hexagon is in the heart of Reading and is celebrating 45 years of stage shows and music since its opening in 1977.

It is marking the occasion with new exhibition.

For Tom, it’s an honour

THE science and technology editor for Sky News has received an honorary degree from the University of Reading for his efforts in communicating complex messages, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic and on climate change.

Tom Clarke, who first graduated from the University of Reading with a bachelor’s degree in zoology in 1994, received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science in a ceremony held earlier this month.

After Reading, Tom went on to study entomology at Louisiana State University before obtaining a master’s degree in science journalism from New York University in 1999.

He worked in radio and TV in New York before returning to London to join the science journal Nature. In 2003, he started his career in broadcast journalism at ITN, becoming science editor for Channel 4 News, and then ITV News.

Since 2021, he has been science and technology editor at Sky News.

Tom covers everything from cosmology to medicine, but has specialised in climate change reporting, diseases including H5N1, SARS, the 2014 Ebola epidemic and most recently Covid-19.

Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor of biomedical sciences and a regular media commentator on Covid-19 and other diseases, said: “At a time of crisis, when the world was worried about the health of our families and friends, the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated the vital importance of sensible and balanced science journalism, both to inform the public and hold decision-makers to account.

“The world got through the pandemic due to the work of scientists and medics, developing vaccines, and treating those who were ill – but the whole population needed to understand what was going on. Without skilled science communicators to tell the story, the world would have been left dangerously in the dark about what was happening.

“Academic research can often be complicated and hard to communicate, yet it is often funded by ordinary people through their taxes and has a major impact on people’s lives.

“Thanks to the efforts of Tom and his colleagues, people around the world have a better chance of understanding how science is discovering new things and changing the world around us.”

All eyes on Popeyes

A NEW fast-food restaurant will be opening soon in Reading town centre, but there’s not a hint of spinach in sight, writes James Aldridge, local democracy reporter

Instead, there will be a ‘shattercrunch’ New Orleans fried chicken sandwiches, as well as Americanstyle biscuits, and cajun inspired dishes.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is opening on Broad Street in the former GAP store next to Heelas.

The company was launched in the States in 1972 by Al Copeland. His fried chicken restaurant in New Orleans took off, and spread across the country as it became franchised in 1976.

As well as chicken, its menu includes Popcorn Shrimp. Mashed Potato with Gravy, Red Beans and Rice, Cajun Fries, and a dessert of Strawberry and Cream Cheese Pie.

In November last year, Popeyes came to the UK, with a branch at Westfield shopping mall in London, and a second in Chelmsford, Essex,

in June this year.

A number of branches have opened in England since then, with more stores in London, Oxford, Brighton and other locations.

The company’s UK website states Popeyes will be ‘coming soon’ to Reading, with no date set.

It says it does not offer zero-hour contracts, instead it has flexible full- and part-time shifts, and perks include meals while on duty. Pay is between £8 and £10.50 per hour. There are also various management positions available.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has asked the company for a ‘hoped-for’ opening date and how many jobs will be created.

The venue has seen some of the world’s biggest musicians, comedians, and performers, including Victoria Wood, The Smiths, Joan Rivers, Peter Kay, Rik Mayall, The Cure, Cilla Black, Morecambe and Wise, and French and Saunders.

More recently, it has played host to performances from Tim Minchin, Diversity, Noel Fielding, Mo Gilligan, Omid Djalili, Chris and Rosie Ramsay, and Laura Marling.

Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading’s lead councillor for leisure and culture, said: “Reading’s Hexagon theatre has kept us entertained over the years, with big-name comedians like Frankie Howerd and Victoria Wood, singers including Ben E King, Cilla Black and Paloma Faith.

“Spectacular musicals like We Will Rock You, hilarious pantomimes and exquisite classical concerts – and even snooker and wrestling back in the day.”

She said it has also championed talents closer to home: “It’s not just about the big names though, local amateur, community and youth groups have always been at the heart of The Hexagon.

“Many future stars began their careers performing here including Kate Winslet, Christian Bale and our very own Hexagon panto star, Justin Fletcher.”

The building, designed by Robert Matthew Johnson Marshall in

the Brutalist style of modernist architecture, has become one of Reading’s most central and recognisable.

“It was wonderful to have our partners at The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) supporting our celebrations back in October,” Cllr Barnett-Ward said. “Reading’s awardwinning panto is one of the highlights of the Hexagon’s entertainment calendar – and I’m delighted they are joining us in celebrating the Hex 45 anniversary season.”

She also explained that the Hex 45 exhibition will feature “memorabilia from the venue’s illustrious past, as well as a chance for people to own their own Hex 45 themed merchandise, including posters, mugs and tote bags.”

Speaking of the venue’s role in the upcoming plans to rejuvenate the town centre, she said: “While

town centre historic monuments to be restored

Reading

FOUR of Reading’s public monuments will form the focus of a new restoration project, writes James Aldridge, local democracy reporter

Reading Borough Council is leading the scheme to refresh the Zinzan Chest Tomb, the Simeon Monument, the Jubilee Cross, and the Queen Victoria Statue.

The tomb dates back to 1781 and was built for the ZinZan family.

Situated in Reading Minster’s churchyard, part of its masonry is missing. A barrier has been erected to prevent further damage.

Work to the tomb involves stone matching repairs to the white limestone, dismantling the tomb and repairing hard mortar to reinstate it, adding stonework repairs and sharpen the lettering of inscriptions.

The Queen Victoria Statue at the end of Friar Street was sculpted by George Simmonds to commemorate the 50th year of that queen’s reign in 1887. It will be cleaned, and new steel

chains fitted around the statue’s base. The Jubilee Cross in Reading Minster’s Churchyard was also built in 1887 to mark the 50th year of Queen Victoria’s reign. It also commemorates the completion of the restoration of St Mary’s Church.

Work to the cross involves restoring lead lettering to match the Medieval style of the cross and improvements to its inscriptions, and masonry installation and cleaning work.

Finally, the Simeon Monument was commissioned by Edward Simeon, the director of the Bank of England in 1804.

The obelisk shaped monument originally held lamps to improve the lighting in Market Place.

Work entails cleaning, restoration of its limestone surface and details, and painting the metal railings around the obelisk.

Reading Borough Council’s project to restore the four monuments

EXPERT: Sky News’ Tom Clarke has been given an honorary degree for his work on the climate emergency and the covid pandemic

MANY HAPPY SIX SIDES: The Hexagon was designed

Picture: Courtesy of Reading Borough Council

COMING SOON: The new branch of Popeyes in Broad Street

1,000s of performers: celebrates 45 years

WHITLEY WAY BACK WHEN 1962 Boxing Day snow storm remembered

we celebrate 45 years we also have ambitions plans for the future.

“With our aim to add a new performance space and our work to contribute to a net zero carbon Reading by 2030, as well as our exciting programme of shows for 2023.”

This year’s panto, Jack and the Beanstalk, is the 12th Christmas pantomime staged by The Hexagon in collaboration with Imagine Theatre, a partnership which kicked off in 2010 with Sleeping Beauty.

Steve and Sarah Boden, from Imagine Theatre, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating the Hexagon’s 45th anniversary.

“We started working closely with Hexagon team in 2010.

“This year, we are working alongside the same fantastic team of people who were here at the start.

“That’s one of the things that makes working at The Hexagon unique; very few venues are lucky enough to have the continuity of such a long-serving, strong and dedicated core staff who really care about the products on their stages.

“They care enormously, not just about the audience experience but also the artist experience for those who visit the venue to perform.”

He said that this is: “what makes a partnership strong, particularly when creating a show that frequently gives so many people, regardless of their age, their first introduction to live theatre both on stage and off.”

“The example set by the team at the Hexagon along with the support from Reading Borough Council will ensure that performance in Reading is in safe hands for generations to come.”

THE BEATLES, World Cup success and Apollo 11’s moon landing defined the Swinging Sixties, but closer to home older Whitley residents will remember another unique experience.

The snowstorm of Boxing Day 1962 has lived long in the memories of those who were in Whitley to see it.

According to Whitley Community Museum curator David Turner, up to 6ft-worth of snow collected in some parts of the ward.

He said: “The snow storm is remembered for so many reasons by local residents of a certain age. It is fair to say that it was business as almost usual albeit at a slower pace.

“The buses were still running using chains on the wheels to help with traction.”

This photograph, provided by the museum, was taken at the junction between Margaret Close and Whitley Wood Lane.

The building on the far left was home to Darvells coal and coke merchant. One resident left a comment reminiscing about using a wheelbarrow to collect coal to heat their home.

Other stories included sledging on the slopes of gardens on the RAF estate, which was located at

the rear of St Margaret’s Close and using dustbin lids as shields in snowball fights.

Mr Turner said: “Another resident, Darren Jones, remembers when the electric pole (shown in the photograph) caught fire.

“Not a full-blown fire, but [there were] lots of sparks which made it look like a Catherine Wheel firework. It turned out to be a faulty cable.”

With more than 4,600 followers on Facebook, the Whitley Community Museum is an accessible online and in-person resource.

The group serves as a platform for residents past and present to share memories through photographs and comments.

It also allows group members to reconnect, with members reacquainting themselves with friends and schoolmates from decades ago.

The museum held a Whitley Way Back When event at the Community Cafe on Northumberland Avenue earlier this year to showcase its photographs and exhibits inperson.

n For more information, search: Whitley Community Museum on www.facebook.com

Stuck on London Road going nowhere fast

Gazing at the leaves on the pavement piled up high I’m just about to move at last When two words catch my eye Free Billy – and I start to speculate What Billy might have done to deserve his fate

was approved unanimously by the planning committee when it met on Wednesday, December 7.

Explaining the project, a council planning officer said: “The monuments have fallen into various states of disrepair and require works to restore them to their original condition.”

Cllr Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey) said: “It’s very exciting. For the town centre, people would really like to see it spiffed up. This is another way of doing this, and it’s fabulous.”

She said the project is part of Reading’s High Street Heritage

Action Zone to revitalise the historic buildings in the town centre.

Cllr Simon Robinson (Conservative, Emmer Green) corrected the council’s planning department on the Jubilee Cross, which was built for Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee in the 50th year of her reign, rather than her diamond jubilee, which was celebrated 10 years later in 1897.

Permission for the project was needed as all four monuments are listed by Historic England.

You can view details of the project by typing reference 221520 into the council’s planning portal.

Billy’s name is on a wall demanding his liberty

For every stationary car and passer by to see

But without the story behind the words how can I know If Billy should be free to go Did he deserve everything he got Whether he committed a crime or not

Perhaps poor Billy is merely grounded

And the plea to free him is unfounded

SNOW DAY: Whitley residents found their own ways to enjoy the 1962 Boxing Day snow storm. Picture courtesy of Whitley Community Museum

Maybe Billy is like a beast in a cage Whose imprisonment has caused outrage

The statement written simply on the wall That Billy should be free is not enough

For anyone to make that call And I’m sure many will think it’s a little tough And possibly a little mean That I forgot all about Billy’s plight when the light turned green

Gillian Passman

POETRY CORNER

designed by Robert Matthew Johnson Marshall in the Brutalist style, and completed in 1977.

Atomic Kitten to play Palmer Park

READING’S biggest family festival has announced details for next year’s event, including a purr-fect headliner.

Reading’s Party in the Park is set to return to Palmer Park on Sunday, June 18, next year.

The event will see Atomic Kitten joined by Blazin Squad, with more to be announced on Thursday, January 5.

It will also feature DJs, tribute bands, pantomimes and theatre, spread across three stages of entertainment, as well as the usual offerings of street food, craft beer, and cocktails.

n Sign-up is now open for ticket discounts, available via www. legacylive.co/buy-tickets/

Phantom bells

PHANTOM Brewing Co is seeing in the new year with a party.

The Reading-based brewery is welcoming punters to its taproom for a New Year’s Eve party complete with food and games.

As well as its own range of drinks, the taproom will be hosting The English Desi to keep attendees fed.

It will also host a number of games to help the party go with a swing.

Tickets are £10 each, which includes a drink on arrival and at the stroke of midnight.

n Tickets are available via: www. eventbrite.co.uk.

Flackstock tickets go on sale for 2023

BACK NEXT YEAR: Natalie Pinkham, Jody Flack, and Dawn O’Porter at Flackstock 2022. The festival will return in 2023

Mates Rates announces Ding Comedy Festival

READING will soon be home to a brand new comedy and arts festival across a number of venues across three days.

FRIENDS and family of Caroline Flack have announced the return of Flackstock for 2023.

Following its inaugural event last year, the day festival is set to return for another year to celebrate the life of the late TV presenter.

Last year saw performances from Olly Murs, Tom Grennan, Ronan Keating, and Natalie Imbruglia, among others, and raised £325,000 for charity.

The funds raised were split between Choose Love, Mind, Samaritans, and the Charlie Weller Trust, each of which “held

a special place in Caroline’s heart”.

The organising committee, including Caroline’s mother, Christine, and sister, Jody, has confirmed that the festival is now set to return to raise further funds for the outlets.

While the date has been set for Monday, July 23, 2023, the lineup is yet to be announced

Flackstock 2023 is due to take place in the grounds of Englefield House, following on from a series of summer concerts as part of the site’s Heritage Live programme.

The committee said: “Flackstock was an incredible way to remember our friend Caroline,

but it became so much more than that – a place full of joy where people felt comfortable talking about mental health.

“There has been an overwhelming desire for us to return, so we are back with the intention of building Flackstock into a legacy festival to raise money and awareness for a range of brilliant charities.

“We want everyone to come and join us in 2023 for this magical event.”

n Tickets are now on sale, priced at £66 per person, and £32 for under 14s, available via: www. axs.com.

The inaugural Reading Comedy Festival is set to take place next year, with Zoe Lyons announced as the headline act.

She be joined by fellow comedians, both national and local, when she takes to the stage at Double-Barrelled Brewery.

The festival will also see the Reading New Comedian of the Year competition, taking place at The Purple Turtle, and The Sunday Roast at Milk Bar, presented by Roast Battle UK.

Double-Barrelled brewery will also see its very own dedicated show, The RCF Brewery Showcase.

These will be followed by

an after party, also at DoubleBarrelled Brewery.

Co-organiser and promoter for Mates Rates Comedy Nick Byard said: “this is a great opportunity to showcase Reading’s thriving independent comedy scene and bring some big names to Reading.

“The £30 festival pass is an absolute bargain but we also have some great options for the more casual festival goer and people on a budget.”

Festival co-organiser and promoter for Laughter Craft Comedy Jonathan Elston said: “we have been hosting some of the biggest names at our new material night at Milk Bar for a while now.

“It will be great to see some of them bringing their exclusive shows to the festival.”

Bach Choir plans a celebration

a career as an international orchestral and chamber musician, soloist, and teacher.

Clarinet and Cake has now been moved to the end of January, in which the choir will be joined by two special guests for an evening of live music.

A celebratory concert will see the choir’s own alto, Janet Hilton, will be performing a clarinet recital, accompanied by the assistant musical director, Nicholas Shaw.

Ms Hilton is currently professor of clarinet at the Royal College of Music, having enjoyed

Mr Shaw has been with the choir for more than 20 years, including a range of educational activities with young musicians in the Youth Chorus Master of Opera North.

He also acts as director of chapel music at St Lincoln’s Inn and as an associate of the Royal Academy of Music.

The event will see performances of the Intermezzo and Scherzo from  Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Four Characteristic

Pieces, Studies in English Folk Song.

It will also include Stanford’s Irish Lament from Sonata Op129, Turnage’s Two Memorials, and Horovitz’s clarinet and piano Sonatina.

There will be tea and cake served following the performances.

Singing Day will now take place from 3.30pm on Saturday, January 28, at St Andrew’s Church, Caversham.

n Tickets cost £15 per person, £5 for under-18s, available via: www. readingbachchoir.org.uk.

Pentahotel welcomes Ellen Blane

PENTAHOTEL is set to welcome a folk singer and guitarist for an evening of live music.

Live & Love Music is presenting an acoustic set from London-based performer Ellen Blane.

Blane will bring her folk music sensibilities to the evening, combining chart hits and pop favourites with her unique style.

She writes original material, with her YouTube content attracting more than 1.5 million views and her debut single, Going Under, amassing more than 100,000 streams.

She is also a winner of the MTV Cover of the Month award.

The event will see live music at the main bar in Pentahotel, Oxford Road, between 7pm-10pm on Friday.

n More information and tickets are available via: allevents.in

JAKE CLOTHIER

Picture: Dijana Capan/DVision Images

LAUGHTER

TIME: The inaugural Reading Comedy Festival will see a roast battle, comedy competitions, and an after party for a weekend full of shows at venues across town, headlined by Zoe Lyons

Picture: Steve Ullathorne via Wikimedia

READING Bach Choir has announced the rescheduling of its latest concert.

RaW Sounds Today

Chris Hillman

bit.ly/raw soundstoday

SO, here it is, Merry Christmas, everybody’s having fun … and they will be rocking around the Christmas tree too thanks to this week’s Raw Sounds Today playlist.

Why have chestnuts roasting when they could be listening to some fantastic music?

We’re on a mission to champion and showcase great music from acts that have a connection to Reading and Wokingham (that’s the RaW in our Sounds Today name).

It’s an eclectic mix of stuff that will help you discover something new. All you have to do is find it on Spotify.

To hear this week’s selection, simply head to https://bit.ly/rawsoundstoday and enjoy the music.

There is also a Facebook page and group chat that bands and music fans can tap into. You can search for RaW Sounds Today and it will come up.

Third Lung – The Christmas Song (Stranger to the Cold)

What a year this band have had!

They’ve released excellent singles, headlined Sub 89, played gigs and festivals, sold out their own Loddfest, performed live on a tour of record stores including HMV and released their brilliant debut album, Gameplay.

As if that isn’t enough they end the year with the

release of a brand new Christmas single to raise money for Reading’s Launchpad charity and as usual with this band, it’s great.

What a year, what a band – http://www. thirdlungband.com/

Spriggan Mist – Green Santa

Does Santa really wear red? Listen to the lyrics and see what you think as you dance along to their new single. Don’t miss the band’s special Wassail event with Flutatious at Wokingham Music Club on January 27 – https://www.sprigganmist.com/

Voodoo Radio – Christmas Eve

This exciting duo from Cumbria visited Reading recently as support for Spizzenergi at their Club Velocity show. They’ve just released this great new Christmas single, a brilliant uplifting party anthem –http://www.voodooradio.co.uk/

Spizzenergi – Christmas in Denmark Street

They visited Reading to perform a brilliant show for Club Velocity at the Facebar and here’s their single about Denmark Street. Not Wokingham’s Denmark Street or could it be? – https://www. spizzenergi.com/ Rocket Kings – Christmas Without You

Have a Ukelele Christmas with Rocket Kings! They’ve just released this seasonal feel-good song –https://www.facebook.com/rocketkings

That Joe Payne – Gloria

Joe played a great set at Wokingham Festival in the summer and he has now released a Christmas album, ‘Ding Dong’ from which this is taken. It’s a wonderful album which deserves to be a perennial

Christmas classic – https://www.thatjoepayne.com/

John Otway – Middle of Winter

With John recently performing his Christmas knees-up at Club Velocity’s recent show, it’s a good excuse to include this version of John’s song from his 2014 EP A John Otway Christmas – http://www. johnotway.com/

Albion Christmas Band – Christmas Wreath

Here’s a band made up of folk legends that get together to create seasonal folk music.

They recently visited Maidenhead and Basingstoke as part of a UK tour and released their new album, All Are Safely Gathered In.

It’s an excellent offering with traditional and new songs that capture the seasonal spirit. Christmas Wreath is a beautiful example – https://www. albionchristmas.co.uk/

RyeWolf – When the Snows of Winter Fall

Local band, RyeWolf perform fun folk music plus softer songs too like this from their new ‘Christmas Cheer’ single- https://www.ryewolf.co.uk/

Greg Lake – I Believe in Father Christmas

Not much of a local connection here for this one although I did see this sadly missed great musician and vocalist play a brilliant live set at Reading Festival many years ago with a band that included another sadly missed musician on guitar, Gary Moore.

It was brilliant.

Included as our final seasonal selection as it’s one of my all-time faves and doesn’t seem to get played as much as it used to be, even though it should do.

Happy Christmas Everyone. Thanks for listening –http://www.greglake.com/

Queuing from 9am to meet Ant Middleton

ANT MIDDLETON has just released his second novel, Red Mist, following on from the success of his previous literary works.

As well as his work on Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins, Middleton has published a non-fiction trilogy including his autobiography.

On Friday, he visited Waterstones on Broad Street for a book signing, which saw many queueing before 9am to meet him.

Just before the event, he said of his mixture of fiction and non-fiction works: “I like to merge the two together.

“With non-fiction, I write what I’m allowed to, but with fiction I can sort of merge the two worlds together.”

The newest novel has been billed as ultra-authentic, with Middleton drawing on his decades of experience in the armed forces, including years in both the Royal Marines and the Special Boat Service.

“I don’t like my fiction to be too… fiction—I don’t want it to be some guy going off on a rampage, it’s about merging my life experiences and my combat experiences, but my family life and travel, too.

“When I first started people wanted shootouts in hospitals and I was like ‘woah, hold back.’

“I want readers to be able to try and relate, ask the question ‘could it be done, if it was me,’ not someone saving a damsel in distress with endless rounds.”

The focus on relatability is evident in much of his work, especially since his messages about mental health and positive outlook are universal in their relevance.

“Life has its stresses, and as long as you’ve got a good purpose that you’re working towards then you know you’re going to get the setbacks and knock backs, but it’s all heading towards a positive outcome.

“When you look at the stresses on you, are you fighting towards a goal¬¬nine times out of 10 we are, but stress automatically fits into that negative category.”

But his outlook, he says, is not even necessarily the result of the considerable, in-depth, and intensive training he has had.

“It’s through exposure, repetition, certain crowds, certain people, you’re going to learn how to harness ityou learn how to make it work for you.

“But it’s about that commitment, it’s about putting yourself out there to do that, and a lot of people get caught up in a negative bubble.

“Are you surrounding yourself with the right people that you know, are they making you feel good – I think that’s a really important thing to break down for yourself.”

Overall, he says there are three things

which he seeks to maintain his sunny disposition: “A positive mindset, positive people, and a positive environment.

“I think that’s a by-product of where I’ve come from; when you’re wrapped up in high-intensity situations, you just do it—there’s little thinking.

“Since I’ve gone into TV and written books, I’m learning a lot more about thinking then acting, which comes with growth and maturity,

“My mind is constantly engaged now where before I just didn’t have time to think, and sometimes when you’ve had

a really challenging moment it’s good to really dissect it.”

He says he tries to simplify life, which he contends is more complex than ever: “You can get away from the complexities of life.

“But it’s a realness and a warmness that people need; when you’re real and honest, you can take hold of a problem and process it.

“When it’s not clear or understood correctly, it’s like a hot potato and you can’t really grab hold of the problem.

“It becomes layered with complications, layered with B.S. and negativity, and you can scrape that all away by being honest.”

He admits that this can be difficult, however: “I think the honesty and realness is hard.

“It’s tough because a lot of people don’t like the truth, or they don’t like the rawness of it that really strips them down to a point where they feel vulnerable.

“But there’s a way of doing it, but if you want to do that, I think you can find something in my books.”

In his literary work, he says he hopes to find a legacy, of sorts: “Above all; above my TV, above my tours, above everything, that writing is therapeutic.

“I get out everything that goes on in my head, and I know that it’s an archive that anyone can pick up.

“I hope that in 100 years’ time somebody, my book is on the shelf somewhere and I’m long gone, and someone will pick it up and dust it off.

“And hopefully they’ll get something from it that they can pass on—that’s the goal.”

n Ant Middleton’s new novel, Red Mist, is available now

JAKE CLOTHIER

WHAT A YEAR: Third Lung launched an album at Sub89, just one part of a busy 12 months Picture: Andrew Merritt

Ant Middleton meeting with fans Michelle Shoulder and Margaret, who he refers to as his ‘sniper’ Picture: Jake Clothier

Help deaf people this Christmas

THIS WEEKEND, in case you hadn’t noticed, sees the world celebrate Christmas Day.

And with it comes the gatherings as dinner tables are packed with families and friends coming together.

For some it can be a time not of great joy, but great frustration because they can’t hear all the chatter going on.

RNID, the national charity for deaf people and people with hearing loss, asked supporters for their top tips of how family and friends can make communication easier at Christmas.

And just in time for the big day, here they are:

Ask how you can help

Everyone is different, so ask the person who is deaf or has hearing

loss what you can do to make communication easier. For example, they might need to see your face when you’re talking, or they might need the subtitles on if you’re watching a film together.

Make lipreading easier

Make sure the room you are in for your Christmas get-together is well-lit – candles and fairy lights alone won’t be much use to people who lipread.

Don’t cover your mouth when you’re speaking, and face the person who is lipreading.

Try not to speak with your mouth full as this will make it harder for them to lipread you.

Take it in turns to speak

Try not to speak over each other – it’s impossible to lipread more than one person at

a time and your family member will quickly get lost in the conversation. Speak clearly and not too slowly, and don’t shout as this can be uncomfortable for hearing aid users.

If someone doesn’t understand what you said, try repeating or explaining it in a different way.

Keep background noise low

If you’re playing festive music or if there is background noise, keep the volume low. This will make it much easier for people to hear, and it will help anyone who lipreads to focus on what you are saying.

Help people follow the conversation

If the topic of conversation suddenly changes, make sure everyone is aware – maybe ask them a question to check.

And crucially, if someone who is deaf or has hearing loss asks you to repeat something, never say “it doesn’t matter”. If you do that, you’re taking away their opportunity to be part of the conversation, and you might make them feel like they don’t matter.

Harriet Oppenheimer, Deputy

Chief Executive at RNID, said: “For lots of us, Christmas is a time of big family get-togethers, noisy work Christmas dos and catching up with old friends. But we also know that Christmas can be an isolating time if you are deaf or have hearing loss or tinnitus, and our supporters have told us that they can feel

left out of the festive fun going on around them.

“Being deaf aware at Christmas doesn’t have to mean making big changes; there are small things you can do which will make the day a lot more enjoyable for your deaf family member or friend and allow them to be part of the celebrations.”

Owners urged to pet proof Christmas and stay off Santa Paws’ naughty list

ANIMAL lovers are being encouraged to keep their pets safe this festive season by pet-proofing their Christmas, ensuring anything which may be mistaken for a tasty treat is out of paw’s reach.

The warning comes as new research from the British Veterinary Association (BVA) reveals four in five companion animal vets in the South East saw at least one case of toxic ingestion last year.

The festive season brings with it presents, decorations and yummy festive food. But these seemingly innocent pleasures can be deadly if eaten by animals. Chocolate, raisins and other dried fruit – such as that in mince pies or Christmas puddings - onion, garlic, xylitol in sugar-free products and seasonal decorations like mistletoe and holly can all be dangerous, and even fatal, to dogs and cats if eaten.

In the South East, 76% of vets saw cases of chocolate poisoning and the same number saw dogs taken unwell after easing raisins or sultanas.

One in six (17%) reported seeing cases caused by the artificial sweetener Xylitol, 12% saw cases caused by eating onions or garlic and 10% by seasonal plants like holly and mistletoe and spring bulbs such as daffodils.

Foreign body ingestion in dogs was also common over the 2021 festive period.

In the South East, gifts for humans, including small parts of children’s toys, were the most common cause with one in six vets reporting this as a cause (17%) while consumption of Christmas decorations (14%) and gifts for pets (12%) were also highlighted

by vets as causing issues.

Cases involving clothing and accessories, or stones or rocks were seen by 10% of vets.

But it’s not just dogs who should be on Santa’s naughty list: more than a quarter of vets (27%) saw cases of toxic ingestion in cats.

In the South East, cats were most likely to have ingested non-food items such as seasonal plants like holly or mistletoe (reported by 19% of vets).

Thirteen per cent of vets saw cats with foreign body ingestion across the UK with, 10% of vets in the South East seeing cases caused by Christmas decorations.

British Veterinary Association President Malcolm Morley said: “Christmas can be the most wonderful time of the year but not if you end up with a poorly pet. Being vigilant and taking a few key precautions is all that

is needed to keep your pets happy and healthy over the festive period.

“Keep all edible items, decorations and anything else a pet may mistake for a tasty treat out of their reach to help prevent avoidable emergency visits to the vet.

“We also advise keeping pets to their normal diets and avoiding feeding them any human food. If you are concerned your pet has eaten something they shouldn’t have, do contact your vet as soon as possible.”

Top tips for keeping Christmas hazard-free for pets

Protect your pet from poisons

A range of festive treats and traditions, such as chocolate in advent calendars and sweets, raisins, xylitol

(found in sugar-free treats), nuts, grapes, liquorice, poinsettia, holly and mistletoe are toxic to cats and dogs.

Keep decorations out of reach

Ribbons, wrapping paper, baubles, tinsel and tree lights can seem like appealing playthings to cats and dogs but can be very dangerous if broken, chewed or swallowed. Batteries for Christmas gifts also need to be kept safe as, if ingested, they may cause severe chemical burns to the mouth, throat and stomach.

Forget festive food for pets

We all enjoy a richer diet over Christmas, but fatty foods and Christmas dinners shouldn’t be shared with the animals of the household. They can trigger sickness and diarrhoea or other conditions from gastroenteritis to pancreatitis, so try to stick to your pet’s regular diet and routine. Too many treats can also lead to pet obesity.

Keep away the bones

Cooked bones, including turkey bones, should not be given to pets as they can splinter and puncture the digestive tract.

Know where to go

Even with all the care in the world, animal accidents and emergencies can still happen. Make sure you’re prepared by checking your vet’s emergency cover provision and holiday opening hours or, if you are away from home, use the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ Find a Vet facility.

n For more information on pets and poisons, download Animal Welfare Foundation’s free Pets and Poisons leaflet.

Volunteer Corner Reading Voluntary Action

DRAUGHTBUSTERS has built up a team of experienced volunteers who have helped a lot of people with draughty homes and also given them advice on how to manage their heating systems and reduce their energy use.

Right now they are seeking more volunteers for this upcoming Winter to assist with providing a quick audit of homes in fuel poverty, to advise on energy-saving potential and to implement simple draughtproofing measures, working in teams of two or three.

Full training on assessing housing and using draught-proofing materials is given, including practical training.

n Reading Blind Aid Society was f ormed in 1883, and then changed to Reading Association for the Blind in 1926 and has supported the sight-impaired people of Reading ever since.

They currently need helpers at their Social Club. They have arts and crafts activities where volunteers help members participate.

This would be a perfect opportunity for caring volunteers that happen to be creative.

These Social Clubs are held at Walford Hall and provide a safe, much-needed social environment for their members.

n Enrych Berkshire is a registered charity that provides support to people with a disability, helping them get access to leisure, social and learning activities.

Right now they are seeking a volunteer for a quiet gentleman who has been using a wheelchair since becoming an amputee.

Help them build confidence in going out and tackle isolation.

Social activities could be watching boxing on the TV in the pub, playing pool or even just going out and getting fresh air.

It would help so much.

n Take a look at our Reading Volunteer Connect platform for details of these and many more opportunities to volunteer via our website, www. rgneeds.me. Want to get in touch? Drop us an email at volunteering@rva.org.uk or call 0118 937 2273.

PET FRIENDLY: Don’t let your pet get ill by eating food that could be a poison to them

Picture: Wokandapix from Pixabay

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Plantation of prickly plants in America (9)

Label the French board (5)

Reversal of policy concerning refurbished cafe (5-4)

It’s held by solicitors to be permissible (5)

I am twice red in confusion over the girl (7)

Siren about to have a quick wash (5)

It’s a puzzle how the bungling builders removed lid (5)

Jack to return for a card game (5)

Hardy crowd distracted? (7)

More attractive French resort by right (5)

Had been haunted (9)

Ernie transformed her (5)

Plant I landed on, crashing (9)

Place the four signs (add, subtract, multiply, divide) one in each circle so that the total of each across and down line is the same. Perform the first calculation in each line first and ignore the mathematical law which says you should always perform division and multiplication before addition and

Space remaining in pantry? (9)

Went without saying (9)

Hear about the moorland shrub (7)

I leave the girl a parasite (5)

A few about right to have a biscuit (5)

Award for finding ring on the cliff (5)

Remove trousers from French lady who’s unattractive (5)

Took away the booklet in the act (9)

Oriental near trees that are bending (9)

The substitute comes in last and interrupts (5-2)

An artist included order for scent (5)

Ill-treated? (5)

Sort of sounds like the nose Alan’s broken (5)

NONAGRAM

Each number in our Cross Code grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. You have three letters in the control grid to start you off. Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you get the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and control grid. Check off the alphabetical list of letters as you identify them.

SUDOKU

soloed; soul.

How many words of four letters or more can you make from this Nonagram? Each word must use the central letter, and each letter may be used only once. At least one word using all nine letters can be found.

Guidelines:

11 Chess; 12 Clean; 13

Down – 2 Afar; 3 Taught; 4 Images; 5 Keys; 6 Belong; 7

Chief; 14 Antic; 17 Hilt; 18 Sluggish; 20 Sea lions; 24 Taps; 25 Sunup; 26 Texan; 29 Verb; 30 Spacious; 31 Ell; 32 Lair; 33 Energise.

QUICK CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Hat trick; 6 Bomb; 8 Eve; 9 Salutary; 10 Lone; 12

EQUALISER:

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD:

RESULTS

FIXTURES

BOARS PROGRESS IN CUP,

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

Eric Holbrook Cup

EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA

SUNDAY progressed through with a 4-1 triumph over AS Camboli.

A brace from Matthew Catt and goals from Adam Langhorn and Jack Drury saw them put their name in the hat for the next round.

Having ensured their cup journey would continue, the Boars are also enjoying some strong form in the league.

They are currently in third place the Aldershot & District Division Three having won four, drawn two and lost one of their opening seven matches to put them on 14 points.

Eversley are next in action in the Hampshire FA County Sunday Vase when they face Plough and Horses FC away from home.

The Boars’ opponents in the cup play two divisions below Eversley in the Aldershot & District Division Five.

Plough and Horses are currently in fourth place but are unbeaten in the league having won three and drawn one of their opening four games.

Eversley & California: D Catt, M Catt, Chuter, Drury, Ebsworth, Hope, Marsh, Newman, Pennington, Setchfield, Teague Goals: M Catt x2, Drury, Langhorn

League Division Two

BERKSHIRE ROYALS claimed three points with a 3-2 away victory at GIVE BACK FC RESERVES In the only match in the division that survived the freezing conditions.

Berkshire are up to fifth in the table with four wins from their opening six matches, while Give Back remain one point and one place above the Royals.

With all other matches being cancelled over the weekend, all league fixtures in the Reading &

District Sunday LEague have been completed for 2022.

The teams will resume action in the New Year.

GIVE BACK FC currently lead the way in the Premier Division on 16 points with five wins from seven matches.

GC UNITED are the table toppers in Division One and have a made an unbeaten start with six wins and a draw, meanwhile CAVERSHAM UNITED are one place behind on 14 points from 10 matches.

WESTWOOD WANDERERS

DEVELOPEMENT have seven wins and one loss to their name after eight matches which sees them top the table in Division Two.

RE UNITED have enjoyed a stunning start to life in Division Three and have won all nine of their games to give them a healthy lead at the summit.

Meanwhile, RICHFIELD VETS are in first place in Division Four with five wins and two draws from seven matches.

TABLE TENNIS FA TROPHY

BERKSHIRE ROYALS TAKE AWAY WIN OUR LADY OF PEACE MAKE POSITIVE RESTART WITH

By NIGEL MALTBY sport@wokingham.today

AS the second half of the season kicks off in Division 1, third place OUR LADY OF PEACE A restarted positively with a 9-1 victory over TIDMARSH A. Their sole winner was Duncan Groves, repeating his first half defeat of Steve Murgatroyd, who narrowly edged Simon Barter 13-11 in the decider, while Justin Mead and Ian Cole completed trebles.

SONNING COMMON & PEPPARD A sitting one place higher at the turn replicated this score line, pushing aside KINGFISHER C, young Prayrit Ahluwalia being their sole victor against Jason Roberts while Jamie Barlow and Neil Hurford sealed the comprehensive victory.

KINGFISHER D continued their impressive run with an 8-2 score-line against SONNING SPORTS A, whose star player Dave Croucher had already beaten young talent Ryan

TIDMARSH WIN

Chung, took the two, but was no match for Graham Mendick on this occasion who stormed to a 11-3 11-6 11-6 victory.

Despite Ed Lush scoring another treble, SONNING COMMON & PEPPARD B could not avoid a 6-4 defeat away to TILEHURST RBL A, who now lead the chasing pack striving for fifth.

Just two points back, KINGFISHER B pushed aside READING FC 8-2, with Alan Cummings being awarded player-of-the-match with a fine treble including the scalp of Mike Childs.

In division 2, KINGFISHER F battled out a 5-5 draw, Hamid Mohseni with a great treble for Kingfisher that included an opening win against Pradeep Desh 9-11 13-15 13-11 11-211-9.

Steven Woolnough managed two wins including an 11-8 11-9 6-11 9-11 11-8 win over Binit Bhaskar in the final set of the night to clinch their draw.

In the clash of the bottom two teams TILEHURST

METHODISTS A and

KINGFISHER E also had a 5-5 draw. Tilehurst’s Eric Van Looy, the division’s top player, recorded yet another maximum and his team mate Bill Stamatiou was unfortunate to lose two very close sets in five, including a marathon against Luca Bianchi which he lost 11-9 in the fifth.

Despite a Graeme Streets hat trick SONNING COMMON & PEPPARD F lost 6-4 at Kingfisher I.

The main reason they could only field two players with Mike Mitcham and Walter Aldridge both managing wins over Peppard’s Mike Casserely.

A strong team performance saw SONNING SPORTS C win 6-4 at Springfield B for whom Rob Attack won all three.

For the sports, Stephen Reader and Mo Cole both won two each and Mo had a very close win over Richard Sabberton-Coe beating him 14-12 15-11 13-11.

ROBINS TO FACE BATH OR BROMLEY IN FA TROPHY

BRACKNELL TOWN FC will face either Bath City or Bromley in the FA Trophy fourth round.

Bracknell will face the winners of the thirdround tie between Bath City and Bromley on Saturday, January 14.

The Robins ensured that they progressed from the third round last weekend with an away win at Eastbourne Borough.

Playing against the National League South side, Bracknell came away on top after goals from Joe Grant and George Knight helped them to a 2-1 win.

Bracknell already have previous experience with remarkable cup runs this season having made it to the FA Cup first-round where they played League One Ipswich Town.

After holding their own in an excellent defensive performance throughout the first-half, Bracknell were eventually breached by the former FA Cup winners.

It took the Tractor Boys more than an hour to break Bracknell down but they eventually did and scored two more to take a 3-0 success.

Bath City are currently in 11th position after 21 matches in the National League South with eight wins, six draws and seven defeats.

Meanwhile, Bromley are a division above in the National League and are in 11th place after 21 matches with eight wins, six draws and seven losses to their name.

Friday, December 16

FOOTBALL Championship Birmingham City 3-2 Reading

FA WSL Cup Coventry United 0-4 Reading

Saturday, December 17

FOOTBALL

FA Trophy third-round Eastbourne Borough 1-2 Bracknell Town

Combined Counties Premier North Ascot United 5-1 Windsor

Thames Valley Division Four Berks County Rovers 7-1 AFC Corinthians

Regional 1 South Central Camberley 37-19 Bracknell

Sunday, December 18

FOOTBALL

Thames Valley Women’s Division 3S Hawley 6-1 Shinfield Rangers

Reading & District Sunday League Division Two Give Back Reserves 2-3 Berkshire Royals

Tuesday, December 20

Results in Thursday’s Wokingham Today

FOOTBALL

Combined Counties Division One Eversley & California v Langley

Cherry Red Premier Challenge Cup second round Horley Town v Ascot United

Southern Combination Challenge Cup first-round Reading City v Camberley Town

Friday, December 23

Isthmian South central Binfield v Basingstoke Town

Tuesday, December 27

FOOTBALL Championship Reading v Swansea Southern League Premier South Beaconsfield Town v Bracknell Town

Combined Counties Division One Woodley United v Penn & Tylers Green

Friday, December 30 FOOTBALL Championship Norwich City v Reading

Monday, January 2 FOOTBALL Championship West Brom v Reading

Southern League Premier South Bracknell Town v Hartley Wintney

Isthmian South Central Marlow v Binfield

Combined Counties Premier North Reading City v Virginia Water

Combined Counties Division One Eversley & California v Cove Sandhurst Town v AFC Aldermaston

Thames Valley Premier League Burghfield v Westwood Wanderers Reading City U23s v Reading YMCA

Wargrave v Slough Heating Laurencians

Yateley United v Finchampstead

Reading & District Sunday

Eversley & California Sunday made progress in the Eric Holbrook Cup Pictures: Andrew Batt

Matthew Catt scored a brace

Eversley & California Sunday v AS Camboli

The Boars netted four times

MEALING TREBLE KEEPS YELLAS ON

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

Combined Counties

ASCOT UNITED extended their lead at the top of the table thanks to a treble from Marcus Mealing.

The Yellas took a resounding win over Windsor to make it 15 wins from 17 games.

Ascot broke through in the 17th minute when Mealing connected with Harry Grant’s

corner to head past the goalkeeper.

Mealing had his second of the match just five minutes later when Brendan Matthew spotted his run and played the ball to Mealing who looped it past the keeper.

Taking a 2-0 lead into the break, Ascot came flying out the traps and made it rhee just a minute after the restart when Harry Grant smacked a strike past the helpless Windsor goalkeeper.

In a lively start to second-

half proceedings, Windsor clawed a goal back in the 48th minute, but Ascot restored their healthy lead on the hour mark when Grant’s cross found Matthew who netted.

In the 76th minute, Mealing clinched his hat-trick goal after another successful corner from Harry Grant was converted by the forward to seal a thumping 5-1 win.

Ascot are now on top of the table on 46 points having played one game more than second placed

Goals

FA Trophy third-round

BRACKNELL TOWN continued their journey in the FA Trophy with an incredible win at Eastbourne Borough.

Up against the National League South side, the Robins ensured their place in the fourth round with a 2-1 success.

The teams were locked in a goalless contest in the first-half before Joe Grant opened the scoring after he was played through by Darryl Sanders and applied the finish.

Bracknell extended their lead with a little over 10 minutes remaining when George Knight got on the end of Guy Hollis’ launched long throw and headed into the bottom corner.

Eastboruen hit back with an instant reply to set up a nervy finish when Shiloh Remy netted.

But Bracknell were able to hold on to advance to the next round of the competition.

The Robins are next in action on Tuesday, December 27 with an away trip to Beaconsfield Town in the Southern League Premier South.

Joint Bracknell manager Carl Withers said: “These boys just keep proving the doubters

Ascot United were in the scoring mood as they hit five past Windsor Pictures: Neil Graham

Ascot manager Jamie Tompkins celebrates at full-time

Premier North

Reading City who are on 42 points.

ASCOT UNITED: Ashdown, Ajanlekoko, Gerrard, A Grant, H Grant (c), Lalustani, Lock, Matthew, McCormack, Mealing. Tucker

: Mealing 16’, 22’, 76’, H Grant 46’, Matthew 60’

wrong and showed again today the togetherness we have at Bracknell Town FC from the players to the loyal fans who braved the cold and travelled in their numbers.”

Co-manager Jamie McClurg added: “After a week of random training, illnesses and mental weather our lads delivered a performance.

“We earned a result against a top side and I have nothing but praise for the group.”

Thames Valley Division Four

BERKS COUNTY ROVERS smacked seven past AFC Cornthians to climb up to third in the table.

In a stunning attacking display, Rovers hit seven past their opponents to storm to a 7-1 triumph.

Leo Reed secured a hat-trick, Harvey Richardson netted a brace and Finnegan Cupper and George Hunt both got on the scoresheet.

Berks are in third place on 17 points after picking up five wins, two draws and five defeats from their opening 12 league matches.

Subs: Mann, Pritchard, Shepherd

Goals: Reed x3, Richardson x2, Hunt, Cupper

Thames Valley Women’s Division 3S

League leaders SHINFIELD RANGERS slumped to a heavy loss against their closest challengers Hawley.

to cut the gap at the top with a stunning 6-1 win.

Shinfield remain top of the league despite their loss with a one-point lead over Hawley after nine matches.

Rangers have won six, drawn one and lost two so far this league campaign.

From the middle

Subs

BERKS COUNTY: Copper, Gandolfi, Grimes, Hunt, Kay, Lowe, Pearce, Richardson, Reed, Williams, Fielding

COMBINED COUNTIES FOOTBALL

Lauren Smaje scored in the second-half for Shinfield, but it would turn out to only be a consolation goal as the hosts hit six past the table toppers

CLASH WITH PENN IN FINAL TEST OF THE YEAR

By Andy Preston apreston@wokingham.today

WOODLEY UNITED FC are in action for the final time in 2022 when they take on Penn & Tylers Green.

The Kestrels will host Penn in the Combined Counties Division One on Tuesday, December 27 (3pm kickoff) at the Rivermoor.

Woodley have endured a strong first-half to the season where they sit in ninth place after their first 18 matches.

United struggled in their league campaign in the 2021/22 season in

Combined Counties Division One and ended in 16th place.

Having fought in a relegation battle for much of the season, the team did enough to pull themselves away from the drop zone to finish with 41 points from 40 games after picking up 13 wins, two draws and 25 losses.

There was a change in management at the start of the season for Woodley as Jordan Blake took over from Ben Hudell who had to step down from the position due to work commitments.

Blake was given the chance by

Woodley to take charge in his first managerial job having been part of the management team for four seasons at Marlow FC .

In seven home matches in the league, Woodley have collected five wins a draw and have only been beaten twice.

They have struggled more on the road where they have been beaten seven times in 10 matches, but have also managed to amass three wins to keep them in the top half of the table.

Their final test of the year gives them a chance to boost their league

SHINFIELD RANGERS: C Bagshaw, Blanchard, Cashmore, Cox, Gotting, Kania, Karamat, Rapley, Smaje, L Bagshaw, Turnbull

Subs: Graywood, Jones, Slaughter

TOP WITH WINDSOR WIN KESTRELS

position in a tightly compacted table where they currently trail the two teams above them by just three points.

Woodley’s opponents have had a tricky start to the season and are currently floating near the bottom end of the table.

Penn are in 17th spot with 15 points from 15 games having won four, drawn three and lost nine.

In a closely contested bottom end of the division, just two points separate the bottom five teams in the table.

Controversial World Cup comes to an end

SO IT’S over. What was probably the most talked about and controversial of FIFA World Cups, has come to an end in many ways, as the most successful and dramatic.

The controversy was, of course, about the venue chosen for the games rather than the games.

Although we had two referees at the games, no English VARS were selected.

This some have said is due to the Premier League’s poor start with the use of VARs when they began by agreeing not to look at the monitor, for which they were reprimanded by FIFA and then for the lines drawn across the pitch for offsides, using toes as a guide.

They admitted at the end of the season that there were 20 disallowed goals that should have counted.

Howard Webb who introduced VAR successfully to the MLS in America and Canada, takes over as head of refereeing for the PGMO on January 1, so perhaps we can expect changes.

This reminds me that we didn’t see too much of the new piece of technology that was introduced at the games. This was the semiautomated offside alert.

In case you are not aware of this innovation, it not only tells the relevant assistant referee, when a player is in an offside position, but also whether that player was offside when the ball was kicked.

The few photos we did see showed a much clearer picture if the player was offside but it didn’t meet its other objective of doing away with the delayed flags.

This is where the assistant referee, if spotting an offside, keeps his flag down until the ball goes out of play, one way of the other, in case the VAR has another opinion.

One of those things that annoys many fans.

Our two referees didn’t get any of the ‘plum’ games but from what I watched, I thought that they performed well, especially Michael Oliver.

I was surprised to see his name on the ‘go home list’ before the final appointments were announced.

Having said that, I must agree that Polish referee, Szymon Marciniak, did a superb job at the final.

He stood no-nonsense from the players and didn’t shirk making tough decisions at crucial moments.

He is an ex-player and an experienced referee, with many top games behind him.

In four years’ time it will all happen again but in the less controversial countries of America and Canada and we mustn’t forget that, next year, the Woman’s World Cup will be held in August and September in Australia and New Zealand.

BRACKNELL TOWN: Eacott, Fraser, Burden, Hollis, Bayliss (c), Lodge, Abisogun, Knight, Grant, Sanders, English

: Cheshire, Sani, Dean, Goather-Braithwaite, Herbert Goals: Grant 65’, Knight 79’, Remy 80’

Dick Sawdon-Smith

How they rated

Made two excellent saves in the second-half to preserve her clean sheet, which is her first and just Reading’s second of the season.

DIANE CALDWELL

Made a really important intervention in the first-half when Coventry tried to break into the box early on.

EMMA MUKANDI

The Royals skipper had to be withdrawn just before half-time after going down injured and was replaced by Faye Bryson.

GEMMA EVANS

Looked comfortable at the back as Reading were rarely tested by the Coventry attack. Taken off. Replaced by Hendrix after 65 minutes.

LILY WOODHAM

Completed the entire game and had a decent strike at goal early in the second-half that whistled just past the post.

JUSTINE VANHAEVERMAET

A composed and assured performance from the central midfielder who kept things ticking over as Reading dominated the play.

SANNE TROELSGAARD

Continued her fine scoring run as she kept on her toes to poach from close range to finish from a few yards out.

RACHEL ROWE

Created plenty of chances and started the move for what looked like a fifth goal before Wellings was ruled to be offside.

Put in some excellent crosses for her teammates and was constantly able to find Dowie in dangerous areas.

NATASHA DOWIE

Took her first goal well with a header and then showed great composure with close control and a tidy finish to grab her second.

CHARLIE WELLINGS

Got on the scoresheet when her strike on the half volley from range beat the keeper.

CONTI CUP

DOWIE DOUBLE SEES ROYALS END YEAR IN STYLE

COVENTRY UTD 0 READING 4

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

READING FC WOMEN rounded off the year in style with a thumping win against Championship side Coventry United.

Up against the team bottom of the Women’s Championship, who are yet to pick up a point this campaign, Reading showed their superiority with a convincing win to move top of their group in the Conti Cup.

In blisteringly cold conditions, Natasha Dowie gave the Royals a perfect start when she nodded in after just four minutes after she jumped highest to beat her defender and converted from Amalie Eikeland’s cross.

The hosts had two chances in quick succession in front of the crowd at the ButtsPark Arena,. But they were unable to give the home support something to cheer when Grace Moloney was first able to gather a header before Diane Caldwell defended strongly to prevent Coventry from breaking into the bos on a counter attack.

Sanne Troelsgaard continued her excellent goal scoring form when she added a second Royals goal in

the 17th minute.

She was quickest to react to the loose ball and tap the ball over the line after Charlie Wellings’ effort bounced back off the post to double the advantage.

Dowie thought she had found her second goal of the night in the 22nd minute when she was again found by Eikeland, this time at he back post where she nodded in only to be denied by the offside flag.

Dowie persisted and was rewarded with her brace, and Reading’s third goal, to give the visitors a commanding lead in the 28th minute.

With the pick of the goals on the night, Dowie showed excellent composure in the box to turn the ball onto her right foot, slaloming her way past a defender in the process before coolly slotting the ball into the bottom right corner to give Reading further consolidation.

Kelly Chambers were forced into a change just before the break as captain Emma Mukanndi was injured and had to be replaced by Faye Bryson.

Troelsgaard was also withdrawn at half-time and replaced by Emma Harries.

Reading could have put the game further out of sight after the restart when Lily Woodham struck a long range shot that drifted just wide of the target.

Another few chances came the way of the Royals as they showed their superiority throughout the contest.

Wellings looked to get on the scoresheet but wasn’t able to steer her effort on goal, while Eikeland sprung down the left before getting into the box but was also wayward in her finish that landed the wrong side of the post.

Reading could have had a penalty when Harries looked to have been tripped in the box, but the referee waved play on much to

Match stats

COVENTRY

the dismay of the Royals playing and coaching staff.

With just over an hour played, Reading added to their tally with their fourth of the game as Charlie Wellings did get herself on the scoresheet.

Her long ranged effort beat goalkeeper Mia Smith as Reading reflected their dominance with a heavy scoreline.

Brooke Hendrix entered the contest to make her competitive debut for the Royals, while Lauren Wade and Tia Primmer both made appearances from the bench as Reading consolidated their victory.

SUBS

READING

Moloney was called into action a couple of occassions to preserve her clean sheet when she stormed off her line to snatch the ball from the feet of Mary McAteer and a strike from Simran Jhamat fizzed just inches wide of the top corner.

Despite being top of Group E at full-time, the Royals did not progress to the next round after Tottenham took a narrow 1-0 win away at Southampton on Sunday to pip them to top spot, meaning that Spurs grabbed the spot in the quarter finals at Reading’s expense.

GOALS

n The Royals are not back in action until Sunday, January 15 when they face an away trip to Everton in the Women’s Super League.

Natasha Dowie added two goals to her tally Faye Bryson in action for Reading Women Stock Picture: Steve Smyth

GRACE MOLONEY

AMALIE EIKELAND

: Moloney, Caldwell, Mukandi (c), Evans, Woodham, Vanhaevermaet, Troelsgaard, Rowe, Eikeland, Dowie, Wellings

SUBS: Burns, Poulter, Bryson, Wade, Harries, Cooper, Hendrix, Jane, Primmer

‘I WANT TO STAY’: CARROLL KEEN TO EXTEND ROYALS CONTRACT

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

STRIKER Andy Carroll has made his intentions to stay at Reading FC clear with his current contract due to expire next month.

The Royals forward joined Reading last season on a short-term stay that saw him depart for West Brom after the New Year.

However, Carroll revealed that he regrets leaving the club and has outlined his wish to extend his current deal with Reading.

“Hopefully we will get it (the contract) sorted in the next couple of weeks,” said Carroll.

“I enjoy it. The lads are great, the training ground is great, the staff are brilliant and the fans are too.

“I came back because I enjoyed it the first time. Looking back I probably shouldn’t have left.

“I want to stay longer.”

Carroll admitted that the current dressing room is one of the best he has been involved in.

He continued: “It sounds cliche but we really are like a family. It’s a tight group, everyone is involved with each other.

“The dressing room is fantastic. It’s one of the best I’ve been in to be honest. The lads are really tight and have stuck together. It’s good to be a part of.

“I’ve been in dressing rooms

before where there all groups all over the place and they keep themselves to themselves. Here, it’s not like that at all.

“I don’t feel responsibility or pressure, I just be me and that’s it.

“If the lads like it, they like it. If they don’t, they don’t.

“I like having a laugh and a joke but on the pitch I work hard and hopefully that shows and they go along with it.

Carroll initially joined the Royals in November 202 on a short-term deal.

He scored two goals in eight

Championship appearances for Reading and made a significant impact despite only staying a short time, but departed to join West Brom for the remainder of the season.

In an honest assessment, the forward admitted that it was the wrong choice to make and is relieved that he got the chance to return to Reading after his contract with the Baggies expired in the summer.

“To be honest, the second day I was there (West Brom) I regretted being there.

“I was in Spain keeping fit and working hard (over the summer).

“When I got the call from the manager, I was like ‘Yeah, come on, get me back in’.

“You’ll have to ask the manager as I don’t have the answers, but I’m willing to sign if there is a deal there.”

Reflecting on the season so far, Carroll continued: “I think at the beginning of the season if you asked anyone if they would be happy with where we are now, I think they would say yes.

“We’ve ha d a couple of results that didn’t go our way but I think we’re in a good place at the minute.

“We’ve played some good games and where are where we are. I think we could be a little bit higher actually.”

ROYALS PEN LETTER TO WORLD CUP WINNER

READING FC

Martinez became the first ever player to play for Reading to feature in a World Cup Final.

The 30-year-old goalkeeper played a huge hand in helping Argentina lift the trophy in an encapsulating final against France.

Martinez pulled off a spectacular save in the dying moments of extratime with the contest locked at 3-3 and then made a heroic save in the penalty shootout as Argentina clinched the World Cup.

The letter reads: “Yeah … you’ll play in front of more than 80,000 in the Lusail Stadium in Doha this afternoon, competing alongside your captain Lionel Messi – against the reigning world champions – for the honour of lifting the World Cup trophy with Argentina. But can you do it on a cold night in Stoke?

“Yes you can. A memorable save from Sam Vokes, a goalless draw and a crucial point courtesy of a

clean sheet earned by a certain Emi Martinez stood defiantly between the Reading posts.

“We know we cannot truly lay claim to you. But you become the first player to have represented Reading Football Club and to play in the World Cup Final. And…once a Royal, always a Royal.”

Martinez played 18 games for the Royals in 2018/19 as he helped the club avoid relegation from the Championship with some outstanding performances.

Since his spell at Reading, his

career has gone from strength to strength and he has now etched his name into football history by winning the World Cup.

The letter continues: “With one appearance for Arsenal that season, you arrived in Reading looking for a run of games.

“That is all you wanted … the no.1 spot to prove yourself.

“On debut at Bolton, you starred and we took home a point. But we were in the bottom three alongside Wanderers and Ipswich, a point adrift of Rotherham and five points adrift of Wigan.

“We lost just one of the first eight games with you as the last line of defence. And another goalless affair at home to West Brom all but secured our second-tier status when it had seemed relegation might loom.

“As we say, we can’t claim you as our own. Nurtured at Independiente, Arsenal brought you to England and offered you European and Premier League experience, Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham welcomed you for

short spells in Yorkshire, Wolves and then Getafe in Spain gave you the gloves on loan and of course you continue to shine for Aston Villa week in, week out. But you made a real impact during your 18 games as a Royal. And we hope we played a very, very small part in your journey as a goalkeeper.

“We may just have been a stepping stone. But we know you relished every moment as a Royal –from the first weeks with the club when you went into the Fanstore to kit out your young son in the blue and white hoops, to the clean sheet you kept against Birmingham City on your last appearance in RG2. A year later, you were winning the FA Cup with Arsenal. Two years later you were Player of the Season at Aston Villa and winning the Copa America with your country.

“You are a player who was as dedicated to digging your loan club out of a hole as you are to winning the World Cup with Argentina.

“From blue and white hoops to blue and white stripes.

“Good luck Emi.”

The 26-year-old

to

out on

due to disciplinary reasons and is currently out with a knee injury.

“We know he’s got loads of ability. It’s about producing it on the pitch,” said Ince.

“Before I came I knew about Ovie from Rangers and Liverpool. People said to me he’s very, very good.

“He’s a very talented player and I’ve seen a lot of talented players that have never made it and have fallen by the wayside.

“With Ovie it’s a strange one.

“Last year we played him on the left hand side and he was very good for us.

“He’s definitely got it there but it’s about doing it on a consistent basis.

“This year has been up and down with injuries and he’s never really got going.

“He’s one that needs to play in a specific role and play week in, week out.

“We haven’t had that luxury to do that yet.”

Ince praised Ejaria’s attitude in training and believes he will have a big role to play in the team for the remainder of the season.

He continued: “He’s got to look once he’s fit that he needs to get better. We want him to play and show the world what he can do.

“To be fair to the lad he’s a very good trainer, he works hard.

“If he can work hard and use his talent, then you’ve got a very special player.

“With our players we’ve got to improve them, make them feel better about themselves.

“It’s hard with Ovie, he’s an introverted person and doesn’t say a lot. He’s very quiet, comes and does his job.

“We want to get him back on the training ground and hopefully he can help Reading stay in this league.”

penned an open letter ahead of the World Cup Final to former loanee Emi Martinez who went on to help Argentina win the 2022 World Cup.

Ovie Ejaria Picture:Luke Adams

Andy Carroll has expressed a desire to carry on being a Royal Picture: Luke Adams

Emi Martinez played for Reading in 2019 Picture: Steve Smyth

READING FC manager Paul Ince has challenged Ovie Ejaira to recapture his best form when he returns from injury.

midfielder missed

the club’s trip

Tenerife during the World Cup break

How they rated

DEENEY DOUBLE GIVES

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

Can’t really be blamed for any of the goals.

Forced into a great save to deny Chong early in the second half.

The space between himself and Mbengue was always going to be a vulnerable channel. Was unable to add much impetus to attacks.

Amadou Mbengue

Failed to clear his lines for the third goal. Was not the worst player on the pitch, but often relied on his pace to get himself out of trouble.

Naby Sarr

Went to ground very early for City’s penalty. Wasn’t the best game for him to make his first start since August in.

Tom McIntyre

Hard to tell if the defender is fully fit because he was just not at the races. Made a goal-saving block to deny Deeney in the second half.

Allowed Bacuna far too much space down Reading’s left and his offensive deliveries weren’t of any real quality.

Mamadou Loum

Dangled his leg out in a lazy attempt to clear the cross which led to the first goal. Came out second best in far too many duels.

Hendrick

The game seemed to bypass the Irishman, who was unable to establish a foothold in midfield.

Tom Ince

Deserved his goal - was the driving force in Reading’s side. Harried the opposition and got a number of shots off in anger.

Andy Yiadom Baba Rahman Yakou Meite

Tried his best to create openings with the minimal service he received. Heading over from 18-yards out was the closest he came to scoring.

Long

Worked off scraps and did his best to retain possession. Played the majority of the game with his back to goal

Junior Hoilett 6: Added a little more going forward after coming on.

Lucas Joao 6: Clawed back a goal from close range 10 minutes from time.

In freezing conditions, the Royals were caught cold when Troy Deeney gave the Blues the lead after just 63 seconds.

Deeney had his double when he converted from the penalty spot and Tahith Chong pounced on another defensive mistake to make it three before half-time.

Lucas Joao and Tom Ince netted late in the game, but it wasn’t enough to complete a turnaround.

Paul Ince made two changes from Reading’s 1-0 win over Coventry last weekend as Shane Long and Naby Sarr came into the starting line-up.

St Andrews greeted England star Jude Bellingham before kick-off, while his younger brother Jobe Bellingham was named on the Blues’ bench.

With little over a minute on the clock Birmingham condemned Reading to a nightmare start and took advantage of a defensive lapse to take the lead.

Mamadou Loum flicked out his leg to deflect Bacuna’s cross which fell into the path of Troy Deeney who was given time and space to steer the ball past Joe Lumley.

Despite a hint of offside, with the replays showing that Deeney was marginally in front of the defender, the goal stood.

Having made a painfully frustrating start to proceedings,

REACTION

Reading tried to make amends through skipper Andy Yiadom when he struck a bouncing ball on the half volley and forced experienced goalkeeper John Ruddy into a fine save as he tipped onto the post.

Yakou Meite had a clear sight of goal when Tom McIntyre’s header looped into the box and was met by the Ivorian on the volley who connected sweetly but the ball went straight down the throat of Ruddy.

Having enjoyed a comfortable spell of possession, the Blues sprung into the box and were awarded a penalty after a neat one, two from Deeney and Tahith Chong ended with Deeney being scythed down by Sarr’s mistimed sliding tackle.

The Blues captain stepped up to the spot and slammed the ball past Lumley who guessed the opposite side.

Ruddy was forced into action again in the 35th minute, this time

‘All three goals were mistakes’: Ince irritated at Blues defeat

READING FC manager Paul Ince wants his side to be ‘accountable collectively’ after a terrible firsthalf display cost them defeat against Birmingham City.

Three individual errors saw the Royals go three goals down before they fought back late in the secondhalf to make it 3-2.

“It was a catalogue of errors, all three goals were mistakes,” said Ince.

“You look at them and think you want to get a foothold in the game at a tough place on a Friday night. It was an accumulation of errors and that cost us.

“We had two great chances. Yak should have scored.

“But they took the momentum and It was another mistake

where we don’t switch on. It was horrendous to be fair. It’s not like Birmingham did anything different.

“We were the better team footballing wise but you know what we get them. You can’t give teams 3-0 leads.

“I don’t care who you are, you can’t do it. It’s not like they cut us apart, we gave them three goals.

“They had one cleared off the line and could have gone 4-0 up. You have to learn from your lessons.

“At 3-2, you’re thinking a couple of more minutes and we might nick a point.

“We made individual mistakes you can’t make.

“You can’t let teams get on the front foot when they’re at home.

“Naby Sarr’s been out for seven months, Tom McIntyre’s been out for five or six weeks so that was a positive and it was never about going back to the drawing board because you’re going to make mistakes.

“You score two goals away, you expect to win the game.”

Ince has challenged his team to regroup and learn from their mistakes.

He continued: “You can’t give teams 3-0 starts at any level and we’ve got to be accountable

individually and collectively. We’ve got to learn from them or we will keep getting punished.

“It’s poor from us and that’s the most frustrating thing. It’s about pride then when our fans travel up in the freezing cold on a Friday night we had to give them something to shout about. That’s the only positive to come out of it.

“We got a couple of goals back. We had 20 shots which is unlike us. We missed some good chances and so did they.

“I felt before the game we could have won it.”

Mamadou Loum challenges

Deeney struck early

Baba Rahman is fouled

McIntyre blocks off the line

Reading couldn’t do enough to

Match stats

Joe Lumley

Shane

Jeff

A DISASTROUS first-half away performance saw Reading FC beaten at St Andrews by Birmingham City.

ROYALS THE BLUES

to deny Tom Ince who thumped a half volley at goal that was parried away.

Just a minute later, the Royals found themselves three goals down when Chong punished a defensive error.

After Amadou Mbengue swiped at the air from what looked like a harmless free-kick from Hannibal Mejbri, Chong raced through on goal, rounded Lumley and finished into the empty net.

With a miracle needed in the second-half, Reading came out with intent and won two early corners, but they were dealt with by the hosts.

The scoreline almost got even worse when a long ball for Chong wasn’t dealt with by the Royals defence and McIntyre had to block Deeney’s shot off the line to deny him his hat-trick.

Ince made a double change just before the hour mark which saw Lucas Joao and Junior Hoilett replace Mbengue and Long.

Deeney had another chance to clinch his treble but skewed his shot a whisker wide of the post.

Reading won plenty of corners throughout the half as Birmingham sat in a deep defensive line showing their willingness to sit on their healthy lead.

With 10 minutes to go, Ince made two more switches as Andy Carroll and Nesta Guiness-Walker came on for Meite and Rahman.

Reading salvaged back a goal in the 82nd minute when a deep cross found Carroll who fired across goal and after a scramble, Lucas Joao was on hand to convert from two yards out to reduce the deficit.

The Royals gave Birmingham a couple of minutes of anxiety in stoppage time when Ince’s deflected effort found the net in the 95th minute to make it 3-2.

The Royals threw everything they could in attack but the Blues took three points.

ROYALS HOST SWANS IN FINAL HOME MATCH OF 2022

READING FC play their final home game of 2022 when they host Swansea City in the Championship.

Just one place separates Reading and Swansea in the table heading into the contest.

Both teams are on the exact same number of points after 23 matches, with the Swans leading with a better goal difference.

Swansea made a remarkable comeback at the weekend in their away visit to Coventry City.

Russell Martin’s side found themselves three goals down and seemingly out of the match with 54 minutes gone when goals from

Jonathan

Swansea replied through Joel Piroe in the 68th minute and reduced the deficit further just eight minutes later when Jay Fulton scored.

With just over five minutes of normal time remaining, the turnaround was complete when Liam Cullen ensured the game was levelled up to give the visitors a point from an unlikely position.

Despite showing great fight and determination to grab a point at the Ricoh, Swansea have been in

a tricky run of form either side of the World Cup break which sees them winless in their last seven Championship games.

Reading lost out when they met Swansea earlier in the campaign in October.

The Royals took a commanding two-nil advantage when they twice hit Swansea on the break with goals from Yakou Meite and Tom Ince.

However, Martin’s men completed a comeback with goals from Harry Darling, Cooper and Jay Fulton to claim three points.

Swansea’s last visit to Berkshire

turned out to be an astonishing game at the back end of the 2022/23 season.

Paul Ince’s men completed an extraordinary turn around to take a crucial point as they successfully avoided the drop.

After Lucas Joao scored after three minutes, goals from Hannes Wolf, a double from Piroe and a strike from Obafemi gave Swansea a 4-1 lead.

However, Reading stormed back with goals from Ince and Joao before Tom McIntyre popped up with the most dramatic of equalisers in the 95th minute.

‘WE GAVE OURSELVES AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK’

TOM INCE believes that the team gave themselves an ‘impossible task’ after trailing by three goals at half-time in their defeat to Birmingham City.

Despite showcasing a much improved display in the second-half that saw the Royals claw two late goals back, it wouldn’t be enough for them to salvage a point.

“I think far too many times we have conceded far too early in the game and that’s a lack of concentration and intensity from the first whistle,” said Ince.

“We said before the game we needed to win the battles, we know what Birmingham are like. They want to get the ball into Deeney and feed off him and the first half, they sort of blew us away with pretty basic stuff really.

“We came in at half-time and it was a bit of an impossible task so it was about winning the second-half and showing a bit of prodigy and character for the fans who travelled up on a freezing cold night.”

Ince got on the scoresheet deep into stoppage time after Lucas Joao had reduced the deficit but the hosts held on to condemn Reading to their 11th Championship defeat of the season.

The result means that Reading dropped down to 11th place in the league at the midway point in the season.

Ince continued: “The second-half was more like us but the first–half just wasn’t good enough and you can’t go 3-0 down and expect to get something from the game.

“We spoke after the game as a collective about how in the first-half we didn’t win our second balls or put the ball in effective areas.

“They had three shots and three goals in the first-half, and we made schoolboy errors for them as they weren’t goals that tore us apart, but that’s football.

“We had to try to claw ourselves back and try to make a game of it and I felt we did that.

“We created a lot of chances, I think we had 20 shots.

“We did the best we could in the second-half and we have to take the positives from that and make sure we do that in the first-half of games to give us more chance of winning.”

Tom Ince Picture: Luke Adams

salvage a point after their first-half collapse Pictures: Steve Smyth

Shane Long holds off a tackle

Hendrick The Blues extend their lead

Baba Rahman

Yakou Meite is taken down

Mamaddou Loum hits a shot

Nesta GuinessWalker delivers a cross

Panzo, Jamie Allen and Viktor Gyokeres gave the hosts a resounding lead.

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

After

“We’re doing alright. This is a team that’s been put together quickly so you don’t always know what you’re going to get,” said Ince.

“When I assess the 23 games we’ve played, we were poor against Rotherham at the start of the season, and Sheffield United are a very good outfit.

“But the other games, we’ve been in it.

“We should have won at Burnley, we were two up at Swansea, and we conceded in the last minute at QPR.”

Ince has challenged his team to learn from their mistakes after their first-half collapse in Birmingham.

He continued: “If I have an assessment of all the teams we’ve played, there’s nothing to be frightened of. We should feel confident about moving forward in the next 23 games.

“If we make mistakes like we did against Birmingham, that’s a different kettle of fish.

“So we’ve got to learn and learn quickly.

“But it’s Christmas and I want to wish all of our fans a very Merry Christmas.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t get them the three points at Birmingham, but we’ll be trying again on Tuesday, against Swansea.”

U21S ROUND OFF YEAR WITH WIN

READING FC UNDER 21s closed out the year with victory at the Select Car Leasing Stadium against Wolves.

Playing in their final group game of the Premier League Cup, the Royals ensured that they took all three points against leaders Wolves.

After a goalless opening to the game, Reading struck with just two minutes to go until the break when Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan was once again on the scoresheet when he was on hand to capitalise and apply the finish after the Royals won possession deep inside Wolves half.

He showed a cool head to beat a defender before stroking the ball past the goalkeeper.

Noel Hunt’s team quickly added to their lead after the restart when Rashawn Scott finished one-on-one with the keeper.

Hunt made changes which first saw Mamadi Camara replace Scott in the 73rd minute before a double change meant Scott Dann and Femi Azeez were replaced with Claudio Osorio and Sam Paul.

Dann got some more valuable minutes under his belt having featured for the Under 21s last Monday on his road to recovery from an eight month injury.

Reading sealed the points in style in the 88th minute to put some gloss on the scoreline when Kian Leavy scored a spectacular free-kick.

Subs

Wolves

Subs: Scott, Hubner, Amos, McLeod, Reynolds

Goals: Ehibhatiomhan 43’, Scott 53’, Leavy 88’

Reading: Boyce-Clarke, Abrefa, Abbey, Dann, Holzman (c), Senga, Leavy, Akande, Scott, Azeez, Ehibhatiomhan

: Collins, Paul, Camara, Osorio, MelvinLambert

: Smith, Bertwhistle, Keto-Diyawa, Kandola, Tipton, Pond, Roberts, Scicluna, McLaughlin (c), Hesketh, Hodnett

READING FC boss Paul Ince has challenged his team to ‘learn quickly’ from their mistakes as they reached the midway point of the Championship season.

their Friday night loss to the Blues, the Royals sit in 11th place on 32 points from their opening 23 matches with 10 wins, two draws and 11 losses.