The Cure

OUR family is a supporter of the campaigns driven by Doddie Weir and Rob Burrow, raising awareness of motor neurone disease (MND) and money for research to find a cure.

It was very sad when Doddie passed away in November.

The clock is ticking and do what we may, we can’t stop it.

Science has given us so much hope as we treat disease and find cures to prevent things like polio, smallpox, diphtheria and controlling the spread of cancer, but the bottom line is, we can’t stop the clock.

Science has become to us the god of the universe; with scientific knowledge there is nothing we cannot do.

But science continually disproves itself: the combustion engine – the environmentally friendly solution to the pollution caused by horses in our towns and cities; the dash for gas in the ‘70s – the clean energy solution to coal; and look where we are now.

What started as discovery and understanding has become our god that we look to, to control our future.

But we have a hope. Because Jesus rose from the dead we can put our trust in His promises that despite what life throws at us, we can know peace and joy and eternal life in Him.

In 1971, Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote a popular hymn which says ‘Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future. And life is worth the living because He lives.’

Ian Stewart is a member of Christ Church Wokingham, writing on behalf of Churches Together Wokingham

Please think of others

It appears I may need a pill that shuts off memories of long ago. That may seem a strange opening remark to a letter, but world and for that matter, our country’s situation worries me.

My concern would be much worse if I had children, especially young ones.

I am not quite old enough to remember much before 1935, but I cannot close the” book” my memory seems to want to use daily, as Europe began to see the growth of terrible enemies to our society.

Whatever we hear or are concerned about we must never ignore the young and any ramifications on their lives, standard of living, their security, health and so on.

For years, I have worried that the monied people, e.g. business owners, in this country have been only too pleased to sell to countries like China – in so many cases selling or giving away the knowledge of our excellent engineers, designers, etc. There has been an enormous amount of take-over and investment of wealth in us. Personally I would not have allowed that to happen!

As the today’s press, especially American, is revealing their concerns for our future, in a world that has the KGB element in Russia, even in the early days indicating it likes to kill/act as a Hitler, to simply grab territory; being great friends with China, who still consider their poor millions, as fodder for battles.( I

From the Chamber

Matt Rodda

missed being sent to fight in the Korean War by months.)

Surely, we must watch the world about us, and see how we can protect our peoples, which leads me to Europe. I still believe the European countries we were close to before Brexit, should even more so, be working closely together and limiting trade with those that would do us harm.

We pay fortunes to China to help their weapons businesses, as we did with Russia.

Rather than going on and on, I do attach great importance to Australia, New Zealand and Canada – we must keep them very close. Let Scotland have its independence, but do not forget they are formidable allies when fighting with us.

Studying Second World War history, against Japan, Germany and Italy, may have caused my loss of sleep – but we must never forget.

Reg Clifton, Wokingham Take time to listen

It is sad to hear of this latest case of the schizophrenic ladyfinally found in her flat – having been lying there, dead, for years. It is not uncommon for a mentally ill, or elderly, person to be found dead – but usually, they are found within a few days.

I can remember the Community Psychiatric Nursing Service being introduced in 1968. The THEORY was that chronic schizophrenics would be nursed in their own homes – rather than on long-stay hospital wards, and

Reform our energy and water markets to protect consumers

WE all rely on our utilities. Our water, our gas and electricity, broadband and internet and our mobile phone coverage.

Each of them is necessities without which are lives become more difficult.

Yet, something is desperately wrong with the provision of these basic serves.

Last week, Shell, reported an eye-watering £38 billion in annual profits.

It’s the largest profit reported by an oil and gas company ever. Shell is a UK headquartered company but paid just £111 million through the Government’s windfall tax.

We also heard last week that the CPN’s, would function as the perfect amalgam of nurse and social worker.

Did it work out? It did not.

I have long held the view, that the most important of the Crisis House’s services, is to provide a place for lonely, and isolated, schizophrenics.

With chronic schizophrenics, I encourage them to get out of bed, get washed and dressed, and down the road to the Crisis House Drop-In Centre.

Regular checks need to be made – in order to avoid more instances like this latest tragedy.

There is no need for any mentally ill person to be lonely and isolated. Our Drop-In Centre is open 10.30am to 4.30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays.

Nowhere could be easier to find. We are the little old cream-washed house – just across Station Approach from the Railway Station, and next door to The Station Tap Pub – whose car park is a lot cheaper than is the station car park. Buses, also, are only one minute away. You don’t need an appointment, nor a referral, to come to us.

Just walk in, and you will be welcome. I can guarantee that there will be a comfortable armchair, and a cup of tea – and sympathetic people to talk to.

Our telephone is 0118 979 2620. Visit: www.wokingham mentalhealth.org.uk and my e-mail address is pamjenkinson@ wokinghammentalhealth.org.uk

Pam Jenkinson, The Wokingham Crisis House

been named as one of the worst offenders for the discharge of raw sewage into our rivers. Real-time reporting has shown that raw sewage was pumped into Rivers in the South East for thousands of hours – including in and around Reading.

In September 2022, Thames Water published a profit of £400 million.

From the Chamber

Cllr Jason Brock