A better way

ANYONE trying to get out of Reading this week has had to face an obstacle course of epic proportions.

Roadworks to right of them, roadworks to left of them, and roadworks behind them, volleying and thundering; these roadworks have brought us to a halt.

Caversham, Whitley Wood, Junction 11, Tilehurst, Oxford Road, Wokingham Road ... you name it, the roads have been dug up.

And then there’s the London Road railway bridge project, which will see three months of lane closures.

We appreciate the work has to be done, but there must be a better way of making it happen. Network Rail and Wokingham Borough Council, which granted permission for the epic project, say no.

Surely weekend closures, working round the clock (sorry neighbours) would be preferable to causing epic queues that will be talked about for the 25-year lifespan of this new bridge. A rethink is needed.

Church Notes

Twin town tales

SINCE 1974, citizens from Reading and Düsseldorf have enjoyed many international exchange visits with their European neighbours and established long-life friendships under the umbrella of the Reading-Düsseldorf Churches Interchanges (RDCI) group.

Christians of both towns come together and share their homes with their guests, integrate them in their daily life and take part in well-organised activities such as cultural and sightseeing excursions, visits of ecumenical services and social gatherings.

A reception visit following the mayor’s invitation guarantees official recognition and the twinning will be reaffirmed.

A farewell party concludes the week’s visit; new friendships are made and ideas for future exchanges created.

Many Individual friendships have developed over the years and private visits followed.

In August 2022, members from Düsseldorf churches visited Reading and a week-long return visit will take place in late June; new participants are most welcome.

Reading has established the oldest twinning link with a German city, Düsseldorf, and celebrated its 75th twinning anniversary last year.

While many town twinnings link places of similar sizes or histories, this link was established through humanity and kindness by the then Reading Mayor, Phoebe Cusden. After she was made aware of unspeakable suffering in the destroyed cities of the Rhineland, Düssedorf was ‘adopted’ and children were invited to stay with families in Reading.

Through her initiative, Phoebe Cusden helped to bring reconciliation and friendship between nations, a motion, which, considering the postBrexit environment and the current world turmoil, seems to be more important than ever.

RDCI wants to widen their membership to encourage international friendships, help to create tolerance through understanding and build bridges for a new togetherness.

Interested citizens from Reading and surrounding areas can contact RDCI Chairman Henry Pares, email: henry.pares@gmail.com or RDCI Secretary Alan Tonkyn, email: Alan.Tonkyn@ btinternet.com

On behalf of Reading Düsseldorf Churches Interchanges