Ghurkas helper honoured by Dame Joanna Lumley

Mr Baker identified the link with journalist and Reading stalwart Hilary Scott, who died in last August, as a major factor in supporting the award.

“I had known Hilary for some 10 years, so it’s a great honour to be associated with this award,” he explained.

“The particular criteria that we’re

Nominate someone for a Pride of Reading Award

The Pride of Reading Awards annual lunch hosted by Chris Tarrant will be held in October where shortlisted nominees, guests and sponsors are invited and winners celebrated.

looking for from applicants really does sum up what Hilary was about.

“We’re looking for resilience, Hilary always faced up to a challenge and came up with good solutions to problems. We’re looking for good customer care, and Hilary was a great people person. She always had time for everybody.

“And we’re looking for commitment to Reading as well. Hilary helped us with the Eat Reading Festival that we run every year on Broad Street.

Organisers would like to hear who you think should win recognition in the awards.

To nominate a person, business or organisation, for to www.porawards.co.uk where there is information on categories and sponsors.

Please send 100-200 words on your choice to win an award.

ONE OF Reading’s dedicated volunteers has been given an award by TV royalty for her literacy work with a charity.

Pamela Reynolds is one of the volunteers with the Soldiers’, Sailors’, and Airmen’s Families Association (SSAFA), an organisation which gives lifelong support to veterans and serving members of the British Armed Forces and their families.

In 2011, SSAFA Berkshire recognised that many of the women in the Ghurka veteran and serving communities were lacking in reading and writing skills, which negatively impacts their lives in the UK.

Ms Reynolds created the Reading Ghurka Ladies’ Project, which has continued to help teach literacy skills to hundreds of women since its inception.

She has now been presented with the Sir James Gildea Award, which recognises volunteers and employees for their exceptional contribution and commitment to SSAFA’s values and projects.

It was named after the charity’s founder, Col Sir James Gildea, with Joanna Lumley on hand to present the award to Ms Reynolds.

Poetry Corner

Angel the Year Award, which recognises an individual or group with a business venture and who has shown passion and commitment to ensure success.

Frozen, bowed in tearless care; since the flowers were fresh upon my grave, my angel has been there.

Did he comfort my father and my mother, hands forever clasped in solid prayer?

Did he see every widow and every passing hearse?

Millie Smith, marketing director at Macbeth, said “We’ve sponsored the category for a number of years now.

“It really aligns with our values as a company, we want to bring some of the entrepreneurialism to life.

“We also love seeing what’s going on in the community, especially as a community-based company.”

“We also love to see how businesses can give back to the community, and hearing some of the stories about the events really brings to life how much of a community feel there is in such a large town.”

She explained: “It really boils down to having that village feel where everybody pulls together, and that’s something that Paul Macbeth is keen on being a part of and being able to give back to.

“The Reading area is such a community hub, with such a wealth of opportunities and talent here, and being a part of that is such a special thing.”

So many stark white stones as 1916 only got so much worse; did he weep then for the violence by which humanity is cursed?

As the elderly were laid to rest did he acknowledge them with a respectful nod?

Those tired, world-weary souls gladdened to meet their God.

Could he love those in modest pauper’s graves, unmarked by sentiments as they lie bare feet unshod?

She was also presented with a gift of a mirrored drinks tray and treated to the performance of traditional Nepalese dances and songs by members of the Ghurka community in traditional dress.

Pam said: “Thank you so very much for this. It was not just me, but also our very many helpers –I am quite overwhelmed.

“Thank you for the gift and the flowers.”

She continued: Pam said; “I am still recovering from the surprise of being awarded the Sir James Gildea Award, which was completely unexpected, but nonetheless, very gratefully received.

“Working on the Gurkha Project has been a joy and a great privilege for me.”

Dame Joanna Lumley said:

“I am proud to present the Sir James Gildea Award to Pam. She so deserves it. She has worked very hard for many years to help huge numbers of Gurkha Ladies.” n More information about how the Soldiers’, Sailors’, and Airmen’s Families Association supports veterans and serving members of the British Army is available via: ssafa.org.uk

Does he watch the young men on the bench laughing as they drink, does he smile for the company whatever does he think?

Cigarette butts, crushed cans, half empty bottles clink.

Shall I rise up with my stony angel that the stars may kiss my head; through wet grass and slumbering bones be led, or does the earth weigh too heavy on my cold eternal bed?

K McCone Usher

We love receiving your poetry and print a selection every week. Email your verse to poems@wokingham.today

Departing Mon 7 Aug ‘23

Attracting holidaymakers since Victorian times, Eastbourne is a bustling seaside resort that epitomises the British summer holiday. During our relaxing break here, we take a trip on the Bluebell Railway, and spend time in picturesque Lewes and charming Alfriston.

Your break includes

 Return coach travel from Reading

 4 nights at the Cavendish Hotel, Eastbourne with dinner & breakfast

 Entertainment some evenings

 Heritage train journey on the Bluebell Railway

 Excursions to Lewes & Alfriston (via Beachy Head)

Optional excursion to Rye & Hastings (£13pp)

5 Days by Coach only

£369

HARROGATE & York Weekend

Departing Fri 11 Aug ‘23

The charming scenery of Yorkshire is on full display during this lovely four-day break. Don’t miss the chance to explore Harrogate and Knaresborough and the city of York, filled with heritage buildings that have one foot rooted back in time.

Your break includes

 Return coach travel from Reading

 3 nights at a selected hotel with dinner & breakfast

 2 for 1 bar (6pm-9pm) on selected drinks

 Excursions to Knaresborough, Harrogate & York after

Harrogate&YorkWeekend_D.pdf Single Supplement £60 Single Supplement £60 WPR_2023-06-05_ReadingToday_33x2 (1)_Just Go or visit justgoholidays.com/WPR 03332 342 527 Quote WPR

Why don’t we have a standard?

A MAJOR development will see Victorian – and earlier – buildings in Reading town centre revamped to create a new hotel and an apart-hotel.

It’s another sign that Reading is a great place to invest and do business in.

But it is a shame that the buildings proposed could have been for anywhere.

Some parts of the UK have planning restrictions in place that means certain styles and materials need to be used –Bath is a great example of this.

Reading has some unique features. The brickwork on the Minster church is one example, while the corners of Newtown houses is the closest we’ll ever get to having a ‘style’.

It’s a shame that this hasn’t been picked up with when planning applications are considered.

Having a design specification would help Reading to have its own distinct identity, and also give architects and builders a challenge to work with.

While it’s too late for this development, could something be considered for future ones? It would, after all, give us something else to be proud of in this magnificent town.

Church Notes

Cantonese church in Earley

THREE hundred and fifty displaced Hong Kongers gather each week at Trinity Church, Earley.

The Cantonese community first came to Trinity at Christmas 2021. Very quickly, a shared vision developed for the Cantonese church community to use Trinity and becoming part of the Church in Earley.

“It felt like they had found their spiritual home,” says the Revd Jon Salmon, Vicar of Trinity Church, Earley.

On Easter Sunday 2022, the Chinese church began a regular Cantonese Worship Service. Their senior pastor, Siew Yin Chan is now on the staff at Trinity, a post funded by the Oxford Development Fund.

She is assisted by two pastors from Hong Kong. The church also employs two part-time Hong Kong administrators to work with the church’s operations support team.

“It’s important for the Hong Kong Christians to have a service in their own language, Cantonese,” says Siew Yin. “Trinity offers that, plus the space and the freedom to worship.

“God’s hand is very much on the project,” says Jon. “It’s happened very easily and there’s a great sense of mutual respect and care. We are fascinated to see where it might go.”

One place it is going is a new Cantonese plant service which launched at St Mary the Virgin, Winnersh earlier this month.

Between 40 and 50 people from Earley have committed to go and plant the new service in the next door deanery.

“We want to thank our brothers and sisters at St Mary’s,” says Siew Yin.

“They have moved the time of their main Sunday service, to allow us to have the 11 o’clock slot. It’s very gracious of them.”

Send your thoughts to news@rdg.today

Council’s plans for buses

The plans for bus lanes from consultants Stantec and WSP are sloppy, calling Ordnance Survey “Ordinance”. They have not watched pedestrians, bus and traffic flows, and the use of existing bus lanes.

Buses are held up before bus lanes. Badly phased traffic lights delay buses on bus lanes for two minutes. Some bus lanes move between the left-hand lane and right-hand lane.

I cross one road to a bus stop, over what a plan calls an ‘existing non-pedestrian refuge’ and moves it in the wrong direction.

Another plan has a bus lane where buses have to use the middle lane to go straight on. Another one moves two useful bus stops.

The BSIP included “simplify services”, which were really cuts. The routes south of Reading were diverted away from traffic objectives, such as shops and the hospital, to run along the Relief Road, without stopping.

The Green Park and Kennet Island routes were split, and the Madejski Stadium and Hotel buses were withdrawn.

The 9 route was shortened.

Literature on simplifying bus services recommends connections between routes, but none of that happens.

There is no mention of restoring buses to Fleet, Yateley, Streatley, Watlington or, on weekdays, Maidenhead.

There is a photograph of the hospital shuttle, which runs

Westminster diary Matt

Rodda

We love to hear from you! Send us your views on issues relating to the borough (in 250 words or less) to Reading Today, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS or email: news@rdg.today

We reserve the right to edit letters

Views expressed in this section are not necessarily those of the paper through South Reading without stopping, and is often empty. It should either stop along the way, or incorporate the 9 route.

Mark Drukker,

Two vital challenges

From the leader

Cllr Jason Brock

Reading

With our New King taking a considerable interest in our country, I wonder what his thoughts are when we have what I feel can easily be called Fifth Columnists activity by certain left wing Trades Unions.

My thoughts today centre around re Nationalising organisations they are ruining.

Years ago, Trade Unions were illegal. I suspect that as industry grew, especially with large staffing levels, and failed to treat staff as important assets, may have triggered the 1992 (Consolidating) Act. They set out to establish the relationship between businesses and workers, and formed ACAS to help it work.

Given today’s Union attitude and the characters that supposedly “fight their cause”, unless such enemies of our country, who in their own interests would continue the chaos “for ever”, we are in trouble unless we nationalise.

The Act mentioned above has been forgotten! It did however establish workers as part of our society and set out guidelines for improving a government/worker relationship.

I can outline desirable management rules if necessary.

Second, I have deliberately curtailed the foregoing subject, as there is a far more serious issue our government is proving incapable to address. It is the statement from our PM that he wants Britain to lead the world in tackling the threats posed by AI.

Our PM is going to talk to Joe Bidon this week.

While acknowledging we have a lot of expertise, as has the US, I am unable to comprehend having a global watchdog in London.

For anyone who appreciates security nationally and the ease with which anyone can get knowledge from people who will sell, may be aware that our security system is more like a kitchen sieve.

Working with the US is vital, but we should not involve any other body on this planet. Reg Clifton, via email n Summer is well and truly on its way, which means more opportunities to be outside with friends and family and listen to live music.

In all of the fun, we sometimes forget to look after our hearing health and how loud sounds are.

The good news is that there are some easy ways you can still enjoy yourself and keep your hearing protected: Carry earplugs with you and use them. Stay away from the speakers. And take regular breaks from the loudest areas to give your ears a rest.

It is important to check your hearing regularly so j take the free, online Hearing Check by visiting rnid.org.uk

Crystal Rolfe, Associate Director for Health at RNID

up by run away inflation, ever increasing bill and inescapable interest rate rises it creates a viscous economic cycle. Less money in pockets, means lower spending in our shops which slows the economy.

The challenge caused by inflation

LAST week the latest inflation figures were released, and it revealed the real dayto-day challenges that are faced by local families.

The Government championed one figure which suggested that inflation had dropped to 8.7% - a reduction from the previous 10.1%.

A fall in inflation doesn’t mean that goods and services are getting cheaper, it just means that the speed at which they are becoming more expensive is slightly slower.

This technical fall masked a bigger problem because inflation on food is at a record high –19.1% and on certain food items the increase is even higher. Family favourites such as eggs are up 37%, cheese is up by 30% and the

The effect of voter ID on the local elections

WITH much talk in recent weeks on the potential impact of the Government’s new Voter ID legislation on local elections, it was of great interest to see the statistics coming out of Reading following last month’s poll.

Of the 270 voters who had to be turned away at polling stations on May 4 because they did not have what this Government deems to be ‘acceptable’ identification, 197 returned and were able to vote. Seventythree residents did not return. In total 24,698 electors were issued with a ballot paper at polling stations.

Whether you consider 73 out of 24,698 an acceptable number, I guess depends on how much weight you place on the importance of people being able to exercise their democratic right to vote.

As far as I am concerned, even one voter not returning is one too many – 73 is a highly disappointing figure.

Similar statistics are being released by local councils all over the country.

At county level the numbers are much higher, as you would expect. In Yorkshire and Lincolnshire for example, 1,611 residents did not return to vote after initially being turned away. Data suggests it is less affluent areas that are more disadvantaged by the change.

It’s a trend we see time and again with this Government.

The stark reality is that the number of people who simply choose not to go to the polling station at all because they lack the necessary ID is much higher than the 73 people we know about.

I know myself and colleagues encountered residents on the doorstep who said they were not bothering voting this year as they didn’t have the right ID.

price of pasta is not 27% more than last year.

It’s not just food where prices are causing real problems. The rate of inflation also determines the increase on broadband and mobile phone monthly contract payments and high interest rates also lead to ever increasing interest rates.

The Bank of England has raised the interest rate to 4.5% and they are predicted to go up to 5.5% in the next couple of months, adding hundreds of pounds to those with credit cards or car loans and mortgage payments.

According to the Office of National Statistics, in 2022, the average salary rose by just £3 a month – meaning most people will be worse off this year than they were last year.

When wages rises are eaten

All of this is compounded by a government which has given us the highest tax burden in modern history to compensate for a decade of low growth.

Adding in the price of domestic energy – double what it was 12 months ago, while the oil and gas giants report record profits – it is easy to see why the demand at food banks is growing and more and more families are finding themselves in poverty.

The answer, though, isn’t simple. It will require rebalancing the economy and ensuring that those with the broadest shoulders pay their fair share in taxes and investing in UK based green energy production to reduce our dependency on foreign oil and gas and growing the economy.

This is what I have championed in Parliament and what I will continue to call on the Government to do as this is the only way to tackle the cost-ofliving crisis.

Matt Rodda is the MP for Reading East

We’ve no way of knowing what that figure is, but one indication may be to look at turnout figures for this year’s local elections.

In Reading, the polling station turnout figure (taken as an average across all 16 wards) was just 25.78%.

The total turnout, when you include postal votes, was 32.6%.

Both figures are notably lower than in recent years.

There can be all sorts of reasons for that, of course, but I suspect voter ID is one of them.

For all my frustration about the Conservative Government’s approach to voter ID requirements, imagine the anger I had at hearing Jacob Rees-Mogg admit that this whole thing is, in fact, an attempt at gerrymandering local election results in favour of the Tories.

Is it any wonder that the stock people place in politics has never been so low?

There is only one way to turn that around – by making sure you cast a vote for Labour at the next General Election, which draws ever nearer.

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