A CAR park for a doctors’ surgery in west Reading has been fenced off over concerns about prostitution and trespassing in the area, writes James Aldridge, local democracy reporter
A concerned member of the public told the Local Democracy Reporting Service sex workers used the car park of Western Elms Surgery, located off Oxford Road, and the area was also affected by drug use.
As a result, 6ft tall fencing and four gates were added to the site.
The surgery’s planning consultants Integrated Building Consultancy Ltd argued the measures were needed to deter trespassers.
Advocating for the scheme, the consultants said: “There is ongoing issue with trespassing into the grounds and gardens of the surgery.
“There are already security gates immediately adjacent to the main entrance of the building, but the remainder of the site is
enclosed only by low walls and hedging.
“The Practice is proposing to erect fencing around the boundary of the site. It has suffered for a number of years from trespassers both during the day and outside of normal working hours.
“It is clear from the debris left that some of the trespassers are drug users. It is completely unacceptable for sharps and other drug related paraphernalia to be left in a sensitive medical location such as this, where children and vulnerable people visit.”
The security measures were
INSTALL: Western Elms Surgery off Oxford Road in Reading now has fences to deter trespassers Picture: LDRS
approved after the surgery applied for them in December 2021.
A spokesperson for the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust said:
“The Surgery has been given planning permission to erect a fence around the car park to provide a secure place for patients and visitors to leave their vehicles when visiting the surgery
“As is usual practice, the car park is closed and locked when the surgery is not open and patients do not need to use it.”
The fencing plan can be viewed by searching for reference 212033 in the council’s planning portal.
A READING town centre convenience store is under new ownership, and they have applied for permission to sell alcohol just weeks after the licence was removed.
A hearing on Friday, February 10, saw Reading Borough Council strip booze sales from Today’s Express in Duke Street, following Thames Valley Police concerns. This included an allegation that the previous owner, Quais Aziz, incorrectly selling single cans of alcohol to street drinkers, and mismanaging the store’s CCTV.
At the time, licensing solicitor Bill Donne of Silver Fox Consultants conceded that CCTV management had been poor but argued other licensing measures, such as displaying an age verification policy, had been adhered to, and that Mr Aziz is free to sell individual drink cans.
Councillors disagreed.
The council said last month that on January 19, 2021, its licensing
Your wording
officers visited the premises and found no part of the premises licence could be produced. The licence holder could not demonstrate that staff were authorised to sell alcohol, or indeed that adequate training for staff had taken place.
In two follow-up visits, in January and March 2022, further breaches of licence conditions were identified.
The licence holder did maintain accurate time-stamped CCTV recordings of the premises and was unable to provide footage of incidents, when asked to do so, by the police.
Footage that was made available in November and December last year showed several instances of alcohol being sold outside of permitted hours.
The council said that repeated attempts were made by Reading Council and Thames Valley Police over the three-year period to work with the licence holder to improve standards and compliance, but the premises failed to engage with officers.
Cllr Karen Rowland, Lead Member for Environmental Services and
Community Safety, said: “There were efforts to work with the shop over an extended period of time, but they consistently failed to meet our standards which are in place for all shops carrying licensable products. “This decision was not taken lightly.”
The new licensing application submitted to Reading Borough Council is to reinstate permission on the sale of alcohol from 8am to 11pm each day has been submitted, and is from new owners GS Chopra Limited.
According to Companies House, GS Chopra Limited is headed by Gulinder Singh Chopra of West Drayton, London.
Members of the public and interested parties can make a representation about the application by emailing licensing@reading. gov.uk, with the closing date for representations being Sunday, April 2.
Additional reporting: James Aldridge, local democracy reporter
RESEARCH by a law professor at the University of Reading will underpin a new online course studied by UN peacekeepers.
Prof Rosa Freedman’s findings on abuse and exploitation of children will help staff safeguard children during their operations.
Research into missions in Brazil, Liberia, Haiti, Uruguay, Argentina and Ghana over the past five years will provide the backbone of training received by UN peacekeepers. The course was launched in New York last Wednesday.
Prof Freedman said:
“UN peacekeepers have a responsibility to safeguard all people affected by conflict. That makes it particularly egregious when the people who are supposed to be helping, are causing harm.
“After five years of research we have understood where the gaps in understanding are and how attitudes need to change.
“We have designed a course to bring knowledge and awareness of how to implement child safeguarding across all aspects of peacekeeping operations.”
The University of Reading and Keeping Children
Safe collaborated on the course, which provides an understanding of the responsibilities, relevant theory and examples of good practices. It will help participants better safeguard children from abuse and exploitation in the context of peacekeeping, and will be available in both English and Spanish.
A JUMBLE sale and craft fayre will be held in Southcote on Saturday
Grange URC is hosting the event from 10.30am to noon.
Six charities will have stalls: Motor Neurone Disease, DrugFAM, Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice, Cystic Fibrosis, Help for Heroes and Over 50’s Social Club.
The church is in Circuit Lane, and entry is 50p. Children get in free.
IT COULD be a fairy tale ending for a panto princess after being shortlisted for a top award.
Katsie Fong Frydenberg made her debut at The Hexagon last Christmas in Jack and the Beanstalk, wowing audiences with her amazing voice and penchant for comedy.
And she also impressed judges for the UK Pantomime Association awards – she has been shortlisted for Best Early Career Newcomer.
Also shortlisted are Mike Thacker for Best Sound Design and Miles Russell for Best Contribution to Music.
Founded in 2021, the UK Pantomime Association is a charity that explores, shares and celebrates pantomime by investigating the genre’s rich past, engaging with contemporary practice and inspiring the future.
The Pantomime Awards 2023 are held in association with Butlin’s, and will be hosted by dame extraordinaire Christopher Biggins. The ceremony will be held at the Trafalgar Theatre, in London’s West End, on Tuesday, April 11.
By JAMES HASTINGS news@rdg.todayTHERE are three reasons why a Pangbourne restaurant has won a major dining award.
That’s the view of Erdi Dilek, general manager of the La’De Kitchen, which has just scooped the Customer Satisfaction category in the British Kebab Awards for the second year in a row.
Erdi cites a triple approach which saw the popular Mediterranean restaurant come out tops at a glizty ceremony at London’s Park Plaza hotel.
“Firstly, the food must be the best, customer service should be exceptional and the restaurant should be well-known,” he explained.
“If one of those ingredients is missing, it means you will fail.”
Kebab restaurants from across the country took part in the competition which is in its eleventh years and is recognised as the industry’s leading awards.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sent a message of congratulations to the organisers, and the nominees were joined by celebrities and awardwinning chefs and managers.
Erdi said judges were impressed that La’De Kitchen, which also won the Best Newcomer Award in 2021, had such a huge number of excellent reviews.
“They checked the number of our reviews, which had to have a rating higher than 4.5,” he said. “A lot of restaurants and companies use bots to boost this but they will find out if it’s fake.
“The judges also tested our food, asking questions about its originality and creation.
“The prestige of the award is the most important thing, as people can check who won this award in the Berkshire area.”
La’De Kitchen serves selected Mediterranean dishes from Turkish, Greek and Italian cuisines.
Using fresh and local seasonal ingredients, chefs at La’De Kitchen take great care in presenting guests with deliciously made dishes. From mezes to kebabs, there are dishes that cater for every dietary need.
Open seven days a week, it is popular with both locals and people travelling further afield.
Added Erdi: “We are honoured to have won another award and we will strive to ensure our customers continue to receive the best service and the best food when they come here.”
La’De Kitchen always has a branch in Woodley, and restaurants offer the ability to dine in, click and collect, and have home deliveries.
Sarah Boden, business and marketing director for Imagine Theatre, which makes the show for Reading Arts, said: “We are delighted to have been nominated for an incredible 12 awards from The Pantomime Association for our panto season across the UK last year.
“We would like to offer a huge congratulations and a great big thank you to the nominees and the whole team at The Hexagon who worked so hard to bring a whole lot of panto magic to the stage last Christmas.”
The news has also been welcomed by Reading Borough Council’s lead member for leisure and culture, Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward.
“Imagine Theatre’s Jack and the Beanstalk was an absolute joy,” she said. “Every Christmas, audiences from across Reading and beyond are amazed by the dedication, creativity and sheer fun that the Imagine Theatre team bring to The Hexagon so this recognition for Mike, Miles and Katsie by the UK Pantomime Association is very well deserved.
“Congratulations on the nominations –Reading will be rooting for you.”
n This year’s Hexagon pantomime will be Sleeping Beauty and will see CBeebies megastar Justin Fletcher once again team up with dame Paul Morse. Tickets are already on sale. For more details, log on to: whatsonreading.com, or call the box office on: 0118 960 6060.
S.A.
MARACAS: Linda Houston from Stroke Association gets into the spirit of spring.
Pictures: Dijana Capan/ DVision Images
ONE OF Reading’s leisure facilities is set to return when its newly-built centre opens this summer.
Rivermead Leisure Centre is now poised to undergo a phased unveiling following the construction of a new building on the site.
While the project has experienced some delays relating to licensing, structural installations have been completed on time.
Contractor Pellikaan Construction said that dry facilities, including a sports hall, fitness centre, soft play area and cafe are due to open to the public in July.
The existing centre at the site will then be demolished to make space for a new car park and children’s play area.
A CHURCH in Southcote hosted the latest in its annual Easter Fayres on Saturday to raise funds.
Grange United Reform Church hosted the spring fete complete with cake stalls, coffee, and conviviality. It also saw charity stalls from groups such as Thames Valley Animal Welfare and the
Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice.
Organiser Ann Wells said: “It went well, and it's nice to see people come in and support us.
“The cake store did very well, and also the refreshments and our Ploughman's lunches, which we often do at Easter, proving popular.”
Now she says the church is
looking forward to its summer events: “Coming up on July 1, we have the summer fete, which we'll be doing with Thames Valley Animal Welfare.
“There'll be the usual raffle and games, as well as a barbecue, and we’ll be welcoming Sangeeta Bhabra as our special guest, which we're really looking forward to.”
It has, however, seen delays with the granting of an “abstraction” license from the Envirenment Agency which enables ground water levels to be lowered so that a deeper diving pool can be built.
Backlogs with applications mean that developers estimate the pool facilities are “unlikely to open before 2024.”
GLL’s regional director, Jamie Coleshill, said: “We’d like to apologise to customers and thank them for their patience while unforeseen delays to the project are managed.
“GLL, Pellikaan and Reading Borough Council are all working at pace, together, to bring forward these state-ofthe-art leisure facilities that will be the envy of the Thames Valley.
“With an emphasis on accessibility and affordability, the new leisure complex will support the health and wellbeing of thousands of residents young and old–getting more people more active more often.
“We know leisure centre users can’t wait to see inside –so keep a look out for updates on our opening weekend and tours.”
The project is a joint initiative between GLL and Reading Borough Council, with £1.5 million in funding from Sport England given to support Rivermead and Palmer Park projects.
Plans include a six-court sports hall, 120-station gym and studio, as well as new swimming and diving pools with adjustable flooring for teaching.
n For full details about leisure facilities around Reading, visit: better.org.uk
beaconagency.co.uk
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jailed for drug
George Dallarda, aged 34, of Katesgrove Lane, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to supply a class A drug and one count of possession with intent to supply a class B drug at a previous hearing on
He was sentenced to four years and eight months imprisonment after a hearing at Reading Crown Court on Monday, March 13.
Officers detained the man on Wednesday, January, 11 after he was driving along Katesgrove Lane and found a bag containing cocaine with an
estimated street value of £12,900.
Investigating officer, PC Thomas Kennedy, of the Reading Stonghold Team, said: “Our Stronghold team will proactively and robustly target and prosecute offenders, using both visible and covert activity aimed at disrupting and pursuing offenders involved in the supply of drugs.
“The information from the public around drug supply in Reading plays an important role.
“If you have any information we would encourage you to report it to us by calling 101 or through the online reporting tool on the Thames Valley Police website.”
George Dallarda Picture: Thames Valley Police
COMING SOON: The replacement for Rivermead Leisure Centre is set to open in phases beginning this summer, which dry facilities due for July as pool licensing has caused an admin setback. Picture: Phil Creighton
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READING Borough Council has voiced concerns about school inspection practises in an open letter to Ofsted.
The council has published the letter to Amanda Spielman, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Ofsted, in which it describes “serious questions” which must be asked of the educational standards organisation and a resulting “lack of confidence.”
It follows the death of Ruth Perry, whose family said that she took her own life after being informed by inspectors that Caversham Primary School, of which she was headteacher, would drop from an “Outstanding” to “Inadequate” rating back in January.
The letter, signed by council leader Jason Brock and lead councillor for education and public health Ruth McEwan, said that the publication of Caversham Primary School’s report had fostered concerns about the nature of inspection nationally.
It criticised the inspection “regime,” arguing that parents and teachers were not comprehensively engaged with by the organisation and that
Ofsted had to be “conscious of its role in that dynamic.”
It drew particular focus on Ofsted’s response to the events following Ms Perry’s death, saying that “the eventual report was not responsive to the tragedy.
“On this fact alone, it is evident that far greater compassion is required in the conduct of Ofsted’s processes.”
It concluded by calling for a suspension to inspections or publishing results until a review had been conducted
It joins concerns voiced by
Reading East MP Matt Rodda, who said in a statement following his meeting with the schools minister: “The death of Ruth Perry was a devastating event for her family and our community.
“I offer my deepest sympathies and condolences to her family as they continue to grieve for a much-loved daughter, mum, wife, and sister– I will continue to support the family as best I can.
“Ofsted must now ask themselves some tough questions about their role and how we prevent further
ACTION:
Flora Cooper, executive head of the John Rankin Infants School in Newbury, pictured, initally refused Ofsted access to the school as a reaction to the death of Caversham Primary head Ruth Perry, who died by suicide after an inspection
tragedies in the future.”
It also comes just days after posts by Flora Cooper, executive head at John Rankin Infants and Juniors School, on social media on Monday, March 20, explaining that she had received a call from Ofsted to inform her of an inspection.
Though inspectors told her her they would be visiting the school on Tuesday, March 21, she reported that she would not allow inspectors on site.
It is thought that it would have been the first time a school would deny access to premises for inspectors.
On Saturday, March 18, Ms Cooper shared a post from Ruth Perry’s sister, Julia Waters, calling on headtachers and teaching unions to support the boycotting of Ofsted and that she would be taking part.
A tweet posted just before 10.20am the next day read: “I just had the call. I’ve refused entry.
“This is an interesting phone call. Doing this for everyone for our school staff everywhere.”
Ofsted inspectors were permitted to John Rankin Infant and Junior School on Tuesday, though teachers at the school appeared to make a statement that morning as they stood outside the front gates and observed a two-minute silence next to a picture of Ms Perry.
Ms Perry was the head teacher at Caversham Primary School, Reading, for 13 years, but was found dead in January.
Following the news of her death in January, Ms Perry was described in a joint statement by the council and Brighter Futures for Children as “hugely respected, experienced and a well-established figure at Caversham Primary.”
n Reading Today commits to not publishing any stories about schools’ Ofsted inspections until the situation is resolved – editor
A MUSICAL duo who have been performing traditional folk for more than 34 years will be appearing at Readifolk this Sunday.
Bob and Gill Berry showcase their love for song, and their deep connection to each other. Although their music is primarily traditional and contemporary folk, they also share other genrest.
The event starts at 8pm and will be held at the Community Hall, Watlington House on Watlington Street, Reading. Admission is £8 and payment can be made at the door.
n For more details, log on to: readifolk.org.uk
EMERGENCY services responded to a road traffic collision on Kidmore Road, Caversham on Wednesday, March 15, at around 10.28pm.
Firefighters from Wokingham Road and Whitley Wood fire stations arrived at the scene to find a car overturned on its side.
No one was trapped inside, but one individual was taken into the care of South Central Ambulance Service.
Fire crews worked to make the vehicle safe, and the incident was resolved within 21 minutes. The cause of the collision is currently unknown.
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THE EASTER bunny has lost their eggs somewhere in Reading, and needs some help to find them.
Families will be able to hop on to the special Easter trail coming to the town centre in the runup to Easter.
Starting on Saturday, April 1, and running through to Easter Monday, April 10, there will be 12 eggs to find in the windows of town centre businesses.
Reading Business Improvement District (BID) is bringing a family-friendly Easter trail to Reading town centre this April. The trail will feature a total of 12 town centre businesses.
The trail will start at The Oracle and take hunters across the town centre. Participants will need to write or draw the Easter eggs they find on the corresponding eggs on their trail map.
Participants will be able to collect a free map from The Oracle’s Customer Service Desk or download a copy to print at home from VisitReading.com/eastertrail. There is no charge for entry.
Once all 12 have been found, the completed maps can be taken to the last stop on the trail to claim a special Easter treat.
“We’re so excited to be bringing this new trail to Reading town centre over the Easter holidays,” says Alexa Volker, Manager of Reading BID.
“We are lucky to have so many brilliant businesses within Reading and I’m grateful to those who are supporting us by being part of this trail.
“At a time where the cost of living remains a challenge for many families, we hope this Easter trail will provide a fun, free activity to do over the Easter holidays and give people another reason to visit Reading this spring.”
By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today
READING BOROUGH COUNCIL would need at least another £10.7 million just to plug every pothole in the town, according to a new survey.
Every year, the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) asks local authorities about the state of the roads for its Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) report. And the results are, well, alarming.
Across the south east, local authorities told AIA that its highways teams were receiving just two-thirds of the money needed to stop roads from deteriorating any further and, sending a shiver down chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s spine, more than £3 billion is needed to fix a backlog of repairs.
It is estimated that even if the money came through, it would take 14 years just to repair these roads.
And it gets worse: 16% of the road network – one in seven roads – has an estimated five years’ structural life left, meaning things will get worse before they get better.
The news will come of little surprise to Reading’s motorists, with many regularly complaining of potholes cropping up across the town, with hotspots including the junction of Queen’s Road with Sidmouth Street, parts of London Road, and other major through routes in the town.
Rick Green, AIA Chair, said local authorities aren’t to blame: “Highway engineers can only do so much with the resources they are given and should be applauded for the steps they take to keep roads safe.
“Potholes and the condition of our local roads remain key issues for
the public and the Chancellor went someway to recognising this in his Spring Budget. But a share of the additional £200m one-off payment for local roads in England, while welcome, is just not enough.
“It represents around 16% of the average shortfall in local authorities’ annual budgets in the South East and will do little to improve overall structural conditions and stem further decline.
“We all appreciate that there are difficult choices to make with demands and pressures on the public purse coming from every area, but not investing in local road maintenance only leads to worsening conditions, which impact on other locally provided public services, a rising bill to fix the problem and more road user complaints.”
Park ward Green Party Councillor
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Josh Williams said: “Labour keeps telling us we’ve never had greater investment in our roads, but anyone who drives or tries to cycle in Reading knows the reality is very bumpy indeed.
“If we could fill potholes with Labour press releases on this we’d be problem free, but unfortunately, it needs joined-up thinking at a national and local level, priority for sustainable transport, and real investment of time, effort, and money.”
Reading Borough Council was contacted for a comment.
Nicholas Lyes, Head of Roads Policy at the RAC, commented: “These findings make for terrible reading and will come as no surprise to anyone who is forced to endure our pothole-plagued roads on a daily basis.
“It’s incredible that council
funding is now so inadequate that almost one-in-five roads have under five years’ structural life left. This means the gap between the money councils have and what they need is widening - with road users ultimately left suffering.
“We’ve long campaigned for a more sustainable form of funding that allows councils to replace roads that are at the end of their useful lives. Sadly, everyone but the Government appears to recognise this. This is why the Government’s eternal emphasis on filling potholes is so frustrating as it’s simply treating the symptoms, and not dealing with the root cause. As a nation so dependent on road transport, we must not let this go on.”
The full ALARM survey can be downloaded from: www.asphaltuk. org
THAMES Valley Police has announced a review of its local policing areas, which could see the number reduced from 11 to just five.
This would see Wokingham and Reading merged into Berkshire West.
The force says the last review was conducted in 2010, and, since then, the policing environment has become more complex, including a rise in digital crime, child sexual exploitation and county drug lines.
Following extensive research, which included studying how other forces are structured, as well as long-term trends and future scenarios in policing, the force is considering two local policing models.
One is to continue with the existing 11 Local Policing Area (LPA) model, with enhancements where possible, and the other is to change to a five-area command model. The five areas would be Oxfordshire, Berkshire West, Berkshire East, Buckinghamshire, and Milton Keynes.
The aim is to ensure the force
is structured for the future, with increased investment in frontline services, including domestic abuse, serious crime investigation, and neighbourhood policing.
It is hoped that the review will result in a structure that is better able to meet the needs of the public and partner organisations, as well as the changing nature of crime, and provide a more efficient, effective, and joined-up service that can tackle the most pressing issues in the region.
Deputy Chief Constable Jason Hogg said: “We’re keen to find out what people across our area think of our proposals. Feedback from our communities will help inform us as we seek to make a decision on a final option this summer.”
The force is now seeking feedback from the public on the proposals, which can be provided via an online survey. Paper copies are available, and the survey is open until Friday, April 28.
For more details, log on to: https:// www.thamesvalley.police.uk/
A CAVERSHAM school took to the national stage as it joined organisations around the world in raising awareness of modern slavery.
Queen Anne’s, in Caversham, took part in a worldwide initiative with CNN International’s Freedom Project, which aims to support the liberation and rehabilitation of modern-day slaves.
Students from the school joined the movement and performed creative contributions to explore the subject, including original poetry and music, spoken word, dances, and films produced by the students.
There were also interactive art installations and works which took contributions from students.
CNN International attended the event on Thursday, March 16, to film the performances and interview contributors, including with two live broadcasts from the school as part of its international news and social media coverage.
CNN reporter Scott McLean spent the day at the school and reported back as performances took place through the day.
Tia Gold, a student at Queen Anne’s, said that what surprised her when learning
THOUGHTFUL: Students performing a dance routine as part of the day’s contributions. Pictures: Courtesy of Queen Anne’s School
Anne’s in contributing.
The initiative also explored the impact of the commodities and products many people use every day, including the production of technology, food (particularly chocolate), and drink, as well as how and why people are trafficked.
The number of people suspected to be trapped in slavery or trafficked is estimated to be at around 50 million.
about modern slavery was the rates of slavery in the chocolate industry.
“We have all here enjoyed chocolate, and get good memories from eating chocolate in our childhood, but that creates bad memories for child slaves who are forced every day to get the cocoa.”
Another, Eunice Durojaiye, said: “It really opened my eyes to see how many people are in slavery, how many people our age are also in slavery.
A NEW restaurant is set to move into a Reading town centre mall.
JeiLi has applied to Reading Borough Council for permission to sell alcohol with meals from a ground floor unit of The Village – the new name for King’s Walk, in Kings Street.
The unit is between My Warsaw Polish street food shop and the Banh Mi QB Vietnamese restaurant.
The centre is now home to a number of world cuisine restaurants including Pho Vietnamese street food, The Soju Korean bbq, Ji the Chicken
“It demonstrated and showed us all the reality of how bad the reality of making chocolate is.”
CNN International’s My Freedom Day also saw a number of celebrities take part in the campaign, with David Beckham, Usain Bolt, and Ellie Goulding among the stars explaining what freedom means to them.
Schools in the United States, India, Nigeria, Finland, the Philippines, Colombia, Dubia, Greece, and Hong Kong were among those to join Queen
Shop, High Spirits Cocktail Company and The Churros Kitchen.
There is also Chilis Indian buffet, and a new company, Bombay Brothers, is due to open in the former Dolce Vita Italian restaurant.
JeiLi’s application to Reading Borough Council’s licensing department is to sell alcohol on and off the premises from 11am to 11pm seven days a week.
Comments can be made by emailing licensing@reading.gov. uk before Tuesday, March 28.
CNN reporter Scott McLean at Queen Anne’s School Students shared insights into modern slaveryON SATURDAY, protesters took the fight to Thames Water for the second time in as many weeks to rally against the pollution of waterways.
Around 80 Extinction Rebellion activists gathered outside Thames Water’s headquarters in Vastern Road, Reading, in a demonstration calling for the end of the practise of letting sewage into waterways.
They heard a number of speakers, including the Green Party’s Danny McNamara and Extinction Rebellion’s Gillian Fletcher, and a written statement from Hannah Cloke, Professor of Hydrology at the University of Reading.
Attendees also saw a samba performance and a mock ‘punishment’ skit, as well as singing protest songs.
The protests are part of a wider movement calling for water suppliers across the UK to discontinue the outletting of sewage into waterways.
Many were publicising a weekend of action taking place outside the Houses of Parliament in April, demanding an end to the use of fossil fuels through
“citizen-led” democratic means. It comes as Thames Water closes its public consultation of a “50-year plan” which will set out the future of the company and its practises.
The proposals include reducing the discharge of sewage into waterways, representing a £1.6 billion investment in limiting its environmental impact.
Nevil Muncaster, strategic resources director at Thames Water, said: “We believe water belongs to everyone and are committed to safeguarding its future.
“We’re working hard to build resilience and our plan sets out how we intend to meet the challenges ahead including a growing population and more extreme weather conditions, such as drought.
“Finding and fixing leaks is fundamental to our plan and we’re working hard to upgrade our Victorian pipes to meet 21st century demands.”
The firm would seek to reduce the total annual duration of discharges by 50% by 2030 compared to a 2020 baseline, and include an 80% reduction in particularly
THE OpenHand OpenSpace (OHOS) gallery is to host a new exhibition from a Readingbased artist.
BANGING THE DRUM FOR WATER: Protesters seek to drum up support in opposing Thames Water’s record on sewage outletting.
Picture: Dijana Capan/DVision Images
sensitive catchments. Despite this, the proposals would not have an impact on Reading or Wokingham.
Reading East MP Matt Rodda says the water firm’s plan is a step forward, but wanted the company to go further, advocating for: “greater fines for water companies, annual parliamentary scrutiny of Defra, Ofwat and the Environment Agency, and a proper plan for reducing raw sewage being discharged.”
One of the attendees, Helen Palmer, came to the protest dressed as e.coli bacteria. She
said “Climate change is causing episodes of heavy or intense rainfall in much of the UK, leading to higher risk of river and surface water flooding.
“This puts pressure on our antiquated and under-funded sewage systems. Instead of investing, water companies are simply pumping pollution into our waterways.”
Bee, another attendee, said: “When millions of us are paying so much, our rivers and streams are choked with toxic filth and dying.”
Sarah Bentley, chief executive of Thames Water, said: “The discharge of untreated sewage is unacceptable, and we are committed to tackling this problem.
“There are no quick fixes–population growth will increase the strain on our sewage network and treatment centres.
“The scale of the challenge demands urgent and systemic reform.”
The Water Resources Management Plan, currently a draft, is currently looking to come into effect in 2024, following the closure of the public consultation on Tuesday, March 21.
The results are set to be sent to the Secretary of State for the Environment in June.
Christine Ellison’s Hummingbirds and Hamburgers: call to action, will include the debut screening of her documentary short, Something is Happening (2023).
The film documents her art research residency in November last year at the Bonotto Foundation in Veneto, Italy. In it, she collaborated with designers, dancers, and musicians, and six local art and dance schools’ students.
Ellison’s exhibition aims to highlight the performative potential of digital screen interfaces, re-contextualizing actions such as scrolling, cropping, and dragging.
Hummingbirds and Hamburgers draws on historic performance and intermedia strategies, specifically Fluxus scores and Allan Kapprow’s Happenings.
The exhibition is an invitation to reclaim the language of the interface from the homogensing forces of bureaucracy and marketzation to generate new agency with the everyday.
The opening will be on Friday, March 31, from 6pm. It then runs until Sunday, April 2, from noon to 4pm. n For more details, log on to: ohos.org.uk
THOUSANDS of runners will take to the streets of Reading as the town’s favourite race returns on Sunday, April 2.
The Unleashed Performance Reading Half Marathon will see elite and enthusiastic amateur participants take on the 13.1-mile course, which starts and finishes inside the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
A shorter Green Park Challenge will also take place alongside the main half-marathon.
As usual, there will be a number of road closures around the route, full details of affected roads can be found on Reading Borough Council’s website (see below).
Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading’s lead councillor for culture and leisure, said: “The Unleashed Performance Reading Half Marathon is a major event in Reading’s calendar, as well as being one of the largest Half Marathons in the country.
“It is recognised as being one of the key annual events for runners nationally and brings huge numbers of visitors into the town. The race is famous for superb crowd support, a great atmosphere and an unbeatable finish.
“Why not come out along the route and show your support for the thousands of runners who will be taking part?
“As always, there will be a number of road closures throughout the day.
“This is necessary to host such a large road race and residents are asked for patience and cooperation during the short time the race will
be passing around Reading.
“I would encourage residents and visitors to check their journey plans ahead of Sunday, April 2. There is a residents’ helpline available on the day on 0118 937 2771.”
Those negotiating the half marathon are due to gather at Green Park for a 10.15am start when they will then embark on a scenic trip around Reading, taking in the university campus before making their way into the town centre. Runners will head west before travelling southbound down the A33 Relief Road towards the finish line.
A series of rolling road closures and diversions will be in place at a variety of times between 7am and 3pm. Roads will be reopened as soon as runners have passed through and it is safe to do so.
Residents and visitors are being asked to plan ahead and allow extra time for any journeys they intend to make on the day.
There will be around 700 people manning the route on race day.
n For more information on road closures, visit: www. reading.gov.uk/leisure/things-to-do/events/readinghalf-marathon/
By JAKE CLOTHIER jclothier@rdg.todayONE OF the UK’s celebrated racing venues is hosting a family-friendly raceday event in April.
Ascot Racecourse will hold its Spring Family Raceday as it closes its 2022/23 Jumps Season.
As well as a number of races, including the veterans Chase and a competitive juvenile hurdle, the event will see a whole host of activities and offerings.
Attendees can see ferret
racing and sheepdog demonstrations, ride ponies, and take part in Easter-themed arts, crafts, activities, and even bubble biking and remotecontrol car racing.
The event will also see entertainers such as jugglers, balloon modellers, and face painters on hand to help the day go with a swing.
This is alongside Ascot’s usual offerings of food outlets and bars.
Races will run throughout the day, with the Class 2 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race and the LK Bennett Handicap
Steeple Chase staking grand prizes of £40,000.
No formal dress code is in effect during the Jumps season, though attendees are encouraged to dress in a “smart manner” and in anticipation of weather conditions.
Ascot Racecourse’s Family Raceday is taking place on Sunday, April 2, from 10.45am, with the first race kicking off at 1.50pm and the last at 5.20pm. Ticket prices begin at £25, with children going free. n Full details about the event, pricing information, and for ticket booking, visit: www.ascot.com
A READING pub is hosting a party to celebrate the launch of Art Brew’s Seville Rye beer.
The Castle Tap will be selling the spring special at the event on Saturday, March 25.
Starting at 7.45pm at the Castle Street venue, it will feature live music and an opportunity to meet Artist in Residence, Becky Whinnerah, who is part of the Art Brew Team.
The brand-new Count Me In Collective project, which aims to set up a training brewery for adults with learning disabilities and/or autism, will also be discussed.
n For more details, log on to: thecastletap.co.uk
A MUSICAL duo will host a monthly jazz session in a Reading pub this weekend.
Stuart Henderson and Simon Price will be accompanied by Alan Barnes on saxophone, Stuart Barker on bass, and Leon Greening on piano.
The popular event is scheduled for Sunday, March 26, at 3pm at The Retreat in St John’s Street.
Organisers say visitors can expect a great atmosphere and top-quality jazz music, making it the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
n For more details, log on to: www.theretreat.pub
By JAKE CLOTHIER jclothier@rdg.today
A NEW shop with a community twist is opening in one of Reading’s shopping malls.
Charity Super.Mkt, the first multi-charity shop in the UK, is set to open a branch in The Oracle following a successful month-long launch in Brent Cross, north London.
The shop sells clothes donated by 10 British charities, including high-profile organisations such as Cancer Research UK, Bernardo’s, Marie Curie, and Age UK.
It will also support Blue Cross, Cats Protection, DEBRA, Helen & Douglas House, The Shaw Trust, Havens Hospices, Shelter, Sue Ryder, Thames Hospice, and Smart Works.
The shop was a project put together by fashion brand founder Wayne Hemingway and the Textile Reuse and International Development CEO, Maria Chenoweth.
The initiative is intended to boost charity retailers which Ms Chenoweth said were not getting the recognition they deserved.
It is also aiming to cater
for a younger, eco-conscious consumer, with the continuing cost of living crisis also meaning shoppers are seeking cheaper alternatives.
Now, much like its London pilot, the store is setting up shop in the former unit of a branch of Topshop in The Oracle, which will be the first of the store’s stops on a tour around the UK.
It will feature recycled fixtures and fittings, and many of the smaller items such as hangars and plastic bags will also be leftovers from Topshop and Topman stores.
Mr Hemingway and Ms Chenoweth said the idea came to them after having run
“market-style pop-ups” at car boot sales.
The original pilot store in Brent Cross extended its stay for a further fortnight after proving popular.
The supermarket is also seeking volunteers for its store, Charity Super.Mkt will open its doors to customers on Friday, March 24, remaining until Sunday, April 30.
It will be open from 9.30am8pm, Monday to Friday, from 9am-7pm on Saturdays, and from 11am-5pm on Sundays.
n For full details about the charities supported or to volunteer, visit: charitysupermkt. com
GET ready to explore the medieval heart of Reading with Abbey Quarter Tours.
Starting from April 1, the tour will take place every Saturday at 11am and will be led by trained volunteer guides.
Participants will be able to visit the Hospitium where medieval pilgrims stayed, the impressive conserved Reading Abbey ruins, and the grand entrance to the Abbot’s Lodgings, which became Queen Elizabeth I’s royal residence.
The tour will also feature links to the influence of the
POLITICAL unrest and national pride are the themes of the Henley Symphony Orchestra’s latest concert.
From Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto to Smetana’s evocative Vitava, The Hexagon on Queen’s Walk will be thick with musical intrigue and conspiracy.
Conductor Leon Bosch, who took up his position as music director and conductor of HSO in January, is also internationally renowned as a double bass player. He studied in London with conductor Sian Edwards and in St Petersburg with Alexander Polishchuk.
Pianist for the concert, Martin Roscoe, is equally at
TO MARK the events of the first Easter, Christians from Reading’s churches will be coming together for two special services.
On Good Friday, Reading Central Salvation Army band will be playing hymns at a gathering in Broad Street outside Marks & Spencer.
Starting at noon, it will include a talk by Michael Penny, chair of Churches
home in concerto, recital and chamber performances. He is artistic director of Ribble Valley International Piano Week and the Manchester Chamber Concerts Society.
He is currently Professor of Piano at the Guildhall School of Music in London and has been awarded his Fellowship there.
The event takes place on Sunday, March 26, from 7.30pm. Tickets are: £24, £20, £16, with students and under 16s half price. Groups see one in eight people get in free, and one child goes free with every adult, excluding Band A tickets.
n For more details, or to book, call: 0118 960 6060, or log on to: www.whatsonreading.com
Together In Reading.
And at 8am on Easter Sunday, The Bandstand in Forbury Gardens will be the venue for a celebration service.
Music will again be led by the Salvation Army, and the speakers include the Revd Julia Binney from Abbey Baptist Church.
If wet on the day, the service will take place in the Abbey Square church. It is also the venue for refreshments from 8.30am.
For more details, call Mr Penny on 01491 671357.
Huntley and Palmers Factory, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year.
The 90-minute tour is suitable for all ages and will include myth-busting facts and fascinating stories about the Abbey Quarter.
Meeting at the Reading Museum’s reception, the start point and some of the stops during the tour might change depending on any Covid-19 safety guidance in place.
Places should be booked in advance, and cost £10.
n For more details, log on to: www.readingmuseum.org.uk
A COMMUNITY group is inviting residents to attend its upcoming themed event which will be held on Thursday, March 30. iCare 2018 social club’s members are being asked to wear hats, of any kind, for Wear a Hat Day, as part of its brain tumour awareness efforts.
The social club provides visitors with the ideal opportunity to spend time with friends and meet new people over food, cash and prize bingo and hot drinks.
Organiser Emily Roberts said: “We are excited to welcome everyone to our club and build relationships between people in the community.
“We love to support people to socialise and get out of their homes and enjoy being part of the iCare 2018 family.”
The social club is targeted at those who want to get out and socialise with others and helps those who may be feeling lonely, isolated or are just looking for company and fun in their lives.
The event takes place from noon-4pm at Whitley Wood Community Centre.
To book a space, call iCare 2018 on: 0118 950 0777.
DISCOVER THE PAST: Tours unpacking the history of Reading Abbey will take place from next month Picture: Phil CreightonONE OF Reading’s latest highprofile developments has given budding Berkshire builders a glimpse into the world of construction as it continues its progress.
The Lincoln Property Company, which is developing One Station Hill, invited students to visit the site in central Reading, fielding questions and giving insight into the practicalities of the major construction projects.
When complete, the Station Hill complex will see commercial, office, and living spaces built on the former site of the Gerrard Street car park.
The site is also in front of Reading Station and will connect it to the rest of the town centre with pedestrian thoroughfare.
Students at UTC colleges looking to become builders were invited to hear members of the development team speaking about how they got into the industry and some of the practicalities of building a project as big as the Station Hill development.
They were then treated to a guided tour of the development which included visiting different levels of One Station Hill to see different parts of the construction process in action, such as the installation of the building’s glass facade.
They also had to opportunity to ask questions and heard from workers on the site about the culture and methods of modern construction.
Finley, a student at Reading College, said: “It was great experience to actually see what kind of environment I’ll be in if I were to go down this career path.
“It’s a really valuable experience I’ve had – personally, big projects and developments are something I’d like to go into.”
Speaking on whether he felt it would be benefitial for fellow students with aspirations in the industry, he said: “Yeah, it’s been really good to see – it gives you some actual personal experience which you don’t get from research.”
Fellow student Alex said: “It opened up a new experience for
me.
“As the only female in my whole class, that can be quite pressurising – but events like this give you way more confidence in it.”
She said also that it gave her a sense of how the culture is in modern developments.
“It’s been a real experience –I loved it.”
Lee Fearnhead, director of construction at Lincoln Property Company, spoke to attendees before leading the guided tour around the site.
Speaking after the event, he said that outreach initiatives such as this one were “massively important” in modern construction.
“We actively encourage events like this, as engagement with the community is paramount.
A NEW housing development featuring an estimated 400 apartments could be built in Reading town centre if plans are approved, writes James Aldridge, Local democracy reporter Foundry Quarter is a development that will sit between Weldale Street and Chatham Street and comprises four large blocks.
A green roof is planned for the new buildings … as well as a blue roof. This functions as a sustainable drainage method used to manage rainwater and route it to the plants growing there.
Plans also show solar panels installed on the roof.
To view the application, log on to Reading Borough Council’s planning website, and search for 230227.
THAMES Valley Police are appealing for witnesses after a theft from a car.
VISIT: Students visiting Station Hill as Building One continues construction.
Picture: Jake Clothier
in a different era; we have to engage with the community, and we want to.”
Engagement is also important for recruitment, too: “We have a massive shortfall in people coming through.
“We have so much talent, but if we could only get them to engage with the industry, from everything up to investment and to the end user.
“When you break it down, we have a massive team– tech only takes you so far, so you need people on the ground.
“It doesn’t matter your role, if you’re involved, you have to start somewhere and that’s what we should be encouraging.”
The incident happened between 6pm on Thursday, March 16, and 7am on Friday, March 17.
Thieves forced the rear door of a Renault parked on Old Bath Road in Calcot.
Once inside, they took a large quantity of power and hand tools were stolen. Anyone with information, or CCTV, doorbell, or dashcam footage that could help police with their investigation are asked to call police on 101, quoting reference: 43230118929.
“We are a big, internationallyrecognised developer, so we when we come in to an area like Reading people wonder why.”
He explained that the project was seeking to contribute to the experiences of those thinking about going into construction: “There’s a bit of a missing link between education and bringing people forward into this industry, and there’s a lot of barriers to break down.
“We don’t just rest there with events like this – construction has a huge impact, constantly learning new techniques.
“Now students are starting
The Station Hill development is currently expected to be complete in 2024, when it is set to become Reading’s tallest building.
Plans include meeting rooms, co-working spaces, secure cycle parking, a gym with shower and locker facilities, two terraces, and a rooftop lounge area in One Station Hill.
Further developments will see residential, leisure, and commercial spaces built to create a modern, multi-use complex.
n Full details about the development are available online via: www.stationhill.co.uk
A vehicle caught fire on Paddock Road, Caversham on Thursday, March 16, at around 11.15 am.
Firefighters from Caversham Road Fire Station were called to the scene and found a van ablaze.
A single firefighter, equipped with breathing apparatus, was able to quickly extinguish the flames using a hose reel.
The crew remained on the scene for roughly half an hour.
No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is not yet known.
READING’S local music community is set to grow thanks to Readipop’s bi-monthly music meet-ups. They feature industry talks, live performances and networking opportunities.
The charity will provide insights to artists and musicians while showcasing acts.
Next week’s event, on Thursday, March 30, will feature a panel discussion on touring in the music industry, featuring Gavin Lombos, Jack Shepherd (Ed Sheeran Experience), Sabrina Findlay (Music Made Fearless), and Tim Greaves (Artist Liaison and Tour Manager).
The event will feature by Ray Wills, from Readipop’s music label RISER. Admission is free. It will be held from 6.30pm at the Reading Biscuit Factory in Broad Street Mall.
n For more details, log on to: www.readipop.co.uk
READING music promoter Club Velocity is turning 20, and preparing to celebrate.
The club is known for promoting local and emerging talents, and to mark this special occasion, Club Velocity is hosting a birthday gig featuring three great bands in Reading.
The August List will be headlining the gig.
Their last two albums have
been described as complete works of genius, and they should be all over BBC 6 Music, playing festivals like End Of The Road.
The May, also known as Nigel from Vienna Ditto/Riser fame, is a guitarist who is widely considered as one of the best in Reading.
Eat Daddy Eat, a band with all three members featured in some of the best Reading bands
of all time, will be opening the gig
The Club Velocity official 20th birthday gig will be held at the Rising Sun Arts Centre, in Silver Street, on Friday, March 31, and tickets cost £8.80. And, as a special treat, the event will feature free cake and shizzle.
n For more details, or to book, log on to: www. risingsunartscentre.org
OUR washing machine broke this week. Then a day later, we noticed our dishwasher had packed up too.
“WHY are all our white goods BREAKING?” I bellowed up to Joel as I proceeded to wash, rinse and hand dry every item in our jampacked dishwasher. (Old-school).
The washing-up I can handle. You can sort of do little bits here and there, avoiding any overwhelming build-ups. In the evenings I put podcasts on and it almost feels like me-time.
Laundry is another story. What I cannot handle, is the absence of a functioning washing machine in my home. I actually miss it. I feel off-kilter without the once, sometimes twice daily distant beeping of a finished-cycle. Doing the laundry is like the punctuation to my day.
Without it, I’m just stuck mid-sentence. I’ve lost my flow.
There is a rhythm to the process. It’s mainly a monotonous one, but there’s also a small satisfaction to getting through a load.
Sometimes I get actual enjoyment out of it.
A brief, momentary high.
When I’m on top of the laundry, I’m in control. A laundry bin at full-capacity is overwhelming. It means I am behind.
Even before this week, I would occasionally think to myself how grateful I am (was) not to have to painstakingly wash our garments by hand.
Growing up in the Philippines, my mum spent her Saturdays at the local springs doing just this.
“How old were you?” I am trying not to sound shocked, this was just how they did things, after all, no washing machines.
“Maybe 12 till around 15 or 16...” she said.
She’d wash all her family’s clothing. That’s her parents, her five siblings and hers.
“Wet clothes are really heavy, was it not really heavy walking back?” I asked.
“Yeah it was, I’d put it all on my head. There were lots of other people washing clothes too, I’d get talking to people,” she says, smiling.
Despite taking hours each weekend, she describes the routine fondly, as if she really didn’t mind at all.
I almost feel silly at my panicked response to the malfunctioning machinery.
Determined to keep costs to a minimum, I decided calling an engineer was the absolute last resort. I could take care of it.
Following the Bosch how-to video instructions to a T, I located the service flap, drained all the dirty water through the hose and cleaned out the pump. I was quite pleased with myself. It was going so well, until I turned it back on and a switch in our fuse box tripped, refusing to get back into place. With no electricity, I’d gone from being unable to wash my clothes to being unable to make tea, turn a light on, or heat soup.
I was cold, hungry and sat in the dark by this point.
How were things getting progressively worse?
A few tricky hours later, an electrician came and worked some sort of wizard magic in my home. (Thus preventing me from tearing all of my hair out in one sitting and serving sandwiches for dinner.)
It transpired there was a problem with the electricity socket next to the machine, unrelated to the machine’s spinning issue.
Having moved past breaking-point – this came the day I lugged what felt like 12 tonnes of wet clothing from the laundrette into the car – I am now more than ready to call an engineer.
Should really have done this on day one. But then where’s the fun in that?
n Angela blogs at The Colourful Kind
ON SHOW: An exhibition from Reading artists, some of whom have never exhibited before, will be in a Redlands church this weekend
By JAMES HASTINGS news@rdg.today
WHAT does wholeness mean to you?
In a post-pandemic world, with war in Europe and the cost of living crisis appearing unending, is it possible to have a sense of wholeness?
These are just some of the themes at the heart of a community art exhibition at Redlands Parish Church (St Luke’s) Church Hall, Erleigh Road in Reading this weekend.
Artists new and established will tackle the meaning of wholeness in both painting, drawings and photography.
Leslee Barron who is organising the event said around 30 local artists are exhibiting alongside craft stalls including refreshments.
“This is the first of two exhibitions this year, with the second planned for November or December,” she explained.
“It tackles a very big theme which will be interpreted in different ways by a wide range of artists.
WHEN a group of Reading parents took their children for singing lessons they never thought they would end up taking singing lessons themselves.
But now, many of those parents – and some of their children – will raise their voices at a delayed 30th anniversary concert of the town’s popular Parenthesis choir.
It takes place this Sunday, at The Abbey School in Kendrick Road, from 7pm.
It was back in 1992 when a steady stream of cars would stop outside what is now the King’s Academy Prospect School on Saturday mornings to drop their children off for music lessons.
“The exhibition is being held in a church but that doesn’t mean all the exhibitors are religious. I want artists to say what wholeness means to them.
“Some of those involved have never exhibited before. Events like this hopefully encourage people to be bold and individual. That is exciting.”
Leslee added the art scene in Reading was alive and well and thriving despite the covid lockdown and rising cost of artist materials.
“There is a real buzz around the town and an increasing number of artistic hubs and communities.
“I hope local people will come to the exhibition to see the huge talent on show from local artists. Some of the work will be available for sale and there will be a wide range of items from the many craft stalls.”
The exhibition runs from Friday, March 24 through to Monday, March 27.
The church is open from 10am to 4pm on Friday, Saturday and Monday, and noon to 5pm on the Sunday.
Entry is free.
A RESTAURANT in Reading is offering customers the chance to enjoy two meals for the price of one.
German Doner Kebab, in Friar Street, is running the offer on Tuesdays for both dine-in and takeaway customers.
The menu includes a traditional doner wrap, a vegetarian kebab, and its Doner Krunch Burger.
The company says its meals are freshly prepared and gamechanging, as they use premium, lean, meats and fresh local vegetables for its meals, which are served in handmade toasted bread.
The offer runs until the end of August.
Daniel Bunce, GDK Global COO, said: “We’re bringing back our twofor-one Tuesday promotion as it has proven to be a real hit with kebab lovers.
“At GDK, we want to give something back to our loyal customers without compromising on taste. Two-for-one Tuesdays are
an affordable opportunity to enjoy kebabs done right, giving loyal customers and new, a chance to try our game-changing kebabs within our restaurants or in the comfort of your home.”
n For more details, log on to: www.germandonerkebab.com
While the children went inside the parents would either wait in their cars or use the two-hour sessions to do the weekly shop.
However, one day, the musical arranger and choir director, Gwyn Arch, approached some of the parents waiting outside, suggesting they might like to form their own choir.
Gwyn was a well-known and well respected musician who taught a Saturday morning class. His son, Dave Arch, will be familiar to fans as the musical director of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing show.
Over the past 30 years, Parenthesis has sung at venues across Europe and host regular charity events as well as a very popular Christmas concert.
Chairman David Cottam said the anniversary celebrations had to be delayed from last year due to the legacy of covid restrictions:
“Who would have thought we would have parents and adults singing in a choir because they wanted their children to sing in a choir?
“I have been a member for the past 10 years. I was a dentist but I never sang to my patients. Like many people I enjoyed singing on my own although I never thought about joining a choir
until I heard about Parenthesis. “We are an informal group of over 50 singers who enjoy a wide range of music styles from jazz to oratorio. We welcome people of all levels and experience and we do not require anyone to audition. Some of our members are really good musicians while others have not sung since
AN ETHICS and business manager from Reading is preparing to undertake one of the biggest challenges any runner can undertake – the London Marathon.
Next month, 26-year-old James Partington will run through 26.2 miles of the capital city, all to raise funds for a charity that supports older people living in financial hardship.
He says that advice from Independent Age could have helped his grandfather.
“I love running and taking on the London Marathon for Independent Age means I can support a great charity doing wonderful work for older people in the UK,” he said.
“I’m running in memory of my grandfather who died in 2018. He would have benefited from the advice that Independent Age can give, but unfortunately, we didn’t know about them when he was alive.
“My girlfriend, Alice, manages the
design work of Independent Age. That’s how I became aware of the support and advice they offer through watching some of the videos she’s produced.
“It’s made me want to do something to help as I think this advice can really help older people.”
Mr Partington said he had ordered some of the information materials Independent Age produces and will share it with his grandma, so she can learn more about help and support available to her.
In all, he is hoping to raise £2,000 for the charity’s work, and has already collected pledges of more than £1,500.
The training for the April 23 race is, he said, “up and down, but nothing a good podcast can’t solve”.
He is one of 10 people taking part in the London Marathon for Independent Age, and collectively they hope to raise more than £28,000.
READY TO SING: Parenthesis choir rehearsal OFFER: For a limited period, German Doner Kebab is offering customers the chance to have two doner kebabs for the price of one on TuesdaysDelightfulDevonWeekend_D.pdf
ahead of their 50th anniversary concert Picture:
their school days. We reckon we are the friendliest choir around running a range of social activities throughout the year.”
David described Gwyn Arch as “an inspiration” to those Saturday mums and dads who were content with singing in their cars while waiting for their children to finish lessons.
In 2003, Parenthesis twinned with a French choir, La Stephanelle from the small Alpine village of St Detienne de Crossey, holding regular musical exchanges.
“We sing in French when we are over there and they sing in English when visiting us. Sometimes we all sing in Latin but at the end of the day
we have such a wonderful time.”
Parenthesis still rehearse on Saturday mornings but now at the Abbey School in Reading where they are currently practising for their anniversary concert. Sunday’s programme will seem them perform Mozart’s Requiem which many people will be familiar with from the film Amadeus as well as Hayden’s masterpiece, Missa in Angustiis more commonly known as the Nelson Mass. n For more information and to buy tickets for the 30th anniversary concert on Sunday, March 26, as well as information about Parenthesis and how to become a member, go to: www. parenthesis.org.uk
RESIDENTS have been reminiscing about the building of one of Whitley’s most impressive, and tallest, buildings.
Christ the King Church, located on the corner of Brayford Road and Northumberland Avenue, is featured in this week’s photograph, which was taken on April 10, 1959.
Whitley Community Museum curator, David Turner, said: “Apparently the topping out ceremony was Father Collins very generously offering a pint from the Tavern.
“Residents remembered calling door to door collecting money in order for the build to commence.
“The response to this one photograph was amazing, 121 likes, 13 shares and 47 comments [on Facebook]. Does it not prove how important it is to keep local history alive?”
Museum members shared memories of weddings, first communions, the church football club and even school classes over the years.
One resident recalled attending lessons in the church hall during the week and a screen being removed to reveal the altar over the weekend.
Slow
drivers – a rant
To the one at the front. Yes, you know who you are
The person with the go faster stripes adorning your car
I’m just wondering if you knew
That you don’t have to divide the speed limit by two
The queue behind you is growing fast
We can’t get by; there’s no way we can pass
But on the rare opportunities that we might
You accelerate as if it’s your right
Stuart Rogers, acting chief executive of Independent Age, was grateful for the fundraising efforts.
“Thank you to James for choosing to support Independent Age at the London Marathon. We admire his commitment to supporting people in later life,” he said.
“With 2.1 million older people already living in poverty and millions more facing financial hardship due to
the increased costs of living, our work has never been more important.
“We want every older person to have the opportunity to live well with dignity, choice and purpose. We couldn’t do this without volunteers and fundraisers like James.
“Thank you.”
n To make a donation to Mr Partington’s run, log on to: www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/jamespartington94
To always be in the front and us behind
But if you check I think that you’ll find
That you can be done for going too slow
Although it’s obvious from your velocity that you don’t know
Or you would speed up just a tad
The school was St James’ Annexe, which was associated with a larger school near The Forbury.
Mr Turner explained: “Father Collins was instrumental in building the church on Northumberland Avenue and eventually the school was transferred from the annexe. The new school was opened by Bishop Warlock.”
With over 4,800 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 in-person. n For more information, search: Whitley Community Museum on www.facebook.com
Beloved for its mild climate and miles of golden sands, Torquay provides us with the perfect base for our relaxing short break away. From here we explore this picturesque corner of the West Country, including a visit to Exeter, the capital of Devon.
Your break includes
Return coach travel from Reading 3 nights at the Trecarn Hotel, Torquay with dinner & breakfast
Excursion to Exeter
Optional excursion to Sidmouth (£10pp)
4 Days by Coach ly £189.99
TorquayWeekend_D.pdf
And make those behind you very glad
But nope, you’re determined to make us suffer
And make our day that little bit tougher
You’ve doubled our journey time today
As we travel to work to earn our pay
If you ever looked in your mirror you’d definitely see
You’re at risk of being tailgated by the car in front of me
But that’s the last thing that drivers like you
Would ever dream is something you should do
And so you’ll continue driving without being aware
Or maybe you are and just don’t care
Gillian PassmanWe love receiving your poetry, and print a selection every week. Verse can be sent to poems@wokingham.today
Departing Fri 23 Jun ‘23
Take in a weekend of south-west scenery in Torquay, where the gorgeous sea views and sandy beaches make it the perfect place to escape for a few days of rest and relaxation, with excursions to some of the most inspiring destinations along the south coast.
Your break includes
Return coach travel from Reading
3 nights at the Trecarn Hotel, Torquay with dinner & breakfast
Entertainment every evening
Excursions to Dawlish & Teignmouth
£60 Single
Optional excursion to Dartmouth (£8pp)
WORK IN PROGRESS: Christ the King church, pictured under construction on April 10, 1959. Picture courtesy of Whitley Community Museum Dijana Capan/DVision ImagesTHE DEATH of Ruth Perry, former headteacher of Caversham Primary School, has shocked us all.
A dedicated and hard-working public servant, her leadership touched the lives of hundreds of pupils.
But it was an Ofsted inspection that was the straw that broke her.
A decision to rate this school, previously outstanding, as inadequate, was the catalyst for a devastating course of action.
The inspection’s sharp downgrading should have raised alarm bells with Ofsted. That it didn’t raises serious questions about the nature of these inspections.
While the idea of Ofsted lies in a perfect world, we don’t live in one.
When teachers are striking over pay and conditions, and leaderships are calling the inspection system into question, it is clear more needs to be done.
Out of respect for Ruth, and heeding the request of her family, we commit to not publishing stories on inspection results until the system is reformed.
We cannot let Ruth’s death be in vain.
DO you like to travel? Perhaps you have visited some far-off places in your lifetime or perhaps you prefer to stay in your own home.
Some of you may have even relocated to a new country for a short time, or permanently moved to a new location and called it home.
In the last year, as a church and as a town, we have seen the relocation of many overseas citizens, some making their home here temporarily and some seeking a new future in the UK.
The Bible tells us that Jesus travelled around, in fact, he was born in one place, raised in another and died in yet another.
Jesus knew what it was like to travel, to be far from home and away from family. He would have experienced cultural differences and as he arrived in a new place, he could never be sure of the response of others.
Many flocked to him with open arms to meet him and hear his teaching but others rejected him, pushed him out and isolated him.
No matter how he felt or how he was treated, Jesus welcomed all who came to him – the rich, the poor, the sick, the young and the old, men and women.
As I consider the life of Jesus, I wonder; How would I have responded if I had been alive to walk with him and how am I responding now? Am I welcoming? Do I show love to those that need it? Or do I isolate people, push them out and leave them feeling unwelcome?
As we see new members of our community, in our churches, our schools and workplaces, trying to settle into a new culture, perhaps we should all take the time to encourage them and ensure they can call our town ‘Home Sweet Home’.
Lois Theobald, is the children and families worker at Wokingham Baptist Church, writing on behalf of Churches Together in Wokingham
I am surprised you printed Mr Hardy’s letter. I found it confused, rude and even blasphemous.
If he has issues with the Princes Andrew and Harry and the Church of England bishops, then write about that: not conflate it with the Coronation anointing oil, which many regard as representing something sacred.
I am sure we will hear more about the oil in the coming months, as its use is outside most of our living memories. For me it looks back to the oil that God instructed Moses to make for anointing of priests (see Exodus Chapter 30); it is called most holy. It was used to anoint kings and leaders in the Old Testament, hence its use for anointing our Monarchs, as for over 1,000 years our lands have been Christian. It is my prayer that it will indeed be symbolic of God’s help and blessing for our head of state (and government) leading to righteous and just government.
In the church, the anointing oil represents the Holy Spirit. Also the name Jesus Christ means the anointed one. It is used especially when we pray for the sick. Ordinary vegetable is
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
often used, but I think it special that the Coronation oil has come from Jerusalem, with its rich associations, especially with our Lord who suffered, died, was buried and rose in that very city. Therefore, I am sure you will understand why I regard the innuendo of a masseuse rubbing it on Prince Andrew quite offensive.
I think Mr Hardy exaggerates, is libellous and frankly goes on a rant in his allegations about the CoE. He is wrong to use the label evangelical. Of course no one defends wrong doing, but I know Archbishop Welby has been very prompt in putting the house in order.
Thankfully many churches are not empty; some have multiple services and plant out to others.
Mr Hardy should look through the rest of the edition. He will see Tyndale Baptist Church offering lunch (p4), the Christian voluntary organisation Mustard Tree given an award (p4), St Matthew’s, Southcote warm hub (p7), afternoon tea St Andrews (p9) and the work of CCA and their drop in at Park Church (p30). Even St Mary’s church railings (p9), remind us of community support provided in the centre of town.
Cllr Jason Brock
There are large numbers of churches and Christian organisations contributing a huge amount to our community, inspired by their faith in and example of the Lord Jesus, the anointed one.
After commenting on the Coronation oils letter, I don’t have time to comment on David Akroyd’s letter, which seems equally perverse.
How can he begin to defend Putin’s action? Supporting Putin is playing into his hands.
Simon Bird, via email
The former PM and also the former home secretary Theresa May criticised this new immigration bill in parliament.
It was her fault that she destroyed the laws for British citizens in 2012.
Since then, the poor West Indies people – the Windrush generation – who had the right to be here she got rid of many of them. They suffered.
Now she does not like this bill but still votes for it.
This lady who stands in Maidenhead is a hypocrite.
Victor Rones, via emailonto the council to work hard all year round and stand up for residents on these issues and more.
RECENTLY the Green Party launched our A One Pound Fare to Take You There.
This is a national policy which would reduce the cap on single local bus fares to £1 and seek to increase usage of buses, since passenger levels in most areas have never fully recovered to prepandemic levels.
Better public transport benefits everyone.
When more people use public transport congestion on our roads is eased and in the long run the health costs associated with air pollution are reduced.
Residents in Reading have told me that the current cost of bus travel stops them from using Reading’s bus service.
We need a £1 fare to take you there.
Spotlight on Green candidates Josh Williams and Sarah Magon
With elections coming up on Thursday, May 4, Green Party Councillor Josh Williams is standing for re-election.
I’M going to be unashamedly parochial this week.
I’m privileged to have two jobs at the Council. One as Council Leader (which keeps me busy enough), and the other as a ward councillor for Southcote. I like to think of the latter as the day job.
It’s always gratifying to hear of brand-new facilities being opened for residents, and it’s especially nice when they are delivered in my own patch.
That is the case this week as we open what is, in fact, Reading’s new flagship playground in Prospect Park – just in the nick of time for the two-week Easter school holidays, and a few months ahead of schedule.
This playground is a £530,000 investment on the part of the Council. That is a far from insignificant figure for a playground, but this isn’t the sort of playground that you and I might remember as children. No rusty swings or risky falls onto hard concrete here.
This new provision caters for children of every age and ability and has been carefully designed to allow children to be challenged physically, as well as letting their creativity flourish. Importantly, it has also been designed so that children who may have disabilities can join in the fun.
Green Party Councillor Brenda McGonigle is retiring but hardworking local campaigner Sarah Magon hopes to be elected in Brenda’s place.
Josh has worked hard as a councillor over the last eight years, improving road safety, defending our green spaces and supporting residents.
I can’t thank Brenda enough for her incredible hard work, and the difference she’s made. It’s been a pleasure to work alongside her.
Our local campaigner Sarah Magon has been continuing Brenda’s tradition of hard work with her campaigning to tackle Wokingham Road rubbish problems.
Under this Conservative government and Labour-run council Reading has widening inequality, a lack of affordable housing and tens of thousands of residents living in poorly insulated houses.
When residents step outside their front door many are greeted by rubbish, potholes and graffiti. Labour isn’t listening.
We need more Greens elected
I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of the head at Caversham primary school Ruth Perry. Her family say she killed herself while waiting for an Ofsted report which gave her school the lowest possible rating. This is a tragedy.
Greens do not just want school inspections halted. We want them ended.
Ofsted should be replaced with a new independent body which works collaboratively with schools, supporting and nurturing teachers to improve standards and get the best out of their students.
Fortunately, there’s now real, constructive opposition to Labour on Reading council.
At the local elections in May 2022 the Green Party elected more councillors than the Conservatives making us the second largest party in the town.
There is a growing team of hard-working Green councillors standing up for residents across the town.
If you’re keen on being part of the change in Reading, get involved and help us make Reading fairer, greener and cleaner: reading.greenparty.org. uk/get-involved Green Party councillor Rob White, Leader of the main opposition group on Reading Borough Council
As well as the more traditional pieces of play equipment you might expect to see in a kid’s playground – like roundabouts, swings, and a zipwire – the new area boast two large climbing towers and a tunnel slide. The climbing area has an access ramp incorporated into it and there are themed zones, including more quiet play areas and activity panels.
In terms of accessibility, there is a ground level roundabout, braille panels, a low-level play net, an accessible see-saw, tactile panels, ground-level games, and a large fully accessible springer.
As I say, this is no ordinary kids’ playground. It is a truly unique space and I’m sure it will prove to be an exemplar facility that you will see replicated in other parts of the country.
The new Prospect Park playground is part of the Council’s overall £1 million-plus investment in new playgrounds and new play equipment across Reading for children and families to enjoy. This refresh has been going on for a couple of years now and you may have noticed new equipment in a play park near to where you live.
With the Prospect playground open, we can get on with the second phase of the job which involves dismantling and removing the old playground, the site of which will be reinstated as open park land, and then building a new pedestrian access path running from the car park to the play area, together with a new pedestrian crossing.
The new flagship playground is part of a bigger vision for the Park. This includes The Ranger Station, our recently opened £500,000 multi-use activity centre in part of the pavilion building directly opposite the new play area. The mini-golf and Sky Tykes low ropes activity opened only last year. Other facilities – including a café – will open later this year.
Prospect Park has always been a major destination for local residents in this part of town; a place to relax and enjoy the open green space. By investing in modern facilities for residents, we hope that even more people from across Reading will be encouraged to pay it a visit this coming Spring and Summer.
Cllr Jason Brock is the leader of Reading Borough Council and ward member for Southcote
ONE OF Reading’s culinary and cultural hotspots celebrated its first year of calling the corner home last week.
Blue Collar Corner marked the first anniversary of moving to Hosier Street, behind the Broad Street Mall, with a four-day extravaganza of events and fixtures.
The opening has reinvigorated the market area of Reading town centre and has hosted a wealth of events, including talks, food nights, bands and record fayres.
The venue saw live music, DJ sets, sports screenings, and markets, as well as the launch of a special edition beer.
Blue Collar’s Pete Wheeler said: “We had the DJs back for feel-good Thursdays, and we had the birthday beer, Birthday on the Corner, available for the first time.
“It’s absolutely delicious, and there’s still some left if anybody hasn’t had a chance to try it yet.”
The Showhawk Duo performed on the Thursday, and Mr Wheeler said: “They played covers of 90s rave anthems on acoustic guitars, and that went down really well- it was a lot of fun.
“They’re a real festival band and that’s exactly what we wanted for a real party atmosphere.”
Speaking of the closing show, he said: “We finished it all off on Sunday with a Launchpad fundraiser with Third Lung, who brought some bands along with them for acoustic sets.
“It was our biggest line-up so far on our new stage, and it was such a nice atmosphere, and obviously it raised money for one of our partner charities.
“Being able to do that really added to the occasion.”
Looking to the future, Mr Wheeler said: “We’re really just scratching the surface: we have drag brunch coming up, our first vintage flea market, and we’re also holding the British Street Food
Awards here next month.
“We’re showing the Euro qualifiers, as well as more live music, DJs, in conversation events.
“We’ll be carrying on with a variety of events as the sun starts to shine a little more.”
n For full details about Blue Collar Corner’s food and drink offerings, as well its upcoming shows and events, visit: bluecollarstreetfood.co.uk
READING Borough Council is due to vote on how it plans to preserve the character of local communities at a meeting to be held this evening.
Further restrictions on the number of houses of multiple occupation, or HMOs, are currently being considered and will be decided upon at a planning committee meeting.
It follows a two-month period of public consultation, and councillors are now expected to suggest that the Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport Committee goes ahead with an update to planning guides.
Proposals include a clarification of the current 25% thresholds in place within 50 metres of a property, which applies to the total number of residential buildings, as opposed to residential dwellings, within specified areas.
They also include what the council calls “a new approach” to conversion plans for flats and HMOs outside of Article 4 areas, where the proportion of residential buildings within 50m of the application site that have been converted would not be expected to exceed 50%.
There would also be further criteria which would consider whether
BERKSHIRE Maestros is hosting a free Have a Go music event on Tuesday, March 28, at its Tilehurst base in Cockneys Hill.
The event is open to children and families who are interested in trying out instruments and talking to teachers about lessons.
The event is an opportunity for children and families to explore their musical interests and potentially discover a new passion.
No appointment is necessary and sign-ups for lessons on the night will receive 10% off their first term. The event runs from 5pm to 7pm.
n For details, log on to: berkshiremaestros.org.uk
THE Reading Vintage Flea Market will be returning to Blue Collar Corner on Sunday, March 26, offering a range of stalls from local dealers specialising in affordable original vintage, mid-century furniture, decor, clothing, signs, art and posters.
The market will run at the town centre venue between 11am-4pm, with free entry and street food available until 8pm.
Dogs and children are welcome.
There are still a few remaining spaces for those interested in booking a stall, with various dimensions available.
For more details, call David at McConnell Vintage Co on: 07795 692191.
application sites fall within the most deprived areas of the town.
Plans would also be designed to avoid the “sandwiching” of residential properties between HMOs.
Cllr Micky Leng, Reading Borough Council’s lead councillor for planning, said: “There is little doubt there is a huge and continuing demand for HMOs in Reading, but it is the Council’s job to ensure we balance these demands with the need to retain and preserve the character of local communities in the town.
“We have seen that a prevalence of HMOs in parts of our town can lead to tensions in a local community.
“Examples include pressure on limited parking or multiple bin collections at HMO addresses– more fundamentally, HMOs can change the look, feel and character of a local neighbourhood, which existing residents understandably have concerns over.
He explained that the council’s proposals would: “Tighten up the existing thresholds in Article 4 areas around the University, and introducing a new threshold for other parts of Reading where restrictions do not already exist and where applications for house conversions to HMO’s are spreading.
“If adopted, these changes strengthen and update existing planning policies and will be a material consideration when deciding if an HMO conversion will be approved.”
However, Reading’s Green Party felt the changes didn’t go far enough and wanted more action.
Cllr Dave McElroy said: “We’re pleased that the Council’s finally taking more action on HMO proliferation and getting the housing mix right for local communities, but it doesn’t go nearly far enough to stop clusters of HMOs forming on our streets and doesn’t do anything to reverse years of Labour neglect.
“It does make the lock on the stable door a bit stronger, and we welcome that, but in so many areas the horse bolted years ago.”
HMOs are homes which have been converted to accommodate multiple people unrelated as tenants.
Reading’s large student population and status as a locus for employment opportunities means it has a high demand for rental properties.
HMOs help meet that demand, but can lead to problems such as pressure for parking spaces, refuse and public space, and loss of privacy in other homes.
n Full details of the proposals are available online via: democracy.reading.gov.uk.
SUCCESS: Chief executive Andrew Coles said the strong results were evidence of the quality of Isio’s people and their work
TO MARK its third anniversary, a Reading-based pension consulting firm is celebrating what it says is impressive growth in its revenue and profits.
Isio, which works from offices in Thames Tower, acquired Premier in January 2022, and says it has seen revenue increase by a third from £76.5m to £101.5m, and a 33% increase in EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) from £20.4m to £27m.
The company says its growth has been powered by key differentiators including independence and marketleading technology, and it has an innovative culture to do things differently and win business from more traditional rivals.
The company is continuing to look to the future. In January, it announced it had signed an agreement to acquire Deloitte Total Reward and Benefits Limited, the UK pensions advisory business of Deloitte LLP.
Upon completion of the deal, which is subject to FCA approval,
A READING-based law firm has announced the appointment of a new senior residential property lawyer.
it is anticipated that Isio will have annual revenues of more than £140 million and 1,000 employees across its nine existing locations around the UK, together with a new location in Belfast.
Chief executive Andrew Coles said the strong results were evidence of the quality of Isio’s people and their work, as well as the demand for a challenger brand in the pensions advisory space.
“Clients have responded positively to our innovative approach and our strategy to grow the business both organically, through new services, and inorganically through acquisitions, is driving better opportunities for our people and clients,” he continued.
“Our results also confirm that we are one of the fastest growing pension consulting firms in the UK. We are proud to have built a business with the sustainable scale and expertise of a serious player, while maintaining the agility required to disrupt the status quo and capitalise on the opportunities that lie ahead.”
A BROADBAND provider conducting major works in Reading could be on the cusp of being bought out by Virgin Media O2.
The Daily Telegraph has reported that talks had taken place between Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries and CityFibre boss Greg Mesch regarding a possible takeover.
Virgin Media O2 is jointly owned by Liberty Global and Spanish multinational telecommunications company Telefonica.
It is estimated that 50% of CityFibre’s network, which includes its £58 million Reading project, overlaps with Virgin Media O2.
In November, Reading Today spoke with CityFibre following
residents’ concerns over traffic disruption which led to Reading Borough Council summoning directors for questioning.
The company stated its commitment to delivering its full fibre network to Reading, which it projects to bring £625 million to the town.
At the time, Stacey King, regional partnership director, said: “We want to build the best possible network, the UK is behind the curve with our digital infrastructure. There’s been a lot of underinvestment in this area.”
Both CityFibre and Virgin Media had not responded on the reported takeover talks as we went to press.
Alan Tibber is to join Boyes Turner and will head up its residential property practice. He has more than 20 years’ experience, including running his own residential property firm since he was 30. It was acquired by a West End practice in 2021. He has also served as an external examiner for property law regulator, the Council of Licensed Conveyancers, and wrote part of the course for the new conveyancing apprenticeship scheme.
Now, he is looking forward to his new challenge.
“Boyes Turner has a fantastic reputation, and by moving here I can scale up my practice and ensure my clients benefit from the wider expertise of this firm – from dispute resolution to private
client, family and corporate commercial law,” he said.
“At Boyes Turner I look forward to supporting clients in the Thames Valley region and wider South East, from first time buyers to high net worth individuals and property investors.”
Although the market has been undergoing a number of changes since the covid pandemic, including a stamp duty holiday and Trussonomics seeing interest rates rise, Mr Tibber says he is optimistic about the market.
“There has been some upheaval, but the reality does not match the scare mongering headlines in some media,” he said.
“Mortgage interest rates are levelling off at around 4%,
and I predict that the market will be as buoyant as ever this spring and summer.”
His appointment has been welcomed by the firm, which has an office in Abbotts House in Abbey Street.
Sue Brown, Boyes Turner’s head of private client, said:
“Our residential property team has so much potential, and Alan is the perfect person to lead the team as it expands.
“Buying or selling a house can be one of the most stressful times in anyone’s life. Our residential property experts have the legal knowledge and strong focus on client service to guide clients through the process.
“We’re looking forward to offering this service to even more clients as we grow.”
NEW HOME: Savills Reading has moved to offices at One Forbury Square
The 3,704 sq ft (344.1 sq m) triple aspect office is home to specialist teams operating across a range of real estate services, including Residential Development Sales, Residential Lettings, Planning, Development, Valuation and Occupier Services.
Phil Brown, head of Savills Reading, said: “I am thrilled to announce our move to One Forbury Square. We have grown considerably over the
last decade, from a relatively small specialist team into the market-leading multi-disciplinary business we are today.
“As a result of our continued success, we set our sights on a move some time ago. Having secured the space last year, we have invested in an impressive fit out to meet our current and future needs, including, of course, ensuring it is as sustainable as possible.”
READING Buses have launched a new route to the Royal Berkshire Hospital park & ride with a special fare until the end of the month.
This service runs non-stop between Mereoak park & ride, Reading University, Royal Berkshire Hospital and Thames Valley park & ride.
Travel between Mereoak park&ride, RBH and Christchurch Green is free until March 31, with all-day parking at Mereoak just £1 per vehicle.
This offer is only valid for travel to and from Mereoak park&ride with passengers using Thames Valley park&ride still needing to buy a ticket on the bus or app as normal.
Buses will run up to every 20 minutes on weekdays, starting around 6.30am and finishing around 7pm. Journey time between Mereoak park & ride and the hospital will be around 20 minutes.
Network Rail’s ongoing works on the London Road railway bridge will mean a temporary timetable on the 300 to help reduce disruption. It will run until May when works are completed.
During the period of this temporary timetable, from 9am and 4pm buses will only be running between Mereoak park&ride and RBH, and won’t be serving Thames Valley park&ride.
Bus fares exclude car parking charges, but passengers will still be able to pay for this on bus at either site. All-day parking costs just £1 at Mereoak park & ride, and £6 for all-day at Thames Valley Park & ride.
If you are parking at the Thames Valley park & ride site, you must register your vehicle at the machine before buying parking on the bus. n Full details at: www.reading-buses.co.uk/ hospital-park-ride-300
BUSINESSES on a road plagued by litter have been fined for not keeping Britain tidy.
In January, we revealed that residents near Wokingham Road had been signing a petition organised by Park ward Green party campaigner Sarah Magon, calling for action over the overflowing trade waste bins on Wokingham Road.
The parade of shops include several grocers and fast food restaurants, each of which has to make arrangements for the removal of its trade waste. There are also residential flats above the stores.
Last week, during strong winds, litter was seen on the other side of the road, close to Alfred Sutton primary school.
Speaking to Reading Today in January, Ms Magon said: “At the Wokingham Road shopping area opposite Alfred Sutton primary school, waste is out of control. Often trade waste bins are overflowing and spill out onto the road.
“The council’s bag collection system isn’t working well so waste
from the flats above the shops piles up and the area around the pedestrian crossing opposite Crescent Road is chaotic.
“We are asking the council to work with us to tackle these issues.”
Part of the problem is caused by different companies being needed to collect waste as businesses arrange their own contracts.
In January, Biffa said it was collecting waste on time, and working with Reading Borough Council to find a solution.
A Reading Borough Council spokesperson told us that they would be sending enforcement teams.
At a recent meeting of the council’s policy committee, on
MESS: Some of the piles of rubbish and overflowing bins on Wokingham Road Picture: Phil Creighton
Monday, March 13, Ms Magon presented the petition saying it was an issue the council needed to keep on top of.
“We have 247 signatures on our petition which shows there is a strength of feeling in the area,” she said.
Cllr Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey), lead councillor for environmental services, said the council had visited all the businesses, and some had been fined for bad practice.
“Each was given time to provide evidence of their waste arrangements, to satisfy legislative requirements,” she continued. “As a result of inaction by some of these shops, seven business owners were
issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN), requiring a response prior to February 17.
“One of the businesses paid their FPN but have, to date, failed to provide the required evidence of appropriate waste arrangements and therefore remain subject to escalating Enforcement action.
“The other six businesses have been referred to the Council’s Legal Services Team to progress further prosecution action.”
Council officers are now inspecting the area on a twiceweekly basis, and stickers have been placed on bins as a deterrent to those who litter.
Ms Magon raised the waste from the flats.
To tackle that, information on correct waste disposal has been provided to occupants, including in multiple languages such as Romanian, Polish and Nepalese, to ensure residents are aware of waste disposal procedures.
Cllr Rowland added overflowing bins were also an issue along Oxford Road and other retail areas.
Additional reporting: James Aldridge, local democracy reporter
READING Haydn Choir’s spring concert will take place on Sunday, April 2 at St Joseph’s College in Upper Redlands Road. They will perform a selection of works from the 18th and 20th centuries.
The programme will include Vesperae’s Solennes de Confessore, the last choral work composed by Mozart in 1780 for liturgical use in Salzburg Cathedral.
Handel’s Coronation
Anthems were commissioned for the enthronement of George II in 1727,.
It starts at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £15, £13 for concessions and £5 for under 19s. n www.haydnchoir.org.uk
AN INSIGHT into the world of Chouffe beers is coming to Reading next week.
The drinks are unfiltered blond beer that re-ferments in the bottle as well as the barrel.
The Greyfriar pub is hosting a Chouffe Party where they can sample beers, take part in chocolate tastings, and receive freebies and merchandise.
The event is suitable for beer enthusiasts and anyone looking for a fun night out.
It will be held at the pub, on Greyfriars Road, from 7pm on Thursday, March 30. n For more details, log on to: thegreyfriarreading.co.uk
NEW PLAY equipment in Reading is set to be unveiled earlier than expected, and in time for the Easter holiday.
Reading Borough Council has announced that the refurbished play area in Prospect Park is now set to open on Thursday, March 23.
Originally set to open this summer, the revamped play area represents more than £500,000’ worth of investment by the council.
It features themed zones, such as quiet play areas and activity panels, roundabouts, a swing set, and a zip wire.
It also features two large climbing towers, complete with a tunnel slide and an access ramp to improve accessibility.
Braille panels, lower-level inclusive play nets, and tactile panels, as well as much of the facility being at ground level, also contribute to making the space more accessible for children with specific physical requirements.
The park is part of a wider set of investments in Prospect Park, which will have seen an activity centre installed in the pavilion building, mini-golf, and Sky
Tykes climbing ropes and walls. Further improvements, including a cafe, are set to
be completed later this year, as well as the removal of the old play are and small
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PLAYTIME: Play nets are part of the groundlevel facilities aimed at helping choldren with different physical capabilities.
Pictures: Reading Borough Council
improvements to pedestrian access and crossings.
Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Leisure and Culture, said: “I am delighted that we have delivered this fantastic new play area months ahead of schedule.
“It is inclusive of children of all ages and abilities, and the earlier opening date will be a boon to families looking for free family days out during the Easter holidays and beyond.
“Between the new play area and The Ranger Station opposite, this council has
invested over £1m in play at Prospect Park: it is one of the town’s destination parks so it was vital to us that the facilities are accessible to all children.”
Tom Charman, project manager, HAGS, said: “We are extremely pleased to open the play area at Prospect Park. It has been fantastic to work in partnership with Reading Council to deliver this unique play space, and we hope all of the Reading community will enjoy the new facilities.”
The new play area in Prospect Park is now due to open today.
COPING with breast cancer will be the focus of a prestigious University of Reading public event.
Prof Nazanin Derakhshan will explore themes such as support structures, cognitive research and personal empowerment at this year’s Edith Morley Lecture on Thursday, March 23.
On average, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 10 minutes in the UK.
Prof Derakhshan said: “When confronted with a life-threatening disease such as breast cancer, options become limited, priorities change, and we can struggle to adapt to our new ‘normal’.
“Learning the art of resilience can help us endure the emotional roller coasters, and manage our emotions more efficiently.”
Prof Derakhshan founded the Building Resilience in Breast Cancer Centre (BRiC), a research and practice centre which looks to empower women with breast cancer diagnoses. The lecture will take place from 6.30pm-8pm in the Van Emden Theatre, Edith Morley Building. All are welcome to join, but must register via the University of Reading Events page.
A BEKRSHIRE school has widened its music scholarship programme to offer specialist support to young musicians.
Downe House School, an independent boarding school for girls aged 11-18, says the new awards have been created in response to the success of the school’s music department. The extended awards include a Music Scholarship which is open to all years of entry, the Chilcott Choral Scholarship, a unique internally granted award for girls aged 14 upwards, named after the school’s musician in residence, Bob Chilcott, and also an Organ Scholarship open to 16-plus, and a separate Organ Award, which is open to all years of entry.
Dr Charlotte Exon, director of music at Downe House explained: “We are really excited to have widened our music scholarships offering. This is really about recognising the incredible musical talent of young people today, but on a broader level.”
n To find out more about the music scholarships on offer at Downe House, visit: www.downehouse.net
STAFF at a supermarket chain will be in line for a pay increase this summer.
The hourly rate will rise to £11.40 per hour for Aldi workers, rising to £12.30 per hour for those who meet length of service requirements.
Rates are higher for staff who work within the M25, at £12.85 and £13.15 respectively. They come into effect from July 1.
The company said the
move maintains its position as the country’s best paying supermarket, and its rate are higher than the Real Living Wage, set by the Living Wage Foundation, of £10.90 per hour nationally and £11.95 inside the M25.
It is also 13% higher than it was a year ago, representing an investment of more than £100m in colleague pay in the last 12 months.
And Aldi says it is also the
only supermarket to pay for breaks, a perk worth around £927 annually for the average worker it employs.
It has also increased hourly rates for its 7,000 warehouse staff.
Giles Hurley, chief executive officer of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “We believe our colleagues are the best in the sector and we are committed to ensuring they are also the best paid.”
A TILEHURST resident is calling for the council to act over illegal parking in his street.
Jack Ewins lives in Shilling Close, which he says is used by people parking for Prospect Park Hospital, or as a drop off and pick up spot for King’s Academy Prospect school in Cockney Hill.
And he said drivers are often parked on double yellow lines or on the pavement and grass verges.
“Residents of Shilling Close and Chimney Court have, for some time, had to put up with obstructive and illegal parking in the area,” he explained.
“Most of the illegal and obstructive parking is perpetrated by staff and visitors to Prospect Hospital, some people waiting to pick up children from the School in Honey End Lane and also delivery drivers, who park on double yellow lines.”
He has also complained about littering in the area: “The Honey End Lane up to Shilling Close is not swept and has historic cigarette ends deposited on the pavement and gutters, plus other items of litter.
“The only success me and neighbours have had is the fitting of two new bins, which took more than a year to be installed.
“Also, the road has a large number of leaves which also can hide yellow lines, which have almost disappeared from wear and tear.
“Nothing has been done to regularly tidy the area, patrol the area or the use of the Borough CCTV enforcement vehicle.”
Mr Ewins thanked Cllr Tony Page (Labour, Abbey) for looking
into the issues, but wanted more to be done.
A spokesperson for Reading Borough Council said: “We are aware of parking concerns in Honey End Lane and Shilling Close and continue to monitor the situation. Our enforcement team have visited the location on several occasions, but found no infringements on those days, which means no penalty charge notices were issued.
“We will continue to regularly visit the location.
“It should be noted the Council is only able to enforce
parking on the highway where there is a Traffic Regulation Order in place, for example double yellow lines.
“We are unable to enforce parking on the pavement where there are no restrictions on parking in place, or on the grass in this location, as this does not form part of the highway.
“These infringements can only be enforced by the police, not the council.
“Blue Badge holders are permitted to park on yellow lines for up to three hours.”
A FORMER bookies in Reading town centre will soon be serving Mexican food as a new takeaway prepares to open, writes James Aldridge, local democracy reporter Zambrero is to open at 31 Queen Victoria Street, between Itsu and Kokoro.
The chain started in Australia, and serves burritos, nachos, quesadillas, tacos and desserts. It already has five branches in England, four in London and one in Chelmsford.
Work on converting its new Reading home has started, with the William Hill sign has been removed and hoardings for Zambrero erected.
They added: “There has additionally been a request for yellow lines in Shilling Close. This request is being investigated as part of a borough-wide Waiting Restriction Review Programme that was first reported to Traffic Management Sub-Committee earlier this month.
“The recommendations arising from the investigation will be reported further, with any agreed proposals requiring public consultation before they could potentially be implemented.”
The company has applied to Reading Borough Council for permission to sell alcohol on and off premises from 11am to 9pm Monday to Saturday, and 11am to 8.30pm on Sundays.
On New Year’s Eve, it would like permission to sell alcohol outside of these times so it can open later for any parties.
The application has been submitted to Reading Borough Council. Comments can be made by emailing: licensing@ reading.gov.uk by Tuesday, April 4.
ON THE LINES: Examples of some of the parking on Shilling Road, which a resident says is obstructing pavements, verges and the road Pictures: Jack EwinsLOOKING for a swinging good time in Reading? Look no further than the Ding Dong Daddios Payday Swingday, at The Purple Turtle next week. This music night features vintage sounds from the fivepiece band, who specialize in Jump Jive and Swing music that will get you dancing and feeling good.
With each song handpicked, the Ding Dong Daddios are sure to make any night feel like a Saturday night,.
The band say it will be a night of pure fun and entertainment.
n For more details, visit the Gun Street bar, or log on to: www. purpleturtlebar.com
THE Pangbourne Jazz Club is set to host a live performance by saxophonist Tracey Mendham on Sunday, April 2. Known for her musical versatility, she plays across different genres, including soul, pop, funk, and Latin music. She will be accompanied by the Terry Hutchins Quartet, featuring Terry Hutchins on guitar, Andy Crowdy on bass, Jim Pollard on piano, and Brian Greene on drums. The event promises to be an entertaining night of blues and jazz music. n Tickets for the event, which starts at 7.30pm, can be booked online at: www.skiddle.com
ON Tuesday, February 14, Colin Butcher gave us a fascinating tour of the smaller islands off the UK coast in a talk entitled UK Islands, Wildlife and Volunteering. He and his wife Pauline have spent many years volunteering on island reserves and bird observatories managed by the RSPB, local wildlife groups and the National Trust.
Although all these reserves have some permanent staff, it would not be possible for them to carry out all the vital conservation work they do without the help of willing volunteers.
Colin pointed out it is surprising how much a small group of people can achieve in a relatively short period of time.
Projects include rebuilding collapsed stone walls, repairing worn paths and steps, clearing unwanted vegetation, painting buildings and constructing hides.
In addition to these vital infrastructure projects, they have also been involved in citizen science with moth
trapping, bird surveys and rodent monitoring to test the success of a rat eradication project on Ailsa Craig.
The islands covered in the talk provided a round tour of the UK from the channel islands to Noss in Shetland and North Ronaldsay, by way of Llanddury off Anglesey, Lighthouse island off Belfast, RSPB managed Rathlin Island off the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, then down the East coast including St Mary’s Island off Whitley Bay, Spurn point in Yorkshire, Northay off Maldon in Essex, and Holt Island in the Great Ouse river.
As well as providing much needed help, the volunteers are able to visit islands and sections of reserves which are not open
to the general public and benefit greatly from the knowledge and expertise of resident wardens and other permanent staff.
Sunday, February 19, was our first minibus trip of the year and, again, we were driven by George of EarleyBus.
Twelve of us went and we met three others at Rye Meads RSPB reserve in the Lee Valley just north of the M25.
It was a lovely sunny day and there had been some good birds seen there recently so we arrived full of excitement about what we might see.
As is often the case, we had some good sightings but not the particular birds we were looking for. Four Bearded Tits had been seen in the reedbeds for the previous few weeks, and as it was sunny and not too windy we had a good chance of seeing them. Sadly we didn’t even hear them but our close scrutiny was rewarded with a female reed bunting, a bird with lovely subtle plumage despite being various shades of brown. We then moved to the Kingfisher bank where they had been showing signs of nest building, but none showed.
So we tried for the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker that had
been seen that morning but that too proved elusive.
All three species are difficult to see unless you are lucky. However, we did see a good selection of more common birds around this lovely little reserve with flocks of lapwings, teal, heron and common gulls rounded off with great views of a sparrowhawk to end a very enjoyable day with 42 species recorded.
On Tuesday, February 21, we had a very enjoyable morning walk round Virginia Water taking in the lake and surrounding areas of woodland and shrub. The lake held many Great Crested Grebes and Mallards plus a few Tufted Ducks. The woods contained many tit species with lots of Nuthatches and Treecreepers.
At the far end of the lake a flock of Siskins were feeding in the Alder trees. Numbers have been much lower than normal this winter, so the good close views we had were very welcome.
Two sightings of Kingfishers flying along the edges of the lake made up for not seeing them on Sunday.
A total of 34 species made for a very satisfying morning.
In March our programme continued with a talk on Tuesday 14 by Gary B Prescott, aka the Biking Birder, on Egyptian Adventures: Birds, People, Places and Unexpected Encounters.
Next month, on Tuesday, April 11, there will be a talk on the Conservation of Globally Threatened Birds by Rob Sheldon.
The outdoor trips included a walk at Moor Green Lakes near Finchampstead on Sunday 19, and a trip to RSPB Otmoor near Oxford on Tuesday 21.
Outdoor trips include a minibus trip to the RSPB’s Arne reserve near Poole harbour on Sunday, April 16, and a midweek walk on the chalk downland at Combe Gibbet on Tuesday, April 18.
All indoor meetings are held in Pangbourne Village Hall starting at 8pm. Visitors are welcome.
There is an entrance fee of £5 for non-members, juniors half price.
New members are always welcome with annual membership set at a modest £15, £10 for juniors.
n For more information, visit: group.rspb.org.uk/reading
UTC READING has been given an award for high standards in careers provisions for the third time.
The college has been awarded the Gold Level accolade in the national Quality in Careers Standard, having previously held the award twice before.
The award comes after the institution was subject to inspection in January, with a report commending it in recognition of the “quality and breadth of [their] careers provision.”
Your break includes
Return coach travel from Crawley
UTC Reading provides STEM-centred learning for students aged 14-19, specialising in computer science and engineering, and is rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
Among the aspects singled out for praise was the college’s stable careers program which links job prospects and curricular learning, as well as encounters with employers, further education institutions, and guidance staff.
The report explained: “Learners are positively engaged with the learning pathway they have chosen and enthusiastic about what they are learning about themselves and the world of work.
“They are supported to make successful transitions within the college and to make their next steps into further learning or work.”
It continues: “‘The opportunity for them [students] to acquire
a range of professional qualifications, including Microsoft ones, is much appreciated by the learners and illustrates the college’s commitment to preparing their learners for working life.
“Learners are also very positive about the ethos of the environment and how it better resembles a workplace than other places they are familiar with.”
Assistant head of school
Stephanie Mitchell said: “We are delighted to have achieved this award for the third time, demonstrating the continued excellence in the careers provision at UTC Reading.
HIGH STANDARDS:
UTC Reading has been awarded the Gold Level accolade in the national Quality in Careers Standard, having previously held the award twice before. Picture: Kathryn Fell/ Activate Learning
“Our employer engagement programme has always been something we have been proud of, but to get an award is a great achievement to really showcase this.
“The opportunities that our students get to really excel in their careers is amazing to watch over the years, whether that be progressing to university, an apprenticeship or employment.”
She explained: “The career journey starts when our students’ walk through the door, helping to prepare them with the skills, knowledge and attributes for the world of work and bridging the gap between industry and education.”
THAMES Valley Air Ambulance is set to trial the use of a new methodology to tackle blood loss in patients.
Responders will be part of a programme using “whole blood” under the Study of Whole Blood in Frontline Trauma, or SWIFT, initiative.
The SWIFT initiative is being led by NHS Blood and Transplant, in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and Air Ambulance UK.
Crews currently carry red blood cells and plasma, which are easier to store and have a longer shelf life than “whole” blood.
The initiative will see them equipped with whole blood which contains platelets, the part of the blood which aids clotting.
Blood must be stored at a specific temperature and kept constantly moving to remain oxygenated and useable.
This makes it difficult to use and store outside of hospital facilities, but the scheme will aim to reduce trauma deaths in patients where blood transfusions are critical.
Crews will use O negative blood, which is commonly
called the ‘universal donor’ blood type, when there’s little time to check for blood type.
Thames Valley Air Ambulance chief operating officer, Adam Panter, said: “We are proud to be collaborating with NHS Blood and Transplant, Air Ambulances UK, and Defence Medical Services to support this trial.
“Patient care is at the very heart of all that we do at Thames Valley Air Ambulance and so we welcome the opportunity to
look at innovations which may improve the outcomes for those suffering these kind of injuries.
“This trial forms part of a key area of work at Thames Valley Air Ambulance, looking at areas where patient outcomes can be improved and implementing treatments and techniques which give them the best chances of recovery.”
Dr Laura Green, co-chief investigator for SWIFT and NHS Blood and Transplant consultant, said: “The role of
ROYAL Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is inviting young people to take part in its paid summer internship scheme.
Aimed at 16 and 17-year-olds from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds in the workforce, the opportunity will help those who may not have considered careers in the fire and rescue sector explore the roles available to them.
Each intern will gain valuable real-world experience and transferable skills which can be taken into their future careers or academic pursuits.
Over the course of a fiveweek period, interns will take part in learning and
NEW PROCESS: Thames Valley Air Ambulance will take part in a trial carrying “whole” blood which it will treat patients with. Picture: Thames Valley Air Ambulance
A CAMPAIGN aimed at getting the community growing is coming out of winter hibernation now that spring is here.
Garden centre Dobbies is inviting groups to submit an application for its Helping Your Community Grow scheme, which shares products, support and advice with those wanted to care for and protect their green spaces.
Example schemes include a school allotment project, a community garden, or a charity looking to create a sensory garden. The firm says it wants to have a positive impact on communities through its love of gardening.
Dobbies’ peat-free compost, recycled and recyclable pots, UK-sourced plants, and safer pest control products are among the many products the garden centre will donate.
air ambulances in providing blood transfusions at the scene of an incident is crucialdelivering the most challenging treatments in the most challenging environments.
“Any delay to starting transfusion during traumatic blood loss can reduce the chances of survival. We hope that SWIFT will show there are logistical and procedural benefits in giving a blood transfusion of all of the components in a single bag
– and ultimately improved outcomes for patients.
“We are grateful to be working in partnership with air ambulance organisations and the Defence Medical Services to drive innovation and provide even better care to critical patients.
She continued: “We are also incredibly grateful to our O Rh negative donors, whose universal donor blood is critical in trauma transfusion–including in this trial.”
Graeme Jenkins, CEO of Dobbies, said: “We’re proud to bring back Helping Your Community Grow.
“As we’re committed to environmentally-friendly practices, we’re especially interested in hearing from projects in Berkshire with sustainability at their core.
“Our teams will share their expertise to ensure an ecofriendly approach.”
The scheme operates from its Spencers Wood and Hare Hatch stores.
development workshops to enhance their skills, as well as visits to fire stations across the country.
Cllr Paul Gittings, chair of Royal Berkshire Fire Authority, said: “The summer internship scheme is an exciting opportunity that provides young people the chance to meet new people, develop new skills and enhance their future prospects in a supportive work environment.”
“As a Service, we remain committed to engaging with young people in our communities and developing an inclusive culture where all are welcome. We look forward to welcoming our new interns in the near future.”
As part of the scheme, which runs from July 17-August 18, each intern will be paid an hourly wage.
Abdifatar Hassan, a previous intern, said: “Interning at RBFRS not only provided me with invaluable skills and an understanding of the service’s functions, but also helped me discover my potential and navigate my career path towards unexpected opportunities.
The experience has equipped me with skills that will undoubtedly benefit me in any future career I pursue.”
n For more information, visit: www.rbfrs.co.uk/careers/ summer-internship-scheme
NOMINATIONS are now open for awards celebrating NHS staff in the south east of England.
The annual NHS Parliamentary Awards are now accepting nominations from MPs for members of staff who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in the region.
The awards will see winners chosen from nominees in 10 categories: Excellence in Healthcare, Excellence
in Mental Health Care, the Volunteer Award, Urgent and Emergency Care, Primary and Community care, the Future NHS award, Health Equalities, Nursing and Midwifery, the Rising Star award, and Lifetime achievement.
The Healthy Outcomes for People with Eating disorders, or HOPE, collaborative was among the winners of last year’s awards, backed by Reading West MP Matt Rodda.
Anne Eden, regional director for the NHS in the South East, said: “The awards are a unique opportunity for MPs to highlight the amazing work done by NHS staff in their local areas, so I would encourage as many MPs in the South East to get involved.
“It is an opportunity for MPs to share what the health service means to them and the communities they serve each day.”
READING BOROUGH COUNCIL
The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure)
Order 2015 Notice of applications for planning permission under Article 15 of the Order
APPLICATIONS AFFECTING LISTED BUILDINGS AND/OR CONSERVATION AREAS
All comments must be received within 7 days and will go on public view.
230260: 207 Oxford Road, Reading, RG1 7PX - A new timber fascia replacing the original modern metal fascia with associated cobels and pilasters to match 209 Oxford Road.
230259: 207 Oxford Road, Reading, RG1 7PX - Replacing modern fascia with timber fascia and hand painted lettering. Replacing modern metal door and fanlight with timber substitutes. Repainting whole shopfront.
230247: 43A Church Road, Caversham, Reading, RG4 7AG - Proposed 2 storey rear extension, single storey link, replacement garage, fenestration alterations to listed building, conservation roof lights and internal amendments.
230245: 82 Crescent Road, Reading, RG1 5SP - Installation of two Mitsubishi electric heat pumps (1050mm (l) x 480mm (w) x 1020 (h)) on concrete slabs within rear garden.
230228: St Marys Church Service Yard, St Marys Butts, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2HX - Erection of a new half brick wall and railings fence and gates.
230211: Abbey Gardens, 4 - 6 Abbey Street, Reading, RG1 3BA - New glazed entrance and external step platform lift.
230192: 41 - 41A Eastern Avenue, Reading, RG1 5RX - Erection of new boundary wall at rear of back garden.
221854: Q2, Watlington Street, Reading - Facade remediation of the masonry brickwork/rendered block and Cedral panelling complete with backing PIR cavity insulation with new non-combustible cavity insulation and new masonry brick/ rendered block and Cedral panelling all to match existing colour and texture. These applications can be viewed online http://planning.reading.gov.uk/fastweb_PL/welcome.asp
Anyone wishing to make representations can submit comments online or write, quoting the application number, to Planning, Reading Borough Council, Civic Centre, Bridge Street, Reading RG1 2LU.
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Saturday 27th May 2023
From Reading. Join our special train at Reading for a day out to remember. We will be met by an historic steam locomotive at Bristol to steam along the Kennet and Avon Canal, through Somerset countryside and the Culm Valley to Exeter. A run along the famous Dawlish sea wall, one of Britain’s most scenic stretches of railway, will be a highlight of the journey. A break at maritime Plymouth provides chance to explore the Hoe and the old Barbican area with the Mayflower Steps or the city’s shops On the return our vintage train will leave our steam loco behind at Taunton to complete our journey diesel hauled.
• Premier Dining £295 per person – price includes a full English breakfast and a four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.
• First Class £195 per person – 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 £130 per person – price includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.
£10 per person discount quote: DHS
Saturday 22nd July, 12th Aug, 16th Sept 2023
From Slough and Reading. Enjoy a day out departing from Slough or Reading to the Bristol Channel coast by train featuring two historic steam locomotives. This seaside special will be hauled by a magnificent steam loco along the scenic Kennet and Avon Canal and through the pretty Vale of Pewsey. Our train will join the West Somerset Railway and a WSR steam loco will take over for the stretch past Dunster Castle and into the resort of Minehead, where you can enjoy the sea and sand before we steam for home.
• Premier Dining £285 per person – price includes a full English breakfast and a four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.
• First Class £185 per person – 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 £115 per person – price includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.
£10 per person discount quote: DHU
Sunday 30th July 2023
From Slough and Reading. Step on board our special train at Slough or Reading to enjoy a day out to Cornwall. We shall be joined by a magnificent steam locomotive at Bristol ready for an exhilarating run beside the Exe Estuary and along the famous Dawlish sea wall. The Royal Duchy will stop at Plymouth, where you can explore the Hoe, ancient Barbican, seafront or National Marine Aquarium. Alternatively, stay on board for Cornwall to Par, where we shall have coaches ready to take you to the pretty seaside village of Fowey or Charlestown, home to the Shipwreck, Rescue and Heritage Centre and location for the BBC’s Poldark.
• Premier Dining £309 per person – price includes a full English breakfast and a four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.
• First Class £209 per person – 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 £134 per person – price includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.
£10 per person discount quote: DHV
Your guide to what’s on across Reading and Wokingham
ALASDAIR Roberts is one of those performers whose youth belies his experience.
Having started a band straight out of school, Alasdair went on to work with the likes of Neil Young, Will Oldham, and Teenage Fanclub’s Gerard Love, as well as composing for film, theatre, and festival events.
The folk musician was born in Germany but raised in central Scotland – and this heritage shows through in his work in a number of ways, especially his latest album.
Grief in the Kitchen and Mirth in the Hall, he says, is: “Entirely solo– a guitar, a bass piano, and singing, with no overdubs for 12 traditional songs and ballads.
“It’s mostly Scottish songs, and even though I don’t have a drop of Irish blood
in me there’s a few Irish songs.”
There’s also what Alasdair calls “a Canadian song,” which features some “garbled Irish Gaelic.”
“I have a little Scots Gaelic, but not very much.”
He’s talking about Drimindown, which he says “Started life in Ireland, probably as a Gaelic song.
“It was taken over to the eastern seaboard of Canada and was collected in Prince Edward Island.
“It was probably taken over by Irish immigrants, but I think at some point the knowledge of the Irish language must have degenerated to the point where the singers just went with it.
“I don’t think someone who speaks the language would have a clue, because it’s so garbled.”
He says he has always been
drawn to traditional songs: “I’ve always been drawn to that kind of big old narrative ballads.
“So there’s a few of those on this record, and other records have really focused on that – the form is quite conservative, and in my writing I try not to be quite so rigorous.
“But there’s something in the ballad form that makes it easier to remember – I wouldn’t be able to get away with reading off of a page.
“But they’re probably better in small doses, and more impactful, especially when paired with lighter or shorter material.”
In terms of performance, Alasdair says he enjoys the act of playing on stage.
“I’ve been writing since my midteens – I was singing when I was six, making up songs on a wee Casio
keyboard, and my first album was ‘97, when I was about 19.”
Even his experience doesn’t always make it easy to tour, with this year’s tour seeing a date in Edinburgh followed by a gig 300 miles away in Swansea the next evening.
“I don’t drive, so the tour means lots of train travel, and it’s grim because you have to pay for that about a month ahead.
“And then you don’t get paid for the gigs until about a month after, so there’s two months of having no money.
“But yeah the EdinburghSwansea trip is gonna be a bit of a headache– thankfully, under normal circumstances, I love travelling by train.”
It is also difficult, he explains, to really make a living from music without touring. “Most of my musical income
comes from gigging – people don’t buy records or CDs as much as they used to – we have to adjust to that new reality.”
Folk music is one scene where it’s always relied on live performance, but he says: “More traditional music audiences are also maybe more keen to actually buy physical records.
“Every few years there’s an announcement that there’s a new folk revival– it maybe has dips at certain points, but it seems quite healthy.”
Grief in the Kitchen and Mirth in the Hall is due for release on Friday, March 31, when Alasdair will also be performing at South Street Arts Centre.
n Full details and access to tickets for the tour are available via: alasdairroberts.com
HENRY Cash won silver at the 2021 Mottram International Piano Competition, Manchester.
He will perform in Maidenhead, with a programme that includes Beethoven’s Sonata in F sharp major, Op.78; Debussy’s Images (Book1); Scriabin’s Sonata No.5; Rachmaninov’s Prelude in B minor; and Brahms Sonata in F minor, Op.5.
The event is in Norden Farm Arts Centre’s Courtyard Theatre on Thursday, March 23.
Doors open at 7.30pm with tickets available for £18, and free entry for under 18s.
n For details, or to book, call the box office on: 01628 788977 or log on to: norden.farm
PAPA Truck is a five-piece band that hails from the Chiltern Valley. With strong vocal harmonies, the group focuses on writing their own take on bluegrass.
They have four albums of original material including their most recent, By Your Side.
Audiences can hear them play at Maidenhead’s Norden Farm Arts Centre on Friday, March 31.
Doors open at 8pm, with all tickets costing £15.
n For details, or to book, call the box office on: 01628 788977 or log on to: norden.farm
CROWTHORNE Musical Players present their stage version of Disney’s The Little Mermaid next week.
Filled with songs from the film, including Under the Sea, Kiss the Girl and, Part of Your World, the show promises to entertain youngsters with the Hans Christian Andersen inspired tale.
Little mermaid Ariel dreams of the world above the sea, and gives up her voice to find true love.
Stars of the film, Flounder, Scuttle and Sebastian, Aunt Ursula, King Triton and Prince Eric all feature.
The production also includes gadgets
Bracknell –South Hill Park
www.southhillpark.org.uk
01344 484123
Eagle House School presents Seussical The Musical. Thurs
23. Conservatoire: Olga Paliy and Kamila Bydlowska. Fri
24. The Comedy Cellar. Fri 24.
The Bon Jovi Experience. Sat
25. South Hill Park Tours. Sun
26. Wilde Sundays: Dragonfly
Sky and Greg Mayston’s
Americana, JK Jerome. Sun 26.
Crowthorne Musical Players present The Little Mermaid.
Tues 28-Sat 1. The Comedy Cellar. Fri 31.
FILMS: Tar (15). Thurs 23. The Fabelmans (12a). Fri 24-Wed
29. You Resemble Me (15). Mon
27-Tues 28. National Theatre
Live: Life of Pi (PG). Thurs 30.
Living (12a). Fri 31-Sun 2.
Camberley –Theatre
www.camberleytheatre.biz
01276 707600
and gizmos to entertain the family.
The event can be seen at South Hill Park Arts Centre from Tuesday, March 28 through to Saturday, April 1.
Doors open at 7pm each evening, with a relaxed performance on Wed 29 March, and a matinée on Saturday at 2pm.
Tickets cost £21, or £20 for concessions, and £17 for students and under 16s.
Family tickets (2 adults + 2 children) cost £68.
n For details, or to book, call the box office on: 01344 484123 or log on to: www.southhillpark.org.uk
Theatre, on Sunday, April 2.
Doors open at 5pm, with all tickets costing £15.
n For details, or to book, call the box office on: 0118 960 6060 or visit: whatsonreading.com
VISITORS, a play by Barney Morris, tells the uplifting story of an older couple waiting for a young visitor to arrive.
Edie’s mind is starting to falter and Arthur’s legs aren’t what they were.
But from the comfort of their armchairs, together they revive a kaleidoscope of memories.
AUDIENCES can laugh at Jack Whitehall’s new jokes as he test drives his latest material during a national tour.
The comedian’s evening show has sold out, but tickets are available for an added afternoon opportunity to join him.
Starring in the BBC’s Bad Education, and A League Of Their Own, Jack has also been seen in Disney’s Jungle Cruise, opposite Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.
He performs at Reading’s Hexagon Theatre, on Wednesday, March 29. Tickets for the 5pm show are available at £29.50. The 8pm show is sold out.
The event is suitable for ages 14 and over, due to adult material. Latecomers may not be permitted, and only tickets purchased through Reading Arts, WhatsOnReading, or Ticketmaster will be accepted.
n For details, or to book, call the box office on: 0118 960 6060 or visit: whatsonreading.com
£35 depending on seat location.
Audiences can save £5 on tickets for performances on Friday, March 31 through to Friday, April 10. n For details, or to book, call the box office on: 01635 46044 or visit: www. watermill.org.uk
A LIVE adaptation of the well-known, best selling picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, is presented by Tall Stories.
and 2pm on Sunday. Tickets cost £14.75, or £12.75 for under 18s.
n For details, or to book, call the box office on: 08455 218218 or log on to: www.cornexchangenew.com
IN NOTHING Happens (Twice), Mercè and Patricia always knew that making theatre would be difficult.
But when they have to dress up as flamingos in a shopping centre to make ends meet, they seriously consider giving up.
This ‘sharp and witty’ piece explores of companionship, co-dependency and what motivates us to keep going in the face of failure.
Can the women’s shared dream of staging Waiting for Godot get them back on track?
Will their long held ambition be strangled by red tape?
The answer is given through a performance that includes songs, comedy and merciless send ups of theatrical icons.
The show is recommended for 14 years and over, and can be seen at Henley’s Kenton Theatre.
It takes place on Friday, March 31, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £20, with concessions available for £18.
n For details, or to book, call the box office on: 01491 525050 or log on to: www.kentontheatre.co.uk
YOUNG performers from the borough will perform two dance shows in a presentation from ACE Dance Studios, called Spring Equinox.
TO HEAR
The Harry Styles Tribute Show, fans of the One Direction singer should make their way to Reading.
The event brings to life Style’s music in a performance that promises to have audiences on their feet dancing and singing along.
Fans can enjoy hits including Watermelon Sugar, As it Was, and Sign of the Times.
They will also hear One Direction hits, and covers by artists Harry has collaborated with.
The event is at The Hexagon
Forbidden Nights. Thurs 23.
Vincent Simone Tango
Passions. Fri 24. An Evening of Burlesque. Sat 25. Legend The Music of Bob Marley. Thurs 30.
Francis Rossi: Tunes and Chat. Fri 31. Come What May. Sun 2.
Guildford –Yvonne Arnaud
www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
01483 440000
Carmen. Fri 24. Queenz. Sat 25.
Mouse and Sam. Wed 29.
Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle. Thurs 30-Fri 31.
Dreamcoat Stars. Sat 1.
High Wycombe –Wycombe Swan
www.wycombeswan.co.uk
01494 512000
Gordon Buchanan: 30 Years in the Wild. Mon 27. Hellfire
Comedy Club. Thurs 30. Steel
Magnolias. Tues 28-Sat 1. The Drifters. Sun 2.
www.kentontheatre.co.uk
01491 525050
The Philadelphia Story. Until Sat 25. Yippee Ki Yay. Sun 26.
Simon Evans: The Work of the Devil. Thurs 30. Nothing Happens (Twice). Fri 31. Rhys James: Split Milk. Sat 1.
Maidenhead –Norden Farm
www.nordenfarm.org
01628 788997
The arrival of their visitor, however, will reveal family closeness fraying at the seams.
The play was awarded the Critics’ Circle Award and the OffWestEnd Award for Most Promising Playwright when it premiered in 2014.
The production is at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury.
It can be seen from Friday, March 31 through to Saturday, April 22, with the exception of Sundays.
Performances are at 7.30pm with matinées on Thursdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm. Tickets cost £10, £23, £30, or
Newbury –The Corn Exchange
www.cornexchangenew.com
0845 5218 218
ROH Live: Turnadot. Wed 22.
Sing-A-Long-A Encanto. Sat
25. Chris McCausland: Speaky Blinder. Fri 31. Room on the Broom. Sat 1-Sun 2.
Newbury –The Watermill
Royal Opera House: Turnadot. Fri
24. Pianists at Norden Farm: Henry Cash. Thurs 23. Ray
Bradshaw: Deaf Com 1. Thurs
23. Hattie Whitehead with special guest Tim Whitehead.
Fri 24. Kingdom of Madness: Classic Magnum. Sat 25. The Vinyl Frontier: Sad/Happy.
Sat 25. Maidenhead Drama Festival. Wed 29-Fri 31. Band of the Household Cavalary lunchtime recital. Thurs 30.
What’s Love Got To Do With It (12a). Fri 24. Papa Truck. Fri
31. Norden Farm Market. Sat 1. Corina Kwami Pamhea. Sat 1.
www.watermill.org.uk 01635 46044
Through The Looking Glass. Thurs 23-Sat 25. Visitors. Fri 31-Sat Apr 22.
Reading –South Street
www.whatsonreading.com
0118 960 6060
Mike Wozniak: Zusa. Fri 24. Heidi Talbot. Sat 25. In Floods by Greg Wohead. Wed 29. Tim
Key: Mulberry – SOLD OUT.
Thurs 30. Alasdair Roberts.
Fri 31. Rosie Jones: Triple Theatre. Sat 1.
The witch and her cat are travelling on their broomstick, when they pick up some hitch-hikers: a friendly dog, a beautiful green bird, and a frantic frog.
But the broomstick’s not meant for five, and it snaps in two just as the hungry dragon appears.
Will there ever be room on the broom for everyone?
Audience members from three years and upwards can find out at The Corn Exchange, Newbury.
Performances of Room On The Broom can be seen on Saturday and Sunday, April 1 and 2.
Doors open at 1.30pm and 4.30pm on Saturday, and at 11am
Reading –The Hexagon
www.whatsonreading.com
0118 960 6060
Royal Philharmonic Noisy Kids.
Sat 25. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Adam Hickox.
Sat 25. Henley Symphony
Orchestra. Sun 26. The Bootleg Beatles. Tues 28. Jack Whitehall warm up. Wed 29.
NT Live presents Life of Pi.
Thurs 30. Someone Like You: The Adele Songbook. Fri 31.
Dave Gorman: Powerpoint to the People. Sat 1. Harry Styles tribute. Sun 2.
Reading – Concert Hall
www.whatsonreading.com
0118 960 6060
Reading Symphony Orchestra. Sat 1. NEXT SHOW: Jonathan Biss piano. Apr 18.
Reading – Progress
www.progresstheatre.co.uk 0118 384 2195
NEXT SHOW: Dinner. Apr 14-22.
Audiences will be able to enjoy pieces performed by West Berkshire schools, youth dance companies, community projects and specialist performing arts colleges.
The platform showcases two mini-dance shows across one evening, with audiences able to see one of the acts, or both at a discounted rate.
The event takes place at The Corn Exchange, Newbury, on Tuesday, March 28. Shows are at 7pm and 8.30pm.
Tickets for one performance cost £13.25. Tickets for both together cost £22.50.
n For details, or to book, call the box office on: 08455 218218 or log on to: www.cornexchangenew.com
Reading –Reading Rep Theatre
www.readingrep.com
0118 370 2620
NEXT SHOW: Peter Pan. Apr 6-29.
Shinfield –Shinfield Players
www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk
0118 975 8880
NEXT SHOW: Ravenscroft. Wed Apr 26-Fri Apr 29.
Sonning –The Mill
www.millatsonning.com
0118 969 8000
Noel Coward’s Hay Fever. Until May 13. The Monkees Tale. Sun 26. The Ultimate Classic Rock Show. Sun 2.
Windsor –Theatre Royal www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk
01753 853888
A Murder Has Been Arranged.
Until Sat 1. Mane Chance
Comedy Night: Joe Pasquale, Basil Brush, Kevin Cruise and more. Sun 2. Sherlock Holmes: The Valley of Fear. Mon 3-Sat 8.
Wokingham –Theatre
www.wokinghamtheatre.org.uk
0118 978 5363
Things I Know To be True. Until Sat 25.
Wokingham –The Whitty Theatre www.thewhittytheatre.org 0118 974 3247
Wokingham Film Society: Happening (15). Thurs 23. Fosta presents A Night at the Musicals. Sat 25, Sun 26. Wokingham Music Club presents Oye Santana. Fri 31.
Woodley –Theatre www.woodleytheatre.org
07488337838
Educating Rita. June 20-24.
AUK tour by one of the biggest names in British soul is to open in Reading this October, as Beverley Knight comes to The Hexagon.
The show is called 50, and marks her milestone birthday, as well as her career.
A lucky few will get to see a preview as she performs a sold-out show next week at the London Lafayette, in an exclusive birthday show.
For the tour, she will be joined by her regular band and she says audiences can expect a fun-filled night where she will perform classic hits and fan favourites along with some new songs.
This include material from her first studio album in seven years, which will be released soon.
“It’s been a minute,” she says. “I am so looking forward to finally getting back on the road with my band again.
“There is nothing like the energy of a live audience showing love in return for you giving them everything you’ve got.”
Over the years, Ms Knight has enjoyed several top 10 albums, including her most recent: 2016’s Soulsville, and her platinum-selling Voice: The Best Of Beverley Knight.
She has also enjoyed an acting career, making her West End debut in The Bodyguard. She has also appeared as Grizabella in Cats, and in 2021, she performed in The Garrick’s production of The Drifters Girl, a show looking at the soul group.
It was nominated for Best New Musical in The Oliviers, while Ms Knight was put forward for Best Actress.
Last year, she played opposite Jennifer Saunders in a revival of Sister Act, and is currently starring as Emmeline Pankhurst in The Old Vic’s production of Sylvia. The show blends dance, hip hop, funk and soul to tell the story of the Suffragette movement.
If that wasn’t enough, she is a judge on the ITV talent show Starstruck, presents
BIRTHDAY SONG: Beverley Knight is launching her 50 tour with a date in The Hexagon
a Gospel Knights show on BBC Radio Two, and appeared in Amazon’s live action movie version of Cinderella.
Add in collaborations with the likes of Prince, Jamiroquai, Bocelli, Take That, Chaka Kahn, Joss Stone and Marvin Gaye, and a performance with Goldie of ‘Inner City Life’ at last year’s Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony in Birmingham, and you have a musician who has had an incredible career.
Here is a chance to join her in looking back and celebrating 50 amazing years.
The Hexagon show is on Tuesday, October 17. Tickets cost £27, £34.50, or £49.50.
There is also a VIP package for £117. This includes the opportunity to hear an exclusive two-song soundcheck and take part in a Q&A session before the show. VIP seats also include a VIP tour lanyard and a signed art print.
n For more details, or to book, call the Reading Arts box office on 0118 960 6060, or log on to whatsonreading.com
PHIL CREIGHTONIZZY WIZZY, let’s get busy preparing for a little bear’s big birthday … and he doesn’t look a day over five.
Sooty will mark 75 years in showbusiness next year, and with his friends Sweep and Sue, he’s heading to The Hexagon for a party to remember. But, well, this is The Sooty Show and the best laid plans can often go astray. The show will include Sooty’s messy baking, Soo’s perfect party clothes, and Sweep’s dance moves, including the most amusing game of musical statues ever planned.
There will be special guests too: Butch the bulldog and Ramsbottom the snake will be faimilar to viewers of the TV show, regardless of whether you watched when Sooty’s helper was Harry Corbett, Matthew Corbett or Richard Cadell. And circus superstar Michael Jordon will be swapping Blackpool’s Tower Circus for The Hexagon as he presents his jaw-dropping juggling.
Sooty will be bringing his magic wand and is going to attempt his biggest magic trick ever – making a member of the audience float in the air.
Trying to ensure everyone gets to
celebrate Sooty’s birthday will be Richard Cadell, who has been given some time away from Mr Slatter’s amusement park for the show. But Sooty has a new water pistol – it’s been turbochared to reach the back of the theatre and he’s not afraid to use it.
Well, good luck Richard.
The show is coming to The Hexagon on Sunday, February 11 next year, starting
at the family-friendly time of 2.30pm. Afterwards, before he says bye bye everybody, bye bye, Sooty and Richard will host a meet and greet for his fans … of all ages.
Tickets are on sale, and cost £21, or £18.50 for under 16s.
n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 0118 960 6060, or log on to: www.whatsonreading.com
STAY OVER: Hay Fever, a comedy about the boho Bliss family and their house guests, is at The Mill at Sonning
Hay Fever
The Mill at Sonning
Until May 13 0118 969 8000
www.millatsonning.com
IF EVER we invite visitors to stay for the weekend, we would like to think we would be good hosts – ensuring our guests are well looked after and put at ease.
Noel Coward’s play Hay Fever shows what happens when the bohemian Bliss family do exactly the opposite.
Inspired by a family Coward regularly visited while in America, retired actress Judith Bliss (Issy van Randwyck), her novelist husband David (Nick Waring) and grown-up children Sorel and Simon (Emily Banes and William Pennington) subject their guests to scorn, ridicule and neglect, while simultaneously airing their familial dirty laundry in the most voluble way possible.
The guests, most of whom are not acquainted, are left to navigate this minefield while causing the least amount of offense to their hosts.
Jackie Coryton is superb as the shy, insecure Beth Lilly, Aretha Ayeh enjoys every moment of portraying the charismatic socialite Myra Arundel.
GET ready to laugh out loud at The Purple Turtle, as award-winning comedian Jacob Hawley takes the stage on Thursday, March 30, for his show, Bump.
In this one-of-a-kind comedy event, Jacob explores the topic of mental health, identity, social class, and even
Richard Greatham (Darrell Brockis), having been invited to stay by the daughter, is seduced by the mother while prim and proper Sandy Tyrell (Daniel Fraser), having been invited to stay by the mother is then seduced by the daughter.
Somehow managing to keep her head above water is huffy housekeeper Clara (Joanna Brooks), once dresser to Judith, now struggling in this alternative role.
The grand piano centre stage is no mere prop. At various points during the play cast members, mostly Sorel and Simon, accompany the proceedings with dramatically appropriate musical accompaniment.
A trombone, played with flair by Pennington, also makes an appearance.
Very much of its time, Hay Fever is an enjoyable trip back to a very different era.
The costume designers excelled themselves with the bright array of flapper dresses and the set and scenery are as stunning as ever.
Although not a laugh-out-loud comedy there are a great deal of amusing moments and attention to detail to keep the audience entertained.
It’s a shame the same couldn’t be said for the Bliss’ poor guests.
JUDITH CREIGHTONfatherhood, as he shares his personal experiences and unique perspective on life.
With credits on popular shows like The Russell Howard Hour and Ladhood, Jacob is a rising star has been hailed as the “voice of a generation” by Chortle.co.uk.
He is also the creator and star of Radio 4’s Class Act and Welcome To Britain, BBC Sounds’ Jacob Hawley: On Drugs and Jacob Hawley: On Love. The show starts at 8pm, and tickets cost £11.
n For more details, log on to: whatsonreading.com
CLASSICAL music fans are in for a double treat next month when the South Chiltern Choral Society appear in the Great Hall at Reading University.
They will perform Puccini’s the Messa di Gloria and Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater on Saturday, April 1, at 7.30pm, and will be joined by L’Ensemble Vocal de la Vallee du Tarn and accompanied by an orchestra and Soloists.
n Tickets are £25 on the door or £20 in advance from www.southchilternchoralsociety. org.uk
THE next full concert from Reading Male Voice Choir will be on Saturday, March 25, from 7pm.
The Concert for Spring will take place at St Mary’s Church in Purley on Thames.
There will be a special guest appearance of a brass band quintet for a great evening of varied music and song.
Tickets are on sale for £10. n For more details, or to book, log on to the group’s website: rmvc.net/march/
DO YOU want to know a secret? Paul Foot is about to share a load with you.
The comic is going on tour this autumn with his new show, Dissolve.
In it, he promises to share what happened last year that changed his life forever.
He says that as a person and a comic he has never been so vulnerable, honest and happy.
So what did happen to him on the outskirts of Lancaster? And what has it got to do with King Tutankhamun, the House of Lords, Sir Cliff Richard, officious lollipop ladies and what Jesus might have achieved if he’d been a plumber?
He promises to reveal all in his personal, surprising and inspired stand-up offering ever.
Paul said: “I’ve re-written this quote 46 times now. In all my years of showbusiness I’ve never written a quote like this before.
“This is the most personal show I’ve ever created and the first time I’ve spoken about these things on stage.
“On 20th March 2022 something unbelievable happened to me, that I still struggle to explain. 29 years of mental health crises, childhood trauma and life-altering depression dissolved away in an instant.
“It is also, incidentally, really funny throughout. I am a comedian after all.”
Paul Foot has been on the alternative comedy circuit for more than two decades, and featured regularly on shows such as Would I Lie To You?, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
He has performed more than a dozen solo stand-up shows and built up a huge cult following of savvy comedy-goers, dubbed ‘The
Guild of Paul Foot Connoisseurs, winning multiple awards in that time.
Paul Foot’s Dissolve will be performed at Reading’s South Street Arts Centre on Saturday, September 30. The show is suitable for ages 16 upwards and tickets cost £18.
n For more details, or to book, log on to whatsonreading.com/ venues/south-street/whats-on/ paul-foot-dissolve or call the box office on 0118 960 6060.
PHIL CREIGHTONBACK IN THE FRAME: Ken Doherty, John Virgo, Dennis Taylor, John Parrott and Steve Davis are returning to The Hexagon for an evening of snooker
READING is getting ready to go snooker loopy, nuts are we, as some of the greatest names in the modern era of the game will return to their alma mater of The Hexagon.
For years, the town was the home of snooker and saw some incredible matches broadcast across the nation.
Now, there’s a chance to meet some of the stars, thanks to a special Legends of Snooker event.
Dennis Taylor, Ken Doherty, John Parrott, Steve Davis and John Virgo will all be in the Ding to share stories of their world championship wins, the friendly rivalries, and the amusing side of the sport.
That includes Dennis Taylor recounts his triumphant world championship win with Steve Davis, his opponent on the day. There will also be some frames to enjoy and, with John Virgo on
hand, some trick shots you’ll be amazed by.
Organisers say the The Legends of Snooker event is an evening of thrilling competition and conversation.
And, for the most dedicated snooker fans, VIP experiences will be available, giving you the opportunity to meet each of the legends with premium viewing of the exhibition match.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the greats of the sport, around the table once more.
The event takes place on Tuesday, June 6. Tickets cost £34.50, or £71.50 for the VIP experience which includes early entry, premium seating, meet and greet and a professional photo with the stars.
n For more details, or to book, log on to: whatsonreading.com, or call: 0118 960 6060
CONDUCTOR Adam Hickox will lead the RPO in a performance of magical music.
The programme includes music by Mendelsohn, Tchaikovsky and Elgar, with cellist Richard Harwood.
Mendelsohn’s verture, Nocturne & Scherzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream opens the evening. It is inspired by fairies and enchanted woodlands of Shakespeare’s woodland masterpiece, the score perfectly capturing the magical mood of the play.
Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations is then followed by Elgar’s Enigma Variations.
Elgar used music in this work to paint enigmatic musical
portraits of his friends and loved ones.
One of the greatest orchestral works of the 20th century, it continues to intrigue and enthral audiences to this day.
The concert will be preceded by a free pre-performance talk presented by Philip Hesketh.
After starting his professional life as a cellist, playing with many of the country’s finest orchestras, Philip turned to conducting in 1991, making his Royal Opera House debut with the Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker in 2001.
He is Musical Director of Opera de Bauge, Opera Vera, the West London Sinfonia, the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra and The London Children’s Ballet.
He also appears regularly as a guest artist with orchestras at home and abroad.
As a musical communicator Philip is making a reputation in Britain as both a highly informative speaker and an entertaining raconteur. The event takes place at The Hexagon, on Saturday, March 25.
Philip Hesketh’s free pre-show talk is at 6.30pm, with the concert beginning at 7.30pm.
Tickets cost £28.50, £24.50, and £17.50 depending on seats. Band B concessions for 18-25s are available for £10, with tickets for under 18s costing £6. n For tickets and information, visit: www.whatsonreading.com or call: 0118 960 6060.
THE Roseate Sessions, presented by Heavy Pop, is set to take place next week.
Held on the last Thursday of every month, at the luxury boutique hotel in Reading town centre, the evenings are intimate, unplugged acoustic live performances.
Held in their in-house cinema, Upstage Mini, there are just 30 seats available.
At the March 30 event, performers include Daughter of the Water, the folknoir project of Sarah Lambert-Gates, and her banjola.
She performs sonic fairytales of the sea, love, rivers, and time travel.
The alt-rock-pop soloist, Deva St. John, is also to perform. Their
unique style fuses classic rock with modern production, slick writing, and powerful vocals.
Industry insiders have tipped Deva to go right to the top.
Pre-bookings are available for an exclusive set menu in the hotel’s restaurant before the performance starts.
Admission for the show is £13.50 in advance, with unreserved seating.
n For more details, call The Roseate on 0118 952 7770, or log on to: www.roseatehotels. com
WE LOVE seeing bands grow and develop and among the three new entries in this week’s collection are bands at different stages of their musical journeys.
Rila’s Edge are fresh off a barnstroming night in Wokingham, while Spacehopper’s latest track celebrates their 10th anniversary.
It’s a great listen – tune in for free on Spotify. It’s a mixture that will help you discover something new.
To hear this week’s selection, simply head to https://bit.ly/rawsoundstodayand enjoy the music.
There is a Facebook page that bands and music fans can tap into. Search for RaW Sounds Today.
Night
What a gig by this band at The Gig House in Wokingham last week.
Friday, March 24
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Faux Fighetrs: a tribute to the Foo Fighters. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk
BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. I Got Soul: Junior Giscombe with band.
Details: 01344 303333.
PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. Slightly Plugged Night.
Details: 0118 969 98978.
READING – The Butler, Chatham Street
RG1 7DS. Open mic night. Ghost Cat.
Details: 0118 959 5500.
READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place
RG1 7JE. Beans on Toast Details: 0118 959 5500.
READING – Hope and Bear, London Road
RG1 5DE. Sugar and Sax. Details: 0118 935 4095.
READING – Pentahotel, Oxford Road RG1
7HR. Laura. Details: 0118 958 6222.
READING – Pitcher & Piano, Friar Street
RG1 1DB. Stars in the their Minds
karaoke. Details: 0118 958 8964.
READING – Playlist, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Live request supper club. Details: 0118 212 0720.
READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street
RG1 2JR. OCD&B and Headliners.
Details: 0118 959 7196.
READING – Reading Railway Pub, Station Hill RG1 1NB. Reading Soul Train disco.
Details: 0118 956 6502.
READING – Saint Laurance Church RG1
3EJ. Heavy Pop and Dork presents Beat Connection 2023. Porridge Radio, Lime Garden, Baba Ali, Adam & Elvis, Tracks and Grooves DJ. Details: heavypop. co.uk
READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1
1EP. Ron Lamberti presents Perfectly George. Details: 0118 959 5395
READING – The Turks, London Road RG1
5BJ. Dead Machines. Details: 0118 957 6930
WHITLEY – Whitley Social Club, RG2 7QA. The Rock Academy spring show.
Details: 0118 374 0052.
WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. ND Live.
Details: 0118 977 3706.
WOKINGHAM – The Station Tap, Station Road RG40 2AD. Karaoke with Waynie.
Details: 0118 977 4548.
Saturday, March 25
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Red Hoax Chilli Peppers. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk
BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech
The venue was packed with a huge crowd enthusiastically appreciating an exciting set by a band who is clearly gaining in popularity and ability.
The progress of Rila’s Edge, since we saw them last year, is quite remarkable and is reflected in the quality of their last two singles, Someone New and this new one, Share the Night.
Indie rock as it should be with strong melody, good musicianship and powerful vocals – https:// www.rilasedge.com/
Spacehopper – Pure Essence
Ten years ago, on March 17 2013, Spacehopper released their first single, Sounds and Colours, on our Magick Eye Records label and it went high in the Dance Charts.
To celebrate a decade since that release, the
Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. !DAFT! Details: 01344 303333.
BRACKNELL – The Royal Oak, London Road RG12 2NN. Asylum Affair.
Details: 01344 422622
BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead RG12 7PA. The Bon Jovi Experience.
Details: 01344 484123.
READING – The Blagrave Arms, Blagrave Street RG1 1PW. Club FOD Easter event. Details: 0118 958 6775.
READING – The Castle Tap, Castle Street
RG1 7RJ. Art Brew Presents Seville Rye Beer & Art Party. Details: 0118 958 0473.
READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place
RG1 7JE. Veridian, Kite Chief and Our Fate. Details: 0118 959 5500.
READING – Oakford Social Club, Blagrave Street. Puma Theory.
READING – The Palmer Tavern, Wokingham Road RG6 1JL. Paddington. Details: 0118 935 1009.
READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. The Purple Peepshow: Loretta Lebonke, Mariposa Bop, Miss Sugar Rush, Oliver Ty Tassel, Layla Cherry, Dutch-S. Details: 0118 959
7196.
READING – Playlist, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Live request supper club. Details: 0118 212 0720.
READING – The Pond House, Oxford Road. Brick Top.
READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. Silver Searchers.
Details: 0118 926 5804.
READING – Saint Laurance Church RG1
3EJ. Heavy Pop and Dork presents Beat Connection 2023. Billie Marten, AK/DK, Keg, Cowboys, Liam O’Brien, Priestgate, The Mirror Pictures, Tracks and Grooves DJ. Details: heavypop. co.uk
READING – South Street arts centre. Heidi Talbot. Details: 0118 960 6060.
READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. The Junction. Details: 0118 957 6930
TILEHURST – The Royal British Legion Club, Downing Road RG31 5BB. 4G.
Details: 0118 942 9606.
TILEHURST – The Victoria, Norcot Road RG30 6BP. Mollys Jam. Details: 0118 941 5064.
WHITLEY – Whitley Social Club, RG2
7QA. ReVibe. Details: 0118 374 0052.
WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Stoney Lane. 7.30pm. Details: 0118 977 0918.
WOKINGHAM – The Station Tap, Station Road RG40 2AD. DJ Bounce. Details: 0118 977 4548.
trance and dub outfit have just released this new uplifting single and are planning live appearances at clubs and festivals throughout the country.
With their colourful fun style, trance and dub sounds and tracks as good as this they always get everyone dancing – www.spacehoppermusic.com
Recently we featured a song from the wonderful tribute album to our friend and guitarist Eric Bouillette, who passed away last year.
The album is Songs for an Angel Vol 1, and the song was by BDD, the alter ego of Andy Rowe who played with Eric in The Room.
Steve Anderson and Chris York are also members of The Room and they too created a song for the album. It’s another beautiful moving song – https:// www.ftf-music.com/de/tributetoericbouillette/ tributetoericbouillette.htm
They have just released this new single, Resurrection and, in April, Spriggan Mist will be live in Lincoln on the 1 and, not too far away, on the 22 at a double header with Kindred Spirit at Hampton Hub Club – https://www.sprigganmist.com/
Red Tape Resistance – Get Me Out
It’s the new single from Alt-Rock band, Red Tape Resistance and it’s another of their powerful anthems – https://linktr.ee/redtaperesistance
A mellow sound with a powerful message on this UK singer/songwriter’s new single. He will be at Reading’s Facebar this Friday, March 24 as part of his current UK tour – https:// beansontoastmusic.com/
Selina and the Howlin Dogs – Woman
This new blues rock single was released recently to coincide with International Women’s Day – https://www. selinaandthehowlindogs.com/
A Better Life (ft. Pete Rawcliffe) –I’m on Fire
A unique, atmospheric and beautiful interpretation of a Bruce Springsteen classic with wonderfully chilled instrumental backing to an incredible vocal performance by Pete Rawcliffe. –https://abetterlifemusic.com/
Third Lung – Dance Me Lover
Third Lung were No.1 in our Top 20 of 2022 due to their brilliant singles and stunning debut album, Gameplay and the band has just released this as the 4th single from the album – http://www. thirdlungband.com/
OSP – Tun Up
One of our faves from Wokingham Festival last year have just released this great new single –https://www.facebook.com/ospmusicuk
WOKINGHAM – The White Horse, Easthampstead Road RG40 3AF. Makeshifts. Details: 0118 979 7402.
WOODLEY – Bull and Chequers, Woodley Green RG5 4QP. Wardour Street.
Details: 0118 969 9756.
YATELEY – The Dog and Partridge, Reading Road GU46 7LR. Tequila Chase. Details: 01252 870648.
Sunday, March 26
BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead RG12 7PA. Wilde Sundays: Dragonfly Sky, Greg Mayston’s Folk, Blues and Americana, JK Jerome. Details: 01344 484123.
READING – Community Hall, Watlington House, Watlington Street RG1 4RJ. Readifolk presents: Bob and Gill Berry. Details: www.readifolk. org.uk
READING – The Moderation, Caversham Road RG1 8BB. The Soul Retreat, from 12.30pm. Details: 0118 959 5577.
READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Reggae Sundays. Details: 0118 959 7196.
READING – The Retreat, St John’s Street RG1 4EH. Jazz afternoon with Stuart Henderson, Alan Barnes, Leon Greening, Stuart Barker and Simon Price. From 3.30pm. Details: 0118 376 9159.
SONNING – The Mill at Sonning, Sonning Eye RG4 6TY. The Monkees Tale.
Details: 0118 969 8000.
Monday, March 27
READING – The Castle Tap, Castle Street RG1 7RJ. Open mic night: comedy, music, spoken and written word.
Details: 0118 958 0473.
READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. The Old Purple Whistle Test..
Details: 0118 959 7196.
WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Acoustic Cafe. 7.30pm. Details: 0118 977 0918.
Tuesday, March 28
BAGSHOT – The Foresters Arms, London Road. Bracknell Folk Club. Details: www.bracknellfolk.org.uk
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. New Music Tuesday.
Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk
BURGHFIELD – The Six Bells, Reading Road RG30 3TH. Amanda’s Music Events presents open mic night. Details: 0118 983 2220.
READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. Punk Fundraiser: Animal Shithouse, Masquerader, The Bourbon
Massive, Letters from Theodore.
Details: 0118 959 5500.
READING – Fisherman’s Cottage, Kennet Side RG1 3DW. Live jazz, blues and more. Free entry, donations welcome.
Details: 07866 251216.
READING – The Hexagon, Queens Walk RG1 7QF. The Bootleg Beatles. Details: 0118 960 6060
READING – Pentahotel, Oxford Road RG1 7HR. Lily. Details: 0118 958 6222.
READING – Pitcher & Piano, Friar Street RG1 1DB. Open mic night with Kristian Wilkins and Friends. Details: 0118 958 8964.
READING – The Roseate, The Forbury. Heavy Pop presents The Roseate Sessions with Daughter of the Water and Deva St John. Details: whatsonreading.com
Wednesday, March 29
READING – Hilton Hotel, Drake Way RG2 0GQ. The Sugars: Live music at OXBO. Details: 0118 916 9000.
READING – The Rising Sun, Silver Street RG1 2ST. Artist link-up: networking event. Details: 0118 986 6788.
WOKINGHAM – The Grasshopper, Rose Street RG40 1XU. Live at the Grasshopper: Mark Warner’s Full Swing. 6.30pm. Details: 0118 901 2678.
Thursday, March 30
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Alex Taylor, Jess Tuthill. Details: www.theacousticcouch. co.uk
READING – The Blagrave Arms, Blagrave Street RG1 1PW. Karaoke. Details: 0118 958 6775.
READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. KTP, TFCOT, Divide The Truth, Brioche Details: 0118 959 5500.
READING – Hilton Hotel, Drake Way RG2 0GQ. Hella Hot Crush: Live music at OXBO. Details: 0118 916 9000.
READING – Lola Lo, Friar Street. Skint Thursdays: Skint Rock, pop punk and classic rock, plus house and techo. Details: Twitter @skintmondays
READING – The Outlook, Kings Road. Singer Soup Kitchen: three performers, one band, one night only. 8pm.
READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Payday Swingday with the Ding Dong Daddios. Details: 0118 959 7196.
READING – Reading Biscuit Factory, Broad Street Mall RG1 7QE. Music Meet Up: Gavin Lombos, Jack Shepherd, Sabrina Findlay, Tim Greaves and Ray Wills.
Friday, March 31
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Take It Easy – The American Classic Rock Show. Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk
BURGHFIELD – The Six Bells, Reading Road RG30 3TH. Rock n Roll Bingo. Details: 0118 983 2220.
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Take It Easy: The Amercian Classic Rock Show. Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk
BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. 70s
Tribute All About You. Details: 01344 303333.
CHARVIL – Heron on the Ford, Landsend Lane RG10 0UE. Candy Rock. Details: 0118 934 0700.
EMMBROOK – The Emmbrook Inn, Emmbrook Road RG41 1HG. Beatles and Buddy Holly tribute. Details: 0118
978 2552
READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Open mic night. Details: 0118 959 5500.
READING – The Hexagon, Queens Walk RG1 7QF. Someone Like You: The Adele Songbook. Details: 0118 960 6060
READING – Pitcher & Piano, Friar Street RG1 1DB. Stars in the their Minds karaoke. Details: 0118 958 8964.
READING – Playlist, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Live request supper club. Details: 0118 212 0720.
READING – The Rising Sun, Silver Street RG1 2ST. Club Velocity 20th
anniversary party: The August List, The May, Eat Daddy Eat. Details: 0118 986 6788.
READING – South Street arts centre. Alasdair Roberts. Details: 0118 960 6060
READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Arctic Monkeys tribute. Scam Fender. The Killers tribute. Details: 0118 959
5395
READING – The Turks, London Road RG1
5BJ. Wardour Street. Details: 0118 957 6930
READING – The Victoria Cross, Basingstoke Road RG2 0NT. RG2 Radio presents Caribbean After Work Jam.
Details: 0118 931 0115.
WHITLEY – Whitley Social Club, RG2
7QA. Amanda’s jam night. Details: 0118 374 0052.
WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. Graffiti Child.
Details: 0118 977 3706.
WOKINGHAM – The White Horse, Easthampstead Road RG40 3AF. Open mic night. Details: 0118 979 7402.
WOKINGHAM – The Station Tap, Station Road RG40 2AD. Karaoke with Waynie.
Details: 0118 977 4548.
WOKINGHAM – The Whitty Theatre, Luckley House School, Luckley Road RG40 3EU. Wokingham Music Club presents Oye Santana. Details: www. wokinghammusicclub.co.uk
WOKINGHAM WITHOUT – Pinewood Bar and Cafe, Unit 8 Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road. GrooveX Band. Details: 01344 778543.
YATELEY – The Cricketers, Cricket Hill Lane GU46 6BA. Gary Roman as Elvis.
Details: 01252 872105.
Saturday, April 1
BINFIELD – The Binfield Club, Terrace Road RG42 4HP. The Silver Searchers. Details: 01344 420690.
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. In Isolation, Greymere, Gothzilla. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk
BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. The Strats. Details: 01344 303333.
READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Rigsby. Details: 0118 959 5500.
READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. The Skapones. Details: 0118 959 5500.
READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Let’s Nacho Hollywood. Details: 0118 402 7800.
READING – Playlist, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Live request supper club. Details: 0118 212 0720.
READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Sounjam. Details: 0118 959 7196.
READING – The Queen’s Head, Christchurch Road RG2 7AZ. P’Jam. Details: 0118 931 0232.
READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. Smileys’ Top of the Pops Show. Details: 0118 926 5804.
READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Benny Page. Details: 0118 959 5395
READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. No Good Sons. Details: 0118 957 6930
WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Peach and the Prairie Dogs 7.30pm. Details: 0118 977 0918.
WOKINGHAM – The Station Tap, Station Road RG40 2AD. DJ Bounce. Details: 0118 977 4548.
YATELEY – The Royal Oak, Reading Road, GU46 7UG. Utter Madness. Details: 01252 872459.
Friday, March 24
CAVERSHAM – Library, Church Street RG4 8AU. Games club. 10.30amnoon. Free. Details: 0118 937 5103.
EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6
7JN. Re:Fresh cafe with Friendship Table. 10amnoon. linkvisiting.org
EARLEY – Earley St Peter’s Church Hall, Church Road RG6 1EY. Reading Guild of Artists presents: The figure and pattern with Jenny Halstead. 7pm. £8. Details: www.rga-artists.org.uk
READING – The Hexagon, Queens Walk RG1 7QF. Let’s Sing Reading!. From 6.30pm. £14, concessions £8.50. 0118 960 6060.
READING – Redlands Parish Church (St Luke’s) Church Hall, Erleigh Road RG1 5LH. Gas Tower Community Art presents Wholeness, a community art exhibition. 10am-4pm. Free entry.
READING – Battle Library, Oxford Road RG30 1EE. Rhymetime. 10am and 11.15am. Booking essential. Details: 0118 937 5100.
WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturges Road RG40 2HD. Cafe Refresh Friendship table. 10am-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org
WOKINGHAM – Norreys Church, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UU. T&C at SHARE Wokingham Friendship table. 12.30pm-2.30pm.
Details: linkvisiting.org
WOKINGHAM – St Paul’s Church Parish Rooms, Reading Road RG41 1EH. Coffee and Chat: a warm welcome, a listening ear and refreshments. 2pm4pm. Details: 0118 979 2122 or church.office@ spauls.co.uk.
WOKINGHAM – Wokingham Theatre, Twyford Road, RG40 5TU. Things I Know To be True. 7.45pm. £15. Details: WokinghamTheatre.org.uk
WOODLEY – The Oakwood Centre, Headley Road RG5 4JZ. Starmaker Theatre Company presents 13 The Musical. 7.30pm. Details: www.starmarker.org.uk
WOOSEHILL – Acorn Community Centre, Fernlea Drive RG41 3DR. Acorn Cafe with Friendship table. 10.30am-noon.
Details: linkvisiting.org
Saturday, March 25
BARKHAM – Village Hall, Church Road RG40 4PL. Barkham Village Residents Association Family Skittles Evening. £12, £5 primary school children, includes supper. Bar available. 7pm.
Details: 0118 978 3373.
BURGHFIELD – St Mary’s Church RG30 3TG. The Hurst Singers spring concert. £5. Wine £3. Proceeds in aid of the choir and church funds.
CROWTHORNE – Baptist Church, High Street RG45 7AT. Repair cafe organsied by CROW Plastic Free Crowthorne. From 10.30am. Details: 01344 761725.
HENLEY – St Mary’s Church, Hart Street, RG9 2AU. Tamesis Chamber Choir: If music be the food of love… 7pm. £12, £5 students, under 18s. Details: www. tamesischamberchoir. co.uk.
PURLEY – St Mary’s Church, RG8 8BJ. Reading Male Voice Choir spring concert, featuring special guests brass band quintet. £10. 7.30pm. Details: rmvc.net
READING – The Castle Tap, Castle Street RG1 7RJ. Art Brew Presents Seville Rye Beer & Art Party. 7.45pm. Details: 0118 958 0473.
READING – The Great Hall, University of Reading, London Road RG1 5AG. Bracknell Choral Society and Reading Festival Chorus present Haydn’s The Creation. 7.30pm. £20. Details: www. bracknellchoral.org.uk.
READING – The Hexagon, Queens Walk RG1 7QF. March to the Gaol. Bring banners, signs, costumes and noise. Route will go to Reading Gaol. From noon.
READING – The Hexagon, Queens Walk RG1 7QF. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Noisy Kids concert: The Thrill of the Ride, featuring Rossini’s William Tell Overture, Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King, excerpts from Elgar’s Enigma Variations. £11.50, £9.50 children. 11.30am. Details: 0118 960 6060.
READING – The Hexagon, Queens Walk RG1 7QF. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Adam Hickox. Mendelsohn | Overture, Nocturne & Scherzo –
A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Tchaikovsky, Rococo Variations; Elgar, Enigma Variations. £28.50, £24.50, £17.50. Under 18s £6, students £10. Schools £6. Pre-concert talk 6.30pm. Concert 7.30pm.
Details: 0118 960 6060.
READING – Reading Minster
Of St Mary The Virgin C
Of E Church, Chain Street
RG1 2HX. Walk Watch
Share art docs presents Camino to Cop26: Film screening and walk of witness for Earth hour.
6pm at Forbury Gardens, 7pm at Reading Minster.
Details: readingminster. org.uk
READING – Redlands Parish Church (St Luke’s) Church Hall, Erleigh Road
RG1 5LH. Gas Tower
Community Art presents Wholeness, a community art exhibition. 10am-4pm. Free entry.
READING – St John and St Stephen’s Church, Orts Road RG1 3JN. Chorate Chamber Choir spring
concert: My Shepherd is the living Lord, choral music for Lent and Easter.
6pm. Free entry, retiring collection in aid of Autism Berkshire. Details: www.chorate.org.uk
TILEHURST – Methodist Church, School Road
RG31 5AN. Thames Vale
Singers presents Faure’s Requiem and other choral gems. 7.30pm. In aid of
ReadiFood. £10, under 16s £5. Details: 0118 9424372.
TWYFORD – Loddon Hall, Loddon Hall Road.
Twyford and Ruscombe Horticultural Association spring show. 2pm. Details: trha.org.uk
TWYFORD – St Mary’s Church, Station Road. Project Singers present And Wherever you Go, a spring concert. 7.30pm. £8.
Details: 0118 934 0589 or suzanneynewman@ btinternet.com
WOKINGHAM – St Paul’s Church, Reading Road RG41 1EH. Wokingham Hortocultural Association Show. 2pm-4.30pm.
Details: www.w-h-a.org.uk.
WOKINGHAM – Wokingham Theatre, Twyford Road, RG40 5TU. Things I Know To be True.
7.45pm. £15. Details: WokinghamTheatre.org.uk
WOKINGHAM WITHOUT –Pinewood Bar and Cafe, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ. Friendship table available. 9am-4pm.
Details: linkvisiting.org
WOODLEY – The Oakwood Centre, Headley Road RG5 4JZ. Starmaker Theatre Company presents 13 The Musical. 3pm, 7.30pm.
Details: www.starmarker. org.uk
WOODLEY – The Bulmershe School, Woodlands Avenue RG5 3EU. Woodley Concert Band spring concert: a Feast of Music. £14, £12 concessions, £5 under 16s. 7.30pm. Details: woodleyconcertband. org.uk
WOOSEHILL – Woosehill Church, Chestnut Avenue RG41 3RS. Sip and Share with friendship table. 11am-noon, every second Saturday. Details: linkvisiting.org
YATELEY – St Swithun’s Catholic Church, Firgrove Road GU46 6NH.
Yateley Choral Society
Concert: ‘Oh Sing Joyfully.
Programme: Rutter: Gloria, Goodall: The Lord is My Shepherd, Stanford: Beati quorum via, and Britten: Jubilate Deo. 7.45pm. £15, students £5, under 16s free. Details: www.yateleychoral.org.uk.
Sunday, March 26
CAVERSHAM – Waitrose Car Park, off Gosbrook Road. Caversham Artisan & Farmers Market. 10am3pm.
CHARVIL – Charvil Village Hall, Park Lane. My Fair Lady singing evening. £10, includes music and refreshments. 6pm-8pm.
Details: 0118 934 0589 or suzanneynewman@ btinternet.com
EMMBROOK – The Dog and Duck, Matthewsgreen Road RG41 1JT. Quiz night in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. 7pm. £5 per person. Details: 0118 978 0544.
READING – The Abbey School, Kendrick Road RG1 5DZ. Parenthesis Choir presents 30th anniversary concert.
Mozart – Requiem and Haydn – Nelson Mass. 7pm, £15, under 18s free.
Details: parenthesis.org.uk
READING – Blue Collar Dining, Hosier Street
RG1 7JL. Reading Vintage flea market. 11am-4pm.
Details: www.linktr.ee/ blue.collar
READING – The Hexagon, Queens Walk RG1
7QF. Henley Symphony Orchestra: Smetana Vltava, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 5, Rachmabinov Symphony No 2. £24, £20, £16. Under 16s, students half-price.
Details: 0118 960 6060.
READING – Redlands Parish Church (St Luke’s) Church Hall, Erleigh Road RG1 5LH. Gas Tower Community Art presents Wholeness, a community art exhibition. Noon-5pm. Free entry.
READING – The Rising Sun, Silver Street RG1 2ST. Sunday Alternative: Water. 10.30am. Free. Details: 0118 986 6788.
EMMBROOK – The Dog and Duck, Matthewsgreen Road RG41 1JT. Quiz Night in aid of Macmillan Cancer. 7pm. £5 per person.
Details: 0118 978 0544.
WOKINGHAM – Town Hall, Market Place RG40 1AS. Bracknell and Wokingham Concert Band present Second Wind in Concert.
7pm. £10, under 16s £5. Details: secondwindbwcb@ outlook.com
Monday, March 27
ARBORFIELD – Royal British Legion, Eversley Road RG2 9PR. Friendship table. 9.30am-11.30am. Details: linkvisiting.org
CROWTHORNE – Baptist Church, High Street RG45
7AT. Coffee Stop for Ukrainian refugees and their hosts: socialise and take part in English lessons. 12.30pm-2.30pm. Details: 01344 761725.
READING – The Castle Tap, Castle Street RG1 7RJ. Open mic night: comedy, music, spoken and written word. Details: 0118 958 0473.
READING – Redlands Parish Church (St Luke’s) Church Hall, Erleigh Road RG1 5LH. Gas Tower Community Art presents Wholeness, a community art exhibition. 10am-4pm. Free entry.
TILEHURST – Library, School Road RG31 5AS. Rhymetime. 9.45am and 10.45am Booking essential. Details: 0118 937 5112.
WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturges Road RG40 2HD. Cafe Refresh Friendship table. 10am-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org
WOKINGHAM – Norreys Church, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UU. T&C at SHARE Wokingham Friendship table. 12.30pm-2.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org
WOODLEY – Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way RG5 4UX. Four Seasons cafe Friendship Table. 1.30pm-3.30pm.
Details: linkvisiting.org
Tuesday, March 28
BEECH HILL – Memorial Hall, Beech Hill Road. Cinema at Beech Hill presents Belfast (15). 8pm. Booking essential. Details: www. ticketsource.co.uk/beechhill-memorial-hall/ CAVERSHAM – Library, Church Street RG4 8AU.
Rhymetime. 10.15am10.45am and 11.15am11.45am. Booking essential. Free. Details: 0118 937 5103.
EARLEY – Earley CResCent Resource Centre, Warbler Drive RG6 4HB. Friendship table. 2pm-3pm. Details: linkvisiting.org.
FINCHAMPSTEAD – FBC Centre Cafe, Gorse Ride North RG40 4ES. Friendship table. 10amnoon. Details: linkvisiting. org
FINCHAMPSTEAD – FBC Centre, Gorse Ride North RG40 4ES. Art group. 1pm-3pm. £3 per session. Details: 0118 973 2484.
READING – Reading Central Library, Abbey Square RG1 3BQ. Rhymetime. Booking essential. 10.30am. Details: 0118 937 5950.
SOUTHCOTE – Library, Southcote Community Hub, Coronation Square RG30 3QP. Coffee morning. 10.30am11.30am. Details: 0118 937 5109.
WHITLEY – Library, South Reading Community Hub, 252 Northumberland Avenue, RG2 7QA. Berkshire mini maestros. 2.30pm-3pm. Details: 0118 937 5115.
WOKINGHAM – Bradbury Centre, Wokingham Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. CLASP Wokingham cafe with Friendship table. 10am-noon. Every third and fourth Tuesday of the month. Details: linkvisiting. org
WOKINGHAM – The Whitty Theatre, Luckley House School, Luckley Road RG40 3EU. Luckily House School music department Easter concert. 7pm. Details: https://www. luckleyhouseschool.org/ the-whitty-theatre/
WOKINGHAM WITHOUT –Pinewood Bar and Cafe, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ. Friendship table available. 9am-4pm. Details: linkvisiting.org
Wednesday, March 29
EARLEY – Brookside Church, Brookside Close RG6 7HG. Open Door cafe with Friendship Table. 2pm4pm. Details: linkvisiting. org
TWYFORD – URC Hall, Church Street, RG10 9DR. Twyford Arts Group Life Drawing Sessions. 7pm. Details: www. twyfordartgroup.co.uk
WOKINGHAM – Bradbury Centre, Wokingham Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. Cafe Mosaic with Friendship table. 11am-noon. Details: linkvisiting.org
WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturges Road RG40 2HD. Cafe Refresh Friendship table. 10am-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org
Thursday, March 30
EARLEY – Trinity Church, Chalfont Close RG6 5HZ. Re:Fresh with Friendship Table. 2pm-4pm. Details: linkvisiting.org
FINCHAMPSTEAD – Siren Tap Yard, Alberto House, Marino Way RG40 4RF.
Siren Beer Discovery: An Introduction to Siren through the exploration of the various beer styles of the core range. Includes third-pints of each of the five core range beers. Tickets from £11.37. 7pm8pm. Details: https://www. sirencraftbrew.com/
READING – Palmer Park Library, St Bartholomew’s Road RG1 3QB. Rhymetime. Booking essential. 10.30am. Details: 0118 937 5106.
READING – Reading Central Library, Abbey Square RG1 3BQ. Rhymetime. Booking essential. 10.15am and 11.15. Details: 0118 937 5950.
SPENCERS WOOD –Spencers Wood Pavilion, Clares Green Road RG7 1DY. Social Seniors Tea and Coffee with Friendship Table. 10am-noon. Details: linkvisiting.org
SOUTHCOTE – Library, Southcote Community Hub, Coronation Square RG30 3QP. Rhymetime. 9.45am. Booking essential. Details: 0118 937 5109.
TILEHURST – Library, School Road RG31 5AS. Rhymetime. 2.15pm Booking essential. Details: 0118 937 5112.
TILEHURST – Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, The Meadway RG30 4PE. Reading branch of the Berkshire Family History Society meeting: Members evening where everyone can share their story of their criminal ancestors. In all families there is at least one ‘black sheep’. Their story will add life to your family history and, as such, we should embrace even our ne’erdo-well forebears. Why not tell us about yours? 7.15pm for 7.45pm. £5 donation, member free. Details/ pre-booking: reading@ berksfhs.org.uk
WHITLEY – Library, South Reading Community Hub, 252 Northumberland Avenue, RG2 7QA. Rhymetime. 11am. Booking essential. Details: 0118 937 5115.
WOKINGHAM – Bradbury Centre, Wokingham Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. Cafe Mosaic lunch club with Friendship table. Noon-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org
Friday, March 31
CAVERSHAM – Library, Church Street RG4 8AU. Games club. 10.30amnoon. Free. Details: 0118 937 5103.
EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6 7JN. Re:Fresh cafe with Friendship Table. 10amnoon. linkvisiting.org
READING – Battle Library, Oxford Road RG30 1EE. Rhymetime. 10am and 11.15am. Booking essential. Details: 0118 937 5100.
READING – OpenHand OpenSpace (OHOS), 571 Oxford Road RG30 1HL. Hummingbirds and Hamburgers: call to action. An Exhibition and Screening of Works by Christine Ellison. 6pm-9pm. Details: 571oxfordroad.org
WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturges Road
RG40 2HD. Cafe Refresh Friendship table. 10am-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org
WOKINGHAM – Norreys Church, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UU. T&C at SHARE Wokingham Friendship table. 12.30pm-2.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org
Saturday, April 1
BEECH HILL – Memorial Hall, Beech Hill Road. Easter allotments scavenger hunt. 1pm-3pm. £1 per entry. Free tea, coffee and other refreshments. Cakes, biscuits for sale. In aid of playground refurbishment project.
CROWTHORNE – St John the Baptist Church, Waterloo Road RG45 7NT. Thames Voyces spring concert: Britten, Poulenc, Vierne. £15, under 16s free.
7.30pm. Details: 0118 967 7319.
EARLEY – 3SixtyUniversity of Reading RG6 6UR. CosXPo 2023. 11am-6pm. Details: cosxpo.com
HENLEY – St Mary’s Church, Hart Street, RG9 2AU. Henley Choral Society 50th anniversary gala concert and world premeire: Cecilia McDowall’s The Ice Is Listening. £20, under 18s £5. 7.30pm. Details: www. henleychoralsociety.org.uk
READING – Cattle Market, Great Knollys Street RG1 7HU. Reading Farmers Market. 8.15amnoon. Details: www. thamesvalleyfarmers market.co.uk
READING – The Great Hall, University of Reading, London Road RG1 5AG. South Chiltern Choral Society: Puccini’s Messa di Gloria and Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. 7.30pm. With guests L’Ensemble Vocal de la Vallee du Tarn. £20 in advance, or £25 on the door. Details: www. southchilternchoralsociety. org.uk
READING – Concert Hall, Reading Town Hall, Blagrave Street RG1
1QH. Reading Symphony Orchestra Family Concert. 4pm. £16, students and under 18s £5. Details: www.rso.org.uk
READING – OpenHand OpenSpace (OHOS), 571 Oxford Road RG30
1HL. Hummingbirds and Hamburgers: call to action. An Exhibition and Screening of Works by Christine Ellison. Noon-4pm. Details: 571oxfordroad.org
RISELEY – Wellington Country Park, Odiham Road RG7 1SP. Wellington Country Easter Eggstravaganza includes crafts, dancing, Big Top show, train rides, treasure hunts and more. 9.30am-4.30pm. Details: wellingtoncountrypark. co.uk
SILCHESTER – Village Hall, Little London Road RG7 2ND. Village market. 10am. Details: 0118 970 0999 or www.silchester villagemarket.org.uk.
TWYFORD – Loddon Hall, Loddon Hall Road RG10 9JA. Waltham St Lawrence Silver Band brass and voices concert. 7.30pm.
£8, under 12s free. Details: www.walthamband.com
Sunday, April 2
ACROSS READING – From Green Park. Reading Half Marathon 2023 and Green Park Challenge. Details: readinghalfmarathon.com
EARLEY – 3SixtyUniversity of Reading RG6 6UR. CosXPo 2023. 11am-6pm. Details: cosxpo.com
READING – St Joseph’s College, Upper Redlands Road, Reading RG1 5JT. Reading Haydn Choir –concert featuring choral works by Handel, Mozart and John Rutter. £15, £13 concessions, under 19s £5. £1 discount advance sales. Details: haydnchoir.org.uk
READING – Prospect Park, Bath Road. Prospect Park Railway public running organised by the reading Society of Model Engineers. From 1pm-3pm. 60p a ride, 10 tickets £4. Traines will run until 3.45pm.
READING – Rising Sun Arts Centre, Silver Street RG1 2ST. Dreading Poetry Slam. 7.30pm. Free entry. Details: risingsunartscentre.org
READING – OpenHand OpenSpace (OHOS), 571 Oxford Road RG30 1HL. Hummingbirds and Hamburgers: call to action. An Exhibition and Screening of Works by Christine Ellison. Noon-4pm. Details: 571oxfordroad.org
READING – Venue to be confirmed on booking. Terry’s Town Centre Walkabout – Forbury Gardens, Abbey, 5B’s + 2 Myths. Maximum 16 people. £5, child over 10 £1. In aid of PACT and Royal Berks Charity. 5.45pm. Details: www.facebook.com/ terrysreadingwalkabouts
RISELEY – Wellington Country Park, Odiham Road RG7 1SP. Wellington Country Easter Eggstravaganza includes crafts, dancing, Big Top show, train rides, treasure hunts and more. 9.30am-4.30pm. Details: wellingtoncountrypark. co.uk
SPENCERS WOOD – Village Hall, Basingstoke Road RG7 1AP. Repair cafe. 1.30pm.
SWALLOWFIELD – All Saints Church, Church Road RG7 1TH. Farley Singers Come and Sing: Stainer’s Crucifixion. Rehearsal 4.30pm-6pm. Performance 7pm. Free entry, collection for Share Shinfield and All Saints Church.
WARGRAVE – St Mary’s Church. Twyford Singers spring concert: European Romnatic Sacred music. 7pm. £12, £5 under 18s.
Details: twyford-singers. org.uk
WOKINGHAM – St Crispin’s Leisure Centre, London Road RG40 1SR. Antique and Collectors Fair. 10am-3pm. Details: 07723 068189.
WOKINGHAM – Culver Grove off Wheeler Avenue, Mulberry Grove RG40 5AS. Dr Bike free bike checks. 10am-noon. Booking essential. Details: www. myjourneywokingham.com
1. In French cookery, what is a bouquet garni?
2. What is the term used in tennis for when a serve hits the top of the net and still falls within the service box?
3. Which medical condition is caused by a lack of iron in the body?
4. Who in children’s fiction had a special friend called Peter the goatherd?
5. How many countries do the Andes Mountains pass through?
6. What codename did the Germans give to their plan to invade Russia in 1941?
7. What was Paul O’Grady’s stage name for his female impersonation character?
8. What title was given to a Roman officer originally in charge of 100 men?
9. The song Forget Me, which spent nine weeks in the 2022 UK top 10 charts, was by which artist?
10. Which word meaning ‘relating to Western countries’ is the opposite of oriental?
Here are two miniature five-square crosswords using the same grid –but the letters have been mixed up. You have to work out which letters belong to which crossword.
2. Produce an effect with decree (3)
5. Two male animals back another beast (6)
7. Charge our NHS engineered (6)
9. Cost of transport? (8,3)
10. No part arranged for sponsor (6)
11. Equality is hard to attain in church district (6)
13. Mails a concoction of meat (6)
16. Unfortunately Graeme is lean (6)
18. Control is announcing it is restoring to former position (11)
19. Lot of Arabs (6)
20. Graduate has two articles to put back to tomorrow (6)
21. Some of the casualties returned to the States initially (3)
QUICK CROSSWORD
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 subtraction.
1. Attendant leading one a dance (6)
2. Reach a remarkable titan (6)
3. To step up on part of boot (6)
4. Passes suspect section of estimate (6)
6. Focus on possessions of friend with similar problem (11)
8. Concerned with particular arrangement of a 16th century movement (11)
10. Step not possible in France (3)
12. Starts to hurry, it’s essential to make haste (3)
14. One legal claim that’s skilful (6)
15. From Tunis I rearranged the original position (2,4)
16. With Sam I am creating noxious vapour (6)
17. Reginald removed net for ruler (6)
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 12345 O 6789 R 10111213 1415161718192021 D 2223242526
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.
Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box.
95 87 1679 3 92 3 8 1 2 7 24 46 9 4 7 8 793 45 8
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:
ACROSS 5
Any word found in the Concise Oxford Dictionary (Tenth Edition) is eligible with the following exceptions: proper nouns; plural nouns, pronouns and possessives; third person singular verbs; hyphenated words; contractions and abbreviations; vulgar slang words; variant spellings of the same word (where another variant is also eligible).
A NEW vet in Woodley is chopping a whopping 50% of the cost of neutering pets.
The deal was due to finish at the end of March but the cutting off period will be extended for advance bookings.
It is hoped the reduced cash rate will help pet owners struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
Courtney Weaver-Ennis, head vet at the Vet’s Klinic, said it will also raise awareness of neutering pets.
“We put pet owners and patients at the heart of everything we do which includes advocating responsible pet ownership,” she explained.
“The benefits of castrating or spaying your cat or dog extends beyond preventing unwanted pregnancies and we want to make this as financially accessible as possible to pet owners.”
Vet’s Klinic says most pet owners accept that getting their pet neutered is the responsible thing to do with 70% of dogs in the UK being neutered and 89% of cats.
However, with the rising cost of living, some owners are putting off taking this step because of the cost involved.
The practice on Headley Road East in Woodley, is offering clients a 50% discount on castration and spaying of
cats, dogs and rabbits for the month of March following World Neutering Month.
This could save owners on average £100 and anything up to £165.
The discount can also be claimed by owners who are waiting for the appropriate time to neuter their pet by booking and paying for the procedure by the end of March.
The Klinic’s facilities include a unique glass-fronted prep room, which enables owners to see the vets and nurses at work; a separate cat waiting room; a dedicated dental suite; in-house laboratory and two operating theatres.
Clients of Vet’s Klinic also benefit from an online customer portal which includes complete access to their pets’ medical records and provides owners with real-time updates including photographs of their pet while in the Klinic’s careproviding reassurance without the need to ring the practice.
An online booking system enables clients to choose their preferred vet, most convenient time and to access discounted online prices when booking and paying in advance. n For more details, log on to: vetsklinic.co.uk/reading
BUDDING performers from across Berkshire have been showcasing their talents at a prestigious arts festival.
The annual Woodley Festival of Music and Arts returned on March 4, and will continue through until The Gala Finale Concert at the new Michael Malnick Centre, Leighton Park School, on Sunday, March 26.
Running for the past 52 years, the celebration of arts gives children the ideal platform to hone their skills in front of a live audience, while also receiving valuable feedback from professional adjudicators.
This year, a variety of choir, instrumental, pianoforte, vocal, and speech and drama performances have been enjoyed by audiences featuring entrants’ friends and relatives, as well as members of the public, across three weekends.
Kuan Ang, the festival’s publicity officer, said: “We have been delighted to welcome so many young performers through our doors over the past two weekends of the festival.
“The first weekend saw the choral festival held, as usual, at the Emmbrook School in Wokingham.
“What a joy it was to have a near-full hall listening to the sound of children and young people singing their hearts out to such a high standard, and culminating with a class of adult choirs sharing their chosen hobby with us all.
“Our adjudicator, the esteemed choral technician, conductor, composer and educationalist, Dr Douglas Coombes, enthralled us all with his interactive, informative and entertaining feedback. A great time was had by the singers and audience alike.”
The Oakwood Centre, Woodley, played host to the speech and drama
POOR sleep can negatively impact our heart health, along with many other areas of our physical and mental wellbeing.
Prioritising your seven to nine hours shut eye every day is one of the best things you can do to support your health.
During sleep, our body gets to work helping us to recover both mentally and physically, which helps us feel energised, alert, and ready for the day. Sleep isn’t something to overlook, so here are some tips for helping to improve your sleep.
Limit caffeine
Who doesn’t love a morning cuppa? Whilst a small amount of caffeine early in the day is unlikely to impact our sleep, caffeine can stay in our blood stream for many hours after consumption.
This can negatively impact the quality of our sleep and ability to fall asleep. So, say no to caffeine after lunch.
Turn off the screens
entrants with the ideal setting to boost confidence and self-esteem by performing in front of small, friendly audiences.
Woodley Festival veteran Maddie Fisher, who has dyslexia and struggled with reading, working memory and processing skills, has hugely benefited from participating in the Festival. Her early efforts in verse and prose classes elicited positive remarks from the section adjudicator, encouraging Maddie to return each year for the next six years. She has won multiple gold and silver medals in the speech and drama section.
Maddie’s mother, Fiona, said: “Undoubtedly Woodley Festival has boosted Maddie’s confidence in public, helping to build her character and assisted in overcoming her inherent difficulties.”
The festival also provides important performance practice for musicians, many of whom have gone on to enjoy success on the national stage.
Reading oboist Ewan Millar, who won the woodwind category final in the 2020 BBC Young Musician competition, took part in the instrumental section at Woodley from a young age.
The Gala Finale Concert will see a select number of performers from this year’s cohort invited back to perform at Leighton Park School.
Melatonin is our sleepy hormone, and we need to allow our body to produce lots of it to ensure a good night’s sleep.
Bright lights in our environment can reduce the production of melatonin, specifically the blue light from computer screens, tablets, and mobile phones.
Try switching off screens an hour before sleep time and read a book or have a bath instead.
Spend time outdoors
Research shows that simply being inside during the day, rather than spending time outdoors, reduces our melatonin production at night by 50%.
Grab your trainers and hit the pavement for a walk or run outdoors for at least 20 minutes every day.
Humans are creatures of habit, and we thrive on routine. Creating a bedtime ritual can help signal to our bodies that it’s time for sleep.
Try to choose low stimulation activities like reading, listening to music, or even having a cup of (caffeine free!) tea such as camomile. n For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch. org.uk/healthy-tips
section the following weekend, with youngsters navigating the arts of verse, prose, acting, musical theatre and public speaking.
Kuan described the atmosphere in the performance rooms as “buzzing with the sound of laughter and music” and hailed the entrants’ impressive offerings.
“The piano section got off to an excellent start last weekend
with some very accomplished performances, with several being awarded the outstanding category,” Kuan continued.
“The adjudicator, Anthony Williams, who has been to Woodley many times over the years gave great feedback which was much appreciated by the players, parents and teachers alike.”
The Festival is proud to provide
ManningUK Insurance Brokers has sponsored the event for the past 18 years. Local businesswoman Ann Manning, the company’s managing director, was asked to volunteer at the festival in 2005.
On hearing that the festival was in danger of closure, she didn’t hesitate to step in, keen to see the children and young people who take part in it thrive. Ann has been referred to as Woodley’s ‘fairy godmother’.
READING FC manager Paul Ince confirmed that he believes he has lost three key players to injury for the remainder of the season.
He revealed that Shane Long, Liam Moore and Tom McIntyre
READING FC UNDER 21s crashed out of the Berks & Bucks Cup in the semi-finals after a penalty shootout defeat to Marlow.
Striker Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan got the Royals off to the perfect start when he opened the scoring after just four minutes.
After being played through on goal, Ehibhatiomhan was taken out by the Marlow goalkeeper and Reading were awarded a spot kick that was dispatched by the forward.
The hosts went in search of a goal to try and level the tie and they were eventually rewarded just after half an hour when Simmo latched onto the rebound of Rogalski’s shot that cannoned off the post and put Marlow back on terms.
After a scuffle ensued, Matty Carson for Reading and Soares for Marlow were both given their marching orders.
With 15 minutes left to play, Ehibhatiomhan put the Royals on the brink of the final when he netted his second goal of the game.
But with time running out, Marlow grabbed a dramatic leveller in the final minute of the match when Ovenden profited from a scramble in the box and scored.
The match was to be decided from the penalty spot and it was Marlow who held their nerve to go through.
are likely to miss the rest of the campaign through injury.
Speaking on Liam Moore, Ince said: “With his process the last few months, he was so excited that he was starting.
“To see that happen to him was sad for us. We don’t know the extent of it but I think that’s him
for the season. That could be eight or nine players we haven’t got.
“I’m devastated for him.
“I’m sure he will bounce back, he’s got that mentality to bounce back and I’ll stay in contact with him to make sure he gets through his rehab and does everything right.
“He’s ruptured his fasciitis so that’s a big blow.”
“Tom’s is a hamstring. So it will be four weeks until he is back on the park. That’s the season done.
“We’ve been cursed with injuries and that’s what you get when you haven’t got the options of changing it and refreshing players.”
Louie Holzman missed with Reading’s first spot kick, but hope was not lost when Marlow failed to score their second penalty.
Ehibhatiomhan, Adrian Akande and Nahum Melvin-Lambert converted to take the shootout to sudden death, but Jack Senga missed before Marlow took advantage to score their crucial spot kick and progressed.
By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today
Thames Valley Premier League FINCHAMPSTEAD put on a five-star performance to claim their 10th league win of the season.
Joel Day put Finch in front after seven minutes and Alex Woodhead scored seven minutes later to make it 2-0.
Aqeel Butt added a third quickly after the restart before Day found his second on the hour mark and James Payne rounded off the scoring 20 minutes from time with a 5-0 victory.
Finch stay in second on 32 points from 16 games, six points above third place Reading YMCA having played two more matches.
Combined Counties
Premier North READING CITY’S
aspirations of challenging Ascot United for the title took a hit after they conceded a late goal in an away loss to Edgware & Kingsbury.
A successful 38th minute penalty from Josh Baines put the Cityzens in front at the break.
The home team found a reply just after the hour mark, and with just seven minutes to go, it was Edgware who ensured they collected the points with a winning goal.
Combined Counties Division One
BERKS COUNTY picked up three points on their away visit to British Airways.
Having been up two goals to the good, County suffered a setback when an own goal allowed the hosts back into the game.
But the Swords ensured
they got back on track with a win when Les Sackey scored a third late in the day to confirm the win.
Thames Valley Women’s Division One
ASCOT UNITED RESERVES are in top spot after a hard fought away win at Harwell and Hendred.
The 2-1 success puts them one point in front of title challengers MORTIMER having played one game more.
Mortimer’s title hopes were dealt a blow after they lost away to TILEHURST PANTHERS.
Panthers ensured they took the points with a double from Deanna Cane either side of Rhianna Langham’s goal to wrap up a convincing 3-0 win.
The win puts Tilehurst back in the title race in fourth on 31 points, but with
By ARTHUR STRAND sport@wokingham.today
two games in hand on the two sides above them.
Thames Valley Women’s Division Two
S4K BERKS COUNTY were left without a point to take despite scoring five in their away game at Denham United Reserves.
In a goal filled contest, the Fawkes were beaten 8-5.
Kate Stewart and Megan Cox both netted braces and Amber Newhouse was also on the scoresheet for S4K as they remain 10th in the table.
Thames Valley Women’s Division 3S
SHINFIELD RANGERS missed out on the chance to go top of the table after they lost away to Taplow United.
Chloe Bagshaw and Lauren Bagshaw both scored for Shinfield, but they lost 4-2.
BRACKNELL TOWN were dealt
a blow by title chasing Truro City in a 3-0 loss at the SB Stadium.
Neal found Sullivan who chipped the ball across to Greenslade close by the goal and headed the ball home without too much bother to make it one-nil after half-anhour.
The Robins pressed hard and brought out a fine save from the keeper with his foot to deny an equaliser and within two seconds, Will Dean headed the ball off the line as Truro ended one up at half-time.
After the break, Bracknell pushed upfield and a corner kick was conceded by a deflection from a Bracknell attempt at goal.
After six minutes of the secondhalf, Truro were able to convert a cross by Neal which was deflected although Greenslade had sufficient time to shoot and add a second to the tally.
In the 75th minute Neal was assisted by Sullivan and his shot beat Eacott to add another goal to the score -line.
Bracknell made the additional time count but every moment of pressure had the same conclusion that the ball was not going into the goal.
The counter attack had the Robins striking three times in as many seconds and the keeper made two superb saves before the ball was headed off the line.
The result leaves Bracknell in third, in a healthy position to secure a play-off spot with games in hand.
READING 17-19 DEVIZES
A TRY five minutes before the finish gave Devizes a win against a Reading team that had been ahead for most of their last league match of the season.
Until then, the game had been a closely fought encounter between two evenly matched sides neither of whom managed to take a decisive lead.
The game took a while to come to life but on the 20 minute mark Dorliac stormed through a gap near the hallway and beat the cover defence to cross for a try.
This was converted by Jonny Sharp playing alongside his brother Tom both of whom had come up through the Reading junior and colts setup.
But it was Devizes who scored next with an unconverted try in the corner when their inside centre took advantage of a break by the number 10 to outflank the Reading defence.
In the last couple of minutes of the half it was Reading’s turn to attack and when Devizes gave away a yellow card for illegally bringing down a driving line out.
Reading opted for the scrum which Devizes illegally collapsed as Reading were on the point of pushing it over. This resulted in
RUGBY UNION
By RICHARD ASHTON sport@wokingham.today
RETIRING Rams Social Rugby manager Marcus Noye admitted he had a tear in his eye after stepping down following the Centaurs (third XV) 47-24 victory against Abingdon on Saturday.
The Counties Two Tribute Berks, Bucks and Oxon South champions rounded off their season in style with a seven-try home success, a week after the Dragon’s Teeth (fourth XV) had claimed Three South glory as long-term legend Noye stepped down from his role in style.
The ex-Army man, who joined the club 18 years ago has spent a decade running the fourths, then the past three years adding the thirds and fifths to his resume reflected on a stunning season.
He said: “Managing three teams has taken its toll, as you
can tell by my hair. But two teams being promoted, I couldn’t be more pleased, and I did have a tear in my eye, I’m just so proud of the boys.
“It’s incredible the Cents only losing once – pre-season we talked about trying to win the league but then we kept that out of our minds, and it’s never been talked about since.
“The young lads coming in, Jedd Paine, Mikey Duda and the rest, they’ve made such an impact and it’s in turn elevated the Dragon’s Teeth.
“Bleddyn Parry in the back row for the DTs has been amazing and he could play thirds rugby and maybe first-team rugby in some other sides, it’s just amazing and I’m chuffed to bits.”
Noye, who has recently taken up a new role he loves at Bulmershe School, said he will always be around to try and help the club in other ways.
He continued: “We’ve played some
really entertaining stuff and we get a bit more of a crowd up to watch – Rams are building as a club and a product, we’ve pushed the idea of the Centaurs becoming a Development Squad and you can see it in the way we’ve played.
“There are 18- and 19-year-old lads playing a level of rugby which is outstanding.
“They’ve got so much more to come; they’re striving for the chance to progress and it’s great.
“We’re now at a point where the
first team were when I joined the club some 18 years ago and hopefully we can only keep pushing forward.”
Having lost 36-22 at Slough in Week Three, the Centaurs went on an incredible 17-match winning run which saw them not drop a point, while the DTs also only lost three games all season.
Noye continued: “Slough were amazing when we went down there and I took my hat off to them, but we learnt a lesson – it wasn’t a good thing to lose but from there the training
a penalty try and a second yellow card to make the score 14-5 to Reading at the interval.
Devizes, despite their numerical disadvantage scored early in the second half when they successfully mauled the ball up the pitch and over the line. The conversion succeeded to reduce the Reading lead to two points.
A Jonny Sharp penalty increased Reading’s lead to five as both teams had their chances. Reading had another chance to kick a penalty but decided not to go for the posts from a similar position.
They were rue this decision as after being reduced to 14 by a yellow card, a good move involving their no 10 and centres put Devizes over under the posts for a converted try for them to take the lead.
Despite a last-minute effort by Jonny Sharp and Palmer-Owen to score in the corner, Devizes managed to see the game out and claim the spoils.
Reading did gain a losing bonus point which pushed them into sixth position in the league as the ‘best of the rest’ with the top five teams at least 20 points in front of them.
Reading will play in a new end of season knock-out competition which combines teams finishing in similar positions across level six in the South West.
went up a level and we bounced back.
“To not lose a game from there is not a bad record to have.
“(New Head Coach) Joe (Whatmore) and Paul (Smith) have been absolutely amazing – they’ve taken things to another level.”
Rams return to National One action as they welcome Taunton Titans to Old Bath Road on Saturday (3pm). n Supporters are asked to book tickets through the club’s website – www. ramsrugby.com – for the penultimate home game of the season
FA Cup
By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.todayREADING FC WOMEN’s hopes of reaching Wembley were dashed after they were eliminated by FA Women’s Cup holders Chelsea in the quarter-finals.
The Royals will now have full focus on trying to retain their top flight status with seven matches to go in the Women’s Super League. Having knocked out Tottenham Hotspur in the last
round in a penalty shootout, Reading were looking to upset the odds and prevent the Blues from retaining the cup.
Reading knew they would have a tricky test on their hands to try and overcome Emma Hayes’ side, who are looking to complete a league and cup double for the second consecutive season.
The hosts’ task was made even harder when they went a goal behind in the 23rd minute after failing to track Jess Carter’s run to the back post.
A floated cross into the box from Guro Reiten rose over four Reading shirts and found Carter all alone at the back post and took advantage by stroking the ball into the far corner past Grace Moloney on the volley.
Just three minutes later, Reading shot themselves in the foot when Brooke Hendrix conceded a penalty to give the visitors the chance to double their tally.
Emma Mukandi’s back pass to Hendrix put the Royals in trouble as Reiten showed more
endeavour to get to the loose ball, knocked the ball past the goalkeeper and was brought down by the American with the goal gaping.
The Royals defender escaped being sent off by the referee much to the relief of the Reading players and fans with the official taking the lenient view to only show her a caution.
Maren Mjelde took the penalty and dispatched it neatly into the bottom corner to put the Blues into
a commanding position in the cup tie.
Reading thought they had come up with a quick response in the 29th minute when Sanne Troelsgaard had the ball in the net, only to be denied by the offside flag.
After a lofted ball into the area from, a brilliant knock down fell into the path of Troelsgaard who snuck in behind the Blues backline to fire the ball into the roof of the net.
Reading’s celebrations were
cut short after a few moments of deliberation with a late decision from the officials who eventually raised the flag to deem it offside.
With a mountain to climb in the second-half to try and get back into the game, Reading’s hopes were all but put to bed six minutes after the restart when Chelsea netted their third of the game.
It was a slick team move that unlocked the Reading defence as Johanna Rytting Kaneryd played an expertly weighted
TWO football fans asked me why the referee at their team’s game make so many mistakes last week?
Two different games, two different referees.
So, what leads to so many apparent mistakes?
The first thing I must say is that not everything that looks like a mistake is one.
The view from 60 yards in the stands can be very different from the referee’s view of 15 yards.
Then, of course, there is the bias.
As one ardent sports fan once said, ‘it is scientifically proven that all awful decisions only affect the team that I support’.
We must also take into consideration that fans and even pundits, have seldom read the Laws of the Game.
I wrote in my column one week that Gary Lineker was wrong to criticise a referee for penalising a player who raised his foot to stop a goalkeeper clearing the ball from his hands.
I included the Law which is quite specific and proved the referee had made the correct decision.
through ball to Alsu Abdullina who unselfishly slid the ball across for Reiten to have the easiest of finishes to tap into the empty net.
Reading rallied to get on the scoresheet when Troelsgaard continued her superb scoring season when she received the ball in the box, spun past Millie Bright and released an emphatic finish into the far corner to beat Zecira Musovic.
It proved to just be a consolation goal from the Norwegian midfielder as the Royals exited the competition at the quarter-final stage.
Speaking after the match, Royals boss Kelly Chambers believes ‘two moments of madness’ cost her side.
“First and foremost, we wanted to put in a performance that was better than last week and one that we can build on going into Brighton, which I think we did,” said Chambers.
“For all of Chelsea’s quality, I think we gifted them their first two goals, which when you’re up against these teams, you cannot afford to do.
“I think our first-half performance was good, certainly shouldn’t be going into half-time 2-0 down, but just two moments of madness let us down.
“It’s mixed feelings for us right now, obviously proud of the way we performed but can’t help but feel aggrieved with the way
we let Chelsea score.”
Chambers was also left baffled at the decision from the match officials to disallow Sanne Troeslgaard’s goal that would have made it 2-1, with the linesman raising his flag just prior to Chelsea restarting the match.
She continued: “I’m still baffled as to why our first goal was ruled off, I don’t know how refereeing works these days.
“From our perspective, he (the linesman) hasn’t given offside and starts running back ready for kick-off but then the referee gets involved to make a judgement on offside. It’s just so complicated, I don’t get it.
“Maybe with VAR you can take
By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today
READING FC WOMEN host Brighton & Hove Albion this Sunday in a crunch match with both sides looking to preserve their place in the Women’s Super League.
The Royals have seven games left to play this campaign and face the first of their remaining matches against a fellow relegation rival.
Reading go into the contest on the back of being knocked out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage against Chelsea with full attention
now on surviving in the top flight.
Kelly Chambers’ team are currently on 10 points from 15 league games which puts them three points above the drop zone. Meanwhile, Brighton are one place and two points behind Reading, but have played two games fewer.
With just one team going down from the WSL each season, Reading and Brighton are both in the midst of a tense relegation battle alongside bottom side Leicester City as well as Tottenham Hotspur who did boost their chances of survival
with a win over the Foxes last week.
The Seagulls are onto their third managerial appointment of the season after Jens Scheuer departed having joined just two months earlier.
The German replaced long term manager Hope Powell in October after Brighton were smashed 8-0 by Spurs.
However, following a heavy 6-2 loss to Aston Villa, he left his position by mutual consent after just 68 days in charge.
Despite their troubles in the league, Brighton did set up
that time to discuss, and give the goal or not, but in the end it’s another decision against us.”
Next up for the Royals is a huge encounter in the WSL up against fellow relegation battlers Brighton & Hove Albion.
READING: Moloney, Mayi Kith, Hendrix, Mukandi (c), Bryson, Woodham, Moore, Rowe, EIkeland, Troelsgaard, Wellings
Subs: Evans, Wade, Caldwell, Jane, Burns, Vanhaevermaet, Meadows-Tuson
CHELSEA: Musovic, Carter, Bright, Eriksson, Rytting Kaneryd, Mjelde, Fleming, Ingle, Abdullina, Reiten, Charles
Subs: :Leupolz, James, Kerr, Buchanan, Berger, Claypole, Akpan, Blades, Brown
Goals: Carter 23’, Mjedle 26’ (pen), Reiten 51’, Troelsgaard 70’
an FA Cup semi-final tie after they progressed by beating Championship side Birmingham City 2-0 with goals from former Royal Danielle Carter and Poppy Pattinson.
Amy Merricks has now taken over the position on an interim basis for the second time this season.
The Seasiders have collected just one point from their last five league matches. That came in a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa last month in which Julia Zigotti Olme scored a 74th minute equaliser to claim a point.
I received a card from Lineker saying simply ‘I still think I’m right’.
It must be admitted of course that referees do make mistakes, but Katja Koroleva, an American FIFA and professional referee said in an interview, ‘We make hundreds of decisions in every match and the next decision is only seconds away, so we have to confront the discomfort of making mistakes.’
So how do they come about?
Sometimes the referee doesn’t see the incident.
Remember how in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final, Howard Webb did not send off Nigel de Jong despite him kicking an opponent in the chest.
Webb admitted afterwards that his view was blocked at the vital moment. Referees, like players, can also have ‘off’ days even extending to off periods.
Think of a free scoring centre forward who suddenly can’t hit a barn door.
There is also a fairly recent influence, following the UEFA Cup Finals that has continued. Roberto Rosetti, head of UEFA referees, felt that there were too many players going down too easily and he instructed the referees not to blow for trivial fouls.
The next main reason is positioning. Angles are as important for referees as keeping up with play.
Keith Hackett sent me a copy of the Prozone videos which he used to train the Premier League referees.
It not only showed how fast the referees ran and how much ground they covered but also their positioning at important times. It showed how just a few yards either way could make an improvement.
However, probably the real reason that we make mistakes is that we are all human.
Joe Lumley
Was not overly troubled, but claimed everything that came his way calmly.
Andy Yiadom
Was the more positive outlet out of the two wing-backs. Failed to clear inside his box in opening, but Allahyar couldn’t steer home.
Liam Moore
Stepped off the pitch after just 15 minutes and replaced by Scott Dann. Was upset after what has been a torrid year for the former skipper.
Tom Holmes
Got forward on occasion and put in some good deliveries. Was largely untroubled at the back.
Naby Sarr
Could have tracked Slater’s run a little more closely for Hull’s goal. Dived in for a few challenges early on but timed them well.
Tom McIntyre
Hull looked to play balls in behind the stand-in left-back. Struggled and came off before half-time after picking up an injury.
Jeff Hendrick
Quietly assured. Didn’t have a huge impact on the game, but did a lot of the simple things well and kept things ticking over in midfield.
Just didn’t seem himself. Came close with . Allowed Traore to get away from him far too easily to set up Hull’s opener.
Cesare Casadei
Some tidy touches and seemed to be everywhere. Had chances to get on the scoresheet with his head and through a free-kick.
Andy Carroll
Took his goal well. Won his fair share of flick-ons but wasn’t able to play in Casadei or Joao with any real conviction. Useful on set pieces.
Lucas Joao
A good showingTurned down a golden opportunity to pull the trigger in the box with minutes left on the clock.
Tom Ince SUBS
6 6 7
5 5 6
5 6 6
6 6
READING 1 HULL CITY 1
By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today
READING FC ended a run of four Championship defeats on the bounce by recovering to take a point against Hull City.
The Royals went behind to Regan Slater’s 26th minute opener but replied on the stroke of half-time through Andy Carroll.
Neither side were able to snatch a winner and had to settle for a point each.
Reading stay in 16th position and are still nine points above the relegation zone prior to a possible points deduction from the EFL with eight matches remaining.
The Tigers had the first strike on goal inside the opening minute of the match when Yiadom failed to get any distance on a clearing header which dropped for Allahyar Sayyadmanesh to hit and Joe Lumley tipped round his post.
Allahyar had another sighter a few moments later when a low corner was drilled into his path, but he kicked thin air with his attempt.
Reading started to find their feet and some neat combination play from Lucas Joao and Tom Ince saw them stride into the Hull half without being able to muster a shot to test the keeper.
Lucas Joao was lively and got a couple of headers on goal that didn’t cause much trouble for Karl Darlow with two routine catches in quick succession.
Moore’s injuries continued to plague him and his first start only lasted 15 minutes as he had to hobble off and be replaced by Scott Dann.
READING: Lumley, McIntyre, Holmes, Sarr, Moore, Yiadom (c), Hendrick, Casadei, Ince, Carroll, Joao SUBS: Bouzanis, Dann, Azeez, Guinness-Walker, Fornah, Mbengue, Ehibhatiomhan
HULL CITY: Darlow, Coyle (c), Graves, A Jones, Allahyar, Ebiowei, McLoughlin, Traore, Estupinan, Seri, Slater SUBS: Lo-Tutala, Elder, Figueiredo, Tufan, Docherty, Longman, Pelkas
GOALS: Slater 26’, Carroll 44’
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Nesta GuinnessWalker
top teams in the Championship.
Liam Rosenior’s side opened the scoring in the 26th minute when Regan Slater battled past Ince, played the ball out wide and received a return ball to burst through the middle and slotted a finish in at Lumley’s near post.
Reading could only create a couple of half chances with a Naby Sarr header from a corner and a glancing nod wide from Cesare Casadei.
Another enforced change through injury saw Tom
McIntyrereplaced by Nesta Guinness-Walker with five minutes of the first-half remaining.
Moving into the final few minutes of the half, the Royals got on the scoresheet to put the game on terms.
After Casadei’s flick on into the box, Carroll hovered and was able to pounce on the loose ball which ricocheted off a defender into his path and he planted the ball into the bottom right hand corner to punish Hull.
“Of course it’s
“We started a bit slow to be fair and when we conceded that gave us a kick up the backside and got us into gear.
“We were creating chances and got the goal at a good time. It lifted everybody.
“The second half was a case of who could get the winning goal but a point is a fair result and it’s important that we understand that we’ve had four tough games against
“After 65, 70 minutes we were out on our feet, absolutely knackered. AC (Andy Carroll) hadn’t trained all week, but what they’ve done, I’m proud of them because they kept going and that’s all you can do at this stage.”
Ince believes that gaining a point will be vital for the team’s confidence ahead of the last eight league games of the season to try and maintain their Championship status.
Following the international break, the Royals will travel away to face Bristol City on Saturday, April 1.
Ince continued: “It’s about stopping the rot when you’ve lost four on the bounce so it’s nice to pick up a point.
“From a confidence point of view if you lose today (Saturday), it’s the worst thing in the world with the international break coming up so the most important thing was to not lose the game.
“We would have liked to have won but the important thing is not to lose and it’s another point gained.
“The boys who are fit are putting a shift in. We’re down to the bare bones.
“It’s tough for the boys and we’re
in the business where we’ve now got eight games to go so it’s not about pretty football or playing like Man City.
“It’s about getting points on the board and that’s all that matters.
“I’ve got to make sure we now rest our legs and rest our minds and get going again for the next game against Bristol City.
“It couldn’t have come at a better time (the international break).
“The next eight games will be tough for us so it’s a nice refreshment.”
Liam
suffered a season ending injury during his first start of the season
GOALSCORER Andy Carroll believes the international break has come at the ideal time for Reading before they face the final stretch in their Championship campaign.
The Royals are currently nine points above the relegation zone, but with an EFL points deduction looming, they are likely to get dragged into the mix in a fight for survival.
Speaking after he scored the equalising goal in a 1-1 draw with Hull City, Carroll said: “It’s nice to get something from your last game before the internationals.
“There’s nothing worse than going in, two weeks of no football and knowing that you got beat in the last game.
“So it’s good that the lads can go away from the game with another point and get a bit of rest and recovery before we prepare for the next game.
“The break couldn’t have come at a better time.
“With the injuries we have, the list is ongoing. We can’t get the whole team fit.
“We have eight or nine players injured that could be starting.”
A final chance of the opening 45 came for Ince after a positive move ended with Casadei winning a freekick 25 yards from goal.
Ince curled a shot over the wall but it sailed over the bar to the relief of Darlow.
Casadei’s willingness to drive forward won Reading another free-kick in a shooting position 10 minutes after the restart.
Having netted his first senior goal in midweek at Blackburn, Casadei took responsibility but ballooned a disappointing effort into the north stand.
The Tigers relinquished some control and looked to restore their
lead, but found Dann in the way to intercept a drilled cross and put it behind for a corner.
Dann stayed alert at the back and charged out to put his body on the line to get in the way of a thumping shot.
Carroll was the first player to go into the book after putting in a late tackle on Hull captain Lewie Coyle.
The home crowd were left frustrated after Joao had the ball in the box with a chance of striking at goal, but he opted to take one too many touches to try and twist past his marker and ultimately had possession snatched from him.
Carroll proved his worth to
provide defensive cover, winning several headers from Hull corners to keep his team organised.
Guinness-Walker showed excellent pace and footwork down the left before Ince teed up Holmes only for the defender to slam his shot well off target.
A late double change saw Femi Azeez and Tyrese Fornah take the places of Casadei and Joao for the final few minutes.
Both sides were unable to forge any clear cut openings to take maximum points as the game was drawn.
After the international break, Reading are away at Bristol City.
By Andy Preston apreston@wokingham.today
READING FC are still facing an anxious wait on the decision from the EFL to confirm whether they will receive a points deduction.
The Royals were docked six points last campaign for breaking the league’s profit and sustainability rules, with a further suspended six points hanging over them for this current campaign if they failed to comply with the EFL’s business plan.
It is believed that the club are currently being investigated for the EFL to whether they have followed the rules set out within the business plan, and if they have failed to do so then they will receive another six point deduction this campaign.
Paul Ince’s team are currently in 17th position in the table, nine points above the relegation zone, but a deduction would see them drop to 21st and just three points above the drop zone.
Speaking about the points
deduction after the 1-1 draw with Hull City, Reading boss Ince said: “As far as I’m concerned I don’t know when it’s coming, if it’s coming.
“There has been a lot of stuff in the press recently about other teams.
“The EFL seem to be on one at the moment so I’m sure something will be coming our way.
“I’ve said before that there is no guarantee it is coming, but I have a feeling it is coming just because of the way the EFL are being with other clubs.
“I think the cut off mark is Thursday so it will be D-day for a lot of clubs.
“This time last year when I was here we were on 30 points so the lads have improved eight points before this game.
“That’s what we look at, the positive side.”
Fellow relegation rivals Wigan Athletic were dealt a three point deduction on Monday which leaves them bottom of the table on 31 points and eight points away from safety with eight matches remaining.
Going into the final eight matches of the season, Carroll is determined for his team to take the positives from the Tigers match to find some much needed form to try and secure their Championship status.
He continued: “The last stretch of games is massive and the points that are on offer.
“If any of the teams below us go on a little run they can drag us right in it.
“So it was a massive point against Hull and we need to keep going and get as many as we can before the end of the season.
“We needed the point, we wanted three, but we’ll take one because it’s a step closer.
“We’ve been playing against the top teams and it’s been really tough. We’ve been missing a few players too.
“Against Hull we played well, we passed it well and created some chances.
“We probably could have nicked the game so we have to take positive and look forward.”
Sumas P-P Chalfont St Peter
Saturday, March 18
FOOTBALL Championship
Reading 1-1 Hull City
Southern League Premier South
Bracknell Town 0-3
Truro City
Isthmian South Central Walton & Hersham 5-1
Binfield
Combined Counties
Premier North
Edgware & Kingsbury 2-1
Reading City
Combined Counties Division One
British Airways 1-3 Berks County
Thames Valley Premier League
Finchampstead 5-0 Slough
Heating Laurencians
RUGBY UNION
South West Regional 2
Reading 17-19 Devizes
HOCKEY
By STAFF WRITER sport@wokingham.todayA TOTAL of 39 players turned out to compete in the Bradfield Darts tournament hosted at Bradfield Social Club on Saturday.
With a mixture of abilities ranging from youth right up to senior county level, it proved to be a challenging and entertaining
spectacle. There were four women that entered the competition, allowing the open to play out a furthest lady award.
This was won by Nippa Smith who plays for the Berkshire County Team.
There was also a first round losers plate offered to the entrants to run alongside the main open.
This was won by Richard Rawlings. The winner of the main open took away a prize of £300, which was won by Terry Stubbs who also plays for the Berkshire County Team.
This is the second Bradfield Open run by Kryshia Muss and they are hoping to run another later in the year. The next competition at
sport@wokingham.today
KINGFISHER A proved their champions credentials as their trio of Martin Adams, Hari Gehlot and Darren Jones pushed aside a strong KINGFISHER D 10-0 with little difficulty.
Helped by a maximum by Steve Murgatroyd, second place OUR LADY OF PEACE
A narrowly edged SONNING COMMON and PEPPARD A 6-4, with all encounters on the night requiring either a fourth or decisive fifth set including Steve’s win over Jamie Barlow 8-11 17-15 11-4 10-12 11-8.
Elsewhere, KINGFISHER
B’S quest for fifth place took a positive turn as they overcame rivals TILEHURST RBL A 8-2, the highlights being excellent maximums from Phil Mead and young Theo Kniep, whose temperament was exemplified as he won all his games against Jon Willis, Marc Brent and Keith Winter in the deciding
fifth set. Despite another maximum from Mike Childs, bottom side READING FC could not avoid a 4-6 defeat away to TIDMARSH A SONNING COMMON AND PEPPARD B reserve Danny Dockree played up from Division Two and remained undefeated as he superbly upset SONNING SPORTS A, who are already safe from relegation.
He was helped by a double from Matt Isherwood to inflict a 3-7 defeat.
Promotion rivals TIDMARSH
B and SONNING COMMON & PEPPARD C fought out a 5-5 draw with the SC&P side recovering from 1-4 down.
Dale Ballard got an excellent maximum for Tidmarsh and Francois Durand won twice, beating both Malcolm Gregory and Nigel Maltby. Brian Meheux had a great win over Francois for the Commoners as well as teaming up with Nigel to win the doubles.
OUR LADY OF PEACE B moved level on points with
Tidmarsh after an 8-2 win over OUR LADY OF PEACE C with Darek Kaminski and Chris West both getting maximums. The highlight sets was the C team’s Binit Bhaskar recovering from two games down to beat Dave Godfrey 11-7 in the fifth.
In their second match of the week OUR LADY OF PEACE C lost 7-3 to KINGFISHER G, a result which just about condemns them to relegation and also keeps Kingfisher’s promotion hopes alive.
Satej Jaywant got a maximum for Kingfisher G.
The best set of the night was between OLOP’s Pradeep Desh and the Kingfisher Captain Andrew Adair which Pradeep won 12-10 in the fifth after Andrew recovered from 8-3 down to go 10-9 up but he then missed an easy smash on match point.
The relegation fight was thrown open after KINGFISHER F beat KINGFISHER E 8-2, a result which drags the E team back into the mix.
Ascot United P-P London Lions
Combined Counties Division One
Berks County 6-1
Rayners Lane
Sandhurst Town 8-1
AFC Aldermaston
Woodley United 1-1 Bagshot
Saturday, March 25
FOOTBALL
Southern League Premier South
Yate Town v Bracknell Town
Isthmian South Central Merstham v Binfield
Combined Counties Premier North
Ascot United v Wembley
Harefield United v Sumas Reading City v Wallingford & Crowmarsh
Combined Counties Division One Berks County v Spartans Youth
Bradfield Sports Club will be a knockout tournament hosted on Saturday, April 15 at 7.30pm.
Results:
Main Open Winner: Terry Stubbs
R/U: Josh Burksfield
Semi: Nick Lewis, Mitchell McCarthy
Plate Competition Winner: Richard Rawlings
R/U: Nathan Muney
Furthest Lady: Nippa Smith
A TEAM of female golfers from Sand Martins Golf Club have just been pipped at the post after reaching the final of the Annodata Matchplay Golf Classic – a national golf club team event for men and women across the UK.
In all, 720 teams competed nationally for a place in the Grand Finals which were held at the Montecastillo Golf Resort near Jerez in Spain.
Only four semi-finalists for the women’s trophy got the invite to compete in one of the most prestigious competitions in national club golf.
Seven local players and their supporters flew to Spain for the semi-final which was played on Wednesday, March 8 against Brampton Park Golf Club from Cambridgeshire.
Five ladies played, winning three of their singles matches and halving another to get into the final on March 9.
The final was up against local Surrey rivals Tandridge Golf Club.
Despite their best efforts in the unseasonably cool and damp conditions, the ladies lost three of their five matches and ended as runners-up on the day.
Sand Martins were delighted with the achievements of the team who had to overcome seven rounds of match play against rivals from across the country to win one of the tougher match play events in the UK.
Men’s Premier Division Reading v Surbiton
Women’s Premier Division
Reading v Buckingham
South Central Men’s Premier 2
South Berkshire 3-2 Oxford University 2s
South Central Women’s North Division One
Oxford University 2s 2-3 South Berkshire
Sunday, March 19
FOOTBALL
FA Women’s Cup quarter-final
Reading 1-3 Chelsea
Thames Valley Women’s Division One
Harwell and Hendred 1-2
Ascot United Reserves
Procision Oxford 1-3
Wargrave
Tilehurst Panthers 3-0
Mortimer
Thames Valley Women’s Division Two
Denham United 8-5 S4K Berks County
Thames Valley Women’s Division 3S
Eversley & California Reserves 2-1 Thatcham & Newbury
Caversham AFC 5-1 Wargrave
Development
Taplow United 4-2 Shinfield
Rangers
Yateley United 1-0
Burghfield
RUGBY UNION
Richmond 27-12 Abbey
Tuesday, March 21
FOOTBALL Combined Counties Premier North
Eversley & California v Molesey London Samurai Rovers v Woodley United
Thames Valley Premier League Burghfield v Yateley United Finchampstead v Wraysbury Village Reading City U23s v Slough Heating Laurencians
RUGBY UNION National League One Rams v Taunton Titans
HOCKEY South Central Men’s Premier 2 Havant 2s v South Berkshire
South Central Women’s North Division 1
South Berkshire v Leighton Buzzard
South Central Men’s North Division 1
Banbury 2s v Sonning
South Central Women’s Premier 1
Sonning v Havant
Sunday, March 26
FOOTBALL
Women’s Super League Reading v Brighton
Southern Region Women’s Premier
Ascot United v Winchester City Flyers
Southern Region Women’s Division One North
Kidlington Youth v Eversley & California
Thames Valley Women’s Division One
Mortimer v Ascot United Reserves
Cup
Wargrave v Tilehurst Panthers