across Broad Street Andy epic cycle ride to tackle visual impairment

By JAKE CLOTHIER jclothier@rdg.today

A READING resident is tackling visual impairment head on with a country-spanning challenge following a diagnosis of his own.

Andy Smith was diagnosed with a severe visual impairment early in 2020 due to complications from diabetes after he woke up struggling to see.

He was found to have a detached retina in one eye with damage to the other, and doctors thought that he would “be lucky” to save any of his sight.

He said that the news caused him to spend much of the lockdowns which followed feeling depressed, confused, and scared to lose his independence and confidence.

The event was organised by REDA and featured music and food

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today

THE sound of music and the smell of something cooking wafted over Reading town centre at the weekend as the annual Reading Food Festival returned.

Broad Street was awash with street food for the event, hosted by Blue Collar and REDA, the new name for Reading UK CIC.

Formerly known as Eat Reading, the two-day event saw more than 30 different cuisines on offer, as well as a bar and musical entertainment.

The menu included food from Germany, Mexico, Italy, Japan, Spain, Ethiopia, Jamaica, India, the Philippines and the UK.

Musical performances came from RASPO, Los Dos Gringos, No Strings Attached and Natalie Gray.

The event, which has been running for more than a decade, attracted hundreds of visitors, much to the delight of organisers.