Estate Agents ‘Successfully selling & letting properties in the Reading area since 1980’
Thinking of selling or letting your home? Contact us today and book a FREE market appraisal on 0118 941 5607 or book online at www.villageproperties.co.uk
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Former mayor quits Labour over social media posts By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today A SECOND former Reading mayor has changed their political allegiance.
Cllr Chris Maskell has left the ruling Labour group and is now sitting as an independent councillor. It comes after the Reading party launched an investigation into some posts he made on social media. His Twitter page has been deactivated, and there are no comments on his personal Facebook page, indicating that these comments have been deleted. However, he has posted pictures indicating his support of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at the expense of current Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer. Cllr Maskell represents Battle ward, a role he has held since 2001, serving as mayor in 2007. He had originally joined the party in 1990, purely to deliver leaflets. There had been speculation in 2008 that he would leave the party, after taking his website down for maintenance, but posting a picture from the film Independence Day as a holding image. However, he stayed with the party until now. In a statement, Cllr Jason Brock, Reading Labour Group Leader, said: “Cllr Maskell was suspended by the Labour Party pending an investigation into comments posted on social media. He has decided to resign from Labour prior to the conclusion of this investigation and, consequently, will no longer sit as a Labour councillor.” Earlier this month, the most recent mayor, Cllr David Stephens, crossed the floor from the Conservatives to join the Reading Labour group.
SPORT
GREAT WIN FOR ROYALS Women show men’s team how it’s done
If you see Sid, tell him .. Anti-loan shark
YOUR NEW 3-in-1 PAPER
n NEWS n SPORT n LEISURE
campaign takes to the streets • p8-9
ECONOMY SET FOR POSTCOVID BOOM Reading EXCLUSIVE
has fastest recovery from covid reveals data
No. 15 90p
By DANIEL BLACKHAM news@rdg.today
READING has beaten the rest of England in making the fastest economic recovery from the pandemic.
According to data released by Ernst & Young, Reading has proved to be the country’s best financially performing area in comparison to 2019 figures. A report by Centre for Cities
showed businesses in Reading were some of the worst hit with 39 weeks of sales lost as a direct result of the lockdowns. Despite missing more than half a year of trading, experts say Reading’s gross value added is 4% larger than in 2019 – the largest growth anywhere in the country. Gross value added (GVA) is a metric used to measure the value of goods and services produced in an area, industry or sector of an economy. n Continued on page 8
PANTO’S BACK .. OH YES IT IS! P8
CHURCHES UNITE FOR SERVICE P33
AMAZING RESCUE TAKES FLIGHT P3 ISSN 2754-2785 05
9 772754 278509
2 | NEWS
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
WE COVER READING BOROUGH EMMER GREEN CAVERSHAM CAVERSHAM HEIGHTS LOWER CAVERSHAM TILEHURST
NORCOT
WEST READING SOUTHCOTE
READING COLEY
EAST READING
KATESGROVE
WHITLEY MADEJSKI STADIUM
In print
Order a copy from your newsagent every Wednesday – some even deliver
Online
Our website is updated seven days a week – bookmark it in your browser: rdg.today FACEBOOK & TWITTER: RDGTODAY
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US Due to the coronavirus, our offices are closed to the public. The best way to contact us is by email Email news@wokingham.today Newsroom: 0118 327 2662 Advertising: 0118 327 2662 Write to: Reading Today, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS Publisher • David Riley Editor • Phil Creighton Deputy editor • Jess Warren Reporters • Daniel Blackham, Natalie Burton Sports reporter • Andy Preston Graphic designer • Charlotte Simpson The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation. If you have a complaint about a Wokingham Paper Ltd publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance email: editor@wokingham.today. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Car flips over at roundabout – police appeal to trace owners A CAR overturned on the A33 in Reading in the early hours of Sunday morning, and police are now trying to trace the owner. Thames Valley Police posted a picture to their social media pages, showing the vehicle on its side. It had gone round a roundabout and flipped over a barrier, leaving debris on the road. In their post, the force said: “Witnesses describe two people, a male and a female, exiting the vehicle and running away. “Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to make contact with the owner just yet. “If this was you, please get in touch, as we would like to make sure you’re okay.”
Council finds £1m overpayment through checks
ON ITS BACK: The wreckage of a car that flipped over at a roundabout on the A33 on
Two bodies recovered from Rowe Court By NATALIE BURTON news@rdg.today TWO BODIES have been recovered from Rowe Court “after a complex recovery process” and taken to hospital, it has been announced.
Work had been ongoing to make the site safe after a major fire broke out at the property on Wednesday, December 15, in order for the bodies of two people who died to be recovered. Post mortem examinations are expected to take place this week, as well as formal identification. The families are being supported through this process. Superintendent Steve Raffield, local area policing commander for Reading, said he hopes the recovery of those who were inside is of some comfort to their families. “I know that today has been a very difficult and emotional day for a lot of people connected to this incident, especially for the families of the deceased,” he said. “I’d also like to thank all those living nearby for their continued support and patience.” The Thames Valley Police major crime unit is continuing its
investigation into the incident and one man has been charged in connection with it. The site remains a crime scene and work to safely dismantle the building is continuing. Police officers and contractors will remain at the site over the coming weeks. Jim Powell, area manager at Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, also extend his thoughts to the families and friends of those who lost their lives.
“A full fire investigation to determine the cause of the fire is now under way and we will continue to work with partners to resolve this incident as swiftly and as safely as possible,” he said. Reading Borough Council leader, Cllr Jason Brock, said that the impact for those affected by the fire is as real today as it was on the day. “The thoughts of everybody in Reading are firmly with the families of those people whose bodies were recovered by our emergency service colleagues earlier today,” he said. “We once again thank Reading’s emergency services for the dignified recovery in what must have been very distressing circumstances. “I know they will be on site for some considerable time yet as teams work to dismantle what is left of Rowe Court. “We also thank the local community again for their patience and understanding.” The dedicated webpage for people wishing to make a financial donation to support residents displaced by the fire remains open. n For more information, visit: reading. gov.uk/rowecourt
A REPORT has shown Reading Borough Council overpaid a care provider by more than £1m in July 2021. Presented to the council’s audit and governance committee on Wednesday, January 25, the report shows how an inflationary increase to a care provider was incorrectly calculated and resulted in an overpayment of £1.19m. Despite the money being fully recovered, and no fraud taking place, the report shows weaknesses in how adult social care providers are paid. Seona Douglas, director of adult social care, said: “We are very concerned about this issue and while this is an isolated case which was the direct result of human imputing error, it is very clear that it would have been captured if the correct checks and balances had been in place.” The report details that the error occurred at a time when the council was under acute strain due to the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time, the council was keen to make sure all partners were paid promptly so they didn’t encounter cash flow problems which could affect the care being provided. Ms. Douglas continued: “Work on improving processes as detailed in the action plan has already begun with a particular emphasis on the development of automated systems to make it easier to identify potential future anomalies prior to payment.” The council has also advised that plans are now in place to ensure senior management has complete oversight of any rate increases. “Reading Borough Council and the council leader rightly place great emphasis on transparency in these matters and I thank the council’s internal audit team for their proactive approach in identifying areas for improvement,” said Ms Douglas
READING TODAY Family Notices Your wording
Classification (please tick) n Births n Birthdays n Engagements n Weddings n Anniversaries n Other n Death n In memory
YOUR CONTACT DETAILS Name Address
Advert sizes n 5cm by 1 column – 40 words £30 inc VAT n 3cm by 2 column – 50 words £36 inc VAT Postcode n 4cm by 2 column – 60 words £48 inc VAT n 5cm by 2 column – 80 words £60 inc VAT n 6cm by 2 column – 100 words £72 INC VAT Email n Photo – add £5 inc VAT (email only) DEADLINE IS MONDAY AT 5PM FOR THAT WEEK’S PAPER
Phone number
Send your forms to: Family notices, Reading Today, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS. Please enclose payment by cheque, made out to The Wokingham Paper Ltd. Payments may also be made by card over the phone.
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
ANIMAL RESCUE
Owl’s that for a lucky escape
SAFE: Luna the Tawny owl Picture: Tina Cleary Photography By DANIEL BLACKHAM dblackham@rdg.today A TAWNY Owl has been rescued from a stretch of the River Thames near Reading.
The owl, nicknamed Luna, was found entangled in a discarded fishing line and suspended from a tree over the icy river at Mapledurham Lock in Purley-onThames. Photographer, Tina Cleary, noticed the bird when on a family walk and knew she needed to act quickly to save the owl from any further distress. Ms Cleary said: “We were walking
HELP: Carly hand feeding Luna the owl
along the river and to our surprise spotted something dangling from the tree, when we got closer we saw Luna in a bit of a mess. “Fortunately, we managed to retrieve her using a net and, with some help from other walkers, could untie her but she was clearly in shock and couldn’t fly.” After recovering the owl, Ms Cleary contacted Carly Åhlén of Gabo Wildlife, a self-funded foundation focussed on rehabilitating injured animals such as owls, birds of prey and swans. Miss Åhlén made the two-hour journey from Kent to collect Luna and diagnosed an injury to the
bird’s right-wing. Tawny owls pair off from oneyear-old and usually remain in a monogamous relationship for life in an established territory so it was imperative Luna made a swift recovery and was returned to the same location she was rescued. After two-weeks of rehabilitation Luna received the green-light to return home and, after some preflight checks, made the journey back to Berkshire. Miss Åhlén invited Ms Cleary and her family along to witness the release which took place on the evening of Friday, January 21. “Luna has warmed all our hearts
Man assaulted with ‘knife’ in GBH as he left Reading branch of Nando’s A MAN who was assaulted by an attacker brandishing a ‘bladed article’ in Reading on Friday night was taken to hospital for treatment. Thames Valley Police said they are treating it as assault occasioning GBH. The incident took place around 10.10pm on Friday, January 28, at Reading Gate Retail Park. A man got out of the passenger seat of a white van, approaching a man as he came out of the branch of Nando’s. The victim, a man in his 30s, was attacked, leaving him with cuts to the face and head. He was taken to the
Royal Berkshire Hospital, but has since been discharged. The attacker got back into the van, which is thought to have black roof bars. He is described as quite tall and wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a dark top. Police believe he used a bladed article that could have been a knife in the attack. Investigating officer Detective Grace Dooey, based at Reading police station, said: “This assault happened in the evening and CCTV shows several witnesses walking past. “I am confident that someone will have witnessed
what happened, so I am appealing to anybody who saw this to get in touch with police. “I would be particularly keen to hear from anybody who was driving in the area or parked in the carpark and may have dash-cam footage, or who witnessed the offender getting into or out of the white van. “Anyone with information should call us on 101 or make a report online, quoting reference number 43220042150. “Or you can report information completely anonymously by calling the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.”
and it was really lovely to see her back where she belongs,” said Ms Cleary Miss Åhlén added: “She flew nice and strong, after disappearing into the tree line for a few moments to focus she then took flight across the river – she looked wonderful.” On this occasion Luna made a full recovery but Miss Åhlén was keen to stress not all animals get such a lucky escape. “I urge all anglers to please take home broken fishing lines, snags and weights, you will be helping to prevent the deaths of hundreds of birds and our valuable wildlife too,” she said.
NEWS | 3
NHS dental care unavailable to many across Reading DENTISTS across Reading are not accepting new NHS patients. Of the 14 local surgeries contacted, none would accept new NHS clients but 13 out of 14 were still seeing private patients. Research by Healthwatch Reading also confirmed that only Friar Street Dental Practice in the town centre would see a person with an emergency dental problem as a one-off. Mandeep Kaur Bains, Healthwatch Reading chief executive, said: “Every day we are contacted by Reading people frustrated about not being able to see an NHS dentist.” Many people across Reading are unaware that NHS dentists are not obliged to keep seeing you, especially if you haven’t gone for regular checkups in the past. With 12 of the surgeries unable to confirm when they would start accepting NHS patients, Ms Kaur Bains is worried people will be unable to get the treatment they need. She explained: “Many local people are struggling with the high costs of living and tell us they can’t afford to go private. “While we understand the pandemic has hit dentistry hard, we’re concerned that people with the most urgent and painful problems are struggling to get timely help.” NHS England has announced £50 million in a bid to alleviate the backlog of patients with the south-east set to receive more than £6 million of funding. A spokesperson for NHS England said: “Dental practices are still operating at below 100% capacity due to the safety requirements supporting delivery of care. “This does mean practices are still having to prioritise patients with a particular focus on urgent treatment.” Whilst NHS England acknowledge access to care is a nationwide issue they are hopeful the funding will allow dental surgeries to offer additional hours to treat patients with an urgent need in the period up to the end of March. The spokesperson continued: “We are in the process of approaching practices to see if they wish to take part in this scheme. “We hope that this will help to alleviate the pressure over the few months and we believe there are plans to increase capacity from the start of April, but this remains under review.”
4 | NEWS
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Paedophile pensioner awaits jail sentence
By STAFF REPORTER news@rdg.today
A PAEDOPHILE pensioner has been found guilty of sexual abuse and will be sentenced next month.
David Moyle, 78, appeared at Reading Crown Court on Thursday, January 13. A unanimous jury found him guilty of two counts of rape, two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, three counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child and one count of sexual activity with a child. The offences happened between May 2004 and November 2009, in Harrow and Hayes. Moyle was charged on August 2, 2019, and will be sentenced on Wednesday, March 9. Moyle is already serving a prison sentence of six years for sex offences that he was convicted of in 2019, that took place in Aylesbury. Whilst investigating Moyle for the offences that took place in Aylesbury, the Thames Valley Police Child Abuse Investigation Unit made a connection between Moyle and the offences that took place in Harrow and Hayes, and resumed an investigation
JURY: Reading Crown Court Picture: Wokingham Today which had been started by the Metropolitan Police Service. Investigating officer DC Collette Parker, part of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit based at Aylesbury police station, said: “The horrific manipulation and abuse perpetrated by Moyle has had a significant impact on the victim’s life. “I would like to thank the victim who has shown great courage, persistence and determination having persevered with the allegation and in her support for the police investigation. “It has been an extremely traumatic time for her and I hope the unanimous guilty verdicts bring her some closure.
“I would also like to thank prosecuting counsel Ian Hope for his work in securing this conviction.” DC Parker added: “This sentence reflects the hard work carried out by the Child Abuse Investigation Unit. “I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of childhood sexual abuse to report it to the police. “We always take allegations of this nature seriously, regardless of how much time has passed and a full investigation will take place. “Wherever there is sufficient evidence we will seek to bring offenders to justice.”
Give your kitchen the WOW factor with new worktops
We can replace your existing kitchen worktops with new quartz or corian, rejuvenating your kitchen and giving it a fresh new look.
0118 976 2826 www.roktops.co.uk sales@roktops.co.uk
located within the Wokingham Borough
CELEBRATION: The Sport in Mind cheque presentation. Reading Buses has raised £4,000 for the charity Picture: Phil Creighton
Mental health charity receives £4,000 from Reading Buses THE POPE is famous for kissing the tarmac when he lands after a flight, but the founder of a Readingbased charity was happier giving a smacker to his favourite bus. Last Thursday, Sport In Mind’s Neil Harris visited the Reading Buses depot in Great Knollys Street to make a dream come true: he was face-toface with his favourite form of transport. Chosen by the transport company as its good cause of the year, last Thursday its chief executive Robert Williams was presenting Neil with a cheque for £4,000, raised during a year of pandemic restrictions. Part of the support from the firm is to create an advertising wraparound across a whole bus, which then spends the year riding around Reading. And this, Mr Harris said, was invaluable. “The distinctive sign written bus has significantly increased our profile and the money raised is making a difference to local people’s lives,” he said. Sport In Mind is a mental health charity that delivers physical activities including walking, dance, gardening and exercise, to help promote mental wellbeing. The money was welcomed by Mr Harris. “I’m absolutely ecstatic,” he said. “It’s been really challenging
for everyone during these difficult times. “One of the biggest fundraisers is Reading Buses’ annual open day, but for the past two years they’ve not been able to hold it because of covid. So the fact they’ve raised £4,000 without doing that is just amazing.” He said that it would make a huge difference to the charity, which has seen an increased demand with lockdowns. “More people have been struggling mentally,” he said. “We will be able to set up some additional sessions to cater for the needs of those who need it, not just as a result of covid, but generally. So this donation is absolutely brilliant for us.” The decorated bus has helped the charity reach people who had never heard of Sport In Mind before, and Mr Harris said that people had seen it on the streets and then got in touch asking for support. “About 30 or 40 people contacted us and sought help as a result, and they wouldn’t have known about us otherwise,” he said. “That’s lovely from our point of view.” He is so fond of the bus, that he wished he could keep it, not least as it would help with their ongoing fundraising efforts. And he was very keen to thank Reading Buses for their support over the past couple of years.
“A massive thank you for all the help they’ve offered,” he said. “Crucially, it’s been about connecting with all those people that are struggling mentally and have learned about our charity, thanks to seeing the bus go past. That’s an amazing story from our point of view.” Mr Williams said that Reading Buses had been delighted to help. “While it has been a tough year for both ourselves and the charity we are thrilled that our customers and employees have been able to help contribute a significant amount of money to the charity,” he said. “It’s not just about the money; Sport in Mind have benefited from the charity bus roaming around the local area as well as on-board bus screens and various other activity from the company which we hope has raised their profile even higher than it was before. “We definitely wish them all the best in the future.” The presentation of the cheque, at Reading Buses Great Knollys Street depot, was attended by a number of the company’s employees whose efforts had contributed to the success of the year. And the company hopes to announce the return of its annual open day in the near future. n For more details, log on to www.sportinmind.org
Fire Authority consults on changing Automatic Fire Alarm response THE FIRE service is consulting on how it should respond to Automatic Fire Alarms. The Royal Berkshire Fire Authority is called out to an average of 2,200 Automatic Fire Alarms each year, but it said that 99% of these are false alarms. The service is now asking residents how they should respond to these in lower risk, occupied buildings. There will be no changes to higher risk buildings such as care homes, hotels, student
accommodation and high-rise buildings, where firefighters will be sent immediately. Chairman of Royal Berkshire Fire Authority, Cllr Colin Dudley, said: “We are asking you to consider the two options as part of this public consultation, one which reflects a change to our current policy to help reduce the burden of false alarms and one in which our current policy remains the same. “No decisions have been made and your feedback will be
vital for the decision-making process.” Cllr Dexter Smith, community risk management plan lead, said that changing the response could save up to 1,300 hours of firefighter time each year. The consultation ends on Monday, March 28. The chosen option will be implemented in the summer.
n To take part, visit: www.rbfrs. co.uk/your-service/managingrisk/consultation/currentconsultations
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
NEWS | 5
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
More homes, fewer one-beds council asks developers By DANIEL BLACKHAM dblackham@rdg.today
READING Borough Council has called on developers to build the homes Reading needs.
Despite surpassing their target for new homes in the borough, council leaders have asked developers to focus on building family-sized homes to meet demand. Government data shows 2,080 homes have been built in Reading over the last three years, against an initial target of 1,598. However, Cllr Jason Brock, Reading Borough Council leader, is concerned the town’s requirements are not being met and has asked developers to “do the right thing.” He said: “There will always be demand for small onebedroom flats in a major employment hub like Reading, but the biggest demand we have is for family homes. “Over the last three years, 43% of new homes built in Reading are one bedroom, but Reading needs more than 50% of its new homes to be of three or more bedrooms, and that demand
is not being met by developers.” Figures published in the government’s Housing Delivery Test show that 51 of 320 local planning authorities failed to deliver at least 75% of the homes needed in their area over the past three years, whereas Reading delivered 130% of its target. Cllr Tony Page, lead councillor for strategic environment, planning and transport, said: “For a number of years the trend by developers has been to submit applications for small one bedroom flats in Reading. “While this allows the Council to show up well on rudimentary government spreadsheets, these are generally developments which are not meeting Reading’s core housing needs.” Reading Borough Council
NEW HOMES PLEASE: Reading needs family housing rather than more flats Picture: Reading Borough Council also believe the town is falling short of its needs for affordable housing of more than 400 homes per year. Cllr Page said: “The council, of course, is not in control of the type of applications we receive from developers and under planning laws good planning reasons are required for refusal.” He continued: “These latest housing figures show we maintain that control of developments in Reading to an extent. “Although, we know the widespread use of permitted development rights (allowing changes of use from offices to residential without full planning approvals) in Reading have cost us a lot with the loss of more than 500 affordable homes since 2013.”
MAKING A POINT: Members of Extinction Rebellion hold their banner before placing it on bridges over the M4 in Shinfield on Saturday Picture: Steve Smyth
Climate protesters take to bridges for anti-road building message A CAMPAIGN aimed at tackling the climate emergency has returned with a message to motorists. Members of Extinction Rebellion (XR) erected banners over the M4 at Shinfield on Saturday. They are placed on bridges to raise awareness of their campaign against the Government’s roadbuilding plans, which they say are inconsistent with tackling climate change, and air pollution caused mostly by road traffic is responsible for an estimated 36,000 premature deaths per year. XR argues that the Government’s Road Investment
GETTING VACCINATED IS THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST COVID WALK IN AND GET YOUR VACCINE AT THE BROAD STREET MALL NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED
Strategy 2 (RIS2) will cost £27.4 billion up to 2025, and the Transport Action Network (TAN) found that National Highways estimates the extra traffic will lead to almost 33 million tonnes of extra carbon emissions. The group say they would like to see encouragement for
more bus services, and called on people who agree with them to share their concerns with their MP, or the Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps. n The Reading area Extinction Rebellion group can be found online at https://www.facebook. com/groups/XRRdg
6 | NEWS
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
Buses: mask up is still best advice
Now taking registrations
THE REMOVAL of plan B measures means that face coverings are no longer be compulsory on Reading Buses. But the company is encouraging customers to wear a face covering on busy journeys. “We shall continue to rely on the goodwill of customers to be respectful to each other as face coverings become a personal choice for each traveller,” said Reading Buses chief executive officer, Robert Williams. He also reassured people that it will continue to be safe to travel by bus. “Our buses are clean and safe and we encourage customers to open windows to provide extra ventilation,” he said. “It is worth remembering that there is usually plenty of space upstairs on double decker buses. “The physical separation of the driver will continue to be in place, with a perspex screen between the driver and customers. Mr Williams said that more people are now using buses to head to their offices rather than work from home and added: “Government funding to keep services running during the pandemic is being phased out so we look forward to welcoming our customers back soon.”
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Church launches new cafe with comfy chairs .. not a pew in sight!
The new centre is a significant upgrade on the previous cafe facilities
IN THE ROUND: The Atrium at Greyfriars Church offers a listening ear and comfy seats Pictures: Diocese of Oxford A NEW coffee shop, bookshop and community space has opened in a Reading town centre church, writes Daniel Blackham. The open-plan space, called The Atrium, forms the new main entrance to Greyfriars Church, one of the oldest places of worship in the borough. It houses a gallery displaying work by local artists and what is now the only Christian book shop in the area. The Revd David Walker, associate vicar at Greyfriars, said: “This project has been 20 years in the making so we are delighted that The Atrium is complete. It offers a
light, transparent and welcoming space for everyone in the community.” He continued: “The entrance is carefully designed to reflect God’s welcome to the world and the light coming out of the building reflects our vision for the space.” One of the key elements to the new space is offering support to people from across the community. Mr Walker explained: “We have exciting plans to use The Atrium as a way of building bridges for people from all walks of life to be welcomed in the Kingdom of God.
Fun is an essential ingredient at Oak Tree Day Nursery and Preschool where the care and education opportunities for each and every child are as extraordinary as our colleagues who provide them. FOR CHILDREN AGED 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS
OPEN 7.30AM TO 6.30PM
There is also a Christian bookshop, the only one in Reading town centre
“This includes being a welcome space for local refugees and the homeless, supporting those visiting the JobCentre across the road and partnering with local Christian charities to provide office space.” Greyfriars is one of four ‘resourcing hubs’ in the Diocese of Oxford and it is hoped The Atrium will complement the church’s wider plans. “We have a vision to grow the missional life of the wider church by resourcing congregation plants with people to preach and lead services, support for children and youth ministry, and growing the Kingdom
of God beyond the walls of Greyfriars,” Mr Walker said. The redevelopment has been funded by a series of grants from trusts, the national church, generous donations from the congregation, and a grant from the Diocesan Development Fund. Opening of the Atrium marks the end of phase one of a two-part project, with the refurbishment and expansion of the existing church centre expected to be completed in 2023. n For more information, please visit greyfriars.org.uk/redevelopment
Campaign to stop loan sharks takes over Broad Street EXCLUSIVE By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today JUST when you thought it was safe to go into Reading town centre … a sharp-suited shark strutted his stuff in the street on Friday.
RATED OUTSTANDING IN THE PAST FOUR OFSTED INSPECTIONS
“Children are happy, settled and keen to acquire new knowledge and skills. They are exceptionally confident learners who play an active role in leading their own play and making decisions. Children of all ages explore their environment with confidence and ease, and show exceptionally high levels of self-assurance and emotional well-being.” Ofsted inspection 2020, www.ofsted.gov.uk
Please call 01189 733231 or email oaktree.nursery@childbase.com
Oak Tree Day Nursery and Preschool, 13 Nine Mile Ride, Finchampstead, Wokingham, RG40 4QD
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU www.childbasepartnership.com
Sid The Shark danced, highfived, waved and kept a two metre distance from people in a bid to raise awareness of loan sharks. This cuddly creation was a member of the Trading Standards team who took to Broad Street to hand out leaflet sharing information designed to help anyone affected by the unscrupulous money lenders. Loan sharks are people who offer cash loans with large amounts of interest, without paperwork. In some cases, they threaten people if payments are not made, making the loanee scared of others finding out. They might also take bank and benefit cards, passports or valuables such as a watch. Tessa Brunsden, from
STREETS AHEAD: Sid The Shark in Reading on Friday Picture: Phil Creighton Reading Borough Council’s Trading Standards Team, said: “There are 310,000 households in the UK borrowing from loan sharks, so it’s really important we raise awareness of how to
identify them, how people can get help, and also to look for some of the ways they’ll try to trick people to pull them into a debt cycle.” Using a cuddly character like Sid acts as an ice-breaker for the team. “People are asking questions of why he’s here, and what we’re doing, we can follow up and give them the information and leaflets with the contact details. Sid is a good way to start a conversation and get people talking to us,” Ms Brunsden said. “Anyone affected can contact Stop The Loan Sharks, these calls are confidential. They will take people through every step of the process. “The hardest part might be making that phone call, but once it’s made, they will be helped, taking them through all those difficult steps and help them get out of that debt cycle.”
n For more details, call: 0300 555 2222, or log on to www. stoploansharks.co.uk. Text messages can be sent to: 07860022116.
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
7
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
RE SE FO MO RV R V E FR E BY EE 15 * TH FE B
THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FOR FREE. Reserve a property at one of our stunning age exclusive developments in Twyford or Thatcham by 15th February 2022 and we’ll pay your Stamp Duty, Estate agent and legal fees as well as cover your removal costs. This offer is only available for a limited time, so don’t delay and arrange a visit to avoid missing out. YOUR NEAREST DEVELOPMENTS. LODDON HOUSE London Road, Twyford, Ruscombe, RG10 9BW WILLIAM HOUSE & TURNER PLACE The Moors, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG19 4AU
*
Ts&Cs apply, see mccarthystone.co.uk/move-for-free for details.
SC012820
CALL 0800 1855 840 OR VISIT McCARTHYSTONE.CO.UK
8 | NEWS
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Reading makes fastest economic recovery from pandemic reveals new data n Continued from front page
Sue Brackley, Economic Development Manager at Reading UK, said: “Reading town centre has shown itself to be resilient with relatively few business closures relating to the lack of local demand. “A high spend per shopper, high demand for vacant units, especially from independent retailers, and the return of strong footfall as soon as restrictions were relaxed have also assisted.” By contrast, more than fourin-five areas in England have yet to see their GVA recover to 2019 levels. Reading is also expected to lead the charge for economic growth over the next three years with annual GVA rates expected to rise by 3.1%, the second-highest in the region. Richard Baker, managing partner at Ernst & Young in the south east, said: “The south east’s mix of sectors has meant the region, like many others, has seen some considerable challenges due to Covid-19. “The region’s overall ability to retain and attract the right talent is crucial to maximising economic recovery and business growth opportunities. “Focusing on what attracts people and businesses to a region, including access to
BACK ON STAGE: The Triangle Players have resumed actitivies with a performance of Aladdin Pictures: Dijana Capan / DV Vision
Aladdin lights up Tilehurst BOUNCE BACK: The town’s businesses have been described as resilient by experts Picture: RBC good transport infrastructure, affordable housing and attractive social and leisure space, which helps keep consumer spending local, will be key to taking advantage of this.” The Thames Valley region is expected to outperform the rest of the south east in the run-up
5am eternal: Town centre takeway seeks longer hours A Reading town centre takeaway popular with late-night visitors has applied to keep on selling food until the early
to 2025, with growth driven by IT, scientific and technical sectors. Experts believe net zero emissions and a focus on the quality of life are key to levelling-up ambitions across the country but they will need commitment from the government.
hours of the morning. Zorba’s Shisa and Kebab in Station Road already has permission to serve food until 3am. It has submitted a licensing application to Reading Borough Council to serve food until 5am. As well as kebabs and pitta, its menu includes burgers, chicken nuggets and chips.
Rohan Malik, managing partner for markets and accounts at Ernst & Young said: “Long-term ambitions and sustained, coordinated action are needed to balance growth. “The right actions now will bear fruit eventually, but policymakers need to be in this for the long haul.”
PANTO is back and it’s lighting up Tilehurst this weekend. The Triangle Players have returned to the stage for their latest show, Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp. The show tells the story of an orphan boy who falls in love with a princess, and then tries to woo her. Along the way, he is tricked into a magical cave, finds a special lamp, gives it a rub and discovers a genie along the way. The show had its first
performances last weekend, and is back for three more performances this weekend. It takes place at the Methodist Church Hall in School Road in the village. Curtain up is at 7.30pm on Friday and Saturday, and a matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm. The shows have nearly sold out as we went to press. For more details, call the box office on 0118 942 7431, or log on to triangleplayers.co.uk
The licensing application was submitted by Matthew Joannou, the owner of Zorba’s. Although facing on to Station Road, Zorba’s is located just within the Harris Arcade, a place where it has occupied for over two decades. Anyone who wants to make representations should do so by emailing licensing@reading.gov.uk by Monday, February 14.
Covid rates on the rise with 2,593 positive tests CORONAVIRUS infection rates in Reading borough are rising once more. On Monday, 2,593 people in the borough tested positive for Covid-19. Infection rates have been climbing since mid-January, with the weekly rate per 100,000 people now sitting at 1,720.1. In neighbouring Wokingham, 2,021 people in the borough tested positive for the virus on Monday, bringing its infection rate to 1,829.3 — this is the highest in Berkshire. In Bracknell Forest, there were 1,583 positive cases on Monday, with an infection rate of 1,499.6. In Windsor and Maidenhead, there were 1,755 positive cases on Monday, bringing its infection rate to 1,486.7. In West Berkshire, there were 1,372, the lowest in the county, with an infection rate of 1,175. And in
PICTURE: Daniel Twal from Pixabay
Slough, there were 2,658 new cases, with a rate of infection of 1,525.6. It comes as the country moved to “Plan A” and face masks were no longer mandatory inside shops. Home working is also no longer advised by the Government.
NEWS | 9
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
Cancer charity founder ‘optimistic’ on its future EXCLUSIVE By NATALIE BURTON nburton@wokingham.today
W
ell hello February! Welcome back to DoubleBarrelled brewery. Whether you’ve marched victoriously through Dry January or fallen from the wagon with style and grace we salute you!
THE FOUNDER of a national charity said that she is “defiantly optimistic” about her organisation’s post-pandemic recovery, including this year’s MoonWalk events.
Nina Barough, of Walk the Walk, said that the pandemic has had a devastating effect on cancer patients and the charity sector. Ms Barough has lived in Wokingham with her family for 20 years, arriving soon after she founded the charity. Ahead of World Cancer Day, which falls on Friday, Ms Barough explained how the response to the pandemic has left cancer patients feeling isolated and anxious. “Everyone’s focus was understandably on covid and it took people a while to pick up on the wider effects,” she said. “For cancer patients, it was a perfect storm. “Treatments were delayed or cancelled, and the support networks which were in place prior to March 2020 suddenly weren’t there or much harder to access.” The charity gave out emergency grants to several groups, which often enabled them to set up websites and online services. “The costs involved in setting up these services were significant, and then there are the running costs,” Ms Barough said. “For example, it costs around £55 per one-to-one counselling session, even online.” At the same time as demand on the charity’s grant making pot was increasing, its income sharply declined. Fundraising events which would normally be expected to boost the charity’s funds did not take place. This meant that, like many charities, Walk the Walk had to make redundancies in order to survive. The effect on services for cancer patients has also been severe. “Many services which were situated in or near hospitals have closed,” she explained. “It is vital that people support charities such as Walk the Walk to help turn this situation around. “We are seeing that people are now determined to get involved with raising money for us again, which is fantastic.”
And if you haven’t heard of us before – welcome, we are Double-Barrelled: Tilehurst’s favourite independent, familyowned microbrewery. Come and find us on Stadium Way just off Portman Road! February is one of our favourite months of the year – full of optimism for the year ahead, this is when our brewhouse shifts up a gear and our onsite bar – The Taproom – comes to life with new and exciting events! Here is our handy guide for all things DB in February: LOOKING FORWARD: Walk the Walk founder and chief executive, Nina Barough. Below: Some of the participants in an event Main picture: Stuart Nicol Photography One of the most dramatic effects of the pandemic was that, by the end of 2020, approximately 60,000 people had not come forward with symptoms of cancer, compared to a numbers in a normal year. This has meant that many have gone on to develop secondary cancers. Their prognosis is quite different to what it would have been if cancer had been detected earlier. This also puts additional demand on services already under pressure. “A colleague of mine who researches cancer said that all the progress made into early diagnosis and treatment has been now put back by between five to 10 years,” Ms Barough added. She set up Walk the Walk in 1996 after having the idea to power walk a marathon in a bra to raise money for breast cancer. The charity organises events all over the world, including the famous MoonWalk which sees participants walk overnight marathons in uniquely decorated bras. Funds raised by the charity are used to support research in to secondary breast cancer and smaller local charities across the UK which support cancer
patients in their own communities. Walk the Walk also provided grants to buy scalp coolers for Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and Wexham Park Hospital, Slough. Scalp coolers help those undergoing chemotherapy to keep their hair while in treatment. This year’s MoonWalk London live event takes place overnight on Saturday, May 14, to Sunday, May 15. The charity is also running a virtual event, so that people can take part in their community during Saturday daytime. Ms Barough said that by running both events “everyone can get involved.” “One of the few positives of the pandemic was that the platforms now exist to be able to offer a virtual option,” she added. “It also got people out walking who had never really done it before, and they realised that they feel better for it physically and emotionally. “Seeing people recognise the benefits of walking has been a joy. “So I’m really excited for this year’s event, it’s the first one in two years and it’s going to be amazing.”
New beers! We love brewing big flavourful hoppy beers at Double-Barrelled, and this month is no exception. Specialising in the contemporary “New England” style of brewing Pale Ales, our beers use mountains of the finest hops available – Luci and Mike, co-founders but you won’t find bitterness here, just bags of tropical fruit flavours with a riot of sweet citrus notes. And all our beers are 100% unfiltered (or unfined in brewer’s language) giving them a luminous hazy appearance. Hitting the pumps this weekend at the Taproom is our latest double bill of hoppy delights: Sessionable Pale Ale “Hanging Pictures on My Wall” – perfect for quaffing with friends, or if you want to turn things up to 11 try our new IPA “Conjunction Junction” full of sticky fruit cocktail flavours – delish! Want to get your hands on our freshest releases but can’t make it down to the Taproom? Visit our online shop at doublebarrelled.co.uk for our free local Friday delivery service for all spends over £30! Events at The Taproom! Sunday 6th February sees the return of Reading’s Indie Market to the brewery – transforming our brewery space into Reading’s premier pop-up indoor market hall! We love playing host to the Ding’s favourite crafters, bakers (candle stick makers?) for a fun day of celebrating all the amazing small, independent businesses on our doorstep and in our community. Join us for a leisurely peruse from pot plants to sourdough and all the way to jewellery and jams – all of course with a brewery fresh pint in hand! Looking to make a day out of it? Sounds like a plan – with artisan coffee from our friends at Anonymous Coffee, and middle-eastern street food boxes from Fink we’ll keep you fed and watered from 12 – 5pm. Want to find out more about Reading’s best kept secret (for now!)? Follow us online on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or head over to our website for more information about our latest beers, events and more!
n For more information, visit: walkthewalk.org
Warning after cold callers reported to police COLD callers that could be rogue traders have been reported in the Woodley area. Thames Valley Police said that these doorstep traders call unexpectedly, and offer goods or services that residents have not asked for. These can include pressure washing driveways, tree surgeon services, garden clearances, roof repairs, guttering works and driveways works.
Officers said that genuine, reputable tradespeople do not need to find work in this way. Residents who buy goods or pay for work are likely to be targeted again. Cold Calling can also be a cover for persons planning more serious offences such as distraction burglary, car crime or ‘bogus official’ offences such as pretending to be from the Water Board
and needing to fix a leak, where entry is gained to a house by deception in order to steal while the occupant is distracted. To help, mitigate the problems, Thames Valley Police advises people not to agree to work or sign up to anything on the spot. Don’t feel pressured to buy anything. At no point should you go to a bank or cashpoint with a
trader, this is not something a legitimate business would do. Anyone who have vulnerable friends, neighbours or family members are encouraged to check in on them. Any suspicious activity can be reported via 101, while if a crime is progress, it can be reported via 999. If possible, note descriptions of the suspects.
UNIT
20
STADIUM
WAY,
READING,
RG30
6BX
WWW.DOUBLEBARRELLED.CO.UK EMAIL
US:
CHEERS@DOUBLEBARRELLED.CO.UK CALL
US:
0118
F O L L O W
942
8390
U S
FB|IG|@DOUBLEBARRELLEDBREWERY TW|@DBBREWERY
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
NEWS | 11
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Grant for long-term affordable home plan By DANIEL BLACKHAM dblackham@rdg.today FUNDING to create a long-term plan for affordable housing has been awarded to Reading Borough Council.
The £25,000 grant will be used to secure expert advice and provide solutions to housing challenges facing the town. Reading’s award was announced among 30 successful projects, supporting 90 councils, that form the Local Government Association’s Housing Advisers Programme 2021/22. The programme aims to support councils to improve performance and become more efficient and effective in delivering for their residents. Cllr Ellie Emberson, lead member for housing at the council, said: “We are delighted to be recipients of funding through the Local Government Association’s Housing Advisers Programme.” The council currently has plans to build more than 300 new in the next three years including sheltered housing, homes for key workers and supported accommodation for those with mental health needs. The Wokingham and However, with all council
BUILD FOR THE FUTURE: A £25,000 grant will help Reading Borough Council improve its social housing offer to residents
MESSAGES: Young artists showcasing their work in Reading last week Picture: Phil Creighton
Young artists share their activism messages across Reading
owned sites suitable for housing over 300 new homes in three development already included years.” She continued: “This in that programme, a further blueprint is required to continue additional funding will make a ART by young adults is brightening providing affordable housing by real difference in enabling us to up Reading’s streets, and it comes enhancing and replacing older continue our ambitious plans, with a heart. homes, while making them utilising independent expertise The Beauty In The Streets is more environmentally friendly which, combined with our a new project curated by Jelly, own innovation, will help to teaming up people aged 16 to 25 and sustainable. Cllr Emberson explained: regenerate the existing housing with two artist activists. The aim “Reading Borough Council stock in Reading.” is to help them understand how The next affordable homes to use creativity in activism. already works creatively and diligently to provide the highest nearing completion in Reading Together the group made quality affordable homes for are situated on Lyndhurst hand printed campaign posters our residents, as demonstrated Street and 18 families are set to and curated a public exhibition Reading Todayplans Paper_ move in shortly. by our ambitious to build265X160mm_HalfPage_MARCH_event_2022_V2 at Jelly studios in Broad Street,
KIND HEARTS
and across the Reading Buses network. Last week, the work went on display on the Reading Lights billboard at the plaza outside Reading Train Station, thanks to Maxx Media. One of the participants, Shareece Clayton, said: “I think it made me realise how wonderful and powerful outdoor art can be, saying your messages out loud and feeling heard.
“It was empowering to be with other young people, to be supported and my message felt true to how I was that day. It has inspired me to think about further messages.” The project was made possible through funding from Arts Council England, facilitated by Laura De Moxom and Suzanne Stallard with support from Jelly. The exhibition can still be seen at Jelly, until March 20.
FIERCE MINDS STRONG SPIRITS
OPEN MORNING Friday 4 March
BOOK TODAY:
qas.org.uk
Queen Anne’s is an independent school for girls aged 11 to 18 Day and boarding, Full and flexi options
A Microsoft Showcase School
An extensive local transport network
12 | NEWS
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
Newly born char
Another view Neil Coupe
By NATALIE BURTON nburton@wokingham.today A NEW charity has been set up to provide essential items for babies and families who are in need across the Reading and Wokingham area.
From Watergate to Partygate
I
WAS recently listening to an interview with Carl Bernstein, who came to prominence as being one of the two reporters most heavily involved in exposing the Watergate scandal in the 1970s.
He was speaking about being on television a few years ago when he said that the main problem with the President was that he was a ‘serial liar’. He stopped momentarily, incredulous at what he had said. He reflected, and concluded, yes, he meant what he had said. The most powerful man in the world was a ‘serial liar’. Yet no-one in the room demurred. Not an eyebrow was raised. In 2009, Obama was addressing Congress when someone shouted ‘You lie’, and there was an audible gasp of astonishment. The President was stopped in his tracks. This was considered totally disrespectful and the heckler was forced to make an immediate and unreserved apology. It was also worldwide news, as it was so shocking. At what stage over the past decade did it become OK for certain leaders to be blatantly and unrepentantly dishonest? Surely the one basic requirement is for us to be able to trust our leaders to be prepared to tell the truth as they see it. In the past, we may have been unhappy if certain electoral promises had not been kept, or if things had not gone to plan due to changing circumstances, but a leader blatantly telling untruths would have once been a source of shock and outrage. It would have seemed as far-fetched as the Queen suddenly starting to advertise baked beans. So from Watergate to ‘Partygate’. Many words have been uttered on this subject, and there have rightly been comparisons made between the events in Downing Street and the rules that the general public were adhering to at the same time, often at personally very difficult times. Stripping away the emotion, the most remarkable thing, as someone pointed out on Twitter, is how the narrative developed. The truth developed gradually from ‘there was no party’, ‘it wasn’t exactly a party’, ‘well not an organised one’, ‘I didn’t realised it was against the rules, ‘I didn’t know the rules’, ‘ah Ok I wrote the rules but I thought it was a business meeting’, ‘I apologise but I don’t know who I am apologising to, or why’, ending up with ‘Wait for Sue Gray’. And the Police’ This reminds me of teenagers trying to explain away the debris from a party that had obviously occurred when their parents were away. ‘No there was no party’, ‘it was just a few friends for pre’s’ ‘It wasn’t a party it was a gathering’, ending up with ‘yes it was a party but you said I could have one’ Surely common sense tells you that when there are lots of people involved, there are individuals with grievances, and everything is recorded either through entry cards or on mobile phones, the best policy must be to simply own up. The whole furore could have been wrapped up before Christmas, and we would not have had the bizarre drip drip of more and more allegations coming out, when surely everyone must agree that there are many far more important issues for the Government to be grappling with. One of the first rules of politics is that the subsequent cover-up becomes more of an issue than the original misdemeanour, so fess up and tell the truth. This is also not a bad life lesson for our teenagers or any of us to reflect upon.
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, February 2, 2022
FAREWELL: A fitting tribute to Alehouse regular Merry, whose final wish was to have a brew named in his honour Picture: Ian Wisdom
Alehouse regular’s dying wish fulfilled by friends A SPECIAL beer has been brewed to fulfil an Alehouse regular’s final wish, writes Natalie Burton. The Merry Gardener was created in honour of Meredith Gaultier by Elusive Brewing and Ian Wisdom, Twyford Beer Festival organiser. Mr Gaultier, known as Merry, died last week from throat cancer. As well as being a long-time punter at The Alehouse in Reading town centre, Merry was a regular member of Team Tango, the nickname used for stewarding staff at Reading Beer Festival. He was also a volunteer Twyford Beer Festival. Ian Wisdom was asked by Merry to brew the beer for a celebration of his life, to be held at The Alehouse in Broad Street later this month. “He was a very private man, I never knew his surname” Ian explains. “But the beer and its name The Merry Gardener was his idea. “He was a horticulturalist and gardener who once worked at Windsor Great Park.” Merry moved into the Reading area from north-west England for work. In the final stages of
his illness, he was cared for at St Richard’s Hospice, Worcester. All proceeds from pints sold from the cask of beer, a classic bitter featuring cascade hops from Herefordshire, will be donated to the hospice. Andy Parker, managing director of Elusive, says that the brewery is pleased to be donating proceeds to St Richard’s. “We were very happy to be involved in raising money for the hospice which looked after Merry, he was a familiar face to many on the local beer festival circuit,” he says. The Alehouse manager Karl Mellors agrees, saying: “Merry was an Alehouse regular well before I started drinking in here, let alone running the pub. “He was a lovely bloke who lived up to his name, and he was always prepared to help out in the pub even though he didn’t have to. “He dealt with his illness with good humour and serenity.” The barrel is now conditioning ahead of Merry’s wake. His funeral takes place in Worcester on Monday, February 21.
The train now arriving is heading to The Lexicon ALL ABOARD! A popular charity event is returning to Bracknell for half-term, and it’s sure to be a hit with all ages. The Lexicon Charity Express is a land train that will pick up passengers from just outside Yi Fang bubble tea store. Passengers can enjoy a loop around the shopping centre, travelling down Eagle Lane, along the High Street, turning into Braccan Walk and back to The Avenue. Sue Boor, head of marketing at The Lexicon says: “The land train is always really popular and not only adds an extra element of fun for visitors to the town centre but helps to raise money for local causes.” Trips on The Lexicon Charity Express will be charged at £1 per
passenger, as visitors board the train, with all monies being donated to The Lexicon Charity Fund. It is a contactless payment ride. The fun runs from 10am to 5pm daily from Saturday, February 12, through to Wednesday, February 16.
Josimah Baby Bank launched in August last year. Since then, the charity has helped almost 30 families, and the numbers are growing. Founder Buki Adedoyin-Benson spotted the need to open a baby bank after giving birth to her third son in October 2020. “So many people — myself included — wanted to give clothes, toys and equipment away, but existing charities were unable to accept donations due to covid and storage issues,” she explained. “I knew from my work as a nursery nurse at Royal Berkshire Hospital that the need for support was still there.” When Buki’s sister, Wuraola Adeyinka, gave birth to a baby girl in August last year and found that she had the same difficulties passing items on, the two women decided to do something about it. “There are so many charities, but there are always babies being born and we wanted to do our bit to help,” Ms Adedoyin-Benson said. “Wuraola, who is now Josimah’s administrator, researched the rules around setting up as a charity. “We decided to operate a bit like a food bank, by putting together packs of essential items for mothers and babies. Then we began to send letters to organisations which could refer people to us who need help.” The two women already had a good collection of items to pass on and began to collect donations, which are currently stored in Ms AdedoyinBenson’s garage in Shinfield. Among the potential referral partners were health visitors, children’s centres and charities that help in an emergency situation, such as Berkshire Women’s Aid. Josimah has supported women and babies for a number of reasons, including poverty, low income,
DONATIONS: Josimah Baby Bank’s founder B Picture: Natalie Burton domestic violence, loss of possessions due to fire and premature birth. Some might be one-off cases with a specific need, such as a double buggy. Others may need support later on as their baby’s needs change. Ms Adedoyin-Benson works permanent night shifts on both Buscot Ward and the Transitional Care Unit at the RBH’s maternity unit, which she continues to do alongside being the chief executive of Josmiah Baby Bank. She said that she feels a strong sense of vocation for both her job and her charity, which overlap. “One of the things I noticed on the wards was that the baby box scheme doesn’t seem to be running any more, and by talking with other staff and patients I know that many mothers do not have a safe place for their baby to sleep when they go home,” she said.
Keeping children in care rooted in Reading MORE than 200 Reading children are in foster care through Brighter Futures for Children, the independent, not-forprofit company which runs children’s services on behalf of Reading Borough Council. Local families are needed to help them live their best possible lives. In the first of a short series, we hear why it is so important for Reading children in care to be able to stay in their home town. When 14-year-old Nick (all names has been changed to protect their identity) was told he would have to leave Reading to move to his new foster home he came up with an idea. He wanted a permanent reminder in the town centre of all those children in care who, like him, had to move away from friends and family. In February 2020, Brighter Futures for Children worked with Reading Borough Council and Ethical Reading to plant an ornamental cherry tree
outside Reading Town Hall to help Nick and others in his situation feel ‘rooted in Reading’ wherever their new foster home was. The tree symbolises their Reading ‘roots’. It is a permanent reminder to them of their home town and something they can always visit. If there were more Reading-based foster carers it would be easier to ensure Reading children who are taken into care can be looked after in the borough. Jade, who is now 17, considers herself to be fortunate because she has been able to stay in Reading since being taken into care aged nine. She said: “I’m really lucky because I live with Angela, my foster carer, in Reading which means I’m close to my friends and family. Angela is a good foster carer and I still see my family lots.” Jade is now a care leaver and is preparing to live independently, but
NEWS | 29
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
rity helps babies
Charity appeals for help to treat pig’s rare condition
WPR_2022‑01‑31_ReadingToday_33x2 (1)_Just Go
Reader travel HISTORIC YORK
& North Yorkshire Moors Steam HistoricYork&NorthYorkshireMoorsSteam_D.pdf
Departing Fri 3 Jun ‘22
HELP: Susan Player at a fundraising fayre to launch her pig sanctuary. Picture: Phil Creighton
Buki Adedoyin-Benson, with a newborn bundle assembled from new and donated items “Safe sleep is important, so our standard bundles containing essentials for newborns are packed in Moses baskets, which we buy new mattresses for. “We also have bundles for new mothers which include maternity and breastfeeding clothes, sanitary towels, body wash and treats like chocolate.” Community support for the charity has been “fantastic”, with Shinfield Baptist Church’s food bank passing on donated baby items, which it cannot use. Parents of the school Ms AdedoyinBenson’s older children attend have also got involved. The charity even had to suspend donations before Christmas as the small group of volunteers who have been sorting them could not keep up. “We are still learning how to manage donations and meet people’s
needs,” Ms Adedoyin-Benson added. “And even though we started to help meet needs during the pandemic, we don’t see this ending when the pandemic is over. It is bigger than us.” The name Josimah is rooted in Hebrew, from Josiah, and means God supports and heals. It also reflects the names of Ms Adedoyin-Benson’s three sons with her husband Adedayo: Joshua, Joseph and Jeremiah. Josimah do not currently accept monetary donations. It does accept gift vouchers donated towards specific items, such as storage boxes and items which must be given away as new. These include feeding bottles and Moses basket mattresses. The charity is reopening for donations of baby items this week. n For more information, visit: josimahbabybank.org
THE PLANTING OF THE ROOTED AT READING TREE OUTSIDE READING TOWN CENTRE PICTURE: Reading Borough Council
can live with Angela until she is 21. She said: “I’m really proud of how far I’ve come. When I was younger and first came into care, I was really shy. My foster carer helped me learn how to voice my opinions and understand what I wanted. “I also used to be scared of speaking in public but now I’m not. I feel a lot more confident today.” Jade is an example of the positive impact foster carers can have on young people’s lives. Reading foster carer Rachel said: “Children who are in foster care experience so much change and loss
in their lives. Helping them to remain in Reading means they can stay connected to friends, and makes things like staying at their school and having time with family members much easier. “They need as much stability and security as we can provide – being rooted in Reading can really make a difference.” n To find out how you could keep a young person like Nick or Jade stay rooted in Reading, visit www.readingfostering.co.uk, call 0118 469 3020 or email foster@ brighterfuturesforchildren.org
A SPENCERS WOOD charity is appealing for donations to help treat a pig with a rare condition. Little Pigs at Home was founded by Susan Player, who adopted pet pigs Hippo and Tulip in 2019. She created the charity after one of her hogs was diagnosed with myotonia congenita — also known as fainting goat syndrome. Although common in some animals, Hippo is the only pig in Europe to be diagnosed with the condition. She is fundraising to help pay for a second-hand laser gun to help ease the discomfort in Hippo’s muscles. “His muscles cease up and he is unable to stand unaided,” Susan explains. “He wears a harness and he is on medication that is costly and can only help him up to a point. “The laser therapy will ease the discomfort in his muscles and help with the physiotherapy sessions I give him.” Susan was taught by Langford Vets, part of Bristol Veterinary School, at the University of Bristol how to help Hippo with physio. It was these vets that diagnosed him with myotonia congenita.
She hopes to raise £150 for the laser gun. In the future, Susan has ambitions to open a sanctuary of her own. But before this happens, she is rescuing pigs and finding homes for them across the country. Last weekend, she and her husband rescued a pig from slaughter in Wiltshire. The 300kg black boar was transported in a trailer to a family in Llanbrynmair, in central Wales who have rescued other animals in the past. “We always check that they have a no slaughter policy, and that it’s going to be a forever home,” she explains. Because of his weight, the couple were forced to use their trailer and Land Rover instead of their specially converted van — making the trip more costly. “It was nine hours driving for my husband, who has just had a knee operation,” Susan adds. Susan is also hoping that she can fundraise to cover the petrol costs, which she estimates will be around £100. n For more information, visit: www. paypal.com
POETRY CORNER Baptism I moult mundane layers; skirt, shirt, shoes and names of blessed duty; mother, daughter, wife. I shift, contorting into sleek black seal skin, stripped, zipped and insulated. The lake is brilliant blue, bathed in yolky sun. Minus three, the hovering steam makes her a watery bride. My tipped toes brace and grace, shocked with an illicit thrill to think what lies beneath. I chew gum as I swim, to feel it turn to rock between my teeth. Peat tanged bites freeze my dipped
We take in the highlights of Yorkshire on this idyllic short break, including the lovely city of York, famous for its historic sights and tea rooms. We also enjoy a nostalgic journey on the heritage North Yorkshire Moors Railway through spectacular countryside.
Your break includes Return coach travel from Reading 2 nights at the Holiday Inn Darlington Scotch Corner, near Darlington with dinner & breakfast Heritage train journey on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway Excursion to York En‑route visits to Goathland & Pickering
3 Days by Coach
only £189
Single Supplement £50
THE BEATLES TRIBUTE Live in Liverpool
TributetoTheBeatlesLiveinLiverpool_D.pdf
Departing Sun 26 Jun ‘22 Come Together and join us for an outstanding celebration of The Beatles at the iconic Adelphi Hotel! This fantastic evening of entertainment also includes a 2 for 1 bar offer and a live DJ at the hotel, and there is also time to explore bustling Liverpool.
Your break includes Return coach travel from Reading Overnight stay at the 2‑star Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool with dinner & breakfast (all meals buffet style) 2 for 1 bar (6pm‑9pm) on selected drinks The Beatles tribute act plus a live DJ at the hotel Free time in Liverpool
lips and scald my fingers into claws. Priestly moorhens huddle against whipped pewter waves. Three laps done and I emerge, reborn to the humid hum of showers, heated car seats, the urgent gulps of thermos coffee. Still, an echo of her chill in my bones.
We welcome submissions for this space. Email poems to news@rdg.today
By Fiona Dignan
2 Days by Coach
only £99
Single Supplement £35
Operated by Just Go Holidays Ltd. Coach package holidays and short breaks are subject to Just Go! Holidays terms and conditions. Your booking is protected by Bonded Coach Holidays (BCH) and the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT); this is a government approved consumer protection scheme. Tours offered subject to availability and government guidelines. Errors and omissions excepted. Prices per person, based on two people sharing a double/twin room. Calls to 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply.
For more information, or to book, please call
03332 342 527 Quote WPR
or visit justgoholidays.com/WPR 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply.
30
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Who champions local businesses?
WE DO, READING
Safeguard local news.
To donate to help at www.rdg.today/contribution
@RdgToday
@readingtodaynews
@RdgToday
www.rdg.today
NEWS | 31
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
Prime Minister is damaging the UK’s global reputation warns MP By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today THE Prime Minister should resign after damaging Britain’s reputation around the world.
That’s the view of Reading East MP Matt Rodda, following the publication of Sue Gray’s preliminary report into parties that took place in Downing Street at a time when the country faced lockdowns and other restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. In it, the senior civil servant says there were serious failures of leadership and that some of the gatherings were “difficult to justify”. It added: “There were failures of leadership and judgment by different parts of No 10 and the Cabinet Office at different times. Some of the events should not have been allowed to take place. Other events should not have been allowed to develop as they did.” The full report has yet to be published pending a police investigation, however Prime Minister Boris Johnson refused to resign when making a statement to the House of Commons earlier today. He did, however, repeat an apology for the events. “Sorry for the things we simply did not get right and
GRAY REPORT: Prime minister Boris Johnson gives an update on the coronavirus pandemic from Downing Street Picture: Pippa Fowles / No 10 Downing Street sorry for the way that this matter has been handled. It is no use saying that this or that was within the rules,” he said. Instead of stepping down, he said: “I want to say to the people of this country. I know what the issue is, it is whether this government can be trusted to
Running event returns to Dinton
A POPULAR running event is set to return to Dinton Pastures in March, after an absence of two years. Barnes Fitness will be holding the Wokingham 5km (3.1 mile) and 10km (6.2 mile) race on Sunday, March 20. Ellie Barnes, event organiser, said that she is excited to finally be bringing the event back live, after lockdowns moved the event online. “This event has always attracted runners of all abilities, from those doing their first ever running event to those who have been running for years,” she said. “Dinton has all the facilities a runner needs onsite. “And with no cars to contend with on the course, just the odd wild swan or dog, it really is an idyllic location.” Participants will be given the choice between a bespoke medal or the option to plant a tree. Runners who opt for a tree will receive a What3Words location for the sapling from the National Forestry Commission. n For details, visit: barnesfitness.co.uk
deliver and I say yes we can be trusted yes we can be trusted to deliver.” After he finished his statement, Maidenhead MP and former Prime Minister Theresa May asked Mr Johnson a question. She said: “The covid
Charity celebrates early years education week A CHARITY based in Reading has been taking part in a campaign to highlight the role of Early Years Educators this week. Dingley’s Promise is a member of the initiative, which aims to celebrate the positive impact workers in the sector have on children and families they work with. Dingley’s Promise Wokingham Centre worker Shakila said that she is proud to be an Early Years Practitioner. “It’s challenging but it’s really satisfying,” she said. “Every day, I go home feeling that I have achieved something significant because I am making a difference to lives of the children we work with.” The charity’s three centres in Reading, Wokingham and Newbury provide specialist support to children with special educational needs and disabilities. As part of the week, Chief executive Catherine McLeod MBE presented to MPs and Lords about the experiences of children with SEND in early years settings.
Sue Ryder thanks Dashers’ efforts A CHARITY has thanked people from across Berkshire who took part in a daily exercise challenge last month. Sue Ryder’s December Daily Dash campaign asked participants to walk, jog or run five kilometres each day of the month. An eight-strong team from the Theale headquarters of home-delivery wine specialist, Laithwaites, were amongst those who took part.
Its chosen charity parter is Sue Ryder’s Duchess of Kent Hospice in Reading. Roxy Dandridge, corporate account manager at Laithwaites, said that the team found the challenge rewarding because they knew that they were making a difference. “Having the team behind me, even on the darkest, coldest of mornings, was an inspiration,” she said.
“We walked, jogged and even danced our daily five kilometres. “And we were delighted to raise £728, which will be matched pound for pound by Direct Wines.” In total, more than £100,000 was raised across the UK to support Sue Ryder’s palliative, neurological and bereavement support services. n For more information, visit: sueryder.org/events
regulations imposed significant restrictions on the freedoms of members of the public. They had a right to expect their prime minister to have read the rules, to understand the meaning of the rules, and indeed those around him to have done so too, and to set an example in
Single-use face mask recycling A SCHEME to recycle single-use face masks has been extended. Home and garden retailer Wilko will run the scheme until Saturday, April 2 because it has proved to be popular with customers. The store in Broad Street Mall is taking part in the campaign. Shoppers are encouraged to drop off used, disposable face masks so that they can be recycled. The chain is working with Scan2 Recycle, a reward scheme for using participating drop of points, and ReWorked, a company which is turning recycled fase masks in to boards.
following those rules. “What the Gray report does show, is that Number 10 Downing Street was not observing the regulations they had imposed on members of the public. “So, either my Rt Hon friend had not read the rules, or did not understand what they meant and the others around him, or they didn’t think the rules applied to Number 10. Which was it?” Speaking to Reading Today after the statement and its debate, Mr Rodda echoed the call of his party leader, Sir Keir Starmer, that Mr Johnson should immediately step down from office. “The Prime Minister has clearly let down the public down in the most dreadful way, when families across the country were suffering terribly and were following the rules to protect vulnerable people,” he said. “He has also damaged Britain’s reputation around the world with the appalling series of incidents at No10. He should now resign.” Reading West MP Alok Sharma has previously shared his support for Mr Johnson but has not yet publicly commented on the report.
Jewellery stolen POLICE are appealing for information following a burglary in Rannoch Street, Tilehurst, last week. Jewellery was stolen in the incident, which took place between 4.50pm and 5.30pm on Wednesday, January 26. Police have said that an unknown offender gained entry to the property, possibly through the front door. Residents have been asked to check CCTV and doorbell cameras as well as dashcams and report anything suspicious. Information can be reported to 101, using the reference number: 43220038253.
DOING COPYRIGHT, RIGHT UK publishers invest
£1 BILLION a year creating content like this newspaper
Newspapers
Magazines
Websites This content is protected under copyright law
If your organisation...
...sends articles via email... ...uses press cuttings...
...shares articles online...
...you need a licence from NLA media access
royalties publishers Licence fees are paid back to publishers as royalties to help support journalism
DOES YOUR BUSINESS NEED A LICENCE? Visit www.nlamediaaccess.com to find out more
Supporting journalism
32 | BUSINESS
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
association with BUSINESSTODAY InWinnersh Triangle
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Got a business story? Email news@wokingham.today
A business park that is changing
Welcoming Occupiers Back To Winnersh Triangle
New partnership will help Crowthorne-based nursery enhance offering By Phil Creighton pcreighton@wokingham.today A CROWTHORNE-based nursery has teamed up with an early years apprenticeship provider to launch a new partnership.
At Winnersh Triangle business park it’s great to see the park busier as more people start to return to their offices and enjoy our co-working spaces. Research we carried out shows that occupiers have missed the collaborative element of being together in an office, that you can’t replicate on a video call when working from home. Our award-winning beautifully landscaped park and host of amenities are another reason that have missed at Winnersh Triangle. Whether it’s a workout at our state-of-the-art gym Move HQ before work, a kick about with colleagues at lunch (on the new astro-turf pitch), a chance to enjoy a coffee and cake at one of our four on site cafés during a break, or a cocktail after work at the newly refurbished Crowne Plaza, we really do have everything you need for work, rest and play. Getting back to nature Our award-winning onsite landscape team Nurture have created biodiversity areas on the park to encourage new wildlife to join the park community. We have bird boxes, bird feeders, bat boxes and even beehives; we are always keen to encourage new wildlife to the park. We do this because we understand the importance of wellbeing and aim to support our occupiers by providing a framework for sustainable and happy communities. Fresh air and green space is in abundance and we are fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful greenery including Dinton Pastures which is right on our doorstep. Dinton Pastures is 450 acres and has seven lakes, two rivers, three public bird hides, and lots of meadows. You can hire one of our Ryde bikes for free to enjoy the trails around Dinton Pastures. If you want a more sustainable way to travel to work, you can hire a Ryde bike for 72 hours. This also makes them perfect for enjoying over a weekend. Collaboration is key In the words of Steve Jobs “Great things in business are never done by one person. They're done by a team of people.” Collaboration has never been more important. If you are looking for a collaborative and innovative space to work, then you will love The Exchange at Winnersh Triangle. It is a new concept from Frasers Property across its parks that provides the perfect creative environment for the exchange of ideas, whilst offering customers and their visitors a vibrant space to meet, collaborate and relax over a coffee or lunch. Lights, Camera, Action At the end of last year, we made the exciting announcement that Winnersh Studios have taken space on the business park. The film studio deal will ultimately create around 120,000 sq ft of studio space, with one of these studios being the world’s largest fully encapsulated virtual production stage. Stage Fifty, owners of the studios specialises in building film and TV stages estimates this project will bring an estimated £50m economic boost to the UK economy annually. If you have driven past on the A329m recently, you may well have seen the studios being built. We are excited to host events again, on the park for our occupiers these include, independent markets, themed food events and seasonal workshops. Whether you want an innovative space to collaborate, take time out of your busy day or grow your business whatever the size, then it’s time to revisit Winnersh Triangle.
www.winnershtriangle.co.uk
Kids Inc Nurseries is to offer Level 2 Practitioner and Level 3 Educator apprenticeships thanks to its team-up with Realise. The nursery, which has 11 sister branches across the south east, has almost 1,000 children on its books. Teresa Brooke, director of childcare and eEducation at Kids Inc Nurseries, said it was a significant development for the firm, which would enhance the services it can offer, and expand the quality of its training. “We will have a mixture of new employees entering the industry for the first time and existing colleagues who will be upskilling going through the apprenticeship programme,” she explained. “The work Realise is doing with other nurseries caught our eye and we have been very impressed with all of the conversations we have had with them in recent weeks. “It’s a great opportunity to not only continue developing our offering to families in the areas in which we operate but also for our colleagues to enhance their own careers by securing qualifications.” Realise works with 550 nurseries and supported more than 1,000 learners in 2021.
READY TO HELP: Karen Derbyshire from Kids Inc in Crowthorne Karen Derbyshire, head of the early years and education sector at Realise, said the firm was delighted to have extended the portfolio of nurseries it works with.
“Kids Inc Nurseries have an excellent reputation and we are excited to help develop their offering by guiding its hard working and talented staff through apprenticeships,” she said.
Stewarts Coaches achieves best in class standard A WOODLEY-based coach company is one of the best in the country after receiving a special accreditation. Stewarts Coaches, now part of National Express Transport Solutions, has received the Driving and Vehicles Standard Agency (DVSA) Earned Recognition scheme. The voluntary scheme requires companies to regularly share fleet performance data in exchange for their vehicles being less likely to be stopped for roadside checks, or visited by officials on site. Operators undergo a stringent process of prevalidation checks followed by audits to ensure all protocols and procedures are in place and followed to the required exacting standards.
STEWARTS COACHES
Tony Lawman, managing director of National Express Transport Solutions, was thrilled.
“It is fantastic to be recognised for our very high standards,” he said. “Safety is at the heart of
everything we do and this is testament to the hard work and commitment of all or our teams.”
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
NEWS | 33
Meet police and get crime advice
The annual event sees different churches team up for one service
MEMBERS of the Minster and Katesgrove Neighbourhood Policing Team will be holding Have Your Say meetings this month. The events are opportunities for people to discuss crimerelated issues, and receive crime prevention advice. The first takes place outside All Saints Church in Downshire Square from 6pm on Friday, February 18. And on Saturday, February 26, the team will be outside Greggs the Bakers on Whitley Street from 11am. Both sessions last an hour and could be cancelled at short notice if officers are needed to investigate an urgent crime.
Letterbox theft
TOGETHER: Clergy at Week of Prayer for Christian Unity service at St Matthew’s
THIEVES gained access to a home on Elm Park Road via its letterbox. They broke into the property between 5pm and 5.30pm on Wednesday, January A moment of shared worship during the unity service 26, stealing a number of unspecified items. Reference number 43220038277. And between midnight and There was also an opportunity for the 5am on the same day, thieved Guest Preacher Dr Andreopoulos and I congregation to recite the Nicene accessed a home in Nightingale am grateful to Robert and his team for Way, via its garden door. organising the event. Creed. “I would like to thank the Revds Pads Nothing was stolen. Michael Penny, Chair of Churches and Kirstie Dolphin for hosting the service Anyone with information, Together in Reading and Berkshire, said: at St Matthew’s and for helping Robert lead CCTV, doorbell camera or “We had a lovely service. the service.” dashcam footage is asked “It was an international event, put The service is still available to watch on to call 101 quoting reference together with help from eastern churches. St Matthew’s YouTube channel. number 43220038737. “We were privileged to have as
A show of unity: churches come together for special service CHRISTIANS from across Reading came together for a special joint service last month. The annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity ended with the church gathering at St Matthew’s in Southcote. Organised by the Revd Robert Bathram and a team from Churches Together in West Reading, the guest speaker was the
Revd Dr Andreas Andreopoulos, reader in Orthodox Christianity at the University of Winchester. Hymns included We Three Kings of Orient Are, O Worship The King All Glorious Above, and In The Darkness We Were Waiting. Readings included Ephesians 5:8-14, and Matthew 2:1-12.
Applications open for further covid grants from council By DANIEL BLACKHAM dblackham@rdg.today READING Borough Council has confirmed further funds are available to hospitality and leisure businesses.
Grants of either £6,000, £4,000 or £2,667 are available and the level that can be applied for is dependent on the number of employees. Non-rate paying businesses in the leisure and hospitality sector, or those that are ancillary to leisure and hospitality and open to the public to provide in person services, are eligible for the latest round of funding. Cllr Jason Brock, Reading Borough Council leader, said: “Reading is a modern, thriving town where the hospitality and leisure industry accounts for a significant portion of the local economy. “There is no doubt that the omicron variant, particularly through December and January, has had a huge
impact on local businesses as residents understandably changed their habits and showed caution.” Businesses with more than 50 employees can apply for a £6,000 grant. Firms with between 10 and 49 employees can apply for a £4,000 grant and businesses with nine or less employees are eligible to apply for a £2,667 grant. Cllr Brock continued: “To help ensure the ongoing vitality of Reading’s economy for the benefit of all residents and visitors it’s right that we make funds available for those businesses in the sector that were not able to access the Government’s Omicron Leisure and Hospitality Grant. “It is important now that businesses eligible for this latest round of grants submit their applications within a twoweek window.” Businesses must be located within the Reading Borough boundary, have been
trading on Thursday, December 30, and declare they were adversely affected by Covid-19 Plan B guidance and the rise in covid cases, to be able to access funding. Businesses eligible for the Omicron Leisure and Hospitality Grant are not eligible for this latest round of support. Cllr Brock said: “Since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic, Reading Borough Council has handed out more than £52m in grants to local businesses, which have been a lifeline for many. “Once approved, the council will aim to distribute this latest round of grants as swiftly as possible.” Applications for funding opened on Thursday, January 27, and will close on Thursday, February 10. n For more information, or to submit an application, please log onto reading.gov.uk
34 | NEWS
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
RASPO parent company applies for licence for pop-up bar A POP-UP music venue could be created in Broad Street Mall if an application by a steel band gets the green light. CultureMix Arts Creative Industry Company, the people behind the Reading All Steel Percussion Orchestra (RASPO) wants permission to host live music events with an alcohol licence from its new home. The company took over the unit formerly occupied by the Vibes Caribbean restaurant in September last year. It is now a hub for musicians, educators and entrepreneurs who perform music, provide lessons and provide skills training sessions. To enhance its work, the company has submitted a licensing application to Reading Borough Council to hold music lessons and performances, play music indoors and have a pop-up bar for events. CultureMix founder and artistic director Mary Genis said: “It’s about having outside seating, we’ll have that in the summer and a pop-up bar. “The reason we’re only doing a pop-up bar is because we only want the bar when we have particular events when the bar is needed. “So it won’t be permanent. It will be there so we can host live music events, because we are specialised in live music, so
mainly a steel band, the Reggae Collective and other artists.” The application includes being able to sell food, and have outside seating. “This is so we can create the best experience for people who want to come in and participate in the joy of playing music with other people or developing their talents in a way that will get them employment in the future,” Ms Genis said. Although events will be held at CultureMix, a key part of its mission is its professional development programme for young people seeking careers in the creative industries. Ms Genis explained: “We change people’s thinking from, ‘Oh, I’m just an artist’ or ‘I’m just a musician, I’m never going to get a job’ to saying, well, we are doing this fulltime and if we can do it, and if you’re determined enough we can help you set up a business, access investment and funding, and develop your knowledge so that you gain the confidence you need to access opportunities in the creative industries.” CultureMix Arts has applied to hold live music indoors from 5pm to 10pm from Monday to Wednesday, play recorded music from 6pm to 11pm on Thursday, and sell alcohol from 5pm to 1am Friday to Saturday, and noon to 10pm on a Sunday.
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Plans to recruit an extra 244 police officers By NIKI HINMAN Local democracy reporter
MORE police officers planned for Thames Valley
An extra 244 police officers will be recruited in the Thames Valley. And there are plans to develop a specialist rape and sexual offences team. A speed up of forensic investigations has also been pledged by the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber. The plans have been endorsed by the Police and Crime Panel which approved setting the policing element of the council tax at £241.28 for a Band D property, keeping the increase below inflation at just 83p a month. Following the budget meeting, Mr Barber said: “These plans don’t just strengthen the capabilities for the coming year but lay the foundations for investment for the medium term to ensure that as police officer numbers continue to increase, the force is equipped to focus on the crimes that matter most to the public and deliver justice for victims.” The budget and mediumterm plan agreed on Friday will also enable a dedicated team to fast track cases, reducing delays for victims and releasing
officers back to the frontline. Mr Barber added: “Recruitment of additional police officers continues and is accelerating with a further increase of 244 officers in 2022/23 (including 13 for the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit). Beyond the national Police Uplift programme, I will seek to increase numbers to ensure the size of the force at least keeps pace with our population growth. “I’m delighted to have been backed by the Police and Crime Panel, with my budget proposal, which will have a direct and very positive impact on frontline policing in our area. “In addition to the core
policing budget, my work to reduce reoffending will improve the chances of those coming out of prison, as well as preventing more people from becoming victims in the future. This is part of my focus on crime prevention that also means a longer-term partnership with local councils to help address anti-social behaviour across Thames Valley.” John Campbell, Chief Constable for Thames Valley Police, said: “I welcome the Police and Crime Panel’s decision to approve the budget proposals from the Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber. “The approved council tax
PLEDGE: Matthew Barber. Picture: Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner
police precept increase equates to less than 20p extra a week for an average Band D property, but as a total these additional funds will help in our priority areas, including tackling violence against women and girls, investigating the most serious crimes, such as murder, rape and kidnap, and enhancing our forensic capabilities that help to bring offenders to justice. “I understand that with the cost of living increasing, these are tough times for households, so I want to thank residents for all this extra investment, which will help Thames Valley Police continue to keep our communities safe.”
Well-Being Care we all deserve to feel good! Chiropractic care is most often used to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints.
While many people turn to Gareth for care when they are already experiencing back pain or neck pain, it is extremely beneficial for patients to receiving well-being care as a preventative measure—taking action before there is pain. Chiropractic for total well-being care restores balance to the body this works to normalise joint motion, remove nerve interference, relieve stress and pain and optimize normal body function.
0118 995 2019
www.adaptchiro.co.uk f @Adaptchirouk c @adaptchirouk
The Great Barn, 8 Ashridgewood Business Park, Warren House Road, Wokingham, RG40 5BS
READY TO PLAY: Portman Road playground after £94k investment from Reading Borough Council Picture: Reading Borough Council
Portman Road playground WORKS on a children’s play area in Reading have been completed. The playground in Portman Road was subject to a £94k investment and forms part of Reading Borough Council’s pledge to improve similar facilities across the town. Cllr Karen Rowland, lead councillor for culture, heritage and recreation, said: “I’m delighted we’re continuing with our commitment to provide highquality, accessible and fun play areas for our younger residents and their families in 2022.” She continued: “Well-kept open spaces and play areas are key elements for healthy and well-integrated communities and the refreshment of Portman
Road means it is now providing for toddlers through to teens.” Four proposals were put to a public consultation in July last year, and the design by HAGS won with 45% of the vote. The selection process also included a technical and value for money assessment, along with input from the council’s Accessible Play Task and Finish Group. New accessible equipment includes; two multi-units, a large basket swing, sensory activity panels for quieter play, a sensory path to navigate through the playground, brightly coloured floor graphics and upgraded seating. Cllr Graeme Hoskin, lead councillor for health, wellbeing
and sport at the council, said: “Good play facilities are really important in support of Reading kids to be fit and active. “I’m really pleased that, despite major government funding cuts, we are able to invest in playgrounds like this as part of our work to ensure Reading is a great place to have a happy and healthy childhood.” A further £37,000 has been invested to refurbish the accompanying games area with courts being resurfaced, markings resprayed and two additional basketball hoops installed. The council has also cleared the courts of overhanging trees as well as making improvements to the path for better accessibility.
NEWS | 35
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
New video boosts understanding of youngsters with additional needs
By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today
A NEW resource will help teachers and education specialists to better understand pupils who have additional needs.
It features 10 Reading children with autism, sharing their views on how schools can help support them through their learning journey. Two versions have been produced. There is a full-length version of the film featuring Angel, Ash, Casie, Grace, Harry, Jacob, Zimal, Zion, Zoe and Zoya, which will be available to schools alongside an offer of specialist training from the Autism Education Trust. There are also bitesize clips on topics such as making schools more accessible, support outside of school, understanding pupils’ needs, and how to offer advice for further education and careers. The videos may also be used as learning resources in other public and voluntary bodies. They are available on YouTube for professionals to watch and to learn a little more about young people with SEND. The project is a collaboration
COURSE: The Special United video sees Reading children who have autism share ideas on to improve teaching between Special United, Reading’s SEND youth forum, which is part of Reading Families’ Forum; Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC); and Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), who funded the video. Ramona Bridgman, chair of Reading Families’ Forum, said: “The forum is immensely proud of all the young people who
attend Special United. This video is a credit to their dedication to improving services for other young people.” And Niki Cartwright, Interim Director of Joint Commissioning at Berkshire West CCG, said the group was delighted to have supported the project. “Understanding how to make school more accessible for young people with additional
Stereo equipment Survey on uni’s engagement work stolen in shed raids RESIDENTS living in the shadow of the University are being asked to share their views on its community engagement work. Reading’s Green Party launched the survey after the community engagement manager for the higher education facility left in November. Reading Today understands that the university is recruiting for replacements. While the process takes place, other university staff are being seconded in to assist. A university spokesperson said: “We are grateful to councillors who are offering constructive support, and gathering perspectives from others about the University’s activities. “Being positively engaged with the local community, and working to help people around us, is a central part of the University’s mission and written into our long-term strategy. “We welcome the views of our neighbours and look forward to hearing the results.” n The survey can be seen by logging on to: www.bit. ly/rdgcommunity
SEVERAL sheds have been broken into in the South Reading area and police are warning people to be on their guard. Officers are also asking people to check CCTV cameras, doorbell cameras or dashcam footage. Between Saturday, January 22, and Wednesday, January 26, thieves broke into a shed on Whitley Wood Road. They stole stereo equipment. Anyone with information is asked to quote reference number: 43220037722. And on Wednesday, January 26, at 2.34pm, thieves forced a lock on a shed in Stanhope Road. Nothing was stolen. Anyone with information is asked to quote reference number: 43220037915. Reports of any suspicious incidents, as well as sightings or any information can be shared with the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre by calling 101.
Council plans for affordable homes in Southcote PLANS for new affordable homes in Southcote could be moved forward very soon. A reader contacted Reading Today to ask us to find out what Reading Borough Council’s plans were for a site at the corner of Southcote Lane and Burghfield Road. They said that the site had been lying undeveloped for more than a dozen years.
It had previously been boarded over, with posters from Reading Borough Council that promised council homes would be built on the site. He was concerned because the area was “now home to a variety of wild residents of Berkshire’s own Epping Forest”. A council spokesperson told us that plans were progressing, and more information would be
released in due course. “The former Alice Burrows site is actively being considered for new affordable and much-needed council housing,” they said. “A detailed feasibility on the numbers and cost of the development will shortly be underway, after which we will be in a position to make more details public.”
needs is vital to allow them the opportunity to thrive as they grow, and tools such as this video are invaluable in the effort to provide an even footing for all school children,” she said. BFfC, which helped with the co-ordination and publicity of the project, operates a local Autism Education Trust (AET) hub which offers specialist
From Italy to Asia: New restaurant planned for town
training to early years, schools and post-16 settings. Its education experts who have become AET lead trainers will also be running courses for other public and voluntary bodies in Reading in 2022. Di Smith, Board Chair at Brighter Futures for Children, said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with Special United and Berkshire West CCG to spread the message that autism is a difference, not a deficit. “The brilliant Special United video perfectly complements our growth approach to autism in Reading and will be an invaluable training tool for schools and other public and voluntary organisations. “Our partnership with the Autism Education Trust will give staff working in public services and organisations in Reading access to high quality training which in turn will lead to more positive experiences for children and young people with autism.” The project is part of a growth approach to autism adopted in Reading in response to an increasing number of autistic children and young people in the borough. The full-length video and short version can be viewed on the BFfC You Tube channel.
A new restaurant serving Indian cuisine is set to open in Reading town centrem, writes James Aldridge, local democracy reporter. Preparation works have begun at Biryani Mama Bar & Restaurant in St Mary’s Butts, which is taking over the Ask Italian site after it closed in 2020. Scaffolding remains after a new sign has been installed at the restaurant unit. Ahead of opening, the owners of Biryani Mama have applied to sell food until midnight each night, and sell alcohol from 10am to midnight. At the moment the restaurant does not have a functioning website or any social media presence, and appears to be an independent. The Biryani Mama Ltd company was incorporated in August 2021, with Jayakumar Madanagopal and Laskmi Suresh listed as its directors on Company’s House. The Ask Italian branch closed during the UK’s first coronavirus lockdown and did not reopen.
WPR_2022‑01‑31_TheWokinghamPaper_16x4 (1)_Just Go
WorcesterObserver
HISTORIC YORK
& the Yorkshire Moors & Dales HistoricYork&theYorkshireMoors&Dales_F.pdf
THE LAKES & DALES Narrowboat, Steam & Sail
TheLakes&DalesNarrowboatSteam&Sail_F.pdf
Departing Mon 6 Jun ‘22 Your break includes Return coach travel from Wokingham 4 nights at the Corn Mill Lodge Hotel, near Leeds with dinner & breakfast Interactive tour of Wensleydale Creamery Guided tour of Black Sheep Brewery Heritage train journey on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway Excursions to Richmond, Wensleydale Creamery, Black Sheep Brewery, York, Pickering & Goathland
319
5 Days by Coach only £ Single Supplement £60
Reader travel
Departing Fri 22 Jul ‘22, Fri 14 Oct ‘22 Your break includes Return coach travel from Wokingham 2 nights at a selected 3 or 4‑star hotel in the North West area with dinner & breakfast Heritage train journey on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway Cruise on Lake Windermere Narrow boat cruise on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal
189
3 Days by Coach only £ Single Supplement £70
Operated by Just Go Holidays Ltd. Coach package holidays and short breaks are subject to Just Go! Holidays terms and conditions. Your booking is protected by Bonded Coach Holidays (BCH) and the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT); this is a government approved consumer protection scheme. Tours offered subject to availability and government guidelines. Errors and omissions excepted. Prices per person, based on two people sharing a double/twin room. Calls to 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply.
For more information, or to book, please call
03332 342 527 Quote WPR
or visit us online at
justgoholidays.com/WPR
033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply.
justgohols JGTravelGroup
36 | NEWS
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
INTHECOMMUNITY
Share news from your groups, clubs and societies. Send reports to news@wokingham.today
Rotary Club’s charity art fair raises £16,000
Helping 120,000 people SUPPORT: The LTC’s help in 2021 in one handy chart
WORKING TOGETHER: Members of the Reading Maiden Erlegh Rotary Club and its Inner Wheel have presented a cheque for £16,000 for the Royal Berkshire Hospital LAST October’s charity art fair, organised by the the Rotary and Inner Wheel Clubs of Reading Maiden Erlegh raised an impressive £8,000, which was doubled by the Good Exchange.
And the groups visited the Royal Berkshire Hospital’s new Staff Wellbeing Centre to see the site and hand over the £16,000 donation. The Staff Wellbeing Centre will cost £250,000, and the Clubs were pleased
they were able to contribute to the worthy project. This would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work in organising the Art Fair and the Clubs would like to thank Reading Guild of Artists, the artists who entered pieces, Leighton Park School for their generosity with the venue and auction prizes, and all the members of the public who visited the fair or made donations. The Rotary Clubs is hoping to host the
next Art Fair this autumn, and details will be announced in due course. Community members make up the Rotary Club, and they aim to give back to their community via volunteering or fundraising and welcome like-minded people for projects or membership.
n For further information, log on to: www. readingmaidenerlegh.org/ n For more on the art fair, visit: www. readingcharityartfair.org/
Sarah Shears
Inner Wheel Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh enjoy a busy start to the year WE were able to fulfil our Grotto sessions at Hare Hatch Sheeplands during December and what delightful children and parents we saw. Thank you everyone who supported this event and also to the staff at Hare Hatch who gave us the opportunity. 2022 began with our Inner Wheel Day walk and soup lunch being cancelled due to Omicron, but we enjoyed a Zoom coffee and chat instead. This month, we will be celebrating our 20th Charter anniversary with a lunch at Sonning Golf Club. The guest speaker will be Colin Evans, gardening expert on BBC Radio Berkshire. Our March meeting celebrates International Women’s Day. We are volunteering and sewing for our chosen charity The Cowshed, who work so positively to ensure families in need had gifts and hampers for Christmas. There is an ongoing need to help families in need and we will be doing all we can to support this local charity. They have an excellent website and Facebook page. Our coffee mornings, walks and
TOGETHER AGAIN: Members of the Inner Wheel Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh fundraising continue, often working with the Rotary Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh, who have just held a successful Charity Bridge Tea at Charvil Village Hall. Plans are in the pipeline for a Fashion Show in the spring and a boat trip on the River Thames in the summer. We meet at Sonning Golf Club on the third Thursday evening of every month
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, February 2, 2022
and welcome new members to join in the fun, take part in our activities, raise funds for charity and support our local community.
n Contact us via our website www. innerwheelrme.org or email us on iwcrme@gmail.com, and also on Facebook - Inner Wheel Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh
TONI TRATHEN
A CHARITY that supports the pub trade has given out more than £3.3 million in grants and services, helping more than 120,000 people. And The Licensed Trade Charity, established in 1793, helped more than 46,000 people with more than 1.7m in grants and services last year. Among the support, in November last year, it launched a special support app, that allows people to get help with just a swipe. The charity, which runs the LVS Ascot school, said that its mental health helpline reported a 40% increase on the previous year in calls for emotional support and counselling. Paula Smith, head of marketing for the Charity, said: “Through our helpline we offer practical guidance from information specialists and emotional support from qualified counsellors and in the past practical guidance made up around 60% of the support requests we received.
“We have seen that switch with almost 70% of calls during 2021 for emotional support and counselling.” The biggest factors negatively impacting the mental wellbeing of those in the trade have been reduced income, increased pressure due to staff shortages and uncertainty about job security. Sadly, more than one in three (33%) on-trade respondents have (or know a colleague who has) experienced a mental health issue. And Licensed Trade Charity, CEO, Jim Brewster, added: “I am proud of the range of services we offer the licensed trade and the fact that it is all delivered without cost to operators or individuals. “Our team delivers a fantastic, professional service. “They understand what our industry needs and adapt our range of support to meet those needs”.
Masons provide Philippines typhoon help FREEMASONS from across the county have donated to a national appeal aimed at helping families hit by a typhoon in the Philippines. The group has given £25,000 to Plan International which will share hygiene kits, including soap, shampoo, towels, toothpaste and brushes to 851 families to help them keep clean and healthy in the aftermath of the devastating typhoon. Typhoon Rai hit the Philippines on December 16, leaving almost 400 people dead and causing massive damage. Winds of up to 120mph, heavy rain and storm surges battered the islands, leaving entire villages submerged in floodwater, trees uprooted from the ground and hundreds of thousands of people seeking shelter. The grant from the Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales. Rose Caldwell, chief executive of Plan International UK, said: “We’re very grateful for this generous grant which will allow Plan International to provide essential support to
HELP: Typhoon Rai, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Odette, struck the Philippines on 16 December leaving a trail of destruction. The strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year has left survivors desperate need of urgent supplies of drinking water and food. Picture: Plan International thousands of people in the aftermath of this terribly destructive typhoon. “It’s critical that we act now to help those most at risk” And Les Hutchinson, Chief Executive of the Masonic Charitable Foundation, said the group were pleased to help. “This is a desperate situation and Plan and the other organisations helping on the ground need all the support we in the outside world can offer.”
37
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
Modern retirement living, exclusively for the over 45’s If you’re looking for a convenient mix of town and country then our parks in Berkshire will allow you to enjoy the lifestyle you’ve always wanted in a place that you’ll love. Enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the countryside safe in the knowledge that you have all the amenities you need right on your doorstep. Take your pick from a range of plot sizes and design your own brand-new home or simply purchase a fully-furnished move in ready home and start enjoying your new lifestyle immediately. Range of plot sizes available I Part exchange and assisted move schemes Reserve your plot today NE RE W P LE H AS AS ED E
O RE NE M P AI LO N T IN G
To find out more or to book your personal tour please call 01933 830054 or email info@tingdene.net
LA RE ST M PL AI O N TS IN G
t: 01933 830054 e: info@tingdene.net www.tingdene-parks.net
38
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
Classifieds More Eyes than a sack of potatoes!
Advertise
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, February 2, 2022
HEALTH, FITNESS AND WELLBEING
regularly and save ££££s Special rates for
ACROSS PRINT, WEB & SOCIAL MEDIA WE CAN HELP YOU REACH OVER 100,000 PAIRS OF EYES
4, 12,26
Our website (www.rdg.today) has over 175,000 visits per month from over 100,000 unique visitors *
weeks
and 52
Our Facebook posts reach over 150,000 people per month ** A range of other Social Media Channels and thousands of loyal readers of our weekly print edition combine to create an unrivalled local reach. Talk to us about how we can get these eyes on your business!
Reach Email: advertising@rdg.today
Phone: 0118 327 2662
local people
*Google Analytics, 31 May - 29 June 2020 ** Facebook Analytics (based on 22-28 June 2020).
DOING COPYRIGHT, RIGHT
We c ove r
RECYCLING
the whole of the
UKpublishers invest
£1BILLION
a year creating content like thisnewspaper
R eading Newspapers
Magazines
Borough
Websites
TV AERIAL & SATELLITE
Thiscontent isprotected undercopyright law
Friendly
If your organisation...
Service ...sendsarticles via email... ...uses presscuttings...
...sharesarticles online...
...youneeda licence from NLA media access
royalties
Ema il us publishers
Licencefeesare paid back to publishersas royaltiesto help support journalism
today for a pr ice
DOES YOUR BUSINESS NEED A LICENCE? Visit www.nlamediaaccess.com to find out more
Supportingjournalism
For the latest news visit
REMOVALS
PET SITTING
39
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
READING'S TRANSIT M A N R E M OVA L S 18 YEARS IN THE TRADE
M y S e r v i ce s a re : > F l a t a n d H o u s e Re m ova l s > O f f i ce & S to r a g e Re m ova l s > Co l le c t i o n s & D e l i ve r i e s M o b i le : 0 7 8 1 8 6 2 2 3 9 9
w w w. t r a n s i t- m a n . co m /co n t a c t- u s
WELL BEING
ACCOUNTANCY
Please recycle me !
TECHNOLOGY
It’s good news for everyone
Kings Quarter Ltd Chartered Accountant A Local Accountant For Local People Accounts Preparation Corporation Tax Preparation Self-Assessment Companies House Compliance Payroll NPS Surveys
kingsquarterltd@outlook.com 01344 424887 07535504252
PAINTING & DECORATING
KITCHEN DESIGN & INSTALLATION
TILING SPECIALISTS
TREE SURGEONS
GOODS WANTED PHOTOGRAPHER
111117_NG_Adboard_2250mm_x_850mm_MASTER_PATHS.indd 1
18/06/2020 18:00
Winter
SALE CONSERVATORIES & ORANGERIES
EXCLUSIVE SHOWROOM APPOINTMENTS
available
BOOK NOW GET AN EXTRA
% 10OFF
EXTENSIONS & SOLID ROOFS
WINDOWS & DOORS
TradeMark have been proudly providing local homeowners with quality home improvements for over 25 years. SHOWROOM OPEN FOR APPOINTMENTS ALLOWING YOU TO ‘TALK TO AN EXPERT’.
TEL: 0800 30 50 30
WWW.TRADEMARKWINDOWS.CO.UK Published by The Wokingham Paper Ltd, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS. Printed at Reach Watford © The Wokingham Paper Ltd, 2022
LEISURETODAY
Your guide to what’s on across Reading and Wokingham
Rewind reveals its 80s line-up
The good times are returning, and for some that means heading back to the 80s. Music fans will be in for a treat with this year’s Rewind Festival. PHIL CREIGHTON finds out who’s on the bill
A
POPULAR celebration of all things 80s is preparing to return to Wokingham this summer.
Temple Meadows will once again be the venue for the Rewind South festival. And a host of familiar faces will be returning to the stage, dusting off some of the best chart toppers from 40 years ago. Taking place over the weekend of August 19-21, this year’s headliners include The Human League (Sunday). The band had five albums and 15 Top singles and had sold over 20 million records worldwide including hits Don’t You Want Me, Mirror Man, (Keep Feeling) Fascination, Human and Tell Me When. Saturday’s headliner is Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s Holly Johnson. A main stage show will be hosted by The Doctor from Dr. & The Medics on the Saturday, and Fun House supremo Pat Sharp - who better to rewind the fun? Other artists include Level 42, Scritti Politti, Slim Jim Phantom, Martin Kemp, Belinda Carlise (pictured), Bjorn Aagin, Odyssey, Kim Wilde, Johnny Hates Jazz, Blancmange, Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins), Heather Small, Hothouse Flowers, T’Pau, Tunde, The Selecter, Chesney Hawkes, Midge Ure, Mica Paris, The Real Thing. If this isn’t enough, Rewind
celebrates the return of The Pink Flamingo Club in the Big Top, an 80’s themed nightclub, with headline DJs Gary Davies, Pat Sharp and Rusty Egan spinning all your favourite 80’s tunes to keep the party atmosphere going well into the night Neville Staple from The Specials will also join the party at the Riverside Stage welcome party. And a firework display will bring the event to a close. Other entertainment includes a Silent Disco, funfair rides, kid-zone with entertainment for the little Rewinders, shops and stalls for jewellery, T-shirts, and food and drink. The inflatable church will be on hand if anyone fancies tying the knot, while the camping area will also be available. There will also be a new partnership with Greatest Hits Radio. Andy Ashton, content director for the station, said: ‘Greatest Hits Radio is delighted to be the Official Radio Partner for Rewind 2022. “As the home of the biggest songs of the 70s 80s and 90s, Rewind is the perfect partnership for us, and we are as excited as our audience are about these incredible line ups and with our very own Martin Kemp and Pat Sharp set to perform; The Good Times sound like this.” n Tickets have gone on sale, for more details, log on to: www.rewindfestival. com
02.02.22
14 | LEISURE
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, February 2, 2022
NYC in the Ding A FUN Lovin’ Criminal brings the party to Sub 89 this Friday. BBC 6 Music DJ Huey Morgan will be throwing his NYC Block Party from 9pm. Having grown up in the Lower East Side of New York City in the 1970s, he lived and breathed the sound and the fashion of the times as disco, hip hop and funk collided. From Chic to Donna Summer, Kool and the Gang to James Brown, via Grandmaster Flash and The Jackson 5 and more recent flavours like Jurassic 5, Cypress Hill and Michael Kiwanuka, Huey’s NYC Block Party is the sound of funk, soul, disco and hip hop jams battling it out on the dancefloor. He’ll be supported by Dat Brass, a ten-piece hip-hop brass band born from London. Tickets cost £19.05, including a £2.05 booking fee. n For more details, or to book, visit: sub89.com
Americana in Bracknell
WILDE Sundays continue this Sunday, February 6, between 2pm and 4pm. South Hill Park welcomes three more acts celebrating all things Americana. The afternoon will feature acoustic duo Tu-Kay & Ryan, who blur the lines between alt-folk, Americana and roots music. There will be music from Downtown Roundabout, a band whose music has elements of country, folk and soul. Finally, singer-songwriter Alex Seel will bring his rootsy, thought-provoking songs to the stage. Wilde Sundays take place in McAllister’s. Entry is £8.50. n For more details, or to book, log on to: southhillpark.org.uk or call: 01344 484123.
Not so lovely
THERE will be strange goings-on in Sonning from this week. The House on Cold Hill is a spinetingling new play by best-selling author Peter James, running at The Mill from Thursday, February 3, until Sunday, March 26. Follow the ghostly story of the Harcourt family who move into the house of their dreams, which has been empty for the last 40 years. The house quickly becomes the stuff of nightmares as they
Channel 4’s Steph’s Packer Lunch, and with more than 10 million views of his online videos, Luke is one of the UK’s hottest contemporary mimics. Luke will try to work out what masculinity really means with the help of Louis Theroux, the cast of Downton Abbey and even Jürgen Klopp. Luke struggles to fit in, between turning up to a dance audition in football boots to falling in love with the cool guy that sits in the row in front of him at the football. Will Luke ever become the Macho Macho Man he dreams of? The performance starts at 8pm, tickets are £15. n For more details, or to book, log on to: norden.farm or call the box office on: 01628 788997.
Truly Fascinating CELEBRATE the music of the iconic James Bond franchise in Newbury next week. The internationally acclaimed BBC Big Band will be performing at the Corn Exchange on Thursday, February 10. Joined by special guest vocalists, Emer McParland and Iain Mackenzie, the audience will experience an evening of movie magic, performed in the BBC Big Band’s own inimitable style. Expect to hear classic numbers including Diamonds are Forever, Thunderball, We Have all the Time in the World, A begin to wonder whether they may not be the only residents at Cold Hill. The cast of the modern day supernatural thriller includes Debbie McGee as Annie. The novel was adapted for the stage by Shaun McKenna. Tickets for all performances include a two-course in the restaurant before the show. Evening performances begin at 8.15pm, with 2.15pm matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. n For more details, or to book, visit: millatsonning.com or call the box office on: 0118 969 8000.
Magical Maidenhead
A BRITAIN’S Got Talent finalist is stopping off at Norden Farm next week on his muchanticipated UK tour, Black Magic. Magical Bones, whose real name is Richard Essien, effortlessly combines intricate sleight of hand with mesmerising illusions and jaw dropping break-dance moves in this awe-inspiring and critically acclaimed show. His magic has been described as “stunning” and “mind boggling.” Bones’ debut solo show sold-out residencies at the London Southbank Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe. He has
View to a Kill, Goldfinger and, of course, John Barry’s iconic James Bond Theme. The band will also play a selection of more contemporary numbers from the James Bond library. There will also be a sprinkling of numbers inspired by the film genre, from the likes of Mission Impossible and Austin Powers, to name just a few. The concert will begin at 7.45pm. Tickets are £31. n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 0845 5218218 or visit: cornexchangenew.com
also made appearances on American TV series Penn & Teller’s Fool Us and Sky’s Around The World In 80 Tricks. The magic will happen on Thursday, February 10, beginning at 8pm. Tickets are priced at £16. n For more details, or to book, log on to: norden.farm or call the box office on: 01628 788997.
Ed Byrne reaches South Hill Park, Bracknell, on his If I’m Honest… tour on Wednesday, March 2. Join Ed as he takes a long hard look at himself and tries to decide if he has any traits that are worth passing on to his children. Described as a masterclass in observation comedy, the show took the 2019 Edinburgh Festival by storm and has received glowing reviews from critics. Among Ed’s TV appearances are Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week and QI. The show starts at 8pm. Tickets cost £27. n For more details, or to book, log on to: southhillpark.org.uk or call: 01344 484123.
Reading-on-Sea
A COMMUNAL Shanty session will take place at Reading pub the Castle Tap, on Castle Street, next week. Reading Shanty Singers hold their next meeting on Wednesday, February 9. No experience is necessary, and all comers are welcome to bring songs to lead, join in with the choruses or just listen along with a pint. As the singing is intended to be inclusive and welcoming to everyone, the group asks that people consider the words of songs to make sure they are compatible with its aims. Table bookings are recommended. n To book, visit: thecastletap.co.uk
Honest Ed
Giving the right impression
FINAL tickets remain to see one of Ireland’s best-loved comedy exports next month.
IMPRESSIONIST Luke Kempner brings his new show Macho Macho Man to Norden Farm in Maidenhead later this month. Expect to hear from people ranging from Piers Morgan and Boris Johnson to Ru Paul on Wednesday, February 16. One of the voices behind the puppets on Britbox’s Spitting Image, a regular on
ENJOY an evening in the company of Fascinating Aïda at the Hexagon later on this month. Dillie Keane, Adèle Anderson and Liza Pulman return to Reading on Wednesday, February 16 with their unique cabaret and comedy songs. The trio will perform a selection of old favourites, songs you haven’t heard before and some you wish you’d never heard in the first place. The songs are hilarious, topical, and some are incredibly rude, but the glamour is unstoppable. Suitable for 14 years and over. Tickets are priced at £26.50. n For more details, or to book, visit: whatsonreading.com or call the box office on: 0118 960 6060.
Cold front
WOKINGHAM Film Society is screening a Cold War thriller next week at The Whitty Theatre. The Courier is based on the true story of Greville Wynne, a British businessman turned spy. At the height of the Cold War, against the background of the Cuban Missile crisis, Wynne is recruited to act as a courier, transferring information from his Russian contact to MI6. Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Wynne, alongside Merab Ninidze as Oleg Penkovsky. The screening takes place on Thursday, February 10. Doors open at 6.45pm and the film begins at 7.30pm. Rating 12A. Advance tickets only. Members £4, non-members £6.50. n For more details or to book, visit: wokinghamfilmsociety.com
AT THE THEATRE
As ever, coronavirus means that shows could be cancelled, postponed or rearranged at short notice. Check with theatres to avoid disappointment. Bracknell – South Hill Park
www.southhillpark.org.uk 01344 484123 Hairspray. Thurs-Sat. Farnborough College Scholars Concert. Thurs. The Comedy Cellar. Fri. Wilde Sundays: Tu Kay and Ryan, Downtown Roundabout, Alex Seel. Sun. The Beautiful Game. Sun. Coram Shakespeare Schools Festival. Tues-Wed. Road. Wed-Sat 12. Gary Delaney: Punderland. Thurs 10. Conservatoire International Concert Series: Florian Mitrea. Fri 11. The Comedy Cellar. Fri 11. Pop
Divas Live. Sat 12. West Forest Sinfonia in concert. Sun 13. FILMS: Drive My Car. Thurs. Don’t Look Up. Fri-Sun. A Hero. MonTues. Ghostbusters Afterlfe. Wed-Thurs 10. The Lost Daughter. Fri 11-Sun 13. The Boss Baby 2: Family Business. Sat 12-Sun 13.
Camberley – Theatre
www.camberleytheatre.biz 01276 707600 Jenny Eclair. Thurs 3. The Counterfeit Sones. Fri. NVSDD Reach For The Stars. Sat-Sun. The Fizz. Mon. Squish: bring your own baby comedy. Tues. Henning Wehn. Wed. Rave On: The Rise of Rock and Roll. Thurs 10. Dame Dolly Does. Sat 12. Aldance: A Night at the Movies. Sat 12. Celine: My Heart Will Go On. Sun 13.
Guildford – Yvonne Arnaud
www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk 01483 440000 The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and
Mr Hyde. Until Sat. Shelia’s Island. Thurs 10-Sat 19.
High Wycombe – Swan www.wycombeswan.co.uk 01494 512000 Come What May. Tues. Kevin Clifton: Burn The Floor. Wed. Tony Stockwell. Thurs 10. Hellfire Comedy Club. Thurs 10. Killer Queen. Fri 11. Justin Live: The Big Tour. Sat 12-Sun 13.
Henley – Kenton
www.kentontheatre.co.uk 01491 525050 The Comedy Network. Fri 4. Matilda Jr. Sat-Sun. The Beautiful Game. Wed. Pulse: The Pink Floyd Tribute. Fri 11. Blake. Sat 12.
Maidenhead – Norden Farm
www.nordenfarm.org 01628 788997 Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Thurs. Dalis Chaponda: Apocalypse Not Now. Fri. The Lost Daughter
(15). Thurs, Sat. Norden Farm Market. Sat. Pop-up Bowie. Sat. The Tragedy of Macbeth (15). Tues, Thurs 10. Band of the Household Cavalry Lunchtime Recital. Wed. Gargarine (12a). Wed. Magical Bones: Black Magic. Thurs 10. The Electrical Life of Louise Wain (PG). Fri 11, Sat 12. The Dime Notes. Fri 11. The Humans (15). Fri 11. The Sharon Shannon Quartet. Sat 12.
Newbury – The Corn Exchange
www.cornexchangenew.com 0845 5218 218 Licorice Pizza (15). Thurs. The Colour Room (PG). Thurs. The Lost Daughter (15). Thurs. Legends of Swing with the Down For The Count Swing Orchestra. Thurs – POSTPONED. The Story of Guitar Heroes. Sat. Belfast (12a). Fri-Thurs 10. Nightmare Alley (15). Fri-Thurs 10. BBC Big Band: The Music of James Bond and Beyond. Thurs 10.
Fastlove: Everything She Wants. Sat 12.
Newbury – The Watermill www.watermill.org.uk 01635 46044 Spike. Until Mar 5.
Reading – South Street
www.whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060 Ahir Shah. Sat. Ladykiller. Wed. Poets Cafe. Fri 11. Simon Munnery: Alan Parker Warrior Farewell Tour. Sat 12.
Reading – Hexagon
www.whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060 Circus of Horrors: The Witch. Sun 6. Pasion de Buenea Vista. Feb 15.
Reading – Concert Hall www.whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060 Mark Watson: This Can’t Be It.
Thurs. NEXT SHOW: Tine Thing Helseth, Trumpet. Feb 22.
Reading – Progress Theatre
www.progresstheatre.co.uk 0118 384 2195 NEXT SHOW: Write Fest. Feb 16-19.
Reading – Reading Rep Theatre
www.readingrep.com 0118 370 2620 NEXT SHOW: Alby the Penguin Saves The World. April 6-18.
Shinfield – Shinfield Players
www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk 0118 975 8880 NEXT SHOW: Last Tango In Whitby. Mar 2-5.
Sonning – The Mill
www.millatsonning.com 0118 969 8000 The House on Cold Hill. Until Mar
26. West End Meets Broadway. Sun 13.
Windsor – Theatre Royal
www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk 01753 853888 Three Steps To Heaven. Thurs-Sun. Catch Me If You Can. Tues-Sat 19.
Wokingham – Theatre www.wokingham-theatre.org.uk 0118 978 5363 NEXT SHOW: Apologia. Jan 27-Feb 5.
Wokingham – The Whitty Theatre
www.thewhittytheatre.org 0118 974 3247 Wokingham Film Society presents: The Courier (12a). Thurs 10.
Woodley – Theatre
www.woodleytheatre.org 07488337838 NEXT SHOW: The Things We Do For Love. Feb 22-26.
LEISURE | 15
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
Patrick Duffy says, Catch Me If You Can
W
HAT can audiences expect when they come to see Catch Me If You Can?
It’s different from the type of plays I did in school, in college and during my theatrical training. I did all the traditional things. We went through medieval morality plays through Shakespeare and the classics but I’ve never done one of these wonderful Agatha Christie-type whodunnits before, where the plot isn’t solved almost until the curtain comes down. It’s a new rhythm for me to be in but it’s very similar, interestingly enough, to the sitcom world that I was in for seven years when I did Step by Step with Suzanne Somers because everyone is telling one level of lie to the other person and the plot gets reconciled in the last few minutes. And it’s great fun playing both sides of the character - the villain and the hero until the audience finds out which side is the real one. I’ve never done something like this in front of an audience, especially a British audience, in my life before.
How would you sum up the character of Daniel Corban?
He’s one of the Mad Men. He’s from that era of advertising executives in the 60s, a womaniser, very good at what he does but at the expense of probably every relationship he’s ever been in. He’s Bobby Ewing with no morals.
Does the play present any specific challenges for you?
First of all it’s the rigours of it. I never leave the stage for the entire play and it’s exhausting but in an interesting way. Physically I’m not as exhausted as I am mentally and vocally. So I have to marshal my forces and live like a monk for the duration of the run, but that’s OK because it all serves the play.
The play premiered on Broadway in the 1960s but does it feel timely now? I’d say it’s more timeless the way that a lot of great plots are. I don’t want to sound pompous but there are only about ten plots in the theatrical world and Shakespeare did all of them. It’s all about nuance; you put it in a different suit of clothes and set it in a different time period. The play is dated because we’re doing it a la the 60s but it’s not dated in terms of the content and thrust at all. It’s a timeless tale of duplicity and intrigue, and in the midst of it all there’s a comedy element which makes it extremely enjoyable.
Your co-star is also your partner Linda Purl [who plays Margaret Corban]. Have you worked together before?
it?
Yes, this will be the first time. I’m looking forward to travelling around the country, although this play is all time-consuming and as I say I’ll be living like a monk for 22 weeks. I’ll go to the theatre, spend every ounce of juice I’ve got, then recuperate until it’s time to go to the theatre again. I won’t get to do as much sightseeing as I’d like but the beauty is that we’re in a new town every week and we’re driving ourselves so we’ll get to see a lot of the countryside.
We did a TV movie together last year [Doomsday Mom], which was after we’d fallen in love and were living with each other. But this is the first time I’ve been on stage with her and it’s frightening because she is such a consummate stage actress. She has such an amazing work ethic and such professionalism so when we got this job together I got cold feet at first. It’s daunting but also inspiring.
What’s the one thing you couldn’t be on the road without?
You became a couple after chatting on Zoom during lockdown. Do you think it would have happened under other circumstances?
I would tend to say, based on the almost two years we’ve been together now, that yes it would have because of the attraction, the pull and compatibility that we have for each other. All of those elements dictate to me that yes under any circumstances we’d be together, but I don’t know how long it might have taken. This was a great hands-off getting to know each other. There was never a time during the four-plus months we were communicating that I ever had to think ‘Gosh, it’s our third dinner. Do I kiss her and say goodnight?’ None of that played into it. I didn’t even know what her hand felt like. But we got to know each other on such a deep level that when we did meet in person we’d covered all of that territory and we were ready for this relationship. I think we’d have been ready at any point but this way is perfect. We’re two old ponies in the show now and we blend together extremely well.
You’ve done so much high-profile TV work in the likes of Dallas and Man From Atlantis but what have been your personal favourites over the years? This sounds so trite but every one has been my favourite because they happened in sequence and always at the perfect time in my life. My first big job was Man From Atlantis when I was 25 years old; I was in good shape so I played a superhero. Then when I started Dallas it was much more what I had been trained to do on stage, playing the hero and the young leading man. Not only that but I worked with a person who on the first day of the read-through became the best friend I think I’ve ever had, namely Larry Hagman. Doing that show was 16 years of nothing
but frivolity and fun. I loved doing Step by Step with Suzanne because again we were best friends. So each job in sequence has been the perfect next building block.
You appeared in the West End in Art. How do British audiences compare to those in your American homeland? I’m gonna get killed in America for saying this but British audiences are dedicated theatregoers. People in America tend to go to see plays and shows in places like New York, Los
Is this your first time touring the UK? And what are you most looking forward to about
n Catch Me If You Can is at Theatre Royal Windsor from Tuesday, February 8, until Saturday, February 19. Tickets are available from £27.50. n For more information, visit: theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk/catch-meif-you-can/
Socially distanced films at Norden Farm WITH covid levels remaining high across Berkshire, Norden Farm is seeking to reassure movielovers that cinema is safe. The arts venue is continuing to screen films with socially distanced seating available. Its cinema features a 4K screen and immersive Dolby surround sound, while the programme is a mixture of arthouse, foreign language, event cinema, and blockbusters. Masks are required at all times and drinks or food are not committed for these special screenings. Films coming up include … The Tragedy of Macbeth (15) is on Tuesday, February 8, at 8pm and Thursday, February 10, at 2pm, with Thursday’s screening being socially distanced. Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand star in this fierce adaptation of Shakespeare’s play: a tale of murder, madness, ambition, and wrathful cunning. Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy star in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (PG) on Friday, February 11, and Saturday, February 12, at 2pm, Tuesday, February 15, at 8pm and Thursday, February 17, at 2pm, with the latter being a socially distanced screening. Olivia Colman narrates this extraordinary true story
Football takes centre stage at South Hill Park with The Beautiful Game FOOTBALL takes centre stage at South Hill Park this weekend, when The Beautiful Game arrives at the Wilde Theatre. The show is a celebration the national obsession with the sport, exploring the highs and lows of football fandom. Next Door Dance take a laugh-out-loud look at everything from weird match day rituals to ridiculous armchair punditry, and may even attempt to explain he offside rule. Made in collaboration with die-hard football fans and players, The Beautiful Game delves into the heart of football. The show brims with nostalgia and is set to a backdrop of chant-along hits and a buzzing soundtrack. And it even promises to persuade the audience
Angeles and maybe Chicago but it seems like everybody in the UK knows theatre. They know ballet, they know opera, they know dramatic theatre, musicals and panto so they’re well-tuned to the theatre experience. They’re not going in on a learning curve and I find that really wonderful. British audiences to me are the quintessential audience to play to or to play with, I should say.
Linda! Also, I’ve been a Buddhist for 50 years now and I practice every day so I carry a small altar with me. Wherever I am I set up my little Buddhist altar and I do my morning and evening prayers. That’s something I do no matter where I am, whether I’m in England, the States, anywhere. And I’m a minimalist when I travel. Give me a couple of pairs of jeans and a couple of shirts; if I don’t have to go to formal dinners or do interviews I could live out of a small suitcase.
of football’s charms, even those who are not fans of the sport. Next Door Dance are an all-female company of four dancers, based in Nottingham. They aim to create performances that are witty, relevant and thought provoking. Following a successful run at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe, the show was described as “a joyous nostalgia trip” by Fest Magazine. The Beautiful Game is recommended for people seven years old and up. The performance takes place on Sunday, February 6 at 4pm. Tickets cost £16.50 adults, £14.50 members and under 18 £10 n For more details, or to book, log on to: southhillpark.org.uk or call: 01344 484123.
about eccentric Victorian artist Louis Wain. And coming of age comedy drama Licorice Pizza (PG) has been critically acclaimed. Set in 1973 California, Alana Kane and Gary Valentine grow up, run around and go through the treacherous navigation of first love. Screenings are Friday, February 18, at 11.30am, Saturday, February 19, at 2pm, Wednesday, February 23, and Thursday, February 24, at 8pm. The screening on Wednesday, February 23, is socially distanced. As well as socially distanced films, Norden Farm also holds weekly Talking Tables film screenings. These events aim to bring people together in a relaxed environment to discuss films and share ideas. It is particularly aimed at people coming to Norden Farm on their own, but all are welcome. To take part, simply book in to see the screening, then join the group in the foyer before and after the film. Tickets for each film cost £10.50 or £9.50 for concessions. n For more details, or to book, call the box office on 01628 788997 or online at www.nordenfarm.org
Mates Rates Comedy Club is bringing Live Stand-Up Comedy to Reading W h e t h e r i t i s TV n a m e s o r n u r t u r i n g n ew ta l e n t a t t h e g ra s s ro o t s , i f yo u l ove s ta n d-u p co m e d y, M a te s Ra te s Co m e d y h a s a s h ow fo r yo u ! Fo r m o re i n fo r m a ti o n c h e c k o u t t h e l i n ks be l ow a n d s ca n t h e Q R co d e to bo o k yo u r ti c ke t s .
Fo l l ow u s o n : f: / M a te s Ra te s C o m e d y c: @ M a te s ra te s co m e d y www. m a te s ra te s co m e d y. co . u k
16 | LEISURE
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Hit the Road for a bit of social history
WE ARE FAMILY: Here’s what She Said To Me is coming to Norden Farm this February
A
BIT of social history is coming to South Hill Park next week, thanks to a new play.
Road is set in a deprived, working class area in Lancashire in the mid 1980s. But the organisers say that as it could be any place in the UK right now, the play has been set it in the present: all of the struggles and emotions are relevant nearly 40 years later. It is produced by South Hill Park’s Studio Theatre Company, and is a tour of a scruffy, depressed road in a small town. Moving from street corner to living room, from bedroom to kitchen, we meet the inhabitants of young, middle-aged, and old, glimpsing their socially and emotionally wretched lives. Director Luke Burton said: “Doing this play hasn’t been without challenges given the current climate, but it really has been a labour of love. The cast is absolutely amazing, and I have had so much fun bringing Road to life. “You can see this in the wonderful performances the cast give in every rehearsal. “The play is perfect for people that enjoy gritty theatre. Considering this was written about matters 40 years ago, what’s changed?
Across the generations TAKE THE HIGH ROAD: Road will be performed a South Hill Park this February
“Road is blindingly relevant. Combining sadness, pain and humour it will present you with tears, laughter and maybe a little something to think about.” This is the first show from The Studio Theatre Company in two years. The Company actively seeks out new talent and encourages the community to get involved to try out something they may never have done before – be it acting, directing or working in one of the
many backstage roles. The Company has welcomed so many new faces to South Hill Park and given them that opportunity to shine. The play is performed at 7.30pm on Tuesday, February 8, to Saturday, February 12, excluding Friday. Tickets cost £14.50, £13.50 for concessions and £12.50 for members. n For more details, call the box office on 01344 484123, or log on to www.southhillpark.org.uk
THREE generations of proud African women connect with each other across two continents, across time and space in a new play coming to Norden Farm later this month. Here’s What She Said To Me tells the story of Agbeke, Omotola and Aramide. The trio are ready to share their struggles, their joys, tragedies and broken dreams in order to find healing in the present. The origins of Here’s What She Said to Me is deeply rooted in true events.# It was first born out of conversations between director Mojisola Elufowoju and her daughter. They realised how little communication they shared around certain areas of their lives. This selective silence was something Elufowoju had in turn experienced with her own mother. To break this silence, she went on to tell the story of her and the women in her family to playwright Oladipo Agboluaje. Together they shaped the play into a balanced and honest piece of storytelling which resonates with people from many different backgrounds.
Here’s What She Said to Me is a play about the importance of breaking the silence on women’s experiences. Utopia Theatre says it wants the show to start and continue a conversation on breaking cycles of disconnection, misinformation, expectations and abuse. Here’s What She Said to Me combines drama with music, poetry and movement. It aims to tell a moving story of daughters and mothers in the world of migrations and shifting identities, braving life with an undying hope, optimism and resilience. The play is produced by Utopia Theatre Company, a leading African theatre company in the UK. It is performed at Norden Farm on Wednesday, February 16, from 7.30pm. Tickets are £15. Suitable for ages 15 upwards, due to its adult themes and sexual references. For more details, call the box office on 01628 788997 or visit: www.nordenfarm.org
Texas announce August date TEXAS have announced that they will play a huge outdoor show at Stonor Park, Henley-on-Thames, this summer. The popular Scottish band, fronted by lead vocalist Sharleen Spiteri, will take to the stage on Saturday August, 13. Sharleen said that the band are looking forward to the concert at Stonor Park in August, and said: “What a beautiful setting for a big outdoor summer show.” Texas have released a string of hit singles and sold more than 40 million albums in a career spanning four decades. The band are touring their tenth album release, Hi, which
reached the top three of the official UK albums chart in May last year. Their debut album, Southside, achieved the same 32 years earlier, in 1989. Set against the backdrop of one the historic home, Texas
will entertain fans with live performances of hits from their back catalogue, including I Don’t Want A Lover, Say What You Want and Black Eyed Boy. The concert is expected to sell out quickly to thousands of fans. According to the band’s current tour schedule, the Stonor Park gig is the penultimate date of a European tour before they head to play at City Park, Stirling. Tickets cost £42.50 exclusive of fees and go on pre-sale on Tuesday, February 1. The general sale begins at 10am on Thursday, February 3. n For more information, visit: lphconcertsandevents.co.uk
Single of the year for Rising Sun performers A READING-based folk trio preparing for a hometown gig this weekend are celebrating after winning an award. Tomorrow Bird are appearing at The Rising Sun arts centre in Saturday as part of a night celebrating independent venues. And last month they received a special award for their song What Comes Next – it was voted Single of the Year at the Graham Steel Music Company awards. Simon and Jen, who comprise Tomorrow Bird, said they were delighted with the win, and are looking forward
to this weekend’s big gig. “Given the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on independent venues all around the country (nay, world!) and in particular on this beloved Reading mainstay, we are truly honoured to have been chosen to perform for such an important cause,” they said. “Other bands performing on the night are Colours & Fires’ own Sophie Sheehan, and One Eyed Man.” n For more details, log on to: www.tomorrowbird.com Picture: Andrew Merritt Photography
LEISURE | 25
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
LIVEMUSIC
To advertise in this section, call Claire on 0118 327 2662
RaW Sounds Today
Angus Trott is The Wave Machine, and he’s heading up our hit parade this week Picture: Andrew Merritt
Chris Hillman
bit.ly/ rawsoundstoday
E
VERY week, we bring you a round-up of the best bands performing or from the Reading and Wokingham areas.
Quantum Pig – Statement of Intent This Progressive Music Awards nominated duo will be supporting The Paradox Twin at Reading’s Facebar on February 4. The song is from their acclaimed debut album Songs of Industry and Sunshine – http://quantumpig.net
The Room – Run This band with members from the local area were invited as special guests at the Hammersmith Club in London on January 22 by a brand-new band, Little Finger, whose members are made up of Gary Numan’s backing band – https://theroom.band/
This time round, we’re returning to The Wave Machine and The Paradox Twin, two bands that have been mainstays of our collection since its launch. We love the sounds they are creating and we’re sure you will enjoy their latest works too. These are just two songs from 10 great tunes that you can listen, for free, thanks to our Spotify playlist. The RaW Sounds playlist is a terrific way to explore a wide range of brilliant artists, discover some new music and keep dancing – make sure you bookmark the Spotify page. To hear this week’s set, simply head to https://bit. ly/rawsoundstoday and get ready to rock. There’s also a Facebook page and group chat that bands and music fans can tap into. You can search for RaW Sounds Today and it will come up.
Penelope Isles – Have You Heard
The Wave Machine – Don’t Pretend going to be lucky to get the chance to hear her live when she visits Wokingham Music Club at Whitty Theatre on February 18. Here’s her beautiful version of 10cc’s classic – https://www.harrietsmusic.com/
Sam is a singer-songwriter from Reading who has released a number of singles with a soulful alternative pop feel and ‘Done’ is his latest. It has a melody that sticks in your head, delivered by Sam’s silky smooth vocals – https://www. samhandy.com/
The Honey Pot – Somewhere Between Here and Anywhere
Rachel Redman (ft. Damian C Carruthers) – Obvious
Penelope Isles are from Brighton and were due to be appearing at Reading’s Facebar on 28th January. Unfortunately, however, their tour has been cancelled but this is still well worth a listen – https:// www.penelopeisles.com/
Toyah – Levitate She’s an iconic performer who first came to fame with some classic 80’s hits and she headed to Wokingham Music Club (WMC) at Whitty Theatre on January 21. Levitate is from Toyah’s latest album Posh Pop – https://toyahwillcox.com/
Sam Handy – Done
Angus Trott aka The Wave Machine appeared in the Top 5 of our best of 2021 list with ‘Ocean’s Brew’ and now here’s his brand new single. It’s another uplifting positive song with a feel-good vibe that just makes you smile as soon as you hear it. Angus went down a storm at Wokingham Festival last year when he had the crowd singing and dancing along. If this new single is anything to go, 2022 is going to be a good year for this talented singer songwriter – https://www.facebook.com/thewavemachine
in many best of year lists around the world but despite this acclaim, they have never appeared in their home town of Reading. However, that changes on Feb 4 with the The Paradox Twin performing the whole of their Silence from Signals’ album, from which this track is taken, at a very special homecoming event at Reading’s Facebar. Well worth having a listen to the whole album to see why everyone’s getting excited about it – https:// www.theparadoxtwin.com/
The Paradox Twin – Perfect Circles
Harriet – I’m Not in Love
They headed up our Top 20 of 2021 and appeared
The Honey Pot, who released their latest album, The Secret, on Wokingham’s Billywitch Records, which was performed at the legendary Half Moon Putney last week https://www.facebook.com/ thehoneypotband
Rachel is a local singer-songwriter who has appeared in our playlist previously and she has just released a new single with talented musician, Damian Carruthers – https://www.facebook.com/ rachelredmanmusic
Harriet has a truly wonderful voice and we are
GIG GUIDE
Thursday, February 3
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Graham Steel Music Company Christmas Party: Atomic Rapture and The Filthy Llamas. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk READING - The Corn Stores, Forbury Road RG1 1SB. Lorenzo. Details: 0118 324 6768. WOODLEY – La’De Kitchen, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3JP. Buzuki Serkan and Cem Iyibardakci. Details: 0118 969 2047.
Friday, February 4
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Lilac supported by The Minkees. Details: www.theacousticcouch. co.uk BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. I Got Soul: Melvenia. Details: 01344 303333. CAMBERLEY – Theatre, Knoll Road GU15 3SY. The Counterfeit Stones. Details: 01276 707600. EVERSLEY – The Frog & Wicket, The Green RG27 0NS. Tequila Chase. Details: 0118 973 1126. READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Open mic night. Details: 0118 959 5500. READING – The Facebar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. Paradox Twin. Details: 0118 956 8188. READING – The Rising Sun, Silver Street RG1 2ST. Club Velocity presents Independent Venue Week with Ameli. Details: 0118 986 6788.
READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. Jason Stretch. Details: 0118 926 5804. READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Huey Morgan’s NYC Bloc Party and Dat Brass. Details: 0118 959 5395. READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. Band Substance. Details: 0118 957 6930. WINNERSH - The Phesant, Reading Road RG41 5LR. The Chestnuts.
Saturday, February 5
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. The Scarlet Vixens. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk BRACKNELL - The Bridge, Wokingham Road RG42 1PP. Utter Madness Duo. Details: 01344 862912. BRACKNELL - The Green Man, Crowthorne Road RG12 7DL. Gary Roman as Elvis. Details: 01344 423667. BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Ed Sheeran Experience. Details: 01344 303333. CHARVIL - The Wee Waif, Old Bath Road RG10 9RJ. Moon Hill presents karaoke and disco. CROWTHORNE – The Crowthorne Inn, High Street RG45 7AD. Live music. Details: 01344 530615. READING – The Castle Tap, Castle Street RG1 7RJ. Across the Sea. Details: 0118 958 0473. READING – The Queen’s Head, Christchurch Road RG2 7AZ. Gareth Chelley Scratch Band.
Details: 0118 931 0232. READING – The Facebar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. The Rills. Details: 0118 956 8188. READING – The Jazz Cafe, Select Car leasing Stadium RG2 0FL. RG2 Radio Stars Roll Out. Details: 0118 968 1442. READING - The Pitcher and Piano, Friar Street. Stars in their Minds Karaoke and disco. READING – The Rising Sun, Silver Street RG1 2ST. Club Velocity presents Independent Venue Week with Tomorrow Bird. Details: 0118 986 6788. READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. The Skangsters. Details: 0118 926 5804. TILEHURST – The Royal British Legion Club, Downing Road RG31 5BB. Mystery Machine. Details: 0118 942 9606. WOKINGHAM – The Roebuck, Market Place RG40 1AL. The Midnight Rebel Band. Details: 0118 979 6486.
Sunday, February 6
BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead RG12 7PA. Wilde Sundays: Tu Kay and Ryan, Downtown Roundabout, Alex Seel. Details: 01344 484123. EARLEY – The Roebuck, Auckland Road RG6 1NY. Afternoon Karaoke. 2pm.. Details: 0118 966 7153. READING – The Facebar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. Bob Nesta Marley. Details: 0118 956 8188. READING – Community Hall, Watlington House, Watlington
Street RG1 4RJ. Readifolk presents: Theme Night: Town and Around. Details: www. readifolk.org.uk READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Reggae Sundays. Details: 0118 959 7196. RISELEY – The Bull at Riseley, Basingstoke Road RG7 1QL. B Side. From 1pm. Details: 0118 343 0565. WOODLEY – La’De Kitchen, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3JP. Ayce Abana and Yunuscan Kaya. Details: 0118 969 2047.
Monday, February 7 CAMBERLEY – Theatre, Knoll Road GU15 3SY. The Fizz. Details: 01276 707600.
Tuesday, February 8
WOODLEY – La’De Kitchen, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3JP. Ayce Abana and Yunuscan Kaya. Details: 0118 969 2047.
Wednesday, February 9
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Open Mic Night. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk READING – The Castle Tap, Castle Street RG1 7RJ. Monthly Shanty Session. Details: 0118 958 0473. STOKE ROW – Crooked Billet RG9 5PU. Kik Dee and Carmelo Luggeri. Details: 01491 681048.
Thursday, February 10 BRACKNELL – The Acoustic
Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Jenny Colquitt and Paul Alexander Low. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Tonto Popadopoulos. Details: 0118 959 5500. WOODLEY – La’De Kitchen, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3JP. Buzuki Serkan and Cem Iyibardakci. Details: 0118 969 2047.
Friday, February 11
BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Heathrow Jets. Details: 01344 303333. BRACKNELL – The Silver Birch, Liscombe RG12 7DE. Anna Nightingale. Details: 01344 457318. BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead RG12 7PA. Pop Divas Live. Details: 01344 484123. GORING - Goring Community Centre, The Old School, Station Road RG8 9HB. Goring Community Jazz Club presents Ewen Baird, Nick Hill, Howard King and Mike Goff. Details www.ticketsource.co.uk/goringcommunity-jazz-club READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Open mic night. Details: 0118 959 5500. READING – The Facebar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. The DeRellas. Details: 0118 956 8188. READING - Lola Lo, Friar Street. Love Island takoever with Jack Fowler. READING – The Purple Turtle,
HOLDING A GIG, QUIZ OR GAMES NIGHT? SEND DETAILS TO EVENTS@WOKINGHAM.TODAY
Gun Street RG1 2JR. Jewels and the Jacuzzis Details: 0118 959 7196. READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. Large Portion. Details: 0118 926 5804 READING - The Spread Eagle, Norfolk Road, RG30 2EG. The Midnight Rebel Band. Details: 0118 957 4507. READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Glasvegas. Details: 0118 959 5395. WHISTLEY GREEN - The Elephant and Castle, Lodge Road RG10 0EH. Pixi Devalle. Details: 0118 934 0886.
Saturday, February 12
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. The Enchanted Market: Spriggan Mist, Victor and the Bully, Jadoo Tribal Dance, Support and more. . Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Sound Intentions. Details: 01344 303333. CROWTHORNE – The Crowthorne Inn, High Street RG45 7AD. Live music. Details: 01344 530615. GORING - Goring Social Club, High Street RG8 9BA. Undercovers. Details: 01491 873105. PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. Sing-along-a-Nick Valentine’s Special. Details: 0118 969 98978. READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Wardour Street. Details: 0118 959 5500.
READING - The Gateway, Greyfriars Road. Dreamsellers and Moonlight Foxes. READING – The Jazz Cafe, Select Car leasing Stadium RG2 0FL. Valentines Luv Affair Details: 0118 968 1442. READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. The Turn. Details: 0118 926 5804. READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. Dirtbag. Details: 0118 957 6930. WINNERSH – The Royal British Legion Club, Woodward Close RG41 5LP. Wokingham Music Club presents South Coast Soul Revue’s Funk n Soul Party. £20. Details: www. wokinghammusicclub.co.uk WOKINGHAM - The White Horse, Easthampstead Road RG40 3AF. Jamie Trick. Details: 0118 979 7402.
Sunday, February 13
READING – Community Hall, Watlington House, Watlington Street RG1 4RJ. Readifolk presents: The Jigantics. Details: www.readifolk.org.uk READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Reggae Sundays. Details: 0118 959 7196. SONNING – The Mill at Sonning, Sonning Eye RG4 6TY. West End Meets Broadway. Details: 0118 969 8000. WOODLEY – La’De Kitchen, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3JP. Ayce Abana and Yunuscan Kaya. Details: 0118 969 2047.
No. 5399
Your weekly puzzle challenge TO ADVERTISE ON THIS PAGE, CALL CLAIRE ON: 0118 327 2662
26 | LEISURE
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, February 2, 2022
5399
Quiz Challenge
14
22
3
16
24
16
14
24
6
3
16
16
16 16
24
12
25
16
16
9 24
19
22
21
1
12
16 11
18
1
18
26
18
4
10
21
4
9
9
18
1
26
12
18
1
24
12
14
16
4
16
12
11
22
26
19 26
22
25
11
18
18
12
16
1
17 22
21
24
9 24
14
18
20 23
9
22
26 25
1. Which sporting game is started by a tip-off? 2. London’s Mansion House is the official residence of which dignitary? 3. The famous painting Girl with a Pearl Earring is by which artist? 4. Reese Witherspoon won a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of June Carter Cash in which 2005 film? 5. Which English national hero was born at Burnham Thorpe rectory, Norfolk, in 1758?
9 6
22
18 16
22
18
5
NONAGRAM
5
26
12
U J Y
4
E D R
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
E
N
T
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.
MAGIC SQUARE
REVEALS TO A SOLVER
E O N 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: 24 Good; 28 Very Good; 33 Excellent.
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).
Using all 16 letters of the phrase above, form four words each of four letters which will fit in the grid to form a magic square in which the words can be read both horizontally and vertically.
IU SG
UC
HE
TN
LT
1 3 7 8 7
9 2
5 6 4 8 2 8 4 9 1 7 6 2 1 3 8 2 6 4 6 9 5 1 8 9 2 5 3
13
OI
17
AL
5 1 8
7 3 9 2 7 8 2 3 5 9 4 2 9 3 4 6 6 8
16 19
17
E
20 22
D
S
H
A Y
E P
R
Here are two miniature fivesquare crosswords using the same grid – but the letters have been mixed up. You have to work out which letters belong to which crossword.
YE
2
3
4
5
5
6
6
7
7
8 9
10 10
11
12
13 14
15
18
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.
20
This puzzle page is supplied by Sirius Media Services Ltd.
26
© Sirius Media Services Ltd
DOWN 1. Fellow bird in the farmyard? (4) 2. Invalid going over a ravine (5) 3. Diamond that may have medicinal properties (7) 4. By containing an irritating sensation was malicious (6) 5. Pale graduate goes outside with master (5) 6. Give praise that is less rough (7) 7. Red giant sort of putting his foot down (8) 11. Quicker backstage (8) 13. Man towers over oil well perhaps (7) 15. Unfortunately I repeatedly hound the escapologist (7) 16. Toboggan left in the grass (6) 18. Loaf and doughnut initially formed into a hard mass (5) 19. Kindle a flame (5) 20. First person in France hesitantly to scoff (4)
QUICK CROSSWORD 1
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.
To try our new puzzle, Zygolex, go to www.zygolex.com
24
ACROSS 1. Cooler weapon a pop star has? (3,4) 5. Suit to keep in good condition (5) 8. Disney took first zebra to dance (5) 9. Two items on the afternoon menu – or one? (7) 10. Being timid, passed out going round the centre (5-7) 12. Chap from over yonder (6) 14. Ferryman has tea with Ronald (6) 17. Remarkably how water was changed into wine? (12) 21. Edward, going round the haystack, was deceived (7) 22. Nigel moved the fireplace (5) 23. How the gardener searched minutely? (5) 24. Some of the Victorians were put out by him (7)
EQUALISER 12 15 12 1 3 4 6 1 2 3 6 1
Hard
16
15
18
23
T
KV
DS
14 15
N
EO
EN
7
21
OI
SE
6
13
21
SK
MA
Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box.
16
17
19 21
21
22 23
24 24
25
27 28
29 30
7 2 4 6 3 1 8 5 9
5 9 2 3 1 7 6 8 4
1 4 7 9 8 6 2 3 5
8 6 3 4 5 2 9 7 1
2 3 1 8 7 4 5 9 6
4 7 9 2 6 5 3 1 8
6 5 8 1 9 3 4 2 7
WORD PYRAMID: Birthday present. EQUALISER: Clockwise from top left – divide; subtract; multiply; add. Total: 9.
SOLUTIONS
3 8 5 7 4 9 1 6 2
8 6 1
12
FIVE ALIVE AE
5
11
10. Who was the last British Governor of Hong Kong?
EO
4
11
9. In the hit TV series Peaky Blinders, what is the name of the pub the Shelby family gather in?
BT
4
10
8. What is the capital of Guernsey?
Spell out a 15-letter word or phrase by moving from one chamber to another within the pyramid. You may only enter each of the chambers once and may only proceed T through openings in the walls. The R first letter may appear in any chamber. I B
3
9 10
WORD PYRAMID
OS
2
8
7. ‘Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink’ is a line from which famous lyric poem?
SUDOKU Easy
CRYPTIC CROSSWORD 1
6. What V is the title of an Ultravox song and a major European city?
9 1 6 5 2 8 7 4 3
18
12
7
26
9 2 1 5 6 8 4 3 7
22
1
19
5 3 4 9 7 1 6 8 2
13
15
16
6 8 7 2 3 4 5 1 9
22
16
8
7 5 8 3 1 2 9 4 6
12
2 18
10
3 4 2 6 9 7 1 5 8
24
21
26 16
15
1 9 6 8 4 5 2 7 3
26
9
2 7 5 4 8 6 3 9 1
18
9
4 1 9 7 2 3 8 6 5
1
14
16
21
18 7
7
8 6 3 1 5 9 7 2 4
22
PZ1P5399
CROSS CODE 12
26. Burial mound (7) ACROSS 1. Dark syrup (7) 28. Postal sack (7) 8. Swiss city (7) 29. Tropical disease (7) 9. Ease (7) 30. Contradicted (7) 10. Risky undertaking (7) DOWN 11. Capital of Costa 1. Farm Rica (3,4) equipment (8) 14. Conjunction (3) 2. ----- MacArthur, 16. African republic (4) yachtswoman (5) 18. Open tart (4) 3. Belief (5) 19. Adjoin (4) 4. Cricket team (6) 20. Public violence (4) 5. Religious image (4) 21. Fitness centre (3) 6. Water shortage (7) 23. Typical example (7)
7. 12. 13. 15. 16. 17. 18. 22. 24. 25. 26. 27.
Withered (4) Jar (4) Vocalised (4) Moist (4) Brusque (4) Moved apart (8) Recipe (7) Obedient follower (inf.) (3-3) Cake topping (5) Planet’s path (5) Press down tightly (4) Songbird (4)
QUICK CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Treacle; 8 Lucerne; 9 Relieve; 10 Venture; 11 San José; 14 And; 16 Chad; 18 Flan; 19 Abut; 20 Riot; 21 Gym; 23 Epitome; 26 Tumulus; 28 Mailbag; 29 Malaria; 30 Negated. Down – 1 Thresher; 2 Ellen; 3 Credo; 4 Eleven; 5 Icon; 6 Drought; 7 Sere; 12 Jolt; 13 Sang; 15 Damp; 16 Curt; 17 Diverged; 18 Formula; 22 Yes-man; 24 Icing; 25 Orbit; 26 Tamp; 27 Lark.
QUIZ CHALLENGE: 1 Basketball; 2 Lord Mayor of London; 3 Johannes Vermeer; 4 Walk the Line; 5 Horatio Nelson; 6 Vienna; 7 The Rime of FIVE ALIVE: the Ancient Mariner; 8 Saint Peter Port; 9 The Garrison; 10 Chris Patten. (1) Across – Oboes; Scene; Lisle. Down – Ousel; Omens; Sieve. CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: CROSS CODE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Across – 1 Fan club; 5 Befit; 8 Waltz; 9 Teacake; 10 Faint- (2) Across – Steak; Gusto; Today. L Q V Y G K P J S B M R W hearted; 12 Rodney; 14 Charon; 17 Miraculously; 21 Tricked; 22 Down – Sight; Eased; Kooky. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Ingle; 23 Raked; 24 Evictor. D U E F A C X I O Z N H T Down – 1 Fowl; 2 Nulla; 3 Lozenge; 4 Bitchy; 5 Bwana; 6 Flatter; NONAGRAM: deer; dene; deny; doer; done; donee; 7 Treading; 11 Prompter; 13 Derrick; 15 Houdini; 16 Sledge; 18 dory; dour; doyen; dree; drey; drone; MAGIC SQUARE: EASY SUDOKU HARD SUDOKU rove; oral; vats; else. Caked; 19 Light; 20 Jeer. dune; durn; dyer; dyne; endue; endure; enduro; enjoyed; enured; erode; eyed; JOURNEYED; judo; need; needy; nerd; nerdy; node; nude; rede; redo; redone; reed; reedy; rend; rode; ronde; round; rude; rued; udon; undee; under; undo; yonder.
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
LEISURE | 27
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Who tells you what's on?
WE DO, READING
Safeguard local news. To donate to help at www.rdg.today/contribution @RdgToday
@readingtodaynews
@RdgToday
www.rdg.today
28 | LIFE
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
Sheet Pan Prawn Fajitas
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, February 2, 2022
In the garden February
In the kitchen Love Seafood
E
VERYONE gets excited when they know it’s fajitas for dinner, try Love Seafood’s prawn fajita recipe to switch up a family favourite.
This one-tray method is a super easy and can be made even easier by using a box fajita kit. For added convenience, you can cook this dish using prawns from the freezer, just make sure they’re thoroughly defrosted and patted dry before cooking. Love Seafood is focusing on how
seafood can Bring on Better Living, showcasing how easy and tasty seafood is to cook at home. It’s simple, budgetfriendly and encourages consumers from across the UK to bring more balance into their diets with a high-protein seafood option. Shop your local fishmonger for a great choice of sustainably sourced seafood and for more recipe inspiration visit www.loveseafood. co.uk. Skill Level: Easy Serves: 4 Cooking time: 15 mins
I
T’S time to give your garden some love this month by giving it a bit of a tidy up and a quick assessment of any initial winter damage.
Ingredients
Method
n 350-400g cooked and peeled prawns n 1 large red onion, sliced n 3 mixed-coloured peppers, deseeded and sliced into strips n 2 tbsp vegetable oil n 1 pack fajita seasoning n 8 small tortilla wraps n Lime wedges, to serve
Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/ gas mark 6. Arrange the onions and peppers on a large non-stick baking sheet. Drizzle over 1 tbsp of the oil and add half the fajita seasoning. Use your hands or tongs to mix everything together
so the veggies are well-coated. Place in the oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the veggies start to caramelise. While the veggies are in the oven, place the prawns in a mixing bowl with the remaining oil and fajita seasoning, and stir to coat well. After 15 minutes,
remove the tray from the oven and add the prawn. Return the tray to the oven for a further 8 minutes, or until the prawns are piping hot. Warm the tortillas in the oven for a minute. Serving with the prawn fajitas fresh lime quarters and your favourite toppings.
PlasticFreeHome David Lamont
Show our planet some love this Valentine’s Day
R
OSES are red, Violets are blue, ditch waste this Valentine’s Day, our planet needs you…
If you’ve left thinking about your partner’s Valentine’s Day gift to the last minute, there’s good news and a get out of jail card with your name on it waiting. Every year in the UK we send more than 25 million Valentine’s Day cards and spend an incredible £650 million on gifts ranging from flowers to fragrances. It’s time to change that, not just for the sake of our planet but because it’s a ridiculous and purely commercial event when you think about it. Valentine’s Day is naff. There, we said it. We (Mr and Mrs PFH) have been together for more than a decade and we haven’t swapped Valentine’s Day gifts since the year we met (and even that was an experience… bungee jumping in case you’re curious). We’re still surviving, despite the absence of teddy bears, chocolates and forecourt flowers. So that’s option one, skip the whole thing entirely and show that you’re in touch by being environmentally conscious. Here are a few other ways you could mark Valentine’s Day a little differently this year…
Cards If you are happy to live without them, job done. If you’re not, consider hand making a card. Not feeling crafty? The aim is to buy a card that’s printed on recycled or FSC (sustainable) paper, free of glitter and attachments
bad news for our bodies (some can be toxic), not to mention the planet. There’s nothing romantic about any of that. If you’re still on the lookout, aim to find a fragrance that’s made ethically and sustainably from 100% natural ingredients.
Gift an experience
and not wrapped in plastic. Even better if it’s from an independent retailer. The likes of 1treecards.com are also a nice option. Every card sold comes with a packet of wildflowers and sees a tree planted. Cards actually made from plantable seed paper are also a great option; we really like hannahmarchant.co.uk.
Flowers At this time of year, Roses and other popular flowers are typically flown in from the southern hemisphere. They’re then delivered to your door in a refrigerated van. And, unless you’re very lucky, this time next week they’ll be on their last legs having gone through several pints of water. Consider if you can live without flowers this Valentine’s Day, or why not opt for a long lasting house plant (ideally grown in the UK)
or something for the garden instead.
Chocolates The cacao used to make chocolate will typically have come from South America or Africa and may not be Fairtrade or sustainably and ethically produced. The majority of chocolates will also contain Palm Oil and of course they are often heavily packaged. Decide if you can skip the chocolates this year, or at least hold tight until Easter. If you can’t, consider eco-conscious options like Divine Chocolate, Tony’s Chocolonely, Beyond Good and Traidcraft.
Fragrances Most scents are a concoction of dozens of synthetic chemicals, many of which are derived from Petroleum. Worldwide, more than 4,000 different chemicals are used to produce fragrances and many of these are
Don’t splash out on generic or novelty Valentine’s Day gifts. Instead, plan a day out or a short UK break (revisit somewhere special or explore somewhere you’ve always wanted to go), go out for lunch, afternoon tea or dinner, see a show or head to the cinema, do something sporty, book a surprise experience (the possibilities are endless these days), offer to do something nice for your other half like cooking a meal or chores around the house, have some photos professionally taken, get creative and write a poem or song, paint or make something. You get the idea. Of course, patience may be needed here. Please keep in mind any Government’s latest guidance. Whatever you do, don’t forget who and what really matter this Valentine’s Day. And remember to show our planet a little love if you can.
There will still be frosts and winter weather ahead but at least you can plan and prepare for the spring waiting to arrive. If one of your gardening new year’s resolutions was to plant a tree then now is the time to make that thought become a reality. In the coldest months of the year you can buy bare rooted or root balled trees which are cheaper and establish better. These are trees and shrubs that are lifted straight from the ground and should be planted by the end of February while they are still dormant before there are any signs of growth (or by end of March, possible into April, in the north of Scotland). Bare root and root balled trees can only be bought when the weather is cold because once it warms up the root ball dries out too quickly unless planted in the ground. By planting in winter, it means that by spring and early summer trees will have benefited from optimum growing conditions and had the opportunity to establish their root system whilst dormant. The key to successful tree planting is to ensure you prepare the site well, first by digging a hole large enough to accommodate the root system. Avoid planting if the ground is frozen or extremely waterlogged. Your planting hole should be no deeper than the roots, but at least three times the diameter of the root ball. It’s a good idea to soak bare-rooted trees for about 30 minutes before planting. Place the tree in the planting hole so the first flare of roots on the stem are level with the soil surface – if you plant the tree too deep it can result in rot and disease. You may need to also insert a stake for top heavy or larger trees. Refill the planting hole, firm gently and water in. Drought stress is common in newly planted trees so make sure you keep watering throughout the growing season. The quantity required will vary with soil type but 30-50 litres per square metre (4-6 watering cans) each week in dry weather will do the trick. If you are growing your own veg then now is a good time to sow lettuce seeds – both under cover and outside. If you start now it will give you a continuous supply that can be harvested throughout the year. Sow in modules or fibre pots under cover to have lettuces ready to plant outside in four to six weeks time. You can also sow outdoors, but use cloches or small poly tunnels until next month when the soil has warmed up – they will also provide your lettuce seedlings with protection from birds and slugs. Good varieties to start now include cut-andcome again Salad Bowl – oak leaved, high yield with green and red varieties; a cos such as Lobjoits Green – dense, crisp heads with self folding leaves; or the small butterhead Tom Thumb – perfect for growing in small spaces it matures early and has a mild taste. You can share the gardening love this February by preparing for spring and carrying out some basic maintenance. As the RHS says … this month there are signs of the approaching spring, with bulbs appearing and wildlife waking up as light levels and temperatures increase. There’s plenty to do indoors this month to prepare for the season ahead. Outdoors, as the garden comes to life again, it’s time to prune shrubs and climbers, such as Wisteria as well as evergreen hedges. Top three jobs this month – prepare vegetable beds and sow some vegetables under cover, chit potatoes (let them grow shoots) to plant out and prune winter flowering shrubs that have finished flowering.
NO ONE CHRONICLES THE ACTION BETTER THAN US BEST FOR HOCKEY
READING EDITION
02.02.22
RAMS BREEZE PAST TITANS
CAPTAIN MOORE RESCUES MOLES
SIEGE MENTALITY By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today
READING FC remain hovering just above the relegation zone after a fifth successive Championship defeat on Saturday.
STAND-IN SKIPPER CALLS FOR UNITY AFTER FIFTH STRAIGHT DEFEAT
Despite their devastating run of form in the league, the Royals stay where they have been for several weeks in 21st after 22nd Peterborough United were also beaten. Posh still have a game in hand which could see them leap above Reading with a win, while in-form Derby County moved a point closer after their dramatic late equaliser at home to Birmingham City. Stand-in captain Michael Morrison said: “You can talk a lot about excuses and you can say they’re excuses but they are difficult problems to solve. “When you think of getting a job, it’s not what you’re looking to do. “He (Paunovic) has been fighting fires all season, from day one, and it’s been a really difficult job. “We’ve got to come together now. We haven’t got the injury crisis now, we’ve got some good players in there, and now it’s putting the excuses to the side and following our instructions better for the team, the manager and the football club. “The last part of the season needs to be a bit of a siege mentality. “This is what we’ve got, this is who we are, this is what we’re going to do and push as hard as we possibly can. “We want the fans to get behind us as well and obviously we have to put in better performances. “I’ve been in much worse situations before. “I se the talent in this team and it’s about getting that mindset of working as hard for everybody and everybody putting every single bit of energy they can for Reading Football Club.”
BOARS EDGE PAST COUNTY
CHAMBERS HOPES TO KEEP GREAT RUN GOING READING FC Women’s manager Kelly Chambers praised her side after they progressed in the FA Women’s Cup.
The squad beat Brighton 3-2 on Sunday, and the gaffer couldn’t be more pleased. “I was really happy with our first 45 minutes and I think we dominated most of the first-half,” said Chambers. “We probably should have gone into the break with a slightly bigger lead than we did, but getting to half-time we were pleased with how things were going, just needing to make a couple of tweaks. “Second-half, we started bright and continued the high intensity, but we allowed them to work their way back into the game and then naturally there’s an element of panic. “When they scored their second, we weren’t there defensively as we have been for much of the last few games. I know my girls, I know they will fight right to the end and they showed their resilience once again. “Towards the end, the game turned very transitional from both sides, but credit to the girls for exploiting that final counterattack which proved decisive in the end. “Full credit also goes to Tia, for winning the game, following up the chance from Deanne who I thought was also outstanding, creating so many problems. “We’re on a great run, we want to keep that alive, but also keeping our feet rooted to the ground knowing the hard work we have to put in to achieve these results. “It’s a bizarre game, especially when you compare it to how last week played out, but playing at the level we are now you cannot afford to switch off or make any silly mistakes as the opposition can punish you like Brighton did today.”
18 | SPORT
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, February 2, 2022
RAMPANT RAMS TOPPLE TITANS NATIONAL LEAGUE ONE
Rams in their home win over Taunton Titans
Rams v Taunton Titans Pictures: Paul Clark
RUGBY UNION
SEVEN SIRENS TO JOIN BERKSHIRE SQUAD
Rams get over the line to score a try Pictures: Paul Clark By RICHARD ASHTON sport@wokingham.today
RAMS 43 TITANS 19 SEVEN-TRY Rams put on their best display of the season as they turned on the style in a 43-19 home win against Taunton Titans.
Following the disappointment of last week’s reverse at Leeds Tykes, the hosts came under early pressure as Taunton dominated the opening 10 minutes in terms of both possession and territory. Rams held firm, and they took the lead when Tom Vooght sniped over from close range for his 50th league try for the club, Drew Humberstone’s conversion attempt drifting just wide. Taunton hit back immediately, though, and debutant wing Ollie Down
crossed on the right to level matters. However, the wide man went from hero-to-zero as he was sin-binned, and as the home pack gradually got on top, they earned a penalty try at the scrum before skipper Robbie Stapley smashed his way over from close range at the back of a driving line-out. Humberstone’s conversion made it 19-5 at the interval, and Rams came flying out of the blocks at the start of the second half, wrapping up the try bonus-point when manof-the-match Vooght again went over from close range following a series of phases. Another successful kick extended the advantage to 21 points, before Rams produced a contender for try of the season to date. Firstly, from just inside the Taunton half, the forwards won a scrum against the head before Cole spread the
Rams add to the score with another try
Rams break free from the Titans defence ball out to Rowan Grundy. He found electric youngster Charlie Robson making a beautiful arcing run from the left wing, and when he was tackled, a brilliant off-load inside to Cole was followed by another to Henry Bird before Connor Hayhow smashed his way over on the right-hand side. Humberstone’s conversion was equally brilliant as it crept in off the left-hand upright, but Taunton – led by their play-making Exeter loanee fly-half Jack Walsh – continued to throw shots and grabbed a second try shortly after. A wonderful cover tackle from Bird looked to have prevented the damage, but replacement flanker Ratu Vakalutukali picked up and went over before Walsh added the extras. It was Rams who moved further in front though, the
richly-deserving Robson making it two tries in as many games after strong work from the forwards close to the Titans line allowed the ball to be shipped out for the teenager to touch down on the left. The end-to-end nature of the latter stages saw Taunton gain a third try through Harry Tarling, Walsh dropkicking a conversion as the visitors tried to find time to snatch a try bonus of their own. Yet it was Rams who had the final word, completing a basketballesque finish as substitute Vince Everitt went over from close range for his maiden first-team score. Humberstone’s conversion attempt drifted wide, but Rams were well worth their win and climb to sixth in the table with games in hand on the four sides above them.
The Titans defence is tested once again
By RICHARD ASHTON sport@wokingham.today
A MAGNIFICENT seven of the Rams Sirens Under 18 squad have been picked to represent Berkshire.
Following trials at Reading RFC on Friday night, Ffion Kemp, Freya Meadows, Holly Oakley, Paige Hopkins, Morgan Hadaway, Izzy Bruton and Lucy Simpson all got the nod following an evening where the standard of skills on show was top notch. It is the highest number of girls Rams have ever had picked by the county, and they took their form into a top-of-the-table league clash with Trojans on Sunday, running out impressive 47-22 winners. Despite the squad being U17 and therefore playing a year up, Sirens showed great resolve and
Rams Sirens
teamwork throughout the contest. They trailed 10-7 at the end of the first quarter, but turned on the style to move 21-10 in front by half time and then 33-17 by the end of the third stanza. The victory means the girls complete the pool stage as unbeaten champions and will take on the winners of the other group later in the year. Delighted manager Luke Simpson said: “This was a collective team effort with improvements in rucking and tackling which have been the recent work-ons. “The girls also demonstrated dynamic control regarding the speed and pace of the game, while the final try showed the versatility and ability to chip the on-rushing defence, collecting the bouncing ball and scoring under the posts.”
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
SPORT | 19
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
REACTION
REYNOLDS HAILS ‘BRILLIANT’ DISPLAY
Rams v Taunton Titans Pictures: Paul Clark RAMS’ Director of Rugby Seb Reynolds hailed a brilliant Rams performance as they returned to winning ways with a 43-19 home triumph against Taunton Titans.
Despite a slow start, the hosts hit the front thanks to Tom Vooght’s 50th try for the club, and while Ollie Down levelled, a penalty try and a converted Robbie Stapley effort made it 19-5 at the break. Drew Humberstone added the extras to a second Vooght score and a potential try-of-the-season team effort finished by Connor Hayhow extended the lead even further, albeit Ratu Vakalutukali replied before Jack Walsh added the extras to cut the gap to 33-12. Rams finished the stronger with two of the three tries coming in the final five minutes, firstly through the outstanding young wing Charlie Robson and then through Vince Everitt with the last play of the game, Harry Tarling sandwiching those efforts for the away side. Reynolds said: “It was a brilliant performance. We got a nice balance in we managed to get on top of their pack where the scrum was working very well, and then we balanced that with some really good tempo play. “We got our off-loading game going, we had good continuity, and we built up a good score-line.” The pick of the hosts’ tries came from Hayhow, finished after Rams had initially won a scrum against the head before a dynamic break from Robson, interspersed with fine handling from Ollie Cole, Rowan Grundy and Henry Bird set up the centre to cross on the right. Reynolds continued: “It was a really good score which balanced everything which is brilliant about rugby – the set-piece, then moving
the ball into the wider channels. “I think everyone who came saw a great game of rugby which was well contributed to by Taunton. “They’ve been playing some really good rugby this year, and especially their fly-half has been superb. “While the score-line might suggest it was comfortable, it never really was, but while it was on the edge, we played very well.” Teenage flier Robson, who scored in eight Titans games before stepping up to touchdown on first-team debut at Leeds last week, again caught the eye. “Every so often you get players where if you challenge them, the higher the level all they do is just respond to it and look comfortable,” Reynolds said. “Charlie just loves rugby and he gets on the pitch and whatever the level, he just wants to play. “He plays with ball in hand so well and he’s a tough kid, but a really lovely lad as well. We’re just chuffed to have him on board and how he is doing is great.” While delighted with his young gun, Reynolds was equally keen to point out the performances of three longer-serving stars in skipper Stapley, fellow back-row Jamie Guttridge and outside centre Stevie Bryant. He said: “Robbie as a captain was excellent, but also as a ball-carrier was very physical, he really loved his score which he deserved and Jamie coming back into the side was just class. “Stevie defensively was superb – we all know what he does, but you still have to go out there and do it. “He marshalled the defence, shut down a very dangerous attack and did brilliantly.
Sonning Ladies 4s in action against Henley 3s Pictures: Dijana Capan/DV Vision
HOCKEY
SOUTH BERKS HIT THREE PAST READING
By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today
South Central Women’s Division 1 Sonning (blue) come forward in attack
SOUTH BERKSHIRE got the better of READING 3s in a local derby clash. South Berks put three past Reading without reply courtesy of a double from Sarah Kelly and a strike from Ella Martin to win the points. Reading drop down to third after the loss, while South Berks move up to sixth.
South Central Men’s Premier 2 Reading 4s v Sonning 3s Pictures: Dijana Capan
The teams battle for the ball
SOUTH BERKSHIRE were on the end of a heavy loss away at Fareham 2s. Despite scoring four, South Berks conceded seven which saw them leave without a point. They are in sixth on 17 points after 13 matches.
South Central Men’s Division 1
SONNING added three points to their tally with a win on the road at Marlow 2s. The victory puts Sonning up to fourth after their 3-1 win.
South Central Men’s Division 2 SOUTH BERKSHIRE 2s smashed seven past Oxford University 3s in a convincing victory. The 7-2 triumph puts South Berks up to sixth in the table on 18 points. SONNING 2s lost out at home to Phoenix & Ranelagh in a 4-1 defeat.
South Central Women’s Division 2 SONNING 2s picked up a point in a 2-2 stalemate with Marlow 3s. The 1-1 draw leaves Sonning in eighth.
South Central Women’s Division 3 SOUTH BERKSHIRE 2s are in ninth after they lost out 3-1 away at Milton Keynes 2s.
20 | SPORT
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, February 2, 2022
MOORE GRABS LAST GASP POINT FOOTBALL ROUND-UP
Sean Moore rescued a late draw for Binfield against Ashford Pictures: Neil Graham By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today
Isthmian South Central
BINFIELD rescued a late point after a stoppage-time equaliser from club captain Sean Moore. Just five points separated Binfield and visitors Ashford Town before the game. Prior to kick-off, both sides paid their respects with a minute’s silence in memory of Christian Rowe. Ashford opened the
Jamie Griggs scored as Eversley beat Berks County Pictures: Richard Milam
scoring in the 16th minute and managed to hold out until half-time. The Moles were reduced to 10 players early in the secondhalf when player/manager Jamie McClurg was shown a red card in the 56th minute. With the game headed into injury time in the second-half, the Moles managed to claw back a late point despite having one man less when Moore scored late in the day. The point keeps Binfield in eighth position in the table.
Combined Counties Premier North READING CITY were awarded three points after a feisty encounter against Wembley. Joe Pilling started the scoring when his shot found the net after hitting the underside of the bar in the 15th minute. Wembley squared the game after half an hour to make the game 1-1 at half-time. There was plenty of drama
after the restart when Reading’s Mo Davies, along with two Wembley players were sent off. The Cityzens took advantage and restored their lead before adding a third not long after. The game ended in bizarre circumstances when it was abandoned by the referee after a third red card for Wembley. WOKINGHAM & EMMBROOK returned with defeat in their away match at Edgware Town despite a late fightback. The hosts broke the deadlock with 15 minutes gone, but it
didn’t take long for the Sumas to hit back when Jordace Holder-Spooner levelled just 10 minutes later. Edgware got their noses back in front before the break with two quickfire goals to take a 3-1 lead into half-time. The home side then added another to seemingly put the game beyond Wokingham’s reach in the 57th minute. But the Sumas refused to lie down and fought back valiantly to make it a nervy ending when Nathan Mindomba made it 4-2.
Enow Ojong then snatched a goal in stoppage time, but there wasn’t enough time left for the Sumas to find an equaliser.
Combined Counties Division One EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA extended their excellent winning run with a clean sheet victory over BERKS COUNTY. Just one goal was enough to take the points in a tightly contested match. After a goalless opening
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
SPORT | 21
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
T FOR MOLES
From the middle Dick Sawdon-Smith
Controversial penalty call at Palace
O
45, Jamie Griggs got on the end of Harinder Singh Hunjan’s whipped corner and capitlised to fire in the decisive goal in the 55th minute. The win means that Eversley now have a seven-point lead on fifth-placed Sandhurst Town. The Swords remain in midtable in 13th. WOODLEY UNITED went down to a narrow loss against Kensington & Ealing Borough. The Kestrels held on in a dogged defensive performance, but eventually conceded in the 82nd minute.
Thames Valley Premier League
BURGHFIELD stormed to the top of the table after a 4-1 away triumph at Wraysbury. Goals from Jordan Cox and a brace from Lewis Butcher helped them to take maximum points and retake their position as league leaders. They are now two points above Finchampstead having played two more games. READING YMCA moved up the table with a 2-0 win over WARGRAVE, while READING CITY U23’s were beaten 1-0 at Marlow United. WOODLEY UNITED ROYALS earned a late point in their 1-1 stalemate with Richings Park.
Thames Valley Counties Women’s Plate TILEHURST PANTHERS stormed through to the next round with an emphatic victory over Easington Sports. Five goals from Lydia Vettese, a double from Deanna Cane and goals from Keris-Louise Hunt, Rhianna Langham and Eve Rhind earned a massive 10-0 win for Tilehurst. CAVERSHAM UNITED also put their name in the draw for the next round with an away triumph at Kidlington Youth. With the scores locked at 1-1 at the break, the Billygoats enjoyed a superb second-half display by
netting three more to take the cup tie. WARGRAVE progressed with a penalty shootout victory over Ruislip Rangers. The teams couldn’t be separated in normal time after an entertaining six-goal game. But Wargrave squeezed through with a 3-1 shootout win. S4K BERKS COUNTY were eliminated after a heavy defeat to Bletchley Shamrocks. The Fawkes will not be able to focus solely on their title challenge, where they are currently top of the Thames Valley Division 3S, after they shipped seven without reply in the cup.
FA WOMEN’S CUP
PRIMMER SEES ROYALS THROUGH WITH LATE WINNER By ANDY PRESTON sport@wokingham.today
TIA PRIMMER scored the decisive goal to see Reading Women through to the next round in the FA Women’s Cup against Brighton & Hove Albion.
In an enthralling five-goal contest, Reading raced into a twogoal lead before the Seagulls fought back to level the match. But with less than 10 minutes left, the Royals restored their lead when academy graduate Primmer netted her first goal for the club. Reading created the first opening
of the game when Faye Bryson dug out a cross to find Natasha Dowie in the middle, but her powerful header at the near post was well held by Brighton keeper Megan Walsh. Dowie linked up effectively with her strike partner Deanne Rose, and the Canadian international forced another stop from Walsh from a tricky angle out wide on the left. The Royals broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when the Seagulls failed to clear from a free-kick and Vanhaevermaet was first to meet the loose ball and arrow a shot into the bottom corner.
Reading started quickly in the second-half and extended their lead early when Sanne Troelsgaard played an inch perfect through ball to find the run of Rose in behind the Brighton defence and she lifted the ball over the keeper to make it two. But Brighton fought their way back into the tie. Emma Koivisto beat Rhiannon Stewart with a thumping finish that found the top corner. The South Coast side were then level in the 76th minute after Kayleigh Green pounced on a mistake from Stewart and tapped
the ball into the empty net. But with just seven minutes of time remaining, Primmer ensured that Reading would book their place in the next round. A thunderous effort from Rose crashed off the crossbar and Primmer was first to react to the rebound and headed in from close range. Brighton came agonisingly close to forcing another equaliser when Emma Kullberg struck the crossbar from close range in the dying moments of the game, but the Royals survived to progress.
NE problem of being a referee is knowing that a good number of the decisions you make, will please one side and upset the other. One football supporter once said, ‘it is a proven scientific fact that all the poor decisions are made against the teams that I support’. Most complaints come from people who have scant knowledge of the laws of the game. Knowledge of the laws is of course a prerequisite for referees and this goes to the very top. If previous World Cups are followed, the selected FIFA referees will on arrival at Qatar, face a fitness test and an exam on the Laws. If they fail either, they will be sent back home. Knowledge is however only part of many decisions; the other part is interpretation. This is where the difference of opinion can come in, even among referees. The players and management of Crystal Palace were upset by the penalty awarded to their opponents Liverpool, two Sundays ago. Before looking at the incident, it’s worth remembering that football is a contact sport. That is to say that players often come into contact with opposing players without it being a foul. Sometimes players may be running alongside one another when one goes down, purely because the other player has better body strength. Sometimes players simply run into one another. In this incident, Diogo Jota of Liverpool, was chasing a ball inside the Palace penalty area, when Palace goalkeeper, Vicente Guaita, came off his goal line and headed toward the ball which he never reached. In fact he was on his knees when Jota ran into him. So Guaita didn’t bring Joto down, but Joto fell over him, which could perhaps be classified as impeding. This is moving into the opponent’s path to obstruct, block, or force a slow down or change of direction, providing the ball is not within playing distance of either player. If there is no contact, it is an indirect free kick but direct if contact is made. The television replay, which is presumably the same view the VAR had, seemed to indicate that Joto slightly changed direction to fall over Guaita. So there you have it, did Guaita bring Joto down, did he impede him by moving into his path, did Joto deliberately fall over Guaita knowing he wouldn’t get to the ball. Or was it just two players c olliding? No wonder the referee took over four minutes and VAR before making a decision based on his interpretation.
22 | SPORT
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, February 2, 2022
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP
How they rated Ovie Ejaria
RUTHLESS RANGERS SINK ROY QPR 4 READING 0
LUKE SOUTHWOOD
Didn’t cover himself in glory for the third goal, but in fairness was not helped by his teammates. Made a few good stops.
ANDY YIADOM
Should be performing at a much higher level given his vast experience at this level, but hasn’t hit form since returning from AFCON.
MICHAEL MORRISON
Hasn’t had the desired impact since returning from injury. Hasn’t helped to improve the defensive record.
TOM HOLMES
Not at the races at all during the last month. Didn’t get tight enough to Lyndon Dykes on two occasions and was punished.
BABA RAHMAN
Sloppy in possession and in defensive areas. Better going forward and threw in a few nice crosses for Lucas Joao.
JOSH LAURENT
Went on a superb driving run and went down under a challenge in the box. Penalty not given and less than a minute later, QPR were in front.
DANNY DRINKWATER
Slow, lumbering and careless. Obvious quality on the ball, but off it he’s been nowhere near the level needed in a demanding division.
ANDY RINOMHOTA
Always puts a shift in regardless of how badly the team is performing. Required to do a job on the wing and was missed in the middle.
JOHN SWIFT
Lost his magic touch from earlier in the season when he couldn’t stop scoring. Coincided with the team’s run and it’s no coincidence.
GEORGE PUSCAS
Lost the ball cheaply on the halfway line that led to QPR’s second goal. Hooked off at half-time for Ovie Ejaria.
LUCAS JOAO
Had a couple of chances, both with his head. The first forced a routine save, but his second was superbly stopped by Marshall.
SUBS Ovie Ejaria 4, Tom Dele-Bashiru 4
5 3 3 2 3 4 2 5 3 3 4
By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today READING’S calamitous run of form continued as they were dealt a fifth successive Championship defeat away at Queens Park Rangers.
Pressure continues to grow on manager Veljko Paunovic, with his team sinking further towards the relegation places after they were brushed aside comfortably by promotion hopefuls QPR. Lyndon Dykes headed the hosts into a two-goal lead before Luke Amos punished the Royals on the counter attack to add a third before half-time. Jimmy Dunne rounded off the scoring early in the second-half to condemn Reading to another devastating defeat. Reading lined up with the same starting 11 from their 4-3 home defeat to Huddersfield Town, while Ovie Ejaria made a long awaited return to the matchday squad after injury and covid issues. It was a bright start from the hosts who swung in three early crosses to test the Royals defence after Baba Rahman sloppily gave away possession in his own half. Veljko Paunovic’s team hit back in an end to end start to the contest to win a corner and they could have been punished on the break had it not been for Andy Rinomhota’s determination to win back the ball after Danny Drinkwater’s error. George Puscas broke his way into the opposition box but was let down by a careless first touch that saw a chance go begging. John Swift’s cross forged a chance for Lucas Joao who met the ball at the near post but was denied
George Puscas strikes at goal
Andy Yiadom down the byline
John Swift fouled in midfield
Match stats QPR: Marshall, Dickie, Dunne, Barbet, Adomah, Field, Johansen, Wallace, Willock, Dykes, Amos Subs: Walsh, Dozzell, Austin, Odubajo, Sanderson, Thomas, Ball Reading: Southwood, Yiadom, Holmes, Morrison (c), Rahman, Laurent, Drinkwater, Rinomhota, Swift, Puscas, Joao Subs: Hein, Ejaria, Abrefa, Clarke, Bashiru, Camara, Ashcroft
QPR add a fourth goal
Dele-
Goals: Dykes 13’, 35’, Amos 37’, Dunne 51’
by goalkeeper David Marshall who parried it behind for a corner. Reading had appeals for a penalty turned away when Josh Laurent went on a mazy run which saw him drift past three players and drive into the box. He went down under Jimmy Dunne’s tackle, but the referee pointed for a goal kick rather than a spot kick. That proved to be a turning point in the match as Rangers broke down the other end just moments after Reading’s shout for a penalty
Lyndon Dykes scores twice as Re and punished them. Chris Willock brandished an excellently delivered cross into the box to find Lyndon Dykes unmarked in the middle and he nodded the ball past Luke Southwood from six yards. The home side, re-invigorated by gaining the lead, looked to add a quick second when captain Stefan Johansen tried his luck from 20 yards but flashed a shot just wide of the post. Southwood then had to come to
REACTION
PAUNOVIC: ‘BETWEEN ALL THE GOALS, WE PLAYED WELL’ READING FC manager Veljko Paunovic insisted that his team ‘played well in between all the goals’ despite their heavy loss to Queens Park Rangers.
The Royals went down to their fifth straight loss in the league, which leaves them a place above the relegation places. “I think overall it was poor and the result was not good,” said Paunovic. “Between all the goals, we played well. “Individual mistakes cost us three goals in the first-half and that shook us up. “We needed to change the approach. “When there is a performance from the whole team in attack, it
helps us play on the front foot. “Before we conceded the first goal we were the better side. “But quickly after, we committed more mistakes and they punished us. “We were vulnerable in defence and in the past we have seen that so we need to find the right balance.” The Serbian boss refused to be drawn on commenting on potential disruptions behind the scenes at the club. He continued: “It’s unacceptable to concede as many goals as we have this year. “It could be (toxic) when things aren’t going well.
“We will be attacked and be vulnerable. “I’m not going to raise things publicly but we are looking for solutions and looking to fix it.” When questioned about his future at the club, Paunovic refused to comment on his position but admitted he understands the feeling of frustration from the fans. “I understand those feelings and this is football, but I have no comment on that. “I’m not concerned about my future. “I’m a professional who looks to fix things and give my best here. “That;s a cynical question and I won’t answer that.”
SPORT | 23
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
YALS TO FIFTH STRAIGHT LOSS Luke Southwood makes a save
Danny Drinkwater wins a header Lucas Joao
Michael Morrison defends against Dykes QPR go close again
eading are handsomely beaten at QPR Pictures: Steve Smyth
Josh Laurent bursts forward
his side’s rescue to prevent them falling further behind when he reacted quickly to keep out Dykes’ low drive from a cutback. Mark Warburton’s team threatened again when Luke Amos was allowed room to shoot and smacked the base of the post, much to the relief of the Royals. Having threatened to boost their tally throughout the half, the home side did exactly that with two quickfire goals. QPR were rapid on the counter attack, pouncing on every mistake made by the Royals and were ruthless in front of goal. After Puscas lost the ball on the Ovie Ejaria on his return from injury
halfway line, Rangers streamed forward in numbers, Albert Adomah lifted a ball into the box and Dykes adjusted his body expertly to stoop and head the ball beyond Southwood’s reach. Just two minutes later, QPR put themselves in a commanding position when again they ignited quickly with another electric counter attack. After clearing the ball from Reading’s corner, the hosts were much sharper to react and Amos stormed through on goal after receiving a through ball from Willock and he clipped the ball over Southwood to add a third.
Six minutes into the second-half, QPR picked up from where they left and scored a fourth. Some casual defending from a corner saw Jimmy Dunne escape his marker and power a header past Southwood. Joao thought he had clawed back a consolation goal when he powered a header towards goal from Rahman’s cross but goalkeeper Marshall pulled off a terrific save to maintain his clean sheet. Reading managed to hold out in the final 35 minutes without conceding after the game fizzled out after QPR had the game wrapped up and the points sealed.
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP
Friendly against Arsenal will take place behind closed doors READING are still seeking to put an end to their dreadful run of form when they face Bristol City. The Royals have a break from action this weekend after being knocked out of the FA Cup in the third-round by non-league Kidderminster Harriers. In the absence of Championship action, Reading are set to face Arsenal in a behind closed doors friendly match. Veljko Paunovic’s team return to the road in the Championship on Wednesday, February 9, away at Bristol.
Bristol go into the match in 16th position, five places and a sizeable 12 points above Reading. Nigel Pearson’s side are in a mixed run of form with two wins, two defeats a draw from their last five league matches. In similar style to Reading, Bristol were also victims of a thumping at the hands of league leaders Fulham earlier in the month when they lost 6-2 at Craven Cottage just days after the Whites mauled the Royals 7-0 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
The Robins were moments away from claiming an away victory at Preston North End at the weekend, but were denied deep into stoppage time. Chris Martin put Bristol ahead before Emil Riis Jakobsen levelled for the hosts. Bristol thought they had stolen the points with Antoine Semenyo’s 81st minute strike, but Jakobsen snatched a last gasp equaliser for Preston. When the teams met earlier in the campaign in August, Bristol took the spoils with victory in a five-goal game.
Bristol raced into a two-goal lead when Andreas Weimann and Martin netted. The Royals hit back through Femi Azeez but Weimann notched again and left with the win despite Liam Moore’s 81st minute goal. Weimann is in fine form this season and has 14 goals and five assists to his name, which puts him fourth in the goalscoring charts. On their last trip to Ashton Gate in February 2021, Paunovic’s men came away with the points after goals from Lucas Joao and Michael Morrison.
ONE IN, TWO OUT: LATE TRANSFER ACTIVITY READING FC played their part in some late transfer deadline day activity as two departed the club and one joined.
George Puscas left on loan, while former captain Liam Moore joined Stoke City on loan in a swap deal for Tom Ince who joins the Royals until the end of the season. Striker Puscas has joined Italian side Pisa on a loan deal until the end of the season. The Romanian forward will play for Serie B side Pisa, where then is an obligation for them to make the deal permanent if they are promoted to Italy’s top flight. Puscas became Reading’s record incoming transfer when he made the move from Inter Milan in August 2019 for around €10million Euros. He started strongly with two goals against Cardiff City on his home debut for the Royals. He also netted a sensational five minute hat-trick against Wigan Athletic in November 2019. He went on to score 12 Championship goals in his debut season for the Royals. However, he has struggled for regular goals and performances since that. He played 21 times for Reading in the league last season, netting just four goals where he was kept out of the side by the in form Lucas Joao. Puscas went on a huge goal drought throughout this season which was finally broken in what turned out to be a consolation goal in Reading’s humiliating FA Cup thirdround exit to non-league Kidderminster Harriers. Puscas has just one league goal to his name in the current campaign, in 24 appearances, which came in a 4-3 defeat to Huddersfield Town. 30-year-old Ince, the son of former England international Paul Ince, has experience at both Championship and Premier League level. Reading manager Veljko Paunovic said: “I’m very pleased to welcome Tom to Reading Football Club. He is an exciting player and he knows this division inside out. “He will add creativity, pace and power to play in our final third. “On the other side of this deal, I want to wish Liam Moore an excellent rest of the season.” Chief executive Dayong Pang added: “In Tom Ince we have been able to add an experienced individual with more than 400 appearances on his CV but also a forward with a proven goalscoring record at this level, who is hungry to score more. “This is a deal which suits both players and both clubs and I would like to wish both Tom and Liam well in their new colours.”
Former Reading FC captain Liam Moore
24
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
HORSE RACING
YOUNG JOCKEY MAKES FLYING START By STAFF WRITER sport@rdg.today BERKSHIRE-BASED Harry Davies has had a flying start to his career as a jockey, at just 17-years-old he took two wins from four rides in his first week of riding against the professionals.
and Andrew [Balding] is very easy to work for. He understands my goals and what I want to achieve as well as what we want to achieve together. Even if I don’t ride a winner that day, I’ll come back and the other lads are there to lend a helping hand. “I first started coming to Andrew’s [Balding] when I was 12 and try to show my face whenever I could, I would try to come down in the summer holiday and I really
devoted all my time to being at Kingsclere. In my final year of pony racing I’d ridden out for Andrew a few times and I was ready to make the move [to horse racing]. Davies will still ride with a 7lb allowance for his next 18 winners but has made an impressive start to his apprentice jockey career. He returned to Lingfield on Saturday for the inaugural Winter Million where he raced against top jockeys such as Tom
DOMINANT ATTACK SEES ROCKETS RIDE TO VICTORY AT LOUGHBOROUGH With Loughborough struggling for form but the Rockets missing their leading scorer in Tyler Cartaino, the match was primed to be a competitive affair but, fortunately for the Rockets, they earned an insurmountable lead early on which they rode to victory. Reis Pinnock’s layup put two on the board for the Rockets, but Loughborough’s Evan Walshe made two threes in quick succession to stretch the lead to eight at 10-2. Head Coach Dan Pearson took an immediate time-out resulting in major change. Another three courtesy of Pinnock saw the Rockets go up 13-12 after a slow start, Pinnock
Saturday, February 5
Isthmian South Central Binfield 1-1 Ashford Town
Combined Counties Premier North Sumas v Wembley Reading City v Holyport
FOOTBALL Sky Bet Championship QPR 4-0 Reading
Thames Valley Premier League Marlow United 1-0 Reading City U23’s Reading YMCA 2-0 Wargrave Woodley United Royals 1-1 Richings Park Wraysbury 1-4 Burghfield
Harry Davies Picture: Johnathan Hipkiss Photography
duelling with Walshe who had 10 of his own in the first quarter. The Rockets moved the ball well and made some key stops as the quarter wore on, earning a Lewis Champion three after a clever kickout by Meshack Lufile who was then called on to close out the quarter with a buzzer-beating inbounds lob which he finished softly at the rim. Up 22-16 entering the second, the Rockets showed no signs of slowing down. Pinnock continued to use his athleticism to break down Loughborough’s defense, earning free throws to start the period and tacking on another three for good measure. Jan Bielak made a three for the Riders off an inbounds before Pinnock closed the quarter with a tough layup going left across the lane. The Rockets’ late run ensured that the half ended 44-27, with the Riders’ offense unable to close
the gap despite solid defence at points in the quarter. Champion continued his hot shooting at the top of third, splashing one form the left wing in response to Loughborough’s fastbreak layup which opened the quarter. Layups from Isaac Round and Meshack saw the period end 72-43, with the win all but ensured for the Rockets. Bains and Pinnock, who formed a devastating backcourt partnership this game, each tallied yet another triple during the period to push up the Rockets’ score and they were joined in their deep-ball efforts by Ben Dixon and Isaac Round who also produced one apiece. Ronnie Oguekwe and Live Kivuvu each scored in the closing minutes, capping a strong showing from the entire roster and seeing off the Riders 97-59 – agonizingly just one more three-pointer short of triple digits.
Marquand and Hollie Doyle. Davies continued: “They [Marquand and Doyle] are both obviously massive figures in the racing world. They both came from pony racing as well and they are where I want to be. “Racing against them is great because you can learn so much. I saw Tom in the weighing room the other day and asked him to watch a race back with me and I learnt so much – it’s a dream come true.”
ATHLETICS
READING ENJOY HOME RUN AT PROSPECT PARK READING Athletics enjoyed their first home cross country fixture of the season at Prospect Park. The course was still wet, very muddy and very hard going underfoot in true Prospect style. The race started fast due to being gradually downhill before the runners turned and worked their way past two very hilly, muddy loops before running around the perimeter of the park to the finish. First up the hill for Reading AC was U20 Mia Waldmann looking strong and was digging in deep. She kept her composure to finish an amazing 8th position overall followed by Laurie Marlow 11th and U20 Isabelle Shirley 22nd. Cross country captain Sarah Holmes was just behind in 23rd looking very strong and running hard. Coming back from covid was Hayleigh Wood who had Sue Francis, our first vet home on her tail and they worked well together for 43rd and 46th places. Lucy Daniels was second vet home running very strong in 49th position. Lynne Henderson-Nike, Julie Rayfield, Millie Dainton and Alana Rayfield were running really well as a group and helped push each other round. Lynne was the third scoring vet to finish. Millie ran exceptionally well in what was only her second ever cross country race on a tough course to complete a positive race meeting.
FIXTURES
Saturday, January 29
Combined Counties Division One Eversley & California 2-0 Berks County Kensington & Ealing Boro 1-0 Woodley United
BASKETBALL
A dominant shooting display saw Reading Rockets earn a win in their third meeting of the season with Loughborough Riders.
RESULTS
Combined Counties Premier North Edgware Town 4-3 Sumas Reading City 3-1 Wembley
No stranger to success, Davies previously achieved 28 wins on the Pony Racing circuit and was crowned winner of the Charles Owen Racecourse Series in 2018 and 2019. Now he has moved up into the horse racing ranks and has quickly proven his immense talent. He had his first ride at Southwell on Tuesday, January 11 and quickly bounced back from his sixth position finish to find a winner a Lingfield with Coolagh Magic in the same week. Not resting on his laurels of enjoying his maiden win, Davies secured another victory three days later at Wolverhampton. Speaking on his first win, Davies said: “I thought on the day the horse had a chance of going close. My instructions were to come late and thought I had left it too late, but he did it. When I pulled up, I thought I’d won but I wasn’t completely sure, I just had to get back in one piece and wait for the tannoy. It was a really great atmosphere on the day and it was nice to have my mum and step-dad there.” “Training is going really well, the whole team is so supportive,
By JAMIE KING sport@wokingham.today
SPORT |
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, February 2, 2022
HOCKEY South Central Men’s Premier 2 Fareham 2s 7-4 South Berkshire South Central Men’s Division 1 Marlow 2s 1-3 Sonning South Central Women’s Premier 1 Maidenhead L-L Sonning South Central Women’s Division 1 Reading 3s 0-3 South Berkshire RUGBY UNION National League One Rams 43-19 Taunton South West 1 East Buckingham 19-41 Bracknell
Sunday, January 30
FOOTBALL FA Women’s Cup Brighton & Hove Albion 2-3 Reading Southern Region League Cup Bournemouth Sports 1-0 Woodley United Thames Vally Counties Women’s Plate Kidlington Youth 1-4 Caversham United Tilehurst Panthers 10-0 Easington Sports Wargrave 3-3 Ruislip Rangers (Wargave win 3-1 pens) Bletchley Shamrocks 7-0 S4K Berks County RUGBY UNION Women’s Championship South 1 Reading Abbey 17-50 Bath Ladies
Tuesday, February 1
FOOTBALL Combined Counties Premier North Egham Town v Reading City
Isthmian South Central South Park v Binfield
Combined Counties Division One Berks County v Langley Bedfont & Feltham Thames Valley Premier League Burghfield v Yateley United Reading City U23’s v Wargrave Reading YMCA v Mortimer Westwood Wanderers v Finchampstead Wraysbury v Woodley United Royals Thames Valley Division One Goring United v FC Imaan Lions Slough Heating Laurencians v Hurst Tadley Cellva Reserves v Eldon Celtic RUGBY UNION South West 1 East Bracknell v Windsor HOCKEY South Central Men’s Premier 2 South Berkshire v Newbury & Thatcham South Central Women’s Division 1 South Berkshire v Marlow 2s South West Men’s Division 1 Sonning v Staines 2s South West Women’s Premier 1 Sonning v Havant Women’s National Division 1 South Harleston Magpies v Reading
Sunday, February 6
FOOTBALL Women’s Super League Everton v Reading Southern Region Women’s Division One South Eversley & California v Southampton Reserves Thames Valley Women’s Division One Stonesfield Strikers v Tilehurst Panthers Cup Wargrave v Penn & Tylers Green Caversham United v Slough Town Thames Valley Women’s Division 3S Eversley & California Reserves v Taplow United Goring United v S4K Berks County Wallingford Town AFC v Caversham AFC HOCKEY Men’s National Division 1 South Brighton & Hove v Reading
