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New-builds in ‘Ding exceeds housing target
STANDING WITH UKRAINE
Wednesday, March 2, 2022 No. 19 90p
By JAMES ALDRIDGE Local democracy reporter
A BUDGET FOR TOWN’S FUTURE P11
READING has built more homes over the last three years than required by Government housebuilding targets.
And leaders of the borough council are calling on more family homes – the majority of the builds have been oneand two-bed homes. Over the past three years, the Government set a target of 1,598, but Reading delivered 2,080 homes between 2018 and 2021. This is 482 homes over the target and a 30% ‘overdelivery’. But nearly half of these – 43% (894) – were one-bed properties. Council leader Jason Brock (Labour, Southcote) made a plea for developers to build more family and affordable homes. Cllr Brock said: “While we welcome the fact that Reading continues to surpass its housing targets, if you scratch below the surface you very quickly find the new homes being built are not necessarily the homes that Reading most needs. “There will always be demand for small one-bedroom flats in a major employment hub like Reading, but the biggest demand we have is for family homes.” He added: “Our own Council house building programme – the largest in a generation – is focused on provision of family homes, but we do not have the ability to fully compensate for the market’s failure to deliver what is needed,” he said. “The Council calls on developers to do the right thing for Reading by building the homes the town needs.”
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TOWN COMES TOGETHER FOR UKRAINE Outpouring of support and love after Putin invades European neighbour • p2
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Council wants town to be a sanctuary By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today THE LEADER of Reading Borough Council said that he hopes the town can provide a sanuctuary to anyone who needs it fleeing Ukraine.
Cllr Jason Brock released a statement urging residents to support the work of the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre. He said: “Everyone in the town will be appalled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Many will also be shocked, although others, I know, had long feared this. “What many may not be so aware of is that Berkshire is home to a sizeable Ukrainian community and diaspora, signified by the presence of the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre in our town. “As such, we should all be acutely aware that the war in Ukraine, and the human tragedy it brings, will be very strongly felt by many in our neighbourhoods.” Cllr Brock said that the coming days, weeks, and months will be a human tragedy. “Many lives will be lost, many families torn apart, and many homes will be destroyed,” he said. “A chilling sense of dread will inevitably descend across a great swathe of Europe, not least because of the menacing and direct threats made by Putin himself. “I am not sure that I can, in truth, genuinely imagine what it must feel like to be terrified for the lives of your family and friends in the face of military aggression. I certainly cannot imagine how an entire community feels when their
country faces a truly existential threat. It is always tempting to reach for a historical analogue in times like this, and I know that many are available, but we must not let that veil the immediate humanitarian crisis being precipitated.” Cllr Brock said that Reading has a long and proud tradition of showing its support and compassion for those suffering from wars. “I am sure we will collectively demonstrate those positive qualities yet again and, should it be required, I know that our town can once more provide sanctuary and a new home to any who require it,” he said. “Naturally, I retain a hope that the international community can find a resolution that does not entail capitulation to those who seek to undermine international order. “It is encouraging, of course, that people across Reading have shown no reticence in joining the near universal condemnation of Putin’s unwarranted aggression. “Many, like me, will be intensely frustrated that no lessons were seemingly learnt, or warnings heeded, from Georgia in 2008, Crimea in 2014, or the war in the Donbas. “I hope, and fully anticipate, that people across Reading will demonstrate their support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. “Among the myriad ways that individuals will elect to do just that, I also hope that people will choose to express their solidarity by supporting the work of the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre because I genuinely believe in the power of positive localism to build something enduringly strong.”
STANDING TOGETHER: People gather at a vigil outside the Reading Ukrainian Community
Reading shows EXCLUSIVE By JAKE CLOTHIER jclothier@rdg.today READING has rallied round its Ukrainian population in a show of support for our European neighbour. It comes after Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade the country last week.
The town has been shocked and appalled at the assault, an act of war, and wanted to stand alongside Ukraine by offering support. Last week, the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre (RUCC) in Sidmouth Street launched an appeal for donations of supplies and funds – and it has been
inundated with gifts. It also held a rally outside its buildings on Saturday. Now, it is appealing for help with raising funds for the Help Ukraine Emergency Appeal. It has asked for donations to a GoFundMe appeal, which is working with Ukrainian charities to provide essential medicine, food and critical services in the country. The centre posted on social media on Monday, saying they had been overwhelmed by donations of goods and would not be accepting further items until Saturday, March 5. For this fresh collection, it will be taking backpacks, sleeping bags, blankets, painkillers, anti-flu medicine, first aid kits, baby food,
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The flag of Ukraine Picture: Yehor Milohrodskyi A show of solidarity for Ukraine on Saturday
Customers of Grosik on Oxford Road donated hundreds of items for Ukraine
Centre on Saturday Picture: Steve Smyth
support for Ukraine nappies and sanitary products. These can be dropped off to its Sidmouth Street centre between 10am and 3pm. Members of the centre are speaking with the British Red Cross to see how they can continue to collect items for the aid effort following this Saturday’s collection. Also helping out were staff at Grosik, a convenience store on Oxford Road, which took donations on Saturday, February 26. After being approached for help with a donations drive, the store’s owner, Rebwar Swara, said he was more than willing to help. “We were so sad to see what was happening to the Ukrainians, so we were absolutely happy to help them,” he said. After starting the collection of clothes, toiletries and food, Mr Swara was overwhelmed with the response he received. He said: “We thought we’d be taking a car-load, maybe, and that we could keep it all in the store room for the day. “But the store room was quickly full, and we finished with three moving vans full of donations.” Mr Swara also said the donations had come from a wide range of people. He said: “It was just us at the start, but it got out of hand very quickly, and we had filled the whole store. “Now the charities are looking for specific things, and I’m willing to do whatever we
can to help.” Throughout the weekend, protests were held across the south, with protests in London, Oxford, Reading and Brighton. Supporters gathered to show solidarity at a vigil on Saturday, February 26, where candles and flowers were left outside the community centre. And the flag of Ukraine was raised at Reading Borough Council’s offices on Bridge Street last Friday. The Reading Peace Group have organised another vigil to call for an end to the war this Friday, at 6pm outside the Town Hall. And a notice on the door of the RUCC encouraged supporters to stop Russia’s war in Ukraine by writing to their MP, boycotting Russian goods and appealing for the closure of Ukrainian air space. The notice also encouraged supporters to demonstrate, including outside Downing Street and the Russian Embassy, and to make donations to the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU). Last Thursday, Matt Rodda spoke in a parliamentary debate following a statement on the invasion of Ukraine, given by
prime minister Boris Johnson. In his statement, Mr Rodda said that he offered his “wholehearted support” for tougher sanctions against Putin’s Russia. “There are many historic Ukrainian communities in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and indeed I would like to commend the work of the Reading Ukrainian Centre,” he said, asking the prime minister: “What additional support can the Government give to these very valuable community groups and centres around the country that offer such support to families, friends and relatives both in the UK and in Ukraine?” Responding, Mr Johnson said: “Perhaps the most important thing that we can do for the Ukrainian community in this country is thank them and recognise everything that they have done for us in the past decades. “They have been an amazing addition to the UK, to the UK economy and to our cultural and artistic life.”
n Donations to the NBU can be made by visiting: bank.gov.ua or to the Help Ukraine appeal: gofundme.com/f/helpukraine
Charity urges rethink of refugee policy A READING charity has called on the UK government to rethink its policy on refugees in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In an open letter published on Thursday, February 24, Reading Refugee Support Group criticised the nationality and borders bill currently going through parliament. The letter, which has the support of Reading City of Sanctuary, said that the bill “undermines our obligation to give all who seek asylum a fair hearing on our soil”. “Those who take dangerous journeys over land to the UK will be treated as criminals,” it said. “The UK must uphold its proud record of helping those fleeing war and oppression, rather than discriminating against refugees depending on how they have reached our shores.” RRSG said in the statement that cooperation between Britain and its allies will be needed to manage the number of people likely to be displaced as a result of the war. Some estimates have put the figure at 5,000,000 people. “A generation ago, the UK saved the lives of thousands of families from the Balkans through an evacuation and resettlement programme which enabled them to rebuild their lives in our country,” the letter reads. “The UK government should again play a leading role in international efforts, including through a significant, well-resourced UK programme, working with councils across the country, to welcome Ukrainians who need sanctuary.”
- ‘’Dram Lovers’’ - Whisky Club 13th March at 5pm A 'club' is just a name.We bring open-minded, thirsty for knowledge and adventure Whisk(e)y lovers and guide them on their journey through our selection of interesting Whiskies. At Chalk Restaurant the idea is to learn and discover new whisky at each of our tastings. Each whisky has a story behind it , to the flavours, and the distillery and all these stories add up to the finished product, the product you are about to taste at each of our events. So whether you’re a whisky fanatic or just beginning your own whisky journey, join us at Chalk to socialise and learn more.
Welcome Cocktail | Whisk(e)y Tasting | Finish off with a glencairn glass of your favourite dram
Whisky Selection - Speyside | Cardhu 12 Years Old | Discovery Glenrothes 11 Years Old | Balvenie 14 Years Old Caribbean Cask | Craigellachie 13 Years Old Once you’ve developed an appetite, we invite you to stay for dinner with a very special twenty percent off food. £29.95 per person
To book please call us direct on 0118 979 8805 or email us at enquiries@chalkrestaurants.com www.chalkrestaurants.com Chalk Restaurant, 31 Broad Street, Wokingham, RG40 1AU
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Student applications rise, contrasting to national decline STUDENT applications to the University of Reading have risen 4% this year. Nationally, there has been a 1% decline in university applications, setting the Reading institution against the trend. The University had more than 20,000 applications for full-time undergraduate courses, an increase of nearly 1,000 on last year. It means that there are around 4.5 applications per place across the 250 available courses. The institution has seen a 10% decline in EU student applications, in line with a 19% decrease nationally, largely due to Brexit. However, applications for arts and humanities subjects saw a sharp rise, also bucking the national trend. This included fine art, typography and graphic communication, humanities, archaeology and computer science. James Ackroyd, director of global recruitment and admissions at the University of Reading, said the rising figures are encouraging. “The growth in applications since 2019 demonstrates that Reading is a popular choice for students both in the UK and internationally, as well demonstrating the hard work of a number of colleagues around the University in achieving this position. “It is also fantastic to see a growing demand for arts and humanities subjects, all areas in which Reading has a long-standing reputation for excellence.”
Garage break-in THIEVES tried to break into a garage in Southcote last week. They forced the lock on the Kenilworth Road outbuilding, but nothing was stolen. The incident took place between 4pm and 8pm on Wednesday, February 23. Witnesses can call 101, quoting: 43220083558.
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University of Reading presented with Queen’s Anniversary Prize
CONGRATULATIONS: Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor, and Professor Joy Singarayer, joint head of the Department of Meteorology receive the medal. Picture: courtesy of University of Reading
THE UNIVERSITY of Reading has been presented with a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its climate change work. The Prince of Wales and The Princess Royal presented Professor Robert Van de Noort, vice-chancellor, and Professor Joy Singarayer, joint head of the Department of Meteorology, with the accolade at a ceremony at St James’s Palace in London. They were given the medal and citation for the award on Thursday, February 17. The Queen’s Anniversary Prize is the highest national honour for a UK institution in higher and further education. Also attending the ceremony were University of Reading chancellor, Baron Waldegrave of North Hill, and representatives of the University’s academic staff and students, including hydrologist Dr Liz Stephens, ecologist Dr Vicky Boult, polar ice researcher Dr Holly Ayres, and PhD student Chloe Brimicombe, who studies heatwaves. The University’s nomination to the awards committee was
titled Tackling the Impacts of Climate Change — From Global to Local, and outlined the work of the meteorologists, climate scientists, hydrologists, ecologists, soil scientists and ‘big data’ specialists. Professor Robert Van de Noort, vice-chancellor of the University of Reading, said it was a great honour for the whole University to win the award. “[It] reflects the work being done by everyone across our institution to fight climate change,” he said. “Their Royal Highnesses showed great interest in our work, and I was pleased to introduce them to colleagues and students whose efforts every day contribute a great deal to our university. “We all play an important role to tackle climate change, in our research and study, in our decisions and investments, and in helping others to understand what is at stake. “I am proud of our community as we work collectively towards this vital common goal.” The latest award is the fifth for the University of Reading.
Reading marks three years since declaring a climate emergency By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today RESIDENTS, businesses and organisations in Reading are being urged to triple their efforts to tackle climate change, on the third anniversary of the council declaring a climate emergency.
On February 26, 2019, Reading Borough Council pledged to join the international effort to slow down climate change. Cllr Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s lead for strategic environment, planning and transport, said that the council has made good progress in three years. “We are heading in the right direction — but not fast enough,” he said. “There is a lot more work planned for us to do at the council and with others to achieve a net zero carbon Reading by 2030, and we need the
Government’s help to get there.” Cllr Page said that within six years, the council’s vehicle fleet will be all electric, and more investment will be made into renewable energy projects. In November last year, the council launched the first fully electric waste collection vehicle in Berkshire. It collects from 1,400 houses daily and drives 8,000 miles a year with no tailpipe emissions — saving 32,200kg of greenhouse gas emissions each year compared to a diesel equivalent. Cllr Page said: “We recognise the importance of the council leading by example and action speaks louder than words so we also have taken steps to drastically cut our own carbon footprint, reducing our emissions as a council by 69.8% since 2008/09.” Cllr Page said that the recent budget announcement also
Autism-friendly events return to Reading museums TWO READING museums celebrated the return of autism and neurodiversity-friendly special events last week. The Museum of English Rural Life hosted the first of a new Museums, My Way programme on Monday, February 21. It is working with Reading Museum on the scheme, which is supported by Autism Berkshire. Phillippa Heath, the learning and engagement manager of The MERL, said she was “delighted” to have developed the new sessions with Reading Museum. The sessions are free to attend and suitable for autistic and neurodiverse people of all ages.
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Autism Berkshire is providing training to staff and helped with the development of the Museums, My Way programme, which includes sensory bags and tailored activities. Thames Valley Police were also present at the event, to encourage people to register for an autism alert card. Those in the scheme can share some information about their needs with police, and officers shown an alert card can request information from a secure database to ensure that they are providing appropriate assistance. More than 2,400 alert cards are already in use across the region.
Lucie Gray, of Thames Valley Police’s Autism support network, said that the cards are a positive step to ensuring meaningful interaction with autistic and neurodiverse people. “The cards help to break down barriers to communication,” she said. Autism Berkshire’s chief executive officer, Jane StanfordBeale, said that the museums sessions and the alert card scheme “are really appreciated by the families we support.”
includes “ambitious plans” for low carbon investment. “The rate at which Reading borough as a whole cuts emissions will need to double for the town to achieve the ambitious goal of net zero by 2030, in eight years time,” he added. “It is sobering to note that the council is responsible for less than 1.5% of Reading’s carbon footprint. “There is little doubt we are headed in the right direction, but the question remains is it fast enough and is central Government investing enough into helping residents, businesses and organisations make the changes they need to?” Cllr Page said continued and sustained effort will be needed to reach the target. “This is a huge challenge which will require buy-in from every single business,
organisation and individual in Reading,” he said. Tracey Rawling Church, cochair of the Reading Climate Change Partnership agreed that there was a “great deal to do” to meet the net zero target by 2030. “Decarbonisation of an entire town is a joint endeavour and can only be achieved through collaboration,” she said. “We’re delighted that we have been able to build effective partnerships with numerous influential groups representing businesses and communities and will continue to focus on increasing these links to get everybody in the town working towards a shared goal of building a better place for everybody who lives, works or studies here.” Ms Rawling Church said that the recent formation of the Net Zero Task Force by the Local Enterprise Partnership will
promote collaboration among Local Authorities. Professor Tim Dixon, cochair of the Reading Climate Change Partnership alongside Ms Rawling Church, said that he is keen to develop further innovative projects to tackle issues such as air quality, energy demand and mobility. He said: “As part of our mission to improve outreach and engagement we are also developing several exciting new projects which we hope will bring a greater awareness of climate change to people and businesses across Reading, as well as our schools and colleges. “A big part of our mission has also been to help increase the diversity and depth of expertise and insight in our partnership board, drawing on industry, the voluntary sector, NHS and the Youth Parliament.” FOR ALL: Autism Berkshire at the Museum of English Rurual Life Pictures: Sapna Odlin
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Physical activity scheme expands to help more Reading residents
By JESS WARREN news@rdg.today
A PHYSICAL activity referral scheme has been expanded to help Reading residents.
The borough council is on a drive to improve health and wellbeing across the area this year. The Healthwise scheme aims to support residents with medical conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, circulatory diseases or depression and anxiety. Its capacity as a GP referral scheme is being increased. It includes a range of support, from weight management courses to water-based exercise sessions. West Reading resident Paul Robinson, 70, was referred to the scheme in September last year by the Royal Berkshire Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation team. He was given 12 weeks of one-to-one support with supervised gym sessions. Mr Robinson said “After my journey through the bypass, post-operation and postcardiac rehab exercises, it was recommended that I came to the gym to carry on with the exercises and keep my heart working properly.” He now trains at the gym
TRAINING: Paul and coach Rob
KEEPING FIT: The Easyline group, who are part of the Healthwise scheme Pictures: Reading Borough Council twice a week and said that the scheme did him a “world of good”. He added: “I’m told I have some colour in my cheeks now, which apparently I didn’t have.” Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL), which operates all of Reading’s four leisure centres on the council’s behalf, leads the scheme. Craig Woodward, GLL’s partnership manager for Reading said: “As a not-forprofit social enterprise, GLL are much more than a gym operator – working closely
in partnership with Reading Borough Council we are at the heart of community health and wellbeing. “By engaging people who would not normally come to a gym, leisure centre or pool and finding the right type of exercise for them, we can make a measurable improvement to people’s quality of life – socially, mentally and physically. “We are very proud of the difference we make and are looking forward to getting more people, more active more often as Reading’s new first-class
leisure facilities open.” Cllr Graeme Hoskin, Reading’s lead for health, wellbeing and sport, said that there is a great deal of support and activities on offer. He added: “I’m delighted that we are progressing our exciting £40 million investment in new leisure facilities which are coming along a-pace. We’re doing this because we’re passionate about improving health and wellbeing across Reading, with the aim of a 40% increase in participation levels. “With all the challenges of
the ongoing pandemic, it is more important than ever we inspire and support the communities we serve to lead healthier, more active lives. “We know that regular activity can reduce the risk of major illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer – as well as play a big role in reducing stress and anxiety. “If you think you would benefit from support into getting active again, speak to your GP or health provider for a referral. That small step can go a long way to improving your quality of life and overall health.” Residents can speak to their GP, practice nurse or Social prescribing link worker, who can refer them to Healthwise.
n For more information, email: Healthwise.Reading@GLL.ORG or visit: www.better.org.uk/ healthwise
Brewery to mark women’s day A TILEHURST brewery is holding an event to celebrate International Women’s Day. Double-Barrelled Brewery’s collaboration brew will take place on Tuesday, March 8 at their unit on Stadium Way. The day will be led by the brewery’s female staff and is open to anyone who identifies as a women who would like to learn about the beer making process. It begins at 8.30am. Attendees are welcome to stay all day or pop in throughout the day. The bar will be open between 3pm and 7pm. n Tickets are free and can be booked online at: doublebarrelled.co.uk
Bicycle stolen from Katesgrove shed
A BICYCLE was stolen following a break-in in Katesgrove. On the evening of Monday, February 21, unknown offender broken into shed on Elgar Road and stole a bike. A spokesperson for Reading’s police team said: “Please report any suspicious incidents or sightings to Thames Valley Police Enquiry on 101.” They also urged residents to check their CCTV cameras or video doorbells. n To make a report relating to the theft, quote crime reference number: 43220080846.
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As you were ... Reading School recreates Royals’ first game BACK IN THE OLD ROUTINE: Reading School hosted the anniversary game marking 150 years of Reading FC Pictures: Daniel Blackham
Indirect free-kick inside the box
A vintage leather football was used By DANIEL BLACKHAM dblackham@rdg.today READING Football Club played Reading School last week, in a rematch of the club’s first ever fixture, which took place on February 21, 1872.
Hosted by Reading School on behalf of the Old Redingensians Association, the game on Wednesday, February 23, forms part of the celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of Reading FC. The match itself was as authentic as possible with the first half played under the set of laws used by the Football Association in 1872. There was no penalty area, no nets, 13-a-side, no substitutes and line-outs for throw-ins.
Reading School on the attack After each goal the teams switched ends and, when the ball went into touch, the first player to touch the ball was awarded the throw. Throw-ins had to be taken one-handed, at right-angles, travel a minimum of six-yards and had to touch the ground before being played. The second half was played based on the modern laws of the game. Limited edition replica shirts, close in colour and design to the Royals first-ever strip, were also worn with an embroidered date of the club’s first ever competitive victory against Reading School, October 16, 1872. Reading won this rematch, with the final score being 4-0.
Royals Academy players lined up for the recreation of the club’s first-ever game Single arm throw-ins were one of the rules in the first half
Grant will help charity that champions reading A READING-based charity that helps children get to grips with reading has been awarded a grant to further its work. Sovereign Housing Association, working with not-for-profit digital fundraising platform The Good Exchange, gave a grant to ABC To Read, as well as online community group Advantages of Age, and The Money Charity. ABC To Read will use the funding
towards recruiting, training, and supporting at least 30 new volunteer reading mentors, to meet demand from primary schools. Marcia Rowlinson, the charity’s CEO, said: “It is absolutely crucial to address the education gap caused by Covid-19, to improve the future prospects of our local youngsters. “Our volunteers are a critical part of the recovery process at this difficult time, bridging that gap and inspiring a
love of reading, and we are very grateful for the support of Sovereign Housing and The Good Exchange in helping us impact as many children as we can.” The grants were welcomed by Sovereign. The housing association’s social impact officer Jade Innes said that it was important to invest in trainingfocused projects at this time. “We want our communities to be able to grow their skills and use the experience to help them reach their goals and thrive,” she said.
n ABC To Read is seeking new volunteers, it also welcomes applications from schools wanting support. For details, email: info@abctoread.org.uk
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Rainbow Badge survey for NHS Trust
THE Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking participants for a survey after being selected to take part in the second phase of the Rainbow Badge initiative. The trust encourages patients, staff, and other users of their services to give feedback which will help it continue to develop its LGBTQ+ support. RBFT joined the Rainbow Badge scheme in 2019, with staff wearing the badge to pledge inclusion and support for members of the LGBTQ+ community within healthcare. The new phase will continue the work of the initiative, which seeks to promote a message of inclusion and equality for both staff and patients within the NHS, and extend the initiative to a national level. Commissioned by the NHS, trusts will work with the LGBTQ+ charities and advocacy groups such as Stonewall and GLADD to develop the pledges made by the original scheme. The scheme will develop into a three-tiered awards system, bronze, silver, and gold, which highlights the levels of use of inclusive practises, support, and training. The new phase also included training and access to resources to further aid inclusion and the creation of safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people, and has been adopted by more than 150 NHS Trusts since its inception in 2018. The second phase will see the trusts’ levels of inclusion assessed, including surveying patients and service users for improvements, and awarded based on inclusivity and training goals.
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Teams batter it out in Launchpad’s pancake race
RARING TO GO: The team from Red King Resourcing ahead of the pancake race Picture: Daniel Blackham
BUSINESSES across Reading have battered it out for charity in Launchpad’s pancake race. The homeless charity, based in Reading, hosted its 25th pancake race on Broad Street on Tuesday, March 1. An egg-citing event saw teams in fancy dress representing business from across Reading in a bid to raise money for charity. Teams of four took part in a series of relay races in knock-out heats with each team member having to flip a pancake three times as they ran. Despite the rain – and the start being delayed due to an oil spill in the town centre – the competitors were cheered on by a
crowd of spectators to the finish line as they battled it out for the coveted frying pan trophy. Prizes were awarded for the top three teams, most fundraised, best team spirit and best fancy dress. All funds raised will help fund the charity’s services for people in Reading who are homeless or at risk of losing their home. Launchpad offers supported housing, a free drop-in service for anyone in a housing crisis and their work and life skills centre. n For more information on Launchpad, visit: launchpadreading.org.uk n For more on the race, including a picture special, don’t miss next week’s issue
Campaigners criticise approval plan for 223 homes on golf course By DANIEL BLACKHAM dblackham@rdg.today CAMPAIGNERS for Keep Emmer Green have criticised a recommended approval for 223 homes in Reading.
The site at Reading Golf Club has been subject to multiple planning applications with a previous application for 257 homes refused after more than 3,000 objections. Matt Burns, planning officer at Reading Borough Council, has now recommended the most recent plan for approval. Mr Burns said the developers, Fairfax, had “overcome the
previous reasons for refusal” and despite significant disruption caused by the building works, evidence showed this could be reduced. Any approval is subject to conditions which would see Fairfax invest more than £1 million into Reading. These contributions would include £550,000 to healthcare, £135,000 to reducing carbon emissions, £557,500 towards open space and leisure facilities in Emmer Green and further funds to increase capacity on nearby roads. A spokesperson for Fairfax said: “The approval follows
an extensive and diligent redesign to reduce the number of properties which has significantly increased the amount of green space. “Additionally, the development now provides considerably more homes that are suitable for families along with much needed affordable houses.” Ian Morgan, campaigner for Keep Emmer Green (KEG), criticised the approval calling it “unexpected”. Mr Morgan said: “KEG believes there is an attempt to rush the application through without proper scrutiny. “What has changed from
Benefactors donate £500,000 to Thames Valley Air Ambulance
n To complete the survey, visit: www.smartsurvey.co.uk
New code: help for older drivers TWO online seminars will take place this month to help older drivers understand the changes to The Highway Code. The sessions will focus on the recent updates which aim to make roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians. There will be a range of speakers, and PC Liz Johnson, from Thames Valley Police’s Road Safety Team will be able to answer questions. The sessions take place at 2pm on Thursday, March 10, and 7pm on Monday, March 14. n Places should be booked by logging on to: olderdriversforum. com/webinars
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SUPPORT: The Thames Valley Air Ambulance Aftercare team Picture: TVAA
the previous application? Very little, the development will still build over 33 acres of open green space, despite objections from numerous wildlife groups.” Proposals show 67 affordable homes in total with 12 fourbedroom homes, four threebedroom homes available through shared ownership and 13 properties available through social rent. The Reading Local Plan envisages a 90 to 130 home development for Reading Golf Club, but it also identifies space for a total of 700 homes in the ‘north Reading area’. Mr Morgan is calling on
councillors to object to the plan. He said: “We hope that our councillors are as shocked as we are and, despite recommendation, will stick their necks out and refuse these damaging plans on Wednesday, March 2. “Reading Borough Council had aimed for a ‘city of parks and rivers’ by the end of the decade but if the council continues down the same route, residents will be stuck with a city and very little else.” The application is set to be considered at the council’s Planning Applications Committee meeting this evening (Wednesday).
HALF a million pounds has been gifted to Thames Valley Air Ambulance, helping the charity expand its support. The money has helped Thames Valley Air Ambulance increase its Aftercare team, by hiring a new patient liaison manager. It was donated by Sir Howard and Lady Stringer last year, and will see the charity receive £100,000 a year for five years. Lady Stringer was moved to help after hearing about the value that Aftercare support can bring to people who have been through life-changing events. She said: “Since becoming involved with the charity, I have been struck by the fact that the care it provides goes well beyond the scene of an emergency. “I’ve been lucky enough to meet former patients and to hear how important Aftercare support has been to them. It was a truly humbling experience and I’m delighted to be able to help Thames Valley Air Ambulance expand its team and reach more people in need of support.” Adam Crosby, head of aftercare at Thames Valley
Air Ambulance, said that the charity was one of the first air ambulances in the country to introduce a patient liaison service. “We are incredibly grateful that we can now expand our team,” he said. “The service has proved invaluable to so many in our community and we have big plans for how to help more people – both former patients, their families and even bystanders. “When you have been through a life-changing incident, or witnessed someone you love in that situation, it can leave you feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed. This generous gift means we will be able to reach out to more people and offer a lifeline when their whole world has been turned upside down.” Lorraine Bint has started as the new patient liaison manager at the end of last year, and there will be another team member joining later this year. Ms Bint has previously worked as a paramedic in London for more than 20 years. After leaving. she volunteered at a hospice and retrained as a counsellor.
Concerns over incinerator air quality By JAMES ALDRIDGE Local democracy reporter A RESIDENT has criticised Reading Borough Council for failing to oppose a plan to build an incinerator which she fears could pollute the air and cause a health hazard.
Waste management contractor J Mould wants to build an energy recovery and data centre at its site off Berrys Lane, Burghfield, which falls within West Berkshire Council. It would process commercial and industrial waste, with the fumes running an electricity-generating turbine. Planning agents for J Mould say it would dispose of 150,000 tonnes of waste per year and provide electricity for the National Grid. A West Reading-based woman has objected, raising fears that it could impact people in the town, and has said Reading Borough Council should have opposed it. “An incinerator creates carbon dioxide which melts the ice caps. Its detrimental to the world,” she wrote. “Emissions from incinerators are harmful for health, and cause cancers and asthma.” She said these health risks could affect people in Coley, Southcote, Whitley and Green Park Village, which has a primary school which opened in September 2020.
She added: “What they [the council] don’t realise is the carbon dioxide emissions and polluting dioxins will hit Reading.” The woman went on to call incinerators a ‘white elephant’ as more and more waste is being recycled, meaning the incinerator will not have enough waste to burn. “There’s not enough rubbish now and in the future to keep these incinerators viable – there wouldn’t be enough rubbish to burn,” she argued. A spokesperson for Reading Borough Council said officers examined the plan when it was submitted in September 2020, and recently, and found no reasons to object. “This planning application is for the existing J Mould Reading Quarry site in West Berkshire, which is already designated as a waste management facility,” they said. “It should be noted, the council’s response was based solely on the impact on Reading borough as the neighbouring authority, rather than any impact in West Berkshire. “Guidance found that the impact of pollutants released ... would be insignificant ... in Reading. n The plan, reference 20/02029/ COMIND, can be viewed westberks. gov.uk’s planning portal
Reading family makes fundraising pledge to thank ambulance crews By NATALIE BURTON news@rdg.today
Laura Turner, from Reading, was heading to a baby music group with her son Charlie Green in September 2018 when he suddenly stopped breathing. He had blood running from his nose. Ms Turner had been on a baby first aid course during her pregnancy and after dialling 999 was able to begin rescue breaths on Charlie. “He had gone grey and floppy, honestly, I thought he was gone,” she said. “I remember Charlie started breathing slowly on his own while I was waiting, so I held him in the baby recovery position so the blood didn’t go into his airway. “A South Central Ambulance Service call handler talked me through things and told me that Charlie could hear me and to reassure him.” An SCAS crew and Thames Valley Air Ambulance arrived within six minutes and took over. Charlie was stabilised before being taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital. He was put on a ventilator and transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Charlie stayed at the John Radcliffe for a week. He made a full recovery with no developmental concerns, despite the need for resuscitation and ventilation. Ms Turner will be joined on the fundraising challenge by Charlie, now age three.
The Beehive Club: Boredom busting activities to keep your child busy and engaged throughout the school holidays!
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FAMILY: Charlie and Laura on their outrun an ambulance challenge
A MOTHER has taken on a fundraising challenge to thank those who helped save the life of her eight-week-old baby.
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HE Beehive club offers something for every child aged 3 to 11 during term-time and out. Running term-time breakfast and after school clubs for the children of Nine Mile Ride, Crownwood, Wooden Hill, Finchampstead CofE, Oaklands, and Wildmoor Heath Primary Schools, we also offer exciting days throughout the school holidays. “I’m bored” is not something we hear at our holiday clubs! From the moment they join us until they leave, they will be active and engaged. Planned around themed weeks, our holiday programmes offer a mix of high energy and calm activities which always factor in some outside time, no matter the season. Typically offering a range of team sports, arts and crafts, cooking, bouncy castle fun, traditional board games and gaming consoles as well as outdoor adventures such as treasure hunts, den building and even cooking on fire, we also welcome visiting groups for exciting experience sessions. Your child can get up close with birds of prey, handle reptiles, learn Street Dance, performance and acting techniques, enjoy soft archery, perfect football skills and even meet a real-life Disney princess! We have
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even had a visiting ice cream van. Each day there is something different planned. All activities are included in the price of the holiday club. Sessions are booked online through our secure registration and booking system. With morning, afternoon and all-day sessions, our clubs fit around your day and we even provide healthy snacks and drinks (and the occasional treat!) so all your child will need is a packed lunch. Our visitor experiences and all activities are included in our morning's sessions running from 8:00 am until 1:00 pm and priced at £20. Afternoon sessions run from 1:00pm-6:00pm at £20 with all-day sessions from 8:00am-6:00pm at £36 The next Beehive Holiday Club is scheduled for the Easter holidays and we’re pleased to offer sessions in two locations; Crownwood Primary School, Bracknell from Monday 4th - Friday 14th April and Nine Mile Ride Primary School, Finchampstead from Monday 11th - Thursday 14th April. To register and book, please visit: www.beehive.magicbooking.co.uk � For more information, please visit: www.beehiveclub.co.uk � And for general enquiries please email us at: enquiries@beehiveclub.co.uk You can also follow us on Facebook @thebeehivekidsclub or Twitter @BeehiveOf
“He is a bright, happy, sociable boy who loves riding his bike, swimming and anything to do with cars — his dad Adam and I are so proud of him every single day,” she said “We are so grateful for the excellent care he received from SCAS, TVAA and both hospitals. “We wanted to give something back to say thank you.” Ms Turner and Charlie decided to take part in this year’s outrun an ambulance virtual challenge, which asks supporters to cover more miles than an emergency ambulance does in a single shift. Reading ambulances cover 90 miles in a typical shift, while those based in Bracknell cover 155 miles. The time frame to complete the distance and the way it is covered can be
decided by participants. The aim is that methods are self-propelled. Examples include walking, running, swimming, cycling and scooting. “Charlie and I chose the mileage of a Reading ambulance,” Ms Turner explained. “He will ride his bike and I will run, and we are aiming to complete it in as little time as we can.” Vanessa Casey, chief executive of South Central Ambulance Charity, said that it is “lovely” to see Charlie doing well. She thanked the family for their support and said: “This is such an amazing story and we hope it inspires more people to sign up.” n For more information, visit: www. outrunanambulance.co.uk and click on Berkshire.
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Eunice forces Players to cancel new show EXCLUSIVE By JAKE CLOTHIER news@rdg.today THE SHINFIELD Players Theatre group has postponed its latest play, Last Tango in Whitby, after high winds damaged its theatre space.
Now taking registrations
The roof of the theatre was torn from the building in Shinfield Park during Storm Eunice on Friday, February 18. Originally due to open today, the play has now been postponed indefinitely while efforts to restore the theatre are carried out. Jessica Wilkins, a member of the company, said that the players were “very disappointed with the situation” but that morale was high. “Everyone came together to help, it was amazing,” she said. The company appealed for help on social media after the damage, and volunteer efforts to preserve the theatre building and prevent any further damage were carried out on Saturday, February 19. Ms Wilkins said that the help was “phenomenal”. “People not even involved with the theatre still came to help,” she said. The roof damage led to many parts of the theatre being
TEAM WORK: Tarpauling has been used to temporary secure the roof Picture: Dijana Capan/DVision rain-damaged, including the stage, the auditorium, and the floor. Parts of the set for the nowpostponed play were also heavily damaged by exposure to rain during the storm. Thanks to the volunteer efforts, the theatre’s seats, light box, and sound box were saved from damage. While efforts to repair the space begin, the theatre company has shifted its focus and is preparing a musical production in place of Last Tango in Whitby. Rehearsals continued for the new production, Our House, in improvised practise spaces.
The company has now been offered rehearsal spaces by Berkshire Maestros, which made its ensemble rooms available to allow the production to continue. Ms Wilkins said that the company “has been rehearsing there with little disruption so far”. “We know how many people love the theatre, and it is still in a very bad way, but we’ve got our fingers crossed, and the support has been amazing,” she said. n Our House - The Musical will be performed on Friday, May 29; Saturday, May 30; and Thursday to Saturday, May 5 to 7.
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
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CONNECTIONS: The new Green Park Station is set to open this summer Picture: Reading Borough Council
Green Park Station to open this summer READING’S Green Park Station is continuing to take shape. Work on the £20 million station started in spring 2019 and includes 2,150 metres of platforms to date. The site also has an accessible station building, overbridge with stairs and lifts, a bus interchange and cycle storage, and two car parks. In the coming weeks, work will continue on the final finishes, including toilets, ticket vending machines and signage. Green Park Station will sit on the Reading to Basingstoke line and will be served by a halfhourly service north to Reading and south to Basingstoke through the day. It will have two platforms. It is expected to open this summer. When complete, the borough
council hopes that the new station will help alleviate queues on the busy A33. It will also provide connections for the expanding Green Park Business Park and Green Park Village. Cllr Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s lead for strategic environment, planning and transport, said it is fantastic to see the progress captured in aerial photographs. “All being well, we are now close to construction being complete,” he said. “The station will then be commissioned by Network Rail and GWR before it can open for public use this year. “When operational, Green Park Station will form an integral part of Reading’s evergrowing sustainable transport infrastructure with more
homes, businesses and leisure developments planned in the south of the borough. It will also be another option for football fans heading to the stadium on match days, again taking the pressure off our busy roads.” GWR business development director, Tom Pierpoint, said that it is exciting to see Reading Green Park Station starting to take shape. “We are working closely with the council and Network Rail to deliver the project which will provide even better connectivity for customers,” he said. “Reading is a key destination on our network and this new station will help to secure the economic prosperity of the region as we seek to build back better from the pandemic.”
Number waiting for heart transplant nearly doubles 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
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THE NUMBER of people who are waiting for a heart has nearly doubled in a decade. As a result of the 85% increase, NHS Blood and Transplant is urging families to have a heart-to-heart about organ donation. It says that more than 300 people, including 40 children, are waiting for the operation, despite transplants continuing throughout the pandemic. Anthony Clarkson, director of organ and tissue donation and transplantation at NHS
Blood and Transplant, says: “Thousands of people across the UK are waiting for the call that a donor has been found to save or transform their life, and hundreds of them need a heart transplant. “We encourage everyone in Berkshire to have that heart-toheart now. “Talk to your family and tell them your organ donation decision, leave them certain of it. And make sure you know what they would want too, so you can support their decision.”
And this view was echoed by the minister for primary care, Maria Caulfield. “It’s vital more people consider becoming organ donors, especially those from black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds,” she said. NHS app users can also use the service to record, check or update their donation decision. n For more information, or to register for organ donation decision, visit: www. organdonation.nhs.uk
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Budget has the right balance for Reading’s future, says leader EXCLUSIVE By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today THE new budget for Reading is one that has the right balance of prudence and caution, as well as ambition and opportunity.
That’s the view of the leader of Reading Borough Council, Jason Brock. Last Wednesday, councillors approved the plans for the financial year that starts on April 1, and with it a 2.99% rise in council tax, the smallest for some years. However, the council can’t carry out long-term planning due to a lack of long-term clarity from the government over the grant it sends not just to Reading, but to every council in the country to help them run vital services, including adult social care. “I’m really pleased we’ve managed to pass a very ambitious budget that also recognises there are a lot of challenges just around the corner,” he told Reading Today. Cllr Brock is grateful to the officers who helped prepare the budget. “Without such sterling officers around the council, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” he said. “To be utterly candid, we know that back in 2016-17, the council was staring over the financial precipice. Look at how far we’ve come to have a real platform of genuine stability that allows us to make investments around the town, protect our frontline services and enhance them too. “Compared to the situation that many councils are in, I think we are in a very robust place.” The Southcote councillor said that he was pleased – and proud – of the council’s plans to help the less fortunate. “We have, for the very first time, a very targeted programme of work that will allow us to begin to tackle those entrenched inequalities around the town. These have developed after a decade of Tory national government austerity. “It’s right that we, as a council, will look to do whatever we can to help people who haven’t shared in Reading’s financial and economic success.” That success has allowed the council to start planning for bigger infrastructure projects including
LOOKING AHEAD: Cllr Jason Brock says this year’s budget has the right balance for Reading’s future Picture: Stewart Turkington the new leisure centres, the Green Park railway station and the refurbishment of Reading West. “These are things that people will visually see around the town and I sincerely hope that they will enjoy using them,” he said. While Cllr Brock is pleased with the success, he is also focused on helping those in need given the current economic climate. “For me personally, what motivates me the most is work to really tackle these inequalities,” he said. “Let’s be clear, there really is a cost of living crisis looming, and it is only the government that has access to the full resources that can properly mitigate it. As a council we will do everything we can, I’m really pleased we’ve enhances our Council Tax support scheme, which will help those on the lowest incomes.” Other support includes vouchers to help with energy and food costs. “It is going to be a really difficult period,” he warned. “We are going to need to be very nimble in how we find ways to help people. It will be tough as well.” He can see other pressures too: the increase in adult social care costs will be a big part of this, affecting not just local authorities, but the NHS as well. “The NHS wouldn’t have been able to do the fantastic work that they have done from the pandemic, without social care services in local councils up and down the country, enabling them to do that kind of work,” Cllr Brock said.
Tickets on sale for Youth in Mind’s spring conference TICKETS for the Youth in Mind mental health conference aimed at youth workers have gone on sale. Hosted by Youth in Mind Berkshire, the conference will take place at The Globe, Portman Road, on Wednesday, May 18. The conference, aimed at people who work in statutory, voluntary or third sector organisations, will focus on well-being and mental health in children and young people.
The theme of the conference will be Through Our Eyes, emphasising the voices of children and young people and drawing on extensive research and their experiences. Youth in Mind aims to inspire delegates to attend further talks, workshops and exhibitions, as well as work with one another towards supporting mental health. Dan Knowles, CEO of Oxfordshire Mind/Mind in Berkshire, said that
Making this harder to navigate is the problems local authorities are experiencing with the current government. “The honest truth is the great majority of council leaders, independent of what party they represent, would tell you this has been one of the most difficult governments to engage with and have a constructive conversation with. “I understand that Conservative council leaders might have a motivation for saying they have the ear of Whitehall, but from what I hear, I do not believe that to be true. “The government has, time and time again, treated local councils as though they are nothing more than a local branch of national government, rather than as legitimate and democratic organisations that have a particular insight into their local areas and can deliver things that central government never could. “So, I think it is really is high time that we start to have a proper conversation nationally, about what we want local government to do and deliver, and how we are going to ensure that it’s properly resourced to do that.” Hindering him, and his counterparts across England, is the government’s refusal to offer a longterm solution to the local settlement grant – the amount of money it sends each year to councils to help run essential services. “The government continues to change the goalposts on an almost annual basis, while also at the same the conference would be a great opportunity for schools, statutory services, the third sector, and other organisations to come together, share knowledge and ideas, and find new ways of collaborating to meet those needs. Last year the Youth Survey conducted by Berkshire Youth found that 76% of young people it consulted felt that mental health was an important issue. And 56% felt that their mental health had declined during the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Knowles said: “At a time when it’s more important than ever to understand the need for
time refusing to ever to give us more than a single year’s financial certainty,” he said. “That makes it tremendously difficult to plan, especially if we want to deliver multi-year projects. We can learn to be innovative in the face of funding cuts if it wasn’t for this fact.” His message to the government? “Give us a multi-year funding settlement so have certainty and stability. But also give us freedom to deliver the things we know we can deliver. Have a conversation with us around how we might go about sustainably funding local councils in the future. “We need to have that conversation.” This is a view echoed by the Local Government Association. Last month, its chairman Cllr James Jamieson said: “With future years looking challenging, it is crucial that local services have a long-term, sustainable future which gives councils certainty over their funding. This includes the urgent need for clarity from the Government on which local government funding reforms will happen and when.” The council does have reserves in place as it looks to the immediate future, but Cllr Brock has had to increase council tax. “Nobody wants a council tax rise, no politician will want to put it up because we know it’s not a popular thing to do,” he said. “However, to ensure we can continue to deliver all the essential frontline services, we have to do it. Remember Reading is responsible for everything from picking up the bins through to strategic transport provision, through to adults and social care. “Reading needs to have a sustainable financial base to do that.” That said, Cllr Brock was pleased this year’s increase was below the rate of inflation. “It’s the lowest rise we’ve had in a great many year. I know it’s not going to be popular with residents. “But really, residents will look around and see all the projects coming to fruition, things like our leisure centres, the free bulky waste collection, investment, an enhanced partnership with the bus company, and think that Reading Borough Council is delivering value for money.” How residents view Cllr Brock’s budget will be tested in May, during the local elections. X will certainly mark the spot. mental health and wellbeing support from a young person’s perspective, we are delighted to be hosting Youth in Mind Berkshire.” Early bird tickets will be available at £29.50 until Saturday, March 19, after which regular tickets will be available at £39.50. Refreshments will be provided by Fink Street Food in Newbury, who give more than 50% of profits towards raising awareness of mental health issues and fighting stigma around the subject. n Tickets can be purchased at: www.eventbrite.co.uk
DO you have a healthy organisational culture? ANSWER these 4 questions to fi fin nd out
I
F you’re not nurturing a culture that promotes positive behaviours, habits and ideas in your team, your business is unlikely to be performing at its full potential. Culture happens organically, but a healthy culture needs cultivating. I sometimes liken it to gardening. Positive aspects need to be tended and fed nutrients, so they grow and flourish, while negative aspects need weeding out before they have an opportunity to take root.
Although cultural health can’t be measured, it can certainly be felt, and it’s something I can usually pick up on very quickly on visiting a client’s premises. Based on my experience, here are four questions which will help you to determine if your culture is in good shape, or in need of attention: 1. How Does Recognition Happen & Who Gives It? What’s explicit versus implicit? Does recognition happen naturally? Up, down and across the organisation? 2. How Are People Judged? In a results-based culture, values are observed naturally, assumptions are checked before conclusions are drawn, poor performance is explored and issues are addressed and resolved early, so they don’t have the opportunity to grow into more significant problems. 3. How Are Mistakes Dealt With? In a healthy culture, people aren’t afraid to ask for advice. People at all levels will exude clear ownership and responsibility, and if something goes wrong, processes and systems will be reviewed as well as people contribution so blame is not automatically be assigned. 4. Are People Forthcoming About Difficult Issues? A healthy, open culture leaves no space for rumour, gossip or suspicion. Changes are anticipated, understood and difficult decisions are supported.
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The halls are aliv of music at a R
Volunteer corner
Reading Voluntary Action
By JESS WARREN news@rdg.today UTC READING has received “unbelievably generous” donations of musical instruments, following a social media appeal.
PICTURE: Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash
Crumbs! Reading’s Children’s Festival returns with biscuit-themed fun
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HRIVE uses gardening to bring about positive changes in the lives of people living with disabilities or ill-health. It uses an approach called social and therapeutic horticulture, where trained horticultural therapists work with plants and people to improve an individual’s physical and psychological health, communication and thinking skills. They are currently seeking more Client Gardener Support Volunteers to work alongside client gardeners. From encouraging, talking, demonstrating, or guiding the individuals to a greater or lesser extent depending on their needs, to helping clear up after gardeners have left. Volunteers will need to be able to commit to one day a week for a minimum of six months, between 9.45am-3.15pm on weekdays. n Enrych Berkshire is an organisation that provides people with disabilities extra support to enable them to enjoy hobbies, interests and activities of their choosing. They are looking for a Friendly Volunteer to help an Enrych member who has survived a Stroke. He is looking for somebody to go out walking with him and enjoy fresh air, perfect for volunteers that like to get out and about and enjoy chatting. n Reading Refugee Support Group has been supporting asylum seekers and refugees for more than 25 years. They are looking for a friendly and warm individual to be the first point of contact for new and existing clients during our Monday morning drop-in, which runs from 10.30am1pm Duties will include welcoming and signing in clients, recording confidential information, and ensuring Health and Safety procedures are adhered to. An ability to maintain professional boundaries and speak other languages such as Kurdish, Dari, Pashto, or Arabic are essential. n Take a look at our brand-new Reading Volunteer Connect platform for details of these these and many more opportunities to volunteer via our website, www.rgneeds.me. Want to get in touch? Drop us an email at volunteering@rva.org.uk or call 0118 937 2273.
THREE WEEKS of family-friendly events are coming to Reading. From Saturday, May 14, to Sunday, June 5, there will be a range of activities, workshops and open days to celebrate Huntley and Palmers 200th Anniversary. The Reading Children’s Festival will start with a Forbury Fiesta on Saturday, May 15. Cllr Karen Rowland, Reading Borough Council’s lead for culture, heritage and recreation, said: “I’m delighted our fantastic Children’s Festival is returning for its 33rd year, and to be celebrating the 200th birthday of our famous Reading institution, Huntley and
Palmers, with plenty of biscuitthemed fun. “It is also a great build-up to all the exciting events and activities we are looking forward to as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.” Cllr Rowland encouraged groups and organisations to apply for a space to shape this year’s agenda. “Whether it’s fundraising or face-painting, we want to hear from you,” she said. The full diary of events and activities on offer across Children’s Festival 2022 will be available from April. n For more information, visit: www. reading.gov.uk/childrensfest
Two thirds of Britain’s young workforce have only met colleagues in person once
TECHROCK: All of the instruments were donat Reading chance to practise, this enrichment is for everyone, even beginners. “A lot of the students here are very intelligent, high functioning young people and music is the ideal way for them to exercise their creativity and let off steam. That’s not just learning chords on a guitar; they can play around with live looping, DJing and producing.” Pete also hopes that it will help students emotionally. “I’m convinced that the school will see an improvement in behaviour with some of the students who might be struggling,” he says. “After nearly two years being stuck at home with the pandemic, the lack of social interaction, simply being in
Popular trail for Reading beer fans returns
PICTURE: Luca Bravo on Unsplash NEARLY two thirds of young workers have only met their colleagues face-to-face once, according to new research. According to pub company and brewer Greene King, 65% of adults aged 18 to 24, often referred to as Gen Z, have seen colleagues in person just once since starting a job in the pandemic. Around 85% of British office workers polled say they are looking forward to a return to the office with getting to spend more time with colleagues and work social events high on the agenda. And 75% say that pub lunches and after work drinks essential for bonding with colleagues. Alex Dawson at Greene King, said: “The pub isn’t just a place to drink, the pub is a hub for creative ideas, friendships and team bonding.
It was prompted when Pete Doyle, parent of a former student noted the lack of music provision at the STEMspecialist school. Peter, who teaches music in his spare time and has also run charity events such as Battle of the School Bands and the Reading Rock Academy, spoke with principal Jonathan Nicholls about his plan, who embraced the idea. “I sent a Facebook post from my account and from some of the [social media] groups I am part of asking for urgent donations of instruments to a school,” says Pete, who runs his own social media agency. “I wasn’t sure anyone would be listening but the response has been unbelievable. “We’ve been overwhelmed with donations. We’ve had people donate amps, mics, a drum kit, guitars… so much it has been a good few car-fulls.” Pete has now begun phase two of his masterplan. He has set up a music enrichment programme for students better known for their love of technical subjects. And so TechRock was born. “We’ve been running a few weeks now and numbers are growing,” he says. “We’ve got around 24 students who are doing all sorts from singing to playing to producing and looping. “There’s even a talented English teacher – Russell – who is a total legend, playing guitar and supervising the lessons.” Pete says that he suspected there was an appetite for music at the college, and that the take up has been amazing. He adds: “As well as giving some of the more experienced musicians a
“Working from home had a major impact on social activities. Everything from mid-week lunches to after work drinks had to be put on hold so it’s no surprise people are eager to get back to socialising and spending time together in the pub. “We are giving people the chance to finally enjoy all those special moments with colleagues and friends that may have been missed in previous months due to coronavirus restrictions and we can’t wait to welcome you back”. Prior to the pandemic almost half of office workers in the country would go to the pub or a local restaurant for lunch up to four times a month with colleagues. For many, it is viewed as a place to wind down and get to know colleagues.
A POPULAR fixture on the Reading real ale calendar returns after a two year absence this weekend. The Reading ale trail officially launches at a special event in The Retreat on St John’s Street between noon and 4pm on Saturday, March 5. Organisers decided to go ahead with the trail despite the cancellation of this year’s Reading Beer and Cider Festival. The ale trail is a format familiar to beer fans across Reading and Wokingham. A team from the Reading and Mid Berkshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale choose 24 pubs from across its area to be included on the trail. The final list is selected based on a number of criteria, including accessibility of location and the selection of real ales and ciders available to punters. A limited run of 700 booklets
containing the full details of the trail is then made available to those who want to take part, and sold from three Reading pubs. Participants then visit each of the featured bars, buy a pint or half pint of real ale or cider, and collect a unique sticker to mark their trip. Designated drivers of those buying alcohol on the trail will also receive a sticker. Booklets cost £2 and can be bought from The Retreat, Nags Head and Alehouse, all in Reading. Each pub is also on the trail. The other Reading town centre pubs on the trail are The Greyfriar, Allied Arms, Castle Tap, The Butler, Turks Head, The Weather Station and Hop Leaf. Outside of the centre, the Fox and Hounds and The Griffin in Caversham make this year’s list, as do The Victoria and The Fox and Hounds in Tilehurst.
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ve with the sound Reading college
Reading Buses’ Sharmila is a shining star
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ted following a social media appeal Picture: UTC a practice room working with others is so beneficial. Being able to express yourself creatively through music is for everyone. “The plan is to encourage the students to take ownership of TechRock – so looking after the instruments, planning the music they want to create and if and where it is performed. I’m also hoping it will become a more formal arrangement, embedded in school life.” Principal Jonathan praised the project. “While we have a focused and response curriculum, it is important that we find ways for our students to express their wonderful diverse array of talents,” he says. “In just a
few weeks, I have seen students in a state of flow, expressing themselves through music and more than anything, having fun. “This is thanks to Pete’s commitment to the project and his connections who have very kindly donated an incredible array of equipment to help the growth of this project.”
A READING Buses employee whose work has been described as “pivotal” in keeping the company operating throughout the pandemic has been celebrated. Management accountant Sharmila Perera, 43, from Southcote has been named star of the month. Her work ethic, commitment, helpfulness and insight were all congratulated by collages, after she managed key funding for the business. HR director Caroline Anscombe says: “Sharmila has done a fantastic job in managing our Covid-19 Bus Service Support Grant (CBSSG) reconciliation submissions over the past 18 months – something that meant we could receive muchneeded funding at the height of the pandemic to keep our business running.
“Sharmila created a system that took a lot of manual work out of the process of submitting information for the funding, saving a huge amount of resource. “This allowed us to focus on reviewing the numbers and ensuring the submissions were justifiable and robust. “Where questions have been posed, Sharmila has been able to answer the questions quickly and follow up with supporting evidence and documentation leading to all questions being fully closed out and resolved.” Sharmila was nominated by finance director Laurence Jenkins. “This award is a true testament to her hard work, not only over the last 18 months, but during her [16 years] at Reading Buses,” Caroline adds.
TRAIL: One of the Reading town centre pubs on this year’s ale trail is the Allied Arms, St Mary’s Butts Picture: Secret Coach Park via Wikimedia Commons
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STAR: Sharmila from Southcote has been named star of the month at Reading Buses. Picture: Reading Buses
Return coach travel from Reading 4 nights at the Bromsgrove Hotel & Spa, Bromsgrove with dinner & breakfast (all meals buffet style) Cruise on the River Avon Heritage train journey on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Excursions to Stratford-upon-Avon, Worcester, Tewkesbury, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold & Broadway
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Earley and Shinfield are represented by Park House Bar, on the University of Reading Whiteknights campus, and The Three Tuns on Wokingham Road. The north east side of the trail visits the Horse and Groom in Hare Hatch, the Royal Oak in Knowl Hill, The Bell in Waltham
St Lawrence and the Loddon Tap Room in Dunsden Green. Stickers can also be collected from Wokingham pub The Crispin, the George and Dragon in Swallowfield, Six Bells in Burghfield and The Elm Tree in Beech Hill. n For more information on this year’s trail, visit: reading.camra.org.uk/aletrail
POETRY CORNER March March can come in like a lamb, white and soft with new-fallen snow..
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30 | VIEWPOINTS READING’S NEW CHAMPION
Standing together with Ukraine LIKE much of the world, we have seen the events in the Ukraine with horror. As Putin’s troops have been massed on the border for several weeks, the invasion was not a surprise. Nor is our reaction to it. The government, like the EU, has taken action to hurt Russia with sanctions. For this, they deserve praise. And the public are busy providing help, assistance, and an outpouring of solidarity. On social media, many have added a Ukrainian flag or colours, just as our masthead this week has changed, as a way of showing support. Practical support has also been offered: financial gifts to charities such as the Red Cross, and donations of clothing, tents and survival gear have been given, and given generously. Reading is proud of its Ukrianian centre, one part of its cosmopolitan outlook. We are a town where everyone is welcomed, and celebrated, for who they are, not who we want them to be. The outpouring of support comes from everyone, because that is who we are, as Reading, one united people. Our heart breaks for our European neighbour, attacked by a grizzly Russian bear that seems to think the old rules still apply. We live in hope that jaw jaw will bring this invasion to a swift end. Until then, Reading will stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine. Why wouldn’t we?
CHURCH NOTES
Are you a saint? Am I a saint?
O
N Tuesday it was March 1, St David’s Day. That may well have gone unnoticed by you but as a Welsh man I like to wear a daffodil on that day, which I prefer to wearing a leek.
When I was growing up in Wales, St David’s day was a big day in school – a day when we did not follow normal lessons. In the secondary school we had an all-day eisteddfod, with singing and competitions between the different houses. I once wrote a poem … but it came last. But, what is a saint? Well, the early churches of the second and third centuries used the word to describe special Christians, those who had achieved a lot or who had martyred: St Peter, St Stephen, St Paul etc, and in modern day terms maybe Mother Theresa and Billy Graham. In that case, I am not a saint … and I suspect neither or you. However, that was not the way the word was used in the New Testament. It was the word used to describe anyone who believed in Jesus; that is, ordinary, everyday Christians. They were all saints, so … in that case, I am a saint. Are you?
Michael Penny, Chair of Churches Together in Reading and Berkshire, writing on behalf of Churches Together in Reading
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Letters
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The benefits system I write with some points about the Benefits System. If the changes confuse me, I can’t think what they must do to the mentally ill. Taxpayers’ money must have been used to change the names of the benefits – all to no purpose, because there was nothing wrong with the names that they had. The old names for the benefits – Housing Benefit, Incapacity Benefit, Unemployment Benefit, and Disability Living Allowance, told one exactly what they were. This last week, I succeeded in getting Personal Independence Payment, for a lady who has suffered from cancer, and other, physical, as well as, mental, health problems. With relief, she said, ‘Now I will sometimes be able to take a taxi, instead of always having to wait for the bus.’ This was one of the very points that Sir John Redwood kindly submitted to the ministers, for me, when I was commenting, to Parliament, on the changeover, from Disability Living Allowance, to Personal Independence Payment. I disagreed with the abolition of the Low Rate – explaining that a person, with a moderate, mental or physical, disability, who would not qualify for High or
Middle Rate Benefit, might, just about, be able to struggle to the supermarket, for food shopping, but would need to take a taxi, back. The Low Rate of Benefit, would enable them to pay for the taxi. At least, I managed to get Standard Rate, [the old Middle Rate], for this lady. But often, people with only, mental, disabilities, who, in the past, qualified just for the Low Rate of Disability Living Allowance, may, under the new system, get nothing. For this reason, when I apply for them, I always submit full medical evidence. I explain that this always carries the most weight. We may be saying exactly the same thing, but he, nevertheless, is a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and I am not.
Pam Jenkinson, The Wokingham Crisis House
Failing women Women are being failed as the awareness crisis in ovarian cancer deepens. Symptoms of ovarian cancer are being ignored – both by those experiencing them and their GPs. This March, for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Target Ovarian Cancer is urging the public to sign open letters to governments across the UK
From the chamber John Ennis
We don’t need cuts, we need investment
L
AST Wednesday I had the privilege of seconding the Council’s Budget for the year ahead.
As usual, the debate that followed had lots of gamesmanship from the opposition parties. We always expect this, but it’s a shame really because it’s a great Budget that I think all Tories, Greens and Lib Dems secretly wanted to support. Introducing the Budget, the Council Leader said that ‘we no longer manage decline, we manage renewal’. That’s absolutely right. I remember the really tough years of Tory austerity that drove the Council to the absolute brink. Things still aren’t easy by any stretch, but despite all the challenges of the pandemic we’ve brought forward some great plans and investments to benefit people right across Reading. Other councils are looking at us with envy because we’re built a secure financial platform. But that’s never the point – the point is to do right by our residents. It’s totally disingenuous that the local
and tell them what is needed to combat the crisis. We desperately need to make progress in people’s knowledge of the symptoms. In 2010, my mother, the actress Marjie Lawrence, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer just three weeks before she died. Had we and her doctors been aware of the symptoms, Marjie might be alive today. If diagnosed at the earliest stage, nine in 10 women will survive. But two thirds of women are diagnosed late, when the cancer is harder to treat. I’m writing to ask your readers to take just two minutes of their time to learn the symptoms and spread the word to their families and friends. The main symptoms of ovarian cancer are: persistent bloating, feeling full or having difficulty eating, tummy pain, and needing to wee more often or more urgently. If you believe in a future where every woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer has the best chance of survival, please show your support and add your name to the open letter: campaign. targetovariancancer.org.uk/ openletter
Sarah Greene, Target Ovarian Cancer Patron, 30 Angel Gate, City Road, London EC1V 2PT www. targetovariancancer. org.uk
Conservatives chose, last week, to vote against a £5 million increase in the adult social care budget. Given all the fantastic work of our carers over the past two years – and it’s frankly been heroic – it’s entirely appropriate that we would ensure proper funding is available in a time of rising demand for care alongside rising costs of care. The opposition knows this, but all they spoke about on Wednesday was that they would make cuts instead. We don’t need cuts – we need investment. We need transformational work to help people live fuller, more independent, lives. We need new extra-care housing in Reading and we need a stable workforce to deliver services. That’s what Labour’s Budget provides, and I was so proud to vote for it. I thank all our carers for their hard work and dedication and, as a Council, we will keep looking to support them. We’ve recently announced retention payments and recruitment payments to help both reward and stabilise the workforce. Labour committed the Council to being a living wage employer some time ago, and we have the same expectation of our care sector partners too. I know that adult social care isn’t top of everyone’s list of short-term interests day-to-day, but it is so important to so many people around the town. And one day, it will touch all of our lives – either because we need care ourselves, or because one of our loved ones does. The Government needs to fulfil its duty to maintain a robust and financially secure care system in our country. In the meantime, Labour-run Reading Borough Council will keep doing our best to keep the show on the road.
Cllr John Ennis is the lead councillor for social care at Reading Borough Council and a Labour councillor for Southcote
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, March 2, 2022
From the vicechancellor Robert Van de Noort
Changing campus to cut carbon
L
AST month, I was honoured to represent the University, along with several world-class climate change scientists, at a ceremony at St James’s Palace and receive the 2022 Queen’s Anniversary Prize from HRH The Price of Wales and the Princess Royal.
We were awarded the Prize for our work on climate change and how we can prepare for changes in the climate and the weather, especially extreme weather events. No sooner was I back at the Whiteknights campus, we were faced with Storm Eunice and, in keeping with the findings of our research, decided to close our campuses for a day to ensure the safety of students and colleagues working here. Climate change, and its many environmental impacts, require action from us. Our world-class research in this field is well known, but we are doing much more. For example, come to the Whiteknights campus and you are surrounded by carbon cutting initiatives, including more than 3,500 solar panels on buildings, locally sourced and plant-first food and drink in our canteens, and ground source heat pumps keeping students warm in lecture theatres. Educating future generations on climate change, and what we can do to reduce its impact and be resilient to the changes, is also central to our work. Last autumn, we hosted a Climate Education Summit, which brought together young people, campaigners and science and education specialists to discuss how to better teach climate change in schools, colleges and youth groups. The clear message that came out of the Summit was that teaching on climate change should be in every classroom and feature in every subject. Every one of us will be affected by a changing climate, and so every one of us – whether we study art or economics – needs knowledge and skills to tackle these issues together. This work is ongoing in the form of an action plan being delivered with Summit partners and the Government’s Department for Education. We have a lot to offer as a university to support objectives such as providing resources and climate information for teachers and providing scientists to support school initiatives. It is critical that the next generation understands the importance of sustainable living as they will grow up in a world shaped by environmentally focused decisions being made today. I’m proud that the University of Reading is at the forefront of giving young people greater access to the facts. Our latest climate education initiative is an online course aimed at primary school teachers, sharing ideas to effectively teach young pupils about climate change and with a focus on outdoor learning. The world in 30 years will inevitably look different to today, especially where the environment is concerned. This makes it vitally important that we as a university do all we can to help the world adapt to and combat the challenges ahead.
Professor Robert Van de Noort is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading
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Vice-chancellor celebrates elderly volunteer for garden dedication
THANK YOU: Professor Robert Van de Noort presenting the award to Monica Jobson. Picture: University of Reading
By JESS WARREN news@rdg.today AN ELDERLY volunteer who has spent two decades helping maintain a public garden has been celebrated with an award.
Monica Jobson, now in her 80s, volunteers in the University of Reading’s Harris Garden. She was presented with the Distinguished Volunteer Award in recognition of the lasting impact she has had on the gardens, which are frequently visited by staff, students and residents. Ms Jobson was presented with the award back in January, almost three years after her nomination. She was unable to attend the initial presentation at the House of Lords in 2019, and an alternative event the following year had to be cancelled when the pandemic began. Her nomination praised her dedication to volunteering, turning up whatever the weather to tend to the Long Border – the largest flower border in the gardens – as well as pruning, weeding, and managing flower displays. The University’s vicechancellor, Professor Robert Van de Noort, said that he was
delighted to present this award to Ms Jobson. “The work of all the volunteers at the University is hugely appreciated,” he said. “We would not be able to maintain these gardens to such a high standard without her and her fellow volunteers.
“Monica’s contribution and dedication has been second to none — she has truly helped to keep the Harris Garden a haven for both wildlife and visitors.” The Distinguished Volunteer Award is presented by the University to recognise
Praise for bus staff Consultation over during storm homes plan THE team at Reading Buses have been praised for keeping calm and carrying on during Storm Eunice last month. The company kept services running while the gales blew and trees came down across the network. Its chief executive, Robert Williams, said he was pleased with how his team had reacted. “They continually assessed the situation to ensure the safety of our customers and drivers,” he said of the events on Friday, February 18. “The control room team, customer services and back-office teams worked extremely hard to maintain communications with our drivers and customers and react to road closures and diversions as quickly as possible where necessary. “This ensured that key workers and those who still needed to travel could. And at the same time, included return journeys later in the day.”
AN ONLINE consultation will take place tomorrow over plans to convert office space in Reading town centre into 103 homes. The Shaviram Group is exploring ideas to give the makeover to 35-39 Friar Street, which is currently home to the Cosmo and Nando’s restaurants, as well as offices above. The hour-long event will unpack the plans, which includes roof gardens and a footpath into Friars Walk, which provide a new access route to Reading Station. Details of the compostion of the homes has yet to be released, but the artists impression shows a seven-storey building, and developers say there will be affordable housing in the scheme. The online consultation runs from 7pm to 8pm on Thursday, March 3.
outstanding personal contributions that volunteers make to the community. Fellow volunteers wrote the heartfelt nomination in 2019, attesting to Ms Jobson’s helpful and kind nature. She was described as “always smiling, willing to offer advice
to our visitors, and a valuable advocate of the volunteer scheme in the Harris Garden”. They said that children often gather to watch her at work and that she serves as a “huge inspiration” to the next generation of aspiring gardeners.
Progress Theatre seeks actors PROGRESS Theatre is seeking actors for its latest open air production. The annual play, which takes place at the Abbey Ruins in Forbury Gardens, is in need of performers for its run in July. While the open-air production is usually a Shakespeare play, Progress Theatre is this year producing an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations. The company is looking for a wide range of actors, including the lead roles of Pip, Magwitch, and Miss Havisham. Participants are asked to attend the auditions on Sunday, March 6, or Thursday, March 10, both held at the Progress Theatre on The Mount. Progress Theatre has held their open-air productions since 1994, bringing Shakespeare plays to the Abbey Ruins and Caversham Court Gardens, and is currently the oldest producing theatre in Reading. Productions were staged at the Abbey Ruins until 2008, when they were moved to Caversham Court Gardens, before returning to the Abbey Ruins in 2018. Great Expectations will be only the second of the company’s open-air productions not to have been written by William Shakespeare, after Wind in the Willows, staged in 2017.
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Pilot scheme frees up beds A NEW pilot scheme is launching to free up critical care beds for covid patients in Reading. Reading Borough Council and Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group have partnered with Home Group to support covid patients. Those who aren’t yet ready to go home will be provided with temporary accommodation where they can continue to recover. Home Group has supplied 10 two-bedroom apartments at its Huntley Place development.
Some patients had been moved into hotel rooms while recovering during the pandemic to alleviate pressure on beds in hospitals. Each has a kitchen, bathroom, and living space for each patient. Cllr John Ennis, Reading’s lead councillor for adult social care, said: “We know that many people are well enough not to be in hospital, but still have care needs. “Our vital work with partners in the NHS and Home Group is enabling residents
who are well enough, to leave hospital as soon as possible, freeing up hospital capacity.” Reading Borough Council was among the first in the country to use hotel rooms for patients in 2020. Morven Lamont, operations manager at Home Group, said the scheme provides patients with a “safe and comfortable environment for rehabilitation.” Mr Lamont thanked council staff, who “work tirelessly” on the frontline to ensure the most vulnerable residents get the care they need.
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32 | BUSINESS
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A business park that is changing
Amount of time it takes to sell a home has dropped By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today
NEW research shows that the amount of time it takes to sell a home has reduced in Reading by more than two months, and a month in Wokingham.
The property hotspots show demand continues to be strong. In Reading, between February and July last year, it took an average of 282 days to sell, while from August to January this year, that dropped to 212, a reduction of 70 days. And in Wokingham, it took an average of 289 days. This dropped to 260, a reduction of 30 days. Getagent.co.uk found that the average time to sell a home over the last six months is currently 248 days, down from an average of 306 days during the previous six months – a drop of 58 days. Regionally, the North East is home to the longest average time to sell at 284 days, followed by London (277) and the East of England (259). The West Midlands (213 days),
KEY TO SUCCESS: The property market in Reading and Wokingham remains bouyant Picture: Gerd Altmann from Pixabay Wales (225) and Yorkshire and the Humber (228) are home to the quickest transaction timelines. At local level, Dartford and the Castle Point area of Essex are currently home to the quickest time to sell a home at just 142 days on average; South Lakeland is the most lethargic pocket of the property market with the average home taking 582 days
to sell in the current market. GetAgent tracked the average time to sell a home across England and Wales based on the point at which a property is listed for sale and the point at which this sale completes. The company’s founder and CEO, Colby Short, said the pandemic presented a perfect storm to delay sales including an initial lockdown, before the stamp duty holiday led to a rise in demand. “When you factor in the archaic legal process that hampers transactions at the best of times, the outcome was only ever going to be a considerable build up in sales waiting to complete and huge delays to the time it takes to sell,” he said. “It certainly looks as though we’ve turned a corner and, while it would be inaccurate to say homes are selling particularly fast in the current market, the time it’s taking to sell has certainly dropped and by quite some margin in some areas.”
Reading is the UK’s best area to work in an office READING is the UK’s best place to work in an office, based on transport costs, Internet accessibility, wages and fuel costs. The town came ahead of Cardiff and Coventry, while Stoke-On-Trent, Portsmouth and Bournemouth among the worst places. The study, by marketing agency School of Marketing, analysed data including transport costs, fuel costs, average salaries, and Internet access to see
which areas came out on top. And it was The Ding that topped the list, performing best all-round on transport costs and wages. It scored third for the highest salaries, behind London and Oxford, with an average wage of £2,617 a month. The town has seen big companies move in with new offices, with the likes of Huawei, Three UK and Microsoft all operating in the area.
The survey looked at the average maximum broadband speed, which in Reading was 494Mbps. This will increase as more of the area gets connected to fibre broadband offering much faster speeds. Other criteria included the cost of a litre of unleaded petrol, a monthly bus pass, and a single fare, as well as the average monthly salary. A spokesperson from the School of Marketing, which offers digital marketing apprenticeships in more than
20 countries, serving more than 4,000 learners worldwide, said: “With many companies and workers alike moving away from London for office work due to increasing living and transport costs, it’s interesting to see what areas offer alternatives to the capital. “The constantly rising cost of living may also see an influence on where whitecollar workers move to, and this list may help job seekers and employers alike.”
Law firm raises more than £1.5 million for charity A LAW firm with offices in Reading town centre has raised more than £1.5 million for a cancer charity. Blandy & Blandy, based in Blagrave Street, has been supporting Cancer Research UK’s will writing scheme for two decades and, in 2019, the firm was presented with a special Gold Award by the charity. Donations to the charity in lieu of paying for wills prepared by the company, and legacies left by clients have contributed to this total. Gifts in wills fund more than a third of the charity’s research, which funds 4,000 scientists, doctors, and nurses nationwide. Blandy & Blandy says it is the only firm of solicitors in either Reading or Henley to be supporting CRUK in this way.
SUPPORT: A will writing service has helped Blandy & Blandy raise £1.5 million for Cancer Research UK Caroline Casagranda, a partner in the firm’s Wills, Probate, Tax & Trusts team, said she was proud of this significant shared achievement. And Clare Moore, director of product and portfolio
strategy, fundraising and marketing, at Cancer Research UK, said: “We all reach a stage at some point in our lives where we start to look ahead and consider what will happen to our financial affairs in the
future, when we may no longer be around.” The charity offers the service to adults either making their first will or updating an existing one. “The service has grown in popularity over the past few years and while it is provided free of any obligation, most people choose to kindly leave a gift to the charity,” Ms Moore said. “It’s quite astonishing to think that by simply combining enthusiasm with the highest professional standards Blandy & Blandy has helped secure more than £1.5 million worth of legacy gifts, which will go a long way towards helping our scientists, doctors and nurses to beat cancer sooner.” n For more details, log on to: www.cruk.org/freewillservice, or: www.blandy.co.uk
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Parenting Special Children gets a boost from John Sykes Foundation By DANIEL BLACKMAN dblackham@rdg.today
CASH GIFT: Parenting Special Children receive £1,000 cheque from John Sykes Foundation Picture: John Sykes Foundation
A READING charity has been awarded £1,000 by the John Sykes Foundation.
Parenting Special Children is the latest to receive a cheque as part of the foundation’s Covid-19 Relief Fund which aims to support organisations following the pandemic. The charity offers specialist support across Berkshire to families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, including families who foster and adopt. Ruth Pearse, founder and chief executive officer of Parenting Special Children, said: “The community support group in Reading has supported 59 families to date. “During covid the team provided weekly Zoom support groups and family events instead of monthly groups as more support was needed and was a ‘lifeline’ for parents.” The Covid-19 Relief Fund was launched in June 2021, with an aim of donating 50, £1,000 grants to charities and groups in Reading that have been heavily disrupted by Covid-19. John Sykes, founder and chair of trustees at the John Sykes Foundation, said: ‘We are
A SHOPLIFTER in Reading turned out to be a wanted man … from an incident in Blackpool two years ago. Thames Valley Police said that its town centre team detained two shoplifters from the Hollister branch in The Oracle on Thursday, February 24. One of the two people arrested used an alias. In a post on social media, police said: “Both have now been clearly identified by CCTV… “Following this arrest the male offender decided to lie and provided a fake name, this worked a charm all the way up until he was put on the fingerprint scanner at Custody. “(It) turns out he was a wanted male from Blackpool and had been since 2020.” The officer added: “Don’t lie about who you are, we will find out – plus the jacket you tried to steal didn’t suit you anyway.”
Thieves steal bike
delighted to be able to donate a grant to Parenting Special Children and their community support groups which make such a meaningful difference to
Witnesses to robbery sought THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following a robbery in Reading. The incident occurred between 8pm and 8.15pm on Tuesday, February 22, at a Tesco store on Tilehurst Road. Police said that the offender entered a restricted area and demanded money, before punching a staff member in the head. Another member of staff who tried to intervene was also assaulted by the offender. He ran from the store without taking anything. The offender is described as a white man, 5ft 10in, of lean build. He was dressed all in black, had a face covering and was wearing a hat. Staff investigator, Colette O’Neil based at Reading police station, has appealed for witnesses or those with any information which may help the investigation to call 101, quoting reference number 43220081736. “Alternatively, for 100% anonymity, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111,” she said.
many families. “The pandemic has impacted so many lives, and unfortunately many families are continuing to struggle with
Project Singers seeking new voices for choir A female choral group is seeking new voices for its upcoming projects. New voices are required for the group’s upcoming projects. The first of them is a concert at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead, called A Night at the Movies’ on Saturday, March 26. The concert includes songs from films such as Grease and The Greatest Showman, and will feature a string accompaniment of pupils from Crosfields School. The Project Singers started in September 2021 in Charvil and features a youth choir section for girls aged 10 to 18 as well as a regular section. The choir has an open night for potential new members to give the group a try on Monday, April 4, at the Charvil Village Hall.
Event to celebrate the best indies A READING cheese emporium is preparing to make a theory reality. The Grumpy Goat, based in Smelly Alley, is teaming up with South Street Arts Centre for the return of a two-day festival, following a two-year break for the pandemic. Craft Theory is a mixture of beers from independent breweries, street food, and tunes from a selection of DJs. Grumpy Goat’s team say
Shoplifter was a wanted man
that the event is built around the many breweries based in Reading and surrounding area, including Siren Craft Brew, Double Barrelled, Wild Weather Ales and Elusive Brewing. Also appearing will be Phantom Brewing and Dolphin Brewery. And from further afield, there will be brews from Manchester-based Pomona Island, Northamptonshire’s Three Hills, with more to be
announced in due course. The event will be held at South Street on Friday, July 1, and Saturday, July 2. Daytime sessions run from 11am to 4pm, while the evening event will run from 6pm to 11pm, with last orders 15 minutes before closing time. Entry is £15 per session, and includes a glass and a 50p donation to Reading Refugee Support Group.
n For more details, log on to crafttheoryfestival.co.uk
the wider effects of Covid-19.” So far, 15 organisations have received grants from the John Sykes Foundation’s Covid-19 Relief Fund and the deadline
for applications is Saturday, April 30.
n For more information, or to submit an application, visit: johnsykesfoundation.org
THIEVES broke into a shed on Elgar Road in South Readig last week and stole a bike. The incident took place on the evening of Monday, February 21. Now, Thames Valley Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Anyone who can help police is asked to call 101, or report online, quoting reference number: 43220080846.
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Rally calls for NHS investment By NATALIE BURTON nburton@rdg.today PROTESTORS calling for investment in the NHS held a rally in Reading town centre last weekend.
Around 50 people marched from Broad Street to Town Hall Square on Saturday, February 26 to support campaign group SOS NHS. Organiser Danny McNamara said that the campaign group was set up in response to current problems in the NHS caused by “long-term underfunding since 2010.” SOS NHS is calling for an investment of £20 billion in NHS services and a guarantee that healthcare will be free for future generations. “Lots of members of the public joined us on the march, including some from outside of Reading,” Mr McNamara said. “We had a decent presence.” Speakers in the town square included Cllr Sarah Hacker on behalf of Reading Labour Party, Cllr Dave McElroy for Reading Green Party and Jen Bottom from Reading Socialist Party. In her address, Cllr Hacker spoke about her experiences of using the NHS and drew attention to the costs involved in accessing healthcare in the United Sates. “We ought not be allowing a situation to develop which allows some people quicker
INVESTIGATION: Police sealed off parts of Broad Street last week Picture: Jake Clothier
Man identified after ‘suspicious incident’ in town
GATHERING: The NHS Protest Meeting outside the Old Town Hall on Saturday Pictures: Steve Smyth access to treatment based on ability to pay,” Mr McNamara said. “There is a postcode lottery for access to NHS services, but we should all be entitled to the same treatment. “And the Health and Care bill currently going through parliament makes it possible for private healthcare companies to interfere in government decision making on the NHS.” The campaign group is also calling on government to pay NHS staff fairly and address staffing shortages. Mr McNamara said that the bill does not offer any solutions to what he said is
a “staffing crisis.” “There is a very high number of vacancies and post-covid the exodus of staff has become a tsunami. “This has an impact on waiting lists and times which are already exceptionally high post-covid. “The consequence of this is more pressure on those who remain. “On top of that, they are underpaid.” He explained that the campaign also has the support of several trade unions and health care associations.
Jen Bottom from the Reading Socialist Party speaks
Protesters held banners showing their support for the NHS Cllr Sarah Hacker was one of the speakers at the event
n For more information, visit: sosnhs.org
THAMES Valley Police has identified a man in relation to blood being dropped in Reading town centre. It comes after quantities of blood were reported in Broad Street, Duke Street and Jackson’s Corner at around 7am on Tuesday, February 22. The area was also cordoned off for forensic investigations. Police confirmed they have identified and contacted the man and that the blood spillage was as a result of an accidental injury to this individual. The man has been treated in hospital and his welfare has been clarified. A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “We would like to thank the public for their help following our appeal, and can reassure the community that there was no assault and the man is safe and well.”
BACK AGAIN: Thames Valley Police officers, Autism Berkshie and MERL celebrate the return of autismfriendly events in museums Picture: Sapna Odin
Reading museums celebrate return of autism-friendly events TWO READING museums celebrated the return of autism and neurodiversity-friendly special events last week. The Museum of English Rural Life hosted the first of a new Museums, My Way programme on Monday, February 21. It is working with Reading Museum on the scheme, which is supported by Autism Berkshire. Phillippa Heath, the learning and engagement manager of The MERL, said that she was “delighted” to have developed the new sessions with Reading Museum. The sessions are free to attend
and suitable for autistic and neurodiverse people of all ages. Autism Berkshire providing training to staff and helped with the development of the Museums, My Way programme, which includes sensory bags and tailored activities. Thames Valley Police were also present at the event, to encourage people to register for an autism alert card. Those in the scheme can share some information about their needs with police, and officers shown an alert card can request information from a secure database to ensure that they are providing appropriate assistance.
More than 2,400 alert cards are already in use across the force’s region. Lucie Gray, of Thames Valley Police’s Autism support network, said that the cards are a positive step to ensuring meaningful interaction with autistic and neurodiverse people. “The cards help to break down barriers to communication,” she said. And Autism Berkshire’s chief executive officer, Jane StanfordBeale, said that the museums sessions and the alert card scheme “are really appreciated by the families we support.”
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Man jailed for 13 years for attempted murder of partner By DANIEL BLACKHAM dblackham@rdg.today
A MAN from Reading has been jailed for attempted murder.
Patrick Benjamin, 43, of Lulworth Road, Reading, was sentenced to 13 years in prison at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday, February 23. Benjamin was found guilty of one count of attempted murder at the same court on September 23, last year. Police reported that in the days before the attack on December 11, 2020, Benjamin and his long-term partner, a woman in her thirties, had fallen out over perceived infidelities on both sides. On the night of December 10, 2020, Benjamin’s partner would not let him sleep in their bed and he spent the night awake. At around 6.15am the next morning, Benjamin attacked his partner with a Stanley knife as she lay in bed. Police said that he slashed her across the neck and chest, causing at least two long slash wounds and other defensive wounds to her arms and hands.
The attack was interrupted by the victim’s teenage son when he came into the bedroom alerted by his mother’s cries. Benjamin then left the flat and drove off. The son called 999 and the victim was treated at the scene before being taken to Royal Berkshire Hospital. She required surgery and was discharged from hospital the next day. Benjamin was found later on December 11, 2020, in a car park at Manor Farm, Tadley, as he had covered himself in petrol in his car and set himself and his car on fire. The flames were put out and he was treated at the scene before being taken by air ambulance to Southampton General Hospital. Benjamin suffered lifechanging injuries and was placed into an induced coma for 22 days. He was transferred to Salisbury District Hospital where he stayed until he
was discharged, arrested and charged on January 29, 2021. Oliver CahillSmith, detective sergeant of the West Berkshire Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit based at Reading police station, said: “This is a very sad case which has ripped a family apart. “The victim and her children have been through a very traumatic experience and had to recall the terrors of that fateful morning in court during the trial. “They showed great bravery in supporting the police to bring about this conviction and I hope the sentence can give them an element of much needed closure. “Furthermore, I would implore any victim of crime, particularly domestic abuse, to tell us. “If you need help, the police can help you out of a dangerous situation and will always look to bring offenders to justice.”
NEW AND IMPROVED: South Reading Leisure Centre has new facilities for people to enjoy
South Reading Leisure Centre’s new equipment makes a brighter gym IMPROVEMENTS to one of Reading’s leisure centres were completed last month. Work at the South Reading Leisure Centre on Northumberland Avenue, started in November last year. Changes include refurbished changing rooms, air conditioning, a new reception, and more equipment. This includes a core bags, battle ropes, a bench press, and functional training space. Cllr Graeme Hoskin, Reading Borough Council’s
lead for sport, said that he is delighted improvements are happening across the borough’s leisure centres. “The improvements to the gym, studio, changing rooms and reception at South Reading are
Report shows South East lost one in six teachers of deaf pupils
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THE NUMBER of teachers of deaf children continues to drop nationally, according to a report published by the Consortium for Research into Deaf Education (CRIDE). One in six teachers of deaf children in the South East have moved on from the profession since 2011. The report showed that the nearly 5,800 deaf children in the South East are now served by 119 fully qualified teachers, compared to 142 in 2011. The 16% reduction in teachers since 2011 could lead to further difficulties for deaf children, who already fall an entire grade behind their hearing peers according to statistics from the National Deaf Children’s Society. The CRIDE report also showed that more than half of the 119 teachers in the South East were older than 50, and therefore due to retire in the next 15 years. Though the number of qualified teachers has risen
slightly since 2019, the South East is still below 2011 levels. Martin Thacker, deputy director of National Deaf Children’s Society, said: “Teachers of the deaf play an absolutely crucial role but their numbers are tumbling in the South East. “As a result, deaf children are left fighting for their futures and falling behind at school.” The 16% decrease since 2011 mirrors the national average, though some regions have lost as many as 31% in the last ten years. The NDCS have called for more funding to be made available to councils to put into the training of new teachers. Mr Thacker said: “We need urgent action to fix this issue, but council budgets have been decimated by the pandemic. “With a fully-funded bursary, councils could replace the teachers who have been lost and give every deaf child the support they need.”
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looking great and will make a big difference to visitors,” he said. “Despite the unprecedented challenges of the past year, the council and our leisure partners, GLL, remain fully committed to delivering the modern leisure facilities a town of our size and status deserves.” Craig Woodward, GLL’s partnership manager for Reading said the improvements are great news. “The benefits these updated facilities will offer the community are invaluable,” he said.
Attempted kidnap A MAN has been jailed for three months following an attempted kidnap in Caversham. At around 10.35pm on Wednesday, February 23, the victim, a woman in her 20s, was out running when she was followed by a black vehicle. The woman was followed down Church Street, Prospect Street, and then Gosbrook Road. The driver of the vehicle shouted at the victim before trying to get her into the car. At Reading Magistrates Court on Monday, Ashley Canavan, 32 and of Addington Road, Northamptonshire, pleaded guilty to a Section 4 Public Order offence, common assault, driving a motor vehicle otherwise in accordance with license and use of a motor vehicle in a public place without third party insurance. Canavan was sentenced to three months in prison and disqualified from driving for six months. Investigating officer, Detective Constable Grace Dooey, based at Reading police station, said: “Thames Valley Police are committed to protecting women and ensuring that women are able to feel safe. “This result demonstrates that this offenders actions were unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
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LEISURETODAY LEISURE TODAY
02.03.22
Your guide to what’s on across Reading and Wokingham
W
ITH everything that’s been going on over the last couple of years, goodness, we need someone to bring us sunshine.
And there’s so much joy that these two can give - yes, it’s Morecambe and Wise, well the nearest you can get to seeing the classic duo that brought fun, sunshine and love to homes ever since they teamed up to make us laugh. Ian Ashpitel and Jonty Stephens are playing Eric and Ern in the Olivier Award-nominated show of the same name, coming to The Hexagon next month. Crammed full of renditions of those famous comedy sketches, and coupled with contemporary references in
Bringing sunshine
their unique style, the show evokes memories of times when whole families would huddle around the telly on Sunday evenings to share in the much-loved antics of Britain’s national treasures. Ian and Jonty have been performing and writing as Eric and Ern for more than five years. The research into their subjects is there for all to see in their staggeringly accurate portrayal of the most successful and much loved British comedy duo of all time. The performers themselves have a wonderful relationship with the families and estates of Morecambe & Wise – with all scripts given the families’ seal of approval before being performed.
“I have been fascinated with Eric Morecambe for as long as I can remember,” says Jonty. “I took on his persona at school and it never really left me. He was the funniest and loveliest of men. We both feel it’s a privilege to play Eric and Ernie and some people have said it’s like we’re channelling them – some nights it does feel like that.” Ian says: “We do treasure the relationship we have with each other – as did Eric and Ernie –and I think it’s obvious that we love performing the comedy of Morecambe and Wise.” The pair met at drama school more than 30 years ago and continued their friendship playing golf together at The Stage Golf Society in Richmond.
When Jonty was asked to play Eric at a charity show he knew that with his short fat hairy legs Ian would be the perfect Ernie Wise. Having brought the house down, the two then wrote some ‘bespoke’ material for their friends at the golf club. It was these performances which set them off on an incredible journey, with rave reviews at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, an acclaimed West End season at the Vaudeville Theatre, and an Olivier Award nomination for ‘the play wot we wrote’ - ‘Eric and Little Ern’. Jonty said: “More importantly, the audiences love watching it - which is always handy. But it’s more than just watching a comedy show - there’s a real emotional connection, because we all remember watching it together. The
audience reaction has been amazing.” The show also has the seal of approval for Eric’s son, Gary Morcambe. He says: “I went to see them at Edinburgh because I’d had many tip-offs about them, both from people inside and outside of the industry, and when I saw the show that’s when I thought ‘They really are good’. That first time seeing them gave me a bit of a shiver down the spine, actually, because I went in there slightly on the attack and I came out bewildered almost - because they were that good.” n The show will be performed at The Hexagon in Reading on Friday, April 1. Tickets cost £24.50. For more details, or to book, call the box office on 0118 960 6060 or log on to whatsonreading.com
14 | LEISURE
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Soul sisters AN ACCLAIMED singer and musical theatre comes to Henley this weekend. Patti Boulaye OBE brings her rescheduled show Aretha and Me to the Kenton Theatre on Saturday, March 5. In her one-woman show, Patti compares her life to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, whose celebrated career included 20 number one R&B hits during a recording career which spanned five decades. Patti will perform her favourite Aretha Franklin songs, including Respect, Say a Little Prayer, Chain of Fools and Think. The performance begins at 7.30pm. Tickets priced from £22 concessions, to £30. All tickets include a £1 theatre restoration levy. n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 01491 525050 or log on to: kentontheatre.co.uk
The prologue
THE LIFE of one of Britain’s most loved comedians of the 20th century will be explored at South Hill Park this weekend. Howerd’s End, written by Mark Farrely, explores Frankie Howerd’s secret relationship with his long-term partner Dennis Heymer. Mark plays Dennis, with Frankie being played by Simon Cartwright. The play follows their clandestine relationship, which lasted from the 1950s until Frankie’s death in 1992. It also offers the audience to encounter Frankie in stand-up mode and explores love, grief and the art of letting go. There will be two evening performances. They take place at 7.30pm on Friday, March 4 and Saturday, March 5. Tickets cost £16. n For more details, or to book, visit: southhillpark.org.uk or call: 01344 484123.
Wilde for words
SUSIE Dent will expose The Secret Life of Words in Bracknell next week. Limited tickets remain for the lexicographer’s journey into the origins of some of the words we use at South Hill Park on Friday, March 11. Susie will retell the adventures that lie hidden within such words as lasagne, which involve a chamber pot, and the terrorising monster that is a bugbear. She’ll explain oddities like the silent h in ghost and the mysterious disappearance of kempt, gormful, and ruly from use.
The show features integrated captioning and a performer on stage who uses British Sign Language as part of their character. Suitable for 16 years and up, tickets start at £12. The performance is at 8pm. n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 0118 960 6060 or log on to: whatsonreading.com
Hollywood comedy thriller
RAUCOUS toe-tapping folk and gypsyflavoured music takes over Norden Farm next week. The Budapest Cafe Orchestra will play a mix of traditional songs from across eastern Europe and Russia. Expect to hear ballads and laments, and raucous songs combined with jazz and The queen of dictionary corner on Channel 4’s Countdown will also run her own word surgery, inviting audience questions about word origins and the future of language. The show starts at 7.45pm and tickets are priced at £22. n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 01344 484123, or visit: southhillpark.org.uk
On your bike, Shakespeare
ONE of Shakespeare’s most famous plays gets a green makeover at Norden Farm next week. The HandleBards will perform their version of Macbeth on Wednesday, March 9. The all-female troupe of three actors pedal environmentally sustainable Shakespeare to venues across the UK. Forget the tears and tragedy, the company promises an unhinged bicycle powered, laugh-out-loud version of the bard’s work. Expect music, mayhem and costume changes in the HandleBards usual irreverent and charming style. Starting at 7.30pm, tickets cost £16 and £14 concessions. n For more details, or to book, log on to:
AT THE THEATRE
Bracknell – South Hill Park
www.southhillpark.org.uk 01344 484123 Conservatoire International Concert Series: Anna Denisova. Fri. Howerd’s End. Fri-Sat. The Comedy Sellar. Fri. Tina Live: A Tribute To Tina Turner. Sat. The Four Seasons. Tues. Kerry Godliman: Bosh. Wed. I, Elizabeth. Thurs 10. Bracknell Jazz: Mark Bassey. Fri 11. Susie Dent: The Secret Lives of Words. Fri 11. The Comedy Cellar. Fri 11. Purple Zeppelin. Sat 12. Wilde Sundays: The Gillies, Paul Alexander Low, Kev Minney. Sun 13. FILM: Exhibition on Screen: Frida Kahlo. Tues. Royal Opera House: Rigoletto. Thurs 10, Sun 13.
Camberley – Theatre
www.camberleytheatre.biz 01276 707600 Dom Joly’s Holiday Snaps. Thurs. Impromptu Shakespeare. Fri.
NVSDD: Showcase. Sat. Bring Your Own Baby Comedy. Tues. The Savoy Singers. Wed-Sat. Baby Broadway. Sat.
Guildford – Yvonne Arnaud www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk 01483 440000 Six. Until Sat 12.
High Wycombe – Wycombe Swan
www.wycombeswan.co.uk 01494 512000 Henning Wehn. Thurs. Tony Hadley. Fri. Battle of the bands VII. Sat. One Foot In The Gravy. Sat. Rave On Starring The Bluejays. Sun. Audience With Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham. Mon 7. Friends The Musical Parady. Tues. Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez: Firedance. Wed. Cinderella. Thurs 10. Hellfire Comedy Club. Thurs 10. Romeo and Juliet. Fri 11. Swan Lake. Sat 12. Ray Mears. Sun 13.
swing. They will also play re-imaginings of well-known film and television scores. Budapest Cafe Orchestra was established in 2009 by British composer and violinist, Christian Garrick. He is joined by Eddie Hession on the accordion, Kelly Cantlon, double norden.farm or call the box office on: 01628 788997.
Lunchtime entertainment
NEXT Monday lunchtime’s organ recital in the Concert Hall or Reading Town Hall will feature students from the Royal Academy of Music. Joshua Ryan, Joshua Simoes and Charles Maxtone-Smith will perform a programme of four pieces. Piece Heroique, by Cesar Franck, Samuel Wesley’s Duet for Organ, Charles-Marie Widor’s Final from Symphonie Romane and Grand Choeur in D Major ‘alla Handel’ by Alexander Guilmant will be played on the Father Willis Organ by the students. The recital begins at 1pm and will last for approximately 45 minutes. Tickets cost £5 in advance and £6 on the door. n For more details, or to book, log on to: whatsonreading.com or call the box office on: 0118 960 6060.
Moulin Windsor
A TRIBUTE to movie-musical Moulin Rouge comes to the stage of the Theatre Royal in Windsor on Sunday. Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Robin Winter joins the cast
Henley – Kenton
www.kentontheatre.co.uk 01491 525050 The Comedy Network. Fri 4
Maidenhead – Norden Farm
www.nordenfarm.org 01628 788997 National Theatre Live: The Book of Dust. Thurs. Ajay Srivastav: Karama at the Crossroads. Thurs. Elia Cecino piano. Thurs. The Strange Case of Jekyll and Hyde. Fri. Clive Anderson, Me, Macbeth and I - SOLD OUT. Fri. Norden Farm Market. Sat. Basil Brush’s Family Fun Show. Sat. Gilmore and Roberts. Sat. Basil Brush Unleashed. Sat. The Handlebirds: Macbeth. Wed. Royal Opera House Live: Rigoletto. Thurs 10, Fri 11. Matt Chorley: Who Is In Charge Here. Fri 11. Budapest Cafe Orchestra. Fri 11. Nightmare Alley (15). Sat 12. Parallel Mothers (15). Sat 12.
The Vinyl Frontier: The Best Years of our Lives. Sat 12. Rebel Dread (tbc). Sat 12.
Newbury – The Corn Exchange
www.cornexchangenew.com 0845 5218 218 Joel Dommett: Unapologetic, if that’s OK. Thurs. Spontaneous Potter Kids. Sat. Spontaneous Potter. Sat. London Rhymes. Sun. NT Encore: The Book of Dust: La Belle Savage. Wed. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Thurs 10-Sat 12. Royal Opera Encore: Rigoletto. Sun 13.
Newbury – The Watermill
www.watermill.org.uk 01635 46044 Spike. Until Sat. The Wicker Husband. Fri 11-Sat 26.
Reading – South Street
www.whatsonreading.com
bass, and Adrian Zolotuhin, who plays guitar, saz, balalaika, domra. The band performs in the Courtyard Theatre on Friday, March 11, beginning at 8pm. Tickets are £16. n For more details, or to book, visit: norden.farm or call the box office on: 01628 788997. of Come What May for a journey into the sexy, disreputable and glamourous underworld of Paris. The all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza features songs from Moulin Rouge and other hit musicals. Expect to hear classics including Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend and Lady Marmalade. The show begins at 7.30pm and tickets are priced from £18.50. n For more details, or to book, visit: theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk or call the box office: 01753 853888
Accessible theatre
THEATRE company TalkShow will explore the morality of a televised charity special next Friday, March 11. Telethon tells the story of Jennifer, a television host who dreams of uniting the nation behind a noble cause, Comic Relief style. Special guests, prizes and oddball feats of endurance are planned, but she soon discovers that it’s hard enough to unite the studio, let alone the whole country. In a darkly humorous exploration of right and wrong and our divisive tendencies, join the TalkShow studio audience as the telethon veers wildly off the rails.
0118 960 6060 Leveret. Fri 4. Aurie Styla: green Tour. Sat. Poets Cafe. Fri 11. TalkShow presents Telethon. Fri 11. Faustus. Sat 12.
Reading – The Hexagon
www.whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060 Anton and Erin: Showtime. Fri 4. Dara O Briain: So, Where Were We?. Sat. Some Guys Have All The Luck. Wed. Chris Ramsey. Thurs 10. Bowie Live. Sat 12. Henley Symphony Orchestra. Sun 13.
Reading – Concert Hall www.whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060 Lunchtime organ recital. Mon.
Reading – Progress Theatre
www.progresstheatre.co.uk 0118 384 2195 John Horler: A Tribute to Bill Evans. Fri. NEXT SHOW: Yous
THE LATEST instalment in a popular series of comedy thrillers comes to the Corn Exchange, Newbury, later on this month. Award winning theatre company New Old Friends present Crimes, Camera, Action. The show takes the audience to golden-era Hollywood and introduces a new lead detective, the world-weary private eye Stan Shakespeare. Join Stan as he attempts to crack the case of a screen starlet who is stabbed as a result of a prop mix-up on set. A cast of four comic actors take on multiple roles, sometimes within the same scene in this fast-paced play. The evening performances on Tuesday, March 22, and Wednesday, March 23, begin at 7.45pm. A matinee performance takes place on Wednesday, March 23, at 2.30pm. Tickets are £19.50, and the show is suitable for an audience aged 12 years and up. n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 0845 5218218 or log on to: cornexchangenew.com
Lucky bloke
THE MUSIC of Rod Stewart comes to the Hexagon next week. Some Guys Have All the Luck: The Rod Stewart Story celebrates the career of the iconic singer, following his story from street busker to international superstar. Paul Metcalfe plays Rod in a performance described as “the closest to Rod himself” by members of Stewart’s family. Expect to hear all the hits from Rod’s career, including Maggie May, Baby Jane and Do Ya Think I’m Sexy, though to ballads such as Sailing and You’re in my Heart. The show begins at 7.30pm on Wednesday, March 9. Tickets start from £24.50. n For more details, or to book, visit: whatsonreading.com or call the box office on: 0118 960 6060.
Two. Mar 28-Apr 2.
Reading – Reading Rep Theatre
www.readingrep.com 0118 370 2620 National Theatre Connections. Mar 16-18.
Shinfield – Shinfield Players
www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk 0118 975 8880 Last Tango In Whitby. Postponed.
Sonning – The Mill
Bringing on Back The Good Times. Until Sat. Come What May. Sun. Madama Butterfly. Tues. UK Pink Floyd Experience. Wed. Lost In Music. Thurs 10. Frankie The Concert. Fri 11. Alice In Wonderland. Sat 12. Some Guys Have All The Luck: the Rod Stewart Story. Sun 13.
Wokingham – Wokingham Theatre www.wokinghamtheatre.org.uk 0118 978 5363 Comedy Night. Fri.
www.millatsonning.com 0118 969 8000 The House on Cold Hill. Until Mar 26. Tour, talk and afternoon tea. Thurs. Juke Box and Bobbysox. Sun. Gimme Gimme Abba. Sun 13.
Wokingham – The Whitty Theatre
Windsor – Theatre Royal
Woodley – Theatre
www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk 01753 853888 Dreamboats and Petticoats:
www.thewhittytheatre.org 0118 974 3247 Ubu. Thurs. The Wizard of Oz. Tues 15-Fri 18. www.woodleytheatre.org 07488337838 NEXT SHOW: Jazz concert with the Martin Hart Trio. Sat May 28.
Wednesday, March 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
LEISURE | 15
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Stranglers wow Reading with sold-out show
Affairs of the heart
London Classic Theatre is presenting Bernard Slades’s Same Time Next Year, starring Sarah Kempton as Doris Picture: © SBurnett
L
AST week, The Hexagon was packed for a sold-out performance by The Stranglers.
The group were performing tracks from their new album, completed across lockdowns. Their keyboardist of 45 years, Dave Greenfield, passed away in 2020 as they were making the songs, and the set was a tribute to him. Nearly five full decades after their formation, the band – Jean-Jacques Burnel, Baz Warne and Jim Macaulay – showcased Dark Matter, their 18th studio album that saw them achieve one of the highest chart placings ever, proving that even after all this time, they’re still as relevant and essential as ever. Our photographer Dijana Capan was at the Reading theatre to capture the moment ... and the crowds having a brilliant time. It’s one of a number of big-name gigs coming to The Hexagon this spring. There are tributes to David Bowie (Saturday, March 12) and Tina Turner (Wednesday, March 16). Special tribute shows The Bootleg Beatles (Friday, March 25) and That’ll Be The Day (Tuesday, March 29) recreate some of the greatest music of all time, while Diversity bring us up-to-date, with two shows on March 18 and 19. Next month, 60s legends including Mike Pender from The Searchers will be bringing The Sensational 60s Experience to Reading, on Friday, April 8. And at the end of April, Queen musical We Will Rock You will rock up for a week of performances. n For more details, log on to whatsonreading.com or call the box office on 0118 960 6060.
All pictures © Dijana Capan / DVision
Same Time, Next Year February 25-26 South Hill Park 01344 484123 www.southhillpark.org.uk
R
USSIA’S got the bomb, we could all be dead tomorow” is a funny way of thinking that having an affair is acceptable.
JJ Burnel and Baz Warne enjoy riffing together as The Stranglers brought their tour to The Hexagon in Reading last week Pictures: Dijana Capan/DVision
JJ takes to the mic
Spotlight on The Stranglers
It was an ironic line in the production of Same Time, Next Year at The Wilde Theatre in South Hill Park. There are so many similarities between the world today and when this play was written in the 1970s. One of the world’s most widely staged plays, it was originally produced on Broadway in 1975. It follows Doris and George who meet in 1951, a chance encounter in a Californian hotel that leads to a passionate one-night stand. Both are married to other people, but, soon aware that this might be the start of something, they promise to meet 12 months later. So begins a romantic love affair that lasts 25 years. The soundtrack of American hits of the various decades made your foot tap and audiences can (at last) sing along at times. The play charts their lives through the ups and downs of parenthood, career highs and lows as well as the shifting fashions and morals of the passing decades. Bek Palmers’ costume design was en pointe and you couldn’t wait to see what the character Doris wore next, and her next hairstyle. The play’s author, Bernard Slade paints a bittersweet, nostalgic and funny portrait of two likeable protagonists who find themselves
in the most unusual of long-term relationships. London Classic Theatre produced the new UK tour of the play. Michael Cabot directs Kieran Buckeridge (George) and Sarah Kempton (Doris). They both performed their roles with complete conviction, with some difficult scenes to portray. Kieran was particularity stand out in act two for me. The play made me laugh. I imagine there was some heated debate between partners and friends in the audience, about what they feel is acceptable and unacceptable within a relationship and whether you can be truly in love with more than one person at a time? It’s the sort of question you would get in the game Cards Against Humanity. This was such an interesting, unique play following these two loveable characters through this experience together over 25 years. Seeing how they each develop as people, through a really interesting time in history, seeing how they come together and drift apart at times, watching them learn about each other and themselves in these little fiveyearly pockets. It’s such an interesting premise for a story. And, of course, it was a lot of fun. It’s genuinely brilliantly written with a great comedic pace and rhythm that’ll keep you laughing while watching George and Doris fall in love. You’ll leave the theatre feeling like you shared the past 25 years with a couple of your best friends. The play is touring until April. For more on the national tour, log on to: http://londonclassictheatre.co.uk
Splattyoo, Reading’s honest reviewer
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 rt u ri 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 .
Baz enjoys a moment in the show
The Hexagon was packed out with music fans for the event
Fo l l ow u s o n: f: / M a te s Ra te sC 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
Musical mavericks will make it up as they go along THEY’RE dubbed the musical mavericks, and they’ll be entertaining Reading audiences later this month. The Rising Sun arts centre is to welcome Oxford Improvisers, a collective of musicians dedicated to playing and promoting improvised music. The group has been performing for more than 20 years, and many of its members play in nationally and internationally based ensembles, and are well represented on commercially available recordings and online platforms. They come from various musical backgrounds, although the characteristics of, for instance, jazz, classical or folk music may not be obvious in the music they play. The programme will include groupings of musicians playing free improvisation pieces, sometimes called non-idiomatic improvisation, something that develops in the moment of its playing, without preconceived musical elements... “although we sometimes use time-structures and other constraints as a working framework”. The gig takes place on Saturday, March 19, from 7pm. Tickets cost £8 or £5 for concessions. n For more information, log on to www.risingsunartscentre.org
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READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Progress focus on teenager’s dreams
COMING SOON: Yous Two in rehearsal for Progress Theatre Picture: Aidan Moran
SINGER: Jack Savoretti is on the Henley Festival line-up
Katherine Jenkins and Jack Savoretti join Henley Festival line-up
A
LOOK at life as a teenager is the focus of Progress Theatre’s latest show, which will be performed at the end of the month.
Yous Two, written by Georgia Christou, tells the story of a 15-year-old who lives with her Dad in a little flat. But Billie dreams of change: can she get her Dad a job, get to grips with schoolwork, and find a house with not one, but five, bathrooms?
And, as she soon finds out, going with your impulses can lead to difficult choices. When it’s always been just the two of you, how easy is it to get out, or to let anyone else in? This play looks at what happens when those you should depend on need you more than you need them. Yous Two is Georgia Christou’s debut play and was shortlisted for the Verity Bargate Award, receiving rave reviews from the national press. Suitable for ages 15 upwards,
this play contains strong language and brief male nudity. It is performed at the theatre in The Mount, off Christchurch Road, from Monday, March 28, through Saturday, April 2. Socially distanced seating will be available on the Tuesday and Thursday shows, while Wednesday is come-as-you-are night. Curtain up is at 7.45pm nightly, and tickets cost £12, or £10 for concessions. n For more details, log on to progresstheatre.co.uk
THE amazing voice of mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins will be heard across the River Thames this summer after the singer signed up to Henley Festival. She will appear on the floating stage on Sunday, July 10, accompanied by an orchestra for a sunset performance of her classical repertoire. Also announced is the finale: singer-songwriter Jack Savoretti. Hot off the heels of his second number one album Europiana – featuring the single Who’s Hurting Who – Savoretti will be bringing Riviera glamour and
Italian elegance to the Floating Stage, before a jaw-dropping firework spectacular marks the end of this year’s revelry. The five-day event will celebrate 40 years of world-class music, comedy, art, dancing, food and more. The black-tie event runs from Wednesday, July 6, through to Sunday, July 10. Also on the bill are The Script, Boney M, Craig David, Sir Tom Jones and Pete Tong Ibiza Classics with the Heritage Orchestra and Jules Buckley. n For more details, log on to: www.henley-festival.co.uk
Celebrate return of Readipop THE countdown is on for the return of Readipop Festival this summer … and to celebrate, a launch party is being held later this month. The main event takes place at Christchurch Meadows from July 8-10, and the bill includes the Sugarhill Gang, Morcheeba, Badly Drawn Boy and others. And a team from The Purple Turtle will be behind the bars and hosting their own tent. Three acts will be at the Gun Street venue on Saturday, March 19, for the launch party:
Brother Zulu, OSP, and Hatty Taylor. Brother Zulu’s Ice Cold single was a track of the week for BBC Radio 1, and they perform a mix of modern soul. Their debut EP will be out very soon. The second act are Readingbased hip-hop brotherhood OSP. Originally standing for Only Speak Positive, the four-piece earned their mantra through a string of bold and vibrant cuts that looked to deliver a powerful message of tolerance and respect.
And Hatty Taylor returns to the music scene with their own blend of alternative pop, a departure from her previous project, as one half of longstanding local Electro-Blues duo, Vienna Ditto. The evening starts at 7.30pm, and the event will unveil more of the line-up for the July event. Entry is free, donations to Readipop music charity on the night will be welcomed. n For more info on our work, see www.readipop.co.uk
Folk Club to hold patron’s evening NETTLEBED Folk Club has a special evening of entertainment planned on Monday thanks to its annual patrons evening. Phil Beer will be hosting the event featuring some unique line-ups that will be remembered for years to come. Joining Phil will be singer/guitarists, Odette Michell and Dom Prag as well as other Show of Hands regular singer and musician Miranda Sykes. As well as being patron of the club, Phil is currently on a solo tour, featuring a mixture of traditional, contemporary, and original songs about travelling. He says the show will tell the story of being on the road, both now and in older times. The club has taken the decision to run at up to 80% capacity to give everyone a little more space. The show takes place on Monday, March 7, from 7.50pm, at its base in the Village Club on the High Street in Nettlebed. n For more details, or to book, call: 01628 636620 between 10am and 8pm, or log on to: www. nettlebedfolkclub.co.uk
LEISURE | 25
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Wednesday, March 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
LIVEMUSIC
To advertise in this section, call Claire on 0118 327 2662
RaW Sounds Today
GRANDAD, WE LOVE YOU: The new band are releasing their debut EP this weekend - here’s your chance to hear a track from it Picture: Andrew Merritt Photography
Chris Hillman
bit.ly/ rawsoundstoday
G
RANDAD you’re lovely, that’s what we all think of you … That’s what the cool kids were singing to Clive Dunn back in the 1980s.
Now we’ve got something … well, a bit more modern. Granddad is an alt-rock band who are releasing their debut EP this weekend. One of the tracks from it, Walk Around Me, heads up our playlist this week. 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 pump up the volume.
Grandad – About Him Here’s a new band with a single taken from their debut EP, Walk Around Me which is released on Friday, March 4. The alt-rock four-piece have a grungy shoegaze style overlayed with melodies as shown on the single with a subtle hook that catches in your brain. Since forming in 2020 they have played at venues such as Bracknell’s Acoustic Couch and Reading’s Facebar. The single was mixed and mastered by Brian DiMeglio with drums recorded at Reading’s Pyramid Studios – https://www.facebook.com/wearegrandad
Split the Dealer will be headlining at Reading’s Sub 89 with his full band on May 13 – https://www. facebook.com/splitthedealer
Lonely Robot – Under Stars Lonely Robot was created by John Mitchell who works from his Reading based recording studio, Outhouse as songwriter, musician and producer. He played a special show at Everyman in Kings Cross last month – https://johnmitchellhq.com
Mordecai Smyth – Fear of Flying Here’s some wonderful psychedelic pop sounds released on Wokingham’s Mega Dodo Records. Mordecai has a new album due in May and has just released this single, Fear of Flying from it – https://www.facebook.com/ stickytapeandrust
The Wave Machine – Don’t Pretend
Reliant – Pain of It All They have been in our playlist previously, making the Top 10 of our best of 2020 list and now they are back with a new single. It’s another uplifting powerful indie-rock anthem and it was recorded at Generation Studio in Maidenhead. They appeared at one of the successful Beyond the Download live shows at Peach Place in Wokingham last summer and recently played at London’s Amersham Arms live venue. We’ll look forward to more live shows during the year – https://www.facebook.com/WeAreReliant
Steve Anderson – Coda Steve, from The Room, has just released his
solo album, Journeyman’s Progress – Part, which is a wonderful album of instrumentals showcasing Steve’s skills as a guitarist and musician – https:// journeymansprogress.co.uk/
Gong – My Sawtooth Wake (Live) Gong are a legendary musical collective whose diverse musical world includes elements of psychedelia, jazz, space rock and more. Their tour has a visit to Reading’s Sub 89 on Thursday, March 3 - https://www.gongband.com/
Split the Dealer – Hard To Take He was in our Top 10 of the year list in both 2020 and 2021 and here’s his new single.
Angus Trott aka The Wave Machine appeared in our best of 2021 list with Ocean’s Brew and now here’s his new single. It’s another uplifting positive song that makes you smile – https://www.facebook.com/thewavemachine
The Paradox Twin – Perfect Circles This band from Reading appeared in best of year lists around the world and this is from their acclaimed ‘Silence from Signals’ album. They will be travelling to Fusion 3.5 Festival in Stourport on March 4 – https://www. theparadoxtwin.com/
Harriet – I’m Not in Love Harriet has a truly wonderful voice and she showed when she visited Wokingham Music Club at Whitty Theatre on February 18th. Here’s her beautiful version of 10cc’s classic – https://www.harrietsmusic.com/
GIG GUIDE
Thursday, March 3
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Bracknell Blues Club. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk READING – Bar 77, Kings Road RG1 3BJ. Singer Soup Kitchen: Music mixed to perfection. READING – The Corn Stores, Forbury Road RG1 1SB. Gini. Details: 0118 324 6768. READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. An Evening With GONG. Details: 0118 959 5395.
Friday, March 4
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Divide The Truth with The Whiskey Knights. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Wow 80s Tribute. Details: 01344 303333. READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Open mic night. Details: 0118 959 5500. READING – The Castle Tap, Castle Street RG1 7RJ. Larkham and Hall. Details: 0118 958 0473. READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Jamma presents Third Lung. Details: 0118 959 7196. READING – Progress Theatre, The Mount RG1 5HL. Jazz at Progress presents a tribute to Bill Evans by
John Horler. Details: www. jazzinreading.com READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Ultimate Coldplay. Mungo’s Hifi Soundsystem. Details: 0118 959 5395. READING – South Street arts centre. Leveret. Details: 0118 960 6060.
Saturday, March 5
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Simply Weller. Details: www.theacousticcouch. co.uk BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. 70s Tribute: The the ultimate night at the disco. Details: 01344 303333. BRACKNELL – The Silver Birch, Liscombe RG12 7DE. Full Flavour. Details: 01344 457318. BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead RG12 7PA. Tina Live: Tina Turner tribute. Details: 01344 484123. CROWTHORNE – The Crowthorne Inn, High Street RG45 7AD. Live music. Details: 01344 530615. HURST – The Wheelwright Arms, Davis Way RG10 0TR. A musical evening with Nicole Allan. Details: 0118 934 4100. READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Mythicals. Details: 0118 959 5500. READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE.
The Echo: March of the Mods. Details: 0118 956 8188. READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Johnny Too Bad. Details: 0118 402 7800. READING – Cafe Iguana, St Mary’s Butts RG1 2LN. Integrity Sound and The Legendary President Sound present Can You Remember Back In The Day: Reggae, Soul and Lovers’ Rock. Details: 07748 257310. READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Remones It’s Alive Tour. Details: 0118 959 7196. READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. SoundJam. Details: 0118 959 7196. READING – Queens Head, Christchurch Road RG2 7AZ. Jazz night with Lea Lyle and Trio.. Details: 0118 931 0232. READING – The Retreat, St John’s Street RG1 4EH. The Shufflepack. Details: 0118 376 9159. READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. Wardour Street. Details: 0118 926 5804. READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. The Dirty Shirts. Details: 0118 957 6930. READING – The Weather Station, Eldon Terrace RG1 4DX. Treehouse, Maxwell and more.. Details: 0118 958 6048. WINKFIELD ROW –
Carnation Hall RG42 7PA. The Supertonics Big Band. Details: www. thesupertonics.co.uk YATELEY – The Dog and Partridge, Reading Road GU46 7LR. Silver Searchers. Details: 01252 870648.
Sunday, March 6
EARLEY – The Roebuck, Auckland Road RG6 1NY. Afternoon Karaoke. 2pm.. Details: 0118 966 7153. READING – Community Hall, Watlington House, Watlington Street RG1 4RJ. Readifolk presents: Theme night – Weather or Not. Details: www. readifolk.org.uk READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. Harbinger and Dreameater. Details: 0118 956 8188. READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Reggae Sundays. Details: 0118 959 7196. READING – Queens Head, Christchurch Road RG2 7AZ. Northern Soul Social Sunday. 2pm-5pm. Details: 0118 931 0232. SONNING – The Mill at Sonning, Sonning Eye RG4 6TY. Juke Box and Bobbysox. Details: 0118 969 8000.
Monday, March 7
NETTLEBED – Village Club, High Street RG9 5DD. Nettlebed Folk Club presents: Phil Beer’s patron evening. Details:
www.nettlebedfolkclub. co.uk
Tuesday, March 8
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. New music Tuesday. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Ricky Warwick and The Fighting Hearts with Virgin Marys. Details: 0118 959 5395.
Wednesday, March 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. READING – The Hexagon, Queens Walk. Some Guys Have All The Luck, a tribute to Rod Stewart. Details: 0118 960 6060.
Thursday, March 10 BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Mark Basset with the Simon Cook Trio. Details: 01344 484123. READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Beardyman. Details: 0118 959 5395.
Friday, March 11
BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. CLOSED due to private
event. Details: 01344 303333. BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead RG12 7PA. Bracknell Jazz: Mark Bassey. Details: 01344 484123. READING – The Blagrave, Blagrave Street RG1 1PW. The Tim Kay Band. Details: 0118 958 6775. READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Open mic night. Details: 0118 959 5500. READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. It Was Never A Phase – Feeling This. Details: 0118 956 8188. READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Electrick Live Orchestra.. Details: 0118 959 5395. READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. The Highwasters. Details: 0118 957 6930. READING – The Weather Station, Eldon Terrace RG1 4DX. Storm In A Teacup presents: making Friends, Missing The Scene, Tape It Shut, As Loud as A Mouse. Details: 0118 958 6048. WINNERSH – The Royal British Legion Club, Woodward Close RG41 5LP. Wokingham Music Club: Gimme Gimme Gimme Abba. £20. Details: www. wokinghammusicclub. co.uk WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. The Gas Trick Band. Details: 0118 977 3706.
HOLDING A GIG, QUIZ OR GAMES NIGHT? SEND DETAILS TO EVENTS@WOKINGHAM.TODAY
YATELEY – The Royal Oak, Reading Road, GU46 7UG. Anna Nightingale. Details: 01252 872459.
Saturday, March 12
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Charity Fundraiser Tribute Band Evening. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. !daft! Details: 01344 303333. BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead RG12 7PA. Purple Zeppelin. Details: 01344 484123. READING – The Castle Tap, Castle Street RG1 7RJ. The Rainbow Barn Dance. Details: 0118 958 0473. READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Mirror Pictures. Details: 0118 959 5395. READING – The Hexagon, Queens Walk. Bowie Live. Details: 0118 960 6060. READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Las Nova. Details: 0118 959 7196. READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. Broken Bones UK. Details: 0118 926 5804. READING – South Street. Faustus. Details: 0118 960 6060. READING – The Retreat, St John’s Street RG1 4EH. The Fusion 6. Details: 0118 376 9159.
TILEHURST – The Royal British Legion Club, Downing Road RG31 5BB. The Right Times. Details: 0118 942 9606. WHISTLEY GREEN – The Elephant and Castle, Lodge Road RG10 0EH. Jamie Trick. Details: 0118 934 0886. WINNERSH – The Royal British Legion Club, Woodward Close RG41 5LP. Soultime. WOKINGHAM – The White Horse, Easthampstead Road RG40 3AF. Pink Fish. Details: 0118 979 7402. WOODLEY – The Chequers, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3JH. Brick Top. Details: 0118 969 3477. YATELEY – The Dog and Partridge, Reading Road GU46 7LR. John Newman. Details: 01252 870648.
Sunday, March 13
BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead RG12 7PA. Wilde Sundays: The Gillies, Paul Alexander Low, Kev Minney. Details: 01344 484123. EARLEY – The Roebuck, Auckland Road RG6 1NY. Afternoon Karaoke. 2pm. Details: 0118 966 7153. READING – Community Hall, Watlington House, Watlington Street RG1 4RJ. Readifolk presents: Anthony John Clarke. Details: readifolk.org.uk READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Reggae Sundays. Details: 0118 959 7196.
26 | LEISURE
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WHAT’SON Thursday, March 3
EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6 7JN. Over 50s group: board game seesion. 2pm-4pm. Details: 0118 966 9080. EARLEY – Trinity Church, Chalfont Close RG6 5HZ. Re:Fresh with Friendship Table. 2pm-4pm. Details: linkvisiting.org READING – Pre-booking essential for venue. My Town Centre Walkabout – Forbury Gardens, Abbey, 5B’s+2 Myths & so much more, a guided walk led by Terry. £, £2, family £12. From 9.50am. Details: www.facebook.com/ terrysreadingwalkabouts READING – St Luke’s Church, Erleigh Road RG1 5LH. Craft group. 10.30amnoon. Details: 0118 966 6389. SPENCERS WOOD – Spencers Wood Pavilion, Clares Green Road RG7 1DY. Social Seniors Tea and Coffee with Friendship Table. 10am-noon. Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – Bradbury Centre, Wokingham Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. Cafe Mosaic lunch club with Friendship table. Noon-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – Wokingham Baptist Church, Milton Road RG40 1DE. Wokingham Literary Society meeting: Growing Up: An evening of themed prose and poetry with Elizabeth Treadgold. 7.30pm. £2 non-members. Details: wokinghamliterarysociety. org.uk WOKINGHAM – The Cornerstone, All Saints Church, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham RG40 1UE. Wokingham and East Berkshire Camera Club meeting. Audio Visual Evening. 7.30pm. Details: www.webcc.org.uk.
Friday, March 4
READING – Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square RG1 3BE. World Day of Prayer service. 10.30am. Details: 0118 957 2197. READING – Park URC, Palmer
Park Avenue. World Day of Prayer service. 2pm. READING – Progress Theatre, The Mount RG1 5HL. Jazz at Progress presents a tribute to Bill Evans by John Horler. 7.30pm. £18, £16 concessions, plus booking fee. Details: www. jazzinreading.com EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6 7JN. Re:Fresh cafe with Friendship Table. 10amnoon. Details: linkvisiting. org WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturge Road RG40 2HD. Cafe Refresh Friendship table. 10am-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – Norreys Church, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UU. T&C at SHARE Wokingham Friendship table. 12.30pm-2.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – The Whitty Theatre, Luckley House School, Luckley Road RG40 3EU. An Evening With Bishop Steven, the Bishop of Oxford. 7pm. Details: 0118 979 2122.
Saturday, March 5
EARLEY – Trinity Church, Chalfont Close RG6 5HZ. Who Let The Dads Out? Monthly group for dads and male carers with primary school children. Activities for children and the chance to enjoy a bacon roll. 9.30am-11.30am. Details: trinityearley.org.uk READING – Great Hall, University of Reading, London Road RG1 5AQ. Reading Phoenix Choir presents New Horizons: Choral music from past to present. 7,.30pm. £15, under 16s free. Details: www.readingphoenixchoir. com READING – Readipop, Trafford Road RG1 8JP. Readiop family jam: a family music session for all ages. No experience necessary. £3 per family. Instruments available, bring your own if you wish. 10am-11.30am. Details: 0118 938 7156. READING – Cattle market, Great Knollys Street RG1 7HU. Farmers market. 8.15am-noon. Details:
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Holding a community event? Send your listings to events@wokinghampaper.co.uk www.facebook.com/ ReadingFarmersMarket READING – Rivermead Leisure Centre, Richfield Avenue RG1 8EQ. Reading Brick Show. 10am-5pm. £10. Details: www. readingbrickshow.com READING – St Luke’s Church, Erlegh Road RG1 5LH. Community coffee morning. 11am-noon. Details: 0118 966 6389. READING – Up The Junction, London Road RG1 3NY. Aurora and The Hub present launch party for The Hub radio station. With live musix from Ezra and Eagle Bliss. Ticket only. 10pm. Details: www. aurorafamily.co.uk SHINFIELD – St Mary’s Church, Church Lane. UkuladiesPlusOne. Noon. Free entry, retiring collection. Light lunch follows. Details: www. loddonreach.org.uk WOKINGHAM – Caudwell Hall Theatre, Holme Grange School, Heathlands Road RG40 3AL. The Corpus Christi annual charity pantomime: The Pied Piper. 3pm, 7pm. £5. Details: piedpiperpanto.eventbrite. co.uk WOKINGHAM – Masonic Centre, Reading Road RG41 1EG. Blues Brothers charity evening in aid of Platform YP. 7.30pm. £10. Details: 07949 858480. WOKINGHAM WITHOUT – Pinewood Bar and Cafe, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ. Friendship table available. 9am-4pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOOSEHILL – Woosehill Church, Chestnut Avenue RG41 3RS. Sip and Share with friendship table. 11am-noon, every second Saturday. Details: linkvisiting.org
Sunday, March 6
READING – Double Barrelled Brewery, Stadium Way RG30 6BX. Double Barelled Brewery tour and tasting session. £13.50, over 18s only. Details: doublebarrelled.co.uk READING – Rising Sun Arts Centre, Silver Street RG1 2ST. Dreading Poetry Slam.
7.30pm. Free entry. Details: www.risingsunartscentre. org READING – Rivermead Leisure Centre, Richfield Avenue RG1 8EQ. Reading Brick Show. 10am-5pm. £10. Details: www. readingbrickshow.com WOKINGHAM – Caudwell Hall Theatre, Holme Grange School, Heathlands Road RG40 3AL. The Corpus Christi annual charity pantomime: The Pied Piper. 3pm. £5. Details: piedpiperpanto. eventbrite.co.uk
Monday, March 7
ARBORFIELD – Royal British Legion, Eversley Road RG2 9PR. Friendship table. 9.30am-11.30am. Details: linkvisiting.org EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6 7JN. Tea and Tinies: refreshments and a place to play for children and their carers. 2.30pm3.30pm. Details: 0118 966 9080. READING – Concert Hall, Blagrave Street RG1 1QH. Lunchtime organ recital: Students from the Royal Academy of Music, Joshua Ryan, Joshua Simoes, Charles Maxtone-Smith. 1pm. £6 on door. Details: 0118 960 6060. WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturge Road RG40 2HD. Cafe Refresh Friendship table. 10am-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – Norreys Church, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UU. T&C at SHARE Wokingham Friendship table. 12.30pm-2.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOODLEY – Christ Church Crockhamwell Road, RG5 3LA. Network Fellowship bingo. 2pm. Details: www. christ-church-woodley. org.uk WOODLEY – Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way RG5 4UX. Four Seasons Art and Crafts. Try something new, relax, enjoy tea and biscuits. £3 per craft, materials supplied. 1.30pm-3.30pm. Details: 0118 969 9956. WOODLEY – Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane
A number of churches have restarted coffee mornings, where tea will also be served Picture: Pixabay
Way RG5 4UX. Four Seasons cafe Friendship Table. 1.30pm-3.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org
Tuesday, March 8
EARLEY – Earley CResCent Resource Centre, Warbler Drive RG6 4HB. Friendship table. 2pm-3pm. Details: linkvisiting.org. EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6 7JN. Board games cafe. 10am-noon. Details: 0118 966 9080. FINCHAMPSTEAD – FBC Centre Cafe, Gorse Ride North RG40 4ES. Friendship table. 10amnoon. Details: linkvisiting. org READING – Double Barrelled Brewery, Stadium Way RG30 6BX. Double Barelled Brewery International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day. 8.30am-7pm, over 18s only. Details: doublebarrelled. co.uk WOKINGHAM – Bradbury Centre, Wokingham Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. CLASP Wokingham cafe with Friendship table. 10am-noon. Every third and fourth Tuesday of the month. Details: linkvisiting. org WOKINGHAM WITHOUT – Pinewood Bar and Cafe, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ. Friendship table available. 9am-4pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOODLEY – Coronation Hall, Headley Road RG5 4JB. WISE Over-50s Forum: A speaker from the Coop Estate Planning: Tax, Care and Toy Boys. 2pm-4pm. £3. Details: Woodleywise@gmail.com
or: 0118 969 6206.
Wednesday, March 9
EARLEY – Brookside Church, Brookside Close RG6 7HG. Open Door cafe with Friendship Table. 2pm4pm. Details: linkvisiting. org READING – RISC) Reading International Solidarity Centre, London Street. Reading Friends of the Earth presents Green Park: Reading’s New Station / For People & Environment. With Edward Goose from Great Western Railway, and Cllr Tony Page. Free. 7.30pm. Details: www. readingfoe.org.uk WOKINGHAM – Bradbury Centre, Wokingham Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. Cafe Mosiac with Friendship table. 11am-noon. Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturge Road RG40 2HD. Cafe Refresh Friendship table. 10am-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOODLEY – Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way RG5 4UX. Coffee morning. 10am-noon. Details: 0118 969 9956.
Thursday, March 10
EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6 7JN. Over 50s group: general knowledge quiz. 2pm-4pm. Details: 0118 966 9080. EARLEY – Trinity Church, Chalfont Close RG6 5HZ. Re:Fresh with Friendship Table. 2pm-4pm. Details: linkvisiting.org READING – The Centre for Heritage and Family History, 2nd Floor,
What’s What’s on on event event submission submission form form Holding a community event? Running a fun day? Organising a concert? Planning a friendship group? Get it listed in our what’s on guide by sending information to us. Use this form or email events@wokingham.today. Please note this service is for community groups,
Name Name
charities and not-for-profit activities. We cannot guarantee inclusion.
Address
Date of event: Venue of event: What will happen:
Address
Postcode Email Postcode
Time of event: Contact number for readers:
Send Emailyour forms to: What’s On, Wokingham.Today, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS
Reading Central Library, Abbey Square RG1 3BQ. Reading’s Second Railway – The Early Days, a talk from Berkshire Family History Society. 2pm-3.30pm. £5, £4 members. Details: 0118 950 9553. READING – St Luke’s Church, Erlegh Road RG1 5LH. Craft group. 10.30amnoon. Details: 0118 966 6389. SPENCERS WOOD – Spencers Wood Pavilion, Clares Green Road RG7 1DY. Social Seniors Tea and Coffee with Friendship Table. 10am-noon. Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – Bradbury Centre, Wokingham Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. Cafe Mosiac lunch club with Friendship table. Noon-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – Cantley Hotel, Milton Road RG40 1JY. Wokingham Women In Business networking meeting. £28. Noon-2pm. Details: sarahvandort@ wibn.co.uk WOKINGHAM – The Cornerstone, All Saints Church, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham RG40 1UE. Wokingham and East Berkshire Camera Club meeting. Image selection and sequencing with Mike Holderness and Phil Blanchard. 7.30pm. Details: www.webcc.org.uk.
Friday, March 11
EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6 7JN. Re:Fresh cafe with Friendship Table. 10amnoon. Details: linkvisiting. org READING – Rising Sun Arts Centre, Silver Street RG1 2ST. Big Untidy Torchlight Book Club. Details: www. risingsunartscentre.org READING – South Street Arts Centre. Poets Cafe. 8.30pm. Details: 0118 960 6060. WINNERSH – Royal British Legion Club, Woodward Close RG41 5LP. Wokingham Music Club presents Gimme Gimme Gimme ABBA in concert. £20. Details: www.ticketsource.co.uk/ wokinghammusicclub WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturge Road RG40 2HD. Cafe Refresh Friendship table. 10am-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – Norreys Church, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UU. T&C at SHARE Wokingham Friendship table. 12.30pm-2.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – St Paul’s Church Parish Rooms, Reading Road RG41 1EH. Coffee and Chat: a warm welcome, a listening ear and refreshments. 2pm4pm. Details: 0118 979 2122 or church.office@ spauls.co.uk. WOOSEHILL – Acorn Community Centre, Fernlea Drive RG41 3DR. Acorn Cafe with Friendship table. 10.30am-noon.
Details: linkvisiting.org
Saturday, March 12
CAVERSHAM – Caversham Methodist Church Hall, Gosbrook Road RG4 8EB. Artists and Makers Fair. 10am. Free entry. Details: jean@alljazzedup.com or 07808 966928. READING – All Nations Christian Centre, Berkeley Avenue RG1 6JE. Walk Through The New Testament. 9.30am4pm. £12. Details: www. allnationselim.org/walkthrough READING – The Castle Tap, Castle Street RG1 7RJ. The Rainbow Barn Dance. 7.30pm-10.30pm. Ticketed event. Details: 0118 958 0473. WOKINGHAM – Caudwell Hall Theatre, Holme Grange School, Heathlands Road RG40 3AL. Reading Male Voice Choir concert, with support from Hannah Lebrecht, in aid of the Rotary Club of Easthampstead and The Link Visiting Scheme. £15. 7.30pm. Details: www. rmvc.net WOKINGHAM WITHOUT – Pinewood Bar and Cafe, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ. Friendship table available. 9am-4pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOOSEHILL – Woosehill Church, Chestnut Avenue RG41 3RS. Sip and Share with friendship table. 11am-noon, every second Saturday. Details: linkvisiting.org WOODLEY – Coronation Hall,. Thames Valley Ancient Egypt Society presents Kings in Thebes? Harwa, Montuemhat and Padiuamunope and the perfect Egyptian tomb. £4. 2pm. Details: www.tvaes. org.uk
Sunday, March 13
BINFIELD – Salisbury Hall, Newbold College RG42 4AN. Bracknell Choral Society presents A Glorious Celebration. 6pm. £15, under 18s free. Details: www. bracknellchoral.org.uk READING – The Hexagon, Queens Walk. Henley Symphony Orchestra.: Beethoven’s Symphony No 9, Mahler’s Songs of a Wayfarer. £16-£24. Accompanied children free. Groups one in eight free. 7.30pm. Details: 0118 960 6060. STREATLEY – St Mary’s Church, Church Lane RG8 9HU. Piano Recital by Glynne Stackhouse and Felicity Burrell. 4pm. £6, £5 concessions. Details: stmarysconcerts@hotmail. co.uk WOKINGHAM – Market Place. Wokingham vegan market. 9am-1pm. Details: www.sparkleveganevents. com WOODLEY – Christ Church, Crockhamwell Road, RG5 3LA. Messy Church. 4pm. Details: www.christchurch-woodley.org.uk
No. 5403
Your weekly puzzle challenge
27
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Wednesday, March 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
TO ADVERTISE ON THIS PAGE, CALL CLAIRE ON: 0118 327 2662
Quiz Challenge
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1. Margaret Thatcher resigned as UK prime minister in which year? 2. Carson City is the capital of which US state? 3. What is the purpose of the organ known as the gizzard in a bird? 4. In 2021, comedian John Bishop took a lead role as Dan Lewis in which popular sci-fi TV series? 5. What was the first feature film to be entirely animated using computer graphics?
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NONAGRAM
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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 1
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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
NELL HOMED HEN TEAM
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C A T 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: 26 Good; 31 Very Good; 36 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.
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 H first letter may appear in any chamber. G I
CR
IU
BS
RE
EI
UF
TL
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NL
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RO
5 4 8 1 7 4 8 3 2 1 6 7 3 6 2 9 8 9 4 2 5 7 9 4 3 2 7 3 9 7 4 2
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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.
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© Sirius Media Services Ltd
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This puzzle page is supplied by Sirius Media Services Ltd. To try our new puzzle, Zygolex, go to www.zygolex.com
DOWN 2. Dog loses his head to some purpose through excessive exploitation (7) 3. What you rattle to make bears wild? (5) 4. The girl is a beldam to some extent (6) 5. At university had partner kept up to speed (7) 6. Worker number five in marine force (5) 7. Tuner possibly in position when sneezing (12) 8. Results of the party game (12) 14. Indicate fellow impresario (7) 16. Superintend Old English rhyme being included (7) 17. Type of cake found in the bathroom (6) 19. Caper I can’t sort out (5) 21. Rob will annoy fellow inside (5)
QUICK CROSSWORD
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WORD PYRAMID: Travelling light. EQUALISER: Clockwise from top left – divide; multiply; subtract; add. Total: 9.
SOLUTIONS
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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.
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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.
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ACROSS 1. Parts of the electorate (12) 9. This man gets in the drink when on the table (9) 10. Contend that I’ve changed (3) 11. Exert pressure in a close embrace (7) 12. Audacious attempt by another notary who has lost the article (3-2) 13. Feeling swell when at sea? (6) 15. Skilful Dora removed the article (6) 18. Long time after which to muse (5) 20. Drink before ten perhaps – that’s a bad sign (7) 22. Small bed in a small house (3) 23. Reveal nothing of policy statement (9) 24. Reserves who will probably only start at twelve (6,6)
EQUALISER 12 5 6 2 3 3 3 8 2 1 5 6
Hard
6 8
4 3 2 8
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Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box.
2 9
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FIVE ALIVE
SUDOKU Easy
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WORD PYRAMID
T R P
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CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
6. What W is a part of a town that borders a sea or river, and the title of a Simple Minds song? 7. Steve Davis was the first snooker player to make a maximum break on TV. What did he score? 8. Which artist was famous for his studies of lakes with water lilies? 9. Which spa town was the seat of French government from 1940 to 1944? 10. In 2021, the Cumbre Vieja volcano erupted on which of the Canary Islands?
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PZ1P5403
CROSS CODE 18
5403
28
19. Discernment (5) ACROSS 22. Close by (4) 1. Resinous (anag.) (8) 24. Combustible material (4) 5. Fling (4) 26. Disputable (9) 7. Gloomy (9) 27. A few (4) 9. Pip (4) 28. Vision (8) 10. Small particles of stone (4) DOWN 11. Lowest male 1. Edible seeds (4) voice (5) 2. Study (4) 14. Fight (3-2) 3. Diving 15. Man (inf.) (5) apparatus (5) 16. Astound (5) 4. Vocal compositions (5) 17. Christian symbol (5) 18. Boils slowly (5) 5. Piquancy (4)
6. Smashes into pieces (8) 7. Coastline (anag.) (9) 8. Inaccurate (9) 11. Brag (5) 12. Breaks (5) 13. Overweight (5) 14. Nausea (8) 20. Existing (5) 21. Clan (5) 23. Prevalent (4) 24. Japanese volcano (4) 25. Final (4)
QUICK CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Neurosis; 5 Toss; 7 Saturnine; 9 Seed; 10 Grit; 11 Basso; 14 Set-to; 15 Bloke; 16 Amaze; 17 Cross; 18 Stews; 19 Taste; 22 Near; 24 Fuel; 26 Litigious; 27 Some; 28 Eyesight. Down – 1 Nuts; 2 Read; 3 Scuba; 4 Songs; 5 Tang; 6 Shatters; 7 Sectional; 8 Erroneous; 11 Boast; 12 Snaps; 13 Obese; 14 Sickness; 20 Alive; 21 Tribe; 23 Rife; 24 Fuji; 25 Last
FIVE ALIVE: QUIZ CHALLENGE: 1 1990; 2 Nevada; 3 To grind food, using grit and small stones; 4 Doctor Who; 5 Toy Story; 6 Waterfront; 7 147; 8 Claude Monet; 9 Vichy; 10 La Palma. (1) Across – Cubic; Utile; Brisk. Down – Crumb; Blini; Clerk. CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: CROSS CODE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Across – 1 Constituents; 9 Overboard; 10 Vie; 11 Squeeze; 12 (2) Across – Rises; Flung; Rowdy. B Z K P Y T I N E L Q W C Try-on; 13 Queasy; 15 Adroit; 18 Erato; 20 Portent; 22 Cot; 23 Down – Refer; Squaw; Saggy. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Manifesto; 24 Second eleven. H M R U O V X A D G F S J Down – 2 Overuse; 3 Sabre; 4 Isabel; 5 Updated; 6 Navvy; 7 NONAGRAM: apiece; attic; attire; cattier; cite; Sternutation; 8 Consequences; 14 Showman; 16 Oversee; 17 citrate; CREPITATE; epic; erica; irate; MAGIC SQUARE: EASY SUDOKU HARD SUDOKU Sponge; 19 Antic; 21 Rifle. them; hole; élan; iterate; pair; paretic; partite; peatier; mend. peri; petit; petite; pettier; pica; picrate; piece; piecer; pier; pierce; pietà; pirate; pitta; pratie; price; ratite; receipt; recipe; recite; retie; rice; ripe; rite; tacit; tapir; terai; tier; tierce; tipcat; tire; titre; trait; trice; trip; tripe; trite.
28 | LIFE
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READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Veggie Pizza with Topper and Sprouts In the kitchen
W
pizza?
The Italian treat is a mealtime staple for many, and here is a way of making your own, with fresh ingredients and some tasty toppers from Good4U. It’s a healthy way of making a vegetarian meal with a difference.
March
sliced n ¼ yellow pepper, thinly sliced n ¼ courgette, thinly sliced To serve: n Good4U Super Seeds Salad Topper n Good4U Sprouted Salad Topper
Good4U
HO doesn’t like a slice of
In the garden
Cooking time: 30 minutes Serves: 1-2
Ingredients n 1 large sourdough pizza base n 75ml tomato sauce/ passata n 100g grated mozzarella n ½ ball of fresh mozzarella, sliced n 50g mushrooms, sliced n ¼ red pepper, thinly
It starts with a seed
M
ARCH brings some sunny days to tempt gardeners back into the garden and many of us are really aching for Spring now. This is the month for sowing seeds and getting the garden ready for the summer months ahead.
Method 1. Preheat your oven to 220c/200c fan/ gas mark 7 and put a large baking sheet in to heat. 2. Spread your pizza base with the passata and sprinkle over 2/3 of the grated cheese. 3. Evenly scatter over the pizza toppings and sliced mozzarella and season with salt and pepper.
4. Sprinkle over the rest of the grated cheese and lift onto the hot baking sheet. 5. Bake for 15-20 minutes until bubbling and crisp. 6. Allow to cool for a couple of minutes
then sprinkle with Good4U Super Seeds and Sprouted Super Sprouts and serve immediately.
Recipes supplied by Good4U, a familyrun health food company based in
Sligo, on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. It makes created wholesome snacks that are affordable and sustainable. For more details, log on to: good4u.co
PlasticFreeHome David Lamont
How to save on energy costs (and help our planet at the same time)
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CCORDING to the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), 40% of the UK’s energy consumption and one fifth of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions stem from powering and heating homes and other buildings.
Significant changes, including urgent legislation and well targeted financial support from the Government, are therefore arguably key if the UK is to achieve its climate change goals by 2050. For example, around 90% of UK homes rely on gas boilers to provide heating, with a widely suitable and cost-effective alternative not currently obvious. Options ranging from electric boilers to heat source pumps can cost anything from £2,000 – £20,000 and aren’t suitable for installation in many homes, particularly those that are poorly insulated, and the UK lags behind most of Europe on this front. Successive governments have introduced grant scheme after grant scheme but in truth they’ve barely scratched the surface. Most recently, the now defunct Green Homes Deal helped to insulate fewer than 6,000 homes against a target of 600,000. Combine this lack of progress with the need to tackle the climate emergency, soaring energy prices and a cost-of-living crisis and looking hard at ways we can reduce our energy use and bills has to be a worthwhile exercise? Here are some suggestions to get you started…
Escaping heat If your home hasn’t been well insulated or your windows and doors are decades old, you could be wasting
the flow temperature down, according to the Heating and Hot Water Council. Always consult your manual to ensure you use the correct minimum setting.
Don’t get in a spin TURN IT DOWN: Thermostats can be lowered Picture: Pixabay lots of energy (and money!) generating heat that is quickly being lost. If you can’t afford to directly address these bigger issues, ensure that your radiators are operating efficiently and consider adding a heat reflective material behind them, insulate water cylinders and pipes, cap and safely seal any open chimneys, invest in thick curtains, use draft excluders, cover cold floors with rugs, close internal doors to keep the heat where your need it, place seating in the warmer areas in rooms and capture heat by leaving your oven open after use.
Dial down A study by a leading comparison website found that 10% of the UK routinely set their thermostat to at least 25°C, whilst in the UK the average is 20°C. Reducing that by just 1°C to 19°C could save the average household at least £80 a year. We need to use our heating a little more sparingly – remember to dress warmly at home during colder months, keep a throw or blanket handy and maybe even a hot water bottle.
research suggests that up to 16% of our home energy is used to power devices in standby mode.
A-grade Speaking of appliances and devices, when the time comes to replace any in your home, always aim to buy those that are at least A-rated and therefore the most energy efficient available.
Up to 90% of the energy consumed when using a washing machine comes from heating the water. According to the Energy Saving Trust, washing at 30°C rather than 40°C reduces your energy consumption by around 60% per cycle. A cool wash setting can save you around 25% more energy than using ‘eco mode’. Aim for a full load or remember to use the ‘light load’ setting.
Lightbulb moment
On the line
Get certified
Around 60% of UK households own a tumble dryer but, worryingly, a single cycle can produce nearly 2KG of CO2 and use 4kWh of energy. Incredibly, if every tumble dryer owning home in the UK instead hung and dried just one extra load of washing in a year, over one million tonnes of CO2 would be saved. Try to live without a tumble dryer – dry clothes outside whenever you can and inside on a clothes line if not.
Depending on how seriously you want to take things, if you haven’t moved for more than five years, consider having your home assessed and getting an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) done. It will show you how energy efficient your home is and may provide helpful suggestions as to improvements you could make. And, consider a smart meter if you don’t already have one so you can track your energy usage and identify further changes you can make. n Created in 2018 by blogger and voluntary hack David Lamont, Plastic Free Home is an online community with more than 32,000 followers that aims to seek and share ideas on how we can all live more sustainably. Visit www.theplasticfreehome. com or www.facebook.com/ plasticfreehomeuk
Stay cool Fridges and freezers account for up to one tenth of our home energy usage. Generally, the fuller they are, more efficiently they will run. Fridges should be set at between 1°C and 5°C – don’t have yours set colder than you need and don’t leave doors open for longer than needed.
Boiling point
Standby for savings
If you have a condensing combi boiler (that provides your heating and heats your water), you could save up to 8% on your gas bill just by turning
From TVs to games consoles, laptops to kitchen appliances, don’t leave them on overnight and when not in use. The Energy Saving Trust’s
Similarly, don’t leave any lights on around the house. Also, switch to LED bulbs which can last for decades with any luck and use up to 90% less energy than other alternatives.
Before you rush to get sowing, just take some to time to plan what you want to grow, how many plants you are going to need and when you want them to flower or bear fruit. This is particularly good advice for anyone with a veg plot. A sowing plan is your key to successful growing and means that you won’t be throwing out unwanted seedlings. A word of warning about sowing direct into the ground at this time of year … there may be a few sunny days to enjoy outside but the soil can still be chilly, making germination and survival hard. Sowing indoors is a better option, it provides a warm environment for germination and it’s easier to protect from pests. Paper and cardboard pots can be packed snugly in a tray which avoids over handling and makes them easy to water. Small seeds should be scattered sparingly on the surface of compost-filled seed trays and then covered with a sprinkling of sieved compost. If the seeds are big enough to handle, then you can sow them individually into 10cm pots – the quantity should be according to the instructions specified on the seed packet, but usually for small seeds between 5-10 seeds per pot. For plants that grow long roots, such as peas or beans, you can put them into a compost filled cardboard toilet roll tube and, once ready, they can then be planted outside tube and all. Most seeds will germinate and grow in a warm setting such as a greenhouse, cold frame or on a sunny windowsill. You should keep them damp by using a mist spray to start with before moving onto a watering can with a fine rose nozzle. Once the seedlings have grown their second pair of leaves and before they get too squashed in seed trays or pots, pot them on into small pots. Simply ease out a clump of seedlings with an old cutlery fork or dibber and – handling only the leaves to avoid damaging delicate stems and roots – gently tease them apart. Drop individual seedlings into a 5cm compostfilled newspaper pot ensuring the lower leaves are above the compost level. Once you see roots appearing from the bottom of the pot, it’s time to pot on to a bigger pot before planting outside once the weather and soil warms up. If you are growing your own veg now is a good time to sow first early potatoes. These can be planted from mid-March however planting times will vary across the country according to temperature and risk of frost. You should plant your chitted potatoes with the shoots facing upwards in soil with plenty of well rotted organic matter, and approximately 12cm deep and 30cm apart. Once stems are about 23cm tall, they will need earthing up – by drawing soil around them to create a 15cm high ridge, to protect against frost and keep growing potatoes covered. Spring seems tantalising close in March particularly as work in the garden starts to get going again. As the RHS says … Spring usually arrives by mid-March and the frequent sunny days provide the opportunity for an increasing range of gardening tasks. It’s time to get busy preparing seed beds, sowing seed, cutting back winter shrubs and generally tidying up around the garden. Top three jobs this month – prune bush and climbing roses, plant early potatoes and plant summer flowering bulbs.
SPORT TODAY
NO ONE CHRONICLES THE ACTION BETTER THAN US CITY LOSE OUT
READING BEATEN IN BLACKPOOL
BUBBLE BURST
BOARS’ FOUR FOR EPIC WIN
ROYALS EXIT FA CUP
WOMEN CRASH OUT IN EXTRA TIME By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today
READING FC Women crashed out of the FA Cup in the fifthround after they failed to take their chances against West Ham United.
The two Women’s Super League sides have previous history in the competition after meeting in the 2019 semi-finals which saw the Irons progress on penalties. It was the Hammers who succeeded again to break the Royals’ adventure in the cup.
Kelly Chambers’ side took the initiative at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Sunday, and enjoyed the better chances throughout the game, but were unable to convert any of their openings. With the score locked at 0-0 after 90 minutes, it required an extra 30 to separate the teams. Despite having 12 efforts at goal and seven on target, the Royals weren’t able to break the resilience of West Ham and were made to pay when Dagny Brynjarsdottir netted the decisive goal in the 105th minute.
ABBEY ENJOY GLORIOUS MUD
CHAMPIONS: S4K CLINCH LEAGUE TITLE
S4K Berks County Ladies were confirmed as Thames Valley Women’s Division 3 South champions at the weekend with one game left to spare.
Reading are back in WSL action this evening when they face current league leaders and title hopefuls Arsenal (match report online at rdg.today). Chambers’ team then play host to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, March 6 (2pm kick-off). Sunday’s opponents have been in fine form throughout the season and are pushing to qualify for the Champions League places. Spurs are in third on 27 points, five points above Reading having played one game more. n Full match report and pictures on page 22 & 23
The Fawkes confirmed their status as title winners after they picked up a point at the weekend against Goring United in a 1-1 stalemate. After a goalless first-half in a tight contest, Megan Cox put S4K ahead. Goring hit back with a late leveller in the 88th minute which was enough to earn the visitors a point. Cox has been in incredible goalscoring form throughout the season and has played a big part in S4K’s title run by netting 30 goals in 16 games giving her an oustanding record of almost two goals per match. Despite the late goal from Goring, the point proved to be enough for the hosts to capture the league title over their second placed opponents, who are now unable to catch S4K despite having four games left to play. The Fawkes have led the way in the division for almost all of the season having enjoyed a magnificent campaign that has seen them win 14 times, draw twice and be beaten on just two occasions from their 17 league matches. S4K conclude their league campaign on Sunday, March 13, when they face an away trip to Thatcham & Newbury Town Ladies where they will be looking for their 15th league win of the season.
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Rams took victory in a thriller against Darlington Pictures: Paul Clark
RAMS TRIUMPH IN 10-TRY SHOOTOUT RUGBY UNION
By RICHARD ASHTON sport@wokingham.today
RAMS came from behind to snatch a helter-skelter 36-32 victory at home to Darlington Mowden Park in a thrilling 10try shoot-out.
It was the away side who came hurtling out of the blocks as they raced into a 12-0 lead on the back of early tries from Ben Frankland and wing Brandon Asher-Wood, the latter set-up by a clever chip from fly-half Garry Law which was subsequently spread wide for the speedster to touch down on the right. Yet Rams got to work and struck back when a sublime cross-field kick from Drew
Humberstone was collected by Henry Bird, and a couple of phases later, the ball found Connor Hayhow to dot down on the right. The hosts cut the gap to two points shortly afterwards as their dominant scrum got to work, two consecutive penalties on the DMP fivemetre line preceding a pushover score finished off by captain Robbie Stapley. Things got even worse for the away side shortly after as prop Ralph Appleby was sin-binned for another infringement at the scrum, but the northerners coped superbly and actually extended their advantage with a brace of Law penalties.
Trailing 18-10 at the interval, it was Rams who this time came flying forward from the restart, and Park suffered a second yellow card when Euan McKirdy was ruled to have deliberately knocked on. On this occasion the hosts made the most of their numerical advantage, a carboncopy of the second try seeing Stapley claim the honours on his 175th start for the club. Rowan Grundy this time landed the conversion, and his side then hit the front for the first time with the score of the afternoon. Some slick hands off the top of a line-out saw the ball down the line, and full-back Michael
Dykes then showed a blistering turn of foot to scorch in from some 45 metres out. Grundy slotted the extras for 24-18, and things got even better for Rams as Hayhow’s interception saw him sprint clear before unselfishly settingup Jak Rossiter to go over to the right of the posts. With the conversion on target the hosts had a 13-point lead, but as their discipline started to waver, DMP hit back with Law adding the extras to a close-range try from centre Callum Mackenzie. Rams’ nerves were somewhat allayed with their sixth try of the afternoon, and the third from the base of a scrum, replacement James
McRae this time adding the finishing touches for his maiden effort for the club. Mowden Park refused to give up, though, and with Hayhow now in the bin for a knock-on, gave the home side a further scare when McKirdy sniped over with a minute to play, the excellent Law again on target. Yet Tom Vooght managed to force a knock-on following the restart, and with the scrum holding firm, Drew Humberstone booted the ball off to seal a seventh win in eight games. And the variety of play showcased by Rams pleased Reynolds, who said: “We’re not just all scrum and maul.
What supporters got was two sides who wanted to play some rugby and you got your money’s worth if you came along. “They did a good job of not allowing us to maul – so we had to go to other areas and we played some really good stuff, although so did DMP. “After a slow start we established some dominance with field position and put the squeeze on the opposition, bringing ourselves back into the game. “At half-time and 18-10 down, we had a really tough job on our hands because these guys can score another three or four tries in rapid order, so you have to be really careful.”
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ATHLETICS
READING COMPETE AS SEASON CONCLUDES IN STORMY CONDITIONS By STAFF WRITER sport@wokingham.today POPHAM Airfield was the venue for the final Hampshire League CrossCountry fixture of the season.
With the worst of storm Eunice having already ravaged the UK over the course of Friday afternoon, the green light was given for the fixture to go ahead on Saturday morning. The Reading AC Senior Men’s team was somewhat light on numbers come the starter’s gun at 2:30pm on Saturday afternoon. Nevertheless, six men donned the red, white and
blue vest, ready to navigate a course that was made up of one small lap, followed by three large laps, for a total of approximately 10.5km. Ryan O’Brien would ultimately be the first Reading man home: bolstered by a quick start, he managed to master the Hampshire mud in order to make it around in a very respectable 30th place (and a clocking of 40:32), his best finish of the year. Slightly further back was Arturo Martinez de Murguia, who produced a solid outing to finish in 62nd place in a time of 43:17.
Not too far behind Arturo was David Lewis, who much like O’Brien, pulled off his highest finish of the season with an improved position of 68th and a clocking of 43:55. Fourth scorer was Charlie Madelaine, who also had a much improved run compared with the Prospect Park fixture, in order to cross the line in a time of 47:01, enough to earn him 114th position. Exactly three minutes behind Madelaine was Andy McDonald, who ran a solid race to come through in 138th position, and with 50:01 on the stopwatch. Following on from Andy
was Gerry O’Driscoll, who was rewarded with an 188th place finish, in a time of 56:26. Reading men amassed a total of 412 points between the first five scorers, which was enough for 9th place on the day, unfortunately their weakest outing of the year. Nonetheless, the team finished in a very respectable joint fourth place with Basingstoke & Mid Hants in the end
of season table, behind AFD (first place), and Southampton AC (second place). Dan Thorne finished eighth place in the Senior Men’s overall individual rankings for the season, and to Richard Price, who ended the season in second place in the Veteran Men rankings. Parliament Hill Fields will play host to the club’s final outing of the season, the English National XC Championships.
FOOTBALL
London Samurai Rovers 2-3 Woodley United: Kestrels climb up WOODLEY UNITED climbed three places off the bottom of the table after they scored three in their win at London Samurai Rovers.
The hosts kicked off but were soon on the back foot with Woodley winger Archie Swell enjoying freedom on the right hand side and the visitors forcing a couple of corners, one of which was cleared of the hosts goal line. The early pressure was awarded in the sixth minute when Pedro Monteiro’s pass found Swell who passed the full back and put a low cross into the penalty area where Ayo Roberts was allowed time to control the ball before putting it past Hubert Sczech. Going forward United looked dangerous but out of possession their defence was called upon
Woodley United v Langley Pictures: Peter Toft and successfully protected debutant keeper Andrew Walker. Roberts forced a corner from a Tahir Carmichael freekick while Seun Akintola showed good skill before his short went
across Rovers six yard area for safety while a multi-player move saw Akintola shot over the bar, shortly followed by Roberts heading Swell’s cross into the arms of Sczech and Swell putting wide
following a multi-player move that started with Walker. Woodley’s second goal came in the thirty first minute direct from Carmichael’s free kick on Woodley’s left and the third quickly followed two minutes later when Stuart Birkett got on the end of a Carmichael corner and saw his header find its way into the net. Rovers opened their account in the thirty eighth minute when an unmarked Junya Kitanishi scored from close range and reacted quickest after Birkett headed clearance from a free kick clear hit the back of a Samurai player. Buoyed by the late first half goal the hosts started the second half the better, enjoying plenty of possession in Woodley’s
ATHLETICS
READING AC FACE ULTIMATE CROSS COUNTRY TEST
Reading Athletics Club THE 2022 national cross country held at the iconic Parliament hill in London did not disappoint as the ultimate test for cross country running.
half without threatening the goal. The 52nd minute saw Akintola’s header from a corner go narrowly wide of Sczech’s right hand post but until the final 10 minutes neither team looked like scoring as the match became a midfield affair that needed little goalkeeper action. Two minutes later United won a freekick in the Rovers’ half from which possession was lost and on the counter attack Walker saved well for a corner kick from which Sadaharu Yoshida rose unchallenged to score a header. This set the game up for a nervous finish but Woodley did not panic and were able to see the game to full time and a sixth away win of the season.
Starting with a field of 1010 runners stampeding up the huge uphill start and navigating many large hills. Jess Gibbon had an incredible run, making history for Reading AC to finish strongly and bring home the team and win the national cross country title. This is the first time in RAC history that a female has won the National Cross country over the recognised toughest course in the country. Second home for the team was Kirsty Walker finishing like a bullet on the home straight to come an amazing 6th in the race. Next Katie Rodda Stormed home in 147 with another great run and finished 3rd in the team. Hayleigh Wood has been in fine form this season and smashed her race finishing 255 and finishing the team. Followed by Eva Thomas who ran her first senior cross country race and had an amazing race to finish 317. Lucy Daniels looked strong up the hills and finished 338 with Lydia Blythe working hard through the mud to finish 345, Lynne Henderson-Nike ran extremely well to finish 486 and Kathryn Tolson battling to stay upright to finish 610, both racing with smiles on their faces throughout showing very determined runs. Overall the team finished a superb 13th out of 104 completed scoring teams.
Wilkinson, it was her turn for a 60 metre sprint to the line, securing the bonuspoint try under the sticks. Although Buckingham replied with two tries of their own, Abbey continued to press and it was the in-form Alice Denton who grabbed two tries, the first with a powerful run over the line and the second from a well-timed pass. Converting the second, Abbey finished the game 36-15.
Reading Athletics Club
RUGBY UNION
ABBEY RESPOND WITH BONUS POINT WIN TO SINK SWANS ABBEY Women responded well to last week’s heavy defeat to OA Saints by securing a bonus-point victory over Buckingham Swans, which saw five different players touch down over the line.
An opening score from hooker Claire Stevens, off a well-worked set piece lineout move, calmed the home side in a chaotic opening period. A series of penalties for the home side allowed
centre Mia McCreesh to kick for touch and move her side into Buckingham’s 22. Eventually, the chaos swung in Abbey’s favour and flanker Abi Wall cut a sweet line up the centre of the pitch to grab her maiden try of the season, and her team’s second. Alice Denton-Rice was successful with the conversion and it was 12-0. With a dominant scrum, captain Annabel Hawkins chose this option at several
penalties, and it wasn’t long before she reaped the rewards herself with a strong carry from the base of the scrum, crossing in the corner. It was Buckingham who would have the final say of the half, however, with an excellent individual run from their outside centre Shaniah Herelle, who scooped up a mis-timed pass from the Abbey back line, and ran in 60 metres to score.
Despite the best efforts of fly-half Annette Bevan, Herelle outran her to cross in the corner. Full-back Alex Wilkinson fielded clearance kicks well, and was strong when returning them. Abbey were patient and although eventually lost possession, McCreesh showed an excellent read of the game with an interception between the Buckingham centres. Flanked by Bevan and
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Eversley & California v Cove Pictures: Richard Milam
READING CITY NARROWLY BEATEN BY LEADERS, BOARS SCORE FOUR FOOTBALL ROUND-UP
Combined Counties Premier North
READING CITY were narrowly beaten at home to league leaders Hanworth Villa. The Cityzens went two goals down but put up a strong fight that saw them find the net deep into stoppage time as they went down to a 2-1 defeat. Reading City manager Simon Johnson said: “Brilliant indication of how far we’ve come this season. A tight loss against a side who will walk the league. Looking forward to the last seven games.” WOKINGHAM & EMMBROOK collected three vital points with a home win over CB Hounslow
United. The only goal of the contest came in the 14th minute when Will Shaw headed down Jordace Holder-Spooner’s set-piece delivery which fell to Jack Mullan who took a touch before crashing a volley into the net. The Sumas were unable to extend their lead but they defended resolutely to hold on to their advantage and pick up a win and a clean sheet against the bottom club.
Isthmian South Central
BINFIELD had to settle for a point when they hosted Sutton Common Rovers.
The Moles went ahead in the first-half through Jonathan Denton’s 28th minute strike. The visitors replied on the verge of the break as the points were shared. Binfield are in eighth on 35 points from 26 games.
Combined Counties Division One
EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA got back to winning ways with an emphatic win over bottom side Cove. Lewis Wall netted a brace inside the opening 12 minutes of the match to put the Boars in control. Harinder Singh Hunjan and
Reece Buckett added to the score to consolidate a 4-0 win on the road for Eversley. The Boars are in fourth after 28 games. Eversley manager Matty Angell said: “Great win today, we really did get the ball down and play on a difficult surface and got exactly what we deserved. “Credit to the whole squad they work extremely hard and really put on an excellent performance for our visiting support.”
Thames Valley Premier League
FINCHAMPSTEAD kept up the pressure at the top with victory over Richings Park. Alex Woodhead claimed a brace, while Nick Payne and Aqeel Butt wrapped up a 4-0 win to take them five points behind leaders Burghfield with three games in hand. BURGHFIELD stayed at the top after they picked up a 1-0 win away at Maidenhead Town. Ollie Brown netted the only goal of the game to keep them in pole position. READING CITY U23’s fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to Wraysbury. WARGRAVE and READING YMCA shared a point after they were locked at 1-1.
Cup
EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA made progress with a 3-0 away win over Woking. TILEHURST PANTHERS got the better of WARGRAVE with a 4-0 triumph. Lydia Vettese scored all four goals to see the Panthers safely through.
Thames Valley Women’s Division 3S EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA RESERVES came away with a point from Newbury Development after they recovered a two-goal deficit.
SPORT | 21
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How they rated
LUKE SOUTHWOOD
Made two really good stops in the first-half but was arguably at fault for the first two goals. Didn’t look comfortable coming to claim the ball.
ANDY YIADOM
Strong in defence and did brilliantly to set up the opening goal when he burst forward and put the ball on a plate for Joao to finish.
MICHAEL MORRISON
Had a good opportunity to score in the second half with a header. Will be disappointed with the team’s inability to defend from set pieces.
TOM MCINTYRE
Struggled at times in a stern test up against the physical Gary Madine. Part of a defensive collapse at the end.
ANDY RINOMHOTA
Filled in well at right-back but Reading missed his presence in the centre where he’s made a positive difference in recent weeks.
DANNY DRINKWATER
Sloppy with his passing at times that put his teammates under pressure but did do some good things going forward.
TOM DELE-BASHIRU
Struggled to keep Reading ticking in central midfield where the Royals looked like they missed Rinomhota in the middle of the park.
JOHN SWIFT
A few glimpses of brilliance when he linked with Joao in attack. Squandered a big chance when he was slipped in by Joao.
JUNIOR HOILETT
A quiet afternoon from Hoilett who didn’t provide much threat down the wing in a lacklustre display.
TOM INCE
Worked hard to help out Andy Rinomhota but had a disappointing day in attack where he was unable to make much happen.
LUCAS JOAO
On the scoresheet once again with his sixth goal in eight matches. Played a nice pass to set up Swift early in the second-half.
SUBS Yakou Meite n/a, Ovie Ejaria n/a
5 6 5 5 7 4 4 6 4 4 7
Reading full-back Andy Yiadom
The Royals lost for the first time under interim manager Paul Ince Archive pictures: Steve Smyth
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP
LATE COLLAPSE SEES ROYALS TOPPLED AWAY AT BLACKPOOL BLACKPOOL 4 READING 1 By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today READING’S run of three unbeaten Championship games came to an end as they were dealt their first defeat under interim manager Paul Ince at Blackpool.
The Royals went ahead when Lucas Joao continued his excellent scoring form but goals from Marvin Ekpiteta, Gary Madine and Shane Lavery saw Blackpool come fighting back to take the points. The result leaves Reading still one place outside the relegation zone with the gap being cut to six points by Barnsley, in 22nd place, after their win over Middlesbrough. The Tykes also have a game in hand. Paul Ince was forced into making changes in what was his first away trip as the Royals boss having made a winning start with a home victory over Birmingham City on Tuesday. Goalkeeper Luke Southwood returned in goal in the absence of Karl Hein, while Tom Holmes also missed out with injury with meant a reshuffle at the back with Andy Rinomhota dropping in at rightback, and Andy Yiadom switched to left-back. Ovie Ejaria also made a longanticipated return to the matchday squad and was also joined by Alen Halilovic after his spell on the treatment table.
The home side made a decent start in front of their fans when they won some early corners in the match but they weren’t able to capitalise after the first setpiece was well overhit and the second was headed out by Danny Drinkwater. The first big opening of the match came for Blackpool in the eighth minute only to be prevented by a super stop from Southwood. Tom McIntyre appealed for a foul when he was barged over by Gary Madine, but the referee waved play on and a chance presented itself for Gerry Yates whose shot was saved by a low reaction save from the Royals keeper. Reading got onto the attack and looked to get ahead when Drinkwater fed the ball to Lucas Joao, however, Blackpool recovered in defence to thwart the Portuguese forward. The ball dropped invitingly for Josh Bowler to strike in the box and he smacked an effort high over the top. Against the run of play, the Royals seized their opportunity to open the scoring with 17 minutes on the clock. Yiadom worked tenaciously to get down the left byline and placed the ball across goal to set up Joao for a tap in from eight yards out as the striker scored his sixth goal in eight matches. Southwood came up with another terrific save to keep his team in front when he got across to keep out Madine’s close range header.
It didn’t take long for the Tangerines to respond and they were back on level terms 10 minutes after Joao’s opener. Reading tried to beat the forwards with an offside trap, but Blackpool skipper Marvin Ekpiteta managed to hold his run and nod the ball past Southwood to equalise. Blackpool gained confidence after their leveller and piled some pressure on Reading to try and edge themselves in front before the break. Despite the home team’s efforts, Reading held firm to see themselves get to half-time on terms having scored with their only shot on target. Reading had an early chance after the restart when Blackpool
Match stats Blackpool: Grimshaw, Lawrence-Gabriel, Ekpiteta, Thorniley, Sterling, Bowler, Dougall, Stewart, Hamilton, Yates, Madine Subs: Connolly, James, Dale, Moore, Lavery, Casey, Beasley Reading: Southwood, Yiadom, Morrison (c), McIntyre, Rinomhota, Drinkwater, Dele-Bashiru, Swift, Ince, Hoilett, Joao Subs: Halilovic, Meite, Ejaria, Boyce-Clarke, Barker, Clarke, Abrefa Goals: Lucas Joao 17’, Ekpiteta 27’, Madine 61’, Lavery 86’, Bowler 90’
gifted the ball to Joao, he slipped the ball to John Swift who took one too many touches out wide and saw his opportunity disappear. Swift’s eyes lit up when Reading were awarded a free-kick just outside of the area when Tom Ince was bundled over. Reading’s top scorer struck at goal and was denied by Daniel Grimshaw who got fingertips to put the ball over the crossbar. Reading were hurt once again after being unable to defend a corner. Blackpool crowded several players inside the six-yard to cause chaos in the box and that allowed Madine to prod in a header from a few yards out. Ince’s team fought to try and salvage something from the match which saw him bring Yakou Meite and Ovie Ejaria off the bench for the remaining 15 minutes in place of Tom Dele-Bashiru and Junior Hoilett. Neil Critchley’s team had a chance to seal the points when the ball dropped for Hamilton but he fizzed his shot past the post. The Tangerines did wrap up the game with their next break on goal when substitute Shane Lavery burst behind the Royals back line and applied the finishing touch to put the game to bed. Just minutes later, Blackpool put more gloss on their victory when Bowler volleyed past Southwood with an exquisite finish. n Reading are back in action at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday when they host Millwall.
22 | SPORT
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READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, March 2, 2022
ROYALS DEALT HAMMER FA WOMEN’S CUP
How they rated Reading goalkeeper Rhiannon Stewart
READING 0 WEST HAM UNITED 1
RHIANNON STEWART
Was kept busy throughout and made some excellent saves, including an acrobatic stop to keep out Hasegowa in the second-half.
LILY WOODHAM
Delivered some good set pieces which helped Reading to pose a threat throughout the game but they couldn’t find a decisive goal.
GEMMA EVANS
Defended well throughout and came close to scoring when she met Faye Bryson’s corner but couldn’t convert at the back post.
DEANNA COOPER
Strong in defence in a gruelling cup tie and was unlucky not to help Reading to a clean sheet when the visitors netted in extra-time.
FAYE BRYSON
Got forward plenty of times from full-back to help out in attack and delivered some inviting crosses but teammates couldn’t give the finish.
TASH HARDING
Provided strong leadership in midfield. Transitioned the ball well through midfield to start plenty of attacks.
SANNE TROELSGAARD
Looked comfortable in the centre of the park and helped the Royals to control much of the game.
AMALIE EIKELAND
Came agonisingly close to giving Reading the lead in the first-half when she got on the end of Harries’ delivery and headed onto the post.
EMMA HARRIES
Threw in some excellent crosses to provide for the forwards in the middle. Substituted for Rachel Rowe in the 75th minute.
DEANNE ROSE
Had a brilliant chance to break the deadlock in the first half but she hammered her half volley over the target.
NATASHA DOWIE
Had some chances to score in the second-half and tested Arnold when she spun away from her marker only to be denied by the keeper.
Subs Rachel Rowe 6, Justine Vanhaevermaet 6, Tia Primmer n/a
8 6 7 7 7 6 6 6 7 6 6
By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today READING FC Women were left to rue missed chances as they were knocked out of the FA Cup after extra-time by West Ham United.
The teams were locked at 0-0 after 90 minutes in a contest that saw the Royals have the better of the game. But it was West Ham who progressed thanks to Dagny Brynjarsdottir’s 105th-minute winner. Kelly Chambers team were looking to build on the momentum of their recent impressive league form by advancing in the cup. After five consecutive wins in the Women’s Super League, their excellent form was brought to an end prior to the latest international break after they were thumped 4-1 at Brighton. Deanna Cooper returned to the starting line-up, while back-up goalkeeper Rhiannon Stewart was selected to start between the sticks for the Royals. Emma Harries and Natasha Dowie looked to link up early to create a chance when they traded passes only for West Ham’s defence to recover and shut them down. Reading were awarded a freekick in a dangerous position when Amalie Eikeland was impeded 25 yards from goal. Faye Bryson tried her luck and struck an effort on target that didn’t have enough conviction to trouble West Ham goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold. The Hammers replied with
Natasha Dowie tries to break through
West Ham break the deadlock in extra-time
Deanne Rose charges past her marker
Match stats Reading: Stewart, Bryson, Evans, Cooper, Harding (c), Woodham, Troelsgaard, Harries, Eikeland, Rose, Dowie Subs: Poulter, Peplow, Rowe, Roberts, Vanhaevermaet, Baigent, Primmer, Thomann, Joslyn West Ham: Arnold, Fisk, Parker, Flahery (c), Svitkova, Stringer, Yallop, Snerle, Longhurst, Hasegawa, Evans Subs: Leat, Wyne, Walker, Filis, Leon, Joel, Cissoko, Brynjarsdottir, Houssein Goals: Brynjarsdottir 105+1’
Emma Harries fires in a cross a couple of chances of their own and were first thwarted by an important block from Cooper and then denied by a smart save from Stewart. The Royals came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 24th minute when Eikeland’s header bounced off the post. The hosts counter-attacked with menace to win a corner and from the resulting set-piece, Eikeland met Harries’ delivery but was denied by the upright.
Reading Women’s journey in the F Another promising move from Reading saw Harries feed the ball into the path of Bryson who picked out Deanne Rose and she fired a volley inches over the top. Arnold came to the Hammer’s rescue when she clawed away Cooper’s header to keep it goalless. West Ham hit back with a chance of their own when Lisa Evans nodded over the bar. The home crowd called for Arnold to be sent off when she came out of her area and handled
MEN’S REACTION
INCE URGES TEAM TO ‘KEEP BELIEVING’ READING FC interim manager Paul Ince told his players to ‘keep believing’ after they suffered a heavy defeat at Blackpool.
The Royals took the lead through Lucas Joao but were pegged back by Blackpool who took a convincing with four different goalscorers. The defeat cuts the gap to the relegation zone, where the Royals sit six points outside the dropzone. “We got the early goal and you think, great,” said Ince. “We gave a very poor first goal away, it’s been throughout the seasons conceding silly goals and making stupid errors “We came out not marking and it was 1-1. I said to the lads at halftime that we’re still in the game.
“If we got the second goal, I think we go on to win the game. “Up until the last 10 minutes, we
opened ourselves up but there were positives to come out of it. “But it’s about getting results on the board.” Despite the scoreline, Ince reiterated that there were positives to take from the performance. He continued: “I said to the lads, ‘keep believing’. “It was a bad result but not a bad performance. “At 2-1, we needed to stay in the game. “I’m not too deflated. We know where we are. “There are a lot of things we need to address and get better at. I’m not despondent there is still a long way to go.” Ince provided an injury update on several players including
goalkeeper Karl Hein who is expected to miss the remainder of the season. “We’ve lost our goalkeeper (Hein) for the rest of the season. “He fell in his house and took a ligament off the bone on his thumb. It’s 4-6 weeks without surgery but a lot more with surgery. “Scott Dann has started training, he’s about a week away. “Josh Laurent is back on the grass but is probably not back at Millwall. “We hope Tom Holmes is back for Millwall. “We’ve relied on the same players playing. “It’s tough and the demands were trying to put on them, it’s a lot of work.”
SPORT | 23
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Wednesday, March 2, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE
R BLOW IN FA CUP EXIT
From the middle
Justine Vanhaevermaet
Dick Sawdon-Smith
Making laws more understandable
I Dowie awaits delivery Lily Woodham
Reading go close from a corner Natasha Harding skips past her opponent
FA Cup came to an end with defeat after extra-time Pictures: Neil Graham
Woodham and Bryson
the ball, but the referee gave her a caution. The half came to a close with Reading having the final chance of the half from the resulting free-kick. Lily Woodham’s delivery caused chaos in the box and almost dropped for Harries but Arnold recovered to collect the loose ball. Reading continued to pile the pressure on their visitors in the second-half. Woodham’s long throw was brought under control by Harries who laid the ball off for Dowie who couldn’t manage to get her shot on target from an acute angle. Faye Bryson gets down the wing
The Royals looked the more likely to get in front and continued to press for an opener when captain Natasha Harding’s looping header was caught by Arnold with an hour gone. With just over 15 minutes left on the clock, Reading were again denied by Arnold who made a super stop to keep out Dowie she spun and shot after getting on the end of Harries’ cross. The first home change came moments later when Rachel Rowe replaced Harries. A second change five minutes later saw Justine Vanhaevermaet replace Rose.
With the score level at 0-0 at the end of the 90 minutes, the teams headed into 30 minutes of extratime. Vanhaevermaet looked to unlock the defence on two occasions with through balls but Fisk recovered to make a vital challenge on Rowe. Tia Primmer then entered the tie to take the place of Eikeland with 20 minutes to play. Right at the end of the first-half of extra-time, West Ham stole the lead when Brynjarsdottir latched onto a rebound and knocked the ball past Stewart.
PREVIEW
ROYALS RELEGATION BATTLE CONTINUES WITH MILLWALL TEST READING FC’s fight for Championship survival continues when they host Millwall at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday.
The Royals are one place and six points above the drop zone, while the visitors come into the contest in 11th position. The Lions still have an outside shot at making the top-six with 13 league games left to play. Millwall have been in a rich vein of form with four wins from their last five to take them just five points outside of the play-offs in a tightly contested
top half of the table. Since being beaten by Fulham at the start of the month, Millwall have bounced back with victories over Cardiff City, QPR, Derby County and Sheffield United. Gary Rowett’s team made it four consecutive wins by beating fellow top-six hopefuls Sheffield United at the weekend. Former Reading academy graduate Jake Cooper netted the only goal of the game in the 61st minute to win the points for Millwall. Millwall have found goals fairly hard to come by with just 36 in
33 games, six less than Reading despite the huge gap in the table between the teams. Meanwhile, the South London side have been solid at the other end of the pitch and have conceded just 34 times compared to 67 from the Royals which gives them the worst defensive record in the league. Forward Tom Bradshaw is currently their leading scorer with seven from 11 appearances, while midfielder Jed Wallace has six goals and eight assists from 24 games. Reading were beaten earlier in the campaign on their trip
to the Den in November. Former Royals loanee Benik Afobe ensured the points stayed in the capital with his 71st minute goal. Millwall also collected three points on their last visit to Berkshire which came in February 2021. Reading went in front through Alfa Semedo but the away team hit back with late strikes from Matt Smith in the 76th minute and Mason Bennett in the 85th minute to complete a comeback. Reading are winless in their last four matches against Millwall.
T’S funny how trying to make the Laws of the Game more understandable, sometimes seems to create more arguments. A prime example is handball. The Law has always put handball into two categories, accidental or deliberate. Referees were told to take into consideration, the movement of the hand towards the ball (and not the ball towards the hand), the distance between the opponent and the ball (unexpected ball) and that the position of the hand does not necessarily mean there has been an infringement, Many people thought this was not clear enough and made handball too subjective, so the Law on handball was basically re-written. This turned out to be highly controversial and in a ‘step back’, most changes were rescinded the next season. The introduction of VAR seemed to many people to result in more handballs being given when the ball had hit a player’s shoulder. Whether this was fact, I don’t know, but the International Football Association Board added another clarification in 2020 that read: ’For the purposes of determining handball, the upper boundary of the arm, is in line with the bottom of the armpit’. They illustrated this with the drawing seen below. Unfortunately, because the arm has two colours, many thought the upper part of the arm represents a shirt sleeve, I heard referees say, clubs will buy shirts with longer sleeves and in discussing West Ham’s recent late equaliser against Leicester, one pundit on Sky Sports said, ‘ if it was me I would wear shirts with longer sleeves’. This of course is nonsense. When explaining this Law, I put one arm down by my side and with the other hand put my thumb under the armpit, and then grasp my arm with my fingers straight out. What’s above my first finger is shoulder and what’s below is arm. Try it out. The IFAB have confirmed that my interpretation is correct. I have suggested that it would be better if in the drawing, the arm was not in colour but simply white with the demarcation line drawn in black. David Elleray, Director of the Technical Committee of IFAB, has told me that they are already planning such a change.
24 | SPORT
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HOCKEY ROUND-UP
SOUTH BERKS 4S FIRE FIVE PAST TADLEY By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today
RESULTS
FIXTURES
FOOTBALL Sky Bet Championship Blackpool 4-1 Reading
Sky Bet Championship Reading v Millwall
Saturday, February Saturday, March 5 FOOTBALL 26
Isthmian South Central Binfield 1-1 Sutton Common Rovers
South Central Thames 2
SOUTH BERKSHIRE 4s put three points on the board with a ruthless victory over Tadley. They hit five past their opponents without reply to take the win. The victory keeps South Berks at the top of the table with 13 wins from 14 matches to give them an eight point lead.
Combined Counties Premier North Reading City 1-2 Hanworth Villa Sumas 1-0 CB Hounslow United
South Central Men’s Premier 2
Combined Counties Division One Cove 0-4 Eversley & California London Samurai Rovers 2-3 Woodley United
South Berks have a shot at goal
Thames Valley Premier League Finchampstead 4-0 Richings Park Maidenhead Town 0-1 Burghfield Reading City U23’s 1-2 Wraysbury Wargrave 1-1 Reading YMCA
SOUTH BERKSHIRE took the bragging rights and points against READING 2A. The 4-1 win takes South Berks up to sixth in the table, while Reading are one place off the bottom.
South Central Men’s Division 1
South Berkshire 4s v Tadley Pictures: Steve Smyth
SONNING went down to a heavy home loss to Wallingford. The 7-2 defeat leaves Sonning in fifth on 30 points.
South Berks are in sixth on 22 points from 17 matches. SONNING 2s were defeated on the road in a 2-0 loss to Yateley.
South Central Men’s Division 2 SOUTH BERKSHIRE 2s were held to a goalless draw at Maidenhead 2s.
The teams challenge for the ball
Winchester without reply to take the points. The 4-0 victory puts them in 10th on 13 points.
South Central Women’s Division 1
South Central Women’s Premier 1
SOUTH BERKSHIRE were defeated at home by Oxford
SONNING hit four past
BASKETBALL
SCINTILLATING ROCKETS SHOOT PAST CAVALIERS By STAFF WRITER sport@wokingham.today
Reading Rockets 87 Thames Valley Cavaliers 71 READING ROCKETS executed one of their best displays of the season with a win over Thames Valley Cavaliers.
Freckelton and Bonner got TVC off to a flying start and a first quarter lead of 24-18 with clinical finishing but Rockets truly exploded in the second period with a 31-8 winning margin disturbing the usual control that TVC have over their opponents with such an experienced and talented side. Jaz Bains hit a brace of trebles with Tyler Cartaino finding his feet after a few weeks lay off due to a hamstring injury as guards Lewis Champion and Ben Dixon made major contributions whilst Reis Pinnock and
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Sam Toluwase lines up a shot Meshack Lufile controlled the boards. Rockets played at a very fast pace finishing each offensive very well and being secure from the free throw line as they surprised Cavaliers brushing them aside in this quarter to lead at the interval 49-32. Rockets continued their domination of the court taking the third period by 20-16 extending their lead to 69-48 as Lufile was dominant inside and on the boards having a double
double before the final quarter started with 17 points and ten rebounds. Champion was clinical with his shooting form inside and outside the arc as Bains hit three from five triples and enabling Coach Pearson to indulge his academy talent. Thinking of the following day’s return game in Uxbridge, coach Pearson gave his top contributors as much rest as he could knowing that victory was assured with such a superb team performance. Ultimately, the ever dominant Meshack Lufile hit 21 points, took down 14 rebounds, had a block and two assists in an excellent display from the power forward. Jaz Bains continued his excellent outside the arc shooting with 18 points whilst Sam Toluwase showed his importance to this squad as the experienced forward hit 15 points and Lewis Champion hit 12 points.
Another duel for possession University 2s. The 2-1 loss leaves South Berks in sixth on 24 points.
South Central Women’s Division 3 SOUTH BERKSHIRE 2s added three points to their tally with a 3-0 win over Newbury & Thatcham 2s.
SNOOKER
WALLACE CHALKS UP LEAD IN CUESTARS SENIORS TOUR MARTIN Wallace has taken the lead on the Cuestars Seniors (40+) Tour after winning his second event of the 2021/22 campaign.
The 54-year-old from Wokingham beat first-time finalist Jason Pusser to clinch the fourth leg at Greenbaize Snooker Club, Bournemouth. Both players agreed to a one-frame shootout for the £100 first prize due to the lateness of the hour. Wallace, who won the first leg in Fareham last November, recorded the day’s highest break of 69. He now has a healthy 20-point lead in the rankings over the absent John Hunter. Pusser (Bournemouth) knocked out leg-three runner-up Nick Birney (High Wycombe) 2-1 in the last-four. In the second semi, Wallace chalked up a 2-0 victory over Neil Herd (Frome), who last reached this stage more than three years ago.
KNOCKOUT RESULTS LAST-16 (10 pts): Wallace 2-0 Miles, Goodall 2-0 Groves, Herd 2-1 Ashton, Hatfield 2-1 Darken, Pusser 2-1 Wheatland, Holmes 2-0 Greenham, Birney 2-1 Carroll, Johnson 2-1 Davies. QUARTER-FINALS (12 pts, £10): Wallace 2-0 Goodall, Herd 2-1 Hatfield, Pusser 2-1 Holmes, Birney 2-0 Johnson. SEMI-FINALS (15 pts, £30): Wallace 2-0 Herd, Pusser 2-1 Birney. FINAL (25/18 pts, £100/£60): Wallace 1-0 Pusser.
RUGBY UNION National League One Rams 36-32 Darlington Mowden Park HOCKEY Women’s National Division 1 South Cambridge City 0-4 Reading South Central Men’s Division 1 Sonning 2-7 Wallingford South Central Women’s Premier 1 Sonning 4-0 Winchester South Central Men’s Premier 2 South Berkshire 4-1 Reading 2s South Central Women’s Division 1 South Berkshire 1-2 Oxford University 2s
Sunday, February 27 FOOTBALL FA Women’s Cup fifth round Reading 0-1 West Ham (aet) Cup Tilehurst Panthers 4-0 Wargrave Woking 0-3 Eversley & California Thames Valley Women’s Division 3S Newbury Development 2-2 Eversley & California Reserves S4K Berks County 1-1 Goring United Wargrave Development 1-5 Taplow United HOCKEY Men’s National Division 1 South Reading v Havant
Isthmian South Central Hanwell Town v Binfield Combined Counties Premier North Sumas v St Panteleimon Combined Counties Division One Berks County v Wallingford Town Woodley United v FC Deportivo Galicia Cup Finchampstead v Henley Town Holyport Reserves v Reading City U23’s Thames Valley Premier League Reading YMCA v Windlesham & Chobham Richings Park v Woodley United Royals Thames Valley Division One Rotherfield v FC Imaan Lions Slough Heating Laurencians v Eldon Celtic RUGBY UNION National League One Sale v Rams South West 1 East Bracknell v Grove HOCKEY Men’s National Division 1 South Old Cranleighans v Reading Women’s National Division 1 South Reading v Sevenoaks South Central Men’s Division 1 Aylesbury v Sonning South Central Women’s Premier 1 Amersham & Chalfont v Sonning South Central Men’s Premier 2 Amersham & Chalfont v South Berkshire South Central Women’s Division 1 Aylesbury v South Berkshire
Sunday, March 6 FOOTBALL Women’s Super League Reading v Tottenham
Southern Region Women’s Premier Division Abingdon United v Woodley Southern Region Women’s Division 1 South Abbey Rangers v Chichester Thames Valley Women’s Division One Tilehurst Panthers v Badshot Lea Carterton v Wargrave Thames Valley Women’s Division 3S Caversham AFC v Yateley Goringh v Eversley & California Reserves Wargrave v Wallingford Town