2754-2785ISSN 9772754278509 34 THREE GREAT PAPERS IN ONE: NEWS, SPORT & LEISURE Wednesday, August 24, 2022 No. 44 90p READING TODAYREADING’SNEWCHAMPIONWWW.RDG.TODAY The stage is set World’s gaze is on Reading as Festival returns SmythStevePicture: MUSIC OxfamSurprisegigforTheAmazons TRANSPORT raiseBusesReadingtofares EDUCATION getStudentsA-levelresults
Send your forms to: Family notices, Reading Today, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS. Please enclose payment by cheque, made out to The Wokingham Paper Ltd. Payments may also be made by card over the phone.
By JAMES ALDRIDGE Local Democracy Reporter
2 To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, August 24, 2022
“Our thoughts remain with Mr Lewcock’s family, who are being supported by Family Liaison Officers and are being regularly updated during the investigation.
“The case has now been passed to the Joint Operations Roads Policing Serious Collision Investigation Unit for a full investigation into the circumstances.“Iwouldlike to pass on my thanks to all those who have come forward with information during this investigation, and would also like to pay tribute to Mr Lewcock’s family and friends for their dignity and understanding during this part of the investigation.”
Plans to revamp town centre arcade shelved
PLANS to transform an arcade in Reading town centre have been withdrawn. Developers Sonic Star Properties applied to transform the Bristol & West Arcade in Friar Street into a 182-bed, eight-storey hotel with its own restaurant, as well as restoring The Coopers Arms pub in Market Place.Despite the plans’ approval by Reading Borough Council, developers withdrew proposals on Tuesday, AugustComplications2. surfaced in May when separate developers Mountley LTD applied to convert the upper floors of the arcade into apartments. Elements of the plans also received objections, such as resident Paul Windley, who argued that it would lead to the “needless destruction of the neo-Georgian façade.” Evelyn Williams, chairwoman of the Conservation Area Advisory Committee, also raised “serious concerns” over the design, stating its “big and white” modern frontage would “leap out” at people. Plans to continue the development of The Coopers Arms pub, also part of the the original proposal, have now been put forward for application by Watercrown Bracknell Ltd in CurrentJuly. plans for the Bristol and West Arcade site at 173-174 Friar Street and nearby 29-31 Market Place can be viewed on Reading Borough Council’s planning portal. The plans for The Cooper’s Arms site, 29-31 Market Place, can be found with application references 220545 and 220546, plans for 175 Friar Street with application number 220577, and for 173-174 Friar Street with application number 220579.
Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint. Your wording
Police close murder investigation
Although the Major Crime Unit’s investigation has concluded, the investigation has been passed to the Joint Operations Roads Policing Serious Collision Investigation Unit who will continue to investigate the circumstances around this road trafficSeniorcollision.Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Sally Spencer, of the force’s major crime unit, said: “Our investigation into this tragic incident has been ongoing, and we are now in a position to confirm that we are no longer treating this as a murder investigation.
Motorway attack THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses and dash-cam footage after a public order offence on Monday, August 15. At around 4.40pm, four offenders exited a dark blue Volvo between junctions 11 and 12 on the M4 and attacked a man in his forties in a white Audi.The victim was unharmed, but was attacked with various weapons, including a tyre iron. The first offender is a white man in his twenties, around 5ft 10ins tall. He had a big build with slicked back hair and shaven sides of his head. He was wearing a white T-shirt with dark blue jeans. The second offender is described as a white man in his twenties, around 6ft tall. He had an average build with blonde hair. He had a pale complexion with blonde stubble. The vehicle they were in had the partial registration number of MK08.Investigating officer PC Matt Hellier, based at Reading police station, said: “We would like to appeal to anybody who may have witnessed this incident or has dash-cam footage to please get in “Youtouch.canget in touch by either making a report online or by calling 101, quoting reference number Crimestoppers,“Alternatively43220364990.callon0800 555 111.” Motorbike stolen A MOTORBIKE has been stolen from a home in Tilehurst. Thames Valley Police said the thieves struck between noon and 6pm on Friday, August 12. The bike, a blue and white Sinnis Apache, was in Fairford Road.Anyone who saw anything suspicious or has CCTV, Ring type doorbell or Dashcam recordings, or any other information about this incident is asked to contact Thames Valley Police, either by phone by calling 101, on on-line via the police website, quoting refernece 43220364166.
A CGI of the approved plan for a hotel, restaurant and bar at the Bristol & West Arcade in Reading town centre. Picture: Sonic Star Properties Ltd
INVESTIGATION: Following the death of TilehurstLewcockSheldoninthis month, officers from investigation.theirconcludedUnitMajorValleyThamesPolice’sCrimehavenowmurder www.ipso.co.uk.
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US READING TODAY Family Notices YOUR CONTACT DETAILS PhoneEmailPostcodeAddressNamenumber FACEBOOK & TWITTER: RDGTODAY Email news@rdg.today Newsroom: 0118 327 2662 Advertising: 0118 327 2662 Write to: Reading Today, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS Publisher • David Riley Editor • Phil Creighton Reporters • Daniel Blackham, Jake Clothier, Ji-Min Lee, Emma Merchant Sports reporter • Andy Preston Graphic designer • Charlotte Simpson CAVERSHAM CAVERSHAMHEIGHTS LOWER CAVERSHAM EMMER GREEN READING WESTREADING SOUTHCOTE KATESGROVE EAST READING COLEY SELECTCAR LEASING STADIUM WHITLEY TILEHURST NORCOT Classification (please tick) n Births n Birthdays n Engagements n Weddings n Anniversaries n Other n Death n In memory Advert sizes n 5cm by 1 column – 40 words £30 inc VAT n 3cm by 2 column – 50 words £36 inc VAT n 4cm by 2 column – 60 words £48 inc VAT n 5cm by 2 column – 80 words £60 inc VAT n 6cm by 2 column – 100 words £72 INC VAT n Photo – add £5 inc VAT (email only) DEADLINE IS MONDAY AT 5PM FOR THAT WEEK’S PAPER WE InBOROUGHREADINGCOVERprint Order a copy from your newsagent every Wednesday – some even deliver Online Our website is updated seven days a week –bookmark it in your browser: rdg.today Due to the coronavirus, our offices are closed to the public. The best way to contact us is by email The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation. If you have a complaint about a Wokingham Paper Ltd publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance email: editor@wokingham.today. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website:
| NEWS
FOLLOWING the death of Sheldon Lewcock in Tilehurst earlier this month, Thames Valley Police’s major crime unit says it has now concluded its murder investigation. Mr Lewcock, aged 19, was hit by a van at around 6.10pm on Thursday, August 4, and died in hospital on the following Tuesday, August 9. This resulted in the launch of a murder investigation, during which three men and a boy were arrested.They have now been released with no further action.
Matt Thomson and Chris Alderton stopped by the Oxfam Music shop, on Duke Street, to perform an acoustic gig ahead of the release of their new album, How Will I Know If Heaven Will Find Me? Matt, left, and Chris, from the Amazons
The event begins with entertainment at St Laurence’s Church – hosted by Launchpad patrons Matt Allwright and Danyl Johnson. It will include live music, a prize raffle, a hot meal, and talks from Launchpad staff and clients.
By JAKE CLOTHIER jclothier@rdg.today ‘It was like a reset’ – Amazons squeeze into Oxfam for a gig
“By sleeping out, we can ensure others in Reading don’t have to.”
Vicki Lewis, Laundpad fundraising manager, said, “We are delighted to be bringing the Big Sleep Out back to the incredible Reading Abbey.
They performed the title track, as well as recently-released single Bloodrush, and festival anthem Junk Food Forever, from their debut album.Speaking of the release of their first album, Matt said: “When you’re swept up on the first album’s release, it’s not that you don’t appreciate, as such, it’s just that you kind of don’t know to process it all. “You don’t know any different, but we remember our album release weeks with massive fondness,“You’re playing two gigs a day and meeting people who actually like your music, and actually you don’t really get to do that much.” They closed the gig with the song which catapulted the band to fame, Black Magic. As well as performing, Matt and Chris chatted about the upcoming album, due for release on Friday, September 9, and stayed to pose for photos and chat to fans.
take selfies after performancethe Pictures: Jake Clothier
The show comes just three weeks before the album is due to be released, when the band will begin a tour of music stores around the country. “Playing here was also a great opportunity for us to practice for our in store tour,” Matt explained.“During our album release we’ll get nice and personal and remind ourselves what it was like to see the whites of people’s eyes,” he joked.
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662Wednesday, August 24, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE 3
Then all participants head over to the Reading Abbey Ruins to bed down for the night until the nextThismorning.willbe the charity’s 17th year hosting its Big Sleep Out, and it is its biggest fundraiser. The event in 2019 was the first time it had been held in Reading Abbey and the team are looking forward to returning to it.
“We were kind of licking our wounds at the time and getting jobs and doing other stuff, as we’d been in a band before and almost got a bit burned by the industry. “I discovered so many albums here and so many acts here – everyone from Patti Smith to Iggy Pop, so this was a really important place.”
Matt toandDukeOxfamheldafansposedTheChrisandfromAmazonswithduringspecialgigatthestoreinStreet,stayedchatand
NEWS | THE BEST PICTURES OF READING ARE ONLY IN YOUR READING TODAY
Charity plans night out underthe stars
FORGET a night with the stars, a Reading-based charity is hoping you’ll have a night under them instead.Launchpad is holding its annual Big Sleep Out event this autumn and, for the first time since the pandemic, it will be back together again. The charity, which aims to help people who are homeless or need help at a time of crisis, is to hold the event in Reading Abbey on the night of Saturday, October 8. The date coincides with World Homeless Day.
Over the past two years, it has held a virtual event, asking supporters to sleep out in their gardens.Theevent aims to raise £40,0000, which will help it run services across the cost of living crisis.The charity, based in Merchants Place, says the evening offers an insight into some of the things people experience when they’re rough sleeping – such as cold temperatures, an uncomfortable bed and limited sleep.
“We’re hoping for our biggest and best Big Sleep Out yet.” She added: “Our services at Launchpad are a lifeline to over 1,100 local people every year and over the next few months, we know there are going to many more people who find themselves on the brink of homelessness and in desperate need of our support.
The SeptemberonsetWillKnowHownewAmazons’album,WillIIfHeavenFindMe?isforreleaseFriday,9
n For more information, log on launchpadreading.org.uk/bigsleepoutto:
THE AMAZONS’ Matt Thomson and Chris Alderton dropped into Oxfam Music, on Duke Street, to perform an intimate, acoustic gig last week. Just after 6pm on Thursday, August 18, they arrived at the Duke Street charity shop to a queue which stretched to Jackson’s Corner. With just two guitars and a mandolin, Matt and Chris performed songs from their new album, How Will I Know If Heaven Will Find Me, due for release on Friday, September 9. During the gig, frontman Matt said that the venue meant a lot to him, as he used to work there.He relayed a story of the day their song Black Magic was written, when he realised he should have turned up to a shift at the music store. Speaking at the show, he said: “It feels, honestly, full circle. “After all my time spent just doing shifts here and meeting people and listening to a lot of music it was like a reset and a reconnection with music.
A car was abandoned on the other side of the road, and was investigated by police officers
Despite “speculation and concern around shots being fired”, police assured that no shots were fired during the incident. On Friday, the three men were charged with a non-residential burglary, and with conspiracy to commit burglary between November 2021 and August 2022.The investigation was launched in response to a series of nighttime burglary offences.Suspects are alleged to have used stolen vehicles to ‘ram raid’ commercial premises and, in total, eight offences were committed between November 14, 2021, and December 29, 2021.
Lib Dems call for a £124m furlough on energy bill rises
The three offenders will appear in custody at Isleworth Magistrates’ Court on Monday, August 22. The Esso petrol station in Emmer Green was subjected to a Ram Raid in the early hours of Friday morning Pictures: Steve Smyth
| NEWS WOKINGHAM FAMILY GOLF, FINCHAMPSTEAD ROAD, WOKINGHAM, RG40 3HG 4 To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, August 24, 2022
READING’S Liberal Democrats are backing the national party’s call to cancel the planned increase in the energy price cap. On Friday, August 26, government regulator Ofgem will announce the new rate which will come into effect in October. It is estimated to be more than £3,500, an increase from the current rate of £1,971. The party’s national leader, Ed Davey, has called on the government to cancel the planned rise in a bid to protect households from the brunt of the increases: bills were closer to £1,200 a year before the current increase. This Energy Bill Furlough, as they call it, could save a typical Reading household £1,924.99 a year. Across the town, according to Liberal Democrat calculations, a total of £124 million would be saved if the price cap increase is ‘furloughed’.CllrMeri O’Connell, Reading Liberal Democrat leader and representative for Tilehurst (pictured), said: “Hardworking households in Reading are thewillaboutconcernedareandmakestrugglingalreadytoendsmeetresidentsdeeplyhowtheycopewithpredictedrise in energy“Thisbills. Conservative Government, with its absence of any form of leadership, is sitting back in the face of a national emergency and, yet again, is not doing enough to put money back in the pockets of ordinary “Countlesspeople. individuals, families and pensioners across Reading are genuinely frightened about how they are going to pay their bills – we cannot wait for a new Conservative leader to act.” The party’s proposals would take pressure of households, she“Thissaid. is an emergency, and this shambolic Government must step in now by cancelling the planned rise in energy bills this October,” she added.Cllr O’Connell said the Government should pay the shortfall of cancelling the price cap increase to energy suppliers so they can afford to supply customers at the current rates. The party proposes doubling the Warm Homes Discount from £140 to £300 and extending it to everyone on Universal Credit and Pension Credit, while investing in insulating fuel-poor homes to bring prices down in the long term. The Warm Homes Discount is granted to those with ‘Guaranteed Credit’ of Pension Credit, and those on a low income and meet energy’s suppliers criteria. Ofgem does provide assistance for those struggling with energy bills, which involves directing people to schemes, grants and benefits, and adapting payment plans.
The Range Rover used in the ram raid incident was left on the forecourt of the petrol station Much of the front of the petrol station was exposed following the raid on the Tesco Express store at the Emmer Green Esso station
By JAMES ALDRIDGE Local democracy reporter
Mayor Eden set to ‘Beat the Bounds’ THE MAYOR of Reading, Cllr Rachel Eden, will be walking the boundaries of Reading in a centuries-old tradition from Tuesday, August 30. She will be “beating the bounds,” in the first observation of the tradition for 100 years, raising noney for this year’s Mayoral charities. The feat will see a route designed by the mayor, with input from Alice Norman, Terry Dixon, and Caroline Gatrix, and based on the original map of the 1912 route. It will follow public rights of way, and includes the swatting of local landmarks with branches, as is traditional, including the university campus, the home of Reading FC, Clayfield Copse, and the ThamesResidentsPath.are invited to take part in the walk to help raise funds for the mayor’s chosen charities, with copies of the map of the route are available to buy in Reading Town Hall and Museum and The Hexagon. Copies are also available in Central, Tilehurst, Battle, Caversham, Palmer Park, Whitley, and Southcote Libraries.CllrEden said: “I’m very excited about this ’Beating of the Bounds’ walk around Reading and raising money for charity.“The route we have mapped should give people an
THE METROPOLITAN Police have charged three men in connection with a series of offences across the south of England, including a ram raid in Emmer Green. On Thursday, August 18, a group are alleged to have stolen a Range Rover and drove to an Esso Tesco Express petrol station in Buckingham Drive. At around 2.30am the next morning, they carried out a ram raid of the premises. As a result, three men were detained by Metropolitan Police officers. They were alleged to have been found in possession of cash boxes, tools, and weapons, arrested, and taken into custody.
A further eight offences are alleged to have taken place between January 29, 2022 and August 10, 2022. PA Commander, Supt Steve Raffield, said: “The Metropolitan Police are leading this investigation.“Iunderstand also that the police activity following the incident has caused some disruption to the local community and I would like to thank them for their patience while this important investigative work was being carried out.”
Three men charged in connectionwith Emmer Green ram raid
READING CHAMPION: Hilary
Grange Care Home in Shinfield, where she had been fighting a degenerative lung disease. In a post on social media, her two sons wrote: “We will miss her dearly, she leaves us far too young but having lived a rich life.“We are so proud of all she achieved in the field of journalism, and for the town of Reading of which she cared deeply about.”
Remembering Hilary Scott: the real pride of Reading
A spokesperson for Reading Borough Council said that the company was not the only one having to make tweaks as a result of the government support ending, as well as inflationary cost pressures and changes in travel patterns resulting from the pandemic.
The news comes days after Reading Buses announced that fares will increase from next month, and some services will see alterations to timetables.
“At a time when people are worried about rising costs, it’s more important than ever we save these bus routes for the millions who rely on them for work, school and shopping.”
THE GOVERNMENT has announced a £130m support package to help bus services keep on motoring. Full details have yet to be unveiled detailing the areas that will receive the funds. The aim is to support bus services and routes as the nation comes out of the Transportpandemic.Secretary Grant Shapps said: “This funding will ensure millions across the country can continue to use vital bus services, and brings the total we’ve provided to the sector throughout the pandemic to almost £2 billion.
“While we await final confirmation from Government of this funding, as acknowledged by Reading Buses, a successful bid would allow enhancements of local bus services and a possible fare reduction scheme in the “Wefuture.hopeto hear back from the Government on our bid in the near future. “
By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today TRIBUTES have been paid to journalist and Reading stalwart Hilary Scott, who died last week. An inspiration to many, she was the heart and soul of many great initiatives in the town, including the Pride of Reading awards, as well as deputy editor of our predecessor, the Reading Evening Post. Born in Glasgow, her career started in Dundee in the 1970s. She worked on national magazines such as Woman, as well as Fleet Street newspapers, before coming to Reading in 1998, staying with the Post until its demise in 2014. She then worked as a freelance journalist, writer and editor, as well as continuing to mastermind the Pride of Reading Awards. She had a great love of food, launching Food Monthly and working with many famous chefs including Chris Barber, Jamie Oliver, Antony Worrall Thompson and Daniel Galmiche, as well as Paul Clerehugh from The Crooked Billet and London StreetThisBrasserie.spilledover into Reading events, including hosting Eat Reading in Broad Street, and being a judge on Has Reading Got Talent?, a contest held at Broad Street Mall. She also spearheaded many campaigns across Reading including The Giving Tree Christmas appeal, the Royal Berkshire Hospital’s bid to fund Robbie the robot, and the SeniorSafe initiative. She was working with the Theatres and Arts Reading CIC campaign to save Reading gaol and turn the site into an arts hub for future generations. Her work included helping organise a massive ‘hug’ around the site. In 2018, she was honoured with her own Pride of Reading gong: ceremony host Chris Tarrant presented her with a Special Recognition Award. Chris paid tribute to Hilary, telling ITV Meridian: “It’s a terrible, tragic loss, and we’re all justAndgutted.”journalist Sangeeta Bhabra said she was a “fantastic journalist who was absolutely passionate about where she lived”.Hilary passed away on Friday, August 19, at Parsons
And the Pride of Reading team posted: “Hilary has been an inspiration to so many people both in her journalistic career and working on campaigns and events in Reading. “Our heartfelt condolences are with Hilary’s family and friends.“We will miss her so much, with love from the Pride of Reading organising committee, patrons, sponsors and supporters.”
Queen Anne’s School, Henley Road, Caversham,Berkshire, RG4 6DX QAS_Reading and Wokingham today_OPENEVENT_17 SEPTEMBER_265X160mm Queen Anne’s is an independent day and boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18 Transport Network, including Reading and Wokingham 35 acres in the heart of Caversham, Berkshire A ShowcaseMicrosoftSchool Day, flexi and full boarding options available OPEN MORNING - Saturday 17 September SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING - Tuesday 27 September Arrange your visit: qas.org.u k To advertise, call 0118 327 2662Wednesday, August 24, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE 5
Reading Today editor Phil Creighton was a trainee when he first started working at the Reading Post, with Hilary as his boss.He said: “She was a wonderful person, full of the joys of life despite the pressures that journalism, especially at a local level, brings. “Hilary taught me so much, and was more than just a boss. It was a privilege to know her.” Scott
“The council, or any neighbouring council, is not legally able to influence decisions on fares.” They continued: “It is important to note that Reading Borough Council has not removed any funding for any bus services. On the contrary, the Council have been indicatively been awarded £26m Government funding through our Bus Service Improvement Plan to improve bus services across Reading. “This was one of the highest funding awards in the country.
“While Reading Buses is council-owned, it is a commercial company which means decisions are made on a commercial basis by the company itself,” they said.
Government £130m package for bus firms – what does it mean for Reading?
It is in addition to a £3 billion boost to bus services by 2025, including over £1 billion to improve fares, services and infrastructure, and a further £525 million for zero emission buses. It is hoped that Reading Borough Council will benefit from this package. While it has been informed it will receive £26m over three years, this has yet to be confirmed.
Nigel Pearce AIPW Grey Matters Consultancy Wokingahm
John Madejski Academy JOHN Madejski Academy (JMA) celebrated the achievements of its Year 13s as staff, students and families. Every Year 13 student passed their A Levels, with 55% achieving A*-B grades and 17% receiving A*-A grades. Distinction or Distinction* grades made up 55% of the school’s BTEC results. Louise Baker, JMA Principal, said: “I’m incredibly pleased and proud of our Sixth Form students here at JMA this year. “Technically, due to covid these are the first public exams these students have ever taken, and they have smashed it. “Every one of our students has passed all of their qualifications.”
The school boasts a fine reputation for sporting excellence and 70% of its outgoing Year 13 students were on the Performance Sports Programme.Football star Leila Lister is set to join the University of Colorado, US on a full scholarship to study engineering after receiving As in biology, chemistry and maths.Laura Knight (A, B, Distinction); Sophie Baigent (A, C, Distinction) and Megan Harper (Bs and Distinction) are off to Southampton, Reading FC and Southern University in Louisiana respectively.
The
Bulmershe School THE RESILIENCE of teenagers sitting this year’s A-levels has been praised by the headteacher of Bulmershe School.The Year 13 pupils achieved a 99% pass rate for grades A*-E. And 28% of the cohort achieved A*-A grades, 55% had A*-B grades, and 82.2% were A*-C.Amanda Woodfin, the Woodley-based school’s head, said: “These are such fantastic results considering the turbulent times the students have had to deal with. “Year 13, the resilience you have shown under such conditions is remarkable. You are all exceptional, inspiring, and talented young people and we couldn’t be prouder of you. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the students, staff and parents for their dedication and support in gaining these results.” Ms Woodfin said a number of departments had some fantastic results, especially with the top grade boundary of A*-A or TheseD*-D.include: Additional Maths, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Drama, Economics, English Literature, Geography, History, Maths, Media, Physics, Psychology, Criminology, EPQ (Extended Project Qualification), Applied Science, BTEC Sport, Travel and Tourism, Business Cambridge Technical and IT Cambridge Technical.Sheadded: “We wish all of our year 13 luck with their next endeavours and thank them for their many contributions to school life here at Bulmershe.”
Reading School READING School announces one of its “strongest ever” A-level results days, congratulating students for their achievements. It announced that 25% of the cohort attained A* grades in all their subjects, and 50% of all grades awarded were A* grades. It also announced that 93.3% of all entries were awarded A*-B grades.MrA M Robson (Headmaster) said: “This is one of our strongest ever sets of exam results, which is particularly impressive given the significant challenges learners have faced as a result of the pandemic. “There are many different pathways to success and today we are celebrating our students’ resilience as well as the full breadth of their achievements. “I would like to thank all the staff at Reading School for their exceptional commitment to our students, and thank parents for their support and trust during times of great trial. “In addition, we must thank our Governing Body, led by Mr Robert Kenwrick, for their strategic oversight and direction.“Iwish all our students the very best for the future, Helping the over-65s stay independent grey matters consultancy
Are you or is someone you know eligible? We complete all the necessary forms and explain the process of claiming in straightforward, plain English so that you understand everything and are in complete control You may decide, after your initial consultation, that you d like to continue as you are for now; that s fine too We re only a phone call away if you change your mind, or would like to talk things through again
Reading Blue Coat School READING Blue Coat students and staff celebrated a gleaming set of A Level results on the morning of Thursday, August 18. Of their Year 13 cohort, 51 students achieved either A* or A grades, ten of whom received all A* Thisgrades.means 84% of students will be heading to their university of Headmasterchoice.Pete Thomas said: “This cohort of students has not been able to sit public exams until this point in their education.“Iamextremely proud of their resilience and perseverance in very challenging circumstances and delighted to see so many students achieve their welldeserved outcomes. “I hope that all students’ achievements, in both the academic and co-curricular realms at Reading Blue Coat, have helped broaden horizons and enable access to the diverse opportunities they so deserve. They have so much potential to do great Deputythings.”head of school Felicity Alborough achieved two A*s and an A. She was one of 19 students to achieve an A* in economics.Indoingso, she secured her place at Nottingham University to read politics, philosophy and economics.Deputyhead Mr Rob Tidbury, said, “I am very proud of the hard work and dedication of our students and staff throughout the challenging past two years which have allowed them to rightly achieve the results they deserve.”
We offer an initial free 30 minute confidential consultation to allow us to assess whether we can help and for you to decide if you’d like help If we both agree that claiming Attendance Allowance is right for you, then we will look after you every step of the way
Do you wish to remain as independent as possible, for as long as possible and still have a say in your well being? Let me show you how you might be able to get regular financial assistance to help you remain independent in your own home and make your life easier
0com/wokingham 7869 694501
There are two levels weekly rates of Attendance Allowance A lower rate of £61 85 per week is paid if you need help during the day to maintain your independence Should you have health issues that disturb your night, then the weekly benefit may increase to over £92 40 per week The level you receive is determined by your circumstances You can claim this benefit even if you haven t paid National Insurance and it is not means tested, it doesn’t matter where you live or if you have savings Attendance allowance is tax free
Denefield Reading Blue Coat School
Willink School 6 To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, August 24, 2022
examStudentsA-LEVELS2022celebratesuccesses
Ava Stevens achieved an outstanding three A*s and a B; she will be heading across the Pond to study social justice and criminology justice at Delta State University, Mississippi.
Head of Sixth Form Craig Hudson, said: “I’m very proud of this year’s cohort. These are great results and destinations.”
Attendance Allowance is a government benefit for those in receipt of the State Pension who have health issues or needs that cause difficulties or challenges in your day to day living It is a benefit for those who need help with personal care
Principal John Salberg said: “We are proud of each and every one of our students. They have shown huge levels of commitment, resilience and positivity throughout their time in our Sixth Form.
whatever their next chapters hold.”The school announced that 100% of Art and Music students achieved A* grades, and 78% of Drama grades were also A*. Overall, 90% of students met or exceeded their entry requirements for one of their two chosen courses, with 85% of these attaining their requirements for their first choice university.
Director of Sixth Form, Ben Stephenson, said: “This year group show a fantastic sense of community and are passionate about making a change in the world.“They were instrumental in launching the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Society and have worked tirelessly on numerous charity fundraisers,”
Mr A Lloyd, Head of Sixth Form, said: “Our students’ adaptability and perseverance have been key attributes which will hold them in good stead for the“Wefuture.believe in building character, as illustrated by our recent national award for character education. Indeed, the personal character development upon which academic success is founded, is what we are most proud of. “None of this year’s success would have been possible without the support of our dedicated Sixth Form team, Mr D Whitehorn, Miss A Stratford and Mrs H Majarossy-Young, as well as Miss J Pickering, our Sixth Form Tutors, the Society Office and Mrs E Turner, our Exams Officer.”
Highdown School THE HEADTEACHER of an Emmer Green school says it is ‘extremely proud’ of its students as they receive their A level and technical qualifications. Rachel Cave said the results at the Highdown School came against a backdrop of covid disruption.Inall,athird of results were A*/A, nearly two-thirds (60.7%) were A*-B, four in five grades were A*-C, and virtually all pupils achieved a pass, with 98.1% achieving A*-E grades. Many of the sixth formers will being going on to university, degree apprenticeships or employment.“Weare extremely proud of our students – they have achieved very highly and, most importantly, are mature and responsible young adults,” Ms Cave said. “It is important for all to remember that these students have not had a usual academic year.“Their sixth form has been significantly affected by school closure and this year, all schools have had high levels of staff 2022
Queen Anne’s School STUDENTS celebrate results as Queen Anne’s School in Caversham announces more than four in five grades were B or above on Thursday, August 18. It says that 81% of grades awarded were B or higher, and 96% were C or above.
Of those taking STEM subjects, 94% of exam grades were given C or above. Head of Queen Anne’s, Elaine Purves, said: “I am thrilled to celebrate the success of these young students today and so proud of my first QAS A Level cohort.“Iwould like to congratulate the girls not only on their outstanding academic grades but on their achievements outside of the classroom, whether that’s on the sports pitches, in the concert hall or in giving back to the community. “Since joining Queen Anne’s in January, I have been struck by the confidence and energy of the Upper Sixth students– they truly are leaving us prepared for their next steps into the world.”Senior Deputy Head, Mark Richards, said: “It’s phenomenal to think that these students undertook a significant proportion of their A Level studies in a remote setting. “Queen Anne’s was ahead of the game as a Microsoft Showcase School and ensured delivery of the entire curriculum and more. “This, combined with the impressive commitment and enthusiasm of the cohort, meant that when pupils eagerly returned to normal school life they continued to excel academically,”HeadGirland Dance Captain, Sophie Bailey, was among the students achieving only A or A* grades, with Sophie achieved A*s in Art and Biology and an A in Chemistry and will go on to study Natural Sciences at Bath.
Among the highest attainers are Aaron Grewal, who received A*s in Further Maths, Maths, Physics and an A in History. He is heading to Southampton University to study Mechanical Engineering.Matthew O’Farrelly received A*s in Computing, Maths, Physics and an A in Further Maths, and is going to Manchester to study Computer Science.Dylan Cook received A*s in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and an A in Economics. He will study Mathematics at Oxford University.
The school said that it was proud of those who had gained places at some of the most competitive courses, with over 40 students going to read medicine or dentistry, or securing places at Oxbridge universities
“It is testament to their attitude, hard work and agility, alongside the tireless dedication of our staff that we are able to stand here together with these exceptional young people.“Today is not just about the grades on pieces of paper, today is about recognising the resilience and dedication our students have shown, the journey they have been on and how they have come through it stronger and wiser.” He said also that the school “couldn’t be prouder of them.”
Little Heath School LITTLE HEATH School has commended students as they collect their results on Thursday, August 18. It has announced that 52% of A-level grades were B or higher, as more than two in five students have received at least one A grade or higher and more than one in five have achieved two or more A-grades or higher.
The Wren School
Queen Anne’s also announced that students would be moving onto a number of prestigious further education insitutions, with the cohort securing places at Oxford, King’s College, London, Princeton University, and Parsons Fine Arts in New York.
The school thanked “teachers, leaders and support staff who have worked with our students throughout the last two years helping them to achieve excellent results.” It has also announced that across vocational courses, 100% of students passed all qualifications and 42% of grades awarded were Distinction or Distinction-star grades. Students will be moving onto apprenticeship positions with Collins Aerospace and the University of West England, while others go on to read courses at Bristol, Warwick, Cardiff, and Southampton.
She added: “Our students are off to a range of excellent universities, degree apprenticeships and employment. We wish them all the very best, their future institutions are lucky to have Highdowners joining.”
David Ramsden, Headteacher at Little Heath School, said: “All our staff have enjoyed working with the 2022 Year 13 cohort – they have coped so well with everything that has been thrown at them over the last two years, and deserve all the success they have achieved.”
John Madeiski Academy
WITH two thirds of them achieving A*-B grades at A Level, pupils at a school in
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662Wednesday, August 24, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE 7
“Thanks must also go to our dedicated and passionate staff who have worked so incredibly hard supporting our students, and to our families and the whole of The Wren School community for their continued support and encouragement.”
Maiden Erlegh School
Denefield School DENEFIELD School has congratulated its A-level students who collected their results on Thursday, August 18. It announced that nearly 75% of students have confirmed university places, with some set to attend Russell Group universities, including Oxford. It also announced that more than 10% had secured prestigious apprenticeships with companies including HP, Thames Water, and AWE. It noted particular achievement from Luke Funnell, whose three A* grades will see him reading Biochemistry, and Sam Hudspith, whose two A*s and one A grade will see him read History, both at the University of Oxford. The school said it was “immensely proud” of students, “who have achieved excellent results during such a challenging time.”
Nominate now!
A-LEVELS2022
THE WREN School has congratulated students on “two incredibly challenging and tough years” as students around the country collect A-level results on Thursday, August 18. It has announced that 85% of its students will move on to their first choice university or into a high-level apprenticeship.
CELEBR
“We wish all of our students the very best in their next steps of education, learning and employment, safe in the knowledge that they have nurtured the character and skills needed to excel in wherever their journey takes them.“We look forward to hearing about, and following, their next chapters, and wish them all a safe remainder of the summer.
Theale Green students
A AT I ON OF THE EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE OF OUR TOWN WHO MAKE READING A UNIQUE PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK Find out more at PORawards.co.uk @PORawards #PORawards absence and many students have been ill and isolating for significant periods. “Indeed, the exam season itself, was hindered for many by covid-related absences.”
Waingels College A WOODLEY college has seen almost two-thirds of its pupils obtain A* to B grades, with 35% achieving A* to A in their A-LevelLindseyresults.Humber, head of school at Waingels College, said the staff are “immensely proud” of the students’ achievements after two years of disrupted learning.Shesaid: “Our students have shown remarkable maturity and resilience and our teachers and support staff have worked tirelessly to ensure students are all able to progress onto further education and study, and we look forward to seeing what they will achieve in the future.”
Nine of the 13 A Level subjects at Reading College secured pass rates above the pre-pandemic national average with the majority of subjects securing a 100% pass rate at the collegeActivate Learning’s deputy chief executive officer Cheri Ashby said: “I would like to say a massive congratulations to everyone who has passed their A Levels today and got the grades they need to go onto the next stage of their chosen career pathway “I know there are a number of students with offers from some of the best universities in the country and I’m incredibly proud of all the hard work they have put in over the past two years to get where they are “What our students have achieved today is nothing short of amazing given the disruption they have experienced to their education during the pandemic.
Reading College READING COLLEGE congratulated more than 100 students who passed their A Level qualifications on Thursday, August 18. The Reading College History, Geography and Sociology departments all maintained a 100% pass rate for the second consecutive year, with 80% of history students and 60% of geography students achieving a grade B or higher
“I wish all of them every luck for the future. “I am absolutely delighted for them and their parents.” Many students will be taking exciting next steps, some going on to Oxbridge, Russell Group Universities, some taking on apprenticeships, and others exploring gap year opportunities.“Thereare many success stories,” said Mr Gibson. “Too many to individually mention, such as students who have lost close family relatives and gone on to gain outstanding results.“Today, I have been celebrating with them all.” “Class of 2022, it has been a privilege to call you Maiden Erlegh students – we wish you all the best.”
“This is a tremendous achievementt – they are all exceptional, inspiring, and talented young people and the school couldn’t be prouder of them.”“Ialso thank Willink staff who have worked tirelessly to support our students and adapted their teaching to match the changing exam remits.”
“The last two years have been incredibly tough, including periods of remote learning, but this incredible group have demonstrated great tenacity and resilience and have made real impact on the culture of learning and wellbeing at Theale Green School.
The Willink School THE WILLINK School has announced a 100% pass rate for students collecting results on Thursday, August 18. Of their 89 students, 91% achieved a C-grade or above, and two in three achieving B or higher.Peter Fry, Head of The Willink School, said:”Congratulations to our students for an outstanding set of results, and making it through an incredibly tough and disruptive two years under the shadow of the pandemic.” It also announced that more than one in three students, 38%, had received A-grades or higher.MrFry said: “This summer’s exams were the first external assessments this cohort took. “As expected results were up on the last time exams were set in 2019 and it is particularly pleasing that virtually all our students have secured destinations of their choice.
As well as A-Levels, pupils on vocational courses are receiving their results today and the average grade at Waingels was a distinction. The school is also celebrating some of its pupils’ “truly outstanding achievements”. Millie has accepted an offer from the University of Bristol to studyArunGeographywillbe heading to Oxford University’s Worcester College to read German. Matthew is going to study Mathematics at the University of WarwickDeborah joined the college in Year 12 from another local school and, whilst holding a role on the Waingels head team, will be going to study sports rehabilitation at AECC University College. Many of the students will also be starting apprenticeships in the coming months.
Ben has secured a nuclear engineering apprenticeship with AWE, Jamie will be starting an apprenticeship in project management at Thames Water and Jade is going to do an apprenticeship with British Airways. r sedetGt ta
“This year group will also include students who will be the first in their family to go to university; it is a tremendous achievement, and we are very proud of every one of them.”
8 To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, August 24, 2022
“This year group played a pivotal role in putting life back into the school through the House system and sports last summer, and we expressed our gratitude to them for this at their leavers’ assembly.
“We very much look forward to welcoming them all back to present their certificates in December, and we wish them much happiness moving forward”.Charlotte Badarello, Head of School, said, ”We are really proud of the accomplishments of our year 13 students. This summer’s exams were the first external assessments the group have taken as they were unable to sit GCSEs in 2020.
Theale Green School YEAR 13 students at Theale Green School celebrated a successful results day on Thursday, August 18. Excited A Level and BTEC students made one final trip into school to collect their results in the morning. Many will embark on higher education courses, reading a range of subjects at universities such as Bath, York, Southampton, Loughborough, Leeds, Cardiff and Swansea. Amy McLaren will read Biomedical Sciences at the University of York. The school described her achievements as ‘astonishing’ given that she arrived from New Zealand at the start of Year 11; where she had previously studied very little science. Jo Halliday, Executive Principal said, “We can never overestimate the impact that lockdown had on this cohort of students in Year 11, and then again in Year 12; their resulting destinations represent the high aspirations and determination they have shown over this challenging period.
A-LEVELS2022
Of the students who didn’t receive the grades they’d hoped for, she said: “we will be working with them to find a solution and make sure they are able to progress onto something they want to do “We will also be offering our support to students from other schools and colleges that might not have done as well as expected, as we want to ensure every young person achieves theirCharlottepotential.Green, aged 18, said: “I did Biology, Chemistry and Maths, and it was hard work, but I got ABB “It’s amazing, so I’m elated–I’m hoping to do medicine at uni, but I haven’t applied yet “I wanted to see what my results were before I applied, so I’m taking a gap yea “We’re going out for dinner tonight to celebrate, since Pizza Express is doing free dough balls for Adamstudents.Khalil,aged 19, said: “My subjects were maths, biology and English literature and my results were an A in Maths a C in biology and I have yet to get my results for English because I did it externally.
“I am just so relaxed, all that Little Heath Reading College
Mr Gibson continued: “It is a true testament to the students’ resilience, dedication, and“Ifocus.amproud of each one of them and I know they will go on to wonderful careers and flourish, based on the character they have shown.” There were big smiles for Sean B and George C, both of whom gained 4 A*s; Zainab A and Cameron C who achieved 3 A*s; and Kieran M’s 3 A*s and 1 A.Ann Cheshire, Head of Sixth Form said: “Our students’ results today are richly deserved. “They were an exceptional year group who faced unprecedented challenges.
Earley are celebrating. Maiden Erlegh School students’ grades are significantly higher overall than in pre-covid 2019. Paul Gibson, Headteacher said: “This year group have been through so much. “To achieve what they have is nothing short of remarkable. Results are significantly up on all previous measures including the Teacher Assessed Grades in 2021. With a 99% pass rate, there is much for them all to celebrate. More than a third of pupils, (36%) achieved an A or A* grade, and an impressive 85% gained a C grade or above.
dementiaExpertcareatyourfingertips
Laura Stotesbury, Head at St Joseph’s, said: “I am delighted to congratulate our students on a superb set of exam results that are a true reflection of their hard work over a turbulent few years due to Covid. “As the new Head of St Joseph’s, having just completed my first year in post, I am extremely proud of all that they have achieved and wish them the best of luck as they move on to the next stage of their education or employment “I am particularly pleased that they achieved the highest percentage of A*-A grades to date, rising from 15% in the last set of externally assessed A Levels in 2019, to 41% this year. “My heartfelt thanks go to our remarkable staff; they have guided and supported our students over the last two years with unfailing energy, encouragement and enthusiasm.”
Asha Rajoriya and-Joe Beech at St Josephs Queen Anne’s
St Joseph’s College STUDENTS and staff at St Joseph’s, Reading, celebrated a gleaming set of A Level results on the morning of Thursday, August 18. An impressive 91% of entries achieving A*-C grades and 41% were either A*s or As. The latter is a school record high percentage for externally assessed A Levels. St Joseph’s will see students study a wide range of disciplines at universities including UCL, Bristol, Warwick, Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff and Bath. Asha Rajoriya, 18, was thrilled to receive As in English literature and Music A Levels and an A* in drama and theatre studies.Shesaid: “I was really happy and very relieved. I was actually a little surprised but I’m over the moon.”
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662Wednesday, August 24, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE 9
“Having not sat their GCSEs and Level 2 qualifications in the summer of 2020 due to the pandemic, this is the first time they have sat exams in this format with all the pressure and expectation that comes with“Theirthem.resilience and focus on the process through their time in our sixth form has helped them to today, where they will now take their first major steps into adult life. They have showed flexibility and determination throughout the last two years and I am very proud of them all. “It has been our pleasure to support them on the journey to this point. I cannot wait to hear how they progress through the next years of their lives.
The college’s vision is to ‘transform lives through learning’, collaborating with employers and UTC Reading allows students to prepare themselves for the workplace The college is offering information, advice and guidance to students who are unsure about next steps after their A Levels or BTEC Level 3 programmes.
If you’re considering care 3332 204
Nield, faculty manager and A-Level Law teacher at Reading College, said: “Overall our results are absolutely amazing. Nearly half of our learners got A* to B grades, which is incredible, and all the students that came in today are beaming “Our students are going to top universities as well so I couldn’t be more thrilled.
UTC Reading THE FUTURE looks bright for UTC Reading students who received their exam results on Thursday, August 18. The outgoing Year 13 made the trip into school one final time to pick up their A Level and technical qualification results, securing them places on apprenticeships or university Bath,includingatNavyBMW,prestigiousintoscienceengineeringStudentscourses.atthespecialistandcomputercollegewillbeheadingapprenticeshipsatcompaniessuchasMini,IBM,Stantec,RoyalandQinetiQ.Othershavechosentostudyuniversity,withdestinationsReading,Swansea,OxfordBrookesand
“I’ve already got into KCL to do film studies, it’s all just happening all at once and it’s very overwhelming, but I’m just glad it’s Danielover.
Portsmouth.Executive Principal of UTC Reading, Jonathan Nicholls, said: “Our students collecting their results today and securing their next destination marks the end of a complex period for this cohort.
A-LEVELS2022 stress is gone, and I’m going to my university of choice.
Parsonscareuk.com/berkshire218Grange care home, BickertonShinfield House care home, Bracknell Our dementia specialists support each resident to live life independently. At Care UK we offer exceptional care and we’re here to help you and your family at every step of the journey. Trusted to care.
Asha will head to the University of Birmingham to study English literature and Film.Although a little nervous to start, she is now excited to get her teeth into the course. “I don’t know an awful lot about film,” she explained. “So I’m excited to learn more.” Joe Beech, 18, is off to the University of Plymouth to read navigation and maritime studies, achieving a B in maths and Cs in geography and physics.Hesaid: “I’m really excited. I’ve spoken to the lecturers there already, it’s a growing industry. I also love the sea and to have the ability to go sailing sounds perfect to me.” Both Asha and Joe say they will be celebrating with a ‘civilised meal’ with their families before enjoying the moment with their friends.
The research by Unlatch, a new homes sales progression and aftercare platform for developers and housebuilders, analysed each area of England based on the total land area in hectares and what percentage of this land area has been attributed to developed use for residential properties.
“What we are not eager to see, is the negative notoriety that seems to follow after the event is held. We know that Festival Republic understands our concerns and we are pleased to see their continuing work and initiatives in encouraging their participants to think seriously about their impact on the environment while they are here. She said the council wanted visitors to the town to embrace its climate emergency goals, and to “play their part in achieving those aims along with us.”
It also reminds attendees that the event uses a ‘three bin’ system, with compostable waste, recyclable waste, and general waste separated into three bins.Cllr
10 To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Nearly 10% of Reading being developed
A dedicated drop-off point will be installed at Hills Meadow Car Park, with free shuttle boats to and from the festival also available.Festival parking will be available at Kings Meadow and Mapledurham for parking pass holders and a pedestrian bridge has been constructed for easy access.And for those arriving by train, Reading Buses is running a special £1 shuttle service across the weekend. As part of the festival preparations, the council advises that the Thames Path between Scours Lane and
NEW RESEARCH shows that Reading is one of the boroughs that has seen the highest level of residential housing development.Theborough has seen 370 hectares of land developed out of 4,040, 9.2% of its total area. This places it below towns such as Luton, the most developed local authority with respect to residential properties, accounting for 10.1% of total land area, followed by Leicester (10%), Blackpool (9.8%), Watford (9.8%) and Worthing (9.6%).
Overall, it estimates that just 1.1% of total land area is used for housing, with the south east having some of the highest levels, at 1.4%. London is the highest, with 10.1% developed.LeeMartin, Head of UK for Unlatch, said: “There seems to be a common misconception amongst the public that the nation is bursting at the seams when it comes to the number of homes already built and that we simply have no available land left to address the current housing crisis.
| NEWS BARANDWAITING STAFFPOSITIONS C a l l u s o n : 0 1 1 8 9 9 6 8 5 6 7 w w w t h e q u e e n s o a k c o m E m a i l u s a t : b r o t h e r t o n @ t h e q u e e n s o a k c o m C h u r c h L a n e , F i n c h a m p s t e a d , W o k i n g h a m , B e r k s h i r e R G 4 0 4 L S HIRING Fulltime&parttimehours Ifinterestedpleaseenquirewithin WEARE
“This simply isn’t the case and, in fact, land utilised for residential development currently accounts for just over one per cent of the nation’s total land area.” He said that in major urban areas, this percentage is far higher where the demand for housing is greater due to a larger population. “In some areas, residential development accounts for a tiny fraction of total land available and it’s ironically in these areas where current homeowners are often most passionately against the construction of new homes,” he added.
Have an in tents experience ... and then take it home with you CreightonPhil
jlee@rdg.today READING Borough Council has reminded residents to plan ahead for busy roads and shops as Reading Festival approaches.
The council has reminded residents who intend to travel around Reading during that weekend will need to prepare for longer journey times, especially as guests arrive on Thursday and Friday.
IT’S BACK: Reading Festival will see around 100,00 attendees for a weekend of music beginning Friday, August 26. Picture: Courtesy of Reading Borough Council
Karen Rowland, lead councillor for environmental services and community safety, said: “People come to Reading Festival to have a good time, and we are delighted with the long relationship we have with Festival Republic and the positive notoriety and focus the festival brings our town.
“We will continue to scrutinise the situation, alongside working with the organisers, who are ultimately responsible for their own waste management policies, to ensure that everyone is minimising their impact on the environment.”ReadingFestival takes place at Little John’s Farm, Richfield Avenue, from Friday to Sunday, August 26-28.
“We happily support the ways in which Festival Republic and the volunteers within our community seek to encourage that response.
TAKE IT HOME: Reading Borough Council says its “key message” to festival goers is to take tents home and avoid single-use plastics. Picture: Courtesy of Reading Borough Council
the far end of the Thameside Promenade will be closed between 8pm-6am during the festival weekend until Monday, AugustThere29.will be a full closure of Richfield Avenue between Cardiff Road and Tessa Road between 10.30pm-1am, Friday to Sunday, which will allow day ticket holders easy exit from theAsite.northbound closure of Cow Lane, between Portman Road and Cardiff Road, is also likely to be reinstated between 8am and 3pm on Monday, August 29, to assist with the coach transfers and exit of service vehicles, if traffic is particularly congested.Throughout the duration of the festival, a temporary taxi rank will be operating in Tessa Road, next to the festival site, as a further option when travelling to and from the site. Rivermead Leisure Centre will be closed for the duration of the festival. This year’s festival will also see noise levels tested daily to avoid unreasonable disturbance to local residents. A special hotline number has been set up for residents who wish to offer comments or to raise queries during the event, available by calling 0208 080 1469The line will be answered between 9am and 5pm on Wednesday 24 August, and then 24 hours from 9am Thursday 25 until 3pm Monday 29 August. n You can also licensing@reading.gov.ukcontact:
Council approachesaheadresidentsremindstoplanasFestivalByJAKECLOTHIER
While normal levels of traffic should resume after Friday, Bank Holiday Monday, August 29, is expected to be very busy also.Shops and supermarkets will be busier than usual throughout theItweekend.alsoadvises that parking restrictions, including no stopping for pick-ups, will be in place around the Richfield Avenue site, as usual, and the area should be avoided wherever possible.
READING Borough Council is joining forces with Festival Republic to tackle the environmental effects of the festival.Aclimate emergency was declared by the council back in 2019 and it committed to carbon neutrality by 2030. Together with Festival Republic, it is urging festival goers to say no to single-use plastics and make use of refillable water bottles and water points at the event.Refundable deposits are also in use for any bottles and cups bought on site, redeemable at refund points in the main arena. It is also urging those who are camping to take tents home with them, as the majority of abandoned tents end up in landfill.
From Friday, Reading Festival will return to Little John’s Farm, Richfield Avenue, bringing 100,000 revellers expected to attend this year.
PICTURE:BUILDINGHOUSE
FOR many youngsters, Reading Festival will be the first time they will be away from home on their own. And it can be an overwhelming experience for all the senses. As well as three days of great music, there is a wealth of activities to do including comedy and films, opportunities to shop, new food stalls to try, and of course, alcohol. There are times when the wealth of activities can be too much and for that a helping hand is needed. A number of groups are on hand to help out including the Salvation Army and the Street Pastors.Both are festival regulars, and have their own tents.
In Caversham Road, they have a refreshment stall, where they hand out thousands of free drinks to thirsty people over the weekend.Italso has members by the riverside where they are on hand to have conservations with people about life, the universe and everything.
“We’ve been shown so much love, we want to share that love with other people,” he says. “People can be quite open. “Some walk past, and that’s fine.“Others will chat to us for a long time and have really intestering conversations. “We will chat with people who don’t want a faith, and chat with some who have never heard the good news about Jesus. They listen, talk, ask questions.”Headds: “I do enjoy it, but there’s a lot of preparation work to be done. It’s a big operation. “We think it’s worth doing to be a blessing, and to tell people aboutCareyJesus.”and fellow churches will hand the maps out from Wednesday, the refreshment stand will be open from Thursday to Monday, and they will be by the river from Thursday to Sunday.
We can replace your existing kitchen worktops with new quar tz or corian, rejuvenating your kitchen and giving it a fresh new look. Give your kitchen the WOW factor with new worktops
A charity is hosting a meeting for members of the community. Utulivu Women’s group offers refreshments to all at its get-togethers, held at the organisation’s community hub at 344 Oxford Road, with games of bingo available. The sessionsa are between 11.30am-1pm on Tuesdays. Utulivu Women’s Group looks to promote health and well-being, organising activities which address social issues primarily impacting women, children and black, Asian, minority ehnic and refugee (BAMER) communities. n www.utulivu.co.uk
Baptist Church and Emmanuel Methodist Church, on Reading’s Oxford Road, both open their doors to charge phones, provide showers, and a safe space outside of the festival arena. Sue Cantwell, the secretary of Caversham Baptist, says: “We aim to provide a cafe-style chillout area with tea, coffee, cold drinks, biscuits, Wi-Fi, and a phone charging station. There’s also a fruit stall. “We also provide somewhere to write and leave prayer requests and offer prayer and pastoral care if needed.” It’s open from 9.30am to 1pm on Friday and Saturday, while on Sunday the church will hold a cafe style worship service in addition to the hospitality. Emmanauel provides a similar service, with every area of its building pressed into use to provide a safe space for those who need some time out off-site. Wellies, if needed, are left at the door, and the cooked breakfasts are so popular there is usually a queue out of the door.
Richard Baxter, Carey’s pastor for outreach, says that it is a big operation – 15,000 maps have been prepared, and in 2019, they handed out “thousands and thousands” of drinks.
“We have a really good relationship with Festival Republic. They are doing their absolute best to keep people safe – their safeguarding team are really good,” Sally says. And given that this is the 10th year that Street Pastors are on site, Sally and her team must enjoy the experience. “We love it, I absolutely love it,” she “Youngsays.pepople are so open to having chats about faith and stuff, people do ask us to pray for them. It’s really amazing. “It’s hard work, but great fun.”The Salvation Army has been part of the festival for more than 50 years, with its tent open 24 hours a day for pastoral care, affordable refreshments, and a safeThespace.team of volunteers have been on site since Tuesday, and will stay there until Monday, with 40 people helping out. Their base is on Scott Street, named after Stuart Scott, who first took the Army to the music event.His daughter, Hayley, took part last year and said at the time: “My Dad had a vision of being a presence at the festival and providing help and refreshments to anyone who needs“Weit.had tables and chairs set up in the marquee. Festivals can be overwhelming so we are somewhere calm where people can come and relax. It was a peace“Overhaven.the years it’s grown, and we’ve adapted. It used to be we’d offer soup and a roll, now we have hot drinks, water, sweet treats. We keep the prices affordable.“Anyprofit made goes back to the Reading Central Corps and into the community to make up food and Christmas parcels. “If someone has no money, we can give them food and a drink. We have spare tents, towels and Churchesblankets.”arealso active offsite as Cavershamwell.
Reading Festival visitors can chill out with help from town’s churches
Mini CharitymorningRoyalsmeetings
READY TO ROCK: Reading Festival is often the first time that young people will be away from home Picture: Dijana Capan
Carey Baptist Church says its offering is a chance to show some Christian love to those coming to Reading, and it is teaming up with other local churches to offer three things. It has prepared maps of the town and the festival to give to people as they arrive at the station.
The Salavation Army tent on site Picture: Salvation Army
READING Football Club are inviting children to a free event to experience a journey of sporting imagination. Mini Royals is a fun, relaxed morning session for those aged between two and four, featuring high-energy games which promote learning through play. The Reading FC Community Trust’s event will be held at the indoor dome at the Select Car LeasingParentsStadium.orguardians are required to remain throughout theItsession.willtake place between 9.20am-10am on Friday, September 16. n officialsoccerschools.co.uk
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662Wednesday, August 24, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE 11
www.roktops.co.uk sales@roktops.co.uk locatedwithinthe WokinghamBorough 01189762826
“I think people are really impressed with the refreshments stand,” he says. “Quite understandably, a lot of businesses look at the festival to make a bit of extra money, but people are pleased we are giving out maps and drinks for free.”The riverside conversations is something that the church does because of their faith.
The Street Pastors, a regular fixture in Reading town centre on Friday and Saturday nights, will be offering undjudgmental support and care to people who need a bit of a helping hand. Co-ordinator Sally Leonard said the group has two tents on the campsites, and will be patrolling in the afternoon and evening every day from Thursday through to Monday morning.Trained street pastors take part in the patrols, and Christians from Reading churches are volunteering in their“Wetents.help get people to the right place, be it their tent, to the medical or welfare tent or to the Street Pastors tent,” she says.“In the tents there are sofas, games and a big game of Connect 4 outside. There’s also hot chocolate, tea, coffee and snacks.“People can come and chatit’s just a place to chill out.” The group is part of the Transform Reading collective of churches who work together across the town. This means they are able to work seamlessly with the Salvation Army – indeed, in the early years of the Street Pastors at Reading Festival, they worked from the Army’s tent. Sally says their first year on site was 2012, and the work expanded after she visited another festival to see how Street Pastors worked there. She took her plans to Festival Republic who gave them their backing, and the work expanded in 2014.
EXCLUSIVE By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today
STEPPING UP: Steph has run the Berkshire Motor Courtesy of Steph Awbery CULTURAL CONTRIBUTION, SPONSORED BY M&G REAL ESTATE Vive la France in Reading
Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading Borough Council’s lead for leisure and culture, said she was delighted to see the new attractions open.“We are delivering on increasing physical activity, health and wellbeing across the borough, with targeted work in the community to reach those in most need, and work towards reducing health inequalities,” she said.
“They devote a huge amount of voluntary effort to put the event on every year, they get no reward other than seeing the amount of enjoyment peopleVincentget.”Valere, one of the founders and organisers, said: “I’ve lived in the Midlands before, and Reading feels like it is more welcoming, “The Bastille Day festival is not just for French people to celebrate, we want everyone to feel welcome, whatever their race or nationality or their background.”Heexplained: “Sometimes, being here in the UK, I didn’t always feel welcome, but I think Reading is probably one of the most welcoming places in the country, “For me, it’s about bringing people together, and it is not just me, it is the whole group of people who I work with to put it together, so it’s for them too.”Nominations for the Pride of Reading Awards 2022 are currently open. n To nominate a person or organisation, visit: www.porawards.co.uk
n Angela Garwood blogs at The Colourful Kind
PITCH IN: Councillors try their hand at the new mini-golf course at Prospect Park. Each hole has a Reading landmark in it, including The Fobury Lion Picture: Reading Borough Council Reading immortalisedlandmarksinnewmini-golfcourse
“We want everyone to feel welcome and have fun in our parks and sports centres, which is why the mini-golf has been designed to include people using wheelchairs and other mobility aids and we now have a Changing Places facility – a positive step in improving the accessible facilities for all users of Prospect Park,” she explained.
| NEWS
“This development will allow our amazing Reading Play Service to expand the important educational work they do with vulnerable children from across the borough, providing a significant and valuable extension to our provision for vulnerable and SEND children in a fun, safe and welcoming environment.
CHRIS TARRANT AWARD SPONSORED BY THE ORACLE Why Steph is the behind Berkshire
n For more on the Ranger Station log on to: ProspectPlaygroundplans,active-reading,www.reading.gov.uk/leisure/andforProspectParklogonto:www.reading.gov.uk/ n Look out for our preview of the holes in next week’s Reading Today
IF YOU’VE ever wanted to be a giant walking through the streets of Reading now’s your chance. A new crazy golf course has opened in Prospect Park, and each of the nine holes on the course has a Ding-inspired theme. They include Reading Abbey, The Blade and Reading Festival. It’s all part of the new Ranger Station, Reading Borough Council’s new activity and entertainment attraction in Prospect Park. The family-friendly venue is also about to open a Sky Tykes low ropes attraction, aimed at ages two to seven.Itlaunched on Monday, and it helps youngsters develop their physical confidence and coordination skills. It costs from £4.50 per child for a 45-minute session. The mini-golf is open from 10am to 6pm, and 10am to 4pm at weekends, with pricing starting at £4.50 per person or £20 for a group for up to five. People can play the courseOthertwice.attractions are planned, including a multi-function room that can be used for parties and meetings, and a café with indoor and outdoor seating. An outdoor play area will include a climbing wall and activities such as den building, archery and an outdoor classroom. A specialist teaching system will be set up, making the Ranger Station suitable for pupils with additional needs, or excluded from mainstream education.
“Alongside our major £40 million investment in modern new leisure facilities and swimming pools, all of which are well underway or completed, this development will help us increase leisure opportunities and in doing so significantly improve the health and wellbeing of our young people.”
Now we are two
The Oracle ONE of the Pride of Reading sponsors has been involved since the very beginning. The Oracle helps power the Chris Tarrant Award, awarded to someone who deserves special recognition. The criteriavaries every year and the startakes great care in choosing the winner.
She added that it was important to the council to make it facilities open to all.
WE celebrated Leo’s second Birthday earlier this month. A joyous occasion and a house full of his favourite people. The whole day sort of felt like being wrapped in a giant hug. Unlike last year there were no tears when it came to singing Happy Birthday, he simply did as required and, right on cue, blew the candle out. We did not expect this. Shockwaves rippled through the room as we all wondered how exactly he knew when it was time to blow? We’d gone to a little more effort this year with presents, now that he possesses the fine motor skills to physically unwrap a gift. £20 worth of plastic fire engine (with sounds obviously) was undoubtedly his favourite surprise of all, going by his reactions: “FIRE UNDIN!!” Lots of bouncing up and down (seated) on the table. (There is a tradition in my family, started by my mother, to plonk the Birthday-toddler on the Birthday-table, surrounded by cards and balloons, to unwrap their presents. This is solely for photographic purposes but means I now have delightful photos of my son, my daughter, and myself at two-years-old in various interesting-Birthday-outfits on various dining room tables over the years.)
Andy Briggs, general manager of The Oracle, said: “The Oracle launched in 1999, and the first awards were three or four years later. We backed the first Pride of Reading – we will always be
12 To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Other presents include: a balance bike, bath letters, a train track, a table and chairs and a potty. We figured there was no harm in leaving a small potty lying about the place in the hope he’d get used to it and even take an interest. No real interest has been taken so far. The train track has provided countless hours of entertainment in the two weeks he’s had it. I wish there was a train track everywhere we go. He very independently built nearly the entire track in the garden one afternoon, quietly going back and forth to the living room to fetch each piece.Leo turning two sparked a small revolution in the weaning department. Though I still feed him to sleep (the next hurdle), he no longer feeds during the night, which is a giant leap for us both. Now, once the children are in bed and I’ve had my hour of eating junk food with Joel whilst debating what to stick on Netflix, I simply get into bed, (a bed with no toddler in it) put my squishy foam ear plugs in and go to sleep. This is pure happiness. Words cannot describe the feeling of liberation. There’s no small child on my pillow. No clambering over me. No reading my book in the dark with a measly phone torch because turning the bedside lamp on is deemed far too risky. Just me and my pillow. When/if Leo wakes up, Joel attends to him. (Leo catching sight of me would only thwart the weaning process, he’d demand to be fed, so I must remain out of sight and in bed, which works perfectly well for me). Some nights, I get eight hours straight. EIGHT. This is unheard of. A state of being I have not experienced over the last two years. An alternate reality. A utopia of sorts. On day one I texted Joel mid-morning to tell him what a “beautiful day” it was. Day two I read several pages of a book without having to go back and re-read it all. Day three I began wondering why on earth we had not done this a year ago. Best not dwell.
STEPHANIE Awbery has been fundraising for numerous charities with the Berkshire Motor Show for over 15 years, and this year she’s been put forward for the Chris Tarrant Award. Her nominee said that she had: “Fund-raised with a free event for different charities each year, after her parents died. She “wanted to give back to the community as they helped her parents,” who needed support due to disability. Of her own community work, Steph says: “Where I am at is that if I can do this, so can other men and women in a similar situation. She says that she has struggled with abuse and the loss of her parents, but through her work has become “stronger than ever. “Shortly after my father died, I wanted to do something, put something on, perhaps, and so I ended up getting a monster truck down into Reading to do some car crushing. “Since then, it’s grown bigger and bigger.”Steph says that she’s still growing, too.“As it grows, I’ve learned more about what I’ve done right, and what I can make better – it’s still a learning curve, and I’m still amazed by it all.
THE Bastille Day Festival in Reading has been nominated for a Pride of Reading award for cultural contribution. The nominator said: “A group based in Reading wanted to put on a free family event, purely to entertain.“Theyput on singers, dancers, and games, which are all free, people from all over Reading attend and it reaches a great many communities. “Bastille Reading has attracted support from the Business Improvement District (via REDA), and two of the original organisers are still central to the festival, Vincent Valere and Boubacar Dembele.
“My mother was born and raised in Reading, and my family’s been a part of Reading, Coley specifically, since about the 18th SpeakingCentury.”about her nomination, she said “It really was a surprise. “But it makes me so so proud to be able to help different charities, “I used to be so scared, but where I am now, I can do this, and if I can, other men and women in a similar situations can too.” n To nominate a person or organisation, visit: www.porawards.co.uk
“Income generated through paid activities will help support this vitalShework.”continued: “I’m really looking forward to when our new café and other great facilities open, but it doesn’t end there. “The new activity centre is just one aspect of the enhancement and investment we are making into Prospect Park. “This autumn we will begin construction on an exciting new playground with a solid focus on accessible equipment for children of all “Theabilities.winning £530,000 design was voted for by residents and will be open in time for the 2023 summer holidays, making Prospect Park a great destination for a family daySheout.”said that her time with the golf clubs had been enjoyable, even if she didn’t set up a high score.“Ireally enjoyed trying out the mini-golf among some of Reading’s finest heritage buildings today, although sadly I didn’t manage any holes-in-one,” she said.
By JAKE CLOTHIER jclothier@rdg.today
motherhoodHonest Angela Garwood
driving force Berkshire Motor Show
Your break includes Return coach travel from Reading 3 nights at the Ashton Court Hotel, Exmouth with dinner & breakfast Entertainment some evenings Excursion to Exeter excursion to Sidmouth (£9pp)
Departing Fri 21 Oct ‘22 venture across the Channel to the pretty French seaside town of Boulogne-sur-Mer, with its domed cathedral and attractive medieval quarter and visit beautiful Canterbury, one of the most important cathedral cities in England for a lovely weekend break. break includes Return coach travel and ferry crossings from Reading 3 nights at the Grand Burstin Hotel, Folkestone with dinner & breakfast Entertainment every evening Excursion to Boulogne-sur-Mer & Canterbury Days by Coach only £144.99 Days by Coach only £174.99
FOLKESTONE & France Weekend
DelightfulDevonWeekend_D.pdf Folkestone&FranceWeekend_D.pdf Single Supplement £45 Single Supplement £45 or visit justgoholidays.com/WPR 03332 342 527 Quote WPR To advertise, call 0118 327 2662Wednesday, August 24, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE 29
They call him the Cookie Monster Om nom nom nom And the biscuits gone A shame less greed Cares not for need More than a hunch He has eaten Africa’s Lunch They call him the Cookie Monster Om nom nom nom And the biscuits gone Make him stop Or the starving drop
The firm’s HR director, Caroline Anscombe, said: “Brian was a pillar of our control room team for over 34 years and it is with a real sadness that we have to say goodbye to him. He was well respected across every department in the “Webusiness.wishhim all the best for the future and hope he pops back in to visit whenever he can.”
We
4
The Legend That is Richard Stephenson. He runs the Dreading slam open mic poetry competition at 7.30pm on the first Sunday of each Month in the Rising Sun Arts Centre, Reading POETRY CORNER
DRIVE DOWN MEMORY LANE: Brian Dawber behind the wheel Picture: Reading Buses
As control room duty manager at Reading Buses, where there was a total of 12 staff, he was responsible for buses and drivers going out on schedule. His reputation for timing and punctuality earned him two bus industry awards. He was presented with a UK national bus award and later a Pride of Reading employee of the year award in 2013. He held five different positions in the Reading Buses control room over 34 Brianyears.alsomet his wife Teresa –‘another of the good things to come out of Reading Buses’ – 29 years’ ago.She has held a number of positions, from working in the canteen to bus driving, prior to her latest role on the cleaning side.
033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply. For more information, or to book, please call Operated by Just Go Holidays Ltd. Coach package holidays and short breaks are subject to Just Go! Holidays terms and conditions. Your booking is protected by Bonded Coach Holidays (BCH) and the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT); this is a government approved consumer protection scheme. Tours offered subject to availability and government guidelines. Errors and omissions excepted. Prices per person, based on two people sharing a double/twin room. Calls to 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply. Weekend
Departing Fri 7 Oct ‘22
Motor Show, which raises funds for a number of charities, for more than 15 years. Picture: WELCOME: The Bastille Day GardenstheneighboursofbringseventatasteourGallictoForbury
We love receiving your verse and print a selection every week. To be included, email your poem to news@rdg.today
NEWS |
Om nom nom nom And the biscuits gone. Striking while the oven’s hot He can scoff the lot They call him the Cookie Monster. Om nom nom nom And the biscuits gone He finds victory sweet To have your cake and eat The food supply tumbles The hungry stomach rumbles They call him the Cookie Monster Om nom nom nom And the biscuits gone He’s in a world of plenty Before the tin is empty. But His mind denies He is using up supplies
They call him the Cookie Monster.
DELIGHTFUL DEVON
Beloved for its mild climate and miles of golden sands, Exmouth in South Devon provides us with the perfect base for our short break away. From here we explore this picturesque corner of the West Country, including a visit to Exeter, the capital of Devon.
4
Optional
ESTATE Reading Cookie Monster involved, it’s such a positive thing.” Mr Briggs is also pleased of The Oracle’s association with the Who Wants A Millionaire? star. “Chris Tarrant is such an entertaining guy,” he explains. “With the judging, with Chris you never know what he will choose and why. “Every year is different, and there’s always a different reason – he feels they deserve to be recognised.” Mr Briggs is also on the managing committee of Pride of Reading and there is clearly a lot of affection for it. “I just love it,” Mr Briggs said. “It’s great.” This year’s theme celebrationof is something that Mr Briggs feels is right, given that “Reading is a town that is moving in the right direction”.Headds: “The awards are about recognising those in the town on the great job they’re doing. I’m looking forward to the day itself, it will be a huge celebration of the great town we live in.”
A READING man, in a roundabout way, is stepping down from the job he loves after more than 34 years at theBrianhelm.Dawber joined Reading Buses back in the 1980s, intending to be a short-term placement. Instead, the 59-year-old went from driving buses to help out in the control room in 1991. Brian had left the Merchant Navy and was looking for a catering job.“I really wanted to continue my career in catering, but I took to the role in the control room where I subsequently worked shifts with a great bunch of people from all walks of life,” he says. “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with a small control room team at the Great Knollys Street depot for the last 34 years and it is with a heavy heart, due to health reasons, that I have decided to retire.”Born in south London, he lived in Kent (twice) and Scotland before arriving in Reading.
Your
Brian’s stopgap job comes to a bus stop
Reader travel
Kimi Jolly, Executive Director, East and AsianSoutheastScotland
We to hear from you! Send us your views on issues relating to the borough (in 250 words or less) to Reading Today, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS or email: news@rdg.today We reserve the to this section are necessarily those ofto
The branching out of the festival into rap, hip-hop, dance, and pop has only served to diversify the performers on show, but also the crowds, too.
The report contains stories of first-hand experience of the impact of the rise in cost of living. Lowri receives Universal Credit and cares for her father and daughter. Her food and fuel bills have doubled, and she’s had to sell her daughter’s bike to make ends meet: “I have spent the last 5 years living in survival mode, just about surviving each day, worrying about money constantly. I am emotionally and mentally exhausted living like this. It is not living, merely existing. There is just no way people can manage to pay all their bills, and all we are doing is existing to pay bills. Terrified is an understatement.”ProfessorHirschsaid:
The call responds to a report, written by poverty expert and Loughborough University Professor Donald Hirsch which reveals the gap between the support the government is currently offering to households and the anticipated rise in living costs. It concludes that the current flat-rate payments offered by the government will fall at least £1,600 short.
The splitting of the Main Stage into two last year was also a turning point, signifying the range of choices the festival seeks to offer. Split stages mean more acts, and fewer people missing their favourites. Overall, the festival’s demographic has diversified, reflecting the town’s attitude to inclusion and acceptance.
Celebration
Jabez Lam, Centre Manager, Hackney Chinese CommunityServices
edit letters Views expressed in
Festivals have been beset by trouble in the last three years, for obvious and welltrodden reasons.
love
FVIEWPOINTSORMERPrimeMinister
Letters
|
Importantly, we’ve made sure it is accessible for all and provide specialist accessible putting equipment for disabled visitors. I’m delighted that we also now offer a fully wheelchair-accessible toilet/Changing Places on site.Alongside the mini golf course, the Ranger Station also offers a low ropes activity for kids under seven. My age and height excluded me from a turn on the low ropes course, but it looks like great fun for younger kids and a good opportunity for weary parents to keep the young ones busy while they take a well-earned rest.
The groups are urging the Government to consider appropriate measures to bridge the shortfall in family finances, which is only anticipated to rise into the winter months. Some charities are calling for benefits to be uprated in line with inflation, and for debt deductions from Universal Credit to be paused.
At £4.50 per person (or £20 for a family/group of five) and £4.50 per child for the low ropes it is, compared to other leisure activities, an affordable attraction for families, as well as an active one. All the proceeds go back into our amazing Reading Play Service to expand the important educational work they do with vulnerable children across the borough.
CHURCH NOTES
not
news@rdg.today 30 To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Cllr Jason Brock is the leader of Reading Borough Council, and Labour ward member for Southcote
Andy Fearn, Director,Co-ExecutiveProtectionApproaches
“The shortfall families are facing between skyrocketing costs and the support government have offered continues to grow.“Families were falling behind with the anticipated rise in costs even when the measures were announced, and since then the food and energy costs forecast for this winter have continued to rise sharply.”
Anna Yim, Chief Executive, Chinese CommunityBirminghamCentre Hau-Yu Tam, Head of Campaigns, End Violence and Racism Against CommunitiesESEA
Gordon Brown has joined with 56 faith groups, charities and politicians to call on the government to take urgent action to bridge the cost of living gap faced by the lowest income families.
IHAD the pleasure of visiting the new Ranger Station activity centre at Prospect Park last week. It’s a visit I particularly enjoyed, especially because it’s in Southcote ward. This brand-new Council facility offers a quirky mini golf course. I really love the miniature Reading landmarks dotted around, which include representations of our Abbey Ruins and the Reading Festival. Anyway, suffice to say it transpires that I’m comically useless at mini golf – but that’s part of the fun, especially with friends and family. I can see the course quickly becoming a cult pastime for local residents, with course records broken on a daily basis. If you haven’t already, do give it a go.
I’m really looking forward to phase two of this development when our new café and other great facilities open. The new activity centre is also just one aspect of the enhancement and investment we are making into Prospect Park. We have prioritised the playground for improvements, with a solid focus on providing free accessible equipment for children of all abilities. This work will begin in the autumn. When complete, with both the Ranger Station and new play area, Prospect Park will be an even greater destination for a day out. Alongside our £40 million investment in new leisure centres, sports facilities and swimming pools, the Council has invested over £500,000 in this new centre (plus another £530,000 in the new play area) to offer activities, entertainment and learning for adults and children from across Reading and beyond. As I’ve already alluded to, the Ranger Station goes beyond this public activity to offer us a significant and valuable extension to our provision for children in a fun, safe and welcoming environment – this is especially true for those with special educational needs or disabilities or those who experience other challenges. Our Reading Play Team offer a vital service supporting children with respite activities and use play as a tool to improve the social skills and wellbeing of particularly vulnerable young people. They carry out this important work in schools and educational settings across the borough and now, with the opening of the Ranger Station, they have a new home to carry on their good work. We are currently working on an outdoor education area at this site including a climbing wall and teambuilding activities, such as den building, archery, an outdoor classroom and much more, which will support Reading Play’s educational outreach work with our town’s young people. Just try to remember not to swear too loudly when you miss yet another simple putt on the mini golf course… there might be children listening.
The local branch of Samaritans - Bracknell, Wokingham, Ascot & Districts - celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. We’d like, through Reading Today, to reach out to all volunteers past and present to thank them for all the hours they have freely given our branch, based in Bracknell, offering emotional support to those in distress, at whatever time of day or night.They have come from so many towns and villages: Henley, Wargrave, Sonning, Hurst, Shenfield, Camberley, Winnersh, Finchampstead, and more. We have been updating our branch history, from the founding days in the 1970s at the pastoral and community centre at Great Hollands, to the 1980s at the first floor of Griffin House (formerly Compton’s Garage) in the town centre, at the bottom of the High Street, across the road, beyond Bentall’s department store, and next to the Regal Cinema and The Red Lion pub, then at the semi-detached house in Easthampstead Road owned by Clifford’s Dairies, and now at our current centre, Hope Cottage, at 2 Mount Pleasant, off Larges Lane, Bracknell. So many have given so many hours and made a difference. I’d like to say thank you. Contacting us is easy: free to call 116123, or email jo@ samaritans.org
Barbara Denyer Volunteer branch director Samaritans of Wokingham,Bracknell,Ascot&Districts
Be aware of Breast Cancer Breast Cancer Awareness Month is back again this October and I want to encourage your readers to Wear It Pink, on 21 October. By taking part in Breast Cancer Now’s biggest and brightest fundraising event, readers can help raise as much money as possible for our worldclass research and life-changing support services, helping thousands living with breast cancer across the UK. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the UK. Every 10 minutes one woman is diagnosed with the disease and cases have increased by almost a quarter in the last 30 years. We’re moving towards a vision that by 2050, everyone diagnosed with breast cancer lives, and is supported to live well. Because of the impact of COVID-19, our researchers missed over 230,000 hours in their labs, and we had to pivot our support services online overnight.Despite these challenges, we continue to provide expert support now and vital hope for the future for all those affected by breast cancer, and we’re more determined than ever to reach our goal. And we know that with your support, we’ll get there. Together, we’ve been wearing it pink for over 20 years. We’ve dressed up, baked, quizzed and pulled off all kinds of incredible sponsored challenges. You’ve had a lot of fun and raised over £37.5 million in the process. We’re so proud of what we’ve achieved together, but we can’t stop there. People affected by breast cancer need us – and they need you too. Ever wanted to dye your hair pink? This is your moment. Voice of anLetangel?theworld hear it with a pink karaoke night. Throw on something pink at home, school, or work, or get friends near and far together with a virtual extravaganza.Thepossibilities are endless. However, you decide to fundraise, you will help make sure that our vital support services and worldclass research continues. So, on Friday 21 October wear it pink, raise money and help us fund life-changing breast cancer research and support. Join us and sign up today at wearitpink.org.
From leaderthe Cllr Jason Brock
It feels like Reading Festival is finding newIt’sfeet.nothing new to say the festival has moved away from its rock roots, it has to move with the times after all.
The cost of living Reading at its Best(ival) Ranger Station does us proud
Teenagers in bucket hats may be a blight in the eyes of the curmudgeonly, but after three years of being stuck at home with nowhere to go, they deserve to count Reading and Leeds among their formative musical experiences just as much as we did.
Baroness Delyth Morgan Chief Executive,CancerBreastNow Dementia is a challenge Dementia is one of the greatest health challenges facing society. Alzheimer’s Society estimate that by 2025, 1 million people will be living with dementia in the UK, and by 2040, dementia will cost the UK economy £94.1 billion annually. Of the top ten causes of death worldwide, dementia is the only one that can’t be cured, stopped, or even slowed down. I would like to see this Improvingchanged.thelives of people affected by dementia is so important to me because having previously watched my Mother live with, and then die from the effects of Alzheimer’s, I want to restrict the chances of other people having to suffer this trauma.With a new Prime Minister taking office next month, this is a rare and crucial moment for dementia in our local area. It is our chance to ensure it does not slip down the political agenda. Since the General Election in 2019, the GovernmentConservativehaspromised to deliver: - A Dementia Moonshot, doubling dementia research funding to deliver breakthrough treatments - A massive reform of the Social Care system, putting people in control of their care and reducing the amount they have to pay for it - A ‘visionary’ ten-year plan for dementia, backed by proper funding and powerful partners, which could be transformational for 900,000 people with dementia in the UK. We must ensure these promises are kept by whoever becomes the next Prime Minister. I want to see Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss pledge to make dementia a priority in their Government, and help people in this area affected by dementia live more fulfilled and less fearful lives. Michael, Bracknell Racism since covid The outbreak of Covid-19 saw a dramatic increase and intensification in racist incidents directed towards East and Southeast Asian communities in the UK. Until now, there hasn’t been a dedicated, culturally competent service to support them following such incidents and to accurately record the scale of the problem. But now that will change, with the launch of On Your Side, a helpline and website offering specialist advisors and new reporting options to anyone from East or Southeast Asian communities who has experienced racism or any form of hate because of an aspect of their identity or perceived identity. Set up by a coalition of 15 national and communitybased groups with expertise in hate crime prevention and supporting East and Southeast Asian communities, it offers a nationwide 24/7 telephone helpline and website providing advice and support from trained staff.We know there are many barriers stopping people from reporting, but we are offering a safe, trauma-informed service which they can access to talk and seek support. We can listen, advise and Furthermore,help. it will help build a more accurate understanding of the levels of racism and other forms of hate faced by East and Southeast Asian communities in the UK, giving policy makers, civil society and community groups insights to shape better prevention and justice approaches.Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and supported. The service can be accessed at www.onyoursideuk.org or by calling free on 0808 801 0393.
Andrea Martinez,KanlunganDirector,FilipinoConsortium
Mariko Hayashi, Executive Director, Southeast and East Asian Centre and others
right
the paperSend your thoughts
“It’s been wonderful to have visitors here today to show them Reading, and to also point out some of the issues our town faces, the pressure on public services, for example.”
The visit ended at the Whitley Community Development Association’s community cafe, where the guests spoke to residents and representatives from local organisations. The Mayor of Reading, Cllr Rachel Eden, was also in attendance and was delighted to welcome Dr Allin-Khan and MrCllrPollard.Eden, who stood for Labour in Reading West in 2019, said of the visit: “It has been fantastic, we’re out and about in Whitley week-in, week-out, so it was lovely to welcome some really high profile, interested MPs who wanted to support the community, find out what’s going on, because Labour’s really listening to people, and we know how tough things are.
“I’m so proud to be able to bring people who are in the shadow cabinet, to Whitley, show them the Whitley Community Development Association, show them what our local NHS staff are doing, they’re doing amazing work.
Both encouraged Reading residents to consider the policies put forward by the various parties ahead of the next general election. The Labour Party has identified Reading West as a target seat, believing it can overturn the 4,117 votes by which Conservative member of parliament Alok Sharma gained over Cllr Eden in the 2019 general election.
“I think it’s very important that everyone understands that they have a choice to make, that who they elect as their local representatives and who they put into Number Ten is up to them,” said Dr Allin-Khan. “It is their choice. So please use your vote, if you have one, use it because you make the decisions.”Theshadow cabinet minister also highlighted key issues such as mental health and education issues, the cost of living crisis and NHS waiting times as vital reasons for the electorate to consider the offer of all political parties.Sheurged voters to choose the party which will most positively impact their lives. A key point of concern is the rising energy prices, with many households bracing themselves for a difficult winter. Last week, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer announced plans to stop the energy cap rise through changes to the windfall tax on oil and gas companies. Of the plans, Mr Rodda said: “We’re very concerned about the cost of living crisis and that’s why Keir announced the policy commitment [energy price cap] we’ve made, we want to stand up for people and help protect them from the worst of this awful crisis, which is the most dreadful thing that’s facing people.
Shadow ministers pay visit as Labour campaigns in Whitley
VISITS: The shadow cabinet members Rosena Allin-Khan and Luke Pollard visit was the fourth leg of the Labour Party’s campaign in marginal seats. Pictures: Ji-Min Lee
“We ultimately need a Labour government to implement these, and other measures, to provide a fairer society to take pressure off people who are under terrible pressure at the moment.”MrRodda was fresh off reselection as member of parliament for East Reading, meaning he will be the Labour candidate at the next general election.Of the announcement, he said: “I’m honoured to be the Labour candidate for the Reading East constituency and it’s a pleasure to work hard for the local people. “It was very kind of people to put their faith in me again. I’m flattered by the level of support and I’m looking forward to campaigning for Labour in this area.”Speaking on the eve of A Level results day, Dr Allin-Khan offered words of advice for those receiving their A Level and GCSE grades this summer. The NHS doctor almost had her own ambitions of practising medicine dashed when she received two Es and a U at A Level.Through a combination of resilience, hard work and financial support, she bounced back, eventually graduating from the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine.Shesaid: “I perhaps have a slightly unusual story, but I really believe that where you start off in life doesn’t have to dictate where you end up. “I remember feeling as though everything was lost when I was 18, but it isn’t and I’d say that obstacles are detours in the right direction. “I think the important message that I would like [student] reading this to know is that Matt himself, all of the local councillors and the community are really proud of you.“Students have gone through some incredibly tough times and have done the very best they can so we couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Dr Allin-Khan has been the member of parliament for Tooting since 2016, following Sadiq Khan’s appointment as Mayor of London. She was able to draw similarities between her constituency and Reading, with both places prioritising the well-being of its young people through youth development initiatives.“Wehave to understand that the definition of success doesn’t necessarily mean A*s in science and maths,” Dr Allin-Khan explained.“Thedefinition of success is being happy, feeling mentally well, being able to put food on the table for your family and put a roof over your family’s head.”She has seen the rise of self-harm and eating disorders among young people in both her capacity as an A&E doctor and as shadow cabinet minister for mental health. Dr Allin-Khan’s resolution is not to place undue pressure on young people, instead ensuring they understand they are loved and supported, regardless of academic performance. She also believes extracurricular endeavours should be celebrated, explaining that musical, artistic and sporting talent are just as important to reaching one’s potential and defining success as core academicWorld-classsubjects.musical talent will certainly be on show at this weekend’s Reading Festival, an event close to the town’s heart. Mr Rodda will not be in attendance this year, but is excited for the positive impact it will have on local businesses.Hesaid: “It’s so important
“If you have any such information, I would encourage you to report it to us by calling 101 or through the online reporting tool on our website. Reports can also be made via the charity, Crimestoppers, by calling 0800 555 111 or via its website.
“It’s difficult to imagine how difficult it’s going to be for people this winter unless [the] government is prepared to help and support people and to take action.“[Our proposals] will make a real difference to people and we hope that the government will change and accept them.
The shadow cabinet members’ visit was the fourth leg of the Labour Party’s campaign in marginal seats
Jailed for drugs and assault FOLLOWING a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man has been jailed for drug offences and an assault in Reading. Byron Haines, aged 31, and of HMP Bullingdon, was sentenced to four years and eight months in Prison at Reading Crown Court on Friday, August 12.He pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of a class A controlled drug, namely heroin and crack cocaine, and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Haines was arrested at 6am on Monday, April 11, after officers witnessed him conducting a number of drug deals in plain sight of the Police Station on Oxford Road. He was found with a large quantity of cash and phone, which contained evidences that he was involved in the running of a county drugs line. During the course of his arrest, Haines bit an officer on the arm, which required medical attention.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Aimee Usher, of the Stronghold team based at Reading police station, said: “The Stronghold team will proactively and robustly target and prosecute offenders involved in the supply of drugs. “Our activity will be both visible and covert, aimed at disrupting and pursuing offenders.“Information from the public around the drug supply offences in Reading plays an important role in developing intelligence into a proactive investigation.
EXCLUSIVE By Ji-Min Lee jlee@rdg.today TWO SHADOW ministers took to the streets of Reading as part of the Labour Party’s campaign in marginal seats on Wednesday, August 17. With parliament in recess, shadow cabinet minister for mental health Rosena AllinKhan and shadow minister for the armed forces Luke Pollard spent the morning canvassing in Whitley.Thepair were joined by local councillors and member of parliament for Reading East Matt Rodda. Dr Allin-Khan was full of praise for the visit. She said: “Every time I come to Reading I’m just blown away by the incredible sense of community.“It’sreally obvious on the doorsteps and in the community itself how popular Matt Rodda is as an MP, and it’s very much in Labour’s reach to win Reading West in the next general election.
“It’s just been really exciting to be campaigning today, spreading Labour’s positive messages and obviously being here with Matt who is an incredible advocate for Reading and a superb colleague in parliament.”MrRodda was thrilled to host two senior party members, and said: “Like all local MPs, I think it’s so important to work hard for our communities.”
Reading Today had the opportunity to sit down with Dr Allin-Khan and Mr Rodda for exclusive interviews.
“If we can showcase what’s best about our community then it’s just a brilliant opportunity for us to get us on the map.”
safe.”isfestivalandagoeseveryoneandtheacrossbusinessesforawillrecently.difficulthadwhobusinessesworkingofwholeshopstaxiparticularlybusinesses,tradeamountenormousbringsthebecausefestivalinanoftolocaldrivers,andarangehard-haveaverytime“IhopeitcreatehugeliftsmalltownIhopewhoenjoyswonderfulfantasticandcompletely To advertise, call 0118 327 2662Wednesday, August 24, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE 31
The guests spoke to NHS staff from MEET PEET who were conducting its new Well-being Wednesday project
A POPULAR restaurant chain with a branch in The Oracle is looking to reduce its carbon footprint with a new range of deliveryWagamama,bowls. which specialises in Asian cuisine such as katsu curry, will switch its delivery bowls from virgin plastic to ones made from recyclable material. It says the move will help it save 62% of its carbon footprint and remove 330 tonnes of plastic from its supply chain. The new packaging has been four years in making and has just started to be rolled out. It is made from cPET plastic, a food-safe material that has excellent heat resistance, making it safe for hot remen. The chain will also welcome customers’ used packaging in its new Bowl Bank scheme, created in response to the varied practices of the UK wasteBothstreams.willbe in use nationwide by
By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today POWER UP: Italy Grazeley-courtesygreenreceiveSardiniaandwillsomeenergyof based firm Enviromena 160578andreasPicture: from Pixabay (ABTOT);
Grazeley firm to harness the sun to power Italy and Sardinia
recyclingthatdecisionencouraging”,“incrediblypraisingtheirtoresearchasolutionfittedwithintheUKsystems.SimonEllin,itspresident, said: “There’s so much misinformation and false claims about where rubbish goes, you really need to take the time to fully understand the“Assessingproblem. their business needs, I’m confident cPET is the most sustainable option available to them at this time, and I’m pleased to see they have invested in this option. “They will be leading consumer behaviour change with their ‘Bowl Bank’ initiative, and it would be brilliant to see more return initiatives like this from their peers.”
“Proving small choices make for big change and sustainable progress doesn’t happen overnight. This is an exciting and overdue step for us but only the Wagamamabeginning.”were advised by the UK Recycling Association, who said the decision to switch over to more eco-friendly choices was
| BUSINESSBUSINESSTODAY Got a business story? Email news@wokingham.today In association with Winnersh Triangle A business park that is changing SeptemberBusinesswithoverNetworkcoffeeWoodleyClub’smeet
A GRAZELEY-based company is walking on sunshine after securing its first contract in Italy. Next year, work will start on constructing two multi-millionpound solar farms which will help power our European neighbour, as well as Sardinia. The sites, created by Enviromena, are expected to generate a 4,000MWh of green energy per annum when they open in summer next year.
The two solar farms are located in the towns of Alliste and Collepasso in the province of Lecce in the Apulia region in the south east, forming the heel of Italy’s “boot”.The projects have been registered for the FER 1 Decree incentive, introduced by the Italian government in 2019 to incentivise the introduction of renewable energy. They have both secured an attractive incentive tariff (per MWh generated) which is fixed for 20 years.Enviromena has an office in Rome, which will support the company’s execution of its existing Italian portfolio and also enable the company to attract more business in Italy.Thefirm’s chief executive officer, Cabell Fisher, said: “These sites are tremendously exciting and they are important for us because they represent Enviromena’s first projects in Italy. Not only do they demonstrate our capability, but also our commitment to continuing the expansion of Enviromena’s presence into the broader European market.”Headded: “These sites form a small part of Enviromena’s much larger 250MW Italian pipeline of solar projects. I am proud of our team and our partner’s demonstrated ability to deliver large scale renewable energy solutions across the European continent.”Enviromena is one of the UK’s largest clean energy solutions companies and has more than 1.7 GW of active solar farms and battery energy storage systems in development and operation throughout the UK and Europe.
this is a government approved consumer protection scheme. Tours offered subject to availability and government guidelines. Errors and omissions excepted. Prices per person, based on two people sharing a double/twin room. Calls to 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply. LIVERPOOL’S River of Light BOSWORTH HALL Turkey & Tinsel Departing Sat 5 Nov ‘22 Your break includes Return coach travel from Reading Overnight stay at a selected 3 or 4-star hotel in the North West area with breakfast Free excursion to Liverpool’s River of Light Trail Free time in Liverpool Departing Mon 14 Nov ‘22 Your break includes Return coach travel from Reading 4 nights at the Bosworth Hall Hotel, near Market Bosworth with dinner & breakfast (includes traditional ‘Christmas’ dinner) Tea, coffee and mince pies on arrival 2 for 1 bar (6pm-9pm) on selected drinks After-dinner tea and coffee Light entertainment every evening Excursions to Stamford, Oakham & Lincoln WPR_2022-08-22_ReadingToday_16x4 (1)_Just Go 2 Days by Coach only £89 5 Days by Coach only £229 LiverpoolsRiverofLight_F.pdf Single Supplement £35 Single Supplement £60 or visit us online at justgoholidays.com/WPR 03332 342 527 Quote WPR 32 To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Organisers say that creating a session entirely for networking can give members time to introduce their business, explain the areas where they would appreciate some help, and explore ways they can grow.
n
Bowled over ... Wagamama to launch new recyclable takeaway containers
Host Debbie Winyard will invite business owners who register in advance to be considered for its Business Highlight Q&A slot. This will explore motivations for setting up a business, and how the company wishes to grow.The event takes place at Coffee #1 in the Crockhamwell Road shopping precinct from 8am on Tuesday, September 13. For more details, log on to: woodleybusinessclub.org.uk/https://
HOT STUFF: Wagamama’s new delivery bowls are made from recyclable materials Picture: Wagamama A BUSINESS group is preparing for its next meeting, and it will be different in format to its usualThegathering.September breakfast event from Woodley Business Club will be devoted to networking. The entire session, which starts at 8am and lasts for 90 minutes, is an opportunity for businesses and groups in the greater Woodley area to come together, share what they have been doing and what they are hoping to achieve.
years.beenmissionplasticstoresponsibilityHeierWagamama’sOctober.CEOThomassaidthecompanyhadtoitscustomersimplementthesechanges.“Reducingouruseofvirginisacomplicated–butonewehavededicatedtoforfourThishasbeendrivenby the belief that we needed do better for our guests, teams and the planet,” he said.
033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply. For more information, or to book, please call Reader travel justgoholsJGTravelGroup Operated by Just Go Holidays Ltd. Coach package holidays and short breaks are subject to Just Go! Holidays terms and conditions. Your booking is protected by Bonded Coach Holidays (BCH) and the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited
By DANIEL BLACKHAM dblackham@rdg.today
Showroom Opening Hours 9-3 Monday to Friday 10:30 2:30 on Saturdays Bedrooms, Home Offices, Media Units & Bespoke Furniture CMYCYMYCMYMCK blueprint_advert_190x137mm_TKT17746_advert-1-v02-PR.pdf 1 28/07/2022 15:38 To advertise, call 0118 327 2662Wednesday, August 24, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE 33
The Slug & Lettuce van handingwas out free ice cream at The Oracle on (left)DanielthanksSaturdaytoElsey StevePicture:Smyth
Malibu coconut rum, passionfruit purée and mango juice, and is finished with squirty cream. The Mag Yum fuses Smirnoff Red Label vodka, Disaronno Velvet cream liqueur and caramel syrup, and is finished with chocolate powder.
READING Buses has confirmed price increases on its services. The rise will come into place from Monday, September 5, and is the result of a “significant change” in the way some people work and shop, as well as the impact of inflation. Single fares will generally increase by 10-20p and return/day tickets by 30-40p. The flat single fare within Reading will be £2.30 on bus or £2.20 on the Reading Buses app. The day ticket within Reading will be £4.50 on bus or £4.30 on the app.Robert Williams, Reading Buses chief executive officer, said: “There has been a significant change in the way some people work and shop, which means that overall demand for bus services has changed. We need to adjust service levels accordingly.”MrWilliams said the fares increase is partly to help close the revenue shortfall left by the government funding coming to an end, and partly to reflect inflationary pressures on items such as vehicle components and fuel, and to fund a proposed pay increase for its Discountedemployees. Lower Caversham, short-hop and South Reading fares will be available for £1.20, £1.50 and £2.00 on bus.
VISITORS to The Oracle on Saturday were able to take advantage offer on another hot day. The Slug & Lettuce welcomed an ice cream van which handed out free treats to shoppers.Therestaurant chain has created some cocktails inspired by the popular dessert, and to celebrate, is currently on a national tour to spread the word about its glaces. In all, 500 ice creams were shared. The flavours included Tongue Twister, a lemon sorbet; Pornstar Ice Creamtini, made with ice cream and passionfruit sauce; and Slugero, ice cream with mango sauce. It wasn’t just ice cream. The first 30 in the queue received a goodie bag including a Beauty BLVD lipstick. They also gave away a QR code that can be redeemed for a free cocktail. The cocktails include a Slugero. This comprises a Havana Club 3-year-old rum,
n For more information, visit: readingbuses.co.uk
Email:
Ice cream cocktails from Slug and Lettuce DO THAT?:FLAKEWANTYOUAWITH
The bar is holding two special brunches to celebrate the cocktails. The first is on Sunday, while the second takes place on Saturday, September 28. n For more details, log on to: www. slugandlettuce.co.uk fitted furniture Address: Unit 12, Metro Centre, Toutley Road, Wokingham, RG41 1QW. Telephone: 0118 989 3438 www.blueprintfittedfurniture.co.uk enquiries@blueprintfittedfurniture.co.uk us at facebook.com/Blueprintfittedfurniture
Reading Buses confirms price increase
By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today
The simplyReading 7 day, easysaver10 and daysaver5 will increase by £1. Mr Williams added: “The weekly and daysaver5 prices were frozen at our last fares increase, so this is the first increase to these tickets since before the “Ticketspandemic.purchased on our app will continue to be cheaper than buying on bus or from the bus shop to help minimise the impact of the increase.”“Iappreciate that fare increases are never welcome news, but our fares in Reading will still represent excellent value for money and be some of the lowest in the country.”
Follow
“There were a lot of people very concerned about it for a huge number of reasons.” He said these included: “It’s incongruous, how out of place it would have been, and bad in terms of health. It also looked hideous.”Andthere was concern about potential harm to nearby trees.
By JAMES ALDRIDGE Local democracy reporter
Food surplus project ‘uncomfortable’ with Iceland’s interest-free loans
EXCLUSIVE By JI-MIN LEE jlee@rdg.today A COMMUNITY group has questioned a national supermarket’s approach to tackling the cost of living crisis. The Whitley Community Development Association (WCDA) expressed their concerns about Iceland’s Food Club initiative. It believes putting people on the backfoot immediately can have lasting effects heading into what will be a challenging winter for most. Users can apply for microloans of £25-100, which are repaid at a rate of £10 per week.In a post on WCDA social media channels, the group said it was ‘uncomfortable’ with the concept of people borrowing money to pay for food. A link to an explainer from The Guardian was accompanied by a caption, which said: “The people we are working with and supporting are already struggling to balance the books and many are already in debt. “With imminent cost of living increases, although this loan is interest-free, it will inevitably lead to more people getting into more debt.”
COST OF LIVING HELP?: Iceland’s Food Club scheme will see eligible individuals receive six interest-free loans of up to £100 throughout the year. The Whitley Community Development Association believes borrowing money is not a viable solution to combatting the cost of living crisis. Picture: Ji-Min Lee brand packaging revamped to show the most economical way to cook,.Thecompany will also offer discounted air fyers to make it easier for households to take advantage of the savings.
From the group’s experience, financial struggles are often a major trigger for anxiety and puts additional pressure on individuals who are already struggling.The online statement suggested that a more effective resolution would be to increase people’s income through increased wages or support. Iceland has partnered with lender Fair for You, who will conduct credit checks before allowingIceland’sloans.initiative has been trialled over the past year and a half through regional pilots amongst 5,000 households. According to a subsequent independent social impact report, 95% of users found the Food Club helpful, 92% ended or reduced their use of food banks and more than 80% were bangle to stop borrowing from high-cost loan sharks.
Reading Borough Council’s planning officers noted that Three had not conducted an assessment of the impact on trees.
There were also concerns the mast could impact drivers. “It was in a really bad place, that piece of land pr ovides a clear site line for Charlotte Close,” Mr Wigmore said. “Had the mast been put there, that would have gone“The area where they were proposing to put the mast is in a dip where there have been a few crashes – at least two where the fire services have had to be called and people taken to hospital.“Toput the mast there would have made it way more dangerous.”Threehas a right to appeal the refusal to the government’s planning inspectorate. “If they appealed I would be livid, it’s just not the right place for it,” Mr Wigmore said. “It’s quite clear they had not done their research about possible alternatives.“Therehas got to be better places to put it.” Ward councillors Paul Carnell and Isobel Ballsdon (both Conservative, Caversham Heights).CllrCarnell said: “Both Cllr Ballsdon and I were delighted that the application was rejected.“While we fully support the roll out of 5G technology which we believe vital for Reading’s future prosperity the applications must be sympathetic to their location.“We are particularlypleased for the residents who worked so hard for thatlocationexperienceCavershamtocompany,Hutchison,applicationlistenedobjectionsthatneighbourhoodtheirtheirweretoandthewasrefused.”AspokespersonforThree’sowningsaid:“Wewantofferthecommunityinareliablenetworkandasiteinthisiscriticaltomakinghappen.“Whilewetrytokeepmastsitesasunobtrusiveaspossible,theyneedtobesituatedwherepeoplewillbeusingtheserviceand,inmanycases,inpreciselocationstoensurethewidestbreadthofcoverage.“Weareconsideringthecouncil’sreasonsforrefusalandassessingouroptions.”
“We are very grateful to all our partners and donors who make it possible for us to do this.”The loans is not the only project the supermarket chain is helping with as the cost of living crisis bites. It has teamed up with Utilia to offer help in the kitchen. Its research suggests that families can save £604 per year at current energy rates. This would come from more energy efficient cooking methods, such as using a slow cooker or an air fryer rather than an oven. As part of Utilita’s national education programme, Iceland customers and all households will be invited to attend thousands of free workshops on the 15 ways to cut energy bills by hundreds each year, including five ways to save up to £604 when cooking. The Shop Smart, Cook Savvy campaign will see Iceland’s own
Paul Wigmore, who said the mast looked like it was something from HG Wells’ classic novel War of the Worlds, was relieved it had been turned down.The 54-year-old who lives in Kidmore Road, said: “It’s a bit of a relief to be honest. “It was a ridiculous proposal to have it put there, it was massively out of place and out of keeping with the area.
Richard Walker, Iceland’s Managing Director, said: “The cost of living crisis continues to be the biggest national issue facing consumers and as a private, family-run business, we’re constantly looking at both short, and long term initiatives that can offer any support. “Our ‘Shop Smart, Cook Savvy’ collaboration with Utilita is so important, as it shines a light on the relationship between what we buy and how much energy we use cooking it, helping to empower our customers and provide them with access to information that can help stretch their budgets further.”David Buttress, former CEO of Just Eat and New Cost of Living Business Tsar, said: “This is the type of consumer awareness campaign that will stick in our minds because it’s enabling every household to rethink the way we cook, which hasn’t been done before. “We are delighted to list both Utilita and Iceland as official Help for Household partners for their efforts in enabling and assisting consumers to make impactful savings that will make a big difference, whilereducing carbon emissions. “I am hopeful that other supermarkets will follow suit to help their consumers identify the cheapest way to cook.”
On hold: Call for phone mast on Caversham roadside rejected
DOES YOUR BUSINESS NEED A LICENCE? Visit www.nlamediaaccess.com to find out more DOING COPYRIGHT, RIGHT publisherspress...usescuttings......youneeda licence fromNLA media access If your organisation... Magazines Websites ...sends articles via email... Licence fees are paid back to publishers as royalties to help support journalism Supporting journalism UK publishers invest a year creating content like this newspaper £1 BILLION royaltiesNewspapers ...sharesonline...articles 34 To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, August 24, 2022
| NEWS
READING Borough Council has rejected a telecoms company’s call for a 5G phone mast to be installed in a Caversham road. Three wanted to build a 5G mast to improve connectivity for its customers in Kidmore Road, but 197 neighbours, plus local councillors, objected to it.
Whitley CDA community development lead Trisha Bennett said: “WCDA already sees, on a daily basis, people coming for support with food due to financial challenges. “We work closely with CommuniCare and Reading welfare rights to support people with debt. “It is the view of WCDA that loans, interest-free or not, are not the way to support people out of financial crisis and is likely to lead to a further spiral of debt for a growing number of people.”The post concluded by saying: “We will continue to provide our surplus food project and support our community. We will also be providing innovative projects that can make tangible differences.
Grade II listed building 49 South Street dates back to the 19th Century. It will be converted to a three double-bedroom home, with one an ensuite. The downstairs will have a kitchen/diner, lounge and toilet. Reading Borough Council’s planning department said there is a pressing need for new housing in the area and that the plan had a suitable amount of space and access to daylight for new occupants. The application, number 220091, can be seen on Reading Borough Council’s planning website.
A celebration of Oxford Road’s diverse voices goes on show
Cyrilene Tollafield-Small has lived on Oxford Road since 1965, arriving with the Windrush generation at the age of 11. She participated in the study and said: “Oxford Road offers accessibility to the practical needs of my life with a disability, including food sho[ps. “There are friendships with other immigrants in and around Oxford Road; they are like family.”The research project is in partnership with Reading Borough Council, Baker Street Productions, UNTOLD, Lifespring Church and Reading Museum.
And it was felt that TOCM Properties had failed to demonstrate how it would contribute to affordable housing or how the development would mitigate any flood risk. The application, number 220350, can be seen on Reading Borough Council’s planning website.
It is funded by the council, Historic England and the University of Reading. The exhibition is free and
A HEALTH club in Tilehurst is hoping to add to its facilities with four new padel tennis courts, and an office building. The Atrium Health Club in Scours Lane, has applied to Reading Borough Council for permission.Thecourts would be synthetic, have floodlighting and a canopy. These courts would replace the existing asphalt tennis court area. The plan also involves installing a double access gate, fence and a single storey shed to be used as an office. The application, number 220805, can be seen on Reading Borough Council’s planning SWALLOWFIELDwebsite.
OFFICES in Reading town centre will become a home following approval from Reading Borough Council’s planning department.
A PROPOSAL to build seven homes as a replacement for a warehouse has been rejected by Reading Borough Council’s planning department.Itwouldhave been in St John’s Road in Caversham.TOCMProperties Ltd had applied to knock down the warehouse, known as Onc House, and build six three-bed homes and one two-bedroom homes.Theplanning department felt the terraced houses would be out of keeping with the character of St John’s Road, with the development being judged as overbearing.
Plan to replace Caversham warehouse with homes rejected couldBillboardgodigital Office approvalconversion
@RdgToday @RdgToday www.rdg.today @readingtodaynews Safeguard local news. WEDO, Todonatetohelpat www.rdg.today/contribution Whoshares local charitynews? READING To advertise, call 0118 327 2662Wednesday, August 24, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE 35
EXCLUSIVE By JI-MIN LEE jlee@rdg.today AN EXHIBITION showcasing the stories of one of Reading’s most diverse streets is now available for visitors to enjoy. Lifespring Stories - An Oxford Road Project, is open at The Turbine House Riverside Museum at Blake’s Lock. With over 70 languages spoken by its residents, Oxford Road is affectionately known as being ‘like the United Nations’. The rich and colourful culture of the space and its surrounding area will be portrayed through multimedia designs. It is a Reading Borough Council High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) project. Led by the University of Reading’s Prof Sally LloydEvans, the Oxford Road Project: Reimagining the High Street Through Your Stories used participatory action research to highlight the history of the community.CllrAlice Mpofu-Coles, Robyn Woronka and Toby Barlow conducted interviews with residents and also collated photographs and anecdotes to create an online exhibition for Reading Museum, telling the story of the street. Three local artists were commissioned to create artwork inspired by these tales, highlighting how generations past and present have moulded the culture and heritage of Oxford Road. The project looks to strengthen Reading’s community networks and the relationship between residents, local organisations, researchers and the arts sector.
Picture: Alice Mpofu-Coles is available to enjoy between Friday, August 19, and Monday, September 5. n www.readingmuseum.org.uk
Padel courtstennisproposalShowreturns
Show returns this weekend, offering a range of family friendly activities. It will be held at Swallowfield Park on Sunday and bank holiday Monday. The event is organised by the Swallowfield Horticultural Society, and includes several harvest-themed contests. There will also be arena shows, stalls to explore, and activities for all ages. Entry is 10am to 5.30pm, and costs £10 per adult. Chidlren go free. Tickets can be purchased in advance online. n For more details, log on to: www.swallowfieldshow.co.uk
THE SIGHT of bill posters being stuck to a board by a man up a ladder could be the thing of the past if Reading Borough Council’s planning department approve an application.JCDecaux wants to replace an existing board with a digital advertising screen in Whitley. It is located at the junction, of Elgar Road South and Basingstoke Road. A recent advert at this junction was used for a republican campaign calling for an end to the monarchy.Theapplication, number 221158, can be seen on Reading Borough Council’s planning website.
Lifespring Stories - An Oxford Road Project will showcase stories from the street’s past and present.
AFTER a short hiatus, Progress Theatre kicks off its brand new season with a production of Jeeves and Wooster. From Friday, September 2, P.G. Woodhouse’s classic duo will be brought to the stage in PerfectBasedNonsense.onthenovel
| NEWS Find out more at PORawards.co.uk @PORawards #PORawards PEOPLE OF OUR TOWN WHO MAKE READIN G A UNIQUE PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK A CELEBRATION OF THE EXCEPTIONA L 2022 Nominatenow! 36 To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, August 24, 2022
THE NEXT phase of the Elizabeth Line has been announced, with trains commencing from Sunday, November 6. Sunday services will begin, bringing the line up to seven days a week for the first time. It will also see the Reading line, as well as those to Heathrow and Shenfield, connected to the central tunnels of the Elizabeth Line.This means customers will be able to travel from Reading or Heathrow through to Abbey Wood without changing at Paddington.Aheadof the changes, extended opening hours will run on the Elizabeth line between Paddington and Abbey Wood from around 5.30am-11pm from Monday, September 5. The final timetable, bringing full end-to-end journeys and up to 24 trains per hour during the peak between Paddington and Whitechapel, is on track to b e in place by May 2023.
A brand-new Bond Street Elizabeth line station in the West End is also set to open by November.GWRregional growth manager Edward Goose said: “We know the Elizabeth line has proved extremely popular with GWR customers who have taken advantage of significant journey-time savings from Paddington into key parts of the“Thiscity. announcement for the next phase on November 6 is incredibly exciting, delivering even greater connectivity and – with services commencing on Sundays – greater flexibility for our leisure customers visiting the capital at weekends.“Theopening of the new Bond Street station will also be great news, taking passengers to the heart of one of the busiest shopping districts in the UK. “This will help to make travel on GWR services into the capital even more compelling, attracting new customers across our network and boosting demand as we continue to work to attract customers back to the railway.”
A READING actor has produced and starred in a new musical horror film which will see its world debut at FrightFest on Monday, August 29. Charlie Bond, of Reading, will be among those in the cast and crew attending the international film festival for the premier screening of Powertool Cheerleaders VS the Boyband of the Screeching Dead.The film was launched as a group-funded project on Kickstarter in October 2020, and became the most popular horror-based projects within threeThedays.project was funded in under a month, exceeding its goal of £25,000 by November 11, 2020.Ms Bond, who has performed as an actor for more than 15 years, said that her previous work with the film’s writer and director Pat Higgins meant she was keen to collaborate on the project.“Versus movies have been around for a long time,” She said, “and I did a movie 11 years ago, now, called Strippers vs Werewolves.“SoI’dworked on this film with the writer, Pat Higgins, and the script writing that this he produces is phenomenal– he’s ingenious.”MsBond co-runs a production company, Deadlocked Entertainment, and was looking to take on a project when she saw that Mr Higgins had reached out on social media.“He popped out a tweet saying ‘I’m floating some of my my stupid script ideas from the past 10 years, and one of them which I don’t think is going to make the cut is Powertool Cheerleaders VS the Boyband of the Screeching Dead.’ “I saw that and it was right place, right time for me –something fired up in my head and I said ‘Pat, you have to let me produce that.’ “I’ve been an actress for 15 years professionally, working in production, in film logistics, I love project management, and I decided I wanted to produce. “And stupidly,” she joked, “he agreed.”Thefilm follows a troupe of cheerleaders who, on the eve of a TV talent show appearance, come face-to-face with a newlyzombified rival boyband and must save the show. As well as producing the feature, Ms Bond plays the lead role of Emily, who she describes as “gutsy and endearing.”
“We took on this absolute mammoth, and we leaned in fully to all the silliness of this mad script that was also full of character, and real people instead of typical tropes. “Suddenly the idea of what if we made a musical – Pat had some fantastic songs already, which he passed over to the wonderful composer Phil Sheldon and musical director James“TheyHamilton.thenproduced some of the most catchy horror musical songs anyone’s heard since that BuffySheepisode.”said also that the film’s title was a particularly deliberate choice: “It’s designed to be provocative, it’s designed to make you go ‘oh it’s one of those movies’ and to appeal to a certain genre, “We want people to be surprised by how much they fall in love with the characters
Progress is Perfect Nonsense
Reading-based actor and producer set to premiere film at FrightFest JAKE CLOTHIER jclothier@rdg.today
Next Phase of Elizabeth Line set for November
The Code of the Woosters, and adapted byDavid and Robert Goodale, it follows Bertie Wooster as he stages a one-man show telling of his recent experiences at Totleigh Towers country house. He finds that he may need some help, however, and his valet, Jeeves, and Aunt Dahlia’s butler, Seppings, watch on as the week’s events unfold, including a lost policeman’s helmet, a wedding in the balance, and a silver cow creamer.Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense has won an Olivier award for its 2014 production, which saw Stephen Mangan and Matthew Macfadyen portray Jeeves and WoosterProgress’srespectively.production will star Dan Clarke as Wooster, Owen Goode as Jeeves, and Jeremy Radburne as Seppings, with Laura Mills directing. Performances begin at 7.45pm on weekdays and Saturdays, with a 2.30pm matinee performance on Saturdays, and no performances on Sundays. Progress Theatre will stage a ‘relaxed’ performance on Monday, September 5. It also hosts ‘come as you are’ and attendingmayperformancessocially-distancedforthosewhousuallyfeeluncomfortablethetheatre. n For more information, www.progresstheatre.co.ukvisit:
EXCLUSIVE By
PREMIERE: Powertool Cheerleaders VS the Boyband of the Screeching Dead will make its debut screening at FrightFest 2022 in Leicester Square on Monday, August 29, at 6.30pm. Picture: Courtesy of Charlie Bond and the music, and we wanted to make a film that defied expectations.“It’sgotthe shlock and the gore – it has to – but it’s gleeful in a way that this genre can offer.”Representation of female characters within the genre was also an important aspect of the feature’s production. “I’ve seen a lot of films, especially as a younger woman, where I think ‘that’s not a real woman, that’s not a character I vibe“Sowith.we wanted to create that representation for women, where we are an absolute underdog crew of cheerleaders, all from different backgrounds, all different ages, all walks of life.“It was really important to showThethat.”film is set to premier at FrightFest film festival taking place in Leicester Square, London, which will see five days of screenings and celebration of horrorPowertoolcinema. Cheerleaders VS the Boyband of the Screeching Dead will debut at 101 Films Discovery Screen 2, taking the headline screening slot at 6.30pm on the final day of the festival, Monday, August 9. Written and directed by Pat Higgins, the film stars James Hamer-Morton, Megan Rose, Carrie Thompson, Elizabeth Soutar, Faith Elizabeth, and Justin Chinyere alongside producer Charlie Bond. n Tickets to the screening can be purchased via: frightfest. nuwebgroup.com
WorcesterObserver Folkestone&FranceWeekend_D.pdf LiverpoolsRiverofLight_D.pdf Single
Supplement
03332 342 527 Quote WPR To advertise, call 0118 327 2662Wednesday, August 24, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE 37
IN THE COMMUNITY
LIVERPOOL’S River of Light
Your break includes Return coach travel and ferry crossings from Reading 3 nights at the Grand Burstin Hotel, Folkestone with dinner & breakfast Entertainment every evening Excursion to Boulogne-sur-Mer & Canterbury
The event organisers intent to return next year for a bigger and better event
Reader travel
FOLKESTONE & France Weekend
Departing Sat 5 Nov ‘22 Witness this spectacular outdoor art gallery as it returns for another year to illuminate Liverpool’s waterfront. Clever, inspiring, colourful – this is fun, thought-provoking art for all members of the family to enjoy. Your break includes Return coach travel from Reading & Slough Overnight stay at a selected 3 or 4-star hotel in the North West area with breakfast Free excursion to Liverpool’s River of Light Trail Free time in Liverpool 4 Days by Coach only £174.99 2 Days by Coach only £89 Supplement £45 Single £35 or visit justgoholidays.com/WPR
Many of the riders wore the colours of the Tiranga, the Indian flag
Indian community celebrates 75th year of independence
SEPTEMBER is a busy month for the British Modern Military History Society, which will be holding meetings online and in Woodcote Village Hall. The community group explores moments in time to help people’s understanding of them. The first is on Tuesday, September 6, starting at 7.30pm.
A GROUP from one of Reading’s largest ethnic groups took to the streets to mark a significant date in their calendar. India celebrated 75 years of independence on Monday, August 15, with residents organising a mass bike ride to commemorate the landmark occasion. More than 100 cyclists young and old took to the streets of the town dressed in green, white and orange, the colours of the Indian flag. Commonly known as the Tiranga, the Hindi word for tricolour, the flag set the theme of the event, which was aptly named the Tiranga Ride. Starting at the University of Reading’s Whiteknights campus, the group made their way across the grounds and through the streets of Earley.They completed the ride at Carnival Fields Park in Maiden Place, where over 200 spectators greeted them waving Indian flags and singing traditional songs. On this day in 1947, India secured independence from the United Kingdom. The nation had been under the control of the British Crown since 1958. The event was organised by Ritesh Nigam, who was keen to celebrate the occasion. He said: “India’s independence day celebration recognises the importance of freedom, freedom to live, love, express our thoughts and freedom to have a free mind and move“Withforward.many people settling in our community from Hong Kong and unfortunately displaced from Ukraine and Afghanistan, the importance of freedom can’t be stressed more. “As we celebrate India’s 75th year of independence and those celebrating Pakistan’s independence day, the message is loud and clear: there is light at the end of the tunnel, that’s where freedom awaits.” A rousing rendition of the Indian national anthem and other patriotic songs brought the evening to a close.Visitors went home inspired and proud of their heritage and the achievements of those who came before.
Paul Knight will give a talk on Zoom on the theme The Mesopotamia Campaign in the First World War. If the Mesopotamia Campaign is known for one thing, it is the disastrous Siege of Kut: all other military activities in the Middle East being dominated by Gallipoli and the Arab Revolt. Yet either side of Kut were a series of incredibly successful campaigns.Toregister for Zoom talks email info@bmmhs.orgAdonationof£5 is requested to coverThecosts.second is on Wednesday, September 14, again at 7.30pm but this time in person. It see Robin Brodhurst speak on Dudley Pound and the decision to scatter convoy PQ17 – July 1942. Convoy PQ17 is among the most famous disasters of the Second World War, and has usually been attributed to a poor decision by the First Sea Lord, Dudley Pound.Dudley Pound is not often defended, but the speaker will do his best to do so. Entry £8, which includes your entry ticket to the talk, a question and answer session and refreshments, including beer, wine, and soft drinks. Space is limited and advance booking is required, with payment, although it is possible to pay on the door.
n For details, or to reserve a place, email: info@bmmhs.org, or log on to: www.bmmhs.org
By JI-MIN LEE jlee@rdg.today
EXCLUSIVE
Pictures: Ritesh Nigam The cyclists started their journey in the University of Reading, before making their way through the streets of Earley, before finishing at Carnival Fields Park in Maiden Place
Modern military history society plans new talks
Over 100 cyclists of all ages took part in the Tiranga Ride, which marked India’s 75th year of indepedence.
Departing Fri 21 Oct ‘22
The organisers shared their heartfelt gratitude towards all those who participated in what they described as ‘an unforgettable evening’. They have promised to return next year with a bigger and better event.
We venture across the Channel to the pretty French seaside town of Boulogne-sur-Mer, with its domed cathedral and attractive medieval quarter and visit beautiful Canterbury, one of the most important cathedral cities in England for a lovely weekend break.
033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply. For more information, or to book, please call Operated by Just Go Holidays Ltd. Coach package holidays and short breaks are subject to Just Go! Holidays terms and conditions. Your booking is protected by Bonded Coach Holidays (BCH) and the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT); this is a government approved consumer protection scheme. Tours offered subject to availability and government guidelines. Errors and omissions excepted. Prices per person, based on two people sharing a double/twin room. Calls to 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply.
PUBLICNOTICES PUBLICNOTICE LICENSINGACT2003PUBLICNOTICE NoticeisherebygiventhatweNiyisLTDappliedon 11/08/2022toReadingBoroughCouncilinrespectof thepremisesknownasUnit8,SentinelEnd,Reading, RG20BFforthegrantofapremiseslicenceforthe following: UndertheprovisionsofLicensingAct2003(Premises Licences&ClubPremisesCertificates)Regulations 2005theabovenamedpersonhasappliedforthe GRANTofthepremiseslicence. Anypersonwishingtoviewthisapplicationmaydoso atReadingBoroughCouncilbypriorarrangement betweenthehoursof9amto5pmpleasering 0118 9373762 tomakeanappointmentorviaemailto licensing@reading.gov.uk Anypersonwishingtomakerepresentationtothis applicationmustdosoinwritingwithin28daysofthe application,asdetailedaboveto:ReadingBorough Council,LicensingSection,CivicOffices,BridgeStreet, Reading,RG12LU.Nowrittenrepresentationswill havepersonaldetailsremovedunlessthelicensing authoritydeemsitappropriatetodoso. Anyrequestforpersonaldetailstoberemovedshould benotifiedtotheLicensingAuthorityatthetimeof makingtherepresentation.Itisanoffenceto knowinglyorrecklesslymakeafalsestatementin connectionwithanapplication,themaximumfinefor doingsouponsummaryconvictionisunlimited. Dated:24thAugust2022 Listoflicensable activities Days Hours Thesaleorsupply ofalcohol(offsales) Monday-Sunday 00:00-23:59 PUBLICNOTICE LICENSINGACT2003PUBLICNOTICE NOTICEISHEREBYgiventhatwe,AvilahFoodslimited appliedon09/08/2022toreadingboroughcouncilin respectofthepremisesknownas:Avilah535oxford roadreading.RG301HJ ForthegrantofaPremisesLicenseforthefollowing: 1.OnpremisessalesofAlcohol6Days14:00to23:00 2.OpeningHours6daysMonday–Thursday16:00 to23:00,Friday–Saturday14:00–23:00 UndertheprovisionsofLicensingAct2003(Premises Licences&ClubPremises Certificates)Regulations2005theabove-named personhasappliedfortheGRANTofthepremises licenceorclubpremisescertificate. Anypersonwishingtoviewthisapplicationmaydoso atReadingBoroughCouncilbypriorarrangement betweenthehoursof9amto5pmpleasering0118937 3762tomakeanappointmentorviaemailto licensing@reading.gov.uk Anypersonwishingtomakerepresentationtothis applicationmustdosoinwritingwithin28 daysoftheapplication,asdetailedaboveto:Reading BoroughCouncil,LicensingSection,CivicOffices, BridgeStreet,Reading,RG12LU.Nowritten representationswillhavepersonaldetailsremoved unlessthelicensingauthoritydeemsitappropriateto doso.Anyrequestforpersonaldetailstoberemoved shouldbenotifiedtotheLicensingAuthorityatthe timeofmakingtherepresentation. Dated:24thAugust2022 RECRUITMENT THE ROLES HAVE A SALARY COMMISSION BONUSES & PENSION) M E D I A S A L E S P E O P L E > I wish I could choose what days I work (You can!) > I wish I could choose my hours (You can!) > I wish I could choose if/when to go to the office (You can!) > I wish I could choose the home/office/patch split. (You can!) > I wish I could have a job where I’m in control. (You can!) > I wish I could have a job where I’m paid properly for my results (You can!) WE ARE GROWING THE TEAM IN READING Havingaclearout?Whynotturnyourtreasureintocashwith ourfreeadverts?Sellyouritemswithoutanyfeewiththeaidof thiscoupon.Items* valuedatupto£250canbesoldinthese columnsforfree!Simplysendusthe details–maximumof30 words–andpostoremailitandwe’lldotherest Category: Writeyouradvertintheboxbelow,onewordperbox.Maximum30words. SendyourformtoFreeads,ReadingToday,231KingsRoad,ReadingRG14LS Sellyourgoodswithafree advertforitemsunder£250 YourName: PhoneNumber: Sellyouritemsforfree PASSIONATE ABOUT FOOD & DRINK? LOOKING FOR A PERMANENT PART TIME OPPORTUNITY IN A UNIQUE ROLE? RESPONSIBILITIES: • Working individually and within a team to evaluate food drink & personal care products ranging such as chocolate, alcohol, meat shampoo skin care or electr cal toothbrush products You will be taught how to describe accurately any products as a group (relating to taste, appearance texture and smell) and then individual y assess them REQUIREMENTS: You must not have any dietary restrictions ( e g vegetarian) and be happy to evaluate alcohol products when required • You must not have any food intolerances/allergies • You should have the abi ity to follow detailed instructions and complete rout ne tasks quickly and accurately • You have the ability to articulate yourselves in fluent English in front of others If you are interested in applying, please email j mccall@mmrresearch com Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview/screening session which will take place in our facilities Classifieds Get your business seen! Email: advertising@rdg.today READING TODAY Forthe latest newsvisit 38 To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, August 24, 2022
PAINTING&DECORATINGROOFINGSPECIALISTSGOODSWANTED TVAERIAL&SATELLITE HEALTH,FITNESS ANDWELLBEING BUSINESS DIRECTORY ACCOUNTANCY RECYCLING REMOVALSKITCHENDESIGN&INSTALLATIONPHOTOGRAPHER TREESURGEONS NEWROOFS•ROOFREPAIRS•FLATROOFSREPOINTING FACIASSOFFITSANDGUTTERINGEXPAINTING Email: goldstarroofingandbuilding@gmail.com www.goldstarroofingandbuilding.co.uk • NOJOBTOSMALL • Freeestimatesandadvice • allworkguaranteed Tel: 01183216558 Mob: 07459815365 To advertise, call 0118 327 2662Wednesday, August 24, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE 39
CONSERVATORIES&ORANGERIES &EXTENSIONSSOLIDROOFSWINDOWS&DOORS TradeMark have been proudly providing local homeowners with quality home improvements for over 25 years. SHOWROOM OPEN FOR PRIVATE APPOINTMENTS –ALLOWING YOU TO ‘TALK TO AN EXPERT’. TEL: 0800 30 50 WWW.TRADEMARKWINDOWS.CO.UK30 Summer SALE ‘TALK TO AN SHOWROOMEXPERT’OPENFORPRIVATEAPPOINTMENTS plus... RECEIVE £1,000 CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS YOUR NEW LIVING SPACE OR £500 FOR WINDOWS & DOORS Published by The Wokingham Paper Ltd, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS. Printed at Reach Watford © The Wokingham Paper Ltd, 2022
Great, Scott …
Comic’s greatest hits are on their way
IF THERE’S one thing Scott Bennett wants to do it’s make you laugh, particularly given everything that’s been going on. Being back on the road this autumn is something that is as much for his benefit as much as his audiences. “Coming out the other side, it feels a little bit like a celebration that everyone’s collectively been through something that’s affected us. I feel very sort of proud to be doing comedy and to be giving people the light relief they need,” he says. Scott is no stranger to making people laugh during dark times. Across lockdowns, he created the online show Stand Up From The Shed, a weekly topical show live-streamed from his garden shed. It attracted more than 150,000 views from people looking for a laugh.“I’ve always loved comedy, but I didn’t realise just how much I valued it for my own mental health, and for other people as well,” he says. “It was a real eye-opener just how much people relied on a moment of escapism during what was going on.”
“But what tends to happen is that I’ll go into a gig and something magical will happen. That’s the reason why I’m doing it. As long as you have those moments where you can stay creative, I think that’s when you can maintain that lifestyle.”Andthis is part of the thinking behind the show, which will be in Reading on Thursday, October 22. “I really like doing Reading,” he says. “I’ve done a few gigs there over the years and I think audiences have always been great – very comedy savvy at that Just The Tonic venue. “It’s in a good spot, you get a real eclectic mix of audience members there and I’m a real fan of the area as well. It’s not London, it’s metropolitan, with its own sort of little identity. “I’m really looking forward to having the chance to do a longer set and give people a great night out.” The show, he says, will help people through the next crisis. “There’s a lot of real-world problems going on, everyone has been through so much. It does feel we’ve been in a constant state of misery and anxiety for the best part of three or four years.
“I have a crisis of confidence all the time, if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be normal,” he says. “Some weeks I think this isn’t going anywhere, I’ve got responsibilities…“Thereisaglamorous side, a romance to it, but there’s a reality too – paying the bills, being a father and husband.
LEISURETODAY 22.08.22 Your guide to what’s on across Reading and Wokingham
n For more on Scott or to book tickets, log on to: www.scottbennettcomedy. co.uk n Scott performs at Just The Tonic, in Sub89, on Thursday, October 22. Tickets cost £16.50 and the show starts at 7.30pm. For more details, or to book, log on to: www.justthetonic.com
“It’s a greatest hits tour, it’s not a new show, this is me doing my favourite bits of stand-up from the last nine years.“Ilove performing it and hopefully audiences will enjoy and love listening to it.”
PHIL CREIGHTON
Scott doesn’t just write for his own sets, he also creates gags for other comics. Does he find it hard to let go once the jokes are ready to be handed over? “If you like writing comedy, and you understand the rules of comedy, enjoy words and languages, I think writing anything is joyful, even if it isn’t for yourself,” he says. “When you’re writing for another person’s voice, it’s always slightly different.
“Writing for someone else does keep you sharp and keep that muscle going, it’s a fantastic thing to do.” There are days when Scott worries he’s not cut out for the job.
The Shed show “feels like a different life” now he confesses, two years on. “It feels like it was so long ago”. He says it also had the benefit of seeing him reach a new audience. “It started off as a way of coping and feeling like I was being productive and not sitting in the house losing my mind and panicking. In the end, it actually have me a purpose and a focus to continue.”
“Some days, it’s a really hard way to make a living. It does seem very easy – you’re on stage for 20 minutes. The actual reality is the pressure, everything’s on the line all the time, it’s always judged.” It can feel like a treadmill, not helped by the rise of people posting jokes and videos on social media.
Scott thinks that this is now the greatest time to be a comedian, touring the country and meeting new audiences. “We’ve come from one crisis to the next, so it does feel like we’re actually keyworkers in a weird way,” he says. “Not at state level, obviously, not like theInstead,NHS.” he means that people need a laugh. “Live audiences, it’s in that instant, that moment – nothing can compare with that really,” he adds.
“I’ve written for people bigger than me or doing arena tours. I try and get into their head and their lives and their different to me, so it’s still their experience.“ThebitI love doing is to bring my skill … the punchlines and getting the imagery right.
“The only thing we can do is switch our heads off for an hour-and-a-half and come along and see me. There’s no bad bits, no reflecting, no moments of drama. Just sit back and enjoy some really funy, relatable stand-up that allows you to laugh and forget things for a Hebit.”smiles: “That’s what I’m aiming to do really. Just bring people into my world and leave them laughing, saying that was the best night out we’ve had in ages.” He knows the material inside out as it’s some of his favourite stand-up moments from time past.
A NIGHT of jazz is promised with Dominic Ashworth playing guitar. The Canadian born musician has worked with Carol Kidd, Jacqui Dankworth, Dave Cliff, Julian Stringle’s Pathfinder, the Mick Foster Group and Michael Garrick’s Big Band & Quartet. Dominic is also a composer and has written and recorded many original works for radio and television. Jazz fans can hear him at Bracknell’s South Hill Park on Friday, September 2. The event begins at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £16, or £8 for under 18s. n For tickets and information log on to: www.southhillpark.org.uk or call the box office on: 0134 448 4123. Carrie reimagined as a musical CARRIE, the Musical brings a gripping tale based on Stephen King’s classic novel. This gory, graphic story describes the horrible things people do to each other. Carrie doesn’t fit in anywhere. At school, she is a bullied outcast, tormented or just invisible. At home, her dominating mother controls her life. But when Carrie discovers that she has unexpected power, everything will change… Three Dot Theatre brings this tale to South Hill Park’s Studio Theatre. The event runs from Monday, August 29 through to Saturday, September 3. Evening performances each night take place at 7.15pm, with a Saturday matinee at 2pm.Tickets cost £12.50, members tickets cost £9, students cost £10. Monday evening tickets cost £6. n For tickets and information log on to: www.southhillpark.org.uk or call the box office on: 0134 448 4123
A decade decepitudeof JENNY Eclair’s warm up tour, Sixty! takes her to TheGuildford.Englishcomedienne, novelist and actress is best known for her roles in Grumpy Old Women between 2004 and 2007, and in loose women in 2011.She ‘confronts a new decade of decrepitude’ and finds things to laugh about. She describes the joys of form filling and endless scrolling, and wonders if she should celebrate or crawl into a hole. Audiences can join Jenny to share the joys of growing old atThe Yvonne Arnaud TheatreTheevent takes place on Saturday, September 3 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £23. n For tickets and information visit: yvonne-arnaud.co.uk or call the box office on: 0148 344 0000 Final chance to see Whistle Down The Wind
NEXT SHOW: A Bunch of Amateurs. Thurs Sept 8-Sat Sept 17. Wokingham – The Whitty Theatre 0118www.thewhittytheatre.org9743247
A desperate plan is quietly hatched… Based on Stephen King’s 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, this stage production examines desperation, injustice, friendship and hope behind the claustrophobic bars of a maximum security facility.
Bracknell – South Hill Park 01344www.southhillpark.org.uk484123
Voice,
Circus Skills with Patches. Sat 27. The Musical Hour. Sat 3. Guildford –Yvonne Arnaud 01483www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk440000
NEXT SHOW: Lunchtime Organ Recital. Mon Sept 5. Brindley Sherratt. Sep 10. Reading Progress–Theatre 0118www.progresstheatre.co.uk3842195 Jeeves and Wooster. Sept 2-10. Reading –Reading Rep Theatre 0118www.readingrep.com3702620
NEXT SHOW: Teechers. Sept 27-Oct 1.
NEXT SHOW: Funny Money. Thurs Sept 8-Nov 5. Windsor –Theatre Royal 01753www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk853888 Dial M For Murder. Until Sat 27. The Shawshank Redemption. Wed 31-Sept 10. Wokingham – Theatre 0118www.wokinghamtheatre.org.uk9785363
GLITTERING costumes, energetic dance routines and motown music can be expected to thrill at Reading’s Hexagon Theatre.Thistribute show brings to life the style and the music that captured the hearts of listeners in the 1960s and early 1970s.The Magic of Motown brings classics from artists such as, Marvine Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Supremes, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves, The Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson, and many more. The event takes place at The Hexagon Theatre, Queen Walk, on Saturday, September 3. Tickets cost £32, concessions cost £30. n For tickets and information visit: whatsonreading.com or call the box office: 0118 960 6060 Evening of music will suit jazz fans
AS WHISTLE Down The Wind draws to a close, it’s the last chance to see this production.Withmusic by the famous musical impresario, it’s a story about growing up on a rural farm in 1950s Deep South of America.Thecivil rights movement is growing and the golden age of television has begun, when a teenager discovers a man hiding in the family barn and mistakes him for FantasyJesus.and reality collide in this story about what it means to grow up. The production continues until Saturday, September 10, with the exception of Sundays. Evening performances start at 7.30pm, with Wednesday and Saturday matinées at 2.30pm There will be two additional matinées on Thursday, August 25 and Thursday, September 1 at 2.30pm. Tickets cost from £15 depending on seating.
n For tickets and information visit: www. watermill.org.uk/ or call the box office: 01635 46044 The train now arriving THE RAILWAY Children Return is now in cinemas.Thestory concerns three siblings who are evacuated from a big city to a small Yorkshire village during the Second WorldTheyWar.encounter a young soldier who, like them, is far away from home. Based on the E. Nesbit novel, this is a fond sequel to the original 1970 film. Showings are on Friday, August 26 at 2.30pm, and on Sunday, August 28 at 11.30am.Tickets cost £7.70 to £9.70, concessions cost £6.20 to £8.20, a family ticket costs £22 to £30 (1 adult, 2 children).
SOPRANO singer Poppy Shotts, will join St John’s Ensemble to perform in the last of Norden Farm’s Significantly Beethoven series.The programme includes Haydn’s Piano Trio in G (Gypsy Rondo), Schubert’s The Shepherd on the Rock, Beethoven’s Violin Sonata in D, Op.12 No.1, and his Allegretto for piano trio in B flat. Concertgoers will also hear Schubert’s And dem wasser au singer; An die Musik ; Du bist die Ruh, and Mozart’s Piano Quartet in E flat, K.493. The event takes place in Norden Farm’s Courtyard Theatre, and will also be live streamed for viewing at home. The concert is on Wednesday, September 7 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £18, and £5 for under 18 year olds. n For tickets, live stream tickets, and information log on to: norden.farm or call the box office on: 01628 788977. Enjoy a celebration of Motown music
NEXT SHOW: Our House. Fri Sept 30-Sat Oct 1, Thurs Oct 6-Sat Oct 8. Sonning –The Mill 0118www.millatsonning.com9698000 Still Life. Until Sat 27.
AT THE THEATRE
The play takes place at The Theatre Royal in Windsor from Wednesday, August 31 through to Saturday, September 10. Evening performances, every night except Sunday, start at 7.30pm. Matinees on Thursdays and Saturdays start at 2.30pm. Tickets cost from £23.50. n For tickets and information log on to: www.theatreroyalwindsor. co.uk or call the box office on: 01753 853888.
NEXT SHOW: Black Is The Colour Of My a inspired Sept The Watermill 01635www.watermill.org.uk46044 Down The Wind. Fri 22-Sep 10 –South Street 0118www.whatsonreading.com9606060
by Nina Simone. Wed
| LEISURE
Live Music on the Terrace. Sun 28. Princess Singalong. Mon 29. Carrie: The Musical. Tues 30Sat 3. Bracknell Jazz: Dominic Ashworth. Fri 2. FILMS: Joyride. Thurs 26-Sun 28. Andre Rieu’s 2022 Maastricht Concert. Sat 27-Sun 28. Hit The Road. Mon 29-Tues 30. The Bad Guys. Wed 31-Sun 4. Eric Ravilious: Drawn To Ward. Wed 31. Camberley – Theatre 01276www.camberleytheatre.biz707600
7. Newbury –
n For tickets and information log on to: https://cornexchangenew.com/ or call the box office on: 0845 521 8218. Afro roots and grooves
Beethoven celebration with soprano Poppy
Greatest Songs From The Movies. Fri 9. Maidenhead –Norden Farm 01628www.nordenfarm.org788997 A
NEXT SHOW: The Magic of Motown. Sat 3. Reading –Concert Hall 0118www.whatsonreading.com9606060
BAND TwoManTing, drummer Jah-man Aggrey and guitarist Jon Lewis, perform at the Castle Tap. Their latest album, Rhymes with Orange, draws on a range of sounds from 1970s Sierra Leone to 1980s UK punk through to the Soukous beats of the Congo.The pair promise sunshine afro roots and a Trinidadian vibe that says palm wine, acoustic dub and highlife grooves.Lyrics on subjects ranging from childhood memories, political protest and duvets, and a danceable full band sound has earned them appeares on BBC Radio 3 andThe6Music.eventtakes place on Friday, September 2 at 8pm. Entry to the Castle Tap pub, Castle Street, Reading is free.
Jenny Eclair: Sixty (FFS). Sat 3. High Wycombe –Wycombe Swan 01494www.wycombeswan.co.uk512000
Voodoo Room:
NEXT SHOW: Rowan Reingans: Dispatches on the Red Dress. Thurs Sept 8. Reading –The Hexagon 0118www.whatsonreading.com9606060
NEXT SHOW: Jekyll and Hyde. Oct 10-29. Shinfield –Shinfield Players www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk 0118 975 8880
Reading
n For more information log on to: www. Whatsonreading.com
THE Shawshank Redemption stars TV actor Joe Absolom (EastEnders) and Ben Onwukwe (leading actor with the RSC and Royal Court Theatre. Set in a maximum security facility, it tells the story of a prisoner serving a double life sentence for the brutal murder of his wife and her lover. He quickly learns that no one can survive alone, and protesting his innocence, strikes up a friendship with the prison fixer. Then the warden decides to bully him and exploit his talents for accountancy.
14 To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, August 24, 2022
The 1994 feature film starred Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman and was nominated for seven Academy Awards.
NEXT SHOW:
NEXT SHOW: Luckley Lectures: Alex Hibbert. Thurs 8. Woodley – Theatre 07488337838www.woodleytheatre.org
show
Night of Hendrix, Clapton and Cream. Thurs 25. Where The Crawdads Sing (15). Thurs 25. Kite Making Workshops. Thurs 25. Kite Festival. Sun 4. Newbury –The Corn Exchange 0845www.cornexchangenew.com5218218
Whistle
Whitney Queen of the night. Fri 2. Islands In The Stream. Sat 3. Afternoon tea nad Tour. Sun 4. UK Pink Floyd Experience. Sun 4. Henley – Kenton 01491www.kentontheatre.co.uk525050 Kenton Summer Roadshow 2022: Rapunzel. Fri 27.
Reading’s own Dan D’Lion has been making considerable waves in the music scene since he dropped his first EP, BETTERMAN, in 2019. His personal, introspective style is difficult to pin down, it seems by design. While there are clear soul and electrofunk influences, his approach seems to follow its own direction with a confidence and assurance that usually comes from somebody with more than a decade of songwriting experience. He was also recently ear-marked by Reading’s Indie Rock royalty The Amazons, who were spotted at his recent gig at the Purple Turtle. Dan D’Lion is definitely one to watch. He is playing the BBC Introducing stage at 8.30pm on Friday, August 26. Glass Animals have come through a lot to find themselves where they are, which is on the precipice of pop royalty. The band’s first album, 2014’s Zaba, is a heady, psychedelic mix of unusual instrumentation and intoxicatingly smooth vocals, compiled with a distinctly accessible attitude. While every song on the album has a distinct flavour, they form a cohesive, in-depth exploration of a strange musical landscape. The band was the first to be signed to Wolf Tone, the label owned by legendary British producer Paul Epworth. The band’s second album was more head on, with distinctly rocky and pop elements bleeding in and serving only to build on their success with their debut album.Their third album took another turn, after drummer Joe Seaward was severely injured after being struck by a lorry. The resulting album saw the deeply personal response to the accident explored through the band’s lens, resulting in a nostalgia-tinged collection. With the album entering the UK charts at number 2, single Heat Waves reached number 5 in the UK, spent a recordbreaking 59 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, and was nominated this year
COUNTDOWN TO READING PRIDE for Best British Single at the Brit Awards. Glass Animals are playing Main Stage West at 7.10pm on Friday, August 25. It’s easy to forget that Denzel Curry has only been releasing music for ten years, as his music exudes a decades-long quality of craft which belies his youth. Curry released his fifth studio album, Melt MY Eyez See Your Future, which sees his distinctive style of hip-hop infused with trap, drum and bass, and even poetry. It also features collaborations with some of the biggest artists of the genre, including T-Pain, Rico Nasty, Slowthai, JPEGMafia, and 6LACK. Curry has described the album as something of a departure from his usual work, explaining that he is moving away from alter egos and expressing more personal feelings through the tracks. As well has his own album, he’s recently collaborated with Dot Da Genius and Kid Cudi on Talk About Me. Denzel Curry is playing Main Stage East at 2.40pm on Sunday, August 28. While some will be disappointed that Rage Against the Machine have pulled out of the festival, Sunday’s new headliner, The 1975, is certainly not out of place in their spot.The band has been performing for 20 years, so many will be familiar with the songs which catapulted them to fame such as Girls, Chocolate, and Sex. When the band headlined Reading Festival in 2019, they played People, a punk rock song that had released the same day, ahead of an upcoming album release. Could it be that they’ll drop another new single this time?
might be on Rivermead this weekend for Reading Festival, but neighbouring Wokingham has its own, more intimate affair. Taking place from Saturday through to bank holiday Monday at Cantley Park, it features a mixture of local, regional, national and international musicians and bands.
Reading Pride announces PrideXtra stage acts, including Drag Race’s Sum Ting Wong
The 1975 (pictured) are playing the headline slot at 9.10pm on Sunday, August 28.Circa Waves have gone from strength to strength since their debut single in 2013. By the time their debut album, Young Chasers, was released in 2015, they’d already played Reading and Leeds, Glastonbury, Latitude, and Summersonic, as well as touring with The 1975. After the album went to number 10 in the UK charts, the band would return to R&L for an unforgettable set, followed by a UK-wide tour. One of the singles, T-Shirt Weather, charted in the UK and in Japan, earning Silver certification and cementing them as a not-so-indie darling. Their mixture of summery surf rock and pop was encapsulated, and has only developed and diversified on the three albumsTheirsince.most recent, double release Sad Happy, instils their indie rock sheen with a melancholy edge, especially in the eminently danceable title track. Sad Happy went to number 4 in the UK album charts when it was released in 2020. Circa Waves are playing Main Stage East at 4.45pm on Friday, August 26. Sheffield-based band The Sherlocks seem to have arrived fully formed when they played R&L in 2015. While it wasn’t their first festival appearance, they had only released three singles up to that point. But those singles, especially debut track Live for the Moment, felt immediately like the work of a band who knew who they were and what they wanted. Signing more than a year later, their debut album was released in 2017 with the undeniably infectious Chasing Shadows as the title Theirtrack.second album, Under Your Sky, saw a considerable development of the band’s style, though it retained the hooky, indie rock sensibilities they’d come to embody.Thenin January 2022, they released their much anticipated third album, World I understand, which was again commended for walking the delicate line between rehashing their old sound and overdeveloping into something else entirely. The Sherlocks are playing Main Stage West on Saturday, August 27. JAKE CLOTHIER
COUNTDOWN TO READING FESTIVAL
LEISURE |
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662Wednesday, August 24, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE 15
FLASHBACK: Wokingham Festival in 2019 saw The Jiveoholics perform Picture: Steve Smyth
“But,” he warns, “If we’re full, we’re full, and we can’t let in people without tickets.”Andgiven the forecast, the music, food and beer on offer, there is every chance that the festival could be in a similar place this year.
HERE are our top picks for Reading Festival this weekend.
n For more details, or to book, log on to: www.wokinghamfestival.co.uk
“We’vegrub.gota good mixture,” Stan promises. “There are stalls that specialise in vegan food, others that do street food, some international flavours including a Peruvian specialist, and ice creams, drinks and hotdogs.“There’s a mixture of old favourites and some new faces. They’re all detailed on the Wokingham Festival website.”
EYES
READING Pride has announced the lineup for for its PrideXtra stage when it returns for this year’s Love Unites Pride festival on Saturday, September 3. Drag Race alumnus Sum Ting Wong will host the stage’s mix of drag, cabaret, comedy, and DJs. Sum Ting Wong competed on the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, and has performed in a number of Reading venues, including Milk and The Oakford Social Club. She is fresh from the release of her latest single, Hypnotise, and will bring her powerhouse vocals and comedy stylings to Pride. She will be joined by Reading’s own Drag monarch Big Jay, who has hosted Reading’s Got Drag and will also be co-hosting the Trans-Pride afterparty event.Big Jay is a champion of non-binary drag, and celebrates only the first anniversary of their drag performance in September.GraceAnatomy will also be performing, who is among the hosts of Reading’s monthly Club F.O.D. nights, and debuted as a drag performer at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. Amber Rose Turner will be bringing live vocal and drag performance, joined by LipSync1000 finalist Powdered Berkshire-bornSugar.resident DJ at the Blagrave Arms, DJ Enbee, will be closing the stage with a mixture of pop, R&B, disco, funk, and house.
And there will be a real ale bar run by the team behind Twyford Beer Festival. Profits from this will go to its chosen charity of Orchid, which works to tackle male cancers. Organiser Ian Wisdom promises: “There will be more than 50 different real ales, 20 ciders, as well as Pimm’s, gin and soft drinks.” He has a contactless payments system in place, making it easy for people to buy a round without fumbling for change. Children will be able to enjoy some activities courtesy of Circus Scene and MoreArts Wokingham. This includes faceThepainting.OllieYoung Foundation will benefit from a Rodeo Bull attraction –people can make donations and then see how long they can stay on for. And there will be some retail stalls selling everything from vinyl records, gifts, candles and sweets. Members of Arts4Wokingham will have space to talk about their plan to create a sculpture, The Arc, outside the new Carnival Hub development.Theartwork is by artist Nicola Anthony, and there will be a chance for people to find out more about the project.Stan says that a lot of people are expected over the three days of the festival, with numbers ahead of their pre-covid levels.
“So many people have booked tickets already, and with the weather forecast looking good, we’re expecting more to book in,” he says. “And people can get a discount if they book online – they can save £3 on entry prices, and it also helps us.
Organiser Stan Hetherington says the programme has something for everyone.“There’s country, folk, prog rock, indie bands, big bands, cover bands and more – it’s a great programme offering variety that means there will be something to suit all musical tastes,” he says. And he’s not wrong. There are two music stages, the main one is sponsored by TradeMark Windows and features something from 11am through to the evening every day. Local acts include Selina and the Howlin Dogs, Bottle Kids, Spriggan Mist and Third Lung. There’s Police tribute band The Sting Operation and, on Sunday, a performance by legendary band Focus.The Wokingham Music Club stage features an ecletic mix of musicians who regularly appear in our gig guide or RaW Sounds Today playlist, including Deva St John, Indigo Child, Katie Ellwood, and the Blue Sky Big Band.There is more to Wokingham Festival than just music. It is big on food and drink as well, offering everything from ice creams to gourmet
Final WokinghammadeprepationsforFestival
Our top picks for Reading Festival this weekend
PHIL CREIGHTON
A NEW radio play will be hitting the airwaves this autumn, thanks to a Reading-based theatre company. RABBLE is teaming up with BBC Radio Berkshire to present The Newcomers, commissioned to mark the 50th anniversary since the expulsion of the Ugandan Asians in 1972. Written by Beth Flintoff and Pragna Hay, it focuses on a family who have been expelled from their Ugandan home by the dictator Idi Amin. Sent to a resettlement camp at Greenham Common, Jyoti and her family have to learn how to rebuild their lives in a new country.RABBLE, which is now based from Caversham Court Gardens, says it is thrilled to be developing the project with Pragna, who has first-hand experience of the story being brought to life. They say it is an astonishing tale of cruelty, bravery, resilience and hope, so much of which took place here in Berkshire. “We are delighted to be developing this important project,” says Dani Davies, CoFounder of RABBLE Theatre. “The contributions that the Ugandan Asian community have made to UK life are as amazing as their story is. It’s an honour to be involved.” The airdate for the play will be announced in due course.
NETTLEBED Folk Club is to return next month, bringing an eclectic mix of musicians every week. Based in the village centre on the high street, it attracts a high calibre of acts, including Faustus. This is not their first visit, having performed there in 2019. The group say they take traditional English music, rip it up, put it together again and move it on.Avigorous rhythmic impetus and rock/prog rock influence propels the sound into the here and now and a range of instruments deployed in unconventional ways gives a unique texture, depth and variety to the band’s sound. Driving rhythms on bouzouki and guitar are reinforced by the melodeon, fiddle, oboe and cor anglais, creating arrangements that are intriguing and subtle, boisterous or punchy. The band’s voices are Benji Kirkpatrick, Paul Sartin and Saul Rose, and it is said that their close harmonies are faultless and wellcrafted.“We do work hard on crafting arrangements to make them musically interesting, and also stitching together texts to make music that is not just ephemeral, but has some sort of lasting quality,” theyAndsay.they group have received plaudits for their work. Tom Robinson from BBC Radio 6 Music said: “Ridiculously great band. So stunning live.” Faustus plays Nettlebed Folk Club on Monday, October 17. n For more details, log on to: www.nettlebedfolkclub.co.uk please call
MAIDEN Erlegh Community Arts courses can now be booked. Sessions are available for young people and adults, starting this September. Children’s Saturday Art Attack classes are tailored to two different age groups, and will run over 10 weekends. Children will be able to get messy while experimenting with 2D and 3D materials, in a relaxed and friendly environment.Adultdaytime classes include open access printmaking, creative colour painting, and book binding. Other classes are available for adults in mixed media, monoprinting, and stamp and layer printing. These sessions are a mixture of monthly, and one day courses. Adult evening classes are available in silver jewellery making.They take place on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays, over ten weekly sessions. All events take place at the Community Arts, on Maiden Erlegh Campus, Earley. They are bookable by telephone, email or paper form. Course prices range from £60 to £160. Payment must be made in advance, by cheque with a booking form, by bank transfer or cash. Cash payments must be made to the school reception during Community Arts office hours. For information about Community Arts & Peacock Gallery, and to book classes, log on to: www.maidenerleghschool. co.uk
A READING bar and restaurant has a new string to its bow - a live musicZerodegreesnight. in Bridge Street is hosting musicians on Friday evenings from 6pm. The bar has booked a number of musicians so each week will be different. It also brews its own beers on site, and has an Italian menu including pizzas. Entry to the music is free.For more details, call the bar on: 0118 959 7959. BEECHWOOD Primary School in Woodley will be visited by the circus on Friday, September 16. Happy’s Circus will come to the school, bringing acrobats, aerialists, speciality acts, and magic, all hosted by the ringmaster.Theevent has been opened to members of the public as well as those connected to the school. The event starts at 5pm, with the show starting from 6pm, on Friday, September 16, at Beechwood Primary School. Tickets cost £8.50 per person, available by contacting: BeechwoodPrimarySchoolPTA@ gmail.com
Next month, Bracknell’s Lexicon shopping centre will mark its fifth anniversary with a special birthday proms event. Taking place on Saturday, September 3, it will see a host of performers come to our neighbouring town and celebrate in music. The event starts at 3.30pm with songs specially written for the Brakcnell Forest Giants. It will be performed by pupils from Wooden Hill Primary and Birch Hill Primary Schools, along with Sophie Abbot, from Sandhurst School and Tilly Mills from College Town Primary. At 4.10 pm Vocalese, will sing songs that audiences can join in with.Then, at 5pm, the Barta Theatre Academy will showcase the dance, singing and drama talents of students from Wokingham and Bracknell. Saxophonist YolanDa Brown, will play upbeat tunes accompanied by her band at 5.40pm.Then, at 6.40 pm, the Forest Folk band will take to the stage, performing the Bracknell Forest Festival songs along with folk music for all to enjoy.At7.20 pm, Dexter and The Dimes, a rockin’ and rollin’ 50s band, will play hits from artists such as Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard. The final act of the Birthday Proms is Reading-based indie pop band, Only The Poets, who will begin their set at 8.30pm. Formed five years ago, the band has recently returned from a sell-out European tour. Rob Morris, general manager at The Lexicon says: “Our free Proms events are always extremely popular and we have no doubt that our special Birthday performances will one of our best yet. “The line-up includes something for all members of the family, and we hope that the local community will join our birthday celebrations.” It wouldn’t be a birthday without cake, and The Lexicon will giveaway 1,000 cupcakes 500 tote bags and birthday pop-badges.AndrewHunter, executive director, place, planning and regeneration at Bracknell Forest Council says: “Over the last five years The Lexicon has transformed our town centre. “We are thrilled to be celebrating the fifth birthday especially with so many fantastic local artists showcasing their talent.“Being able to bring the incredibly successful Only the Poets back to their Berkshire roots highlights the significance of this fantastic milestone for the borough.”
033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply. For more information, or to book,
Booking open for art courses
BeechwoodcomesHappy’sZerodegreesatCircusto
RABBLE to team up with BBC Berkshire
n For more details, log on www.thelexiconbracknell.com/to: events/fifth-birthday Nettlebed Folk Club to welcome back Faustus
Line-up unveiled for Lexicon’s proms WHAT better way birthdaymarktoa than with a special song or two?
| LEISURE Live music
Reader travel justgoholsJGTravelGroup Operated by Just Go Holidays Ltd. Coach package holidays and short breaks are subject to Just Go! Holidays terms and conditions. Your booking is protected by Bonded Coach Holidays (BCH) and the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT); this is a government approved consumer protection scheme. Tours offered subject to availability and government guidelines. Errors and omissions excepted. Prices per person, based on two people sharing a double/twin room. Calls to 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply. NEWQUAY, EDEN PROJECT & Poldark’s Cornwall BOSWORTH HALL Turkey & Tinsel Departing Mon 10 Oct ‘22 Your break includes Return coach travel from Wokingham 4 nights at the Pentire Hotel, Newquay with dinner & breakfast Entertainment some evenings Excursions to the Eden Project, Padstow & Charlestown Optional excursion to Penzance & St Ives (£12pp) Departing Mon 14 Nov ‘22 Your break includes Return coach travel from Wokingham, Reading & Slough 4 nights at the Bosworth Hall Hotel, near Market Bosworth with dinner & breakfast (includes traditional ‘Christmas’ dinner) Tea, coffee and mince pies on arrival 2 for 1 bar (6pm-9pm) on selected drinks After-dinner tea and coffee Light entertainment every evening Excursions to Stamford, Oakham & Lincoln WPR_2022-08-22_TheWokinghamPaper_16x4 (1)_Just Go WorcesterObserver 5 Days by Coach only £349 5 Days by Coach only £229 NewquayEdenProject&PoldarksCornwall_F.pdf Single Supplement £60 Single Supplement £60 or visit us online at justgoholidays.com/WPR 03332 342 527 Quote WPR 16 To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, August 24, 2022
COMMING ATTRACTION: Faustus will be at Nettlebed Folk Club in October Picture: LUKEPAJAK.CO.UK
PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett. Details: 0118 969 98978. READING – Bina Tandoori, Prospect Street. Elvis Shmelvis Tribute night. Details: www. binatandoori.com READING - The Botanist, Kings Road RG1 2HB. Request night. Details: 0118 959 5746.
LEISURE | FESTIVAL:ATAPPEARNGTHE Flutatious AndrewPicture: Merritt LIVEMUSIC To advertise in this section,call Claire on 0118 327 2662 RaW TodaySounds
Here’s another legendary band who have had UK hits such as this one and they will be headlining the Main Trademark Stage at Wokingham Festival on August Bank Holiday Monday - https:// focustheband.co.uk/
WHISTLEY GREEN - The Elephant and Castle, Lodge Road RG10 0EH. Open mic night. Details: 0118 934 0886. Thursday, September 1 READING - The Botanist, Kings Road RG1 2HB. Request night. Details: 0118 959 5746. READING - Wild Lime, Friar Street RG1 1DB. Open mic: spoken word, music and vibes. From 6.30pm. READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Found Native. Details: 0118 959 7196. READING – South Street arts centre. American Idiot. Details: 0118 960 6060. Friday, September 2 BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. I Got Soul: Barry White tribute. Details: 01344 303333. CHARVIL - The Wee Waif, Old Bath Road RG10 9RJ. Tina Turner on Vinyl. – The Seven Red Roses, Maiden Place RG6 3HA. Gary Roman as Elvis. Details: 0118 935 4103. - The Botanist, Kings Road RG1 2HB. Friday Night live Details: 0118 959 5746. READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Open mic. Details: Details: 0118 959 7196 READING – Queens Head, Christchurch Road RG2 7AZ. Peter Bingham Quartet. Details: 0118 931 0232. READING – The Retreat, St John’s Street RG1 4EH. Cool Hand Luke and the Coolness.. Details: 0118 376 9159. READING - Revolution, Station Road. Revolution Saturdays: music, cocktails and more. READING – Revolución de Cuba, Friar Street RG1 1EX. Club night with live music and DJ. Details: 0118 207 7016. READING – The Rising Sun, Silver Street RG1 2ST. Reading Pride Trans Pride after party. Details: 0118 986 6788. READING - O’Neill’s, Friar Street RG1 1DB. Al Fresco Music. Details: 0118 960 6580. READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. Wardour Street. Details: 0118 926 5804. READING – The Wishing Well, Oxford Road. Sugar and Sax. SWALLOWFIELD - The Crown, The Street. The WTBs, Phantom Booth. Sunday, September 4 READING – The Facebar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. Arcaeon, This Dying Hour, Fallen at Dawn and support. Details: 0118 956 8188. READING – The Moderation, Caversham Road RG1 8BB. The Soul Retreat, from 12.30pm. Details: 0118 959 5577. READING – Queens Head, Christchurch Road RG2 7AZ. Northern Soul Social Sunday. 2pm-5pm. Details: 0118 931 0232.
HOLDING A GIG, QUIZ OR GAMES NIGHT? SEND DETAILS TO EVENTS@WOKINGHAM.TODAY GIG
Kepler Ten – A New Kind of Sideways It’s the title track from Kepler Ten’s acclaimed album on our White Star Records label. They have only played songs from the album once before so we are excited that we’ll see them at Wokingham Festival – https://www.keplerten.com/
AGUIDEUGUST bank holiday is music festival time. We’re giving the Reading one a swerve because, well, you’ve probably heard their songs all before. So this week’s list features acts that will be appearing at Wokingham Festival between Saturday andTheMonday.RaWSounds Today playlist is on a mission to champion and showcase great music from acts that have a connection to Reading and Wokingham (that’s the RaW in our Sounds Today name). It’s an eclectic mix of stuff that will help you discover something new. All you have to do is find it on ToSpotify.hear this week’s selection, simply head to https://bit.ly/rawsoundstoday and enjoy the music. There is also a Facebook page and group chat that bands and music fans can tap into. You can search for RaW Sounds Today and it will come up.
James Hollingsworth – Faster than Light James is a singer-songwriter from South West England coming to the festival for the time on Monday with his folk blues style with a prog and pysch twist. This is from his Thirteen Moons album –aroundspreadinghttps://www.jameshollingsworth.com/SprigganMist–LairofIsambardThisBracknell-basedbandarealocalfavouriteandthisyeartheirfamehasbeenastheyhavewowedcrowdsatfestivalsthecountry.TheyreturntoWokinghamFestivalonSaturday –https://www.sprigganmist.com/ Aaron Cilia – The Illusion Aaron has a connection to Spriggan Mist. He’s the son of Baz and Maxine Cilia from the band. He’s also sound engineer on the WMC Stage at Wokingham Festival and playing his own set there –https://www.facebook.com/AaronCiliaArtist
TRIM – Still Waters (Live)
TRIM is a Reading- based band led by singersongwriter Chris Trim who perform original pop rock songs with a blues and folk feel. The band will be making a welcome return to the festival this weekend – https://www.facebook.com/ christrimmusic
Flutatious – Wendel the Witch (Mitchell Mix) They are a favourite at Wokingham Music Club and Wokingham Festival and this weekend they return to the festival. That’s a good reason to remind ourselves of this crowd pleaser. It always gets people dancing and you can hear why, with the infectious violin of Stella Ferguson and flute of Michele Devonshire being driven along by the other fine musicians in the band. The ‘Mitchell’ in the title is Reading producer John Mitchell who mixed it in his Outhouse Studio –https://www.flutatious.co.uk/ That Joe Payne – Live the Dream Here’s the latest single from That Joe Payne who will be headlining the Wokingham Music Club Stage at the festival this coming Bank Holiday Monday. Joe has been stunning audiences around the country with his incredible voice and live performances and was asked back to the festival following his brilliant performance at the festival in 2019.Since then, Joe has released his debut solo album, By Name, By Nature, so we are looking to hearing him play songs from that – https://www. thatjoepayne.com/
It’s Reading-based Split the Dealer with an acoustic version of his 2022 single performed by Split and guitarist Rory Evans at Northbrook Met Studios in Brighton – https://www.splitthedealer. com/ Papa Truck – Million Miles
Chris Hillman Thursday,soundsbit.ly/rawtodayAugust 25 BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Atomic Rapture: The Music of Blondie. Details: www.theacousticcouch. co.uk EARLEY –WokinghamHarley-Davidson,RoadRG68HN. Bottle Kids. Details: 0118 334 4300.
The Ring RG12 1JG. Festival Vibes at the Couch. Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Open mic. Details: 0118 959 5500. READING - The Botanist, Kings Road RG1 2HB. Friday Night live Details: 0118 959 5746. READING - O’Neill’s, Friar Street RG1 1DB. Live music Fridays. Details: 0118 960 6580. READING - The Oracle RG1 2AG. Live music at the beach: Northern Star. Details: 0118 965 9000. READING – The Rising Sun, Silver Street RG1 2ST. Club Velocity presents In Malcolm We Trust 11: Jessica Lee Morgan, Burnt Tomrorow, New Puritans. Details: 0118 986 6788. READING – Zerodegrees, Bridge Street RG1 2LR. Friday night live, from 6pm. Details: 0118 959 7959. WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. 4G. Details: 0118 977 3706. WOODLEY – Bull and Chequers, Woodley Green RG5 4QP. Karaoke. Details: 0118 969 9756. YATTENDON - West Berkshire Brewery Tap Room, The Old Dairy, Frisham Farm RG18 0XT. Friday night sessions. Details: 01635 767090. Saturday, August 27 BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. I Got Soul Bank Holiday Soul UKG and Bashment. Details: 01344 303333. BRACKNELL - The Running Horse, London Road RG12 2UJ. Full Flavour. Details: 01344 425215. READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. The Silvertones soul and Motown tribute. Details: 0118 402 7800. READING - The Jolly Anglers, Kennetside RG1 3EA. Apache Day party: the Sequel. READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Mr Gee Birthday. Details: 0118 959 7196. READING - Revolution, Station Road. Revolution Saturdays: music, cocktails and more. READING – Revolución de Cuba, Friar
Focus – Hocus Pocus
HURST - The Jolly Farmer, Davis Street. Macmillan Cancer Support charity event. 5pm-late. Includes The Hurst Morris People, The Liverpool Echoes and more. £20, includes Thai buffet. Details: 0118 934 1881.
EVERSLEY - The Tally Ho, Fleet Hill RG27 0RR. Goldsworth Gerry. Details: 0118 973 2134. READING – The Rising Sun, Silver Street RG1 2ST. Pet Needs: Borrowed Toothpaste 2. Details: 0118 986 6788. WOKINGHAM - Cantley Park Events Field, Milton Road RG40 5TU. Wokingham Festival 2022. Focus, The Room, The Paradox Twin, Kepler Ten, The Honey Pot, Third Lung. That Joe Payne, Aaron Cilia, Leoni Jane Kennedy, In Albion, James Hollingsworth. Doors 11am-8.30pm. www.wokinghamfestival.co.ukDetails: Tuesday, August 30 BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. New Music Tuesday. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk Wednesday, August 31
READING - The Roseate, The Forbury RG1 3EJ. Heavy Pop presents The Roseate Sessions: Peter Herferan and Damien A Passmore. Details: 0118 952 7770. READING – HIckies, Friar Street. Hickies Music - Live Showcase Featuring: Daisy Freya, TIGY, Thomas Ashby. Details: hickies.co.uk/live-loungewww.
READING
0118 959 5500. READING – The Castle Tap, Castle Street RG1 7RJ. TwoManTing. Details: 0118 958 0473. READING – The Facebar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. Gramma Vedetta, Desert Clouds. Details: 0118 956 8188. READING - O’Neill’s, Friar Street RG1 1DB. Live music Fridays. Details: 0118 960 6580. READING – Zerodegrees, Bridge Street RG1 2LR. Friday night live, from 6pm. Details: 0118 959 7959. Saturday, September 3 BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. The Lee Aaron Band. Details: 01344 303333. CAVERSHAM - The Last Crumb, Prospect Street RG4 8JN. Beer, Beats and BBQ: family fun times, retro DJs and more. last-crumbdodopubs.com/locations/the-Details: READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Hard times. Details: 0118 959 5500. READING - Kings Meadow. Reading Pride 2022, includes Nadine Coyle, Jamie Wake, Dr Bev, Son of a Tutu, Wilma Fingadoo, B Radio, Rock Choir, Leadley, Sam Solace, Janethan Danny Lampo, Bentley Jones, Natalie Gray, Lolly, Nicolette Street, Carter the Bandit, Ring the Alarm. From noon. Details: readingpride.co.uk READING – The Hexagon, Queens Walk. The Magic of Motown. Details: 0118 960 6060. READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Sound Jam.
Split the Dealer – Hard to Take (Live Lounge Acoustic Session)
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662Wednesday, August 24, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE 25
EARLEY
Here’s a five-piece band from High Wycombe who perform their own original bluegrass songs.This one is from their 2020 album By Your Side, and we look forward to seeing them live at Wokingham Festival – https://www.facebook.com/ papatruck
READING - Mojito Beach Bar, The Oracle RG1 2AG. Solo acoustic gig. 6pm. Details: www. theoracle.com READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Found Native. Details: 0118 959 7196. Friday, August 26 BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, Street RG1 1EX. Club night with live music and DJ. Details: 0118 207 7016. READING - O’Neill’s, Friar Street RG1 1DB. Al Fresco Music. Details: 0118 960 6580. READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. Large Portion. Details: 0118 926 5804. TILEHURST – The Royal British Legion Club, Downing Road RG31 5BB. Wardour Street. Details: 0118 942 9606. WOKINGHAM - Cantley Park Events Field, Milton Road RG40 5TU. Wokingham Festival 2022. Crazy Diamond, Mr Grey’s Jailhouse Jukebox, Bottle Kids, Spriggan Mist, The Rachel Redman Band, 4 G Band, Selina and the Howlin Dogs, The Wave Machine. Deva St John, Split The Dealer, RyeWolf, Rocket Kings, The Station, Char, Emily Jane Sheppard, Indigo Child. Doors 11am-10.30pm. Details: wokinghamfestival.co.ukwww. WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Blood in the Dojo. Details: 0118 977 0918. WOODLEY – The Good Companions, Loddon Bridge Road RG5 4AG. Audiotonic. Details: 0118 969 3325. YATELEY - The Cricketers, Cricket Hill Lane GU46 6BA. Anna Nightingale. Details: 01252 872105. Sunday, August 28 BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead RG12 7PA. Live music on the terrace. 2pm. 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: Meddling Fox. Details: www.readifolk.org.uk READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Reggae Sundays. Details: 0118 959 7196. READING – The Retreat, St John’s Street RG1 4EH. Hugh Turner and Nial Tompkins. 3.30pm. Details: 0118 376 9159. READING – Queens Head, Christchurch Road RG2 7AZ. Northern Soul Social Sunday. 2pm-5pm. Details: 0118 931 0232. WOKINGHAM - Cantley Park Events Field, Milton Road RG40 5TU. Wokingham Festival 2022. Dance Cult 10, The Sting Operation, Flutatious, Kindred Spirit Band, Dacoda, Trim, Papa Truck, Hoopy Frood. Silent Disco, The BJ Bevy, Small Town Heroes, Reliant, Mike Wagner, Nora Mac, Katie Ellwood, The Hedge Inspectors, Blue Sky Big Band. Doors 11am10.30pm. Details: wokinghamfestival.co.ukwww. Bank holiday Monday, August 29
READING - Star Lane Wharf, behind Queen’s Road Car Park. Kennet and Avon trust 45-minute boat trips on Matilda Too. Noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. £9.50, £5.50 children, under threes free. Details and advance booking: matilda.katrust. org.uk RISELEY –Road.CountryWellingtonPark,Odiham Summer crafts and bouncy castles. co.ukwellingtoncountrypark.Details:
WOODLEY – Crockhamwell Road precinct. Woodley Town Centre presents car boot sale. 8am-1pm. Cars £10, vans £15. Details: 07861 654674 or woodleytowncentre.co.ukwww.
SeptemberThursday, 1 BRACKNELL - The Lexicon RG12 1AP. Bracknell Forest Festival: Bracknell Giants, the Night Forest Theatre Show, Seedling Sprite Trail and more. Details: bracknellforestfestival.comwww. EARLEY – Trinity Church, Chalfont Close RG6 5HZ. Re:Fresh with Friendship Table. 2pm-4pm. Details: linkvisiting.org SPENCERS WOOD –Spencers Wood Pavilion, Clares Green Road RG7 1DY. Social Seniors Tea and Coffee with Friendship Table. 10am-noon. Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – The Ship Inn, Peach Street. Comedy on Tap. 7pm. £17. Details: 0118 978 0389. WOKINGHAM – Bradbury Centre, RoseMethodistWokinghamChurch,StreetRG401XS. Cafe Mosiac lunch club with Friendship table. Noon-1.30pm. Details: email advertising@wokingham.today
READING - Star Lane Wharf, behind Queen’s Road Car Park. Kennet and Avon trust 45-minute boat trips on Matilda Too. Noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. £9.50, £5.50 children, under threes free. Details and advance booking: matilda.katrust. org.uk
On,
CHARVIL - Village Hall, Park Lane RG10 9TR. Love Is All You Need, a Beatlesthemed singing afternoon for female voices. 2pm4pm. £10, includes music and light refreshments. Details: 0118 934 0589.
READING - Star Lane Wharf, behind Queen’s Road Car Park. Kennet and Avon trust 45-minute boat trips on Matilda Too. Noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. £9.50, £5.50 children, under threes free. Details and advance booking: matilda.katrust. org.uk
SILCHESTER - Village Hall, Little London Road RG7 2ND. Village market: local produce and org.uk.silchestervillagemarket.011810am-12.30pm.businesses.Details:9700999orwww.
WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturges Road RG40 2HD. Cafe Refresh Friendship table. 10am-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org
WOOSEHILL – Woosehill Church, Chestnut Avenue RG41 3RS. Sip and Share with friendship table. 11am-noon, every second Saturday. Details: linkvisiting.org
WOOSEHILL –FernleaCommunityAcornCentre,DriveRG41 3DR. Acorn Cafe with Friendship table. Details:10.30am-noon.linkvisiting.org Saturday, August 27 BRACKNELL - The Lexicon RG12 1AP. Bracknell Forest Festival: Bracknell Giants, the Night Forest Theatre Show, Seedling Sprite Trail and more. Details: bracknellforestfestival.comwww. HECKFIELD - Highfield Farm RG27 0LE. wellingtonhorsetrials.co.ukconcessions£19.50,TrialsInternationalWellingtonHorse&CountryFair.under12sfree,£18.Details:
CAVERSHAM - Waitrose Car Park, off Gosbrook Road. Caversham Artisan & Farmers Market. 10am3pm.
SWALLOWFIELDSwallowfield Park RG7 1TH. Swallowfield Show £10, children free. 10am5.30pm. Details: www. swallowfieldshow.co.uk
WOKINGHAM - Cantley Park Events Field, Milton Road RG40 5TU. Wokingham Festival 2022. Dance Cult 10, The Sting Operation, Flutatious, Kindred Spirit Band, Dacoda, Trim, Papa Truck, Hoopy Frood. Silent Disco, The BJ Bevy, Small Town Heroes, Reliant, Mike Wagner, Nora Mac, Katie Ellwood, The Hedge Inspectors, Blue Sky Big Band. Doors 11am10.30pm. Details: wokinghamfestival.co.ukwww.
SOUTH STOKE - Across village RG8 0JT. South Stoke open gardens, including live music in the Perch and Pike pub, tours of church bell tower, and more. Free parking in recreation ground, off Cross Keys Road. 1pm5pm. £5, cash only. Under 12s free. Details: 07734 772271.
READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, August 24, 2022
EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Ave RG6 7JN. Re:Fresh cafe with Friendship Table. 10am-noon. Details: linkvisiting.org
Tuesday, August 30 BRACKNELL - The Lexicon RG12 1AP. Bracknell Forest Festival: Bracknell Giants, the Night Forest Theatre Show, Seedling Sprite Trail and more. Details: bracknellforestfestival.comwww. EARLEY – Earley CResCent Resource Centre, Warbler Drive RG6 4HB. Friendship table. 2pm-3pm. Details: linkvisiting.org.
READING – Progress Theatre, The Mount RG1 5HL. Progress Theatre presents Jeeves and Wooster. 7.45pm. £12, concessions £10. Details: progresstheatre.co.ukwww.
BURGHFIELD - Burghfield Common Recreation Ground, Recreation Road RG7 3EN. The Bulging Sack In The Park: enjoy a drink with family and friends, and raise funds for Thames Valley Air Ambulance. Food and drink available. 5pm-9pm. Details: burghfieldsantas.org.uk
26 To advertise,
READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Just The Tonic comedy club, including Tim Clark and Joseph Enslie. Details: 0118 959 5395.
MORTIMER - Mortimer West End Village Hall, Church Road RG7 2HZ. Mortimer West End and District Annual Show, from 2.30pm-4pm. mweshowwww.facebook.com/Details:
EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6 7JN. Re:Fresh cafe with Friendship Table. 10amnoon. Details: linkvisiting. org
EARLEY – Trinity Church, Chalfont Close RG6 5HZ. Re:Fresh with Friendship Table. 2pm-4pm. Details: linkvisiting.org HURST - The Jolly Farmer, Davis Street. Macmillan Cancer Support charity event. 5pm-late. Includes The Hurst Morris People, The Liverpool Echoes and more. £20, includes buffet. Details: 0118 934 1881.
STREATLEY - St Mary’s Church, Church Lane RG8 9HU. Piano Recital by Russell Thompson. Includes pieces by Mozart and Liszt. 7.30pm. £10, £9 concessions. Cash only. Details: hotmail.co.ukstmarysconcerts@ WHITLEY – Whitley Wood Fire Station, Whitley Wood Road. Whitley Wood Fire Station open day: come along and meet the crew. Live otheroppositeCampusbeParkingfromdemonstrationscrewsandguests.fortheeventwillavailableatReadingBuilding,locatedtheStationonthesideoftheA33.
WOODLEY – The Good Companions, Loddon Bridge Road RG5 4AG. Family fun day, including Audiotonic. Details: 0118 969 3325.
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, RoseMethodistWokinghamChurch,StreetRG401XS. Cafe Mosiac lunch club with Friendship table. Noon-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org Friday, August 26 BRACKNELL - The Lexicon RG12 1AP. Bracknell Forest Festival: Bracknell Giants, the Night Forest Theatre Show, Seedling Sprite Trail and more. Details: bracknellforestfestival.comwww.
READING - IKEA, Pincents Kiln Industrial Park, Pincent Lane RG31 7SD. Balloon artist and face painter for children. 11am5pm. Free. Details: www. What’s on event submission formWhat’s on event submission 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, charities and not-for-profit activities. We cannot guarantee What’s Wokingham.Today, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS linkvisiting.org Friday, Sept 2 BRACKNELL - The Lexicon RG12 1AP. Bracknell Forest Festival: Bracknell Giants, the Night Forest Theatre Show, Seedling Sprite Trail and more. Details: bracknellforestfestival.comwww.
READING – Abu Bakr Islamic Centre, Oxford Road. Visit My Mosque event. Noon-4pm. Guided tours, speeches, performances and more. All welcome, modest dress requested. Details: abmreading.org READING – Progress Theatre, The Mount RG1 5HL. Progress Theatre presents Jeeves and Wooster. 7.45pm. £12, concessions £10. Details: progresstheatre.co.ukwww.
WOKINGHAM WITHOUT –Pinewood Bar and Cafe, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ. Friendship table available. 9am-4pm. 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.
READING - Star Lane Wharf, behind Queen’s Road Car Park. Kennet and Avon trust 45-minute boat trips on Matilda Too. Noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. £9.50, £5.50 children, under threes free. Details and advance booking: matilda.katrust. org.uk RISELEY –Road.CountryWellingtonPark,Odiham Summer crafts and bouncy castles. co.ukwellingtoncountrypark.Details:
BRACKNELL - The Lexicon RG12 1AP. Bracknell Forest Festival: Bracknell Giants, the Night Forest Theatre Show, Seedling Sprite Trail and more. Details: bracknellforestfestival.comwww.
FINCHAMPSTEAD – FBC Centre Cafe, Gorse Ride North RG40 4ES. Friendship table. 10amnoon. Details: linkvisiting. org READING - The Oracle RG1 2AG. Children’s activities at the beach. Free. Booking essentiall Details: www. theoracle.com READING – Rising Sun Arts Centre, Silver Street RG1 2ST. The Finches social club for people with or without autism. 7pm-9pm. Drinks and snacks available to buy. Music, and friendship. Details: kingwood.org.uk WOKINGHAM – Bradbury Centre, RoseMethodistWokinghamChurch,StreetRG401XS. 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 Wednesday, Aug 31 BRACKNELL - The Lexicon RG12 1AP. Bracknell Forest Festival: Bracknell Giants, the Night Forest Theatre Show, Seedling Sprite Trail and more. Details: bracknellforestfestival.comwww. EARLEY – Brookside Church, Brookside Close RG6 7HG. Open Door cafe with Friendship Table. 2pm4pm. Details: linkvisiting. org EARLEY – Earley Crescent Resource Centre, Warbler Drive RG6 4HB. MS weekly drop-in. 10.30am1.30pm Details: 0118 921 0555. READING - The Oracle RG1 2AG. Children’s activities at the beach. Free. Booking essentiall Details: www. theoracle.com WOKINGHAM – Bradbury Centre, StreetMethodistWokinghamChurch,RoseRG401XS. Cafe Mosiac with Friendship table. 11am-noon. Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturges Road RG40 2HD. Cafe Refresh Friendship table. 10am-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOODLEY – Crockhamwell Road precinct. Woodley Town Centre presents Artisan market. 9am2pm. Details: woodleytowncentre.co.ukwww.
YATELEY - Sean Devereux Park, Chandlers Lane, GU46 7SZ. Yateley Sports Community Interest Company (YSCIC) presents Blackwater Valley Cask & Cork Festival. £10. 6pm-11pm. Details: https:// caskandcork.co.uk/ SeptemberSaturday, 3 BRACKNELL - The Lexicon RG12 1AP. Bracknell Forest Festival: Birthday Proms, Bracknell Giants, the Night Forest Theatre Show, Seedling Sprite Trail and more. Details: bracknellforestfestival.comwww.
Thursday, Aug 25 BRACKNELL - The Lexicon RG12 1AP. Bracknell Forest Festival: Bracknell Giants, the Night Forest Theatre Show, Seedling Sprite Trail and more. Details: bracknellforestfestival.comwww.
WOKINGHAM WITHOUT –Pinewood Bar and Cafe, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ. Friendship table available. 9am-4pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOODLEY – Crockhamwell Road precinct. Woodley Town Centre presents Saturday 9am-3pm.market.Details: woodleytowncentre.co.ukwww.
HECKFIELD - Highfield Farm RG27 0LE. wellingtonhorsetrials.co.ukconcessions£19.50,TrialsInternationalWellingtonHorse&CountryFair.under12sfree,£18.Details:
WOKINGHAM – Norreys Church, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UU. T&C at SHARE Wokingham Friendship table. Details:12.30pm-2.30pm.linkvisiting.org
WOODLEY – Crockhamwell Road precinct. Woodley Town Centre presents Saturday 9am-3pm.market.Details: woodleytowncentre.co.ukwww.
PADWORTH - Village Hall, Padworth Lane. Jumble sale. 2pm-3pm. village10am-11.30am.DonationsInaidofhall.
WOKINGHAM - Cantley Park Events Field, Milton Road RG40 5TU. Wokingham Festival 2022. Crazy Diamond, Mr Grey’s Jailhouse Jukebox, Bottle Kids, Spriggan Mist, The Rachel Redman Band, 4 G Band, Selina and the Howlin Dogs, The Wave Machine. Deva St John, Split The Dealer, RyeWolf, Rocket Kings, The Station, Char, Emily Jane Sheppard, Indigo Child. Doors 11am10.30pm. Details: wokinghamfestival.co.ukwww.
READING – The Centre for Heritage and Family History, 2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square RG1 3BQ. One hundred years of shopping in Reading, an Online Talk by Ann Smith. Organised by the Berkshire Family History Society. 2pm-3.30pm. £5. Details: 0118 950 9553.
HECKFIELD - Highfield Farm RG27 0LE. wellingtonhorsetrials.co.ukconcessions£19.50,TrialsInternationalWellingtonHorse&CountryFair.under12sfree,£18.Details:
READING - Market House, Market Place RG1 2EQ. Rooftop Cinema Club: The Lost City. 8.30pm. £5. Details: 0118 216 1750. RISELEY –Road.CountryWellingtonPark,Odiham Summer crafts and bouncy castles. co.ukwellingtoncountrypark.Details:
SWALLOWFIELDSwallowfield Park RG7 1TH. Swallowfield Show £10, children free. 10am5.30pm. Details: www. swallowfieldshow.co.uk WOKINGHAM - Cantley Park Events Field, Milton Road RG40 5TU. Wokingham Festival 2022. Focus, The Room, The Paradox Twin, Kepler Ten, The Honey Pot, Third Lung. That Joe Payne, Aaron Cilia, Leoni Jane Kennedy, In Albion, James Hollingsworth. Doors 11am-8.30pm. co.ukwww.wokinghamfestival.Details:
Bank Monday,HolidayAugust 29
YATELEY - Sean Devereux Park, Chandlers Lane, GU46 7SZ. Yateley Sports Community Interest Company (YSCIC) presents Blackwater Valley Cask & Cork Festival. £10, under 18s £3 (daytime only). 11am-4pm or 6pm-11pm. Details: caskandcork.co.uk Sunday, Sept 4 CAVERSHAM - Waitrose Car Park, off Gosbrook Road. Caversham Artisan Market. 10am-3pm. READING – Rising Sun Arts Centre, Silver Street RG1 2ST. Dreading Poetry Slam. 7.30pm. Free entry. risingsunartscentre.orgDetails: READING - Star Lane Wharf, behind Queen’s Road Car Park. Kennet and Avon trust 45-minute boat trips on Matilda Too. Noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. £9.50, £5.50 children, under threes free. Details: matilda.katrust. org.uk WOKINGHAM – Easthampstead Park, Peacock Lane RG40 3DF. Wedding fair. 11am3pm. Details: co.ukberkshireweddingfairs.www. WOODLEY – Crockhamwell Road precinct. Woodley Town Centre presents car boot sale. 8am-1pm. Cars £10, vans £15. Details: 07861 654674 or woodleytowncentre.co.ukwww. ikea.com READING – Prospect Park, Liebenrood Road. Car boot sale. Sellers from 6am. Buyers from 7.30am. £10 car, £12 van. Details: 07773 539172.
WOOSEHILL – Woosehill Church, Chestnut Avenue RG41 3RS. Sip and Share with friendship table. 11am-noon, every second Saturday. Details: linkvisiting.org Sunday, August 28 BRACKNELL - The Lexicon RG12 1AP. Bracknell Forest Festival: Bracknell Giants, the Night Forest Theatre Show, Seedling Sprite Trail and more. Details: bracknellforestfestival.comwww.
THEALE - Library, Church St RG7 5BZ. Play bridge. Suitable for beginners and experienced gov.ukthealelibrary@westberks.Details:booking10.45am-12.45pm.players.Norequired.Free.01189303207,or:
WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturges Road RG40 2HD. Cafe Refresh Friendship table. 10am-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – Norreys Church, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UU. T&C at SHARE Wokingham Friendship table. Details:12.30pm-2.30pm.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 –FernleaCommunityAcornCentre,DriveRG41 3DR. Acorn Cafe with Friendship table. Details:10.30am-noon.linkvisiting.org
WHAT’SON|LEISURE
inclusion. Date of event: Venue of event: What will happen: Time of Contactevent:number for readers: EmailPostcodeAddressName Send your forms to:
Your weekly puzzle challenge CROSS CODE CRYPTIC CROSSWORD SUDOKU ACROSS 1. Correction (9) 6. Gammon (3) 8. Deep-seated (7) 9. Large pill (5) 10. Pace (4) 11. chargeProfessional(3) 13. Information (4) 14. Portable chair (5) 16. Rigid (6) 18. Disguised (6) 19. quiltContinental(5) 21. Twinge (4) 22. Suppuration (3) 23. Highest point (4) 27. Dodge (5) 28. Grain store (7) 30. Pastry dish (3) 31. Spring flower (9) DOWN 1. Curve (3) 2. Eagle’s nest (5) 3. Gainsay (4) 4. Surpass (6) 5. Pipe (4) 6. Capacious bag (7) 7. Fumble (9) 10. Rubbish tip (9) 11. Miserable (3,2) 12. Roof overhang (5) 14. Turf (3) 15. Mesh (3) 17. Authorization (7) 20. Uncouth (6) 24. Unrefined (5) 25. Harness (4) 26. islandIndonesian(4) 29. Affirmative (3) This puzzle page is supplied by Sirius Media Services Ltd. To try our new puzzle, Zygolex, go to www.zygolex.com © Sirius Media Services Ltd PZ1P5428 To advertise, call 0118 327 2662Wednesday, August 24, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE 27
8.
9.
FIVE NONAGRAM:ALIVE: SOLUTIONS 1.
5.
TO ADVERTISE ON THIS PAGE, CALL CLAIRE ON: 0118 327 2662 5428 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). 1. Make notes about boat for drawing (9) 8. Mean, invertebrate?grovelling(4) 9. Tunnel beneath the pit (9) 11. Its closure prevents one seeing (6) 12. Runs into inaccurate atlas of the stars (6) 13. Trees and sea formed by pieces of mosaic (8) 16. In the wet hurried round and tore a ligament (8) 20. He’s moved to another country with better regime (6) 21. Disorder in Sofia affected about 100 (6) 23. He won’t touch a drop after cooking bairn’s tea (9) 24. Always right to support the first mate (4) 25. Ruthlessly generous? (9) 1 7 9 12 14 16 21 24 2 24 17 3 13 18 23 25 4 13 22 5 11 14 20 10 21 8 19 6 16 15 7 2. Monarch’s joint aptitude for regal duties (8) 3. Plan of the old railway (6) 4. Initially house a 17th century poet in Scottish town (8) 5. Nobody performing in the north-east (4) 6. A glaring blunder that is very funny (6) 7. Blurred mark of gum Des removed (6) 10. Organs they especially included (4) 14. Dodge but desist transferring record (8) 15. Mixed beer and Ecstasy in Scottish city (8) 16. Allow to remain in pain (6) 17. One needing proof in order to start work? (6) 18. Peruvian who is partially incapacitated (4) 19. Namely that is Rex, a Moslem official (6) 22. Outside broadcast on a northern port (4) ACROSS DOWN 1 8 9 10 16 21 27 30 2 17 23 3 11 14 19 19 25 31 11 22 4 20 28 12 18 5 9 13 15 26 5 10 13 23 24 6 24 7 25 29 QUICK CROSSWORD 3 2 4 4 3 7 5 7 1 78 4 6 21 57 3 1 7 6 54 8 9 35 16 16 97 8 54 3 5 4 1 7 8 75 9 724 8 5 4 5 7 8 26 87 2516161262583 2216256 2 2 25 17 18 25 3 221611314163 32112111 23 4 5 14251 22 13 232673168 314836 25 12 139414 11 25 221114523 3181216322 22 23 23171422 10 3 3248625 231311232514 4 13 191115 5 2 25 26611183 151122112314 2 14 22 2 23 20 8 923511 203623223143 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. How many words of four letters or more can you make from Nonagram?thisEach 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: NONAGRAM Place the four signs (add, subtract, multiply, divide) one in each circle so that the total of each across and down line is the same. Perform the first calculation in each line first and ignore the mathematical law which says you should always perform division and multiplication before addition and subtraction. 5 12 10 7 5 1 4 4 4 2 2 2 EQUALISER Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box.Easy Hard 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 through openings in the walls. The first letter may appear in any chamber. U I R O N O N E O T T H R A D 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. THE EMOTIONAL LINE WORD PYRAMID MAGIC SQUARE Here are crossword.tolettersworkYoubeenlettersgridusingcrosswordssquareminiaturetwofive-thesame–butthehavemixedup.havetooutwhichbelongwhichDF IR NA FE TD EO DY RI UV OS AM IG ET IN LI LS TL RA AT HP SE FIVE ALIVE No. 5428 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 1 L 2345678910 I 111213 N 14151617181920212223242526 S A T O R A N U T 24 Good; 29 Very Good; 34 Excellent. P 1 L 2 E 3 M 4 G 5 R 6 J 7 T 8 Y 9 F 10 I 11 U 12 H 13 N 14 Z 15 C 16 W 17 D 18 V 19 K 20 Q 21 S 22 O 23 X 24 A 25 B 26 QUIZCHALLENGE:1Sheep;2Twokilos;3Crevasse;4Westworld;5Ghost;6Ain’tNoMountainHighEnough;7HermanWouk;8Pituitary gland;9Flamingoes;10TheSolent. aorta;arson;ASTRONAUT;attar; attorn;aura;outran;rant;rata;rattan; roan;roast;rota;roust;rout;runt;rusa; rust;snort;soar;sonar;sora;sort; sour;star;start;stator;stour;strut; sura;sutra;tantra;tarn;taro;tarot; tart;tartan;torn;tort;torus;tour;trot; trout;truant;trust;tsar,turn;tutor. EQUALISER: Clockwisefromtop left–subtract;add; divide;multiply. Total:8. 163759248 849273156 325496781 872963145 497518632 538167924 168327954 971842365 254631879 457298316 278134965 184967523 451729386 963421758 836579241 264857913 391685472 719352684 WORDPYRAMID: Ontheroadtoruin. MAGICSQUARE: hole;omit;lien; Etna. CRYPTICCROSSWORD: QUICKCROSSWORD: Across–1Amendment;6Ham;8Chronic;9Bolus;10Step;11 Fee;13Data;14Sedan;16Ramrod;18Veiled;19Duvet;21 Pang;22Pus;23Acme;27Evade;28Granary;30Pie;31 Narcissus. Down–1Arc;2Eyrie;3Deny;4Exceed;5Tube;6Holdall;7 Mishandle;10Scrapheap;11Fedup;12Eaves;14Sod;15Net; 17Mandate;20Vulgar;24Crass;25Rein;26Bali;29Yes. Across–1Sketching;8Worm;9Undermine;11Eyelid;12 Astral;13Tesserae;16Sprained;20Emigré;21Fiasco;23 Abstainer;24Ever;25Unsparing. Down–2Kingship;3Theory;4Hamilton;5None;6Howler;7 Smudge;10Eyes;14Sidestep;15Aberdeen;16Suffer;17 Reader;18Inca;19Vizier;22Oban. (2)(1)Across–Draft;Vomit;Lathe. Down–Devil;Admit;Title. Across–Fined;Usage;Traps. Down–Fount;Nyala;Dress.
Quiz Challenge 6.
10.
7.
2.
3.
EASYSUDOKUHARDSUDOKU CROSSCODE Lincoln, Leicester and Cheviot are three types of what? In athletics, what is the official weight of the men’s discus? What is the technical term for a large fissure in a glacier? Ed Harris stars as the Man in Black in which science fictionWestern TV series based on a 1973 film? What G is another word for a phantom and the title of a 1980 Patrick Swayze film? ‘If you need me, call me; No matter where you are; No matter how far’ is the opening of which Diana Ross song? Who wrote the novels The Caine Mutiny and The Winds of War? Which human gland produces growth hormones? The Andean and the James’s are species of which colourful wading birds? Spithead is a part of which UK stretch of water?
4.
Add in some colour An easy way to make any sandwich or wrap a bit healthier is by adding corner
Volunteers will be joining an experienced, supportive and dedicated team of trustees.Theyare interested in hearing from anyone who is passionate about the work they do and anyone that feels that they have something they can bring to further the success of the charity.
The golden light of autumn afternoons gives everything a warm glow that’s tinged with nostalgia for the summer just gone and a tingle of excitement for the crisp days to come.The slanting sun bathes houses, gardens, landscapes and faces in a honeyed light and your selfies will benefit from a naturally flattering filter that no software can reproduce.
Golden light
The 10 best things about autumn, as selected by the National Trust Make the most of a sandwich
Add a sandwichhealthymeator other lean
n For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at: healthy-tipsheartresearch.org.uk/www.
Healthy filling
READING Blind Aid Society was formed in 1883 and then changed to Reading Association for the Blind in 1926, and has supported the sight impaired people of Reading ever since. Right now they want some additional help in their Theykitchens.providehomemade soup and a roll for their Sight Loss Social Club Members. In addition to making the members lunch, they also want volunteers that are more involved and can help keep the kitchen organised.Previous experience or training of kitchen work would be helpful but is not essential as they can provide training on what you need to know.
manor is surrounded by the beech woodland typical of the area with wide paths opening up to long vistas across sweeping Chiltern valleys. Harvest The wheat and barley has been gathered in and the blackberries were early this year but there’s plenty more harvest in the walled gardens, orchards and hedgerows. Every day is an apple day at Hughenden this autumn, with the opportunity to learn about some of the 40 varieties of old English apple. Visitors can also help with the haymaking or head out on a fungi trail.
n Enrych Berkshire is an organisation that provides people with disabilities extra support to help them to enjoy hobbies, interests and activities of their choosing. They are seeking to add new skills and interests to their trustee board.
ActionVoluntaryReading
Best places for golden afternoon selfies include the dahlia garden at Greys Court (nr. Henley-on-Thames, framed by the pergola with the Tower in the background, and on the balcony at Basildon Park with the light on your face and the house in the background.
Healthy Heart Tip healthier grainscomparedoptiontorefined(likewhitebread).
Volunteer
AUGUST is officially month.sandwich
28 To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, August 24, 2022
autumnParkBasildonexploringEnjoythis
| LIFE
Autumn colour This had to be our number one. Seeing our wooded valleys turn a kaleidoscope of yellows, bronze and burnt orange is a beautiful gift of nature before winter draws in. It would be churlish of us to turn down the opportunity to appreciate it. Basildon Park is a great place to see these colours. There is an ‘orange’ or ‘green’ walk through beech woodland to see the colours of guelder rose, maple, spindle and larch along the wholeHughenden’sroute.
The River & Rowing Museum has been open since 1998 to celebrate the River Thames, the international sport of rowing and the town of Henley-on-Thames, and is one of the UK’s leading independent museums with over 114,000 visitors a year. They are currently seeking a treasurer / financeTheytrustee.wanthelp with fulfilling the museum’s financial goals and someone to overlook the museum’s business model and assets.Itis desirable, but not necessary, to be a qualified accountant to fulfil this role and they would welcome someone with the equivalent professional experience.
The first sandwich became popular in the 18th and 19th centuries and has been a staple part of our diets ever since.Whether you’re grabbing an egg sandwich for breakfast or a turkey BLT at lunch, sandwiches are convenient, quick, and easy.Here, we share some ideas to make your sandwiches healthier. Choose wholegrainsnutritious Your basic sandwich is generally made with bread, on a roll or in a wrap.Ifyou’re going to choose one of these items, boost the nutrition of your sandwich by choosing wholeWholegrains.grains are a more nutrient-dense, less processed, and
Picture: National Trust
n Take a look at our brand new Reading Volunteer Connect platform for details of 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. vegetables as they can add a whole host of benefits to your meal. Veggies add nutrients, freshness, and flavour.Anymix of roasted veggies, fresh tomatoes, fresh greens (the darker, the better), sliced red onion, sliced cucumbers, and sliced peppers are all good choices. Give these healthy sandwich tips a try and getServecreative.with a piece of fruit and a highprotein snack as a side, and you’ll score a lot of nutrition and satisfaction all at once.
n To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our uk-recipes-2/org.uk/heart-research-https://heartresearch.website:
butter.youausingoptions.areandsmashedeggs,vegetariansalmonchickenroastedleanFreshly-cookedprotein.meatssuchasturkeyorbreast,cannedortuna,orforoptions;nutbutter,tofu,cookedbeansreduced-fatcheesegoodhealthyAdditionally,trylow-fatbutterorvegetablespreadifnormallyusefull-fat
The best places for leaf swishing include Hughenden, Greys Court, Maidenhead Thicket and Basildon Park.Spooky stories and folklore As the nights draw in, thoughts naturally turn to spooky stories and fireside tales. We’ve not had reports of ghosts in our manor but there are plenty of atmospheric places with interesting tales to tell in Bucks, Berks andStoweOxfordshire.hasaHallowe’en trail in October half term which explores the lost village of Stowe with a few chants and spells along the way. There are also some rare opportunities to explore the spookiest of Stowe’s monuments, the Gothic Temple on September 17 and 18, and October 29 and 30. Back to school As in – try something new. Some people see new year as the time to try a new skill, but for many of us, the tradition of starting new things in September is ingrained from schooldays. After the long lazy days of summer, we often have an urge to be productive and get creative. At Hughenden there are giveit-a-go workshops on watercolour painting, photography and floristry to try. There are also some visiteering opportunities to help out the rangers with hay-making and tree-planting, and the garden team with planting the winter bedding. Check the details.nationaltrust.org.uk/hughendenwebsitefor Comfort food When the days start with misty mornings and ripen with a nip in the air, treating ourselves to a warming lunch after a brisk walk is one of the pleasures of autumn. For the bigger cafes, National Trust development chefs have come up with some new recipes to make the most of the season’s produce. Look out for squash macaroni cheese and Thai spiced squash soup, harissa roasted aubergine or apple and honey scones. The ever-popular pumpkin spice latte will be back for autumn along with a butterscotch milk steamer with sprinkles for children and the child at heart. Conkers There’s something so satisfying about popping a perfect shiny brown conker from its fleshy casing. They’re so wonderfully collectable, but don’t you get the feeling that they should have more uses than stringing them up and flinging them at one another? (Aside, obviously from their primary and very important job of propagating a new horse chestnut tree) If you’re an inveterate conkercollector, you’ll find horse chestnut trees in the woodland at Basildon Park and Hughenden and around the garden at Stowe. Heritage Open Days Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture. Participating places are open for free entry on certain days throughout the festival, which is September 9-18. Cliveden is running house and garden tours, history talks and naturebased workshops for under-5s on Tuesday, September 13, through to Thursday, September 15. Hughenden, Basildon Park and Greys Court are also participating, check websites for dates. Rainy days Bear with us on this one. On sunny days in this country, we’re hardwired to ‘make the most of it’. This can mean that we’re so busy chasing the vitamin D that we don’t have the time or energy to explore the interior of a place.Arainy day in autumn is a great excuse to leave the dog at home and prioritise an exploration of the huge variety of grand, stately, modest, rustic, domestic and quirky houses and buildings that we look after in Bucks, Berks and Oxfordshire. Nuffield Place near Henley was the surprisingly modest home of one of the richest men of the 20th century, Lord Nuffield. The Arts and Crafts house and garden are domestic and cottagey in style, with a curious addition in the bedroom. Nuffield Place is open Wednesdays to Sundays until October 30. n For more details, log on to: nationaltrust.org.uk
Leaf swishing This is entirely different to autumn colour, before you protest. Autumn colour is visual, something to notice while you’re doing something else, like going for a walk. Leaf swishing on the other hand, is a truly immersive activity. You need to commit, body and soul. Whether it’s the high-kick to watch the leaves tumble, or the flat-footed swish-swish to enjoy the rhythmic crackle and whoosh of the dry leaves, there are no half measures. It’s impossible to do it without a smile on your face.
n
“Following the success of the Commonwealth Games, we are excited to see what the future holds for these young athletes and who we might see compete in Australia in 2026 as a result.” BOUNCE BACK IN STYLE
Roman Neveykin, development manager for sport at the Youth Sport Trust and event lead for the School Games National Finals, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming back spectators to this year’s School Games National Finals.
By ANDY PRESTON
“This year’s School Games National Finals will once again help develop the young athletes taking part on and off the field of play through high quality competition and valuable education sessions to ensure they gain skills for life to become future changemakers.
FINCHAMPSTEAD movedthey stormed Counties innings total of 281 from two exceptional batting After Allertonopeningscored35, DJ Waqar scored and wasjoined the by Ashleigh Muttitt who also century as thepair partnership.formeddropped just twowicketsNeeding to chase down recover the game, Cheshaman early wicket when andKarenPhebedespitean impressiveChesham ended their 35 convincing matches, Finch126are points. lost out on their away Tatiana Sumares wickets, while Kali-Ann Docherty Knebworth finished first downsecondinnings.inningsthetarget after opening Tulloch performedcentury.strongly runs fromremainedJemima not out, Binfield 18.5 total. loss, Binfield are points with league Charlbury after nine matches.
ROUND-UP 4 WICKET WIN CRICKET SHINFIELD EARN READING 17.08.22 CLAIMFINCHHUGEHOMEWIN ROOTS FOOTIE BEST FOR GRASS FORFAWKESPRE-SEASONBACK
“The addition of family and friends at this year’s event will help further create the atmosphere of a major multi-sport event we want our young athletes to experience.
‘WE’VEPUTITRIGHT’CITYZENSINFACUPACTION
apreston@wokingham.today ROUND-UPCRICKET READING 24.08.22 Young athletes to compete in National Finals ACTIONNON-LEAGUEROUND-UP OurWoodleyshowroomisopen7daysaweek 0800305030 www.trademarkwindows.co.uk WOKINGHAMTODAY READINGTODAY SPORT TODAY DICK SAWDON-SMITH’S UNMISSABLE COLUMN IS BACK! ‘WE’LLPUTITRIGHT’ALLTHEBIGROYALSNEWS
THIRTY TWO young athletes from Berkshire have been selected to compete at the 2022 School Games National Finals. The games will take place at Loughborough University from Thursday, September 1, to Sunday, September 4. This year more than 1,000 young athletes at the event hope to follow in the footsteps of Adam Peaty, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Hannah Cockroft, who formerly competed at the National Finals and this year went on to compete at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. School Games National Finals alumni secured 100 medals at Birmingham 2022 between them. The four-day event will host over 1,100 aspiring athletes aged between 13 and 18 who will compete across 10 sports, four of which include disability disciplines. The opportunities outside of competition include the Athlete Education Programme which sees the charity’s athlete mentors and high-profile athletes, including, Paralympic Games gold medallist swimmer, Liz Johnson, and former Olympian in rowing, Toby Garbett.
ROYALS
READING FC have recovered admirably after their humbling defeat at Rotherham with two victories on the bounce. Last Wednesday, the Royals put paid to Blackburn Rovers’ perfect start to the season by thumping them 3-0 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in a game that saw Paul Ince’s men record their first clean sheet of the season.Reading then followed that up with a gutsy display against Middlesbrough on Saturday that saw them claim another clean sheet on their way to taking three points after Tyrese Fornah’s stunning strike. Three home wins from their opening five Championship games means that Reading are third in the table in the very early stages of the campaign – and it could be the start of Fortress SCL Stadium. With new signings on the horizon and players set to return from injury in the coming weeks, things are looking up after the struggle of last season’s relegation scrap.The Royals are back on the road this Saturday when they play Millwall at the Den. n Full Royals reports and pictures inside the sports pages.
UNACCEPTABLE DRUBBINGSAYS DEFENDER TOM
defender Tom McIntyreaftertheir first-half themselves three minutesas they were made to concentration.pay on theof halt-time the game and despite keeping Reading were had to settle defeat to the newlypromotedAfterthe match, McIntyretweeted: “Personally and collectivelygoodenough.madeApologiesthetrip we all know andexpected.make sure we put host Blackburn Roverstonight rdg.todayand are back at homeagainst Middlesbrough & 21 By ANDY apreston@wokingham.today
OurWoodleyshowroomisopen7daysaweek 0800305030 www.trademarkwindows.co.uk WINDOWS DOORS CONSERVATORIES WOKINGHAMTODAY READINGTODAY SPORT TODAY BEST FOR GRASSROOTS SPORT ACROSS READING
WOODLEY UNITED LADIES took a draw in their pre season battle against Bournemouth Sports LFC. Rebecca Gooch netted for the Kestrels to help them to a 1-1 draw. Woodley will compete in the Southern Region Women’s Premier Division One North next season.CAVERSHAM UNITED WOMEN were in action for their final preseason friendly up against WARGRAVE WOMEN.Wargrave Women will play in Thames Valley Women’s Division 1 next season, competing alongside ASCOT UNITED LADIES and TILEHURST PANTHERS.Meanwhile, Caversham United will be up against EVERLEY & CALIFORNIA LADIES and Woodley United in Southern Region Women’s Division One North.Ascot competed in their most recent friendly at the weekend against Winchester City Flyers. Ascot have one more pre-season friendly before their league campaign kicksTheyoff.host Penn & Tylers Green Ladies on Sunday.
FA Cup preliminary round READING CITY fell to defeat at Royal Wootton Bassett Town which ended their FA Cup run. City went behind after 15 minutes when Louis Spalding struck a stunning effort from 30 yards for the hosts. After an impressive spell form the Cityzens, they were knocked back when Wootton added a second in the 34th minute. James Smith netted in the 73rd minute to get City back into the game, but the home team wrapped up the tie with a third in the 81st minute.
Thames Valley Premier League BURGHFIELD got their season off to the perfect start by taking three points at home to Windlesham United. Goals from Jordan Cox, Harvey Beales and Lewis Butcher saw the Fielders strike three goals in a 3-1 success in their season opener.
Goals from George Hepburn and Fred Kirby ensured their season began with three points in a 2-1 win.
FINCH
Burghfield: Adams, Beales, Brown, Cox, Farmer, McClellan, McCulley, Medford, Roberts, A Telford, E Telford Subs: Butcher, Cook, Davies, Howell, Iremonger
Reading City in action Pictures: Andrew Batt Finchampstead v Burghfield (pictured above), S4K Berks County v Ruislip Rangers (pictured below) Pictures: Andrew Batt OurWoodleyshowroomisopen7daysaweek 0800305030 www.trademarkwindows.co.uk WINDOWS DOORS CONSERVATORIES WOKINGHAMTODAY READINGTODAY CITYZENS EXIT
By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today
Combined Counties Division One SANDHURST TOWN continued their perfect start to the season with a 5-0 triumph over Brookehouse.TheFizzers stormed into a two goal lead with strikes from Sani and Penton,Millo and Vigrass scored in the second-half before Penton found his second to wrap up another impressive victory for Sandhurst. They are top of the table with five wins from five games.
BINFIELD continued their FA Cup journey with a 3-0 win in their away tie at Kidlington FC. There was a big twist in the tie just nine minutes in when Kidlington player Matt Cheetham was sent off for violent conduct. Binfield created chances throughout but went into the break goalless.TheMoles took advantage in the second-half and went ahead in the 64th minute through Taylor Morgan.They doubled their with a goal from Connor Holland and then sealed their place in the next round with a third from captain Sean Moore. ASCOT UNITED were eliminated after a 2-1 loss at Holyport. Holyport raced into the lead after 15 minutes when they latched quickly onto a rebound from a free-kick.Justfour minutes into the second-half Holyport extended their advantage when they capitalised on an error at the back from Ascot.
FINCHAMPSTEAD started their title defence with a thumping win on the road at Westwood Wanderers. Stephen Hunt struck twice to put Finch two goals in front. The visitors ensured they were 3-0 up before the break when Thomas Symss added to the score. Dylan Chaffin netted two second-half goals to put more gloss on the scoreline as the champions came away with an impressive 5-1 opening day win.
EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA stormed to three points over CB Hounslow with an astounding firsthalf display.
SEASON OPENERS FOOTBALL
Combined Counties Premier North WOKINGHAM & EMMBROOK are still searching for their first league win of the season after they gave up a two-goal lead against Hilltop. The Sumas went in front with 14 minutes on the clock when Hannachi scored with a half volley. Just two minutes after the restart, the Sumas doubled their money when Clark kept his composure to finish from Jake White’s through ball. Hilltop hit back quickly to make it 2-1 in the 49th minute and then found an equaliser with 10 minutes to go to frustrate the visitors.
Finchampstead: Butt, Chaffin, Day, Hand, Hanley, Hunt, Jones, Mills, J Payne, N Payne, Symss Subs: Howe, Parmar, Rebbeck, Simons, Vallance WARGRAVE started their season with a home win over Marlow United.
By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today
Wargrave: Bray, Briggs, Gordon, Haylett, Hepburn, Hunter, Kirby, Lallament, Patterson Sissons, Wigmore Subs: Chowdhary, Elwood, Kershaw, Smith
18 To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, August 24, 2022
BURGHFIELD AND WIN
S4K, who were crowned champions of the Thames Valley Counties Women’s Division 3 South last season have been promoted and will play in Division 2 next season after sealing promotion.
READING CITY U23’s also kicked off their TVPL campaign by taking three points.They took a 2-1 win against Maidenhead Town.
FOOTBALL
Just after an hour played, Ascot got back into the contest when Brendan Matthew grabbed a goal back.Both teams were reduced to 10 players and Ascot were unable to force an equaliser and were knocked out of the cup.
Reading YMCA: Adam, Bartlett, Denton, Fitzpatrick, Froude, Homola, Robinson, J Smith, Tucker, Woodrow, D Smith Subs: Clima, Wynn, Ibbotson Friendlies
S4K BERKS COUNTY suffered a narrow loss by a solitary goal in their pre-season match against Ruislip Rangers.Thematch which was contested at Charters Leisure Centre ended 1-0 to the visiting team in what was the Fawkes second game of pre-season.
READING YMCA’s season started with a narrow 2-0 defeat to Slough Heating Laurencians away from home.
WOODLEY UNITED staged an outstanding second-half comeback to earn three points away at FC Deportivo Galicia. The hosts kicked off and were immediately penned into their own half as Woodley pressed high winning two corners and Ciaron Quick passing by Deportivo enabled Juan Devia to fire a low shot to Walker’s left to open the scoring.United fell further behind in the By STAFF WRITER sport@wokingham.today
OurWoodleyshowroomisopen7daysaweek 0800305030 www.trademarkwindows.co.uk WINDOWS DOORS CONSERVATORIES WOKINGHAMTODAY READINGTODAY EXIT FA CUP, BOARS HIT FIVE
41st minute when a short corner allowed an unmarked Naut to head into the goal from Devia’s cross. Again Woodley responded well with Carolan reducing the deficit two minutes later when he received a pass from Suckling with his back to goal and turned in the goal area to stroke the ball into theWithinnet. three minutes of the restart United were level when Zach Tull scored from the edge of theWoodleybox. subsequently went through a frantic period of play and survived Naut shooting over the cross bar and Saj Qail being allowed to turn in the penalty area and shoot over Walker’s cross bar. Play began to go from end to end with Deportivo playing a high defensive line that saw them punished in the 73rd minute. Sanchez’s clearance outside the penalty area went to Sid Gbla whose cross field pass to the right hand side found Suckling in the penalty area to finish first time. The comeback was completed by substitute Abdul Afolabi who scored twice in three minutes. Jahson Downes’ pass split the defence to allow Afolabi to evade a tackle by Sanchez outside his penalty area to roll the ball into an empty net from 20 yards in the 86th minute to be followed by him receiving another Downes pass inside his own half and running unchallenged to slot the ball pass inside Sanchez’s left hand post.
WOODLEY UNITED: Walker, DeSousa, Massaquoi (Chowdhary), Rushforth (Nunes), Williams, Tull, Gbla, Brandao, Carolan (Afolabi), Downes (Stevens), Suckling (Touray)
BERKS COUNTY put another point on the board against Westside.Sackey put the Swords in front but Westside came back to earn a 1-1 draw.
Ross McKernan
GALICIA 2-5 WOODLEY KESTRELS RECOVER TO STAGE A REMARKABLE COMEBACK
The Boars scored five times in a clinical opening 45 minutes to blow their opponents away. Eversley scored their first goal after five minutes when Jatinder Liddar met Brad Brown’s flick on from a Liddarcorner.was again perfectly placed in the 17th minute to score his second and he sealed his hattrick in the 35th minute when he converted from Joe Pantony’s pass. Brown got on the scoresheet to make it four and Liddar latched onto a short back pass to cap his magnificent performance. Despite not adding to their score in the second-half, the Boars boosted their league position and goal difference as they moved into seventh with three wins from four matches.
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662Wednesday, August 24, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE 19
Reading City v Hanworth Villa Joe Pantony celebrates with Jatinder Liddar Pictures: Richard Milam
Brad Brown celebrates after scoring Luis Emanuel hits the target crosses
LAST week in this column, I said there weren’t many Law changes to concern players or referees at most levels. The major change is really a confirmation of something that started temporarily, during the pandemic, to allow more substitutes, as teams had to play more often in shorter periods of time. There is an increase to five substitutes being allowed but it’s very limited. The revised law says it is only for the first teams in top divisions or senior A internationals, providing the competition rules allow. It means of course, that ignoring the goalkeeper, who is seldom substituted, Premier League teams can now change half their players in a game. Teams are permitted to have up to 15 named substitutes to choose from, but the Premier League are only having nine. The Laws on substitutions have always been a little complicated, as it is up to competitions to say how many substitutions may be made, but only up to a limit set by the International Football Association Board. When substitutes were first allowed as an experiment in 1965, only two substitutions could be made and then only for injured players. Clubs soon got around that, by managers shouting out for players to limp when they wanted to replace them. Not everyone agreed with their introduction. When the first substitute took the field at Arsenal, he was booed by a large number of spectators. It wasn’t long before the injury requirement was discontinued and the number of possible substitutes increased to three where it has remained in most football. This increase in the top levels of the game has bought a new phrase into the Laws of the Game, ‘Substitution opportunities’. When the extra substitutes were allowed, the IFAB were concerned that this would lead to clubs using this as another opportunity to delay or break up the game.So there are still only three opportunities during play when substitutes can be made, which is why you may see multiple substitutions at the same time. However, if teams make substitutions during half time or between full time and extra time, that is not counted as a Substitution opportunity.Alsothere are some competitions which allow an extra substitute if there is extra time, so they are allowed an extra Substitution opportunity. It’s also worth remembering that in youth football, up to 12 substitutes can be allowed. The idea is to give as many youngsters as possible a chance to play.
FROM MIDDLETHE Sawdon-SmithDickSubstitutionchanges,butonlyatthetop
READING: Lumley, GuinessWalker, Yiadom (c), Holmes, McIntyre, Hoilett, Hendrick, Fornah, Loum, Ince, Long SUBS: Bouzanis, Abrefa, John Clarke, Craig, Camara, Joao, Ehibhatiomhan
Tom Ince looks to create
| SPORT
READING FC are set to finally complete the signing of Naby Sarr once George Puscas finalises a move away from the club. Following Reading’s win over Middlesbrough, Royals boss Paul Ince confirmed that Puscas is on his way to seal a move to Italian side Genoa.Hopes were high when the Romanian forward joined the Royals for a club record initial fee of €8million from Inter Milan in AugustDespite2019.showing early promising signs after arriving in Ber kshire, which included two goals on his home debut against Cardiff City and an astonishing quickfire five-minute hat-trick away at Wigan Athletic, things haven’t worked out as well as hoped. He ended his debut season in England with 12 Championship goals and 14 in all competitions from 42 However,appearances.inthenext season under Veljko Paunovic, Puscas struggled for game time as Lucas Joao enjoyed an excellent scoring season.Puscas netted just four times in 21 league games and scored once in 25 games in the first-half of the 201/22 season before being sent out on loan to Pisa. That means that Reading will now be given clearance from the EFL to sign Sarr, who has been training with the Royals for several weeks ahead of a move. Sarr, who has also played for Lyon, Sporting Lisbon and Charlton Athletic, helped Huddersfield to reach the play-offs final last season before they lost out to Nottingham Forest. Sarr played 41 times and scored four goals in his first season for the Terriers in 2020/21 and last campaign he made 18 Championship appearances and scored three goals. His final appearance for Huddersfield came at Wembley in the play-off final where he started the match and completed 57 minutes as the Terriers narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League. Ince also confirmed that the club are in talks to try and sign leftback Baba Rahman. Chelsea full-back Rahman spent last season on loan wiwth Reading and played 29 Championship games.
How they rated Match stats
Royals close to sealing Sarr deal as Puscas set to depart TO
GOALS
By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today READING BLACKBURN3 0 OurWoodleyshowroomisopen7daysaweek 0800305030 www.trademarkwindows.co.uk WINDOWS DOORS CONSERVATORIES WOKINGHAMTODAY READINGTODAY 7 20 To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, August 24, 2022
The Royals applaud the home fans Reading celebrate McIntyre’s opener
JOE LUCASTYRESETOMTOMJUNIORANDYSHANEMAMADOUTOMJEFFNESTALUMLEYGUINESS-WALKERHENDRICKHOLMESLOUMLONGYIADOMHOILETTINCEMCINTYREFORNAHJOAO
END
Tom Holmes marks tightly Royals clear from danger
Subs: Abrefa 6, Clarke n/a
READING FC responded from Saturday’s defeat in style by ending Blackburn Rovers’ unbeaten start to the Championship season. Goals from Tom McIntyre, Junior Hoilett and Lucas Joao ensured Reading made it two wins from two in the league at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. The Royals went in front after 14 minutes thanks to a bullet header fromHavingMcIntyre.created several big openings, Reading seized their opportunity to grab a second when Hoilett unleashed a rocket before Joao added a third. Paul Ince’s men now have two wins and two defeats from their opening four Championship games, putting them ninth in the early stages of the season. There was a much welcomed return for Lucas Joao on the bench after he had missed out on the opening three league games after getting injured in Reading’s final game of pre-season against Brighton & Hove Albion.The Royals came out the traps early with high energy looking to make amends for their awful firsthalf display on Saturday.
CHAMPIONSHIPFC
98787797667
BLACKBURN ROVERS:Kaminski, Brittain, Pickering, Ayala, Szmodics, Dolan, Buckley, Brereton Diaz, Travis, Vale, Phillips SUBS: Pears, Morton, Edun, Gallagher, RankinCostello, Hedges, Dack : McIntyre 14’, Hoilett 61’, Joao 78’
Repaid his manager’s faith. Took an early claim which got the fans on-side. Made a fantastic reflex save just after half-time to deny Phillips. Got forward well. Seemed a little shaky on the few occasions he was tested defensively and was replaced by Abrefa with 10 minutes to go. Made a handful of loose passes early on but never gave up Wasn’t his best showing but persisted and worked hard in midfield. Was committed to the cause, particularly in the air. Could have got on the scoresheet twice on another day.Arguably the best player on the pitch. Set the tone with countless interceptions and second balls won. Seemed to glide around the pitch. Put himself about and fought for every loose ball. A lot of his work was done with his back to goal in what was a selfless performance. Covered every blade of grass, doing his bit on both ends of the pitch. Kept the highly-touted Brereton Diaz quiet. Fantastic. Was positive all game and deserved his goal. His understanding with Yiadom on the right is getting stronger by the week. Bright. His set piece deliveries created a hatful of chances. Embraced his role alongside Long, tracking back when required. Reacted well to the criticism received on the weekend. Got on the scoresheet with a fantastic glancing header from a Tom Ince corner. His best performance in a Reading shirt thus far, barely put a foot wrong. Did unbelievably well to set up Joao’s goal. Had a shot cleared. Made the most of his 20 minutes, firing home late on. Displayed his class with some neat touches.
Ben Brereton Diaz, who netted 22 Championship goals for Rovers last season, showed his quality when he skipped away from Yiadom and flashed a half volley just wide of the post.Having conceded in the first 10 minutes of all three of their Championship games, it was Reading this time that made a fast start.Scoring the opening goal for the first time this season, the Royals went ahead after 14 minutes when Tom McIntyre’s charging run at the near post saw him meet Tom Ince’s inswinging corner delivery and head in via the underside of the crossbar.Reading maintained their high energy levels in the opening half an hour as Ince and Long continued to put pressure on the Rovers defence at every opportunity. The hosts could have made it two when Thomas Kaminksi parried a cross into the path of Tyrese Fornah who looked to find
READING
ROYALS BOUNCE BACK
Tom Ince fed the ball to Andy Yiadom in the box who tried to pick out Shane Long with a cross, but Daniel Ayala dealt with the danger comfortably.Blackburn tried to counter but a smart piece of defending from Nesta Guiness-Walker saw his side win a free-kick.
Reading celebrate Formah’s goal Picture: Luke opener in their victory over Blackburn Pictures: Steve
Holmes leaps Lucas Joao nets the third goal
Coventry City after George Saville’s 85th minute winner. An astonishing end to their game at Swansea City saw Millwall escape with a point after Ben Cabango netted an own goal in the 93rd minute before Nathan Wood incredibly scored another own goal two minutes later to see Gary Rowett’s side take a 2-2Twodraw.goals from Josh Sargent saw Millwall lose out away at Norwich City last weekend. Reading are winless in their last five matches against Saturday’s opponents (one draw, four losses). the corner only to have his goal bound effort cleared off the line. Just a minute after Fornah went close, Tom Holmes went even closer when he towered over a defender to meet a corner but had his header deflected over the bar by Ayala. Ince’s men went into the break a goal in front and were unfortunate not to have a bigger lead. Clearly unsatisfied with what he saw in the first-half, Rovers boss Tomasson made three changes at the break as Bradley Dack, Sam Gallagher and Ryan Hedges were all brought on. Ince and Long’s relentless pressing won the ball high up the pitch and when Ince slid Jeff Hendrick through he rounded the goalkeeper, but from an acute angle he scooped the ball into the side netting after a slightly heavy pass.Joe Lumley was required to make an incredible stop as he flew to the right to make a one-handed save to keep out Ashley Phillips’ half volley. The Royals had two great chancesFornah’sback-to-back.crossfound Holmes unmarked in the middle but the defender couldn’t direct his header goalwards.Reading then came charging forward with three in attack and
Millwall have had a mixed start to their season and are currently in 10th place on seven points from fiveTheymatches.finished just outside of the play-off places last season, ending in ninth on 69 points, just six points outside of the top six.
Yiadom celebrates with Lumley Lumley takes a catch
The Royals last won at Millwall in February 2014 with goals from Pavel Pogrebnyak, Alex Pearce and DannySinceWilliams.then,Reading have failed to win on their last six trips to the Den. SEARCH FOR FIRST AWAY POINTS AT THE DEN
SPORT |
OurWoodleyshowroomisopen7daysaweek 0800305030 www.trademarkwindows.co.uk WINDOWS DOORS CONSERVATORIES WOKINGHAMTODAY READINGTODAY To advertise, call 0118 327 2662Wednesday, August 24, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE 21
Long took aim trying to pick out the bottom corner, but Kaminski got down low to get fingertips to push it behind.Butthe home side ensured they wouldn’t miss their next chance as Junior Hoilett hit the net with a ferocious strike that smacked the underside of the bar on its way in. With 20 minutes to play, Long was replaced by Joao for his first appearance of the season. Joao marked his substitute appearance with a goal when he received the ball from Fornah, swivelled and fired a shot into the corner past Kaminski to put the game to bed.
frontReadingheadsMcIntyrefouledWalkerGuiness-isin
LongSmythcompetes in the air
POSSESSION is nine-tenths of the law. Or not, if you are Paul Ince’s Reading. Compare the amount that the Royals have had the ball in their five league fixtures so far this season and there is a stark difference between their two defeats and three victories.Inlosing to Blackpool and Rotherham, Reading had 52% of the possession. However, they had just 39% when they beat Cardiff, 35% in the glitzy win over Blackburn and then 27% as they triumphed over Middlesbrough on Saturday. This is somewhat of a 180 degree turn on the strategy we have seen in recent seasons. For the most part, ever since Jaap Stam rolled into town in 2016, Reading have attempted to be a team that try to win matches by controlling possession. That tactic has not been without its successes and when implemented well it is certainly the most attractive way of playing the game. But it would be naïve to think that is something that Reading can do this Thisseason.isateam of cobbled together free agents and loanees, from Premier League offcuts to unproven lower league drifters to a Senegalese midfielder from the Portuguese top-flight who no one had heard of a month ago. They are merely the best options that Reading have been able to bring in under difficult circumstances.Tohiscredit, Paul Ince appears to have recognised over the last two games that possession is not the way to go. Instead, he has had to utilise the old cliches: energy, fighting spirit and steelyThosedetermination.qualitieshave been seen in abundance and the home crowd have responded with a roaringHavingatmosphere.theballdoes not matter. Against Blackburn, Reading showed a proactive, aggressive press high up the pitch that limited Rovers’Threethreat.dayslater, they sat deeper, remained disciplined and simply stood their ground against a Middlesbrough side who admittedly did not pose too many difficult questions Even when they did, Reading were switched on to prevent any danger, including a vital late block from substitute John Clarke. Considering that this season threatened to be misery from start to finish, the fact that we actually have a prospering plan A at this point feels like a good place to be.
READING FC are on the search for their first away points of the season when they battle with Millwall this Saturday. The Royals have enjoyed a perfect home record in the Championship with three wins from three, but have lost both of their away matches. They lost to Blackpool on the opening day before a humbling 4-0 loss at Rotherham, but have bounced back in style with a thumping victory over Blackburn Rovers before they ground out a 1-0 success against Middlesbrough.
From EndTilehurstthe NoOlly possession? No problem
Both contests last season between the teams ended in 1-0 wins for FormerMillwall.Reading Academy graduate Jake Cooper scored the only goal of the game to give Millwall three points at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in March and Benik Afobe scored in the reverse fixture in November.
The Lions have won both of their league matches at the Den having opened with a 2-0 triumph over Stoke City on the opening weekend thanks to a brace from Charlie Cresswell.Theylost 2-0 away at Sheffield United but recovered by coming back from two goals down to defeat
PREVIEW END ROVERS’ UNBEATEN START ROYALS
GOALS
“It’s not like Middlesbrough who can bring five subs on to make an impact, they’ve spent a lot of money. I knew after 65 or 70 minutes we would be dead on our feet.“It was more about sticking together, unity spirit, people making blocks. Thomas (Ince) making a tackle in the 92nd minute, Clarky (John Clarke) making a block when you’re thinking ‘here we go, we’re going to throw it away’.
Did well, particularly towards the end when it was all hands on deck. Made an important save to deny Lenihan from close range. Plenty of positives. Displayed his usual tenacity on both ends of the pitch. Shifted into the back three when Hutchinson made way. What a way to open his Royals account, driving a half-volley home from outside the box. His best performance in a Reading shirt. An impressive debut. Was onhand to snuff out any loose balls in Reading’s defensive third. Came off with 20 minutes remaining. A job well done by the Irishman. Carried out his brief of preventing Jonny Howson from dictating the game. Also got forward well. Could have scored shortly after the break, but seemed to lose his footing as the ball came to him on the edge of the box. Returned to the right side of the back three. Contained the Boro offence well, winning the majority of his Adaptedduels. well to switching wings once again. Created issues for Jones by getting down the left. An impressive display considering. A moment of magic saw him dance his way through the Boro back line to play in Hendrick, who could not get a shot away. An assured outing for the centreback, who put in another mature performance. Found himself in some very advanced positions. Made a handful of misplaced passes, but always worked to win the ball back. Did well considering it was his fourth game in two weeks. Lucas Joao 5, John Clarke 6
How they rated DEAN BOUZANIS ANDY
“We got that little bit of luck and got a “Afterresult.the Blackburn game I don’t think we got the credit we deserved. People were saying Blackburn weren’t at the races “We’re never good because we’re Reading, everyone else is rubbish because we win and that’s absolute crap if you ask me.”
After Reading blew Blackburn away on Wednesday with a 3-0 win, Ince was even more pleased with the manner of victory over Boro. He continued: “Wednesday was amazing but I think this was even better because of the circumstances.“Wewereout on our feet. I’m proud of the way we managed to go from Wednesday to a totally different performance today. “It was only at the end when they hit long balls into the box to try and get an equaliser.
Mamadou Loum controlling Royals fans in good voice Holmes picks a pass All smiles in the Reading end Reading maintained their great
‘The boys were unbelievable’ Ince delighted after clean sheet win
| SPORT
FORNAH FINDS WINNER TO CONTINUE
Subs:MAMADOUTOMTOMJUNIORTOMSHANEJEFFSAMTYRESEYIADOMFORNAHHUTCHINSONHENDRICKLONGHOLMESHOILETTINCEMCINTYRELOUM
READING FC made it three consecutive Championship home wins after Tyrese Fornah’z fizzing strike was enough to take the points against winless Middlesbrough. Fornah made sure his first Royals goal was one to remember as he drilled the ball past Zack Steffen after 28 minutes from outside the box.The Royals ensured they took the points by earning their second consecutive clean sheet. After five league matches, Reading are third in the table on nineThepoints.Royals entered the contest on the back of a superb 3-0 win over Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday night, while Chris Wilder’s Boro team were still searching for their first win having drawn three and lost one of their opening four games. There was an early touch for Bouzanis on his first league start when collected a tame curling shot from Marcus Forss in the first minute of the match. Reading settled into the game and won their first corner in the 12th minute after a positive burst down the left from Shane Long that was halted by a perfectly timed sliding tackle. In the aftermath of a corner, Junior Hoilett remained on his toes to make an excellent interception and he burst into the box and tested the gloves of Manchester City loanee Zack Steffen who palmed away his shot.
Mamadou Loum surrendered possession cheaply in the middle of the park which allowed Forss to breeze past two players before he was hacked down just inches outside of the penalty area by Hutchinson.Theyrolled the free-kick short to Alex Mowatt who looked to bend it beyond the wall, but Jeff Hendrick was out quickly to make the block. Reading grabbed the lead in the 28th minute when Tyrese Fornah scored a beauty to claim his first goal for the club. A cleared header rolled back into Fornah’s path and the midfielder hit a sweetly struck first timed effort that fizzed past Steffen to rupture the net at the near post. With a spring in their step having opened the scoring, Reading went in search of another when Tom Holmes floated a wonderful long pass out wide to find Hoilett.
READING FC manager Paul Ince was praising of his team’s ‘backs to the wall’ victory over Middlesbrough. Tyrese Fornah netted his first goal for the Royals to give them three points as Middlesbrough continued their winless start to the season.Itwas a nervy ending to the game for the hosts, but they defended resiliently to take the points.“The boys were unbelievable, I’m happy with the performance,” said Ince. “It was a different type of performance from Wednesday. This was back to the walls stuff. “I half expected it because they put in such a shift on Wednesday and we’re talking about the same 12 players.
READING: Bouzanis, Holmes, Hutchinson, McIntyre, Yiadom (c), Fornah, Loum, Hoilett, Hendrick, Ince, Long SUBS: Andresson, Joao, Camara, Abrefa, John Clarke, Ehibhatiomhan, Craig
87886667877
CHAMPIONSHIPREACTION
READING MIDDLESBROUGH1 0 OurWoodleyshowroomisopen7daysaweek 0800305030 www.trademarkwindows.co.uk WINDOWS DOORS CONSERVATORIES WOKINGHAMTODAY READINGTODAY 22 To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, August 24, 2022
MIDDLESBROUGH: Steffen, Jones, Giles, Fry, McNair, Lenihan, Bola, McGree, Mowatt, Howson, Forss SUBS: Roberts, Hoppe, Smith, Dijksteel, Watmore, Boyd-Munce, Crooks : Fornah 28’ By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today
“That’s what it takes and shows the spirit we have.”
SPORT |
Reading v Blackburn Rovers home form Pictures: Luke Adams Tyrese Fornah scored the only goal of the game Hoilett forwardstrides Hoilett shields the ball Tom Holmes Tom McIntyre celebrates
Reading are on their travels next weekend when they face Millwall at the Den.
MowattchallengesHendrickJeffsavemakesBouzanisa
Speaking after Reaidng’s win over Middlesbrough when questioned about the rumours surrounding West Brom’s interest, Ince said: “No news whatsoever, Lucas (Joao) is going nowhere. “I don’t know why these rumours come“Sinceup. pre-season and even before pre-season when I was in Barbados on holiday there were rumours about him going, but it isn’t happening, that’s it.”
READING FC manager Paul Ince believes Tyrese Fornah can be a ‘top player’ after impressing in the Royals’ victory over Middlesbrough. Fornah, who is on a season-long loan from Nottingham Forest, netted his first goal for the club with a stunning strike which was enough to beat Boro.
CONTINUE PERFECT HOME START
in Berkshire since arriving from Sheffield Wednesday in August 2019 for around £5million. His first season at Reading was interrupted by injury but he managed to score six goals in 19 league games. The following season under Veljko Paunovic saw Joao flourish as his goals had the Royals in contention for the play-offs for the entire season, until they missed out lateHeon.contributed 19 goals in
READING FC boss Paul Ince claimed that Lucas Joao is ‘going nowhere’ amid transfer interest from West Bromwich Albion. Reports emerged this week that the Baggies are interested in pursuing a move for Joao, who has been linked with several clubs this summer.Dueto the Royals’ transfer embargo and financial situation, the Royals may be tempted to cash in on the forward, but Ince is determined to keep hold of Joao.
Ince performancematchFornahpraiseheapsonafterwinning
REACTION
Joao has become a pivotal figure
39 Championship games in the 2020/21 season. A hip injury kept Joao on the sidelines for more than five months at the beginning of the 2021/22 season.Buthe returned from the long term injury and displayed excellent form to help the Royals in their fight against relegation. Joao netted 10 times in 21 games and was awarded the EFL Player of the Month award for February.
“He’s maturing each game and you can forget he’s never played at this level.” The Royals have a perfect record at the Select Car Leasing Stadium with three wins in their first three Championship home matches. Back to back wins and consecutive clean sheets has put Reading up to third in the table in the early stages. Fornah joined the Royals earlier in July on a season-long deal with Forest, who were promoted to the Premier League last season. He spent last season on loan with League One Shrewsbury Town where played 19 times having played 39 times the season before for Plymouth Argyle. Fornah started his youth career with Reading’s academy in 2012 but joined Brighton & Hove Albion in 2018. After a short spell with the Seagulls, Fornah signed for Forest and spent two years in their youth system before making his first team debut for the club in 2020.
OurWoodleyshowroomisopen7daysaweek 0800305030 www.trademarkwindows.co.uk WINDOWS DOORS CONSERVATORIES WOKINGHAMTODAY READINGTODAY To advertise, call 0118 327 2662Wednesday, August 24, 2022 READINGTODAY.ONLINE 23
“It wasn’t just about his goal, he’s growing and maturing and that’s what you want.
Ince continued: “He (Fornah) was brilliant with his passing and composure and he finished it off with a goal.
‘He’s going nowhere’ Ince responds to Lucas Joao speculation
The Canadian worked some room for a shot, but with a host of bodies between him and the Boro goal, his shot ricocheted off a defender. Boro were unable to make their way back into the game to level in the first-half have rarely created a decent opening as the Royals headed into half-time with a one goalLonglead.had a sniff at goal just three minutes after the restart when Andy Yiadom darted into the box before the ball fell invitingly for the Irishman to strike, but he scuffed his shot. A great chance to add a second passed Reading by when Ince tried to slip in Hendrick but put a tad too much power on his through ball. Ince made his first change on the hour mark as Joao took the place of Long up top. Boro enjoyed plenty of the ball throughout the match but struggled to create anything substantial with it as Reading held firm at the back. A slick Boro move down the right worked an opportunity but Watmore blazed his shot high over theBorobar. started to turn the screw in search of a leveller when a cross into the box was won by Crooks, but his header floated just wide of Bouzanis’ far post. Bouzanis came up with an important stop with 10 minutes to go and did well to hold onto a powerful header just six yards out from Darragh Lenihan. There was a moment for all Reading fans to hold their breath when the referee pointed to the penalty spot when Crooks was hauled to the ground when trying to win a header in the box, but the linesman had already signalled for offside much to the relief of the homeBoroside.continued to pile on the pressure but Clarke came up with a vital block after the ball had been pulled back into a dangerous area.
“I’m always on Ty’s case because I know when I was a 22-year-old midfielder that people were on to me, like Mark Hughes and Bryan Robson. “I know he can be a top player and the last two games he has been absolutely outstanding.
“I don’t like to single people out but I’m going to because he was immense.”
Thames Valley Division 3A
SONNING STAY TOP OF
Thames Valley Division 2B WOKINGHAM 2s lead at the top of the table was cut to one point after they lost to READING Waqad Ahmed hit a half century before his team bowled the Oaks all out for 150 to claim a 50-run win. Reading are now one point behind Wokingham with two games left. HURST are in third after they beat BINFIELD by seven wickets.After they skittled Binfield all out on 73, Hurst wrapped up victory after 14 overs with 39 not out from Cupido.
Home Counties Division 2 WARGRAVE flew to a commanding 10 wicket win away at TringAfterPark.skittling the hosts out for 75 after an exceptional first innings display which saw Oliver Winterbottom collect five wickets, it took Wargrave just 8.2 overs to seal the Openingmatch.partnership Rhys Lewis (40) and Sulaiman Javed (29) remained not out to guide their team to Wargravevictory.are up to second with two games left to complete the campaign.
By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today
OurWoodleyshowroomisopen7daysaweek 0800305030 www.trademarkwindows.co.uk
WOKINGHAM END WITH WIN OVER CAVERSHAM
FINCHAMPSTEAD added more points to the board with a six wicket triumph at home to Oxford.GuyAshby managed to take three wickets as Oxford ended on Finch200. batted efficiently and only dropped four wickets on their way to surpassing the total as Matt Gilkes impressed withFinchampstead68. are eighth in the table with two games left to play.
DIVISION 3A
SONNING remain top of the pile after they thrashed Thatcham Town by 247 runs. Connor Wardlaw impressed with a massive score of 120 before Oliver Rowe collected five wickets to bowl Thatcham all out for 78. WARGRAVE 2s are up to sixth after they beat Harpsden by six Lallwickets.totalled a century without losing his wicket to help Wargrave catch the first innings total of 226.
| SPORT RESULTS AugustSaturday,20 ChampionshipFOOTBALL Reading 1-0 Middlesbrough FA Cup preliminary round Kidlington 0-3 Binfield Holyport 2-1 Ascot United Royal Wootton 3-1 Reading CombinedCity Counties Division One Berks County 1-1 Westside CB Hounslow 0-5 Eversley & California FC Deportivo Galicia 2-5 Woodley United Sandhurst Town 5-0 Brook House Thames Valley Premier League Burghfield 3-1 Windlesham United Reading City U23’s 2-1 Maidenhead Town Slough Heating Laurencians 2-0 Reading YMCA Wargrave 2-1 Marlow United Westwood Wanderers 1-5 Finchampstead HomeCRICKETCounties
BCM Championship WEST READING lost out to Ley Hill who confirmed their place as leagueReadingchampions.wereall out on 144 before the visitors amassed 145 with two wickets to spare after 38.3 overs. SHINFIELD took 35 points after their away performance at CROWTHORNE & CROWN WOOD Shinfield totalled a first innings score of 223 after Anurag Sukela hit 49 runs, while Jeff Cluett took three wickets.Despite 41 from Anthony Cluett, three wickets each from Noel Joseph and Satish Patil secured the win for Shinfield.
BCL Premier Division SHINFIELD 2s are in third after they got the better of FARLEY HILL by 157 runs.
WEST READING 2s were beaten away at Stratfield Turgis.
Rohan Garg is caught out by CrowsFakhir Ali batting for Shinfield Crowthorne celebrate a wicket
Sunday, August 21 HomeCRICKETCounties Women’s Division 1 Binfield v Charlbury Falkland v Finchampstead FIXTURES Saturday, August 27 ChampionshipFOOTBALL Millwall v Reading Isthmian South Central Binfield v Merstham Combined Counties Division One CB Hounslow United v Berks EversleyCounty&California v Rayners Lane FA Vase first qualifying round Long Crendon v Ascot LonglevensUnitedvReadingCity Bitton v Sumas Thames Valley Premier League Burghfield v SB Phoenix Slough Heating Laurencians v Wargrave Windlesham United v Finchampstead Wraysbury Village v Reading YateleyYMCAUnited v Reading City U23’s HomeCRICKETCounties Premier Division High Wycombe WokinghamFinchampsteadvvHenley Home Counties Division 2 Waregrave v Amersham BCM Championship Great Kingshill v Crowthorne & Crown Wood Shinfield v West Reading CMB Premiership Littlewick Green v Emmbrook and Bearwood BCL Premier Division Farley Hill v Sandhurst Waltham St Lawrence v Startfield Turgis BCL Division 1A Reading United v Reading StallionsLionsv Earley West Reading 3s v Berkshire Royals Thames Valley Division 1 Eversley v Boyne Hill Thames Valley Division 2B Slough 2s v Hurst Sulhamstead & Ufton v Wokingham 2s Reading v Fleet Finchampstead 2s v Binfield THAMESCRICKET VALLEY CRICKET BOWLS SHINFIELD SECURE AWAY WIN AT CROWS
WOKINGHAM lost ground in the title race after defeat to third placed inshyWokinghamdownAttemptingBanbury.tochase185towinthegame,felljusteightrunsastheywereallouton176acloselyfoughtcontest.TheOaksareinsecond,11
Thames Valley Division 1 EVERSLEY got back to winning ways with a compelling 110-run success at HenleyEversley2s. hit a massive 374 after Oli Parsons smashed a century and Tom Howorth addedEversley87. then bowled Henley all out for 264 to collect 23 Theypoints.remain in eighth position with two games left to play.
CMB Premiership EMMBROOK AND BEARWOOD enjoyed a big win over the Lee with a dominating performance A 70 from Andy Lazenbury was followed by 56 not out from Jack Narraway which helped the hosts finish with a score of 218. They defended their total magnificently and Richard Cole and Andy Lazenbury both ended with four wickets each to their names. The away team were all out for 64 which consolidated a convincing 154-run success for Emmbrook. Emmbrook are second in the table, 18 points behind leaders Cadmore End with two games to play.
Shinfield scored 235 after Saksham Tyagi hit 86 runs. Farley collapsed quickly after Pawan Tyagi (5-22) and Agastya Pothapragada (4-15) bowled brilliantly to help their team to victory.
DESPITE THATCHAM THRASHING Home Counties Premier Division
WOKINGHAM Bowling Club’s men’s KL A team took victory in their final match with a 12-2 win over Caversham. The result ensued that they sealed a third placed finish in Division 1 East. Wokingham’s KLV ‘C’team also won their final match with 43 shots to Wargrave’s 33 shots. This resulted in a second place in the Kennet KLV Central East Division 3 for the endof the season.Wokingham’s Ladies TVLL match against Great Hollands had to be stopped due to the extreme heat conditions. 72 members played in the Captains and Presidents match at Wokingham on Saturday, August 20 in an enjoyable afternoon that ended in a win to the President’s team.
By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today points behind league leaders Aston Rowant with two games to go.
WINDOWS DOORS CONSERVATORIES WOKINGHAMTODAY READINGTODAY 24 To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today READINGTODAY.ONLINE Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Premier Division Banbury (184 all out) beat Wokingham (176 all out) Finchampstead (202-4) beat Oxford (200 all out) Home Counties Division 2 Tring Park (75 all out) lost to Wargrave (76-0) BCM Championship Crowthorne & Crown Wood (169 all out) lost to Shinfield (223 all out) West Reading (144 all out) lost to Ley Hill (145-8) CMB BCLEmmbrookPremiershipandBearwood(218allout)beatTheLee(64allout)PremierDivision Sandhurst (142 all out) lost to Mortimer West End Shinfield(143-8)2s (235-8) beat Farley Hill (78 all out) Stratfield Turgis (142-4) beat West Reading 2s (138 all out) Welford Park (283 all out) lost to Waltham St Lawrence (302-4) BCL Division 1A Earley (161 all out) beat West Reading 3s (153 all out) Reading Lions (164 all out) lost to Checkendon (180-8) Silchester (220-8) beat Reading United (213 all out) Thames Valley Division 1 Henley 2s (264 all out) lost to Eversley (374-7) Thames Valley Division 2B Hurst (74-3) beat Binfield (73 all out) Wokingham 2s (150 all out) lost to Reading (200-8) Cove (164 all out) lost to Finchampstead 2s (209-9) Thames Valley Division 3A Wargrave 2s (226-4) beat Harpsden (225-8) Aldershot (235-8) beat White Waltham (200 all out) Sonning (325-4) beat Thatcham Town (78 all out)
FINCHAMPSTEAD 2s are in fifth after they won away at Cove.
WALTHAM ST LAWRENCE moved away from the bottom of the table after a 19-run triumph over Welford Park. Fakhir battingAlifor Shinfield Crowthorneagainst & Crown Wood Pictures: Steve Smyth
