Wokingham Today, April 13, 2023

FUNDING: The government has pledged more than £200m to support the new

£200m boost for museum’s new site at Shinfield

By JI-MIN LEE jlee@wokingham.today

A SHINFIELD science facility has received an £20 million of government support to help further its work.

The funding will help the Natural History Museum create state-of-the-art collections, as well as a digitisation and research centre at its Thames Valley Science Park (TVSP) centre.

This contribution comes in addition to the £182 million assigned as part of the Spring Budget 2020, in line with the government’s commitment to increase investment into UK science, research and development, making the total investment more than £200 million.

Prof Robert Van de Noort, vicechancellor of the University of Reading, said: “This announcement brings the university and the Natural History Museum a step closer to delivering this important collections and research centre.

“It will open up innovative research opportunities for academics here in Reading and around the world.

“It is great news for the University community and the people of Reading and Wokingham, and we look forward to sharing more detailed plans with the local community soon.”

Last May, the Natural History Museum announced its move to the Shinfield facility, its largest collections move for more than 140 years.

The NHM Unlocked programme will see 28 million specimens move to the new facility in the University of Reading-owned Thames Valley Science Park.

These specimens cover every ocean and land mass of the planet, ranging from a microscopic water bear that can survive in outer space, to whale remains.

n Continued on page 2

THIS TRAFFIC BLACK SPOT’

Residents call for action over crossroads

EXCLUSIVE

By JAMES HASTINGS news@wokingham.today

RESIDENTS in Wargrave have warned it is “only a matter of time” before someone is killed by speeding motorists at an accident black spot.

And they have threatened to install their own road safety measures if council bosses and police refuse to curb the culprits.

A number of serious crashes at the notorious junction have left local drivers fearful of more accidents and pedestrians terrified to walk along the narrow pavements.

One man whose car was written off after being struck by a speeding driver echoed complaints by angry residents that Wokingham Borough Council, the Police and Theresa May MP refuse to take the matter “seriously.”

n Full story page 7

No. 413

v Family notices

COGB ILL Rose

Passed aw aysuddenlybut peacefully atthe Royal BerkshireHospital on22 March, 2023 aged84 years.

Reunited w ithher devotedhusband JohnFrancis Cogbill Belovedmother to Tracey,forever inher heartandmind.

So sadlymissedbyher family and friends.

Funeral service to beheld at St Bartholomew 's Church, Arborfield RG2 9JD onFriday21 April 2023 at 2pm,follow edby committal at 3 30pm Easthampstead Park Crematorium RG403DW.

Floral tributes toDavidGreedyFuneral Directors, 220 Dukes Ride, Crow thorne, RG456DS 01344773741.

Donations to PDSA Charity for Animals c/ oDavidGreedyFuneral Directors.

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Missing dog returned

By EMMA MERCHANT emerchant@wokingham.today

THE OWNER of a therapy dog is overjoyed to have been reunited with her canine companion during the Easter weekend.

Maple, an auburn coloured cockapoo, was stolen in Hurst on March 21 last year.

Concerned locals worked hard to try to find the dog at the time, and have continued their efforts over the months that followed.

A GoFundMe page was set up to support a campaign to find Maple, fliers were printed, and a Facebook page was set up to keep the therapy dog in mind.

Her owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “I’ve done so much crying.

“You lose hope when it’s been a year, and I had got to the point where I was preparing to put up a picture of Maple on the wall, to try to move on.

“But it was almost as though it was when I stopped looking that she came back.”

Over the Easter weekend Maple turned up more than 100 miles away, having been taken to a veterinary practice in Norfolk by her current ‘owner’ for an appointment.

Thankfully, when she was

examined, her microchip data was also checked. The vet realised she was stolen and made the call that Maple’s true owner had been longing to hear.

“It’s a bit of a blur,” said her owner. “It was all so surreal.

“I’ve had so many calls since our campaign began –prank, hoax and scam calls. Some horrific things have been said and it’s not always easy to cope with them.

“So when I got this call I didn’t answer immediately.

But I checked the number and saw it was a vet, so when they called again a few minutes later I picked up and we quickly established that she was mine.

“My first question was: ‘is she alive?’ It has been my greatest fear that she was dead or suffering, so to get the call and to hear that she was alive and well was amazing.

“I don’t think any of us could believe it was really her – I was a bit numb.”

A friend took Maple’s owner to Norfolk straight away on Maundy Thursday evening, driving through peak traffic conditions.

She said, “Honestly, I would have driven anywhere, anytime, to witness this wonderful reunion.”

Pictures on the group’s Facebook page tell a happy story.

BACK: Maple’s owner said she’s till the same sweet natured dog

Her owner said: “As soon as she saw me, Maple was really pulling on the vet’s arm, straining on her lead. She responded to her name straight away, and gave me a kiss.

“Everyone was crying.”

Existing ear and stomach issues Maple had may have been exacerbated by having been fed the wrong foods over the year, but she is reported to be otherwise in good shape.

“Maple seems really well,” said her owner. “She’s not showing signs of trauma, and she’s still the same loving friendly dog that she was.

“We’ve been very lucky. She’s such a special dog –she’s still our Maple.”

No-one knows what really happened to Maple during the 381 days she was missing; how she was treated or how many people’s hands she passed through before being returned. Her owner is just thankful to have her back.

She said: “I really appreciate all of the love and support I’ve had from people who have taken the time to care. It means the world to me.

“We’ve had a happy ending, but there are many, many dogs that don’t get home.”

Maple’s owner believes that the dog was stolen in the Hogmoor Lane area, by four men seen driving a Saab the day she disappeared.

Microchipped and spayed, she would have been difficult to sell on, and unsuitable for breeding purposes.

Her owner believes that automatic scanning of dogs’ microchips would save a lot of heartache.

“Stealing a dog is like the abduction of a family member, not theft of a possession,” she said. “We really need vets to scan all new dog patients, to check if they’re stolen.

“Otherwise, anyone can take a dog and own them for the rest of their lives without it ever being discovered.”

Wherever her travels have taken her during the past year, Maple is now safely back home.

Her Easter return is a very good news story not just for her delighted owner, but for the borough.

“I can hardly believe she’s really here – it’s like a dream I don’t want to wake up from,” her owner said.

“Maple just wants to be close to me all the time, and I can’t get her off my lap, but that is really not a problem at the moment.”

People are asked to remove any remaining fliers and posters that they find, now that Maple is returned. n For more search Facebook for: REUNITED - Stolen Therapy Dog; Maple the Red Cockapoo.

Natural History Museum’s funding boost

n From front page

The new facility will secure the future of the collection and transform the study of natural history through novel analytical technologies and digitisation. Researchers from around the world will be able to access these collections for scientific innovation, thereby strengthening the UK’s position in finding solutions to the planetary emergency.

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Reading RG1 4LS

Publisher • David Riley

General manager • Eddie Pearce

Editor • Phil Creighton

Reporters • Jake Clothier, Ji-Min Lee, James Hastings, Emma Merchant

Sports reporter • Andy Preston

Graphic designer • Charlotte Simpson

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation. If you have a complaint about a Wokingham Paper Ltd publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance email: editor@wokingham.today. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact

Doug Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum, said: “I thank the Government for providing this substantial investment which allows the Natural History Museum to safely store its irreplaceable collections for generations to come.

“The Museum is looking forward to being a part of the vibrant local community in Wokingham.

Your wording

“We are extremely excited to partner with the University of Reading with all the research potential – from maintaining food security and improving biodiversity to addressing climate change – that this partnership will foster.”

The link between the Natural History Museum and the University of Reading will provide key research opportunities, including

funding for PhD students. Collaboration between the two institutions could help produce solutions on pivotal global topics ranging from biodiversity loss, to the impact of a changing climate and use of Earth’s resources to deliver a green economy.

At TVSP, the Museum joins other science and creative innovators, including the British Museum and Shinfield Studios.

Send for Kelly’s: world food comes to Tesco Wokingham

Adventurers are invited to climb for charity

PEOPLE are invited to take part in a vertical challenge in Wokingham to raise money for men overcoming addiction.

Yeldall Manor’s climbing day will help to support men trying to recover from drug and alcohol dependence by taking part in its recovery programme.

The event, which the group has named Yeldall Everest Challenge, reflects the fact that recovery can feel very much like ascending a mountain.

The day will offer people not only the chance to challenge themselves, but will be a fund raiser to support others whose real life challenges are an uphill struggle.

Sue Hedger, administration and supporter relations manager for the Hare Hatch-based charity, said: “One of our residents, Jason, wants a team of climbers to conquer ‘Everest’.

“Fortunately, this is taking place in Wokingham, not in the Himalayas.

“We would dearly love more climbers to take part, whether experienced or novices.

By EMMA MERCHANT emerchant@wokingham.today

SHOPPERS in a Wokingham supermarket can now enjoy the world on their plate thanks to a new deli.

Tesco’s superstore on Finchampstead Road is the first venue for the new Kelly’s Market, the first of its kind in the country.

The concession serves freshly prepared hot and cold Asian fusion foods, with four main world food concepts to choose from: Chicken (CKN) and Bao, BamTuk, My Little Dim Sum, and Dos Mexicanas.

There are a number of dishes suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

For those planning to eat straight away, there is a Hot Food To Go counter, while a cold counter allows shoppers to pick up dishes to heat up for eating at home.

Amber Martin of Kelly’s Market said: “It’s designed for families, so that each person can choose what they would like to eat.

“There’s something for most people to enjoy here.”

Dishes in the CKN+ BAO range include Bao (open steamed buns) filled with duck, chicken or cauliflower. Also available is a sweet and savoury Chicken Waffle, and for vegetarians, a Cauliflower Waffle.

BamTuk is a South East Asian concept and dishes include Pancit Canton (noodles) with chicken, Pad Thais (noodle stir fry), and dishes such as Chilli Mango Chicken and Rice.

The My Little Dim Sum (asian dumplings and snack dishes) include Katsu Chicken Gyoza (Japanese style fried chicken and Chinese dumplings), closed filled bao buns, Edamame Dim Sum, Radish and Mushroom Bao, Chicken Teriyaki Bao, and Char Siu Pork Bao.

Dos Mexicanos range includes quesadilla (tortilla filled with cheese, meats and spices), doritos, Nacho Meatball Taco, Sweet Potato Taco, Hot Chicken Wings, and Guacamole.

Also at Kelly’s Market are Little Moons mochi ice-creams (ice-cream surrounded by a thin layer of soft dough), and a number of Japanese drinks and savoury snacks.

We tried six savoury dishes, as well as the Little Moons ice-cream, from the range.

The Chicken Bao from the CKN+BAO range was tasty and crunchy, and was hot but not too hot. The addition of red onion slices to garnish the chicken was welcome.

Radish Bau from the My Little Dim Sum range

was flavourful, with a soft Chinese bun, and mushroom and radish filling.

“I would eat this whether I were vegan or not,” said one of our testers, who said they particularly enjoyed the dish.

Chicken and Waffle from the CKN+BAO range was exactly as described – a sweet maple syrupdrizzled waffle dressed with savoury crispy chicken pieces.

The distinctive combination works well, with the sweetness serving to intensify the flavours.

Pancit Canton Chicken from the BamTuk range mixes tasty savoury noodles with carrots, onion, pepper, pak choi and chicken pieces, while the Mighty Meatballs Quesailla is a Mexican style tortilla wrap filled with meat balls, beans and cheese.

When heated in the microwave this responded rather well, with the melting cheese adding to the flavour.

The Golden Custard Bun is charcoal coloured and filled with a soft yellow vanilla egg custard. Like many Chinese desserts, it isn’t overwhelmingly sweet, allowing subtler flavours to emerge.

“I like the doughey, floury taste,” said one of our tasters.

The Little Moon ice-creams in Pistachio,

Coconut, Belgian Chocolate and Yuzu and Lemon flavours were subtle, with the combination of ice-cream surrounded in a soft layer of mochi (soft rice dough) being very pleasant.

With all foods to go, there is always the issue of single use packaging, but most of the containers at the counter are made of cardboard, and some are compostable.

Shoppers at Tesco Wokingham will find Kelly’s Market at the rear of the store, and items are paid for along with groceries at the checkout.

Kelly’s Market will be available via Click and Collect from Wednesday, April 19.

“All equipment will be provided.”

She added: “Please join to us be part of this amazing challenge, and raise sponsorship to help more people.”

Money raised by the event will go to the charity’s Good Samaritan Fund, which supports men with no other means to access recovery programmes, who are trying to overcome addiction from drink or drugs.

Experienced and novice climbers are welcomed, along with experienced belayers, who are also required to control safety ropes at the event.

The event takes place at the Oakwood Climbing Centre, on Monday May 1.

There are two climbing sessions: one during the morning, from 10am through to 1pm, and one in the afternoon, from 1pm through to 4pm.

n To register to climb, people should email: info@ yeldall.org.uk, or log on to: www.yeldall.org.uk

Chicken Bao

Golden Custard Bun is a dessert

Mighty Meatball Quesadilla from Kelly’s Market

Pancit Canton Chicken

Kelly’s Market is bringing world food to the Wokingham branch of Tesco. Picture: Emma Merchant

Churches special services

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today

Mayor opens new space for community groups

A refurbished space at community centre is being made available for groups to use.

Last month, Earley Town Mayor Cllr Tahir Maher, officially opened the space at the Radstock Lane centre.

Named The Elizabeth Room in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, the space aims to be a cosy, informal area, with kitchen facilities.

It is available for hire by local support groups and charities.

The Town Council is aware that the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the current cost of living crisis have led to many organisations seeing an increase

in the number of people needing support, and an increase in the level of that support.

The purpose of The Elizabeth Room is to provide somewhere for local charities and organisations in Earley to provide their services, especially if their clients are experiencing loneliness or social isolation.

The Elizabeth Room is suitable for group meetings, one-to-ones, or somewhere for a group to get together.

n For further information, or to arrange a viewing, people should call the Earley Town Council offices on: 0118 986 8995, or email: administration@earley-tc.gov.uk

Councillor stands aside

A LABOUR councillor for Woodley is not standing in the forthcoming local elections, but promised to continue to serve the community.

Shirley Boyt has been representing the party in the Bulmershe and Whitegates seat since 2019, and helped with a number of initiatives including the Woodley Lunch Bunch.

And she was also instrumental in helping residents affected by a bizarre parking ticket issue.

In December 2021, double yellow lines were painted in Blackthorn Close. Cars that hadn’t been moved were lifted by a crane, the lines painted and then the cars lowered down again. A traffic warden came

by moments later and gave them all tickets.

Thanks to Cllr Boyt’s intervention, all those who appealed the fines had theirs cancelled.

This, among other campaigns, earned her a reputation as a tenacious campaigner for Woodley.

However, it is all change in this year’s local elections and Tony Skuse will be standing for Labour following a party review.

In a statement, Cllr Boyt said: “I would like to thank all the residents who voted for me in 2019.

“I can assure you that I will continue to be very active in our community in an unofficial capacity moving forward.”

Norwegian film reveals worst person in the world

A CINEMA goers club will screen a Norwegian dramedy, set in Oslo.

Wokingham Film Society’s screening of The Worst Person In The World, follows Julie as she navigates the troubled waters of her love life.

Starring Renate Reinsve, the film will be shown at Wokingham’s

Whitty Theatre, on Thursday, April 20.

Doors open at 6.45pm, with the film starting at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £6.50, or £4 for members.

n For more information and to book, visit: www.wokinghamfilmsociety. com

CHURCHES across Wokingham borough held a series of special services and events to mark Holy Week.

They started on Palm Sunday, remembering when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.

Among those holding processions were St Paul’s, which met in the junior school before heading to the Reading Road church.

Members of All Saints were locked out of the primary school, so gathered further up Norreys Avenue for their walk. Heading the procession was a donkey.

On Maundy Thursday, among the special services remember the events of the night when Jesus was arrested, members of St Paul’s and All Saints were joined by students from Westcott House Theological College in Cambridge to set up a shoe-cleaning stall in Market Place.

For two hours, they offered to clean anyone’s shoes for free.

They were doing so to remember the example set by Jesus, who washed the feet of his disciples before calling on them to do the same for others.

As well as cleaning more than 25 pairs of shoes, they handed out free sweets and Palm Crosses and talked about the events of the first Easter.

The Revd Canon Richard Lamey, rector of St Paul’s, said: “We were really humbled by how many people were willing to stop, and by how quickly people were willing to have some really in-depth and honest conversations.

“Some people wanted to ask what we were doing. Some people wanted to just chat. Some people wanted to talk about their own faith journey.

“Some people took a bag of sweets and a Palm Cross as they went past.

“And some people really, really needed their shoes cleaning.

He added: “It was really good fun. It was good to be doing something different, unexpected.

“And we got to have some really moving and important conversations we wouldn’t have had otherwise.

“We will definitely be back next year.”

On Good Friday, churches

held a variety of activities in their own buildings, with both Wokingham Methodist Church and St Paul’s holding craft sessions for families.

There was also a procession of a large wooden cross from Wokingham Methodist Church in Rose Street to Corpus Christi Church in Sturges Road.

Accompanied by church leaders and members, there

was a gathering in Market Place at noon.

Organised by Churches

Together in Wokingham, people sang the hymns When I Survey The Wondrous Cross, and Amazing Grace.

On Holy Saturday, St Andrew’s in Sonning held its annual Easter fun day, with a barbecue, egg and spoon races and other festivities. A similar event was held in Woodley Baptist Church.

OPEN: The Earley town mayor, Earley town councillores and the town clerk celebrate the launch of the The Elizabeth Room. Picture: Earley Town Council

SPIT N POLISH: The Revd Canon Richard Lamey, rector of St Paul’s gives someone’s shoes a bit of a brush up as part of a shoe cleaning event in Wokingham’s Market Place on Maundy Thursday Pictures: St Paul’s Church

and events to mark Holy Week

Word on the street for artists

A FOCUS on the street is the subject for Wokingham Art Society’s April meeting, which takes place next week.

The group will welcome Colin Brown, who will give a demonstration of painting a cityscape in acrylics, based on his experience of capturing street scenes of the world.

He has had a long career as an illustrator, and is a graduate from the Canterbury College of Art.

His session will take place on Tuesday, April 18, from 7.30pm at the Bradbury Centre in Rose Street.

Entry is £3 for members and £5 for nonmembers, and includes light refreshments at the interval.

n For more details, log on to: www. wokinghamartsociety.org.uk

Café provides free networking

A CAFÉ in Binfield welcomes people who work from home to come and network together over coffee, one morning each week.

Laptops and Lattes @ The Den, allows visitors to the premises to plug in their laptops and use the café’s wifi.

They can work in the space and have an opportunity to get to know other home workers in the community.

Laptops And Lattes @ The Den meets in Foxes’ Den Community Café, Binfield.

The free drop-in networking sessions take place on Wednesdays, from 8am through to noon.

n For more information about Foxes’ Den Community Café, visit: www.foxesden.co.uk

READY TO SERVE: The shoe cleaning was in remembrance of when Jesus is said to have washed his disciples feet Pictures: St Paul’s Church

REFLECTION: Churches Together Wokingham held a Good Friday procession from Wokingham Methodist Church in Rose Street to Corpus Christi Church in Sturges Road, stopping at Market Place for an act of witness Picture: Phil Creighton

St Paul’s Church in Wokingham at the start of their Palm Sunday Procession Picture: Phil Creighton

All Saints Church processed along Norreys Avenue to recall the events of the first Palm Sunday Pictures: Phil Creighton

Lions on the prowl this Saturday

Wokingham Lions present a donation to the Kimel Foundation cafe in Evendons

Grant helps outdoor learning benefits to infants school

By EMMA MERCHANT emerchant@wokingham.today

A GRANT from a supermarket will give outdoor-loving youngsters at a borough primary school greater opportunity to play outside.

AN EVENDONS cafe says a donation from Wokingham Lions has helped it keep its doors open.

Kimel Community Cafe was launched to help people with autism and other additional needs gain valuable work experience and life skills, while also being a community meeting place.

However, when a sinkhole open in Evendons Lane last

autumn, the road leading to the cafe was closed, bringing a catastrophic decline in traffic.

To help, members of Wokingham Lions made a donation to help the cafe’s organisers get through this period.

Although Wokingham Lions made the donation in January, at its meeting on Sunday, April 2, the group held an “official” big cheque presentation.

Nic Lander, founder of the Kimel Community Café said: ‘It’s simple… without Wokingham Lions Club’s amazing donation we would have had to close the doors and lay the staff off.”

Now, the Lions are looking forward to a busy few weeks ahead, including the Wokingham Walk on Sunday, April 23, and the Wokingham May Fayre on May Day holiday Monday, May 1.

Tesco has given £1,500 to Polehampton Church of England Infant School, which will be used to create a sand and water play area for the children.

The school applied to Tesco’s Community Grants scheme, which awards funds to community organisations that make a positive difference to their communities.

Grants of £500, £1,000 and £1,500 are available.

Polehampton Infant School hoped that winning a grant would help them encourage the children to enjoy healthy outdoor play, as part of its Let Your Light Shine vision.

difference in their classrooms, throughout the school and when they return home and into their community.

“Playing outdoors significantly helps to improve children’s health and fitness, and has a huge impact on their wellbeing.

likely to try new activities, engage with others, solve problems, explore the natural environment, make friends and show resilience.

in a blue gazebo.

n For more, log on to: www.wokinghamlions. org.uk, or call: 0345 8337384.

Jo Terry, the school’s business manager, said: “We are very grateful to Tesco for this funding.

“We want to encourage our children to aspire to great things and for the light of their lives to shine and make a

“It helps the children to develop self-confidence, independence and self-esteem.

“They also become aware of limits, boundaries and challenges in their play.”

She explained that when children are used to playing outdoors, they are more

“We believe strongly that having opportunities to think actively in a social context, outside, is key to the health and wellbeing of our children,” she continues.

“Our vision for the sand and water play area is to develop an inclusive, innovative, handson, sensory way for children to exercise, learn and have fun in the outdoors.”

Polehampton C of E Infant

School is a two-form entry infant school in Twyford.

It is part of The Keys Academy Trust and works closely with the junior school to ensure an easy transition for the children.

Claire De Silva, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “We’re delighted that we can help organisations such as Polehampton CofE Infant School.

“Tesco Community Grants invites our customers to vote using their blue token for local schemes they feel are important to help our communities thrive, and it’s so good to see the impact that the funding makes.”

The Tesco Community Grants scheme is run in partnership with the Groundwork charity.

Graham Duxbury, Groundwork’s UK Chief Executive, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Tesco to provide these muchneeded funds, which will help to support communities.”

n To apply for a Tesco Community Grant, organisations should visit: tescocommunitygrants. org.uk

‘It’s an accident waiting to happen’ –call for action over Wargrave crossroads

By JAMES HASTINGS news@wokingham.today

WARGRAVE is a picturesque village nestling on the River Thames and is mentioned in the Doomsday Book a thousand years ago.

The church of St Mary’s dates from the 12th century while the High Street with its jumbled houses and shops was laid out not long after.

But this beautiful settlement is now being threatened by a modern menace – speeding motorists –with residents warning someone will be killed unless safety measures are introduced.

Villagers claim dangerous drivers regularly jump traffic lights on the blind corners at the junction of High Street, Church Street and School Lane causing a number of serious accidents.

Residents held a protest at the black spot to raise awareness of what they describe as “an accident waiting to happen.”

Chris Cordrey spearheads the campaign to make Wargrave’s streets safer after he was involved in two incidents at the notorious hot spot.

He has since documented more than 150 cases involving near misses and speeding drivers reported by fed up residents who have criticised

local MP, Theresa May, the police and Wokingham Borough Council for a lack of action to curb reckless road users.

“Last November, I was waiting at the traffic lights in High Street from the direction of Twyford when a car came up behind me, overtook me and jumped the red light,” said Chris, 71, who has lived in Wargrave for 40 years.

“I was absolutely shocked at such reckless behaviour because it could have easily resulted in a collision with other vehicles crossing the junction or hitting pedestrians. Then in January another driver

overtook my car in School Lane just to get through a red light and raced away towards Henley.

“That kind of driving is thoughtless and dangerous, yet it is something responsible motorists as well as pedestrians fear every time they approach the junction.”

Chris posted his experiences online and was astounded when more than 150 people responded with similar stories to his own terrifying experiences.

He added: “Drivers told how despite being given a green light, they were almost hit by vehicles racing through a red light. Pedestrians say they

fear walking on the narrow pavements.”

Resident Shaun Caradine had his Ford Kuga written off after a driver smashed into it while he was waiting at the traffic lights.

“I was sitting at the front of a line of cars waiting to turn left towards Twyford,” he explained.

“When the lights turned green, I pulled away and suddenly a car from the Twyford direction jumped the red light and crashed straight into me. I was badly shaken and my car was a write off.”

Mr Caradine said plans to build thousands of new homes further up the A4 would lead to

increased traffic and accidents.

“No one seems to want to take this matter seriously but something needs to be done or there will be another serious accident,” he added.

Despite complaints to Thames Valley Police, Wokingham Borough Council and MP, Theresa May, campaigners say the dangerous driving is being ignored.

Mr Cordrey said the village’s concerns were being pushed from “one department to another” with no one prepared to take the complaints seriously.

“I actually bumped into Theresa May recently at a petrol station and reminded her of the problem but all she said was to keep her informed,” he added.

“We need our MP to support us not ignore us. It is the same with the Borough Council and the police. We feel no one is listening or wants to take the situation seriously. Will it take a death before they do something? Are they prepared for that conversation?”

He said residents could install their own 20mph signs as well as other road safety measures if they continued to be ignored by officials.

“If they don’t take action then we’ll do it ourselves.”

Cllr John Halsall who represents Remenham,

Wargrave and Ruscombe, urged the Borough to hold a “proper traffic study” in the village.

“There is a traffic problem in Wargrave but there is no magic bullet. Traffic needs to flow and people need protection,” he said.

“The current administration prefers to ignore the problem because they don’t like cars and they don’t like Wargrave because it votes Tory.”

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “Any changes to the speed limit or road restrictions remain matters for the council, however the Wokingham North Neighbourhood Policing Team is aware of concerns.”

A spokesperson for Wokingham Borough Council said: ““We take the safety of our residents very seriously.

“We know there are some residents with concerns about speeding and running red lights at the Wargrave crossroad.

“Both of these issues are the responsibility of the police to enforce, but our traffic management team is working with them to see if there are any changes that would make the junction safer.”

Wokingham Today contacted Mrs May’s office for a comment, but they had not done so as we went to press. Cllr Halsall is not facing re-election this year.

SAFETY FIRST: Residents in Wargrave are calling for action to be taking at the crossroads after more than 150 incidents were reported. They fear a serious accident could occur unless something is done

Police warning over bogus water officials

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today

THAMES Valley Police are warning Wokingham people to be on the alert as distraction thieves are operating in the area.

Two men wearing hi-visibility jackets were in the Emmbrook estate, claiming to be from the water board.

They targeted an older woman, claiming she had a large water leak, and they wanted to trace it.

The victim let them look in the loft and garage.

They then asked for her contact details, and called her a few minutes later saying the leak was coming from a garden hose that had been left running – it wasn’t.

Her phone then didn’t work for a couple of days, and the water company did not know about the visiting men.

Police say it is important to remember there is no such thing as a water or gas board as the firms are privatised. Legitimate people will have correct ID and will not object to the firms being contacted to verify their identity.

Another incident took place as a shopper returned to her car in a

Donation to help elderly have

tidy gardens

supermarket car park.

Police say they were approached by an olive-skinned middle-aged looking male who told her someone had bashed the rear of her car, the woman got out of her car to inspect the apparent damage.

She was distracted by the man, and another individual opened the front passenger door, removing her mobile phone and bank cards from her handbag.

Similar distraction techniques can occur as the victim loads shopping into their car, and can include asking them to sign something, or to look at a map and give directions.

Thieves in such incidents have probably just seen the victim enter the PIN whilst paying with a card in the store, or getting cash from an ATM.

Anyone witnessing or suspecting that a crime is taking place, should call the police on 999.

Anyone with information regarding these offences can make a report online at www.thamesvalley. police.uk or call 101.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on freephone 0800 555 111.

A NEW hardship fund has been given a welcome boost thanks to a housebuilder.

David Wilson Homes has presented £1,500 to the Wokingham Volunteer Centre to help provide additional support for some of Wokingham’s most vulnerable people, including the elderly and disabled.

The fund provides financial assistance to people being supported by the Centre’s gardening and community transport projects but who can’t afford the full cost of the service.

Wokingham Volunteer Centre chief officer Nick Fellows said the cost-ofliving crisis is mounting huge pressure on its elderly, vulnerable and disabled clients.

“We are very fortunate to have the support of our amazing volunteers who give up so much of their time to make life a little easier for those struggling with aspects of their health, wellbeing and finances,” he explained.

“It’s an incredibly tough time for many, with skyrocketing bills and food prices so we wanted to be able to assist further where possible.

“David Wilson Southern Counties has made a much-needed contribution to get the hardship fund started, which will help lift a weight off people’s shoulders.”

The donation was made as part of the housebuilders’ Community Fund initiative, funded by the Barratt Foundation, which supports a local organisation each month with a

SUPPORT: David Wilson Homes has made a £1,500 donation to Wokingham Volunteer Centre’s new hardship fund to help pay for gardening work for people who need some support

donation, celebrating their efforts in the local area.

Kimberley Benson, sales and marketing director for David Wilson Southern Counties, says: “The Wokingham Volunteer Centre has been at the heart of the community for close to five decades, and its efforts to look after some of the most vulnerable people in the area are nothing short of amazing.

“The hardship fund will be vital, supporting those in greatest need.”

Wokingham Volunteer Centre places volunteers in a wide range of roles within the community, and is based in Wokingham’s Charity and Community Hub, off Denmark Street. n For more details, log on to: www. wokinghamvolunteercentre.org.uk

New pavilion opened less than a year after ‘mindless’ fire

By JI-MIN LEE jlee@wokingham.today

ARBORFIELD residents enjoyed the unveiling of a new community picnic shelter, less than a year since the original fixture was burned down.

Students and teachers from The Coombes School joined members of the parish council at Arborfield Park for the grand opening just before Easter.

The pre-existing gazebo was burned down last May, in an incident which Thames Valley Police treated as arson.

Andrew Clint, chair of Arborfield and Newland Parish Council, said: “This is just one of the improvements to the park that the council are making with newly installed CCTV to protect the council assets keeping the residents safe and extensive refurbishment and extension underway to the pavilion.

“Arborfield Park is an important resource for the community and is regularly enjoyed by pupils and parents from The Coombes School who meet in the park after the end of the school day to relax and enjoy the play area.”

The pupils, accompanied by headteacher Luke Henderson,

were bestowed with the honour of cutting the ribbon at the ceremony.

On what was a wet afternoon, those in attendance were reminded of just how useful the gazebo will be.

The fire took place on May 21, with Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service called to the

scene to extinguish the blaze on Swallowfield Road.

The incident, which Arborfield councillor Gary Cowan described as “mindless”, left the stand and seating area charred and the floor covered in ash.

The burned remains were deemed unusable.

At the time, Cllr Cowan, said: “I am appalled by the mindless vandalism from these arsonists.

“The parish council works really hard to put facilities for all to use and enjoy and for people to torch it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever as they are just destroying something that

Woodley Scouts flea market event

THE 2nd Woodley Scout Group will be hosting a fundraising flea market event on Saturday, April 22, from 9am to 3pm.

There will be a variety of items for sale, including toys, games, jewellery, vintage items, books, DVDs, CDs, furniture, kitchenware, and bric-a-brac.

The event is free to enter, and all payments are cash only.

It will be held at its hut, located at Vauxhall Park, Vauxhall Drive in Woodley.

n For further information, call: 0118 969 9885, or email: chassky@sky.com

Friendship table

FINCHAMPSTEAD Baptist Church Community Centre (FBC) holds a weekly group for anyone looking to make new contacts and friends in the area.

The Friendship Table meets every week for coffee and chat.

“Criminal damage is becoming an epidemic and my big worry it will lead to more serious incidents.

“The police have a big role to play in stopping this mindless vandalism and arson before someone is seriously hurt or worse.”

All are welcome, including people new to the area, and anyone looking to make new friends.

The Friendship Table is held at the FBC café, every Tuesday, from 10am through to noon.

n For more information about FBC, visit: www.finchampstead. com

OPEN: Coombes School pupils were given the honour of cutting the ribbon to a restored community shelter Picture: Arborfield & Newland Parish Council they themselves could use.

Solar farm delay due to works needed

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today

AN ELECTRICITY company working with the council on a planned solar farm have said the 11-year delay to connect the power-generating plant to the National Grid is due to the works required for the scheme.

Last week, Wokingham Borough Council’s chief executive, Susan Parsonage, said the proposed setback was unacceptable.

But Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) have gone into details about what is causing the delay.

The new solar farm at Barkham form part of the council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP), which in turn contributes to the nation’s carbon neutral objectives.

And it is also intended to generate income for the council – important at a time when the government’s financial settlement grant is below what is needed to run all services.

She also said: “We were incredibly frustrated and angry to receive the notification of delays from SSEN.

“To suddenly announce a delay of this length is simply unacceptable.”

However, SSEN feel the council’s statement doesn’t provide the full picture, and says it is committed to providing the network

infrastructure required.

“We work closely with customers, communities and local authorities to help them achieve their decarbonisation aims,” a spokesperson said.

“SSEN is responsible for the distribution works being carried out in relation to this project and - throughout the process - project timelines have been communicated with the customer.

“Following completion of National Grid’s technical study, they have confirmed that transmission level works are required for the connection of this project. Those works, are scheduled to be complete by 2037.

“SSEN remains in conversation with the customer to ensure all updates on progress are conveyed.”

The spokesperson added: “As distribution operator for central southern England, we would like to reassure our customers and stakeholders that we are working closely with Transmission network colleagues at National Grid on projects across our licence area, to try and alleviate grid constraints.

“Additionally, SSEN continues to work with the regulator and Government to facilitate longerterm strategic investment in our networks.”

Walk the Walk celebrates £137m raised with 137 decorated bras

RACHAEL Hopson arranges

137 brightly decorated bras to celebrate breast cancer charity, Walk the Walk raising £137 million.

The cele-bra-ation comes ahead of next month’s MoonWalk event in Lodon.

It will be the 25th event,

and see thousands of women and men wear in decorated bras as they walk through the streets of the capital at midnight to raise money to fight breast cancer.

The MoonWalk London was the UK’s first-ever mass fundraising challenge

for walkers, created by Wokingham-based Nina Barough CBE in 1998.

More than 300,000 people have taken on a half- or fullmarathon night-time walking challenge at the annual event.

n For more details, log on to: www.walkthewalk.org

A GROUP that meets monthly to discuss railways hears from Paul King next week.

The Wokingham Methodist Railway and Transport Club will be treated to: A Tour of Victorian and Edwardian Britain Illustrated By Contemporary Postcards. Referring to postcards, he will look at railway construction between London and the North West, railway owned buildings, and events associated with the railway. The group meets at the Wokingham Methodist Church Bradbury Centre, in Rose Street, on the third Tuesday of the month. The next is scheduled for April 18 at 7.30pm.

n For more information log on to: www.wokinghammethodist. org.uk

Railway meeting Communication

MEMBERS of a public speaking group learn how to be effective and confident communicators, by giving speeches for fun, in a supportive and encouraging environment.

Wokingham Speakers

Toastmasters group meets at the Methodist Church’s Bradbury Centre, in Peach Place, on the first and the third Tuesday of each month. Doors open at 7.15pm.

New members are welcome to the meeting on Tuesday, April 18.

n For more information, visit: www.toastmasterclub.org

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BIG PICTURE: Rachael Hopson arranges 137 brightly decorated bras to celebrate breast cancer charity, Walk the Walk raising £137 million

Still sharing: church group offers more than just surplus food

By JI-MIN LEE jlee@rdg.today

A COMMUNITY group is continuing to tackle the cost of living crisis and food waste as it negotiates its second year of activity.

SHARE Shinfield celebrated its first birthday in January and has plans to serve its users in bigger and better ways this year.

Residents attend its weekly food shares at Shinfield Community Church on Fairmead Road, where they can pick up fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as other essential items, for just £1.

According to co-founder Sarah O’Neill, the organisation prevents up to five cars-worth of food from going to landfill each week.

Sarah said: “It’s been amazing, always full-on, but so exciting. It’s great because we’re still seeing new faces. You want people to know we exist, to come in and get fed.

“It’s really been an honour and a privilege to be able to do that.”

Co-founder Rachel Walker was thrilled by the progress SHARE Shinfield has made in such a short period of time, heaping praise on the organisation’s team of volunteers.

In the early days, one of either Rachel or Sarah would have to be present at all times to ensure the smooth running of operations. But such has been the strength of the on-site staff, that is no longer the case.

Rachel explained: “Now, we’re so much more established, with

Parent advice session

NEW parents and parents-to-be are invited to attend a fun and informative coronation-themed event.

Held at Spencers Wood Village Hall, visitors of Coronation Celebration Circle will be able to discuss any antenatal or postnatal issues they may have in a supportive environment.

The morning will also include light refreshments and bunting.

Local experts will be on-hand to offer advice and answer questions, including Amelie from Our Baby Club Reading, which provides support to expectant and new parents.

Lauren will be representing The Wide-Awake Club, which provides responsive and practical support to help improve the quality of babies’ sleep.

a real strategy and structure in place so everyone knows what they’re doing. The team is just incredible.

“Even if there is a day where neither Sarah nor I can come for one reason or another, the team is just awesome and just gets on with it.”

Since SHARE Shinfield’s opening, international crises, such as Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, have seen refugees move to the area, some of whom have begun attending its weekly food shares. Others have even gone on to volunteer as helpers.

The food, although vital, is just one part of the group’s work. There is a genuine sense of community among organisers and fellow users, with people encouraged to stop for a chat at

the church’s cafe after picking up their weekly shop.

Both Rachel and Sarah expressed their gratitude to the church’s pastor, Nathan Hunt, and associate pastor, Sally-Ann Hunt, who have been instrumental in the running of the cafe.

“It’s just about being there for people,” Sarah said.

“There have been tears and chats in side-rooms. The food really is just the first step, there’s so much more that’s often needed.

“Now that people come in every week, you get to know people and we find that we’re setting up more cafe tables to accommodate more people.”

Rachel added: “If the cafe wasn’t there, people would just come in, take their food and just

go back home. We wouldn’t be able to get to the core of any issues they might be having.

“There are people who are struggling far more than what meets the eye.

“We can invite people into the emergency top-up room and they can take any essential items or cleaning products they might need.”

“It’s a friendship cafe, but it can really be a lifeline.”

Moving into its second year, SHARE Shinfield is taking its projects a step further, providing easy-to-follow recipes for service users to cook nutritious meals.

The initiative is funded by a £500 grant from Sainsbury’s and focuses on preparation methods which require the least amount of energy, to help residents counter the current cost of living crisis.

Organiser Rebecca is a Postnatal Doula who provides emotional, practical and informative support following childbirth.

Although primarily targeted at parents, grandparents, carers and friends are more than welcome to join.

The event runs from 10.30am-12.30pm on Tuesday, April 25.

n For more information, visit: www.spencerswoodvillagehall. co.uk

SECOND YEAR: SHARE Shinfield’s food project looks to combat the issue of food waste, whilst feeding the community. Picture: Ji-Min Lee

I’veGotYou

ByTracyStone,ClinicalHypnotherapist

ForaslongasIcanrecall,I havebeenprettymuch allergictoanynotionof tryingorhoping.Infact, thosearetwowordswhichI haveallbutremovedfrom myvocabulary.

Youmightwonder thereforeifIhaveresigned myselftoalifeof ‘giving

updom’,andhavechosen tositbackonmylaurels, absorbedincomplacency oroverwhelmedbydefeat andfutility.

Nochance.

Sowhytheallergicreactiontotryingandhoping?You mightbethinkingthatmyrefusaltotryorhopefor anythingmakesnosense.Surelytryingandhopingare positivestatestoembrace?

Actually,itmightsurpriseyouthattheyaretheopposite ofpositive.

Here’swhy.Let’stakeanexampleofasituationwhere yourfriendsarearrangingtomeetupat7pm.Youknow it’sunlikelythatyouwillmakeitbytheagreedtimebut stilltellthem “I’lltrytogettherefor7”.Evenasyouare sayingityouhearyourinnervoicetellingyouthatit’ s goingtobeverydifficult.You,myfriend,havejust steppedontoaninevitableslipperyslopetostressand feelinglikeafailure,followedbyadoseofbeating yourselfup.

Whenyourbrainhears “I’lltrytogettherefor7pm” what itactuallyunderstandsisthetruthwhichisthatthisis goingtobehard.Itwillputyouunderpressure.Youwill probablyfail.Likeusual.Whenyourbrainhears ‘try’ , whatitunderstandsisthatthisishighlyunlikelytoend well.

Similarly,whenwesaythatwe “hope” somethingwill work,whatthebrainunderstandsisthatthisisgoingto behardwork.Thatthisisalongshot.Forexample, “I hopetogettothegymtomorrow”.Thatstatementis loadedwiththepotentialfordefeatandopportunities toletyourself ‘offthehook’ fromdoingit.

Ultimately,despitelongbelievingthesewordstobe positiveandofthe ‘glasshalffull’ variety,totryorhope istosetyourselfupforfailure.

Insteadoftryingchoosetodoordon’tdothings.So, insteadofsayingyouwill “try”,tellyourfriends somethinglike “Iwillgetthereby7.45pm” or “Ican’t makeitfor7pmsocarryonwithoutme”.Thisshiftto choosingtodoornotdosomethingisincredibly empoweringandsavesallthestressthatgoeshand-inhandwithtryingandfailing.Italsohelpstoemploythe caveatthatit’soktonotsucceedateverythingyoudo. Insteadofhopingsomethingwillworkforyou,chooseto empoweryourselfthroughaccountabilityanddoitor focusonknowingthatitwill work,eg. “I’mgoingtothegym tomorrow”

Iencourageyoutojoinmein refusingtotryorhope.Instead, doordon’tdo.You’regoingto loveit!

Missing persons looking for

By JI-MIN LEE jlee@wokingham.today

A COMMUNITY group is calling for support to continue carrying out its work finding missing persons.

Home care provider and pupils spread Easter cheer

A HOME care provider teamed up with an Earley primary school to ensure people enjoyed a happy Easter.

Bluebird Care,which operates in Reading, Wokingham, Windsor, Maidenhead and Bracknell, asked pupils at Earley St Peter’s CofE to produce cards to accompany eggs presented to its customers. The cards were decorated with seasonal images, such as bunnies and eggs, and were filled with personalised messages and Easter wishes. They were then hand-delivered in time for Easter Sunday by the company’s care assistants.

According to Amy Purdy, a year two teacher at the Church Road school, the children thoroughly enjoyed making the cards and were excited at the thought of making a small difference to the lives of local people.

This was echoed by the pupils

Ethan (7) said: “I think it is nice

that we’ve made cards for people who might be lonely this easter, it might make them feel better.”

Coen (7) said: “I appreciate the opportunity to do something nice for other people.”

And Sienna (6) said: “I feel good that I will make someone else feel happier this Easter.”

Bluebird Care said the heartwarming initiative is a testament to the power of community and the impact that small acts of kindness can have on people’s lives.

Victoria Brown, the firm’s marketing coordinator, said: “Working in care, we make a difference every day, and we are very lucky we are able to do the little extra things that put a smile on someone’s face.

“We are very grateful to all the children at Earley St Peters Primary School for making such amazing Easter cards and writing some lovely messages.”

Lexicon home to largest coronation crown

Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue (BLSAR) is looking for donations to help secure a permanent base and to cover bills and equipment maintenance.

The Wokingham-based charity is run by highly trained volunteers and is one of Thames Valley Police (TVP)’s key search resources, helping them handle the thousands of missing persons reports received every year.

Its team of more than 70 search technicians undertake a rota such that they can respond to calls at any time of the day or night.

Volunteer Patrick Kerry said: “We’ve been in temporary accommodation for a while. Our Arborfield base got taken over last year because they’re now building houses there, and we’re now at the Toutley depot on a short-term lease.

“Our work is vital. When the police call us, it’s because they’ve got to the point where they’re deeply concerned about a missing person but have a good idea where they might be.

“Sometimes a suicide note will have been found, or someone with dementia has left home. Police give us a search area, and through computerised mapping or thermal imaging, we work with them to help locate, and hopefully return, these people safely.”

resources include: an control unit van, support vehicles, rescue boats, thermal imaging drones, digital VHF radios and equipment.

The group is ideally looking for an alternative location in central Berkshire or Wokingham that can accommodate all their hardware, training space small office.

07828042204

www.limitlesspotential.co.uk

tracy@limitlesspotential.co.uk

AS THE country prepares to mark the coronation of King Charles III, what is thought to be Berkshire’s largest crown has been unveiled. Situated in The Lexicon and produced in partnership between the shopping centre and Bracknell Forest Council, it comprises images submitted by residents and shoppers. They include pictures of events held at the site, as well as pets, family and friends.

The crown was unveiled in Princess Square by Gavin Vidler, deputy general manager for The Lexicon, Chris Mansfield, regeneration & economic development manager for Bracknell Forest Council and pupils from Crown Wood Primary School.

It will be on show until mid-May.

It is on show in the build-up to three days of events to be held over the coronation weekend.

They include a celebration on coronation day itself, Saturday, May 6, as well as a tea dance on Sunday, May 7.

Sue Boor, head of marketing at The Lexicon, said: “We are thrilled to have completed this magnificent Coronation Crown. We received more than 1,000 images from the local community to make the ambition of creating Berkshire’s largest crown a reality.

“A big thank you to pupils from Crown Wood Primary School who helped with the unveiling.”

And Susan Halliwell, chief executive from Bracknell Forest Council, was pleased that the project has been a success.

“The coronation crown project has given residents the chance to be part of a collaborative piece of art. I can’t wait to see people looking for their photos,” she said.

Part of the problem has been finding a location to house the unit’s extensive equipment. Its

BLSAR relies entirely public donations, carrying out and attending fetes applying for lottery funding. Its expenses include £100 a tank of fuel for its vehicles

ALL IN: The Lexicon’s Coronation crown, created from artwork submitted by shoppers and residents. It is on show until Mid May South Hill Park celebrates 50th birthday with a festival of food and music

A BRACKNELL arts centre is celebrating 50 years of performance and creativity with its May festival.

South Hill Park’s Golden Festival of Food and Music should delight both the ears and the tastebuds.

Families will be able to enjoy a variety of live music, fresh food, and activities over two days.

Tribute acts and music from the last five decades will be performed on two stages.

The Sunday lineup includes a Madness tribute from seven-piece band Skamungas, Little Mix music from Lil Mix, a Beyonce performance from Lauren G, and Elvis hits

from Bracknell’s own impersonator, TC.

On Monday, six-piece Wokingam band Atomic Rapture will perform songs, followed by raucous classic pop-rock from Filthy Llamas, soul and Motown from seven-piece band Man Made Soul, a selection of classic rock and pop tunes with ukulele twist from The Strings.

Food and drink will available to purchase food market and outside and includes Thai dishes, barbecue food, ales.

Families can also enjoy

TREAT: Coral Bennett enjoys her Easter egg from Bluebird Home Care

Berkshire Lowland Search cover bills and equipment

*ScantheQRcodeforavideo version.

persons charity for new base

Join Woodley group for an operetta journey

Honest motherhood Angela Garwood

Lizzo leads to a great adventure

ITOOK my nine-year-old to Manchester to see Lizzo last weekend.

Lizzo is an American singer, rapper and flutist.

It was a pre-30th-Birthday present from my cousins, who we went with.

Three hours and 47 glorious minutes on the train, I was delighted to have some time to simply sit, with nowhere to be. No school run, no meal prep, no taking the car back to the garage because the engine warning light has come on again.

My sole role for this journey was to exist as a passenger.

I planned to stare out of the window, possibly read. Maia had other ideas.

“Shall we play Dobble?”

“In a minute darling,” I say, eyes closed, more relaxed than I’ve been in weeks.

Sitting down with no immediate obligations often elicits this response.

“Mummy!”

“Hmm…”

incident support boats, drones, and medical ideally alternative Berkshire can their space and a entirely on carrying fetes and funding. £100 for vehicles

and £1,700 for an automated external defibrillator.

Mr Kerry explained: “A large number of us are retired, but some are still working. It’s really the motive that’s driven us. Young and old, male and female.

“There are quite a few exarmy, ex-police, coupled with ex-ambulance.

“Outside of our day-to-day operations, we have two goals: to bring our profile to the fore because right now, we do just about enough to stay afloat, and to find a new base.”

Every team member is trained to national standards

before qualifying as a search technician. This involves mastering search techniques, first responder medical care and the use of specialist equipment.

Team members train once a week in a variety of scenarios and locations in and around the Berkshire area.

Some individuals are also trained in bank search (i.e. in rivers, canals, lakes) and water search, while others have medical expertise or are part of the drone or bike teams. n For more details, or to offer help, log on to: www. berkshirerescue.org.uk

AMATEUR performance company, Mostly G&S, is usually devoted to presenting the works of Gilbert and Sullivan.

The group’s forthcoming show, From Paris To Utopia, takes a wider view, following the development of operetta from its roots in Paris.

Starting with works by Offenbach, the company will look at the Viennese tradition, presenting works by Strauss and Lehár, before ending up in Victorian England with Gilbert & Sullivan.

The first half of the concert will include a mix of well-known and rare pieces.

The second part offers an abridged version of Utopia Limited, one of the rarest Gilbert & Sullivan operas.

POETRY CORNER

Our little hearts are broken The Mutt world’s shed a tear

As a dog’s best friend your life now ends

Katy Wallis from Mostly G&S says: “This has all the melodic invention, comedy and clever lyrics that we expect of Gilbert and Sullivan but also will come as a charming revelation to those who have never seen this rare work before.

“Our intention is that there will be something for everyone.”

Performances are at Woodley’s Oakwood Centre, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 20, 21 and 22.

Doors open at 7.30pm, with tickets costing £14.

n For information and to purchase tickets, call the box office on: 07514 423894, email: mostlygands@ gmail.com, or visit the group’s website at: www.mostlygands.co.uk

“This is meant to be our quality time together!” This was true. There’d been several moments leading up to this weekend where I’d promised her she’d have me all to herself. And not the unconscious me.

“Dobble it is…”

I foolishly didn’t reserve seats which meant sitting in reserved ones and praying their occupants didn’t arrive. Thankfully, we were only booted out once.

We met my cousin Rachel and checked into our hotel. This is not a sentence I get to say very often. I can’t remember the last time I stayed in a hotel and even exploring the bar and gym we wouldn’t be making use of felt like a luxury.

Rachel is like sunshine in human-form.

Her and Maia ran up and down the corridors of floor 18, racing and dancing, practising their moves for Lizzo. We did not befriend the occupants of our neighbouring rooms.

After an obligatory souvenir purchase – you’re not a tourist until you’ve bought a magnet – we met up with my cousin’s husband and went for dinner in the Northern Quarter before heading to the arena.

Unfortunately, as we were booking concert tickets, neither Rachel nor I were able to secure the four seats we needed to all sit together. So we sat separately. Maia and I on one side, Rachel and her husband on the other.

I momentarily searched for her pink coat among a fuzzy blur dotted with other pink coats, but it was no good. I waved wildly into the void.

Elvis six-piece Atomic Blondie raucous from The and seven-piece Soul, and singalong with a The Small will be from a outside bar, food, and real enjoy

children’s face painting, craft stalls and birds of prey at the event.

There is no need to register to visit the festival, but free behind the scenes tours of South Hill Park Arts Centre and mansion can be booked in advance online.

These will give people a chance to see different rooms and venue spaces, hear about the history of the Arts Centre and learn about some upcoming performances.

Each tour holds a maximum of 10 people, with optional donations for these welcomed.

The Golden Festival Of Food And Music takes place in the South Hill Park Arts Centre grounds, on Sunday, May 7 and Monday, May 8.

Gates are open from noon through to 6pm on both days.

Entry is free, with no need to book in advance.

n For more information and to book a free tour, visit: www.southhillpark.org.uk

To our National Treasure three cheers

We are eternally grateful at Battersea

For all that you did for us Your endless cuddles walking through puddles Re-homing was a plus

You came to our rescue Then took us to the park You gave us hope when we had nope With a tail wag and a bark.

From your Canine friends we thank you

Give a paws for a thought right now

Brown 2023

We love receiving your poetry, and print a selection every week. Verse can be sent to poems@wokingham.today

We had a short phone call trying to describe where we each were. Neither of us could hear a thing. We gave up trying.

Lizzo was incredible. I made approximately 43 videos of her. We loved every moment.

As we were leaving, we noticed her tour bus and a security guard stood behind the gate.

“This is where she comes out,” said Rachel.

“She could be 10 minutes, or they’ll have an afterparty and it’ll be 3am,” the security guard said, smiling.

It was cold and wet so we opted for bed and walked back to the hotel in the rain, still buzzing from the electric arena atmosphere.

The following morning, we wandered straight into the filming of a scene for BBC series Boiling Point on the road outside the cafe.

“Wait,” A crew member shouted as we opened the door to leave.

We stood inside, smiling like maniacs through the glass as they got their shot. Fingers crossed we make the final edit.

n Angela blogs at The Colourful Kind

SING UP: Members of Mostly G&S rehearse their new show. Picture: Katy Wallis

Search and Rescue (BLSAR) is looking for donations to help secure a permanent base and to equipment maintenance

SAVE THE DATE: The food and music festival will take place in the arts centre grounds in May. Picture: courtesy of South Hill Park Arts Centre

A happy, waggy tail for us all

AFTER a year of mystery, Maple the dog has been reunited with her owner.

It is a happy tail, and was just in time for the Easter weekend.

The therapy dog was one of many that has been stolen by thieves and then, thanks to microchipping, been reunited some time later.

It proves the resilience of man’s best friend that Maple is safe, well, and had a waggy tail when reunited with their owner.

Maple’s reunion is thanks to the hard work of a vigilant vet, who found the microchip and realised what they had on their hands.

It does remind us of the importance of keeping an eye out for the unpleasant people who think stealing a dog is a good way to cadge a living.

And it also shows the importance of ensuring our pets have their microchip. A pet is more than just an animal in the home – it is part of the family in so many ways.

As Maple enjoys pets and treats, we rejoice in her safe return.

CHURCH NOTES

What does Easter mean for you?

SPRING bursts into life, new life all around, bird song, longer evenings and the promise of warmer days ahead. It’s a good time to be alive.

After 23 years in ministry at Anderson Baptist Church I am packing my bags and moving away. It is time to retire and I begin to wonder what that will mean for Anderson and what is will mean for me.

This is Easter time and it fills me with hope. Hope for our world, hope for ourselves.

The story of Easter is one of death and new life and hope-filled futures. So many small deaths and new beginnings all around us. What is on your mind at present?

Many of us celebrated Easter with friends and families. We shared good food, chocolate eggs and speak of hopeful days ahead.

Easter is the very centre of our faith as Christians – it is the hope of Easter that undergirds our way of life.

Good Friday marks the most dreadful day of Jesus crucifixion when all turned against him, when all hope was lost and all his disciples were left despairing. Then three days later the news of Jesus resurrection turned everything on its head. The despairing, hopeless disciples became fearless, outspoken and faith-filled. There was a supernatural energy that enthused them. They began to live lives which brought hope and joy and meaning. This is the amazing hope of Easter. This is a story we can be part of.

We all need hope. Hope for the future, hope for our families, hope for our society, hope for ourselves. The message of Easter is hope.

I move away filled with hope – and pray that you too may find the hope that excites and surprises. Easter hope.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13)

Your letters

Delighted with award nominations

I am delighted that Wokingham Borough Council has been nominated in four categories of the prestigious MJ awards, all for projects during the previous Conservative administration.

One of the awards Wokingham is nominated for is Innovation in Delivering Sustainability and Social Value for our regeneration of Wokingham town centre, which we Conservatives are especially proud of.

This development was opposed at the time by Liberal Democrat councillors who are now in charge of the Borough.

Having said that shoppers in Wokingham would be better off with a “Dark store” serviced by fleets of delivery vehicles rather than the planned mix of smaller shops and homes (Wokingham paper 28/2/14),

Cllr Prue Bray then said of the plans when they were submitted for planning application in 2016: “it has to be the sort of regeneration that matches Wokingham’s character as a market town. And four-storey houses on a green space are not really the answer.”

Cllr Rachelle Shepherd DuBey described the plans for Elms Field at the planning meeting as “massive, overbearing and out of keeping with Wokingham”.

I think most would now agree that the town centre regeneration including Elms Field, Peach Place and Carnival Hub have been nothing short of transformational for Wokingham.

Sadly, this total lack of vision and ambition by the Liberal Democrats is something we still see today in their running of the Council.

They have no plan for our Borough and have achieved nothing apart from to put up car parking charges and cut residents services like bin collections.

We Westminster diary

Matt Rodda

Why I’m stepping up my campaign to save Reading Gaol

READING Gaol is a wonderful historic site which has huge importance for Berkshire, as the prison where Oscar Wilde was incarcerated, which also inspired his work.

The historic building opened as the Berkshire County Gaol and was designed by, the same architect who designed St Pancras Station in London.

If Wokingham wins, I wonder if they will accept the award for the development they campaigned against so vehemently?

Cllr

Pauline Jorgensen, Hillside

A well-run council? Well ...

As a Wokingham resident for over 50 of my 80 plus years, I had always felt that our council was well run and provided the services that the majority of us wanted and pay for.

However, apparently that is no longer the case, according to contributors to this page.

Most letters consist of petty political bickering from the various council factions blaming each other or else the government, but many are from residents concerned that the ‘desirables’ are taking priority over the ‘essentials’.

I’m all for a green agenda but should cycle lanes, road humps, chicanes, football pitches come before what is actually needed now?

According to the recently distributed council brochure, the council will be purchasing 60,000 plus wheelie bins which will save £1,000,000 on rubbish collection!

It appears that these bins cost about £50 each, which equates to about c.£3,000,000, so where are the savings?

Instead of the bins you could buy a new £165,000 JCB potholing machine that fills the average pothole in 30 minutes not several days (if you’re lucky) at a fraction of the time and cost, helping to solve our dire pothole problem and making the roads safer for everyone.

The savings could be used to address the shortfall in our car parks’ budget and help our local shops and communities to thrive.

Ian T Allan, Woodley Potholing

on

I read the letter from the Transport and Highways Czar, Councillor Paul Fishwick, about the pothole situation in the Wokingham Borough Council area (Wokingham.Today Thursday 06

We love to hear from you! Send us your views on issues relating to the borough (in 250 words or less) to Wokingham.Today, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS or email: letters@wokingham.today We reserve the right to edit letters Views expressed in this section are not necessarily those of the paper

April 2023).

It is interesting that Cllr Fishwick gives the excuse that his department is, in effect, following the Conservative way over pothole repairs.

So much then for the Lib Dems improving things like they promised that they would do prior to the May 2022 elections.

What Cllr Fishwick failed to state in his letter, and very noticeably so, was that he will move heaven and earth to procure as soon as possible, by purchase or lease, some of the fantastic new JCB machines which repair potholes in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost compared to conventional means.

What’s the hold-up? Why the delay?

Where is the Can Do attitude from a Lib Dem Party that claimed that it could improve on what went before?

It seems then that it is easier for the Lib Dems and Cllr Fishwick to adopt a Can’t Do attitude over potholes and blame everybody else but themselves for the situation. As usual!

Paul Clarke, Wokingham

Don’t talk down Great Britain

All over the World Countries are having Wars Food Shortages Cost of Living and yet the Labour and Lib Dems have yet to come up with any good practical ideas as to how to solve all these problems.

They also have no good comments on how to solve the Boat People coming over from France and it is costing us Millions of pounds to house and feed them.

How they get into France and then travel across the Country they should be stopped and housed there.

This Country is a small one and we have already welcomed Refugees from Ukraine and true Refugees but not ones for a free (money-wise) good life.

We do need these people to keep

It has been almost a decade since the closure was announced and hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money has been just to keep it mothballed.

the Country stable but not to be overwhelmed with them.

When you go to the Polling Stations next Month think of all these problems as you may find the TV News and some Newspaper are so anti-GREAT BRITAIN.

Alan, via email

Take action on air rifles

Air rifles must be banned or licensed now.

We have seen two more cases in Oxfordshire where people have been shooting at cats and taking out their eyes.

The other cat almost lost its leg, and the vet put a steel bar to hold it in place.

This was news on ITV Meridian.

It is time that parliament made this law of banning these guns or licence them.

Also give the RSPCA more powers.

I will send this copy to my MP.

Victor Rones, via email

Get behind Breast Cancer Now’s walk

Breast Cancer Now’s Pink Ribbon Walk events are back this summer and I want to encourage your readers to step forward and sign up for the 10 or 20-mile walks.

I know just how vital research and support is for those affected.

In 2019 my mum died from breast cancer.

Then, three years later, I was given the devastating news- I had breast cancer in both breasts.

Now, after gruelling treatment, I’m glad to say, it’s been 10 years since I was told I had no evidence of disease. I’m so happy to be well and enjoying life.

But I still worry for my daughter and future generations of women and men, which is why I’m taking on a 20 mile Pink Ribbon Walk this summer.

This year will be my fifth Pink Ribbon Walk and every time I cross that finish line it feels incredible.

By supporting Breast Cancer Now and taking part in Pink Ribbon Walk, I

civic life.

The Victorian Building was built on the site of Reading Abbey, which was one of the biggest monastic buildings in the country and was where King Henry I was buried.

With all this incredible history and given the importance for our area, I am stepping up my campaign to save the gaol and to turn it into an arts and heritage hub, which would benefit residents in Reading, Wokingham Borough and the surrounding area.

Hundreds of people gathered recently in a march to save the gaol as part of our campaign for the Government hear our voice.

Reading Council have worked with the community to put forward a fair and realistic bid for the site and on top of that, we still have an offer from internationally renowned artist, Banksy, to help buy the site.

All we need is for the Ministry of Justice to see sense and hear what the community are saying.

Reading Gaol – and the site it sits on – is woven into the tapestry of our local history. From the burial site of King Henry I, through the medieval abbey to the Victorian prison that housed Oscar Wilde.

The prison and its site tells a story of local history and the latest chapter has been written by the hundreds of supporters who have signed petitions, written letters and marched to ensure that the site remains an integral part of our

At the end of the day, the Government has to decide what to do next. They can continue the conversation with their preferred developers that has already been dragged out for months and years or look another way.

By embracing the community bid, led by Reading Borough Council and the local community, and protecting the Gaol as a community venue. Given that chance, the collective power of our community would become and irresistible force on an unstoppable mission to create and world-class community arts and heritage venue.

A luxury hotel or high-end flats which strip the venue of its heritage is not good for either the building or our community.

This is now all in the hands of the Government who have a choice to make, and I sincerely hope that they choose wisely.

Matt Rodda is the MP for Reading East

The Revd Judith Wheatley is the minister of Anderson Baptist Church, writing on behalf of Churches Together.

feel like I’m doing my bit to help those undergoing treatment and those who’ll need it in the future.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. Every 10 minutes someone in the UK hears the words “you have breast cancer”.

Breast Cancer Now are moving towards a vision that by 2050, everyone diagnosed with breast cancer lives, and is supported to live well.

Pink Ribbon Walk events make this possible by raising money for world-class research and life-changing support services, helping thousands living with breast cancer across the UK.

Join me at a Pink Ribbon Walk this summer, to create hope with every step. Sign up today at breastcancernow.org/ribbonwalk to provide support for today and hope for the future.

Jane Atkinson, Breast Cancer

Now Pink Ribbon Walk fundraiser

Stay connected

We know it can be difficult to stay socially connected, but keeping in touch and chatting with others can have a huge impact. Conversations can create connections, offer new perspectives, teach you new things, boost happiness, and increase mental wellbeing.

Which is why the NHS Volunteer Responders programme has reintroduced the Check in and Chat service, where local readers who would like a friendly chat or simply a listening ear can request a phone call with a volunteer, whether it be a oneoff call or a series of calls.

Receiving a Check in and Chat call is easy and completely free. Readers can organise it by calling 0808 196 3382 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week). You can also visit nhsvolunteerresponders. org.uk where you will find further information.

If your readers would like a call, we are encouraging them to please reach out on the number above, or, to share this information with a loved one, friend, neighbour, or anyone who may need a little extra support and would benefit from a Check in and Chat call.

Sam Ward OBE, Deputy CEO at Royal Voluntary Service

From the chamber

From the chamber

Lib Dems lose time and money on solar farms

IN May 2022, Wokingham Borough Council’s Liberal Democrat/Labour Coalition inherited a fully-costed Conservative solar farm plan, with planning permission granted and a timescale that was agreed with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) that would have been up and running this year.

Except, thanks to the coalition, it isn’t.

Instead of continuing with this plan the Liberal Democrats decided to throw it out and start again.

Only their plan would see one-fifth less energy generated, with just three sites earmarked compared to five under the Conservatives.

This has meant endless unnecessary analysis, dithering and delay.

Under the previous Conservative administration, the Council declared a Climate Emergency in July 2019, committing us to playing as full a role as possible in reducing our carbon footprint to be net carbon zero by 2030.

In January 2020, we published our action plan which set out the Council’s proposal to develop five largescale solar PV farms throughout the Borough over the next five years.

Income from Barkham Solar Farm is now forecast to be in excess of £1m a year from that site alone.

This money could have been used by the Council to pay for road improvements, give extra budget to schools, or improve our leisure facilities.

It would have more than covered the cost of freezing parking charges,

Cllr Clive Jones

A track record of achievement

RETURNING to council duties after a period of illness, I’m struck by the wish of residents for positive messages, especially in these difficult times.

In an election campaign, the temptation is often to attack your opponents for what you perceive are their mistakes or weaknesses. Unfortunately, this tendency can sometimes degenerate into deliberately false or misleading claims and wholly negative campaigning.

Facts about road maintenance and funding

IT’S election time, and, lo and behold, all sorts of misinformation has started circulating.

One of the areas where the facts need putting straight is road maintenance.

The Borough Council has a duty to maintain all adopted roads and pavements, and the street lights and signs associated with them.

We have trained staff who periodically inspect them, and if they find something dangerous to the

public, they will get it fixed. The speed with which the council fixes things depends on how much risk it presents.

This is called reactive maintenance.

The £1.7m budget for this was not cut last year or for this year. The criteria we use to judge the state of the roads are the same as they always have been.

Reported ‘pot holes’ are being repaired – but fewer have been reported, so of course that means the number fixed is also going down.

We have a different budget for bigger issues, like resurfacing.

It’s called the structural maintenance budget and despite considerable pressure on our finances has been kept at £4.4 million this year, roughly half funded by the council and

rather than doubling them as the Lib Dem/Labour Coalition have. Added to that, based on the Liberal Democrats’ own numbers, the solar farm works out as being just one-third of the cost per household compared to installing solar panels on each home.

Now we learn there are to be further delays to the Council’s planned solar farm.

SSEN announced that connections to the National Grid could be delayed until 2037, because the Lib Dems pushed back the timeline, costing the Council millions in lost income and setting back our Climate Emergency Action Plan.

Despite the smaller yields, a programme of fitting solar onto the roofs of Council-owned buildings was begun, in parallel, by the previous Conservative administration.

Notable sites include Dinton Pastures activity centre, Carnival leisure centre, Woodley Library, and St Crispin’s leisure centre.

An initiative for solar panels on a large number of schools was launched by Cllr Graham Howe and me.

The Council would assist with or help facilitate finance for installation, and the school would get the benefit of reduced energy bills. However, again the Lib Dems have dragged their feet.

half by government grant. This does not include the additional £589,200 provided in the February budget by central government, which is for preventative maintenance. That’s what we Lib Dems plan to spend it on, unlike the previous Conservative administration that diverted extra government ‘pothole’ funding away from where it was intended.

However, this is a drop in the ocean when a national survey published recently shows a growing backlog of £14 billion of road repairs, across England and Wales up from £12.6 billion last year. This is a Conservative government that has and continues to under invest in local highway maintenance across the board.

Until and unless the government funds road maintenance properly, all councils are going to continue to struggle to find the money to ensure roads meet the standard we all want.

Alongside all this, we recognise the need to both reduce congestion and tackle the climate emergency.

The Department for Transport’s own analysis indicates that around 60% of car journeys are only up to

The administration did nothing for six months, only finally getting round to starting to think about it after it was raised by Cllr Howe.

Week in, week out, on issue after issue, it’s the same story: the Lib Dems and Labour talking a good game, but delivering nothing.

And when a whole year goes by, and no-one sees any benefit –surprise, surprise, it’s always someone else’s fault.

This time, Cllr Sarah Kerr says it’s the Government’s fault, but it’s clear that the Liberal Democrats only have themselves to blame.

Wokingham Borough under Lib Dem and Labour control has seen empty promises, grand statements followed by inaction, and endless blame games.

If the Conservatives are elected to run the Council, we are committed to delivering on our commitments to you.

We pledge that we will get on with solar and generate the energy and savings that will benefit you and your families.

Cllr Gregor Murray is the Conservative Group Spokesman on Climate Emergency, and ward member for Norreys. He is standing down at the May local elections

5km and within Wokingham borough, the vast majority of residents live within a 5km radius of the geographic centre. The creation of Active travel routes will enable more of these short journeys to be taken by walking, cycling or public transport.

Other towns and cities across the country and the world have been focused on this for many years and evidence shows that it reduces congestion as people start to choose alternatives.

Improvements to walking and cycling routes are generally funded by central government, not in any way at the expense of road maintenance, and Wokingham Borough has benefited from this by nearly £4M over recent years. This is not a “war on the motorist”, it is sensible policies aimed at making sure we can all get where we want to go and causing less harm to the planet in the process.

Cllr Paul Fishwick is executive member for active travel, transport and highways, and ward member for Winnersh. He is standing for re-election for the Lib Dems on May 4.

Most residents don’t want to hear about our views of our opponents; they want to know what we have to offer. Positive, campaigning, is we believe what most people want to hear.

In that spirit, I want to set out the local Lib Dem stall and suggest why you should vote for Lib Dem candidates in next month’s borough council elections.

We can point to a track record of achievement over the last year running the council as a minority administration.

We set a balanced budget in the most challenging circumstances anyone can remember, with double-digit inflation, rising demand for services, shortfalls in anticipated income, and higher interest rates that increase the cost of servicing the council’s borrowing.

Many other council’s have not succeeded in setting a safe budget in such difficult financial conditions and the government has taken over the running of their council.

We have set the council on a new course of better and more effective partnership working with a wide range of external bodies – including town and parish councils, the voluntary sector, local businesses, schools, Reading University, police, fire service and health providers.

We have worked with our partners in the Hardship Alliance to target help on those MOST IN NEED in our community, both young and old during this cost-of-living crisis.

We have allocated funds to provide free school meals during school holidays for children in receipt of free school meals.

We have secured funding to enable the council to build two new Special Educational Needs (SEND) schools in the borough.

We have worked with our local schools to ensure that at least 96% of new entrants have been offered a place at one of their preferred schools. The highest level for several years.

We have agreed with the Polehampton Trust a lease of the historic Old Boys’ School and are converting this into a library and community hub.

We have lobbied government to reduce the housing allocation that it has imposed on the borough, which we believe is unsustainable. We appear to have been making progress.

Our case is not just based on what we have managed to do over the last year. It rests also on what we can offer in the future.

If we are re-elected, we will continue to provide calm leadership, making decisions on the basis of evidence, not emotion and prejudice.

We will seek to work with all those in our community who are themselves contributing so much to make the borough such a special place to live and work. The partnership agenda will be developed further. We can work so much better together.

Lib Dem councillors have a eputation for hard work and service to their local communities. If you elect, or re-elect, a Lib Dem councillor you will find them champions of your area and committed to making life better for all those they represent.

Cllr Clive Jones is the leader of Wokingham Borough Council and ward member for Hawkedon n A longer version of this article is on our website

Cllr Paul Fishwick

Cllr Gregor Murray

Climate focus Blandy & Blandy’s runners complete half marathon

THE NEXT Wokingham Positive Difference meeting will focus on the climate emergency.

The guest speaker will be Professor Chris Merchant from Reading University. During his session he will look at some of the action needed to reduce carbon emissions. He will also speak on the contribution of wasteful practices to environmental degradation.

The session seeks to create awareness about the importance of taking action to protect the environment and secure a safer future for future generations.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in open networking, and receive news updates from local businesses, government, and community groups, as well as indulge in a delicious buffet breakfast.

The event will be held at Wokingham Town Hall on Friday, April 21, from 8am. Booking is essential for those who wish to attend the event.

n For details: www.wokinghampositivedifference.co.uk

New clothes retailer to open in The Lexicon next week

A CLOTHES retailer is to open a new store in The Lexicon in neighbouring Bracknell.

Select Fashion will its doors on Tuesday, April 18. It sells fashionable, affordable and stylish clothing for women of all ages.

Located in Princess Square, the new store will showcase the retail brand’s latest collections, including dresses, denim, loungewear and statement pieces.

Gavin Vidler, deputy general manager at The Lexicon, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Select Fashion back to Bracknell and to be offering our female fashion shoppers yet more choice.

“I am confident that our visitors will love the new store and the great selection of clothing and accessories it has to offer.”

COLLEAGUES at a Reading-based law firm were among those who took part in this year’s Reading Half Marathon, and they raised nearly £2,500 for their charity of the year.

The team, from Blandy & Blandy, ran in aid of BIBS – Babies in Buscot Support, which take care of babies and their families in the special care baby unit (Buscot Ward). For the past three years, the firm has also supported the Royal Berks Charity, also based at the Royal Bekrshire Hospital.

Elizabeth Short, Louise Ryan,

WEST WALES COASTLINE

Tenby

Jennifer Scott, Brigitta Lizel-Danso, Jonathon Brown and Lisa Perry took part in the 13.1-mile route.

Liz Josif, BIBS’ Fundraising Manager, was grateful for their work.

“We were thrilled to have the support of Blandy & Blandy for the Reading Half Marathon, including former Buscot parents from the firm who know first-hand the difference our charity makes,” she said.

“Not only did they put in many hours of training for the event, but they also raised a fantastic amount

too.

“On the day, they were joined by more than 50 others running for our small charity, meaning the atmosphere along the route and in the race village was electric.

“BIBS is very grateful for Blandy & Blandy’s continued support. They are helping us fund equipment, facilities, and emotional support for local families with sick and premature babies.”

Ms Short, a partner at Blandy, said the team had a fantastic day.

“We had fantastic support along

the route, from BIBS, colleagues and the wider Reading community.

“I would like to thank Liz and Sarah at the charity for all their hard work in putting together Team BIBS and all our friends, families, colleagues and connections for their generous support which I know will help BIBS to continue their invaluable work.”

n Anyone wishing to sponsor Blandy & Blandy’s team log on to: www. justgiving.com/fundraising/teamblandy-reading-half-marathon

Macbeth Insurance celebrates 30 years with brand refresh

By JAKE CLOTHIER jclothier@rdg.today

A THAMES Valley insurance broker is marking a major milestone with a new look.

Macbeth has unveiled bright new livery and branding to celebrate 30 years in the business and to reflect its evolution since its founding.

The relaunch has been rolled out across the company, from its website and online presence to the company logo and even its sponsorship positioning.

With the refreshed look, independent agency Plott Creative aimed to reflect how not only the company itself but also the world has changed in three decades, while also building on the firms heritage.

While the old logo and branding featured a silver “M” in a bright green circle motif, the new look is stripped back, with Macbeth imposed over the top of the circle.

The revamp follows continued growth for the firm, which has just expanded its team to 56 people and is planning further expansion later this year.

The firm is currently headed up by the son of founder Malcolm Macbeth, Paul.

He explained: “We wanted our brand to capture how the world’s shifted for our clients and our people, at the same time, mirroring the personal and business sides of our business.

“There’s been a real rediscovery to this process but at its heart, it remains grounded in people and relationships.”

He added: “So much consolidation continues to change the market landscape. It’s imperative that we emphasise what differentiates Macbeth – our independence, expertise, talent, and regional heritage.

“This refresh communicates who we are today and fosters stronger, more meaningful engagement with our clients, partners, and our community.”

Millie Smith, head of marketing said, “We know our clients are feeling the impact of the uncertainty shaping their day-to- day.

“Infusing Macbeth’s brand with warmth and reassurance at every touchpoint was essential.

She explained: “Our clients are the heart of what we do – they know that we offer a riskless service, that we’re the safe pair of hands they need.

“We’re so excited to share this expanded vision with them.”

Macbeth has provided independent insurance and financial services in the Thames Valley since 1993, as well as supporting Pride of Reading, Ethical Reading, and Reading Rotary Club, among many others.

Golf club reveals captain’s charities for the year

A WOKINGHAM golf club has announced which charities it will be supporting this season.

Bearwood Lakes’ captain’s charities for 2023 are Younger People with Dementia and Wokingham Older Adults Mental Health Garden Renovations.

YPWD’s Making Memories is a special fund to support the memory-making wishes of people with young onset dementia in Berkshire and Surrey and their families.

The garden improvements will take place at Wokingham Hospital, helping older people with mental health difficulties including cognitive impairment, dementia at any age and those aged 75 and over with severe and complex functional mental health needs.

Their target is £22,000 this year to ensure the space can be used safely for one-to-one support sessions.

Bearwood Lakes’ club and lady captains, Roy and Linda, were recognised with the club’s traditional ‘putt out drive in’ day

On March 25, the outgoing men’s and women’s captains, Andreas and Lucie, handed over a cheque for £32,200 to Camp Mohawk, a multifunctional day centre for children with special needs.

n To make a donation, visit: www.justgiving.com/ campaign/YPWDBearwood2023

Café creates space for people to discuss menopause

By EMMA MERCHANT emerchant@wokingham.today

CROWTHORNE café owner Kathryn Pierce has launched a new safe space where people can discuss all things menopause related.

The Menopause Café is not just for those approaching or experiencing the life change, it is also for people supporting someone through it.

Kathryn was inspired to launch the café space after listening to an interview with television interviewer Davina McCall.

She explained: “I was really struck by what Davina said.

“Half the population experiences menopause, so it’s something we really should feel able to talk about.”

The interview explained that while 25% of women have no problems with the life change, half of them do have some issues, and a further quarter of them experience debilitating symptoms.

“A really difficult menopause can lead to marriage breakdown, and even drive people to suicide,” Kathryn said. “And it’s something that affects so many people.”

Kathryn wants the new café space, which launched in March, to be a non-judgmental place to meet with others who understand.

“Members of the group can share their experiences over coffee, but they don’t have to chat if they don’t want to,” she said.

“They can just come and be.

“Above all, this should be a place where people can know that they are not alone.”

The Menopause Café begins after the usual café business hours are over.

GOOD TO

TALK: Two Sisters café in Crowthorne serves coffee by day, but owner Kathryn Pierce has plans for community events in the evenings.

Picture: Kathryn Pierce

It’s free to join, and open to all.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re pre- or post-menopausal, or supporting someone else going through the change,” Kathryn said.

“Lots of people are affected by the menopause, including transgender men.”

The Menopause Café is not a place to push products, techniques, or conclusions, Kathryn explained.

“We don’t have speakers, or training, or anything like that.

“This is simply a positive, respectful and confidential space

to discuss menopause over tea and cake.

“I don’t know how women in the past coped when it wasn’t a topic you could discuss openly.

“It’s so good to be able to talk about what’s going on with our bodies and minds.

“And the menopause is such a big change.”

She continued: “It can be difficult to accept at the best of times, but after the last few years, it’s a lot to take.

“I hope this new café space will be a really positive addition to our café community activities.”

Two Sisters operates as a café by day until 3pm.

After that time, Kathryn plans to hold a number of community events.

The Menopause Café meets at Two Sisters café, Crowthorne, on the third week of the month from 4pm to 6pm. The next gathering is on Tuesday, April 18.

No booking is required, and people can just turn up. n For more information about Two Sisters café and its community events, visit: www.twosisters-cafe.com

RAF COSFORD AIRSHOW & Warwick

Departing Sat 10 Jun ‘23

Look up to the skies and be thrilled by the aerobatic displays of the RAF Cosford Airshow, which include powerful demonstrations from the Royal Air Force and modern military aircraft. This full-scale extravaganza includes RAF Hangar displays, exhibitions, traders and more!

Your break includes

 Return coach travel from Crawley

 Overnight stay at a selected 3 or 4-star hotel with dinner & breakfast

 Admission to the RAF Cosford Airshow

 En-route visit to Warwick

Optional admission to Warwick Castle (£30pp)

2 Days by Coach only £129

DELIGHTFUL DEVON

Departing Fri 16 Jun ‘23

Beloved for its mild climate and miles of golden sands, Torquay provides us with the perfect base for our relaxing short break away. From here we explore this picturesque corner of the West Country, including a visit to Exeter, the capital of Devon.

Your break includes

 Return coach travel from Reading

 3 nights at the Trecarn Hotel, Torquay with dinner & breakfast

 Excursion to Exeter

Optional excursion to Sidmouth (£10pp)

4 Days by Coach only £189

Youngsters’ show was a right royal tribute to the Queen

By EMMA MERCHANT emerchant@wokingham.today

READING’S Hexagon Theatre saw more than 750 primary school children come together to perform a musical show in memory of the late Queen.

Happy And Glorious, featured songs from each decade of her life, with youngsters singing together in a large choir, as well as performing drama, poetry, instrumental music and dance.

The children from 15 borough primary schools began rehearsing at the beginning of the year for the concert, organised by Wokingham Area Schools Music Association (WASMA).

The group has been staging annual music events since 1947, when it began with just a handful of schools in Wokingham town.

It has now grown into an organisation that provides musical opportunities for primary schools across the whole of Wokingham borough.

Each annual performance is based around a theme chosen by the group.

This year the youngsters’ royal tribute, Happy And Glorious, featured entertainment that spanned the Queen’s life, with items drawn from the 1920s through to the present day.

Anne Haycocks, first a teacher, and now a WASMA show co-ordinator, has worked with the group for over 30 years.

She says: “I’m delighted that primary schools within Wokingham Borough continue to offer children the opportunity to experience a collaborative production staged within a professional theatre.

“WASMA is a very special annual event.

“The children’s shared experience of a large scale production which combines both music and the creative arts has a lasting impact which they can draw upon for many years to come.”

Performances took place over two consecutive Saturdays in March.

The first featured young performers from: Addington, Bearwood Primary, Earley St Peter’s Primary, Evendons Primary, Farley Hill Primary, Grazeley Primary, Hawthorns Primary, Highwood Primary, Keep Hatch Primary, Lambs Lane Primary, Loddon Primary, Nine Mile Ride Primary, Oaklands Junior, Radstock Primary and St Cecilia’s Primary.

The second concert involved youngsters from: Aldryngton Primary, Colleton Primary, Emmbrook Junior, Finchampstead Primary, Floreat Montague Park, Gorse Ride Junior, Hawkedon Primary, Polehampton Junior, Robert Piggott Junior, St Dominic Savio Primary, St Nicholas Hurst Primary, Wheatfield Primary and Willow Bank Junior.

n For more information about WASMA, visit: https://wsh. wokingham.gov.uk/learning-andteaching/music/wasma/

©Paul Johnson/Flightline UK

WASMA SCHOOLS

CLASP’s busy April

MEMBERS of a self advocacy group for people with learning disabilities will be able to enjoy meeting at a variety of activities this month.

They include Movie Mates, the Coffee Shop, Happy And Healthy Club, Craft Club and Evening Drop-In.

CLASP members can also enjoy an Active Session with Bikes 4 All and My Journey.

The group’s Gardening Club re-start, with sessions at Oakfield Court on Thursdays from 1pm to 3pm.

Take Notice, the group’s campaign forum, meets are at the Bradbury Centre on Friday mornings from 10am-noon.

Sessions cover the upcoming elections and photographic ID requirements on April 14, food hygiene on April 21, and a visit to a fire Station on April 28.

Active Sessions Woky Wheels 4 All bike sessions with My Journey, return to the FBC Centre in Finchampstead on Thursday, April 20, from 10am to 11am.

Members should select the 10am-11am to join the CLASP session, but other times are also available.

CLASP events are open to all adults with learning disabilities and their supporters living in Wokingham borough.

n For more information visit: www.claspwokingham.org

n To book bike Active Sessions, select Woky Wheels 4 All at: www.myjourneywokingham.com

Whiteknights Ensemble prepare for April concert

POPULAR music group the Whiteknights Ensemble is charging ahead with a new sound to help raise funds for the First Days children’s charity.

The talented musicians are well known as a wind quartet sound but this latest concert will include a number of invited string players.

Since 2017, the Whiteknights, who are based in Earley, have raised more than £3,000 for a number of good causes.

Wokingham-based First Days aims to reduce the long term effect of poverty on children by equipping them with the essential items they need for their early years and at school.

Arts Society learns about Sorolla, Painter of Light

AN informative and entertaining evening by a lecturer totally in command of her subject. I had never heard of Sorolla before last night and I was enthralled.”

This was one of the many enthusiastic comments made by members and guests of the Arts Society Wokingham who attended the Society’s March lecture.

Jacqueline Cockburn, a specialist in Spanish art, gave a beautifully illustrated talk on Joaquin Sorolla, one of Spain’s most extraordinary artists, who lived from 1863 to 1923.

He was a prolific painter. By the age of 22, he had created a portfolio of more than 140 paintings. He moved to Paris where he exhibited his work which was popular with visiting American buyers. In 1909, he held an

exhibition of 350 works in New York and sold almost half of them.

He idolised Velasquez and developed the 17th-century master’s use of pigment to great effect. The Impressionists also influenced him. Like them, he enjoyed painting outside, especially seascapes.

Many of his most famous paintings featured the sunny coastline of Valencia as you can see in this detail from The Return from Fishing.

Here you can see his use of thick brush strokes creating a feeling of sun light, texture and warmth. He painted his subjects unposed, going about their normal lives.

Many of the audience were unaware of Sorolla’s work but by the end of the evening they understood why there has been a resurgence of interest in this amazing painter of light and colour in the

past 15 years.

In contrast, the Society’s April lecture will examine Picasso’s famous painting Guernica. Paul Chapman, the well-known art historian and National Gallery guide, will explain why it is much more than a depiction of the Spanish Civil War.

This illustrated talk is on Monday, April 17, at King’s Academy, Binfield.

The school has excellent facilities including a well-lit car park and plenty of space to mingle while enjoying tea or coffee and biscuits before the talk starts at 7.45pm.

Guests are always welcome but email memsectheartssocietywham@gmail.com to register beforehand. The talk will also be available to watch from home on the society’s own YouTube channel.

n www.The ArtsSocietyWokingham.org.uk

SUE BRYANT

This year marks the charity’s tenth anniversary and it now recycles 40 tonnes of donated baby essentials, school uniforms, equipment, furniture and toys to Berkshire families who need them the most.

Next month’s concert will include clarinettist Sarah Barrett, and a pianist, oboist Mildred Burchett-Vass, to perform four diverse pieces by Brahms, Finzi, Connesson and Hurd.

Sarah said: “I first heard the Brahms Clarinet Quintet live while at University.

“£The richness of the sound of clarinet with strings and the passion of the music had me hooked and I’ve always wanted to perform it myself.”

Sarah will also be playing the fun-filled Disco Toccata by Guillaume Connesson with her cellist husband Chris. This is a piece that the pair discovered during lockdown, when they hugely missed being able to make music with their friends around Reading.

To provide even more woodwind loveliness, Whiteknights Ensemble oboist Mildred Burchett-Vass, and pianist John Sayer, will perform British composer Michael Hurd’s Concerto da Camera for oboe and orchestra.

Tickets are: £10 adults, £5 under18s or students.

The concert takes place on Saturday, April 22 at 7pm, in the Main Hall, Michael Malnick Centre, Leighton Park School.

n Full details at: www. whiteknightsensemble.org.uk

REVIEW Wokingham Choral Society provide captivating music at their spring concert

THE spring concert of the Wokingham Choral Society was performed in the Great Hall of the University of Reading on Saturday, March 18, before a rapt audience.

The ensemble was conducted by the society’s new musical director, Cathal Garvey, who teaches conducting at the Royal Academy of Music and performs as a violinist.

The concert included two greatly loved works, Monteverdi’s Beatus Vir, with its repeated title words and Vivaldi’s Gloria, its opening bearing the unmistakeable idiom of the Four Seasons.

instantly appealing work, Stabat Mater by Pergolesi, who died tragically at the age of 26.

The choir sang with dynamic poise, ably supported by their accompanist George de Voil playing the Chamber Organ and continuo, the Hampstead Chamber orchestra and two sensitive soloists, soprano Charlotte Shaw and mezzo Cathy Bell.

They all treated the audience to a memorable evening.

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The first half of the concert was devoted to a far less known but

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Wokingham Choral Society’s next concert will be in All Saints Church, Wokingham on Saturday, June 17, and will be an evening of favourite opera and musical choruses.

R J EAGLEN

A GROUP that supports young people in the borough has announced its new appointment.

Sarah Atkinson takes on the role of chair of trustees at Berkshire Youth with immediate effect.

Roger Smee, MBE, president of Berkshire Youth, said: “Sarah brings a wealth of experience to the charity after more than 20 years in industry and non-executive board roles.

“Her appointment comes at a critical point in the charity’s history.

“Raising the visibility of Berkshire Youth and fundraising have never been more important to secure the long term support for young people that they deserve.”

Sarah is currently global director of environmental, social and governance at Micro Focus. She is also board director at the Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, a member of the Skills Advisory Panel, and lead for diversity and inclusion for Berkshire.

She has served at techUK and worked with government and non-

government organisations on a variety of initiatives to inspire young people about the world of work.

Sarah said: “I look forward to building upon all the great work that our president and trustee Roger Smee, the board of trustees and the team led by CEO Sarah Emery, have done.

“I am passionate about inclusion and ensuring all young people get the opportunities and the support they need to successfully navigate adolescence, when many are facing mental health issues, especially postcovid.”

Berkshire Youth Chief Executive, Sarah Emery, says: “This is a very exciting time for Berkshire Youth.”

The charity helps young people to reach their full potential and make a positive contribution to their communities. It supports clubs and groups, providing safe environments in which young people can explore new ideas, activities and opportunities.

n To find out more, visit: www. berkshireyouth.co.uk

Triple Easter treat for residents at Lower Earley-based care home

THERE was a triple Easter treat for residents and staff at Barchester’s Austen House care home, in Lower Earley, writes James Hastings

Children from the Thrive Early Years and Intergenerational Childcare brought a fashionable splash of colour with an Easter Bonnet Parade which was followed by singing and games with all the children receiving chocolate eggs.

After a church service, residents made personalised

Easter cards for their loved ones before tucking into a wonderful roast lamb topped off by an Easter cake prepared by the home’s head chef.

Jane, a resident at Austen House said: “It has been so lovely to spend time with our families this Easter, though like every Easter, I think I’ve eaten too much chocolate. It was so wonderful to see everyone go to so much effort.

“I really enjoyed making

Easter cards and seeing the little children showing off their beautiful Easter Bonnets.”

General Manager, Seva Hashimova said both residents and staff had been looking forward to the special Easter celebrations: “It’s such a lovely time of year. The residents loved all the colourful Easter eggs and the Easter Bonnet parade.

“It’s really been an eggs-cellent few days.”

‘It was a notable tree’: Twyford mourns its oak

By SUE CORCORAN news@wokingham.today

TRIBUTES are being paid to a muchloved oak, classified as “a notable ancient tree”, which fell in the recent torrential rain.

By great fortune the tree fell straight between two homes, injuring no-one and leaving the houses undamaged.

The living veteran tree may be lost but there is still some good news for nature.

Wokingham District Veteran Tree Association recognised the importance of the tree, thought to be at least 200 years old, when they put it in their records in 2009. They measured 4.3 metres round its trunk, 1.5 metres above the ground.

The association’s lead tree warden Stephen Loyd of Twyford paid respects to the fallen oak in a grassed area of Broad Hinton, Twyford, visiting to photograph it for the association.

“It had all the characteristics of a good veteran tree, with holes in it and broken bits. It is sad to see it go in one fell swoop like that,” he said. It would take years to replace a tree of that calibre. He guessed it was at least 200 years old.

The tree was in waterlogged ground at the bottom of a hill. “That may have contributed to it falling on that very very wet day [March 31],” he said.

Francesca Hobson, Wokingham Borough Council’s assistant director for

Sheep may safely graze after watery rescue

SHEEP may safely graze once more, thanks to Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Crews from Wokingham Road fire station and the water rescue team from Caversham Road Fire Station were called to Waltham Road in Ruscombe at 8.40am on Sunday, April 2.

Upon arrival, crews discovered a flock of more than 50 sheep stranded in deep water. Firefighters assisted the farmer in successfully rescuing all the animals, totalling 24 ewes, 27 lambs and one ram. They were on the scene for just under five hours.

Coronation fundraiser

A THAMES Valley charity is inviting members of the public to host coronation parties and events as part of a royal fundraiser.

Thames Hospice has launched the Coronation Big Lunch, through which it invites residents to party in the name of supporting the charity.

of Austen House were presented with chocolate eggs as a special seasonal treat

It suggests cake stalls, raffles, and jumble sales as well as traditional or not-so-traditional fete games such as guess the wight of the cake, lucky dips, and pin the crown on the King.

It is also offering resources such as a free fundraising pack to help potential partiers get their gatherings of with a swing.

n To claim a free fundraising pack, email: l.pipe@thameshospice.org.uk, or call Layla on 01753 945627.

environment and safety, had similar thoughts, saying: “It’s hard to say why the tree fell down but, on inspection, we noticed the surrounding area was very heavily waterlogged due to the recent heavy rain so this is likely to have been a contributing factor.

“We know that trees are important for a wide range of reasons, from protecting biodiversity and offsetting carbon emissions to improving people’s health, so we’ll be arranging replacement planting during the 2023/24 season.”

She added: “We’ll do all we can to keep any sizeable oak [pieces] on site where it can be made safe, in order to keep as many environmental and wildlife benefits as we can.”

A council spokesperson said: “The tree is likely to have been providing a habitat for beetle species that feed on decomposing wood (such as stag beetles) for some time already, and could carry on doing so for many years to come.

“So it’s beneficial to keep as much as possible and let it decompose naturally. Given the size of the trunk, it could continue to provide biodiversity benefit for several decades yet.”

Mr Lloyd explained the benefits of oaks, saying: “The New Sylva, a book by Gabriel Hemery, states that oaks ‘are

well known to support the richest fauna of any tree species in Britain, with an estimated five hundred invertebrate species [including insects, beetles, bugs and centipedes] being entirely dependent on them’.

“The book also states veteran oaks are important for ‘Their natural ability to hold onto dead limbs and to survive with hollow stems provid[ing] habitat niches for thousands of specialist invertebrates, and for bats, birds, fungi, lichens, mosses and even other tree species that can take root within their rotting hulks’.”

He said trees of the fallen oak’s age stored far more carbon in their trunk, branches and roots than young trees, adding: “I would not use the term ‘off set carbon emissions’ for 200-year-old trees, as that implies compensating our daily emissions. These trees were here before we started our emissions. They should be regarded as carbon stores.”

Mr Loyd said that before the Broad Hinton estate was built it was open fields dotted with veteran oaks. At the time of planning consent the council had said the trees had to remain. There are still oak trees, other than the fallen one, there.

n Visit the Wokingham District Veteran Tree Association website at https://www. wdvta.org.uk for details of trees they have recorded throughout the borough.

n Branches of the fallen oak which were overhanging homes have been removed

Residents

EASTER BONNETS: Children from Thrive Early Years helped residents of Austen House in Lower Earley celebrated Easter with chocolate, children and cards Pictures: Austen House

DOREEN ANN BALL

Deceased

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone having a cla m against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased late o 19 Humber C ose, Wooseh l ,Wok ngham RG41 3UA, who died on 28/10/2022, must send written par t cu ars to the address below by 05/06/2023, after wh ch date the Estate wil be distributed hav ng regard only to c aims and interests notified Anita Pr ymak c/o Clifton Ingram LLP, 22-24 Broad Street Wok ngham RG40 1BA Ref AEP/BAL245/4

P O L I S H

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LEISURETODAY

Your guide to what’s on across Reading and Wokingham

bad show in Reading, but parking?

EMMANUEL Sonubi is one of the emerging talents in live comedy in the UK, quickly cementing himself as a firm favourite while providing tour support for Jason Manford.

Recent credits also include appearances on landmarks of stand-up such as Live at the Apollo, ITV2’s Standup Sketch Show, and Stand-Up UK from Comedy Central, as well as a string of shows at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival.

Emmanuel marries two extremes in much of his comedy, contrasting his muscular, toned appearance, and a self-

confessed theatrical sensibility. His latest show, Emancipated, is mostly about his journey in comedy to where he is now, but, he says, also looks at some of his previous occupations.

“It’s an hour of laugh-out-loud escapism with no agenda and lots for people to relate to.

“But it’s also about how things that used to be important to me just aren’t any more, and how freeing that is.”

The show also follows Emmanuel’s nomination for Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Festival Best Newcomer,

which he says was “really unexpected.

“I basically got myself to not think of any of the competitions, or any of the reviews, it has to be about the audience.

“That’s who it should be for, not the stars.”

So he was unaware of his nomination: “Until I got a message that morning which read ‘congratulations.’

“But it was so nice; there were thousands of shows there, so being regarded as one of the best was really heartening.”

He also said it was the “cherry on the top” of what proved to be an accomplished run of shows.

“The feeling of being appreciated, feeling like what you do means something to other people.”

It’s possible, he admits, that he takes this approach from his time in theatre: “The performance side helped me just to be on stage.”

But he has also worked as a doorman: “Which really helps with crowd control.

“My main ingredient when I started was that everyone at some point has passed a bouncer, it’s recognisable but relatively unknown.”

He says that for him, comedy is great when it has an element of relatability: “People don’t always laugh at the joke, just what it reminds them of.

“Comedy gives people the space to laugh at testing or dark situations which you now have a new perspective on, and ultimately deal with it a little bit better.

“And I’ve always used it like that.”

And once a comedian has settled an audience in, once they’re trusted, it can be a position with a real platform.

“When it’s done right, you can be the platform that incites change; all I can say, though, is my take on a subject.”

His tour includes Reading’s South

Street Arts Centre, to which he said he was looking forward: “Never had a bad show in Reading— I don’t like the parking restrictions, but I do like Reading.”

And his favourite part of all: “Actually performing the show; I get to go and perform in another town, another city, and that’s what it really gets down to.

“But I’ve had people say that it’s ruined their lives missing the show, so I suppose it’s my public service!”

Emmanuel Sonubi’s live stand-up show, Emancipated, is touring the UK, with Reading’s South Street Arts Centre among the roster of venues on Friday, April 21.

He’s also coming to Guildford, Swindon, Chorley, and London. n For full details of the tour and to get hold of tickets, visit: www. emmanuelstandup.com

‘I’ve never had a

I don’t like that’

Comedian Emmanuel Sonubi talks to Reading Today about his stand-up tour, Emancipated, coming to South Street later this month

Berry funny night

A ‘PITCH perfect’ rising comic will entertain in Maidenhead.

Josh Berry’s new stand up show brings plenty of characters and impressions as he wades through the two interweaving topics that pre-occupy him most: sex and politics.

Described by Jon Culshaw as ‘Absolutely superb’, Josh performs at Norden Farm Arts Centre Studio, on Wednesday, April 26.

Doors open at 8pm, with tickets at £16.

n For more details, to book, call the box office on: 01628 788977 or log on to: norden.farm

Suffolk folklore will be sweet

A BRITISH folk duo will tell musical tales of Suffolk folklore, people they admire, passion for nature, and a heart break or two.

Honey And The Bear’s songs combine interweaving vocal harmonies with a range of sounds and textures.

The multi instrumentalist pair are: Jon Hart on guitar, bass, and bazouki; and Lucy Hart on guitar, ukulele, bass, banjo, mandolin and percussion.

They are joined by Evan Carson on drums, and Toby Shaer on fiddle, flutes, and whistles.

The event takes place at Norden Farm Arts Centre Studio, on Saturday, April 29.

Doors open at 8pm, with tickets available for £15.

n For more details, to book, call the box office on: 01628 788977 or log on to: norden.farm

Racism, ableism and a silent world

A THEATRE performance tells the story of a deaf Indian boy growing up in Britain.

Told with humour, Rinkoo Barpaga’s performance of, Made In (India) Britain, relates the experience of deaf Punjabi youngster, Roo, living in a world that he feels wasn’t made for him.

Ableism and racism impact his childhood and his adult life, and lead him to ask, ‘Where do I belong?’

The event is performed in BSL, Spoken English and Closed Captions, at Norden Farm Arts Centre Studio, on Thursday, April 27. Doors open at 7.30pm, with tickets available for £16.

n For more details, to book, call the box office on: 01628 788977 or log on to: norden.farm

Lucie Jones will be light music fantastic

A WEST End star and her orchestra will perform music from the stage and screen in Reading.

Soloist Lucie Jones and the Fulltone Orchestra’s programme of songs ranges from the 1930’s through to the present day.

The audience can expect West End hits and classic numbers, including songs from Wicked, Waitress, and The Wizard Of Oz.

Lucie Jones and the Fulltone Orchestra perform at The Hexagon Theatre, on Thursday, April 27.

Doors open at 7.30pm, with tickets available for £42, and £57, depending on seat location. n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 0118 960 6060 or visit: whatsonreading.com

Reader travel

BARELY Methodical Troupe are at the forefront of a new kind of physical performance. Their shows mix circus acrobatics with the emotional punch of theatre.

Bromance is a circus show about camaraderie and affection. It’s a tour-de-force of physical heroics, where handshakes become handstands and back slaps become backflips.

It is at The Corn Exchange, Newbury, on Wednesday, April 19.

Doors open at 7.45pm, with tickets available for £20.25, or £14.75 for under 25s.

n For tickets and information, call the box office on: 08455 218218 or log on to: www.cornexchangenew. com

Flight and passion

A TERRENCE Rattigan drama performed in Wokingham describes romantic conflict and raging war.

In Flare Path, RAF bomber pilot Teddy,is celebrating a reunion with his actress wife Patricia.

When her ex-lover and Hollywood heart-throb Peter arrives, and an urgent bombing mission over Germany is ordered, Patricia finds herself at the centre of an emotional conflict as unpredictable as the war in the skies.

Audiences can see the play at Wokingham Theatre from Thursday, April 27 through to Saturday, May 6. Doors open at 7.45pm, and tickets cost £15. n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 0118 978

Bracknell – South Hill Park southhillpark.org.uk 01344 484123

Kinky Boots. Until Sun 16. The Comedy

Cellar. Fri 14. Night of the Guitar: Tom Gamble, Dale Harris and Amrit Sond. Wed 19. Justin Moorhouse.

Thurs 20. Nothing Happens (Twice).

Fri 21. Isadora The Barefoot Dancer.

Sat 22. Paranation Ghost Hunt events. Sat 22.

FILMS: Royal Opera House LiveCinderella (12a). Sun 16. Women Talking (15). Fri 14-Sun 16. Lunana: A Yak In The Classroom (PG). Mon 17-Tues 18. Exhibition on Screen: Vermeer, The Blockbuster Exhibition.

Wed 19-Sun 23. National Theatre

Live: Good. Thurs 20. The Son (15).

Tues 21. Full Time (TBC). Fri 24-Sun 26. Lift Off: Creature (12a). Wed 26.

Camberley – Theatre camberleytheatre.biz 01276 707600

The Hollies Story. Thurs 13. Pop Diva

Live. Sun 16. Robert Temple: The Hypnotist. Thurs 20. Uptown Joel.

Fri 21. Lionel - the Music of Lionel Richie. Sat 22.

Guildford –Yvonne Arnaud

yvonne-arnaud.co.uk 01483 440000

Grease. Thurs 13-Sat 15. The Way Old Friends Do. Tues 17-Sat 22. Second Summer of Love. Thurs 20-Fri 21.

Daddy Issues. Sat 22.

High Wycombe – Swan

wycombeswan.co.uk 01494 512000

The ELO Experience. Thurs 13. Totally Tina. Fri 14. Giovanni Pernice - Made In Italy. Sat 15. Buckinghamshire County Youth Orchestra. Sun 16.

Nadiya and Kai - Once Upon A Time.

Sun 16. Six The Musical. Tues 18-Sun 23. Hellfire Comedy Club. Thurs 20.

5363 or visit: wokinghamtheatre. org.uk

Upbeat look at mental health help

PERFORMER Matt

McGuinness says he is proud to work with Samaritans.

His show, We Are What We Overcome, combines upbeat, original acoustic music with thought-provoking comedy and stories.

It describes one man’s journey to good mental health - via a very bad idea.

The event, supported by Arts Council England & New Art Exchange can be seen at Bracknell’s South Hill Park Arts Centre.

The performance is on Wednesday, April 26 at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £13.50.

n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 01344 484123 or log on to: www.southhillpark. org.uk

A show full of Madness

A MUSICAL filled with hits from 80s group Madness, is coming to Henley.

Our House, is a London love story set to the band’s music.

When 16-year-old Joe breaks into a building site to impress his girlfriend, the police turn up and the lad’s life splits into two.

Is he Good Joe, who stays to help, or Bad Joe, who flees?

The show includes Madness hits: House of Fun, Baggy

Henley – Kenton

kentontheatre.co.uk 01491 525050

Beatles Ballet. Fri 14. Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band farewell tour. Sat 15. Cinderella The Ballet. Sun 16. Michael McIntyre Work In ProgressSOLD OUT. Mon 17.

Maidenhead –Norden Farm

www.nordenfarm.org 01628 788997

Eshann Akbar - The Pretender. Thurs 13.

Pianists at Norden Farm - Meng Yang

Pan. Thurs 13. Rock n Roll Concertini.

Fri 14. Mummies (U). Fri 14. Art Themen sax. Fri 14. Rye Lane (15). Fri

14. Flash - A tribute to Queen. Sat 15.

Winners (PG). Tues 18. The Man Who Left the Titanic. Wed 19. National Theatre Live - Good. Thurs 20, Fri 21.

The Ocelots. Thurs 20. Alex KealyWinner Takes All. Fri 21. 80 For brady (12). Fri 21. The Vinyl Frontier - Best Years of Our Lives. Sat 22. Forever Elton - Greatest Hits Tour. Sat 22.

Newbury – Corn Exchange

cornexchangenew.com 0845 5218 218

Tots Cinema. Thurs 13. The Wizard of Oz.

Fri 14-Sun 16. Aftersun. Sat 15-Tues

18. Bromance. Wed 19. Axel Blake. Thurs 20. Looking For Me Friend. Fri

21. John Wick Chapter 4. Fri 21-Sat

22. Family Film: Shaun The Sheep Movie. Sat 22. Shape Of You. Sat 22.

NT Encore: Good. Sun 23.

Newbury – The Watermill

www.watermill.org.uk 01635 46044

Visitors. Until Sat 22.

Reading – South Street

whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060

Bilal Zafar - Care. Thurs 13. Ivo Graham - My Future, My Clutter. Fri 14-Sat 15. Poets’ Cafe. Fri 14. Sold. Thurs 20.

Trousers, Driving in my Car, It Must Be Love and Our House.

The musical can be seen at The Kenton Theatre, from Wednesday, April 26, through to Saturday, April 29.

Performances are at 7.45pm, with an additional matinée on Saturday at 2pm.

Tickets cost £20, with concessions available for £18.

n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 01491 525050 or log on to: www. kentontheatre.co.uk

Newbury is full of The Valley of Fear

ARTHUR Conan Doyle’s final novel is brought to life in a new stage adaptation.

The Valley of Fear sees Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson drawn into a tale of intrigue and murder that leads them to the bleak Pennsylvanian Vermissa Valley.

Faced with a trail of bewildering clues, Holmes begins to unearth a darker, wider web of corruption, a secret society and the sinister work of one Professor Moriarty.

Original music, theatricality and story-telling combine in this event at the Corn Exchange. It can be seen on Wednesday, April 26 and Thursday, April 27 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £20.75, with concessions available for £18.75.

n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 08455 218218 or log on to: www. cornexchangenew.com

Sonubi - Emancipated. Fri 21. Eshaan Akbar - The Pretender. Sat 22. Alex Kealy - Winner Takes All. Sun 23.

Reading – The Hexagon whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060 La Boheme. Thurs 13. Ward Thomas. Mon 17. Rumours of Fleetwood Mac. Tues 18. NT Live Presents Good. Thurs 20. Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour. Tues 25.

Reading – Concert Hall

whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060 Jonathan Biss piano. Tues 18.

Reading – Progress progresstheatre.co.uk 0118 384 2195

Dinner. Fri 14- Sat 22.

Reading – Reading Rep

www.readingrep.com 0118 370 2620 Peter Pan. Until Sat 29.

Shinfield – Players

shinfieldplayers.org.uk 0118 975 8880

Ravenscroft. Wed 26-Fri 29.

Sonning – The Mill

millatsonning.com 0118 969 8000 Noel Coward’s Hay Fever. Until May 13. Dire Straits Money For Nothing. Sun 16. The Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly Show. Sun 23.

Windsor – Theatre Royal theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk 01753 853888

Legally Blonde Jr. Until Sat 15. Dom The Play. Wed 19-Sat 29.

Wokingham – The Whitty www.thewhittytheatre.org 0118 974 3247 Teechers - Leavers 22. Wed May 10.

Woodley – Theatre woodleytheatre.org 07488337838 Educating Rita. June

Paul has raised £67,000 for charities

and he’s not stopping anytime soon

PAUL FARMER is a man with numbers on his mind, writes James Hastings

The 67-year-old has now raised £67,000 for numerous charities in and around Reading.

The latest coffee morning at All Saints Church in Downshire Square, notched up a further £205 for the Reading Association For The Blind - and Paul says he has no plans to stop.

“I started organising fundraising events about 12 years ago and just kept going,” he smiles.

“I love doing it and it’s good to

know that local charities benefit from people’s generosity. I enjoy poking around in charity shops for raffle prizes and people are very generous in donating items.

“There is also a social benefit from something like a coffee morning especially for people living alone. We all like a good chat with a coffee and a slice of cake.”

Over the last 12 years, Paul has organised events such as Christmas fairs, summer fayres, jumble sales and tombolas. He has also run the Reading Half Marathon for the last 13 years

and abseiled 86 metres down The Blade.

“That was out of my comfort zone but it was thrilling,” he adds.

“I like to think up different ways to fund raise and perhaps one day I’ll do a parachute jump.”

Paul says his favourite charities are the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice in Maidenhead and the Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice.

“At the end of the day, fundraising events raise money for good causes of all descriptions and I am glad to play a small part in helping them.”

Anita Oui to hang up the wig after show

EXCLUSIVE

By Jake Clothier jake@rdg.today

ONE OF Reading’s drag performers has announced that they’re hanging up the wig following their latest show.

Anita Oui said that the show they hosted at the Rising Sun Arts Centre on Saturday, April 1, would be their last as they look to move on to different kinds of performance.

They were hosting the regular residency at the venue while the original host, Sheer Obsession, was away on hiatus.

The show celebrated pop icon Lady Gaga, kicking off with Anita’s performance to Applause followed by House of Big leader Big Jay and the Ashnikko remix of Plastic Doll.

Brittana Faberry sang a cover of Poker Face live before Oxford’s Cairo Ali’s lipsync to Gaga’s The Cure.

Sera Tonin performed a stunning lipsync to Donatella Wears Prada and Anita closed the first half with Bad Romance.

The second half saw an appearance from Viola Tucks with a humorous lipsync to Lady is a Tramp, followed by

Serious road traffic collision

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following a serious road traffic collision in Reading.

At around 5pm on Saturday, April 8, a Lifan LF 125 motorbike and a blue Tesla collided on the A329 Purley Rise between Pangbourne and Purley on Thames.

The motorcyclist sustained severe injuries, leaving them hospitalised.

Investigating officer, PC Adam Price, of the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, said: “We are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision, or has dashcam foottage, to please come forward.

“Anyone with information can contact police by calling 101 or making a report online, quoting reference 43230154097.”

Improv to return

A COMEDY troupe will make things up as they go along thanks to the live improvisation events.

Mad Monkey Improv will be at Brewdog Reading in Castle Street on Friday, April 21.

The venue also offers food and drinks, including nonalcoholic options. Tickets are available for £5 if booked in advance.

n For more details, log on to: www.madmonkeyimprov.co.uk

P O L I S H

W I N E T A S T I N G

E v e r y o n e I m e n t i o n e d t h i s e v e n t t o r e a c t e d w i t h t h e s a m e q u i z z i c a l r a i s e d e y e b r o w “ P o l i s h w i n e s ? ” “ Y e s , ” I s a i d “ P o l i s h w i n e s ”

J o i n u s f o r a n e v e n i n g o f u n u s u a l w i n e s f r o m P o l a n d h o s t e d b y o u r g o o d f r i e n d A d a m M i c h o c k i o f C e n t r a l

W i n e s Y o u ’ l l b e t r y i n g a r a n g e o f g r a p e v a r i e t i e s t h a t r e a l l y s h o w c a s e

another live vocal performance by Brittana Faberry. Big Jay, Cairo Ali, and Sera Tonin performed final lipsyncs before Anita Oui took their place at the piano.

They announced that it would not only be their final show as host, but their final as a drag performer, before singing along live to a touching piano performance of Born This Way.

As they show drew to a close, they thanked their drag family, particularly House of Big’s Big Jay, and said that original host Sheer Obsession would be returning to the residency.

Speaking after the event, Anita Oui said: “It’s definitely hard to pin down an exact reason for calling it a day;

it’s a combination of burnout and being happy with what I achieved.

“I think if I continued it would be like those final series of a show where the storylines go awry, and the actors look jaded and have fallen out of love with it.

“I wanted to end on a high.”

Anita continued: “I’m still in love with the medium of performance art, though, and I hope to continue creating.”

Sheer Obsession’s Suspenders will return with a hand-picked roster of performers in Saturday, June 24, at The Rising Sun Arts Centre. n Tickets are available at different pricing tiers via: outsavvy.com

w h y P o l i s h w i n e s a r e f a s t b e c o m i n g s o w e l l r e g a r d e d i n t h e w i n e i n d u s t r y

O n t h e n i g h t w e w i l l b e s e r v i n g p l a t e s o f p i e r o g i ( m e a t a n d v e g g i e ) , P o l i s h

p i c k l e s a n d o t h e r l o c a l s n a c k s

T h i s i s o n e n o t t o m i s s

> W e l c o m e S p a r k l i n g W i n e

> F i v e W i n e s

> G u e s t S p e a k e r

> P o l i s h P i e r o g i ( D u m p l i n g s ) & S n a c k s

A l l w i n e s f r o m t h e e v e n i n g c a n b e

b o u g h t a t a r e t a i l p r i c e

£ 2 9 9 5 p e r p e r s o n

Paul Farmer organised the event

One of the winners goes up to collect their prize

One of the raffle winners A winner is drawn

EVENT: All Saints Church Hall in Downshire Square was the venue for an Easter Coffee morning with raffle and tombola organised in aid of Reading Association For The Blind Pictures: Dijana Capan/DVision Images

Come and sing with some fizz

THE winning choir of a contest to find the greater Reading area’s best choir is inviting people to come and sing with them.

The Barberettes, who scooped the Let’s Sing Reading prize last month, is hosting a Fizz and Sing social event on Wednesday, April 19 at St Nicolas Church in Sutcliffe Avenue, Earley.

The group is inviting women who love to sing to join them for a glass of bubbly and some music.

The event is open to anyone interested in finding a new hobby and meeting like-minded individuals.

n For more information, visit: www.the-barberettes.co.uk

Muse tribute

STOGFEST Promotions is bringing a night of high-quality cover bands to Reading.

The Runaway Killers and Simulation Muse will take the stage at The Face Bar on Ambrose Place, playing renditions of some of the biggest modern rock hits of the last two decades.

The bands are known for their uncanny likeness to the original bands, making for a double tribute to Muse and The Killers.

Tickets for the event, on Saturday, April 22 cost £14 in advance or £16 on the door.

n For more details, search Ticket Tailor for Stogfest Promotions

Abbey and beyond for new Henry I play

APLAY taking place in the very venue that events unfolded hundreds of years earlier will go on tour this summer.

RABBLE Theatre is to perform Henry I in the Reading Abbey Ruins in June.

The historic site was founded by the monarch as he sought atonement for his ruthless reign. It is thought he was buried in the ruins.

And after the 22-date performance run, RABBLE will be taking the show to Winchester’s Great Hall, and then to Covent Garden in London.

The Great Hall was founded by Henry’s father William the Conquerer.

After a rogue arrow had put an end to the life of Henry’s brother, King William, Henry leapt on a horse and sprinted to Winchester where he seized the crown.

The play will be performed here between July 12 and 15.

Toby Davies, Co-Artistic Director, RABBLE Theatre, said: “It is an honour for us all at RABBLE to be taking Henry I to this magnificent heritage site and we’d like to thank the teams at both Theatre Royal Winchester and Hampshire County Council who have worked tirelessly to make this

special production possible.”

Then, the troupe will perform at St Paul’s, known as the Actors’ Church. Famous actors are remembered on plaques in the church’s interior, actors and stage crew have held their burial services here for years.

The show will be performed from July 20-22.

Hal Chambers, the show’s director said: “Henry I is an energetic, bold and thrilling modern history play and we’re looking forward to performing in this beautiful location, in the heart of London.”

But first is the performances in Reading, which take place between June 13 and July 1.

The play starts after the death of William the Conqueror.

Henry’s desire is the crown, and power, as the king of England. But to get there, there must be a scramble for power between him and his brother.

RABBLE says anticipation is growing for the performances of the Beth Flintoff’s play of power, forgiveness and royal ambitions.

“To be exporting culture from Reading is a very positive step for our town and to be invited to perform in these two remarkable locations is a real privilege,” says Dani Davies, Co-Artistic Director, RABBLE Theatre.

n For more details, or to book, log on to: rabbletheatre.com

THE GO! Team returned to the stage in Reading for their first show in the town for 15 years when they performed at Sub89 last month.

The show started with Baba Ali, a two-piece outfit whose sound was laced with 80s-tinged synth with the aesthetic to match.

The lead singer’s resonant vocals were well-matched with the band’s strippeddown aesthetic in an instantly danceable set full of hooky anthems.

When The Go! Team took to the stage, Wokingham-born songwriter Ian Parton was flanked by five fellow band mates.

The band kicked off in their usual style, barrelling straight into high-energy performances of some of the hits from their 20-year career.

Major songs of the band’s Mercury Prize-nominated first album came thick and fast, including Ladyflash, Huddle Formation, and Get It Together.

Sea Between Us, Gemini, and Key to the City rapidly followed before The Power is On seemed to close the show.

The band returned swiftly, however, to play a one-two punch of an encore with the breakout hit from their latest album, Whammy-O, and Tornado.

Overall, The Go! Team showed that not only is their lyrical and musical composition as fresh as it ever has been, but also that their performing talent, multiinstrumentalist capabilities, and dynamism on stage has never left them.

JAKE CLOTHIER

HISTORIC EVENT: RABBLE Theatre will perform Henry I this summer

Go hard or go home: The Go! Team shows that they’re as fresh as ever

GO: The Go! Team in action Picture: Jake Clothier

LIVEMUSIC

RaW Sounds Today

Chris Hillman bit.ly/raw soundstoday

ANEW single from Split The Dealer tops our hit parade this week, and we think you’ll love it.

It’s the first since signing to Wolves Records, and we think they are on the cusp of bigger things.

Have a listen and see what you think – tune in for free on Spotify. Our playlist is a mixture that will help you discover something new.

To hear this week’s selection, simply head to https://bit.ly/rawsoundstodayand enjoy the music.

There is 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.

Split the Dealer – Capsize

Here’s an artist who has been in every one of our Top 20 listings of the year so far and he’s likely to do that again this year judging by this new single.

It’s another brilliant recording and is the first since he announced his signing to Wolves Records, a record label set up by Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club.

We’ve loved all of Split the Dealer’s releases to date, but this single does feel like the start of big things.

Let’s hope it is, as it would be well deserved –https://beacons.ai/splitthedealer

One Last Day – Stay Away From Me

It’s another artist from the local area that is progressing and getting known further afield.

We’ve featured this Bracknell-based band already this year but this single is definitely worthy

GIG GUIDE

Thursday, April 13

ARBORFIELD – Royal British Legion, Eversley Road RG2 9PR. Flying Visit.

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Mr Pineapple. Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk

BRACKNELL – The Golden Farmer, Reeds Hill RG12 7LS. Karaoke. Details: 01344 302038.

EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6 7JN. Iftar dinner time: Ramandan community dinner organised by the Dialogue Society. 6pm. Entry free, by tiket, donations to Victims of Earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Details: reading@ dialoguesociety.org

READING – The Blagrave Arms, Blagrave Street RG1 1PW. Karaoke. Details: 0118 958 6775.

READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Hugh Turner Funk Quartet

Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING – Lola Lo, Friar Street. Skint Thursdays: Skint Rock, pop punk and classic rock, plus house and techo.

Details: Twitter @skintmondays

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Club Velocity presents Shonen Knife 40th anniversary tour. Details: 0118 959 5395.

WOKINGHAM – The Grasshopper, Rose Street RG40 1XU. Live at the Grasshopper: Mark Warner’s Full Swing. From 6.30pm. Details: 0118 901 2678.

WOKINGHAM – The Victoria Arms, Easthampstead Road RG40 2EH. Open mic night. Details: 0118 979 9437.

Friday, April 14

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Scarlet Vixens Burlesque Show. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk

of getting them featured again. It’s another slice of well played powerful but melodic rock.

The band are touring throughout the UK in spring and summer including a Reading date on July 22 at Facebar and an appearance at Wokingham Festival on August 28 – https://linktr.ee/onelastday

Ghost Dance – Down to the Wire

We go back in time now to the late 1980s with an anthem from gothic rock band Ghost Dance.

The band split not long after the release of the album from which this is taken, Stop the World.

They reformed in 2019 and have a brand-new album coming out next month.

They will be visiting Reading on May 4 to play the Facebar at a Club Velocity / New Mind Promotions show – https://ghost-dance.co.uk/

Deva St. John – The Curse

Deva just released her debut EP, Nauseous Ad Nauseum from which this is taken and it’s no surprise that every song is excellent.

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Black Market. Details: 01344 303333.

GORING – Community Centre, The Old School Station Road RG8 9HB. Hugh Turner quartet. 8pm. £10.

READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Open mic night. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. The Swamp – Morass of Molasses hometown show. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING – Lola Lo, Friar Street. Wendy Allen saxophonist

READING – Pentahotel, Oxford Road RG1 7HR. One Eyed Man. Details: 0118 958 6222.

READING – Pitcher & Piano, Friar Street RG1 1DB. Stars in the their Minds karaoke. Details: 0118 958 8964.

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. The Beat featuring Ranking Jnr. Details: 0118 959 5395.

WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. Plato and the Bees. Details: 0118 977 3706.

Saturday, April 15

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. The Slough Dominican Association presents Still Doing It For Dominica. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Ultimate Party Band. Details: 01344 303333.

BRACKNELL – The Royal Oak, London Road RG12 2NN. Tequila Chase.

Details: 01344 422622

CAVERSHAM – Working Men’s Club, Church Street RG4 8AU. David Bunce

Presents. Details: 0118 954 5434.

LOWER EARLEY – Maiden Place Social Club, Maiden Place RG6 3HD. Gary

Roman as Elvis. Details: 0118 986 8995.

READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. Skanna Audio presents Stomptopia. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING – Fisherman’s Cottage, Kennet Side RG1 3DW. Wardour Street.

READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Chasing Mumford. Details: 0118 402 7800.

READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. Audiotonic.

Details: 0118 926 5804.

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Tuffbreaks 360º audio-visual showcase

Details: 0118 959 5395.

READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. Big Black Boots. Details: 0118 957 6930.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Bottlekids. 7.30pm. Details: 0118 977 0918.

WOKINGHAM – The White Horse, Easthampstead Road RG40 3AF. Matt Bond. Details: 0118 979 7402.

Sunday, April 16

READING – The Blagrave Arms, Blagrave Street RG1 1PW. Sunday Karaoke.

Details: 0118 958 6775.

READING – Community Hall, Watlington House, Watlington Street RG1 4RJ. Readifolk presents: The Foxglove Trio.

Details: www.readifolk.org.uk

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Reggae Sundays. Details: 0118 959 7196.

SONNING – The Mill at Sonning, Sonning Eye RG4 6TY. Dire Straits Money For Nothing. Details: 0118 969 8000.

Monday, April 17

READING – The Hexagon, Queens Walk RG1 7QF. Ward Thomas. Details: 0118 960 6060.

Deva has a BBC Introducing show at Purple Turtle on April 20 – https://www.facebook.com/ dayvasaintjohn/

Azure – Spark Madrigal

Modern prog from a Brighton-based band that will be visiting on August Bank Holiday Monday to headline the second stage at Wokingham Festival.

The band have been championed by Prog Magazine – https://www.facebook.com/azuresongs

Morass of Molasses – Terra Nova

These Reading rockers are currently on a UK tour which will see them in their hometown at Reading’s Facebar this Friday, April 14 – https://www. facebook.com/MorassOfMolasses

Elucidate – Take It

It’s the new single from Elucidate, a Readingbased Alt-Rock band, and it’s an exciting song with a driving rhythm section, great riff, and energetic emotive vocals.

Tuesday, April 18

BAGSHOT – The Foresters Arms, London Road. Bracknell Folk Club. Details: www.bracknellfolk.org.uk

BRACKNELL – The Golden Farmer, Reed’s Hill RG12 7LS. Tim Shez Band. Details: 01344 302038.

READING – The Hexagon, Queens Walk RG1 7QF. Rumours of Fleetwood Mac. Details: 0118 960 6060.

Wednesday, April 19

BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead RG12 7PA. Night of the Guitar: Tom Gamble, Dale Harris and Amrit Sond. Details: 01344 484123.

Thursday, April 20

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Alite and support. Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk

BRACKNELL – The Golden Farmer, Reeds Hill RG12 7LS. Karaoke. Details: 01344 302038.

READING – The Blagrave Arms, Blagrave Street RG1 1PW. Karaoke. Details: 0118 958 6775.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. BBC Introducing: Deva St John, Split The Dealer, Who Ate All The Crayons. Details: 0118 959 7196.

WOKINGHAM – The Grasshopper, Rose Street RG40 1XU. Live at the Grasshopper: Mark Warner’s Full Swing. From 6.30pm. Details: 0118 901 2678.

WOKINGHAM – The Victoria Arms, Easthampstead Road RG40 2EH. Open mic night. Details: 0118 979 9437.

Friday, April 21

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Supersonic Queen. Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. I

They will be appearing at Wokingham Festival in August – https://linktr.ee/ElucidateUK

Who Ate All The Crayons – Alive

This Reading band are supporting Deva St.John on April 20 at Purple Turtle and will be at Wokingham Festival – https://linktr.ee/ whoateallthecrayons

Rila’s Edge – Share the Night

Here’s a band on the rise with their latest single, Share the Night. They will be at Wokingham Festival in August – https://www.rilasedge.com/

Spacehopper –Pure Essence

With their colourful fun style, their trance and dub sounds and tracks as good as this new single on our Magick Eye Records label are sure to get everyone up and dancing at Wokingham Festival – https://www. spacehoppermusic.com/

Got Soul: Soul Fusions Seven. Details: 01344 303333.

READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Open mic night. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. The Reunion, K32, Tunnel Crew, Itsy Bitsy, BB Crew. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING – Hope and Bear, London Road RG1 5DE. Goldeneye. Details: 0118 935 4095.

READING – Lola Lo, Friar Street. Skint

Thursdays: Skint Rock, pop punk and classic rock, plus house and techo. Details: Twitter @skintmondays

READING – Pitcher & Piano, Friar Street RG1 1DB. Stars in the their Minds karaoke. Details: 0118 958 8964.

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP.

Resurrection: The Stone Roses Tribute and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Carpets. Details: 0118 959 5395.

Saturday, April 22

BINFIELD – The Victoria Arms, Terrace Road North RG42 5JA. Piston Broke. Details: 01344 483856.

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Slackrr, Flash Daddy and Small Town Saviours. Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. The Lee Aaron Band. Details: 01344 303333.

BRACKNELL – The Royal Oak, London Road RG12 2NN. White Light. Details: 01344 422622.

HENLEY – Christ Church Centre URC, Reading Road RG9 1AG. Henley Rotary Club Blues Night with Papa George. £15, under 18s £9. Details: https://henleyrotary.club/

READING – The Face bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. The Runaway Killers,

Stimulation Muse. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Hard Jokes by One Away. Details: 0118 402 7800.

READING – The Jazz Cafe, Select Car leasing Stadium RG2 0FL. The Chain Gang. Details: 0118 968 1442.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Dr Syntax and Pete Cannon. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – Reading Biscuit Factory, Broad Street Mall RG1 7QE. Certain Sound Records record sale. 10am-5pm. READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. Watt4. Details: 0118 926 5804.

READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. Band Substance. Details: 0118 957 6930.

TILEHURST – The Royal British Legion Club, Downing Road RG31 5BB. The Highwasters. Details: 0118 942 9606.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. The Filthy Llamas. Details: 0118 977 0918.

WINKFIELD ROW – The Woodcutters, Bere Road RG12 0XS. Arachna.

Sunday, April 23

READING – Community Hall, Watlington House, Watlington Street RG1 4RJ. Readifolk presents: The Twagger Band. Details: www.readifolk.org.uk

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Reggae Sundays. Details: 0118 959 7196.

SONNING – The Mill at Sonning, Sonning Eye RG4 6TY. The Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly Show. Details: 0118 969 8000.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Live acoustic music with Harley Jutchinson. Details: 0118 977 0918.

Friday, April 14

CAVERSHAM – Library, Church Street RG4 8AU. Games club. 10.30amnoon. Free. Details: 0118

937 5103.

EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6

7JN. Re:Fresh cafe with Friendship Table. 10amnoon. Details: linkvisiting. org

READING – Battle Library, Oxford Road RG30 1EE. Rhymetime. 10am and 11.15am. Booking essential. Details: 0118

937 5100.

READING – Reading Minster Church, Chain Street RG1 2HX. Easter Bach to Baby Family Concert in Reading. 11am-11.45am. £15 per adult and up to two children. Details: www. bachtobaby.com

READING – Progress Theatre, The Mount RG1 5HL. Progress Theatre presents Dinner. 7.45pm. £14, concessions £11. Details: www.progresstheatre. co.uk.

RISELEY – Wellington Country Park, Odiham Road RG7 1SP. Wellington Country Easter Eggstravaganza includes crafts, dancing, Big Top show, train rides, treasure hunts and more. 9.30am-4.30pm. Details: wellingtoncountrypark. co.uk

WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturges Road RG40 2HD. Cafe Refresh Friendship table. 10am-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org

WOKINGHAM – Norreys Church, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UU. T&C at SHARE Wokingham Friendship table. 12.30pm-2.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org

WOKINGHAM – St Paul’s Church Parish Rooms, Reading Road RG41 1EH. Coffee and Chat: a warm welcome, a listening ear and refreshments. 2pm4pm. Details: 0118 979 2122 or church.office@ spauls.co.uk.

WOOSEHILL – Acorn Community Centre, Fernlea Drive RG41 3DR. Acorn Cafe with Friendship table. 10.30am-noon. Details: linkvisiting.org

Saturday, April 15

CROWTHORNE – Royal British Legion, Wellington Road RG45 7LJ. Quiz night. 8pm. Details: 01344 772161.

PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. The Mad Monkey Improv Show. £5. 8.30pm. Details: 0118 969 98978.

READING – Cattle Market, Great Knollys Street RG1 7HU. Reading Farmers Market. 8.15amnoon. Details: www. thamesvalleyfarmers market.co.uk

READING – Kings Meadow, Napier Road RG1 8AB. Easter themed Kidical Mass ride: 4km route for families. 1pm. Details: https://kidicalmassreading. co.uk

READING – Reading Central Library, Abbey Square RG1

3BQ. Welcome to Reading coffee morning: learn about New Directions, RVA Ready Friends and the Sunday Alternative. Free, drop-in event. 11am-1pm.

READING – Progress Theatre, The Mount RG1 5HL.

Progress Theatre presents Dinner. 7.45pm. £14, concessions £11. Details: www.progresstheatre. co.uk.

READING – Tutu’s Ethiopian Table, Palmer Park, Wokingham Road RG6 1LF. Dreading Slam presents Poetry in the Park. 11am. Details: 0118 966 3938.

READING – Waterstones, Broad Street RG1 2AP. Iszi

Lawrence book signing: The Time Machine Next Door. 11am and 3pm. £3 per ticket, with £3 discount on book. Booking essential. Details: 0118 958 1270 or www.waterstones.com/ events.

RISELEY – Wellington Country Park, Odiham Road RG7 1SP. Wellington Country Easter Eggstravaganza includes crafts, dancing, Big Top show, train rides, treasure hunts and more. 9.30am-4.30pm. Details: wellingtoncountrypark. co.uk

WOKINGHAM WITHOUT –Pinewood Bar and Cafe, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ. Friendship table available. 9am-4pm.

Details: linkvisiting.org

WOOSEHILL – Woosehill Church, Chestnut Avenue RG41 3RS. Sip and Share with friendship table. 11am-noon, every second Saturday. Details: linkvisiting.org

Sunday, April 16

EARLEY – Wokingham Waterside Centre, Thames Valley Park Drive. Saturn Events presents the Yabba Dabba Run: seven-hour event starting at 9.30am. Run at least three laps for a half marathon, six for a marathon and seven or more for an ultra. Details: https://www.evententry. co.uk/saturn-yabba-dabbarun

READING – All Nations Christian Centre, Berkeley Avenue RG1 6JE. The Way ministry presents a warm bank: Free hot meal, free fresh and frozen food from our community fridge.

4.30pm-6pm. Details: 0118

950 5661.

READING – The Biscuit Factory, Broad St Mall, Queen’s Walk RG1 7QE.

Reading Film Theatre presents A Fish Called Wanda (15). Details: readingfilmtheatre.co.uk.

RISELEY – Wellington Country Park, Odiham Road RG7 1SP.

Wellington Country Easter Eggstravaganza includes crafts, dancing, Big Top show, train rides, treasure hunts and more. 9.30am-4.30pm. Details: wellingtoncountrypark.

co.uk

WOKINGHAM

and vintage street market. 10am-4pm. Details: acvrevents.co.uk

Monday, April 17

ARBORFIELD – Royal British Legion, Eversley Road RG2 9PR. Friendship table.

9.30am-11.30am. Details: linkvisiting.org

BINFIELD – The Foxes’ Den, Benetfeld Road RG42

4EW. Binfield Community Choir fre taster session.

8pm-9.30pm. £5 per session. Details: www.facebook.com/ BinfieldCommunityChoir

BINFIELD – King’s Academy, Wood Lane RG42

4EX. Arts Society

Wokingham presents Picasso’s Guernica: an illustrated talk by Paul Chapman examining this famous painting.

7.45pm. Details: www. TheArtsSocietyWoking ham. org.uk

CROWTHORNE – Baptist Church, High Street RG45 7AT. Coffee Stop for Ukrainian refugees and their hosts: socialise and take part in English lessons. 12.30pm-2.30pm. Details: 01344 761725.

READING – St Mary’s Church, Castle Street RG1 7RD. Berkshire

Industrial Archaeology Group talk :A History of Woodley. 7.30pm.£2.50 for refreshments. Details: http://biag.org.uk

TILEHURST – Library, School Road RG31 5AS. Rhymetime. 9.45am and 10.45am Booking essential.

Details: 0118 937 5112.

WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturges Road RG40 2HD. Cafe Refresh Friendship table. 10am-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org

WOKINGHAM – Norreys Church, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UU. T&C at SHARE Wokingham Friendship table. 12.30pm-2.30pm.

Details: linkvisiting.org

WOODLEY – Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way RG5 4UX. Four Seasons cafe Friendship Table. 1.30pm-3.30pm.

Details: linkvisiting.org

Tuesday, April 18

CAVERSHAM – Library, Church Street RG4 8AU. Rhymetime. 10.15am10.45am and 11.15am11.45am. Booking essential. Free. Details: 0118 937 5103.

CROWTHORNE – Two Sisters, High Street RG45 7AF. Menopause Cafe. 4pm. Details: 01344 772807

EARLEY – Earley St Peter’s Church Hall, Church Road RG6 1EY. East Reading Horticultural Society meeting: Fushcias with Joy Craig. 7.45pm for 8pm.

Details: www.erhs.org.uk

EARLEY – Earley CResCent Resource Centre, Warbler Drive RG6 4HB. Friendship table. 2pm-3pm. Details: linkvisiting.org.

FINCHAMPSTEAD – FBC Centre Cafe, Gorse Ride North RG40 4ES. Friendship table. 10amnoon. linkvisiting.org

FINCHAMPSTEAD – FBC Centre, Gorse Ride North RG40 4ES. Art group. 1pm-3pm. £3 per session. Details: 0118 973 2484.

PANGBOURNE – Library, Reading Road. Family History at Pangbourne Library. Third Tuesday of the month, learn to use Ancestry for your personal research.. 10.30am-noon. Booking essential. Details: 0118 984 4117.

READING – Milk, Merchants Place RG1 1DT. Comedy Club. £8. 7pm. Details: milkreading.com

READING – Progress Theatre, The Mount RG1 5HL. Progress Theatre presents Dinner. 7.45pm. £14, concessions £11. Details: www.progresstheatre. co.uk.

READING – The Centre for Heritage and Family History, 2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square RG1 3BQ. Walk Around Woodley with historian Ann Smith, a circular walk around Woodley, looking at Woodley’s listed buildings, the forge, pub, and what remains of Miles Aircraft and aviation heritage. The walk will last around 2 hours. 2pm-4pm. £5, £4 members. Details: 0118 950 9553.

READING – Reading Central Library, Abbey Square RG1 3BQ. Rhymetime. Booking essential. 10.30am. Details: 0118 937 5950.

SOUTHCOTE – Library, Southcote Community Hub, Coronation Square RG30 3QP. Coffee morning. 10.30am11.30am. Details: 0118 937 5109.

WHITLEY – Library, South Reading Community Hub, 252 Northumberland Avenue, RG2 7QA. Berkshire mini maestros. 2.30pm-3pm. Details: 0118 937 5115.

WOKINGHAM – Bradbury Centre, Wokingham Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. CLASP Wokingham cafe with Friendship table. 10am-noon. Every third and fourth Tuesday of the month. Details: linkvisiting.

org

WOKINGHAM – Bradbury Centre, Rose Street RG40 1XS. Wokingham Art Society meeting: Colin Brown, a demonstration of cityscapes in acryulics. £3, £5 non-members. 7.30pm9.30pm

WOKINGHAM WITHOUT –Pinewood Bar and Cafe, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ. Friendship table available. 9am-4pm. Details: linkvisiting.org

Wednesday, April 19

EARLEY – Brookside Church, Brookside Close RG6 7HG. Open Door cafe with Friendship Table. 2pm4pm. Details: linkvisiting.

org

EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6 7JN. Barberettes fizz and sing social event. 7.45pm. Details: 07917 205605.

READING – Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square, Reading RG1 3BE. The History of Reading Society: Paul Joyce talk: The Black Arts in Reading: the story of our local printing industry. 7.30pm. Visitors £2. No need to book, just turn up on the night. Details: www. historyofreadingsociety. org.uk or email historyofreadingsociety@ yahoo.com

READING – The Biscuit Factory, Broad St Mall, Queen’s Walk RG1 7QE. Reading Film Theatre presents A Fish Called Wanda (15). Details: readingfilmtheatre.co.uk.

READING – Progress Theatre, The Mount RG1 5HL. Progress Theatre presents Dinner. 7.45pm. £14, concessions £11. Details: www.progresstheatre. co.uk.

TWYFORD – URC Hall, Church Street, RG10 9DR. Twyford Arts Group Life Drawing Sessions. 7pm. Details: www. twyfordartgroup.co.uk

WOKINGHAM – Bradbury Centre, Wokingham Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. Cafe Mosaic with Friendship table. 11am-noon. Details: linkvisiting.org

WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturges Road RG40 2HD. Cafe Refresh Friendship table. 10am-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org

WOKINGHAM – Martin & Pole Acution House, Milton Road RG40 1DB. Antique and Vintage Furniture, Pictures, Collectables, Ceramics, Glass, Silver and Jewellery sale. 10am. Details: https:// www.martinpole.co.uk/ antique-auctions/

Thursday, April 20

EARLEY – Trinity Church, Chalfont Close RG6 5HZ. Re:Fresh with Friendship Table. 2pm-4pm. Details: linkvisiting.org

READING – Battle Library, Oxford Road RG30 1EE. Coffee morning. 10amnoon. Details: 0118 937 5100.

READING – Palmer Park Library, St Bartholomew’s Road RG1 3QB. Rhymetime. Booking essential. 10.30am. Details: 0118 937 5106.

READING – Reading Central Library, Abbey Square RG1 3BQ. Rhymetime. Booking essential. 10.15am and 11.15. Details: 0118 937 5950.

READING – The Centre for Heritage and Family History, 2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square RG1 3BQ. Family History Advice Clinic for family and social historians. 11am. Free. Details: 0118 950 9553.

READING – Progress Theatre, The Mount RG1 5HL. Progress Theatre presents Dinner. 7.45pm. £14, concessions £11. Details: www.progresstheatre. co.uk.

SPENCERS WOOD – Spencers

Wood Pavilion, Clares Green Road RG7 1DY.

Social Seniors Tea and Coffee with Friendship Table. 10am-noon. Details: linkvisiting.org

SOUTHCOTE – Library, Southcote Community Hub, Coronation Square RG30 3QP. Rhymetime. 9.45am. Booking essential.

Details: 0118 937 5109.

TILEHURST – Library, School Road RG31 5AS. Rhymetime. 2.15pm

Booking essential. Details: 0118 937 5112.

WHITECHURCH – Tollhurst Organic, West Lodge. Hardwick’s Modern History with Michael Radley, author of The Real Mr Toad, plus Miriam Rose and more. £3 suggested donation. 7.30pm. Details: search Hardwick’s Modern History on Facebook.

WHITLEY – Library, South Reading Community Hub, 252 Northumberland Avenue, RG2 7QA. Rhymetime. 11am. Booking essential. Details: 0118 937 5115.

WOKINGHAM – Bradbury Centre, Wokingham Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. Cafe Mosaic lunch club with Friendship table. Noon-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org

WOKINGHAM – Main hall, Baptist Church, Milton Road, RG40 1DE. Wokingham Literary Society: AGM and planning session. 7.30pm. Annual Subscription is £15. Non-members, £2 per meeting. Details: wokinghamliterarysociety. org.uk

WOKINGHAM – The Whitty Theatre, Luckley House School, Luckley Road RG40 3EU. Wokingham Film Society presents: The Worst Person in the World (15). £6.50, £4 members. 7.30pm. Details: wokinghamfilmsociety.com

WOKINGHAM – The Cornerstone, All Saints Church, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham RG40 1UE. Wokingham and East Berkshire Camera Club meeting Treasure Hunt. 7.30pm. Details: www. webcc.org.uk.

Friday, April 21

CAVERSHAM – Library, Church Street RG4 8AU. Games club. 10.30amnoon. Free. Details: 0118 937 5103.

EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6 7JN. Re:Fresh cafe with Friendship Table. 10amnoon. Details: linkvisiting. org

READING – Battle Library, Oxford Road RG30 1EE. Rhymetime. 10am and 11.15am. Booking essential. Details: 0118 937 5100.

READING – Brewdog, Castle Street RG1 7SB. Mad Monkey Improv session. £5 in advance. Details: https:// www.madmonkeyimprov. co.uk/

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Comedy at the Turtle with Ariella Souma, Katharyn Henson, Hatty Preston and Carl Richard.7.30pm. £15, £12.50 in advance. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – Progress Theatre, The Mount RG1 5HL. Progress Theatre presents Dinner. 7.45pm. £14, concessions £11. Details: www.progresstheatre. co.uk

SINDLESHAM – The Flavell, Sindlesham Court RG41 5EA. Quiz night. Teams of up to six. Bar from 6.30pm. £2 per person.

WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturges Road RG40 2HD. Cafe Refresh Friendship table. 10am-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org

WOKINGHAM – Norreys Church, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UU. T&C at SHARE Wokingham Friendship table. 12.30pm-2.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org

WOKINGHAM – St Paul’s Church Parish Rooms, Reading Road RG41 1EH. Coffee and Chat: a warm welcome, a listening ear and refreshments. 2pm4pm. Details: 0118 979 2122 or church.office@ spauls.co.uk.

WOOSEHILL – Acorn Community Centre, Fernlea Drive RG41 3DR. Acorn Cafe with Friendship table. 10.30am-noon. Details: linkvisiting.org

Saturday, April 22

BRADFIELD – Rushall Farm, Scratchface Lane RG7 6DL. Bluebell Walks in aid of Reading Multiple Sclerosis Society. 11am5pm. Views of Pang Valley, various routes available. Wear clothing and boots according to weather conditions. Refreshments available including hot and cold food. Suggested donation £5, £3 pensioners and children aged three upwards.

READING – Fobury Gardens. Reading Vegan Fiesta. 11am. Details: www. sparkleveganevents.com

READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Hard Jokes by One Away. Details: 0118 402 7800.

READING – Reading Minster Church, Chain Street RG1

2HX. AB WAlker Annual Service of Remembrance. 4pm. Refreshments served afterwards.

READING – Reading Minster Church, Chain Street RG1

2HX. Reading Bach Choir in concert with Aneesa Chaudhry. Proceeds shared with Turkey/Syria Earthquake appeal and Reading Minster Music Outreach project. 7.30pm. £5 plus booking fee. Details: https://rmvc.net/

READING – Progress Theatre, The Mount RG1 5HL. Progress Theatre presents Dinner. 7.45pm. £14, concessions £11. Details: progresstheatre.co.uk

READING – The Warehouse, 1a Cumberland Road, Reading, RG1 3LB. Eid Festival 2023: street food, dessert stalls, arts and crafts, bouncy castle, magic show, henna stalls and more. 4pm-10pm. £5, £3 in advance. Details: www.ticketsource.co.uk/ booking/t-ojmarrk

SHINFIELD – Michael Malnick Centre, Leighton Park School, Shinfield Road RG2 7DE. Whiteknights Ensemble Chamber Music

Concert: Five Bagatelles –Gerald Finzi, Concerto da Camera – Michael Hurd, Disco Toccata – Guillaume Connesson, Clarinet Quintet in B minor –Johannes Brahms. 7pm. £10, under 18s/students £5. Details: https://www. whiteknightsensemble. org.uk/

READING – The Rising Sun, Silver Street RG1 2ST. Non Canon & Suzannah Evans – Music & Poetry. 2pm. £7 and booking fee. Details: 0118 986 6788.

TILEHURST – Reading Music Centre, Stoneham Court, 100 Cockney Hill RG30 4EZ. Berkshire Maestros present a Come and Sing event for years 6-9. 2.30pm4.30pm. Programme includes songs from ABBA musical Mamma Mia. Details/booking: berkshiremaestros.org.uk

WOKINGHAM – Bond Brews, South Barns, Gardeners Green Farm, Heathlands Road. Bond Brew Tap Yard party. Noon-6pm. Details: bondbrews.co.uk

WOKINGHAM – The Holt School, Holt Lane RG41 1EE. Wokingham Choral Society come and sing – Greatest Choral Hits. 10.30am-3.30pm, concert at 3.30pm. Bring own lunch. Hot drinks provided. £30 on the day, £25 in advance. Concert tickets £5. Details: www. wokingham-choral-society. org.uk.

WOKINGHAM WITHOUT –Pinewood Bar and Cafe, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ. Friendship table available. 9am-4pm. Details: linkvisiting.org

WOOSEHILL – Woosehill Church, Chestnut Avenue RG41 3RS. Sip and Share with friendship table. 11am-noon, every second Saturday. Details: linkvisiting.org

Sunday, April 23

BRADFIELD – Rushall Farm, Scratchface Lane RG7 6DL. Bluebell Walks. 11am-5pm. Suggested donation £5, £3 pensioners and children aged three up. READING – All Nations Christian Centre, Berkeley Avenue RG1 6JE. The Way ministry presents a warm bank. 4.30pm-6pm. Details: 0118 950 5661.

READING – All Saints Church Hall, Devonshire Square, Brownlow Road RG1 6NP. Singing Workshop & Concert with Aneesa Chaudhry. 10am-1pm workshop. 2pm-4pm concert. Workshop £45, concert £15. Details: aneesachaudhry.com

READING – Prospect Park, Liebenrood Road RG30 2ND. Reading Eid Fest –Jashn-e-’eid. 1pm-8pm. Shopping, henna, singing, children’s shows, fun fair, food. Details: readingeid. org/tickets

WOKINGHAM – Elms Field, Elms Road RG40 2NL. Wokingham Lions present Wokingham Walk: routes of five-, 10- and 15-miles, plus a five-mile accessible route. From 9am. £15, £5 for ages 12-17, free under 12s. Details: www. wokinghamwalk.co.uk

Quiz Challenge

1. The characters Long John Silver and Jim Hawkins appear in which classic adventure novel?

2. In monetary terms, how much is a ‘monkey’ worth to a Cockney?

3. Which country granted independence to Iceland in 1944?

4. What name is given to a number that can’t be expressed as a fraction or a ratio?

5. What type of creature is a merganser?

6. Joe Cullen is an English professional in which sporting field?

7. How does a chiromancer tell fortunes?

8. The hit films The Fifth Element, Lucy and The Transporter were all directed by which Frenchman?

9. Which is the largest marine shipping canal to have no locks?

10. What F is an item of furniture that requires the buyer to assemble it?

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

FIVE ALIVE EQUALISER

7 6

3 9 3

5 3 11 9 2

8 2

Here are two miniature five-square crosswords using the same grid –but the letters have been mixed up. You have to work out which letters belong to which crossword.

3. Peruse article about stringing beads (9)

7. Is able to produce part of poem (5)

8. Surprisingly retrieves from northern waterway (5,4)

9. Girl takes small part that is not suitable (5)

10. Dismiss the bank employee (7)

13. Last month took alternative furnishings (5)

14. Heather’s Latin alter ego (5)

16. Posh vessel found under water (1-4)

17. Sticking with temporary housing (7)

21. Entice casual worker before end of August (5)

22. A girl more confused by the rambling account (9)

23. Run out at noise made by sculptor (5)

24. Horse will flag first in county (9)

QUICK CROSSWORD

1. Pastoral (7)

5. Barrels (5)

(3)

(7)

animal (5)

Place the four signs (add, subtract, multiply, divide) one in each circle so that the total of each across and down line is the same. Perform the first calculation in each line first and ignore the mathematical law which says you should always perform division and multiplication before addition and subtraction.

1. Uncle Rod’s upset the rascal (9)

2. Peerless when without the other sock perhaps? (9)

3. Anguish or utter chaos (7)

4. Len is taken in by each girl (5)

5. Language that is incomprehensible even when repeated! (5)

6. It is pleasant to hold oriental girl (5)

10. Many cod-like fish act like barnacles (5)

11. Cause trouble with trendy sideboard (9)

12. Others make a sound by saying it again (9)

15. Stern south wind on the point (7)

18. In Windsor I bicycled past an antelope (5)

19. Morning spent in canal to find the full extent (5)

20. Point upwards? (5)

1. Blear (anag.) (5)

2. Artificial waterway (5)

3. Wash clothes (7)

4. Tooth decay (6)

5. Stringed instrument (5) 6. Deprives of food (7)

CROSS CODE

NONAGRAM

How many words of four letters or more can you make from this Nonagram? Each word must use the central letter, and each letter may be used only once. At least one word using all nine letters can be found.

Guidelines:

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 I 234567891011

C 1213

S 14151617181920212223242526

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.

SUDOKU

Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box.

9 8 652 7 427 6 81 2 3 9 58 2 79 8 5 2 1 4 7 89 2 63 9

SOLUTIONS

ACROSS DOWN

Eggs and heart health

Healthy Heart tip

Eggs & cholesterol

Egg yolk is rich in cholesterol.

It has therefore led to some debate about whether people with raised cholesterol levels should eat them or whether they’ll considerably increase blood cholesterol levels.

However, experts agree that dietary cholesterol, such as that found in eggs, has much less of an effect on the level of cholesterol in your blood compared to the amount of saturated fat you are consuming.

How you eat your eggs matters

How people cook eggs varies widely and what people use to cook eggs in can differ too. We recommend poaching, boiling or baking your eggs to limit your use of oils and fats when cooking.

What we eat eggs with matters too, for example, consuming poached eggs with wholegrain bread and some vegetables is much more healthful than consuming them as part of a greasy fry-up which lacks fibre.

The takeaway points

Eggs are an affordable source of protein and are rich in vitamins and minerals.

It’s therefore perfectly healthy to include them as part of a balanced diet.

As with many diet recommendations, the key is moderation and not consuming one thing in excess.

Specifically, in relation to cholesterol, we should focus more on reducing our consumption of saturated fat rather than worrying about the cholesterol in eggs.

n To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our healthy recipes from our website: https:// heartresearch.org.uk/ heart-research-ukrecipes-2/

La’de Kitchen is a must-visit restaurant for its delectable Mediterranean menu

La’De Kitchen

Reading Road, Pangbourne RG8 7LR

0118 327 9143

pangbourne.ladekitchen.com

IT’S nice to go out for dinner on a Tuesday evening, it feels special and a real treat.

There’s a restaurant I’ve wanted to visit with my husband in Pangbourne called La’de Kitchen, which specialises in Mediterranean cuisine.

I’ve visited a few times before with friends and family so was familiar with the menu, and knew what I wanted before we even arrived.

There were a few people already there, ensuring the ambiance was lovely.

My husband perused the menu, his appetite whetted by the description of the halloumi starter (£6.90): four pieces of charcoal-grilled halloumi, dressed in olive oil.

I chose Olives (£4), they arrived, both green and black and dressed with lemon juice and olive oil.

Time for kindness

Sarah Browning

What counts as kindness?

AQUESTION I’m often asked is ‘what counts as kindness?’ To some extent, if the recipient feels that someone has been kind to them, that’s good enough for me. But I do understand that some people want to have a more exact definition.

I decided to do some research and find out what other people say it means to them.

On their website, the Mental Health Foundation says that kindness is choosing to do something that helps others or yourself, motivated by genuine warm feelings.

In an interview for my kindness blog, Cllr Rachel Eden, Mayor of Reading, described kindness as being when you choose to do something you don’t have to do, just because you know it is a positive thing for another human being.

Claudia Hammond, a broadcaster, author and university researcher from the Sussex Centre for Research on Kindness, describes kindness as the act of doing something with the intention of benefitting someone else. To her the conscious intent is an important component.

Although there are some similar elements to these descriptions, they are not exactly the same. I turned to dictionary definitions to see if I could find something that matched more closely. Interestingly, they don’t completely agree either:

Collins Dictionary - Kindness is the quality of being gentle, caring, and helpful.

Oxford Languages Dictionary – Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

Where do we see it?

I find kindness stories endlessly fascinating and I love the way that they crop up in many different areas of our lives. When I look back through the examples that have been sent in to me and my team at Time for Kindness, I see stories covering home, family, strangers, work colleagues, shop environments and so much more.

We also sometimes hear about times when our readers have shown themselves kindness, an area that it can be all too easy to overlook.

To our delight, freshly baked bread and goats’ cheese crumble were served as a complimentary treat, which proved to be a deliciously moreish appetiser.

For our main courses, I opted for the Lamb Beyti (£17.90), seasoned minced lamb grilled and wrapped in lavash bread and toasted, and served with a choice of chips, bulgar or pilav rice and salad, hung yoghurt, and Halep sauce to accompany my dish, I chose the rice.

Mark chose the chicken kulbasti (£17.90): marinated chicken thigh that was then chargrilled. He chose to chips as his accompaniment.

The portions are very generous and so a dessert wasn’t really needed but I was intrigued to try the traditional Turkish pudding on the menu, Kunefe served with ice cream (£7.90).

This comprises crispy, cheese-filled layers of kadayif with a layer of mild, stretchy cheese sandwiched between layers of buttery, chopped kadayif. The dish was sprinkled with

chopped pistachios, making for a unique dessert that initially divided our opinions.

However, the intriguing flavours and textures kept us coming back for more, and we polished off the portion, which could easily have been shared between two people.

To finish, Mark ordered a coffee while I had a refreshing mint tea.

The staff were attentive throughout the meal, regularly checking in to ensure everything was to our liking.

During the evening the restaurant became busy for a Tuesday night, however, based on the delicious meals I can’t say I’m surprised.

Overall, La’de Kitchen is a mustvisit restaurant for its delectable Mediterranean menu, attentive staff, and delightful ambiance.

We highly recommend it to anyone looking for a night out filled with flavoursome food and quality service.

It also has branches in Woodley, Camberley, and Muswell Hill.

So, there isn’t an exact science to where we see kindness either. It really is all around us.

Keep it simple

With so many different parts, is there a risk that we can over-complicate matters?

If we analyse kindness and what it means too closely, perhaps it could stop us from taking action at all.

People are sometimes put off by thinking that kindness has to come in big, grand gestures. But time and again the stories I come across show the positive impact of even the smallest acts – from smiling at someone in the street to holding a door open for a colleagues or recommending a good book to a friend.

They each match some elements of the definitions I’ve listed, but not all of them.

My view is that when it comes down to it, how you define kindness isn’t the most important thing.

As long as we are treating each other and ourselves well, in a way that the recipient receives as positive, that is what matters.

What do you think?

Sarah Browning is a Kindness Cheerleader, Communicator and Strategist. For more details, log on to:

TASTE OF THE MED: La’De Kitchen’s Pangbourne restaurant features a range of options including freshly baked bread (above), grilled halloumi and olives (below) and Lamb Beyti (right)

ROYALS HURT BY STOPPAGE TIME GOAL

BEST FOR ROCKETS IN ROBINS CLOSE

RUGBY FINAL FOUR THE GAP

RACE TO BEAT THE DROP

INCE OUT, HUNT IS ON

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

READING FC has sacked Paul Ince as manager with the club facing the threat of relegation from the Championship.

The Royals are in 22nd position and a point away from safety having

‘WE NEED EVERYONE TO STICK TOGETHER’

GOALKEEPER Joe Lumley has urged everyone to ‘stick together’ as Reading FC face an arduous task to try and stave off relegation. The Royals are currently in 22nd position, occupying the final spot in the drop zone with five matches left to play.

Lumley was impressed with Reading’s work rate against Preston and believes his teammates battled hard despite falling to a late defeat.

He said: “I think the boys put in a hell of a shift against a very good team in Preston.

“It’s a tough one to take.

“From a set piece at the end where we have to see it out and defend it. As a whole team, we’ve got to win our headers.

“The first one, maybe I should do better, but we’ve all got to do better on the second one.

“Now there’s five games to go. We’ll battle hard and give it our all.”

Lumley, who is on loan for the season from Middlesbrough, has impressed during his spell in Berkshire and has put in some excellent displays throughout the campaign.

Despite his strong individual displays, Reading have now gone 19 Championship games without keeping a clean sheet.

Lumley continued: “It’s happened a lot throughout the season where we’ve dropped points late on.

“It’s about those small moments and details away from home.

not won in their last eight league matches.

After losing to a 92nd minute goal away at Preston, Reading remain in the bottom three with five matches left to play.

Reading’s dismal away form, compounded with a six point deduction from the EFL, has seen

them dragged into the relegation scrap in recent weeks.

After relegation rivals Huddersfield Town and QPR picked up a point each on Monday, the Reading board opted to pull the trigger on Ince.

Head of football operations

Mark Bowen said: “I would like to

thank Paul and Alex for their efforts throughout what has admittedly been a frustrating and exceptionally challenging season so far.

“The board will work diligently to identify the manager who is the best fit for this club going forward – a candidate capable of driving it towards a healthier, brighter future.”

“We need everyone to stick together and need the fans more than ever. We’ll keep fighting.

“We’ve got home games on the horizon and we need the fans right behind us in those games. There’s still 15 points to play for. So let’s get a couple of wins and get the points we need to stay up.”

NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS

SUMAS SEAL WIN TO IMPROVE

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

Southern League Premier

South

BRACKNELL TOWN enjoyed an outstanding week with three wins in three matches.

The Robins started their run of fixtures in quick succession with a 3-2 victory over Metropolitan Police.

Goals from Jordan Esprit and Kameron English had the game level at 2-2 before Joe Grant

popped up with a dramatic winner in the 90th minute.

That was followed up with an away triumph at Swindon Supermarine on Saturday, Grant and Ethan Burden were on the scoresheet to secure a 2-1 success.

Bracknell then rounded off their flawless week with a Monday win over Beaconsfield Town.

Esprit, Gary Abisogun and Mickel Platt netted in the 3-1 win which sees Bracknell in second on 81 points.

They are five points behind leaders Weston-super-Mare with a game in hand with four games left to play.

Isthmian South Central

BINFIELD were on the end of a defeat in a seven goal contest away at Uxbridge on Saturday.

Goals from Brad Pagliaroli, Conor Lynch and Liam Gavin weren’t enough as the Moles lost 4-3.

Binfield are in seventh

position on 53 points with three games left.

Combined Counties

Premier North ASCOT UNITED made it a weekend to remember as they stretched their lead at the top of the table to put them on the brink of being crowned as champions.

The Yellas put three past Harefield United without reply on Saturday with strikes from Louis Bouwers, Brendan

Matthew and Kai Walters.

Ascot then built on that display by smacking five past Wallingford & Crowmarsh in a clinical first-half.

Goals from Marcus Mealing, Harry Laflin, Alfie Grant, Marcus Mealing and Sean McCormack saw them cruise to a 5-0 scoreline.

Ascot are now 17 points in front at the top with five games to go.

READING CITY suffered two back to back costly defeats to all but end their chances of

winning the title. Josh Baines put City ahead against Egham, but the hosts turned the game around to win 2-1.

Lamin Sankoh and Tyler D’Cruz scored for the Cityzens against Holyport in a 3-2 defeat on Monday. Reading are in second position on 70 points.

Combined Counties Division One

EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA

Joao Jardim and Sam Mead scored to see the Sumas defeat North Greenford Pictures: Andrew Batt

Bracknell Town picked up three wins in five days Pictures: John Leakey

NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS

SURVIVAL HOPES

From the middle

The meaning of the yellow card

MANY years ago, I wrote in my column that the problem with BBC’s Match of the Day was that when they had discussions on laws, there was only the football pundits to give their view and they were invariably wrong, thus misleading the viewers.

I suggested that they had someone on the programme who understood the Laws of the Game.

To my surprise, the next Tuesday, I received a call from the producer of the programme, who said they had discussed my suggestion at their Monday meeting, and it was agreed that they should contact Keith Hackett, then head of Premier League referees, to see if anything could be arranged.

Keith told me later that he never received such a call.

I remembered this when watching Sky Sports recently, who of course employ ex-Premier League referee, Dermot Gallagher, to give his view on contentious decisions.

They discussed an incident in the Liverpool v Manchester City match when City’s Rodrigo brought down Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo, having already received a yellow card.

maintained their amazing scoring form by putting six past Bagshot in an emphatic win.

Having scored nine at Bagshot away just a few days prior, the Boars ensured they took another comprehensive victory on Monday. With six different scorers, a scintillating attacking display saw Troy Baker, Brad Brown, Ashley Howes, Jatinder Liddar, Ross Mckernan and Ben Anderson find the net.

BERKS COUNTY soared to the top of the table with an emphatic win over Cove on Tuesday night.

The Swords were in fine scoring form and ensured they now lead the race for the title with five games left to play.

FOOTBALL

Berks led 3-2 at the break and raced away with a clinical secondhalf display with four more goals to seal a 7-2 success.

Ellis Woods’ and Lee Simpson’s side have a two point advantage at the top with a game in hand over closest rivals London Samurai Rovers.

Thames Valley Premier League

YATELEY UNITED continued their perfect form by making it 17 wins from 17 games.

A double from Myles White ensured Yateley edged past BURGHFIELD with a 2-1 win.

WARGRAVE moved into sixth

KESTRELS CONTINUE UNBEATEN RUN TO

By MARK ROZZIER sport@wokingham.today

WOODLEY UNITED completed its Easter programme going three games unbeaten by taking a deserved point against promotion play off chasing Westside.

The opening 10 minutes were even with little to trouble both defences and it was not until the 12th minute that the first save was made when Sam Dabinett denied the visitors’ Sergiu Bumbu.

Woodley scored first two minutes later when Dabinett took

place with a comfortable away win against READING CITY U23s.

Stuart Moss bagged a hat-trick, while Fred Kirby added to the scoreline to help Wargrave win 4-1.

Charles Twelftree semi-final

FINCHAMPSTEAD booked their place in the cup final after they defeated SB Phoenix with a clean sheet victory.

Aqeel Butt, Dylan Chaffin and Jacob Rebbeck ensured Finch made it through to the last two with a 3-0 success.

Thames Valley Division Two READING YMCA RAPIDS

TAKE

a free kick just inside the hosts’ half which Matthew Williamson outjumped the defence to head the ball to Sid Gbla to shoot past Seb Hunt in the Westside goal.

Hunt was then called upon to make a fine save tipping Mo Davies’ goal bound shot over the cross bar for a corner kick after half an hour before Dabinett made a comfortable save from a distance shot.

Four minutes before half-time, Joe Moriarty headed Dan Watkiss’ free kick over Hunt’s cross bar but with no further score United went into the half time break satisfied

maintained their pursuit for the title with a home win over TWYFORD & RUSCOMBE

A brace from Michael Porter and a goal from Jordan Sawyer helped YMCA to their 13th win in 14 games in what has been an incredible campaign BURGHFIELD RESERVES stay in second place after they got the better of Maidenhead Town A. Strikes from Leon Hewitt and Harry Peters ensured the Fielders amassed three points on their travels.

Thames Valley Division Three Binfield U23s 8-1 Reading City Development, Finchampstead Development 0-1 AFC Winkfield Reserves

WELL EARNED POINT

with a much improved performance from that of the previous Saturday at Bagshot.

Seven minutes into the second half United was reduced to ten men when Tahir Carmichael was dismissed following a challenge.

With the advantage of an extra player, Westside started to apply pressure on the home defence and were rewarded in the 63rd minute.

A move that started from Hunt resulted in a cross from the right being met by substitute Dariush Heravi who got between the home team’s centre backs to volley the

ball pass Dabinett from close range. United rallied defending well and gained respite when Heravi was sinbinned after 76 minutes.

With both teams now reduced to ten men, United took the initiative with Gbla and Connor Suckling causing the Westside defenders problems with Hunt being called on to block a Gbla shot when the two were one on one with five minutes remaining.

Despite Westside returning to eleven players United saw out the remainder of the match for a welldeserved point.

The yellow card, said the presenter, is a final warning so he should have been sent off. Dermot Gallagher corrected him.

The yellow card, he said, is certainly not a final warning. He was right, it is not a final warning, but it is a warning, or to give it it’s correct name, a caution.

In fact, apart from being listed under essential referees’ equipment, red and yellow cards are not mentioned in the Laws of the Game.

Their use goes back to the 1966 World Cup, when the German referee sent off the Argentina captain Rattin in the quarter final against England.

Being a steward at Wembley for that match, I remember it well.

Rattin refused to leave, not understanding German or the English of Ken Aston who came on to try and get hm to leave.

On his way home, Ken Aston thought there must be a better way for it to be understood.

When stopping at traffic lights he had the idea to use yellow for a caution and red for sending off.

That’s what the cards are for, purely to show everyone what decision has been made.

That’s why it should be held high.

Today, referees at professional games tend to point at the player concerned whilst holding the card high.

What we were always taught was that for a caution you should take the players name, then caution them that any future fouls put them at risk of being sent off.

I always thought that this had more success than just raising a yellow card.

Dick Sawdon-Smith

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ROCKETS RIDE INTO FINAL FOUR WITH WIN OVER LOUGHBOROUGH ROYALS CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARY IN STYLE

By STAFF WRITER sport@wokingham.today

THE fourth seeded Reading Rockets started their playoff run strongly, claiming a dominant 99-77 win over the Loughborough Riders.

It was a great team performance in front of another sold out Loddon Valley as six Rocket players had double digit points.

It was Jermiah Jenkins who led the team with 17 points on a solid 42% shooting. Fin Porter, who found himself in foul trouble, managed to have an incredibly effective 13 minutes, putting up 16 points, six rebounds and three steals.

The fifth seeded Riders would have felt strongly coming into the game despite being the road team, after beating the Rockets at Loddon Valley just one month ago.

It was Jenkins who got the home side going as the Riders mistakenly went under the screen and left Jenkins enough space to pull up from three and nail it.

This was the start of nine unanswered points as, all of a sudden, the Rocket lead was 11.

The second quarter would be stronger for both sides, but the story remained the same with Reading keeping Loughborough at arms reach.

Two tough layups by Porter and a pull-up three from Jenkins brought the lead to 11 just two minutes into the second quarter, and the lead would hover around this throughout the quarter.

The Rockets would answer every time the Riders brought it within single digits, whether it was a Lewis Champion three, a Troy Cracknell driving layup, or a Ben Dixon fastbreak layup, it was always bringing

the lead back to 11. That was until the end of the half. With 1.8 seconds left on the clock, the Rockets had the ball deep in their own half with Troy Cracknell on the sideline inbound.

Cracknell threw a pin point cross court pass to Jordan Jackson who, while fading away, put it up and in to beat the buzzer and bring the lead to 13. To the delight of the home crowd.

Jackson immediately got to work at the start of the third after Jenkins found him in the post, which is where Jackson went to work and got the first points of the second half.

Soon after, Champion leaked out to the right corner where Cracknell hit him for the open three. Which got even better when Elijah Bailey got a piece of Champion’s leg on the closeout, drawing a foul, which Lewis nailed for the

four-point play. The Rockets were humming in tune and the lead would soon hit 20 as Zack Powell picked the pocket of Harrison Gamble and finished the fastbreak with a two handed slam.

The lead would hit as high as 25 for the Rockets but the quarter ended with Reading up 71-50. But neither team were content on finishing the game without a show for the fans.

Both teams scored their most points in a quarter in the fourth, with the Rockets tallying 28 and Loughborough hitting 27. The Rockets had held the Riders to under 20 points each quarter before this point. It was a great show in the final home game of the season for the Rockets, with the final buzzer hitting with the score 99-77. The Rockets next take on undefeated Hemel Storm.

By RICHARD OXLEY sport@wokingham.today

READING Royals celebrated their ten-year anniversary in style as their men’s team secured the FA NFS Tier 2 Midlands/South West title at Bradfield College.

It is the highest honour the club has received to date, and now gives them the opportunity to confirm promotion to Tier One if they are successful in the play-offs.

Despite dominating possession, Reading found their attack thwarted by Bedford’s inspired keeper. It would take 10 minutes for top scorer Josh Gillespie to eventually break the deadlock.

The score remained 1-0 through half-time, despite several oneon-one and open goal chances. Royals continued to push, and were

eventually rewarded with a fiveminute burst midway through the second half, which saw goals from Dan Abrahamson, Seth Burkett and a second from Gillespie.

A consolation from Bedford made it 4-1, encouraging Royals to keep possession and see the clock tick down in the final moments.

Captain Phil Lant said: “To win the league in the club’s 10th year is special. It’s been a strong league to play in, there have been some fantastic games and we had to overcome different challenges along the way. We will continue to work hard to achieve our goals. Bring on the play-offs.”

Royals now conclude their league campaign away at Loughborough Students B at the end of April before their first play-off game against North champions Derby.

Ben Dixon takes a shot in Reading Rockets’ play-off win Picture: Luke Simcock

The Royals will compete in the Tier Two play-offs

Reading Royals celebrated a 4-1 win over Bedford Picture: Ade Hone

Zack Powell wih a dunk for Rockets

Zack Powell moves past his opponents

Lewis Champion celebrates

Troy Cracknell takes aim

NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS

CHAMPIONSHIP

STOPPAGE TIME HEARTBREAK KEEPS ROYALS IN RELEGATION ZONE

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

Preston 2-1 Reading

READING FC remain in the Championship relegation zone after Preston North End found a stoppage time winner through Brad Potts.

Brad Potts headed the hosts ahead in stoppage time after Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan netted his first Championship goal to get the Royals level in the 83rd minute.

Having gone eight games without a win, Paul Ince’s team are in the bottom three with five games to go.

The Royals are one point behind 21st Cardiff City and a point behind QPR and Huddersfield.

Paul Ince tinkered with his line-up after the Royals made it three successive draws after their stalemate with Birmingham City at home on Friday.

Yakou Meite missed out on the squad with injury, while Nesta Guinness-Walker, Scott Dann and Mamadou Loum freshened up the starting 11.

Starting the day in the bottom three, Reading were on a run of seven games without a win prior to their trip to Deepdale with a dreadful away record throughout the campaign having not won on the road since November.

It was very much backs to the wall for the visitors throughout the first-half.

Reading struggled to get a foothold in the game and lacked the impetus to keep hold of the

REACTION

ball, gifting possession back to their opponents far too often.

Preston had plenty of the ball and half the Royals camped deep in their own half for the majority of the opening 45 minutes.

The first opening came when

Brad Potts drifted away from his marker to make a surging run at the near post and headed wide from Andrew Hughes’ whipped cross.

The home team went close on numerous occasions firstly through Tom Cannon who almost converted a sweeping attack after they tried to capitalise on a Cesare Casadei slip

only to evade Joe Lumley’s far post by a matter of inches.

A rare Reading attack forward was ignited after an excellent surging run from Guinness-Walker which ended with a wayward crossfield pass from captain Andy Yiadom as the Royals’ frustration in attack continued.

Preston were left wondering how they didn’t get in front when the Royals defence managed to scramble the ball off the line following a corner.

Reading got into the break unscathed, but needing to threaten more at the other end to have any chance of picking up a positive result.

Naby Sarr picked up a caution quickly after the restart for upending Troy Parrott.

Preston took a deserved lead in the 56th minute when the ball broke for Cannon in the box and he slotted it past Lumley to make it 1-0 and extended Reading’s wait for a clean sheet.

Reading almost came up with a quick response, but their celebrations were cut short when Scott Dann had the ball in the net after he had strayed offside.

Dann was next to go in the referee’s notebook after he scythed down Potts who was bearing down on the Royals’ box.

Potts unleashed a powerful hit after being teed up from the resulting free-kick which needed Lumley to keep focused to clasp the ball.

Cannon used his pace to break in

behind Reading’s defence and would have out his team 2-0 up had it not been for the palm of Lumley who saved brilliantly to keep him out.

With 20 minutes to try and get back in the game, Ince made a triple change.

Andy Carroll, Tom Holmes and Loum were replaced by Tyrese Fornah, Femi Azeez and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan.

With 82 minutes on the clock, Reading tested goalkeeper Freddie Woodman for the first time when a stinging shot from Jeff Hendrick was turned behind for a corner.

Just when all hope looked lost, Reading somehow clawed back a leveller when GuinnessWalker’s long throw looped in from Ehibhatiomhan’s header.

Lumley came up with a pivotal save in the 88th minute with a reflex stop to deny Potts with time running out.

But in stoppage time, Reading received a gut punch when Preston deservedly regained their lead when Potts headed in from close range.

Preston: Woodman, Storey, Lindsay, Hughes, Whiteman, Potts, Onomah, Johnson, Fernandez, Parrott, Cannon Subs: Bauer, Brady, Ledson, Woodburn, Diaby, Cornell, Slater

Reading: Lumley, Yiadom, Holmes, Sarr, Dann, Guinness-Walker, Loum, Hendrick, Casadei, Carroll, Joao

Subs: Azeez, Fornah, Mbengue, Abrefa, BoyceClarke, Ehibhatiomhan, Craig

Goals: Cannon 56’, Ehibhatiomhan 83’, Potts 90+2’

‘WE LACKED QUALITY AND MENTAL TOUGHNESS’

READING FC manager Paul Ince believes that ‘lack of concentration’ cost the Royals defeat after they conceded in stoppage time at Preston.

The Royals remain in the Championship relegation zone, a point from safety with five games to go.

“Lack of concentration and it’s not the first time it’s happened,” said Ince when questioned why his team conceded late in the game.

“When you get back in the game as we did, you’ve got to learn to see out games.

“We don’t win the first header. We don’t win the second header.

“It’s great that Kelvin (Ehibhatiomhan) got his equaliser and you’ve got to learn to hold on, but we lacked quality and mental toughness to do that.

“We haven’t got the character to see out games. We make silly mistakes and decision. They’re costing us time and time again.

READING FC

BOWEN VOWS FOR ‘HEALTHIER, BRIGHTER FUTURE’

“If I’d have been playing in this team, some of the things you do, I’d be right on you because you wouldn’t get away with it, but you seem to let them get away with it and no-one says a word. That’s about leadership qualities and character.

“If people are making bad decisions, then get onto them, don’t just say it’s okay to do that because

it’s not.

“The only voice you could probably hear on the pitch was Dannsy (Scott Dann) and I’m thinking wow, some of the things we’re doing.

“We all make mistakes, me more than most, but some of the decision-making.

“It can’t always come from me, it’s got to come from the players on the pitch because ultimately they cost us time and time again. They’re costing us time and time again.”

Ince admitted that his side were fortunate to still be in the match with 10 minutes to go when Ehibhationmhan levelled in the 83rd minute, but was left frustrated at the way they lost the match.

Ince continued: “I’m really frustrated. The boys are fighting for their lives.

“Joe (Lumley) kept us in the game and made some wonderful saves.

“We didn’t deserve it (the draw) and we rode our luck. You get that

luck and think ‘let’s see it out’.

“There’s nothing you can do about it as a manager.

“The threat of relegation has always been there as long as the six points has been hanging over our head. The timing is diabolical.

“We’re still in it. We can surprise teams. We haven’t got depth which makes it tough. Who knows what can happen.”

When questioned about his future at the club, Ince remained adamant that he is the right man to try and keep the team in the league.

“If you bring someone else in I’m not sure what’s going to change.

“It’s not like the lads aren’t fighting.

“I’ve got absolutely no qualms about that. We’re in this position we’ve been put into.

“You’ve got to think how unfair that is to me and the players.

“You could get Pep (Guardiola) in here, you could get Klopp in here. It wouldn’t be any different.”

READING

brighter future’ for the club in the summer.

The Royals decided to terminate Paul Ince’s contract as manager with five games left in the Championship season and the team currently in the relegation places.

Reading are one point off safety having gone eight games without a win in the league.

Bowen has stated that the club will begin its search for a new boss at the end of the season, while under 21s manager Noel Hunt has been placed in charge of the first-team until the end of the current campaign.

““I would like to thank Paul and Alex for their efforts throughout what has admittedly been a frustrating and exceptionally challenging season so far,” said Bowen.

“We would like to wish them well in their future endeavours.

“The board will work diligently to identify the manager who is the best fit for this football club going forward – a candidate capable of driving it towards a healthier, brighter future.

“However, for the next five games, our only focus is on doing everything we can to survive this season.

“Put simply, that means everyone –from myself, to the staff, to the supporters –lending all their support to Noel, Eddie, James and the first team players as we go into five crucially important games at the end of our 2022-23 campaign.”

Head of football operations Mark Bowen Picture: Steve Smyth

Reading FC goalkeeper Joe Lumley File picture: Luke Adams

Alex Rae (left) and Paul Ince (right) departed the club on Tuesday Picture: Luke Adams

FC head of football operations Mark Bowen has vowed to find a manager to help towards ‘a healthier,

How they rated

NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS

CHAMPIONSHIP

CARROLL OPENER CANCELLED OUT

READING 1

BIRMINGHAM 1

Joe Lumley

Couldn’t have done an awful lot with Jutkiewicz’s bullet header and was pretty solid all-round.

Andy Yiadom

Positive, with some nice forays down Reading’s left, particularly in the first half. Was largely able to contain the dangerous Chong.

Tom Holmes

Solid at the heart of the back four. Acquitted himself well against Blues’ front line.

Naby Sarr

Failed to track Jutkiewicz for City’s equaliser, but it was otherwise a relatively good performance from the centre-half.

Amadou Mbengue

Never fully got on top of the battle with Khadra on Reading’s right. Grew into the game in what was a typically dynamic outing.

Jeff Hendrick

A tidy showing from the midfielder, who worked well with Casadei to establish a degree of control in the centre of the park.

Tyrese Fornah

Deployed on the left of Reading’s midfield, giving his side robustness in midfield. A little slow to deliver crosses from wide positions.

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

READING FC dropped into the relegation places after they could only manage a draw at home to Birmingham City on Good Friday.

The Royals got off to the perfect start when Andy Carroll rounded off a sweeping team move after seven minutes.

Played an incisive pass into Joao to set up Carroll’s opener. Controlled the ball well to ensure Reading retained possession.

Yakou Meite

Wasn’t at his best this afternoon, clearly hampered by injury. Industrious nonetheless. Replaced by Azeez.

Lucas Joao

Showed great awareness to assist the first goal. Worked hard in and out of possession and cannot be faulted for a lack of effort.

Andy Carroll

Took his goal well and won the vast majority of his aerial duels. Battled hard and contributed on both ends of the pitch.

Cesare Casadei Substitutes

Femi Azeez 6

Nesta Guinness-Walker: N/A

6 7

6 7 6

7 6 6

The Blues replied just before the half hour mark when Lucas Jutkiewicz towered high and planted a header past Joe Lumley.

Paul Ince vowed to switch to a more attacking system with the team in desperate need of points after being deducted six by the EFL on Tuesday Lucas Joao, Yakou Meite and Andy Carroll all started in attack in a positive looking line-up.

6 5

With seven minutes on the clock, Reading got off to a flying start to inject some energy into the home crowd and ease the nerves around the ground.

Cesare Casadei shaped to shoot from distance, but instead played a disguised through ball into the path of Lucas Joao who flicked it back for Andy Carroll and he thumped the ball into the far corner after making a sweet connection with his left boot.

The Royals relinquished control which led to some chances for the away side.

Krystian Bielik was first to have a shot on goal for the visitors when he hit a low drive from just outside the area that was easily claimed by Joe Lumley.

Reading had to withstand some pressure as Amadou Mbengue did well to deal with a cross that was

REACTION

Match stats

READING: Lumley, Yiadom (c), Holmes, Sarr, Mbengue, Fornah, Hendrick, Casadei, Meite, Carroll, Joao

SUBS: Bouzanis, Dann, Guinness-Walker, Abrefa, Craig, Azeez, Ehibhatiomhan

BIRMINGHAM CITY: Ruddy (c), Colin, Roberts, Long, Trusty, Chang, Bielik. Khadra, Chong, Jutkiewicz, Hall

SUBS: Etheridge, Dean, James, Hannibal, Bacuna, Bellingham, Hogan

GOALS: Carroll 7’, Jutkiewicz 29’

off to such a good start and looked like we were going to get two or three and then went passive and started to sit back.

whipped into a dangerous position by Tahith Chong.

The spell of pressure eventually told and the Blues were level when Lukas Jutkiewicz was afforded time and space in the box to rise highest to meet Reda Khadra’s cross and showed his aerial prowess by powering a header past Lumley.

The hosts almost came up with a quick response when Joao tried to latch onto a ball into the box, but it just ran out of his reach and went on through to goalkeeper

John Ruddy.

Tyrese Fornah continued to show persistence and energy down the left to fire in crosses towards his forwards and one of which ended with an appeal for a penalty when Jeff Hendrick’s tame shot hit a Birmingham body, but the referee waved away the appeals.

The team went in level at the break with it all to play for in the next 45 minutes.

Reading caused chaos in the box with a couple of long throws from

missed chance to win

You’ve got to keep picking points up. It’s another point away from wigan and blackpool.

withdrawn through injury.

The

Andy Carroll’s goal got them off to the ideal start before Lukas Jutkiewicz headed in the leveller.

“No. Why would it feel like a defeat?” said Ince when questioned whether the result felt like a loss rather than point gained.

“I thought we were the better team and chances just didn’t fall for us.

“It’s a point well earned. We got

“We feel like we’ve got to defend it and start dropping deeper and letting them take control. That’s what happened.

“It’s disappointing because we needed a fast start and that’s what we did but we didn’t move on from there.”

Despite the high pressure nature of being involved in a relegation fight, Ince sent the message to his players to enjoy the challenge ahead of them.

He said: “I said to my players, ‘you can be the heroes, you can do something special to keep this team in the league’.

We’ve got a bit of a gap on them so it’s a straight fight between the teams above us.

“No matter what happens this team has done ever so well

“Due to these circumstances we need wins. We need to start creating chances and scoring goals.”

Ince also expressed his displeasure at the referee’s performance before he had to be

He continued: “I don’t want to moan at officials because we know it’s a tough job, but this referee it was his third game in the Championship.

“It’s not an experiment, this is the business part of the season. They have to have better referees than that. I wasn’t pleased.

He’s pulled his calf, so he said. Maybe he was getting so much stick from our punters that he thought he’d call it a day.

“I hope he’s OK, but at least if he’s pulled his calf he won’t be refereeing us this season.”

Casadei and Holmes battle with Blues

Carrol nets the opener

The Royals celebrate after Carroll finishes

Birmingham go to ground in the box Carroll’s goal wasn’t enough to

READING FC manager Paul Ince believes his side deserved three points in their draw with Birmingham City as the Royals dropped into the bottom three.

Royals fell into the Championship bottom three after relegation rivals Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City collected away wins to leapfrog Reading.

‘We were the better team’ Ince rues

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AS RELEGATION FIGHT PERSISTS

BUMPER CROWD EXPECTED WITH SCHOOLS GIVEAWAY

READING FC will welcome thousands of young fans to the Select Car Leasing Stadium this weekend in the club’s latest schools and grassroots ticket giveaway.

The Royals will be hoping to host a bumper crowd in what will be Noel Hunt’s first game in charge of the team after taking charge until the end of the campaign with the side in vital need of points.

The club has run the campaign all throughout the season to give young children from schools and teams across the county the chance to watch live football.

The scheme has been a resounding success and has cheered the team on to three wins from three with victories over Huddersfield Town in October, Coventry City in December and Blackpool in February.

Tyrese Fornah tackles Tahith Chong

The final scheme of the campaign will see 11 groups offered the chance to win prizes.

The lucky winners will be given a batch of tickets for Reading v Wigan, a mascot place at a future match and a signed Reading FC football.

The 11 winners will be announced at halftime during the Burnley game on Saturday.

earn three points on Friday Pictures: Steve

Mbengue quickly after the restart, but weren’t able to convert it into a chance as Hendrick was unable to make a connection.

Carroll tried his luck with an optimistic effort from 25 yards that drifted low and was a simple enough take for Ruddy.

Some excellent work on the right from Meite to beat his marker and send a drilled cross to the back post ended with the chance going begging with no Royals player in the box to profit.

The Blues had their own penalty appeals denied by the referee when Jutkiewicz went down under the challenge of Mbengue after Fornah

PREVIEW

had given the ball away cheaply. Lumley came to his team’s rescue to prevent Birmingham from snatching the lead after Chong sped past the Royals backline with the Royals keeper needing to stay firm at his front post to keep him out.

Ince’s first switch of the game with 20 minutes to go saw Femi Azeez replace Fornah on the left. With results going against Reading, they dropped down into the relegation places after being overtaken by Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town.

Next up for Reading is an Easter Monday trip away at Preston North End with the Royals needing points

to try and overtake 21st place QPR. After a change in referee which saw Jeremy Simpson replace the injured Scott Oldham, there were also changes among the players as Nesta Guinness-Walker took Meite’s place.

After a goalmouth scramble following a corner kick, Carroll was unable to keep his shot on target and smacked wide with a whole host of bodies in the way.

Substitute Azeez came a matter of inches from giving Reading the lead when his volley dropped a couple of inches past Ruddy’s far post, but time was up and the points shared.

HUNT TAKES REINS AS ROYALS HOST LEAGUE LEADERS

READING FC face a precarious task when they host league leaders and champions elect Burnley on Saturday.

The Royals, who are in 22nd place in the Championship, are in desperate need of points to try and drag themselves out of the mire in the final five games of the campaign.

A last minute loss to Preston leaves the side one point from safety after relegation rivals Huddersfield Town and QPR picked up a point each on Monday.

The game will be Noel Hunt’s first in charge after Paul Ince’s

contract as manager was terminated on Tuesday.

Reading face one of the trickiest tasks of the season when they take on already promoted Burnley this weekend.

Vincent Kompany’s team ensured they made an instant return to the Premier League after last season’s relegation when they confirmed promotion last week with a win over Middlesbrough.

The Clarets have been in scintillating form all season and dispatched of closest challengers Sheffield United on Monday night with a 2-0 victory.

They lead the Championship by 14 points and have six games left to play having accumulated 90 points in 40 games.

Burnley will have their sights set on taking Reading’s Championship record of 106 points which they achieved in the 2005/06 season.

Kompany’s men will need to pick up 17 points from a possible 18 in their remaining matches to surpass Reading’s total.

Burnley have lost just two games all season on their way to achieving promotion back to the top flight.

However, when the team’s met

at Turf Moor in October, it was a much closer contest than many might have expected.

Tom Ince scored in the 56th minute to put Reading in front before Manuel Benson levelled the game 10 minutes later.

Paul Ince was left fuming with the referee after he denied Reading what looked like a clear penalty in the dying moments of the game when Tom Ince was tripped in the box.

To compound Reading’s misery, Burnley went down the other end and snatched a 94th minute winner through Anass Zaroury.

Heading into a tense final five games of the season, the Royals will need all of the support they can possibly muster to try and escape from relegation trouble.

Reading sit in 22nd position, a point behind both Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City with their future in the Championship in major doubt.

After the club decided to terminate Paul Ince’s contract after the late defeat at Preston, Royals fan favourite and former striker Hunt has been tasked with the job of trying to keep the team in the league.

Hunt now prepares his team to face a Burnley side who are at the top of the table having already won promotion back to the Premier League.

The Clarets now need just four more points to confirm their status as league champions and are also hunting down Reading’s record of 106 points in a season that was achieved in 2005/06.

n For more information, visit: https://www. readingfc.co.uk/news/2023/april/11/schoolsgrassroots-competition-11-prizes-burnley/ Reading FC fans

Smyth

Lucas Joao in control

Hendrick Andy Yiadom holds off his opponent

Mbengue contests with Hannibal

Carroll argues with a fan

Reading go close

RUGBY

NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS

RESULTS

EDE HAILS ‘BRILLIANT GAME’ IN AS STUDENTS BEAT CHINNOR

By RICHARD ASHTON sport@wokingham.today

‘IT was another brilliant game,’ said Rams Students manager Nick Ede after his side raced to a 43-13 triumph at Old Bath Road.

While the visitors took an early lead through a converted Matthew Ng try, Rams replied with first-half scores from Josh Ede, Harrison Stanners, Steven Webber and Seb Rushton, Cameron George adding the extras to two for 24-7.

Jacob Watkins and Alfie Jeanes extended the lead with another conversion making it 36-7, only for Freddie Skinner to go over for the visitors, Ed Bailey again on target.

Man-of-the-match Jedd Paine grabbed the last try of the contest, George with his fourth conversion, to set the seal on a fine home performance and another excellent contest.

Ede said: “It was another brilliant game which I guess we were expecting, but you’re never completely sure.

“I said to the lads it’s a credit to the Colts coaching the fact they’ve all come through that pathway and all played a similar style of rugby.

“It means you can bring different age groups together and they do it, although the off-loads at the start were maybe taking it a step too far in the first 10 minutes.

“They vaguely know each other depending what age groups they were in and they seem to read each other’s minds, but I can’t speak highly enough about the coaching in juniors and Colts which helps bring all that together.”

While Paine was at the heart of much of the hosts’ good work, his fellow title-winning Centaurs including Dan Bennett, Harry

Etwell, George, Will Young and more came to the fore.

Ede continued: “It’s great to have a handful who have been playing together all season and it adds even more continuity, which became clearer after the first 20 minutes once they settled down a bit.

“All credit to Chinnor who kept going right to the end. It’s a great fixture and it was lovely to have them over here.

TABLE TENNIS PREVIEW

“They came back at us in the second half and while we managed to hold them off scoring too many tries, it could have been a different story.”

“It gets frustrating when you’re trying to get them all together, but it’s absolutely worth it in the end and a big thank you to all the players who wanted to play – we’ll look forward to two more games next year.

SONNING COMMON SECURE PROMOTION TO TOP DIVISION LEADERS RAMS PREPARE FOR FINAL HOME GAME

By NIGEL MALTBY sport@wokingham.today

SONNING COMMON & PEPPARD C secured promotion to the top flight with wins in their final two matches of the campaign.

In their first match, they secured half the points they needed with a 6-4 win over mid table TILEHURST RBL B

The set of the night was between SC&P’s Malcolm Gregory and Kate Maksimenko with Malcolm recovering from two games down to level the set at 2-2, only for Kate to ease away in the fifth.

Kate went on to record a maximum while doubles from Nigel Maltby and Malcolm Gregory and a Brian Meheux single, plus the doubles saw the Sonning Common outfit win 6-4, knowing another victory in their final match against TILEHURST METHODISTS A would see them finish runners-up.

Three days later SONNING COMMON & PEPPARD C hosted TILEHURST METHODISTS A, with the SC&P side not only needing six points for promotion, but the Tilehurst team needed two points to avoid relegation.

Brian Meheux sensationally beat Eric Van Looy 6-11 11-9 11-8 16-14 on his fifth match point to give Sonning Common & Peppard C an early boost.

Eric recovered to beat Malcolm Gregory 10-12 11-5 11-7 12-10, a win that meant his Tilehurst Methodists A team avoided relegation.

Bill Stamation then beat Nigel Maltby 11-7 11-8 6-11 11-3 with some blistering attacking play to put Tilehurst 3-1 up.

Brian reduced the deficit by beating Tilehurst’s Phil Jones in nail biting fashion 10-12 11-9 9-11 11-3 11-8 and Malcolm then levelled the match with a 4-11 14-12 11-7 11-9 win over Bill.

With the match score at 4-4 Sonning Common knew

they had to win both the final contests if they were to seal promotion.

Malcolm struggled to beat Phil Jones after being 4-8 down in the fifth, but he fought back to win 12-10 11-7 4-11 7-11 11-9.

Nigel and Malcolm then took on Phil and Bill in the doubles a despite trailing 8-10 in the first, they managed to win 13-11 11-5 11-5 to secure Sonning Common & Peppard C promotion to the top flight alongside divisional winners SONNING COMMON & PEPPARD D courtesy of having won more matches than OLOP B after both teams finished level on 100 points.

In division three, OUR LADY OF PEACE E were 6-4 winners at KINGFISHER H, Harry Bullock and Parvin Baishkiyar both winning twice for OLOP alongside a single from Louise Forster while Eyup Odemis picked two of Kingfisher’s four victories.

RAMS’ home support has been ‘very special’ according to director of rugby Seb Reynolds, as the team gear up for their final home game of the season against Cinderford on Saturday.

Rams head the table on 104 points with two games remaining, Sale are one back on 103 and Cambridge on 99, but with three matches left to play.

Cinderford inflicted the biggest defeat of the campaign on the leaders back in December, running out 37-17 victors at Dockham Road.

Reynolds said: “In terms of all the leagues, National One has arguably the best finish –to have a three-way race for the title is incredibly exciting.

“It would be amazing to get a massive crowd for our last home game of the season against a very strong Cinderford side.

“They know exactly what they are, their DNA is engrained in them, and I’ve got so much respect for what they do.

“They’ll be tough to beat, and it would be great to have a huge crowd.

“The way the players have been supported by the fanbase is very special, and the way people are talking about the club, the group of players and the talent is deserved because of the effort the players put in.”

n Supporters are asked to pre-book their tickets via the club’s website – www.ramsrugby.com –to ensure swift access to the ground.

Friday, April 7 FOOTBALL Championship

Reading 1-1 Birmingham City

Saturday, April 8 FOOTBALL

Southern League Premier South

Swindon Supermarine 1-2

Bracknell Town

Isthmian South Central

Uxbridge 4-3 Binfield

Combined Counties Premier North

Ascot United 3-0 Harefield United

Egham Town 2-1 Reading City Sumas 2-0 North Greenford

Combined Counties Division One

Bagshot 2-2 Woodley United

Berks County 1-2 Penn & Tylers

Sandhurst Town 3-2 Cove

Thames Valley Premier League

Burghfield 1-2 Yateley United

Reading City U23s 1-4

Wargrave

Westwood Wanderers 2-2

Reading YMCA

Charles Twelftree Trophy

SB Phoenix 0-3 Finchampstead

BASKETBALL

Men’s play-off quarter-final

Reading Rockets 99-77

Loughborough Riders

Women’s play-ofquarter-final

Reading Rockets 68-55 Angila Ruskin Uni

Monday, April 10 FOOTBALL Championship

Preston 2-1 Reading

Southern League Premier South

Bracknell Town 3-1

Beaconsfield Town

Combined Counties Premier North

Holyport 3-2 Reading City

Wallingford and Crowmarsh 0-5 Ascot United

Combined Counties Division One

Berks County v Cove

Eversley & California 6-1

Bagshot

Woodley United 1-1 Westside

FIXTURES

Saturday, April 15

FOOTBALL

Championship

Reading v Burnley

Southern League Premier South

Bracknell town v Gosport Borough

Isthmian South Central Binfield v Chipstead

Combined Counties Premier North

Ascot United v Chalfont St Peter

Burnham v Reading City

Spelthorne Sports v Sumas

Combined Counties Division One

Eversley & California v Sandhurst Town Hillingdon Borough v Berks County

Woodley United v Cove

Thames Valley Premier League

Burghfield v Reading YMCA

Reading City U23s v Yateley United

RUGBY UNION

National League One

Rams v Cinderford

BASKETBALL

Men’s play-off semi-final Hemel Storm v Reading Rockets

Women’s play-off semi-final Solent Kestrels v Reading Rockets

Sunday, April 16 FOOTBALL

Southern Region Women’s Division One North Kidlington Youth v Eversley & California

Thames Valley Women’s Division One Ascot United Reserves v Mortimer

Tilehurst Panthers v Slough Wargrave v Harwell and Hendred

Thames Valley Women’s Division Two

S4K Berks County v Beaconsfield Town

Thames Valley Women’s Division 3S

Eversley & California Reserves v Wargrave Development

Shinfield Rangers v Burghfield

Yateley United v Caversham

Monday, April 17

FOOTBALL

Thames Valley Premier Wargrave v SB Phoenix

Tuesday, April 18

FOOTBALL

Combined Counties Premier North

Oxhey Jets v Ascot United

Reading City v Virginia Water

Sumas v Chalfont St Peter

Combined Counties One

Bagshot v Berks County

Eversley & California v Bedfont

Steven Webber sneaks over the line

Pictures: Tim Pitfield

Harrison Stanners scored Rams’ second try Harry Etwell carries for Rams’ returning Students

Full back Dan Bennett flicks a pass out of the back of the hand