Wokingham Today, March 30, 2023

Line-up revealed for Festival

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today

TICKETS have gone on sale for this year’s Wokingham Festival, with more than 40 acts booked to appear.

The event runs over three days of the August Bank Holiday weekend, once again in Cantley Park.

The line-up includes original artists, tribute and covers bands, reflecting all genres. Some are legends in their field, others are up-and-coming bands happy to play in a field. But organisers say that all of the acts are high quality.

And there is a change to the running order of the Festival itself: founder Stan Hetherington, who launched the event in Elms Field in 2007, is passing the mantle on to a team of music lovers.

Headliners are prog rock legends Caravan, gonzo rock’n’rollers Tankus the Henge, and soul and funk specialists Funkin’ Souled Out. Also confirmed are Leoni Jane Kennedy, The Skangsters, Moonage – The Best of Bowie tribute band, Vintage Sound Collective, BJ Bevy, and Kyros.

They will all perform on the festival’s main Trademark Windows Stage.

As in recent years, the Wokingham Music Club stage will showcase up-and-coming local talent of high quality alongside artists from outside the area such as Sunday’s headliners Spacehopper.

The family-friendly event runs from Saturday, August 26, through to Monday, August 28, and include special activities for children, a number of food and drink stalls, and other surprises.

A team of volunteers from the Twyford Beer Festival will run a real ale bar, and there will also be a variety of cocktails and other drinks for adults and children.

Festival director Dean Nelson said: “Over the last 15 years, the festival has been built to where it is now by Stan Hetherington, and he’s put together a team to take over and keep the Festival spirit alive for Wokingham into the future.

“We are very grateful to our sponsors, in particular Trademark Doors and Windows for their many years of support.

“Do contact us if you would like your company associated with the Festival.”

He added: “Early Bird Weekend and Day Tickets for Wokingham Festival are excellent value and have already gone on sale, and may be purchased via our website.”

n For more: wokinghamfestival.co.uk

‘The number of potholes has gone down’

EXCLUSIVE

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today

Partnership had reduced the blight on the roads since they had been in office.

“The average number of potholes reported between 2019/20 and 2021/22 was 2,179,” he told the chamber.

“During this financial year they have decreased to a forecasted 1,500.

“So, the potholes are not getting worse since the Lib Dems took over,

they are getting less, significantly less.”

He said the party had also set up a system to charge insurance companies for damage to highway property.

“The previous Conservative administration had nothing in place and the Council taxpayer picked up the bill for the repairs,” he said.

But readers and opposition councillors disagree.

n Continued on page 6

THE NUMBER of potholes in Wokingham has gone down over the past 12 months says the executive member for highways.

Cllr Paul Fishwick told a meeting of Wokingham Borough Council last Thursday that the Lib Dem-led

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Cul-de-sac residents fear homes plan

By EMMA MERCHANT emerchant@wokingham.today

PLANS TO knock down an office building so it can be replaced by a four-storey block of flats will see a quiet cul-de-sac changed forever, according to residents who live there.

Wokingham Borough Council have submitted a planning application for the conversion of Ashridge House, off Oaklands Park, as well as creating a three-storey development in the adjacent car park.

In all, 29 homes will be created by the scheme.

But residents in neighbouring Reeves Way have concerns about the plans.

They say the council’s plans have insufficient parking spaces, so the new residents will look to park in the cul-de-sac, which backs on to Leslie Sears playing field.

This, they add, will cause congestion.

A row of cypress trees that currently separates the residential area from the business park will be felled.

The residents say this is a corridor for wildlife.

And they also say there is the possibility of contamination as there is thought to be a landfill site beneath the car park of Ashridge House.

Resident Pratisha Verma said: “This is a quiet cul-de-sac, but the development will change everything.

“We’re really concerned about the environmental damage, structural disturbance to our homes, and the potential health risks to residents from the landfill site during the works.

“Wokingham is known for its mix of country and town, but it will soon turn into a town full of apartments, just like London.”

She said the cul-de-sac’s residents were told they couldn’t convert their lofts as it would change the look of the buildings and might overlook neighbours,

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something that seems unfair given the height of the proposed buildings.

“This development doesn’t look anything like the existing houses, and we will be overlooked by a fourstorey block of flats,” Ms Verma said.

The Reeves Way residents have set up a website setting out their objections, and have leafletted homes in the area, calling on others

to share their views of the planning application ahead of the closing date of Tuesday, April 4. Wokingham Borough Council is unable to comment on a live planning application.

n The planning application can be found by searching for 230520 at: www.planning.wokingham.gov.uk, while the residents’ group can be found at: www.sites.google.com/view/ protectreevesway

Train firm’s silver award

A RAILWAY operator says its work to foster an inclusive workplace and culture has seen it win awards.

South Western Railway (SWR) scooped a silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard, an accreditation tool for inclusion and diversity.

The firm says it is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive organisation, ensuring that it harnesses the potential of all of its colleagues to deliver the best possible service for its diverse range of customers.

This includes the implementation of its first inclusion and diversity strategy and action plan, the creation of a number of active network groups for supporting and empowering colleagues from under-represented

and disadvantaged groups, and the adoption of formal inclusion and diversity training and mentoring programmes.

Last month, SWR was also highly commended for Diversity & Inclusion in Rail at the Rail Business Awards.

Leanne Illman, Head of Inclusion and Diversity for South Western Railway, said: “We are thrilled. Since our first inclusion and diversity strategy launched in 2021, we have worked hard to introduce and embed initiatives such as staff networks, training and awareness, reverse mentoring, and inclusive recruitment practices.

“To have our commitment to inclusion and diversity recognised in this way is credit to our colleagues.”

UP FOR THE CHOP: Under plans to revamp Ashridge House, a proposal is being made to remove cypress trees on Reeves way for access. Picture: Robert Hughes Photography.co.uk

Daffs brighten the room as horticultural show returns

Survey open for new Arborfield hub

ARBORFIELD residents are set to have their say on plans for a community centre.

Wokingham Borough Council is inviting those living in or near Arborfield Green to take part in a survey which will help determine how the facility can become a thriving and vibrant venue.

The former Ministry of Defence training building off Nine Mile Ride Extension is set to be refurbished and redesigned as a local hub under wider plans for a district centre with shops, green space, a pub and more.

The council wants to hear what residents believe the community centre should offer and has opened an online survey, which will run until Friday, April 28.

Cllr Lindsay Ferris, executive member for planning and local plan, said: “A facility like this offers a real lifeline and a valued space for people to meet and enjoy social activities with each other, or could perhaps serve as a base for services or charities to operate.

“There are lots of options and we want to make sure we plan this one properly for local people.

By PAULINE MACBRAYNE news@wokingham.today

AFTER a four-year break caused by coronavirus, Wokingham’s gardeners could once again compete in person as a horticultural show returned to its roots … and it was blooming lovely to be back.

St Paul’s Parish Rooms on Reading Road was the venue for the Wokingham Horticultural Association’s spring show, bringing to an end a pattern of socially distanced or virtual contests. Now, society members could prove they know their onions, their bulbs and their blooms.

There were more than 100 visitors to the show, where daffodils took centre stage.

Terry Miller won the Daffodil Society Bronze medal for his Division 11 Maria Pia blooms, and was also awarded 2 WHA Cups in the Daffodil section.

WHA Secretary Janet Gordon was delighted to win a Daffodil Society Diploma for the Mystery Bulb – a historical variety called Compressus - that she had grown in a pot. Margaret Finch’s three daffodils in Division 2 named Sealing Wax won her the Roy Austin Daffodil Goblet.

The perfume of hyacinths greeted visitors inspecting the other flowers at the show, and Joan Beautement won the Staniland Goblet for most points in that section.

WHA President, Jenny Gilbert, was awarded the Philip Sale Cup for the quality and quantity of mixed flowers she had picked from her garden.

The winning duo also had time to run a plant stall during the event.

The show isn’t all horticultural, as there are classes for baking and handicrafts.

Mary Child’s life-sized crocheted crown on a cushion was much admired, while Rachael Hills’ quilling work on a plaque made to celebrate her parents’ 40th wedding anniversary won her a first prize and many compliments during the afternoon.

New exhibitor Brenda Cooper won first with a selection of key rings decorated with felt animals.

Christine Boreham exhibited handicraft items and was awarded the Clifford Rawlings Cup for most points overall in the section.

The Coronation theme was continued in flower arranging and in the Young Exhibitors’ baking class. Ten-year-old Jessica Light, a pupil at Dolphin School, won first prize for her five cup cakes decorated with gingerbread crowns.

These also caught the eye of Mini Mayor Jayden Howie, who had come to assist Town

Mayor, Maria Gee, with the presentation of the prizes. He awarded them Mini Mayor’s Choice.

Jessica also won prizes for her poster to advertise the next WHA show, and colouring.

The Heelas Cup for flower arranging was won by Doreen Hogston, while Angela Wade’s Easter basket won a first.

Lindsey Payne’s arrangement Fit for King Charles III Coronation Banquet won a first, a Certificate of merit from the Judge and voted their favourite exhibit by visitors.

Phyl Crump with a group of friends – all members of Wokingham Flower Club – had created some very pretty tea table decorations using spring flowers

These were admired while visitors enjoyed tea and home-made cakes during the afternoon.

The photography judge was impressed with the quality of entries in that section.

New exhibitor Paul Stewart won first prize for his photo of a gorgeous sunset; his ‘favourite photo taken in last 12 months’, and another first for his ‘English Countryside’.

Janet Gordon was also awarded two first prizes; one for her ‘End of Winter’ and the other for her photo from a WHA outing.

Cheryl Cook and her grand-daughter proved they are both talented artists. The elder won the

adult colouring in while five-year-old Aria came second for colouring in, and won a first prize for her decorated plant pot.

There were 43 exhibits in the Domestic Section, with Mary Gillan gaining the most points and the St Kilda Cup for her delicious entries.

Sheila McKeand won the Eve-Scott Horniman Trophy. Nick Hills won an honour with his Hot Cross Buns and Nigel Payne for a fruit traybake.

WHA is now planning a Bring and Buy Plant Sale on Saturday, May 13, and the summer show will be held on Saturday, June 17. n For more details, log on to: www.w-h-a.org.uk

“The district centre application will be submitted soon, which includes the community centre, but there is still time to influence this and get it right.

“We’ve kept our survey short and simple because we know people are busy, but it’s vital that we find out what people think and I would urge all Arborfield Green residents to take part.”

The council is also speaking directly to organisations such as parish councils, schools and community groups, to ensure the facility’s provision meets residents’ needs.

The district centre will serve residents living on the major development at the former Arborfield Garrison, and must be provided as part of a legal agreement.

Those who require assistance completing the survey are asked to contact the council on 0118 947 6000 or visit one of the borough’s libraries.

n To take part in the survey, visit: www.engage.wokingham.gov.uk

Pauline MacBrayne and Lesley Brown admire an impressive entry in the show

Chris Piper with her granddaughter, Gemma. Janet Gordon with her Diploma for her Daffodils

Lorraine Dallenger admiring some of the entries in the Show

Wokingham Horticultural Show’s President, Jenny Gilbert with flowers for sale Pictures: Steve Smyth

Ian’s class will support Arts4 Wokingham as it campaigns to bring public art to the borough

Another chance to dance with Ian

STRICTLY Come Dancing star Ian Waite invites people to join him for a free one hour dance class.

He is offering another opportunity to take part in his ‘Fitsteps combined fitness and dance session.

As a supporter of Arts4Wokingham, Ian will be waiving his usual fee for the class.

Instead, participants are invited to make a modest donation to Arts4Wokingham.

The charity campaigns to promote public art in the borough, and aims to install its first project, The Arc, outside Wokingham’s new Carnival Hub.

Arts4Wokingham’s Chair, Charlotte HaithamTaylor says she is thrilled that Ian has chosen to offer support.

She says: “Ian’s involvement with us is a real bonus. It’s great to have someone on board who recognises just how uplifting, significant and stimulating the arts can be.

“They not only inspire on a personal level but can also be crucial in defining and shaping public places.”

Ian ran a similar class in January but some people were unable to make the weekday evening slot.

This time the session is scheduled to run after lunch on a Sunday.

Ian hopes this will make it easier for more people to take part.

The ‘Fitsteps’ class will run at Wokingham’s Carnival Hub, on Sunday, April 2.

People can just turn up for the session, which starts at 2.30pm. There’s no dress code but trainers and sportswear are advised.

n For more information about Arts4Wokingham, Visit: www.arts4wokingham.com

Concerns over number of potholes on borough’s roads

n From front page We asked for readers to say which roads they had seen potholes on, and one said: “Have you spotted any roads in the potholes?”

Large potholes have been reported by readers on Easthampstead Road, in Finchampstead, on Reading Road in Wokingham, Vauxhall Drive in Woodley, and … just about every road going.

Cllr Charles Margetts is the Conservative shadow member for highways. He said he was seriously concerned about the deterioration not just of roads, but pavements.

He felt the number of potholes was not reducing and called on his counterpart to listen to residents rather than “pretending it isn’t happening”.

“Cllr Fishwick’s speech shows how far away from a solution the Liberal and Labour coalition in charge of the council are from getting to grips with this issue,” he said.

“If you check the fix my street Wokingham page online you will find over 1,400 pothole reports currently unresolved.

“The major reason for the expected fall in the number pothole repairs is the extra bureaucracy the Liberal and Labour coalition have introduced. Previously when a pothole was reported the council’s contractor went to site and fixed it.

Now the council sends an officer out to look at most of the reported potholes before repairing them.

“This extra process naturally slows down the amount of potholes that can be repaired in a certain period.”

He added: “Instead of quoting Soviet style tractor production figures of predicted pothole repairs Cllr Fishwick should leave Shute End for a short period and travel around the borough – he would quickly see that quoting predicted pothole repairs figures is meaningless to residents who see the poor condition of some of the roads and just want the council to sort it out.”

The Conservatives were also concerned about long-term issues. Cllr Margetts pointed out the Barkham Ride roundabout where the road surface is breaking down.

“You could do another 30 pothole

Borough can be reported via the council’s website

repairs here but they would not fix this. Rather than endlessly patching roads such as this resurfacing work needs to be bought forwards and actioned.

“The only solution to this is to invest more money in road and pavement maintenance. However, the Liberal and Labour coalition plan three years of real terms cuts to the road and pavement repairs budget.

“The consequence of this is less pavements and roads will be repaired which will create a backlog of maintenance to be resolved in the future.

“We are calling on them to listen to residents, invest more money in road and pavement repairs and get a grip on this issue.”

Last week, the council revealed it had been allocated £589,200 for highways maintenance in 2023-

2024, a sum it says is not enough.

Cllr Fishwick said: “There is still a huge shortfall, not just in Wokingham Borough but across the country, and the government needs to do more to help us keep our residents safe when travelling around the borough.”

And this week, Simon Dale, Director of Place and Growth at Wokingham Borough Council said: “Our residents’ safety is our number one priority. Officers from the council’s highways team continuously survey road conditions and identify areas in need of improvement across the 967 miles of roads and footpaths which they maintain to help us keep our residents safe when travelling around the borough.

“To date, 1,521 potholes have been fixed across the borough this financial year. We continue to ask residents to report any potholes via our ‘report it system’ on our website.

“Not only is this the most efficient way to report a problem, as residents can pinpoint the exact location and it goes directly through to the relevant team, but it also offers residents the opportunity to be kept up-to-date with the progress we are making to resolve the issue.”

Reports can be made by logging on to: Wokingham.gov.uk and searching for ‘pothole’.

n Viewpoints p30

Use it or lose it: reprieve for village shop

By SUE CORCORAN news@wokingham.today

HURST village shop, which was set to close on Tuesday, April 11, is to

stay open for another three months to see if trade can be boosted.

Last week 10 staff at the store were told they were being made redundant. But on Monday the

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store sent out a notice saying: “The company has today decided to keep the store open for another three months, after that it will be looked at again. In those three months I’d like the community to support us as much as they can, if we have no support then unfortunately it will close.”

There have been concerns about the post office, in the same building but with a separate entrance. A Post Office head office spokesperson said: “We have agreed with the store’s owner that Hurst Post Office will continue to operate at the current location until at least March 2024.

“If the community rallies round the shop and the shop is viable and stays open, the post office will stay open alongside. If after three months the shop closes the post office will stay open until March 2024.”

Villagers who were shocked about the closure plan, this week were pleased that the business, part of the Central Convenience stores group, was being given a second chance.

Local shopkeepers are interested in taking over the Hurst shop.

One of them, Hanit Arora, 26, who owns and manages Strawberry Local store in Howth Drive, Woodley, said: “Myself and my business partner would be happy to take the Hurst store on.

“We’re prepared to invest in the shop and make improvements. There is potential to breathe fresh air into it. . . . Within a month we feel we could turn the Hurst store right round.”

And he added: “The idea wouldn’t be to milk it to make lots of money.”

As at the Woodley store, which they took on six months ago, the focus would be on the community.

“At Woodley, they’re so grateful for us being there,” he said. Turnover had exceeded expectations.

He planned to contact the agents for the Hurst shop. He said his business partner owns nine stores.

Another shopkeeper interested in the Hurst business is the owner of Wokingham convenience store. He did not want to be named and was speaking before this week’s announcement.

He said the Hurst site was a good place to run a shop. There were no other shops nearby, it was on a busy road and there was parking outside.

Hurst Parish Council chairman Cllr Wayne Smith last week said: “We have to do our best to keep a shop and post office in Hurst.” He was working to help that happen.

Cedric Lander, Woodley

‘They can see into my bathroom’: fears over housing development

EXCLUSIVE

By JI-MIN LEE jlee@wokingham.today

A SPENCERS WOOD resident has raised concerns over the impact building works have had on her property and the ‘disgraceful’ response from developers.

Gillie York, whose Basingstoke Road home looks out onto Taylor Wimpey’s 55-home Stanbury View development, has cited damage to her Grade II Listed property and believes the housebuilder has not fulfilled their obligation in maintaining adequate privacy.

She said that vibrations from the works had caused cracks to emerge in her walls, while a failure to deliver a suitable fence – which she claims developers had promised – has led to passersby attempting to gain entry into her garden.

The development of the suitable alternative natural greenspace (SANG) has meant members of the public can walk up to the edge of her property.

Ms York said: “It’s disgraceful. People can see straight into my living room and into the bathroom.

“They can come right up to

the garden and some have even tried to get in.

“Taylor Wimpey haven’t honoured the planning terms and have damaged a Grade II Listed building.”

She added that the housebuilder had previously committed to a 6ft fence around the boundary line of her property, but have since “changed their mind”.

Plans show that native shrub planting is set to take place along the Lieutenant’s Cottage fence line, and is to be maintained at a height of

1.2m-1.5m to “restrict access close to” the property.

A Taylor Wimpey spokesperson said: “We are aware of concerns raised by a neighbour of our Stanbury View development and have been in regular contact with them as we carried out work on site.

“Having investigated all of the concerns raised, we found no evidence to suggest that our works have caused any damage to the neighbouring property.

“All work at the development has been carried out in line with

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the agreed planning conditions and we are in contact with Wokingham Borough Council regarding the delivery of our remaining planning obligations.”

In July 2021, Wokingham Today reported on action taken by Wokingham Borough Council after Ms York said that works and deliveries were taking place outside of the set hours.

At the time, Taylor Wimpey apologised for the disruption caused, which it said was due to a

NO PRIVACY:

Ms York says that some passersby have tried accessing her garden at this point.

Picture: Ji-Min Lee

delivery from its concrete supplier.

A spokesperson for the housebuilder said: “We recognise that we have a responsibility to keep within our permitted working hours and this is something we take very seriously.

“We would like to assure residents that we have reminded all of our subcontractors of the permitted working hours and we will continue to do all we can to keep any disruption to the local community to a minimum.”

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A SONNING church will hold traditional Easter services, and a Family Fun Afternoon during the holiday weekend.

People will be able to enjoy an Easter egg hunt, egg and spoon races, trips up the tower, Messy Church activities, and a barbecue.

In the evening, the first communion of Easter will be celebrate at 8pm.

The Easter fire will be lit for people to light candles before taking them inside the church for the communion service.

It takes place from 2pm on Saturday, April 7. Places should be booked in advance to assist with catering.

n For more information about the church, visit: www.sonningparish. org.uk

Easter fun day Rhymetime for toddlers

BINFIELD Library is hosting a Bounce and Rhyme singing and music session for babies and toddlers.

The event will take place on Tuesday, April 6, from 9.30am to 10am, and costs 50p per child. It is a drop-in session, so no booking is required.

Binfield Library is located on Benetfeld Road, Binfield, Berkshire RG42 4JZ.

n Visit the library’s website for further details: www.bracknellforest.gov.uk/libraries/library/ binfield-library

Lefttoright:EmilyPanes,DanielFraserandIssyvan Randwyck Pictures:AndreasLambisPhotography

Lefttoright:DarrellBrockis,EmilyPanesandBethLilly

ArethaAyehandNickWaring

CRUMBS Woodley will be hosting a comedy night next week.

The event boasts four acts, including headliner Rich Wilson, a multi-award-winning comedian. Other comics include Dinesh Nathan from Comedy Central and Tadiwa Mahlunge from the BBC and Comedy Central.

The show will be hosted by Jonathan Elston, praised by The Guardian as “an act with incredible talent.”

It will be held at the Library Parade venue on Tuesday, April 4, at 8pm.

n For more details, or tickets, search allevents.in for Crumbs Woodley

Comedy night in Woodley cafe Crochet night

COFFEE and crochet enthusiasts have a new opportunity to hone their skills and meet like-minded individuals in the local community.

The Two Sisters Cafe in Crowthorne’s High Street will be hosting a beginner-only event on Tuesday, April 4, from 7pm.

Attendees will receive instruction from Charlotte, a seasoned crochet artist and owner of her own crochet shop. She will be leading beginner courses.

n For more details, or to book a place, visit: twosisters-cafe.com

Chief Constable retires, saying he’s had a fabulous career

By JI-MIN LEE jlee@wokingham.today

THAMES Valley Police’s outgoing chief constable has said that he looks back at his time in the role with “a sense of pride”.

Speaking to Wokingham

Today, Mr John Campbell was full of praise for the work carried out by TVP during his tenure – a period which featured the lockdown phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the Forbury terror attack.

The chief constable will retire from the force at the end of March, bringing the curtain down on 34 years of police service with West Midlands Police, Hampshire Constabulary and TVP.

He explained: “I definitely look back at my time in the force with a sense of pride.

“Some of the work we do now is something that we didn’t do when I first joined. We have an awful lot more of a footprint around people with mental health - that certainly wasn’t considered to be a role for the police.

“On top of that, you’ve got emerging crime types, such as cyber crime and online fraud. The essence of being a police

officer hasn’t changed, which is that you’re there to protect people, reduce crime and disorder, and be there when people are in need.”

Mr Campbell came from a family with a history of policing and spent time as a cadet before joining West Midlands Police in 1988. He transferred to Hampshire Constabulary in 2001.

He joined TVP nine years later where he became assistant chief constable for uniform operations and crime, going on to be appointed deputy chief constable in May 2015.

In these roles, Mr Campbell has worked in various disciplines, including criminal investigation, specialist operations and local policing,

and also as in hostage and crisis negotiating.

He was the commander responsible for the policing of the South East regional phase of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.

The promotion to chief constable was confirmed in February 2019, as Mr Campbell took over from predecessor Sir Francis Habgood.

He was barely a year into the post when he and his team had to negotiate the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown. He admitted his tenure had been rather unique.

He explained: “Policing during Covid was remarkable times. And then, being a force that covers places like Windsor, we have the honour

and privilege of policing royal events - we’ve done a number in my time.

“State visits and jubilee events are very joyous, but then we had the sad deaths of Prince Philip, and more recently, Her Majesty the Queen.

“Prince Philip’s event was more modest and quieter, because it was during Covid, with some restrictions. We saw the terribly sad images of the Queen sitting there alone in St George’s Chapel. And then much more of a public national event in terms of her final journey to Windsor.

“We played a part on that final part of the journey and I’m very proud to be involved in those.”

The chief constable quoted Sir Robert Peel, the father of modern policing in the 1820s, who pointed out that the “police are the public and the public are the police” when explaining TVP’s commitment to recruiting from the community.

He added that it was important for the force to “represent the community that it serves” to enhance the relationship between the police and members of the public.

Care has been taken to treat people with respect and dignity when the police use its powers,

for example when issuing Section 60s. Mr Campbell said the measure wasn’t something the police use lightly and only do so rarely.

Jason Hogg, who has been deputy chief constable at TVP since 2019, will take over from Mr Campbell on Saturday.

Mr Campbell will look to take a well-earned break from the rigours of the force.

He said: “I’m just going to relax for a bit. My role means that I’m on-call 24 hours a day, which you’d expect - and I’m asking for no sympathy by the way - it can make the job very interesting.

“So I’ll just enjoy maybe not being quite so full on for a bit, and then see where the world will take me, but with a sense of real pride in the force. My best wishes go to Jason who’s taken over from me.”

The chief constable urged those with an interest in a career in policing not to hesitate in reaching out to the force.

“If you’ve not had much to do with [the force], it can feel a little bit daunting, but I promise you, we’re ordinary people, really,” Mr Campbell said. n He advised anyone who is interested in pursuing a career in policing to check TVP’s website: www.thamesvalley.police.uk

If your bike is feeling tyre-d... Start about‘messing in boats’

IS YOUR bike feeling tyre-d or does it just need a brake?

Then ride on over to Mulberry Grove this weekend for a wheely great free offer from Dr. Bike.

Whether you suffer from a sagging saddle or a clunking chain, the cycling surgeon will diagnose oil your pedal pains.

A spokes-person said: “If Dr. Bike can get you moving again, he will.

“If there are any parts needed or its beyond the scope of the session, he will prescribe some advice and options to get your bike ready to ride.

“This is a free check-up but you must book a slot to drop off your bike.”

The cycling surgery takes place on Sunday, April 2, from 10.15am at Mulberry Grove, Culver Grove, Wokingham.

n For more details, or to book a place, log on to: www.myjourneywokingham.com

FAMILIES wanting to enjoy time on a pedalo or a paddleboard can venture out to a Wokingham lake.

Boating hire resumes at Dinton Pastures Country Park from the start of April. There are a range of boats to choose from, including pedalos, paddleboards, giant paddleboards, canoes and double kayaks. Children aged two or more can go on a boat with an adult.

Dogs are welcomed, but owners should keep them on a lead to prevent the boat wobbling. A standard boat hire slot is 30 minutes and costs from £8.

Boat hire resumes on Saturday, April 1for bookings at weekends and bank holidays. Back to back slots can be booked for pedalos and paddleboards (weekends only).

n To find out more or to book a slot, visit the Dinton Activity Centre website at: www. wokinghamcountryside.co.uk

Two weeks of Easter fun at Wellington Country

WELLINGTON Country Park has an eggciting line up of Easter treats for the family.

A two-week eggstravaganza includes activities, furry friends, loads of laughs and, of course, the Easter Bunny.

And a special guest this year is the funny and fantastic Junk Jodie with her fabulous crafts and make-and-take sessions every day from 10am to 4pm.

Park

Also new and live on stage is Canary Mary and her friends Custard the Chick and Lolli the Lamb with their fun frolicking shows on daily at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2pm.

Keep an eye out for Canary Mary and her friends throughout the day, as they will be around the Park to say hello.

There’s also a chocfull of fun at the Big Tent Easter

Entertainment special (daily at 11am, 1pm and 3pm) which will include the awesome PeteZa, Big Foot and Friends and the daring and astounding Circus Wellingtonia.

And there will be Easter Train Rides (£1, under 2s free) and an Animal Farm Treasure Hunt.

n For full information on what’s on and when, go to wellingtoncountrypark.co.uk

STEPPING DOWN: Thames Valley Police’s chief constable John Campbell will be retiring from the force at the end of March after 34 years of service

First Days’ run promises to be a riot of colour

By EMMA MERCHANT emerchant@wokingham.today

A CHILDREN’S charity will hold a multi-tinted event to raise money for families experiencing financial hardship.

People who join First Days Children’s Charity’s Colour Run can walk, run, dance, crawl or hop their way around a 2.5km long course, and are sure to be changed by the experience.

As they progress around the course, runners will be pelted with powdered paint at four colour stations.

Those wanting a deeper hue can purchase additional paint to throw amongst themselves.

The tinted powder used at the event is made from food grade cornstarch.

As with any substance, the aim is to keep it out of runners’ eyes and mouths, and colour throwers will be targeting only from shoulders to feet.

Participants can travel the course once, or even twice, if they like.

And by the time they have completed their run, they should look considerably more colourful.

Entry to the fundraising event includes a white T-shirt, collected on the day but First Days says that

they’re pretty confident that these won’t remain white for long.

They suggest wearing items that people don’t mind getting dirty, and recommend washing clothes soon afterwards.

To protect eyes, all entrants must wear sunglasses or goggles.

Paint packets, sweatbands, garlands, and sunglasses if needed, can be purchased in advance or on the day.

Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult, and all paint must be aimed away from faces.

Refreshments include Phantom Brewing serving a coloured beer to quench runners’ thirsts, and Unholy Donuts selling colourful treats.

To make the event accessible to as many as possible, First Days are operating a tiered pricing structure, based on ability to pay.

There is no difference in terms of the event experience, and no need for any disclosure.

People are asked to register at the level appropriate to their circumstances.

The event takes place at Prospect Park, Liebenrood Road, Reading, on Sunday, May 14, with the run starting at 2pm. n For information and to register for the colour run, visit: www.firstdays. net

Defibrillators at SWR stations

LIFESAVING defibrillators are being installed at four borough railway stations as part of a region-wide campaign.

South Western Railway stations say the publicly accessible defibrillators will be available by the end of the summer at 154 locations including Earley, Winnersh, Winnersh Triangle and Wokingham.

The announcement coincides with the naming of The Alex Wardle Foundation train at London Waterloo.

The charity was set up by Steve Wardle, an SWR operations trainer, and his family, following his son’s death from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome.

The train operator is investing more than £500,000 in the project as part of its commitment to safety and serving local communities. The defibrillators will be placed in protective cabinets as close as possible to the front entrance of the stations, to be used day or night in the event of cardiac incidents at or near stations.

Station staff and local ambulance services will be provided with the codes to unlock the cabinets and access the machines, which they can provide to members of the public in an emergency.

Claire Mann, managing director of SWR, said: “As part of SWR’s commitment

to the local communities we serve, I’m so pleased that we are installing defibrillators at every single one of our staffed stations, which could very well prove to be lifesaving.”

Steve Wardle, Alex Wardle’s father and founder of the Alex Wardle Foundation, added: “It is wonderful to see this vision come to life.

“Having worked on the railway for nearly 40 years, I am thankful of the railway family’s support.

“March marks seven years since Alex’s death and, although I am still a grieving parent, I feel proud of everything that we have achieved to support our community.”

A SOCIETY that meets for activities, friendship and support, gathers regularly at Wokingham Library.

The Daffodils Carer and Dementia Friendship Group describes itself as a lively society for people living with the condition, their carers and their friends.

The group meets on alternate Wednesdays from 1.30pm to 3.30pm at the Denmark Street venue. They meet this month on Wednesdays, April 5 and 19.

n Anyone interested in joining the group should email Val Gent in advance at: val@misthos.com

Dementia friendship group Art exhibition in Earley church

AN ART exhibition is taking place in an Earley church in the run-up to Easter.

St Nicolas in Sutcliffe Avenue is hosting Visible But Unseen in its art space.

The show explores the effect of modern slavery on communities. It is open during weekday office hours, and tea and cakes are served between 10am and noon on Fridays.

n For more details, call the church office on: 0118 966 9080, or log on to: www.stnicolas.org.uk

HEALTH: SWR launching the The Alex Wardle Foundation train at London Waterloo, and sharing news that defibrillators are being installed at four local railway stations

EASTER SUNDAY LUNCH OR DINNER

The perfect Easter Sunday for all the family, we have a special Sunday lunch menu to make it an occasion to remember – new beginnings, full of the joys of spring! Join us for our delicious three courses Sunday Roast Lunch with all the trimmings.

Three Course Sunday Menu

Tea, Coffee and Petit Fours

Priced at £34.95 per person

Tributes paid to rector of Finchampstead

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today

TRIBUTES have been paid to the rector of the parish of Finchampstead and California.

The Revd Dr Leonard Onugha collapsed and died at his home on Monday, March 20.

He was 48.

Ordained as a deacon in 2018, he became a priest in 2019, serving first in Thatcham and then as an associate minister in Emmer Green. He moved to Finchampstead in 2021, overseeing St James’, St Eligius, and St Mary and St John.

He also served the diocese as Vocations Advisor for the Sonning Deanery and Vocations Champion for the Berkshire Archdeaconry, as well as being an active member of the UKME Clergy Chapter.

Born in 1974, he was married to Joanna, and the couple have three children.

On Sunday, the three churches came together as one for a special service of prayer and reflection, led by the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft.

Bishop Steven and the Bishop of Reading, the Rt Revd Olivia Graham, said: “Our prayers are with all those who are affected by this terrible and unexpected loss.

“We understand that this news will come as a shock to many of you who knew and worked with Leonard.

“The Berkshire Area Team are available to help during this time if you would like pastoral support.

“We give great thanks for Leonard’s life, his faithful ministry, and his commitment to the Lord. We commend him into the everlasting love of God.”

In a statement on the parish’s website, the churchwardens and leadership team said: “It is devastating for his family, and our prayers and thoughts are and will continue to be with them.”

RECYCLING: Mel Noronha and Heike Conroy with recycled candles and Easter decorations they sold for charity at St Thomas More RC Church in Twyford on Sunday Pictures: Sue Cororan

Wax works for fundraising efforts

CREATIVE and green fingered parishioners of St Thomas Moore RC Church in Twyford are recycling to raise money for charity.

Heike Conroy of Earley puts to good use all those candle ends which mount up in so many cupboards.

She melts down candle remnants from local Roman Catholic and Anglican churches and other supporters. The wax is then

poured into molds to become attractive Easter egg, flower and beehive shaped candles.

Meanwhile, her friend Mel Noronha of Woodley has been

Easter journey

A WOKINGHAM church is holding an event on Good Friday that will take families through the Easter story.

St Paul’s Church is creating a series of stations where youngsters can discover each stage of Holy Week, with crafts to make along the way.

The Revd Richard Lamey, rector of the Reading Road church, said: “Our Easter event is bigger and better this year, and we can’t wait to share the experience with the community – the emotions, and the story.

“We’re delighted that our three parish churches, St Paul’s, St Nicholas, and Woosehill, are all working together with young people’s charity Soulscape to create this event.

“It’s going to be a bit like Messy Church, with plenty of sticking and colouring.”

growing plants and bulbs to sell alongside the candles and Easter decorations in aid of Roman Catholic international development charity Cafod.

n On St Patrick’s Day, March 17, the church held a supper to mark the occasion. Beef cooked in Guinness was on the menu and there was a quiz about Ireland, the country for which St Patrick is the patron saint.

The Easter experience is suitable for primary school aged children and starts in the St Paul’s Parish Rooms before ending in St Paul’s church building.

It runs from 10am until noon on Friday, April 7.

Youngsters and their families can just turn up, and can visit the stages at their own speed.

Refreshments and hot cross buns will be available at the end of the event.

n For details, call the church office on: 0118 979 2122, or log on to: www.spauls.co.uk

you’ve always been... a film buff

Be

TRIBUTES: The Revd Dr Leonard Onugha joined the parish of Finchampstead and California in 2021

I’veGotYou

RecentlyIcaughtthetrain intoLondontoattendthe ritzyopeningofabusiness networkingclubinMayfair. Iputonacocktaildress andheels (stillreeducatingmyselfhowto walkinthemafterweall returnedtowearing ‘flats’ duringCovid).Ievencurled myhair.

OntheshortjourneyI

overheardaconversation betweenagroupof teenagegirls.Onegirlwas clearlytheleaderofthe group.Theothergirls agreedwitheverythingshesaid,laughedwhenitwas expectedandsoughtherdirectionondecisions.Shewas fullofconfidenceandlookedverycomfortablewithher leading-starrole.Theyallappearedtounderstandthe rulesofengagement.Theyknewthatthepriceof admissionintothegroupwastofollowtheleader.

ThisremindedmeofthecliquesIsawforminmyown schooldays.Thecoolkids,thesmartkids,thesporty kids.Allconformingtothegrouprules.Rulesthat,if followed,allowedthemtofitin.Whentherulesweren’t followed,theywerenolonger ‘in’

Thisalsohappensinthegrown-upworld. TheeventIattendedthatdaywasverymuchthesame.I noticedhowmanypeopleweredrawnlikemagnetsto thestrongercharacterswhopositionedthemselves,and werereadilyacceptedbyothers,asleaders.Now,tobe clear,noteverybodyfollowedthisritual.Manywerealso happytocatchupwithfriendsandacquaintances, introducethemselvestothosetheydidn’talreadyknow, orsimplysitandenjoytheglamoroussurroundings.

However,somepeoplewhoIchattedwithperfectly normallyonemomentweresuddenlytransformedinto gushingfansofthe ‘coolkids’ whengiventhe opportunitytobaskintheirlight.Theyinstantlybecame lessconfidentintheirownrightastheyeagerlysought theapprovaloftheselectfew.

Thisdoesn’thappenbyaccident.Wehumansaretribal. Forthousandsofyearstribeshaveprovidedussafety andsurvival.Beingexcludedfromthetribecouldbelifethreatening.Itisbecauseofoursurvivalinstinctthatwe developedaninnatedrivetoconnectwithothersandto beaccepted.

Often,thepriceofinclusioncanbehigh.Inclusioncan requirebeingsomeonewearenot.Someoneweare unfamiliarwithoruncomfortablewith.Forgoingourown wants,needs,comfortsandthethingsthatfeelright.All justtobelookedonwithfavourbytheleaderand acceptedbythegroup.

Ifthissoundsfamiliartoyou,Iencourageyoutofirstly recognisethatifsomethingdoesn’tfeelright,it probablyisn’trightforyou.Then,putonyourbiggirlor boypantsandchoosetobe yourownleader.Choosetobe youonyourterms.Yourtribe willfindyouandloveyoufor whoyouare.Theyarewaiting foryoutostepupinyour ‘ youness ’ andopenthatsame doorforthem.

*ScantheQRcodeforavideo version.

07828042204

www.limitlesspotential.co.uk tracy@limitlesspotential.co.uk

How the King an adventure

By JAMES HASTINGS news@wokingham.today

FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD Layla Richardson is planning to travel to Central America on the adventure of a lifetime - and she’s hoping King Charles will help her get there.

The Edgebarrow pupil needs to raise £3,000 to join a project in Honduras monitoring the decline of environment biodiversity in the Central American country.

Care home residents enjoy a starter for 10

THERE was a starter for 10 when residents from the Signature at Sonning Lifestyle home tested their general knowledge in an online competition, writes James Hastings Four residents had their fingers on the buzzers to take on Signature at Caversham in the University Challenge competition.

A total of 38 homes were involved with each being asked 60 questions covering current affairs, film, history, world geography along with a picture special round.

Following a keenly contested first round, the eight teams who recorded the highest overall scores from the competing care homes now march on to the second-round match ups taking place throughout March.

Separated by just five points in Round One, Signature at Sonning will take on Buckinghamshire’s Signature at Cliveden Manor. Both will hope to secure a place in the final, which will be made

up of the two teams scoring the highest points from round two.

Margaret Brock, a member of the Signature at Sonning quiz team, said: “I am delighted we were able to get a win in the first round of the quiz. While the questions were challenging, we worked well as a team by using our collective knowledge on culture and geography.

Sarah Townsend, Client Liaison Manager at Signature at Sonning, said: “Signature Challenge is an initiative designed to stimulate all of our communities and unite them in some healthy competition.

“Some of our residents had already graduated by the time University Challenge was first broadcast in 1962, and the quiz format really resonated with them.

“It was nice a pleasure to see a healthy competitive spirit between the homes, and our team will be reading up ready for the next round.”

Try orienteering for free in Dinton Pastures

PEOPLE wanting to try an outdoor adventure sport can download a free map to explore a borough park.

Orienteering is an outdoor adventure sport that exercises mind and body.

Participants navigate between checkpoints marked on a special orienteering map.

There is no set route so people can have fun finding the best way to go.

In competitive orienteering, the challenge is to complete the course in the quickest time.

Orienteering maps of Dinton Pastures Country Park, suitable for different ages, fitness and access levels are available to download.

Families can follow them to try out their navigation skills and make their way successfully around the area.

People can choose from different maps, with varying numbers of checkpoints:

The Full Course has been created with British Orienteering Federation.

With 30 checkpoints spread across the country park, it includes the lakes, meadows and grassland of the 400-acre site.

A Shorter Route of ten control

points keeps participants within the Lea Heath inside the country park.

The All Access Trail is a short wheelchair and pushchair friendly loop for families with young children.

It takes them around the play park, and along the lake, with easy access to the main car park.

Those wishing to take part in the self-led routes can download free orienteering maps from the Dinton Activity Centre website: www. wokinghamcountryside.co.uk

Click ‘plan your visit’, then scroll down to ‘orienteering’.

The talented art student is selling T-shirts and tote bags she designed commemorating the Coronation of King Charles on Saturday, May 6. Proceeds will fund her trip with a donation from each sale going to local schools selling the items.

She will travel to a unique project run by the Wallacea Trust, a charity involved in conservation projects around the world.

Layla, from Crowthorne, said: “When my school told me about the Operation Wallacea expedition I was really excited at having the opportunity to travel to one of the poorest countries in the world and be part of much needed research on the decline of forest and oceanic biodiversity.

“The expedition is entirely self-funded and, as I’ve always loved art and design, I came up the with idea of making T-shirts for the coronation. I thought it would be so great to make something people could keep as a souvenir especially as there will be lots of community events.

“Our local schools and church have been really supportive, so I wanted to donate some of the money I raise back to schools and the local food bank.

“It would make me so happy to see people coming together for this special occasion wearing my T-shirts and using my tote bags.”

Mum Anita said she and husband Ian were “immensely proud” of their daughter’s efforts.

“It really will be quite an adventure for

Layla to such a important explained.

“She living and different different excited Anita

Plugged-in entrepreneur fixes EV charge problem

AN entrepreneur has cracked a neat solution to a time-wasting problem.

Russell Smith, who lives in Bracknell, has had an electric car for a year now.

Mostly he charges it at home, but there are times when it needs to be plugged in at a public charging point.

“Charging infrastructure in the UK hasn’t quite caught up with the sales of new electric vehicles (EVs),” he says.

“The bays are nearly always already in use, and you never know how long you’re going to have to wait for the car before yours to finish charging.

“My car takes around 50 minutes..

“A Tesla can take around one-and-a-half hours.

“But the thing is, you never know until you tap on the window of the vehicle in front and talk to the owner.”

Russell explains that only the person charging their car is given an indication of how long the process will take, usually via their phone.

“No one is going to put their phone on the dashboard to let people know, so everyone else is left in the dark,” Russell says.

“In January, it was my daughter’s birthday, and I was sitting in the car, waiting to charge, when I had a light bulb moment.

“I realised that there was a very simple way to let people know how long they would need to wait.

“And something just sitting Russell dashboard electric A straightforward that drivers they expect “It’s other,”

“After the estimated EV timer, the next

“Without there forever, “But of shopping, get back The sketch quick, “I had marketing, to start, and the patented,”

“Simple best.” Russell £5.99 including

BRAINS TRUST: Margaret, Nancy, Lawrie and Janice took part in the Signature Challenge contest between Sonnning and Caversham care home residents

ARTISTIC Honduras,

TO THE POINT: An orienteering trail has been set up in Dinton Pastures

King can help Layla go on adventure in Central America

Donkey’s work is to help a church mark Palm Sunday

to travel half way round the world at young age and to help with a very important environmental project,” she explained. “She will be out there for three weeks and working with young people from different countries. Honduras will be very different from Crowthorne but she is really excited and prepared for the challenge.”

Anita said younger sister, Polly aged

nine, and older brother Dominic, who is at university, are equally proud of what Layla is doing.

“She is very creative so it seemed an ideal opportunity to make her own Coronation souvenir featuring King Charles,” Anita added.

“The T-shirts and bags are souvenirs of a special moment in history and a way to help get her to Honduras next year. Of course,

Layla is also looking at other fundraiser idea sincluding a part-time job during the holidays, babysitting and baking cakes.”

Orders for the T-shirts and bags can be made through three local schools, St Sebastian’s, Wildwood Heath School and Oakfield Junior as well as St John the Baptist Church in Waterloo Road, Crowthorne. n To order your Coronation souvenir or to help Layla, email: ian@withoutlimit.co.uk

BUILDING work won’t stop Easter celebrations at a Wokingham church.

Visitors to All Saints Church will still be able to mark the festival despite the ongoing reconstruction project.

With the main building closed, Easter celebrations will be held next door in The Cornerstone building.

And a donkey will be returning to play a key role on Palm Sunday. His journey will start in the playground of All Saints School, leading a procession along Norreys Avenue to The Cornerstone for the parish communion service.

The donkey will then wait in the churchyard (by the double gates in Norreys Avenue) to greet families arriving for a short family service.

Lunch will be provided for people attending the services.

The Revd Hannah Higginson says: “We are really excited to be hosting a donkey once again for our Palm Sunday celebrations.

POETRY CORNER

How many Bluebell springs?

On an Easter weekend run,

Enjoying a bit of springtime sun

In Chiltern woods and up Chiltern Hills

“And it would allow them to do something else with their time, rather than sitting there.”

Russell sketched out plans for a dashboard disk that he calls the EVtimer, or electric vehicle timer.

straightforward green disk, it has a dial drivers can turn to indicate what time expect their charge to finish.

a way of being courteous to each says Russell.

“After starting your charge, you indicate estimated completion time on your timer, and put it on the dashboard where next driver can see it.

“Without it, other drivers can be sitting forever, and it’s exasperating, waiting.

“But this way, people can go and do a bit shopping, knowing what time they should back to their car.”

development of the idea from first to manufacture has been remarkably Russell says.

had no previous experience of marketing, and I didn’t know where start, but it has all happened so rapidly, the product is already available and patented,” he says.

“Simple solutions can sometimes be the Russell is selling the EVtimers online for including postage.

find out more, visit: www.evtimer.net

“We have extra children’s activities on during our parish communion service too.

“Easter is such a special time in the church, and a great occasion for all the family.

“We are looking forward to all the services and events that we have planned, and everyone is welcome to come along.”

The procession starts at 9.20am, with the service at 9.30am. A family service will be held at 11.15am, with lunch at 12.15pm.

On Good Friday, seasonal refreshements and Easter crafts will be available from 10.30am .

And on Easter Sunday, there will be a comunion at 9.30am, and a family service at 11.15am.

n Anyone wishing to join the group for lunch on Palm Sunday should call the parish office to reserve a place, on: 0118 979 2797.

n For information about All Saints Church and Easter services, visit: www.allsaintswokingham.org.uk

The fragile sadness of bluebells in bloom

A carpet of beauty, but over too soon Summer growing nettles and brambles

Waiting to take over the woodland floor

Stinging and scratching in their rampant cover

I asked ‘What do you like best about spring?’

‘Primroses, Blossom, Bluebells’

Most said Bluebells – except for Gil ‘Blossom’ he said, ‘I’m a blossom man, me.’

Like Houseman and his Cherry Trees;

Loveliest of trees the cherry now

Is hung with blooms across the bough …

Then the wind begins to blow

And cold wet blossom falls

Not petals but snow

The hail assails us in the wind

Small white stones of ice and spite

‘Ah April can be the cruellest month’

as we run through the woodland ride

Wearing white for Eastertide.’

Time was when I walked through bluebell woods

As a child with my mum and dad

The beauty covers the woodland floor

But pick these flowers and their beauty is over

But today I walk to the wood with mum

To Sulham to celebrate the bluebells again

Each year our pace a little slower And stops for rest a little more often

But still walking here on this spring day

And mum says, ‘How many more bluebell springs will I be able to walk this way’

And I think of Houseman’s doleful lines

‘Now of my three score years and ten, twenty will not come again.’

Lamenting that, although still young Too few more times will he see the cherry bloom

‘And take from seventy years a score, It only gives me fifty more.’

But mum has four score years and five

And celebrates that she’s alive

Walking to the wood where the bluebells grow

To see them in their stunning show.

Kathy Tytler

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

TROT ON:

The donkey will lead a procession from All Saints Primary School to the Cornerstone building in Norreys on Palm Sunday Picture: All Saints Church

ARTISTIC TALENT: Crowthorne teenager Layla Richardson is planning to travel to Central America to monitor the decline of environment biodiversity in Honduras, and selling her Coronation-themed artwork to help raise £3,000 to cover her costs

SIMPLE IDEAS ARE THE BEST: Russell Smith with the Electric Vehicle Charging Timer Disc that he has invented. Picture: Steve Smyth

entrepreneur

Uncomfortable truth of potholes

FOR motorists, they are the scourge of the road.

Potholes are everywhere, and it is a growing problem. Where they are left untreated, they get bigger. Where there is wet and cold weather, cracks appear. And where the roads haven’t been attended to for years, they are get worse.

It is not unique to Wokingham borough, it is a country wide problem.

While it was foolish for Cllr Paul Fishwick to tell the council chamber the number of potholes in Wokingham had gone down in the past 12 months – any motorist will tell you otherwise – he is right about the underlying problem.

It affects all local authorities, but particularly us as the lowest funded. The money that is needed to run all public services is not coming through from central government. It has been this way since austerity started in 2010.

It is not the fault of this administration, or the previous ones. If there is not enough funding from central government – something pointed out repeatedly by Conservative council leaders past – then some services have to give.

All parties in Wokingham should be united on calling on the government for more cash. Central government failures should not be a local political football.

CHURCH NOTES

The pandemic of loneliness

IN Luke’s Gospel chapter 8, we read the story of a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years, and who because of Mosaic law was considered unclean and therefore forced to live apart from others for all that time.

In desperation she reached out in faith to touch Jesus’ cloak as he walked past and was instantly healed.

The beautiful thing about Jesus’ response was that he was not content with just her physical healing. He knew that it was her loneliness and isolation more than her physical condition that had made her so desperate.

And so he stopped, asked her to make herself known, and then provided the time and space for this lonely woman to tell her story in front of the crowd who had ostracised her for so long.

She was rewarded with Jesus’ affirmation and love as he said to her: “Daughter, your faith has healed you, go in peace.”

Her healing was complete and she was restored to her community.

Today we have no archaic laws keeping us apart, and the covid restrictions are a thing of the past, and yet loneliness is in every street and neighbourhood – it is the never-ending pandemic at the heart of so so many physical and mental health issues.

This story encourages us to stop, put our own agenda aside and notice those around us who long for some company: an elderly widow perhaps, or a stressed out single parent.

Maybe we can give them some of our precious time to listen to their story, make them feel valued and bring a small measure of healing and peace.

Your letters

Councillors should have time sheets

Pages 30 and 31 March 16th

Wokingham Today display fully why there is a complete breakdown of local government in Wokingham. Is there anyone responsible? The sad news is that the two independent councillors can no longer be part of the majority party.

Democracy is a thing of the past and councillors no longer have any power other than to follow the party line irrespective of what the residents want.

Pam Gregory wrote an excellent letter in the March 16 issue asking how can we be sure that we are getting value for our votes and taxes when we don’t know if or even councillors are working during reasonable working hours? Perhaps councillors and MPs should produce time sheets.

The whole idea when local government was set up was that elected councillors would consider it an honour to represent a ward and get things done for the people who voted them in. Not any more.

The in-fighting at council meetings with each side constantly accusing the other of failure makes one wonder who to trust.

Not one party has given us an answer as to why Wokingham is the most underfunded area in the UK. We are not all the most wealthy and have millionaire properties.

One lives in total despair since 2016. Cllr Paul Fishwick and his two engineers in Highways do not seem to understand what an uneven surface or

From the chamber

Cllr Pauline Jorgensen

Liberal Democrats are still not listening

AT the full Council meeting last Thursday, Conservative councillors and an Independent won a vote to keep weekly bin collections, following a debate on a petition signed by 1,800 residents.

Despite the growing opposition to this flawed decision, the Council’s Liberal Democrat ruling Executive has ignored the vote, and the views of residents, and is forcing through the scrappage of weekly collections.

Aside from the fact that residents don’t want it, Wokingham Borough Conservatives believe moving from weekly to fortnightly collections is wrong because there is no guarantee of financial

pothole is at a busy road junction and school run in Western Avenue. It was repaired in 2016. That lasted less than six months. What a waste of money.

We have been asking for it since then to be repaired properly. Children are falling and grazing their knees. An adult fell and broke her leg badly and had a long stay in hospital. We are told that this is not dangerous.

Until we have a change of attitude by the councillors and we can begin to trust them, standards will continue to fall. It is not about money. It’s about making a community.

Cedric Lander, via email

Why do we have so many potholes?

Potholes. What is wrong with Wokingham Borough Council? Take a look at the online map for reporting potholes and you will see that the map is almost obliterated with markers where people have reported potholes. The strange thing about this map is that I was unable to find any reported pothole that was dated pre-March. Some of these potholes have been there for much longer than the last few weeks and I have come to the conclusion that the council only show the latest time that someone reports one. It certainly isn’t because all the reported potholes have been filled.

Under the previous Conservative administration, if you reported a pothole it was usually filled within a matter of weeks. Now our roads, particularly Easthampstead Road from the junction with Redlake Lane, are getting to a state where they are dangerous particularly for cyclists and motorcyclists.

I have always voted for the Liberal

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

Democrats and am actually a member of the party, but I will not be voting for them in the coming local election as they seem incapable of managing Wokingham Borough Council.

Malcolm Souter, via email

Refuse collections

I request clear clarification from the current W.B.C. regarding the procedure employed by our refuse collection team as observed today.

1. Operative proceeds the collection vehicle with empty wheelie bin.

2. Picks up blue bag and throws into wheelie bin then empties contents of food caddy into same wheelie bin, this is repeated house to house until full, when it is then attached to the back of the refuse vehicle and tipped.

There has been endless discussions and comments regarding food waste over the past months following the decision to no longer supply caddy liners, a number of suggestions followed this decision, buy your own liners, use bread wrappers, use cereal bags or finally just place food into the caddy and wash it out once collected.

My question to the Council, to which I would appreciate a clear answer is why are we bothering to separate food waste from blue bag contents when it is clearly collected as one and deposited into the collection vehicle?

I dread to think the outcome should the final suggestion of not using any liner at all would create, smell and dropped food waste creating a potential health hazard.

David Weston, Winnersh

Reading, Slough, and Windsor and Maidenhead, who all have fortnightly collections but recycle less than Wokingham.

Even in Brighton and Hove, a council led by the Green Party that has a fortnightly waste collection regime, recycles less than we do.

‘Corruption’ in the Council

Our Editor has already raised the matter of Independents leaving the Council, and mentioned the matter of bullying. How such a situation can occur, I find difficult to comprehend in “legal” terms.

Each councillor voted for by his voting area, has the same duties irrespective of political connections etc. That is to serve his or her community, to do the best for them in their wishes and requirements.

Bullying, threatening any votedfor Councillor is illegal in National Government Terms.

In the complex issues of running a Council, it may be expected that collections of like-thinking Councillors will form groups, and there is nothing wrong with that provided it does not interfere with the Council doing the best for the Borough. The wishes of a majority of all the Councillors.

It is sad in a way that “politics” ever gets involved in Councils, and to me, I can only remind all potential people seeking the vote for “their people” not to get involved with groups, for example the Wokingham Borough Partnership which is a political move and is one way to prevent you meeting your duties on behalf of your people.

Thus I will close these comments by saying that if Applicants are of a Political Party, they must explain to voters what they collectively stand for.

Having sown the seed that in reality each Councillor is Independent, do be careful that you don’t mislead voters. Honest and straight Councillors are the need of our country.

Reg Clifton, Wokingham

that negative responses didn’t count unless they used the word “object”, but anything positive counted as supportive.

When the consultation still showed a majority against, the administration just dismissed it, only tinkering with the increase.

savings. The Council’s estimated savings assume that residents will suddenly stop creating 3% of the waste they currently produce – where will it go? – and recycle 13% more dry waste and 20% more food waste. This is clearly a risky strategy.

Last October, the Liberal Democrat administration said when they scrapped the caddy liners that they would increase food recycling, saving the Council £300,000.

As we predicted at the time, food recycling has not increased.

Remember the same bin collection lorry is still going to turn up every week at your house, but it will just take less of your waste.

The Council has said that local authorities with fortnightly collection have better recycling rates. But I’ve got news for the Lib Dems – of the 257 local authorities who have worse recycling rates than Wokingham, a significant proportion also have fortnightly collections.

They include our neighbours

We hoped that the Liberal Democrat and Labour administration might see sense. Instead, they arrogantly dismissed the residents’ petition, which Lib Dem Executive Member Ian Shenton had called “spurious”.

The administration clung to a flawed consultation that they had conducted, skipping over the fact that it didn’t even include asking whether people wanted to keep weekly collection – and somehow convincing themselves that 24% saying that they wanted a change constitutes a “clear majority” in Cllr Shenton’s words.

The Lib Dem/Labour Coalition’s argument on fortnightly bin collections can be summed up in two words: trust us.

But this Liberal Democrat and Labour administration has form when it comes to ignoring residents. When presented with a petition from residents pleading with them to not to double car parking charges, the administration went ahead and did it anyway.

When the Lib Dem leadership held their own consultation on the increase, they strangely decided

And last year, a consultation showed that residents wanted to move to a fairer and cheaper system of all councillors elected once every four years. The Liberal Democrats and Labour decided that, despite what residents said, they were going to keep having elections in three out of every four years.

At the March Executive meeting, Cllr Shenton let slip the Lib Dem attitude to consulting residents.

He said “the aim of the consultation is to assess views that inform the decision-making process” – in other words, to pick the views that conform with the administration’s thinking, not to act on what the majority actually called for.

If we are elected, we’ll put a stop to the Lib Dem/Labour fortnightly collection policy, and continue to collect bins every week as you’ve told us you want. The Conservatives believe that your views matter, and you deserve to be listened to.

Cllr Pauline Jorgensen is the leader of Wokingham Conservatives, and ward member for Hillside

Jackie Mouradian from Wokingham Baptist Church, writing on behalf of Churches Together in Wokingham

Impact of motions

Until recently motions at Full Council could only have a maximum impact of £1,000 on the Council.

The reason this was introduced by the Tories not long before they lost control of the Council was because an opposition Labour councillor dared to submit a motion requesting new public waste bins to be provided across the Borough to replace the existing bins on a rolling basis.

Earlier in this Council year, the ruling Partnership removed this restriction. The Tories therefore knew that a motion at Full Council has a limited impact on the council and that it could not overturn a decision of the ruling Executive.

I have been on Wokingham Borough Council since 2012 and no such action has occurred during my period on the Council, in over 11 years, including where there was a petition with over 6,000 signatures, which the then ruling Conservatives decided to ignore.

Cllr Lindsay Ferris, Wokingham Borough Council ward member for Twyford

Bitter buyer’s remorse

Bitter Buyer’s Remorse seems to be the order of the day for the two Wokingham Borough Council “Independent” Councillors Messrs Cowan and Frewin of Arborfield and Shinfield respectively.

It seems that they thought that they were getting into a Rolls Royce Ad-Hoc Coalition WBC. Instead it seems that the Ad-Hoc Coalition may really be an Austin Allegro produced on the Friday before the summer break with Red Robbo on site.

I won’t waste any sympathy on the two Independents. They have helped foist on to Wokingham residents a massive rise in car parking charges during a cost of living crisis.

Also, a waste collection system, based on a dodgy survey, that replaces a system that is not broken.

A new system that will cost a huge amount of money to implement.

From the chamber

Ah well, it’s only Council Tax Payer’s money getting sprayed up the wall isn’t it!

I see that the Hurst village shop and Post Office is to close. I wonder if building some new houses in the area would have enabled it to survive and thrive?

Has Cllr Fishwick, the Highways and Transport Czar, got any plans to buy or lease any of those fantastic JCB pothole repair machines? These machines have been in the news recently for executing repairs at a fraction of the time and cost compared to conventional means.

What’s the hold-up Cllr Fishwick? Is it because procuring these JCBs means that you won’t be able to moan about “real term cuts” to road maintenance anymore?

Please note, as before, that I am not, nor ever have been, a member of any political party or trades union. The exception being The Students Union.

Paul Clarke, Wokingham

Helping the homeless

The government say they are going to stop beggars and anti-social people they should not always start with the poor because the rich families also cause much trouble.

It is a joke we have heard from the Tories for the last 13 years – they have cut so much money to councils that community centres have closed all over the UK. Youngsters that have nowhere to go and this Tory party has caused this problem.

Regarding the homeless, there is no cause to move them on so other areas have the same trouble with 400,000 homeless in Britain it is time they had places to go.

There should be the quick building of flats or prefabs.

They can then call it their home. With an address then they may be able to get a job.

We are the fifth or sixth richest country. We should not keep giving money away for wars, politicians must look after their own.

Victor Rones, via email

From the stump

Celebrating women of Wokingham

ON Tuesday March 7, Wokingham Town Hall was packed to the rafters with close to 100 people ready to celebrate International Women’s Day 2023.

The event was to highlight the gender inequalities that women still face in 2023, and to celebrate incredible local women who are using their own talents and experiences to change things for the better.

We heard from three women working in our community, but there are so many more, who, inspired by their own experiences and the challenges others face, choose to use their talents to make a difference.

We heard from Sarah Hacker at Alana House about the outreach work they do to help vulnerable women avoid offending behaviour that could lead to a prison sentence.

Kushinga Hare talked about her own experiences of being a refugee in this country after her mother died at age 12, and how she now works for the Refugee Support Group Berkshire to help individuals and families rebuild their lives after escaping from war, torture and/or modern slavery.

Marie Hemingway co-founded the award-winning Speak Out Revolution, which gathers data on the harassment and bullying women experience at work, and lobbies for change.

Fiona Dignan performed a bespoke poem she wrote for the evening which left us all fired up and in no doubt about our collective power as women.

The Key Features of the New Specification are: Information produced in the right format, at the right time; In-person, face to face support and guidance when carers need it; Help for carers to stay emotionally and physically capable of continuing their caring role.

Additional funding for unpaid carers

WOKINGHAM Council Adult Services have decided that more than 30% additional funding was needed from April for unpaid carers.

This the new service required a new tender process.

A new service specification was coproduced with local carers attending Carers Rights Day, listening to what carers want. The specification also covered both young and adult carers under one contract.

A robust competitive tender process saw Adult Services evaluate

three bids from potential providers with input from a carer with lived experience. A new Carers Support and Guidance Service with the Wokingham Carers Partnership will now be in place from Saturday, April 1.

The Wokingham Carers

Partnership consists of three local voluntary sector organisations all with a track-record of working locally with carers: Age UK Berkshire, Promise Inclusion, and Berkshire Youth.

Age UK Berkshire will be the lead organisation, while specialist input for Learning disability Carers will be provided by Promise Inclusion.

Berkshire Youth will provide specialist input for Young Carers (under 18).

Working with local providers will provide synergy and integration with existing Voluntary Sector initiatives, thereby reducing the need for people to access multiple services, as well as improving the identification of carers in the borough.

During my three years leading the Reading and Wokingham branch of the Women’s Equality Party, I’ve spoken to so many women doing such great work in our community, striving to make things better. Many of them have experienced discrimination, abuse or hardship themselves.

I couldn’t begin to list them all here but in our community there are domestic abuse survivors now working to support others; women running food banks and lunch clubs; women running and working for charities that support victims of abuse and families going through tough times; women who have founded a county-wide group shining a light on ongoing racial discrimination; women who organise events and marches, and use their voices for others.

I believe in the strength of women working together to change things for the better. The passion and power of all the incredible women I’ve met in our community strengthens that belief.

International Women’s Day was one day to celebrate them, but they deserve much more. When we put aside our differences and work together, we can achieve so much.

The UN estimates it will be 300 years before we achieve global gender equality. But they haven’t met the phenomenal women of Wokingham.

I will continue to champion issues that impact local women and I’d love to hear from you. You can contact me on readingandwokingham@ womensequality.org.uk

Louise Timlin is the leader of the Reading and Wokingham Branch of the Women’s Equality Party

themselves or accessing appropriate support and has stepped up to try to meet the need and support carers as they deserve.

This new service will try to make sure we:

Working to a better future

AS the leader of the council is seriously ill, and cannot report to you on borough council matters, I’m giving you this update as his deputy. It’s been quite an eventful 11 months since a Lib Dem minority administration was formed at Wokingham Borough Council.

After 20 years of unbroken Conservative rule, voters wanted something different. We have done our best, in the most challenging circumstances, to provide it.

In November, Local Government Association peer reviewers visited us. They were impressed by what they saw of the new administration, praising our sense of purpose, openness, willingness to take tough decisions, and strong commitment to working with external partners.

We know from you – the residents that we are here to serve – that the council’s new approach to communications (less self-congratulatory and more informative) has been much appreciated.

One of our big challenges was the council’s finances. We inherited a budget with an in-year deficit, overly ambitious assumptions about income, and a rising demand for services.

Inflation was more than double the rate than when the budget was set by our predecessors, and shortly afterwards the disastrous ‘mini-budget’ of the Truss government pushed up interest rates, leaving the council with a bigger servicing charge for its borrowing.

Yet we eliminated the in-year deficit and have set a balanced and sound budget for 2023/24.

We have focused our efforts on trying to help those most in need during the current cost-ofliving crisis, playing our part in the battle against climate change, and in tackling long-running problems with school places.

Since May 2022, we have:

n provided support during school holidays for children that receive free-school meals during term time

n worked with our Hardship Alliance partners in the charitable and voluntary sector to maximise our ability to help those in need - pooling money, person-power, resources, and data

n brought in a rent rise for council owned homes lower than the government’s cap

The service will provide support to the community in the following four areas: Identifying and Recognising Carers, making sure everyone has a voice; Empowering Carers; Enabling Carers to have a Life outside their Caring Role; Support for Young Carers.

As said this new service has been built on co-production, carers saying what they want and being heard. This Co-Production will continue after the launch of the service on April 1.

It is envisaged that New Carers will join the existing Carers Voices group and contribute to co-production.

The Service KPIs will be agreed with Carers Voices and the Social Care Futures Board will continue to be updated, providing input into the delivery of the service as it develops.

If this is going to be a carers support service carers must be fundamentally involved in its creation and functioning.

Wokingham Adult Services saw the problems carers often have, juggling care and work or education, dealing with financial pressures, looking after

• Identify all carers in our area, sharing this information appropriately between health, social care and other professionals.

• Improve the support available to carers of all ages, recognising that the support offered to young carers may be different to support for adults.

• Helping carers access support, including ways to look after their own health and wellbeing, so they can continue to provide care in the way that they wish to.

• We are, hopefully, changing the way we work to empower carers to be an active participant in shaping the personalised care and support plans that are developed for the people they care for.

• Wokingham Adult services work across our system to share best practice and promote a consistent level of support for all carers.

This new service is looking to ensure that Carers experience a consistent level of seamless support, while trying to ensure that the health and wellbeing of all carers is improved.

n devoted £250,000 to a hardship fund to help residents in financial difficulties

n begun a programme of making our housing stock better insulated

n allocated land at Rook’s Nest Farm for a Covid Memorial Wood (our predecessors had designated this as a site for new housing), which will provide a place for quiet contemplation for the relatives of victims of Covid and increase tree cover to help in the battle against climate change

n secured funding for two new Special Educational Needs Schools

n ensured, through painstaking negotiations with local academies, that a record 96% of new entrants get a place at their preferred schools.

This gives you a flavour of our approach, and how it has differed from that of our predecessors.

We have sought to be positive in difficult circumstances and to appeal to the good in people not to their fears and anxieties. We will continue that positive approach if we are are re-elected.

We want a better future for Wokingham, where everyone (regardless of their social status, ethnic background, faith, and sex) can realise their potential and live a happy and fulfilled life.

The choice in the local elections is clear. Back to the past with the Conservatives, or forward to a better future with the Lib Dems.

Cllr David Hare

is the

Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Services

Cllr Stephen Conway is the deputy leader of Wokingham Borough Council and ward member for Twyford

From the deputy leader

Cllr Stephen Conway

Cllr David Hare

Cllr Louise Timlin

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Property market sales up 11% in Berkshire

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today

THE number of homes sold in Berkshire is up significantly since before Christmas, but is also considerably down on this time last year.

Estate agent comparison site GetAgent.co.uk surveyed the number of properties being sold subject to contract. In the royal county, it is up 11% on the closing stages of 2022 – while the national average is a rise of 5%.

The research shows that across England, there are 289,347 properties are currently sold subject to contract having accepted an offer, this is 13,967 more homes sold when compared to December, a boost of 5.1% in market activity.

In Berkshire, it is 5,509 homes in this status, compared to 4,943 in December.

But, there were 6,511 homes sold subject to status in Berkshire this time last year, and 6,670 in December 2021.

The biggest increases across the country are in Wiltshire, where there has been a 44% increase in the number of homes sold subject to contract when compared to the end of last year, and West Sussex at 42%.

In contrast, Bedfordshire (-15%), London (-14%) and the Isle of Wight (-12%) have seen the largest reductions in the number of homes selling today versus the closing stages of 2022.

COO of GetAgent.co.uk, Mal McCallion,

said: “While the market has been cooling in recent months, agents up and down the nation have been reporting a strong start to 2023, and it certainly seems as though this initial interest from buyers is now starting to convert, with a higher number of homes being marked as sold subject to contract.

“While the nation’s estate agents have been working hard to achieve

this, the job certainly isn’t finished, and the focus now is to ensure that these sales make it over the line in what has become a slightly more challenging landscape.

“However, a surge in market activity when compared to the latter stages of 2022 bodes well for the year ahead and should bring reassurance to agents that it’s business as usual.”

Prestige servicing for car connoisseurs

PETROL heads and Sunday drivers are gearing up for a whole new premium car servicing experience.

The LODGE At Your Service, located in a new, luxury purpose-built facility in Binfield, features a bespoke five bay-workshop and a team of specialist technicians using the latest diagnostic equipment.

Designed to handle all the motorist’s servicing, diagnostics and repair needs, LODGE At Your Service has over four decades of combined BMW and prestige motor trade knowledge.

Co-founders of LODGE At Your Service, Kevin Woolhouse and Rob Sims, understand that customer service is everything.

“Having used main dealer servicing over the years for

my current business LODGE Motor Company,it became clear that there was an opportunity in the market for a professional, reliable and trustworthy independent service centre, that could offer premium customer service levels at competitive prices,” said Kevin.

Rob explained that trust and transparency are at the heart

of everything the company does: “Having spent 30 years working in the premium sector of the motor industry, I started my career in the After Sales department, working my way up through the business to the role of Managing Director at Sytner Sunningdale.

“I am now delighted to bring my wealth of experience to LODGE At Your Service.

“Trust and transparency are at the heart of everything we do - I am very passionate about delivering a premium experience, for each and every single customer.” -

LODGE At Your Service will launch with a special 10% off first visits and a special MultiCar Household Discount. n For more, call: 01344 202202 or visit lodgeatyourservice.co.uk

SOLD: The number of homes sold subject to contract in Berkshire is up compared to December last year, but down on this time last year Picture: Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

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Charities urged to apply for share of £25,000 prize pot

CHARITIES in Berkshire can write themselves a share of a £25,000 prize pot.

Three awards are up for grabs and all it takes is a short letter explaining why they are a deserving cause.

The fund of £25,000 from charity insurer Ansvar is part of its Community Campaign and is aimed at good causes struggling during the cost of living crisis.

Sarah Cox, managing director at Ansvar, said: “These are tough times for many charities, so we’re delighted to announce our search for three registered charities to benefit from a £25,000 prize pot.

“We know how much that money will mean to projects being run across the country and the judges are particularly keen to receive entries that provide a detailed outline of how the money would be spent.”

Judges will look for projects that are about to start, or already running, which positively impact the local community.

There is one prize of £15,000 for the overall winner with £5,000 each going to two additional charities.

Applications for funding can be submitted between Monday 6th March and Monday 17th April, with winners announced by Wednesday, May 31.

Charities simply need to complete a short online form and explain in 500 words or less why their project deserves the prize.

Ms Cox added: “We strongly urge any eligible charities in need of funding to submit an application.”

n To apply, log on to: www.ansvar.co.uk

Tributes paid to ‘inspirational’ community stalwart Megan

By JI-MIN LEE jlee@wokingham.today

SHINFIELD will bid farewell to one of its best-loved residents today.

Megan Shaw, who died aged 101, will be remembered by those who knew her as a bubbly and kind lady, who thoroughly enjoyed her life.

Peter Shaw, one of her two sons, said: “I just remember her as a very, very good mother. She was very independent right until the very end – what you saw was what you got.

“She was always well-dressed, always out-going and loved socialising. She worked hard all her life, working until she was 72, and just loved life in general.

“She didn’t like getting old because she couldn’t do what she wanted to do, which was quite hard for her.”

Megan grew up in North Wales, married but lost her husband when she was 54. During the Second World War, she was involved in aircraft inspection.

Peter added that his mother demonstrated her trademark resilience during the pandemic –she was admitted into hospital and

caught Covid-19 while there.

He suspected that it had a significant impact on her, saying that she was “never quite the same” but “soldiered on” nonetheless.

Ann Carey knew Megan for 17 years and described her as a “good friend”. Living near to each other meant they used to come in

to Shinfield Community Church together.

She said: “Coming in together, that was our life. Now she’s gone, I’m sort of lost. It’s very sad, but she had a very good life.”

Ann recalled Megan using her abundant culinary skills to prepare dinners for scores of guests, even

bringing meals into church for groups to enjoy, helping create a sense of community among visitors.

This was all the more impressive given that Megan was preparing these mains and desserts well into her 90s.

Another friend, Frances Webster, said: “Megan was very inspirational and kind. She was the sort of person who said what she meant and was a very determined lady as well – I think that’s what kept her going for so long.

“If she was here, at the church, and you were doing a crossword and you didn’t know the word, she’d know it. And she was always grateful for anything you did for her. She’ll be sorely missed.”

In 2021, Ms Shaw celebrated her centenary in style, with friends and family, at a party held at the church. She was pleased to receive her birthday card from the Queen.

At the time, she told Wokingham Today: “I was worried I wasn’t going to get it because it didn’t come until my birthday.

“I thought it was an ordinary letter, but when I opened it up it was a picture of the Queen.”

STALWARD: Megan Shaw (centre) celebrated her 100th birthday with her family in July 2021. Picture: Phil Creighton

Weekly, not wheelie? Councillors vote against plans to end blue bag system ...

COUNCILLORS have voted to keep Wokingham’s blue bag system for rubbish, just two days after the ruling executive approved a switch to fortnightly collections.

A debate was held at a council meeting on Thursday, March 23, triggered after a petition attracted more than 1,800 signatures from residents, and the proposal received a backing from a majority in the chamber.

In a tweet following the debate, Cllr Charles Margetts said the decision was “a big step forward”.

“We won a crucial vote which will force the council to maintain weekly collections against the wishes of the liberal / labour coalition which runs Wokingham council,” he wrote.

However, Cllr Rachel Bishop-Firth (Lib Dem, Emmbrook) wrote: “Very strange #Wokingham Borough Council meeting tonight as the Conservatives attack a plan to save a million pounds a year on refuse collection by moving to a system used by 85% of councils. Where will that £1,000,000 come from?”

On Tuesday last week, Wokingham Borough Council’s ruling executive approved the plan intending to swap blue bags for wheelie bins as early as summer next year.

In all, 60,000 wheelie bins will be bought and delivered to residents except for those living in flats or properties with narrow access.

The council argues this will save £500,000 for the next financial year, then £1 million every year thereafter, and also increase the borough’s recycling rate by 10%.

But the vote, caused by a petition handed in at the last council meeting,

could change that – on the other side of the local elections.

Introducing the debate, Cllr Norman Jorgensen (Con, Hawkedon) said residents wanted to keep the weekly collections currently in use, and if the Conservatives were still in control of the council after the May local elections, they would find the money to do so.

Cllr Chris Bowring spoke in support of the Conservative motion, saying “the blue bag system is not broken”, and wanted to know why this option was not given in the recent resident consultation.

He added that people “dislike wheelie bins” and said they made Cemetery Junction in Reading “an eyesore”.

He added that the green bag system for recycling waste was initially rubbished by the Lib Dems when in opposition, but now they were keeping them.

Cllr David Cornish (Lib Dem, Finchampstead South) joked that the misuse of statistics meant that “76% of residents didn’t like my friend Cllr Charles Margetts”, and he felt the petition was a “total travesty”, as residents were asked for their views on change, and 74% of respondents said they could live with a switch to at least fortnightly collections.

He also pointed out that some Conservative-run councils used fortnightly collections, and no one was calling for them to be switched back to weekly.

“This stunt is for the benefit of a small clique who have forgotten any purpose for being in this chamber other than to play party politics,” he added. “It is an insult to the officers who worked on this project.”

Cllr Michael Firmager (Con, Sonning) said he couldn’t see how the plans would

BEACON: WE BUILD BRANDS

lead to an increase in recycling, adding that “many simply do not have the space to store this recycling, this rubbish”, and it would cause problems for wheelchair users and people pushing prams.

A different view was taken by Cllr Andy Croy (Lab, Bulmershe and Whitegates), who said the council had a duty to try and reduce the amount of waste to the lowest possible levels, as recycling was cheaper to progress.

“Changes in recycling behaviour are more effectively driven by changes waste disposal service combined with effective messaging on waste disposal,” he said, adding that he had been a fan of the blue bags, but now wanted to switch to help the council save at least £1m a year.

The Conservatives, he said, “want the least effective method of driving higher recycling rates and they want to spend money in the least efficient way to do so”.

Cllr Laura Blumenthal (Con, South Lake) said she had spoken to people in her ward who “live in small houses”. She said they had told her “Why are we paying so much council tax for cuts in services, making it worse for residents? Please listen to them, their concerns are valued and real. It is not about the chamber, it is about them and the impact on their lives.”

Cllr Imogen Shepherd-Dubey said that more than 85% of council already use a fortnightly waste collection service, which is tried and trusted.

The money saved is “£1m a year that could be spent on supporting children in care, looking after disabled or elderly adults”.

She added there were “very few places left )for the council) to look at reducing services or increasing council tax”.

“This strategy is a good strategy which will save money, and most of the country are already happily doing this, so why shouldn’t we?”

Woodley councillor Alison Swaddle (Cons, Coronation) said that she was speaking on behalf of many residents in Woodley who “have serious concerns about a move away from weekly collections”.

1 2

He added the government might force Wokingham to change systems to ensure a uniform arrangement across the country.

“Surely it is better for us to make an orderly transition now than to be forced into a hasty change in a couple of years, because Councillor Canute, you cannot hold back the tide of wheeled bins,” he said.

Independent councillor Gary Cowan (Arborfield) took a swipe at the Lib Dems for “horrendous remarks” to members, while adding he felt the “blue bag system worked”.

He also said parties should be ashamed about proposed savings without producing supportive evidence.

Lib Dem deputy leader Cllr Stephen Conway (Twyford) said not a single resident had raised the issue with him.

“The councils that are performing best with recycling rates are those that have alternative weekly collections,” he said.

Cllr Sarah Kerr, Executive Member for Climate Emergency and Resident Services (Evendons) reminded the chamber that in a council meeting in July 2020, Cllr Gregor Murray (Cons, Norreys) had told the chamber “let there no excuse for single use” in a motion calling for the council to eschew single-use plastics, like the blue bags.

Instead, they should be “eliminated from use within the council, and all council controlled environments as soon as possible”.

“Removing the single-use plastic bags from our waste service is one of the ways we’re leading by example and the hypocrisy from the opposition benches is astonishing,” Cllr Kerr.

Cllr Murray wanted to clarify that he said at the time “there had to be exceptions to our ban on single-use plastics”, and residents would put plastic bags into the wheelie bin.

“It’s a complete fallacy, residents will still use them,” he said.

Cllr Jorgensen then summed up by saying the petition was to retain weekly waste collections, “an option not offered in that consultation”.

3 4

She also raised storage for residents: “I can’t see how residents are going to store these extra bags?”

The money for investing in the new scheme was also a concern.

Cllr Swaddle also said the proposal to switch to all-out elections once every four years would have also saved £1 million but the Lib Dem-led administration ignored that consultation.

The executive member for environment, Cllr Ian Shenton (Lib Dem, Evendons), said the Conservatives had a “reckless addiction to single-use plastic bags that are specially made from petrochemicals just to be incinerated into greenhouse gases and particulate matter”.

The Conservatives, he said, would introduce “other service changes to drive behaviour change, as we have previously done over the last five years …

“We provided a budget only a few weeks ago which showed how we would balance the books, so we’ve done the work on that work.

“The government is planning to bring in a new legislation around recycling so things are likely to change quite substantially in the next couple of years. Now would seem a very bad time to make any change.”

Independent councillor Cllr Gary Cowan voted with the motion, while Cllr Jim Frewin voted against. This gave the Conservatives a majority and the motion passed.

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MOST WANTED?: Conservatives won a vote calling for the blue bag system to be retained

NORFOLK’S

... but Executive decision on fortnightly collections stands

PLANS to switch Wokingham’s waste collection away from weekly blue bags system to wheelie bins will go ahead, despite councillors voting against the plans.

On Tuesday last week, a meeting of the borough council’s ruling executive approved the plans, which means Wokingham residents will start to see the plastic waste receptacles arriving on doorsteps next summer.

And this vote trumps the one following a debate in the Shute End council chamber, brought about after a petition was signed by more than 1,500 people.

Following the debate, Cllr Norman Jorgensen, Shadow Executive Member for the Environment, said: “It is clear the majority of residents wish to retain weekly waste collections. I am pleased that an Independent councillor recognised just how unpopular this policy is and has voted with us.

“The Lib Dem/Labour Coalition didn’t give residents the chance to express their views on keeping weekly bin collections. I am glad we were able to bring residents’

views to the Council despite Liberal Democrats attempts to discredit it as ‘spurious’.

“Waste collection and recycling are important universal services that everyone in the Borough relies on. This policy will not save any money in the short term. In fact, it is expected to cost £2 million to implement. And future savings are not guaranteed.

“Remember this is the administration who said, when they scrapped the caddy liners, that they would increase recycling, saving the Council £300,000. As we predicted at the time food recycling has not increased.

“Residents are being expected to pay more for less – this is not value for money for taxpayers.”

However, despite the feeling of Conservative councillors the decision stands.

Simon Dale, Wokingham Borough Council’s interim director of place and growth, said the council’s constitution gives decision-making powers to its executive committee rather than to the full council, so the debate vote was advisory.

“We need to reassure residents

that the proposal to change to fortnightly collections for rubbish and recycling, with wheeled bins for rubbish, still stands and we are starting to work on the change programme.

“We know that this is the right thing for the residents of Wokingham Borough, as it will increase our recycling rate and save us £500,000 in the first year and £1 million every year after that. The vast majority of councils collect general rubbish fortnightly because it provides the best balance of needs – financial, environmental, and convenience for residents.”

He also said more than 9,000 residents took part in the consultation survey last year.

Of those, 24% said they like the idea of moving to fortnightly collections – more than the number of people who signed the petition to save weekly collections.

Another 43% said they can accept fortnightly collections, with the same number saying they like the idea of having a wheelie bin for rubbish. The council says this is only possible with the change to fortnightly collections.

“All of our neighbours in Berkshire already do this – as do 85% of councils across the country,” Mr Dale added. “For those with genuine concerns about the changes, like large families with children, exceptions will be made.

“The details of the changes will be considered and shared with residents before roll out. And, further survey work will take place to look at how suitable certain property types are for the changes.“

Cllr Stephen Conway, deputy leader of Wokingham Borough Council said: “The council’s own consultation provided an enormous number of responses, with a very clear majority either supportive or acceptive of the changes.

“A vast number of people signed the petition in good faith, and we need to take seriously their concerns.

“Wheelie bins won’t be suitable for all properties. Officers will assess all streets and won’t put them in where it won’t work.

“There will also be exceptions, such as large families – we will work to address all the concerns raised.”

Car parking fees to increase after rises approved

A DECISION to increase the borough’s car parking charges has been approved by Wokingham’s ruling executive, bringing an end to free parking in evenings and on Sundays, writes James Aldridge, local democracy reporter

New fees will be brought in at Wokingham Borough Councilowned car parks in Wokingham, Woodley, Earley, Shinfield, Winnersh, Finchampstead, Twyford and Wargrave, following the decision made on Tuesday, March 21.

Cllr Paul Fishwick (Liberal Democrats, Winnersh) executive member for transport and highways, said: “The last time offstreet car park charges were raised in Wokingham was over five years ago, despite the rising costs of providing the service.

“The previous administration didn’t keep pace with those costs.”

He went on to accuse the previous Conservative administration of financial mismanagement, and curbing

revenue by not increasing fares.

Cllr Fishwick said: “We are now picking up the consequences of their lack of action. Small increases in the past would have lessened the impact now.

“However, we are facing our worst financial pressures in decades, and we must find a way of continuing to maintain our

highways to come to standard, including the filling of potholes.”

Voicing her support, Cllr Rachel Bishop-Firth (Liberal Democrats, Emmbrook) argued a balance had been struck between managing council finances and retail and service workers such as shop staff and hairdressers.

The executive member for

equalities, inclusion and fighting poverty said: “It is really important that we keep the costs as low as we can, and I think what we’ve done here is find a really good balance between looking after the finances of the council and accommodating those lower paid workers.”

There is no date for the implementation of the increases due to physical and software changes that need to be undertaken, but it will happen later this year.

However, Wokingham Conservatives have committed to reversing the parking restrictions and the Liberal Democrat led administration’s decision to end weekly bin collections in elected.

According to budget projections, the council hopes to raise £700,000 in revenue from the parking charges from the 2024/25 financial year onwards.

It is expected to cost £50,000 to implement the change, which involves updating signs in all of the affected car parks.

TRAINS & Mississippi Paddle Steamer

LITTLE

Departing Mon 12 Jun ‘23

The beautiful county of Norfolk is characterised by charming seaside towns, and unspoilt coastline.

Your break includes

 Return coach travel from Wokingham & Bracknell

 4 nights at a selected hotel in Great Yarmouth with dinner & breakfast

 Entertainment some evenings (Waverley Hotel only)

 Heritage train journeys on the North Norfolk Railway & Bure Valley Railway

 Mississippi paddle steamer cruise on the Norfolk Broads

 Excursions to Cromer & Sheringham

Optional excursion to Norwich (£13pp)

5 Days by Coach

ly £349

HISTORIC DURHAM

Beamish & Captain Cook’s Whitby

Departing Thu 29 Jun ‘23

Enjoy a host of historically-themed excursions on this wonderful trip to the North East. From the bustling port of Whitby, to the fascinating open-air living museum of Beamish and the beautiful city of Durham, we journey into the past on this captivating break.

Your break includes

 Return coach travel from Reading

 4 nights at the Leonardo Hotel, Middlesbrough with dinner & breakfast

 Excursions to Durham, Beamish Living Museum & Whitby

5 Days by Coach

ly £349

Repair cafe to return on Sunday

THIS month’s Spencers Wood repair cafe will take place on Sunday, April 2.

Residents can bring broken household items to be fixed by the group’s able team of volunteers at Spencers Wood Village Hall, Basingstoke Road. Visitors can watch and learn how their items are mended or enjoy refreshments next door in the Communi-Tea Room. A book swap will run concurrently.

The monthly initiative provides environmental solutions to product waste.

The repair cafe takes place between 10am-1pm.

n For more information, search Spencers Wood Village Hall on www.facebook.com

Easter egg hunt

CHILDREN in Barkham are set to enjoy an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 9.

The event is organised by the Barkham Village Residents Association and will give youngsters the opportunity to get into the festive spirit with their friends while keeping active.

The hunt takes place at 3pm at The Junipers, Barkham.

Tickets cost £1 per child, with those wishing to take part in the ‘large egg raffle’ asked to contribute another £1. n For more information, visit: www.barkham.org.uk

Pupils’ bright artwork unveiled at Gorse Ride as building work begins

By JI-MIN LEE jlee@wokingham.today

STUDENTS at Finchampstead schools can now admire their work at a nearby construction site.

Nine Mile Ride School and Gorse Ride pupils and parents were joined by Mayor of Wokingham Cllr Caroline Smith and executive member for housing Cllr Stephen Conway as their work was unveiled at the Gorse Ride regeneration scheme in Finchampstead.

The event was also attended by representatives from appointed contractor Wates, vicechair of the Gorse Ride steering group Matt Sales and families living in the area. The council and Wates had organised art sessions for children in Finchampstead to create autumnal artwork and self-portraits, which are now mounted on the hoarding around the site and will be in place for the duration of Phase 2A of the plan.

Cllr Caroline Smith said: “The children have worked hard to produce these wonderful artworks and I am delighted to unveil this project at Gorse Ride.

“This is one of many projects the council has run with the

local community for the Gorse Ride regeneration scheme, helping to include residents and spark their imaginations. I have enjoyed meeting and speaking to our young, local artists and their families at the unveiling.”

Cllr Stephen Conway said: “It is fantastic to see local children attending the artwork unveiling, having fun, getting creative and most importantly, feeling involved in our regeneration project at Gorse Ride.

“For many local families, the Gorse Ride community is their home and will continue to be as the phased regeneration takes place over many years, providing 249 new modern homes where 75% of them will be affordable to meet growing local demand.

“The displaying of the artwork enhances our vision to engage and involve our communities through arts and culture, creating a sense of identity which local people can

feel part of.”

The art session took place during the October half-term at St Mary and St John’s Parish Centre, Finchampstead, and saw youngsters tracing around their hands and sticking paper leaves onto hedgehog-shaped moulds.

As part of the redevelopment, the council must maintain the welfare of hedgehogs on site and is advising residents living on the Gorse Ride estate to reach out to ensure they are

moved safely and relocated by a rescue centre.

Five artificial nesting boxes will be provided on site and hedgehog highways, a cutout at the bottom of garden fences, will be installed to allow hedgehogs to freely visit other gardens.

During the session, the autumnal themed artwork was collected and arranged onto a 2m-tall paper tree. Wates provided a weather-proof frame to display the artwork.

VOLUNTEERCORNER

With Helena Badger, Wokingham Volunteer Centre

n BARKHAM VILLAGE HALL is run as a Charity for the local community.

It is very well used by a wide variety of regular organised groups and occasional users for parties, weddings and other functions.

The Hall is run by a volunteer management committee including the charity trustees.

The role of chairperson is mainly to work with the vice chairman, booking secretary, treasurer, minutes secretary in the running of the hall and to chair the bimonthly management committee meetings.

In addition, there will be the occasional need to resolve operational issues as and when they occur. The position would ideally suit a community minded person, who enjoys dealing with people, and possibly recently retired.

The average time commitment would be two to three hours per week, plus the bimonthly management committee meeting which last for one to two hours.

n The Oxfam shop in Woodley is looking for more volunteers.

As a retail volunteer you will learn all about what goes into making our fantastic shop thrive.

You can keep busy in the

stockroom sorting and checking donations or be on the shop floor, serving customers and putting stock out on sale. Whatever suits you.

Best of all you’ll be raising vital funds to support people facing poverty around the world.

We will give you all the training and support you need so you will develop your skills as part of our team.

You don’t need to have any experience – we’ve got you covered. You can also get some lunch and travel costs too. Whatever you need, we’re here to help.

You can focus on any part of volunteering that interests you the most.

As a Retail Volunteer you’ll develop skills that boost your confidence.

Why not try a bit of everything?

Sorting donations including checking and pricing, serving customers on the till, creating stylish window displays, keeping the shop fully stocked and helping donors as they come in.

n Our Community First is a group of volunteers working to improve the lives of individuals and families living in the Norreys Ward and local area.

We aim work with residents, local authorities, and other organisations to provide events and activities, reduce financial hardship, and empower and encourage members of the community of Norreys Ward to develop capacity and skills to meet their needs and participate fully in society.

We currently regularly run three groups - Ladies Drop In (Friday mornings - Norreys Church), Wednesday Kids Club (Wednesdays from 5pm to 7pm), and The Grub Club (during school holidays).

We always welcome volunteers but at the moment we especially need volunteers for our after-school club on a Wednesday.

We are particularly keen to hear from volunteers with experience of working with children with special educational needs.

n If you are interested in the roles above or to discuss your specific volunteering needs, please get in touch with Helena Badger, Volunteer Services Manager; volunteer@wokvol.org.uk 0118 977 0749 or visit our website www. volunteerwokinghamborough. org.uk

ART GALLERY: Representatives from Wates also joined the students and council members Picture: Stewart Turkington

DISCOVER MORE

 An established community nestled within a 65 acre Country Park

 Beautifully designed and finished homes

 Perfectly placed for business and pleasure

Classifieds

PUBLICNOTICES

WOKINGHAMBOROUGHCOUNCIL PLANNING APPLICATION

TheTownandCountryPlanning(DevelopmentManagementProcedure)(England)Order2015 AND/OR Planning(ListedBuildingsandConservationAreas)Regulations1990

Thefollowingapplication(s)havebeensubmittedandareadvertisedforthereasonsbelow:

230148 Woodview, RemenhamLane, Remenham

230511 TheRedLodge, ChurchRoad, Swallowfield

230604 GlebelandsLodge, GlebelandsRoad, Wokingham

Conservation Area

Workstoa listed building

Workstoa listed building

RECRUITMENT

WE ARE LOOKING FOR A TRAINEE REPORTER?

-Haveyoualreadydemonstratedaclearinterestinacareerin journalism(orsomeotherformofwriting)?

-Doyoulivein-ornear-theboroughsofWokinghamorReading?

-Areyouflexibleenoughtodealwithawiderangeofpeopleata widerangeoftimes?

-DoyouhaveA-levelsorsimilarqualifications?orareyouworking towardsanNCTJqualification?

Householderapplicationfortheproposedsinglestoreyside extensiontoformorangery,followingdemolitionofexisting conservatory.

FullapplicationfortheinstallationofmetalgatesattheRedLodge (partretrospective).

ApplicationforListedBuildingconsentfortheproposedremovalof theexistingwindowsandreplacementwithreproductionframes basedonexistingprofiles,topreservetheleadedpanels,opening sashesandallmetalworkforreuse.Windowswillbewhitepainted timberinallcases.

NorthWestelevationofthebuilding,followingtheexistingfire escape’sdemolition.

Theapplicationisavailabletoview onlineatwokingham.gov.uk � Planning � Searchplanningapplicationsand typingintheapplicationnumberabove. Commentsontheapplicationcanbemade onlinefromthiswebpage. Anycommentsmustarriveonorbeforethe20thApril2023. Anycommentsmadearenotconfidentialandcanbe seenbyanyoneastheyformpartofthepublicrecord.Thecomments,unlessoffensive,discriminatoryand/orracist,will appearontheCouncil’swebsitewithin24hoursand includethesubmittednameandaddress. Duetothehighvolume ofcommentsreceivedwedonotprovideindividualresponses.

Date:30thMarch2023

ROADTRAFFICREGULATIONACT1984

WOKINGHAMBOROUGHCOUNCIL (A327EVERSLEYROAD,ARBORFIELD) (TEMPORARY40MPHSPEEDLIMIT)

ORDER2023

NOTICEISHEREBYgiventhaton23rdMarch2023the WokinghamBoroughCouncilasTrafficAuthoritymade anOrderunderSection14(1)(a)oftheRoadTraffic RegulationAct1984(“theAct”)andallotherenabling powerstheeffectofwhichcontinuesinforcethe restrictionscontainedinaNoticeunderSection14(2)(a) oftheActdated21stMarch2023prohibitingany vehiclefromproceedingataspeedexceeding40mph alongthesectionofA327EversleyRoad,Arborfield betweenitsjunctionswithNineMileRideExtensionand PoperingheWay.

TherestrictionsarenecessarytoenableCrest Nicholsoncontractorstomaintainhighwaysafetyon approachtoatemporaryconstructionaccess. Therestrictionsshallonlyapplyduringthoseperiods whentrafficsignsinaccordancewiththeTrafficSigns RegulationsandGeneralDirection2016arelawfully displayedinthesaidroads.

TheOrdercameintooperationonthe24thMarch2023 andshallcontinueinforceforaperiodnotexceeding18 monthsoruntiltheworkshavebeencompleted, whicheveristheearlier.

Dated:30thMarch2023

ChrisEaston AssistantDirector–HighwaysandTransport

WokinghamBoroughCouncil

CivicOffices

ShuteEnd Wokingham

BerkshireRG401WL

GOODSVEHICLE OPERATOR’SLICENCE

UmojaKwanzaLTDtradingasUk1TransportAnd RecoveryServicesofSuite215EstuaryHouse,196 BallardRoad,Dagenham–Essex, RM109AB isapplying foralicencetouseNineMileRideIndustry,Wokingham Berkshire,RG404NE asanoperatingcentrefor2goods vehicles.

Ownersoroccupiersofland(includingbuildings)nearthe operatingcentre(s)whobelievesthattheiruseorenjoyment ofthatlandwouldbeaffected,shouldmakewritten representationstotheTrafficCommissioneratHillcrest House,386HarehillsLane,Leeds,LS96NF,statingtheir reasons,within21daysofthisnotice.Representorsmustat thesametimesendacopyoftheirrepresentationstothe applicantattheaddressgivenatthetopofthisnotice.Aguide toMakingrepresentationsisavailablefromtheTraffic Commissioner’soffice.

-Doyouhaveadrivinglicence/car?

Ifso,youcouldsoonbeworkingalongsideourprofessionaland seasonedteamofnewsreporterswhoarekeentoteachyouallthey know.Theworkisnotalwaysglamorous-butitissometimes excitinganditisalwaysimportant!

A day out by special train to Plymouth

The South Devon Explorer

Saturday 27th May 2023

From Reading. Join our special train at Reading for a day out to remember. We will be met by an historic steam locomotive at Bristol to steam along the Kennet and Avon Canal, through Somerset countryside and the Culm Valley to Exeter. A run along the famous Dawlish sea wall, one of Britain’s most scenic stretches of railway, will be a highlight of the journey. A break at maritime Plymouth provides chance to explore the Hoe and the old Barbican area with the Mayflower Steps or the city’s shops On the return our vintage train will leave our steam loco behind at Taunton to complete our journey diesel hauled.

• Premier Dining £295 per person – price includes a full English breakfast and a four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

• First Class £195 per person – price includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

• Standard Class £130 per person – price includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

£10 per person discount quote: DHP

Steam to seaside Minehead

West Somerset Steam Express

Saturday 22nd July, 12th Aug, 16th Sept 2023

From Slough and Reading. Enjoy a day out departing from Slough or Reading to the Bristol Channel coast by train featuring two historic steam locomotives. This seaside special will be hauled by a magnificent steam loco along the scenic Kennet and Avon Canal and through the pretty Vale of Pewsey. Our train will join the West Somerset Railway and a WSR steam loco will take over for the stretch past Dunster Castle and into the resort of Minehead, where you can enjoy the sea and sand before we steam for home.

• Premier Dining £285 per person – price includes a full English breakfast and a four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

• First Class £185 per person – price includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

• Standard Class £115 per person – price includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

£10 per person discount quote: DHQ

A day out to Cornwall The Royal Duchy

Sunday 30th July 2023

From Slough and Reading. Step on board our special train at Slough or Reading to enjoy a day out to Cornwall. We shall be joined by a magnificent steam locomotive at Bristol ready for an exhilarating run beside the Exe Estuary and along the famous Dawlish sea wall. The Royal Duchy will stop at Plymouth, where you can explore the Hoe, ancient Barbican, seafront or National Marine Aquarium. Alternatively, stay on board for Cornwall to Par, where we shall have coaches ready to take you to the pretty seaside village of Fowey or Charlestown, home to the Shipwreck, Rescue and Heritage Centre and location for the BBC’s Poldark.

• Premier Dining £309 per person – price includes a full English breakfast and a four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

• First Class £209 per person – price includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

• Standard Class £134 per person – price includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

£10 per person discount quote: DHR

Bob Green

Bob Green

Bob Green

LEISURETODAY

Your guide to what’s on across Reading and Wokingham

it can be hard to see the beauty of a three-hour delay on the M4’

Comedian Eshaan Akbar talks to JAKE CLOTHIER about his upcoming stand-up tour and whether a comedian’s personal views are relevant, ahead of his show at South Street in April

ESHAAN Akbar has been performing comedy for nearly a decade, with appearances on Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, QI, and The Big Asian Stand-Up.

He’s an accomplished radio host and award-winning podcaster, as well as recently announcing that he is among the cast for the fourth season of the Netflix show Sex Education.

He’s also set out on The Pretender, which Eshaan says is his first national stand-up tour “after nine years of traipsing up and down this great beautiful, green land”.

He says the connection with audiences keeps things fresh.

“Sometimes it can be very difficult to see the beauty of a situation when you’re coming back from Cardiff and there’s a three-hour delay on the M4.

“But one of the beauties of being a comedian, particularly in the UK, is you’re able to go up and down the country and meet different audiences.

“You get to understand what it is

that people enjoy and love.”

As for the show itself: “It’s an hour of my funniest stuff, but if there’s a theme then it’s about how we’re all slightly pretending all the time.

“We’re all presenting ourselves differently to our partners, our friends, our family.”

“I feel like a lot of political discourse is people just trying their best to fit in whichever side of the debate they’re on.

“I don’t believe that everybody believes everything about their side of the debate all the time.”

While Eshaan doesn’t ‘court’ political issues, he doesn’t avoid them either, instead seeking the humour first.

“A lot of my stuff that is political or social observation deals with what representation and diversity means for people of colour– a phrase I personally hate.

“I get criticised for being a diversity booking, and the fact that their parents weren’t interested in other races isn’t my problem.

“Then there are others who expect me to do certain things because they think I’m a diversity booking, and I won’t do those either.

“I want to highlight how comedy can make someone laugh, fundamentally, before it changes their minds.”

He admits that some comedy audiences, however, can be somewhat navel-gazing: “Sometimes, particularly in London, they have this sense that comedy has a higher purpose than it serves.

“But we’re all basically the same: we want to pay our bills, have a nice time with the people we love, hope that people love us back, and be comfortable – that’s it really.”

Eshaan says also that there is an often unifying aspect to live comedy.

“People want to enjoy the show; they don’t want to be hit over the head with how terrible people are.

“That’s one of the things I love; white, black, doesn’t matter, disabilities, sexuality, doesn’t matter –fundamentally, as human beings we all want the same things.”

He also says that his “cantankerous” personality leads him to enjoy the pushing of an audience’s buttons: “I don’t always take the position people might expect, and that’s what it’s about.

“I don’t want people to come and

see me because they agree with me politically – what I want people to not have a single sense of what I believe.

“I want them to be able to laugh at something that they just completely wouldn’t expect, that’s when I’ve done my job.”

The element of surprise plays a part in this, he explains: “People will be surprised to hear some of the things which come out of my mouth.”

But he also sees a comedian’s personal views as irrelevant to their comedy: “I’m there to be funny - if you want to judge, and Lord knows people do, that’s their prerogative.

“But I don’t really care what people think, because you can’t police that, so I’m quite relaxed about it.”

This, he feels, has led to him supporting a wide range of fellow comedians from a diverse range of backgrounds and political standpoints.

He says he’s supported comedians from Jason Manford and Micky Flannigan to Kae Kurd and Mo Gilligan.

“What I learned from that is that the audience just wants to laugh – are people changing their minds at the polling booths because of what a comic said?

“I don’t necessarily subscribe to that idea, though I know some comedians do, and me being shrill about the state

of the nation doesn’t contribute.”

“Print media overall tends to be right-leaning, but comics seem to lean left; then you get big comedy heroes like John Cleese who end up being right-leaning too.

“Nobody wanted to know that, though, it’s a by-product which some lean into, but that’s not for me.

“I want to find a middle ground.”

And this middle ground could be achieved, he says, through longer discourse, such as via podcasts.

“They’re a really good way of showcasing nuance and diversity of thoughts and opinions, but with the aim of having a good time.”

All of which becomes only more so as age continues to set in, as it does for us all: “In the blink of an eye I was 38.

“And in the blink of an eye I’ll be 70, and I want be having a great time until then rather than spending time worrying about things way beyond my paygrade.”

n The Pretender is touring around the country including Reading’s South Street Arts Centre on Saturday, April 22. For tickets, call the box office on: 0118 960 6060, or log on to whatsonreading.com. Other dates Guildford, Maidenhead, and Swindon.

n Full tour details and tickets are available via www.eshaanakbar.com/

‘Sometimes

An American in Maidenhead

AN AMERICAN singer will perform sambas, afros and original music with her trio.

Corina Kwami blends her ghaniaianIrish roots with her experience of living in many countries across Africa, Latin America and Europe.

Her show, Pangea is inspired by a time when North America, Africa, South America, and Europe were continuous

Kwami is joined by tap dancer Adele Joel, for an evening inspired by rhythm tap, samba and West African dance.

The event is at Maidenhead’s Norden Farm Arts Centre, on Saturday, April 1.

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

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

Amazing animals coming to Norden Farm

INTERACTIVE and with original songs, Animals! is about animals, humans and nature.

The animals are gathering, but one species hasn’t turned up.

It’s the one which has been causing all the trouble.

Something’s got to be done, and whatever it is, it’s going to be wild.

The event, suitable for six years and over, takes place at Norden Farm Arts Centre, in Maidenhead.

Shows, on Tuesday, April 4, are at 11.30am and 2pm.

Tickets can be purchased for £12, or £10 for under 16s, with family and friends tickets (four people) costing £40. n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 01628 788977 or log on to: norden.farm

n The show is at South Street on Wednesday, April 5. For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 0118 960 6060, or log on to: whatsonreading.com

Debra’s performance of Chopin and more

PIANIST Debra Wong will play Works by Chopin, Schumann and Granados.

The Bracknell-based pianist is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music. Her concert is at Bracknell’s South Hill Park Arts Centre, on Saturday, April 1.

AT THE THEATRE

Every week, we bring you a roundup of all shows taking place in the region’s theatres. It covers this weekend and next, so you can plan ahead and book tickets to the shows that you want to go and see.

As ever, coronavirus means that shows could be cancelled, postponed or rearranged at short notice. Check with theatres to avoid disappointment.

Bracknell – South Hill Park

www.southhillpark.org.uk

01344 484123

Crowthorne Musical Players present The Little Mermaid.

Tues 28-Sat 1. The Comedy Cellar. Fri 31. Bracknell Jazz: Nigel Price. Fri 7.

FILMS: National Theatre Live: Life of Pi (PG). Thurs 30. Living (12a). Fri 31-Sun 2. Nostalgia (12a). Mon 3. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (PG). Wed 5. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (18). Wed 5-Thurs 6. The Whale (15). Fri 7-Sun 9

Following the huge success of the 35th Anniversary Tour, That’ll Be The Day is back on the road with another show packed full of world-class performances from Trevor and the highly talented cast.

And it’s at The Hexagon on Wednesday.

The UK’s leading Rock ’n‘ Roll show takes audiences on a journey through

Doors open at 3pm.

Tickets cost £18, with all concessions available for £15.

Debra is offering the proceeds of her concert to charity At Home Foundation, for their work supporting new immigrants.

n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 01344 484123 or log on to: www.southhillpark.org.uk

From space to Paris thanks to orchestra

READING Symphony Orchestra invites families to hear John Williams’ Star Wars Suite.

The group’s programme also includes: Smetana’s Vltava; Rautavaara’s Clarinet Concerto, with soloist Nicholas Shipman; and Gershwin’s American in Paris.

The event is at Reading Concert Hall, Blagrave Street, on Saturday, April 1.

Doors open at 4pm, with tickets costing £16, or £5 for under 18s.

Camberley – Theatre

www.camberleytheatre.biz

01276 707600

Legend The Music of Bob Marley.

Thurs 30. Francis Rossi: Tunes and Chat. Fri 31. Come

What May. Sun 2. Dinosaur

Adventure Live. Tues 4. Matrix

Illusion. Wed 5.

Guildford –Yvonne Arnaud

www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

01483 440000

Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle. Thurs 30-Fri 31.

Dreamcoat Stars. Sat 1. George McGavin: It’s a Wild Life. Wed 5. Room on the Broom. Fri 7-9.

High Wycombe –Wycombe Swan

www.wycombeswan.co.uk

01494 512000

Hellfire Comedy Club. Thurs 30. Steel Magnolias. Until Sat 1. The Drifters. Sun 2. Room on the Broom. Tues 4-Wed

5. Ministry of Science live.

the years, from the golden age of Rock ’n’ Roll and Pop from the 50s right the way through to the 80s.

Combining hilarious comedy sketches and impersonations with brilliant vocals and superb musicianship, That’ll Be The Day really is in a league of its own.

It’s no wonder this show has been touring for so many years and it just gets better and better.

n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 0118 960 6060, or log on to: whatsonreading.com

Click, click, click ... it’s Dave Gorman

THE COMEDIAN’S show, Powerpoint To The People, gives Dave an opportunity to look at life the way it is - in his head, anyway.

He aims to demonstrate that a powerpoint presentation doesn’t need a man in a grey suit standing behind a lectern.

Known for Dave TV’s Modern Life Is Goodish, Are You Dave Gorman? And Googlewhack Adventure, Gorman brings his latest show to Reading’s Hexagon Theatre.

The event is on Saturday, April 1. Doors open at 7.30pm, with tickets available for £29.50.

Only tickets purchased through WhatsOnReading and Ticketmaster will

Thurs 6. The UK Pink Floyd Experience. Fri 7. Fireman Sam Live Relaxed Performance.

Sat 8.

Henley – Kenton

www.kentontheatre.co.uk

01491 525050

Simon Evans: The Work of the Devil. Thurs 30. Nothing Happens (Twice). Fri 31.

Rhys James: Split Milk. Sat

1. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Wed 5-Sat 8.

Attenborough and his Animals. Sun 9.

Maidenhead –Norden Farm

www.nordenfarm.org

01628 788997

Maidenhead Drama Festival.

Thurs 30-Fri 31. Band of the Household Cavalary lunchtime recital. Thurs 30. What’s Love Got To Do With It (12a). Fri

24. Papa Truck. Fri 31. Norden Farm Market. Sat 1. Corina

Kwami Pamhea. Sat 1. Little English (12a). Tues 4-Wed 5.

The Amazing Bubble Man.

Wed 5. Close (12a). Wed 5.

Curious Investigators. Thurs

6. Simon Brodkin: Screwed Up. Thurs 6. Meet Me In The Bathroom (15). Fri 7. Professor Slug’s House of Bugs. Sat 8. Wrong Jovi. Sat 8.

Newbury –The Corn Exchange

www.cornexchangenew.com 0845 5218 218

Chris McCausland: Speaky Blinder. Fri 31. Room on the Broom. Sat 1-Sun 2. Nick Sharratt’s Drawalong. Tues 4. Francis Rossi’s Tunes and Chat.

Thurs 6. RB Live: Cinderella. Wed 12.

Newbury –The Watermill

www.watermill.org.uk 01635 46044

Visitors. Fri 31-Sat 22.

Join Trevor and the exceptional cast for the ultimate feelgood experience that will have you singing and dancing, and leave you wanting just a little bit more.

Tickets cost £26 or £28, and the show starts at 7.30pm.

n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 0118 960 6060, or log on to: whatsonreading.com

be valid for entry.

n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 0118 960 6060, or log on to: whatsonreading.com

A celebration of Sir David Attenborough

Attenborough and His Animals is a comedy show that promises to bring the magic of the television wildlife presenter to life.

Two hapless fools recreate wonderful scenes of the natural world: Audiences will witness a blue whale swimming through the depths, and a racer snakes pursuing an iguana across the desert.

Following Edinburgh Fringe seasons and a world tour, the show comes to Henley.

For clowning, physical theatre and animals on stage, audiences should make their way to The Kenton Theatre.

Reading –South Street

www.whatsonreading.com

0118 960 6060

Tim Key: Mulberry – SOLD OUT.

Thurs 30. Alasdair Roberts. Fri 31. Rosie Jones: Triple Theatre. Sat 1. Animals. Wed 5. Jayde

Adams: Men, I Can Save You.

Fri 7.

Reading –The Hexagon

www.whatsonreading.com

0118 960 6060

Someone Like You: The Adele Songbook. Fri 31. Dave

Gorman: Powerpoint to the People. Sat 1. Harry Styles

tribute. Sun 2. Berkshire Youth

Symphony Orchestra Film

Fantastia. Mon 3. That’ll Be The Day. Wed 5.

Reading –Concert Hall

www.whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060

Jonathan Biss piano. Apr 18.

The event is on Sunday, April 9.

Doors open at 7.30pm, with tickets available, costing £20, or £18 for concessions.

n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 01491 525050 or log on to: www.kentontheatre.co.uk

Explore Adele’s songbook with Katie

FANS of the singer Adele will be able to enjoy the next best thing this Friday.

Someone Like you – The Adele Songbook will be performed at The hexagon.

The concert will include a selection of the artist’s hits, including every song on the album 30.

The set list will include Make You Feel My Love, Someone Like You, Rolling In The Deep and Skyfall.

Katie Markham performs as the singer, and she was hand-picked by Adele herself during a spot on The Graham Norton Show.

Tickets cost £26, with concessions at £24, and under 16s £18. Groups of 10 upwards can enjoy a £3 discount off fullprice tickets.

n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 0118 960 6060, or log on to: whatsonreading.com

Animal magic with George

GEORGE McGavin shares his personal journey to discover the world of wildlife.

George’s work as a zoologist, entomologist and television broadcaster has taken him from the tropical forests of Papua New Guinea and Borneo to the caves of Thailand, and from the jungles of Belize to the savannahs of Tanzania.

Drawing from his collection of wildlife images and film footage, he will share sights, sounds, and behind the scenes secrets.

George will also introduce his passion for insects, the secrets to their success and how their survival is the key to our own.

It’s a Wild Life, is at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, on Wednesday, April 5.

Doors open at 7.30, with tickets available for £23, or £18 for concessions. n For tickets and information visit: yvonne-arnaud.co.uk or call the box office on: 01483 440000

Reading –Progress Theatre

www.progresstheatre.co.uk 0118 384 2195

NEXT SHOW: Dinner. Apr 14-22.

Reading – Reading Rep Theatre

www.readingrep.com

0118 370 2620

Reading Symphony Orchestra. Sat 1. NEXT SHOW: Peter Pan. Apr 6-29.

Shinfield –Shinfield Players

www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk

0118 975 8880

NEXT SHOW: Ravenscroft. Wed Apr 26-Fri Apr 29.

Sonning –The Mill

www.millatsonning.com

0118 969 8000

Noel Coward’s Hay Fever. Until May 13.

Windsor –Theatre Royal www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk

01753 853888

Mane Chance Comedy Night: Joe Pasquale, Basil Brush, Kevin Cruise and more. Sun 2. Easter School: Legally Blonde Jr. Mon

3. Sherlock Holmes: The Valley of Fear. Mon 3-Sat 8.

Wokingham – Theatre

www.wokinghamtheatre.org.uk

0118 978 5363

NEXT SHOW: Flare Parth. Thurs Apr 27-Sat May 6.

Wokingham – The Whitty Theatre

www.thewhittytheatre.org

0118 974 3247

Wokingham Music Club: Oye Santana. Fri 31.

Woodley – Theatre

www.woodleytheatre.org

07488337838

NEXT SHOW: Educating Rita. June 20-24.

Hurst Panto Group needs help ... oh yes they do

ASMALL team of people looking for a new challenge is needed for a project creating fun and laughter for many.

Hurst Panto group is looking for a new team of up to three producers for their next show.

The group says: “Hurst Panto has been putting on brilliant performances since 2003. However our next production scheduled for January 2024 will sadly not be able to run unless a new production team can be found.”

And they’ve asked: “Looking for a new challenge? Love organising projects? Great with people? Sounds like you?

“Then ‘oh yes you could’ be part of Hurst Pantomime Group’s next production team.”

Claire Lawrence, involved with eight Hurst pantos, said: “The producers aren’t involved with what happens on stage. That’s the director’s job.

“The producers do planning, communicating and steering the process as the panto moves from concept to the final show.

“They co-ordinate the different teams and volunteers to make sure the production happens.”

No specific theatre experience is necessary, just energy, enthusiasm and organisation skills.

“And it’s not something you sign up to forever. The producer team can change from each panto to the next,” said Claire.

”We’re hoping a group of two or three

Choir goes on musical channel hop for concert

THAMES Voyces are going on a musical Channel hop with their latest concert.

The popular chamber choir will feature works by one of England’s best loved composers, Benjamin Britten followed by renowned French musicians, Francis Poulenc and Louis Vierne.

Benjamin Britten was born on St Cecilia’s day, so it is perhaps apt to perform his Hymn to St Cecilia in this concert.

The piece written on a voyage back to this country from the United States in 1942.

As well as that piece, the choir

will also sing his Te Deum in C, Rejoice in the Lamb, and Hymn to the Virgin.

The second half will feature Poulenc’s Litanies à la Vierge Noire and Vierne’s Messe Solennelle.

The choir will be conducted by Nick Austin and accompanied by Ben Giddens

The Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Waterloo Road, Crowthorne is the location for the event which starts at 7.30pm on Saturday, April 1.

n For tickets and further information, log on to: www.thamesvoyces.org.uk

JAMES HASTINGS

Drag goes Gaga art-pop icon fun at Rising Sun

THE DRAG domination of Reading is set to continue as a regular event returns.

STAGE HANDS: Hurst Pantomime Group need help to put on a show next year Pictures: Hurst Pantomime Group

friends, maybe with children who would like to be in the panto, might like to be in a little supportive team, sharing the work between them.

“Equally, a good project manager might enjoy doing it by themselves. There are different ways to do it. Myself and the other outgoing producers won’t leave them unsupported. We have lists and schedules and previous experience we’re happy to pass on.”

An offer you’d rarely receive is another tempter. The choice of which panto to perform will be down to the producer(s), working alongside the director.

For the show to be staged in January next year, planning needs to start in the next month or two. Hurst has performed 10pantos at Hurst Village Hall since 2003. n To find out more or register interest in producing email: hurstpanto@hotmail. co.uk

Anita Oui’s Suspenders is back at The Rising Sun Arts Centre on Saturday from 7pm, and this time it’s celebrating the art-pop monolith Lady Gaga.

The grassroots, DIY night of queer performance art sees acts handpicked by the host, Anita Oui, for a curated, themed night.

She will be joined by Cairo Ali, Oxford-based Sera Tonin, and the inimitable Brittana Faberry.

Rounding out the roster will be Reading drag royalty Big Jay and the event’s previous host, Sheer

Obsession, fresh from a recent hiatus. The event will be Lady Gaga themed, meaning guests are invited to bring their poker faces and best titanium blond wigs.

The event is 18+ and wheelchair accessible, and also features a number of systems in place to help people with accessibility or social needs.

Tickets are also charged on a sliding scale, priced at £5 for those with low income, £10 general admission, and artist support prices at £15 and £20. n Tickets are available online via: outsavvy.com, or negotiable by contacting millyallwoodrose@hotmail. com with “AOS” in the subject.

Senbla presents Opera International’s award-winning Ellen Kent Production featuring the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv, with international soloists, highly-praised chorus and full orchestra

Sacred music for Palm Sunday

MUSIC from some of Europe’s best-loved composers can be heard at St Mary’s Church, Wargrave this weekend.

The performance of romantic sacred music will include works by Brahms, Bruckner, Faure and Verdi.

Musical director Helen Styles and accompanist Robert Jones will lead the Twyford Singers for this special Palm Sunday concert.

Advanced tickets for the event on April 2, starting at 7pm, are now on sale at £10 and £5 for under 18s.

On the door tickets will cost £12 and £5 for under 18s. n For more information contact www.twyford-singers.org.uk or call: 07762 738384.

Jazz night

JAZZ in Reading is hosting an evening of live music at The Fisherman’s Cottage pub next month.

Held on alternate Tuesdays, the evening is open to performers specialising in jazz, funk and the blues.

Entry is free, although donations towards costs are welcomed, and the pub has its menu available.

The event runs from 7.30pm to 10.30pm, with the next sessions on April 4 and 18.

For more details or to arrange a performance slot, call Ian Germer on: 07866 251216, or Jim Wade on: 07788 666608.

The boots are on for South Hill Park’s Easter musical

THE story of a shoe factory worker who goes on a voyage shoe making discovery is coming to Bracknell next month.

Kinky Boots is the arts centre’s Easter show, and features original music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper. Based on the Broadway hit, the musical tells the story of Charlie, a shoe factory owner struggling to save his family business after inheriting it from his father.

He meets Lola, a cabaret performer and drag queen whose exciting idea changes both their futures.

With compassion and understanding, the pair learn to embrace their differences and create a line of sturdy stilettoes unlike any others.

But in the end, their greatest achievement is their friendship.

Local performers star in this production, based on the life of Steve Pateman, who like four generations of his family, worked as a cobbler.

In 1993, with demand for men’s brogues falling, he was about to close his factory, when rescue came from an unexpected quarter.

Recommended for eight years and above, the show contains some strong language and mild sexual references.

Audiences can see Kinky Boots at South Hill Park, Bracknell, from Tuesday, April 11 through to Sunday, April 16.

Shows are at 7pm, with matinées at 2pm every day except Tuesday.

There is a relaxed performance on Thursday, April 13, at 2pm.

Brunch shows on Wednesday,

Lollapalooza date for Only The Poets

A WOODLEY band will be among the acts performing at an international music festival in France.

the Seine river for three days of live music in July.

Thursday and Friday afternoon offer the opportunity to purchase a bottle of prosecco and afternoon tea of finger sandwiches, scones and clotted cream.

Available from 11am, brunch costs £17.50 per person.

Tickets cost £24, or £22 for concessions.

n For tickets and information call the box office on: 01344 484123 or log on to: www.southhillpark. org.uk

Only The Poets have just been announced as part of the Lollapalooza Paris 2023 line-up.

They join celebrated musicians such as the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Lil Nas X, and Niall Horan for the three-day festival at Paris’ Hippodrome ParisLongchamp.

Among the rest of the acts is Picture This, Maisie Peters, OneRepublic, Kygo, Central Cee, and Aya Nakamura.

Lollapalooza Paris sees a whole host of bands and DJs performing at the racecourse on the bank of

It comes just weeks after Only The Poets finished their European tour supporting Lewis Capaldi, and their signing to the EMI music label following their own headline tour.

The band performed two soldout shows in their old stomping ground, the Purple Turtle in Reading, to celebrate the signing.

This year’s Lollapalooza Paris takes place at the Hippodrome ParisLongchamp from FridaySunday, July 21-23.

n Full details about the festival and access to tickets are available via: lollaparis.com

EMMA MERCHANT

SHOWTIME: Kyan Heywood is Lola in Kinky Boots, South Hill Park’s Easter show. Picture: South Hill Park Arts Centre

BIG NIGHT OUT: Only The Poets will be performing on Saturday, July 22, at Lollapalooza Paris. Picture: Jordan Daniel Logan/Chuff Media

RaW Sounds Today Chris Hillman bit.ly/raw soundstoday

AUGUST might seem like a long way away, but plans are already being made for Wokingham Festival.

The line-up has been revealed and it includes some RaW Sounds Today playlist favourites.

It’s a great listen – tune in for free on Spotify. It’s a mixture that will help you discover something new.

To hear this week’s selection, simply head to bit.ly/rawsoundstoday and enjoy the music.

There is also a Facebook page and group chat that bands and music fans can tap into. You can search for RaW Sounds Today and it will come up.

Elucidate – Take It

It’s great to see so many of the bands that we’ve featured in the last year or two progressing well and here’s a great example.

It’s the new single from Elucidate, a Readingbased Alt-Rock band, and it’s an exciting song that opens with a cool drum groove before powering

GIG GUIDE

Friday, March 31

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Take It Easy – The American Classic Rock Show. Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk

BURGHFIELD – The Six Bells, Reading Road RG30 3TH. Rock n Roll Bingo. Details: 0118 983 2220.

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Take It Easy: The Amercian Classic Rock Show. Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. 70s Tribute All About You. Details: 01344 303333.

CHARVIL – Heron on the Ford, Landsend Lane RG10 0UE. Candy Rock. Details: 0118 934 0700.

EMMBROOK – The Emmbrook Inn, Emmbrook Road RG41 1HG. Beatles and Buddy Holly tribute. Details: 0118 978 2552

READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Open mic night. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING – The Hexagon, Queens Walk RG1 7QF. Someone Like You: The Adele Songbook. Details: 0118 960

6060

READING – Pitcher & Piano, Friar Street RG1 1DB. Stars in the their Minds karaoke. Details: 0118 958 8964.

READING – Playlist, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Live request supper club. Details: 0118 212 0720.

READING – The Rising Sun, Silver Street RG1 2ST. Club Velocity 20th

anniversary party: The August List, The May, Eat Daddy Eat. Details: 0118

986 6788.

READING – South Street arts centre.

Alasdair Roberts. Details: 0118 960

6060

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Arctic Monkeys tribute. Scam Fender. The Killers tribute. Details: 0118 959

5395

READING – The Turks, London Road RG1

5BJ. Wardour Street. Details: 0118

957 6930

READING – The Victoria Cross, Basingstoke Road RG2 0NT. RG2

Radio presents Caribbean After Work Jam. Details: 0118 931 0115.

WHITLEY – Whitley Social Club, RG2

7QA. Amanda’s jam night. Details: 0118 374 0052.

WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. Graffiti Child.

along with a driving rhythm section, great riff, and energetic emotive vocals.

We saw them last year at Loddfest and, following that, we are definitely looking forward to their appearance at Wokingham Fesival in August – linktr. ee/ElucidateUK

Jo Bartlett – I Waited A Year

Did you know that someone from Sandhurst helped to start the legendary Green Man Festival?

Did you know that she was also part of an acclaimed electronic folk duo, It’s Jo & Danny, and, did you know that she has just released a very good solo single? How impressive is all of that?

Well it’s all very impressive and it’s Jo Bartlett with her new single and its wonderful stuff with its mellow synth pop feel and personal lyrics. We hear Jo is working on an album so watch out for that –linktr.ee/jobartlett

Details: 0118 977 3706.

WOKINGHAM - The White Horse, Easthampstead Road RG40 3AF. Open mic night. Details: 0118 979 7402.

WOKINGHAM – The Station Tap, Station Road RG40 2AD. Karaoke with Waynie. Details: 0118 977 4548.

WOKINGHAM – The Whitty Theatre, Luckley House School, Luckley Road RG40 3EU. Wokingham Music Club presents Oye Santana. Details: www. wokinghammusicclub.co.uk

WOKINGHAM WITHOUT – Pinewood Bar and Cafe, Unit 8 Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road. GrooveX Band. Details: 01344 778543.

YATELEY - The Cricketers, Cricket Hill Lane GU46 6BA. Gary Roman as Elvis.

Details: 01252 872105.

Saturday, April 1

BINFIELD – The Binfield Club, Terrace Road RG42 4HP. The Silver Searchers.

Details: 01344 420690.

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. In Isolation, Greymere, Gothzilla. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. The Strats. Details: 01344 303333.

CROWTHORNE – Royal British Legion, Wellington Road RG45 7LJ. Storm King. Details: 01344 772161.

READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Rigsby. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. The Skapones. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Let’s Nacho Hollywood. Details: 0118 402 7800.

READING – Playlist, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Live request supper club. Details: 0118 212 0720.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Sounjam. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – Reading Biscuit Factory, Broad Street Mall RG1 7QE. Certain Sound Records record sale. 10am-5pm.

READING – The Queen’s Head, Christchurch Road RG2 7AZ. P’Jam. Details: 0118 931 0232.

READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. Smileys’ Top of the Pops Show. Details: 0118 926 5804.

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP.

Who Ate All The Crayons – Alive

This Reading band say that they have ‘perfected the balance of not taking life too seriously but serious enough that their tunes lay heavy in your minds’.

That’s very true judging by their new single that has melodies and a vocal performance that will definitely seep into your brain.

They regularly play live locally and will be supporting Deva St.John on April 20 at her BBC Introducing Purple Turtle show.

They will also be appearing at Wokingham Festival later this year – https://linktr.ee/ whoateallthecrayons

Rila’s Edge – Share the Night

We are still knocked out by their brilliant Gig House show in Wokingham recently.

Here’s a band on the rise with their latest single, Share the Night. Indie rock as it should be and another announced for Wokingham Fest –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 – www.spacehoppermusic. com/

Steve Anderson and Chris York

Our Man from France – A wonderful tribute to our friend and guitarist Eric Bouillette by Steve and Chris, who played in The Room with Eric. This is from the Songs for an Angel Vol 1 which features songs specially recorded for Eric – www.ftf-music.com/de/tributetoericbouillette/ tributetoericbouillette.htm

Spriggan Mist – Resurrection

They will be live in Lincoln this Saturday and, at a double header with Kindred Spirit at Hampton Hub Club on Saturday, April 22 –www.sprigganmist.com/

Red Tape Resistance – Get Me Out

It’s the new single from Alt-Rock band, Red Tape Resistance and it’s another of their powerful anthems –linktr.ee/redtaperesistance

Beans on Toast – Against the War

He performed a great show at Club Velocity’s Reading’s Facebar show last week –beansontoastmusic.com

Selina and the Howlin Dogs – Woman

This powerful blues rock single was released to coincide with International Women’s Day –www.selinaandthehowlindogs.com

Benny Page. Details: 0118 959 5395

READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. No Good Sons. Details: 0118 957 6930

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Peach and the Prairie Dogs 7.30pm. Details: 0118 977 0918.

WOKINGHAM – The Station Tap, Station Road RG40 2AD. DJ Bounce. Details: 0118 977 4548.

YATELEY - The Royal Oak, Reading Road, GU46 7UG. Utter Madness. Details: 01252 872459.

Sunday, April 2

PANGBOURNE – Working Men’s Club, Whitchurch Road, RG8 7BS. Tracey Mendham saxophonist with the Terry Hutchins Quartet. Details: 07500 333743.

READING – Community Hall, Watlington House, Watlington Street RG1 4RJ. Readifolk presents: Liz Simock. Details: www.readifolk.org.uk

READING – The Hexagon, Queens Walk RG1 7QF. Harry Styles tribute. Details: 0118 960 6060

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Reggae Sundays. Details: 0118 959 7196.

RISELEY – The Bull at Riseley, Basingstoke Road RG7 1QL. The B Side from 1pm..

Details: 0118 343 0565.

SONNING – The Mill at Sonning, Sonning Eye RG4 6TY. The Ultimate Classic Rock Show. Details: 0118 969 8000.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Super Chilled - jammy open mic Sundays. From 3pm.

Details: 0118 977 0918.

Monday, April 3

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Charity fesival night: Goldenboii, Hamez, DJ Remy Jones, Sidious, Nick Clev, Br4vo, Jessie Hilley, 4gfingaz and more. Loaded nachos with Gourmet Queens. Raffle and more.

Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Club Reckless: rock, metal, punk and emo night. Details: 0118 959 7196.

Tuesday, April 4

PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. Unplugged Night. Details: 0118 969 98978.

READING – The Biscuit Factory, Queens Walk RG1 7QE. TBTTDOAT:

Teorstan, Kitty Whitelock, Kaushik Skukla and open mic. Details: readingbiscuitfactory.co.uk

SHERFIELD-ON-LODDON – The Four Horseshoes. Equinox jazz night with Annie Parker. Details: 01256 882296.

Wednesday, April 5

READING – The Hexagon, Queens Walk RG1 7QF. That’ll Be The Day.. Details: 0118 960 6060

Thursday, April 6

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Iago Banet. Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk

READING – The Blagrave Arms, Blagrave Street RG1 1PW. Karaoke. Details: 0118 958 6775.

READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. FSJB presents Limpopo Groove. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING – Milk, Merchants Place RG1 1DT. The Hub Radio Community Station 1 Year Anniversary Fundraiser. Details: https://gofund.me/b2dec44f

READING – Popworld, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Easter special. Details: 0118 959 5395.

READING – Revolucion de Cuba, Friar Street RG1 1EX. Hop Till You Drop. Details: 0118 207 7016.

READING – The Retreat, St John’s Street RG1 4EH. The Village festival presents The Barnstormers. Details: 0118 376 9159.

Good Friday, April 7

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. The Lost Trades, Tomorrow Bird. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. The Take That Experience. Details: 01344 303333.

BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead RG12 7PA. Bracknell Jazz: Nigel Price. Details: 01344 484123.

BURGHFIELD – Cunning Man, Burghfield Road RG30 3RB. Earl Tee Live. Details: 0118 959 8067.

EMMBROOK – The Dog and Duck, Matthewsgreen Road RG41 1JT. Karaoke. Details: 0118 978 0544.

READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Storm In A Teacup presents Edwards In Venice and For I Am. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING – The Lyndhurst, Queen’s Road RG1 4DG. The Village festival:

Cafe Zazous. 1pm. Stever Morano and Band. 5pm. David Gray and John Dunsterville. 9pm. Details: 0118 950 3888.

READING – Pitcher & Piano, Friar Street RG1 1DB. Stars in the their Minds karaoke. Details: 0118 958 8964.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. OCD&B: Ghost Hardware, Magnum. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – Revolucion de Cuba, Friar Street RG1 1EX. Latin Addiction. Details: 0118 207 7016.

READING – The Retreat, St John’s Street RG1 4EH. The Go Go Five. 4pm. Phil Braithwaite and Friends. 7pm. Details: 0118 376 9159.

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Ultimate Coldplay Live. Details: 0118 959 5395.

WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. Piston Broke. Details: 0118 977 3706.

YATELEY - The Dog and Partridge, Reading Road GU46 7LR. Emma Baldwin. Details: 01252 870648.

Saturday, April 8

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Jagged Little Alanis with Follow Deep. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Hedkandi. Details: 01344 303333.

BRACKNELL – The Royal Oak, London Road RG12 2NN. Ear Candy. Details: 01344 422622

CHARVIL - The Wee Waif, Old Bath Road RG10 9RJ. Moon Hill presents karaoke and disco.

PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. Box Set.

Details: 0118 969 98978.

READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Easter Extravaganza. Details: 0118 402 7800.

READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. Switchblades presents Paul Ansells No9. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING - Lola Lo, Friar Street. Lost Saturdays Easter bunny bash.

READING – The Lyndhurst, Queen’s Road RG1 4DG. The Village festival: L:ily Beck and Friends. 3pm. Skates and Wagons. 7pm. Details: 0118 950 3888.

READING - Oakford Social Club, Blagrave Street. Tov.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Goldsworth Jerry. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – The Retreat, St John’s Street RG1 4EH. The Village festival: The Keith Allen Band. 1pm. Jackie Doe and the Uncertainty of Passion. 5pm. Rufus Ruffcut. 9pm. Details: 0118 376 9159.

READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. Move It. Details: 0118 926 5804.

TILEHURST – The Royal British Legion Club, Downing Road RG31 5BB. W3G. Details: 0118 942 9606.

WHITLEY – Whitley Social Club, RG2 7QA. Mythicals. Details: 0118 374 0052.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. The Gas Trick Band. 7.30pm. Details: 0118 977 0918.

YATELEY - The Royal Oak, Reading Road, GU46 7UG. Arachna. Details: 01252 872459.

Easter Sunday, April 9

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. I Got Soul presents David Rodigan. Details: 01344 303333.

READING – The Jazz Cafe, Select Car leasing Stadium RG2 0FL. Genius Easter Birthday Bash. Details: 0118 968 1442.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Hybrid Culture with Don Letts. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – The Lyndhurst, Queen’s Road RG1 4DG. The Village festival: Fleur Stevenson and Hugh Turner. 3pm. Details: 0118 950 3888.

READING – The Retreat, St John’s Street RG1 4EH. The Village Festival: Mayor and James. 1pm.HybridPIG. 9pm .

Details: 0118 376 9159.

READING – Popworld, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Easter Sunday Massive. Details: 0118 959 5395.

READING – The Victoria Cross, Basingstoke Road RG2 0NT. RG2 Radio presents Easter Soul Party.

Details: 0118 931 0115.

Easter Monday, April 10

READING – The Retreat, St John’s Street RG1 4EH. The Village Festival: The Acoustic Beatles Shambles. 3pm.

Details: 0118 376 9159.

READING – The Polish Club, London Road RG1 4DX. The Village Festival after party: Limpopo Groove. 7.30pm.

Details: 0118 958 9908.

POWER BAND: Elucidate at Loddfest 2022 Picture: Andrew Merritt

WHAT’SON

Friday, March 31

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 – OpenHand

OpenSpace (OHOS), 571 Oxford Road RG30

1HL. Hummingbirds and Hamburgers: call to action. An Exhibition and Screening of Works by Christine Ellison.

6pm-9pm. Details: 571oxfordroad.org

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 1

BEECH HILL –Memorial Hall, Beech Hill Road. Easter allotments scavenger hunt. 1pm-3pm. £1 per entry. Free tea, coffee and other refreshments. Cakes, biscuits for sale. In aid of playground refurbishment project.

CROWTHORNE – St John the Baptist Church, Waterloo Road RG45 7NT. Thames Voyces spring concert: Britten, Poulenc, Vierne. £15, under 16s free.

7.30pm. Details: 0118 967 7319.

EARLEY – 3SixtyUniversity of Reading RG6 6UR. CosXPo 2023. 11am-6pm. Details: cosxpo.com

HENLEY – St Mary’s Church, Hart Street, RG9 2AU. Henley Choral Society 50th anniversary gala concert and world premeire: Cecilia McDowall’s The Ice Is Listening. £20, under 18s £5. 7.30pm. Details: www. henleychoralsociety.org.uk

READING – Cattle Market, Great Knollys Street RG1 7HU. Reading Farmers Market. 8.15amnoon. Details: www. thamesvalleyfarmers market.co.uk

READING – The Great Hall, University of Reading, London Road RG1 5AG. South Chiltern Choral Society: Puccini’s Messa

di Gloria and Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. 7.30pm. With guests L’Ensemble Vocal de la Vallee du Tarn. £20 in advance, or £25 on the door. Details: www. southchilternchoralsociety. org.uk

READING – Concert Hall, Reading Town Hall, Blagrave Street RG1 1QH. Reading Symphony Orchestra Family Concert. 4pm. £16, students and under 18s £5. Details: www.rso.org.uk

READING – The Centre for Heritage and Family History, 2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square RG1 3BQ. DNA special interest grup. Organised by the Berkshire Family History Society.

2.30pm. £5, £4 members.

Booking essential. Details: 0118 950 9553.

READING – Jelly, 1st Floor, Broad Street Mall RG1

7QE. Sunday Life Drawing with guest artist Pat Lewis.

£12-£15. 11.30am-1pm. Details: www.jelly.org.uk

READING – OpenHand

OpenSpace (OHOS), 571 Oxford Road RG30

1HL. Hummingbirds and Hamburgers: call to action. An Exhibition and Screening of Works by Christine Ellison. Noon-4pm. Details: 571oxfordroad.org

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

SILCHESTER –Village Hall, Little London Road RG7

2ND. Village market: local produce and businesses. 10am-12.30pm. Details: 0118 970 0999 or www. silchestervillagemarket. org.uk.

TWYFORD – Loddon Hall, Loddon Hall Road RG10 9JA. Waltham St Lawrence Silver Band brass and voices concert. 7.30pm. £8, under 12s free. Details: www.walthamband.com

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 2

ACROSS READING – From Green Park. Reading Half Marathon 2023 and Green Park Challenge. Details: readinghalfmarathon.com

EARLEY – 3SixtyUniversity of Reading RG6 6UR. CosXPo 2023. 11am-6pm. Details: cosxpo.com

READING – Blue Collar Corner, Hosier Street RG1 7QL. Reading’s Indie Market. 10am-3pm. Free entry.

READING – St Joseph’s College, Upper Redlands Road, Reading RG1 5JT. Reading Haydn Choir –concert featuring choral works by Handel, Mozart and John Rutter. £15, £13 concessions, under 19s £5. £1 discount advance sales. Details: www.haydnchoir. org.uk

READING – Prospect Park, Bath Road. Prospect Park Railway public running organised by the reading Society of Model Engineers. From 1pm-3pm. 60p a ride, 10 tickets £4. Traines will run until 3.45pm.

READING – The Biscuit Factory, Broad St Mall, Queen’s Walk RG1

7QE. Reading Film Theatre presents Before Sunrise (15). Details: readingfilmtheatre.co.uk.

READING – Rising Sun Arts Centre, Silver Street RG1

2ST. Dreading Poetry Slam.

7.30pm. Free entry. Details: www.risingsunartscentre.

org

READING – OpenHand OpenSpace (OHOS), 571 Oxford Road RG30

1HL. Hummingbirds and Hamburgers: call to action. An Exhibition and Screening of Works by Christine Ellison. Noon-4pm. Details: 571oxfordroad.org

READING – Venue to be confirmed on booking.

Terry’s Town Centre Walkabout –Forbury Gardens, Abbey, 5B’s + 2 Myths. Maximum 16 people. £5, child over 10 £1. In aid of PACT and Royal Berks Charity. 5.45pm. Details: www.facebook.com/ terrysreadingwalkabouts

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

SPENCERS WOOD – Village Hall, Basingstoke Road RG7 1AP. Repair cafe.

1.30pm.

SWALLOWFIELD – All Saints Church, Church Road RG7 1TH. Farley Singers Come and Sing: Stainer’s Crucifixion. Rehearsal 4.30pm-6pm. Performance 7pm. Free entry, retiring collection for Share Shinfield and All Saints Church.

WARGRAVE – St Mary’s Church. Twyford Singers spring concert: European Romnatic Sacred music.

7pm. £12, £5 under 18s.

Details: twyford-singers. org.uk

WOKINGHAM – St Crispin’s Leisure Centre, London Road RG40 1SR. Antique and Collectors Fair.

10am-3pm. Details: 07723 068189.

WOKINGHAM – Culver Grove off Wheeler Avenue, Mulberry Grove RG40 5AS. Dr Bike free bike checks.

10am-noon. Booking essential. Details: www. myjourneywokingham.com

Monday, April 3

ARBORFIELD – Royal British

Legion, Eversley Road RG2 9PR. Friendship table.

9.30am-11.30am. Details: linkvisiting.org

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.

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

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 4

CAVERSHAM – Library, Church Street RG4 8AU. Rhymetime. 10.15am10.45am and 11.15am11.45am. Booking essential. Free. Details: 0118 937 5103.

CROWTHORNE – Two Sisters Cafe, High Street RG45 7AF. Crochet and Coffee evening. 7pm. Booking essential. Details: https:// twosisters-cafe.com/

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. Details: linkvisiting. org

FINCHAMPSTEAD – FBC Centre, Gorse Ride North RG40 4ES. Art group. 1pm-3pm. £3 per session. Details: 0118 973 2484.

LOWER EARLEY – Salvation Army, Chalfont Close RG6 5UG. Singing By Heart: For those living with dementia and their carers or if you just want to come and sing.

11am. Details: 0118 931 0760.

READING – Reading Central Library, Abbey Square RG1 3BQ. Rhymetime. Booking essential. 10.30am. Details: 0118 937 5950.

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

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 WITHOUT –Pinewood Bar and Cafe, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ. Friendship table available. 9am-4pm. Details: linkvisiting.org

WOODLEY – Crumbs, Library Parade, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3LX. Comedy at Crumbs. With Rich Wilson, Dinesh Natan and Jonathan Elston. 7pm. £12. Details: www.wegottickets. com/event/554272

Wednesday, April 5

CROWTHORNE – Parish Hall, Heath Hill Road South RG45 7BN. Sandhurst & Crowthorne Flower Club meeting: handso on workshop. 7.30pm-10pm.

EARLEY – Brookside Church, Brookside Close RG6 7HG. Open Door cafe with Friendship Table. 2pm-4pm. Details: linkvisiting.org

READING – All Nations Christian Centre, Berkeley Avenue RG1 6JE. The Easter Hangout: family activities. Free, booking essential. Parents/carers must stay with children. 10am-noon. Aspire Reading: an evening on the theme of Fearless, with Rachel Hickson and Helen Azer. £6.50. 6pm. Details: https://www. allnationselim.org/

READING – The Biscuit Factory, Broad St Mall, Queen’s Walk RG1 7QE. Reading Film Theatre presents Before Sunrise (15). Details: readingfilmtheatre.co.uk.

READING – Reading Central Salvation Army, Anstey Road RG1 7JR. Easter music relfections. 7.30pm.

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

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

WOODLEY – Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way RG5 4UX. Woodley & District u3a presents Hugh Warwick: Hedgehogs –Why we should worry and what we can do. 1.45pm. Details: woodleyu3a.org.uk

Thursday, April 6

BINFIELD – Library, Benetfeld Road RG42 4JZ. Bounce and Rhyme: singing and music for toddlers and babies. 50p per child. 9.30am-10am. Details: https://www.bracknellforest.gov.uk/libraries/ library/binfield-library

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 – OpenHand OpenSpace (OHOS), Oxford Road RG30

1HL. FRESH #2: Boiling Point – exhibition featuring postgraduate students from Reading School of Art. Opening event 5pm. Details: http://571oxfordroad.org/

READING – Venue to be confirmed on booking. Terry’s Town Centre Walkabout –The New, Old, Good, Bad, downright Ugly and Missing. Maximum 20 people. £5, child over 10 £1. In aid of PACT and Royal Berks Charity. 5.45pm. Details: www.facebook.com/ terrysreadingwalkabouts

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

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.

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 – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40

1AU. People, Planet, Pint: sustainability meet-up. From 6pm. Free entry.

WOKINGHAM – The Cornerstone, All Saints Church, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham RG40

1UE. Wokingham and East Berkshire Camera Club meeting: JPCR Competition. 7.30pm. Details: www.webcc.org.uk.

WOKINGHAM – The Ship Inn, Peach Street. Comedy on Tap. 7pm. £17. Details: 0118 978 0389.

Good Friday, April 7

EARLEY – Earley St Nicolas, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6 7JN. Good Friday family fun: crafts, the Easter story, make an Easter garden, seasonal refreshments.

10am-12.30pm. Meditations at the cross.

1pm-3pm. Details: 0118 966 9080.

READING – All Nations

Christian Centre, Berkeley Avenue RG1 6JE. Journey

Through Easter: a reflective and interactive journey through Easter; the events of Jesus’ last week.

Free. 10am-noon. Seasonal refreshments available.

Details: https://www. allnationselim.org/

READING – Saint Laurence Church, Friar Street RG1

1DA. Experience Easter: interactive installations, video, cafe, crafts and more. 2pm-3.30pm. Details: www.stlreading. org

READING – OpenHand OpenSpace (OHOS), Oxford Road RG30

1HL. FRESH #2: Boiling Point – exhibition featuring postgraduate students from Reading School of Art. Details: http://571oxfordroad.org/

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

TILEHURST – Stadium Way

Industrial Estate (Scours Lane end) RG30 6BX.

Thames Vale Vultures

Berkshire Egg Run 2023: Meet 11.30am, bikes to ride to Abbey Rugby Club, Emmer Green from 12.30pm. Details: 07827 475391.

WOKINGHAM – Market Place. Churches Together in Wokingham present a Good Friday service. An Hour at the Cross at Wokingham Baptist at 10.15am, 11.30am hot cross buns at Wokingham Methodist Church, Rose Street. Noon: a Good Friday meditation in market Place, then a service at Corpus Christi Church in Sturges Road from 12.30pm.

Saturday, April 8

CAVERSHAM – Caversham Methodist Church Hall, Gosbrook Road RG4 8EB. Artists and Makers Fair. 10am. Free entry. Details:

jean@alljazzedup.com or 07808 966928.

CAVERSHAM – Caversham Park Village Social Club, The Milestone Centre RG4 6PF. Easter fun day: Easter fun with games, a circuit of Easter crafts, some music and an Easter egg hunt, for school-aged children. Includes games, raffles, tombola, egg hunt and more. Entry free, charges for activities. Details: 0118 334 1040 or office@cpva. org.uk

CROWTHORNE – Baptist Church, High Street RG45 7AT. Shine’s Easter ‘Eggstravaganza’: 10am-noon. Suggested donation £2 per child, £1 additional sibling. Details: 01344 761725.

PADWORTH –Village Hall, Padworth Lane. Jumble sale. 2pm-3pm. Donations 10am-11.30am. In aid of village hall.

READING – OpenHand OpenSpace (OHOS), Oxford Road RG30

1HL. FRESH #2: Boiling Point – exhibition featuring postgraduate students from Reading School of Art. Details: http://571oxfordroad.org/

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

Easter Sunday, April 9

READING – OpenHand OpenSpace (OHOS), Oxford Road RG30

1HL. FRESH #2: Boiling Point – exhibition featuring postgraduate students from Reading School of Art. Details: http://571oxfordroad.org/

RISELEY – Wellington Country Park, Odiham Road RG7 1SP. Wellington Country Easter Eggstravaganza includes Mega Egg Hunt plus crafts, and more. 9.30am-4.30pm. Details: wellingtoncountrypark. co.uk

WOKINGHAM – Market Place RG40 1AS. Sparkle Vegan Events presents vegan market. 11am3pm. Details: www. sparkleveganevents.com

Easter Monday, April 10

WOKINGHAM – Holme Grange Craft Village, Heathlands Road. Easter fair with craft stalls, beer and wine tasting, inflatables, Easter bunny hunt, face painting and more. Free entry. Details: holmegrangecraftvillage. co.uk

Quiz Challenge

1. The Carnatic Wars were fought in which country?

2. Who won the 2023 Golden Globe award for Best Actor for his role in the film Elvis?

3. What is the occupation of a couturier?

4. Footballers Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Lucas Hernandez all played for which national team in the 2022 World Cup?

5. What B is a piece of crossbow weaponry and a form of threaded fastener?

6. What does the abbreviation AONB stand for?

7. Which children’s novel by Mary Norton became a successful TV series?

8. Which famous wine region is named after a river which rises in France and joins the Rhine at Koblenz?

9. Who sold the most vinyl albums in 2022, helping to make it a record-breaking year?

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

10. Knight companions are found in which British order of chivalry? ACROSS

MO TM YH ET HR ES

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.

1. Matt perhaps could give us an exciting result (5,6)

9. Hears moans from principality (5)

10. Funny waddler, one in no rush (7)

11. A detective needs this when investigating a shocking murder! (4)

12. Glee can by the point be transformed into grace (8)

14. A great amount can be extracted from a good lesson (6)

15. It is seemly to support the Queen (6)

18. Short-time worker delayed producing a pattern (8)

20. Leo’s cultivated fruit (4)

22. Heron is in trouble near the coast (7)

23. Kay will move slowly with the small anchor (5)

24. Unrestrained in Africa perhaps (11)

1. Facial hair (7)

8. Put on trial (7)

9. Protein hormone (7) 10. Mottled (7) 11. Supervise (7)

SOLUTIONS

onto; orate; orfe; ornate; ratoon; roan; rone; roof; root; rota; rote; taro; tenon; tenor; toea; tone; toner; tonne; toon; tore; torn.

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.

2. What the stuttering ship’s lookout said when crossing the North Sea! (7)

3. To mum it is twaddle (4)

4. Use bow to mess around (6)

5. Young lady making daily deliveries perhaps (8)

6. Sarah has less than one room (5)

7. Credulously believe reported story of a butterfly (11)

8. Bird by the name of Ivy perhaps (4,7)

13. Rich spring to be acceptable (4-2-2)

16. Peg accepts a boy as a knight errant (7)

17. Not troubled when in repose (2,4)

19. Some other name for a shortlived particle (5)

21. It covers all of us all the time (4)

FIVE ALIVE EQUALISER NONAGRAM

CROSS CODE

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:

Oversee; 14 Elm; 16 Knit; 18 Mill; 19 Emit; 20 Elan; 21 See; 23 Ukulele; 26 Ethical;

Across – 1 Eyelash; 8 Arraign; 9 Insulin; 10 Dappled; 11

QUICK CROSSWORD:

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.

EQUALISER: CRYPTIC CROSSWORD:

ACROSS DOWN

Tell your shaggy dog story to win a year’s supply of dry dog food

DOES your dog make your day or do you have a caring canine that keeps you company?

If you own the perfect pooch then now’s the time to tell the world your shaggy dog story.

A leading pet food manufacturer is looking for dogs that lead when others only follow.

The Vet’s Kitchen wants to hear about mutts that make a difference whether they are therapy dogs or just good at cuddling.

The three top dogs in the Woof and Well Awards will pick up a medal as well as a year’s supply of Vet’s Kitchen dry dog food.

Laura Shears MD of Vet’s Kitchen said this year’s awards will focus on the mental health benefits of dog ownership.

“Caring for a dog can benefit our mental health in so many ways, from keeping us active and boosting our confidence to helping us meet new people,” explained Laura.

“Dogs don’t judge, get bored of our jokes or tire of walks along the same route. For children, the love of a canine companion can influence their world in a positive way, enabling them to grow up stronger and more resilient.

“Nothing beats the welcome you receive from your dog, whether it’s a waggy tail at the end of a long working day or seeing your dog outside the school gates, their enthusiasm is contagious.

“Humans and their canine

companions have always made for a winning team.

“That’s why our Woof and Well Award is so important and why each year we like to showcase the wonderful stories of dogs who have provided emotional support simply by being there.”

The Vet’s Kitchen Woof and Well Award is looking for tales of everyday canine heroism from owners who

PlasticFreeHome David

Lamont

Healthy heart tip

Get your spring clean on S

PRING is the season of fresh starts.

This week, we wanted to shine a light on good old-fashioned spring cleaning and the potential health benefits it offers.

Cleaning counts towards our daily movement goals, lighter tasks like dusting can burn around 160 calories an hour, and more heavy-duty tasks like washing windows or scrubbing can burn around 350 calories an hour.

In addition, having a clean and tidy home can improve our mental health, and making sure our kitchen is clean and organised can have a positive impact on our motivation to eat healthy foods and cook from scratch.

Get prepared

want to thank their dog for helping them and their family feel better and have proven their worth as part of a family or the wider community.”

The closing date for entries which will be judged by the expert team at Vet’s Kitchen including Fiona Firth, the Vet’s Kitchen Nutritionist is July 31.

“At Vet’s Kitchen we recognise that the bond between dog and owner is a powerful one and speaking from

Going Green at Easter

EASTER feels like it has been on its way for some time.

From memory, we spotted Easter eggs on sale just after New Year in January – a bit egg-streme (the last pun, we promise).

So, how can we all get a little greener this Easter?

An estimated 80 million chocolate Easter eggs are sold annually in the UK. Like other occasions, ranging from Halloween to Christmas, Easter can be a time of excess and waste.

The first option then is to reduce how much we buy, or to skip the chocolate all together (“madness”, we here you cry…)

And, it goes without saying, if you can avoid all of the gimmicks at Easter time, from fancy dress chidlren will wear once to baskets, bonnets and toys.

While some of the leading brands have recently re-thought their packaging, including seeking to reduce or eliminate their use of plastic, as we always say at Plastic Free Home, what’s on the inside counts too.

Don’t forget to look at the company making the product and it’s ethical and sustainability credentials, the ingredients used and the supply chain involved.

CHOCS AWAY: How can you make Easter eggs an ethical purchase? Picture: Pixabay

As a general rule of thumb, if something seems comparatively cheap, somebody is being squeezed somewhere along the line.

When buying Easter eggs, look at whether a product is Fairtrade (or similarly accredited), to help ensure that the chocolate has been ethically grown and sourced, with workers’ rights and pay better protected as part of the supply chain.

You may also want to consider whether your Easter eggs are

organic, vegan, dairy free or palm oil free, depending on your personal preferences, and of course, plastic free.

Our top eco-friendly eggs

Divine is fairtrade, plastic and palm oil free, with a vegan variant.

Tony’s Chocolonely is fairtrade, plastic and palm oil free.

Montezuma’s is fairtrade, organic, plastic and palm oil free, and there is a vegan variant.

Moo free is organic, vegan, plastic

experience I wouldn’t be without my dogs, Theo and Yogi. They really are wonderful companions.”

Vet’s Kitchen is a partner company to Vet’s Klinic, which has recently opened its Reading branch in Woodley.

n For full details on how to enter, go to: https://vetskitchen.co.uk/pages/ woofandwell

JAMES HASTINGS

To ensure you have a successful and stress-free spring clean make sure you have everything you need before starting. Set up a ‘cleaning station’ at a central point in your house with all the things you will need and only take one thing at a time.

Doing it this way rather than using a cleaning caddy or bucket to carry things from room to room means you will end up moving more which will get your heart pumping.

Turn up the volume

Whether it’s jazz, pop, hip hop or rock, having upbeat music playing while cleaning can improve our mood, energy, and motivation.

You could take the time to listen to a podcast or audiobook on a subject you want to learn more about, or enjoy the silence, anything that helps make the task more enjoyable.

and palm oil free.

Hip Oak Milk is vegan, plastic and palm oil free.

Hip Oak Milk is vegan, plastic and palm oil free.

The Real Easter Egg is fairtrade, vegan, plastic and palm oil free.

Happi Oat Milk is vegan, as well as plastic and palm oil free.

Cocoa Loco is fairtrade, organic and vegan, as well as plastic and palm oil free, as is So Free’s egg.

The Co-Op is fairtrade, and it is plastic and palm oil free.

Have an egg-stra special Easter… Oops.

Declutter

Set aside some time to declutter your house too, donating or selling things you no longer need or use. Having less clutter makes it easier to keep your house and possessions clean and organised.

Spring is also a good time to think about your mental health and assess things like your work-life balance and how much time you spend doing the things you enjoy.

Embrace this season of new beginnings by starting a new activity or hobby and saying goodbye to habits that no longer serve you.

n To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heartresearch-uk-recipes-2/

FIGHT FOR POINT

HARRIES’ DOUBLE

SUPER SUB RESCUES ROYALS

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

SUPER SUB Emma Harries inspired Reading Women to a second-half fightback to pick up a crucial point in their bid to remain in the Women’s Super League.

YELLAS PREPARE FOR SEMIFINAL SHOWDOWN

ASCOT UNITED have their sights set on sealing a date at Wembley when they face Corsham Town in the FA Vase semi-final this weekend.

The Yellas have had a remarkable campaign both in the league and cup and could be set to make history by reaching the Vase final.

Ascot lead the way in the Combined Counties Premier North and are just nine games away from capturing the league title if they can maintain their form.

They are currently in front by seven points of closest challengers Reading City with a game in hand having amassed 75 points with an astounding record of 24 wins in 29 games.

However, all eyes will be on the FA Vase this Saturday where an away trip to Corsham Town awaits them.

The Yellas booked their place in the final four in the most dramatic of circumstances at West Didsbury in the quarter-finals.

Brendan Matthew netted to take the game to a penalty shootout in a 1-1 draw and it was Ascot who held their nerve from 12 yards to seal a 4-3 win on penalties.

Corsham Town, from Wilthsire, play their football in the Hellenic League Premier Division.

The Quarrymen are in fourth place in the table with 66 points from 29 matches.

Things were looking ominous for the Royals on Sunday when they found themselves two goals behind after 13 minutes to relegation rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.

Royals boss Kelly Chambers opted to switch both personnel and the

team’s system for the second-half, a decision that paid off. Harries netted with her first touch of the game inside the opening minute of the second-half.

With an hour on the clock, Harries powered in a header to convert from Lily Woodham’s cross

to level the game.

The 2-2 stalemate means that Reading move another point further away from the drop zone heading into another crucial battle this weekend away at bottom of the table Leicester City.

n Match report page 22

They have picked up 20 wins and have been beaten just three times in the entire campaign.

Corsham also got through in the quarter-finals via a penalty shootout success.

In their away tie at Peacehaven, Corsham came out on top after a 1-1 draw in normal time with a 3-2 shootout triumph.

NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS

BASKETBALL

‘WE PLAYED SOME FANTASTIC RUGBY’ REYNOLDS HAILS SIDE ROCKETS SECURE PLAY-OFF PLACE WITH ESSEX WIN

RUGBY UNION

By STAFF WRITER sport@wokingham.today

a two point deficit at the start of the quarter to a one point lead at the end.

By RICHARD ASHTON sport@wokingham.today

DELIGHTED RAMS director of rugby Seb Reynolds lauded his side’s sensational 59-21 triumph at home to Taunton Titans as one of their best displays of the season.

The hosts turned on the style to run in nine tries as they matched their highest points tally in a National One fixture.

The electric back three of Henry Bird, Jak Rossiter and man-of-the-match Axel Kalling-Smith were looking deadly every time they received a kick into the back field.

Bouncing back from the narrow defeat at Plymouth a fortnight ago, Reynolds said: “Taunton have had a good run and are a tasty side, so we were mindful of that, but we just focused on ourselves. I thought we played some fantastic rugby.

“We felt we could move the ball to the width and have a chance to counter with space in front of us –when you’ve got our back three and the likes of James McRae around you have a threat. The guys played fantastic heads-up rugby.”

The hosts opened their account with the first of five tries scored from the kick-return. Kalling-Smith had the initial break before slick handling sent Drew Humberstone over on the left.

A sweet move off a lineout saw Kalling-Smith run in from halfway before McRae cut a glorious line for his side’s third.

Try of the day came with the final play of the first half, Rams repelling some five minutes of Taunton pressure.

Ollie Cole broke free and, following some more marvellous inter-play, Jak Rossiter finished the job

for his 20th of a fabulous campaign 20 seconds later.

Titans started the second half fast and Alex Rodd went over at the back of a maul, but Connor Stapley and Kalling-Smith tries re-asserted Rams’ control at 38-7.

Nick Mason and Charlie Wright crossed the whitewash for Taunton, George Worboys converting both to keep his side in contention, before the hosts turned on the afterburners late on.

The quality of off-loading was magnificent as Ellis Jones, Ollie Moffitt and McRae went over in the final seven minutes.

Reynolds continued: “It was very impressive, but I like us to do it (attack).

“Sometimes you have to play the moment, and at times you get a turnover or penalty just before half-time and kick it out, but that’s

what the opposition want you to do.

“So to be able to defend on our line with dogged determination and then suddenly break out and have the intent to put the pressure back on them by scoring did change the game.

“It could have been 19-7, but instead it was a 14-point swing and that probably left too much for Taunton to do.

“We’re always working on the continuity game and it was up there with the best it’s been this season. We do a lot of it in training and with the guys having a good skill-set.

“It was really good to see that against a quality outfit who are scrapping against relegation and who came here with lots of motivation, and our guys dealt with it really well.”

n Rams head to Sale for a topof-the-table clash on Saturday (2.30pm).

READING Rockets ended their impressive home stand in March with a high scoring 101- 91 win over the Essex Rebels.

In front of a sold-out Loddon Valley, a win guaranteed a playoff spot and the crowd did an amazing job in being the sixth man.

It was Jenkins who got the Rockets cooking, getting the mismatch with the massive Lee Linton-Hodges where Flip stepped into a three and drained it.

Both teams would start the second quarter hot, with Essex holding a one point, 30-29, lead just three minutes into the quarter.

The two teams traded buckets throughout the quarter, however the Rockets managed to turn

The fourth quarter is where the Rockets launched off, dominating on both ends of the ball.

Reading opened with a three minute 10-2 run off the back of Champion and Cracknell.

The score was 99-88 and the Rockets had the ball with just over 24 seconds left. The game was over but the crowd desperately wanted 100.

So Pinnock dribbled into the lane and chucked up a lob to Porter who hammered it home and put the emphasis on 100, much to the crowd’s delight.

On Saturday the Rockets travel to Uxbridge to take on the Thames Valley Cavaliers before Sunday’s meeting with Solent Kestrels.

Connor Stapley scored his first try of the season Pictures: Paul Clark

The Rockets score a basket

Reading Rockets in action Pictures: Luke Simcock

James McRae dives over for a try

Man-of-the-match Axel Kalling-Smith prepares to pass to Ellis Jones

Rams players with members of the club’s Minis section after the game

Ellis Jones stretches over the line during Rams’ 59-21 home win against Taunton

NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS

FOOTBALL

CITYZENS CONCEDE LATE AS TITLE HOPES TAKE A HIT

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

Combined Counties Premier North READING CITY missed the chance to close the gap at the top after they conceded a late goal at home to Wallingford & Crowmarsh.

The Cityzens enjoyed an excellent opening half and two headed goals saw them go into the break with a two-goal cushion.

Eddie Lee netted the opener to put City in front after eight minutes before Ellis Cowd made it two with a thumping header.

The away team came fighting back in the second-half and got back into the contest with 15 minutes to go to beat Charlie York.

Deep into stoppage time, Wallingford stole a leveller to stop City from moving closer to the summit.

Reading City manager Simon Johnson said: “A game we were in full control of slipped away.

“Full credit to Wallingford for their second-half display and

FOOTBALL

10-MAN ROBINS DIG DEEP TO REACH CUP FINAL

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

Southern League Premier South

BRACKNELL TOWN are back in the title hunt after their away win at bottom of the table Yate Town.

The Robins broke through late in the first-half when Adam Richards was quick to respond after the goalkeeper spilled a shot from Joe Grant and tapped in from close range. The hosts came close to finding a reply on the stroke of half-time, but goalkeeper Michael Eacott make a crucial stop to preserve his team’s advantage.

Eacott made another important save to keep Bracknell in front before the visitors doubled their lead with a goal from Joe Grant who got onto the end of a through ball from Gary Abisogun and converted.

The win puts Bracknell up to third

place on 72 points from 34 games.

They are two points behind second place Truro City and trail top of the table Weston super-Mare by six points with a game in hand over both teams.

Bracknell co-manager Carl Withers said: “First of four games this week and whilst we weren’t at our best today (Saturday), the boys got the job done.

“Buzzing to have Jordan Esprit back and big shout to the Robin faithful.”

Berks & Bucks FA semi-final

BRACKNELL followed up on their weekend success in the leaguge by progressing through to the final of the BBFA Cup.

Joe Grant scored to give the Robins the perfect opening after 10 minutes when he nodded in from six yards out.

The game took a turn when goalkeeper Chris Grace was sent off for

bringing down an MK Dons player on the edge of the box.

From the resulting free-kick, MK took advantage as Anker fired in to make it 1-1.

Depsite being a player down, Bracknell regained their lead in the 42nd minute through Jordan Esprit who converted from Kameron English’s low cross.

Bracknell had the chance to go 3-1 in front on the stroke of half-time with

a penalty, but it was saved by the MK keeper to keep it at 2-1.

But the Robins held out in the second-half to ensure that they moved a step closer to getting their hands on silverware.

Isthmian South Central BINFIELD picked up three precious points on their trip to Merstham at the weekend.

punishing us for not taking our chances.

“Eight games to go and there will be plenty of twists and turns along the way.”

ASCOT UNITED suffered a slight setback in their title pursuit after they dropped points at home for just the second time in 17 matches.

Alfie Grant headed the Yellas in front after 13 minutes, but the visitors came up with a quick reply.

Ascot restored their advantage in the 27th minute through top scorer Marcus Mealing to take a 2-1 score into half-time.

With 15 minutes to go, Wembley found a leveller for the second time in the match and that’s how it ended.

Ascot stay top of the table with a seven point lead over Reading City and a game in hand.

WOKINGHAM & EMMBROOK lost out away at Harefield United.

The 2-0 defeat leaves the Sumas in 18th on 23 points from 32 games with the teams below them with games in hand to play.

With 26 minutes gone, Conor Lynch kept up his scoring form to put the Moles ahead with the opening goal of the game.

The lead was doubled 15 minutes into the second-half as Lynch clinched his brace.

Binfield held out to maintain their clean sheet and picked up their 14th league win of the campaign.

They are in seventh place on 49 points from 32 games.

Bracknell celebrate scoring against Yate Pictures: John Leakey

City slide into the tackle

Joe Grant fires a shot past the keeper to score

Wallingford snatch a late leveller

Reading City in action at the Rivermoor

The Cityzens remain in second place

Reading City surrendered a two-goal lead in their home draw Pictures: Steve Smyth

NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS

BOARS COLLECT THREE POINTS, PANTHERS

By Andy Preston apreston@wokingham.today

Combined Counties

Division One

BERKS COUNTY maintained their push for the title after they racked up their 19th win of the campaign.

The Swords scored the only goal of the game to take the points and record a clean sheet.

Ellis Woods’ team are in second on 61 points, just four

points behind top of the table FC Deportivo Galicia with two games in hand.

EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA picked up their 12th league win of the campaign with a 2-0 home success over Molesey.

WOODLEY UNITED remain in 11th place after they were beaten away at London Samurai Rovers.

The Kestrels were two goals down at the break and Samurai added a third with 15 minutes to go despite being reduced to 10-men early in the second-half.

Sid Gbla clawed a goal back for Woodley when he converted from a corner, but the hosts added a fourth to make it 4-1 late in the game.

Thames Valley Premier League

READING YMCA stay hot on the heels of Finch after they earned an away win at SB Phoenix

Despite being set back by a red card early in the secondhalf, YMCA rallied to take

the points with a brace from Hendrick Reyes.

Thames Valley Division One

HURST remain in the fight for the title after they defeated Maidenhead Town Reserves.

The win means that Hurst are in second on 34 points and trail league leaders AFC Winkfield by just two points with two games in hand.

Southern Region Women’s Premier Division

ASCOT UNITED closed their league season with victory over Winchester City Flyers to secure second spot.

Tiffany Skinner scored with five minutes on the clock and that proved to be the only goal of the contest to give the Yellas three points.

Thames Valley Women’s League Cup semi-final

TILEHURST PANTHERS got past WARGRAVE to book their place in the final.

The Panthers had a two goal lead going into half-time with strikes from Tilly Waight and Deanna Cane.

Despite Beth Williams grabbing a goal for Wargrave, it was Tilehurst who ensured their place in the final as Cane added another before Leah Why netted two late goals to

Filip Podgorski at left-back for Eversley in their 2-0 win Pictures: Richard Milam

Ashrigde Park defeated Hope & Anchor Pictures: Andrew Batt

NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS

AND EVERSLEY REACH FINAL

From the middle

Please some, annoy others

LAST week I wrote about how referees can sometimes make a mistake, but of course many decisions are always going to be wrong in the view of one set of players and supporters, although pleasing to the other.

A classic example of this was the FA Cup quarter final game, Fulham v Manchester United.

If you watched on television, you will readily recall the incident, but if not, let me briefly describe this contentious affair.

Manchester United were a goal down when they were attacking the Fulham goal and looked certain to score the equaliser, with Fulham’s goalkeeper off his goal line.

However, Fulham’s Willian rushed back and managed to deflect the ball around the goalpost. The referee, Chris Kavanagh, pointed to a corner kick.

He was immediately surrounded by the red shirted United players who protested loudly that Willian had handled the ball.

Whether it was their claims or a word in his ear literally from the VAR, we don’t know, but he decided to look at the monitor.

confirm a 5-1 victory.

EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA

RESERVES booked their place in the cup final with victory over Ruislip Rangers.

A Laura Comerford treble and a goal from Megan Averill saw the Boars take a 4-2 win to progress.

Thames Valley Women’s Division Two

S4K BERKS COUNTY were narrowly beaten in a 10-goal contest away at Beaconsfield Town.

Megan Cox scored a hat-trick for the Fawkes and Kate Stewart was also on the scoresheet in the 6-4 loss.

FOOTBALL

Thames Valley Women’s Division 3S

BURGHFIELD picked up two points in a double header fixture against third place Taplow United.

In the first meeting, Burghfield overturned a one goal deficit to take a point in their home fixture with Taplow United.

After falling behind and going into half-time 1-0 down, the Fielders managed to score an equaliser in the second-half through Nicole Anderson to earn a 1-1 draw.

In the second game, the Fielders also found themselves chasing the game at half-time with Taplow having a 2-1 advantage.

But again Burghfield managed to produce a comeback and three more goals in the second-half meant that the match ended in a 3-3 draw.

Sophie Beake, Holly O’Connor and Carol Checkley were all on the scoresheet for Burghfield in the second game.

The points keeps Burghfield in ninth position on 12 points from 11 games.

Bracknell & District Sunday League

Premier: FC Showcase 4-4 William Twigg

Two: 3M 1-2 Bracknell Cavaliers

Cup: Ashridge Park 2-0 Hope & Anchor

Reading & District Sunday League

Division One: Caversham United 1-1 Loxwood Park Rangers, GC United 3-3 Arborfield, Ground United 3-3 Twyford Comets

Division Three: Core 3-5 RE United

Division Four: FC Whitely Wood 1-2 Richfield Vets, MAC 1-1 Arbor Athletic

FINCH SCORE SIX TO LEAD WAY FOR SECOND PLACE FINISH

By STAFF WRITER sport@wokingham.today

FINCHAMPSTEAD FC still lead the fight for second place in the Thames Valley Premier League after they won their 11th league match of the season.

The hosts were looking to make it three wins on the bounce after two impressive performances that consisted of eight goals and two clean sheets.

The visitors started off the better side with a flurry of set pieces that forced Jones into a

string of great saves. The deadlock was broken despite Jones’ best efforts after a double save from an in-swinging corner, which was smashed home by Dewhurst at the third time of asking on seven minutes.

A lovely ball from Weir put Day free on the right, and he picked out an unmarked Woodhead with a fizzing cross who slotted it home to fire the hosts level on 21 minutes.

The visitors regained their lead in the 34th minute as they dispossessed Finchampstead

on the left hand side and the danger man Dewhurst was able to produce a great finish past Jones.

They managed to achieve that before the half time whistle as they stunned the visitors.

Day kept his composure and rolled the ball across the goal for Butt to tap into an empty net.

Finch took the lead for the first time in the match on 53 minutes, following some tricky wide play from Parmer, who picked out Joel Day with a great cross who headed home to the relief of the hosts.

Day then slotted it home with a lovely finish to make it 4-2 on 72 minutes.

Day was again the provider put Collins through on goal who fired past the keeper in clinical fashion. There was still time to put the final touch on Day’s performance as he managed to dispossess the keeper moments later after the fifth and slot home to make it 6-2 in added time.

Joel Day finished the game playing a part in all six goals for Finchampstead with two goals and four assists.

Quite frankly, if the monitor view was the same as that on television, he would have had a difficult decision.

Willian’s arm did move downwards and the Law says, ‘it is a hand ball offence if a player deliberately touches the ball with their hand or arm, for example moving the hand or arm towards the ball’.

But was it deliberate and did it hit his arm or rebound off his leg?

Certainly not off his chest as Willian tried to indicate.

Not a decision I would like to have to make, but Chris Kavanagh had to make it, and from his view on the monitor he changed his mind and awarded a penalty.

This may have delighted the Manchester United players, but Kavanagh was immediately surrounded by the white shirted Fulham team as well as their manager Marco Silva, who quickly received a red card to be followed by Aleksandar Mitrovic who pushed Kavanagh roughly in the chest and followed him in a threatening manner.

With Willian also sent off for denying an obvious goal, this left Fulham with only nine players left on the field, and they quickly let in two more goals to lose the match.

A referee is allowed to change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or on the advice of another match official, providing the game has not restarted.

This is what happened at Fulham but what a referee can’t say is ‘I’m not sure, I don’t know’, which of course wouldn’t please anyone.

A decision must be made, one way or the other.

Dick Sawdon-Smith

How they rated

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CHAMPIONSHIP

HARRIES HITS DOUBLE

READING 2

BRIGHTON 2

GRACE MOLONEY

Made a vitally important save with the score at 2-0 to prevent Veatriki Sarri from getting her hattrick and three points to the visitors.

EASTHER MAYI-KITH

Used her pace to get the side out of trouble on a couple of occasions and grew in confidence after a shaky start.

GEMMA EVANS

Not strong enough at the back to stop Reading conceding two early goals. Was withdrawn at half-time as Kelly Chambers changed the shape.

EMMA MUKANDI

Played a nice long ball which Emma Harries latched onto to get Reading back into the contest early in the second-half.

FAYE BRYSON

Tested the gloves of Lydia Williams with a powerful strike after some nice combination play on the right and covered well at the back.

LILY WOODHAM

Put in several excellent corner deliveries and her crossing finally paid off when her whipped ball was nodded in by Emma Harries.

JADE MOORE

Worked hard with some industrious battling in the middle, but was sometimes slightly astray with her passing.

RACHEL ROWE

Had a good opportunity with a free-kick but missed the target. Showed some superb footwork and stayed composed to build attacks.

AMALIE EIKELAND

Battled hard to help Reading get back in the game and won some freekicks in profitable positions.

SANNE TROELSGAARD

An impressive performance from the Danish international who carried the ball forward with purpose and caused Brighton plenty of problems.

CHARLIE WELLINGS

Wasn’t able to forge too many chances or many attempts at goal as she was marshalled well by Leicester, had a stronger second-half.

EMMA HARRIES

Player of the match display from the forward who made an immediate impact with a coolly composed finish before heading in the equaliser.

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

8 7 6

7 8 8

EMMA HARRIES made an incredible impact from the bench to help Reading Women recover from two goals down to take a draw against Brighton.

A first-half double from Veatriki Sarri had the Seagulls two ahead at the break in the monumental Women’s Super League.

But an inspired performance off the bench from Harries got the Royals back in the game when she scored a minute after the restart and then powered in a headed equaliser with an hour gone.

6 7

5 6 6

The draw keeps Reading in 10th, one place and two points above Brighton who have two games in hand, while the Royals move four points clear of bottom place Leicester City.

The Royals looked to make an early breakthrough when Troelsgaard won her team an early corner.

But it was Brighton who found the opening goal of the game with just eight minutes on the clock when a cross to the back post was headed into the path of the unmarked Veatriki Sarri who slammed it into the top corner.

Things went from bad to worse for the Royals when the Seagulls double their lead just five minutes after the opener, making the hosts pay for their slack defending.

Sarri continued to pose a threat at every opportunity and latched onto a header from Guro Bergsvand and poked the ball past Moloney to find her second of the game.

In desperate need of a quick

REACTION

Match stats

READING: Moloney, Bryson, Mukandi (c), Evans, Mayi Kith, Woodham, Moore, Rowe, Troelsgaard, Eikeland, Wellings

SUBS: Burns, Poulter, Wade, Harries, Hendrix, Caldwell, Vanhaevermaet, Elwood

BRIGHTON: L Williams, Pattinson, Kullberg, Morse, Bergsvand, Zigiotti, Connolly, Robinson, Fox, Sarri, Lee

SUBS: Walsh, V Williams, Stott, Visalli, Park, Bance, Ferguson, Carter, Lane

GOALS: Sarri 8’, 13’, Harries 46’, 60’

take a point from this game than nothing.

response, Reading turned to Troelsgaard who looked most likely to make an impact throughout the first-half.

She showed excellent footwork and composure to skip past two challenges to get into the box before her shot rifled into the side netting.

Sarri then had the chance to make it an afternoon to remember by sealing a hat-trick when she responded quickly to latch onto a loose back pass and sped past

Gemma Evans, but Royals keeper Moloney rushed off her line to make a crucial save.

After some neat work down the right wing in tandem with Jade Moore, Faye Bryson unleashed a strike at goal that forced a strong save from Lydia Williams to tip behind for a corner.

The home team forced plenty of corners in quick succession towards the end of the half with Lily Woodham sending in some testing deliveries for goalkeeper

Chambers praises super sub Harries

has helped her.

Reading

a brace.

themselves two

a

“We didn’t play well at all in the first-half and gifted easy goals which we talked about in the week that we needed to defend and deal with the ball. We didn’t do that on two occasions.

“We changed shape in the second-half and were more front footed and aggressive which I asked for in the first-half, but they turned it around and it’s better to

“We made the decision to change shape at half-time because we felt we needed to, to get more bodies up the pitch.

“Fair play to Emma Harries, she’s only trained twice this week and has come on and made a massive impact, so good for her.

“The change of shape helped us be more aggressive so fair play to the girls because they could have collapsed at half-time, but they showed real character to get back in the game.

“It was huge (to get the goal quickly after the restart). Emma Harries had a massive impact. She did some finishing yesterday so we’re hoping that is something that

“We need those players that are set on the bench to come on and finish games and that’s what Emma did today. She came on and got us a point.”

Chambers was disappointed in her team’s first-half display which saw them go into half-time two goals down, but was pleased with the way they responded.

She continued: “I need players to make sure they are executing game plans and we didn’t do that

in the first-half so we need to make sure that is nailed going into next week.

“I won’t relay exactly what I said (at half-time). For me, it was either we can lay down and take it or stand up and be counted for and show up and get something out of the game.

“There was no point in us sitting back, we were losing the game so had nothing to lose going out in the second-half.

“It’s another point on the board for us and another point further away from them (Leicester).”

Troelsgaard goes close from a corner

Harries nets quickly after the restart

Jade Moore shields the ball from three players

Harries celebrates the equaliser

Reading recovered from being

READING FC WOMEN’s manager Kelly Chambers was quick to praise the impact of substitute Emma Harries who scored twice in the Royals’ draw with Brighton.

found

goals down inside 13 minutes, but a second-half cameo from Harries helped to recover

point after she scored

‘She had a massive impact’:

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TO IGNITE COMEBACK

The Royals boosted their survival hopes by avoiding defeat

MEN RETURN TO CONTINUE RELEGATION BATTLE

READING FC begin their final chapter of the Championship season with a trip to Bristol City.

The Royals still have a six-point deduction hanging over their heads with their future uncertain with fans of the club still wondering whether they will be punished this season or not.

Paul Ince’s men currently sit nine points above the drop zone in 18th place on 45 points heading into the final 10 matches of the campaign.

Reading stopped a run of four successive defeats prior to the international break with a 1-1 draw against Hull City, but are winless in the last five.

Rachel Rowe hits a strike at goal

Saturday’s opponents have picked up just four points in their last five league encounters.

That came in a 2-0 win over relegation battling Blackpool, while they have suffered defeats to Cardiff City, Luton Town and Swansea City.

Williams who stood up to the challenge to get her side into the break unscathed.

With a mountain to climb in the second-half, Reading came out with energy and intent.

A goal inside the opening minute of the restart got Chambers’ side off to the ideal start to mount a comeback when substitute Emma Harries snuck in behind the Brighton back line and placed a composed finish into the bottom corner.

The Seagulls had chances to regain their two goal lead when former Royal Danielle Carter found herself in space in front of goal, but

could only manage a tame effort that was grasped by Moloney.

There was then a huge let off at the back when captain Emma Mukandi lost the ball in her box and a goalmouth scramble ensued and was eventually smacked away by Moloney.

The end to end action continued and Reading found the leveller on the hour mark.

Woodham showed endeavour down the left to speed past a defender and she whipped a cross into the middle that was met by Harries who diverted her header into the top corner with her superb impact from the bench giving

Reading hope. With both sides going in search of three points, the visitors came inches away from grabbing the lead again through Katie Robinson.

She locked onto a through ball, put the ball past the onrushing Moloney, took a touch to compose herself as the Royals keeper rushed back to defend her goal and smacked her shot against the post.

Brighton had an opportunity to snatch the points with five minutes to go when Libby Bance found herself free in the box but blazed her shot high over the top. Neither side could find a winner as the team’s had to settle for a point each.

ROYALS FACE FOXES IN RELEGATION CLASH

READING FC WOMEN face another huge relegation clash this weekend away at Leicester City.

The Royals fought back from two goals down with an Emma Harries brace to secure a point at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The result means that Reading moved four points clear of the drop zone after Sunday’s opponents lost heavily at Aston Villa.

The Foxes are on the brink of losing their top flight stats unless they can rack up some points in their final six games of the campaign.

Leicester are two points adrift at

the bottom and 11th place Brighton have two games in hand.

Willie Kirk, who took over Leicester in November 2022 from Lydia Bedford, has guided the team to two league victories to improve their chances of survival.

Leicester have beaten Brighton, which came in January, and in February with an away triumph at Liverpool.

The Foxes have lost the most games in the division this season with 13 defeats in 16 games.

They also have the second worst defensive record having

conceded 38 in 16 games, two worse off than Reading.

Meanwhile, they have had struggles in the attacking third and have only netted seven times in 16 games which leaves them in trouble at the bottom.

Reading and Leicester’s last meeting was a dramatic affair at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in November.

Leicester took a shock lead in the 36th minute and it appeared as if they were going to take a stunning win in what would have been their first three points of the season.

However, Rachel Rowe commenced a rescue mission to ensure that Reading didn’t drop points to their relegation rivals.

The Welsh international netted directly from a corner in the 90th minute to level the scores.

In the third minute of stoppage time, Leicester’s hopes of taking anything away from Berkshire were cruelly snatched away when Rowe went on a one women mission, jinking past three Leicester players before firing a rocket past the goalkeeper to score the winner.

Reading’s last trip to Leicester, in May 2022 ended in a goalless draw.

Nigel Pearson has been in charge of the Robins for more than two years after initially taking charge in February 2021 on a deal until the end of the season that was extended. His team are in 14th position on 48 points, safely adrift of the relegation fight, but too far away to make a late play-off push which will see them finish with mid-table mediocrity.

City striker Nakhi Wells leads the club’s scoring charts this campaign with 11 Championship goals and four assists in 37 matches which makes him the joint 10th highest scorer in the division.

Reading have had a horrid record on the road this season and have won just three away games in 19 attempts, giving them the worst away return in the Championship with 11 points.

Bristol have had a relatively strong home run with eight wins, five draws and six losses at Ashton Gate.

The Royals were triumphant when the teams met at the SCL back in October.

Mamadou Loum put Reading in front after 52 minutes before Andy Carroll sealed the points with a stoppage time goal to make it 2-0.

Reading lost on their last visit to Ashton Gate in February 2022 after a late penalty from John Swift proved to just be a consolation after Antoine Semenyo’s opener and an own goal from Michael Morrison.

Reading are hoping for more goal celebrations this weekend Picture: Steve Smyth

two goals down to take a point against Brighton Pictures: Neil Graham

Royals captain Emma Mukandi

Harries Faye Bryson put in a defensive shift

Easther Mayi Kith

Harries heads in the leveller

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HOCKEY

READING 4S STAY IN TITLE HUNT

Reading Ladies took the points with victory over Wallingford

RESULTS

Saturday, March 25

FOOTBALL

The 2-0 win puts Reading in fourth position Pictures: Steve Smyth

FIXTURES

Saturday, April 1

FOOTBALL

Southern League Premier South

Yate Town 0-2 Bracknell Town

Isthmian South Central

Merstham 0-2 Binfield

Combined Counties Premier North

Ascot United 2-2 Wembley

Harefield United 2-0 Sumas

Reading City 2-2 Wallingford & Crowmarsh

Combined Counties Division One

Berks County 1-0 Spartans Youth

Eversley & California 2-0

Molesey

London Samurai Rovers 4-1 Woodley United

Thames Valley Premier League

SB Phoenix 1-2 Reading YMCA

Finchampstead 6-2 Wraysbury Village

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

South Central Women’s North Division 2

READING 4S maintained their title challenge in a tightly contested top four with victory over Wallingford 2s.

Reading ensured they confirmed their 15th win in 21 league games with a 2-0 home success.

Reading are in fourth place on 47 points, trailing the three slides

above them by just two points.

SONNING 2S earned their eighth league win to move into eighth position.

Sonning took the spoils in a one goal contest away at Oxford Hawks to move onto 24 points with one game left to play.

South Central Men’s Premier 2

SOUTH BERKSHIRE netted six times in their away victory at Havant 2s.

Ravi Patel scored a double and goals from Paul Kaplanski, Jack Baveystock, Sam Fox-Harvey and Tom King helped them to a 6-2 win.

South Berks are in second place on 44 points with one league game left.

South Central Women’s North Division 1

SOUTH BERKSHIRE ensured the title race would go to the final weekend of the season by beating Leighton Buzzard.

Anabella Pio and Alessia

Osbourne scored to help South Berks to a 2-1 win.

They are two points behind leaders Reading 3s going into the final game of the season.

South Central Men’s North Division 2

SOUTH BERKSHIRE picked up a point on their trip to Thame 1s in a six goal game.

The draw keeps South Berks in 10th place on 16 points with one game left to play.

TABLE TENNIS WALKING FOOTBALL

KINGFISHER CONCLUDE IMPRESSIVE CAMPAIGN WITH FLAWLESS VICTORY WOODLEY TAKE THE CROWN IN CUP SUCCESS

By NIGEL MALTBY sport@wokingham.today

KINGFISHER A completed an impressive division one season with a comfortable 10-0 performance against KINGFISHER C.

Second place OUR LADY OF PEACE A didn’t have it so easy, winning 6-4 against Sonning Sports A, whose star player Dave Croucher picked up a maximum.

KINGFISHER D secured third place with an impressive 9-1 show against fourth placed SONNING COMMON & PEPPARD A

Graham Mendick and Ryan Chung remain unbeaten.

Julian Telford could have joined them as he scored a nice comeback win over Gary Morgan 9-11 3-11 11-6 14-12 11-9, but Jamie Barlow proved too strong for him.

TIDMARSH A signed off strongly 8-2 over SONNING COMMON & PEPPARD B with Duncan Groves and Lee Calcutt

scoring maximums. There was another defeat for bottom side READING FC at the hands of TILEHURST RBL A 3-7, with one highlight being Keith Winter’s victory over Mike Childs 11-9 7-11 11-9 4-11 11-7.

Tilehurst could still finish fifth if they can beat SONNING COMMON & PEPPARD B by an 8-2 score line in next week’s rearranged fixture.

Congratulations to SONNING COMMON & PEPPARD D as their 5-5 draw with KINGFISHER F ensured they will finish top of Division 2. This match saw two excellent wins for the Kingfisher team with Ajai Kamath recovering from 1-2 down to beat Jonathan Abbott in five and Roger Pritchard winning an epic battle against the number 2 player in the Division Danny Dockree 12-10 in the fifth.

In the battle for runners-up spot a surprisingly emphatic 9-1 win for OUR LADY OF PEACE B over KINGFISHER G has left the OLOP team with a

good chance of going up but the result ended the Kingfisher team’s chances.

This match saw very good maximums for Dave Godfrey and Darek Kaminski.

Earlier in the week KINGFISHER G had kept their promotion hopes alive with a hard fought 6-4 win over TIDMARSH B in a match which saw a number of long sets which went to five.

Satej Jaywant recorded a fine maximum for Kingfisher including beating Dale Ballard 11-9 in the fifth.

Relegation threatened KINGFISHER E lost 6-4 at TILEHURST RBL B with the four points gained just about keeping their hopes of avoiding relegation alive.

Kate Maksimenko got another maximum for the Tilehurst team but the set of the night was Kingfisher Captain Clive Gold’s win in five against John Willcocks with the final game ending 13-11.

WOODLEY PENSIONERS walking football team enjoyed a weekend to remember with success in the George Peters Cup.

Playing at Havant, the team scored eight goals and conceded just three times in five matches to be crowned as the cup winners on Sunday.

Finishing with eight points, Woodley pipped Portsmouth on goal difference to claim top spot.

The club fielded two teams in the first round of matches of the over 60s spring season at Bisham Abbey.

Following last season’s promotion to division one, the A team may need more time to find their feet to adjust to higher levels of competition,

They came from behind twice to win 3-2 against Bicester Fossils before being involved in a goalless draw against Bracknell Town B.

They were then beaten in matches against Aylesbury, Bracknell Town A and Oxford United.

The B team also struggled to find rhythm and suffered three narrow defeats in four.

However, they did pick up a point in a credible draw against Oxford United B.

In the week, the over 65s team competed in the top division for their age group and produced a fine display.

They find themselves in third position after the first round of matches with two wins and two draws from five matches giving them a return of eight points.

Championship

Bristol City v Reading

FA Vase semi-final

Corsham Town v Ascot United

Southern League Premier South

Bracknell Town v Metropolitan Police

Isthmian South Central Binfield v Northwood

Combined Counties Premier North London Lions v Sumas

Reading City v Harefield United

Combined Counties Division One

Eversley & California v Bedfont

Penn & Tylers Green v Woodley United

Charles Twelftree Trophy

SB Phoenix v Finchampstead

Thames Valley Division One

Hurst 2-1 Maidenhead Town Reserves

Woodley United Royals 2-5

Westwood Wanderers Reserves

Thames Valley Division Two

Maidenhead Town A 1-3 Hurst reserves Slough Heating Laurecians 1-1 Reading YMCA Rapids

Twyfrod & Rusocmbe 4-3 Berks County Swords

Thames Valley Division Three

Finchampstead Development 0-3 Reading City Development

RUGBY UNION National League One

Rams 59-21 Taunton Titans

HOCKEY South Central Men’s Premier 2

Havant 2s 2-6 South Berkshire

South Central Women’s North Division 1

South Berkshire 2-1 Leighton

Buzzard

South Central Men’s North Division 1

Banbury 2s 3-2 Sonning

South Central Women’s Premier 1

Sonning 4-1 Havant

South Central Women’s North Division 2

Reading 4s 2-0 Wallingford 2s

Sunday, March 26

FOOTBALL Women’s Super League

Reading 2-2 Brighton

Southern Region Women’s Premier

Ascot United 1-0 Winchester City Flyers

Thames Valley Women’s League Cup

Wargrave 1-5 Tilehurst Panthers

Thames Valley Premier League Wargrave v Burghfield

Westwood Wanderers v Reading City U23s

Thames Valley Division One AFC Winkfield v Hurst

Thames Valley Division Two Berks County Swords v Maidenhead Town A

Burghfield Reserves v Twyford & ruscombe

Cookham Dean v Reading

YMCA Rapids

Mortimer Development v Hurst Reserves

RUGBY UNION

National League One Sale v Rams

HOCKEY South Central Men’s North Division One

Sonning v Yateley

South Central Women’s Premier

Oxford Hawks 2s v Sonning

South Central Men’s Premier 2 South Berkshire v Witney

South Central Women’s North Division One Buckingham 2s v South Berkshire

Sunday, April 2

FOOTBALL

Women’s Super League Leicester City v Reading

Southern Region Women’s Division One North

Eversley & California v Penn & Tylers Green

Thames Valley Women’s Division One

Ascot United Reserves v Tilehurst Panthers New Bradwell v Mortimer

Wargrave v Haddenham

Reading have one game left to play

2s

Reading fight to try and win the ball