Wokingham Today, April 20, 2023

AA

call for revamp of smart motorways

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today

THE AA is calling for the M4 smart motorway to be revamped following a government decision not to create any more superhighways.

At the weekend, Rishi Sunak said 14 planned smart motorways would not go ahead, saving £1 billion.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper added: “We want the public to know that this government is listening to their concerns.

“This announcement means no new smart motorways will be built, recognising the lack of public confidence felt by drivers and the cost pressures due to inflation.”

The government and National Highways said they will invest £900 million in further safety improvements, including installing 150 extra emergency refuge areas on the roads, and enhancing stopped vehicle detection technology.

But this doesn’t go far enough for the AA.

Its president, Edmund King, said: “I think there is a relatively simple solution. Reinstate the hard shoulder with a permanent Red X and new lane markings.

“Keep the emergency areas and overhead technology.

“Get the police to instigate a hardhitting lane discipline campaign to get rid of the middle-lane hogs.”

He added: “Currently ‘smart’ motorways are not really alleviating congestion as more than one third of drivers don’t use the inside lane as they are petrified there may be broken down vehicles ahead.

“Any incident on ‘smart’ motorways causes severe congestion by closing lanes and delaying the emergency services getting through to crashes which again puts lives at risk.”

VAN

TO CHARITY

Generous donor gives new wheels to Cowshed

By JAMES HASTINGS news@wokingham.today

STAFF at a Hurst-based charity have welcomed their latest recruit – a three tonne van called Ermintrude.

The brand-new vehicle was donated to The Cowshed by businessman, Jason Mole, who owns CarComm Coachworks in Ashford.

Sally Russell, who founded The

Cowshed, said she and her team were “completely blown away” when Jason turned up with the van.

“I had just returned to the office and saw Jason in the car park and this shiny van complete with The Cowshed livery parked beside him,” she said.

“Jason donated our current van which is getting on a bit but he does all the repairs and MoT so it is still in great condition. To give us a second vehicle is so very generous, and we can’t thank him enough.”

n Continued on page 6

Be who you’ve always been... one of the lads

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v Family notices

Cancelled: MP receives ‘snub’ from politics society

By JAMES ALDRIDGE Local democracy reporter

THE MP for Bracknell has complained about being cancelled by a University of Reading society for not being diverse enough.

James Sunderland was due to address the students’ union politics society, following in the footsteps of guests such as Labour MPs Emily Thornberry and Jess Phillips and Conservative MP Tom Tugenhat.

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But his invitation was revoked, and he raised this during an appearance during an interview with Esther McVey, the Conservative MP for Tatton, on GB News.

“I was booked to appear in front of the Reading university politics association,” he said. “It was a good event I believe; they have a regular slot for MPs to come and talk to them and we spent the last two months nailing the date.

“And to my complete astonishment this week what’s happened is that I was basically cancelled.

“I had an email from the guy who leads the event to say my services were no longer required.”

Mr Sunderland then read out the ‘cancellation’ email, which appeared to suggest that he was no longer welcome due to his stance on immigration.

The email cited that the society had ‘such a successful event’ with Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, the Labour MP for Slough, that newly interested students would be put off by Mr Sunderland.

The email’s author said the society felt it “inappropriate to bring in someone who’s views on immigration conflict with the ethos of the society”.

Additionally, it states that Mr Dhesi’s appearance was successful as many students liked that the society had brought in an MP who “looked like them”.

Mr Dhesi was born in Slough in 1978 to Sikh Punjabi Indian parents.

Your wording

Dalia graces the breast cancer in

By EMMA MERCHANT emerchant@wokingham.today

Mr Sunderland said: “I thought it was outrageous and shocking, not only the language being used, it was clearly drawing attention to the difference in how I look as the White male with Tan Dhesi who is a great friend of mine from neighbouring Slough.”

In a tweet, Mr Sunderland added: “Bemused to have been ‘cancelled’ by @UniofReading this week.

“There is no place for racial intolerance, political sanctimony or bias in our academic institutions.

“And those who silence others because they do not agree just need to grow up.

“Such odious ‘cancel culture’ harms us all.”

In his response to the student who cancelled the appearance, Mr Sunderland said: “Not only is your email ill-informed and discriminatory at best, it also runs contrary to the principles of your own group.”

A spokesperson for the university said Mr Sunderland has been reinvited to speak by the society.

“We understand that the issue relates to the scheduling of an event planned to take place during the student exam period, and the student politics society has since contacted Mr Sunderland to invite him to a later date,” they added.

“The University has a long history of encouraging debate and discussion.

“We welcome people of all backgrounds and political viewpoints to our campuses.”

Mr Sunderland has received the fresh invitation and is considering whether to accept it.

According to the parliamentary democracy website TheyWorkForYou, Mr Sunderland has consistently voted for tougher immigration rules and penalties for illegal immigrants, in line with the Conservative government’s policies.

A WOKINGHAM resident will take part in London fashion show to raise awareness of breast cancer in young women.

Dalia Ismail and 23 others all living with or beyond cancer, will become catwalk models for the night at the capital’s Science Museum.

Charity, Breast Cancer Now, has organised the event to raise awareness of breast cancer and celebrate life after diagnosis.

Dalia’s own cancer identification came early last year.

Aged 33, she ate healthily, exercised regularly and had no family history of the condition.

The news was a shock.

“It was very hard to process why it happened,” she said.

“My risk factor was less than half a percent, so the statistics were quite meaningless in my case.”

Dalia underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and will continue to receive preventative treatment for at least the next five years.

“One of the difficult things about treatment is that you can’t really plan anything,” she said.

“You never know how you will feel after therapy, so with nothing planned there is not much to look forward to.”

But the London fashion show gives plenty of reason to celebrate, and an opportunity to highlight issues that particularly affect young women.

Dalia has been chosen to give a speech before the show, and her talk can be heard by anyone who registers to watch the live streamed event online.

“I’m passionate about raising awareness,” she said.

“Breast cancer can happen in younger women, even in those with no family history, genetic links or usual risk factors.

“And I want to highlight the importance of more research tailored to younger women, to help ensure their treatment outcomes are just as good as older women’s.”

Most women who receive diagnoses are over 50. This age group comprises 96% of cases, with the remaining 4% under 40.

Breast cancer in young women is rare, but their prognoses tend not to be as good as for older patients.

“Much of the research data is based on women 50 and over, and less applicable to younger women,” Dalia explains.

“The types of cancer that affect the young can be more aggressive, often needing more vigorous treatments.

Man charged with multiple offences

A MAN has been charged with multiple offences in Wokingham, following a police investigation.

Luke Abraham Smith, aged 31, of no fixed abode, was charged with 18 counts of theft from a motor vehicle, one count of theft of a motor vehicle and two counts of

fraud on Monday, April 10. The offences occurred between March 4-31, of this year in Wokingham and Bracknell. Smith has been remanded in custody and will next appear at Aldershot Magistrates’ Court on Monday, May 15.

public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

Dalia, a week after breast surgery

Picture: Dalia Ismail

catwalk to highlight younger women

Finchampstead medal holder Richard invited to the coronation

HONOUR: Richard Thomas BEM is delighted to be among those at the coronation on Saturday, May 6.

Picture: Richard Thomas

“And there may also be a hormonal element involved.”

But perhaps the main reason that young women’s prognoses are not generally good is that they are not screened, and they don’t check themselves for lumps.

“Women don’t get called in for mammogram screenings until they are 50,” Dalia said.

“Young women aren’t screened at all, so they’re not likely to spot a lump until it is a considerable size.”

“But it’s really important to try and catch cancer as early as possible.

“I was very fortunate that my lump was in a location where I could feel it, and I went to get it checked.

“But small lumps deep in the breast can’t be felt so easily.”

Dalia urged all young women to regularly check their breasts for lumps.

“I never checked myself before my diagnosis,” she said.

“Now, I’m very keen to improve awareness.”

Dalia is a senior clinical trial manager, running global oncology (cancer) clinical trials in new cancer medicines.

She had some prior knowledge of what her diagnosis would mean.

“My research background has been helpful,” she said.

“In some ways, perhaps, I knew too much.

“I understood how hard chemo is, and I was very scared.

“But it has enabled me to be proactive in learning about the condition and my treatment options.

“I pushed myself to read and understand the correct options for me, and I’ve looked at the risks and side effects which can affect young women differently.”

Navigating a cancer diagnosis and treatment as a young woman can have a huge impact on mental as well as physical health.

There is less information tailored to them, and their priorities can often differ greatly from older patients.

“I wanted to make sure that I wouldn’t be left with really severe side effects,” said Dalia.

“I was keen to protect my overall body, and to be able to make informed choices.

“Reading up has helped me to question what may have been overlooked.

“For example, I knew that it was important to check my bone density before accepting a particular treatment, so I pushed for a bone scan, despite no-one mentioning it.”

She said that fear is powerful.

“You can feel as though you have to say yes, quickly, to what the surgeon said.

“But you need to take time

to think through the fear, and to make peace with whatever decision you do take.

“You need to be proactive.”

Dalia has found Breast Cancer Now very helpful.

“It’s a great charity,” she said.

“Getting information relevant to young women was difficult, but I found what I was looking for on their website.

“They provide nurses to talk to, and can match you up with someone similar to share the journey.”

“I’m excited about the fashion show.

“It should be really special evening, and I’m thrilled to have been asked to speak,” she said.

The show is designed by celebrity stylist Rebekah Roy, with the models treated to sessions from London make-up and hair stylists.

For anyone with a recent diagnosis Dalia said: “You have an inner strength.

“At every point, you will get through what you need to get through.

And her advice: “Always question what doesn’t feel right.”

Dalia appears in the fashion show this evening (Thursday). The live-streamed event starts at 7pm.

n For a link to the event, and for information about Breast Cancer Now, visit: breastcancernow.org

A FINCHAMPSTEAD man who delivered more than 10,000 prescriptions during the pandemic has been honoured for his efforts with a special invitation.

Richard Thomas BEM will travel to Westminster Abbey, along with other medal holders, to witness the crowning of King Charles.

He gained his British Empire Medal for services to the community during the early stages of the covid pandemic when many residents who needed prescriptions were shielding at home.

Pharmacy owner Richard realised that he didn’t have enough members of staff to deliver all the medicines required, so he undertook the service himself.

“Matt Hancock said, ‘if you’re vulnerable, you need to stay at home’,” he explained.

“We didn’t have a delivery person, so I just got on with it.

“It started off as a part-time service, but with so many

deliveries to make, it soon became very full-time.

“The first couple of months in March, April and May, required very long hours indeed.”

Richard ended up delivering more than 10,000 prescriptions, for which he was awarded his BEM. He is one of 450 medal holders who served the nation during the pandemic.

And he is one of only 2,000 people invited to witness the King’s ceremony in person at Westminster Abbey.

“I’m very excited,” he says.

“It’s the first time anything

Colour run for coronation

A COLOURFUL way to end the Coronation celebrations is being promised in Twyford.

Twyford Youth Centre is inviting people to participate in the Coronation Colour Run, which will be held on Monday, May 8.

Participants will have the choice to walk, jog or run along their preferred route of 1km, 2km or 3km (one, two or three laps of the King George Recreation Ground) and get showered with colourful powder.

The run is part of The Big Help Out, a volunteering opportunity to help raise funds for Twyford Youth Centre. Registration is at 10am, with the race starting at 10.30am. n To participate register online at tdyc.co.uk

like this has happened in my lifetime. It’s such an honour.” Richard’s invitation came via email.

“When it said that I was to attend the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, I thought it must be a scam to start with,” he says.

But the message was genuine, and Richard’s formal paper invitation will soon arrive by post.

“They’re beautifully illustrated,” he says.

“I’ll probably frame mine and put it on the mantelpiece.”

Richard will witness the King’s coronation, at Westminster Abbey, on Saturday, May 6.

“We have to turn up awfully early, and we’ll be sitting for quite a while,” he says.

“But there will be plenty to watch, and other medal winners to chat with.

“I may have an obscured view in the abbey, but who cares? It will be a really interesting day.”

READY TO WALK THE WALK: Dalia Ismail’s catwalk experience for Breast Cancer Now, raising awareness of the disease, should be a night to remember Picture: Breast Cancer Now

Join a dawn walk to hear the birds sing

A GROUP will be setting out on an annual early morning walk to listen to the dawn chorus at Dinton Pastures.

Strolling around the Hurst nature reserve, the early risers also hope to catch sight of the birds that visit the lakes there each year.

The event is organised by RSPB Wokingham and Bracknell branch.

The society has around 160 members, and runs events for the public to support the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

The Dawn Chorus walk takes place at Dinton Pastures Country Park, Hurst on Sunday, April 30.

The walk begins in the car park at the café entrance at 5am, and ends at 8am. Entry is by donation of £3 to RSPB.

For more information, visit the group’s Facebook page.

Ermintrude is three tonnes, has four wheels and will help charity

n From front page Sally said the original van is called Daisy and she felt Ermintrude would be a suitable name for the latest addition.

“We have just moved to a new referrals process where we are in contact with most of our clients to see how we can tailor our support to meet their individual needs and to help our referrers we have moved to a mainly delivery service, so this van could not have come at a better time,” she added.

“When community come together it’s so amazing how many people can be helped. All of us at Cowshed just want to say to Jason, thank you for being so awesome, we are lost for words.”

Sally founded the Cowshed in 2018, and its work has expanded in recent years with the covid pandemic and cost of living crisis.

The charity provides a wide range of free items such as toiletries, bedding, curtains and clothes to individuals and families who are referred by food banks, health visitors, schools and churches.

It has a drop-in donation centre on

Bennet Road in Reading, as well as its Hurst base in Sandford Lane.

Jason and his wife, Rebecca, have been involved with The Cowshed for a number of years: “Rebecca is the fundraising manager and I do small jobs like helping at fetes.

“The Cowshed is a muchloved organisation with people who really care about others.

When you see the work they do and the number of people they help, it is just amazing.

“My business has been doing well and I knew I had to give something back and I couldn’t think of a better group of people to help than the Cowshed.

“We donated the first van back in 2011 and it has been well used.

“The new vehicle will be a bonus and help Sally and her staff reach even more people.”

The charity has also been appealing for help to stock up on double buggies – and Wokingham residents have been generous in their support.

A note on The Cowshed’s social media reads: “We cannot express our gratitude enough. We received 10 double prams – both brand new and preloved – and an incredible donation of £800 from the Wokingham Lions Club.

“Thanks to the amazing generosity of the Wokingham Lions and our community, we have been able to clear our entire waiting list for double prams.”

The note continued: “Your kindness has made a real difference in the lives of local families who were struggling to leave the house or hotel they are living in due to a lack of suitable equipment.

“The prams will help provide these families with the means to get out and about, helping to improve their wellbeing and quality of life.

“It is heartwarming to see how our community has come together to support each other in times of need.”

n For more details, or to offer help to The Cowshed, log on to: www.thecowshed.org

FUNDRAISER:

A new rose has arrived at Winnersh Garden Centre and will not only brighten up gardens but also raise vital funds for Brain Tumour Research

New rose on sale at garden centre

GARDENERS can brighten up their flower beds while helping to grow funds for Brain Tumour Research.

The Winnersh Garden Centre is selling a speciality new rose with £2 from each purchase donated to the charity.

TV gardener, Danny Clarke launched the rose which has sunny glossy petals and comes in a pink pot. Danny lost his sister Margot McLellan to glioblastoma, a fast

growing and aggressive brain tumour.

Emily Bartholomew, manager at Winnersh Garden Centre, said: “We are delighted to stock the Rose for Hope which will not only provide a beautiful focal point in an outdoor space but ensures that at least £2 of your money will go towards this brilliant cause and help Brain Tumour Research fund world-class research into brain tumours as well as influencing and

increasing awareness within the wider public to understand this disease.”

New figures show one in three people know someone who is affected by a brain tumour with them killing more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer. It is only with continued funding that Brain Tumour Research are able to invest in finding a cure for all types of brain tumours through campaigning to increase

GIFT: The Cowshed in Hurst has received a donation of a new van from Jason Mole, who owns CarComm

Warning as fake collector fails to pass on cash to charity

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today

POLICE are warning people to be aware of fake charity collectors after a bogus fancy dress wearing conman was seen claiming to be accepting cash for good causes.

In their alert, officers from Thames Valley Police said they had launched a fraud investigation after someone has been seen going around in a number of costumes and a collection bucket, saying they were raising funds for a cancer charity.

They say the rogue may have collected thousands of pounds, but not passed any of it on to a good cause.

They want people to be aware that genuine collectors will have visible identification which they will allow people to verify with the organisation they claim to represent. They also say that most charities require collectors to wear branded T-shirts, tabards or jackets.

permission from the company or the manager.

And the collection tin, bucket or pot should be sealed. The collector must stand still and they cannot approach people or obstruct movement of others.

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “If you are approached by a charity collector, ask to see their ID card to verify the organisation they are from.

“If you have doubts you can also check their identity by calling the company they are claiming to be from. Get the phone number by going on line or from your local directory – don’t use any telephone numbers provided by the collector as they may be bogus.

“If you suspect that you have been approached by a bogus collector please report the incident on line or by phoning 101.

“If you don’t want to speak directly to police you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously and

FLUSHED WITH SUCCESS: Hurst Bowling Club members, Ronnie Ashley, Linda Bowes, David Ashley and Eric Bowes, inviting you to “Take a Seat” in their new toilets at the Club Picture: Steve Smyth

Bowled over with new facilities

MEMBERS of the Hurst Bowling Club are flushed with success over their latest fundraising efforts, writes James Hastings

Now they are looking forward to sitting down and enjoying the fruits of their hard work.

Last year Storm Eunice destroyed the club’s Victorian toilets but Fundraiser, Veronica Ashley, said members were determined

“We’re not quite sure of the correct way to formerly open new toilets but whatever we decide it will be a relief,” said Veronica.

“The old loos were completely destroyed in the storm that swept across Britain. We brought in some of those portaloos but you never feel quite at ease in them.

“Members were determined to have a proper set of toilets along with an

Drawing workshop

A CHANCE to draw is coming to Earley next week, thanks to the Reading Guild of Artists.

The group is holding a workshop led by Mick NcNicholas at Earley St Peter’s Church Hall in Church Road, on Tuesday, April 28.

Participants will need to bring their own equipment, including graphite and charcoal pencils, putty rubber/ eraser, cartridge paper, and wet wipes.

They will need to cover their tables with newspaper or table covering to avoid mess.

Places cost £8, and the session starts at 7pm. n For more details, or to book, log on to: www.rga-artists.org.uk

Model sale

have a ladies and gents that the ladies and gents in the club as well as visitors can use. Unfortunately, we could not save anything from the Victorian loos which were flattened. However, the new ones are smart, beautifully designed and easy to clean. You could say we are bowled over by them.”

The Hurst Bowling Club, which was founded in 1747, has around 80 members and is

DOLLS house enthusiasts and collectors of model vehicles and trains can visit a warehouse to purchase miniatures.

Open to the public, the two day sale will include Matchbox vehicles, 00 and N Gauge model trains, Corgi and Dinky models, and dolls house items.

The event is organised by Berkshire Dolls House & Model Company.

It takes place at The Old Fire Station, Twyford on Saturday

Tributes paid to former councillor, and community champion, Raymond Eke

By JAMES HASTINGS news@wokingham.today

TRIBUTES have flooded in following the death of a former Wokingham councillor, charity campaigner and war hero.

Raymond Eke, who represented first Emmbrook South and then North wards, passed away at a nursing home in London on March 30, a few months off his 101st birthday.

Sir John Redwood, MP for Wokingham, described Mr Eke as “a dedicated local Councillor, approachable and concerned about people”, while former Emmbrook North councillor, UllaKarin Clark, said he was “an unselfish, modest man and as a local politician, cared deeply about his constituents”.

Mr Eke was born in Norwich in 1922. In 1943, he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery. He piloted Austin Mark V aircraft in the Air Observation Post squadron. This meant regularly flying very low over enemy territory guiding British troops, including at the Normandy landings.

Mr.Eke’s niece, Dr Margaret Sheridan, explained how on one occasion, he observed two

British units approaching from different directions and fearing they would mistake each other for enemy troops, he flew at just 50ft to warn them.

“There was a real danger of friendly fire with devastating consequences, but Uncle Ray alerted the British soldiers saving numerous lives that day,” she explained.

“That act of bravery led to him being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was a humble man and brushed off his bravery saying he was only doing his job.”

Mr Eke, who was affectionately known as Ray, retired from the AOP with the rank of Major. He later served at various locations in the Far East where he met his wife, Ruby. The couple were married for 63 years and had a son, Denham.

Dr Sheridan said she had very happy memories of her uncle visiting when she was growing up: “One time, my dad was trying to unblock a well when Uncle Ray visited. He immediately rolled up his sleeves and jumped into the well, helping dad clear it.

“He was the sort of person who was always helping people. He had a keen sense of duty and was always looking out for people.”

After the war, Ray was sent to the former Arborfield Garrison where, as an engineer, he helped build and improve the accommodation as well as designing a clock in the grounds. He and Ruby, a nurse, decided to stay in Wokingham where he stood as a Conservative candidate in the 1983 election winning Embrook South which he retained four years later. He lost the seat in 1991 but in 1999, was elected councillor for Emmbrook North and won again in 2003.

In 1986, Mr Eke was elected vice-chairman of the Amenities Committee and, in 1989, served as elected chairman of the Planning Committee.

Ray and Ruby were presented with a Civic Award for their tireless work with the Green Vale Stroke Club which Ray founded. When he was 90, a party was organised to celebrate his long association with the Club, and a newspaper

photographer arrived but Ray was nowhere to be found.

UllaKarin Clark, said: “As it turned out, a 91-year-old lady who Ray looks after had a fall and was released from hospital the day before the party.

“Ray being Ray, and always putting other people first, felt that he could not ask anyone else to look after her. Unfortunately, therefore, he could not attend his own party.”

Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, current leader of Wokingham Conservatives and a Hillside councillor, recalled another occasion when Mr Eke made the news: “His medals were stolen and ended up at a London auction house. Thankfully they were discovered and reunited with their rightful owner.”

After Ruby died, Mr Eke remained in Wokingham and was a very popular and wellknown figure around the area, still looking for ways to help other people.

At the news of his death, tributes poured in from numerous people who knew Ray.

Sir John Redwood MP said: “I used to visit Ray in his Emmbrook home and go out on doorsteps with him to meet local voters. I supported him as he secured election in 1997, 1999 and 2002 to Wokingham Council. He was a dedicated local councillor, approachable and concerned about people and his local area.

“He and his wife Ruby were also leading lights of the Stroke charity, offering help to

those who had suffered from that cruel medical condition. He liked to see problems for himself, talk them through with people and try and resolve them at the Council. I send my condolences to his family.

“His was a life well lived, with a proud record of public service.”

Arborfield councillor Gary Cowan said: “I remember Ray with the greatest of fondness. He was the Borough Councillor for Emmbrook for many years and I remember him as a really nice gentleman who never said a bad word about anyone in the Council Chamber ever. He was so popular that when he eventually decided to stand down residents pleaded with him to stay on.

“He was very interested in antiques as a hobby and was a regular at the monthly Martin and Pole auction rooms. A wonderful gentleman.”

UllaKarin Clark said: “I was a Councillor on Wokingham Town Council from 2002 until 2018, representing Emmbrook North Ward. Ray Eke was already a councillor when I was first elected. He had been elected the first time in 1983.

“I also served as a Councillor on Wokingham Borough Council from 2003 until 2021. (It was a District Council when I was first elected). Ray was already a District Councillor but I do not know when he was first elected. It may have been in 1999.

“Ray was a fighter pilot and served in Malaya during the

war. He was awarded the DFC (Distinguised Flying Cross). He was also the recipient of an MBE.

“Ray and his wife Ruby, who was a nurse, together with two other people, set up and ran Greenvale Stroke Club for which they received Civic awards in 1999, from Wokingham Town Council.

“Soon after taking up my duties as deputy Wokingham Borough Mayor in 2012, a member of Greevale Stroke Club contacted me and asked if I would be interested in taking on the Chairmanship of the Club because Ray felt he was getting too old to continue. I was extremely busy at this time but I did not want thr Club to have to close, so I agreed to the request. I continued as Chairman until 2018 when, due to a dwindling membership, we decided to close it.

“Ray was an unselfish, modest man and as a local politician, cared deeply about his constituents, helping and supporting whenever he could. I remember that he would regularly take elderly constituents who were living alone, shopping. He often “popped in” to visit people just to say hello and ensure all was well.

“Ray Eke was sorely missed by Greenvale Stroke Club members and his constituents when he finally retired.”

Former councillor Angus Ross said: “I knew Ray as a Wokingham District Councillor. He was a Wokingham Town person and I mostly met him when on the Development Control Committee now the Planning Committee.

“He was a very involved and committed councillor. A lovely and popular man to his ward residents and all at the council. One story I recall was he apologised for a Planning Committee as he had fallen off a ladder helping an ‘old lady’ who had roof problems - he was in his 80’s then.

“He was totally unapologetic.” n Ray’s funeral will be held on Monday, April 24, at All Saints Church, Lovelace Road, Dulwich, London. The service begins at 11.15am.

Wokingham among lowest number of smokers in country

PEOPLE in Wokingham are breathing easy after a new study shows it has the second lowest proportion of smokers in the country.

Research by health experts at Now Patient reveals there are just 108 smokingrelated deaths per 100,000 residents.

Harrow recorded the fewest number of smoking-related deaths, with 103 deaths per 100,000 residents, whilst the 113 recorded deaths per 100,000

residents in Richmond upon Thames is the third lowest.

Scotland came out worse with Glasgow showing a whopping 509 deaths per 100,000 residents with Dundee recording 448 deaths, the second-highest total of any UK area. Seven of the top 10 UK areas with the highest smoking mortality rate are located in Scotland, none in Wales while only two English cities, Kingston upon Hull and Manchester feature.

A spokesperson for Now Patient said: “It appears that the residents here are very health-conscious as, alongside their low proportion of smokers, this area was recently revealed as being one of the healthiest areas in England and Wales.”

Now Patient is the UK’s first regulated digital health service that uses predictive analytics and artificial intelligence to offer proactive healthcare services.

Ray and Ruby on their wedding day. They were married for 63 years

Ray earned the Distinguished Flying Cross while in the Royal Artillery in the Second World War

Fayre fit for the king

By JAMES HASTINGS news@wokingham.today

THIS year’s Wokingham Lions May Fayre will be fit for a king. That’s the promise from organisers of the annual event which kicks-off Coronation Week in Wokingham.

One of the biggest events in the town’s calendar, the 27th Fayre will be held on Bank Holiday Monday, May 1, supporting two charities, Camp Mohawk and Thames Hospice, .

Camp Mohawk is a multifunctional day centre for children with special needs and their families, set in five acres of beautiful countryside, just outside Wargrave.

The Thames Hospice is a leading UK Hospice providing inpatient and community palliative and end-of-life care services to people aged 16 and over across East Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire.

May Fayre Chairman, Alan Rouse said: “The Wokingham May Fayre commenced in 1995 and is one of the largest street fairs in the south of England, providing a low-cost and fun family event and enabling local charities and other community groups to raise money for their causes.

“It’s a wonderful day out for families and people of all ages, Denmark Street is closed to traffic and we celebrate the town’s culture on our stages, with many local groups performing. Our committee is working very hard to make it a success. We also always have tremendous support from our Town Council.”

The main stage will be where Denmark Street meets Market Place, opposite WH Smith. Stalls then extend down Denmark Street and through Erftstadt Court towards Elms Field. The

funfair is on Elms Field along with other rides and food vendors. There is also an events marquee in Elms Field to keep everyone entertained.

Alongside over 120 Stalls there will be a kiddies funfair, food and drink, a children’s zoo, morris dancers, punch and judy, a magic show and street entertainers including Jugglers & Stilt Walkers.

Meanwhile across two stages in Market Place and Elms

Field there will be music from the St Sebastian Brass Band, the Acoustic Jass Jazz Band, Steppin’ Out Stars of Tomorrow Theatre School, No Strings Attached Ukulele Group, local community groups performing on stage and the internationally renowned Giant Balloon Show –with a Coronation twist.

Wokingham Lions president Claire Mangers-Page said:

ROARING

TO GO: Sarah Newstead, Bob DuGard and Jean Ibbotson promoting Wokingham Lions membership in the Market Place on Saturday Picture: Steve Smyth

Parishoners come together to create memorial bench for much-loved priest

“This is the 27th time that the Lions have organised the May Fayre – we hope everyone will enjoy the variety of stalls and entertainment that we’ve arranged for attendees to enjoy. It is a free event, but donations to support our two named charities – Camp Mohawk and Thames Hospice are greatly appreciated.

“An event like this takes a lot of organisation. I’d like to thank our May Fayre Committee, led by Alan Rouse, for all their hard work in putting it together.”

To help promote the May Fayre, and also the other charitable work the Lions do, the charity hosted a stall in Wokingham’s town centre on Saturday.

n Download the programme from here: tinyurl.com/woky23

n Donations can be made online at: tinyurl.com/wokylionsdonate

PARISHIONERS from two churches have clubbed together to pay for a bench to remember their much-loved priest.

Members of Father Vincent Flanagan’s family travelled from Ireland to unveil the bench on the sunny patio of St Thomas More RC Church, Twyford, on Sunday.

Father Flanagan, who died last year aged 95, had served at St Thomas More and Our Lady of Peace church at Wargrave, for over 20 years. He was previously parish priest at Christ the King, Reading, St Joseph’s, Maidenhead and Our Lady of Peace, Earley.

The current priest for Twyford and Wargrave, Father Jude Mbonu, led prayers and blessed the bench with holy water.

At the coffee and cake social afterwards Father Mbonu said:

“It’s lovely to have members of Father Flanagan’s family here to unveil the bench. The bench will help keep alive our fond memories of him and the great work he did for so long in the parish.”

Welcoming girls in Year 7

UNITED: Parishioners and clergy of St Thomas More RC Church, Twyford and our Lady of Peace RC Church, Wargrave, with members of Father Vincent Flanagan’s family sitting on and beside the bench unveiled in his memory Picture: Sue Corcoran

Forget the jokes: RBH’s food is pretty fare

THE Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust has the prescription for great food, writes James Hastings

In a UK wide survey of hospitals, the trust came top of the pots for patient and staff catering.

A panel of judges scored the RBS an almost perfect 99% score making it the top Acute Trust for food and nutrition.

The trust’s 70-strong Catering Team were recognised for the choice of food on offer, round the clock availability, meal times, and the quality of food provided to patients on wards during their hospital stays.

Eamonn Sullivan, Chief Nursing Officer at the RBH, said, “The whole Trust is incredibly proud of our Catering Team.

“We know that good food and nutrition is essential to help patients recover while they are staying with us.

“As well as supporting our immune systems, and healing, food also plays an important role in the mental health aspect of being in hospital too as it brings with it routine

and social interactions.”

Staff cook a million meals a year, including 50,000 roast dinners and 30,000 portions of fish and chips.

They make a million hot drinks using 130,000 litres of milk.

And they get through 26,000 loaves of bread rustling up toast and sandwiches.

They are the biggest catering establishment in Berkshire, and it also means the team cleans and polishes 20,000 pieces of crockery and cutlery each day – more than seven million in a single year.

Janet Lippett, acting chief executive, added: “I want to say a big thank you to each member of staff in the Catering Team.

“The fact that patients and staff have had such a good experience with the food provided at the Trust is a great testament to them.

“And it’s even more satisfying as the team cook all of the food from scratch in-house.

“I know how hard they work every day and I couldn’t be more pleased for them.”

Fresh bid to build flats on top of shops in Woodley

By JAMES ALDRIDGE Local democracy reporter

A FRESH bid has been made to add extra storeys to a parade of shops in Woodley town centre.

Library Parade is a twostorey building that currently contains shops on the ground floor and offices on the first floor.

A previous plan to add floors and extend the building to provide 16 flats was rejected by Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee, citing concerns that new occupants would be able to look into neighbouring properties.

In the revised application, the developers have reduced the number of flats proposed from 16 to 14, split into five twobed and nine one-bed flats.

There would be 10 car parking spaces for future occupants located within a covered car park, and 17 cycle spaces.

The previous plan was also rejected over concerns the

proposed upper floors would, alongside the existing buildings, create a wind tunnel effect.

The decision to refuse the original plan was made by Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, March 8, under application reference 222367.

During discussion, committee member Cllr Stephen Conway (Liberal Democrats, Twyford) said overlooking into neighbours flats was a problem: “I don’t think this is

an acceptable relationship. I think it will give scope for overlooking, and it will make people feel as though they are overlooked even if they are not physically being overlooked.”

Despite this concern, there has been no change to the proposed height of the Library Parade with the extensions, which would be 66.86 metres tall, making it taller than neighbouring 6 Headley Road, the Lidl and Surgery building,

which stands at 66.35 metres tall.

The developers planning agents pointed out the Library Parade would only be 51cm taller than 6 Headley Road – just under the size of a capybara.

The new scheme proposes just two flats on the third floor, and these would be 15 metres away from the neighbouring apartments.

As with the rejected plan, the shops on the ground floor would be retained, with offices on the first floor converted into space for flats.

The developer’s planning agents have argued the offices are “dormant and unviable”.

Of the 14 flats, six one-bed and one two-bed apartments would be on the first floor, the second floor would contain three one-bed and three twobed apartments, with the upper floor containing two two-bed flats.

The application is reference 230743, and available to view on Wokingham Borough Council’s planning website.

BUILD UP: The Woodley Library Parade building off Crockhamwell Road in Woodley town centre. Picture: Google Maps

Hurst villagers lead Rebellion against hobby horse record snub

EXCLUSIVE

By SUE CORCORAN news@wokingham.today

A VILLAGE show is staging a rebellion after their attempt at a world record was refused.

Hurst Show’s bid to break the Guinness World Record for the largest hobby horse parade last summer was declined.

This was despite 263 riders, young and old, turning out in June to break the record standing then – a mere 250 riders. GWR recently turned down the show’s appeal.

Disappointed but not daunted the show team is rebelling against that refusal.

Backed fittingly by Marlow brewers Rebellion Beer, the show is creating a local rebellion at the event on June 24 and 25.

They’re organising their own record scheme based on fun, community and encouraging young and old to ‘have a go.’

Vikki Randles from the show team said: “The show is delighted Rebellion Beer have agreed to sponsor our rebellious record attempts – new events which will create lots of fun for our visitors.”

Visitors known as Have-AGo-Heroes will follow a trail attempting to establish a

series of records linked to the show’s attractions and events. They will be aiming to win the accolade of being a Hurst Village Record-Breaking Rebel.

They will collect a stamp for every record attempted.

Those attempting six of the eight challenges will receive a small prize and will also be entered in a draw to win a Rebellion Beer membership

and a tour of the brewery.

Record challenges will include: most football penalties in a minute, most accurate guess at the identity of the crushed, scrapped car, and the quickest hobby horse jumping clear round.

The football and hobby horse events will have separate records for children and adults.

Rebellion will be giving a

mixed case of bottled beers for guessing the number of beer mats in a stack at the show’s bar. Sponsors for the other challenges are being sought.

Mrs Randles added: “We felt we had real grounds for appeal for the Guinness record last year.

“The key point was that they said that not all of the people who took part were

riding their hobby horse.

“This was not stipulated in the GWR guidelines for the attempt. Lots of other things were stipulated like the certain gap there had to be between riders.”

The show attracts thousands of visitors from a wide area every year.

n For more details, log on to: hurstshow.uk

A PLAN by a business to build three new industrial units at Oaklands Park near the Mulberry Business Park in Wokingham has been refused. The business was hoping to make additional space for The Lawrence Centre row of units, amounting to two extensions and one new unit being built.

At a meeting of Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee, the application was opposed by Cllr Sarah Kerr (Liberal Democrats, Evendons) who said the new units would cause disturbance to neighbours in Blagrove Drive.

The council’s committee rejected it by five votes to two.

The planning application can be seen by searching Wokingham Borough Council’s planning website for application 222513.

Industrial unit plan rejected Pre-school craft

YOUNGSTERS not yet at school, can enjoy toddler craft sessions at a community café in Binfield.

Mini Make And Take craft sessions for little fingers take place weekly at the Foxes’ Den Community Café in Binfield.

The activity runs on Mondays, from 11am to 11.30am. People can just turn up to the free event. Donations are welcome.

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

GALLOPING SUCCESS: The hobby horse record breaking attempt has been rejected by the Guinness World Records. Held at the Hurst Show and Country Fayre last year, organisers are now staging a rebellion, with a bit of help from brewery Rebellion Picture: Duncan Kendall

Gift will help borough

By EMMA MERCHANT emerchant@wokingham.today

AN ENERGY company’s £10,000 donation will help a rescue centre rehabilitate hundreds of the spiny mammals brought to them by concerned residents.

Walking can help dementia patients

WALKING can benefit people who have dementia, according to an expert working with a charity that specialises in caring for those with the illness.

Personal Trainer and Wellness Coach Lavina Mehta is passionate about raising awareness and the benefits of exercise, and is working with the Alzhiemer’s Society to encourage Reading and Wokingham people to get out and about.

They says that people with dementia often enjoy the freedom of walking either as part of a planned day out with friends and family or by themselves, while walking in a safe environment provides physical and psychological benefits for people with dementia and can be a pleasant way of continuing a habit and remaining independent.

The benefits of walking for someone with the condition in Berkshire are the same as the benefits for anybody in that it can help to maintain mobility, it improves circulation and prevents muscle wastage, and it can aid relaxation and reduce anxiety, stress and depression.

Of all the lifestyle changes that have been studied, taking regular exercise appears to be one of the best things we can do to reduce the risk of getting dementia. Several studies looking at the effect of aerobic exercise in middle aged or older adults have reported improvements in thinking and memory, and reduced rates of dementia.

Ms Mehta said: “Dementia is close to my heart after seeing my Nani struggling with Alzheimer’s disease for the last decade of her life. She inspired me to take part in Alzheimer’s Society’s Trek26 in London in 2021. It was such a great experience and I would encourage others to sign up.

“I want to break down the barriers to exercise and open it up to people of all ages. There are huge benefits to health and wellbeing. Many people with dementia will have enjoyed taking part in regular exercise while some people may have exercised very little. It’s important people are supported to exercise safely, if they wish.

“Anyone who hasn’t taken part in regular exercise for some time, or with certain health conditions, should seek medical advice before embarking on any new activity.”

Now, the charity is encouraging people to join in with its summer activities. There are eight Trek26 events across some of the UK’s most breath- taking locations such as the Lake District, Brecon Beacons and the South Devon Coast.

Each trek offers 13- and 26-mile routes though the countryside, plus a city option for those who would like to explore Trek26 London, the opening event on June 3.

The other Trek26 events are being held in the Peak District, Cotswolds, Stonehenge and the North York Moors.

The Society says Trek26 is a vital fundraiser and a fantastic opportunity to visit and enjoy beautiful walking locations in England and Wales.

Among those taking part will be celebrity supporters including comedian and actor Hugh Dennis and broadcaster Siân Lloyd.

n For more details, log on to: Alzheimers.org.uk/ trek26

n If you are affected by dementia, call Alzheimer’s Society’s support line: 0333 150 3456 for help and advice or visit alzheimers.org.uk

AUTHOR: Twyford Drama Group is Fighting Them On The Beeches this May, a play written by Kathy Reid

Twyford Drama Group prepare for a Fight

TWYFORD Drama Group’s next production, Fight Them For The Beeches, is proving to be an enjoyable creative battle both on and off stage, as all elements of this comedy-drama are being crafted to produce the best possible show.

On stage the company’s thoughtful and talented actors are spending time building a great range of eccentric characters, from a belligerent Colonel to a mystical Cassandra.

At the same time as being true individuals, they must also work together to “become the best team ever”. Cast and directors are having fun seeing the characters and their relationships come to life.

Behind the stage, other members of the group are also producing great creative work. The excellent acrylic portrait of Lord John, which will take centre stage, is breathtaking, and the ingenious secret hiding places - created especially for Beeches Manor - are sure to be a hit with the audience.

We also have an entire talented family of parents and three

children who are set building and will be stage managing on the night. The cast and crew are having a great time putting this production together and we all hope the audiences will think that Beeches is a success.

We can certainly promise many twists and turns, dramatic reveals, surprises, a fight over a coat stand, a touching love story and the joys of not acting your age.

Fight Them For The Beeches is written by Twyford Drama group member Kathy Reid of Hurst, who wrote and directed the successful production End of Time, which the group performed in 2012.

Kathy has also had her plays performed in other local theatres including South Hill Park and Progress Theatre.

Tickets are now on sale for performances at 7.45pm on Thursday, May 11, Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13. Tickets are priced at £10 or £12. n Visit www.tywforddrama.co.uk to purchase tickets or call the box office on 0118 328 2825.

Easter Bunny pays a visit

AN EASTER treat was arranged for young residents of a new housing development in Warfield, thanks to the Easter Bunny.

Berkeley Homes (Oxford and Chiltern) invited children to take part in an Easter Egg Hunt, organised by the residents association of Woodhurst Park.

After hiding the eggs across the development’s parkland, the Easter Bunny stayed to meet with the families and children.

As well as the search for sweet treats, children could enjoy a face painter and taste some seasonal delights.

Benjamin Ivey, director of sales and Marketing at Berkeley Homes (Oxford & Chiltern), was delighted with how the event went.

“We can always rely on our brilliant Residents Association to help us make the most of the holidays, and it’s been wonderful to witness the excitement felt by children at these annual Easter Egg Trails,” he said.

“Woodhurst Park has an incredibly tight-knit community that always makes the most of the acres of green space available at the development, bringing to life our vision of a thriving community living in harmony with nature.”

Lower Earley-based charity Herbie Hedgehog Rescue was delighted to receive the gift from Certas Energy UK.

Herbie founder Shweta Saikumar says, “It’s just amazing.

“We’re such a small charity, and to get this wonderful gift will help us so much.

“I really couldn’t believe it when I first heard.”

Certas Energy UK made the donation following a nomination from Earley resident and Certas employee Katrina McDonnell.

Charity and Community Partnerships Manager for the company Tom Allen says: “Certas Energy is committed to ensuring a positive local impact across the communities where we work.

“This includes supporting local charities that help protect the environment and local wildlife.

“Our colleagues are passionate about local initiatives and have been actively volunteering with Herbies Hedgehog Rescue for a number of years, and Certas Energy is delighted to also be able to support this worthy cause.

“By supporting Herbies’ Hedgehog Rescue, we hope to improve awareness of the importance of protecting our local wildlife as well as to promote the fantastic work of this small non-profit organisation.

“By working together with our colleagues, local charities and communities, we’re proud to be helping to make a real difference in local communities.”

Shweta and her team of 18 volunteers look after around 250 hedgehogs each year.

“The animals arrive very poorly, and wouldn’t survive without help,” she says.

“But we’re able to nurture them back to health before returning them to the wild. It’s very rewarding.” Certas Energy’s gift will enable Shweta to purchase better cages, and a fifth incubator for the hedgehogs, which often arrive hypothermic and unable to keep warm.

Residents can help hedgehogs too. Shweta says that many of the injuries she sees could be avoided if people were more aware of hedgehogs and took simple measures to protect them.

With spring here, and people likely to start clearing their gardens, now is the time to be especially careful.

n Before using a strimmer check beds and overgrown lawns for sleeping hedgehogs

These cause the most casualties, with animals often needing to be euthanised.

n Keep pet dogs on leads in the garden after dark Dog bites cause very serious injuries to hedgehogs.

IT’S A golden anniversary, but it’s going to be celebrated with a visit to Emerald City, for South Hill Park is off to see the wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz in a special two-site show.

The play will be a modern adaptation, which tells the story of Dorothy, a young girl with killer heels, and a scarecrow, a tin man and a cowardly lion for friends.

Staged as part of the Bracknellbased arts centre’s 50th year, it will see the play move from its grounds through The Lexicon, encompassing several different locations for the feast of storytelling, theatre and visual arts.

Frank L Baum’s book The Wizard of Oz needs little introduction, not least as the film has enchanted audiences for decades.

Dorothy arrives Munchkinland

following a storm. After meeting her new friends, they embark on a quest to defeat the Wicked Witch, with the help of the Good Witch, before arriving at Emerald City – which will be situated within Princess Square at The Lexicon.

Written and directed by Mark Hooper, with staging and production by South Hill Park’s creative and technical team, the show aims to be an interactive and immersive experience, with several surprises along the way.

Sue Boor, head of marketing at The Lexicon, is looking forward to the shopping centre becoming a theatre set for the show, which runs in August.

“We are delighted to be part of South Hill Park’s first promenade performance,” she says.

“In addition to the final acts of the

DONATION: From left, Shweta Saikumar from Energy Picture: Certas Energy

The Easter Bunny visited Woodhurst Park in Warfield to spread some seasonal cheer (and chocolate eggs)

South Hill Park and The Lexicon are off to see the wonderful Wizard of Oz

borough hedgehogs

NORFOLK’S LITTLE TRAINS & Mississippi Paddle Steamer

n Avoid using pest control in the garden – Poisons will find their way into the food chain.

Slug pellets are especially dangerous for hedgehogs.

n Make sure ponds have a ramp or slope. Hedgehogs can swim, but if they can’t clamber out of a pond they will drown.

n Keep garden netting above ground level. Netting can get wrapped around the animal’s spines.

n Seek help immediately for an animal in trouble.

Unless it’s early or late spring, a hog out during daytime is usually a sign it’s in trouble.

Time is of the essence, as the animals deteriorate quickly.

Worried residents are asked to pick the animal up with a towel and take it, in a cardboard box, to their nearest hedgehog rescue centre.

“Hedgehog numbers are plummeting and they are now vulnerable to extinction in the UK,”

says Shweta. “They are amazing, resilient little animals. They come to us with horrific injuries, and yet so many of them pull through.

“They’re harmless, they control pests, and it’s a joy to have them in the garden.”

To encourage the animals to visit their gardens, people can:

n Make a hedgehog highway

A simple gap measuring 13cm by 13cm at the bottom of a garden fence, allows hogs to come and go.

The animals often travel two miles or more each night.

n Leave out appropriate food – Cat biscuits of any flavour are best, along with a shallow dish of water.

Don’t give mealworms, sunflower seeds, peanuts and milk. All these are hazardous to hedgehogs.

Herbie Hedgehog Rescue relies solely on gifts and donations. n For more details, to get help, or to make a donation, log on to: www. herbiehedgehogrescue.com

THE Crowthorne Archers are targeting new recruits with a come and try day next month.

The event is open to anyone looking to take up the sport either as a hobby or to take part at competition level. Former members have represented Britain at the Olympics.

The club is based at St Sebastian’s Playing Field Trust off Nine Mile Ride. The open day will be supervised by club coaches and all equipment provided free of charge.

A spokesperson said: “We invite people of all ages to try archery and enjoy the sport with us. Archery is particularly suited to whole family participation, and we provide properly qualified and insured instruction together with all of the equipment necessary to start and learn.

“The basics of the sport are easy to learn, with no significant physical requirements, and only require a responsible attitude.

“Many of our archers shoot purely for recreation, but others

POETRY CORNER

have worked hard at their shooting and have been very successful in competitions. Some of our members have represented Berkshire in the adult recurve, adult longbow and junior teams.

“Our junior members have been particularly successful, many having held British records. One represented Great Britain in the 2004 and another in 1996 Olympics.

“Crowthorne Archers is primarily a target archery club with the majority of members shooting the recurve bow, but we also have barebow, longbow, flat bow and compound archers too.”

The event takes place on Coronation Sunday, May 7, at St Sebastian’s Playing Field Trust Sports Club in St Sebastian’s Close, Wokingham Without.

Sessions run from 9am to 2.30pm, there is no fee, but donations towards the running costs of the event are welcomed. There is no minimum age.

n For more details, email: secretary@crowthornearchers.org.uk

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 only £349

DELIGHTFUL DEVON

Weekend

Departing Fri 16 Jun ‘23

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

Your break includes

 Return coach travel from Reading

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

 Excursion to Exeter

Optional excursion to Sidmouth (£10pp)

show taking place at The Lexicon, we will also be running a free Follow the Yellow Brick Road journey throughout the town centre, with fabulous prizes to be won.”

The play is also welcomed by Susan Halliwell, chief executive of Bracknell Forest Council.

She said: ”It has long been an ambition to bring together these two outstanding destinations and the council is thrilled to support another fantastic show from the South Hill Park team.”

The show runs from Thursday,

August 17, through to Sunday, August 20, and again from Thursday, August 24 to Sunday, August 26, with relaxed performances on the two Saturdays. Performances cost £5, and are at 11am, 12.15pm, 1.30pm, 3.30pm, 4.45pm and 6pm.

It will take around two-and-a-half hours, and ticket prices do not include flying monkeys or any other form of transport between South Hill Park and The Lexicon.

n For more details, log on to: www. southhillpark.org.uk/shp-events/theyellow-brick-road

A picture. The Mona Lisa Smile. A picture in my mind.

Does She smile because she knows her value?

A picture held on a wall. Does she know She has been framed?

A picture, prisoner in a gallery.

Still, she smiles, just. Although she has been framed. Surrounded by her own security. Trapped by a crowd of admirers.

I can still picture your smile. It is held forever. Your empty smile, Richard Stephenson

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

4 Days by Coach only £189

ON TARGET: Crowthorne’s archers are inviting people to have a go at the sport Picture: Giovanna Orlando from Pixabay

Archers hope you’ll join them for taster session

Herbie Hedgehog Rescue with Tom Allan, Zoe Harrison and Katrina McDonnell from Certas

Dorothy and her friends are bringing The Wizard of Oz to South Hill Park and The Lexcon this August Picture This

Your letters

Helping you to choose your vote

LOCAL democracy is important.

Being able to choose which party shapes our borough’s future is a privilege which is denied to many.

That we can agree to disagree is one of the many benefits of living in a democracy.

We have a democratic right to vote, and on May 4 we are being encouraged to do just that.

It’s a chance to determine who should direct the future of our potholes, bin collections, and car parking charges, among many other issues.

But who should you vote for?

It can seem like a hard decision, especially when there are so many parties with so many voices.

Over the next few days, our website will have all the information you need.

We’re setting up pages for every ward that is being contested in this set of local elections.

Candidates have been asked to introduce themselves, and we have information such as polling stations and previous votes.

And next week, we’ll have interviews with political leaders.

It’s all about helping you, the voter, decide how to vote.

We hope you find it helpful as you head to the ballot boxes – after all, it is your

CHURCH NOTES

Jesus Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

AFTER the intense drama of Holy Week and Good Friday, the hiatus that is Holy Saturday (despite preparations for next day’s services) and the joyful excitement of Easter and the Resurrection of Jesus, the days that follow can leave one feeling tired, deflated, “coming down to earth with a bump” … much the same as the way we feel after a long planned for and anticipated event like a big party, holiday, visit from distant family, etc.

This year I am both physically exhausted and spiritually uplifted, unexpectedly excited.

The good news of Easter hasn’t changed.

I am the same wife, mother, procrastinator, and everything else I have always been. But this year the Lenten studies and services have left a deeper impression, a stronger challenge… so much good news still to absorb, so many readings and sermons to revisit and ponder.

I think this is in no small part due to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book for 2023: Failure: What Jesus Said About Sin, Mistakes and Messing Stuff Up by Emma Ineson. Over weeks of reading, I came to realise that failure is inevitable – we are human beings, imperfect and prone to making mistakes of various proportions – but it is what we do with failure, how we learn from it, how we forgive ourselves AND OTHERS for it, that matters – and in God’s eyes we are never failures, for “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV) – that includes you.

Mary Cassidy, parishioner at St Paul’s, Wokingham, writing on behalf of Churches

Together in Wokingham

After a year on the council, I’ve come to respect the wide range of talent in the council chamber and often wish it could be used more effectively, with team-working prioritised over party politics; a view which I know many residents share.

One rare example of this has been the cross-party project team working on delivering the Barkham Solar Farm, a long-term development to benefit everyone and with absolutely no political angle to it.

Which is why I wish to express my outrage at the appalling article written by Gregor Murray: a piece devoid of almost any factual content.

The simple fact is that the project has been caught up in a wrangle between the National Grid and the Government over infrastructure investment. It’s nothing whatsoever to do with Wokingham Council.

For Mr Murray to pretend otherwise is insulting to all the officers, technicians, and councillors, including of his own party, who’ve worked so hard on this project.

Some longstanding and highly respected councillors of all parties are standing down in May and their contributions will be missed by all in the chamber.

Mr Murray will be missed by few.

Cllr Gregor Murray in last week’s Wokingham Today. The editor should hang his head in shame for letting such nonsense be printed.

The solar farm was delayed by the National Grid, which is why the chief executive of the council said she was annoyed with this state of affairs.

What is the world coming to when politicians distort events so much that the reality is a country mile away? Even I can see the delay to this solar farm was caused by others and not politicians.

If anything, this delay should give the council the mind to halt the project and let the farmer return to his land. Solar panels should be put on council buildings instead, which will be quicker and easier to install. Once the farmland is taken over by solar panels it will be gone forever.

If Mr Murray wants to blame anyone for this fiasco, he should look in the mirror and see his own face.

Name and address supplied

The common good

One wonders upon what beliefs and values the Conservative party and their supporters base their politics on.

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

policies of Nigel Lawson during the Thatcher years, voiced in the national press and his diary, neglected to mention that those policies resulted in the denationalisation of key public services.

At the same time, share-holders of those previously owned public services have got richer taking large sums of cash from the taxpayer. From the Tory Lawson years onwards the gap between rich and poor has been growing ever wider.

The state of our rivers, transport, and energy utilities are in a desperate state, whilst the services provided by the local authority, police, courts, prisons, and the NHS have been placed in a position of near breakdown: just ask teachers, social workers, police officers, nurses and doctors, etc. Was this for the common good?

What kind of society do we want to live in? What beliefs and values do we take to the ballot box when we cast our vote?

David Chapman, Wokingham

Reporting potholes

must be at least 4cm deep before it is a pothole is laughable. You say that to an elderly person who has tripped and broken her leg or a child who has fallen and grazed their knees on the rough surfaces in Woodley and see if they had a tape measure in their pocket to measure the hole! How much longer do we have to put up with councillors who are so anti-the public and who are following policies that are no use at all to the public?

When in opposition three years ago Cllr. Fishwick visited my road and said that it was dangerous and that repairs should be done. A few holes were filled. All came out in six months and the surface is in a worse state than before. But we are told it is not dangerous. It is this intolerant attitude of the council which has made the situation intolerable.

What chance is there of reporting a situation when it has to go through three choices of funding- structural reserve, maintenance and preventive maintenance? We have a £44m fund which is barely half what is needed even to make a start on the roads.

Cllr

David Cornish, Finchampstead South Ward, Wokingham Borough Council

Disgraceful article

What a disgraceful article by

From the stump Louise Timlin

Tackling the gender pay gap

THERE are many ways of measuring the Gender Pay Gap.

Statistically it makes sense to look at the median, and according to the Gender Pay Gap reporting required by firms of over 250 staff, it is 9.4% and has been 9.4% since these figures were first required to be reported.

However, whichever statistic you look at, the estimate from the Office of National Statistics, mean or median, the answer comes back the samewomen are paid less than men.

This is the fifth time councils have been required to publish their Gender Pay Gaps and for Wokingham Borough Council the gap persists.

The 2022/23 reported gap for hourly median pay is 15.6%.

Over the past year the pages of this paper have been filled largely by local Tories with rather boring, negative criticism of the governing partnership of WBC. In the Chamber, they based their opposition on disruptive, spoiling tactics. Was this for the common good?

And the wider constituency? John Redwood has been this constituency’s MP for 36 years. What are his supporters’ values? John Redwood’s fulsome praise of the economic

I am in total disgust of Cllr. Paul Fishwick’s letter because of his attitude and that of the Highways department following rules of how to treat potholes and road surfaces.

It is an outdated policy to local residents when they don’t understand or want to know when a road surface is dangerous. They are following a policy that is so antiquated and not fit for public use. It shows the type of person we have in public service and how ratepayers’ money is wasted.

The pathetic argument that a hole

neighbours in Reading.

Is there any hope for Wokingham residents when the candidates are up for re-election? Are we going to get anyone with any experience to sort out our road problems along with other problems? Will they ever support the residents or will it be party policy only?

The only hope for residents who have damage to their cars after hitting potholes is to get together and form a class action against the council who have failed to keep the roads safe for the public.

Cedric Lander, Woodley

Wokingham does not compare well with the average for local councils. Of the 292 who had so far reported their data for 2022/23, the average median gap was 2.5%.

Reading is performing significantly better with a median gap only a bit higher than the average, at 3%, but mean hourly pay is equal with a 0% difference.

I first raised the issue of the Gender Pay Gap at Wokingham Council back in 2019, and have repeatedly asked for a specific action plan after being given vague, and clearly erroneous assurances, about their commitment to equality.

With the change in leadership in 2022, I was pleased to see Cllr Bishop-Firth committed to address it, as reported in Wokingham Today on July 28, 2022.

Cllr Bishop-Firth, said the council will “take all necessary steps” to reduce this gap including looking at other councils to see what can be adopted within Wokingham. Given this statement I’m interested to hear what they have learned from our

One clear difference between the data submitted by Reading and Wokingham councils is the distribution of women across the pay quartiles. Reading has a consistent male/female distribution in all four pay quartiles of 40/60 which is what you would hope to see in an organisation that recruits and promotes men and women fairly. By comparison, Wokingham Council sees the proportion of women fall as you go up the pay quartiles.

This pattern is common in organisations with poor gender pay gaps, and generally reflects that although the organisation may employ a majority of women, as is the case with Wokingham Council, it does not develop and promote them at the same rate as men.

Indeed one of the reasons I was given for the pay gap, by the previous leader of Wokingham Council, was that women disproportionately take advantage of the flexible working arrangements which are limited to more junior and lower-paid roles.

At no point did it occur to the council to ask themselves why they were not offering flexibility in the more senior roles.

They seemed very happy to accept and perpetuate the gender stereotypes which see women’s earnings eroded by unequal and unpaid caring responsibilities.

This is unacceptable and the council needs to step up to be a role

model and address the root of the problem.

Many organisations, including the Local Government Association and the Fawcett Society, offer evidence-based advice and solutions, including flexible working as the default for all roles so that it’s not seen as a womenonly benefit, and encouraging the uptake of shared parental leave.

The cost of living crisis is hitting women hard, with 42% of low paid women having fallen behind on household bills compared to 35% of low paid men.

It’s time for Wokingham Council to be transparent and publish their action plan, complete with targets and timelines, for eradicating their Gender Pay Gap.

It’s estimated that it could take up to 100 years to end the Gender Pay Gap in the UK. I won’t live to see it, neither will my daughter. The Women’s Equality Party sets out a raft of proposals to end the Gender Pay Gap, including pay transparency, investing in childcare and placing equal value on occupations perceived as “male” or “female”.

I urge Wokingham Council to set an example for other councils and local businesses. Women got the vote just over 100 years ago, let’s not wait another 100 years for equal pay.

Louise Timlin is Leader of Women’s Equality Party, Reading and Wokingham. She the party’s candidate in Evendons ward on Wokingham

Delay nothing to do with the council

Active Travel isn’t needed here

Councillor Fishwick continues to promote the Active travel routes, whatever they are, encouraging (forcing ) the population to cycle, walk or use the inadequate public transport in this area, citing that it works “across the world”

That’s as maybe, but is NOT suitable for a town like Wokingham where the average age is going up all the time.

In past 10 years, growth in 49 + years, and a fall in those under 49 years of age.

You are supposed to cater for the people who put you in power, i.e The majority.

Vic Sarin, via email Roads maintenance budget

There is an interesting debate about the roads maintenance budget, whether it has been cut or not.

Well strictly speaking it has been frozen for the next three years which actually means, with inflation running at 10% is a real terms cut although the absolute sum has remained the same.

The Liberal Democrats literature, which is effectively the same in all words, proudly announces that they have “made road repairs a top priority”.

However, a senior highways officers has stated, in response to a query on potholes in a particular road in Woodley that “there is no change to funding from previous years, but the impact of inflation and the increase in the cost of materials does result in less work on the network.”

This is an interesting example of making something a priority –freezing the budget so that less work is carried out on the road network.

From the chamber

Unfunded Election Promises

LAST year, the Conservatives were responsible for a catastrophic mini-budget.

The mini-budget is costing many local families hundreds of pounds a month. It made the United Kingdom an international laughing stock, so calamitous was its effect on our economy and on the career of the Prime Minister.

She was put in power by, among others, our local Conservative councillors.

The budget was seen to lack credibility as the promises made could not be paid for – otherwise known as Trussonomics.

Liz Truss’s local supporters are set on repeating the same basic error – making promises that do not have to be paid for and never mind the consequences for the Council’s finances, or to the over- stretched vital services which, even now, are barely coping with demand.

Earlier this year at Wokingham Borough Council we had the infamous Conservative ‘alternative’ budget.

I write ‘alternative’ as it was never really an alternative. Had the Conservatives been in power and presented this budget to Council’s Chief Financial Officer, who has a statutory responsibility to make sure the Council does not go bust,

he would have sent them away with a very professional flea in their ear.

In fact, that is exactly what he did. A Council rule means that any motion that comes to Council must have a financial assessment provided by the CFO.

The CFO’s assessment of the Conservatives’ proposal ran to one typed side.

He was as polite and professional as he could be but any assessment that concluded that the amendment “would inevitably add sizeable risk on top of the challenging targets and subsequent risks already included” was clearly as damning as it could possibly be.

Astonishingly, only 20 of 26 Conservatives bothered to turn up to vote for their dangerous alternative and it was easily defeated by a combination of not just Labour, Liberal and Independent councillors but fundamentally by people who want their sums to add up and their budgets to make sense.

And yet the local Conservatives have learned nothing from the Liz Truss adventure, nor taken on board the verdict of the CFO.

Their election campaign seems to consist solely of promising millions of pounds of unfunded election freebies.

Millions of extra pounds that will have to be paid by residents because local Conservatives have some bizarre

This is complete nonsense, and they know this isn’t true.

The Liberal Democrat administration were pleased to inherit the Barkham solar farm project when we took over the administration last May.

A connection date of 2026 was agreed by our predecessors in April 2022 and, until the recent news, we have proceeded on the original procurement timetable.

ideological commitment to blue bags.

I am sure local foxes will be happy with a continuation of the blue bag status quo and – to be honest – it is nice to see Conservatives doing something to support foxes rather than those who would rip them limb from limb – but over a million pounds a year is a saving that the Council cannot ignore.

The millions of pounds of residents’ money that has been wasted because of the blue bag fixation does not bare thinking about. They have been putting our cash into landfill.

The local Conservatives were in power for 20 long years - and just now they are promising to increase household recycling to above 55%.

Why oh why did they not implement these magic measures before they lost power?

I suspect the answer is because waste management experts would have told them their plans, like their alternative budget, were nonsensical.

But Conservative councillors do have an answer to the cash shortage facing the Council: cuts to essential services. In the letters page of this paper and in the Council chamber they have made clear their preference to stop the filling of vacancies in Children’s Services and Adult Social Care. These teams serve the most vulnerable in our community and, true to type, the Conservatives will look to this area for the savings needed to fund their election promises.

Make no mistake – a vote for the local Conservatives is a vote for an awful hybrid of Trussonomics and austerity. Either they will trash the Council’s finances or they will trash local lives. They may well do both.

Cllr Andy Croy is Labour ward member for Bulmershe and Whitegates. His seat is not up for re-election this year

target is likely to be due to red tape and bureaucratic processes which government could fix.

The government’s energy security strategy published just a couple of weeks ago lacks clarity and urgency and is unlikely to give confidence to the investors we need to make this happen. The focus seems to be on setting empty targets rather than the changes needed to allow delivery on the ground.

Looking to a positive future for Wokingham

WITH the local elections in full swing, local politicians are spending a great deal of time delivering election leaflets to your homes and knocking on your doors seeking your support.

In the last week I have been campaigning in Woodley, Earley, Shinfield, Barkham, Wokingham Without and Wokingham Town. We have had many positive conversations with residents who have liked the way that the Liberal Democrats have been running the borough council since we took control of the council from the Conservatives last May. Residents have told me they liked the way the Liberal Democrats have worked positively with other political parties and have particularly liked the fact that we supported both Labour and Independent councillors to be the chairs of important committees at the council. Similar offers of support were made to the Conservatives but they declined to take on any responsibilities.

I am pleased that most residents want to hear about why they should support the Liberal Democrats in next month’s Borough and Town council elections. They don’t want to hear about negative campaigning that complains about political opponents.

Pleased

Residents are very pleased that we have stopped Conservative plans to allow 270 houses to be built on council owned land at Rooks Nest Farm. Instead, we will be planting a nearly 8m000 tree Covid Memorial Wood so residents will have somewhere where they can go to remember the loved ones they lost during the Covid pandemic.

Residents have also been pleased with the help that Liberal Democrats have put in place to help residents with the cost of living crisis. We have created a hardship fund of £250,000 which will be used to help struggling families to feed their families and keep themselves warm. We have also supported families with free school meals during school holidays if they would normally receive free school meals during term time.

Committed to transparency over solar farm delays

IWANT to thank the community for their patience and understanding following the out-of-theblue news that National Grid may delay the connection of Barkham solar farm by 11 years.

We are committed to being transparent and honest and that is why we decided to go public with the news straight away.

I’d also like to thank my fellow councillors who sit on the solar farm project board for their work and decision-making over the last year.

Given the nature and scale of this project, we decided to have a crossparty board that includes Labour and Conservative councillors (the Independents turned down the offer)

as collectively we will make better decisions in a transparent manner.

We have paused work on the site while we work to find a solution.

From Torbay to Durham and everywhere in between similar issues are happening where the grid infrastructure has not kept up with new renewable schemes coming online. Ten- to 15-year waits for connections seem common.

Here in Wokingham, our frustration comes from having been given the green light to proceed last year, to subsequently have the rug pulled from underneath us.

We have got used to the Conservatives spraying venom at us since they lost control of the council, but even so, it came as a bit of a surprise to find them alleging in the paper last week that we had thrown out the solar farm project and started again, and that SSEN announced the delayed grid connection was because of us.

We are also thrilled to have agreed a lease on part of the land with local charity Freely Fruity, who have just completed the planting of their super orchard. They will be unaffected by National Grids communication with us.

Working in partnership with organisations like Freely Fruity is the bedrock of this administration.

The issues with grid connections need to be rectified urgently if the government is to have any hope of meeting its commitment to decarbonise the grid by 2035.

Just last month, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) report Delivering a Reliable Decarbonised Power System described what a reliable, resilient, decarbonised electricity supply system needs to look like in 2035 and the steps required to achieve it.

The report shows that it’s possible, but current government policy will not get us there. Failure to reach the

The government also needs to include net-zero in Ofgem’s remit, enabling them to ensure National Grid makes the required investments to increase grid capacity. The Energy Bill, currently in the House of Lords, could rectify this and I will be lobbying for this change.

There is a lot that still needs to be done to fully transition to a decarbonised energy system, and I do not believe that the current government is up to the job.

We will continue here in Wokingham, working hard in a transparent and honest way to adapt and mitigate to climate change with the tools we have available and do everything we can to enable and empower our communities to do the same.

Still very high on residents lists of concerns is housing development in the borough. They don’t like the fact that the government are insisting of the council allowing lots of houses to be built in Wokingham. We are hopeful that our Liberal Democrat campaign to get housing numbers down in Wokingham is now a real possibility, this has been hinted at in the national press recently.

Residents also recognise that Wokingham is the lowest funded unitary authority in the country and has been for 14 years. Wokingham Borough receives on average £30m less each year than any other unitary authority. Imagine the improvements in services we could make with an extra £30m a year.

Liberal Democrat councillors have a justified reputation for hard work and service to their local communities.

If you elect, or re-elect, a Lib Dem councillor you will find them a true champion for your area committed to making life better for all those they represent.

Cllr Clive Jones is the leader of Wokingham Borough Council and Liberal Democrat ward member for Hawkedon

Cllr Keith Baker, Coronation Ward, Woodley and Leader Woodley Town Council

Cllr Sarah Kerr is the executive member for climate emergency and resident services and Lib Dem ward member for Evendons. Her seat is not up for election this year.

Cllr Sarah Kerr

Cllr Clive Jones

Cllr Andy Croy

In association with Blandy & Blandy

20,000 potential new green jobs for Reading by 2050

By STAFF WRITER news@wokingham.today

South east still home to highest number of estate agents

THE south east is still home to the highest number of estate agents.

New figures show the area accounts for 29% of the UK total with an increase of 11% in the past year.

However, with the London market seeing a more subdued level of pandemic market activity, the region sits mid-table when it comes to the annual growth in agency numbers.

This accolade goes to the north east region where the number of agencies has increased by 14.1% on an annual basis.

In the north west, estate agency numbers rose by 13.5% in the last year, and Yorkshire & Humber saw an increase of 13.4%.

This marks impressive annual growth given that, in the last five years, the number of agencies has increased by 20.6%, which means half of this growth has come in the past year alone.

In fact, the figures from GetAgent show that there has been a 15.4% increase in agency numbers when compared to the pre-pandemic market in 2019, demonstrating the influence that the pandemic property market boom has had on the industry.

To put this annual rate of growth into perspective, between 2017 and 2021, there was an average annual increase of 456 agencies per year.

However, between 2021 and 2022, the number of agencies across the UK climbed 2,355.

Mal McCallion of GetAgent.co.uk which compiled the figures said: “It’s no coincidence that the number of estate agency branches has increased so notably since 2019, after which the pandemic market boom spurred an overwhelming level of activity.

The nation’s agents have most certainly decided to make hay while the sun is shining in this respect, but with the market now starting to return to normality, the challenge facing them is how they remain competitive, and profitable.

The best agents, offering the best service, are those most likely to triumph, as they continue to guide sellers through increasingly difficult market conditions to the ultimate goal of a sale.”

READING needs to take action to maximise the potential of a green jobs revolution as we move towards Net Zero, according to a new report.

REDA (Reading’s Economy & Destination Agency) is endorsing a target of 20,000 new roles by 2050, something backed by businesses and the education and training community.

It is part of the green skills road map for Reading, which was launched at Stantec’s HQ in Reading.

They say that if the UK is to achieve Net Zero, jobs in construction and installation industries will be needed, particularly for retrofit, energy efficiency and creating electric vehicle infrastructure.

Reading, they add, has a real opportunity to capitalise on projected future demand for services linked to a low-carbon economy.

To achieve this 20,000 jobs target, the report advises that direct intervention in key sectors of the economy is required.

It will also help minimise the employment fall out of automation. Towards a green jobs and skills roadmap for Reading identifies the interventions in the economy locally that could generate a potential 20,000 green jobs in Reading by 2050.

The report was carried out by Shared Intelligence for Reading’s Economy and Destination Agency (REDA).

The initial analysis looks at the Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Economy (LCREE). The report identified the creation of 5,600 jobs in LCREE by the year 2050 which is double the ‘do nothing’ projections and ten times the number of LCREE jobs in Reading today. However, the ‘green economy’ is a much broader definition, states the report which identifies an alternative set of sectoral employment data which puts the current scale of ‘Net Zero’ activity in Reading today at 4,200 jobs (much higher than LCREE data). Applying the same multiple

of growth in demand for jobs would indicate 20,000 potential Net Zero jobs by 2050.

In order to achieve maximum economic advantage from adaptation to climate change, the report focuses on Reading’s most dominant sectors where it has a locational advantage, along with sectors with the greatest low carbon ‘job density’ and recommends four priority sectors as providing room for green job growth locally: electricity and gas, construction, information and communications and professional and scientific.

To unlock this green job growth will require upskilling, training and education at every level. Specifically, it identifies four key sectors for intervention:

ELECTRICITY AND GAS - reactive and short-term approach. This sector has high LCREE job density and strong demand from employers for skilled trades for retrofit, driven by national policy, regulation and investment. These jobs are well-suited to mid and late-career workers who are attracted to re-training to exploit the spike in demand.

CONSTRUCTION - a longer-term strategy which ‘leapfrogs’ shortterm skills needs and focuses on ‘succession planning’ with trade organisations, schools and education partners to respond to

future needs to create the next generation of construction skills via schools and the STEM curriculum.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS: an area where longer-term initiatives could be formed with schools, inspiring and educating them about new occupations and careers and what they can do to get there.

PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL – the secondlargest sector with huge projected growth in demand for workers in low-carbon services starting now. Action will require better intelligence about the activities and future plans of local employers to understand where in this sector LCREE and other green jobs are located.

The scale of this sector within Reading’s economy and the presence of global market leaders provides a major opportunity for impact.

REDA says the report is a first step to creating a roadmap towards green jobs and skills.

Nigel Horton-Baker, executive director at REDA, said: “The race to Net Zero by 2030 means a race to create 20,000 low carbon and renewable energy jobs in Reading by 2050.

“With the UK’s Net Zero Strategy to become carbon neutral by 2050, the need to transition to low carbon industries, invest in

Up to 20,000 new green jobs will be created in the Berkshire economy over the next 25 years Picture: Maria Godfrida from Pixabay

green technologies, and adapt the labour market is clear; however, the implications in terms of local economic policy and the most effective local actions are not as well understood.

“Beyond the need to reduce carbon emissions to avert the worst impacts of climate change, growing the green economy is an important employment and social mobility issue for Reading.

“This report is the starting point for understanding this local picture; the potential for green jobs given the economic makeup of Reading; the threats of automation to existing low-skilled jobs and how new green jobs could reduce that threat; and how active targeting of Reading’s key economic sectors could bring the maximum benefit to the economy as we seek to create benefit from the need to adapt to climate change.”

He added: “I am delighted that Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce has confirmed that they will be submitting our research as evidence to Government as part of the region’s Local Skills Investment Plan (LSIP) report to secure devolved local training budgets to meet the future needs of the economy in Reading.”

n The report is available to read at https://issuu.com/readingbid2014_19/ docs/reda_green_skills_report

Thursday 27th April from 7pm

Experience a memorable evening of great food and great wine with a delectable five-course dinner perfectly paired with California varietals.

Glass of Sparkling Wine

Five-Course Tasting Menu

Accompanied Wine Flight Tea, Coffee and Petit Fours

Guests Speaker

Opera star Valerie to share her Life Above The High Cs

AN INTERNATIONAL opera star is preparing to grace a smaller stage, when she visits Earley later this month.

Valerie Masterson will be sharing Life Above The High Cs when she visits Brookside Church on Wednesday, April 26.

She will talk about her illustrious career, complete with recordings and photographs. Her career began with a debut in Salzburg, before spending several years touring with the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company.

She then joined the English National Opera as a principal soprano, and went on to perform at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Glyndebourne, The Paris Opéra, and numerous other prestigious opera houses worldwide.

The celebrated soprano also gained popularity through her regular performances at The Proms, as well as on radio and television, including BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night and BBC One’s The Good Old Days.

Masterson’s 30-plus-year career

Wokingham borough councillors standing down at the election

By JAMES ALDRIDGE Local democracy reporter

A NUMBER of councillors representing Wokingham borough will be standing down at the local elections.

There are two Liberal Democrats, two Conservatives, and one Labour councillor who will swap the council chamber for civvy street.

It means that even if no seats change hands there will be five fresh faces on Wokingham Borough Council following the vote on May 4.

was also the Borough Mayor for the 2018-2019 municipal year, and held a number of executive positions including highways.

Cllr Gee has served as a Liberal Democrat representative for Wescott since 2019.

Last year, she led the charge against car meets in Wokingham, successfully campaigning for a public space protection order (PSPO) allowing council officers and police to fine those responsible for anti-social behaviour committed at car meets.

seeking Tree Cities of the World status among other projects.

Cllr Pauline Jorgensen (Conservative, Hillside), leader of the borough Conservatives, said Cllr Murray is retiring due to career responsibilities that require travelling.

Cllr Shirley Boyt has represented the Bulmershe & Whitegates ward, which covers Woodley and Earley, since 2019.

has produced countless stories that are sure to captivate and entertain the audience.

Tickets are priced at £10 plus a booking fee, and the event starts at 7.30pm. The church is in Brookside Close.

n For more details, or to book, search https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ for Valerie

Masterson

Clllr Clive Jones (Liberal Democrats, Hawkedon), the current council leader, said that while Cllr Maria Gee and Cllr Tahir Maher are standing down as borough councillors, they are hoping to remain on its respective town councils. The longest serving retiree councillor is John Kaiser, who was first elected 12 years ago in 2011, and is ward member for Barkham. In the last Conservative administration, he served as executive member for finance and housing. He

She is a Liberal Democrat candidate for Wescott West ward on Wokingham Town Council.

Cllr Gregor Murray served as a Conservative representative for Norreys since 2019.

During the Conservative administration from 2019-2022, he was the executive member for the climate emergency and emissions.

At the time, he was involved in plans to establish a solar farm in Barkham and

Cllr Maher has been a Liberal Democrat representative for Maiden Erlegh ward since 2019. He has served on both the Borough Council and Earley Town Council, being elected to both councils in 2019 after standing in the borough and town council elections in 2015, and borough council elections in 2016 and 2018.

He has recently been a member of the borough council’s Audit and Governance Committee.

On Earley Town Council he is the party’s candidate for the Redhatch ward on Earley Town Council, and has previously served as the town mayor.

FLASHBACK: People taking part in last year’s International Conscientious Objectors Day in Wokingham

Vigil in churchyard to mark International Conscientious Objectors Day

A VIGIL in a Wokingham churchyard will mark International Conscientious Objectors Day.

Organiser David Chapman says the event on Monday, May 15 will remember “those around the world, past and present, who resisted killing others and faced persecution and imprisonment as a consequence.”

There will be periods of silence

Early bird tickets for Wokingham Festival are now on sale

interspersed with short readings of poetry and prose, including the experiences of the objectors themselves.

People are welcome just to attend the vigil, or to go along to read something.

It is open to people of all faiths, and none. They are invited to bring their own short readings, including perhaps accounts of relatives or friends who have resisted armed conflict in the past or present.

MUSIC lovers can purchase discounted tickets for an event that takes place on the August bank holiday weekend.

This year’s Wokingham Festival will feature more than 40 artists, with a mix of original artists, tribute acts and covers.

Bands confirmed for this year include: Caravan;

The vigil will be held in the Quiet Area of All Saints Churchyard Wokingham (RG40 1TN) by permission of the Rector. It runs from 12.30pm to 1.30pm.

Mr Chapman organised the town’s first such vigil last year.

Contact Mr Chapman if you would like to do a reading.

He can be emailed at: davidchapman781@btinternet.com

Vintage Sound Collective; and David Bowie tribute band, Moonage.

The festival takes place at Cantley Park, on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, August 26, 27, and 28.

A weekend ticket costs £35, day tickets costs £14 per adult.

Children aged eight to 17 can get a weekend ticket for

£7, or a day ticket for £3, if accompanied by a paying adult.

Children seven and under enter free with a paying adult.

Early bird ticket buyers can save 30% on the full price.

n For information, and to purchase tickets, log onto: www.wokinghamfestival.co.uk

Cricketers join charity champion Ron Hedley for sponsored walk

By JAMES HASTINGS news@wokingham.today

BERKSHIRE cricketers hit cancer for six with a sponsored walk through Wokingham.

Around 30 players from the county’s senior league joined charity champion, Ron Hedley for the event in aid of the Bob Willis Fund.

The aim was not only to raise money but also awareness of prostate cancer which affects around 10,000 men in England every year.

Ron, a member of Buckinghamshire CCC seniors, was diagnosed with the condition and bone cancer in 2018.

He launched a campaign to hold a sponsored walk in all 32 English and Welsh counties that have senior teams with over £8,000 raised this year.

Wokingham is the seventh event that Ron and his wife, Pat, have led, with a further six already planned as far afield as Cornwall and Lincolnshire.

The five-mile route started and finished at The White Horse in Easthamstead Road with most of those taking part in their sixties and seventies.

Ron described it as “one of the best” and thanked everyone who turned out: “The walkers

Brewery prepares for tap yard date

A WOKINGHAM brewery is preparing to open its doors for its first tap yard event of 2023.

READY TO WALK:

Walkers joined charity champion, Ron Hedley at The White Horse for a hike in aid of the Bob Willis Fund. It started and finished at The White Horse in Wokingham

Housebuilder sponsors cricket club

A WOKINGHAM sports club has welcomed a new partner on board for the 2023 season.

Farley Hill Cricket Club received £625 from Taylor Wimpey West London as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting communities.

The support will be used to purchase new equipment to improve the quality of their playing surface at The Pavilion, Church Lane.

This will benefit Farley Hill’s

four teams, which compete in the Berkshire Cricket League.

Mike Sheridan, club captain, said: “We’re thrilled to have Taylor Wimpey on board as a sponsor for the upcoming season.

“Their sponsorship will help us move forward as a club, as we plan to purchase new equipment to better our facilities.

“On behalf of everyone at the club, I would like to thank them for their support.”

Gemma Bibby, sales and

marketing director at Taylor Wimpey West London explained: “We are committed to supporting the communities in which we build so we were delighted to have the opportunity to sponsor Farley Hill Cricket Club as they look ahead to the new cricket season.

“We wish the club the best of luck as they look to fight their way to the top of the table and wish them well in all their future endeavours.”

were all in good spirits with a number of younger people joining in,” he said.

“The weather was wonderful and our host, Clive McNelly at The White Horse, provided a superb lunch.

“We had a most enjoyable walk through some beautiful countryside.”

Added Clive: “The pub has supported the prostate cancer campaign over the past couple of years. I want to thank everyone who took part for such a wonderful cause.

“Ron is a great man who has helped raise over £30,000 since the senior walks started several years ago.”

A recent walk at Edgbaston Cricket ground, Bob Willis’s home ground, was filmed by Sky Television. That event will be broadcast during The Ashes Test Match at Edgbaston in June.

n For more information go to: www.bobwillisfund.org/ ronsmarch

n The White Horse will be hosting an open mic night on Friday, April

Bond Brews will serving the beer it brews on site, as well as cider, Pimm’s, prosecco and soft drinks.

Food will come from Great Big Pig hog roasts, and there will be entertainment.

It runs from noon to 6pm on Saturday, April 22, at its base on Gardeners Green Farm on Heathlands Road.

n For more details, log on to: bondbrews.co.uk

Pub to hold new quiz night

A QUIZ night is returning to a Winnersh bar, starting on Tuesday, April 25. There will be five rounds filled with trivia and banter.

Entry is free, and prizes will be awarded to first- and second-place winners – a £40 bar tab or a free bottle of wine. And a free drink will be given to the team with the best team name.,

It will run fortnightly and starts at 7.30pm.Teams of up to four are allowed.

It takes place at The Pheasant Bar & Restaurant on Reading Road.

n For more details, call the pub on: 0118 978 4529.

SUPPORT: Taylor Wimpey is sponsoring Farley Hill Cricket Club for the upcoming season. Picture: Taylor Wimpey

Save the date for Woodley Carnival

CARNIVAL 2023 is ready to launch Woodley’s biggest party.

The annual event in Woodford Park (Memorial ground) will see more than 7,000 people enjoy the biggest outdoor event in the village’s calendar.

There will be stalls from charities and local groups, free participation attractions, a funfair, an arena full with acts from local groups, a beer tent and inside the Coronation Hall teas/coffees and cakes by the local WI.

Add on a classic car show, dog show, photographic show and flower show all taking place during the afternoon, displays from local enthusiasts of traction engines, caged birds, model railways and the photographic club - there is something for everyone.

As the sun goes down, the Evening Concert is sure to delight with local bands partying the night away until a stunning firework finale closes the event.

Make sure to mark Saturday June 10 in your calendar, you don’t want to miss it. n Full details at: www. woodleycarnival.org.uk

No sweat! Gym is perfect for those with 20 minutes to spare

By JAMES HASTINGS news@wokingham.today

A NEW gym in Twyford is promising to get locals fit and healthy – and there isn’t a piece of lycra in sight.

Former rugby player, Paul McGovern, who runs the fit20 studio on the High Street, says customers can exercise in a business suit during their lunch hour.

There is no loud music or mirrors and a 20-minute session once a week led by a personal trainer does not even raise a sweat.

Paul, 48, decided to open the revolutionary gym after he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes: “fit20 is a unique solution that changes the way we approach fitness. With time, commitment, and motivation being common obstacles for most people, our programme offers the perfect solution.

“I am super proud to be able to bring this to the people of Twyford.”

Paul says fit20 is perfect for people who don’t like traditional gyms, or struggle with motivation.

The training is personalised, appointment-based with each session led by a certified personal trainer in

a non-intimidating, private environment, ensuring safety and efficiency.

Members train one-onone or as a pair, without the distraction of loud music, mirrors or onlookers.

The studio is cooled to 17ºC degrees so your body does not sweat.

When Paul first discovered the fit20 method, he realised that much of his previous exercise had been directionless, leading to little progress and frequent injuries.

At fit20 performance is

tracked in a specially developed app. Because all exercises are performed in slow motion and under supervision, they are safe and appropriate for people of all ages and abilities.

One client, Trish Broom, said the method is suitable to people of all ages: “I have been using it for quite a while now and was very sceptical at first as to how 20 minutes a week could possibly be of any benefit.

“The results are amazing. Within a couple of sessions I felt fitter and healthier. I was able to go up stairs without

IN THE COMMUNITY

All-weather cricket pitch deferredplan

A DECISION on a plan to create an all-weather cricket pitch on farmland in Finchampstead was deferred so that councillors can go on a site visit.

The creation of the pitch on land at Lynfield House, White Horse Lane, was approved by the council in principle in August 2021.

having to hold on to a rail and my clothes started to fit me better. Even my bingo wings were disappearing, something I had never managed to achieve in a conventional gym.”

Paul added: “Data from fit20 members globally was examined in the world’s largest fitness study, which went on to prove that 20 minutes a week fit20 training will increase your strength by 30% to 50% in your first year of training.”

n To find out more, fit20 offers a free no-obligation training session. Log on to: fit20twyford.

However, a Judicial Review caused a major snag with the project, with the council acknowledging its report had failed to adequately address the impact on horses, particularly regarding horses being ‘spooked’ by the sudden loud noise of a cricket ball being hit by a bat.

Councillors on the committee had concerns about the pitch being an inappropriate development in the countryside, ultimately deferring the decision to visit the site.

The planning application can be seen by searching Wokingham Borough Council’s planning website for application 211335.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Local History Society

THE work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission was the subject of Jane Burrell’s presentation to Wargrave Local History Society in April.

She represented the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation, part of the MacRobert Trust, which provides education on the work of the Commission.

The Trust had been established by Lady MacRobert, following the loss of her three sons in quick succession whilst serving in the RAF during the Second World War.

Her response had been to donate £25,000 to buy a bomber for the RAF – to be known as “MacRobert’s Reply” – a tradition still maintained.

Before the First World War, those who died on active service were normally buried in common graves, not marked with the names of the deceased. However, in

1914, Fabian Ware, working for the Red Cross unit in France, became concerned at the lack of recognition of the burial places, often lost as the trenches of warfare moved to and fro.

He set about recording the names and locations and, by 1915, gained recognition of the War Office, and the support of the then Prince of Wales.

This led to the formation of the Imperial War Graves Commission in 1917, with Fabian Ware in charge.

He established its principles, based on of equality of treatment - irrespective of rank, creed or colour, the body would be laid to rest close to the place where they died.

The markers are of a style, usually made of Portland stone, with a religious symbol, the name, rank and date of death (where known), and a short personal inscription if the family wished it.

For those with no identifiable grave, there were large memorials with stone panels listing each of them.

In addition, as it was recognised that many of the family members of the deceased would not be able to visit these overseas memorials, memorials such as the Cenotaph in Whitehall were also created.

The CGWC looks after these memorials, worldwide, ensuring the names are kept legible in perpetuity, the grounds tended, and records maintained of each of them.

With 1.7 million Commonwealth casualties to be commemorated, the size of the task is immense.

Jane’s husband, Philip, showed how to research those who are remembered in this way, using the names of casualties on Wargrave’s village memorial for his examples.

PETER DELANEY

Pre-school to hold fete in Monthly litter pick for Charvil

SWALLOWFIELD’S pre-school is to hold a spring fete later this month.

The event will include games, raffles, tombola, bouncy castle, face painting, and a variety of local stallholders. Held at Swallowfield Village Hall on Saturday, April 29, from 1pm to 4pm, the fun-filled afternoon will raise funds for its work.

LITTER bugs beware, the pickers are on the prowl. Members of Charvil Matters will be back in action on Sunday, April 23, for an hour of collecting the waste that folk leave behind.

Anyone is welcome to join in the event, which will focus on the area around the Milestone Avenue. The session runs from 10am to 11am.

YES, THIS IS A WORKOUT: Fit20 is a new concept on fitness regimes, offering weekly 20-minute sessions in a no-sweat environment Picture: Fit20

The work of the

unpacked at meeting of Wargrave

Police roll out new style tasers

By JAKE CLOTHIER jclothier@wokingham.today

THAMES Valley Police officers will be among those taking part in the roll-out of new equipment for police.

Officers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Constabulary will join them in launching new taser devices to replace old models.

Over the next 12 months, police will update from current “X2” models to Taser 7 models, which are described by the force as an “evolution” of their predecessors.

The new models will enhance the safety of personnel through the use of “twin” cartridge types which can be changed depending on the proximity of a person.

College students are top of the frocks

STUDENTS at Bracknell and Wokingham College gave a model performance at a top fashion show, writes James Hastings They provided hair and make-up at the two day event which featured a range of clothes from leading designers at Heathfield School in Ascot.

The students studying Level 1 and Level 2 Beauty Therapy, had to style 78 models in just three hours as part of their Create an Image unit of their course.

Bella Moroney, 16, from Bracknell who is studying a Hairdressing and Barbering Level 1 Certificate said: “I learnt so many different things as I was asked to recreate so many different hairstyles. It took me out of my comfort zone.

“It helped me to see what it’s like to interact with clients as I had quite a lot of

questions about the hairstyle that they wanted to have.

“It has made me see that I could do this as a career.”

Eloise Burton, 17, from Crowthorne, who is studying a Beauty Therapy Level 1 Certificate added: “I learnt time management as we had so many models to work on. It was challenging to work on so many models as I had to adapt to them.

“It helped me to see what it would be like to it as your job. It helps you realise which path of beauty you can take because there are so many things you can do.”

Kamala McCormack, beauty teacher at Activate Learning, praised the students for tackling the demanding challenge: “They all acted professionally. It’s amazing that in three hours, they were able to get all 78 models ready and finished.

“Even for a professional make-up team, that’s a really short timescale.

“It also helped them to develop good teamwork skills. Even though the students didn’t know the hairdressing students, they all worked really well together.”

Angela Farrugia, head of art and design at Heathfield School, said: “The students were skilled and patient with a mammoth task of getting 78 models ready in a short amount of time.

“From the moment the students arrived, their professionalism and expertise were evident, and their tireless efforts ensured that each model looked stunning.

“They had the ability to work efficiently and collaboratively, and they impressed me with their friendly and approachable demeanour. It was a pleasure to work with a team who truly cares about their craft.”

Tasers were first introduced in the UK in 2003, intended to find a middle ground between incapacitate sprays, such as pepper spray, and firearms.

The new Taser model was designed in 2018 with a new probe mechanism to reduce the number of medical implications of the use of stun devices.

Older probes could require medical attention to remove, or even get trapped in bone, if they penetrated sensitive areas.

New devices use a probe which is formed of a two-part mechanism similar to a bullet and casing assembly, meaning medical staff are less likely to be required to remove them.

They will require the use of a small tool to remove, also reducing

the likelihood of self-removal or removal by another person.

They also come with a second round as backup if there are complications with the first shot, or it proves ineffective.

Its design also means the device is slightly more powerful.

Assistant Chief Constable Rob France, responsible for the Joint Operations Unit between TVP and Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: “Since the Home Office approved the T7, following rigorous testing, we have been looking into introducing this to replace the current X2 devices our people use.

“Ensuring the safety of all in our communities, in particular the most vulnerable, is a key priority, and taser has an important part to play in this.

“All taser trained officers go through a comprehensive training programme, and continual refresher training, to ensure it is being used lawfully and appropriately.

“Of course, we will always do all we can to resolve a situation without needing to use force; however, there are occasions when we must do so for the safety of the public, to ensure the safety of ourselves, or for the safety of the person involved in the incident.”

ACC France added: “The use of police tactics, including any use of taser, whether it is discharged or only used as a visual deterrent, is closely scrutinised.

“The trust and confidence of those we serve is extremely important to us.”

STYLISH: Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy students from Bracknell and Wokingham College put their skills to good use when they did the hair and makeup at local fashion show, held at Heathfield School in Ascot Pictures: Activate Learning

Classifieds

PUBLICNOTICES

ROADTRAFFICREGULATIONACT1984 WOKINGHAMBOROUGHCOUNCIL (VARIOUSROADS,FINCHAMPSTEAD ANDWOKINGHAM) (TEMPORARYPROHIBITIONOF DRIVING)ORDER2023

NOTICEISHEREBYgiventhatWokinghamBorough CouncilasTrafficAuthorityproposestomakeanOrder underSection14(1)(a)oftheRoadTrafficRegulation Act1984theeffectofwhichistoprohibitanyvehicle fromproceedingalong:

1.DellRoad,Finchampsteadbetweenitsjunctions withB3348TheRidgesandLowerSandhurstRoad. Thealternativerouteforallvehiclesaffectedbythis restrictionshallbeviaLowerSandhurstRoad,Cricket Hill,B3016LongwaterRoad,B3016JubileeRoadand B3348TheRidgesorbythisrouteinreverse. Worksrequiringthisrestrictionwilltakeplacebetween 10thMayand12thMay2023.

2.HowardRoad,Wokinghamfromitsjunctionwith LangboroughRoad. Worksrequiringthisrestrictionwilltakeplacebetween 11thMayand12thMay2023.

3.WhiteHorseLane,Finchampsteadbetweenits junctionswithNineMileRideandChurchLane. Thealternativerouteforallvehiclesaffectedbythis restrictionshallbeviaChurchLane,B3016 FinchampsteadRoadandNineMileRideorbythisroute inreverse.

Worksrequiringthisrestrictionwilltakeplacebetween 16thMayand18thMay2023.

ThereasonfortheseprohibitionsistoallowSouthEast Watercontractorstorenewinoperablestopcocksin safety.

4.EasthampsteadRoad,Wokinghambetweenits junctionswithA329PeachStreetandWescottRoad.

Thealternativerouteforallsouthboundvehicles affectedbythisrestrictionshallbeviaA329Peach Street,A329MarketPlace,A329BroadStreet,A329 RectoryRoad,A329WiltshireRoad,A329London Road,A329CoppidBeechRoundabout,A329Berkshire Way.VigarWay,PeacockLaneandOldWokingham Road.

Thealternativerouteforallnorthboundvehicles affectedbythisrestrictionshallbeviaOldWokingham Road,PeacockLane,VigarWay,A329BerkshireWay, A329CoppidBeechRoundabout,A329LondonRoad andA329PeachStreet. Worksrequiringthisrestrictionwilltakeplacebetween 15thMayand19thMay2023.

ThereasonforthisprohibitionistoallowSouthEast Watercontractorstoundertakenewhouseholdwater serviceconnectionsinsafety.

Accessforresidentsandbusinesseswithinthe boundariesoftheserestrictionswillbemaintainedatall times.

TherestrictionimposedbytheOrdershallonlyapply duringthoseperiodswhentrafficsignscomplyingwith theTrafficSignsRegulationsandGeneralDirections 2016arelawfullydisplayed.

TherestrictionscontainedintheOrdershallcomeinto operationonthe10thMay2023andshallcontinuein forceforaperiodnotexceeding18monthsoruntilthe workshavebeencompleted,whicheveristheearlier.

Dated:20thApril2023

ChrisEaston

AssistantDirector–HighwaysandTransport

WokinghamBoroughCouncil

CivicOffices

ShuteEnd

Wokingham

BerkshireRG401WL

WOKINGHAMBOROUGHCOUNCIL PLANNING APPLICATION

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

Thefollowingapplication(s)havebeensubmittedandareadvertisedforthereasonsbelow:

230688 SpiceLounge,45 HighStreet, Wargrave

Workstoa listed building

230824 11TheTerrace, Wokingham Workstoa listed building

230825

11TheTerrace, Wokingham Workstoa listed building

ApplicationforListedBuildingconsentfortheproposeddemolition oftheexistingrearcoachhouseandtheerectionof1no.two bedroomdwellingwithcarport,plustheproposedchangeofuseof theexistingbuildingto6no.dwellingsconsistingof3x2bedroom and3x1-bedroomflats,includinginternalalterationsandchanges tofenestration.

Householderapplicationfortheproposederectionofasinglestorey rearextension.Followingdemolitionofexistingrearextensionand internalalterations.

ListedBuildingConsentapplicationfortheproposederectionofa singlestoreyrearextension.Followingdemolitionofexistingrear extensionandinternalchanges.

230881 19/21Market Place,Wokingham Major Application Fullapplicationfortheproposederectionofnewmixedused developmentof60no.dwellingsplusClassEcommercialfloorspace, associatedpublicandprivateamenityspace,newpedestrianroute, 36carparkingspaces,1loadingbayandcyclespacefor115bikes with101forresidentialinstoragespaces.Followingdemolitionof 19–20MarketPlaceandpartialretentionof21MarketPlace.

ROADTRAFFICREGULATIONACT1984 WOKINGHAMBOROUGHCOUNCIL (VARIOUSROADS,WOKINGHAM BOROUGH) (TEMPORARYPROHIBITIONOF DRIVING)ORDER2023

NOTICEISHEREBYgiventhatWokinghamBorough CouncilasTrafficAuthorityproposestomakeanOrder underSection14(1)(a)oftheRoadTrafficRegulation Act1984theeffectofwhichistoprohibitanyvehicle fromproceedingalong:

1.B3349SchoolRoad,Barkhamfromitsjunctionwith B3349BarkhamRoad.

2.A4ShepherdsHill(Roundabout),Woodleyfromits junctionswithA4LondonRoad.

3.A4LondonRoad(Roundabout),Woodleyfromits junctionswithA4ShepherdsHill.

Thealternativerouteforallvehiclesaffectedbythe restrictionsinitems2and3shallbeviaA4BathRoad, A3032OldBathRoad,A3032HighStreet,Church Street,A321WalthamRoad,A321HurstRoad, BroadwaterLane,B3030LodgeRoad,B3030Davis Street,B3030RobinHoodLane,A329ReadingRoad, LoddonBridgeRoadandTheBaderWayInterchange, A3290AlphaorBravoandA4LondonRoadorbythis routeinreverse.

4.BeechwoodAvenue,Woodleybetweenits junctionswithReadingRoadandHowthDrive. Thealternativerouteforallvehiclesaffectedbythis restrictionshallbeviaReadingRoadandHowthDrive orbythisrouteinreverse.

WOKINGHAM.TOD

Theapplicationisavailabletoview onlineatwokingham.gov.uk � Planning � Searchplanningapplicationsand typingintheapplicationnumberabove. Commentsontheapplicationcanbemade onlinefromthiswebpage. Anycommentsmustarriveonorbeforethe11thMay2023. Anycommentsmadearenotconfidentialandcanbe seenbyanyoneastheyformpartofthepublicrecord.Thecomments,unlessoffensive,discriminatoryand/orracist,will appearontheCouncil’swebsitewithin24hoursand includethesubmittednameandaddress. Duetothehighvolume ofcommentsreceivedwedonotprovideindividualresponses.

Date:20thApril2023

ROADTRAFFICREGULATIONACT1984

WOKINGHAMBOROUGHCOUNCIL (A321TWYFORDROAD,WOKINGHAM) (TEMPORARYPROHIBITIONOF DRIVINGAND30MPHSPEEDLIMIT)

ORDER2023

NOTICEISHEREBYgiventhatonthe13thApril2023

WokinghamBoroughCouncilasTrafficAuthoritymade anOrderunderSection14(1)(a)oftheRoadTraffic RegulationAct1984theeffectofwhichistoprohibit anyvehiclefromproceedingalong:

1.A321TwyfordRoad,Wokinghambetweenits junctionswithB3034ForestRoadandBellFoundry Lane.

2.ThesectionofA321TwyfordRoad,Wokingham betweenitsjunctionswithB3034ForestRoadandBell FoundryLaneataspeedexceeding30mph

Thealternativerouteforallvehiclesaffectedbythe restrictioninitem1shallbeviaBellFoundryLane, WarrenHouseRoadandB3034ForestRoadorbythis routeinreverse.

Worksrequiringtheserestrictionswilltakeplacefrom 30thApril2023.

Thereasonfortheseprohibitionsistoallow

WokinghamBoroughCouncilcontractorstoundertake creationofexistingaccesstonewdevelopment includingsectionsofthecarriagewaytobeplanedoff andre-laidaswellassomeminorroadwideningundera S278agreementinsafety.

Accessforresidentsandbusinesseswithinthe boundariesoftheserestrictionswillbemaintainedatall times.

TherestrictionimposedbytheOrdershallonlyapply duringthoseperiodswhentrafficsignscomplyingwith theTrafficSignsRegulationsandGeneralDirections 2016arelawfullydisplayed.

TherestrictionscontainedintheOrdershallcomeinto operationonthe30thApril2023andshallcontinuein forceforaperiodnotexceeding18monthsoruntilthe workshavebeencompleted,whicheveristheearlier.

Dated:20thApril2023

ChrisEaston

AssistantDirector–HighwaysandTransport WokinghamBoroughCouncil CivicOffices ShuteEnd Wokingham BerkshireRG401WL

5.A329ReadingRoad,Winnershbetweenits junctionswithB3030RobinHoodLaneandA329 LoddonBridgeandTheBaderWayInterchange. Thealternativerouteforallvehiclesaffectedbythis restrictionshallbeviaB3270LowerEarleyWayNorth, B3270LowerEarleyWay,B3270LowerEarleyWay West,A327ShinfieldRoad,A327Blackboy Roundabout,A327ShinfieldEasternReliefRoad,A327 ArborfieldRoad,A327ReadingRoad,B3030 SindleshamRoad,B3030MoleRoadandB3030King StreetLaneorbythisrouteinreverse.

Publication Date: 20th April

PUBLIC NOTICE OF AN APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE UNDER SECTION 17 OF THE LICENSING ACT 2003

Notice is hereby given that an application was made to Wokingham Borough Council for a premises licence under the above Act on the 12th April 2023

Applicant: Zesty Flavours ltd

Address of premises: 144 Clifton Road Wokingham, RG41 1NQ

Proposed licensable activities: Alcohol serving on the premises

Proposed days and hours of licensable activity: 7 days a week

All the days in a week from 12pm to 11pm

The postal address of the Licensing Authority where the register is kept and the application may be inspected is: *Licensing Team, Wokingham Borough Council, Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 7BN

Any person wishing to make representations on this matter shall give notice, in writing, stating the nature and grounds for making such representations to The Licensing Officer at the above address* within 28 days of the date of this notice by the 10th May 2023

Further information is available on the website www wokingham gov uk following the links

It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, and the maximum fine on summary conviction of such an offence is not limited

Dated: 20th April 2023

6.B3016JubileeRoad,Finchampsteadbetweenits junctionswithB3348TheRidgesandB3348The Village.

Thealternativerouteforallvehiclesaffectedbythis restrictionshallbeviaB3016FinchampsteadRoad, NineMileRide,B3430NineMileRideExtension,Park Lane,BiggsLane,LangleyCommonRoad,A327Reading Road,B3348FleetHillandB3348TheVillageorbythis routeinreverse.

7.A4BathRoad,Wargravebetweenitsjunctionswith B477MumberyHillandBlakesLane.

Thealternativerouteforallvehiclesaffectedbythis restrictionshallbeviaA4NewBathRoad,A321 WargraveRoad,A321HighStreet,A321Wargrave Road,A4130WhiteHill,A4130HenleyRoadand HenleyRoadorbythisrouteinreverse.

13x 2

8.A329ReadingRoad,Wokinghambetweenits junctionswithA329ShuteEndandB3030RobinHood Lane.

Thealternativerouteforalleastboundvehiclesaffected bythisrestrictionshallbeviaB3030RobinHoodLane, B3030DavisStreet,B3030LodgeRoad,Broadwater Lane,A321WardsCross,A321WokinghamRoadA321 TwyfordRoad,A321MiltonRoad,A321Glebelands Road,A329RectoryRoad,A329WiltshireRoad,A329 PeachStreet,A329MarketPlace,A329BroadStreet andA329ShuteEnd.

Thealternativerouteforallwestboundvehicles affectedbythisrestrictionshallbeviaA320ShuteEnd, A329RectoryRoad,A321GlebelandsRoad,A321 MiltonRoad,A321TwyfordRoad,A321Wokingham Road,A321WardsCross,BroadwaterLane,B3030 LodgeRoad,B3030DavisStreetandB3030RobinHood Lane.

Worksrequiringtheserestrictionswilltakeplacefrom 14thMay2023.

Thereasonfortheseprohibitionsistoallow WokinghamBoroughCouncilcontractorstoundertake carriagewayworksrequiredtofacilitateStructural Maintenance2023-24rejuvenatorsites,including resurfacing,relining,ironworks,andallotherancillary activitiesinsafety.

Accessforresidentsandbusinesseswithinthe boundariesoftheserestrictionswillbemaintainedatall times.

TherestrictionimposedbytheOrdershallonlyapply duringthoseperiodswhentrafficsignscomplyingwith theTrafficSignsRegulationsandGeneralDirections 2016arelawfullydisplayed.

TherestrictionscontainedintheOrdershallcomeinto operationonthe16thMay2023andshallcontinuein forceforaperiodnotexceeding18monthsoruntilthe workshavebeencompleted,whicheveristheearlier.

Dated:20thApril2023

ChrisEaston AssistantDirector–HighwaysandTransport WokinghamBoroughCouncil CivicOffices ShuteEnd Wokingham BerkshireRG401WL

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

Big bad Dom?

Play sheds new light on eyetests, covid, and the battle between Boris Johnson and his political advisor Dominic Cummings

APOLITICAL pantomime is being played out not on the road to Barnard Castle, but instead in Windsor. It’s one that pulls together recent history, and no eye tests are needed to be let into the auditorium.

Dom The Play is a look at the crazy events over the past decade, as seen through the eyes of Boris Johnson’s former right-hand man, Dominic Cummings.

“The idea came from a desire to look at one of the most controversial figures in British political history and write about it,” says Lloyd Evans.

“Shakespeare and Chekov are rooted in the past, and this is happening now, so it connects on a deeper level.”

The political satire opened at The White Bear Theatre in London, before transferring to The Other Palace, and enjoyed sold-out performances.

It looks at some of the controversies of the man who helped the Vote Leave campaign win the Brexit referendum, shares some of his thoughts on how the

civil service should be reformed and goes into the truth of the events about Barnard Castle.

And, Lloyd promises, it looks at how David Cameron made a secret pact with Boris Johnson over Brexit, what the blond-haired disgraced former prime minister made of his successor, Liz Truss, and how he fell out with Cummings, leading to his sacking in November 2020.

Exhausted? That’s only half of it.

This is a roller coaster of a play, based on the memories, diaries, newspaper accounts and other verifiable sources that Lloyd could get his hands on.

But don’t expect this to be a hatchet job on the Conservatives’ record over the past decade.

“The play is politically neutral,” he says. “I let the audiences make their own minds up.

“I didn’t want to do a hit job on him.”

Dominic Cummings is a controversial figure for many reasons, not least for his vision for the country.

“He wasn’t just a despot,” Lloyd says.

“He had ambitions that were quite admirable.”

Some of these, including reforming the civil service, making government decisions based on factual evidence, and building a space station on the moon, are put into the play, making it a far more rounded experience than a simple sketch on a show such as Spitting Image.

“It does resonate with people,” he says. “We’ve had a party in from a school and the teacher said it follows the A-level syllabus looking at the last 10 years, so it’s quite a good revision tool.”

So in some ways, more Horrible Histories but for modern times.

There is a cameo for Maidenhead MP, and former prime minister, Theresa May, played by Sarah Lawrie. And it shouldn’t come as any surprise that it’s to Dancing Queen.

“It’s not a mean thing. I don’t need to exaggerate, as people remember the events. I want to make it human, rather than just grotesque,” Lloyd says. “Everything is based on central truths.”

Dominic Cummings is played by Chris Porter, and Lloyd is full of praise for them.

“Chris is very well-known in the trade. He has a very strong resemblance and can do Dom’s funny accent.

“Tim played Boris in 2005, for the first time he ever appeared on stage, in Who’s The Daddy? (a play about Johnson’s time on the Spectator magazine). He’s reprising a role he’s familiar with.

“The actors bring something to the show that I’ve never imagined. It’s amazing to see what they can do with it.”

Lloyd is looking forward to the play transferring to the Theatre Royal, where it has a 10-day run from Wednesday, April 19.

“It’s an amazing venue,” he says. “I was there last year to watch Ian McKellen in Hamlet. He was incredible.”

Now, he’s looking forward to seeing how audiences react to his show.

“They will have two hours of political comedy, and come away discovering

things about the corridors of power and what politicians get up to behind closed doors .. 98% of the time, they’re exchanging gossip. People have the impression politicians are interested in politics, but they’re interested in backstabbing.”

As for the view it could be a pantomime, Lloyd says “It does feel like it could at certain times. Boris could be a Mother Goose figure, and Dom an ugly sister.”

There is just one question… Given they are the subject matter, has Dom been to see it?

Lloyd smiles. “I did invite Dom to see it, but he hasn’t. I don’t suppose he will.

“But we did get civil servants in, and they seemed to enjoy it. A lot of them say that’s what it’s like.”

Dom The Play is at Theatre Royal Windsor until Saturday, April 29. Tickets cost from £23.50. n For more details, call the box office on 01753 853888, or log on to: theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk

Berry good impressions

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

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

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

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

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

A sense of belonging

A deaf Punjabi man is to share his experiences of growing up in the UK with a hearing impairment.

Rinkoo Barpaga’s Made In (India) Britain, relates the experience of Roo, living in a world that he feels wasn’t made for him. Ableism and racism impact his childhood and his adult life, and lead him to ask, ‘Where do I belong?’

The event is performed in BSL, Spoken English and Closed Captions, at Norden Farm Arts Centre Studio, on Thursday, April 27.

Doors open at 7.30pm, with tickets available for £16.

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

A passion for nature

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

Honey And The Bear’s songs combine

CINEMA with a difference is returning to Berkshire with tickets now on sale for a summer of outdoor movie magic.

Royal Ascot is the venue for a stunning line-up of fantastic films for families and film buffs alike and all under the stars.

With warmer nights approaching its time to get out the T-shirts and stock up on ice cream while enjoying award winning films and feel-good classics.

Among the 130 screenings on offer from the Luna Cinema are Top Gun: Maverick, Mamma Mia and everyone’s favourite boy wizard, Harry Potter.

With top quality sound and high-end cinematic visuals against the backdrop of the iconic Royal Ascot racecourse, it is the perfect location for that first date or birthday treat.

Two types of tickets are available for each screening meaning attendees can opt for premium director seat

interweaving vocal harmonies with a range of sounds and textures.

The multi instrumentalist pair are: Jon Hart on guitar, bass, and bazouki; and Lucy Hart on guitar, ukulele, bass, banjo, mandolin and percussion.

They are joined by Evan Carson on drums, and Toby Shaer on fiddle, flutes, and whistles.

The event takes place at Norden Farm Arts Centre Studio, on Saturday, April 29.

Doors open at 8pm, with tickets available for £15.

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

In the flight path

A Terrence Rattigan drama performed in Wokingham describes romantic

BY KIND PERMISSION OF W. CUMBER & SON (THEALE) Ltd

(limited availability) or bring their own blanket and seats for easy, comfortable lounging.

George Wood, founder of The Luna Cinema, said: “Since 2008, we’ve had over a million visitors attend our screenings with The Luna Cinema serving as the best example of open-air cinema in the UK.

conflict and raging war.

In Flare Path, RAF bomber pilot Teddy,is celebrating a reunion with his actress wife Patricia.

When her former lover and Hollywood heart-throb Peter arrives, and an urgent bombing mission over Germany is ordered, Patricia finds herself at the centre of an emotional conflict as unpredictable as the war in the skies.

Audiences can see the play at Wokingham Theatre.

It runs from Thursday, April 27 through to Saturday, May 6, with the exception of Sunday. Doors open at 7.45pm, and tickets cost £15.

n For more details, or to book, call:the box office on: 0118 978 5363 or visit: wokinghamtheatre.org.uk

House calls

A MUSICAL filled with hits from 80s group Madness, visits Henley.

Our House, is a London love story set to the band’s music.

When 16 year old Joe breaks into a building site to impress his girlfriend, the police turn up and the lad’s life splits into two. Is he Good Joe, who stays to help, or Bad Joe, who flees?

The show includes Madness hits: House of Fun, Baggy Trousers, Driving in my Car, It Must Be Love and Our House.

English bluebells

Woodland walks

Family fun in the barn

Hot and cold food

Home made cakes

Free treasure hunt for kids

SUGGESTED DONATION

UNDER 3’s GO FREE CASH or CHEQUE PREFERRED

All proceeds from this event will benefit local people affected by Multiple Sclerosis. For information visit: www.msreading.org.uk

“With this in mind, we’re thrilled to announce our 2023 programme, which is comprised of world-class venues and a fun-filled line-up of films.”

n Tickets are now available to purchase via www.thelunacinema.com/cinema/, with prices starting from £17.50 including booking fees. The season runs from June 14 until September 24.

Laughter is the best medicine

PERFORMER Matt McGuinness says he is proud to work with Samaritans. His show, We Are What We Overcome, combines upbeat, original acoustic music with thought-provoking comedy and stories.

It describes one man’s journey to good mental health - via a very bad idea.

The event, supported by Arts Council England & New Art Exchange can be seen at Bracknell’s South Hill Park Arts Centre.

The performance is on Wednesday, April 26 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £13.50.

n For more details, or to book, call:the box office on: 01344 484123 or log on to: www.southhillpark.org.uk

Bracknell – South Hill Park

southhillpark.org.uk 01344 484123

Justin Moorhouse. Thurs 20. Nothing Happens (Twice). Fri 21. Isadora The Barefoot Dancer. Sat 22. Paranation

Ghost Hunt events. Sat 22. Animals.

Mon 24. Sold. Tues 25. We Are What We Overcome. Wed 26. Angela

Barnes: Hot Mess. Thurs 27. A Celebration of Dance. Sat 29.

FILM: Full Time (TBC). Fri 24-Sun 26.

Lift Off: Creature (12a). Wed 26.

Royal Opera House: The Marriage of Figaro. Thurs 27. What’s Love Got To Do With It? (12a). Fri 28-Sun 30.

Camberley – Theatre

camberleytheatre.biz 01276 707600

Robert Temple: The Hypnotist. Thurs

20. Uptown Joel. Fri 21. Lionel - the Music of Lionel Richie. Sat 22. Solvealong-a-Murder-She-Wrote. Thurs

27. Cloudbusting The Music of Kate Bush. Fri 28. Comedy Club. Fri 28. The Mumford and Sons Experience. Sat 29. Craft Market. Sun 30.

Guildford –Yvonne Arnaud

www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk 01483 440000

The Way Old Friends Do. Until -Sat 22.

Second Summer of Love. Thurs 20-Fri

21. Daddy Issues. Sat 22. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Tues 25-Sat 29. Amy’s Rocket. Wed 26.

High Wycombe – Swan

www.wycombeswan.co.uk 01494 512000

Six The Musical. Tues 18-Sun 23. Hellfire Comedy Club. Thurs 20. That’ll Be The Day. Tues 25. Tony Stockwell.

Tues 25. In The Name of Love - The Diana Ross Story. Fri 28. The George Michael Legacy. Sat 29. Pure Elite Pro-Am UK Championships. Sun 30.

Henley – Kenton

www.kentontheatre.co.uk 01491 525050

Our House. Wed 26-Sat 29

The musical can be seen at The Kenton Theatre, from Wednesday, April 26, through to Saturday, April 29.

Performances are at 7.45pm, with an additional matinée on Saturday at 2pm.

Tickets cost £20, with concessions available for £18.

n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 01491 525050 or log on to: www.kentontheatre.co.uk

Have no fear

SHERLOCK Holmes’ final novel is brought to life in a new stage adaptation.

The Valley of Fear sees Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson drawn into a tale of intrigue and murder that leads them to the bleak Pennsylvanian Vermissa Valley.

Faced with a trail of bewildering clues, Holmes begins to unearth a darker, wider web of corruption, a secret society and the sinister work of one Professor Moriarty.

Original music, theatricality and story-telling combine in this event at the Corn Exchange. It can be seen on Wednesday, April 26 and Thursday, April 27 at 7.30pm. ickets cost £20.75, with concessions available for £18.75. n For details, call: 08455 218218 or log on to: www.cornexchangenew.com

Maidenhead – Norden

Farm

www.nordenfarm.org 01628 788997

National Theatre Live - Good. Thurs 20,

Fri 21. The Ocelots. Thurs 20. Alex

Kealy - Winner Takes All. Fri 21.

80 For brady (12). Fri 21. The Vinyl

Frontier - Best Years of Our Lives.

Sat 22. Forever Elton - Greatest Hits

Tour. Sat 22. Imar. Tues 25. Josh Berry - Sexual Poltics. Wed 26. Made in (India) Britain. Thurs 27. Maidenhead

Music Society - Linos Piano Trio.

Thurs 27. Lucy Porter Wake Up Call.

Fri 28. Honey and the Bear. Sat 29. St

John’s Chamber Orchestra. Sat 29.

Newbury – Corn Exchange

www.cornexchangenew.com 0845 5218 218

Axel Blake. Thurs 20. Looking For Me

Friend. Fri 21. John Wick Chapter

4. Fri 21-Sat 22. Family Film: Shaun

The Sheep Movie. Sat 22. Shape Of You. Sat 22. NT Encore: Good. Sun 23.

ROH: The Marriage of Figaro. Thurs

27. Sherlock Holmes: The Valley of Fear. Wed 26-Thurs 27. The Cavern

Beatles. Sat 29.

Newbury – The Watermill

www.watermill.org.uk 01635 46044

Visitors. Until Sat 22. The Suspicions of Mr Whicher. Fri 5-Sat Jun 10.

Reading – South Street

www.whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060

Sold. Thurs 20. Poets’ Cafe Online. Fri 21.

Emmanuel Sonubi - Emancipated. Fri

21. Eshaan Akbar - The Pretender. Sat 22. Alex Kealy - Winner Takes All. Sun 23. South Street Comedy Club. Sat 29.

Reading – The Hexagon

www.whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060

NT Live Presents Good. Thurs 20. Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour. Tues 25. Lucie Jones and the Fulltone

Orchestra. Thurs 27.

Reading – Concert Hall

www.whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060

NEXT SHOW: Lunchtime organ recital. Mon May 15.

Reading – Progress

progresstheatre.co.uk 0118 384 2195 Dinner. Until Sat 22. Leon Greening Trio and Alex Garnett. Fri 28.

Reading – Reading Rep

www.readingrep.com 0118 370 2620 Peter Pan. Until Sat 29.

Shinfield – Players

www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk 0118 975 8880 Ravenscroft. Wed 26-Fri 29.

Sonning – The Mill

www.millatsonning.com 0118 969 8000 Noel Coward’s Hay Fever. Until May 13. The Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly Show. Sun 23. An Evening With Rich Wakeman and Peter Egan - Charity Gala Night. Sun 30.

Windsor – Theatre Royal

www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk

01753 853888

Dom The Play. Wed 19-Sat 29.

Wokingham – Theatre

www.wokinghamtheatre.org.uk

0118 978 5363

Flare Path. Thurs Apr 27-Sat May 6.

Wokingham – Whitty

www.thewhittytheatre.org

0118 974 3247

NEXT SHOW: Teechers - Leavers 22. Wed May 10.

Woodley – Theatre

www.woodleytheatre.org

07488337838

NEXT

BACK LANE, BRADFIELD, RG7 6DL – SIGNPOSTED FROM A340

Progress serves up a slice of greatness

Dinner

Until Saturday, April 22 Progress Theatre progresstheatre.co.uk

0118 384 2195

PROGRESS Theatre has plated up its latest production, an adaptation of Moira Buffini’s ‘Dinner.’

The play is a dark comedy, first debuted at the National Theatre in 2002, which sees protagonist Paige inviting friends to dinner to celebrate the publication of her husband’s book.

The arrival of an unexpected guest is just one of the occurrences which threatens to derail the event, already marked by a series of bizarre culinary offerings.

The hostess is portrayed by Samantha Bessant – fresh from Liar’s Teeth at the same company – with joyful aplomb.

The uptight socialite Paige feels like Bessant has taken all the right notes from Alison Steadman in Abigail’s Party, while bringing the more retro, 1970s touches down to suit a contemporary audience.

She is joined by husband and author Lars, portrayed with equal presence and dynamism by Ian Belcher.

His moments of put-upon, marital apathy are well-contrasted with more animated, emotional scenes, particularly towards the conclusion of the play.

Fellow dinner guests are all wildly antithetical to one another, with the meek and passive Wynne, apathetic

journalist Sian, and effusive scientist Hal.

Emma Kellow’s Wynne is underplayed without fading away, making for a good foil to the more boisterous characters during the first act, and with an enjoyable undercurrent of energy which occasionally erupts to great effect.

Laurence McNaughton’s portrayal of Hal is effervescent, bringing a lively and fun aspect to the character which plays off against the fellow guests well.

The show is stolen, however, by Pixie Nash’s Sian and Megan Turnell Willett’s Mike, who drops into the play like a cluster bomb at the conclusion of the first act.

Nash has perfected the airs of a stand-

offish, skeptical professional, but weaves it excellently through with moments of real humanity and well-observed hedonistic tendencies.

She is complemented well by the thoroughly down-to-Earth, work-a-day Mike, whose portrayal by Turnell Willett is one of the standouts in a strong cast.

Lastly, Nick Gallo performs his role as the waiter diligently, with each of the character’s admittedly sparse lines performed to their fullest effect and his presence on stage forgotten not once.

It’s clear the cast has the chops to bring Moira Buffini’s fizzing dialogue to where it belongs, at the dinner table, with real attention paid to making the

IT’S SERVED: Progress Theatre is showing Dinner from Friday, April 14, to Saturday, April 22. Pictures: Courtesy of Progress Theatre

be commended along with very solid costume work.

Finally, sound, and production work is, as ever, lightly applied to the play, but all the more effective in its focus as a result, especially the inclusion of classical renditions of modern music.

Overall, a more-than-capable cast is excellently directed by Progress stalwart Dan Clarke, with the play’s laugh-outloud moments turned up to 11 to match the dramatic moments which punctuate the plot.

Buffini’s work is energetic and exciting as well as pithy and philosophical, and with Dinner, Progress has shown that its passionate performers and producers are more than up to the task.

Progress features a number of accessible show dates, including socially distanced performances.

performance engaging but grounded. This is also especially important in “bottled” plays, where much of the action takes place in a single setting.

Incidentally, one of the striking aspects of the production is the set work.

The story takes place in a believable, well-observed dining room replete with fringed felt curtains, gold-framed artworks, and a good selection of choice props to really sell the setting.

The gold-relief wallpaper and red, upholstered dining chairs are particularly good touches.

It also includes a smart method of portraying the outside fog which is vital to the play’s story, and which is to

Relaxed performances are adapted to make provisions for families with young children and people with physical or special needs.

This includes a relaxed attitude to audience noise, adaptations to the production to reduce anxiety and sensory stimuli.

It also holds Come As You Are nights, which feature earlier opening times and space to change for trans, non-binary, or gender non-conforming people who can feel excluded or unsafe in certain public spaces Progress Theatre is showing Dinner until Saturday, April 22.

Accessibility information and tickets are available via: progresstheatre. co.uk/2023-dinner

JAKE CLOTHIER

Rock ‘n’ roll fun at Whitley

Social Club

SOUTH READING residents are set to enjoy an evening of their favourite rock and roll songs.

Whitley Social Club’s live music night will see Mini Scratch, an acoustic rock duo, perform rock classics such as Guns N’ Roses’ Sweet Child of Mine, 4 Non Blondes’ What’s Going On, and Kings of Leon’s Sex on Fire.

The band also covers Bruno Mars, Glen Campbell and Travis.

All are welcome to attend, with visitors treated to a friendly atmosphere and cheap beers starting at £3.50.

Sports fans will be pleased to know the weekend’s action will also be shown on the TV.

Non-members will be required to pay £2 at the door; entry is free for members.

The event takes place on Saturday, April 29, at the Whitley Community Centre, Northumberland Avenue in the Reading suburb.

The bar will be open from 2pm, with the band starting at around 9pm.

n For more information, search: Whitley Social Club & Cafe on www.facebook.com. It also has a section on the Whitley Community Development Association site: whitley-cda.org

Ingenious, well staged and dynamic

Kinky Boots

Until Sunday, April 16 South Hill Park 01344 484123 Southhillpark.org.uk

KINKY Boots the musical premiered in the US in 2012 and in the West End in 2015.

It was welcomed with much anticipation at South Hill Park this week, playing to mostly full houses.

Based on a true story, the show tells of a struggling shoe factory which achieves success when the owner, Charlie Price, collaborates with drag queen Lola to manufacture a range of flamboyant high-heeled boots.

The stirring opening number sets the scene with the principals and chorus singing about how a shoe is The Most Beautiful Thing.

Here, we first meet a young Lola who is a boy called Simon trying to please his father while nursing a desire for vibrant footwear, and a young Charlie determined to learn the shoe trade from his father.

A quick, effective jump forwards more than a decade and we see Charlie setting his sights on a high-flying career in the city while Lola now heads a troupe of

talented drag queens called the Angels.

The pair meet and Lola persuades Charlie to start making sexy footwear – Lola’s Kinky Boots.

Rather than a curtain, the stage is open to the audience who have time to take in the split-level set and all the details that depict a shoe factory.

Throughout the show the set ingeniously morphs into a stage for the Angels, the inside of a pub and even a toilet.

The sound and music levels

Panto wins award

SOUTH Hill Park Arts Centre has won the Best Script prize at the UK Pantomime Association awards.

The Bracknell-based venue beat more than 700 other theatres around the country to lift the coveted prize.

Writer Joyce Branagh received the award from TV and panto star, Christopher Biggins, for her script of Jack and the Beanstalk.

WINNER: Fairy dust and panto magic at South Hill Park.

were perfectly balanced so every word of dialogue and songs could be heard.

A huge amount of talent was on display, from the strong leads to the dynamic chorus which kept the show sparkling.

Undoubtedly, the stars of the show were the Angels, led by the sassy Kyan Heywood as Lola, who gave an incredibly strong performance which had the audience on their feet.

Another triumph for the South Hill Park Community Theatre.

JUDITH CREIGHTON

In her acceptance speech, Joyce praised all the nominees and thanked the team at South Hill Park, describing it as a small theatre ‘punching above its weight’ in the cultural heart of Bracknell.

“South Hill Park is an amazing team to work with and I’d like to especially thank Jack and the Beanstalk’s director Adam Stafford,” she said.

“As any writer will know, a good director will knock your overly wordy nonsense into a lovely bit of entertainment

for the whole family.”

This is the second win for South Hill Park, following Best Staging/Set Design in 2018 for Dick Whittington and His Cat, by Victoria Spearing.

South Hill Park was also nominated for Best Set Design for Jack and the Beanstalk.

Judges from the UK Pantomime Association’s attended 243 venues, watching 717 pantomime performances across the country, scoring the shows across categories developed in consultation with industry experts.

This year’s panto will be Sleeping Beauty, and will again be written by Joyce and directed by Adam.

It runs from Friday, November 24, to New Year’s Eve and tickets are on sale now.

n For more details, log on to www. southhillpark.org.uk, or call the box office on 01344 484123.

ALL SMILES: Kyan Heywood as Lola in South Hill Park Theatre’s production of Kinky Boots

Picture: Iona Newton

LIVEMUSIC

RaW Sounds Today Chris Hillman bit.ly/raw soundstoday

GIGS are great. It’s one thing to listen to a great playlist like – checks notes – this one, but it’s even better to hear the bands live.

And that’s what we did last week, by heading to Guildford to catch Tankus The Henge.

You can book tickets to Wokingham Festival over the August bank holiday, but to whet your appetite, we’ve chosen their single You Can Do Anything. Have a listen and see what you think – tune in for free on Spotify. Our playlist is a mixture that will help you discover something new.

To hear this week’s selection, simply head to https://bit.ly/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.

Tankus the Henge – You Can Do Anything

With Tankus the Henge being booked to headline Wokingham Festival on Sunday, August 27 we popped along to their show at Guildford’s Boileroom last week to check them out.

What a night it was.

They are an incredible band of musicians who

GIG GUIDE

Thursday, April 20

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Alite and support.

Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk

BRACKNELL – The Golden Farmer, Reeds Hill RG12 7LS. Karaoke. Details: 01344 302038.

READING – The Blagrave Arms, Blagrave Street RG1 1PW. Karaoke. Details: 0118 958 6775.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. BBC Introducing: Deva St John, Split The Dealer, Who Ate All The Crayons. Details: 0118 959 7196.

WOKINGHAM – The Grasshopper, Rose Street RG40 1XU. Live at the Grasshopper: Mark Warner’s Full Swing. From 6.30pm. Details: 0118 901 2678.

WOKINGHAM – The Victoria Arms, Easthampstead Road RG40 2EH. Open mic night. Details: 0118 979 9437.

Friday, April 21

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Supersonic Queen.

Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. I

Got Soul: Soul Fusions Seven. Details: 01344 303333.

READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Open mic night. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. The Reunion, K32, Tunnel Crew, Itsy Bitsy, BB Crew. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING - Hope and Bear, London Road

RG1 5DE. Goldeneye. Details: 0118 935 4095.

READING - Lola Lo, Friar Street. Skint Thursdays: Skint Rock, pop punk and classic rock, plus house and techo.

Details: Twitter @skintmondays

READING – Pentahotel, Oxford Road RG1 7HR. Emma. Details: 0118 958 6222.

READING – Pitcher & Piano, Friar Street RG1 1DB. Stars in the their Minds karaoke. Details: 0118 958 8964.

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP.

Resurrection: The Stone Roses Tribute and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Carpets. Details: 0118 959 5395.

READING – Tutu’s Ethiopian Table,

perform with such enthusiasm and enjoyment that is totally infectious.

You just couldn’t help dancing and singing along in a venue that was packed to the rafters with a crowd having such a good time.

Palmer Park, Wokingham Road RG6 1LF. Open mic: poetry, music and more. 6.30pm. Details: 0118 966 3938.

Saturday, April 22

BINFIELD – The Victoria Arms, Terrace Road North RG42 5JA. Piston Broke.

Details: 01344 483856.

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Slackrr, Flash Daddy and Small Town Saviours. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. The Lee Aaron Band. Details: 01344 303333.

BRACKNELL – The Royal Oak, London Road RG12 2NN. White Light. Details: 01344 422622.

HENLEY – Christ Church Centre URC, Reading Road RG9 1AG. Henley Rotary Club Blues Night with Papa George. £15, under 18s £9. Details: https://henleyrotary.club/

READING – The Face bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. The Runaway Killers, Stimulation Muse. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Hard Jokes by One Away. Details: 0118 402 7800.

READING – The Jazz Cafe, Select Car Leasing Stadium RG2 0FL. The Chain Gang. Details: 0118 968 1442.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Dr Syntax and Pete Cannon. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – Reading Biscuit Factory, Broad Street Mall RG1 7QE. Certain Sound Records record sale. 10am-5pm.

READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. Watt4. Details: 0118 926 5804.

READING – The Turks, London Road RG1

5BJ. Band Substance. Details: 0118 957 6930.

TILEHURST – The Royal British Legion Club, Downing Road RG31 5BB. The Highwasters. Details: 0118 942 9606.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. The Filthy Llamas. Details: 0118 977 0918.

WINKFIELD ROW – The Woodcutters, Bere Road RG12 0XS. Arachna.

I now can’t wait to see them again when they come to Wokingham so if ‘you can do anything’, make sure it’s getting your ticket for that – https://www. tankusthehenge.com/

Jessica Winter – Choreograph

Are You Listening Festival celebrates its 10th Anniversary this year and has its usual brilliant lineup and is supporting a great cause in Reading Mencap. It’s a great multi-venue festival with loads of artists appearing including this one.

It’s Jessica Winter and she’s a talented artist and producer who just released her new EP, Limerence, from which this song is taken. Cool electro-pop. –https://www.jessicawinter.tv/

Reliant – Do What You Want

Wokingham/Reading-based indie rockers return with a new single. Recorded at Maidenhead’s Generation Studio it’s another riff-laden song with a catchy chorus and their distinctive sound and vocals.

They’ve played a number of shows this year in the local area and in London so watch out for more soon – https://linktr.ee/wearereliant

Split the Dealer – Capsize

Here’s an artist who has been in every one of our Top 20 listings of the year so far. He’s certainly a talented and exciting performer and this new single is another brilliant recording – https://beacons.ai/ splitthedealer

One Last Day – Stay Away From Me

It’s another slice of well played powerful but melodic rock on this single from the local band

Sunday, April 23

READING – Community Hall, Watlington House, Watlington Street RG1 4RJ. Readifolk presents: The Twagger Band. Details: www.readifolk.org.uk

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Reggae Sundays. Details: 0118 959 7196.

SONNING – The Mill at Sonning, Sonning Eye RG4 6TY. The Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly Show. Details: 0118 969 8000.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Live acoustic music with Harley Hutchinson. Details: 0118 977 0918.

Monday, April 24

READING – The Castle Tap, Castle Street RG1 7RJ. Open mic night Details: 0118 958 0473.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. The Old Purple Whistle Test. Details: 0118 959 7196.

Tuesday, April 25

BAGSHOT – The Foresters Arms, London Road. Bracknell Folk Club. Details: www.bracknellfolk.org.uk

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. New Music Tuesday. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk

READING – Fisherman’s Cottage, Kennet Side RG1 3DW. Live jazz, blues and more. Free entry, donations welcome.

Details: 07866 251216.

Wednesday, April 26

READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Jazz Singers Night. Details: 0118 959 5500.

Thursday, April 27

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. The Velveteen Orkestra and support. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk

BRACKNELL – The Golden Farmer, Reeds Hill RG12 7LS. Karaoke. Details: 01344 302038

EARLEY – Reading Harley-Davidson, Wokingham Road RG6 7HN. Syn City Rockers. Details: 0118 334 4300.

READING – The Blagrave Arms, Blagrave

Street RG1 1PW. Karaoke. Details: 0118 958 6775.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Vegas baby, Vegas with the Ding Dong Daddios. Details: 0118 959 7196.

WOKINGHAM – The Grasshopper, Rose Street RG40 1XU. Live at the Grasshopper: Mark Warner’s Full Swing. From 6.30pm. Details: 0118 901 2678.

WOKINGHAM – The Victoria Arms, Easthampstead Road RG40 2EH. Open mic night. Details: 0118 979 9437.

Friday, April 28

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. A Night of 60s rock n roll with the Self Preservation Society. Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Malt Load v Blondie. Details: 01344 303333.

READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Open mic night. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING – The Face bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. Ed Sheeran Experience. Details: 0118 959 5500.

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. Hard Times. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – Progress Theatre, The Mount RG1 5HL. Jazz at Progress presents Leon Greening Trio with Alex Garnett. Details: www.jazzinreading.com

READING – Rising Sun Arts Centre, Silver Street RG1 2ST. Club Velocity presents... The Snags/Horse Rock/Alan Caruso. Details: www. risingsunartscentre.org

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Peter Hook and the Light. Details: 0118 959 5395.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Live guitar and saxophone. Details: 0118 977 0918.

WOKINGHAM - The White Horse, Easthampstead Road RG40 3AF. Open mic night. Details: 0118 979 7402.

WOKINGHAM WITHOUT – Pinewood

whose tour includes a Reading date on July 22 at Facebar and at Wokingham Festival appearance on August 28 – https://linktr.ee/onelastday

Ghost Dance – Down to the Wire

We go back in time now to the late 1980s with an anthem from gothic rock band Ghost Dance. They will be visiting Reading on May 4 to play the Facebar at a Club Velocity / New Mind Promotions show –https://ghost-dance.co.uk/

Deva St.John – The Curse

Deva just released her debut EP, ‘Nauseous Ad Nauseum’ from which this is taken and it’s no surprise that every song is excellent including this one – https://www.facebook.com/dayvasaintjohn/

Azure – Spark Madrigal

Modern prog from a Brighton-based band that will be visiting on August Bank Holiday Monday to headline the second stage at Wokingham Festival. The band have been championed by Prog Magazine – https://www.facebook.com/azuresongs

Morass of Molasses – Terra Nova

These Reading rockers are on a UK tour and this song is from their new album, ‘End All We Know’ –https://www.facebook.com/MorassOfMolasses

Elucidate – Take It

It’s the new single from Elucidate, a Readingbased Alt-Rock band, and it’s an exciting song with a driving rhythm section, a great riff, and energetic emotive vocals. They will be appearing at Wokingham Festival in August – https://linktr.ee/ ElucidateUK

Bar & Cafe, Unit 8, Pinewood Centre, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ. Stoney Lane. Details: 01344 778543

Saturday, April 29

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Broken Colours with Red Tape Resistance. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Angels Can Dance. Details: 01344 303333.

PURLEY – St Mary’s Church, St Mary’s Avenue,RG8 8BJ. Danni Nicholls in concert. 7pm. £15, Under 17 £10. Details: www.stmaryspurley.org.uk

READING – The Castle Tap, Castle Street RG1 7RJ. Corvid. Details: 0118 958 0473.

READING – The Face bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. Natural Right: Specialized Reading. The Corsairs. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Spirit of Carnival. Details: 0118 402 7800.

READING – The Palmer Tavern, Wokingham Road RG6 1JL. Mollys Jam. Details: 0118 935 1009.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. The Scarlet Vixens present the Eurovision Thong Contest with Mojo Jones, Oliver Ty Tassel, Layla Cherry, Dutch-S and Kate Aherne. £8. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – Reading Railway Pub, Station Road, RG1 1NB. Martin sings Through the Decades. £5. Details: 07949 948310.

READING – The Retreat, St John’s Street RG1 4EH. The Thomas Heppell Blues Band Details: 0118 376 9159.

READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. Continuum Covers Band. Details: 0118 926 5804.

READING – Saint Laurence Church, Blagrave Street RG1 3EJ. On The Block Battke. 2pm-8pm. From £6. Details:

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Centralizin’ Soundz. Details: 0118 959 5395.

READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. Paddington. Details: 0118 957 6930.

TILEHURST – The Victoria, Norcot Road RG30 6BP. Mystery Machine. Details: 0118 941 5064.

TILEHURST – The Royal British Legion Club, Downing Road RG31 5BB. The Silver Searchers. Details: 0118 942 9606.

WHITLEY – Whitley Social Club, RG2 7QA. Mini Scratch Acoustic Duo. Details: 0118 374 0052.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Make Shifts. 7.30pm. Details: 0118 977 0918.

WOKINGHAM – The Three Frogs, London Road RG40 1SW. Gary Roman as Elvis. Details: 0118 978 5925.

YATELEY - The Dog and Partridge, Reading Road GU46 7LR. Men Behaving Sadly. Details: 01252 870648.

Sunday, April 30

READING – Community Hall, Watlington House, Watlington Street RG1 4RJ. Readifolk presents: theme night - Money Matters. Details: www. readifolk.org.uk

READING – The Face bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. Chop Suey. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING - Lola Lo, Friar Street. Bank holiday bucks.

TWYFORD – The Golden Cross, Waltham Road. Thomas Heppell. 5pm. Details: 07889 226309.

WOKINGHAM – The Crispin, Denmark Street RG40 2AY. The Gas Trick Band. 0118 978 0309.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Jazz with P’Jam. Details: 0118 977 0918.

WOKINGHAM – The Victoria Arms, Easthampstead Road RG40 2EH. The Victoria Arms Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. Details: 0118 979 9437.

May Day Holiday Monday, May 1

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. The Old Purple Whistle Test.. Details: 0118 959 7196.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Live acoustic music. Details: 0118 977 0918.

Jaz from Tankus the Henge Picture: Andrew Merritt

WHAT’SON

Friday, April 21

CAVERSHAM – Library, Church Street RG4 8AU. Games club. 10.30amnoon. Free. Details: 0118 937 5103.

EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6

7JN. Re:Fresh cafe with Friendship Table. 10amnoon. Details: linkvisiting. org

READING – Battle Library, Oxford Road RG30 1EE. Rhymetime. 10am and 11.15am. Booking essential. Details: 0118 937 5100.

READING – Brewdog, Castle Street RG1 7SB. Mad Monkey Improv session. £5 in advance. Details: https:// www.madmonkeyimprov.

co.uk/

CAVERSHAM – The Last Crumb, Prospect Street. Modern Bloke Social Club: A community that helps Modern Blokes make meaningful connections with others and discover, and become the best version of themselves.

7.30pm. Search Facebook. com for Modern Bloke Social Club

READING – Tutu’s Ethiopian Table, Palmer Park, Wokingham Road RG6

1LF. Open mic: poetry, music and more. 6.30pm. Details: 0118 966 3938.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Comedy at the Turtle with Ariella Souma, Katharyn Henson, Hatty Preston and Carl Richard. 7.30pm. £15, £12.50 in advance. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – Progress Theatre, The Mount RG1 5HL. Progress Theatre presents Dinner. 7.45pm. £14, concessions £11. Details: www.progresstheatre. co.uk

SINDLESHAM – The Flavell, Sindlesham Court RG41 5EA. Quiz night. Teams of up to six. Bar from 6.30pm. £2 per person.

WOKINGHAM – Baptist Church, Milton Road RG40 1DE. Yeldall Manor spring celebration: learn more about the work of the rehabilitation centre. 7.30pm.

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. 2pm4pm. Details: 0118 979 2122 or church.office@ spauls.co.uk.

WOOSEHILL – Acorn Community Centre, Fernlea Drive RG41 3DR. Acorn Cafe with Friendship table. 10.30am-noon. Details: linkvisiting.org

Saturday, April 22

BRADFIELD – Rushall Farm, Scratchface Lane RG7 6DL. Bluebell Walks in

aid of Reading Multiple Sclerosis Society. 11am5pm. Views of Pang Valley, various routes available. Wear clothing and boots according to weather conditions. Refreshments available including hot and cold food. Suggested donation £5, £3 pensioners and children aged three upwards.

CROWTHORNE – Frpm train station. Berkshire Walkers, a group for people in 20s and 30s, ramble through Crowthorne. Nine miles in total. Booking essential. Free, bring a packed lunch and a drink. Wear suitable footwear. Details: www. berkshirewalkers.co.uk

READING – Fobury Gardens. Reading Vegan Fiesta. 11am. Details: www. sparkleveganevents.com

READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Hard Jokes by One Away. Details: 0118 402 7800.

READING – Reading Minster Church, Chain Street RG1 2HX. AB WAlker Annual Service of Remembrance. 4pm. Refreshments served afterwards.

READING – Reading Minster Church, Chain Street RG1 2HX. Reading Male Voice Choir in concert with Aneesa Chaudhry. Proceeds shared with Turkey/Syria Earthquake appeal and Reading Minster Music Outreach project. 7.30pm. £5 plus booking fee. Details: https://rmvc.net/

READING – Progress Theatre, The Mount RG1 5HL. Progress Theatre presents Dinner. 7.45pm. £14, concessions £11. Details: progresstheatre.co.uk

READING – The Warehouse, 1a Cumberland Road, Reading, RG1 3LB. Eid Festival 2023: street food, dessert stalls, arts and crafts, bouncy castle, magic show, henna stalls and more. 4pm-10pm. £5, £3 in advance. Details: www.ticketsource.co.uk/ booking/t-ojmarrk

SHINFIELD – Michael Malnick Centre, Leighton Park School, Shinfield Road RG2 7DE. Whiteknights Ensemble Chamber Music

Concert: Five BagatellesGerald Finzi, Concerto da

Camera - Michael Hurd, Disco Toccata - Guillaume Connesson, Clarinet Quintet in B minorJohannes Brahms. 7pm. £10, under 18s/students £5. Details: whiteknights ensemble.org.uk

READING – The Museum of English Rural Life, Redlands Road RG1 5EX. Earth Day at The MERL: Invest in Our Planet. Join teams from Reading Museum, The MERL, Nature Nurture, BBOWT and others. Noon-3pm.

Details: merl.reading.ac.uk

READING – The Rising Sun, Silver Street RG1 2ST. Non Canon & Suzannah Evans - Music & Poetry. 2pm. £7 and booking fee. Details: 0118 986 6788.

TILEHURST – Reading Music Centre, Stoneham

Court, 100 Cockney Hill RG30 4EZ. Berkshire

Maestros present a Come and Sing event for years 6-9. 2.30pm4.30pm. Programme includes songs from ABBA musical Mamma Mia. Details/booking: berkshiremaestros.org.uk

WOKINGHAM - Bond Brews, South Barns, Gardeners Green Farm, Heathlands Road. Bond Brew Tap Yard party. Noon-6pm. Details: bondbrews.co.uk

WOKINGHAM – The Holt School, Holt Lane RG41 1EE. Wokingham Choral Society come and sing - Greatest Choral Hits.

10.30am-3.30pm, concert at 3.30pm. Bring own lunch. £30 on the day, £25 in advance. Concert tickets £5. Details: wokinghamchoral-society.org.uk.

WOKINGHAM WITHOUT –Pinewood Bar and Cafe, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ. Friendship table available. 9am-4pm. Details: linkvisiting.org

WOOSEHILL – Woosehill Church, Chestnut Avenue RG41 3RS. Sip and Share with friendship table. 11am-noon, every second Saturday. Details: linkvisiting.org

Sunday, April 23

BRADFIELD – Rushall Farm, Scratchface Lane RG7 6DL. Bluebell Walks in aid of Reading Multiple Sclerosis Society. 11am5pm. Suggested donation £5, £3 pensioners and children aged three upwards.

READING – All Nations Christian Centre, Berkeley Avenue RG1 6JE. The Way ministry presents a warm bank: Free hot meal, free fresh and frozen food from our community fridge.

4.30pm-6pm. Details: 0118 950 5661.

READING – All Saints Church Hall, Devonshire Square, Brownlow Road RG1 6NP. Singing Workshop & Concert with Aneesa Chaudhry. 10am-1pm workshop. 2pm-4pm concert. Workshop £45, concert £15. Details: aneesachaudhry.com

READING – Prospect Park, Liebenrood Road RG30 2ND. Reading Eid FestJashn-e-’eid. 1pm-8pm. Shopping, henna, singing, children’s shows, fun fair, food. Details: readingeid. org/tickets

WOKINGHAM – Elms Field, Elms Road RG40 2NL. Wokingham Lions present Wokingham Walk: routes of five-, 10- and 15-miles, plus a five-mile accessible route. From 9am. £15, £5 for ages 12-17, free under 12s. Details: www. wokinghamwalk.co.uk

Monday, April 24

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.

READING – Atrium at Greyfriars Church, Friar Street RG1 1EH. Autism Berkshire presents free session for parents and carers of autistic adults in the west of Berkshire to meet members of our team in an informal setting, to talk through issues and ask questions about autism and support services. 2.30pm. Free.

Details: adult.support@ autismberkshire.org.uk or 0118 959 4594.

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 25

CAVERSHAM – Library, Church Street RG4 8AU. Rhymetime. 10.15am10.45am and 11.15am11.45am. Booking essential. Free. Details: 0118 937 5103.

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. 10am. Details: linkvisiting.org

FINCHAMPSTEAD – FBC Centre, Gorse Ride North RG40 4ES. Art group. 1pm-3pm. £3 per session. Details: 0118 973 2484.

READING – Reading Central Library, Abbey Square RG1 3BQ. Rhymetime. Booking essential. 10.30am. Details: 0118 937 5950.

SOUTHCOTE – Library, Southcote Community Hub, Coronation Square RG30 3QP. Coffee morning. 10.30am11.30am. Details: 0118 937 5109.

WINNERSH – The Pheasant Bar, Reading Road RG41 5LR. Quiz night. First prize £40 bar tab. Five rounds of questions. 7.30pm. Teams of four minimum. Details: 0118 978 4529.

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. 10amnoon. 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

Wed, April 26

CROWTHORNE – Parish Hall, Heath Hill Road South RG45 7BN. Crowthorne

Amateur Theatrical Society - CATS - presents ‘Allo ‘Allo. 7.30pm. Details: catscrowthorne.com

EARLEY – Brookside Church, Brookside Close RG6 7HG. Life Above The High Cs, an evening with Valerie Masterson. 7.30pm. £10 plus booking fee. Details: Search https://www. ticketsource.co.uk/ for Valerie Masterson

EARLEY – Brookside Church, Brookside Close RG6 7HG. Open Door cafe. 2pm-4pm.

Details: linkvisiting.org

READING – The Centre for Heritage and Family History, 2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square RG1 3BQ. Reading Old Cemetery Tour with Liz Tait. 2.30pm. £5, £4 members. Booking essential. Details: 0118 950 9553.

SHINFIELD – Shinfield Players Theatre, Whitley Wood Lane. Ravenscroft. 7.45pm. £16, concessions £15, child £9. Details: www. shinfieldplayers.org.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

Thursday, April 27

CROWTHORNE – Parish Hall, Heath Hill Road South RG45 7BN. CATS presents ‘Allo ‘Allo. 7.30pm. Details: catscrowthorne.com

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. 10am. Details: 0118 937 5100.

READING – Palmer Park Library, St Bartholomew’s Rd 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 – Biscuit Factory, Queen’s Walk RG1 7QE. Stand and Deliver comedy club: Steve N Allen, Ahmed Ibrahim, Rhodri Buttrick. 7pm. standand delivercomedy.com

READING – The Centre for Heritage and Family History. Reading in the time of Jane Austen Online Talk with Joy Pibworth. 2pm-4pm. £5, £4 members. Booking essential. Details: 0118 950 9553.

READING – Just The Tonic Comedy Club, Sub89/ Popworld, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Just The Tonic Comedy Club: The Thinking Drinkers Pub

Quiz. 7.30pm. £16 plus booking fee. Details: www. justthetonic.com

SHINFIELD – Shinfield Players Theatre, Whitley Wood Lane. Ravenscroft. 7.45pm. £16, concessions £15, child £9. Details: www. shinfieldplayers.org.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, 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 – The Cornerstone, All Saints Church, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham RG40 1UE. Wokingham and East Berkshire Camera Club meeting. TBA. 7.30pm. www.webcc.org.uk.

Friday, April 28

CAVERSHAM – Library, Church Street RG4 8AU. Games club. 10.30amnoon. Free. Details: 0118 937 5103.

CROWTHORNE – Parish Hall, Heath Hill Road South RG45 7BN. CATS presents ‘Allo ‘Allo. 7.30pm. Details: catscrowthorne.com

EARLEY – Earley St Peter’s Church Hall, Church Road RG6 1EY. Reading Guild of Artists presents: Portrait with Mick NcNicholas. 7pm. £8. Details: www. rga-artists.org.uk

EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6 7JN. Re:Fresh cafe with Friendship Table. 10amnoon. linkvisiting.org

READING – Battle Library, Oxford Road RG30 1EE. Rhymetime. 10am and 11.15am. Booking essential. Details: 0118 937 5100.

READING – The Castle Tap, Castle Street RG1 7RJ. A Study in Rum: Renegade tasting in aid of Reading Refugee Support Group. Pay-what-you-can fundraiser. 7.45pm. Details: 0118 958 0473.

READING – Forbury Gardens The Forbury RG1 3EJ. Blue Collar present Cheese Feast. Free entry. 5pm10.30pm. Details: www. bluecollar.co.uk.

SHINFIELD – Shinfield Players Theatre, Whitley Wood Lane. Ravenscroft. 7.45pm. £16, concessions £15, child £9. Details: www. shinfieldplayers.org.uk

WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturges Road RG40 2HD. Cafe Refresh. 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. 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 29

BRADFIELD – Rushall Farm, Scratchface Lane RG7 6DL. Bluebell Walks in aid of Reading Multiple Sclerosis Society. 11am5pm.. Suggested donation £5, £3 concessions.

CROWTHORNE – Parish Hall, Heath Hill Road South RG45 7BN. CATS presents ‘Allo ‘Allo. 7.30pm. Details: catscrowthorne.com

CROWTHORNE – Morgan Centre, Wellington Road RG45 7LD. Comedy night: Rich Wilson, Jack Skipper, Steve Hall, Jonathan Elston. SOLD OUT. Details: search Skiddle.com for “comedy in crowthorne”

FINCHAMPSTEAD – Siren Tap Yard, Alberto House, Marino Way RG40 4RF. Siren Beer Steamed Up Gathering. 9am-3pm. Details: https://www. sirencraftbrew.com/

GORING – St Thomas of Canterbury Church RG8 9DS. Reading Bach Choir presents By Royal Command. 7.30pm. £15, under 18s £5. Details: readingbachchoir.org.uk

HURST – Dinton Pastures, Davis Street. RSPB Wokingham and Bracknell dawn chorus walk. 5am. £3. Details: group.rspb.org.uk/ wokinghamandbracknell/

READING – Forbury Gardens

The Forbury RG1 3EJ. Blue Collar present Cheese Feast. Free entry. 11am11.30pm. Details: www. bluecollar.co.uk.

READING – Town Hall, Blagrave Street. The Gin To My Tonic Craft Spirit Festival. 12.30pm10.30pm. Details: thegintomytonice.com

READING – Venue to be confirmed on booking.

Terry’s Walkabout: Guided Walk around Tilehurst Village. Maximum 16 people. £5, child over 10 £1. In aid of PACT and Royal Berks Charity. 9.50am-12.30pm. Booking essential. Details: www.facebook.com/ terrysreadingwalkabouts

SHINFIELD – Shinfield Players Theatre, Whitley Wood Lane. Ravenscroft. 7.45pm. £16, concessions £15, child £9. Details: www. shinfieldplayers.org.uk

SWALLOWFIELD – Village Hall, Swallowfield Street RG7 1QW. Swallowfield

Pre-School fete: games, raffles, stalls, face painting, bouncy castle. 1pm-4pm.

TWYFORD – Berkshire Dolls House and Model Co. Wargrave Road RG10 9NY. Giant warehouse sale. 10am-4pm. Details: 0118 934 3700.

WOKINGHAM – The Crispin,

Denmark St RG40 2AY. Beer festival. 0118 978 0309.

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 30

BRADFIELD – Rushall Farm, Scratchface Lane RG7 6DL. Bluebell Walks in aid of Reading Multiple Sclerosis Society. 11am5pm. Views of Pang Valley, various routes available. Wear clothing and boots according to weather conditions. Suggested donation £5, £3 pensioners and children aged three upwards.

CROWTHORNE – Parish Hall, Heath Hill Road South RG45 7BN. Crowthorne Amateur Theatrical Society - CATS - presents ‘Allo ‘Allo. 7.30pm. Details: catscrowthorne.com

READING – All Nations Christian Centre, Berkeley Avenue RG1 6JE. The Way ministry presents a warm bank: Free hot meal, free fresh and frozen food from our community fridge. 4.30pm-6pm. Details: 0118 950 5661.

READING – Forbury Gardens

The Forbury RG1 3EJ. Blue Collar present Cheese Feast. Free entry. 11am-7pm. Details: www. bluecollar.co.uk

READING – Palmer Park, Wokingham Road RG6 1DN. 5k Run n Walk Fun Day. 9am 5k run and Couch to 5k challenge event. 10.30am Family and Friends walk. Starting point – Tutu’s Ethopian Table. In aid of Cancer and Blood Disease Awareness.

Details: Search Facebook for 5K Run ‘n’ Walk FunDay or call 07999 976355.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. How to Just Stop Oil, a talk with Phoebe Plummer. 7pm. Registration via eventbrite. co.uk - search for How To Just Stop Oil.

WOKINGHAM – The Crispin, Denmark Street RG40 2AY. Beer festival. 0118 978 0309.

May Day Holiday

Monday, May 1

ACROSS WOKINGHAM

TOWN CENTRE. Wokingham Lions May Fayre.

READING - The Outlook, Kings Road. Mates Rates Comedy Raw - open mic night. 7.30pm. £5 on door, £2 in advance.

Details: https://www. matesratescomedy.co.uk/

SILCHESTER – The Calleva Arms, Little London Road RG7 2PH. Rogue Opera presents A ight at the Opera. 5pm. £25. Details: www.rogueopera.co.uk

WOKINGHAM – The Crispin, Denmark Street RG40 2AY. Beer festival. 0118 978 0309.

YOUR BRAINPOWER

TO ADVERTISE ON THIS PAGE, CALL CLAIRE ON: 0118 327 2662

Quiz Challenge

1. How many degrees are there in a semi-circle?

2. In 2023, the singer Beyoncé made Grammy Awards history with the most wins ever. How many has she been awarded?

3. Drive and approach are names given to two types of shot in which sport?

4. In the world of antiques, what is an epergne?

5. The Gaelic name of which bird means ‘horse of the woods’?

6. Which republic was formerly known as the Dutch East Indies?

7. Sally Wainwright wrote and created which TV drama series starring Sarah Lancashire as a tough police sergeant in Yorkshire?

8. What does the abbreviation LPG stand for?

9. Which astronomical term is also used metaphorically for the lowest point?

10. The Vincent van Gogh painting called The Starry Night hangs in which city?

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.

5. Help needed with a Verdi opera (4)

7. Self-centred, for instance, with no American coin, but endlessly wealthy (10)

8. We hear top tennis player give up (4)

9. To be all for another sportsman (10)

12. Pip accepted credit for long speech (6)

13. Put up with last flower (6)

14. Go up as large number object (6)

16. Disinclined to be neat in duty order (6)

17. Figure that is more than twofaced – five times so (10)

20. Keen about the opening passage right away (4)

21. Put on inadequate clothes for the occasion (10)

22. What a pity a girl was cut short (4)

ACROSS

1. Friendly (8)

5. Jar (4)

9. Affair (7)

Killed (5)

Spin around (5) 13. Consecutive (6) 15. Bidet (anag.) (5) 17. Measure of length (4) 19. Pike-like fish (3) 20. Colours (4) 21. Trimmed, shaved (5)

1. Fine fabric (4)

2. Conflict (5)

3. Ridiculous (6)

4. Wound dressing (4)

6. State of being impervious to light (7)

7. Unmelodic (8)

Place the four signs (add, subtract, multiply, divide) one in each circle so that the total of each across and down line is the same. Perform the first calculation in each line first and ignore the mathematical law which says you should always perform division and multiplication before addition and subtraction.

1. Unable to hear four notes (not B, C or G) (4)

2. Old bird goes to two parties (4)

3. Away from the sea in the country (6)

4. Young woman upset with the French grating (6)

5. Attributed to unruly cad producing credit note inside (10)

6. Good, I dried out the instrument (10)

10. Table not used every day? (10)

11. Some turned out to be aweinspiring (10)

15. Last month had poem to decipher (6)

16. Not injured, but Teresa leaves treasure hunt in a mess (6)

18. Rush about with Edward (4)

19. Monstrous loch? (4)

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.

Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box.

SOLUTIONS

SCHOLARLY; schorl; shall; shaly; shay; shoal; shoaly.

achy; ahoy; arch; archly; ashy; cash; chaos; char; chary; chloral; cholla; choral; chorally; clash; cosh; crash; hall; hallo; halo; hoar; hoary; holla; holly; holy; hora; horsy; hoya; larch; lash; loach; loch; ochry; orach; rash; rashly; roach; scholar;

EQUALISER:

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:

22 Good; 26 Very Good; 31 Excellent.

3 7 41 7 8 3 81 4

Carmine; 21 Plumb; 22 Dimple; 25 Elope; 26 Data; 27 Tees.

Tuneless; 8 Asset; 12 Legal; 13 Siren; 14 Virtuous; 16 Bar; 18

Down – 1 Silk; 2 Clash; 3 Absurd; 4 Lint; 6 Opacity; 7

Careless.

Thrall; 24 Niger; 28 Odium; 29 Approve; 30 Shed; 31

Serial; 15 Debit; 17 Inch; 19 Gar; 20 Dyes; 21 Pared; 23

Across – 1 Sociable; 5 Jolt; 9 Liaison; 10 Slain; 11 Whirl; 13

QUICK CROSSWORD:

Screed; 13 Endure; 14 Ascend; 16 Untidy; 17 Decahedron;

Across – 5 Aida; 7 Egocentric; 8 Cede; 9 Footballer; 12

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD:

Capercaillie; 6 Indonesia; 7 Happy Valley; 8 Liquefied petroleum gas; 9 Nadir; 10 New York.

ACROSS DOWN

The power of gardening

Healthy Heart Tip

AS the weather starts to (slowly!) warm up, it is a great time to get outside.

Gardening is associated with many health benefits including improved physical, mental and social wellbeing.

Mowing the lawn, digging, weeding and other gardening tasks can help us stay active and hit our weekly exercise goal and simply spending more time outdoors has been shown to improve sleep.

If you don’t have a garden, or outdoor space, you can still reap many of the benefits by planting in pots on

windowsills or joining a local gardening group near you. Read on for our top tips to get started and ideas of what to grow.

Getting started

Whether you are growing indoors or outdoors, a thriving plant starts with good soil.

The surest way to make sure your plants get off to a good start is to buy a bag of compost and use this to start your seedlings; once they are wellestablished you can replant them into regular soil in your garden.

To save money on buying little pots, you can start your seedlings

in clean yoghurt pots or any other containers you can save from your kitchen, just poke something sharp through the bottom to allow for some drainage.

Grow heart-healthy herbs

Eating too much salt can contribute to increased blood pressure, using herbs in cooking is a great way to add flavour without adding salt.

Herbs are one of the easiest things to grow and great for beginners to try. They are a great choice for indoor growing as they do well in pots on a sunny windowsill.

If you’re planting them outdoors, choose the sunniest spot you can find.

Chives, mint, basil, parsley, and thyme are just a few that are easy to care for. You can either grow from seeds or buy the small plants from the supermarket and re-pot them.

Involve the whole family

Gardening is a hobby for all ages, and it’s a nice activity to do with children. Children love to see flowers grow and growing vegetables together can be a great way to encourage them

to try them, which is especially helpful if you have a picky eater. It is also a great way to introduce a little responsibility in the form of caring for something else, let children choose what flowers and vegetables they want to grow and

watch the sense of joy they get from seeing the fruits of their labour.

n To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our healthy recipes from our website: https:// heartresearch.org.uk/ heart-research-ukrecipes-2/

Be street wise for Coronation street parties, warns insurance firm Ansvar

FOR most people, the Coronation of King Charles on Saturday, May 6 will be the first time they have witnessed such an historic occasion.

Street and office parties will be held in villages, towns and cities as the country prepares to toast the new monarch with a glass or two of bubbly.

But before you hang out the bunting and put on your favourite Union Flag socks, an insurer is urging event planners to make sure their event is a safe event.

Ansvar, which helps the notfor-profit sector, says that while Coronation events are a great opportunity for local communities to come together and celebrate, they also carry risks that need to be managed for the safety of all involved.

Adam Tier, head of underwriting at the firm, explained: “Organisers of local events must be aware of their responsibilities when it comes to risk management and ensure their event is a fun and memorable occasion.

“It doesn’t matter how much planning you’ve already done - risk assessing now will ensure your event is a success.”

Among the main points to consider are:

Think of the fundamentals first

Firstly, think about the basics, such as the venue/location and its capacity, date, budget, time needed to plan the event, and where appropriate, ticketing.

Have the right people in place

This includes considering whether

Tastes of spring thanks to Cote’s new menu

ARESTAURANT chain with branches in Reading and Wokingham has launched a new spring menu, designed by a former executive chef to Gordon Ramsay.

Steve Allen, who has worked at Michelinstarred restaurants Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Petrus and Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s. He joined Cote last year, and is showcasing classic French cuisine with a focus on fresh seasonal ingredients.

The company says the menu is innovative, perfect for sharing with friends and family, and celebrates its trusted British and French producers.

READY TO CELEBRATE: Street parties will be held to mark the Coronation

Picture: Phil Creighton

And they are being served at the company’s branches in The Oracle Riverside and Wokingham’s Broad Street.

They include timeless dishes, sharing plates, seasonal spritzers and French classics with a Côte twist.

Among them is a classic Charcuterie Board, with a selection of Bayonne ham, truffle saucisson and coppa ham, served with sharp cornichons, Brittany salt butter and a crusty sourdough baguette.

Cheese is one of the things that French cuisine is noted for, and the spring menu includes a baked Camembert, with a herb and lemon breadcrumb crust, honey-marinated cherry tomatoes and Cote’s freshly baked sourdough baguette.

Also keeping it cheesy are the Cheese Gougères – flaky, golden baked choux buns and Emmental cheese served with tangy Dijon mustard mayonnaise.

There is also a cheese Soufflé. While most soufflés are made with Comté, Steve has opted for a creamy Camembert, topped with a golden cheese crust and paired with a mustard and chive cream sauce.

marshals are needed to help people enter and leave the event, whether there will be enough volunteers to manage crowd control, and that medical and first aid personnel will be present.

Plan for the unexpected

What would happen if there was bad weather on the day? Have a contingency plan in place for unforeseen circumstances. For smaller gatherings, like street parties where a road has been closed, this could be considering what would happen if there was a medical emergency and an emergency vehicle needed access.

Take steps to mitigate the risks

What could go wrong and how

might people get hurt? Once the risks are known, an assessment can be completed and measures put in place. This may include reducing the likelihood of accidents and injuries such as slips and trips, providing first aid training, and ensuring large marquees, staging, and audio equipment are installed by experts.

Be compliant

Organisers should ensure their event complies with all necessary local council regulations. This may include providing a risk assessment, having the necessary insurance in place, and permission to close a street for a party.

If working with external suppliers, it is the organisers responsibility

to check they have the necessary insurances and licences. An insurance broker can provide further guidance.

Protection of money

If cash is being taken to pay for food, drink, memorabilia or for charity donations, it’s vital to ensure there is somewhere secure to store it.

“We encourage all event organisers to work closely with their local council to ensure necessary requirements are met,” added Adam.

“Taking out dedicated event cover is highly recommended, as this can protect you against accidents and cancellations, and theft of any money. In most circumstances, the insurance will ensure you are compliant with local authority requirements.

Spring is the time when lamb is in season, and among the mains, Steve has created a plate with Roasted Lamb Rump. Free-range grass-fed lamb rump hails from Nice and is served with ratatouille comprising aubergine, courgette, peppers, onions and sweet tomatoes. It is topped with a salty black olive tapenade and fragrant basil.

Among the new desserts is an Elderflower & Strawberry Crème Brûlée. Steve created his with smooth vanilla and the delicate taste of elderflower. It is topped with a strawberry, elderflower and basil salad.

“I have been cooking French cuisine since the age of 13 and this menu is a reflection of everything I love about French food in the Spring,” says Steve.

“Our main focus is and always will be about the taste of our food at Cote.

“Simple, yet complex and delicious.”

FAWKES BEATEN IN CLASH

HUNT GIVES FANS HOPE

THE FIRST POINT OF NOEL

By Andy Preston apreston@wokingham.today

READING FC interim manager

Noel Hunt has urged his side to be ‘hunters’ in their tense battle to avoid the drop in the Championship. In his first match in charge after

AGAIN TO

BERKS BACK AT THE CREASE

By DAVE WRIGHT sport@wokingham.today

BERKSHIRE County Cricket Club

will be hoping to start their season this coming Sunday after having the last two weekend games cancelled.

They are scheduled to face Buckinghamshire in two NCCA T20 Group Four games at High Wycombe (11am and 2.30pm).

The Marlborough Cup match against Wiltshire and the following T20 fixture with Wales NC were both called off well in advance due to heavy rainfall.

It means players are lacking match practice although they were able to get in two days at the Eversley indoor centre.

The dual-registered Tom Scriven did see some match action and what a day it proved for the Henley all-rounder as he hammered 112 not out off 131 balls for Leicestershire in their Second XI draw with Lancashire at Southport. It was his first century for the Foxes as he followed up his 110 for Berkshire against Dorset at Wimborne last July.

When Bucks took on holders Oxfordshire in a double-header at Wormsley on Sunday, they met with mixed fortunes, winning the first by 10 runs (145-5 against 1358) before losing the second by four wickets with Oxon reaching 142-6 in 18.1 overs. Bucks’ 141-8 included a 24-ball half-century by Saif Zaib.

taking the reins from Paul Ince, Hunt helped the Royals to earn a point against Championship leaders Burnley.

Another tough home test came for Reading last against high flying Luton Town – after we had gone to

press (match report online at rdg. today).

“It feels like we’ve been hunted for the last six or seven weeks,” said Hunt.

“Everyone has been gunning for us. Let’s turn it around, let’s go and be

the hunters.

“Let’s go and fight for points, let’s go and hunt teams down and let’s get out of this battle we’re in.

“We’ve got to be up for the fight. We can’t leave any stone unturned.”

n Full Royals report on pages 22 & 23

Berkshire will again be skippered by Dan Lincoln, who after leaving Slough late last year was reported by Home Counties Premier League rivals High Wycombe to have joined them, but Wargrave announced he will be playing for them this season.

NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS

RAMS 38-28 CINDERFORD

TITLE RACE TO GO TO THE WIRE

AFTER RAMS DEFEAT CINDERFORD

By RICHARD ASHTON sport@wokingham.today

SEB REYNOLDS believes

National One is the best advert for rugby after Rams sent he title race to the wire with a brilliant 38-28 home win against Cinderford.

The hosts built up a 19-0 lead in front of a record crowd of 1,284 at Old Bath Road, James McRae, Ollie Cole and Axel Kalling-Smith, with an extraordinary length-ofthe-field effort.

Zach Clow and Dan Swain both sin-binned before Cinderford cut the gap to five points at half-time through converted Nathan Taylor and George Porter tries.

Max Hayman became the third home player to be yellow carded early in the second half, but another stunning counter-attack was finished by Kalling-Smith for 24-14.

Replacement Ollie Monye

then darted over with his first touch and Connor Stapley grabbed his side’s sixth, Humberstone’s two conversions giving his side breathing space.

While Cinderford grabbed two late converted scores through Taylor and Mike Wilcox, it was too little, too late.

The RAMS’ director of rugby Reynolds said: “We owed it to ourselves to put in a performance because we weren’t at our best in December, and they did a fantastic job in getting a comfortable win.

“We hadn’t avenged any losses this year, so no matter what stage of the season we were at, league positions were irrelevant, we had to perform to move forward as a side, and we did that well.”

Things looked good for Rams early on with Kalling-Smith’s stunner the highlight, but the visitors

gave themselves hope with a couple of comeback scores before the break.

Reynolds continued: “Cinderford are a real threat because their midfield players are excellent jackallers, so if you’re not on the money at the breakdown they’ll turn you over or slow your ball down.

“Then if you lose your discipline, they’re in the corner and scoring tries.

“They got a couple of maul tries, but for the most part we defended it well and held a couple up – if we hadn’t done that, we could have lost the game.

The result keeps Rams a point clear of Sale and five from Cambridge with the top two finishing next Saturday, though the latter hold the whip hand with an extra game to play at home to Birmingham Moseley seven days after their rivals’ campaigns are wrapped up.

READING GYMNAST STAR TO COMPETE IN CZECH OPEN

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

Reynolds said: “We don’t know how the season’s going to pan out. Cambridge should do it, but we just have to focus on our performance and see how the land lies after the Esher game.

“This level of rugby is the best advert you have for the sport.

“I question what the Premiership is where there’s no jeopardy, no relegation.

“If you look at what National One is producing, the fact is we’ve got to go to a quality side in Esher who are battling to stay up and we’re looking to stay in the hunt, that’s how it should be.

“There are meaningful matches all the way through, and for the Premiership to want to pull up the drawbridge and say ‘we’re happy, we’ll stay as we are’ is out of order.”

n On Saturday RAMS travel to 11th placed Esher for their final game of the season.

GYMNAST Em Kays has been selected to represent the Southern Region squad this month at the Czech Aerobic Open.

The 15-year-old who trains at Virtue Gymnastics in Tilehurst will take on fellow athletes in Czech Republic in this month’s competition.

Speaking on Hospital Radio Reading, Em and her coach at Virtue, Celine Payne, explained her journey into aerobic gymnastics and how she was selected.

“There’s a choreography routine with arms and legs with different movements which is similar to dance,” said Em.

“Then there are transitions which is similar to normal

gymnastics with flips and aerials.

“We have a lot of time working on routines. It takes months to perfect them. It’s muscle memory and when you love it, you know what you’re doing.”

The competition, which begins today (Thursday) will be the first time that Em will have competed in a competition abroad up against gymnasts from across the globe.

Celine added: “The main thing a coach looks for is confidence and work ethic.

“If they have that in them, they can be a great athlete. With Em, she had natural flexibility and was a natural hard worker.

“Everyone in the Southern region has to trial and luckily Em was one of the selected 10 in her age group. She’s been amazing and I’m proud of her for whatever she does.”

Ant Marris with ball in hand Pictures: Paul Clark and Tim Pitfield

Em

Em Kays trains at Virtue Gymnastics in Tilehurst

Ollie Cole makes a clearance kick on his 100th appearance

Ant Marris makes a brilliant pass to fellow prop James Baker

Man-of-the-match Drew Humberstone

Connor Stapley scored Rams’ sixth try

NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS

BASKETBALL

ROCKETS FALL SHORT IN TITANIC PLAY-OFF BATTLE

By STAFF WRITER sport@wokingham.today

Hemel Storm 89 Reading Rockets 86

READING ROCKETS fell just short in a titanic battle as Hemel Storm booked their place in the play-off Championship final.

The game didn’t start well for Rockets as influential point guard Jermiah Jenkins was called for his first foul inside the opening 12 seconds.

Storm capitalised on this with a 11-4 run but American guard Troy Cracknell scored and hit a bonus point before Reis Pinnock drove to score and Jenkins stroked the first of his three trebles to see Rockets ahead midway through the opening quarter.

Cracknell scored with a slam dunk but Storm finished the period with a 9-3 run to lead 26-19 at the first break.

Jenkins and Lewis Champion hit trebles as Rockets grabbed the initiative and when Jordan Jackson scored inside, Rockets took the lead by a single point but were soaring with a 13-0 run to lead 31-26.

The league champions, KItking Trophy winners and National Cup victors were not

RUGBY UNION

READING FALL TO HEAVY DEFEAT AS PLATE RUN ENDS

By PETER CHIDGEY sport@wokinhgam.today

Battersea Ironsides 77 Reading 19

READING went down to a heavy defeat to a strong Battersea Ironsides team to finish their interest in the Regional Plate competition.

This was Reading’s first game in four weeks after two free weeks and a walkover in the first round.

Their opponents by contrast had beaten London Cornish 48-30 in the first round.

Lack of match practice certainly showed in Reading’s performance against a much slicker outfit.

Battersea’s start looked ominous for Reading as they kept possession for the first four minutes eventually working an overlap to score an unconverted try.

Reading however hit back firstly with a Jack Carling penalty and then with a try for Vincent Mose who was worked clear after a period of Reading pressure to give them a 5-8 lead.

Battersea were the next to score with a try from a line out drive and then a converted try when they ran back the subsequent kick off.

Carling then kicked a penalty for Reading to make the score 17-11.

Before half-time, Battersea added a converted try from a good back move with their blindside winger running against the line to make the score 29-14 at the interval.

Although Reading had stayed in the game in the first half through Jack Carling’s penalties, they had only scored one try to their opponents’ five.

By 15 minutes of the second half Battersea’s good phase play and strong running had taken the game

well away from Reading, scoring four converted tries to push their lead out to 57-14.

Reading replied with an unconverted try from Alfie Fryer after a good period of attack involving forwards and backs but that was the total of their scoring in the second half.

Battersea finished the afternoon by

going to lie down and stormed back into the game with a brace of trebles.

A Finleigh Porter slam ended the period with Rockets just trailing Storm 51-52.

Both teams slugged it out like a pair of boxers, giving and taking punishment as neither was able to open up a significant advantage to ease off at all.

Tied on 68 and 70, Rockets were called for a bench technical foul but players were putting their bodies on the line as Cracknell and Champion took charges.

Midway through the final stanza Storm held a 80-72 lead but again Rockets hit back with a Jenkins treble, a Cracknell drive and Pinnock scoring form the free throw line to close the gap to just two points at 78-80 causing Strom into a time-out with four minutes 10 seconds remaining.

Storm made a score and hit one from two from the line to edge 8983 ahead.

The magnificent Rockets hit a treble through Cracknell with 14.1 seconds remaining and with the last play of regular time Jenkins hit what everyone in the arena thought was a treble to take the game to overtime, but the ball spun in the basket and came out leaving Storm to take the win.

running in three more tries one of which was converted and added a drop goal for good measure to complete their victory over a well beaten Reading side.

Andy Arter, director of rugby, praised the team for keeping going and marked out Toby Sofidiya who had showed well in a defence

that was often overwhelmed.

Tries: Mose, Fryer

Penalty: Carling (3)

Reading RFC: Jack Carling; Vincent Mose, Tom Sharp(capt), Alex Murray-Smith, Jordan Gomez; Sam Bowers, Nathan Wheeler; Harry Wilson, Will Proctor-Searle, Alfie Fryer; Joe Clarkson, Ryan Smith; Tobi Sofidiya, Brandon Taplin, Rob Cunningham.

Replacements: Graham Young, Greg Jackson, Nick Portch

Reading kick the ball forward in attack

Troy Cracknell takes a shot

Reading RFC in action Pictures: John Newport

Finleigh Porter challenges for the ball at tip-off

Troy Cracknell celebrates scoring points

Lewis Champion dribbles forward

Reading Rockets were knocked out of the play-offs Pictures: Luke Simcock

NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS

SUMAS STEP TOWARDS SAFETY, ROBINS

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

Southern League Premier

South

BRACKNELL TOWN

were rewarded with their 26th league win of the campaign to remain close behind leaders Weston-superMare.

A successful penalty from Darryl Sanders put the Robins ahead before strikes from Jack Dean

and Gary Abisogun ensured a 3-1 triumph.

Bracknell are in second, five points off the top with a game in hand with just three games left.

Isthmian South Central

Conor Lynch scored the only goal of the game to see BINFIELD move past Chipstead.

The result means that the Moles are in seventh place on 56 points from 36 games.

Combined Counties

Premier North

ASCOT UNITED lifted the league title after their victory over Chalfont St Peter.

A second-half flurry with goals from Rob Gerrard, Louis Bouwers and Harry Grant saw the Yellas collect three points in their 30th win in 35 matches.

Ascot now have an unassailable lead at the top on 93 points with three league games left to play.

READING CITY got back

on track with an away win at Burnham.

George Pilbeam netted a brace to help the Cityzens to a 2-1 success to end Burnham’s unbeaten home record.

City are in third on 76 points with two games to play.

WOKINGHAM & EMMBROOK took another big step towards safety by taking three points at Spelthorne Sports.

The Sumas left it late to grasp maximum points when O’Connor scored in the 86th minute to seal a 1-0 result.

Wokingham are on 32 points from 35 games, five points above Chalfont and six points above both Oxhey Jets and Windsor.

Combined Counties

Division One

EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA were dealt a home defeat up against SANDHURST TOWN

A brace from Haydon Vaughan and a goal from Logan Coles earned the Fizzers a 3-0 away win.

Thames Valley Women’s

Division 3S

EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA

RESERVES maintain their position in top spot after their stunning win over WARGRAVE DEVELOPMENT

Wargrave kept themselves in the contest at 2-1 going into the break, but the Boars soared to victory with a ruthless secondhalf display to take the game 9-1.

A hat-trick from Lauren Broadhurst and braces from

O’Connor scored the winner to help the Sumas move closer towards safety Pictures: Andrew Batt

Bracknell Town won again to stay in second place Pictures: John Leakey

NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS

ROBINS WIN AGAIN

From the middle

Referees wearing body cameras

ASHORT while ago I mentioned that the FA were taking the unprecedented step of experimenting with body cameras to be worn by referees.

This was no small step and it had to be agreed with the International FA Board, the games law makers, before it could go ahead.

One hundred of these cameras were distributed to four different areas of the country to be worn at adult grass roots football matches.

It was hoped that these cameras would be a deterrent for the abuse, and even assaults that referees receive too often from players and club officials.

The early signs according to the FA are positive, as no user referee has found it necessary to activate their camera so far.

The camera is a clever piece of equipment. It does not record the whole of the match but when activated it will capture the last 30 seconds which will show the abuse.

The referee is not able to access the photos taken, nor can anyone else, so if any aggressor thinks they can open the camera and destroy the evidence, they will be disappointed.

Ciara Jolliffe, Laura Comerford and Katie Rebecca Sayer earned the win.

Eversley have a one-point advantage at the summit over Shinfield Rangers and have two games in hand.

SHINFIELD RANGERS soared to a 3-0 success over BURGHFIELD

Thames Valley Premier League

YATELEY UNITED maintained their spotless league form with their 18th win in 18 matches.

A double from Myles White meant that they took three more points with a 2-0 win at READING CITY U23s

BURGHFIELD and READING

FOOTBALL

YMCA shared the points in their battle for third position.

Ryan Farmer, Will Vallins and Ollie Brown netted for the Fielders, while a double from James Bozarth and a goal from Hendrick Reyes Parades earned a draw.

A six-goal contest which ended 3-3 means Burghfield stay in fourth on 27 points, but with two games in hand over YMCA who are in third on 31 points.

Thames Valley Women’s Division One

ASCOT UNITED RESERVES still lead the way in the division after their narrow victory over MORTIMER

Amy Cogdon and Clodagh Farrell netted for the Yellas, while Beth Millican scored for Mortimer.

Ascot have won 12 of 15 matches which gives them a two point lead at the top and with a game in hand over closest challengers New Bradwell St Peter.

TILEHURST PANTHERS stay in the title hunt after their double header win over Slough Town.

A double from Georgia Hayes and goals from Charlotte Wheeler and Leah Why saw the Panthers win 4-0 in the first outing.

Tilehurst then followed that up with a 3-1 success. Deanna Cane, Hayes and Why were on the scoresheet

Tilehurst are in third on 31

KESTRELS OVERCOME 10-MAN COVE TO TAKE WIN

By MARK ROZZIER sport@wokingham.today

GOALS from Connor Suckling and Sid Gbla ensured that Woodley United overcame 10-man Cove to take three points in the Combined Counties Division One.

Woodley started in a bright fashion with midfielder Tahir Carmichael seeing plenty of the ball and instrumental in much of the early play.

United got the breakthrough in the 17th minute when pressure on a hosts’ short goal kick saw a

cross into the penalty area that Mo Davies’ headed into the path of Connor Suckling to hit a low volley to O’Sullivan’s right and inside the upright.

Three minutes later Cove was reduced to ten players with Kay Hampson dismissed for violent conduct.

Woodley continued to be positive and extended the lead in the 25th minute when an unmarked Gbla headed Brandao’s corner kick into the goal net.

Within two minutes of the restart Tyler Garrett-Skinns had

reduced the deficit with a shot from the edge of the home penalty area.

United responded with Davies’ seeing a shot cleared off the goal line. Cove were playing a high line with three defenders which United looked to exploit on the counter attack and in such attack O’Sullivan conceded a free kick outside the penalty area in a rash challenge.

Gbla headed straight at O’Sullivan and the keeper was again penalised for a challenge when he brought Suckling down in the penalty area after the forward had shot at goal.

points and have two games in hand on leaders Ascot.

WARGRAVE scored six as they came out on top in a nine goal game against Harwell and Hendred.

A clinical display saw Millie Bilcliff score four, while Lara Branston and Beth William added to the score to confirm a 6-3 win.

Thames Valley Women’s Division Two

S4K BERKS COUNTY are one place off the bottom after they suffered a heavy defeat to Beaconsfield Town.

Grace Belstone and Megan Cox scored for the Fawkes, but they lost out 8-2 which leaves them on 12 points from 17 games.

The FA has said that referees wearing the cameras say it has made them feel safer and more confident and that players have commented that seeing the camera has made them withdraw from raising comments.

If it continues in this way, it will be extended next season.

As far as I understand, these will only be used in adult grassroots football and will be allowed as evidence at any disciplinary hearing.

A great deal of problems also happens in youth football with an extraordinary amount of the abuse coming from parents and coaches.

I often feel that if they too were recorded it may shame them into more appropriate behaviour. However, I believe that in some areas, meetings are being held with parents about their behaviour. That I would like to see expanded.

Despite Suckling finding the net the referee had blown for a penalty kick that Suckling put wide of the keeper’s right post.

Ryan Lewis put a shot over Sam Dabinett’s cross bar as the visitors pushed for an equaliser with United saw Marco DeSousa take a short free kick to Reuel Griffith and the winger running at the defence before passing to Ben Lambourne who put his shot wide.

The remaining five minutes were played out without incident with United relieved to take the win.

I remember watching an American video where a basketball referee, dressed in his referee’s uniform, addressed a room full of parents about similar behaviour to teenage basketball referees.

Just goes to show that football is not the only sport that suffers from uncontrollable parents.

I don’t know how successful that meeting was, but I remember when my nephew qualified for the Reading Schools under 11s team, my good friend David Downs in charge of the team, held a parents evening.

Tackling this same problem, he told them that if they abused the referees, he would ask them not to attend any more matches.

If they insisted on coming to support their son, he wouldn’t pick him for any more games.

Tough, but it worked.

Dick Sawdon-Smith

NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS

How they rated

Joe Lumley

Made a smart save to deny Benson in the first half and was solid throughout.

Andy Yiadom

Given more licence to go forward after Tella was forced off through injury. Showed his desire to win the ball throughout the contest.

Tom Holmes

Aggressive in the challenge and led the back line well, not allowing his teammates to drop too deep.

Naby Sarr

Brilliant. Dominant in his aerial duels and made some crucial lastditch interventions. One of his best showings since joining.

Nesta Guinness-Walker

Struggled to handle Benson’s incisive runs, but just about managed. Got forward well where possible.

Femi Azeez

Lively. Made some bright runs down the right and was Reading’s most dangerous outlet. Just struggled to apply the final touch.

Jeff Hendrick

Put his body on the line on multiple occasions to block Burnley’s attempts on goal. An understated showing, but did the basics well.

Nothing spectacular from the Italian, but is growing into an influential player at the heart of Reading’s midfield.

Tyrese Fornah

Outstanding. Protected Reading’s left effectively, cutting out balls in behind Guinness-Walker.

Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan

A quiet afternoon for the youngster, who deservedly started after his goal at Preston. Will have plenty more opportunities.

Lucas Joao

An unselfish showing from the forward, often playing in his teammates tidily. Worked hard out of possession.

Cesare Casadei SUBS

7 6 7

6 7.5 5

7 6 6.5

8 6

HUNT’S ROYALS BATTLE TO

READING

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

READING FC picked up a valuable point in Noel Hunt’s first game in charge against Championship leaders Burnley.

The Royals collected their first clean sheet in 20 matches as they managed to shut out the already promoted side.

Reading remain in the relegation zone but move a point closer to Huddersfield Town, QPR and Cardiff City who were all beaten.

Hunt made changes which saw Femi Azeez and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan handed starts.

The Royals were looking to end a run of eight Championship games without a win, while their opponents were hunting down the league title having already won promotion.

Vincent Kompany’s side have had an impeccable record this campaign which has seen them lose just twice in 40 matches.

It was a half that was dominated by the visitors who displayed their willingness to play some slick football from the back.

However, Reading fought hard on and off the ball and prevented the leaders from taking an advantage in a satisfying opening 45 minutes.

The first half chance came Burnley’s way when a clipped Charlie Taylor cross was met by Scott Twine who couldn’t keep his shot down.

Joe Lumley was called into action to make an excellent save in the 15th minute in what was

REACTION

Match stats

READING: Lumley, Yiadom (c), Holmes, Sarr, GuinnessWalker, Fornah, Casadei, Hendrick, Azeez, Ehibhatiomhan, Joao

SUBS: Boyce-Clarke, Abrefa, Dann, Mbengue, Loum, Camara, Carroll

BURNLEY: Peacock-Farrell, Roberts, Al-Dakhil, Beyer, Taylor, Cullen, Gudmundsson, Twine, Benson, Foster, Tella

SUBS: Muric, Vitinho, Cork, Bastien, Zaroury, Barnes, Churlinov

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Naby Sarr

table so we got some legs in to help them boys.

the clearest cut chance of the half when Manuel Benson latched onto a through ball to get behind the backline, but was thwarted by the keeper.

Burnley were forced into an early change when Nathan Tella, who has netted 17 goals this season, had to go off with an injury and was replaced by Darko Churnilov.

Azeez was required to make an intervention to stop Scott Twine from bending the ball into the bottom corner.

CHAMPIONSHIP Hunt: ‘The focus was getting a result and keeping our record’

A couple of half chances passed Reading by when Ehibhatiomhan headed over the top and Hendrick smacked a volley well wide.

Azeez expressed his pace on the break when Reading countered quickly from a Burnley corner, but no one was in the middle to profit from Azeez’ drilled cross into the six yard area.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson was given room to try his luck when he was found on the edge of the box,

The

“I thought we were really good. The boys were amazing. In terms of the shape and the way we moved,” said Hunt,

“We tracked our runners. It’s a different shape for them. When we countered, we needed a bit more luck and detail. It’s a good point for us.

“They’ve been slogging away all season. We’ve got a thin senior squad with a lot on the treatment

“The young boys did really well and gave us energy. At times that’s what you need and thankfully it worked today.

“It’s a valuable point, a really valuable point.

“They put themselves in the way of blocks and tackles. We were really brave today. For a first game to show our fight and belief. They did everything that was asked of them.

“The focus was getting a result and keeping our record. That was part of the team talk.

“They’re an incredible side. They will be champions this time next week.

Hunt admitted that he was

emotional before kick-off with the realisation of taking charge of his first match as first-team manager.

He continued: “I got quite emotional out there. I didn’t think I would.

“Just taking in the surroundings and taking it in. I walked out and thought. ‘Jesus, I’m actually managing this team.’

“It was a proud moment. I looked at the banners in Coppell’s corner, and Sir John Madejski and the Eamonn Dolan Stand and felt so proud. Very overwhelming but proud and it

gives you an adrenaline rush. “The young lads were great. They are great kids and I’ve worked with them all season.

“We’ve got some great potential. We’ve got an unbelievable academy and keep on producing players.

“These boys, I feel, are ready to come in and contribute against teams like Burnley who have got Premier League players.

“They have a certain no fear about them and combine that with energy. It’s about making sure we use them at the right time.”

Lucas Joao on the prowl

Kelvin Abrefa was subbed on

The players applaud the home support

Joe Lumley makes a crucial stop

Noel Hunt picked up a pivotal

READING FC interim manager Noel Hunt praised Reading’s ‘brave’ performance after the Royals claimed a hard fought point against Championship leaders Burnley.

Royals picked up their first clean sheet in 20 matches to move a point closer to their relegation rivals.

Andy Carroll 6, Kelvin Abrefa 6, Mamadi Camara n/a, Amadou Mbengue n/a

NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS

TAKE POINT FROM LEADERS

ROYALS HOST TOFFEES IN TRICKY RELEGATION BATTLE

READING FC WOMEN return to action this weekend in desperate need of points to try and secure their Women’s Super League status when they play Everton.

The Royals welcome the Toffees to the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Sunday in the midst of a tense fight to stay in the league.

Kelly Chambers’ side suffered a costly defeat prior to the international break at the hands of relegation rivals Leicester City.

Carrie Jones netted a dramatic 96th minute winner for the Foxes to see them move within a point of Reading with five games to go.

Reading are in 10th on 11 points and are just two points above bottom side Brighton who have two games in hand.

Reading’s status in the top flight is in serious danger after they have managed to pick up just three wins and two draws from 17 league outings this campaign.

Meanwhile, Everton have enjoyed a relatively steady campaign and sit smack bang in the middle of the table.

Seven wins, three draws and six defeats means that the Merseysiders are far away from any relegation danger, but too far away to make a push for the top four.

Brian Sorensen’s team have picked up three draws, a win and a defeat from their last five games.

but he skewed his shot just wide of Lumley’s far post.

The half came to a close with the Royals’ fans in attendance showing their support for the players after a hard fought opening half to keep it goalless.

The second-half restarted with the away side still expectedly in the ascendancy when Gudmundsson curled a shot on his left from distance that landed just wide.

The Royals won three corners in quick succession to put some pressure on their opponents and ignite the home crowd despite not being able to convert.

With just over an hour gone,

PREVIEW

Ehibhatiomhan made way for Andy Carroll who entered to partner Lucas Joao up top.

Taylor was next to try and break the deadlock when he unleashed a powerful shot from 25 yards that flew past Lumley’s post.

Another switch from Hunt saw Kelvin Abrefa take the place of Tyrese Fornah for the final 25 minutes.

Hunt continued to put his faith in youth as Mamadi Camara and Amadou Mbengue replaced Azeez and Guinness-Walker.

Benson showed pace and technique on the right to breeze past Nesta Guinness-Walker, but

was unable to pick out a teammate with his final ball.

Reading then broke down the other end after some superb close control from Joao who teed up Azeez who was shutdown by Burnley in the box. Abrefa had a chance to deliver with plenty of bodies waiting in the box, but he put far too much on his cross which floated out for a goal kick.

Despite having to soak up plenty of pressure throughout the final 20 minutes and a tense period of added time at the end, Reading held firm and managed to claim a hard earned point.

FIGHT TO AVOID DROP CONTINUES AT PLAY-OFF PUSHERS

READING FC are still searching for their first away win of the calendar year and will be hoping to pick it up at Coventry City this weekend.

In the midst of a relegation battle, the Royals’ dreadful away form, coupled with a six point deduction, has seen them get dragged into a relegation scrap.

Reading’s last away success came prior to the World Cup break in November when they notched a last minute winner at Hull City.

Since then, points on the road

have been scarce and ultimately cost Paul Ince his position as manager as he was replaced by interim manager Noel Hunt last week.

Hunt picked up a point against Championship leaders Burnley in his first outing as boss before Reading’s midweek clash against Luton Town last night, after we had gone to press (match report online at rdg.today).

Reading’s opponents are vying for a place in the top six to try and qualify for the play-offs.

Mark Robins’ side had a torrid start to their campaign, but have

gone from strength to strength to make a push for promotion.

Before the round of midweek fixtures, the Sky Blues were in seventh position, just one place and one point outside the top six.

City got back to winning ways at the weekend after two consecutive draws with a Viktor Gyokeres double and a Gustavo Hamer goal helping them to a 3-0 win at struggling QPR.

Gyokerers has proved to be Coventry’s key man throughout the season and has netted 20 goals and registered nine assists in 42

games, making him the second highest scorer in the division.

Reading picked up three points when they welcomed Coventry to the Select Car Leasing Stadium in December.

Amadou Mbengue scored the only goal of the game to see the Royals maintain their strong home form.

On their last trip to the Coventry Building Society Arena in August 2021, Reading lost 2-1 after Matt Godden scored deep into injury time in the 98th minute to give the hosts a win.

Their most recent match saw them come out on top against Tottenham with a goal at the death from Aggie Beaver-Jones to seal a 2-1 win.

When the team’s met in January, Everton collected the points with a 3-2 victory.

Everton raced into a two goal lead with strikes from Katja Soejis and Jess Park before the Royals came fighting back with a goal from Justine Vanhaevermaet.

But Reading’s joy was short lived as the home team restored their two-goal advantage just a minute later through Gabrielle George and were left pointless despite a goal from Deanna Cooper to make it 3-2 with 20 minutes left to play.

Reading Women are at home on Sunday

point in his first game in charge

Pictures: Steve Smyth

Lucas Joao on the attack

GuinnessWalker The teams contest for the ball

Tyrese Fornah in possession

Naby Sarr put in a solid shift

Royals captain Andy Yiadom

Femi Azeez speeds forward

NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS

UNIQUE CLUB INVITES NEW MEMBERS TO OPEN DAY

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

ISLAND Bohemian Bowls Club are inviting new players to come along to their open days in April and May.

The club, which is situated in the uniquely picturesque location on De Montfort Island between Caversham and Reading bridges, is hosting three separate open days.

The first open day will take place on Saturday, April 29 from 10.30am- 4.30pm.

The second will be held on Monday, May 1 from 4pm-7pm and the final open day on Sunday, May 28 from 10.30am- 4.30pm.

The club are encouraging people of all ages to try out the sport where they will provide coaching for all range of abilities including beginners.

Island bowlers enter most of the County and National competitions and have enjoyed success throughout the years.

The Thames Valley Ladies League includes a strong entry from the ladies section of a team known as the ‘Swans’.

The Men’s Section currently has a team in the Kennet League and for gentlemen over the age of 55 years we have two teams that compete in the Kennet LV Triples League.

The original IBBC had bowls,

FUTSAL

RESULTS

Saturday, April 15

FOOTBALL Championship

Reading 0-0 Burnley

Southern League Premier South

Bracknell Town 3-1 Gosport Borough

Isthmian South Central Binfield 1-0 Chipstead

Combined Counties Premier North

Ascot United 3-0 Chalfont St Peter

Burnham 1-2 Reading City

Spelthorne Sports 0-1 Sumas

Combined Counties Division One

Eversley & California 0-3 Sandhurst Town

Woodley United 2-1 Cove

Thames Valley Premier League

Burghfield 3-3 Reading YMCA

Reading City U23s 0-2 Yateley United

RUGBY UNION

National League One

Rams 38-28 Cinderford

steps for the swimming club in the river. Over the years facilities have modernised and has for many years also included eight Chalets adjoining the Bowls green, owned by club members who have a haven of peace, woods, wildlife, waterfowl, river, boats and a fabulous location. The club proudly celebrated its 100 anniversary in 2009.

Also occupying the Island is the Thames Valley Cruising Club.

In the past two years the club has upgraded the Club House and built two new changing rooms for its members to use.

Social events in the summer include Barbeques, and a Riverboat Outing.

The club also hosts an annual presentation dinner and dance in November, a Pantomime or Variety Show and a New Year’s Eve Party.

TEAMS QUALIFY FOR NATIONAL CUP FINALS MARTIN’S DRIVE BEGINS YEAR AS THEALE’s CAPTAIN

By STAFF WRITER

sport@wokingham.today

SEVERAL TEAMS from Berkshire took part in this years Pokemon Futsal Youth Cup in a battle to qualify for the regional finals.

After competing successfully in the Berkshire and Buckingham Crown County final, thatcham & Newbury U12 girls, Wokingham & Emmbrook

U10 youth and Eldon Celtic U12 will represent the county in Spring.

With 15 teams taking part in total in the Berks & Bucks tournament, this year’s edition has seen an increase in participation.

In total Berkshire and Buckinghamshire saw 15 teams across different age groups participate in this year’s competition.

Peter Murphy, Senior Director of Marketing at the Pokémon Company International, said: “Pokémon is thrilled to see such high

engagement in the Berkshire and Buckinghamshire finals of the Pokémon Futsal Youth Cup, including so many first time participants.

“With the 2022/23 season seeing a record number of team entrants, this only bodes well for the later stages of the competition. It’s great to see a range of teams competing in this year’s competition as they continue to develop their futsal skills. We can’t wait to see how the winners perform in the regional finals of the competition.”

Louise Gear, Head of Development at The FA added: “What an exciting start to this year’s Pokémon Futsal Youth Cup. It has been fantastic to see so many young players from clubs up and down the country taking part and enjoying the competition, and we look forward to seeing who will be crowned winners come the finals.”

n To find out more, head to mastertheball.com

By DICK SAWDON SMITH sport@wokingham.today

THEALE GOLF CLUB captain Martin Renton teed off with the traditional drive in to begin his year as club captain after an original postponement due to heavy rain.

After a downpour of rain had made parts of the course unplayable, the green staff worked wonders to restore it to its best, so it could take place at the club’s next competition, the Founders Bowl.

Martin has played golf for many years, first at Wrexham Park and then at Bearwood until it was purchased by Reading Football Club for its new training ground.

He then switched to Theale Golf Club where in 2021 he won the Master’s Championship at the club, which is only open to winners of one or more of the clubs Board Competitions during the season.

As there was a large entry for the Founders Bowl, Martin received plenty of cheers as he took his place on the first tee.

Many of course had taken part in the usual sweepstake, to forecast the length of his drive. It was one

Sunday, April 16

FOOTBALL

Southern Region Women’s Division One North

Kidlington Youth 3-0 Eversley & California

Thames Valley Women’s Division One

Ascot United Reserves 2-1

Mortimer

Slough Town 0-4 Tilehurst Panthers

Tilehurst Panthers 3-1 Slough Town

Wargrave 6-3 Harwell and Hendred

Thames Valley Women’s Division Two

S4K Berks County 2-8 Beaconsfield Town

Thames Valley Women’s Division 3S

Eversley & California Reserves 9-1 Wargrave Development

Shinfield Rangers 1-2

Burghfield

Yateley United v Caversham AFC

Monday, April 17

FOOTBALL

Thames Valley Premier League

Wargrave 4-2 SB Phoenix

Tuesday, April 18

FOOTBALL

Combined Counties Premier North

Oxhey Jets 1-5 Ascot United

Reading City 0-1 Virginia Water

Sumas 1-1 Chalfont St Peter

Combined Counties Division One

Bagshot v Berks County

Eversley & California 2-1

Bedfont

Wednesday, April 19

All games played after we had gone to press – results and reports online at rdg.today or wokingham.today

FOOTBALL

Championship Reading v Luton Town

Combined Counties Premier North

Reading City v Virginia Water

Oxhey Jets v Ascot United

Sumas v Chalfont St Peter

Combined Counties Division One

Woodley United v Westside

FIXTURES

Saturday, April 22

FOOTBALL Championship

Coventry City v Reading

Southern League Premier South

Plymouth Parkway v Bracknell Town

Isthmian South Central

Leatherhead v Binfield

Combined Counties Premier North

Burnham v Ascot United Reading City v Wembley

Sumas v Virginia Water

Combined Counties Division One Berks County v AFC Aldermaston

CB Hounslow United v Woodley United

Langley v Eversley & California

Thames Valley Premier League

Burghfield v Wargrave

Reading City U23s v Westwood Wanderers

RUGBY UNION National League One Esher v Rams

Sunday, April 23

FOOTBALL

Women’s Super League Reading v Everton

Southern Region Women’s Division One North

Eversley & California v Penn & Tylers Green

Berks & Bucks Women’s Trophy

Wargrave v Tilehurst Panthers

Thames Valley Women’s Division One

Mortimer v Ascot United Reserves

Thames Valley Women’s Division Two

S4K Berks County v Ruislip Rangers

Thames Valley Women’s Division 3S

Burghfield v Caversham AFC

Eversley & California Reserves v Hillingdon Abbots

Shinfield Rangers v Larkspur Rovers

Yateley United v Thatcham & Newbury

of the Ladies members taking part, Liz Royston -Smith who guessed it correctly at 180 yards. The winner of the Founders Bowl was Chris Clack, a previous captain of the club.

The Bowls club is located on De Montfort Island