Wokingham.Today December 23, 2020

We wish all our readers and advertisers a Happy – and safe – Christmas

THE NEW NAME FOR THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

THE VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 No. 293

70p

Area falls into third lockdown this year

TIER 4 MAKES IT A FREE BLEAK MIDWINTER BEER EXCLUSIVE

By JESS WARREN news@wokingham.today

EVERY Your presents under the Giving Tree FOR READER P6 EXTRA SUPPORT P4 FOR ABUSE VICTIMS

CHRISTMAS is looking different this year, after Wokingham entered a lockdown over the weekend.

With families unable to meet those outside of their household, festive plans have been blocked by the newlycreated Tier 4.

While there are some exceptions to the rule — support bubbles and children of separated parents can still mix — the Saturday announcement will have been a shock for many.

Cllr Charles Margetts, executive member for health at the council, said staff were not warned the borough would jump from Tier 2 to Tier 4 in a matter of days.

“This is going to be very painful for businesses in the borough, and those who have been forced to change their Christmas plans,” he said.

“More notice would have been helpful.

“But one has to assume the data passed under the prime minister’s nose on Friday was pretty bleak.”

In Tier 4, households are banned from forming a Christmas bubble and residents cannot leave their home without a reasonable excuse.

This includes work, when working from home is impossible, volunteering, buying food or medicine, withdrawing or depositing money. � Continued on page 7

NO CHILD will go without this Christmas – and it’s all thanks to you.

The annual Giving Tree appeal has been a smashing success, despite the pressures and restrictions posed by Covid-19.

Over the past two months, you have taken hundreds of tags from specially erected Giving Trees in a range of venues across the borough. Each asked for a gift voucher which charities could use to buy a present for vulnerable children who would otherwise go without on Christmas Day. This has differed from usual years – coronavirus has meant that instead of buying the present, the vouchers enabled the charities to arrange for the toys to be bought under Covid-secure conditions.

And this Friday, amid all the gloom and despair of Tier 4, you will bring some comfort and joy to Wokingham’s families in need. � Continued on page 3

HOLLYWOOD’S SHINFIELD BID P8 COUNCIL APPROVES SEWER HOMES P11

SCHOOL ENJOYS ITS FIRST NOWELL P23

2 | NEWS

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HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US Due to the coronavirus, our offices are closed to the public. The best way to contact us is by emailing us

Council office Christmas closures

Email news@wokingham.today

Newsroom: 0118 327 2662 Advertising: 0118 327 2662 THE BOROUGH council will close its offices over Christmas weekend, with revised hours throughout the festive season.

Offices will be open from 9am until 3pm on Christmas Eve, and then close until Tuesday, December 29, when it will be open from 9am to 5pm. New Year’s Eve will be marked with an early closure at 3pm. The office will remain closed on New Year’s Day.

Write to: Wokingham.Today, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS Editor • Phil Creighton Reporters • Jess Warren, Charlotte King Sports reporter • Andy Preston Graphic designer • Charlotte Simpson

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Out of hours help

From the editor HAVEN’T we been here before?

The new Tier 4 restrictions announced on Saturday came into force on Sunday. It is an effective lockdown – we’re encouraged only to go out when necessarily and avoid being with anyone other than those in our support bubble, even over Christmas.

Throughout this new lockdown.

Wokingham.Today will continue to publish every week, just as we did during the spring – including next week, with a special review of the year. It will also come out on Wednesday, due to the New Year.

However, with limited sport or arts events taking place, we will be producing slightly smaller papers as a result, and thank you for your understanding during this time.

We thank also our advertisers who are sticking with us through these strange and difficult days.

We are making every effort to ensure that your favourite local newspaper is available to you in printed form throughout the Tier 4 restrictions – you will be able to buy Wokingham.Today from all good supermarkets, newsagents and petrol stations as normal.

They are essential retailers and we, after all, are essential reading.

There is also a digital version of the paper, which will be available on Friday evenings.

And our website is updated seven days a week.

At times like this, it is important that the community has a local voice and we are proud to be yours.

The best way for you to support us – lockdown or not – is to buy a copy each week.

Thank you for your support.

THE Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation. If you have a complaint about a Wokingham Paper Ltd publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance email: pcreighton@wokingham.today, or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

The emergency out-of-hours telephone number during the holiday period is 0800 212 111.

Social services emergencies out-of-hours telephone number is 01344 786 543.

To report out-of-hours repairs to council properties, call 0800 515 287 for general repairs and 0800 389 8789 for heating repairs and gas servicing.

The calls will be managed by the council’s out-of-hours call centre and passed to the appropriate contractor. And the community mental health crisis team will be providing out-of-hours urgent care service, available on 0300 365 9999.

Waste and recycling The Civic Offices at Shute End in Wokingham will be open on the days stated above, with Covid-19 safe restrictions in place to allow residents to access essential waste and recycling items only.

Those purchasing blue bags or garden sacks will need to pay in advance on the council website and then bring the receipt with them.

The only entry point will be via the main entrance off Biscoe Way, operating on a one-in, one-out basis.

All enquires will be triaged on arrival and visitors will be asked to provide track and trace details.

Social distancing must be followed at all times, with distancing signage in place.

Libraries All borough libraries will be closed but can offer ebooks and magazines online.

WOKINGHAM.TODAY Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Festive chemist rota The pharmacies listed below should be open as shown. The details are subject to change, especially due to Covid-19.

You are advised to contact the pharmacy before attending to ensure they are open and have the medication you require.

For more details, visit www.nhs.uk

WOKINGHAM – Boots, Market Place RG40 1AT. 10am-4pm. Details: 0118 978 4294.

WOODLEY – Boots, Crockhamwell Road, RG30 4AA. 10am-4pm. Details: 0118 969 5253.

WOOSEHILL – Morrisons, Woosehill Court RG41 3SW. 10am-4pm. Details: 0118 979 4288.

Christmas Day

New Year’s Day

READING – Erleigh Road Pharmacy. Erleigh Road RG1 5NN. 9am-noon. Details: 0118 966 3718.

READING – Oxford Road Pharmacy, 270-274 Oxford Road RG30 1AD. 10am-6pm.

Details: 0118 957 4999.

WOKINGHAM – Rose Street Pharmacy, Wokingham Medical Centre, 23 Rose Street RG40 1XS. 10am-1pm. Details: 0118 907 8188.

LOWER EARLEY – Asda, Chalfont Way, RG6 5TT. 10am-5pm. Details: 0118 987 0300.

LOWER EARLEY – Boots, Chalfont Way, RG6 5TT. 11am-5pm. Details: 0118 931 1750.

READING – Boots, Broad Street, RG1 2AE. 11am-5pm. Details: 0118 957 1135.

READING – Boots, The Oracle, RG1 2AH. 11am-5pm. Details: 0118 958 7529.

READING – Oxford Road Pharmacy, 270-274 Oxford Road RG30 1AD. 10am-6pm.

Details: 0118 957 4999.

WINNERSH – Sainsbury’s, King Street Lane RG40 1XS. 10am-4pm. Details: 0118 977 5276.

WOKINGHAM – Boots, Market Place RG40 1AT. 10am-4pm. Details: 0118 978 4294.

WOKINGHAM – Wokingham Pharmacy, Broad Street, RG40 1AU. 10am-1pm.

Details: 0118 978 7459.

WOOSEHILL – Morrisons, Woosehill Court RG41 3SW. 10am-4pm. Details: 0118 979 4288.

WOODLEY – Boots, Crockhamwell Road, RG30 4AAA. 10am-4pm. Details: 0118 969 5253.

Holiday Monday, December 28 LOWER EARLEY – Asda, Chalfont Way RG6 5TT. 9am-6pm. Details: 0118 987 0300.

LOWER EARLEY – Boots, Chalfont Way RG6 5TT. 11am-5pm. Details: 0118 931 1750.

READING – Boots, Broad Street RG1 2AE. 11am-5pm. Details: 0118 957 1135.

READING – Boots, The Oracle RG1 2AH. 10am-6pm. Details: 0118 958 7529.

READING – Oxford Road Pharmacy, 270-274 Oxford Road RG30 1AD. 10am-6pm.

Details: 0118 957 4999.

WINNERSH – Sainsbury’s, King Street Lane RG40 1XS. 10am-4pm. Details: 0118 977 5276.

Covid helpline reduces hours over festive break THE One Front Door scheme will operate reduced hours over the festive period, but will be available to take calls.

Run by Wokingham Citizens Advice, and supported by Wokingham Borough Council, the scheme helps link residents who need a helping hand, for whatever reason, to be linked up with charities and groups who can help.

This could be financial advice, assistance with collecting prescriptions or food, or a listening ear.

Today (Wednesday), it will be open from 9am to 5pm.

On Christmas Eve, it will open from 10am to 4pm.

The service is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Sunday, December 27.

Reduced hours of 10am to 4pm will be in operation from Christmas Monday, December 28, through to Wednesday, December 30.

The service will be closed on New Year’s Eve and New Year's Day. It will be open from 9am to 1pm on Saturday, January 2, and then back to the usual hours of 9am to 5pm from Monday, January 4. � To access the service, call: 0300 330 1189 or log on to: citizensadvicewokingham.org.uk

Changes to bin collections RUBBISH and recycling dates are changing over the Christmas period.

There will be up to a three-day delay on collections, beginning on Christmas Day, with a collection on Monday, December 28.

Collections on Monday, December 28, will move to the next day.

Collections on Tuesday, December 28 will move to the Wednesday.

The Wednesday, December 30 collection will move to New Year’s Eve. And New Year’s Eve will move to Saturday, January 2.

The day later delay will continue until Friday, January 8, which will move to the Saturday.

And normal service will resume on Monday, January 11.

Residents can also find out their Christmas collection dates on www.wokingham.gov.uk by searching for “collection days”.

“These small changes to our schedules mean our waste teams can spend some time at Christmas having some well-earned rest with their families,” said Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure.

Residents are also being encouraged to make the most of the council’s recycling services this Christmas, by sending food waste to caddies and breaking down cardboard boxes to be recycled.

The Bracknell and Reading re3 recycling centres will be open for most of the Christmas period, closing on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. They will also be shutting early on Christmas Eve, closing their doors at 4pm rather than 8pm.

Pre-booking a slot is essential. � For more information on opening times, visit: re3.fccenvironment.co.uk

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

NEWS | 3

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The Giving Tree appeal

Thank you for making Christmas!

Presents waiting to be distributed at The Cowshed

� Continued from front page

Over the past few weeks, a network of volunteers from a number of charities based or working in the borough, have been busy ensuring that the gifts get to the families they help so that they are ready to be opened by excited boys and girls.

The main Giving Tree has been based at Tesco’s Finchampstead Road store in Wokingham.

Its community champion, Louise Jedras, said: “I am so proud that Tesco Wokingham is such a big part of the annual Wokingham Giving Tree event and am so pleased how well it has gone despite this being such a different year.

“Our customers have been so generous with their giving; I have been moved by the festive wishes written in the tags, to children they will never meet but are making such a big difference to their Christmases.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

And appeal organiser Gillian Mckernan has been equally thrilled with the way in which Wokingham has responded.

“Santa will definitely arrive on Christmas morning for so many children thanks to the generosity of the wonderful, kind and generous local people,” she said.

“More than 800 gift cards have been bought for disadvantaged children this year.

“On behalf of all the charities and the children, I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has bought a gift voucher for a child through the Giving Tree.

“I know that the children would want to thank you personally if they could.”

The long-running appeal is a staple of Wokingham’s festive season, and Mrs Mckernan knows the difference that it makes to so many families.

“I have organised the appeal for many years but this year has been the most difficult for so many families,” she said.

“People have gone above and beyond to make sure no child will go without at Christmas with many tags being taken and bought by the same person or families.

“The amount on the gift cards has been so generous indeed and the messages heartfelt.

“There have also been cash donations including a substantial amount given by an anonymous member at Nirvana to buy the vouchers for the tags which were still left on the tree at the Spa. “Businesses have bought the children gifts through an Amazon Wish List.”

She added: “I would like to thank all the hosts of The Giving Tree but I want to say a special mention to Louise Jedras, Community Champion at Tesco, Wokingham for all her help and support. I couldn’t have done it without her.

“On behalf of everyone, I would like to wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas and a safe and healthy 2021.”

Wokingham.Today is pleased to have played its part in The Giving Tree and we’re looking forward to being able to support it again in 2021.

First Days Children’s Charity

Berkshire Women’s Aid

Kaleidoscopic UK Barnardo’s

Building For The Future

Look Ahead

Dingley’s Promise

Home-Start Wokingham District

For advice and assistance on Family Law matters including: • Divorce and separa�on

• Property/financial settlements

• Child arrangements

• Family disputes

• Cohabita�on agreements

• Prenup�al agreements

Contact our Family Law team today for a free 1 hour consulta�on

Evolu�on House, 53-59 Peach Street, Wokingham, RG40 1XP Tel: 0118 978 1017 Email: Michele.Jenno@star-legal.co.uk Sebastian’s Action Trust

Transform Housing & Support

www.star-legal.co.uk

4 | NEWS

Samaritans here to help

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Radio Berkshire DJ becomes first patron of domestic abuse charity EXCLUSIVE

By CHARLOTTE KING cking@wokingham.today A FINCHAMPSTEAD charity has appointed its first-ever patron — and it’s stayed true to its local roots.

A READING man is joining the Samaritans festive campaign, after being supported by the charity himself.

Jason, pictured, reached out for support after breaking up with the mother of his son, and the death of his mother.

“Although it was one of the hardest things I have done – that phone call changed my life and put me on a new path,” the 50-year-old said.

“Samaritans gave me hope and helped me to find my purpose again.”

Volunteers at the Reading branch will be among around 1,500 nationwide volunteers expected to answer calls for help on Christmas Day. Christmas will be a tough time for some — even without a pandemic to deal with — said the charity. Its latest research revealed that being separated from family and loved ones over the Christmas period is one of the biggest concerns facing callers.

Volunteers across the Thames Valley will be there round-the-clock throughout December to make sure someone is there to listen to anyone who is feeling alone or struggling.

Reading Samaritans branch director, Ali Chapman, said: “We know that Christmas can be difficult for many people. It’s a time when loneliness and everyday issues can really hit home which might be heightened this year.

Confidential support is available 24/7, and that we are there for everyone this Christmas. Mental health struggles, isolation, trauma, and suicidal thoughts don't take a break just because it's Christmas day, in fact they can be amplified.

Samaritans has never been a more vital lifeline.”

Last Christmas, Samaritans responded to more than a quarter of a million calls for help, with more than 10,000 calls on Christmas Day. � For more information or to support Reading Samaritans, visit: www.samaritans.org/branches/ reading or call 116 123

WOKINGHAM.TODAY Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Kaleidoscopic UK, a charity which raises awareness of and supports people dealing with domestic abuse, has grown in size recently.

Michelle Jordan has joined the charity to cheerlead it.

The BBC Berkshire radio host, who is known for talking about local issues on her show, Michelle On The Move, will now continue to open up discussions about domestic abuse away from the mic.

“I like to help in any way I can to raise awareness of abuse,” Ms Jordan said.

“After having witnessed first-

hand one of my friends suffer at the hands of her abuser and feeling helpless, I never want to feel like that again.

“I know that some people have nowhere to turn, so the work Kaleidoscopic UK does could be life changing and life saving.”

By becoming the charity’s newest patron, Ms Jordan will continue to advocate for domestic abuse awareness and support Kaleidoscopic UK in whatever way she can.

“If through my social media and my general gobbiness I can help this wonderful charity, then bring it on,” she added.

And Vickie Robertson, founder of Kaleidoscopic UK, is thrilled to have the radio host on board.

“I can’t even put into words how over the moon I am,” Ms Robertson said.

“I’ve spoken to Michelle a few

Council teams up with Berkshire Women’s Aid IN A BID to raise awareness of domestic abuse this Christmas, Wokingham Borough Council has joined forces with a local charity.

It has teamed up with Berkshire Women’s Aid to let people know what support is available over the festive season.

“There is no room for abuse in our community,” said Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure.

“All of our residents deserve to feel safe in their own home, yearround and at Christmas.”

The festive season can often be a distressing time of year for anybody experiencing domestic abuse.

And according to Wokingham Borough Council, the coronavirus pandemic is only making things

worse as it leaves people even more isolated and vulnerable.

Andrea West, CEO of Berkshire Women’s Aid, now wants to remind people that if they are experiencing domestic abuse, they are not alone.

“You will be believed and you will be heard,” she said. “We know that it is not an easy decision to reach out and ask for help, especially with the added pressures that Christmas can bring in a family environment.”

Ms West says the charity has seen a dramatic increase in the number of women, men and families seeking support this year.

And this is echoed by Vickie Robertson, founder of Finchampstead-based domestic abuse charity Kaleidoscopic UK. “Unfortunately, going into Tier 4

Radio presenter Michelle Jordan has become the charity's first patron

“She’s opening up these conversations, making it less taboo, and the fact that she has been touched by domestic abuse in her own life was one of the driving forces behind her becoming a patron — I couldn’t think of a more fitting person.”

Commenting on Michelle’s appointment, a spokesperson for Kaleidoscopic UK added: “Michelle is loved by us all locally and beyond for her honest, bubbly and fun radio shows reaching far and wide.

“With her knowledge around domestic abuse, plus being an inspirational woman in all respects, we couldn’t think of a better suited person.

“Thank you Michelle for believing in us.”

times on domestic abuse and she’s been such an amazing advocate on the radio, spreading awareness.

� For more information about Kaleidoscopic UK and the support services it provides, visit: www.kaleidoscopic.uk

has made things slightly more difficult as people will find it harder to access support,” she explained.

“It might not be easy for people to reach out if they’re with their partner and at home for the entire Christmas period.”

Wokingham Borough Council is now encouraging residents to contact Berkshire Women’s Aid if they are in need of help this winter on 0118 950 4003, or to visit www.berkshirewomensaid.org.uk.

The charity’s phone line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The council is also offering a free support service for those who are no longer with their abusive partner, called the Home Refuge Scheme.

It aims to help people by increasing home security, by providing door chains, viewers and window locks.

To find out more about the Home Refuge team, email home.refuge@wokingham.gov.uk

or call: 0118 974 3799.

Kaleidoscopic UK is also running a range of services over the festive period, including online support groups To find out more, visit www.kaleidoscopic.uk In a non-emergency, people can also: � Call 101 or make a report on the Thames Valley Police Website (www.thamesvalley.police.uk) � Call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 � Call the Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010327 � Call Mankind, a helpline for male victims on 01823 334244 � Call Galop, a helpline for members of the LGBT+ community on 0800 999 5428 � Contact Victims First at www.victims-first.org.uk � Call SAFE! for victims of crime aged 5-18 on 0800 1337938 In an emergency, dial 999 and contact police.

Independent business booms

Over the last year, Wokingham’s town centre has seen a lot of regeneration.

Elms Field became home to a new Starbucks, and clothing store This Little Piggy and technology retailer Pratts and Pods also settled in the area.

Peach Place has continued to thrive too, the council adds, as independent businesses including eActiv Lounge and Blue Orchid Bakery moved in.

Earlier this year, Twyford saw a number of new enterprises open their doors in the village. These included Rural Pie Co., Lincoln Coffee House, and new interior design store Victoria & Co. Woodley has become home to La’De Kitchen, a family-owned Mediterranean restaurant, and Parkers Creations which sells an array of candle and wax melt gifts.

Now, residents are told to ‘watch this space’ as Rynd is due to launch in Wokingham Town Hall next year, taking over from The Courtyard with a Californian-inspired diner.

WOKINGHAM is the place to shop locally, according to the borough council.

Despite the pandemic, new businesses are continuing to move into the area, bucking national trends.

According to Cllr Charlotte Haitham-Taylor, executive member for regeneration, Wokingham’s residents are keen to shop locally and have been flocking to the town to support its independent businesses throughout the coronavirus crisis.

“We know it’s been a tough time for businesses this year, but the outlook in Wokingham borough remains very positive,” she said.

“And people are continuing to observe the latest guidelines and shop considerately, wearing masks, washing hands and leaving people plenty of space to socially distance so it feels like a safer place to be.”

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

NEWS | 5

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Vandals wreck Wokingham Cricket Club with fires and broken fences over year WOKINGHAM Cricket Club members have been left devastated after somebody trespassed on its grounds and started a fire on site, destroying the club’s outdoor decking, writes Charlotte King.

Now, it is pleading for witnesses as the attack follows on from a number of repeated incidents over the last year.

“Throughout the year, we’ve had a problem with young adults drinking, smoking and using the balcony,” Karen Clyde, Wokingham Cricket Club’s manager explained.

“I turned up at the site on Saturday, December 12, and found that we have now had two fires on our balcony and decking.”

Earlier this year, when the club closed during the first national lockdown, Ms Clyde said it suffered from a number of break-ins.

Then in September after it closed for the season, she said vandals smashed the site’s decking area.

Now, the attacks have intensified after somebody lit two fires on the site.

“I think they made a fire to cause damage,” Ms Clyde explained.

“They brought kindling and lighter fluid, so I think people came along for a party.”

The club manager said being repeatedly targeted in this way is causing concern as children regularly attend the club throughout the year for training.

“It’s a bit worrying actually,” she said. “While nothing can happen to the building because it’s shut off, it’s not nice.

“It was worrying when young people were coming up and having their parties and leaving cans and rubbish behind, but now it’s escalated to damage, it’s even more concerning.”

She believes the club’s rural location is to blame for why it is being repeatedly targeted.

Ms Clyde is concerned about the impact the latest incident will have on the club’s “non-existent” funding.

She is calling on those responsible to think about the lasting damage their actions have caused.

In a statement directed at whoever caused the fires, Ms

Trespassers have been lighting fires on the club’s balcony Picture: Karen Clyde

Clyde said: “Wokingham Cricket Club is a community sports club which is open to all, however it is private property and we are saddened to find that you are trespassing and causing damage to our buildings.

“Your trespassing and deliberate damaging of the decking and bonfires have caused us to incur costs for the cleaning up and repairs of the damage sustained.

“In a year such as this when, like so many other businesses we have had very little income, we will

struggle to find the money to cover the cost.”

The vandalism has been reported to police, who are now investigating the damage.

The club manager is pleading with residents who know anything about the incident to come forward.

“Somebody must have seen the smoke,” Ms Clyde said. “And if anybody did see anything, please let us know.” � Anyone with information is asked to contact Thames Valley Police and quote 12DEC0804.

Expanding Heathrow runway is ‘bad news’ says Labour leader EXCLUSIVE

By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today THE LEADER of Wokingham Labour has slated the borough council for continuing to support a third runway at Heathrow Airport — if it is carbon neutral.

Cllr Andy Croy said the emissions caveat was misleading, and only referred to ground operations not the hundreds of flights taking off and landing each day.

It comes as last week, the supreme court overturned a February judgment that a third runway at Heathrow airport was illegal.

At the time the government did not challenge the legality decision, as the application failed to consider the climate change targets set out in the Paris Agreement.

Instead, Heathrow Airport led the challenge, with the ruling now overturned.

The borough council, which declared a climate emergency last summer, is supporting the airport’s expansion, if it can be proved to be carbon neutral.

Cllr Gregor Murray, emissions executive at the council said he wanted to see a plan for both runway construction and transient emissions.

“The construction of Heathrow Airport has to be proven to be carbon neutral,” he said. “If they can’t then they shouldn’t do it.

“There is also a role to play with airlines. They can offset their carbon, and I would like to see that included as well — I want to see a plan for everything.”

Cllr Croy said that Cllr Murray is “deliberately being misleading”, as the carbon neutrality caveat applies only to ground works, and not the flights themselves.

“In the council vote, the Lib Dems and the Tories voted for tonnes of extra carbon to be dumped into the atmosphere,” he said. “It’s not like the third runway is just for hot air balloons and gliders.”

He added: “The Tories are lying when they say

they’re taking serious action on the climate emergency — its absurd.

“There is no way it could be carbon neutral, it’s an utter joke. This is like an eternally optimistic future that is never within grapes — it’s a ludicrous position to take.”

The council stance was adopted after the Liberal Democrats proposed a motion not to support the third runway at a meeting, Cllr Croy said.

“The Tories amended it to include the bit about carbon neutrality, and unbelievably the Lib Dems ended up voting for it. Only Cllr Paul Fishwick and Cllr Sarah Kerr abstained.”

Cllr Fishwick, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for transport said the party has “grave doubts” whether carbon neutral airport expansion can exist.

He said they’re against expansion that isn’t carbon neutral, and said the government could still scrap the policy decision to support its expansion.

“The supreme court judges explicitly stated that Heathrow airport’s plans would still need to satisfy climate tests during the planning process,” he said. “If enough of us speak out by writing to our MP and objecting to this climate damaging airport expansion it can still be stopped.”

Cllr Croy believes expansion will be “very bad news for the borough” when it comes to house building targets too.

“Economic growth in the Thames Valley drives demand for houses,” he said. “This should be an instant no for anyone who cares about climate change or the borough. You can’t claim to support less housing, and Heathrow expansion — they’re incompatible with one another.”

He said the presence of Heathrow Airport is a major factor for major corporations moving into the area, citing Dell’s move to Bracknell in the 80s as an example.

“This is about what’s best for the area in the long term,” he said.

Cllr John Halsall, leader of the borough council said its position on the runway has not changed.

“We are enormously dependent upon communications with the outside world, Heathrow is an important part of that,” he said.

“We’re also enormously dependent on Heathrow for the provision of jobs – Heathrow is fundamental to our economic existence.

“Having said that, the world’s changed with covid and it remains to be seen if that change becomes permanent. The decrease in people travelling may become a feature of modern life, in which case a third runway won’t be necessary anyway.

“We value the economic benefits, both jobs and lifestyle, that Heathrow gives, while we can’t support another runway unless it can be demonstrated to be carbon neutral.”

University supports funding for farmers FARMERS are getting more involved in agricultural research thanks to a collaboration between five universities across the country.

The Centre for Effective Innovation in Agriculture, which includes the University of Reading, will look to address the gap between scientific research on innovation and real-life farming experience. £1.5m of charitable funding, including from the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust and from each university.

Dr David Rose, Elizabeth Creak associate professor of Agricultural Innovation and Extension at the University of Reading said: “Farming needs to change fast to meet the challenges of our time, including tackling climate change, loss of biodiversity and food-related illness, and ensuring resilient and secure food supply chains.

“Although UK public spending on agri-tech R&D is consistently above £300 million per annum, the adoption of research-led innovation is patchy. Crucially, there is currently no dedicated initiative to target research funding where it will be most relevant on the ground.”

Paul May, chair of the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust, said it can be hard for farmers to marry their efforts between productivity, sustainability and resilience when funding support isn’t targeted in the right area.

“There is a growing movement of independent farmer-led innovation networks that tries to plug this gap,” he said. “Rather than simply chip in ourselves to help these in a small way, we want to turn the tide by helping research funders and investors support such efforts on a large scale.”

The centre will grow a community of funders and researchers,collate extensive research evidence on innovation, uptake and adoption into practical guides for policy makers and support agricultural research and innovation funders.

6 | NEWS

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COUNCILNEWS

WOKINGHAM.TODAY Wednesday, December 23, 2020

PHIL CREIGHTON reports from a virtual meeting of Wokingham Borough Council’s Executive held on Thursday, December 17

Vaccine distribution order agreed RESIDENTS in a care home for older adults and their carers are first in line to receive the coronavirus vaccine.

Cllr Charles Margetts, the executive member for health, wellbeing and adult services at Wokingham Borough Council, outlined the order in which people will receive the treatment.

“As the risk of mortality from Covid-19 increases with age, prioritisation is primarily based on age,” he told fellow councillor Barrie Patman at a virtual meeting of the executive, held on Thursday, December 17.

He then shared the other eight priority categories for the first phase of inoculations: those aged 80 and over and frontline health and social care workers will be next.

Then over 75s, over 70s and clincially vulnerable, over 65s.

Following them will be people aged 16 to 64 who have underlying health conditions.

When they have been vaccinated, it will be over 60s, over 55s and then over 50s.

“It is estimated that taken together these groups represent around 99% of preventable mortality from Covid-19,” Cllr Margetts said.

“The next phase of the vaccination programme will seek to further reduce hospitalisation and provide targeted vaccination of those at high risk of exposure and/or those delivering key public services. The planning of this second phase is ongoing with more detail expected in spring 2021.”

Cllr Barrie Patman wanted to know if moving to Tier Three would affect the process.

“It’s difficult to know because it’s only happened today,” Cllr Margetts said, adding that the council would be lobbying the Government hard for vaccination supplies and any additional support to increase testing in the borough to help drive case rates down.

Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons (CON, Wokingham Without) wanted to know how residents would know they were being called to take a vaccination.

“The NHS recommends that all eligible residents should wait to be contacted for a Covid vaccination,” Cllr Margetts said. “Residents will be contacted by the local GP practice.”

This could be by telephone calls, text messages, email and printed letters.

“All residents are advised not to phone GP practices or other NHS services with general queries about when they will be able to get the covid vaccine,” he said.

Cllr Helliar-Symons then asked if residents were registered with a GP in another borough if the process would be the same.

“I would imagine they will be following the same principles … I see no reason to believe that

Berkshire would be any different.”

The leader of the Lib Dem opposition, Cllr Lindsay Ferris (Twyford) wanted to know if additional council staff and financial support would be needed to facilitate the vaccine rollout.

“This work will be complex and it is essential that these actions are implemented in an expedite manner,” he said.

Council leader Cllr John Halsall said that since March, it has drawn on its emergency planning governance to oversee planning and delivery. At the beginning of the Covid-pandemic, it was meeting daily. “£500,000 has been requested to support these (vaccine roll-out, contact tracing and lateral testing) initiatives and ensure they can run effectively,” he said.

“This is an important step and will mean that care home residents in the borough could have face-to-face contact with loved ones before Christmas.

“We will be one of the first boroughs in the UK to undertake a pilot of this kind and a tremendous amount of efforts has gone into its organisation.

To be able to facilitate a rapid testing programme and enable residents to visit care homes before, during and after the festive period is extremely rewarding.”

He concluded by saying: “I will always endeavour to be open and transparent in how we support our residents and will happily commit to giving regular updates.”

Cllr Ferris wanted to know if any grants had come from the Government to support the £500,000 funding, but Cllr Halsall said it was difficult to answer.

“The government has given grants and said that’s your lot until March 2022,” Cllr Halsall replied. “The current presumption is that we’re not going to get any more money but I suspect that will change because of the new lateral flow testing for schools which ... is going to require a huge amount of resource to do it properly.

“At the moment the answer’s no, but I suspect the future answer will be yes.”

Cllr Laura Blumenthal (Conservative, South Lake) wanted to know where residents could found out the latest Covid-19 case data for the borough.

Cllr Margetts pointed her to the Public Health for Berkshire Covid Dashboard, which features live updates from government data sources.

Cllr Abdul Loyes (Conservative, Loddon ward) asked the executive member for finance about the impact that spending £500,000 would have on the council’s purse.

“The latest Revenue Monitoring I will be presenting at the Executive in January will show we have managed to turnaround the projected

overspend due to Covid-19, and while there is more to do, there is every prospect of a final outturn on or around budget, even after the impact of the pandemic,” Cllr John Kaiser replied.

£500,000 for Covid fight AN ADDITIONAL £500,000 has been authorised to spend in Wokingham Borough Council’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

On the day that Berkshire was placed into Tier 3 restrictions, the ruling Executive agreed the expenditure. It will be used for three purposes: to implement lateral flow (quick) tests which will allow residents to visit friends and family in care homes; to boost contact tracing; and to support the roll-out of the coronavirus vaccine, which started last week.

Introducing the motion, Cllr Charles Margetts, the executive member for health, wellbeing and adult services, said that so far 20 care homes have signed up to the scheme and up to 200 lateral tests could be conducted every day.

It would allow “visitors to visit their relatives in care homes and to have physical contact with them – to hold hands, and do all those things”. The visitors would need to wear appropriate PPE, and tests would need to be booked in advance.

The council hopes to boost its contract tracing from its 90% success rate.

“We can expand this capacity going forward and make sure that we’ve got enough people to deal with whatever comes up over the next few months,” he said.

The vaccine rollout “is great news and needs to happen as quickly as possible”.

“We're expecting a vast increase in the number of vaccines and capacity early in the new year,” Cllr Margetts said.

“This funding is to make sure we're in a position, if needed, to provide staff to support the NHS and (West Berkshire Clinical Commissioning Group) and delivering this programme as quickly as they can which, for obvious reasons, is for the benefit of all of our residents.”

Cllr Pauline Jorgensen wanted to know how the virus would be distributed, noting that the inoculation programme had started this week in Wargrave and Finchampstead.

The borough has been split into five areas by the NHS, and each of them will be offering the vaccine before the end of the year, Cllr Margetts replied, saying this was “obviously good news”.

“Every part of Wokingham will be vaccination centre serving us,” he added.

Council leader reflects on tumultuous 12 months AS THIS was the last Executive meeting of 2020, leader John Halsall took time to reflect on events of the past “tumultuous” 12 months.

He opened his speech with a moment of reflection for those who passed away this year, including 189 residents who died after testing positive for coronavirus, the Forbury Three, and the sudden death of Wokingham Town councillor James Box. Cllr Halsall spoke at length about coronavirus and the council’s plans to tackle it, including focusing on grassroots action on the wards most affected, and also making lateral (fast) tests available at Shute End to allow people to visit loved ones in selected care homes.

“We are adding peace of mind to

people who want to visit the homes but who, understandably, want to minimise risk taking infection with them,” he said.

The council is looking to pilot an 18-month mental health scheme which, Cllr Halsall said, has been funded by a resident’s “generous donation”.

The scheme will be run by the charity MIND and will aim to help ensure early intervention and timely referrals.

“The pilot service will be inclusive, ethically and able to meet the wellbeing and mental needs of a diverse range of residents of the borough,” he said.

The local economy was full of new businesses prepared to invest in the borough, Cllr Halsall said,

citing the planning application that has been lodged to build the largest purpose-built film studio in the UK at a site in Shinfield.

The Blackhall Studios would “bring major Hollywood film productions to the UK and create up to 3,000 jobs”.

Looking ahead, Cllr Halsall promised that there would be a balanced budget presented to the council next March.

“Our finances are strong and our finance team second-to-none,” he said.

And Cllr Halsall also expressed his delight the council had managed to convince the Government to think again over future housing numbers.

In the summer, it was thought that every year Wokingham would have

to accommodate 1,635 new homes.

This has now become 759 – a decrease of 30 on the current numbers.

“This is as a direct result of all those who lobbied for a different approach among whom we were a major voice and I would like to thank all those councillors, our very dedicated MPs and residents, for their support,” he told the virtual chamber.

He concluded by saying: “Despite the ongoing pandemic, I believe we can look forward to 2021 with some cautious optimism: Covid-19 has not gone away and we must all remain careful, in particular over Christmas, but the foundations are in place for the borough to recovery strongly from this awful year.”

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

Tier 4 could last more than a month says health leader � Continued from front page

Residents can leave their home to access medical help and to escape risk of harm — such as domestic abuse.

People can meet with one person from another household — while keeping two metres apart — for exercise. This must be done in an outdoor, public place.

Children under five, and up to two carers for a person with a disability who needs continuous care are not counted towards the outdoors gatherings limit.

To manage the spread, Cllr Margetts said the covid marshals will be deployed to key wards in the borough, where infection rates are the highest.

This includes Earley, Lower Earley, Winnersh and Wokingham. The council also aims to work with Reading Borough Council to create a cross-border approach, to minimise infections.

Cllr Margetts said he expects Tier 4 lockdown to continue for three or four weeks, but “probably longer” in order to see a drop in Covid-19 infections.

To make this happen, Cllr Margetts hopes to see residents take the pandemic as seriously as they did in March.

Over the last week, a record number of positive tests for coronavirus have been recorded in the borough.

The latest figures, published on Sunday, December 20, by Public Health in Berkshire, show that there were 113 cases in Wokingham.

This surpasses the total on Thursday, December 17, where 110 cases were reported.

The grim figures mean that there have

Residents are urged to wear face coverings properly over their nose and mouth to stop the spread of Covid-19 Picture: Bicanski

now been 3,141 confirmed cases in the borough and the weekly rate is now 260.6 people per 100,000, up from 246.6 on Saturday.

A similar story is told across Berkshire.

Reading has reported 146 new cases, and a rate of 336.3 per 100,000 people.

Bracknell Forest reported 108 cases, and a rate of 319.1 per 100,000 people.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead had 116 cases, and a rate per 100,000 people is lower at 208.

In England, 32,155 cases were reported on Sunday, bringing the total number of people who had had coronavirus in the country to 1,743,893.

The same day, Labour leader Keir

Starmer blasted prime minister Boris Johnson for the way in which he had made the decision to create a new Tier 4 level, calling the decision to cancel the planned Christmas relaxation of rules “heart-breaking”.

“Sadly, the measures the Government announced yesterday are necessary and we support them,” he said.

“But there is no getting away from the fact – and what angers people the most and frustrates me the most is that – yet again – the prime minister waited until the eleventh hour to take this decision.

“It was blatantly obvious last week that the prime minister’s plan for a freefor-all over Christmas was a risk too far.

And yet, rather listening to concerns and taking them seriously the prime minister did what he always does: dismissed the challenge, ruffled his hair and made a flippant comment.”

Mr Starmer also said that the prime minister’s claim about the new strain of virus only just coming to light didn’t “stand up to scrutiny”, saying it had been spotted in September and that by not taking action sooner, Mr Johnson had undertaken “an act of gross negligence”.

“The alarms bells have been ringing for weeks, but the prime minister chose to ignore them.

“A virus of this sort demands early action. Decisive action. A clear plan and a clear message. Yet we have had none of that.” � For more information about the restrictions, visit: www.gov.uk/guidance/ tier-4-stay-at-home

Friendship charity accepting referrals AS WOKINGHAM borough fell under Tier 4 restrictions last weekend, many people may now be facing Christmas Day alone this year.

But The Link Visiting Scheme, a Wokingham-based charity supporting elderly people across the borough, has promised that it is here to help.

“If anyone feels like they are going to be particularly struggling over Christmas, they need to get in touch with us and we will signpost them to services that can help them if we can’t”, said Marjie Walker, scheme manager.

On Christmas Day, the charity’s team of volunteers will be delivering gifts and hot meals to those on their own, and its phone line will be open to anybody in

need of companionship.

As for those who will be celebrating Christmas with family this year, Ms Walker emphasises how important it is to check in on neighbours and people in the community who will be alone throughout the festive season.

“We’re encouraging neighbours to cook meals for those who find themselves alone this year,” she said.

“So please reach out to your local community, take care of those around you before you consider volunteering wider.”

The Link Visiting Scheme is still accepting referrals for Christmas support and companionship, but has a limited supply of meals this year.

Those who have arranged support on Christmas Day should expect it to go ahead as planned, despite Berkshire falling under Tier 4 restrictions.

For more information, and to make a referral call The Link Visiting Scheme on 0118 979 8019 or visit: www.linkvisiting.org/christmas The charity is also encouraging people to contact The Silver Line, the national telephone befriending service, if they are struggling with loneliness during the festive season on 0800 470 8090.

People can also reach out to the One Front Door scheme on 0300 330 1189 if struggling to get medication or food.

MP rebels against third lockdown

On Sunday morning, on his website, Sir John warned that: “Ministers seem to suggest now that restrictions will be with us until next spring, when the arrival of warmer weather and more natural ultraviolet light might cause recession in the virus, and when many more people will have opted for the vaccine protection.”

Sir John promised: “I will present a case again to find other methods of protecting the vulnerable and keeping more people safe, while allowing the resumption of more business activity. Livelihoods matter as well as lives.”

He added: “The scarring to business life in entertainment, travel, leisure, shop retail, commercial property and some personal services is very pronounced. We run the risk of more bankruptcies, more people deciding to pack up their small businesses, and more people deciding working for themselves is simply too difficult with all the regulations.”

Sir John called for isolation hospitals and the NHS’ Nightingale capacity to be used, as well as improved ventilation systems in indoor venues and other methods to “allow more safe business activity to take place”.

WOKINGHAM MP Sir John Redwood says that the Government should find methods to protect people other than the new Tier 4 system and is calling for parliament to be recalled.

Writing on his blog, he called for a parliamentary debate on the measures.

Sir John has previously expressed concerns over any new lockdown or Tier measures. He voted against the Tier restrictions at a debate in Parliament on December 1.

NEWS | 7

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CORONAVIRUS LATEST Citizens Advice receives week’s worth of calls in day CITIZENS Advice received more than a week’s worth of calls on Monday, as residents reach out for support in lockdown.

Jake Morrison, the charity’s CEO said calls rose last week, after the borough jumped from Tier 2 to Tier 4 in a matter of days.

“As ever, we’re encouraging people to come to us as early as possible,” he said. “We are open over the next few weeks.

“It’s just about reaching out — you don’t have to put your issues on pause.”

Last year, the charity stayed open for Christmas, supporting residents whose benefit applications were rejected.

Mr Morrison said the charity received roughly 60 more calls last week, than the previous week.

Most residents were looking for help with food and grant applications, followed by debt support, benefits and tax credits, housing and health.

There were 285 clients, who were helped with 491 issues — and Mr Morrison expects calls to rise further into the new year.

“January is always a busy time for us,” he said. “We see a lot of money problems, we always do. It can only be worse this year.”

He said the Christmas debt, combined with redundancy pay drying up could bring more people

to the charity in need of support.

“These issues are becoming much more visible,” he added. “The earlier we can help, the better. The whole point of doing what we do is to pull support together from different organisations.”

He said charity volunteers often refer clients to further support, helping to coordinate the available help.

“We really can provide a package of support for people,” he added.

The charity is open on Christmas Eve from 10am until 4pm, and Monday, December 27 until Wednesday, December 30, from 10am until 4pm.

It will reopen on Saturday, January 2, from 9am to 1pm and then resume normal hours from Monday, January 4.

How to get help in Wokingham: To access the ‘One Front Door’ service, call Citizen’s Advice on: 0300 330 1189 Those calling from a mobile phone should enter if prompted: 0118 978 7258

Call to delay reopening of secondary schools SERIOUS consideration should be given to delaying the return of secondary schools in the new year.

That’s the view of the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Cllr Clive Jones, following the announcement that Berkshire moved into Tier 4 on Sunday, December 20.

As schools closed for the Christmas holidays, it was revealed that only students in years sitting exams would return on January 4 as planned, with other secondary pupils home learning for a week.

This is to allow schools to launch lateral testing of pupils and staff in a bid to cut transmission of the coronavirus.

It is not currently clear who would be responsible for administering the tests.

However, Cllr Jones feels that a different approach is needed.

“Consideration now has to be given to delaying the opening of secondary schools in January – something I suggested the Wokingham Borough Council looked at last week when its leadership briefed the opposition about us moving from Tier 2 to Tier 3,” he said.

And Cllr Jones was scornful of the late announcement of the new Tier 4 restrictions.

“What an absolute shambles,” he said.

“I heard Boris Johnson say they were aware of changes to the virus in early November. Why has it taken so long to do something?

“Only last week the prime minister was saying it’s too late to change the Christmas rules, yet he was aware of these latest changes to the virus when he and ministers made this decision.

“Many families will be very upset by these developments and I’m

Cllr Clive Jones

sure that many tears are being shed in the areas that have been put into Tier 4.”

He continued: “We have to do as the scientists say and not meet with other households in our homes.

“Our normal family Christmases in Wokingham have just been cancelled.

“If we follow the advice of the scientists – and it’s a real shame that the government have been so slow to do this throughout the whole Covid-19 crisis – then we have a chance of a more normal Christmas next year.”

8 | NEWS

Festive bus timetables TO HELP people prepare for Christmas Day, Reading Buses will continue to operate throughout the festive season.

However, buses will be running on revised timetables this year with reduced levels of service from Christmas Eve through until Saturday, January 2.

And the published timetables may change again as a result of the region being placed into Tier 4 restrictions.

On Thursday – Christmas Eve – most buses will run their normal Thursday service but will finish early at 8pm.

Reading Buses’ 24/7 routes will run extra buses until around 11pm.

And on Christmas Day, bus drivers are told to take a well-earned rest with services resuming on Boxing Day, operating across the network between 9am and 7pm.

Then, on Sunday, December 27, and Christmas Monday, December 28, Sunday timetables will be in operation.

As for Monday, December 29 and Tuesday, December 30, Saturday timetables will apply.

“On New Year’s Eve (Thursday, December 31), we are also pleased to announce that Saturday timetables will operate all late evening journeys that have remained suspended during the pandemic for one night only,” Robert Williams, Reading Buses CEO said.

“We sincerely hope our customers enjoy their Christmas responsibly and that we shall see lots of festive face coverings.

Face coverings remain a legal requirement when travelling with Reading Buses. � Full timetables are available online: www.reading-buses.co.uk/christmas

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Hollywood’s latest blockbuster: a £200m film studio in Shinfield

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today AROUND 3,000 jobs will be created when Hollywood opens a new UK arm in Shinfield.

All being well, Shinfield Studios will open in late 2022 after agreement in principle was reached between the University of Reading, Commonwealth Real Estate and Wokingham Borough Council.

It will be part of the university’s Thames Valley Science Park and sees the film studios investor, based in Los Angeles, bring major Hollywood film productions to the UK, as the studios will be some of the biggest in the world.

Alongside it will be a new television studio, which the University hopes will be operational next year.

The aim is to help students and graduates by providing practical opportunities for them, while attracting creative and digital businesses to the Thames Valley.

The film studios are expected to create around £500 million of annual inward investment to the UK and create 1,500 new jobs, and

supporting up to 1,500 further indirect jobs.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, Professor Robert Van de Noort, said that he was delighted that agreement had been reached as it will being Hollywood investment to Wokingham borough.

“It is a credit to the hard work and determination of everyone involved to have concluded a transaction while negotiating through challenging restrictions on movement and travel,” he said.

“This lease presents a superb opportunity for the University and facilitates an exciting development for the wider community, and we look forward to Commonwealth bringing their vision to life.”

Shinfield Studios is expected to cost more than £200 million to create according to Nick Smith, the company’s managing director, who said there was a need for such a facility, while Lambert Smith Hampton estimate that an additional 1.8 million sq ft of studio space will be required by 2025, as streaming companies such as Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon look to create more dramas such as The Crown, Star Trek: Picard, and Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge.

“Britain has an enviable array of filmmaking talent, but the industry is short of high-quality studio facilities capable of catering for the new and emerging technologies that will form the core of television and film production in the future,” explained Mr Smith, who has more than 25 years in the industry, and previously served as executive commercial director on the board of nearby Pinewood-Shepperton studios.

Adam Fisher, Commonwealth Founder and Chief Investment Officer (CIO), added: “We are very excited about the prospect of

investing in the UK creative industries as one of the most vibrant markets in the world.

“We look forward to building partnerships across Wokingham and Reading to make this project a resounding success.

“Our ambitions for the new studio will be of real benefit to the local economy and the UK as a whole.”

There is also praise for the scheme from politicians. The minister for investment, Gerry Grimstone, said that the project is both a huge boost for Wokingham’s economy and a win-win for the nation.

And Cllr John Halsall, leader of Wokingham Borough Council, said: “This is very welcome news for people in Wokingham and the wider region.

“Wokingham has a strong record of supporting world-class businesses, including existing links with the film industry.

“We look forward to providing everyone involved with the opportunity to put their plans and views forward as part of our usual rigorous planning process.”

He added that it will have a halo effect, creating even more jobs.

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

|9

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ADVERTISER’S ANNOUNCEMENT

Social Care for the elderly and vulnerable is front-of-mind like never before. Right at Home explains some of the options

R

IGHT at Home, a leading provider of homecare in the Wokingham area, offers some useful advice for the elderly and their family members who have seen their loved one’s need for support and companionship grow through the Covid-19 pandemic and as winter sets in.

For many, when thinking about how to care for loved ones, there is an assumption that as soon as living at home begins to get tough, the next step is to move to a Care Home or Nursing Home. But while residential care can be a good choice for some senior members of our community, it is not the only option.

Home care as an alternative to residential care Especially in the earlier stages of aging, domiciliary care (or ‘home care’) is an approach favoured by more and more people.

Homecare is cost-effective (because it is tailored to the specific needs of the client) and allows people to continue to live safely and comfortably in their own homes, in familiar surroundings with all their belongings and memories. Their routine remains their own. The service gives them exactly what they need to help them maintain their independence and lead their lives the way they prefer. And can easily grow or shrink as their needs change.

Flexible highly personalised service Homecare can be highly personalised.

From a few visits a week to multiple visits a day or more. From a bit of company and help around home, cleaning or housekeeping, to more specialist care and support with medication, personal care and specific support for people living with dementia or other medical challenges. So, whatever the need, firms like Right at Home aim to make a positive difference to people’s lives, health and well-being, every day.

Different care companies have different approaches to care, and emphasis on how they deliver it, so finding the right one for your needs may take a bit of research. So how do you find the ideal care provider for yourself, or for your loved ones? What resources are available to help you research the topic and fund the services that you select?

Finding a Homecare company The good news is that there is a lot of choice for people looking for homecare in the Wokingham area. However, it can be daunting trying to understand what to look for, how to decide on the level and type of support you need, and which companies to approach. So here are some ideas to get you started with your evaluation: � Are they CQC Registered? CQC (the Care Quality Commission – the Regulator for Health and Social Care in England) holds registered providers to certain standards and regularly inspects them, publishing its

Above: Caregiver wearing PPE. Left: Some members of the Right at Home team from earlier in the year during lockdown, with a message about social distancing.

findings on the CQC website. � How do they compare? The leading independent UK Home Care review website homecare.co.uk is a great place to find and compare (CQC Registered) homecare companies. For example, you can search for all the agencies in “Wokingham Area” (ie Wokingham District), sort them based on how they have been rated by their clients and family members, read all the reviews, and get direct links to their CQC Inspection Reports, and Websites etc. � Talk to more than one provider. homecare.co.uk is a great place to start your search for the ideal homecare provider and begin to get a feel for the kind of company they are. Having looked at their ratings and read what people say about the companies that you plan to shortlist, you should then talk to several of them before you choose, as you need to be confident that you like the approach and values of the people you are going to invite into your home.

Other Resources to check out: The team at Right at Home is well equipped to help you navigate all this and will be pleased to discuss your unique situation

and give advice based on decades of experience in delivering high quality care. For example: � Attendance Allowance - Available to anyone who needs care or support at home this is a regular payment that can be used as a contribution towards the cost of care, made available by government to help people remain at home and reduce the strain on the

Health and Social Care system. � Direct Payments – for people without sufficient funds to finance their own private care, the local authority can provide care directly, or you can request that their funding is provided in the form of Direct Payments, which for many gives more choice and flexibility in how to get the care they need. � NHS services – if your mobility is starting to decline, you find it difficult to move around your home, or are nervous about stumbling or falling, talk to your GP. There are a number of NHS-funded services available and your GP may be able to arrange for experts such as an OT (Occupational Therapist) to visit you at home and give advice on how things can be arranged to help, assess if there is any equipment that could be provided to help you stay independent at home. Your GP will also be able to guide you to other medical professionals such physiotherapists.

About Right at Home Right at Home | Reading and Wokingham District is the local branch of the UK’s most highly recommended national homecare group. Rated 10/10 by its clients on homecare.co.uk, the locally owned and managed Twyford office delivers awardwinning care to its clients all over the Wokingham District and nearby Reading.

Ranked the most highly recommended local care company, for two years running it has been recognised as one of the Top20 homecare companies in SE England, awarded 5*STAR Employer status, and as part of an annual national anonymous survey of Right at Home clients, has scored an impressive 100% satisfaction score in both 2019 and 2020.

Rated Outstanding for Caring by CQC, this is a care company that truly cares, about its clients and also its amazing CareGivers who have continued to deliver their highly personalised support and care to clients throughout the Covid crisis. � To find out more, call 0118 207 0600 and speak to one of the team, Google “Right at Home Wokingham”, or go to homecare.co.uk and search in “Wokingham Area”.

“At Right at Home we believe that delivering the best quality care is not a fluke. We work hard at it.

We know it is directly related to our ability to attract, hire, train, mentor, support and retain amazing people in our team.

2020 has been extra challenging, but the Right at Home team has stepped up, kept standards super-high, our clients safe and (though now routinely covered by masks!) have kept smiling despite all the extra pressure.

I am incredibly proud of my team and know from all the feedback we get from the clients they support that they are appreciated too.

So, a big thank you to them, and all the great people at GP Surgeries, local pharmacies, community nurse teams, and the broader NHS who have helped us to keep everyone safe. “ Kevin Lancaster, Managing Director, Right at Home Reading and Wokingham District

10 | NEWS

Election postal vote registration opens THEY MAY be a while away, but residents are being urged to think about next year’s local elections now.

In May next year, Wokingham borough will head to the polls to decide who represents the borough council and who will be the next Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley region.

And residents are being asked to plan ahead and apply for a postal vote now to ensure they can stay safe while casting their ballot.

Andrew Moulton, electoral registration officer for Wokingham Borough Council, says next year’s elections are a chance for people to have a say.

“They’re an opportunity to make your voice heard on who represents you on issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in Wokingham borough,” he said.

“We’re thinking about these elections now so that, however you choose to cast your vote in May, you can do so safely.

“You don’t need to wait until nearer the time – we are encouraging you to register now.”

There are a number of ways residents can vote in next year’s elections, including in a polling station and by proxy, as well as by post.

For more information on how to apply to vote by post or proxy, visit: www.wokingham.gov.uk/ council-and-meetings/elections-and-voting/ vote-by-post-or-proxy

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Charity gifts £85,000 worth of presents EXCLUSIVE

By CHARLOTTE KING cking@wokingham.today WOKINGHAM borough residents have donated £85,000 worth of presents to a children’s charity.

As the festive season rolled around, First Days Children’s Charity, SHARE Wokingham and Wokingham Foodbank teamed up to make sure that everybody can have a merry Christmas this year.

The three charities launched a borough-wide appeal to help distribute Christmas stockings and festive food hampers to families in need.

And as the big day draws closer, the charities say that while they have been busier than ever, they’ve received an overwhelming amount of support from the community.

“It’s been incredible,” said Emma Cantrell, founder of First Days.

“We’ve had a huge number of toy donations totalling £85,000 and a massive amount of support, but also

a significant amount of need.”

The charity has been working to deliver Christmas stockings to children across Berkshire and beyond.

According to Ms Cantrell, its volunteers have distributed over 12,000 gifts and toys.

“We’ve had loads of amazing volunteers who have come in and dropped off stockings and presents,” she said.

“And we also held an event with SHARE where we invited parents to come in and choose gifts for their kids.

“We’re delivering that Christmas experience to children, which they should never miss out on.”

Some of First Days’ Christmas stockings have also been accompanied by a parcel from Wokingham Foodbank and SHARE, who have been delivering hampers full of festive treats.

“We’ve put together around 240 food parcels for people in Wokingham borough,” Annette

Medhurst, manager of Wokingham Foodbank, explained.

“It’s been really nice to work with other organisations because we’ve all been able to reach parts of the community that we normally wouldn’t.”

And Claire Revie, a SHARE Wokingham volunteer, said the joint project has been a huge learning curve for them all.

“If we do this next year, we plan to adjust it so that we can access more people in a faster turnaround to maximise the support we give,” she said.

Looking back on the project, all three women said they are grateful for their volunteers.

“They have worked relentlessly,” Ms Medhurst said. “We’ve got people coming in and out seven days a week to help us cope with the demand which is amazing.”

However, the team say they are also devastated by how much need there is in Wokingham borough, with the food bank seeing demand

DOUBLE wishes will be granted this festive season, thanks to The Lexicon’s Christmas campaign.

With more than 300 nominations received for friends and families, the shopping centre decided to change the original 10 wishes to 20.

Sue Boor, head of marketing at The Lexicon thanked everyone who joined the campaign.

“We were overwhelmed by the number and amazing stories behind the nominations that we received, and it was a really difficult decision to make,” she said. “We are glad to have been able to put a smile on a few faces this Christmas.”

The 20 winning nominations came from across the community, including parents, children, grandparents, friends, teachers, volunteers, key workers and NHS staff.

They were decided by Cllr Ash Merry, mayor of Bracknell Forest and Cllr Michael Titheridge, Bracknell town mayor.

‘Reward our care staff’

Priority water services RESIDENTS are being urged to seek a helping hand this winter.

South East Water is asking customers with medical conditions, restricted mobility, or who are in financial difficulty, to consider asking for free extra help this year.

The water company, which serves customers throughout Wokingham borough, is working with community groups, charities and unpaid carers to spread the word about its Priority Services Register.

Jane Crisp, vulnerability strategy manager at South East Water, said: “People are unaware that help is here for those with a wide range of conditions, including those who are finding themselves in very different circumstances and are having to shield against the virus. � To find out more about the support on offer, visit: www.southeastwater.co.uk/priority

� Anybody in need of help with food over Christmas can call Citizens Advice Wokingham, which has emergency food parcels, on 0300 330 1189.

Winter wishes

� To register to vote, visit: www.gov.uk/register-tovote

A CALL has been made for the Government to review the way it rewards adult social care workers in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Care England, the largest representative body of independent adult social care providers, says there should be a comprehensive strategy in place, on the back of a recent announcement by the Scottish government that it would make a one-off £500 payment to the country’s health and care staff.

Professor Martin Green OBE, chief executive of Care England, said: “We have written to the Secretary of State to urge him to engage with the important issue of rewarding the adult social care workforce.

“This is interlinked with the need for the Government to fund the recent increases in the National Living Wage.

"The need to reward social care workers is accentuated when we consider the Chancellor's recent pledge to increase the pay of NHS nurses. A failure to reward the adult social care workforce will only further the perception that social care is the poor relation of the NHS. “Any such strategy should reward both care and auxiliary staff alike as both are fundamental to care services."

double compared to December last year.

“I think the real message from all of us is that we are so saddened by the number of people who’ve told us they never needed support from a charity before,” Ms Cantrell said.

“I think it’s a direct result of everything that has happened this year — people are really struggling.”

This was echoed by Ms Revie, who says 2020 has been an “eyeopener”.

“It’s made us realise the importance of things,” she said.

“Before, I was worried about getting everybody nice presents, but basic human needs are what people are after.

“We’re working with people who don’t have enough money for gas and electricity — people who just want somewhere dry and warm to live and food on the table.”

Achieving net carbon BUILDING to achieve carbon neutrality was the topic presented by the council emissions leader earlier this month.

Speaking at a Built Environment Networking event, Cllr Gregor Murray led a presentation talking about the ways councils can achieve net zero.

Delegates from across the country heard Cllr Murray discuss the merits of modular building techniques which have been adopted by the council in the last year.

Used in the construction of Addington School, and Dinton Pastures Activity Centre, the off-site methods mean less traffic is going back and forth to the site.

The Dinton Pastures project aims to be better than carbon neutral, explained Cllr Murray.

It will be carbon negative — helping to offset emissions

elsewhere in the borough, he said.

With solar panels, heat pumps and rainwater harvesting, the technology was explained in detail to attendees.

“It was a fantastic opportunity to chat to people all over the country,” Cllr Murray said. “We talked about Wokingham and our ambitions — and there were quite a lot of questions about specific actions people could take.

“What this shows is that we’re learning as we go, and we’re sharing that information with others. We could keep ideas to ourselves, but that wouldn’t be beneficial elsewhere.”

Earley resident John Booth, tuned into the event. He is often involved with Reading Friends of the Earth but said he is keen Wokingham makes progress too.

“I was impressed that so many professionals seemed to be taking

the opportunity seriously,” he said.

In October, the council broke ground on the net-zero carbon building.

The two-storey centre will include an activity hall, a coffee shop, a lakeside terrace, meeting rooms, a changing spaces facility and cycle parking.

It is the first local authority carbon-neutral building in the South East.

Michael Ruddick, director of the modular construction company Reds10, said he is delighted to be working on the project.

“We are challenging what is

possible with off-site construction with a non-standard design that not only includes cutting edge eco-technology but also uses external materials and features that will tie the building into the site for a seamless integration of the building with the natural landscape it sits in,” he said.

All being well, it will be pressed into use from the spring of next year, and the existing centre will remain open throughout the construction period, although some car parking will be limited and there will be changes to pedestrian access.

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

PLANNING

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PHIL CREIGHTON reports from a virtual meeting of Wokingham Borough OK computer Council’s Planning Committee held on Wednesday, December 16 STUDENTS across the borough can learn from The

Approval for green energy farm with 40,000 solar panels A NEW solar farm will be built after Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee approved the plans.

It will be built in land between Arborfield and Swallowfield and contain 40,000 solar panels could be installed on nearly 20 hectares of land. Under the plans, it would provide enough electricity to power 3,376 households.

It would have permission for 40 years electricity generation after which, the land would need to be cleared and returned to its previous state.

The committee had considered the application at a meeting held on Wednesday, December 9, but had asked planning officers to investigate why the site had been chosen.

Concerns had been raised by residents who feared that the solar panels used would be visible from some distance away as they would be 2.4 metres in height.

The council’s climate emergency action plan has an objective to deliver five large solar farms by 2030.

Resident Harry Cannon raised alternative site: “I’ve heard from friends in the farming community that the council is giving notice to tenant farmers to vacate land for the purpose of using it for solar,” he said, adding that he hadn’t had time to investigate in detail.

“If this is the case, then I'll clearly this is not the only site that's available.

“My second point is on the additional drawings and information – we haven't seen an elevation from the north. If we did, it would show for a 50 acreish almost site 50 feet tall. I still struggle to understand how you can hide that other than maybe a 50 foot hedge.”

Wessex Solar’s Richard Wearmouth also spoke, saying that the company had written to officers since the first meeting to address the committee’s concerns.

“Both our landscape architect and your landscape officer agree that this project has no unacceptable impact,” he said.

“Solar parks need to actually be able to connect to the grid, they need to be accessible from the road network, and they need a landowner who's willing to accommodate the solar park on their land.

“After those extensive studies, and that systematic approach, though, that's what led us to this site and the design that we've put forward.”

Swallowfield ward councillor Stuart Munro urged the committee to ensure that the site would have adequate hedgerow screening.

Cllr Gary Cowan, member for Arborfield, said: “Right idea, wrong place … there are other concerns which … need to be addressed, this is the first time this council had had to deal with a solar farm of this size and I recognise there is a very big learning curve for members and officers.”

Officers told the committee that the Wessex Solar had submitted a visual impact assessment

Smells considered as homes by sewage works get go-ahead PERMISSION has been granted for 153 homes to be built on land at Ashridge Farm off Warren House Road and Bellfoundry Lane.

As we reported last week, there was concern from local residents about the suitability of the site as it is close to the Thames Water sewage treatment plants.

The planning committee heard that the site was put forward under the local plan update, but as this was still at an early stage, the application could be considered.

The development will be a mixture of one-, two-, threeand four-bedroom homes, and there would also be a SANG (a greenspace) included in the plans, as well as a children’s play area. Affordable homes would comprise 35% of the development – 53 homes.

Wokingham Town Council objected to the proposals, citing a lack of shops and also concerns that there would be smell pollution caused by the sewage works. However, planning officers said that the site was outside the identified

NEWS | 11

odour contour zone, making it acceptable.

Cllr Rachel Burgess, Labour ward councillor Norreys, was concerned that the area was part of a band of floodplain, but officers said the affected area is part of the greenspace and not close to the planned homes.

Fellow ward councillor, Gregor Murray (Conservative) also wanted the application considered by the planning committee, noting that the sewage works “creates all type of quality of life issues”.

Wokingham Town councillor Abby Tebboth (Labour) spoke at the meeting, raising concerns about the odour impact and risk of flooding.

“We believe that that will have a significant impact on residents use of their homes and their gardens, as well as the immunity from the shared play and recreational spaces,” she said of the smell.

Jessica Sparks, representing David Wilson Homes, said that the proposals allow for the completion of the Northern

Review of the year – next week – on sale Wednesday

Distributor Road (BDR), and that the SANG would complement others in the area, “creating large areas of open space for future residents and locals to enjoy”.

“This is not a site without complexity, but great care has been taken to ensure that the proposed layout takes account of the many elements on the site,” she added. “We're excited by our proposals, and we want to bring forward what we believe will be a development to complement the locality.”

Cllr Malcolm Richards, who is a ward member for Norreys, said that if the application was approved, it would have big benefits to the completion of the NDR, but raised concerns over house and garden sizes.

Cllr Carl Doran raised concerns over the quality of the report on the odours present on the site, wondering if the test had been rigorous enough to be useful, saying it was a single test on a single day.

However, when it came to a vote, a majority were in favour, with two against, and the site gained approval.

and that while there would be “limited harm” it would not be unacceptable and where there were gaps in the field hedges, they would be replanted.

Cllr Andrew Mickelburgh said he had so many queries about the application, including alternative sights, issues with screening the farm and the height of the panels.

“A lot of faith seems to be placed on screening provided by hedgerows,” he said, asking for confirmation that full screening would be effective for all distant locations, “including homes, roads and footpaths”.

Officers said that the visual impact assessment was undertaken by a landscape architect, submitted with the application and very thorough, covering a number of visual viewpoints. They said that the gaps in the hedgerow would resolved to help with this.

Cllr Rachelle Shepherd-Dubey said that climate change is a lot uglier than a solar farm, while Cllr Stephen Conway said he was “very torn” about the application, as it supported the climate emergency action, but remained unconvinced that this was the right site and remained sceptical about the effectiveness of the landscaping.

Cllr Angus Ross said he shared the concerns that others have had over the suitability of the site.

The motion was carried by seven votes in favour, two against and one abstention.

National Museum of Computing thanks to a new scheme.

The charity is offering 400 students from deprived areas in the UK two live, hands-on interactive sessions – provided online through a virtual classroom.

There are two themes to choose from. Second World War codebreaking or modern electric computing – or students can choose to do both.

Places are available in Wokingham, Bracknell and Reading thanks to sponsorship from RAF Youth and STEM team and Flint International.

Squadron leader Emma Clamp from The RAF Youth & STEM team, said the pandemic has affected face-toface STEM activities.

“We are delighted to offer this exciting new remote learning programme developed by TNMOC..”

Keith Barker, founder of Flint, said they are trying to give back to the industry and spark excitement in young people.

He added: “I was lucky enough to serve a technology apprenticeship, and we have a small apprenticeship programme running in Flint.

“In our small way, we want to help grow the competence in our technology sector for the betterment of all.”

Teachers who think their students would benefit from the free remote learning packages can email the museum at: education@tnmoc.org.

For more information, visit: www.tnmoc.org

12 |

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WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS

WOKINGHAM.TODAY Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

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14 | VIEWPOINTS

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Wednesday, December 23, 2020

WOKINGHAM.TODAY THE VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

Not the Christmas we wanted, but ...

SO, HERE it is, wretched Christmas – nobody’s having fun. Here’s to the future now, it’s only just begun.

At lot has happened within the past six days. On Friday, we were Tier 2, Saturday Tier 3 and Sunday the new Tier 4. As Ron Burgundy would say, ‘That escalated quickly’.

No one wanted to see lockdown measures extended. No one wanted to have an isolated Christmas.

It will be quieter, fewer presents under the tree, and fewer bodies around the dining table. Perhaps fewer arguments over board game rules as well.

Coronavirus dominates our lives once again. The new strain meant that action needed to be taken and there was no time for us to be eased in to it.

The sudden cancellation to Christmas is a shock to us all.

Once again, it is time for us all to pull together and help each other out.

Shop local by using click and collect services. Order a takeaway from your favourite restaurant or pub. Buy from your independent retailer.

They are all lifeblood of our economy and right now we must protect them.

And for charities helping those in need, consider giving them a festive gift. From those involved in One Front Door to others offering specialist support and help, they need our help.

And we have to help each other too.

This time will pass. It might feel miserable and dark, but the best is yet to come.

Have a safe Christmas.

Early deliveries Next week’s issue is a souvenir for this extraordinary year – and will come out on Wednesday, December 30. Don’t miss it.

CHURCH NOTES

Destination in sight “Look, I bring you good news of great joy for the whole people, that today a Saviour has been born to you in the town of David, who is Christ the Lord” Luke 2:10-11.

This is the message the angels brought to the shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem on that first Christmas and it is addressed to us all today.

A Saviour who frees us from our sin and promises us that death is not the end through the sacrifice of his life on the cross. This is good news indeed. And it is a message for all people.

The first to receive the news were shepherds who were outcasts in their society: lowly people and often foreigners, but the message also comes to the wealthy Magi from distant lands.

In the life of the adult Jesus too we see him dining with religious leaders and also tax collectors and sinners. He heals men, women, children, a centurion’s servant and beggars, Jews and foreigners and turns no one away.

This birth of the Christ child is not just some historic event. We are called to make Christ present in our lives today through our love and care for our neighbours, both near and far, and spreading the message of peace and goodwill to all.

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among people of goodwill” Luke 2:14 (Both references from the Revised New Jerusalem Bible).

A happy and blessed Christmas to you all.

Sue Cooper is from Corpus Christi Church, Wokingham, writing on behalf of Churches Together in Wokingham

Christmas Cllr Malcolm Richards, Borough mayor

I

T IS nearly the end of 2020 and what an incredible year it has been.

It began with ongoing discussions about Brexit, which we thought would dominate the year. But it very soon developed into a worldwide tragedy called Covid-19, the pandemic which has taken so many lives and is still causing problems – both to lives and to the world’s economy.

Nature, in all its many forms always does its own thing, sometimes good and sometimes bad. And we, as humans, with our own resourcefulness and attitudes, have to cope with it, or find a way round the problems. And that is exactly what has happened.

Despite the many difficulties presented, several major nations of the world invested enormous sums into researching Covid-19 and, as a result, scientists/doctors have developed – in less than one year - not just one vaccine, but a minimum of two, and possibly three vaccines, that we believe will help to overcome the disaster that is Covid.

That rate of progress, plus the many other things created by our combined efforts, such as the excellent NHS, frontline services and keyworkers, volunteers, charities, the council, businesses and residents, and the community at large, should reassure us that 2021 can and will be a better and safer year for us all.

We have all needed each other, and we’ve all had our part to play, and we are still playing that part. But please remember, we must also continue to act responsibly, and we can do that.

Brexit still remains to be resolved.

But if we are willing and able to apply the same positive attitude and effort to overcoming problems that arise, in the same way as we are doing having to deal with Covid, then we can be in a good state in the coming years – and I think we will be.

Wokingham Borough is a good place in which to live and work, and I am delighted and proud to be its Mayor.

To finish my message, let me wish you all a healthy, happy and safe Christmas, and a wonderful and exciting New Year in 2021.

Cllr John Halsall, leader Wokingham Borough Council

T

HIS year has undoubtedly been a difficult one for all of us.

Thank you to the NHS staff who have gone beyond the call of duty to save lives; to the charities and volunteers who have helped provide advice, food and support to those who have been struggling; and to Council staff and councillors who have worked diligently to make sure that no-one gets left behind.

Most of all, thank you to all of you in the Borough for everything you’ve been doing to help us get through this trying time: keeping safe, following the rules, and looking out for one another.

This festive period will be very different, and I’m sure that there are people who will feel the strain of being at home, away from friends and family.

Theresa May, Maidenhead MP

A

S the MP for Maidenhead, I would like to wish all readers of Wokingham Today a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

2020 has without a doubt been a very challenging year and one which we will not forget easily.

As we reflect on the past year, I would like to pay a particular and very sincere tribute to all those individuals who have played their part during the Covid-19 pandemic.

First and foremost are our

James Sunderland Bracknell MP

2

020 has been awful for so many. Every time it gets worse, you hope to wake up as if from some bad dream.

But no, with almost 70,000 excess deaths this year from Covid-19, the nightmare is real, and it is impossible to conceive of how much worse this would have been without the restrictions in place. People have told me that the Government is weak and out of its depth. No doubt some hold this view for subjective political reasons, but the opposite is true.

This is a Government that has taken decisive action based upon the best medical and scientific advice available, Boris Johnson has never failed to take a tough call, however much he may not have personally wanted to, and the decision he announced on Saturday to place London and the South East into Tier 4 over Christmas would have been one of the toughest decisions of any Premier in modern times.

Like him or loathe him, this is a Prime Minister who is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t, but he gets it, and he cares. And the support package on offer to the British people is unparalleled anywhere in the world.

Last week, the decision to place the whole of Berkshire into Tier 3 was devastating, even though our proximity to both Reading and Slough had made this ever more likely.

While I was gutted on behalf of every constituent and beyond, this decision was taken on the back of the recent spike in R rate which is now ripping across the South East, wider UK, Europe and further afield.

If you need any help, contact our One Front Door service on 0300 330 1189.

We are here to look out for you.

I wish everyone in Wokingham Borough, however you are spending this time, a Happy Christmas.

Cllr Lindsay Ferris, Wokingham Borough Council Lib Dem Leader

I

and my Wokingham Borough Liberal Democrat Council colleagues wish readers of Wokingham.Today and residents across the borough a happy as possible Christmas this year, despite all the ongoing issues we have had with the Covid-19 Pandemic.

This time of year is important for

Greetings wonderful NHS and care workers, but also our emergency service workers and others who kept things going like delivery drivers; and of courses the incredible volunteers in our local community who did so much to support those in need.

Every single effort and gesture is appreciated and as the local MP, I feel immensely proud to have witnessed such a fantastic community spirit.

Thank you for your selflessness and for giving your time and effort to help those who may be less fortunate; your hard work and generosity will not be forgotten.

In 2021 we need to continue to come together to deal with Covid-19.

I know that the current restrictions are hard and that we all miss being able to see and spend time with our loved ones, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

We must look forward, keep working together to get through this phase of the pandemic and unite in optimism and hope for the coming year.

Let's make 2021 a year when the country continues to work together as one caring community while also moving forward and embracing new opportunities.

Cases in the Bracknell Forest area alone have increased exponentially from less than 60 per 100,000 barely four weeks ago to 250 today and this quintupling is now the third highest rate of any borough in Berkshire, with the sharpest rate of growth.

I wrote privately with other Berkshire MPs to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to urge him to adopt a borough by borough approach for Berkshire, to ensure that any decision to impose Tier 3 is made as a last resort only, to remain mindful of the impact on local people and to keep this under constant scrutiny, with a view to continued engagement on future measures.

It is clear from the latest data however that ignoring the increased risk to the public was not an option.

And then, the announcement barely 48 hours later that Berkshire, London and much of the South East would be placed into a new Tier 4, came as a further shock.

Although my inbox has been full over the weekend from angry constituents, it is still impossible to comprehend how devastating that this must be to so many.

But as I have tried to reassure, this is not personal, the Government only wants to do the right thing in good faith, this new mutant strain of Covid-19 needs to be halted and we do have a moral duty to protect our NHS and save those who would otherwise be adding to yet more awful statistics. This is about casting personal interest aside in support of the national effort.

As we look ahead towards 2021, I would urge you to take whatever positives you can from 2020 and to enjoy Christmas as best you can.

My own extended family will be home alone at Christmas for the first time in many years, but I know that all of you will be making much greater sacrifices. As difficult as this is, please do adhere to the rules for it is our failure to do so in recent months which has contributed to the recent spike.

Please do spare a thought for all those who are on their own, sick, bereaved or those whose livelihoods and businesses continue to suffer as a result of Covid-19.

Thank you to everyone who has done so much to help others, support our communities, to our NHS staff, key workers, blue light services, public servants everywhere and all those who have simply reached out to ensure that our neighbours, families and friends are okay.

2020 has been grim but the vaccine is being rolled out and we have much to look forward to as we return to normality in 2021.

many of you to meet up with family and friends, but I do urge you all to be careful to avoid an increase in cases from this awful Virus in the New Year.

We must remember those local families who have suffered directly from the virus. We must also remember those who need to work over the Christmas period that provide the vital services we need and those who are are their own at this time of year.

Christmas is a time to rejoice and provide hope for the future, this is even more poignant this year.

With vaccines now being administered, we just need to hang in there for a few months more and with hope in our hearts, this pandemic will be a thing of the past.

Happy Christmas.

Cllr Andy Croy , Labour group leader, Wokingham Borough Council

Matt Rodda, Reading East MP

I

would like to wish our community a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Christmas has seemed a long time coming this year, the restrictions this autumn have been difficult but necessary as our community has continued to work together to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.

And, I want to pay tribute to our NHS and care staff, key workers and volunteers and our whole community for their incredible work at a very difficult time.

Despite all the difficulties I hope that we can enjoy Christmas and look forward to a brighter New Year.

T

HIS year has highlighted the value of our key workers, of our volunteers and of our communities’ abilities to pull together.

It has also shown the importance of individual responsibility, for us all to do the right thing, even if that that ‘thing’ meant staying at home.

Tier 4 means this will not be a normal Christmas for any of us – be we stuck at home alone or with just our immediate family around us, without the normal visitors to our homes and not visiting others. Doing the right thing this Christmas will be the antithesis of what

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

Christmas Sir John Redwood, Wokingham MP

T

HIS is the second version of my Christmas message, as there has been such a fundamental change in the government’s approach in the last few days.

The rapid escalation of Wokingham, West Berkshire and much of London and the south east into Tier 3 to be followed almost immediately by a further move to a new Tier 4 means many of us have very few options this Christmas.

I will now work on over the holiday period. My planned little break at a local hotel to enjoy someone else’s cooking for a change and a visit to family has gone.

I will press the government for better compensation for people and businesses stopped from working, and for better ways of managing the NHS and limiting the spread of the infection.

Like many people I put up my tree and decorations early this year, as we all need some colour, light and hope in what has been a worrying year, darkened by the pandemic.

I spend so much more of my days at Christmas means to many people.

Staying at home.

Perhaps the best thing about this Christmas is that it will bring many of us one day closer to receiving the vaccine and all of us one day closer to a more normal life. A life where we can once again meet family, meet old friends, make new friends and laugh and hug and mix without the fear of the awful, invisible illness and death in the air.

In the meantime, as Churchill said, the best thing to do if you are going through hell is to keep going.

Let’s all hang on to the vision of what life will be like towards the summer.

Christmas will be hard.

The rest of the winter may be harder still. But it will get better. The days are already getting longer. Just keep going.

Cllr Keith Baker, Woodley Town Council leader

I

am quite used to writing a Christmas message in my current capacity of Leader of Woodley Town Council and in the past as leader of Wokingham Borough Council.

I normally sit down in front of my laptop and the creative juices flow freely with the festive greeting completed relatively quickly.

This year is fundamentally different.

The world is different. The UK is different. Our local area is different. We are all personally different in one way or another.

So I stopped and tried to define what was different and was there anything, anything at all, that was not different?

The year started with a huge amount of optimism and then in March the dreaded Covid-19 virus hit and turned everyone’s world upside down and inside out.

This virus and its “tentacles” has reached out and touched practically every single resident in one form or another. Workers were put on furlough, worse still many soon found out they no longer had a job as their employees got hit financially.

Greetings

home talking to you all through email, conference calls and my website rather than dropping by in person. I find it is uplifting to remember freer times at Christmas through the decorations and an occasional background of great Christmas music.

It is a pleasant punctuation of a busy working day to add something to the tally of cards or the range of Christmas ornaments. I find it brings me both memories of happy Wokingham Christmases past, and hopes of happy Christmases to come post-covid.

I am also more than ever conscious that there are some who have been isolated too much and are fighting loneliness as they seek to shield themselves from the virus. Where we know of people on their own it will mean the world to them if we pick up the phone, take to the Zoom or find any other safe way to get in touch.

Many extended families have contacted each other more during these long days of lockdown, teaching young and old the joys of smartphones, pads and laptop led video chats.

Grandparents have heard their grandchildren sing over zoom and seen them dance through their smartphone.

Online and hybrid shops will do a good job and roaring trade this Christmas delivering presents around the country, with relatives keen to see reactions when they are opened from their separate homes.

Most have done their bit to control the virus and to keep their friends and families together. Parents have had more time at home with their children where they have been working from home themselves. I think many will find a way to relax and to enjoy some of the features of a normal Christmas within the new legal restraints. We owe it to each other to capture the Christmas spirit in an unusual anti-Covid-19 style bottle.

I wish to say a big thank you to heroes and heroines of the Covid-19 crisis, to all those who did go out to work to help the rest of us. There were those who had to keep the power and the broadband running, to grow and deliver our food, to care for those in hospital and care homes who did have this very contagious disease, to equip and train the nation in the skills needed to live with lockdown and to deliver all the things we needed.

There are countless unsung hard-

working people who have served us well during this constrained year. I hope like me you have sought to use local selfemployed and small business where possible, as many of them have had tough times. Christmas is a good time to say thank you. The words matter a lot.

Cards or presents can embellish where appropriate.

I wish you and yours the best possible Christmas. For a young child this is an especially magic time. Covid19 should not come in the way of a child’s joy, anticipation and excitement about presents, Christmas food and the family atmosphere that surrounds it. So ban all talk of covid and politics from Thursday, wrap up the presents, put on the lights, prepare the feast and let Christmas begin. You will have fewer people in your home to celebrate, so get on the phone or zoom to share experiences with those you wanted to be with you.

We all want our children and grandchildren to have happy memories of Christmas 2020.

Many of us will still enjoy some of the childhood feelings as we spend the day with those we care most about, or find a way to talk to them where they are.

Holidays were cancelled and trips to see love ones banned or severely restricted. The health of many residents took a “broadside” from the virus with many losing their battle for life.

As I continued to think through my question I continually found a tragedy around every corner and started thinking the answer to my original question, is anything not different, moving rapidly to be “no”.

As some of you might know I manage 200 Covid-19 road co-ordinators or volunteers in Woodley who act as a single point of contact. A message from one of them highlighted the delight of a resident that they were there.

Another message told me how the volunteer had picked up a prescription for another resident. Being quite active on Facebook I suddenly started seeing more and more posts from incredibly caring residents of Woodley detailing their acts of extreme generosity.

As more and more stories of selfsacrificing emerged I started to see another side to the story.

As time went by and I read more and more fantastic stories I suddenly realised I had my answer.

The one thing that has definitely not changed during the past year is peoples capacity for caring and self-sacrifice.

Their generosity knows no bounds.

It is something that has always been there and what makes our area a fantastic place to live and work.

I hope that your celebrations over this Christmas period, whatever they may be, are successful and set you up for a New Year with less surprises.

hard to give people hope in the travails of this year.

Part of this is organising a Town Council who will listen to people, working with everyone for the best in Earley. Part of it is through things like The Earley Hub, established by some of the local churches, backed by Earley Town Council, supporting people in Earley, providing, through a varied network of volunteers, someone to talk with, to collect what you need, to value and understand you – if you need help, email earleyhelphub@gmail.com or calll: 07493 784091.

I pray you have an enjoyable, blessed Christmas; however it unfolds for you.

I ask that each of you may know peace and joy, even in this awful pandemic.

Perhaps we can all be a little more open to think of others, your vulnerable neighbour, the old person across the road, the single mum who seems by herself, as well as yourself.

God to know what it's like to live as we have had to live.

We've needed to know that God isn’t distant or remote, but that He has chosen to be right here with us.

This year we've disliked it when people have sought to avoid what the rest of us have had to go through.

Conversely, we've respected those who have stuck around and helped, who have chosen the path of service and put the needs of others above their own, as so many in our Wokingham community have done so brilliantly.

Christmas says that in Jesus we see God choosing that path in the most profound way. We see in this baby a God who doesn't ignore our suffering, but who has experienced it himself, who has faced it and embraced it.

He understands.

That’s why despite the difficulties we have been through and the challenges that remain, there is still reason to celebrate this Christmas.

As churches in Wokingham, we hope and pray you will have a safe and happy one. God is with us. Merry Christmas.

Cllr David Hare, mayor of Earley Town Council

C

HRISTMAS is a time of celebration; despite the pandemic, it is still a time of ‘joy to the world’. Jesus birth is a sign of hope for the world, just as the vaccinations against Covid give us hope against the virus.

In Earley we have been working

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Nick Hudson, Churches Together in Wokingham

T

HIS year we know that Christmas will be very different to normal, with plans changed and opportunities to gather and celebrate necessarily limited.

But there is very good reason to celebrate nonetheless, because the message and meaning of Christmas are so relevant for the circumstances we are in.

One of the titles given to Jesus in the Bible is ‘Immanuel’, which means ‘God with us.’ The Bible says that in the birth of Jesus, God was coming and making his home right here among us, in all the mess, joy and complexity of our human lives.

And right now that message feels so important for us. It means that in Jesus, the God who holds our lives has walked where we walk and stood where we stand. He understands.

This year we've needed God to know how it feels to be human. We've needed

Wokingham Borough Council Independent Cllrs, Richard Dolinski, Jim Frewin & Gary Cowan

2

020 has been a year like no other in most of our lifetimes.

Some of us have lost their jobs, others have been furloughed, many of us have worked from home and became teachers to our children.

Sadly some of us have also lost family and friends to Covid. Without doubt the new normal has been and continues to be a most distressing time for all.

Importantly we need to stay safe, and continue to help our vulnerable family, friends and neighbours, lets us hope that 2021 sees better times ahead for everyone.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a healthy, safe New Year.

tonyjohnson That was the week

That was the year – that was!

I

T would be fair to say that it’s been an unusual year that’s been challenging to write about with all that’s been going on.

Locally, Nationally and Internationally, we’re living in ‘interesting times’ So as a reminder of all the words we’ve learned in the course this past 12 months, here’s a snapshot showing how much things have changed.

The Political Alphabet … of 2020 A’s for Algorithm, which just like the App Never got working and caused a great flap B stood for Brexit, Briefings and Blursday And Bubbles and Boris who’ll see you next Tuesday C was the Covid that’s swept through our land We clapped for the carers, a mighty fine band It was also for Cummings and all of the cronies Chumocracy’s fakers, a crowd of gross phoneys D was for Distancing, much of it Social Depression and Debt and Democracy vocal E was for Eye-test and Exams melancholic Results had a re-call, completely shambolic F stood for Face-mask and Following the science They Flattened the curve but there came noncompliance H was for hand-gel, Hancock-up and Herd Immunity followed? Of course that’s absurd “I” wasn’t alone, in self-Isolation Food got delivered, providing salvation J stood for jobs, furloughed or not Also for Jenrick, his plan’s gone to pot K’s the Key-workers who kept Britain going It’s them we owe thanks to, with praise overflowing L became Lockdown with government Lies To be over by summer, now there’s a surprise M stands for Malcolm who’s Mayor and on Mute With “blooming technology” – he needs to reboot!

N’s the New Normal we’re having to guess It was also the saving of our NHS O was Online, the place we’ve been shopping It’s mucked up the high street, retail’s now flopping P’s the Pandemic and Pubs were all shut There was no PPE, but now there’s a glut Q were the Queues in early lockdown When there weren’t any loo rolls, all over town R’s the R-number, you know how it feels But it’s also for Rashford who’s saved free school meals S was the Shielding that kept vulnerable folk in And that Statue of Colston’s that got a right soakin’ T was the Testing, announced with great gusto Tracing and Travel bans, about which we’ve cussed so U was Unprecedented, never happened before But a century ago Influenza killed more V became Virtual where the world’s far away It’s also the Vaccines we’ll be getting one day W’s for Wuhan and Joe Wicks front room fitness And Working from home, with family as witness X was the Xmas which Boris has shot From hero to zero, he’s just gone to pot Y was the Year with Yawns, Yin and Yang So we’ve all turned to YouTube to go out with a bang And Z was for Zoom with screen-to-screen meetings It only remains to share Christmas Greetings.

The last word …

As a non-expert, I’ve avoided it like the plague, but it can only be …

Coronavirus. caveat.lector@icloud.com

16 | NEWS

rachelbradley Think local

A year of lessons

A

S the year comes to a close, I think most of us now realise that life can throw us curveballs. But perhaps you knew that already. I certainly did.

I’ve had a few things chucked in my path over the years … when I was struck down with sepsis a few years ago.

Yes, that’s up there.

And my gorgeous mother, whom I loved dearly, dying suddenly tops the list when it comes to being blindsided.

One thing I’ve learnt along the way is to never, ever, take anything or anyone for granted. Because everything can change in a moment.

Boy, this year has taught us all that, surely.

When I look back on what I’ve gleaned from the last nine or so months, I see that it’s been totally surprising, at times scary, at other times boring, but above all I’d say it’s been lifechanging.

As I’ve got older, my life – running two businesses, with teenage kids and all their challenges thrown in for good measure – has got busier and busier.

At best I’ve felt accomplished, at worst I’ve felt manic. Now I just feel calm.

Because life has slowed to a pace that I finally feel happy with. Yes, I could do with a few nights out with my friends, I’m sure we all could.

I know those times will come again.

Concern Money has been a big concern because it’s certainly not been the best year to work in events.

And with most of my family up north I’ve not been able to see loved ones with the annual Christmas shindig cancelled.

But 2020 has taught me about what’s truly important to me.

I’m delighting in the ordinary.

Seeing friendly faces in our lovely time has been a joy.

A walk around Dinton Pastures with my teenagers has been an unexpected treat.

I’ve found value in focusing on the simple things, taking pleasure of things I may otherwise have been too busy to notice.

I’ll be heading into the New Year with a stronger sense of gratitude and because life as been slower, I feel motivated to achieve all the things I’ve had time to mull over this year.

But I’ll also be heading into January with caution and for years I’ve craved a slower pace of life, I just need to make sure it stays that way.

Rachel is founder Gossip Girl Gang, a networking group for women in business in and around the borough

Covid carols CAROL singing hasn’t really happened this year, but there’s always a resourceful few who make the best of a bad thing.

Some wags have taken popular festive tunes and adapted them for these austere times.

Maybe over your Zoom Christmas dinner, you could see if friends and families can come up with others?

Alternatively, you could see if you can create a whole carol based on the title – bonus points for singing them.

Here’s our list of Covid Carols to see out Christmas 2020: � Away with Dom Cummings � Deck the Halls with Hoarded Toilet Roll � O Little Town in Quarantine � God Rest Ye Merry Mask-Ed Men � Hark the Herald Angels Vigorously Hum � Here We Come a Social Distancing � I Saw Three Towns in Tier 4.

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You’ve got to laugh CORNY Christmas cracker jokes – they’re an integral part of the big day’s dinner.

And greetings card company thortful.com believes it has found the nation’s worst cracker puns of the year.

Last month, it launched a vote to find out which jokes really tickle one’s fancy, and which are cheesier than a festive cheese board.

Now, it has announced the top 10 worst Christmas cracker jokes, as voted for by the nation.

Some which didn’t make the cut include “What do they sing in the desert? O Camel Ye Faithful” and “How does Santa keep track of all the fireplaces he’s visited? He keeps a logbook”.

But one joke reigned above the rest as the ultimate corny Christmas pun: “What do you get if you lie under a cow? A pat on the head”.

What about the remaining nine?

Queue the cringe: Why is Parliament like ancient Bethlehem? It takes a miracle to find three wise men there.

Why did nobody bid for Rudolph and Blitzen on eBay? They were two deer.

What did the stamp say to the envelope? Stick with me and we’ll go places.

Why are Christmas trees so bad at knitting? Because they always drop their needles.

What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations? Tonsillitis.

What did Adam say the day before Christmas? It’s Christmas, Eve. What did the snowflake say to the fallen leaf? You are so last season.

What athlete is the warmest in winter? A long jumper.

What is the best Christmas present? A broken drum, you can’t beat it.

The Repair Shop

Zoom

Mrs. Claus had kept a secret – For a month or two, but now It was time for a confession, But when? Or where? Or how?

She flicked through TV channels – Saw an Elf-Team take a bow.

A virtual Christmas is looming The virus can’t ruin our day...

We’ve all cracked the code – so we’re Zooming!

And we’re dressed in our best.

Hip-hooray.

A pair of merry Penguins – Were mopping grateful eyes..

“You’ve made our Snowman smile again,” They sniffed. “His hopes will rise...

Those feet and twiggy fingers mean – He’ll dance across the skies.”

But: Gran has got stuck in a corner, And Grandad is stopping on Mute – And we all look incredibly ancient...

What happened?

We used to be cute.

Then off they skipped and skidded – With a jolly Christmas wave, While Santa’s wife switched off the screen: “Those Elves, I think, could save My sanity. My peace of mind – But first I must be brave.”

At once, she told the truth about – Old Santa’s scruffy Bear.

She’d popped it in the washing BUT It shrunk ... and lost its hair, As well as ears and buttons – Though it gained one-eyed stare.

Of course, she’d tried to hide it...

“I loaned it to a friend, Whose child was feeling needy.”

But it drove her round the bend.

The time for LIES was over – She must find a Happy End. The Elves a ‘The Repair Shop – Were delighted to be asked – The Lady Elves went stitching, While their husbands, safely masked, Were forming glassy eyeballs and a GROWL! The spell was cast...

So Mrs Claus took Santa to – The Shed of Dreams-Come-True.

He gazed in wonder at his Bear So fluffy! So brand new!

He hugged his wife and blew his nose – As tissues flapped and flew, While EVERYONE cried: ‘Hip-Hooray!”

(The Bear looked cheerful too.)

� Visit www.thortful.com/christmascracker-jokes to see more.

Dad, in his Santa Claus jumper, Has hung decorations with care; While Mum’s found some old Christmas photos – The magic we all loved to share.

Then Aunty admits she’s been cheating – Her top half is terribly smart, But under the table – she’s wearing Odd socks that are falling apart.

Our Cousins will grumble for ages, There’s the lockdown, the ruined career...

But the Children will plunder a Joke Book To brighten this long, lonely year.

Now: Our 45 minutes are over, Our farewells have come from the heart, And we wish we could hug one another – As the screen Softly tears us apart.

Yet somehow, we seem to be smiling...

Our memories keep us so warm, We’ll grab a great handful of courage And together We’ll face every storm.

Claire Bevan

We love receiving reader’s poetry. Email your submissions to letters@ wokinghampaper.co.uk

WOKINGHAM.TODAY Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Pet rescue: How a new talent du

By CHARLOTTE KING cking@wokingham.today A LOCAL man’s lockdown art adventure has turned into an entirely new career – and he’s hoping for some Royal customers.

Rob Ballentine, a former Crowthorne resident, was distraught when the coronavirus pandemic left him jobless earlier this year.

Then, when a friend’s dog passed away, he decided to use his spare time to draw a fine art portrait of the late pet - and it prompted him to open his own independent business.

“I drew a picture of my friend’s dog, sent it over to him and he says it really helped him through his grieving,” Mr Ballentine explained.

“He then posted it on social media and within a minute, everybody was asking me for one.

“I asked my wife what to and she jokingly says ‘charge them!’ so that’s what I did.”

The local artist took the plunge and decided to set up his own pet portrait business, running it from his home in Yateley.

And since starting the business in May of this year, he’s received commissions from around the world and has even sent a portrait to the Royal family.

In November, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge lost their nineyear-old cocker spaniel Lupo, and the Yately artist wanted to give them something to remember him by.

“I read an article which says how much Lupo meant to their family and it really touched me,” Mr Ballentine explained.

“I thought if I could draw him in an outstanding way and send it to them

Rob Ballentine’s pet potraits have been so su

as a gift, it might help them, you know.”

While Mr Ballentine doesn’t know if the Duke and Duchess have seen the portrait yet, after Kensington Palace put in a holding house for coronavirus, but he says it’s vitally important to honour our pets in this way.

“I don’t draw a picture because I like to draw, but because I want a memory,” the artist explained.

“We are a nation of pet lovers and

Why ‘the Queen’ help

By NIK IMRIE news@wokingham.today BIG-hearted singers have recruited ‘The Queen’ to help spread Christmas cheer to local care homes – and also help vulnerable people in Kenya.

Sophie Vyse of Hurst met Neil Passingham 15 years ago in Reading while working at IT consulting company Sopra Steria.

The pair discovered a mutual love of singing through a workplace carol event and have been firm friends since.

Earlier this year, they had the idea to bring singers together from around Berkshire and Oxfordshire to produce a one-off recording of a socially distanced concert featuring Christmas carols and poems.

The performance was in Wallingford where Neil lives.

Sophie encouraged some creative spirit and came up with a regal touch for the concert. In suitably royal tones, she’s recorded a “message” from the Queen urging watchers to singalong.

She also asks people to donate to Abingdon-based charity The Nasio Trust, which works in Kenya.

Business coach Sophie says:

Carol singers and Nasio charity supporters S

“It’s wonderful to do something positive this year.

“We were inspired to support people in care homes to help them feel united and connected.

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

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Spreading festive cheer

angelagarwood Honest motherhood

The palaver of gift-giving

B

uccessful that he’s taking requests from animal lovers

they are our family. We treat them with the same respect and honour that we do for our kids.

“A drawing is different to a photograph, he added, “because it takes time and it takes skill. It’s very personal and intimate.”

While Mr Ballentine launched his art business because of the coronavirus, he says he doesn’t plan to turn his back on it postpandemic.

“I’m absolutely loving it,” he says.

“It’s wonderful to help people be happy through my work, and Covid has made people really hunker down and realise what matters to them the most, including their pets.

“To do something in this life that is so meaningful to yourself and to other people is just wonderful.” � To find out more about Rob Ballentine’s pet portraits, visit: www.robballentine.com

ped lead the singalong Moses, (visit) the tree under which he was abandoned as a baby.”

One of the singers, Gill Leishman, who lives in Wokingham, says: “Everyone worked together to make the concert a 2020 success story.

“We’re aiming to reach more 10,000 views on YouTube and hope people will enjoy the show, share the link and make a donation."

The Nasio Trust empowers communities in western Kenya to break the cycle of poverty by providing education, improving health and developing commerce through their sustainable income generating projects. Nasio offers ‘alternative Christmas gifts’ via: thenasiotrust.org/gifts.

This year Nasio are providing lifesaving Christmas boxes to families in Kenya which include a wind-up radio (for essential Covid-19 updates), a food parcel and a new dress or shirt for a child.

Sophie Vyse (centre), who supplied the voice

“We know that The Nasio Trust’s support for vulnerable Kenyan communities is phenomenal.

“I was moved to tears when I watched the clip of one young man,

� The concert can be watched for free by visiting youtube.com/NasioTrust. Care homes are being sent the link so residents can watch. � To donate, log on to virginmoneygiving.com/fund/ nasiocarols.

IN A BID to spread some Christmas cheer, Nine Mile Ride Primary sent out a special festive greeting to its pupils and families this year.

Following a tough term, school staff banded together for a special performance of Mariah Carey All I Want for Christmas is You. Ali Brown, the Finchampstead school’s headteacher, says: “We normally put together a little performance for the children and this year more than ever, it was important for us to get imaginative and find creative ways of bringing our school community together, despite the current circumstances.”

Ms Brown says that her pupils have been “smiling and ready to learn” every single day despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

And she wanted to send a big thank you to parents and carers

�

WITH Berkshire in Tier 4, this survey seems plausible … although we suspect many of us will still be mashing the sprouts and boiling the turkey (is that right? – editor).

According to research from food deliver app Foodhub, almost half of the UK plans to order a takeaway meal on Christmas Day. It says that one in four Brits have said they are bored of the same traditional Christmas dinner on Christmas Day – clearly they’re on Santa’s naughty list for thinking such a thing.

And it adds that almost half (49%) of the 2,000 Brits polled plan to order a takeaway on Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve is Magical!

Christmas Eve is Magical! The best night of the year – Happy anticipation, Christmas Day will soon be here!

This Christmas will be different, quiet, rather small But if we make an effort, a good time for one and all Fragrant pine trees glisten, draped with twinkling lights Hustle, bustle, busy – much to do this Christmas night!

Icing swirled on fruit cake, churches ring out bells, Santa is a-coming, house is festive, clean – looks well Mirrors festooned with garlands, children’s stockings hung Delicious treats prepared, favourite songs are heard and sung Sparkling lights in windows, candles flickering on shelves Laughter as we wonder, “Now … where did Dad hide that Elf?”

who have supported students and the school since September.

“This term, we have found ourselves in such unprecedented times and there have been many changes to our normal routines,” she explains.

“However, I feel privileged to be part of a school community where children, staff and parents have worked together in order to keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible.

“I know that the festive period will be different for everyone this year, however I am sure that we are all looking forward to recharging our batteries and we look forward to welcoming the children back next term.”

To watch Nine Mile Ride Primary’s festive performance log on to: https://youtu.be/ r0nnFYQ-7GA Four in 10 claim this will save preparation time and 35% say it will save time on the washing up.

Top of the deliveries would be an Indian takeaway (42%) followed by Chinese (39%) and then pizza (28%).

It should come as no surprise that Foodhub has decided to spread some festive cheer by producing a limited edition festive-flavoured musical pizzabox that plays a Christmas jingle when opened.

Anyone who orders a pizza from the company over the Christmas period stands a chance of having their pizza delivered in one of these special boxes.

Well, it beats those sprouts.

Expectation and excitement, time for fun and to be merry Pour a special glass for Santa, maybe whisky, rum or sherry?

Mince pies from the oven with a glass of spiced mulled wine Christmas films on rewind, stay-athome, cosy time Cards with warmest wishes, ranged prettily on shelves Remind us we are cared for, loved for being just ourselves We’ll be pleased this year is over, so glad it’s out the way But let’s not forsake this Christmas, it’s a Celebration day!

We’ll eat well, enjoy a drink, time will pause a little while We’ll think of all our loved ones, some with tears, some with a smile For each time has an ending and New Year brings us hope We’ll go forward with resilience, knowing we have the strength to cope.

By Tina Cathleen MacNaughton

Y the time this column comes out I will have all of my Christmas affairs in order and feel both relieved yet exhausted at the palaver that is gift-giving. At the time of writing, like every other mother, I have a to-do list the length of my baby’s arm.

Chocolates for teachers; done, presents for partner’s closest friends’ babies; ordered, presents still to collect from a handful of different stores because I am trying to be good and not order so much on Amazon this year; countless.

I felt very self-righteous, standing in line in WHSmith, ready to collect the books I’d ordered for Dad. It was far faffier than Amazon, but it felt good and right, therefore it was worth it. Moral high ground; tick.

Like many, with gift-giving, it’s my partner I struggle with the most. It’s the fear of being out-done, and the guilt and frustration when I inevitably am.

We haven’t been together for very long, but in the Christmases and birthdays we have celebrated so far, we have both gone to ridiculous effort.

It has been like a tennis match of who can shower the other person with more personalised and well thought-through love and affection. Paintings, customised artwork, mix-CDs, birthday surprises involving nearly all my closest friends and family.

(I was never going to beat that one).

This was lovely at first, but the more I acknowledged my ever-growing to-do list, the more I realised something had to give.

“I CAN’T KEEP UP, IT’S TOO MUCH,” I declared one evening.

“I agree,” he said, with a glimmer in his eye.

“No, I am serious, we can’t keep doing this. I do not have time to paint anything for you this year. Nor do you have time to make me a Mix CD? “We buy one big and one small present, write loving cards, and have a magical Christmas, that is all.

“No surprises and no sneaky stocking full of extra presents hidden away like last year.”

Watercolours Recent conversations suggest that he will not be playing ball. I am on the fence as to whether to stick to my word (in which case the man gets his overpriced jeans and a toolkit) or get my watercolours out.

With the weirdness of 2020, despite the fact it rolls around every year and I knew to expect it, Christmas has seemed to spring out of nowhere. It seems strange that with all the uncertainties and horrors of Covid, we still get to celebrate something as joyful and lovely as Christmas.

I suppose that’s what it’s all about; despite the dark clouds, finding joy where there is joy to be found, within reason and safely of course.

I will always look back on 2020 as the year my son was born. A truly awful year, met with one of the most amazing things that can ever happen to a person.

I was incredibly lucky with the timing of Leo’s arrival.

Joel was allowed into both scans and lockdown was lifted in time for us to have just the right amount of visitors after the birth.

August was by far our favourite month of the year.

The four of us spent a large proportion of it sat in our living room, wearing very little clothing, the fan on full blast, watching Netflix as I nursed Leo. We’d get up only to grab more food, use the toilet, change his nappy or answer the door.

It was the best.

It goes without saying the last 12 months have made us all more grateful for what used to be the little things.

A family visit indoors, a meal out with a group of seven people from seven different households, a supermarket visit where everyone can see everyone else’s entire faces. It’s sad that it took a global pandemic for us all to remember what really matters and that nothing should be taken for granted. But we’re only human.

I look forward to next year with several large doses of hope, faith, and my usual sprinkling of naïve lofty enthusiasm. Here’s to a happier, healthier 2021.

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Wednesday, December 23, 2020

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Town centre footfall hit by Covid-19 THE NUMBER of people popping to the shops in the greater Reading area has halved since the coronavirus pandemic began.

This is according to the Centre for Cities, which says that footfall in high streets and town centres in the greater Reading area sits 51% at pre-pandemic levels – this includes Wokingham.

This puts the area above the national average of 43%, but reflects the impact Covid-19 has had on UK high streets and businesses.

“As Reading emerged from the lockdown into Tier 2, workers have continued to stay away,” said

Valentine Quinio, researcher at Centre for Cities.

“But, as vaccines roll out and the pandemic hopefully gets under control, the big question for all towns and cities in 2021 will be how much has people’s behaviour changed permanently, and what does that mean for our high streets?”

Now that Berkshire has fallen under Tier 3 restrictions, the footfall in town centres across the county is now expected to drop once more.

To find out more about footfall in high streets across the UK, visit: www.centreforcities.org/data/highstreets-recovery-tracker

Corporate insolvency rate halves CORPORATE insolvencies are nearly 50% lower than this time last year, but a local trade body says do not be fooled by the statistics.

According to the Government’s report for November, personal insolvencies in England and Wales fell to 9,319, dropping by 22% when compared to November last year.

And corporate insolvencies have fallen from more than 1,500 to 889, decreasing by 41%.

But Garry Lee, chairman of R3 in the Southern and Thames Valley region, says the latest statistics fail to reflect the state of the economy.

“Businesses and individuals across Berkshire have been affected

by Covid-19 and the only reason this hasn’t shown up in the insolvency statistics yet is because

of the extensive support the government has provided,” he said.

And he warns that without that support, which includes the furlough scheme and the temporary ban on corporate evictions, the picture would be much more grave.

“The economy is still nearly 8% smaller than it was in February,” he added.

“Unemployment has increased and a number of big brands have entered insolvency processes.”

Now, Mr Lee is calling on businesses to access help as soon as possible if they need it.

“The earlier they seek advice, the more options they have to resolve their situation and the more time they have to make a considered decision about how they move forward,” he said.

Call for better work-life balance NEARLY HALF of people in the South East would change their careers for a better work-life balance.

And a third of employees have considered moving to a brand new sector this year, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

This is according to REED, who surveyed 2,000 workers in the region about potential career moves over the past year.

The company found that poor work-life balance and feeling undervalued are driving people to head in new career directions across the South East, despite fears of mass unemployment when the

furlough scheme comes to an end next year.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the UK economy, and the health and wellbeing of employees nationwide,” said Amanda Hall, regional managing director of REED. But she says that there are signs the economy is beginning to recover, and the wellbeing of workers should hopefully begin to rise.

“It will take time for a sense of normality to be resumed across society and for economic confidence to be restored while the virus is combated,” Ms Hall added.

Estate agency celebrates a record-breaking year

By CHARLOTTE KING cking@wokingham.today DESPITE the obstacles 2020 has thrown at businesses, one leading estate agency has had a record-breaking year.

Leaders Romans Group (LRG), which has its headquarters in Crowthorne, made a record number of branch acquisitions over the last 12 months.

The property service

group says it has spread its wings, adding a number of new locations, team members and properties to its portfolio.

“To have achieved such success, this year especially, is a testament to the skill and endeavour of the LRG team,” said Matther Light, director of group mergers and acquisitions at LRG. “Adding hundreds more experienced and talented

Please hold the line ...

NEW YEAR, new opportunities – that’s the approach taken by one broadband company.

Openreach is heading into 2021 with 341 new job opportunities up its sleeve - and 27 of them will be in Berkshire.

Next year, the company is expanding with more than 5,300 jobs across the entire UK. Laura Whelan, Openreach regional director, said: “Our Full Fibre network is going faster than ever and we’re looking for people across the South East to build a career with Openreach and help us upgrade broadband connections throughout the region.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak added: “Throughout this crisis, I’ve been clear that our number one economic priority is to protect jobs so I’m delighted to welcome this announcement of 5,000 new skilled roles.”

National recognition for Optalis A LOCAL social care provider has been recognised for its work on a national level.

Optalis, which is based in Wokingham, has been featured in the National Care Forum’s ‘Caring in Covid’ project twice.

The project aims to highlight how

staff to the business is of huge benefit, as all of them boast local experience of where they operate.

“This, combined with the expansion into new locations, feeds into LRG’s ethos of providing tenants and landlords with a service steeped in local knowledge.”

Over the last year, LRG says it has welcomed nearly 200 members of staff, taken

on more than 6,000 tenancies, and added 20 new branches. It says it has also reached new ground, expanding into East and North London, as well as South Wales.

It has done so through four mergers and acquisitions: Moginie James, Scott Fraser, Outlook Property, and Lenwell. � For more information visit: www.lrg.co.uk

Dexter joins LEP

THERE’S a new kid on the block at Thames Valley Berkshire.

Dexter Levick is the latest addition to the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) team, hopping on board as the company’s Economic and Labour Market Analyst.

In his new role, Mr Levick will be researching the local market and what skills it needs to grow and thrive.

And his work will help the LEP direct its resources towards where they are needed the most.

After graduating from the University of Southampton last year, Mr Levick says he is “excited to join the LEP during the unprecedented situation the Berkshire economy finds itself in.”

Tim Page, head of economic strategy and research, added: “Dexter’s analytical and statistical skills will help to provide the evidence base needed as the LEP develops its ambitious plans for the post-Covid Berkshire economy.

“He further strengthens our team as we seek to meet the challenges ahead, offering full support to the businesses and workforce of Berkshire in the coming months and years.” social care providers responded and adapted to the coronavirus pandemic.

And Optalis, which works across Berkshire, is recognised multiple times for its work over the last year.

“It is fantastic that Optalis has been included in the Caring for Covid project,” said David Birch, company CEO. “We have been working very hard during the pandemic to support our staff and our community in the very best way we can.”

The first feature shares insights from those supported by Optalis

where they talk about the impact of lockdown.

And the second feature highlights how Optalis provided resources for staff whilst keeping customers safe during the pandemic.

Vic Rayner, executive director of the National Care Forum, wanted to project to allow people to “peek behind the closed doors” and experience what life was like for care staff on the front line.

“This is more than just a nod to social history,” she said. “It demonstrates how people’s lives are enriched by those working in the care sector.”

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

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20 | NEWS

Hospice receives £100,000 donation AS THE coronavirus continues to slash charity funding, one hospice’s prayers have been answered with a £100,000 donation.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Thames Hospice has assisted the NHS through recruiting extra staff and supporting coronavirus patients with end-of-life care.

And as charity shops closed and face-to-face funding stopped, it launched an emergency appeal to continue its Covid-19 support.

Now, the Wolfson Foundation, which awards grants to groups working in science and medicine, has awarded Thames Hospice £100,000 from its Covid-19 Support Fund.

Debbie Raven, chief executive of Thames Hospice, said: “It has been a year like no other and, while Thames Hospice has been able to support our community through the pandemic, we have been hit hard just like every other charity.

“Thanks to the support of the Wolfson Foundation, they have provided a life line and we are incredibly grateful for their quick and generous support to the hospice.”

Paul Ramsbottom, Wolfson Foundation chief executive, added: “We are delighted to provide this funding to Thames Hospice as one of the 80 organisations across the UK backed by our Covid-19 Support Fund.

“This pandemic is a time of significant challenge and uncertainty for charities, and we hope our flexible funding shows solidarity as well as support for such a vital organisation.”

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Shinfield anti-bullying campaigner nominated for community award EXCLUSIVE

By CHARLOTTE KING cking@wokingham.today A SHINFIELD hero has been recognised for his work to put a stop to bullying.

Manu Dhaumya was recently nominated for the Pride of Reading Community Champion Award for his role in local anti-bullying campaign United Against Bullies.

Six years ago, Manu Dhaumya and his wife Deepa launched the campaign to help children in Wokingham borough who are dealing with intimidation at school.

“My wife and I wanted to eradicate the epidemic of bullying,” he explained.

“It all started when my son, Arnez, was in primary school and he and his two friends saved a younger pupil who was being bullied.

“When he told us the story, I thought we should do something as there is a lot of bullying happening out there.”

The Dhaumyas’ United Against Bullies campaign highlights what bullying is to help people understand how to spot the signs.

And Mr Dhaumya also works with teachers and parents to help them support students who are suffering.

Now, he is thrilled to have been nominated as a Community Champion for his anti-bullying work.

“Being nominated for the Pride of Reading Award is so amazing,” he said.

“It gives me and my wife both an opportunity to highlight our work on a bigger platform and through this exposure, we can reach more people who need our help.”

Mr Dhaumya has also been nominated for supporting the community throughout the pandemic by visiting hospitals, providing food and supplies to front line workers.

“My dad used to tell me there’s no better feeling than giving, so I’m just

Manu Dhaumya and his wife Deepa launched United Against Bullies six years ago

following that rule in life,” Mr Dhaumya added.

“Me and my wife do a lot of charity work and it's the best feeling when you see someone happy because of our deeds.”

The Pride of Reading Awards seek to honour residents who have gone

Don’t forget our New Year issue goes on sale on Wednesday next week

� To find out more about the awards, visit: www.porawards.co.uk

Elves jump around for charity event

Berkshire residents join life-saving research MORE THAN 2,500 people in Berkshire have taken part in Covid-19 research studies this year.

The 12 Urgent Public Health Studies took place in hospitals, GP practices and non-NHS settings such as care homes.

Supported by the National Institute for Health Research, the studies aim to help researchers prevent, diagnose and treat coronavirus.

Leslie Mokogwu, research and development manager at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Covid-19 research is essential to find effective treatments for our patients.

“Research plays an important role in providing hope for the world because everyone has been touched in some way by Covid-19.

“At the Royal Berkshire Hospital, we are proud to be working collaboratively with colleagues locally, nationally and internationally to offer opportunities for patients to take part in research, as well as leading the way in undertaking high-quality research studies.”

Prof Belinda Lennox, clinical director for the NIHR Clinical Research Network Thames Valley and South Midlands, which has enabled delivery of the studies, said: “People in our region have made a huge contribution to the success of Covid-19 research studies.

“From volunteering to taking part in the pioneering vaccine studies through to trialling new treatments for the disorder when critically ill with Covid-19. The research that we have helped deliver is already saving lives across the world and has delivered safe and effective vaccines in record time. This is only possible because of all the people who gave their time to take part.”

above and beyond in their support for the community every year.

The annual awards ceremony is due to take place in February 2021, but this could be subject to change as a result of the pandemic.

STAFF AT a Berkshire care agency enjoyed a festive fundraiser earlier this month.

County Carers raised more than £1,300 while competing in a range of fitness activities.

Inspired by Joe Wicks’ 24 Hour PE Challenge, staff and residents stayed active for twelve hours — while dressed as elves.

Elf Day was live streamed via the County Carers' Facebook page with carers and clients invited to join in the fun by taking part over Zoom.

Activities included treadmill and exercise bike sessions, rope skipping, boxing workouts and high intensity interval training — all fuelled by healthy snacks from the Joe Wicks cookbook series.

Eloise Wakeford, founder and managing director of County Carers, said this year has been particularly difficult for care home residents with dementia.

“We’re happy to give a little extra help to people living with dementia and their support networks,” she said. “Our Elf Day was a fantastic way to achieve this while lifting spirits and promoting a sense of togetherness.”

KEEP MOVING: Staff at County Carers raised £1,300 in a 24 hour fitness challenge — all while dressed as Christmas elves

Connecting the community LOCKDOWN has had us all feeling lonely from time to time, but Wokingham Borough Council hopes it can help.

In a bid to reduce loneliness and isolation, it has joined forces with local charities to help residents get online.

Through the Wokingham Borough Community response initiative, it is donating IT equipment to vulnerable residents so they can stay connected

throughout the pandemic.

And it is asking members of the public, businesses and charities to consider donating any secondhand IT equipment that is no more than five-years-old.

Earlier this year, the council’s Covid-19 Residents Impact Survey found that 7% of respondents struggled with IT, internet, or using digital technology during the first wave of the pandemic.

Now, it hopes it can improve digital engagement across the borough.

“Having to self-isolate or stay at

home during the national lockdowns has been particularly hard for some of our most vulnerable residents,” said Cllr Charles Margetts, executive member for adult social care and public health.

“At the same time, we understand that there are children within our communities who do not have access to the IT equipment they need to aid their personal development.

He hopes that the new programme will improve residents’ access to the internet and curb any

� For more information, visit: www.countycarers.com

feelings of loneliness and isolation.

All devices must be restored to factory settings before being donated, and must be fully sanitised.

Wokingham Borough Council is collecting computers, tablets and keyboards, which can be donated from Monday, December 14 at Wokingham, Woodley and Lower Earley Libraries.

If residents know somebody who may benefit from the scheme, contact One Front Door, Link Visiting Scheme, Age UK Berkshire or First Days Children’s Charity

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

SOCIETY | 21

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INTHECOMMUNITY

News from your community groups, clubs and societies Send your reports to news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Delivering a festive surprise SANTA’S little helpers toured the streets of Crowthorne, Bracknell, Sandhurst and Finchampstead last week to bring some Christmas cheer, surprises and delight to the senior citizens who, under different circumstances, would be enjoying Christmas at the COATS Centre.

Carl Paulo, homeowner at Birch Place, wore a festive tie

Jumpers helps charity IT WASN’T jumpers for goalposts, but jumpers for Christmas for residents of a retirement complex in Crowthorne.

Earlier this month, Birch Place held a special event to allow people the chance to showcase their festive knits to spread some joy and also raise money for Save The Children.

Homeowners at the McCarthy and Stone development on Duke’s Ride also took part in a special Christmas raffle, with prizes such as a Christmas hamper, wine and chocolates.

Thanks to generous donations, the team raised £210 for the charity.

Nicki Beswarick, divisional marketing manager for McCarthy and Stone Southern, said: “It was great to see so many homeowners looking festive and purchasing raffle tickets to help raise money for such an important cause.

“This year has been full of unprecedented challenges, so we’re really proud of the homeowners for their sheer determination and rallying together for charity even in these difficult times.”

The Crowthorne-based centre for the elderly has been closed to visitors since March and is not due to open again until April next year at the earliest.

To make up for this the staff dressed up in their best festive clothes and, using the COATS minibus as Santa’s sleigh, delivered around 100 Christmas gift bags to surprised seniors. The 100 fabric bags had been made by a COATS volunteer and were filled to bulging with Christmas cake and mince pies made by the COATS cooks along with miniature pots of homemade jam, marmalade and Scottish tablet sweets made by yet more volunteers.

Each visitor received a personalised Christmas card from the children of Wildmoor Heath, Our Lady’s Prep or Eagle House schools.

The pupils, parents and staff of Eagle House School also donated gifts to go into the bags.

The Co-op on Crowthorne’s High Street donated tea and coffee sachets so the seniors could enjoy a cuppa with their cakes and mince pies.

To evoke the memories of childhood, when they would have been a staple of many Christmas stockings, the Co-op also donated 100 satsumas.

The final item in the bags was a party blower with each senior instructed to stand on their doorsteps on Christmas morning at 10am blowing them to create a Christmas chorus.

The COATS Trustees, staff and Visitors would like to

thank everyone who contributed to making Christmas a little bit more special: Maureen Wilson, Sheila Moss, JM, Susan Martin, Tanya Hall, Stefan and Shirley Ramsdale, Colleen Kenny, and John Wise.

For more details, visit the COATS website at www.coatscrowthorne.org.uk or search Facebook: COATScrowthorne and COATScharityshop DAVID WILSON

Share a plate on Christmas Day

Puzzle packs created by Salvation Army ready to be delivered

Puzzle packs for group PUZZLED minds have been kept busy thanks to an initiative from Wokingham’s Salvation Army.

In pre-Covid times, it had a weekly board games group, but it has been on hold while the pandemic continues.

To ensure that people have had things to do, the Corps have been providing monthly activity packs.

Captain Jan Howlin and group

leader Liz devised the collection of puzzles and quizzes.

The bags also include a recipe, a craft activity, a poem and a thought, plus a few treats.

“It's not much but has kept the group connected and has given the opportunity for a quick doorstep chat as most members live on their own,” said Capt Howlin.

Tech firm’s festive boost to The Link

The Link Visiting Scheme, based on Wescott Road, and another to Westborough Food Pantry, a US food bank based in Massachusetts.

Richard Adams, chief executive of PRISYM ID, says he hopes the cash will help the charities reach more vulnerable people this winter.

“We felt this was a more meaningful and appropriate way of using this money at the end of an extremely difficult year,” he said.

“The Link Visiting Scheme provides a wonderful service for our community and we wanted to make our own contribution to support its brilliant work, which is particularly important over the festive period.”

A LOCAL tech firm has been helping the vulnerable on both sides of the Atlantic.

PRISYM ID, a Wokingham-based pharmaceutical labelling company, donated to two local charities supporting people during the festive period.

Instead of spending money on corporate cards, it made two donations this Christmas – one to

WOKINGHAM residents won’t go without a festive meal on Friday, thanks to the Christmas Dinner Club.

Launched by Montague Park resident, Tasha Moore, on Monday, the group already has more than 100 willing cooks.

The plan, Ms Moore said, is for each volunteer to cook an extra meal or two, and deliver them to someone who might have gone without.

The club is coordinating drop-off locations, and identifying anyone that might be lonely, vulnerable or selfisolating with help from nearby schools, care homes, The Link Visiting Scheme and Citizens Advice.

“I set it up wanting to help some of the elderly people in Montague Park,” Ms Moore said.

With her usual Christmas for 15 cancelled and reduced to just five, Ms Moore said she is comfortable cooking in bulk.

“The plan is for each volunteer to be given a house to deliver to on Christmas Day,” she added.

“It will all be socially distanced, leaving it on the doorstop.

“It’s about giving someone a little smile, and letting them know it’s going to be okay — nobody should go without.”

Ms Moore hopes that following the

big day, volunteers will take responsibility for supporting residents on a street near to them.

Other schemes across the borough are also delivering meals or food parcels over Christmas, including Share Wokingham, Wokingham Foodbank, Citizens Advice and The Link Visiting Scheme.

To find out more about the Christmas Dinner Club, visit: www.facebook.com/ groups/685300039025909 To access support this Christmas, call Citizens Advice on 0300 330 1189 and volunteers will offer help and signpost to other useful organisations.

22 | LEISURE

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

SCHOOLS | 23

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FROMTHECLASSROOMS

We welcome contributions from pupils for this page– email stories, pictures and prose to news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Jumper day with goats

By JACK (year 4) Evendons Primary School

CHRISTMAS jumper day had a twist this year when the farm animals came into Evendons Primary school grounds.

Pupils from Alder Grove took part in the new school’s first nativity play just before Christmas holidays Pictures: Steve Smyth/WP20122301

The show must go on – for the very first time COVID-19 has scuppered many traditional festive activities, but the borough’s newest school still managed to stage a nativity.

Shinfield-based Alder Grove CofE Primary School’s foundation stage performed its first Nativity play, after opening in September.

In the play, Maurice the mule’s quest for a peaceful night’s sleep, is disrupted by a hen, mice, a bird and a spider. After chasing them away, there is another kerfuffle: there’s a baby in his manger, who makes the grumpy mule happy.

And judging by our pictures, the children enjoyed themselves too.

Farms2ewe brought amazing animals to spread Christmas cheer to all the children in Evendons school.

There were magnificent miniature goats, super sheep in santa hats, a terrific turkey, magnificent baby mice, gorgeous guinea pigs, a darling donkey and a perfect pony all wearing Christmas jumpers. (Well, not the mice.)

The classes each got a turn to see the animals from the reception class to year six. The classes each had to have a talk with one of the staff from Farms2ewe who were dressed as elves. They explained not to chase the animals and not to run just in case you scare the animals.

Children were allowed to touch the animals as long as they wash

their hands afterwards. (However you didn’t want to touch the turkey because of its unattractive, extendable, brain looking nose.)

One of the year six classes was isolating at their homes and so the other year six class gave them a virtual tour so they didn’t miss out.

This really cheered them up as they almost felt as if they were back in school.

The goats were very attractive because of how cute they were in Christmas jumpers. Evendons staff were overheard talking about the possibility of getting goats for the school, we are not sure if this true.

The whole day made everyone feel incredibly happy and excited and ready for Christmas.

The children wore their jumpers the following day and raised hundreds of pounds for Save the Children charity.

They are allowed to wear the Christmas jumpers the whole last week of term as a special treat.

Teen bounces back from illness to chase her dream

By JOHN WAKEFIELD news@wokingham.today A STUDENT attending a local colleges said that a life-threatening illness hasn’t stopped her from achieving her life's ambition

Chloe Swain originally started studying for an Art and Design Level 3 Extended Diploma at the Church college two years ago, but had to take some time off to undergo treatment for Neutropenic Sepsis.

“It is a type of sepsis that destroys your neutrophils which is your second type of white blood cell,” the 19-year-old said.

“You have two white blood cells, one for viruses and one for bacteria. The ones for bacteria are called neutrophils.

Neutropenic Sepsis is where you’ve got less than a healthy person should.

“I had quite a bit of treatment including chemotherapy and a blood infection which was treated but can reoccur if your immune system is weak.

It can attack your red and white blood cells and I had chemo to try and get rid of it as much as possible.

“I was monitored when I came out of hospital to make sure that I was getting healthier. I was anaemic, I got put on

tablets and I was on iron supplements, I am still on them at the moment as I’m not 100%, but I am getting there.”

She says she is now able to return to college to finish her second year and is progressing well on her course.

“After what I’ve been through, I now know nothing is impossible,” Chloe said.

“Personally, I’ve changed quite a lot over the past year. Last year I was very depressed, anxious and closed off and then, after going through what I did, I opened up a lot more. I am more energetic, happier and more myself now.

I want to make every day count.”

Inspired by her interest in Architecture, Chloe organised some work experience with Bloor Homes.

Chloe does work experience with the company one-day-a-week, which will continue until the Easter holidays.

“I’ve been interested in architecture since travelling to Barcelona and France and saw all of the beautiful buildings and monuments,” Chloe said.

“I’m also fascinated by one-off, bespoke houses.

“The managing director of Bloor homes architects is my brother-in-law’s Dad, and I asked him if I could do some work experience to get the feel of what it’s like behind the scenes with building a house and they agreed and even though I've only been there one day a week for a couple of months, I’ve learnt so much already.

After finishing college, Chloe is hoping to pursue an apprenticeship, hopefully at Bloor Homes to become an architect who designs one-off, bespoke houses.

“I would like to do an apprenticeship so that I can earn while I learn,” Chloe said. “I’m very grateful to be able to come back and finish my course and hopefully get a good grade and move on to the apprenticeship.”

Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr Malcolm Richards with the winning children

Card sharp artists are winners FOUR Shinfield pupils are busy spreading some festive cheer after winning a Christmas card competition.

Sara (7), Samuel (8), Olivia (8), and Renae (8) from Shinfield St Mary’s CE Junior School were recently crowned the winners of Wokingham Borough Council’s art competition.

Earlier this year, it asked children across the borough to create designs for 500 Christmas cards.

The cards were then distributed

by The Link Visiting Scheme, a Wokingham-based charity combating loneliness with friendship.

Cllr Malcolm Richards, mayor of Wokingham borough, presented the four pupils with their framed cards

and a gift voucher earlier this month.

And he said he was “impressed at the quality of designs” and that there are some “very talented children” in the borough.

As part of the competition, sponsor David Wilson Homes also donated £250 to The Link Visiting Scheme.

Jo Harrison, a representative of the charity, said: “We are focused on supporting older people who are on their own over the Christmas period and on the day itself, and we know they will be delighted with these wonderful cards.

“It’s another reminder that they are not forgotten, which is especially important after this very difficult year.”

24 | LEISURE & LIFE

No ball for Cinders but Jack is on his way THE NEWS that Berkshire has been placed into Tier 4 restrictions means that theatres must bring their curtains down for now.

The Theatre Royal in Windsor’s Cinderella came to halt last Friday and waits the next Government review on Wednesday, December 30, and the theatre hopes that shows from New Year’s Eve onwards will be allowed to take place.

It’s not all bad news: an additional week has been pencilled in.

The theatre has also announced that next year’s festive show will be Jack and the Beanstalk. It will once again star Kevin Cruise and Steven Blakeley, who will team up for their 12th panto season, and the 83rd to be performed at the theatre.

The theatre asks that anyone who has tickets for performances between December 19 and December 30 to wait for the box office to contact them, rather than calling.

The theatre’s co-directors Jon and Anne-Marie Woodley said: “The effect of this closure is devastating after a year where the theatre has been closed for eight months already.

“We very much hope that we can resume performances as soon as we are able to and would like to thank our audiences, staff, and our fabulous pantomime company for all their support and patience.”

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Santa’s show comes to the rescue

I

N THIS Christmas like no other, festive shows are in short supply.

And with millions of us being asked to stay at home as a result of the new Tier 4 restrictions, new entertainment is much needed.

Santa’s Christmas Rescue is one such show. It’s been created by Imagine Theatre, the team who produce The Hexagon’s annual pantomime and can be streamed across the holiday season.

Aimed at under sevens – and those young at heart – it’s 35 minutes of fun, songs and festive joy that we all need this year. And the £5 fee allows unlimited streaming over the Christmas period, perfect for parents needing a break from endless showings of Frozen.

It’s been devised by and stars Iain Lauchlan, who was the Music Man in Fingermouse and created The Tweenies.

He has written several Imagine pantos – he knows what he’s doing to devise shows that engage his target audience.

He says that the show came out of a desire to entertain some of the 425,000 people that would normally see one of Imagine’s pantos at Christmas.

“Although the Santa shows have been around for a few years in live versions we knew we needed to do something a little different this year if we still wanted to bring some Christmas magic to children across the country and so we decided to do a filmed version of Santa’s Christmas Rescue.”

“The show has been specially written to appeal to children aged seven and under with colourful characters, an adorable puppet Rudolph that they are

A

TOUCH of Frost*. That’s the latest entry is our very own hit parade, making it our first Christmas number one.

Curated by Chris Hillman from White Star Records, The Wokingham Love Music soundtrack features songs from bands and artists with some connection to Wokingham’s music scene, including Steven Wilson.

You can listen to his track and nine great others. all for FREE, via Spotify.

There’s a special page set-up for you to tune in and turn on at bit.ly/wokinghamlovesmusic

sure to fall in love with, and lots of popular songs that they will know and adore and be invited to join in with.”

Set in Santa’s workshop, it tells how elves Ellie (Johanna Johnston) and Izzy (Jenny Phillips) – plus Rudolph the rednosed reindeer – need to find Santa, who has got stuck in the snow. When they do find him, they need to help him recover from the shock so all the good boys and girls can get the presents of Christmas morning.

It’s a simple story, well-told. Woven between the saving of Santa, there’s a mixture of familiar songs and nursery rhymes, plus a good helping of audience interaction to ensure that viewers are engaged throughout. With actions and

shout outs, there is plenty for every child to enjoy.

It packs a lot into the 35-minutes and is professionally produced. With the theatre brought to your living room, it’s the next best thing to being in there and will delight youngsters anxiously counting down the days to Christmas … and provide some comfort and joy in these strange times.

The show can be watched via the Showcatcher app – showcatcher.com/ show/31/santas-christmas-rescue Tickets cost £5 for unlimited streams before Sunday, January 3, 2021. There is also an opportunity to make a £2.50 donation to the theatrical charity Acting For Others.

PHIL CREIGHTON

Should I become a vegetarian?

I

� Raising animals for food consumes more than half of all water used in the US. It takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce a pound of meat but only 25 gallons to produce a pound of wheat.

(PETA) � Industrial meat is the single biggest cause of deforestation globally. In Brazil, farmers are deliberately setting forest fires – like the Amazon rainforest fires.

(Greenpeace) The growing popularity of a Western diet, which contains high levels of meat and dairy, means an area 1.5 times the size of the European Union would be saved if global consumption of animal products was reduced to meet nutritional requirements. (WWF) � The climate impact of meat is enormous – roughly equivalent to all the driving and flying of every car, truck and plane in the world. (Greenpeace) � Producing just one hamburger uses enough fossil fuel to drive a small car 20 miles. (PETA) � Almost 30% of fish stocks commercially fished are over-fished and 60% are fully fished. (WWF) � By clearing forests, destroying habitats and using toxic pesticides to grow animal food, the industrial meat industry is contributing to the extinction of thousands of species. (Greenpeace) � Today, each person eats on average around twice as much fish as 50 years ago. In that time, there has been a decrease recorded in marine species of over 40%. (WWF)

Chris Hillman

bit.ly/wokingham lovesmusic

plasticfreehome Dave Lamont facebook.com/PlasticFreeHomeUK

’M very proud to have never eaten seafood.

From an early age, I never liked the idea of taking anything out of the ocean as I love the sea.

I’ve also never eaten animals that were knowingly killed young; lamb or veal for example.

But I have been a meat eater for four decades.

Today, as a family of four, we’re home to two longstanding vegetarians (Mrs Plastic Free Home and our eldest son), one near vegetarian (I am two months and counting without meat) and a flexitarian (our youngest son).

After years of ‘wobbling’ on the issue, I have been trying to give up meat. And it’s going rather well. Going back a good few years, a diet of mainly chicken, with some beef, pork and turkey, has been replaced by a diet of just chicken in 2020 and now, (so far at least), not even that.

Given that Mrs Plastic Free Home has been a vegetarian for over 25 years I learned to appreciate and enjoy “vegetarian food” more than a decade ago. And things have continued to move on even further during that time.

Incredibly, according to the Vegetarian Society, just 3% of people in the UK maintain a vegetarian diet all of the time. Unfortunately, too many people still have a view on “vegetarian food” derived from a low-cost ready meal forced on the in the 80s or 90s.

It’s time to reset that (false) impression. Here are just 10 reasons …

wokinghamlovesmusic

� The world’s 7.6 billion people represent just 0.01% of all living things.

Yet, since the dawn of civilisation, humanity has caused the loss of 83% of all wild mammals and half of plants, while livestock kept by humans abounds.

Excessive animal product consumption is responsible for 60 per cent of all biodiversity loss. (WWF) � Animals bred for meat consumption are often treated appallingly. For example, mothers are separated from their babies at birth, sick and injured animals don’t receive veterinary attention and battery chickens lives in a space smaller than your iPad. (One Green Planet) � And a final reason that’s more relevant now than ever. Don’t forget that sadly many of the viruses and diseases that can affect humans have come from animals, including as a result of clearing land for livestock and eating meat.

Zoonotic viruses include Influenza, HIV/Aids, Ebola, Swine Flu, SARS, Bird

Flu, MERS, VCJD (“Mad Cow Disease”), Bubonic Plague, Malaria, Lyme Disease and of course Covid-19.

If you simply can’t live without eating meat, why not at least consider cutting down?

Eat less of those meats that are the worst offenders (e.g. beef) and consider meet free days, weeks or months during the year.

Reducing the amount of meat you eat, or cutting it out of your diet entirely, is one of the biggest impact changes you can make according to widespread research.

Even Sir David Attenborough has said the following on the subject: “I haven’t been a doctrinaire vegetarian or vegan, but I no longer have the same appetite for meat. Why? I’m not sure. I think subconsciously maybe it’s because of the state of the planet.

“We can’t go on eating meat like we have. If we had a mostly plant-based diet we could increase the yield of the land.”

For more tips and advice, join the online group at www.facebook.com/ plasticfreehomeuk Got a comment or question?

Email plasticfreehome@gmail.com

Frost* – British Wintertime Musician Jem Godfrey has created pop hits for artists like Atomic Kitten, Shayne Ward and Holly Vallance. He has also created progressive rock band, Frost* which includes John Mitchell on guitar. John has local links as co-owner of Wokingham’s White Star Records and owner of Reading’s Outhouse Studio. It shows what a quality outfit they are when a track as good as this was a bonus track on their 2016 Falling Satellites album.

It also features on their recently released eight CD box set, 13 Winters – frost.life Skeleton Goode – Never Going (Back Home) Here’s a bit of psych-pop from the alter ego of English guitarist and songwriter Jack Briggs who now lives in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. The track is taken from the album, also called Skeleton Goode, that was released late last year by Wokingham based label Mega Dodo Records.

Jack has also created a full band to perform live in South East Asia. Hopefully, we will get to see them in the UK sometime in the future – www.facebook.comskellygood Steven Wilson – In Floral Green Steven has achieved major worldwide success including sell-out shows at the Royal Albert Hall.

Here’s his cover of a song written by multitalented John Mitchell (see the first track above) – stevenwilsonhq.com Kepler Ten – Weaver This trio of excellent musicians are signed to Wokingham’s White Star Records and their new album, A New Kind of Sideways has received rave reviews in music magazines around the world – www.keplerten.com Catfish – Archangel (Live) One of the choiches from Wokingham photographer, Andrew Merritt, Catfish are a quality blues band.

This track is taken from their new album Exile: Live in Lockdown – www.catfishbluesband.co.uk Children of Dub – Om This trance, chill and dub outfit have recently released Evolution: 1993-2020’ which covers their whole history including th albums released on Wokingham’s Magick Eye Records – childrenofdub.com Kyros – Fear of Fear An international band with local links, signed to Wokingham based White Star Records, and this is from their new four-track EP, Four of Fear – www.kyrosmusic.com Astralasia (feat. Eric Bouillette) – Distant Voyage Eric Bouillette from local band, The Room, joins Marc Swordfish from Astralasia on a track from the new 35 track epic album, The Darkest Voyage – www.astralasia.co.uk Mark Harrison – What Son House Said Here’s a London-based blues artist who has visited Wokingham previously to at the Wokingham Music Club – markharrisonrootsmusic.com Sarah Jane Morris – On Solid Air A track suggested by Stan Hetherington who runs the music club. Unfortunately, Sarah Jane’s Songs of John Martyn show was cancelled due to covid – www.sarahjanemorris.co.uk

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

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PUBLIC NOTICES ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (KING STREET LANE, WINNERSH) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2020 NOTICE IS HEREBY given that Wokingham Borough Council as Traffic Authority proposes to make an Order under Section 14 (1) (a) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 the effect of which is prohibit any vehicle from proceeding along: King Street Lane, Winnersh from its junction with A329 Reading Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A329 Reading Road, B3270 Lower Earley Way North and Winnersh Relief Road or by this route in reverse.

Works requiring this restriction will take place between 13th January and 14th January 2021.

The reason for these prohibitions is to allow Vodafone contractors to deliver and install telecommunication equipment and conduct essential maintenance work in safety.

Access for residents and businesses within the boundaries of these restrictions will be maintained at all times.

The restriction imposed by the Order shall only apply during those periods when traffic signs complying with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 are lawfully displayed.

The restrictions contained in the Order shall come into operation on the 13th January 2021 and shall continue in force for a period not exceeding 18 months or until the works have been completed, whichever is the earlier.

Dated: 23rd December 2020 Mark Cupit Assistant Director – Delivery and Infrastructure Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices Shute End Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1WL

WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE) (ENGLAND) ORDER 2015 NOTICE UNDER ARTICLE 13 OF APPLICATION FOR PLANNING PERMISSION NEWSPAPER NOTICE.

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PUBLIC NOTICES

Dated 17th December 2020 Jean Mulovi Wokingham Borough Council Development Management P.O Box 157 Shute End, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 1WR

SERVICES

SERVICES

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (WATERLOO ROAD, WOKINGHAM) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING AND 30 MPH SPEED LIMIT) ORDER 2021 NOTICE IS HEREBY given that Wokingham Borough Council as Traffic Authority proposes to make an Order under Section 14 (1) (a) and 15(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 the effect of which is prohibit: 1. Any vehicle from proceeding along Waterloo Road, Wokingham between its junctions with Priest Avenue and the Wokingham Borough Boundary at a speed exceeding 30 mph.

2. Any vehicle from proceeding along Waterloo Road, Wokingham between its junctions with Priest Avenue and the Wokingham Borough Boundary 3. Any vehicle the gross weight of which is greater than 7.5 tonne proceed along Waterloo Road, Wokingham between its junctions with Priest Avenue and the Wokingham Borough Boundary.

4. Any vehicle the width of which exceed 6 feet 6 inches (2 metres) to proceed along Waterloo Road, Wokingham between its junctions with Priest Avenue and the Wokingham Borough Boundary.

The restriction for item 1 will take place between 14th Apr 2021 to 28th March 2022.

The restriction for item 2 will take place between 5th March 2021 to 2nd August 2021 and 21st Jan 2022 to 31st Jan 2022 The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Old Wokingham Road, Easthampstead Road and Waterloo Road or by this route in reverse.

The restriction for items 3 and 4 will take place between 2nd August 2021 to 28th March 2022.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Old Wokingham Road, Easthampstead Road and Waterloo Road or by this route in reverse.

The reason for these prohibitions is to allow Wokingham Borough Council contractors to divert existing services, install drainage and culvert networks and construct new roundabout and distributor road in safety the Council being satisfied that the works in question shall take longer than 18 months to complete.

Access for residents and businesses within the boundaries of these restrictions will be maintained at all times.

The restriction imposed by the Order shall only apply during those periods when traffic signs complying with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 are lawfully displayed.

The restrictions contained in the Order shall come into operation on the 1st February 2021 and shall continue in force until the works have been completed..

Dated: 23rd December 2020 Mark Cupit Assistant Director – Delivery and Infrastructure Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices Shute End Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1WL

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WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL PLANNING APPLICATION The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 AND/OR Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Regulations 1990 The following application(s) have been submitted and are advertised for the reasons below: Application

Address

Reasons for Advert Description

203274

Fox Steep, Highfield Road, Wargrave

(Affect setting of) Listed Building

Application for Listed Building consent for the proposed works to curtilage listed Pool House, including single storey extension to southern elevation for plant room, refurbishment and demolition of existing 'lean-to' shed.

203286

4 Station Road, Twyford

Conservation Area

Householder application for the proposed erection of single-storey side extension following the demolition of existing conservatory and timber clad side extensions.

203376

Church Cottage, Waltham Road, Ruscombe

(Affect setting of) Listed Building

Application for Listed Building consent for the proposed replacement of 4 no. windows.

203377

5a Market Place, Wokingham

Conservation Area

Full application for the proposed change of use of the first and second floors from office (Use Class E(i)) to 1 x 1 no. bedroom and 2 x 2 no. bedroom residential flats (Use Class C3).

203378

5a Market Place, Wokingham

(Affect setting of) Listed Building

Application for Listed Building consent for the proposed change of use of the first and second floors from office (Use Class E(i)) to 1 x 1 no. bedroom and 2 x 2 no. bedroom residential flats (Use Class C3) with associated internal alterations plus repair and replacement glazing to front windows.

Proposed Development at: A321 Finchampstead Road/Molly Millars Lane roundabout located at (Easting 480820: Northing: 167810). Inclusive of land to the North of No 81 Finchampstead Road extending to Molly Millars Lane.

For Planning Permission for the: Removal of existing 3 arm mini roundabout and construction of larger replacement 3 arm roundabout at the junction of Molly Millars Lane and Finchampstead Road; demolition of 3 no. properties on Finchampstead Road (81, 83 and 85), associated landscaping and improvements to pedestrian crossing environment.

WOKINGHAM.TODAY Wednesday, December 23, 2020

The application is available to view online at wokingham.gov.uk � Planning � Search planning applications and typing in the application number above. All libraries in the Borough have internet access in order to view this page.

Comments on the application can be made online from this web page.

Any comments must arrive on or before 16th January 2021. Any comments made are not confidential and can be seen by anyone as they form part of the public record. The comments, unless offensive, discriminatory and/or racist, will appear on the Council’s website within 24 hours and include the submitted name and address. Due to the high volume of comments received we do not provide individual responses.

Date: 23rd December 2020

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FROM THE MIDDLE

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WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE

YEAR ENDS IN VICTORY With Dick Sawdon-Smith WITH FISHLOCK BRACE Brighton & Hove Albion Women 1 Reading Women 3

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today READING Women ended their year on a high as two goals from Jess Fishlock saw them take the points against Brighton & Hove Albion.

What if the ball bursts?

W

HEN you start refereeing, there are so many Laws to learn, including some obscure ones that you may never have to deal with during your refereeing career.

One of these is how to restart the game if the ball should burst whilst in play, or becomes so inflated that you have to stop the game.

I mention this because the Law regarding this possibility, has changed this season.

On the face of it, it doesn’t seem to be a change at all.

One referee said, it’s just a reminder to drop the ball.

It is in fact a little more than that because it is linked with last season’s change to a dropped ball to restart a game.

The Law previously said, ‘If the ball becomes deflated, play is stopped and restarted by dropping the replacement ball where the original became deflated’.

So if it burst on hitting the goalpost, it would be dropped in the goal area.

The Law now simply says the referee restarts the game with a dropped ball.

So what’s the difference?

It is that the ball must now be dropped at the feet of one player of the team that last touched the ball at the position it was last touched.

The exception to this is if the ball is last touched in the penalty area, when the ball is always dropped for the goalkeeper.

This follows last year’s change which seems to have escaped the notice of many players, coaches and sad to say some referees.

When the ball is dropped at the player’s feet, all other players, on both sides, must remain at least four metres away.

There has also been an addition to this Law this year saying that any player failing to do this, should get a yellow card.

Why did they change this dropped ball Law? Not I think, because contesting it was dangerous, as players didn’t to that any more.

It is to stop this inane practise of kicking the ball back to the goalkeeper.

That was never in the Laws, nor did referees have the authority to order it.

Their final match of 2020, saw the Royals enjoy their first victory in five matches in the Women’s Super League.

Fishlock scored goals either side of Inessa Kaagman's penalty for Brighton to gift Kelly Chambers' side three points. Rachel Rowe then wrapped up the game with a third in stoppage time.

They had the first shot of the game in the third minute when Angharad James intercepted in the Brighton half but soared an effort high over the bar.

Tash Harding burst down the right wing and put a testing ball into the Brighton box that was initially spilled by Seagulls keeper Cecilie Fiskerstrand before she collected the ball at the second try.

Reading then had some defending to do and Kristine Leine made a vital clearance to prevent Lee Guem-min having a tap in at the back post.

Kelly Chambers’ team

continued to look the more threatening in attack as Fara Williams put in a couple of dangerous set pieces to test the resolve of Brighton.

And the visitors finally broke through in the 17th minute through Jess Fishlock.

Having forced a deflected own goal last weekend against Manchester United, Fishlock bagged her first goal for the Royals.

The Welsh international was alert to make an interception in the Brighton half and drove forward towards the box before dispatching the ball into the bottom left corner from just outside the area.

But Reading didn't hold their lead for long as the hosts hit back when they were awarded a spot kick after Deanna Cooper made a rash sliding tackle in the box to bring down Ellie Brazil.

Inessa Kaagman stepped up to take the kick and fired it past Grace Moloney, who guessed the wrong way, to level the game.

The hosts grew in confidence and had chances to take the lead when Faya Le Tissier fired a shot inches wide of Moloney's far post.

Reading then lost their captain, Tash Harding, who came off with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Lauren Bruton.

But it was Reading who then

missed two golden chance when Fishlock and Amalie Eikeland both got in brilliant positions in the box. They couldn't pick out the killer pass.

It was Fishlock who ensured that Reading would go into the break with a lead when she notched her second goal of the game.

Reading won the ball high in the Brighton half after some sloppy passing, and took full advantage to capitalise on their mistake.

Lily Woodham got down the left and fizzed in a cross to find Fishlock, who kept her composure with a touch on her chest before lashing the ball into the net.

Moloney had to pull off an important save to preserve Reading’s lead just a minute into the second half after Falicity Gibbons hit a shot from outside the box before Molly Bartrip cleared the ball away from Aileen Whelan who tried to pounce on the rebound.

Looking to complete her hat-trick, Fishlock drove through the heart of the midfield and tried her luck from 25 yards out, but her shot flew wide of the target.

Young forward Emma Harries breezed past the Brighton defence with a run from the halfway line and made her way into the box

before the Brighton keeper recovered to snatch the ball from her feet.

Searching for an equaliser for the second time, Brighton came closest in the 73rd minute when Gibbons’ cross flew inches too high for Whelan to head home from close range.

But Reading ensured they would take the points when they hit Brighton on the counter in stoppage time and Rowe finished with a deft flick over the keeper which hit the inside of the post before rolling over the line, spotted by the lineswomen who awarded the goal.

The WSL season pauses for the Christmas break and returns when Reading host league champions Chelsea at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday, January 10.

BRIGHTON WOMEN: Fiskerstrand, Le Tissier, Stott, Williams, Gibbons, Bowman, O’Sullivan, Brazil, Kaagman, Whelan, Lee SUBS: Walsh, Kerkdijk, Connolly, Heroum, Green, Barton, Simpkins, Jarrett, Bance READING WOMEN: Moloney, Leine, Cooper, Bartrip, Woodham, Fishlock, Williams, James, Harding, Harries, Eikeland SUBS: Bruton, Nayler, Carter, Rowe, Roberts, Childerhouse GOALS: Fishlock 17', 44', Kaagman 21' (pen), Rowe 90'

FOOTBALL

THE MOORE THE MERRIER: ROYALS SKIPPER REACHES LANDMARK

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today READING captain Liam Moore reached the landmark of 200 games for the Royals on Saturday.

Despite marking the occasion with defeat to Brentford, the Royals skipper has been in excellent form this campaign, making him integral to the squad’s early season success.

Moore joined Reading in 2016 from Leicester City and has since made 185 Championship appearances, 200 in all competitions.

He was selected as the official club captain at the start of the 2019/20 season

having lead the side for the majority of the previous season.

He has been an everpresent figure during his time at the Madejski Stadium, playing 43 out of the 46 Championship games last season and has appeared in 18 matches in the league this season.

“Thank you to everybody involved past and present in my Reading FC journey so far,” said Moore.

“I was welcomed with opened arms and have felt at home ever since.

“It’s a honour to represent the club and reach this milestone.”

SPORT | 29

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SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP

PREVIEW: ROYALS HOST HATTERS IN BOXING DAY CLASH

READING will be hoping to give their fans a belated Christmas present with the gift of three points when they host Luton Town on Boxing Day.

Fans won’t be permitted to attend the Madejski Stadium after Reading was placed into Tier 4, but the Royals will be hoping to give their fans a lift despite not being able to witness the match.

The Royals and the Hatters will become familiar foes in recent months.

Having already met once this season, in the Carabao Cup second round, Luton face Reading on Boxing Day at Madejski before they host Veljko Paunović’s side in the FA Cup third round in January.

The Hatters have the bragging rights from earlier in the season when they progressed to the next round by eating Reading 1-0.

However, Reading have the upper hand in recent league meetings.

Yakou Méïté was the star of the show when the team’s met at Kenilworth Road last

season as he hammered four goals past Luton to earn a thumping 5-0 win.

However, Reading will be without Méïté who misses out through injury, as well as top scorer Lucas João, who is expected to be out until the new year.

Two consecutive Championship losses has seen Reading drop out of the play-off places and into eighth place ahead of their Boxing Day fixture after defeats to Norwich City and Brentford.

Meanwhile, Nathan Jones’ team are in 14th position heading into the fixture after they held Bournemouth to a goalless draw at the weekend.

James Collins has been the most potent threat for the Hatters this season, with six Championship goals and an assist to his name in 17 games.

Luton have struggled in the goals department this campaign with just 17 in 20 matches, but their much improved defence has seen them concede 21 placing them in a mid-table position.

It’s been a year full of disruptions to the sporting calendar, which resulted in the abrupt ending to the 2019/20 football season across the county at the ‘non-elite’ level.

And the latest tier placing across the South East has resulted in football being paused until January 5, at the earliest.

Wokingham & Emmbrook made a return to Hellenic League action last weekend with a local derby clash, which was won by the Sumas.

However, just a week since returning to action, the league has been paused as well as all

non-elite leagues across the county.

Despite the disappointing news, the Sumas were able to end their year on a positive note with a win in the local derby to keep them top of Hellenic Division One East and unbeaten in their eight league fixtures.

“2020 has dealt another cruel blow, but sometimes it has to get worse before it gets better,” said Sumas manager Dan Bateman.

“The vaccine is on the horizon and there is light at the end of the tunnel so keep your head down and get there as quickly as we can.”

“Non-league football is important to a lot of people and all the volunteers involved.

“It helps us all escape.

With Olly Allen

Are Reading in a better place than 12 months ago?

A

S 2020 approaches its sorry conclusion, I find myself wondering whether Reading are in a better place now than they were 12 months ago.

Reading were defeated at the Madejski Stadium in a Carabao Cup match against Luton Town Picture: Steve Smyth

GRASSROOTS ON HOLD AGAIN WITH LATEST LOCKDOWN GRASSROOTS sports has been put on hold again across Berkshire after the Tier 4 placing last weekend.

FROM THE TILEHURST END

“Every club at our level has several volunteers and supporters who come every week and it’s so important to them.

“We’ve also got so many youth teams at our club, we must have close to 1,000 players who play and train regularly with the club.

“There are a lot of people in the local area who will be affected.

“Exercise, being outside and the social interaction are all so important but we can’t take the virus lightly.

“We can’t complain because it’s something that everyone has to work through, everyone is in the same boat and we have to do what we can.”

Binfield’s season also pauses in the Hellenic Premier

Division. The Moles are currently in second position in the table after seven fixtures but have not played a league match in almost two months.

Eversley & California are in 16th position in Combined Counties Division One after 12 games.

Woodley United Ladies have only played three fixtures this season in the Southern Region Women’s Premier Division and are in sixth place.

Meanwhile, Wokingham & Emmbrook Ladies are in seventh and Eversley & California in 10th in the Thames Valley Women’s Division One. S4K Ladies are the league leaders in Division 3S heading into the latest break in play after seven fixtures.

You don’t need me to remind you what a horrendous year it has been worldwide, but for the Royals there has been progress in spurts across 2020 and it certainly compares favourably with recent years.

Starting with the obvious, Reading are in a better league position.

At the end of 2019, the club were 14th in the Championship, where they would also finish the 2019-20 season. With two games of the current year left to play, we are in eighth, only outside of the playoffs on goal difference and just three points behind third.

January 1 was arguably the high point of Mark Bowen’s managerial tenure – Reading beat promotion-chasing Fulham 2-1 away from home to secure their fourth successive victory.

Bowen would only oversee five more league wins in the final 21 Championship games of the campaign.

Change at the helm was unexpected, but not uncalled for, in the summer, but it was the timing that left many supporters confused and irritated.

To his credit, Veljko Paunović hit the ground running and it would be hard to disagree that Reading end the year with a more effective and well-liked manager in charge.

Financially, the club is far from stable and they are still treading a fine line with regards to FFP regulations, but the books are more balanced than they were 12 months ago.

In the summer, 15 first team players departed – including high wage earners Chris Gunter, Garath McCleary, Mo Barrow and Vito Mannone – and only two arrived on permanent deals with an additional three loanees.

No eye-watering new contracts were handed out like they have been in recent years.

This feeds into the fact that the squad itself is in much better shape than at the start of the year. While it has looked a little threadbare in recent weeks, it is now a manageable size with no dead wood sitting on the fringes.

When everyone is fit, there is a clear first choice XI that has proven it is one of the best in the Championship.

There is more genuine quality in the squad and several players have improved individually over the course of the last 12 months.

This includes the academy players in the squad.

At Craven Cottage on New Year’s Day, there were none in the starting lineup, with Tom Holmes on loan at Roeselare, Omar Richards battling for the left-back spot with Tyler Blackett and Jordan Obita and Michael Olise still finding his feet in senior football.

Now those three players have all become key parts of Paunović’s Reading.

Add in mainstay Andy Rinomhota and consistent substitute appearances for Tom McIntyre, and Reading’s commitment to the academy has been built on in 2020.

It makes the future look bright and there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic as we head into 2021.

Things are looking up in Berkshire after a difficult couple of years.

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SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP

DOUBLE DEFEAT: ROYALS SIX POINTS DROPPED AS TEAM LOSE OUT TO PACESETTERS NORWICH Reading 1 Norwich City 2

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

Teemu Pukki netted the winner from the penalty spot to condemn Reading to defeat on Wednesday evening Pictures: Steve Smyth

Ovie Ejaria (left) and Sone Aluko (middle) fight for poessession

Michael Morrison rises to win a header in the Norwich box

INJURY HIT Reading were defeated at the Madejski Stadium as Teemu Pukki scored the winner early in the second half from the penalty spot.

Norwich went ahead when Emi Buendia netted after some sloppy play from the hosts, but Michael Olise replied quickly as he deflected in Ovie Ejaria's shot.

Veljko Paunović was forced to change his system due to a plethora of injuries. Without the physical presence of Lucas João or Yakou Méïté in attack, Sone Aluko and Alfa Semedo came into the side while Lewis Gibson replaced the injured Omar Richards at left back.

And despite the defeat, Paunović was full of praise for the attending fans who stayed to applaud the Reading team after the final whistle.

“We want to thank our fans because it was great to see them applauding the team and that helps our spirit for the next game.

“We don’t look for excuses but the injuries are a fact. We have to be creative in our approach but we are always very competitive. We play until the end and that’s why I think the fans appreciated it.

“It’s a tough one to take. We gave our best and you see the disappointment that the loss created in the changing room.” said Paunović .

“They took their opportunities after our mistakes. We fought very well and had to make adjustments.

“They (Norwich) benefited from their experience and they waited for our mistakes, and they came. But I’m happy with how quickly we recovered because in the past it took us much longer to bounce back.”

“We looked to effect them on the counter attack but the penalty changed the game. You have to be ready at adapt and look for your opportunities.”

League leaders Norwich had the early possession as they tried to break down the Reading back line.

The visitors almost broke away after stealing the ball

in the Royals half but some excellent defensive tracking saw Josh Laurent sprint back to win the ball and protect possession as he received an ovation from the 2,000 fans in attendance for his graft.

The warning signs were there for Reading as they gave the ball away cheaply and the dangerous Temu Pukki had a strike at goal but Rafael got down low to his left to save.

But Reading didn't heed the warning as moments later Andy Rinomhota uncharacteristically gave the ball away on the edge of his own box and Emi Buendia capitalised for the Canaries as he stroked the ball past Rafael into the bottom left corner.

But the Royals weren't behind for long. Just days after grabbing a late winner against Queens Park Rangers, Michael Olise was on the scoresheet again.

This one considerably less spectacular than the last, but they all count the same.

Sone Aluko blocked shot fell to Ovie Ejaria who drove a shot at goal which found its way into the corner past the rooted Norwich keeper after taking a deflection off Olise.

Having found a reply just three minutes after the Norwich opener, Reading grew in confidence but Norwich continued to pose a threat.

Max Aarons skipped down the right wing and fizzed a cross into the near post for Pukki which looked destined for the net but Rafael made a superb save to tip it over the bar.

Pukki again had another sight of goal with an almost identical chance, but Rafael was again in his way to deny the Finnish striker.

Reading had another chance just before the break as Olise breezed past a defender, cut inside the box on to his left and unleashed a strike that deflected off Rinomhota and flew inches wide of the far post as the sides went in level at half-time.

Norwich boss Daniel Farke made two changes for the second half as Todd Cantwell and Kieran Dowell replaced Josh Martin and Marco Stiepermann.

The lively Aarons then won

a penalty in the 53rd minute as he went past a challenge in the box before being fouled by Liam Moore.

Pukki stepped up to the spot and stroked the ball past Rafael, who dived the wrong way, to net his 10th Championship goal of the season.

Paunović made his first switch just before the hour mark as Sam Baldock replaced Aluko.

Norwich came inches away from a third goal when they worked a slick passing move to slice open the Reading defence, but Dowell's shot bounced back off the post.

Another swift attack from Norwich, led by the creative force of Buendia, came close when his shot took a nick off a Reading body and fell just past the post.

Two late changes saw Tom McIntyre and Jayden Onen introduced as the Royals searched for an equaliser.

Olise came close with a free kick in added time, but Norwich held out for the points.

READING: Rafael, Holmes, Gibson, Moore, Morrison, Rinomhota, Laurent, Ejaria, Olise, Semedo, Aluko SUBS: Walker, Esteves, McIntyre, Bristow, Watson, East, Onen, Melvin-Lambert, Baldock NORWICH CITY: McGovern, Sorensen, Zimmermann, Hanley, Aarons, Mclean, Skipp, Martin, Stiepermann, Buendia, Pukki SUBS: Barden, Omobamidele, Tettey, Vrancic, Cantwell, Dowell, Omotove, Hugill GOALS: Buendia 11', Olise 14', Pukki 55' (pen)

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‘WE WON THE SECOND HALF, BUT FELL SHORT’ Brentford 3 Reading 1

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today READING MANAGER Veljko Paunović was left frustrated after the Royals were ‘punished’ for their first half mistakes in their away defeat at Brentford.

The home side slotted in three first-half goals to breeze past the Royals and overtake them in the Championship table.

A howler Rafael saw Reading go a goal down to Mathias Jensen's effort, before Bryan Mbeumo netted a brace before the half hour mark to put the Bees in control.

“I think we had a horrendous first half against a very good team, who took full advantage of the confusion we had and the bad start we suffered,” said Paunović .

"Our idea didn't work in the first half and that's on me. Our shape was a little bit twisted in the first half.

“We were punished for the small mistakes we committed.

“And weren’t able to stop the bleeding until the second half. In the second half, we addressed things, we fixed it and it worked very well.”

Sone Aluko came off the bench to head in what was just a consolation goal in the second half as the Royals fell to a second consecutive defeat.

And defeat means that the Royals dropped out of the play-off places and down to eighth in the table as Brentford climbed up to fourth.

Veljko Paunović was forced into more changes as the injuries continue to blight the Royals squad – Lewis Gibson became the latest absentee.

“The second half was a completely different story,” Paunović said.

“We were playing good football, showed fantastic spirit, the application was great – for what it’s worth we won the second half.

“But we fell short with the result.

"It’s important when you go in at 3-0 down at half-time, that you don’t break down.

“I think we at least showed that we could lift from our knees back to our feet again and we were capable of creating opportunities.

The Royals were without firepower in attack as Lucas João and Yakou Méïté both remain injured and aren’t expected back until the new year.

The Bees started fast and took the lead after just 11 minutes after a drop in concentration from Rafael whose mistake cost Reading.

Brentford worked the ball down the left and found the run of Mathias Jensen, who was left free by Andy Rinomhota and Sam Baldock.

Despite hitting a tame shot towards Rafael at his near post, but the Brazilian made a mess of the shot as it squirmed through his body and into the back of the net.

Michael Olise sent a dangerous free kick into the box to test the Brentford defence and find a Reading shirt but the hosts defended well to head clear for a corner.

From the resulting set piece, Liam Moore clawed a shot at goal on the volley but David Raya made a comfortable save.

Just minutes after that chance, Brentford went down the other end of the pitch and doubled their lead.

This time Rafael had no chance of stopping the shot. A diagonal long ball found Bryan Mbeumo on the right wing who skipped past Tomas Esteves on to his left foot and sent a rocket into the far left corner from the edge of the box.

And things went from bad to worse for the Royals who found themselves three goals down within half an hour.

Brentford sliced through Reading's casual defending with a slick one touch passing move as Ivan Toney slipped the ball to Mbuemo who opened up his body and bent the ball into the bottom right corner.

Reading had a half chance before the break as Josh Laurent soared through the midfield on a solo mission and hit a shot at Raya, which was collected easily enough to continue the frustrating half.

Jensen picked up the first yellow of the day for a cynical foul on Olise in the only blip on an otherwise superb half for the home side who went into the break with a three goal lead.

With no signs of a comeback likely in the opening 15 minutes of the half, Sone Aluko was brought on to replace Semedo.

And the substitute made an instant impact.

With 64 minutes on the clock, Aluko put Reading on the scoresheet as he was left unmarked in the middle and nodded the ball past Raya from Olise's cross to put the Royals on the scoresheet.

The Bees had a chance to add a fourth and wrap the game up once and for all, but Tom Holmes was determined to not let that happen and made a crucial sliding tackle to win the ball in the box.

Reading couldn't salvage any further signs of a comeback despite a much improved second half performance as they fell out of the top six of the table.

“If one of those opportunities we had at 3-1, still with a lot of time on the clock, had gone in it would have been a very exciting finish,” continued Paunović.

“But we should have started the first half as we started the second.

“Huge credit to our guys for their reaction in the second half. But we have learned a lot from today.”

The Royals host Luton Town at the Madejski on Boxing Day in their next fixture.

BRENTFORD: Raya, Fosu-Henry, Goode, Bech Sorensen, Henry, Jensen, Janelt, Dasilva, Mbeumo, Toney, Canos SUBS: Thompson, Norgaard, Marcondes, Forss, Ghoddos, Daniels, Pressley, Haygarth READING: Rafael, Esteves, Morrison, Moore, Holmes, Laurent, Rinomhota, Olise, Semedo, Ejaria, Baldock SUBS: McIntyre, Southwood, Aluko, East, Melvin-Lambert, Bristow, Watson, Onen, Dorsett GOALS: Jensen 11', Mbuemo 23', 29', Aluko 64'

HAVE A SAFE CHRISTMAS FROM ALL AT WOKINGHAM SPORT

FISHLOCK, STOCK & TWO SMOKING BARRELS

JESS FISHLOCK’s double ensured that Reading Women ended the year with a flourish thanks to a stunning victory at Brighton.

Kelly Chambers’ side finally found that winning feeling again after five games without after Welsh international Fishlock bagged her first two goals for the club.

The south coast success sees Reading in sixth position in the Women’s Super League heading into the Christmas break.

They face a stern test when they return on Sunday, January 10 when they host current WSL champions Chelsea at the Madejski Stadium. � Match report on page 29

SOUTH BERKS 2S IN ACTION

ALONG WITH the rest of grassroots sport across the county, hockey will be put on hold for the forseeable future.

However, South Berkshire 2s were in friendly action at the weekend after their league fixture was postponed in what will be their last game of the year. � Report and pictures on page 27

MOORE HITS 200 READING CAPTAIN Liam Moore hit the landmark of 200 appearances in the blue and white hoops on Saturday.

However, it was a game to forget for the Royals as a dismal first-half display saw them fall to defeat at Brentford on their first trip to the Bees’ new home � Full report on page 31

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Grassroots sport mothballed again in bid to halt virus CLUBS SADNESS THAT SEASON CURTAILED AGAIN: PAGE 29

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