THREE GREAT PAPERS IN ONE: NEWS, SPORT & LEISURE
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Fine outrage sparks a change of process
PUPILS DECORATE TOWN’S TREE P12
WORLD EXCLUSIVE By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today
ARTISTS SHOWCASE AT FESTIVAL P38
PHOTO EVIDENCE of line-painting procedures will be required for all works, following international outrage at fines issued last week.
On Tuesday, December 2, the borough council’s contractor Volker Highways painted double yellow lines at Blackthorn Close, off Culver Lane. The contractor lifted cars parked along the close with a crane on a truck and, while suspended, painted the yellow lines underneath. Cars were then placed back down, and slapped with a parking fine. Following a Wokingham Today report, the news spread internationally, was was featured on BBC News, ITV, The Daily Mail, The Mirror, Metro and The Sun, as well as news media in the US, France, Vietnam and others. Volker Highways has since apologised for the incident and said that it is sorry for any upset and distress caused to residents. A spokesperson said: “We had planned to place cones along the road the evening before to make sure drivers were aware that the lines were to be painted, but failed to do so. “On this occasion, the procedure did not meet our usual high standards, and we are taking immediate measures to revise our processes and ensure that this does not happen again. “We thank the council and local residents for their understanding of this oversight and apologise for the embarrassment and reputational impact.” n Continued on page 3
No. 341 90p
TOY RUN: Bikers give to Barnardos this Christmas • P2
COVID HIGHEST IN COUNTY Virus rates in EXCLUSIVE
borough stay above national average at 679 per 100,000
By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today
COVID RATES in Wokingham remain the the highest in Berkshire, and above the national average.
The borough has a weekly rate of infection of 679 per 100,000 people, with cases climbing in school children. Cllr Charles Margetts, executive member for health at the borough
council, said that cases are falling under two age groups: under 18s and ages 40 to 49. He said that the older age group were likely parents of the children infected with Covid-19. Cllr Margetts said that some schools have imposed temporary closures and mass testing in order to control the spread of the virus. “It’s likely that as we head towards the end of term rates will continue to rise,” he said.
n Continued on page 6
TWYFORD HOSTS STREET FAYRE P41
AUTHOR UNVEILS NEW LIBRARY P7 ISSN 2634-8330 49
9 772634 833019 BOOK YOUR TIMBER FRAME PROJECT FOR 2022 WITH VISION! Our timber frame systems offer money-saving solutions for both new builds & extensions. Build strong, fast and energy efficient. Call us today to see how we can assist with your project!
2 | NEWS
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
Bikers bring
WE COVER WOKINGHAM BOROUGH
In print
Order a copy from your newsagent every Thursday – some even deliver
0LOHV 'DXJKWHUV )XQHUDO 'LUHFWRUV
Online
Our website is updated seven days a week – bookmark it in your browser: wokingham.today FACEBOOK & TWITTER: WOKINGHAM.TODAY
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 email Email news@wokingham.today Newsroom: 0118 327 2662 Advertising: 0118 327 2662 Write to: Wokingham.Today, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS Publisher • David Riley Editor • Phil Creighton Deputy editor • Jess Warren Reporters • Charlotte King, Laura Scardarella Sports reporter • Andy Preston Graphic designer • Charlotte Simpson The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation. If you have a complaint about a Wokingham Paper Ltd publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance email: editor@wokingham.today. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.
3URXGO\ VHUYLQJ WKH ORFDO FRPPXQLW\
:H FUHDWH HYHU\ IXQHUDO LQGLYLGXDOO\ MXVW IRU \RX KRXU VHUYLFH
:LQQHUVK
)ORUDO WULEXWHV
+RPH YLVLWV
3ULYDWH FKDSHOV RI UHVW
%HUHDYHPHQW DGYLFH
,VDEHOOD +RXVH $ 5HDGLQJ 5RDG 5* (;
5HSDWULDWLRQ
&DOO XV IRU LPPHGLDWH VXSSRUW DGYLFH RU WR DUUDQJH D KRPH YLVLW :H DUH KHUH WR KHOS KRXUV D GD\ 3UHSDLG IXQHUDO SODQV DOVR DYDLODEOH
PLOHVIXQHUDOV FRP 2̇FHV DOVR LQ 5HDGLQJ :RNLQJKDP &URZWKRUQH %UDFNQHOO 7Z\IRUG DQG 0DLGHQKHDG
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Family Notices Your wording
Classification (please tick) n Births n Birthdays n Engagements n Weddings n Anniversaries n Other n Death n In memory
YOUR CONTACT DETAILS Name Address
Advert sizes n 5cm by 1 column – 40 words £30 inc VAT n 3cm by 2 column – 50 words £36 inc VAT Postcode n 4cm by 2 column – 60 words £48 inc VAT n 5cm by 2 column – 80 words £60 inc VAT n 6cm by 2 column – 100 words £72 INC VAT Email n Photo – add £5 inc VAT (email only) DEADLINE IS TUESDAY AT 5PM FOR THAT WEEK’S PAPER
Phone number
Send your forms to: Family notices, Wokingham Today, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS. Please enclose payment by cheque, made out to The Wokingham Paper Ltd. Payments may also be made by card over the phone.
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
festive joy
NEWS | 3
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
FINES: Cars were placed on the painted lines and fined
Parking fines spark change of procedure n Continued from the front page
READY TO GO: The Toy Run start on Sunday All pictures: Steve Smyth
EXCLUSIVE By JAMES HASTINGS news@wokingham.today MORE THAN a thousand bikers held a minute’s silence at the start of this year’s Reading Toy Run to remember Ben Spiller, who founded the event.
And in a further moving tribute, Ben’s ashes were scattered at the Winnersh Cross Roads, which forms part of the route to Wokingham. Ben, who founded the charity 35 years ago, died in April following a short illness. Over the years, he saw the event grow from just 18 riders to more than two thousand, earning it a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Close friend Sean Stillman said that it was moving to see so many people honouring the man who started it all. “In total 1,320 bikers and 300 pillion passengers joined in the minute’s silence,” he said. “They each had their own memories of Ben. He was such a great guy with a big heart who was the driving forced behind the Reading Toy Run.
“He absolutely loved it and he was on first-name terms with bikers who came from all over the country to take part. Ben really touched a lot of people’s lives.” Sean stopped to scatter Ben’s ashes, along with his friend Frank, at Winnersh Cross Roads near where Ben lived. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of toys have been donated to Barnardo’s and other charities and good causes in Wokingham and throughout the Thames Valley region. Added Sean: “Ben was an ordinary bloke who founded something extraordinary and dared to believe you can make a difference in the lives of others for good. “The Toy Run is only part of the story. Many of us will bear witness to his friendship, to his infectious enthusiasm to be a do-er, not just a talker. He had an ability to co-opt a mixed bag of people to get a job done and many of us share deep friendships together because Ben was the original connecting point.” Mark Shears, principle of Barnardo’s High Close School also paid tribute to Ben and the Toy Run. He said: “As ever, the generosity of Reading Christian Bikers and all
FAMILY: Nikki Prescott with her great niece, Lunah Tricker (4) who attended was truly humbling and the gifts they bring have a hugely positive impact on the lives of the young people attending High Close, as well as being distributed across other charities which support young people across the South East. “This year’s event was particularly poignant as founder member Ben Spiller passed away earlier in the year. Ben’s passion for making a positive difference to the lives of vulnerable young people was a driving force behind the success of the Toy Run and his wife Jane taught at the school for many years. “Ben was in our collective
MATCHING: Charlotte and her grandad, Russell Green as Santa and his elf
thoughts yesterday and will be at every Toy Run in the future.”
A spokesperson for the borough council said that following the incident, internal procedures will change. They said: “Our contractor Volker Highways has apologised for not following the process they should have followed when doing this sort of work, which includes signs going up in the week before the work is done and parking cones being put out the day before. “We are going to be closely monitoring future works to ensure this process is followed, and are requiring photos showing all of these measures before any works can go ahead.” Cllr Shirley Boyt, Labour councillor for Bulmershe and Whitegates, said that she is pleased to hear photo evidence will now be required. “This is a good thing, she said “This way, everyone is clear about it. I’m very much in favour of this, and I think residents will be too.” Residents that were given parking fines who have not already challenged it, are encouraged to email parkingservices@wokingham.gov.uk where the council’s team will help residents ensure it is cancelled. Last week, Cllr Boyt said that in mid-October, the road opposite Blackthorn Close, Anderson Avenue, had yellow lines painted on it, one week before it was resurfaced and then re-painted. “The road markings on Anderson Avenue were due to a mistake by a Volker Highways subcontractor who was not aware of the scheduled resurfacing,” the council spokesperson explained. “It was an unfortunately waste of time and resources, but the cost was picked up by Volker Highways, not the council.”
4 | NEWS
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
Wade hosts festive Christmas fayre
FAYRE: Borough mayor, Cllr Keith Baker with Sue English at Wade Christmas Fayre All pictures: Steve Smyth
CHRISTMAS was in the air at a Wokingham winter fayre last month. Wade, which runs a day care centre for the elderly, hosted a fundraising fayre on Saturday, November 27. The event was held at it’s Reading Road site, with activities, that included a raffle. There were homemade cakes for sale, along with Christmas gifts. Cllr Keith Baker, Wokingham borough mayor, visited on the day, bringing festive cheer to the visitors.
Sewage discharges: write to MP EXCLUSIVE By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today CONCERNED about the Government’s recent vote on sewage discharge? Write to Matt Rodda.
The Reading East MP says he wants to hear from constituents amid concerns that the planned revision to the current policy doesn’t go far enough. “The government has made concessions on sewage, but a whole range of bodies are still concerned,” he said. “All the Government is legislating for is a slow reduction, letting companies make small changes each year [to the amount of sewage discharged into rivers]. “The government’s wording is a ‘progressive reduction’. All it means is a very small change each year. It doesn’t say how much better it would get. We don’t think that’s good enough.” He added: “Please get in touch with me. We will be looking at the impact of sewage, and sewage treatment stations. There’s a number of them on the Thames.” Mr Rodda said that he wanted to discuss with Thames Water some of the issues, including whether greater capacity could be created at sewage plants so that if there is
We are looking for more drivers
an incident, such as a sudden storm that causes flooding, it wouldn’t lead to more raw sewage ending up in rivers. “The Government needs to put more pressure on the water companies,” he added. However, Thames Water has sought to reassure residents that it is doing all it can to mitigate any discharges. Last month, it was fined £4 million at Aylesbury Crown Court after pleading guilty to a pollution incident in Oxfordshire in 2016. Richard Aylard, Thames Water’s sustainability director, said: “We are deeply sorry for this incident in 2016. “Things have changed. “Our view is that it’s unacceptable for untreated sewage to enter rivers, even when legally permitted, and we have an unprecedented amount of investment directed towards safeguarding our rivers and streams, including spending more than £1.25 billion at our sewage treatment works during our current five-year business plan.” The company says that the reason discharges happen can vary according to location. It could be caused by rainwater overwhelming sewers, blockages in the network, or the treatment sites not having enough capacity.
New housing developments can put increased pressure on infrastructure. As populations grow, and the number of developments increase, there are concerns that this could make sewer flooding and storm overflows more likely. The water industry is calling for government to take steps to amend the “right to connect” — where homes are plugged into the sewer network — with a duty on developers to do more to keep surface water separate from waste water. Residents can help by maintaining some permeable or green space at their homes rather than paving over front and rear gardens. This helps reduce surface water running into the sewers and filling them up, by allowing run-off water to naturally soak down into the ground. One of the schemes that Thames Water is exploring is funding sustainable urban drainage solutions (SUDS) in the region, working with local authorities to reduce the amount of surface water entering the sewers. To reduce groundwater infiltrating the system through cracks in the pipes, or where two sections of pipe are joined together, Thames Water relines pipes with plastic liners that are slid inside the
pipe and then set hard, forming a watertight inner lining, to keep groundwater out. On blockages, Thames Water has a huge programme of work to inspect and clean sewers, especially in blockage hotspot areas. The firm says that it is using high-tech monitors to track where there may be blockages in the network and to clear them before they impact customers. There are more things that residents can do, including saving fat and oil for the doorstep food waster collection rather than pouring them down the sink. It is important not to flush anything other than human waste and loo roll: wipes, sanitary products, condoms and nappies should be disposed of in waste collections. Keeping the sewers clear of blockages means more capacity in them; they don’t fill up as quickly, and therefore overflows or discharges are less likely. A Thames Water spokesperson said: “Our aim will always be to try and do the right thing for rivers and for the communities that love and value them. “By working with local partners we’re actively listening to our customers, who want us to do more. “Our planned investment in our sewer network and upgrading sewage treatment works across our region will help improve the situation, and we are looking carefully at using naturebased solutions to address the challenge ahead. “It’s our view that discharges of untreated sewage are simply unacceptable, even when they are legally permitted, and we support the measures in the bill that will reduce storm overflows. “We’ll work with the government, Ofwat and the Environment Agency to accelerate work to stop untreated discharges being necessary. “We have a long way to go — and we certainly can’t do it on our own — but the ambition is clear.”
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
NEWS | 5
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Help Lions support Christmas project
BOROUGH residents have been urged to join two Wokingham Lions Club events this month. Both will raise funds for A Christmas Presence, a community project led by First Days Children’s Charity, Wokingham Foodbank and SHARE Wokingham. The Lions are supporting the project, which is based at Elms Field. The first change to get involved is at the return of the Great Woky Pub Quiz. The free quiz takes place tonight. It will begin at 8.15pm and will be streamed online via the Wokingham Lions Club Facebook page. Participants are encouraged to form teams and make a donation in support of charity. All funds raised will go to A Christmas Presence. The second opportunity is the Can-Can Appeal. The Lions will once again be working with Wokingham supermarkets to encourage shoppers to donate food items for those in need during the festive season. Lions volunteers will be at Wokingham Waitrose to collect on Friday. They will then move to Wokingham Tesco on Saturday, December 11, and December 17. This year, the annual Can-Can Appeal will be run in cooperation with A Christmas Presence. n For more information, visit: wokinghamlions.org.uk
LIVE: Waltham St Lawrence Silver Band TOGETHER: Villagers congregated for the event, where St Nicholas Singers performed carols
POWER UP: Beryl Sims switched on the Christmas tree lights All pictures: Sue Corcoran
Hurst’s oldest resident switches on Christmas lights for village HURST’S 100-year-old resident Beryl Sims switched on the Christmas tree lights at the village’s St Nicholas Night celebrations. Watching on Sunday were a large crowd of villagers who had sung carols, supported by the St Nicholas Singers and Waltham St Lawrence Silver Band. They’d also enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies at the School Road recreation ground. The band’s playing was strong
and tuneful — the musicians ignoring the sign in the open sided shelter where they played. The sign urges users: “Please keep noise to a minimum. Please respect our neighbours.” Tuba player Ben Midgley said: “I did see the sign, it was quite funny. I don’t want to blow our own trumpets, but I actually thought we did quite well.” Villagers agreed that it was a beautiful sound and certainly
not a noise. Wayne Smith, chair of Hurst Parish Council, which organised the evening, said: “Many people said how good it was to have the celebration again. Last year covid meant it wasn’t possible.” He thanked all who had helped, including staff from Haines Hill estate, Hurst, Hurst Cricket Club, Chocolates for Chocoholics, Hurst, the village halls, the band, the singers,
Richard Hardy and The Vintage Hog Roast Company, the parish council, its clerk and councillors. Mrs Sims, who celebrated her 100th birthday in November, was perhaps, unsurprisingly, the oldest person to have switched the lights on. The village church is named after St Nicholas, whose saint’s day was on Monday. After covid stopped many performances last year, Waltham
St Lawrence Silver Band has launched a crowd funding appeal to help pay for music scores, instrument repairs, insurance and hall hire. The band’s chairman, Jane Lynn, who grew up in Wokingham, asked band fans to help the appeal. President and actress Wendy Craig, is in a video on the appeal website: www.crowdfunder. co.uk/waltham-band
EST: 2002 NOW RE-OPEN AT BOBS F&C, FINCHAMPSTEAD
NEW MENU (This replaces all previous menus & prices)
Order Online
MINIMUM ORDER £15 WITHIN 3.5 MILE RADIUS bobsfinchampstead.co.uk
0118 9733 761
EXCEPTIONAL INDIAN & BENGALI TAKEAWAY COLLECTION OFFER ORDERS OVER £20 GET A BOTTLE OF COKE FREE ORDERS OVER £25 GET A BOTTLE OF COKE, 2 POPPADOMS & SALAD COLLECTION ONLY
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
INCLUDING BANK HOLIDAYS
SUNDAY TO THURSDAY 5PM - 10PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY 5PM - 10.45PM 425 FINCHAMPSTEAD ROAD, FINCHAMPSTEAD RG40 3RI, CALIFORNIA X-ROADS
6 | NEWS
Twyford Rethinks Its Plastic this Christmas AN ECO-FRIENDLY Advent challenge has been laid down by a Twyford-based community group. Twyford Rethinks Its Plastic, or TRIP, is asking everyone to have a go a taking 24 steps to enjoy a more environmentally friendly Christmas this year. And they can support local businesses at the same time. Emma Donald curated the list of activities. She said that the TRIP steering committee, which she is also a member of, thought that people would like a fun and festive way to consider the environment during their preparations for Christmas. “We hope that this will inspire others to try something new, or remember not to forget something old,” she said. Challenges laid down by the group include organising a Twyford charity shop secret Santa, finding a preloved Christmas jumper to wear, and buying their festive fizz from Stanlake Park Wine Estate, which is just outside of Twyford. The full list also includes lots of tips to reduce use of plastics. Details will be unveiled daily on the group’s Facebook page. n For more information, visit: twyfordtogether.org/our-impact/ twyford_rethinks-its-plastic
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
Wokingham charity awards more than £43,000 to support families EXCLUSIVE By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today FROM cookers to travel cards, charitable grants have been a lifeline for residents struggling financially.
Wokingham United Charities, which has supported the borough since 1451, has awarded more than £43,000 in essential item grants since April. It has issued 119 grants, including funds for 34 cookers, 19 washing machines and 13 fridge-freezers, for families in need of support. Jane Holloway, the charity’s grants committee chair, said: “Our aim is to assist people when they need it most and relieve financial pressure in difficult times with a helping hand. Ultimately, we would hope nothing more for our charity than to be redundant, but until then we are here to help make things a little better.” It helps fund household items, including microwaves, tumble dryers, beds and mattress. Grants can be made for items up to £500, but special consideration is made for more expensive items. Sarah Lee, whose name has been changed, was given a
GRANTS: Wokingham United Charities has awarded 34 grants for cookers since April Picture: Kevin McCutcheon on Unsplash cooker for her new home. After fleeing domestic abuse with nothing, and living in temporary accommodation, Ms Lee was given permanent accommodation by the borough council. She reached out to Citizens Advice Wokingham for help with benefits assistance, where the charity discovered she was in need of a cooker. After receiving the grant approval, Ms Lee told Wokingham United Charities: “I’ve got a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat. Please pass on my sincere gratitude to your trustees. I am so grateful for the
O u r W i nter M e n u Ava i la b l e f ro m O cto b e r 20 t h . . .
cooker; it means the world to me. If I can help in the future I really will.” The charity also helps with debt-related fees and ad-hoc requests. This has included a travel card to help a Wokingham man reach his new job. Derek Chamberlain, whose name has been changed, was homeless. After reaching out to a range of support services, Mr Chamberlain secured a in Wokingham and was offered temporary accommodation. But he needed a travel card to get to work, after being
MAINS Confit Duck Leg • Thai Crispy Beef Salad • Pressed Pork Belly • Beer Battered Haddock & Chips • Queen’s Oak 1/2lb Burger • Monkfish Wrapped In Parma Ham • Daube Of Ox Cheek • Pan Fried Fillet Of Sea Bass • Calves Liver • Rib Eye Steak • Aubergine Parmigiana • Thin Sirloin SIDES Fat Chips • Skinny Fries • Parmesan & Truffle Fries • Dirty Fries • Mixed Salad • Buttered Mashed Potatoes • Parsley Chantaney Carrots • Cheesy Garlic Bread • Garlic Bread C I A B AT TA S All served with fat chips. Honey Roast Ham • Falafel Cakes • Brie & Bacon • Sirloin Steak PUDDINGS Mulled Wine Poached Pear • Chocolate Delice • Sticky Toffee Pudding • Lemon Posset • Cheese & Biscuits In addition to our winter menu we also have our festive menu from the 1st to 31st December excluding Christmas Day Call us on: 0118 996 8567 Email us at: brotherton@thequeensoak.com
w w w.thequeensoak.com Church Lane, Finchampstead, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 4LS
help with,” the spokesperson explained. “By working together with Citizens Advice Wokingham, residents have access to additional support services and can be signposted to the other local charities and organisations that can help.” Kevin James, whose name has been changed, was able to secure a grant for a bankruptcy fee after initially being assessed by Citizens Advice. Mr James had worked his whole life but struggled to make ends meet after being made redundant. He relied heavily on credit cards and was unable to clear the arrears. After realising he couldn’t clear the conpounding debts, Mr James reached out to Citizens Advice. The charity advised bankrupcy, but he could not pay the fee. Wokingham United Charities stepped in and funded the payment. Mr James is now employed and looking forward to a fresh start after clearing his debts. The charity is often able to approve a grant request within 48 hours. To apply for a grant, contact Citizens Advice Wokingham. Once reviewed, the request will be passed onto Wokingham United Charities.
‘We need mass covid jab sites now’ says Wokingham health leader n Continued from front page
S TA R T E R S Curried Parsnip Soup • Black Pudding & Chorizo Bonbon • Panko Coated King Prawns • Roquefort Blue Cheese Soufflé • Tuna Carpaccio • Potted Chicken Liver Parfait • Wild & Field Mushroom Risotto
housed outside of town. Wokingham United Charities awarded a grant for a threemonth travel card, giving Mr Chamberlain the initial support needed to find his feet in the workplace. “Understanding that essential can mean different things to different people gives Wokingham United Charities flexibility to really be able to help,” a charity spokesperson explained. The charity has given more than £9,500 more in grants this year than requested during the same time period last year. The spokesperson added: “This is astronomical and reflects the financial pressure residents are facing. “During the last eight months we have awarded 30 grants for bankruptcy and debt relief order fees — a 400% increase so far on 2020/21.” Towards the end of last year, the organisation partnered with Citizens Advice Wokingham to provide a more holistic approach. Residents’ needs are assessed, and any grant requests are passed on. “Often, when an individual or family are seeking support for an essential item there are other issues that they may need
Cllr Margetts then hopes infections rates will fall over the Christmas period. He welcomed the announcement of more jabs for schoolchildren but said that there is not enough capacity to fulfil this at the moment. He has been told by the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care System (BOB ICS) that Matthewsgreen Community Centre will be used as a mass vaccination site from Tuesday, January 4. “We welcome this, but it is still way too slow,” he said. “We need the service now. There are not enough pharmacies or GP surgeries offering booster jabs.” Cllr Margetts, who is now eligible for his own booster jab, said when booking the slot last week, was told the earliest available appointment was on Wednesday, December 29, at the Broad Street Mall
Co-op’s Xmas help A REGIONAL retailer is encouraging its shoppers to do one simple thing this Christmas in order for thousands of pounds to be donated to local food banks — scan their membership cards.
site in Reading. He said this demonstrates that there are not enough facilities locally to help reidents get their next jab. “It’s a month-long wait,” he said. “There is not enough capacity in the area, and we have been calling for improvements for months.” Cllr Margetts also said that research supports having more, smaller sites dotted around the area, so that residents can walk to their jab. This, he said, would increase vaccine uptake as it would be more convenient for residents. He said councillors from Berkshire West and Reading have worked with him on a joint letter to BOB ICS calling for improvements. “We have been told by BOB’s contractor, Oxford Health, that they do not have enough vaccinators for the job,” he added. Cllr Margetts said he also
has “grave concerns” that the vaccine bus has not been touring the area to run popup jab sites for the last two months. With cases rising and jab availability a challenge, Cllr Margetts urged residents to follow all Government advice to help stop the spread o Covid-19. “Take a lateral flow test before, and after socialising with people,” he said. “Wear a mask if you’re using public transport, and in the shops.” The councillor said that the unknown at the moment is the omnicron variant of covid. At the moment, scientists are working to understand how it reacts to vaccines. “We won’t know more about that for another week or so,” he said. “If it is viewed as a significant threat, there will likely be a change in national guidance.”
Southern Co-op has pledged to donate 10p to its food bank partners when customers scan their membership card this month. Holly Bramble, community lead at Southern Co-op, said: “Food banks provide vital support, so we really hope this campaign will make a
difference to a lot of families. “All the money raised will be split equally between more than 60 local community food banks we work with. Quite simply, the more members who shop and scan their Southern Co-op membership card, the more we can donate to our food bank partners.”
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Tilehurst author cuts the ribbon to school’s new library EXCLUSIVE By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today WOKINGHAM students checked out their new library after it was officially opened by a children’s author last week.
On Wednesday, December 1, Tilehurst-based author and poet A.F Harrold cut the ribbon to Westende Junior School’s new library. The space was transformed from the school’s old IT suite into a new multi-use library filled with colour. Headteacher Andrea Sykes explained that after joining the school two years ago, she wanted to bring her vision to life. “It really showcases the magic of reading,” she said. The school commissioned a mural to cover two of the walls, based on references to popular children’s books. It features astronauts, wizards, unicorns and many other characters scattered throughout a woodland scene. Mr Harrold said that it was a joy to cut the ribbon and open the new facility for junior pupils. “It’s smart, welcoming and inviting,” he said. He was particularly pleased to see a modern collection of stories on the shelves, and said that diversity within children’s literature is essential.
CHECK IT OUT: Children’s author A.F Harrold, headteacher Andrea Sykes, English lead Laura Ogilvie, and Year 6 head of houses open the library Pictures: Jess Warren “This feels really fresh,” he said. “We are in the golden age of children’s writing. There are so many books more relevant to children’s’ lives now. “If you’re not refreshing the stock in your library, pupils don’t have access to those books. “We all need to build empathy by reading more representative books.” After the ceremony, Mr Harrold ran writers workshops with each year group, exploring the art of poetry.
Students were invited to create their own poem as a class. “It’s all about having fun with words,” he said. He has published a collection of books, with most of his stories following the adventures of Fizzlebert Stump. Year 6 teacher and English lead, Laura Ogilvie said the move was inspired by changing technology. She explained that the “drab, old” IT suite was rarely used, as laptops are now commonplace in
the classroom. The library was moved into its new, bigger space, opening up another classroom for pupils. “We wanted to create something that would wow people as they enter the school,” she explained. “A space to really inspire reading.” Ms Ogilvie said that the room has also been designed with desks and an interactive board, so that lessons can be taught there. It can also be used to host any visitors.
NEWS | 7
The final five: artists shortlisted for Carnival work A GROUP looking for a new landmark work of art for the forthcoming Carnival Hub development says it has now ‘lit the blue touch paper’ after whittling down the 60 applicants to a shortlist of five. Arts4Wokingham says that the five artists have been tasked with specific questions about the kind of artwork they’d like to create, the materials they’ll use and the way in which they will involve the local community. They will be presenting their concepts to a commissioning panel, which includes Wokingham Today editor Phil Creighton early in the new year. Just one successful artist will be chosen to create the artwork, which will be situated as close to the opening of the Carnival Hub as possible. Robin Cops, deputy chair of Arts4Wokingham, says that the quality and range of artists wishing to take on this challenge has been quite incredible. “We’ve had expressions of interest from all over the world,” he says. “We’re in no doubt that this sculpture will really put Wokingham on the map.” Arts4Wokingham’s formal charity status underlines the group’s key aim of championing public art within the borough. It also carries practical and financial advantages for those wishing to donate or contribute towards the funding for its activities. The group welcomes residents’ views, and there is a short questionnaire which can be accessed via the Get Involved page on its website: www.arts4wokingham.com
J U M P S TA R T YO U R CHRISTMAS SPIRIT H OW D E N C H R I S T M A S R AC I N G W E E K E N D F R I DAY 1 7 T H A N D S AT U R DAY 1 8 T H D E C E M B E R Tickets from £20pp Under 18s go free Fine Dining from £169 +VAT pp Book at ascot.com
CRW21_Wokingham/ReadingToday_Half Page_W265mmH160mm.indd 1
18/11/2021 09:50
8 | NEWS
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
Chicken and the egg
M
oving home is a big decision and one that we all have to get right however the first choice is whether to
will be less in terms of pounds and pence than the growth of the one you are trying to buy. Quite simply, the longer you wait, the more expensive it becomes to move. We are currently experiencing a seller’s market with low supply and high demand so it’s a fantastic time to capitalise on the opportunity of securing a strong sale price but I understand the concern surrounding not finding a property, or feeling pressured into breaking the chain. That’s when your estate agent needs to manage expectations of your buyer to allow you time to find your next home whilst also supporting you in your search (even if it means pointing out properties listed with another estate agent).
Hat and Home Founder, Ben Gee
With Rightmove predicting a further 5% growth in prices in come to the market before you 2022, the sooner you get your have found a home to buy? move underway, the more cost effective it will be. the simple answer is…Yes! Finding the property that best caters for your requirements is no mean feat and can take dedication and perseverance especially if you need to sell your own home to facilitate the move. It is widely understood that you should at least be on the market before searching for a property but the current scarcity of available properties has left many potential sellers waiting for more choice to become available before deciding to sell theirs. This further fuels the lack of supply, creating even more urgency among those in a position to buy and prices naturally increase. Of course these price increases also apply to those homes not yet on the market but if you are looking to upsize, any growth you have seen in your property
Hat and Home is an independent Wokingham estate agency which gives a nod to tradition and a wink to nostalgia. Our mission is to make moving home a fantastic experience. If you need any help with your sale, purchase, let or rental, please just drop us a line. Hat and Home would like to wish our clients, friends, family and readers a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.
ON STAGE: Year 1 students performed their Cock-A-Doodle Christmas play Pictures: Crosfields School
Shinfield pupils take to the stage with plays PUPILS at a Shinfield school have wowed their parents in their Christmas plays. The youngest year groups at Crosfields School performed a series of funny plays as the term comes to a close. Head of Pre-Prep at the school, Janey McDowell, said
that she is always struck by the amount of hard work that goes into the productions. “It is so worthwhile as the children gain so much from taking part,” she said. “A school play is a great method for children to learn a set of skills that can benefit them in school
and life in general, including confidence, communication and teamwork.” Students in Year 1 were the first year group to take to the stage in the school’s theatre last week, singing and dancing their way through Cock-ADoodle Christmas.
They were followed by Reception who performed Whoops-A-Daisy Angel to delighted parents. The youngest year group, nursery, performed their Nursery Rhyme Nativity and Year 2 delivered their production of Peter Pan.
Covid cases are highest among ages five to nine
By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today
COVID RATES are highest in children aged five to nine, reported the borough council.
Due to the number of infections, the borough council wrote to all schools last month advising them to consider implementing key measures for the remainder of the term. This includes wearing face coverings in communal areas for staff and visitors, as well as secondary school pupils. Primary school children who are close contacts of positive cases are asked to remain at home while they wait for their PCR test results. And risk assessments on social mixing should be kept under continual review. With Covid-19 cases rising significantly amongst children and young people locally and nationally, Wokingham Borough Council is continuing to take a proactive approach in the way it supports local schools; working closely with headteachers to keep children in education and keep Covid out through their dedicated Children’s Covid-19 Taskforce. Following a dip in Covid-19 infection rates in line with the half-term break, cases are now back on the rise. In fact, the weekly case rate per 100,000 people in the borough currently sits at 677.2 (up to 1 December) – but this figure is nearly three times higher amongst children
Last chance to get involved with the Giving Tree THE LAST few chances remain to take part in this year’s Giving Tree appeal. Trees are now down to their final few tags. Each tag represents a gift for a youngster who would
aged five to nine. The council is committed to keeping all its communities safe – particularly children and young people. As such and following recommendations from the Berkshire West Health Protection Board, it wrote to all schools on 12 November, advising them to consider implementing key measures for the remainder of the autumn term. Cllr Graham Howe, executive member for children’s services, said: “Primary schools are in the eye of the Covid storm right now and the taskforce are working tirelessly to support them in every way possible. “It’s a similar picture in secondary schools, though the vaccination programme for 12- to 15-year-olds has helped to ease the pressure slightly, as many young people were able to get protected ahead of, and during, the half term break. “There are still a few weeks left of term and we are calling upon the community to be understanding of decisions made by our schools. Ultimately, when a child is in school, the school is responsible for safeguarding them, and head teachers will always put children’s best interest at the heart of everything they do. “Each school will make its own decisions based on staffing and local circumstances, so what might be possible in one might not in another.” Cllr Howe added: “We’re all keen to get
otherwise go without this Christmas. Organiser Gill Mckernan and her team of helpers have been regularly topping up tags and collecting returned gifts since the campaign launched. She reminded residents to check the return date on their tags to ensure the gift is returned to its tree by the deadline.
back to a more normal way of life and want to celebrate together in the run-up to Christmas. But the risk of catching and passing the virus on remains.” He said that where possible, the council is supporting schools to go ahead with Christmas events and will always advise on the most appropriate options based on circumstances. The Covid-19 Children’s Taskforce is also supporting local independent schools, and recently arranged for a mobile PCR testing unit to visit Holme Grant School in Wokingham, following an outbreak of cases in all year groups. Headteacher Claire Robinson said: “Wokingham Borough Council and [the] NHS have been absolutely fantastic in working with us to stop the spread of covid in our school. Thank you so much for working with us to ensure our children come first and [that] we do all we can to keep our schools open.” The Taskforce is in daily contact with headteachers by phone, email, and virtual meetings to provide advice, guidance, and important information to share with parents and guardians. Outside of schools, the council is urging resident to wear a face covering inside shops and on public transport. It said that all contacts of suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of their vaccination status. They will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
Giving Trees locations: Tesco Wokingham (tags for gift vouchers only) Tesco Warfield Tesco Martin Heron Newbury Building Society Nirvana Spa Wokingham Library Sedero Lounge Wokingham
Charities that benefit: Barnardo’s
Sebastian’s Action Trust Look Ahead Care Berkshire Women’s Aid Kaleidoscopic UK Transform Housing Home Start Berkshire Young Carers Dingley’s Promise The Cow Shed Building For The Future First Days Children’s Charity Berkshire Vision
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
NEWS | 9
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Record breaking year for the 100th Wokingham Poppy Appeal EXCLUSIVE
By PHIL CREIGHTON pcreighton@wokingham.today IT’S BEEN 100 years in the making, and it’s a recordbreaker.
This year, Wokingham’s Poppy Appeal has raised £58,038.91 — the highest ever. And as a result, its organiser, David Dunham, has been recognised as one of 100 poppy collectors across the country for his dedication and hard work as a Royal British Legion volunteer. This is quite a niche recognition, as so many people were nominated, but Mr Dunham was one of the people chosen. He received a Legion 100 pin as a thank you. He helped coordinate groups across Wokingham to create the donations. Mr Dunham said he had been involved with the Poppy Appeal since a child and has been delighted to see it develop and progress over the years. In 1966, it raised more than £1,000. The £58,000 included £5,494 raised from Barkham Hookers, who crocheted poppies and other bespoke orders. The pop-up Poppy Appeal shop in Wokingham’s town centre raised £13,000.
RECORD: The Wokingham Poppy Appeal raised more than £58,000 this year Picture: Phil Creighton Collections outside Waitrose saw shoppers donate £16,998, Tesco shoppers donated £9,749, and schools raised £6,000. There were also collections at shops and businesses, community spaces and churches around town, bringing in another £6,817.91 Mr Dunham was delighted with Wokingham’s generosity. “A huge thank you to all the volunteers, businesses, community groups and members of the public who have come out this year to help us raise money in support of the Royal British Legion Poppy
Appeal,” he said. “As always, there have been collections across our community, each of them important in raising much needed funds for the Poppy Appeal as well as awareness of the Royal British Legion and the work they do for our armed forces. “Every donation for every poppy goes directly towards work helping members or former members of the Armed Forces community – including those in the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force as well as the British Army.”
‘Don’t drink drive this Christmas’ THAMES Valley Police is urging residents not to risk it this Christmas. The force has launched its annual Operation Holly campaign, to encourage drivers to think before they get behind the wheel. The campaign combines educational and enforcement activity. Thames Valley Police say that driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
can be a major contributory factor to increasing the chances of road users being killed or seriously injured in a road traffic collision. Last year saw officers conduct 527 breath tests and 105 drug wipes in the Thames Valley. Of those breath tests, 27 were positive and of the drug wipes, 68 were positive. Sergeant Dave Hazlett, of the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, said: “Every year, we find
that people still take to the roads having drunk too much alcohol or having taken drugs that will impair their driving.” He urged residents to plan ahead and know how they are going to get home after drinking so they are not getting behind the wheel. And it is also important to plan the morning after. “It’s always possible that you may still be over the limit the next morning,” he said.
He praised the Barkham Hookers for their efforts. “They have once again beautifully decorated the town in poppies and crocheted their way to raising a staggering amount towards the appeal this year,” Mr Dunham said. “Thank you never seems enough, but I’d like to mention Wokingham Borough Council for allowing us to have a popup shop in Peach Street, and Waitrose and Tesco for enabling us to collect outside of their stores. “And to Wokingham Town Council, thank you for
your continued support and marking Remembrance Day and Armistice Day within our community.” He also praised the large number of volunteers who help with the appeal every year. “There is a tremendous amount of work involved,” Mr Dunham said. “But for the team around me, we wouldn’t have had the success we have. “Thank you especially to all of them, but a lady who is no longer with us, Sue Lardge, remains such an inspiration to all of us, so this year is especially dedicated to her.”
Electric car charge points for streets ELECTRIC car charge points are coming to street parking in Wokingham. The borough council’s executive approved a smallscale rollout of about 36 on-street points in residential areas. And residents can have their say after preferred locations are decided. The plan also includes adding charge points to 10 council car parks. The council would invest £66,000, a quarter of the cost, which it plans to recover from user charge prices. But it hinges on securing £198,000 through Government funding this financial year. After 18 months, the charging points’ effectiveness will be reviewed, with findings informing the council’s future electric vehicle strategy. The council will identify sites by working with the Energy Saving Trust to work out where demand is greatest, using previous resident surveys, number of EV registrations and other data including numbers of properties with no parking. Cllr Gregor Murray, executive member for resident services, communications and emissions, said: “Cars account for more than a quarter of carbon emissions, so there is a clear benefit in achieving a reduction in this area.”
s a m t s i Chr IS g n i m o C
Now taking Christmas Bookings Festive menu available 1st - 24th December
Christmas Day
3 courses + Free glass of bubbles £45 per person 12:00pm - 16:00pm
BOOK NOW www.the-pheasant-hotel.co.uk 0118 978 4529 355 Reading Road, Winnersh, RG41 5LR
10 | NEWS
Shoebox trains THERE’S still time to take a shoebox to the train station, but you’ve got to be quick about it as the final day is Saturday. South Western Railway is urging passengers to join in its annual festive appeal, aimed at helping vulnerable children and adults. Last year, despite covid restrictions, it collected 750 shoeboxes and more than 650 individual gifts. This time, it is hoping to collect even more. Staff at participating stations, including Waterloo where the Reading line terminates, are collecting the donations. Each shoebox should be packed with gifts that can be given to children, adults or the homeless. Individual gift donations are also welcomed. Together with partners Adecco Rail and STM, South Western Railway will share donations with charities across its network. Jim O’Brien, Station Contracts Manager for SWR, is coordinating the appeal. He said that its partner charities provide support all year round, but the holiday season can be difficult for many. Donations can also be left at Ascot, Basingstoke, Clapham
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
All the fun of the fayre ... Woodley celebrates the return of Christmas CHRISTMAS came to Woodley, thanks to the return of its winter extravaganza. The annual event has been given a new look and a new name, but the intent is the same — to help residents mark the start of the festive season by having fun and raising money for charity. The event was opened this year by the Earley town mayor, Cllr Janet Sartorel. Before this, there were short speeches by Maidenhead MP Theresa May, Reading East MP Matt Rodda, Woodley town centre manager Brian Fennelly, and Wokingham borough mayor and Woodley town council leader Cllr Keith Baker. Mr Fennelly thanked people for coming: “It’s great to see you on this cold day, I appreciate you turning out,” he said. Mrs May said: “Please enjoy yourselves, have a great time, and a very happy Christmas everybody.” Mr Roddda praised Woodley for being a “fantastic, vibrant place” and urged people to “really enjoy Christmas, spend lots of money and support local small businesses.” Cllr Baker thanked Mr Fennelly for his hard work as Woodley’s town centre manager,
NORTH POLE: Father Christmas was supported by the Woodley & Earley Lions All pictures: Steve Smyth and highlighted Woodley residents winning some of the awards at Friday’s Pride of Reading ceremony. “Enjoy yourselves,” he added, “Put your hands in your pockets, take what’s in it, unfold it and pop it in the charity buckets please.” And Cllr Sartorel reminded residents that if last year’s event had gone ahead it would have been the 25th anniversary of the first event. “We couldn’t celebrate,” she
said. “So this year is our silver anniversary.” She encouraged people to purchase “some wonderful gifts” while visiting and said that she had the best job of all for the day in declaring the fayre open. The MPs and mayors then went on a tour of the fayre, with Mrs May buying several items from stalls, and posing for numerous photos with residents. As in previous years, there were a range of charity and
SONG TIME: Crowds gathered for a piano-playing nun
craft stalls around the shopping precinct, with a mixture of items to buy and games to play. Charities taking part included the Women’s Institute, Rotary
clubs and Oxfam. There was street entertainment provided by Circus Scene including jugglers and a singing nun.
NEWS | 11
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
South East Water Customer Service given distinction
FUNDRAISING: The Woodley WI stall sell Christmas gifts TREATS: The 1st. Woodley Scouts ran a tombola stall to fundraise for the group
TOMBOLA: The RSPCA stall A variety of local groups, clubs and musicians entertained on stage, including Pauly Zarb, Starlet, and Steppin Out Stars of Tomorrow. All in all, the day was judged to be a success. Mrs May said: “It’s absolutely fantastic that Woodley was able to come together and have this Christmas fayre. “There are lots of people enjoying themselves, and lots of people saying how wonderful it is just to be together.”
FROM LEFT: Theresa May MP, Matt Rodda MP, Cllr Keith Baker borough mayor, Brian Fennelly town centre manager FUN: Children enjoy the and Cllr Janet Sartorel Woodley town mayor rides at the fayre She also praised the number of charity stalls present. A similar sentiment was echoed by Mr Rodda. “It’s wonderful after what’s happened during the last two years to see people coming together, able to celebrate Christmas. “They’ve visited local shops and stalls. “It’s absolutely wonderful, and really lovely to see the effort that has been made by small businesses and charities.”
Cllr Baker said that the event had been brilliant, and the attendance levels should “a pentup demand from people wanting to come out to events like the Woodley Christmas fayre.” He added: “We’ve had more stalls than we’ve ever had before, and there’s been a lot of residents, even in this bitterly cold weather.” He praised the people entertaining visitors. “The Christmas fair wouldn’t be a proper fair without this
WELCOME: Residents listen to a welcome speech before the event
sort of entertainment, not just the showcase of the various groups of stag, but also the street entertainment. “There was an amazing guy on a mobile piano I’ve never seen before. “He was fantastic.” Mr Fenelly said that Sunday had been a “proper winter’s day for the festival”, but despite the cold, he was pleased with the attendance levels. “We’re absolutely delighted with the amount of people that
came,” he explained. “We were a little apprehensive, what with everything that’s going on, but delighted with the amount of people that came. “Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and the entertainment has been great. “There’s been a lot of young people working really hard in rehearsing for it. “Their efforts are very much appreciated by the Woodley crowd.”
Opening Hours – Mon-Sat 9am – 5:30pm and Sunday – 10am – 4pm General Enquiries – 0118 338 8760 Restaurant Bookings – 0118 338 8762
www.berkshiregardener.co.uk The Berkshire Gardener, Bath Road, Hare Hatch, Berkshire RG10 9SB
STAFF at one of the borough’s water companies are celebrating after it has been given the ServiceMark Accreditation with Distinction from The Institute of Customer Service. The ServiceMark is an independent scheme that recognised South East Water’s customer service and its commitment to upholding service standards. It is based on customer satisfaction feedback and an assessment of employee engagement with customer service strategy. Tanya Sephton, South East Water’s customer services director, said: “This is a real testament to all our people’s efforts and passion to provide a 10 out of 10 service. “It is our vision to be the water company people want to be supplied by and want to work for and to get this on our first attempt is a remarkable achievement.” The Institute’s ServiceMark Assessment report noted: “Customers are clearly at the forefront of what South East Water does, employees put themselves in their customers’ shoes and show empathy and appreciation for their customers’ challenges.”
12 | NEWS
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
Woodley duo collect gifts for community EXCLUSIVE By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today A WOODLEY duo are hoping to spread Christmas cheer this winter with their gift appeal.
FROM LEFT: Harry Hanks, who planted the Strawberry Pippin apple tree, and Carolyn Hanks, Theresa May MP, Gavin and Eva Hanks Picture: Mike Heath
Tree-mendous community spirit VOLUNTEERS in Charvil spent a weekend braving the weather to plant trees in the village last month. It was part of two green initiatives being carried out by Charvil Parish Council in response to the climate emergency declared by Wokingham Borough Council. The work took place despite the wind and rain on Saturday, November 27, and Sunday, November 28. Theresa May MP was also there to show her support by planting the final tree of the weekend. Mrs May, who attended the COP 26 summit in Glasgow,
said that she was pleased that the event had come to fruition, thanks to the community effort. “Tree planting was highlighted by the summit as essential to the health of the planet,” she said. The first set of trees were planted at St Patrick’s recreation ground, Park View Drive North, as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy. The project was created to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee next year. It is hoped that the 24 silver birches and one small leaf lime planted will enhance the landscape at the park. A further 15 trees, including
rowan and crab apple, will be planted around the parish next spring. A community orchard was also started, with six fruit trees planted behind the village hall on Park Lane. Residents have sponsored the trees. As well as planting them, it is hoped sponsors will look after their tree until it is established. Mike Heath, chair of the parish council, said that this will become an annual event until 30 trees are planted in the orchard. He hopes that free fruit will be enjoyed in the future, and said that the project also supports the environment and wildlife.
Stephanie Haanstra and Vikki Harris are collecting gifts for two causes close to their hearts. The friends of more than 20 years started the appeal four years ago, which has grown massively during this time, explained Ms Haanstra. It was first launched to support elderly people with dementia living at Shinfield View Care Home, following the death of Ms Harris’ grandmother. “We wanted to do something that we knew would have made her happy and proud by giving to those that may not have a family to enjoy Christmas with,” Ms Haanstra said. Both of their families have elderly relatives with dementia, and know the impact it can have, Ms Haanstra explained. She said: “We donate to all elderly people which is a reward in itself seeing how happy they are. “When it comes to dementia residents, we know that the five minutes of joy we give them will be shortly forgotten. But
APPEAL: The gifts will be given to Shinfield View Care Home, and Berkshire Women’s Aid Picture: Ben White on Unsplash
it’s lovely and heart-warming to see just how happy they are in those five minutes they will forget, but we never will.” She said it is rewarding to see the impact their Christmas visit can have on the care home’s community. This year, the appeal has been expanded to include Berkshire Woman’s Aid. Both women have experienced domestic violence, and have close friends who have been supported by the charity, Ms Haanstra explained. “There are more families than before suffering at the hands of domestic violent partners and having to flee their homes with nothing more than a bin bag of belongings,” she said.
“We wanted to be able to help the children that have been affected by this.” They are accepting toys, educational games, toothbrushes and toiletry gift sets for the children, from their Amazon Wish-list. For the elderly, socks, scarves, toiletries and puzzles are being gifted. So far, more than 300 gift donations have been made. “The support we have received has been absolutely amazing, as it is every year,” Ms Haanstra said. “It will make so many people happy. “The appeal has grown massively over the years through people’s kindness and generosity. Last year, even with covid, we still managed to collect donations and deliver them to the home, and we will continue to do so.” The friends will be handdelivering the gifts this year, and spending time with care home residents in their garden. The deadline for donating a present is Friday, however Ms Haanstra said that she is able to accept some late donations in preparation for deliveries on Saturday, December 18. n For more information, both women are contactable on Facebook.
Trusted to care Award winning care homes Our highly trained care home teams are specialists in residential, nursing, dementia and respite care, so whatever your needs and personal preferences, we’re here to help you and your family at every step of the journey. If you’re considering care for yourself or a loved one, call 0343 253 8606 or visit careuk.com/berkshire
Our care homes in Berkshire Bickerton House, Bracknell Parsons Grange, Shinfield
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
13
14 | NEWS
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
All Saints CE Primary School
Emmbrook Junior School
Foundry College
High Close School
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
WREATH: Pupils from Evendons Primary School present their festive decoration to Wokingham town mayor Cllr Tony Lack at the annual dressing the Christmas tree ceremony on Monday Pictures: Wokingham Town Council
Pupils help decorate town’s tree Emmbrook Infant School
Keep Hatch Primary School
Westende Junior School
St Paul’s CofE Primary School
SHEEPLANDS
PLANT CENTRE - CAFÉ - FARM SHOP
Walter Infant School
Westcott Infants School
WOKINGHAM’S Christmas tree is looking pretty thanks to the efforts of the borough’s schoolchildren. On Monday, the annual dressing the Christmas tree event returned to Market Place, as Wokingham Town Council mayor Cllr Tony Lack welcomed pupils and their hand-made craftwork. The service started with a short welcome from Cllr Lack and the chair of the town council’s arts and culture committee Cllr Sally Gurney.
The Hawthorns Primary School
After singing Away In A Manger, decorations were brought up from High Close School, Foundry College and Evendons Primary schools. Oh Little Town of Bethlehem was the next carol, and that was followed by presentations from Wescott Infants, Emmbrook Infants and Walter Infants. Decorations from Keep Hatch Primary, All Saints CE primary, and The Hawthorns
followed the singing of While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night. Silent Night was followed by presentations from Westende Juniors, Emmbrook Juniors, St Paul’s CofE Juniors, and The Holt School. To close, the assembled sang Hark The Herald Angle Sing and Oh Come All Ye Faithful. The decorations are now on display on the tree, which has been erected next to the town hall.
The Holt School
A FARM SHOP FULL OF CHRISTMAS CHEER
Visit our Friendly Farm Shop & Plant Centre to pick up everything you need for a tasty and fun filled Christmas. Christmas Trees, decorations, nibbles, chocolates, gifts, Christmas beers & Christmas Spirits!
TREES & WREATHS
Choose from the Kings & Queens of Fresh Christmas Trees in our covered sales area. Also Gorgeous Handmade Wreaths
A ‘FREE FROM’
0118 9401600 info@hhsheep.co.uk www.harehatchsheeplands.co.uk London Road, Hare Hatch. RG10 9HW
Late Night Shopping Santa’s Grotto & Breakfasts Book Online from 4th Dec & Tasting Evening Christmas Music Tue 14 Dec 5.30 - 9pm Charvil Voices 11 & 18 Dec 11-12 Lindi Antiques Fayre 10 - 3.30 Sun 19 Dec
Twyford Singers 18 Dec 1-2 Ukelele Jam 14 Dec 10-11.30
Christmas too!
15
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
CHRISTMAS AT
WOKINGHAM MARKET We have it all here Open 9am – 3pm
e Festive M
Fin e Fo
od &
nk Dri
ea d
at s
at s
ke y&
Br
a Frui t & Veget
r Tu
Fre
sh
bl es
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays
, Cakes & Tre
Gi f ts &
rs Hampe
Pre-order your Turkey, Festive meats, and Fruit & Veg now! Stall holders vary each day www.wokingham-tc.gov.uk/markets
-
FB @Wokinghammarket
-
07847 602186
16 | NEWS
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
Honest motherhood
Poet Clare is crackers for h
Angela Garwood
By NATALIE BURTON nburton@wokingham.today
The Countdown
I
AM feeling frazzled. I have just spent the last hour scouring the internet for presents. This can often yield highly unsatisfying results.
I find hunting for potential gifts online incredibly difficult, mainly because I get easily distracted and start finding things for myself or the house. Searching for a gift from my Great Aunt on the Anthropologie website last night, I ended up in the sale section convincing myself we needed some vibrant overpriced new tea towels. Then I found the doormats. “What do you think of this?! I LOVE it.” I send a photo of a funky mat to Joel. “Oh love it, order it.” I didn’t. We already have a functioning doormat. This wasn’t good. I was straying way off course. Despite the crowds, I much prefer going into real-life shops to choose that something special. I felt a disproportionate sense of achievement the other day when I left Oliver Bonas with two pairs of socks for friends, as part of our annual Socks ‘n’ Chocs tradition. The end-point action of gift-giving itself I love, the actual handing over of the object, that’s always a feel good. It’s the decision making at the beginning I loathe. I’ve taken to asking certain friends for a shortlist of books for me to choose from. This is a win-win for all. I don’t have to rack my brains thinking of a suitable gift and I can take comfort in the certainty of knowing this is something they actually want. Plus I always like to encourage reading. I’ve stopped bothering to ask Maia for a Christmas list now, she only repeats “I don’t know Mummy” whenever I bring it up. Instead, we’ll walk into pretty much any shop in Wokingham and she’ll gravitate towards the toys, games or hair accessories on display. “Can I have this?” (Holding yet another Pop It fidget toy, despite already owning one, she wants the exact same thing in a different shape.) “Put it on your list.” Her birthday was in October, so I always feel as though I’ve used up all the good presents then. Thankfully, eight-year-olds are relatively easy to buy for. She still loves Lego and unicorns and anything covered in gems. Then there was the recent rainbow glitter explosion on our dining room table that makes me think I should stock up on that too. While I’m still in the minefield of presentpurchasing, there is one big decision we have finalised; the size of our tree. A yearly topic of debate between Joel and me, (he always wants to go big, I want to save a few pennies and get something that doesn’t dominate the room) we’re forced to swing my way this time for practical reasons. The presence of Leo’s playpen in our dining room means we simply don’t have the space for anything substantial. We’ve agreed on a small but most definitely charming and gloriously decorated tree placed on a suitably-tinsel-adorned book stand in the corner. I intend to show Joel it doesn’t have to be huge to be magical. Speaking of festive magic, we recently went to watch Joel’s Mum playing the ukulele with the No Strings Attached group at the Wokingham Winter Carnival . (Which wasn’t easy with Leo’s pushchair.) A fantastically lively performance, we clapped and bopped and sang along, inches away from the strings as Leo slept soundly. We were no doubt the most enthusiastic fanbase present. From one stage to another, Maia will be in Aladdin this week, her first-ever Stagecoach show. She has two lines, many songs, and some new jazz shoes. I am a very proud Stage Mum.
Angela blogs at The Colourful Kind
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
A CROWTHORNE poet is celebrating the release of her latest poetry collection.
BRUNCH: Pancakes are on the menu Picture: Chef and Brewer
Brunch is Wokingham’s favourite meal
WOKINGHAM has become a borough of self-confessed brunchers, according to a Barkham eatery. According to a poll by Ye Olde Leathern Bottel pub, more than half of us eat brunch several times each week. The pub has just launched its own festive brunch menu, hoping to tap into the demand. Four in 10 now eat brunch more often than they did before the pandemic, with an indulgent 13% of those polled eating it everyday. This rose to three in 10 amongst 18-to-24-year-olds questioned. Savoury dishes have swung the vote, with seven in 10 preferring a full English breakfast to pancakes. And a fifth of those polled enjoy their brunch with a tipple or two. Wokingham residents say that they would most like to dine with
the Queen, as well as Dame Judi Dench, David Beckham, Sir Tom Jones, Mary Berry and Martin Kemp. Klaudyna Wolanska, general manager at the Ye Olde Leathern Bottel, said: “For a long time now, brunch has been the preferred — if not revered — weekend meal for many of us. “It’s proving particularly popular as we enter the festive period, and we have some delicious dishes to try, including Beef Rib Hash for those looking for a heartier meal, and Chocolate Baked Oats for those looking for a sweet treat. “This latest addition to our menus provides the perfect excuse for festive fun.” The festive brunch menu is available from 9.30am until 11.15am on weekends until Sunday, January 2.
The best movie soundtrack?
IT’S the one that you want — and that’s official. The soundtrack to the hit musical Grease has been named the UK’s favourite movie soundtrack. A poll by Showcase Cinemas reveals the iconic 1978 flick saw off stiff competition from Dirty Dancing and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again to claim top spot. The research also found that the UK’s favourite song from a movie soundtrack is ‘I will Always Love you’ from The Bodyguard, while ‘Bare Necessities’ from Jungle Book and ‘Circle of Life’ from The Lion King tied for favourite song from an animated movie. In the battle to be crowned the UK’s favourite tune from an animated movie, Baloo the Bear from 1967’s Jungle Book took joint top spot with ‘The Bare Necessities’ alongside the Elton John composition ‘Circle of Life’ from Disney favourite The Lion King. Support from the younger generation saw 21st century favourite “Let it Go” from Frozen propelled into the top three. Perhaps the most surprising result from the study saw one in five people (22%) choose “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” from Evita as their favourite song from a musical. The Andrew Lloyd Webber composition edged its way to the top of the list despite fierce competition from Grease’s “Summer Nights” (21%) and “Grease” (20%), which both landed inside the top three. Mark Barlow, UK General Manager for Showcase Cinemas,
said: “The big screen has provided us with so many iconic soundtracks over the years that it is near impossible to choose a favourite. However, with its enduring popularity, Grease took top spot, having maintained its status throughout several generations. “Elsewhere it was interesting to see the UK was unable to decide when it came to their favourite song from an animated movie, with both ‘The Bare Necessities’ and ‘Circle of Life’ providing a heart-warming dose of nostalgia whenever they are heard. “We are looking forward to the release of the latest instalment of the Ghostbusters franchise, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and it was great to see a huge amount of people still recognise the iconic song ‘Ghostbusters (Who Ya Gonna Call?)’.” The survey also revealed that more than seven in 10 people (71%) said a good film soundtrack is important to them, with only one in five saying it doesn’t matter to their enjoyment of a movie.
Clare Bevan’s Christmas Cracker is the author’s new book of children’s poems. And she also illustrated the book. She is a familiar face in schools and libraries around the area and often holds readings of her work. Her love for poetry began when she was a pupil at Wilson Primary School, Reading, where she was encouraged to write by one of her teachers. “I was never any good at PE,” she said. “So Mrs Barnes allowed me stay in to write and draw.” Clare eventually became a primary school teacher, working in a unit for children with additional needs. This experience had a lasting impact on her life. “One of my girls, who was in a wheelchair, said that there were never any heroes like her in books,” she explained. “So I took that as a challenge to make my work inclusive.” It is also the reason she uses her profile as a successful children’s author to support a charity close to her heart. Clare explains: “A pupil I taught died quite young from muscular dystrophy. It is a horrible disease.” She has been involved with Muscular Dystrophy UK for more than 40 years. Her latest book comes from a love for reading Christmas-themed poems out loud. She began to write and perform her festive compositions as a member of Bracknell Drama Club in the 1980s. “This book is just some of the many Christmas poems I have written since then,” she says. “School nativity plays and Rudolph the reindeer feature.” Clare also writes with reading aloud
CHRISTMAS CRACKER: Clare Bevan’s new bo in mind: “I find performing poetry creates more of a connection with the words and meaning,” she says. “And after everything that’s been going on, I wanted to cheer people up.” She is currently working on an poetry book for adults. Clare Bevan’s Christmas Cracker is available to order in bookshops now, or from Ronnies in Crowthorne. Below is one of her poems.
THE DONKEY by Clare Bevan I am the Donkey Because I am strong.
Cycling, puzzles and China feature in Tilehurst books TWO TILEHUSRT authors are pleased to be sharing their interests with others, after publishing their latest books. Neil Somerville and Rob Stallard are members of Thames Valley Writers’ Circle. The group supports budding authors of fiction and nonfiction of any genre. Neil’s book, The Cycling Puzzle Book, came from his love of both cycling and puzzle books. He is a keen cyclist who has ridden many of Berkshire’s cycle routes during the 40 years he has lived in Tilehurst. “Cycling is one of life’s great pleasures,” he says. “It is a great way to get around and exercise at the same time.” His love for cycling meant that Neil enjoyed compiling this set of puzzles. “But rather than exercising the body, this book is a chance to let cycling exercise the brain,” he added.
The book has a variety of puzzles for readers to solve, each with a cycling-related theme. Puzzlers can figure out sudokus, word searches and criss-crosses. They will also be challenged to work out what famous cyclists have said and the meaning of cycling terms such as bonk and squirrel. Neil has been a puzzle compiler for newspapers and magazines, and has had more than 50 books published. Rob’s book, Cracking China, is the result of a long held interest in Chinese culture and tradition. It goes back to being a Cambridge University student. The renowned sinologist Jospeh Needham was master of Rob’s college, Gonville and Caius. His interest deepened when he moved to Reading. “I attended a course on Chinese culture and language at the Meadway Centre in 1988,” Rob explains. “And I’m
NEWS |
s Christmas her new book
Pubs highlighted in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide
WPR_2021‑12‑06_TheWokinghamPaper_33x2 (1)_Just Go
WorcesterObserver
Reader travel HISTORIC YORK & the Dales
HistoricYork&theDales_D.pdf
Departing Mon 21 Mar ‘22
LOCAL: Pubs across Reading feature Picture: Louis Hansel via Unsplash
ook features festive poems and illustrations I clump round the stage While my class sings a song. My costume is heavy And scratchy and grey, I can’t see my feet With this mask in the way. I stand next to Joseph For hours and hours — I yawn and I fidget While Gabriel glowers. Then my mask sort of slips And my ears sort of wiggle; Our teacher looks cross
But the Mums start to giggle. So now, feeling cheerful, I wiggle some more; Our Teacher looks wild But the Dads start to roar. My ears are so happy They’re flapping like flies; The parents are snorting And mopping their eyes. What’s rattled our Teacher ? My ears might be wonky But EVERYONE says I’m a brilliant Donkey.
PUBS across Berkshire have shown “great resilience” despite the challenges and lockdowns in the corona virus pandemic. The CAMRA Good Beer Guide says that while seven new watering holes have opened, the same number have closed. In total, the Central Southern region, which includes Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, records a total of 177 pubs, with 26 newly listed, plus 64 breweries. CAMRA have published the 49th edition of the best-selling The Good Beer Guide, with contributors encouraging readers to support their local pubs and breweries in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. While last year’s edition of the Guide captured data precovid, the 2022 edition shows the ramifications of 18 months of lockdown on the industry. CAMRA has been calling on the Government to go further with its support package for pubs and breweries, and to help mitigate the damage done to a sector in recovery, still scarred by extended closures. Nationally, the 2022 Guide found that the total number of independent UK breweries has risen to 1,902 in 2021 from 1,816 in 2020* — the highest number of breweries recorded in the Guide since publication began in 1974, and
a national increase after recording the first decline in brewery numbers since 2008 in the previous edition. However, while 138 breweries have opened this year and are newly listed in the Guide, 75 have closed. The Guide surveys 4,500 pubs across the UK, and is considered the definitive beer drinker’s guide to the best pints in the most picturesque and friendly pubs. Despite being hampered by lockdowns and restrictions in the early part of this year, thousands of independent volunteers have worked to compile this year’s entries, helping to identify significant trends and themes locally and nationally. CAMRA National Chairman Nik Antona said: “After the struggles of the past 18 months for the industry, it is great that The Good Beer Guide figures are showing the resilience of pubs and brewers in the face of strife – a national increase in brewery numbers after they dipped last year for the first time, as well as over 500 new pub entries.” The foreword for this year’s edition of The Good Beer Guide was written by best-selling singer and owner of the Fox & Pheasant pub in Chelsea James Blunt, who has thrown his support behind the Great British pub and reflected on the industry’s struggles during the coronavirus pandemic.
POETRY CORNER Year in Haiku
now vice president of the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding.” The main aim of the book is to give readers an insight into a country they may not know much about, other than its recent political history. Rob said he is keen for readers not to judge China entirely on it. “There are millennia of Chinese history, and so much science and culture originated there,” he says. “Martial arts like Tai Chi are the most
well-known.” There are signs that Rob’s mission to promote understanding is working. His website, China Sage, which is the basis for the book, gets much of its traffic from education settings in the United States. Both books are available from bookshops and online. n For more information, visit: www. neilsomerville.com or log on to: crackingchina.info
Autumn they rake and collect russet leaves falling like snow, satisfying scrunch
Optional excursion to Knaresborough & Harrogate (£10pp)
5 Days by Coach
only £159
.99
Single Supplement £60
F1 SPECTACULAR The British Grand Prix
BritishGrandPrix4daysbyRail_D.pdf
Departing Sat 2 Jul ‘22 Don’t miss the chance to experience the drama of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the Home of British Motorsport! Whether you are a wide‑eyed first‑timer or seasoned veteran, the oldest race in the F1 calendar promises an exhilarating weekend.
Your break includes
Upgrade to the Luffield Grandstand for £195pp
Summer they sit side by side the birds sound happier now their garden grows and glows Late Summer faded wilted blooms they pick and gorge on berries over ripe, squash sweet
Your break includes Return coach travel from Wokingham 4 nights at a selected hotel in the Leeds area with dinner & breakfast 2 for 1 bar (6pm‑9pm) on selected drinks Excursions to York, Skipton Market & Grassington
Return coach travel from Wokingham Overnight stay at a selected 3‑star hotel with breakfast Admission to the F1 British Grand Prix on Saturday and Sunday (General Admission ticket), with coach transfer
Spring light awakens them evening lasts longer, lighter fresh green shoots appear
AUTHORS: Neil Somerville and Rob Stallard are members of Thames Valley Writers’ Circle
Join us on this lovely short break to beautiful Yorkshire, where we combine the rolling hills, panoramic landscapes and charming towns of the Yorkshire Dales with the historic city of York, famous for its glorious Minster and warren of narrow streets.
2 Days by Coach
only £349 Winter they watch, hand in hand sitting quietly, landscape bare, bleak, diluted.
Tina Cathleen MacNaughton 2021
We love receiving your poetry. Submit your verse to letters@wokingham.today
Single Supplement £35
Operated by Just Go Holidays Ltd. Coach package holidays and short breaks are subject to Just Go! Holidays terms and conditions. Your booking is protected by Bonded Coach Holidays (BCH) and the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT); this is a government approved consumer protection scheme. Tours offered subject to availability and government guidelines. Errors and omissions excepted. Prices per person, based on two people sharing a double/twin room. Calls to 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply.
For more information, or to book, please call
03332 342 527 Quote WPR
or visit justgoholidays.com/WPR 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply.
34 | VIEWPOINTS
WOKINGHAM.TODAY THE VOICE OF THE BOROUGH
Poppy appeal is led by a champion IT IS pleasing to report that Wokingham’s Poppy Appeal raised its largest-ever sum, in its centenary year. Wokingham, you have once again done us proud with your generosity. To all the volunteers who stood in all weathers collecting money, selling poppies and merchandise, thank you. To the Barkham Hookers, you have played an important part by creating crocheted poppies that can be used yearin, year-out, thank you. To the people who helped make the shop in Wokingham town centre happen, thank you. To those who showcased their vehicles and shared stories with curious people, thank you. To the supermarkets, banks, businesses and schools who had poppy collection points, thank you. And to the schools, teaching children the importance of remembrance, while also doing your bit for the appeal, thank you. But there is one person, above all others, who we need to thank. A modest chap who will no doubt be blushing and wishing us to shine a light at others. However, without the drive and vision of appeal organiser, David Dunham, Wokingham’s Poppy Appeal would not be the same. We are grateful for your commitment and for being an inspiration to many. David, thank you for what you do.
CHURCH NOTES
Angel, second class
I
T’S a Wonderful Life is one of the alltime Christmas film classics.
A story of trial and tribulation, of desperation and of sacrifice and ultimately a reminder of the impact your actions can have on others. There are many messages we can take from it and, while by the end of it we are left with a warm glow, the question that strikes me is, why did Clarence have to earn his wings? What made him unworthy? Apparently, “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings”. Clarence refers to having to earn his wings so he will no longer be ‘an angel second class’. The Bible makes no differentiation, the message of great joy brought by the angels to the shepherds in the New Testament is for everyone. No one can earn the right to be in Heaven, you simply must believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on a cross as a sacrifice for your sin, allowing you access to eternity in Heaven. Clarence brought a message of joy to George Bailey, reminding him that he was loved, valued, and needed – a message that so many people need to hear today. We don’t need an angel to remind us of this, nor does an angel need to earn his wings to get this message to us, it is a free message – all you have to do is believe, simple really, so what’s stopping you?
Claire Revie from Norreys Church, writing on behalf of Churches Together in Wokingham
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
Your letters
Send your thoughts to letters@wokingham.today
‘The local party has a real problem’ IT should have come as little surprise that Wokingham Conservatives voted against a motion to support a demonstration to end violence against women and girls: remember how the leader of the Council had to be shamed into belatedly stating the party’s support for the Black Lives Matter campaign? It was like drawing teeth and did substantial damage to both his and its reputation. Unfortunately, it seems illustrative of matters much wider than equality - whatever the issue, the Executive is consistently on the wrong side of the argument: housing (over) development in inappropriate locations, insufficient help for the Borough’s poor (yes, they really do exist, as witness the thriving foodbank), congested roads – the list is depressingly long. Of course, it does not help the equality balance that the Executive overwhelmingly comprises middleaged, middle-class men. Before anyone thinks that I am a young, left-wing, campaigning feminist, they will be surprised to learn that I have lived quietly in Wokingham for over 30 years, possess more grey hairs than brown and vote Conservative. However, given the actions that we have seen over the past few years, I feel that my local party is moving away from the values I believe in and it is a deeply unsettling experience. The answer is not the normal go-to, that is, task the Council’s PR team to put a more positive spin on things. We can all see through the gloss, thank you. What is required is a fundamental shift in thinking and approach, starting with a purge of the dinosauric old-boy network which pervades the organisation. I suggest that, if this is what I perceive, as a lifelong Conservative, the local party has a real problem which it must address urgently.
Jane Owens, Wokingham
Numbers game I refer to the borough’s housing numbers in Wokingham Today, November 25, where the figure of 759 and even more new houses per year is out of all proportion and will affect the
quality of people’s lives wherever they are built in Wokingham. It is made worse by Cllr Halsall’s revised update of the plan which is a shambles from start to finish. It neither provides the right kind or affordable housing and it will bring chaos and gridlock on the roads and to the existing facilities already overladen in the areas proposed. The only good news is that the council may not be able to build a new garden town at Grazeley. The people there might have escaped now but it depends who might be in charge at the next time this comes up. The situation in Shinfield is very serious as the attitude of the University with their highly paid experts has already been responsible for thousands of houses being built. They have destroyed the wishes of the families who bequeathed the land for agricultural use. Shinfield has been turned from a village to a large town and the area will be totally decimated with Cllr Halsall’s proposals. If this Council is still in power after the next election, Wokingham will have Europe’s largest housing estate. Everyone who lives in Wokingham should be supporting the residents of Shinfield and understand their plight. Wokingham have launched a petition to get residents opinion on the plan but we know that conflicting opinions will not be taken any notice of. This is totally wrong and undemocratic of a party who ignores any opinion that doesn’t agree with theirs. The petition was just wasting people’s money. There comes a time when the existing infrastructure cannot take any more. Residents told the Council this two years ago as they have a right to object. But they weren’t listened to. The mass influx of new residents to the Borough as well as trustees of the University are taking away our farms and green spaces along with greedy developers. Now the Council is destroying democracy. The basis of local government is on the verge of collapse. Cllr Kaiser boasts how wealthy Wokingham is and that they have underspent. Isn’t it time that the residents needs come first to give a proper road surface to walk, cycle and ride on? as stated by Cllr Jorgensen. The council cannot even return and put right
Westminster Diary Matt Rodda
P
OLITICS is a team sport. Whether in Government or opposition, success comes from working together.
Last week, the leader of my party, Sir Keir Starmer, reshuffled his top team to ensure that the Labour Party is ready for every challenge ahead as we advance towards a General Election.
The new shadow cabinet is an exciting mix of experience, energy and enthusiasm drawing on all the regions and nations of the UK. With Yvette Cooper and Pat McFadden now sitting at the top table, we bring in the experience of MPs who have served at Cabinet level in Government. The inclusion of strong female voices such as Rachel Reeves, Shabana
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
We love to hear from you! Send us your views on issues relating to the borough (in 250 words or less) to Wokingham.Today, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS or email: letters@wokingham.today We reserve the right to edit letters Views expressed in this section are not necessarily those of the paper shoddy workmanship which didn’t last even six months. A member of staff from Wokingham Highways Alliance arrived to see the writer and one would expect them to have some credibility and to understand that somebody might have a different opinion to the algorithm on the computer. If Cllr Jorgensen is correct in what she states in Wokingham Today and she has a conscience, we might get some satisfaction from a member of the Council to settle a complaint in the near future.
Cedric Lander, Woodley
I read it in the Daily Mail ... and so it must be true
WBC contractors lifted some cars up, painted double yellow lines and put the cars down again. It also seems likely (from the photo) that the contractors had blown leaves into the road, so they would not interfere with their painting. Pity anyone on two wheels that came along! A bit later, the cars had parking fines attached. Is there any more evidence needed for my thesis that motorists are a persecuted majority? However, my other opinion that Wokingham is an island of relative sanity (compared with London, for example) seems to have been torpedoed. Finally, have you seen how much tax revenue money the utterly useless DVLA have lost due to abolishing the tax disc?
‘John’, via email
Bring back the death penalty I read, with interest ‘White Ribbon supporters call for action’ – Wokingham Today, December 2. By far the best way for us to protect women from being killed by violent men, if not from lesser acts of violence, is to re-introduce Capital Punishment for murder. Look at that repulsive creature, Wayne Couzens – daring to try to appeal his life sentence for the murder of Sarah Everard. In bygone days, he would have been hung, drawn, and quartered. Now, he should have been lethally injected, put down like a mad dog. Look at that repulsive creature, Colin Pitchfork. The Parole Board released him as no longer presenting a danger to girls. Mahmood, Bridget Philipson and Angela Rayner means our shadow cabinet now reflects even more the communities and the country we hope to represent. I am particularly pleased that the South East’s very own Annaliese Dodds remains as our party chair, shining a light on the sleaze and scandal of the Government while also championing women and equalities as the Shadow Secretary of State. And our Labour values – as a modern and outward looking party in which fairness, equality and social justice guide our endeavours – remain front and centre with David Lammy, Ed Miliband and Preet Kaur Gill making the case for an ethical and environmentally friendly foreign policy in which we commit our party and our country to supporting
He should have been lethally injected in the 1980s – after he murdered two girls. I do not believe that, with the restoration of the Death Penalty a miscarriage of justice could never happen, but, with the accuracy of modern DNA testing, false convictions are very unlikely. Child killers should also receive the lethal injection. Sadly, these continue, as with this latest case of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, because we have, unfortunately, continued to believe a myth. The myth is, that out there, are a body of experts, called social workers – who are a profession, and so know how to protect the vulnerable. As decades of high-profile cases – Maria Colwell, Jasmine Beckford, Tyra Henry, Victoria Climbie, Baby P, and now, Arthur LabinjoHughes, demonstrate, they are not a profession, they do not have expertise, and they do not know how to protect the vulnerable, so they should be abolished. We now need to do what engineers do, when something isn’t working – go back to the drawing board. To this very day, I have service users who expect mental health ‘professionals’ to sort out their mental health. Their belief is, that just as a car mechanic sorts out your car, the dentist sorts out your teeth, and an electrician sorts out your lights, so, a mental health social worker, must be able to sort out your mental health. Service users are indignant, and wish to complain, when this doesn’t happen. I advise them not to, because they won’t achieve anything, and will be wasting time and energy. Thus I have advised a current service user: “We have obtained for your mentally ill partner, Enhanced Personal Independence Payment, and Carer’s Allowance, for you. So follow your doctor’s instructions with regard to medication, and use your Benefits to pay for a private carer, and for private domestic help – in order to get the support that you both need, and so achieve a better quality of life. “Alas, there is no magic wand, and no one else will sort your life out for you. You have to sort it out for yourself.”
Pam Jenkinson, The Wokingham Crisis House developing nations, tackling climate change, and taking our international aid responsibilities seriously. Continuing as Labour’s shadow minister for Pensions, I look forward to working with Jonathan Ashworth and the Work and Pensions team to expose the cruelty of Universal Credit cuts and the scrapping of the pensions triple lock. I know the country needs a Labour Government. After 11 years, the Conservatives have run out of steam and run out of ideas. I am confident that as a united and determined party, focusing on the issues that we know matter most to the country, the Labour Party can form the next Government and bring about the changes we desperately need.
Matt Rodda is the MP for Reading East
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
VIEWPOINTS | 35
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
From the chamber
Another view
Lessons to be learnt from COP26
Downsizing? Where there’s a will...
Neil Coupe
Sarah Kerr
C
OP26, the global Conference of the Parties on climate change, closed on November 12. One could argue that the resulting Glasgow Climate Pact was a diplomatic success. To get nearly 200 countries to agree on a consensus that specifically targets coal and fossil fuels and increases emissions cuts is a massive step forward, particularly in light of unequal economic recovery. However, despite the progress made, forecasts from the widely respected and independent organisation who run the global Climate Action Tracker are that, even if all governments met their 2030 targets for emission reductions, we would still have 2.4ºC of warming by 2100. Based on the actual policies being implemented, which are expected to fall short against targets, the rise will be 2.7ºC, almost double the 1.5ºC which the same countries pledged to achieve in the 2015 Paris agreement. A rise of 2.7ºC will see some countries and regions completely disappearing off the map due to rising sea levels. We have a similar gap between promises and plans in Wokingham Borough. The most glaring issue is an assumption that approximately half of the borough’s carbon emissions will simply disappear without the Council having to take any action.
In putting together their plan, the Conservative administration have projected that national actions will continue to reduce local emissions at the historical rate achieved between 2012 and 2017, ignoring the fact that these reductions were largely a consequence of the decarbonisation of the electricity grid and that government is now projecting a much lower level of reductions in future years. This conveniently sets the target for the local reductions to achieve net-zero emissions much lower, with the likely consequence that, even if we deliver the full plan the Conservatives aspire to, we would still be far from the carbon neutral target. We do expect to see some reductions as a result of national actions, but only if the Council plays its part in facilitating these. For example, national projections for more cycling and increased electric vehicles won’t happen locally unless we build the safe cycle lanes and electric vehicle charging points. Yet all the references to these in the Council’s plan assume they will deliver benefits above and beyond the national projections. As such, many of the carbon savings associated with actions in the council’s action plan are double counting and an illusion is being created that we can readily get very close to net-zero by 2030, when a sober and critical analysis tells a
Wokingham Volunteering Helena Badger
www.volunteer wokinghamborough.org.uk
W
OKINGHAM Foodbank provides parcels which are nutritionally balanced emergency food to those who need it most.
It delivers these parcels to households in crisis across Wokingham borough. Deliveries take place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons and we are looking for a volunteer driver to help. The volunteer will need to use their car, but mileage can be reimbursed. You will need to have a full clean UK driving license, be physically able to lift heavy bags of tinned food and have a willingness to travel around all of Wokingham Borough. Empathy and reliability are essential.
n Promise Inclusion is a local charity supporting people with learning disabilities and/or autism, their carers and families. @The Acorn is a social group for people aged 16 years plus with learning disabilities, including those with complex needs held in a local community venue in Wokingham on a Tuesday night 7pm-9pm. We are looking for volunteers to to liaise with the @ the Acorn CoOrdinator and Support Worker and undertake tasks as directed, to ensure adequate supervision of activities and to help to set up activities and to help tidy away at the end of the session. We are looking for volunteers who are self-motivated, able to work on own initiative, good communicators, good listeners and an understanding of (and commitment to meeting) the needs of people with a profound
very different picture. Reaching Net-Zero is a massive challenge, and residents deserve a more honest appraisal, not a set of fast and loose assumptions to create the illusion of progress. As for the detail, I want to highlight three areas. The council’s plan points out that the largest source of carbon emissions in the borough is from residential buildings, and the majority of that (69% to be precise) is from domestic gas usage. Yet there is not a single action associated with tackling the emissions from domestic gas usage beyond some meagre attempt at insulating a small proportion of homes. In fact, the action is so meagre, it’s less ambitious than the government’s targets. Then there’s another elephant in the room. At least £17million of the council’s climate emergency budget, from council taxpayers’ monthly payments, is being spent on making it easier to drive, under the superficially attractive banner of ‘reducing congestion’. Yet the council’s own plan intends to reduce car traffic by 40% by 2030, which one would expect will resolve congestion without the need for further investment. Why not spend this money on the things that will enable that reduction, rather than things that will induce people to drive more, with most likely the opposite effect? And, lastly, the plan includes the carbon accounting trick beloved of those who wish for an easy
solution, to ‘offset’ our emissions by generating new green electricity locally using our own solar farms. We have no issue with a local contribution to greener energy supply, but it is wrong to pretend that this in anyway cancels out continuing carbon dioxide emissions from other sources as is being claimed. We know that the climate emergency action plan is evolving, that the task at hand is tough and that (by the Council’s own admission) we need everyone to contribute their ideas and efforts. However, the chance to shape this plan in a cross-party fashion and work together for the benefit of our community was dropped at the first chance by the Conservatives. Elected representatives who are not Conservatives have been left on the outside of this critical issue, unable to contribute and looking in in despair while the council ‘greenwashes’ itself and misleads the electorate, either through incompetence or for short-term gain. Liberal Democrats will keep trying to influence the Council’s planning on this critical issue, and we will keep campaigning to restore the honesty and integrity we believed was there where the climate emergency was declared unanimously by the full Council. Cllr Sarah Kerr is the Liberal Democrat member for Evendons on Wokingham Borough Council and the party’s spokesperson for the environment
learning disabilities/autism and their families. We are also looking for a Volunteer Corporate Fundraiser will report directly to the Development Manager and then to the CEO. The purpose of the role is to develop and increase the fundraising potential of Promise Inclusion (Pinc) through corporate fundraising. The aim is to explore all opportunities to increase funds i.e., regular giving and to expand Pinc’s community and corporate funding to grow revenue. The ideal candidate needs to be someone comfortable asking for money, with an ability to recognise and capitalise on funding opportunities and be able to build and maintain relationships with funders. All volunteers are expected to support Pinc’s vision, aims and objectives and embrace its ethos of supporting and safeguarding children and adults with learning disabilities/autism and their families.
are supported and kept safe in order to thrive and reach their full potential. We are currently looking for community (co-opted) governors to join our committed and friendly team. A community governor can be anyone with an interest in supporting a school and no prior experience is needed. A knowledge of financial management, human resources, business, education or safeguarding will greatly improve the effectiveness of our governing board and have a positive impact on the education of our pupils. Anyone with an interest in wellbeing and health would also be very welcome to apply. Above all, however, we are looking for someone who is keen to be involved in the wider life of the school and to provide support and challenge to the leadership team of the school to ensure High Close is providing the best possible.
n High Close School is a flourishing residential and day special school catering for up to 90 young people with a complex range of needs. Our 120 dedicated and professional members of staff work across campus to ensure our students
n These are just a few roles on our books. Please visit our website www. volunteerwokinghamborough.org. uk to find out more and have a look at all the roles we have to offer. If you would like to get in touch with us, call 0118 977 0749 or email volunteer@ wok-vol.org.uk
W
E have recently been updating our wills, which, while obviously being a good thing to do, does call into mind difficult questions around mortality, what will be left behind, and where it will all go.
To some extent, stripping the emotion away, questions around inheritance of property and money are the easy ones to address. Ultimately, a few documents will be given to new owners. We were then prompted to start considering what would happen to our accumulated possessions, the stuff that surrounds us. Do we really expect our children to have to sort through boxes of photos, bank statements, wardrobes full of clothes and shoes, books, a kitchen full of every imaginable implement? A gentleman in his late 60s I sat next to at a lunch recently was talking about the arrangements he was making. He had spent a lifetime accumulating a valuable stamp collection, but his five children and 14 grandchildren had never shown any interest in it. His concern was that when he dies his heirs would be keen to sell the collection as quickly as possible leaving themselves as easy prey for experts to take the collection off their hands for a fraction of their true value. Instead, he managed to sell the collection for what was described as a ‘six-figure sum’, which I am guessing is not £1,250.25. This, he added, was part of a five-year ‘emptying the nest’ strategy that he was pursuing. It sounded like a great, if not exactly emotionally intelligent, idea. We often hear, for example, of down at heel ex-footballers being forced to sell their medal collection, but when we reflect on what can be done with the money, and how it can make people’s lives so much easier, it should not necessarily be a source for anger or bitterness about how life had been so unfair, forcing them into a distressed sale. Looking round my house at the weekend, I found myself wondering what our heirs will do with the 90% empty cans of paint that we keep to remind us what colours our walls were painted. That is before I confess to coming across the huge quantities of DVDs we have accumulated. I cannot remember the last time we actually watched one, but around a decade ago, DVDs were an exceptionally common Christmas present, so it feels callous or ungrateful to actually dispose of them. Therefore, the DVDs stay. This even applies to the DVD box where the disk has gone missing, as the box has a nice photograph on it. After Christmas, there is always a clamour to come up with viable New Year’s Resolutions. One resolution that I do approve of, which would at least limit our stash of possessions, is the idea to only buy clothes or shoes that I confidently expect to wear on at least 30 occasions. A couple of years ago I read an article about clothes. The suggestion was that we should ensure that all the clothing we have on a hanger should be pointed in one direction, e.g., towards the window. After we have worn the item, it should be returned to the wardrobe, but pointed in the opposite direction. At the end of the year, anything that was still pointing towards the window, i.e., had not been worn, should be disposed of. The awful truth is that even if I did that over a three-year period, I would end up giving away 75% of the clothes I own. If nothing else, it would at least free up space to store some of the obsolete DVDs in perpetuity.
36 | BUSINESS
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
association with BUSINESSTODAY InWinnersh Triangle
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
Got a business story? Email news@wokingham.today
A business park that is changing
Be ready for winter warning
A WINTER ready campaign has been launched to encourage rural homeowners across the Royal county to prepare for cold weather. The UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA) has teamed up with trade association OFTEC to encourage people in oilheated homes to ensure that their boiler and tank are serviced, and that they have enough oil to get through the next few months. Book an OFTEC-registered technician to inspect the garden oil tank to ensure any potential problems can be spotted and dealt with early on. Ken Cronin, UKIFDA’s chief executive, said: “It’s so important to be ready for winter, as running out of fuel when the temperatures are low can impact health and well-being. By being prepared, individuals can minimise the impact of bad weather and stay warm in their homes.” Mr Cronin looked to the future with greener fuels around the corner. “Trials of a renewable liquid fuel continue across the UK,” he said. “The results are extremely promising, supporting our belief that renewable liquid fuels like Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), offer a straightforward, inexpensive to switch to an effective alternative to heating oil — cutting emissions by 88% and needing only a few simple changes that cost approximately £500.”
n To find out more about the HVO trials, visit futurereadyfuel.info
Warning of likely wave of personal insolvencies next year By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today PREDICTIONS are being made that next year could see a sharp rise in the number of personal bankruptcies and asset repossessions across the south east — including the Thames Valley — as inflation and interest rates begin to climb.
A leading insolvency expert is warning that consumers will struggle to absorb rising levels of debt, with fears that inflation could reach around 5%, and interest rates thought to be heading to 3.5% by 2023. Stephen Grant, partner, accounts and business advisory services for the south east and an expert in personal insolvency at SMEfocused accountancy firm Azets, says that there are clear signs that households and individuals will be facing significant increases in the cost of living, and debt levels. He said: “Interest rates have been so low for so long that there
is a generation of consumers inexperienced in managing a sudden rise in their overheads and costs. Interest rates tend to be the main mechanism by which the Bank of England controls inflationary pressures, and all the market commentary points to rising rates. “Any increases will mean a significant jump in monthly costs, which will be on top of rising costs
for normal household expenditure for items such as energy, fuel, food, clothing and lifestyle expenditure. Our concern is that a vast number of households are running very tight budgets and have accumulated considerable debt, leaving them with little room for manoeuvre.” Mr Grant said that households will have less funds for payments towards loans, credit cards, and
debts, with the situation not helped by the end of the £20 per week uplift to Universal Credit. “Families could also be under further pressure with payment holidays on loans and credit cards now finished and the courts open to action from creditors,” he said. Anyone concerned about their debt is urged to tackle the problem as soon as possible by reviewing their finances and taking early advice. “There are a number of options available, including setting up Debt Relief Orders and Individual Voluntary Arrangements,” Mr Grant said. “The difference between 2021 and 1991 is that there is far more support in place for anyone facing financial problems and rising levels of debt. It is, however, important to take control of the problem quickly, and be in a position to access all the advice and support that is now available.” Azets has branches in Reading and Newbury. NOT SCROOGE: Mike Regnier, Chief Executive Officer at Yorkshire Building Society
Consumer Protection Services Can you afford not to protect you and your family? For more information or to sign up, get in touch to speak to one of our consumer protection specialists Legal Assistance Unlimited Telephone Calls Purchasing Advice FREE Consumer Protection Book Human Resource Advice Digital Property Log Book No Win No Fee Claims Management Service www.hydrogardlegalservices.co.uk info@hydrogardlegalservices.co.uk
£480
per year* *QUOTE WOKINGHAM TODAY to get £80 off
Christmas comes early for building society with branch in Reading STAFF at a building society with a branch in Reading’s town centre can get the Christmas party started early. Bosses at Yorkshire Building Society have made a decision to close on Christmas Eve. Due to the festive bank holidays, the building society will reopen on Wednesday, December 29, meaning staff can enjoy a five-day break with their families. The building society is warning customers that they need to plan ahead, as call centres as well as the Friar Street branch will be
shut. Customers who are registered for online account management will be able to access services as normal. This is the second year that the Society has given colleagues Christmas Eve off, and they say this recognises the immense challenges of the last two years, where staff have gone above and beyond in their roles. Mike Regnier, Yorkshire Building Society’s chief executive, said: “We wanted to do something that recognised the extraordinary couple of years that our colleagues have been through.
“I hope that by giving our colleagues in Reading and across the UK Christmas Eve off again this year, and providing an extended break to relax and spend time with family at home, shows in part my immense gratitude to them.” The mutual has not furloughed any staff this year and has also offered colleagues unlimited dependents and carers, leave at full pay. Anyone who is shielding, unwell or needs to self-isolate and cannot work from home qualifies for paid sick leave at full salary.
BUSINESS | 37
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
association with BUSINESSTODAY InWinnersh Triangle
Got a business story? Email news@wokingham.today
A business park that is changing
Entries open for new awards ENTRIES are open for a new business awards scheme, and it’s open for associations, federations, chambers, societies or membership organisations. The National Association Awards 2022 celebrate hard work and success, with 12 categories up for grabs. Any membership organisation can enter. “After an incredibly challenging time for organisations across the UK, we are delighted that the National Association Awards 2022 will ensure they can gain the kudos and recognition for the hard work they do and the success that they have had,” said awards director Damian Cummins. “They are reflective of the real challenges so many associations have experienced over the last 12 months.” Categories include Best Conference, Best Covid Response, Best Event, Best Lobbying, Best Social Media, and more. “We want to hear from those organisations that have delivered events, conferences, lobbying and other work, whether that be in person or in virtual form.” The closing date for all entries is Thursday, January 27, at 3pm, and there is an Early Bird fee available until Tuesday, December 21. n For details, log on to: nationalassociation awards.co.uk
Family-run businesses ‘are backbone of the UK’
By JAMES HASTINGS news@rdg.today
THE HIGH street has suffered from covid lockdowns, soaring business rates and competition from out-oftown shopping malls.
But a new study to mark Small Business Week, has shown that family businesses are not just economically but socially viable to the UK economy. According to research carried out by Oxford Economics for the IFB, the economic value of the sector is substantial. It estimated that there were around 4.8 million family-owned businesses in the UK in 2017, almost 3.9 million of which had no employees. That constituted 85.1 per cent of all private sector firms in the country in every region and industrial sector, at the time the research was carried out. Liz Barclay, Small Business Commissioner, said that her own upbringing illustrated the
importance of small businesses: “Producing a livelihood for a family of five, as well as paying suppliers of animal food and farm equipment, plus labour for hay and crop processing, was the bit we didn’t see as kids. “When a valuable animal died, some accident struck, or the
paperwork deadlines loomed, there was a different, far more serious, air around the otherwise cheerfully bustling yards.” During this first Family Business Week, people are being urged to recognise the versatility, variability and strength of the country’s family-owned businesses.
PICTURE: StockSnap from Pixabay
These are often deeply rooted in their communities and the local High Street. Mark Stepek, the CEO of the Scottish Family Business Association, said: “Family businesses can be highly sustainable and focused on preserving their business success for the long-term.
Dara McCann joins Reading-based technology firm A READING-based technology firm announced the appointment of a new chief people officer. HR expert Dara McCann has joined Isotropic Systems, a provider of next generation multi-link satellite terminals, and based in Caversham Road. She has been tasked with leading its human resources in preparation for the company scaling into manufacturing, operations and global service delivery. The company said that Ms McCann’s areas of expertise include start-ups, building high performance teams, driving change, and working to define and embed culture. She joins the company after having worked for O3b and SES Networks (one of Isotropic Systems’ strategic investors), and has 10 years’ experience within the satellite industry. “Isotropic is innovating across several industry domains, and that brings the need to attract the very best global talent,” she said. “Joining Isotropic Systems at this stage in their development allows me to build on the already strong culture of innovation and customer focus, developing our talented team to create a
Well-Being Care we all deserve to feel good! Chiropractic care is most often used to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints.
While many people turn to Gareth for care when they are already experiencing back pain or neck pain, it is extremely beneficial for patients to receiving well-being care as a preventative measure—taking action before there is pain.
NEW ROLE: Dara McCann, is the new Chief People Officer at Isotropic Systems Picture: Vanessa M. Lam world-class global company.” Her joining has been welcomed by John Finney, the company’s founder and CEO. “Dara is an extraordinary addition to the Senior Leadership Team at Isotropic Systems,” he said. “We are preparing to scale across research and development, productisation,
new product introductions, contract manufacturing, global sales and business development, service delivery and more. Dara’s experience of scaling high-growth companies, staffing with diverse talent, and ensuring equal opportunities will be a powerful asset for the company.”
Chiropractic for total well-being care restores balance to the body this works to normalise joint motion, remove nerve interference, relieve stress and pain and optimize normal body function.
0118 995 2019
www.adaptchiro.co.uk f @Adaptchirouk c @adaptchirouk
The Great Barn, 8 Ashridgewood Business Park, Warren House Road, Wokingham, RG40 5BS
38 | NEWS
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
Borough schools among the best A NUMBER of schools from across the Wokingham are officially among the best in the country. The Sunday Times has published its annual Parent Power index of schools, ranking them on results. In the top English primary school category, there were several entrants from the area. The highest entry, in joint 90th position, was St Paul’s RC Primary School in Tilehurst. In joint 106th position was St Dominic Savio RC Primary School in Woodley. And in joint 216th position is Whitchurch Primary School. There is just one entry in the top independent prep schools, which only counts the 50th best in the country. Waverley Preparatory School in Finchampstead was joint 34th. The rankings in the secondary school league tables are determined by the average percentage of examination entries in the three years, 2017-19, gaining A* to B grades at A-level (given a double weighting) and the average percentage of entries returning 9-7 or A* and A grades at GCSE. Only schools that published their results in those years or disclosed them to The Sunday Times have been included in The Sunday Times Schools Guide, which includes around 1,700 schools.
STYLE: Daniel Adrianov focuses on abstract and figurative work
ABSTRACT: Winnersh artist Daniel Adrianov showcases his work All pictures: Jess Warren
Artists showcase at festival ARTISTS showcased their work at the first of two new events last week. On Friday, December 3, borough artists exhibited their work at The Walter Arms, in Sindlesham, alongside live music. The Art and Music festival was organised by Winnershbased artist, Daniel Adrianov, who specialises in figurative and abstract art. A second event was held yesterday in Windsor. Mr Adrianov said that he organised the event with the help of his neighbour, Martin Goddard, from The
Midnight Rebel Band. “Art and music go hand in hand,” said Mr Goddard. “They’re good together.” The group, formed in 2011, performed live from 10pm that evening, with a set of electric rock classics. Prior to their set, Beth Morris performed for an hour. Mr Adrianov said that this was his first local showcase, and wants to grow a bigger presence within the area. He produced the majority of his paintings on show during the pandemic when a lack of commute freed up more of his
time, he explained. “I’ve always enjoyed art,” he said. “It’s my escape.” Also exhibiting her work was Gracie Nicholson, who specialises in graphic drawings. Having grown up with art as a hobby, she now studies fashion at the University of the Arts London. “I take a lot of my inspiration from the V&A Museum,” she said. n Mr Adrianov’s work can be found on Instagram at @ fineartsbydaniel, and Ms Nicholson’s on Instagram at @portfoliosbygracie
PORTRAITS: Gracie Nicholson exhibiting her graphite drawings
We changed our name Dabbawalla is now called
CREATIVE: Gracie Nicholson takes inspiration from the V&A Museum for her work
INTHECOMMUNITY
News from your clubs & groups. Email news@wokingham.today
Wargrave history society celebrates 40 years WARGRAVE Local History Society was founded in 1981. To mark its 40th anniversary, the November meeting took a look back over that period, starting with what the village was like then. In many ways, it was as it is now: most of the housing developments that saw the village grow having already occurred, but many of the businesses in the village, however, have since gone. To help bring all parts of the village community together, the Wargrave Village Festival had been started in 1975, whilst the Wargrave News was founded in 1978. The first suggestion for a local history group came in October 1975, when Derek Bird, of a long-established village family, wrote about village history in the Parish News, but his idea fell on ‘deaf ears’ at that time. The next was in the 1981 Village Festival programme, when Derek’s collection formed the basis of an Old Wargrave Exhibition held in the Hannen Room. It generated a lot of interest, so a meeting was arranged for November 12, 1981, to consider a Wargrave Historical Society. The meeting was a success, with the room only just able to accommodate everyone who wished to attend – the Wargrave Local History Society was born, with Derek Bird as its first Chairman. Lord Remnant kindly agreed to become the Society’s President (which office he continues to hold). A programme of talks was arranged, the first having various long-time village residents, and following one about the Roman excavations at Silchester, a visit to the site – which led to another regular feature in the society programme, a visit to a place of ‘local history interest’. The basic pattern for the society’s meetings had been set. 1983 was the first Village Festival since the society’s formation, and various ideas were considered on how the society
FOUNDER: Derek Bird, who helped launch the Wargrave Local History Society could be involved. A further Old Wargrave Exhibition was staged, but this time on a larger scale using the village hall for three days, followed by a ‘Tour of the village’ conducted by Derek, sharing his knowledge of people, places and events as participants walked around the village centre. A similar involvement was planned for the next village festival, in 1985 but in the February Derek died quite unexpectedly. He was just 38. The AGM the following month began with a two-minute silence. It also had to look forwards – and Lord Remnant proposed that the deputy chairman take over Derek’s role. Planning continued for the Village Festival, with a three-day Wargrave Through Postcards exhibition, based on Derek’s collection, followed by a ‘local history walk’. Meanwhile, a team had been working on a project suggested at the inaugural meeting – to produce The Book of Wargrave that recorded both ‘researched history’ and the memories of villagers.
It was an instant success, and as further material became available, The Second Book of Wargrave followed a few years later. In due course, the society acquired a lot more photographs – not least, the personal albums of Wargrave’s benefactress Harriette Cooke-Smith, with images from the 1870s to the early 20th century – and these enabled the publication of a volume, with larger pictures with extended captions, The Illustrated Book of Wargrave in 2011. Another project, jointly with Wargrave Royal British Legion, was the creation of a memorial to the crew who died when an American ‘Flying Fortress’ bomber crashed here in November 1943. It was installed at Hennerton Golf Club, overlooking the accident site, and officially unveiled in November 2014 by the local MP, Theresa May, with the Military Attache from the US Embassy in attendance. This review has briefly touched on s few of the major topics – other activities include recording the churchyard inscriptions, maintaining a local history website and establishing an archive of documents, photographs etc – currently about 3,500 items. The anniversary was celebrated with wine and special birthday cakes made by Wendy Smith – one with candles, and the other bearing images of the Society’s three hardback books. Little could those present in the Hannen Room 40 years ago have imagined the technology that would have enabled the society to continue with a programme of talks during the pandemic, but would maybe recognise that their intentions in founding the society have – and are being – fulfilled. The Society’s planned programme is at www.wargravehistory.org.uk, where the latest information can be found, or email info@wargravehistory.org.uk to confirm meeting details.
PETER DELANEY
How our Christmas traditions started MEMBERS of the Arts Society Wokingham marked the start of the festive season with a talk by Roger Askew on The Origins of our English Christmas. Roger took his audience on a journey through time showing how many of our modern Christmas celebrations date back from pagan festivals which marked the death of the old year and the birth of the new. In mid-December, the Romans held the festival of Saturnalia. There was much feasting and singing in honour of Saturn, the god of agriculture. Meanwhile in northern Europe Yuletide was celebrated with much eating, drinking, singing and the burning of Yule logs. Food continues to play an important part in our modern celebrations and much of what we are planning to eat on Christmas Day can be traced back to times gone by. Henry VIII introduced the
STIR UP: Stirring the Christmas pudding - a festive tradition tradition of eating turkey, although his daughter, Elizabeth I, preferred goose. George I introduced the plum pudding which earned him the nickname of ‘The Pudding King’. These days we prefer to eat our (chocolate) Yule logs rather than burn them. Our modern trappings of Christmas such as decorated trees, crackers, cards and Santa Claus date back to Victorian times when Christmas traditions became more established across society. However, we can thank a Coca-Cola advertising
NEWS | 39
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
campaign for changing the colour of Santa’s cloak from green to red in 1931. Roger’s talk was peppered with fascinating details such as the fact that the puritans tried (and failed) to ban Christmas games and carol singing in 1647, the robin which features on many Christmas’ cards signifies a postman and, in 1880, the public were urged to ‘Post early for Christmas’ due to the popularity of sending cards which threatened to overwhelm ‘the kindly robin’. Singing has always played an important part in Christmas celebrations and Roger interspersed his talk with recordings of carols starting with two lesser known medieval ones, Wolcum Yole and the Boar’s Head Carol. The Holly and the Ivy and While Shepherds Watched date back to the 18th and early 19th centuries. Roger brought his audience into the 20th century by inviting them to join in with
Slade’s Merry Xmas Everybody as a rousing finale to his fascinating talk. With the continuing support of Newbold Church’s technical team, the Society will be offering hybrid lectures to its members and guests for the rest of the season. Now is an excellent time to join us. Membership for the rest of the season is reduced to £40. Future illustrated talks cover a wide range of topics such as Peggy Guggenheim and the birth of mid-century Modernism, the revival of 15th century Timurid carpet designs, the Imperial Easter Eggs of Carl Fabergé, and the sculptures of Antony Gormley. Guests (in person or online) are most welcome. Please contact memsectheartssocietywham@ gmail.com for more details. n For full details of our programme, visit www. TheArtsSocietyWokingham. org.uk
SUE BRYANT
H ERITAGE MATTERS
I
Early Events in Emmbrook
T was Wednesday evening 20th December 1916. After complaints of soldiers getting drunk at the house adjoining “The Rifleman” public house, police raided the house after two nights of keeping watch and found three soldiers drinking stout bought by Louisa PHIPPS. They were wearing blue (hospital) uniforms. When arrested Mrs PHIPPS admitted getting the drink, for which the soldiers paid her. She received 2d a bottle on each one taken back. In other parts of the house there were fifteen empty and partly filled bottles. When the charge was read out to Simeon PHIPPS, her husband, at the police station, he replied “I say nothing”. They both pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawfully obtaining intoxicating liquor for members of HM Forces undergoing hospital treatment. The three soldiers at first pleaded not guilty to the charge of aiding and abetting under the regulations of the Defence of the Realm Act. They were Canadians from Bearwood House, used as a hospital during the war. They were cautioned and told they would be dismissed under the Probation Act. The Adjutant at Bearwood, Captain STEVENS, represented the Military Authorities. The PHIPPS couple were fined 30s, escaping both the £100 fine and six months imprisonment. What is now “The Rifle Volunteer” was placed out of bounds to servicemen by the Military Authorities. Mr H BARKER, the licensee was given a severe caution by the Magistrates. At the other end of Emmbrook, at “The Dog and Duck”, there were held smoking concerts, entertainment for men only, to smoke and debate to the accompaniment of live entertainment. They had been common in the Victorian era. Mr G ALDRIDGE, the licensee, was amongst the performers at one on 1904. Others included G SPRATLEY. During the evening a collection was made on behalf of Mr E DEAN who immediately shared it between the funds of the Emmbrook football and cricket clubs. In 1894, on a Tuesday evening in November, a smoking concert in the School Room at Emmbrook followed a supper for members of Emmbrook Reading Room in the Mission Room (then known locally as The Tin Tabernacle and now replaced by Emmbrook Village Hall) “through the liberality of Mrs NICHOLSON of Matthews Green”. Such a meeting here would have had a different atmosphere from that held in one of the public houses, indeed in the Emmbrook Men’s Club there are references to “admirable addresses on temperance” (March 1888) and “an appropriate address on temperance (according to the Scriptural idea of self-control)” (March 1896).
THE PICTURE ABOVE SHOWS SOLDIERS NEAR THE RIFLEMAN - Emmbrook Mill behind trees on the right
By Peter Shilham
40 | NEWS
Robbers threaten elderly in home JEWELLERY and cash were stolen from a home in Lower Earley during a terrifying raid in which a man in his 80s was hit with a crowbar. Now Thames Valley Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward. The incident took place in Kerris Way around 10pm on Thursday, December 3. There were three victims, a man aged 83, a woman aged 80, and a 61-year-old man. Three robbers forced their way in and threatened them until they opened a safe. The three offenders had their faces covered with scarves or masks. Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Alex Boyce, based at Loddon Valley police station, said: “This was a very distressing incident for the victims in this case, and officers are continuing to support them at this very difficult time. “We would ask for anyone with information which could assist this investigation to come forward. “If you have any dash-cam footage or CCTV in the area around that time, please check it, and if you find anything you think could be related, please share it with police.” He added: “Please contact 101 or make a report online using the reference number 43210546885.”
Father Christmas had an outdoor grotto TRIP: Members of South Berkshire Scouts raising funds so the district can go to the Alps next year All Pictures: Phil Creighton
Christmas fun at Crowthorne’s party EXCLUSIVE
By PHIL CRIEGHTON pcreighton@wokingham.today CHRISTMAS came to Crowthorne’s high street on Friday night as retailers, churches and the parish council joined forces for a latenight shopping event.
The annual celebration saw thousands of villagers grab bargains, visit stalls and meet Father Christmas. The event was opened by Cllr Ash Merry, mayor of Bracknell Forest. The Revd Kevin Mills, minister of Crowthorne Baptist Church, gave a welcome and led a short
WPR_2021‑12‑06_TheWokinghamPaper_16x4 (1)_Just Go
WorcesterObserver
Reader travel
THE BEATLES TRIBUTE
STRATFORD
Live in Liverpool
& Cotswolds Weekend Special
TributetoTheBeatlesLiveinLiverpool_F.pdf
Departing Sun 6 Feb ‘22
Departing Sat 26 Mar ‘22
Your break includes
Your break includes
Return coach travel from Wokingham Overnight stay at the 2‑star Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool with dinner & breakfast (all meals buffet style) 2 for 1 bar (6pm‑9pm) on selected drinks The Beatles tribute act plus a live DJ at the hotel Free time in Liverpool
Return coach travel from Wokingham 2 nights at a selected hotel in Coventry with dinner & breakfast 2 for 1 bar (6pm‑9pm) on selected drinks Excursion to the Cotswolds (Bourton‑on‑the‑Water, Stow‑on‑the‑Wold & Broadway) En‑route visit to Stratford‑upon‑Avon
2 Days by Coach only £ Single Supplement £35
99
99
3 Days by Coach only £ Single Supplement £30
Operated by Just Go Holidays Ltd. Coach package holidays and short breaks are subject to Just Go! Holidays terms and conditions. Your booking is protected by Bonded Coach Holidays (BCH) and the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT); this is a government approved consumer protection scheme. Tours offered subject to availability and government guidelines. Errors and omissions excepted. Prices per person, based on two people sharing a double/twin room. Calls to 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply.
For more information, or to book, please call
03332 342 527 Quote WPR
or visit us online at
justgoholidays.com/WPR
033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply.
justgohols JGTravelGroup
carol service in Jim Finnie Square. The carols included Away In A Manger and Hark The Herald Angels Sing. Afterwards, people took part in craft activities in the Baptist Church and Methodist Church; the latter had a festival of nativities. There were also festive tunes played in the Baptist Church courtesy of Breakway Brass, while carollers sang their way up the high street. The fire station let people explore the new facility and meet the crews, while new businesses, including Hat & Home, gave away goodies. And, to the delight of good boys and girls everywhere, Father Christmas was in residence in his grotto. Set up in Jim Finnie Square, it was organised by Crowthorne Library, A donation towards the cost of the event was made by McCarthy Stone’s nearby Birch Place development, which gave £250 to the lights. Barry Bailey, Vice Chair at Churches Together in Crowthorne, said: “Our Christmas event is a fantastic experience that our whole community looks forward to each year. “We are very grateful to McCarthy Stone for its generous donation.” And Verity McKay, divisional
The Revd Kevin Mills, minister of Crowthorne Baptist Church, helped serve refreshements
The 1st Crowthorne Scouts marketing manager at McCarthy Stone, said: “We are delighted to lend our support. “We hope the people of Crowthorne enjoy the twinkle of the Christmas lights and the festive feeling they generate, for years to come.”
Ben Gee, from Hat & Home, the new estate agent on Crowthorne’s High Street
NEWS | 41
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
New charity hub launches in town
Cllr Teresa Ramsden, Steve and Kasper prepare the ground for planting The memorial plaque for Twyford campaigner Gordon Storey, who died earlier this year
PLANTING: Event organiser Rebecca Howard, far left, with the Pilgrim family
First Twyford Tree Festival a success EXCLUSIVE
By NATALIE BURTON nburton@wokingham.today ORGANISERS of a tree planting initiative are celebrating success after holding their first ever village event last month.
Twyford Tree Festival was held at Stanlake Meadow on Sunday, November 28. The project was led by volunteers Rebecca Howard and Stephen Lloyd, and supported by Twyford Parish Council. It is the second time Ms Howard has organised tree planting on Stanlake. The Big Twyford Tree Planting Project raised more than £3,000 to plant 85 saplings in 2020. Her aim is to engage residents and encourage them to think about the natural environment of the area. “I have always loved nature and our connection to it, but we need to act to protect it,” she said. This year a further 50 trees were planted. Trees had been sponsored in advance by residents, who were encouraged to go along and plant their tree as part of the day’s events. Ms Howard said: “Engaging children and families in planting their first tree together is a special moment, particularly if the tree symbolises a life remembered.” Parish councillors also planted an oak tree in memory of village campaigner and organiser Gordon Storey, who died earlier this year. The tree planting ceremony held as part of the festival was
attended by his widow, JoJo Storey, and members of the family. Cllr Roy Mantel, parish council chair, paid tribute to his friend. “Although not a parish councillor, Gordon did the work of a parish council all by himself,” he said. Several community groups and businesses also attended the festival, which had an environmentally friendly theme. They included Friends of Stanlake Meadow, who created
a stag beetle habitat in the copse. Families enjoyed making Christmas decorations from natural materials such as twigs and orange peel, led by Twyford Rethinks Its Plastic, and viewing bugs in leaf litter under a microscope. Freely Fruity added to a mini orchard area, as well as giving away strawberry plants and chocolates. Natasha from Refill Hub was there to chat to visitors about ways to shop in a more sustainable way.
Cllr Jo Duffield was joined by her son and dog to plant a tree
Cllr Malcom Bray preparing the ground before planting
A NEW base for charities has opened in Wokingham town centre. The Charity and Community Hub has been set up in Waterford House, which is in Erfstadt Court on Denmark Street. It is already the home of Citizen’s Advice Wokingham. Six more community services have moved into the hub. Involve, an organisation which supports voluntary, community and faith groups in their charitable work, will manage the centre. They have been joined by Cranstoun, Home Start, Health Watch, The Link Visiting Scheme and Mind in Berkshire. Local charities CLASP and Promise Inclusion will be moving in later this month. They will be joined by Wokingham Volunteer Centre and Wokingham Foodbank in the new year. Cllr Charles Margetts, executive member for health, wellbeing and adult services, said that the new hub builds on the positive partnerships which developed between the borough council and the voluntary and community sector during the past 18 months. The hub is taking appointments only at the moment, and will open to visitors in the new year. n For more information, email: reception@vcshub.co.uk
Eat
DRINK and be
MERRY WHERE WILL YOU
Celebrate Christmas THIS YEAR ?
Twyford parish councillors planted an oak tree in memory of local campaigner Gordon Storey
What cou ld be better tha n celebrating Christmas with fa mily a nd friends – with no worries a bout shopping, prepa ring, cooking a nd washing u p!
Whether you’re pla nning a pre-Christmas l u nch pa rty for work col leag ues or dinner with close friends, we’l l ma ke su re it’s a specia l a nd memora ble event. Pre-Christmas lunches and dinners can be booked now for 22 November – 23 December (Sundays not included). All you need to do is complete the booking form or ca l l Sa nta’s little hel pers at The Waterside. Christmas crackers a nd pa rty hats wil l be on you r ta ble. Wa nt to add more goodies? Have a chat with Sa nta’s Little Hel per who wil l be a ble to sort it out for you.
CALL US ON 0118 342 0171 TO BOOK YOUR TABLE
Natasha of Refill Hub was there to support the event theme
info@watersidewood ley.co.u k watersidewood ley.co.u k
The Dawson family with the tree they sponsored
The Waterside, Fairwater Drive Wood ley, Berkshire RG5 3EZ
42 | NEWS
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
Twyford Christmas street fayre makes a successful return
Model shop has blue light fundraising joy TWYFORD-BASED Berkshire Dolls House and Model Company held a special Blue Light discount and fundraising event on Friday, December 3. It took place as part of the wider celebrations of Twyford’s Christmas street fayre. Members of the Blue Light Card scheme were offered a discount on purchases and customers were encouraged to donate to two benevolent funds for emergency service workers. Approximately £150 each was raised for the Fire Fighters Charity and Special Constabulary Welfare Fund. It was an event with close to shop owner Howard Phillips’s heart. Mr Phillips previously served the community as a retained firefighter. “We had between 300 and 400 people visit us to support the charities and meet those who work to keep the public safe,” he said. There were also demonstrations, giveaways and a visit from two serving Police Community Support Officers. PCSO Inspector Daniel Murnane and PCSO Sergeant Kieren Moore chatted with members of the public at what they both agreed was one of their biggest events for a while. Children enjoyed sitting in their police car and turning on the blue flashing lights. “It’s good to be present at events like this,” Inspector Murnane said. “And the welfare funds do really good work,” added Sergeant Moore.
By NATALIE BURTON & SUE CORCORAN news@wokingham.today
TWYFORD Christmas street fayre made a successful return last Friday, December 3.
More than 1,000 residents turned out to support the event, which took over the village centre with a variety of stalls and entertainment. It has been a staple on the village’s event calendar since 2001. Cllr Stephen Conway, who has been part of the organising committee since it began two decades ago, said that this year’s fayre was much anticipated and had struck a chord with many people. “I think they really appreciated the opportunity to see friends, socialise outside and put the past year and a half behind them,” he added. A stretch of London Road between the crossroads and The Grove was closed to traffic to allow more than 40 stands to set up. Several charities had a pitch to raise awareness as well as funds for their causes. Among the items on offer to tempt visitors were a bottle tombola for Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue and a mystery gift bag draw for Happy Hours preschool. Members of Wargrave and Twyford District RNLI, who were running a tombola and cake sale, said that the event was the biggest they had attended for a while. Twyford & Ruscombe Theatre Group’s hook-a-duck stand was a hit with children. The group were there to promote their upcoming panto, Rapunzel. Lucy, one of their youngest members, enjoyed her time running the activity. “It’s really fun,” she said. And the fayre saw the return of refreshments by the Twyford Scouts and Guides barbecue, Age UK Berkshire’s mulled wine, and Twyford Beer Festival organiser Ian Wisdom’s craft ale stall. Guide leader Anne Helmore said: “It’s lovely to see so many people out and having fun. And the weather’s been great.” The event was a first for Joanne Stewart, new community fundraiser for
FROM LEFT: Daisy’s Dream community fundrasier, Joanne Stewart, volunteer Marcus Macmillan, fundraising manager Suzanne Maverick Picture: Sue Corcoran
STAR OF THE SHOW: Father Christmas paid a special visit to Twyford Picture: Sue Corcoran Twyford-based charity Daisy’s Dream. The charity helps children and families affected by life-threatening illness or bereavement. “I’m absolutely amazed how friendly the people of Twyford are. It’s wonderful,” she said. “They know Daisy’s Dream. People have told me how we’ve helped their families.” Robin Yeadon, chair of Twyford Together, said that the planning committee were keen to see a the return of the fayre and the community spirit it displays. “We wanted to show that the village is open and to encourage people to support our businesses,” he said. Several shops were open later than usual, and restaurants and pubs were kept busy during and after the official end of the event. Other small traders had stalls offering unusual gift ideas to punters. These included several businesses that were founded during lockdowns. One of them, Lily and Grace Kids UK, is run by twin sisters Chrissy and Tash from Hurst. They design and print children’s clothing and had their range of Christmas-themed items on display. Cllr Conway said that some of the stall holders he had spoken to had their
FAMILY: Jenny and granddaughter Emma enjoy the treats Picture: Natalie Burton TRADERS: Village businesses were busy throughout the night Picture: Natalie Burton best ever takings. The crowds were entertained by Christmas carols from several groups including Polehampton Junior School choir and the Maidenhead Concert Band. Other attractions included street entertainers and Blizzard and Tornado, two reindeer from Riverways Farm, Twyford. And Twyford and District Round Table made sure that Santa was there. He was a big hit with the children who received sweets from him. “We are lucky to have the support of so many people, who I want to thank for coming down to the village and giving FROM LEFT: Street entertainer Jonny Stevens the event its great atmosphere,” Cllr and Cllr Stephen Conway Picture: Natalie Conway said. Burton
0LOHV 'DXJKWHUV )XQHUDO 'LUHFWRUV 3URXGO\ VHUYLQJ WKH ORFDO FRPPXQLW\
:H FUHDWH HYHU\ IXQHUDO LQGLYLGXDOO\ MXVW IRU \RX KRXU VHUYLFH
:LQQHUVK
)ORUDO WULEXWHV
+RPH YLVLWV
3ULYDWH FKDSHOV RI UHVW
%HUHDYHPHQW DGYLFH
,VDEHOOD +RXVH $ 5HDGLQJ 5RDG 5* (;
5HSDWULDWLRQ
&DOO XV IRU LPPHGLDWH VXSSRUW DGYLFH RU WR DUUDQJH D KRPH YLVLW :H DUH KHUH WR KHOS KRXUV D GD\ 3UHSDLG IXQHUDO SODQV DOVR DYDLODEOH
PLOHVIXQHUDOV FRP 2̇FHV DOVR LQ 5HDGLQJ :RNLQJKDP &URZWKRUQH %UDFNQHOO 7Z\IRUG DQG 0DLGHQKHDG
GAMES: Children play hook-a-duck Picture: Natalie Burton
CHARITY: Mercy in Action volunteers at the fayre Picture: Natalie Burton GIFTS: Traders saw plenty of customers visiting their stalls throughout the evening Picture: Natalie Burton IN ACTION: Street entertainers keep the buzz alive Picture: Natalie Burton
43
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
Watermark Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 1QU
SA V £1 E U 7,5 P 00 T0 *
1, 2 & 3 BED APARTMENTS WITH HELP TO BUY*
SAT NAV SL6 1QU
1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments available at Watermark, Maidenhead.
Price from £285,000
All homes include: - A private balcony or terrace - Underfloor heating throughout - Private residents podium gardens - Amtico flooring as standard - 18 minutes to London Paddington by train - 3 months FREE Hyperoptic broadband SHOW HOME & MARKETING SUITE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
For an appointment to view please contact Romans on
01344 753 110 *Incentives and Help to Buy available on selected homes
romans.co.uk
44
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY WPR_2021‑12‑06_TheWokinghamPaper_33x2 (1)_Just Go
WorcesterObserver
Reader travel HISTORIC YORK
3 | XXXXXX
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662 To advertise email advertising@wokingham.today
45
Classifieds
Get your business seen!
& the Dales
Email: advertising@wokingham.today
HistoricYork&theDales_D.pdf
PUBLIC NOTICES Departing Mon 21 Mar ‘22 Join us on this lovely short break to beautiful Yorkshire, where we combine the rolling hills, panoramic landscapes and charming towns of the Yorkshire Dales with the historic city of York, famous for its glorious Minster and warren of narrow streets.
Your break includes Return coach travel from Wokingham 4 nights at a selected hotel in the Leeds area with dinner & breakfast 2 for 1 bar (6pm‑9pm) on selected drinks Excursions to York, Skipton Market & Grassington Optional excursion to Knaresborough & Harrogate (£10pp)
5 Days by Coach
only £159
.99
Single Supplement £60
F1 SPECTACULAR The British Grand Prix
BritishGrandPrix4daysbyRail_D.pdf
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (SANDFORD LANE, HURST) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2021
Don’t miss the chance to experience the drama of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the Home of British Motorsport! Whether you are a wide‑eyed first‑timer or seasoned veteran, the oldest race in the F1 calendar promises an exhilarating weekend.
Your break includes Return coach travel from Wokingham Overnight stay at a selected 3‑star hotel with breakfast Admission to the F1 British Grand Prix on Saturday and Sunday (General Admission ticket), with coach transfer Upgrade to the Luffield Grandstand for £195pp
2 Days by Coach
only £349
Single Supplement £35
Operated by Just Go Holidays Ltd. Coach package holidays and short breaks are subject to Just Go! Holidays terms and conditions. Your booking is protected by Bonded Coach Holidays (BCH) and the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT); this is a government approved consumer protection scheme. Tours offered subject to availability and government guidelines. Errors and omissions excepted. Prices per person, based on two people sharing a double/twin room. Calls to 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply.
For more information, or to book, please call
03332 342 527 Quote WPR
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:
NOTICE IS HEREBY given that on the 2nd December 2021 Wokingham Borough Council as Traffic Authority made an Order under Section 14 (1) (a) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 the effect of which is to prohibit any vehicle from proceeding along:
Application Address
Reasons for Advert Description
213903
Land at the junction of Jubilee Road and Rectory Hill
Works to Listed Building
Application for Listed Building Consent for the proposed dismantling of war memorial and relocation and reinstallation on new site.
Sandford Lane, Hurst between its junctions with Mohawk Way and B3030 Davis Street.
213906
Village Farm House, The Street, Swallowfield
Conservation Area
Householder application for the proposed changes to fenestration.
213921
Village Farm House, The Street, Swallowfield
Works to Listed Building
Application for Listed Building consent for the proposed changes to fenestration.
213924
The Old House, Lea Farm, Lodge Road
Works to Listed Building
Application for Listed Building Consent for the proposed replacement of existing corrugated sheet roof with new flat roof and part pitched tiled roof, plus clad concrete block walls with featheredged boarding and fit roller shutter door, plus changes to fenestration of the south east elevation [Retrospective].
213937
The Old Bakery, Alder Mews, Sindlesham
Conservation Area
Householder application for the proposed erection of a single storey rear extension with no.2 roof lights
The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Mohawk Way, The Bader Way, A3290 Loddon Bridge and The Bader Way Interchange, A329 Reading Road, B3030 Robin Hood Lane and B3030 Davis Street or by this route in reverse Works requiring this restriction will take place between 14th December and 15th December 2021. The reason for these prohibitions is to allow BT contractors to undertake pole testing 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 14th December 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: 9th December 2021
Departing Sat 2 Jul ‘22
WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL PLANNING APPLICATION
Mark Cupit Assistant Director – Delivery and Infrastructure Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices Shute End Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1WL
For the latest news visit
The application is available to view online at wokingham.gov.uk � Planning � Search planning applications and typing in the application number above. Comments on the application can be made online from this web page. Any comments must arrive on or before the 23rd December 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: 9th December 2021
More Eyes than a sack of potatoes!
ACROSS PRINT, WEB & SOCIAL MEDIA WE CAN HELP YOU REACH OVER 100,000 PAIRS OF EYES Our website (www.wokingham.today) has over 175,000 visits per month from over 100,000 unique visitors * Our Facebook posts reach over 150,000 people per month ** A range of other Social Media Channels and thousands of loyal readers of our weekly print edition combine to create an unrivalled local reach. Talk to us about how we can get these eyes on your business!
Email: advertising@wokingham.today
or visit justgoholidays.com/WPR 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply.
*Google Analytics, 31 May - 29 June 2020 ** Facebook Analytics (based on 22-28 June 2020).
Phone: 0118 327
WOK
46
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
Advertise
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
TREE SURGEONS
regularly and save ££££s Special rates for 4, 12,26 and 52
ACCOUNTANCY
weeks
Reach
RECYCLING
local people We c ove r the whole of the Wokingham Borough
GOODS WANTED
Friendly Service Ema il us today for a pr ice
TILING SPECIALISTS Italian Style Ltd Tiling Specialist Ita l ia n Style Kitchens, Bath a nd p atio a re the p erfect place to fu lfi l a l l you r ideas. Us i ng ou r experience, we p rovide free of cha rge advice. O u r goa l is to meet a l l you r requ i rements, dema nds a nd dead l i nes you a re worki ng on.
italianstyleltduk@gmail.com
Call us on 07481 913 914
PHOTOGRAPHER
111117_NG_Adboard_2250mm_x_850mm_MASTER_PATHS.indd 1
TECHNOLOGY
47
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
HEALTH, FITNESS AND WELLBEING
18/06/2020 18:00
KITCHEN DESIGN & INSTALLATION
WELL BEING
Please recycle me !
TV AERIAL & SATELLITE
It’s good news for everyone
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
PAINTING & DECORATING
For the latest news visit
PET SITTING
BEAT THE
2022 PRICE INCREASE
CONSERVATORIES & ORANGERIES
EXCLUSIVE SHOWROOM APPOINTMENTS
available
BOOK NOW GET AN EXTRA
% 10OFF
EXTENSIONS & SOLID ROOFS
WINDOWS & DOORS
TradeMark have been proudly providing local homeowners with quality home improvements for over 25 years. SHOWROOM OPEN FOR APPOINTMENTS ALLOWING YOU TO ‘TALK TO AN EXPERT’.
TEL: 0800 30 50 30
WWW.TRADEMARKWINDOWS.CO.UK
LEISURETODAY Y
Your guide to what’s on across Reading and Wokingham
To your good elf
There’s more to Ascot Racecourse than racing — just before Christmas, there’s a host of festive fun to look forward to, including a visit from the great man himself. PHIL CREIGHTON finds out
S
ANTA’S reindeer will be getting some practice for jumping over rooftops when they visit Ascot Racecourse next weekend.
The jolly red man who brings seasonal cheer to all will be visiting the popular Berkshire venue, as it transforms into a winter wonderland. The racecourse is hosting the Howden Christmas Racing Weekend on Friday, December 17 and Saturday, December 18. The family-friendly event promises top-quality Jumps racing, headlined by the Grade One Howden Long Walk Hurdle — one of the most prestigious long- distance hurdle races in Britain. It has been won previously by the likes of Big Buck’s, Thistlecrack and Paisley Park, in recent years. The card concludes with the ultra-competitive Betfair Exchange Trophy over two miles, worth £100,000. Ascot Racecourse say this is is always an exciting finale to the day. And for younger, and not so young, visitors, this year’s event has a theme of Christmas around the world. The aim is to mark the return of the global community Christmas spirit in 2021. From American cookie decorating and Canadian ice hockey shoot outs, steel pan carollers and furry mascots from around the globe, the Howden Christmas Racing weekend will be jampacked with exciting activities for all ages.
And for those who like their Christmasses to be, well, more home-spun, Ascot Racecourse is promising traditional fairground rides and candlelit carol singing with the Ascot Brass Band. Little ones will be kept entertained with festive arts and crafts, face painting and bubble magicians, and Father Christmas and his reindeer will be in attendance. Mrs Christmas will also make a return for her much-loved story telling by the fire. n Advance Queen Anne Enclosure tickets from £27 for adults. Children under 18 go free with a paying adult. For further information and to book visit: www.ascot.co.uk, call 0344 346 3000 or email enquiries@ascot.co.uk.
09.12.21
18 | LEISURE
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
Christmas with a festive penguin
The Zap Festive Christmas Show will feature songs, sketches, mental gymnastics and terpsichorean displays for the family. It will be hosted by Inimically Philtin and Marlip. The bill also includes Tim Murgartroyd, quartet Home Sweet Home, surrealists Starkey and the Moon Doctor, mentalism from The Great Martino, drag artiste Big Jay and The Fantastic Freda StaireLift, who will sing and tap her way into Christmas. The fun starts at 7pm and tickets cost just £3 per person. n For more details, or to book, log on to http://risingsunartscentre.org or call 07765 59433.
A FESTIVE show starring a penguin is coming to Maidenhead later this month. Aladdin is a pantomime that will be performed at the Baylis Theatre in Braywick Leisure Centre. It runs from Saturday, December 18, through to Christmas Eve, and tells the story of Aladdin, a young lad who goes on the adventure of a lifetime. Audiences can expect flying carpets, a wish-granting genie and plenty of laughs. There will also be songs, audience interaction and a visit from Mr Penguin. Performances are at 1.30pm and 5pm daily, except for Christmas Eve, when there is just a matinee. Tickets cost £18 for adults and £16 for under 16s. A family ticket of four is £62. n For more details, or to book, call 0333 666 3366 or log on to maidenheadpanto. co.uk
Albion festivities at Nordern Farm
Classical music treat from South Hill Park
AN EVENING of classical music is promised at South Hill Park on Friday. As part of its Conservatoire International Concert Series, audiences will welcome a performance from Junyan Chen. The Chinese international prize winner is a graduate of the Shanghai Conservatoire and a Bachelor degree student at London’s Royal Academy. Her programme includes Bach’s Third French Suite and works by Dohnanyi and Sofia Gubaidulina. The second part of her programme consists of eight Transcendental Studies by Liszt. The concert is part of a season featuring artists from 11 different countries, and takes place in the Bracknell arts centre’s recital room. Chen will play its Steinway concert grand piano. The performance starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost £16, £14 for members and £12 for under 21s. n For more details or to book, log on to www.southhillpark.org.uk or call the box office on 01344 484123.
Dress to impress at 80s wonderland
THE SOUNDS of the 80s will be brought right up to date thanks to South Hill Park. The Bracknell-based venue is
A CELEBRATION of Elvis will be coming to Norden Farm on Saturday, December 18. Elvis One Night Only is set in August 1977, and is a celebration of the life of one of the biggest names in rock n roll. Songs will be performed by Darryl Clark, backed by a live band. welcoming That 80s Christmas Rock Show on Tuesday, December 14. The show aims to pay tribute to some of the best music from a decade that was packed with rock anthems and power ballads. Being days away from Christmas, it will feature a number of Christmas classics … will they send you to Whamhalla by performing Last Christmas? Organisers promise more lights, lasers, smoke, vintage audio and faux animal print and spandex than is probably healthy, and urge audiences to dress up in their 80s finery. Tickets cost £22 or £21 for members. n For more details or to book, log on to www.southhillpark.org.uk or call the box office on 01344 484123.
Kitty Katt’s DJ set at Printhouse
ONE of the acts on the bill at the Market
The set list will include songs such as Suspicious Minds, Burning Love and An American Trilogy. The evening will end with a medley of favourite Elvis classics. n Tickets cost £17, and can be reserved by calling the box office on 01628 788997 or logging on to Norden.farm
Yard Printhouse this weekend is Natasha Kitty Katt. The queen of underground disco plays an ecletic mixture of soul, funk, boogie and rare disco. She has performed around the world. She is flying down from Edinburgh specially for the show, which takes place at the former Reading Post offices in Rivermead. Joining her will be energetic discoloving duo Twin Sun. Printhouse will be split into several different seating areas, each with a different theme. The Winter Garden, The Live Room, The Chalet and The Playroom Natasha will be performing from 7.30pm on Saturday, December 11. n For more details, log on to www. marketyard.co.uk
tell you more about it. Tickets are moving liked Greased Lightnin’, as people say Rock n Roll Is Here To Stay. All we can hope for it that it’s not Raining on Prom Night, as We Go Together to the fun night planned at Grosevenor Casinos off the A33. Yes, You’re The One That We Want as a Grease tribute evening is performed on Saturday. Doody Nights Grease & Dirty Dancing starts at 9pm on Saturday, and will include tributes to both Grease and Dirty Dancing. You’ll have the time of your life. Tickets cost £15 and includes a drink. n For more details, call the casino on 0118 402 7800.
SUMMER NIGHTS are coming to Reading this weekend, and you’ll be wanting us to
AN EVENING of festive merriment is promised to visitors to the Rising Sun arts centre on Tuesday, December 14.
Summer loving it this weekend
AT THE THEATRE
Every week, we bring you a round-up of all shows taking place in the region’s theatres. It covers this weekend and next, so you can plan ahead and book tickets to the shows that you want to go and see.
Bracknell – South Hill Park
As ever, coronavirus means that shows could be cancelled, postponed or rearranged at short notice. Check with theatres to avoid disappointment.
Camberley – Theatre
www.southhillpark.org.uk 01344 484123 Cinderella. Until Jan 3. Coach House Christmas Parties. Thurs. Conservatoire International Concert Series: Junyan Chen. Fri. The Comedy Cellar. Fri. That 80s Christmas Show. Tues. Coach House Christmas Parties. Thurs 16.
www.camberleytheatre.biz 01276 707600 Jack and the Beanstalk. Fri-New Year’s Eve. Baby Broadway Christmas. Sat. We All Wobble. Sun 19.
Guildford – Yvonne Arnaud
www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk 01483 440000 Dick Whittington. Until Jan 9. Christmas With Duo. Fri-Sat. The Man In The Moon presents
A Christmas Carol. Thurs 16-Sat 18.
High Wycombe – Wycombe Swan
www.wycombeswan.co.uk 01494 512000 Christmas Hellfire Comedy Club. Thurs. The Christmas Extravaganza with Baby Go Boom. Fri, Sat. Christmas Mammy’s Boys. Fri. Peter Pan. Fri-Sun Jan 2. Dear Santa. Sun-Tues. Soul and Motown Christmas Dinner Dance. Sun 18.
and Friends: Jazz at the Musicals. Fri. Robin Morgan, What A Man, What A Man. Sat. Charity Christmas Concert in aid of Norden Farm with Maidenhead Concert Band. Wed. Martin Turner, exWishbone Ash: Wishbone Gold. Thurs 16. The Albion Christmas Band. Fri 17. The Vinyl Frontier: Your Favourite v My Favourite. Fri 17. Elvis: One Night Only at Christmas. Sat 18.
Festive merriment
Wokingham – Wokingham Theatre
Reading – The Hexagon
Shinfield – Shinfield Players
Wokingham – The Whitty Theatre
Sonning – The Mill
Woodley – Theatre
www.whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060 The Snow Queen. Until Christmas Eve.
www.whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060 Beauty and the Beast starring Justin Fletcher and Paul Morse. Until Jan 3.
Reading – Concert Hall
www.cornexchangenew.com 0845 5218 218 Cinderella. Until Sun, Jan 2.
www.whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060 NEXT SHOW: Lunchtime Organ Recital. Jan 17.
Maidenhead – Norden Farm
Newbury – The Watermill
Reading – Progress Theatre
www.watermill.org.uk 01635 46044 The Jungle Book. Until New Year’s Eve.
THE FINAL gig of 2021 for Wokingham Music Club is coming up next week. Kossoff...The Band will be visiting the Emmbrook Sports and Social Club on Friday, December 17, for some preChristmas fun. Blues-rock legend Paul Kossoff, was lead guitar in the 1970s rockers band, Free. He died tragically after a drugs battle, aged just 25, but his music lives on with The Band Plays On, a band featuring Terry Slesser, the lead vocalist of Koss’s post-Free band, Back Street Crawler. Doors open at 7pm, the music starts at 8pm, and tickets cost £19. They need to be reserved in advance. n For details, log on to www.ticketsource. co.uk/wokinghammusicclub
Reading – Reading Rep Theatre
Newbury – The Corn Exchange
www.nordenfarm.org 01628 788997 Kipper’s Snowy Day. Until Dec 30. Stephen K Amos: before and Laughter. Thurs-Fri. Jo Harrop
Celebrating the bluerock legend Kossoff
Reading – South Street
Henley – Kenton
www.kentontheatre.co.uk 01491 525050 Cinderella. From Sat-Dec 30
THE ALBION Christmas Band is coming to Norden Farm on Friday, December 17. The group features the combined talents of Simon Nicol (Fairport Convention), Kellie While (Albion Band) Simon Care (Edward II) and the Guvnor himself, Ashley Hutching. The show takes people on a guided tour through the Christmas customs of Britain. It has been touring for 20 years and plays to sell-out audiences. n Tickets for the gig cost £24, and can be reserved by calling the box office on 01628 788997 or logging on to Norden. farm
www.progresstheatre.co.uk 0118 384 2195 Babe The Sheep-Pig. Until Sat. NEXT SHOW: Dark Sublime. Jan 17-22.
www.readingrep.com 0118 370 2620 NEXT SHOW: A Christmas Carol. Until New Year’s Eve.
www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk 0118 975 8880 NEXT SHOW: Snow White and the Four Swedish Popstars. Jan 14-16, 21-23.
www.millatsonning.com 0118 969 8000 Top Hat. Until Jan 8.
Windsor – Theatre Royal
www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk 01753 853888 Jack and the Beanstalk. Until Jan 9.
www.wokingham-theatre.org.uk 0118 978 5363 The Government Inspector. Until Sat 18.
www.thewhittytheatre.org 0118 974 3247 NEXT SHOW: The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Jan 17-18.
www.woodleytheatre.org 07488337838 NEXT SHOW: Jazz Concert with the Martin Hart Trio. Sat Jan 22.
LEISURE | 19
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
Why Paradox Twin can’t wait for Christmas to be
Get ready for John Otway’s festive
John Otway at Christmas
L
ET THE festivities begin … John Otway is preparing for his seasonal return to Reading.
The Paradox Twin photographed in Oxford
Wish it could be Christmas every day? Not so for these rockers. LAURA SCARDARELLA finds out why Paradox Twin are looking forward to 2022
A
BAND is celebrating its new album release with a special launch gig in Reading next February. Alternative-rock group The Paradox Twin will mark their music success with a night of live music at Reading’s The Facebar on Friday, February 4. The venue, on Ambrose Place, will see the band entertain crowds with songs from their new album, Silence from Signals. They’ll also be joined by special guests John Mitchell, opening the evening with an acoustic set, and Quantum Pig. The five-piece group features founder member Danny Sorrell, Diane Fox,
Nicole Johnson, Leland Freeman and Graham Brown. Danny said that the band can’t wait to play the new material at the launch event. “Considering that most of us are from Reading, we’ve never actually played here before, so it’s going to be a very special night for us,” he said. Nicole explained that the evening is going to be “emotional”. She said: “Everyone can expect all their senses to have an experience. “Our show is not just something to listen to, it’s something to see.” Danny’s main focus in lockdown was writing the album, the majority of which was recorded remotely.
Silence from Signals, launched in October by White Star Records, follows twins, in which one was born with a disability. It explores how he is navigating through life with the support of his twin sister. Danny, whose son is autistic, says the album is “his soul spewed out on paper”. “It’s very raw to me because of the personal experience I’ve gone through, and I really want to get it out to more parents who may be in a similar position,” he said. And Nicole, on vocals, added that the songs also hone in on her own experience with her children. “My voice is my son’s advocacy, and although we’re starting to get more information on autism, a lot of people are still in denial about it,” she said. Danny added autism isn’t something to be ignored. He said: “We would really love to reach out to other
groups and families so that people can understand this more in the hopes that by connecting to the album they will be able to express their emotions and relate to the concept.” The pair said reaction to the album has been positive. Nicole said she has missed the chemistry between heron stage and the audience. “I took to live streaming gigs in lockdown and it’s just not quite the same as being up there and singing live to a room full of people,” she said. Danny said that the band has exciting things in the pipeline over the next year. Having written an EP with three songs, he hopes to release this next Spring. “The EP includes songs that I didn’t think quite fit in with the rest of the new album, so it’s really a side story to Silence from Signals.” n For more details, follow The Paradox Twin’s social media channels
The English singer-songwriter has built a sizeable cult audience, thanks to his surreal sense of humour and a self-deprecating underdog persona. And, despite having to take a year-off for covid, he has an annual Christmas knees-up at Sub89. It takes place on Wednesday, December 15, and you can expect to see the singer in a Santa hat, belting out some of his favourite songs. As a nine-year-old, John knew he wanted to be a pop star, and was heavily influenced by Bob Dylan. He had to wait until 1977 and the rise of punk before his dream of fame and fortune would finally become a reality. Having caught the eye of the producers of the BBC’s Old Grey Whistle Test, Otway’s performance on that show would grab the attention of the watching audience. Ever the showman, John decided to jump on to the amplifier of his colleague during a performance of Bob Lind’s Cheryl’s Going Home. Unfortunately, he misjudged his leap and sent Wild Willy Barrett’s amplifier tumbling as he crashed down, straddling the box under the amp. The full force of the impact was absorbed by the most tender part of his body, but in doing this one simple act of recklessness and his wanton
disregard for his own safety, Otway was the talk of everyone who watched that evening’s programme. Not only did he see a surge in his audiences, sales of his sixth single, the half-spoken love song Really Free increased dramatically and reached number 27 in the UK Singles Chart. Despite numerous attempts to get back into the charts, John would have to wait 25 years for his next taste of chart success. And in 2002, John achieved what he desired the most – a second hit. A concerted publicity campaign saw him reach number 9 with the disco pastiche Bunsen Burner and a second appearance on Top of the Pops. In 2016, Otway announced that he was planning to record a new album. Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, he will took his band to the Caribbean island of Montserrat to become the first international recording artist to record there since the Rolling Stones in 1989. The result was Montserrat - the first album of entirely new and original Otway material in over 10 years. And, of course, he’s also been a regular at Sub89, thanks to Club Velocity. This year, his support is Tom Webber, a 21-year-old from Oxford. Club Velocity’s Sid Siddle said: “Tom is already getting London excited, he’s a name to remember.” The gig at Sub89 takes place from 7.30pm on Wednesday, December 15. n For details, log on to sub89.com
Beauty and the Beast has plenty of fun for all the family Beauty and the Beast The Hexagon Until January 3, 2022 0118 960 6060www. whatsonreading.com
J
UST before the 2021 Hexagon pantomime began, there was a massive cheer during the safety announcements. Why? Well, Justin Fletcher said four words that mean so much: “Welcome back to theatre”.
It caused the audience to go wild – after having to miss a year due to covid-enforced lockdowns, here we are together again. The sentiment was echoed by dame Paul Morse, who told the audience, “Welcome back to pantoland, how lovely to
see you all again”. Yes, it’s a welcome return, and Beauty and the Beast reaches the high standards set by previous Imagine Theatre shows. However, it’s not quite the same old, same old. Covid means concessions. The junior ensemble is dearly missed, while some of the set pieces that would normally involve audience members coming on stage are a definite no-no. And, to the cast’s
BACK ON SHOW: The Hexagon’s pantomime is Beauty and the Beast, written by CBeebies megastar Justin Fletcher
disappointment, the stage door is closed to visitors. The show must go on, and go on it does. This is not a retelling of the Disney version. Instead, Justin has been our guest in finding a new way of telling the story of a woman who falls in love with someone not for their looks, but for what’s inside them. Beauty and the Beast is very much a something borrowed,
something new experience with plenty of fun for all the family. It was a delight to see younger members of the audience enthralled by the magic, and get dancing with gusto to the music. And it was equally pleasing to see one song signed as well as sung. The action moves at a fair pace, the gags come thick and fast, and you’re never far away from a song. Some old favourites are back – where would we be without Ghostbusters, the custard pie routine and the wig falling off? There’s also a very welcome reprise of a skit from 2019’s Cinderella, also written by the CBeebies megastar. Both Justin and Paul have the audience eating out of their hands. They play Billy Pastry and Nanny Pastry, piling on the jokes,
moving on the action, and having some fantastic songs. Joining them are returning stars Karl Loxley (the Beast), Sarah Giorgina (Beauty), David J Higgins (Mr Crust) and Rachel Delooze (the Enchantress). They all have powerful voices, and great stage presence, each getting their own moment in the spotlight, and rightly so. Newcomer Ryan Alexander Full is the dastardly Bear Botemme. A fresh take on the evil Gaston, he is the butt of many of the jokes, while also stirring villagers up. These villagers are the adult ensemble, a brilliant quartet flitting between roles as and when the action needed them. There are also four young performers dancing throughout. The costumes sparkle, and
The Beast’s outfit is really impressive, allowing Karl the opportunity to share his powerful voice without restriction. The sets are terrific, the lighting really adds to the action, and the musicians are sensitive to the action. It all adds up to a powerful package. The Hexagon has served up another festive treat. Sure, it’s not the fully fledged show we’d all love to see, but it’s a brilliant night out packed with magic that will help make Reading’s Christmas. The show runs until Monday, January 3 – a bank holiday due to New Year’s Day being a Saturday. Tickets cost from £15. For more details, call the box office on 0118 960 6060 or log on to https://www.whatsonreading. com/index.php/beauty-and-beast
PHIL CREIGHTON
20 | LEISURE
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
THE MAYORS MET AT SOUTH HILL PARK
Mayoral visit of current art exhibitions at South Hill
So, here it is... SLADE wowed audiences at Sub89 in Reading on Sunday night, bringing their Christmas show to the town. Founding member Dave Hill was on stage for the gig, which was well attended by festive revellers. The band played a number of Slade hits including – of course – their megahit, Merry Xmas Everybody. Pictures: Dijana Capan
On t saick le ets nO w
the stars of aladdin return Faye EllEn as cinderella
I
Michael Ayiotis as Buttons
T’S GOING to be a challenge that any actor would relish: just how do you recreate the zany, madcap mind of one of the Goons?
Writer Joyce Branagh Director adam stafford Beth Bradley as ugly sister Ben Featherstone as Prince charming Paul toulson as ugly sister ‘another christmas cracker of a show’ maidenhead advertiser on aladdin 2019
Fri 26 Nov 2021 — Mon 3 Jan 2022
Wilde theatre, south hill Park, Bracknell RG12 7Pa @southhillpark
/southhillparkartscentre
to Book visit southhillpark.org.uk
southhillpark
#shpcinderella
Box offiCe 01344 484123
Berkshire’s Centre for the Arts, Business and Community
Together at the Wilde Community Gallery, showcasing local visual and performing artists’ works. This creative project began in the first lockdown, with an aim to bring the community together and keep morale high. Cllr Baughan was delighted to drop in, having been friends with the artist for 40 years. “I’ve always admired his artwork and I’m absolutely delighted and thrilled to see it in such a beautiful location, a gorgeous arts centre, and introduce a new friend and colleague to it,” she said. And Cllr Merry said that it had been lovely to welcome Annie. “This has been a really fantastic day meeting Jan and seeing how art can actually strengthen communities. “Annie and I are going away with lots of good ideas for the mayors to work together to promote community engagement with South Hill Park and we hope to see you in the New Year.” The exhibition runs until February. n For more details, log on to: www.southhillpark.org.uk
Goon today... meet the man playing
A south hill park pAntomime
JacquelinE tatE as Wicked stepmother
IT WAS a meeting of mayors, and the subject was culture. Last week, Bracknell Forest mayor Cllr Ash Merry welcomed her counterpart from High Wycombe, Cllr Annie Baughan, for a special tour of South Hill Park’s latest exhibituion. It is by Jan Gaska, is called Returning with a New Approach, and can be seen in the venue’s Atrium and Balcony galleries. Gaska was a Printmaker in Residence at South Hill Park between 2004 and 2006. He found direct observation to be an organic approach to painting which displayed the honesty and freshness he was seeking. Cllrs Baughan and Merry enjoyed a guided tour thanks to curator Loucia Manopoulou, meeting Jan and finding out more about the exhibitions. They also explored the interactive installation Invisible, by Basia Gorska, South Hill Park’s printmaking tutor, in the Mirror Gallery, which challenges our perception and invites us to look at things in a different light. Following this, they admired Arts and Crafts Bringing Us
Registered charity 265656 Please support the future of the Arts
Next year, The Watermill in Newbury is presenting the premiere of Spike, a look at the complex life of Spike Milligan. Set in the 1950s, radio rules the roost, and The Goons are at the top of the comedy tree. The nation scrambles to get an ear to the wireless to hear The Goon Show, starring Harry Seacombe, Peter Sellers, Michael Benetine and Spike. While the rest get on with getting the show together, Spike pushes the envelope, not just of comedy, but the group’s relationship with their employers, the BBC. Will Spike’s dogged obsession with finding the funny elevate The Goons to soaring new heights, or will the whole thing come crashing down with the stroke of a potato peeler? The play is written by Private Eye editor Ian Hislop and cartoonist Nick Newman. It will star Olivier Awardwinning actor John Dagleish as Spike, with Margaret CabournSmith as Janet.
CAST: Actor John Dagleish is playing Spike Milligan in Spike Stephen Fry will voice the BBC announcer. Ian Hislop and Nick Newman say: “Writing Spike gave us the opportunity to celebrate the genius of the founding father of modern comedy, explore what inspired him and steal all his jokes”. And The Watermill’s artistic director, Paul Hart, says: “It’s been great to work with Ian and Nick on this homage to one of the most iconic voices in modern comedy. The play will commemorate
twenty years since his death (he’s still ill then?) and will be equally good fun to those who know the Goons and to audiences who are new to Spike’s distinctive brand of humour. “And how we all need a laugh at the moment.” The show comes to The Watermill from Thursday, January 27, through to Saturday, March 5. n For more details, or to book, call the box office on 01635 46044 or log on to www.watermill.org
LEISURE | 29
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
LIVEMUSIC
To advertise in this section, call Claire on 0118 327 2662
RaW Sounds Today
TASTY: Beans on Toast has released a new album and he will be appearing at The Facebar in Reading on Tuesday
Chris Hillman
www.volunteer bit.ly/ rawsoundstoday
T
HIS WEEK’S RaW Sounds Today playlist will make you hungry for more.
Tune into today and you can enjoy Beans on Toast … and then go back for seconds, as he’ll be performing at The Facebar on Tuesday. Humans is a track from Beans’ new album and we think it’s a track that’s well worth a listen. It is just one of 10 brilliant tracks you can listen to for free, thanks to our Spotify playlist. The RaW Sounds playlist is a brilliant way to explore a wide range of brilliant artists, discover some new music and keep dancing. To tune in, simply head to https://bit.ly/ rawsoundstoday and get ready to rock. There’s also a Facebook page and group chat that bands and music fans can tap into. You can search for RaW Sounds Today and it will come up.
Beans on Toast – Humans Beans has just released his new album, Survival of the Friendliest, and Humans is the latest single from the album. It’s a wonderfully mellow song that Beans describes as ‘a song about humans, nature, awe, wonder ... and unicorns’. The whole album is worth checking out, as its full of quality song-writing and positivity. If you fancy hearing some of the songs performed live, he is on
GIG GUIDE
Thursday, December 9
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Just Genesis: tribute night. Details: www.theacousticcouch. co.uk BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead RG12 7PA. Coach House Christmas Parties. Details: 01344 484123. READING – Market Yard, Tessa Road RG1 8HH. Christmas Session Details: www. marketyard.co.uk READING – The Jazz Cafe, Select Car leasing Stadium RG2 0FL. Christmas night. Details: 0118 968 1442. WOODLEY – La’De Kitchen, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3JP. Buzuki Serkan and Cem Iyibardakci. Details: 0118 969 2047.
Friday, December 10
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Wise Monkeys, Reaction. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Wow 90s. Details: 01344 303333. EARLEY – The Roebuck, Auckland Road RG6 1NY. Live music. Details: 0118 966 7153. EMMBROOK – The Dog and Duck, Matthewsgreen Road RG41 1JT. Live music. Details: 0118 978 0544. EMMBROOK – Emmbrook Sports & Social, Lowther Road RG41 1JB. Wokingham Music Club presentsNever 42. £18. Details: www. wokinghammusicclub.co.uk READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Open mic night. Details: 0118 959 5500. READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. Nigefest: The Pistols, Remones, Eat Daddy Eat, Head Drop, Rev John H. Details: 0118 956 8188. READING – The Jazz Cafe, Shooters Way, Select Car Leasing Stadium RG2 0FL. Sir Duke Disco and Dance Party Band. Details: 0118 968 1442. READING – Market Yard, Tessa Road RG1 8HH. Afterwork, Guilty Pleasures.
is their latest single and is one of nine on the album – https://www.crookedshapes.com/
Last Picture Show – The Joy and the Wonder
Reading-based band, Last Picture Show, are interested in combining visual imagery with their music, and that shows with the awardwinning video they created for this single – http://www.last-picture-show.com/
Valeras – Let Me Go Reading-based indie rock duo, Valeras, with a single from their four track EP, Tell Me Now. Following their Sub 89 show, they appeared at Wokingham’s Beyond the Download ‘in-store’ event last month – https://www.facebook.com/ valerasband
Mordecai Smyth – Sinister Cyclist an extensive UK tour at the moment, which includes a visit to Reading’s Facebar on Tuesday, December 14 – https://beansontoastmusic.com/
Ocean Ruins – Teen Drama Here’s a melodic alt rock band from Reading who have released a string of singles, including this one that came out in the summer. If you missed it then, it’s well worth a listen, with its uplifting sing-along chorus and great vocal delivery from singer and guitarist Kate Herridge. They performed live at both Are You Listening? festival and Loddfest recently, and hopefully they will be doing more shows in 2022. Sounds like they are worth checking out when they do – https:// www.facebook.com/OceanRuins
Spriggan Mist – The Portal
Details: www.marketyard.co.uk READING – The Palmer Tavern, Wokingham Road RG6 1JL. Marvellous Fridays. Details: 0118 935 1009. READING – The Retreat, St John’s Street RG1 4EH. Mollys Jam. Details: 0118 376 9159. WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. Side Hustle Rock. Details: 0118 977 3706.
Saturday, December 11
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. The De Rella and Rage DC. Details: www.theacousticcouch. co.uk BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. George Michael tribute. Details: 01344 303333. BRACKNELL – The Royal Oak, London Road RG12 2NN. From The Ashes. Details: 01344 422622. EARLEY – The Seven Red Roses, Maiden Place RG6 3HA. Gary Roman as Elvis. Details: 0118 935 4103. PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. Sing-along-aNicktivity. Details: 0118 969 98978. READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Doody Nights Grease and Dirty Dancing. Details: 0118 402 7800. READING – The Jazz Cafe, Shooters Way, Select Car Leasing Stadium RG2 0FL. Madison Heights ultimate live soul and Motown band. Details: 0118 968 1442. READING – Market Yard, Tessa Road RG1 8HH. Jukebox Brunch, DJ, Natasha Kitty Kat (Glitterbox). Details: www. marketyard.co.uk READING – The Retreat, St John’s Street RG1 4EH. Cafe Zazous. Details: 0118 376 9159. READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. The Magical Mystery Four. Details: 0118 926 5804. READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. Blue Hayz. Details: 0118 957 6930.
TILEHURST – The Victoria, Norcot Road RG30 6BP. Live music. Details: 0118 941 5064. WINNERSH – Royal British Legion, Woodward Close RG41 5LP. Spriggan Mist’s Yule Feast. Details: 0118 978 0307. WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Gas Trick Band. Details: 0118 977 0918.
Sunday, December 12
READING – Community Hall, Watlington House, Watlington Street RG1 4RJ. Readifolk presents: Magpie Lane. Details: www.readifolk.org.uk READING – Market Yard, Tessa Road RG1 8HH. Elf Screening, Abba Magic Duo, Live Music. Details: www.marketyard. co.uk READING – Queens Head, Christchurch Road RG2 7AZ. Northern Soul Social Sunday. 2pm-5pm. Details: 0118 931 0232. READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Primaitai Headline Show. Details: 0118 959 5395. WOODLEY – La’De Kitchen, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3JP. Tenor Ethem Demir, pianist Yunuscan Kaya. Details: 0118 969 2047.
Monday, December 13
NETTLEBED – Village Club, High Street RG9 5DD. Nettlebed Folk Club presents: St AGnes Fountain Christmas show with Chris While, Julie Matthews and Chris Leslie. Details: www. nettlebedfolkclub.co.uk READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. The Wildhearts and Discharge. Details: 0118 959 5395.
Tuesday, December 14
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. New Music Tuesday: One Formation EP launch. Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead RG12 7PA. That 80s Christmas Rock Show. Details: 01344 484123.
Their live performances combine strong visuals with a magical mix of prog, folk and rock, and they will be bringing that magic to Wokingham’s Royal British Legion on Saturday, December 11, for a special ‘Yule Feast’ event – https://www. sprigganmist.com/
Geno Washington – Everybody Needs Somebody to Love
It’s great to see Wokingham Music Club bringing so many legendary artists to town, and here’s a great example who performed at the club recently – https://genowashington.blogspot.com/
Crooked Shapes – Appetite This three-piece rock band with members from Reading and Wokingham have just released their debut self-titled album Crooked Shapes. This track
READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. Heavy Pop presents Beans on Toast. Details: 0118 956 8188. WOODLEY – La’De Kitchen, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3JP. Ayce Abana and Yunuscan Kaya. Details: 0118 969 2047.
Wednesday, December 15
READING – Market Yard, Tessa Road RG1 8HH. Christmas Session, One and Only Adele Tribute. Details: www. marketyard.co.uk READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Club Velocity presents John Otway annual Christmas knees up. Details: 0118 959 5395.
Thursday, December 16
BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead RG12 7PA. Coach House Christmas Parties. Details: 01344 484123. READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. TJ Johnson and the Preachers. Details: 0118 402 7800. READING – Market Yard, Tessa Road RG1 8HH. Christmas Session. Details: www. marketyard.co.uk WOODLEY – La’De Kitchen, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3JP. Buzuki Serkan and Cem Iyibardakci. Details: 0118 969 2047.
Friday, December 17
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Graham Steel Music Company Christmas Party: Atomic Rapture and The Filthy Llamas. Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. The Take That Experience. Details: 01344 303333. BRACKNELL – The Silver Birch, Liscombe RG12 7DE. Lewis and the Sound of the Suburbs. Details: 01344 457318. EARLEY – The Roebuck, Auckland Road RG6 1NY. Live music. Details: 0118 966 7153. EMMBROOK – The Dog and Duck,
Mordecai’s 2011 album, Sticky Tape and Rust on Wokingham-based Mega Dodo Records ‘has been re-issued as a special 10th anniversary twoCD. Psych pop with clever lyrics – https://www. facebook.com/stickytapeandrust/
Hoopy Frood – Horse with No Name Here’s a Wokingham based band with a very cool cover of a classic 70s hit by America. It’s a great interpretation of the song with good grooves, strong vocals and even a guitar solo at the end – https://www.hoopyfrood.co.uk/
Katie Ellwood – More Than Perfect It’s another wonderful indie pop single with an infectious melody and chilled beats from Katie, who is from Wokingham and who writes, records, plays and sings on her releases. Very talented – https:// www.katieellwood.com/
Matthewsgreen Road RG41 1JT. Live music. Details: 0118 978 0544. EMMBROOK – Emmbrook Sports & Social, Lowther Road RG41 1JB. Wokingham Music Club presents Kossoff … The Band. £19. Details: www.wokinghammusicclub.co.uk READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Open mic night. Details: 0118 959 5500. READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. Will and the People. Details: 0118 956 8188. READING – The Jazz Cafe, Shooters Way, Madejski Stadium RG2 0FL. The SoulTones Details: 0118 968 1442. READING – Progress Theatre, The Mount RG1 5HL. Jazz at Progress presents Moscow Drug Club. Details: www. jazzinreading.com READING – Market Yard, Tessa Road RG1 8HH. Afterwork and Ultimate Power. Details: www.marketyard.co.uk READING – The Palmer Tavern, Wokingham Road RG6 1JL. Marvellous Fridays. Details: 0118 935 1009. THEALE – The Fox and Hounds, Station Road RG7 4BE. Glo. Details: 0118 960 2295.
Saturday, December 18
BINFIELD – The Victoria Arms, terrane Road North RG42 5JA. MJX. Details: 01344 483856. BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Rock Night with Divide The Truth and Unrise. Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Abba’s Angels. Details: 01344 303333. READING – The Retreat, St John’s Street RG1 4EH. Rufus Ruffcut. Details: 0118 376 9159. READING – The Jazz Cafe, Shooters Way, Madejski Stadium RG2 0FL. Chain Gang. Details: 0118 968 1442. READING – Market Yard, Tessa Road RG1 8HH. Christmas Brunch, DJ. Details: www.marketyard.co.uk
HOLDING A GIG, QUIZ OR GAMES NIGHT? SEND DETAILS TO EVENTS@WOKINGHAM.TODAY
READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Marisa and the Moths. Details: 0118 959 7196. READING – The Retreat, St John’s Street RG1 4EH. Rufus Ruffcut. Details: 0118 376 9159. READING – The Rising Sun, Silver Street RG1 2ST. SOS Drag Night Christmas edition. Details: 0118 986 6788. READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. Bottle Kids. Details: 0118 926 5804. READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. Funk Soul Brothers. Details: 0118 957 6930. READING – The Weather Station, Eldon Terrace RG1 4DX. Rocket Kings and DAP. Details: 0118 958 6048. TILEHURST – The Royal British Legion Club, Downing Road RG31 5BB. Live music. Details: 0118 942 9606. WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Heathrow Jets. Details: 0118 977 0918.
Sunday, December 19
READING – Community Hall, Watlington House, Watlington Street RG1 4RJ. Readifolk presents: Christmas party. Details: www. readifolk.org.uk READING – The Jazz Cafe, Select Car leasing Stadium RG2 0FL. Chain Gang. Details: 0118 968 1442. READING – Market Yard, Tessa Road RG1 8HH. Christmas Brunch, East17 Live and guests. Details: www.marketyard. co.uk READING – Queens Head, Christchurch Road RG2 7AZ. Northern Soul Social Sunday. 2pm-5pm. Details: 0118 931 0232. READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Bad Manners. Details: 0118 959 5395. WOODLEY – La’De Kitchen, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3JP. Tenor Ethem Demir, pianist Yunuscan Kaya. Details: 0118 969 2047.
No. 5391
Your weekly puzzle challenge TO ADVERTISE ON THIS PAGE, CALL CLAIRE ON: 0118 327 2662
30
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
5391
Quiz Challenge
2
9
3
14
26
11
8
8
8 1
4
1
3 8
1
21
8
15
8
3
20
12
10
22
7
20
15
20
8
4
13
26
8
6
11
2
4
17
13
15
17 10
14
10
22
8
11
6
9
20
8
26
8
4
1
11
3
17
26
8
23
7
17
10
6
26
8
1. Which Walt Disney film starred Glenn Close as the wicked Cruella de Vil? 2. What is the meaning of the theatrical term ‘papering the house’? 3. What type of clothing was banned by statute in 1746? 4. Majestic and Epicure are varieties of which vegetable? 5. Colin Farrell starred with Rachel Weisz in which 2015 surreal film about unattached single people being turned into animals?
4 6
1
16 8
3
20 26
19
10
4
10 18
4
16
3
24
4
8
1
20
14 2
17
4
8
3
8 4
3
16
NONAGRAM
10 6
T R O
13
R
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 1
2
3
14
15
16
R
4
A
17
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
S
Each number in our Cross Code grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. You have three letters in the control grid to start you off. Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you get the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and control grid. Check off the alphabetical list of letters as you identify them.
MAGIC SQUARE
COOPER DONE ON BEER
Using all 16 letters of the phrase above, form four words each of four letters which will fit in the grid to form a magic square in which the words can be read both horizontally and vertically.
I O
E S
P
How many words of four letters or more can you make from this Nonagram? Each word must use the central letter, and each letter may be used only once. At least one word using all nine letters can be found. Guidelines: 30 Good; 37 Very Good; 43 Excellent.
Any word found in the Concise Oxford Dictionary (Tenth Edition) is eligible with the following exceptions: proper nouns; plural nouns, pronouns and possessives; third person singular verbs; hyphenated words; contractions and abbreviations; vulgar slang words; variant spellings of the same word (where another variant is also eligible).
Spell out a 15-letter word or phrase by moving from one chamber to another within the pyramid. You may only enter each of the chambers once and may only proceed D through openings in the walls. The O first letter may appear in any chamber. F T
RE
AL
OU
LC
GP
AH
7 3 9 4 7 2 6 5 4 7 2 8 9 7 8 6 5 3 1 3 4 6 5 2 1 8 3 8 7 4 8 6 7 9
L L I H
EH
IN
V
SE
ST
AE
DU
NS
TE
RY
5
8 4 9 6 1 7 2 7 8 9 5 4 2 6 8 5 2 3 9 4 1 6 2 9
10 9
10
11
12
13 15 16
15
15
14
16 18
19
20 22
23
23
DOWN 1. Counter bid from a local worker (9) 2. Dealt out a letter (5) 3. Messenger loses nothing but feeling of discontent (4) 4. Written and enclosed (6)
11. Still in the main (8)
5. Spreadsheet software is fast – that’s very good (9)
13. Performing dog in trouble (5)
6. Discharge with or without a gun (4) 10. Fame is not impaired by policy document (9)
16. Ringleader, if very loud, will 12. Theologian goes round include airmen in the rabble capital with ragged Ray for (4-4) an animal (9) 18. Strip at the finishing line (4)
15. Unusually fair accountant from the continent (6)
21. Workers returning saint to North America (4)
17. In addition a Scottish island (4)
22. Winner, one taking a state (8)
19. Weapon indicator (5)
23. Where footballers play in a soap opera (4,3,4)
20. Kick up a dust in the horsebreeding establishment (4)
QUICK CROSSWORD 1
2
3
4
5
5
6
8 7
8
9 11
10 11
11
12
13
14
15 16
Perform the first calculation in each line first and ignore the mathematical law which says you should always perform division and multiplication before addition and subtraction.
17
This puzzle page is supplied by Sirius Media Services Ltd.
22
© Sirius Media Services Ltd
12
17
14. He will add nothing to the greeting (5)
Place the four signs (add, subtract, multiply, divide) one in each circle so that the total of each across and down line is the same.
To try our new puzzle, Zygolex, go to www.zygolex.com
13
20
20 18
19
20
23
21 26
28 24
25
26
27 8 5 2 4 9 1 6 7 3
3 1 4 2 7 6 9 8 5
9 6 7 8 2 5 4 3 1
4 2 5 3 1 7 8 9 6
1 8 3 9 6 4 7 5 2
7 4 8 6 3 2 5 1 9
2 9 6 1 5 8 3 4 7
5 3 1 7 4 9 2 6 8
WORD PYRAMID: Land of the living. EQUALISER: Clockwise from top left – add; subtract; multiply; divide. Total: 12.
SOLUTIONS
11
9. Cheese hidden by the damsel (4)
EQUALISER 5 6 10 4 2 7 3 6 3 6 1 4
Hard
7
8
8. Speedy cut (4)
I
5
7
7. Become less severe about Virginia being pertinent (8)
N
Here are two miniature fivesquare crosswords using the same grid – but the letters have been mixed up. You have to work out which letters belong to which crossword.
AC
4
ACROSS 1. Easily angered when rogue tampered with bed (3-8)
G
E
CE
NA
Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box.
4 3
N
OH
MI
3
6
24
A
FIVE ALIVE HO
2
21
WORD PYRAMID
SUDOKU Easy
1
6. Lumley Castle overlooks the main ground of which cricketing county? 7. Which British comedian has William Makepeace Thackeray as one of his ancestors? 8. Which is the only city in England to have a name beginning with the letter T? 9. Which member of the royal family was born at Glamis Castle in August, 1930? 10. What Y is the title of a Coldplay song and a colour of the rainbow?
6 7 9 5 8 3 1 2 4
4
6
1
14
1 6 4 7 2 3 8 5 9
8
8
15
9 2 3 4 8 5 1 6 7
20
16
5 7 8 9 1 6 2 4 3
22
1
3 4 5 1 6 8 9 7 2
3
26
7 9 6 3 4 2 5 8 1
26
25
8 1 2 5 9 7 6 3 4
2
2 5 7 8 3 1 4 9 6
4
26
20 5
17
6 8 9 2 7 4 3 1 5
17
4 3 1 6 5 9 7 2 8
4
CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
PZ1P5391
CROSS CODE
28
22. Common sense ACROSS (inf.) (4) 1. Draw near (8) 24. Beast of burden (4) 5. Thread (4) 26. Intestinal 7. Thick-skinned inflammation (9) animal (9) 9. Unwanted plant (4) 27. Search thoroughly (4) 10. Issue cards (4) 28. Scottish 11. Have faith in (5) islands (8) 14. Organic DOWN fertilizer (5) 1. Afresh (4) 15. Origins (5) 2. Highway (4) 16. Farewell (5) 3. Loathe (5) 17. Vulgar (5) 4. Hell (5) 18. Backbone (5) 5. Three feet (4) 19. Braid of hair (5)
6. Boneless (anag.) (8) 7. Teacher (9) 8. Tuneful (9) 11. Grilled bread (5) 12. Join (5) 13. Tie up (5) 14. Mammoth (8) 20. Bobbins (5) 21. Pigs (5) 23. Prig (4) 24. Grinding machine (4) 25. ---- Blyton, author (4)
QUIZ CHALLENGE: 1 101 Dalmatians; 2 Giving out complimentary tickets to fill the auditorium; 3 Highland dress ; 4 Potato; 5 Lobster; 6 FIVE ALIVE: Durham; 7 Al Murray ; 8 Truro; 9 Princess Margaret; 10 Yellow. (1) Across – Hello; Panic; Saner. Down – Hopes; Linen; Occur. CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: CROSS CODE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Across – 1 Bad-tempered; 7 Relevant; 8 Clip; 9 Edam; 11 (2) Across – Orach; Ghana; Testy. N C R A H L P E W U D J Y Becalmed; 13 Doing; 14 Hello; 16 Riff-raff; 18 Tape; 21 Ants; 22 Down – Ought; Amass; Heady. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Victoria; 23 Home and away. V O G T B Q S F M X Z K I Down – 1 Bartender; 2 Delta; 3 Envy; 4 Penned; 5 Excellent; 6 NONAGRAM: esprit; isotope; orris; osier; otiose; Fire; 10 Manifesto; 12 Dromedary; 15 Africa; 17 Iona; 19 Arrow; peri; pier; piste; poise; posier; posit; MAGIC SQUARE: EASY SUDOKU HARD SUDOKU 20 Stud. corn; oboe; rope; POSTERIOR; priest; prior; prise; need. prosier; prosit; resit; riot; rioter; ripe; riper; ripest; riposte; rise; riser; rite; roister; rootsier; ropier; ropiest; rosier; roti; sipe; sire; site; sitrep; sootier; sortie; spire; spirt; spit; spite; sportier; sprit; sprite; stipe; stir; strip; stripe; striper; tier; tire; tiro; topi; trier; trio; triose; trip; tripe; tripos. QUICK CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Approach; 5 Yarn; 7 Pachyderm; 9 Weed; 10 Deal; 11 Trust; 14 Guano; 15 Roots; 16 Adieu; 17 Gross; 18 Spine; 19 Tress; 22 Nous; 24 Mule; 26 Enteritis; 27 Comb; 28 Shetland. Down – 1 Anew; 2 Road; 3 Abhor; 4 Hades; 5 Yard; 6 Noblesse; 7 Pedagogue; 8 Melodious; 11 Toast; 12 Unite; 13 Truss; 14 Gigantic; 20 Reels; 21 Swine; 23 Snob; 24 Mill; 25 Enid.
WHAT’SON Thursday, December 9
LOWER EARLEY – Trinity Church, Chalfont Close RG6 5HZ. Re:fresh wellbeing drop-in cafe, 2pm-4pm. Details: 07493 784091. READING – Milk, Merchants Place. Sami Switch presents Milk My Words: live music, spoken word and more featuring Ian Leone, Amelia Dare, Cameron Bloomfield, Effie, DJ Thomas Jules and special guests. 7pmmidnight. £10. READING – Progress Theatre, The Mount RG1 5HL. Progress Theatre presents Babe The Sheep Pig. 7pm. Socially distanced seating night. Details: www. progresstheatre.co.uk. READING – St Joseph’s College, Upper Redlands Road RG1 5JT. Reading Hadyn Choir carol concert. 7.30pm. £5, children free. Details: haydnchoir.org.uk WOKINGHAM – The Cornerstone, All Saints Church, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham RG40 1UE. Wokingham and East Berkshire Camera Club meeting: Christmas social. 7.30pm. Details: www. webcc.org.uk. WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Online session: Children’s creative writing group for ages 8-10. 4pm4.45pm. Details: 0118 978 1368. WOKINGHAM – Online. Wokingham Lions presents The Great #Woky Virtual Pub QUiz. 8pm. Donations in aid of A Christmas Presence. Details: facebook.com/ WokinghamLions/live
Friday, December 10
EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6 7JN. Re:fresh wellbeing drop-in cafe from Earley Help Hub. 10am-noon. Details: 07493 784091. READING – Broad Street Mall. Christmas Carols by local choir ‘Moving On’ next to Christmas tree in Central Square. 1pm. Details: broadstreetmall.com READING – Progress Theatre, The Mount RG1 5HL. Progress Theatre presents Babe The Sheep Pig. 7pm. Details: www. progresstheatre.co.uk. READING – South Street arts centre. Poets’ Cafe: Guest Ramona Herdman, host Ashley Harrold + open mic. £5, £4 readers. Details: whatsonreading.com WOKINGHAM – St Paul’s Church Parish Rooms, Reading Road RG41 1EH. Coffee and Chat: a warm welcome, a listening ear and refreshments. 2pm4pm. Details: 0118 979 2122 or church.office@ spauls.co.uk.
Saturday, December 11
BEECH HILL – Memorial Hall RG7 2BE. Belle Canto Concert: It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas. 2.30pm. Free entry.
CAVERSHAM – Caversham Methodist Church Hall, Gosbrook RoadC RG4 8EB. Artists and Makers Fair. From 10am. Free entry. CROWTHORNE – St John The Baptist Church, Waterloo Road. Crowthorne Symphony Orchestra’s Christmas Concert. 4.30pm. £10, under 16s free. Details: www. crowthorneorchestra.com CROWTHORNE – Wellington College Chapel. Christmas carols with Tamesis Chamber Choir in aid of St John Ambulance. 6pm. £01, includes a glass of wine and a mince pie. Details: tamesischamberchoir.com EARLEY – Earley Christian Fellowship, Wokingham Road. Chocolatada, Churros & Christmas Carols with carols. All welcome. 10am-1pm. allevents.in/reading/ 10000208475474757 HURST – Dinton Pastures, Davis Street RG10 0TH. Christmas At Dinton 2021: live music, mulled wine, mince pies, fair ground and more. Details: https://www. dinton-pastures.co.uk MORTIMER – St John’s Mortimer CofE Church, The Street RG7 3SY. Half Cut Theatre’s A Christmas Carol. 5pm. Free to reserve, pay what you decide afterwards. Details: www.eventbrite. co.uk/e/half-cut-theatresa-christmas-carol-stjohns-mortimer-5pmtickets-213822417607 READING – Broad Street Mall. Letters to Santa: visit Santa’s little helpers, write a letter, post it and receive a free personalised letter from Lapland. 11am-4pm. Details: broadstreetmall. com READING – Progress Theatre, The Mount RG1 5HL. Progress Theatre presents Babe The Sheep Pig. 7pm. Relaxed performance. 11am. Details: www. progresstheatre.co.uk. READING – Reading Minster of St Mary the Virgin, Chain Street RG1 2HX. Reading Phoenix Choir carol concert in support for Reading Minster Sanctuary. 5pm. £7.50. Details: www. readingphoenixchoir.com/ carols READING – St Bart’s Theatre, St Bartholomew’s Road RG1 3QA. Access To The Arts presents a Winter Festival. Stalls, refreshments, performances, games and more. 2pm-5pm. SONNING – St Andrew’s Church. Bel Canto Ladies’ Choir Traditional ‘Christmassy’ Christmas Concert, 7pm. £8, £4 children. Details: belcantomembers@gmail. com SOUTHCOTE – Grange United Reformed Church, Circuit Lane RG30 3HD. Christmas Market: crafts, preserves, cakes, tombola, books and more. Please wear a face covering. 11.30am. Free entry. Details: 0118 956 0380. TWYFORD – St Mary’s Church, Twyford RG10
LEISURE | 31
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
Holding a community event? Send your listings to events@wokinghampaper.co.uk 9NE. Twyford Singers present Hope! Joy! Celebration! £12, under 16s £6. Details: www. twyford-singers.org.uk WOKINGHAM – Baptist Church, Milton Road RG40 1DE. Sing Healthy Choirs charity Christmas concert with carols. 7.30pm. Details: www.singhealthy. co.uk. WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street. Teen writing group with guest speaker Charlotte Lo, author of We Made a Movie. 10.30am. For ages 11-18. Virtual session, free. To register: libraries@ wokingham.gov.uk WOKINGHAM – St Paul’s Church, Reading Road RG41 1EH. Wokingham Choral Society presents Around The World with Christmas, a family concert. £10, under 18s and students £5. 6.30pm. Details: www.wokinghamchoral-society.org.uk. WOKINGHAM – Town Hall, Market Place RG40 1AS. Wokingham Living Advent Calendar performance: Love That Jazz, Chloe Zarb and the Mitchel Trio Family, Graeth Ainsworth, Kendel Pyne and Pauly Zarb. From 7pm. Booking essential. WOODLEY – Crockhamwell Road precinct. Woodley Town Centre presents Saturday market. 9am-3pm. Details: 07861 654674 or www. woodleytowncentre.co.uk
Sunday, December 12
EARLEY – Trinity Church, Chalfont Close.Christingle Messy Church. Booking essential - limited spaces. 4pm-5.30pm. Details: trinityeearly.org.uk HURST – Dinton Pastures, Davis Street RG10 0TH. Christmas At Dinton 2021: live music, mulled wine, mince pies, fair ground and more. Details: https://www. dinton-pastures.co.uk READING – Broad Street Mall. Letters to Santa: visit Santa’s little helpers, write a letter. 11am-4pm. Details: broadstreetmall. com READING – Forbury Gardens. 8th Reading Rotary Santa Run. 1km and 5km courses. 10am start. Details: www. readingsantarun.co.uk READING – The Abbey School, Kendrick Road RG1 5DU. Parenthesis Choir presents A Christmas Celebration: Vivaldi’s Gloria, Durante’s Magnificat, A Selection of Christmas Carols. £12. Details: 07947 279 704. READING – Carey Baptist Church, Carey Street RG1 7JS. Carols for all. 4pm. Details: 0118 959 0058. WOKINGHAM – Market Place. Wokingham vegan market. 10am2pm. Details: www. sparkleveganevents.com WOODLEY – Crockhamwell Road precinct. Woodley Town Centre presents car boot sale. 8am-1pm. Cars £10, vans £15. Details: 07861 654674 or www.
woodleytowncentre.co.uk WOODLEY – Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way RG5 4UX. Woodley Concert Band familyfriendly Christmas concert. 3pm. £8, children £2. Evening Christmas concert with carols. 6pm. £14, £12 concessions. Details: 0870 321 2186 or www. woodleyconcertband. org.uk
Church Parish Rooms, Reading Road RG41 1EH. Coffee and Chat. 2pm4pm. Details: 0118 979 2122 or church.office@ spauls.co.uk.
Saturday, December 18
LOWER EARLEY – Trinity Church, Chalfont Close RG6 5HZ. Re:fresh wellbeing drop-in cafe, 2pm-4pm. Details: 07493 784091.
READING – Biscuit Factory, BroadStreet Mall RG1 7QE. Black Pound Day pop-up market. 10am-5pm, featuring RG2 Radio DJs, Caribbean food, books and cakes. Details: rg2radio@ hotmail.com READING – The Great Hall, University of Reading, London Road RG1 5AG. The Night Before Christmas with Trinity Concert Band. Doors 3.30pm, concert 4pm.£14, students £7, under 16s free. SOLD OUT. Waiting list open. Details: www. trinityband.co.uk READING – New Hope Community Church, York Road, RG1 8DU. The Narnia Experience: step through the wardrobe and meet characters from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Sessions 10am-noon and 1pm-3pm. Advance booking. Details: greyfriars.churchsuite. co.uk/events/dixytr2o READING – Reading Minster of St Mary the Virgin, Chain St RG1 2HX. Three Choirs Concert with Reading Male Voice Choir, Occasions Singers and A440 choirs. £6. 5pm. Details: www.rmvc.net READING – Rising Sun Arts Centre, Silver Street RG1 2ST. SOS Drag Night Christmas edition. 7pm. Details: www. risingsunartscentre.org HURST – Dinton Pastures, Davis Street RG10 0TH. Barnes Fitness Santa dash. 10.30am. 2km or 5km routes. Details: https:// www.barnesfitness.co.uk/ dinton-santa-dash/ WOKINGHAM – Town Hall, Market Place RG40 1AS. Wokingham Living Advent Calendar performance: Emma Woolford, Lola Teague and Noah Ransby, Jazanna and Martha Adam, seven-piece band. From 7pm. Booking essential. WOODLEY – Crockhamwell Road precinct. Saturday market. 9am-3pm. Details: 07861 654674 or www. woodleytowncentre.co.uk
Friday, December 17
Sunday, December 19
Monday, December 13
EARLEY – Brookside Church, Brookside Close RG6 7HG. Re:fresh wellbeing drop-in cafe from Earley Help Hub. 10am-noon. Details: 0118 966 4474
Tuesday, December 14
LOWER SHIPLAKE – The Baskerville, Station Road RG9 3NY. Fireside Santa’s Grotto. Street food, sweet treats, and more. £5, in aid of Brave Mind and London Irish Foundation. Half-hour slots available. Details: enquiries@thebaskerville. com READING – Rising Sun Arts Centre, Silver Street RG1 2ST. The ZAP Festive, Christmas Show with Inimically Philtin and Marlip, Mr Tim Murgatroyd ‘The Voice of Christmas’, Home Sweet Home, Starkey and the Moon Doctor, The Great Martino, Big Jay and The Fantastic Freda StaireLift. 7pm. Details: www. risingsunartscentre.org WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Virtual storytime for children aged seven and under. 11am-11.30am. Details: 0118 978 1368.
Wednesday, December 15
WOODLEY – Crockhamwell Road precinct. Woodley Town Centre presents Artisan market. 9am-2pm. Details: 07861 654674 or www.woodleytowncentre. co.uk
Thursday, December 16
CROWTHORNE – Wellington College Chapel. Crowthorne, Sandhurst and Bracknell Rotary present Nine Lessons and Carols carol concert. 7pm. Free entry. READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street. Comedy at the Turtle with Stephen Bailey. 7.30pm. READING – Reading Minster of St Mary the Virgin, Chain Street RG1 2HX. Gospel Carol service with Reading Community Gospel Choir in aid of Reading Refugee Support Group. 7pm-8pm. Details: www.rrsg.org.uk WOKINGHAM – St Paul’s
LOWER EARLEY – Lower Earley Baptist Church, Maiden Place RG6 3HE. The Nativity: with animals, Christmas Bible stories, crafts and more. 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. Booking essential. Details: lowerearlyebaptistchurch. org.uk READING – Carey Baptist Church, Carey Street RG1 7JS. All-age Christmas Service. 10.30am. Traditional carols. 6pm. Details: 0118 959 0058. WOODLEY – Crockhamwell Road precinct. Vegan market. 11am-3pm. Details: sparkleveganevents.com
PROPERTY LAW: HOW DO SOLICITORS PROTECT YOU? You may have seen a case of property fraud reported by the BBC, fraud within the property sector is still a very real problem. In this case, the owner of a house was impersonated, the fraudster was able to sell the house, resulting in the true owner losing his home – the case goes on. The above highlights the importance of property solicitors carrying out thorough due diligence on clients, to ensure that they are who they say they are. Property Solicitors will usually agree to comply with the Law Society’s Code for Completion, which governs the process for completion of property transactions. This Code changed in 2019 as a result of the prevalence of cases involving property fraud by way of the seller being impersonated. Property Solicitors acting in accordance with the Code, now undertake prior to completion that they have the authority from the true owner of the property that (1) they have been authorised by the true owner of the property title to receive the purchase price monies (2) that this person is entitled to convey that property title to someone else, under the terms of the contract. Property Solicitors must therefore be alert to ‘alarm bells’ during property transactions and carry out rigorous due diligence to ensure that the client really is the true owner and entitled to sell the property. If it transpires after completion that the seller was a fraudster, the change to the Code now means that the seller’s solicitors are “on the hook”.
What can you do to protect against property fraud? Entering a restriction - you may wish to consider asking the Land Registry to enter a restriction against the title to your property, especially if any of the following apply: • your property is empty • your identity has been stolen • you rent your property • the property does not have a mortgage • the property is owned by a company A restriction can be used to prevent the Land Registry from registering a sale or a mortgage on your property, unless a solicitor or conveyancer has confirmed that they are satisfied that the person or company who executed the document submitted for registration is the same person as the proprietor (the person named on the title deeds). While this would require you to take the additional step of obtaining such a certificate on a legitimate sale of your property, the benefits of doing so far outweigh the possible implications of a fraudulent impersonation.
Monitor changes to the register The Land Registry also suggests signing up for property alerts. This means you would be notified if someone applies to change the register relating to your property. You can sign up for property alerts here: https://propertyalert.landregistry.gov.uk/
01276 686222
info@herrington-carmichael.com
www.herrington-carmichael.com
32 | LIFE
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
Ryan’s Christmas Roasties In the kitchen Freely Fruity
I
Serves 4
F you are looking to impress your guests this Christmas, then try this alternative roast potato recipe from our co-founder Ryan Simpson.
These roasties have a tasty, crunchy exterior with a soft, fluffy centre. Cook as many as you want, as these are always a tasty snack later in the evening. These are all about the prep but are very much worth it.
Ingredients n Maris Piper potatoes n 400g Goose Fat (1-2 jars depending on how
many you are cooking for) n Sea Salt & Pepper n A bunch of fresh coriander (roughly chopped) n 3-4 garlic cloves (peeled and chopped) n 1 teaspoon of garlic granules n 3 tablespoons of plain flour n 1 large orange (peel and chop the peel into slices)
Method Preheat the oven to 220°C Boil a large pan of water and add a pinch of rock salt. If you have a jar of goose fat then put that
into some hot water so it has melted into a liquid form. Wash and peel your potatoes and chop to your preferred size. Just remember the bigger they are, the longer they will take. A medium size Maris Piper is better cut in half. Once the pan of hot water is boiling, carefully put them in the water for 10 minutes to boil. After 10 minutes, remove from the heat and drain. Don’t leave them in the water to go any softer. Once these are drained, shake them together over the sink to rough up the edges which will give them that extra crispy exterior. Pour your goose fat into a roasting tray and warm in the oven. Peel and chop the garlic cloves, peel the orange, and slice the peel, then roughly chop
the coriander, you can also squeeze some of the orange juice into the goose fat. Once your goose fat is hot enough, add all of this into the fat carefully and stir together. The garlic, orange peel and coriander will then start to infuse the goose fat with a real festive twist. In another bowl combine the plain flour, garlic granules, a generous amount of rock salt & black pepper and stir together. Over the sink area, sprinkle this mix over your drained potatoes and shake again to make sure you have good coverage this coating will really help that crunchy coating. Once the fat has been in the oven for 5 minutes, carefully place your potatoes into the fat and use a spoon or pastry brush to drizzle the fat over all the potatoes. Roast the potatoes
for a further 45 minutes on the top shelf of your oven. During this time, keep rotating the potatoes every 5-10 mins so they don’t get too dry on one side or too hard on another. Once you are happy with the colour of the potatoes, remove from the oven and let them sit
in the fat until serving. When ready to serve pour the excess fat and peel into the goose fat jar and allow to cool somewhere. These help dispose of the used fat and waste safely.
Recipe by Ryan Simpson for Freely Fruity facebook.com/ freelyfruityuk
Festive treats from The Waterside’s Christmas menu The Waterside Inn Thatchers Tavern, Fairwater Drive Woodley RG5 3EZ 0118 342 0171 watersidewoodley.co.uk
A
S you approach the Waterside Inn, Woodley, your eye is drawn to the beautiful thatched roof that gives the building such character and charm.
Step inside and you’ll find a spacious contemporary, but cosy, interior. This is a slice of rustic charm right at the heart of Woodley. We found the tables to be very well spaced out, the staff wearing masks, and covid precautions strictly adhered to, which was very reassuring. Open seven days a week, it is currently serving a three-course Christmas feast right up until Thursday, December 23. It is £26.50 for two courses, or £32.50 for three, and there is a vegetarian option. For starters my husband and I opted for the Scottish smoked salmon with golden beetroot, fig and fennel salad. The presentation was beautiful and could easily be a dish served to the highly critical judges of Masterchef. The combination of juicy golden beetroot, with a tangy citrus creme fraiche dressing and fennel, made for a perfect combination. It was light, but full of flavour. My son opted for the Confit Chicken and Duck Terrine. This came with Toasted Brioche winter leaves and a caramelised onion chutney.
CHRISTMAS ON A PLATE: Festive dishes from The Waterside Inn Picture: Claire Worsfold Once again, it was beautifully presented, very tasty and definitely a big enough portion to satisfy my teenanger’s healthy appetite. There were also vegetarian options, including a hearty winter root vegetable soup, or a golden beetroot, fig and fennel salad. For my main, I opted for the Traditional Turkey. This came with all the trimmings: duck fat roasted potatoes, roasted root vegetables, Brussel sprouts, stuffing and chipolatas, finished off with thyme gravy. The turkey was cooked to perfection, succulent and plentiful, the roast potatoes were devine, crispy and flavoured with sage, which adds a lovely flavour. However the game changer
for me was the amazing thyme gravy. In my opinion, gravy can make or break a Christmas dinner, this certainly made the meal and was unlike any gravy I had tasted before — amazing. The meal was very much to our liking, served piping hot, and the presentation was immaculate. The portions were very generous, and were served by our lovely waitress who couldn’t do more for us in ensuring we had the best experience. My children opted for the roast sirloin of beef. This came with duck fat roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, roasted root vegetables, brussel sprouts and thyme gravy.
Based on their silence and the speed with which it was devoured it was clearly a big hit. They especially enjoyed the huge yorkie, the perfectly generous cut and perfectly cooked beef. Oher main course options include bream and a vegetarian Mediterranean vegetable tart. Desserts – my daughter’s favourite part of the meal. There’s plenty to choose from here. Both children enjoyed the golden layered salted caramel cheesecake with toffee fudge ice cream. Very reluctantly, my daughter gave me a spoonful to taste. It is something special, not a heavy cheesecake, but layers of light mousse on a biscuit base, and fudge ice cream lay on a bed of Oreo crumbs. It wasn’t too sweet or heavy, instead just enough to satisfy a sweet tooth. My husband and I chose the traditional Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. We were quite full, so the portion size of the Christmas pudding was ideal, consisting of succulent sultanas and a hint of brandy — just perfect. Other options for dessert were tropical fruit salad with vegan coconut ice cream, or a selection of ice creams or sorbets. The service at The Waterside was outstanding. It was professional, friendly and prompt, the staff really couldn’t do anymore to ensure that we had a wonderful meal and experience. As well as the Christmas menu, it’s worth noting that during the festive period they are also serving their main menu. Pre-booking is recommended.
CLAIRE WORSFOLD
When should you put your Christmas
N
OTHING beats the beautiful scent of a freshly cut real Christmas tree to really get you into the festive spirit. Whether you choose a traditional cut tree, or a pot grown tree that can be planted outside after Christmas, there are a variety of shapes and sizes to choose from, including the popular Nordmann Fir, Norway Spruce or Fraser Fir. Depending on their size, the average Christmas tree takes more than 10 years to grow, and all of the trees at Squire’s Garden Centres are grown in sustainable fields and replaced with new trees for the next crop.
When to put the tree up? In a recent survey by Squire’s, they found that 60% of people put their Christmas tree up in the first two weeks of December. Thirty per cent plan to put their tree up around December 16 onwards, and the remaining 10% put their tree up in November or October.
More than one tree Thirty per cent of the respondents in Squire’s survey said that they would have two trees this year, and 11% will have three trees or more. If you’re looking for an extra tree that’s a bit different, then how about a lavender Christmas tree outside your front door? They can be kept all year-round, and give you a lovely fragrance as you brush past them.
Christmas Wreaths A Christmas Wreath on your front door adds a finishing touch. Choose a real wreath adorned with cinnamon sticks and pine cones or an artificial wreath, some of which even come with LED lights wrapped around them to twinkle on your front door.
Festive plants Finally, festive plants inside and outside your home. Helleborus Christmas Carol will look gorgeous in the garden, or a beautiful ready-planted container packed with festive plants makes a great gift. And it wouldn’t be Christmas without a festive poinsettia. Squire’s has a range that have been grown locally and are available in a beautiful range of colours.
n Squire’s has a huge selection of Christmas trees, wreaths, festive plants and fabulous gifts. Shop in-store or see some of the range online for local delivery at www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk
SPORT TODAY
WOKINGHAM EDITION
NO ONE CHRONICLES THE ACTION BETTER THAN US
09.12.21
SUMAS GRIND TO TAKE AWAY POINT
BEST FOR FOOTBALL
ELLEN HITS LANDMARK
READING HELD BY TIGERS
RAMS MISS OUT IN HOME DEFEAT
WOMEN HOST TITLE FAVOURITES READING FC WOMEN are back in Women’s Super League action on Saturday – against title favourites Chelsea.
! M O T , E K I B R U O ON Y HOLMES HITS STUNNER Published by The Wokingham Paper Ltd, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS. Printed at Reach Watford © The Wokingham Paper Ltd, 2021
By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today READING FC defender Tom Holmes made it an afternoon to remember as he got off the mark with his first goal in senior football against Hull City.
After an underwhelming first-half of football, Holmes got the home crowd off their feet in stoppage time of the first 45 with his extraordinary opener. He showed his excellent athleticism and quick thinking as he
was first to react from a knockdown from a corner and thump the ball into the net with a bicycle kick to give the Royals the lead going into the break. It’ll be a moment that the Royals academy graduate and former Maiden Erlegh pupil will be eteched in his memory, as he was met with jubilation by the adoring fans at the SCL and his delighted teammates who joined him to celebrate by the corner flag at the South stand. After the match, Holmes posted a picture to his Instagram account of
his celebration with the caption: “54 games later... a moment I will never forget.” Reading manager Veljko Paunovic said: “I’m proud of the continued effort and character. “The whole team performed well and I’m happy with the way we played with the ball. “I’m very happy for Tom (Holmes). It’s a huge boost for his confidence and everything he’s doing for the team. “It was a very intuitive piece of play. I’m so disappointed for him he
doesn’t take the ball home with a big memory of a win.” Despite getting their noses in front with the final action of the half, Reading were unable to finish the job in the second-half. Mallik Wilks levelled the game in the 55th minute after goalkeeper Luke Southwood could only spill his effort into the corner. To the frustration’s of the home fans and those in blue and white hoops, referee Steve Martin made the call to deny the Royals’ three penalty appeals.
Our Woodley showroom is open 7 days a week
0800 30 50 30
www.trademarkwindows.co.uk
The Royals head into the match in much improved form with three wins and a draw from their five league games. Reading had been stuck at the bottom of the table early in the campaign, but they have recovered with wins over Aston Villa, Brighton and Birmingham City to boost their standing. They are now up to eighth. Meanwhile, Saturday’s visitors to the SCL come into the match on the back of five straight victories in the league and an FA Cup triumph on Sunday at Wembley Stadium. The Blues defeated Arsenal in the FA Cup final with two goals from Sam Kerr and a goal from Fran Kirby to be crowned as champions. They are also fighting it out with the Gunners in the league, where Arsenal currently have a one point lead in the title race after the first eight matches. Emma Hayes’ side are in excellent form in the league and most recently struck five past Birmingham as their magnificent striking duo of Kirby and Kerr combined once again. Kerr hit a hat-trick, while Kirby bagged a brace to maintain their momentum in the league. Kerr’s clinical scoring form puts her at the top of the goalscoring charts with nine goals and three assists from eight matches. Kirby trails just two places behind with six goals and five assists, with the top two teams in the WSL dominating the standings. Former Reading player Kirby terrorised her former side on her last visit to the SCL where she put four past Kelly Chambers’ team in a convincing 5-0 win for the Blues.
22 | SPORT
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
Our Woodley showroom is open 7 days a week
0800 30 50 30
www.trademarkwindows.co.uk
Rams head towards the try line Pictures: Paul Clark
RUGBY UNION
Rams RFC v Blackheath Pictures: Paul Clark
REACTION
REYNOLDS PRAISES OPPONENTS FOR ‘DESERVED VICTORY’
Rams RFC v Blackheath Pictures: Paul Clark
By RICHARD ASHTON sport@wokingham.today
SEB Reynolds admitted Rams must learn to deal with being a scalp for visiting sides after slipping to a 17-13 home defeat to Blackheath.
Having enjoyed an amazing debut season in which they finished as runners-up in National One, the former underdogs fell to a second home loss in three games after the reverse to Sale and victory against second-placed Cinderford. And Director of Rugby Reynolds confessed his players are far more of a target than they were back in the 2019/20 campaign. He said: “You could see just how excited Blackheath were to beat us – it looked like the game of their season so far, which is a compliment to us as a club. “The fact is sides want to come here and beat us, they’re very motivated and we have to deal with that.” After falling behind to an early Freddie Gabbitass penalty, the hosts hit back with a Jamie Guttridge try and five points from the boot of Drew Humberstone. A converted Ollie Claxton try levelled the scores, but a second Humberstone penalty put Rams 13-10 up at the interval.
Blackheath dominated the third quarter and moved in front when Gabbitass landed a brilliant touchline conversion of Jake Lloyd’s try, and while Rams rallied in the final 20 minutes, they missed numerous opportunities to snatch victory – most notably when the bounce of the ball narrowly evaded Stevie Bryant with the try line at his mercy. Reynolds continued: “There were some really good moments in the game, a nice try early on and it was a good contest. “We had our chances to win the game and perhaps with a couple more
minutes that would have been the case, but credit to Blackheath. “They were very, very good, excellent in the setpiece and they managed to neutralise the maul which meant we had to play in other areas. “While I felt we did that at times, they deserved the victory. “We were very close to winning the game, but that’s the way it goes. We had a big game against Cinderford a couple of weeks ago and you have to try and back that up – if you drop off a couple of per cent against these sides you let them in, and that’s what we did.”
RAMS ROCKED BY BLACKHEATH DESPITE LATE FIGHT By RICHARD ASHTON sport@wokingham.today BLACKHEATH repelled a ferocious late assault to inflict a 17-13 National One defeat on Rams at Old Bath Road.
The away side opened the scoring with an early Freddie Gabbitass penalty. Rams replied with the opening try as a delicious line from Tom Vooght saw him break through Club’s defence before off-loading to Jamie Guttridge to dot down on the right. Humberstone made no mistake with the kick to push Rams seven points in front, but their lead was nullified when the visitors when Ollie Claxton touched down for a try. Gabbitass added the extras, but it was Rams who had the final say
While disappointed with the defeat, Reynolds did see some encouraging signs, with Connor Hayhow regularly getting over the gain line in midfield and replacement scrum-half Caolan Englefield impressing off the bench. He continued: “Connor is very dangerous and has been in good form all year, and his chop tackling has really improved which is great. “Caolan had real energy and a really nice tempo to his game when he came on, and credit to James Baker who put in a great shift for all 80 minutes.” n Seb Reynolds’ side travel to Caldy next Saturday (2pm)
Rams RFC battle to get past Blackheath
in the first half as Humberstone’s second penalty gave them a 13-10 advantage. Blackheath deservedly went in front after dominating territory as the ball was spun wide for prolific wing Jake Lloyd to touch down. A superb touchline conversion from Gabbitass made it 17-13, and while Rams had by far the better of the later stages, they frittered away a number of opportunities to regain the lead. The hosts nearly snatched the victory at the death as the excellent Connor Hayhow threaded a beautiful grubber kick through, but with the line at his mercy, Stevie Bryant was beaten by the bounce of the ball as Club held onto maintain their unbeaten record against Rams.
n Seb Reynolds’ side travel to Caldy next Saturday (2pm)
SPORT | 23
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
Our Woodley showroom is open 7 days a week
0800 30 50 30
www.trademarkwindows.co.uk
BASKETBALL
WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL
ROCKETS RACE TO BIG VICTORY By JAMIE KING sport@wokingham.today READING ROCKETS raced to an impressive win to return to winning ways against Oakland Wolves.
Buoyed by the return of Tyler Cartaino and the great energy of Rivermead’s lively crowd, put together a dominant performance across all four quarters on their way to a resounding 112-76 victory. Setting the tone for the whole game, first blood was drawn by the Rockets by virtue of a Cartaino midrange bucket on the opening play. Early turnovers by the Wolves allowed the Rockets to rattle off a 6-0 lead before a Jonathan James layup gave Oaklands their first points. Despite struggling from three, the Rockets continued to work their way inside to generate free throws and layups, with Lewis Champion firing an outlet pass over the defense to assist Reis Pinnock before scoring two
Tyler Cartaino advances for Rockets of his own off of an offensive rebound. He turned provider again to give Cartaino a runway on a fastbreak, pushing the Rockets’ lead to nine as the quarter drew to a close. Sam Toluwase produced four points through free throws and a well-worked hook shot after carving out space on the block, and Ben
Dixon gave the Rockets their first three of the night as the quarter ended to put the Rockets up 26-14 going into the second. The second quarter opened similarly to the first, with the Wolves mirroring the Rockets’ interior scoring and both teams committing turnovers. A Cartaino three pushed
the lead to a commanding 38-19, forcing a timeout from the Wolves halfway through the second. Ben Dixon was next to enjoy a small scoring spree, putting up eight points in a minute-and-a-half to increase Reading’s advantage before Ashley Kitchen extended the lead to 57-32 at half-time. Rockets’ dominant lead held strong thanks to continued attacks inside. The baskets began to flow more freely as the quarter closed, with both teams enjoying trips to the line and accurate jump-shooting which ran up the score to the tune of an 84-55 advantage for Reading. Cartaino was in no mood to ease up in the closing minutes and he put up five more points late before handing the reigns back to the Rocket’s cast of young players, as Kitchen, Oguekwe and Isaac Round produced the Rocket’s final baskets to finish the game with a brilliant 112-76 victory.
MIXED RESULTS FOR KINGS IN TRIPLE HEADER IT was another mixed bag of results this past Saturday as Thames Valley Kings were in triple header action.
The day started with the Kings third team taking on the Hampshire Harriers in Division Three South. The high octane encounter saw the lead change hands many times throughout the match but it was Harriers who saw out the win with a solid fourth-quarter display to pip the victory. Chris Nash was the top scorer for Kings with 13 points. The second match of the day was between the Kings second team and Swansea Storm in Division Two South. The first part of the game saw Storm take control before the Kings mounted a second-half comeback. In the final quarter particularly, Storm began that quarter with an eight point lead, great defensive work, and strong shooting saw the Kings reduce the lead before they took it, with five-and-a-half minutes to go. The lead was then shared between both clubs until the final minute where the Kings were able
Peter Rapley in action for TV Kings to hold a small lead until the final buzzer to win 50-46. In the final game of the day, Kings first team faced Exeter Otters in the Premier Division and were punished by poor shooting percentages. Otters ran away with the win, 31-52. Reece Barker was Kings top scorer with 15 points and George Gray leading total rebounds with 12.
National One Rugby debuts under lights at Old Bath Road on Friday 17th December 2021 K.O. 7.45pm. Bars open at 5.30pm. 1st XV v Chinnor RFC Experience the special atmosphere of a local derby under floodlights to kick-off your weekend and stay for LIVE music after the final whistle! Enjoy our festive hospitality! Great Beer, Great Food and Great Rugby! E tickets can be pre-purchased via our Ticket Office at: Entry is £15 for over 18s for non-season ticket holders, FREE for under 18s.
FREE Park and Ride available for this fixture.
Rams Rugby, Old Bath Road, Sonning, Berkshire RG4 6TQ © RAMSRUGBY 2021
160mmx8 columns (265mm) Chinnor Home 17th December - Wokingham and Reading Paper 8.12.21 copy.indd 1
03/12/2021 13:21:27
24 | SPORT
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
Our Woodley showroom is open 7 days a week
0800 30 50 30
www.trademarkwindows.co.uk
BERKS COUNTY ON CLOUD NINE AS BO FOOTBALL ROUND-UP
Sumas picked up a point at Spelthorne pictures: Andrew Batt By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today
Combined Counties Division One An astonishing display from BERKS COUNTY saw them strike nine past London Samurai Rovers. Mark Jordan put the Swords ahead after three minutes only for Rovers to level the game. Jordan claimed his second to put Berks back in front and goals from Harry Lee and Leigh
Allen had the home team 4-1 ahead at the break. Substitute Will K added two, Ebby Opuku-Ware and a hat-trick from Luke Hayden rounded off the scoring in a 9-1 victory. EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA rose up to third in the table after they defeated Sandhurst Town. After a goaless first-half, the Boars broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute through Lewis Wall. Grinder Hunjan ensured
Woodley United Ladies up against Abingdon United Pictures: Neil Graham
that Eversley would secure all three points when he notched a second goal for the hosts in the 75th minute.
Isthmian South Central BINFIELD came away with a point against promotionchasing Uxbridge in an entertaining draw. The Moles made a brilliant start when Ollie Harris put them in front after 12 minutes. The hosts found their feet and scored two quickfire goals
to turn the game on its head. They equalised in the 23rd minute and then got themselves in front just six minutes later. Binfield hit back again in a goal-filled first-half through their captain Sean Moore. Despite a red card for player/ manager Jamie McClurg, Binfield held on to claim a point to put them in eighth.
Combined Counties Premier North
WOKINGHAM & EMMBROOK picked up a point on the road in a goalless draw at Spelthorne Sports. The point keeps the Sumas in 16th position after 15 matches. READING CITY were on the end of a comeback as they saw their two-goal lead diminish against CB Hounslow United. The Cityzens took an early lead when Jemel Johnson found Joe Waight who applied the finishing touch. City strived to find another
goal and they were rewarded after the half-hour mark when Luis Le Paih netted. Hounslow struck back quickly in the second-half with two quick goals and were level by the 53rd minute. They then took all three points when they scored in the 72nd minute.
Thames Valley Premier League READING CITY U23’s fell to a home defeat after
SPORT | 25
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
Our Woodley showroom is open 7 days a week
0800 30 50 30
www.trademarkwindows.co.uk
OARS SEE OFF SANDHURST
From the middle
Dick Sawdon-Smith
No barriers for female referees
W
BURGHFIELD hit six goals. The 6-2 triumph for Burghfield puts them up to second, while City are in ninth. READING YMCA took three points against WOODLEY UNITED ROYALS. Goals from Ryan Adams, Aaron Perrin and Nick Reynolds helped YMCA to a 3-1 win.
Thames Valley Division One HURST are still at the top of the table after their draw with Slough Heating Laurencians. Shaun Bannon netted a brace to help them to a 2-2 stalemate.
Southern Region Women’s Premier Division WOODLEY UNITED stay at the bottom of the table after a heavy defeat to Abingdon United. The Kestrels faced an uphill battle against the team that went joint top of the table, and the visitors were three goals ahead at the break. Abingdon scored six more in the second-half to confirm a comprehensive win.
Southern Region Women’s Division One South EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA remain at the foot of the table after
a narrow away defeat to Abbey Rangers in a 2-1 loss.
Women’s League Cup TILEHURST PANTHERS stormed through to the next round with an away win at Chalbury Town Youth. Tilehurst racked up eight goals with four from Leah Why, a hattrick from Deanna Cane and a goal from Rhianna Langham. WARGRAVE booked their place in the next round in a goal-filled contest at Procision Oxford. Wargrave came away with their name in the draw with a 5-3 win. CAVERSHAM UNITED cruised through after they saw off Wycombe Wanderers Reserves.
A treble from Rosie Page-Smith and goals from Freya Jenkins and Caitlin Levy helped them to a 5-2 success. Reading & District Sunday League Senior: Englefield 1-4 Maiden Place, Mortimer 4-0 Arborfield, Twyford Comets 2-7 FC Sporty, Woodley Wanderers 3-2 Tilehurst Ym One: Berkshire Dons 6-1 Wayback Wanderers, Rose & Thistle 3-0 Reading Kites, Woodley Saints Hobnob 3-0 Caversham United Cup: 116 Exiles 4-3 Give Back, Caversham AFC 1-3 Loxwood Park, Emmer Green 4-0 Burghfield Reserves, Westwood Wanderers 3-2 GC United Two: AFC Pangbourne 2-5 Farley Hill, Barton Rovers 10-0 Romania United, Southbank 0-4 Calcot Royals Three: 116 Exiles Reserves 0-7 Burghfield B
FOOTBALL
ANDERSON BAGS DOUBLE TO HELP KESTRELS ENJOY AWAY WIN By MARK ROZZIER sport@wokingham.today
Bagshot 1 Woodley United 2 WOODLEY UNITED made it three wins in five outings with an important victory against bottom team Bagshot. The win means that the Kestrels move up two places in the Combined Counties Division One to 18th position. Playing down the slope into the setting sun United were caught
offside on a couple of occasions, while the hosts created two chances of their in the opening ten minutes without troubling the visitors’ defence. Slowly, Woodley began to impose themselves when Ben Anderson fired over the cross bar and Daniel DeFreitas headed a Jordan Goddard free-kick straight at Rhys Forster in the Bagshot goal. Caleb Lucas headed over the cross bar from a Rafa Brandao cross and the same player turned in a tight space and shot wide six minutes later.
The break through came in the 26th minute when Brandao’s corner was not cleared and Anderson was allowed to shoot through a crowd of players to find the back of the net. It needed a point blank save from Ashley East a minute later to preserve United’s lead. United responded when Gary Smith headed wide from a Pedro Monterio free kick while Forster made a fingertip save from Anderson. United had two scares in quick succession when Alfie Lal twice got free of the defence on Bagshot’s left
had side to first be denied by East and then put his shot wide. The second goal came in the 73rd minute when a low Brandao cross saw Anderson get across a defender to steer past Forster. It was during stoppage time that the visitors twice came close to extending the lead as they were quick to counter attack while seeing the game to full time to take all three points. Woodley United: East, Birkett, Goddard, Monterio (Salter), G Smith, Williams, Lucas (R Smith), DeFreitas (Carmichael), Carolan, Anderson, Brandao
ATCHING the FA Women’s Cup Final played at Wembley last Sunday was a reminder that 100 years ago, in 1921, the FA tried to put a stop to women playing football in this country and made it’s infamous comment, ‘We don’t think it is a suitable game for women to play’. They couldn’t stop it completely but they banned it being played on the grounds of any affiliated club. It was a strange decision in some ways because there were many times that they drew bigger crowds than men’s football. There was a famous occasion during the 1880s when more than 50,000 turned up to watch a women’s match at Goodison Park, which was more than for any Everton match that season. Many women got the taste for it by playing in teams organised by factories where they worked. It wasn’t just women players that the FA were against, they wouldn’t allow any women to become referees. We had one woman in Reading who attended our training course at Reading Referees Society but, although she came top in the exam, we couldn’t register her as a referee. The society therefore had a special certificate made to present to her. In fact she was a teacher and wanted to be able to referee the school matches, which of course the FA couldn’t prevent. In the 1980s, the FA removed the ban on women playing at registered clubs’ grounds. It was at this time that as Chairman of the Reading Referees Association, I invited the secretary of the England Women’s Football Association to be a guest speaker at one of our monthly meetings. I was disappointed and annoyed that when it was her turn to speak, half the members walked out. Women’s football was still not wholly accepted. It was also at that time that I started to referee women’s matches, which were played on Sunday. I have to say they were enjoyable. Within a few years The FA took over complete control of women’s football in this country, The problem was that their earlier decision meant that women’s football and refereeing were behind many other more enlightened countries like, perhaps surprisingly, the US. We are beginning to catch up. For example, a woman refereed a Football League match this season for the first time, whereas in countries like Brazil this happened 14 or 15 years ago, even Israel beat us to it. We now have one of our referees, Rebecca Welch as an Elite FIFA referee and others are taking European Cup games. Probably the best assistant referee in the Premier League is Sian Massey-Ellis. The good thing for any young women thinking of becoming a referee is that there are now no barriers.
26 | SPORT
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
Our Woodley showroom is open 7 days a week
0800 30 50 30 How they rated
www.trademarkwindows.co.uk
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP
HOLMES STUNNER PEGGED BACK READING 1 HULL CITY 1
LUKE SOUTHWOOD
Has been very reliable this season but made a howler for Hull’s equaliser as he spilled Mallik Wilks long shot into his net.
ANDY YIADOM
Only lasted 45 minutes before he had to be replaced by Dejan Tetek after he picked up an injury.
SCOTT DANN
Calm and composed when in possession as usual and helped to lead the back line with a competent performance in defence.
TOM HOLMES
An outstanding goal to open his Royals account. Quick thinking and brilliant execution to find the net with a bicycle kick.
BABA RAHMAN
Some nice link up play with Tom Dele-Bashiru throughout the firsthalf which helped to create chances. Exposed defensively at times.
DANNY DRINKWATER
A disappointing display from the midfielder who had a few bright moments but not enough to help create in attack.
JOSH LAURENT
Had a decent effort at goal near the end of the first-half that forced a save. Sloppy at times with his passing but provided good defensive cover.
TOM DELE-BASHIRU
Very bright going forward and forced a superb stop when he hit a thunderous effort at goal and also had some attempts later in the game.
ALEN HALILOVIC
Wasn’t able to stamp enough influence on the game when he was on the pitch and was subsequently replaced by Femi Azeez.
JOHN SWIFT
Missed a huge chance in the firsthalf when he went one-on-one with the keeper but had his shot saved. An off day for the midfielder.
ANDY CARROLL
A handful for Hull’s defenders particularly in the second-half. Was unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty.
Substitutions Femi Azeez 6, Dejan Tetek 6
4 5 7 8 6 5 6 7 4 5 6
By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today TOM Holmes’ magnificent bicycle kick wasn’t enough to give Reading three points as Hull City hit back to take a point.
Holmes put the Royals in front with the final play of the first-half with an outstanding piece of quick thinking and athleticism. The Tigers replied early in the second-half as goalkeeper Luke Southwood spilt Mallik Wilks’ long shot into his net. Neither side could snatch a winner, with the points shared which keeps Reading two places and five points outside the relegation zone in 20th. Veljko Paunovic named the same starting eleven from Reading’s 3-2 away win at Swansea City last weekend as Andy Yiadom was again given the captain’s armband in the absence of Liam Moore. Hull City had the first chance to pump the ball into the box with a free-kick wide on the right. The cross came to the back post towards Richie Smallwood who had the first effort on goal that was pushed behind by Luke Southwood for an early Hull corner, but the keeper dealt with the set-piece comfortably. Reading’s first chance came when Baba Rahman burst into the box, cut the ball back into the path of Andy Carroll but the forward missed his kick. Hull broke down the other end and had the ball in the net courtesy of Josh Magennis only to be denied by the offside flag that was raised in advance of the finish. The best chance of the half fell
John Swift skips past his marker
Reading v Hull City
Tom Holmes celebrates his first goal
Match stats READING: Southwood, Rahman, Holmes, Dann, Yiadom (c), Laurent, Drinkwater, DeleBashiru, Swift, Halilovic, Carroll SUBS: Tetek, Azeez, Abrefa, Rafael, Camara, Ashcroft, Puscas HULL CITY: Baxter, Bernard, McLoughlin, Greaves, Lewis-Potter, Smallwood, Docherty, Longman, Honeyman, Wilks Magennis SUBS: Elder, Moncour, Huddlestone, Ingram, Williams, Cannon
Smith,
GOALS: Holmes 45+1’, Wilks 55’
Reading v Hull City to John Swift when he intercepted a loose pass and sprinted through on goal. One-on-one with Hull goalkeeper Nathan Baxter. Swift opened up his body to try and guide the ball into the far corner but had his shot blocked by the body of the keeper as the chance went begging. Reading came into lift after that chance when Tom Dele-Bashiru hit a thunderous shot from 20 yards that was tipped over the bar by Baxter.
Holmes scores with an outstandin Dele-Bashiru’s next try at goal was well off target however, despite some promising link up play with Baba Rahman on the left. A chance then came the way of the visitors when a corner bounced across the Reading box dangerously and fel at the feet of Mallik Wilks, but hekied his shot high over the bar from six yards out. There was almost a calamoatious moment in defence for the Royals when Southwood had to come to Tom Holmes’ rescue to turn his
REACTION
PAUNOVIC: ‘REFEREEING DECISIONS COST US TWO POINTS’ READING FC manager Veljko Paunovic was left frustrated after the Royals were denied three penalty appeals in the second-half.
The Royals had to settle for a point after Tom Holmes’ outstanding bicycle kick was cancelled out by Mallik Wilks’ equaliser. “We don’t have VAR here. I don’t understand,” said Paunovic. “These kind of decisions cost us getting in the play-offs last year, and today it cost us two points so it’s difficult to cope with. “We feel something is wrong about the way we are treated. “We will refocus on the controllables and hope it’s genuine. I feel everyone should be kept accountable.
“I believe Swift’s penalty was on the line but that’s why you need VAR for clarity. “There was a lot of grabbing from set pieces and corners. “The path of the ball was intercepted by the hand and it isn’t in a natural position. “I understand the flow of a jump but you can review a similar situation in the Newcastle v Norwich game where Newcastle were given a penalty after a review. “It’s difficult because of the judgement of other people that we didn’t get a win today.” Paunovic was quick to praise Holmes after his stunning opener. “I think he learnt from me doing the bicycle kick last season when I dislocated my shoulder,”
continued Paunovic. “I’m very happy for his first goal. He’s a smart kid that benefits from others. “He’s got stronger and more robust and is still growing as a player in the Championship. “Scott Dann is a huge influencer on our team and helps him very naturally, it’s a huge benefit for Tom. “I believe the team had one of the best attacking performances of this season. “I’m proud of my team. Even with the adversities we are dealing with, we carry on, we push forward,
we believe in each other, we work hard, we play some good football and when we struggle we struggle together. “The team are starting to learn how to play with each other better – how we can play with Andy up front, how we can build from the back with Tom and Scott, how we can bring the ball forward through Tom Dele-Bashiru, Swifty and Alen. “Andy Yiadom has been dealing with a soft tissue issue for three games. “He was able to manage it with the medical staff but his pain today was very acute.”
SPORT | 27
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662
Thursday, December 9, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
Our Woodley showroom is open 7 days a week
0800 30 50 30
www.trademarkwindows.co.uk
From the Tilehurst End
AS ROYALS HELD BY TIGERS
Olly Allen Tom DeleBashiru is tackled
Holmes is living the dream
W
E have all dreamt about scoring for our boyhood club. On Saturday afternoon against Hull City, Tom Holmes got to do
Alen Halilovic strikes at goal Carroll appeals
Carroll is tripped in the box Femi Azeez chases the ball
ing overhead kick Pictures: Steve Smyth
Swift tries to take the ball
attempted clearance behind to prevent an own goal. But Paunovic’s team made the ideal end to the first 45 as they snatched the lead with the last play of the half. Holmes got on the end of a knockdown from a corner and provided a stunning acrobatic finish on the volley with a bicycle kick from close range that crashed into the Tigers’ net. Reading made a change at the break as Yiadom picked up a knock and had to be replaced by Dejan Tetek. Early into the second-half, Hull found themselves on level terms Andy Carroll fights for the ball
after a long drive from distance from Wilks found its way in after Southwood could only parry the ball into the net. Paunovic made his second change immediately after the equaliser as Femi Azeez came on to replace Halilovic. Carroll came close to restoring the Royals’ lead. The ball dropped to the feet of the striker who took a touch to set himself but his shot arrowed narrowly over the bar. The hosts had a big appeal for a penalty turned down when Swift went to ground in the box under a challenge, but the referee was not interested in the protests for a spot
kick. Another chance fell the way of Carroll in the box when the bouncing ball came into his path but his left foot swipe went high and wide. With less than 10 minutes to play, Reading had a huge shout for a penalty when Carroll’s header struck the arm of a raised hand from a Hull defender, but again the referee was not interested in the appeals. The Royals pushed harder to try and find a winner to take all three points but they couldn’t find a way past in the second-half and had to settle for a point.
PREVIEW
ROYALS FACE PROMOTION BATTLING BAGGIES READING are on a run of three games without defeat when they travel to face high-flying West Bromwich Albion.
Saturday’s opponents are hoping for a quick return to the Premier League having been relegated from the top flight last campaign. Now under the management of Valérien Ismael, the Baggies have made a strong start in the opening half of the season and are just one place outside of the automatic promotion places. West Brom have a record of 10 wins, seven draws and four
losses. Despite only scoring 29 goals, 21 less than top of the table Fulham, they have been able to pride themselves on their sturdy defensive record. They have the joint best defence in the division and have conceded just 17 goals, level with second placed Bournemouth and Fulham. Meanwhile, the Royals have conceded 33 goals, but have scored just two less than West Brom. West Brom also go into the match three games without defeat
and have picked up five points from their last three with goalless draws against Blackpool and Nottingham Forest. Ismael’s team then returned to winning ways on Saturday with an impressive away win at Coventry City thanks to a goal from Karlan Grant and an own goal from Kyle McFadzean which gave them a 2-1 victory. Grant is currently the Baggies’ highest scorer with nine goals and two assists to his name in 21 matches, which makes him the fifth highest scorer in the Championship.
Reading haven’t beaten West Brom in the team’s last four meetings, and last defeated them in February 2016 in the FA Cup. West Brom took three points in the last league encounter with a 2-1 win at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in February 2020, while the last game at the Hawthorns ended in a 1-1 stalemate after Kenneth Zohore netted a late penalty to snatch a point after Ovie Ejaria’s opener.
it for real. John Swift whipped in a corner from the right and it was flicked to the back post by Scott Dann where Josh Laurent nodded it back across goal. That’s where Holmes was waiting, but with his back to goal. It takes a certain type of individual to try an overhead kick, particularly if you are a defender. But that is exactly what the 21-year-old did. It went in. Holmes wheeled away in celebration, Laurent tagging on behind, and completed a knee slide in the south east corner of the Select Car Leasing Stadium. His goal will go down as one of the most special moments of the season. The sheer joy on his face was glorious as he made his dream a reality. He even admitted after Saturday’s game that he had “forgotten” that scoring was part of the game for a defender. That will have made the moment the ball hit the net even more sweet. Reading have always had a proud tradition of there being a strong presence of academy graduates in the first team. That is brilliant enough, but when those academy graduates have grown up supporting the football club, it is even more special. Holmes has sat where we have as fans. He has cheered on his heroes, celebrated madly and felt the pain that we all have. Therefore every minute on the pitch, every win, every goal just means that bit more. Of course Tom McIntyre, currently out injured, is another boyhood fan. The emotion on his face when he scored his first goal for Reading last season was just as joyous as it was with Holmes on Saturday. The thought of a Holmes and McIntyre centre-back partnership, in front of Southwood in goal, for years to come is really exciting. Getting Holmes to sign a new contract should be a priority in the coming months. Having these ‘fans on the pitch’ is so important. A connection existing between players and fans, especially at this level of football, is hard to come by in the modern era so it’s very special to see Holmes, McIntyre and Southwood living out our dreams.
Tom Holmes nets his first goal
28 | SPORT
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, December 9, 2021
Our Woodley showroom is open 7 days a week
0800 30 50 30 HOCKEY ROUND-UP
SONNING SMASH SEVEN PAST READING South Central Men’s Prem 2
SOUTH BERKSHIRE came away with three points on the road against Havant 2s. The 3-2 win puts South Berks up to fifth in the table after nine matches.
South Central Men’s Div 1 SONNING put in a remarkable attacking display as they defeated READING 3s. Sonning ran out as convincing winners with a 7-1 triumph to put them up to fourth, while Reading stay one place off the bottom of the table.
South Central Men’s Div 2
SOUTH BERKSHIRE 2s picked up a point away from home at Eastcote 2s. The 2-2 draw puts South Berks in sixth after nine games. SONNING 2s kept their lead at the top of the table intact with victory over Thame. Sonning earned three points and a clean sheet with a 2-0 win which gives them a two-point lead at the summit.
South Central Women’s Premier 1 SONNING were on the end of a loss away at Marlow. Sonning are in seventh after nine games after their 2-0 defeat to the league leaders.
South Central Women’s Division 1 SOUTH BERKSHIRE suffered a narrow defeat at Wallingford. Yellie Powley netted for South Berks but they were edged out in a 2-1 loss which leaves them in sixth.
Southern Region Women’s Division 2 SONNING 2s were left without a point after their away trip to Oxford 3s. Oxford moved above Sonning in the table as a result of their 4-1 triumph, which means that Sonning drop down to seventh.
South Central Women’s Division 3 SOUTH BERKSHIRE 2s got off the mark with their first victory of the league season. They earned three points and a clean sheet over Banbury 2s. The 3-0 success moves South Berks up to ninth in the table.
www.trademarkwindows.co.uk
ATHLETICS
ATHLETES TURN OUT IN FORCE Reading Athletics Club
By ISOBEL JENKIN sport@wokingham.today READING AC showed up in full force for the second round of the Hampshire Cross Country League with a team of 16 athletes that took on 5.9km at Wellesley Woods in Aldershot.
With sunny, dry conditions over the undulating woodland course, the team showed a fast pace from the gun. Leading the pack was Naomi Mitchell, showing her marathon strength in a close battle with Aldershot Farnham District AC to take the win. Training partners Anna Boniface and Mia Waldmann (U20) worked together to complete the scoring trio in sixth and seventh, securing the senior women’s team victory of the match. Laurie Marlow was next home (15th) continuing her consistency, closely followed by Sophie Crumly (16th) with a great run on her way back from injury. Captain, Sarah Holmes had a fantastic run with progression on
Saturday, December 4
FOOTBALL Sky Bet Championship Reading 1-1 Hull City Isthmian South Central Uxbridge 2-2 Binfield Combined Counties Premier North Reading City 2-3 CB Hounslow United Spelthorne Sports 0-0 Sumas Combined Counties Division One Bagshot 1-2 Woodley United Berks County 9-1 London Samurai Rovers Eversley & California 2-0 Sandhurst Town
the previous match with a solid 28th. Under 20, Lara Tolson battled well in 44th with Hayleigh Wood closely behind in 45th, another consistent run. Leanne James made an excellent debut in the Reading AC vest placing 66th in a close battle with Lucy Daniels (V40) storming through the line in 68th. Lee Fellows brought her usual energy with another fantastic performance in 77th.
Chair, Julie Rayfield (V50) represented her club with 86th, Kathryn Tolson (V50) finished in 92nd, closely followed by Alana Rayfield in 96th. Millie Dainton (V40) came home in 101st and completing the team was Katie Hartgrove in 104th for her first race of the season. The Hampshire League breaks for Christmas and returns on Saturday, January 15 where home advantage at Prospect Park hopes to see more success.
TABLE TENNIS
RICKS CLICKS AS HE LEADS OUR LADY A TO VICTORY SAM Ricks was in awesome form as he clinched a maximum for OUR LADY OF PEACE A in their 8-2 win at SONNING COMMON & PEPPARD B in division one. Sam beat Jamie Barlow 11-2 11-9 11-3 with some terrific blocks against Jamie’s attacking shots. KINGFISHER A remain top after Martin Adams, Hari Gehlot and Ross Saxby got trebles in their 10-0 victory against Tidmarsh A. Phil Mead’s hat trick helped KINGFISHER B win their inter club derby against Kingfisher C 6-4, Alan Cummings winning twice and Stephen Leggett gaining a vital win over Daniel McTiernan. Jason Roberts starred with a three-straight treble as SONNING COMMON & PEPPARD A won 8-2 at bottom side TILEHURST RBL A, Jon Willis getting a notable win for Tilehurst by beating Neil Hurford. Keith Winter’s treble helped Tilehurst RBL A to their first win of the season as they beat KINGFISHER C 6-4, Jon Willis chipping in with a nail biting win over Emma Blachford. In Division two, with SONNING SPORTS A and OUR LADY OF PEACE B not playing this week, Reading FC A defeated Our Lady of Peace C 7-3 to retake top spot, Mike Childs recording a straight sets treble, Jazz Dhillon a double and Wayne Alleyne a single while, for OLOP, Pradeep Desh won twice and Binit Bhaskar won once. D anny Dockree’s maximum, abetted by singles from Jon
RESULTS
Abbott and Mark Jones, along with the doubles, earned SONNING COMMON & PEPPARD D a 6-4 win at TILEHURST METHODISTS A, whose points were courtesy of a single from Jes Eassom, a double from Phil Jones and a single from Masoud Ghabachi. Roger Pritchard’s treble along with a crucial doubles win and a single for Eapen John, meant that the points were split in KINGFISHER F’S match against TIDMARSH B, for whom Barry Carter and Dale Ballard each won twice, with club mate Ray Webb defeating John Liddle to help ensure the draw. TIDMARSH C fared better, beating KINGFISHER E 7-3, Ian Wu the star with a treble, ably supported by Simon Craig with a double and David Shepard with a single while, for Kingfisher, Andrew Adair recorded two wins and Luca Bianchi recorded one win. Division three leaders PANGBOURNE WMC extended their lead at the top of the division with a comfortable 8-2 win over Kingfisher H. Clive Taylor got his customary maximum for Pangbourne but he was pushed hard in his set against Ruben Hernadez which he just edged 11-8 in the fifth. Ruben had an impressive win over John Simmonds. KINGFISHER I recorded their third win a in a row beating second placed TILEHURST RBL B 7-3 to move up to third in the table. New signing Ryan Chung got his
second maximum in a row against promotion chasing teams and looked very impressive. Theo Kniep also played very well to record a maximum and this team look like they will mount a real promotion challenge in the second half of the season. OUR LADY OF PEACE D just came out on top against SONNING COMMON & PEPPARD E with a 6-4 win in a match marred by OLOP’s Simon Brookes having to concede two sets due to illness. Graham Stark recorded a good maximum for the OLOP team including a very close encounter with Jim Warren which he won 12-10 in the fifth. TIDMARSH D had a close match against Springfield which they won 7-3 with Ray Webb getting a very hard fought maximum for Tidmarsh which included two long fluctuation five game sets against Peter Gurney and Rob Wilkie. In division four, OUR LADY OF PEACE F just scraped home 6–4 against SONNING SPORTS C mainly thanks to Alona Slobodskoy who won all three. Qing Wu and Jan Polnik gave her good support by winning one each. In the local derby TILEHURST METHODISTS B won 7-3 at TILEHURST ROYAL BRITISH LEGION C, for whom Geoff Johnson took Martin Wetherell’s 100% record. SONNING SPORTS B won 7-3 at OUR LADY OF PEACE F with Harry Brough doing the business by winning all three.
Thames Valley Premier League Reading City U23’s 2-6 Burghfield Reading YMCA 3-1 Woodley United Royals Thames Valley Division One Hurst 2-2 Slough Heating Laurencians HOCKEY South Central Men’s Premier 2 Havant 2s 2-3 South Berkshire South Central Men’s Division 1 Reading 3s 1-7 Sonning South Central Women’s Division 1 Wallingford v South Berkshire Marlow 2-0 Sonning RUGBY UNION National League One Rams 13-17 Blackheath South West 1 East Bracknell 28-31 Oxford Harlequins
Sunday, December 5
FOOTBALL Southern Region Women’s Premier Division Woodley United 0-9 Abingdon United Southern Women’s Division 1 South Abbey Rangers 2-1 Eversley & California Cup Caversham United 5-2 Wycombe Wanderers Reserves Charlbury Town 1-8 Tilehurst Panthers Procision Oxford 3-5 Wargrave
FIXTURES
Saturday, December 11
FOOTBALL Sky Bet Championship West Bromwich Albion v Reading Women’s Super League Reading v Chelsea Isthmian South Central Binfield v Northwood Combined Counties Premier North
Sumas v North Greenford United Combined Counties Division One London Samurai Rovers v Eversley & California Woodley United v Bedfont & Feltham FA Vase third-round Berks County v Egham Town Thames Valley Premier League Maidenhead Town v Woodley United Royals Reading City U23’s v Finchampstead Berks & Bucks Charles Twelvetree Cup Reading YMCA v Procision Wargrave v Kennington Athletic Letcombe v Twyford & Ruscombe Thames Valley Division One Eldon Celtic v Henley Town Goring United v Hurst RUGBY UNION National League One Caldy v Rams South West 1 East Sherborne v Bracknell HOCKEY South Central Men’s Premier 1 South Berkshire v Oxford Hawks 2s South Central Men’s Division 1 Sonning v Oxford 2s South Central Women’s Premier 1 Sonning v Oxford South Central Women’s Division 1 South Berkshire v Oxford Hawks 3s
Sunday, December 12
FOOTBALL Southern Region Women’s Premier Woodley United v Ascot United Southern Region Women’s Division One South AFC Bournemouth Development v Eversley & California Thames Valley Women’s Division One Badshot Lea v Caversham United Stonesfield Strikers v Tilehurst Panthers Thames Valley Women’s Division 3S Goring United v S4K Berks County Taplow United v Eversley & California Reserves Wargrave Development v Wallingford Town Yateley United v Caversham AFC
Tuesday, December 14
FOOTBALL Isthmian South Central Binfield v Tooting & Mitcham United