Wokingham Today, March 17, 2022

Thursday, March 17, 2022

No. 355 90p

£500,000 boost for anti-poverty project

By DANIEL BLACKHAM dblackham@wokingham.today

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AN EXTRA £500,000 for the borough’s anti-poverty strategy has been agreed by the council.

Developed in partnership with the Hardship Alliance – a group of four local charities, First Days, Citizens Advice Wokingham, AgeUK Berkshire and Wokingham United Charitie – the strategy aims to tackle causes, while supporting those living in poverty.

At a meeting of the ruling executive committee earlier this month, councillors agreed to provide the funding to support further development and delivery of the initiatives being developed.

Amy Garstang, chair of the Hardship Alliance, said: “The Anti-Poverty Strategy will build on the work of the council and voluntary sector and look to implement new initiatives to provide further support.

“The Hardship Alliance wants an Anti-Poverty Strategy that is coproduced and one we can champion and drive forward the action plan to make things happen and ultimately improve the lives of those living in the borough.”

Throughout the last 12 months the council has used a number of initiatives to tackle poverty in the borough with many done by, or in partnership with, volunteers.

Cllr Laura Blumenthal, deputy executive member for anti-poverty, said: “There is already lots of work underway from community engagement and supporting people into employment, to lessening financial burdens through the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and providing affordable or social housing.

“But there is so much more to be done.

“We’re looking forward to launching our strategy so we can begin moving forward with the action plan and start delivering sustainable outcomes for our residents.”

Further development will take place in the coming months and the revised strategy is due to be presented at the executive meeting for approval on Thursday, May 26.

SOLIDARITY: Wokingham Borough Council leader John Halsall (right) with his Reading counterpart Jason Brock (left) and Reading Ukrainian Community Centre chair Tony Gresko (centre) at a special event on Sunday Picture: Phil Creighton

YOUR BIG WHAT’S ON GUIDE Leisure

UNITED: Council leaders team up with Ukrainian Centre as borough prepares to home refugees • p3

Domestic abuse service ‘failing’ victims

EXCLUSIVE Concerns over lack of refuge for those fleeing homes

By DANIEL BLACKHAM dblackham@wokingham.today WOKINGHAM Borough Council’s domestic abuse partner is continuing to face criticism.

Cranstoun took over the council’s domestic abuse support service last year after it was awarded a £1.5million contract.

Despite winning the tender from Berkshire Women’s Aid (BWA), which

had been working with the council for 18 months prior, Cranstoun is still yet to provide a domestic abuse refuge in the borough.

The contract has a “refuge element” for victims and children residing in a property of up to three rooms.

In August, a council spokesperson said Cranstoun was working on a range of “more enhanced” refuge spaces which would reduce the barrier for men and other victims (LGBTQ+) seeking help. n Continued on page 4

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Council pays £235,000 after losing employment tribunal

By DANIEL BLACKHAM dblackham@wokingham.today AN EMPLOYMENT tribunal has found Wokingham Borough Council liable for more than £200,000 of damages for unfair dismissal.

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 17, 2022

The claimant, who we are choosing not to name, has a life-long disability affecting her mobility, was employed as policy, strategy and commissioning manager and worked at the council for 17 years.

In July 2019, a court found the council directly discriminated against the claimant when it failed to appoint her to a grade 11 role following an internal recruitment process.

From June 1, 2016, to December 12, 2016, the claimant, the claimant, took on additional responsibilities to cover the vacant post, including managing additional team members.

Documents show the claimant was very upset about not being given the role, revealing she cried all the way home, all evening that day, and frequently in the following days and weeks.

The claimant could not understand why she had been rejected, she felt humiliated that

after she had managed the team for six months, it was felt that it was better for someone else to do it.

In a period of sickness for the claimant, the council underwent a restructure which meant her position as a grade 10 employee was no longer available.

The claimant was required to go through an interview and selection procedure while she was on sick leave, in which she was unsuccessful, and offered a grade nine role which she rejected The court found the council failed to make reasonable adjustments to the interview and selection procedure and that had it done so, the claimant would have been permanently appointed to a grade 11 role.

The claimant was required to complete an application for assimilation and lengthy expressions of interest as part of the restructure process while on sick leave, against her doctor’s advice.

The court said the claimant was entitled to reject the offer as it was a demotion.

The claimant wrote to the council on May 26, 2017, to raise

Tax pay system upgrade WOKINGHAM Borough Council has improved the way council tax is paid online.

Residents had previously said the system was hard to use and took too long to make a payment.

Following feedback, the council has made changes to the pages to use simpler language and make important information more prominent.

The council confirmed it is now quicker to set up an account and complete payments.

There are also plans to remove pop-up adverts to improve the user experience across the whole website.

Residents who set up an account will be able to view their bill, switch to paperless

billing, set up or change direct debits, apply for discounts and notify the council of a move.

Cllr Gregor Murray, executive member for resident services, communications and emissions, said: “We provide hundreds of services for residents and we continue to work hard to improve your experiences when you interact with us.

“Paying council tax is something every household in our borough does, so these changes will make a real impact for almost everyone.”

Paper copies of council tax bills for 2022/23 will are now starting to arrive in letterboxes.

n For more information visit: wokingham.gov.uk

WORKPLACE: Wokingham Borough Council’s Shute End offices Picture: Phil Creighton

the possibility of redundancy as she felt she had not been offered a suitable role, this was dismissed by the council four days later.

The court was not provided with any explanation as to why the claimant was given (largely) pay in lieu of notice, rather than the 12-week notice period to which she was entitled, or why there was no response to the claimant’s request for seven days to consider the offer of redundancy.

The claimant told the court that the council’s actions had a profound effect on her and were continuing two-and-a-half years after her dismissal, which the court accepted.

Compensation totalling £235,046.37 was awarded for

pre-dismissal loss of earnings, pre-dismissal injury to feelings, financial loss related to dismissal, injury to feeling related to dismissal and a sum in respect of tax payable on the award.

A spokesperson for Wokingham Borough Council said: “We were truly sorry that we let this member of staff down in 2017 and have apologised to her for this.

“In the five years since this occurred, we have made significant changes to our HR and organisation change practices.

“We take equalities very seriously as an organisation and work hard to make sure our employees with disabilities have all the measures they need in place.”

Me2 Club looks for virtual London Marathon heroes A WOKINGHAM charity is looking for runners to take part in the virtual London Marathon.

Me2 Club, which supports children with additional needs from across Wokingham and Reading to access clubs and activities, has 10 charity spaces available.

The virtual event will take place on Sunday, October 2, the same day as the road race takes place in the capital.

Participants will have 24 hours to complete 26.2 miles and all finishers will receive the same London Marathon medal and T-shirt as participants in the road race.

Eleanor Towsey, senior solicitor and family mediator at KJ Smith Solicitors in Woodley took part in last year’s virtual event for Me2 Club.

“I never felt alone despite it being a virtual event,” Ms Towsey said.

“The experience was inspirational, life-changing, emotional and very tough for the last few miles, but the brilliant work of the Me2 Club propelled me to the finish line.”

Last year’s virtual and in-person London Marathon runners raised £9,931, which supported 20 children join in with weekly mainstream leisure activities.

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SUPPORT: A moment of reflection ahead of challenge of welcoming refugees to borough

Ukrainian Centre thanks Wokingham for their help

Theresa May welcomes refugees ‘lifeline’ BACKING: Theresa May has welcomed the Homes for Ukraine scheme Picture: Andrew Parsons/ i-images

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today A BIG thank you has been expressed by Ukrainians for support given to them by Wokingham residents over the past few weeks.

Now, the appeal is for financial support ahead of the arrival of refugees fleeing Putin’s illegal invasion of the European country.

The Reading Ukrainian Community Centre in Sidmouth Street has been the focal point for donations of clothing, medical supplies, sanitary items, and toys.

So much was donated that the centre has had to ask for people to stop giving items, and instead give cash.

On Sunday, the centre held a small thanksgiving event so that MPs, council leaders and centre members could be acknowledged for their support.

Among the attendees was Reading West MP Alok Sharma, Reading East MP Matt Rodda, Reading Borough mayor Cllr Rachel Eden, and Cllr Jason Brock and Cllr John Halsall, the council leaders for Reading and Wokingham respectively.

At the start of the gathering, there was a short time of prayer and reflection, led by Father Stan Gibziński, parish priest of Our Lady of Peace and Blessed Dominic Barberi and Catholic chaplain to the University of Reading. His prayers included moments of silence to remember those who had lost their lives.

The Ukrainian centre’s chair, Tony Gresko, then summarised the collections.

TOGETHER: Cllr John Halsall with (left) Tony Gresko, and Alok Sharma (above) at the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre Pictures: Phil Creighton

“Last week, we called out to the people of Reading to donate aid to Ukraine. We were overwhelmed by kindness and generosity,” he said.

Medical items were packed into an ambulance which left for Ukraine on Saturday, March 12, while earlier on the Sunday, the second shipment of essential clothing and goods left the centre.

“Each shipment is getting more difficult and dangerous to deliver,” Mr Gresko said. “But we are doing everything we can to track the safety of our drivers.”

And on the sheer quantity of donations, he said: “We were inundated with boxes … we weren’t expecting so much kindness. I would like to thank the public for the overwhelming support to my amazing team.”

He called for the government to do more to help the situation in Ukraine, including helping refugees, but also thanked them for the support it had given.

“I urge you both MPs, please go back and see whether NATO can protect our skies, protect our people, protect Ukrainian troops working alongside NATO,” he said, adding his gratitude that he could live in a democracy where he had free speech and could be critical of government.

Wokingham Borough Council leader John Halsall spoke briefly, pledging the necessary support for anyone fleeing Ukraine.

“Unfortunately, none of us got very much notice to create the architectures to welcome, potentially, a huge number of

refugees,” he said. “But we’ve got a huge number of officers working out the details of how to do it, and where to do it, and what it means in terms of housing, safeguarding, schools, languages, and jobs.

“We’re really waiting to hear from the government as to when we’re operating.”

And in her speech Cllr Rachel Eden, the mayor of Reading, said an appeal would be set up in the coming days to ensure the Ukrainian Centre has the funds it needed to support.

“I know that Reading will, as we always do, stand ready to welcome people, and I know the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre will be at the heart of that.” n To give to the appeal, visit www.reading.gov.uk/mayorsappeal

THE MP for Maidenhead has welcomed the Government’s plans to help Ukrainian refugees.

Theresa May, whose constituency includes parts of Wokingham borough, called the Homes for Ukraine scheme a “lifeline.”

Phase one will allow sponsors to nominate a named Ukrainian individual or family to stay with them in their home or in a separate property.

Those being sponsored do not have to have family ties to the UK. Mrs May said: “Ukrainians have suffered greatly at the hands of a repressive Russian regime, having fled their homes following Putin’s war of oppression.

“Now residents have an opportunity to respond and support refugees who are travelling across Europe to the UK.” Sponsors can be individuals, charities, community groups and businesses. They need to provide homes or a spare room rent-free for as long as they are able, with a minimum stay of six months. In return, they will receive £350 per month.

“It is a lifeline to those who have been forced to flee and I hope that residents from across my constituency who can provide a home for Ukrainians will consider being sponsors,” Mrs May said.

People arriving in the UK under the scheme will be granted three years leave to remain, with entitlement to work and access benefits and public services.

The visa application process will go live this Friday, March 18.

Applicants will be vetted and will undergo security checks. n For more information or to record interest, visit: homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk

Serious violence survey opens to borough residents WOKINGHAM Borough Council has launched a survey about serious violence.

Councillors are seeking residents’ opinions to help draw up a long-term strategy to reduce and prevent incidents of serious violence in the borough.

The term refers incidents when a weapon is used against another person. It is also used to describe an assault when a person is badly injured, as well as criminal activity linked to gangs or the sale of drugs which could lead to violence.

Cllr Bill Soane, executive member for neighbourhood and communities, said that even though the borough has one of the lowest crime rates in the country, the survey is still important.

“Although you may not have been directly affected, it is vital that we gauge how communities feel and what we can do to overcome any issues raised,” he said.

“The actions we take as a result of this survey will attempt to prevent serious violence from happening, because these crimes can have devastating consequences.”

Residents are asked if they feel levels of serious violence have risen in the last year and what they think the causes might be. n The survey closes on Friday, April 22, and can be found at: engage.wokingham.gov.uk and clicking on ‘Serious violence survey’..

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4 | NEWS

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Council postpones school opening WOKINGHAM Borough Council has postponed the opening of a new primary school, it has been announced.

St Cecilia’s Church of England Primary School in Matthewsgreen will not open this September.

It comes after a lower than expected number of applicants chose it as their first preference for the 2022/23 academic year which means that it is not viable to run the school, a borough council spokesperson said.

The decision has been agreed with The Keys Academy Trust, which will run the school, and the department for education has been informed.

Cllr Graham Howe, executive member for children’s services, said that now is not the right time for St Cecilia’s to open.

“There simply isn’t enough demand,” he said.

“The trust has established itself as a high-performing, trusted provider at a number of primary schools in our borough, so St Cecilia’s will

thrive under its leadership.

“We look forward to working closely together on the next steps.”

A new opening date is yet to be announced, but the borough council expects demand to rise as families populate the area. A spokesperson said that the school will remain on the admissions guide and the aim remains to offer all local children the opportunity to be educated in the area where they live.

St Cecilia’s will have 210 places and a new multi-use community centre on site, with two large rooms, a kitchen,

outdoor space, and a new accessible toilet. An opening for the centre remains to be confirmed but the borough council has said it will do all it can to ensure residents benefit as soon as possible.

Cllr Wayne Smith, executive member for planning and enforcement, said: “It was crucial that we built this school to serve our residents as it’s vital that we’re ready to meet the need of a growing population when it arises.

“In the meantime, we’ll look for as many opportunities as possible for the community to benefit from the development.”

Spring show returns to Twyford A SPRING horticultural show will take place in Twyford later this month.

The Twyford and Ruscombe Horticultural Association is running the event, to be held on Saturday, March 26.

It will open at 2pm in

Concerns continue over domestic abuse contract n Continued from front page

DELAYED: St Cecilia’s will not open in September

Loddon Hall and finish at 3.30pm, following a raffle draw and the presentation of best in show trophies.

Visitors will be able to vote on four of the eight sections — flowers, art, photography, handicrafts and children’s.

Refreshments including a selection of home made cakes will be available, and there will be a seed planting activity for children.

Entrance costs £1. n For more information, visit: trha.org.uk

Thieves steals diggers from industrial estate THIEVES stole heavy plant goods from a Wokingham industrial estate and police are now appealing for witnesses to come forward.

The incident took place between 5.15am and 5.45am on Sunday, March 6, at the Metro Centre Industrial Estate off Toutley Road.

Thames Valley Police said the offenders broke a padlock on a gate, entered a yard, and stole an Iforwilliam plant trailer and two Kubota diggers.

The vehicle the offenders used is described as a black Land Rover

Defender with a white canopy box on the back.

Investigating officer PC Helen Lord, based at Loddon Valley police station, said: “We would like to appeal to anybody who may have been in the area and witnessed this theft to please get in touch.

“You can get in touch by either making a report online or by calling 101 quoting reference number 43220100602.

“Alternatively, for 100% anonymity, you can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 17, 2022

Under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, councils in England must assess the need for support in their area, including the demand for “safe“ accommodation.

They must also “commission support to victims of domestic abuse and their children” who are living in refuge centres.

In November, the council granted funding to BWA to provide a refuge until March this year.

The government has now allocated further funding and the council is encouraging applications from any organisation who meets the criteria for the grant to apply.

Andrea West, CEO of Berkshire Women’s Aid (BWA), said: “Why is this funding being offered on an annual basis and only as interim funding?

“Cranstoun should be providing this service as it was within the contract as part of the tender process.”

A spokesperson for Cranstoun said they are not responsible for providing a refuge provision.

“The refuge provision was

withheld by the previous provider when the service went live in July 2021,” the y said.

“The contract covers the support and management of refuge provision.

“Cranstoun has worked collaboratively with Wokingham Borough Council to resolve these challenges.”

Ms West is urging for clarity from the council and Cranstoun.

“We need clarity over the funding and the contract,” she said.

Ms West added: “We would continue to offer this service beyond March as we are very concerned and committed to doing everything we can to help victims – but it would help if it was funded properly.

“We will always offer support as it is the core principle of everything we do.”

There has been criticism aimed at Cranstoun with its domestic abuse helpline only staffed between 9am and 5pm, with a 24-hour service runing seven days a week to be launched “shortly”.

Louise Timlin, leader of the Reading and Wokingham

branch of the Women’s Equality Party, said: “Wokingham Borough Council is talking up its domestic abuse service yet it is failing to provide the most basic of services.”

Wokingham.Today understands there have been some examples of messages not being responded to, a claim which Cranstoun refutes.

The spokesperson said: “All messages, where contact details are provided and it is deemed safe to do so, are responded to within 24 hours.

“In an emergency, victims should call the police on 999.”

Residents have also criticised of Cranstoun for only providing support to domestic abuse victims over the age of 10, whereas BWA offers this service to those over the age of five.

When asked if the council was happy with the service being provided by Cranstoun, the spokesperson said: “The council actively monitors performance of all awarded contracts and if and when issues are identified, these are resolved in line with contract monitoring.”

Co-op axes bags for life to tackle climate change PLASTIC bags are being axed from Co-op stores as they bring in compostable alternatives.

The Southern Co-op, which recently opened two new stores in the borough, is making the move in its 200-strong chain across the south.

The 10p compostable bags are suitable for home compost bins.

Gemma Lacey, director for sustainability and communications at Southern Co-op, said: “We have a duty to act against climate change and to give our customers a way to be more environmentally responsible.

“However, as our stores are based on convenience, we understand that people might not be carrying a bag

with them, so the compostable bag is a more responsible alternative to plastic.”

Plastic bags for life are being replaced by durable fold away bags and large shoppers with a £1 price tag.

The switch will be complete by the end of April, and depends on stores working through their remaining stock of bags.

The Co-op is working to cut greenhouse gas emissions from its business by 2030, supported by a climate action pathway of planned activity and an initial investment of £5.8m. n For details, log on to: www. thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/our-plan

Wokingham council celebrates 15 years of borough status WOKINGHAM Borough Council is celebrating its 15th anniversary this month.

It was granted borough status by Her Majesty the Queen in March 2007.

Prior to March 2007, Wokingham was a district council with a chairman as civic head.

Since becoming a borough council, Wokingham has had a mayor to chair the council.

The first mayor of the borough council, Cllr Angus Ross said that it was a “privilege to initiate the process for borough status back in 2007.”

“It was supported by the then Lord Lieutenant, Sir Philip Wroughton, and most of the councillors at the time.

“I believe that having borough status has assisted the standing of the council locally and nationally.”

The Lord Lieutenant serves as the Queen’s representative in the county.

Current mayor, Cllr Keith Baker MBE, said: “It is an honour to represent and support the council, residents and businesses within the borough, particularly on our fifteenth anniversary.”

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Thursday, March 17, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

Royal visitor helps make charity’s birthday special

HAPPY FAMILIES: Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, visited Parenting Special Children to help the charity celebrate its 15th birthday Picture: Stewart Turkington A BERKSHIRE charity had a special guest visit to celebrate its birthday.

Parenting Special Children welcomed HRH Sophie Countess of Wessex to an anniversary event earlier this month The charity, founded in 2006, offers specialist support across Berkshire, including Wokingham, to families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, including families who foster and adopt.

Ruth Pearse, Parenting Special Children’s founder and CEO said: “Thank you to HRH The Countess of Wessex for joining us to celebrate our 15th anniversary, it was an honour and privilege to welcome you to meet our families.

“I will remember the pure delight on the children’s faces for a long time to come, especially my daughter presenting your gift, special memories to treasure forever.”

Ms Pearse founded the charity

after identifying an unmet need while receiving a diagnosis for her daughter.

At the time she found there was a lack of support and very few specialist programmes that families could access which would help them learn more about the diagnosis their child or young person had received.

Since its inception, the charity has supported more than 10,000 families with courses, workshops and clinics, informed and

influenced by the families who have attended them.

Following the event, Tess Eagles, partnership manager and neurodiverse children/young people’s lead at the charity, said: “This will be a highlight of the year.

“The event was a wonderful opportunity to highlight the fantastic work undertaken by the charity in the last 15 years and also to look forward to the next 15 years, made more memorable by a royal visit.”

The Countess of Wessex took part in games of Uno with the children who also enjoyed colouring activities and making a mosaic.

Other guests included Parenting Special Children’s past and present staff team, trustees, parent carers, volunteers and supporters including the mayor of Reading, Cllr Rachel Eden and her deputy, Cllr Ayo Sokale. n For more information on Parenting Special Children visit: parentingspecialchildren.co.uk

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 17, 2022

Hurst residents turn out to object to 200 homes plan

By SUE CORCORAN news@wokingham.today

SCORES of residents turned out to sessions organised to help stop 200 new homes on a green field.

The Say No to 200 homes in Hurst campaign gave residents guidelines on how to object to the outline planning application for land at Lodge Road.

The guidelines say the homes would mean losing biodiversity, a corridor which wildlife travels along and over 140 metres of hedgerows.

They claim the plan risks more flooding and sewerage problems.

And they’re predicting about 480 more residents and also at least 400 more cars on local roads.

A total of 134 people went to the information sessions at St Nicholas Primary School, Hurst last Friday and on Saturday. Parish Council chairman Wayne Smith said: “We’ve had a very good turn out. The fact sheets give possible views on the plan.

“I would urge people to write in with their views.”

Jasmeet Kaur, just moved to Hurst from the centre

INSPECTION: Hurst villagers John Penney and Mark Wilkin with Hurst parish councillor Alastair Lyon at the Say No to 200 Homes In Hurst meeting last week Picture: Sue Corcoran of Reading, said at Friday’s session: “We oppose [the plan] and want to learn more about the implications and what we can do.”

Mark Wilkin loves the area’s wildlife. He said: “Without this [undeveloped] land we wouldn’t have as much wildlife. Now, we see

deer, owls and woodpeckers.”

He has 19 bird feeders and many nest boxes in his garden.

Parish councillor Alastair Lyon said: “There’s a reason the half-marathon and the bikeathon come through Hurst,” he said.

“Hurst means a lot to the

borough because of its rural nature.”

n The campaign’s online page is at: www.facebook.com/ savehurst n Comments on the application, number 220458, can be made at Wokingham Borough Council’s website https://planning. wokingham.gov.uk by April 1

Anti-social behaviour team to begin work WOKINGHAM Borough Council is set to launch a new service to tackle anti-social behaviour next month.

An in-house team will be available to deal with a range of residents’ concerns from Friday, April 1.

These could include noisy neighbours, fly tipping, car meets and other bothersome vehicle use and unlawful encampments.

Cllr Bill Soane, executive member for neighbourhoods and communities, said that the borough council is

pleased to be launching the service.

“It will be a one-stop-shop to tackle all sorts of nuisance behaviours that negatively impact our residents’ lives,” he said.

“This will be available seven days a week, including weekend nights, because we know that is when a lot of incidents occur.

“The team will also be proactive and go out patrolling known trouble hot spots to stop problems before they happen.”

As well as anti-social behaviours officers, the service includes an animal warden, food safety and licensing officers and a housing team.

It can be contacted during office hours via email on: asb@wokingham. gov.uk or by calling: 0118 974 6000 The out of hours service is available from 5pm until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and during the daytime at weekends and bank holidays, by calling 0800 212 111.

BLOOMING LOVELY: Retirees are invited to a flower arranging workshop taking place in Twyford later this month

Flower workshop with wellbeing in mind RETIREES can enjoy a flower arranging workshop in Twyford at the end of this month.

The free event takes place between noon and 2pm on Wednesday, March 30, at retirement complex Loddon House on London Road.

It has been designed with health and wellbeing in mind.

Verity McKay, divisional marketing manager for McCarthy Stone Southern, developers of the complex, says that floristry can be therapeutic and calming.

“This workshop will be hosted by a local florist and is the perfect opportunity for guests to focus on their health and wellbeing,” she says.

Flower arranging is hobby widely regarded for promoting a sense of being closer to nature and improving mood and wellbeing, though aroma and colour.

“Guests will have the opportunity to be creative and learn new skills by building their own bespoke bouquets,” Verity adds.

Prosecco and cake will be on offer, and all who attend the event can visit the show apartment and meet the team at the retirement development.

Loddon House comprises 30 two-bedroom private apartments exclusively designed for people aged 60 and over. n For more information, visit: mccarthystone.co.uk

Charity to hold special sale A CHARITY sale will be held in Winnersh later this month.

It takes place in St Mary’s Church parish hall, Church Close, on Saturday, March 26.

It will be open from 10am until 2pm and is free to enter.

Pre-loved items including books, toys, puzzles, jewellery and bric-abrac will be on offer, and there will be refreshments available.

Funds raised will go to

SalGoAssist, set up by church members to help the rural poor of Andhra Pradesh in south India. The charity supports two orphanages and two schools in the town of Bapatla.

It currently needs to find sponsorship for 12 children, several of whom have lost one or both parents to covid.

n For more information, visit: salgoassist.org

Thursday, March 17, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

Baby gift firm wins award

By Daniel Blackham dblackham@rdg.today

A BABY gift store based in Hurst has been announced as the best in South England.

Bumbles and Boo won Best Baby and Children’s Gift Store at the 2021/22 Prestige Awards held at the Solent Hotel and Spa last month.

The awards recognise small and medium-sized businesses.

All shortlisted companies are asked to support their nomination with evidence of their work, positive feedback from clients, information on previous recognition, as well as highlighting the most outstanding parts of their business.

On receiving the award co-owners Emma Weldon and Emma Ryder-Phillips said: “We are thrilled to have won this award.

“It is just amazing to have our business recognised as an industry leader and to also have our company’s expertise and professionalism highlighted at such a level.

“It is refreshing to learn that our products are unique from our competitors, and also that our business thrives to achieve the ‘excellence’ aspect of this awards title at all times, and across all areas.”

Bumbles and Boo offers gifts for babies and new parents with a range of organic skin care products

and toys which are, or use, 100% organic and Fairtrade cotton.

The baby specialists also provide hampers and trunks which are hand-designed and picked to order, including a free card, tissue paper, gift wrapping and keepsake box, topped off with a bow and luggage tag.

Founded during the covid pandemic, the company has grown considerably after lots of word of mouth and positive feedback.

Now with a design studio and stock warehouse in Hurst, the owners are thankful to all who have contributed to their journey so far.

They said: “A special thank you to everyone who has contributed to this award by nominating us and leaving us so many five star reviews.

“It has been our excellent customer service, beautiful product selection and gift design, detailed on hundreds of reviews, that has helped us secure this award.”

The owners reserved a special thanks for their team of staff who work on a “united mission”.

They said: “Everyone who works at Bumbles & Boo has positively contributed to this award.

“Without their passion, commitment and efficiency, in all areas of production and dispatch, this would not have been possible.

“A happy team, with a united brand ethos has more impact on a business than you would think.”

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It’s not the garden of Eden, but the garden of Emmanuel ... church’s project takes root AFTER growing nearly three tonnes of organic produce for local food banks in the last two years, and planting more than 400 fruit trees, a Shinfield-based charity has constructed its first community garden.

Earlier this month, a team from Freely Fruity helped convert the grounds of Emmanuel Church in Woodley, following a request from its members.

The church has recently been revamped, and as part of the project, it wanted to plant an orchard in its grounds.

The charity says that once it was in, discussions began on a possible community garden collaboration.

Companies pitched in to help, including TopsoilUK.com, which agreed to provide the topsoil for the raised beds.

Beale’s Scaffolding provided all the boards needed for constructing them, and Winson Woodcraft supplied the wood chip.

It all came together on Saturday, March 5: volunteers from the church and the charity came together to build the gardens over a five-hour period.

The Southlake Crescent church now has six raised beds and wall-mounted trellis’ for growing produce.

The site was designed to be accessible to all, including

EVERYTHING IN THE GARDEN IS ROSY: Volunteers from Emmanuel Church in Woodley with the Freely Fruity team creating the new community garden Picture: Steve Smyth those in wheelchairs.

The gardens will be maintained by local residents and parishioners.

Matt Knight, one of the cofounders of Freely Fruity, said: “It will be a fantastic place to come and meet up with other gardening enthusiasts.

“Knowledge and skills will be passed on from experts to those just starting out.

“Gardening is really great for the environment, mental

Supporting over 8,000 families

well-being and making new friends. It is hoped that courses will be run from the site in partnership with Freely Fruity and Wokingham Borough Council.”

He continued: “All the produce grown at Emmanuel will go to those who really need it. With Emmanuel Church having a food bank on-site and Share Wokingham recently setting up there, plenty of people will directly benefit

from the new project.

“We hope this will be the first of many satellite Freely Fruity community gardens.”

The charity is currently searching for a new permanent home due to development work at their existing site.

They are looking for suitable land to grow and cultivate fruit trees for future projects. n For more details, log on to: www.Freelyfruity.org

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More than 350 residents helped by wellbeing scheme

By JESS WARREN news@wokingham.today

MORE THAN 350 residents in the borough have been supported by a mental health scheme.

The Wokingham Wellbeing Service is a partnership project between Wokingham Borough Council and Oxfordshire Mind.

It began as a pilot and has since been extended for three years due to its success.

Since April last year, around 360 residents have been helped through the scheme, a spokesperson for the council said.

“Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, we had fairly high levels of people contacting their GPs concerned about their health and wellbeing,” they said.

“During the pandemic, this rose significantly, and we wanted to help support our primary care colleagues as well as help our residents to access advice and support.”

Nationally, around 15% more people were being prescribed anti-depressants and anxiety medication during this time.

“We knew we needed to provide this much needed service to the local community,” the spokesperson said.

Pam Cartwright, whose name has been changed, was referred to the service for her low mood.

She had been experiencing chronic pain as an unexplained side effect from a medical procedure, and her mobility was reduced.

Ms Cartwright was finding it hard to adjust to her new circumstances and find joy in her daily life. She had lost enthusiasm for hobbies that she used to enjoy and was also feeling unmotivated to cook — often eating biscuits instead of regular meals.

With help from her wellbeing worker, Ms Cartwright spent some time identifying what was within and outside of her control.

After her initial session, she also took away a pain toolkit, which uses a list of distraction and breathing techniques.

Through this, Ms Cartwright discovered music as a good distraction to her pain.

She was also supported to create daily goals, and decided to use a meal delivery scheme, which she said improved her energy levels.

With the help she received, Ms Cartwright also explored some challenging thinking

patterns. She had previously been feeling as though she was a “burden” to her friends, and that needing support for her wellbeing made her “weak”.

After looking at the evidence for and against these beliefs, Ms Cartwright became less anxious about accepting support, as she felt her friends and family liked being able to help her.

The spokesperson for Wokingham Borough Council said that they know the service is making a difference to residents’ lives.

“Even a few sessions can make a real positive impact and means that residents don’t need to access formal clinical services,” they said.

It does not intend to replace seeing a GP, but it is there to help people with mild to moderate mental health needs.

Support includes selfmanagement, peer support, signposting and activities.

Wellbeing workers also signpost to other services to improve wellbeing and mental health. n For more information about the Wokingham Wellbeing Service, call 01865 24 77 88 or email: wokinghamwellbeing@ oxfordshiremind.org.uk

Slough chief exec dismissed A FORMER Wokingham Borough Council senior official has been sacked by Slough Borough Council.

Josie Wragg, previously director of customer services and localities at Wokingham Borough Council, has been dismissed from her position as chief executive at Slough for “gross misconduct”.

Mrs Wragg was appointed as chief executive in 2018 but had been away from her office since September last year.

The council later confirmed she was officially “off sick” from November.

Commissioners running the council dismissed her on Wednesday, March 9, citing “multiple failings” in trying to lead the authority through financial difficulties.

Max Caller, lead commissioner, said: “The chief executive’s failure to address the issues facing the council when she joined and the failures itemised above were seriously negligent.

“Her pursuit of the Our Futures programme with the consequences now apparent to all was reckless, which constitutes gross misconduct.”

The council is reported to have quadrupled its borrowing since 2016, to £760 million.

Since October last year, the council has been under government supervision after it was labelled as “dysfunctional”.

Mrs Wragg was sacked effective immediately, without notice, but will be paid for accrued leave.

NEWS | 9

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Thursday, March 17, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

Sheeplands plan for revamp gets permission

By NATALIE BURTON nburton@wokingham.today

committee members as being one of the reasons why they voted in our favour.

“I want to thank all of our staff and loyal customers for their support over the years, I am truly humbled.

“Alyson Jones of Boyer planning and Mark A’Bear, a resident of Charvil and customer of many years, conveyed our case brilliantly.

“And I’d like to thank Cllr Stephen Conway, who was magnificent.”

A spokesperson for Hare Hatch Sheeplands said that: “Nine out of 10 committee members from across the political spectrum agreed with Cllr Conway’s proposal and voted in favour of passing the planning application.

“We are delighted that our plans for a green communityfocussed garden centre have been approved.

“We can begin to seek avenues of financing to enable the plans to turn into reality.”

The borough council received more than 400 letters in support of the planning application, which was also backed by councillors from neighbouring wards and Theresa May MP, whose

A HARE HATCH plant nursery has been granted permission to redevelop its existing site.

The decision in favour of Hare Hatch Sheeplands, on London Road, Twyford, was made at a meeting of Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, March 9.

Councillors voted against a recommendation made by borough council officers to refuse the application. The 3.6 hectare site is on green belt land.

Cllr Wayne Smith, executive member for planning and enforcement, said that the decision was “complex and required a great deal of careful deliberation.”

“As our planning officers rightly pointed out, government policy is generally against intensifying development on green belt land, except in very special circumstances.”

“But the planning committee recognised that this proposal will bring a wide range of benefits for all sections of the community, and this justified making an exception in this instance.”

Planning committee

DELIGHTED: Rob Scott members decided that the scheme’s social, economic and environmental benefits counted as very special circumstances and there would be no harm to the area’s character.

It means that the business has the go-ahead to convert the business into a retail garden centre, with a play area, allotments, new parking and a replacement 250 seat café. Hare Hatch Sheeplands owners said that the site must be modernised to make the business viable.

Rob Scott, owner of Hare Hatch Sheeplands said that he is “ecstatic” following the result, after a process which has taken “20 years of trying.”

“The meeting looked like democracy at work,” he said.

“It was a positive debate, and the support we have had from customers for our application was quoted by

constituency includes the site.

Plans include a new building alongside a play area, allotments, new parking and overflow car park with electric vehicle charging points, improved pedestrian access and a replacement café with 250 seats.

Woodland planting alongside the A4 will introduce a biodiverse wildlife corridor.

Hare Hatch Sheeplands also said that the changes would lead to a doubling of full-time equivalent jobs available.

Mr Scott said that he is now looking forward to a positive working relationship with the borough council.

“It is exciting that we are now able to provide the facilities at Hare Hatch Sheeplands that our customers and the community have been demanding for a very long time” he said.

Cllr Smith wished the business well. He also said that: “We remain committed to protecting our treasured green spaces from inappropriate development and will refuse any proposals which fail to demonstrate exceptional reasons to allow them.”

NO MORE: A plan to turn Woodlands Avenue in Woodley one-way will go back to the drawing board

Rethink for one-way plan WOKINGHAM Borough Council will reconsider plans for a Woodley to Reading cycle link following feedback from residents.

A consultation on four options for the proposed route closed last month.

Early analysis of the feedback shows that overall the designs were not popular, leading the council to go back to the drawing board.

Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways said that the council has listened to residents’ views and said: “The design team will now look in detail at comments and revise the proposal.”

“When they are ready with another option, we will go back to residents and get their views again.”

Opinion was strongly against one of the route proposals, which would have seen a stretch of Woodlands Avenue between Howth Drive and Lytham Road become a one-way street to allow for a two-way cycle lane.

Feedback was split on a proposal to reduce the speed limit on Woodlands Avenue, Palmerston Road and Anderson Avenue to 20mph.

More than half of those who took part in the consultation liked

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something about the proposals, including that they would make it safer and more attractive for cyclists, reduce motor vehicle speeds and make it safer for pedestrians in the area.

However, respondents also thought it might create traffic congestion, make it harder to reach their destinations and that it would give too much priority to cyclists and pedestrians.

“There are always trade-offs when you are trying to retrofit existing roads, and in this case, residents clearly don’t support some of the ones in this design,” Cllr Jorgensen said.

“In 2021, residents told us they want to see segregated cycleways because these would make them feel safer to travel around the area on their bikes, with buggies, wheelchairs and on foot.

“We need to find ways to make it easier to cycle, walk and wheel around our communities – not only is it better for our health, but it reduces congestion and is better for the environment.

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Fair will link charities with new volunteers A CHANCE to find out how to help Wokingham is coming next week, thanks to a volunteer fair.

Like a number of specialist charities that helps people across the borough, the Wokingham Volunteer Centre has recently moved into the new Charity & Community Hub based in Waterford House at Erfstadt Court, off Denmark Street in Wokingham Town Centre.

The facility brings together many organisations under one roof to provide high-quality support, information and advice to people who need it.

And as each of the charities based there relies on volunteers to deliver support, it makes sense for the Volunteer Centre to seek new people to step forward.

A volunteer recruitment fair will take place on Wednesday, March 23, at the hub, from 11am to 2pm.

Entry is free, and no booking is required.

Helena Badger, volunteer services manager at the Wokingham Volunteer Centre said: “The pandemic has been tough on us all.

“The last two years has really seen us all work together and we really want people to keep the feeling of community going.

“Local charities are busy supporting those who desperately need help and volunteers are an essential part of what they all do.”

She continued: “Volunteering really does change people’s lives; both those who volunteer and those who are helped by volunteers.

“It can help you gain new skills, meet new people, test the water for a career change, allow you to give something back and help a cause you really believe in.

“Volunteering can be very flexible and fit around other commitments. Some roles are regular, other more ad hoc, there really is something for everyone.

“I really can’t describe how good volunteering can be, come along and find out for yourself.”

Organisations attending include: The Link Visiting Scheme, Homestart, ABC to Read, CLASP, Citizens Advice Wokingham, First Days, Promise Inclusion, Involve, and Green ‘n’ Tidy gardening Scheme, which provides volunteer gardeners for those who are elderly and vulnerable.

WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 17, 2022

‘Shoplifters’ allegedly took bottles from Hurst store

By STAFF WRITER news@wokingham.today TWO men and a woman are alleged to have walked into a small store and shoplifted numerous bottles of alcohol before leaving.

Thames Valley Police are investigating the report of the incident at Hurst’s Central Convenience store in The Street (the A321), which goes through the centre of the village.

They’ve appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

A spokesperson said: “Thames Valley Police has

received a report of an incident of shoplifting that occurred at around 9.45am on Friday, March 11.

“It was reported that two men and a woman walked into a shop in The Street, Hurst and took numerous bottles of alcohol before then leaving.

“Enquiries are ongoing.

“Anyone with information can contact Thames Valley Police by calling 101 or making a report online quoting reference 43220107450.”

It is understood that two men and one woman were seen on local CCTV quickly walking away from the shop.

HURST STORES

Mayor visits new cafe THE Mayor and Mayoress of Wokingham Town welcomed the newest café to the town centre with an impromptu visit earlier this month.

Cllr Tony Lack and wife Claire sampled the menu at the Sultan Café, located at Sultan restaurant in Market Place, and spent time chatting to staff about the new menu.

They were able to sample the array of quick bites, Indian lunchboxes, light and nutritious meals, together with fresh juices, teas, coffees, cakes and milkshakes on offer.

The cafe, which opened its doors on Thursday, March 3, has been created as part of the £100,000 refurbishment of Sultan – one of Wokingham’s oldest family-run Indian restaurants. n For more details on the changes, log on to: sultanindian.co.uk

n To find out more, or to discuss volunteering in general, log on to: www. volunteerwokinghamborough. org.uk , call: 0118 977 0749, or email: volunteer@wok-vol.org.uk

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VANDALS have struck in Wokingham town centre overnight Friday into Saturday.

They tore out flowers and plants from planters installed in the Erftstadt Court area, leaving the blooms on the pavements.

It is the second time in two years that yobs have damaged the town’s horticultural arrangements.

In August 2020, an identical attack took place in Elms Field and Howard Palmer Gardens.

In this, they ripped up trees as well as ruining plants.

The damage comes weeks after a late-night stabbing for which one man has been charged.

Earlier this month, Wokingham Town Council leader Cllr Imogen Shepherd-Dubey

called for a levy to be placed on venues that open after midnight, in a bid to stem anti-social behaviour.

According to Police.uk data, there were 59 violence and sexual offence crimes, 19 anti-social behaviour incidents and reported in Wokingham in December last year.

However, this has been rejected for the moment, ahead of changes to the council’s Public Protection Partnership arrangement – from April 1, it will once again be managed by the council, rather than outsourced to a partnership run by West Berkshire Council.

Under this new scheme, council officers will be on hand to tackle anti-social behaviour even late at night.

WOKINGHAM Borough Council is encouraging graduates to start their careers in local government.

The National Graduate Development Programme is a two-year scheme which gives graduates the opportunity to grow in a supportive environment through a series of placements across the council.

Cllr Shahid Younis, executive member for insight and change, said: “Wokingham Borough is a great place to live, learn, work and grow and here at the council, we aim to future-proof local government talent for years to come.

“If you are interested in working in the public sector and want to learn new skills and make a real difference, Wokingham Borough Council is the perfect choice for you.”

Past supported graduates have secured full-time roles at Wokingham and other local authorities.

Graduates interested in the scheme are encouraged to watch the “Start your National Graduate Development Journey at Wokingham” video on the council’s youtube channel.

For those graduating this year, applications will reopen in the autumn via the NGDP website.

Thursday, March 17, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

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Celebrating success and building for the future of social care

T

HIS is Social Work Week, an ideal opportunity to show thanks to the people who have made an invaluable contribution to the lives of some of the borough’s most vulnerable residents.

The national campaign allows Wokingham Borough Council to reflect on their staff’s passion and resilience, which have been tested by the pressures of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tuesday was World Social Work Day, which recognises the hard work and dedication of social workers everywhere.

For the first time, there is also Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection, which takes place today (Thursday) and is a chance to pay tribute to a lost loved one, thank a care worker for their support, or say well done to a colleague who has worked hard to keep people safe over the last two years.

Although it is a fulfilling career, there is a national need to raise the profile of why adult social care is so important and recruit people to the sector.

It is predicted an extra 650,000 care workers will be needed by 2035 to keep up with the rising number of people aged 65 and over.

The biggest portion of the council’s budget is spent on delivering adult social care and wellbeing, which reflects how important it is, but also the scale of ensuring all our residents have the opportunity to lead happy and healthy lives.

Cllr Charles Margetts, executive member for health, wellbeing and adult services, said: “Although we have a week to reflect on and celebrate the tremendous value of social care, the reality is that there are dedicated and talented people working extremely hard all-year round to ensure our residents get the support they need and deserve.

“It is an important and hugely rewarding career to choose and a service that we as a council are proud to provide to the highest possible standard.

“We couldn’t achieve this without the hard work of social care staff and it is only right that we stop to celebrate their contributions.

“I would urge residents to consider a role in adult social care, as it gives you the chance to make a meaningful and positive contribution every day as part of a supportive team.”

Adult social care maintains and promotes the independence and wellbeing of disabled and older people, as well informal carers. Wokingham Borough Council is responsible for providing these care services and it is our ambition to attract, retain and develop the best workforce possible for our residents.

The council has its own care company, Optalis, which provides care and support services to older people and adults with disabilities. Through Optalis, the council provides a variety of services, including home care and day services for older people and adults with physical and learning disabilities.

There are many benefits to care work in Wokingham borough, including flexible hours, competitive salary and training opportunities to allow you to progress.

With the development of a new dedicated adult social care recruitment webpage, people can search and apply for jobs and watch case study videos from care staff and residents who benefit from our services.

The true value of social care is reflected in the many testimonies from staff and residents. n www.wokingham.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/ careers/careers-in-adult-social-care/

Ione’s story

Born and raised in Wokingham, Ione Sellens is a senior occupational therapist at Wokingham Borough Council.

Her mother spent many years working for the council in social care and she decided to follow in her footsteps.

She said: “I qualified as an occupational therapist in 2013 and I got my first full-time job in an acute setting and spent eight years rotating my way around the wards and working my way up.

“A senior OT post became available in the WISH [Wokingham Integrated Social Care and Health) team in May 2019 and the rest was history.

“I was born and raised in lovely Wokingham and my mum

Georgina’s story Georgina Jones is a team leader at Suffolk Lodge.

She said: “I started in care when I was 17 years old.

“I started as domiciliary when my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, which made me want to work in care a lot more.

“I did domiciliary care for a

spent many years working in adult social care.

“She always commended Wokingham on its flexibility. I thought I’d better try it for myself and I can honestly say it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.

“I had my daughter in 2018 and having a work-life balance was really important to me. Wokingham’s flexible and supportive approach has allowed me to have that precious time with my family.

“Some of the people we see may be newly diagnosed with a neurological or life-limiting condition and this can be quite overwhelming for them.

“As OTs we provide a holistic approach and support them to achieve their desired goals and

navigate a new way of life.

“I see people from all walks of life and I spend a lot of time visiting people in their houses, assessing their environment and recommending adaptations to maximise their independence at home.

“I’ve often found the simplest adaptation or piece of equipment can positively change and make such a big difference in someone’s life.

“That’s why I find my job so rewarding.

“One of the really good things about working for Wokingham is their fantastic pension scheme and training opportunities and this is all funded by Wokingham.

“I really love the environment that we work in and the team.”

few years and I never thought I wanted to work in a care home.

“I didn’t want to be tied down, but coming to Suffolk Lodge made me realise I absolutely love working in a care home.

“I especially enjoy working with dementia, because every day is different.

“I think one of the most

rewarding things about working in care and especially a care home is you get to know the residents so well and you become part of their family and their family see you as part of their extended family.

“It isn’t just hard work – we have so much fun here at Suffolk Lodge.”

A Career in adult social care is fulfilling and allows you transform lives for the better.

To find out more visit wokingham.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/careers/careers-in-adult-social-care/

12 | NEWS

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Young Archie is Price a hand

Life of Brian

Brian Hicks

By Natalie Burton nburton@wokingham.today

Dating in the digital age

H

A WOODLEY boy had a starring role in a fashion show last weekend.

OW we find our partners is changing.

About 30% of us now do so through dating sites and apps, with a much higher percentage in the younger age groups.

The other main ways are through work and friends, about 20% each. Childhood sweethearts represent about 10% of partnerships.

Introductions through family connections now account for less than 5%.

As a youngster, I often saw advertisements in magazines and on billboards for the first UK computer dating service, Dateline. It was launched in 1966 by entrepreneur John Patterson.

Dateline tried to match individuals by interests and tastes using software run on an IBM mainframe computer. It became very successful, but failed to adapt to the internet world and went out of business in the late 1990s.

The first online dating website, match.com, was set up by Stanford University graduate, Gary Kremen in 1995. He had previously been paying over £100 per hour for a telephone dating service and felt there had to be better and cheaper ways of finding a partner.

Match.com now operates in over 20 countries.

Kremen’s company also went on to develop other dating sites, including Tinder and Plenty of Fish.

When I first moved to Wokingham after the break-up of my marriage, a friend recommended that I try match.com.

He also suggested I drop five years off my age, as he had done, to open up more opportunities. It worked for him and he married a lady this way, but had a few nervous moments explaining the age discrepancy.

My experiences were less successful. I had my first date on a Sunday evening. No trains were running and the replacement bus did not arrive, so I got a taxi.

The lady, was very nice and we got on well.

She later drove me back home after I explained about the trains. As I was about to get out, she said that she could not possibly go out with someone without a car. I was out of work, but decided to buy a car, although it was too late to sway her.

I then managed to get a job in Germany, where I could still use my match.com membership. It was soon made clear to me by a couple of dates that I did not measure up to German standards. One told me she would explain why, but never did.

I conceded defeat and ended my membership.

When I returned to the UK at the end 2019, I signed up to Tinder and Plenty of Fish.

Unfortunately, due to covid restrictions, it proved impossible to meet anyone in the flesh. I decided to try match.com again, after a 10-year gap.

I was in touch with several ladies who were suddenly removed from the website, presumably as they were scammers. With some, there were clues, but another, who had written six books, none.

The problem is growing. One of the worst cases was highlighted in the Netflix documentary Tinder Swindler.

This focused on the scams of an Israeli national, Simon Leviev, who wooed his victims by whisking them off in private jets and flash cars to luxury hotels. However, he was funding this through money from previous scams.

Leviev is accused of conning over £300,000 from ladies he met through Tinder. He had changed his surname to that of a Russian diamond billionaire and pretended to be his son.

Tinder announced a new service earlier this month that will allow users to conduct checks on potential dates for violent crimes and sexual offences. If you are looking online, be warned.

As for me, I did eventually meet someone special through match.com, so never give up hope.

WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 17, 2022

ON YOUR MARKS: Reddam House Principal Rick Cross is training for the Marathon Des Sables. Picture: Rick Cross

Reddam Principal is ready for challenge THE PRINCIPAL of a Sindlesham private school says that he is “ready to go” for his athletic fundraising challenge.

Rick Cross, who joined the school in September last year, will compete in the Marathon Des Sables endurance race which begins on Sunday, March 27.

The event sees participants attempt to run 250 kilometres (155 miles) in a multi-staged race over seven days in the Moroccan Sahara desert. Runners must be completely self-sufficient and carry their own backpacks containing food, sleeping gear and other items.

“I’ve got my kit down to eight kilograms, the minimum is six-anda-half,” Rick says.

“I don’t know how anybody can manage to get their kits so light though.”

Wokingham Today first covered Rick’s story in January. Balancing the calories to weight ratio for kit has been something he has been working on since then.

He says: “February’s Pilgrim Challenge ultra marathon weekend was a learning curve.”

“It was two 56 kilometre (33 miles) runs and I had to carry my own pack.

“I gained a new found respect for the distances, but I picked up an injury which meant I had to take a break from running for a while.”

He is being supported in his training by Nirvana Spa. Physiotherapist Fiona Reid has help Rick to work on his strength so that he can carry his Marathon Des Sables pack and run, and he has been using sauna facilities to acclimatise to the 40 degree Saharan heat.

“I’m back up to full strength and ready to go,” Rick says.

“And I have already raised £3,370 through sponsorship for the two causes I am running for, which is amazing — any more would be a bonus.”

Money will be split equally between two charities, First Days Children’s Charity and Camfed.

n For more information, visit: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rickcross

Sustainable travel app launches for Wokingham A MOBILE phone app to encourage Wokingham borough residents to adopt sustainable travel methods has been launched.

Innovation Valley Rewards, designed by BetterPoints, can be downloaded from Google Play or Apple App Store.

The app records journeys made by walking, wheeling, cycling or taking the bus or train. Users can earn ValleyCoins which can be redeemed for high street or charity donations.

Prizes such as weekend trips, televisions and Brompton bicycle hire subscriptions can also be won by Wokingham borough residents who enter a My Journey Wokingham challenge via the app.

Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport said that the borough council is pleased to be promoting the app.

“Once residents download it, they will see for themselves how fun and easy it can be to leave the car at home more often,” Cllr Jorgensen said.

“By offering rewards and getting people excited about the subject,

Seven-year-old Archie Rosier walked down the runway at the event showcasing a range of clothes designed by Harvey Price for fashion label Born Anxious.

Harvey is the son of former model Katie Price. He was born with PraderWilli syndrome, and is partially blind and autistic.

Born Anxious aims to make clothing which takes the additional sensory processing needs of children with neurodiverse conditions into consideration.

Archie’s proud mum Samantha explains: “Archie is autistic and has ADHD, so much of his daily life involves some kind of segregation.”

“So for him to be able to take part in a day which celebrates what neurodiverse children can do rather than can’t do was incredible.”

Owner of the label Kellie Croft is herself a parent of an autistic child.

“Being a parent of a child with additional needs can be an isolating experience,” Sam says.

“Kellie and I got to know each other online after I came across the website, and that’s how Archie came to be involved in the show.”

He was accompanied on the runway by older brother Dexter, aged 9, to help him to feel confident.

Dexter won the 2021 Pride of Reading Award for Fundraiser of the Year.

He was inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore to raise funds for the Royal Berks Charity by holding quizes and running a marathon over seven days.

“Both of the boys were so excited and loved the trip,” Sam says.

“They had to wait backstage, and have hair and make-up done.

“I was a bit worried about how

BIG MOMENT: Archie (left) walks down the ru Archie would be with the wait and it was his first time doing anything like this, but he smashed it.

“All of the children had pictures of frogs to colour in for Harvey whilst they were waiting, which he said he is going to put up on his wall at college.”

Harvey’s range features a frog motif on items including hoodies, t-shirts and jogging bottoms. He also took part in the show.

My Iris set to headline Bracknell Jazz in April

we’re confident we can inspire long-term behaviour changes which will get people living more healthily while making our borough cleaner and greener.”

The app is part of efforts to encourage sustainable travel and reduce congestion on the borough’s roads while improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions.

It can be downloaded by anyone aged 14 and over who lives, works or studies in the borough.

MY Iris is set to headline Bracknell Jazz on Friday, April 8.

After some time away due to covid restrictions, the recital has returned to South Hill Park.

April’s recital features My Iris, with Trish Clowes leading on saxophone, along with bandmates Ross Stanley, Chris Montague, and James Maddren.

My Iris are set to release their fourth album, A View With a Room on Saturday, April 23.

All but one of the songs on the album are pieces composed for livestreamed events during the pandemic, Ms Clowes said that many of the tracks make direct reference to issues created and exacerbated by the pandemic.

“But not as a response, really, it wasn’t planned like that.”

Three of the tracks were written to celebrate women who had been inspirational to her, including Amber,

a song for Amber Bauer, CEO of Donate4Refugees.

Ms Clowes said that music composition naturally reflects the individual who is writing.

“What matters most as an artist is to present your music as your own individual, and we write in quite and organic way.”

The quartet’s freedom of musical expression is something that she feels extends into other aspects of her life.

“To be into jazz, you kind of have to embrace whatever happens.”

MsClowes studied at the Royal Academy of Music, of which she was later honoured as an associate.

Bracknell Jazz is the second show of a 21 date tour of the album, with a launch performance in London on Saturday, April 23.

Ms Clowes said she was enjoying performing live again, and said: “It’s

unway with older brother Dexter the event are being treated to a VIP experience at Madame Tussauds London at the beginning of next month, arranged by charity Merlin’s Magic Wand.

Archie has cleared his Lego shelf for Harvey’s clothes and hopes to take part in future Born Anxious events.

n For more information, visit: bornanxious.co.uk

READY TO PLAY: My Iris will be visiting South Hill Park next month

A candid look at Berkshire’s first female police constable A NEW memoir of the first female police constable in Berkshire Constabulary has been released, writes Jake Clothier.

Written by Ruth D’Alessandro, Calling WPC Crockford tells the story of the author’s mother as she navigates life as a WPC in Berkshire in the early 1950s.

The book is Ms D’Alessandro first narrative non-fiction work, and she says that her mother loved to tell stories.

“I’d wanted to sit her down and really go through things with her.”

But after her mother’s brief and surprising passing, this wasn’t possible.

“Women have been very much airbrushed out of history, and her story is so much bigger.”

Ms D’Alessandro was born in Shinfield, and remembers the house she was brought up in, saying “it was this funny little hut by the police station.”

“I went to St Mary’s primary, and then the Abbey school, so Wokingham is of course very close to my heart.”

“In fact, her story is kind of a love letter to Wokingham, and I wanted to put it into the wider context of the social history.”

She says that it is clear that issues of gender still matter today.

“When you look at how Cressida Dick was treated recently, you wonder whether a man might have been treated similarly.”

But Ms D’Alessandro says that those who are marginalised can be helped.

“When people are recognised, and their stories are being told, it contributes to their normalisation.”

She says that the early 1950s was something of a golden era for women in policing, as women were more respected in the post-war period.

“Women were making their own way, and it was quite an enabling time for a while.”

Though it is only her first memoir, two further books of memoirs have been commissioned.

Or could they all have magic habits...

They hide in hats like artful rabbits.

great to play at familiar venues and see old faces, but also to play in new places.”

The monthly jazz recital has showcased jazz performers since 2013.

My Iris will be performing at South Hill Park’s recital room on Friday, April 8, from 7.30pm.

Tickets are £16, or £8 for under 18s.

n Tickets are available at uk.patronbase. com or on 01344 484 123

Or else - they leap the Gates of Time?

Or lurk in dust and fluff and grime Beneath my bed (where no one dares Disturb the spiders’ ancient lairs)?

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Ms D’Alessandro says that though the book follows her struggles as a WPC, it’s not about policewomen being down-trodden.

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Where do all my Lost Socks go?

Someone, somewhere ought to know?

Perhaps they leave in search of fun Or sail away to chase the Sun. Maybe they vanish into Space, Stolen by a Martian race?

WorcesterObserver

ISLE OF WIGHT

POETRY CORNER The missing socks mystery

All my socks are HALF a pair The matching set are never there; The missing ones are seldom here...

I take them off - they disappear!

WPR_2022-03-14_TheWokinghamPaper_33x2 (1)_Just Go

© English Heritage

s giving Harvey d in fashion

“It was such a positive and inspiring experience for Archie to take part in the show and meet Harvey,” Sam says.

“He can see that anything is possible.

“And now has ideas for his own designs for Kellie, which he is going to work on with his teaching support at school.”

The youngsters who took part in

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I hope I’ll find my socks once more All neatly darned inside my drawer?

I’ll try them on - I’ll wonder who Has made my dearest wish come true?

Their joyful mates will hug them too When Red greets Red and Blue finds Blue!

But all the same - I’d love to know WHERE Do all my Lost Socks go?

Clare Bevan

We love to receive your poems. Email yours to: news@wokingham.today – we’ll print a selection every week

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30 | VIEWPOINTS

WOKINGHAM.TODAY THE VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

Tackling poverty is a priority

ON MARCH 31, householders are being urged to take a meter reading.

The reason? It’s the final day of the current energy price cap.

The rising cost of gas and electric means households will see their bills rise sharply – double, triple their current rate.

Coming at a time when inflation is high and the National Insurance rise is about to kick in, and the price at the pumps has gone up sharply too.

In the weeks to come, many residents will need to make savings to make ends meet.

With this in mind, we welcome the council’s pro-activeness with its antipoverty strategy.

While it’s not a magic wand that will wave away the rising cost of living, it will work to help tackle root causes, while also helping those people who are just getting by.

Being able to signpost help and resources is a good starting point, and the funding pot means it will have the opportunity to make a big difference, at a time when people need it.

CHURCH NOTES

A call to unity, despite conflict

G

OD calls his people to live in unity with one another.

We are told in Galatians 3:28 that ‘we are all one in Christ Jesus’ despite our differences.

But what does this look like, or mean, to us when we are surrounded by division and conflict?

How do we unite when there are great chasms between us?

The people of Ukraine have shown us a great example of how to unite in the face of conflict.

Over the past couple of weeks, we have seen pictures of the destruction there, but we have also seen the unity, strength and solidarity of its people.

I have read stories of people offering their homes as places of sanctuary to those fleeing the conflict, people driving across borders to deliver medical provisions to those in need and people marrying their loved ones in the midst of this war-zone.

Also, I have read of the many Ukrainians who have a faith and how they approach this dreadful situation with zealous prayer.

Prayer seems to be such a vast spiritual movement that is uniting those in Ukraine.

What do you sense unites our community?

We saw glimpses of this at the beginning of the pandemic when our community pulled together to help those in need.

My encouragement and prayer for you this week is that you find an opportunity to reach out to those in need around you, and by doing so, continue to build on the foundations of unity in our community.

Savannah Bell is Pioneer Minister in Training at Wokingham Baptist Church, writing on behalf of Churches Together in Wokingham

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Your letters Send your thoughts to letters@wokingham.today

Tax on drinking venues We should take with utter cynicism and incredulity the Wokingham council proposal to charge the town late night drinking establishments for additional policing.

Does anyone believe that policing exists in our town at any time of day or night?

We are certainly paying for it in tax and precepts but I suggest that any police appearing is after an incident has occurred and the damage has been done.

Policing the town should be a 24-hour operation to protect all businesses and the public; that is what we are already paying for.

This tax is just another opportunist ruse by our money grabbing council.

Businesses are burdened enough as it is and are getting a bad deal, particularly at this time of recovery from the lockdowns.

Our Councillors should fight against this proposal and ask the question, where and when are the police patrolling the town.

Barry Walsh, Wokingham

Sheeplands saga

What lessons has Wokingham District Council and, in particular, our own ward councillors, John Halsall and Graham Howe, learned from the seemingly never-ending saga of planning hassles involving Hare Hatch Sheeplands ?

Happily, the March 9 Planning Committee meeting decided to reject the recommendation from council planning officers to refuse Hare Hatch Sheeplands major redevelopment plans. Instead, the Planning Committee voted to back HHS’s plans.

As you mentioned in a report last week, the number seven bus from Reading to Riseley has been revived from this Monday. We are told we have ‘to use it or lose it’.

A decision will be made in the early summer about whether or not to continue the service. The sole criteria for its continuation will, I imagine, be whether it is financially self-sustaining.

This chances of this being achieved are much improved by dropping the leg to Fleet which was justified by small school flows – now gone – and the hope of taking traffic from Stagecoach in Hampshire The cost was a poor and largely useless service in the communities in the borough and high overheads as Reading Bus drove largely empty vehicles to and from Fleet.

Swallowfield, Spencers Wood and Three Mile Cross are natural bus commuting territory. The only way the service can be self-sustaining will be if strong morning and evening traffic flows can be developed. But we have a bus in Reading which leaves Riseley at 07.10 and then no further bus until 09.55. The evening services leave Reading at 15.50 and 18.15. This is not a volume commuter service.

The service withdrawn in January had a service which left Reading at 08.15 and ran from Riseley to Fleet and back more or less empty.

Because it made this unremunerative

L

journey, there could not be another morning bus from Riseley into Reading until 09.55. In this way Reading Bus showed no interest in either serving our communities or developing volume traffic.

But in the restored timetable, the bus arrives from Riseley into Reading at 07.57 and doesn’t set out for Riseley again until 09.10. Where does it go in the meantime? After two trips to Riseley does it need to go to the depot to be cleaned?

The same is true of the evening services. They do not offer a usable service and the bus, one imagines, goes and does something else.

So what Wokingham is supporting is what is essentially a daytime shopping service to and from

Reading which cannot possibly generate enough income to justify its continuation after June.

We now have copious evidence that Reading Buses do not wish to run this service and will do anything they can to make it unusable so they can argue that there is no demand for it.

We are grateful that Wokingham BC have spent their money on it to bring it back it, but honestly, they have been taken for suckers by Reading Buses and are funding a service which cannot succeed.

Perhaps someone from WBC could explain what they hope to achieve.

Richard Hoyle, Spencers Wood

So, after more than a decade of disagreement during which Councillors and officials have been publicly censured of abuse of process by the Court of Appeal, the members of the Planning Committee have now recognised the very special circumstances which

had to apply if development is to be permitted.

Those circumstances centred on the sustained strength of local support for this remarkable enterprise.

Why did it take 10 years or so and the expenditure of hundreds of

thousands of pounds to reach a simple decision which so many residents felt was long overdue.

So please, Councillors Halsall and Howe, what lessons have you and Wokingham Borough Council learned?

While NATO would overwhelm Russia there could be much larger loss of life and destruction in Ukraine and the conflict would be widened by Russia into NATO countries before they lost.

NATOs aim should be to encourage settlement between the parties while helping Ukraine resist Russia’s unprovoked aggression.

The UK as a leading member of NATO needs to stick with NATO policy.

In the end, like all wars, there has to be a truce and preferably a peace settlement which can only come from talking.

The UK will not play an important role in that as it falls to Russia and Ukraine as the combatants to decide what compromises they will make to end the fighting.

It may take a neutral intermediary like Israel to help them.

Russia seems to want to gain legal title to Crimea and the bits of Donbas it already influenced.

It wants to add a land corridor from Russia to Crimea.

It wants Ukraine to pledge it will not join either the EU or NATO. Maybe it still wants a change of Ukrainian government.

It does not look as if Russia can either easily conquer the whole country or govern significant parts of it by military occupation now it has united most Ukrainians outside Crimea and Donbas against it.

Maybe Russia still thinks it can get unconditional surrender by starving and bombing people out of cities, but it still leaves it with too few troops there to keep down a population of more than 40 million.

Ukraine wants the Russian army to exit and wants to restore democratic government to the whole country.

These positions are so far apart because Russia still looks as if she thinks she can at greater cost in lives and destruction claim more territory and the Ukrainians have growing confidence they can make

further conquest difficult for the Russians.

There will only be a truce or peace if Russia gives up many of her imperial ambitions and if Ukraine offers Russia some way of climbing down that Putin can accept.

Unpleasant though that is to the Ukraine side a lot of lives rest on it. It looks to an outside observer who does not have to do any fighting as if Ukraine will not be able to join the EU or NATO any time soon.

It looks as if Crimea would, in a free vote, vote to be Russian.

Maybe these are building blocks for a ceasefire.

The EU and US involvement in removing an elected President of Ukraine in 2014 for being anticloser links with the EU triggered military responses from Russia which have just got a lot worse.

While President Macron seeks a ceasefire, the EU issues a Council statement about Ukraine’s European EU future.

This in Putin’s other reality is a further provocation of an expansionist Europe.

Sir John Redwood is the MP for Wokingham

Sir John Redwood

ET me make clear I strongly oppose the brutal Russian invasion and their resort to medieval sieges with modern bombs and artillery raining down on civilians and defenders.

On my blog, I do not the few submissions I get which slavishly follow Russian propaganda denying atrocities or blaming others for the deaths and destruction we can see from reputable media sources.

I also strongly support NATO policy to take every precaution to avoid this becoming a NATO/ Russian war.

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

Use it or lose it

Westminster diary

How can the Ukraine war end?

WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 17, 2022

Philip Meadowcroft, via email

What is a woman?

I’ve been following the White Ribbon debate in Wokingham.Today. I was struck by the letter from Louise Timlin, Wokingham Resident, Reading and Wokingham Women’s Equality Party - Branch Lead (BL).

Louise claims to have emailed all 53 Wokingham Borough Councillors to ask them to sign the White Ribbon pledge, which looks like a worthy cause.

What BL Timlin may not be allowing for is the Woke times that we live in. Therefore I will ask BL Timlin for a definition, to be printed in Wokingham.Today BL Timlin, please define what a Woman is, that is the female of the human species, and what specifically makes a woman a woman.

This is only fair because it seems that some politicians and people have great difficulty with the definition of “Woman”.

Two senior Labour Party MPs, people who I personally would refer to as women or female, when asked, would not, or could not, give a definition.

This definition becomes very important when someone goes around asking for pledges to be signed and symbols to be worn or displayed.

People may feel very uncomfortable with it.

BL Timlin could even be accused of trying to shame or bully people into signing.

I hope not.

On the subject of bullies, I assume that that oxymoron of a political party, the Liberal Democrats, are proud of the alleged Democracy Denier-inChief. I refer of course to ex-Speaker Bercow. Not only has this lamentable individual been found to be a terrible bully, but a liar as well.

The Non-Liberal Non-Democrats still do not recognise the result of the greatest democratic exercise ever held in the UK i.e the EU Referendum.

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I suspect that their MPs were there clapping the leader of a foreign power in Parliament the other day. The problem is, that until they recognise the legitimate democratic result of the Brexit referendum they cannot be trusted with democracy in Great Britain and the United Kingdom. Especially when they still support the undemocratic, unelected, unaccountable House of Lords.

Paul Clarke, Wokingham resident since 1982

Apprentices

It is a great surprise and disappointment to read that Reading has one of the highest rate of achievements in apprenticeship schemes yet only 24% of starters actually completed their apprenticeships.

Ten months ago TVBerkshire LEP and Reading University wrote to the government pointing out that £60m of Apprenticeship Levy funds in Berkshire were upspent and we offered to join a working group to agree more flexible ways to use the levy.

Our LEP has identified skills gaps in Berkshire and have the contacts with providers. We heard nothing and this opportunity remains. The need is more urgent than ever.

Robert Beveridge, Thames Valley Berkshire LEP

Run the marathon

On Monday, hundreds of thousands of people who entered the ballot to run the 2022 TCS London Marathon found out if they had been successful or not.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is Charity of the Year for the 2022 TCS London Marathon and I am delighted to have taken up the position as Team BHF manager to support all those participants taking part to raise money for this brilliant charity.

I’m urging all those who have secured a place to run and fundraise for the BHF. The charity aims to help heal hearts across the UK by raising £3 million for pioneering research into regenerative medicine that could one day find a cure for heart failure.

There are around 920,000 people living with heart failure in the UK: that is around 18 times the number of people who take part in the London Marathon each year.

Every step our runners take towards the finish live will help the BHF researchers push the boundaries of medicine – hopefully leading to new treatments within a generation.

The race is really on, and you could be part of it. Use your ballot place to join Team BHF. For more information, visit: www. bhf.org.uk/londonmarathon2022

Harry Redknapp, manager of Team BHF for the 2022 TCS London Marathon

Make meals matter

I wouldn’t blame the children of South Sudan if they just gave up. One third are suffering chronic malnutrition. Half are missing school.

Millions are displaced. And none of them have ever known anything but war.

One of my colleagues there, a 45-year-old man, tells me he has never seen peace in his lifetime. But he has seen hope. He has witnessed the hope our colourful bowls full of maize and beans bring to some of the poorest children on earth.

Mary’s Meals feeds more than two million children every school day in 20 of the world’s poorest countries. Our nutritious meals attract little ones into the classroom, where they can gain an education that gives them hope for the future.

We are already reaching around 70,000 hungry children in South Sudan, and – with the support of your readers – we can serve our life-

changing meals in even more schools.

Please visit marysmeals.org.uk to find out more about our appeal.

The children of South Sudan aren’t giving up. And nor are we. We know that no child on this earth is unreachable.

Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, founder of Mary’s Meals

See a rainbow

This year, Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity is marking 35 years since we were first founded.

During this time, we have supported tens of thousands of families with a life-threatened or terminally ill child.

Our local South West care team, based in Chippenham, provides vital emotional and practical support to families.

These families are facing the unbearable possibility that their child may die before them and they often struggle to cope.

Our work has only been possible thanks to the incredible generosity of the public.

So, to mark our 35th anniversary milestone, I would like to say a big thank you to anyone reading this who has donated in the past or who might consider donating in the future.

On average, Rainbow Trust receives eight new referrals each week from families across England needing support, but we know there are many more who could benefit.

There are currently estimated to be over 80,000 children in England with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition.

So, as we turn 35 please help us commemorate the occasion by accepting our heartfelt thanks and, if you are able, please consider making a donation so that we can continue our important work for the next 35 years. Please visit rainbowtrust.org. uk/donate.

Zillah Bingley, CEO, Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity

Volunteer corner

Helena Badger

S

AVE the Children is a UK charity that works with children and families in hundreds of countries across the world to make sure children are fed, learning and treated properly.

We are currently raising funds that will go directly to help children affected by the war in Ukraine.

We are looking for fundraisers to help with Saturday street collections running until Saturday, April 16, in central Wokingham and Woodley.

If you can give a couple of hours, please do get in touch. n Promise Inclusion (PINC) is a local charity supporting people with learning disabilities and/or autism, their carers and families.

We are looking for a volunteer to assist in the provision of a twicemonthly Karaoke activity club for adults aged 18+ with a range of learning difficulties, including those with profound and multiple learning difficulties, in a safe and stimulating

environment.

The role is one-and-a-half to two hours weekly on a Wednesday evening (middle two Wednesdays of the month) in a hall in Wokingham Town Centre.

The volunteer must be selfmotivated, able to work on own initiative, a good communicator, have and understanding of (and commitment to meeting) the needs of people with learning disabilities/ autism and their families.

A knowledge of Makaton desirable but not essential. n Are you interested in seeing public art spread across Wokingham Borough? The trustees of Arts4Wokingham are passionate about it.

Now established as an independent charity, we have commissioned a spectacular new piece of art to be built in front of the new Carnival Hub in Wokingham Town.

We are look for more volunteers who can help in championing public

art in its many forms.

We are looking for an enthusiastic member of the community who can support and join our committee.

Please get in touch if you’d like to find out more about the roles available.

If you have experience in the financial and treasury operation of fundraising we would love to hear from you too. 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 please call 0118 977 0749 or email volunteer@ wok-vol.org.uk. n We are also running a Volunteer Recruitment Fair at the new Charity and Community Hub in Wokingham Town Centre on Wednesday 23rd March from 11am-2pm. Please drop in and come and meet local charities and discover what you can do for volunteering and what volunteering can do for you

Watch Wokingham Adrian Betteridge

The next golden age of the bicycle?

S

OME 140 years ago, the ‘safety bicycle’ ushered in a new era of personal transport, thanks to design improvisations which made cycling both safer and more practical compared to the preceding pennyfarthing.

The resulting ‘bike boom’ of the 1890s saw sales rocket despite an economic depression.

The bicycle is regularly cited as an important factor in the emancipation of women shortly thereafter, thanks to the ability to travel independently and some say a reason to ditch the heavy voluminous skirts of the time.

In the UK, cycling grew steadily through to the 1950s, enabling armies of factory workers, civil servants and the eponymous midwives to get around quickly and cheaply.

But in the 1960s, desire for car ownership and public policy support for this saw sales of cycles fall rapidly.

They bounced back temporarily as oil prices rocketed in response to global conflict (sound familiar?), but cycling entered a period of decline as a mainstream transport.

For decades we chose to connect our communities with fast roads and roundabouts making cycling more of an extreme sport than everyday means of transport.

Bradley Wiggins gave cycling (and sideburns) a bit of a boost in 2012, but the latest boom in cycling stems from the 2020 covid lockdown where so many of us reappraised our travel choices and took advantage of being able to cycle with fewer cars around.

The coincidence of this with growing awareness of climate change and air pollution, and frustration at ever-increasing traffic, seems to be giving this boom longer legs.

For two years the supply of new bicycles has struggled to keep up with demand, though charities such as the excellent Reading Bicycle Kitchen and Wokingham’s Doctor Bike have put many redundant bikes back into circulation, often at little to no cost and thankfully supply is recovering.

The potential for further growth is huge, with surveys saying that up to a quarter of the population would cycle if it were made safer to do so.

Across the country, local politicians are making this possible and we hope that Wokingham’s leaders will properly get behind this next golden age of the bicycle, for everyone’s benefit, whether directly or indirectly.

32 | BUSINESS

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 17, 2022

association with BUSINESSTODAY InWinnersh Triangle

Got a business story?

Email news@wokingham.today

A business park that is changing

Med tech firms’ virtual fundraiser is a success

Gold for sprinter A FINCHAMPSTEADbased sprinter who trained at a new gym in Winnersh Triangle is celebrating after scooping a gold medal.

Adam Thomas won the honour at the British Indoor Athletic Championships.

He switched to sprinting after quitting non-league league football and captured the British 60 metres title earlier this month in 6.56 seconds, making him the new Scottish record holder.

He will be representing Great Britain at the World Indoor Championships and then Scotland in Commonwealth Games being held in Birmingham this July.

Frasers Property, which runs Winnersh Triangle, sponsors Adam’s membership to train at MOVE HQ, the state-of-the-art gym, giving him the edge for the games.

The 17,000sq ft facility is the largest of its kind in the UK, and supports elite athletes. as well as providing some of the best facilities for the borough.

It includes a three-lane 35m sprint track, lifting racks, Olympic lifting stations and cardiovascular

By PHIL CREIGHTON pcreighton@wokingham.today equipment, with regular sessions and workshops available for all abilities. There are also treatment rooms run by Active Health Clinics, including chiropractic treatments, sports massage, acupuncture, and reflexology.

Mark Munroe, director at MOVE HQ, was thrilled.

“We are so pleased that Adam got to bring home the gold, as has been training so hard,” he said.

“It’s fantastic that he also achieved a personal best. We look forward to him continuing to train at MOVE HQ as he prepares for the Commonwealth Games.”

Frasers Property UK Commercial Director Rupert Batho added: “It’s a great accolade for the MOVE HQ team that it is already supporting the development of gold-winning athletes.

“We look forward to following Adam’s journey and seeing him achieve further success, hopefully in Birmingham.”

A MED TECH company is supporting Blood Cancer UK with virtual fundraising event.

Becton Dickinson (BD) is a leading med tech company and partner to the global healthcare industry for more than 120 years, with its UK headquarters in Winnersh.

BD supported Blood Cancer UK with its ‘Go the Distance’ challenge to help raise awareness around early diagnosis and funds for crucial research.

With the goal of beating blood cancer, BD employees took part in the virtual event.

Illustrative of their commitment to the cause, there were double the number of participants than originally planned.

The team walked, ran, cycled, swam, among other

GO THE DISTANCE: Becton Dickinson (BD)’s biosciences country leader Jeffrey Dern enjoys a walk as part of his fundraising challenge activities, the equivalent distance from Plymouth, BD’s manufacturing plant location, to Limerick, the site of its R&D hub – 1,742km (1,082 miles) across the month – with Winnersh as one of the stops. Due to impressive efforts and level of participation, the team actually collectively travelled 9,692km (6,022 miles).

Jeffrey Dern, BD

Biosciences Country Leader, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the team and our achievements.

“Our strong culture of ‘doing well by doing good’ and strive to stay connected to our customers and their patients really spurred us on – come rain, wind, and little shine.

“With that attitude, we have more than quadrupled

our distance, achieved our fundraising goals, and crucially, raised awareness around the importance of early detection of blood cancer.”

BD participants raised more than £5,000 for Blood Cancer UK, which will contribute to a month’s worth of funding for its Support Service, which includes a team of blood cancer support officers, social workers and clinical staff who provide information, advice, and emotional support for those suffering with the disease, as well as helping family members.

Breakthrough research is vital to advancing detection and treatment of blood cancer.

n For more about the disease, and the work that Blood Cancer UK is doing, log on to: bloodcancer.org.uk

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TREAD THE BOARDS: South Hill Park is offering team building sessions including the chance to take part on stage Picture: Alex Harvey-Brown

New team-building venue launches, and its location may surprise you ARTS centre South Hill Park has been known for decades as a real community hub.

Not just a venue for touring productions, music and arts, it houses exhibitions, festivals and workshops.

Now it is branching out to offer team building exercises from its impressive venue.

The centre says that research shows engagement with the Arts leads to a higher

level of subjective wellbeing, improves cognitive abilities and has the power to facilitate social interaction.

It is launching four packages aimed at helping teams bond.

Tapping into its array of creative arts tutors, everything from a chance to tread the boards to having a go at creating something are all on offer.

For those who want

something akin to usual training days, there is a moving session, which includes a yoga session, while the adventure package features a treasure hunt around the grounds; taking in landscaped gardens, lakes and life-sized sculptures – and utilising a wide variety of fitness equipment.

n For more details, log on to www. southhillpark.org.uk or email: hospitality@southhillpark.org.uk

33

To advertise, call 0118 327 2662

Thursday, March 17, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

Gorse Ride community hub opened by mayor A NEW community hub has been opened by Wokingham Borough Council mayor, Cllr Keith Baker.

The previous community house on Billing Avenue was closed in 2021 to make way for 249 energy efficient homes.

Wokingham Borough Council has confirmed 74% of the new properties will be affordable homes and there are also plans to add a new village green.

At the hub, residents will be able to meet the council’s community engagement team, housing officer and the regeneration team who will be using it as their base during the regeneration.

Cllr Baker said: “There’s a real excitement about the regeneration plans and seeing things happening around Gorse Ride.

“The quality of the first phase at Arnett Avenue shines through, and people can’t wait to see the next phases evolve.“ Cllr Baker recognised the disruption for those living around Gorse Ride and encouraged residents to discuss any issues with the community engagement team.

He said: “They do an amazing job, working closely with residents so they can help people access the support they really need.

“Whether people need help understanding what additional financial support is available, have a neighbour issue to discuss, then the hub is the perfect place to pop in and meet the team.”

The hub is open Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm. Residents can also email: community. engagement.localities@wokingham.gov.uk

Tech support group to help people get to grips with their kit

TOP ADVICE: The team from Pratts Pods will be sharing their tech knowhow with residents from next month Picture: Daniel Blackham

By DANIEL BLACKHAM dblackham@wokingham.today AN ELECTRONIC repairs store in Wokingham is set to launch a tech support group.

Pratts Pods will provide the weekly session free of charge at Wokingham Library, starting on Tuesday, April 5.

Rory Pratt, managing director of Pratts Pods, said: “We have people coming into our shop for advice that we happily sort out over the counter free of charge.

“But this is starting to take up a lot of our time in the store and so we decided to look at setting up a session in Wokingham which people can attend.”

Advice on phones, tablets and laptops will be provided by one of the technicians and explained in an easy to understand manner.

Mr Pratt said: “Sometimes it’s as simple as showing someone how to send an email or change the volume on their tablet.

“Other times it’s set ups, changing a setting or teaching people how to use their new phone that another

shop has sold to them needlessly, but won’t support them after the sale.”

The sessions will be provided free of charge as it is not a money making scheme, but a way of offering help to those who need it.

Mr Pratt said: “I really don’t want to and can’t justify charging for simple help, especially to

the elderly, as it’s just not in my nature.

“We literally lose a full day a week at least to this stuff, so we hope it’ll be popular enough to keep it going.”

Pratts Pods has been operating in Wokingham since 2013 and their team has more than 15 years experience in tech repairs.

The technicians specialise in

iPhones and iPads but also carry out work on all other phones, tablets, TV’s, laptops, cameras and sat navs.

All work is guaranteed for three months and they are fully insured to work on your electronics.

n For more information on the sessions visit: wokingham.gov.uk/ libraries n Pratts Pods can also be contacted by emailing: info@prattspods.co.uk

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34 |

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 17, 2022

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Thursday, March 17, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

Classifieds

Get your business seen!

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PUBLIC NOTICES

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (WHITEKNIGHTS ROAD, EARLEY) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2022

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (CHURCH LANE, ARBORFIELD) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2022

NOTICE IS HEREBY given that on the 10th March 2022 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:

NOTICE IS HEREBY given that on the 10th March 2022 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:

Whiteknights Road, Earley between its junctions with B3350 Wilderness Road and Wokingham Borough Boundary.

Church Lane, Arborfield between its junctions with A327 Reading Road and B3030 Sindlesham Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Whiteknights Road, Upper Redlands Road, Elmhurst Road, A327 Shinfield Road and Pepper Lane or by this route in reverse.

Works requiring this res triction will take place between 21st March and 23rd March 2022.

The reason for these prohibitions is to allow Beechwood Tree Care Ltd contractors to undertake tree maintenance work in safety.

The reason for these prohibitions is to allow T Mobile contractors to undertake installation, rigging, integration and testing of telecommunications pole and cabinet in safety.

Access for residents and businesses within the boundaries of these restrictions will be maintained at all times.

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 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 21st March 2022 and shall continue in force for a period not exceeding 18 months or until the works have been completed, whichever is the earlier.

Dated: 17th March 2022 Trevor Saunders Assistant Director – Delivery and Infrastructure Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices Shute End Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1WL

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (LANGLEY COMMON ROAD, BARKHAM) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2022

The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 AND/OR Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Regulations 1990 The following application(s) have been submitted and are advertised for the reasons below: Application

Address

Reasons for Advert

Description

220581

Ashridge Farm, Warren House Road, Wokingham

Works to a listed building

Full application for the proposed conversion of existing barns/outbuildings to 5 no. dwellings with associated parking, bin storage and amenity space, including erection of single storey extension to unit 2 following demolition of existing lean-to extension, changes to fenestration, erection of a 2 no. detached car ports following demolition of existing outbuilding, and the creation of an access off Warren House Road to serve a rear parking area. (Part retrospective)

220678

St Crispins School, London Road, Wokingham

Affects setting of listed building

Full application for the proposed erection of 2 no. single storey modular units to provide changing facilities.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via B3030 Sindlesham Road and A327 Reading Road or by this route in reverse.

Works requiring this res triction will take place between 21st March and 24th March 2022 between 09:30 and 16:00.

The restrictions contained in the Order shall come into operation on the 21st March 2022 and shall continue in force for a period not exceeding 18 months or until the works have been completed, whichever is the earlier.

WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL PLANNING APPLICATION

Dated: 17th March 2022 Trevor Saunders Assistant Director – Delivery and Infrastructure Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices Shute End Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1WL

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 4th April 2022. 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 webs ite 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: 17th March 2022 PAUL ARNOLD HYMAN COHEN Deceased Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of 17 Luckley Wood, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41 2EW, who died on 20/01/2022, must send written particulars to the address below by 18/05/2022, after which date the Estate will be distributed having regard only to claims and interests notified.

Alistair McArthur c/o Herrington Carmichael LLP, Building 2, Riverside Way, Watchmoor Park, Camberley, GU15 3YL. Ref: SRS/COH30/1

Works requiring this res triction will take place between 6th April and 8th April 2022.

The alternative route for all traffic affected by the restriction shall be by proceeding via B3349 Barkham Road, Bearwood Road, B3030 Mole Road, B3030 Sindlesham Road and Eversley Road or by this route in reverse or by this route in reverse.

Access for residents and businesses within the boundaries of these restrictions will be maintained at all times.

Trevor Saunders Assistant Director – Delivery and Infrastructure Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices Shute End Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1WL

@wokingham.today

B478 Thames Street, Sonning between its junctions with B478 Charvil Lane and Wokingham Borough Boundary.

The restrictions are necessary to enable Wokingham Borough Council contractors to undertake urgent resurfacing and ancillary works in safety.

Dated: 17th March 2022

@WokinghamToday

NOTICE IS HEREBY given that Wokingham Borough Council as Traffic Authority proposes to make an Order under Section 14 (1) (a) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 the effect of which is prohibit any vehicle from proceeding along:

The alternative route for all eastbound vehicles affected by the restriction shall be via B478 Playhatch Road, A4155 Henley Road, A4155 Prospect Street, A4155 Church Street, A4155 Caversham Road, A329 Caversham Road, A329 Queens Road, A329 Kings Road, A4 London Road, A4 Shepherds Hill, A4 Bath Road and Pound Lane.

The Order shall come into operation on the 12th March 2022 and shall continue in force for a period not exceeding 18 months or until the works have been completed, whichever is the earlier.

@wokingham.today

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (B478 THAMES STREET, SONNING) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2022

NOTICE IS HEREBY given that on 10th March 2022 the Wokingham Borough Council as Traffic Authority made an Order under Section 14 (1)(a) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (“the Act”) and all other enabling powers the effect of which continues in force the restrictions contained in a Notice under Section 14 (2) of the Act dated 7th March 2022 prohibiting any vehicle from proceeding along Langley Common Road, Barkham between its junctions with Evers ley Road and B3349 School Road.

The restrictions shall only apply during those periods when traffic signs in accordance with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Direction 2016 are lawfully displayed in the said roads.

For up to date news in the borough follow us on

The alternative route for all westbound vehicles affected by the restriction shall be via Pound Lane, A4 Bath Road, A4 London Road, A4 Crown Street, A327 Southampton Street, A329 Queens Road, A329 Caversham Road, A4155 Caversham Road, A4155 Church Street, A4155 Prospect Street, A4155 Henley Road and B478 Playhatch Road.

The reason for these prohibitions is to allow Wokingham Borough Council contractors to undertake bridge parapet inspection and routine maintenance work in safety.

The restriction imposed by the Order shall only apply during those periods when traffic s igns 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 6th April 2022 and shall continue in force for a period not exceeding 18 months or until the works have been completed, whichever is the earlier.

Dated: 17th March 2022

Please recycle me !

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JOB VACANCY Arben Precision Sheet Metal Ltd

WELDER FABRICATOR REQUIRED > Good rates of pay, overtime and bonus. > Must be able to MIG and TIG Weld.

Are you interested?

Please contact Paul Brooks or Steve Burtenshaw on 01753 531 066 or email cv and info to paul@arben.co.uk

Trevor Saunders Assistant Director – Delivery and Infrastructure Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices Shute End Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1WL

20 The Business Centre, Molly Millars Lane, Wokingham, RG41-2QY

36

To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (VARIOUS ROADS, WOKINGHAM BOROUGH) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2022

NOTICE IS HEREBY given that Wokingham Borough Council as Traffic Authority proposes to make an Order under Section 14 (1) (a) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 the effect of which is prohibit any vehicle from proceeding along: 1. B3030 Mole Road, Arborfield between its junctions with Copse Barnhill Lane and Ellis's Hill.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via B3030 Mole Road, Bearwood Road, B3349 Barkham Road, Langley Common Road, Eversley Road and B3030 Sindlesham Road or by this route in reverse.

2. Chequers Way, Woodley from its junction with Howth Drive.

3. Shepherds House Lane, Earley from its junction with A4 London Road.

4. Palmerstone Road, Earley between its junctions with Culver Lane and B3350 Church Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Culver Lane and B3350 Church Road or by this route in reverse.

5. Charvil House Road, Charvil between its junctions with St Patrick's Avenue and Park View Drive North.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via St Patricks Avenue, Kingsley Close and Park View Drive North or by this route in reverse.

6. Ashtrees Road, Woodley between its junctions with Rowan Drive and Wilmington Close.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Wilmington Close and Rowan Drive or by this route in reverse.

7. Rochester Avenue, Woodley from its junction with Ravensbourne Drive.

8. Astley Close, Wokingham from its junction with Old Woosehill Lane.

9. Emmbrook Gate, Wokingham from its junction with Emmbrook Road.

10. Walter Road, Wokingham between its junctions Chestnut Avenue and Simon's Lane.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Simons Lane, A329 Reading Road, Old Woosehill Lane and Chestnut Avenue or by this route in reverse.

11. Commons Road, Wokingham between its junctions with Old Forest Road and Emmbrook Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Emmbrook Road, A329 Reading Road and Old Forest Road or by this route in reverse.

12. Lowther Road, Wokingham between its junctions with Emmbrook Road and Old Forest Road The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Emmbrook Road, A329 Reading Road and Old Forest Road or by this route in reverse.

13. Oxford Road, Wokingham between its junctions with B3349 Barkham Road and A329 Reading Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A329 Reading Road, B3030 King Street Lane, Bearwood Road and B3349 Barkham Road or by this route in reverse.

14. Petrel Close, Wokingham from its junction with Swallow Way. 15. B3348 Fleet Hill, Finchampstead between its junctions with A327 Reading Road and The Village.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via B3348 The Village, B3016 Jubilee Road, B3016 Finchampstead Road, Nine Mile Ride, Park Lane, Biggs Lane, Langley Common Road and A327 Reading Road or by this route in reverse.

16. Jerrymoor Hill, Finchampstead from its junction with Mornington Avenue.

17. B3016 Finchampstead Road Finchampstead between its junctions with B3430 Nine Mile Ride and A321 Sandhurst Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Sandhurst Road and B3430 Nine Mile Ride or by this route in reverse.

18. Kitwood Drive, Lower Earley from its junction with Kilnsea Drive 19. Hambledon Close, Lower from its junction with Kitwood Drive.

20. Yoreham Close, Lower Earley from its junction with Kitwood Drive.

21. Cannock Way, Lower Earley from its junction with Carshalton Way. 22. Elford Close, Lower Earley from its junction with Cannock Way. 23. Lichfield Close, Lower Earley from its junction with Cannock Way. 24. Sturbridge Close, Lower Earley from its junction with Cannock Way. 25. Tamworth Close, Lower Earley from its junction with Cannock Way. 26. Reeds Avenue, Earley from its junction with Hartsbourne Road.

27. Fowler Close, Earley from its junction with Reeds Avenue.

28. A321 Wokingham Road, Hurst between its junctions with Lines Road and Forest Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Broadwater Lane, A321 Hurst Road, B3018 Waltham Road, The Straight Mile, Maidenhead Road, Warren House Road, Bell Foundry Lane and A321 Twyford Road or by this route in reverse.

29. A321 Twyford Road, Wokingham between its junctions with Forest Road and Bell Foundry Lane.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A321 Wokingham Road, Broadwater Lane, Hurst Road, B3018 Waltham Road, The Straight Mile, Maidenhead Road, Warren House Road and Bell Foundry Lane or by this route in reverse.

30. Hudson Road, Woodley between its junctions with Austin Road and Colemans Moor Lane.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by the restriction shall be via Austin Road, Colemans Moor Road and Colemans Moor Lane or by this route in reverse.

31. B3350 Wilderness Road, Earley between its junctions with B3350 Elm Road and A329 Wokingham Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by the restriction shall be via A329 Wokingham Road, B3270 Lower Earley Way North, B3270 Lower Earley Way , B3270 Lower Earley Way West, A327 Black Boy Roundabout, A327 Shinfield Road and B3350 Elm Road or by this route in reverse.

32. B3350 Elm Road, Earley between its junctions with A327 Shinfield Road and B3350 Wilderness Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by the restriction shall be via B3350 Wilderness Road, A329 Wokingham Road, B3270 Lower Earley Way North, B3270 Lower Earley Way , B3270 Lower Earley Way West, A327 Black Boy Roundabout and A327 Shinfield Road or by this route in reverse.

33. Stanton Close, Earley from its junction with A329 Wokingham Road.

34. Courts Road, Earley from its junction with May's Lane.

35. Gladridge Close, Earley from its junction with Courts Road.

36. Nuthatch Drive, Earley from its junction with Courts Road.

37. Finch Road, Earley between its junctions with Kenton Road and Silverdale Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Silverdale Road and Kentons Road or by this route in reverse.

38. Wokingham Road (South Side Service Road), Earley from its junctions with A329 Wokingham Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A329 Wokingham Road or by this route in reverse.

39. Dunholme Close, Lower Earley from its junction with Saleby Close.

40. Byeways Close, Knowl Hill from its junction with Wokingham Borough Boundary.

41. A4 Bath Road, Kiln Green between its junctions with Blakes Lane and Scarletts Lane.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A4130 Henley Road, A4130 White Hill, A321 Wargrave Road, A321 High Street and A321 Wargrave Road or by this route in reverse.

42. Pennfields (cul-de-sac and loop only), from its junction with Pennfields.

43. Fidlers Walk, Wargrave from its junction with Purfield Drive.

44. Ridgeway, Wargrave between its junctions with Purfield Drive and Langhams Way. The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Langhams Way and Purfield Drive or by this route in reverse.

45. Clements Close, Spencers Wood from its junction with Beech Hill Road.

46. Grazeley Road, Three Mile Cross between its junctions with Woodcock Court and Kingfisher Grove.

47. Kingfisher Grove, Three Mile Cross from its junction with Grazeley Road.

48. Askew Drive, Spencers Wood from its junction with Clares Green Road.

49. Halfacre Close, Spencers Wood from its junction with Askew Drive.

50. Clares Green Road, Spencers Wood between its junctions with Basingstoke Road and Croft Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Grovelands Road, Hyde End Road and Basingstoke Road or by this route in reverse.

WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 17, 2022

51. Lane End Close, from its junction with Cutbush Lane West.

52. B4446 Pearson Road, Sonning between its junctions with Sonning Lane and B478 Thames Street.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via B478 Charvil Lane, A4 Bath Road and B4446 Sonning Lane or by this route in reverse.

53. B4446 Sonning Lane, Sonning between its junctions with B4446 Pearson Road and A4 Bath Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via B4446 Pearson Road, B478 Charvil Lane and A4 Bath Road or by this route in reverse.

54. High Street, Sonning between its junctions with B4446 Pearson Road and B478 Thames Street.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via B478 Thames Street, B478 Charvil Lane, A4 Bath Road, B4446 Sonning Lane and B4446 Pearson Road or by this route in reverse.

55. Hanwood Close, Woodley from its junction with A329 Reading Road.

56. Wyndham Crescent, Woodley from its junctions with Wroxham Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Wroxham Road or by this route in reverse.

57. Nightingale Road, Woodley between its junctions with Hazel Drive and Linden Road.

58. Roslyn Road, Woodley between its junctions with Woodlands Avenue and Crockhamwell Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Woodlands Avenue and Crockhamwell Road or by this route in reverse.

59. Nightingale Road, Woodley. from its junction with Hazel Drive (westbound).

60. Troutbeck Close, Twyford from its junction with Amberley Drive.

61. Goodings Green, Wokingham from its junction with Bean Oak Road.

62. Wiltshire Road, Wokingham between its junctions with A329 Rectory Road and Bell Foundry Lane.

The alternative route for all southbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Bell Foundry Lane, A321 Milton Road, A321 Glebelands Road and A329 Rectory Road.

The alternative route for all northbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A329 Wiltshire Road, A329 Peach Street, A329 Broad Street, A329 Rectory Road, A321 Glebelands Road, A321 Milton Road and Bell Foundry Lane.

63. Seaford Road, Wokingham between its junctions with Wescott Road and A329 London Road.

The alternative route for all northbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Wescott Road, Easthampstead Road, A329 Peach Street, A329 Broad Street, A329 Rectory Road, A329 Wiltshire Road and A329 London Road.

The alternative route for all southbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A329 London Road, A329 Peach Street, Easthampstead Road and Wescott Road.

64. Norreys Avenue, Wokingham between its junctions with A329 Wiltshire Road and Stephanie Chase Close.

The alternative route for all eastbound vehicles affected by this restriction contained in Article 65 hereof shall be via A329 Wiltshire Road, A329 London Road and Barrett Crescent.

The alternative route for all westbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Barrett Crescent, A329 London Road, A329 Peach Street, A329 Broad Street, A329 Rectory Road and A329 Wiltshire Road.

65. Pigott Road, Wokingham between its junctions with Keephatch Road and Budges Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Keephatch Road and Budges Road or by this route in reverse.

67. Blake Close, Wokingham from its junction with Pigott Road.

68. Hutsons Close, Wokingham from its junction with Pigott Road.

69. Moores Green, Wokingham between its junctions with Keephatch Road and Pigott Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Pigott Road, Budges Road and Keephatch Road or by this route in reverse.

70. Whaley Road, Wokingham from its junction with Pigott Road.

71. Salamanca, Crowthorne from its junction with Wellesley Drive.

72. B3430 Nine Mile Ride, Crowthorne between its junctions with A321 Lower Wokingham Road and Old Wokingham Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via New Wokingham Road, B3348 Bracknell Road, B3348 Dukes Ride and A321 Lower Wokingham Road or by this route in reverse.

73. Ellis Road, Crowthorne between its junctions with Old Wokingham Road and The Avenue 74. The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Old Wokingham Road, B3348 Bracknell Road, B3348 Dukes Ride and New Wokingham Road or by this route in reverse.

75. Frensham Road, Crowthorne between its junctions with Farm Close and Everest Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Rowan Drive and Belmont Road or by this route in reverse.

76. New Wokingham Road, Crowthorne between its junctions with Nine Mile Ride and The Brackens.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via B3348 Dukes Ride, Old Wokingham Road and B3430 Nine Mile Ride or by this route in reverse.

77. Parkcorner Lane, Sindlesham from its junction with B3030 Mole Road.

78. Edneys Hill, Barkham between its junctions with Evendons Lane and B3349 Barkham Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Evendons Lane, B3016 Finchampstead Road, Barkham Ride, Barkham Street and B3349 Barkham Road or by this route in reverse.

79. Church Road, Woodley between its junctions with Tippings Lane and Butts Hill Road The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Tippings Lane, Headley Road East and Butts Hill Road or by this route in reverse.

80. Evendons Lane, Wokingham between its junctions with Edney's Hill and B3016 Finchampstead Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via B3016 Finchampstead Road, Barkham Ride, Barkham Street, B3349 Barkham Road and Edneys Hill or by this route in reverse.

81. Broadcommon Lane, Hurst between its junctions with Broadcommon Road and The Straight Mile The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Broadcommmon Road, A321 Wokingham Road, Hinton Road, B3018 Waltham Road and The Straight Mile or by this route in reverse.

82. Broadcommon Road, Hurst between its junctions with Wokingham Road and Pound Lane.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A321 Wokingham Road and Pound Lane or by this route in reverse.

83. Broadwater Lane, Hurst between its junctions with Lodge Road and Whistley Green.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A321 Hurst Road, B3018 Waltham Road, The Straight Mile, Maidenhead Road, B3034 Forest Road and A321 Wokingham Road or by this route in reverse.

84. Forest Road (Westbound), Wokingham from its junction with A321 Twyford Road 85. B3030 Davis Street, Hurst between its junctions with Robin Hood Lane and Sandford Lane.

The alternative route for all southbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via B3030 Lodge Road, A321 Hurst Road, A321 Waltham Road, A3032 High Street, A3032 Old Bath Road, A4 Bath Road, A4 London Road, A3290 Alpha, The Loddon Bridge and The Bader Way Interchange, A329 Reading Road and B3030 Robin Hood Lane.

The alternative route for all northbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via B3030 Robin Hood Lane, A329 Reading Road, The Loddon Bridge and The Bader Way Interchange, Wharfedale Road, B3290 Bravo, A4 London Road, A4 Shepherds Hill, A4 Bath Road, A3032 Old Bath Road, A3032 High Street, A321 Waltham Road, A321 Hurst Road and B3030 Lodge Road.

86. A329 Reading Road, Winnersh from its junctions with Robin Hood Lane and Shute End The alternative route for all westbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A329 Rectory Road, A321 Glebelands Road, A321 Milton Road, A321 Twyford Road, A321 Wokingham Road, Broadwater Lane, Lodge Road, Davis Street, Robin Hood Lane .

The alternative route for all eastbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Robin Hood Lane, Davis Street, Lodge Road, Broadwater Lane, A321 Wokingham Road, A321 Twyford Road, A321 Milton Road, A321 Glebelands Road, A329 Rectory Road, A329 Wiltshire Road, A329 Peach St, A329 Broad Street.

87. A321 Wokingham Road, Hurst between its junctions with School Road and Pound Lane.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Broadwater Lane, A321 Hurst Road, B3018 Waltham Road, The Straight Mile, Maidenhead Road and B3034 Forest Road or by this route in reverse.

88. Highfield Road, Wargrave between its junctions with Crazies Hill and Wokingham Borough Boundary.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Hatch Gate Lane and Crazies Hill or by this route in reverse.

89. Blakes Road, Wargrave between its junctions with Wargrave Hill and Victoria Road The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Victoria Road and Dark Lane or by this route in reverse.

90. Dark Lane, Wargrave between its junctions with B477 School Lane and Wargrave Hill.

Thursday, March 17, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

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The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via B477 School Lane, A321 High Street and Wargrave Hill or by this route in reverse.

91. Bear Lane, Kiln Green from its junction with Blakes Lane.

92. Kentons Lane, Wargrave between its junctions with Culham Lane and Wargrave Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A321 Wargrave Road, A4130 White Hill, Upper Culham Lane and Culham Lane or by this route in reverse.

93. Goring Lane, Grazeley between its junctions with Grazeley Green Road and Wokingham Borough Boundary The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Goring Lane, Palmers Lane, Riders Lane and Fullers Lane or by this route in reverse.

94. Pump Lane, Grazeley between its junctions with Grazeley Green Road and Lambwood Hill.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Lambwood Hill, Bloomfield Hatch Lane, Mereoak Lane and Grazeley Green Road or by this route in reverse.

95. Bunglers Hill, Farley Hill between its junctions with Priest Hill and Sandpit Lane The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Swallowfield Road, A327 Observer Way, A327 Reading Road and Church Road or by this route in reverse.

96. Nutbean Lane, Farley Hill between its junctions with Sandpit Lane and Church Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Sandpit Lane, Bunglers Hill and Church Road or by this route in reverse.

97. Eversley Road, Arborfield between its junctions with B3349 School Road and Langley Common Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A327 Reading Road, A327 Observer Way and A327 Reading Road or by this route in reverse.

98. B3349 Barkham Road, Arborfield between its junctions with Langley Common Road and Bearwood Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Bearwood Road, B3030 King Street Lane, B3030 Mole Road, B3030 Sindlesham Road, Eversley Road and Langley Common Road or by this route in reverse.

99. Bearwood Road, Barkham between its junctions with B3349 Barkham Road and Coombes Lane.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via B3030 King Street Lane, B3030 Mole Road, B3030 Sindlesham Road, Eversley Road, Langley Common Road and B3349 Barkham Road or by this route in reverse.

100. Oxford Road, Wokingham between its junctions with B3349 Barkham Road and A329 Reading Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A329 Reading Road, B3030 King Street Lane, Bearwood Road and B3349 Barkham Road or by this route in reverse.

101. Woosehill, Wokingham between its junctions with A329 Reading Road and Northway.

102. B3350 Elm Road, Earley between its junctions with A327 Shinfield Road and B3350 Wilderness Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via B3350 Wilderness Road, A329 Wokingham Road, B3270 Lower Earley Way North, B3270 Lower Earley Way, B3270 Lower Earley Way West, A327 Black Boy Roundabout and A327 Shinfield Road or by this route in reverse.

103. Broadcommon Road, Hurst between its junctions with A321 Wokingham Road and Pound Lane.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Pound Lane and A321 Wokingham Road or by this route in reverse.

104. Sutcliffe Avenue, Earley between its junctions with A329 Wokingham Road and Meadow Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A329 Wokingham Road and Meadow Road or by this route in reverse.

105. Stanlake Lane, Ruscombe between its junctions with Ruscombe Road and B3018 Waltham Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Ruscombe Lane, Ruscombe Road, A3032 London Road, A321 Waltham Road and B3018 Waltham Road or by this route in reverse.

106. Silverdale Road, Earley between its junctions with Gipsy Lane and Hillside Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Betchworth Avenue, B3350 Wilderness Road, A329 Wokingham Road, Meadow Road and Gipsy Lane or by this route in reverse.

107. Gipsy Lane, Earley between its junctions with Rushey Way and Mill Lane.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Mill Lane, Toseland Way and Rushey Way or by this route in reverse.

108. A4 Bath Road, Hare Hatch between its junctions with Tag Lane and Blakes Lane.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A4130 Henley Road, A4130 White Hill, A321 Wargrave Road, A321 High Street and A321 Wargrave Road or by this route in reverse.

109. A327 Hollow Lane, Shinfield between its junctions with A327 Shinfield Road and Wychelm Road The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A327 Shinfield Road, Shinfield Eastern Relief Road and A327 Arborfield Road or by this route in reverse.

110. A4 Bath Road, Sonning between its junctions with A3032 Old Bath Road Roundabout and Pound Lane Roundabout.

The alternative route for all westbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A3032 Old Bath Road, A321 Hurst Road, Broadwater Lane, B3030 Lodge Road, B3030 Davis Street, A329 Reading Road, A329 Wokingham Road, B3350 Church Road, B3350 Pitts Lane, A4 London Road and A4 Shepherds Hill.

The alternative route for all eastbound vehicles affected by the restriction contained in Article 109 hereof shall be via A4 London Road, B3350 Pitts Lane, B3350 Church Road, A329 Wokingham Road, A329 Reading Road, B3030 Davis Street, B3030 Lodge Road, Broadwater Lane, A321 Hurst Road and A3032 Old Bath Road.

111. Holme Park Farm Lane, Sonning between its junctions with Sonning Lane and Sonning Meadows.

112. Sonning Meadows, Sonning from its junction with Holme Park Farm Lane.

113. A321 Finchampstead Road, Wokingham between its junctions with Wellington Road and Molly Millars Lane.

The alternative route for all northbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Molly Millars Lane, B3349 Barkham Road, A321 Station Approach, A329 Reading Road, A321 Station Road and A321 Wellington Road.

The alternative route for all southbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be A321 Wellington Road, Station Approach, A329 Reading Road, A321 Station Road, B3349 Barkham Road and Molly Millars Lane.

114. Nine Mile Ride, Crowthorne between its junctions with New Wokingham Road and Old Wokingham Road The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Old Wokingham Road, B3348 Bracknell Road, B3348 Dukes Ride and New Wokingham Road or by this route in reverse.

115. Church Road, Farley Hill between its junctions with Church Lane and Bungler's Hill.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Bunglers Hill, Swallowfield Road, A327 Observer Way and A327 Reading Road or by this route in reverse.

116. Beechwood Avenue, Woodley between its junctions with Headley Road and Howth Drive.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Howth Drive and A329 Reading Road or by this route in reverse.

117. B3016 Jubilee Road, Finchampstead between its junctions with B3348 The Ridges and B3348 The Village.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via B3348 The Village, B3348 Fleet Hill, A327 Reading Road, Langley Common Road, Biggs Lane, Park Lane, Nine Mile Ride and B3016 Finchampstead Road or by this route in reverse.

118. A4 Bath Road, Hare Hatch between its junctions with B477 Mumbery Hill and Blakes Lane.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A4130 Henley Road, A4130 White Hill, A321 Wargrave Road, A321 High Street and A321 Wargrave Road or by this route in reverse.

119. Old Forest Road, Wokingham from its junction with Ashton Road in a northerly direction.

120. Goddard Court, Winnersh from its junction with Churchill Drive.

121. Targett Court, Winnersh from its junction with Churchill Drive.

122. Wilson Court, Winnersh from its junction with Churchill Drive.

123. Bayley Court, Winnersh from its junction with Churchill Drive.

124. Rainbow Park, Winnersh from its junctions with Churchill Drive and Azalea Close.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by the restriction contained in Article 123 hereof shall be via Churchill Drive and Azalea Close or by this route in reverse.

125. Willow Drive, Twyford from its junction with Amberley Drive.

126. Culham Lane, Remenham Hill between its junctions with Worleys Lane and Hatch Gate Lane.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A4130 Henley Road, Henley Road, Burchetts Green Road, A4 Bath Road and Warren Row Road or by this route in reverse.

127. A4 London Road, Earley (Roundabout Closures) between its junctions with Wokingham Borough Boundary and A4 Shepherds Hill.

The alternative route for all westbound vehicles affected by the restriction contained in Article 126 hereof shall be via A4 Shepherds Hill, A4 London Road, B3350 Pitts Lane, B3350 Church Road, B3350 Wilderness Road, B3350 Elm Road,

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A327 Shinfield Road, A327 Christchurch Road, A327 Southhampton Street, A329 Mill Lane, A329 Queens Road, Watlington Street and A329 Kings Road.

The alternative route for all eastbound vehicles affected by the restriction contained in Article 126 hereof shall be via A327 Silver Street, A327 Mount Pleasant, A327 Whitley Street, A327 Christchurch Road, A327 Shinfield Road, B3350 Elm Road, B3350 Wilderness Road, B3350 Church Road, B3350 Pitts Lane.

128. A3290 Alpha off to Suttons Park, Earley from its junction with A4 London Road.

129. A3290 Alpha on to Suttons Park, Earley from its junction with A4 London Road.

130. A3290 Bravo off from Suttons Park, Earley from its junction with A4 London Road.

131. A3290 Bravo on from Suttons Park, Earley from its junction with A4 London Road.

132. A4 Bath Road, Sonning (Roundabout Closure) between its junctions with A3032 New Bath Road and Parkway.

The alternative route for all southbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A321 Wargrave Road, Church Road, A321 Waltham Road, A321 Hurst Road, Broadwater Lane, B3030 B3030 Lodge Road, B3030 B3030 Davis Street, A329 Reading Road, A329 Wokingham Road, A4 London Road, A327 Southhampton Street, A329 Mill Lane, A329 Queens Road, Watlington Street, A329 Kings Road, A4 London Road and A4 Shepherds Hill.

The alternative route for all northbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A4 London Road, A329 Wokingham Road, A329 Reading Road, B3030 B3030 Davis Street, B3030 B3030 Lodge Road, Broadwater Lane, A321 Hurst Road, A321 Waltham Road, Church Road and A321 Wargrave Road.

The alternative route for all westbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A3032 Old Bath Road, Church Road, A321 Waltham Road, A321 Hurst Road, Broadwater Lane, B3030 B3030 Lodge Road, B3030 B3030 Davis Street, A329 Reading Road, A329 Wokingham Road, A4 London Road, A327 Southhampton Street, A329 Mill Lane, A329 Queens Road, Watlington Street, A329 Kings Road, A4 London Road, A4 Shepherds Hill, A4 Bath Road, B4446 Sonning Lane, B4446 Pearson Road and B478 Charvil Lane.

The alternative route for all eastbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via B478 Charvil Lane, B4446 Pearson Road, B4446 Sonning Lane, A4 London Road, A329 Wokingham Road, A329 Reading Road, B3030 B3030 Davis Street, B3030 B3030 Lodge Road, Broadwater Lane, A321 Hurst Road, A321 Waltham Road, Church Road and A321 Wargrave Road.

133. Charvil Lane, Sonning from its junction with A4 Bath Road.

134. Milestone Avenue, Charvil from its junction with A4 Bath Road.

135. A4 New Bath Road, Charvil from its junction with A4 Bath Road.

136. A3032 Old Bath Road, Charvil from its junction with A4 Bath Road.

137. Lower Earley Way, Earley (Roundabout Closures) between its junctions with Beeston Way and Meldreth Way. The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Beeston Way, Rushey Way, Carshalton Way, Meldreth Way, Chatteris Way, Cutbush Lane or by this route in reverse.

138. Beeston Way, Earley from its junction with Lower Earley Way. 139. Lower Earley Way West from its junction with Lower Earley Way. 140. Cutbush Lane, Earley from its junction with Lower Earley Way. 141. Black Boy Roundabout, Shinfield for its full extent.

The alternative route for all northbound and southbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A327 Shinfield Eastern Relief Road, A327 Arborfield Road, A327 Reading Road, B3030 Sindlesham Road, B3030 Mole Road, B3030 King Street Lane, A329 Wokingham Road, B3350 Wilderness Road, B3350 Elm Road and A327 Shinfield Road or by this route in reverse.

The alternative route for all eastbound and westbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via B3270 Lower Earley Way West, Lower, Lower Earley Way, Lower Earley Way North, A329 Wokingham Road, B3340 Wilderness Road, B3350 Elm Road, A327 Shinfield Road, A327 Christchurch Road, B3031 Basingstoke Road, A33 Basingstoke Road and B3270 Whitley Wood Lane or by this route in reverse.

142. Shinfield Eastern Relief Road, Shinfield from its junction with Black Boy Roundabout.

143. B3270 Black Boy Eastern off Ramp from its junction with Black Boy Roundabout.

144. B3270 Black Boy Eastern on Ramp from its junction with Black Boy Roundabout.

145. A327 Black Boy Northern on Ramp from its junction with Black Boy Roundabout.

146. A327 Black Boy Northern off Ramp from its junction with Black Boy Roundabout.

147. A327 Black Boy Western off Ramp its junction with Black Boy Roundabout.

148. A327 Black Boy Western on Ramp its junction with Black Boy Roundabout.

149. A4 Shepherds Hill, Woodley (Roundabout Closure) from its junctions with A4 London Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A4 Bath Road, A3032 Old Bath Road, B3030 Hurst Road, B3030 Lodge Road, B3030 B3030 Davis Street, B3030 Robin Hood Lane, A329 Reading Road, The Loddon Bridge and Bader Way Interchange, Wharfedale Road, A3290 Bravo on from Winnersh Triangle, A3290 Bravo and A4 London Road.

150. A4 London Road, Woodley (Roundabout Closure) from its junctions with A4 Shepherds Hill.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A4 London Road, A3290 Alpha, The Loddon Bridge and The Bader Way Interchange, A329 Reading Road, B3030 Robin Hood Lane, B3030 Davis Street, B3030 Lodge Road, B3030 Hurst Road, A3032 Old Bath Road and A4 Bath Road.

151. A4 London Road, Earley from its junctions with A4 Shepherds Hill.

152. B3350 Pitts Lane, Earley from its junction with A4 London Road.

153. A4 Bath Road, Woodley from its junction with A4 Shepherds Hill.

154. A4 Bath Road, Woodley from its junction with A4 London Road.

155. Reading Road, Woodley from its junction with A4 London Road.

156. A329 Reading Road, Winnersh from its junction with A329 Shute End and B3030 Robin Hood Lane.

The alternative route for all westbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A329 Shute End, A329 Rectory Road, A321 Glebelands Road, A321 Milton Road, A321 Twyford Road, A321 Wokingham Road, Broadwater Lane, B3030 Lodge Road, B3030 Davis Street, B3030 Robin Hood Lane.

157. The alternative route for all eastbound vehicles affected by the restriction contained in Article 155 hereof shall be via B3030 Robin Hood Lane, B3030 Davis Street, B3030 Lodge Road, Broadwater Lane, A321 Wokingham Road, A321 Twyford Road, A321 Milton Road, A321 Glebelands Road, A329 Rectory Road, A329 Wiltshire Road, A329 Peach St, A329 Broad Street and A329 Shute End. 158. A329 Reading Road, Winnersh between its junctions with B3030 Robin Hood Lane and The Loddon Bridge and Bader Way Interchange.

The alternative route for all eastbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via B3270 Lower Earley Way North, Hatch Farm Way and B3030 King Street Lane.

The alternative route for all westbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via B3030 King Street Lane, B3030 Mole Road, B3030 Sindlesham Road, A327 Reading Road, A327 Arborfield Road, A327 Shinfield Eastern Relief Road, A327 Black Boy Roundabout, B3270 Lower Earley Way West, B3270 Lower Early Way and B3270 Lower Earley Way North.

Works requiring these restrictions will take place from 7th April 2022. Further communications will be sent when individual locations have been planned.

The reason for these prohibitions is to allow Wokingham Borough Council contractors to undertake Structural Maintenance including Plane Inlay Resurfacing, Microasphalt Resurfacing, Surface Dressing and Rejuvenator work in safety.

Access for residents and businesses within the boundaries of these restrictions will be maintained at all times, however access may be restricted at 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 7th April 2022 and shall continue in force for a period not exceeding 18 months or until the works have been completed, whichever is the earlier.

Dated this 17th March 2022 Trevor Saunders Assistant Director – Delivery and Infrastructure Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices Shute End Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1WL

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 17, 2022

JOB VACANCY ARE LOOKING FOR A COMMUNITY REPORTER FOR SOUTH READING/SHINFIELD NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY

Do you care about what goes on around you, wish your community had a louder voice, and want to make a difference?

Have you ever wanted to become a journalist?

Thanks to funding from Meta, we are looking to recruit an apprentice or trainee reporter for the community news project, to join the team at our offices in Reading.

The Community News Project is a partnership between the NCTJ, Meta (formerly Facebook) and local news publishers, the project is creating 100 community reporter roles in newsrooms covering underserved communities in England, Scotland and Wales.

WHAT WILL THE COMMUNITY REPORTER FOR SOUTH READING/SHINFIELD DO? As a community reporter, your main role will be to engage with people in the communities of South Reading and Shinfield, to curate, collate and create content relevant to them.

You will build and act as the point of contact for online communities by engaging with and seeking out content either written by you or from members of those communities.

You will also receive industry-leading digital journalism training for you to then share into the newsroom, as well as the gold-standard NCTJ journalism training to become a fully-trained journalist.

This is a fixed-term contract for two years.

TWO ROUTES OF ENTRY

For applicants with no previous journalism experience or education, we are offering a journalism apprenticeship, which combines training with on-the-job experience.

For applicants with previous journalism experience or education, there is a trainee role where support will be provided to obtain the necessary NCTJ qualifications to become a senior reporter.

We are particularly keen to increase diversity in our newsroom and offer opportunities to those who may not have felt able to break into the media industry.

We are open-minded about whether we take on an apprentice or trainee; what is more important to us is finding somebody who recognises how local news can help inform and improve lives and who wants to get involved and support the communities we serve.

WHAT TRAINING WILL I UNDERTAKE? All reporters will work towards an NCTJ qualification either as a standalone qualification or as part of an apprenticeship. Recruits will either study towards the Diploma in Journalism, or the National Qualification in Journalism for those who already have the diploma.

Reporters will also attend digital skills training from Meta and receive regular, additional training support from the NCTJ.

HOW TO APPLY To apply, email David Riley at driley@wokingham.today by Friday, April 1. Include a CV and a brief outline of why you would like the role and why we should choose you for it.

ARE LOOKING FOR A

SALES TEAM MEMBER Reading Today and Wokingham Today are on the search for a new member to join our multi-media sales team.

In the role you will provide a blend of digital, print and social media advertising as well as wider publicity campaigns to local and national companies.

As part of a small, friendly and helpful team, you will have a high degree of autonomy in the role. As our readership is continuing to grow, we have a great - and improving - offer to make to potential advertisers.

Most of our current members of the sales team work part-time, however a full-time contract could be considered. This position might suit a parent who is returning to work or someone who is keen to move from full-time to part-time hours.

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LEISURETODAY LEISURE TODAY

17.03.22

Your guide to what’s on across Reading and Wokingham

Alby flies in for Easter treat W

ITH spring here, thoughts are of warmer weather, sunnier days and some sunshine.

But a Reading-based theatre has more chilly ideas on its mind, thanks to its Easter adventure.

Alby The Penguin Saves The World is a new play written and directed by Helen Eastman, and will be at the Kings Road-based Reading Rep theatre during April.

Aimed at children aged three to eight, the show is a magical adventure with a heart.

Told with puppets guided by Victoria Jane, it tells Alby’s story: his home is melting due to the climate emergency.

Wherever Alby goes, adventure is not far behind, and he quickly finds himself on a mission to help save his friends (and the world), before it’s too late.

Victoria Jane has extensive experience working with family-friendly theatre, including an international tour of Sesame Street, a UK tour of Fireman Sam, and In The Night Garden Live. She has also appeared on Teletubbies, and The Morgana Show.

Alby runs at the new theatre from Thursday, April 7, through to Monday, April 18.

And to whet appetites for the show, Reading Rep is organising a talk on Climate Activism, taking place next week.

On Tuesday, March 22, young climate activists Savinu Hettiarachchi, Ishaan Moitra, Pravi Pratheepan and Akash Ramesh will be part of a panel that will dissect the themes of the production, with the aim to engage young people on global issues and discuss the role of young people and the community in combatting the global climate crisis.

The panel is hosted by Reading Rep Theatre, and chaired by Dr Holly Ayres, University of Reading postdoctoral research assistant on Polar climate, Sea ice, Southern Ocean. The event is free and open to the public, tickets need to be booked via the Reading Rep website. n For more details, or to book, log on to www. readingrep.com

14 | LEISURE

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 17, 2022

What can you see?

PLAY I Spy in Bracknell with the children this weekend.

The People’s Theatre Company invites the Wilde Theatre audience to join Molly and Bingo the dog to celebrate Molly’s sixth birthday on Sunday, March 20.

There’ll be a treasure hunt, songs and lots of party games, including Molly’s favourite, I Spy with My Little Eye. Based on the brand new picture book

by Steven Lee — who also wrote Don’t Dribble on the Dragon and How the Koala Learnt to Hug — this family musical celebrates everything great about being a child, and everything great about having one.

There will be the chance to meet and greet the cast after the show.

I Spy with My Little Eye begins at 3pm.

Run time is one hour and tickets cost £11. n For details or to book, visit: southhillpark.org.uk or call: 01344 484123.

No time for niceties

A COMEDIAN will be tackling head-on the subjects that others skirt around in High Wycombe on Sunday evening.

Reginald D Hunter is back at the Wycombe Swan with his new show, Bombe Shuffleur at 8pm.

Climate change. Mass unemployment.

Economic pandemics.

The rise of global fascism. So what could this man possibly say to upset you?

Welcome to the world of the Bombe Shuffleur.

Described as the voice of his generation, Reginald D Hunter delivers a searingly honest, brutally funny and unique commentary on the unfolding meltdown of life as we know it.

Hunter has been nominated for a Perrier Award three times.

His TV appearances include Live at the Apollo and Have I Got News for You on the BBC, and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown on Channel 4.

Tickets cost £27.50. n For details or to book, log on to: wycombeswan.co.uk or call the box office on: 0343 3100060.

That’s a surprise

THERE is a surprising start to the Windsor on Air season which begins its run on Tuesday, March 22.

The Unexpected Guest, by Agatha Christie, is the first of Theatre Royal’s radio plays staged for a live audience.

at 11.30am on Friday, March 25.

The screening on Thursday, March 31 at 8pm is a talking table screening, and the film is rated 12A. Tickets cost £10.50, £9.50 concessions. n For more details or to book, log on to: norden.farm or call the box office on: 01628 788997.

Knocking on Henley’s door

her parents. But she lives a double life as she seeks vengeance for terrible events from her past.

Starring Carey Mulligan as Cassie Thomas, Promising Young Woman was Emerald Fennell’s directorial debut. Her script won the 2021 Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, and she was also nominated for Best Director.

LIFE looks promising for Wokingham Film Society next week.

There is a screening of Promising Young Woman at the Whitty Theatre, Luckley Road, at 7.30pm on Thursday, March 24.

Emerald Fennell’s multi-winning revenge thriller tells the story of Cassie, a medical school dropout working as a waitress in a coffee bar and living with Christie’s thriller will be brought to life by dialogue, music and sound effects, in the style of a vintage radio drama.

When Michael Starkwedder’s car breaks down, he seeks assistance in a nearby country house. He enters to find the body of Richard Warwick, and Warwick’s wife Laura holding a gun. Unconvinced by Laura’s murder confession, the Unexpected Guest assists her in creating an alibi.

Once the police are involved further revelations unfold and the mystery deepens.

Kris Marshall and Sally Bretton star in this adaptation, directed by Roy Marsden.

The run finishes on Saturday, March 26. There are performances daily at 7.30pm, with matinees at 2.30pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Tickets from £24. n For more details or to book, call the box office on: 01753 853888 or visit: theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk

This charming man

NIGEL Havers plays the charming lead, Elyot, in a production of a Noël Coward classic next week.

Private Lives opens for a run at the

Carey Mulligan’s performance was described in The Guardian as “her ice-cold best.” The film also stars Bo Burnham and Alison Brie.

Rated 15.

Tickets cost £4 members, £6.50 non-members and must be booked in advance. n For more information or to book, visit: wokinghamfilmsociety.com

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford, on Tuesday, March 22.

Elyot and Amanda were once married.

They find themselves on honeymoon with their new partners in the same hotel on the French Riviera, admiring the view from adjoining balconies. Their initial horror quickly evaporates and soon they are sharing cocktails. What will the future hold for them now?

This is the inaugural show from The Nigel Havers Theatre Company and also stars Patricia Hodge as Amanda.

The run finishes on Saturday, March 26. There are performances daily at 7.30pm, with matinees at 2.30pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Tickets from £29.50. n For details or to book, call the box office on: 01483 440000 or visit: yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

If Reading won’t go to the mountains…

THE MOUNTAINS will come to Reading on Thursday, March 24.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour reaches The Hexagon theatre at 7.30pm.

Embark on a night of adventure with

a new collection of short films from the world’s most prestigious mountain film festival.

Watch film-makers and explorers as they push themselves to the limits in the most remote corners of the globe.

The series of short films featuring human-powered feats, life-affirming challenges and amazing cinematography.

The line-up follows Banff’s red film programme, which includes films about a trip to the peaks of Iran, and an elite mountain bike race across the West Highland Way in Scotland.

Tickets priced from £14.50. n For details or to book, log on to: whatsonreading.com or call the box office on: 0118 960 6060.

A bite of the Apple

TAKE a bite of The Beatles’ final concert at Norden Farm later this month.

Get Back: The Rooftop Concert, directed by Peter Jackson, shows the Fab Four’s rooftop concert at Apple Corps’ Savile Row headquarters on January 30, 1969.

It is a 65-minute extract of the Get Back documentary Jackson made for Disney+ in 2021.

There are two screenings. The first is

AT THE THEATRE

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

Bracknell – South Hill Park

www.southhillpark.org.uk 01344 484123 Conservatoire International Concert Series: Elisabeth Pion. Fri. Crowthorne Musical Players Presents Curtain Up. Fri-Sat. The Comedy Cellar. Fri. I Spy With My Little Eye. Sun. Gyles Brandreth: break A Leg. Mon 21. The Navy Lark. Tues 22. Forbidden Nights. Wed. Keith James: Concert for a Changing World. Wed. Buddy Holly and the Cricketers.

Thurs 24. Conservatoire International Concert

Series:Antoine Preat. Fri 25.

The Comedy Cellar. Fri 25.

Youth and Community Dance Galas. Sat 26-Sun 27.

Camberley – Theatre

www.camberleytheatre.biz 01276 707600 Some Guys Have All The Luck.

Thurs. Simon and Garfunkel.

Fri. Silly Squirrel. Sat. Thank You For the Music. Sat. Let’s Dance. Sun. Ed Byrne. Thurs 23.

The Real Magic Show. Sat 26.

Baby Ballet. Sun 27.

Guildford – Yvonne Arnaud

www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk 01483 440000 Two Cigarettes in the Dark – CANCELLED. Until Sat. Private Lives. Tues-Sat 26. An Evening With Carol Klein. Sun 27.

High Wycombe – Wycombe Swan www.wycombeswan.co.uk

01494 512000 Derren Brown: Showman. Until Sat. Reginald D Hunter. Sun. Blood Brothers. Tues-Sat 26. Hellfire Comedy Club.

Thurs 24. Harris and Baker’s Backstage Pass. Sun 27.

Henley – Kenton

www.kentontheatre.co.uk 01491 525050 The Real Thing. Until Sat. Bill! Sun. Three Degrees. Thurs 24. The Bob Dylan Story. Fri 25. Ben Hart: Wonder. Sat 26. The Art Theme Trio: Thane and the Villeins. Sun 27.

Maidenhead – Norden Farm

www.nordenfarm.org 01628 788997 Band of the Household Cavalry Lunchtime Recital. Thurs. Tom houghton Honour Tour. Thurs.

The Eyes of Tammy Faye (12a).

Fri-Sat. Andy Zaltman Satirist For Hire. Fri. Alan Barnes (sax). Fri. The Souvenir Part II (15). Sat. Taplow Girls’ Choir:

Sing, Rejoice. Sun. Taming The Garden (15). Wed-Thurs 24.

The Beatles: get Back The Rooftop Concert. Fri 25. Dire Streets. Fri 25. A Night at the Movies. Sat 26.

Newbury – The Corn Exchange

www.cornexchangenew.com 0845 5218 218 Ben Hart: Wonder. Thurs. Lipstick on your Collar. Fri. You Win Again: Celebrating the Music of the Bee Gees. Sat. Crimes, Camera, Action. Tues-Wed. Iain Stirling: Failing Upwards. Thurs 24. Menopause The Musical 2: Cruising Through Menopause.

Sat 26.

Newbury – The Watermill

www.watermill.org.uk 01635 46044 The Wicker Husband. Until Sat 26.

Reading – South Street

www.whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060 Jamali Maddix: King Crud.

Thurs. Kiri Pritchard-McLean: Home Truths. Fri. Peter Knight and John Spiers.

Thurs 24.

Reading – The Hexagon

www.whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060 Count Arthur Strong: And This Is Me. Thurs. Diversity. Fri-Sat. Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour. Sat 24. The Bootleg Beatles in Concert.

Fri 25.

Reading – Concert Hall

www.whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060 Jeneba Kanneh-Mason: piano. Thurs. NEXT SHOW: South Chiltern Choral Society and the Reading Symphony Orchestra. Apr 2.

THE STORY of a music icon will be told at the Kenton Theatre next Friday, March 25.

Bob Dylan and The Band are the subject of The Bob Dylan Story, which will tell the tales behind the hits and promises to transport the audience back to the 1960s.

Songs including Subterranean Homesick Blues, All Along The Watchtower and Mr Tambourine Man will be performed by a tribute act described as “superb” and “brilliant” in reviews by Weekend Notes and Southend Theatre Scene.

The show starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost £21, including a £1 theatre restoration levy. n For more details or to book, call the box office on: 01491 525050 or visit: kentontheatre.co.uk

Su speaks

ACTRESS Su Pollard reaches Newbury at the end of the month on her first ever solo tour.

Oh.. And Another Thing… starts at 8pm in the Corn Exchange, on Thursday, March 31.

Su will be talking about her life and career in entertainment, and promises laughter and a few tears along the way.

She made her television debut on Opportunity Knocks, where she came second to a singing Jack Russell dog. She is best known for her role as Peggy in the BAFTA award-winning BBC sitcom Hi-De-Hi, and was honoured to be the subject of This is Your Life. With many credits in television, film, theatres including in the West End, as well as a few pantomimes - she has many tales to tell.

The show will conclude with the chance to ask Su questions.

Meet and greet tickets and VIP seats are priced at £46, general admission is £21. n For more details or to book, visit: cornexchangenew.com or call the box office on: 0845 5218218

Reading – Progress Theatre www.progresstheatre.co.uk 0118 384 2195 Yous Two. Mar 28-Apr 2.

Reading – Reading Rep Theatre

www.readingrep.com 0118 370 2620 NEXT SHOW: National Theatre Connections. Mar 16-18.

Shinfield – Shinfield Players

www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk 0118 975 8880 NEXT SHOW: Our House. Apr 29-30, May 5-7

Sonning – The Mill

www.millatsonning.com 0118 969 8000 The House on Cold Hill. Until Mar 26. Piccadilly Dance Orchestra. Sun.

Windsor – Theatre Royal

www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk 01753 853888 Father Brown: Murderer in the Mirror. Until Sat. Mane Chance.

Sun. Windsor on Air: The Unexpected Guest. Tues-Sat 26.

Wokingham – Theatre www.wokinghamtheatre.org.uk 0118 978 5363 Hobson’s Choice. Until Sat 26.

Wokingham – The Whitty Theatre

www.thewhittytheatre.org 0118 974 3247 The Wizard of Oz. Until Fri. Wokingham Film Society: A Promising Young Woman (15).

Thurs 24.

Woodley – Theatre

www.woodleytheatre.org 07488337838 NEXT SHOW: Jazz concert with the Martin Hart Trio. Sat May 28.

LEISURE | 15

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Thursday, March 17, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

Ricky rocks Sub89 with visit from his Fighting Hearts

R

OCKER Ricky Warwick brought his Fighting Hearts to Reading last week, for a night to remember.

Joining him at Sub89 was support acts the VirginMarys, and The Howling Tides.

The gig, on Tuesday, March 8, saw him back on the road for the first time since the pandemic started.

Last year saw him release his fifth solo album, When Life Was Hard and Fast.

Of it, he said: “I wanted to create an album that had the simplistic melodies of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers charged with the electric hedonistic fury of Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers. Working with Keith Nelson was a no brainer for me as we are kindred spirits..plus he has a great vintage guitar collection.”

The tour is his chance to perform songs from it.

“I’m grateful that after 30 years of making records my appetite for writing and playing is the same as it was that day all those years ago when I got my first electric guitar,” he said, referring to saving up takings from his newspaper round to buy the instrument when he was just 14.

Our photographer Dijana Capan was on hand to capture the moment.

GOOD ROCKING TONIGHT: Top left, above and below left: Ricky Martin and the Fighting Hearts; below right: VirginMarys; bottom: The Howling Tides Pictures: Dijana Capan/DVision

Family fun as Ascot prepares to go back to the races ASCOT is gearing up for the first family race day of the year, taking place later this month.

Some top-class jumps racing is promised, including the Veterans Chase and a a two-mile juvenile hurdle.

And there will be a host of free activities for all ages to enjoy.

They include dog agility performers, ferret racing, themed treasure hunts, pony rides, face painting, arts and crafts, petting farms and climbing walls.

A spokesperson for Ascot said that with so many activities to enjoy and gripping races to watch, there is no shortage of entertainment.

And the event takes place on Mothering Sunday – March 27 – so a special selfie wall will also be available for families to have their pictures taken the mark the day. n For more details, or to book, log on to: www.ascot.com/horse-races-andevents/spring-family-raceday/springfamily-raceday-sunday

Team-building packages at South Hill Park Arts Centre research shows that engagement with the arts leads to a higher level of subjective wellbeing, improves cognitive abilities and has the power to facilitate social interaction.

With an array of creative arts tutors on site, we can offer a truly exceptional experience for your corporate team. suitable for 10–25 delegates

We offer four team-building packages Get creative

Get on the stage

Get moving

Get searching

Our friendly and experienced artists will guide you through a visual arts activity to teach you a new skill, unleashing your team’s creativity and leaving you and your team feeling relaxed, inspired and ready to think outside the box.

Join one of our resident theatre directors for an exclusive, behind the scenes, tour of our Wilde Theatre and then take the chance to tread the boards yourself in one of our four performance spaces.

Improve employee health and wellbeing with a yoga session in our beautiful parkland. Expertly run by our partners, Yoginah, using yogic principles dating back over 2000 years that can easily be applied into everyday life.

Combine your sense of adventure and competitive spirit with a treasure hunt around our awardwinning grounds – taking in landscaped gardens, lakes and life-sized sculptures – and utilising a wide variety of fitness equipment to truly engage your team.

To enquire about one of our team-building packages southhillpark.org.uk/hire-us/corporate-hire 01344 416233 or hospitality@southhillpark.org.uk

@southhillpark

South Hill Park Arts Centre, Ringmead, Bracknell RG12 7PA

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Registered charity 265656 Please support the future of the arts

16 | LEISURE

Shrek to entertain at South Hill Park EVERYONE’S favourite ogre is back this Easter thanks to South Hill Park.

The Bracknell-based arts centre is to stage its take on the Oscar-winning film and Broadway musical, Shrek The Musical.

It needs little introduction: unlikely hero Shrek, and his wisecracking friend Donkey, lead a cast of fairytale misfits – cast off by tiny terror Lord Farquaad – on an adventure to rescue a feisty princess and find true acceptance.

Part romance and part twisted fairy tale, Shrek The Musical is an irreverently fun show with a powerful message for the whole family.

Director Mark Hooper said: “It has been an absolute joy to work on a theatrical presentation of such an iconic film.

“Donkey, Farquaad, Fiona and, of course, Shrek himself are ready to take you on a hilarious, actionpacked, musical adventure unlike any other; with foot-thumping songs, larger-than-life costumes and a set so gorgeous, you would believe you have fallen through the cinema screen straight into the Dreamworks’ film.”

The show is performed from Monday, April 11 to Monday, April 18, and the cast includes Brad Clapson, who played the dame in South Hill Park’s pantomimes in recent years.

Tickets cost from £20. n For more details, call the box office on 01344 484123, or log on to southhillpark.org.uk

To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today

WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 17, 2022

Music festival unveils latest acts

M

ORE artists have been announced for this year’s Are You Listening? festival.

The independent music event will take place in multiple venues in Reading on Saturday, May 7, and tier two tickets are now on sale.

A further 30 artists have now been added to the line-up. This adds to the 20 names announced in February, covered by Reading Today here.

Hotly tipped Manchester trio Porij lead the second announcement. The BBC 6Music favourites will bring their blend of dance, indie & lo-fi pop to the stage.

Indie-pop producer and multi-instrumentalist Pixey, who describes herself as “the indie Britney Spears”, will also perform.

Joining the bill are post-punk new wave band deep tan, punkinfused vocalist and DJ Grove, and psychedelic indie-rock group The Goa Express.

More artists revealed for the festival’s line up are experimental hip-hop and electronica collective Nukuluk, raw punk band Talk Show and iPhone produced daydream pop by tinyumbrellas.

The festival’s offering this year now includes alt-folk duo Memorial, who are songwriters Jack Watts and Oliver Spalding,

LAUGHTER TRACK: A comedy night for Ukraine will feature (clockwise from top left) Lloyd Griffith, Matt Rees, Ross Smith and Tom Little

Comics to crack jokes in aid of Ukraine LISTEN UP: Are You Listening? returns to venues across Reading town centre on Saturday, May 7 “post-macho” noise pop trio The Byker Grove Fan Club, pianist Isaac Stuart, and Canadian post-rock group Slow Down, Molasses.

Musicians representing the local scene are Oxford’s Aphra Taylor, instrumental post-rock duo Boredoms in The Bathroom and Reading’s Afro-fusion group Limpopo Groove.

Festival venues in Reading town centre are the AYL? Market Place Hub, Sub 89, Milk, Purple Turtle, Oakford Social Club, Rising Sun Arts Centre, The Facebar and Saint Laurence Church.

Since starting in 2013 the festival has raised over £70,000 for their partner, learning disability charity Reading Mencap. The charity is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

Tickets cost £15 aged 14 to 17, and £25 for adults.

Previous AYL? guests include IDLES, Ezra Furman, BC Camplight, Field Music and Anna Meredith. n Tickets and a full list of bands can be found on the festival’s website areyoulistening.org.uk

NATALIE BURTON

A COMEDY night on Saturday will be a serious affair.

Just The Tonic, which meets from Popworld/Sub89 in Friar Street, is welcoming four comics for a show that will raise funds for Ukraine.

Organisers say all proceeds will go to a charity working to help the country which has been invaded by Putin’s troops.

Acts and tech crews are being paid for their work, but everything else will go the charity.

On the bill are Lloyd Griffith, Ross Smith, Tom Little and Matt Rees.

The Evening Standard says that Lloyd delivers punchy gags

while revealing a jaw-dropping singing voice.

Ross is a someone who was a hit at the Edinburgh Fringe and is seen as a rising star.

Tom has produced a series of witty Twitter videos in which he has put lyrics to famous television programmes, including Grandstand.

And Matt has been described

by Metro as disarmingly funny, laid back but hysterical. Like a walking chillum.

Doors open at 6.45pm, with the comedy starting at 8pm.

Tickets cost £16.50, or £11 for concessions. n For more details, log on to: www.justthetonic.com

Ronan Keatin’s day at the races BOYZONE star Ronan Keating will be performing at Windsor Racecourse this summer with a huge open-air show.

Taking place on Saturday, August 27, he will be performing as part of its Live After Racing event, where music fans can enjoy a day at the races before taking in the show.

In it, he will whirl through nearly three decades of pop hits, helped by his band.

Since his time in one of the most successful boy bands in

history, Ronan Keating has crafted an epic solo career with 30 consecutive Top 10 singles, 10 studio albums and over 20 million records sold, and counting…

In addition, his talents have expanded to the biggest international judging seats on the X Factor and The Voice in Australia and time in a highly acclaimed West End show. He has also been part of BBC One’s The One Show, and hosted a breakfast show on Magic FM.

Last year, he released Songs From Home, an album that celebrates Celtic poetry and folklore, drawing on his Irish heritage.

Tickets go on sale today (Wednesday) for O2 customers, while general tickets go on sale from Friday.

They cost £40 and a booking fee, or £25 for under 18s, who must be accompanied by an adult. n For more details, log on to: www.windsor-racecourse.co.uk

Father Brown takes to the stage … to find the murderer

FOR years, they’ve been a popular series of books. Recently, they’ve been a staple of afternoon television.

Now, Father Brown is once again sleuthing on stage.

The mild-mannered priest has a knack of being in the right place at the right time … if you count being around for a murder as being in the right place…

In this latest production, The Murderer in the Mirror, Father Brown is trying to solve the mystery of the death of a famous actor just before the dress rehearsal of a West End production.

When he sees a shattered mirror in the dressing room, he quickly realises sinister forces are at work. But if all the possible

suspects were on stage at the time of the murder, whodunit?

It’s up to Father Brown to find out.

The play, starring John Lyons, is being performed at the Theatre Royal in Windsor this week, until Saturday, March 19.

Performances are at 7.30pm nightly, with an audio described performance on Thursday, at 2.30pm. n For more details, or to book, call the box office on 01753 853888 or log on to theatreroyalwindsor. co.uk

LEISURE | 25

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Thursday, March 17, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

LIVEMUSIC

To advertise in this section, call Claire on 0118 327 2662

RaW Sounds Today

PLAY ON: Martin Turner at Wokingham Festival 2019 Picture: Andrew Merritt

Chris Hillman

bit.ly/ rawsoundstoday

Wishbone Ash – Sometime World

A

MUSICAL odyssey is coming to Wokingham next month, and we’re not joking.

Yes, the gig date might be April Fools’ Day, but Martin Turner is deadly serious about his music.

He will be performing Wishbone Ash’s classic album Argus when he visits Wokingham Music Club.

To whet your appetite, we have one of the tracks from it in this week’s playlist. Enjoy.

The RaW Sounds playlist is a terrific way to explore a wide range of brilliant artists, discover some new music and keep dancing – make sure you bookmark the Spotify page.

To hear this week’s set, simply head to bit.ly/rawsoundstoday and pump up the volume.

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.

GIG GUIDE

Thursday, March 17 CAMBERLEY – Theatre, Knoll Road GU15 3SY. Some Guys Have All The Luck - The Rod Stewart Story.

Details: 01276 707600.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Amapiano Afrohouse Afrobeat. Details: 0118 959 7196.

STOKE ROW – Crooked Billet RG9 5PU. St Patrick’s Day: Fiddle. Details: 01491 681048.

WOODLEY – La’De Kitchen, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3JP. Ayce Abana and Yunuscan. Details: 0118 969 2047.

Friday, March 18

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Scemata Theory and My Latest Failure.. Details: www.theacousticcouch. co.uk BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. CLOSED. Details: 01344 303333.

CAMBERLEY – Theatre, Knoll Road GU15 3SY. Simon and Garfunkel Through The Years. Details: 01276 707600.

EMMBROOK – Emmbrook Sports & Social, Lowther Road RG41 1JB. Wokingham Music Club presents My Darling Clementine. £15. Details: 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. Perk. Details: 0118 956 8188.

READING – Sub89, Friar St RG1 1EP. Pearl Jamm.

Details: 0118 959 5395.

Saturday, March 19

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. The Replays. Details: 01344 303333.

CROWTHORNE – Royal British Legion, Wellington Road RG45 7LJ. The Self Preservation Society.

Details: 01344 772161.

EARLEY – Earley Home Guard Social Club, Pitts Lane RG6 1BT. T Roze and Co. Details: 0118 926 5936.

EARLEY – The Roebuck, Auckland Road RG6 1NY. CurryOke. Details: 0118 966 7153 GORING - Goring Social Club, High Street RG8 9BA. Wise Monkeys. Details: 01491 873105.

READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. Crazy Cowboy Festival 7: Ransom. Details: 0118 956 8188.

READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Like .. The Beatles. Details: 0118 402 7800.

READING - Cafe Iguana, St Mary’s Butts RG1 2LN. 2 Step Jam. READING – The Retreat, St John’s Street RG1 4EH. Hugh Turner Trio. Details: 0118 376 9159.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Readipop 2022 launch party with Brother Zulu, OSP and Hatty Taylor.

Propa Ammo: DJ Rap, Dope Ammo, Kenny Ken. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. Blue Hayz.

Details: 0118 926 5804.

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Under Radarz Presents: Nu-Topia W/ Nicky Blackmarket & Disrupta. Details: 0118 959 5395.

It’s from the band’s classic album, Argus, and it’s here as Martin Turner Ex-Wishbone Ash is returning to Wokingham Music Club on Friday, April 1 to perform the whole of the album.

He and his band of excellent musicians will also be performing the Wishbone Four album.

If you saw Martin last time he played at WMC or his headlining performance at Wokingham Festival, you’ll know how good he and his band are and, if you didn’t, you should really take this opportunity – https://www.martinturnermusic.com/

Rachel Redman – You Set Me Free Rachel is a singer-songwriter from the local area and, even though we’ve featured her in the playlist before, it’s well worth including her again as she’s recently released this wonderful new single. It’s another well-crafted song with Rachel’s distinctive country-pop feel.

The song has been receiving radio plays and Rachel has also released a lyric video that is worth checking out.

READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. The Junction. Details: 0118 957 6930.

SHINFIELD – The Sportsman, Shinfield Rd RG2 7DS. The Beatle and Buddy Show.

Details: 0118 975 2089.

TILEHURST – The Royal British Legion Club, Downing Road RG31 5BB. Ska Britannia. Details: 0118 942 9606.

WOKINGHAM - The White Horse, Easthampstead Road RG40 3AF. The Makeshifts. Details: 0118 979 7402.

WOODLEY – The Chequers, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3JH. Wardour Street CANCELLED. Details: 0118 969 3477.

YATELEY - The Dog and Partridge, Reading Road GU46 7LR. Lorraine and Neil. Details: 01252 870648.

Sunday, March 20

EARLEY – The Roebuck, Auckland Road RG6 1NY. Afternoon Karaoke. 2pm..

Details: 0118 966 7153.

READING – Community Hall, Watlington House, Watlington Street RG1 4RJ. Readifolk presents: Scarecrow. Details: www. readifolk.org.uk READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Reggae Sundays. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – Queens Head, Christchurch Road RG2 7AZ. Northern Soul Social Sunday. 2pm-5pm. Details: 0118 931 0232.

WOODLEY – La’De Kitchen, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3JP. Ayce Abana and Yunuscan. Details: 0118 969 2047.

Tuesday, March 22 BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring

RG12 1JG. New Music Tuesday. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk

Wednesday, March 23

BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead RG12 7PA. Keith James: Concert for the Changing World.

Details: 01344 484123.

Thursday, March 24 BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. The Rag and Moan Men. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Buddy Holly and the Crickters.

Details: 01344 484123.

READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. Tailgunner and special guests. Details: 0118 956 8188.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Amapiano Afrohouse Afrobeat. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – South Street arts centre. Peter Knight and John Spiers. Details: 0118 960 6060.

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Altered Images. Details: 0118 959 5395.

WOODLEY – La’De Kitchen, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3JP. Ayce Abana and Yunuscan. Details: 0118 969 2047.

Friday, March 25

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Ditch The Demon and Solcura. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. I Got Soul: B Funkt. Details: 01344 303333.

BRACKNELL – The Newtown

HOLDING A GIG, QUIZ OR GAMES NIGHT? SEND DETAILS TO EVENTS@WOKINGHAM.TODAY

We’ll look forward to seeing Rachel live at gigs and festivals during the year – https://www. facebook.com/rachelredmanmusic/

Third Lung – Laura This is the band’s first release of 2022 and they are certainly showing that they can maintain the quality of their previous excellent single releases.

It’s from their forthcoming album, Gameplay.

We’ll look forward to that. – http://thirdlungband. com/

OSP – Breathe Here’s the debut single from Reading-based rap collective OSP. They will be live at Readipop Festival’s Launch Party at Purple Turtle on Saturday, March 19 along with Brother Zulu AND Hatty Taylor – https://www.facebook.com/ospmusicuk

My Darling Clementine – I Lost You This duo have become part of the country and Americana landscape with their wonderful songs and live shows and they are visiting the area to play at Wokingham Music Club on Friday, March 18 – https:// mydarlingclementinemusic.co.uk/

overlaid with melodies – https://www.facebook. com/wearegrandad

Reliant – Pain of It All They made our Top 10 of our best of 2020 list and now they are back with a new single.

It’s another uplifting powerful indie-rock anthem and it was recorded at Generation Studio in Maidenhead – https://www.facebook.com/ WeAreReliant

Steve Anderson – Coda Steve, from The Room, has just released his solo album, Journeyman’s Progress – Part One which is a wonderful album of instrumentals showcasing Steve’s skills as a guitarist and musician – https:// journeymansprogress.co.uk/

Split the Dealer – Hard To Take He was in our Top 10 of the year list in both 2020 and 2021 and here’s his new single. Split the Dealer will be headlining at Reading’s Sub 89 with his full band on Friday, May 13 – https://www.facebook. com/splitthedealer

Lonely Robot – Under Stars

Here’s a new band from Bracknell with a single taken from their debut EP, Walk Around Me. The alt-rock four-piece have a grungy shoegaze style

Lonely Robot was created by John Mitchell who works from his Reading-based recording studio, Outhouse as songwriter, musician AND producer.

He played a special show at Everyman in Kings Cross last month – https://johnmitchellhq.com

Pippin, Ralphs Ride RG12 9LR. DisCover. Details: 03144 426298.

CHARVIL – The Heron On The Ford, Lands End Lane, RG10 0UE. Monkey Shock.

Details: 0118 934 0700.

READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Open mic night. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING – The Hexagon. The Bootleg Beatles in Concert.

Details: 0118 960 6060.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Housebase. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – Rising Sun Arts Centre, Silver Street RG1 2ST. Club Velocity 19th Birthday Party: The Go Go Cult, Abrasive Trees, This. Details: www. risingsunartscentre.org READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Evil Scarecrow. Details: 0118 959 5395.

READING – Zerodegrees, Bridge Street RG1 2LR. Stephen Roper. Details: 0118 959 7959.

RISELEY – The Bull at Riseley, Basingstoke Road RG7 1QL. Tequila Chase.

01344 422622 BRACKNELL – The Silver Birch, Liscombe RG12 7DE. Little Eden. Details: 01344 457318 READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Swallow. Details: 0118 959 5500.

READING – The Castle Tap, Castle Street RG1 7RJ. Nasty Fishmonger. Details: 0118 958 0473.

READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Bottomless Magical Brunch. Details: 0118 402 7800.

READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. 4Ever80s.

Details: 0118 926 5804.

READING - The Spread Eagle, Norfolk Road, RG30 2EG. The Midnight Rebel Band.

Details: 0118 957 4507.

READING – The Retreat, St John’s Street RG1 4EH. The Sidemen. Details: 0118 376 9159.

TILEHURST – The Victoria, Norcot Road RG30 6BP. The Junction. Details: 0118 941 5064.

WOODLEY – The Good Companions, Loddon

Grandad – About Him

Details: 0118 343 0565.

WINNERSH – The Royal British Legion Club, Woodward Close RG41 5LP. Wokingham Music Club presents Women In Rock. Details: www. wokinghammusicclub. co.uk WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. Neon Daze Live.

Details: 0118 977 3706.

READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Rd RG1 4HX. Stoney Lane.

Details: 0118 926 5804.

Saturday, March 26

BINFIELD – The Binfield Club, Terrace Road RG42 4HP. The Shelf Side. Details: 01344 420690.

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Kintek Takoever Drum and Base Extravaganza. theacousticcouch.co.uk BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Solid Groove Foundation.

Details: 01344 303333.

BRACKNELL – The Royal Oak, London Road RG12 2NN. White Light. Details:

Bridge Road RG5 4AG. The Beatle and Buddy Show.

Details: 0118 969 3325.

WOODLEY – Bull and Chequers, Woodley Green RG5 4QP. Paddington.

Details: 0118 969 9756.

YATELEY - The Dog and Partridge, Reading Road GU46 7LR. Neil Samuels.

Details: 01252 870648.

Sunday, March 27

EARLEY – The Roebuck, Auckland Road RG6 1NY. Afternoon Karaoke. 2pm.

Details: 0118 966 7153.

READING – Community Hall, Watlington House, Watlington St RG1 4RJ. Readifolk Singers Night.

Details: readifolk.org.uk READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Reggae Sundays. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – Queens Head, Christchurch Road.

Northern Soul Social Sunday. 2pm-5pm. Details: 0118 931 0232.

WOODLEY – La’De Kitchen, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3JP. Ayce Abana and Yunuscan. Details: 0118 969 2047.

Mates Rates Comedy Club is bringing Live Stand-Up Comedy to Reading W h e t h e r i t i s TV n a m e s o r n u r t u r i n g n ew ta l e n t a t t h e g ra s s ro o t s , i f yo u l ove s ta n d - u p co m e d y, M a te s Ra te s Co m e d y h a s a s h ow fo r yo u !

Fo r m o re i n fo r m a ti o n c h e c k o u t t h e l i n ks be l ow a n d s ca n t h e Q R co d e to bo o k yo u r ti c ke t s .

Fo l l ow u s o n: f: / M a te s Ra te s C o m e d y c: @ M a te s ra te s co m e d y www. m a te s ra te s co m e d y. co . u k

26 | LEISURE

To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today

WHAT’SON

Holding a community event? Send your listings to events@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Films at Reading Biscuit Factory

READING – The Biscuit Factory, Queens Walk RG1 7QE. The Batman (15). Thurs. The Duke (12a). Thurs. Ali & Ava (15).

Thurs. Cyrano (12a). Thurs.

The Duke (12a). Thurs. Red Rocket (18). Thurs.. Keep It Cult: The Fly (18). Fri. Keep It Cult: Fight Club (18).

Mon, Fri April 1. Details: readingbiscuitfactory.co.uk

Friday, March 18

EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6 7JN. Friendship Table. 10amnoon. linkvisiting.org READING – South Street Arts Centre. Poets Cafe Online lunchtime session. 1pm.

Details: 0118 960 6060.

WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturge Road RG40 2HD. Friendship table.

10am-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – Norreys Church, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UU. T&C at SHARE Wokingham Friendship table. 12.30pm-2.30pm.

Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – St Paul’s Church Parish Rooms, Reading Road RG41 1EH. Coffee and Chat. 2pm4pm. Details: 0118 979 2122 or church.office@ spauls.co.uk.

WOKINGHAM – Wokingham Theatre, Twyford Road, RG40 5TU. Hobson’s Choice. 7.45pm. Details: 0118 978 5363 WOOSEHILL – Acorn Community Centre, Fernlea Drive RG41 3DR. Acorn Cafe with Friendship table. 10.30am-noon.

Details: linkvisiting.org

Saturday, March 19

COLEY PARK – Coley Park Baptist Church, Wensley Road RG1 6DU. Coley Craft: create, craft and chat over a brew. 10am-noon.

Details: coleychurch.org.uk CROWTHORNE – Wellington College Chapel, Wellington College, Dukes RIde RG45 7PU. Crowthorne Choral Society’s spring concert.

Dvorak: Mass in D Major. Tickets £12, £2 students. Details: www. crowthornechoral.org.uk.

EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6 7JN. Oakwood Forest Church meeting: Spring Equinox. 4pm. Details: oakwoodforestchurch. wordpress.com GORING – St Thomas of Canterbury Church RG8 9DS. The Heart Starts Singing: a concert

by Reading Bach Choir.

Musical director Daniel Mahoney. 7.30pm. £15, under 18s £5. Details: www.readingbachchoir. org.uk LOWER EARLEY – Lower Earley Baptist Church, Maiden Place. The A Team: Awesome Autism/ADHD – Craft Session. For Autistic and/or ADHD girls (age 5-18) who live, or attend

a school, in Berkshire.

Booking essential, £18.

10am-noon.

READING – Cattle Market, Great Knollys Street RG1 7HU. Reading Farmers Market. 8.15amnoon. Details: www. thamesvalleyfarmers market.co.uk READING – Reading Museum, Blagrave Street RG1 1QH. Abbey Quarter tours: explore the heart of medieval Reading led by trained volunteer guides.

Ninety-minute tour from 11am. £10. Booking essential. Details: www. readingmuseum.org.uk READING – The Weller Centre, Amersham Road RG4 5NA. Craft Club clear out: sale of fabric remnants, craft fabrics, wood, embroidery, and more. 2pm-4pm. In aid of The Weller Centre. Details: 07986 905784.

ROTHERFIELD PEPPARD – Springwater Peppard Congregational Church, Blounts Court Road RG9 5EU. Spring craft fair.

10am-1pm. Free entry.

Cafe with lunches. Details: www.springwaterchurch. org.uk SONNING COMMON – Village Hall, Wood Lane RG4 9SL. Craft fair. 10am-4pm. Details: mumadoracrafts.co.uk TILEHURST – Double Barelled Brewery, Stadium Way RG30 6BX. Brewery Tours and Tasting. Over 18s only. Booking essential.

1pm. SOLD OUT. Details: doublebarrelled.co.uk WOKINGHAM – St Paul’s Church, Reading Road RG41 1EH. Wokingham Choral Society spring concert. 7.30pm. £12.50, £5 under 18s and students.

Details: www.wokinghamchoral-society.org.uk WOKINGHAM – Wokingham Theatre, Twyford Road, RG40 5TU. Hobson’s Choice. 7.45pm. Details: 0118 978 5363 WOKINGHAM WITHOUT – Pinewood Bar and Cafe, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ. Friendship table available. 9am-4pm.

Details: linkvisiting.org WOOSEHILL – Woosehill Church, Chestnut Avenue RG41 3RS. Sip and Share with friendship table. 11am-noon, every second Saturday. Details: linkvisiting.org WOODLEY – Crockhamwell Road precinct. Woodley Town Centre presents Saturday market. 9am3pm. Details: www. woodleytowncentre.co.uk

Sunday, March 20

CHARVIL – Village Hall, Park Lane. Diana Brimblecombe Animal Rescue Centre Super Sunday Sale. 11am3pm. Details: www.dbarc. org.uk EMMBROOK – Emmbrook Sports and Social Club, Lowther Road.

Wokingham Music Club presents My Darling

Clementine. £15. Details: www.ticketsource.co.uk/ wokinghammusicclub READING – Crucible Sports and Social Club, Richfield Avenue RG1 8EQ. McGuinnes and Whitham: Back on Tour. £25. Details: 07932 724462.

READING – Reading Hackspace rLab, Unit C1, Weldale Street RG1 7BX. Reading Repair Cafe: “if it’s broken, bring it along and we are sure to have a go or at least provide some advice about what your best course of action might be”. 12.30pm-4pm. Free, donations welcome.

SPENCERS WOOD – Village Hall, Basingstoke Road RG7 1AP. Spencers Wood Farmers & Community market. 9am-noon. Details: www.spencerswoodhall. co.uk WOKINGHAM WITHOUT – Pinewood Minature Railway, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ. Pinewood Minature Railway running. £1.50 per ride, four rides £5.

1.30pm-4pm. Under threes free. Now accepts card payments. Details: www. pinewoodrailway.co.uk WOODLEY – Goals, Woodlands Avenue RG5 4FG. League of Friends of the Royal Berkshire Hospital charity football tournament. £60 per team of up to eight. Prizes, stalls, activities for all ages.

From 10am. Details: lof@ royalberkshire.nhs.uk 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

Monday March 21

ARBORFIELD – Royal British Legion, Eversley Road RG2 9PR. Friendship table.

9.30am-11.30am. Details: linkvisiting.org BINFIELD – Newbold College Church, Popeswood Road, RG42 4AN. The Arts Society Wokingham’s monthly lecture ‘Denys Lasdun and the National Theatre’ by Alan Read at 7.45pm. Also live streamed via YouTube. Details www.TheArtsSociey Wokingham.org.uk READING – Reading Central Library, Abbey Square RG1 3BQ. Berkshire Family History Society presents: one-to-one family history advice session. 2pm-4pm.

Online, booking essential.

Details: berksfhs.org WOKINGHAM – Wokingham Theatre, Twyford Road, RG40 5TU. Hobson’s Choice. 7.45pm. Details: 0118 978 5363.

WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street.

Extniction Rebellion Reading presents: Heading For Extinction...and what to do about it. 7.30pm-9pm.

Free. Booking essential, via Eventbrite, search for Heading For Extinction.

WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturge Road RG40 2HD. Cafe Refresh Friendship table.

10am-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – Norreys Church, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UU. T&C at SHARE Wokingham Friendship table. 12.30pm-2.30pm.

Details: linkvisiting.org WOODLEY – Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way RG5 4UX. Four Seasons cafe Friendship Table.

1.30pm-3.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOODLEY – Christ Church, Crockhamwell Road, RG5 3LA. Network Fellowship: Newspaper cuttings. 2pm.

Details: www.christchurch-woodley.org.uk WOODLEY – Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way RG5 4UX. Four Seasons Art and Crafts. Try something new, relax, enjoy tea and biscuits. £3 per craft, materials supplied.

1.30pm-3.30pm. Details: 0118 969 9956.

Tuesday, March 22

EARLEY – Earley CResCent Resource Centre, Warbler Drive RG6 4HB. Friendship table. 2pm-3pm. Details: linkvisiting.org.

FINCHAMPSTEAD – FBC Centre Cafe, Gorse Ride North RG40 4ES. Friendship table. 10amnoon. Details: linkvisiting. org WOKINGHAM – Bradbury Centre, Wokingham Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. CLASP Wokingham cafe with Friendship table.

10am-noon. Every third and fourth Tuesday of the month. Details: linkvisiting. org WOKINGHAM – Wokingham Theatre, Twyford Road, RG40 5TU. Hobson’s Choice. 7.45pm. Details: 0118 978 5363 WOKINGHAM WITHOUT – Pinewood Bar and Cafe, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ. Friendship table available. 9am-4pm.

Details: linkvisiting.org

Wednesday, March 23

EARLEY – Brookside Church, Brookside Close RG6 7HG. Open Door cafe with Friendship Table. 2pm-4pm.

Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – Bradbury Centre, Wokingham Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. Cafe Mosiac with Friendship table. 11am-noon. Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – Community and Charity hub, Erfstadt Court, Denmark Street.

Volunteer Recruitment Fair. 11am-2pm. Details: volunteerwokingham borough.org.uk WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturges Road RG40 2HD. Cafe Refresh Friendship table.

10am-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – Wokingham Theatre, Twyford Road, RG40 5TU. Hobson’s Choice. 7.45pm. Details: 0118 978 5363 WOODLEY – Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way

RG5 4UX. Coffee morning.

10am-noon. Details: 0118 969 9956.

WOODLEY – Crockhamwell Road precinct. Woodley Town Centre presents Artisan market. 9am2pm. Details: www. woodleytowncentre.co.uk

Thursday, March 24

EARLEY – Trinity Church, Chalfont Close RG6 5HZ. Re:Fresh with Friendship Table. 2pm-4pm. Details: linkvisiting.org READING – Reading Central Library, Abbey Square RG1 3BQ. Berkshire Family History Society presents: 150 years of Reading Football Club, an online talk by David Downs. 2pm.

Booking essential. £5, £4 BFHS members. Details: berksfhs.org SILCHESTER – Village Hall, Little London Road RG7 2ND. Silchester Players present: Aladdin A Panto.

7.30pm. Tickets: £7, £8, £9.

Details: silchesterplayers. org SPENCERS WOOD – Spencers Wood Pavilion, Clares Green Road RG7 1DY. Social Seniors Tea and Coffee with Friendship Table. 10am-noon. Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – Bradbury Centre, Wokingham Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. Cafe Mosiac lunch club with Friendship table.

Noon-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org

WOKINGHAM – The Cornerstone, All Saints Church, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham RG40 1UE. Wokingham and East Berkshire Camera Club meeting: Focus group feedback. 7.30pm. Details: www.webcc.org.uk WOKINGHAM – The Whitty Theatre, Luckley House School, Luckley Road RG40 3EU. Wokingham Film Society presents: A Promising Young Woman (15). £6.50, £4 members. 7.30pm. Details: wokinghamfilmsociety.com WOKINGHAM – Wokingham Theatre, Twyford Road, RG40 5TU. Hobson’s Choice. 7.45pm. Details: 0118 978 5363

Friday, March 25

EARLEY – St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue RG6 7JN. Friendship Table. 10amnoon. linkvisiting.org SILCHESTER – Village Hall, Little London Road RG7 2ND. Silchester Players: Aladdin A Panto. 7.30pm.

Tickets: £7, £8, £9. Details: silchesterplayers.org WOKINGHAM – Wokingham Theatre, Twyford Road, RG40 5TU. Hobson’s Choice. 7.45pm. Details: 0118 978 5363 WOKINGHAM – Salvation Army, Sturge Road RG40 2HD. Friendship table.

10am-1.30pm. Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – Norreys Church, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UU. Friendship

WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 17, 2022 table. 12.30pm-2.30pm.

Details: linkvisiting.org WOKINGHAM – St Paul’s Church Parish Rooms, Reading Road RG41 1EH. Coffee and Chat. 2pm4pm. Details: 0118 979 2122 or church.office@ spauls.co.uk.

WOOSEHILL – Acorn Community Centre, Fernlea Drive RG41 3DR. Acorn Cafe with Friendship table. 10.30am-noon.

Details: linkvisiting.org

Saturday, March 26

READING – Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square.

The Friends of Reading Abbey spring lecture: The Reading Abbey Formulary,

by Dr Frederica Teale.

2pm. Free. Details: www. readingabbey.org.uk READING – Reading Museum, Blagrave Street RG1 1QH. Abbey Quarter tours: explore the heart of medieval Reading led by trained volunteer guides.

Ninety-minute tour from 11am. £10. Booking essential. Details: www. readingmuseum.org.uk READING – St Joseph’s College, Upper Redlands Road RG1 5JT. Reading Haydn Choir spring concert: Mozart’s Requiem and short works by Bach and Bruckner. Soloists Milly Forrest, Anna Cooper, Oliver Johnston and Edward Jowle, keyboard Ian Westley and musicians from Sinfonia Musicisti are conducted by Mandy

Kesel. 7.30pm. £14, £12 concessions, £1 discount for advance bookings.

Under 19s £5, under 19s free. Details: www. haydnchoir.org.uk SILCHESTER – Village Hall, Little London Road RG7 2ND. Silchester Players present: Aladdin A Panto.

2.30pm, 7.30pm. Tickets: £7, £8, £9. Details: silchesterplayers.org TILEHURST – Double Barelled Brewery, Stadium Way RG30 6BX. Brewery Tours and Tasting. Over 18s only. Booking essential.

1pm. £13.50. Details: doublebarrelled.co.uk TWYFORD – Loddon Hall, Loddon Hall Road.

Twyford and Ruscombe Horticultural Association spring show. 2pm. Raffle and awards, 3.30pm. £1.

Details: trhamembership@ gmail.com WINNERSH – St Mary’s Church Hall RG41 5NA. FROM 10AM -2.PM. A Grand Sale , raising funds for 2 orphanages in S India Charity SalGoAssist supporting the rural poor in Bapatla WOKINGHAM – Wokingham Theatre, Twyford Road, RG40 5TU. Hobson’s Choice. 7.45pm. Details: 0118 978 5363 WOKINGHAM WITHOUT – Pinewood Bar and Cafe, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ. Friendship table available. 9am-4pm.

Details: linkvisiting.org

South Chiltern Choral Society presents ~

70th Anniversary Spring Concert

Fauré ~ Requiem Debussy ~ La Mer Nielsen ~ Helios Overture South Chiltern Choral Society Parenthesis Reading Symphony Orchestra Conductor ~ Stefan Hofkes

Saturday 2nd April 2022 at 7.30 pm Concert Hall, Blagrave St, Reading RG1 1QH Tickets £23.50 £20.50 £15.50 Students under 25 £10 whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060

www.southchilternchoralsociety.org.uk

Registered Charity no. 297583

No. 5405

Your weekly puzzle challenge

27

To advertise, call 0118 327 2662

Thursday, March 17, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

TO ADVERTISE ON THIS PAGE, CALL CLAIRE ON: 0118 327 2662

Quiz Challenge

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 1

2

3

14

15

16

T

4

5

6

7

8

17

18

19

20

21

A

S

9

10

11

12

13

22

23

24

25

26

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

DIG LARGE HEADLINE

I

T A G

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: 27 Good; 32 Very Good; 38 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).

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.

7. What is the common name for the constellation formed by the stars Castor and Pollux?

8. In The Lord of the Rings films, which role did Sir Ian McKellen play?

10. Which TV game-show host coined the phrase ‘give us a twirl’?

IF

FL

AE

AT

MT

EA

HO

EI

SN

UI

VE

SUDOKU Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box.

8 4 3 9 6 8 4 7 1 3 2 6 9 2 4 1 8 7 8 5 3 2 8 4 3 5 8 9 7 2 1 3 6 8 9 2 3 9

2 5

2 4

7 6

5 2 7 3

7 4 6

3

9 2 4

7 6 8

L

R

L

E E

R B

A

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.

ER

11

10

13

14

17

12

16

16

18

19

20 22

23

QUICK CROSSWORD 1

To try our new puzzle, Zygolex, go to www.zygolex.com © Sirius Media Services Ltd

2

3

4

5

5

6

7

8 9

10 11

10

12

13

16 19

14 20

12

17

18

27

28

30

29 24

32

ACROSS 1. Tedious (8) 5. Lure (4) 9. Removes contents (7) 10. Shadow (5) 11. Large cask (3) 12. Erase (6) 15. Repairs by sewing (5) 17. Operatic song (4) 19. Evaluate (6) 22. Recount (6) 24. Tropical vegetable (4) 26. Panache (5)

23

25 22

23

15

22

24 26

10

14

21

34 9 1 8 6 7 3 4 5 2

5 7 9 8 3 6 2 1 4

3 8 4 2 1 5 7 6 9

6 2 1 9 4 7 5 3 8

1 4 3 7 6 8 9 2 5

8 9 5 1 2 4 3 7 6

2 6 7 3 5 9 8 4 1

WORD PYRAMID: Double-barrelled.

EQUALISER: Clockwise from top left – add; multiply; subtract; divide.

Total: 7.

SOLUTIONS

11

15 15

This puzzle page is supplied by Sirius Media Services Ltd.

1

9

DOWN 1. Youngster has the very thing for an old measure (5) 2.

Incline to have to live off the 7. Creature has heart of grizzly fat now? (4,4) bear transplanted (5) 3. Arrange class at last (6) 8. Nonsense, it belongs in the 4. Old boy about to go round bin (7) in a gown (4) 10. Theoretical idea advanced 5. Frigidity is nice maybe up to by a novice (8) a point (7) 11. Thoroughly fit (4) 6. One underweight hen creates an atmosphere!

13. Key to the cabinet? (6) (5,5) 15. One can get it baked - but 9. Only 50% off? (4,6) it’s unlikely in this state (6) 12. Equipment required for 17. You will call it a feast (4) plucky guitarist (8) 14. Plays around in company 18. Fag with ulcer bursting during the song (7) turned out to be elegant (8) 16. Beginning alternatively with 21. Tearing open – that’s one drink (6) excellent, some say (7) 19. Establish there is nothing in 22. Nothing true about this the kitty (5) way (5) 20. Politician under 51 is 23. As furious as a frog? (7,3) drooping (4)

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.

3 8

7

ACROSS 1. In Carolina somehow provided another state (10)

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.

1 4

L

EQUALISER 4 3 3 4 1 10 4 16 2 1 2 5

Hard

4 3 6 5 8 2 1 9 7

Easy

D

AH

CA

8 10

24

E

TE

AI

5

21

WA

LC

4

21

LS

IA

3

7

17

FIVE ALIVE OL

2

6

13

9. What H is a Madonna song and another word for a vacation?

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.

U B

1

13

WORD PYRAMID

V E T

3

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD 1

6. Edward Teller was a major contributor to the development of which weapon?

7 5 2 4 9 1 6 8 3

13

18

14

6 8 5 7 3 4 2 9 1

26

4

11

9 1 4 6 2 8 7 5 3

18

4

23

7 2 3 5 9 1 6 8 4

16

16

8

3 5 1 8 4 2 9 6 7

3

19

13

4 9 7 1 5 6 8 3 2

8

5

2 6 8 9 7 3 4 1 5

16

20

1 3 9 4 8 7 5 2 6

13

8 4 6 2 1 5 3 7 9

13

5 7 2 3 6 9 1 4 8

4

PZ1P5405

CROSS CODE 8

5405

31

33

31

35

27.

30.

32.

33.

Correspond (6) Small cake (3) Picture (5) Observe carefully (7) 34. Consumes (4) 35. Sense organ (8) DOWN 1. Digits (4) 2. Indian monetary unit (5) 3. Grin (5) 4. Skipper (6) 6. Canadian province (7) 7. Move over (8)

8. Ice cream dessert (6) 13. Downwind (3) 14. Chore (4) 16. Stimulant (8) 18. Middle Eastern country (4) 20. Gap filler (7) 21. Water ice (6) 23. Pasture (3) 25. Go back on (6) 28. Accepted practice (5) 29. Distort (5) 31. Be dressed in (4)

QUICK CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Tiresome; 5 Bait; 9 Empties; 10 Umbra; 11 Tun; 12 Delete; 15 Darns; 17 Aria; 19 Assess; 22 Relate; 24 Okra; 26 Flair; 27 Equate; 30 Bun; 32 Image; 33 Examine; 34 Eats; 35 Receptor.

Down – 1 Toes; 2 Rupee; 3 Smile; 4 Master; 6 Alberta; 7 Transfer; 8 Sundae; 13 Lee; 14 Task; 16 Caffeine; 18 Iraq; 20 Sealant; 21 Sorbet; 23 Lea; 25 Renege; 28 Usage; 29 Twist; 31 Wear.

QUIZ CHALLENGE: 1 Time; 2 Fish; 3 The Witcher; 4 Usman Khawaja; 5 Aluminium; 6 The hydrogen bomb; 7 Gemini or the Heavenly Twins; FIVE ALIVE: 8 Gandalf; 9 Holiday; 10 Bruce Forsyth.

(1) Across – Offal; Tacit; Suave.

Down – Oaths; Facia; Lathe.

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: CROSS CODE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Across – 1 California; 7 Zebra; 8 Rubbish; 10 Notional; 11 Well; (2) Across – Lilts; Mêlée; Nicer.

K F T P H Q L S N B Z Y E 13 Locker; 15 Alaska; 17 Yule; 18 Graceful; 21 Ripping; 22 Route; Down – Lemon; Lilac; Swear.

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 23 Hopping mad.

R J O G A X C I W V D M U Down – 1 Cubit; 2 Lean over; 3 Format; 4 Robe; 5 Iciness; 6 NONAGRAM: agar; area; aria; attar; attire; aver; Ozone layer; 9 Half asleep; 12 Plectrum; 14 Calypso; 16 Origin; avert; gaiter; gear; girt; giver; grate; MAGIC SQUARE: EASY SUDOKU HARD SUDOKU 19 Found; 20 Limp. hale; arid; ling; grave; GRAVITATE; great; grit; irate; edge. raga; rage; riata; rata; rate; ratite; ravage; rave; regatta; rite; rive; rivet; tare; targe; target; tart; tater; tear; terai; tetra; tiara; tier; tiger; tire; titre; trait; treat; tret; triage; trig; trite; trivet; vair; variate; vert; virga; virgate.

28 | LIFE

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Breakfast hash In the kitchen Milk & More

B

ORED with breakfast?

Short on time?

Or simply want to do your bit for the planet?

Online doorstep delivery service Milk & More has you covered, with a range of delicious recipes, to help you create brilliant breakfasts featuring best of British produce, all delivered to your door by 7am.

This month’s recipes are to celebrate the most important meal of the day, part of its Milk & More’s first annual

Breakfast Week, which runs next week.

It serves a range of milks and juices delivered in one-pint zero waste packaging glass bottles (reused on average 25 times), yoghurt, fruit, eggs, bread and more with no pointless plastic…

In fact, 97% of all of its product packaging fits into the circular economy, meaning its fully reusable, recyclable or compostable.

From easy weekend brunches like Avocado Toasties and mouthwatering Pancakes with

Bacon and Maple Syrup to Layered Muesli Pots and Smoothies, perfect for on-the-go… it’s time to rethink breakfast and start your day the right way.

Whether you want to reinvigorate your porridge, upgrade your morning eggs or simply try something new, get ready to mix up your morning routine with one of these new recipes.

To get involved in this year’s Breakfast Week and find out more, visit breakfastweek.co.uk or follow @milkandmore on Facebook and @ freshmilkandmore on Instagram.

BREAKFAST HASH Prep: 10 minutes Cook: 15 minutes Serves 2 n 350g potatoes, diced n 2 tbsp oil n 1 onion, diced (180g)

n 4 rashers back bacon, chopped (125g) n 2 tomatoes, roughly chopped (180g) n 2 medium eggs n 2 tbsp roughly chopped flat leaf parsley

Method Cook the potatoes in boiling water for 5 minutes, drain.

Heat the oil in a large frying pan and fry the potatoes, onion and bacon for

5-6 minutes until browned.

Add in the tomatoes and cook for a further 2-3 minutes until softened, season and stir in half the parsley.

Meanwhile, poach the eggs in simmering water for 3-4 minutes, drain.

Serve the breakfast hash topped with the poached eggs and sprinkle over the

remaining parsley to serve.

Cook’s tip Replace the bacon with sliced mushrooms and omit the egg for a vegan alternative.

SPORT TODAY

WOKINGHAM

NO ONE CHRONICLES THE ACTION BETTER THAN US

17.03.22

RED DEVILS GET BETTER OF WOMEN

SCRUM ON DOWN FOR FRIDAY FUN

BROWN BAGS HAT-TRICK

INCE’S LATE STRIKE EARNS A POINT

WOODLEY United completed their first league double of the season and their first clean sheet since the opening day of the season.

WHAT A HIT, SON!

Tom Ince, pictured during Saturday’s defeat to Nottingham Forest, scored against Bournemouth on Tuesday Picture: Steve Smyth

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

READING FC earned a vital point away at Bournemouth on Tuesday evening after Tom Ince’s late wonder strike.

After falling behind to another early goal, Paul Ince’s team managed to regroup and hit back in the secondhalf as Ince Jr netted his first goal in

Royals’ colours in the 83rd minute to dent the Cherries’ automatic promotion ambitions.

Despite gaining a positive result against a promotion contender, the Royals dropped closer to the relegation zone after Barnsley were victorious over Bristol City to cut the gap to just two points.

It was a productive second-half display from Reading that allowed

KESTRELS MOVE UP WITH CLEAN SHEET WIN

them the platform to stop their losing run of three consecutive games, boosting their survival hopes in the Championship.

Although he was pleased by his side’s performance, Ince believes that Reading should have taken all three points home from the Vitality Stadium.

“Bournemouth couldn’t get near us,” said Ince.

“I sensed before the game in the dressing room a determination on the back of the Forest game to put it right. To outplay a team vying for the Premier League says a lot, but the players need to keep producing.

“They’ve set the standard now and nothing else will do to keep us in the league” n Match report and reaction on pages 20 & 21

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The win also helped them move above their opponents, London Samurai Rovers, on goal difference in the Combined Counties Division One table.

Rovers were under pressure from their kick off as Woodley pressed the visitors in their half with an opening chance which Hubert Szczech saved well to his right from Bevan Van Wyk’s header to concede a corner kick.

The 19th minute saw Rafa Brandao’s shot blocked with loose ball falling to Sykes whose powerful drive was turned away for a corner by the diving Szczech.

The resulting kick went across the visitors’ six yard box, where Gary Smith failed to make contact, and the ball went out of play.

The pace of the game slowed down with the teams entering half time goalless.

The second half started as the first with Woodley enjoying good possession in the Samurai half but, in doing so, were susceptible to a counter attack.

United’s efforts were rewarded in the 63rd minute when Van Wyk found Brandao on the left winger whose low cross into the opponents’ penalty area found the unmarked Kaylum Barlow, who shot it past Szczech.

Rovers’ best chance to level came in the 75th minute when Walker blocked a shot, following a corner, from close range and Stuart Birkett reacted quickest to divert the ball over the home cross bar from the follow up shot.

Following receiving two cautions in quick succession, Samurai were reduce to 10 players with the sending off of full-back Blessing Lama.

Rovers looked to level leaving themselves exposed in defence.

The closest Woodley came to extending their lead was when Seun Akintola was flagged offside, while the last action of the game saw Walker catch the ball in a crowed penalty area from a free kick.

18 | SPORT

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RUGBY UNION

RAMS READY FOR BIG NIGHT OUT

By RICHARD ASHTON sport@wokingham.today

RAMS’ longest-serving player James Baker has admitted he could never have imagined his side would be hosting a National One Friday Night Lights encounter ahead of this week’s clash with local rivals Chinnor when he first joined way back in 2004.

The legendary tight-head prop, who has more than 350 first-team caps and enjoyed four promotions as Rams have climbed from Southern Counties South to Level Three, is still going strong as he gets set for what should be an incredible evening.

Reminiscing on his time at Old Bath Road, Baker stated: “It’s been a whirlwind – I’ve been lucky to be here for some of the best times the club has had with all the promotions.

“We’ve had some great victories, some bitter losses, and it’s been

amazing being with the team through all of it.

“Back at the start we had quite a young side with potential, but who would have thought all these years later we’d get to National One. “A lot of the boys from back when we were in Southern Counties aren’t playing any more – I was the youngest then and now I’m the oldest so I’m very proud of that.

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

Baker – named in the National Two South Team of the Season in the title-winning campaign of 2018/19 – said there has been an evolution in training methods and is amazed at the club’s off-field progress as well.

“I believe the training was actually harder at the start – there wasn’t the same understanding there is now,” he said.

“Back then everyone thought ‘beast them and they’ll get better’, but now

James Baker in action for Rams Picture: Paul Clark always been an inspirational leader in it’s a bit more technical and specific the team,” he said. to positions, and that helps more than “I used to play with some of the just beasting everyone every week. coaches like Paddy (Conlon), Seb “It’s also hard to believe with the (Reynolds) and Owen (Root) and clubhouse and facilities we have they’re all still at the club, so that’s now, what it used to be like – it used fantastic.” to be a shack. A lot of teams who’d Having scored 47 tries during his visit complained about how bad the time at the club – and contributed to facilities were, but it’s 100% better countless penalty tries – Baker has now – it’s great.” a target and also recalls his greatest Baker was also quick to point out effort fondly, as well as his favourite the on-field continuity at the club, memory. with special praise for the skipper.

“I’ll definitely get to 50,” he said.

“Robbie (Stapley)’s a great guy “The most memorable is from quite whose only a couple of seasons a few years ago and no-one believes behind how long I’ve played – he’s

me, but I ran from our own five-metre line at Newton Abbot to score at their end with an interception.

“It was probably more luck than anything – and it must have been quite a sight to see a prop running down the wing.

“I remember our last promotion (as National Two South champions) the most, because we had so many people around and a big celebration.” n There are hopes a record-breaking Old Bath Road crowd on Friday night, so to ensure smooth access, supporters are urged to pre-book tickets via the Rams website – www.ramsrugby.com

FOOTBALL ROUND-UP

FC BAPCO’S LUCKY 11 SEES THEM PICK UP SILVERWARE

Berks & Bucks FA Sunday Cup Final FC BAPCO executed an attacking masterclass as they struck 11 past Paggies Bar on their way to winning silverware.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for BAPCO despite the scoreline as they fell behind after five minutes.

Bapco brought the game level in the 32nd minute, but Paggies replied quickly to regain their lead.

In a frantic end to the first-half, Bapco remarkably netted three times to turn the game on its head to be able to take a 4-2 advantage into the break.

Ten minutes after the restart, Bapco netted a fifth before Paggies went down to 10 players after receiving a red card.

Bapco took full control of the contest and enjoyed a magnificent attacking performance by hitting in five more to wrap up a convincing victory to take the cup.

Reading & District Sunday League Senior Division

TWYFORD COMETS moved away from the bottom of the table with just their second win of the campaign with a 2-1 win over BURGHFIELD. WOODLEY WANDERERS shared the points with MORTIMER after a 2-2 stalemate between the teams

in fifth and sixth in the table.

Division One 116 EXILES lost out in a five-goal contest to WAYBACK WANDERERS. GC UNITED took the points with a 2-1 victory over CAVERSHAM UNITED. EMMER GREEN strolled to a 6-0 triumph over ROSE & THISTLE, while league leaders WESTWOOD WANDERERS were held to a 1-1 draw

by GIVE BACK.

Division Two GORING UNITED stay at the top of the league after they smashed seven past AFC PANGBOURNE.

Division Three HURST are top of the table after they edged past bottom side THAMES VALLEY RAILWAY 2-1.

RACING CLUB DE WOKO stay in the hunt in the top three after they beat FC WOODLEY 4-2, while SANCTUARY STRIKERS beat NEW ENGLAND 2-1.

Division Four results Barton Rovers Reserves 2-5 Whitley Wood, Brothers United 2-1 RG6, Calcot 2-1 MAC, Give Back Reserves 2-4 Hype Train

WINNERS: FC BAPCO lift the trophy Picture: Berks & Bucks FA

Bracknell & District Sunday League Premier BRACKNELL RANGERS stay in third after they earned a 1-0 win over FINCHAMPSTEAD ATHLETIC. Bracknell with have their sights on the top with two games in hand on leaders Crowthorne Inn and three games in hand on second-placed Raglan.

RAGLAN stayed second after they earned a 1-0 victory over top of the table CROWTHORNE INN.

Division One FREEMAN ROYALS smacked 12 past WOODLEY UNITED in a stunning

clean sheet win.

Cup FC SHOWCASE got the better of AFC Dukes in a thrilling cup tie that ended 6-4.

Division Two SILVER BIRCH won on the road 2-1 at FC HARMANSWATER, while HARTS OF BRACKNELL defeated WOODLEY SAINTS TIGERS 4-2.

BRAYBROOKE ATHLETIC and BRACKNELL ATHLETIC couldn’t be separated in a 2-2 stalemate.

Division Three

ASHRIDGE PARK beat FINCHAMPSTEAD ATHLETIC A 2-1, BRACKNELL ROYALS earned three points with a 4-1 away win at BRACKNELL BISONS and CROWTHORNE A won 5-2 against BRACKNELL SAINT-GERMAIN.

Cup semi-final WOKINGHAM WANDERERS booked their place in the cup final with a 3-0 win over FINCHAMPSTEAD ATHLETIC B. AFC DUKES RESERVES breezed past BRACKNELL TITANS with an 11-0 triumph.

SPORT | 19

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BOARS MAKE STUNNING COMEBACK FOOTBALL

Eversley & California completed a comeback: Richard Milam

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

Isthmian South Central BINFIELD took three points away from home with a clean sheet victory at Thatcham Town.

Scoring on the stroke of halftime, James Beauchamp’s strike proved to be the only goal of the game as the Moles came away with a 1-0 win.

Combined Counties Premier North WOKINGHAM & EMMBROOK’s two game winning run came to an end with an away loss at North Greenford United.

The home team went in front after 30 minutes and extended

their lead in the secondhalf with two more goals to consolidate the result.

The Sumas are in 16th after 27 games on 25 points, four above 17th and five above 18th with games in hand on both.

Combined Counties Division One EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA pulled off a magnificent comeback thanks to Bradley Brown’s hat-trick.

A disappointing start for the Boars saw them fall two goals behind when FC Deportivo Galicia scored in the 16th minute and then again in the 25th minute.

But Eversley regrouped, fought back and got themselves level before half-time with two goals in quick succession from

Lewis Robson battles with his opponent

Brown to cancel out Deportivo’s advantage.

With confidence and momentum on their side, Brown sealed his hat-trick when he slotted the ball past the keeper in the 57th minute which completed the turnaround.

Eversley are in fourth after 30 games and have two games in hand on third placed Rayners Lane, who they currently trail by seven points.

BERKS COUNTY are in ninth after they kept a clean sheet in their win over Hillingdon Borough.

Goals from Kai Hobbs and Harry Lee gifted the Swords three points.

Berks & Bucks semi-final FINCHAMPSTEAD suffered penalty heartbreak as they

were eliminated from the cup

by SB Phoenix.

A 1-1 draw meant the game decided by a shootout which was won by Phoenix 4-3 which meant they progressed past the current Thames Valley Premier League champions.

BTC Senior Cup WARGRAVE stormed through with the next round with an emphatic victory over Eldon Celtic.

Sam Wild and Sam Guze both netted hat-tricks, Joe Wigmore scored a brace and goals from Torben Rees and Calum Hunter helped them to a 9-2 triumph.

BURGHFIELD were knocked out of the cup after a defeat to Yateley United.

Lorenzo Medford got on the scoresheet for the Fielders but

they were beaten 2-1.

HURST got through with a penalty shootout win over Mortimer.

The teams were locked at 0-0 at the end of 120 minutes, but Hurst went through with a 4-3 shootout success.

READING YMCA went out after a 6-3 loss to Windlesham & Chobham, while WOODLEY UNITED ROYALS went down to a 2-0 defeat to Westwood Wanderers.

Berks & Bucks Women’s Trophy Final CAVERSHAM UNITED fell at the final hurdle in a magnificent cup run that ended in defeat to Penn & Tylers Green.

Caversham goalkeeper Nina Merritt did brilliantly to keep Penn at bay before they

eventually went in front to take a lead into the break.

After soaking up some pressure from the Billygoats, Penn hit on the counter with two more goals to win the final.

Southern Region Women’s Premier Division WOODLEY UNITED fell to a heavy defeat against league champions Moneyfields.

The Kestrels conceded two in the first-half and four more in the second as the visitors sealed the league title in an unbeaten campaign.

Thames Valley Women’s Division One WARGRAVE were beaten in seven-goal contest away at Stonesfield Strikers.

20 | SPORT

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RUINOUS ROYALS THU SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP

How they rated

FOREST 4 READING 0

LUKE SOUTHWOOD

His confidence looks to be extremely low and who can blame him given how many goals the team ship?

ANDY YIADOM

Wasn’t able to get forward and create an overlap on the right as often as he usually does; he was part of another dismal defensive display.

MICHAEL MORRISON

Probably had the best chance of the match when the ball dropped to him in the box from close range, but the keeper made a smart stop.

SCOTT DANN

A rusty performance in his first game back after a two-month absence. Spun by Davis all too easily before the striker curled in a shot.

TOM MCINTYRE

Didn’t track Djed Spence’s run down the right which led to Forest’s opener. Had a very tricky afternoon, albeit playing out of position.

JOSH LAURENT

Worked exceptionally hard in the midfield having also been out with injury but slotted back in seamlessly.

Missed a golden chance.

DANNY DRINKWATER

Another underwhelming display.

Picked up a needless booking in the first-half and was eventually taken off in the 72nd minute for Joao.

ANDY RINOMHOTA

Gave away possession far too many times with some sloppy passes that prevented Reading being able to start attacks.

JUNIOR HOILETT

Didn’t have any chances of note in front of goal and didn’t do enough to create much for any of his teammates.

TOM INCE

Went on some brilliant driving runs. Faded as the game went on though.

YAKOU MEITE

His first full 90 minutes since returning from his eight-month ACL injury layoff. He played the full game after Lucas Joao’s illness.

SUBS Ovie Ejaria, Brandon Barker

4 5 4 4 3 6 3 3 4 5 5

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today READING dropped closer to the Championship drop zone after they shipped another four goals away at Nottingham Forest.

The first 17 seconds set the tone for the afternoon as the Royals fell behind mere moments into the match when Keinan Davis scored.

Forest strolled to victory in the second-half as Davis added his second which was followed by goals from Ryan Yates and Sam Surridge.

Reading now sit four points above the relegation zone after Barnsley picked up a point against league leaders Fulham.

Paul Ince made three changes from Reading’s defeat at home to Millwall. Scott Dann, Yakou Meite and Josh Laurent all returned to the starting line-up.

Meanwhile, top scorer John Swift was absent from the matchday squad and the Championship’s Player of the Month for February, Lucas Joao, was named on the bench after missing some training sessions through illness.

Forest flew out of the traps and with just 17 seconds gone in the match, they took the lead as Reading were caught napping despite having two experienced defenders in the line-up in Dann and Michael Morrison.

Lively full-back Djed Spence burst forward and delivered a cross to find Keinan Davis in the middle and he converted to give the hosts a lightning quick start.

Tom Ince picked up an early booking after showing his fury to the referee who decided not to award a free-kick to Reading instead

The Royals concede a fourth

Michael Morrison heads at goal

Yakou Meite makes a tackle

Match stats Nottingham Forest: Horvath, Worrall, Cook, McKenna, Spence, Yates, Garner, Colback, Lowe, Johnson, Davis Subs: Samba, Silva, Surridge, Mighten, Cafu, Lolley, Figueiredo Reading: Southwood, Yiadom, Morrison (c), Dann, McIntyre, Laurent, Drinkwater, Rinomhota, Hoilett, Ince, Meite Subs: Nyland, Abrefa, Dele-Bashiru, Ejaria, Barker, Joao, Clarke Goals: Davis 1’, 62’, Yates 75’, Surridge 80’

Forest go ahead after just 17 seconds of allowing the winger to play advantage.

Ince provided Reading;s best moments in attack throughout the first-half, which were few and far between. He looked to set up Yakou Meite with a pull back after beating two defenders only for his cross to be intercepted.

A big chance came and went for Reading when the ball dropped inside the box for Morrison to hit, while Forest’s goalkeeper Ethan Horvath came to the rescue to keep

Forest condemned Reading to an his team in front.

Andy Yiadom picked up a yellow card as did Danny Drinkwater and Jack Colback for the hosts.

Reading’s best opportunity of the half came following a surging run from Ince who moved forward with purpose and picked out Josh Laurent’s run from deep at the back post but the midfielder headed over the top.

Another chance came the way of the Royals when Morrison headed the ball across the face of goal but

PREVIEW

BLACKBURN TEST NEXT AS READING BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL READING host play-off pushing Blackburn Rovers as their bid for Championship survival continues.

The Royals are just four points above the drop zone prior to Tuesday night’s away trip to face second-placed AFC Bournemouth (match report online at rdg.today).

They are back on home soil on Saturday when they host promotion hopefuls Blackburn.

Tony Mowbray’s side are currently fourth in the Championship after they defeated Derby County at home on Tuesday night.

Rovers went a goal down to relegation candidates Derby after Ravel Morrison put Wayne Rooney’s team ahead.

Blackburn staged a second-half

comeback to take the points with goals from Scott Wharton, Tyrhys Dolan, Sam Gallagher.

Blackburn had put themself in the hunt for the automatic promotion places but have since hit a snag that has seen their form dip.

Despite their lapse in form, which has seen pick up just four points from their last five games prior to their midweek win over Derby which includes three defeats, they remain in a strong position.

The race to finish in the top six to secure a play-off place is also heating up with teams as low as 14th placed West Brom still hoping for a late push despite it being an outside shot.

Blackburn are only one point

above sixth-placed Sheffield United and seventh-placed Luton Town, both of which have a game in hand to catch up on Rovers.

Ben Brereton Diaz has enjoyed an excellent campaign to help push Rovers up the table and leads the goalscoring charts for his team with 20 in 30 appearances.

Blackburn’s poor run of results has coincided with the loss of Brereton Diaz to injury and he isn’t expected to return in time for the trip to the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday.

Mowbray’s team suffered a disappointing blow at the weekend

after Andreas Weimann netted a 92nd-minute goal to gift Bristol City a rare away win.

Blackburn have failed to score in their last three Championship matches and have won just one of their last nine matches which has seen them drop out of the automatic promotion places.

Reading’s trip to Ewood Park in October ended in a 2-0 defeat with quickfire goals courtesy of Sam Gallagher and Tyrhys Dolan.

Rovers’ last visit to Berkshire finished with a 1-0 win for the home side with a goal from George Puscas.

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UMPED AT FOREST

Meite protests his innocence

‘It should have been three points’ says Royals boss

READING FC interim manager Paul Ince believes his team’s performance was strong enough to earn three points away at Bournemouth.

Josh Laurent involved in a tussle Lucas Joao

Scott Dann battles against Djed Spence Ejaria evades a tackle

nother costly defeat in their fight to stay up Pictures: Steve Smyth

Ovie Ejaria puts in a challenge

Forest keeper Horvath managed to flap the ball away and Steve Cooper’s team eventually cleared.

That brought a close to the half in what was a lacklustre display from Reading following a sloppy start to the afternoon.

Reading captain Morrison was next to go in the referee’s notebook after the restart when he went in hard on Cafu.

Luke Southwood was required to make a stop when he palmed away James Garner’s cross-shot.

Interim boss Ince made a first change in the 57th minute when Ovie Ejaria replaced Andy Rinomhota.

Tom Ince holds off a defender

Forest extended their advantage just after the hour mark when Davis spun into the box and dispatched the ball past Southwood after his shot kissed the inside of the post before finding the net.

A second switch was made to try and recover something from the game with 20 minutes to go as Lucas Joao came on for Drinkwater.

With 15 minutes left, Forest found a third to seal the points when a speculative strike from Ryan Yates went through the gloves of Southwood to find the corner.

Brandon Barker entered the game to make his Royals debut in place of Junior Hoilett.

Just moments later, Forest added insult to injury by adding a fourth of the afternoon.

Substitute Sam Surridge latched onto the end of and swept the ball past Southwood.

Reading’s calamitous defence has now seen them conceded 72 goals in the league this season which leaves them in the midst of a tense battle for survival.

Ince’s men had another tough trip on Tuesday night when they drew against promotion pushing AFC Bournemouth thanks to a late goal from Tom Ince, his first for the club.

“I’m not happy. It should have been three points,” said Ince.

“Bournemouth are a fantastic team so to come here and play the way we did was pleasing.

“We keep conceding early goals so we need to cut that out. After the Forest game it was embarrassing.

“It wasn’t my team, I wasn’t prepared to accept it and I told the players in no uncertain terms.

“But they responded tonight and it was more like a ‘my’ team.”

“When we lose it, we win it back and hunt in packs. We create chances and we did that ever so well.”

Despite being disappointed that his team weren’t rewarded with a win, Ince was full of praise for his players after they stopped a run of three straight defeats.

He continued: “Bournemouth couldn’t get near us.

“I shouldn’t be sat here disappointed with a point but I am and the players are.

“It stops the rot, gives us belief going into Blackburn.

“Nobody gave us a chance after Forest.

People thought we would roll over but we didn’t “We showed togetherness and that we’ve got good players.

“At this stage of the season, it’s about collating points.

“We got forward and have confidence going into Blackburn and if we win that it would have been a good week.”

Ince was also delighted with his son’s goal after Tom netted his first for the club.

“About time,” said Ince when asked about Tom Ince’s first strike for the Royals.

“He’s been here long enough.

“He was outstanding and showed what a top player he is.

“The timing of the goal was important. It was an amazing strike.”

AFC BOURNEMOUTH 1-1 READING

INCE HITS LATE LEVELLER AS ROYALS TAKE POSITIVE STEP READING picked up a vital point to boost their Championship survival hopes after Tom Ince struck late away at AFC Bournemouth.

The Royals fell behind to an early Dominic Solanke goal, but hit back with a gutsy second-half display where they managed to take a point from the promotion hopefuls.

Despite gaining a credible point on the road, Reading’s gap to the relegation zone was cut to just two points after 22nd placed Barnsley beat Bristol City.

Having made a disastrous start against Nottingham Forest on Saturday after conceding just

17 seconds into the match, Reading made a slightly better start on the South Coast.

But they did fall behind to another early strike when the prolific Dominic Solanke put Bouremouth in front after eight minutes.

It was a slick piece of play from the hosts that sliced open Reading’s defence. Solanke played the ball into the box to find Jefferson Lerma who played a return pass to Solanke and the striker applied the finishing touch to cap a fine move.

Paul Ince’s men could have been punished further when former

Reading academy product Jack Stacey burst into the box and had plenty of options, but Nyland got a hand to his cross to parry it out of danger.

The Cherries exerted more pressure in hope of finding a second goal only to be denied by a superb save by debutant Nyland.

The Norwegian keeper got down low to his left to keep out Ryan Christie’s shot at the near post.

A golden chance came Reading’s way before the hour when Ince put in another enticing cross that looked as if it would fall for Joao to tap in from close range, but Nat

Phillips got across to make a last ditch intervention to put it behind for a corner.

With just seven minutes of the 90 to play, Reading were rewarded for their dominance and positivity in the second-half when Ince blasted a thunderous effort past Travers to equalise.

Bournemouth tried to salvage a winner with some late pressure, but Reading also had a chance to steal the points with a late free kick and a corner.

But the points were shared as Reading took a positive step with a much-improved performance.

Reading FC interim manager Paul Ince

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FRANTIC FIRST-HALF SEES R WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE

How they rated

READING 1 MAN UNITED 3 GRACE MOLONEY

Couldn’t have done much to prevent the goals, especially the third which was a sumptuous strike that flew into the far corner.

FAYE BRYSON

Caught out a couple of times as Reading tried to play a high defensive line but were punished by United.

GEMMA EVANS

Put in some important defensive blocks and should have scored on the stroke of half-time to make it 3-2, but she hit the crossbar.

DEANNA COOPER

Stopped a certain goal when she got back onto the line to prevent Martha Thomas’ shot from hitting the net.

LILY WOODHAM

Delivered some promising setpieces that almost led to chances, including the one that dropped for Evans just before the break.

TASH HARDING

Struggled to get into the game and didn’t have too much impact.

Showed her versatility by being asked to play in an advanced role.

SANNE TROELSGAARD

Assured and composed despite being involved in a frantic match.

Came close with a volley; taken off in the 78th minute for Chloe Peplow.

JUSTINE VANHAEVERMAET Shored up the game defensively in the second-half as the Royals managed to keep United at bay, having looked very open in the first.

RACHEL ROWE

Superbly anticipated a loose pass at the back from United which set up Deanne Rose’s equaliser. Had a couple of strikes at goal.

EMMA HARRIES

Combined nicely at times with Rose in attack but didn’t have too many chances at goal despite working hard for her side

DEANNE ROSE

Looked a threat all game. Took her goal expertly with a cool finish and was unlucky not to score after being denied by a double save.

SUBS Chloe Peplow n/a

6 6 6 7 6 6 7 6 7 6 8

By Andy Preston apreston@wokingham.today READING FC WOMEN were caught out by Manchester United’s attack after a breathless first-half of action in the Women’s Super League.

A frantic start ensued when Leah Galton put United ahead after they had struck the bar with just 18 seconds on the block.

Deanne Rose levelled for Reading but the visitors had a two-goal lead after Galton finished expertly before Alessia Russo hit a sweet strike into the corner.

Reading tried to respond in the second-half but were kept at bay as United took the points.

The result leaves Reading in sixth in the WSL after 16 matches.

Kelly Chambers made two changes from Reading’s goalless draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur as Sanne Troeslgaard and Emma Harries were selected to start, while the Royals were without their top scorer Natasha Dowie and Amalie Eikeland.

United came within inches away of making a blistering start when they attacked with purpose straight from kick-off and with just 18 seconds on the clock, Alessia Russo found space to unleash a strike that crashed off the crossbar.

The visitors didn’t let that early missed chance deter them and kept up the early pressure and found their reward just a few minutes later.

Winning the ball high up the pitch, United stormed down the left through Hannah Blundell who clipped in a cross that was met by the head of Leah Galton who

The crowd at the SCL

The Royals fall to defeat

Justine Vanhaevermaet

Match stats Reading: Moloney, Bryson, Evans, Cooper, Woodham, Harding (c), Rowe, Troelsgaard, Vanhaevermaet, Rose, Harries Subs: Stewart, Peplow, Balgent, Roberts, Poulter Manchester United: Earps, Thorsdottir, Caldwell, Battle, Blundell, Groenen, Zelem, Russo, Toone, Galton, Thomas Subs: Risa, Baggaley, Fuso, Harris, Murphy, Barry, Hanson Goals: Galton 5’, 25’, Rose 16’, Russo 43’

Reading celebrate Rose’s equaliser glanced the ball into the far corner.

Rachel Rowe worked an opportunity to respond when her first touch set her up to hit a half volley that flew just wide of the target.

The hosts drew level in the 16th minute thanks to some persistent work and anticipation from Rowe.

She picked up on a loose pass at the back from Blundell, the ball dropped for Rose who took a touch to settle herself and slotted the ball past Mary Earps.

An all action first-half saw Manch United were back in front in the 25th minute when Reading’s high defensive line was caught out by a perfectly threaded through ball from Russo to pick out Galton and the forward finished excellently by rounding Grace Moloney and finishing into the empty net.

A slick move down the right nearly brought a chance when Harries and Rose combined to win a corner that was eventually headed over the top by Rowe.

REACTION

CHAMBERS LEFT TO RUE MISSED CHANCES IN HOME LOSS KELLY Chambers believes her team should have scored more after Reading FC Women lost out to Manchester United.

In an action packed opening 45 minutes, the Royals found themselves 3-1 down at the break and were unable to put away their chances to force their way back into the contest .

“If I’m honest, I think we were 45 minutes late to the party,” said Chambers.

“We didn’t set up and defend our goal properly how we usually do and take a lot of pride in doing.

“I think we certainly created enough chances to threaten them, and I come away from the game, especially the secondhalf, asking how have we not

scored more than we have.

“For me, that’s probably the most frustrating thing as with the momentum we had built in the second-half, had we scored one, I believe we would have scored another.

“I think whilst you can give some praise to their keeper, the clear cut chances we had fall on us for not being clinical enough.

“The chances where we are six yards from goal in and around their box, we have to be more ruthless to give ourselves a chance especially when you come up against these top sides who won’t usually give you that many chances.”

Despite missing top scorer Natasha Dowie from the team, Chambers believes that her side

had enough attacking firepower to put away more chances.

She continued: “We wanted to ask questions of the United backline as I believe we had the quality to do that with Deanne (Rose, Emma (Harries) and Tash (Harding) all up there.

“In the first-half our reactions getting to second balls were nowhere good enough and it’s what put us on the back foot.

“Had we started the first like we did the second, I think we’d be talking about a different result.

“Of course missing the likes of Tash [Dowie] and Am [Eikeland], are huge for us, but we do have good quality to cover those areas.

I think in the first half particularly we saw how much Am gives us, with her constant running and going after the first and second balls, defensively she gives us an all round performance.

“In the first half we didn’t defend our goal well enough, and we were quite slow to react to transitions. In the second half, we were much better at that, getting into the front foot but weren’t clinical enough in key moments.”

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ROYALS OUSTED BY UNITED Gemma Evans is denied by the crossbar

From the middle Dick Sawdon-Smith

A referee’s yellow armband

I Lily Woodham leaps Faye Bryson

The Royals lead out with the mascots Tash Harding wins the ball from a corner

hester United take the points at the SCL Pictures: Neil Graham

Rowe embraces with Rose

The away side should have scored a third when they again burst forward after breaking past Reading’s high line.

Martha Thomas was set through on goal with two teammates in support, but instead of putting it on a plate for one of her fellow forwards to finish, she opted to shoot and was denied by a tremendous block on the line from Deanna Cooper.

A breathless passage of play followed when Ona Battle hit a thunderous strike that hit the underside of the bar and crossed the line, but was not spotted by the officials who waved play on.

Emma Harries takes control

Just seconds later, Russo picked out the top corner with a sublime strike to spare the match officials from making a mistake that looked to have cost United a goal.

The goal mouth action wasn’t done for the half when on the brink of the whistle, Gemma Evans should have reduced the deficit when the ball dropped for her from close range but she poked a shot goalwards that bounced off the bar.

There was more defending for Reading to contend with after the restart as United looked for a fourth to consolidate their lead.

Rose proved to be the focal point in attack for Reading and set up a chance with a cut back for Rowe that was mishit by the Welsh international.

But the attack was kept alive only for Rose to be denied by a double save by Earps after two powerful hits from the Canadian forward.

A couple of chances broke the way of Rose in the box late on but she was thwarted by some strong defending.

The final whistle blew as the visitors took all three points to leave the Royals in sixth in the table.

READING FC

NEW RECRUIT NYLAND RELISHES SURVIVAL CHALLENGE READING FC’s latest recruit Orjan Nyland has explained what he can bring to the club to help their fight for Championship survival.

The 31-year-old goalkeeper joined as a free agent and met up with his new teammates at Bearwood Park last Thursday.

Reading had to go back into the market for a goalkeeper after Arsenal loanee Karl Hein had to return to his parent club having suffered a ligament injury in his finger that requires surgery and will keep him out for the rest of the campaign.

“I’ve been speaking to the club

for a couple of weeks and I had a chat with the manager at the weekend,” said Nyland.

“I had a couple of options and I weighed them up and I think this will be a good fit for both parties.

“I just hope I can do well and participate to help the club in the best way that I can.

“Now it’s just about kicking on, getting to know my teammates, meeting up with the lada and bringing what I can offer.”

Nyland has previous Championship experience having played a season at Aston Villa and he has also made one appearance

in the league this season for AFC Bournemouth.

The shot-stopper also has 33 caps for Norway.

He continued: “I like to play with pressure. I’ve done it before and it brings your A game if you’re up to it.

“That’s what I want to do here.

“This is definitely a club that should be in this division, so that has to be the number one goal for everyone involved to make that happen. ”It’s a tough schedule, but we can definitely do it and I’m really looking forward to it..

“I know what the Championship is about – and now it’s about using that experience in the best way that I can to help the club.

“There is always a group of goalkeepers and goalkeepers behind the one that is playing. So it’s about making the best team that you can and helping each other to develop in the right direction. It is healthy to have competition so you have to use it for the best.

“Now we have to take it gameby-game and focus on what you can do in each game. We can be difficult to play against and we can cause problems for the opposition.”

F you watch any youth football in our local parks, you may see in future, the younger referees wearing a yellow arm band.

This is so the players parents, and their coaches will recognise that here is a young person, who is still learning about being a referee and trying to remember the 210 pages of the Laws of the Game and the requirements of refereeing.

You would think it would be obvious but it is surprising how much abuse they get from parents and coaches.

When we had our own training team in Reading, we would call the trainees back after a few games and asked them to write down the biggest problem they had faced so far.

Always the highest number would put ‘parents’.

In The Sunday Telegraph recently, one mother who’s young son has just joined a football club, complained that unlike other sports where parents drop their children off and then stand lazily by, football parents are a different brand.

“My biggest bugbear,” she said, “is the hordes of parents, mainly men, who are very keen to get involved.

“They lambast their kids if they appear to be having fun instead of concentrating 100%.

“Why not let their children enjoy their football and watch with a smile on your face.”

This isn’t just true of this country it happens all over the world.

I know that in America and Holland, they hold events like Silent Saturdays, when no one, not even coaches, are allowed to shout at players or referees.

I’m told that the players enjoy this enormously, as I’m sure do any young referees.

We told our young referees to report any abuse to the coaches.

I have found when mentoring young referees however, that sometime the coaches are as bad.

I ran the line for a 16-year-old boy while mentoring him at an under 16 academy game, Reading v another football League club.

At the end of the game, I had to physically block the away coach, charging after the referee.

“Yes,” I said, “he made mistakes but so did your young players, they are all learning.

“Your job is to develop your young players not harass young referees.”

Yellow armbands are intended to stop parents and coaches from hurling abuse at 14- to 18-year-old referees, especially at their first matches.

They will only work, if clubs tell parents and coaches what they signify, and are not additional adornment to the ref’s uniform.

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HOCKEY

CAMERON WINS WALES CALL UP

By STAFF WRITER sport@wokingham.today

“I’ve got a small home gym where I do weights, then I do cardio four times a week – a 5km run or sprint training.”

“I started playing hockey at three, but that wasn’t my only sport. I used to do competitive swimming until I was about 12, and I love skiing and rugby. If I had the time to play rugby too I still would.”

Right now he’s working on his hockey skills, which he says are coordination and agility, especially for goalkeepers.

“If you’re not agile, when you go down you can’t get back up quickly, so you end up conceding silly rebounds. If your coordination isn’t on point you just end up missing the ball – it comes quite fast.”

UTC principal Jonathan Nicholls said: “We are all immensely proud of Cameron’s selection. The constant juggle of priorities in life is a challenge for anyone. To see a young man, managing the demands of a rigorous training programme whilst continuing to focus on his studies at the UTC is nothing short of an inspiration.

“UTC Reading works with students to foster a culture where they are Ready, Respectful and Relentless. It is wonderful to see Cameron demonstrating all three of these elements at this early stage of his life and I have no doubt these foundations will help him grow towards further success in the future.”

UTC Reading student Cameron Mitchell has taken another step closer to making his dreams come true on the hockey field after he was selected for the Welsh U18s National Squad.

Cameron, who is half Welsh on his mum’s side, successfully made it through the trials for the U16 squad after a coach at his local team, Reading Hockey Club, encouraged him to try out.

Having gone up against other hopefuls from across the country, Cameron thoroughly impressed the coaches and has since gone on to qualify for the U18 squad, where he is a goalkeeper.

The Year 12 student said: “I play for Wales whenever I’m needed.

Every half-term there’s a training camp or a test series and the club have their version of regional level training every other week.”

“With the hockey world it’s quite private-school based, and the GB squad is mostly made up of English players.

“I want to try and prove a point – that a Welsh keeper who went to a state school can get into the GB squad – you don’t have to be privately educated or have the best training in the world to get there.”

“I do a lot of fitness outside of hockey so I’m able to perform at my best.

Cameron Mitchell

HOCKEY ROUND-UP

READING CLOSE IN ON LEAGUE TITLE TRIUMPH WITH TROJANS VICTORY

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

South Central Men’s Division 2

Women’s National Division 1 South

SONNING 2s returned with an emphatic win away at Maidenhead 2s.

They earned a clean sheet while they smacked six past Maidenhead on their way to picking up three points.

Sonning are in third on 36 points after 18 games, level on points with Yateley and one behind league leaders Phoenix & Ranelagh.

SOUTH BERKSHIRE 2s missed out after a nine-goal thriller at home to Thame.

Despite scoring four, South Berks were left without a point after they lost 5-4.

South Berks are seventh on 23 points after 18 games.

READING maintained their push to be crowned league champions after they saw off Trojans.

Reading hit four past their opponents without reply to earn another valuable three points.

The win keeps them at the top after 15 matches with a six point lead over second placed Sevenoaks.

Men’s National Division 1 South READING got back to winning ways with a win on the road at Sevenoaks.

Reading got the better of Sevenoaks with a 2-1 triumph.

South Central Women’s Premier 1 SONNING lost out in a 10-goal contest at home to Bournemouth.

Sonning netted three times but conceded seven in their 7-3 loss.

Sonning stay one place off the bottom of the table but are 14 points above Winchester.

South Central Men’s Premier 2 SOUTH BERKSHIRE 2s added three points to their tally with a win over Basingstoke.

The 2-1 success takes South Berks up to seventh in the table on 23 points after 18 matches.

South Central Women’s Division 1 SOUTH BERKSHIRE played out their fourth draw of the campaign against LEIGHTON BUZZARD. Ella Martin scored South Berks’ goal in a 1-1 draw which leaves them in sixth on 25 points.

TABLE TENNIS

RESULTS

Saturday, March 12 FOOTBALL Sky Bet Championship Nottingham Forest 4-0 Reading

Women’s Super League Reading 1-3 Manchester United Isthmian South Central Thatcham Town 0-1 Binfield Combined Counties Premier North North Greenford United 3-0 Sumas Combined Counties Division One Berks County 2-0 Hillingdon Borough Eversley & California 3-2 FC Deportivo Galicia Woodley United 1-0 London Samurai Rovers Cup Finchampstead 0-0 SB Phoenix (4-5 on pens) RUGBY UNION South West 1 East Newbury Blues 14-10 Bracknell HOCKEY Women’s National Division 1 South Reading v Trojans South Central Women’s Premier 1 Sonning 3-7 Bournemouth South Central Men’s Premier 2 South Berkshire 2-1 Basingstoke

Berks County v AFC Aldermaston Sandhurst Town v Eversley & California Wallingford v Woodley United

Wednesday, March 16 Women’s Super League Manchester City v Reading

FIXTURES

Saturday, March 19 FOOTBALL Sky Bet Championship Reading v Blackburn Rovers

Combined Counties Premier North Reading City v Edgware Town Tadley Calleva v Sumas Combined Counties Division One AFC Hayes v Eversley & California Berks County v Sandhurst Town Hilltop v Woodley United Thames Valley Premier League Finchampstead v Windlesham & Chobham Reading YMCA v Wraysbury Wargrave v Burghfield Westwood Wanderers v Reading City U23’s Woodley United Royals v Marlow United Cup Twyford & Ruscombe v AFC Winkfield Robertswood v Reading City Development Windlesham & Chobham A v Finchampstead United Thames Valley Division One FC Imaan Lions v Goring United

SONNING & PEPPARD BREEZE PAST KINGFISHER

South Central Women’s Division 1 South Berkshire 1-1 Leighton Buzzard

IN Division 1 Gary Morgan and Neil Huirford both got trebles as SONNING COMMON & PEPPARD A won 8-2 at KINGFISHER D, Kingfisher’s Julian Telford beating Jason Roberts, while Graham Mendick also grabbed a win over Jason.

FOOTBALL Southern Region Women’s Premier Division Woodley United 0-6 Moneyfields

Thames Valley Division Three Burghfield Reserves v Taplow United Reserves Hambleden Reserves v Reading YMCA Rapids

Thames Valley Women’s Division One Stonesfield Strikers 4-3 Wargrave

HOCKEY Men’s National Division 1 South Reading v Southgate

Cup Final Penn & Tylers 3-0 Caversham United

Women’s National Division 1 South Slough v Reading

HOCKEY Men’s National Division 1 South Sevenoaks 1-2 Reading

South Central Women’s Premier 1 Fareham v Sonning

Tuesday, March 15

FOOTBALL Cup Chichester City v Woodley United

Mo Cook, Steve Murgatroyd and Phil Davenport all got maximums as OUR LADY OF PEACE won 10-0 against bottom side TILEHURST RBL A, while Phil Mead’s hat trick and a double from Nigel Keedy saw KINGFISHER B triumph 7-3 at TIDMARSH A. In Division 2 KINGFISHER E’S Clive Gold had to retire, following a serious injury in the first set, conceding three points to club mates KINGFISHER G. Neil Dellar, Satej Jaywant and Hamid Mohseni all proceeded to each win a further singles set, Neil & Satej also taking the doubles, this enabled the G team to win 7-3, Andrew Adair winning twice and Abhay Gore defeating Satej.

READING FC A emerged victorious from their top of the table clash with SONNING SPORTS A, winning 6-4 thanks to a treble from Mike Childs, a double from Wayne Alleyne and a single from Tony Alleyne, Wayne defeating Nick Sears 13-11 11-9 11-4, in the 10th set to guarantee the win.

Nick earned his single by beating Tony 11-5 11-5 9-11 12-10, Paul Savage also winning twice, and although Bob Woodmansee was unable to add to his wins, his closest contest possibly the 5-11 9-11 10-12 loss to Tony, Sonning’s fourth point was courtesy of their doubles win.

Sunday, March 13

FOOTBALL Sky Bet Championship Bournemouth v Reading Isthmian South Central Westfield v Binfield

Combined Counties Premier North Sumas v Abbey Rangers Combined Counties Division One

Thames Valley Division Two Windlesham & Chobham Development v Hurst Reserves

Sunday, March 20

Thames Valley Women’s Division One Mortimer v Caversham United Tilehurst Panthers v Carterton Thames Valley Women’s Division 3S Caversham AFC v Wargrave Development