15 minute read
NEW START FOR COLLEGE SITE
THREE Mile Cross Bowling Club are hosting two open days for prospective players.
The taster sessions are free to attend and provide an opportunity to meet new people while trying a different sport.
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Visitors are asked to wear flat shoes or trainers, with bowls provided on the day if required.
The open days take place between 2-5pm on Saturday, May 21, and between 10am-1pm on Sunday, May 29.
Those travelling to the second session by car are advised that the Basingstoke Road end of Church Lane will be closed to traffic. n For more information, visit: www.threemilecrossbowlingclub. co.uk
THE WHITEKNIGHTS Ensemble will be performing a concert on Saturday, May 28, from 7.30pm, at Leighton Park School.
The programme includes Mozart’s Adagio and Allegro in F Minor, Hallam’s Dance Suite, and KJ Ankarblom’s Swedish Medley.
Tickets cost £10, or £5 for under 18s. Proceeds will go to ReadiFood, Reading’s food bank. n For more details, log on to: www.ticketsource.co.uk/ Whiteknights-Ensemble
Ensemble show Bracknell and Wokingham College opens state-of-the-art facilities
By DANIEL BLACKHAM dblackham@rdg.today
A NEW care skills training centre and pharma sciences laboratory has opened at Bracknell and Wokingham College.
The state-of-the-art improvements at the Activate Learning site, opened on Thursday, May 12, have been made possible by more than £1 million of funding from the Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
The facilities, designed in partnership with Syngenta, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, Health Education England and Skills for Care, will be used by students studying science and health and social care.
Nursing professionals from Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust will also use the care skills centre as part of their training.
The new facilities include a laboratory, featuring industrystandard equipment, an adjoining equipment room, a simulated hospital ward, an immersive environment and a flat.
Gary Headland, chief executive officer at Activate Learning, said: “We are delighted to be opening these state-of-the-art facilities that will be of huge benefit to our local community here in the Bracknell and Wokingham area. “Healthcare and the sciences are areas of strategic importance to the LEP here and so to work collaboratively with them to provide a joinedup solution to this challenge is
Alison Webster, CEO of Berkshire LEP cuts the ribbon with Gary Headland, CEO of Activate Learning
fantastic for us here at Activate Learning.
Activate Learning was awarded around £500,000 by Berkshire LEP through the government’s Getting Building Fund for the care skills training centre and a further £600,000 for the pharma sciences lab.
Alison Webster, chief executive of Berkshire LEP said, “The LEP’s 2022 Skills Report highlighted the need to promote sectors such as health and social care and life sciences that are experiencing severe labour shortages but also predicted to continue to grow.
For more information on the college’s science and health and care courses, visit: bracknell. activatelearning.ac.uk
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Road closures planned Arc workshops on Saturday
WORK to install a new drinking water pipe that’s nearly a kilometre long will start after the Jubilee weekend, with road closures expected until the new year.
The 900m pipe will be placed into Warren House Road and Keephatch Road by South East Water, from Monday, June 6.
The firm says it will ensure customers’ drinking water is not impacted as the local population grows.
Work will begin along Warren House Road, 100 metres west of Ashridge Road.
SE Water will then work east along Warren House Road and Keephatch Road, to its junction with Campion Way. Pipes will then be installed within Binfield Road and Bean Oak Road.
The roads will be closed in sections, meaning the closure will move along with the construction works.
Temporary traffic lights will also be used at the roundabouts of Warren House Road and Keephatch Road and Keephatch Road and Campion Way. TWO free creative workshops are set to take place in Wokingham this Saturday.
The sessions will be hosted by Nicola Anthony, a sculptor, who was recently confirmed as the artist chosen to design the new public artwork by Arts4Wokingham.
During these sessions, attendees will learn about pattern making and drawing, how to be more creative in day to day life, and meet the artist behind the upcoming sculpture.
Ms Anthony is also inviting residents to share their stories, thoughts and memories as her sculpture will be inspired by the community.
Anyone who wants their story told through the sculpture will be welcomed to share it during the session, or anonymously afterwards.
This is part of an ongoing series of workshops with the first two taking place at 9.30am and 12.30pm on Saturday, May 21, at the Wokingham Library. n For more information, visit: arts4wokingham.com/ community-consultations
A FUN themed ramble is being planned for Emmbrook this May half term holiday.
As part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, 38 royal displays will be placed in local front gardens for ramblers to find.
Families follow a special trail map to help them search for the displays, while enjoying a local walk.
Proceeds from the map sales will go to Emmbrook Infant and Junior Schools PTAs.
“It’s going to be a really fun week,” says organiser Catherine Stott.
All 38 displays are being made by local households, some of whose children attend the Emmbrook schools.
Others are simply local people wanting to have fun and get involved.
Catherine continues:
Hunt for royals in Emmbrook “It’s called a scarecrow trail, but the displays aren’t actually scarecrows. “They can be anything at all related to the word ‘royal’, and people will be quite inventive. “I think there may be a huge postage stamp going up somewhere.” The royal ramble runs from Sunday, May 29 to Monday, June 6. n For details, visit: www. eventbrite.co.uk and search for emmbrook trail royal ramble.
Raiders’ 4x4 driven at high speed across cricket pitch during chase
By STAFF WRITER news@wokingham.today
INTRUDERS smashed down gates and a fence as they rampaged round a cricket pitch and the grounds of a mansion house before fleeing, witnesses told Wokingham Today.
A Hurst Neighbourhood Watch member said: “There was a chase. The intruders’ 4x4 vehicle was doing very high speeds round the cricket pitch, trying to find a way out.
Richard Bassett who lives nearby said there was a lucky escape for the resident of a mobile home in the house grounds.
“They broke into the home, luckily for [the resident] he wasn’t there,” he said.
A police spokesperson said: “At around 1am on [May 9] Thames Valley Police received reports of a burglary in Broadcommon Road, Hurst. A variety of tools were stolen from the property.
“Then, at 2am we received reports of a burglary in Hinton Road, Hurst.
The cricket pitch lies between Broadcommon and Hinton Roads.
Mr Bassett and his wife have praised the person who called the police to the chaos. That had been “the saving grace”. And they’re grateful to the police for arriving so quickly.
Mr Bassett said: “The intruders managed to get through an internal metal gate. They proceeded to a barn where there were tools and gardening equipment that they I guess packed into their truck.
The intruders had fled out of the main entrance to his home.
The couple had heard crashing when the vehicle hit a fence. Gates were also smashed through, said Mr Bassett.
The couple’s large Maremmas Italian mountain dogs “were going crazy”, barking at the tumult.
The intruders “could probably tell they weren’t chihuahuas,” he added.
The Hurst Neighbourhood Watch member said: “People heard the noise of smashing and saw torches there. The police were around until nearly 4am, they were excellent.
“They came with dog handlers to search the area.”
The Thames Valley Police spokesperson added: “We are appealing to anyone who may have video doorbell footage or information that could assist with our investigation, to please get in touch. You can do so by calling 101 or report online via the website, quoting reference 43220199303.”
Hurst parish councillor Paul Palmer has called for CCTV at strategic places in the village.
No arrests have been made as we went to press.
DAMAGE: Thieves trying to escape from the police drove a 4x4 across the cricket pitch in Hurst, causing a headache for the groundskeeper A SINGING evening for female voices will take place in Charvil this Saturday.
Suzanne Newman, who runs a number of choral groups for women, is organising the event which will feature songs from Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals.
The programme includes pieces from The Sound of Music, Oklahoma and The King and I. The session runs from 7pm to 9pm on Saturday, May 21, at Charvil Village Hall. Places cost £10, and include a copy of the music. n For more details, call Ms Newman on: 0118 934 0589, or email: suzanneynewman@ btinternet.com
A NEW exhibition to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee will be launched at the Berkshire Record Office.
Happy and Glorious, the event looks at the monarch’s links to Berkshire. It uses the archives of the Coley Avenuebased venue for its inspiration.
The exhibition launches on Thursday, May 26, and runs to August 26. It will be open when the offices are: Tuesdays to Thursdays from 9am to 5pm, and until 4.30pm on Fridays. Entry is free. n For details, log on to: www.berkshirerecordoffice.org. uk or call 0118 937 5132.
Glorious show
Lockdown Loss: Wokingham Woman Loses 12 Stone
Wokingham-based Ester Barbosa is celebrating a life-changing 12 stone weight loss during lockdown, thanks to The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan and the vital support of her local consultant, Sophie Ames.
After suffering a sleep apnoea attack back in 2020 and reaching 25 stone 9lb, Ester was given the final push she needed to start on plan with The 1:1 Diet.
Ester said: “I saw lockdown as my opportunity to make a huge lifestyle change. I needed to lose weight, I felt so awful in my own skin and had lost all my confidence.
“As soon as I spoke to Sophie, I knew I’d made the right decision – her support was vital! We had weekly virtual catch ups, as we couldn’t meet in person due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Sophie was motivating, encouraging and always gave me the best advice to help me stay on track. I honestly couldn’t have achieved my goals without her. After Ester lost her job for a now defunct well know high street brand during the pandemic and couldn’t afford to stay on plan, Sophie offered her the opportunity to join her team as a 1:1 Diet consultant. Ester is now building her own business, helping the people of Wokingham to secure their weight loss goals.
Sophie said: “The pandemic caused a huge shift in my job role and switching to virtual consultations was definitely very new to me. However, the results speak for themselves! I’m so proud of myself and of Ester, not only for her incredible weight loss, but also for our dedication to continuing to help others in our role as 1:1 Diet consultants. ”
Ester is now exercising at the gym three times a week and weighs a healthy 13 stone and 8lb.
Then
Now
Charity’s call for volunteers to help tackle loneliness
A WOKINGHAM charity is calling on volunteers to reduce loneliness in the borough.
The Link Visiting Scheme aims to help people make friends and feel connected.
The charity is now looking for more friendship volunteers who can spare an hour or two each week to join the team.
Volunteering with the charity offers the chance to make a real difference to the lives of isolated people in the community.
It’s also a chance to make new friends and feel connected.
The charity provides comprehensive training and ongoing support and will match people up based on availability, location and interests.
It also recognises flexibility is important and that volunteering should fit around your schedule.
One volunteer said: “I have had nothing but great experiences with The Link Visiting Scheme so far, from the communication and training to my pairing with Val as we get on great together and have lots to talk about.
The charity has approximately 400 volunteers throughout the borough engaging with people and often taking them out to coffee shops or garden centres where possible.
There is also a growing program of social activities aimed at encouraging older people to venture out and meet others in a safe, friendly environment. These include regular pub lunches, friendship groups, singing, yoga and bowling. n For more information, or to volunteer, visit: linkvisiting.org/volunteer
Five months of road closures planned in Three Mile Cross
By JI-MIN LEE jlee@wokingham.today
MOTORISTS driving through Three Mile Cross may be required to reroute their journeys with a road closure set to affect traffic at a key junction.
From Monday, May 23, the Basingstoke Road end of Church Lane will be closed to traffic and is not expected to reopen for five months.
During this time, the section between the junction and entrance to Shinfield Allotments will only be accessible to those entering properties within that area.
Temporary signals will be used to manage traffic flow while the works take place to manage traffic flow.
The closure will allow for the replacement of the current mini-roundabout with a new traffic-signal-controlled junction, including filter lanes, dedicated pedestrian crossings and associated traffic calming measures.
Wills Bros Civil Engineering Ltd will be conducting the works under the supervision of the council, and it expects the project to be completed before the end of 2022.
Work will start from the southern end of the junction, moving northwards until September, when the site is expected to be ready for surfacing and line marking, according to the development company.
Church Lane will reopen after traffic lights have been installed and tested, with the instalment of traffic calming measures on the approach roads marking the completion of the project.
In a letter addressed to residents, Will Bros said it will “endeavour to keep inconvenience to neighbouring homes and businesses to an absolute minimum” and “maintain a good collaborative relationship that will see the improved junction completed as early as possible and with as little disruption as possible”.
The improvements are part of a wider strategic development known as South of M4 SDL, which is set to bring over 3,000 market and affordable homes to Three Mile Cross, Shinfield and Spencers Wood.
“The improvements are one of many mitigation schemes being delivered across the borough required as part of our wider core strategy, alongside the delivery of new homes,” the Wokingham Borough Council spokesperson explained.
The plan also involves the building of schools, community centre, public green spaces and sports facilities.
The project is being conducted by the University of Reading, alongside partners Barratt David Wilson Homes and Taylor Wimpey.
SHUT: From Monday work starts on Church Lane at its junction with Basingstoke Road Picture: Google Maps
