Thursday, November 11, 2021 No. 337 90p
Garden village planned By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today
FUNDRAISING P6 FAYRE HELPS PIG SANCTUARY DREAM
PLANS FOR a garden village between Shinfield and Arborfield could be approved as part of the draft local plan update.
Some of the land includes Hall Farm, an active dairy farm and major European agricultural research establishment. It is owned by the University of Reading. The institution has been liaising with Wokingham Borough Council as part of the draft local plan update – which is expected to be consulted on formally later this month. The Loddon Valley Garden Village would include a range of new homes, community infrastructure and employment space. The proposals are at a very early stage, however the University of Reading is keen to strengthen its Thames Valley Science Park. Already home to a Rutherford Cancer Centre, Shinfield Studios, and a TV studio, the University hopes to create even more jobs in the area. A spokesperson for the institution, said: “We want to ensure that we take a proactive, collaborative approach to this significant scheme, building on the values of positive engagement set down by the neighbouring Thames Valley Science Park and Cine Valley. “This is a real opportunity to bring forward an original scheme for development that is employment-led, provides benefits for students, and links back to the academic centres of excellence at the University of Reading.” The University hopes the development will “respect nature” and “reflect aspirations for a low carbon society”. This could include enhancing habitats and biodiversity around the Loddon Valley. “While this is still early in the process, we intend to continue an open process of consultation within and beyond the University,” the spokesperson added. n More local plan, update page 8
BANG ON: Wokingham Fireworks is a soaring sell-out • P2
EMERGENCY ROOM UNDER PRESSURE Demand for A&E is up by 20% since 2019 warns hospital chief executive
EXCLUSIVE
By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today THE CHIEF executive of the Royal Berkshire Hospital is encouraging residents to seek alternative care outside of the Emergency Department when possible.
Steve McManus said the hospital has seen a 20% rise in patients attending the A&E Department, compared to 2019/20 levels, with the majority
of these being walk-ins. It comes as South Central Ambulance Service declared a critical incident last week, reporting around a 13% rise in 999 calls, compared to 2019. Mr McManus said this is a broader picture of the region, but that the RBH is not seeing a significant rise in patients arriving by ambulance and needing a hospital bed. He said some of the walk-in patients may be able to use other healthcare routes instead. n Continued on page 5
VILLAGE CREATES 1,000 POPPIES P9 MUM STRIDES TO 50 MARATHONS P14
SHINFIELD CHURCH ORGANISES P10 CLIMATE MARCH FIRST DAYS GIVES GIFT OF CHOICE P13 THIS CHRISTMAS ISSN 2634-8330 45
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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, November 11, 2021
WE COVER WOKINGHAM BOROUGH
MUSIC: St Sebastian’s band led the procession All pictures: Jess Warren
In print
NOBODY DOES IT BETTER: This year’s Wokingham Fireworks were set to a selection of
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HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US Due to the coronavirus, our offices are closed to the public. The best way to contact us is by email Email news@wokingham.today Newsroom: 0118 327 2662 Advertising: 0118 327 2662 Write to: Wokingham.Today, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS Publisher • David Riley Editor • Phil Creighton Deputy editor • Jess Warren Reporters • Laura Scardarella, Nat Burton Sports reporter • Andy Preston Graphic designer • Charlotte Simpson The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation. If you have a complaint about a Wokingham Paper Ltd publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance email: editor@wokingham.today. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.
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NEWS | 3
Dangerous driver sought
SMILES: Copulate, Akshay and Rewa Kulkarni with chairman David Gold, mini mayor Joseph, Wokingham town mayor Cllr Tony Lack, and deputy mayor, Cllr Abdul Loyes
A DANGEROUS driver who wrecked havoc across Lower Earley and Woodley is being sought by police. The incident happened around 6.45pm on Monday, November 1. Thames Valley Police said that a motorist in a Black Honda FR V was seen driving erratically and at high speed along Beeston Way near to Asda, and then along the B3270 Lower Earley Way towards the Showcase Cinema roundabout. The vehicle then went to the Woodley area along Loddon Bridge Road. During his 15-minute ride, the driver jumped red lights and narrowly missed colliding with other lower-speed traffic. Investigating officer Detective Constable Lisa Maskell, based at Reading police station, said: “This incident of dangerous driving occurred in the early evening on Monday, and I am confident that many people will have witnessed this. Witnesses can contact police on 101, quoting reference number 43210493867.
MARCH: Residents marched with 500 flaming torches down to Cantley Field
James Bond songs
A sparkling success EXCLUSIVE By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today WOKINGHAM’S fireworks delivered a sell-out show on Saturday, as the event returned to Cantley.
The charity display sold 8,000 tickets before the big day, with residents eager to return to the town’s explosive evening. It was one of the few years no tickets were available on the gate. Organised by the Wokingham Fireworks Charitable Trust, proceeds are going to Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice, Thames Valley Air Ambulance, Wade, West Berkshire Young Carers and Topic of Cancer. Chairman of the trust David Gold said they were aiming to raise £25,000, to be split between the five charities. “We are bowled over by the support on Saturday,” he said. “It was terrific, a real spectacle. “We couldn’t have asked for anything better.” While the hosts have yet to finalise the fundraising total, Mr Gold said the receipts are “very healthy”, and he anticipates there will be “quite a lot of money” to distribute to charity. In the lead-up to the event, the trust ran its children’s drawing competition. Winner, Rewa Kulkarni (6) led the countdown to the fireworks with Mum Copulate and Dad Akshay. They were also at the front of the torchlit procession to Cantley Park, along with Wokingham town mayor,
Cllr Tony Lack, deputy town mayor, Cllr Abdul Loyes and mini mayor, Joseph. It began with St Sebastian’s band performing a range of tunes in Market Place, including Baggy Trousers, by Madness. Crowds then walked down to Cantley Field for the 7.30pm fireworks show. It included a lightshow and featured many songs from James Bond films throughout the decades. “I think it was one of our best displays,” said Mr Gold. “The choice of the Bond music was perfectly timed with the new release.”
FIREWORKS: Laura Webber and Craig Nelson were two of the 8,000 attendees
WINNER: Rewa Kulkarni (6) led the countdown to the fireworks with Mum Copulate and Dad Akshay, after winning the children’s drawing competition
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Councillors criticise climate consultation plan for borough EXCLUSIVE By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today NEW PLANS to consult residents on the climate emergency response have been criticised by opposition councillors.
Last week, the borough council’s executive approved plans to launch a community deliberative process. At a meeting on Thursday, October 28, the councillors agreed to actively start talking to residents about climate change in the new year. The plan is to bring residents and community groups together to share their thoughts on the best ways to tackle the climate emergency locally. The process will end in September and will consist of peer groups and e-panels. But this method has been criticised by both Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors over concerns the consultation will not be meaningful. Cllr Rachel Burgess, leader of the Labour group, said her party has been campaigning for a Citizens’ Assembly on the Climate Emergency in order to take politicians out of the process. She said the community deliberative process has been “dressed up to look novel” but is a more complicated version of a normal borough council consultation. She is concerned that the peer groups and e-panels will not allow the participants to develop genuine expertise on the climate emergency. “The participants will have no chance to meaningfully interact with experts, apart from watching a video,” she said. “In effect we are asking them to watch a local version of Blue Planet, go home, look at Google, and then come back and have a discussion with others who may be equally poorly prepared. “With only one learning session and one discussion session, these groups will not be able to assimilate the knowledge required to make a meaningful contribution to the plan.” Cllr Sarah Kerr, Liberal Democrat lead for climate, said deliberative process requires a wide range of information sources presented as evidence. “There is no opportunity anywhere in the process for residents to question and challenge those sources of information as it’s all prerecorded,” she said. “The borough council is missing a trick by not allowing for that
direct engagement between participants and the experts. “An expert would be able to advise on what is and isn’t achievable within the context of local government, but without experts in the room, this isn’t possible.” Cllr Burgess added: “Residents must be able to develop their expertise through a two-way exchange, over multiple sessions. They need experts on hand while they deliberate.” Both councillors were concerned about how residents will be selected for the process. Cllr Burgess said it must be a demographically representative selection of residents. And Cllr Kerr said she is concerned the selection will not be random. “Random selection, usually through some form of lottery, ensures that there is a genuine cross section of society represented, rather than strategically selected people, as I fear this could be,” she said. Cllr Kerr said residents involved should be rewarded for their time and contributions. “Participants are usually rewarded for their contribution in deliberative processes due to the commitment involved, but the borough council said it is unlikely to do this, relying on volunteers,” Cllr Kerr said. “Successful deliberative processes make a small financial reward to participants which ensures participation and engagement. The council’s decision could limit the pool of participation further.” Questions have also been raised about how the council will handle the recommendations. Cllr Kerr said she fears it may be “tokenistic”. “The commitment from the council is that officers will ‘explore’ the recommendations,” said Cllr Kerr. “This is not much of a commitment. “If the process was truly deliberative, then the council should be committing to more than just exploring the recommendations.” Cllr Burgess added: “The Conservatives will have a veto on anything that challenges their current plan. The same councillors have already voted twice for a plan that does not add up, contains many errors, and which I suspect most of them haven’t read. “In October, officers claimed there were no risks of failure in the current plan. The very next day we read that the whole plan may be reviewed due to shortages of cash. “[Residents] need a council that will commit to implementing the recommendations, not water
them down. Only a Citizens’ Assembly on the Climate Emergency will deliver a credible process and a credible plan that can be supported by residents.” She added: “Last year, the Liberal Democrats supported Labour’s motion to have a Citizens’ Assembly. The Conservatives rejected it out of hand. If the council had adopted Labour’s suggestion we could now be acting on a credible new plan, instead of just going through the motions.” Cllr Laura Blumenthal, deputy executive member for equalities, poverty, the arts and climate emergency, said the council is doing “all it can”. “Getting views and ideas from across the borough is a key step in ensuring we understand what matters to the wider community and how we can support businesses, groups and individuals in their own journeys towards lowering carbon emissions,” she said. “This will enable us to forge ahead with this phase of the Climate Emergency Action Plan.” The peer groups will include young people, teachers, businesses, councillors, and those in the voluntary sector, who will make recommendations. Cllr Kerr said she would rather councillors were not involved in the deliberative process. She said: “The council set up a councillor cross-party working group to steer the direction of the climate emergency action plan.” But Cllr Kerr said this was disbanded after concerns were raised about its effectiveness at altering the climate action plan. “It would make more sense to have this group re-instated and working effectively, and the deliberative process to focus on the community,” Cllr Kerr said. “How many more residents could we be engaging with if we removed the councillor peer group, because councillors were inputting through other channels?” After the peer group recommendations, e-panels will open the conversation up wider, allowing residents to comment on the recommendations and grade them based on how effective they believe they will be in meeting the borough’s carbon and climate goals. “E-panels appear to ask for views without consideration,” Cllr Kerr said. This, she said, is not part of a normal deliberative process. She was also concerned it relies on internet access, and would exclude some residents.
Thursday, November 11, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
Hospital chief exec says A&E demand is up 20% n Continued from front page
“People should come to us if there is a genuine emergency, such as significant illness or injury,” he said. “There are a range of other community and primary care services, and we are working to increase on-the-day GP access.” This includes recently opening a new health hub in Whitley, he said. Capacity has increased for an additional 170 on the day GP appointments, across Berkshire West CCG. “We have also expanded our same day emergency service,” he said. “It means we can deal with it on-the-day, as we have capacity elsewhere on the hospital site. “It gives the option of being treated rapidly, but outside of the Emergency Department, to keep the flow moving for those that need that emergency support.” A spokesperson for South Central Ambulance Service said it is under significant pressure and at its highest alert level, along with all other ambulance trusts in England. “The Trust remains very busy and has been for some time now, and it is clear the
CONCERN: Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Steve McManus busy winter period is going to be more challenging than ever this year.” They said 111 demand is around 30% higher than expected. “We have seen a significant change in demand patterns with more calls during the week and later into the evenings,” the spokesperson said. “Demand has increased across all types of conditions, but in particular for those under five, where flu and other respiratory conditions have seen a significant increase above expected levels. “We continue to prioritise those patients with the greatest need. Unfortunately those who are less poorly will wait longer than we would like.”
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The Trust urged residents who can to use NHS 111 online, as an alternative way to access support throughout the day. Mr McManus said he feels trepidation when thinking about the impact of the winter on the NHS. “Staff have been working hard and flat-out for months now,” he said. “It feels very pressured, and I know people are tired.” Mr McManus said he is “hugely proud” of the team, and their commitment to Berkshire West. “I know they will continue to give 100%,” he added. But to help the hospital, he is urging residents to do what they can to manage their health over the winter. He suggests having medication at home and
ready to help residents care for themselves through the flu season, where possible. And he called on people to research the different services available for their health needs. Mr McManus said there are two additional pressures on his team at the hospital. “The volume of covid patients coming through has steadily increased, and that is a concern as we go into the winter,” he said. “We are promoting the value of the vaccine, and, for those who are eligible, the booster jab, and the seasonal flu vaccine.” This increase in covid demand has also been documented by South Central Ambulance Service for the fourth consecutive week. Beyond pandemic pressures, the hospital is also working on elective services. “We have been keeping these going alongside cancer treatment and diagnostic services,” the chief executive explained. “I am proud of the team for how they have balanced that, and restarted those planned services.” He hopes more can be done to help accelerate the reduction in wait times.
Poppys cover borough
POPPIES: Crocheted poppies have been appearing across the borough in the lead-up to Remembrance Day. They were created by members of the Barkham Hookers. Here Chloe Burgess smiles with hand-crafted poppies, placed outside the Co op at California Crossroads in Finchampstead Picture: Emily Burgess
Recycling group raises £10,000 A RECYCLING group has turned rubbish into money for several charities. The group, led by Three Mile Cross’ Alison Chaney, raised £9,340 in six months collecting for the Terracycle recycling initiative. Beneficiaries included schools, youth groups, The Cowshed and Thames Valley Animal Welfare. Ms Chaney coordinates 30 drop-off points across Wokingham borough and further afield for items not collected by local authorities. These include crisp packets,
washing-up gloves and bread bags. Bin contents are sorted and packaged for individual schemes before being sent for recycling. Ms Chaney said: “Most days I have around 50kg to 70kg of recycling for them to pick up.” Her Facebook group, Ali’s Recycling for the Local Community, fill the bins as part of their green efforts. May to October was their busiest period to date. Ms Chaney said: “It explains why I have barely stopped and need extra help with sorting.” She is appealing for volunteers to help continue the project. n For more information, visit: www. facebook.com/AliRecycling
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‘Booster roll-out Christmas cheer for pig charity not fast enough’ By NAT BURTON news@wokingham.today
EXCLUSIVE
By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today THE ROLL-OUT of Covid-19 booster jabs in the over-50s will miss the Christmas deadline, according to predictions.
Across England, around 230,000 people are being given their third jab each day, reported the i. But this will miss the Government’s Christmas deadline of delivering a booster jab to all over 50s. Instead, it is predicted to take until the start of February to complete. This has raised concerns about families mixing indoors over Christmas. Cllr Charles Margetts, executive member for health at the borough council, said that he is calling for urgent action from Berkshire West CCG to increase the booster jab programme. He said that with just two pharmacies in Wokingham borough offering the jabs, it is “simply not good enough”. The mobile vaccination service is also not operating at the moment. Cllr Margetts said nine care homes in the borough are yet to receive any booster jabs, and is
concerned the CCG is not offering this third jab to care home staff. “[This is] possibly presenting a route into care homes for covid,” he said. While the number of people getting their booster jab is increasing nationally, it is significantly lower than the number of first doses that were administered when the vaccination programme began last December. And data show the gap between the number of over-50s eligible for their booster jab, and those who have received it, is widening. Cllr Margetts said the roll-out this time around is too slow, and the borough is far behind the national trend when it comes to ages 65 to 69, and residents with no underlying health conditions. He is also concerned about “how poor the take up of the flu vaccination is”. Borough residents can get their second, or third booster jab in Wokingham town centre at Rose Street pharmacy and at Tesco’s pharmacy on Finchampstead Road. Jabs are also avaliable at Newdays pharmacy in Twyford. There are also sites open in Reading and Bracknell.
n To book or manage a coronavirus vaccine, visit: www.nhs.uk/conditions
EVENT organisers were bowled over by fundraising success at the weekend. Spencers Wood residents enjoyed a Christmas fayre in aid of Little Pigs at Home on Saturday. Held in the village hall, the fayre was organised by charity founders Susan and Aaron Player. Hippo, one of the Players’ three pet pigs, helped raise £775 for the non-profit organisation. Fayre-goers paid 50p for the opportunity to feed him, an attraction that proved so popular with children that it had to be stopped. “We didn’t want him to be overfed,” Ms Player said: “He was enjoying all the attention so much.” The family-friendly event also had a range of treats and stalls to tempt shoppers, including pig-themed cupcakes and handmade Christmas decorations. The tombola and raffle also proved popular. Ms Player has been encouraged by the total raised, which was more than expected. She said: “I am really thankful for the community’s support. The atmosphere was lovely and I would definitely run a similar event in the village hall again.” She thinks that the uniqueness of her work helped the event create interest, as pigs are not typically kept as pets. Neither are they thought of as animals needing rescue. The Players have been involved in several pig rescues since setting up their charity. They have visited some animal
HOST: Susan Player (above), founder of Little Pigs at Home, is fundraising to open a sanctuary All pictures: Phil Creighton sanctuaries which Ms Player said has broadened their horizons and spurred them on in their ambitions to open their own. Aside from pig rescue, the Players are keen to educate members of the public about pigs as domestic animals. They welcome small family groups into their home for visits to see Hippo, as well as their other pigs, Rose and Tulip. n For more information, visit: www. facebook.com/weloveyoutenmillion
Thursday, November 11, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
Get moving in December SUE RYDER is encouraging residents to don their trainers to raise funds. The charity is asking people to get outdoors and run, jog, or walk 5km (3.10 miles) each day throughout December, whatever the weather. The aim of this year’s challenge is to raise more than last year’s £320,000. Caroline Graham, director of fundraising at Sue Ryder, hopes that the December Daily Dash will boost the mental and physical health of participants during what can be a busy and difficult month. She said: “It is a great way to take some time out to think and reflect.” She added: “Whether you do it alone, with friends, family or your furry companion, every step you take and pound you raise this winter helps Sue Ryder support people when it matters most.” Sue Ryder offers a range of services from two sites across the area: Duchess of Kent Hospice, Liebenrood Road in Reading and its Palliative Care Hub in Wallingford. n For more information, visit: decemberdailydash.com
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Convention success for domestic abuse charity in Finchampstead EXCLUSIVE By LAURA SCARDARELLA news@wokingham.today A DOMESTIC abuse charity hosted a special convention at the end of October, and founder Vickie Robertson said it was a “truly remarkable” day.
Finchampstead-based organisation Kaleidoscopic UK presented its Domestic Abuse Prevention Convention at the FBC Centre, on Thursday, October 21, as part of Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. The annual event, on Gorse Ride North, aims to encourage more people to talk to each other about the issues surrounding domestic abuse. Visitors were welcomed by BBC Radio Berkshire presenter Michelle Jordan patron of Kaleidoscopic UK. Charity founder Vickie Robertson said: “We are so grateful to all who attended and took part, showing how vital it is we open up the conversations around domestic abuse, being trauma informed, and removing the taboo, barriers and victim blaming. “We are delighted to be able to highlight the realities and keep victim survivors voices heard. Domestic abuse doesn’t happen once a year, it happens
every second of every day and costs the economy around £74 billion a year.” Guest speakers included Dr Jessica Taylor, Nicole Jacobs, Chris Green, Jennifer Gilmour, Lisa Lee, Jake Morrison, Karin Walker and more. Miss Robertson added: “Thank you to Finchampstead Baptist Church for their continued support, for all the team at Kaleidoscopic UK, and the charities and services that want to work holistically and make a difference.” She also thanked Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr Keith Baker, deputy Mayor Cllr Abdul Loyes
and MP James Sunderland for their support on the day. A remembrance tree was also created, including all the names of those killed this year so far due to domestic violence. Wokingham borough mayor, Cllr Baker, said: “I am delighted that so many professionals and residents attended the Domestic Abuse Prevention Convention event run by Kaleidoscopic UK. “The event was delivered
by inspirational survivors and multi-agency professionals who highlighted signs of domestic abuse through a series of talks and videos and illustrated the help that is available to victims. Cllr Baker added that domestic abuse is an important topic for the council. He said: “We are reminding residents that support is available to all victims, regardless of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, faith, disability or
SUCCESS: The convention was a remarkable day Pictures: courtesy of Vickie Robertson
financial situation. “I would like to thank Kaleidoscopic UK for hosting this truly inspiring event and congratulate them on the excellent work they have done to raise awareness of domestic abuse within our borough.” Information and support is available on the Wokingham Borough Council website. n For more details, log on to: kaleidoscopic.uk
Dance school hosts winter fair A FUNDRAISING Christmas Fair is being held later this month for the borough mayor’s charity of the year. Chance to Dance Stars is hosting an indoor fair at Carnation Hall in Bracknell on Sunday, November 28. It will run from noon until 4pm. At the event will be a range of Christmas gifts including jewellery, candles, and soaps.
The free event will fundraise for the dance school, which teaches students with disabilities. Wokingham borough mayor, Cllr Keith Baker said he is delighted to invite residents to the event. “It’s the perfect opportunity to start your Christmas shopping early, while participating in the many fun activities Chance to Dance
Stars have arranged, including Santa’s Grotto. “I am looking forward to meeting as many Wokingham borough residents at the fair.” Tickets must be booked in advance via Chance to Dance Stars’ Eventbrite booking website. A Santa’s Grotto will be open at 12.20pm and 1.10pm. To purchase grotto tickets, email: sendanceclub@hotmail.com
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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, November 11, 2021
LOCAL PLAN UPDATE
Hall Farm homes plan ‘dovetails nicely’ says council leader By PHIL CREIGHTON pcreighton@wokingham.today
PLANS: Wokingham Borough Council is planning a consultation on new housing projects, a scheme called the Local Plan Update Picture: Phil Creighton
Executive to vote on local plan consultation
RESIDENTS’ views on the new draft of the Local Plan Update will be welcomed once the executive approves it at an extraordinary meeting held on Friday evening. The consultation runs from Monday, November 22, through to January 17, and the council wants as many residents as possible to take part. The council is organising a series of public meetings, both physical and virtual, where there will be presentations and a chance to ask questions. The council is delivering information cards to every home in the borough. “We’re suggesting a revised plan which reflects preferences expressed in earlier consultations for most new development to be focused in carefully planned major new communities, allowing suitable infrastructure to be provided,” it reads. This was echoed by council leader John Halsall who said: “It is a real consultation. “The first was well received and well responded to. Without the first, we would never have known about the Ministry of Defence’s objections to Grazeley.” The first session, on Monday, November 22, takes place at St Crispin’s School in London Road, Wokingham. On Tuesday, November 30, the venue will be the Arborfield Green Leisure Centre. Both these take place between 7pm and 9pm. There are virtual sessions on Thursday, December 2, and Monday, December 6. These run from 6pm-7pm and 7.30pm-8.30pm. n For more details, log on to engage.wokingham. gov.uk
PROPOSALS for 4,500 homes at Hall Farm in Shinfield could become a reality if the new Draft Local Plan is adopted.
Tomorrow night, Wokingham Borough Council’s ruling executive committee will be asked to approve the public consultation on the second stage of the new plan, outlining where housing could go across the borough in future years. Cllr John Halsall said that Hall Farm was being put forward “for a variety of cogent reasons, and it dovetails nicely with the investment we’re putting into jobs in that area”. He added that developers would be required to put in appropriate infrastructure, if it goes ahead. The Draft Local Plan would also help protect the borough from speculate developments. “The vast majority of our borough is not protected land (such as green belt), therefore speculative development would increase the amount of housing that goes into the borough hugely,” he said. “By publishing a local plan and getting it accepted, that number is minimised.” He added: “I think what we’re putting forward for consultation is a good compromise for all of the borough.
PLAN: Wokingham Borough Council leader John Halsall Picture: Stewart Turkington “We’ve tried to put housing sympathetically in the areas which have been promoted (as suitable for development) and are possible.” One aspect of the new local plan is trying to allocate more than 70 areas as green spaces, which would help protect them from future projects. “One of the benefits of development is that you can create green space which is accessible to the public,” Cllr Halsall said. Hall Farm is, he said, “a very different development from that which was envisaged in Grazeley”,
and would be “a bit more Wokingham than Grazeley would have been”. He also hoped that the council would be able to encourage developers to make homes greener, and hoped that the Government would make it easier for homes to be greener in future. “Our climate emergency is really based upon us doing as much as we possible can to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality by 2030,” he said. “We will never achieve it on our own. “Current building guidance doesn’t encompass everything that we were hoping to do. “After COP26, it should be easier to introduce those ideas into new bills. I’m pressing minsters very hard to go down that track.” Cllr Halsall felt that another important reason for having the local plan in place was because Wokingham was a popular place for people to live. “Pretty much all the housing is sold before it’s built,” he said. “We have people eager to come and work here. “Building homes means meeting those needs. “We have tried in our planning to ensure the right homes are built in the right places. We can’t micromanage developers, but we can influence what they build.”
Alongside this, he said, runs the council’s strategy to build more social and affordable housing. The overarching desire with the local plan is, Cllr Halsall said, to keep residents at the forefront of everything. “The only reason we’re here is to serve our residents, so this is a local plan that should enrich lives, protect our local and valued environments,” he said. “We are getting better at conserving the countryside, playing a key role in maintaining biodiversity. “We want the borough to feel like a healthier place because it will be a healthier place.” Friday’s extraordinary executive meeting, which will be broadcast live on the council’s YouTube channel, was being held because the council wanted to get the consultation up and running as quickly as possible. “The supporting documents have to be current,” Cllr Halsall said. “We had always envisaged that as soon as the work was done, we would have a special executive meeting, dedicated to one topic, a topic of extreme importance to the entire borough. We do the same for the budget.” n To watch the meeting, log on to Wokingham.gov.uk and search for meetings.
Lib Dems welcome plans for 70 new green spaces WOKINGHAM’S Liberal Democrats will be looking at the new draft local plan “very carefully” before making any in-depth comments and, like their Conservative counterparts, want to encourage residents to have their say. On the proposal for 4,500 homes on Hall Farm, Lib Dem leader Cllr Clive Jones said: “It is called a garden village, the same description they had for Grazeley.
“There must be some sort of proposal like the one for Grazeley. We want to know what’s in it.” He also wanted to see any developers behind the scheme paying for all infrastructure needed. “We’re going to need a lot of new roads (to accommodate it),” he said. “There’s got to be a link to the M4, but we need to know who is paying for that – is it going to be Highways
England, Wokingham Borough Council or the developer. Who is it?” His deputy, Cllr Steven Conway, wanted to reassure residents that Wokingham did have a five-year land supply, which makes it harder for speculative developments to take place. This details the number of houses expected to be built per year over the five years. The new draft local plan, which is due to go out to consultation, has come about after the rejected of a plan for garden town in Grazeley. “We’re back where we were many, many months ago with a draft local plan. Basically, Grazeley derailed the process and has put it back a long time. We’re kind of where we were a couple of years ago. “As far as I’m aware, we’re okay on the five-year land supply, we are not under threat, but the longer time goes on, the greater the risk gets.” He also had concerns over the rate of housing that Wokingham borough is being forced to accept by the Government. The party feels it should be no more than 600 new homes a year, and that housing should be based on local need rather than projections of population growth. “Numbers are still far too high,” Cllr Conway said. “We’re now at real risk of approving building in areas which are, at the moment, not in flood risk areas but in a few years most definitely will be if current trends continue. “All the projections looking ahead suggest we’re going to have an
extension of floodplain. “There is a serious issue here not just about the overall numbers and the impact on local infrastructure, and whether we can accommodate the numbers that have been talked about without it having a significant impact on flood risk in many areas.” He added: “Every new build upstream on the Loddon Valley has a really significant impact downstream. We already have some really quite severe flood incidents in the borough and these will be made worse if ‘were actually continue down this route of building lots and lots more houses in areas that, in the future, are going to be a prime risk, either flooding or displacing significant amounts of water so that other areas flood. “I’m very concerned about this.” Cllr Conway felt that areas at risk could include Charvil and Ruscombe. “This is going to be quite a serious problem in the lifetime of the local plan and I’m very concerned we’re not really addressing it. It seems as though the council is blindly proceeding without much reference to the very likely risk of much greater flooding in the future, if all this housing is approved and built.” The Lib Dems did want to highlight the local plan’s desire to protect some parts of the borough. “The good thing the local plan is doing is saying we need to designate over 70 areas as green space,” said Cllr Jones. “That is really good news because it gives those precious green spaces some protection.”
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Cadets set off for 30-hour walk REDDAM House Combined Cadet Force will embark on a 30-hour walk in honour of Remembrance Day today. The group, in Sindlesham, will take it in turns to loop around the Reddam House grounds. The three teams of six plan to set off after the school’s special Remembrance Day service at 11am. Having raised £4,000 for the Royal British Legion last year, the cadet force hopes to raise money again for the appeal. Participants include children from years nine to 12.
Home secretary praises rise in minority officers THE HOME secretary has celebrated Thames Valley Police’s uptake in minority recruits. Priti Patel visited Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley and Chief Constable, John Campbell last month. She met the pair to celebrate a record uptake in the force’s female, black, Asian and minority ethnic recruits over the last 12 months. Thames Valley Police is opening its officer recruitment programme again this month. n For more information, visit: tvpcareers.co.uk/roles
IN THE MAKING: The poppies are sewn onto a backing, which will make up the display Picture: Barbara Stanley GROUP EFFORT: More than 1,000 poppies were made by villagers Picture: Barbara Stanley MEMORIAL: Swallowfield parish clerk Liz Halson with some of the finished poppies
SWALLOWFIELD’S 1,000 POPPIES MORE THAN 1,000 poppies are covering a war memorial in Swallowfield this week. To mark Remembrance Day today, villagers have been making knitted and crocheted poppies to place on the memorial. The project started in August this year to bring the community together post-lockdown, and has been led by All Saints and the parish council. The idea came from Barbara Stanley, church warden at All Saints, who saw a similar
display elsewhere. “We have an active Remembrance service,” Ms Stanley explained. “People all over the parish have been involved. “A lot of people have worked pretty hard on it. There has been such a variety of poppies. “Some skilful knitters have produced really beautiful ones from complicated patterns.” All were welcome to create a poppy from a range of patterns suitable for novices or experts.
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A non-knitter herself, Ms Stanley said she has made around 25 for the display. But some residents have made bundles. Swallowfield parish clerk Liz Halson made 190, with some other residents delivering 60 to 70 poppies for the display. “For some, it’s had quite a therapeutic effect,” Ms Stanley said. “It also provided an outlet for a lady who lost her husband to covid and another who is nursing
FIERCE MINDS
a spouse with dementia. “We have sewn them all onto backing, and this will be cover about 3.5 metres of the memorial. I didn’t think we would have this many.” For each poppy, Ms Stanley hopes to raise £1. So far, they have raised more than £550. The display will be kept for the parish to use in subsequent Remembrance services. n To donate to the fundraiser, visit: www.justgiving.com/team/
HELPING HAND: Graham Stanley wiring the poppies on the memorial
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COP21
Hundreds make a noise for climate change By PHIL CREIGHTON pcreighton@wokingham.today HUNDREDS of people took to the streets of Reading on Saturday, November 6, to make some noise about the climate emergency.
A range of groups including politicians, teachers, activitists and churches gathered at the Broad Street Mall end of town for 1pm. Led by Shinfield Baptist Church pastor Nathan Hunt, the group processed along Broad Street and into Market Place, blowing whistles, rattling rattles and shouting slogans. It was part of a worldwide movement which saw tens of thousands of protestors march through Glasgow, where world leaders are gathering for the United Nationas COP26 climate emergency summit. Its president is Reading West MP Alok Sharma. Saturday’s focus was on the creation of sustainable agriculture and land use, and saw 45 governments pledge urgent action and investment to shift towards a more sustainable way of farming. The UK has pledged to engage three-quarters of farmers in low carbon practices by 2030. Commitments made by countries today will help to implement the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use which is now endorsed by 134 countries covering 91% of the world’s forests. The Declaration aims to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030. Mr Sharma told the summit: “If we are to limit global warming and keep the goal of 1.5ºC alive, then the world needs to use land sustainably and put protection and restoration of nature at the heart of all we do. “The commitments being made today show that nature and land use is being recognised as essential to meeting the Paris Agreement goals, and will contribute to addressing the twin crises of climate change
The March 4 Climate event in Reading town centre on Saturday, saw protestors from Reading, Bracknell and Wokingham join forces Pictures: Phil Creighton and biodiversity loss. “Meanwhile, as we look ahead to negotiations in week two of COP, I urge all parties to come to the table with the constructive compromises and ambitions needed.” At the Reading march, Mr Hunt led calls for a successful COP26, and to see temperature increase limited to 1.5ºC. Afterwards, he said in a post on social media: “Thank you to all those who joined the March 4 Climate today in the middle of COP26. It was a wonderful, colourful, peaceful (but noisy) event for all those who care about this world, its people and all its creatures. “Thanks to all those who made it happen and came and supported it.” Among those taking part was Reading East MP Matt
Rodda, who said the event had been wonderful. “It’s been a sign of people’s commitment to tackling the dangerous climate change. Our community are working together to try and tackle this very difficult problem that we all face.” He added: “I think the challenge really is to get the message out to as many people as possible, and to actually change the way that we all live. I do think that’s entirely possible: there are lots of small things we can all do, whether it’s giving up meat some days a week, or shifting to having an electric vehicle or walking and cycling. “I also think that governments around the world should be doing more, we have made some real step forward in
Glasgow, but we all need to do much more now. “One international thing, which I’m particularly pleased with is the shift away from coal – that is absolutely vital. It’s the most polluting fuel, it releases the most carbon and it’s very dangerous, it needs to stay in the ground. “So do other fossil fuels, we need to move on electrify the economy use other forms of alternative technology and move to a better future.” Wokingham Town Council leader Cllr Imogen ShepherdDubey said she had come to the march via public transport, and urged on others to take more of an interest in the climate emergency. “People need to realise we are one minute to 12,” she said. “We need to do something, and we
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wide range of people including lots of children coming together to demand action,” she said. “What is a disgrace is that were having to march in the first place. And that makes me angry. “Enough of the talk, we have solutions, let’s implement them. Enough of the greenwashing and the tokenism being trotted out. “What this tells me is that there is grassroots support for action and people on the ground in their communities and raring to put the wheels in motion. “But this government refuses to decentralise power and finances to allow this to happen. We need this government to give communities the ability to bring about change to tackle this very real threat to our existence.”
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need to force the Government to make changes in its green policies.” She said the town council have installed recycling bins in Wokingham town, and planted trees where possible. “We should be pushing Wokingham Borough Council to do more to support buses in Wokingham,” she added. “The bus service is really poor. Give people proper alternative choices to driving their car around. We need more services for everybody to use so they can make these choices to help save our climate.” And Wokingham borough Lib Dem spokesperson for the environment, Cllr Sarah Kerr, took part in the march and had strong words about it. “It was a peaceful, positive protest and really good to see a
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Woman who tried to help a stranger assaulted
Earley photographer launches tree calendar A CALENDAR showcasing the beauty of some of Berkshire’s trees is now on sale. Earley-based photographer Tina Panting chose 13 of her favourite images from around Reading, Woodley and Newbury for the 2022 Moods of Trees calendar. Ms Panting, a social care worker by day, said inspiration came from a Bracknell and Wokingham College photography course project seven years ago. She hopes her photos will bring the outside inside. “Trees are so calming and mystical and an important part of nature,” she said. Ethical Reading’s Trees for Reading initiative will receive 50p
EXCLUSIVE
By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today A WOKINGHAM woman said she will think twice about helping others after being assaulted in the town centre last week.
Veena Shastri was waiting to pick up her son at Wokingham Train Station on Tuesday, November 2, when she was hit in the head with a raw egg. Sat in her car in one of the station’s waiting bays around 3.30pm, Mrs Shastri rolled down her driver’s window after a teenage boy tapped on the glass. “I thought he needed some information, so I lowered my car window,” she explained. She said he asked her for directions to the town’s Aldi. “Before I could know what was going on, another chap came from behind and threw something at me,” she said. “My ear was in pain, and I wasn’t sure what had hit me. I thought it might have been a stone, as it was quite hard. “There was this buzzing feeling in my head.” Mrs Shastri said that when she looked down, she saw that raw egg had exploded in
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“I wear glasses, but if I didn’t, and it had hit my eye, it could have had a massive impact,” she said. “I could have lost an eye.” She said that a group of young people witnessed the assault but did not see any adults in the area. She believes the two boys may have worked together, with the first encouraging her to lower her window, while the second one threw the egg. “The second boy ran off,
THE UNIVERSITY of Reading’s plan to become Carbon Net Zero by 2030 has been recognised as one the best of its kind in the UK. The Energy Management Awards 2021, run by the Energy Managers Association, placed the University among some of the leading public and private sector organisations for sustainability. The institution has been shortlisted in the category for Best Net Zero plan. The winners will be announced on Tuesday, November 16. Dan Fernbank, energy and sustainability director at the
but the first one just walked away,” she said. “He didn’t seem to be in any shock at what had happened.” Mrs Shastri said that when her son arrived, after exiting his train, he was disturbed by what had happened. “I think I will be really wary of opening my car window ever again,” she said. “I didn’t get out after, in case they threw another egg at me. “I just didn’t feel safe. It did shake me up.”
24 EST. 1997
n For more information on the calendar, log on to: www. tdpphotography.co.uk n For information on Trees for Reading, visit: www.ethicalreading. org.uk/programmes/sustainability/ trees-for-reading
University’s net zero plan praised in national awards
ASSAULT: Veena Shastri was waiting in her car outside the train station when she was hit with an egg her car, covering the interior and carpets. “I was completely shocked and upset when I saw the egg. I’m really upset. I tried to help this young boy, and they played a prank on me. “It really troubled me they could do that to someone close to the age of their mother.” Mrs Shastri said that she was glad it didn’t hit her eye, and said that there were no serious injuries.
from each sale in recognition of the role trees play in her work. The organisation is working with Reading Borough Council to fund the planting and care of trees around the town to improve the urban environment. Ms Panting has also created a calendar of Reading scenes, with funds going to local Home Start organisations. The calendars cost £10, including postage.
University of Reading, said the plan matches the University’s worldleading research and education in environment and climate change. “Our plan considers every aspect of our operation, including shifting our buildings to carbonfree heating, cutting emissions from national and international business travel, and using our campuses and resources to better support biodiversity and carbon sequestration,” Mr Fernbank explained. “We hope our actions, as well as our research, will inspire others to take action on climate change.”
The Birmingham & Shrewsbury Christmas Express Saturday 11th December 2021 Join us on this scenic rail tour by seasonal steam train through the Thames Valley and the Oxfordshire and Warwickshire countryside to the Christmas markets at Birmingham or Shrewsbury. Join us from Reading on this steam hauled daytrip to visit Birmingham or Shrewsbury this December for some festive cheer. There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and a four course dinner served at your seat. First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam. Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four. Fares
Adult
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Family
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£259
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First
£159
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Refreshments available to purchase on board. Tables for two can be guaranteed in First/Premier for a £25pp supplement subject to availability. Organised by The Railway Touring Company. The Railway Touring Company’s Standard Conditions of Booking and Travel apply – see website for details.
The Railway Touring Company 14a Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JN
Steve Precious
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For more information including approximate timings please visit railwaytouring.net Have a great day – The Safe Way – your welfare is our priority and our Covid-19 travel procedures are available on our website. Please note that the operation of the Christmas markets is outside of our control.
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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, November 11, 2021
This winter Cantley Park welcomes a Christmas Market G et into the festive spirit as Cantley Park’s first Christmas Market, brought to you by Wokingham Borough Council, is set to light up the event field this winter. The Christmas Market is free to attend and will take place inperson from Wednesday 24 November until Thursday 23 December 2021. There will be outdoor market huts selling delicious food and festive drinks, plus a variety of gifts, offering borough residents the perfect opportunity to shop for seasonal presents, whilst supporting local businesses. We would like local businesses to apply to run a stall, and for local residents to support small local businesses. Executive member for environment and leisure Cllr Parry Batth said: “As we approach the autumnal months, it’s time to start thinking about Christmas. The past eighteen months have shown us the importance of shopping locally, and what better way to support growth in our local economy and help build business than by attending Cantley Park’s Christmas Market. “Whether you are a baker,
jewellery maker or Christmas gift designer, we want to see as many vendors as possible selling local gifts and produce at the Christmas Market. We are anticipating that there will be plenty of interest in exhibiting at the event, particularly helped by the increased visitors from the ice-skating rink.” Hurry! There are limited market stalls available on selected days for craft makers and commercial retail vendors to exhibit and we are offering an early Black Friday deal of 10% off stallholder bookings made before 14th November. To find out more please email artsandculture@wokingham.gov.uk Residents get your skates on as the skating rink is debuting in Cantley Park’s event field from 12 November 2021 until 7 January 2022, every day (excluding bank holidays) from 12pm to 8pm. An adult ticket costs £12, a child ticket costs £7.50 and a family of four ticket costs £30 Please use the ‘FamilyFor30’ code. (for families of four or more, it will be £5 per extra child). Each ticket allows entry onto the ice-skating rink for one hour. Due to the popularity of this event, advanced booking is advised. Tickets can be purchased via the
Wokingham Borough Council Eventbrite following this website link: shorturl.at/rBE25. There will be some tickets available on the day, subject to availability. Tickets purchased through the Eventbrite website between from 11 November until 27 November will receive an early Black Friday discount of 10% by using the discount code BLACKFRIDAY. To redeem this offer please enter BLACKFRIDAY on Eventbrite in the discount code field. Only one promotional code is valid per transaction. A series of creative workshops will be running at the Cantley Park Café in the Ashridge Room during the festive season. There are opportunities to make your own wreath to decorate your home in our Christmas Wreath Making workshop, and make your own personalised festive wrapping paper, cards, and gift tags in our Christmas Printmaking workshop. You can also make personalised homewares and decorations such
as hanging baubles, snowflakes and stars in our Christmas Crochet workshop led by Gaynor White. During the November lead up to Christmas, we will be running a Jewellery Making workshop with artist Janet Richardson which might be the perfect way to make your loved ones a thoughtful gift before the Christmas rush. To book the Christmas printmaking Workshop: shorturl.at/pCOP9 To book the Christmas WreathmakingWorkshop: shorturl.at/ityLQ To book the Christmas Crochet Workshop: shorturl.at/guyVW To book the Earrings Workshop: shorturl.at/fmGVZ To book the Ring Making Workshop: shorturl.at/jwzGY For the full programme, visit the Wokingham Borough Council Eventbrite page or the WOCCA app. The WOCCA app can be downloaded on Apple and Android devices via the play store by searching ‘Wocca’.
� For any further questions or more information, please contact the Arts and Culture team on: artsandculture@wokingham.gov.uk
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Give the gift of choice this Christmas says First Days
COP26: Crowthorne pupils represent county TWO Crowthorne sixth form students were selected to represent Berkshire at this year’s COP26. The UK Schools Sustainability Network, UKSSN, took a diverse group of college pupils from across the country to Glasgow for the event. And Wellington College, on Duke’s Ride, saw its students, Georgiana Nason and Cindy Guo, selected to be part of the team. The pair, who are members of the Wellington College sustainability programme travelled to Glasgow to represent the Berkshire constituency. Out of almost 200 applicants, 40 pupils were selected to form a team representing the UK Schools Sustainability Network (UKSSN). From that group, 20 were
By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today
FAMILIES can give the gift of choice this Christmas with a First Days’ appeal.
The children’s charity has launched its annual festive appeal, but this year is different. Instead of asking for gifts to be purchased and donated, the charity is asking for cash donations that empower parents and carers to choose a present for their child. “At First Days, everything we do aims to restore dignity, choice and power to families with a low-income,” a charity spokesperson explained. “Three things that are so often taken away from people when they’re experiencing times of hardship, and do not have financial autonomy. “That is why we’ve chosen to change the way we support families this Christmas. “Last year, with help from many kind and generous supporters and businesses, we re-distributed £85,000 worth of gifts to children. “Although these children were happy to receive wonderful gifts, feedback from some of the parents was that they felt oversupplied with presents and were put in a position with an unsustainable
APPEAL: First Days Children’s Charity wants to give the gift of choice Picture: IRST Yevhen Buzuk from Pixabay standard or expectation for future Christmases or birthdays.” Instead, the charity wants to ensure families are given dignity, choice and power this Christmas. “Choice is everything, especially at Christmas, and this year we want to give families the gift of choice,” the spokesperson added. “What every parent or carer wants is to choose a meaningful gift for their child. “Many of us are lucky enough to be able to choose presents
for our children that we know they will love. You may have experienced that magical feeling of seeing your child’s face light up on Christmas morning, opening a present that you have thoughtfully chosen for them.” First Days is appealing for residents to give a £25 donation, to cover the cost of a present. “We’ll be helping families in the most desperate of need this Christmas whose children, without our support, would not receive any presents this year,” the spokesperson added. “We’ll
be talking directly to these parents and carers and will support them through a process where they will be able to choose gifts for their children.” The charity is also working with other organisations in Wokingham and Reading to run Christmas events. These events are open to parents and carers who have been identified as needing a helping hand, and will allow them to choose stocking gifts for their child.
Diocese chapter supports minorities
n For more information, or to donate, visit: firstdays.net
THE DIOCESE of Oxford has formally created a new group for minority ethnic clergy. The UK minority ethnic chapter will offer pastoral support to ordained clergy and licensed lay ministers across the area. The Revd Canon Janet Binns has been appointed dean of the chapter. She will work alongside the Revd Polly
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selected to create a youth delegation that will travel to Glasgow to participate and attend a series of events, which Georgiana was chosen for. Ana Romero, head of sustainability at Wellington College, said Georgiana and Cindy have been great students. “Their contributions to the sustainability programme have always been outstanding, and they earned the title of sustainability ambassadors,” she said. “They worked very hard in their application to UKSSN, trying to achieve a place in one of the world’s most crucial high-level conferences, this is an outstanding achievement, not only for the courage to apply but also for the significant commitment they are adopting before, during and after attending COP26.”
Falconer, UKME development enabler for the diocese, to help the voices of their members be heard. The partnership also aims to promote a better understanding of racism, racial issues and cultural diversity. Canon Binns feels excited and honoured to be the first dean of the chapter. She said: “This is a milestone achievement for the diocese.”
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University promotes climate topics in school STUDY: The University of Reading is working to enhance climate education in schools
A PLAN to improve climate education has been launched by the University of Reading this week. The Climate Education Action Plan, launched on Monday at COP26, comprises nine ways to help pupils tackle the impacts of climate change. It was developed in partnership with the Department for Education, Met Office, Royal Meteorological Society, Office for Climate Education, the EAUC Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education, climate solutions charity Ashden and young campaigners. It follows a Climate Education Summit in September, attended by over 500 people, where young people, scientists, education specialists, campaigners and policymakers discussed how all pupils should be equipped with skills to adapt to climate change. Professor Andrew CharltonPerez, head of mathematical, physical and computational sciences at the university, said it is vital young people learn the effects of climate change.
He said: “There is a lot of great work being done by teachers and schools around the country, but we have heard loud and clear, not least from young people, that we need a step change in climate education.” Professor Charlton-Perez added it is crucial that everyone works together to give all young people access to highquality, up-to-date climate information. “This is an issue that requires action right now,” he said. “We are therefore delighted to have the support of the Department for Education and our partners to enact significant positive changes that can take place immediately.” Among the plan’s nine strands are pledges to provide professional development in climate education. It will lead on three strands, which the University’s Institute of Education has already made progress for the academic year. n To get involved, contact climateeducation@reading.ac.uk
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, November 11, 2021
Mum in striding distance of 50 marathons before 50th EXCLUSIVE
RUNNING: Lisa Wilkinson, and her son Nick raised £3,226 for the Royal National Institute for Deaf People by running the London Marathon
By SUE CORCORAN news@wokingham.today A delighted mum’s marathon run with her son has put her within striding distance of her goal to run 50 marathons.
Last month, Lisa Wilkinson, 49, of Burghfield Common and her son, Nick, 26, who is deaf, raised £3,226 for the Royal National Institute for Deaf People by running the London Marathon. A former pupil at Twyford’s Polehampton Junior School, Lisa, has now completed 48 of the 50 marathons she wants to run before her 50th birthday next April. Lisa, whose family is still in Twyford, was personal trainer to former chairman of Reading Football Club Sir John Madejski for about three years. They ran the Reading half marathon together twice. London was the first marathon for Nick, who was head boy at Willink School, Burghfield Common. His run was more evidence of the skill that runs down the family’s generations. Lisa, her husband Andy, and their family, Maria, Nick and Rachel, all watched Lisa’s parents, Jane and Peter Kelly, of Twyford, run the London Marathon in 1999. “I was inspired by my mum and dad,” she said. “I said ‘I’m going to do that next year’ and I did, running for the RNID. My parents have inspired two generations. “It was lovely to get to the start line with Nick. He did it in 3hrs 52mins, and I did 4hrs 11mins.” Nick’s sister, Rachel, 24, and Lisa’s sister, Sarah, from Twyford ran the
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Reading half on Sunday (7th Nov). Nick’s older sister, Maria, 28, also enjoys running. Lisa added: “It was my 20th London run, I’ve managed to qualify with my time for all of those. “It was also my last London marathon, I’ve got older and slower. My fastest time was, I think, 3hrs 18mins at London in 2013. “I decided to do this 50 marathons challenge about three years ago. I’ve two more left to do. After the 50 I’m absolutely stopping them. Where do you stop otherwise? The training and recovery is taking its toll on my hips. “I shall be very relieved when it’s all done. I enjoy running in woods, fields and trails, it’s lovely, much kinder than hard road. I’ll always run, but just not marathons any more.” She has been running on four to seven days a week, a total of about 50 miles. She’s now taking it easier while deciding on her last two marathons. She has an entry for
the Chicago one. “It’s been a great journey. You get emotional on all marathons, whatever happens. I’m always relieved and happy to finish. You still feel 100% satisfaction,” she said. Lisa’s husband Andy ran the New York and a London marathon with her. The athletic family also includes Lisa’s two other siblings, Simon and Fran, who have run half marathons. Jane and Peter Kelly, who started the family tradition, have run two London marathons. Lisa’s marathons have included: three at Dinton Pastures, Hurst, New York, Berlin, Gloucester, Jungfrau mountain in Switzerland, Boston, Abingdon, French Riviera, the Hampshire Hoppit, and the Thames Trot Ultra (50 miles from Oxford through Reading to Henley). She did an Iron Man event in France where she swam over two miles, cycled 112 miles and ran a marathon (over 26 miles).
More bus services could come to Wokingham borough under new plan BETTER bus services to connect towns and villages across the borough are being planned by Wokingham Borough Council. The council has published its Bus Service Improvement Plan, which aims to secure a share of the £3 billion set aside by the Department for Transport to boost passenger numbers across the country. If secured, plans could improve connections between Wokingham town, Twyford, Earley, Woodley, Reading, Bracknell and Henley. The aim is to have more frequent bus services, better access in rural areas and
Cats Protection hosts Saturday fair ANIMAL lovers looking for some stocking fillers are invited to a Christmas fair this weekend. Members of the Bracknell and Wokingham Districts Cats Protection is to hold a Festive Pawsome Tea, its first event since the pandemic put is fundraisers on hold. It will take place at Carnation Hall in Winkfield Row between 2pm and 4pm on Saturday, November 13.
cheaper fares for young people. Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport, said the plan is a chance to make a real difference to the range of travel options available. And Cllr Gregor Murray, executive member for resident services, communications and emissions, hopes it will reduce car journeys, too. “If funding is available and agreement is reached with operators, our bus service improvement plan will also reduce the volume of greenhouse emissions like carbon dioxide, ensuring Wokingham borough continues
to do all it can to address the climate emergency,” he said. Operators would also be supported to “green” their fleets by upgrading vehicles or buying new ones that use cleaner and more modern technology, including electric vehicles. The document will be reviewed annually and will introduce a passengers’ charter and user group giving residents more say in how services run. The former will explain what standards passengers can expect and how to complain if they are not satisfied. The council hopes to agree more detailed steps by April.
There will be stalls selling cakes and preserves, Christmas Cards, tombola, CP goods, calendars and diaries, jigsaws, new and nearly new cat items, and a stall selling raffle tickets. The draw will then be held on Sunday, December 12. Called the Festive Pawsome Tea, it will be slightly scaled down from previous years’ events. Lynne Pothecary, publicity officer for the branch, said: “Our fundraising came to a complete stop with the pandemic, so this return to normality is absolutely vital to us.
“The branch is really looking forward to connecting with all of its members again, and welcoming friends both old and new. “The past year has been difficult for us, as we’ve had no opportunity to attend any local fundraising events.” During the pandemic, the branch continued to look after cats and kittens in its care, and despite having to cease operations for a number of weeks, the branch managed to rehome 84 cats and kittens in 2020, utilising its Hands-free Rehoming Process.
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Honest motherhood
Earley artist la calendar for
Angela Garwood
By JAMES HASTINGS news@wokingham.today
Mum and Dad’s great escape
SOMEWHERE between her sofa and the bottom of the stairs, Emma Major lost her sight.
T
HIS weekend, you could say my partner and I were brought back to life somewhat.
We were doing just fine beforehand, but now we are better. Better people, better parents. The magic formula? Escaping the demands of parenthood for just one day (or just over seven hours). The first time since Leo’s arrival in August 2020. We’ve escaped individually on many occasions. I do an acting class on a Saturday that allows me approximately four hours of breathing space. And Joel mainly has work-related evening functions that he doesn’t count as socialising, but that I very much do. “You came home drunk, you had FUN, it counts Joel.” It was nice to experience the liberation together for once. And not just an hour of Gogglebox before bed. A proper outing. We ventured to London to see East is East at the National Theatre, a selfish birthday present for Joel. Selfish because I love the National, this play looked good, I knew he liked the film, and I wanted company. Win, win. We were like young children pulling into Waterloo, staring out at all the buildings. “That one definitely wasn’t there before…” We headed to the Southbank food market, then sat by the river with our lunch. It felt so good to be among the hustle and bustle again; London has an atmosphere like no other city. The play itself was brilliant, a hilarious revival of the culture-clash classic. I laughed, very nearly cried, and loved every minute of it. Simply being in a theatre again after all this time was pure joy. I wanted to be up on that stage but I also wanted to sit there in the audience soaking up all the theatre magic. It went far too quickly. We couldn’t believe when the lights went on and the play was over. “I don’t want to go home,” we whined to each other. “Let’s stay and go for cocktails,” Joel, forever the spontaneous one. “We can’t ... told Mum we’d be back for Leo’s bedtime.” We had a quick mooch round the National Theatre gift shop, which consisted of me proudly pointing out to Joel all the plays I’d seen or read. I bought a play titled MUM as a sort of souvenir for our day. It is currently on at the Soho theatre, though ironically due to my real life role as a MUM, I have not been able to go and see it. Reluctantly, we dragged our heels back to Waterloo, envious of all those clearly on their way to Hallowe’en parties or just out for drinks. I must have counted at least nine people in scrubs covered in blood. Sad and desperate for the fun to continue, we ended up in Tesco buying alcohol and munchies for our wild night in post-Leo’s bedtime. Joel: “You are going to buy a bottle of Bailey’s and have about five small sips aren’t you...” Me: “Yes, yes I am.” It was a relief in the end to get back to Leo, I felt guilty leaving him all day and was happy to be reunited, even if it meant missing the overpriced cocktails. His little face lit up when we walked in the room, and that was enough to remind me I was exactly where I needed to be. After putting him to bed we began Googling plays to see and brainstorming all the places in London we might want to take the children. We were buzzing. The whole afternoon was a colourful reminder of all the exciting things going on in the capital. An exhilarating day for two tired parents, we needed it.
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, November 11, 2021
COLLECTING: Kim Murray and Molly collecting for the Poppy Appeal
Wokingham raises £300 for Poppy Appeal A WOKINGHAM woman has revealed the extra special reason which inspired her to become a fundraiser for this year’s Poppy Appeal. Kim Murray raised more than £300 in just two hours outside the town’s Waitrose store where she works as a cashier. She has been a poppy collector for a number of years but said a book about her grandmother, Odette Hallowes, who worked for the French Resistance, provided extra motivation to help the appeal. Kim, who was joined by her black Labrador, Molly, was given the book by her daughter’s godmother and close friend, Sophie Parker. “My grandmother was French, her husband was English and they lived in England with their three daughters,” explained Kim. “She was horrified at what the Nazis were doing in her native France and while she didn’t want to leave her family, she felt a strong sense of duty to do whatever she could to help. “In 1942, Odette joined the Special Operations Executive and was dropped behind enemy lines. It was very dangerous with lots of risks but she worked with the Resistance on a number of campaigns to thwart the German occupying force.” These included clearing landing strips for Allied aircraft, finding safe houses for other agents and relaying messages back to British headquarters. On one mission she was almost discovered and only managed to escape a pursuing dog patrol by jumping into an icy river. A year after arriving in France, Odette was betrayed and despite being brutally tortured refused to reveal the names of her fellow agents. She was sent to the infamous Ravensbruck concentration camp where she was repeatedly interrogated, beaten and starved. “My grandmother was such a brave and strong woman,” added Kim “She survived for two years in the camp and in April 1945, word began to spread that the Allies were closing in. Himmler ordered that
no witnesses were to be left alive. One day the prison commandant took my grandmother from her cell. She thought she was going to be shot, but instead he led her to an American army base and handed her over.” Odette eventually made her way back to England, where she was reunited with her family. Her bravery saw her awarded the George Cross, an MBE and the Legion d’Honneur. Every Remembrance Sunday, the brave Resistance fighter would lay a wreath of poppies for her regiment, the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal’s Volunteer Corps) to honour her fellow female agents with the Special Operations Executive who never returned home. “My grandmother would always attach a small bouquet of violets, her favourite flower, to the wreath,” added Kim “She would say she was honouring her comrades who did far more and suffered more profoundly than she did and were not there to speak so she would speak for them. “Our family are now honoured to carry out this poignant tribute at the Remembrance Service on her behalf.” Kim added she was “overwhelmed” with people’s generosity, with one woman even buying her a hot drink after making a donation to the appeal. “So many people paid by card and while the minimum was £3, they would tell me to round it up to £10,” she explained. “Molly, of course, was as popular as ever. She wore a purple poppy that commemorates all the animals, including dogs and horses, that were killed in wars. “My family are very proud of our grandmother. Her heroism was outstanding yet she remained a very humble person. We are honoured to place a bouquet of poppies in memory of her and all the brave women like her in the Special Operations Executive.” Odette’s full story is told in the book, Code Name: Lise by Larry Loftis.
Feeling a little groggy when she stood up, the mother of one staggered across the hall and plunged into a world of darkness. At first, doctors were baffled, but after numerous tests Emma was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder, or FND, a rare condition which can strike without warning. Today, the wheelchair-bound lay minister at St. Nicholas Church in Earley retains only a small amount of tunnel vision and is registered legally blind. “There’s no real treatment,” explains Emma. “I had covid and that made my eyes and the little sight I have even worse.” After losing her sight back in 2015, Emma found renewed comfort in writing poetry, something she had done from an early age. “I was always composing poems but I was useless at art,” she adds. “Then one day in January 2020, I woke up with three pictures and poems in my mind, and I just knew I had to get them down on paper. I tried to draw, but as I couldn’t see, it was difficult. That’s when I discovered an app which enables me to magnify the drawing and my work got better. “In less than two weeks, I had written 25 poems and created a character I called Little Guy. “When I lost my sight and became a wheelchair user, I became quite depressed. Little Guy started off anxious and depressed before he moved through hope and trust to the point where he is able to relate to the world and thrive again.” The result was a book published by Wild Goose Publishing in May 2020. Emma realised that Little Guy spoke into the loneliness, depression and
NEW YEAR: Emma Major has created a calend confusion many people felt as the covid pandemic spread across the country. Such was the popularity of the character and Emma’s poems, that she was featured on Grayson Perrys Art Show on Channel 4 and exhibited for him. She also has an exhibition of paintings on climate change currently at St.George’s Tron in the heart of Glasgow, which is receiving rave reviews. Her latest venture is a limited edition calendar for 2022 featuring colour drawings of Little Guy. “The calendar sells for £10 with all
Former Royal Marine boxes for veterans in charity match BARKHAM man Chris Hunt pulls no punches when it comes to helping veterans. The former Royal Marines Commando is taking part in a fundraiser where civilians and veterans go three rounds in a charity boxing match. The popular event, which takes place at Bracknell Leisure Centre on Saturday, November 13, attracts competitors from the three services: army, navy and air force. Chris says the matches help veterans deal with stress and post traumatic stress disorder in a safe and controlled environment. “These events are great for a number of reasons, not least as an opportunity to meet up with other ex-service men and women. They also help with getting them active again and supporting them mentally,” he explains. “They are always popular with
veterans but also families and friends and the audience. It’s a great night all round, and I hope many people will come out and support it.” The matches also raise money for a variety of charities that supports ex service men and women. The government defines a veteran of the British Armed Forces as any person of any age who has served in the Armed Forces. Anyone taking part must be over 18 and is provided with eight weeks free boxing training. Veterans can also be paired against other veterans depending on the number of people who sign up. Each match consists of three two-minute rounds with head guards and 16oz gloves for beginners and 12oz gloves for more experienced fighters with head guard optional. Research has shown that boxing enables veterans to manage anger, leading to a clearer and
NEWS | 33
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Thursday, November 11, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
aunches 2022 the little guy
Marlow musician launches first published book
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dar for 2022 featuring Little Guy, one of her artistic creations the money going to FND HOPE UK, a patient-led charity for people with the condition,” said Emma. “There is a Little Guy illustration for every month of the year, but he has also transformed into Little Guy in a Wheelchair and Little Kid and many other creations. However he appears, he is basically about hope, a reminder that no matter your situation, reach out, ask for help and find hope.” Emma’s is recognised wherever she goes, much to the amusement of husband Mike and daughter, Rachael. “They are both so supportive as are the parishioners of St Nicolas. I’m
often asked if am angry with God for what has happened to me and the answer is definitely no. My faith is strong and I have always known, even when I was at my lowest, that God is with me. “When I was in hospital waiting for tests, I told Rachael whatever happened, God was here. “Suddenly, a couple sitting near me came over. They’d heard what I had said and told me I had given them a feeling of peace. “I think that’s what Little Guy does. He gives peace and hope. Not bad for just a Little Guy.” MATCH: Chris says the matches help veterans deal with stress and post traumatic stress disorder in a safe and controlled environment
A MUSICIAN has launched his first published book for children. Roger Flavell, of Marlow, released The Adventures of Colonel Crunch and Friends, which is aimed at ages five to eight. The story follows ex-military man Colonel Crunch, who, with his friends, gets up to various adventures. The group likes to make up inventions and see if they work. Author Roger Flavell said: “I am very pleased to have seen the recent publication of my first book. “As a musician and songwriter, it seemed like a natural progress to go on to writing a book.” Mr Flavell added that he envisioned Colonel Crunch a while ago then the other characters just fell into place. “To some extent, one has to draw on experiences of life in order to write stories,” he said.
“Colonel Crunch’s sidekick is a scientist named Professor Bubbles and together they like to try and invent things with differing degrees of success. “And along with the other folk that they know in their locality, they get up to all sorts of things.” Mr Flavell explained that there is also a nod to green issues in a several of the 10 stories in the book. He added: “I do hope that the book will be enjoyed by those who read it, and by the parents who might like to read it to their children.” The book is available to order online or at a bookshop in the borough. Mr Flavell will also be playing in the orchestra pit at The Hexagon for this year’s pantomime, Beauty and the Beast. n For more details, visit theadventuresofcolonelcrunch.co.uk
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calmer mindset. It also improves confidence which can be important in overcoming symptoms of depression associated with PTSD. Other benefits include promoting logical thinking, using the power of adrenaline and being part of a supportive group environment. Chris, who runs the popular FundaMENTAL business in
Wokingham, has stepped up his training for next week’s event. “I really love these session and feel great as I step into the ring,” he says. “The crowd is amazing and everyone taking part does so with a great spirit.” n For more information and to buy tickets, go to: www.boxingforveterans. com
Friday- midnight; slipping into the weekend, disco lights, beer pong and rap battles. a college Fiesta; Couples, singles, complicated concoctions, drink some orange juice, hog on cheese pizzas, chill with the boys, talk to women. Talk about the newest 007, impress them with your useless talents and question them about their broken family- in that order.
A spirit reborn, from the heap, the music reverberates, lonely within; The neon lights reflect on the pink wall, there hang by the clock Edward Hopper’s five-inch paintings, floating through lonely. My spine curling into a claw, iced tea, my politics, my audience sit solemn too. A party commences, myself and the lively characters from the whiteboard, listening.
Aishwarya Khale
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WOKINGHAM.TODAY THE VOICE OF THE BOROUGH
Where should the homes go?
THIS WEEK, the latest draft Local Plan Update is released and it contains some interesting reading. The council should be applauded for its work in trying to protect as much green space as possible. Of course, the problem is that the government’s housing target is big, and Wokingham is still, just about, a semirural borough. It might not feel it at times, especially heading from Wokingham town centre to Bracknell, or if you live in Shinfield, but there are large patches of countryside right on our doorstep. Grazeley will be protected from development as long as AWE is in Aldermaston, while northern parts of the borough are designated as green belt land. There are times when it feels as if the quest to put housing in Wokingham borough is trying to pour a quart into a pint pot. But that is what the draft local plan is trying to find the answers to. Of course it won’t be perfect, and that is where we all come in. There will be consultation sessions, online and in person. It’s worth an hour of time to hear the proposals and then have your say. After all, it is your borough, and it is our future.
CHURCH NOTES
Rest! The Fourth Commandment
I
T is so important for human beings to have rest that God enshrined it in The Ten Commandments. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work …” The Lord blessed the Sabbath and made it holy. (Exodus 20:8-11) But what does ‘holy’ mean? Well, the root meaning of ‘holy’ is something separate, something different, something special. So one day of the week was to be different from the others. And what does ‘rest’ mean? Throughout the ages, people have had physical jobs so they were to do little on that special day, and there was even a limit on how far they could walk – less than a mile. But what about today, when many do not have physical jobs, but rather work with their brains? How do we rest our brains? I find gardening and long walks (far more than a mile) peaceful and mentally relaxing. But I do not wear headphones. It is the silence that gives my brain a rest. Quiet is calming. Maybe one of the reasons why some people suffer from mental stress is they do not give their brains a rest. Many are anti-silence. The radio or TV is on. They listen to the car radio or to something on their headphones. They are continually doing something on their iPad or iPhone. Why not try complete silence for part of one day a week? Give your brain, as well as your body, a rest. Have a Sabbath. Michael Penny, Chair of Churches Together in Reading and Berkshire
Send your thoughts to letters@wokingham.today
Have these MPs no shame?
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, November 11, 2021
We love to hear from you! Send us your views on issues relating to the borough (in 250 words or less) to Wokingham.Today, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS or email: letters@wokingham.today We reserve the right to edit letters Views expressed in this section are not necessarily those of the paper
Picture of the week
I see that our MP voted in favour of Paterson being found “not guilty” of corrupt behaviour. Nearly all of the 2,600+ comments (so far on November 3) on The Times website are utterly vitriolic, on the lines of “MPs vote to exonerate a corrupt colleague, and to change the rules, after discovering that the current rules expose and punish corrupt conduct”. Has he, and have fellow members, no shame – at all?
Michael Storey, Wokingham
Jam today, choice tomorrow? Neil Coupe, in his quest for jam for his breakfast toast (Wokingham Today November 4) should remember the advice of the Dairymaid in A.A. Milne’s children poem, The King’s Breakfast that “…marmalade is tasty if it’s very thickly spread’. And his dilemma about being spoilt for choice by the confusing plethora of brands offered by the big supermarkets might be resolved if he tried a Lidl one. There they apply the Henry Ford approach to choice – you can have any brand you like as long as it’s ours. The jam is exceedingly good. So is the marmalade.
Ray Little, Finchampstead
On the SEND school need Last week you reported on the joint letter sent by Reading East MP Matt Rodda (Labour) and Maidenhead MP Teresa May (Conservative) to the Department for Education regarding the delay in the opening of the Oak Tree Academy School. The school is a joint project between Reading Borough Council and Wokingham Council that will provide 150 school places for young people with Special Educational Needs (mainly helping those with
I captured this very atmospheric photo of Cantley Park [Wokingham] on Monday lunchtime – Ian Hydon, Wokingham. Send your photos to letters@wokingham.today autism spectrum condition) in Winnersh. This project demonstrated different local authorities and different parties can work together successfully to provide much needed facilities for their local communities. But more importantly, it will provide specialist and much needed resources that ensure our young people with SEND get the best possible education available, closer to home and closer to their friends and families. Sadly, as reported last week, the
Westminster Diary Matt Rodda
We should celebrate and protect the Thames
I
N the last few weeks alone, politics has been moving quickly and it shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. Tomorrow, COP26 comes to an end, and we can all hope that the G20 – the 20 industrialised countries who generate 80% of the worlds carbon output and greenhouse gases, can reach agreement to keep alive the ambitions of halting global temperature increases to 1.5ºC. While we have had announcements about divesting
global finances from fossil fuel industries, it was disappointing that Poland and Australia were unwilling to commit to reduce their dependence on coal for energy generation. Brazil signed up to a pledge to end deforestation but showed no willingness to turn their words into actions and offers from the UK Government to help homeowners reduce their own emissions – through heat pumps – are too few, too expensive, and too late. We must all do what we can to cut carbon out of our
DfE (who are managing this project) have announced the opening of the school will now be delayed. This will leave both local authorities to foot a huge financial bill for the next 10 years (as pupils will be in more expensive placements further away) and leave many families and young people wondering where they will be able to access the facilities and education they need and deserve. I have spoken with my Conservative colleagues in Wokingham and as MP’s Rodda and
May have also shown there is cross party and cross authority support on this, we need this school to open as soon as possible and I urge the DfE to do all they can to ensure that this happens.
lives and deliver the net-zero carbon economy we need. I was pleased to do my bit to help that commitment last weekend by running the Reading Half Marathon and raising money on behalf of Reading Hydro, our local hydro electric power plant. By harnessing the power of the River Thames, Reading Hydro is leading the way in clean, green energy. I was proud to support Reading Hydro because as well as showing that hydro electric power really does work, the money they make from selling the electricity goes into their community fund to pay for local low-carbon and sustainability projects. The River Thames along with her tributaries, the Loddon and the Kennet, was also a focus of my parliamentary work – but for all to unpleasant other reasons. While we seek to reduce our carbon output, we must also strive for cleaner air and water which is why I was disappointed with the Government’s plans to allow water companies to pump raw sewage
into our inland waterways and into coastal communities. It was an easy choice faced by MPs and unfortunately the Government and their MPs chose the wrong answer meaning that not a single river in the UK now meets the high standards we demand. The Thames is a defining part of our county and we should celebrate and protect it. Finally, it’s not just the Thames I want to celebrate. This week, I launched my Small Business Saturday competition. I want to hear about and champion the hundreds of small businesses in Reading and Woodley who serve our communities with professionalism and diligence. Nominations for your favourite small business whether a café, florist, pub, corner shop or independent trader of any sort are now open at mattroddamp.com/ 2021-sbs Please let me know which small businesses you love the most. Results will be out on Saturday, December 4.
Cllr Ashley Pearce (Labour), lead councillor for education at Reading Borough Council
Supermarket sweep Driving back from the Supermarket last Saturday with my groceries and my copy of Wokingham Today, I
Thursday, November 11, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
was caught in a very lengthy delay caused by three way traffic lights at the Bearwood/Barkham road miniroundabout. With a lack or diversion signs it caused considerable chaos and a very lengthy delay for several hundreds of cars. Closing roads to meet the needs of their developer mates and to hell with residents seems to be the mantra of Wokingham’s Conservative run council. Eventually arriving home, a cuppa in hand I turned my attention to the paper. Page 1 set the scene. Motorists will face three days of misery but who cares when residents are just minions it would seem. Something I have been objecting to for years now to no avail as the game is developers first and residents last. Moving to page 3, Council challenges NHS to improve access to GP’s. Where was that headline when the NHS pulled the plug on a new doctors surgery agreed by the Council at the 3,500 houses at Arborfield Garrison? It’s just a PR stunt with no substance as Arborfield Garrison shows Wokingham’s Conservative run council do not care. What hope for future large scale development as the Council agree to everything, then just bend/break the rules to suit the themselves and to hell with the residents. Page 6. Three MPs urge the Department for Education not to delay the Special Need School (SEND) approved by a Motorway in Winnersh. This is a SEND school by a noisy polluting Motorway, which I objected to with no noise/pollution site monitors rejected by Planning Officers does not seem to be the best location when the closed rural Farley Hill Primary School is available. Page 7: Flood stops children from playing outside yet tomorrow at an extraordinary Executive Wokingham’s Ruling Conservatives executive support a consultation with the key driver is 4,500+ houses in the countryside on the banks of the Loddon River (Flood Plain edge) stretching from Arborfield to Winnersh. The location is also below a threatening dam at Bearwood
lakes. Madness when, with climate emergency upon us, as death and destruction in Germany and other parts of Europe has recently shown us. Page 9 The Council’s Labour Leader criticises the Borough Council over its biodiversity claims but the Executive Member for highways ignores biodiversity and concentrates on the fact that it will play a crucial role in helping traffic move smoothly across Wokingham Borough. Biodiversity kicked into the long grass it would seem. Page 34 Letters. From Tom Ross. He asks is the Conservative Council Leader backing away from Climate Emergency on cost but why will the Council Leader not reveal the real cost? Tom also mentions that the Labour Councillors supported by every Councillor in Wokingham except the Conservatives support a Citizens Assembly to guide the Council on Climate Emergency which sadly will never happen. Why? Simple really. Wokingham’s Conservatives see democracy as the preserve of the Leader and the ruling executive and they don’t even consider their own members in their interpretation of democracy. Backbench Conservatives are just lobby fodder to be browbeaten/ bullied and kept in line. Residents play no part in Wokingham’s Conservative idea of democracy except at election time. A point to note. Finally Page 35 From the Chamber: Cllr Sarah Kerr talks of Climate Emergency (or lack of) both nationally and locally. A key point mentioned is that insulation homes has fallen off the radar. I assume she means by that we all freeze to death or have to wear extra jumpers or pollute by using more energy to stay warm while our Conservative Councillors are all snug as a bug in their warm, insulated houses. Why is this Conservative-run Wokingham Borough not developing powerful environmental policies for insulating our current/future residents homes? We all suffer. With climate emergency getting out of control in many more ways as our new local housing plan evolves the
Volunteer Corner
Helena Badger
T
HRIVE uses gardening to bring about positive changes to the lives of people living with disabilities or ill-health, or isolated, disadvantaged or vulnerable.
The charity is looking for client support volunteers to assist the client gardeners and horticultural therapists at its garden in Beech Hill near Reading. Helping directly with its clients, volunteers support our horticultural therapists in delivering a high level of service to client gardeners with a disability or ill-health. Client gardeners come to its gardening programmes with a range of disabilities and health conditions and
the programmes they follow vary from general gardening to working towards horticultural qualifications. Thrive is looking for people with; patience and understanding with a commitment to being supportive and companionable, flexibility – task may need to change, and client gardeners’ behaviour may be surprising or erratic, reliability – for both the therapists and the client gardeners this is important for continuity and trust, the ability to explain tasks clearly and in simple way and have some understanding of basic gardening skills. n SHaRON is an online initiative to provide help and support to service users in Berkshire who have experienced mental health issues.
VIEWPOINTS | 35
To advertise, call 0118 327 2662 opportunity is there now. Sadly, I predict it will be a lost opportunity in so many ways. Deliberate on going planning to continue polluting our roads, cutting down all our trees, and concreting over our green fields but not a house in Hurst or Remenham etc. without a real thought to Climate Emergency is the way of the Conservatives. I hope our residents remember this next May.
Cllr. Gary Cowan. Independent Borough Councillor for Arborfield at Wokingham Borough Council.
Politically and morally corrupt “Politically corrupt” is the damming indictment of the Conservative party from one of its former Prime Ministers, Sir John Major. Last week, under instructions from Boris Johnson, Conservative MP’s including Sir John Redwood, Wokingham’s MP supported Owen Paterson. Mr Paterson had been found to have egregiously breached lobbying rules on several occasions. Breaking Parliamentary standards rules when he was acting as a consultant for two private companies adding about £500,000 to his salary as an MP. One of the businesses he lobbied for has also been awarded nearly £500m in government Covid contracts. It appears that the Prime Minister, Sir John Redwood and 250 or so other Conservatives do not agree with the Parliamentary standards committee who unanimously said Owen Patterson broke the rules. In fact, they recommended that he be barred from Parliament for 30 days, one of the strongest recommendations that can be made. Reading the Sunday newspapers there is also a pattern of other serious issues developing. Sir Alex Allan resigned as an advisor on ministerial standards after no action was taken when he found Priti Patel, the Home Secretary had broken the ministerial code. His successor, Lord Geidt found Boris Johnson had acted unwisely over the refurbishment of the Downing Street flat. SHaRON is a safe and anonymous environment where people can both receive support and help others who are in or have been through similar situations. You can help people improve their lives by volunteering with the SHaRON Moderation Team for this new development. The role includes reading and responding appropriately to posts from service users. Volunteers must have an interest in supporting service users with mental health issues and their families and carers, a friendly, empathetic personality and excellent online compassionate communication skills, a desire to help people regain control over their mental health and an interest and experience of social media platforms. n Wokingham Hospital is looking for volunteers in a variety of roles on the wards. Some volunteers may be happy to help directly with patients by interacting with them such as chatting, helping them participate in
Apparently, Mr Johnson does not intend to declare in the register of interests his recent free holiday in the Marbella Villa of one of his Ministers, Lord Goldsmith. Robert Jenrick as housing mnister rushed through the approval of a housing scheme for the billionaire Richard Desmond after sitting next to him at a fund-raising dinner. During the pandemic lucrative contracts were handed out to friends and supporters of the Conservatives. I am sure we remember the failed Test & trace debacle which has cost us the taxpayers £37bn. All this adds up to behaviour that Sir John Major has called “politically corrupt”, shameful, wrong, and unConservative. Sir John Major is simply saying what millions of lifelong Tory voters are thinking: Boris Johnson’s Conservative government no longer represents them. The people running our government really have become a huge embarrassment both here at home and in the wider world. One rule for them, another for the rest of us.
Cllr Clive Jones, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Wokingham Borough Council
Rip-off London Transport for London and the London Mayor are ripping off the public big time (over the Emissions Zone, editor). The Mayor has no idea at all and is harsh to the poor people who want to use their cars to visit the lonely and sick parents and friends. Not one day has this harsh man Khan cared for the very people, the voters, who put him there in the first place. I want to know where does this money go? There is no pollution from money may be it goes in their pockets. If he wants to help he should use his sawdust brain and ban all private cars going into London and cut the prices on the tubes and buses. Not on people’s sick families. Where does the money go Mr Khan? It is a first class rip off from a bad mayor.
Victor Rones, Bracknell social activities, playing cards/games, doing puzzles, painting their nails, and doing their hair. Assisting with meal preparations, if appropriate timing, is possible. This includes taking menu choices, setting tables, offering hand wipes as directed. All activity will be under the direction of nursing staff. If you are interested in admin, Wokingham Hospital would love to hear from you. If you are organised and a good communicator, perhaps you could help organise and manage visiting appointments. The main requirement for the ward roles is a friendly demeanour – patient, caring attitude and common to all volunteers an unselfish desire to help. n These are just a few roles on our books. 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
Spacephiller Phil Creighton
That’s the way the cookies crumble
E
ARWORMS are funny things. The same snatch of song goes round your head on an endless loop, often for days at a time.
Some I don’t mind. Every so often, it’s one of the themes to Whicker’s World. It’s either 1960s swing from Laurie Johnson, or the bombastic 1980s one by Graham de Wilde and called Newsweek. At other times, it’s The Sound of Silence performed not by Art and Garfunkel, but the band of the Royal Marines. It popped up on a YouTube playlist once and keeps reappearing. Followed by Puff The Magic Dragon. Not sure what that says about YouTube’s algorithms, or my taste in music. Well actually, I do. Not a lot. And that’s the curious thing about the internet and its tracking cookies. They can get it so right, but so, so wrong. Coming up to the festive shopping season, it can get it even wronger. When it comes to the big day, surprise is the key factor particularly if you want to avoid another round of the dull, mundane and boring: a bestselling book, a new set of hankies, some cheap scent or the petrol station’s finest. Stalking the internet for ideas is the 21st century version of paging the Argos catalogue. Or the Great Universal one. Or, for those with even longer memories, the Index catalogue. Flicking through for great ideas was fairly easy and could be done discreetly. As long as you keep a note of the catalogue numbers away from the pages it’s easy. In fact, the hardest thing is coming up with an excuse for just popping to the store to collect the item, or have it sent to home in a discreet package so no one can guess what it is. Modern living? Pah, there’s no hiding place. If I’ve been searching for, say, the latest Star Wars blu-ray, the cookies follow me around different websites, bringing up advertising directly related to said digitally versatile discs. Which means that if junior is peeping over my shoulder, and put two and two together well, he’s the one who has to feign surprise on December 25. Then there’s times when we’ve been talking about something – something improbable that we haven’t been searching online for. Say, sheds with minibars (we haven’t). A few sweet words whispered around my phone and then suddenly my web searching brings up ads for the very same. Coincidence? Possibly, but I’m not reaching for the tinfoil hat just yet. Then there’s the time when you’ve just bought something, say a radiator. For us humans it’s obvious this is a one-off purchase and we’re unlikely to pop down to Tesco to get another six on a whim. That doesn’t stop the cookies crumbling all around you. If it’s a big surprise purchase, well, crumbs. What would make things easier is if ecommerce stores had a gift shopping mode. When you log in, and search for that perfect gift, there should be a way of telling all the various sites that you are looking for a present and you don’t necessarily want to see any ads pop up for it later. Yes, there is incognito browsing modes on most web browsers these days – private modes that make it easier for this kind of thing – but what if you don’t want to use this method? After all, it’s a bit suspicious of more dubious activities. Like watching weird music videos on YouTube. With Santa soon to be needing a helping hand, I’m keen to help. I just don’t know where to start, especially as the Argos catalogue is no more. Maybe I should wait for the January sales and tell them the North Pole went into lockdown. That or Santa was sucked into a YouTube rabbit warren. While you’re waiting, who wants to listen to the Royal Marines perform Sweet Caroline?
36 | BUSINESS
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Which? award for Bracknellbased window company
By PHIL CREIGHTON pcreighton@wokingham.today
Pop-up job fayre at Broad Street A POP-UP recruitment fair is coming to Reading town centre on Friday (November 12). Broad St Mall is hosting the Reading Job Fest and Career Expo. The event will see a number of local employers share some of the opportunities currently on offer. Exhibitors include Marks & Spencer, Blue Arrow, JD Sports, Optalis, Midgard Construction, Caffe Nero, Sally Beauty, Hilton Reading Hotel and Total Security. The event runs from 10am to 1pm and will take place in the Upper Mall area of the popular shopping centre. There is no need to book – people looking to work for the firms can just turn up and meet the various companies. It has been organised by the Mall in conjunction with Reading UK CIC and the Department for Work and Pensions.
A BRACKNELL-based window company is celebrating after being awarded a special accolade from a consumer champion.
Which? magazine has awarded The Sash Window Workshop its Trusted Trader of the Month award for November. It is awarded to firm that can offer both a high-quality product and excellent customer service. The firm is also recognised for its ability to give back to the community. The company is based in Kiln Lane and was launched in 1994. It specialises in the manufacture, installation and draught proofing of traditional timber windows and doors in period properties across London and the South. Traders can only participate in the scheme once they have undergone a rigorous application process, proving that they meet the high standards expected.
TRUSTED TRADER: Left: Richard Dollar, managing director of The Sash Window Workshop, with a window ready to be installed; Above: Team members To obtain Which? Trusted Trader of the Month a company prove it has gone the extra mile, competing with other Which? Trusted Traders to show that they closely align with the company’s values. When reviewing The Sash Window Workshop’s application for November’s Which? Trusted Trader of the Month, the judges said they were extremely impressed
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with the application and the company’s focus on customer satisfaction, extensive charity work and commitment to sustainability. Richard Dollar, founder and managing director at The Sash Window Workshop, was delighted at the company’s success. “Which? is a hugely respected
brand, trusted by consumers across the country,” he said. “We are proud to have won this award, highlighting our commitment to providing a highquality product and customer service. “We take great pride in providing top quality timber windows and doors with excellent customer service.”
NEW LAUNCH: Dow Schofield Watts has expanded to Winnersh Triangle Picture: Arena Business Centres
Husband and wife launch firm in Winnersh Triangle AN ADVISORY firm has opened its doors in Winnersh. Dow Schofield Watts has expanded to Arena Business Centre’s new flexi-working space in Winnersh Triangle. Run by Steve and Carla Holmes, the team offers advice on tax services and due diligence. “Dow Schofield Watts is a highly respected firm which aims to make highquality advisory services more accessible to small and
medium-sized companies,” Mr Holmes said. “We look forward to providing a hands-on service to businesses and the advisory community within the Thames Valley region and working closely with the wider tax and due diligence teams within Dow Schofield Watts.” Mr and Mrs Holmes have more than 20 years’ experience advising growing businesses on acquisitions. Nicole Burstow, finance
director at Dow Schofield Watts, added: “The Thames Valley has a thriving business community with a wealth of fast growing, innovative companies. “The launch of the Reading office will provide additional choice to local businesses and support our growth as a challenger firm. “We look forward to building our presence in the area as we welcome new advisers on board.”
Thursday, November 11, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
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A business park that is changing
Wokingham agency named number one in Berkshire for customer service A WOKINGHAM estate agency has been celebrating, after being named top in the county. Quarters Residential, which is based in Market Place, won Best Sales Agency in Berkshire at the ESTAS Awards on Friday, October 22. The annual ceremony, organised by customer review platform ESTAS, recognises agents who have delivered positive customer service. On social media, Nick and Teresa Harris, co-founders of Quarters,
extended a thank you to their customers. “It means so much to us because these awards are 100% based on client and customer feedback and delivering a genuinely personal service,” they said. “We have many local families to thank for all their support so from us both, a heartfelt thank you. “Recognition like this makes us even more determined to keep improving and we’re excited to work with many more families in the future.”
Biz school dean take on new A SENIOR figure at Henley Business School has taken on a new role at the Chamber of Business. Jon Foster-Pedley, the dean and director of the school’s South African branch, has been elected chair of the British Chamber of Business in Southern Africa. He will now help promote trade and commercial relations between the UK
and Africa, and said he wants to change the concept of business in the continent. “What we want to do is to ensure that businesses who come to South Africa come with a strong mission to increase prosperity in the region,” he said. Henley Africa, which is based in Johannesburg, works closely with the UK school on a range of research programmes.
Stamp duty fuels record demand for conveyancing services By PHIL CREIGHTON pcreighton@wokingham.today THAMES Valley law firm Blandy & Blandy’s award-winning Residential Property team says it has experienced record demand for conveyancing services this year.
It attributes the demand due to the Government’s Stamp Duty ‘holiday’ which ended on September 30. It was introduced during the early stages of the pandemic to help keep the property market moving and was among a number of schemes to help sectors hit by covid closures. The number of completions, for properties sold and purchased, handled by the team increased by 74% during the first nine months of this year in comparison to prepandemic levels. The number of completions more than doubled against last year.
Blandy’s partner and team head Manisha Bhula said: “I would of course like to thank all of our clients during the past 18 months for choosing to work with us and to wish them well in their new homes. “I would also like to thank the leading estate agents we work closely with for recognising and appreciating the service we provide and for continuing to recommend us to their clients. “We highly value these important relationships with trusted and established firms.” She added: “I must also acknowledge and thank my
colleagues for their hard work and dedication during what has been a very busy and challenging time for everyone. Their commitment during an extremely busy time allowed us to handle and deal with an unprecedented caseload.” Blandy & Blandy says its successful approach has been firmly reflected in the feedback received from clients, with 98% of those surveyed confirming that they would recommend the firm to others. The firm has also received a significant number of five-star Google reviews, with clients having described the team and the service provided as “professional”, “proactive”, ““value for money”, “fantastic” and “second-to-none”. It has offices in Reading and Henley-on-Thames n For more details, log on to: www. blandy.co.uk
We changed our name Dabbawalla is now called
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INTHECOMMUNITY
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The return of the first time buyer
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or those of you who keep an eye on the property market, you will be aware that the appetite for flats and apartments has been somewhat subdued for 18 months, but there has been a pronounced shift in demand over the past ten weeks which has totally changed the landscape for sellers and buyers. The reason for the lack of sales activity over the past year and a half has simply been down to the lack of demand from those looking to purchase their first home and take the leap of faith on to the property ladder. It wasn’t through lack of desire or an abundance of caution but actually a direct impact of COVID-19. A significant number of would-bepurchasers were in roles which saw them furloughed which had two effects; firstly, it took mortgage lenders some time to establish their lending criteria Hat and Home Founder, Ben Gee for those who had been furloughed, with the overwhelming majority adopting an extremely cautious approach in the early months. Secondly, uncertainty surrounding job security was an understandable deterrent in the midst of the pandemic. Couple these factors with not knowing whether one would be required to work from home or whether they needed to travel to the office at all and we experienced almost total inertia in this part of the market. Fast forward 15 months with furlough behind us, and most people have a much better understanding of where they are working, how often they need to commute and how secure their current role is. Mortgage lenders have clearly defined lending structures which take into account periods spent on furlough and rates are still extremely attractive for those looking to purchase their first home. The difference in activity is seismic with sellers who have patiently waited for demand to return now agreeing offers and being able to look for their next property. It’s not all rosy for the first time buyers though as they have competition in the form of investors who are also returning to the market in force. Low interest rates, high yields and huge demand from tenants continue to make property a sound investment. Hat and Home is an independent Wokingham estate agency which gives a nod to tradition and a wink to nostalgia. Our mission is to make moving home a fantastic experience. If you need any help with your sale, purchase, let or rental, please just drop us a line.
APPEAL: Representatives from the Legion have been collecting for the annual Poppy Appeal at the community cart in Braccan Walk South
Bracknell’s Lexicon lends support to Poppy Appeal
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RACKNELL-BASED shopping centre The Lexicon is helping the Royal British Legion mark its centenary year.
Representatives from the Legion have been collecting for the annual Poppy Appeal. They were based at the community cart in Braccan Walk South, opposite Waterstones. Gaynor Dingley, community fundraiser at The Royal British Legion said: “The 2021 Poppy Appeal will be the climax of Centenary activity, providing us with a high-profile platform from which to galvanise existing audiences and engage new ones. “This year, as we mark 100 years of the Royal British Legion, we are celebrating the
return of our Poppy Appeal collectors in local communities and are delighted that The Lexicon was playing host to some of our army of collectors during the Appeal.” The appeal has moved with the times. For those who wanted to make a cashless donation, there was a QR code to scan on a smartphone next to a poppy display placed in Braccan Walk North. Sue Boor, head of marketing at The Lexicon, says: “Without the ability to be able to collect via face-to-face volunteers in 2020, we know just how vital this year’s Appeal is to the Royal British Legion and are delighted to be able to offer support.” The RBL uses donations in many ways including providing crisis grants, sport and
art based recovery programmes, specialist dementia care, and support with benefit and money issues. Cllr Marc Brunel-Walker, executive member for economic development and regeneration at Bracknell Forest Council, was pleased that the appeal was running at The Lexicon. “Any fundraising effort is important, but the return of face-to-face activities in a centenary year is vital,” he said. “Charities have felt the pinch over the last 18 months, as activities have been restricted due to covid. “So, the Poppy Appeal returning is not only good news for its ability to raise funds nationally, it is a welcome sight in the local community.”
Dinton Santa Dash returns next month THE DINTON Santa Dash is going ahead in person this year. The annual fundraiser, in its fifth year, will take place at Dinton Pastures on Saturday, December 18. Participants can choose from completing a 2km or 5km route. The family-friendly fun event is not timed, which makes it suitable for all. Previous fun runner Naomi said the 2019 event was the first time running with her three-year-old daughter. “She absolutely loved the whole experience and was completely thrilled with the cheers she got at the finish line,” she added. The cost includes a Santa costume and an event number for each entrant. They will be rewarded with a Christmas medal and a mince pie at the finishing line. First Days Children’s Charity will receive £2 from each entry fee. A virtual option is also available. n For more information, visit: www. barnesfitness.co.uk/dinton-santadash-2021
Care home celebrates Diwali RESIDENTS in a Lower Earley care home marked Diwali last week. Austen House celebrated the festival of lights on Thursday, November 4. Activities assistant, Sunita Biyani prepared traditional Indian dishes, including a range of spicy samosas, crispy bhajis and papadums with lime pickle and chutneys followed by traditional Indian sweets such as laddoo and barfi for the residents to enjoy. There was music and Bollywood-style dancing, and staff were decked in colourful outfits and body art. The religious festival honours Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Special lamps help
Lakshmi find her way into people’s homes. Jane, who lives in Austen House, said she loves the range of cultural events that the home organises. “There’s always something going on,” she said. “I especially like the religious festivals from other cultures and sampling the wonderful food. It makes me feel like I am travelling abroad.” Natsayi Dunira, general manager at Austen House, said: “To celebrate Diwali at the home was fantastic. The colourful glow of the lamps created a very wonderful atmosphere and our whole excelled themselves — everyone had a fantastic time.”
Solar panels help school
JAC launches new shop in town EXCLUSIVE By JAMES HASTINGS news@wokingham.today THUMBS UP: The new panels could generate up to 49kw per hour Picture: Stewart Turkington
By LAURA SCARDARELLA lscardarella@wokingham.today A SECONDARY school is cooking up a storm after its new solar panels were installed, thanks to Wokingham Borough Council.
The Bulmershe School, on Woodlands Avenue, Woodley, replaced its old panels with 131 updated ones. The new panels, which sit across the roof of the building above the kitchen, could generate up to 49kw per hour at maximum capacity. “Projects like this are fantastic for Wokingham borough and its residents,” Cllr Gregor Murray, executive member for resident services, communications and emissions, said. “Not only does it help us tackle the climate emergency by lowering carbon emissions, it also helps
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us reduce costs for powering our schools in the longer term, as well as making the school self-sufficient.” Since the panels were installed in the summer holidays, the technology has already generated nearly 10,500 kWh of green electricity, the equivalent of powering an average family house for 350 days. “The past months have shown us just how vulnerable our energy market is to external forces, with increased global demand and disruption to the supply network causing prices to skyrocket.” The council is also installing a new battery system. Power generated by the panels can be stored and used by the school at the most required times. The original solar panels will be reused for new, lower power demand projects in country parks.
A POPULAR community shop has moved to a new site, which has seen it more than triple in size.
The JAC store formerly housed in cramped premises on Central Walk, is now open on Denmark Street. As well as providing more space to sell a wide range of goods, the new shop includes extra storage room and a cafe. Manager Chris Pape, who launched the original JAC shop, said the move took four days. Staff and volunteers are looking forward to welcoming customers old and new. “Our new site is amazing; there is so much room,” she explained “We only had a tiny space before, but now, as well as browsing the shop people can relax with tea and coffee.” JAC stands for Just Around the Corner and the Christian-run charity aims to provide opportunities to young people aged between 15 and 25. “Many have autism or acute social anxiety,” added Ms Pape. “Working in the shop helps introduce them to people and grow their work and social skills, whether dealing with customers or handling money. “They work toward a proper qualification. It helps the young people see what they can do in a positive environment that can help further themselves.” “Many of our young people have gone on to work in shops and offices around Wokingham, while others have gone on to college.” The shop, run by volunteers, has no
OPEN: JAC has moved from its cramped premises on Central Walk to Denmark Street Picture: Jess Warren set price for items but invites customers to pay what they think their purchase is worth. There is a wide range of clothes, books, CDs, bric-a-brac and household items. JAC also runs an equine-assisted learning facility in Forest Road, as well as a mobile youth centre in Woodley. Ms Pape spent a number of years as a youth worker and saw the need to help autistic youngsters. She started a modest stall which helped young people, and that led to the creation of the first JAC shop.
She added: “I would love one day to see more shops like this all around the country. “I have seen how the young people who come here grow and develop. It is amazing how their confidence and social skills develop. “Only around 16% of autistic adults go into full-time work. Working at JAC means that not only can wee provide our young people with real work experience and teach them skills, but we can also also provide a reference for future employers.”
Trusted to care Award winning care homes Our highly trained care home teams are specialists in residential, nursing, dementia and respite care, so whatever your needs and personal preferences, we’re here to help you and your family at every step of the journey. If you’re considering care for yourself or a loved one, call 0343 253 8606 or visit careuk.com/berkshire
Our care homes in Berkshire Bickerton House, Bracknell Parsons Grange, Shinfield
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Reading charity shows positive impact judo has for rehabilitation
By LAURA SCARDARELLA lscardarella@wokingham.
TEAM GB Olympic judo competitors hosted a special event for recovering addicts, thanks to a Berkshire-based charity.
Hope and Vision Communities, which supports people to overcome addictions, brought a group of men together who are at different stages of rehabilitation to show them the positive impact judo can have on their recovery. The day was hosted by judoka athletes Danny Williams and Ashley McKenzie at their native Camberley Judo Club, on Deer Rock Road. The event was attended by more than 30 men from various rehab centres across Berkshire and Surrey. Guests participated in a judo taster session and listened to recovery stories. Commonwealth Games gold medallist Danny Williams explained why he and Mr McKenzie were happy to get involved. He said: “As a young judo player, the sport helped me walk a more positive path than one I perhaps could have taken. “Combat sports give practitioners a healthy outlet ,while at the same time helping build self discipline, focus, and
respect for oneself and others, attributes that can aid anyone but particularly those aspiring to a sustainable recovery from addiction.” He hopes it will become an annual event. Mr Williams added that he believes everyone deserves a fighting chance to recover from addiction. Created by a former addict with the Judge who sentenced him, Hope and Vision Communities is a charity that understands more than most the multi-layered and complex issues around addiction. “There’s often a shame that often accompanies addiction,” charity founder and Forward Trust More Than My Past ambassador, Tony Attwood, said. “It’s vital that those of us who have successfully turned our lives around share our experiences with those struggling with addiction.” Mr Attwood added there is a “great power” in being together in the community. “We hope that this event helps men in treatment understand that they are not alone, and that judo and other sports can have a great value to their long-term recovery.” n For more information, log on to: hopeandvision.org.uk
HOSTS: Team GB Olympic competitors Danny Williams and Ashley McKenzie joined Tony Attwood (centre) to host the event at their native Camberley Judo Club Picture: Matthew Fennell at It’s Gotta Be Done Productions
NHS trust highly commended for innovation in Parkinson’s care AN NHS trust has been awarded for its innovation in Parkinson’s treatment. The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust won highly commended at the UK Parkinson’s Excellence Network Awards on Thursday, October 28. Their entry focused on advance care planning in Parkinson’s. Dr Donald Grosset, clinical director of the UK Parkinson’s Excellence Network, said: “This is a truly remarkable specialist team that is at the forefront of exceptional Parkinson’s care.” He congratulated them on the award, and for “pushing boundaries” in care. The virtual awards were co-hosted by Parkinson’s UK’s president Jane Asher, and Terence Manning, a former head teacher, living with Parkinson’s. Ms Asher said: “I love these awards. “They give us a chance to celebrate great care for people affected by Parkinson’s. Care that makes a difference, not only in the consulting room but to peoples’ everyday lives in the community.” n For more information, visit: parkinsons.org.uk/ excellencenetwork
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Thursday, November 11, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
NEWS | 41
Keep your home secure on dark nights warn police By PHIL CREIGHTON pcreighton@wokingham.today
As temperatures drop it’s really important for us as friends, family and caregivers to really think about how we can support the elderly during the winter months. As homecare specialists, we o�en see Clients making decisions which have an adverse impact on their health, including turning the hea�ng off to save money, not wearing warm enough clothes, or simply ge�ng lonely and feeling isolated as they days get shorter, and they can’t get out so much. Here are some �ps on how you can help.
NOW that the clocks have gone back, police are warning residents to do everything they can to keep their home secure.
Thames Valley Police says that the new daylight hours mean that many people will return home in the dark, and it is a prime moment for burglars as they can easily see which houses are unoccupied. It has offered some advice to help people keep the thieves at bay: Invest in a timer light switch and vary the time it comes on each day to make it look more natural. It can also be used with a radio or TV to give the impression that someone’s home. Perhaps purchase a fake/simulated TV device which lights up a room like a real TV. Keep valuables out of sight and mark them with your house number and postcode using a UV pen, or consider buying a forensic property marking system. Register your valuables via www. immobilise.com and keep an inventory list. It’s free and takes just a few minutes. If you have jewellery, photograph it for insurance purposes and consider storing it in a suitable safe. Lock your doors and windows. If you have a UPVC door make sure that
Tip 1: Plan ahead. As family members and caregivers it’s our responsibility to plan ahead for our loved ones. Think about the types of support they may need over the winter months, and how we can support them. It’s important to think about things like food. Can we get food delivered, are there long-las�ng items, meals that can be cooked from frozen? Ask them about their favourite warm comfort foods, and soups etc which are great on a cold day. Nutri�on and hydra�on is just as important in the winter.
SECURE: Police have offered advice for people looking to secure their homes now that the clocks have gone back Picture: Phil Creighton you have double locked it by lifting the handle and locking it with the key. Make sure the key is removed from the lock and out of reach. If you are going away on holiday, remember not to post details of your holiday on social networking websites, cancel any milk or newspaper deliveries and if you have a burglar alarm, make
Council surveys financial hardship FINANCIAL hardship is being surveyed in the borough, to shape future services. Wokingham Borough Council is asking for residents to complete a five minute survey to help shape a new strategy. It covers key topics including family and home
life, employment and income, and access to support. The information will be used alongside other data to help the council better support residents. Cllr John Halsall, leader of the council, said there has been an increase in people facing employment and
Rectory Road partially closed A ROAD in Wokingham town centre will close at the end of this week for resurfacing works, writes James Aldridge, local democracy reporter. Rectory Road will be closed between its junctions with Glebelands Road and Wiltshire Road from 8pm to 6am each night from tomorrow, until Tuesday, November 16. This is so Wokingham Borough Council can resurface the stretch of road. To get onto Wiltshire Road, drivers will need to follow a diversion utilising Glebelands Road, Milton Road and Twyford Road. At the roundabout at the end of Twyford Road, drivers should turn right to get onto Bell Foundry Lane. They can then use the lane heading southbound to reach the junction for Wiltshire Road and Warren House Road. There will also be a lane closure and two way traffic lights in Wiltshire Road near its junction with Rectory Road for resurfacing work. The lane closure and traffic lights will be in place from tomorrow until Monday, November 15.
sure it is set before your leave. Look out for your neighbours’ houses, especially when they’re not at home and call the police if you see anything suspicious on: 101 or: 999 in an emergency. n For further crime reduction advice visit the Thames Valley Police website where there are a range of tips.
financial insecurity due to the pandemic. He said: “Our borough has consistently been one of the least deprived unitary authority areas in England, ranking least deprived in 2019 Indices of Multiple Deprivation, but we want to help people on low income. “Since the start of the year, we have been working closely with residents, partners in the voluntary sector, and council
colleagues to understand more about the financial hardship that exists in the borough. “This isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about long-term changes that will make a real difference to our residents.” There will be a further consultation on the draft strategy early next year.
n To take part, visit: engage. wokingham.gov.uk or call 0118 974 6000.
Four-minute theft in Earley THIEVES took just four minutes to break into an Earley home last week. Thames Valley Police said that between 9.12pm and 9.16pm on Wednesday, November 3, the burglars smashed a rear patio glass pane, entered and ransacked the Sutcliffe Avenue house. The force is now appealing for anyone who noticed anything suspicious, or may have CCTV, video doorbell or dash-cam footage from Sutcliffe Avenue or Meadow Road that could have
Appeal for witnesses after Woosehill theft
BURGLARS broke into a Woosehill home last month, stealing a large quantity of jewellery. The incident took place on either Friday, October 22 and Saturday, October 23. The victims said that a number of windows in the house had been
potentially recorded a vehicle these unknown persons used which may help with this investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact police online or by calling 101m quoting reference number 43210497823. Anonymous reports can also be made via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. For advice on how to protect your home from thieves, Thames Valley Police has an online Home Security Guide. opened, possibly by the thieves. They gained entry through a window at the back of the house. Police said they are keen to hear from anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious, or had any camera footage or information that could help their investigation. Anyone with information can call 101 quoting reference 43210484094.
Tip 2: Dress appropriately. We also need to think ahead and pick out clothes that are appropriate. Dressing in warm layers that can be removed if you get too hot is best, including nice warm socks and slippers when indoors. If going outside, add layers and think about footwear - nice strong shoes that won’t slip so much if it’s wet or icy. And wear a hat, scarf & gloves too. Some�mes, people living with Demen�a and Alzheimer’s may forget, and go outside not wrapped up against the harsh winter weather. In bad cases of confusion, they may be found wandering outside in just their PJs or a nigh�e. Helping folk s�ck to a rou�ne of ge�ng dressed each day with the best ou�it for the weather can be really helpful. Tip 3: Fight Winter depression We have a real problem with social isola�on in the UK, and especially with the elderly (which has got worse during the ongoing Covid pandemic). It’s inevitable as it gets colder this will get worse as we don’t go out so much. So, what can we do to help with that? Perhaps arranging to call in to see an elderly rela�ve or neighbour at some point earlier in the evening when it has got colder and dark, and they may otherwise be tempted to get into bed at 5 or 6pm which is much earlier than normal. If you can’t physically visit, perhaps a video call or even just a phone conversa�on at this �me of day could make a big difference. At Right at Home we see every day the impact that a regular visitor and the chance for a na�er can have to our client’s well-being, Tip 4 Hea�ng. We o�en find that clients find adjus�ng the hea�ng a challenge – in which case our team is asked to check thermostats to help keep the house temperature comfortable for that person (eg a minimum of 20ºC). Some people place items too close to the fire or heater, making it hazardous. So, if you are looking a�er someone, or simply calling to have a chat, do check the hea�ng is adequate, and it is safe in the home. A related �p: have extra blankets to hand so if it does get cold, it’s easier to keep warm. Tip 5 Keep your Spirits up Just because the days are shorter doesn’t mean it’s bed�me in the a�ernoon, and yet if its dark and you’ve lost track of �me that’s what may well happen. So, if you make a regular call to an elderly friend or rela�ve, think about �ming it to remind your gran or grandad that it’s only 4:30pm (too early for bed), and point out if there’s a good TV programme – a quiz show, movie or nature program – that they might enjoy. Tip 6 Flu (& Covid Booster) jabs Finally, encourage your elderly friends and family to get the jabs, so they can benefit from the protec�on they provide. Remind them that it’s free and think about arranging to take them to the GP surgery or local pharmacy so they can have their jabs ready for the peak flu season, and for extra protec�on against the dangerous Covid virus. Kevin Lancaster Right at Home Reading & Wokingham District
42 | NEWS
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Doctor shortlisted for national award A READING doctor has been shortlisted in national awards for his outstanding achievement as an individual learner. Dr Deepak Ravindran has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Federation of Awarding Bodies’ (FAB) awards. The consultant in anaesthesia, pain and musculoskeletal medicine is currently completing his honor’s degree in Applied Management at Henley Business School(HBS), which is part of the University of Reading, and is due to complete his training early next year. The FAB Awards, held today, recognise the contributions made by awarding organisations, including the business school. Dr Ravindran, who is also the author of the book, Pain Free Mindset, and the lead for the Berkshire long covid service, said he is delighted to be nominated and shortlisted for the award. He said: “Within the NHS lifelong learning is a fact of life in order to keep up to date with the latest clinical findings and to promote education and research. “The apprenticeship has helped me become a systems thinker and understand population health and the economics of heathcare, for the benefit of my organisation.”
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, November 11, 2021
Anti dog meat charity sets up borough office By JAMES HASTINGS news@wokingham.today
AN international charity campaigning to end the dog meat trade around the world has opened an office in Wokingham,
It hopes the move will help publicise its work, which recently included a major campaign to change the law in Cambodia, where it has also set up an animal shelter. A spokesperson for NoToDogMeat said the Wokingham base is the first in the UK outside London where it has its headquarters. “We had received a lot of inquiries from people in Wokingham who want to help our work, so we decided it would be the ideal place to set up,” she said. “We have secured premises and hope it will be up and running very soon. We are delighted and encouraged by the response we’ve had from local people in the town and surrounding area.” The NoToDogMeat charity, recently helped set up a small animal shelter in Cambodia where the city of Siem Reap banned the dog, and cat, meat trade. It is working with grassroots charities to take the ban nationwide.
SHELTER: The NoToDogMeat charity, recently helped set up a small animal shelter in Cambodia The spokeswoman added: “Even puppies are not spared, and after being snatched from the streets are placed into cramped crates on the back of motorcycles. The dogs are held in terrible conditions before being slaughtered. “The slaughter of these dogs is unregulated and cruel, with drowning being the preferred option. It is also common for dogs to be killed by electrocution, hanging or having their throats cut. “In Cambodia, some dog meat
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restaurants still operate, and some people pay a high price for cats, as they believe that they cure ailments. But the tide is turning, and a growing majority of Cambodian people are taking issue with the practice, which is unsanitary and cruel.” Last year the charity helped rescuers with spay and neuter projects for stray cats, and the project is steadily growing in size and effectiveness. NoToDogMeat is also working with another animal charity, Paws Protection, to spearhead
education campaigns in the area by helping to change attitudes to animal welfare and foster compassion for dogs and cats. Julia de Cadenet, a London lawyer who set up the charity eight years ago, said: “Our charity was set up to support grassroots organisations that want to make a difference, not just talk about change but really create it. “Our project is in its infancy, and everyone is working so hard and building from scratch.
We have been told that we are changing lives, because before the campaigners had wanted to do something, but now they have the opportunity to make a real difference. “Best of all, we know that this project will help us help more cats and dogs. Using our experience from building our main shelter in Beijing, we are building compassion brick by brick.” n To find out more about NoToDogMeat or donate, visit: www.notodogmeat.com
Berkshire charity gives more than £460,000 to women’s organisations OVER £460,000 has been distributed to 15 different charities and community groups across Berkshire to help tackle women and girls’ issues. Berkshire Community Foundation, which works across the county to raise and donate money to vital causes, gave out over 66 grants in its 2020/2021 financial year. These figures were announced at the charity’s Together for Women event, which was held on Friday, November 5, at Monkey Island Estate, in Bray. It was attended by Theresa May, MP for Maidenhead, and sponsored by businesses, including CCLA, Conference Contacts, Monkey Island Estate and Reckitt. Over lunch, 80 female leaders in Berkshire’s corporate, civil and charitable sector heard an update on the
charity’s Together for Women fund. Launched in 2019, the fund helps tackle women’s issues, ranging from domestic abuse and homelessness to financial hardship, exploitation and modern slavery. Gerry Lejeune OBE DL, CEO of Berkshire Community Foundation, said: “The problems of sexual abuse, modern slavery and domestic violence are historical and ongoing in Berkshire, exacerbated by isolation and poverty. “Thankfully, a lot is being done behind the scenes by the Thames Valley Police, statutory agencies and voluntary groups to ensure support is in place.” She added: “By bringing an interested, influential and important group of women together today, we hope to continue raising the profile
Poppies to decorate Reading Buses POPPIES on the buses… that’s the tribute from Reading Buses for Remembrance Day on Sunday, November 14. A selection of buses has been chosen to wear poppies to show the company’s respect and remembrance for those who lost their lives during two
world wars and other conflicts. The company’s marketing and communications manager Jake Osman said: “The poppies are on different buses on various routes. “We think it is important to remember those who have lost their lives in conflicts around
of these crucial topics and, importantly, raise funds that enable us to support charities that provide women and girls a lifeline when it is most needed.” A silent auction, held together with the event, raised £5,000 and is set to close on Friday, November 12. Proceeds from the auction will go towards the Together for Women initiative, funding groups and activities across Berkshire that provide support to those in need. Pei-Leeng Yeoh, marketing manager of Monkey Island Estate and YTL Hotels, was delighted to host the event. She said: “As a hotel in Berkshire, lots of our staff and guests live locally, and we are so proud to support the local community, the Berkshire Community Foundation and all the great things that they do for vital causes in the area.” the world and pay tribute to the veterans that remain.” He added: “As we have created our own stick-on poppies, we are making a company donation to the Royal British Legion which we hope will be well received.” The poppies will remain on the buses until after Remembrance Sunday.
Thursday, November 11, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
NEWS | 43
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‘Deafening’ sirens from level crossing to be swapped for new system EXCLUSIVE By JAMES HASTINGS news@wokingham.today ANNE Mason is hoping for a quiet Christmas after being plagued by deafening sirens and flashing lights more than 80 times a day for two years.
The nightmare began shortly after Ms Mason and her partner, Andy, bought their house in Wokingham’s Gipsy Lane near the Smith’s level crossing. Network Rail had installed an automatic warning signal at the unmanned crossing which activated a loud siren and flashing red lights every time a train approached. That replaced a previous system where train drivers were ordered to sound a loud whistle which local residents described as “absolutely deafening”. Ms Mason, who works from home, said the sirens blared and red lights flashed more than 80 times a day on the Waterloo line, describing it like living inside a pinball machine. “When there were no trains, myself and the neighbours still had a constant green light shining onto our houses which turned red as a train came then the siren went off,” she explained. “I work for a software company and my office backs on to the track, so every couple of minutes the sirens would sound and red lights flash making it very difficult to concentrate. “The noise was extremely obtrusive and could be heard from a considerable distance.” Ms Mason complained to Network Rail which she claimed fobbed her off until the Great Langborough Residents Association and Wokingham MP Sir John Redwood took up her case. The rail company insisted it had a duty to balance safety with “detrimental effects” on those living near railway lines. “I want to thank the Residents Association and Sir John Redwood for their assistance. “When they got involved, Network
Finchampstead preschool celebrates festival of lights DEAFENING: Ms Mason said the sirens blared and red lights flashed over eighty times a day on the Waterloo line Picture: Geof Sheppard via Wikimedia commons Rail took the issue seriously,” added Ms Mason. “They sent me an email two weeks ago explaining they were installing a new system which would only be activated when a pedestrian using the level crossing opened the gate. “As it is a quiet route, I reckon the light and siren will only activate maybe four or five times a day which is bearable.
Network Rail haven’t given a date when this new system will be installed but hopefully it will be before Christmas.” Pat Smith, chair of the Great Langborough Residents Association said: “This has been achieved only because a number of residents were prepared to put considerable effort into finding a solution and they should be congratulated on the progress made.”
Norden Farm launches festive art competition AN ART competition will be launched by Norden Farm as part of its festive show this Christmas. The Maidenhead arts venue will present Mick Inkpen’s Kipper’s Snowy Day from Tuesday, November 30 until Thursday, December 30. And it’s inviting children to draw, paint or make a Christmas present for Kipper. Or they can create a collage of Kipper and his friends enjoying a snowy day. Entries will be judged in two age groups: three to five-year-olds and six- to eight-year-olds. The winner of each age group will win a Kipper’s Snowy Day goody bag. And the overall winner will be
invited to turn on the Christmas lights at Maidenhead Town Hall on Saturday, November 27. They and their family will attend the event alongside Team GB athletes Moe Sbihi, Jack Beaumont and Jeanette Chippington. All entries will be displayed in the Norden Farm gallery as part of an exhibition of Mick Inkpen’s work. The exhibition runs from Wednesday, December 1, until Thursday, December 30. Entries should be submitted on A4 paper or the entry frame by 10am on Friday, November 19. n For more details, visit norden.farm and search for Kipper’s Snowy Day
A FINCHAMPSTEAD preschool celebrated Diwali last week. Children from Oak Tree Nursery took part in a variety of activities as part of a special day to celebrate the Festival of Lights. Lunchtime supervisor Kiruthika Loganathan and nursery families who also mark the occasion helped other preschoolers to experience the many customs of Diwali. They tasted traditional homemade food, tried on saris and made their own Diya tealight holders.
The children also learned why the festival is so important to millions across the world. The nursery’s deputy manager, Becca Rowland, said that such events are vital to give the children a wider understanding of the world around them. Ms Rowland said the day was hugely enjoyable, adding: “We love to mark a range of different events throughout the year and celebrate the diversity within our community.”
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Classifieds WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL PLANNING APPLICATION The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 AND/OR Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Regulations 1990 The following application(s) have been submitted and are advertised for the reasons below: Application Address
Reasons for Advert Description
213400
Ascot House, Finchampstead Road, Wokingham
Major Application
7 Broad Street, Wokingham
Conservation Area
213597
213598
7 Broad Street, Wokingham
(Affect setting of) Listed Building
Full application for the proposed erection of a part two storey, part 4 storey side and upward extension, to create 19 no. dwellings, plus associated parking and additional works. Full application for the proposed subdivision of the existing commercial unit into 2 no. commercial units, with alterations, refurbishment and associated works including changes to fenestration and installation of a canopy roof at the rear. Application for Listed Building consent for the proposed subdivision of the existing commercial unit into 2 no. commercial units with alterations, refurbishment and associated works including changes to fenestration and installation of a canopy roof at the rear.
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 25th November 2021. Any comments made are not confidential and can be seen by anyone as they form part of the public record. The comments, unless offensive, discriminatory and/or racist, will appear on the Council’s website within 24 hours and include the submitted name and address. Due to the high volume of comments received we do not provide individual responses. Date: 11th November 2021
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT THE WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL EXPERIMENTAL ORDER NO. 4, 2021 THE WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (VARIOUS ROADS, WOKINGHAM BOROUGH) (STOPPING, WAITING, LOADING AND UNLOADING PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS, PARKING PLACES AND RESIDENT PERMIT PARKING PLACES) (CIVIL PARKING ENFORCEMENT) (CONSOLIDATION) ORDER 2017 (AMENDMENT NO. 4) ORDER 2021 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Wokingham Borough Council, on the 9 November 2021 made the above-named ‘experimental Order’ under section 9 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended and all enabling powers. The ‘experimental Order’ will come into force on the 18 November 2021. 2. The effect of the Wokingham Borough Council Experimental Order No. 4, 2021: amended the Wokingham Borough Council (Various Roads, Wokingham Borough) (Stopping, Waiting, Loading and Unloading Prohibitions and Restrictions, Parking Places and Resident Permit Parking Places) (Civil Parking Enforcement) (Consolidation) Order 2017, ‘the Order of 2017’, by imposing: (a) double yellow lines ‘at any time’ waiting restrictions, junction of Evendons Lane and Tanners Row; (b) a restricted zone on a cul-de-sac length of Evendons Lane, operational ‘at any time’, no loading operational ‘at any time’; (c) a restricted parking zone on a cul-de-sac length of Oaklands Drive, operational ‘10am-11am Mondays to Fridays’, no loading ‘at any time’ except in signed bays. 3. Documents giving further information of the ‘experimental Order’ can be viewed for a period of up to 18 months from the date of this Notice online at ‘https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/roadworks-and-outdoor-maintenance/traffic-managementroad-signs-and-markings/traffic-regulation-order-consultations/’. 4. The ‘experimental Order’ provides that the Assistant Director of Place & Growth or a person authorised by that person, may, if it appears to Assistant Director of Place & Growth or that person essential in the interests of the expeditious, convenient, and safe movement of traffic or for preserving or improving the amenities of the area through which any road affected by the Order runs, modify, or suspend the ‘experimental Order’ or any provision thereof. 5. Within a period of 6 months beginning with the day on which the ‘experimental Order’ came into force, or if that Order is varied by another order or modified pursuant to Section 10(2) of the Act, beginning with the day on which the variation or modification or the latest variation or modification came into force, any person may object to the making of an order for the purpose of such indefinite continuation. 6. Any objections to the ‘experimental Order’, together with the grounds on which they are made, should be sent in writing to the Traffic Management Team, Localities & Customers, PO Box 153, Shute End, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 1WL or via email to ‘tm.consultations@wokingham.gov.uk’ quoting E004-21 reference, by no later than 11 May 2022. 7. FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Wokingham Borough Council, on the 9 November 2021 made the above-named ‘permanent Order’ under section the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended and all enabling powers. The ‘permanent Order’ will come into force on the 16 November 2021. 8. The effect of the Wokingham Borough Council (Various Roads, Wokingham Borough) (Stopping, Waiting, Loading and Unloading Prohibitions and Restrictions, Parking Places and Resident Permit Parking Places) (Civil Parking Enforcement) (Consolidation) Order 2017 (Amendment No. 4) Order 2021: amended the ‘Order 2017’ by either introducing or amending waiting restrictions operational ‘at any time’ on a length or lengths of Anderson Avenue; Ardwell Close; Baston Road; Biggs Road; Blackthorn Close; Byron Road; Culvert Lane; Dalley Road; Elgar Avenue; Ellis Road; Erleigh Court Gardens; Emerald Close; Fairview Road; Gipsy Lane; Grange Avenue; Hilary Drive; Hilmanton, Leisure Road; Loddon Bridge Road; Millers Grove; Milton Road; Nightingale Road; Northway; Oak Avenue, Purcel Road; Ravenswood Avenue; Whitegates Lane. 9. Documents giving further information on the ‘permanent Order’ can be viewed for a period of 6 weeks from the date of this Notice online at ‘https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/roadworks-and-outdoor-maintenance/trafficmanagement-road-signs-and-markings/traffic-regulation-order-consultations/’. 10. If any person wishes to question the validity of either of the above named made Orders or of any of its provisions on the grounds that it or they are not within the powers conferred by the 1984 Act, or that any requirement of the Act or of any instrument made under the Act has not been complied with, that person may, within 6 weeks from the date on which the Orders are made, apply for the purpose to the High Court. Dated: 11th November 2021 Andy Glencross, Assistant Director Place & Growth, Wokingham Borough Council, Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 1WL.
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Email: advertising@wokingham.today PUBLIC NOTICES ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (BULL LANE, RISELEY) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2021
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (BROADCOMMON ROAD, HURST) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2021
NOTICE IS HEREBY given that on the 4th November 2021 Wokingham Borough Council as Traffic Authority made an Order under Section 14 (1) (a) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 the effect of which is to prohibit any vehicle from proceeding along:
NOTICE IS HEREBY given that on the 4th November 2021 Wokingham Borough Council as Traffic Authority made an Order under Section 14 (1) (a) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 the effect of which is to prohibit any vehicle from proceeding along:
Bull Lane, Riseley between its junctions with Sun Lane and Russett Close.
Broadcommon Road, Hurst between its junctions with Pound Lane and Broadcommon Lane.
The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Sun Lane and B3349 Basingstoke Road or by this route in reverse.
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.
Works requiring this restriction will take place between 15th November and 19th November 2021.
Works requiring this restriction will take place on 20th November 2021 between 09:30 and 15:30.
The reason for these prohibitions is to allow Wokingham Borough Council contractors to investigate defective drainage in safety.
The reason for these prohibitions is to allow Scottish and Southern Power Distribution contractors to undertake tree pruning work 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 15th November 2021 and shall continue in force for a period not exceeding 18 months or until the works have been completed, whichever is the earlier.
The restrictions contained in the Order shall come into operation on the 20th November 2021 and shall continue in force for a period not exceeding 18 months or until the works have been completed, whichever is the earlier.
Dated: 11th November 2021
Dated: 11th November 2021
Mark Cupit Assistant Director – Delivery and Infrastructure Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices Shute End Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1WL
Mark Cupit Assistant Director – Delivery and Infrastructure Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices Shute End Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1WL
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (HILLTOP ROAD, EARLEY) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2021
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (KENTONS LANE. WARGRAVE) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2021
NOTICE IS HEREBY given that on the 4th November 2021 Wokingham Borough Council as Traffic Authority made an Order under Section 14 (1) (a) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 the effect of which is to prohibit any vehicle from proceeding along:
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:
Hilltop Road, Earley between its junctions with Erleigh Court Drive and B3350 Pitts Lane.
Kentons Lane, Wargrave between its junctions with A321 Wargrave Road and Culham Lane.
The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Erleigh Court Drive, Whitegates Lane, Culver Lane and B3350 Pitts Lane or by this route in reverse.
The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Culham Lane, Upper Culham Lane. A4130 White Hill and A321 Wargrave Road or by this route in reverse.
Works requiring this restriction will take place between 15th November and 19th November 2021.
Works requiring this restriction will take place between 30th November and 15th December 2021.
The reason for these prohibitions is to allow Thames Water contractors to undertake new water connection work in safety.
The reason for these prohibitions is to allow Gigaclear contractors to undertake excavation and installation of fibre optic cable and associated work 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 15th November 2021 and shall continue in force for a period not exceeding 18 months or until the works have been completed, whichever is the earlier.
The restrictions contained in the Order shall come into operation on the 30th November 2021 and shall continue in force for a period not exceeding 18 months or until the works have been completed, whichever is the earlier.
Dated: 11th November 2021
Dated: 11th November 2021
Mark Cupit Assistant Director – Delivery and Infrastructure Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices Shute End Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1WL
Mark Cupit Assistant Director – Delivery and Infrastructure Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices Shute End Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1WL
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Classifieds PUBLIC NOTICES
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (A321 WARGRAVE ROAD, TWYFORD) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2021 NOTICE IS HEREBY given that on the 4th November 2021 Wokingham Borough Council as Traffic Authority made an Order under Section 14 (1) (a) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 the effect of which is to prohibit any vehicle from proceeding along: A321 Wargrave Road, Twyford between its A3032 Old Bath Road and Hermitage Drive.
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, November 11, 2021
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The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A3032 Old Bath Road and A4 New Bath Road or by this route in reverse. Works requiring this restriction will take place on 16th November 2021 between 21:00 and 06:00. The reason for these prohibitions is to allow Thames Water contractors to undertake carriageway material repair work in safety. Access for residents and businesses within the boundaries of these restrictions will be maintained at all times. The restriction imposed by the Order shall only apply during those periods when traffic signs complying with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 are lawfully displayed.
@WokinghamToday
The restrictions contained in the Order shall come into operation on the 16th November 2021 and shall continue in force for a period not exceeding 18 months or until the works have been completed, whichever is the earlier. Dated: 11th November 2021 Mark Cupit Assistant Director – Delivery and Infrastructure Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices Shute End Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1WL
@wokingham.today
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LEISURETODAY
Your guide to what’s on across Reading and Wokingham
Festive treats from South Hill Park Y
OU KNOW it, we know it, everybody knows it … December 25 is getting closer every day and after last year’s muted celebrations due to covid, we’re all looking forward to having the best Christmas Walford’s ever had and then some.
South Hill Park is getting ready for the festive season and it all starts this weekend. Its annual craft fair takes place on Saturday and Sunday, showcasing some great gift ideas. Artists gather from around the country to show and sell their fabulous range of designs, unique gifts and festive wares. The weekend includes festive entertainment, and an opportunity to visit South Hill Park’s purpose-built silversmithing, ceramics and printmaking studios. There will be a chance to watch current students at work and discuss options on how you can become a student yourself. The studios will be open at various times throughout the weekend. Entry is free. This year’s South Hill Park pantomime is Cinderella – for more details, see overleaf. Rest assured, the panto will be filled with colourful characters, slapstick comedy, enchantment and creative sparkle. For those looking for some musical entertainment, Swing Into Christmas with the Down for the Count Concert Orchestra will be a festive celebration featuring the music of Nat ‘King’ Cole, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, and many more. Don’t miss them in the Wilde Theatre on Monday, November 29 – the perfect way to start getting in a merry mood. And festive favourites Blake once again invite you to celebrate the most wonderful time of year with a sparkling evening full of song and cheer on Monday, December 6. Relax to the warm sounds of this BRIT award-winning trio as they take you on a magical musical journey. That’s 80’s Christmas Rock Show is the ultimate tribute to the glorious 1980s, and this special Christmas spectacular includes all the 80s Christmas classics. This takes place on Tuesday, December 14, and festive finery and Santa hats are welcomed. South Hill Park’s cinema will feature a mixture of the latest releases, family-friendly films, live/recorded performances and more. n For more details, log on to southhillpark.org. uk or call the box office on 01344 484123.
PHIL CREIGHTON
13.10.21
18 | LEISURE
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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, November 11, 2021
A Swedish touch to the tale of Snow White
Anything Goes, oh yes
SNOW White will be joined by four familiar Swedish pop stars in Shinfield Players pantomime in January. Written by Sharon M Young, the community theatre company presents Snow White and the Four Swedish Popstars at its theatre on Whitley Wood Lane, Reading. The pantomime runs from Friday, January 14 until Sunday, January 23. Matinee performances will be at 2pm and evening shows are at 7.30pm on Friday and 6.30pm on the Saturday. n For more details, or to book, log on to: shinfieldplayers.org.uk
A SCREENING of Anything Goes will held at Norden Farm’s Courtyard Theatre next month. Filmed live at the Barbican, in London, the musical comedy stars Sutton Foster, Robert Lindsay, Felicity Kendal and Gary Wilmot. Featuring Cole Porter’s joyful score, including I Get A Kick Out of You, You’re the Top and, of course, Anything Goes. Screenings take place at 4.30pm and 8pm on Wednesday, December 1 and 4.30pm on Saturday, December 11. Tickets cost £15. n For more information, or to book, call the box office on 01628 788997, or log on to: norden.farm
Bit of soul with The Chain Gang
A SOUL band will bring live music to The Jazz Cafe later this month. The Chain Gang, a 10-piece group from Berkshire, will showcase its vocalists, brass sound and funky rhythm sections at the live music bar, at Reading’s Select Car Leasing Stadium. Featuring songs from Al Green to Wilson Picket, Beyonce to Pharrell Williams, crowds will be up on the dance floor all night long. Also included in the ticket price is a two-course meal. There are a number of dates that the band will perform. n For more details, log on to: thejazzcafe. co.uk
Enjoy a night out with Stephen K Amos
COMEDIAN Stephen K Amos will step up to the mic at South Street Arts Centre this week. Performing his stand-up show, Before And Laughter, Stephen shares his highs and lows to the Reading audiences. And when the world gives him lemons, he adds gin, tonic, ice and a healthy dose of humour. Performances run from Friday, November 12 until Saturday, November 13. Standard tickets cost £20 and members tickets are £18. n For more details, or to book, call the box office on 0118 937 3456, or log on to: whatsonreading.com
It’ll be Sunday, all next week
CINDERELLA shall go to the ball this Christmas, thanks to South Hill Park. The Bracknell arts venue will see audiences booing and hissing in its Wilde Theatre as it presents it’s annual pantomime from Friday, November 26 until Monday, January 3.
But what evil trick will the wicked step sisters play to stop Cinderella from meeting her prince? This family favourite is sure to be filled with fun, colourful characters, comedy, enchantment and creative sparkle.
Tickets cost £25 for adults, £23 for children and £22 each for a family of four. n For more details, or to book, call the box office on 01344 484123, or log on to: southhillpark.org.uk
Elf on shelf? Not for Berzerk’s new show
Enjoy a magical night with some pigs
Counterfeits are as good as real thing
BUDDY will be exploring the sights of New York City is a musical production of Elf Jr next month. Based on the hit film and Broadway musical, children’s theatre company, Berzerk Productions, presents this Christmas classic to audiences at The Oakwood Centre, in Woodley. Adult tickets cost £13.75, concessions are £11.75 and a family of four costs £47. The show runs from Thursday, December 16 to Sunday, December 19. Performance times are 7pm on Thursday and Friday, and 2pm and 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. n For more details, log on to berzerkproductions.com
A MAGICAL farm tale will be presented at Progress Theatre next month. Babe The Sheep-Pig, based on Dick King Smith’s novel, follows the story of Babe, who is won by Farmer Hogget at the village fair. And when their extraordinary friendship begins to develop, it will soon change the whole farm. Socially-distanced seating will be available on Thursday, December 9. And Wednesday, December 8 is Progress Theatre’s Come As You Are night. Tickets cost n For more details, or to book, call the box office on 0333 666 3366, or log on to: progresstheatre.co.uk
SWING into the 60s for a special tribute night at South Hill Park this Friday. The Counterfeit Sixties will cover songs from over 25 bands of that era. And the show will feature iconic clothes and flashbacks from the TV archives for audiences to enjoy. Music from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Dave Clark Five, The Kinks and The Monkees will be recreated in this tribute performance. The performance takes places at 7.45pm in the venue’s Wilde Theatre, in Bracknell. Tickets cost £20.50 for adults and £18.50 for members. n For more details, or to book, call the box office on 01344 484123, or log on to: southhillpark.org.uk
ANDREW Lloyd Webber’s classic musical, Tell Me On A Sunday is coming to Guildford next week. The show, performed at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, will run from Tuesday, November 16 until Saturday, November 20. The story follows an English girl in New York during the heady days of the 1980’s. Music features chart-topping hits Take That Look Off Your Face and Tell Me On A Sunday. Tickets cost £28 with evening performances starting at 7.30pm, and matinees at 2.30pm n For more details, or to book, call the box office on 01483 440000, or log on to: yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
Making it up as they go along
AN IMPROVISED musical comedy is heading to Basingstoke later this month. Showstopper! The Improvised Musical will entertain audiences with its spontaneous theatre show, which they make up on the spot. The performance will be packed with drama, dance routines and catchy melodies. Taking place at The Haymarket, the performance starts at 7.30pm. n For more details, or to book, call the box office on 01256 844244, or visit: anvilarts.org.uk
AT THE THEATRE Every week, we bring you a round-up of all shows taking place in the region’s theatres. It covers this weekend and next, so you can plan ahead and book tickets to the shows that you want to go and see. 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 Ivo Graham: The Game of Life. Thurs. The Counterfeit Sixties. Fri. The Comedy Cellar. Fri. Craft and Design Fair 2021. Sat-Sun. Conservatoire International Concert Series: Alan Shellard and Hamish Brown. Fri 19. The Comedy Cellar. Fri 19. Raymond Burley: The Music of Spain. Sat 20. Wilde Sundays. Sun 21.
Camberley – Theatre www.camberleytheatre.biz 01276 707600 Round And Round The Garden. Fri-Sat. BTA: Annie Jnr. Sat. Tom Thumb. Sun. BTA: All Together Now. Sun. Ian Waite and Vincent Simone. Tues. Desi Central Comedy Show. Fri 19. Circus Skills. Sat 20. The Real Magic Show. Sat 20.
Guildford – Yvonne Arnaud www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk 01483 440000 The Lemon Table. Mon-Sat. Scream Phone. Wed. Mig Kimpton’s Tales of the Golden Goose. Thurs. Dispatches on the Red Dress. Fri-Sat. Tell Me On A Sunday. Mon-Sat 20. Radio Liveg. Sun 21.
High Wycombe – Swan www.wycombeswan.co.uk 01494 512000 Jason Manford: Like Me. Thurs.
The King Is Back. Fri. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Sat. Big Girls Don’t Cry. Sun. Giselle. Mon. Mig Kimpton’s Tale of the Golden Goose. Tues. Alex Horne and the Horne Section. Tues. Maximum Rhythm and Blues. Wed. Lost In Music. Thurs 18. George Hinchcliffe’s Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. Fri 19. Tropicana Nights: The 90s. Sat 20.
Henley – Kenton www.kentontheatre.co.uk 01491 525050 A Bit of a Carry On. Sun. Lipstick on your Collar. Fri 19-Sat 20.
Maidenhead – Norden Farm www.nordenfarm.org 01628 788997 Frank Sinartra: His Way. Thurs. Sara Barron: Enemies Closer. Fri. Gary Delaney: Gary In Punderland. Thurs, Fri. Juan Martin. Sat. Sindhu Vee: Alphabet. Sat. Mounted Band
of the Household Cavalry open rehearsal. Wed. Harry Hill: Fight. Wed. The Alex Hutton Quartet with Josh Kemp. Wed. Piers Lane Piano. Thurs 18. The Vinyl Frontier: Scissor Sisters v Keane. Thurs 18. The Dolly Project. Fri 19.
Newbury – The Corn Exchange www.cornexchangenew.com 0845 5218 218 Mercury: The Ultimate Queen Tribute. Thurs. Ladyboys of Bangkok: Flight of Fantasy. Fri. UK Fleetwood Mac. Sat. The Comedy Network. Fri 19.
Newbury – Watermill www.watermill.org.uk 01635 46044 Brief Encounter. Until Sat. The Jungle Book. Thurs 18-New Year’s Eve.
Reading – Reading Minster Church
rabbletheatre.com 07930 834970 RABBLE Theatre presents Who Killed Alfred Oliver? Until Sat 20.
Reading – South St www.whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060 Stephen K Amos. Fri-Sat. Poets Cafe. Fri. Rowan Rheingans. Wed. Suzi Ruffell. Thurs 18-Fri 19.
Reading – Hexagon www.whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060 A tribute to Neil Diamond. Thurs. Jimmy Carr. Sat. Russell Brand. Fri 19. Rachael Parris. Sat 20.
Reading – Concert Hall www.whatsonreading.com 0118 960 6060 O Duo. Thurs. Henley Symphony Orchestra. Sat. Jon Hopkins. Sat 21.
Reading – Progress www.progresstheatre.co.uk
0118 384 2195 Radiant Vermin. Mon- Sat 20.
Reading – Reading Rep Theatre www.readingrep.com 0118 370 2620 NEXT SHOW: A Christmas Carol. Dec 3-New Year’s Eve.
Shinfield – Players
www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk 0118 975 8880 NEXT SHOW: Youth Group Revue. Dec 3-4.
the Beatles: The get Back Tour. Tues. Islands In the Stream. Wed. Radio GaGa. Thurs 18. You Win Again. Fri 19. Thank You For The Music. Sat 20.
Wokingham – Theatre www.wokingham-theatre.org.uk 0118 978 5363 NEXT SHOW: The Government Inspector. Wed, Dec 8-Sat, Dec 18.
Wokingham – The Whitty Theatre
www.millatsonning.com 0118 969 8000 Top Hat. Until Jan 8. Motown’s Greatest Hits. Sun. The Sound of Springsteen. Sun 21.
www.thewhittytheatre.org 0118 974 3247 China Crisis. Thurs. Wokingham Film Society presents The Father (12a). Thurs 18. Elements Dance: A Night at the Movies. Sat 20-Sun 21.
Windsor – Royal
Woodley – Theatre
Sonning – The Mill
www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk 01753 853888 The Cherry Orchard. Until Sat.. Fastlove: A Tribute to George Michael. Mon. The Magic of
www.woodleytheatre.org 07488337838 NEXT SHOW: Talking Heads Part 2. Nov 30-Dec 4.
LEISURE | 19
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Thursday, November 11, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
‘It’s more an experience than a gig’ promises band
Daoiri Farrell to visit Nettlebed Folk Club AN IRISH singer and musician is the next act to appear at Nettlebed’s ever-popular folk club Picture: Desmond Farrell
Later this month, Third Lung will celebrate the launch of their EP at The Facebar. LAURA SCARDARELLA gets a preview
A
N ALTERNATIVE rock band is preparing for “one hell of a night” later this month, band member Tom Farrelly said.
Third Lung, based in Reading, will host its new EP launch at The Facebar, on Ambrose Place, Reading, on Friday, November 26. The EP, called Dialogues Of The Fatal Few, sees a compilation of singles, plus some bonus material, that the band released this year. Joining Third Lung on the night will be Reading-based artist Deva St. John, Split The Dealer and four-piece alternative rock band Red Tape Resistance. The group features Tom Farrelly, on lead vocals and guitar, Cams Jurasek on lead guitar and backing vocals, Rob Jacques on bass guitar, and Sam Waugh on drums. Lead singer Tom said they’ve got some incredible guests joining them on the launch night. “We always put on a powerful show. When you come to see Third Lung it’s definitely more of an experience rather than a gig,” he said. “It’s going to be one hell of a night, and we can’t wait for everyone to come.” Tom added that lockdown gave the group a great deal of focus. “When the pandemic hit, we were so determined to crack
A
N IRISH singer and musician is the next act to appear at Nettlebed’s ever-popular folk club.
Third Lung is set to perform at The Facebar, Reading, on Friday, November 26. Picture: Lydia King on and we managed to write so much new material,” he said. “We filmed some videos, and we’re now just about to go back into the studio to create more music which is great.” Tom said Dialogues Of The Fatal Few has a common theme in that the voices of a very vocal few can have such a dramatic effect of the majority.
The group also hosted its first self-built music festival, Lodd Fest, at Loddon Brewery in September. The event featured 15 artists and bands throughout the day. Tom added that the biggest thing the band will take from 2021 is building the festival with the brewery. “The festival sold out so
quickly,” he said. “We weren’t sure it was going to go ahead a few weeks before, but it did, and it was such a magical day, and we’re already so excited to already have it booked in again for next September.” n For more details, follow Third Lung’s social media channels.
Daoirí Farrell is a bouzouki player, and has been a regular on the circuit since his debut album, The First Turn, in 2009. He cut his teeth as a singer in Dublin’s famous Góilin Singers Club and at other sessions across the city, many of which he still visits regularly. In 2013, he won the All-Ireland Champion Singer award and, in 2015, won the Danny Kyle Award at Celtic Connections in Glasgow with the lineup FourWinds. His determination not to put out another album until he was sure it was the best he could produce, meant fans had to wait until 2016 – the year he also started touring the world. As Lockdown hit Ireland in March
Spandau Ballet’s Steve to sing at The Whitty
T
HEY’RE not quite the patron saint of slow dances, but for a generation of teenagers Spandau Ballet has been a staple at the disco. The group’s hits include True, Gold and Only When You Leave, among many others. They first formed in 1979, and had their first top five hit, To Cut a Long Story Short, a year later. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band’s debut album, Journeys To Glory, co-founder Steve Norman is preparing to come to The Whitty Theatre in Wokingham. The saxophonist will be visiting on Tuesday, February 8, the very first date of a UK tour. Accompanied by his five-piece band, The Sleevz, they will perform the album in its entirety for the first time. The show will also feature later
Spandau classics and will showcase Steve’s talents. He said: “As much as it pains me that my main band is not currently a working unit, I simply cannot let this important milestone slip by without further pomp and ceremony.
“Spandau will always have a special place in my heart, as will JK, Gary, Tone and Mart. “This tour is me and The Sleevz rocking a fine line between our interpretation of the songs whilst keeping true to the integrity of the original versions, and ultimately and most importantly, the audiences’ ears. “Luckily, I’m in both bands. I’ll make sure we don’t stray too far” He added: I’m already fired up and thoroughly looking forward to performing this album in front of a live audience. For a few weeks in February 2022 myself and The Sleevz, flying the Spandau flag.” The album means a lot to him. He said: “Little did I know when I formed a band with my school chums back in 1976, that we would not only reach that Holy Grail of signing a record deal but that the resulting record would play a major part in representing and
inspiring a whole new generation. “Our fellow ‘movers and shakers’ of the Blitz crowd in 1979/1980 had sparked a new youth movement that was now erupting out of clubland and rippling out across the globe – The New Romantics. And my band with Journeys To Glory were right there at the front. “Our scene was creative, vibrant and powerful. We felt invincible. The collective Blitz kids’ wave was unstoppable, and Spandau had all the established bands looking over their shoulders wondering what the hell was coming through, and if they should be moving out of the way. “Right there was when our hopes and visions of the future finally materialised. Back when the saxophone, my future signature instrument, was just a twinkle in my quiff-covered eye.” n For more details, or to book, log on to stevenorman-official.com
last year, Daoirí responded with one of the earliest live streams, performing from the Covid Corner of his kitchen on St Patrick’s Day. To meet demand, he then performed 25 consecutive concerts every Sunday night at 10pm, livestreamed across the world. Daoirí is currently recording a new album with Trevor Hutchinson from the Waterboys with the support of the Arts Council of Ireland. He is sure to be a success when he visits Nettlebed on Monday, November 15. Doors open at 7.50pm. The club is currently running at 80% capacity due to covid, and advance booking is recommended. n For more details, call the volunteerrun club on 01628 636620 between 10am and 8pm, or log on to www. nettlebedfolkclub.co.uk
PHIL CREIGHTON
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Craft fair returns to South Hill Park SHOPPING for Christmas gifts just got easier as South Hill Park hosts its special event this weekend. The Bracknell-based venue will see visitors browse a range of stalls at its Craft and Design Fair. Individuals attending the free event can look at unique designs, gifts and festive ware while enjoying some entertainment. And creative talents of the community will present the Arts and Crafts Bringing Us Together Exhibition in the Wilde Community Gallery. South Hill Park have received a positive response and thanked everyone for their submissions. n For more details, visit southhillpark.org.uk
Dylan Moran heads to Reading
AN AWARD-WINNING comedian is making his way to Reading next Summer. Dylan Moran will perform his new show, We Got This, at Concert Hall, on Blagrave Street, on Sunday, June 5 at 8pm. Enjoy the fruits of hurtling cognitive decline and your neighbours sprawling ghastliness, absence of humanity and more. The show will have audiences laughing at Dylan’s frustration and folly of modern day life. n For more details, call the box office on 0118 960 6060, or log on to: whatsonreading.com
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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, November 11, 2021
REVIEW: EBOS Back To The 5 6 7 8
SHOWTIME: EBOS performers step onto the Wilde Theatre stage with their production, Back To The 5 6 7 8. Picture: Alex HarveyBrown
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RETRO musical production razzle dazzles audiences with powerhouse vocals, high-energy and a fierce take on the Cell Block Tango.
The East Berkshire Operatic Society (EBOS), presented its show, Back To The 5 6 7 8, at South Hill Park’s Wilde Theatre last week. The community theatre company, based at Pinewood Theatre, Wokingham, whisked audiences back to the 80s with some popular hits. And individuals were treated to songs from musicals, including Chicago, 42nd Street, Annie, The Book of Mormon and more. EBOS performers began with a toe-tapping ensemble track from
42nd Street, Auditioning Number. Demonstrating their impressive tap skills, the cast started off with a strong stage presence. All the ensemble numbers featured slick harmonies and the choreography was well put together. Credit goes to Austin and Sian Marshall, who represented an over-competitive couple in their rendition of Anything You Can Do, originally from Annie Get Your Gun. And a special mention goes to Emily Burton, whose lead vocals in Chicago’s All That Jazz took the song to another level. Her confidence shone throughout the whole production, especially in her duet with Laura Thain, who also demonstrated a
strong set of vocals. Although the show was put together as a blend of songs due to the pandemic, it would have been refreshing to have the numbers following a bit more of a storyline. Just a few lines of dialogue between each number would have created a more logical structure to the production. That being said, the choice of songs had audience members singing along as they were leaving the theatre. Overall, EBOS performers showcased their talent through fun, eye-catching costumes and lots of charisma. The group has yet to announce its next productions, but we will look forward to them.
LAURA SCARDARELLA
UNDER THE SEA: Steve Backshall’s new show, Ocean will be performed at The Hexagon, Reading, next April
Dive deep in a new show at The Hexagon next Spring
DIVE into the sea with Steve Backshall’s new show at The Hexagon next Spring. His production, Ocean, will splash into the Reading arts venue on Thursday, April 14. Tickets for the 25-date tour, which kicks off at the Edinburgh;s Usher Hall, are now on sale. Ocean is a love letter to the most exciting environment on the planet, and a way to learn more about what to do to save the sea. Stunts, experiments, props, cutting edge science and big
screen footage from his two decades in TV, will all help Steve to bring the icons of the Big Blue to life. From Great Whites to Great Whales, seals to sardine shoals, Orca to the oddities of the deep, families can to dive deep into the world beneath the waves. And Steve may even have some special guests join him on stage. n For more details. or to book, call the box office on 0118 960 6060, or log on to: whatsonreading.com
LAURA SCARDARELLA
Celtic quartet in Henley A CELTIC music group will take centre stage in Henley-on-Thames later this month. Atlantic Canada’s Còig will perform at the Nettlebed Village Club, on the High Street, on Monday, November 22 at 8pm. The band plays a mix of traditional tunes, lively instrumentals and contemporary songs on over a dozen instruments in a non-traditional way. These include vocals, fiddles, guitar, banjo, mandolin, viola, bouzouki, whistles, and more. Featuring the fiddling and step-dancing duo of Chrissy
Crowley and Rachel Davis, multi-instrumentalist Darren McMullen, and guest musician, Thierry Clouette. The band has been recognised with a 2020 Canadian Folk Music Award, East Coast Music Award and a Music Nova Scotia Award nomination. With a growing list of credits, the group’s hit Ashlar debuted at number one on the World iTunes chart. And other songs include Carols Too, Rove, Carols and Five. Còig are currently busy collaborating on new material, which is to be released next year.
And Còig has been described by fRoots magazine as having “quality material, dexterous instrumental playing, solid ensemble work and a rush of robust energetic expertise”. The award-winning quartet’s music is a unique combination of each band player’s own influences. Folk Radio added that the band’s “cheering, whistles and lengthy applause let them know they’d found a home from home”. Tickets cost £17. n For more details, or to book, call 01628 603670, or log on to: coig.ca
Rockin’ into Christmas with Slade
‘‘...a spellbinding recreation of a Neil Diamond Concert.’’ NOTTINGHAM POST
‘‘...Absolutely mesmerising’’ SKY TV
Thursday 11 November 7.30pm 0118 960 6060 whatsonreading.com
SLADE will be rocking and rolling into Sub 89 next month. First hitting the road in 1966, the band’s career has since spanned over six decades touring across the UK and Europe. The group brings a unique blend of pop rock n roll, outrageous flamboyances and fun. And this year, founder member Dave Hill, on lead guitar, and John Berry, on lead vocals, Russell Keefe on vocals and keys, and Alex Bines now joins on drums. The band will perform hits including In For A Penny, Let’s Call It Quits, We’ll Bring The House Down, My Oh My, Run Run Away and more. Slade will perform at the Reading music venue on Sunday, December 5. The concert starts at 7pm and tickets cost £26.95. n For more details, or to book, log on to sub89. com
LEISURE | 29
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Thursday, November 11, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
LIVEMUSIC
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RaW Sounds Today
COVERED: Katie Ellwood has released her latest single, More Than Perfect. This is its cover art
Chris Hillman bit.ly/raw soundstoday
A
Katie Ellwood – More Than Perfect Katie’s excellent debut single was featured in our playlist back in February, and since then she has been busy recording and releasing more singles, including this, her latest. It’s another wonderful indie pop song with an infectious melody and chilled beats. Katie, who is from Wokingham, and is currently studying at Birmingham’s Conservatoire of Music, writes, records, plays and sings her own releases,
Check out the video of this song filmed in Reading. It’s from this local five-piece ‘uke pop’ band’s new album ‘Everyday Adventures’ and you can see them live at The Fisherman’s Cottage on Friday, November 12 – https://www.facebook.com/ rocketkings
China Crisis – Wishful Thinking China Crisis are a synth-pop band who had some huge hits in the 80s, including this one, and they will be making a return visit to Wokingham Music Club at the Whitty Theatre on Thursday, November 11 – https://www.facebook.com/chinacrisisofficial/
WOKINGHAM-BASED artist heads up another great RaW Sounds Today playlist.
Katie Ellwood has released More Than Perfect, an apt description of the single: it’s a wonderful way to while away a few minutes. It’s just one of 10 great tracks in our list, all with connections to the area. Also making an appearance is Moth Man, a band with strong Reading connections. You can listen to all 10 tracks, for free, thanks to our Spotify playlist. The RaW Sounds playlist is a brilliant way to explore a wide range of brilliant artists, discover some new music and keep dancing. To tune in, simply head to https://bit.ly/ rawsoundstoday and get ready to rock. There’s also a Facebook page and group chat that bands and music fans can tap in to. You can search for RaW Sounds Today and it will come up.
Rocket Kings – The Green Zone
China Bears – Statue Still – China again! This time it’s the China Bears, a critically acclaimed indie quartet who headlined a Beyond the Download event at Reading’s Purple Turtle last week - www.chinabears.co.uk
Lucy Spraggan – Run to the Hills Lucy rose to fame following her amazing performances on X-Factor in 2012 and has a great new album, Choices, which features this track. She will be at Reading’s Sub 89 on Tuesday, November 23 – http://www.lucyspraggan.com/ and clearly her talent is continuing to grow – https:// www.katieellwood.com/
Moth Man – Nutter Earlier this year Moth Man released a wonderful album called Where the Dead Birds Go, on Billywitch Records, a new offshoot label of Wokingham’s Mega Dodo Records. Now the band, who have members from Reading and Manchester, have released a new video of this track from that album. It was filmed by Gigshotz from Reading and reflects the moody feel of the song and the album, which is well worth a listen – https://mothman.band/
Slim Chance – Ooh La La
Third Lung – I A Fire
This classic song was one of the highlights of the show that the band, which includes members who played with the late great Ronnie Lane, performed at Wokingham Music Club recently. Ronnie co-wrote the song – https://www.slimchance.co.uk/
Check out the powerful musicianship and vocals of Third Lung, who performed a great set at Jamma’s event at Purple Turtle recently. They will be performing at The Facebar on Friday, November 26 – http://www.thirdlungband. com/
Mike Wagner – Face of Light
The Paradox Twin – Sea of Tranquility
This song is an uplifting singalong anthem that showcases the talents of this local singersongwriter. It’s taken from Mike’s Life...A Seven Day Journey mini album – https://www.facebook.com/ mikewagnermusic
Following their recent live tour, which included Wokingham Festival, this Reading-based band released their eagerly awaited second album, Silence from Signals from which this track is taken – https:// www.theparadoxtwin.com/
GIG GUIDE
Thursday, November 11
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Hoopy Frood. Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Stereo MCs. Details: 0118 959 5395. READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. What The Butler Heard: unplugged jam. Details: 0118 959 5500. READING – The Hexagon, Queens Walk. Hello Again, a Tribute to Neil Diamond. Details: 0118 960 6060. WOKINGHAM – The Whitty Theatre, Luckley House School, Luckley Road RG40 3EU. Wokingham Music Club presents China Crisis In Concert. 7.30pm. £24. Details:www. wokinghammusicclub.co.uk
Friday, November 12
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Skylines: Camel tribute band. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. I Got Soul: Barry White solo tribute. Details: 01344 303333. BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead RG12 7PA. The Counterfeit Sixties. Details: 01344 484123. EMMBROOK – The Dog and Duck, Matthewsgreen Road RG41 1JT. Live music. Details: 0118 978 0544. READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Open mic night. Details: 0118 959 5500. READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. The Swamp featuring Morass of Molasses. Details: 0118 956 8188. READING – The Fisherman’s Cottage, Kennetside RG1 3DW. Rocket Kings. Details: 07925 336269. READING – The Palmer Tavern, Wokingham Road RG6 1JL. Marvellous Fridays. Details: 0118 935 1009.
READING – The Rising Sun, Silver Street RG1 2ST. The Big Untidy Night Out. Details: 0118 986 6788. READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. The Specials Ltd. Details: 0118 959 5395. WINNERSH – The Royal British Legion Club, Woodward Close RG41 5LP. Wokingham Music Club presents The Petty Criminals. £21. Details: www. wokinghammusicclub.co.uk WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. Good Times Five. Details: 0118 977 3706. WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Tim Shez Trio. Details: 0118 977 0918.
Saturday, November 13
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. A Very Deep Hole. Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Funkline. Details: 01344 303333. BRACKNELL – The Royal Oak, London Road RG12 2NN. Ear Candy. Details: 01344 422622. BURGHFIELD – The Six Bells, Reading Road RG30 3TH. Karaoke. Details: 0118 983 2220. CROWTHORNE – The Crowthorne Inn, High Street RG45 7AD. Utter Madness. Details: 01344 530615. CROWTHORNE – Royal British Legion, Wellington Road RG45 7LJ. Anna Nightingale. Details: 01344 772161. READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Million Dollar Men, a tribute to Magic Mike. Details: 0118 402 7800. READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. The Turn. Details: 0118 959 5500. READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. Wardour Street. Details: 0118 926 5804. READING – The Retreat, St John’s Street
RG1 4EH. David Gray and John Dunsterville. Details: 0118 376 9159. READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. Up The Junction. Details: 0118 957 6930. SPENCERS WOOD – Village Hall, Basingstoke Road RG7 1AP. 1960s night with the Self Preservation Society. Details: www.trybooking.com/ uk/events/landing/21204 TILEHURST – Double Barrelled Brewery, Stadium Way RG30 6BX. Third Birthday celebration: live music, DJs and more. 1pm-5pm or 7pm-11pm. Details: 0118 942 8390. TILEHURST – The Royal British Legion Club, Downing Road RG31 5BB. Uptown Traffic. Details: 0118 942 9606. TILEHURST – The Victoria, Norcot Road RG30 6BP. Live music. Details: 0118 941 5064. WINNERSH – The Royal British Legion Club, Woodward Close RG41 5LP. Wokingham Music Club presents Women in Rock. £20. Details: www. wokinghammusicclub.co.uk
Sunday, November 14
EARLEY – The Roebuck, Auckland Road RG6 1NY. Karaoke. 2pm-6pm. Details: 0118 966 7153. READING – Queens Head, Christchurch Road RG2 7AZ. Northern Soul Social Sunday. 2pm-5pm. Details: 0118 931 0232. READING – Community Hall, Watlington House, Watlington Street RG1 4RJ. Readifolk presents: theme night killing time. Details: www.readifolk. org.uk
Monday, November 15
NETTLEBED – Village Club, High Street RG9 5DD. Nettlebed Folk Club presents: Daoiri Farrell. Details: www. nettlebedfolkclub.co.uk READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP.
Self Esteem. Details: 0118 959 5395. STOKE ROW – Crooked Billet RG9 5PU. Clearwater Creedance Revival. Details: 01491 681048.
Tuesday, November 16
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Poetry Slam. Details: www.theacousticcouch.co.uk READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Dappy. Details: 0118 959 5395.
Wednesday, November 17
READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Bluebell Wood. Details: 0118 959 5500. READING – South Street Arts Centre, South Street. Rowan Rheingans: Dispatches of the Red Dress. Details: 0118 960 6060. READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Club Velocity presents: Skinny Lister, The Longest Johns. Details: 0118 959 5395. WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Wokingham Folk and Blues Club. Details: 0118 977 0918.
Thursday, November 18
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. The Lost Decades and Support. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Tyzack and Tortora. Details: 0118 402 7800.
Friday, November 19
BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Green Embers, Redhead, Brioche. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. I Got Soul: David Rodigan. Details: 01344 303333.
EMMBROOK – The Dog and Duck, Matthewsgreen Road RG41 1JT. Live music. Details: 0118 978 0544. EVERSLEY – The Frog & Wicket, The Green RG27 0NS. Electric Eden. Details: 0118 973 1126. READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Open mic night. Details: 0118 959 5500. READING – The Face Bar, Ambrose Place RG1 7JE. Molly Karloff, Raze, Blyth Road, Scramin Irene. Details: 0118 956 8188. READING – The Palmer Tavern, Wokingham Road RG6 1JL. Marvellous Fridays. Details: 0118 935 1009. READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Strictly UB40. Details: 0118 959 5395. WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. Dacoda. Details: 0118 977 3706.
Saturday, November 20
BURGHFIELD – The Six Bells, Reading Road RG30 3TH. The Highwasters. Details: 0118 983 2220. BINFIELD – The Victoria Arms, terrane Road North RG42 5JA. MJX. Details: 01344 483856. BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, The Ring RG12 1JG. Damage UK, Oil City Kings, The Beelines. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Funky Funks. Details: 01344 303333. BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead RG12 7PA. Raymond Burley: The Music of Spain. Details: 01344 484123. BRACKNELL – The Royal Oak, London Road RG12 2NN. Tequila Chase. Details: 01344 422622. READING – The Butler, Chatham Street RG1 7DS. Syn City Rockers. Details: 0118 959 5500.
HOLDING A GIG, QUIZ OR GAMES NIGHT? SEND DETAILS TO EVENTS@WOKINGHAM.TODAY
READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Beeyonce. Details: 0118 402 7800. READING – Salisbury Conservative Club, Kings Road RG1 4HX. Lainie Live. Details: 0118 926 5804. READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. Corsairs. Details: 0118 957 6930. TILEHURST – The Royal British Legion Club, Downing Road RG31 5BB. Blonde Ambition. Details: 0118 942 9606. TILEHURST – The Victoria, Norcot Road RG30 6BP. Live music. Details: 0118 941 5064.
Sunday, November 21
BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead RG12 7PA. Wilde Sundays. Details: 01344 484123. EARLEY – The Roebuck, Auckland Road RG6 1NY. Karaoke. 2pm-6pm. Details: 0118 966 7153. READING – Community Hall, Watlington House, Watlington Street RG1 4RJ. Readifolk presents: Mick Ryan and Paul Downes. Details: www. readifolk.org.uk READING – The Concert Hall, Blagrave Street RG1 1QH. Heavy Pop and South Street Arts presents Jon Hopkins. Details: 0118 960 6060. READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. The Earl Slick band. Details: 0118 959 7196. READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. The Total Stone Roses presents: The Spike Island anniversary tour 1990-2020 and Oaysis. Details: 0118 959 5395. READING – Queens Head, Christchurch Road RG2 7AZ. Northern Soul Social Sunday. 2pm-5pm. Details: 0118 931 0232. SONNING – The Mill at Sonning, Sonning Eye RG4 6TY. The Sound of Springsteen. Details: 0118 969 8000.
No. 5387
Your weekly puzzle challenge
30
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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, November 11, 2021
TO ADVERTISE ON THIS PAGE, CALL CLAIRE ON: 0118 327 2662
Quiz Challenge
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1. The items of apparel the balaclava and the cardigan got their names during which war? 2. What government property logo used to be printed on the uniforms of convicts? 3. Since 2010, Claudia Winkleman has co-presented which reality TV show alongside Tess Daly? 4. What was the name of Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice? 5. Which car manufacturer produced the Silver Ghost and the Silver Shadow?
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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 1
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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
APPRECIATED A MAID
E P T
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; 37 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.
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 C through openings in the walls. The H first letter may appear in any chamber. C T
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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.
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This puzzle page is supplied by Sirius Media Services Ltd.
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© Sirius Media Services Ltd
DOWN 1. A doctor manoeuvres around opening (3) 2. Maria takes only part of a lasso (5) 3. Separate one very much after time (7) 4. Excite a rebel leader on the river (6) 5. Forty, say, to be superior (5) 6. Ah, grins curiously with relish (7) 7. Abrupt worker’s method of rapid writing (9) 9. Pepys said it could be indigestion (9) 12. Wesley sent in perhaps because of the rain? (7) 14. Squadron leader to pay charge for storing goods (7) 15. As an artist he makes an impression (6) 17. Cooks capsicum but not with jelly (5) 19. Agnes leaves aborigines in order to find antelope (5) 21. This joke might silence one (3)
QUICK CROSSWORD 1
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.
To try our new puzzle, Zygolex, go to www.zygolex.com
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ACROSS 1. Develop one seed in eight in a sound way (9) 6. Georgia’s fuel (3) 8. Company in non-operatic arrangement of musical work (5,8) 9. Ringleader getting in a mad frenzy in play (5) 10. Card player who could star in 8 Across? (7) 11. Yes, war is awful for woodcutter (6) 13. Is American intelligence getting hot in Italian island? (6) 16. Take out passage from a book (7) 18. No space for the eggshaped (5) 20. Wool-gathering work? (13) 22. Sad outcome of publicity (3) 23. Going round the bend trapping (9)
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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.
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WORD PYRAMID: Come up to scratch. EQUALISER: Clockwise from top left – multiply; add; divide; subtract. Total: 5.
SOLUTIONS
9 8 7 5 3 4 2 1 6
9 7 2
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5 1
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EQUALISER 3 8 3 1 2 3 7 9 4 1 4 3
Hard
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Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box.
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FIVE ALIVE
SUDOKU Easy
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WORD PYRAMID
O Y R
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CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
6. Fair Isle belongs to which group of islands? 7. In a Status Quo fan newspaper competition in 2009 what Francis Rossi item was the prize? 8. Which Mediterranean island was the centre of the Bronze Age Minoan civilisation? 9. What D is the title of a Tom Jones song and a figure in the Bible? 10. What was the original name of the UEFA Cup football competition?
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PZ1P5387
CROSS CODE 4
5384
26. Rapid knock ACROSS (3-1-3) 1. Obscure (7) 28. Blot out (7) 8. Euphoria (7) 29. Unbalance (7) 9. Abbreviate (7) 30. ------- Monroe, 10. Perception (7) actress (7) 11. Support (7) DOWN 14. Attempt (3) 1. Squinting (inf.) 16. Part of speech (4) (4-4) 18. Plant fibre (4) 2. Combination of 19. Assist (4) notes (5) 3. Exterior (5) 20. Podium (4) 4. Yarn weight (6) 21. Adult males (3) 5. Girl (4) 23. Crash-helmet 6. Curl (7) (inf.) (4,3)
7. 12. 13. 15. 16. 17. 18. 22. 24. 25. 26.
Entwine (4) Burden (4) Stalk (4) Pull suddenly (4) Peddle (4) Club (8) Nerves (7) Regard (6) Layabout (5) Part of collar (5) Fairground attraction (4) 27. Very small (4)
QUICK CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Becloud; 8 Elation; 9 Shorten; 10 Insight; 11 Endorse; 14 Try; 16 Verb; 18 Jute; 19 Abet; 20 Dais; 21 Men; 23 Skid lid; 26 Rat-a-tat; 28 Eclipse; 29 Derange; 30 Marilyn. Down – 1 Boss-eyed; 2 Chord; 3 Outer; 4 Denier; 5 Lass; 6 Ringlet; 7 Knit; 12 Onus; 13 Stem; 15 Yank; 16 Vend; 17 Bludgeon; 18 Jitters; 22 Esteem; 24 Idler; 25 Lapel; 26 Ride; 27 Tiny.
QUIZ CHALLENGE: 1 The Crimean War; 2 Broad arrows; 3 Strictly Come Dancing; 4 Antonio; 5 Rolls-Royce; 6 The Shetlands; 7 His ponytail; FIVE ALIVE: 8 Crete; 9 Delilah; 10 The Inter-City Fairs Cup. (1) Across – Bored; Nanny; Hewed. Down – Bench; Renew; Dryad. CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: CROSS CODE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Across – 1 Germinate; 6 Gas; 8 Piano concerto; 9 Drama; 10 (2) Across – Kiwis; Legal; Singe. R Z I T F M U Y W G A Q E Soloist; 11 Sawyer; 13 Ischia; 16 Extract; 18 Ovoid; 20 Down – Kilts; Wagon; Solve. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Sheepshearing; 22 Ads; 23 Cornering. X L N D H V O P J S C B K Down – 1 Gap; 2 Riata; 3 Isolate; 4 Arouse; 5 Excel; 6 Garnish; 7 NONAGRAM: ephor; epoxy; ether; exert; exhort; Shorthand; 9 Dyspepsia; 12 Wetness; 14 Stowage; 15 Etcher; 17 expert; export; eyot; here; hereto; MAGIC SQUARE: EASY SUDOKU HARD SUDOKU Aspic; 19 Oribi; 21 Gag. tape; arid; pica; hero; hoer; hope; hoper; hype; hyper; Edam. other; oxer; oxter; peer; peery; père; pert; peter; peyote; poet; poetry; pore; pother; prexy; prey; pyre; repot; rete; retype; rope; ropey; rote; thee; theory; there; three; tope; topee; toper; tore; tree; trey; trope; type; tyre; XEROPHYTE; yore.
WHAT’SON Thursday, November 11
ONLINE. Wokingham Borough Council libraries online creative writing group for ages 8-10. 4pm-4.45pm. Details: libraries@ wokingham.gov.uk EARLEY – Reading Film Theatre, Palmer Building, Whiteknights campus, University of Reading RG6 2AH. Reading Film Theatre presents:Our Ladies (15). 8pm. Details: www. readingfilmtheatre.co.uk SHINFIELD – Shinfield Players Theatre, Whitley Wood Lane RG2 9DF. Shinfield Players present Our House musical taster evening: opportunities for cast members, backstage crew. 7.30pm. Details: 0118 975 8880 WOKINGHAM – Cantley Park Pavilion, The Lodge Milton Road RG40 5QG. Wokingham Borough Council presents silver jewellery making rings workshop with Janet Richardson. 10am-4pm. Details: wokingham.gov.uk WOKINGHAM – The Cornerstone, All Saints Church, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham RG40 1UE. Wokingham and East Berkshire Camera Club meeting: Round 2 PDI competition: Local, judged by Micki Aston. 7.30pm. Details: www.webcc. org.uk.
Friday, Nov 12
WOKINGHAM – St Paul’s Church Parish Rooms, Reading Road RG41 1EH. Coffee and Chat: a warm welcome, a listening ear and refreshments. 2pm4pm. Details: 0118 979 6267.
Saturday, Nov 13
ONLINE. Wokingham Borough Council libraries teen writing group with Victoria Gemmell. For ages 11-18. 10.30am on Microsoft Teams. Details: libraries@ wokingham.gov.uk CAVERSHAM – Caversham Methodist Church Hall, Gosbrook Road RG4 8EB. Artists and Makers Fair. 10am. Free entry. Details: jean@alljazzedup.com or 07808 966928. CROWTHORNE – St John the
Baptist Church, Waterloo Road RG45 7NT. Thames Voyces Celebratory concert. 7.30pm. £15, £13 concessions, under 18s free. Details: 0118 967 7319 or www. thamesvoyces.org.uk. SINDLESHAM – Berkshire Masonic Centre, Mole Road RG41 5EA. Christmas market, with cafe, tombola and more. 10am-4pm. Details: 07515 637471. READING – Friends Meeting House, Church Street RG1 2SB. Reading International Festival presents What Is Europe? A talk inspired by the writings of anti-Nazi activist Sophie Scholl. Free. Advance booking welcomed in case covid prevents talk from being held in person. 11am. Details: 07580 531739 8readingpeaceworks@ yahoo.co.uk READING – Great Hall, University of Reading, London Road RG1 5AQ. Wokingham Choral Society presents Handel’s Messiah. 7.30pm. Pre-concert talk 6.30pm. Details: www. wokingham-choral-society. org.uk UPPER WOOLHAMPTON – Douai Abbey RG7 5TQ. 30 Years of Cecilia - The Cecilia Consort. £15, under 18s £5. Details: 07775 743445. WINKFIELD ROW – Carnation Hall, Chavey Down Road RG42 7PA. Bracknell and Wokingham Districts Cats Protection Annual Christmas Fair. 2pm-4pm. Details: 03453 714 212. WOODLEY – Crockhamwell Road precinct. Woodley Town Centre presents Saturday market. 9am-3pm. Details: 07861 654674 or www. woodleytowncentre.co.uk YATELEY – St Swithun’s Catholic Church, Firgrove Road GU46 6NH. Yateley Choral Society: O May We Sign Again: Renew That Song. 7.45pm. £14, £5 students, under 16s free. Details: 01276 31850 or www.yateley-choral.org.uk
Sunday, November 14
SINDLESHAM – Berkshire
Holding a community event? Send your listings to events@wokinghampaper.co.uk Masonic Centre, Mole Road RG41 5EA. Christmas market, with cafe, tombola and more. 10am-4pm. Details: 07515 637471. WOKINGHAM – Market Place. Wokingham vegan market. 9am-1pm. Details: www.sparkleveganevents. com WOODLEY – Crockhamwell Road precinct. Woodley Town Centre presents car boot sale. 8am-1pm. Cars £10, vans £15. Details: 07861 654674 or www. woodleytowncentre.co.uk
Monday, November 15
Binfield - Newbold College Church, Popeswood Road, RG42 4AN. The Arts Society Wokingham’s monthly lecture, ‘Origins of our English Christmas’ by Roger Askew at 7.45pm. Also live streamed via YouTube.Details www.TheArtsSociey Wokingham.org.uk ONLINE. Wokingham Borough Council libraries virtual storytime for ages seven and under. 11am-11.30am. Details: libraries@ wokingham.gov.uk
Tuesday, November 16
ONLINE. Wokingham Borough Council libraries online meeting the author session: Patrick Gale. For adults. Free. 7pm. Details: libraries@wokingham. gov.uk ONLINE. Wokingham Borough Council libraries online virtual storytime for ages seven and under. 11am. Details: libraries@ wokingham.gov.uk WOODLEY – Bulmershe Leisure Centre, Woodlands Avenue RG5 3EU. Wokingham Borough Council presents Life Drawing and Portraiture with Mick McNicholas. Noon-1.45pm. Details: www.wokingham.gov.uk
Wednesday, November 17
DUNSDEN – Dunsden Green Village Hall RG4 9QG. Dunsden Green Country Dancing Club: country dancing with a caller. 8pm10pm. £4, first evening
free. Details: 07714 226723. READING – Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square RG1 3BE. History of Reading Society presents the history of cinema in Reading with David Cliffe. 7pm. £2 visitors, members free. Details: historyofreadingsociety@ yahoo.com WOODLEY – Crockhamwell Road precinct. Woodley Town Centre presents Artisan market. 9am-2pm. Details: 07861 654674 or www.woodleytowncentre. co.uk
Thursday, November 18
WOKINGHAM – Cantley Park Pavilion, The Lodge Milton Road RG40 5QG. Wokingham Borough Council presents silver jewellery making earings workshop with Janet Richardson. 10am-4pm. Details: wokingham.gov.uk WOKINGHAM – The Cornerstone, All Saints Church, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham RG40 1UE. Wokingham and East Berkshire Camera Club meeting: Studio Lighting with Shawn Bishop. 7.30pm. Details: www. webcc.org.uk. WOKINGHAM – The Whitty Theatre, Luckley House School, Luckley Road RG40 3EU. Wokingham Film Society presents: The Father (12). £6.50, £4 members. 7.30pm. Details: wokinghamfilmsociety.com
Friday, November 19
CROWTHORNE – Wellington College RG45 7PU. Wellington College Chamber Choir and Orchestra and Crowthorne Choral Society present John Rutter’s Requiem. 8pm. £12, £2 students. Details: www. wellingtoncollege.org.uk/ forthcoming-events WOKINGHAM – St Paul’s Church Parish Rooms, Reading Road RG41 1EH. Coffee and Chat: a warm welcome, a listening ear and refreshments. 2pm4pm. Details: 0118 979 6267. WOODLEY – Crockhamwell Road precinct. Woodley
vegan market. 11am3pm. Details: www. sparkleveganevents.com
Saturday, November 20
BURGHFIELD – Willink Leisure Centre, Holly Bush Lane RG7 3XP. Christmas craft fair. Noon-4pm. 50p entry. Details: 07990 667503. GORING – Village Hall RG8 9AG. Goring Craft Fair. 10am-4pm. £2. Details: www.goringcraftfair.co.uk LOWER EARLEY – Salvation Army, Chalfont Close RG6 5HZ. Christmas fayre: cakes, books, crafts, pre-loved, toys and more. 10.30am-2pm. Details: 0118 931 0760. READING – St Joseph’s College, Upper Redland Road RG1 5JT. Reading Hadyn Choir with Sinfonia Musiciti present Rutter’s Requiem and Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man, a Mass For Peace. 7.30pm. £14, £12 concessions, £5 under 19s. Details: www. haydnchoir.org.uk READING – Across Reading. Christmas light switch-on 2021. Live music from 1pm, including RASPO. Festive food stalls in Broad Strall and more. WOODLEY – Crockhamwell Road precinct. Woodley Town Centre presents Saturday market. 9am-3pm. Details: 07861 654674 or www. woodleytowncentre.co.uk
Sunday, November 21
ONLINE. Wokingham Borough Council libraries online virtual storytime. 11am. Details: libraries@ wokingham.gov.uk BINFIELD – Salisbury Hall, Newbold College RG42 4AN. Bracknell Choral Society: A Celebration of Mozart. 6pm. £15, under 18s free. Details: www. bracknellchoral.org.uk GORING – Village Hall RG8 9AG. Goring Craft Fair. 10am-4pm. £2. Details: www.goringcraftfair.co.uk WOODLEY – Crockhamwell Road precinct. Woodley Town Centre presents Vegan Market. 11am-3pm. Details: 07861 654674 or www.woodleytowncentre. co.uk
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The property sector is open to a large level of fraud due to the high value of money involved, this is why the government has alert services set up to help notify you against potential fraud.
How can you steal a property?
Imagine having to work away from your home, only to return home and find someone else in your house. This was one man’s reality in Luton, when he was alerted by a neighbour that someone was in his home. Upon driving back to the property, he found the locks had been changed and when someone answered the door, they advised they were doing works in the property for a new owner! All his belongings were gone and he soon found out that the property had been sold and was now registered to a new owner. This case is ongoing, but we are confident a large settlement of some sort will soon follow!
Checks required during Conveyancing
The Land Registry paid out a total of £3.5million in compensation for fraud last year alone, one of the many reasons conveyancing solicitors are required to carry out stringent identification checks and searches as part of the conveyancing process. If you are purchasing a property, for example, your conveyancing solicitor will ask you to provide several forms of both photographic and nonphotographic identification, you will be asked to provide proof of purchase funds and proof of how this money was obtained. If you are selling a property, your identification will be checked in much the same way and your conveyancing solicitor will write to you at your home address to ensure you live there. These checks form part of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) code of conduct – a requirement on your solicitor to ‘identify who they are acting for’ and to ensure solicitors comply with the Money Laundering Regulations 2017.
What can I do to protect myself from property fraud? Whilst Solicitors are required to carry out checks, there is nothing better than knowing you yourself have also put protection in place for your home. The Property Alert Service is an online service that provides additional protection against potential fraud. You can find details of how to sign up to this free government service at: https://www.gov.uk/ guidance/property-alert
It is quick and easy to register and should give you further peace of mind that if certain activity is detected against your home, you will be notified. The service allows you to monitor properties already registered with HM Land registry – up to 10 properties can be monitored.
As you can monitor up to 10 properties, you could monitor properties belonging to a vulnerable relative or friend too. You will receive email alerts when there is certain activity on the properties and this will allow you to take immediate action – before it is too late! If you would like to know more about the above article then you can contact one of our specialists.
01276 686222
Time of event: Contact number for readers:
PROPERTY: IS YOUR PROPERTY REGISTERED – IN CASE SOMEONE STEALS IT?
Monitoring a vulnerable person’s home
Date of event: Venue of event:
LEISURE | 31
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Root Vegetable Dahl In the kitchen
Method
onion, garlic, ginger and coriander (reserving some to garnish). Fry for 2-3 minutes, then add the diced carrot and parsnip and fry for another 5 minutes 2. Mix in the tomato puree, turmeric and chilli powder then add the lentils and cover with 1.5 litres of water 3. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and cover with a lid to cook for 45-50 minutes or until everything is very soft; stir regularly. Add more water, if required or uncover to reduce the liquid and thicken 4. To finish, mash the vegetables into the lentils with the back of a large spoon, then season well with salt. Serve hot, garnished with fresh coriander and sliced red chilli if you like.
1. Melt the coconut oil in a large, heavybottomed pan over a medium-high heat and add the onion seeds,
Recipe by Charlotte Simpkins for Freely Fruity www.facebook.com/ freelyfruityuk
Freely Fruity
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Serves 4
S WE approach winter, there are plenty of opportunities to make bright and colourful dishes. This is a one-pot dish that is great for lunch, or serve it with flatbread for a substantial weekday supper. You could also vary the root vegetables and use swede, turnips, fennel, celeriac for a different flavour and wider variety.
Ingredients n 3 tbsp coconut oil n 1 tsp black onion/ nigella/kalonji seeds
n 1 large onion, diced n 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped n 1 knob ginger, peeled and grated n Small bunch fresh coriander, chopped n 3 carrots, peeled and finely diced n 3 parsnips, peeled and finely diced n 1 tbsp tomato puree n ½ tsp turmeric n ½ tsp chilli powder n 225g red lentils, rinsed n Salt n 1 red chilli, sliced
Lights fantastic: festive decoration ideas
A
Plastic Free Home David Lamont
Sir David on the ‘desperate hope’ of battling the climate emergency
B
ACK in 2018, Sir David Attenborough’s speech at COP24, held in Katowice, Poland, was one of the final triggers that led us to establishing Plastic Free Home.
Speaking then, Sir David warned: “Right now, we are facing a man-made disaster of global scale. Our greatest threat in thousands of years. Climate change.” He went on to add that “Time is running out” and that “If we don’t take action the collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon.” In his closing remarks, he said: “Leaders of the world, you must lead. The continuation of our civilisations and the natural world upon which we depend, is in your hands.” At the time, we described the moment as a “generation defining speech”, and in many ways it was. We certainly thought that he would struggle to top it. But Sir David did just that in addressing world leaders at COP26 in Glasgow on Monday, November 1. Listening to his words for even a fourth and fifth time left a tear in the eye and a lump in the throat. Watching it together as a family, with our two young children, was especially poignant. Sir David, in arguably one of his most impassioned speeches ever (which is clearly saying something), cautioned that humanity
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, November 11, 2021
Sir David concluded: “There’s every reason to believe that the answer can be yes. If, working apart, we are forces powerful enough to destabilise our planet, surely, working together, we are powerful enough to save it.” He ended: “That desperate hope … is why the world is looking to you and why you are here.” Let us, too, hope that we have not already witnessed the defining moment of COP26, and that world leaders and all of us can come together to achieve what Sir David said must be our shared aim: “To turn this tragedy into a triumph.”
WOKINGHAM garden centre is encouraging people to turn their homes into winter wonderlands this year. Squires, based on Heathlands Road, says that an outdoor light show will wow neighbours and make guests feel welcome. To help people prepare for the forthcoming festive season, it has put together some suggestions for bright sparks to consider. Its first idea is twinkling lights, which can be placed around the front door, wrapped around a wreath or plants. Alternatively, hanging icicle lights around a porch will add some sparkle without looking for Jack Frost’s mischief. For those who want to go further, Squires suggests illuminated figures for display in the garden. The range includes a set of five miniature reindeer or baby penguins. Other suggestions include a snowman or a stag. And with a bleak year - never mind the midwinter – it’s little wonder that people want some seasonal cheer. The garden centre says that sales of this range are already up 60% on last year. And modern technology plays a big part of another part of its range: Squires is stocking some jewelled characters which come with a remote control, so you can change the colour of your display and the effects – such as twinkle, flash, fade or static – at the touch of a button. If only the rest of the festive preparations could be done the same way. n For more details, visit the store or log on to: www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk
SPEAKER: Sir David Attenborough speaks at the Opening Ceremony for Cop26 at the SEC, Glasgow. Photograph: Karwai Tang/ UK Government is “already in trouble” but suggested that our motivation “must not be fear, but hope” for change. He asked: “Is this how our story is due to end? A tale of the smartest species doomed by that all-too-human characteristic of failing to see the bigger picture in pursuit of short-term goals?” Urging everyone to “rewrite our story”, Sir David powerfully put the situation into perspective, adding: “Perhaps the fact that the
people most affected by climate change are no longer some imagined future generation but young people alive today”. “It comes down to this. The people alive now and the generation to come will look at this conference and consider one thing – did the number stop rising and start to drop as a result of commitments made here?” he continued. Evoking the hope he talked of in answering his own question,
Created in 2018 by blogger and voluntary hack David Lamont, Plastic Free Home is an online community with over 32,000 followers that aims to seek and share ideas on how we can all live more sustainably. Visit www.theplasticfreehome. com or www.facebook.com/ plasticfreehomeuk
SPORT TODAY
WOKINGHAM EDITION
NO ONE CHRONICLES THE ACTION BETTER THAN US SUMAS ENJOY AWAY SUCCESS
11.11.21
BRACKNELL STAY FAWKES ON FIRE ON TOP WITH 5-0 SHOW
ROCKETS FIND THE NET
ROYALS’ DOUBLE DELIGHT
WOMEN WANT TO KEEP ON WINNING READING FC Women are looking to continue their winning run when they travel to West Ham on Sunday.
A STAR IS BORN CLARKE THE HERO THANKS TO WINNING BRACE
Published by The Wokingham Paper Ltd, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS. Printed at Reach Watford © The Wokingham Paper Ltd, 2021
By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today READING FC made it a double triumph over Birmingham City last weekend as both their men’s and women’s first-teams earned victory.
On Saturday, 18-year-old forward Jahmari Clarke made himself a Royals hero as he turned the game around in Reading’s 2-1 win at St Andrews. With a depleted squad due to
injury and a manager in isolation due to covid, things were looking bleak for Reading with a fifth consecutive Championship defeat staring them in the face when they went 1-0 down to the Blues inside the opening three minutes. With limited options on the bench, the Royals turned to young striker Clarke to try and salvage something as he replaced record-signing George Puscas, who is suffering a
21-game goal drought, at half-time. Clarke powered in a header in the 70th minute from John Swift’s cross to put Reading level and with his first goal in senior football. He then made it an afternoon he’ll never forget as he prodded in from close range just seven minutes from time to net the winner and end Reading’s losing streak. A day later, Reading Women made the trip to the Midlands to face lowly Birmingham City in the Women’s
Super League. Having gone into the break goalless, the Royals came out in the second-half with a renewed vigour and energy and opened the scoring through Natasha Dowie. New signing Deanne Rose then netted a brace to ensure that Reading would return to Berkshire with three points to earn their second consecutive victory in the WSL.
n Full match reports on page 22 & 23.
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The Royals have recovered after a difficult start to the season to win their last two matches, a win at home to Aston Villa and a victory away at Birmingham City on either side of the international break. The win puts Reading up to ninth in the table with six points after six matches. Meanwhile, West Ham are in sixth, two points above the Royals. Olli Harder’s Hammers side have had a mixed start to the season with two wins, two draws and two defeats from their opening six matches. Their stellar defence has allowed them to pick up points, with eight goals conceded all season, four of which came in last weekend’s 4-0 loss at Arsenal. However, like Royals, they have struggled at the other end of the pitch, with eight goals in six matches – while Reading Women have only scored six. The East London team had their finest 90 minutes of the season early in October when they stunned Manchester City away from home. Dagny Brynjarsdottir gave West Ham the lead before a stoppage time second from Yui Hasegawa sealed the points. Reading manager Kelly Chambers said: “For us coaches we’ll begin analysing West Ham the moment we get on the coach home, but what I said to the players at full-time is you have to enjoy the moment, getting a clean sheet and three goals. But when you arrive at the training ground on Monday, it’ll be time to focus on the next game. “West Ham are a great side, they’ve made some brilliant additions to their team. So, for us we’ve got to prepare properly, and make sure we go into that game at the highest level.”
22 | SPORT
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Bracknell RFC push forward
Isaac Round advances with the ball for Rockets
BASKETBALL
ROCKETS RACE PAST BRISTOL TO MAKE CUP PROGRESS By JAME KING sport@wokingham.today Bracknell RFC against Grove Pictures: Paul Ridley
Bracknell RFC touch down for a try
RUGBY UNION
BRACKNELL STAY TOP WITH BONUS POINT AT GROVE
By PETER MABLY sport@wokingham.today
Grove 10 Bracknell 34 BRACKNELL stay at the top of the table after they finished strongly to take the points away at Grove.
Facing a stiff breeze in the first half Bracknell forced a scrum from the kick off but were then rudely stuffed in the scrummage and conceded a penalty and considerable ground as a result. Other than one brief Bracknell excursion into their half, Grove spent the next 20 minutes in Bracknell territory making us all wonder why they were bottom of the league. This culminated with a score for Grove’s 12 who cut a good line back towards the forwards, broke a tackle and touched down behind the posts. He converted his own
try and Grove were seven points to the good. The next item of note in the game was not so good for the home side – overzealous use of the foot at the back of a ruck and the Grove scrum half was red carded for stamping. This would lead to the first Bracknell score after a full 24 minutes. From the scrum that followed a poor pass from Grove’s replacement nine led to a Bracknell scrum five metres out. Ken Hodgson picked up from eight and made ground, allowing Tom Scott to force over from the next phase. Sam Dunks, kicking for the first time this season converted to level the game. After 30 minutes Ken Hodgson stole the ball in his own 22, Tom Scott ran straight, then the ball was spun wide left from the next ruck, Bart Van Herwijnen
drew the last man and Ian Burch ran round behind posts. Sam Dunks then converted to make it 14-7 to Bracknell. Bracknell spent more time defending as the half wore on and finding it difficult to get out of their half they conceded a penalty in the dying seconds of the first 40. Grove’s 12 took the half time score to 10 - 14 with the last kick of the half – but unbeknown to them it would be their last score of the game. Three minutes after the restart Grove suffered a yellow card, Bracknell kicked to the corner, executed a successful catch and drive and a score by Ken Hodgson was converted by Sam Dunks to make it 10-21. Bracknell’s bonus point score came after 54 minutes when a tap penalty made its way down the line to
see Ruairi Henderson touch down in the corner – again brilliantly converted by Sam Dunks from the touchline – admittedly with a tail wind. After a high tackle from Sam Dunks and after the ensuing melee, both Sam and Ken Hodgson took a yellow card breather for 10 and it was Bracknell this time who were reduced to 13 men Back to full strength and with a tiring opposition Bracknell continued to benefit from their trademark expansive game and on 78 minutes a quick tap penalty was spun wide to see Ian Burch get his second and then two minutes later a great line of running by Danny Bournes saw him touch down. Sam Dunk’s boots had used up the last of their magic converting Bracknell’s fourth try from the touchline and missed the final two conversion attempts.
Reading Rockets 107 Bristol Basketball United 81 READING Rockets ensured that they progressed to the fourth round of the National Cup as they saw off Bristol Basketball United. In a very physical encounter where the visitors had a 7ft 4in and 6ft 11in players, head coach Dan Pearson was able to play all his Academy students for long periods once Rockets had a big lead. Live Kivuvu and Isaac Round shone through with the experienced Sam Toluwase being the Nando’s Impact Player of the Game as he took the game to the south west team, especially without Rockets 6ft 9in Meshack Lufile. After a fast start from both teams as they sussed each other out, Rockets began to impose themselves towards the end of the first quarter and took a seven point advantage at 22-15. An impressive second period by Rockets saw them ease to a 33-15 dominance and a half-time lead of 55-30. The second half saw Rockets Academy players play well and the score of 52-51 acknowledged that should Bristol make a significant dent in Rockets lead. Pearson would have brought on the more experienced players though seeing Tyler Cartaino go over on his ankle and not play any further part was a serious
Sam Toluwase shoots issue as A J Basi has an Achilles injury and Lufile carries a foot injury. An unwelcome piece of injury news for the news Rockets head coach needs as he prepares Rockets for the fourth round of the National Cup next Sunday away to Worthing Thunder.
SPORT | 23
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RUGBY UNION
WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL
COMPOSED TITANS TAKE THE SPOILS MIXED RESULTS IN KINGS
BY RICHARD ASHTON sport@wokingham.today
Rams Titans 24 Blackheath 7 RAMS Titans produced a composed team performance to earn a four-try 24-7 success at Blackheath 2nd XV.
The hosts started strongly, but the Titans defence held up well before an enterprising backs move, started by a beautiful off-load from captain Ben Henderson, created space on the left for speedster Charlie Robson to race down the left from inside his own half. Steffan James was unable to add the extras, but his side moved further ahead before the interval as the forwards showed their power, a rolling maul culminating with Henderson dotting down at the back in the right-hand corner. The conversion was again unsuccessful, but Titans
Rams Titans enjoy a successful day Pictures: Richard Ashton went into the break with a 10-0 advantage as debutant prop Tarek Haffar caught the eye along with fellow first-time starter Lailand Gordon on the rightwing. Titans began the second period well, but it was the home side who reduced the
deficit midway through the third quarter when a Jake Hennessy grubber kick was not gathered, allowing Blackheath to recycle the ball out to James Newey in the centres and he crossed the whitewash. Hennessy slotted the conversion to reduce the
deficit to three points, but that was as near as the home side got as Titans pulled away towards the end. Firstly, a lovely flick out of the back of the hand from full-back Josh Hart set-up youngster Spencer Hayhow to dot down on the right-hand side, Rowan Grundy adding the extras to make it 17-7. And Rams added a further gloss to the score-line in the closing minutes, Swedish international debutant Axel Kanning-Smith making a strong charge before his pass found Hart to race down the right. The South African then timed his pass perfectly to find Gordon, and the wing capped an encouraging first performance by showing his speed to out-run a wouldbe defender to score in the corner. James landed his toughest kick to push the lead to 17 points, before the full-time whistle was blown shortly afterwards.
TRIPLE HEADER WEEKEND
IT WAS a mixed result this past Saturday as Thames Valley Kings hosted a triple-header of fixtures with all three adult teams in action.
All three of the Kings’ adult teams were in action in the British Wheelchair Basketball national league. The day started with the battle of Berkshire, as East met West with the Kings third team taking on the Windsor Monarchs. After a high-fought encounter, it was the Kings who would win the battle 46-33 with Peter Rapley top scoring in the game for Kings with 18 points. The second match of the day was between the Kings second team and the Titans third team in Division Two South. This was a back and forth encounter as both teams traded the lead but it was Titans thirds who picked up the victory, 36-40. Conal O’Donovan was the lead scorer for Kings with 12 points. In the final game of the day, Kings first team faced a very strong Titans first team who featured some current and past
Reece Barker (Kings) and Jack Perry (Titans) battle for the ball Paralympians, including Judith Hamer (three-time Paralympian), Matt Sealy (London 2012), and Ade Adepitan (Athens 2004 Bronze Medalist). With the Titans taking the win, 37-67. Charlie McIntyre was Kings top scorer with 13 points, Liam Barker led with four assists and Reece Barker led Total rebounds with 14.
National League Rugby is back @ RAMS National One Rugby returns to Old Bath Road on 20th November 2021 K.O. 3pm 1st XV v Cinderford RFC A Pie ‘n Pint or a pre-booked sit down meal in the clubhouse? The choice is yours! Contact steven@RAMSRUGBY.com to book a pre-match two-course meal and experience game hospitality with us! E tickets can be pre-purchased via our Ticket Office at: Entry is £15 for over 18s for non-season ticket holders, FREE for under 18s.
FREE Park and Ride available for this fixture.
Rams Rugby, Old Bath Road, Sonning, Berkshire RG4 6TQ © RAMSRUGBY 2021
160mmx8 columns (265mm) Cinderford Home 20th November - Wokingham and Reading Paper 11.11.21 copy.indd 1
08/11/2021 13:27:32
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FIRST-HALF MASTERCLASS: S4K STRIKE FOOTBALL ROUND-UP
Virginia Water v Wokingham & Emmbrook Pictures: Andrew Batt FootballinBerkshire By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today
Thames Valley Women’s Division 3S S4K BERKS COUNTY put on a first-half masterclass as they cruised past WARGRAVE DEVELOPMENT. They scored five in the opening 45 minutes with a hattrick from Megan Cox and goals from Samantha Sadler and Michelle Melia. EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA
Wokingham & Emmbrook TMW v Panthers Pictures: Andrew Batt
RESERVES were beaten in a high scoring contest at CAVERSHAM AFC. Caversham took the points with a 6-3 success.
Isthmian South Central BINFIELD picked up three more points on the road as they overcame Sutton Common Rovers. Callum Bunting and Kensley Maloney put Binfield two in front before the hosts pulled back a goal before the break.
The home said levelled the game just two minutes after the restart, but a 57thminute strike from Ollie Harris gifted the Moles maximum points. Binfield co-manager Carl Withers: “Important win on the road, and on chances created it could and should have looked more convincing but three points is three points. “Thank you to all that came out and supported us and we hope you all went home happy.”
Combined Counties Premier North READING CITY climbed up to 12th with a convincing away performance at Burnham FC. Goals from Tyler D’Cruz, Dan Davies and Michael Butcher gave them three points with three goals and a clean sheet. WOKINGHAM & EMMBROOK picked up their first away win of the campaign against Virginia Water. Charley Tuttle gave the Sumas the perfect start with an
opener after three minutes, but Virginia equalised just seven minutes later. James Clark restored Sumas’ lead before the break after some superb work from Allen Bossman. Luke Scope then got on the scoresheet in the second half to finish from Bossman’s through ball to seal a 3-1 win.
Combined Counties Division One WOODLEY UNITED put three
points on the board with their first away triumph of the season at British Airways. Goals from Pedro and Ciaran Carolan gave them three points to take them onto nine points. EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA added three points and a clean sheet with a resilient display at Langley. Reece Buckett put the Boars in front in the ninth minute. Eversley went down to 10 players when Ben Catt was sent off, but they managed to double
SPORT | 25
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From the middle
FIVE PAST WARGRAVE
Dick Sawdon-Smith
When is a tackle foul or fair?
T
their lead five minutes before the end to take the game as Harindr Singh Hunjan netted. BERKS COUNTY are in 11th after they were beaten 2-1 by division leaders London Lions.
Thames Valley Premier League FINCHAMPSTEAD have a fivepoint lead at the top after they defeated Maidenhead Town away from home. Aqeel Butt and Joel Day netted to help Finch to three points. READING CITY U23’s put three points on the board with a 3-1 win over Richings Park.
Thames Valley Division One
HURST maintained their unbeaten run with a 3-0 success at home to Rotherfield United. Joseph Bonney, Jake Horwood and Daniel Townson scored in the win.
Thames Valley Division Two BERKS COUNTY SWORDS suffered a loss away from home as they fell 2-0 to Datchet. TWYFORD & RUSCOMBE were also beaten on the road in a 4-1 defeat to Windlesham & Chobham Development.
Southern Region Women’s
Premier Division
WOODLEY UNITED were on the end of a 3-2 defeat to Oxford City. Maddie Sawyer and Mollie Haines netted for the Kestrels in the loss.
Southern Region Women’s Division One South EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA fell to a 4-0 home defeat to New Milton Town.
Thames Valley Women’s Division One TILEHURST PANTHERS are in third after they lost 3-0 to Badshot Lea.
CAVERSHAM UNITED are in seventh after they were beaten 4-1 at Penn & Tylers Green. READING AND DISTRICT SUNDAY LEAGUE Senior Division: Arborfield 0-10 FC BAPCO, Burghfield 5-0 Englefield , Maiden Place 8-1 Twyford Comets, Woodley Wanderers 5-7 AFC Bradfield Division One: Berkshire Dons 1-1 Caversham United, Rose & Thistle 1-4 Loxwood Park, Wayback 1-4 GC United, Westwood Wanderers 1-1 116 Exiles Cup: Barton Rovers 2-4 Burghfield Reserves, Calcot Royals 0-3 Emmer Green, Hype Train 2-0 FC Woodley, RG6 FC 1-12 Hurst, Reading United 3-1 Burghfield B Division Two: AFC Pangbourne 1-4 Woodley Wanderers Caversham AFC 2-7 Romania , Southbank 2-0 Burghfield A Division Three: Sanctuary Strikers 7-5 Royal Albion
FOOTBALL
SUMAS BOSS PRAISES EXCELLENT EXECUTION IN AWAY WIN By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM & EMMBROOK manager Eliot Whitehouse praised his team’s execution of their game plan as they picked up their first away win of the season. “From our part it was a really good game and we got the result we wanted which was really pleasing,” said Whitehouse. “In terms of the performance we set out a game plan that really worked for us and had a plan b that we had to adjust to.
“Unfortunately our captain and centre forward Jake (White) suffered a severe injury in the first 20 minutes of the game which meant we had to change the shape and personnel but in many ways worked really well for us. “It was our intention to go that route if we weren’t successful in the first 10 minutes so in general the boys did really well, followed the game plan excellently and got the result we wanted.” Whitehouse highlighted the impact of Alan Bossman, Charley Tuttle and Nathan Mindomba as
they picked up three points on the road. He continued: “We felt Alan (Bossman) had a massive input when he came on, he’s played at a higher level and will really make a difference if we can get him in a good physical space “We also felt Charley Tuttle was excellent and dealt with their right winger who we knew would be a threat. “He showed his quality from dead balls and in possession he was outstanding. “Nathan (Mindomba) always
gives us an excellent workload and his physical capabilities are outstanding. “He did really well with that and we’re just trying to develop his quality in the final third.” The Sumas are back on home territory this weekend when they host Windsor in the Combined Counties Premier North. Suma are now in 15th and this weekend face a Windsor side that are in eighth in the table with five wins, four draws and five defeats from their opening 14 league fixtures.
HE last thing I want is for anyone to feel that I am anti VAR or PGMO referees. but recently, together, they have destroyed my belief in what makes a tackle, a fair or foul one. The laws of the game talks about reckless or using excessive force but I am talking about the everyday tackle, what the law calls a careless tackle for the want of a better description. I have passed on this belief with a physical demonstration over many years to trainee referees as an FA instructor/tutor. If a player has the ball at his feet and an opponent comes in, usually from the side. and cleanly plays the ball and the player falls over his outstretched leg, then that is a fair tackle. If however, the opponent makes contact with the player first, bringing him down, that is a foul even if he plays the ball. If the opponent, usually coming from behind, plays the ball first, but brings the player down, perhaps with his trailing leg, this is also a foul. Did the player fall or was he brought down? So what has shaken my belief? Two top referees and a video replay. In the Manchester City v Southampton match, England full back, Kyle Walker running after Adam Armstrong tackled him in the City penalty area. His outstretched leg was nowhere near the ball and with his upper leg hitting Armstrong half way up his thigh, knocked him over. An obvious foul tackle. Referee, Jonathan Moss, gave a penalty and showed Walker a red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity. Then, after talking to his VAR, Martin Atkinson, one of our longest serving Premier League referees, to everyone’s amazement, including Walker’s, Moss cancelled not only the red card but also the penalty. So not a foul tackle after all. In America, the MLS has a wonderful television programme showing VAR decisions and Video Manager, Greg Barkey, explains why those decisions were made. If only they did this in this country, I might have learned where I have been getting it wrong all these years. Or have I?
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SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP
HOW THEY RATED
CLARKE RESCUES ROYALS WITH BIRMINGHAM CITY 1 READING 2
LUKE SOUTHWOOD
Didn’t have too many stops to make as Reading did well to shut out Birmingham, but was saved by the post on one occasion.
ANDY YIADOM
A brilliant display as he returned to the side after missing out against Millwall. His driving run set up the winning goal.
LIAM MOORE
A lapse in concentration early in the game as his underhit back pass gave Birmingham a gift to take the lead.
TOM HOLMES
Held firm at the back which allowed the likes of Yiadom the license to bomb forward and help out in attack.
SCOTT DANN
Calm and composed at the back. Made some vital tackles, interceptions and played some good passes out from defence.
BABA RAHMAN
A solid display from the left-back. He didn’t get forward as much as Yiadom on the other side but did have good moments.
JOSH LAURENT
Provided some important protection in front of the back line, but didn’t provide much going forward.
TOM DELE-BASHIRU
Had a couple of efforts at goal but hit a couple wildly off target where he probably should have done better.
OVIE EJARIA
Has struggled to find his usual form in recent weeks but is understandable given the amount of game time he has played.
JOHN SWIFT
A superb delivery for the equaliser and his saved shot led to the winner as Clarke latched onto the rebound to score.
JAHMARI CLARKE
An unforgettable performance from the 18-year-old. Turned the game around with his two goals to win the match.
6 8 4 6 6 6 6 5 5 7 9
By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today YOUNG striker Jahmari Clarke made himself a Royals hero as he bagged two second-half goals to give Reading their first win in five matches.
A depleted royals squad, without their manager Veljko Paunovic due to covid, went a goal down after three minutes as Scott Hogan stole the ball from Liam Moore’s back pass to put the Blues in front. But the Royals hit back as halftime substitute Clarke came to the rescue as the 18-year-old forward scored his first goal for the club. Clarke then added to his goal by scoring the winner as he knocked the ball in from close range after Andy Yiadom sprung forward on a counter attack. Reading are in 16th after 17 matches in the Championship heading into the latest international break. Reading had the boost of Andy Yiadom returning to the starting eleven as he took the place of Tyrell Ashcroft after an impressive Championship debut from the 17-year-old. It was a delayed kick-off at St Andrews with the match starting at 3.30pm, half an hour later than scheduled, due to technical difficulties at the turnstiles. It was a disastrous start for Reading, who gifted Birmingham the chance to race into an early lead after three minutes. Captain Liam Moore completely under hit his attempted back pass to Luke Southwood, and Blues striker Scott Hogan snatched the loose pass, rounded the goalkeeper and tapped the ball into the net.
AndyYiadom drives forward
John Swift is challenged on the ball
Swift is fouled while fighting for the ball
MATCH STATS Birmingham City: Sarkic, Roberts, Dean (c), Mitch Roberts, Oakley, Bela, Sunjic, Gardner, McGree, Hogan, Deeney Subs: Etheridge, Castillo, James, Aneke, Woods, Walker, Jutkiewicz Reading: Southwood, Yiadom, Dann, Moore (c), Holmes, Rahman, Laurent, DeleBashiru, Ejaria, Swift, Puscas Subs: Rafael, Ashcroft, Abrefa, Camara, Osorio, Clarke, Ehibhatiomhan Goals: Hogan 3, Clarke 70, 82
Luke Southwood gets low to make a stop The visitors tried to push forward in hope of salvaging an equaliser but Andy Yiadom’s gutbusting run was in vain as he was flagged offside after he was picked out by Tom Dele-Bashiru. Reading had a half shout for a penalty in the 24th minute when Yiadom threaded the ball through for George Puscas, but Mitch Roberts slid in to get enough on the ball and dispossessed the forward. The Royals’ best chance came from a set piece when Josh Laurent
Jahmari Clarke celebrates with was brought down 25 yards from goal, leaving top scorer John Swift the chance to strike. But his disappointing effort struck the wall as the chance passed them by, before DeleBashiru smashed a shot well off target. In charge in the absence of Paunovic, assistant manager Marko Mitrovic made a switch at half-time as young striker Jahmari Clarke replaced Puscas. Chances were few and far
REACTION
PAUNOVIC HAILS TEAM FOR ‘FANTASTIC’ COMEBACK WIN READING FC manager Veljko Paunovic was delighted with a much improved second-half display as Jahmari Clarke scored twice to complete a turnaround.
Clarke’s first two senior goals for the club, having come on at halftime break a run of four straight defeats. Paunovic reiterated that he was able to communicate with his players and staff despite missing the game due to a positive covid test. “At half-time, I knew what we had to do and believed we needed a boost of energy,” said Paunovic. “I spoke to the group and told them the expectations for the second half and asked for commitment and everyone to give
their best . “In the first half I wasn’t happy, we didn’t attack with conviction and finish actions. “I was able to discuss with the staff to make a decision and that paid off. “I’m very happy with the reaction, the guys did a fantastic job and all deserve credit for a fantastic win. “It was a good moment for Jahmari who was waiting for his opportunity. “We had a talk on the phone, he got my point very well. “We kept the ball, were patient, in the first half too shy and complacent. “But in the second half the change in attitude worked perfectly
and Yids (Andy Yiadom) was amazing on the right wing, getting forward.” The Serbian manager is confident that striker George Puscas can recapture his form having not scored in his last 22 matches for the club. He continued: “I don’t feel sorry. I believe in him and he is going to help us in a moment when he recovers his belief. “Once he does that, the team will recover as a group the belief in him.
“There are some adjustments that have to come, we have to be patient with him.” Paunovic also gave an injury update and says he expects players to be back after the international break. “We wanted a positive result going into the break. “We are expecting at least three players to be back. That could be Alan (Halilovic), Tom (McIntyre) and Danny Drinkwater. “And maybe there is a possibility for Andy Rinomhota. “I believe four or five players can be ready after the break.”
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TERRIFIC SECOND-HALF DOUBLE
Clarke celebrates with Josh Laurent
From the Tilehurst End Olly Allen
Baba Rahman – the perfect loanee
A
Holmes brings the ball out from the back Tom Holmes rises above Troy Deeney
the Reading fans after his winner Pictures: Steve Smyth
Yiadom brings down the ball
Scott Dann plays a long pass
between for both sides in the opening 20 minutes of the second period as McGree had a halfchance but missed the target for Birmingham. Reading then had a chance from the resulting corner but after Moore’s header, Dele-Bashiru lashed a shot off target. Having shown some attacking intent, the Royals were rewarded with an equaliser in the 70th minute as substitute Clarke netted his first senior goal. Swift swung in an inviting cross and Clarke glanced the header past the keeper into the far corner to level. Clarke scores his first two senior goals
George Puscas is tackled in the box There was a scare in the 78th minute for Reading as the Blues hit the frame of the goal as Troy Deeney was denied by the post. A late change saw Mamadi Camara come on for the final 10 minutes as Dele-Bashiru was replaced. With the game in the balance, the Royals got their noses in front as Clarke capped off a dream half as
he pounced from close range. A driving run from Yiadom got Reading on the front foot, he delivered the ball into Swift whose shot was saved, but Clarke was there to spring onto the rebound and finish from a few yards out. Birmingham applied pressure late on, but Reading held on to stop a run of four consecutive defeats.
WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE
ROSE AT THE DOUBLE AS ROYALS BEAT BIRMINGHAM Birmingham City Women 0 Reading Women 3
READING FC WOMEN took their first points on the road this season with a second-half masterclass against Birmingham City.
Having seen the men’s side pick up three points in Birmingham the day before, the women followed suit to complete a double triumph. Reading’s first chance of the match after they worked a slick short corner routine and caused chaos in the Birmingham box but Vanhaevermaet’s strike was deflected wide.
Birmingham responded with an opportunity from a set-piece as they swung the ball into the Royals’ area, but an optimistic looped effort on the half volley was comfortably caught by Grace Moloney. Blues’ goalkeeper Emily Ramsey was called into action to palm away a Brooke Chaplen strike from distance. Birmingham got through on goal in the dying embers of the first-half as Libby Smith raced away from the Royals defence but could only manage a tame effort that Moloney saved, Reading raced out of the blocks
in the second-half and took the lead inside three minutes of the restart as Natasha Dowie reacted quickest to the loose ball in the box. With momentum now firmly on their side, Chambers’ team took advantage and doubled their lead in the 54th minute. Amalie Eikeland spotted Deanne Rose free in the middle and delivered an inch perfect cross that was headed beyond the keeper by Rose But it was Rose who got on the scoresheet again with her second of the match with 20 minutes left.
She used her blistering pace to ge in behind the Blues back line, took the ball past the keeper and slotted it in from a tight angle to seal the points in a superb second-half display. Birmingham: Ramsey, Finn, Quinn (c), Sandvej, Scott, Murray, Robertson, Quinn, Smith, Ryan-Doyle, Whelan Subs: Hourihan, Whipp, Holloway, Lawley, Cowie, Worsey Reading: Moloney, Harding (c), Bryson, Evans, Cooper, Vanhaevermaet, Eikeland, Woodham, Chaplen, Dowie, Rose Subs: Stewart, Poulter, Roberts, Peplow, Primmer, Harries, Lister Goals: Dowie 48’, Rose 54’, 71’
NY Royal still awake? When Baba Rahman tweeted this wholesome four-word question for the first time after Reading beat Cardiff at the start of October, he probably wasn’t aware how much it would catch on. It was 10.27pm, so it was a reasonable question to ask, but there was just something so heart-warming about it that made you fall in love with the left-back. He tweeted the same question again at 11.28pm after beating Barnsley a fortnight later. When Reading’s official club account cottoned on and tweeted “Hey Baba Rahman, you still awake?” after Saturday’s win over Birmingham, a catchphrase had officially been cemented. Rahman doesn’t need to endear himself to supporters in this way. He is on loan from Chelsea, has no personal ties to the club or the town and almost certainly won’t be here beyond the end of the season. He could quite easily play his football in Berkshire for a year, exit onto the summer horizon and no one would bat an eyelid. Being a loan player can put you in a slightly strange situation. You are still ‘owned’ by your parent club, who – like in Rahman’s case – may still be paying a large majority of your wages. Loan moves can be seen by some players as mere stepping stones just to play a bit of football. We’ve seen that attitude in the past from players like Matej Vydra, Ola John and Jordon Mutch. Someone like Rahman could easily take that viewpoint. He has dropped down to play second-tier football for the first time in seven years and clearly his long-term ambition is to make it at Chelsea. But his enthusiasm for Reading and willingness to engage with supporters is brilliant to see from a loan player. Then there was the end of the 2018-19 campaign when Reading were fighting relegation. Some of the most emphatic celebrations and highest levels of passion after crucial results and when survival was secured came from loan players – Emi Martinez, Matt Miazga and Lewis Baker. As fans, ultimately all we want is players to take pride in wearing our club’s shirt and show commitment and desire out on the pitch. You expect that from those who are on multi-year permanent contracts. It’s a lovely surprise when it comes from a loan player.
Baba Rahman Picture: Steve Smyth
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HOCKEY
RESULTS
READING DIG IN TO MAINTAIN RUN Connor Beauchamp in action for Reading Picture: Helen Ritchie
By RONAN DAFFEY sport@wokingham.today
Southgate Men 2 Reading Men 3 READING faced a tough test to maintain their unbeaten status as they overcame Southgate by one goal with an away victory.
Reading’s optimistic dreams of an invincible season were very nearly brought to a juddering halt on Saturday evening by a hardworking and very well organised Southgate team who belied their lowly league position to give Reading their biggest test by a long way so far this season. Well supported by a sizeable and vocal crowd of home spectators, Southgate were full of running and dogged determination throughout the match and twice took the lead to invoke wild celebrations amongst their players and their fans. Reading were surprisingly subdued in their response and rarely put pressure on the Southgate defence despite a fine performance by their young Wales international, Fred Newbold. Despite their rather lacklustre performance, Reading equalised twice through their high quality penalty corner routine, with the killer blows being struck by their South African international, Connor Beauchamp. The first going fast and low, and the second high and
Saturday, November 6
HOCKEY Men’s National Division 1 South Southgate 2-3 Reading
mighty with such force that the Southgate goalkeeper could only parry it into the net despite getting a strong glove on it. Now with only minutes remaining, neither team was interested in settling for a draw and both intensified their efforts, Reading at last put sustained pressure on the Southgate defence, which eventually buckled in the final minute, star striker Tom Minall showing his predatory instincts to slot home.
The umpires conferred and a second penalty corner was awarded to the home team. Reading held firm and joyfully cleared the ball up the pitch, but their celebrations were cut short by the umpire awarding yet another corner for an infringement by a Reading player. The teams lined up for a third time and, this time, Reading’s keeper saved the shot and the final whistle brought a breathless few minutes to an end.
Reading’s 100% league record remains intact, taking them nine points clear at the top of the table from second-placed Canterbury who they meet at Canterbury’s ground next Sunday. If they do manage to take maximum points from that match, their hopes of promotion would certainly be realistic, and even a draw would leave them in a healthy position as the mid-season break approaches, and the indoor season starts.
FOOTBALL
British Airways 1 Woodley United 2
READING 2s added three points with victory on the road against Winchester in a 4-2 success.
South Central Men’s Premier 2 READING 2A’s took the points in a close battle against SOUTH BERKSHIRE. The hosts Reading, earned their first victory of the season with a 2-1 success as South Berks dropped down to fifth.
Combined Counties Premier North Burnham 0-3 Reading City Virginia Water 1-3 Sumas
RUGBY UNION South West 1 East Grove 10-34 Bracknell
SOUTH BERKS 2S HIT FIVE KESTRELS FLY PAST BA AS THEY BEAT MAIDENHEAD South Central Men’s Premier 1
Isthmian South Central Sutton Common Rovers 2-3 Binfield
Combined Counties Division One Berks County 1-2 London Lions British Airways 1-2 Woodley United Langley 0-2 Eversley & California
HOCKEY ROUND-UP
By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today
FOOTBALL Sky Bet Championship Birmingham City 1-2 Reading
1-0 win at Wallingford.
Winchester.
South Central Men’s Division 2
South Central Women’s Division 1
SOUTH BERKSHIRE 2s put in a five-star display against Maidenhead 2s. The win lifts South Berks off the bottom of the table with a 5-0 win. SONNING 2s boosted their points tally with a 3-1 victory at home to Yateley.
SOUTH BERKSHIRE fell to an away defeat against Oxford University 2s. Erin Begley scored for South Berks but they were beaten 3-1 to put them in eighth.
National Women’s Division 1 South READING fell to defeat by a single goal at home to Slough. The loss puts them down to fourth in the table.
South Central Men’s Division 1
South Central Women’s Premier 1
SONNING 1s picked up three points and a clean sheet on the road with a
SONNING earned their second win of the season with a 2-1 triumph against
South Central Women’s Division 2 SONNING 2s displayed a fine performance with a clean sheet and three points as they put two past Thame.
South Central Women’s Division 3 SOUTH BERKSHIRE 2s were beaten as a solitary goal from Newbury & Thatcham 2s gave them the points.
FOR the second time this season United returned from The Orchard with maximum league points in a comeback win against British Airways who ground share at Bedfont & Feltham FC.
This was only Woodley’s third league win of the season which have all been on the first Saturday of the month. The first half saw Woodley lack the intensity of play of recent games and while United had a claim for a penalty following a handball in the 12th minute, and Tahir Carmichael put a free kick wide of the upright in the 35th minute, they did little to trouble Ben Clargo in the home goal. The visitors went into the break a goal behind, scored in the 17th minute when United failed to clear a corner kick and the loose ball was turned into the visitors’ goal by defender Peter Parfitt. Had Kieran Odonoghue shown greater composure three minutes before half time, rather than shooting into the side netting, Woodley would have been facing an uphill task in the second half. Woodley changed formation at the restart and looked to get the ball forward quicker which saw them put the home defence put under greater pressure through Ciaran Caralon and Rafa Brandao, who were supported well by the team’s wingers. In the 67th minute, substitute Daniel DeFreitas fed Caralon who was fouled in the penalty area. Pedro Monterio stepped up for the penalty kick and scored his first goal for the club. The goal led to the game opening up with United sensing
South Central Men’s Premier 1 Winchester 2-4 Reading 2s South Central Men’s Premier 2 Reading 2A 2-1 South Berkshire
Thames Valley Women’s Division 3S Wargrave Development 0-5 S4K Berks County
Tuesday, November 9
FOOTBALL Berks & Bucks Senior Cup Sandhurst Town 5-3 Reading City
FIXTURES
Saturday, November 13
FOOTBALL FA Trophy first-round Binfield v Cinderford Town Combined Counties Division One Eversley & California v Woodley United Combined Counties Premier North Reading City v North Greenford United Sumas v Windsor Cup Cholsey United v Reading YMCA Compton v Finchampstead Old Windsor v FC Imaan Lions Wargrave v Frilsham & Yattendon
South Central Men’s Division 1 Wallingford 0-1 Sonning
Thames Valley Premier League Woodley United Royals v Westwood Wanderers
Sunday, November 7
Sunday, November 14
FOOTBALL Women’s Super League Birmingham City 0-3 Reading
FOOTBALL Women’s Super League West Ham v Reading
Southern Region Women’s Premier Division Oxford City 3-2 Woodley United
Southern Region Women’s Division One South Woking v Eversley & California
Southern Region Division One South Eversley & California 0-4 New Milton Town
Thames Valley Women’s Division One Badshot Lea v Wargrave Tilehurst Panthers v Stonefield Strikers
Thames Valley Women’s Division One Badshot Lea 3-0 Tilehurst Panthers Penn & Tylers Green 4-1 Caversham United
Thames Valley Women’s Division 3S Taplow United v Wargrave Development Yateley United v S4K
they could get a win while seeing their defence contest every ball and keeper Ashley East being called upon to make two good saves. The deciding goal came in the 83rd minute. Brandao passed to Max Reid whose shot was parried back into play by Clargo allowed Caralon to fire past the keeper. British Airways committed players forward in search of the equaliser forcing a series of corners and shooting from distance and while United had a golden chance to score a third and seal the game. No further score was coming with the visitors content to keep the ball in wide positions forcing the home team deep into their own half. The win puts Woodley up a place into 20th in the Combined Counties Division One with nine points from 11 games. Woodley United: East, Whight, Carmichael, Monterio, Goddard, Smith, Martire (DeFreitas), Birkett, Caralon, Shelley (Reid), Brandao
