The Wokingham Paper, February 12, 2016

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CRIME

BOY ARRESTED OVER CAR SMASH P9

A day at the pancake races

Village comes together to celebrate Shrove Tuesday • p11

COUNCIL TAX RISE IS THE ‘PRICE OF SUCCESS’ • Residents face 3.94% increase • Cuts are worst ever says leader

COURT

VICAR ADMITS CHILD SEX CHARGES P3 PRISON

GANG JAILED AFTER CRIME SPREE P4 SPORT

OLYMPIC WOKINGHAM BUDGET SPECIAL DREAM OVER PAGES 4,5, 16 & 17 FOR ANNA P40

2 | NEWS

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, February 12, 2016

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CRIME

Florist’s till raided by couple ‘collecting duvet’ A MAN and a woman claiming to be collecting a duvet stole cash from a florist in Twyford last week.

Just after 5pm on Friday a man entered the shop, believed to be VFB the Florist in London Road, followed by a woman, claiming to be collecting a duvet.

A member of staff went upstairs but when they returned they found the pair had gone and the till was open.

An unknown amount of money was stolen.

The man is described as white, wearing a white striped blue bobble hat, long black coat and grey tracksuit bottoms. The woman was also white, wearing grey tracksuit bottoms, a white hooded top, black coat and a back pack.

If anyone saw anyone matching this description around the time of the incident, or has any information that may be helpful to police, they should call 101.

WOODLEY

Homes plan thrown out over residents’ concerns PLANS for new homes on land at the rear of 86 Loddon Bridge Road in Woodley were refused at a recent meeting of Woodley Town Council.

The application proposed building two one-bedroom dwellings plus the widening of an existing driveway.

Four residents were present at the meeting to voice their concerns and two letters objecting to the plans had been received by the council.

The planning committee turned

The handover to the Trustees in Birmingham with Jenny Reeves, Trish Drinkwater, Enid Leake, Sue Nike, Margaret Key, National Chairman of the Townswomen’s Guild, and Janice Collins, Townswomen’s Guild Trustee.

COMMUNITY

A stitch in time for nursing college’s 100th birthday MEMBERS of the Wokingham branch of the Townswomen’s Guild (TG) were given a top-secret mission to stitch a marching banner to commemorate 100 years of the Royal College of Nursing.

In March 2015 member Sue Nike and her small team were briefed with the task of designing and creating a banner which the college could use at official functions.

Sue said: “I love a challenge so I said

down the plans due to insufficient parking for the proposed new development and insufficient access for emergency vehicles.

The new development was also considered to be too cramped with insufficient garden space provided.

One of the proposed homes would be very close to the fence of an adjacent property in Rivermead Road and, although the new buildings were bungalows, the difference in land levels meant the property in Rivermead Road would be overlooked.

COMMUNITY

Learn about art society during president’s talk THE President of the Wokingham Art Society will deliver his annual presentation at its next meeting.

Paul Banning will give the talk at

yes straightaway. It was hard work but very enjoyable. We were only a small team but we worked together to create the banner, which I think it quite beautiful.”

The banner is one metre wide by more than 1.5 metres long, with free hanging tassels on either side and a large tassel to give weight to the bottom.

The design was based on a

the gathering on Tuesday, which takes place at Wokingham Methodist Church in Rose Street.

The meeting starts at 7.30pm.

Entry is free for members, £4 for non-members. For more details call 0118 973 1556 or visit www. wokinghamartsociety.org.uk

CRIME

Did you see thief who swiped dumper truck?

A ONE tonne dumper truck has been stolen from a building site in Wokingham.

Overnight on Thursday, February 4, into Friday morning someone stole the yellow Thwaites truck that was being used to refurbish the Golden Retriever pub in Nine Mile Ride.

Anyone who may have any information relating to this theft is urged to call the Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101.

WIN £200 FOR YOUR GROUP THE Wokingham Paper and TradeMark Windows have teamed up to present Community Cash Tokens.

The scheme is simple – cut out the tokens we’ll print each week.

Send them in to us, as many as you like, and once every two months we’ll pull one at random from the editor’s hat. One lucky group will win £200, courtesy of TradeMark Windows.

The more tokens that you and your group send in, the more chance you have of your group being picked at random.

The Community Cash Tokens are open to charities and other non-profit making groups within Wokingham borough and offer a great way of boosting your funds.

We’re able to offer Community Cash Tokens thanks to the generosity of Mark

Ashwell, managing director of TradeMark Windows.

The Wokingham Paper’s publisher Phil Creighton said: “The Community Cash Tokens were a hugely popular ingredient of The Wokingham Times, and thanks to Mark’s support for the community of Wokingham borough, we’re delighted to be able to bring them back.

“Whatever your group, charity or good cause is, Community Cash Tokens offers your supporters a fun way of helping you raise funds and awareness of your cause.

“Make sure you don’t miss an issue.”

Send your tokens to: Community Cash Tokens, The Wokingham Paper, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS. Please note, only original tokens can be accepted.

promotional poster from the 1930s, which shows a nurse in traditional uniform and includes a brand new gold logo designed especially for the college’s centenary.

Sue added: “We were delighted to present the finished article to the representatives of the college, and we hope they enjoy it and admire it as much as we do.”

LIONS

A bear-y good event for town’s youngsters

WOKINGHAM Lions Club will be hiding Winnie The Pooh, Paddington and eight of their teddy bear friends in town centre shop windows over half-term.

Children have to find the teddy’s names and write down the name of the shop they are found in.

The bears will be playing hide and seek from tomorrow until Sunday, February 21. Entry to the competition is £1.

CORRECTION

Sorry, Andrew

In last week’s Wokingham Paper, we mistakenly attributed pictures taken of Joe Dimmock’s fundraising event. They were by Andrew Merritt.

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THE

WOKINGHAM PAPER

NEWS | 3

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Friday, February 12, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

POLICE

OLD FOREST ROAD

MILL LANE

Man charged over raid at Carphone Warehouse

A 21-year-old man from St Albans has been charged in connection with a robbery at Carphone Warehouse in Shepherds Hill last week.

Mazidur Muhit was arrested on Thursday, February 4, and charged with one count of robbery and one count of possession of an imitation firearm the following day.

He appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Saturday and remanded to appear at Reading Crown Court on March 7.

The charges relate to an incident on Tuesday, February 2, when two men walked into the Carphone Warehouse in London Road, Earley, and stole a quantity of mobile phones and a laptop.

STORM

Imogen batters borough FLOODING hit parts of Wokingham this week as Storm Imogen took hold.

Heavy rain and strong winds of up to 70mph battered the borough on Monday, felling trees and flooding hot-spots such as Old Forest Road in Emmbrook and Mill Lane in Sindlesham. Trains around Wokingham were disrupted, and roads were closed by fallen trees in Hurst and Sindlesham.

Pictures: Paul King and Gemma Davidson

CRIME

Shed raiders escapes with jerry can full of petrol

FIVE litres of petrol were stolen from a shed in Wokingham earlier this week.

Overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, someone used bolt cutters to cut the mechanism on the door of the shed in Wiltshire Road.

Five litres of unleaded petrol stored in a jerry can were stolen.

If anyone has any information regarding this theft, they should call Thames Valley Police on 101.

COURT

Wokingham vicar pleads guilty to child sex offences

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokinghampaper.co.uk A WOKINGHAM vicar who served as a school chaplain has pleaded guilty to child sex offences.

Last week, the Revd Peter Jarvis – who had been suspended from his role as a priest of Loddon Reach Benefice following his arrest in 2013 – appeared at Winchester Crown Court where he admitted two offences of causing or inciting sexual activity with girls aged 13 to 17 and to possessing an indecent image of a child.

He will be sentenced on Friday, April 1.

In December 2014, a jury at Reading Crown Court cleared Mr Jarvis of 11 sexual offences against children, but could not reach a verdict on a 12th case. This was called on for a retrial and, in the process, two further offences were heard.

Previously, Mr Jarvis had pleaded not guilty to seven counts of inciting a child

to engage in sexual activity, three counts of sexual activity with a child and a further count of attempt to encourage a child to engage in sexual activity.

Mr Jarvis joined the Loddon Reach benefice as Team Rector designate in March 2013. The benefice covers churches in Shinfield, Spencers Wood, Swallowfield and Beech Hill.

He had previously served in a High Wycombe church as a youth worker and had been chaplain to the John Madejski Academy school in Whitley. The case does not relate to his work at the school.

In a statement released this week the Team Vicar of Loddon Reach Benefice, The Revd Paul Willis, said: “Like everyone else, we are shocked and saddened by the news that the Revd Peter Jarvis has been convicted of serious sexual offences.

“The offences took place before Mr Jarvis moved to this parish. He stood down from his ministry here as soon as the allegations came to light.

WOODLEY

“We take the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults extremely seriously at Loddon Reach and will continue to ensure that we follow best practice according to diocesan guidelines.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in this case.”

Speaking for the Diocese of Oxford, the Bishop of Reading, the Rt Revd Andrew Proud, said: “These are serious sexual offences and we are profoundly shocked and saddened.

“The Diocese of Oxford takes safeguarding, especially of children, young people, and vulnerable adults very seriously. We expect the highest standards of conduct from all of our clergy.

“When this case came to light we immediately contacted the statutory authorities. Since then we have worked closely with the police and local authority colleagues and will continue to do so until

Handbags and cash stolen during house burglary

Reverend Peter Jarvis appeared at Winchester Crown Court last week.

Mr Jarvis’s sentencing next month.

“As soon as the allegations were made, Mr Jarvis stood down from his duties, as is our policy. Clearly in light of the guilty plea we will now be initiating the Church of England’s disciplinary process.

“This case has been protracted and distressing for everyone affected. All those involved are in my thoughts and prayers.”

WOKINGHAM

Resident demands easier access to council plans A PETITION calling on Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) to make planning documents easier to understand has been launched by a concerned resident.

Mother-of-one Sarah Neely, who lives in Carina Drive, was left bewildered after receiving a leaflet asking for residents to comment on plans for the new Keephatch Beech development, but found that the plans

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Ms Neely, 40, has called on the council to make the plans more available to residents, especially those who are not internet savvy.

She said: “I had a look at the documents online, and there are hundreds of pages to trawl through. It can be very overwhelming, especially for someone who is not familiar with

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the jargon that is used with planning applications.

“What I am asking the council to do is make the plans available to view in a library or at the council offices, and to make them understandable in plain English.

A council spokesperson said: “There will a public meeting and display at St Crispin’s School at 7pm on March 10 where both the developers and council

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officers will be on hand to explain the plans with information boards and answer any questions people may have.”

The development, which forms part of the North Wokingham Strategic Development Location (SDL and was approved by WBC in March last year, will comprise 300 new homes, a restaurant or pub, allotments and a Park and Ride.

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Between 8pm on Tuesday and 6.30am on Wednesday someone opened the front door of the property in Highgate Road, possibly by inserting something through the letterbox and pulling the handle open.

The house was searched before a number of handbags and cash were stolen.

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4 | NEWS/BUDGET SPECIAL

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, February 12, 2016

SETTLEMENT

COURT

Burglary gang jailed after raids across Wokingham

MPs praise Minister’s ‘open mind’ over transitional grant THREE of the borough’s Conservative MPs have helped Wokingham win a £2.1 million grant from the Government.

The transitional grant will be paid to the Borough Council for the next two years and covers the £2 million shortfall announced by the Chancellor just before Christmas.

It is part of a £150 million settlement for councils across the country – neighbouring

Reading Borough Council is receiving £400,000.

John Redwood, MP for Wokingham, said: “I lobbied the Minister on behalf of our local Councils, and supported submissions they then made to the government for fairer treatment,” he wrote. “Wokingham will receive an extra £2.1m next year and West Berkshire an extra £1.4m as a result.”

LABOUR REACTION

Dr Phillip Lee, MP for Bracknell which includes Finchampstead, said: “I am grateful to my ministerial colleague for coming to this situation with an open mind and accepting that Wokingham [was] being asked to accept an unsustainable burden.”

Rob Wilson, MP for Reading East – which covers Woodley and Earley – broke the news of the settlement on Tuesday.

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS REACTION

Tories ‘hung out to dry’ Anger at timing of talks

Clockwise from left: Gary Smith, Brendon Wooff, Stephen Banham and Jack Cann.

FOUR men have been sentenced to a total of more than six years in prison for taking part in two burglaries in Wokingham last year.

Gary Smith, 33, of Goddard Court, Winnersh, Brendon Wooff, 32, of Mill Lane, Earley, Stephen Banham, 41, of Manor lane, Hermitage, near Thatcham and Jack Cann, 20, of no fixed abode all pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary, with Wooff pleading guilty to a further charge of intimidating a witness by posting messages on Facebook.

The men were sentenced on Friday at Reading Crown Court.

Smith was sentenced to 19 months’ imprisonment for each burglary, to run concurrently; Wooff was given 22 months for each burglary, to run concurrently, and three months’ for the witness intimidation charge, to be served consecutively; Banham was handed 22 months for both burglaries, to run concurrently and Cann received 17 months for each count of burglary, to be served concurrently.

The sentences relate to two burglaries in May involving break-ins

at shops at around 2am when large plastic bins and recycling boxes were filled with alcohol and cigarettes.

The first burglary occurred on May 9 at the Co-Op in Finchampstead Road, Finchampstead.

The second took place on May 11 at Santram Newsagents in Rances Lane, Wokingham. Then, police were alerted to the burglary soon after it happened and at 2.20am and followed the offenders’ car down a dirt track.

Banham was arrested a short distance from the vehicle, and the other three were identified soon after.

Wooff was charged with witness intimidation after posting photos of a witness’s statement on Facebook with the message “Looky looky the Winnersh grasses” which the judge described in court as a “horrid thing to do”.

Detective Inspector Emily Evans, the Senior Investigating officer, said: “This is a good result for us, the witness and the Wokingham community. I hope it gives these men time to reflect on what they have done and change their ways on their release from prison.”

ACCIDENT

One in hospital after A329M smash

A MAN was taken to hospital with head injuries after a smash on the A329M yesterday afternoon (Thursday). Emergency crews were called to the accident involving one car near Winnersh Triangle shortly before 2.15pm. The other three occupants of the car escaped unhurt. Picture: Paul King

THE COUNCIL has found itself hung out to dry by the Government and is paying the price for years of short-term delusional bragging, according to Wokingham’s Labour party.

The comments come after the borough council announced it will rise council tax by 3.94%.

Andy Croy, spokesperson for the party, told The Wokingham Paper: “A council tax rise of 3.94% will come as a shock to anyone who thinks the Tories know what they are doing but it was inevitable.

“For many years the Tories have bragged of not raising council tax and while this is attractive in the short term, and especially before an election, it is frankly delusional in the medium- and long-term.

We cannot have essential services for free, they have to be paid for.

“Each time the council refused to raise council tax in the past it has contributed to the current funding gap.”

Mr Croy added that the £2.1m transitional grant awarded this week is just a stop-gap for the cuts that are to come.

He said: “The historic

Andy Croy.

zero council tax raises have partially been compensated by central government ‘good boy’ grants. Now the ‘good boy’ grants have been axed along with other grants and the local Tories find themselves hung out to dry by George Osborne and David Cameron with John Redwood merely slowing down the rate at which the financial noose is tightened.”

The Labour party also feels that the councillors pay rise last year should be reversed.

Mr Croy added: “In the meantime, the Tory and Liberal councillors who voted themselves a pay rise in September, should show they are on the side of residents by reverting their allowances back to the previous level.”

THE Conservatives are spinning the budget line, according to Wokingham’s Liberal Democrat leader.

Councillor Prue Bray, who represents Winnersh on the borough council, has hit out at the timing of the release of the new budget, saying that the party only got to see it at the same time as the public and only became aware of it after reading about it in The Wokingham Paper.

She added that given that the papers are being released so close to next week’s council meeting it gives opposition councillors little time to explore the issues raised by the hefty document.

Cllr Bray said: “We received notification of the budget papers at the same time as the public, and have not had any information from the council about any additional transitional funding, although we have become aware of it through reading about it in the media.

“In organising their press briefing so soon after the publication of the budget papers, the Conservative administration are clearly

PROPERTY

TECHNOLOGY

Council tenants will see reduction in rents

Superfast broadband will go ahead as planned

COUNCIL house tenants will see a rent reduction if budget plans are passed by council next week.

However, there will be rises for people who live in shared equity homes and for those who rent garages from the borough council.

From April 1 this year, council house rents AVERAGE will decrease by COUNCIL TAX 1%, in line with BAND A - £1,053.00 the Welfare BAND B - £1,228.50 Reform BAND C - £1,404.00 and Work BAND D - £1,579.50 Bill 2015.

BAND E - £1,930.50 However, the BAND F - £2,281.49 council says BAND G - £2,632.50 BAND H - £3,159.01 it will continue to increase rents when tenancies change.

For households with an annual income of more than £30,000, the Pay to Stay system will be introduced, forcing families to pay market based rent to stay in their homes.

A 2011 review of shared equity rents brought rents in line with terms of the leases.

Now this has happened, rents will rise each year, starting from April 1 in line with RPI. It is estimated that this will be 1% for the next financial year.

And garage rents will rise by 1.1%, again from April 1.

PLANS to roll out superfast broadband across the borough will continue over the next financial year.

The council is setting aside £122,000 for the project, which is being run in partnership with the other Berkshire unitary councils.

When finished next year, the aim is that every part of Berkshire will have access of broadband speeds of up to 25Mb.

TRANSPORT

Cllr Prue Bray.

eager to feed the press their line on the budget and wary of allowing the opposition time to scrutinise the detail.”

And the Liberal Democrats have also expressed concern at the rise in council tax rates.

“This high increase is what we would have predicted, given the very large cuts to local government funding announced by the national Conservative government,” Cllr Bray said.

“The Liberal Democrats have every sympathy for Wokingham Borough taxpayers, who are being asked to pay more for the same, or fewer, services.”

The party is promising to explore the budget fully ahead of the Thursday’s meeting.

permission to take on parking enforcement responsibilities, which could lead to traffic wardens on the borough’s streets.

EDUCATION

Safe route to Arborfield School gets budget boost

JUST under £2m will be allocated to a safe route to Arborfield School.

The new route will be built over the next financial year and the £1.95m that the council has allocated will include design, construction and all feasibility work.

LEISURE

Cash earmarked for Road resurfacing projects Woodley swimming pool allocated £2.4m a year A NEW set of leisure facilities will be

THE COUNCIL has allocated £2.4m each year over the next three years for road resurfacing projects.

It will also provide £100,000 a year for footpaths and up to £400,000 a year for integrated transport solutions.

PARKING

New car park barrier technology to be probed

THE council has budgeted £3.2m for a new car park barrier project The money would be spent on investigating the feasibility of the project and, if it is agreed, implementing the technology in the borough’s car parks.

The council has already applied for

built in Woodley if the council’s budget is approved.

Plans for a £10.7m swimming pool and leisure centre in the Bulmershe area are on the cards from 2017/18. The existing leisure centre can also look forward to renovations, with £2m earmarked for the plans which include an additional health and fitness gym.

TRANSPORT

Nine Mile Ride could soon be getting longer

AN EXTENSION to Nine Mile Ride is being considered by councillors.

The budget includes £3.75m over the next two financial years for the project.

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Friday, February 12, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

BUDGET SPECIAL | 5

ANGER

Budget hits residents ‘harder than anyone else’

By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk

PRECEPT

Aging population sees new social care cost in budget

COUNCIL tax in Wokingham is set to rise for the third time in five years, it has been revealed.

FROM this year, the council tax paid A spokesperson for the council said: Properties across the borough will see by residents will include a new adult “We are still trying to manage the a total rise of 3.94%, which includes a two social care precept alongside traditional impact of the introduction of the Care percent Adult Social Care Precept to help services such as police and fire.

Act. Wokingham Borough Council was cover the costs of an aging population over In response to the spiralling cost of one of only three local authorities with the next four years, meaning the average adult social care, the precept is being critical eligibility criteria prior to the council tax for a Band D property will be introduced by the Government at a Care Act being introduced. £1,579.50, a rise of £1.04 per household per national level to accommodate the “The council, having previously week. aging population. reserved formal care for those with the Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) For an average Band D property, the highest priority needs whilst ensuring announced on Wednesday that it had received the worst four-year financial adult social care precept will be £24.92 access to good quality voluntary sector settlement from central government in annually. services for those with less need, had to its history, after it was announced in Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) change its criteria to substantial.

December that the council would lose more expects to see the number of residents “This is an additional burden A social care precept will help the borough than 50 per cent of its revenue support placed on the borough council, as more aged between 80 and 85 to increase by meet the cost of care for the elderly. grant in 2016/17, a sum of approximately people are eligible for formal care and 50% during the next ten years, with Picture posed by model £6.3million.

90% of those aged over 90. support.”

Cllr Keith Baker, leader of the council, said: “Central government has tax into the grant calculation. efficient, including setting up seven Woodley to make them more sustainable.” changed the way it does its grant cut Cllr Haitham-Taylor also spoke of the “We are facing some very difficult traded companies and collaborating with calculations and now includes council decisions, and will be forced to look at other councils on shared services. importance of retaining and recruiting tax from our residents. But our residents increasing our income. We are in effect Cllr Charlotte Haitham-Taylor, first class social workers so families are already paying a larger percentage of being forced to put up council tax.

WBC’s executive member for children’s experience more consistency in the the costs of our services, to make up the “Looking ahead, the future looks bleak services, said: “The next few years will be service. shortfall in years of poor government because we face a total loss of government very, very hard. It’s going to be incredibly Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, WBC’s executive funding. grant by 2019/20 and extra clawback of difficult but we still continue to invest member for residents services, praised the “This means they’re being hit harder business rates to pay for the negative in our children’s futures, especially in efficiencies of the council in the way it than anyone else — in reality the impact grant. It has never been more important to Arborfield with the creation of a new interacts with the public, and how it was on our residents is a triple taxation. one of the only councils in the country not plan for the future.” secondary school.

“This is a fundamental flaw and Cllr Baker stressed the council has “We will also be investing in seven to cut library services. we strongly oppose the new been “thinking outside of the box” in new primary schools, and expanding She said: “We have improved our F_BAR_10578 Austen House WOW open day advert - Wokingham Paper - 284x170mm V2.qxp_Layout 1 11/01/2016 17:50 Page 1 methodology of introducing council its approach to making services more some of our existing schools in Earley and council website so people can now create

their own account where they can track their applications, this saves the council not only a lot of money but also a lot of time in dealing with customer queries.

“We have also bucked a national trend by encouraging more people to use our libraries and are working on expanding this service where possible.”

Cllr Philip Mirfin, WBC’s executive member for regeneration, said the council was committed to making Wokingham a vibrant place to live and work, with the groundwork on the Carnival Pool multistorey car park set to commence in April as planned.

The council’s lead member for planning and highways, Cllr John Kaiser, said Wokingham had been a “victim of its own success” by attracting more people to live in the town.

He said: “Wokingham is a place where everyone wants to live, and we need to match the growth by delivering five new major roads and one link road over the next several years.

“We are in quite a powerful position in that developers want to build here, so we can ask them to contribute to the local community which will not only benefit the new residents, but the existing ones too.

It also means that we are able to improve our infrastructure before the new houses and residents arrive.

“In a sense, we are a victim of our own success.”

WBC’s budget council is set to approve the plans at its meeting on Thursday, February 18.

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6 | NEWS INNOVATION

‘Geek’ to speak at TEDx talk at Green Park

AN ENTREPRENEUR who was a lecturer at the University of Reading has been announced as one of the speakers for a local round of TEDx talks.

The event offers short, powerful talks of 18 minutes or fewer on the themes of technology, entertainment and design.

The local event will be held at Green Park in Reading on Saturday, March 26, and offer a range of speakers including Stuart Morris, who taught entrepreneurship at Henley Business School on the Whiteknights Campus.

He will be exploring ways in which the password can be brought “kicking and screaming” into the 21st century.

For more details on the event, and to see the other confirmed speakers, log on to www. tedxreading.com

AWARDS

Do you know someone deserving of a Jones VC?

THE Finchampstead Society is inviting nominations for the Jones VC Trophy award for 2016.

This award is made annually to recognise a significant voluntary contribution to the local community of Finchampstead.

It may be awarded to an individual or a family.

Nominations should be sent to the Society’s secretary, Julian Le Patourel, by emailing jlepat@btinternet.com.

The closing date for submissions is Friday, February 26.

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, February 12, 2016

MAYOR

A late Christmas present for two worthy charities NOT one but two worthy charities benefitted from the Wokingham Choral Society’s annual Christmas concert in December, receiving more than £400 each.

The Mayor of Wokingham Town, Cllr Philip Mirfin, attended the society’s rehearsal on Tuesday, February 4, to receive a cheque for £427.50 on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support, and Stephen Welch, Chief Executive Officer of brain injury charity Headway, was presented with a cheque for the same amount.

The money was raised through the choir’s annual Christmas concert which was held at Wokingham All Saints’ Church on December 19.

Cllr Mirfin said: “I was delighted to receive a cheque from the Wokingham Choral Society as contribution

towards my Mayor’s Charity this year, Macmillan Cancer Support.

“We are specifically seeking to support their Buddies scheme for those in recovery from cancer, the current age group is from some users in their mid-twenties through to some aged over 90.

“The other area of support is the mentoring scheme which helps those in recovery to get back into work again.”

The choir’s next performance will be on April 2 at The Great Hall, University of Reading, when they will perform pieces by Vivaldi, Handel, J.S. Bach and Mozart, conducted by Patrick Allies. For more information and to buy tickets visit www. wokingham-choral-society.org.uk

Ray Hart, Rhoda Hart, Terri Austen, Stephen Welch, Philip Mirfin, Mayor of Wokingham Town, Patrick Allies and Benedict Lewis-Smith during the cheque presentation ceremony. Picture: Paul King

TRANSPORT

Parking meter bid to free up streets EXCLUSIVE

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokinghampaper.co.uk PARKING meters could soon be sighted in Wokingham’s road if plans suggested by a task force are adopted.

But if the measures are passed, they will be at least two years away and the borough council is promising that residents will not be made to pay to park outside their own homes.

While capacity at Wokingham’s railway station will increase when a new multi-storey car park opens in the summer, some commuters are already parking for free in nearby roads and there are fears that this will increase while the station car park is closed for four months.

The issue of on-street parking is one that has been explored by a Commuter Parking Task and Finish Group, set up by Wokingham Borough Council.

In its report which has just been released it supports plans to make commuters pay to park in roads around the station.

The report said: “We consider that it would not be unreasonable to introduce metered parking on certain roads where parking is prevalent and where road safety issues permit its continuance.

Charges could reflect the distance from the station and the charges in the appropriate station car parks.”

It also adds that: “Council run

car parks near railway stations primarily required to service local needs should have a time restriction or a pricing mechanism to discourage their use by commuters.”

The findings come in tandem with the group’s support for increased parking capacity at the borough’s train stations.

It said: “where practical, car parking capacity should be enhanced” and that the Wokingham Station car park plan allows for future expansion.

Speaking to BBC Radio Berkshire last week, Wokingham Borough Council’s lead member for planning and highways, councillor John Kaiser, outlined some of the options, including park and ride and an increase in buses going to the station.

He said: “Our plan is to work with the train companies…

“We don’t want to disadvantage residents and we don’t want to charge them for parking outside their own houses.”

COMMUTING

Station car park to close for four months COMMUTERS face up to four months of misery when a busy railway car park closes for redevelopment work.

South West Trains has announced that the main car park at Wokingham Station will shut on Monday, March 28 to enable a new parking level to be installed.

When completed in July the train company says that the car park will see its capacity rise by more than 200 additional spaces.

South West Trains will also be upgrading all lighting within the car park, increasing the number of CCTV cameras, offer a new help point and have segregated walkways.

During the works, the main car park – opposite the station’s main entrance – will be completely closed.

Most of the smaller car park will remain open and will be dedicated to season ticket holders.

South West Trains is warning that due to other major developments in the town centre, other local car parks will be stretched to capacity.

The company says that during the works, rail users should look for alternative arrangements to get to and from the station such as using local bus services, walking, cycling or getting lifts.

POLICE

Knife amnesty will lead to London artwork KNIVES handed in to Wokingham and Loddon Valley police stations during an amnesty this week will be used to create a piece of art at Trafalgar Square.

People are being urged to dispose of their weapons in bins at the Denmark Street and Rushey Way stations without fear of repercussions until Sunday as part of Operation Sceptre.

The knives, which are being collected across more than 30 forces in England and Wales as part of a British Ironwork Centre project, will then be repurposed into a piece of art which it is hoped will be displayed on the fourth plinth at Trafalgar Square in London.

Superintendent Richard James from

Neighbourhood Policing and Partnerships said: “Taking part in the British Ironwork Centre project illustrates how we in the Thames Valley are part of the nation’s collective stand against knife crime and violence.

“In Thames Valley we do not experience knife crime on the levels seen in similar communities and areas elsewhere in the country. From January to December 2015 Thames Valley Police received reports of 485 crimes in which a bladed or pointed article was used compared to 496 during the same period the year before, a two per cent reduction.

“The figures refer to sexual and violent offences, including robbery, where a

pointed or bladed implement is recorded as being used in the offence and it was capable of piercing or puncturing the skin. A pointed or bladed implement could include items such as knives, pens, screwdrivers and broken bottles. The item could have been used to threaten or injure.

“It is important that we continue to ensure people understand that carrying a knife makes an individual more likely to be a victim of knife crime themselves.

“We are proud to be able to take part in such an inspiring project alongside police forces and colleagues nationwide.”

Knives should be wrapped in cardboard or something similar before being dumped.

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8 | NEWS

Parish noticeboard Monday, February 15 Wargrave Parish Council Full Recreation and Environment meeting. 7.45pm. Old Pavilion, Wargrave.

Tuesday, February 16 Arborfield Parish Full Council Meeting. 7.30pm.

Pavillion, Arborfield Park, Swallowfield Road.

Woodley Town Council Plans Meeting. 7.45pm.

The Oakwood Centre, Headley Road, Headley Road, Woodley, RG5 4JZ.

Wednesday, February 17 Finchampstead Main Council Meeting. 7.30pm.

Parish Office, FBC Centre, Gorse Ride North, Finchampstead, RG40 4ES.

Thursday, February 18 Wokingham Borough Council Executive. 7pm.

Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 1BN. Wokingham Borough Council Budget Council.

8pm. Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN.

Saturday, February 20 Wokingham Town Council councillors surgery.

10am. Wokingham Town Hall, Market Place, Wokingham.

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To advertise email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk n A MAN from Earley is due to appear in court on drugs charges.

Patrick James Barron, 19, of Wykeham Road, pleaded guilty to one charge of possessing cocaine, and not guilty to possessing cannabis. Both charges relate to an incident on June 3 last year.

Mr Barron appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on January 5 where he was remanded on unconditional bail until March 30, when he will reappear at the same court. n A MAN from Earley has pleaded guilty to breaching a community order.

Zishan Akhtar, 32, of Pitts Lane, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on January 5 where he admitted breaching the order made by Kingston Upon Thames Crown Court on May 14.

Mr Akhtar was given a 10 month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to undertake 164 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months, which include an extra 14 hours to mark the breach of the order. n A TEENAGER from Basingstoke has pleaded guilty to stealing a car from a property in Shinfield.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on January 6 where he pleaded guilty to one count of burglary, one count of taking a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent, one count of driving without a licence, and one count of driving without insurance.

All four charges relate to an incident in Salmond Road on December 5.

The boy was referred to the

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, February 12, 2016

From the courts

Wokingham Youth Offending Services youth offender panel, ordered to pay £50 in compensation and had six points put on his driving record. n A MAN from Wokingham has pleaded guilty to two counts of theft.

Tony Francis Cook, 51, of Budges Road, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on January 7 where he pleaded guilty to stealing a handbag from Marks and Spencer on August 7, and stealing meat and cheese products to the value of £15.40 from Sainsbury’s on December 28, 2014.

Mr Cook was fined a total of £120, ordered to pay compensation of £15.40,

n A WOMAN from Woodley has been fined £440 for travelling on a train without a ticket.

Cherish Bakare, 30, of Rickman Close, was proved to have travelled on a South West Trains service at Winnersh Triangle Station on August 21 last year without purchasing a £2.30 ticket.

She was fined £440, ordered to pay compensation of £2.30, a victim surcharge of £44 and costs of £140.

Miss Bakare was not present for the hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on January 8.

a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £85.

n A 24-year-old man from Earley has been fined £440 for failing to tax his vehicle.

Daniel Braggins, of Silverdale Road, was found to have kept his vehicle on a public road in Reading on September 20, despite the licence having expired.

He was fined £440, ordered to pay a vehicle excise back duty of £120.84, and costs of £90.

Mr Braggins was not present for the hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on January 8.

n A MAN from Finchampstead has been fined £300 for keeping a vehicle on a public road, despite having made a Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN) declaration.

Scott Sebastian Ofield, 35, of Longwater Road, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on January 8 where he pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the SORN declaration on October 29.

He was fined £300, ordered to pay a vehicle excise back duty of £115 and costs of £90.

n A MAN from Twyford has pleaded guilty to stealing a leather jacket from a charity shop.

Luke Peter Sherrington, 31, of Orchard Estate, pleaded guilty to stealing the item from a Cancer Research UK shop in Maidenhead on December 16.

Mr Sherrington appeared at East Berkshire Magistrates’ Court in Slough on January 8 where he was given a conditional discharge for two years, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £85.

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SHOPPERS at Asda in Lower Earley may have taken a second look at the shape of their fruit and veg this week as a new ‘wonky’ food promotion was launched.

As part of the Beautiful on the Inside range, the wonky veg boxes are being trialled at the Chalfont Way store, along with 128 other branches across the UK, in a bid to tackle food waste.

The boxes – which are limited to 20 per store during the trial period – are packed full with peculiar potatoes, crooked carrots and curved cucumbers, as well as knobbly peppers, cabbages,

NEWS | 9

To advertise call 0118 328 2959

Friday, February 12, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

FOOD

Asda saves wonky veg from the bin only saves shoppers money but helps farmers get more of their crop on to our shelves.

“However, this range only solves one part of the food waste puzzle. The work we continue to do with our growers to ensure as much of their crop is sold as possible, by flexing specifications, is

onions, leeks and parsnips.

Ian Harrison, Asda’s technical produce director, said: “We’re excited to launch a unique and exclusive Wonky Vegetable box that is jam-packed with ugly winter veg that not

the golden ticket for farmers.

“The initial reception to Wonky Fruit and Veg has been fantastic and we’ve been eager to take this one step further for a while, so the challenge to make wonky veg more widely available for customers was something we happily accepted.”

The boxes cost £3.50, while stocks last.

POLICE

Boy arrested after stolen car smash

Get the latest on new distributor road plans

AN UPDATE on the North Wokingham Distributor Road will be revealed next week.

The North Wokingham Community Forum will be dedicating its next meeting on Wednesday to developments of the road, which will be built as part of the North Wokingham Strategic Development Location (SDL).

The distributor road will provide access to the 1,500 new homes and facilities which are due to be built, and will run from the London Road, near the Coppid Beech roundabout, to the Reading Road near the M4 bridge.

The meeting will be held at Emmbrook Secondary School, in Emmbrook Road, on Wednesday from 7pm to 8.45pm.

FAITH

Horrible Heresies talks

By VIVIENNE JOHNSON vjohnson@wokinghampaper.co.uk A 16-YEAR-OLD boy has been arrested after a smash involving a stolen car in Woodley last week.

At lunchtime on Thursday, February 4, a BMW crashed in Mohawk Way, destroying a garden wall, hedging and damaging a lamppost.

An eyewitness told The Wokingham Paper that the damaged brick wall destroyed a children’s goalpost set in the back garden of a home.

Resident Chris Ryder-Phillips told The Wokingham Paper: “I heard a speeding car from the front bedroom window, where I was working. I then heard the crunch and the accident.

“The car drove down Mohawk Way approaching from Bader Way direction.

You can see the wheel marks where he hit the bollard which directed him into my garden. If he had carried on going straight he would have hit a bus stop.”

Mr Ryder-Phillips said he had

FORUM

The scene of last Thursday crash, which saw a stolen car smash through a brick wall in Mohawk Way, Woodley.

previously contacted Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) to complain about Mohawk Way being used as a rat run.

He said: “I really think we need a traffic calming chicane to slow the cars down. I also asked about the buses; as they hit a dip in the road they rattle the house. WBC came out to take a look but said there isn’t anything they can do.”

Thames Valley Police told The Wokingham Paper that a 16-year-old from Wokingham was arrested on suspicion of assault and stealing a car. He had not been charged at the time of going to press.

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “Police were called - at 12.40pm on February 4 - to reports of an RTC (road traffic collision) involving

a BMW hitting a wall at Mohawk Way, Woodley.

“Following a police investigation a 16-year-old boy from Wokingham has been arrested on suspicion of assault of a person thereby occasioning actual bodily harm and theft of a motor vehicle. He has been bailed until March 15.”

Southern Electric attended the scene to make the damaged lamp post safe.

Pushing yourself empowers others

S

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Ten million people in the UK are over 65, and 19% of the population are disabled. Disability rises with age, from only 5% of children to 45% of state pensioners.

Where possible, people want to remain independent in their own home, despite age or disability, to enjoy their familiar surroundings. Home carers are needed to support folk at home, so they can enjoy a good quality of life.

Carers who spend quality time with a person give them respect and dignity whilst supporting them in every day living.

Bridges Home Care has a reputation for delivering quality health care services at home and believes that the way the services are delivered is of prime importance. Their care team give ‘that bit extra’, providing practical help with personal encouragement and a smile. This means an exceptional attitude, exceptional health care, and we believe, exceptional fulfilment and sense of purpose for the carers themselves.

“I’ve learnt that there is nothing better for my own mood and well being than helping another to maintain their day to day dignity and comfort,” says

A NEW sermon series will launch at a Wokingham church later this month.

St Paul’s in Reading Road will be holding a monthly series called Horrible Heresies, which aims to explore why what we believe matters.

Each month the church will welcome a guest speaker to a choral evensong service at 6.15pm.

The guest speaker on Sunday, February 21, will be Father David O’Sullivan, who serves as the Roman Catholic parish priest in Wokingham. He will explore Gnosticism.

For more details, visit www.stpaulswokingham.org.uk or call 0118 979 2122.

COMMUNITY

Put your grey matter to the test at bowls club quiz QUIZ fans are being invited to a fun night out this tomorrow (Saturday).

Farley Hill Bowls Club is organising an evening of questions ahead of the new bowls season. It takes place in the Victory Hall in Church Road from 7pm. Tickets cost £6 and include a supper.

For more, call 01344 772130.

Give yourself a push?

Become a Home Carer ABOVE: Paul Ray Bridges Home Care Co-ordinator listens closely to a client

Paul Ray, the Health Care Co-ordinator at Bridges.

Paul has discovered that the practical side of care support is straightforward once he had received training from Bridges and the right equipment. Home Care workers are a strategic resource, providing simple but critical support in divers ways such as personal hygiene, medication supervision, laundry and help to visit shops, libraries or hospitals.

‘Pushing yourself’ can sometimes mean discovering a whole new journey of adventure and fulfilment even when you start by trying to help someone else.

Why not give that bit extra and call Bridges to find out how pushing yourself can empower someone else’s life.

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10 | BUSINESS

To advertise email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Business

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, February 12, 2016

Got a business story? Email news@wokingham paper.co.uk. or write to The Wokingham Paper, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS

WORKSHOP

Get help securing your strategy SMALL businesses looking to implement new business strategies are being invited to a training session later this month.

Organised by the Berkshire Business Growth Hub, the Business Model Canvas is a free half-day strategy workshop aimed at getting all the key points of a business on to a single piece of paper.

This workshop is designed for both individuals and teams from businesses based in Berkshire.

It takes place at GROW@Green Park on Friday, February 19 from 9am to 12.30pm.

For more details, log on to www. berkshirebusinesshub.co.uk

TRANSPORT

Two vie for rail services in borough TWO companies have been shortlisted to run the South Western rail services, which includes many of the trains that run through the borough.

Last week, the Government announced that current operators Stagecoach could lose out to First South Western Trains Limited when the next franchise starts in June next year.

Rail Minister Claire Perry said: “It is vital that we have the best partner to help us meet the challenge of delivering better journeys for all customers using these services.”

It is expected that the rail services will be enhanced with longer trains with increased capacity serving stations including Wokingham.

Artist’s impressions of how the Royal Elm Park development could look.

DEVELOPMENT

Bringing ‘world appeal’ to Berkshire

By JOHN WAKEFIELD news@wokinghampaper.co.uk A 6,000 seat convention centre could open on the Wokingham/Reading border if plans get the green light.

Reading Football Club has now submitted proposals for a new development – known as Royal Elm Park – to Reading Borough Council.

If permission is granted, the site will become a mixed-use development that includes houses, a hotel, retail space and a new park in additional to the convention facilities.

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subsidiary of Reading Football Club.

The proposed convention centre, to be known as The International, aims to enable Reading to compete on a world stage, hosting a range of events from business conventions to live entertainment.

The club hopes that it will be a catalyst for growth in Berkshire, bringing together year-round business and cultural events for the benefit of local people and the economy. The convention centre will also include an ice rink which will be suitable for leisure use and competitive sport.

The housing development will be a mixture of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes, each with dedicated parking and landscaping.

There will also be more than 18,000sq m of public open space: with a public square at its heart. More than 2,000sq m of retail, leisure and restaurant facilities planned for the site could create more than 1,000 new jobs.

A public park of more than 10,000sq m – comparable to approximately one-anda-half football pitches is also planned.

This is seen as a “green ribbon” for the development and will be bordered by the residential homes. Plans include tree planting, wildflower meadows and children’s play areas.

Nigel Howe, Chief Executive of Reading Football Club, commented: “Royal Elm Park is a unique opportunity for Reading to deliver a world-class convention centre that will put the town on the map and enable us to compete on a world stage.

“It will also benefit the football club and will be important for Reading’s future growth, attracting national and international investment and offering tangible benefits for local people with new homes, jobs and an improved match-day experience.”

Reading based consultancy Barton Willmore are acting as both planning and design consultants for the project.

Kim Cohen, a Partner at Barton Willmore, said: “We are extremely proud to be part of this local flagship scheme that will not only bring considerable benefits to South Reading but also to the Thames Valley as a whole.”

What’s planned for Royal Elm Park? n World-class convention centre, with capacity for 6,000 delegates n More than 2,000 sq m leisure facilities — including cafés, bars and restaurants n More than 630 new homes, with dedicated car parking spaces n An ice rink n A 246-bed hotel, with spa and winter garden and 104 serviced apartments n Over 18,000sqm of new public space, including a public square and park n A 616 space multi-storey car park n Cycling and pedestrian facilities n Investment in public transport

PROJECT

‘Another successful year for Winnersh’ A COMMERCIAL property project worth £27 million will be completed later this year.

The site, on the Winnersh Triangle business park, will offer 60,000 sq ft of office space, while an additional development will create 52,000 sq ft of office space.

And when they are finished, the business park’s owners say that it will make 2016 an even more successful year than last, which saw the business park win an award and welcome a series of high profile tenants.

As well as developing 180,000 sq ft of new accommodation, Winnersh Triangle welcomed the arrival of Rockwell Collins, the global aerospace and defence company, in a transaction that was recognised as Commercial Property Deal of the Year at the Thames Valley Property Awards 2015.

Will Lawrie, commercial director at PATRIZIA UK Ltd which co-owns and manages

Winnersh Triangle, is looking forward to bringing the two new milestone projects to fruition: “The development schemes due to complete this year at Winnersh Triangle will provide new accommodation of the highest finish and quality, greatly enhancing the park’s built environment and bringing new jobs and business to the local economy.

“Our significant investment in these projects demonstrates our commitment to the longterm success of the park and strengthens its reputation.”

In total in 2015, Winnersh Triangle completed more than 200,000 sq ft of leasing activity, including the deal for Rockwell Collins UK Ltd. Its new Winnersh base is 70,000 sq ft and is its centre of excellence.

Other new arrivals include Subsea Components, a global provider of services to

the oil and gas industry, which leased 53,041 sq ft of warehouse accommodation, and Resource Experience Ltd, a field marketing company, which now occupies 30,840 sq ft.

Companies committing to lease renewals included Knowledgepoint in 37,846 sq ft of warehouse space and Sequans in a 4,236 sq ft office.

To enhance existing facilities, landscaping works are being undertaken to create a new podium area which will provide a new space for park events, and refurbishment of more than 27,000 sq ft has been completed, including 620 Wharfedale Road (20,455 sq ft) and 150 Wharfedale Road (3,481 sq ft).

Further amenities included the opening of a 93-bed Travelodge hotel and Wokingham Borough Council’s Park & Ride scheme, which became operational in October and is adjacent to Winnersh Triangle train station.

NEWS | 11

Friday, February 12, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

WINDOWS & DOORS

CONSERVATORIES

The team from the Vine Christian School. Pictures: Paul King

PANCAKES

A flippin’ good time for all!

THE first Shinfield Parish Pancake Race in living memory was held at School Green, Shinfield on Tuesday.

Pastor Nathan Hunt from Shinfield Baptist Church, who helped organise the day with the Revd Paul Willis of St Mary’s church and Sue Roberts from Shinfield Parish Council said: “It brought people together in the village. With all the new developments that are taking place it was an opportunity to develop a sense of community spirit.”

Teams who took part in the races included: Co-op Store, Davis Tate Estate Agents, Hochtief, Kwik Fit, Hair Studio,

Honey Suckle Day Nursery, Oakbank School, Shinfield Baptist Church, Shinfield Parish Council, Thames Valley Police, St Mary’s Church, St.Michael’s Church, Steria, Three Mile Cross Church and the Welcome Club.

“We also raised money for charity,” said Pastor Hunt.

“We supported the Lion and Dolphin Children’s ward at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

“People really enjoyed doing something together.”

So far the event has raised £357 with some matched funding money still to be counted.

REPLACEMENT ROOFS

PCSOs Vicky Lendrum and Suzi Carr made an arresting sight during the race. Below: Ladies from the Shinfield Welcome Club. Left, inset: Bell and Bottle landlord Mark East.

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The team from Sopra Steria won the best fancy dress competition, with Cllr Peter Hughes.

TRANSPORT

It’s a ‘no’ from Woodley to parking charge hike PLANS to introduce weekend, evening and bank holiday parking charges across Wokingham Borough have been met with strong criticism from one of the town councils.

Woodley Town Council issued a statement last Friday – the final day of the consultation period for the plans – claiming the proposed charges would have a ‘detrimental impact on the footfall in the town centre’, and would lead to less people using the town’s facilities, such as the Oakwood Centre, in Headley Road.

Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) announced earlier this month that it is considering introducing a £1 charge for visitors using the borough’s car parks outside of normal hours.

The council said: “Woodley Town Council believes that the introduction of evening and Sunday parking charges in the town centre car parks would have a detrimental impact on the footfall in the town centre and at the Oakwood Centre.

“Woodley Town Council is strongly opposed to the introduction of evening

and Sunday charges in the Woodley town centre car parks.

“However, the Town Council appreciates that Wokingham Borough Council needs to increase revenue from its car parks and would therefore suggest that it would be possible to achieve this by raising the daytime 1 hour parking rate from 70p to 80p.”

The Woodley Town Centre Management Initiative (WTCMI) has also slammed the proposals, urging WBC to rethink the plans.

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, February 12, 2016

COURT

Ex-Holt teacher jailed for child sex offences after grooming girls online

By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Jailed: Daniel Fisher.

A FORMER teacher at a Wokingham school has been sentenced to more than two years in prison for child sex offences.

Daniel Fisher, 35, who used to be the Head of Biology at The Holt School, in Holt Lane, was found guilty on January 11 of two counts of making indecent images of children and 15 counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

On Wednesday Fisher was jailed for two years and nine months for the offences, which were carried out online.

He was also placed on the Sex Offender’s Register for life and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order barring him from contacting children under 16.

The court had heard how

Fisher would speak to teenage girls online about sex and encouraged them to strip for him via a webcam.

The former teacher was said to have had an “impeccable” reputation at work, but led a double life engaging in cybersex with teenagers, soliciting naked photos and fantasies set in classrooms.

He was arrested on December 31, 2013, after officers from Thames Valley Police’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) searched his home, and was immediately suspended from his role at the all-girls school.

The school’s headteacher Suzanne Richards assured parents that none of the offences involved any student at the school.

Judge John Reddihough said when sentencing Fisher that his behaviour had amounted

to grooming, as he used a similar approach in each chat conversation, flattering children to “win their confidence”.

He said: “You were engaging in what is referred to as cybersex online, causing persons you believed to be teenage girls under 16 – and many of them clearly were girls of that age – to engage in sexual activity.

“At the time you were working at a girls school and some of the chats described sexual activity in a school setting, which is a cause for concern.

“You were caught out by your own lies during the course of the trial. There was no doubt your conduct amounted to manipulation and exploitation of young girls for your own sexual gratification.

“The law seeks to protect young persons from people like you.”

POLITICS

Sanjay hold Emmbrook North seat in by-election

IN THE end, not even an endorsement from the Liberal Democrat leader was enough – the Conservatives have held their seat in Emmbrook North by just 21 votes.

In the by-election held last Thursday, Sanjay Odedra (pictured) won with 470 votes. In second place was Liberal Democrat Helen Belcher with 449 votes. In third place was Labour’s Brent Lee with 138 votes.

The vote came about after councillor Odedra had been forced to stand down as a councillor after missing six months of meetings, mainly due to ill-health. Ten voters in the ward came forward to call for the by-election.

It was a fiercely contested election, not helped by the row over a Conservative leaflet which mistakenly accused the Liberal Democrats and Independent councillors of calling the by-election.

Speaking exclusively to The Wokingham Paper, Cllr Odedra expressed his delight at the result. “I’m pleased that people came out and voted,” he said. “My whole family have been overwhelmed by the support shown to us over the past year.” n More reaction at wokinghampaper.co.uk

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NEWS | 13

CHARITY

Sleep out boosts homeless fund GENEROUS pupils from a school in Sonning presented a homelessness charity with a cheque for more than £4,000 after spending a night sleeping rough.

Sixth Form students at Reading Blue Coat School, in Sonning Lane, spent a night in December braving the cold and sleeping on the school’s tennis courts to raise the money for Launchpad, which is based in Reading.

The rest of the school also held a Christmas Jumper Day, a pay-to-play dodgeball competition and a doughnut sale to help boost the funds.

On Monday Head Girl Sian Larsen presented a cheque for £4,657 to Jason McMahon, the Fundraising and Relationship Manager at Launchpad, during the school’s

morning assembly.

After thanking Blue Coat’s assembled students for their continued support of the charity, Mr McMahon commented that the school had “created a legacy”, which has inspired three other local schools to sign up for SleepOuts. He also thanked the school’s Examinations Manager, Maria Blackwell, who has organised the school’s biennial SleepOut for the last eight years.

Headmaster Michael Windsor also thanked Mrs Blackwell for driving the SleepOut event, and concluded the school’s assembly with a quote from the Dalai Lama: “A mind committed to compassion is like an overflowing reservoir – a constant source of energy, determination and kindness.”

Happy Blue Coat’s Examinations Manager and SleepOut organiser Maria Blackwell, Launchpad’s Jason McMahon and Head Girl Sian Larsen..

CARE

There’s no hiding from Alexandra Grange’s success The Alexandra Grange team welcoming guests to the masquerade party.

Below left: Pamela Broadbear with Kayleigh Barrie and, bottom, the Big River Jazz Trio.

Pictures: Paul King

A CARE home in Wokingham celebrated its fifth birthday last week with a masquerade party for its residents and their relatives.

Staff at Alexandra Grange, in Oaklands Drive, donned glittery masks and enjoyed the musical stylings of a jazz trio during the party on Friday.

Members of the local community were invited to join in the festivities and enjoy a slice of cake.

General manager Magda Radoicovici said: “Thank you to everyone who has contributed to Alexandra Grange’s success. We wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for your continued support.

“My team and I are strongly committed to the home and foster an atmosphere of care and support which enables our residents to live

Wokingham rock fans can join Pistol at Glastonbury background together to make it flow.”

He added he would particularly love anyone from Wokingham at the festival to seek them out and pen a tribute.

Two of Pistol’s stunning portraits of Bowie (pictured right) are on the walls at The Redan cocktail and music bar in Peach Street, together with a book cover design which was another Pistol/ Rottenpunk collaboration – they also painted together at the 40th anniversary Glastonbury and at Rewind and Hop Farm festivals.

A highlight in Pistol’s painting career was when his Bowie triptych hung at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London for a major exhibition – and when he paints at Glastonbury he will be

Birthday!

full interesting, independent and active lives.”

Resident Elizabeth Charlton said: “The party was really lovely, the music by the group was fantastic and I even had a little dance.

“I also liked the decorations and the anniversary cake was delicious, to have an excuse to dress up and have so much fun was the icing on the cake.”

Relative Wendy O’Sullivan said: “It was a lovely evening, enjoyed by residents, relatives and staff alike and well organised by Adriana and the lifestyles team.

“The jazz band, were great, playing for two hours, with impromptu dancing. It’s good to have an opportunity to join in and enjoy social events with mum. We look forward to the next one!”

ART

ENIGMATIC street artist Pistol is to create a tribute to David Bowie at this summer’s Glastonbury Festival.

He will be teaming up with London-based graffiti artist Rottenpunk again to paint a 20-foot shrine to the music legend.

The pair will be taking up their spray cans on Wednesday, July 22, when the world-famous festival opens.

They plan to finish the wall, featuring images of Bowie throughout his career, by the Friday when the music starts – and then they hope festival goers will light candles and sign the canvas in tribute to the man who changed music forever.

Wokingham-based Pistol, who keeps his real name and personal life out of the limelight, said on Monday: “I am excited, because it is an honour to be asked to do a tribute to Bowie. Rottenpunk and I will be painting three images, and then working on the

h t 5

honouring one of his greatest heroes again. n Closer to home, Pistol is the founder and organiser of the annual Wokingham Paint Jam. For the last two years, graffiti artists have come from far and wide to brighten up the hoardings in Wellngton Road, alongside the August Wokingham Festival.

As well as bringing smiles to the faces of passers-by, the event is in aid of charity.

The Ollie Young Foundation, which funds research into childhood brain tumours, and Building ForThe Future have benefited so far.

Now he is looking for a good local cause to champion this year – if you have a suggestion, contact him via pistol@pistolart.com

We had a ball celebrating … thank you to everyone for your continued support.

Molly Millars Lane, Wokingham, RG41 2RU 0118 912 3210 www.hallmarkcarehomes.co.uk

14 | NEWS

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FREE MEAL

COUNCIL

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Look out for new blue rubbish bag next week

THE new blue bags for waste collections will be delivered across the borough from Monday.

Wokingham Borough Council’s agents will spend the next five weeks dropping the new supply of blue bags to residents doors.

Residents can check when their bags will be delivered by logging on to Rubbish and recycling section of the borough council’s website.

Additional rolls of blue bags can be bought for £4 from a range of suppliers in the borough, including the council’s Shute End offices.

For more details, log on to www.wokingham. gov.uk

RELIGION

Top Christian speakers line up for Lent course

A LENT course is being run by a Wokingham church as part of its preparations for Easter.

Woosehill Church, near Hawthorns School, will look at The Psalms: Prayers For Today’s Church over five weeks.

Each week includes a talk from a well-known Christian speaker played on a CD followed by a discussion on the issues raised.

Speakers include the former Bishop of Reading, the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, the Revd John Bell from the Iona Community, and Dominican Friar Father Timothy Radcliffe.

Sessions take place on Tuesdays, from February 16, at the church from 8pm to 9.30pm. For more details, log on to woosehillchurch.churchuna.com or call 0118 979 2122.

SWALLOWFIELD

All aboard for talk on the history of railway stations

THE Swallowfield Local History Society meets on Thursday with a look at railway stations.

Graham Stanley will be the guest speaker at the event which will be held in the Rose Room at Swallowfield Parish Hall.

Mr Stanley, who lives in the village, will talk about The Engineering History of King’s Cross and St Pancras Stations.

Everyone is welcome to the meeting, which starts at 7.45pm.

For more details, log on to www.slhsoc.org. uk or call 0118 988 3650.

CONCERT

Classic line up marks team effort for choral society WOKINGHAM Choral Society has announced the date of its next concert.

It is teaming up with the orchestra Solistes de Musique Anciennes for the evening event, which will be held on Saturday, April 2.

The programme will include music by Vivaldi, Handel, Mozart and Bach and have a spring theme.

It will take place at the University of Reading’s Great Hall in London Road from 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £15, £5 for students and under 18s and can be bought from the Town Hall, Newbury Building Society, Bookends in Peach Street and from tickets@wokingham-choralsociety.org.uk

REGENERATION

Woodley town revamp project board selected

A PROJECT Board comprising representatives from Woodley Town Council, the Town Centre Management Initiative (TCMI) and the borough council has been set up to manage the Town Centre North End project.

A budget of £290,000 has now been set, which is made up of £250,000 from Section 106 contributions, £30,000 from the TCMI and the final £10,000 from the Mary Portas grant.

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, February 12, 2016

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Food for thought as Supper launches home cooked meal delivery service

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokinghampaper.co.uk A REVOLUTION in home delivered food is launching in Wokingham on Tuesday.

Supper.co.uk will bring its unique take on the takeway to the borough, promising foodies a chance to enjoy healthy, nutritious and home cooked dishes delivered directly to their doors.

Each of the dishes on Supper’s menu have been made by local people in their kitchens and have been checked by a Harley Street nutritionist to ensure they are healthy and use fresh ingredients, giving customers peace of mind about their intake of calories, fat, salt and sugar.

Wokingham is only the second place in the country that supper.co.uk will serve, coming to the borough from its London launchpad.

Customers log on to supper.co.uk’s app, look at the menu, which changes daily, order their food by noon and it is then delivered to a time slot later that evening, in a style similar to a

supermarket food delivery.

Supper.co.uk’s head of personnel Nick Bolter told The Wokingham Paper: “It’s full steam ahead now. We’re very excited to get going – London’s been going from strength to strength.

“At the end of last week, our app’s average rating was 4.3 out of 5 and customers have repeat orders of 75%.”

Mr Bolter said the company offers dishes of restaurant quality but customers cannot get in takeaway formats and they have also discovered that their menus are popular with children as well as adults.

“Parents want affordable, healthy and nutritional food for their whole family,” he said.

And Mr Bolter is also keen to bring the world to Wokingham’s plates. Each of the dishes are cooked by chefs handpicked by the company for what they can offer and that means any world cuisine could be on the menu.

Customers using the app can see profiles of the food and the chefs and have their tastebuds tickled.

He explained: “In London, we have a Persian lady Sofia. She came to us, very enthusiastic and said, ‘I really want to introduce the general public to the delights of Persian cuisine’. We love that — we’re trying to broaden people’s horizons.

“If they can branch out and try something new, nine times out of 10 they’ll love it. She’s had fantastic ratings [from customers] so far and she does cook everything from scratch.”

Wokingham’s menu will include “a variety of different dishes”, said Mr Bolter, including “A Moroccan chicken dish and also a seafood meal dish, which I’ve actually had the pleasure of tasting

— it’s absolutely superb”.

“There are classics like a Fisherman’s Pie made with love, care and attention and proper traditional ingredients, and a carbonaria made by an Italian chef.

“It’s very much an authentic recipe,” said Mr Bolter.

The Wokingham section of Supper’s website and app is now available. Log on to supper.co.uk for more. The service launches on Tuesday, February 16.

Free supper.co.uk meal terms and conditions • Free meal to value of up to £15 off first order • One code per customer registration • Offer subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice •This code from supper.co.uk is only available until 30.04.2016. There are a limited number of meals available each day and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

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COMMUNITY

Earley neighbours join for a lunch of fun and friendship NEIGHBOURS, everybody needs good neighbours... and this was certainly the case at a special lunch held for people wanting to make new friends in Earley.

More than 100 neighbours gathered at St Peter’s church hall for a Meet Your Neighbours lunch on February 6 organised

by Community in Conversation (CIC), a group started by Samia Sharif along with some of her friends.

She said: “As a Muslim I was wondering what people were thinking about us.

“I didn’t realise that non-Muslims didn’t have a problem with us, weren’t thinking bad things about us. It was really heartening.

“They didn’t realise that we felt like that as Muslims and non-Muslims didn’t know that we were thinking these things.

It was a lack of communication on both parts.”

Members of CIC want to bring the community together regardless of race or religion, to respect differences, celebrate common values and live together peacefully.

“The meet your neighbours lunch started with an icebreaker, which was just an excuse to get people talking to each other,” said Ms

YOUR VALENTINE’S MESSAGES My darling Tony I love you so very much Happy Valentines Day Forever Yours Pamster x

People from all walks of life gathered at St Peter’s church hall . Picture: Vivienne Johnson

Sharif.

“We also had topics around the room such as ‘cars’, so that people who had something in common could stand there and have something in common to talk about.

“We also had posters up with speech bubbles so that people could write comments and let us have feedback.

The outcome was that people want to do social events but also things that will benefit the local community.

“We were talking about volunteering at food banks, visiting people at home and even knitting.

“Everyone at the meeting was so positive.

“The next thing we will probably organise is a community picnic in the summer.”

If you would like to get involved with Community in Conversation you can find out more on their Facebook page which is open to everyone.

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THE WOKINGHAM PAPER N E W S W I T H A H E A RT F O R T H E B O RO U G H

Council budgets: there may be trouble ahead THIS week, the borough council finally unveiled its budget.

After months of conversations, roadshows, deliberations and debate we finally know what will be squeezed, cut and affected.

It has been a really difficult road for the council, both officers and councillors, caught between a rock and a hard place. While on paper a small trim to the grant of charity X here and a nip to service Y here might seem sensible, the reality is nothing but hardship.

Across the country there are similar reports coming out from councils everywhere. Services are being brutally axed because the money is no longer there.

Neighbouring West Berkshire Council, for example, is proposing to close all but one of its libraries in order to make its balance sheet meet up.

It is clearly going to be a depressing few years ahead and, for once, at a local level it’s an opportunity for all parties to come together and work together on solving these problems.

What is frustrating is that this is not the council’s fault, but the current Government. In pushing through these austerity cuts we are in danger of losing many vital public services.

It’s not just the councils — the NHS is suffering and there are legitimate fears that the BBC could be in trouble too.

When cuts are being made for ideological reasons rather than the fig leaf that is austerity – national debt is rising under George Osbourne’s tenure at the treasury – then something is very wrong.

While we welcome the new Government grant that Rob Wilson and John Redwood have lobbied for, it is only a sticking plaster. Trouble lies ahead when the sticking plaster is removed.

A U-turn on these council cuts is needed. Now.

CHURCH NOTES

Spring is a time of joy

SPRING is my favourite time of the year. I love the fact that each day we have a little more daylight, that the weather is getting a little warmer and that the spring flowers are starting to appear.

I think that planting bulbs in the autumn is an action of hope. We plant these apparently lifeless objects into the cold ground. We wait and wait, maybe we even forget about them altogether.

But eventually the leaves and then the flowers with their vibrant colours appear, cheerful and upbeat.

The appearance of crocuses and daffodils are always a sign to me that the dark, dull winter is nearly over, and really gladdens my heart.

The arrival of spring coincides for those of us who live in the Northern hemisphere with the season of Lent.

Traditionally a time of self-denial, self examination, a sombre, serious time when Christians think of Jesus’ suffering and death.

But this is all a preparation for the wonderful celebration of Easter when Christians celebrate Jesus’ resurrection to life.

Easter reminds us of the promises of eternal life, our glorious inheritance in which the concerns of this world will pale into insignificance.

The leaves will wither on our spring flowers, the flowers themselves will fade – but as they do, they form the bulb once more, giving it renewed strength for next year when it will emerge invigorated to stretch towards the heavens as it bursts into flower.

I hope that spring flowers might be a reminder for us of the new life that God offers to us each Easter and might give us hope and joy.

The Revd Catherine Bowstead is minister of Wokingham Methodist Church

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, February 12, 2016

Your views

We love to hear from you! Send us your views on issues relatingto the borough (in 250 words or less) to The Wokingham Paper, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS or email: letters@wokinghampaper.co.uk We reserve the right to edit letters

Send your thoughts to letters@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Common sense has been replaced with ‘me, me, me’ I MOVED into Wokingham in 1970 when we had a station for its passengers built by the rail company.

What we have now is some monstrosity sanctioned by the town councillors. The same people who inform us that they are there to represent the people of Wokingham.

We all know that this is not true, they only represent their own options. Take the A329M fiasco, the Elms Field fiasco, and the lack of parking in Wokingham.

And now the closure of the station car park. These are the same people who sanctioned it in the first place.

More and more houses are being built in and around Wokingham. The councillors now want to put up parking meters through their own incompetence.

These councillors are all wannabe MPs .

They have all undergone the same operation. The removal of common sense from their brains, and have installed in its place me, me, me.

I cannot wait for Bracknell to open. Plenty of parking. Better shops instead of coffee shops and estate agents.

David Elgood, via Wokingham Paper website

Storms highlight need for shelter at station YOU would have thought that a “shelter” for the Oxford Road side of Wokingham station would have been built.

People have to wait either on the steps (causing obstructions) of the overhead covered bridge or get soaked with rain. The recent storms have been proved such a shelter is needed.

As for the parking situation in Wokingham. I will be using Bracknell more often.

Lynn, via Wokingham Paper website

Trieste Force Association in appeal for new members THE British Element Trieste Force Association was formed in 2004 for those ex-servicemen who served in the Free Territory of Trieste from 1945 and 1954.

Although our average age is now 85 we are still hoping to recruit new members!

There are opportunities to contact old colleagues through the quarterly magazine and association website. Regional meetings are held in various parts of the country.

Annual reunions take place at different locations, the next being near Lichfield in March 2016: a visit to the National Memorial Arboretum is planned to coincide with the eighth anniversary of re- forming association in its present form.

If you are interested in knowing more about the association please get in touch with me by phone on 01665 589289, by email dagriggs@btinternet.com

Parking charge plans could hurt town centre traders On plans to introduce parking charges in evenings, weekends and bank holidays: I THINK the shops will die because of increased online shopping.

Heidi Golding, via Facebook EXACTLY! So perhaps they should be encouraging us to visit town - perhaps scrap parking charges altogether as a trial and see what happens.

I think visitor numbers will increase.

Natalie Edwards, via Facebook ABSOLUTELY - Woodley is nice, but let’s admit not a state of the art fantastic shopping experience.

It’s functional and useful. If it was free to park, I would visit more often and spend more money in the town.

Huw Jones, via Facebook IS there anyone in WBC who has worked out the cost of 24 hour

monitoring of car park payments vs the revenue generated from

or write to Suilven, Ellingham. Chathill. Northumberland NE67 5HA. We also welcome associate members, for example people whose relatives served there or who, as children, attended the Military School.

David Griggs (Membership Secretary), British Element Trieste Force Association

Sunday trading law changes could hurt small businesses LOCAL shopworkers are very concerned about Government plans to devolve Sunday trading hours to councils and the effects that will have on family life, local shops and the community.

The change could lead to large shops opening for longer, even though they are already trading for up to 150 out of 168 hours a week, so shopworkers will have even less time to spend with their families.

It won’t help small stores, who are already allowed to open whenever they like, and may put some of them out of business. This is a solution looking for a problem that doesn’t exist. It isn’t even clear who is actually calling for this change, with many retailers opposing it.

The Sunday Trading Act is a great British

overnight charges?

Philip Cleary, via Facebook

compromise, which has worked well for over 20 years and gives everyone a little bit of what they want.

Retailers can trade, customers can shop, staff can work; whilst Sunday remains a special day, different to other days, and shopworkers can spend some time with their family.

We encourage your readers to let their MP know what they think, so their vote in Parliament reflects local views.

John Hannett, General Secretary, Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw)

I enjoyed Wokingham Remembers page NICE to see the Wokingham Remembers article mentioning St Sebastian’s church (The Wokingham Paper, February 5).

I was asked to make the current weather vane when I was at St Crispin’s School around 1964/65.

The cockerel was made from copper sheet and the rest steel, painted first with Galvafroid to protect it, then finished with black paint.

I was presented with a book token with a few words of thanks written inside, which I still have.

Tony Kalisz, via email

GOOD ADVICE

Cutting down on your mortgage costs Wokingham CAB look at a recent issue they have come across and give an answer IF YOU’RE struggling to pay your mortgage, you must take action quickly to stop yourself from falling into debt. This article tells you about some of the things you could do to stop falling behind with your mortgage payments and getting into debt.

If you get into debt and your lender thinks you’re not dealing with the problem, they will take action through the courts. This could lead to you losing your home.

These are some of the things you could do to stop yourself from falling behind with your mortgage payments and getting into debt. These include: n Switching to a cheaper mortgage or insurance deal n Cutting down your monthly payments n Changing payments on your endowment policy

You should also take a good look at your household budget. Think seriously about whether it’s possible to increase the money you’ve got coming in or make cutbacks on your spending. Citizens Advice has a comprehensive budgeting tool available here: http://tinyurl.com/cawok008 You may be able to increase your income.

There are a number of possibilities to consider. These include claiming benefits or tax credits, reducing energy and water bills, cutting travel costs, renting out a room or garage, and many others that might apply to you.

If you’ve already fallen into debt with your mortgage payments, there may be things you can do to stop yourself from falling further behind with your payments and to clear the debt. These include adding what you owe to your capital, giving up an endowment policy or cashing in a payment protection policy. It is important to get correct advice before acting on any of these options.

You may be able to find a cheaper mortgage deal

with another mortgage lender. You may have to pay charges for changing your mortgage lender and you will still have to pay off any money you owe to the first lender if you’re behind with your payments.

You could ask your mortgage lender if they will agree to cut down your monthly mortgage payments, usually for a limited period of time. This might get you over a rough patch and stop a debt from building up. If a debt has already built up, you’ll need to find a way to clear the debt as well.

Before you agree to make any changes to your mortgage, you should ask your lender if there will be any charge for this, such as a redemption or administration charge, and how much this will be. If the charge seems very high, you should get advice from an experienced adviser. n You can get more advice from www.citizensadvice. org.uk or contact Citizens Advice Wokingham at Second Floor, Waterford House, Erftstadt Court, Wokingham, RG40 2YF. Tel: 03444 111 306. email: public@wokingham-cab.org.uk

Budget briefing 2 016/17 and beyond is going to bring many challenges, and even tougher decisions than those we’ve faced before.

On December 17 we learnt the devastating news that the proposed finance settlement from central government would see a 50 per cent cut in the council’s main grant compared to the 27 per cent average for unitary authorities; a sum of approximately £6.3million.

We’d been planning for a bad settlement, but it was far worse than predicted – therefore continuing our status as the lowest funded unitary authority in the country.

We certainly didn’t take it lying down. Since then, we’ve been fighting for a fairer settlement for our residents. With the support of local MPs we made several representations to Ministers.

As leader of the council I met with the Minister and John Redwood MP met with the Secretary of State.

And this week, central Government announced these proposals would go ahead as planned. However ministers have listened to our concerns and agreed a transitional grant for Wokingham Borough Council of £2.1million for 2016/17 and again in 2017/18. I am grateful for MP’s support.

This transitional grant is temporary, and it will be cut after two years. It will allow us extra time to plan how we will deal with the future. However it makes no change to the extent of the cuts from central government over the four year period of the settlement.

While the temporary transitional grant provides us with some breathing space, and time for a more considered approach to our savings, when it is removed in 2018/19, the gap in funding still has to be found – either by cuts to services or additional income or both.

Whilst this transitional grant is welcome, changes still need to happen. The cut in our overall funding during the four years is still severe. By the end of 2019/20 we face almost impossible challenges as the council loses

Half-term

That’s the first half of term over with! Countless parents are looking forward to a lie in and I know that the children are ready for a break. I have spoken to my lot and they are looking forward to relaxing and catching up with friends and I agree!

I say every time I will wash the uniform immediately they’re home so it’s done and there is no last minute panic, the same goes for homework!

With Cllr Keith Baker, Leader of Wokingham Borough Council £20million and moves into a negative grant of £7million.

By then the government’s ongoing grant will have been cut by 74 per cent, and residents will be paying 91 per cent of the costs of running services. The impact of inflation, and demographic changes like increased demand for adult social care, will make our challenge even more severe.

We are on the right path to secure our future.

We will continue to be innovative but tough choices will be made as savings and extra income have to be found.

Funding from central government has always been biased towards deprivation. As a consequence, an area like ours, with low levels of deprivation, received little in terms of government grant. As a result, the services we provide are almost exclusively funded by our council tax payers (80%).

So how did we receive the worse settlement in our history? This time around, central government changed the way it does its calculations and now

JOIN US ONLINE:

Who cares for the carers? includes council tax when arriving at the grant cut calculation.

The new settlement hits our residents three times over. Firstly they have to pay the largest contribution through council tax towards local services because of past poor settlements; then their significant contribution is used to calculate the grant reduction.

Lastly government also presumes we will agree to the highest possible council tax rise for the next four years (2 per cent council tax, 2 per cent adult social care precept) when calculating future cuts in grants.

If we don’t, the level of cuts will remain the same, and our financial challenge will be unmanageable as we have to make savings equivalent to the difference – all brought about by severe reductions on an already meagre grant allocation. We don’t wish to raise council tax levels but our hand is forced.

We’re being penalised for being efficient, selfsufficient and embracing a responsible approach to housing demand, because although currently we can plough this money back into services and regeneration, by 2018/19 it will be cut by at least a third and national consultation is already underway to consider its future.

Government is simply redistributing funding to areas of the country that already receive higher levels of grant than us. That’s not morally right.

Why should we be penalised?

The council will continue to look at every aspect of the work it does. We will have to look at generating more income and moving some nonstatutory services towards paying for themselves.

We will also have to look at more joint working with our neighbours.

We will make the situation work, despite the difficulties, and continue to provide high-quality services at the lowest possible cost.

Our full budget proposals will be discussed at Council on February 18, which can be found on our website at: www.wokingham.gov.uk/ council-and-meetings

Nellie Williams – www.nelliepompoms.co.uk Con O’Neill who I first saw in Blood Brothers when he was Mickey to Kiki Dee’s Mrs Johnson.

How exciting that Kiki Dee is coming to Wokingham on Friday, May 13. I tweeted Con O’Neill to see if he would come along too, well you never know!

When my children were born I was told that I was lucky they were girls and I wouldn’t be standing on the touchline watching them play football in all weathers.

At the time I was grateful, football wasn’t a big thing in our house and Big W played cricket which was a nice gentle summer’s day sport, but as time went on and my girls took a keen interest in football I was destined for muddy mornings!

I am now on the touchline, sometimes twice on a Saturday depending on timings and while I don’t profess to know any of the rules I do enjoy supporting them and obviously getting emotional when they score or let in goals.

The Six Nations has of course started so that’s our weekends lined up!

I’ve been muttering under my breath at the “exciting” news that a supermarket is selling wonky vegetables. It’s not wonky it’s a vegetable, when did we become so picky that we had to have carrots that were uniform in length or a cauliflower a certain circumference? Vegetables are a food source regardless of their shape and size.

By the time I have peeled, chopped, sliced or grated them they just look like an ingredient so I won’t be beating a path to get a wonky veg box!

COMMENTARY

NELLIE KNOWS

Sport

Food and drink

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Friday, February 12, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Memories of Wokingham The Facebook group is growing steadily and lots of people are back in touch with their friends.

I asked last week if anyone had any names of friends they had lost touch and one was “went to Bearwood School and my first ever friend was called Katy Jarvis. Many years have passed 40 plus but I would love her to know I named my daughter after her... 28 years ago! Does this name ring any bells with you? Please let me know.

Books

I have in the past got my vegetable box from Bosley Patch over in Henley and would love to hear from local growers who provide vegetable boxes, do drop me an email nellie.pompoms@ gmail.com.

Telly I was pleased to see the return of Happy Valley on Tuesday. The cast is made up of some familiar faces who have graced the stage and screen for many years and I will admit to having a crush on

I finished reading the proof of In Her Wake

by Amanda Jennings earlier this week and can whole-heartedly recommend it. It’s available as an ebook on Kindle and will be published in paperback later on in the year.

Amanda is a superb writer and I have enjoyed all her books, I have written a review of it on my website as well as other books I have read which might give you some inspiration.

I must get on and write the review for Sarah Duguid’s debut novel Look At Me which is due out after half-term.

See you next week!

FACEBOOK.COM/WOKINGHAMPAPER

@WOKYPAPER

T

HIS week saw Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt on TV and the doctors on strike.

Perhaps if he stops going on telly they’ll stop striking.

Sadly, after so many clashes and crashes with medics, that’s unlikely because Mr Hunt is on a mission: to “introduce a seven day NHS”.

Despite the fact that it is one already.

His negotiating style reminds us of Arthur Scargill, his propaganda of Goebbels.

Possibly a tad unfair, because both Messrs Scargill and Goebbels were once on top of their games.

Mr Hunt’s propaganda skills were shown up on Sunday’s Andrew Marr show. In the first five minutes we learned that he’d misinterpreted Sir Bruce Keogh’s report on weekend mortality rates.

It went downhill rapidly from there, so much so that we might have been watching Ski Sunday. But instead of going between the gates and taking two minutes, Mr Hunt crashed into them and took 20.

He showed that his grasp of arithmetic was as slippery as his words. We were reminded that he’d said the new contracts would be revenue neutral. Now he says that they won’t be in the short term but that they’ll “smooth out in the longer term”. Sounds like bait today, mousetrap tomorrow.

So why should you care ?

Longer waiting times; wearier doctors; poorer quality of life; worse outcomes; to name but a few.

Longer waiting times result from fewer doctors on weekdays. This is simple “teabag” arithmetic. With 35 teabags, either you have six cups a day Monday to Friday, three on Saturday and two on Sunday; or you have five cups each and every day. On weekdays, if you’ve used your ration, you’ll have to wait ’til the next day.

Tony Johnson

No, no and hell no Re-using the bags to get more cuppas is possible, but the cuppas get weaker and paler. Just like doctors do when they’re made to work longer and longer hours.

So get more doctors. But they take years to train so we’d need to buy some in from abroad, risking poorer quality of care due to language barriers.

This also adds cost, so where will the money come from?

Education? Welfare? Taxes? I make that no, No and hell NO. Quality of life and worse outcomes have already occurred – dubbed the “Hunt Effect”. His propaganda has affected patients’ behaviour as they “didn’t come in because Mr Hunt said I was more likely to die at the weekend”.

For some, their condition has deteriorated due to the delay.

More difficult to treat and with poorer prospects than if they’d just ignored him.

Highlight of Sunday’s debate was when he gave the game away.

It’s not so much the skirmish over the 22 (of 23) “non-negotiable” contract changes for junior doctors that are the problem. That’s a training exercise for the real battles with senior doctors he’s preparing for next year.

It was poor management behaviour in the 19th century that led to Trades Unions being needed. The doctor’s union is the BMA, as Mr Hunt correctly identified on Sunday. Intelligent, well trained, determined.

However, doctors aren’t the only carers that this administration apparently doesn’t care for.

The “pay to stay” fiasco over council houses shows a wider indifference to other carers on low pay; nurses, care home staff and childcare providers for starters.

If we don’t wake up and start caring for the carers, there won’t be any left. This in turn has unpleasant consequences. Health and quality of life the UK will decline.

There is a better answer, but I doubt that Mr Hunt will find it, with or without the £4bn he’s about to “invest” in a GIT (Government Information Technology) project.

It’s about time for an intelligent group to bring solutions to that open doorman and past time for him to be using 1980’s union style “non-negotiable” tactics.

Until then… morale will continue… until the beatings improve.

Tony Johnson is a semi-retired business manager who is currently studying Philosophy, specifically the soundness and validity of verbal or written argument, reasoning and thinking.

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Wokingham’s people

OH, MR SMITH!

Remembering two familiar faces

A wry look at life

HEADSTART

Life-saver Gary shortlisted for award A COMMUNITY responder and CPR instructor in Swallowfield has been nominated for a national award.

Gary Clark, who delivers Heartstart courses throughout Wokingham, was nominated by his wife Carolyn for a Halifax Giving Extra Award to recognise the fundraising work he has achieved to secure a vehicle for the scheme and numerous Artificial Electronic Defibrillators (AEDs) that are now within the community.

Gary was picked out of thousands of nominations received, and added to a shortlist of just 66 local winners up and down the country.

Gary said: “I know my wife puts up with a lot so it was really great to see that she had nominated me. I did not think that I would be successful as there are so many other people providing such valuable services to their community so I was truly astonished to hear that I was the local winner! As ever with these things it’s always a team effort, so this award is also for the team.

“It would be really great to now get the regional place as that would mean even more defibrillators into

the community!”

A spokesperson for Heartstart Swallowfield said: “We are extremely pleased for Gary and of course the team as despite it being a single nomination, it is always the team together that really makes the difference.

“Gary’s nomination is now being reviewed and will be put forward for seven regional winners, each of whom will receive £5,000 for their group. We are of course keeping our fingers crossed as these funds will mean the deployment of yet more AEDs into the community.

Gary should know if he has been successful or not towards the end of February.

“Whilst we do what we do because we believe it can really make a difference to the people in the community in which we live, it is always nice to receive such recognition.”

Heartstart Swallowfield has now trained more than 500 people across the borough in CPR and AED training. To find out more visit www. heartstartswallowfield.co.uk

Gary Clark celebrates his Halifax Giving Extra Award.

OBITUARY

Town says goodbye to Katie’s card shop stalwart Doreen WOKINGHAM must say a fond farewell to a popular woman who served in the same town centre shop for 25 years.

Doreen Orrick, who worked at the former Katie’s card and gifts shop in Peach Street, has died at the age of 76.

A knee problem had kept her housebound at her home in Alderman Willey Close for the past five years and she had shown the first signs of dementia around three years ago. She died on Sunday, January 31.

Mrs Orrick was a proud Geordie, who never lost her accent. She and her husband moved to Wokingham through work – Jim, who died in 1996, was a contracts manager for a building company.

They lived in Finchampstead and many will remember Mrs Orrick cycling to and from Katie’s every day.

She has left sons Craig and Mark and grandchildren Eve, 16; Fay, 14; Amy, 21; Molly, 19, and 15-year-old Archie.

Craig, who lives in Rectory Road, has paid tribute to his mum, who loved musicals and always kept an eye on the football scores to see how Newcastle were doing.

“Mum made an awful lot of friends, because years ago there were no supermarkets in Wokingham and Katie’s was the only place to buy a card. I remember as a child going to town and we had to stop to say ‘hello’ to someone every two minutes!

“People have said how mum took pride in herself and always had nice hair and nice clothes, and she kept her home very modern.

“She was a very proud woman and very friendly and outgoing. She was very thoughtful and always looked after her grandchildren – everyone called her Nanny Doreen! She was a good mother, a good grandmother and we will miss her.”

The funeral will be held at 3pm on Wednesday, February 24, at Easthampstead Park Crematorium.

VOLUNTEER CORNER n Building for the Future is a Wokingham based, parent-led charity providing activities, support and therapy for children with disabilities and/or additional needs and their families.

They run a play session once a month on a Saturday and need volunteers who have experience of young children, are fun and easy going, have a willingness to muck in and are reliable. n The Citizens Advice Bureau in Wokingham provides a free and

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, February 12, 2016

Doreen Orrick has died aged 76.

with Helena Badger confidential service to all on matters such as welfare benefits, debt, housing, employment, consumer etc.

They need several volunteers to contact clients who have used the CAB to find out how the service was and how they are getting on now and record the results in their in-house database.

Volunteer can help on Wednesdays, Thursdays or Friday mornings. Volunteer must have good communication and IT skills.

n Mapis provides training, mentoring and qualifications to women at risk and disadvantaged young people to raise employability.

They work with unemployed/NEET, ethnic minorities, mental health issues, depression, low self-esteem, eating disorders, self-harming and domestic abuse.

They are looking for a volunteer fundraising officer to help develop new creative community fundraising strategies and plan and deliver

fundraising events. Experience of the charitable sector and fundraising is essential.

These are just three of the roles we are recruiting for, but we have more than 100 different roles on our books.

To find out about these or any other roles, call us on 0118 977 0749, email wok-vol@btconnect.com or visit www.volunteercentrewokingham. org.uk

Chinese revolution in Australia .

C

ALL me a loser if you will but having settled down in Melbourne I am not interested in visiting Sydney, Alice Springs, Perth or anywhere else. Well I did spend a week in Queensland but was happy to return.

I shall not regret missing a viewing of the iconic Sydney opera house and its world famous beaches. Too much going on here.

There’s the Andy Warhol and Ai WeiWei exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, shopping to suit all sizes of pockets in the Central Business District and an amazing array of restaurants.

I was particularly impressed with the number of authentic Chinese eateries. At times I could easily imagine myself in China and they provide exceptional value – although not everyone will want to eat chicken feet or other delicacies.

I didn’t know what I was eating on many occasions but it was delicious as long as I didn’t think about it too much.

Chinese culture has deeply permeated Melbourne. The Australian Financial Review reports big businesses here and elsewhere consulting Feng Shui practitioners before making any strategic decisions especially as the arrival of Chinese New Year on February 8 ushers in the Fire Monkey, the Zodiac symbol for 2016, but this character has a reputation for being unpredictable.

New Age, in general, seems to figure prominently as I discovered in the sea front suburb of Albert Park.

I may have my peculiarities but superstition isn’t one of them so I was surprised by the extent to which the fire Dragon features in current business pages. Nevertheless, Chinese prosperity is creating changes in the Australian economy – beyond the minerals extraction.

Many Chinese are no longer returning to rural homes but heading for Australia to celebrate Chinese New Year.

A popular destination is Queensland but forget the holiday beaches, it’s shopping that is attracting the big tourist dollars – much to the delight of Trade Minister Andrew Robb.

Chinese New Year tourism is boosting the economy because it comes just after the month long Australian school holiday thus buoying the traditional February slump in this sector when most Australians go back to work.

The Chinese impact is so significant that staff in Italian and other ethnic restaurants are required to learn Mandarin. There is little if any demand for Italian French or Spanish. Language teaching in schools tends to focus on Japanese and other Asian languages. Which is hardly surprising given its location.

Incidentally, should you tire of Chinese food there are plenty of Italian restaurants in the university district of Carlton, because it is also the Italian quarter, and it is such a pleasure to be able to eat al fresco in the evening under street verandas – with no fear of cold rain because temperatures have been consistently in the high twenties and low thirties and mosquitoes tend not to be a problem compared to rural areas.

Melbourne is a wonderful city I have decided.

Edgy art community in Fitzroy, beach front in Albert Park, St Kilda through to Brighton and beyond. Melbourne also sport mad with stadiums to match the demand. Should you tire of Melbourne, there is always the opportunity to escape along the Great Ocean Road but quite frankly why would you want that? A day trip to Phillip Island or Mornington Peninsula along the bay is quite enough.

TOM SMITH @WRYLIFEtomsmith

WELLBEING | 19

Friday, February 12, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Good health

You’re under doctor’s orders to read this page!

HEALTH MATTERS with Nicola Strudley

FITNESS

Boot camp raises a healthy sum for children’s charity

Our membership scheme is available for only You do not need to be dentally fit to join BMS but a new patient examination is required before signing up. If treatment is needed during the 12 month contract a member discount of 15% is given.

£21 a month

What is included?

• 2 Examinations (including x-rays) • 2 Hygienist visits • Accident & Emergency Insurance • 15% member discount on treatment

Need to budget Need to bud for regular budget for regular dental visits?dent

Wokingham leading the country in cancer study

(excludes specialist and implant treatment)

Need to regular dental visits?

For more information, please contact us on 0118 978 3815, visit our website at www.beechcroftdental.com or call into Beechcroft Dental Practice, 32 Station Road, Wokingham, RG40 2AE and speak with one of our team.

Our membership scheme is ava Our membership scheme is available You do notfor need to be dentally fit to join butaa new patienta examination onlyforBMS £21 month Our membership scheme is available only £21 month is

W

OKINGHAM Medical Centre is leading the way in research that could help GPs spot cancer earlier and reduce the number of people undergoing unnecessary tests.

Some 298 patients are currently taking part in the study at Wokingham Medical Centre, more than any other GP practice in England and Wales. The study aims to recruit a total of 20,000 patients by September 2016. To date, study teams around the country have recruited just over 8,200 participants.

The CANDID (CANcer DIagnosis Decision Rules) study is looking at common early symptoms, or combinations of symptoms, to identify which may be important for a possible diagnosis of lung or bowel cancer, and which are not. The study could thereby improve early detection of lung and bowel cancer in the UK, saving lives and leading to considerable long-term savings for the NHS. The research is being led nationally by the University of Southampton in collaboration with other leading Universities across the country (Universities of Bristol, Manchester, Oxford, London, Nottingham, Birmingham and Keele).

CANDID is funded and supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the research delivery arm of the NHS. Dr Zishan Ali is a GP and leads the study at the Wokingham Medical Centre. He said: “The majority of patients who come to their doctor with lung symptoms (for example cough) or bowel symptoms (for example loose stool) do not have anything seriously wrong.

“However, a very few people are at risk of cancer. We would like to help doctors diagnose cancer quickly so that potential high risk patients are detected sooner and unnecessary examinations are minimised for those patients that are low risk.”

“We are delighted with the number of patients who have agreed to take part in the study so far, but there is still a long way to go.”

In February 2015, Wokingham Medical Centre was accredited as a Research Ready practice by the prestigious Royal College of General Practice, in recognition of its commitment to innovate and experiment in the best interests of patient care. To a large extent, this was driven by Dr Ali’s passion for research.

He said: “It is very satisfying to know that we are helping future generations of GPs to make better decisions, and future generations of patients to receive better care.”

To find out more, pick up a leaflet in the surgery, speak to one of the doctors, or visit the research page on the practice website: http://www. wokinghammedicalcentre.co.uk/research n How to Contact us: Facebook @ healthwatchwokingham, Twitter @HWWokingham, call 0118 418 1418, email enquiries@ healthwatchwokingham.co.uk or walk in via Citizens Advice at 2 Waterford House, Erfstadt Court, Denmark Street, Wokingham RG40 2YF. Nicola Strudley works two days a week as the manager for Healthwatch Wokingham Borough.

Opinions expressed in this blog are her own

Need to budget for regular dental visits?

You do not need to be dentally fit to join BMS but a new patient examination is required before signing up. If treatment is needed during the 12 month contract a member discount of 15% is given.

required before signing up. If treatment is included? needed during the 12 month contract What is a member (including discount of 15% is given.

• 2 Examinations x-rays) • • •

2 Hygienist visits Accident & Emergency Insurance 15%For member discount on treatment please more information, (excludes specialist and implant treatment)

visit our website at www.beec You do notBeechcroft need to be dentallyDental fit to join Practice, 3 BMS but a new patient examination is For more information, please contact us on2AE 0118 3815, RG40 and978 speak with one required before signing up. If treatment

visit our website at www.beechcroftdental.com call into is needed during the 12 monthor contract member discount of 15% is given.

Beechcroft Dental Practice, 32a Station Road, Wokingham, Above and below - dozens of people have attended boot camp sessions and raised money for charity at the same time. one of our team.

RG40 2AE and speak with FastTrack Fit Camp is offering people an extra incentive to get themselves fit in 2016 – with a boost for the Alexander Devine hospice to boot

A

N OUTDOOR fitness session helped pile on the pounds.

No, we’ve not gone mad – these are pounds sterling, not weight.

Charity FastTrack Fit Camp held the special event on Bearwood Recreation Ground in Winnersh late last month and organisers say that more than £500 has been raised for the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service.

Despite terrible weather, FastTrack organisers said that they had a good turnout to the event.

The outdoor fitness event aims to be more than a ‘boot camp’, aiming to help people be better, feel better and look better and is based on their belief that good health and feeling happy comes from the inside.

Throughout 2016, the group will be raising funds on the last Sunday of the month and the meeting of January 31 was the one that raised funds for Alexander Devine.

Julia Philipson, community fundraiser from Alexander Devine,

said: “What a great family event to kick off January with and a brilliant turnout.

“Thank you to everyone that attended to help build our local children’s hospice and to Heidi Strickland-Clark and team at FastTrack Fit Camp, here’s to the next fun family event.”

The group’s next event will be held on Sunday, February 28, and will raise funds for British

Heart Foundation.

Participants are encouraged to wear red for the fun event, which aims to push your heart through its paces, boosting energy levels and giving participants a chance to work out with their families.

Entry is by donation, and partcipants should wear red, bring a mat and a bottle of water.

It starts at 10am and takes place on the basketball courts at Bearwood Recreation Ground in Winnersh. n For more details, log on to www.fasttrack-fitcamp.co.uk

Need to budget for regular dental visits?

For more information, please contact us on

Our membership scheme is available for 978 only3815 £21 a, month 0118 You do not need to be dentally fit to join BMS but a new patient examination is required before signing up. If treatment is needed during the 12 month contract a member discount of 15% is given.

visit our website at What is included?

• 2 Examinations (including x-rays) www.beechcroftdental.com

2 Hygienist visits or •call into • Accident & Emergency Insurance Beechcroft Dental Practice, • 15% member discount on treatment (excludes specialist and implant treatment) 32 Station Road, Wokingham RG40 2AE and speak with one978 of 3815, our team.

For more information, please contact us on 0118 visit our website at www.beechcroftdental.com or call into Beechcroft Dental Practice, 32 Station Road, Wokingham,

20 | HERITAGE

Friday, August 21, 2015 TheWokinghamPaPer

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WokinghamRemembers

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, February 12, 2016

HERITAGE | 17

Inassociation associationwith with In

Exploring Exploring our our heritage heritage with with wokinghamremembers.com wokinghamremembers.com

EVENTS REVIEW

An Farrowour in Wokingham The‘execution’ past whichand hasMia shaped present...

For most part,ChuRChER the histories presented on Thisthe week MikE reviews this page are of events steeped in a past the Wokingham Remembers articles which can be recounted but not recollected of the past four months and discusses by theof people of Wokingham.

This week, some the factors which contributed we review JIM BELL’s excellent history to the making of Wokingham and its of the Town Hall from 1947 right up to 2005. environment.

Review

by MIKE CHURCHER major impact they had on the town and VER the past months the

JO

Wokingham Remembers page IM BELL’S latest offering (more thanhas been on providing an early 30 books local history andpicture of howisatitled small Memories market town still rising) of and a few villages on theTown edgeHall of a1947 foresttois2005. today Wokingham ranked as onean of the country’s leading Following introduction to the communities. initial building of the Hall, Jim presents religion, industry, transport, six Education, further chapters representing each social structures, politics andas decade and drawsnational from sources such local newspapers, government are all important local magazines, books and pieces in building the great Wokingham council minutes. jigsaw.

Here a summary of our Jim has annow eyeisfor spotting not only contributions date and a few ideas how the town to operated following the on the nextWorld roundWar, of articles.

Second but also the anecdotal

details of life in Education, a middle sized, middle Education, Berkshire town.

Education In 1973 for example, a developer Today’s Wokingham is renowned as approached the council to ask if one of the country’s centres of excellence they would consider disposing for education; this is partly due to strong of the Town Hall for future school performance and the motivated redevelopment. It does not parents who live in one of the most take much imagination highly educated communities in the UK. to discover the response If we look into the history of from the council.

Wokingham’s schools we can see Although such how education is woven into its DNA. proposals might seem Prior to the Great War, Wokingham bizarre to us today, it was surrounded by manor houses and does indicate the post war members of the landed gentry who attitude to all things old and wanted to be close to the levers of power; all things new – we therefore i.e. the royal households of Windsor. wonder how the developers would In turn these upper echelons have changed the Town Hall if possessed a serious sense of duty they had managed to acquire and a responsibility to ensure their it! community received at least a basic In 1954 the local education. Wokingham also had a newspaper reported on powerful professional class, a strong Wokingham’s carnival church community (including the nonwith the headline conformists) and together they shared ‘Wokingham goes gay a strong belief in the importance of for carnival’; a reference, teaching. presumably to the fun The result was with the skills, the times that were experienced motivation and the finance available, on the day. It’s funny how there developed a culture of education times change even in subtle which still holds strong to this day. ways.

Wokingham transport The carnival, which took place on Transport is probably the 2,000 single a Tuesday evening involved most important factor in Wokingham’s ‘revellers’ including a ‘rag’ activity, with development, both its rail and pram road such jolly japesinas a ‘pub to pub’ systems. race.

Future articles lookwill at the Ragging, many will readers know as introduction of the calendar railways which and theis ‘rag part of the student

we have already made a start with the week’ and involved raising money for road system by mapping out thegoes course charity.

‘Ragging’ it is thought, backof the old Forestdays Road. to Victorian when it meant nagging While the building ofcharitable the M4 had a or harassing people for causes major influence and possibly hadona the linkintroduction in the rivalryof the high techUniversity businessesCollege which now surround between and Kings Wokingham, it is the A329M which College in London. in 1975 off the Forest Road and its Evencut in the seventies, ‘rag week’ could natural connections between Emmbrook be a fairly brutal affair especially after and the villages of Hurst and Binfield. a few visits around the pubs, all in theThe love and relationship with ourthe rail cause of hate charity.

In 1954 however, and roads continue to this day! report noted in Jim’s book is altogether

more civilised as it included the Wokingham’s military participation of the Mayor and Mayoress. heritage

It should at thisofpoint As 2015 isbe thestressed bi-centenary the that they were not a part of the pub crawl, Battle of Waterloo, there have been a butofwere on hand to greet the this year’s number articles commemorating Carnival Queen; a lady by the world changing event. name of Audrey Frost (are The area has always been noted for stillnation’s out there Audrey? its contributionyou to the military us know!). capability, with Let Arborfield’s REME, The Mayor however, RFA and Remount connections and the did not getColleges away with Sandhurst and Wellington all it completely – this situated very nearby. carnival and ragto Even the Dukewas of Wellington took week after all. In one is living in Stratfield Saye, which today beautifully only 30 minutes away frompolitically Wokingham’s town centre. incorrect activity (but not in 1954) there was a mock cutting Wokingham’s of the Mayor’s throat – all done in good fun of course. benefactor culture Mayor Brindlecombe The area around Wokingham waswas from the Town surrounded byhauled many remarkable oninstrumental to a platformin individuals andHall theyand were building the much needed infrastructure (pre-staged it is hoped) which underpinned establishment of andthe underwent a shave a strong community. with a whitewash brush We will later be telling thewooden story ofrazor. the and a large Walter family and contributions to Of their course, the shave does the building of not Wokingham but in go according toApril plan first weekly issue, we Mayor told thesuffers story of and the a the much lovedmock Arthur Hill, the 6th Marquess execution. of Downshire.

The paper delightfully states Although one of Britain’s ‘… and the red velvet provedwealthiest a landowners, Arthur Hillfor doubled satisfactory substitute blood’.as the chief the local Fire Brigade andiswas a Noof worse for wear, the Mayor then major financial to this part of escorted to the contributor borough boundary for the Wokingham’s services. ‘beating of thepublic bounds’; a national custom Later articlesthe willboundaries illustrate the to re-establish and have demise of these great manors and their them blessed, usually on Ascension Day. incumbent social system and the risestill of Mock assaults on the Mayor were

Wokingham Railway Station viewed from Wellington Road looking towards St Pauls Church.

The story was told in June, and also historians, Sarah Huxford, also took commemorated the 800th anniversary us on a journey to the old battlefields of the Magna Carta, signed at nearby in search of their graves. This story Before we believe too much in the idea Runnymede in 1215. reflects only a microcosm of the losses that Wokingham’s development was a around the county of Berkshire, but solidly May’s on Fun andsedate games experience, in Wokingham townarticle centre (above and below). Inset: John Bell and Mia Farrow, whoShining was in towna inlight 1970 for the filming of Buff. affirms the importance of the wars in the told the story of the rioting in the town Wokingham’s ‘Dark Ages’ taking place in 1989; the papers announce development of our local character. centre during the time of the 1857 General To bring us up to date the August ‘Wokingham brings back the death Election.

Wokingham and articles are focused on the kids who are penalty’ and this time it was Fred Clark Such events were a common sight in now entering into their summer holidays. the Royal Forest who was for the chop.

‘Heads rolled in the town and this short and bloody battle Looking at today’s community, it is What better way to use this month’s Wokingham on Friday a guillotine between the Whigs andwhen the Tories also difficult to visualise just how rural the editions than to tell the stories of the and stocks were set up in the town highlighted the Bush and Rose hotels in Romans, the Celts and the Saxons centre’.Place as the headquarters of these area once was and in part explains the Market sometimes fragile relationship between influence on the area before Wokingham Not only did Councillor Clark have two feral groups. the old and new Wokingham; few was even a twinkle in old Wocca’s eye? hisThe head vicariously but he story was alsolopped able tooff, reflect areas in the UK have witnessed such David Nash Ford provided a set of and his Elsie scene were thrown the upon thewife national and the into corrupt extraordinary growth and change in the articles and puzzles which makes stocks of forgeneral good measure. in good nature electionsAll before the profile of its population. history fun for the young and no doubt fun of courseofand was Alec Stewart, introduction theitprivate ballot.

Although Wokingham’s history will also catch the interest of the parents theFuture England and Surrey cricketer who articles will include further has always been intertwined with who will be looking over their child’s tales of anarchy and revelryUnfortunately in this old conducted the ‘execution’. the surrounding villages by providing shoulder. market no one town. recognised him on account of a market place for agricultural and Here’s to the next round of articles! him wearing a black commercial produce, it was also a Forest Thanks go out to our contributors: Steve Wokingham at hood Warand mask, which seems to negate moments the opportunities Town. The term ‘forest’ did not mean a Bacon, Jim Bell, David Nash Ford, Sarah There are watershed in set believing it was a real market stall. howeverRoger continued into theOttlewski evening, broughtwhich aboutmark by inviting a celebratory cluster of trees, but a system of laws laid Huxford, Long, Trevor history the moment of great Having been requested to ‘clear off’ by when Mia Farrowfor was of kicking guest. in a society and the Great War of down by royalty for the protection of change and Peter Shilham allaccused their continuing the members of the film team, the Mayor a photographer at Wokingham Railway Mia Farrow in 1970 arrived in their hunting grounds.

1914-1918 is one such time. contributions. retaliated by asking if they had paid Station.

Wokingham shoot aof scene from her These onerous rules restricted localfor Therefore atonumber centenaries All this work is provided by our the stall andusing requested permission to film localWho said nothing in latest film: Buff. people from large parts of the land between 2014 and 2018 will historians free of happens charge and in sustenance the area. and in part led to the Wokingham? this andpage other I haven’t heard of it either, do for commemorate the great lossesbut of war can be found onAll the front ofstories the are discovering it was Mayor brought to you

by Jim Bell in his latest rise After of local highwaymen andthe general which scarred people of Wokingham Wokingham Remembers website remember herthe from Peyton Place, they were pushing around, the film team www.wokinghamremembers.com book Memories of Wokingham Town Hall lawlessness.

As a result, the subsequent for the rest ofBaby the 20th century.

Rosemary’s and The Great Gatsby.

Black of 1723 came downdown heavily May’s followed theSquare, story Thanks alsoand to Mark Ashwell at at wentAct some way to calming theon 1947 to 2005 can be purchased Whilstedition filming in Market these ‘Wokingham Blacks’and andinviting resulted in of two brothersMayor from Langborough TradeMark theCentre paper’s situation by apologising the Town for Hallsupporting Information (open Wokingham’s John West seems either transportation execution.

Road in Wokingham town.

Oneon ofto our commitment to this project. between 10am - 2pm) for just £4. him totheir lunch the next day.orThe fiasco to have unknowingly walked the its replacement: local government.

Wokingham’s wild side

Windows doors and conservatories that last a lifetime and beyond www.trademarkwindows.co.uk

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SCHOOLS | 21

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Friday, February 12, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Press pack

We want to hear from you! Send your stories, pictures and poems to news@ wokinghampaper.co.uk or write to The Wokingham Paper, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS.

Under 20? Here’s the page that you can write!

STEM

Building bridges at Shinfield School!

THE world of engineering was brought to life for pupils at Shinfield St Mary’s Junior School when a team of civil engineers paid a visit last week.

The team from Reading-based Peter Brett Associates LLP were at the school on February 2 helping pupils build their own bridge as part of their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) learning.

Katharine Rooney, Media Relations Manager for the development and infrastructure consultancy, said: “We try to encourage student interest in STEM subjects.

“As part of this, we are touring local schools over the next few weeks with a programme called ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers) Bridges to Schools.

“This is a hands-on activity which enables pupils to build a cable-stayed bridge. Having assembled the bridge, they then walk across it before deconstructing it, learning about bridges, teamwork and civil

engineering as they go.”

Matt Knight, science coordinator for the school, said: “Peter Brett Associates kindly agreed to come in and share their time and expertise with budding scientists from all year groups within Shinfield St Mary’s Junior school.

“The pupils were shown the different aspects of civil engineering and all the various roles that contribute to a successful project.

“Using a 15 metre model cable-stayed bridge, children then experienced bridge building at first-hand.

“The activity allowed children to utilise some of the scientific and mathematic principles they have

been taught in school and apply them in a real life context.

“It also reinforced the importance of team working, good communication skills and health and safety at work.

“The day was a huge success and several children have now expressed an interest in becoming civil engineers when they grow up.”

Youngsters getting to grips with their bridge building project with help from Peter Brett Associates LLP. Left: With science coordinator Matt Knight. Pictures: Paul King

Upside Down by Lee Elkjarat, Year 9, St Crispin’s School THIS week, we’re printing the first of several comics created by talented pupils at St Crispin’s School.

They have been created by members of the London Road school’s Comic Book

Club, organised by librarian Amy Cutter.

Here, she explains why the club was set up: Comic Book Club started simply.

Comic books and graphic novels were flying off the shelves when I first arrived

in September and I thought it would be far more fun if the children created their own.

They had so many opinions! Who should have been cast as Batman? Is

Manga better than Marvel?

So, I thought it was time to truly test those young imaginations by launching a club. It worked!

We started by designing characters,

then storyboards and then the comics themselves.

You can see how some of them have flourished. The club runs every Tuesday lunchtime in the school library.

22 | SUSTAINABILITY

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The good life

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, February 12, 2016

How Wokingham is going Green with Vivienne Johnson

CONSERVATION

Ratty needs your help

BIODIVERSITY ONE of the UK’s most iconic mammals, the water vole, has had one of the most serious declines of any British mammal during the 20th century.

They are being helped back to health by a local environmental group - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) - who are keen to bring them back to their old stomping ground on the River Loddon and its tributaries.

Water voles started to lose their homes in the 1950s when the escalation of agricultural practice degraded a lot of their habitat.

Their most difficult period though was during the 1980s and 90s when American mink, brought to the UK for fur farming, started to escape.

The mink caused a water vole population crash of almost 90% as they are voracious vole predators, small enough to enter the voles’ burrows.

In 1998 BBOWT, in partnership with the Environment Agency, began a pioneering project, which continues today, to reverse the decline of water voles.

The small mammals’ population is recorded and monitored, and landowners are advised on how to manage and enhance their sites for the tiny voles.

The project is certainly working as vole activity in the area covered (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire) has increased by a massive 51% in the last eight years.

Locally however, the water vole is still struggling. Once seen on the River Loddon and its tributaries in

Berkshire the last confirmed water vole record on the Blackwater was in 2005.

And despite extensive habitat enhancement, the small population of water voles which inhabited a ditch system between Twyford and Wokingham have not been recorded since 2012.

Recently people have reported seeing water voles on the Loddon downstream of Twyford and at Lower Earley although surveys have never found them.

It is known that mink are active on the River Loddon and mink control is being carried out in some areas.

To trap them special mink rafts, designed by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, are used to trap the animals with minimal effort while avoiding other species.

BBOWT are hopeful that by using mink monitoring and control it will be possible to get mink numbers under control. This would benefit a wide range of wildlife, including water voles.

It may be that water voles are still hanging on, remaining unrecorded, in small pockets of the Loddon catchment in Berkshire so if you suspect you see a water vole, or, if you know of an area that is a hot spot for mink activity please get in touch with BBOWT. n For more information on how to identify water voles and report sightings log on to www.bbowt.org.uk/ what-wedo/protecting-wildlife/watervolerecovery-project-0

Barratt boosts natural habitats by joining with RSPB BIRDS are to be boosted at a new housing development in Wokingham.

Barratt Homes has announced a partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) to boost natural habitats at Montague Park, using updated landscaping and new guidance from the charity.

The agreement is thought to be the first of its kind and promises to deliver more wildlife-

friendly housing developments.

Mike Clarke, chief executive of the RSPB, said: “With hundreds of thousands of homes needed across the country in the next few years, now is the time for conservationists and homebuilders to pull together to ensure the wildlife is boosted rather than ousted.”

The partnership will see Barratt Homes work with the RSPB to raise employee awareness of

wildlife-friendly best practice.

Ian Menham, managing director of Barratt Homes Southern Counties, said: “Our partnership with the RSPB demonstrates how we can protect and enhance the biodiversity of the local area, benefitting the economy, creating employment and improving health and wellbeing for our customers and the communities we create.”

ENVIRONMENT

Barrier would protect against ‘one in 1,000 year’ flood event

By VIVIENNE JOHNSON vjohnson@wokinghampaper.co.uk A PROJECT to install a new floodwater wall to one of the borough’s lakes will ensure it can cope with any major flooding events.

Next week, Reading Borough Council will meet to consider plans to install the 72-metre long wall at Whiteknights Lake in the grounds of the University of Reading.

Although the lake falls in Wokingham, it is on the border between the two councils and the existing embankment dam is on Reading’s land. Reading also has a statutory duty to maintain the reservoir.

If approved on Tuesday, the 1.1 metre high

wall will be built alongside the Mockbeggar Allotment site boundary, on the north side of Whiteknights Road. This will channel floodwater to the designated spillway to the west of the site.

A new pedestrian entrance to the nearby allotments will also be built, due to the extended length of retaining wall.

The total cost of the expanded scheme, including design fees and build costs, is estimated at £750,000.

Reading Borough Council’s Lead Member for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, Councillor Tony Page, said: “While there is no imminent threat from

Whiteknights Reservoir, we are required to carry out these works to ensure it can cope with what is called a ‘one in 1,000 year’ flood event.

“The expanded scope of the project is based on professional advice and means we have little choice but to use funding streams we would not necessarily have envisaged for this scheme.

“This is nevertheless a project the Council has no option but to undertake in order to fulfil our statutory obligations.”

If approved, the council proposes to start work later in the spring, and complete the project in late summer.

Make it a birthday to remember Celebrate your child’s birthday in style with a special Bees party!

Three great packages to make a special day – and all the action of a great ice hockey game!

Find out more and book online at

www.bracknellbees.co.uk

Friday, February 12, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Leisure

LEISURE | 23

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Your guide to what’s happening around Wokingham

MUSICAL

The Swan is alive with The Sound of Music The Sound of Music The Wycombe Swan Tuesday, February 9

W

HAT? ... You’ve never seen The Sound of Music?!’

This is the horrified response I have received every time I revealed my sordid secret over the last 31 years, one month and 17 days that I have been alive. I would understand this kind of alarm had I admitted that I had never tasted water before, but alas, it would seem that my life had never been quite complete without witnessing a lady prancing around the Austrian mountains warbling about a lonely goatherd.

In an effort to rectify my apparent philistinism, I made my way to The Wycombe Swan on Tuesday evening with every expectation of having my world turned upside down. And I was not disappointed.

The Sound of Music is based on the real-life story of the von Trapp family, an all-singing, all-dancing septet whose musical talents are awakened by their new governess Maria (The Voice runner-up Lucy O’Byrne). Having been bridled by their strict ex-Navy father, Captain Georg von Trapp (Gray O’Brien), the children rejoice in being allowed to sing again.

We are introduced to Maria at the Nonnberg Abbey in Salzburg where she desperately wants to be a nun, but the abbey’s Mothers are not convinced.

Wokingham

music club

The Mother Abbess (Jan Hartley) sends her to the von Trapps and after only a matter of weeks, Maria wins the hearts of not only the children, but of the Captain too. When she realises that she is falling for him in return, she panics and leaves.

In her absence the Captain forms a relationship with millionairess Elsa Schräder (Isla Carter), but his unwavering resistance to ‘go along’ with the anschluss (the Nazi propaganda term for the invasion in March 1938) drives a wedge between him and Elsa, resulting in her calling the engagement off.

Back at the abbey, Mother Abbess urges Maria to confront her feelings for the Captain with a rousing performance of ‘Climb Ev’ry Mountain’. Maria decides to return for the sake of the children, but when the Captain reveals his love for her, the two are married much to the delight of the children.

Taking up the role of Maria must be an incredibly daunting one as she is such a well-loved character, (let’s not forget there was a BBC series dedicated to solving the problem of Maria back in 2006), but O’Byrne does a fantastic job with her sweet and clean vocals hitting every note with ease.

Known better for his acting rather than his singing abilities, and for playing a villain rather than a doting father, O’Brien does a stirling job as the Captain.

While a little shaky in places, he manages to hold his own in a cast of incredible singing talent.

Wokingham

music

club Wokingham

music club

Having never seen the film or the play I was amazed at how many of the songs I instantly recognised. ‘Do-ReMi’, ‘A Few of my Favourite Things’ and ‘Edelweiss’ were just three of the numbers I didn’t know were from the show, but yet I knew most of the words to.

What I realised was how the show has managed to weave its way so

intrinsically into our culture, that I now understand the horrified gasps of my friends before.

This show holds such a dear place in so many people’s hearts, which is clear when the audience spontaneously starts clapping and singing along.

To experience these much-loved songs played by a live orchestra is reason enough to attend, but it should also be to

Introducing the Wokingham Music Club

W

OKINGHAM MUSIC CLUB started in April 2012 and its first home was the former Cantley Lodge Hotel.

The aim was to have a venue where people of any age could go and listen to great music in pleasant and comfortable surroundings.

It was started by Stan Hetherington.

He said: “For years I had gone to see bands in London, Reading, Guilford etc. and one day it occurred to me that maybe loads of Wokingham people were doing just what I was doing and that it might be easier to bring the bands to Wokingham rather than Wokingham people to the bands.”

After 16 months the club moved from Cantley Lodge to Emmbrook Sports & Social Club and it has gone from strength to strength.

Acts such as John Otway, The Acoustic Strawbs, Oli Silk, Funk Lab, The Small Fakers, Mark Jamies, Sir Duke, Tir na nOg, Never The Bride have graced the stage.

Coming up this year are Kiki Dee & Carmelo Luggeri, Richard Digance, Hank Wangford, The Faces Experience and many more top acts.

Music lovers of all ages are welcome.

Stan told The Wokingham Paper: “A typical member is middle aged person looking for a comfortable and relaxed venue where they can

experience the story alongside a theatre full of other people who also love it as much as you do. And after 31 years, 1 month and 18 days, I can now say that I am one of them. n The Sound of Music is showing at The Wycombe Swan until tomorrow (Saturday).

For details and tickets visit www. wycombeswan.co.uk

Wokingham

GEMMA DAVIDSON

music

THE HOME OF GREAT LIVE MUSIC IN WOKINGHAM

WWW.WOKINGHAMMUSICCLUB.CO.UK

THE CLUBHOUSE, EMMBROOK

club

19TH FEBRUARY

Hoopy Frood supported by

Bruce Neil A happy audience at the Wokingham Music Club. Picture: Tim Davis Photography

listen to great music.

“If you are looking for a noisy night out chatting and partying with your mates then Wokingham Music Club is not the right place for you.”

As well as bringing top acts to Wokingham, Stan wanted to give local talent the opportunity to play on the same bill as more experienced musicians.

Stan said: “It has been great to see people

like Chris Trim, Sophy Lole, Simon Williams and Bruce Neil being regular performers on our stage. I just hope that they will come back and play for us when they’re are famous.”

The style of music varies from month to month but one thing is constant and that is the quality. Wokingham Music Club is most certainly a great music venue. n Further information and tickets are available at www.wokinghammusicclub.co.uk

FEB

19

18TH MARCH

Jigantics supported by

Irene Rae

MAR

18

EMMBROOK SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB, LOWTHER ROAD, WOKINGHAM, RG41 1JB

24 | LEISURE

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What’s on Friday, February 12 FINCHAMPSTEAD – Library, FBC Centre RG40 4ES. Rhymetime for under fives.

11am. Details: 0118 908 8176.

LOWER EARLEY – Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Pass The Book Club. 10.30am11.30am. Details: 0118 931 2150.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Crochet Group with Gaynor White from Barkham Hookers. All abilities welcome. 9.30am11.30am. £4. Local history surgery: drop-in for advice.

10am-noon. Details: 0118 978 1368.

Saturday, February 13 EARLEY – Earley Radstock Social Club, Radstock Lane RG6 5UL. Quiz night. 8pm.

Details: 0118 931 3965.

EARLEY – Path beside Laurel Park football picthes. Planting of Earley Community Orchard. 11amnoon.

FARLEY HILL – Victory Hall, Church Road RG7 1TR. Farley Hill Bowls Club quiz night. Details: 01344 772130.

LOWER EARLEY – Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Dad and Baby Rhymetime. 10.30am11am. Details: 0118 931 2150.

SHINFIELD – Parish Hall, School Green RG2 9EH. Open house session on Shinfield Parish Community Centre. 10am-1pm. Details: SONNING – Reading Blue Coat School. Reading Churches Men’s Group breakfast with guest speaker Lord Michael Farmer: It’s A Rich Man’s World? 8am. £10. including

breakfast. Details: 0118 954 3879 or 0118 986 1917.

SWALLOWFIELD – Parish Hall. The Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust National Nest Box Week: build a bird box. 10am-1pm. £5. Bring a hammer. Details: 07825 469108.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Teen writing group: Read Out Loud. For ages 11-18.

10.30am-noon. Knitting classes for beginners with Rachel Freeguard: how to read patterns. 10am-noon. £5. Poetry Writing Group.

10am-11.30am. Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOODLEY – Town Centre.

Market. 9am-4pm. Details: 0118 921 6920 or www. woodleytowncentre.co.uk.

WOODLEY – Christ Church, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3LA. Walking group meets.

Come dressed for the weather. 10am. Details: www.christ-churchwoodley.org.uk or 0118 926 8143.

WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Saturday storytime for parents and children. 11am. Details: 0118 969 0304.

Sunday, February 14 WOODLEY – Town Centre. Car boot sale. 8am-1pm. £10 per Car or £8 for table top pitch/ Walk on, bring own tables.

Details: 07861 654 674 or www.woodleytowncentre. co.uk.

WOODLEY – Christ Church, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3LA. Ecumenical Lent group, focus on Lord’s Prayer.

Details: www.christ-churchwoodley.org.uk or 0118 926 8143.

WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. French Conversation Club for those with basic French

Holding a community event? Send your listings to events@wokinghampaper.co.uk

The best guide for local, community events across Wokingham borough knowledge. 2pm-3pm.

Details: 0118 969 0304.

Monday, February 15 FINCHAMPSTEAD – Library, FBC Centre RG40 4ES. Adventure stories and crafts for ages five upwards.

2.15pm-3.15pm. £1.50.

Details: 0118 908 8176.

LOWER EARLEY – Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Jack in the Books book club. 10.30am11.30am. Details: 0118 931 2150.

MAIDEN ERLEGH – Library, off Silverdale Road RG6 7HS. Colouring For Adults.

2.15pm-3pm. Details: 0118 966 6630.

TWYFORD – Library, Polehampton Close RG10 9RP. Knit and Natter. Drop in knitting group for adults.

2pm-3pm. Details: 0118 934 0800.

WARGRAVE – Library, Woodclyffe Hostel, Church Street RG10 8EP. Writers forum. 10.30am-noon.

Woodclyffe book group.

5.30pm-6.30pm. Details: 0118 940 4656.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Knit, Stitch and Natter.

2pm-3pm. Details: 0118 978 1368.

Tuesday, February 16 EARLEY – Palmer Building, University of Reading Whiteknights Campus RG6 2AH. Reading Film Theatre presents: Un Homme Ideal (A Perfect Man) (12a).

8pm. £5 members, £8 nonmembers, £7 concessions.

Membership £20. Details: 0118 378 7151 or readingfilmtheatre.co.uk.

EARLEY – St Peter’s Church Hall, Church Road. East Reading Horticultural Society meeting: 75th AGM.

7.45pm. Details: www.erhs. org.uk or 0118 926 7606.

LOWER EARLEY – Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Arts Explorers: discover art all around you. For teens and children aged 5 and over.

11am-11.45am. Explore Learning: Charlie and Lola.

For ages 4-6. 9.45am10.45am. Explore Learning: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. For ages 8-12.

11am-noon. Details: 0118 931 2150.

WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. Wokingham Art Society Meeting: Paul Banning, president of Wokingham Art Society, annual presentation.

7.30pm. £4, includes refreshments. Details: www. wokinghamartsociety. org.uk.

WOKINGHAM - St Paul’s Parish Rooms, Reading Road, Wokingham.

Wokingham Evening Townswomen’s Guild meeting. Guest speaker Frances Benton on ‘Tears of the Dragon.’ 7-30pm.

Details: 0118 989 2649.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Arts Explorers: discover art all around you. For teens and children aged 5 and over. 9.30am-10.15am.

Rhymetime for Babies.

10.30am-11am. Minecraft Activity: make your own head mask, enjoy a quiz and more. For ages 5-11.

10am-11am. £2. Storytime: rhymes and stories for ages 3-5. 2pm-2.30pm.

Third Tuesday Book Group: discuss new books, bestsellers and favourites.

10.30am-11.30am. National Careers Service: Advice sessions to help you with career planning, CVs and interviews. 9.40am-3.40pm.

UK Online: Help and support with computers and the internet for beginners.

2pm-4pm. Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Rhymetime for under fives. 10.30am.

Crafts and Laughs. 2pm4pm. Details: 0118 969 0304.

WOOSEHILL – Woosehill Church, Chestnut Avenue

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, February 12, 2016

What’s on event submission form Holding a community event? Running a fun day? Organising a concert? Planning a friendship group? Get it listed in our what’s on guide by sending information to us. Use this form or email events@wokinghampaper.co.uk. Please note this service is for community

Name Address

groups, charities and not-for-profit activities. We cannot guarantee inclusion.

Date of event: Venue of event:

Postcode

What will happen:

Email

Time of event:

Send your forms to: What’s On, The Wokingham Paper, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS

Contact number for readers: RG41 3RS. Lent Course 2016: The Psalms: Prayers For Today’s Church. 8pm9.30pm. Details: 0118 979 2122.

Wednesday, February 17 FINCHAMPSTEAD – Library, FBC Centre RG40 4ES. Book group. 10.30am-11.30am.

Details: 0118 908 8176.

SWALLOWFIELD – Parish Hall, Swallowfield Street RG7 1QX. Swallowfield Local history Society meeting: The Engineering History of King’s Cross and St Pancras Station. 7.45pm. Details: www.slhsoc.org.uk.

WARGRAVE – Library, Woodclyffe Hostel, Church Street RG10 8EP. Crafts and Laughs. 1.30pm-3.30pm.

Details: 0118 940 4656.

WINNERSH – Library, The Forest School, Robin Hood Lane RG41 5ND. Colouring For Adults. 11.45am1.15pm. Details: 0118 979 7519.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Rhymetime for toddlers.

11am-11.30am. Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOKINGHAM – All Saints Church, Wiltshire Road, RG40 1UE. All Saints Fellowship meeting: Shopping with the Victorians. 7.45pm. Details: 0118 977 0223.

WOODLEY – Town Centre.

Farmers’ Market. 9am-4pm.

Details: 0118 921 6920 or www.woodleytowncentre. co.uk.

WOODLEY – Library, Headley

Road RG5 4JA. Explore Learning session: The Gruffalo. For ages 4-6.

9.45am-10.45am. Explore Learning session: Wimpy Kid. For ages 8-12. 11amnoon. National Careers Service. Advice for your CV and career planning.

10am-5pm. Details: 0118 969 0304.

Thursday, February 18 EARLEY – Palmer Building, University of Reading Whiteknights Campus RG6 2AH. Reading Film Theatre presents: Black Mass (15).

7.45pm. £5 members, £8 non-members, £7 concessions. Membership £20. Details: 0118 378 7151 or readingfilmtheatre.co.uk.

LOWER EARLEY – Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Get Arty: arts and crafts fun for ages five upwards. 2.30pm3.30pm. £1.50. Beaded Delights Workshop with Caroline Marriott. Session 3: Make a beautiful pendant.

2pm-4pm. £5. Board Games Club. 10am-11am. Details: 0118 931 2150.

LOWER EARLEY – Trinity Church, Chalfont Close RG6 5HZ. Chalfont social afternoon: National Trust Gardens, a talk by David Hunt. £1. 2pm. Details: 0118 931 3124.

MAIDEN ERLEGH – Library, off Silverdale Road RG6 7HS. Rainbow Fairy Get arty for ages five upwards. 2.15pm3.15pm. Details: 0118 966 6630.

SPENCERS WOOD – Library, Basingstoke Road RG7 1AJ. Rhymetime: rhymes and stories for under fives.

2.30pm-3pm. Crafts and Laughs. 3pm-4pm. Details: 0118 988 4771.

WINNERSH – Library, The Forest School, Robin Hood Lane RG41 5ND. Keep Calm and Fly Casual: Club for players of the X Wing Miniatures Game, Star Wars and Armada. Age 16 and over.

5.30pm-7.45pm. Details: 0118 979 7519.

WOKINGHAM – Baptist Church, Milton Road.

Wokingham Literary Society meeting: What Would The Original Author Have Made of That? A talk by Marie Fry. £2.50 non-members.

7.30pm. Details: 0118 978 6782.

WOKINGHAM -– Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Explore earning: Astrosaurs.

For ages 5-7. 11am-noon.

Explore Learning: Harry Potter. For ages 8-11.

9.45am-10.45am. Teen Book Group for ages 11-18.

50p. 4.30pm-5.30pm.

National Careers Service.

Advice sessions to help you with career planning, CVs and interviews. 9.40am to 3.40pm. Details: 0118 978 1368.

Friday, February 19 EARLEY – Our Lady of Peace Social Club, Wokingham Road RG6 7DA (entrance off Aldbourne Avenue).

Reading and Wokingham Spanish Circle meeting: Two talks: Rowing in Africa with Jim Flood and La Patun de Berga: Corpus Christi by Vic Pepper. 7.45pm. £3. Details, 0118 977 2569 or 0118 979 2458.

FINCHAMPSTEAD – Library, FBC Centre RG40 4ES. Rhymetime for under fives.

11am. Details: 0118 908 8176.

WOKINGHAM – 30 Rose Street RG40 1XU. John Redwood MP constituency surgery by appointment.

Details: 020 7219 4205.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Cribbage and card games club. 10.30am. Local history surgery: drop-in advice with a local expert. 10am-noon.

Wokingham VIP group: book group for visually impaired. 2pm-4pm. Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Get Arty:

arts and crafts for ages five upwards. 10.30am-11.30am. £1.50. Details: 0118 969 0304.

Saturday, February 20 EARLEY – Earley Radstock Social Club, Radstock Lane RG6 5UL. Danny Mountain. Details: 0118 931 3965.

MAIDEN ERLEGH – Library, off Silverdale Road RG6 7HS. Craft time for parents and children aged 2-5. Love Bugs theme. 10.45am11.15am. Storytime. For ages seven and under.

10.15am-10.45am. Details: 0118 966 6630.

SHINFIELD – Parish Hall, School Green RG2 9EH. Open house session on Shinfield Parish Community Centre. 10am-1pm.

WOKINGHAM – Town Hall.

Town councillors’ surgery.

10am-noon. Drop-in.

Details: 0118 978 3185 or www.wokingham-tc.gov.uk.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Teen writing group for ages 11-18. 10.30am-noon.

Wokingham Writers Group for adults. 10am. Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOODLEY – Town Centre.

Market. 9am-4pm. Details: 0118 921 6920 or www. woodleytowncentre.co.uk.

WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Paracord Weaving workshop. For ages 6 upwards. 10.35am-noon. £5 per bracelet. Details: 0118 969 0304.

Sunday, February 21 WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Classics Book Group: for lovers of Dickens, Austen etc.

6.30pm-7.30pm. Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOKINGHAM – St Paul’s Church, Reading Road RG41 1EH. Choral Evensong sermon series: Horrible Heresies: Why What We Believe Really Matters.

Guest speaker Father David O’Sullivan from Corpus Christi, Wokingham.

6.15pm. Details: 0118 979 2122.

WOODLEY – Town Centre. Car boot sale. 8am-1pm. £10 per Car or £8 for table top pitch/ Walk on, bring own tables.

Details: 07861 654 674 or www.woodleytowncentre. co.uk.

MUSIC

COMEDY

FARCE

A night of folk and roots music

FANS of folk and roots are invited to join in a regular monthly music night at Bracknell’s South Hill Park.

The Artree Live night offers a wide variety of styles of roots and acoustic music, both from local and national artists.

Each evening features a mixture of 25-minute slots followed by a featured artist who will perform an extended set to close the show.

On Sunday the set list will be Chris Ricketts, Becky Jerams and Paco Wolf. It starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost £9.

For more details, visit www. southhillpark.org.uk or call 01344 484123.

SNOOKER

Pot as many balls as you can

SPORTS fans will be delighted to see snooker return to The Hexagon next weekend.

The popular sport will be performed at the Reading venue from tonight (Friday) to Sunday - Valentine’s Day. The Shoot-Out is a televised tournament that is transferring from Blackpool to the Thames Valley and will be shown on ITV4.

It features 64 of the world’s top players in a knock-out tournament where each match is a single frame lasting 10 minutes.

Shots should be taken within 15 seconds during the first half and 10 seconds in the second making it fast and furious.

There are a range of ticket options available to audiences including weekend passes.

For more details, visit www.readingarts. com or call 0118 960 6060.

MUSIC

The Wilburys recreated, live on stage

LEISURE | 25

To advertise call 0118 328 2959

Friday, February 12, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

An Ayckbourn classic comes to The Hexagon COMEDY is coming to The Hexagon later this month in the form of a very popular Alan Ayckbourn play.

Round And Round The Garden, a staple of many amateur groups, is currently on a professional tour.

The funny farce follows the trials and tribulations of Norman, his in-laws and the local vet over one summer weekend in a Sussex country house.

Assistant librarian Norman is intent on making all the women in his life happy while simultaneously attempting to seduce his sister-in-law Annie, charm his brother’s wife Sarah and still keep his own wife, Ruth, happy.

Oblivious to the repercussions of his actions, Norman leaves a trail of havoc, misunderstandings and comedy consequences.

At times wildly comic and, at times, poignant Round And Round The Garden aims to portray the complicated relationships amongst these six intertwined characters.

This award-winning play expertly highlights Ayckbourn’s sharp, acerbic wit to reveal the secrets, lies and deception which simmer beneath the surface of family

recreates the sound of the eighties in this new tribute show that promises to be an night of excellent vocals and music.

The one-off performance takes place tomorrow (Saturday) at the Kenton Theatre in Henley.

Tickets cost £21.

For more details, visit www. kentontheatre.co.uk or call 01491 575698.

MUSIC

Romance in store at this Diamond night

BACK in the 1980s, five musical giants teamed up to create an amazing, bestselling album.

George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan were the Traveling Wilburys: but plans for a tour to follow their time in the recording studio were nixed when Orbison died in 1988.

Now, performing artist Paul Hopkins

A ROMANTIC evening is promised to theatregoers this Sunday as the Mill at Sonning presents music from Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand.

The fun evening will see Tony Wright and Julie Coupland perform, accompanied by a band. The set list includes songs such as September Morn, People Somewhere, Evergreen and You Don’t Bring Me Flowers.

A night of gutter humour, thanks David

COMEDIAN David O’Doherty will be bringing his latest show to Reading next week.

David says that his show, called We’re All In The Gutter, But Some of Us Are Looking At David O’Doherty, will be an evening of talking and songs played on a stupid keyboard from 1986.

The evening is suitable for people aged 14 or over and takes place on Tuesday at the Concert Hall in Reading town centre.

Tickets cost £18 or £16 for concessions.

For more details, visit www.readingarts. com or call 0118 960 6060.

READING

Children’s classic retold by Derek Kevin Pallister and Natasha Gray star in Round And Round The Garden.

relationships.

This version, which is produced by Talking Scarlet theatre group, stars two Emmerdale actors: Natasha Gray and Kevin Pallister.

It will be performed at The Hexagon in Reading from Thursday, February 25,

The evening starts with dinner from 6pm and the show is at 8.15pm. Tickets cost £41.50, including the meal.

For more details, visit www. millatsonning.com or call 0118 969 8000.

AM DRAM

Soap suds in a lather, making Progress

READING’S amateur theatre is back in action again next week.

The Progress Theatre will be presenting Steel Magnolias from Monday.

The week-long production is set in a Louisiana beauty salon that is used by anyone who is somebody in the town.

The comic play follows the story of six women bonding in small-town America and is based on the hugely successful 1987 version of the play.

Tickets cost £12 or £10 for concessions.

Curtain up is at 7.45pm and there is a matinee at 2.30pm on the final

to Saturday, February 27. Curtain up is at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost from £19.50 with discounts for concessions and groups.

For more details, log on to www. readingarts.com or call the box office on 0118 960 6060.

performance day, Saturday, February 20.

For details or tickets visit www. progresstheatre.co.uk or call 033 666 3366.

VARIETY

Scouts back with their Gang Show

TO MARK half-term, local Scouts, Cubs, Guides and Brownies will once again take to the stage for their annual Gang Show.

The event promises a wide range of acting, dancing and singing from talented youngsters, with skits dating back years to more up to date offerings.

The show is performed, as ever, at Bracknell’s South Hill Park from Monday to Saturday, February 21, with matinees from Monday to Saturday and a grand finale on the Saturday evening. Tickets cost from £13, or £12 for groups of 12 or more.

For more details, visit www. southhillpark.org.uk or call 01344 484123.

A PROFESSIONAL storyteller will be visiting Bracknell’s South Hill Park later this month to retell some classic stories.

Aimed at children aged three and upwards, the event will see Derek Florey perform some of Aesop’s Fables including The Hare and the Tortoise, and the The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse.

It takes place on Wednesdays, February 17, and 24, at 2pm. Tickets cost £8. For more details, log on to www. southhillpark.org.uk or call 01344 484123.

MUSIC

Cash in for a night with Johnny

THE only show to be endorsed by the family of musician Johnny Cash is coming to The Hexagon on Thursday.

The Johnny Cash Roadshow aims to be a musical adventure that is unrivalled by any other and celebrates the life and career of the eponymous legend.

It is fronted by singer/songwriter Clive John and he is accompanied by the Spirit Band. Together they aim to recreate the essence of what it was like to be at a real Cash show.

The set list goes from the 1950s right up to 2002 and includes hits such as Ring of Fire, Walk The Line and Long Legged Guitar Pickin’ Man. Tickets cost £21.50 or £20.50 for concessions. For more details, visit www. readingarts.com or call 0118 960 6060.

AT THE THEATRE

Basingstoke – The Anvil www.anvilarts.org.uk 01256 844244 Mnozil Brass. Fri. Adam Hills. Sun. Tosca.

Tues. Koda. Wed. The Hollywood Special Effects Show. Thurs. The Classic Rock Show. Fri 19. Mawkin. Fri 19. Michael Portillo. Sat 20.

Basingstoke – The Haymarket www.anvilarts.org.uk 01256 844244 Basingstoke Gang Show. Until Sat 20.

Bracknell – South Hill Park www.southhillpark.org.uk (01344) 484123 Sweeney Todd. Until Sat. Harvey Lin and Zacharias Brandman: Conservatorie Concert Series. Fri. The Comedy Cellar.

Fri. Artree Live: Folk and Roots Music.

Sat. Creative Control Band Night.

Sun. South East Berks Gang Show.

Mon-Sat 21. Discover… Wildlife of East Africa. Mon. Aesop’s Fables. Wed. Neighbourhood Watch. Thurs-Fri 19.

The Comedy Cellar. Fri 19. Tarpology Workshop in the Grounds. Sat. Wilde Sundays. Sun 21. Creative Control Band Night. Sun 21.

FILM: In The Heart of the Sea. Fri. The Walk. Fri. Snoopy and Charlie Brown.

Sat-Sun. When Harry Met Sally. Sun. Un Homme Ideal (A Perfect Man).

Tues. The Lady In The Van. Wed. The Program. Thurs. Daddy’s Home. Fri 19-Sat 20. Joy. Fri 19-Sun 21.

Camberley – Theatre www.camberleytheatre.biz 01276 707600 Alun Cochrane. Fri. Sing-a-long-a Grease.

Wed. Tea With Oscar Wilde. Thurs. An Audience With Ann Widdecombe. Fri 19. Don’t Panic! It’s the Dad’s Army Dinner Show. Fri 19.

Didcot – Cornerstone www.cornerstone-arts.org 01235 515144 Missy Malone and Friends Burlesque Revue. Sat. Cafe Scientifique. Tues . The Big Shock. Wed. Here Be Monsters.

Thurs. Tannahill Weavers. Sat 20.

Guildford – Yvonne Arnaud www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk 01483 440000 At The Mountains of Madness. Fri. Reverie: The Life and Loves of Claude Debussy. Sat. Shadowlands.

Thurs-Feb 27.

Henley – Kenton www.kentontheatre.co.uk 01491 575698

Roy Orbison and the Travelling Wilburys.

Sat. Rapunzel. Wed. Mark Steel: Who Do I Think I Am? Sat 20.

Brown: Peanuts The Movie. WedThurs. The Good Dinosaur. Wed-Thurs.

Joy. Fri 19, Tues 23.

High Wycombe – Wycombe Swan

Newbury – The Corn Exchange

www.wycombeswan.co.uk 01494 512000 The Sound of Music. Until Sat. Tosca. Sun. Gretchen Peters. Sun. Sing-A-Long-A Frozen. Tues. Sing-a-Long-A- Grease.

Tues. Kodo. Thurs. The Dire Straits Experience. Sat 20. Into The Woods.

Fri 19-Sun 21.

www.cornexchangenew.com 0845 5218 218 Mark Thomas: Trespass. Fri. A Viennese Strauss Gala. Sat. Junior Play In A Day. Tues-Wed. Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company Encore: The Winter’s Tale.

Wed. My Pet Monster and Me. Thurs.

Jamie Smith’s Mabon. Thurs. Pam Ayres SOLD OUT. Fri 19.

The Hollywood Special Effects Show. Sat 20.

FILM: Trumbo. Fri-Thurs.

Maidenhead – Norden Farm www.nordenfarm.org 01628 788997 Dave O’Higgins sax. Fri. The Vinyl Frontier: Rubber Soul. Fri. Martin Turner, ex Wishbone Ash. Sat. Tim Fitzhigham: The Gambler. Sat. Jenny Eclair: How To Be A Middle Aged Woman (without going insane). Sun. Paddington Bear’s First Concert. Mon. Storytelling. Mon. Here Be Monsters. Tues. Tadpoles.

Thurs. David Waterman (cello) and Mishka Momen (piano). Thurs. Iain Stirling: Touchy Feely. Thurs. Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys. Fri 19. Viva Neil Diamond. Sat 20. Tom Thumb. Sun 21. Steve Parrish. Sun 21.

FILM: Doctor Zhivago. Sun. The Danish Girl. Tues-Wed. Snoopy and Charlie

Newbury – Watermill www.watermill.org.uk.

01635 46044 Tell Me On A Sunday. Until Feb 20.

Reading – South Street www.readingarts.com 0118 960 6060 Limehouse Lizzy. Fri. Phir Le Aaya Dil. Sat. Sitelines: Team of the Decades.

Sat-Sun. Johnty Wilks: A Journey Into Deep, Deep Peace. Sat. Acappella 101. Mon. Peut-Etre Theatre present Shh… Bang. Mon. Non Zero One: Ground Control. Thurs. Poets Cafe: Anne-Marie Ffye. Fri 19. Third Friday

Blues: Matt Edwards Band and Booga Red. Fri 19.

Reading – The Hexagon www.readingarts.com 0118 960 6060 World Snooker Shoot Out. Fri-Sun. The Johnny Cash Roadshow. Thurs.

Tosca. Sat 20.

Reading – Concert Hall

0118 975 8880 NEXT PLAY: The Dumb Waiter and Something Unspoken: two plays, one evening. March 9-12.

Sonning – The Mill www.millatsonning.com 0118 969 8000 The Perfect Murder. Until March 12. The Neil Diamond and Barbara Streisand Show. Sun. Genesis Connected. Sun 21.

www.readingarts.com 0118 960 6060 The Mayor’s Valentine’s Ball. Fri. David O’Doherty: We’re All In The Gutter, But Some of Us Are Looking at David O’Doherty. Tues. Classical Music Alive: Pavel Haas Quartet and Denis Kozhukhin, piano. Fri 19.

Windsor – Royal

Reading – Progress Theatre

www.ambassadortickets.com 0844 871 7645 Ellen Kent’s Tosca. Fri. Ellen Kent’s Carmen. Sat. Priscilla Queen of the Desert. From Mon until Sat 27.

www.progresstheatre.co.uk 0118 384 2195 Steel Magnolias. Mon-Sat 20.

Reading – St Barts www.stbartstheatre.org 07737 477193 The Boy That Bit Picasso. Sat.

Shinfield – Shinfield Players www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk

www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk 01753 853888 Confusions. Until Sat. Buble Time. Sun. Flare Path. Mon-Sat 20.

Woking – New Victoria

Wokingham – Theatre www.wokingham-theatre.org.uk 0118 978 5363 NEXT SHOW: The London Cuckolds.

March 3-12.

Woodley – Theatre www.woodleytheatre.org 07939 210121 Entertaining Angels. Feb 16-20.

26 | LEISURE

To advertise email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Animal Corner with Gemma Davidson

CAN you offer these adorable animals a loving forever home? Each week, we team up with the folk at Diana Brimblecombe Animal Rescue Centre in Nelsons Lane, Hurst, to try to find new homes for the animals currently in their care

CHARLIE

CHARLIE This two-year old male was found wandering, alone and terrified, on a rural road and kindly taken in by his finder.

Despite exhaustive search, no owner was found and Charlie had no means of identification. He is a happy, friendly chap, good around other dogs, but as we have no former information on him we wouldn’t put him into a home with young children under 12. Charlie walks well on a harness, but will need further training as he has probably had little education, but he a bright boy and very willing to learn.

Charlie is not a good travelling in the car, so his new home will need to be careful and make short trips until he gets used to travelling. Charlie is looking for a home where he will have company most of the day, with someone willing and able to give him the training, exercise and fun.

MAX If you are looking for an all round, fun loving, intelligent, affectionate and well-

Gig guide Friday, Feb 12 ASCOT – Jagz, Station Road.

Simon Currie’s 6plus1.

Details: 01344 878100.

BAGSHOT – The Cedar Tree, High Street GU19 5AG. Serious Chord Squad.

Details: 01276 473160.

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Average Chalky White Band and King Loud: The Keller Auditions. Details: 01344 303333.

CAMBERLEY – The Four Horseshoes, Frimley Road GU15 3EQ. Platinum Floyd.

Details: 01276 63842.

CAMBERLEY – The Royal Standard, Frimley Road GU15 2PP. Nevermind.

Details: 01276 27641.

FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. Steve Conway.

Details: 01252 519964.

HENLEY–ON–THAMES – The Queen Victoria, Market Place RG9 2AG. Mythical Men. Details: 01491 412667.

LITTLEWICK GREEN – The Novello, Bath Road SL6 3RX. Lea Lyle Quartet.

Details: 01628 825753.

READING – South Street.

Limehouse Lizzy. Details: 0118 960 6060.

READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Soul Satisfaction: The American Four Tops Show. Details: 0118 402 7800.

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Attention Thieves - last ever show. Details: 0118 959 5395.

READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. Highwasters.

Details: 0118 957 6930.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Influences: Terraforms Takeover. Details: 0118 959 7196.

WOKINGHAM – The Warren, Forest Road RG40 5SB. Nick Zala-Webb. Details: 01344 304446 WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. The Gas Trick Band.

Details: 0118 978 0918.

WOKINGHAM – The Molly Millar, Station Road RG40 2AD. 70s, 80s night with DJ Mally. Details: 0118 977 4548.

WOKINGHAM – The Red Lion, Market Place RG40 1AL. Ultimate Party Nights.

Details: 0118 979 5790.

YATELEY – Blackwater Valley Golf Centre, Sean Deveraux Park GU46 7SZ. Poppy’s Folk & Acoustic club

HOPE & ANCHOR Free entry, fantastic beers & a great night out!

This Saturday @ 9pm

IN TOO DEEP

All the classic rock anthems you enjoy!

WEY Saturday, February 20 LIVE THE SOULTONES MUSIC Soul for Saturday night!

Coming next

Station Road, Wokingham RG40 2AD 0118 978 0918 www.hopeanchor.co.uk

behaved dog then look no further than Max. While he would be a bit too young and energetic around young children he would be good with teenagers.

Max has learnt to walk on harness though a little more lead work will be needed. Max is in excellent physical condition and is always happy. He is a well behaved boy and not a barker. Max is good around other dogs and travels well in a vehicle. He loves company so a home where someone is around most of the time would be ideal.

MAX

COCO

Four-year-old Coco has come to DBARC

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, February 12, 2016

because her litter mate has sadly died so she is now on her own. She has always been used to living with another bunny, so would be perfect to pair up with a neutered male bunny for company. She will need fresh vegetables and water every day, and a nice sized hutch or pen to stretch her legs in.

COCO

with children so is an all-round little gem. She is fully house-trained, and has a sweet personality to match her cute appearance. Is this the cat for you? n Could you offer a forever home to any of these animals? If the answer is ‘yes’ then please get in touch with the centre on 0118 934 1122 to make sure the animals have not already been reserved. The centre is open everyday between 11am and 1pm, and 2pm and 4pm. For more information, and to view other animals in need of a home visit www. dbarc.org.uk

SOX

SOX This beautiful ginger and white four-year-old cat ended up at DBARC as her owner’s dog was allergic to her.

We are sure she didn’t mean to get up anyone’s nose, and is now looking to settle down in her forever home. Sox is good with other cats, good with dogs (the non-allergic kind!) and also very good

HOLDING A GIG, QUIZ OR GAMES NIGHT? SEND DETAILS TO EVENTS@WOKINGHAMPAPER.CO.UK presents: Payne’s People.

Details: www.poppyfolk. co.uk YATELEY – The Cricketers, Cricket Hill Lane GU46 6BA. Gary Roman is Elvis.

Details: 01252 872105.

Saturday, Feb 13 BAGSHOT – The White Hart, Guildford Road GU19 5JW. Thunderhead. Details: 01276 473640.

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Forty45. Details: 01344 303333.

BRACKNELL – The Silver Birch, Liscombe RG12 7DE. The Miller Family. Details: 01344457318.

BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Artree Live: Folk and Roots. Details: 01344 484123.

BRACKNELL – The Royal Oak, London Road RG12 2NN. The Vinyl Covers. Details: 01344 422622.

EVERSLEY – The White Hart, The Street RG27 0PJ. Blonde Ambition. Details: 0118 973 2817.

FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. Mike Hughes.

Details: 01252 519964.

FLEET – The Falkners Arms, Falkners Close GU51 2XF. Soul’d Out. Details: 01252 811311.

READING – South Street. Phir Le Aaya Dil with Junoon.

Jonty Wilks: A Journey Into A Deep, Deep Place. Details: 0118 960 6060.

READING – Jazz Cafe, Shooters Way, Madjeski Stadium RG2 0FL. Chain Gang. Details: 0118 968 1442.

READING – South Street. Phir Le Aaya Dil. Details: 0118 960 6060.

READING – O’Neills, Friar Street RG1 1BD. The Lee Aaron Band. Details: 0118 960 6580.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR.

SoundJam. Details: 0118 959 7196.

SANDHURST – Wellington Arms, Yorktown Road GU47 9BN. The Ukaye Ukes. Details: 01252 872408.

WEST END – West End Social Club, High Street GU26 9PL. Kevin Bull (solo artist).

Details: 01276 858501.

WOKINGHAM – The Two Poplars, Finchampstead Road RG41 2NU. Uptown Traffic. Details: 0118 978 0590.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. In Too Deep. Details: 0118 978 0918.

WOKINGHAM – The Molly Millar, Station Road RG40 2AD. 70s, 80s night with DJ Mally. Details: 0118 977 4548.

WOKINGHAM – The Red Lion, Market Place RG40 1AL. Ultimate Party Nights.

Details: 0118 979 5790.

WOKINGHAM – Hilton St Anne’s Manor, London Road RG40 1ST. Valentine’s special: Always on my Mind an evening with Elvis in Trouble. Details: 07776 206918.

YATELEY – The Dog and Partridge, The Green GU46 7LR. Vince Freeman.

Details: 01252 870648.

Monday, Feb 15

Sunday, Feb 14

BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Jazz jam. 10am.

Details: 01344 484123.

FLEET – Propaganda Music Canteen, Fleet Road GU51 3BU. John James Newman.

Details: 01252 620198.

TWYFORD – The Golden Cross, Waltham Road RG10 9EG. Open Mic night with Damian Delahunty. Details: 07946 342551.

ASCOT – Jagz, Station Road.

Sunday jazz: the Dave Newtown Trio. Details: 01344 878100 BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Wilde Sundays and Creative Control Band Night. Details: 01344 484123.

BRACKNELL – The Crown Wood, Opladen Way RG12 0PE. Jam session: Martin Deadman acoustic. Details: 01344 867374.

READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Readifolk: Theme Night: For Love Or Money. Details: 0118 958 6692.

EVERSLEY – The Golden Pot, Reading Road. Live Music Mondays: Steve Brookes.

Details: 0118 973 2104.

READING – South Street.

Acappella 101. Details: 0118 960 6060.

Tuesday, Feb 16 FLEET – The Harlington, Fleet Road GU51 4BY. Fleet Jazz Club: Celebrating Hoagy.

Details: 01252 811009.

PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. Stuart Henderson’s Valentine jazz special with Fleur Stevenson. Details: 0118 969 9878.

READING – Concert Hall.

David O’Doherty. Details: 0118 960 6060.

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. King Charles and Ryan O’Reilly. Details: 0118 959 5395.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Embeepe.dance.live: Extra special secret guests.

Details: 0118 959 7196.

STOKE ROW – Crooked Billet RG9 5PU. Moscow Drug Club. Details: 01491 681048.

Wednesday, Feb 17

Thursday, Feb 18 CAMBERLEY – Mr Bumble, GU17 9AP. Jam Night.

Details: 01276 32691.

CAMBERLEY – The Royal Standard, Frimley Road GU15 2PP. Acoustic Evening.

Details: 01276 27641.

CROWTHORNE – The Prince, High Street RG45 7AZ. Fat Men In The Bathtub. Details: 01344 772241.

HENLEY – Magoos, Hart Street. Stars In Their Minds karaoke. Details: 01491 574595.

FLEET – Propaganda Music Canteen, Fleet Road GU51 3BU. Smiley’s Heroes.

Details: 01252 620198.

READING – South Street. The Johnny Cash Roadshow.

Details: 0118 960 6060.

READING – The Walkabout, Wiston Terrace, off Friar Street. Karaoke Thursday.

Details: 0118 953 0000.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR.The Hip Hop Story: from Jazz, Northern Soul to Hip Hop with the Fab Fish Fry. Details: 0118 959 7196.

SUNNINGDALE – Sunningdale Lounge, London Road SL5 0DG. Big Al and the Blustering Buicks. Details: 01344 876887.

Friday, Feb 19 BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Debonair Sunrise and T Model Slim. Details: 01344 303333.

CAMBERLEY – The Four Horseshoes, Frimley Road GU15 3EQ. Amber Liadan.

Details: 01276 63842.

CAMBERLEY – The Royal Standard, Frimley Road GU15 2PP. Fever. Details: 01276 27641.

EMMBROOK – Sports and Social Club, Lowther Road RG41 1JB. Wokingham Music Club presents Hoopy Frood. Details: wokinghammusicclub.co.uk FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. Miss Lady Blackwell. Details: 01252 519964.

FARNBOROUGH – The Tradesmans Arms, Cove Road GU14 0EX. Bitter

Blues. Details: 01252 376745.

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Manics Vs Phonics.

Cubed 5th Birthday with Artwork, Santero and more.

Details: 0118 959 5395.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Junction Music presents: Live HipHop/Open Mic Night. Dark Matter: Mr Mel. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – South Street. The Matt Edwards Band. Details: 0118 960 6060.

SANDHURST – The White Swan, Swan Lane GU47 9BU. Dukes of Rock. Details: 01252 872444.

WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. Live music. Details: 0118 978 0918.

WOKINGHAM – The Molly Millar, Station Road RG40 2AD. 70s, 80s night with DJ Mally. Details: 0118 977 4548.

WOKINGHAM – The Red Lion, Market Place RG40 1AL. Ultimate Party Nights.

Details: 0118 979 5790.

Saturday, Feb 20 ASCOT – Jagz, Station Road.

Mojo. Details: 01344 878100.

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. The Stratospheres. Details: 01344 303333.

CAMBERLEY – Mr Bumble, GU17 9AP. Regrade. Details: 01276 32691.

EARLEY – Earley Radstock Social Club, Radstock Lane RG6 5UL. Danny Mountain.

Details: 0118 931 3965.

FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. Bright Shadows.

Details: 01252 519964.

FLEET – The Falkners Arms, Falkners Close GU51 2XF. NRG. Details: 01252 811311.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. SoundJam.

Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – South Street. Third Friday Blues: Matt Edwards Band and Booga Red. Details: 0118 960 6060.

READING – Jazz Cafe, Shooters Way, Madejski Stadium RG2 0FL. Soul and Funk tribute with the Blunter Bros. Details: 0118 968 1442.

READING – O’Neills, Friar Street RG1 1BD. Live music.

Details: 0118 960 6580.

READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Funk Republic Live Karaoke. Details: 0118 402 7800.

WEST END – West End Social Club, High Street GU26 9PL. Stealers Bluff. Details: 01276 858501.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. The Soultones. Details: 0118 978 0918.

WOKINGHAM – The Molly Millar, Station Road RG40 2AD. 70s, 80s night with DJ Mally. Details: 0118 977 4548.

WOKINGHAM – The Red Lion, Market Place RG40 1AL. Ultimate Party Nights.

Details: 0118 979 5790.

YATELEY – The Dog and Partridge, The Green GU46 7LR. The Turn. Details: 01252 870648.

Sunday, Feb 21 BRACKNELL – The Crown Wood, Opladen Way RG12 0PE. Jam session: Martin Deadman acoustic. Details: 01344 867374.

BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Wilde Sundays and Creative Control Band Night. Details: 01344 484123.

READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Readifolk: North Sea Gas. Details: 0118 958 6692.

WEST END – West End Social Club, High Street GU26 9PL. Trey Jackson (Country). Details: 01276 858501.

LEISURE | 27

To advertise call 0118 328 2959

Friday, February 12, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

AT THE CINEMA

The acoustic couch

Dad’s Army re-boot misses the target

When Abbey Road was full of Glee!

Upcoming music with Jody Mc

A club that aims to make singing fun enjoyed some real recording studio time. JODY Mc explains

A

Stars: Bill Nighy, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Toby Jones, Micael Gambon, Sarah Lancashire and Tom Courtenay

I

T MAY may seem strange that 40 years after the TV show finished, they’ve only now decided to resurrect it in bigscreen form.

But, in this age of recycling and plundering of all things dead, buried, long-forgotten and recently departed, Dad’s Army is as ripe as anything for the re-boot treatment.

It’s also, of course, a cynical attempt to cash in on the grey pound: the army of older cinemagoers flocking to see the likes of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Song for Marion.

Indeed, there was a ripple of excitement when plans for the movie first emerged – boosted by the incredible cast linked to it.

Dad’s Army is packing some heavy acting artillery – Bill Nighy, Toby Jones, Michael Gambon and Tom Courtenay all take on some of the much-loved roles, with an impressive squadron of female talent bringing up the rear – Sarah Lancashire, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Annette Crosbie and Alison Steadman all feature.

But the dynamite roll call of talent can’t save this new, bynumbers, feature-length episode of the 1960s-made, Second World War-based sitcom from mediocrity.

A pedestrian but suitably grandiose storyline sees the British Home Guard, headed up by the incompetent but proud Captain Mainwaring (Toby Jones in full-on hamming-it-up mode), become the subject of a magazine article.

When the glamorous Rose Winters (Jones) wafts into their fictional seaside town, Walmington-on-Sea, she sets about researching, interviewing and documenting the platoon’s operations. Using her substantial feminine wiles, she gets the men to open up – much to the chagrin of the town’s womenfolk.

In this usually quiet coastal settlement, such an occurrence is highly irregular, so when the men are also tasked with flushing out a spy in their midst, the Home Guard doesn’t know what’s hit it.

The boys see it as a real chance to make a difference as the war draws to a close. But will infatuation, deception and ineptitude stand in the way? For a bit, yes – but they’ll come out of it accidental heroes.

While it has an old-fashioned, olde-English feel evocative of the original series – innocent humour and all – the remake feels outdated, irrelevant, devoid of wit and curiously charmless.

There is little to write home about in most of the performances – a basic slapstick approach rules – although Michael Gambon cast against type as the eccentric Private Godfrey manages to elicit a wry smile on several occasions.

It’s perhaps the relationship between Bill Nighy’s Sergeant Wilson and Sarah Lancashire’s Mrs Pike, though, that sits at the film’s heart, and exists as it’s most developed and engaging part.

Paying homage to a British TV classic and celebrating traditional values and simpler times as it does, it’s hard not to admire what Dad’s Army sets out to do.

Modest in its scale and ambition, there’s also something refreshing about this odd little misfit of a film but, sadly, there’s not enough here to make this inoffensive offering worth seeking out.

Getting ready to Speak Brother SOUND consultancies Management companies Emma Drayton recently contacted theacousticcouch about the forthcoming Ep from Speak Brother, a band from Rugby hoping to come spend some time with us in Bracknell in the near future, drop an interview, break some strings jamming and introduce our venue and its supporters to their EP. Here’s a snippet of their news telling you briefly a little about the band.

In a couple of weeks before the release I will review the EP and hopefully spend some time with the guys (if it can be arranged in their crazy schedule!) to tell you a little more on their personal walk within music.

We will also give away a copy of the EP – look out for details in the weeks ahead.

The new EP from Speak Brother will cement their rising popularity in the UK folkrock genre.

Packed with rousing and anthemic tunes full of passionate songwriting and drenched in rich vocal harmony, Light Runs After Us is an EP that will stay with you long after first listening.

The EP features acclaimed singles Slow To Now and Lions Roar: The latter a musical celebration of the sporting legacy of Rugby, the band’s hometown. Lions Roar won support from Wasps RUFC, Rugby FM and the Matt Hampson Foundation, and saw the band debut the track live on ITV Calendar News.

Speak Brother are getting ready to release their new EP

STR8TS

SUDOKU

No. 268

Medium

Previous solution - Tough

9 5 8 6 6 4 7 9 7 9 8 8 5 7 7 6 2 4 3 1 2 4 3 1 2 5 6 1 2

3 4

1 9

3

7

2 4 6

9 1

3 1

4

6 8 5 7 8

You can find more help, tips and hints at www.str8ts.com

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

Dad’s Army (PG) «««««

BBEY Road Studios in London is certainly one of the most prestigious recording studios in the world, with an amazing array of artists and film scores to it’s name from the Beatles and Pink Floyd, to familiar cinematic soundtracks from the Star Wars saga to Harry Potter, it has been in demand internationally as a premier recording venue for the last 80 years.

On Sunday, more than 200 members of Glee Club UK spent the day recording at the iconic London studios.

“We were made to feel like genuine recording artistes.”

Glee Club UK is a group of adult community choirs with clubs locally in Bracknell, Warfield, Twyford and Caversham. It is open to men and women aged 16 and over and the group’s leaders say that its sessions are time for just being YOU! Singing, they add, is a fantastic way to destress.

“I looked for ages to find an adult singing group like this. I didn’t want classical or serious, just to sing for myself and have fun.”

“I can’t imagine life without Glee and the wonderful friends I have made.”

Interested in singing? Visit gleeclubuk.com for club details or call Terri on 020 8133 1074.

A bucket list item for any musician and singer, the experience was a truly thrilling moment in the lives of those members who took part in the red-letter day recording session.

Charlie Loveday, from Martins Heron, Bracknell and Oil City Kings bassist, said: “It truly was a dream of mine just to visit Abbey Road Studio, let alone record there. It was such a wonderful day and an incredible experience”.

Musical director, Richard Whennell is very pleased with how things went.

“I am so proud of how everyone carried themselves on the day,” he said. “The sound engineers and staff at Abbey Road were so welcoming to all of our over-excited members and it helped make the day extremely special.

7 8 3 2 6 1 5 4 5 3 4 9 8

3 2 4 2 1 5 1 4 3 3 2 6 7 8 7 5 6 8 6 7 9

No. 268

Medium

Previous solution - Easy

6 7 9 8 2 3 5 1 4

1 5 8 9 3 7 6 1 2 3 8 9 6 6 3 5 9 8 4 3 5 6 7 4

How to beat Str8ts – Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These need to be filled in with numbers that complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order, eg [4,2,3,5]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to The solutions will be published here in the next issue. see how ‘straights’ are formed.

8 6 1 2 3

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

Kim Taylor-Foster

8 2 4 5 7 1 9 6 3

1 3 5 6 9 4 2 8 7

4 9 2 3 6 7 8 5 1

5 8 3 1 4 2 6 7 9

7 1 6 9 5 8 3 4 2

3 4 7 2 8 6 1 9 5

2 5 8 4 1 9 7 3 6

9 6 1 7 3 5 4 2 8

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org If you like Str8ts check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

IN A BAND? HOLDING A GIG? HEARD SOME GREAT MUSIC? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! E-MAIL NEWS@WOKINGHAMPAPER.CO.UK

Your weekly puzzle challenge

28 | LEISURE

To advertise email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Quiz Challenge

CROSS CODE 18

8

20

16

21

8

4

18

12

6

13

2

12 6

23

26

20 8

12

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8

22

26

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5

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25

8

2

1. Which Italian sparkling wine is normally made using the glera grape?

2. Who is the only unseeded player other than Boris Becker to have won the men’s singles title at Wimbledon?

3. Which US state has borders with all the Great Lakes apart from Lake Ontario?

4. Which BBC TV drama, starring Maxine Peake and Rupert PenryJones, followed a group of barristers?

5. In which novel by E.M. Forster does a tourist accuse a doctor of attacking her?

15 2

2

25 13

17

8

7

2 11

8

8

12

2

25

11

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1

11

20

5

2

9

15 6

2

20

20 19

2 8

5

15

8 2

16 12

10

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5 26

20

15

NONAGRAM

25 20

M I

13

1

2

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I

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

WE DREW EVERY ELDER

I

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 I through openings in the walls. The T first letter may appear in any chamber.

A M

E N S

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: 24 Good; 28 Very Good; 33 Excellent.

DW

HO

UE

IE

LG

CB

OA

IK

LE

ST

OE

1 4 2 7 2 3 9 8 6 4 2 9 3 7 2 5 1 6 5 8 6 3 1 8

7 2 3

4 3 1 2 7 9 1 7 2

LA

4 3 1

R

2 1

H

T

A

Here are two miniature fivesquare crosswords using the same grid – but the letters have been mixed up.

You have to work out which letters belong to which crossword.

SY

All puzzles on this page are supplied by Sirius Media Services.

To try more of our puzzles interactively online go to www.puzzledrome.com

8 4

3

4

5

5

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7

8 8

9

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6. Relish the oil squeezed from peel (4)

M

Perform the first calculation in each line first and ignore the mathematical law which says you should always perform division and multiplication before addition and subtraction.

3 9

E

E

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.

8

2

ACROSS DOWN 1. Penny arrived and delivered 2. Argue with one girl or a sermon (8) another (6)

EQUALISER 10 11 12 1 3 2 2 3 0 3 4 1

Hard

9 3 5 1 8 7 6 6

7 1

U

OL

DL

Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box.

8 7

P

LD

EA

SUDOKU Easy

C

OU

GU

1

22

S

HK

QR

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

20

FIVE ALIVE

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.

6. Who was on the throne of England in 1586 at the time of the Babington Plot?

7. In December 1989 the USA invaded Panama and ousted which leader?

8. Former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond also co-hosted which outdoor game show with Amanda Byram?

9. What name for a person who fumbles and drops things was created by William Shakespeare?

10. In British parliamentary slang, what kind of person is known as a ‘spad’?

WORD PYRAMID

T H A

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

R

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, February 12, 2016

© Sirius Media Services Ltd

SOLUTIONS

3. Stuffy serials broadcast (7)

8. Vessel found in the brewery (4)

4. Avoid committing oneself on the boundary (5)

9. Large number with drink attend tattoo (8)

5. Thomas, perhaps – a suspicious type of person (7)

10. Does a streaker hurry with this? (8,5)

6. African animal crossing the road (5)

11. It is in the atlas, I assume (4)

7. Sea air for retiring worker inside (6) 13. Was it designed for prisoners 12. Stellar type of cast? (3-4) doing a stretch? (4) 17. Wonderful employee! (7,6) 20. Such money, being virtually worthless, might be flung (8) 21. Delightful French resort (4) 22. Stone animal outside New York (4)

14. Ronald in elegant surroundings is lasting a long time (7) 15. Sid returns one’s personal reject (6) 16. It has to have a point to be of use to a writer (6)

23. Absentees are unable to provide their names for this (4-4)

18. Attach if fax is mislaid (5) 19. Type of pool to go round (5)

QUICK CROSSWORD 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8 8

9

10

11 12

13

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17 22

18

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26

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27 28

29

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32

26. Calm (6) ACROSS 1. Species of rye27. Golf course grass (6) hazard (6) 4. Textile (6) 28. Lowest point (5) 8. Short sleep (6) 29. Let in water (6) 10. Black eye (inf.) (6) 30. Group of seven (6) 11. Moisten in 31. Courage (6) cooking (5) 32. Respiratory 12. Hot pepper (6) disorder (6) 14. Take into custody DOWN (6) 1. Extract by boiling 16. ---- Coward, (6) playwright (4) 2. Keep (6) 17. Equipment (4) 3. Make possible (6) 19. Russian emperor 5. Stick (6) (4) 6. Give up (6) 22. ---- of March (4)

7. Assistant clergyman (6) 9. Bucket (4) 10. Male deer (4) 13. Blood-sucking insect (5) 15. Large black bird (5) 18. Refuge (6) 19. School absentee (6) 20. Temper, toughen (6) 21. Peruse (4) 22. Wading bird (4) 23. Coercion, pressure (6) 24. Drawing (6) 25. African shrub (6)

6 8 2 1 9 4 7 5 3

9 5 3 7 8 2 4 6 1

4 1 7 6 3 5 2 9 8

5 4 9 8 7 1 6 3 2

3 2 8 4 6 9 5 1 7

1 7 6 2 5 3 8 4 9

2 6 5 3 1 7 9 8 4

8 3 4 9 2 6 1 7 5

4 1 6 5 3 2 7 8 9

7 9 1 5 4 8 3 2 6

EASY SUDOKU

D

K

E

Q

14 1

15 2

O

16 3

CROSS CODE

G

7 2 3 4 8 9 1 5 6

9 5 8 7 1 6 4 2 3

6 4 5 8 7 3 2 9 1

8 9 1 2 5 4 3 6 7

2 3 7 9 6 1 8 4 5

1 7 9 6 4 8 5 3 2

5 6 4 3 2 7 9 1 8

3 8 2 1 9 5 6 7 4

HARD SUDOKU

Y

17 4

X

B

18 5

M

W

19 6

C

R

20 7

F

H

21 8

A

P

22 9

U

WORD PYRAMID: Pure mathematics.

EQUALISER: Clockwise from top left – divide; subtract; multiply; add. Total: 9.

MAGIC SQUARE: lewd; ever; were; drey.

23

J

V

10

Z

24

L

11

S

25

N

12

26

I

T

13

QUICK CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Darnel; 4 Fabric; 8 Catnap; 10 Shiner; 11 Baste; 12 Chilli; 14 Arrest; 16 Noel; 17 Gear; 19 Tsar; 22 Ides; 26 Serene; 27 Bunker; 28 Nadir; 29 Leaked; 30 Septet; 31 Mettle; 32 Asthma.

Down – 1 Decoct; 2 Retain; 3 Enable; 5 Adhere; 6 Render; 7 Curate; 9 Pail; 10 Stag; 13 Louse; 15 Raven; 18 Asylum; 19 Truant; 20 Anneal; 21 Read; 22 Ibis; 23 Duress; 24 Sketch; 25 Protea.

Shanty; 12 All-star; 14 Chronic; 15 Disown; 16 Pencil; 18 Affix; 19 ahem; anthem; ashen; ashet; atheism; haem; hast; haste; hasten; hate; Whirl. heat; heist; hest; hetman; hint; hist; HISTAMINE; isthmian; mash; mashie; mesh; meth; methi; meths; mishit; neath; nesh; saithe; sham; shame; shea; shen; shim; shin; shine; sinh; smith; tahini; tash; than; thane; theism; then; thiamine; thin; thine; this.

Down – Debit; Urged; Holly.

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Preached; 6 Zest; 8 Ewer; 9 Drumbeat; 10 Indecent (2) Across – Whelk; Could; Sells.

Down – Wicks; Equal; Kudos. haste; 11 Asia; 13 Rack; 17 Miracle worker; 20 Confetti; 21 Nice; 22 Onyx; 23 Roll-call.

NONAGRAM: Down – 2 Rowena; 3 Airless; 4 Hedge; 5 Doubter; 6 Zebra; 7

QUIZ CHALLENGE: 1 Prosecco; 2 Goran Ivanisevic; 3 Michigan; 4 Silk; 5 A Passage to India; 6 Elizabeth I; 7 Manuel Noriega; 8 Total Wipeout; 9 Butterfingers; 10 Special adviser.

(1) Across – Dough; Bagel; Today.

FIVE ALIVE:

Get your business seen!

Classifieds RECRUITMENT

Call 0118 328 2959

Email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk

DECORATING

CAREER OPPORTUNITY Accounts Assistant Eden Wokingham Eden Motor Group is looking to recruit an experienced full time Accounts Assistance to work alongside the dealership accountant at our Eden dealership located in Wokingham.

The position will encompass the following: • Sales Ledger • Credit Control • Purchase ledger • Banking • Reconciliations Ideally you will have previous CDK (Kerridge) experience and also the flexibility to be able to work at our Eden Reading dealership on occasion To express an interest please forward your CV by email to Wendy Harrington, Dealership Accountant, at wendy.harrington@edenmotorgroup.com. www.edenmotorgroup.com

quality decorators We are proud to support The Wokingham Paper A local family business established for 30+ years, we guarantee customer satisfaction with our highly professional and personal service.

We provide all aspects of internal and external painting and decorating, domestic and commercial, plus artexing, coving and tiling.

Also general building and allied work.

Free estimates and advice Mobile: 07966 551698 Phone: 0118 973 3537 Email: trevor@quality-decorators.co.uk Website: www.quality-decorators.co.uk

Experience in a similar role is not essential as full training and support will be provided. So if you are looking for a new role or a change in career direction or even for your first role since leaving full time education we would love to hear from you providing you can answer yes to the following questions: • Are you looking for a role that will enable you to use or develop your practical DIY skills and deal with straightforward site maintenance problems?

• Are you able to manage your own workload effectively?

• Do you recognise the importance of ensuring a secure and safe school environment?

• Are you able to remain calm, composed and flexible within a busy and demanding environment?

In return we can offer flexibility on the hours worked and would consider either a full time or part time appointment covering 195 term time days + 20 days during school holidays.

Salary will be dependent on experience and working pattern but will be within Grade 3 SCP 14 to Grade 4 SCP 21 with a pro-rata annual salary up to £14,900.

Application forms can be found on our website www.evendons-primary.co.uk Please email your completed application form and a personal statement (not more than 1 side of A4) outlining why you think you would be suitable for the position of Premises Assistant to us at recruitment@evendons-primary.co.uk.

Please can you also make it clear whether you are wanting full or part time and what hours you would prefer.

Closing date for applications is 9am on Friday 26th February 2016.

MOTORING

ALL CARS WANTED Including vans & motorcyles for cash

Minimum *£200 cash for scrap cars.

Here’s the deals!

SMART SAVER

• 30 words linage advert for the year at £149+VAT (£2.87+VAT per week)

£149

+VAT

FOR THE YEAR! LINAGE EXAMPLE

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WOKINGHAM SPORT

RUGBY: Clinical Colchester put Bracknell to the sword in impressive display — Page 35

Unrivalled coverage of sport in the Borough

Contact the sports desk: sport@wokinghampaper.co.uk | Log on the for latest sports news www.wokinghampaper.co.uk GYMNASTICS

ATHLETICS

ace Hall is having Golden boy Cowan jumps Hurdles the best time out on track into Team GB history books

By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk WILLIAM COWAN has jumped into the history books after becoming the first Great Britain junior to win successive gold medals at the Tumbling World Age Group Championships.

Cowan followed up his medal triumph at the same competition last year when competing in the 11-12 age group at the event, which was this time hosted in Denmark.

William’s opening run returned a personal best score of 33.1, while producing a performance of similar standard saw the youngster cruise into the final in first place.

It was a repeat performance of his first routine, however, which saw Cowan, from Woodley, consolidate top spot and secure the gold.

William was one of three members representing Pinewood Gymnastics Club at the competition.

Performing in the same age bracket was Jack Williams, who was sampling his first age group championships.

And he did not disappoint, performing two superb runs to secure a spot in the final in fifth place.

Jack then landed his run of clear whips to a full tuck finish, which secured a position of seventh overall.

Also flying the flag for Pinewood was Dominic Mensah. Competing in the

From left: Jack Williams, Dominic Mensah and gold medal winner William Cowen

15-16 section, Dominic’s primary runs consisted of a double straight transition, which ended with a back in full straight.

A second run of clear whips to double twisting straight took him through to the

final in fourth place.

With just the one run in the final, Mensah executed a double straight transition to back in, full straight, which left him in sixth place.

THE year 2016 may only be a few weeks old, but it has already witnessed Amber Leigh Hall tear up individual records out on the track at a ferocious pace.

For the Forest Sixth Form student (pictured) has quashed her personal best on no fewer than three occasions.

Hall welcomed in the New Year by clocking a personal best of 7.62 seconds over the 60metre hurdles at her first meet – a time she has since bettered.

This was followed up by the athlete running 8.75 – another new individual record – and becoming South of England Under-20 champion over the same distance.

To put the students achievements into perspective, Amber is ranked third in the all-time UK U18 100m hurdles.

This a higher rank than what both world and Olympic heptathlete champion Jessica Ennis-Hill and Serita Solomon, the 2015 European bronze medalist, have scored during their careers.

Hall, who also holds six all-time club records at different age groups with Reading Athletics Club, is now preparing to compete at the UK Athletic Championships, which take place on February 28.

Another objective over the coming months is to represent the United Kingdom at the World Junior

CRICKET

BASKETBALL

‘Crucial’ game awaits Rockets after Trophy exploits READING Rockets return to league duty this weekend boosted by the National Trophy exploits of the weekend before.

For Manuel Pena Garces’ men defeated Team Northumbria 80-72 to set up a final showdown with English Basketball League (EBL) Division 1 rivals Manchester Magic next weekend.

“I am absolutely delighted with my team and how they played,” said the coach.

“We were excellent for 35 minutes of the game and thoroughly deserve to be in the final.

“After some difficult games with varied performances we did a great job playing more consistently and disciplined and I am delighted for everyone involved in the club.”

Play caller Pena Garces is now preparing his side for a trip to Westminster Warriors on Sunday (3pm tip-off).

While Rockets sit fourth in the table and looking to make it 12 wins from 17 games, the Spaniard hopes their semi-final success can galvanise the side as they head towards the business end of the season.

And he will be hoping this can begin by overcoming a Warriors side who were beaten 86-80 by Rockets back in

Championships.

The long-term goal, meanwhile, is simple: qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

In between training six days a week, Amber is also studying for three A Levels at the Winnersh sixth form centre and will soon begin an Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence through England Athletics.

But the sprinting star, who also trains with GB hurdles coach Ian Grant at Brunel University most weekends, is in need of financial support if she is to reach her full potential.

Reading AC supply most of the necessary funding, but more is needed if such lofty ambitions are to be reached.

Hall will need to compete at various venues across the continent throughout the year in order to deepen her experience and engage in the highest quality of competition possible.

The costs needed for travel and accommodation to at least three meetings has been projected at £1,400.

Those wishing to sponsor or donate funds or equipment are asked to contact Lindsey Redgate at The Forest School by calling (0118) 978 1626. n To learn more about the athlete, visit her Facebook page – facebook.com/ Amber-Leigh-Hall-120406894990322

Reading Rockets celebrate Sunday’s National Trophy semi-final win over Team Northumbria

October. Although sitting precariously at the wrong end of the standings, Westminster took this weekend’s opponents all the way to double overtime when they met again a month later, only for Reading to prevail 87-84.

“For us, it (victory over Northumbria) needs to be a stepping stone.

“We have got a crucial game in the

league this weekend against a team we have found really difficult to overcome, before the final itself and then three really tough away games” added Pena Garces.

“Sunday’s performance should be the boost we need heading into the latter stages of the season, when every game is vital.

“This weekend sees us take on Westminster and I am surprised about their league position because of the two performances against us already this season.

“We are expecting another tough game despite their league position because they have got some really good talent in their team and have played much better in recent weeks.

“We must be focused for this and take care of this game before we concentrate on the National Trophy next week.”

Point guard Antonio Robinson came through the game last Sunday unscathed, having suffered head and knee injuries the previous week.

Despite being touch and go for the game, the American returned 11 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.

Fraser Glass is also expected to shake off illness and return to the side.

Scottish point guard Glass only managed two minutes of the game with Northumbria, but should be able to try and help the side record a fourth straight win in the league.

The Trophy final will be played at the University of East London.

Berkshire set up a date with Middlesex

BERKSHIRE CCC have arranged an attractive friendly match against Middlesex CCC as both counties warm-up for the 2016 season.

The 50-overs game will take place at Falkland CC’s ground at Wash Common on Sunday, April 3, starting at 11am.

Middlesex finished runners-up to Yorkshire in the County Championship last season.

Two of their stars, Nick Compton and Steven Finn, played for England in the recent tour to South Africa, while the county’s new signings for this year include New Zealanders Brendon McCullum and Mitchell McGlenaghan.

Berkshire spinner Chris Peploe, who was the club’s 2015 player of the year, spent his first-class career with Middlesex.

Roy New, the Berkshire secretary, said: “We are delighted that Middlesex have agreed to play us. It should be an entertaining game.

“We are also indebted to Falkland CC, especially groundsman Wilson Carlisle, for agreeing to stage this game so early in the year.”

As with all Berkshire matches, spectators will be admitted free to the ground.

Peploe has recently switched clubs from Ealing to Datchet, where he links up with county coach Tom Lambert and skipper James Morris.

34 | SPORT

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, February 12, 2016

LONDON IRISH

Exiles show Warrior spirit to secure vital win London Irish 20 Worcester Warriors 13 LONDON IRISH pulled themselves off the foot of the Aviva Premiership table with this vital victory at Madejski Stadium, but Clark Laidlaw said: “We are not interested in looking at the table too much.”

The Exiles once again secured a win when they needed it most, with Ciaran Hearn and the recalled Andrew Fenby both going over on Sunday afternoon.

Along with 10 further points from the boot of Shane Geraghty, Irish boast a 100 per cent record in basement battles this season, having also seen off fellow strugglers Newcastle Falcons at the start of the year.

And while just a third win of the campaign hoisted Tom Coventry’s charges off the foot of the standings once again, his assistant Laidlaw hopes it is now onwards and upwards for the club.

“I think everybody forgets that we are only halfway through the season,” he said.

“With the late start in the year, we still have 11 Premiership games to go.

“We are not interested in looking at the Premiership table too much, at the end of the day we just need to try and keep winning.

“It’s really tight, we all know that, if you can get three or four wins in a row it makes a massive difference.”

He added: “It was never going to be an easy game, in a tight game like that it was unlikely that either team would really pull away.

“We had opportunities in the first half to get across the line but were unable to take them.

“From an attack perspective, that was one of the more pleasing days.

“It is good to get another win at home, our form of late, apart from last weekend

Andrew Fenby grabbed the all important second try

against Sale where we were really disappointing, has been good.

“The last six weeks have been pretty encouraging.”

Irish were in need of a pick-me-up following the 38-10 reverse at Sale the previous weekend.

But both league wins prior to kick off had arrived on home soil, where the hosts had won four of their last five fixtures played in Berkshire.

And hopes of keeping up this solid run of form looked promising when Hearn broke the deadlock on 18 minutes.

It was a fine individual score from the Canadian too, who picked up the loose ball dropped by the Warriors’ Chris Pennell as he raced out of his own 22.

From here the centre produced a smart chip and chase over the first line of defence before regathering the ball and scoring under the posts.

Geraghty improved the score and the hosts led 7-0.

Worcester put their first points on

the board via a Ryan Mills penalty from range soon after – only for Geraghty to restore the seven-point advantage from the tee.

The penalty was awarded following a trip by Bryce Heem, for which he was sent to the sin-bin.

The fixture was to represent a milestone occasion for Topsy Ojo, as it was his 250th appearance for the club.

As a kind gesture, the full back was asked to lead the team out with his son, but things appeared to have got much better for Irish’s leading try scorer when he dabbed down early in the second half.

Ojo, however, saw the play brought back for an earlier obstruction and a 72nd try in the club’s colours was chalked out.

Minutes later and the Warriors, who began the day sitting 10th in the table, were back in the game.

A multiphase play by the visitors created the overlap for Heem to grab a try in the corner.

The conversion was missed, but only two points separated the side.

Any nerves which may have began creeping into the fixture, however, were eased when Fenby received a pass from Geraghty and drove over the line under the posts.

The kick from the fly-half was good and Irish held a 17-8 advantage.

The try came as a result of the pressure cranked up on the guests after Donnacha O’Callaghan became the next Worcester player to be chucked in the bin.

But the Warriors soon came rallying back, with loose head prop Val Rapava

Topsy Ojo makes a dart for the line on what was his 250th appearance for Exiles as Johnny Williams breaks up a Worcester attack (inset) Pictures: Paul King

Ruskin, on as a replacement, bullying his way over the line from five-metres out to set up a nervy final 10 minutes.

The conversion was once again missed, but the gap had been cut to just four points.

This meant the next score would be a vital one, so it was to come as some relief when Irish were awarded a penalty.

Geraghty was again deadly accurate and the home side were in the driving seat.

Worcester would duly push hard as the contest Shane neared a conclusion, but Geraghty their efforts would prove kicked over fruitless as Luke Narraway 10 points and Gerard Ellis won turn Pictures: over ball to help ease the Paul King strain and secure a vital four points.

The losing bonus-point picked up by the away side denied Irish the chance to climb above Worcester in the standings, but Laidlaw was pleased with the

PREVIEW

We could be in for a real humdinger, says McCusker NORTHAMPTON SAINTS V LONDON IRISH AVIVA PREMIERSHIP FRANKLIN’S GARDENS SATURDAY – 3PM

By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk

LONDON IRISH will be making the trip to Northampton in buoyant mood, Rob McCusker has said.

Not only do the club hit the road full of confidence having won the basement battle with Worcester Warriors last time out, but also head to Franklin’s Gardens knowing they can secure successive victories over the Saints this season.

Irish bagged a first league win of the season when defeating Saturday’s opponents 28-25 at Madejski Stadium back on Boxing Day, with the four points secured courtesy of a last-gasp penalty try.

Although ruled out of that game with a calf injury, back row McCusker was left encouraged by the performance and believes a similar display can only hold the visitors in good stead.

“It was just a really good performance from the boys,” said the Wales international.

“It was a similar situation to what we were in at the weekend, although we were not as desperate at the time to pull away from the bottom of the table,

Rob McCusker

but to get that first win.

“The boys fought for each other, attacked well and were strong in the pack and we squeezed the win with a penalty try, which was pleasing.

“I think Northampton have lost a couple of guys to England, but they will still put out a big side more than capable of getting a result.

“I expect it will be a forward battle and we will go prepared for that, but we will also go there looking to play some

of our rugby, mix it up up front and hopefully release the backs to do some damage.”

Irish, though, will make the trip to Northampton still looking to record a first Premiership win away from home this term.

The Saints, meanwhile, are stern opponents on home soil and have lost just twice in their own back yard in 2015/16 – but McCusker believes something has got to give.

He added: “We will be buoyed by the win over Worcester and having beaten Northampton already, but Franklin’s Gardens is a formidable place to go and play and the Saints are looking to push for the play-off places, but why can’t we go there and cause a humdinger?

“Sunday was probably our first 80 minute performance of the season.

“We were just happy to get the win, be it by one point or 10 points.

“For the past few weeks we have been scrapping for our lives, but Sunday does not change things just yet as we have still got a long way to go and we don’t want to be in a situation where we are relying on other people to stay up.”

Although things have been tough on the pitch McCusker, who made the switch from Pro12 side The Scarlets last September, is enjoying his time with the Irish.

“It has been a big change of scenery, but it is a lovely part of the world,” said the 30-year-old.

“It (the Premiership) is a great competition. Obviously it would be nicer to be higher up the table and I think some teams can get boggled down by that, but we’re only looking forward.

“We have a really big set of guys here in the squad and it is a pretty physical game, but that is what I like about it.

“There is not much of a difference to the Rabo (Pro12), although you don’t have to worry about relegation!”

McCusker, meanwhile, will be hoping to retain his place in the starting XV on Saturday, having returning to the line-up against Worcester following his recent spell in the treatment room.

“It was great to get back into things,” he added.

Saracens Exeter Leicester Harlequins Wasps Northampton Sale Sharks Gloucester Bath Worcester London Irish Newcastle

AVIVA PREMIERSHIP P W D L F 11 10 0 1 288 11 8 0 3 278 11 8 0 3 210 11 6 1 4 296 11 6 0 5 226 11 5 0 6 197 10 5 1 4 178 11 5 1 5 216 10 3 0 7 182 11 2 0 9 198 11 3 0 8 166 11 2 1 8 162

A 134 155 192 253 200 180 176 225 186 287 322 287

BP 5 8 2 7 4 6 4 3 6 5 0 2

PTS 45 40 34 33 28 26 26 25 18 13 12 12

character shown by the side, especially after Ojo’s misfortune.

He said: “I thought it was a great try.

It was a little bit harsh on Jebb (Sinclair), I’m not sure if he blocked the guy or not.

“It would have been a great way for Topsy to celebrate his 250th.

“We responded really well to the decision. It was almost a turning point in the game.

“We went from going 17-3 up to only two points in the game and we could have easily felt that pressure, but as I said, I thought we responded really well to that.”

LONDON IRISH: Fenby, Ojo, Hearn, Mulchrone, Tikoirotuma (Williams 69), Geraghty, Steele (Allinson 71), Court (Smallbone 62), Paice (Ellis 76), Aulika (Halavatau 60), Symons, Lloyd, (Nagle 68), Sinclair (Ellis 66 (Guest 73)), Narraway, McCusker.

Reps not used: Theo Brophy Clews WORCESTER WARRIORS: Pennell, Heem, Olivier, Mills, Vuna, Lamb (Symons 40), Baldwin (Mulchrone 56), Lelemalefaga (Rapava Ruskin 48), Annett (Bregvadze 54), Schonert (Johnston 54), O’Callaghan, Cavubati, Dowson, Cox (Mama 60), van Velze (c) Reps not used: Sanderson, Hammond.

Referee: Wayne Barnes. Attendance: 5,837

Trio join Irish for rest of season THREE new faces have been added to the London Irish squad.

Elliott Stooke (pictured), Tom Halse and Tom Preece have all joined the club until the end of the season.

“We are currently battling with an extensive injury list and quite a number of those are long term,” said Glenn Delaney, Irish’s head of rugby operations.

“The three players will be solid additions to our squad as we continue in this block of Aviva Premiership fixtures.”

Lock forward Stooke signs on with Exiles from Aviva Premiership rivals Gloucester, where he made 70 appearances for the Cherry and Whites.

Standing at 6ft 6ins and weighing 125kilograms, the player arrives with plenty of power and physicality.

Stooker has represented England at age grade level, while in January 2014 made his Saxons debut against the Irish Wolfhounds at Kingsholm.

Halse, meanwhile, is a versatile, goal-kicking back who can play fly-half, inside centre or at full back.

The New Zealander previously turned out for the Chiefs Development 15 and Counties Manuakau before arriving in Europe, where we played in Italy.

Preece is a back row forward who has made the switch from Coventry RFC. The 26-year-old lists Aberdeen Grammar of the Scottish Premiership and Saint-Sevin Sportif of the French Second Division as former clubs.

Preece has also played for North Harbour Marist in New Zealand and Auckland B.

SPORT | 35

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Friday, February 12, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

BB&O PREMIER DIVISION

NATIONAL LEAGUE 2

Rams run riot and ‘deserve to stay up’ says Reynolds Crowthorne Old Elthamians 18 Redingensians Rams 42

George Drury was joined on the scoresheet by Conor Corrigan, who celebrated a first try for the club, and “THEY deserve to stay up in this league” Jamar Richardson, who rounded off a was the verdict of Gary Reynolds after Sean McDermottroe break.

The perfect start, however, was ended Redingensians ran riot in Kent. when Samir Kharbouch was shown a The club’s CEO watched on as the yellow card.

Rams racked up seven tries to record This provided Old Elthamians with the back-to-back victories in impetus needed to mount National League 2 South. a fight back, although a In doing so, Mike Tom White penalty was Tewkesbury’s charges also immediately cancelled out became the first visiting by opposite number Spike side to put the most points Chandler. on the Chislehurst-based The home side, however, opposition on home soil were soon gathering since Guy’s Hospital topped momentum with the extra the 50 mark back in 2001. man and touchdowns from “Our boys produced Jay Rudland-Thomas and a superb second-half Craig Dowsett had pulled performance, scoring four Elthamians to within a touchdowns into a near gale score of the visitors when force wind,” said Reynolds.

George Drury half time arrived.

“I felt we wanted it more And with the conditions grabbed a try than they did. Our forwards favouring the hosts in the won the gain line battle, second half, it was thought played good phases and set the lead would be a difficult one to up chances for the backs. defend.

“They are a good bunch of lads. They Rams, however, blew away all work hard at their game, deserve today’s preconceptions in style, crossing the result and deserve to stay up in this line a further four times on what was an league.” impressive display on the road.

With the gusts on their side during the first 40 minutes, the rampant Next to score was McDermottroe, who Rams hit full throttle, racking up three finished off good work in the pack on 51 unconverted tries against the minutes. sixth-placed hosts during the opening Old Elthamians hit back with a try quarter. of their own from Lee Nelmes, but

losing Harry Ledger to the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle would prove a pivotal moment.

Exploiting the situation saw the final stages belong very much to the visitors.

McDermottroe added another touchdown to the tally from a driving maul, which arrived shortly before disaster struck again for the hosts, who were also to lose Nelmes to a yellow card.

With Rams’ talented bench now getting to work, Ross Crame grappled through three challenges before dabbing down, The finishing touches to a great away day were added by Craig Nightingale.

Nightingale was released by Robbie Stapley, who produced an impressive 22 carries during the match, and covered some 60 metres when busting a gut for the line.

National League 2 South P W D L F Cambridge 20 17 1 2 636 Old Albanians 20 16 1 3 641 Bishop’s Stortford 21 15 1 5 585 Taunton Titans 19 15 0 4 599 Redruth 20 14 0 6 463 Old Elthamians 21 11 2 8 479 Barnes 21 9 3 9 496 Clifton 20 9 1 10 536 Worthing 21 9 1 11 454 Canterbury 20 8 0 12 420 Redingensians 21 7 0 14 456 Bury St Edmunds 21 7 0 14 425 Dorking 20 7 0 13 391 Chinnor 21 6 0 15 457 Southend Saxons 20 6 3 11 402 Launceston 19 0 1 18 222

A 346 327 322 362 373 487 519 477 466 561 537 534 527 573 558 681

BP 17 19 18 14 13 8 14 13 8 9 12 11 11 13 6 6

PTS 87 85 80 74 69 56 56 51 46 41 40 39 39 37 36 8

Chandler improved both and Rams were winners by a healthy 24 points.

REDINGENSIANS: Richardson, Corrigan, Bryant, Barnes, McDermottroe, Chandler, Drury, Weller, Henderson, Ball, Bryson, Guttridge, Kharbouch, Vooght, Stapley.

Reps: Crame, Baker, Morrison, Nightingale, Foxley.

n COACH Tewkesbury makes just the one change to the side for the visit of Barnes on Saturday (2pm).

Dieter Kerschbaumer returns from injury to replace Berkshire Under-20 skipper Will Morrison on the bench.

Victory pushed Rams up to 11th in the standings, and although they still have the bottom five clubs to play between now and the end of the season, the coach does not want complacency to creep into the camp.

“Those games still have to be won,” he said.

“At present we have to concentrate on the job in hand, which is to beat Barnes on Saturday.

“In October we were winning 13-5 against them in west London then lost out to two late tries.

“We’ll want to avenge that defeat.”

On the victory at Old Elthamians, Tewkesbury was particularly pleased with the work of his forwards, saying: “I thought they were magnificent. The set piece was good with the line-out yet again working well.

“We owe a lot to former Canada skipper, Kevin Tkachuk, master in charge of rugby at Wellington College, who helps us out at training.”

out to keep up winning run

IN-FORM Crowthorne will head into Saturday’s game with Alchester at the New Nest looking to record a ninth win in 11 outings.

Alex Stewart’s men were not in action last weekend, but prior to that ran out 18-8 victors at Abingdon, where the Crows finally managed to get the better of a side sitting in the top four this season.

Buoyed by this, the club will no doubt take to the field against midtable Alchester in confident mood and with hopes of picking up another victory to help keep up the heat on the leading pack.

Crowthorne sit comfortably in fifth position, where they are now just eight points off fourth-placed Abingdon with seven games remaining.

The game at Arborfield Garrison starts at 2.15pm.

Berks, Bucks and Oxon Premier Division P W D L F A BP Gosford All Blacks 14 13 0 1 518 139 13 Milton Keynes 14 13 1 0 547 145 9 Tadley 15 12 0 3 573 211 10 Abingdon 15 10 0 5 423 235 10 Crowthorne 15 8 1 6 240 218 7 Chipping Norton 14 5 2 7 219 357 4 Slough 15 4 2 9 322 412 5 Alchester 15 4 0 11 187 353 8 Chesham 15 4 0 11 172 361 6 Risborough 15 6 0 9 158 444 1 Hungerford 15 4 1 10 217 410 7 Wheatley 15 2 0 13 114 405 5

PTS 65 64 53 50 42 28 25 24 22 21 15 3

NATIONAL LEAGUE 3

Clinical Colchester put Bracknell to the sword Bracknell 24 Colchester 46

BRACKNELL rallied back to secure a losing bonus point, but were still emphatically beaten by clinical Colchester.

This game had been rescheduled from the weekend before because of a waterlogged pitch at Lily Hill Park.

But with rain falling over the town once again on Saturday, a decision was taken to play the fixture on the 4G pitch at Maidenhead’s Braywick Road home.

Bracknell would win the toss and chose to play into the wind during the first half, but it was the visitors who went on to put the first points on the board.

Calum Irvine grabbed the opening try, but the strong gusts were to blow the conversion wide of the posts.

Undeterred, the hosts began to start piling on the pressure and received a boost when Oliver Pickett for the away side was ordered to the sin-bin for not rolling away from a tackle.

Bracknell opted to take a scrum from the resulting penalty, but could not

Bracknell look to gain territorial advantage from this ruck

capitalise with the numerical advantage.

And it was the 14 men of Colchester who went on to extend their lead.

Profiting from a poor kicked clearance, the Essex side worked the ball neatly between the backs, which would result in Damien Brambley providing the telling touch.

Colchester have the put in at the scrum

The kick from James Crozier was good and the scoreboard read 12-0.

Winning a scrum from a Bracknell put in would see Colchester grab try number three just minutes later, which went to No.8 Charlie Marsden, which Crozier also improved.

A disastrous first 40 minutes from the home side was not over yet, either, as the opposition secured a bonus point when Owen Herbert darted over the whitewash following a break down the Bracknell flank.

Poor tacking and defending left Rory Greenslade-Jones’ men with a mountain to climb, but there was to be no letting from Colchester.

Within the space of four second-half minutes Herbert and Brambley would each grab a second try of the afternoon, stretching the lead to 36-0 in the process.

The game was now looking over as a contest, yet those hardy supporters who had sat through the wind and rain were finally given something to cheer about

when hooker Stuart Silvester scored from a catch and drive at a line out to cut the gap somewhat.

The conversion was put wide.

But Bracknell came back once more, and there was a moment to cherish when Academy player Grant Coates, making his first-team debut, dabbed down to close the gap even further.

Although the chance to pick up the extras was again missed, a smart line out would lead to Bracknell centre Danz Faamatuainu storming through the opposition defence, where he set up Joe Pickett to run in a third try.

Lewis Dennett, meanwhile, this time had the range and Bracknell now trailed by 19 points.

This mean spell and any hopes of a comeback which came with it, however, were dashed when Brambley diffused some of the pressure when completing the hat-trick.

But the try was quickly cancelled out by the home side.

Popping a pass out of a tackle saw Lachlan Valentine set up Ben Yates to score, with Dennett banging over the extras.

Yates’ effort had secured his side a point, but the onslaught at the opposite end continued.

This is because try number 11 of a pulsating match was recorded when Brambley weaved his way through a string of attempted tackles before capping off an impressive individual display with his fourth touch down of the afternoon.

BRACKNELL: Baragwanath, Pickett, Mirza (c), Valentine, Kronman, Richardson, Rice, Milligan, Dennett, Hemming, Burch, Faamatuainu, Price, Mackay, Yates.

National League 3 London and South East P W D L F A BP L.I Wild Geese 18 15 2 1 575 304 12 Tonbridge Juddian 18 14 1 3 569 247 15 Westcombe Park 18 14 0 4 511 268 11 East Grinstead 18 13 1 4 476 240 12 Hertford 18 12 0 6 513 337 10 Guernsey 18 12 0 6 482 371 10 Shelford 18 12 0 6 419 336 10 Colchester 18 8 0 10 370 424 5 Wimbledon 18 7 0 11 408 399 6 Bracknell 18 6 0 12 356 507 9 Chichester 18 6 0 12 341 443 8 Westcliff 18 3 0 15 292 580 6 Gravesend 18 2 0 16 269 548 5 Eton Manor 18 0 0 18 188 765 4

PTS 76 68 67 66 58 58 58 37 34 33 32 18 13 4

Bracknell’s Joe Price is stopped by a tackle

36 | SPORT

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, February 12, 2016

ICE HOCKEY

Lightning strike back to take win

Phoenix pile more misery on Bees Bracknell Bees 2 Manchester Phoenix 3

Vanya Antonov fires Bracknell Bees into an early lead against Manchester Phoenix Pictures: Bob Swann

By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk MATT FOORD was left “massively disappointed” after Bracknell Bees let slip of a two-goal lead against Manchester Phoenix at The Hive on Sunday night.

Through early strikes from Vanya Antonov and Scott Spearing, the hosts looked on course to record only a second win in the last 25 outings.

The Phoenix, however, would eventually grind the opposition down and tied up the scoring through a Stanislav Gron brace before Martin Baranek hit the winner in the 56th minute.

“Obviously I’m massively disappointed because I really did think we could win this one,” said Bees captain Foord.

“It was a really good effort by the guys, everyone played their hearts out and it is just unfortunate. We had a few good chances and we didn’t take our chances when we should have done, then we made a couple of mistakes and we had to pay for that in the end.”

He added: “I thought we controlled the game for the first two periods.

“I think we got tired at the end but we still had chances and we just couldn’t find the net.

“We had a good (penalty) kill and hit a couple of posts, but it is just one of those games where we didn’t take our chances and it affected us in the end.”

With both sides having just enough players to ice only two lines, it would come as no surprise the contest became a survival of the fittest.

Bees were once again without player-coach Lukas Smital and defenceman Lewis Turner, who remained sidelined with a broken finger and concussion respectively, while Harvey Hind-Pitcher, Brandon Miles and Josh Martin were away with the Hornets.

But it was Bracknell who started the fixture at a ferocious pace, and having peppered the Manchester goal from the first whistle would take the lead in the fourth minute.

Vision from Jan Bendik saw the defenceman play a pass from deep out to an unmarked Antonov lurking on the left wing.

Taking the time needed to steady himself, the forward skated towards goal before coolly slotting the puck between the legs of Phoenix netminder Steve Fone.

Alex Barker went close moments

Alex Mettam (right) thwarts the opposition

later as the home side remained in the ascendency, but it would require two stops up the other end from Alex Mettam, keeping out Baranek and Robin Kovar efforts, to help preserve the advantage.

Manchester, however, would lose Jacob Corson-Heron to a holding minor in the 11th minute, with the hosts taking full advantage.

The power play was just seconds old when Foord picked up a loose puck on the Phoenix blueline, with the skipper driving a pass to the back door, where Spearing was on hand to double the lead through a first-time strike.

Elation, however, would soon turn to despair for Spearing, who was ejected from the game just minutes later for a high stick call.

Although accidental, catching an opponent in the face as he bared down on goal and drawing blood left the officials with no option then to throw the player out, although a five-plus game was later changed to a match punishment.

Bees, though, were left facing a five minute powerplay, but they were to show great resolve and determination to kill off the penalty to much applause from those up in the stands, meaning they would go in at the first interval with the two-goal advantage intact.

But such luck was out only seconds into the second stanza when a deft deflection was enough to see a Gron attempt get the better of Mettam, with the puck tamely skimming into the corner.

Kovar and Mark Thomas provided the assists during a move which saw Manchester attack the opposition down the right wing.

It would prove to be the only goal of the session, although both sides did see opportunities to add to their respective tallies come and go.

Antonov fired over and Corson-Heron was denied by Mettam during exchanged chances before a counter attack led by Foord saw Fone pluck the skipper’s strike out of the air as he attempted to go for the top shelf.

Satek was also off target for the Phoenix, while James Galazzi was just millimetres away from connecting with the puck when Fone spilled a trademark Bendik drive from range.

JOIN US AT THE HIVE Games played at John Nike Leisurecomplex, Bracknell

The import was also wide with another chance before doing enough to put off James Neil when presented with a sight of goal.

The D-man only had the netminder to beat when receiving a pass from Gron, but was to steer the James Galazzi and Manchester Phoenix’s puck wide of an Luke Boothroyd have to be separated upright.

Manchester slashing charge, meaning a team-mate were lacking a cutting edge up top, yet it would sit out his penalty. was a piece of individual quality which More frustratingly for Bees players and pulled them level midway through the supporters alike, it was a fingertip save final period. from the netminder which prevented The move was started by Satek, whose Bendik from grabbing an equaliser with pass to Thomas was moved on to Gron, just seconds remaining. but his options became limited as he The defenceman was on target with was forced behind the goal by the Bees his effort from distance, only for Fone’s defence. intervention to divert the puck on to the But the Slovakian did brilliantly to crossbar and away to safety. retain possession and work his way into “It is disappointing because it is a something of a shooting position, where game I think we could have won, but at he produced a stunning the same time they have got four pretty reverse-stick strike which flashed past a good decent imports and they took their rooted Mettam. chances,” added Foord.

Bracknell found themselves on another “But I thought the guys worked super power play when Thomas was pulled up hard. for interference, but the home side were “I thought Metsy (Mettam) was great unable to make the extra man count. once again and I thought Vany (Vanya Yet when Tom Relf was binned for Antonov) was fantastic. tripping shortly after, Phoenix completed “I think once we get some bodies back the comeback. next week I think we could surprise a few The initial shot from Baranek on the people.” blueline was palmed away by Mettam, but Bees have another two home games Kovar was quickest to react, turning the this weekend, hosting Peterborough loose puck home with aplomb from over Phantoms on Sunday before Hull Pirates on the left side. are the visitors on Sunday (both 6pm).

With only minutes left to claw back English Premier Ice Hockey League the deficit, the hosts duly pushed players P W OW OL L F A Pts forward, where Barker let fly from the Basingstoke 42 25 5 2 10 158 101 62 Peterborough 41 23 3 6 9 159 104 58 blueline, but Fone was equal to the strike.

Milton Keynes 44 21 5 5 13 153 124 57 The netminder then took umbridge Guildford 41 17 8 3 13 145 130 53 to a swipe when thwarting another Swindon 40 18 6 3 13 140 132 51 opportunity, which saw Manchester’s Telford 41 23 2 1 15 164 111 51 Luke Boothroyd and Galazzi come to Sheffield 41 17 4 4 16 154 171 46 blows and miss the final two minutes for Manchester 40 12 2 7 19 125 155 35 roughing.

Hull 42 5 3 5 29 93 204 21 Bracknell 42 8 0 2 32 122 181 18 Fone, for his part, was hit with a

THIS SATURDAY – FEBRUARY 13

BRACKNELL BEES

Face off 6pm v Peterborough Phantoms

Bracknell Bees 2 Milton Keynes Lightning 4

FRANTISEK BAKRLIK marked his return to the Hive with a goal which helped new side MK to victory on Saturday night, writes JOHN SLATER. Bakrlik, who left Bees to join the Buckinghamshire club earlier in the season, tapped home a rebound to put the visitors 2-1 ahead late in the second session.

The forward would add to Jordan Cownie’s equaliser moments earlier, with Blaz Emersic and Lewis Hook doubling the tally in the final stanza.

Following a goalless opening 20 minutes, it was Bracknell who struck the go-ahead goal shorty after the first interval through Vanya Antonov, who showed great composure when taking the puck around Jordan Marr in the Lightning goal.

Marr, though, would respond when keeping out Alex Barker, Scott Spearing, Brandon Miles and Antonov as the hosts probed for a second.

Leigh Jamieson, Hook and Bakrlik all had chances to level the scores at the opposite end, but all four were thwarted

by Bees netminder Alex Mettam.

But the latter was beaten two minutes before the buzzer when Cownie levelled the scores.

There was still enough time in the period for Bakrlik to complete the turnaround.

Chances would fall to both Carl Thompson and Tom Relf to try and make it 2-2 early in the third stanza, but both were kept out by Marr.

Bracknell, though, would find their work cut out when Emersic made it 3-1.

Both sides would both lose players to the sin-bin, with Scott Spearing hit by a slashing minor for the Bees.

He was later followed into the box by Cownie (hooking) but neither team was able to capitalise with the extra man.

It was when back up to full strength when the hosts, following a time out, pulled Mettam for the extra skater, only to be hit by a sucker punch when Hook stroked the puck into an empty net.

The game looked to have been taken away from the home side, but they would go on to bag a second goal of the evening when Spearing netted late on to keep things interesting.

Scoring twice more within the final 90 seconds, though, would prove a tall order, with MK holding out to claim victory.

Scott Spearing hit a late goal for Bees

THIS SUNDAY – FEBRUARY 14

BRACKNELL BEES v Hull Pirates

Box office: 01344 789000 bracknellbees.co.uk

Friday, February 12, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

SPORT | 37

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READING FC

Burnley a perfect example of stability – McDermott READING v BURNLEY SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP MADEJSKI STADIUM SATURDAY – 3PM

By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk BURNLEY have a fan in Brian McDermott.

The Reading boss is full of admiration for the way the Clarets go about their business and the faith they have shown in manager Sean Dyche.

While many others in the business have lost their job after a bad defeat, the Burnley hierarchy have shown incredible loyalty to their man, who is busy trying to plot a way back to the Premier League at the first attempt following relegation last term.

And while McDermott knows his way out of this division, having guided Reading to the Championship title during his first spell in charge, he is hoping the club’s Thai owners will show similar confidence to the man he will be trying to get the better of come Saturday afternoon.

“They (Burnley) have got a really good manager,” said the Royals manager.

The team got relegated out of the (Premier) league but kept their manager and rightly so, then they have built a team again – and that is what being a manager in the Championship is, building a team and that is what he is doing.

“He is building again and they have got a great chance of getting promoted again.”

McDermott’s comments came just days after two Championship rivals in Paul Clement and Neil Redfearn were dismissed from their respective posts at Derby County and Rotherham United.

Both had been in the roles just a matter of months.

Brian McDermott

Reading themselves have axed both Nigel Adkins and Steve Clarke prior to reappointing McDermott in December, so the boss is understandably keen to see similar stability at Madejski Stadium.

He added: “I think it is brilliant what they are doing at Burnley and I love what they are doing.

“I love the fact the owners have been really supportive to him, and I’m sure the owners will be supportive here and build something here and get that vision and we get ourselves into that situation where we are at the top end and battling to get into the Premiership again and that’s what the owners want here.

“They are really, really keen and the owners are working their socks off to get there as well at our club.”

Reading, meanwhile, are sweating on the fitness of Matej Vydra, Danny Williams and Hal Robson-Kanu ahead of the visit of third-placed Burnley.

All three have picked up knocks and will be assessed on Friday.

Aaron Tshibola, though, is out for the “foreseeable future” having undergone surgery to fix a hamstring problem.

Royals, meanwhile, have learned of their opponents for next weekend’s FA Cup fifth-round clash.

West Bromwich Albion defeated Peterborough United on penalties in a replay on Tuesday night and will now visit the Madejski Stadium on Saturday week.

Victory over the Premier League Baggies would see McDermott take a Reading side into the quarter-finals for a third time.

“It would be great to get to another quarter-final,” he said. “We’ve got a Premier League side coming to our place.

“They’ve got a great manager in Tony Pulis who knows exactly what he’s doing.

“They had a great result last night against Peterborough after a really difficult game.

“I’m really looking forward to it so let’s see what we can make of this season. We can still make it a really exciting one.”

Middlesbrough Hull Burnley Brighton Derby Sheff Wed Ipswich Birmingham Cardiff Nottm Forest Wolves Brentford QPR Preston Reading Leeds Huddersfield Blackburn Fulham MK Dons Bristol City Rotherham Bolton Charlton

Sky Bet Championship P W D L 29 17 6 6 29 17 5 7 30 15 10 5 29 14 11 4 30 13 12 5 30 13 11 6 30 13 9 8 30 13 8 9 30 11 12 7 30 10 12 8 30 10 10 10 30 11 7 12 30 9 12 9 30 9 12 9 30 9 9 12 30 8 12 10 30 8 8 14 28 6 13 9 29 6 11 12 30 7 7 16 30 6 10 14 30 7 4 19 30 4 12 14 30 5 9 16

F 39 45 48 37 40 45 39 38 38 31 39 42 36 27 33 29 40 25 44 24 25 36 28 26

A 16 19 26 28 26 33 37 30 33 25 40 44 35 28 33 34 44 25 49 42 47 55 49 56

Pts 57 56 55 53 51 50 48 47 45 42 40 40 39 39 36 36 32 31 29 28 28 25 24 24

RFC Prop Co Lts want to redevelop land around Madejski Stadium

REGENERATION

Royal Elm Park proposals are submitted PROPOSALS to build a convention centre, hundreds of new homes and both retail and leisure spaces on land adjacent to Madejski Stadium have been filed with Reading Borough Council.

The planning application for Royal Elm Park also includes public open spaces and an ice rink.

RFC Prop Co Ltd, a party-owned

subsidiary of Reading Football Club, wants to regenerate the area and make it a new destination for local people and greatly enhance the match-day experience for football fans.

Up to 1,000 new jobs are expected to be created should the application be approved and upon completion. n FOR the full story, turn to page 10.

ACADEMY

Liburd hits winner as Foxes are tamed A SOLITARY strike from Rowan Liburd saw Reading to the points following a 1-0 victory over Leicester City in the Barclays Under-21 Premier League.

Victory at Hogwood Park on Monday moved the side up to fourth in the standings.

Royals return to action on Monday, where they are the visitors to Manchester United.

The game will be played at Leigh Sports Village, kicking off at 7.45pm.

The two sides only met in the league last month, where United were 3-1 winners at Wycombe Wanderers’ Adams Park. n READING Under-18s have set up a quarter-final clash with Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup. David Dodds’ men marched into the last eight having run out impressive 3-0 winners at Wolverhampton Wanderers last Friday.

Sam Smith led the scoring with a

brace. Captain Josh Barratt hit the third.

Barratt was arguably the star of the show, setting up both goals for Smith before completing the win.

Chelsea, meanwhile, booked a quarter-final spot after disposing of AFC Wimbledon in a 4-1 victory.

The Blues are looking to lift the trophy for a third season in succession.

The tie will take place at Stamford Bridge on a date which is yet to be announced.

Blackburn Rovers, Preston, Luton, Manchester City, Norwich, Coventry, Arsenal and Liverpool all remain in the competition and could be the semi-final opponents for the winners.

For now, attentions turn to the Premier League South and a game at Fulham on Saturday. Kick-off is 11am.

The youngsters are already assured of a top-four finish and will, therefore, soon take on the best teams from the northern section.

‘It wasn’t pretty’ admits McShane after Royals are held to bore draw Reading 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0

By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk

“IT WASN’T pretty at all” was the verdict of Paul McShane following Saturday’s goalless draw at Madejski Stadium.

The stalemate not only saw Royals’ winless run in the Championship stretch to a fifth game, but also left the hosts 15th in the standings, where they sit 14 points off the play-offs.

It is a far cry from much earlier in the season, where successive wins over Middlesbrough and this weekend’s opponents, Burnley, saw the side occupying second place.

And it is a situation which has left McShane, who returned to both the starting line-up and the captaincy following a recent injury lay-off, demanding an improvement.

“It’s upsetting really,” said the defender.

“It upsets me anyway when I look at the league table. We’re 15th and considering the start that we did have, maybe we just need that mental resilience – I think that is what we are lacking sometimes.

“It’s a big mental challenge the Championship and every single game you

Reading’s Yann Kermorgant feels this weight of this challenge Pictures: Vivienne Johnson

have got to be on it and we haven’t been and that is why we are 15th.”

It was a last-ditch block from McShane which prevented Wolves’ Bjorn Sigurdarson from grabbing a late winner for the visitors in a game of few clear cut chances for either side.

“It wasn’t pretty at all,” added the Republic of Ireland international.

“It was a very scrappy game and it was looking like a 1-0 sort of win either way and we were hoping it was going to be us, but it didn’t work out that way and we have just got to take the point.”

Played in wet and windy conditions, the best chance of the first half would fall the way of the hosts, but Hal Robson-Kanu was also denied by a block.

This was after Garath McCleary, the second of two changes made by boss Brian McDermott from the side beaten at Ipswich Town in midweek, determinedly worked his way into the box.

The winger was stopped in his tracks by a tackle, but the ball sat up nicely for Robson-Kanu who was standing some six yards out, but Dominic Iorfa did well to get in front of the strike and divert it away for a corner.

A familiar face in James Henry provided the biggest threat for Wolves during the first 40 minutes, with the former Royal skimming the outside of a post from an ambitious drive from range before working Ali Al Habsi in the Reading goal into a fine save from a free kick.

Henry, though, would be left to rue not breaking the deadlock just minutes into the second half.

A mix-up between Jake Cooper and

Al Habsi when dealing with a high ball saw the latter head over his own keeper, where the Wolves midfielder appeared to steal in and have an open goal at his mercy.

Henry, though, dawdled on the ball, which provided Al Habsi the time to scramble back and block the strike at his near post.

Substitute Ola John combined well with Matej Vydra to set up Oliver Norwood on the edge of the box, who was only just wide with a deflected strike.

The same player also failed to trouble Carl Ikeme in the away side’s goal from a free-kick in an inviting position.

Despite being described as lacking match fitness earlier in the week, there was a place for new signing Deniss Rakels

on the bench, and he was introduced in the 75th minute.

The Latvia international looked full of energy, and was unlucky not to win his side a penalty when going down under what looked like a clumsy challenge in the box.

Despite screams for a spot kick from players, management and supporters alike, referee Tony Harrington was having none of the calls.

“I didn’t really see it,” added McShane (pictured) “I just saw Deniss go down. It is so far away you just don’t know whether it is a bit of a dive or it is genuine contact there.

“But I was too far away.

“Sometimes you get them and sometimes you don’t.

“Maybe on another day we get them and it is three points.”

READING: Al Habsi, Gunter, McShane (c), Cooper, Obita, Norwood, Williams, RobsonKanu, Vydra (Rakels 79), Kermorgant, McCleary (John 58) Booked: McShane Subs not used: Bond, Hector, Ferdinand, Piazon, Quinn WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS: Ikeme, Doherty, Batth (c), Henry, Saville, McDonald, Coady, Van La Parra (Byrne 79), Iorfa, Sigurdarson, Ebanks-Landell Subs not used: Mason, Rowe, Price, Le Fondre, McCarey Booked: Coady, Saville Referee: Tony Harrington Attendance: 17,771 (1,805 away).

38 | SPORT

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HOCKEY

Victory is King for Tom as double nets men the points

A BRACE of goals from Tom King helped Wokingham Men secure a vital victory over Phoenix and Ranelagh in MBBO Regional Division 2.

Nathan Desmond was also on target during a 3-1 success over Phoenix and Ranelagh at Cantley Park, a win which saw Wokingham close the gap around those in the standings.

The Men now sit 11th on 13 points.

WOKINGHAM 2S were also celebrating.

Helped by the two goals scored by Duncan Clarke, the side were 5-3 winners over basement boys Oxford 5s.

Clarke was joined on the scoresheet

by Steven Bearpark, Ryan Kaley and Matt Taylor.

Oxford hit back through Seb Thompson, Kyle Walker and Gareth Williams, but it was not enough to prevent the side falling to defeat.

Wokingham moved up to seventh in Division 2 with this success.

Slough Swifts, however, were the winners when they entertained WOKINGHAM 3S in Division 7.

The score was 3-1.

Jas Jeeta scored twice as WOKINGHAM VETS enjoyed a 4-0 triumph over Winchester Wanderers in the Wessex Supervets Fixtures Alliance.

WOKINGHAM LADIES were beaten 6-0 at Oxford University Ladies 2s in the Premier Division of the Trysports League.

Defeat, a 14th of the season, leaves the club bottom of the table.

The club’s 2ND XI were sadly no match for Banbury Ladies 3s, either. The promotion-chasing Oxfordshire side took the points in a 7-0 win, with the loss leaving the visitors 11th in the standings.

Fixtures - Saturday, February 13 MBBO REGIONAL DIVISION 2: Wokingham Men v Banbury 2s DIVISION 3: Wokingham 2s v Bourton and Sherborne DIVISION 7: Eastcote 6s v Wokingham 3s WESSEX ALLIANCE: Wokingham Vets v Horsham Hobblers TRYSPORTS PREMIER 1: Wokingham Ladies v Oxford Hawks 3s DIVISION 2: Wokingham 2s v Reading Ladies 3A DIVISION 5: South Bucks Ladies v Wokingham 3s

Sonning Hockey Club A 3-0 VICTORY over Aylesbury saw Sonning Ladies move to within four points of second-placed Amersham and Chalfont in Trysports Premier One. The SECONDS remain fifth after playing out a 1-1 draw with Wycombe 2s.

Goals from Heather Merryweather, Stefaniya Leigh, Emily Stoker, Gemma Jones and Frankie Brown, meanwhile, saw struggling SONNING 3S defeated 5-0 on home soil by Division 1 leaders

Two goals for Tom King (left) helped Wokingham Men to victory over Phoenix and Ranelagh Picture: Paul King

Wallingford 2s.

SONNING 4S picked up a valuable point on the road at Scarlet Runners in Division 3, which takes their tally for the season to five.

They now sit as many points adrift of Bracknell 2s at the foot of the Division 3 table.

The VETERANS also remain in danger of being cut away at the wrong end of the Division 4 standings too following a 4-0 loss against Windsor 2s at Berkshire County Sports.

It was a tough afternoon for SONNING MEN during their clash with Banbury 2s in MBBO Regional Division 2.

Just a point separated the two promotion rivals prior to push back, but this has now been extended to four after the hosts enjoyed a 5-0 victory.

Leading the scoring for Banbury was Dave Clark, who bagged a hat-trick, with Nick Best and Adrian Simons also on target. The result leaves Sonning fifth in the Division.

The 2ND XI were also beaten by the same scoreline when hosting Tring in Division 1.

The hosts conceded two goals apiece to both Chris Pedrick and Murad Vassib.

Sam Highfield also hit the backboard.

Alex Littleboy and Tim Preston notched for SONNING 3S during their game with Newbury and Thatcham 2s in Division 2.

But the efforts could not prevent the promotion-chasing opposition from racking up a 5-2 victory.

Nick Barrett, Mike Dutfield, Lewis Gallagher, Harry Johnstone and Christian Randall secured Newbury the win.

SONNING 4S belied their lowly position in Division 4 when pushing league leaders West Hampstead 5s hard.

Their efforts, though, would end in disappointment as a solitary strike from

Cameron Montgomery helped the side to a narrow 1-0 win.

SONNING 5S remain top of Division 8 West following a routine 4-0 success against bottom side Phoenix and Ranelagh. They remain two points clear of Oxford 7s in second.

The 6S, however, dropped a place to third after slipping to a narrow 1-0 reverse when up against Division 9 West leaders Wallingford 5s.

There was no joy for SONNING 7S, either, who remain bottom having been outscored 3-1 by Abingdon 3s Fixtures - Saturday TRYSPORTS PREMIER 1: Sonning Ladies v Oxford University Ladies 2s, Sonning 2s v Bracknell Ladies DIVISION 1: Reading 3s v Sonning Ladies DIVISION 3: Sonning 4s v Phoenix and Ranelagh 2s DIVISION 4: Wycombe 4s v Sonning Veterans DIVISION 6: Sonning 5s v Newbury and Thatcham 4s MBBO REGIONAL DIVISION 2: Oxford Hawks 3 v Sonning Men DIVISION 1: Sonning 2s v Oxford 3s DIVISION 2: Sonning 3s v Marlow 3s DIVISION 4: Bracknell 2s v Sonning 4s DIVISION 8 WEST: Reading Rascals v Sonning 5s

READING AND DISTRICT SUNDAY LEAGUE RESULTS - FEBRUARY 7 B&B SUNDAY JUNIOR CUP – QUARTER-FINALS: Finchampstead Athletic Sunday Reserves 0 Le Galaxy 4; Woodley Wanderers 2 AFC Pangbourne 3 B&B SUNDAY JUNIOR TROPHY – ROUND FOUR: Just Play United 3 AFC Basildon 4 DIVISION 1: Charvil Rangers 1 Henley Town 0; FC Woodley 6 The Pub 2 DIVISION 2: Loxwood Park Rangers 5 Arborfield 1 DIVISION 3 EAST: FC Berksalona 2 Spencers Wood 3; Loddon Valley Rangers Reserves 1 Eldon Celtic 10

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, February 12, 2016

THAMES VALLEY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Bacon hits the winner on a great Day for Barkham TWO GOALS from Thomas Day and a Matt Bacon strike secured Barkham Athletic a narrow 3-2 victory at Division 2 strugglers Sonning.

It was an entertaining borough derby at Pound Lane, where Daniel Riches notched twice for a Sonning side who performed much better then their position at the foot of the table would suggest, only to finish the game nursing an 11th reverse of the campaign.

For Barkham, the victory moved the team above Goring United and into fifth place.

Another side from the northern parishes scrapping for points in the division is WARGRAVE. But away at promotion-chasing Marlow United Reserves, the villagers went down to a 4-0 defeat.

Leading the scoring for the Buckinghamshire side was Christopher Davies, who found the net twice.

Arron Clarke and substitute Liam Bushay were also on target.

HURST picked up a useful point from a 2-2 draw at AFC Aldermaston upon their return to action in the Premier Division.

Michael Porter and Lee Wheeler struck for the hosts, but the opposition hit back through captain Shaun Bannon and Adam Frewin.

The point keeps Hurst in eighth position.

WINNERSH RANGERS were also sharing the spoils after playing out a score draw with Mortimer Reserves at Sol Joel Park.

The side remain third in Division 1 after strikes from Mark Kilbane and replacement Louie King were cancelled out by Kaser Chowdhary, who followed up his 20th minute effort when scoring again just seconds before the full time whistle was blown.

FINCHAMPSTEAD RESERVES saw their promotions aspirations in Division 3 suffer a setback when losing out to second placed S.R.C.C. The winner was to arrive early on, too, with Simon Bowman securing the home side a 1-0 victory when finding the net in just the 10th minute.

The gap between S.R.C.C and Finchampstead in third has now been stretched to four points.

TWYFORD AND RUSCOMBE, meanwhile, were unable to build on securing a first league win of the season last time out when guests of table-topping White Eagles.

The clash between two sides at opposite ends of the standings was to go the way of the form book, as a four-goal salvo from Lukasz Hryniewicz helped the hosts to a 5-1 triumph.

Barkham Athletic (in orange) were 3-2 winner at Sonning

He was joined on the scoresheet by Dawid Nagoda, with Michael Buckle grabbing a consolation for Twyford.

Goal machine Connor Banks kept up his impressive from this term when scoring twice more for a BERKS COUNTY RESERVES side which defeated Maidenhead Magpies Reserves at the John Nike Stadium.

Jonathan Gosnell had started the scoring for the hosts, with Alan Hasler pulling a goal back for the Magpies.

County continue to lead the way in Division 4, where they sit just a point clear of Burghfield, who put a dent in HARCHESTER HAWKS’ own promotion hopes when running out 4-0 winners at Laurel Park.

Jordan Greaves and Adam Taylor both helped themselves to two goals each during the victory.

Of the two games played in Division 5 last weekend, HURST A pulled themselves closer to the leading pack after a hat-trick from substitute Asher Price helped the visitors to a 6-0 rout at Goring United Reserves.

Also celebrating goals on the afternoon was Chris Tanner, who bagged a brace, and Reece Hawley.

The win moved Hurst up to fourth, where they sit on 22 points after 12 games.

Cup round-up AN EXTRA-time strike from Alex Ray saw Woodley United A defeat Hurley 2-1 and book a place in the quarter-finals of the Norfolkian Cup. Hurley missed an early penalty but would still take the lead when Ronnie Groom put the ball through his own net on the half hour mark.

The goal would separate the sides until the final seven minutes, where up popped Tom Barratt to grab the equaliser and force the additional 30 minutes.

It was close to the midway point when United would settle the contest when Ray won – and duly scored – a penalty.

YOUTH FOOTBALL

Glee for Wokingham U15s’ Greig after double downs league leaders WOKINGHAM and Emmbrook Under-15 Girls returned to action with a bang after Rebecca Greig fired the side to victory over Barton Rovers.

Greig grabbed both goals in a 2-1 victory over a side which currently share top spot in the Berkshire County Girls League.

Playing their first match since December, the refreshed Sumas took the lead when a long throw into the penalty box from Kathryn Barden caused confusion among the Rovers defence.

This allowed Greig to pounce, where she calmly turned the ball into the

bottom corner.

The lead was doubled on the stroke of half time when the same player ghosted her way into the box, where she was on hand to volley home a Milia Williams cross.

Wokingham and Emmbrook remained in control of the game throughout the second half, but a Barton goal 15 minutes from time set up a nervy finish.

Rovers, though, were unable to force an equaliser, leaving the opposition to celebrate a victory which moved them to within three points of joint leaders Barton and Binfield.

Not only did her two-goal salvo move Greig top of the club’s scoring charts this season, but also saw the hot-shot named player of the match.

Under-13s BEN ALDERMAN rounded off a neat team move with a goal when Wokingham and Emmbrook Oranges took on Hartley Wintney Hawks in Division Six of the East Berkshire Football Alliance.

But the strike could not prevent the side slipping to a narrow 2-1 defeat.

A Wokingham team missing several key players for the game fell behind on 13 minutes, but were quickly back on

level terms. Picking the ball up following several passes beforehand, Nathan Mulvaney went on to play in Alderman, who produced a cool finish into the corner.

Mulvaney and Kai Evans both went close to putting the Sumas in front later in the half.

There was little to separate the teams after the break, but it was from a poorly defended cross which allowed the Hawks in to hit the winner.

A determined performance at left back saw Matt Gofton (pictured left) presented with the man of the match award.

Friday, February 12, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

SPORT | 39

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HELLENIC PREMIER DIVISION

Battling Sumas are left Town and out after Olphert hits late winner Wokingham and Emmbrook 1 Royal Wootton Bassett Town 2

to break Sumas’ hearts when sending a shot into the corner.

While snatching victory moved Bassett up to ninth in the standings, for Wokingham attentions now turn to another home game this Saturday, where Tuffley Rovers are the visitors (3pm).

Tuffley are another side scrapping for points to remain in the division, so Wokingham will be needing to take something from the fixture if they are to pull off any great escape.

The Sumas are then at home again next Tuesday, where they take on high-flying Kidlington (7.45pm).

A BATTLING performance would count for nothing as a late Steve Olphert strike saw Wokingham and Emmbrook beaten at the Investec Perpetual Triangle Defeat leaves the Sumas in a perilous position at the foot of the Hellenic Premier Division table.

Due to results elsewhere, Wokingham now sit 11 points adrift of the team above them at the foot off the table, Bracknell Town, and 16 away from safety.

WOKINGHAM AND EMMBROOK: Woodward, Carter, Day, Charlton, Rowland, Whiting, Duffelen, Pearson, Rushforth, S.Bateman (Stewart), Scope Subs not used: Broadhurst, Watson, McNelly, Eggleston

Elliott Rushforth was on target for the home side

Wokingham defender James Charlton slides in to thwart a Town attack during Saturday’s clash at the Investec Perpeptual Triangle

With the exception of Abingdon United, the club has also played a significant number of games more than those around them in the standings, meaning any hopes of beating the drop lay in the hands of others.

Yet the hosts belied their lowly position once again when pushing midtable Town hard, only to see such efforts end without reward.

There was little to separate the two sides during the opening exchanges, but a moment of quality midway through the half saw the visitors take the lead.

A flowing move forward would present a sight of goal for Sam Packer, who let fly from some 25 yards, with his fine strike giving Wokingham shot-stopper Sean Woodward little chance of keeping out as it flashed into the back of the net.

The hosts, however, had chances to pull themselves level.

Luke Scope was unlucky not to grab an equaliser when meeting a Jordan Rowland cross on the volley, which produced a fine stop from Town ‘keeper Curtis Meare.

Josh Pearson put a shot wide as Wokingham kept up the pressure, but they were unable to draw level before the

n WOKINGHAM and Emmbrook have been drawn away to Moreton Rangers of Division 1 West in the second round of the Bluefin Sports Supplementary Cup. n THE weather got the better of BINFIELD once again last Saturday, as a waterlogged pitch saw their game at Brimscombe and Thrupp postponed.

They will be hoping for a return to action when entertaining Longlevens at Hill Farm Lane tomorrow (3pm).

The Moles are then at Flackwell Heath on Tuesday (7.45pm)

half-time whistle was blown.

Just five minutes after the restart, however, and the scores were tied.

On target for the hosts was Elliott Rushforth, who finished well.

The hosts continued to ask all the questions, but were unable to nudge themselves in front, as a superb tackle denied Scope another strike at goal.

But Town continued to pose threats of their own, and a burst into the box saw the ball land at the feet of substitute Harvey Scholes, but he too was thwarted by the opposition.

It was beginning to look like both sides would have to shake hands on a draw – but another replacement, Olphert, had other ideas.

Profiting from a deflection, a Sam Whiting leads the long ball forward would kindly sit Sumas on the attack up for the midfielder, who went on

SUPPLEMENTARY CUP

Super subs Szram and Skehan fire Woodley to a first victory since October Woodley United 3 Shrivenham 2

SUPER SUBS Ryan Szram and Sam Skehan fired Woodley United to a first victory since October on Tuesday night.

Pete Wareing (pictured) was also on target as the hosts ended a wretched run of eight consecutive defeats when edging this Bluefin Sports Supplementary Cup clash between two sides scrapping for points in their respective divisions.

United appeared to coasting into round three having opened up a 3-0 lead, but a brace of stoppage-time strikes from Matt Fowler made for a nervy final few minutes.

With both teams sitting bottom of Division 1 East and West in the Hellenic League, it was no surprise the tie was a cagey one to begin with.

Neither side had been able to create anything clear cut in front of goal during the early exchanges, with the first chance of note coming for the visitors via a tame shot from 18 yards, which was

easy pickings for Woodley ‘keeper Ben Hitchins. An even better opportunity to try and break the deadlock would also fall Shrivenham’s way on 17 minutes, but Daryl Charman completely fluffed his lines with only Hitchins to beat when latching on to a chipped ball over the top.

It was a real let off for United, who came storming back into the contest minutes later when Wareing surged into opposition territory, where a determined run was ended by a foul just outside the penalty box.

Fraser Mowat took responsibility for the free-kick, which was deflected away for a corner from which the deadlock was broken.

George Douglas, making his Woodley debut, hung up the flag kick to the far post, where Wareing was on hand to head home for a 1-0 lead.

Although momentarily, the ascendency was now with Jock Mowat’s men, who almost netted a second when another Mowat, Fraser, stooped to meet a cross from the left,

but could only steer the centre wide.

Douglas was then off target with an ambitious attempt from some 25 yards.

Shrivenham, though, would have chances to pull level before the break, with Chris Rivers only just wide with a strike from the edge of the box.

With officials not interested in Woodley appeals for offside, Kias Bonner-Shea then had a great opportunity to equalise when breaching the hosts’ back line – only to see his powerful effort crash back off the crossbar.

The one goal would continue to separate the sides as the game approached the hour mark, but replacing Mowat with Szram on 65 minutes paid dividends.

He was on hand to finish off good work from full back Mark Ingram, who had set off down the left flank before his cross was diverted into the corner by Szram.

The goal was met by a spell of pressure from the away side, but United captain Ollie Bridges blocked a Charman drive, while Hitchins got down well to deny Tom Fowler from reducing the arrears.

Boss Mowat then chose to make a second substitution of the night, and it was another inspired one.

Rupen Limbu made way for Skeham, and one of the replacement’s first contributions was the lash the ball into the top corner when set up by Conor Creegan.

A first win in four months and a spot in the next round now looked all but wrapped up – even though Shrivenham struck the bar for a second time, which prompted a goal mouth scramble.

But hopes of recording a welcome clean sheet too were dashed when Fowler pulled the trigger from range, where a deflection helped the strike get the better of Hitchins.

And when the same player met a header from the left in stoppage time, the nerves were beginning to jangle.

Thankfully for United, however, the restart was to be the last action of the night, which allowed the relieved hosts to rekindle the winning feeling.

WOODLEY UNITED: Hitchins, Brookling, Ingram, May, Bridges, Hoy, Mowat (Szram), Creegan, Wareing, Douglas (Skehan), Limbu (Mailer).

n UNITED will be out to build on this victory when they return to league action on Saturday, where they host midtable Rayners Lane at Scours Lane (3pm).

ROUND-UP

Eversley’s push for promotion left saturated EVERSLEY and California saw their hopes of closing the gap on the top two in Division 1 of the Combined Counties League washed out by the rain.

The Boars were due to host Banstead Athletic at Fox Lane, but standing water on the pitch resulted in the fixture being called off.

With Worcester Park 3-0 winners over Sheerwater and leaders CB Hounslow United only picking up a point from a surprise 3-3 draw with struggling South Park Reserves, third-placed Eversley now sit three and six points adrift respectively of the teams sitting first and second.

Up next for Neville Roche’s team, ironically, is a trip to Worcester Park on Saturday.

Kick-off is 2pm. n FINCHAMPSTEAD were without a game at the weekend because of outstanding issues at the ground of opponents Chinnor.

Jon Laugharne’s men are back in action at New Road tomorrow, where they are guests of struggling Old Woodstock Town.

Kick-off is 3pm.

Finch sit fifth in Hellenic Division 1 East, but will be looking to secure a first league win since defeating Woodley United 5-1 on Boxing Day Combined Counties League Division 1 P W D L F A CB Hounslow Utd 20 15 3 2 45 15 Worcester Park 20 13 4 3 50 20 Eversley & Calif 20 14 1 5 58 31 Abbey Rangers 21 12 3 6 42 26 Bedfont & Feltham 17 12 2 3 47 22 Cobham 22 10 3 9 45 47 Frimley Green 19 9 2 8 31 28 Dorking 19 9 1 9 33 29 Staines Lammas 21 9 1 11 43 40 Banstead Athletic 16 7 4 5 35 30 Ash United 19 6 4 9 38 41 Sandhurst Town 19 6 3 10 36 57 Epsom Athletic 16 4 2 10 27 46 Dorking Wand Res 18 3 4 11 19 36 Sheerwater 18 4 1 13 29 47 South Park Reserves16 3 1 12 19 43 Farleigh Rovers 17 3 1 13 17 56

Pts 48 43 43 39 38 33 29 28 28 25 22 21 14 13 13 10 10

Hellenic Premier Division P W D L Thatcham Town 25 19 4 2 Flackwell Heath 25 19 2 4 Ascot United 28 16 7 5 Kidlington 22 16 3 3 Highworth Town 23 16 2 5 Longlevens AFC 25 14 2 9 Binfield 24 12 4 8 Highmoor-Ibis 27 12 3 12 Thame United 24 12 3 9 Brimscombe & Thr 21 11 3 7 Royal Wootton Bass 26 11 2 13 Ardley United 27 10 2 15 Oxford City Nomads 25 9 4 12 Brackley Town Saints 29 9 3 17 Lydney Town 23 6 7 10 Milton United 30 6 7 17 Tuffley Rovers 22 6 5 11 Abingdon United 31 6 3 22 Bracknell Town 22 4 5 13 Wokingham 27 2 3 22

F 73 73 53 63 66 43 45 44 32 37 38 48 39 54 34 37 37 38 32 27

A 29 34 28 21 20 37 37 42 30 30 58 59 48 75 43 61 43 89 48 81

Pts 61 59 55 51 50 44 40 39 39 36 35 32 31 30 25 25 23 21 17 9

Hellenic Division 1 East P W D L Penn & Tylers Green 15 11 3 1 Bicester Town 16 11 3 2 Henley Town 16 10 3 3 Headington Amateur’s 20 9 4 7 Finchampstead 17 8 5 4 Holyport 15 7 4 4 Chinnor 14 7 2 5 Rayners Lane 16 6 5 5 Didcot Town Res’ 16 5 2 9 Chalfont Wasps 10 4 2 4 Reading Town 18 3 3 12 Wantage Town Res’ 15 3 2 10 Old Woodstock Town 14 3 0 11 Woodley United 16 2 2 12

F 56 46 49 42 35 32 32 32 36 16 21 21 12 13

A 9 23 23 25 18 27 22 23 43 26 74 40 41 49

Pts 36 36 33 31 29 25 23 23 17 14 12 11 9 8

WOKINGHAM SPORT

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Contact the sports desk: sport@wokinghampaper.co.uk | Log on the for latest sports news www.wokinghampaper.co.uk ROWING

Rio dream over as Watkins ‘reluctantly’ ends Olympics bid

HOW ALL STARTED THE DREAM is over for Wokingham’s theIT reluctant decision to step away this over, but I’ll continue to support Olympic hero Anna Watkins after the from the competition. teammates My first job was helping out in a local steak restaurant where I learned how to select and cook what I thinkmy is the perfect steak.in whatever way I can.” rower withdrew from the qualification “I am very sad toitfind hasn’t worked out I moved to Reading 30 years ago and to my disappointment was not able a restaurant that served the food I loved Under themost. guidance of Paul My dream was to open a steakhouse in Reading that would the a quality of steak I had experienced all those years back. process for this summer’s games in Rio. and thisserve is not decision that I have Thompson, not only did Watkins Finally, I had the opportunity to buy Colleys Supper Rooms, a restaurant that had been established in Reading for over 20 years in a beautiful The 32-year-old, who won gold withVictorian taken lightly,” Watkins told British power to Olympic glory, but building that I had always admired. I knew I had the chance to achieve my dream. I opened Barts in Feb 2011 andher withway the help of my Katherine Grainger in the double scullsfantastic team we have been serving exceptional steaks in aRowing. great environment ever since. The décor and atmosphere is continually evolving two World Championships titles, too. thanks to our loyal patrons. The menu has grown since we first opened I amsupport proud to from say that the quality of food has only got better. at London 2012, returned to training “I’ve had and great “Anna is an outstanding athlete and last August – just months after giving everyone involved with the GB Rowing anrenowned extremely ambitious and talented Here at Barts, we bring together dishes inspired by cuisines from all over the world but centered around our steaks birth to a second child.

Team, as well as the wider rowing and seafood. We specialise in offering you the steaks of the highest quality, provided by local butchers, individual,” said the GB Rowing The aim was to make the Team community, family taste and and friends. aged for a minimum of 28 days, flame grilledmy for superior succulence.

Team chief coach for women and GB squad which will be competing in “I guess I would have always Jamshed Miah welcomes you to Barts what Grill & Restaurant Brazil, but recent results prompted wondered about might have been lightweights.

“Anna gave this her best shot and it Watkins to come to the conclusion she if I hadn’t given it a go.” unfortunately hasn’t worked out. has not yet reach a good enough level Watkins added: “Rowing has been “She is a fabulous ambassador for out on the water. such a big part of my life and I am sure our sport and a great champion.

With this in mind the athlete, who that I will remain involved in some “We wish her and her family well also got her hands on a bronze medal way.

Anna Watkins at the 2008 games in Beijing, has taken “I am just taking some time to think for the future.”

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ICE HOCKEY

‘We will go through walls for this team’ says the defiant Bees captain

Foord: There will be no giving up

By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk MATT FOORD insists he and his Bracknell Bees team-mates will continue “going through a wall” for both the club and player-coach Lukas Smital.

The captain made the comments following Sunday’s 3-2 defeat against Manchester Phoenix at the Hive – a game the hosts had led 2-0.

The loss, a 23rd reverse in the club’s last 25 fixtures, leaves Bees rooted to the foot of the English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL) table.

And with the team now 17 points adrift of Phoenix, who occupy the eighth and final play-off spot, hopes of making the end-of-season competition continue to fade fast.

Forward Foord, however, is adamant the roster, which has been left stretched in recent weeks due to injury and departures, will continue to battle for each and every available point.

He also believes another win is not too far on the horizon, either, saying: “We think it is going to come, we think that if we work hard enough we will get our luck and it is all we can do – keep working, keep working and hopefully it will come.

“I think the team we have got and the team that Smits (Smital) has signed, I know he wants players that are going to play for him and give everything for him and I think that is what we have got.

“Even our import, Jani (Jan Bendik) and Vanya (Antonov) Scott Spearing and Gazza (James Galazzi), everybody who is here will go through a wall for him and hopefully it (a win) will come.”

Foord was left “massively disappointed” after Bracknell squandered a winning position against Manchester.

Bees had chances to put the game to bed, but were unable to add to their tally on a night when Smital was only

SUNDAY ROAST

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Overnight marinated lamb, served with sauté mixed vegetables (Baby Carrots, Broccoli, He added: “I enjoy feeling tired and Cauliflower, Green Beans), oven roasted potatoes, honey glazed roasted parsnips, Yorkshire pudding, topped with having that extra jump and trying to Barts homemade mint gravy. Accompanied by mint sauce. battle through and I think that is the THE DAY OFFplayers FROM COOKING THIS WEEK AND TREAT YOURSELF, FAMILY OR same to be saidTAKE for most of the FRIENDS TO A SUPERB SUNDAY ROAST in the team.

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Peterborough are something of a bogey team, with Bracknell not tasting victory over the Phantoms in over two years – but Bees will go into the game with Hull looking to record a second successive victory against the Humberside club.

When the two clashed earlier in the year, Bees ended a wretched run of results when securing a 6-3 triumph.

The hosts could also receive a boost in the return of Smital, who has been sidelined since Christmas with a broken finger, while Lewis Turner could also feature having recently been ruled out with concussion.

“I’m hoping that we get Smits back and we get Turns (Turner) back,” said Foord.

“It gives guys more legs and it can Matt Foord is backing Bracknell Bees to turn the corner make that difference and give us that survey will extra jump.” also be n THE club has announced it is revealed. to hold a fans forum in the Honies All are Restaurant on Monday, February 29 at welcome to 7.30pm. attend.

Up for discussion will be the ‘Made n FOR more in Bracknell’ development proposals Bees news, for next season. turn to page 36 The results of a recent online

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Picture: Bob Swann Published by Xn Media Ltd, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS. Printed at Newbury Weekly News, Newspaper House, Faraday Road, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2DW .© Xn Media Ltd, 2016

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