The Wokingham Paper, January 8, 2016 by The Wokingham Paper

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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

Flooded again

50p

Friday, January 8, 2016 No. 38

CRIME

GIRL ATTACKED IN PARK P3 FESTIVE

MYSTERY OVER THANK YOU NOTE P18 PROTEST

Fields flooded … Roads flooded … Vans stuck … Families cut off Comprehensive coverage of our winter nightmare — pages 8&9

ON THE DOLE? 10

12 15

19 20

25 26

28 29

Ltd

ACROSS 23. Smoothing tool (4) 6. Greek letter (7) 1. Working animal 25. Orbs (7) (4-5) 7. Male voice (4) 9. Towards the sky (6) 26. Jewish republic (6) 8. Recommends (9) 10. Young salmon (4) 29. Citrus fruit (4) 13. Cut short (9) 30. Highway (4) 11. Rocky hills (4) 14. Married woman (4) 12. Complete failure (6) 31. Merited (6) 15. Baby carriages (5) 13. Meadow flower (7) 32. Windstorms (9) 18. Set of two (4) 16. Single entity (4) DOWN 19. Ripple (7) 17. Threesome (4) 2. South American 22. Bodily organ (

2 GREAT PAGES INSIDE

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.

MAGIC SQUARE

SUDOKU

Each row and each column

5 2 9 3 8 4

must contain the numbers

2 7 8 9 4 5 1 8 8 4 3 6 9 5

2 9 3 8 2 9 5 6 3 8 4 3 9 6

1 to 9, and so must each

3 7 2 6

3 7 3 6 8 3 2 4 8 9 2 8

SOLUTIONS

20 17 23

22 21 24

DOWN ACROSS 2. Gallery found under cover 1. The case of one who stayed and accessible in part (7) on for breakfast? (9,3) in 3. Souvenir of an old priest 9. Disturbed or lent men for Catholic church (5) registration (9) (3) 4. Diamond geezers – they 10. Bluish-grey metal shooter need cool customers (3,3) (7) 11. Flair of Peter, a revolutionary 5. Developed some of that 12. Not so cool by the Spanish Cheddar (7) inn (5) (5) 6. Said to cut into the bay 13. A few words about talons, 7. It doesn’t come as that we hear (6) to much of a blow (6,6) 15. Braved making alteration part of speech (6) 8. Glassy-eyed? What a sight in bed! (12) 18. Point of view is right possibly (5) 14. Cook’s craft? (7) semi20. Work along a seam of 16. Could retire with a following precious stone (7) in Africa (7) 22. The French love him (3) 17. Avoid first man in a bumper car (6) 23. One million cycles per second could graze them 19. Ascend, taking in badly (9) revolutionary leader to the type assembly (5) 24. Relating to a branch, a nearly with of store 21. Like a layer of wood (5) everything (12)

Here are two miniature fivesquare crosswords IU using the same grid – but the have SE lettersmixed up. been You have to CS work out which letters belong to which EY crossword.

QUICK CROSSWORD 4

in each Perform the first calculation line first and ignore the mathematical always law which says you should perform division and multiplication before addition and subtraction.

All puzzles on this page are supplied by Sirius Media Services. To try more of our puzzles interactively online go to www.puzzledrome.com © Sirius Media Services Ltd

5 8

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.

EQUALISER 8 6 2 1 14 2 4 9 3 9 6 2

Hard

3 x 3 box.

7 5

Any word found in the Concise Edition) is Oxford Dictionary (Tenth eligible with the following plural exceptions: proper nouns; nouns, pronouns and possessives; third person singular verbs; hyphenated words; contractions slang and abbreviations; vulgar the words; variant spellings of variant same word (where another is also eligible).

LAUREATE BANS A BUS

Easy

FIVE ALIVE

Guidelines: 15 Good; 18 Very Good; 21 Excellent.

above, form Using all 16 letters of the phrase which will fit in the four words each of four letters in which the words grid to form a magic square and vertically. can be read both horizontally

rise; semi;

misère; remise; remiss; rime;

our puzzles interactively online go to www.puzzledrome.com

EASY SUDOKU

SOLUTIONS

5 9

7 Gen Mega immerse; 4 Ice men; 5 Hatched; 6 Bight; emesis; emir; emmer; esse; Down – 2 Veranda; 3 Relic; Dodgem; 19 mess; 14 Steamer; 16 Eritrea; 17 meme; mere; MESMERISM; breeze; 8 Bespectacled; miser; messier; mime; mimer; mire; Group; 21 Ashen.

All puzzles on this page are supplied by Sirius Media Services. To try more of

letter Code grid represents a different start Each number in our Cross grid to three letters in the control of the alphabet. You have main grid, appropriate squares in the you off. Enter them in the letters of words to work out which then use your knowledge should go in the missing squares. number other squares with the same list of As you get the letters, fill in grid. Check off the alphabetical in the main grid and control letters as you identify them.

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.

or Spell out a 15-letter word phrase by moving from one chamber to another within the pyramid. You may only enter each of the chambers once and may only proceed H through openings in the walls. The T first letter may appear in any S S chamber.

I M

7 5 1 4

M E M E S S

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.

QUICK CROSSWORD

1 7

7 1

10 11

WORD PYRAMID

NONAGRAM

EQUALISER 7 6 6 2 1 5 3 6 4 4 4 4

9. Which character did Ralph film Fiennes play in the 2012 adaptation of Great Expectations?

LD DT

Hard

OPQRSTUVWXYZ

10. Who is reputed to have with severed the Gordian Knot his sword?

UI RA

in? 3. In which harbour did French secret service agents attack the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior in 1985? 4. What pigment gives plants their green colour? from 5. Summertime is a song which George Gershwin musical?

NV ET

3 x 3 box.

10 18

ABCDEFGHIJKLMN

7 2

1 3 2 1 8

8 2

H B

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.

5 8 6 3 7

O R

9 23

25 5

16 3

17 4

Total: 8.

7 1 4 5 3 9 2 8 6 prom; rave; oval; 9 8 6 4 1 2 3 melt. 5 7 5 2 3 7 6 8 9 4 1 WORD PYRAMID: 4 7 2 8 5 1 6 9 3 By hook or by crook. 8 5 1 3 9 6 7 2 4 EQUALISER: 3 6 9 2 4 7 5 1 8 Clockwise from top 2 9 7 1 8 3 4 6 5 left – add; divide; 6 4 8 9 7 5 1 3 2 multiply; subtract. 1 3 5 6 2 4 8 7 9

MAGIC SQUARE:

HARD SUDOKU

18 5

2 8 6 5

2 2 8 5 7 3 3 4 2 1 8

1 to 9, and so must each

25 9

16 4

4 8

20 1

must contain the numbers

Each row and each column

3 7 4 7 2 3 9 6 6 5 3 8 9 6 7 7 1 2 8 9 5

HARD SUDOKU

SUDOKU

DOWN 1. One who is barely visible (8) 1. Indigenous variety of 5. Down with the police! negative lacking, for (4) 8. One needs three rings example (6) to get this number (8) 2. Tax about right for the imp (5) 9. Run right into a tiny child (4) 3. Such a car is used on line 11. Valerie and I precede for meals on wheels (10) worker who is brave (7) 4. Reportedly lad is a star (3) 13. Lift up beams for 6. British weather for the eastern audience (5) country! (7) 14. Too full of humanity? 7. Coming from the Ritz, (11) he 18. When in Rome, once played an instrument (6) spoken (5) 10. Entice sailor with limp but 19. Beat tin around for achieve no result (4,1,5) Dalai Lama perhaps (7) 12. Nothing in dish of pastry for 21. Equipment returned a card (5) and left by young lady (4) 15. Old soldier’s car (7) 22. Equally separated by these 16. Stairs taken by air bars (8) passengers (6) 24. Pale colour of some 17. Branch of the deer great family (6) interest (4) 20. Claw in foot alongside (5) 25. Ready with this book of 23. Have no aspiration tables (8) for welcome (3)

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.

Easy

ACROSS

MOVE OVER TALL RAMP

FIVE ALIVE

23 21

R K

MAGIC SQUARE

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 B chambers once and may only proceed through openings Y in the walls. The first letter may O C appear in any chamber.

E B H D A N

13 26

NEW YEAR PUZZLE SPECIAL

12 25

17 20

11 24

WORD PYRAMID

A R K

XYZ

10 23

16 19

9 22

22 23

25 28

29 29

18 19

23 14

8 21

7 20

6. Which sport is sometimes ‘aerial facetiously described as pingpong’? was 7. Which quadrennial event first held in 1924 at Chamonix, France? 8. Who had a ‘wardrobe 2004 malfunction’ during the Superbowl halftime show?

classic 1. Chapter One of which novel is entitled ‘Mrs Rachel Lynde is Surprised’? 2. If something is achromatous, what is it lacking or deficient

MNOPQRSTUVW

Each number in our Cross Code grid represents of the alphabet. You have a different letter three letters in the control you off. Enter them in grid to start 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 in the main grid and control other squares with the same number grid. Check off the alphabetical letters as you identify list of them.

13 13

13 16 18

Quiz Challenge

8 18

NONAGRAM

CROSS CODE 26

6 19

5 26

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

EASY SUDOKU

5 18

10 5

3 9 5 8 7 1 4 2 6 4 7 2 3 9 6 5 8 1 8 1 6 2 4 5 9 3 7 1 2 3 4 8 9 6 7 5 7 6 4 1 5 2 8 9 3 5 8 9 7 6 3 1 4 2 9 3 1 6 2 8 7 5 4 2 4 8 5 1 7 3 6 9 6 5 7 9 3 4 2 1 8

4 17

11 13

10 12

seise; seme; semé; QUICK CROSSWORD: 12 Basis; seem; seer; sire; siree. 8 Ore; 9 Maintain; 10 Tyro; Hinge; sere; series; simmer; Across – 1 Stocking; 6 Bash; 20 Trainers; 24 Sage; 25 14 Medic; 17 Omen; 18 Cavalier;31 Rot; 32 Clue; 33 Smartest. 26 Eager; 29 Ludo; 30 Universe; 7 Sortie; 11 4 Italic; 5 Gone; 6 Bethel; 19 One; Down – 2 Tray; 3 Cancan; 14 Man; 15 Dinar; 16 Creed; Booth; 12 Began; 13 Sabre; 24 Select; 27 Nuts; 28 Isis. 21 Ritual; 22 Ignore; 23 Saliva;

3 16

5 22

EQUALISER: Clockwise from top left – multiply; subtract; add; divide. Total: 12.

2 15

23 10

14 23

MAGIC SQUARE: tabu; alas; bane; user. WORD PYRAMID: Pass the hat round.

26 6

22 17

9 8 6 3 2 1 4 5 7

ABCDEFGHIJKL 14

10 5

1. Who played the mysterious 6. Isabella of France heroine opposite Jack was the wife Nicholson in the 1974 of which English king? movie Chinatown? 7. Which period in the Earth’s 2. In which Irish county history saw the beginnings is the Blarney Stone? of the dinosaurs? 3. What is the name of the dog 8. What was the name who accompanied Jerome of the K north Atlantic penguin Jerome’s Three Men which in a Boat? became extinct in 1844? 4. What name was given to the policy of restructuring 9. What nationality is soccer announced by Mikhail legend Luis Figo? Gorbachev? 10. Joel Edgerton played 5. Which instrument the is character Tom Buchanan synonymous with the in Indian which 2013 film based on musician Ravi Shankar? Scott Fitzgerald novel? an F.

5 3 2 4 9 7 8 1 6

15 4

5 26

10 4 5

Your weekly puzzle challeng

1 4 7 8 5 6 9 2 3

8 2 9 1 7 3 6 4 5

20 13

14 15

5 5

4 7 1 9 6 5 3 8 2

16 15 5

10 4

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

3 6 5 2 8 4 7 9 1

12 11

2 5 3 7 4 8 1 6 9

13 12

llenge

Quiz Challenge

7 9 4 6 1 2 5 3 8

10 14 23

1 13

6 1 8 5 3 9 2 7 4

10 20

4 13

4 2 5 8 9 1 7 6 3

20 14

11 4

5 11

8 9 3 7 6 4 1 5 2

5 5

7 6 1 2 3 5 4 9 8

22 10

18 10 15

4 20

2 4 9 6 7 8 3 1 5

6 1 8 4 5 3 9 2 7

10 5

3 5 7 1 2 9 6 8 4

9 7 4 5 1 2 8 3 6

19 6

20 7

21 8

22 9

Across – 1 Cart-horse; bark; barked; barn; 9 Upward; 10 Parr; 11 Tors; 12 Fiasco; 13 bead; Cowslip; 16 Unit; 17 beak; bean; bear; beard; Trio; 18 Pea; 20 Toe; 21 Arms; 23 File; 25 bend; Spheres; 26 Israel; 29 berk; brad; brae; brake; Lime; 30 Road; 31 Earned; braked; bran; Down – 2 Amazon; 3 32 Tornadoes. Thrust; 4 Outfit; 5 Surf; brand; brane; bread; break; 6 Epsilon; 7 Bass; 8 Advocates; 13 Curtailed; bred; 14 Wife; 15 Prams; 18 22 Spleen; 23 Feared; Pair; 19 Wavelet; debar; debark; drab; HANDBRAKE; 24 Legate; 27 Rare; 28 herb; kerb. Lido. QUICK CROSSWORD:

bake; baked; baker; band; bander; bandh; bane; bank; banked; banker; bard; bare; bared;

Across – 1 Naturist; – Delve; Incur; Giddy. 5 Fuzz; 8 Thousand; 9 Trot; 11 Valiant; 13 (2) Across Raise; 14 Overcrowded; – Games; Awful; Traps. 18 Latin; 19 Tibetan; 21 Girl; 22 Parallel; 24 Tint; 25 Reckoner. Down – Grant; Mafia; Salts. Down – 1 Native; 2 Troll; 3 Restaurant; 4 Sun; 6 Ukraine; 7 Zither; NONAGRAM: 10 Draw a blank; 12 Tarot; 15 Veteran; 16 Flight; 17 Antler; 20 abed; abrade; Talon; 23 Ave. baaed; bade; CRYPTIC CROSSWORD:

(1) Across – Doing; Lucid; Early. Down

AS CRASHES CONTINUE P3

26 5

FIGHTING TALK FROM BEES’ COACH P40

1 8 2 3 4 6 5 7 9

A329M: REDWOOD JOINS ROW

Your weekly puzzle cha

CROSS CODE 11

SEE PAGE 3

SPORT

5 3 6 9 8 7 2 4 1

‘Completely unfair’ axing of grant could force borough’s unique job centre to close

‘TOO HIGH’ FEAR FOR ELMS FIELD PLANS P5

31 33

29. Board game (4) ACROSS 30. Cosmos (8) 1. Item of hosiery (8) 31. Decompose (3) 6. Hit hard (4) 32. Hint (4) 8. Mineral (3) 33. Cleverest (8) 9. Uphold (8) DOWN 10. Novice (4) 2. Shallow 12. Foundation (5) container (4) 14. Doctor (5) 3. High-kicking dance (6) 17. Augury (4) 4. Slanting script (6) 18. High-handed (8) (4) (8)

11. Kiosk (5) 12. Started (5) 13. Curved sword (5) 14. Male person (3) 15. Nadir (anag.) (5) 16. System of belief (5) 19. Singleton (3) 21. Ceremonial (6) 22. Disregard (6) 23. Mouth secretion (6) 24. Choose (6)

2 | NEWS

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This is Wokingham. We’re proud to cover it! WOKINGHAM borough is a large part of Berkshire. More than 156,000 of us live here – and countless more work here too. It’s a diverse area with pretty villages mingling with market towns and hamlets. In parts industrial, in others picturesque, it is a wonderful place to be. The Wokingham Paper was set up to ensure that the whole borough had its own newspaper. Our team has a mission to report on events and activities from the northernmost parts, which include parts of Henley and Cockpole Green, to the south including

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Swallowfield and Finchampstead. In between you’ve got Twyford, Woodley and Wokingham town itself. All have their own personalities and specialities and we aim to reflect that. Our strapline is “News with a heart for the borough” and that’s exactly what we do. We’re a truly local newspaper – we’re produced locally, printed locally and we live locally. No one else covers Wokingham the way that we do. So if you want to reach Wokingham, we’re the place to be.

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, January 8, 2016

Guild’s Christmas delivery for premature babies

LITERATURE

Author will speak about her first novel at library THE author of a book that has been recommended by The Sunday Times and The Times is coming to Wokingham next week. Laura Barnett, whose debut novel was published in May last year, will visit Wokingham Library on Thursday to talk about it. The Versions of Us follows two 19-year-old students who meet by chance when a dog makes their paths cross. In a Sliding Doors type setup, Ms Barnett’s book looks at three different versions of their future together, looking at the different paths that lives may tread down. She will explain more at the author session, complete with a book signing, at the Denmark Street library. It takes place from 6.45pm to 8pm and places, costing £3, should be booked. For more details or tickets, call 0118 978 1368.

HEALTH

Get on your bike with bulge-beating ride

A GROUP that aims to use pedal power to battle the post-Christmas bulge will be coming to an Earley on Sunday. The Belles on Bikes group meets at 10am at Palmer Park Stadium, just over Wokingham’s border and off the Wokingham Road in Reading. The cyclists will then take part in a two-hour ride across cycle lanes, roads and country lanes, riding at a slow to moderate pace and stopping for a cuppa.

Jane Bingham, Pat Rutherford, Sister Gina Outram and Judith Collins.

A HOSPITAL ward that helps premature babies was given a special Christmas present thanks to the Wokingham Trefoil Guild. The group, which is an adult branch of the Girl Guides movement, spent the year raising funds for the Buscot Premature Baby Unit at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading. After a range of charity events the group presented a cheque for £560 to

A rider at the back will ensure no one gets left behind and, thanks to the ReadyBike scheme, you do not even need to own a bike to take part.

GAMES

Get into character for role-playing event

FANS of fantasy gaming are invited to Winnersh library next week for the latest meeting of the Keep Calm and Fly Casual club. Devoted to players of miniature role-playing games X Wing Miniatures Game, Star Wars and Armada, attendees should be aged 16 or older. The event starts at 5.30pm and continues to 7.45pm on Thursday and takes place at Winnersh Library, in The Forest School,

Gina Outram, Buscot’s ward sister. The money will be used to help purchase a Giraffe Omnibed Incubator. Trefoil member Pat Rutherford said: “We were very pleased to visit the hospital in December to present a cheque for £560 towards the purchase of a Giraffe Omnibed Incubator. The money was raised by a book stall, various raffles and a tombola at the Wokingham Winter Carnival.

“Trefoil Guild is open to anyone over the age of 18 and is a great way to make new friends, travel, serve the community and to help Guiding thrive across the UK. We in Wokingham meet once a month, run our own programme and join in with Wokingham Division.” The group welcomes new members. For more details, call Ms Rutherford on 0118 973 2265 or email bprutherford@ btinternet.com

Robinhood Lane. For details or to book call 0118 979 7519 or email libraries@wokingham. gov.uk

CRIME

CHILDREN

AN iPod was stolen from a car in Twyford on New Year’s Eve. At some point between Thursday and Friday someone broke into the car parked in the Orchard Estate, searched the glove box and stole the device. Earlier in the week, a car in London Road was also broken into. Between 9pm on Wednesday and 1.30pm on Thursday someone broke into the parked car by forcing the driver side door. The glove box was searched and items left inside were stolen. Motorists are reminded not to leave valuables inside cars and to always lock their vehicle. If you have any information relating to these incidents call 101.

A crafty way to occupy your toddlers at library

A NEW craft session for toddlers lands at Lower Earley Library next week. Craft Time is for children aged two to five offering fun ways for them to explore the world and make something at the same time. This month they will be taking part in bird-themed activities. It takes place at the Chalfont Close library on Thursday. Sessions cost £1 and run from 11am to 11.30am. For more details call 0118 931 2150.

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.

Music player stolen during car break-in

COMMUNITY CASH TOKEN Your name:.......................................................................................................................................... Your tel no:.......................................................................................................................................... Name of nominated group or organisation:......................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................................. Its address/meeting place:........................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................. Name of group’s representative:.............................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................. Their tel no:.........................................................................................................................................

THE

WOKINGHAM PAPER

NEWS | 3

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Friday, January 8, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

TRANSPORT

APPEAL

MP wades into ‘danger’ A329M row

Hunt for attacker who grabbed teenage girl

A TEENAGE girl was grabbed by a man who would not let go of her during an attack in Shinfield on Monday. At around 5.45pm, the 14-year-old girl was walking along Shinfield Road towards Shinfield Park when she was approached by a man who grabbed her arm and refused to let go. The victim managed to free herself and fled to Shinfield Park shops. She was not harmed during the incident. The offender is described as in his thirties, about 6ft 3ins, with distinctive facial hair in the shape of a rectangle on his chin. He was wearing a black hoody, which was covering most of his face, and black woollen gloves. PC Amelia Sergent, the investigating officer, said: “We are particularly interested in speaking with a man with grey hair, about 40- to 50-years-old with a red backpack who we believe may have witnessed this incident. “Anyone with information can contact me via the 24-hour Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101.”

EXCLUSIVE

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokinghampaper.co.uk WOKINGHAM’S MP has entered the row over the new A329M junctions, demanding urgent answers and a solution to the ongoing traffic misery facing the borough’s commuters. Even though Highways England has installed new signs to alert drivers to the carriageway changes, which sees the A329M become a single lane motorway with filter lanes to access the M4 junctions, there have been a string of incidents on the road. The latest occurred yesterday (Thursday) morning when four cars were involved in a collision during rush-hour. An eyewitness who passed the site shortly after the crash at around 8am said they saw the cars moved onto the hard shoulder by emergency services, with no sign of injuries. It is believed that one car may have collided with the back of another, creating a knock-on effect through the traffic. Now, more roadworks are being planned for later this month in an attempt to iron out the problems. Weather permitting, there will be further road closures on Monday, January 18 and 25. In a letter Highways England sent to a reader, they said: “This is to make further improvements to the road marking and traffic sign strategy in order to better inform road users of the new road layout ie bringing the carriageway down to one lane. “Once these measures have been implemented and the scheme has effectively ‘bedded-in’, late weaving manoeuvres should be eradicated and normal freeflow traffic conditions should return. Unfortunately when significantly changing road layouts the ‘beddingin’ period can take months before full benefits can be realised.”

ACCOLADE Writing on his blog, John Redwood, MP for Wokingham, shared the text of a letter he had sent to Jim O’Sullivan (Chief Executive of Highways England) explaining that the changes to the road has resulted in “regular complaints to me by my constituents” with safety and congestion being regular reasons for these gripes. “As a matter of some urgency, I should be grateful to know what action Highways England is now taking to ensure the safety of those using junction 10,” he added. A reply from HE had not been received as we went to press. Speaking to The Wokingham Paper, Mr Redwood said: “I am trying to get Highways England and Wokingham Borough to come to a solution, both to improve safety and traffic flows. The A329M is a Wokingham Borough Road and the M4 is a Highways England road, so they need to work together. “I am not myself proposing a solution, as the Council and Highways England are

the experts and they own the roads and the problem, so it is best if they think up and adopt a solution. “I will keep everyone posted through my site as and when I get responses.” n Clarification – Highways England spokesman Stuart Miller would like to make it clear that he did not say that the comments by Councillor Keith Baker were

untrue, as reported in our December 18 edition (A239M: It’s ‘Safe’ Say Road Bosses). He stated that the Highways England project manager’s correspondence was up to date and was not aware of any other correspondence taking place. Highways England added that it will address any concerns that Cllr Baker has if he contacts the project team directly.

ACCIDENT

Evening crash leaves one in hospital A PERSON needed hospital treatment after a collision on the A329M on Sunday night which ended with a car on its roof. Police and two ambulance crews were joined by pumps from Wokingham and Bracknell fire stations at the scene of the collision, which happened on the slip road for the M4

on the Reading-bound section of the carriageway just before 7pm. A Peugeot and BMW were involved in the smash, where one of the vehicles ended up on its roof – although no-one was trapped. One person was taken to Royal Berkshire Hospital and treated for minor injuries.

Prince Trust’s fundraiser scoops MBE from Queen

A FINCHAMPSTEAD woman has been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list. Alison Mihail was given the honour for her work with young people, having raised more than £2.1million for the Prince’s Trust over the last 18 years. The retired headteacher is now the Chair of Thames Valley and Surrey Area Development committee, a role she has held for almost 20 years. She has also been a home economics teacher at the Piggott School. It is not the first time that Mrs Mihail has been recognised for her volunteering. In 2004, she was honoured at the South East Volunteer of the Year Award at The Prince’s Trust Celebrate Success Awards, and in 2008, she was also awarded Volunteer of the Year award for the Prince’s Trust. Mrs Mihail was one of 1,196 civilians who were awarded honours in the New Year list, which also included an OBE for Paul Owen from Wargrave, the chief executive of the British Canoe Union, honoured for his services to Canoeing.

APPEAL

The search goes on... 700 join hunt for missing dog MORE than 700 people are now searching for a dog which went missing following a crash on the M4 near Three Mile Cross last month. Black lurcher Jo has eluded captivity since the accident on December 15 which left his 76-year-old owner in hospital with broken ribs. It happened after her car hit a lorry parked on the hard shoulder between junctions 11 and 12. The story captured the hearts of local dog-walkers and residents who immediately sprang into action to try to reunite rescue dog Jo with his owner, Jackey Holt, who has since been discharged from the Royal Berkshire Hospital. Jackey’s grandson Aaron Jeffrey, who lives in Hertfordshire but has been staying with his grandmother in a campervan on a well-wishers’ land

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in Tutts Clump, West Berkshire, while the search continues, said he has been overwhelmed by the kindness of the volunteers. Speaking to The Wokingham Paper yesterday (Thursday) Aaron said: “There are nearly 700 people now following the Search for Jo Facebook page we set up to coordinate the search. “It’s just incredible how many people have given up their time to help search for a dog that they don’t even know, just so he can be reunited with my grandmother. “Jackey lives in Wales, and I live in Hertfordshire so it was nearly impossible for us to travel back and forth everyday, so a very kind gentleman offered us his land for us to set up the campervan, he’s even plugged us into his electricity and said

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He said: “We had one lady stop by who was on her way home to Essex from holiday, she had heard about us through Facebook so she made a detour to spend a few hours searching. “People have been out with me until midnight most nights, and my phone hasn’t stopped buzzing from the amount of requests to join the group. “My family is incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support and generosity that has been shown to us. We need people to keep looking and phoning me as soon as they can if they see Jo. My grandmother is a strong woman, but she just wants her baby back.” To join the search visit www.facebook.com/ groups/198913080450215. If you see Jo, do not chase him but call 07961 968613 or 07764 788811.

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4 | NEWS CRIME

Warning to van owners after spate of tool thefts

MOTORISTS are being reminded not to leave valuables inside their vehicles following a spate of break-ins in Wokingham and Three Mile Cross last week. Between Tuesday, December 29, and Saturday, January 2, someone broke into a van parked in Patten Ash Drive and stole tools that were left inside. At some point between December 23 and January 2, someone broke into a parked van in Mereoak Lane by forcing the locks on the driver side door and the rear door. The vehicle was searched but nothing was stolen. Anyone with information relating to these thefts is urged to call the Thames Valley Police enquiry centre via 101.

CRIME

Motorists urged to take sat-navs out of their cars

SAT-NAVS were stolen in two separate incidents in the same road in Earley just before Christmas. Overnight between Monday, December 21, and Tuesday, December 22, someone broke into a parked car in Hilltop Road and stole a sat-nav and a Kindle which had been left inside. On the same street a second car was also searched and a sat-nav, cigarettes, keys and loose change were stolen. Motorists are reminded not to leave valuables inside their car, even in the glove box or the boot. Anyone with any information relating to these thefts should call 101.

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COMMUNITY

Vital job support charity could close if council grant is cut EXCLUSIVE

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokinghampaper.co.uk A CHARITY that has helped more than 10,000 Wokingham people look for work could be forced to close if its council funding is axed. The Wokingham Job Support Centre (WJSC) has been running for 23 years with the help of a grant from Wokingham Borough Council (WBC), during which time it has offered advice and help to 10,500 people. However, its WBC grant is now under threat, leaving the centre facing a financial crisis and only enough reserves to keep going for 12 months. Steven Polak, Treasurer and Trustee of WSJC, told The Wokingham Paper the council’s grant of £16,600 provides 55% of its annual operating budget. He said: “For this relatively small amount of contribution the whole borough gets a unique community service which would cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, if it were not largely run by volunteers. “We are a successful example of David Cameron’s ‘big society’ where the voluntary sector provides a much more cost effective solution than local or central government.” He feels it is unfair that WBC is proposing to axe this grant. “We understand that the council needs to reduce its costs, however we understand that we are now facing a cut of 100% in our grant, probably because we are seen as an easy target. “We believe this is grossly unfair to all the

borough residents who support us, work with us and the many thousands we have helped back into work over the last 23 years. “This is a very short-sighted move by the council which will lead to the loss of a key service to the community. Even with recent improvements in the economy, in the last year we have had 250 new clients and some 1,500 visits to the Centre.” Wokingham borough does not have its own Job Centre – jobseekers have to visit Reading or Bracknell to look for work – and the WJSC charity was originally set up by the Council. It currently runs from The Cornerstone in Norreys Avenue. Mr Polak added: “We are the only organisation in the area to focus on the 50+ age group and we provide a massive payback in reduced community costs and improved well-being, family integration and community cohesion. “We ask all Wokingham Borough residents to lobby their councillor to stop the council destroying this unique service.” Cllr Anthony Pollock, executive member for finance and resources at WBC, said: “As part of a continuous drive for efficiency, and in light of ongoing pressures on the council’s budgets, we are looking at a range of options to achieve the necessary savings. “Withdrawing or reducing the grant paid to Wokingham Job Support Centre is one possibility that has been put forward for consideration, but no decision has been made. The council’s budget will be finalised in February.” For more on the centre or to ask for help, visit www.wjsc.org.uk, or the centre at the Cornerstone Building, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham RG40 1UE.

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, January 8, 2016

From left: David Atkinson, Wokingham Foodbank manager, Jan Howlin, Salvation Army Chaplain and James Fellows, manager at the My Local store in Wokingham.

COMMUNITY

Plenty of food for thought A SUPERMARKET in Wokingham has made a New Year’s resolution that will make a real difference to the borough. The My Local store in Market Place has teamed up with the Wokingham Foodbank and the Salvation Army to ensure that no food is wasted. The new partnership will see the two groups receive food that would otherwise be thrown out as it is close to its sell-by or use-by date. The scheme is not the only way the store, which opened in October, will help. Its manager, James Fellows, said: “We hope

over the course of the next few weeks, months and years, we might be able to make a real difference to our local community.” As part of this, the store will also become a Foodbank collection point. David Atkinson, from Wokingham food bank, said: “It is fantastic we can all work together with local business to help the most needy in Wokingham.” The Salvation Army’s Jan Howlin added: “We are delighted to be partnered now with My Local.”

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Friday, January 8, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

CAMPAIGN

Rallying call to help save Elms Field By JOHN WAKEFIELD news@wokinghampaper.co.uk CAMPAIGNERS opposed to council plans to build on Elms Field have arranged a meeting in the town centre park next weekend. Critics of the scheme are asking people to join them at 2.30pm on Saturday, January 16, so they can share information and raise awareness about the redevelopment. They say the proposals involve losing too much of the green space in the park. They also believe housing around the newly-created park will be too tall, as will new houses on Denmark Street, and a five-storey hotel facing on to the roundabout by the Carnival Pool. A new planning application for the town centre field and adjacent areas was submitted by Wokingham Borough Council on November 27. People have until January 31 to comment on the plans. The application follows an earlier scheme, which was withdrawn in December 2013 after a chorus of objections that included a rally in the park, and an extraordinary council meeting at St Crispin’s School triggered by

Campaigners have created this image to show the height of the housing which would be built under the planned development of Elms Field.

a 2,000-signature petition. The new plans include a reconfigured park, a supermarket, shops, bars, takeaways, cafes and a three-screen cinema, along with a 95-bed hotel and 123 residential units. The roundabout by Wokingham Library would become a four-way junction to give residents and lorries access to new shops and homes, and another road would be created off Denmark Street to allow lorries to deliver to the supermarket and

hotel. They will be considered by the council in the Spring, and if approved, work will start in 2017 and finish in 2019. Mel Horton, who is one of the administrators of the facebook page Keep Elms Field Green, has analysed the plans carefully. She said: “These revised plans for Elms Field still give major cause for concern, particularly with regard to the density of development and the overall building

COURT

Terror plot couple jailed for life A WOMAN from Earley, who was found guilty of preparing for acts of terrorism with her Readingbased husband, has been jailed for life. Sana Ahmed Khan, 24, of Hutton Close, and Mohammed Rehman, 25, of Radstock Road, were both found guilty by a unanimous jury at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, December 29, following a fourweek trial. Prosecutors told the court how Rehman had stockpiled chemicals and bomb-making equipment at his home, funded by a payday loan taken out by Khan. In a raid on his family home in May, police found 10kg of Urea Nitrate explosives in Rehman’s bedroom. They also uncovered a ‘Royal Flush’ of terrorist videos and documents, including the martyrdom video of 7/7 bomber Shehzad Tanweer, Al Qaeda propaganda magazines, and videos produced by Islamic State leaders. Authorities were alerted to Rehman after he posted on social media under the name ‘Silent Bomber’ asking for advice about the London Underground and Westfield shopping centre, which the prosecutor claimed were possible targets for a suicide attack. Ms Khan will serve a minimum of 25 years in prison, while Rehman must serve at least 27 years.

Sana Ahmed Khan and husband Mohammed Rehman have both been jailed for life after a trial at the Old Bailey. Below, a knife found during a raid on Rehman’s home.

COMMUNITY

Appeal for fire volunteers to help save lives VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help work alongside Wokingham fire crews. Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) has launched an appeal for people to step forward as they seek to help improve the safety of the most vulnerable people in the community. Based at Wokingham Fire Station in Easthampstead Road, the volunteers will assist RBFRS with a range of services, including helping provide home fire safety checks and delivering vital safety messages. In return, RBFRS says that the programme enables volunteers to meet new people, enhance their CV and gain valuable work experience. Alan Battman, Station Commander at Wokingham Fire Station, said: “The crews and I are looking forward to the volunteers joining us at Wokingham

NEWS | 5

To advertise email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Fire Station. Our volunteer scheme aims to engage and help the more vulnerable people within the community. “Volunteering is something that you can do for a few hours in your spare time and offers a great opportunity to learn new skills. “If you’re going to make a New Year’s resolution, then why not become a volunteer at Wokingham Fire Station and help contribute towards everyone in our community living safe and fulfilling lives. Volunteering at Wokingham Fire Station means that we can get right to the heart of the community where we can do our best work.” To become a volunteer or to find out more information, email the Station Manager at stn10co@ rbfrs.co.uk. No previous experience is needed but volunteers should be at least 18.

heights versus the rest of the town centre. “The new housing at the west side of the field is nearly 1.8 times the height of nearby substantial Victorian and Edwardian townhouses. “It’s a similar picture in Denmark Street, where one side of the road has the original Victorian terrace and the new development will have a five-storey hotel which will dominate the Wokingham skyline.” She added: “The current park does need to be improved because council funding cuts have allowed it to fall into disrepair. “We must remember that if we lose this area of green space to housing and shops it will be lost forever. “Instead of building houses and shops, why can’t we build a fantastic community facility with amenities for all age groups – adult fitness equipment, reinstatement of the basketball and tennis courts, a park cafe, community space and facilities for events, a children’s play area, an area for kids to learn to skate and cycle, expansion of the community allotment project, and areas for relaxing and picnicking.” The application can be seen on the council’s website, at Shute End, or at Wokingham Library.

CRIME

Residents warned after spate of festive break-ins

RESIDENTS in Shinfield are being urged to secure their properties following several break-ins and attempted burglaries over the Christmas period. Between December 24 and December 31, someone damaged the ground floor window of a property in Frensham Green. The offender tried to remove the plastic around the window, causing the glass to crack. In Pippin Grove, between December 30 and Sunday, January 3, someone went into a garage and stole a remote control car. The garage had been left unlocked. Then, between 4.30pm on Sunday and 5.30am on Monday, a bicycle was stolen from a shed in Chrysanthemum Drive.

ARTS

Film society to screen Swedish avalanche drama

WOKINGHAM’S film society will host a winter screening when it meets next week. The group will show the Swedish drama Force Majeure at the Bradbury Centre in Rose Street on Thursday. The film focuses on what happens to a family after an avalanche hits their skiing holiday in the French Alps. Doors open at 7pm on Thursday and tickets cost £6.50. For more details, log on to wokinghamfilm society.com

6 | NEWS

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n A MAN from Riseley has pleaded guilty to three counts of theft. Gary Martin Mohan, 40, of Part Lane, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on November 23 charged with the counts of theft and one count of breaching conditions of a suspended sentence. The theft charges relate to incidents on September 15, when Mr Mohan stole food to the value of £161 from Marks and Spencer in Lower Earley; on September 16 when he stole food worth £80 from Sainbury’s and on November 8 when he stole food worth £228.26 from Marks and Spencer in Lower Earley. Mr Mohan was ordered to pay a total of £241 compensation and £150 courts’ charge. n A WOMAN from Shinfield is due to appear in court charged with drink driving. Cheryl Lisa Christie, 29, from Rossby, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on November 23 where she denied the charge of driving while above the legal limit. The charge relates to an incident on August 5 when Miss Christie is alleged to have recorded 80 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. She was remanded on unconditional bail to reappear at the same court on March 17 this year. n A MAN from Crowthorne has appeared in court charged with stealing a number plate, stealing petrol and handling stolen goods. Mark Anthony Dyson, 45, of Llangar Grove, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on November 23 where he pleaded

W O N PEN O

From the courts

not guilty to the three charges, which all related to an incident on May 3. Mr Dyson was remanded on unconditional bail to reappear at the same court on March 10. n A MAN from Wokingham has been handed a conditional discharge after pleading guilty to causing criminal damage. Gary Gardiner, 39, of Ashville Way, was given the conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and a criminal courts’ charge of £150 when he appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on November 23. The charge relates to an incident on September 10 when Mr Gardiner

damaged a wall belonging to Thames Valley Police. n A WOMAN from Woodley has been ordered to pay £240 after pleading guilty to theft and assault. Victoria Samantha Bunce, 27, of Wheble Drive, pleaded guilty to the charges at Reading Magistrates’ Court on November 23. Miss Bunce pleaded guilty to stealing perfume to the value of £61.50 from Boots on November 9, and to assaulting a man on the same day. She was fined £40, ordered to pay a criminal courts’ charge of £150 and compensation of £50. n A MAN from Woodley is due to appear in court charged with drink driving.

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, January 8, 2016

Richard Robert Witts, 41, of Selsdon Avenue, denied driving a motor vehicle while over the alcohol limit on June 23, 2015, when he appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on November 24. Mr Witts was remanded on unconditional bail to reappear at the same court on January 26. n A MAN from Winnersh has pleaded guilty to possessing a Class B drug, and to driving without insurance or a licence. Marcus Ryan Waines, 19, of Bayley Court, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on November 25 when he pleaded guilty to the charge, which related to an incident on October 3, 2015, when he was found to have a quantity of cannabis or cannabis resin in his possession, and to be driving a motor vehicle without a licence and without adequate insurance. He was fined a total of £100, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20, costs of £85 and a criminal courts’ charge of £180. He was also issued six points on his driving record. n A WOMAN from Finchampstead has been banned from driving for nearly two years after pleading guilty to failing to provide a breath specimen. Lorraine Bennett, 33, of Dart Close, failed to provide the specimen without any reasonable excuse in Lower Earley on November 11. Ms Bennett pleaded guilty to the charge when she appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on November 25. She was fined £120, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20, costs of £40 and disqualified from holding a licence for 20 months.

n AN 18-year-old man from Wokingham has pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation. Joshua Oliver, from Norreys Avenue, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on November 25 where he was handed a conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15, and costs of £40. The charge relates to an incident between December 1-31, 2014 when Mr Oliver and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, fraudulently ordered items online to the value of £170 using someone else’s bank details. n A MAN from Woodley has pleaded guilty to possessing a Class B drug and failing to surrender to custody. Thomas Spires, 27, of Keats Road, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on December 4 charged with possessing a quantity of cannabis on April 23, and failing to surrender to custody at the same court on November 13. Mr Spires was fined a total of £110, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £85, a criminal courts charge of £180. n A MAN from Wokingham has been fined more than £400 for failing to licence his vehicle. Joseph Coyle, 24, of Nine Mile Ride, was proved to have failed to licence the vehicle on July 10, despite the licence having expired on February 9. Mr Coyle was not present at the hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on December 4, but was fined £440, ordered to pay a vehicle excise back duty of £93.75, costs of £90, and a criminal courts charge of £150.

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8 | FLOODING SPECIAL SWALLOWFIELD

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, January 8, 2016

SWALLOWFIELD

It’s not all bad – this pooch had a ball playing in a flooded field off Church Road in Swallowfield . Picture: Paul King

FORECAST

More rain for Wokingham... and next week it could snow By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk MORE heavy rain is set to hit Wokingham this weekend and temperatures are set to plummet towards the middle of next week, the Met Office has confirmed. Heavy rain is forecast this afternoon (Friday), and throughout the day on Saturday, with up to 9mm of rain expected in places and the possibility of thunderstorms in the evening. There will be further showers on Sunday, easing off towards the evening. No weather warnings have been issued, but a flood alert remains in place for the River Loddon at Swallowfield, Arborfield, Shinfield, Barkham, Lower Earley, Sindlesham, Winnersh, Woodley, Hurst, Twyford, Charvil and Wargrave. Cold weather heading in from

Scandinavia is set to hit Scotland on Monday, reaching the south of England by Wednesday. Temperatures could fall to as low as -2ºC by the weekend, which could freeze the standing water on the roads and fields around Wokingham. Met Office spokeswoman Lindsay Mears said: “After the warm, wet weather we’ve been having lately, this is a return to proper winter weather. “There will be a break in the rain, which will be replaced with colder weather with snow and ice as cold air from Scandinavia blows across the country. “There will definitely be snow in the higher regions of the country. We don’t yet know how far down it will come or how much will fall. “The snow is going to hit the north of Scotland by the end of this week and, by next week, it will spread

down the country. It may even fall on higher ground as far south as the Pennines. “We’ll start next week with temperatures of between 2-5ºC in Scotland and the north of the England and around 7-9ºC in the south. “By Wednesday the cold weather will have reached the south, bringing temperatures plunging to 4-5ºC.” The Met Office is advising motorists to be careful when driving overnight and in the early hours as temperatures fall leading to potentially hazardous driving conditions. Ms Mears said: “At night the temperatures will be a lot colder. It will be well below freezing and there is the danger of ice on the roads.” “This is only a cold snap, the mild weather will probably be back by the end of next week and the beginning of the week after.”

ADVICE

What to do when weather closes in THE Met Office has the following guidance for driving in inclement weather. When snow or icy roads are forecast you should adjust your driving to suit the conditions. Black ice isn’t always visible and can be an even greater hazard for both motorists and pedestrians. Black ice may be formed when rain or drizzle fall on a road surface which is at a temperature below zero. n Before snow or ice: If you have to make a journey when snow is forecast, make sure you have warm clothes, food, water, boots, a torch and spade, and let someone know when you expect to arrive and your route. Try to wait until

the roads have been gritted before travelling. n Put grit or cat litter on paths and driveways to lessen the risk of slipping on compacted snow. n During snow or ice: Avoid travel if possible. If you must drive take care around gritters. n Don’t be tempted to overtake: Slow down — it can take 10 times longer to stop in snowy or icy conditions, so allow extra room. n Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. n Manoeuvre gently and avoid harsh braking and acceleration. If you start to skid, gently ease off the accelerator and avoid braking. If braking is necessary, pump the brakes don’t slam them on.

n If you get stuck, stay with your car and tie something brightly coloured to your aerial. n After snow and ice: Be careful when walking or driving on compacted snow — it may have turned to ice. n Before the rain: Find out if you are at risk of flooding on the Environment Agency’s website. n During the rain: Flood water is dangerous — six inches of fastflowing water can knock over an adult and two feet of water can move a car. n Stay safe and listen to the advice of the emergency services and evacuate if told to do so. Keep listening for updates or call Floodline on 0845 988 1188.

Flooding in the car park at the Reading Moat House hotel, and below. Picture: Paul King

SINDLESHAM

‘It’s not as bad as it has been’ — hotel THE Reading Moat House hotel in Sindlesham has suffered flooding to two of its visitor car parks, but say conditions are not as bad as in previous years. A spokesperson for the Best Western Hotel, in Mill Lane, said: “We have had to close two sections of our car park due to flooding, and ask guests to use the higher section for the time being. “We haven’t had too many problems as far as access goes, we have a second entrance through our conference centre which we have been sending guests through so they don’t have to trudge through muddy paths to get to us. “Overall, it has been nowhere near as bad as in previous years.”

Above: Wokingham Borough Council’s emergency response team. Picture: Paul King

FLOODING SPECIAL | 9

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Friday, January 8, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

FORD

Expecting a delivery? Don’t wait in... A VAN driver got caught in the ford at Whistley Mill Lane in Wokingham on Saturday, January 2. Our chief photographer Paul King caught the unfortunate moment, caused by the recent heavy rainfall.

Wokingham police and local fire crews are warning people not to drive through this ford or any deep flood water as will take up their time rescuing people stuck. Picture: Paul King

ANGER

Farmer blames house building after floods leave him stranded By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk

A FARMER whose family — including his pregnant daughter — have been left stranded by floods has hit out at Wokingham council for failing to safeguard them. Ian Lucken, 71, who runs the Lands End Equestrian Centre in Whistley Mill Lane, Twyford, has watched helplessly as the waters steadily rose up from the ford close to his farm since Sunday, leaving the only road in and out of the estate completely submerged. This is not the first time Mr Lucken has suffered — the farm was completely cut off for more than three months when severe floods hit in 2013, with the family having to raid their savings in order to get by. He said: “I have been here since 1957 and it’s only in the last few years that we’ve had such

a problem. “The ford has always flooded, but never so bad that we can’t get out. The only way people can get to us now is by boat. “My daughter Suzy is six months pregnant and is on medication, if she needed to get to hospital the ambulance wouldn’t be able to get down here. I was rushed to hospital myself during the floods in 2013, but I had to wade through water up to my chest to get to the ambulance.” Mr Lucken’s 15-year-old son, also called Ian, has had to miss days from school as he can’t get out of the farm. The family have had to cancel riding classes and bring their horses in from the fields for their own safety. Mr Lucken said: “I have asked the council many times to raise the road by a few feet to stop it from flooding, but they’re not interested.

SWALLOWFIELD

As it is only us down here they don’t think we are worth the bother. “The whole reason the flooding is getting so bad is because they have built houses on the floodplains, which forces the water over here. “In 2013 we were nearly ruined. We couldn’t go through that again.” Cllr Angus Ross, Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for the environment, said: “I have a lot of sympathy for Mr Lucken and his family when their house is inaccessible. However the house is situated in a flood plain next to the River Loddon and this area has always flooded. “Sadly the last few weeks only highlight how flooding nationally is becoming commonplace, leaving properties built on flood plains such as this more vulnerable. We did look at options to improve the resilience of the road leading to Mr Lucken’s farm, but at a cost of more than £100,000 it simply isn’t

SWALLOWFIELD

possible from council funding.” The Environment Agency (EA) has warned of further heavy rain this week, and is urging residents to remain vigilant as there is a risk of further flooding. Clare Dinnis, Flood Risk Manager at the Environment Agency, said: “As we continue to support communities that have been affected by flooding our teams are working around the clock to repair flood defences, protect communities, and pump away flood water. “Wednesday saw further heavy showers and we are keeping a close watch on the situation and will issue further flood warnings as required.” The EA’s Floodline helps people affected by the recent floods, including giving details of the government support they may be entitled to. Please call 0345 988 1188 for more information.

Ian Lucken, grandaughter Sammy and son Ian. Pictures: Paul King

BINFIELD

Fire crew rescues woman from car

A WOMAN in Binfield fell victim to the floods on Sunday afternoon when she had to be rescued from her car. Crews from Wokingham and Bracknell Fire Stations, along with a water rescue crew from Caversham Road Station, were called to the stranded woman in Ryehurst Lane at around 2.45pm. Firefighters waded through the water to rescue the woman and carry her to dry land, before winching her car free. Watch manager James McMullen from Bracknell fire station warned motorists not to risk driving through floodwaters as cars can easily become stuck or swept away.

10 | BUSINESS

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Business PROPERTY

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, January 8, 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 ESTATE AGENT

House prices to continue upward Chancellors’ opening offer is hot property HOUSE price rises are being predicted for much of the borough, with some areas forecast to rise by as much as 10%. Local estate agency chain Romans has released its annual state of the market report and peered into its crystal ball to reflect on the next 12 months. Peter Coles, Romans MD, said: “I believe house prices will rise by 5-10% in most of the towns we cover and the increases will predominantly be seen in the first half of the year.” Crowthorne prices are forecast to rise 5%, fuelled by what Romans says

is a lack of supply. The agency said that building projects in Shinfield and Spencers Wood will stabilise demand in the Lower Earley area and prices will rise by up to 6%. The same price rise is predicted for Wokingham and Woodley, where Romans note that there is a lack of supply in the shortterm. In neighbouring Reading, the agency predicts that demand will continue to see prices rise. In 2015 they noted a 12% increase — this year they expect it to be 10%, with the same rise expected in Bracknell. ‘STUNNING’: The refurbished building in Peach Street which is now the home of Martin & Co.

WOKINGHAM SOCIETY

Praise for development of historic town centre building ONE of Wokingham’s top civic societies has given the seal of approval to the restoration of a town centre building. Last autumn, Martin & Co opened its new offices in Peach Street, refurbishing the historic Corn Chandlers which had been a pet shop for many years. Now, The Wokingham Society has praised the project to breathe new life into the historic building, saying that they were pleased. In a letter to the business owners Mike and Erica Townend, the Chairman of The Wokingham Society, Peter Must, wrote: “Now that the conversion work has been completed, the Society’s Executive

Committee has asked me to tell you how pleased we are with the appearance of the building, and with the considerate use of materials to achieve this outcome.” Mr Townend said “We are delighted that our stunning premises in Peach Street have received this accolade from The Wokingham Society. “All our staff love the working environment here and we always get a positive comment from visitors to the office. In our opinion, the appearance of the office, both inside and outside, epitomises and enhances our objectives of offering a high quality, professional and friendly service.”

The Streets of Wokingham (IN Need) Have you seen the Homeless and Needy Within the streets of Wokingham “Kicking up the papers with their worn out shoes” Why is this happening to many people in our own town We need to help and provide care, shelter and a new life Join Wokingham IN Need and make a difference How can you help us to help those in need And provide the love and help they require “Let us take you by the hand And lead you through the streets of Wokingham” Wokingham IN Need will show you how to make a difference. Contact Us Now: wokinghaminneed@gmail.com

WOKINGHAM’S newest estate agents opened its doors on Monday - and bosses say that it has been one of their most successful launches. As a special offer to mark the opening of its Broad Street offices, Chancellors is putting properties on the market for free. The agency, which has a network of branches across the Thames Valley, said that in the first 48 hours of business it had been inundated with enquiries from people keen to take advantage of the special launch offers - there is a similar promotion for landlords in which Chancellors is offering property mangement for free. A spokesperson for the company told The Wokingham Paper: “The branch has over 20 properties on the market already and branch manager Terry Nice’s diary is quickly filling with appointments to visit further interested customers. “With multiple open houses already scheduled for January and with well over a dozen viewings booked in this week, it’s clear that they’re garnering a lot of interest from buyers and tenants as well. “The Sell Your Property for Free and

Property Management for Free offers are very much still available, but they are limited to the first 50 sales and first 50 lettings clients –

therefore we advise potential sellers and landlords to act quickly so that they don’t miss out.”

FINANCE

People urged to safeguard the future of their assets By JOHN WAKEFIELD news@wokinghampaper.co.uk ALMOST nine in 10 people in the South East have made no provision for what would happen to them in the event of an illness or accident, according to a new survey released earlier this week. The research suggests that the vast majority of people are leaving major decisions about housing, assets and care to chance. Even though 86% of adults in the survey said they wanted loved ones to make decisions for them in the event of illness or accident, just 12% of adults have created a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) to enable this to happen. Adults in the South East seem better at planning for death than later life; 44% of adults in the South East have a Will but only 12% have an LPA.

The research has been carried out by SFE (Solicitors for the Elderly), the national organisation representing legal professionals such as David Roper of K J Smith Solicitors who specialise in helping people plan for later life. They stress that an LPA agreement is a way of safeguarding people’s wishes in the event they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves, due to accident or an illness such as dementia. The alternative, SFE said, is that any individual’s affairs, such as their end-of-life wishes and health treatments, could be left in the hands of third party solicitors, social workers, medical doctors, or the British courts. Even the minority of people that have taken steps to plan ahead for later life may still be at risk, due to poor quality legal advice and invalid documents. 52% of people with LPAs in place did not use

experts or legal guidance, instead taking a gamble using online resources, non-legal advisers, or off-the-shelf kits. David Roper, Senior Solicitor at K J Smith Solicitors, said: “The majority of people think that if they suffer a life changing illness or a life changing accident, their spouse or next of kin will be responsible for vital decisions. However, the reality is very different as unless you have a Lasting Power of Attorney in place your loved ones may not be able to make a decision for you in relation to finances or health care. “A Lasting Power of Attorney is by far the most powerful and important legal document an individual can have. “If you have children, own a home, or have views on how you want any of your health issues to be treated, we would strongly recommend you to go to an expert to get the right advice and have an LPA in place.”

MEETING

The future of farming under the spotlight FARMERS and growers are being invited to a meeting next week to discuss how farming could look in the future. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHBD) is launching a wide-ranging activity review covering beef and lamb, pork, dairy, potatoes, cereals and oilseeds, and horticulture sectors to encourage debate on future activity across the UK. The event, which will take place in

Winchester on Tuesday, January 12, is the only local event for Wokingham borough based farmers and all AHBD levy payers are being encouraged to attend. Jane King, AHDB Chief Executive, said: “We want to listen to views on what AHDB should be doing to help levy payers build a better business.” The event will be chaired by Gwyn Jones, Chair of AHDB’s Dairy Sector Board.

At the event, Tom Hind, Chief Strategy Officer for AHDB, will give an overview of the board’s activity. It takes place from 7pm to 9.30pm, at the Holiday Inn Winchester, in Telegraph Way, Morn Hill, Winchester. Full sign-up details for the event, and the other meetings, as well as a levy payer questionnaire, are available on the AHDB website at www.ahdb.org.uk/news/ activityreview2015.aspx

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12 | NEWS

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CONSULTATION

Help shape the future of fire service as it battles budgets By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk VIEWS on the future of Berkshire’s fire and rescue service are being sought as part of a 12week consultation launched on Monday. Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is calling on people to help them shape the way its services are delivered while at the same time balancing the budget in increasingly difficult financial circumstances. All fire and rescue authorities have a legal duty to produce an Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP), covering at least a three-year period, that identifies and assesses all foreseeable fire and rescue related risks that could affect the communities they serve, ensuring that the right resources are being used effectively. The new IRMP is a strategic five-year plan that focuses on delivering the outcomes of four priority projects: n Reviewing current attendance times, reviewing optimum fire station locations and their suitability, shift patterns and

crewing arrangements, and exploring the possibility of sharing locations with other organisations. n Reviewing RBFRS’ current specialist appliances, exploring the possibilities of sharing resources with other fire and rescue services, and investigating emerging technology and its impact on operational systems of work. n Reviewing current prevention initiatives, delivering a broad range of new initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing of communities, and carrying out risk mapping to deal with risks associated with key target groups and areas. n Reviewing RBFRS’ risk-based commercial premises audit programme and utilising collected data to enable continual review of ‘risk’ premises, enabling the delivery of a more targeted programme. Area manager Simon Jefferies, who manages RBFRS’ IRMP process, said: “Since Royal Berkshire Fire Authority reviewed and reset their policy direction in 2014, which resulted in six new strategic commitments, RBFRS has been planning how these

commitments would be delivered using its available resources and against the backdrop of Government spending cuts. “These four key projects are the result of that planning activity and we hope that as many people as possible will let us have their views on them. “This is just the first step, as we will be developing annual Action Plans, which will contain detailed information about what will be achieved in each of the four years between now and 2019, and an Annual Report will detail the progress made in that year. “All the feedback we receive as part of the consultation process will be considered, so this really is your opportunity to help shape the future of your fire and rescue service.” The consultation process is open until Monday, April 4. Views can be shared by visiting www.rbfrs.co.uk, emailing irmp@rbfrs.co.uk, calling 0118 938 4331 (automated line) or writing to Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Newsham Court, Pincents Kiln, Calcot, Reading RG31 7SD.

The Texaco garage in New Bath Road was raided on Thursday morning. Picture: Paul King

APPEAL

Masked gang raids garage A MASKED gang smashed their way into a petrol station in Charvil and threatened a member of staff before escaping with cash and cigarettes yesterday (Thursday). Police say the three-man gang struck at the Texaco garage in New Bath Road at around 2.40am. The scene was still cordoned off in the afternoon. A male member of staff reported that

one of the men brandished a metal pole during the raid. He added that they all had their hands covered. Two of the men were said to be white, and the other was black, according to police. They all spoke with British accents. Anyone with any further information relating to this incident should call Thames Valley Police via 101.

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14 | NEWS CRIME

Cyclists urged to get their bikes marked after thefts

CHRISTMAS was spoiled for a resident in Woodley after two mountain bikes were stolen from their garage. Sometime between 5pm on Saturday, December 19, and 2.45pm on Tuesday, December 22, someone broke into the garage of the property in Sunderland Close by forcing the lock. Two mountain bikes were stolen during the burglary. Cyclists are urged to take a photo of their bikes, register the details on www.bikeregister. com, and think about the security of the garage or shed where the bike is kept. If you have any information relating to this incident you should call 101.

CRIME

Audi S5 stolen after house is burgled in Beech Hill

TWO cars have been stolen during separate incidents in Beech Hill and Winnersh. At some point between December 27 and January 2 someone broke into a property in Beech Hill Road by smashing a window near the front door. The house was searched, and cash and car keys were stolen. The Audi S5 parked on the driveway was also stolen. Between 6pm on Saturday and 9am on Sunday someone stole the car from a driveway in King Street Lane. Anyone who may have information relating to these incidents should call 101.

CRIME

Did you see thief who escaped with two bikes?

TWO bicycles have been stolen from a block of flats in Shinfield. Between 11pm on Monday and 9am on Tuesday someone stole the bicycles which were being kept in the communal area of the block of flats in Aphelion Way. Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious during this time should call the Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101.

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WOKINGHAM

Broadmoor nurse spends Christmas on the streets after being sacked By JOHN WAKEFIELD news@wokinghampaper.co.uk A BROADMOOR nurse who has been living rough in Wokingham for more than a year has been sacked after 21 years’ service. Alex Bryson, 52, was fired by Crowthorne hospital after bosses decided he was no longer capable of carrying out his duties. He tried to resign but his offer was refused. The nurse had been signed off sick for months with mental frailty and stress, and, after his marriage collapsed, he was left homeless. Mr Bryson, who cared for high-profile killers including the Yorkshire Ripper and Ronnie Kray during his time at Broadmoor, spent New Year’s Eve sleeping in the doorway of a bank in Wokingham, relying on the generosity of passers-by in order to eat. The former nurse and care assistant said the stress of working with the mentally ill had left him unable to work and effectively “down and out”. The father-of-three has been living rough for almost a year after he was unable to find a private flat because his low salary would not cover the high rental prices, and Wokingham Borough Council could not provide him with accommodation. Mr Bryson was initially forced to sleep in his four-door hatchback car outside the Salvation Army in Sturges Road, but lost the vehicle in recent months and has since been sleeping in the doorway of a Santander bank. On December 15, after months of being off work sick due to his living situation

Alex Bryson is sleeping in the doorway of Santander bank. Picture: Paul King

and depression and anxiety, he was called into a meeting with senior management at Broadmoor, who refused to accept his resignation and instead told him he had failed to follow policies and would be sacked. He said: “My reaction to that was you can’t focus on a job and be homeless. “The dismissal was on the grounds of misconduct. They have known I have been homeless for the last year.

“They admitted that they were partly at blame because I was always in the frontline. Where there was any sort of trouble, I always got sent.” Mr Bryson claims his time at Broadmoor took a toll on his mental and physical health, having recently lost one of his front teeth after he was punched in the face by a patient. He said: “You want to get on the other side, of how people want to kill and maim

others — you want to get into their heads. “But it takes a toll after a while. They are very dangerous people and they are good at manipulating people, especially younger staff. “You’ve obviously got to start thinking like them. Then you start thinking ‘do I have a personality disorder too’?” A spokesperson for Broadmoor admitted that the NHS authority had dismissed Mr Bryson but said it had been supportive in its dealings with him. They said: “The member of staff was consistently absent from work over a long period of time. The Trust was supportive and sympathetic throughout this period of time, however he was eventually dismissed from our employment for capability reasons.” Pam Jenkinson, who runs the Wokingham and West Berkshire Mental Health Association, said circumstances were “dire” as Mr Bryson and herself had been told that the only social housing would only become available if someone was evicted or died. She said: “What I was trying to do was get him early retirement. He started working at 16. “I said to them that Broadmoor nursing is much harder than what we do here. It is very high stress work and I think it caused him depression, anxiety and stress. It hasn’t helped now the fact they have sacked him.” Sue Jackson, founder of Wokingham in Need, added: “There’s many examples of how homelessness happens – many of us are only two wage packets away from being there.”

TELEVISION

Roadshow values a visit in June

FANS of the BBC TV programme Antiques Roadshow have a rare opportunity to see the show being filmed next year – its makers have added Berkshire to its list of venues to visit for its 39th series. The hugely popular show, which offers valuations of family treasures, will be filmed in Caversham at the end of June. Producers say that it is a great, free day out and no preregistration, tickets or appointments are required – so anyone can come along. The show will be filmed in the grounds of the historic BBC Caversham Park. The white building can be seen by motorists as they drive on the A329M into Reading. More than 30 experts will be on hand to offer free advice and valuations to visitors. Fiona Bruce (pictured), who presents the show, said: “The best part of working on Antiques Roadshow is that we never know who or what is going to turn up on the day.” If you have a large, heavy or particularly unusual or interesting item you would like to bring along, the show’s producers said they would love to hear from you. You can email: antiques.roadshow@bbc.co.uk or write to Antiques Roadshow, BBC Broadcasting House, Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2LR. n More information on attending and what to do if you require help with large or heavy items is available at www.bbc.co.uk/antiquesroadshow.

CELEBRATIONS

In a spin for at year party! HAVING a ball to see in 2016! Guests at Spin Bar & Nightclub in Wokingham’s Alexandra Court enjoyed a masquerade ball as they saw out the old year in style. Dressing up in fancy masks, the fun carried on past midnight so the new year could be started in style. And, as our pictures from chief photographer Paul King show, everyone had a ball.

Friday, January 8, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

NEWS | 15

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DEVELOPMENT

Homes plan will ‘breathe new life’ into bakery site

Bracknell and Wokingham College offer something for everyone, including fulland part-time courses

By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk WORK has begun on a new housing development on the former Allied Bakeries site in Woodley. The Bloor Homes development, which will consist of 68 homes, was granted planning permission by Wokingham Borough Council WBC) in April 2015. The site, which is located off Viscount Way, has been vacant since the bakery closed in 2006. The development, named Bakers Place, will comprise a range of one- to five-bedroom homes, 20 of which are being provided as affordable housing. A new access road is being created from Loddon Bridge Road, while new footpaths will be laid to link the development to the area of public open space to the east and to Viscount Way. As part of the development Bloor Homes is contributing more than £1.2million towards local services through a Section 106 agreement with the council. The contributions include £719,161 for education, £230,394.22 towards improving leisure facilities in the area, and £15,590.36 to pay for an extension to Woodley Library.

Work is now underway at the Allied Bakeries site in Woodley. Picture: Paul King

The company will also be contributing £266,500 for highways works, including an improved road crossing on Spitfire Way and Headley Road East, improvements to local bus stops, an off-road cycleway along Miles Way from Bader Way to Spitfire Way, a cycle link from Headley Road East and Headley Road to Woodley town centre, and a cycleway and footpath extension at Butts Hill railway bridge. John Lusty, regional managing director at Bloor Homes Southern, said: “Our Bakers Place development will breathe new life into a previously vacant site and

deliver much-needed housing for local people as well as providing vital investment in local services and transport improvements. “The development will benefit from a fantastic location, within walking distance of Woodley town centre and just a short drive from both Reading and Wokingham, and the homes have been carefully designed to blend in with the neighbouring residential properties. “We’re delighted that construction work has now begun and we look forward to welcoming house-hunters to the development when it launches in 2016.”

We all need a healthy balance in our lives

AMILY TIME, work, chores, hobbies and leisure time activities all make for a wellrounded existence. And where better to seek inspiration for enriching your leisure time, than at your local college. Bracknell and Wokingham college have part-time leisure courses that take place from various centres around Berkshire. They are held in the evenings and daytimes, on single days, on Saturdays; some last a few weeks and some keep you busy all year. Whether you’re looking for fun activities to do with friends, to pick up

an old pastime to meet new people, to learn a new skill, to keep active in body and mind, or even to increase your confidence or improve your job prospects, then we are sure there is a course here to both capture your imagination and inspire you! We have a vast range of courses on offer. For the creative type, you could choose an art course to explore your inner Picasso, if you are looking to improve your job prospects, computing and IT can help you perfect the increasingly important computer skills that all employers look for. Or if you are an adult who

needs to top up your essential skills, we have adult maths and English courses that offer an opportunity to work within small and friendly groups, allowing you to work at your own pace. For those adults who struggle with anxiety, stress, sleeping problems, we also offer a wellbeing course that teaches coping strategies, how to relax and how to release tension. We really do have a course for everyone, from crafts and needlework to counselling and coaching. Enrol now and enjoy all that we have to offer, here at Bracknell and Wokingham College.

16 | VIEWPOINTS

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, January 8, 2016

Your views Time to get A329M moving THE WOKINGHAM PAPER

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

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

Send your thoughts to letters@wokinghampaper.co.uk

out of the farce lane

If it wasn’t so serious, it would be laughable. A year on from the start of the contentious works to “improve” the way the A329M links to the M4 and it ain’t over yet. Over Christmas, there have been more near misses, delays, incidents and confusion as the new single lane motorway causes jams and wrong foots even careful drivers. While some argue that the signs and markings on the road give ample warning what they can’t make up for is the volume of traffic. Trying to judge changing lanes when they are busy makes for a human take on the old arcade game Frogger. It is wrong to even think it’s an appropriate road layout. As we report this week, Wokingham’s MP John Redwood has added his voice to the row, writing to Highways England’s chief executive Jim O’Sullivan. He has said his aim is to “get Highways England and Wokingham Borough to come to a solution”, but has none to offer himself instead leaving it to the “experts” and “road owners” to work it out. His letter says “I understand that officers from Wokingham Borough Council are seeking a meeting with Highway England officials. I hope that this meeting takes place soon.” It’s a shame it’s not firmer than that. As MP for much of Wokingham, one would have hoped that his personal experience of the changes would be enough for him to have seen that the current solution does not work and to demand immediate action. The farce of the new A329M has been going on for far too long. If Wokingham is to grow, it cannot let its road traffic problems grow with it.

CHURCH NOTES

Sailing into 2016

ANOTHER year in our lives – what will be different this year than the last one? In their New Year messages Pope Francis asks us to stop the lack of equality in our world today… and the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby, urges us to use hospitality and love to defeat hatred and extremism. Other world leaders mentioned the refugee crisis and the migrant movement of peoples and how it affects all our lives. When the Titanic sank, there were three ships nearby. The Sampson was only seven miles away and the crew saw the white flares but because they were hunting seals illegally and did not want to be caught, they turned away and went in the opposite direction from the Titanic. This ship represents us and people like us if we are so busy looking at our own sins and lives, that we can’t see when someone else is in need. The Californian was 14 miles away and again the captain saw the flares from the Titanic but because the conditions were not favourable and it was dark, he went back to bed and to wait until morning. This represents those of us who say that I cannot do anything now, the conditions are not right for it and so we wait until the conditions are perfect before doing anything. The third ship was the Carpathia which was heading south some 58 miles from the Titanic. They heard the distress signals over the radio and the captain immediately knelt down and prayed to God for guidance. He then turned the ship around and went full steam ahead through the dangerous ice fields. This ship saved 705 survivors of the Titanic. When the captain looked back at the ice fields they had come through he said: “Someone else had their hands at the helm of this ship.” This represents those who would pray to God for direction and then act without hesitation. Life whispers in your soul and speaks to your heart. We need to take time to listen to those whispers, take heart and act. Which ship are you sailing in 2016? Claire Robinson, a member of Corpus Christi Church

Smart M-way plans are ‘too limited’ on noise reduction HIGHWAYS England are planning to make the M4 into a Smart motorway which involves removing the hard shoulder and making a normal running lane. We have now found that Wokingham Borough Council, which is dominated and run by the Conservatives, has agreed a “Statement of common ground” with the Highways agency. Para 3.21 of the statement of common ground states, “It is agreed that the justification provided for the mitigation measures proposed is sufficient”. So the Council run by the Conservatives accepts that the measures proposed by Highway England is sufficient. Well, the Liberal Democrats don’t agree. Liberal Democrats have consistently campaigned for improvements which include acoustic fencing, earth bunding and other measures. We have complained that the local Conservatives have not done enough to support our campaign. Especially the local MP who has done very little. Highways England have submitted plans to a Planning Inspector for approval and in the plans have provided very limited noise mitigation measures. These measures are too limited and will not make much difference to the noise which comes from the motorway. It is now confirmed however that these very limited measures have the support of the Conservative controlled council. Enhanced mitigation measures from Highways England are due to be published on Friday, January 8. I hope that the statement of common ground agreed by the Conservative council does not mean that little will be done to reduce the noise levels coming from the M4. Clive Jones, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary spokesman for Wokingham

Uniting the community with food and conversation AN innocent post on Facebook by a Muslim woman in Earley received an overwhelming response which encouraged some local residents to arrange an event to bring the community together regardless of race, colour, religion or origin. They feel that if we can get together to talk this would help dispel any misunderstandings or misgivings that people may hold. We would realise that we are much more alike than we think and we all want the same things. To live in peace with our neighbours and bring up our children in a land where they can thrive without fear, intolerance, discrimination or bigotry. Somewhere we can all work together for the benefit of our community. To make a start, Community in Conversation, as the group is called, is hosting a Meet Your Neighbours Lunch which is open to anyone who would like to attend. It is taking place at St Peter’s Church Hall,

Are we getting our money’s worth from the council? ARE we getting a fair deal from our council? On Wednesday, along with thousands of others, I was delayed driving towards Reading. At 7.45am there was a notice indicating that Mill Lane at Sindlesham Mill was closed and from there to the Three Tuns crossroads in Earley took us an hour. When we made our return three hours later Mill Lane was open and miraculously the water was over a foot lower than it had been on Monday when it was open. I have lived in this area for over 40 years and in my experience the Loddon can flood very quickly but it doesn’t drop at quite that speed due to the sodden environment. Why didn’t someone from the council inspect the road earlier and open the road to alleviate the rush hour? The crossroads at Sainsbury’s were our next bugbear. Didn’t the council spend our money making these lights ‘smart’ recently? Well,

The area around Sindlesham Mill has been hit by floods. Picture: Paul King they were allowing only 1-2 cars through at a time resulting in our queue stretching back through Bearwood. Thirdly, the new cycle lane that narrows the A329. It is costing over £2 million. Between Sainsbury’s crossroads and the Three Tuns’ crossroads we saw two people using it. On the opposite side of the road literally dozens of Forest schoolchildren were riding on the pavement dodging pedestrians and one person was even riding

Church Road, Earley, on Saturday, February 6, from noon to 3pm. There will be no charge but it would be appreciated if those attending could bring something to share for lunch. There will be activities arranged for children while the adults eat and chat. Samia Sharif, who is leading the initiative says, ‘I hope this will give a voice to the silent majority, who I believe are peace-loving, tolerant accepting individuals. Once more people are on-board I hope that we can show regardless of background, we can work together for the benefit of those less fortunate in our community and maybe beyond. Humanity first.’ For further details Samia can be contacted at enquiries.cic@outlook.com Dick Sawdon Smith, via email

Make yourself wise to the needs of older people AFTER the long Christmas break with family, many people will be feeling refreshed and ready to return to work. However, Independent Age, the older people’s charity, has already received a number of calls from concerned relatives of older people worried about how their mum, dad, elderly aunt or uncle are coping at home on their own after spending time with them during the

in the middle of the road passing stationary traffic. All this was in the rush hour when the lane is supposed to come into its own. When the council wishes to cut our services perhaps it should think more carefully of the money it has spent on our behalf and is benefitting no-one. Perhaps also they will see how important Sindlesham Mill Lane is to us all and they will think about upgrading it with this cash they seem to have to fritter away. Christine Godin, via email

festive period. That’s why we want to make sure your readers in the South East know about the range of free “Wise Guides” they can access which offer expert advice to older people, their families and carers. There are five Wise Guides in total and one of these is the “Extra help at home” guide, which provides tips on how to live independently as an older person, including how to get help with everyday tasks such as shopping or finding a cleaner, how to find out what benefits you might be entitled to and how to make your home safer. Alex Murray, who is a Service Assistant Volunteer for the British Red Cross in Portsmouth, has told us that the Independent Age Wise Guides “cover virtually everything a person should know when supporting older people” and that they’re “immensely practical and easy to read [and] hugely valuable books.” Anyone in the South East can order a free copy of “Extra help at home” or any of the other Independent Age Wise Guides by calling Freephone 0800 319 6789 or ordering online at www.independentage.org. The Wise Guides are also all available to download for free via the Independent Age website. Lucy Harmer, Director of Services, Independent Age

GOOD ADVICE

Where you stand if you’re asked to work on bank holidays Wokingham CAB look at a recent issue they have come across and give an answer

T’S up to your employer to decide whether or not you have to work on bank holidays. If your work is closed on bank holidays, your employer can make you take them as part of your annual leave entitlement. Some employers might give you bank holidays off and pay you for them on top of your annual leave entitlement. This will be outlined in your contract. If you have an employment contract, you should check what it says. It should set out rules about working on bank holidays. Look for wording like ‘holidays’, ‘holiday entitlement’ or ‘annual leave’. You might see something that says:

“In addition to bank and public holidays, your annual entitlement to holidays is … days” - this would mean you get bank and public holidays in addition to your annual leave entitlement. Or, you might see “Your annual holiday entitlement (inclusive of bank and public holidays) is ... days” - this would mean that you have to take bank holidays as part of your annual leave entitlement. Your employer must follow what’s in your contract - if they don’t, you should raise the issue with them. If your contract doesn’t say anything about bank holidays, you should ask your employer what their rules are. If you haven’t been given a contract, you should ask your employer what their rules are. You could also speak to other colleagues to see what their situation is. If you’re being treated differently to your colleagues, you could raise the issue with your employer. If you’re entitled to annual leave then bank holidays will be one of the following:

n Deducted from your annual leave allowance (so you’ll have to take all bank holidays as paid holiday). n Additional holiday days that you’ll be paid for. n Additional holiday days that you won’t be paid for. Your contract should say which situation applies to you. If it doesn’t, bank holidays will automatically be deducted from your annual leave entitlement. As an example — You work full-time and are entitled to 28 days of statutory paid holiday a year. You don’t have a written contract of employment. You’ll have to take eight of your paid holiday days on bank holidays. This means you’ll have 20 days left to take when you choose. n You can get help, information and advice from your local Citizens Advice Bureau. Visit www.adviceguide. org.uk or contact Wokingham CAB at Second Floor, Waterford House, Erfstadt Court, Wokingham RG40 2YF. Tel: 0844 499 4126. Alternatively, email: public@wokingham-cab.org.uk

Friday, January 8, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

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PICTURE OF THE WEEK

COMMENTARY

Six honest serving men

HEY taught me all I knew. Their names are what and why and when and where and how and who. Kipling’s poem makes it easy for us to remember these questions when learning or finding things out. We’re all different and we each have our own favourites as we make our way through life. Politicians and top management often focus on the first two - what and why, because they give direction and motivation. Project managers earn their crust from the middle two - when and where, by controlling the time and place of the action. Crime writers concentrate on the last two - keeping the how of the whodunnit hidden until the last scene. But in order to get a proper understanding of a complex topic, true puzzle solvers focus on a single question: Why? These days, the puzzles in question relate to the Borough’s decisions over the past 15 months or so and it seems appropriate to start asking questions, to help people understand and buy in to the answers - as and when they appear. We’ve seen a number of big development projects getting planning permission, four Strategic Development Locations and Hatch Farm in Winnersh. The Borough’s Core Strategy gives clear warnings on flooding, particularly for Winnersh. So why is work on Hatch Farm starting next week, based on an 11-year-old ground survey which pre-dates both the 2007 and 2013/14 floods? Why has the Winnersh Relief Road (WRR) through Hatch Farm been given full planning permission when the low-lying stretches will be underwater when the Loddon floods? Why wasn’t the broken field drain repaired before the archaeology work finished? (it’s now flooding the field above the break). Moving on to education, why has the new primary school, given outline approval in late 2014, disappeared from the developer’s plans, leaving a bare field less than a year later? With no new school, why are we putting Bearwood School children’s lives at risk by making them cross the new main road, the WRR? For those needing assisted living, why are they being put right next to the M4 - where their health is most likely to suffer due to noise, pollution and isolation? And why will the emergency services need to drive through a warren of narrow roads and chicanes to reach them? Why has the Hatch Farm development been allowed to be split up, so that developers now don’t have to provide facilities for nurseries, doctors, dentists and shopping? Also, why hasn’t the Borough purchased the land to complete it’s half of the WRR yet? The Borough’s Managing Development Delivery (MDD) document gives clear directives on noise, pointing out that Hatch Farm is right next to the M4, while the North Wokingham SDL, comprising Matthewsgreen Farm, Kentwood Farm and Keephatch Beech, is right next to the A329M. Why is it then that the developments by the A329M have planning conditions to protect the residents from motorway noise whereas those by the M4 don’t? Also, why are Hatch Farm’s noise figures so much lower than those measured by DEFRA? As well as being identical for day and night? Why are residents of the Jersey Drive estate going to be blighted by noise, pollution and security issues - with the developers’ site offices and compounds being right next to them for 5+ years and why are the site working hours longer in Winnersh than in Wokingham? The whole situation is tantamount to the Borough ignoring its own warnings, directives and policies. One wonders why WBC appears to care only about the W and the C - not giving a flying fig for the B? There are many more questions to be asked, such as where’s the £10M of Hatch Farm S106 money being spent? But we’re out of space. For now. Tony Johnson continues to study the puzzles that surround public decisions and action. He has recommenced learning to draw.

Tony Johnson

HERE’S to a new year! As we see 2015 fade into history, columnist Tony Johnson wanted to remind us all how far we’ve come! Wokingham’s new newspaper launched in March with a special pilot issue, and then went weekly from April. Over that time we’ve written millions of words, covered a wide range of stories and covered the borough. This year we intend to grow and grow – so watch this space! We love to showcase your photos in our Picture of the Week feature. If you have a picture – landscape in format, not portrait – email it to news@wokinghampaper.co.uk. Pictures should be hi-res, landscape, 300dpi and taken by yourself, preferably within the Wokingham borough.

The Wokingham and West Berkshire Council settlements

I now have comments from both unitaries on the proposed local government settlement. They make the good point that the government assumes a 2% increase in Council Tax and a further 2% for care costs, when Councils wish to help keep down the cost of living by avoiding tax rises. The government also proposes a substantial reduction in rate support grant whilst not allowing our Councils to keep sufficient of the large business rates revenues collected in our area. I am taking these matters up with Ministers, as I wish to see a fair settlement with Wokingham and West Berkshire keeping enough of their business rate revenue to avoid Council tax rises and to provide a decent level of service.

JOHN REDWOOD’S DIARY The word from Wokingham’s MP

trackside debris issues at Wokingham station. We do have a water-pooling issue adjacent to the footbridge. Our property team have attended to it and Network Rail has further work planned so that the issue is fully rectified within the next month. In respect of the trackside debris, I have requested Network Rail to inspect the site, so arrangements can be made for the debris to be removed. Secondly, it was good to understand your aspiration for faster journey times from Wokingham. Achieving faster journeys will require a reduction in the number of stops at other stations. Those stations affected as a result Letter from South West Trains would likely need additional services to back-fill I recently attended a reception about the so that their train frequency could be maintained. new South Western Franchise. I raised concerns This will depend on the DfT specification for the expressed to me by constituents about trackside debris and parking capacity at Wokingham station. new franchise, so it is certainly worth reflecting this aspiration in response to the DfT. I have since received the enclosed letter from Finally, we will shortly be starting the project South West Trains: to increase the size of the car park at Wokingham Dear John station. This will create an additional 210 spaces Thank you for coming to talk to us about the new South Western Franchise at our Parliamentary and should be completed by September 2016. Reception on 7 December. Thank you again for your feedback. I enclose Firstly, you fed back on some flooding and our brochure for your information.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

Yours sincerely, James Vickers, Commercial & Business Development Director

Wokingham Borough Schools Carol Concert On Sunday, December 15, the sounds of several hundred primary school choristers filled the hall at the Loddon Valley Leisure Centre. Proud parents and civic guests enjoyed the rousing singing of traditional Christmas carols and songs. The Berkshire Maestros Corelli Orchestra gave strong backing to the singers and excelled with their own musical treats. For me the Christmas period truly begins as I hear the haunting music of Leroy’s Sleigh Ride. The Orchestra captured perfectly the coming and going of the sleigh with its jingling bells. I wish to pass on my thanks and congratulations to all involved in a memorable evening. The choirs sang well. The orchestra played with spirit. The organisers got us in and got us out and provided a platform for a great event.

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Wokingham’s people

OH, MR SMITH!

A little light relief

A wry look at life

WHODUNIT?

Mystery visitors leave cheerful thank you note after light show When Adrian Roberts put up his Christmas light display, he wanted to brighten up other people’s lives. But, as PHIL CREIGHTON discovered, it ended up warming his.

The touching thank you note received by Martins Drive resident Adrian Roberts for his festive light display, showing the first Christmas.

TOUCHING thank you note has been received by a Wokingham man after a family visited his festive light display. While writing thank you notes for Christmas presents might be seen by some children as a festive chore, for this anonymous family saying thank you – to a stranger – was important. Adrian Roberts, who created the display inspired by the events of the first Christmas, said that the note was brilliant. His is not the only home in the cul-de-sac to have festive lights and he said that a neighbour told him they had received a thank you note for their display and he probably would do too. “We went out [for the] day and when I came back there it was,” he told The Wokingham Paper. “Who it comes from I have no idea. “The note is fantastic. “It made me smile and it makes it all worthwhile. It’s brilliant and it’s nice to have appreciation.” Mr Roberts’ display in Martins Drive has been a festive fixture for a number of years and friends and neighbours rally round to help and make the light show a spectacular. And his neighbours also create their own light shows, making the cul-de-sac a must-see for families. They even rally round to hold a neighbourly light switch-on in early December, gathering for mince pies and mulled wine before counting down to turning on the lights. Mr Roberts said that lots of people come to see the displays, driving

down the cul-de-sac to admire the shows. “Neighbours say that cars are always coming up and occasionally people will walk in because their children want to see [the lights],” he

VOLUNTEER CORNER WHAT is your New Year Resolution for 2016? Do you want to be more involved with your local community? Would you like the chance to gain more skills to help improve your employment opportunities? Are you hoping to meet new people? Do you want to gain more confidence and give yourself a new range of skills? If the answer to any of these is yes, then contact us at the Wokingham Volunteer Centre! Volunteering has so many benefits;

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, January 8, 2016

said. “I don’t know the exact number of people but I think it’s quite a lot. “What’s quite interesting is that a friend was in a pub and he heard someone else talking about it.”

The display features a Nativity scene with specially made figures depicting characters from the Christmas story. “I do the display not just because it’s a nice decoration. Every one else has Father Christmas up, but as far as I’m concerned Christmas is about the Christmas story,” Mr Roberts explained. “I have put up the manger scene for several years and some of my neighbours also decorate. Last year I managed to get hold of the angels. “This year I asked [friend] Bill Crooks to paint the shepherds and wise men so I could have the full Christmas story and display what Christmas is all about. I have had quite a few families with young children visiting and many cars, including the police.” The display were on show in Martins Drive until Twelfth Night: (Wednesday).

with Helena Badger it’s not just about those you help, it’s about helping yourself too! Our staff can provide detailed information on which organisations you can volunteer for and what is available. We will come up with suggestions that best suits your interests, availability and skills. We offer face to face meetings in our offices in Wokingham Town Centre or if work or family commitments mean you can’t, you can complete a form online or we can chat over the phone.

There really is something for everyone! Whether you are looking for something that only takes a couple of hours a month to fit around work or the family or you are looking for work or recently retired and would like to fill up a few days every week, there is a role that is right for you. Fundamentally, volunteering is about giving your time, energy and skills freely. Unlike many things in life there is choice involved in volunteering. As a volunteer

you have made a decision to help on your own accord, free from pressure to act from others. It may be true that no one person can solve all the world’s problems, but what you can do is make that little corner of the world where you live just that little bit better! Contact us now to find out how you can get involved! Call 0118 977 0749, email volunteer@wok-vol.org.uk Website www.volunteercentrewokingham.org.uk

Launching Wokingham into deep space .

ITH the release of Star Wars episode VII, The Force Awakens, we now move into the latest episode of a story that spans three generations. You might be old enough to remember the first back in the 70s and now planning to take your grandchildren to enjoy the sci-fi fantasy. The wife wants to see it but not me. I will just have to comply for a peaceful life. Well, this has got me thinking. Being a grump I do get a bit restless in the cinema unless it’s a really compelling story line. Hyper-activity on the screen that is clearly over-cooked CGA just doesn’t do it for me. Rather than settle for a computer-game type experience on the big screen I think ordinary people with ordinary budgets can actually get out there and personally interact with deep space. You don’t need a subscription to the Hubble Telescope either. The plan is to turn Wokingham into a giant radio telescope to collect data from the universe. You might think you need a PhD in Astrophysics but you don’t. True we will need some people with technical knowledge and ability but for the rest of us we can go along for the ride and it will be real. It’s all made possible by the availability of discarded TV satellite dishes. Even new ones can be purchased for £25 or less. If enough people across the borough fit a satellite dish to a pole in their garden (you don’t need astro-turf), the Geek team can then connect them together over the internet to create the equivalent of a giant telescope linked up to a central data processing unit which itself may even be in the Clouds avoiding investment in expensive equipment. As you can see I am not a geek. This set up will decipher messages coming to us from space or even from the beginning of time in ultra-deep space. The radio telescope may even be able to translate data into images that simply cannot be seen with optical telescopes in Wokingham because of light pollution. The messages and images can then be relayed to the home computers of everyone involved in the project. This venture into the garden could put Wokingham on the interstellar map – contributing to NASA and the like. I am advised by an expert from Jodrell Bank that the starting point should be to detect the strongest radio sources in the sky: the Milky Way and the Sun. If the signal peaks every 23 hours 56 seconds, and not every 24 hours this means it is associated with the stars and not the Sun. So, all we need do is to start building the interstellar team. I hope I have awakened your interest. If you need something more than a trip to the cinema contact letters@wokinghampaper. co.uk TOM SMITH @WRYLIFEtomsmith

WELLBEING | 19

Friday, January 8, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Good health

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

HEALTH MATTERS

HOSPITAL

Huge surge in patient numbers at Royal Are you thinking Berks over Christmas Need to budget Need to bud of exercising your for regular post Christmas Need to budget for regular dental visits?dent rights? regular dental visits? T Need to budget for regular dental visits? Our membership scheme is available for only

with Nicola Strudley

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 (excludes specialist and implant treatment)

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.

HE top doesn’t fit? The electrical toy is faulty? We know we can go back to the supplier and make a case for a return, refund or improvement to their service if it wasn’t up to scratch! Many people find the word consumer empowering and positive when used in the retail context, however when used in the health and social care context it can be for some controversial, causing discomfort because of the word’s association with market relationships and the potential damage this could do to the principle that the NHS is free at the point of delivery. Over the past three years that we have been in Wokingham Borough we have seen that users of health and social care are far more comfortable seeing themselves as “grateful patients”, happy with the service they receive regardless of the safety and quality. This is often because of our national pride in the NHS and admiration for the staff looking after us. Healthwatch is encouraging people to think differently about their expectations of health and social care services locally. We are encouraging them to show a bit less patience as patients, and become more active participants in their health and wellbeing. Our conversations found people are still broadly unaware they have rights under the NHS constitution. Things are even less clear in the world of social care, where there isn’t a single place people can go to understand what they can expect. So our challenge to the system is to do more to raise awareness of the rights we already have and embrace the challenges raised by patients as constructive contributions to plans for making things better. Healthwatch has eight consumer principles that illustrate what people can expect from high quality care services; they include access to services, a safe, dignified and quality service, access to information, having a choice, being listened to and being involved in care. Jim Stockley, Healthwatch Wokingham Borough Chair said: “These consumer principles are at the centre of what we do. It’s a standard that you can expect across health and care locally. “All of the work we do is pinned around one of the consumer principles.” Make your views known about services delivered in Wokingham Borough - good and poor. The more detail you can give us, the better able we will be to investigate your feedback. If you want to remain anonymous, that’s no problem at all. We respect your privacy and thank you for bringing things to our attention. 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

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 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, RG40 2AE and speak with one of our team. The Royal Berkshire Hospital in the 1830s –times have changed but demands on its services haven’t. Over the festive period, it saw more than 3,000 people admitted for treatment.

By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk NEARLY 3,000 people were admitted to the Royal Berkshire Hospital for treatment over the festive period, with many days seeing hospital bed admissions up by 25% on 2014. Around 2,800 patients, aged between three-daysold and 100-years-old, were seen by the hospital’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) department, with 1,060 being admitted for further care. The busiest period was between New Year’s Day and Sunday, January 3, which saw more than 950 patients coming through the doors, with 330 of those admitted to a bed. Saturday, January 2, saw the highest number of A&E attendances over the period, with 341 patients coming through the door with a wide range of conditions, including respiratory problems, abdominal pain, fever, limb injury and chest pain. Saturday, December 27, saw the highest number of patients needing a hospital bed - 134 out of 309 who attended the department that day. Between Christmas and the New Year, the Trust also carried out 198 planned operations - something quite unusual for a hospital at this time of year. Most hospitals close down elective planned care work because of winter pressures but the Trust wanted to see if it could keep its Theatres open to ensure patients continued to receive timely planned care. The high number of admissions led to delays in some patients being transferred to a bed, something which the hospital trust has apologised for.

Jean O’Callaghan, Trust Chief Executive, said: “On behalf of the Board I’d like to say thank you to everyone who worked over the Christmas period. It was very busy. “We coped well in difficult circumstances largely due to a lot of hard work done in the days leading up to Christmas Eve in planning safe discharges for a large number of patients. “This meant that we had a good number of beds available ahead of the long weekend period. Many staff worked extra shifts to increase services available over the weekend and there was very good team work across the Trust. “We would like to apologise to those of our patients who may have had to wait a considerable time for treatment or transfer to a bed. We would also like to extend a thank you to the South Central Ambulance Service and all other community health care providers who helped us with patient care over this period. We’ve treated Our a lot of very sick people,scheme of varying is ages, membership available for a month who needed our care.” Dr Omar Nafousi, Emergency Medicine Consultant What is included? You do notworking need to be fit toDay, join (Paediatrics) who was ondentally Christmas • 2 Examinations (including x-rays) newthe patient examination is said: “It was aBMS busybut daya for department, but the A&E team worked extremely hard and provided our • 2 Hygienist visits required before signing up. If treatment patients with the best clinical care possible. • Accident & Emergency Insurance needed the 12members month contract “The team iswould likeduring to thank of the • 15% member discount on treatment a member discount of 15%onisChristmas given. public who came into the department (excludes specialist and implant treatment) Day to thank us for all our hard work during the year. “Their kind words and well wishes were a huge morale boost for those of us working on the day and showed how much hard information, work throughout the year contact us on 0118 978 3815, For our more please is appreciated.”

Need to budget for regular dental visits?

For more information, please contact us on

only3815 £21 , 0118 978

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. 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

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Inassociation associationwith with In

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INVESTIGATION REVIEW

Frog Hall or Froghall? What’s inour a name... The past which has shaped present... THIS weekMikE we take a look at the history of This week ChuRChER reviews Frog Hall with CHRIS FRENCH, a local the Wokingham Remembers articles researcher who list his hobbies as walking, of the past four months and discusses photography and maps – specifically some of the factors which contributed documenting and mapping historically to the making of Wokingham and its interesting walks in the Thames Valley, as environment. far afield as Uffington, Aston Rowant andthey had on the town and major impact VER the past months the we have already made a start with the Broadmoor Wokingham Remembers page has

O F

been providing an early picture ofHall howDrive a small town and a ROG ormarket Froghall Drive? few villages the edge a forestDrive is today At theon entrance toof Froghall we ranked as one of the leading have these twocountry’s signs: which started communities. my research into the drive. Education, industry, transport, The historyreligion, of our drive is dominated social national and by the structures, history of Frog Hall. politics The date of local government allisimportant construction of theare hall not known, pieces in it building thereferred great Wokingham although has been to as jigsaw.Anne Here in now is a document. summary ofThe our Queen a sale contributions date and a few main entranceto was originally onideas the on the next rounda of articles. west but later new front was added and the entranceEducation, moved to the north. It Education, is possible to see the different type of Education architecture where the changes were Today’s Wokingham is renowned made. It is thought the later parts areas one of the country’s centres of excellence Georgian. forAfter education; this is Waterloo partly dueLodge to strong being called for schoolyears, performance the motivated many since theand 19th Century (the parents live inwas oneinof1815), the most Battle of who Waterloo then Frog highly communities the UK. Hall andeducated then briefly BuzzacottinHouse, wewas lookfinally into the history Frog of Hall in theIfhall renamed Wokingham’s schools we can see the 1950s. how is woven into its DNA. In education the early days the hall Priorsurrounded to the Greatby War, Wokingham was its estate was surrounded by manor houses and of grounds and fields, memberstoofthe thenorth landed bounded bygentry who wanted to be closetotothe the levers of power; the London Road, i.e. the royal west and easthouseholds by Rances of Windsor. In and turnClay these upper Lane Lane andechelons a serious itpossessed went south beyondsense of duty and a responsibility to ensure their Waterloo Road. In time community received at least a basic the estate itself shrank, education. leaving justWokingham the gardensalso had a powerful professional class, surrounding the hall and a a strong church community (including the nonfew adjacent buildings. Eventually conformists) and together they shared these were also sold off, leaving just the a strong importance of hall as webelief knowinitthe today. teaching. The result was with the skills, the Key dates and events motivation and the finance available, 17th Century - 13/August/1628 there developed a culture of education An early mention of our pub, if not our which still holds strong to this day. road, appears in this charitable entry: Wokingham transport “William Thare, will, 13 August 1628, Transport is probably single whereby a rent-charge ofthe £3 3s issuing mostthree important factor in Wokingham’s from cottages in Denmark Street, development, in both1 a. its1rail road and land containing r. 11and p. near systems. the ‘Three Frogs’ in London Road, was Future will look at the six granted forarticles distribution amongst introduction of the railways andand the 3s decayed tradesmen, 10s. apiece,

road system by mapping out the course of thethe old expenses Forest Road. for of the trustees.” WhileCentury the building of the M4 had a 18th major 1761influence on the introduction of the high tech businesses which now surround The Rocques Survey of Berkshire map Wokingham, it is the A329M whichon the shows a building called “Froghall” in 1975 cut offwhere the Forest Roadis,and map, roughly the pub butits an natural connections Emmbrook un-named building abetween little further south and the villages Hurst The is probably whatofwe NOWand callBinfield. Frog Hall. love andCentury hate relationship with our rail 19th and1818 roads continue to this day! & 1820 We know at thesemilitary dates that Richard Wokingham’s Crabtree was living in Waterloo Lodge heritage (This is the first use of the name As 2015 is the bi-centenary of the “Waterloo Lodge” that I have found). Battle of Waterloo, there have been a 26/September/1842 number of articles commemorating this It appears John Walter II, who was world changing event. MP for Nottingham and who lived at The area has always been noted for Bearwood, now owned Waterloo Lodge. its contribution to the nation’s military He died in 1847 and it passed to his wife capability, with Arborfield’s REME, Mary. RFA and Remount connections and the 12/September/1846 Sandhurst and Wellington Colleges all Arthur Fraser Walter (the situated very nearby. second son of John Walter III) Even the Duke of Wellington took to was born Waterloo House living in Stratfield Saye,inwhich today is (asaway it was sometimes only 30 minutes from Wokingham’s town centre. called). In 1894 he inherited the Bearwood Wokingham’s Estate on the sudden of his elder benefactor death culture brother. The area around Wokingham was 30/June/1883 surrounded by many remarkable An Ordnance Survey in individuals and they were instrumental 6 inches to the mile, building the map muchofneeded infrastructure based on athe survey from 1871-2, which underpinned establishment of shows the building called Waterloo a strong community. Lodge. An area Froghall Green We will latercalled be telling the story of the (approx. whereand St Crispins School is now) Walter family their contributions to is as of is the Three Frogs. theshown, building Wokingham but in April 20th Century first weekly issue, we told the story of the much loved Arthur Hill, the 6th Marquess 31/May/1906 of Downshire. Samuel Lomax appointed Charles Although of Britain’s wealthiest Lomax, Johnone Lomax and William Alston landowners, Hill doubled as executors Arthur of his will. Frog Hall,as the chief of the local as Fire BrigadeLodge, and was a formerly known Waterloo was contributor to this part of amajor farmfinancial with an area of 54.099 acres. (This Wokingham’s services. is the first usepublic of “Frog Hall” I have found articles will illustrate the forLater the building). demise of these great manors and their 25/June/1913 incumbent social system the rise of An announcement wasand made

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

its replacement: local government.

Wokingham’s wild side

Before we believe too much in the idea that Wokingham’s development was a solidly sedate experience, May’s article Above: Frog Hall as it is today and right, the told the story of the rioting in the town Three Frogs pubs (picture courtesy of Colin centre during the time of the 1857 General Ager). Inset left, a map of Froghall from 1912. Election. regarding the auction of the hall. It in Such events were a common sight mentions thatthis property is letbloody on lease the town and short and battle until 1918, which is and when Lomax between the Whigs the Toriesand also highlighted and Rose hotels in Alston sold the it toBush J T Sydenham. Market Place as the headquarters of these 01/October/1930 twoCharles feral groups. Etwell had a yearly tenancy Thethe story was James also able towho reflect from owner, Rolt, was a upon nationaland scene andFrog the corrupt Kingsthe Councillor made Hall his nature of general before retirement home.elections He and his wife the Grace introduction of the private with ballot. had a large establishment as many articles will include as Future eight servants in the housefurther and a large tales and revelry in this old forceof ofanarchy groundsmen. market town. 14/September/1939 Harmar Ltd bought the property and Wokingham at War 53There acres are for £5500. watershed moments in 22/April/1940 history which mark the moment of great Harmer sold and Frogthe Hall and War about change in aLtd society Great of 10 acres ofisland to James 1914-1918 one such time.Cooper Budge and Alice Budge with aof right of way from Therefore a number centenaries between 2014 and 2018 will London Road, for £2500 and they ran a commemorate theFrog great losses of war nursing home in Hall. which scarred the people of Wokingham 6/March/1946 for The the rest thesold 20thprivately century.by the Hallof was May’sto edition thefor story Budges Jamesfollowed Buzzacott £8000, to of brothers Langborough betwo known as thefrom Nurse Emily Buzzacott Road inThe Wokingham ouran Home. Salvationtown. ArmyOne ranof it as

historians, Sarah Huxford, also took us on a journey to the old battlefields in search of their graves. This story reflects only a microcosm of the losses around the county of Berkshire, but affirms the importance of the wars in the development of our local character.

The story was told in June, and also commemorated the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, signed at nearby Runnymede in 1215.

Shining a light on Wokingham’s ‘Dark Ages’

To bring us up to date the August articles are focused on the kids who are now entering into their summer holidays. Looking at today’s community, it is What better way to use this month’s difficult to visualise just how rural the editions than to tell the stories of the area once was and in part explains the Romans, the Celts and the Saxons sometimes fragile relationship between influence on the area before Wokingham the old and new Wokingham; few was even a twinkle in old Wocca’s eye? areas in the UK have witnessed such David Nash Ford provided a set of extraordinary growth and change in the articles and puzzles which makes profile of its population. history fun for the young and no doubt Although Wokingham’s history will also catch the interest of the parents has always been intertwined with who will be looking over their child’s the surrounding villages by providing shoulder. a market place for agricultural and Here’s to the next round of articles! old people’sproduce, home until they moved acres of land. Buzzacott commercial it was also a Forest Thanks gosurrounding out to our contributors: Steve out themselves, as theydid found it too a retained now 40 Froghall Town. The term ‘forest’ not mean Bacon, Jim“The Bell, Cottage”, David Nash Ford, Sarah expensive. Drive, and carried onTrevor livingOttlewski there with his cluster of trees, but a system of laws laid Huxford, Roger Long, Somewhere time there housekeeper Betty down by royaltyabout for thethis protection of was and Peter Shilham forMiller. all their continuing an idea to convert Frog Hall into an hotel, contributions. 19/May/1972 their hunting grounds. but this was turned down because the The hall wasissold to Bachittar These onerous rules restricted local All this work provided by our Singh drive was narrow, cars Hothi for £49,500 he extended people fromconsidered using largetoo parts of theifland local historians freeand of charge and the were parked inand it, for a fireled engine servants quarters subdivided the for sustenance in part to theto come can be found on theand front page of the down it in the event of an emergency. whole building into 12 leasehold rise of local highwaymen and general Wokingham Remembers website flats. lawlessness. As a result, the subsequent www.wokinghamremembers.com 22/November/1954 21th Century Black Act of 1723 came down heavily on Thanks also to Buzzacott completed the sale of the And finally …..Mark Ashwell at these ‘Wokingham Blacks’ and resulted in TradeMark for supporting paper’s hall (then called Buzzacott Hall) to Peter Much more detail can the be found here: either their transportation or execution. commitment to this project. www.frogslegs.org/Froghall_Drive/ Telling, along with an additional seven

Wokingham and the Royal Forest

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

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Friday, January 8, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Leisure

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Your guide to what’s happening around Wokingham

SHINFIELD PLAYERS

A cracking way to start the new year... IF you thought that panto season was behind us, then let us be the first to say…‘Oh no it isn’t!’ The Shinfield Players, who perform at the Shinfield Players Theatre in Whitley Wood Lane, are staging their traditional panto (with a few twists) Mother Goose from next Friday. With a cast of 20, including members of the theatre’s youth ensemble, Mother Goose tells the story of the mythical goose that lays the golden egg, or rather produces them from thin air in the show’s case. Running for just over a week, the show is a familyfriendly performance, full of traditional slapstick comedy which will appeal to all ages. Director Derek Lockwood, who is taking the helm for the seventh time at Shinfield Players, said he is really looking forward to seeing the audience’s reactions. He said: “It’s a traditional panto, I chose Mother Goose because I liked the fact that it isn’t one of the more well-known pantos, but it has some very traditional sketches and classic comedy. “There is a wallpaper sketch which I think a lot of famous comedians have performed during their careers which I hope the older viewers will appreciate, but also the younger ones will find funny too. I like that we are able to share these traditional sketches with a new, younger audience.” The theatre tends to alternate its performances with a play, followed by a musical, with a pantomime every year. Publicity officer Martin Butler said: “I’m not sure why we decided to put on a pantomime in January,

but it seems to work well, it is almost like we are extending the festive season by a few weeks.” The cast and crew have been working hard rehearsing and putting costumes together to dress the flock of geese, trolls, snowmen and fairies that feature in the show, something that Derek says amazes him every year. He said: “The quality of the production of these shows is just incredible, we all have full-time jobs but there is something going on here pretty much every day of the week. Everyone, both on-stage and behind the scenes, has worked incredibly hard, and I’m always amazed by the standard of it all, especially the costumes. “We have been working on the show since October, it usually takes us around three months to put it together. We like to transform the theatre from play to play so the audience is getting a completely new The Shinfield Players preparing for their production of Mother Goose. Picture: Gemma Davidson experience every time, but it does take a lot of work. “There are eight performances in all, one has already sold out which is brilliant. The Cubs and Brownie groups who come to see it always have a great time, and we love performing to them. “This is the first performance of what will be a very busy 2016 for Shinfield Theatre so we really hope as many people come down as they can to see what we are all about.” Mother Goose opens on Friday, January 15, and runs until Sunday, January 24. Performances on Fridays are at 7.30pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm and 6pm. For tickets call the Box Office on 0118 975 8880 or visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/shinfieldplayerstheatre.

THEATRE

over, Angels is a gentle, quintessentially English comedy with depth. www.woodleytheatre.org.

Local lights THIS year is set to be an incredibly busy time for theatre in Wokingham Borough. Here is just a selection of the productions coming up:

Wokingham Theatre

Twyford Road, Wokingham, RG40 5TU January 21 - January 30: Skylight by David Hare, directed by Hedda Bird. On a bitterly cold London evening, schoolteacher Kyra receives an unexpected visit from her former lover Tom. As the evening progresses, they rekindle their once passionate relationship, but alongside desire comes, cruelty, comedy, politics, devastation and, finally, breakfast. Can we love each other when we can’t forgive? www.wokingham-theatre.org.uk.

The Mill at Sonning

Sonning Eye, Reading, RG4 6TY January 21 - March 12: The Perfect Murder by Peter James, directed by Keith Myers. Victor and Joan have been married for twenty years. Too long. Victor would rather be with his mistress Kamilla. Joan wants to escape with her new love, Don. Only one answer to this marital problem, THE PERFECT MURDER! www.millatsonning.com.

Woodley Theatre

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

OPERA AFTER DARK

Shinfield Players

Whitley Wood Lane, Shinfield, RG2 9DF March 9 - March 12: ‘Two Plays - One Evening’ - The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter. Gus and Ben are on the job, waiting and listening. Into the waiting silence rattles the dumb waiter with extraordinary demands for dishes they cannot supply - and who is operating the dumb waiter in an empty house? In a while their victim will come and they will know what to do. Something Unspoken by Tennessee Williams. Miss Cornelia Scott is a wealthy Southern spinster - a grande dame. She is waiting on tenterhooks to hear about the elections of the local chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy. The problem is that her fear of rejection is so huge that she cannot submit to the indignities of campaigning. Her secretary, Grace, has been with her for 15 years. The two women have a complex codependent relationship. There is tension between them something unacknowledged, and the situation comes to a head in a confrontation between them. www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk.

Come and join our ensemble for a party of favourite choruses and arias

East Berkshire Operatic Society Pinewood Theatre, Old Wokingham Road, Wokingham Without, RG40 3AQ

March 23 - March 26: Shakers Re-stirred by John Godber and Jane Thornton, directed by Margery Jackson. Every town has its ‘Shakers’, the trendy cocktail bar where everyone wants to be seen; from the check-out girls to the chinless wonders; from the yuppies to the local lads. Take a wickedly funny glimpse of this world by the four long-suffering waitresses, offering a fascinating view of the reality that lurks behind the plastic palms and Pina Coladas. www.ebos.org.uk.

Saturday, 9 January 2:30 and 7:30pm

Woodley Light Operatic Society

Kenton Theatre, New St, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 2BP June 15 - June 18: Bad Girls: The Musical, directed by Karen Bird. Auditions to be held at 7.45pm on Tuesday, January 19 at Rivermead School, Loddon Bridge Road, Woodley, Reading, West Berkshire RG5 4BS. For more information visit www.wlos.co.uk

Reddam House School Theatre

Sunday, 10 January

(formerly Bearwood College) Winnersh, Wokingham

2:30pm £16.00 full | £14.00 concessions

O P E R A AT B E A R W O O D

operaatbearwood.org.uk

Charity No: 1111518

February 16 - February 20: Entertaining Angels by Richard Everett, directed by Steve Atkins and Krysia Blake. As a vicar’s wife, Grace has spent a lifetime on her best behaviour. Now, following the death of her husband Bardolph, she is enjoying the new-found freedom to do and say exactly as she pleases. The return of Grace’s eccentric missionary sister Ruth prompts some disturbing revelations, which force her to confront Bardy’s ghost and the truth of their marriage. Set in a vicarage garden after the old vicar has died and before the new vicar takes

GEMMA DAVIDSON

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, January 8, 2016

LEGOLAND

May the 4th be with you at these new attractions

DRAMA

Tread the boards with The Bard for free IF YOUR New Year resolution was to tackle some Shakespeare then break a leg. For this month a local theatre company is inviting people to come and have a go at performing some of the iconic playwright’s works - for free. It’s all part of neighbouring Reading’s Year of Culture and aims to make Shakespeare accessible to all ages and backgrounds. There are two workshops and both will be led by a professional actor, James Rastall. A spokesperson said: “Come and explore with Reading’s nationally acclaimed professional

company in a relaxed environment, where no experience is needed and no qualifications are required.” The first session takes place on Tuesday at South Street Arts Centre, with the second on Wednesday, January 27, at St Bart’s Theatre in St Bartholomew’s Road - just over the Wokingham border and next to Palmer Park. Book your place by emailing toby@ readingbetweenthelines.co.uk For more details, log on to www. readingbetweenthelines.co.uk

PLANS for a local amusement resort are going to be awesome for fans of Star Wars and The Lego Movie. Staff at Legoland in Windsor are busy putting the finishing touches on two brand-new attractions, ready for when the centre reopens in March and celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The first big attraction is a brand-new adventure for The Lego Movie. Characters from the hugely popular film will be coming together for a special 4D screening. Guests viewing the film wear special glasses so the action appears to come out of the screen, while immersive effects such as bubbles being blown at the audience, help complete the 4D effect. The Lego Movie 4D is a brandnew adventure that follows a new journey for Emmet, Wyldstyle, Unikitty, Benny and MetalBeard after they receive a mysterious invitation leading them to a new theme park. But not all is as it seems as the heroes are once again thrust into the middle of an evil secret plot – only this time, it will be up to the audience to use their Master Builder skills to help save them. Using elements such as wind, water, smoke and special lighting effects, the larger-than-life experience takes the film’s main characters, Emmet and Wyldstyle, and their friends on another awesome adventure. The film also introduces a new character - the intriguingly titled Risky Business. But that’s not all. When the

park reopens on March 11, one of the most impressive and biggest models ever created for Legoland Windsor will be revealed. Made with 500,000 Lego bricks, measuring 2.4 metres wide and a staggeringly tall 3 metres high, the Star Wars team have created the Death Star out of Lego. It will become the centre piece of an epic new finale at the hugely popular LEGO Star Wars Miniland Model Display. It will be in a special recreation of the Rebel Alliance attack on the moon-sized space station, seen in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. As well as the gargantuan 860kg spherical Death Star model, the scene will also feature 16 Alliance ships swooping to destroy it with sound and light effects that can be triggered by guests. The new scene provides a thrilling finale to the LEGO Star Wars Miniland Model Display which opened in 2012 and brings

to life seven iconic Star Wars scenes featuring 1,500 separate models made from 1.5 million bricks in themed settings with special effects. Star Wars fans will also be able to enjoy some special Star Wars event days which will run over May Day Bank Holiday Weekend the closest it can get to Star Wars day, aka May 4th be with you. It’s just one of a series of special events that the park will run over the course of this year as it marks its 20th anniversary. n Legoland Windsor will open on Friday, March 11 until Saturday, November 5 (closed on selected midweek days in March, April, May, September, October and November). Tickets from £37 when booked online at least seven days in advance. For more details, log on to www. legoland.co.uk or call 0845 373 2640. PHIL CREIGHTON

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Friday, January 8, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

KENTON

A brave front! M EMBERS of Wokingham’s theatre scene will be quite literally baring all in a musical version of a much-loved British comedy next week. Full Monty the Musical, based on the 1997 film directed by Peter Cattaneo and starring Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy and William Snape, tells the story of a group of out-of-work men who decide to reclaim their manliness by becoming strippers. This Tony Award winning show has already thrilled audiences in the West End and on Broadway, and is now heading to The Kenton Theatre in Henley-on-Thames, featuring regular members of Wokingham Theatre taking on the daunting roles. Director George Riddell, who has worked with various societies and casts around Berkshire over the last five years, said: “The story of all the guys being out of work, and with huge bruised egos always brings a laugh or two to the ladies in the audience. “Along with the true to life strength, courage and humour in the face of adversity story, the musical also gives much more depth to the ladies in the show, so we get a lot of the the story also from the female perspective. “At times it’s really heartbreaking stuff. “It stands the test of time and translates into any culture, especially in this era where people are still being made redundant from steel works in the UK as elsewhere in the world...” And before any opening night nerves have a chance to kick in for the

cast, the show has already received multiple block bookings for various all-female groups from around the area, something George said can be a blessing and a curse. He said: “One claim to fame for this show, is that before we even had a rehearsal, one group of Henley-OnThames ladies block booked over 50 seats for the Friday night. Now that is scary. The glimmer fades a little at that kind of attention. Apparently Friday night is going to be ladies night with 99% of the audience female. “We’ve also had bookings from Ladies Rugby Clubs. I’m glad I’m NOT stripping on the night.” But even with the tears and laughter through the show, we all of course want to know about the climax at the end. Will the guys do really “Go All The Way” right in front of your very eyes? George said: “Most people don’t believe our guys do go all the way, but trust me, having rehearsed with the guys for the last two months, they are totally naked at the end. It’s been hard to keep their clothes on at times.” The Full Monty The Musical by David Yazbek runs from Tuesday, January 12 to Saturday, January 16 at 7.45pm at the Kenton Theatre, Henley-onThames. Tickets are available from www. KentonTheatre.co.uk or 01491 575698. Tickets cost £15 for adults, £13 for senior citizens, students, keepers, friends, and children. Suitable for ages 14 and over. Please note there is nudity and swearing during the performance. GEMMA DAVIDSON

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

ROY

Two-year-old Roy was found wandering in a remote area with the remains of a rope around his neck, and was never claimed. His fosterers say that he is a lovely chap who gets on with other dogs, and shows no interest in cats. He is also used to living around horses. Roy is bright and very eager to please, so will benefit from further training. We don’t know much about his history so would not wish to place him with children under 10. He will need an active lifestyle and someone around most of the time.

DEEFOR

Poor Deefor was given up to a dog pound after his family decided they didn’t want him anymore. This one-year-old neutered collie is a beautiful, bright and happy boy,

full of energy and eager to learn. He walks well on the lead and has a good recall, but will certainly need further training to keep his active brain occupied. He would be a great prospect for anyone looking for a dog to train for a sport such as Flyball or Agility, or of course anyone just wanting a clever companion. He is very good with other dogs, but we don’t know what he is like with cats and young children. As with any young collie Deefor will need an interesting and active lifestyle and company most of the time.

GEORGE

This 18-monthold male Lionhearted rabbit is sadly grossly overweight because he has been fed on the wrong diet

and probably didn’t get much exercise in his former home. His owner realised that they didn’t have the time to care for him anymore, so he has been put up for adoption. He has needed some dental work as his teeth were suffering, again due to his diet, but this has been sorted out. He is a lovely rabbit and it is a shame to see him in such a bad way. Hopefully the right home can be found for him soon and he will be given a new lease of life.

JASMINE

This beautiful rabbit sadly lost her companion so was brought in for rehoming. She is 18-months-old, is neutered, and is looking for a new home with, preferably, a male neutered rabbit for company. She will need fresh vegetables every day, and a warm hutch which is big enough for her to stretch her legs. Can you offer her a loving new home? 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

LEISURE | 23

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, January 8, 2016

AT THE CINEMA

The acoustic couch

A touching portrayal of life as transgender

An opening night fit for kings

Kim Taylor-Foster

Upcoming music with Jody Mc

Blues and rockers The Oil City Kings performed during one of the inaugural events at the new acoustic couch venue. Pictures: Aaron Cilia

The Danish Girl (15) ««««« Stars: Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander

RITISH director Tom Hooper may have won an Oscar for directing The King’s Speech, the highly decorated film about King George VI and his stammer, and been showered with acclaim for the technically ambitious Les Misérables, but in many ways The Danish Girl is better than both. And that’s despite attracting criticism from some for its portrayal of what it is to be transgender and for casting a cisgender male in the lead role over a transgender alternative. At its heart, this is a love story, albeit an unconventional one – and as a result, it’s all the more raw, complex and real. It touches many of us more profoundly than either of his previous films manage to do. We identify with these characters more readily than any of those in Les Mis or The King’s Speech; rather than sympathy, we feel full-blown empathy. Tom Hooper’s latest film is an indomitable triumph. The Danish Girl takes the true story of one of the first gender re-alignment cases as its basis – Danish artist Lili Elbe, born Einar Wegener in 1882, played by Eddie Redmayne – and turns it into a heart-wrenching love story. We witness a far from simplistic marital breakdown fuelled by one person’s struggle for acceptance, not only by those he loves but also by society – and crucially, his/herself. It’s a story about the human condition, and – not dissimilar to Todd Haynes’s recent Carol – it’s also about realistic, complicated human beings struggling to find a place in the world and a moment in time that doesn’t accept them. This includes Einar’s wife Gerda (Alicia Vikander), who inevitably faces her own struggle with her husband’s revelations. She proves herself to be a character ahead of, or at least existing outside the confines of, her time. She’s an artist – and a sexually adventurous, bold and independent one at that – with progressive attitudes, and she becomes a rock for Einar to lean on. A wonderfully rounded character played sensitively by Vikander, she’s the film’s hushed standout, while Eddie Redmayne garners the attention for his equally sensitive but more conspicuous portrayal. It’s Vikander’s performance, however, that touches and resonates; she brings an incredible depth and strength to Gerda in this well-written role. With a hurried ending, The Danish Girl isn’t perfect – you’d like a tad more investigation through one-to-one conversations into what such a crisis might do to their relationship. As a viewer, I’m not sure you fully understand why their close relationship has to end or why they are suddenly no longer married. There’s an assumption made that of course they can no longer be together but the more broadminded amongst the audience will be questioning whether it’s a given that they have to separate. Although the film may come under fire, its portrayal of the central relationship as authentic, loving and ‘modern’ is the film’s biggest, most heartbreaking, achievement – but it also gains power from its juxtaposition of visually appealing, King’s Speech-style, period drama looks with low-concept indie spirit. It’s one of the cleverest and most moving releases you’ll see in cinemas all year.

THE year has opened with a bang for ‘The acousticcouch’ which is now up and running an welcoming artists and music lovers alike

ND ready set goooooo! We’ve started 2016 and Theacousticcouch is a living, breathing venue. You’ve got to come and see it, it’s fantastic. And you can this weekend as Spriggan Mist perform - more on that in a moment. First, let me take you back in time to a few weeks earlier. We hosted our first events over Christmas where we partied and boogied and celebrated. Man, all the hours that have been put into making Theacousticcouch a reality have been worth it. There were loads of smiles on people’s faces as bands including sublime blues and rockers The Oil City Kings performed before a fantastic high energy set from punk band T & The Mugs. It was a great way to Christen the new venue and I would really like to thank the boys and girls that came out to play. The bands were sublime, as was the atmosphere! I’d also like to thank Rhino Security, who were exceptional, and the police were gents and professional. We’ve hosted some private events too, which have fabulous parties. Now the stage is set and Theacousticcouch needs you. We’ve got the venue, we’ve got

the plans, we’ve got the stage and the studio, all we need is you. And don’t think it’s just about music. There’s so much more than that - we truly want to be a community arts centre. As exciting as this is reality is we need volunteers for all things community, and all skill sets are needed. But let’s start at the beginning. To help us immediately, Theacousticcouch is looking for a few academic types, to sort the charity paperwork. You would be the go between us and an organisation assisting us to launch our community interest side of our venue. It will make a big difference to us and will take just a few hours of your time. We are also seeking someone to launch our radio station (baby steps though, demonstrating over next two months with podcasts on mixcloud the type of shows we’d feature), to be launched in March. Last of all someone with a love for writing! To launch properly our creative writing. This would involve regular contact with The Wokingham Paper, creating ideas and spreading the news about what’s happening with all things Theacousticcouch. And when we’re up and running properly - oh boy! What a treat we’ve got for you. We aim to more than just a party venue. During the day we’ll have amazing space for rehearsals, tuition, exploring and encouragement. Over the past few weeks I’ve learnt all kinds of things as I’ve built

this venue. I’ve been, literally, a jack of all trades - building walls, moving sofas, creating a bar. It’s been a heck of a journey as I’ve sought to bring my vision of Theacousticcouch to the world. Now’s your chance to come and join us. We’re not fully open yet - we’ll keep you posted - but the most help we get, the quicker it will be. So find out more at www. theacousticcouch.co.uk or come and see us at our snug little home, off Market Street in Bracknell (we’re only a short train ride away or hop on The Lion).

Come Wassailing with Spriggan Mist Wassail is a traditional Medieval southern English drinking ritual intended to ensure a good cider apple harvest the following year. And, well, there’s no time like the present to recreate it. Tomorrow night (Saturday), Spriggan Mist will make their debut at Theacousticcouch in Bracknell to do a bit of Wassailing. It’s their first gig of the calendar year so they’ll be blowing away them post yule cobwebs and kick off the gigging year with a bang. There will be the added bonus of Michael Tuffery kicking off the evening so it’s going to be a good one. Entry is just £6 and includes a free drink courtesy of Ciderniks. Come and join the fun!

IN A BAND? HOLDING A GIG? HEARD SOME GREAT MUSIC? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! E-MAIL NEWS@WOKINGHAMPAPER.CO.UK

What’s on Friday, January 8 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. 9.30am-11.30am. £4. Local history surgery: drop-in advice with a local expert. 10am-noon. Details: 0118 978 1368.

Saturday, January 9 EARLEY – Earley Radstock Social Club, Radstock Lane, RG6 5UL. Quiz night. 8pm. Details: 0118 931 3965. LOWER EARLEY – Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Dad and Baby Rhymetime. 10.30am11am. Details: 0118 931 2150. WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Teen writing group for ages 11-18. 10.30am-noon. Poetry Writing Group. 10am-11.30am. Details: 0118 978 1368. WOODLEY – Oakwood Centre, Headley Road RG5 4JZ. Thames Valley Ancient Egypt Society lecture: Not Only With The Dead? Banqueting in Ancient Egypt. £3. 2pm-4.30pm. Details: 01491 838803. WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Saturday storytime for parents and children. 11am. Details: 0118 969 0304.

Sunday, January 10 EARLEY – Laurel Park, off Marefield. Oakwood Forest Church geocache meeting.

3pm. All welcome, including dogs on leads. WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. French Conversation Club for those with basic French knowledge. 2pm-3pm. Details: 0118 969 0304. WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. Church@4 – arts, crafts, games and service followed by tea. All welcome. Christianity Explored course launch event. 6,.45pm-8.45pm, includes free evening meal. Details: 0118 977 6898.

Monday, January 11 EARLEY – Earley Radstock Social Club, Radstock Lane, RG6 5UL. Crib night. 8pm. Details: 0118 931 3965. FINCHAMPSTEAD – St James Church Centre. Fruitfulness On the Frontline: exploring faith in the every day. 7.45pm. Details: 0118 973 0133. MAIDEN ERLEGH – Library, off Silverdale Road RG6 7HS. Colouring For Adults. 2.15pm-3pm. Details: 0118 966 6630. SPENCERS WOOD – Library, Basingstoke Road RG7 1AJ. Storytime for ages 3-5. 4pm. Details: 0118 988 4771. WARGRAVE – Library, Woodclyffe Hostel, Church Street RG10 8EP. Saturday storytime for ages 3-5. 10.30am-11am. Details: 0118 940 4656. WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Knit, Stitch and Natter. Drop-in for knitting, sewing and a chat. All abilities welcome. Adult event. 2pm-3pm. Details: 0118 978 1368.

Tuesday, January 12 EARLEY – Earley Radstock Social Club, Radstock Lane, RG6 5UL. Poker night. 8pm. Details: 0118 931 3965. EARLEY – Palmer Building, University of Reading

www.anvilarts.org.uk 01256 844244 Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Fri 15. Sarah Millican. Sat 16, Sun 17. The Hut People. Sun 17.

Basingstoke – The Haymarket www.anvilarts.org.uk 01256 844244 Next show: Secondary Cause of Death. Jan 27-30.

Bracknell – South Hill Park www.southhillpark.org.uk (01344) 484123 Bracknell Jazz: Steve Fishwick plus support. Fri. Comedy Cellar. Fri. Wilde Sundays. Sun. Creative Control Band Night. Sun. Yasmin Rowe: Conservatoire Concert Series. Fri 15. Comedy Cellar. Fri 15. Mission Improvable. Sun 17. FILMS: Closer to the Moon. Fri. The Lady in the Van. Thurs. Hotel Transylvania

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

The best guide for local, community events across Wokingham borough

Whiteknights Campus RG6 2AH. Reading Film Theatre presents: Bridge of Spies. (12a). 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. Knit and Natter. 4pm-5pm. Details: 0118 931 2150. TWYFORD – Library, Polehampton Close RG10 9RP. Twyford Reading Group book discussion. 2.30pm-3.30pm. Details: 0118 934 0800. WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Storytime: rhymes and stories for ages 3-5. 2pm-2.30pm. 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. Crochet Group with Gaynor White from Barkham Hookers. All abilities welcome. Noon2pm. £4. Rhymetime for under fives. 10.30am. Crafts and Laughs. 2pm-4pm. Details: 0118 969 0304.

Wednesday, January 13 EARLEY – Earley Radstock Social Club, Radstock Lane, RG6 5UL. Ladies Darts night. 8pm. Details: 0118 931 3965. EARLEY – Our Lady Of Peace Social Club, Wokingham Road RG6 7DB. Annual poker tournament. Details: 0118 935 2927 SONNING – The Mill at Sonning RG4 6TY. Storytime: Zippo The Super Hippo. £3.50 per child. 10.30am. Details: 0118 969 8000. WARGRAVE – Library,

AT THE THEATRE Basingstoke – The Anvil

LEISURE | 25

To advertise call 0118 966 6600

Friday, January 8, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

2. Sat-Sun. Suffragrette. Sat-Sun. He Named Me Malala. Sun. Brooklyn. Mon. Tangerines. Tues. Grandma. Wed. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2. Fri 15-Sun 17. Steve Jobs. Fri 15-Sun 17.

Camberley – Theatre www.camberleytheatre.biz 01276 707600 Open Mic night. Wed 20. FILM: Chappie. Tues.

Didcot – Cornerstone www.cornerstone-arts.org 01235 515144 Open Mic Night. Tues. NEXT SHOW: The Chairman’s Charity Concert. Jan 16.

Guildford – Yvonne Arnaud www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk 01483 440000 One Winter’s Night. Fri 8. Champagne Classics. Sat 9. Confusions. Wed-Jan 23. Hero’s Welcome. Wed-Jan 23.

Woodclyffe Hostel, Church Street RG10 8EP. Coffee morning. 10am-noon. Knitwits Knitting Group. 2pm-4pm. Details: 0118 940 4656. WINNERSH – Library, The Forest School, Robin Hood Lane RG41 5ND. Colouring For Adults. 11.45am1.15pm. Details: 0118 979 7519. WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. National Careers Service. Advice for your CV and career planning. 10am-5pm. Details: 0118 969 0304.

Thursday, January 14 EARLEY – Earley Radstock Social Club, Radstock Lane, RG6 5UL. Men’s darts. 8pm. Details: 0118 931 3965. EARLEY – Palmer Building, University of Reading Whiteknights Campus RG6 2AH. Reading Film Theatre presents: Brooklyn (12a). 8pm. £5 members, £8 nonmembers, £7 concessions. Membership £20. Details: 0118 378 7151 or readingfilmtheatre.co.uk. EARLEY – Our Lady Of Peace Social Club, Wokingham Road RG6 7DB. Cash bingo.

8.30pm. Details: 0118 935 2927. LOWER EARLEY – Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Craft time for ages two to five. 11am-11.30am. £1. Storytime for ages 3-5. 2.30pm-3pm. Details: 0118 931 2150. 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. Winnersh Book Group. 7pm-8pm. Details: 0118 979 7519. WOKINGHAM – The Bradbury Centre, Rose Street RG40 1XS. Wokingham Film Society presents: Force Majeure. £6.50. 7.30pm. Details: wokinghamfilmsociety.com WOKINGHAM – The Cornerstone, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UE. Wokingham and East Berkshire Photographic Club meeting. Social Federation League Competition. 7.30pm. Details: 0118 977 5670. WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB.

Author visit: Laura Barnett, The Versions of Us. 6.45pm-8pm. £3. Booking essential. Beading Group. 10.30am-12.30pm. National Careers Service: Advice sessions to help you with career planning, CVs and interviews. 9.40am3.40pm. Details: 0118 978 1368.

Friday, January 15 EARLEY – Our Lady of Peace Social Club, Wokingham Road RG6 7DA (entrance off Aldbourne Avenue). Reading and Wokingham Spanish Circle meeting: La Historia de la Region Vinicola de La Rioja, a talk by Elia Polydorou.7.45pm. £3. Details, 0118 977 2569 or 0118 979 2458. EMMBROOK – Emmbrook Sports & Social Club, Lowther Road RG41 1JB. Wokingham Music Club presents Queen II. 7.45pm. Details: wokinghammusicclub.co.uk. FINCHAMPSTEAD – Library, FBC Centre RG40 4ES. Rhymetime for under fives. 11am. Details: 0118 908 8176. 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. Wokingham VIP group: book group for visually impaired. 2pm-4pm. Cribbage and card games club. 10.30am. Details: 0118 978 1368.

Saturday, January 16 BRACKNELL – Priestwood Community Centre, Priestwood Court Road RG42 1TU. Bracknell and Wokingham branch of Berkshire Family History Society meeting: members memories. 7.15pm. Donations welcome. Details: EARLEY – Our Lady Of Peace Social Club, Wokingham Road RG6 7DB. Music quiz night: what do you know about music and related topics? 7.30pm. £1 per person. Details: 0118 935 2927 MAIDEN ERLEGH – Library, off Silverdale Road RG6 7HS. Children’s Writing Group for ages 9-12. 10.15am11am. Storytime for ages

seven and under. 10.15am10.45am. Craft time for ages two to five. 10.45am11.15am. £1. Details: 0118 966 6630. 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. Wokingham Writers Group for adults. 10am. Details: 0118 978 1368.

Sunday, January 17 WOKINGHAM – St Paul’s Church, Reading Road RG41 1EH. Sunday lunch in the parish rooms. Details: 0118 979 2122. WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. Christianity Explored course. 6,.45pm8.45pm, includes free evening meal. Details: 0118 977 6898. WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Charity coffee morning in aid of Parkinsons UK, organised by The Inner Wheel of Reading Maiden Erlegh. 10.30am1.30pm. Details: 0118 969 0304.

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:

Time of event: Contact number for readers:

Henley – Kenton Theatre www.kentontheatre.co.uk 01491 575698 The Arabian Nights. Until Sat. The Full Monty: The Musical. Tues-Sat 16.

High Wycombe – Wycombe Swan www.wycombeswan.co.uk 01494 512000 New Jersey Nights. Wed-Sat 16.

Maidenhead – Norden Farm www.nordenfarm.org 01628 788997 Lewis Schaffer: Free Until Famous. Fri. The Dreamers. Sat. Sunday Stories. Sun. The Big Band: Five Star Swing. Thurs. Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel. Fri 15. The Vinyl Frontier: The 2016 Album Championships. Fri 15. Ed Byrne:Outside Looking In. Sat 16. Isy Suttie: The Actual One. Sun 17. FILM: Branagh Theatre Live: The Winter’s Tale. Sun. The Lady In The Van. Fri,

Sun. Steve Jobs. Fri 16, Sat 17. The Dressmaker. Sun 17, Tues 19.

Newbury – The Corn Exchange www.cornexchangenew.com 0845 5218 218 Jongleurs Comedy Club. Fri 15. FILM: Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Until Thurs. Sunset Song. Fri 15-Tues 19. The Danish Girl. Until Jan 21. The Lady In The Van. Until Jan 21.

Newbury – The Watermill

Send your forms to: What’s On, The Wokingham Paper, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS

Reading – The Hexagon www.readingarts.com 0118 960 6060 Stewart Lee: A Room With A Stew. Thurs. Joe Brown In Concert. Sat 16.

Reading – Progress Theatre www.progresstheatre.co.uk 0118 384 2195 The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Thurs-Sat 23.

Reading – St Barts

www.watermill.org.uk. 01635 46044 NEXT SHOW: Tell Me On A Sunday. Jan 28-Feb 20.

www.stbartstheatre.org 07737 477193 NEXT SHOW: Standby For Tape Back-up. March 5.

Reading – South Street

Shinfield – Shinfield Players

www.readingarts.com 0118 960 6060 Cock. Until Sat. The Shakespeare Project. Tues. Poets Cafe with Kate Behrens. Fri 15. Third Friday Blues: The Julia Titus Pigfoot Band. Fri 15.

www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk 0118 975 8880 Mother Goose. Jan 15-17, 22-24.

Sonning – The Mill www.millatsonning.com

0118 969 8000 Stepping Out. Until Sat 16. The Pasadena Roof Orchestra Show. Sun. The Perfect Murder. Jan 21-March 12.

Windsor – Theatre Royal www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk 01753 853888 Cinderella. Until Sun. Rehearsal For Murder. Tues-Sat.

Woking – New Victoria www.ambassadortickets.com 0844 871 7645 Sleeping Beauty. Until Sun. Private Lives. Fri 15-Sat 16.

Wokingham – Theatre www.wokingham-theatre.org.uk 0118 978 5363 NEXT SHOW: Skylight. Jan 21-30.

Woodley – Theatre www.woodleytheatre.org 07939 210121 NEXT SHOW: 2016 programme preview. Fri 22. Jazz at the Oakwood. Sat 23.

26 | LEISURE

To advertise email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Gig guide Friday, January 8 BAGSHOT – The Cedar Tree, High Street GU19 5AG. The Mays. Details: 01276 473160. BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Steve Fishwick jazz night. Details: 01344 484123. BRACKNELL – The Silver Birch, Liscombe RG12 7DE. Dan McHugh. Details: 01344 457318. FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. Sandy & John James Newman. Details: 01252 519964. GORING – The Village Hall, High Street. Gap Gig: jazz night featuring Louise Marshall with the Derek Nash Quartet. Details: 01491 874492. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Limpopo Groove. Details: 0118 958 6692. READING – Oakford Social Club, Blagrave Street RG1 1PZ. Video Killed The Solid Gold Death Star. Details: 0118 959 4267. WEST END – West End Social Club, High Street GU26 9PL. The KoolKatz. Details: 01276 858501. WINNERSH – The Pheasant Inn, Reading Road RG41 5LR. Gary Roman as Elvis. Details: 0118 978 4529. 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 presents: Stomping Nomads. Details: www.poppyfolk. co.uk

Saturday, January 9 BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, Market Street RG12 1JG. The Spriggan Mist Wassail. £6, includes free drink from Ciderniks. 7pm. Details: www.sprigganmist. co.uk. BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John

Nike Way RG12 8TF. Hubba Hubba. Details: 01344 303333. BINFIELD – Binfield Club, Forest Road RG42 4DU. Free Peace Sweet. Details: 01344 420572. CAMBERLEY – Mr Bumble, GU17 9AP. Long Time Gone. Details: 01276 32691. FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. Stevie Pommie. Details: 01252 519964. FLEET – The Falkners Arms, Falkners Close GU51 2XF. Undercover. Details: 01252 811311. READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. Highwasters. Details: 0118 957 6930.

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, January 8, 2016

HOLDING A GIG, QUIZ OR GAMES NIGHT? SEND DETAILS TO EVENTS@WOKINGHAMPAPER.CO.UK Lion, Market Place RG40 1AL. Ultimate Party Nights. Details: 0118 979 5790. YATELEY – The Dog and Partridge, The Green GU46 7LR. Rob and the Retros. Details: 01252 870648. WEST END – West End Social Club, High Street GU26 9PL. The J45s. Details: 01276 858501.

Sunday, January 10 BRACKNELL – The Crown Wood, Opladen Way RG12 0PE. Jam session: Martin Deadman acoustic. Details: 01344 867374. BRACKNELL – South Hill

Tribute band Queen II open the year’s proceedings for the Wokingham Music Club on Friday, January 15

READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Folk At Global. Details: 0118 958 6692.

Thursday, January 14 BRACKNELL – The Silver Birch, Liscombe RG12 7DE. Hog Wild. Details: 01344 457318. CAMBERLEY – Mr Bumble, GU17 9AP. Jam Night. Details: 01276 32691. READING – The Red Lion, Southampton Street RG1 2QL. Open mic night. Details: 0118 958 2797. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Cafezazous: Gypsy swing band. Details: 0118 958 6692. SHINFIELD – Magpie and Parrot, Arborfield Road RG2 9EA. Terry Hutchins Quartet. £5. Details: 0118 988 4130.

Friday, January 15

Andrew Ranken, Paul Bradley, John Roster and Ted Wood are The Man Band, at The Crooked Billet on Monday. READING – The Red Lion, Southampton Street RG1 2QL. Dog Day Town, Steve Morano and Patrick Currier. Details: 0118 958 2797. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. DJ Dom. Details: 0118 958 6692. READING – Oakford Social Club, Blagrave Street RG1 1PZ. Fab Fish Fry. Details: 0118 959 4267. WINDLESHAM – Windlesham Club, Kennel Lane GU20 6AA. In Too Chic. Details: 01276 472210. WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Flick. 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

HOPE & ANCHOR Free entry, fantastic beers & a great night out! This Saturday @ 9pm

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Great soloist playing a range of classic pop and rock faves which get people dancing! Coming next That’s how much Saturday, January 16 we raised for GIGABIT Sue Ryder on New Year’s Eve Rock & roll to the best rock & pop

£426.78!

Station Road, Wokingham RG40 2AD 0118 978 0918 www.hopeanchor.co.uk

Park, Ringmead. Wilde Sundays. Creative Control Band Night. Details: 01344 484123. BRACKNELL – Crown Wood Community Centre, Opladen Way RG12 0PE. Murphy James. Details: 07707 681202. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Readifolk: Liz Simcock. Details: 0118 958 6692. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. American Old Time Picking. Details: 0118 958 6692. SONNING – The Mill at Sonning RG4 6TY. The Pasadena Roof Orchestra Details: 0118 969 8000.

Monday, January 11 STOKE ROW – Crooked Billet RG9 5PU. The Man Band. Details: 01491 681048.

Tuesday, January 12 PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. Magic and mind reading with Ian Raven. Details: 0118 969 9878. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. The Mark Burton Quartet. Details: 0118 958 6692.

Wednesday, January 13 BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Wilde Sundays. Jazz Jam and Workshop. Details: 01344 484123.

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. The Cobbles: Keller Auditions. Details: 01344 303333. CAMBERLEY – The Royal Standard, Frimley Road GU15 2PP. England’s Dreaming. Details: 01276 27641. CAMBERLEY – The Four Horseshoes, Frimley Road GU15 3EQ. Tre. Details: 01276 63842. EMMBROOK – Emmbrook Sports & Social Club, Lowther Road RG41 1JB. Wokingham Music Club presents Queen II. Details: www.wokinghammusicclub. co.uk. FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. Two Dead Hands. Details: 01252 519964. LITTLEWICK GREEN – The Novello, Bath Road SL6 3RX. Lea Lyle Quartet. Details: 01628 825753. READING – South Street arts centre. Third Friday Blues: The Julia Titus Pigfoot Band. Details: 0118 960 6060. READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. The Smyths. Details: 0118 959 5395. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Lisa Henriksson-Macauley. Details: 0118 958 6692 READING – The Fisherman’s Cottage, Canal Way RG1 3HJ. Ade Holland Trio. Details: 0118 956 0432 READING – Oakford Social Club, Blagrave Street RG1 1PZ. Hello You. Details: 0118 959 4267. SANDHURST – The Rose and Crown, High Street GU47 8HA. The Capo Thieves. Details: 01252 878938. 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, January 16 BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. The Mushrooms. Details: 01344 303333. FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. Graeme. Details: 01252 519964. FARNBOROUGH GREEN – The Fox, Chapel Lane GU14 9BN. Leech. Details: 01276 34735. FLEET – The Falkners Arms, Falkners Close GU51 2XF. The Turn. Details: 01252 811311. READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. Funk Soul Brothers. Details: 0118 957 6930. READING – O’Neill’s, Blagrave Street RG1 1DB. Replica Rockaholics. Details: 0118 960 6580. READING – The Hexagon. Joe Brown in Concert. Details: 0118 960 6060. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Hugh Turner Heavy Quartet. Details: 0118 958 6692. READING – Oakford Social Club, Blagrave Street RG1 1PZ. Black and White Music. Details: 0118 959 4267. TWYFORD – The Golden Cross, Waltham Road RG10 9EG. Said and Done. Details: 07946 342551. WEST END – West End Social Club, High Street GU26 9PL. Sound MIned. Details: 01276 858501. WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Gigabit. 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.

Gigabit return to The Hope & Anchor on Saturday, January 15 Details: 0118 979 5790. YATELEY – The Dog and Partridge, The Green GU46 7LR. Steve Brookes. Details: 01252 870648.

Sunday, January 17 BRACKNELL – The Crown Wood, Opladen Way RG12 0PE. Jam session: Martin Deadman acoustic. Details: 01344 867374. READING – Oakford Social Club, Blagrave Street RG1 1PZ. Reading Swing Jam presents Sunday Swing. Details: 0118 959 4267. WEST END – West End Social Club, High Street GU26

9PL. Bob Keeleu. Details: 01276 858501.

Tuesday, January 19 FLEET – The Harlington, Fleet Road GU51 4BY. Chris Biscoe’s Mingus Profiles Quintet. Details: 01252 811009. PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. Stuart Henderson Jazz Quartet. 0118 969 9878. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Jazz singers night with Fleur Stevenson. Details: 0118 958 6692. READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Cancer Bats.

Details: 0118 959 5395.

Wednesday, January 20 READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Bohemian Night: open mic. Details: 0118 958 6692.

Thursday, January 21 BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Alexandra Legouix and the Sunflowers. Details: 01344 484123. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Jamie Howell’s Evidence Bass. Details: 0118 958 6692.

Your weekly puzzle challenge PUZZLES 27 Quiz Challenge

CROSS CODE 26

8 4

5 24

2 11 15

3 7

9 23

14 4

2 7

19 25

1. Chapter One of which classic novel is entitled ‘Mrs Rachel Lynde is Surprised’? 2. If something is achromatous, what is it lacking or deficient in? 3. In which harbour did French secret service agents attack the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior in 1985? 4. What pigment gives plants their green colour? 5. Summertime is a song from which George Gershwin musical?

15 25 7 2 1

2 10

18 8

15 4

7 11

15 7

16 16

NONAGRAM

2 8

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 1

8 21

MAGIC SQUARE

LAUREATE BANS A BUS

7. Which quadrennial event was first held in 1924 at Chamonix, France? 8. Who had a ‘wardrobe malfunction’ during the 2004 Superbowl halftime show? 9. Which character did Ralph Fiennes play in the 2012 film adaptation of Great Expectations?

M E M S

2 9 3 8 4

2 2 8 9 3 4 3 8 9 5 6 3 9 6

3 7 2 6

5 5

T A

O R

U N

3 7 3 6 3 8 4 8 9 2

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.

5 2 8

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.

EQUALISER 6 8 14 1 2 4 2 9 3 9 2 6

Hard

Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box.

2 7 8 4 9 8 1 5 4 8 5 3 6 9

SUDOKU

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.

8 9

10 10

12 13

17 23

FIVE ALIVE WD

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

10. Who is reputed to have severed the Gordian Knot with his sword?

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 H through openings in the walls. The T first letter may appear in any chamber. S S

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. Which sport is sometimes facetiously described as ‘aerial pingpong’?

WORD PYRAMID

I M

E S

Each number in our Cross Code grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. You have three letters in the control grid to start you off. Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you get the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and control grid. Check off the alphabetical list of letters as you identify them.

Easy

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Friday, January 8, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

All puzzles on this page are supplied by Sirius Media Services. To try more of our puzzles interactively online go to www.puzzledrome.com © Sirius Media Services Ltd

ACROSS 1. The case of one who stayed on for breakfast? (9,3) 9. Disturbed or lent men for registration (9) 10. Bluish-grey metal shooter (3) 11. Flair of Peter, a revolutionary (7) 12. Not so cool by the Spanish inn (5) 13. A few words about talons, we hear (6) 15. Braved making alteration to part of speech (6) 18. Point of view is right possibly (5) 20. Work along a seam of semiprecious stone (7) 22. The French love him (3) 23. One million cycles per second could graze them badly (9) 24. Relating to a branch, a type of store with nearly everything (12)

3. Souvenir of an old priest in Catholic church (5) 4. Diamond geezers – they need cool customers (3,3) 5. Developed some of that Cheddar (7) 6. Said to cut into the bay (5) 7. It doesn’t come as that much of a blow (6,6) 8. Glassy-eyed? What a sight in bed! (12) 14. Cook’s craft? (7) 16. Could retire with a following in Africa (7) 17. Avoid first man in a bumper car (6) 19. Ascend, taking in revolutionary leader to the assembly (5) 21. Like a layer of wood (5)

QUICK CROSSWORD 1

11 13

29 29

18 19

SOLUTIONS

DOWN 2. Gallery found under cover and accessible in part (7)

30 31 33

29. Board game (4) ACROSS 1. Item of hosiery (8) 30. Cosmos (8) 31. Decompose (3) 6. Hit hard (4) 32. Hint (4) 8. Mineral (3) 33. Cleverest (8) 9. Uphold (8) DOWN 10. Novice (4) 2. Shallow 12. Foundation (5) container (4) 14. Doctor (5) 3. High-kicking 17. Augury (4) dance (6) 18. High-handed (8) 4. Slanting script (6) 20. Running shoes (8) 5. Departed (4) 24. Wise person (4) 6. Nonconformist 25. Flexible joint (5) church (6) 7. Sally (6) 26. Keen (5)

11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 19. 21. 22. 23. 24. 27. 28.

Kiosk (5) Started (5) Curved sword (5) Male person (3) Nadir (anag.) (5) System of belief (5) Singleton (3) Ceremonial (6) Disregard (6) Mouth secretion (6) Choose (6) Edible seeds (4) The Thames at Oxford (4)

5 3 6 9 8 7 2 4 1

1 8 2 3 4 6 5 7 9

9 7 4 5 1 2 8 3 6

3 5 7 1 2 9 6 8 4

6 1 8 4 5 3 9 2 7

2 4 9 6 7 8 3 1 5

7 6 1 2 3 5 4 9 8

8 9 3 7 6 4 1 5 2

6 1 8 5 3 9 2 7 4

4 2 5 8 9 1 7 6 3

EASY SUDOKU

14 1

15 2

16 3

CROSS CODE

7 9 4 6 1 2 5 3 8

2 5 3 7 4 8 1 6 9

3 6 5 2 8 4 7 9 1

4 7 1 9 6 5 3 8 2

8 2 9 1 7 3 6 4 5

1 4 7 8 5 6 9 2 3

5 3 2 4 9 7 8 1 6

9 8 6 3 2 1 4 5 7

HARD SUDOKU

17 4

18 5

19 6

20 7

21 8

22 9

WORD PYRAMID: Pass the hat round. EQUALISER: Clockwise from top left – multiply; subtract; add; divide. Total: 12. MAGIC SQUARE: tabu; alas; bane; user.

QUICK CROSSWORD: misère; remise; remiss; rime; rise; Across – 1 Stocking; 6 Bash; 8 Ore; 9 Maintain; 10 Tyro; 12 Basis; seem; seer; seise; seme; semé; semi; 14 Medic; 17 Omen; 18 Cavalier; 20 Trainers; 24 Sage; 25 Hinge; sere; series; simmer; sire; siree. 26 Eager; 29 Ludo; 30 Universe; 31 Rot; 32 Clue; 33 Smartest. Down – 2 Tray; 3 Cancan; 4 Italic; 5 Gone; 6 Bethel; 7 Sortie; 11 Booth; 12 Began; 13 Sabre; 14 Man; 15 Dinar; 16 Creed; 19 One; 21 Ritual; 22 Ignore; 23 Saliva; 24 Select; 27 Nuts; 28 Isis. CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Overnight bag; 9 Enrolment; 10 Gun; 11 Panache; 12 Hotel; 13 Clause; 15 Adverb; 18 Angle; 20 Opaline; 22 Leo; 23 Megahertz; 24 Departmental. Down – 2 Veranda; 3 Relic; 4 Ice men; 5 Hatched; 6 Bight; 7 Gentle breeze; 8 Bespectacled; 14 Steamer; 16 Eritrea; 17 Dodgem; 19 Group; 21 Ashen.

QUIZ CHALLENGE: 1 Anne of Green Gables; 2 Colour; 3 Auckland; 4 Chlorophyll; 5 Porgy and Bess; 6 Australian Rules football; 7 The Winter Olympic Games; 8 Janet Jackson; 9 Magwitch; 10 Alexander the Great.

emesis; emir; emmer; esse; immerse; meme; mere; MESMERISM; mess; messier; mime; mimer; mire; miser; NONAGRAM:

(1) Across – Women; Oldie; Evade. Down – Wrote; Media; Niece. (2) Across – Depth; Brews; Tatty. Down – Debut; Pleat; Hussy. FIVE ALIVE:

Your weekly puzzle challenge

28 | PUZZLES

To advertise email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Quiz Challenge

CROSS CODE 11

5 4

10 18

15 4

14 11

13 12

4 9

2 26 23

1. Who played the mysterious heroine opposite Jack Nicholson in the 1974 movie Chinatown?

4 15

5 10

5 26

3. What is the name of the dog who accompanied Jerome K Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat?

8. What was the name of the north Atlantic penguin which became extinct in 1844?

4. What name was given to the policy of restructuring announced by Mikhail Gorbachev?

9. What nationality is soccer legend Luis Figo?

NONAGRAM

23 14

2. In which Irish county is the Blarney Stone?

7. Which period in the Earth’s history saw the beginnings of the dinosaurs?

A R K

E B H

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 1

D A N

MAGIC SQUARE

MOVE OVER TALL RAMP

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.

9 7 1 5

5 3 2 1 8

1 3 2 1 8

2 2

O R

H B

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.

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.

7 5 1 4

Perform the first calculation in each line first and ignore the mathematical law which says you should always perform division and multiplication before addition and subtraction.

All puzzles on this page are supplied by Sirius Media Services. To try more of our puzzles interactively online go to www.puzzledrome.com

2 4

EQUALISER 7 6 6 2 1 5 3 6 4 4 4 4

Hard

8 6 3 7

3 6 7 8 9

Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box.

3 7 4 7 2 3 9 6 6 5 8 9 7 1 2 5 2 8 2 8 7 6 5 3 4

SUDOKU Easy

9 10

13 13

15 15

17 23

FIVE ALIVE DG

WORD PYRAMID 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 Y through openings in the walls. The O first letter may appear in any chamber. K O

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

10. Joel Edgerton played the character Tom Buchanan in which 2013 film based on an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel?

5. Which instrument is synonymous with the Indian musician Ravi Shankar?

12 7

6. Isabella of France was the wife of which English king?

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, January 8, 2016

ACROSS DOWN 1. One who is barely visible (8) 1. Indigenous variety of negative lacking, for 5. Down with the police! (4) example (6) 8. One needs three rings to 2. Tax about right for the imp (5) get this number (8) 3. Such a car is used on line 9. Run right into a tiny child (4) for meals on wheels (10) 11. Valerie and I precede 4. Reportedly lad is a star (3) worker who is brave (7) 6. British weather for eastern country! (7)

13. Lift up beams for the audience (5)

7. Coming from the Ritz, he played an instrument (6)

14. Too full of humanity? (11) 18. When in Rome, once spoken (5)

10. Entice sailor with limp but achieve no result (4,1,5)

19. Beat tin around for Dalai Lama perhaps (7)

12. Nothing in dish of pastry for a card (5)

21. Equipment returned and left 15. Old soldier’s car (7) by young lady (4) 22. Equally separated by these 16. Stairs taken by air passengers (6) bars (8) 24. Pale colour of some great interest (4)

17. Branch of the deer family (6)

25. Ready with this book of tables (8)

23. Have no aspiration for welcome (3)

20. Claw in foot alongside (5)

QUICK CROSSWORD 1

12 15

25 26

28 29

31 32

SOLUTIONS

ACROSS 1. Working animal (4-5) 9. Towards the sky (6) 10. Young salmon (4) 11. Rocky hills (4) 12. Complete failure (6) 13. Meadow flower (7) 16. Single entity (4) 17. Threesome (4) 18. Podded vegetable (3) 20. Foot digit (3) 21. Weapons (4)

23. Smoothing tool (4) 25. Orbs (7) 26. Jewish republic (6) 29. Citrus fruit (4) 30. Highway (4) 31. Merited (6) 32. Windstorms (9) DOWN 2. South American river (6) 3. Lunge forward (6) 4. Set of clothes (6) 5. Sea foam (4)

6. 7. 8. 13. 14. 15. 18. 19. 22. 23. 24. 27. 28.

Greek letter (7) Male voice (4) Recommends (9) Cut short (9) Married woman (4) Baby carriages (5) Set of two (4) Ripple (7) Bodily organ (6) Was afraid of (6) Papal emissary (6) Uncommon (4) Bathing beach (4)

3 4 8 1 7 5 9 2 6

9 7 1 2 6 8 3 4 5

5 2 6 3 4 9 1 8 7

8 3 2 4 1 7 6 5 9

7 9 4 8 5 6 2 1 3

1 6 5 9 2 3 8 7 4

4 5 9 6 8 1 7 3 2

2 8 3 7 9 4 5 6 1

7 9 5 4 8 3 2 6 1

6 1 7 5 3 2 4 9 8

EASY SUDOKU

14 1

15 2

16 3

CROSS CODE

1 8 2 7 5 6 9 4 3

4 6 3 2 1 9 7 8 5

5 4 7 8 3 2 1 9 6

3 1 6 5 9 4 8 7 2

9 2 8 1 6 7 3 5 4

2 3 9 6 7 5 4 1 8

8 5 4 9 2 1 6 3 7

6 7 1 3 4 8 5 2 9

HARD SUDOKU

17 4

18 5

19 6

20 7

21 8

22 9

WORD PYRAMID: By hook or by crook. EQUALISER: Clockwise from top left – add; divide; multiply; subtract. Total: 8. MAGIC SQUARE: prom; rave; oval; melt. 23

QUICK CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Cart-horse; 9 Upward; 10 Parr; 11 Tors; 12 Fiasco; 13 Cowslip; 16 Unit; 17 Trio; 18 Pea; 20 Toe; 21 Arms; 23 File; 25 Spheres; 26 Israel; 29 Lime; 30 Road; 31 Earned; 32 Tornadoes. Down – 2 Amazon; 3 Thrust; 4 Outfit; 5 Surf; 6 Epsilon; 7 Bass; 8 Advocates; 13 Curtailed; 14 Wife; 15 Prams; 18 Pair; 19 Wavelet; 22 Spleen; 23 Feared; 24 Legate; 27 Rare; 28 Lido.

10 Draw a blank; 12 Tarot; 15 Veteran; 16 Flight; 17 Antler; 20 abed; abrade; baaed; bade; bake; baked; baker; band; bander; bandh; Talon; 23 Ave. bane; bank; banked; banker; bard; bare; bared; bark; barked; barn; bead; beak; bean; bear; beard; bend; berk; brad; brae; brake; braked; bran; brand; brane; bread; break; bred; debar; debark; drab; HANDBRAKE; herb; kerb.

Down – Delve; Incur; Giddy. CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Naturist; 5 Fuzz; 8 Thousand; 9 Trot; 11 Valiant; 13 (2) Across – Games; Awful; Traps. Down – Grant; Mafia; Salts. Raise; 14 Overcrowded; 18 Latin; 19 Tibetan; 21 Girl; 22 Parallel; 24 Tint; 25 Reckoner. NONAGRAM: Down – 1 Native; 2 Troll; 3 Restaurant; 4 Sun; 6 Ukraine; 7 Zither;

QUIZ CHALLENGE: 1 Faye Dunaway; 2 County Cork; 3 Montmorency; 4 Perestroika; 5 Sitar; 6 Edward II; 7 Triassic; 8 Great auk; 9 Portuguese; 10 The Great Gatsby.

(1) Across – Doing; Lucid; Early.

FIVE ALIVE:

Friday, January 8, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

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Notice is hereby given that a meeting will be held at 10am on Wednesday 20th January 2016 at 10 Denton Road Wokingham for members to Receive and Approve the final Report and Accounts of Wokingham Volunteer Centre (registered Charity 275933) for the period 1 April 2014 - 30 September 2015. David Vaughan Chairman Trustees

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Fantastic Francesca nets a prestigious sports award By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk A FANTASTIC year for Francesca Williams was rounded off with the young netball star being named Female Sports Personality of the Year. The 18-year-old, who attends Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning, shared the accolade with taekwondo ace Samantha Taylor, with the pair receiving the honour at the Reading Sports Personality of the Year awards, which were held at the town’s Hilton Hotel on Sunday. This achievement was the latest in a long line of successes enjoyed by the teenager over the past 12 months. Williams, who lives in Reading, was named vice captain of the England Under-21 netball squad which competed at a European competition held in Aberdeen, Scotland, back in October. This was not long after representing her country at Under-19 level over in Australia, where England won three matches, drew one and lost the other, which is the best return of results any English age group has produced down under. Domestically, Francesca was part of the Sonning A Team which secured county championship glory. She also turns out for the Western Park Blades and Team South. There was also a gong on the night for Jamie Liu. The table tennis protégé, who is only 11, took home the Male School

It has been quite a year for Francesca Williams

Personality of the Year award. Liu, who trains with the Kingfisher club in Woodley and attends Shiplake College, fought his way to the quarter-finals of the Euro Minis Championships in Strasbourg, France, back in the summer. Jamie’s run the competition was ended by David Bessa of Portugal, but he rallied back to defeat Felix Lebrun and take seventh place overall. The youngster has also been named in the England Youth Performance Squad for the 2015-16 season. A memorable year for Reading FC Women was also recognised at the event,

There were four awards on the night for Reading FC Women and its players Picture: Nigel Hoyle

with the FA Women’s Super League 2 title winners picking up no fewer than four awards. They were named Team of the Year, while boss Kelly Chambers was handed the Manager of the Year Award. Harriett Scott picked up the Player Loyalty Award, with striker Helen Ward, who hit 12 goals last season, collecting the International Player of the Year Award. “It was an honour to be nominated, the team are delighted that their success continues to be recognised and help raise awareness of the women’s game,” said general manager Jon Horton.

Jamie Liu was named Male School Personality of the Year Picture: Stewart Turkington

HOCKEY

Wokingham and Sonning return with local derby clash A BOROUGH derby between Wokingham Ladies and Sonning 2s marks the return of the Trysports League on Saturday. The sides, 11th and seventh in the Premier Division standings respectively, will lock horns at Cantley Park, where push back is midday. Hosts Wokingham were thrashed 6-1 at Oxford 2s last time out, while Sonning saw off Bicester Ladies 3-1 and head in to the contest looking to record a third straight win.

Sonning Ladies, meanwhile, host fourth-placed Oxford 2s (midday) looking to keep up the pressure on leaders Reading 2s. The MBBO division returns on January 17, although many of the mens’ sides at both Wokingham and Sonning are in friendly action this weekend. Fixtures - Saturday, January 9 TRYSPORTS DIVISION 1: Oxford Hawks Ladies 4s v Sonning 3s (1.30pm) DIVISION 2: Kidlington Ladies v Wokingham

2s (10.30am) DIVISION 3: Sonning 4s v Milton Keynes 3s (1.30pm) DIVISION 4: Banbury 4s v Sonning Veterans (11am) DIVISION 5: Maidenhead 5s v Wokingham 3s (4.30pm) DIVISION 6: Sonning 5s v Thame 3s (3pm) WESSEX SUPERVETS ALLIANCE: Wokingham Vets v Southampton Cockburns (1.30pm) FRIENDLIES: Wallingford v Sonning Men (1.15pm); Sonning 2s v Wokingham (10.30am); Sonning 4s v Reading 3s (3pm); Amersham and Chalfont v Sonning 5s

CRICKET

Burnham are up first for promoted Finchampstead FINCHAMPSTEAD will begin life in Division 1 of the Home Counties Premier Cricket League with a home fixture against Burnham. Last season’s runners-up in Division 2 will begin the campaign at the Memorial Ground on Saturday, May 7. The club are then away at Banbury the following weekend (May 14) before hosting reigning champions High Wycombe on May 21. The first of two local derbies with Reading takes place in the village on Saturday June 18, with the return fixture at Berkshire County Sports on August 20. Finchampstead will bring the season to a close on the road, where they will be guests of Harefield on September 3. n BERKSHIRE face two long trips down to the West Country in the group stages of the one-day Unicorns Trophy. They travel to Truro to play Cornwall

on Sunday, May 1, followed by Devon at Exmouth two weeks later. Their home games are against Dorset at Falkland CC on April 24 and Oxfordshire at Wargrave on May 8. Skipper James Morris and his men will be visiting Cornwall twice, as they also meet in the Unicorns Championship at Grampound Road, near Truro, in a three-day game starting on July 31. Berkshire’s 2016 fixtures

Marlborough Cup: April 17 - v Wiltshire at Calne CC. Unicorns Cup: April 24 - v Dorset at Falkland CC; May 1 - v Cornwall at Truro CC; May 8 - v Oxon at Wargrave CC; May 15 - v Devon at Exmouth CC. Quarter-finals on June 12, semi-finals on July 10, final on Wednesday, August 24 at Wormsley. UNICORNS CHAMPIONSHIP: June 5,6,7 - v Herefordshire at Colwall CC; June 19,20,21 - v Wales Minor Counties at Henley CC; July 3,4,5 - v Cheshire at Falkland CC; July 17,18,19 - v Shropshire at Shifnal; July 31, Aug. 1, 2 - v Cornwall at Grampound Lane; August 14,15, 16 - v Dorset at Finchampstead CC; Play-off final: August 28,29,30,31 at Wormsley.

Finch captain Dan Marles

BASKETBALL

‘Lessons learned’ ahead of busy week for the Rockets MANUEL Pena Garces believes his Reading Rockets side have “learnt some valuable lessons” over the Christmas holidays. Back-to-back league defeats against Hemel Storm (98-95) and Manchester Magic (93-82) saw the club end 2015 on a disappointing note, with the results also leaving Rockets sixth in the English Basketball League (EBL) Division 1 standings. Reading do have games in hand over those around them in the table, but will be looking to avoid a third straight loss when away at Bradford Dragons on Saturday (6.15pm tip-off). Rockets will once again be competing in the north of England on Sunday, where they are guests of Lancashire Spinners in a National Trophy quarter-final (1.30pm). The matches are the start of what will be a busy run of games for Rockets, who are due to play five times in just eight days. Games against Surrey Scorchers (BBL Trophy – Wednesday) and clashes with Derby Trailblazers and Worthing Thunder are to follow. Having used the break to analyse his team’s recent performances, Pena Garces is feeling confident of Rockets’ chances of success heading in 2016. He said: “I am really looking forward

to 2016 with my team and we are really positive that after a much-needed break we can do some really good things this year. “We had a difficult finish to 2015 but we have learnt some really valuable lessons over the Christmas break and we are really excited to get back to work and prove that we are capable of beating teams and ultimately competing for trophies. “I have done a lot of analysis over the last two weeks and I think we are ready for the next step and, for us, this must start at the defensive end.” The coach added: “The next two weeks are going to be really tough with so many games in such a few days, so we are going to need to manage that well and prepare meticulously for each opponent. “But I am sure that if we defend hard, use our sets effectively and play the Rockets’ way then we can definitely have some success and that needs to start this weekend and firstly against Bradford.” Rockets head into the weekend with no fresh injury concerns. However, they will now be without the services of Dian Ivanov. The veteran Bulgarian guard has decided to retire from the game with immediate effect.

36 | SPORT

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, January 8, 2016

To Hull and back: Bracknell bottom out as Pirates charge Hull Pirates 6 Bracknell Bees 3

Milan Kostourek hit goal number three for Bees

It was a feisty affair at The Hive

ICE HOCKEY

Barker blasts a hat-trick, but Tigers maul the Bees Bracknell Bees 4 Telford Tigers 6 A “DESERVED” hat-trick from Alex Barker was unable to stop Bracknell Bees from falling to a 15th successive defeat in the English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL). The trio of goals scored by the 25-year-old forward was the highlight of what was another difficult evening on the ice for the hosts, who were beaten by the reigning league champions. Milan Kostourek was also on target for the Bees, but strikes from Max Birbraer, twice, Daniel Rose, Joe Miller, Peter Szabo and Jason Silverthorn saw Telford head back to Shropshire with the points. “He (Barker) deserved it,” said player-coach Lukas Smital, who once again had to sit out proceedings with a broken finger. “He played well and it happened for him, scoring the goals, and I’m sure it would have taken his confidence up a notch.” This was Bracknell’s sixth game in what had been a testing nine days over the Christmas period, and the festivities were to catch up with the side, who were once again shortbenched with Smital out injured and Sam Waller absent. With fitness levels pushed to the limit and squad numbers stretched due to unavailability and recent departures, overcoming a Tigers side which had won all five previous contests between the two teams was going to be a tall order – the gruelling schedule aside. And Bracknell found themselves on the back foot early on and then behind when Birbraer pinged a shot over the shoulder of Mettam to open the scoring. But one thing the hosts have not

Alex Baker hit a deserved hat-trick Pictures: Bob Swann

lacked this season is character, and such an attribute soon had them rallying back, with Kostourek and Antonov both going close. Bees did hold out when Jan Bendik was penalised for hooking, but once back to full strength were quickly back on level terms. Tieing up the scores was Barker, whose strike at goal was helped over the line by a post. Telford, however, still packed a punch and from their next attack snatched back the lead just two minutes later through Rose. It would remain 2-1 to the hosts going in at the break, although the sounding of the buzzer did spark an angry exchange between Bees’ Scot Spearing and Birbraer, who were both hit with cross checking penalties by the officials. Kostourek and Matt Foord worked Sam Gospel in the Tigers’ goal during the early exchanges of the second session – but Bracknell’s task became even harder when Miller popped up with a first-time strike and stretched the advantage to 3-1. The response, however, was once again swift, with Barker this time stroking the puck between the netminders legs to close the gap once more. The flurry of goals was to continue, and it was not long before the visitors restored the two-goal cushion, which was secured when Szabo finished Bracknell netminder Alex Mettam and off a slick passing move. Lewis Turner double up to thwart Telford But their rearguard was

JOIN US AT THE HIVE Games played at John Nike Leisurecomplex, Bracknell

breached once again when Kostourek diverted home a Tom Beesley drive to have Bees fans up on their feet once more and further grow the sense of optimism developing around the Hive. Any such hope, though, soon began to diminish when Birbraer hit his second of the game, with the goal coming on a powerplay awarded to the away side when Barker was deemed guilty of holding. And they were all but extinguished at the start of the third period when Silverthorn rattled in goal number six on the rebound. Bendik and Antonov both saw chances saved as Bracknell desperately tried to find another way back into the contest – but there was only ever going to be one man to do just that, with Barker keeping the embers burning somewhat when completing the hat-trick. Netminder Alex Mettam was duly pulled late on as Bracknell laid siege on the Tigers, but the hosts were unable to add to their tally. “We played well but at the end of the day we played one of the best teams in the league and I could not really have asked for much more from the team,” added Smital. “We played short-handed and it was just one of those games. “We have played six games in nine days so there is obviously going to be levels of fatigue, but I thought we played really well. “We can take it a little bit easier now (with a week’s rest) but we need to make sure everybody is ready to go to work at the weekend.” Bees return to action with two games this weekend, first making the trip to MK Lightning on Saturday (7pm) before hosting Guildford Flames on Sunday (6pm). Additional reporting by John Slater. English Premier Ice Hockey League P W OW OL L F Basingstoke 32 19 4 2 7 124 Peterborough 31 16 3 5 7 117 Milton Keynes 34 14 5 4 11 120 Guildford 32 14 5 2 11 116 Telford 31 18 2 0 11 131 Swindon 31 13 5 3 10 110 Sheffield 30 13 2 3 12 111 Manchester 29 9 1 5 14 86 Hull 32 4 3 4 21 75 Bracknell 32 7 0 2 23 101

A 78 76 99 106 86 105 128 110 158 145

TWO GOALS from Dominic Osman helped Hull Pirates to a basement-battle victory which sent Bees crashing to the foot of the Premier Division table, writes JOHN SLATER. The hosts’ player-coach was joined on the scoresheet by Lee Bonner, Nathan Salem, Tommi Laine and Sam Towner, with Vanya Antonov, Alex Barker and Milan Kostourek all notching for a shorthanded Bracknell side playing a fifth game in eight days. Absent for the Bees in Humberside was their player-coach Lukas Smital, who was nursing a broken finger, and defenceman Sam Waller. Yet the visitors were to create a number of openings during the early exchanges, with efforts from Antonov and Tetlow both deflected wide. Kostourek would also go close while his side were a man light after Carl Graham took a seat in the penalty box for a kneeing minor. But shortly after killing off the powerplay, the away side nudged themselves in front courtesy of Antonov. The lead, however, would last only three minutes, as Bonner pounced to tie up the scoring. Another opportunity would fall to Kostourek, and again it was all of his own doing: breaking away as his side only had four skaters with Matt Foord this time falling into penalty trouble (slashing). The import forward, on this occasion, was denied a route to goal by a defender. The struggling sides would kill off further respective penalties, awarded for clipping and too many men on the ice, before the buzzer for the first interval, meaning the score would remain at stalemate going into the second session. Despite chances early on for Hull’s Pasi Salonen and Bracknell’s James Galazzi, the next goal would not arrive until midway through the stanza – and it again went to the visitors. Finishing off the move was Barker, who rattled a shot past Pirates netminder Martins Raitums. With their tails up once again, Bees went in search for a third, but Carl Graham was unlucky with an attempt from distance. On a difficult run of 13 successive

defeats, confidence within the Bracknell camp is obviously fragile, and such vulnerabilities were exposed once again when the home side hit back through Osman opening his account for the evening. The response, however, was both determined and swift, with Bees grabbing the lead for a third time just 23 seconds later. Netting on this occasion was Kostourek, who finally got the goal his endeavour deserved when lighting the lamp unassisted. It was an advantage Smital’s charges would take into the break, but given the flow of the game up until now, more would clearly be needed if the Pirates were to be put out of sight. But normal service for the evening was to resume just a minute into the third period, with Nathan Salem this time getting the better of Alex Mettam in the Bees’ net to make it 3-3. The strike would prove to be a game changer, as a Hull side clearly buoyed by grabbing a third equaliser began to force the issue. Bracknell would kill off another powerplay when Lewis Turner sat out a tripping offence – only to fall behind for the first time on the night when Tommi Laine made a spell of pressure count. It was clearly a psychological blow for the away side, who immediately called a time out to discuss tactics and regroup – but it would prove only to be in vain. On the offensive once again, Hull put the game out of reach courtesy of a second Laine effort before Sam Towner completed the scoring late on. He was to net on the powerplay, this time awarded when Carl Graham and opponent Salonen joined Spearing (roughing) in the bin for slashing and cross checking respectively. Guildford Flames 7 Bracknell Bees 3 BEES endured a tough start to the New Year at The Spectrum. Away at fierce rivals Guildford, Matic Kralj, Janis Ozolins, Kevin Phillips, Lee Esdes, Jez Lundin, Danny Meyers and Jens Eriksson were all on target as the hosts opened up an unassailable 7-0 lead. Bracknell did rally late on, with Carl Thompson, Jan Bendik and Vanya Antonov all scoring to reduce the arrears. Carl Thompson (left) was on target for the Bees during the loss to Guildford on New Year’s Day

Pts 48 43 42 40 40 39 33 25 18 16

THIS SUNDAY – JANUARY 9

BRACKNELL BEES v Guildford Flames Face off 6pm

Box office: 01344 789000 bracknellbees.co.uk

Irish let down by ill-discipline Gloucester 27 London Irish 14

TOM COVENTRY blamed ill-discipline after watching Irish let slip of a 14-6 half-time lead and crash to defeat at Kingsholm. Things were looking promising for the Exiles after tries from Ciaran Hearn and Alex Lewington had cancelled out two James Hook penalties. But hopes of a second successive Aviva Premiership victory were dashed by a Gloucester side which stormed to victory in the second half thanks to scores from Matt Kvesic and replacement Billy Burns. Hook also kicked over a further 11 points as both Irish and Coventry were left paying the penalty. “It would have been nice to get a bonus point as we had parts of the game under control but ill-discipline in the second half really cost us,” said the head coach, whose side now prop up the rest in the standings after Newcastle defeated Bath on the same afternoon. “The penalty count in that half was 10-0 against us and it was difficult to play with those figures in those conditions. “They (Gloucester) used the maul very well and the pressure told. Losing Alex Lewington to the sin-bin didn’t help as going down to 14 men is never easy.” Played out in soaking conditions and on a soft pitch, an Irish side looking to build on the Boxing Day victory over Northampton Saints fell behind when a good driving maul from the hosts’ pack yielded a penalty which Hook slotted between the posts. However, a missed tackle from Bill Meakes resulted in Hearn stealing in and dancing to the line for a first try in Exiles colours, which Chris Noakes converted. Hook kicked over another penalty to move Gloucester to within a point of the visitors, but the scoring was to soon dry up as both sides became embroiled in an aerial battle. But the Irish drive was powerful, and it was the good work of the backs which set up a second try of the afternoon for the away side. Noakes’ deft cross-field kick was scooped up by Lewington, with the pair combining to give Coventry’s men an eight-point lead at the break. Irish, though, were pulled apart after the restart – although most of the damage was of their own doing. Gloucester began chipping away at the deficit when Hook punted over another penalty before they received a boost when Lewington was shown a yellow card. The Television Match Official (TMO) stepped in to deny the side a try from the same incident, but they soon secured the points through the boot of Hook, who was to nudge his side in front with his fifth penalty of the afternoon 20 minutes from time. And there was to be no stopping Gloucester now, with the Cherry and Whites extending their lead further when Kvesic touched down, with Hook adding the extras. They were celebrating another score soon after when Billy Twelvetrees offloaded for Burns to cross the line with his first touch of the game. Hook was surprisingly off target with the conversion, but Gloucester had already wrapped up a fifth successive victory over the opposition. LONDON IRISH: Maitland; Lewington, Hearn, Williams, Tikoriotuma; Noakes, McKibben; Court, Paice, Franks, Symons (c), Lloyd, Narraway, Cowan, Treviranus. Reps: Ellis, Smallbone, Aulika, Sinclair, Trayfoot, Steele, Geraghty, Ojo. Tries: Hearn; Lewington. Cons: Noakes x2. Referee: Tom Foley Attendance: 16,115

SPORT | 37

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Friday, January 8, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

LONDON IRISH

Hearn: Every game is a ‘must-win’ LONDON IRISH V NEWCASTLE FALCONS AVIVA PREMIERSHIP MADEJSKI STADIUM SUNDAY (1pm)

By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk LONDON IRISH must treat the basement battle with Newcastle Falcons just like any other game, Ciaran Hearn has said. The stakes are high as the sides ranked 11th and 12th in the Aviva Premiership table prepare to lock horns at Madejski Stadium, where defeat will most likely leave the losing team facing both a long, hard winter and the real prospect of relegation. The fixture is being talked up as a ‘must-win’ within some rugby circles, but that is understandable given both are six and eight points adrift of the next team closest to them in the standings, Worcester, respectively. It is, however, strange the future of one of these clubs could be hanging on what is just the eighth league game of the season – but recent arrival Hearn is refusing to buy into such an idea. “You cannot look at the table and say that this is a must win game, you need to look at every game as a must win,” said the Canada international. “The table unfortunately does not lie,

Ciaran Hearn

Picture: Paul King

but in this division any team can beat any other team on any given day, so that is why every game is a must win. “We just take it as that. “We know what we need to do and we don’t want to be worrying after the game, so we need to make sure we execute our plays and take the opportunities which come our way.” Centre Hearn, who signed a deal until the end of the season with Exiles back in November, bagged his first try for the club at Kingsholm last Saturday.

NATIONAL LEAGUE 2 SOUTH

Along with another score from Alex Lewington and two conversions from Chris Noakes, Irish led Gloucester 14-6, only for ill-discipline to get the better of the away side as the opposition rallied back to condemn Hearn and Co to a 27-14 loss. Defeat, along with Newcastle’s 19-14 victory over Bath, saw Irish slip back to the foot of the table, with the try scorer admitting lessons must be learned from the latest loss. He said: “You cannot give away 10 penalties in a half – or even that amount in a game. “The team which give away the most penalties most often goes on to lose, so that is one of the things we need to address. “We started well (at Gloucester) and we had a great first half and then 10 minutes at the start of the second. “We put some good phases together – and it is never going to be easy to play slick ball and quick tempo in six inches of mud – but the momentum shifted and they took advantage. “We took the opportunities on offer but we need to be doing that for 80 minutes, not 60, otherwise we are going to be left to suffer.” Irish will need to keep their discipline in check on Sunday, as Craig Willis knocked over 14 of the points which

helped the Falcons break their duck for the season as the two strugglers now boast almost identical records for the campaign. But Irish have won their last two games on home soil, and a third win on the spin could finally get the season up and running. “Everybody wants to win – if you go into it wanting anything else then you shouldn’t be playing rugby or any other sport,” said Hearn. “I don’t know whether or not the loser will be facing a hard winter or anything like that, but we are going to need to be more disciplined – and that is in both halves of the field. “If we can look after the things we have been working on and get the phases of play right then I’m sure we’ll be happy come the end of the game.”

Saracens Exeter Harlequins Leicester Northampton Gloucester Sale Sharks Bath Wasps Worcester Newcastle London Irish

Aviva Premiership P W D L 8 8 0 0 8 6 0 2 8 5 1 2 8 6 0 2 8 4 0 4 8 4 1 3 8 3 1 4 8 3 0 5 8 3 0 5 8 2 0 6 8 1 1 6 8 1 0 7

F A 232 81 218 116 225 177 158 137 132 103 173 176 130 163 158 152 161 159 148 205 113 239 116 256

BP 4 6 5 1 5 2 3 4 3 4 0 0

PTS 36 30 27 25 21 20 17 16 15 12 6 4

Rams’ Will Morrison is stopped in his tracks Picture: Paul King

Rams lose to leaders but WILL stay up, insists coach Redingensians Rams 21 Old Albanian 31

MIKE TEWKESBURY believes his Redingensians side boast the quality needed to stay up after once again pushing a side chasing promotion hard. Played out in dismal conditions, the Rams opened up a seven-point lead on visiting Old Albanians, only to be outscored by the National League 2 South table toppers after signs of vulnerability either side of the break proved costly for the home side. But coach Tewkesbury saw enough from his charges to predict Redingensians will continue to be more than a match for most sides in the division, and is backing his squad to ensure a first foray at this level of rugby will last longer than a season. He said: “There is not a lot of difference between them and us (Old Albanian). The margins are small. “We certainly caused them problems, but the fact we didn’t play territory well and missed tackles were crucial.” Tewkesbury added: “I feel we are going in the right direction and will stay up. We are not targeting any particular matches and I believe this is the right approach. “We just have to keep picking up points. Our lads are improving week by week and with the gym facilities now in place can increase their physicality.” With the weather wet and the pitch soft, Rams found themselves behind in just the third minute when Karl Garside scored the opening try of the afternoon, which was converted by Matt Gallagher. The lead, however, was wiped out moments later when Joe Duffelen twice hacked the loose ball forward before touching down. In scoring, though, Duffelen pulled

a hamstring and was forced to leave proceedings early, with the injury keeping the full-back out of Saturday’s basement battle at Canterbury (3pm). But the entertainment continued in his absence, with George Drury rounding off a backs move to complete the quick turnaround. Luke Flower added the extras to both scores and Rams boasted a 14-7 lead. Gallagher would cut the gap midway through the half and the Albanians, well marshalled by player-coach James Shanahan, were soon beginning to stamp their authority on the fixture. The away side seized the initiative once again thanks to a brace of tries from back row Harry Bate either side of half time. A further score on 50 minutes appeared to put the game out of Redingensians’ reach, where Ollie Cooper-Millar breached the game line amid a 25-metre rolling maul. Yet Rams soon regrouped, showing great character and attacking the title chasers once again, and they were to reap some reward on the hour mark. From a lineout won close to the Albanian line, No.8 Samir Kharbouch produced great strength and determination to force himself over, with George Drury slotting the conversion. That was to be the end of the scoring – but not through the want of trying. The hosts edged the final quarter, but squandering good positions from lineouts meant Tewkesbury’s men were to miss out on a bonus point. REDINGENSIANS: Duffelen; Foxley, Bryant, Barnes, McDermottroe, Flower, Hill; Steadman, Henderson, Baker, Taylor, Morrison, Amor, Nightingale, Kharbouch. Reps: Crame, O.Smith, J.Smith, Vooght, Drury.

n RAMS welcome back Robbie

Stapley and Jamie Guttridge for Saturday’s trip to Kent. Stapley has been away on holiday while Guttridge has served the three-week suspension he received when sent off against Bishop’s Stortford. Tom Vooght fills in at open side in the absence of injured Craig Nightingale, while Dieter Kerschbaumer has recovered from a shoulder problem and goes straight into the second row. George Drury, meanwhile, will once again replace Duffelen. There is a place on the bench too for Jamar Richardson, who is the son of former first-teamer Frankie.

National League 2 South P W D L F Old Albanians 16 13 1 2 508 Cambridge 16 13 1 2 493 Bishop’s Stortford 16 11 1 4 462 Taunton Titans 16 12 0 4 475 Redruth 16 11 0 5 383 Clifton 16 8 1 7 434 Old Elthamians 16 8 1 7 382 Dorking 16 7 0 9 327 Bury St Edmunds 16 7 0 9 325 Barnes 16 6 1 9 359 Southend Saxons 16 5 3 8 346 Worthing 16 6 0 10 333 Redingensians 16 5 0 11 337 Chinnor 16 4 0 12 377 Canterbury 15 5 0 10 304 Launceston 15 0 1 14 185

CROWTHORNE and Bracknell will be looking to make a winning start to 2016 upon their return to action this weekend. The two sides brought their respective league programmes to an end last year on a winning note, with Crowthorne edging a close encounter away at Hungerford 12-13 to record a fifth win in six Berks, Bucks and Oxon Premier Division games.

Bracknell also start the New Year in a rich vein of form, with the 29-21 triumph over Shelford last time out a third victory in four National League 3 London and South East fixtures. The Lily Hill men resume the competition on the road at Hertford on Saturday (2pm), as do the Crows, who travel to Buckinghamshire for a clash with Risborough (2.15pm).

A 259 266 269 317 323 395 375 412 386 438 405 369 419 461 403 533

BP 14 13 14 11 10 10 8 9 8 10 6 7 9 12 7 5

PTS 72 67 60 59 54 44 42 37 36 36 32 31 29 28 27 7

38 | SPORT

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READING FC

Cup has Quinn wanting more HUDDERSFIELD TOWN v READING FA CUP – THIRD ROUND JOHN SMITH’S STADIUM SATURDAY - 3PM THE MAGIC of the FA Cup is alive and well, as Stephen Quinn has quite rightly explained. Reading’s 29-year-old central midfielder, who has recently returned to the side following a lengthy injury lay off, has had his fair share of highs and lows in the famous competition, many of which arrived on the same afternoon. The Republic of Ireland international was part of the Hull City side which reached a Wembley final back in 2014, where the Tigers raced into a 2-0 lead against Arsenal – only to suffer the heartbreak of a 3-2 defeat in extra-time. The knockout competition has thrown up countless memories for Royals too in recent years, with the club putting league worries aside last term when reaching a historic semi-final, almost defying the odds too when playing out an absorbing contest with the Gunners just last April The north London side would also win that game in extra-time, Alexis Sanchez netting both goals in a 2-1 triumph. Reading also reached successive quarter-finals under boss Brian McDermott during his first spell in charge back in 2010 and 2011, who will no doubt

Stephen Quinn was a runner-up in the FA Cup with Hull

be keen to emulate such a run. The competition has come under scrutiny in recent times due to some of the bigger teams fielding weakened starting line-ups, but for Quinn, some of his most memorable moments in the game have come in the FA Cup. “If anyone has gone on a run or whatever in the FA Cup will tell you the same thing because it really is magical,” he said. “Even the lower league teams and the

Non-League teams that are beating league teams and going on a bit of a run, that is a far as they might ever go in the game, it is the pinnacle of their careers, so it is magical for them. “Going on a run and playing Arsenal in the final and more or less having one hand on the cup, I will take it to the grave - I might have even retired if we had won! “It can make dreams and it can break dreams, but it is one of the greatest cup competitions in the world.” For Quinn and Reading, it is a case of deja vu, as last year’s run to Wembley began with a 1-0 win over Huddersfield Town at the John Smith’s Stadium in the third round. Royals will head to west Yorkshire without the injured quartet of captain Paul McShane, Jordan Obita, Aaron Tshibola and Ola John, but both Quinn and Michael Hector are expected to shake off minor knocks in time. “We need to have a good mentality, especially when you are playing clubs like Huddersfield who are in the same league,” added Quinn. “It is going to be a tough game, so you have got to have the mentality of wanting to win the game and not letting your standards drop, so I think you need that (to succeed in the cup) and a bit of luck as well – you need a bit of everything.”

ACADEMY

Hammer time for the Under-18s as title chase resumes READING’S Under-18s will be looking to keep up the heat on leaders Chelsea and return to winning ways when they host West Ham United tomorrow, writes LEWIS RUDD. David Dodds’ men saw 2015 end with a disappointing 2-0 reverse away at Leicester City, with the defeat leaving the side five points behind the table-topping west London side in the Barclays U18 Premier Division South standings. Lamine Sherriff and Layton Ndukwu

hit the goals for the young Foxes up in the East Midlands back on December 19. The game kicks off at 11am. n ROYALS’ Under-21s, meanwhile, return to action with a home game against Manchester United on Monday, January 11. This Premier League clash will take place at Wycombe Wanderers’ Adams Park, with kick-off at 7pm. The side went in to the Christmas break on the back of a 3-2 victory over

Middlesbrough, where a Liam Kelly penalty and further goals from Harry Cardwell and Lisandro Semedo put the side 3-0 ahead, only for the opposition to hit back and leave Reading having to hold out. A 3-1 success for the opposition over Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the week, however, saw Royals move up to second in the table on goal difference, although there is a gap of 10 points separating them and leaders Sunderland.

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, January 8, 2016

Davies returns to ‘special club’– but Burton departs CHRIS DAVIES has returned to Reading as a first-team coach. Davies, who is no stranger to the club, was in the dugout for Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Bristol City at Madejski Stadium. The 30-year-old first joined Royals when signing on with the Academy at the age of 16 back in 2001, where he was then under the tutorship of Brendan Rodgers. The pair would again work together at both Swansea City and Liverpool. A promising defender/midfielder who earned international honours at youth levels with Wales, Davies saw his career ended by injury at the age of just 19. Upon hanging up his boots, however, Chris enrolled on a sports science degree at Loughborough University, graduating in 2007 with first class honours. He also undertook his UEFA coaching licences and gained practical experience through a number of youth coaching roles at the same time - most notably with now Premier League side Leicester City. A spell with New Zealand club Hawke’s Bay United followed before returning to the UK and reuniting with Rodgers at The Liberty Stadium in 2010, where he was responsible for opposition analysis. Two successful seasons, which included promotion to the top flight, followed before the pair moved to Merseyside in 2012, where Davies also worked towards his UEFA Pro Licence, a qualification he obtained back in November. “It is great to be back at this special club,” he said. “But in football there is no time for sentiment, my focus is on helping the team win games and giving my all to the cause. “There is an excellent manager and squad of players here so I’m really looking forward to the second half of

Chris Davies

the season.” Upon appointing Davies to his backroom staff, McDermott said: “I’ve known Chris since he was a young player in the Academy at Reading and I was coaching the Under-17s and I have watched his career with much interest. “He is a Pro Licence coach and he has a vast amount of experience having worked with both Swansea City and Liverpool. I’m absolutely delighted that he has decided to join our coaching staff here at Reading.” Another of McDermott’s appointment’s since returning to the club himself as manager just last month, Terry Burton, has since left. The Royals’ assistant manager took the decision to explore other projects in his career and lasted just two weeks in the position. “I don’t really need an old head around me, I’ve got my own old head,” said McDermott. “Terry has got a project that he wants to take care of and he’s a good man who I’ve known a long time.”

Blackman signs off with late winner as McDermott thanks the fans Reading 1 Bristol City 0

NICK BLACKMAN popped up with a stoppage time goal which secured Reading a “big win”. That was according to manager Brian McDermott, who saw his side end a run of back-to-back defeats in the Championship amid late drama at Madejski Stadium last Saturday. Blackman (pictured), who ran on to a Danny Williams pass before firing low beyond Frank Fielding in the City goal, settled the contest just moments after the visitors saw a goal of their own ruled out, with Jonathan Kodija deemed to have been in an offside position. There was, however, still enough time in the contest to determine a winner, with boss McDermott praising his troops for sticking it out. He said: “The Championship is about picking up points, accumulating points where you can, and it doesn’t matter when you score, you’ve just got to keep going. “But this division is about scrapping and we’re trying to win the game from the bench, making offensive changes to

try to win it late on when at 0-0 it can go either way – and I always had the belief that if we could get it in the right area we were going to score. “Thankfully it happened. “We’re trying to win that game at 0-0 – and that is really important. Confidence is a strange thing and that win gives us that extra little bit of confidence. “It’s a big win.” There was little to separate the two sides before Blackman’s intervention during a match which possessed few clear cut chances. Yet the contest was barely 30 seconds old when a Paul McShane clearance set up nicely for City’s Luke Freeman to try his luck, but the strike ended up in the side netting. Royals hit back with a chance of their own in the seventh minute, with Fielding denying Vydra, who had scurried into the box unmarked. Jake Cooper, one of five changes made by McDermott for the game, saw another chance blocked from a corner before Oliver Norwood was only just wide from a free-kick awarded by Sa, who was also added to the starting line-up. Ali Al Habsi took the place of Jonathan

Bond in goal, while Cooper replaced the suspended Michael Hector, with Andrew Taylor and Vydra also among the changes made to the side beaten 2-1 by Brentford last time out. The hosts, though, were dealt a setback when injury forced off captain McShane on the half hour mark, with Anton Ferdinand – also recently returned from a hamstring problem – taking his place. A next chance of note was to arrive late in half, and it again fell to Vydra, who was this time thwarted by the legs of Fielding from a low drive. Reading continued to try and force the issue after the break, where a Sa shot was blocked, with neither Danny Williams nor Norwood unable to convert the respective rebounds. But City had moments of their own too, and only the glancing head of Ferdinand prevented a Elliott Bennett cross from finding the far post after the latter got away from Taylor. It was not long after when Garath McCleary was introduced from the bench, and the replacement was soon stinging the hands of Fielding with a low centre. The ball popped up loose, but no one in a blue and white shirt was on hand to pounce. He would later lay on Blackman, but

the opportunity was still a difficult one and the striker could only divert his header over the bar. The same player saw another strike deflected out for a corner before Williams flashed a chance over the crossbar. The afternoon, however, looked as though it would end in frustration and with a third straight defeat when Kodjia got the better of Al Habsi, but fortunately for the home side a linesman thought otherwise. And having survived the scare, Reading went and snatched all three points. Having received a pass from Williams, Blackman beat an opponent as he came inside before picking out a corner and sending the majority of the 19,600 crowd wild. Those backing the Royals also received a glowing reference from McDermott too, who added: “The fans stuck by us, they really did. “The fans kept us going, they stayed with the team. “I don’t know how many late wins I’ve had during my time here at Reading, but it was great to get another one. “And that was a tough, tough game – a toss of a coin game, so it was important that the supporters kept urging the players forward ‘till the end.” READING: Al Habsi, Gunter, McShane (c)

(Ferdinand 31), Cooper, A.Taylor (Robson-Kanu 73), Williams, Norwood, Blackman, Vydra, Quinn, Sa (McCleary 57). Subs not used: Bond, Piazon, Keown, Liburd Bookings: Ferdinand, Norwood, Quinn Goal: Blackman 90+1 BRISTOL CITY: Fielding, Ayling, Flint, Baker (Moore 42), E.Bennett, Pack, Freeman (Reid 82); Smith, Bryan, Wilbraham, Kodija (Burns 92). Subs not used: Little, Agard, Wagstaff, O’Leary Referee: Darren Handley Attendance: 19,677 (3,321 away)

Middlesbrough Derby Hull Brighton Burnley Ipswich Sheff Wed Birmingham Cardiff Brentford Wolves Reading Leeds Nottm Forest Preston QPR Blackburn Huddersfield Fulham MK Dons Rotherham Bristol City Charlton Bolton

Sky Bet Championship P W D L 24 16 4 4 25 13 9 3 25 14 5 6 25 11 11 3 25 11 9 5 25 11 8 6 25 10 9 6 25 11 6 8 25 9 10 6 25 10 6 9 25 9 7 9 25 9 6 10 25 7 11 7 25 7 10 8 25 7 10 8 25 7 9 9 24 6 10 8 25 7 7 11 25 6 9 10 25 6 5 14 25 6 3 16 25 4 9 12 25 4 8 13 25 2 11 12

F 36 37 36 31 34 34 36 30 30 37 32 30 26 25 21 30 22 30 40 21 30 22 21 19

A 12 17 18 25 23 30 28 27 26 35 32 28 28 24 22 33 21 36 43 33 44 44 42 39

Pts 52 48 47 44 42 41 39 39 37 36 34 33 32 31 31 30 28 28 27 23 21 21 20 17

SPORT | 39

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Friday, January 8, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

NON-LEAGUE ROUND-UP

Weather the ultimate winner on a washed out weekend THE WEATHER was the winner at the weekend, with the wet conditions putting paid to the local Non-League programme on Saturday, writes LEWIS RUDD. Wokingham and Emmbrook’s Hellenic Premier Division clash with Highmoor Ibis at Mill Lane was the first game to fall foul of a waterlogged pitch. Woodley United were due to host Old Woodstock Town at Scours Lane in Hellenic Division 1 East, but this became the next fixture to be declared a washout, with the Berks and Bucks Intermediate

Cup clash between Lambourn Sports and Finchampstead postponed not long after. The contest will now take place on Saturday. The heavy rain leading up to contest between Eversley and California and CB Hounslow United at Fox Lane, and that which fell on the morning of the game itself resulted in this top-of-the-table clash in Combined Counties Division 1 having to be rescheduled for another day. A large crowd, meanwhile, had been expected to gather at The Racecourse

Ground, where Binfield were guests of local rivals Ascot United. And they received a boost when the pitch passed a lunchtime inspection. However, a deluge soon followed and the derby was called off just half an hour later. More rain is forecast for this weekend, but with a number of mostly dry days before hand those involved locally will be hoping for a return to action. Fixtures – Saturday, January 9 (Kick-off 3pm unless stated)

BLUEFIN SPORT SUPPLEMENTARY CUP: Letcombe v Wokingham and Emmbrook (first round - 1.45pm); Woodley United v Shrivenham (second round) BERKS & BUCKS INTERMEDIATE CUP: Lambourn Sports v Finchampstead (1.30pm) COMBINED COUNTIES LEAGUE DIVISION 1: Cobham v Eversley and California Monday, January 11 READING SENIOR CUP: Highmoor Ibis v Finchampstead (7.45pm)

THAMES VALLEY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Crushing start to the year for County By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk THE NEW Year began with a bump for Berks County, who crashed to a heavy 5-1 loss against Newbury in the Premier Division. Played on the 4G pitch at the John Nike Stadium, the fixture was the only league contest across all six divisions to survive the wet weather, while two cup ties (Cookham Dean 2 Maidenhead Magpies 1; Maidenhead Magpies Reserves 1 Kintbury Rangers Reserves) went ahead elsewhere. Yet those turning out for County probably wished the game was called off too, with the side falling 4-1 behind during the first 45 minutes. What turned out to be a thoroughly miserable afternoon for the hosts was further compiled when Newbury wrapped up the scoring in the second half, with the result moving the west Berkshire side up to fourth in the table. On target for the visitors was Kye Franklin and Conor Lynch, who both struck twice, and Carl Jenner. Captain Sam Dennison (pictured) replied for a Berks side who remain

10th in the standings. They are at home again on Saturday, where they entertain struggling Highmoor Ibis Reserves (2pm). Fixtures - Saturday, January 9 (kick-off 2pm unless stated)

PREMIER DIVISION: Marlow United v Hurst DIVISION 1: Frilsham and Yattendon v Winnersh Rangers DIVISION 2: Ashridge Park v Wargrave; Woodcote Stoke Row Reserves v Sonning DIVISION 3: Finchampstead Reserves v Baughurst AFC; Twyford and Ruscombe v White Eagles; Wargrave Reserves v AFC Aldermaston Reserves DIVISION 4: Theale v Harchester Hawks DIVISION 5: Baughurst AFC Reserves v Berks County FC Rovers; Hurst A v Woodley United B; Sonning Sports v Shinfield Rangers Men BERKS AND BUCKS JUNIOR CUP – ROUND FOUR: Compton v Woodley United Reserves (1.30pm) MAIDENHEAD NORFOLKIANS CUP: Woodley United A v Hurley

n D.C STEAMERS were awarded a home walkover victory in the Reading and District Sunday League. The Finchampstead side were due to face Roebuck at Waverley Way in Division 2, but the visitors scratched the fixture. All other fixtures involving local sides were postponed due to waterlogged pitches.

County’s Mark Duffett looks to lead the hosts on the attack Pictures: Andrew Merritt

Sean Graham closes down an opponent

Connor Banks works his way into space

TABLES Hellenic Premier Division P W D L Thatcham Town 22 17 3 2 Flackwell Heath 23 17 2 4 Kidlington 21 16 3 2 Ascot United 25 15 5 5 Highworth Town 21 15 1 5 Longlevens AFC 22 12 2 8 Binfield 23 11 4 8 Highmoor-Ibis 25 11 3 11 Thame United 22 11 3 8 Brimscombe & Thrupp 19 10 3 6 Royal Wootton Bassett 23 10 2 11 Oxford City Nomads 23 9 3 11 Ardley United 24 8 2 14 Brackley Town Saints 26 8 2 16 Lydney Town 21 6 6 9 Milton United 27 6 6 15 Abingdon United 29 6 3 20 Tuffley Rovers 20 5 5 10 Bracknell Town 21 4 5 12 Wokingham 27 2 3 22

F 63 68 63 45 62 38 42 41 28 34 34 38 34 50 33 34 37 31 30 27

A 25 32 19 23 18 33 35 39 26 27 50 44 52 69 40 54 82 38 45 81

Pts 54 53 51 50 46 38 37 36 36 33 32 30 26 26 24 24 21 20 17 9

Hellenic Division 1 East P W D L Bicester Town 16 11 3 2 Penn & Tylers Green 14 10 3 1 Henley Town 15 9 3 3 Finchampstead 16 8 4 4 Headington Amateur’s 16 8 3 5 Chinnor 13 7 1 5 Holyport 14 6 4 4 Rayners Lane 14 5 4 5 Didcot Town Res’ 15 5 2 8 Chalfont Wasps 9 4 2 3 Wantage Town Res’ 15 3 2 10 Woodley United 14 2 2 10 Reading Town 15 2 1 12 Old Woodstock Town 12 2 0 10

F 46 54 42 34 36 31 26 29 36 16 21 13 17 7

A 23 9 23 17 19 21 27 22 36 21 40 39 71 40

Pts 36 33 30 28 27 22 22 19 17 14 11 8 7 6

Combined Counties League Division 1 P W D L F A CB Hounslow United19 15 3 1 45 14 Worcester Park 18 13 2 3 48 18 Bedfont & Feltham 16 12 1 3 46 21 Eversley & Calif 18 12 1 5 49 30 Abbey Rangers 19 11 2 6 33 24 Cobham 20 9 3 8 42 43 Staines Lammas 19 8 1 10 36 35 Frimley Green 15 7 2 6 22 19 Dorking 17 7 1 9 28 26 Ash United 18 6 4 8 36 38 Sandhurst Town 17 6 2 9 34 48 Banstead Athletic 13 5 3 5 29 27 Epsom Athletic 15 4 2 9 25 43 Sheerwater 15 4 1 10 26 36 Dorking Wand Res 16 3 4 9 17 29 South Park Reserves15 2 1 12 16 41 Farleigh Rovers 16 2 1 13 14 54

Pts 48 41 37 37 35 30 25 23 22 22 20 18 14 13 13 7 7

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Contact the sports desk: sport@wokinghampaper.co.uk | Log on the for latest sports news www.wokinghampaper.co.uk READING FC

McDermott ‘knew’ Blackman could leave the Royals HOW IT ALL STARTED

Nick Blackman has signed for Derby County Picture: Vivienne Johnson

boss didsteak. go on to say he will be of where thoseI who follow club, BRIAN was Nick My firstMcDERMOTT job was helping out in a aware local steak restaurant learned how tothe select and but cook what I thinkthe is the perfect I moved to Reading 30 years agoclub and tobefore my disappointment was notreappointed able to find a restaurant that served the food I loved most. potential options looking to discuss McDermott, to the role Blackman could leave the dream was open a steakhouse in Reading that serve just the quality of steak Ihas had experienced all thosethe years back. with board. ofwould manager last month, now he My returned as to manager. 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 McDermott added: admitted he knew of the player’s The 26-year-old, who is Royals’ top Victorian building that I had always admired. I knew I had the chance to achieve my dream. I opened Barts in Feb 2011 and with the help of my“It is always disappointing lose someone who before returning to the scorer term goals, steaks quit in situation fantastic team this we have beenwith serving13 exceptional a great environment ever since. The décor and atmosphere is continuallyto evolving thanks to our loyal patrons. Theon menuWednesday has grown since we first opened and I am proud to say that the quality ofscores food has only got better. goals. Reading hot-seat. Madejski Stadium “When I lost Shane (Long) and Gylfi, “I did know about it,” he said. andHere joined Championship rivals at Barts, we bring together dishes inspired by cuisines from all over the world but centered around our renowned steaks I thought, how am I going to replace “I knew had six months left by local butchers, Derby County, where We he specialise has signed a you the and seafood. in offering steaks he of the highest quality, provided for a minimum of 28 days, for superior taste and these players, but you have got to work andflame thatgrilled the club was trying to succulence. do a three-and-a-half yearaged contract. with the players you have got. The fee for Blackman is undisclosed, deal but couldn’t get a deal done with Jamshed Miah welcomes you to Barts Grill & Restaurant “The group has got to be stronger the player, so I knew and I had the but it is believed he could have left for than the individual, and that is what I conversation with him.” as much as £3million. believe. McDermott, however, is no stranger The attacker only had six months “We will try to do something. I will to losing key players, having seen left to run on his contract, so officials see what is available and will speak names such as Gylfi Sigurdsson and have opted to cash in rather than run to the shareholders and try do to Shane Long move on in the past. the risk of losing him in the summer something about bringing somebody Although revealing he is not keen to for nothing. in.” replace Blackman with a loan signing, His departure has shocked many

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Despite a 15th straight loss, Bracknell Bees coach Smital remains upbeat...

‘There is still plenty to play for’ By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk LUKAS SMITAL has praised the indomitable spirit his Bracknell Bees are showing during what is a difficult time for the club. Not only are officials trying to navigate their way through a cash-flow problem off the ice, but on it, the player-coach has seen his charges lose 15 games on the bounce and now prop up the rest in the Premier League. Smital could easily be forgiven for wishing to declare the season a write-off, given the situation and the fact they now sit eight points off a play-off spot, but the forward insists that is not going to be the case. “It is not ideal but we are a team and we have to play like that,” said the coach, who has also lost a number of key players due to the financial challenges beleaguering the club. “We need to keep at it, because quitting it not an option. “The players who are still here want to be here and there are still plenty of points to play for this season. “Okay, this team is totally different and a lot of things have changed and a lot of people have left, but we are still positive. “We still have to go out there and try and pick up some wins. “There are still plenty of games I believe we can win. We need to jump on the ice, continue playing the way we are and play with the same commitment and desire – that is all I can ask from them.” It was a gruelling festive period for the Bees, who had to contest six fixtures in just nine days, but failed to pick up any points over the holidays. Bracknell were also beaten 6-3 in a basement battle away at Hull Pirates on January 2, a result which saw the two sides swap places in the standings. The busy schedule also took its toll on the roster, too, with Smital suffering

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