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T H E M I L L AT S O N N I N G | 0 1 1 8 9 6 9 8 0 0 0 | W W W. M I L L AT S O N N I N G . CO M WE WISH ALL READERS AND ADVERTISERS A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR
THE W KINGH MPAPER
www.wokingham.today S P E C I A L T WO -W E E K F E S T I V E I S S U E
Your giving makes it a Happy Christmas!
Thursday, December 22/29, 2016 No. 88
Santa Claus is running to town!
Next issue on sale Thursday, January 5
50p
THE PRIME P12 MINISTER’S FESTIVE MESSAGE TO YOU
SCHOOL NATIVITY PICTURE SPECIAL
3,000 presents under The Giving Tree By SALLY BRYANT sbryant@wokinghampaper.co.uk LET those Christmas bells ring out loud, you have done it – the most successful Giving Tree appeal ever! Thanks to the generosity of local people, more than 3,000 gifts are on their way to children who need extra sparkle on the big day. A host of local charities, such as Berkshire Women’s Aid and the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service, have received mountains of presents left under Giving Trees across the borough by big-hearted folk. The charities are now ankledeep in paper and tape, making sure every toy is wrapped to be given with love. And it is guaranteed they will be opened with smiles, because every child who will receive one is struggling in some way and needs this help from a stranger – it is
the true spirit of Christmas. This year’s appeal was launched at Tesco Wokingham and yesterday Sue Lovell, Farm to Fork trial guide, said: “We are always very pleased to support our community and we are delighted our community has been so generous.” And the final and biggest thank you for this year’s effort comes from appeal organiser Gill McKernan. She told The Wokingham Paper: “The great news is that all the toys are now in and have been collected by the charities, wrapped and ready to be distributed this week ready for Christmas Day. “This year has officially been the most successful ever, with 2,500 tags put on the host trees and at least 3,000 presents being bought. “The response to the appeal has been just staggering.” Continued on page 10
PART TWO of our great festive photo special inside! In association with
Passionate about Christmas H
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School nativity special inside • in association with David Cliff Estate Agents • order your copy now
The first ever Santa Run took place at Dinton Pastures on Saturday and hundreds of Santas (of all ages) took part. Join our Christmas picture special inside
SOPHIE’S SPORTING SPOTLIGHT P40