The Wokingham Paper April 1

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THE WOKINGHAM PAPER

COVERING WOKINGHAM, FINCHAMPSTEAD, WINNERSH, SHINFIELD, WOODLEY, TWYFORD & SURROUNDING AREAS

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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

Friday, April 1, 2016 No. 50

Storm Katie’s price Scaffold collapses, but no one injured • p5

50p

EASTER

MP: CHURCH PLAY CRITICAL OF COUNCIL P6 EXCLUSIVE

HORSE LANE PLANNED FOR A329M P4 REUNITED

Nightmare on Elms Field?

Green light given to plans

By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk EMOTIONS ran high as Wokingham Borough Council’s (WBC) planning committee approved plans for a controversial development at Elms Field on Wednesday night.

Dozens of residents who had campaigned for the council to reconsider the plans gathered outside the civic offices in Shute End to hand over a petition, signed by 1,800 people, to Chief Executive Andy Couldrick.

But their efforts were to be in

vain as the committee voted 7-2 in favour of the plans, which have 60 conditions attached to them.

Only Cllr Rachelle Shepherd-DuBey and Cllr Bob Pitts objected to the application.

Cllr Shepherd-DuBey raised concerns over the lack of affordable housing - there is none scheduled to be included in the plans - and how key workers and employees of the new shops would be able to afford to live there.

Cllr Pitts agreed, saying: “I know that one of the council’s companies is struggling to recruit social

workers at the moment. Where are they supposed to live if there is no affordable housing in the town centre?

“If the scheme is unviable with affordable housing included, then why build it?”

But planning officer Emy Circuit rejected the concerns, insisting that other developments in the town do meet the quota for affordable housing, and the council’s policy on affordable housing is clear that the requirement is subject to viability, and is independently assessed. n Continued on page 3

Emilia Belshaw, 10, and Kat Davey, 11, lend their support to the Save Elms Field campaign

WAR MEDALS FOUND IN RIVER RETURNED TO FAMILY P6 CUT OFF

PHONE WOES AS NUMBERS SWITCHED P14 SPORT

FOR CLUB AND COUNTRY SAYS ROYALS STAR P40

HOTEL MURDER: Two arrested after ‘targeted attack’ • p3

2 | NEWS

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, April 1, 2016

FAMILY NOTICES v Deaths Frank John GUPPY 23.09.1924 – 24.03.2016 In loving memory of Frank who will be sadly missed by family, friends and all that knew him.

The funeral will take place on Friday 8th April 2016 at 4.30pm at Easthampstead Park Crematorium.

Donations to: Prostrate Cancer UK Charity.

All enquiries c/o the Co-operative Funeralcare, 572 Wokingham Road, Earley, Berkshire RG6 7JD. Tel: 0118 966 7922

CHARITY

Share your family news in The Wokingham Paper Is there a new addition in your family?

Is your son or daughter getting married this summer?

Has someone you know recently passed their exams?

Maybe a work colleague is retiring and you would like to wish them well in the future.

Contact The Wokingham Paper to post your announcements today.

We offer a range of packages designed at helping you share your news without breaking the bank.

Send us your wedding pictures

If you’re getting married over the next few weeks, make sure you include us in your plans.

Simply send us a picture of the happy couple and tell us a little about the day and we’ll print it free of charge, when space permits.

Share your bundle of joy!

Have you heard the pitter patter of tiny feet? Has the stork brought you a special delivery? We’d love to share your good news with our readers.

Simply send us a photo of the new arrival and tell us a little about them and we’ll print it free of charge, when space permits.

For more details...

Email announcements@wokinghampaper.co.uk or, to place a paid notice, call 0118 960 6060.

THE WOKINGHAM PAPER

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GET IN TOUCH Newsroom: 0118 327 2662 Advertising: 0118 328 2959 Write to: The Wokingham Paper, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS

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Publisher PHIL CREIGHTON Reporter GEMMA DAVIDSON Reporter VIVIENNE JOHNSON Features SALLY BRYANT Sports editor LEWIS RUDD Sports reporter TOM CROCKER Advertising MARK MARTIN

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Help needed for Winter Carnival ORGANISERS of the Wokingham Winter Carnival are looking for a new volunteer to help with a vital role.

The event, which takes place on the last Sunday in November, sees the whole of Wokingham town centre turned into a giant street fair, complete with carnival procession at dusk.

The Committee is seeking someone to help become Pitch Organiser for the event.

The volunteer will take on the role of selling charity, trade and other nonfunfair pitches across the site.

The current volunteer, who is to become treasurer, will help during the first year to ensure a smooth and easy transition.

To offer to help or for more details, call carnival chairman Dave Donaldson on 0118 978 6020 or 07778 557924, alternatively call Richard Norton on 07785 57924.

The event raises thousands for local charities and good causes every year.

CRIME

Motorhome stolen from boatyard A MOTORHOME has been stolen from a boatyard near Wargrave.

Between 5pm on Sunday and 8am on Saturday the boatyard in Wargrave Road was broken into and a motorhome which was being stored there was stolen.

The thieves had cut the padlock on a gate to gain access to the yard.

Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious during this time is

Members of Wokingham Evening Townswomen’s Guild present a cheque to Brian Morris, representing the Thames Valley Air Ambulance at their AGM. From left: Brian Morris, secretary Jill Gillott, retiring chairman Pat Davies , incoming chairman Julia Tredwell and treasurer Christina Platten

FUNDRAISING

A Berry good way to help the Air Ambulance STRAWBERRIES proved to be a sweet treat for the region’s Air Ambulance – a special evening devoted to the fruit helped the Wokingham Evening Townswomen’s Guild raise a tasty sum for the emergency service.

The group, which meets on a monthly basis at St Paul’s Parish Rooms in Reading Road, Wokingham, presented the Thames Valley Air Ambilance with a cheque at its March AGM. The money was raised through a series of fundraising events including the strawberry evening, coffee mornings, raffles and a Ploughman’s supper.

The Guild gave the cheque to the Air Ambulance’s representative Brian Morris at the start of its AGM, which also

urged to call the police on 101.

If you ever suspect a crime is in progress, always call 999.

BURGLARIES

Thieves target front doors PROPERTIES in Woodley have been targeted by thieves opening front doors that weren’t double locked.

Between March 23 and 26, homes in Seaford Gardens and Fairwater Drive were broken into by burglars putting something through the letterbox to open the door handle from the inside before stealing handbags and small electrical items.

Also in Fairwater Drive, overnight Wednesday last week into Thursday, someone climbed over trellis to get into a garden. A shed was broken into and searched, but nothing was stolen.

Police are reminding residents to always double lock their front doors,

and to not leave valuable items such as car keys close to doors and windows.

Anyone with any information should call 101.

THEFT

Caravan stolen A CARAVAN has been stolen from a stable yard in Arborfield.

Between 1.30am and 2.20am on Saturday someone forced two gates at a stable yard in Greensward Lane before stealing a white Lunar Lexon caravan.

If you have any information relating to this incident which may be of help to the police, call 101.

MUSIC

Magic night of music will help orphans A MAGIC night out is promised later

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

included the appointment of a new committee – Julia Tredwell is the Guild’s new chairman.

People who wish to find out more about the Guild are invited to a special roadshow that the Berkshire Federation of Townswomen’s Guilds is planning.

It will take place on Saturday, April 9 at the Novotel in Friar Street, Reading.

Women will give demonstrations of their work and there will also be a fashion show.

Ms Tredwell said: “We would love to welcome new members to our organisation.”

For more details, call Ms Tredwell on 0118 978 6540.

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.

this month – and all for a good cause.

The Mojo’s bar at the University of Reading will be hosting The Magic Band for an evening of music and dancing on Saturday, April 16.

Tickets cost £25 or £15 for students and include live music and dancing.

The event starts at 7pm and all money raised will go towards the Console Orphanage in Tanzania. n Details: www.tinyurl.com/mbmojos

CRIME

Twyford tools taken POWER tools have been stolen from a garage in Twyford.

At some time between March 15 and 25 a garage in a block in Waltham Road was broken into. The locks had been jemmied off and items including garden tools and commercial power tools were stolen from inside.

Anyone with any information should call 101.

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THE

WOKINGHAM PAPER

Elms Field plans given green light by planners n From front page Campaigners on both sides gave impassioned speeches to the committee, including Peter Humphreys who spoke on behalf of the Keep Elms Field Green campaign. He said: “The development is without character, more akin to an urban park in a big city rather than a market town.

“We are thinking of the future generations, let’s give them a Wokingham they will want to live in.”

Stan Hetherington, who organises the Wokingham Festival and the Open Air Cinema, which are held on Elms Field, said he had spoken to ‘thousands’ of people who all agreed the plans should go ahead.

He said: “I admit I am not 100% in favour of all of the plans, but Wokingham needs to be regenerated, and I am 100% behind that.”

The plans also include better facilities for events on the site such as electricity and running water.

Cllr Mark Ashwell said: “The choice is ours. We either go for regeneration or degeneration, and our procrastination will only lead to degeneration.

“People are calling for us to ‘Save Elms Field’, but this is the only way we can save it. If we do not act now, in years to come Wokingham will be sending out an S.O.S.” Other concerns raised during the two-and-a-half hour meeting included the removal of so many trees from the area, issues surrounding parking, and the possibility of creating a ‘rat-run’ in the new link road.

Chair of the committee Simon Weeks re-assured councillors that his officers would do everything they could to ensure as many trees were retained as possible, and that enough parking spaces would be provided through the new Carnival Pool development and Network Rail’s redevelopment of the train station car park.

Pleased

Speaking after the meeting, the head of town centre regeneration at WBC Bernie Pich said: “We are pleased with the committee’s decision which recognises the huge amount of work the council has carried out to make sure these plans are right for the town.

“These plans are the culmination of many years of consultation, with local residents and businesses, with leading commercial and residential advisors, discussions with the local planning authority and market testing with businesses to make sure we can attract the right quality and types of new businesses to the town centre.

“While we remain aware of the concerns around developing part of this site, the council has had to balance this against the benefits regeneration brings all residents, visitors and businesses in the town centre.

“These include a better mix and variety of shops and businesses, entertainment facilities such as the cinema, new public spaces and pedestrianised areas, all surrounding a large town park with a bigger and better play area.

“Proposals like these will help create the town centre our existing and future residents deserve with better quality facilities and services on their doorstep.”

Campaigner Mel Horton, clearly upset by the decision to approve the plans, said she was ‘disgusted’ by the outcome.

She said: “We have made our feelings on this matter plainly clear and the council has not listened to us. They will destroy the heart of Wokingham, I don’t want to sit in a cold, dark cafe overlooking a dark park in the summer, who does?

“Wokingham has lost its specialness, it will become another identikit town just like Aldershot or Farnborough, which is such a shame.

“We will lose a beautiful part of our town and what will we get in return? A budget supermarket. It’s disgusting.”

Phased delivery of the plans will commence in spring 2017, with completion expected by 2020.

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Friday, April 1, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Violent hotel murder: two men arrested after ‘targeted attack’

By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk A MURDER investigation has been launched following the death of a man at a hotel in Earley.

Officers were called to the Elmhurst Hotel, in Church Road, shortly before 10am on Wednesday following reports that a man had been assaulted.

Paramedics were also called but the victim, a man in his forties, died at the scene.

At the time of going to press, the man had not been formally identified, and a post-mortem was scheduled to take place on Thursday afternoon.

Roads around the hotel were closed while officers carried out investigations and a scenewatch was put in place.

Two men from Reading, aged 28 and 38, were arrested in the centre of Reading at around 11am on Wednesday and remain in police custody.

Senior investigating officer, Det Ch Insp Kevin Brown, of TVP’s Major

Crime Unit, said: “I would appeal to anyone who has any information relating to this murder investigation to contact police immediately.

“I would specifically appeal to anyone who saw or heard anything unusual in St Peter’s Road or in the vicinity of the Elmhurst Hotel between about 9.30am and 10.30am on Wedneday.

“If you have any information, no matter how insignificant you think it might be, please contact your nearest police station or call us on 101.

“If you do not want to speak directly to the police you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

“We are conducting a thorough investigation into this incident and we arrested two men on suspicion of murder within about an hour of the incident being reported to us. I would like to reiterate that we believe this was a targeted attack.”

Forensic police were called to the Elmhurst Hotel in Earley after a man died there on Wednesday Picture: Gemma Davidson

Pavement works cause chaos

Temporary traffic lights installed on Shute End during works to replace the town centre’s pavements have caused traffic misery for motorists. The four-week project started last week and will ultimately see the slippery brick pavements replaced with paving slabs. But the cost of the work has left motorists fuming. Some have reported on our Facebook page that it has taken 40 minutes to get from St Paul’s Church in Reading Road to Broad Street. The council acknowledges the delays are a problem, but they also have to replace the paving slabs for health and safety reasons.

Appeal for witnesses after dog dies in attack A PET dog has died after being attacked by another dog while out on a walk in Crowthorne.

Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses who may have seen the attack in Bramshill Forest on Monday, March 14.

Between 4.30pm and 5pm a 56-year-old woman was walking her dog when a large dog, believed to be

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a Japanese Akita, attacked her pet, killing it as a result.

The dog was described as brown in colour with a cream underside and legs.

The dog’s owner was not present.

PC Joy Westlake based at Loddon Valley Police Station said; “This is a local dog walking area so I would ask

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if you have any information at all to contact me via the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101.

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No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.”

Search on for jewellery JEWELLERY stolen during a burglary in Charvil is being traced by police who believe it may have been sold on.

Pieces including an Omega Seamaster Watch ref. no 85925, three gold chains, a gold heart pendant padlock bracelet, gold dangling earrings, a gold rope bracelet and other rings and bracelets were stolen from Ace Limited, in Newlands Farm, on Thursday, March 3.

A 32-year-old man from Maidenhead has been arrested on suspicion of theft and has been bailed until April 9.

If you have any information about these items, if you have been offered any items matching this description for sale or have seen them anywhere, please contact Thames Valley Police on 101.

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4 | NEWS

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, April 1, 2016

Horse power aims to solve commuter woes on slow-go A329M EXCLUSIVE

By JOHN WAKEFIELD news@wokinghampaper.co.uk RUSH hour will soon be neigh bother when a new way to travel the A329M is launched.

The Wokingham Paper can exclusively reveal that secret trials have been taking place to adapt the infamous ‘danger’ road to take horse and trap vehicles.

Last week, some readers reported that they saw the old-fashioned transport being used around the Coppid Beech roundabout area. It turns out that this was a test to make it easier for commuters to get to work in the mornings.

Since last October, part of the A329M has been converted into two single lane carriages – one for traffic for the M4 turn-off, the other for traffic heading between Bracknell and Reading. We have consistently reported on delays, jams and near misses on the road ever since.

Highways and Bridleways England have listened to the concerns and trotted into action.

Under the top secret plan, which we are revealing today, the

grass on the central reservation will be cut to make it suitable for horses to camber along.

Special horse stations, complete with hay and nosebags, will be built at Suttons Seeds roundabout and Jennets’ park, with a taxi rank added nearby so commuters can then carry on their journey.

The service will operate before noon and fares will include a sugar lump tax so that the horses get an energy boost between canters.

The horse and trap service will be operated by a new company, which will be wholly owned by Wokingham and Bracknell Regional Council Corporation.

Each trap will be ridden by experienced jockeys and it is hoped that some big names could be signed up to the service including Frankie Dettori and Victoria Pembleton.

Speaking to The Wokingham Paper, Luda Travnja expressed her delight at the proposals.

She said: “Everyone knows

that the A329M has become one of the slowest roads in Britain since the changes. It’s now ideal for the horses – no drivers will go too fast to startle the horses and, on a good day, our riders will get from Wokingham to Reading in a faster time.

Highways and Bridleways England will soon be installing special speed cameras to ensure the horses don’t exceed the speed limit.

They use the same technology used at racecourses to determine who has won in a photo finish.

We understand that they have to be loaded carefully and only work before midday.

James Stoker said: “Installing the cameras has been a total mare.

“We need them to ensure stationary drivers aren’t going faster than a snail and the horses aren’t galloping faster than we can film them.” n Another secret trial will take place on the A329M this morning (April 1). If you see it, let us know.

The Earl of Wessex with members of Wokingham Youth Centre. Pictures: Stewart Turkington

Royal visitor for award scheme youngsters YOUNGSTERS taking part in one of the toughest challenges they can face were spurred on by a member of the Royal Family.

The Earl of Wessex – Prince Edward – visited Wokingham Youth Centre to find out more about its approach to the Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) award. It is part of a UK tour the prince is undertaking to celebrate the award scheme’s diamond anniversary.

Wokingham Borough Council said that its approach means that the scheme has been offered to young people in care, care leavers and young people where the academic route isn’t always necessarily for them.

You can make a difference

share his many enriching experiences, and get very close to his carer.

Home carers are ordinary people who have a extraordinary attitudes. An understanding that practical support and care for others brings them independence. It can ‘bridge the gap’ for those who want to continue to live independently in their own homes.

A wheelchair can mean a new lease of life for a lonely person, previously house bound or bedridden. What a difference such a piece of equipment can make for a trip on the bus, a visit to family or even just a breath of fresh air?

Those who give the chair a push are often the ones who have made a change in their life as well. They have made time for others, made time to

Parry Batth, who accompanied The Earl, said: “This was a momentous occasion for all young people currently participating in the DofE and will act as a showcase for those young people potentially wanting to join something so rewarding.

“This was a day the young people could be proud of and celebrate their successes, it is such an honour and a privilege to have His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex visit Wokingham Youth Centre.

Give yourself a push?

‘T

he world hates change but it is the only thing that has brought progress,” said Charles Franklin Kettering, an early 20th Century American engineer and inventor.

He held 186 patents and, as head of research at General Motors, introduced a new electric starting motor, mass produced colour paints as well as refrigeration and air conditioning systems.

The changes we can make may not be quite so wide ranging and influential, but none the less can make a difference.

In the the 21st Century the speed of change seems to increase almost daily.

And yet many of us are reluctant to accept any form of change. But if illness, surgery or the natural debilitation of ageing affect us, we actually have no choice.

The challenge of immobility, incontinence or other disability are life style changes that affect around 20% of the population of the UK. When we need assistance to walk, to get out of bed or to eat, it is often caused by a lifestyle change over which we have no control. Those who need care often have huge adjustments to make from previously active occupations, high flying careers and busy lives.

A Bridges care worker cites the example of an aircraft pilot who, literally a high flier, found himself grounded with a serious disability, which made him dependent on the support of others.

A humbling change for him, but it was taken in good grace and enabled him to

The Earl was received by the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, James Puxley, was introduced to local dignitaries and received a tour of the youth centre. He met with a number of young people from the borough who explained their individual journeys and how participating in the DofE has helped them develop and thrive.

During his visit, The Earl was introduced to Peter (16) who has autism and attends a special educational needs school.

Peter said: “I initially found the DofE quite hard work, but working alongside other young people, and being mentored by the centre staff, I have managed to achieve my Bronze and Silver DofE Award.”

Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr

learn a new skill, made time to meet new people and made time to build new relationships. In this way they have not only made a difference to the lives of others but also have also enriched their own.

Paul Ray, now head of the Care Team at Bridges, says “I have done many interesting things in my life, but nothing as fulfilling as being a care worker. It is a real privilege to hear their stories, get alongside folk in their daily lives and contribute something so rewarding.”

Bridges are looking for more men or women to help others face life’s changes. Could you help make a difference to someone’s life and well being? Please call Bonny at Bridges today.

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Friday, April 1, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

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High winds sees scaffold collapse, closing Woodley town centre

NEWS | 5 Man arrested for GBH A MAN from Winnersh has been arrested in connection with an assault in Reading in December.

The 43-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm on Friday, March 22 and released on police bail until tomorrow (Saturday).

The charge relates to an incident on December 19 last year when a 33-year-old man was assaulted by a group of men.

The victim was with two friends at Grosvenor Casino, in Basingstoke Road, between 1.30am and 3.30am. During their time at the casino they spoke to a group of men in the smoking terrace.

When the victim and his friends left the casino they walked through the car park where they were assaulted by the group then had been speaking to earlier.

The victim was knocked to the floor and kicked in the head. He suffered a serious injury to his eye and has subsequently lost vision in one of them.

He was treated at the Royal Berkshire Hospital but has since been discharged.

On December 22, a 41-year-old man from Earley and a 28-year-old man from Shinfield, along with a 26-year-old man and a 25-year-old man, both from Caversham, were all arrested on suspicion of GBH. They have also been released on police bail until Saturday, April 2.

Jewellery stolen during daytime raids

Firecrews assess the scene in Woodley shopping precinct on Monday morning. Storm Katie brought down scaffolding, damaging shops and a tree. Pictures: Phil Creighton

By PHIL CREIGHTON and GEMMA DAVIDSON news@wokinghampaper.co.uk A MAN had a lucky escape on Easter Monday after Storm Katie made scaffolding in a shopping precinct collapse around him.

Thought to be in his early 20s, the man was walking past a coffee shop in Woodley when the incident happened between 7.10am and 7.20am.

The scaffolding was torn apart and fell into the Crockhamwell Road precinct, destroying a tree, damaging shop fronts and buckling supports in the process.

Had the incident occurred on a normal Monday the precinct would have already been bustling and there could have been fatalities.

Police and fire crews cordoned off the area as they assessed how to make the area safe.

On Monday afternoon, work

started to dismantle the scaffolding, continuing throughout the week.

The final bits of scaffolding were due to be removed on Thursday, after we had gone to press, and all shops due to reopen today (Friday).

The scaffolding had been in place while work on flats above the shops took place.

In a statement on its website, Woodley Town Centre Initiative said that the Saturday market and car boot sale will trade again as normal.

One of the first to hear the scaffolding collapse was Sharon Wright who works in Brighton’s Newsagent, just next to the area that had been cordoned off.

She was in the store when the scaffolding collapsed and heard the noise caused when it fell down. Ms Wright tended to the shocked man afterwards.

She told The Wokingham Paper: “The young lad came in shaken up just after it happened. He had a lucky escape – he was walking right under it.”

But with Katie’s storm force winds, the scaffolding was a ticking time bomb and could have come down earlier. A fellow staff member delivered papers to Bosco Lounge at 7am and noticed that debris had already fallen.

“Our gentleman saw tiles on the floor then,” she said, adding that it could also have collapsed on her.

“I walked under it an hour earlier, we opened at 7am,” she said, relieved at her own narrow escape.

The collapsed scaffolding drew large crowds watching the emergency services at work and police erected a cordon to ensure the area was safe before the area was fenced off late on Monday afternoon.

A spokesperson for Costa Coffee said: “Our Costa store in Woodley

was affected by Storm Katie when scaffolding from a surrounding building collapsed across the High Street.

“Fortunately no one was hurt in the incident and no customers were present. The store will remain closed until Friday, April 1, while the area is cleared and made safe.”

Waitrose re-opened on Tuesday after scaffolding was moved to enable access to the shop entrance.

The roof of the store was damaged by the metal poles and some slates fell off.

Steven Hardy, Department Manager at Waitrose Woodley, said: “Our shop re-opened on Tuesday at 1pm and is now open normal opening hours.

“Thankfully no-one was injured and the scaffolding caused no structural damage to our building.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has helped support the precinct’s shops and the significant clear-up effort.”

Animal shelter cut off ANIMAL shelter Diana Brimblecombe Animal Rescue Centre in Nelson’s Lane, Hurst, was left without power for several hours thanks to Storm Katie.

Spokesperson Julie Scott said: “We lost power at 5am which is always a worry. Our prime concern is always keeping the animals warm.

“We provided hot water bottles and extra blankets with our power coming back on mid-morning. Obviously this was all very worrying for us with no power phone lines or computers.

“We were lucky though compared to our friends The Border Collie Spot Rescue in Binfield, whose trees fell down smashing three kennels with dogs inside. Luckily no dogs were hurt but now they are going to have the big expense of replacing the kennels.”

JEWELLERY was stolen during three daytime burglaries at properties in Earley and Woodley last week.

Between 9.45am and 6pm on Wednesday, March 23, the conservatory door of a property in Shepherds Avenue was smashed with a brick. The offenders searched the main bedroom of the house before making off with items of jewellery.

Between 10.30am and 12.30pm, another conservatory door was smashed with a brick in Hilltop Road. Again, the offenders searched the property and stole jewellery.

In Woodley, between 10am and 11.30am someone attempted to break into a property in Reading Road by smashing a patio door. Once inside, the offenders found that all the internal doors were locked and they couldn’t move anywhere other than the living room. It is not known if anything was stolen.

Anyone with any information relating to these incidents, or who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area during these times, is urged to contact Thames Valley Police via 101.

The police are also keen to speak to anyone who may have CCTV images of anyone acting suspiciously in the area at the time. Any images can be emailed to christine.seal@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk.

If you hear the sound of glass smashing or see anyone acting suspiciously call the police on 999.

Caravan pushed away A CARAVAN has been stolen from the back garden of a house in Barkham.

Between 1am and 1.30am on Wednesday, March 23 someone went into the back garden of the property in School Road, pushed the caravan away from the house, hooked it up to a vehicle and made off with it.

Anyone with any information or CCTV images which may be helpful to police are urged to contact 101.

Vans targeted by crooks TWO vans have been targeted by thieves in Wokingham last week.

Between 9.30pm on Tuesday, March 22 and 7am on Wednesday, someone broke into a van parked in a driveway in Norreys Avenue and stole tools that had been left inside.

On the same night another van parked in Barrett Crescent was also targeted. The offenders broke the lock but nothing was stolen.

Police are reminding motorists never to leave valuables inside vehicles, either on display or in the glove box.

Anyone with information relating these two incidents is encouraged to contact 101. If you ever suspect a crime is in progress, always call 999.

6 | EASTER NEWS

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, April 1, 2016

GOOD FRIDAY

Just rolling along…

Champion egg roller Clara Steuart with the Revd Simon Howard from St Mary’s Church in Twyford.

Picture: Brian Roach

GOOD Friday turned out to be an “eggstremely” fun-filled day for 50 youngsters who took part in the annual egg rolling competition at St Mary’s Church in Twyford.

Using eggs donated by Andrew Cardy of Riverways Farm the children, mostly under the age of 11, decorated them after they had been hard-boiled by Bridget Howard, the vicar’s wife.

They were then invited to place their egg in the ‘launch tube’ and see how far down the church aisle it would roll.

A number of different techniques were adopted. The least successful was Connor Heath, the church’s youth worker, who attempted to throw his egg into the tube. It landed at his feet.

The most successful was seven-year-old Clara Steuart who achieved a distance of 8.5 metres and was rewarded with a chocolate egg made by The Real Easter Egg company.

The Revd Simon Howard, who also conducted a Good Friday service at the event, said: “It was a wonderful morning for all the children and adults involved.

“We went from the sombre retelling of the Good Friday story to the fun and laughter of the Easter crafts and the egg rolling competition.

“It was the Easter weekend in miniature.”

Clockwise from above: The “refugee” is crucified at the climax of the play; A wooden cross headed a procession from Corpus Christi Catholic Church to Market Place; the play gets underway; an MP in the play; crowds took part in singing and, right, John Redwood attended the play.

Pictures: Phil Creighton

Plight of refugees fused with Easter message for open-air theatre event

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokinghampaper.co.uk MARKET Place was packed for the town’s annual Good Friday passion play.

Hundreds of people poured into a performance space by the town hall for the open air reflection of the final hours of Jesus’ life, organised by Churches Together in Wokingham.

The event started with a procession of a large

wooden cross from Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Sturges Road through to Market Place. This was headed up by town mayor Councillor Philip Mirfin and his wife, local church leaders and Wokingham MP John Redwood.

The cross was then pulled up a large scaffold erected in Market Place ready for the play, which was called the Refugee and directed by local theatre company Stage-Fright.

A leaflet handed out to passers-by detailed the thinking behind the play, which revealed that it aimed to draw parallels between “the original story of Jesus’ life and death in relation to events happening in our world today”.

It added: “Many of the words spoken are actual words of refugees fleeing their homelands in 2015/16. Several of the words spoken are actual words of elected or appointed leaders of our society.”

These included the recent joke by David Cameron at Prime Minister’s Question Time, where he urged opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn to wear a smart suit and tie.

Two songs bookended the performance: Hallelujah, What a Saviour! and Life High The Cross.

Afterwards, the show’s director Michael Johnson said: “This year we’ve tried to weave the story of Jesus with things that are happening in our world because many of us are thinking about the refugee crisis that has gripped Europe.

“We were thinking about what Jesus would have to say about that and people in need who had nowhere to call their home – something Jesus experienced himself.”

With such a hard-hitting message, Mr Johnson seems to be pleased with the way in which people have initially responded to the play.

He said: “Already had comments that it was a different kind of atmosphere this year.

“Some said it was a brave version of the story and said some things that needed to be heard.

“The initial reaction seems to be positive but you never know when something has a bit of punch what they’ll make of it.”

Mr Redwood responded to the challenging message of the play by writing a blog post, which we reproduce in part below. n A similar event took place in Woodley’s main shopping precinct at 11.30am on Good Friday and organised by Churches Together in Woodley.

John Redwood’s Diary

‘The play implied criticism of the Council’

I

ATTENDED a service at the invitation of the various churches of the Wokingham Christian community, and joined them afterwards in the Market Place to see their Easter play. I am grateful to all who produced it and performed in it. It was thought-provoking and hard-hitting.

The play implied criticism of Wokingham Council for not accepting more refugees. It did not consider the pressures on Wokingham housing from people already here, and the obvious shortage of affordable housing. Nor did they consider whether perhaps it is better as well as quicker to accommodate more refugees in parts of the UK with lower house prices and a surplus of homes with empty properties available.

The play was effective at getting over the

shock and the scale of the dislocation of the current mass migrations, but was not able to consider the wide range of actions the UK is rightly taking to tackle the problem closer to its source. The best way of helping the migrants is to work for peace and economic reconstruction in their own countries. It is good news that there is a kind of truce in more parts of Syria, and peace talks have begun their slow and difficult way.

The play asked the question who is our neighbour? In a way I agree with their answer, that all mankind is our neighbour. They cannot all become our next door neighbour.

I also think we have stronger obligations to those who live with us and need our direct help, as we are bound by not just our common humanity but also by ties of fellow citizenship,

and mutual obligations over the years of living under a common rule of law.

Being part of the UK we all accept that the richer pay more tax and poorer receive more benefit wherever they live.

We are not able to extend that system of redistribution to all the rest of the world given the numbers involved and the very different average living standards in many countries.

The UK should play a leading part in the worldwide response to the Syrian, Libyan and wider Middle Eastern and African crisis, as we are doing. We need to be careful lest the answer to every trouble in a country is the exodus of that country’s brightest, most determined and best to live somewhere else. n For the full text of John Redwood’s response, visit www.johnredwoodsdiary.com

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8 | NEWS

Parish noticeboard Saturday, April 2 Crowthorne Parish Council monthly surgery. 11am.

Crowthorne Parish Hall, 48 Heath Hill Road South, Crowthorne RG45 7BW

Monday, April 4 Hurst Parish Council. 7.30pm. Hurst Village Hall, School Road, Hurst, RG10 0DR Wokingham Without Full Parish Council Meeting.

7.30pm. Howard Palmer Room, St Sebastian’s Hall, Nine Mile Ride RG40 3BA. Wargrave Parish Council Full Planning and Highways meeting. 7.45pm. Old Pavilion, Wargrave

Tuesday, April 5 Arborfield Parish Committee Meeting.

7.30pm. Pavilion, Arborfield Park, Swallowfield Road Crowthorne Parish Council meeting. 7.30pm.

Crowthorne Parish Hall, 48 Heath Hill Road South, Crowthorne RG45 7BW Woodley Town Council Leisure Services Meeting.

8pm. The Oakwood Centre, Headley Road, Headley Road, Woodley, RG5 4JZ

Wednesday, April 6 Finchampstead Finance Meeting. 7.30pm.

Parish Office, FBC Centre, Gorse Ride North, Finchampstead RG40 4ES Ruscombe Parish Council meeting. 7.30pm.

Loddon Hall Road, Twyford, Reading RG10 9JA

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To advertise email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk A MAN from Finchampstead has received a conditional discharge after pleading guilty to assault.

Justin Paul Hilsdon, 44, of Longwater Road, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on February 15 where he admitted assaulting another man on January 23 this year.

Mr Hilsdon was handed a conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay £100 compensation, a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £85.

A WOMAN from Wokingham has been banned from holding a licence for 17 months after pleading guilty to drink driving.

Kerry Ploughman, 38, of Oakey Drive, was caught driving while over the alcohol limit on January 24, and appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on February 15.

She was fined £125, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £85, and banned from holding a licence for 17 months.

A MAN from Woodley is due to appear in court charged with two counts of assault, causing criminal damage and using violence to secure entry to a premises.

Craig Kevin Emery, 35, of Vauxhall Drive, denies the charges which all occurred at an address in Winnersh on December 4 last year.

He appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on February 15 where he pleaded not guilty, and remanded on bail until April 15 when he will appear at the same court for trial.

A WOMAN from Finchampstead has been ordered to undergo rehabilitation

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, April 1, 2016

From the courts

duty of £131.25 and costs of £90.

Mr Medhurst was not present for the hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on February 19.

A MAN from Woodley has been fined £440 for keeping a vehicle on the road without tax.

Mark Adam Whitlock, 27, of Colemansmoor Road, was found using an unlicensed Ford Fiesta in Lower Earley Way on November 19, despite the tax having expired on July 30.

Mr Whitlock was fined £440, ordered to pay a vehicle excise back duty of £48.34 and costs of £90.

He was not present for the hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on February 19.

after stealing alcohol from shops on three separate occasions.

Theresa Doreen Potter, 45, of Nine Mile Ride, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on February 19 where she was ordered to comply with a community order after pleading guilty to the thefts.

The charges relate to incidents on December 9, when Miss Potter admits stealing two bottles of Grey Goose vodka to the value of £66 from Waitrose in Wokingham; an incident on January 1 when she admitted stealing two bottles of wine, to the value of £14, from Co-Op in Wokingham; and an incident on January 12 when she admitted stealing two bottles of wine, to the value of £3.30, from Sainsbury’s in Wokingham.

Miss Potter was ordered to pay a total of £83.30 compensation, and to undertake treatment for alcohol

dependency for six months.

A WOMAN from Winnersh has been fined £130 for keeping a car on the road without tax.

Tracey Lewis, 52, of Winnersh Grove, was fined and ordered to pay costs of £90 and a vehicle excise back duty of £217.50 for failing to tax the Honda CR-V. Mrs Lewis was not present for the hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on February 19.

A MAN from Woodley has been fined £660 for failing to tax his vehicle.

Matthew Christopher Medhurst, of Church Road, was found to have kept a Ford Transit van in Highgrove Street on December 23, despite the tax having expired on May 31.

Mr Medhurst was fined £660, ordered to pay a vehicle excise back

A WOMAN from Lower Earley has been fined for failing to tax her vehicle.

Melanie Cox, 33, of Soham Close, was fined £440 for keeping a Fiat Seicento in Dulverton Gardens on December 17, despite the tax expiring on August 31.

Miss Cox was also ordered to pay a vehicle excise back duty of £48.34 and costs of £90.

She was not present for the hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on February 19.

A MAN from Lower Earley has pleaded guilty to failing to licence his vehicle.

Krisztian Czap, 30, of Frieth Road, admitted keeping the Suzuki Swift on a public road on April 24 last year, despite the tax expiring on January 31.

Mr Czap was fined £134, ordered to pay a vehicle excise back duty of £18.34 and costs of £90 during the hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on February 19.

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Parking powers plan moves a step closer

By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk PLANS to allow Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) to take on civil parking enforcement across the area are a step closer to becoming reality.

An application to the Department for Transport (DfT) is currently being prepared by the council which, if granted, will allow WBC to take parking enforcement responsibility from Thames Valley Police (TVP).

The civil parking enforcement would mean the council could legally enforce parking breaches such as on double yellow lines, double parking and overstaying time-limited bays, while TVP will retain some parking enforcement powers, such as dealing with obstructions.

The new powers would also allow the council to manage parking schemes for residents and businesses better, and to tackle cars obstructing verges and pavements.

In addition, the project would involve refreshing, and in some cases correcting, parking restriction signs and lines, with work planned to start in Twyford this month.

The Council says that residents will be kept up-to-date via street

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Friday, April 1, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

information signs or through letter.

Car owners in some areas may have to move their vehicles while the markings are refreshed.

Leader of WBC, Cllr Keith Baker said priority would be given to roads near schools. He said: “Local people and businesses also want us to take this on, and many already think we do.

“Please be patient with us. There’ll be some parking regulations that are no longer relevant because traffic movements and geography around them have changed. We won’t know until CPE beds in. So we will review those then.

“Clearly with 1,700 roads in the borough we will prioritise certain areas such as outside schools.”

The DfT application process can take 18 months and involves an Act of Parliament. Emergency services, parish councils, neighbouring councils and other statutory bodies will need to be consulted before the plans go ahead, and the council will hear next March if its application has been successful.

Traffic Regulations Orders (TROs) for all parking regulations in the borough are being converted from a criminal to a civil offence, and for the first time these will all be available as easy to read maps on the council’s website.

A WOMAN had to be airlifted to hospital following a three-car collision in Warfield last week.

Crews from Bracknell and Ascot fire stations spent around two hours on Wednesday, March 23, delicately cutting the lady, who is believed to be in her 60s, out of the Honda she was driving along Maidenhead Road, which happened around 6.15pm.

The woman is said to have suffered serious leg injuries.

It is believed her vehicle clipped another car before crashing head on into a third, leaving the woman trapped among the wreckage as a result.

The collision was phoned in by an off-duty crew manager at one of the stations who came across the incident.

He provided first aid to those involved while his colleagues rushed to the scene.

They used hydraulic cutting equipment to free the trapped woman before she was flown to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford by the Air Ambulance.

Another two people involved in the collision were described as “walking wounded” and treated for minor injuries and shock by paramedics from South Central Ambulance Service.

The road was closed in both directions for several hours.

A minibus parked outside Woodley Age Concern, which has been taken over by Optalis after going into administration last week. Picture: Phil Creighton

A POPULAR day centre used by elderly people in Woodley went into administration.

The Woodley Age Concern centre in Southlake Crescent has been taken over by Wokingham Borough Council’s company Optalis.

Regular users of the centre should see no change to the service they provide.

Speaking at the council meeting last Thursday, Cllr Anthony Pollock, who is chair of Optalis, said that the council’s intervention meant that there is a “seamless continuation of the service to the residents”, while longer term plans are put in place.

He added: “The Council called upon Optalis to step in and take over the services provided by Woodley Age Concern who went into administration [last] week. Optalis have deployed senior managers to ensure that the

service to the vulnerable residents of Woodley was maintained.”

Speaking after the Council meeting, Conservative borough leader Cllr Keith Baker said that Optalis stepping in as the “provider of last resort” gives more time to plan the way forward.

He said: “We’ll look at the whole operating model, the financial model, to see if it’s sustainable. Clearly we need to keep those services going, that’s our primary concern.

“Our priority is the people who use it and making sure they have the minimum amount of disturbance.”

Woodley Age Concern provided a variety of services including day care, residential and respite care and dementia day care. It also organises social events such as a lunch cafe and music nights.

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10 | NEWS Theatre is new home for Wokingham Film Society A FILM society will be one of the first groups to make use of a new theatre facility at Luckley House School.

The Wokingham Film Society, which previously met and held screenings at the Bradbury Centre in Rose Street, will be moving into the new Whitty Theatre in Luckley Road from this month.

The new theatre boasts 178 seats and six wheelchair spaces, along with state-of-the-art projection and sound facilities.

As well as the usual refreshment offerings of tea, coffee and snacks, the theatre also benefits from a licensed bar.

Society secretary Rob Atkins said: “The Whitty Theatre will enable us to seat more people in greater comfort, with ample free on-site parking. We will also have a licensed bar so can serve beers and wines at every screening, an opportunity that's only been occasionally available to us in the past.”

The first screening at the new venue will be The Lady in the Van, starring Dame Maggie Smith, on Thursday, April 14.

Doors open from 7pm and the film will start at 7.30pm. Tickets will be available on the door with prices held at £4 for members, £6.50 for nonmembers.

Churchyard wildlife in focus at Monday meeting A MEETING on Monday will explore one of Wokingham’s unsung gems.

St Paul’s Church in Reading Road, Wokingham, will welcome guests to its event, called A Living Churchyard: the trees and wildlife of St Paul’s.

Organisers say it is a chance to hear all about the hidden treasures that have been found to be thriving in the yard from surveys undertaken over the past year, and to hear plans for future development.

Father Richard Lamey, Rector of the Parish of St Paul’s, will chair the meeting Deputy Mayor, Cllr Mrs Gwynneth Hewetson, will be attending.

Fr Richard said, “Has the churchyard ever looked as loved and cared for as it does at the moment? This is an opportunity for the whole community to come and contribute to the planning of the green space that is St Paul’s churchyard.

“I know that the work to clear the yard over the past three years has enabled many more people to access graves - of loved ones and of genealogists looking for their ancestors - as well as offering a place to stop and wonder, whether one is passing en route, or in need of a place to pause. I hope the meeting will be well-attended and we look forward to sharing the discoveries made over the past year as well as thinking about the way ahead.”

The meeting starts at 7pm. For more details, visit www.spauls.org.uk or call 0118 979 2122.

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, April 1, 2016

Fishermen find Oliver Read’s war medals in river during litter pick

By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk A COMMUNITY litter-pick unearthed more than just rubbish when two fishermen found a metal tin containing medals from the First and Second World Wars submerged in the River Loddon.

Volunteers from Swallowfield Parish Council and the Swallowfield Fishing Club & Loddon Fisheries & Conservation Consultative were busy sifting through plastic bottles and crisp packets when the locked safe deposit box was found.

Fishermen Martin Moore and Russ Hatchett took the box home, only to discover the collection of medals inside belonging to an Oliver James Read.

In an effort to try to find out more about the medals, pictures were posted on the Swallowfield Parish Council Facebook page and were quickly shared dozens of times.

One Facebook user, Debbie Cameron who lives in the north west of England, shared the photos to a genealogy site www.ancestry.co.uk and within days had made contact with Ollie Dunn-Hipp, Mr Read’s great-nephew, who lives in London.

Now, the litter pick volunteers are looking forward to reuniting the medals with Mr Dunn-Hipp this weekend.

Local resident Celia Adams, who organised the litter pick on Saturday, March 19, said she was thrilled that the medals have found their way back to Mr Read’s relatives.

She said: “We have run the litter pick for the last five years in conjunction with the council and the parish council, but I don’t think we have ever found anything as interesting as this.

“The date of the litter pick coincided with the end of the fishing season so a group of local fishermen offered to help clear some of the river for us.

Spate of burglaries leads to warning

War medals belonging to Oliver James Read (pictured inset left) were found in a metal box buried in the River Loddon during a parish’s community litter pick. They will be reunited with Mr Read’s descendants this weekend.

“They really had no idea what they had found until they took the box home and opened it, finding the medals. The inscription on them says Norwood, which is in South London, so goodness knows how they ended up in Swallowfield. We don’t know if they were stolen, dumped or simply lost.”

“What has amazed me is how quickly this has all happened. Within days of posting the pictures online a relative had been found, it really is incredible.”

While research needs to be carried out to determine what the medals were awarded for, Mr Dunn-Hipp revealed that his great-uncle had fought

RESIDENTS in Hurst are being urged to remain vigilant after a spate of burglaries in the area.

Garden machinery such as leaf blowers and chainsaws have been stolen from sheds and garages over the last few weeks.

Overnight from Tuesday, March 22, into Wednesday morning, someone cut a padlock from a gate at a property in Waltham Road and gone into an area known as The Orchard. The offenders

in the Battle of Jutland in 1916.

Celia said: “It’s a mystery how they came to be in the river, but one with such a happy ending. It’s lovely to be able to reunite the relatives with these long lost medals.”

then forced a lock on a shed, but nothing was stolen. Another shed where a car was kept was also broken into. It is not clear if anything was stolen during this incident.

On the same night, someone broke into a garage in Dunt Avenue by forcing the lock on the door. A long handled hedge trimmer, chainsaw and strimmer were stolen, and a nearby stable was also searched.

In Scarletts Lane, a bicycle was stolen from a garage at some point between

3pm on Tuesday, March 22 and 9am on Wednesday.

On Wednesday morning, a vehicle was used to force the iron gates of a property in Orchard Road. The offenders then drove across the courtyard and tried to force the back door of the house before they were disturbed by a security light and alarm system.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Thames Valley Police via 101.

Deputy mayor is a natural morris dancer

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HURST Morris People thought they’d have a tough time teaching Wokingham borough’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoress how to morris dance, writes Sue Corcoran.

But it turned out that Councillor Bob Pitts and his wife, Val Pitts, were naturals.

They quickly learned three dances, waving hankies with style for two and then clashing sticks vigorously for a third. They attended a Hurst Morris People (HuMP) weekly practice at Hurst Village Hall as part of their Deputy Mayoral duties.

Councillor Pitts admitted to earlier dancing experience: “I used to do country dancing at the McNaughton Festival on the Isle of Wight. I’ve also watched morris dancing at The Crown at Swallowfield where I know Fred Holloway, the landlord.”

And his thoughts on actually doing morris dancing? “It’s

Wokingham borough Deputy Mayor Cllr Bob Pitts and his wife, Val Pitts (centre), learn to morris dance with Hurst Morris people: (from left) Annie Wilson and Sue Berrisford.

Behind (from left) are Foreman (teacher) Ian Brant and Squire (chair) Karen Ricketts.

Above: Tim, mascot of Hurst Morris People

fabulous,” he said.

Mrs Pitts added: “It’s great fun.”

HuMP Squire (Chair) Karen Ricketts said: “We expect deputy mayors to be experts at opening fairs and fetes and chairing meetings. But we didn’t, unfairly as it turns out, think one could learn morris dancing in just one evening.

“Bob and Val’s enthusiasm and

skill was commendable. We are very grateful for them coming.”

Cllr Pitts said an official farewell to Tim, a doll dressed in miniature Hurst Morris kit by HuMP dancer Jean Yannacopoulos. Tim is joining The British Museum of Folklore’s touring exhibition about morris teams. His name honours HuMP joint-founder, Tim Taylor.

HuMP is holding its first-ever May Day maypole dancing event.

Everyone is invited at Hurst Village Hall lawn, School Road, at noon on Sunday, May 1. Guests are invited to bring a picnic. n Details of the maypole dancing, summer programme and autumn taster sessions can be found at www.hump.org.uk.

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12 | COUNCIL NEWS

INGHAM

Last Thursday, Wokingham Borough Council met and discussed a range of S&&LANDSCAPING LANDSCAPING issues. PHIL CREIGHTON reports

Respect for Brussels dead

THE Council chamber fell silent at the start of the meeting as the mayor called for a minute’s silence to remember Tel: 0118 9733414 those killed in the Belgian terrorist attacks last week.

During the attackMob: last Tuesday morning, ISIS suicide 07920 524500 targeted Zaventem airport and Maelbeek Metro Email:bombers wokinghamdriveways@gmail.com Station in Brussels. More than 270 people were injured and|atWokingham least 31 died in the blasts. | RG40 3RB ad Road | Berks Borough mayor councillor Parry Batth said the silence DRIVEWAYS & LANDSCAPING was an opportunity to “share grief and show respect for those who died”.

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, April 1, 2016

Sheeplands supporters angry as Mayor cuts petition speech short Sheeplands supporters at Wokingham Borough Council ahead of the Council meeting last Thursday night.

Patrick Heather is pictured centre, holding the petition.

WOKINGHAM

. 07920 income Regeneration queried 3.Tony 3414 524 500 Sarin Tel: 0118 . . 9733414

PATIOS FENCING & GATES TURFING Mob: 07920 524500 THE revenue to date from.the town centre regeneration . SHED BASES BLOCK-PAVING was queried by Liberalwokinghamdriveways@gmail.com Democrat town councillor Imogen Email: dent financial advice . dent financial advice Shepherd-DuBey. REPAIRS OR EXTENSIONS 436 Finchampstead Road DRIVE | Wokingham | Berks | RG40 3RB GS During questions from the public she asked borough . cure future GARDEN MAINTENANCE ngs council leader Keith Baker where £2.5million of income cure future . PROFESSIONAL stated in his speech had come from. She argued that DRIVEWAY CLEANING WOKINGHAM DRIVEWAYS &&LANDSCAPING LANDSCAPING . 07920 524 500 theDRIVEWAYS next three 0118 973years.

3414 regeneration will cost the borough £700,000 per year over

Cllr&Baker replied: “[It] was a net income after deducting tical illness income protection plans tical illness & income protection plans financing costs, assuming retention of all assets and based n the convenience of your home onTony rental schedules. n the convenience your home” Sarin Tel: 0118 9733414 . the forecast .of . TURFING FENCING & GATES ngs & childPATIOS trust funds Mob: 07920 524500 ngs & child trust funds . SHED BASES . BLOCK-PAVING performance.analysisEmail: wokinghamdriveways@gmail.com performance analysis REPAIRS Road OR DRIVE EXTENSIONS 436 Finchampstead | Wokingham | Berks | RG40 3RB market options . GARDEN MAINTENANCE market A options NEW byelaw passed by the council will make it easier . PROFESSIONAL pensions Life assurance, critical illnessLocal & income plans CLEANING to enforce the borough’s Flood protection Risk Management Life assurance, critical illnessDRIVEWAY & income protection plans pensions Financial reviews in the convenience of your home . .

Strategy. anning s@googlemail.com wokinghamdriveways.co.uk Financial reviews the convenience of your524 home500 0118 in973 3414 07920 anning Investments, savings & child trust funds process, the If it passes a formal public inspection Investments, savings & child trust funds nsfers nsfers says it will help with its duties as a Highway With Council profits fund performance analysis Independent advice With profits fund performance financial analysis Independent financial advice Authority.

Annuities & open market options for a secure future Annuities & open market options for a secure future Liberal Democrat Cllr Prue Bray backed the motion, but

By PHIL CREIGHTON Personal & group pensions news@wokinghampaper.co.uk Personal & group pensions warned that the Council would need to find the money to . at all unless we do Inheritance Tax planning an wokinghamdriveways@googlemail.com police them.

She said: “They’re no usewokinghamdriveways.co.uk Inheritance Tax planning Life assurance, critical illness & income protection plans ISAs & ISA/PEP transfers A COMMUNITY leader who presented a Life assurance, critical & income protection Authorised andillness by theplans FSA actually enforce them. ” regulated ISAs & ISA/PEP transfers Authorised and regulated byhome the FSA Financial reviews in the convenience of your home ents Financial reviews in the convenience of your petition to Wokingham Borough Council Conservative Angus Ross said that “Having [the by-law] Investments, savings & child trust funds Investments, savings & child trust funds has been left fuming over his treatment would enough incentive to comply with it.”

With be profits fund performance analysis With profits fund performance analysis by the council.

Annuities & open market options Annuities & open market options On Thursday night, a former Personal & group pensionsAuthorised and regulated by the FSA Personal & group pensions he and regulated by the FSAchairman of the Twyford Village . wokinghamdriveways.co.uk Inheritance Tax planning Authorised wokinghamdriveways@googlemail.com Inheritance Tax planning ISAs & ISA/PEP transfers Partnership presented an 8,200 ISAs &320430 ISA/PEP transfers 3 Mobile 07768 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk Leisure Centre will be used as a polling 38978 Mobile BULMERSHE 07768 320430 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk signature petition supporting a local Mobile 07768 320430 , Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 6HSEuropean referendum. station for the forthcoming , Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 6HS Fleck Associates Ltd garden centre to the council, but was Tony Welsh of Susan Tony Welsh of Susan Fleck Associates Ltd Cllr Pauline Jorgenson said that for Bulmershe and onywelshifa.co.uk cut off by Borough mayor councillor Authorised and regulated by the FSA Tel/Fax Whitegates 01344 466173 Mobile 07768 320430 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk Authorised regulated by of theEarley FSA ward the centre will beand used instead Tel/Fax 01344 402 466173 Mobile 07768 320430 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk Parry Batth – who was chairing the Tel 0118 07768 320430 Address 5 The Paddock,8978 Crowthorne,Mobile Berkshire RG45 6HS Guard Social Club. Berkshire RG45 6HS AddressHome 5 The Paddock, Crowthorne, meeting – while making his speech.

Email tony@tonywelshifa.co.uk Liberal Democrat Tom McCann said that the proposals Patrick Heather is backing Hare Tony Welsh of Susan Fleck Associates Ltd Independent Financial Adviser Tony made a lotWelsh of senseof butSusan wanted Fleck it madeAssociates clear that the Ltd Hatch Sheeplands Garden Centre over Tel/Fax 01344 466173 Mobile 07768 320430 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk Tel/Fax 01344 4661738978 Mobile 07768 320430 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk change was 402 being made.

Tel 0118 07768 320430 an ongoing planning row between the Address 5 The Paddock, Crowthorne,Mobile Berkshire RG45 6HS Address 5 The Paddock, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 6HS Conservative Alison Swaddle pledged centre and the council. Both parties are Email tony@tonywelshifa.co.uk that it would, saying: “We want everyone to take part in the democratic seeking to take legal action over each process.” other, with a judicial review planned Her wereConduct echoed by Pauline Jorgenson who nd regulated bycomments the Financial Authority for September and Councillor John horised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, registration no. 447018 “We will do everything we Financial possibly can so horised and said: regulated byKent the Financial registration no.people 447018 will Kaiser vowing earlier this month to nville Road, Maidstone, ME14 2BJServices Authorised and regulated byAuthority, the Conduct Authority Registration Number AJW00121 Susan Fleck Associates Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, registration no.

447018 nville Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 2BJ Susan Fleckknow Associates Ltd is authorised byKent the Financial where toRegistration go.Road, ”and regulated Head Office: Granville House, Granville Maidstone, ME14 2BJServices Authority, registration no. 447018 tackle “breaches of planning control”.

Number AJW00121 Head Office: Granville House, Granville Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 2BJ Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority The petition was an attempt to Registration Number AJW00121 bring to the council’s attention the support that the garden centre enjoys from residents and customers.

Independent Independent financial financial advice advice for a secure future forDrainage a secure future by-law passed

Tony Welsh

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Mr Heather, who is chairman of Age Concern, shared his frustration that he was not allowed to complete his statement, after the borough mayor – who was chairing the meeting – said he was out of his allotted time.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Heather said: “I knew I only had one minute to speak and I was just coming to the end when the Mayor instructed me to stop.

“I explained that I only had five lines left to read but he refused to allow me those few extra seconds, even though he granted other speakers a little extra time later in the meeting.

“That meant I was unable to tell members about the thousands of people who have signed the petition and explain that over 300 local youngsters have gained valuable work experience with Sheeplands, some becoming full-time employees.

“Those are vital points that council members deserved to know but they were deprived of the information.”

Sheeplands owner Rob Scott was similarly disappointed.

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over the past few years.

“I asked how many changes have been made in the last five years. I was staggered. I’m sure the officers didn’t know,” he said, adding that more than 300 amendments had been made in that time.

“It’s becoming impractical,” he argued as he suggested that council should restrict changing the constitution to a yearly basis.

“All I’m asking is for [changes to be made] once a year, unless it’s urgent. You make it extremely difficult for officers to keep it up to date.”

Conservative Paul Swaddle said that modern technology meant that sharing electronic versions of the constitution was easy.

“I don’t think there’s a real issue,” he added.

The changes to the constitution were adopted, but Mr McCann’s amendment was rejected.

He said: “I was astonished at the way Patrick was treated. The mayor knew he was just coming to the end of his statement. Would it really have disrupted the meeting to grant him a few extra seconds? I am left asking why he was so abruptly cut off. It was extremely discourteous to a member of the public.”

Sheeplands supporter Mike Shattock was in the public gallery for the meeting and said: “I’m seething after last night’s fiasco. The mayor's action was totally unacceptable, undemocratic and an insult to all of those who signed the petition.”

The petition was signed by 8,208 people, of which 2,902 were borough residents. They also added their voice of support.

One said: “If Hare Hatch Sheeplands were to close, the loss to the community would be incalculable”.

“TF” said: “The amount of money Wokingham Borough Council have wasted in hounding a well-loved, local independent business is shocking.”

“Mika” criticised the council for

Support planned to help schools become academies THE Council’s executive met last night to decide how it will support schools become academies.

Last month, the Government announced plans to convert all local authority schools to the self-governing status. This has been roundly criticised by teaching unions and by many councils across the country.

However at last Thursday’s council meeting Cllr Charlotte Haitham Taylor, the Executive Member for Children’s Services, said that at this week’s meeting of the council’s “cabinet” – which took place after we had gone to press – they would look at how to implement the plans.

She said: “The Executive will be considering a policy paper on how this council can support our Local Authority schools to become Academies over the next four to five years. Currently, just nine of our 65 schools are academies.

“We are already talking with our headteachers, chairs of governors, dioceses and the schools commissioner and will need to support both schools and families through this transitional period so that we can ensure that this policy delivers the very best outcomes.”

ignoring not just local residents but also an MP. He noted: “WBC know all about this petition but still choose to ignore what we the residents want in our area.

Theresa May even requested they sort it out and they have ignored her as well.”

In its statement earlier this month, Cllr John Kaiser – who was not present at the Council meeting on Thursday – said: “The council’s view is that the owner has failed to make any attempt to comply with the planning regulations and that the planning applications and planning appeal are an attempt to avoid the planning regulations and delay compliance with the notice. Failure to comply with an enforcement notice is a criminal offence.

“Unfortunately, the council considers that the time has come to take the next step towards compliance with the planning regulations, this involves further legal action through the courts which is due to be confirmed shortly.”

Don’t ask questions…

THE Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee made an appeal for councillors not to ask questions.

In his speech to mark the end of this Council year ahead of May’s local elections, Tim Holton pointed out that his committee’s members could have asked questions in Scrutiny meetings rather than at the full Council meeting.

A total of 13 questions were tabled for last Thursday’s Council meeting, all were given a written reply but due to time constraints, not all were asked.

Mr Holton argued that the Scrutiny meetings were a more appropriate forum, given that it meets 22 times over the course of the year, but it was not being used.

“I don’t actually recall a single formal member question at a scrutiny meeting that I have attended,” he said.

“I do believe that if members have a question there are other opportunities to ask it and, in some cases, a more relevant place given those in attendance at scrutiny meetings.”

Friday, April 1, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Another 10 years of blue bags WOKINGHAM is expected to keep its blue bag waste collection scheme for another 10 years.

Liberal Democrat Lindary Ferris asked if weekly refuse collections are guaranteed to continue until 2020.

Councillor Angus Ross gave a written reply, saying: “The Council’s Waste and Recycling Contract with Veolia ends on 31st March 2019 and the Council has an option to extend this Contract for a further seven years until 2026.”

He added that the Council wants to reach its recycling target of 50%.

COUNCIL NEWS | 13

To advertise email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Ignoring affordable housing motion a ‘disgrace’ says Lib Dems

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

done and we continue to work to get the number even lower.”

He added: “This is a very premature motion as THE Liberal Democrats have branded the Conservatives awaiting the outcome of the bill first would seem to a disgrace for ignoring a motion they tabled on be the right and proper approach for this council to affordable housing in the borough. adopt.”

Instead, the leader of the Council, councillor Speaking to The Wokingham Paper after the Keith Baker, said the Liberal Democrats were meeting, Cllr Bray expressed her anger at the way in “electioneering” accusing them of “self-indulgence”. which she had been treated.

A CHANCE for borough residents to talk to the The Lib Dem leader Cllr Prue Bray tabled a She said: “It was a response specifically designed council was hailed as a success by Cllr Pauline motion covering a wide range of aspects relating to not to discuss the housing motion, but to talk about housing of all sorts to accommodate the Jorgenson.

Government plans for social housing. The lengthy everything but what the Government is doing about varying needs of our residents over the years The executive member for residents services told text asked councillors to acknowledge the issues affordable housing. It’s an absolute disgrace, it thanks to a first rate administration council that a recent stall in Market Place had been Wokingham residents have buying houses, “even at a supported by an excellent team of really is. I’m absolutely furious. successful and that residents had raised recycling subsidised cost under Right to Buy, shared equity, or “They wouldn’t even address or Officers who all continue to work and issues with street cleaning and drainage.

80% market value starter homes”. discuss the issue. They just wanted very hard to deliver realistic More events are being planned.

However, in reply Cllr Baker congratulated Cllr to rubbish it so they didn’t have to objectives.

“I really look forward to talking directly to our Bray for “a record breaking two pages of text for her discuss it. Stupid little games.”

“If one looks at the history “The housing waiting list demand residents,” she added. motion”, making “a simple proposal an unnecessarily She also criticised the of the housing waiting list seems to centre around one-bedroom complex one”.

Conservatives for accusing the from 1997 to the present the (734) and two-bedroom (466) He added that the Council has been working with Liberal Democrats of posturing Wokingham councils housing accommodation with 284 looking for MPs to lobby the Government: “We are striving to ahead of May’s local elections. waiting list reached a peak in larger properties. So one and two “Pre-electioneering? What the 2008 of over 3,000 reducing to TAILBACKS on the A329M were raised by Cllr Pauline provide affordable and social housing, and we will bedroom requirements account for notify residents of changes due to this bill.” hell were they doing? They had 2417 in 2014 and this is currently Jorgenson during question time.

81% of the demand.”

Also speaking against the motion was fellow all those questions planted in the down to 1488 at the last count.

Replying for Cllr John Kaiser, leader of the council Cllr Gary Cowan – agenda to make sure they could say how These are figures Keith Baker saidblueprint_advert_190x137mm_TKT5119_07B_PRINT_READY.pdf that the area is being monitored and Conservative Cllr Gary Cowan, who condemned 1 it as 22/03/2016 18:14that are better Conservative “scaremongering”. wonderful they are, and everything they do than our neighbours and are ones we that residents are finding alternative routes, “adding “Wokingham has an excellent record of delivering is completely above board,” she said. should be very proud of but the work is not congestion to other roads”.

Cllrs Prue Bray (left) and Keith Baker (right)

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14 | NEWS

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, April 1, 2016

New care facility to Volunteers help raise funds for Dinton Pastures defibrillator be built in Woodley

A computer generated image of what the new Fosters Residential Care Home will look like

WORK is due to start on a new £6million purposebuilt care facility in Woodley.

Fosters Residential Care Home, in Fosters Lane, will offer 34 affordable one-bedroom apartments, with a private balcony or terrace, for the frail elderly and those suffering from dementia.

The two-storey development is being managed

by Wokingham Borough Council’s company Wokingham Housing Ltd (WHL) in partnership with R J Leighfield & Sons Ltd, chosen by tender to build the new car home, with the council’s care company Optalis as the provider.

The facility will also feature two communal lounge areas, a dining room, laundry room, and accommodation for guests to stay over.

The site will now be prepared for building work to start and the home is due to be completed in autumn 2017.

Bill Flood, managing director at WHLm said: “We’re really pleased to be starting building works on Fosters Extra Care Home. Along with our Phoenix Avenue development, WHL will have more than 100 homes under construction in the borough, making a significant contribution to meeting the area’s housing need.

“Fosters Extra Care Scheme has been carefully designed to provide modern housing for more frail older people, giving them the benefit of a home of their own within a great community setting, based around homely, high quality communal areas both inside and out. It’s a scheme we know WHL and the council will be very proud of.”

WHL secured a loan of £1.5million, courtesy of the Homes and Community Agency, which can be put towards the overall cost of the new facility.

Revamp plan to close Carnival Pool A REVAMP of a busy town centre swimming pool will see it close for a fortnight this month.

1Life, in partnership with Wokingham Borough Council, will be carrying improvement works to the pool facilities at Carnival Pool.

The Council said that the nature and scale of this work will mean that the pool facilities will be closed from Tuesday, April 12 until Monday, April 25 – during this time the centre will remain open.

It added that much of the equipment used to run the pool is approaching the end of its operational life and failure to carry out this work will result in unplanned closures in the future.

It’s not all refurbishment – 1Life will be taking the opportunity to install new interactive play features in the beach pool.

During this time the gym and studio remain open and will be unaffected by the work.

A spokesperson for 1Life and Wokingham Borough Council said: “They fully appreciate that this closure will have an effect on customers, however we hope that you will appreciate that this work is necessary and as a consequence a closure is unavoidable.”

Swimming facilities remain available at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre and Bulmershe Leisure Centre during the period of this closure. Visit the 1Life website for pool timetables. n For more details, log on to www.1life.co.uk/ wokingham-borough-council/

A POTENTIALLY life-saving defibrillator has been installed at one of the borough’s country parks thanks to the fundraising efforts of a group of first aiders, writes Gemma Davidson.

Wokingham’s Community First Responders (CFR) raised £2,000 to buy the kit and a secure lock box which has been installed at the Dragonfly Cafe at Dinton Pastures Country Park, in Hurst.

The volunteer group, who attend potentially life-threatening incidents to provide emergency care before paramedics arrive, have also donated their time and additional funds to train staff at the country park in how to use and maintain the equipment, as well as providing a ten-year support package.

The members raised the funds through events, street collections and donations from residents in Wokingham, Barkham, Finchampstead and the surrounding areas.

The electrical cost of its installation, which has been estimated at around £400, has been covered by the Hurst Village Partnership.

The defibrillator is designed to be used without the need for any training, and the lock box can only be opened via a 999 call to the ambulance service, when the operator will be able to provide step-by-step instructions on how to use the equipment.

Nicola Wright, paramedic and CFR scheme coordinator for Wokingham, said: “The decision to donate a defibrillator to Dinton Pastures was because we wanted to give something back to the people of the Wokingham Borough as a thank you for their generous donations.”

Wokingham Borough Council’s (WBC) executive

Members of Wokingham Community First Responders, Steve Cartwright SCAS paramedic, Cllr Philip Houldsworth deputy executive member for the environment and staff from Dinton Pastures*

member for the environment, Cllr Angus Ross said: “I’d like to say a big thank you to Wokingham Community First Responders and Hurst Village Partnership for providing

us with the funding, training and ongoing support to make this community resource available at one of our busiest country parks in the borough.”

Anger as residents’ phone lines mixed up over Easter weekend

By ROBIN BLAND news@wokinghampaper.co.uk BAFFLED residents in Twyford and Hurst were left in a telephone tangle after their phone lines were apparently mixed-up.

Around 500 residents were left without phone lines and broadband for several days after gas engineers accidentally cut through lines last week.

Lost services were first reported on Tuesday, March 22 but when dial tones started reappearing two days later, baffled callers discovered that their phone numbers had been incorrectly reconnected. It is believed that as many as 200 people had their numbers swapped in the mix-up.

Canine hydrotherapist Darah Harris, 42, of Wards Cross, Hurst, said: “We lost the landline phone and broadband on Tuesday last week. Two days later the phone rang and a chap asked to speak to his brother. I told him he had the wrong number. It turned out he rang the right number but it went to the wrong house.

“I used my mobile to ring my number and a rather confused lady in Sawpit Road, Hurst, answered.

“I explained what had happened.

Darah Harris with daughter Ella (9), thought they were reconnected after a construction error cut them off – but their phone line was swapped with another Hurst residents’ number

She then rang her number and I answered it. Our numbers had been swapped.

“The next day BT rang and asked to speak to a woman who wasn’t me.

I told them what had happened. They said my complaint would be actioned in three days.

“On Tuesday this week I saw the chap working in the BT box near here.

I gave him the two swapped numbers and he sorted it out. He was very helpful.”

Since then, Darah’s number has again been swapped with a property in School Road. She has asked her service

provider, Tiscali, for a reduction in her bill for having no landline or internet for a week.

She said: “It’s just absolutely ridiculous. I’m going to see the engineers working on this muddle.”

At The Green Man pub in Hinton Road, Hurst, the big mix-up produced an amazing coincidence.

Pub co-managers Kelly and Cliff O’Dea had their number swapped with Kelly’s sister Justine Smith who lives off Lodge Road, Hurst.

Kelly said: “They kept getting all the Green Man booking calls through to them. And we were getting their calls.

“We thought it was a prank until we found out what had happened.

My sister gave the callers my mobile number. Then she diverted her landline with the Green Man number on it to my mobile.”

Dean Milroy, who also lives in Hinton Road,has been running his accommodation business from The Green Man bar. He said: “I can’t make landline phone calls and have no internet. I’m relying on the pub’s WiFi.” Hurst councillor Wayne Smith said: “Elderly people without landlines are worried. For some it’s their only communication with the outside world. Some have mobiles but may not be used to them. What if they have a medical emergency?

“We have an elderly population here. BT should have a policy for helping vulnerable people. I want BT to tell me what they have done for them.”

An Openreach spokesman, said: “Service was affected in the Twyford and Hurst villages after a utilities firm accidently cut through cable.

Openreach engineers worked as fast as they could to replace two underground cables on March 22.

“Service was restored to around 160 lines on March 24.”

Two year plan will help Earley residents see the light AN AMBITIOUS cross-council project will brighten up Earley thanks to an £18.9 million grant.

Work will start later this month on a two-year plan to install 8,000 new street lights in the area, and 13,000 new LED lanterns on major roads, residential areas, parks, car parks and open spaces.

To enable the work to happen, Wokingham Borough Council has teamed up with its counterparts in Slough and Reading to receive

the grant from the Department for Transport (DfT), which is being split between the three.

The council said that by using the latest technology, it will reduce the carbon footprint of the street lamps, as well as improve their management.

Each of the three authorities will take the lead in managing the scheme in their own borough and pay a small percentage of their costs, with the DfT funding covering the majority.

Town and parish councils involved in

the scheme will fund their highway lighting work in a similar way.

“We have an ongoing programme to replace and update our 16,000 street lights across the borough, but this funding gives us a fantastic opportunity to target a significant number in one go,” said Cllr Keith Baker, leader of Wokingham Borough Council.

“These new LED lanterns are greener with a lower carbon footprint, are cheaper to maintain, and easier to

manage because they are run through a central management system.

“The white light produced by these LED lanterns is also more natural so is better for our eyes.”

A dedicated section has been set up on the borough council’s website, detailing when and where the columns and lanterns are due to be replaced, alongside a FAQ and additional information.

To access it, visit www.wokingham. gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel.

15

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

Elms Field plan will tidy up an eyesore THERE can be no denying that of all the regeneration aspects, turning part of Elms Field into shops, a cinema, supermarket and a hotel has been the most emotive.

For many of us, we have grown up with that green space always there for us. From children learning to ride their bikes to enjoying events such as the open air cinema and the May Fayre, Elms Field is part of our lives.

Home to historic trees, tennis courts and play park, it is a jewel of Wokingham.

And yet …

The part of Elms Field that is to become retail space has been a bit of an eyesore for the past decade or so. Sections are an unused concrete car park, boarded over or just standing there empty.

The other part – the part that will be revamped – has also seen better days. Lumpy, bumpy uneven ground and a tennis court that needs serious renovations.

Yes, change is scary. Yes, the housing will change the area. Yes, there are legitimate concerns over parking and traffic management.

Yes, it would be nice if Elms Field could have been left out of the regeneration completely, but it’s happening and, assuming the Council sticks to its plans, the new Elms Field park will be a gorgeous place for generations to enjoy.

While we share the reservations over the size and scale of the housing (and lack of affordable housing at that), the new park will be superb and offer even more for the borough’s vibrant communities.

The new Elms Field retail area will be a positive addition to the town centre and we look forward to seeing it come to life.

CHURCH NOTES

Being alive to a life full of richness and beauty EASTER has been and gone. Lambs have been born. Chicks have hatched.

We are entering into a new term.

Spring is amongst us and all the possibilities that it brings. With the upcoming pressures of exams and returning to work after a holiday, how can we look towards a new term with a fresh outlook of new life and new beginnings?

Jesus’ resurrection which we celebrate at Easter demonstrates the entire process of human existence in reverse; death leading to new life.

As a Christian, following Jesus challenges me to think about how my life reflects the potential and hope that the resurrection brings.

I’m also challenged to leave behind all the things that stop me fulfilling my God given potential.

I researched a definition for being ‘alive’ and this is what I found: it’s being alert, active, animated, living; not dead. I wondered if this accurately describes my relationship with Jesus?

I’d consider myself an active Christian; working in schools, within the community and with the isolated and vulnerable. I’ve witnessed the presence of hope and peace, and how life changing it is. On reflection, I am alive for God. But the need for being alert will keep me listening for God’s call, when times are tough.

We know that paths aren’t always straight, and that it’s hard to always see beyond the pile of washing that school holidays create.

But I pray that we can all strive to surround others with peace and hope, and see the new life that tomorrow brings, rather than being stuck in the mundane day-to-day chores.

So, whilst we are eating our left over chocolate and our stale hot cross buns, maybe we could think about how we might live a life that is whole and full of richness and beauty.

Savannah Cook is from Wokingham Baptist Church in Milton Road

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Your views

Send your thoughts to letters@wokinghampaper.co.uk

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, April 1, 2016 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

Elms Field planning meeting: your reaction An artist’s impression of what Elms Field will look like once it has been revamped

On Wednesday night, members of Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee met to discuss the Elms Field development.

Our chief reporter Gemma Davidson posted updates on Facebook from the Council, and many of you shared your views.

Here are a selection from our postbag and Facebook page:

n It seems to me that the councillors of Wokingham just cannot – or will not – realise that the majority of people who moved to Wokingham did so to escape the urbanisation of other towns, especially as it topped the Best Place To Live table, which means as it is right now.

So why does the Council keep pushing to build on Elms Field when the council tax payers do not want it?

It’s bordering on suspicion.

A couple of weeks ago I sat on a seat at the top of Elms Field just to have a few minutes in the fresh air when a person sat on the seat with her seven-year-old daughter.

In conversation I asked the girl what she would like to happen to Elms Field. She replied more swings and see-saws and a helter-skelter but, most of all, a large paddling pool for summer.

Her mother added a band stand to help local bands and musicians and entertain us too.

So in my opinion, they had far more sense than any councillor.

Who actually thought of building upon Elms Field in the first place? To urbanise Wokingham would end the Best Place To Live rating and we do not want to move, we cannot afford it.

Finally, do all the councillors agree to this urbanisation of this lovely town?

L Hopkins, Wokingham n With regard to the proposed destruction of Elms Field by a bunch of amateurs in the council, for long will it be a building site closed to the public?

It must be for several years for chidlren to wait for any swings, an entire generation.

Councillors come and go and when they are gone they leave the destruction of Wokingham behind.

So remember to ask who approved this in Council, so that we know who to vote for: perhaps it could be put to a referendum?

J Hopkins, Wokingham lover n Well there’s a surprise … not! Not surprised considering the meeting placed was changed to a smaller room, so not everyone could fit in. Plus only two speakers were allowed to speak, given three minutes only. To say this whole thing has been one-sided is an understatement. Well done to all those that tried to stop what was already in place all along.

Jo Kalisz Vel Kalisiak

n Hardly a shock. Half of Wokingham could have signed that petition and it still wouldn’t have been enough. Some lovely bonuses in store no doubt for the councillors who approved it. In 20 years I imagine the place will be unrecognisable and probably unreachable due to the floods of housing in surrounding areas too.

Luke Smith n The way this country is going sadly - profit before people, short term thinking before long term vision.

What will these people do when there is nothing left to sell.

In 50 years time the residents will be looking at outdated unwanted buildings and ask themselves how did people let this happen. Seven bullied councillors towing the party line – explain that to your great great grandchildren.

Feel proud of yourselves do you?

Mike O’Riley n I personally think it’s a good thing, it will increase revenue as most shoppers will go to reading or Bracknell as nothing in Wokingham apart from charity show and cafe/restaurants. As for the fields sort from the fairs/fetes I’ve never seen it used...! It’s a waste of space, the play park needs modernisation which I believe they will be doing.

I agree with traffic issues though not sure it would make any difference than it is already to be honest.

Change is hard to adapt too, but hopefully it does work out to be in favour of Wokingham residents eventually.

I don’t find the farmers’ market anything to rave about, it’s just a few stools at high prices - go to Winchester market – now that’s something I’d be proud to announce.

However, I’ve only lived in Wokingham a few years so maybe I’ve no right to want to revamp.

Emma Mattock

n That is the end of Wokingham. The infrastructure already cannot cope with the traffic (frequently now takes me an hour to get out of town or for others to get in.

Dominic Ronane n We’ve lost our voice. And nobody seems to care.

Michael Craig Bibby n The ONLY thing we can all do is vote them OUT in May. Find out who is standing in your part of town and vote for someone other than the Tories.

If they all lose their seats they would have to reconsider. that is the only option left.

Lucy Allen n I agree about losing a green space. But It will properly take another 15 years to build it.

The southern bypass as it was first called in the 80s is still not done.

Wokingham council cannot even sort out that or the regeneration of the arcade area. That’s been waiting to be done for 10 years!

Robert Cottrell n Ignored again. That piece of land was left to the people of Wokingham, the people of Wokingham are the residents, so why have a bunch of councillors taken a gift away from the people of Wokingham?

This is all about money not about what the residents actually want and need.

Kaye Gambles n Glad it’s sorted, let’s get on with it.

A better, if slightly smaller Elms Field is an appropriate element of a refreshed and much needed boost to our tired town centre.

Gary Ilbrey

GOOD ADVICE

Bullying at school?

Bullying means behaviour by an individual or group repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another individual or group either physically or emotionally

B

ULLYING can take many forms, including cyber-bullying and is often motivated by prejudice against certain groups or because another child is seen as different.

Government guidance says that state schools should have an anti-bullying policy which sets out the way that bullying should be dealt with in the school.

If there is no policy, you should contact the head teacher.

Government Guidance also says that schools should discipline pupils who bully, whether inside or outside the school

premises. At the same time, the school should look at why they bully and identifying whether they themselves need help.

If bullying is so serious that your child is too frightened to go to school, or you fear for your child’s safety, you may wish to keep your child at home.

However, this might be in breach of your duty to provide your child with a suitable education.

If your child is too unwell to attend school because of fear or stress, your child should go to the doctor’s and the doctor should be asked to provide medical evidence for the school.

If your child cannot get a medical certificate, you should make sure that in any letters you write to the school you state that, in your opinion, it is not reasonable for your child to attend

school because of bullying.

If the bullying is extremely serious and the bully is over the age of 10, the bully could be prosecuted for a criminal offence, for example, assault or harassment. If the school has been unable to stop the bullying, you may wish to report the matter to the police.

If the police will not act, or if the bully is under the age of 10, you could seek advice from a solicitor about other legal action.

For example, it may be possible to take legal action for negligence against the school and the local education authority for failure in their duty of care to the pupil. n You can get help, information and advice from your local Citizens Advice or visit www.citizensadvice. org.uk or contact Citizens Advice Wokingham at Second Floor, Waterford House, Erftstadt Court, Wokingham, RG40 2YF. Tel: 03444 111 306. email: public@wokingham-cab.org.uk

VIEWPOINTS | 17

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Friday, April 1, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

NELLIE KNOWS

Celebrating your photography

Nellie Williams www.nelliepompoms.co.uk Four-day week

F

OR a four-day week this one has certainly dragged but it’s a nice feeling not to be governed by alarm clocks and school run times.

I didn’t have that Sunday panic feeling on Sunday or Monday which is always a bonus however I had the most dreadful night’s sleep on Monday hence my opening lines.

For some reason I couldn’t sleep and was like a bear with a sore head on Tuesday, I perked up a bit on Wednesday and nipped out to the pub.

With friends

Storm Katie caused much chaos across the borough on Monday – but every cloud has a silver lining. Columnist Tony Johnson had his camera on hand to capture this impressive rainbow landing in the former Park and Ride site at Winnersh Triangle. Sadly we arrived too late to find the crock of gold. 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.

TONY JOHNSON And all the hordes did shrink … continued from “Water Water, everywhere, published March 18, 2016 RONG sort of water; Flood events; overtopping; all with horrible consequences and everyone shrinking away from the rising and spreading waters.

We left the story at the point where just 54 years (plus two or three near misses) after parliament was flooded, a barrier across the Thames was brought into operation. But that stops water coming in and so for us in the borough, it’s only useful for the wrong sort of flood.

You might wonder why the River Thames is relevant and the reason is deceptively simple. If the flood waters from the River Loddon can’t get away downstream, then they back up and our area is going to get “rather damp”.

This simple reason is cumulative - if the Loddon is full, then the Emmbrook and the other tributaries don’t drain properly, so they fill up and start overflowing in turn.

So what’s to be done?

The steps are simple to state: Find and agree the causes, propose and select the solutions, fund and implement the changes.

But this is Britain and agreeing even one of the above, let alone all of them, takes decades not years.

Over the past century, there’s been many parliamentary select committees, investigations, reviews, reports, directives, green and white papers. All talk and chalk, meanwhile the floods continue.

Occasionally something actually gets done. An example of this is the Jubilee River, constructed as a supplementary drainage channel to alleviate flooding in Eton. And the lower lying parts of Windsor and Maidenhead.

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HAVE YOUR SAY:

And it worked. Sort of.

Except that in 2003, moderately heavy flows which were well within the design capacity, caused damage that led to a lawsuit, an out-of-court settlement and a huge repair bill. When it was “fixed”, the water in January 2014 got through OK, but downstream towns and villages in Datchet and Wraysbury were flooded.

But at least the playing fields of Eton stayed dry.

After the summer floods of 2007, the Pitt Review of 2007/08 was rushed into legislation in just two years – in the form of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

Locally, only last week at the Borough Council meeting, Land Drainage Byelaws were recommended for consultation and subsequent adoption. Only six years after the 2010 act allowed for them – a mere blink of the eye.

But as the past century has shown, floods occur over a much larger area than just one borough. And if we’re flooded by water flowing down the Loddon from other boroughs, what are we going to do under the new powers that the byelaws convey?

Sue Basingstoke?

I doubt it. The budget suggested for the byelaws is £500. Less than two hours for a local lawyer and around 10-15 minutes for a top London QC. It could appear that government is “devolving powers” admirably. Then again, in the absence of any funding, it could be tantamount abdicating responsibility onto the locals then scarpering quick, before they find out what they’ve taken on.

No funding, no enforcement. No enforcement, no chance.

However this approach isn’t new either. In 1947 “the ministry” issued an order to all local authorities: Parish; Borough; City and County to “bloody well stop building in the floodplains”.

Did anyone listen and take note?

Of course not.

In 2002, a news article in The Henley Standard reported that “severe flooding in Wargrave and across Wokingham District in recent weeks has forced the council to agree on its first official flood policy”.

Hmmm 1947 to 2002? That’s slower than Parliament.

Did anything change?

Of course it did. We’ve got a policy.

But as recently as March 2016, a developer’s carefully calculated “post development 100-year flood map” shows that we’re definitely not building houses on the floodplain. Oh no siree, nothing like that going on here boss.

But the developers plans and one acetate overlay show that while we may not be building on the developer defined floodplain, we do appear to be building on the Environment Agency defined flood plain, as local Winnersh Residents Group chairman, Paul Robertson, suggested at the planning committee meeting.

It isn’t possible for Residents to be correct, nor can it be allowed even. It’s cheaper to move the goalposts.

The story, like the floods, continues.

I am indebted to three advisors on flooding matters in the writing of this article. Where correct, it’s credit to their contribution. Where wrong - it’s down to me.

FACEBOOK.COM/WOKINGHAMPAPER

@WOKYPAPER

I’d arranged a while ago to go to the pub with my friend Mags, I’ve not known her that long, I met her when my best friend was diagnosed with a brain tumour, sadly they never met but I know Mme Cholet would approve.

We talk about everything and there’s lots of laughter as there was at the pub on Wednesday night.

So I’d arranged to go and casually mentioned it to a couple of friends who rocked up. It was a really pleasant evening with laughter and easy chat from the outset with Sarah (Hermes) and Hil (Which glasses are which).

To an outsider listening in they would have been mightily confused as we jumped from one topic to another. But for a mid week tonic it was just the ticket.

Another milestone Tuesday was a big day in our house, ok not a massive day but it was the day that my youngest was dropped into town and walked home on her own.

I know, I know it’s not a big thing but it’s a little step and will steer her onto the route of independence.

I met a retired teacher in the car park who says she reads my column so a hello to you.

I explained to her that my daughter is the youngest of three and she’s off to senior school in September so she’s going to have to find her feet so why not now?

I said that growing up in Hurst with no street lights, pavements or public transport we were probably classed as feral with our get up and go attitude. I love the word feral, it conjures up to me spirited outdoors children.

Maybe I read too much Famous Five as a child.

Books I can’t ever say I read too much as there’s no such thing in my mind. I lose myself in books and my mind wanders, I learn new words and phrases, I try to work out the ending, I see familiar places through different people’s eyes and I get to the end of the book grateful for the author’s hard work.

I don’t have a favourite author per se and I don’t read books if I don’t like the cover, something I discussed with Adele Parks years ago.

This is sort of changing with the Kindle that I am getting to grips with. I finished The Accident by C L Taylor, wow what a read.

Have you got your dog chipped?

Bumped into Mandy Animal Warden for Wokingham Borough and West Berkshire Council environmental health and licensing who told me that as from Wednesday, April 6, all dogs must be microchipped from the age of eight weeks and by law they also must have an ID Tag with surname and address, Mandy also asks that the phone number so that she can contact you if needs be.

I’m off to the vets now to check the microchip details and then to get a new dog tag with the correct information.

Have a great week and do say hello on Twitter @nelliepompoms.

18 | VIEWPOINTS

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, April 1, 2016

Wokingham’s people

OH, MR SMITH!

A wry look at life

Half marathon? Suits you sir!

The noise of solitude

W Scott Forbes had to learn to walk again after a serious injury left him with a broken neck. But on Sunday, the British Airways pilot will be running the Reading Half Marathon in a suit to break a new world record

On Sunday, lycra will be the order of the day as thousands of people take part in the annual Reading Half Marathon … except for one man from Spencers Wood who will be wearing his best suit. GEMMA DAVIDSON finds out why

A

RUNNER from Spencers Wood who nearly died in a car accident is hoping to become the fastest person to run a half marathon in a suit this weekend.

Scott Forbes, 40, a pilot for British Airways, is no stranger to sport having spent his teenage years training as a professional triathlete with hopes of competing at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 only to be thwarted by injury.

He made the decision to switch to mountain biking and took the title of National Master Champion in 2009.

But Scott’s sporting career was nearly ended in 2012 when he was hit by a car while training for the London Olympics, breaking his neck in two places as well as his hip, lower back and two ribs. Despite the near fatal accident, seven operations and countless hours of rehabilitation learning to walk again, Scott’s determination saw him racing in Ultra Marathons just 18 months later.

Scott said: “Injury happens to anyone that partakes in sport but for all my injuries I have managed to come out the other side relatively unscathed. I know I have been very unlucky but at the same time I think how lucky I am to still be racing today and into the future.”

He is now setting his sights on the Reading Half Marathon this Sunday and hopes to not only complete the course, but set the record for the fastest time while wearing a fully tailored three-piece suit, tie-clip and all.

He said: “Reading Half is a super-fast and flat course with great spectator support. If I were to

break the record anywhere then this is the perfect place to do it.

“The record currently stands at 1hour 24mins and on a good day I can run 10 minutes faster than that.

I also have a fantastic local guy, Ryan O’Brien, from Reading Athletics Club pacing me through the race and I am confident I can break the record and become the new title holder.”

Race director Judith Manson is crossing her fingers that the Reading Half Marathon will make it into the record books.

She said: “Scott is truly inspirational and we’re looking forward to cheering him round the route on race day. I can only imagine the volume of encouragement that we will witness from the crowd as he crosses the finish line in the magnificent Madejski Stadium.

“It will be incredible to have the Reading Half Marathon listed in the Guinness Book of World Records and we have every confidence Scott can do it.”

Bus route diversions during Reading’s half-marathon BUS routes in and out of Reading will be affected by the Half Marathon.

Reading Buses has compiled a comprehensive list of all services affected, with details of cancellations and diversions.

Leopard 3 Arborfield Garrison to Reading: The 8.54am to 12.54pm journeys will use the normal route until The Black Boy and then will be diverted via the B3270, Beeston Way, Rushey Way, Chalfont Way, Elm Lane, Wilderness Road, Wokingham Road, Forbury Road and Blagrave Street to Reading Station stop SA. All stops between Market Place and the Black Boy will not be in use during the diversion.

Reading to Arborfield Garrison: The 9.10am to 12.40pm journeys will leave Reading Station stop SA and then divert via Forbury Road, Kings Road, Wokingham Road, Wilderness Road, Elm Lane, Rushey Way, Beeston Way and B3270 - resuming normal route at The Black Boy. All stops between the Black Boy and Friar St will not be in use during the diversion.

Lion 4/x4 Bracknell/Wokingham to Reading: The 8.40am from St Anne's Hotel and the 8.40am to 12.32pm journeys from Bracknell will use normal route until the Eldon Road stop. They will then divert via Forbury Road and Blagrave Street to finish at Reading Station stop EM. King's Rd, Minster St, St Mary’s Butts, and Friar St stops will not be in use.

Reading to Bracknell/Wokingham: The 9.22am to 1.05pm journeys will all start from Reading Station stop EM and divert via Forbury Road, resuming normal route from King's Road. St Mary's Butts, Friar St, Blagrave St stops will not be in use.

Scarlet 9 Shinfield Park to Reading: The 8.46am to 12.46pm journeys will leave Shinfield Park and then divert via B3270, Beeston Way, Rushey Way, Elm Lane, Wilderness Road, Wokingham Road and Forbury Road to get to Reading Station stop SA. Reading to Shinfield Park: The 9.25am to 12.55pm journeys will leave Reading Station stop SA and divert via Forbury Road, Kings

Road, Wokingham Road, Wilderness Road, Elm Lane, Rushey Way, Beeston Way and B3270 to Shinfield Park.

All stops except Reading Station and Shinfield Park will not be in use during the diversion.

Orange 13 Reading to Woodley: The 9.22am to 12.19pm journeys will leave Blagrave St stop EM and then divert via Forbury Road re-joining normal route at Huntley & Palmers. King’s Road MF stop will not be in use.

Woodley to Reading: No change.

Orange 14 Reading to Woodley: The 9.50am to 12.47pm journeys will leave Blagrave St stop EM and then divert via Forbury Road re-joining normal route at Huntley & Palmers. King’s Road MF stop will not be in use.

Woodley to Reading: No change.

Claret 21 Lower Earley to Reading: The 9.02am to 12.34pm journeys will use normal route until the Wychwood Crescent bus stop. They then divert via Wilderness Road, Wokingham

Road, King’s Road and Forbury Road to Reading Station stop EJ. Harcourt Drive, Pepper Ln, UoR, UoR Chancellor's Way, Christchurch Green, Vicarage Rd, Morgan Rd, Crown Place Passage, Kendrick Student Village, Crown St, London St Foot, Duke St, Minster St, St Mary's Butts and Friar St stops will not be in use.

Reading to Lower Earley: The 9.10am to 1.10pm journeys will leave Reading Station stop EJ and then divert via Forbury Road, King’s Road, Wokingham Road and wilderness Road re-joining normal route at the Wychwood Crescent bus stop. Market Place, London St Foot, Crown St, Kendrick Student Village, Crown Place Passage, Morgan Rd, Vicarage Rd, Christchurch Green, Whiteknights House, Pepper Ln, and Harcourt Dr stops will not be in use.

82/82k Reading to Swallowfield: The 9.56am and 11.56am journeys are cancelled.

Swallowfield to Reading: The 10.30am and 12.30pm journeys are cancelled. All stops will not be in use during the race

HAT’S wrong with a bit of silence?

Everywhere seems so full of artificial noise. You can’t even go into a supermarket without obligatory music filling the air – even the doctor’s surgery.

I am fortunate to live near a walled cemetery where I can shelter from the noise of two arterial roads and a busy junction and where there are rarely any visitors to distract my thoughts.

The silent grave stones contrasting with the subdued traffic noise does get close to providing a silence of sorts.

I once stayed in a cottage during a balmy summer in central Wales where, during the early hours, I became aware of a silence I had rarely if ever experienced.

Strangely, the lack of man-made noise, was an assault on my hearing. This was a different type of noise.

It really was silent and not simply quiet – apart from the occasional interruption from an owl or fox or farmyard dog.

Church buildings can provide reliable escapes if you pick your moment.

If you want silence avoid modern style services where, by and large, they seem afraid to encourage any moment of collective silence.

Even when the congregation is called to momentarily reflection someone is sure to play a DVD with the inevitable amplified voice blasting existentialist thoughts at you.

It’s as if the faithful are afraid to share the experience of being alone in their thoughts.

You’d think they were sitting there in their collective nudity.

Declutter When I worked in central London a long time ago I decluttered my frenetic mind by sitting in a Christopher Wren church.

Not to perform some religious duty but just to sit.

In the business areas of London there is usually one such building nearby?

These days I find silence is most accessible at the beginning of the day before anyone turns on the radio.

There, alone in the dark or watery light of early morning even the noise of filling a kettle takes on mystical significance.

By comparison my good wife uses Radio 4 as an alarm clock and then is trapped listening to the agony of humanity without any hope of alleviating it.

The radio is a sure fire way to spark my angst.

Radio 4 takes itself so seriously when debating what I see as the absurdity of modern life.

If you think I am being unreasonable let me offer you an extreme.

Where else would a programme attract donations from the public to help a fictitious woman being mistreated by a fictional misogynist.

I mean do people stop to think?

If the story raises concerns about such an issue why not give money directly to a real woman’s refuge and help women who really are experiencing a difficult existence.

It seems to me we need to escape the endless need to have noise in the background to chase out the space to think.

But we need the occasional silence and solitude to be conscious of ourselves and the heartbeat of life – passing by.

Hmmm.

Perhaps I should switch on the TV. TOM SMITH @WRYLIFEtomsmith

WELLBEING | 19

Friday, April 1, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Good health

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

HEALTH MATTERS

Natalija is running to help bring dentistry to Tanzania

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.

Wokingham CCG is helping local NHS services and GP practices get ready to meet the standard. If you need patient information in other formats, or want to help NHS staff understand your needs, these may help: It’s worth Googling Hospital Passport. This should be completed before you go into hospital. It tells nurses and medical staff important information about you.

• Mental health self-help leaflets in different formats. (https:// www.ntw.nhs.uk/pic/selfhelp/) • A Picture of Health website (http://www.apictureofhealth. southwest.nhs.uk/) . Source of Easy read information for people with a learning disability.

• NHS Choices has a facility which allows pages on their website to be translated. Click on the ‘Translate’ tab at the top right and choose from over 70 different languages.

Please let Healthwatch Wokingham Borough know about how easy it is for you to access information about health or social care locally. Your views matter!.

How to contact us : Facebook @healthwatchwokingham Twitter @HWWokingham Phone 0118 418 1 418 Website www.healthwatchwokingham.co.uk E-Mail enquiries@healthwatchwokingham.co.uk Walk in via Citizens Advice at 2 Waterford House, Erfstadt Court, Denmark St, 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

What is included?

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

Need to regular dental visits?

L

• Ask people if they have any information or communication needs, and find out how to meet their needs • Record those needs in a set way • Highlight a person’s file, so it is clear that they have information or communication needs, and clearly explain how these should be met • Share information about a person’s needs with other NHS and adult social care providers, when they have consent or permission to do so • Act to ensure information is shared in an accessible way and communication support is available.

£21 a month

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

Making health and social care information accessible in the borough AST year there were 1 million missed appointments in England due to patients experiencing communication barriers such as not hearing their name when called or not being able to understand written or electronic appointment information.

Lack of clear communication at clinic appointments was a contributing factor in the premature deaths of a number of people with learning disabilities, found by an Inquiry held in March 2013. In an attempt to improve communication all organisations that provide NHS or adult social care must follow the Accessible Information Standard by law by July 31, 2016.

The Accessible Information Standard aims to make sure that disabled people have access to information that they can understand and any communication support they might need.

The standard tells organisations how to make information accessible to patients, service users and their carers and parents. This includes making sure that people get information in different formats if they need it, such as large print, braille, easy read and via email The Accessible Information Standard also tells organisations how to support people’s communication needs, for example by offering support from a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter, deafblind manual interpreter or an advocate to support communication.

Or supporting the use of certain electronic communication aids or Apps.

As part of the standard organisations that provide NHS or social care must do five things. They must:

Need to budget for regular dental visits?

Bridge2Aid is a charity that

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

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

This Sunday, NATALIJA HABAROVA will put on her running shoes so she can get a step closer to helping share her dental knowledge in Africa … and she’s looking for your support

A

DENTAL nurse is looking to share her knowledge in Tanzania.

Natalija Habarova, who works at Wokingham-based Beechcroft Dental Practice, is preparing to help dental health charity Bridge2Aid with its life-changing work.

The UK-based organisation has set up facilities to treat the rural populations of Tanzania where dental care is a rarity.

Many people suffer terrible pain with their teeth and when help is neither close at hand nor affordable it can badly affect people’s lives.

In addition to providing treatment they also educate the community about correct diet and the

You do not need to be dentally fit to join BMS but a new patient examination is required before signing up.other If treatment need for regular brushing and train healthcare workers to provide simple dental care. isThe needed during the 12 month contract charity arranges for UK dentists, nurses, therapists and hygienists provide in their a member discounttoof 15%care is given.

holiday periods.

Natalija, who has worked at Beechcroft, which is based in Station Road, for three years, is currently applying to further her career at dental school with a view to becoming a hygienist/ therapist.

In order to fund her trip she must contribute £1,900 towards the costs of flights, accommodation and the provision and running of dental equipment.

To try to raise sponsorship she is running in her first Reading Vitality Half Marathon on Sunday and will also attempt a Tough Mudder in August this year.

To find out more about the works of Bridge2Aid visit www.bridge2aid.org/getinvolved/dental-volunteer-programme To help Natalija, you can sponsor at www. justgiving.com/Natalija-Habarova

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.

Inspectors rate local healthcare as ‘good’ A DIRECTOR of healthcare in Berkshire has praised her staff after receiving recognition for their work.

Earlier this week, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust revealed that it had been awarded a rating of ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

This is the first time ever that any similar combined trust in the south of the country has achieved this status.

The Trust provides combined mental and community health services across the county and one aspect of its work was singled out in the report: the community based older people’s mental health service was been classed as ‘outstanding’ overall, because staff went above and beyond the call of duty and feedback from patients and carers was overwhelmingly positive.

The trust was also recognised as

Need to budget for regular dental visits?

‘outstanding’ for the way it managed She said: “I am extremely proud end of life care. of all our staff, who have rightly been Other positive comments from the recognised for the fantastic levels of CQC included: care and professionalism they show Patients felt they were treated on a daily basis. We will continue with kindness, dignity and respect to focus on providing the very best Services responded well to patients possible services.” needs in a timely way, with a range of Whilst positive overall, there were treatments and therapies available a few specific areas that the CQC membership scheme a month Wards and clinics were clean and Ourhighlighted as still needing to be is available for well maintained, with medicines being better, namely in-patient wards for well managed older people and those with a learning What is included?

You disability. do not need to be dentally fit to join Staff were motivated, well trained • 2 Examinations (including x-rays) BMS but a new patient examination is and supervised, and had a good Julian Emms, Berkshire • 2 Hygienist visits culture of learning from incidents Healthcare’s executive, said: “I required before chief signing up. If treatment The organisation had an am delighted with our result but take • Accident & Emergency Insurance is needed during the 12 month contract experienced and strong leadership on board and welcome all the findings • 15% member discount on treatment a member discount of 15%where is given. team with committed senior staff in the report, particularly (excludes specialist and implant treatment) using best practice and innovation improvements are still needed.

“We know there is still more work Helen Mackenzie, director of to be done, and we are absolutely nursing and governance for Berkshire committed to bringing all our services Healthcare, was pleased with the up to a good or outstanding level over report. the coming months.”

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 one978 of 3815, our team.

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

20 | EDUCATION

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Press pack

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, April 1, 2016

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

Head boy Matt is Allwright at debate Left: Matt Allwright addresses Blue Coat’s Sixth Form students at its recent weekly debate, while, below, he caught up with history teacher, now Blue Coat archivist, Peter van Went

Members of Steppin Out Stars of Tomorrow! theatre school will be performing in Disneyland Paris next weekend

Disneyland stage beckons for the Stars of Tomorrow

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk A FORMER Head Boy turned BBC television and radio presenter visited his old school last week to give a talk to the Sixth Form.

Matt Allwright, star of BBC shows Watchdog, Rogue Traders and The One Show, dropped in to Reading Blue Coat School (RBCS), in Sonning Lane, on Tuesday, March 22, to take part in the school’s weekly Sixth Form Special on the subject The Collapse of Trust in Modern Society.

During his turn as guest speaker, the BBC Radio Berkshire presenter said: “Trust is such an important part of our lives, but it’s very, very

STUDENTS from a local theatre school know that all the world’s a stage, but few expected that signing up would lead them to a performance at Disneyland Paris.

Next weekend, 25 students from Steppin Out Stars of Tomorrow! stage school are heading to the French capital to share their love of theatre.

The popular theatre school, which runs classes in The Emmbrook School and Waingels College, has been selected to perform on one of the main stages at the popular tourist attraction.

The children will be performing an 18-minute musical theatre compilation based on the hit musical Guys and Dolls.

“It has been a long audition process

hard to get, especially as a journalist – even with 20 years of experience.

“The idea of maintaining trust – for anybody – is incredibly difficult now. Because of social media, everybody feels they have the right to comment on anything anyone does or says.

“Trust is so easily eroded.”

Matt attended RBCS from 1982 to 1988 before going on to study English at Manchester University.

He spent three years teaching in Japan where he read John Pilger’s book Heroes’ which he said “inspired me hugely to be a journalist because of the idea of telling stories that could change people’s lives – that could improve things”.

and the children have worked very hard,” said director and principal Shelley Fitzgibbon.

“As the show is currently on in the West End we managed a trip to London to see it so the children have a real sense of exactly what the show is about before we hit France.”

The youngest cast member Ella Zarb, is looking forward to the opportunity – and the chance to meet some favourite characters.

She said: “It is awesome to have been selected to perform at Disney” and she is so excited to meet the Disney princesses.”

“The whole experience is going to be amazing for the children as they will be there for four days,” said PA and parent Julie Riches.

The school go with a party of 51 and perform on Saturday, April 9.

Young speakers have a lot to say

A TRIO of talented public speakers from a school in Sonning have made history by becoming the first group to represent the school at a national final.

Ted Aplin, 12, William Peters, 13 and Miles Edwards (12), who all attend Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning Lane, secured a place at the National Finals of the Rotary Youth

Speaks Competition following their success at the Regional Final on Sunday, March 20.

For the first time in the school’s history, the intermediate team will travel to Kirkham Grammar School in Preston on May 7 to give a speech on the craze of taking selfies.

Miles said: “This occasion may call for a selfie!”

Public Speaking Coordinator at the school, Lisa Bennett added: “I am super proud of the boys.”

The team also enjoyed recent success at the Woodley Festival where they won the Team News Presenting awards, William won the gold medal for Year 8 prose reading and Ted won silver in the same category.

Blue Coat Public Speaking Coordinator Lisa Bennett with Rotary Youth Speaks Competition regional final winners William Peters, Ted Aplin and Miles Edwards

EDUCATION | 21

Friday, April 1, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

On top of the world after new school visit

WINDOWS & DOORS

CONSERVATORIES

s w

REPLACEMENT ROOFS

Parent and students on their visit to the new Bohunt Wokingham School. Although it opens in September, parts of the site will continue to be built in the year ahead. Last week, the new pupils were able to inspect the site and climb on to the new roof. Pictures: Stewart Turkington

By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk WORK on the new £32.5million secondary school at Arborfield Garrison is making steady progress, despite the wet weather of recent months.

The school, which will be known as Bohunt Wokingham when it is completed in summer 2017, has already offered places to more than 100 pupils to start this September in temporary accommodation at the former garrison.

When complete, the new school building will be able to accommodate 1,200 students, with an additional 300 places being made available for future growth later.

Following completion of the initial groundwork, which includes a new drainage system and foundations being laid, a handful of prospective students and their parents joined Wokingham Borough Council’s (WBC) executive member for children’s services, Cllr Charlotte Haitham Taylor, for a tour of the site last week.

Cllr Haitham-Taylor (pictured) said: “I’m not sure which was best – being able to walk around inside the new school and see new classrooms taking shape, or the delight on the faces of its future students accompanying us.

“I’m thrilled by the real progress being made on the new school, and was honoured to meet some of students who will be starting there this September and how impressed they were.

“We toured the building, going up to different floors to see the work done so far. These facilities will provide an inspirational learning environment to encourage them and every student to

BI-FOLD DOORS

FASCIAS AND SOFFITS reach their full potential.

“We’ve wanted for some time to provide a school in the south of the borough.

Parents, students and local schools have joined us on this journey to make this ambition a reality, and I’m delighted we’re on track to open in September.”

The school is being built on behalf of WBC by Dawnus, and will be run by Bohunt Education Trust, which prides itself on bringing innovation into the classroom, and has already built a partnership with local science-based technology company 3M. Martin Holt, project manager at Dawnus, said: “The construction is on schedule for next year’s opening. It is great to see so much enthusiasm for the project from the children and parents.”

Following the site visit, the chair of the school’s Parents Reference Group, Lloyd Watkins said he was ‘proud’ to see how much progress had been made.

He said: “Dawnus really made a real impression when they showed build progress to some of the first students of the

school and their parents.

“These people selected Bohunt School Wokingham from a set of drawings and placed their trust in Wokingham Borough Council, Dawnus and Bohunt Education Trust to deliver.

“The expressions on their faces as they walked through the large, open and impressive building really showed they think the promises are being fulfilled. I felt very proud of the people who have worked to bring this together – the look of awe and pleasure you could see when you looked at the children and parents made it all worthwhile, and so very real.

“The visit was practically on the anniversary of when planning permission for the school was granted and the progress of getting a site, a builder, the school leadership and the students is stupendous.

“We must not forget just how big a deal this is; the first new build secondary school in Wokingham Borough for more than 60 years and seeing some of the first students on the roof of this already magnificent building really caps the year.”

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| HERITAGE 22 Friday, August 21, 2015 TheWokinghamPaPer

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WokinghamRemembers

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, April 1, 2016

HERITAGE | 17

In association association with with In

Exploring Exploringour ourheritage heritagewith with wokinghamremembers.com wokinghamremembers.com

DRIVING REVIEW

How make an old Wokingham car present... look like new The to past which has shaped our Here’s one for theChuRChER local motorheads.

First off we This week MikE reviews have a story aboutRemembers a 90-year-old Wokingham the Wokingham articles motor which is about to have a major of the past four months and discussesfacelift.

There many of these oldcontributed vehicles on someare of the factors which display in the area, so as the schools to the making of Wokingham and itsare out for the Easter break, why not take a look at the environment. fantastic planes and cars in our local majormuseums? impact they had on the town and VER the past months the madeof a start with the DetailsWokingham of two local museums athave thealready bottom Remembers page has arewe road system by mapping out the course of been providing an early picture MIKE CHURCHER this article.

By the old Forest Road. of how a small market town and a

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fewNvillages onBarnes the edge of aOxford forest isRoad today 1924 AC of the ranked as one of the country’s leading in Wokingham, sold a pristine Morris communities.

Cowley two-seater Bullnose car to religion, industry, not transport, aEducation, local resident and incredibly social national politics only hasstructures, it stayed within the area, butand has local government all family important remained within theare same ever since. pieces in building the great Wokingham For years it remained in an old garage jigsaw.

HereMile nowRide is a until summary of our on the Nine its owner contributions to date one and day a few on John Lockyer decided it ideas needed next round of articles. athe facelift.

He called localEducation, restoration specialist Education, Robin Day at his workshop in the Education Hogwood Trading Estate who after

Today’s Wokingham is renowned as careful examination of the vehicle one of the country’s centres of excellence quickly realised it needed something for education; this is partly due to strong more than a touch of spit and polish. school performance and the motivated The 90-year-old motor was carefully parents who live in one of the most delivered into Robin’s workshop and, like highly educated communities in the UK. the peeling of an onion, it was stripped If we look into the history of back to nothing more than its basic Wokingham’s schools we can see frame. how education is woven into its DNA. This is a car which was born in Prior to the Great War, Wokingham Wokingham and will be lovingly restored was surrounded by manor houses and

by Robin whose family has also lived in members of the landed gentry who the area for many generations. wanted to be close to the levers of power; I came across Robin’s family i.e. the royal households of Windsor. during the research on In turn these upper echelons Wokingham’s fallen in possessed a serious sense of duty the First World War and, and a responsibility to ensure their sadly, two of his uncles community received at least a basic are named on the education. Wokingham also had a local memorial. powerful professional class, a strong There is church community (including the nonsomething rather conformists) and together they shared special about a local a strong belief in the importance of man with such strong teaching. roots gradually bringing The result was with the skills, the back to life an old car motivation and the finance available, which was once trundling there developed a culture of education around Wokingham’s old lanes which still holds strong to this day. back in the 1920’s.

Wokingham transport The Bullnose though in its day, was Transport probably the single something of aissensation.

Morris, with most important factor in Wokingham’s its investment firmly planted in modern development, in both its rail and road mass production, sold over 150,000 systems.Cowleys and Oxfords between Bullnose articles willoflook the1926. the Future production years 1919atand introduction ofthem the railways and thea Every one of was built with

While the of thereliability, M4 had aand reputation forbuilding unswerving major influence on the introduction with Robin’s painstaking attention toof the high tech whichbe now surround detail, the businesses car will no doubt returned Wokingham, it is the A329M which to its former glory. in Hopefully 1975 cut off Forest Road and its wethe can report on its natural connections between progress and eventually see it Emmbrook on and the villages Hurstone andofBinfield. The dazzling display of during love and hate famous relationship with our rail Wokingham’s September heritage and roads continue to this day! days.

The likes of Robinmilitary Day and John Wokingham’s Lockyer are not alone in their love of heritage old As motors and there is something of a 2015 is the bi-centenary of the tradition of engineering all around Battle of Waterloo, theretalent have been a this area.ofRobin says much of the parts number articles commemorating this can be changing accessed locally world event. without too much those which require Thedifficulty, area has but always been noted for advanced engineering skills can be its contribution to the nation’s military made to order byArborfield’s a number of specialist capability, with REME, companies which are dotted around RFA and Remount connections and the Berkshire Sandhurstand andSurrey.

Wellington Colleges all This is very apparent when visiting situated very nearby. theEven Museum of Berkshire Aviation in to the Duke of Wellington took Woodley and the Brooklands Museum living in Stratfield Saye, which today isin Weybridge, Surrey. only 30 minutes away from Wokingham’s exhibits are the product of townThe centre. many years of devotion by Wokingham’s volunteers who honed a of skills working benefactorlifetime culture for Wokingham some of the world’s The area around was most famous names in surrounded by many remarkable engineering. individuals and they were instrumental in Also, infrastructure did you know building the much needed Douglas Bader lost which underpinnedSir the establishment of a strong community. his legs during an We will later beaccident telling the of the at story Woodley Walter family andintheir contributions 1931?

He went on to the building of Wokingham but in April have prosthetic limbs first weekly issue, told the story fittedwe and became oneof ofthe much lovedthe Arthur the 6th Marquess greatHill, inspirational leaders of Downshire. of the Second World War. Although ofisBritain’s wealthiest The Bader one story told at the Museum landowners, Arthur Hill doubled as the of Berkshire Aviation. chief of theexample local FireofBrigade Another the richand was a major financial contributor to this part of engineering talent which exists locally services. Museum. isWokingham’s on display atpublic the Brooklands Later articles willLocke illustrate Built in 1907 by the Kingthe family, the demisetrack of these manors and their racing (andgreat still surviving in parts) incumbent the rise of was the firstsocial of itssystem kind in and the world.

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 told the story of the rioting in the town centre during the time of the 1857 General Election.

Such events were a common sight in the town and this short and bloody battle between the Whigs and the Tories also highlighted the Bush and Rose hotels in Market Place as the headquarters of these two feral groups.

The story was also able to reflect upon the national scene and the corrupt nature of general elections before the introduction of the private ballot.

Future articles will include further tales of anarchy and revelry in this old market town.

Wokingham at War

There are watershed moments in history which mark the moment of great change in a society and the Great War of 1914-1918 is one such time.

Therefore a number of centenaries between 2014 and 2018 will commemorate the great losses of war which scarred the people of Wokingham for the rest of the 20th century.

May’s edition followed the story of two brothers from Langborough Road in Wokingham town. One of our

The story was told in June, and also Top: A 1924 Bullnose commemorated the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, signed at nearby is from Wokingham Runnymede in 1215. about to be renovated by local owner Robin Shining a light on Day, pictured inset Wokingham’s ‘Dark Ages’oil with a restored To bring us up to date the August can.

Wokingham and articles are focused onLeft: the Concorde kids who isare one now entering into theirofsummer the Royal Forest the manyholidays. fantastic Looking at today’s community, it is What better way toattractions use this month’s to explore difficult to visualise just how rural the editions than to tell the of the atstories Brooklands area once was and in part explains the Romans, the Celts andMuseum. the Saxons sometimes fragile relationship between influence on the area before Wokingham Bottom: This plate the old and new Wokingham; few was even a twinkle in was old Wocca’s eye? on the Bullnose areas in the UK have witnessed such David Nash Ford provided a set of to let passengers extraordinary growth and change in the articles and puzzles which knowmakes where it came profile of its population. history fun for the young and no doubt from.

Although Wokingham’s history will also catch the interest the Inset of left: Sirparents Douglas has always been intertwined with who will be looking over their child’s Bader the surrounding villages by providing shoulder. a market place for agricultural and Here’s to the next round of articles!

Today, nestling somewhat n Call for visiting hours: Brooklands commercial produce, it was also a Forest Thanks go out to our contributors: Steve nextdid to not its massive Town. Theironically term ‘forest’ mean a Bacon,Museum, Jim Bell,Brooklands David NashRoad, Ford, Sarah Weybridge, Surrey, KT13Ottlewski 0QN – cluster of neighbour, trees, but aMercedes system ofBenz laws World, laid Huxford, Roger Long, Trevor Brooklands notprotection only displays 01932 857381.for Museum Berkshire down by royalty for the of and Peter Shilham all theirofcontinuing immaculate Aviation, Mohawk Way (off The Bader their hunting grounds.racing cars of yesteryear, contributions. but also rules a Concorde upon which you AllWay), Woodley RG5 4UE 0118 944 These onerous restricted local this work is provided by–our canusing climblarge on board 8089. people from parts –ofthe theonly landone inlocal historians free of charge and the South East ofled England.

This is Mike’s regular for sustenance and in part to the can benfound on thelast front pagecontribution of the It is immaculate. to this page.

I’m hugelywebsite grateful for rise of local highwaymen and general Wokingham Remembers lawlessness. These As a result, the subsequent www.wokinghamremembers.com two great museums survive his hard work and support over the Black Act on of 1723 came down heavily on Thanks alsointo Mark Wokingham Ashwell at the devotion of their volunteers past year making these ‘Wokingham Blacks’ anda resulted for supporting paper’s and are well worth visit overinthe TradeMark Remembers an essentialthe read. either their transportation commitment to thisPublisher project.

Phil Creighton, Easter holidays. or execution. 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.

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

Unit 20, Headley Park 10 (next to Screwfix), Woodley RG5 4SW 0118 9699322

Friday, April 1, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Leisure

LEISURE | 23

To advertise call 0118 328 2959

Your guide to what’s happening around Wokingham

REVIEW

PREVIEW

Whole lot of Shakers going on

Relive the summer of 1975 EARLS Court, May 1975. Does that ring any bells?

If you’re a Led Zeppelin fan it will.

Having just returned from America Led Zeppelin had three nights booked at Earls Court, London. The tickets sold out inside four hours and so two more dates were added which again sold out instantly.

Ticket sales were an unprecedented 85,000 and critics have said that these five concerts were the most impressive of their careers.

Four decades on, tribute act Boot-Led-Zeppelin are recreating those five glorious nights with their “most spectacular show to date”.

It’s coming to The Hexagon next weekend and will offer a stunning take on events of 40 years ago. From the laser pyramid during Dazed and Confused to the flaming gong at the end of Whole Lotta Love, Boot-led-Zeppelin’s new production features all the trademarks of a Led Zeppelin show.

And their approach has earned them plaudits from the great and good.

BBC Radio 1 DJ Ferne Cotton said: “Go Boot-Led, The nearest thing I have heard to the lords of rock. They got me so close to my true fantasy of hearing Led Zep Live.

You seriously won’t get any closer than this.”

The 1975 concerts lasted almost four hours, with a set list that included famous tracks such as Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Heartbreaker, Kashmir with an encore of Whole Lotta Love and Black Dog. Performing in the band are Raff Achour aka Jimmy Page, Jesse Smith aka Robert Plant, Mat Martin aka John Bonham and James Watson aka John Paul Jones.

The Hexagon’s concert, on Saturday, April 9, starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost £23 or £15 for concessions For more details, log on to www.bootled-zeppelin.com or www.readingarts.com, or call 0118 960 6060.

Animal Corner with Gemma Davidson

The Shakers, from left: Gemma Galliers, Emily Austin, Natalie Hayllor and Laura Hartley

Shakers Re-Stirred by John Godber and Jane Thornton EBOS, Pinewood Theatre Wednesday, March 23 until Saturday, March 26

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LAYING one character in a play is usually enough for most actors.

But not for the gals at the East Berkshire Operatic Society, oh no.

They can take playing two, three, four different characters, all in the space of one act. That’s quite a feat for any actor.

Set in a not-so-chic cocktail bar in 1980s London, Shakers Re-Stirred by John Godber and Jane Thornton is a candid look at at typical night for the staff and customers, following them all through from doors open to last orders.

We meet Adele (Gemma Galliers), Carol (Emily Austin), Nicky (Laura Hartley) and Mel (Natalie Hayllor) who guide the audience through the pitfalls of working in ‘the bar from hell’, as the personas of a giggly group of young supermarket workers celebrating a 21st birthday, well-to-do theatre-goers returning popping in for a drink after the show, and a group of yuppy city-workers avoiding dinner with the in-laws.

Fast-paced and full of laughs, Shakers is a big ask for the four young actresses but they maintain their professionalism throughout. Moving from character to character (often from female to male and back again) seamlessly through changes of accents, mannerisms and occasionally accessories, the action is easier to follow than one might expect.

Nestled in amongst the belly laughs,

however, we find tender moments of honesty from each of the four main characters: Adele is a struggling single parent; Carol longs for a career in photography; Nicky is secretly terrified of setting off on her new career as a dancer on a cruise ship; and Mel is haunted by an abortion she had when she was 16.

The characters deliver extensive monologues to the audience, fraught with emotion and uncomfortably raw as the lighting is stripped back to a single spotlight. The audience are given an insight to the pain behind the smiles the characters are forced to wear night in, night out for customers who treat them like dirt.

Adding a bit of comic relief are the recurring characters of the supermarket girls. We watch them at work, in the

Topshop dressing room, and getting ready for their big night out before ending the night a little worse for wear. The cast do a fantastic job of allowing the audience to connect with these characters, even though their appearances are fleeting.

What I particularly liked about this performance was the cast’s ability to suspend the audience’s belief throughout.

Slipping between characters and scenes can become arduous if the characters are bogged down with too many props, so instead director Margery Jackson has opted for a stripped-down set, with the Shakers bar as the main focus, and just a couple of tables and chairs with which to work.

I admit, at first I found the ‘pretend’ drinking out of an imaginary cocktail glass a little off-putting, but as the play goes on, your attention is fixed on the characters, rather than what is or isn’t in their hand.

This and the simple costume choices I think really add to the impact of the performance.

The characters all bring their own unique flavour to the pot, with Hayllor claiming the most laughs with her bold as brass Mel; Austin stealing the limelight with her witty one-liners and brilliant male characters; Hartley with her fantastic accents; and Galliers playing the role of the stressed-out, uptight single mother with ease.

The cast and crew showed incredible professionalism in front of a packed out, opening night audience, with very little in the way of nerves or slip-ups (or none that I noticed!), and it is easy to see why tickets have almost completely sold out.

Tickets are £11 and available to order from www.ebos.org.uk.

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 BEN Handsome, one-year-old collie Ben was found as a stray but was never claimed.

He is a very sweet, non-assertive dog both with people and with other dogs.

He is just one of those animals who seems to get along with everyone! Once he gets to know you he is very affectionate and cuddly, but never pushy.

He is good with other dogs, but we are not sure how Ben is with cats and small pets. He has no long term history so we would not wish to home him with children under 12 years.

He is good on the lead, but would benefit from further training which would help with his confidence and to build a bond with his new owner.

Ben loves walks, and would need company most of the time.

BRANDY Brandy is a five-year-old ex-breeding bitch, she was no longer wanted so came to DBARC to find a new loving home. Brandy is really sweet and friendly, and is great with other dogs.

She would definitely benefit from having another dog around to show her the ropes, but is brave enough to be an ‘only dog’ as long as someone is with her for most of the day.

Brandy has never lived with children so we would not want to put her with a family with under 12s.

She has not lived in a proper home before so her new family will need to understand she is unlikely to be housetrained or be used to normal household noises.

She is a lovely beagle and would make the perfect companion.

FELIX This poor little chap lost his tail in an accident with a door so maybe he is being overlooked because he looks a bit different to other cats.

His lost tail doesn’t hold him back though, and Felix is a lovely, friendly boy.

We believe he is six-years-old, and he has been neutered.

We don’t have any history for him but he seems to get on well with everyone.

Can you see past his imperfections and give Felix a loving forever 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

Your weekly puzzle challenge

24 | LEISURE

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Quiz Challenge

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1. What is the third largest city by population in Australia after Sydney and Melbourne?

2. Which Aviva Premiership rugby union club plays its home matches at Sandy Park?

3. Labour MP Jack Dromey is married to which prominent fellow Labour MP? 4. What confectionery eggs are named after the German for children?

5. The 2007 film The Golden Compass was based on Northern Lights, the first book of a trilogy written by which author?

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Each number in our Cross Code grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. You have three letters in the control grid to start you off. Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters should go in the missing squares.

As you get the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and control grid. Check off the alphabetical list of letters as you identify them.

MAGIC SQUARE

MUTT NOTES SOUP POT

How many words of four letters or more can you make from this Nonagram? Each word must use the central letter, and each letter may be used only once. At least one word using all nine letters can be found.

Guidelines: 22 Good; 26 Very Good; 30 Excellent.

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All puzzles on this page are supplied by Sirius Media Services.

To try more of our puzzles interactively online go to www.puzzledrome.com

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

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

6. In the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk which animal did Jack swap for some magic beans?

7. Which TV property expert is the daughter of the sixth Baron Hindlip, a former chairman of Christie’s?

8. Jueves is the Spanish word for which day of the week?

9. Which major seaport is the second most populated city in Bangladesh?

10. Carey Mulligan starred in which 2015 film based on a novel by Thomas Hardy?

WORD PYRAMID

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 1

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, April 1, 2016

© Sirius Media Services Ltd

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ACROSS 1. Different places, etc, might be worth seeing (9) 8. Man taking the orchestral part (4) 9. First victim of a prank (5,4) 11. Trapped questionable gondoliers without girl (6) 12. A jolly lady from the Spanish war fleet (6) 13. Carelessly patching a bedcover perhaps (8) 16. Give gear away to cause pain (8) 20. Small wave of laughter perhaps (6) 21. Tell everybody about the meat (6) 23. No sound coming from other lionesses (9) 24. In Kiev I nearly bought a climbing plant (4) 25. Doll’s home visited by theatre-goers (9)

DOWN 2. Covering the walls? (8) 3. Cold capital unknown for peak of excitement (6) 4. Pledge to a loud man who is engaged (8) 5. He comes up at Christmas (4) 6. Medicine, a singular school subject (6) 7. Keep back the delay (4,2) 10. Look over the church at the lake (4) 14. Garment that comes from the same collection as jersey (8) 15. Breaks down the summaries (8) 16. Reach part of popular river (6) 17. Being generous in yielding to pressure (6) 18. Four to one he’s a Russian (4) 19. Sun-god’s spacecraft? (6) 22. Lounge about with half a sweet? (4)

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26. Surgical ACROSS instrument (6) 1. Paces, strides (9) 29. Raw, painful (4) 9. Devastate (6) 30. Board game (4) 10. Scoff (4) 31. Root vegetable (6) 11. Chair (4) 32. General feeling (9) 12. Centre (6) DOWN 13. Grave (7) 2. First batsman (6) 16. Jab (4) 3. Cloudy, stirred 17. Gasp for breath (4) up (6) 18. Strike (3) 4. Even chance (4-2) 20. Baby’s bed (3) 5. Baby carriage (4) 21. Organs of sight (4) 6. Fill to satisfaction 23. London district (4) (7) 7. Poet (4) 25. English cheese (7)

8. Choice (9) 13. Conjecture (9) 14. Comprehensive defeat (4) 15. Wise men (5) 18. Owl’s cry (4) 19. Goddess of retribution (7) 22. Town road (6) 23. Ski race (6) 24. Tomboy (6) 27. Average (4) 28. Drink heavily (4)

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WORD PYRAMID: All over the place.

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

Total: 12.

MAGIC SQUARE: must; unto; stop; tope.

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QUICK CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Footsteps; 9 Ravage; 10 Jeer; 11 Seat; 12 Middle; 13 Serious; 16 Prod; 17 Pant; 18 Hit; 20 Cot; 21 Eyes; 23 Soho; 25 Stilton; 26 Lancet; 29 Sore; 30 Ludo; 31 Turnip; 32 Sentiment.

Down – 2 Opener; 3 Turbid; 4 Toss-up; 5 Pram; 6 Satiate; 7 Bard; 8 Selection; 13 Speculate; 14 Rout; 15 Sages; 18 Hoot; 19 Nemesis; 22 Street; 23 Slalom; 24 Hoyden; 27 Norm; 28 Tope.

up; 10 Loch; 14 Guernsey; 15 Analyses; 16 Arrive; 17 Giving; 18 deer; desert; deter; dree; elder; erst; ester; ether; heder; herd; here; herl; Ivan; 19 Apollo; 22 Loll. leer; leered; rede; reed; reel; reeled; reseed; reset; rest; rested; rete; seeder; seer; sere; sheer; sheered; shelter; SHELTERED; sherd; shred; steer; steered; stere; streel; streeled; teres; terse; there; three; tree; treed.

Down – Sucre; Ovoid; Tense.

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Spectacle; 8 Theo; 9 April fool; 11 Noosed; 12 Armada; (2) Across – Limey; Macau; Nooks.

Down – Lemon; Macro; Yours.

13 Nightcap; 16 Aggrieve; 20 Ripple; 21 Reveal; 23 Noiseless; 24 Vine; 25 Playhouse.

NONAGRAM: Down – 2 Papering; 3 Climax; 4 Affiance; 5 Leon; 6 Physic; 7 Hold

QUIZ CHALLENGE: 1 Brisbane; 2 Exeter Chiefs; 3 Harriet Harman; 4 Kinder Surprise; 5 Philip Pullman (the trilogy called His Dark Materials); 6 The family cow; 7 Kirstie Allsopp; 8 Thursday; 9 Chittagong; 10 Far From the Madding Crowd.

(1) Across – Scout; Clown; Endue.

FIVE ALIVE:

What’s on Friday, April 1 FINCHAMPSTEAD – Library, FBC Centre RG40 4ES. Rhymetime for under fives.

11am. Craft time for ages 2-5: rabbit theme. 11.30amnoon. £1. Details: 0118 908 8176.

LOWER EARLEY – Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Shared aloud reading group. 10.30am.

Details: 0118 931 2150.

SONNING – The Mill at Sonning, Sonning Eye RG4 6TY. West End star Glyn Kerslake and singer/ guitarist Elaine Glover in the Watermill Bar.. 7.30pm.

Details: 0118 969 8000.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. National Young Writers Creative Writing group for ages 7-10. Free session with Explore Learning. Booking essential. 10am-11am.

Cribbage and card games club. 10.30am Local history surgery: drop-in advice with a local expert. 10am-noon.

Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOKINGHAM – Downshire Golf Complex, Easthampstead Park, RG40 3DH. Town mayor’s charity golf day. From 1pm. £200 per team of four, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Details: 0118 974 0882.

WOKINGHAM – 30 Rose Street RG40 1XU. John Redwood MP constituency surgery by appointment.

Details: 020 7219 4205.

Saturday, April 2 MAIDEN ERLEGH – Library, off Silverdale Road RG6 7HS. Children’s Writing Group for ages 9-12. 2pm-2.45pm.

Details: 0118 966 6630.

READING – The Great Hall, University of Reading, London Road RG1 5AQ. Wokingham Choral Society concert: pre-concert talk from 6.30pm, concert at

7.30pm. £15, £5 students.

Details: www.wokinghamchoral-society.org.uk SHINFIELD – St Mary’s Church, Church Lane RG2 9BY. Trace Your Troops event: find out what your relatives did in the First World War. 1pm-4pm. Details: 0118 988 5923.

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. Code Club for ages 9-11.

Booking essential. 10.15am11.30am. Details: 0118 978 1368.

Sunday, April 3 READING – Across town.

Reading Half Marathon.

Road closures in place all morning.

WOKINGHAM WITHOUT – Pinewood Scout Hall. The Sprignic: indoor picnic and concert with Spriggan Mist and Pixiephonic. 2.30pm. £6 adults, £3 under 16s, under 12s free. Details: www. sprigganmist.co.uk WOODLEY – Town Centre. Car boot sale. 8am-1pm. £10 per Car or £8 for table top pitch/ Walk on, bring own tables.

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

Monday, April 4 BRACKNELL – Bracknell Open Learning Centre, Rectory Lane RG12 7GR. Bracknell Camera Club meeting: Members evening. 7.30pm.

Details: www.bracknellcamera-club.co.uk.

MAIDEN ERLEGH – Library, off Silverdale Road RG6 7HS. Colouring For Adults.

2.15pm-3pm. Details: 0118 966 6630.

SPENCERS WOOD – Library,

www.anvilarts.org.uk 01256 844244 The Wizard of Oz. Fri. Philharmonia Orchestra. Sat. Ireland’s Call. Wed. King of the South Seas. Wed. Tap Factory. Thurs. Dane Baptiste. Thurs.

Mission ImPUDSEYble. Fri 8-Sat 9.

National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain. Sun 10.

Basingstoke – The Haymarket www.anvilarts.org.uk 01256 844244 The Songs of Hollywood. Fri. How Lion Became King of Tinga Tinga Land. Sun. Pop Factor: The Concert! Thurs.

Bracknell – South Hill Park www.southhillpark.org.uk (01344) 484123 The Comedy Cellar. Fri. Wilde Sundays.

Sun. Creative Control Band Night.

Sun. Oliver! Tues-Sat 10. The Lamellar Project. Thurs-Sat 9. Bracknell Jazz: Lee Goodall. Fri 8. The Comedy Cellar.

Fri 8. Artree Live: Folk and Roots Music. Sat 9. West Forest Sinfonia Chamber Concert - CANCELLED. Sun 10. Mission Improvable. Sun 10. Wilde

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

The best guide for local, community events across Wokingham borough Basingstoke Road RG7 1AJ. Storytime for ages 3-5. 4pm.

Details: 0118 988 4771.

TWYFORD – Library, Polehampton Close RG10 9RP. Little Explorer’s Bunny Storytime. For under sevens, £1.50. 2pm-2.45pm.

Twyford Author book group.

2.30pm-3.30pm. Details: 0118 934 0800.

WARGRAVE – Library, Woodclyffe Hostel, Church Street RG10 8EP. Storytime: stories and rhymes for under fives. 4pm-4.30pm.

Monday bookworms book group. Booking essential.

2.15pm-3.15pm. Writers forum: share ideas and inspiration. 10.30am-noon.

Details: 0118 940 4656.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Little Explorer’s Bunny Storytime. For under sevens, £1.50. 10.30am-11.15am.

Knit Stitch and Natter: drop-in session, all abilities welcome. 2pm-3pm. Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Twelfth Night theatre show with The Enchanted Players. Booking eseential, £5. 2pm-3pm.

Details: 0118 969 0304.

Tuesday, April 5 LOWER EARLEY – Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Stop Motion Animation Workshop: create 2D or 3D chracters.

10.30am-12.30pm. £1.50, booking essential. Details: 0118 931 2150.

TWYFORD – Library, Polehampton Close RG10 9RP. Reminiscence Club.

10.30am-noon. Details: 0118 934 0800.

WINNERSH – Library, The Forest School, Robin Hood Lane RG41 5ND. Winnersh Readers bookgroup.

6.45pm-7.45pm. Winnersh Book Borrowers: book group for ages 7-11.

AT THE THEATRE

Basingstoke – The Anvil

LEISURE | 25

To advertise call 0118 328 2959

Friday, April 1, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Sundays. Sun 10. Creative Control Band Night. Sun 10.

FILMS: Dad’s Army. Fri, Sun. Bolshoi Babylon. Mon. Giselle. Wed. Concussion. Thurs, Fri 8. The Big Short.

Fri 8, Sun 10. Alvin and the Chipmonks: The Road Chip. Sat 9-Sun 10.

Camberley – Theatre www.camberleytheatre.biz 01276 707600 The Searchers. Fri. Saturday Morning Children’s Theatre: Alice In Wonderland. Sat 2. The BBC Big Band. Sat 2. OverWorld Minecraft Easter Show. Mon. Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular Show. Thurs. Baroque Theatre Company presents: Kindly Leave the Stage. Sat 9.

FILM: Notes On A Scandal. Tues.

Didcot – Cornerstone www.cornerstone-arts.org 01235 515144 Bella Hardy. Fri. Gyles Brandreth: Word Power! Sat. Leaper: A Fish’s Tale. Sat. Backstage in Biscuitland. Fri 8. The Importance of Being Earnest. Sat 9

Guildford – Yvonne Arnaud www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk 01483 440000 The Father. Until Sat. Invincible. Tues-Sat 9.

Booking essential. 4.15pm5pm. 50p. Details: 0118 979 7519.

WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. MORS presents Sri Lanka: Temples and Tea with David Granger. 7.30pm.

Details: 0118 977 6898.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Explore Learning: Horrid Henry. For ages 5-7.

Free. 11am-noon. Explore Learning: Wimpy Kid. For ages 8-11. Free. 9.45am10.45am. Rhymetime for babies. 10.30am-11am.

Rhymetime for under fives.

11.30am-noon. Storytime: stories and rhymes for parents and children to enjoy. For ages 3-5.

4pm-4.30pm. Children’s Origami Club. 4pm-4.45pm.

National Careers Service: Advice sessions to help you with career planning.

9.40am-3.40pm. UK Online: Help and support with computers and the internet for beginners. 2pm-4pm.

Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Rhymetime for under 5s. 10.30am. Crafts and Laughs. 2pm-4pm.

Details: 0118 969 0304.

Wednesday, April 6 FINCHAMPSTEAD – Library, FBC Centre RG40 4ES. Colouring for Adults. Free.

10am-noon. Details: 0118 908 8176.

WARGRAVE – Library, Woodclyffe Hostel, Church Street RG10 8EP. Little Explorer’s Bunny Storytime.

For under sevens, £1.50.

10.30am-11.15am. Crafts and Laughs. 1.30pm3.30pm. Details: 0118 940 4656.

WINNERSH – Library, The Forest School, Robin Hood Lane RG41 5ND. Storytime

Henley – Kenton Theatre www.kentontheatre.co.uk 01491 575698 Alice In Wonderland. Until Sun. David Starkey The King Is Dead. Wed. Pop Factor The Concert. Fri 8. Romesh Ranganathan. Sat 9.

High Wycombe – Wycombe Swan www.wycombeswan.co.uk 01494 512000 Flare Path. Until Sat. Shawn Klush – The Elvis World Tour. Sun. Champions of Magic. Mon. Dinosaur Zoo. Tues-Wed. Arrival: The Hits of Abba. Thurs.

Hellfire Comedy Club. Thurs. The Magic of Motown. Fri 8. Louis Pearl: The Amazing Bubble Man. Sat 9.

Celebration of John Denver. Sat 9.

Maidenhead – Norden Farm www.nordenfarm.org 01628 788997 James Campbell’s Comedy 4 Kids. Fri. Spring Ceilidh. Fri. I Got Gershwin.

Fri. Ruby Wax: Frazzled, a Guide To Mindfulness. Fri. Flash: A Tribute to Queen. Sat. PerKelt. Sun. ROH LIve: Giselle. Wed-Thurs. Play Dough. Thurs.

West My Friend. Thurs. Friday Night

for ages 3-5. 10.15am10.45am. Colouring For Adults. 11.45am-1.15pm.

Details: 0118 979 7519.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Stop Motion Animation Workshop: create 2D or 3D chracters. 10.30am12.30pm. £1.50, booking essential. Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Explore Learning: Awesome Egptians. For ages 5-7.

Free. 11am-noon. Scrabble Club for adults. 2pm-3pm.

National Careers Service.

10am-5pm. Details: 0118 969 0304.

Thursday, April 7 LOWER EARLEY – Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Board Games Club. 10am-11am.

Manga Workshop for ages 8-16. £2.50, booking essential. 10am-11.30am.

Details: 0118 931 2150.

MAIDEN ERLEGH – Library, off Silverdale Road RG6 7HS. Manga Workshop for ages 8-16. £2.50, booking essential. 2pm-3.30pm.

Details: 0118 966 6630.

SPENCERS WOOD – Library, Basingstoke Road RG7 1AJ. Rhymetime: rhymes and stories for under fives. 2.30pm-3pm. Little Explorer’s Bunny Storytime.

For under sevens, £1.50.

2pm-2.45pm. Knit and Natters. 3pm-4pm. Details: 0118 988 4771.

WINNERSH – Library, The Forest School, Robin Hood Lane RG41 5ND. Keep Calm and Fly Casual: Club for players of the X Wing Miniatures Game. Age 16 and over. 5.30pm-7.45pm.

Details: 0118 979 7519.

WOKINGHAM – Baptist Church, Milton Road.

Wokingham Literary Society meeting: TBC. £2.50 non-

members. 7.30pm. Details: 0118 978 6782.

WOKINGHAM – The Cornerstone, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UE. Wokingham and East Berkshire Camera Club (WEBCC) meeting: Annual contest, 1st round. 7.30pm.

Details: 0118 977 5670.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Get Arty: rabbit themed crafts for ages 4-12. £1.50. 10.30am-11.30am.

Reminiscence Club: discuss your memories of days gone by. 10.30am-noon.

Board Games club. 10am11am. Home educated book group for ages 7-14. Booking essential.

10.30am-11.30am. First Thursday book group.

6.30pm-7.45pm. National Careers Service. Advice sessions to help you with career planning, CVs and interviews. 9.40am to 3.40pm. Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Children’s Chess Club for ages 8 upwards. 3.30pm-5pm.

Book club: discuss new and favourite books.

10.30am-11.30am. First Thursday evening book club.

6pm-6.45pm. Details: 0118 969 0304.

Friday, April 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. Parcord weaving workshop for ages 6 upwards. £5 per bracelet.

10.45am-noon. Details: 0118 931 2150.

MAIDEN ERLEGH – Library, off Silverdale Road RG6 7HS. Get Arty: Shakespeare and rabbit-themed crafts for

Flamenco. Fri 8. Foil, Arms and Hog: Skiddlywup. Fri 8. Card Ninja. Sat 9.

Strictly Laurie Holloway and his Big Band. Sat 9. Tankus The Henge. Sun 10.

FILMS: Oddball and the Penguins. Fri-Sat. Capture The Flag. Sat, Thurs. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip. Sun. Janis: Little Girl Blue. Sun. Trumbo. Sun, Tues. Goosebumps. Tues, Fri 8. A Bigger Splash. Fri 8.

Newbury – The Corn Exchange www.cornexchangenew.com 0845 5218 218 Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho. Fri. Debra Stephenson: Night of 100 Voices. Fri. Rumpelstiltskin. Sat. The Wizard of Oz: Newbury Musical Theatre Society. Tues-Sat 9. Craig Campbell: Don’t Look Down. Sat 9.

FILM: Rams (15). Sat-Wed. High-Rise (15).

Until Thurs.

ages 4-12. 2.30pm-3.30pm, £1.50. Details: 0118 966 6630.

LOWER EARLEY – Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Book Club.

10.30am-11.30am. Details: 0118 931 2150.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Local history surgery.

10am-noon. Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Get Arty: Shakespeare and rabbitthemed crafts for ages 4-12.

2.15pm-3.15pm, £1.50.

Details: 0118 969 0304.

Saturday, April 9 EARLEY – Our Lady of Peace Social Club, Wokingham Road RG6 7DA (entrance off Aldbourne Avenue).

Race night. Details: 0118 935 2927.

HURST – Emmbrook Room, Dinton Pastures Country Park RG10 0TH. Berkshire Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers exhibition.

10.30am-4.30pm. Details: www.bswd.org.uk.

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

READING – Novotel, Friar Street RG1 1DP. Berkshire Townwomen’s Guild Roadshow. Free entry.

Fashion show, makeover, and more. 10.45am-3.30pm.

Details: 0118 952 2600.

WARGRAVE – Val Wyatt Marine, Willow Lane RG10 8LH. River and boating open weekend: vintage tea room, Prosecco bar, farm shop and barbecue. 10am-4pm.

Details: 0118 940 3211.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Teen writing group for ages 11-18. 10.30am-noon. Dad and Baby Rhymetime for

Backstage In Biscuit Land. Sat 9.

Reading – The Hexagon www.readingarts.com 0118 960 6060 Bear Behaving Badly. Sat-Sun. Banff Mountain Film Festival. Fri 8. Boot Led Zeppelin. Sat 9.

Reading – The Concert Hall

HURST – Emmbrook Room, Dinton Pastures Country Park RG10 0TH. Berkshire Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers exhibition.

10.30am-4.30pm. Details: www.bswd.org.uk.

READING – Harris Gardens, University of Reading RG6 6UD. Open gardens in aid of British Red Cross. 2pm-5pm. £3, under 12s free. Details: 0118 935 8221.

WARGRAVE – Val Wyatt Marine, Willow Lane RG10 8LH. River and boating open weekend. 10am-4pm.

Details: 0118 940 3211.

WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. French Conversation Club for those with basic French knowledge. 2pm-3pm.

Details: 0118 969 0304.

0118 969 8000 Last of the Red Hot Lovers. Until May 7.

Glyn and Elaine. Fri. The Bourne Again Shadows with Cliff. Sun. Book Club.

Wed. Storytime: Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Thurs. The Definitive Rat Pack. Sun 10.

Windsor – Theatre Royal www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk 01753 853888 Shadowlands. Until Sat. Save The Last Dance For Me Wed-Sat 9. Buddy Holly and the Cricketers. Sun 10.

Reading – Progress Theatre

Woking – New Victoria

www.progresstheatre.co.uk 0118 384 2195 NEXT SHOW: Stones In His Pockets. Mon 11-Sat 16.

www.ambassadortickets.com 0844 871 7645 The Bodyguard. Until Sat 9.

Shinfield – Shinfield Players

www.watermill.org.uk.

01635 46044 Romeo and Juliet. Until Sat. The Railway Children. Wed-Sat 9.

www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk 0118 975 8880 NEXT SHOW: Frozen Sing-a-long. Sat 23.

Acting, Singing and a Shot of Whisky.

April 28-30.

www.readingarts.com 0118 960 6060

Sunday, April 10

www.readingarts.com 0118 960 6060 Russell Kane: Right Man, Wrong Age. Wed. The Songs of Hollywood. Fri 8.

Newbury – The Watermill

Reading – South Street

up to 18 months. 10am10.30am. Poetry Writing Group for adults. 10am11.30am. Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOKINGHAM – Town Hall, Market Place RG40 1AS. Craft fair. Noon-3pm.

Free entry. Details: 07790 830382.

WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Children’s art workshop with Lisa Marie Gibb: The Bird That Flew Away And All That He Saw. Booking essential, £1.50. 10am-noon. Saturday storytime for parents and children. 11am. Adult art workshop with Lisa Marie Gibb. Booking essential, £3.

1pm-3pm. Details: 0118 969 0304.

WOODLEY – Oakwood Centre, Headley Road RG5 4JZ. Thames Valley Ancient Egypt Society lecture: Beth Asbury on General Pitt River’s interest in Egypt, his pioneering research, and some of the Egyptian gems on display. £3. 2pm-4.30pm.

Details: 01491 838803.

Sonning – The Mill www.millatsonning.com

Wokingham – Theatre www.wokingham-theatre.org.uk 0118 978 5363 Hactivists/Chatroom. April 12-16.

Woodley – Theatre www.woodleytheatre.org 07939 210121 NEXT SHOWS: Raving: CANCELLED DUE TO ILLNESS. April 19-23.

26 | LEISURE

To advertise email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Gig guide Friday, April 1 BAGSHOT – The Three Mariners, High Street GU19 5AW. Grant Chambers.

Details: 01276 473768.

BAGSHOT – The Cedar Tree, High Street GU19 5AG. The Congakeyz. Details: 01276 473160.

BINFIELD – Binfield Club, Forest Road RG42 4DU. Creme Freche. Details: 01344 420572.

BRACKNELL – The Silver Birch, Liscombe RG12 7DE. Dan McHugh. Details: 01344 457318.

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Bon Giovi Tribute. Details: 01344 303333.

CAMBERLEY – The Four Horseshoes, Frimley Road GU15 3EQ. In Too Deep.

Details: 01276 63842.

CROOKHAM – The Black Horse, The Street GU51 5SJ. Arachna. Details: 01252 616434.

FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. Fat Men In A Bathtub. Details: 01252 519964.

FARNBOROUGH – The Tradesmans Arms, Cove Road GU14 0EX. Ma Might.

Details: 01252 376745.

FLEET – The Fox and Hounds, Crookham Road GU51 5NP. The Turn. Details: 01252 663686.

HENLEY – Lovibonds Brewery, Market Place RG9 2AA. Jukes Blues. Details: 01491 576596.

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Crazy Diamond - Pink Floyd Tribute and The Doors of Perception, a Doors tribute band. Details: 0118 959 5395.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Crime Scene Improvisation.

Deep Far: The Bass House Addition.. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – The Red Lion, Southampton Street RG1 2QL. Open Mic Night.

Details: 0118 958 2797.

SONNING – The Mill at Sonning RG4 6TY. Live in the Watermill Bar: Glyn and Elaine. Details: 0118 969 8000.

TWYFORD – The Golden Cross, Waltham Road RG10 9EG. Steve and Megan.

Details: 07946 342551.

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 Shelf Side. Details: 0118 978 0918.

WOKINGHAM – Victoria Arms, Easthampstead Road RG40 2EH. Soulfool Dance Party DJs. Details: 0118 9783023 WOKINGHAM – The Molly Millar, Station Road RG40 2AD. 70s, 80s night with DJ Mally. Details: 0118 977 4548.

WOKINGHAM – The Red Lion, Market Place RG40 1AL. Ultimate Party Nights.

Details: 0118 979 5790.

WOKINGHAM – Spin Nightclub, Alexandra Court RG40 2SL. Frisky Fridays.

Details: 07415 354056.

Saturday, April 2 BINFIELD – Binfield Club, Forest Road RG42 4DU. The Berries. Details: 01344 420572.

BRACKNELL – The Boot Inn, Park Road RG12 2LU. In Too Deep. Details: 01344 454532.

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. The New Ambassadors. Funky Mukkas. Details: 01344 303333.

BRACKNELL – The Crown Wood, Opladen Way RG12 0PE. Fat Men In The Bathtub. Details: 01344 867374.

CROWTHORNE – The Crowthorne Inn, High Street RG45 7AD. Force Ten. Details: 01344 530615.

CROWTHORNE – Wellington College, Dukes Ride RG45 7PU. In Too Chic. Details:

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, April 1, 2016

HOLDING A GIG, QUIZ OR GAMES NIGHT? SEND DETAILS TO EVENTS@WOKINGHAMPAPER.CO.UK 01344 444000.

EARLEY – Radstock Lane RG6 5UL. Charis-Anne. Details: 0118 9313965.

FARNBOROUGH – The Ivy Leaf Social Club, Cove Road GU14 0HF. DisCover.

Details: 01252 542962.

FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. Graeme. Details: 01252 519964.

FARNBOROUGH – The Plough and Horses, Fleet Road GU14 9RG. Taking The Mic with The Dead Hand Gang.

Details: 01252 545199.

FARNBOROUGH GREEN – The Fox, Chapel Lane GU14 9BN. The Serial Thrillers.

Details: 01276 34735.

EMMBROOK – The Dog and Duck, Matthewsgreen Road RG41 1JT. Old Soul and Motown Night. Details: 0118 978 0544.

FLEET – The Falkners Arms, Falkners Close GU51 2XF. Forty45. Details: 01252 811311.

READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. Syn City Rockers. Details: 0118 957 6930.

READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Hungarian Night: Andrewboy with Coronita Classic Party. Details: 0118 402 7800.

READING – The Red Lion, Southampton Street RG1 2QL. Tonnic. Details: 0118 958 2797.

SONNING – The Mill at Sonning RG4 6TY. Live in the Watermill Bar: Tim Valentine. Details: 0118 969 8000.

WEST END – West End Social Club, High Street GU26 9PL. Horizon. Details: 01276 858501.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Jukebox Junkies.

Details: 0118 978 0918.

WOKINGHAM – The Molly Millar, Station Road RG40 2AD. 70s, 80s night with

The Gas Trick Band are coming to The Hope and Anchor on Saturday, April 9 DJ Mally. Details: 0118 977 4548.

WOKINGHAM – The Red Lion, Market Place RG40 1AL. Ultimate Party Nights.

Details: 0118 979 5790.

WOKINGHAM – Spin Nightclub, Alexandra Court RG40 2SL. Essential Saturday. Details: 07415 354056.

YATELEY – The Dog and Partridge, The Green GU46 7LR. Brodie. Details: 01252 870648.

Sunday, April 3 BRACKNELL – The Crown Wood, Opladen Way RG12 0PE. Jam session: Martin Deadman acoustic. Details: 01344 867374.

BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Creative Control Band Night. Wilde Sundays.

Details: 01344 484123.

FLEET – The Prince of Wales, Reading Road South GU52 7SY. NRG. Details: 01252 614284.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. EMBEEPEE: Dignan Porch and Peter Hefferan. Details:

Fred’s House will perform at the Wokingham Music Club on Monday

0118 959 7196.

READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Readifolk: Theme night - These Foolish Things. Details: 0118 958 6692.

SONNING – The Mill at Sonning RG4 6TY. The Bourne Again Shadows With Cliff. Details: 0118 969 8000.

WEST END – West End Social Club, High Street GU26 9PL. Open Mic and Jam Night. Details: 01276 858501.

Monday, April 4 EMMBROOK – Sports and Social Club, Lowther Road RG41 1JB. Wokingham Music Club presents Fred’s House. Details: wokinghammusicclub.co.uk

Tuesday, April 5 ASCOT – Jagz, Station Road.

Adam Sweet Details: 01344 878100.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Comedy Night: Patrick Monahan. Details: 0118 959 7196 STOKE ROW – Crooked Billet RG9 5PU. The Dime Notes.

Details: 01491 681048.

WINDLESHAM – The Sun, Chertsey Road GU20 6EN. Bracknell Folk Club presents: Skyport Ade’s Pottingshed Band. Details: 01276 472234.

Wednesday, April 6 TWYFORD – The Golden

HOPE & ANCHOR Free entry, fantastic beers & a great night out!

Everything from Led Zepplin to the Foo Fighters

WEY LIVE The Gas Trick Band MUSIC Rock, indie, pop and ska covers Coming next Saturday, April 9

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

Thursday, April 7 CAMBERLEY – Mr Bumble, GU17 9AP. Jam Night.

Details: 01276 32691.

CAMBERLEY – The Royal Standard, Frimley Road GU15 2PP. Acoustic evening Details: 01276 27641.

HENLEY – Magoos, Hart Street. Stars In Their Minds karaoke. Details: 01491 574595.

FLEET – Propaganda Music Canteen, Fleet Road GU51 3BU. The Retro-Beats.

Details: 01252 620198.

SUNNINGDALE – Sunningdale Lounge, London Road SL5 0DG. Big Al and the Blistering Buicks. Details: 01344 876887.

YATELEY – Mumbai Kitchen, Reading Road GU46 7UH. Gary Roman and Elvis.

Details: 01252 861151.

Friday, April 8 BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, Market Street RG12 1JG. T & The Mugs. Details: www.theacousticcouch. co.uk BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Funklab. Details: 01344 303333.

BRACKNELL – The Crown

The BROAD ST TAVERN

This Saturday @ 9pm

JUKEBOX JUNKIES

Cross, Waltham Road RG10 9EG. Open Mic night with Damian Delahunty. Details: 07946 342551.

WINDLESHAM – The Half Moon, Church Road GU20 6BN. Gavin Thomas. Details: 01276 473329.

LIVE MUSIC EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT APRIL 1

THE SHELF SIDE

FUNK & ROCK

APRIL 8

IT’S KING LOUD FIRST GIG IN WOKINGHAM!

COME AND JOIN US! 29 Broad Street, Wokingham RG40 1AU 0118 977 3706 WWW.BROADSTREETTAVERN.CO.UK

Wood, Opladen Way RG12 0PE. Ash Lee. Details: 01344 867374.

CAMBERLEY – The Royal Standard, Frimley Road GU15 2PP. England’s Dreaming. Details: 01276 27641.

FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. Mike Hughes.

Details: 01252 519964.

FLEET – The Fox and Hounds, Crookham Road GU51 5NP. Leech. Details: 01252 663686.

HENLEY–ON–THAMES – The Queen Victoria, Market Place RG9 2AG. Wardour Street. Details: 01491 412667.

READING – The Hexagon. The Songs of Hollywood. Details: 0118 960 6060.

READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. Somerset Slim. Details: 0118 957 6930.

SANDHURST The White Swan, Swan Lane GU47 9BU. In Too Deep. Details: 01252 872444.

WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. It’s King Loud. Details: 0118 978 0918.

WOKINGHAM – The Molly Millar, Station Road RG40 2AD. 70s, 80s night with DJ Mally. Details: 0118 977 4548.

WOKINGHAM – The Red Lion, Market Place RG40 1AL. Ultimate Party Nights.

Details: 0118 979 5790.

WOKINGHAM – Spin Nightclub, Alexandra Court RG40 2SL. Frisky Fridays.

Details: 07415 354056.

Saturday, April 9 BINFIELD – Binfield Club, Forest Road RG42 4DU. Uptown Traffic. Details: 01344 420572.

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. DeLorean. Details: 01344 303333.

BRACKNELL – Warfield Park Community Centre, Warfield Park RG42 3RJ. Any Buddy Out There. Details: www. anybuddyoutthere.com BRACKNELL – Crown Wood Community Centre, Openladen Way, Crown Wood RG12 0PE. Murphy James. Details: 07707 681202.

BRACKNELL – The Acoustic Couch, Market Street RG12 1JG. Four Play Prog Rock Fest from 5.30pm: Spriggan Mist, Kindred Spirit, The Far Meadow and Quiet Wish. Details: www. theacousticcouch.co.uk BRACKNELL – The Royal Oak, London Road RG12 2NN. From The Ashes. Details: 01344 422622.

CAMBERLEY – Mr Bumble, GU17 9AP. Highside.

Details: 01276 32691.

CROWTHORNE – The Crowthorne Inn, High Street RG45 7AD. The Originals. Details: 01344 530615.

FARNBOROUGH – The Ivy Leaf Social Club, Cove Road GU14 0HF. Red Herring.

Details: 01252 542962.

FARNBOROUGH – The

Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. Bright Shadows.

Details: 01252 519964.

FARNBOROUGH – York Road Social Club, York Road GU14 6NG. The Lord John Band. Details: 01252 501809.

FLEET – The Falkners Arms, Falkners Close GU51 2XF. !daft!. Details: 01252 811311.

FINCHAMPSTEAD – The Queen’s Oak, Church Lane RG40 4LS. Flick. Details: 0118 973 4855.

FRIMLEY GREEN – The Rose and Thistle, Sturt Road GU16 6HT. The Serial Thrillers. Details: 01252 834942.

FRIMLEY GREEN – Frimley Green Working Mens Club, Sturt Road GU16 6HX.The SkaSouls. Details: 01252 835322.

PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. Stand-up comedy night. Details: 0118 969 9878.

SANDHURST – The Rose and Crown, High Street GU47 8HA. NRG. Details: 01252 878938.

SANDHURST – The Wellington Arms, Yorktown Road GU47 9BN. The Sinners Lounge. Details: 01252 872408.

TWYFORD – The Golden Cross, Waltham Road RG10 9EG. The Capo Thieves.

Details: 07946 342551.

WEST END – West End Social Club, High Street GU26 9PL. The Replays. Details: 01276 858501.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. 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.

WOKINGHAM – Spin Nightclub, Alexandra Court RG40 2SL. Essential Saturday. Details: 07415 354056.

YATELEY – The Dog and Partridge, The Green GU46 7LR. John James Newman and Sandy Newman. Details: 01252 870648.

Sunday, April 10 BRACKNELL – Crown Wood Community Centre, Openladen Way, Crown Wood RG12 0PE. Murphy James. Details: 07707 681202.

PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. Flowing Spring Classic car and Bike Breakfast Club.

Details: 0118 969 9878.

READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Readifolk: Jez Lowe. Details: 0118 958 6692.

SONNING – The Mill at Sonning RG4 6TY. The Definitive Rat Pack. Details: 0118 969 8000.

TWYFORD – The Golden Cross, Waltham Road RG10 9EG. The Jukesters. Details: 07946 342551.

LEISURE | 27

To advertise call 0118 328 2959

Friday, April 1, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

AT THE CINEMA

The acoustic couch

Soaring high with the Eagle’s finest hour

Nicky gives me a buzz

Upcoming music with Jody Mc

Get ready for Prog Rock central!

ON SATURDAY, April 9 for one night only Bracknell becomes Progressive Rock central.

The Acoustic Couch in Market Street hosts The Four Play Prog fest featuring four bands namely Quiet Wish, The Far Meadow, Kindred Spirit and Bracknell’s very own Spriggan Mist.

Progressive rock, or ‘prog’ as it’s often called, is a form of rock music that evolved in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of an attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility.

Bands like Genesis, Pink Floyd, Yes, Rush, Jethro Tull and Emerson Lake and Palmer emerged as popular choices in any self-respecting Proggy’s vinyl collection.

Although never completely fading into obscurity the genre has recently had a new lease of life none more so than on the unsigned band circuit.

Kindred Spirit’s front woman Elaine Samuels and Spriggan Mist husbandand-wife duo Baz and Max Cilia have long mused over a Prog night locally.

Eddie the Eagle (15) ««««« Stars: Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman, Christopher Walken, Mark Benton, Keith Allen

W

Underdog

Eddie the Eagle is a celebration of the underdog and the plucky spirit that underlines that.

Never once poking fun at Edwards, like numerous news headlines did at the time he was competing, instead it shows the true worth of everything he achieved.

He wasn’t privileged – he came from a working class background (his parents are played by Keith Allen and Jo Hartley) – and yet nothing stopped him achieving his dream.

It’s a message of hope in a society that seems increasingly to favour the privileged, bringing opportunities to those who have the means.

It’s credit to Fletcher, who himself has come from a profession – acting – that’s come under fire of late for being increasingly the preserve of the wealthy and privately educated, that he reminds us all that opportunities should be open to us all. And he does it cleverly through the channel of a feelgood film.

Who knows what Edwards with his tenacity and determination might actually have achieved given the right opportunities?

A captivatingly told story, it’s the wonderful chemistry between Jackman and Egerton that sets this charming Brit flick alight.

Another funny and uplifting human tale from former child actor Dexter Fletcher, the man behind Sunshine on Leith and Wild Bill, Eddie the Eagle deserves to soar.

Four to play

Nicky Booty posts a daily vlog on YouTube and makes some fantastic music too

Hear a real musical treasure – Nicky Booty is a artist that really stands out.

JODY Mc explains

I

GET a buzz when I find a musical treasure, for example a song or an artist that can leave you with tingles.

That feeling though is so much more special for me when that find is unsigned.

Nicky Booty from Wokingham was introduced to me last year and she really stood out from a lot of the other female artists.

When originally sifting through the young lass’s social media, I noticed one thing straight away. She loves a collaboration.

What really stand out is how right she seems to get it each time she works with someone.

I think the first question I will ask Nicky when she hopefully plays at Theacousticcouch venue later this year is; What’s your secret and how do you decide on each collaborative song and artist?

Whether the acts she creatively

STR8TS Tough

Previous solution - Medium

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

6 7

9 9 3 8 1 8

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comes together with find her, or whether she simply knows her artistry extremely well it’s a testament to Nicky.

I don’t think she has shared a song I don’t like.

You always have to have a favourite haven’t you, my pick from a great bunch is Droplets.

You can find a copy of the track and leave your thoughts at this link: www.soundcloud.com/nickybooty/ droplets-cover-nicky-booty-anddandaniels If you want to get to know Nicky a little more then why not check out her new ‘vlog’ (a video blog on YouTube).

You’ll find yourself chuckling I’m sure, Nicky is definitely charming and not shy in front of camera. Catch her on YouTube or at www.facebook.com/ Nickybooty/

The Four Play Prog Fest is the result of that musing. Four bands (hence the name) one venue one night.

The evening will be a fiesta of good music in the atmospheric setting that is The Acoustic Couch in Bracknell’s town centre and a short walk from the bus and train stations.

When asked what will people going to the festival expect Baz Cilia said: “All four bands although coming from The ‘Prog’ genre are very different, ranging from very moody and ambient, right through to Folk Prog and even the heavy guitar riff type of Prog.

“If you love to listen to music there will be something for everyone”. n You can get cheaper tickets in advance from www.sprigganmist.co.uk/ Progfestival.html n Spriggan Mist are also hosting a family picnic event in Wokingham Without on Sunday. It starts at 1.30pm and takes place in the Scout Hall in Pinewood Leisure Centre. Full details including a ticket link on Spriggan Mist’s website.

SUDOKU

No. 275

5

2

You can find more help, tips and hints at www.str8ts.com

8 9 2 1 5 6

6 7 8 5 9 3 4 2

7

3 4 2 5

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

No. 275

Easy

Previous solution - Very Hard

3 4 7 2 1 8 5 6 9

5 2 4 3 9 8 5

6 9 2 4 2

4 6

9 5

How to beat Str8ts – Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These need to be filled in with numbers that complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order, eg [4,2,3,5]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to The solutions will be published here in the next issue. see how ‘straights’ are formed.

3

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

HEN you first heard they were making a film about Eddie Edwards, you assumed it was a joke, right? And starring Hugh Jackman, latest greatest British talent Taron Egerton and Christopher Walken? They were clearly pulling our chains.

Only, they weren’t. Director Dexter Fletcher was deadly serious about bringing the story of Britain’s biggest loser to the big screen. About as serious as the real Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards was about becoming an Olympic ski jumper, in fact.

Starting at the beginning of his story, the film charts the young Michael Edwards’s tale – his unlikely dreams of becoming an Olympic ski jumper and his unswerving belief in himself.

Eventually heading off to a training camp in Germany determined to prep himself to qualify for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Eddie (Egerton) finds himself an inconvenience, an annoyance and the butt of jokes.

Teaming up with reluctant former champion ski jumper Bronson Peary (Jackman) – now a drunk has-been grooming snow – together they help each other.

This ultimately results in both achieving their own personal victories, spawning a celebration that earns Eddie his nickname, and the attention of the world.

7 2 1 3 9

3 6 8 1 7 9

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

Kim Taylor-Foster

8 9 1 5 3 6 2 4 7

5 2 6 7 9 4 1 8 3

2 7 3 6 5 1 4 9 8

9 6 4 3 8 2 7 1 5

1 8 5 4 7 9 3 2 6

4 3 2 8 6 7 9 5 1

7 1 8 9 2 5 6 3 4

6 5 9 1 4 3 8 7 2

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org If you like Str8ts check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

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

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You can pay a little and include your company logo, a box or convert it into a bigger advert – for more details email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk.

Please note: offer is limited to one advert per company and is only open during April 2016. We will place your advert only when there is space. For upgrade prices, please contact us. For multiple inserts or vacancies there will be a charge. We reserve the right to decline an advert.

Help tackle poverty with the Wokingham Christian aid group. Volunteers sort for annual fundraising collection in Wokingham. Please email jhall@christian-aid.org for more information

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Duties will include answering the phone, booking in jobs, checking in deliveries, some customer facing work and general admin.

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We are looking for a candidate that will be available for an immediate start. This is a fulltime position and salary will be based on experience.

TRAINEES Are you interested in learning a trade? We are now looking for enthusiastic hardworking reliable candidates who want to gain experience in the glass and locks trade.

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, July 24, 2015

Keep those special moments forever

NOW YOU CAN ORDER PHOTOS ONLINE

Over the past few weeks, we have been out and about at numerous events across the borough and in the process taken thousands of photographs – only a few make our pages every week.

Now we’re delighted to say – due to the popular demand – that you can now buy a copy to keep forever.

We’ve teamed up with industry experts newsprints.co.uk to offer you the ability to order prints and digital copies of the pictures that we take. So far, more than 1,400 pictures have been uploaded and that figure is growing daily.

Have look through, browse our archive, place an order with our secure checkout and wait for the pictures to be delivered to your door.

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WOKINGHAM SPORT

Hal joins the panel on TV show - p36

Unrivalled coverage of sport in the Borough

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

Finch four called up for Berkshire’s pre-season friendly FOUR players from Finchampstead CC are included in the 13-strong Berkshire squad for their pre-season friendly against a Middlesex XI at Falkland CC on Sunday (11am).

They are skipper Dan Marles, Billy Rogers, Callum Gregory and new signing Andy Rishton.

All-rounder Rishton, who has joined the club from Reading, and paceman Gregory played for the county last season, while Rogers often filled the 12th man duties.

It is a first call up for batsmen Dan Marles, who led Finchampstead to promotion to Division 1 of the Home Counties Premier League last season.

Other newcomers in the squad are bowlers Brandon Gilmour, who is on a first-class contract with Gloucestershire, and Ollie Smithson, who is with the same county’s academy.

The youngsters are being given their opportunity as Berkshire are without a number of senior players.

Chris Peploe and Euan Woods are both in South Africa, while Richard Morris and Stewart Davison are not being risked due to injury.

Reading’s Sukhi Kang will take Davison’s place behind the stumps.

Coach Tom Lambert said: “We have had a very successful winter in the nets. I could not have asked for more from anyone. As a result, we now have an exceptionally strong squad of players to pick from.”

Berkshire squad: Michael Roberts (Henley), Waqas Hussain (Slough), Martin Andersson (Reading), Brandon Gilmour (Downend), James Morris (capt, Datchet), Andy Rishton (Finchampstead), Dan Marles (Finchampstead), Billy Rogers (Finchampstead), Euan Brock (Henley), Sukhi Kang (Reading), Tom Nugent (Henley), Ollie Smithson (Datchet),Callum Gregory (Finchampstead).

GOLF

Schoolboys are the A-Team as they scoop golf award READING Blue Coat School’s golf A team – Matthew Roberts, Peter Handcock and Will Tate – created their own piece of history by becoming the first Blue Coat golf team to win the Regional scratch final of the Independent Schools Golf Association's competition, beating Charterhouse 2-1 in a very close affair.

The boys will now travel to Scotland at the end of April to play in the National Finals at the prestigious St Andrews golf club.

Roberts said: “It is such a big achievement to reach the National finals and the fact it is at St Andrews is the icing on the cake."

Captain Peter Handcock led the way by winning his match on the last hole.

He held his nerve to hole a five-foot putt to ensure his point.

Roberts was in the same situation, needing to hole a putt of similar length on the last hole.

He showed great courage, considering what was at stake, and holed the putt to give Blue Coat victory.

Thirteen-year-old Will Tate also played some great golf, losing 2-1 against an 18-year-old opponent.

Golf coach and Blue Coat Maths teacher, Steve Roberts said: “I was so proud of the boys, especially the way they handled the pressure on the final hole with so much at stake.”

BASKETBALL

Let’s learn from Leopards lessons

By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk

MANUEL PENA Garces is calling on his Reading Rockets side to use the pain of previous defeats against Essex Leopards to their advantage this weekend.

The Spaniard is preparing his charges for Sunday’s English Basketball League (EBL) Division 1 play-off quarter-final clash at Rivermead, where tip-off is 5pm.

And Rockets can go into the winner-takes-all clash in buoyant mood having scored impressive victories over the league’s top two, Derby Trailblazers and Manchester Magic last time out.

In securing a third place finish in the standings, the side outscored runner-ups Derby 85-76 on Saturday before defeating champions Magic 89-83 on their own court a day later.

A win by 16 points or more over the Trailblazers would have elevated Rockets up to second, but doing so was just too much of an ask for Pena Garces’ charges.

Reading will need to keep up the winning habit if they are to secure a semi-final date with either Derby or Lancashire Spinners.

Standing in their way, however, is an Essex side which has won the last two league meetings between the teams, with both wins come via a comeback.

Back in January the Leopards overcame a 15-point deficit to snatch a last-gasp 74-72 success.

This was followed up by a 76-74 triumph later in the season, with the side again snatching the points on the

buzzer. Rockets won the first of the three games between the two teams thus far 90-82 way back in October.

The coach, though, only has Sunday afternoon on his mind.

Pena Garces said: “The work does not stop now for us.

“We must build on last weekend and fully focus all our energies on the game against the Leopards.

“This week will be about continuing to work on sharpening our tools, preparing for our opposition and learning, learning, learning from our two previous games.

“Essex has been a hard team to play against and I expect nothing different this time around.

“To lose the two league games against them in the same way was

painful and it is something we can’t let happen again.

“We need to put ourselves in a better position in the game, nullify their threats early and believe in out potential through preparation and discipline.

“Coach Steve (Ogunjimi) will have them fired up and ready to play and they will be full of confidence after the last two meetings, so it should be a great quarter-final but one we will be doing everything we can to win.”

Rockets head into the tie with a clean bill of health.

Captain Danny Carter came through his first double header last time out unscathed following his recent return from a back injury.

Antonio Robinson, meanwhile, suffered no ill effects of the eye problem he picked up at the weekend and is expected to be included.

ICE HOCKEY

Two awards for Awesome Alex ALEX METTAM led the way when picking up two accolades at the Bracknell Bees’ Supporters Club End of Season Awards evening last week.

The netminder was arguably the standout performer in what was a tough season for the club, and such stellar work between the pipes did not go unnoticed.

Mettam, who has just completed a third term with the club, scooped both the Player of the Season and Players’ Player award at the event, which was held at the town’s Blues Smokehouse last Tuesday.

The goaltender was one of five players to pick up gongs voted for by fans through an open ballot held towards the end of the season.

Also receiving awards on the night was Vanya Antonov, who was named Best Forward, while Jan Bendik topped the poll for Best Defenceman.

Another D-Man, Josh Tetlow, got his hands on the Most Improved Player award, while Lewis Turner was presented with the Colin White Memorial Trophy for the Best British Player on what was a good night for the defencemen.

A difficult and challenging year for the club both on and off the ice saw Bees finish bottom of the English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL) for a second successive season.

And because of this, Lukas Smital felt compelled to hand his Coaches Player award not to one particular member of his roster, but to the whole team itself for showing unquestionable dedication and attitude throughout the times of adversity.

In turn, the supporters club also dedicated their Unsung Hero accolade to the squad, echoing Smital’s sentiments while doing so.

Jan Bendik was named top defenceman by fans

Bracknell Bees Alex Mettam picked up two awards on the night A 65 point season saw Vanya Antonov named the club’s best forward

Josh Tetlow was the most improved player

New committee meets

All pictures by Bob Swann

Lewis Turner was named best British player

THE NEW committee tasked with taking the Bees forward met for the first time last week.

The identities of those involved are yet to be disclosed, but both a committee has been formed and a chair elected.

More than 20 people were present at the gathering last Thursday.

LOCAL RUGBY

Rams looking to Bury for their seventh heaven RAMS seek their seventh successive National 2 South victory when they make their first ever visit to Bury St Edmunds on Saturday (3pm).

But they await fitness tests on tight-head prop James Baker (neck) and fly-half Spike Chandler (thigh). On the plus side Tom Bryson is available again after a calf injury.

The Suffolk side, like Rams, were promoted as champions of their league last season. Both have identical records of won 11 lost 14 this season and are on 58 points.

However Bury, in ninth place, now enjoy a far superior points difference after thrashing a weakened Launceston side 79-0 away a fortnight ago.

Rams will be hoping for a repeat of the 32-18 victory over their rivals in November when they trailed 18-10 at the break then ran in four tries in the last quarter.

But Rams head coach Mike Tewkesbury warned: “Bury could be a bit of a handful especially at home.

They’ve had a good run recently.”

“But it should be a good tussle as neither side wants to be drawn into the relegation shake-up.

Whoever wins on Saturday should cement their position in the league for next season.”

Rams and Bury are at present 13 points clear of the drop zone with five games remaining. n A TRIP to struggling Gravesend awaits Bracknell in National League 3 London and South East on Saturday (3pm).

The Lily Hill men were beaten 38-19 by Wimbledon last time out, but victory in Kent could secure safety for the visitors.

This though, would also rely on Wimbledon getting the better of another side scrapping for points, Westcliff. n CROWTHORNE are also on the road in the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Premier Division.

Coach Alex Stewart takes his side to league leaders Gosford All Blacks (3pm).

The Crows currently sit fourth, but need to continue picking up the points if they are to consolidate this position.

SPORT | 35

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RUGBY PREVIEW

Exiles planning to stop Sale and take a step closer to safety LONDON IRISH V SALE SHARKS AVIVA PREMIERSHIP MADEJKSI STADIUM SATURDAY - 3PM

By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk “EVERYTHING is in our hands”.

That is the defiant message from lock Matt Symons as London Irish head into their final four league games of the season bottom of the Aviva Premiership table.

The Exiles remained rooted to the foot of the pile after losing 12-6 to Worcester Warriors last weekend, a 12th straight defeat away from home in domestic competition, stretching back to a 50-12 victory at London Welsh in February 2015.

But the losing bonus point they collected at Sixways brings Tom Coventry’s charges to within four points of second bottom Newcastle Falcons with four games to play, including a meeting between those two later this month.

“We are incredibly disappointed after the weekend but full credit to Worcester,” Symons told The Wokingham Paper.

“They really turned up and put in a really good defensive effort and we

Matt Symons Picture: London Irish/Pinnacle

couldn’t counteract that.

“We’re a pretty resilient bunch so we take in on the chin.

“Obviously we were pretty gutted but then we move on pretty quickly so the mood has already shifted to Sale this weekend and we’re targeting them at home.”

Before their last home game, two weeks ago, Irish were eight points adrift of Newcastle and staring down the barrel of almost certain relegation, but a win and a bonus point later, things look a lot more encouraging.

And while Symons admits defeat

at the weekend leaves just two teams battling it out to avoid the dreaded drop, he feels his side can take comfort from their recent fightback.

“We’ll take the positives from the Worcester game,” he said.

“We created a lot of opportunities but we’ve got to finish them off so it was a mixed review.

“We can’t change anything now so what we can have an influence on is the result at the weekend.”

He added: “Everything is in our hands.

“But Newcastle will probably be having pretty similar conversations in their team reviews.

“What we can control is our performance and that’s what we’re worried about.

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

AVIVA PREMIERSHIP P W D L F 18 13 1 4 462 18 12 0 6 440 18 12 0 6 475 18 10 0 8 382 18 11 0 7 386 18 8 1 9 433 17 8 2 7 339 18 8 1 9 351 17 7 0 10 324 18 7 0 11 337 18 4 1 13 290 18 4 0 14 270

A 321 306 320 300 366 449 368 340 333 419 460 507

BP 8 11 10 11 6 11 6 6 9 6 4 2

PTS 62 59 58 51 50 45 42 40 37 34 22 18

After facing Sale, Irish’s next league fixture is looming large on the horizon - a crunch clash against Falcons.

But Symons insists there are no minds wandering to that just yet and says he is relishing the chance to get back out on the Madejski Stadium turf following a run of five wins from their last seven matches there.

“We love playing at home in front of our fans,” he said.

“They’re incredibly passionate and very loyal and it’s a great place to play.

“But on the flip side of that, Sale gave us a good tuning up at their place earlier on in the year so we’re under no illusions about the threat they bring.”

One man Exiles will have to try and stop will be former England international fly-half Danny Cipriani, who scored 17 points as Sale ended a run of two straight defeats with a win over Leicester Tigers last weekend.

And Symons is aware of the challenge posed by he and the rest of the play-off chasing side.

“They’ve got a very dominant forward pack,” he said.

“They’ve got a very good line-out and a very good driving game and Cipriani pulls the strings really well for them and they’ve got some really deadly backs.”

RUGBY PREVIEW

Warriors’ fight is too strong for the Irish Worcester Warriors 12 London Irish 6

International pair sign on for 2016/17 season

By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk

IRISH’S preparations for next season have continued with the announcement of two new players.

Prop Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi will arrive from Northampton Saints, while Sebastian De Chaves, a second row, is to join from another Premiership rival, Leicester Tigers.

Both have penned two-year contracts.

Hobbs-Awoyemi, 22, was part of the England Under-20 squad which won successive Junior World Championships in 2013 and 2014.

Although dual registered with Moseley of the Championship for the past two seasons, the front-rower has appeared for the Saints in the LV-Cup. “I’m really looking forward to joining up with my new team-mates in the summer,” said Hobbs-Awoyemi.

“I enjoyed my time with Northampton, and now I have a great opportunity to continue my development with London Irish. I can’t wait to get stuck in and show what I can do.”

De Chaves, meanwhile, is a former South Africa Under-20 international who has turned out 43 times for the Tigers since completing a switch from then French Top 14 outfit Mont de Marson in 2013.

Standing at 6ft 6ins, the lock will bring specialist skills to the lineout, as well as a hard edge in attack and defence.

Previous experience also includes cutting his teeth with the Golden Lions in South Africa, where he reached an U19 Currie Cup Final, while also competing in Vodacom Rugby prior to a move to France.

De Chaves, 25, said: “I’m delighted to be joining London Irish, a club that is steeped in tradition and has ambitions to succeed at the highest level.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead.”

TOM COVENTRY rued two key missed chances as London Irish lost a 14th league game of the season, this time away to Worcester Warriors.

In a match of no tries, the contest came down to fine margins and two second half knock-ons in dangerous attacking positions proved costly for the Exiles, although they did at least rescue a losing bonus point in their battle against relegation.

“It’s pretty tough times at the moment,” admitted Coventry.

“We won’t be too deflated, we got a point out of it and there’s still 20 points up for grabs.

“We were there to win, we got close and a couple of bombed opportunities were the difference.”

He added: “It was a real dogfight and we just couldn’t get over the line.

“Those two passes that we ended up fumbling were very costly.”

It took until the 70th minute for Irish to eventually get their first score of the contest as the visitors opted to kick for the corner and attempt to score tries throughout rather than taking the three-point penalties.

And while it proved to be an ultimately fruitless plan, Coventry explained the thinking.

“Some decisions didn’t work for us,” he acknowledged.

“We had done a lot of work on our drive all week and we thought we would be able to assert some pressure but obviously no points on the card.

“It came down to inches.”

A scrappy contest took until the 27th minute for either side to get off the mark as Tom Heathcote kicked over, before doubling the tally minutes later.

But Exiles came flying out the traps after the restart, creating two clear-cut openings early into the half.

Firstly, Sean Maitland carved through the Worcester defence, only for his final pass to be agonisingly knocked on.

Johnny Williams then went close, only to be caught at the 22 before Heathcote extended the advantage to 9-0.

Now out of bonus point territory, Irish switched tact to kicking for goal, which Tonks did with aplomb in windy conditions, notching his first chance of the contest.

Heathcote again opened up a ninepoint gap with five minutes to play but Exiles forced one last penalty, which Tonks duly converted to secure one point and move to within four of second bottom Newcastle Falcons.

LONDON IRISH: Maitland, Fenby, Hearn, Williams (Brophy Clews 66), Ojo (Mulchrone 40), Tonks, Steele (McKibbin 70), Court (Smallbone 40), Cruse, Aulika (Halavatau 65), Stooke (Sexton 62), Symons, Narraway (c), Cowan, McCusker (Treviranus 52).

Pens: Tonks x2 WORCESTER WARRIORS: Pennell, Heem, Olivier, Mills, Vuna, Heathcote, Hougaard, Ruskin (Leleimalefage 66), Annett (Bregvadze 66), Schonert (Johnston 52), O’Callaghan, Barry, Dowson ((Cox 8-12) Sanderson 78), Kirwan (Cox 47), van Velze (c).

Pens: Heathcote x4 Score sequence (Irish first): 0-3, 0-6, 0-9, 3-9, 3-12, 6-12 Referee: Greg Garner Attendance: 9,234

Tonks kicked a strong goal in wintry conditions, to help London Irish gain a bonus point Picture: Steve Smyth

36 | SPORT INTERNATIONALS

Royals players boost Euro 2016 call-up chances MATEJ VYDRA boosted his chances of a Euro 2016 call-up with the equalising goal in Czech Republic’s 1-1 friendly draw with Sweden, writes Tom Crocker.

Trailing to an early Marcus Berg goal, the visitors levelled before half time through Vydra, who netted his fifth goal for his country.

Vydra, 23, is coming to the end of a season long loan at Reading from Watford and has battled with injury throughout, but is in line to make his first appearance at a major championship finals in France this summer.

Meanwhile, Paul McShane did not quite enjoy the same as success, putting through his own net Republic of Ireland continued their preparations for Euro 2016 with a 2-2 draw against Slovakia.

Stephen Quinn was also involved for Martin O’Neill’s men over Easter, playing 62 minutes of their 1-0 win over Switzerland in Dublin.

Michael Hector played the full game of both Jamaica’s World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica, drawing the first 1-1 before losing 3-0 early on Wednesday morning to leave their hopes of competing in Russia in the balance.

Oliver Norwood played a full part as Northern Ireland made history as they drew with Wales before beating Slovenia to extend the Green and White Army’s unbeaten run to a record 10 matches.

Chris Gunter picked up two more caps for Wales, while Ali Al-Habsi kept a clean sheet as Oman boosted their 2018 World Cup qualification hopes with a win over Guam, but he was part of a losing side against Iran later in the international break.

Josh Barrett made his debut for the Republic of Ireland Under-21s in their 3-1 defeat to Slovenia U21s.

Barrett, 17, received his first call-up along with regulars Sean Long, Shane Griffin and Niall Keown, and all four featured against Slovenia while Keown also played 90 minutes as Ireland went down to Italy.

Jake Cooper played the full 90 minutes as England U20s lost 2-1 to Canada U20s, Sammi Fridjonsson helped Iceland U21s to a clean sheet away in Macedonia while Zak Jules played three times for Scotland U19s.

READING FC

Spain for Fernandez ALEX FERNANDEZ is set to resume his playing career in Spain next season.

The midfielder, on a season-long loan from Espanyol, has made 10 appearances for Reading and scored one goal but his deal at Madejski Stadium is not likely to be extended.

Fernandez, 23, told Spanish press earlier this week that he plans to return to his homeland in the summer amid rumoured interest from Real Betis and Royals boss Brian McDermott confirmed there is unlikely to be a permanent transfer struck.

He said: “I would imagine that would be the case, yes.

“There’s nine games to go so there’s a chance he’ll be in the squad but I’d imagine that Alex will probably be going back to Spain.

“But he’ll go back with my blessing because he’s a top, top professional.”

And Fernandez feels the change in manager had a negative impact on his chances of carving out a career at Reading, featuring just once since McDermott took over, when he netted against Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup in January.

“I joined with another coach (Steve Clarke) and everything was fine,” he said.

“But things happened at the club, poor results and they dismissed the coach.

“Since then it has not gone very well. He (McDermott) publicly has always said good words about me, I train very well, I’m a good professional and I deserve to play, but he prefers players who will be at the club next year.”

He added: “In the winter there was interest from a couple of Spanish Primera teams and some in England, the Championship.

“The last two months have not gone as expected and the idea is almost 100% to play in Spain next season.”

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, April 1, 2016

READING FC LADIES

First game for promoted ladies ends in a chilly stalemate Sunderland Ladies 1 Reading FC Women 1

By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk MOLLY BARTRIP feels Reading deserved to pick up their first ever WSL 1 victory as they were forced to settle for a point at Sunderland.

Lois Roche curled home a first half free-kick to give the visitors the lead but a Beth Mead strike seconds after the restart saw the spoils shared in difficult conditions in the north-east.

After losing their league opener against Arsenal, Royals will be undoubtedly happy get off the mark in top flight football, but Bartrip says it could have been even better.

“Having a long trip is not ideal but we are happy with getting a point,” said the defender.

“The amount of chances we had it should have been three but that’s football for you.

“The conditions, especially in the warm-up, we were like ‘oh we’re definitely up north!’ But at the end of the day it was the same for both teams and we got the point we wanted.”

She added: “I think the biggest difference between WSL 2 and WSL 1 we’ve seen since coming up is the step up in tempo and the quality of player you’re up against.

“I was up against Beth Mead and it’s not easy but that’s what you want to be up against and that’s what you’ve got to do to improve.”

Kelly Chambers made one change to the side which lost at Arsenal and it was a notable one as 17-year-old Wales international Charlie Estcourt made her first ever competitive start with Lauren Bruton dropped to the bench.

Sunderland enjoyed the better of

P Man City Women 2 Chelsea Ladies FC 1 Liverpool Ladies FC 1 Arsenal Ladies FC 2 Sunderland Ladies 1 Reading Women 2 Bir’ham City Ladies 1 Notts County 1 Doncaster Belles 1

WSL 1 W D 2 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

L 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1

F 3 4 1 3 1 2 0 0 1

A 0 1 0 3 1 4 1 1 4

GD 3 3 1 0 0 -2 -1 -1 -3

P 6 3 3 3 1 1 0 0 0

the opening exchanges with Grace Moloney called into action to thwart long range efforts from Brooke Chaplen and last season’s WSL 1 top scorer Mead.

But it was Reading who went into the break ahead when Roche’s deflected free-kick found its way into the bottom corner.

However, just as happened against Arsenal, Royals conceded seconds after the restart.

Having lost the ball in midfield, Sunderland broke and one ball between the two centre backs led to Mead rounding Moloney before tapping into the empty net.

Things could have got even better for Mead and Sunderland as she rolled another effort beyond the keeper but Royals had skipper Kirsty McGee to thank for getting back on the line and hooking clear.

It was Reading who had the best chances to snatch victory as a pinpoint Roche free kick was clawed away from the top corner before goalkeeper Rachael Laws then denied Emma Follis after she was picked out by a classy deep clipped cross from Helen Ward.

Chambers’ charges return to Sunderland this weekend for an FA Cup quarter final on Sunday (2pm) while the Continental Cup first round draw has paired Reading with current holders Arsenal.

That tie will be played in the first

Lois Roche from Reading FC Ladies

weekend of July at Adams Park.

Reading: Moloney; Jane, Bartrip, McGee, Rowe; Hines, L. Roche, Estcourt (Bruton 58); Ward (Jones 90), Follis, Boho Sayo.

Subs not used: Earps, Cox, Scott, Horwood, Walkley.

Goal: L. Roche (41)

Picture: Nigel Hoyle/GoalShots Sunderland: Laws; Holmes, Bannon, Williams, Sjoman; Furness, Chaplen, Staniforth; Joice (Ramshaw 45), Johnston (Kelly 45), Mead.

Subs not used: Olsen, McDougall, S. Roche, Beer, Potts.

Goal: Mead (46) Referee: Glen Hart

TELEVISION

Hal appears on popular quiz. What happened next?

HAL ROBSON-KANU saw an impressive season continue in front of the television cameras earlier this week, writes LEWIS RUDD. The forward-turned-winger was not confidentially taking on opposing full-backs, however, but a team of stars from a variety of different sports instead.

Reading player Robson-Kanu was among the guests on this week’s A Question of Sport, which aired on BBC One on Wednesday night.

The Wales international, 26, teamed up with resident captain Phil Tufnell and snooker legend John Higgins.

They took on former Rugby World Cup winner Matt Dawson and his team of Olympic gold medal rower Helen Glover and Formula 1 racing driver Nico Hulkenberg.

And after a dramatic last round, it was Robson-Kanu and co who secured a comeback victory, winning by 35 points to 34.

The Royals star gave a relative assured and composed performance

Hal Robson-Kanu (far left) failed to identify former Royal Fran Kirby during Wednesday’s A Question of Sport, but his team did go on to win the show, 35-34 Pictures: BBC

during his time on the long-standing quiz show, which is hosted by Sue Barker.

Yet the player should expect a

ribbing from his team-mates.

This is because Robson-Kanu failed to correctly identify Fran Kirby during an opening picture round.

He failed to come up with any answer at all when the former Reading Women’s hot-shot, now with Chelsea, appeared on the screen.

The striker rattled in 67 goals during her time with Royals, while also helped England to a third-place finish at last year’s Women’s World Cup in Canada.

Although clearly enjoying the moment in the spotlight, Robson-Kanu will have to watch on as the men’s team head up to struggling Bolton Wanderers this Saturday looking the points to put an end to a potential end of season scrap for survival.

Hal picked up a calf injury during the 1-1 draw with Cardiff City back on March 19, which forced him to miss the Wales friendlies with Northern Ireland and Ukraine over the past week.

And it is a problem which will keep him out of the game at the Macron Stadium, too.

Boss Brian McDermott said of the problem: “We try to work with him every day, but (a return) it’s not in the foreseeable future.”

SPORT | 37

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Friday, April 1, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

READING FC

Bolton will not be an easy game, if you’re Wandering

Bolton Wanderers F.C. v Reading FC Championship Saturday, 3pm Macron Stadium, Bolton

BRIAN McDERMOTT has scotched suggestions a game away at Bolton Wanderers is a gimme.

The Trotters currently prop up the rest in the Championship, and sitting 12 points adrift of safety look like a club almost certain to be playing League One football next term.

Bolton’s plight has not been helped by crippling financial problems, although a recent takeover does offer a light at the end of what has been a dark and dismal tunnel.

On the field, Wanderers have recently axed manager Neil Lennon, but a first game in charge for replacement Jimmy Phillips saw the side walloped 6-0 at Bristol City.

Although his side have only won three times on the road in the league this season, McDermott’s men will head up the M6 as favourites to win this fixture.

The Royals, boss, though, insists in no way will the contest be easy.

He said: “Nobody would say that in football.

“It would be disrespectful to say that and it is just not true. We all know that there is never an easy game in this division or in any division in England.

There are no easy games in football,says Brian McDermott Picture: Steve Smyth

“You go to League One, League Two or the Conference, there is no easy game and every game is tough.

“The experience they have got on the bench with their coaches and new manager,

the experience they’ve got on the pitch, we know that is going to be a tough game.”

While the hosts appear to already have one foot in the trap door, Reading are not by any means safe from being sucked into a relegation scrap themselves and head to the Macron sitting just eight points above the drop zone.

This is the first of three fixtures in the space of a week for McDermott and his team, with home games against Nottingham Forest next Tuesday and Birmingham City on Saturday to follow.

“We’ve nine games to go, so we want to go there (to Bolton) put on a good performance, win and get the right result.

“It is important in as much as it’s our next game – then there is two more important games.

“Every game is important.

“The three points are the three points, that’s what we want to try and do.”

Apart from a slight concern with Michael Hector, the contingent of Reading players away on international duty appear to have returned relatively unscathed.

Mark O’Connell (No.7) nips in to put Binfield 2-1 ahead against Lydney Town Pictures: Colin Byers

Hal Robson-Kanu, however, remains sidelined with a calf problem and Aaron Tshibola is out for the season.

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

Sky Bet Championship P W D L 38 21 12 5 38 19 14 5 37 21 7 9 37 19 9 9 38 17 13 8 38 16 14 8 38 15 14 9 38 16 10 12 37 15 11 11 38 13 14 11 38 12 15 11 38 12 12 14 37 11 14 12 38 11 13 14 38 11 13 14 38 12 9 17 37 11 12 14 37 12 7 18 38 11 10 17 38 11 6 21 38 8 14 16 38 9 10 19 38 7 11 20 38 4 14 20

F 61 52 48 50 51 56 49 46 41 36 47 46 37 37 34 52 42 48 40 44 57 32 34 36

A 31 35 23 23 35 36 41 44 35 35 43 51 45 36 36 53 43 59 58 62 64 51 69 68

Pts 75 71 70 66 64 62 59 58 56 53 51 48 47 46 46 45 45 43 43 39 38 37 32 26

Lewis Leonetti nets for Binfield at a soaked Swan Road

LOCAL FOOTBALL

Herridge is up for the cup: Quarter-final clash is our priority, says Binfield boss LYDNEY TOWN 2-2 BINFIELD

By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk ROGER HERRIDGE admits Saturday’s Bluefin Challenge Cup quarter-final takes priority as he prepares his squad for a gruelling run of eight games in 19 days.

The Moles were due out last night (after the Paper had gone to press) to face Ascot United in the league in a rearranged game following an Easter Monday wash-out before facing Flackwell Heath in the cup less than 48 hours later, with another league game due at Highmoor-Ibis on Monday.

That comes after Binfield’s injury ravaged side made the 200-mile round trip to Lydney Town at the weekend, where they were forced to settle for a point due to a late equaliser after Lewis Leonetti and Mark O’Connell had put the visitors in front.

Discussing how he can manage his squad in the coming weeks, Herridge (pictured below) told The Wokingham Paper: “You always want to win your local derbies but in my own mind I know which team I want to start with on Saturday.

“Saturday is the most important game out of the three.

“Monday night against Highmoor-Ibis I’m probably likely to play a number of players from the reserves in that one.

“We want to finish as high as possible in the league but ultimately the only way we’re going to be winning anything this year is in one of two cup competitions.

“It would be silly not to prioritise those competitions.”

Key names in Carl Withers, Danny Horscroft, Liam Ferdinand and JOhn Howell all stayed at home while Jemel Johnson broke down in the warm-up so

had to watch on as Lydney took a 1-0 lead into the break thanks to Declan MorleyLynne’s free-kick.

But Herridge’s men battled back well after the break, going 2-1 up through a deflected Leonetti effort and a first Binfield goal for man-of-the-match O’Connell.

A number of chances came and went, allowing Lydney to snatch a point in the 89th minute when a corner was headed in by Billy Guest to put a dampener on the trip.

“I’ve got to be honest, probably before the game I would have taken a point,” admitted Herridge.

“They’re a half decent side, it’s a long trip and the weather was horrid.

“We’re disappointed not to win in the end but having said that I would’ve taken a point beforehand as we travelled with half a team missing.”

He continued: “The conditions were in their favour in the first half and coming in at 1-0 down, I probably would have taken that at half time.

“On the balance of 90 minutes I think

any neutral would tell you that we deserved to win the game.

“At 2-1 we scored a good goal and it was disallowed for some strange reason.

“We missed a couple of other chances, it was a bit difficult under foot.”

He added: “I’ve got to be honest, they’re massive!

“There’s not another team in our league that’s got so many players over 6ft 2in tall.

“We defended reasonably well but if

they were ever going to score it would be from a set piece and in the last minute they’ve done that.

“Sometimes you need those key moments in the game to go for you.

“If the goal had been given at 3-1, we probably would’ve gone on to win 4-1 or 5-1 I think, but that’s football for you.”

Binfield v Lydney: Silver, Broome, Gibbs, Leonetti, A. Walton, Luis (c), O’Connell, Knight, M. Walton (Adams 74), Brown, Dean (Carlisle 84).

Goals: Leonetti (48), O’Connell (55)

Brad Brown goes close to marking his Moles return with a goal

38 | SPORT

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COMBINED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Boars fight back to snatch a late point South Park Reserves 2 Eversley and California 2

Combined Counties League Division 1 P W D L F A Pts CB Hounslow Utd 27 20 4 3 62 22 64 Abbey Rangers 27 18 3 6 62 29 57 Bedfont & Feltham 25 17 2 6 64 35 53 Worcester Park 25 16 4 5 63 27 52 Eversley & Calif 24 16 2 6 69 35 50 Banstead Athletic 23 13 5 5 60 36 44 Dorking 25 13 1 11 48 40 40 Cobham 29 12 3 14 52 61 39 Ash United 28 10 7 11 50 53 37 Staines Lammas 27 10 3 14 48 51 33 Frimley Green 26 10 3 13 41 46 33 Sandhurst Town 26 7 5 14 43 76 26 Sheerwater 27 7 3 17 43 60 24 Dorking Wand Res 23 4 5 14 23 49 17 South Park Res 23 4 4 15 31 63 16 Farleigh Rovers 24 5 1 18 22 69 16

TWO GOALS in the final five minutes secured Eversley a point at St George’s Field.

The result, however, does little for the Boars’ promotion aspirations, as they slipped further behind the leading pack in Division 1 of the Combined Counties League, with Phil Ruggles men now on 50 points after 24 games.

Eversley do have matches in hand on those around them in the standings, but looking to close a gap of seven points on those leading the way means any hopes of trying to get out of the division this season are faint at best.

Eversley manager Phil Ruggles The side were due out at fourth-placed Worcester Park on Monday, but like many fixtures in the area, fell foul of the horrendous weather conditions.

Up next for Eversley is the visit of league leaders CB Hounslow United to Fox Lane on Saturday (3pm).

The hosts sit 13 points behind the table toppers, although they have played three fewer games than Hounslow. n WORK on adding a 4G hockey and training pitch at Fox Lane has now begun.

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, April 1, 2016

HELLENIC DIVISION 1 EAST

It’s a win! Woodley get first three points since November Woodley United 1 Didcot Town Reserves 0

By TOM PETERSON ON A DAY of firsts, Woodley United deservedly ended a run of league defeats stretching back to November with victory over Didcot in a game played in appalling conditions.

With grey skies looming over Scours Lane on Saturday, it was the away side that created the game’s first half chance; a dangerous cross from the left flashed across Woodley’s six yard box.

With just five minutes gone, United took the lead when an Andy Herbert cross from the left found Fraser Mowat. After an initial miscue, the winger fired a shot goal wards that was blocked by a defender The ball fell perfectly for Tom Peterson who slotted into the right corner.

This was Peterson’s first Woodley goal on his first start and, amazingly, the first time Woodley had led a league game since September.

As the weather worsened and sleeting rain fell, the game entered a slight lull with Woodley shading possession but chances rare. Midway through the half, Woodley keeper Ben Hitchins was called into action to deny Tom Hoskin after he picked up a Jack Hollister through ball.

Sixty seconds later a powerful shot from Hoskin was blocked by a Woodley defender.

Woodley’s Conor Creegan looks to shield the ball Picture: Peter Toft

Despite the conditions, and a bobbly pitch, United were playing some nice football. A flowing move involving Ryan Szram, Herbert and Peterson ended with the latter slightly over hitting the final ball. At the other end Woodley had a let off when a corner was headed over from close range.

Ten minutes before the break, United made an early change when Ollie Bridges replaced Mark Ingram who departed due to a head injury.

This saw Bridges join Brad Hoy, who was captaining the side for the first time, in central defence and Matt Brookling, who had started alongside Hoy, take Ingram’s place at left back.

The half ended with more Woodley pressure. A nice pass from Tyrone May picked out Herbert, who saw his shot from 20 yards blocked before a Szram effort also hit a Didcot body.

With the rain getting heavier and the wind stronger, the opening stages of the second half were devoid of goalmouth action.

The first chance since the restart fell to Peterson who shot over from outside the box. On the hour United gave a debut to young forward Ben Anderson; he replaced Mowat.

Immediately getting into the action, Anderson pounced on a mistake from a Didcot defender; bearing down on goal he took the ball wide before

THAMES VALLEY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

forcing Adam Spurrett to save.

The away side was really struggling to create chances from open play and, with United having a history of conceding from set plays, it was only natural that Didcot looked at their most dangerous from corners and free kicks.

Hitchins made easy work of a Hollister effort after he headed a corner goal wards.

With the match entering its final 20 minutes, a well hit Peterson effort from distance just went over. Anderson then came close to a debut goal when he rounded Spurrett only to see his shot cleared off the line.

As the rain started to ease, a fine run from Hollister ended with him just missing to the right after he skipped through several challenges.

Woodley made their final change with 12 minutes to go: Herbert made way for Sam Skehan.

The final chance of the game fell to the away side; substitute Jack Powell forced Hitchins into the stop of the match with a well hit shot from the left side of the box.

This save preserved the three points and in the process gave Hitchins his first clean sheet in a United shirt.

WOODLEY UNITED: Hitchins, Creegan Ingram (Bridges), May, Hoy, Brookling, Mowat (Anderson), Douglas, Szram, Peterson, Herbert (Skehan) Sub not used Ahmed

A good Sport: Finley’s hat-trick fires Shinfield to victory

By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk

CALLUM FINLAY scored a second-half hat-trick as Shinfield Rangers Mens thrashed Sonning Sports 5-1 in Division Five.

Shinfield took the lead through Ross Latimer-Hodgson but the scores were level heading into the break thanks to a Tim Carvill strike. The visitors went back in front just before the hour mark when Josh Julian netted, yet it was Finlay who stole the show.

The advantage was doubled on 67 minutes as Finlay got his first of the afternoon and he quickly doubled his tally, putting Sonning out of the game.

Shinfield were reduced to 10 men with just eight minutes to play when Adam Gough picked up a second yellow, but they still managed to find the net again as Finlay completed a hat-trick to lift his side up to fourth, ahead of Sonning.

In the Premier Division, Reading YMCA bounced back from two straight defeats by thrashing WOODLEY UNITED RESERVES 5-0 with Ryan Adams netting a treble.

Jamie Piercey and Chris Lemm also scored as Woodley remain 10th.

Kai Parton-Edey’s brace helped AFC Aldermaston beat BERKS COUNTY 5-2 in the same division.

David Appleton and Lee Wheeler also found the net to keep Berks ninth.

HURST stay eighth after losing to the odd goal in five against top-half Newbury

thanks to goals from Leroy Clarke, Oliver Free and Carl Jenner.

Goals from Edward Ardill, William Jaycock and Tom Purser guided Goring United to a comfortable 3-0 win away to ASHRIDGE PARK in Division 2.

Battling to avoid finishing bottom, Ashridge could not pick up any points at home and stay level on points with Sonning.

In the same league, a first-half strike from George Dallarda kept FC Imaan Lions in the title hunt with a 1-0 win over mid-table BARKHAM ATHLETIC while Neil Austin, Christopher Davies and Paul Gryckiewicz goals helped leaders Marlow United Reserves to Sunday League a 3-1 victory Results March 27 against Premier Division: WARGRAVE. The Tilehurst Club 3-3 DC WARGRAVE Steamers, RESERVES Woodley United 1-4 The County sit eighth in Division 3 East: Division 3 Berkshire Rovers 7-10 The after going Grosvenor down 2-1 at Fixtures April 3 Taplow United Reserves, while Premier Division: Woodley United v DC Steamers in Division Division 1: Charvil Rangers v 4, HURST Woodley Wanderers RESERVES Division 2: AFC Burghfield were handed Res v Loxwood Park a walkover Rangers, Athletico Forest victory from v Le Galaxy, Imaan v Emmbrook Inn their game Division 3 East: Berkshire against Rovers v Just Play United Theale.

Pictures from the Division 2 clash between Ashridge Park (in red) and Goring United Pictures: Phil Creighton

SPORT | 39

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Friday, April 1, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

LOCAL FOOTBALL

Beaten Finch feel penalty Payne Finchampstead 1 Headinton Amateurs 2

FINCHAMPSTEAD’S frustrating run of form continued with this defeat at The Memorial Ground.

Jon Laugharne’s men are now without a win in six Hellenic Division 1 East games, although the loss to Headington was a controversial one.

The winner was to arrive from the penalty spot on 65 minutes and was scored by Tom Payne – albeit at the second attempt.

This is because his first strike was kept out by Finch ‘keeper Tom Bryant, only for the referee to spot and encroachment and order a retake, which he duly dispatched.

Amateurs’ Steve Jon Laugharne Skyrme was the busier of the two keepers during the early exchanges as the hosts created a number of openings.

He was to deny Danny Blatchford from a free-kick before producing a fine finger-tip save to keep out another effort.

Headington also had their moments, but it was Finchampstead who looked the more likely to break the deadlock, although Blatchford would put too much leverage on a pass when trying to pick out Freddie Barron in an inviting position.

Yet five minutes before the break the home side did open the scoring.

The goal was engineered by Harry Swabey, who went on a probing run down the right before whipping over a cross which was hooked home by top scorer Greg Alexander.

It was a lead they would hold going into the break and the second half, but would lose it on 52 minutes when Payne popped up with an equaliser.

Things would then take a turn for the worse when Bryant clashed with an opponent in the box, which resulted in the referee pointing to the spot.

Bryant appeared top redeem himself by saving the penalty, only for the official to call play back, with Payne making no mistake with the second attempt.

Finch replaced Swabey with Gavin Rolls as they looked for an equaliser, but the hosts would fall short, with results elsewhere and on Easter Monday meaning they drop a place to eighth in the table.

FINCHAMPSTEAD: Bryant, Pople, Winship (Dixon), J.Wright, Green (c), Abbott, Barron, Blatchford, Alexander, Onreat-Wells, Swabey (Rolls).

Wokingham and Emmbrook’s Luke Scope bares down on goal

Pictures: Phil Creighton

HELLENIC PREMIER DIVISION

Jake brings the Sumas some joy Highworth Town 2 Wokingham and Emmbrook 3 JAKE WHEELER scored twice as Wokingham and Emmbrook recorded just a third win of what has been a difficult season for the club.

Elliott Rushforth would then go on and settle the tie in the favour of the Sumas in the second half, rendering a Town fight-back nothing more than consolation as the visitors held out to pick up a much-welcomed three points.

Wokingham and Emmbrook arrived in Wiltshire with their relegation from the Hellenic Premier Division already confirmed following Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Tuffley Rovers.

And they would make the trip without either joint manager too, with both Dan Hellenic Premier Division Bateman and Matt Eggleston away P W D L Kidlington 33 27 3 3 on holiday.

34 25 5 4 Reserve team boss Clive McNelly Thatcham Town Flackwell Heath 35 25 4 6 was put in charge and he would Ascot United 35 21 7 7 watch on as Wheeler broke the Thame United 36 18 7 11 deadlock and Rushforth then make Highworth Town 33 19 3 11 it 2-0 five minutes later.

Brimscombe & Thrupp 32 17 3 12 Highworth knew a win would Binfield 32 16 5 11 move them up to fifth, but they Longlevens AFC 36 17 2 17 Highmoor-Ibis 34 15 3 16 were left shellshocked as the opposition took charge of the game Oxford City Nomads 33 14 5 14 Lydney Town 33 11 10 12 after 25 minutes.

But it was game on when Town Royal Wootton Bassett 36 12 5 19 Ardley United 34 12 2 20 broke away and pulled a goal back Bracknell Town 31 9 8 14 through Callum Parsons moments Brackley Town Saints 35 10 5 20 later.

Tuffley Rovers 32 7 7 18 It would remain 2-1 until the Milton United 36 6 8 22 35 6 3 26 63rd minute, which was when Ryan Abingdon United Wokingham 33 3 3 27 King popped up to equalise.

F A 106 29 94 42 93 42 70 37 57 43 79 38 57 52 66 53 61 66 53 55 58 58 57 61 50 82 60 75 53 63 60 83 54 77 43 89 41 103 35 99

Pts 84 80 79 70 61 60 54 53 53 48 47 43 41 38 35 35 28 26 21 12

The Sumas’ goal was now living a charmed life, yet when full-back Ben Broadhurst swung over a corner, Wheeler was on hand to net amid a crowded goalmouth.

“We were struggling for players today and there were three or four reserve team players out there and they performed really well,” said McNelly.

“To score two goals when playing up the slope is terrific. I could not have asked for a better start and to go in 2-0 at half time was terrific.

“Their front two (of TJ Bohane and Callum Parsons) were superb

and on another day they might have got another two or three goals.

“But luckily for us they were not on it, while we were.

“Sean Woodward made some good saves and there was also some last-ditch defending.

“Jake Wheeler got two goals, so that was good and there was a good finish from Elliott as well.

“It was a good team effort.”

Wokingham and Emmbrook 2 Tuffley Rovers 3 A SPIRITED second-half comeback was to count for nothing as Wokingham were on the wrong end of the result for the 27th time in the league this season.

Tuffley are themselves scrapping for points to try and stay in the division, yet they appeared to have a first win since the end of January in the bag by half time.

This is because goals from Jordan Fletcher, Mark Wallington and player-manager Shayne Bradley had the away side 3-0 up when the first session came to a close.

But it was anything but comfortable for Rovers after the break, with Jordan Rowland scoring from a free-kick to cut the deficit.

A diving Will Day header on 68 minutes from a corner then made it game on, yet his afternoon was to end early when picking up a second yellow card, which was promptly followed by the red.

The momentum picked up by the Sumas was unable to yield an equaliser, with the away side hanging on to record a vital victory.

n FINCH were due to take on Chalfont Wasps on Monday, but the game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

They make the short trip to Woodley United on Saturday (3pm) before heading over to promotionchasing Penn and Tylers Green on Tuesday (6.30pm) Hellenic Division 1 East P W D L Bicester Town 21 15 3 3 Penn & Tylers Green 19 13 4 2 Henley Town 19 12 3 4 Headington Amateur’s 23 12 3 8 Rayners Lane 21 9 6 6 Holyport 21 9 4 8 Chinnor 19 9 2 8 Finchampstead 19 7 7 5 Chalfont Wasps 17 5 4 8 Wantage Town Res’ 20 5 3 12 Didcot Town Res’ 20 5 2 13 Old Woodstock Town 18 4 1 13 Woodley United 21 2 2 17

F 51 53 53 50 45 38 38 36 29 24 29 14 14

A 31 11 25 29 30 38 29 22 45 49 55 50 60

Pts 48 43 39 39 33 31 29 28 19 18 17 13 8

The Sumas look to clear their lines

Will Day dives in to make it 3-2 as the hosts produced a valiant comeback

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WOKINGHAM SPORT

LOCAL FOOTBALL

Sumas are challenged to end season on a High HOW IT ALL STARTED

WOKINGHAM and Emmbrook have been challenged to end the season on a positive note after their relegation from the Hellenic Premier Division was confirmed at the weekend.

A 3-2 reverse to Tuffley Rovers at the Invesco Perpetual Triangle meant the Sumas, who remain rooted to the foot of the table, could no longer amass enough points to try and beat the drop.

However, with the pressure off the club went to high-flying Highworth Town on Monday and

My an firstimpressive job was helping outvictory, in a localwith steak restaurant where I learned how to select and cook and what I think is the perfect just pride to steak. play for, McNelly has put “We were struggling for players scored 3-2 I moved to Reading 30 years ago and to my disappointment was not able to find a restaurant that served the food I loved most. there were three or four reserve team Jake Wheeler netting twice and Elliott it to the side to end what has been a My dream was to open a steakhouse in Reading that would serve the quality of steak I had experienced all those years back. players out there and they performed Rushforth on target inColleys Wiltshire.

Finally, I had thealso opportunity to buy Supper Rooms, a restaurant that had been established in Reading for over 20 years in a beautiful tough campaign in style.

Victorian building that both I had always admired. I knew the chance to achieve my dream. I opened Barts in Feb 2011 and with the help of my well.

With Dan Bateman and I had really “Before they went out (on Monday), fantastic team we have been serving exceptional steaks in a great environment ever since. The décor and atmosphere is continually evolving “I thought they worked hard and Matt Eggleston on Easter they were too good thanks to our loyal patrons. The menu has grown since we first opened and I am proud to say that the quality Ioftold foodthe has players only got better. deserved this win. holidays, Reserve team to be in a league with only two wins Here at Barts, we bring dishes inspired by cuisines all over the world butthe centered around our renowned steaks “I was from really pleased with effort boss Clivetogether McNelly was behind them,” he added. and seafood.

We specialise you the putsteaks in. of the highest quality, provided by local butchers, asked to take charge in offeringthey “We are now looking to finish the aged for a minimum of 28 days, flame grilled for superior taste and succulence.

“It was a proper club day.” of the first-team for season strongly by winning another Eggleston was expected to the match, and he was Miah welcomes Jamshed you to Barts Grill & Restaurant two or three games and our record will be back in the dug out when the delighted with what look a bit better than it does now.

Sumas returned to action last night, he saw from a rather “This is a good pick-me-up going (Thursday) where they took on patched-up away side. into the game with Bracknell on Bracknell Town at Larges Lane in a “Dan and Matt were Thursday and hopefully we can get local derby. not expecting us to play (on another three points there.

Up next is a trip to title-chasing Monday), so I took over for just the “There is still a lot of pride to play Kidlington on Tuesday. one game, so obviously I was delighted And while there is little more than we won,” he said. for.”

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CHAMPIONSHIP

Norwood calls on Reading to start showing a ‘horrible’ side SUNDAY ROAST AVAILABLE 12:00 - 17:00

By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk OLIVER NORWOOD has urged his Reading team-mates to become “more horrible” and more difficult to play against.

These are two qualities he feels have been key in Northern Ireland’s record-breaking success.

The midfielder has just returned from a successful week away with his national side as a draw in Wales and a win against Slovenia ensured Northern Ireland extended their unbeaten run to 10 straight matches for the first time in their history.

Nobody predicted the Green and White Army would be taking their place at this summer’s Euro 2016 championships in France but Michael O’Neill’s men stormed to the top of their group, with Norwood citing the squad’s resilient attitude as a major contributing factor.

And the 24-year-old believes his club-mates could benefit from a similar mentality to that of his national side.

Discussing his country’s 1-0 win over Slovenia, Norwood explained: “We didn’t play great on Monday night but there’s a real resilience about us now.”

“If we do score we know how to defend, how to swallow the game and how to stop the opposition.”

He continued: “I think the manager has found a way that suits the players we’ve got.

“We’ve all bought into that and it’s exciting times for Northern Ireland.”

Asked whether any of his experiences with his national side could be transferred to Reading, the midfielder said: “We’ve lost a lot of games with Reading this year on moments in games where we were on top.

“Teams seem to break on us and

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score and it takes the wind out your sails a little bit when that happens.

“It’s happened on quite a few occasions, we’ve conceded at bad times.

“We’ve got to be more resilient and more horrible really and not be easy to play against at times.”

While Norwood understandably has one eye on this summer, his immediate focus has already switched back to helping haul Reading further clear of the relegation zone.

A run of five games without victory has left Royals 17th in the Championship, eight points clear of the drop, but this weekend represents a great chance to end that winless streak against bottom placed Bolton Wanderers.

“We’ve got to go there with every confidence we can win the game,” he said. “We know it’s going to be difficult, they’re fighting for their lives.

Oliver Norwood feels Royals need to start showing an ugly side to their game ahead of Saturday’s trip to struggling Bolton Wanderers Picture: Phil Creighton

“It’s well documented the problems that they’ve had and we’ve got to go there and want to take advantage.”

He added: “We need to pick up as many wins as we can as quickly as we can because we don’t want to be looking down the bottom end of the table.

“I think we’re only eight points above the drop zone, which doesn’t make us completely safe but we’ve got to start picking up points as quickly as we can, starting on Saturday.

“We’ll be looking to go up to Bolton and winning that game.”

While some eyes may be drifting towards the summer or next season, Norwood insists there is plenty left for Reading to compete for in this current campaign.

One of a number of players yet to secure their long-term futures at the club, Norwood is well aware that performances now could shape how talks progress in the coming weeks.

“People are playing to try and earn contracts,” he admitted.

“There’s decisions to be made from the club side and what they’re going to do.

“It’s important now that everybody plays well, as it is all the way through the season.

“We’ve got to start picking up points.

“We’re not safe yet so we’ve got to make it that we are safe as quickly as we can.” n FOR MORE Reading news, turn to pages 36 and 37.

Published by Xn Media Ltd, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS. Printed at Newbury Weekly News, Newspaper House, Faraday Road, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2DW .© Xn Media Ltd, 2016

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