The Wokingham Paper, June 10 2016

THE WOKINGHAM PAPER

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

NEWS WITH HIEAALRT TH S PAE C S OFUOVRE N I RE EBDOIRO T I OUNG H

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Happy Birthday Ma’am!

Friday, 27, Friday,May June 3,2016 2016 No. 59 Friday, June 10, 2016No. No.58 60

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RUBBISH! Celebrating the Queen’s birthday are Noah Reid and India Grainger, both age 6, at Beechwood Primary School. Below left: Joel Park Residents Association’s street party. Right: One of the Bake-off cakes

Grassgate: A growing E L P M A S n Fly-tipping fears problem EXCLUSIVE

EXCLUSIVE

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokinghampaper.co.uk THE husband of a woman who injured herself in a Wokingham park said that the COUNCIL’S planned council THE has let them down overchanges its newto the way residents access recycling centres and its grass cutting policy. glass recycling haveto come under And approach scores oftoreaders are taking fire. in anger at the changes social media Last week, we revealed that from July, which have seen weeds and stinging residents will need have orange permits nettles shoot up across theto borough. if they wantsaid to use Smallmead But the council thethe changes are in Reading and Longshot Lane in Bracknell. being “constantly reviewed”.

Newoncharges n Full story page 9 will also be introduced for

re3 recycling centre residentʼs permit

Ref. no.

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DIY waste as well as restrictions on using trailers to bring waste for recycling.

And at last Thursday’s borough council meeting, Cllr Angus Ross revealed that kerbside collections for glass recycling would cost £600,000 a year.

But both decisions have been slated. n Full story on page 7

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 10, 2016

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FACEBOOK & TWITTER: BRUCE James Robert (Jim) SadlyWOKINGHAMPAPER passed away on Sunday 29th May 2016 aged 73

FAMILY NOTICES 1. 3x2

“A life that touches the hearts of others lives on forever” Kay, Rory and Winston Robert, Sarah, Oliver and Georgie Joanna, Thomas, Angel and Elli

v Deaths BRUCE James Robert (Jim)

James Robert Bruce - Jim 15 June 1942 - 29 May 2016 “A life that touches the hearts of others lives on forever” Funeral Arrangements Friday 17 June 2016 at 1.30pm Easthampstead Park Cemetery & Crematorium Wokingham In Need’s Sue Jackson (third from left) with members of the CCA furniture store in Reading’s Silver Street South Road, Nine Mile Ride, Wokingham RG40 3DW

Share your family DonationsCharities work together to help with donation St Andrews United Reformed Church have joined forces in TWO charities runs a furniture outlet store in Silver 5pm on Mondays to Saturday and staffed news in The London Road, Reading a bid to help find a new home for Street, Reading. by 26 volunteers. For more details, log on To promote the good works of the church furniture.

Sue Jackson, from Wokingham In to www.cca-furniture-outlet.org.uk Wokingham Paper By post/phone contact Funeral Director - Family flowers only please -

A local businessman had some surplus Newman & Son furniture that he wished to donate to a Is there a new addition in your family?

180 Stoke Road, Slough SL2 5AS – 01753 524286 Is your son or daughter getting married worthy cause, but he had been unable to Reception this summer? find someone.

The reception will be held at the Bird In Hand, Has someone you know recently passed To help, he called on Wokingham In Bath Road, Knowl Hill, Reading RG10 9UP their exams?

Need, who in turn got in touch with CCA Sadly passed away on Maybe a work colleague is retiring and – Christian Community Action – which Sunday 29th May 2016 aged 73 you would like to wish them well in the “A life that touches the hearts of others lives on forever” 4. 8x2 future.

Kay, Rory and Winston Contact The Wokingham Paper to post Robert, Sarah, Oliver and Georgie your announcements today.

Joanna, Thomas, Angel and Elli We offer a range of packages designed at helping you share your news without 2. 5x2 THIS Saturday night, a local choir will breaking the bank. give a free concert.

Sumer Is Icumen In is the title of Age 79 of Finchampstead The Gratis Choir’s evening of music, Sadly passed away peacefully which will take place in St Mary The on 3rd June 2016 Virgin church in Winnersh. at the Royal Berks Hospital The programme starts locally, For funeral details please call 07756 823205. featuring the titular music, which was found in Reading Abbey, before travelling across the world, presenting songs from all over the globe.

The chamber choir always perform free of charge, but donations are always welcomed.

Write your message here Sadly passed away on 15 June 1942 - 29 May The2016 event takes place from 7.30pm Use block capitals and check your spellings.

Use a separate sheet if necessary.

Sunday 29th May 2016 aged 73 “A life that touches the hearts ofatothers lives onin forever” the church Church Close.

“A life that touches the hearts of others lives on forever” For more details, log on to www.

Funeral Arrangements Kay, Rory and Winston gratischoir.org.uk.

Friday 17 June 2016 at 1.30pm Robert, Sarah, Oliver and Georgie Easthampstead Park Cemetery & Crematorium Joanna, Thomas, Angel and Elli South Road, Nine Mile Ride, Wokingham RG40 3DW

Enjoy a concert on the house

Peter Duggan

BRUCE James Robert (Jim)

James Robert Bruce - Jim -

THE WOKINGHAM PAPER Family Notices

3. 6x2

Time to get on your soapbox for derby Donations

- Family flowers only please -

St Andrews United Reformed Church ON SUNDAY, a local group will be London Road, Reading To promote the good works of the church

Need, said: “CCA came to the rescue and picked up the furniture, to enable them, in turn, to help others in need.

“CCA provides essential furniture items and provide support and a listening ear in its shops.”

The CCA centre is open from 10am to

Wokingham In Need is currently raising funds for a drop-in centre in Wokingham and has several other projects waiting in the wings.

For more information contact Sue Jackson by emailing- wokinghaminneed@ gmail.com

holding its annual go kart racing day.

Laurel Park in Earley will be turned into a race track for the family fun day which sees all ages race karts they’ve made.

It’s not just for boy racers: there will be other activities to enjoy including a bouncy castle, a slide, stalls, ice cream and cakes to enjoy.

This is the fifth year that SixSixty has organised the event, which runs from 2pm to 5pm.

For more details, log on to www. sixsixty.org.uk

Places cost £13 each. For more details, contact Rosemary Reece, the club organiser, on (0118) 987 3755.

Splash in the Poole A LOCAL social club is planning to enjoy a day at the seaside.

The Chalfont Club, which meets at Trinity Church in Lower Earley, is organising a coach trip to Poole on Thursday, June 16.

The coach leaves the church at 9.15am and once it arrives at its destination, people can spend time in Poole as they see fit.

The return leg starts at 3.30pm.

Heroes and villains at summer show SONGS from hit musicals such as Guys and Dolls, Sweeney Todd and Sweet Charity help form the set list for this month’s concert by the Wokingham Choral Society.

The theme is Heroes and Villains and will also feature choruses from operas such as Nabucco, Fidelio and Lohengrin.

The event takes place from 7.30pm on Saturday, June 18 at All Saints Church in Wiltshire Road, Wokingham.

Tickets cost £12.50 or £5 for under 18s and students and are available from the Town Hall Information Centre, Newbury Building Society, in Broad Street and Bookends in Peach Street. They can also be bought online.

For details, visit www.wokinghamchoral-society.org.uk.

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By post/phone contact Funeral Director Newman & Son 180 Stoke Road, Slough SL2 5AS – 01753 524286 THE Wokingham Paper and TradeMark Windows Reception to present Community Cash The reception will be held have at theteamed Bird Inup Hand, Bath Road, Knowl Hill, Reading Tokens.RG10 9UP The scheme is simple – cut out the tokens we’ll print each week.

5. 11x2 Classification (please tick) Your contact details Send them in to us, as many as you like, and once Name Births Birthdays every two months we’ll pull one at random from Engagements Weddings the editor’s hat. One lucky group will win £200, Address courtesy of TradeMark Windows.

Anniversaries Other The more tokens that you and your supporters Death In memory send in, the more chance you have of your group Advert sizes being picked at random.

5cm by 1 column – 40 words £30 inc VAT Postcode The Community Cash Tokens are open to 3cm by 2 column – 50 words £36 inc VAT charities and other non-profit making groups 4cm by 2 column – 60 words £48 inc VAT Email within Wokingham borough and offer a great way 5cm by 2 column – 80 words £60 inc VAT of boosting your funds.

Phone number Send your tokens to: Community Cash Tokens, 6cm by 2 column – 100 words £72 inc VAT The Wokingham Paper, 231 Kings Road, Reading Photo – add £5 inc VAT (email only) Send your forms to: Family notices, The Wokingham Paper, RG1 4LS. Deadline is Wednesday at 5pm for that Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS. Please enclose Please note, only original tokens can be week’s paper payment by cheque, made out to The Wokingham Paper accepted.

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WOKINGHAM PAPER

Friday, June 10, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

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RSCPA called in to home shut down by police

Woman freed from car after it hits a tree A WOMAN had to be cut out of the car she was travelling in on Wednesday evening and taken to hospital after it hit a tree.

The single vehicle collision happened on The Straight Mile, close to Billingbear Golf Club, at approximately 6.30pm, with crews from Bracknell and Wokingham fire stations and an ambulance responding to the 999 call.

Using hydraulic cutting tools, the firefighters carefully removed the driver, who is believed to be in her late 40s or early 50s, before she was transferred to hospital by South Central Ambulance Service.

She was said to have suffered suspected spinal injuries during the incident, of which the cause is yet unknown.

New school for Spencers Wood will open soon

Homes in Longs Way (above) and Outfield Crescent (below) have been closed by a court order over allegations of anti-social behaviour

EXCLUSIVE

By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk REPORTS of anti-social behaviour and concerns for the welfare of two animals led to the closure of two homes in Wokingham last week.

Thames Valley Police (TVP) and the RSPCA both served notices to a property in Longs Way, in Norreys, and the police served a three-month temporary closure order on a property in Outfield Crescent, off Wellington Road.

RSPCA officers visited the property in Longs Way on Saturday following a call from a member of the public expressing concern over two cats at the property, and urged the owners to contact them.

A spokesperson for the animal charity said: “The RSPCA received a call on June 3 from a member of the public concerned for the welfare of cats in the Longs Way area of Wokingham. The RSPCA is monitoring the situation.

“We are grateful to members of the public who report welfare concerns to us and we would urge anyone who is worried about the welfare or safety of an animal to get in touch by calling 0300 1234 999.”

Reading Magistrate’s Court granted TVP 24-hour closure notices on the two properties under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Police were acting on reports of anti-social behaviour and disorder from visitors to both properties and in close co-ordination with Wokingham Borough Council and Sovereign Housing.

PC Maryann Shaw, Anti-social Behaviour Officer for Bracknell and Wokingham LPA, said: “We continue to tackle anti-social behaviour across the local policing area and are very pleased to have secured our first closure orders in Wokingham.

“By working with our partners we are able to identify premises that are causing nuisance or disorder in the local area and deal with them in the most appropriate manner.

“We are aware that the actions taken so far will only tackle some of the overall issues in the vicinity. We will continue to monitor and take further action as necessary to improve the area for the local community. In order for us

Firecrews from Wokingham Fire Station staged a training exercise on a crane on Monday

to do this it is vital that any incidents of anti-social behaviour are reported to us.

“High Visibility patrols and spot checks will continue to take place in the area by the Neighbourhood Police team, please come and have a chat if you see us in the area as we are here to help.”

Council’s executive member for health and wellbeing, Cllr Julian McGhee Sumner, added: “The Council takes action against perpetrators of anti-social behaviour in partnership with Thames Valley Police. For the Police to apply for such an order and for the court to award it demonstrates the serious ongoing issues at these properties.”

The closure orders prevent any person, apart from support agencies and the current residents, from entering or remaining in the premises during that time period. Failure to comply with the order is an offence punishable by a maximum of three months’ imprisonment, a fine or both.

In regard to the closure order served in Outfield Crescent, Rebecca Horne, Anti-Social Behaviour Advisor at Sovereign Housing Association, said: “We are extremely pleased with this result which is a fantastic example of partnership working between Sovereign and Thames Valley Police to close a property which has been causing a severe nuisance to the local community.

“We will continue to monitor this order closely with our partners and will take further joint action if necessary.

“We are grateful to the local residents who stepped forward to provide evidence to us and the Police.

Without them, this result would not have been possible.”

Anti-social behaviour can be reported to the police via 101 or, to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Alternatively contact Wokingham Borough Council or, if appropriate, the relevant local housing association.

Dramatic crane rescue IF YOU were walking through Wokingham town centre on Monday afternoon you may have seen what looked like a dramatic crane rescue at a building site.

Crews from Wokingham Fire Station were called out to the mock rescue, involving a dummy, at the McCarthy and Stone retirement housing development on Monday as part of a training exercise.

The ‘rescue’ was carried out on the tower crane and treated as a real-life emergency situation.

Station Commander Alan Battman said: “With construction now underway on the new development in Wokingham, as the local fire and rescue service team we need to ensure that we can act quickly to secure

the safety of workers on site, in the unlikely event that a rescue situation arises during construction.”

Julie Ward, Sales and Marketing Director at McCarthy and Stone South East, said: “McCarthy and Stone is dedicated to ensuring Health and Safety on site as part of our ongoing commitment to five star service and quality.

“Supporting the training of local emergency service teams is of utmost importance to ensuring the safety of our site workers, and we’re pleased that we could assist in facilitating the successful mock rescue exercise at our Wokingham site.” n More pictures on our website

May speaks up for Remain TWYFORD became the unlikely setting for a political debate on the future of Britain’s place within the EU on Friday, writes Gemma Davidson.

Hundreds crowded into the pews of St Mary’s Church, in Station Road, on Friday evening to hear Home Secretary and local MP Theresa May explain why she believes the UK should remain in the EU. Holding her ground against fierce opposition from the audience, Mrs May outlined her reasons for remaining based on hot issues such as immigration, security and the economy.

Hosted by local resident Steven Buckley, the 90 minute debate was briefly interrupted by the peeling of the church’s bellringers providing some comic relief to the proceedings.

Mrs May said: “Remaining inside the EU makes us more secure, prosperous and more influential.

“If you look back over the last 40 years the EU has changed, more countries have joined as member states and many people feel they want to think again about whether it still works for them.”

Mrs May fielded dozens of questions from the audience, including one

woman whose company had recently relocated hundreds of jobs to Europe, and a French migrant who believed the focus of the debate should be on the levels of peace the union had maintained since the 1940s.

Closing the session, Mrs May said: “What is really good is that so many people have come tonight, it shows the interest in the referendum.

“What I really hope is that people will vote on Europe of the future, not on what it is now or what it has been, but what it will become if we choose to stay.”

Mr Buckley said: “The EU referendum is a once in a lifetime vote for many of us, so it was great to see so many people join us at St Mary’s Church in Twyford.

“While I originally conceived of the event as a hustings, having just Theresa there for a question and answer session meant that we could take time to focus on the issues, rather than the arguments.

“The feedback we’ve received has been very positive from people on both sides of the debate and I hope the event has helped local people to make an informed decision.”

THE provider of a new school set to open in Spencers Wood later this year has been revealed.

Floreat Education, which is already sponsoring a new school in Montague Park, in Wokingham, announced yesterday (Thursday) that they were to sponsor a second school in the area.

In a tweet sent out by the education provider, which currently has four other schools across the UK, Floreat said: “We are delighted to announce the sponsoring of a second new school in Wokingham, near Spencers Wood. Opening in September 2016!”

More details on the school’s exact location are yet to be revealed.

Callous thieves break into charity shop POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a Wokingham town centre charity shop was broken in to on Monday evening.

Around 8.30pm callous theives bulargied the WADE store in Rose Street.

Thames Valley Police said they would like to hear from anyone who had seen or heard anything suspicious at that time.

Call 101 quoting reference 43160154547.

Town centre regeneration in focus at society’s talk A LOOK into the future of Wokingham town centre will be the focus of an opening meeting on Wednesday.

The Wokingham Society has invited members of the borough council’s regeneration team to talk about plans for Elms Field, Peach Place and Carnival Pool at the event. It will be held from 7.45pm at Wokingham Town Hall in Market Place.

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Fire destroys decking at home A FIRE, believed to have been caused by an electrical fault, destroyed a section of decking in a Winnersh garden this week.

Fire crews from Wokingham Road and Bracknell fire stations were called to the incident in Reading Road at around 2.30pm on Monday after it was feared the fire could spread to the house.

The firefighters isolated the electrics and cut away a small part of decking to get to the fire, and used carbon dioxide to put out the blaze, leaving the scene shortly before 3.15pm.

Firecrews rescue car from ford CREWS from three local fire stations were called out to retrieve a car from a flooded ford in Sindlesham on Tuesday night.

Pumps from Wokingham Road, Whitley Wood and Caversham Road’s Water Rescue Unit were called to the vehicle stranded in Ellis’s Hill, off Mole Road, at around 12.35am.

The driver of the vehicle had managed to get to safety before the crews arrived.

The vehicle was retrieved from the water and the crews left the scene at around 1.10am.

Mole Road is currently closed for resurfacing works so the driver may have taken a diversion down the single track road.

A diversion via Bearwood Road, Barkham Road, Langley Common Road and Arborfield Road is currently in place while the works are carried out.

The closure is expected to be in place until July 29.

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 10, 2016

On eve of her big 9–0, Queen gives Award to two charities

By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk TWO voluntary organisations from Wokingham Borough have been recognised for their work in the community with a Queen’s Award.

Disabled children’s charity Building for the Future (BFTF), based in Toutley Road, Wokingham, and Earley Volunteer Driver Bureau (EVDB), based in Chalfont Close, were both chosen to receive the prestigious award this year, along with 191 other charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups from across the UK. BFTF trustees Karen Woolford and Peter Wood, and EVDB chairman Elaine Spratling and secretary Mary Blustin attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace on May 24 where they met the Queen and other winners.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work in their communities.

The awards were created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and winners are announced each year on June 2 to mark the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.

The charities will both receive their awards from the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, James Puxley, later this summer.

Elaine said: “Earley Volunteer Driver Bureau are delighted to have been recognised with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. It is a fitting tribute to all the volunteers – drivers, office staff, committee and trustees – who have given their time over the last 34 years of the Bureau’s existence. Our thanks go to Earley Town Council for nominating us for the award.

“We are one of five groups in various parts of Wokingham Borough providing a similar service and I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of all of us of appealing for drivers and office volunteers.”

Jane Holmes, CEO of BFTF Members of the Earley Volunteer Driver Bureau receive their Queen’s Award said: “I am absolutely delighted nomination from the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshrire, James Puxley that our amazing charity has won such a prestigious award.

We have worked so hard to create Our House and to make it a success and winning an award of this calibre has made all our efforts worthwhile.

“I would like to thank all our supporters, the families who enjoy our centre and most importantly our incredible team, without whom this simply would not have been achieved. n To find out more about the work of Building for the Future visit www.btft.org.uk, and to find out more about Earley Volunteer Driver Bureau visit Karen Woolford and Peter Wood from Building For The Future at Buckingham Palace http://evdb.org.uk.

WOKINGHAM IN NEED

was

launched in September 2015 with the grand opening of new kitchen facilities (following the successful wet room installation), at the Salvation Army Church and Community Centre, Sturges Road, Wokingham.

Founded by local resident Sue Jackson, the aim of

EARLEY Town Council has announced its new officers for the municipal year ahead.

Councillor Brian Wedge was elected as Vice Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee for the municipal year, serving under chairman Councillor Norman Jorgensen.

Also serving are: Staffing Review Sub-Committee – Cllrs A Bradley, Mrs L Chambers, Mrs J Clark, Ms P A Dunn, N Jorgensen and Ms J Rance JP. Standing Orders Working Party – Cllrs Mrs L Chambers, R A Houlbrooke, N Jorgensen, Mrs P Jorgensen, Ms J Rance JP and B Wedge.

Service to Earley Award Panel – Cllrs J Armstrong, A T Bradley, Mrs L Chambers, R A Houlbrooke, and Ms J Rance JP. Community &Youth Sub-Committee – Councillors J Armstrong, Miss L Blumenthal, Mrs J Clark, Ms M C de Jong, M Firmager, G Grandison and B Wedge.

Members of the community are invited to join the Community and Youth Sub-Committee.

Representatives are invited to contact the Town Clerk at the Council Offices to discuss their involvement.

Far left: Playing Gladiators were Brooke Fraser (5) and Luca White (5) Left: Josie Davis (3) enjoys a go on the inflatables Pictures: Phil Creighton

WOKINGHAM- WE NEED YOU!

WOKINGHAM’S newest registered charity

New leaders in Earley

WOKINGHAM IN NEED

is to assist in the relief and prevention of poverty - assisting the homeless and vulnerable in Wokingham by providing support, grants, items and services to Individuals and other charities working in this field.

WOKINGHAM IN NEED

are currently raising funds to provide a drop-in centre at the Church and Community Centre. This will provide one-to-one support and workshops.

“This is just the beginning though”, said Sue Jackson, “and we want to include the whole community’s needs as we progress with this project and others. This is a wonderful opportunity to get involved in helping people in your community.”

The reason for supplying you with this information? ..We would like your support.. 

As an individual - Your donations, no matter how small



As a business - Your donations, no matter how small

Anything would be gratefully received.

Please donate : by cheque made payable to Wokingham In Need which can be sent/ delivered to Prospect Estate Agents, one of our valued sponsors, at their Broad Street Office in Wokingham. Alternatively you can donate by JustTextGiving.

Text: WOKY15 - State : the amount you wish to donate—Send To: 70070.

WOKINGHAM IN NEED –Look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Jackson WOKINGHAM IN NEED Telephone Number: 07340 301770 wokinghaminneed@gmail.com www.wokinghaminneed.com

Lots of fun … for free FAMILIES enjoyed inflatables, balloons and cakes at two special fun days organised by a Woodley church.

Members of Emmanuel in Southlake Crescent organised the two-day event on Friday and Saturday last week, offering some fantastic and free half-term fun.

The church estimates that 500 people attended on the first day, and more were expected on the

second.

It was supported by Wokingham Borough Council and Just Around The Corner (JAC), which sent its mobile van along.

Church members baked cakes which were sold for a modest fee in a special tea tent.

One of the event’s organisers, Sam Mutton, said that it was part of the church’s desire to serve the people of Woodley.

“Every attraction is

In the tea tent are (from left) Sam Mutton, Moira Mansfield, Jane Fulford, Nicki and Kevin Colyer

free and we’ve kept the refreshment prices as low as possible,” he explained.

“We want to let the community know that, as a church, we’re there for them. It’s all about

blessing the community and showing God’s love for them.

“The tea tent was a hit.

You couldn’t move at times in the refreshment tent,” he added.

On the Saturday, the event included a puppet show, something that Mr Mutton said was always a hit.

“They’re always very popular,” he added.

Take time to hear NHS changes A SPECIAL event will take place in Woodley later this month, aimed at showing people how the NHS is planning to change.

Members from the Wokingham NHS Clinical Commissioning Group and Wokingham Borough Council have joined forces to hold the event and are inviting local people to join them.

It will be held at the Oakwood Centre in Woodley town centre.

Members of the public will be able to discuss proposed changes to GP practices in the area and hear how NHS and local authority staff are working together to support older people.

The meeting takes place at 3pm on Thursday, June 23.

Places should be registered in advance, by visiting www.bit.ly/ lthascw or calling 0118 982 2709.

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Friday, June 10, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Just three complaints sent to council says Sheeplands

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokinghampaper.co.uk A GARDEN centre at the centre of a legal battle against the borough council has said only three complaints had been made to the local authority.

Hare Hatch Sheeplands, which is currently awaiting legal action from Wokingham Borough Council to start ahead of a planned judicial review in September, said that it submitted a freedom of information request to the council to find out just how many people had been in contact relating to its planning dispute.

Wokingham Borough Council said that Hare Hatch Sheeplands has failed to comply with enforcement notices and added that the centre has made “further breaches of planning control” including the erection of sheds and summerhouses, the installation of hot tubs, and the erection of a marquee, as well as unauthorised advertisements.

However, Hare Hatch disputes the Council’s findings and, after an 8,500-strong petition was rejected by the borough council for being related to a planning decision, despite accepting it at a council meeting in March, the garden centre made the freedom of information request.

It said that the Council received just three complaints over planning issues since 2013 and alleges that the Council is unable to say who made them. It added that it had received 206 letters in support.

In response to those questions it stated the “information is not held, we are unable to respond. Comments received by email”.

The response has angered Hare Hatch Sheeplands’ operations director, Andy Dicks.

He said: “Council leader Andy Couldrick has gone on record as saying the enforcement notice against us was issued as a direct result of complaints.

“Now it seems there were only three and the

Hare Hatch Sheeplands Garden Centre

THE funeral of Diane Trinder has been postponed until June 23.

As reported in last week’s The Wokingham Paper, Mrs Trinder died on May 16 following a collision on Bank Holiday Monday May 2.

Her funeral was originally scheduled to take place today but has been put back until Thursday, June 23 at 12.15pm.

The funeral will take place at Henley Road Crematorium. n Donations to Dog’s Trust are gratefully received via www.bit.ly.1XOQD4w.

Apprentices wanted

council can’t even tell us who made them.”

But, Mr Dicks added, Mr Couldrick and Head of Development Management and Regulatory Services, Clare Lawrence, have consistently said they had to consider and act on the letters of complaint they had received.

“At no point have they ever admitted there were only three,” he said. “Why react in such dramatic fashion to so few complaints but reject hundreds of responses in favour of the site and a petition that has now gathered 11,000 signatures and is growing daily. Where’s the logic in that?”

Mr Dicks said that garden centre owner Rob Scott is convinced the council is set on a course of action that it knows will eventually turn the centre into a loss-making business and force it to close down.

“What do they hope to achieve as a result of that?” he asked. “A flourishing and successful garden centre will be turned into a derelict, weed infested wasteland with crumbling buildings creating an eyesore and a home for the rats.

“The council will also cause 100 people to lose their jobs, several one-man businesses to relocate or close down completely, local suppliers to lose income and the community to lose a valuable asset. Is that how a council should behave?”

Sheeplands said that it will continue its fight to receive planning permission.

“We remain open for business as usual,” he said. “We have an appeal against the injunction set for July and an enquiry into the council's refusal to grant a Certificate of Lawful Use takes place in September.

“Rob Scott is determined to continue the fight for justice and to protect the future of his loyal staff and customers.”

Mark Ashwell, executive member for regeneration and planning for Wokingham Borough Council, said: “The continued unlawful activity and development of Hare Hatch Sheeplands in the Green Belt represents a major breach of planning regulations.

“There are a range of activities that are compatible within the Green Belt location and we have consistently offered to negotiate with the owner of the site to secure a scheme which could meet both planning policies and be financially viable. Unfortunately, the owner has continued to ignore planning regulations, has undertaken further breaches of planning control and expanded the unauthorised activities even after the enforcement notice was served.

“For clarification, there is no planning permission for a garden centre.”

It’s been a good year for good beer

Bill Tarver was pouring pints in The Queen’s Head’s beer garden On the grill at Lois McArdell (left) and Leah Fox (right)

IT WAS cheers for the beers last weekend as a Wokingham pub celebrated a prestigious award by raising its glasses.

The Queen’s Head, in The Terrace, Wokingham, received Camra South East’s pub of the year award for 2016 - the second year in a row it has scooped the honour.

The new certificate was presented to landlady Carol Williams at the start of her beer festival on Friday.

The event saw more than 18 real ales on offer, tasty homemade burgers and there

Vincent and Tara Hickman and Mark Groom enjoy the summer sunshine

The Queen’s Head landlady Carol Williams with her award. Below: Nick Dakyns and Ian Melville enjoy real ale in the beer garden. Pictures: Phil Creighton

was also live music on the Sunday from the Rev Ferriday.

A spokesperson for Camra said: “Our congratulations go to Carol Williams and her team.”

Ms Williams was delighted with her award and the way in which the festival had gone.

Funeral postponed

“We’re delighted that we’ve kept up the success from last year,” she said. “The weekend has been a great success.

“It’s just been brilliant. This has been a lot of pleasure to organise.

It’s a big beer festival for a pub of this size.”

Now Ms Williams is planning her traditional Ascot Ladies’ Day event on June 16.

The event will raise funds for WADE day centre for the elderly and sees people dress up as if they were going to the race course.

She said: “Lots of people love coming to our Ladies’ Day.”

SIR ALAN would be proud – Earley Town Council is planning to recruit some apprentices.

At a meeting of its Policy and Resources committee last week, it agreed to recruit youngsters for general maintenance, including its parks, open spaces and horticulture.

The Council said that it is keen to hear from school leavers.

Anybody interested in being hired can contact the Deputy Town Clerk at the Earley Town Council Offices. n For more details, call 0118 986 8995 or www.earley-tc.gov.uk

Railway show MODEL railway enthusiasts will be treated to an exhibition in Knowl Hill this weekend.

Marlow, Maidenhead and District Model Railway Club will be organising the day, which will feature layout displays, traders, demonstrations and much more.

The event takes place at Knowl Hill Village Hall, on Bath Road, on Saturday between 10am and 5pm. n For more information visit www. mmdmrc.org.uk.

6 | NEWS

To advertise email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 10, 2016

Fears over festival plans for Dinton aired at licence meeting

By SUE CORCORAN news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

RESIDENTS have challenged planned arrangements for a new music festival which could be coming to Hurst this summer.

They aired their fears at a special meeting held at Wokingham Borough Council’s offices on Tuesday. The David Higgs and Lea Mazzocchi, a volunteer at Riverside. outcome – which is not yet known Climbing up is Tyson the fox. Picture: Louise Higgs Sarin as we went to press – will determine Tel: 0118 9733414 .Tony . .

PATIOS FENCING & GATES TURFING whether the Marvellous Festival will Mob: 07920 524500 . SHED BASES . BLOCK-PAVING be allowed to come to Dinton Pastures Email: wokinghamdriveways@gmail.com next month. . REPAIRS Road OR DRIVE EXTENSIONS 436 Finchampstead | Wokingham | Berks | RG40 3RB The worries of Hurst villagers, . GARDEN MAINTENANCE Hurst Village Society and Hurst Parish ngs Council included: . PROFESSIONAL DRIVEWAY CLEANING PROCEEDS from last month’s n Existing nightmare traffic in Dubs at the Park event in narrow Sandford Lane being made DRIVEWAYS &&LANDSCAPING DRIVEWAYS LANDSCAPING Easthampstead have been donated worse by 1,000 cars being driven to the tical illness income protection plans to one& the show’s chosen site entrance there. tical illness &ofincome protection plans charities. n the convenience of your home n Late night music on Sunday night n the convenience your home Sarin Organisers the Volkswagen Tel: 0118 9733414 .Tony .ofof . TURFING when some villagers get up at 5.30am PATIOS FENCING & GATES ngs & child trust funds festival, took place on May Mob: 07920 524500 ngs & child trust funds . which . BLOCK-PAVING for work on Monday.

SHED BASES Email: wokinghamdriveways@gmail.com 15, visited the Riverside Animal performance analysis n The festival seeming to break . performance analysis REPAIRS OR DRIVE EXTENSIONS 436 Finchampstead Road | Wokingham | Berks | RG40 3RB Centre, in Wallington, south west London, on Sunday to the Dinton Pastures’ 1975 planning market options . GARDEN MAINTENANCE the charity with a cheque for £1,500. market present options permission banning loudspeakers. . David, pensions Life assurance, critical illness & income Matthew and Louise Higgs,protection along with plans their PROFESSIONAL CLEANING n Concern that the festival for up to Life assurance, critical illnessDRIVEWAY & income protection plans pensions VW beach buggy Jack.the Bug, visited the animal Financial reviews in the convenience of your home .named anning 5,000 people, including staff, cannot be s@googlemail.com wokinghamdriveways.co.uk Financial reviews in the convenience of your524 home500 0118 973 3414 07920 anning charity tosavings see the & work that is done and meet some of the Investments, child trust funds licensed for just one year.

Investments, nsfers animals. savings & child trust funds nsfers n A pensioner’s fear for her safety.

With profits fund performance analysis Independent financial advice With profits fund performance analysis Independent financial David said: “We met an Owl named Merlinadvice (pictured) n Soft ground which could bog down Annuities & open market options for a future who loves tickle, a fox named Tyson who likes to takes Annuities & open market options for aa secure secure future cars, leading to dangerous tow out Personal & group pensions things a squirrel named Jack who had a cold.

Personal & and group pensions “carnage” in the dark.

Inheritance planning an “[TheTax centre] is an amazing place.that helps so many wokinghamdriveways@googlemail.com wokinghamdriveways.co.uk Inheritance Tax planning Now they are waiting to hear the Life assurance, critical illness & income protection plans animals, it costs inand excess of&£500 a protection day run. ” ISAs & ISA/PEP transfers Life assurance, critical illness income plans Authorised regulated bytothe FSA verdict of Wokingham Borough’s ISAs & ISA/PEP transfers Authorised and regulated byhome the FSA Financial reviews in the convenience of your ents Financial reviews in the convenience of your home Licensing Sub-Committee.

Investments, savings & child trust funds Investments, savings & child trust funds Chris Buggy of Wokingham With profits fund performance analysis With profits fund performance analysis Countryside Services told Tuesday’s Annuities & open market options Annuities & open market options Personal & group pensionsAuthorised and regulated by the FSA hearing that the council had found an Personal & group pensions he and regulated by the FSA . wokinghamdriveways.co.uk Inheritance Tax planning Authorised wokinghamdriveways@googlemail.com experienced partner in Marvellous.

Inheritance Tax planning ISAs & ISA/PEP transfers Steven Douglas of Triforce Security, ISAs &320430 ISA/PEP transfers 3 Mobile CHANGES 07768 Emailplanned tony@independent-ifa.co.uk are being to bus services in 3 Mobile 07768 320430 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk in charge of security at the festival, , Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 6HS Shinfield. , Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 6HS Fleck Associates Ltd Tony Welsh of said Marvellous was the safest and September the X9 service to Shinfield Park Tony From Welsh of Susan Susan Fleck Associates Ltd most effective festival he had attended regulated by the FSA will become X3 07768 andAuthorised join theand Leopard family of Tel/Fax 01344 466173the Mobile 320430 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk Authorised and regulated by the FSA Tel/Fax 01344 402 466173 Mobile 07768 320430 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk Tel 0118 07768 320430 and had run very successful festivals at Address 5 The Paddock,8978 Crowthorne,Mobile Berkshire RG45 6HS buses.

Address 5 The Paddock, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 6HS Wellington Park. The security team will The Leopard service will then run every 15 Email tony@tonywelshifa.co.uk be doubled this year for its new home.

Tony Welsh of Susan Fleck Associates Ltd Independent Financial Adviser minutes along Shinfield Road see the introduction Tony Welsh of Susan Fleck Associates Ltd On traffic, Davis Street Residents Tel/Fax 01344 466173 Mobile 07768 320430 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk of a new Leopard 10 route to serve Shinfield Road to Tel/Fax 01344 466173 Mobile 07768 320430 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk Tel 0118 402 8978 07768 320430 Address 5 The Paddock, Crowthorne,Mobile RG45 6HS Association founder Mac Stephenson Address 5 The Paddock, aimed Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 6HS Spencers Wood, atBerkshire providing a new bus for the Email tony@tonywelshifa.co.uk said Sandford Lane had two hump back developments to the area. bridges. “It’s a rat run in the rush hour, It’s part of an overarching plan to enhance it is very, very busy.”

Reading Buses’ services and is backed by a study nd regulated by by the Financial Conduct Authority Sub-Committee member Councillor horised and regulated the Financial Services Authority, registration no. 447018 from the University of Reading. horised and regulated byKent the Financial registration no. 447018 nville Road, Maidstone, ME14 2BJServices Authorised and regulated byAuthority, the Financial Conduct Authority Registration Number AJW00121 Beth Rowland asked Marvellous to talk Susan Fleck Maidstone, Associates LtdKent is authorised and regulated by the Services Authority, registration no. 447018 Feedback can be emailed toFinancial nville Road, ME14 2BJ Susan Fleck Associates Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, registration no.

447018 Head Office: Granville House, Granville Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 2BJ Registration Number AJW00121 to the highways staff about festival Head Office:feedback@reading-buses.co.uk Granville House, Granville Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 2BJ Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority traffic entering Sandford Lane from Registration Number AJW00121 Hurst rather than Woodley.

Mr Stanton said the council

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highways staff had not indicated any problem with Sandford Lane. He would talk to them. “We will take all your comments on board.”

Jo Newbold of Barber Close pleaded for a 10pm Sunday night finish. Five people in her close had to get up at 5.30am to go to work on Monday. “ An 11 or 11.15pm finish is far too late. It could be 12.30am or 1am before everyone has left and it’s all quiet.”

Marvellous director Steve Stanton said: “It doesn’t really get dark until 10pm. We pay a lot of money for a light show … I don’t think once a year is too much to ask. We want to put on a good show for our visitors.”

Jo Newbold said alcohol should be served only til 10.30pm, rather than 11.30pm: “It’s incredibly late. It’s a family event and people will be driving.”

Steven Douglas said the later time meant visitors’ departure times would be staggered, a further way of ensuring safety.

Mr Stanton said 11.30pm was reasonable, adding: “Marvellous is not known for drunken, rowdy event visitors. Mums, dads, granddads will be there. It is a very tame event.”

Marvellous had asked for music until midnight to cover delays but were prepared to accept 11.15pm. Music was due though to stop at 11pm.

Questioned, Mr Stanton confirmed

the festival would be viable with a 10pm Sunday finish. Marvellous would also provide an organisers’ contact telephone number and ensure the festival would be three days in the month of July only.

Mr Stephenson condemned Marvellous and the council for “inept handling” of festival details. “We should have seen them (the details) well before the license application started and the ensuing licence application fiasco.

“Why did the original application cover six days when the festival is only for two days, arguably three at most? … Was there a hidden agenda? It certainly incensed local residents and the village.”

He claimed an “illegal” advertising hoarding by Dinton Pastures entrance meant the whole licensing process had to start again.

“It beggars belief,” he added.

He claimed Marvellous and the council “appear not to have a clue what they were doing or at best lack licence procedure knowledge”.

He urged approval for just one year to see how the festival went. However council legal advisor Neil Allen said the law only allowed ongoing permission. It could though be amended or revoked in the future. Mr Stanton said Marvellous was happy for the event to reviewed next year.

Building Society staff finds time, not money, grows on trees

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Derek Jackson from Hurst Village Society, Mac Stephenson from the Davis Street residents Association, Cllr Wayne Smith, Geoff Manning Hurst resident and Annette Drake HVS president in front.

A pensioner wrote about her “major concerns regarding crime and disorder late at night.”

Several residents asked why the festival could happen when the country park’s 1975 planning permission appeared to ban it. The permission said there should be no loudspeakers outside the buildings and loudspeakers could not be a nuisance to nearby residents.

Alison Frith said: “You wouldn’t like it if I told you planning restrictions on my property were not relevant. What is the point of a condition if it isn’t enforceable? ” Legal advisor Mr Allen said the licence had to be decided on the four licensing objectives. The planning department had to enforce any conditions being broken. They were consulted but raised no objections.

Mr Allen admitted: “The condition you are referring to would effectively cancel the festival.” He admitted it did look “a bit daft.”

Geoff Manning of Wards Cross said the festival site was soft ground with a high water table and not designed to take 2,000 cars. “If wet you will have to tow vehicles out … It’ll be carnage at night in the dark. If chains or cables break there will whiplash effects.”

Mr Stanton said: “Cancellation (due to weather) is part of our plan, we don’t want anything to be dangerous.”

After the hearing Mr Stanton added: “All of the responsible bodies such as Police, Fire, Environmental Health, Highways etc were fully satisfied with our Risk Assessment, H&S documentation and Event Plan for the Marvellous Festival to the extent that they made no representations against the licence being granted.

“Likewise, the licensing team were happy that we fulfilled all of the obligations and conditions to the application. I have nothing further to add except that we’re looking forward to bringing this wonderful family event to Dinton Pastures next month.”

Cllr Angus Ross, executive member for environment, said on Wednesday: “The four licensing objectives considered were: the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm. The outcome of the hearing is due to be announced in the next five days.”

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GREEN-FINGERED volunteers from a building society in Wokingham leant a hand to a hospital garden in need of sprucing up last week.

Seven members of staff from the Newbury Building Society’s Broad Street branch spent the day at Macmillan House, in the grounds of Wokingham Community Hospital, attending to various gardening duties, and hope to return in the autumn.

The volunteers worked in two shifts – four people in the morning and three in the afternoon – to help to rejuvenate the gardens.

Macmillan House is the base for a specialist team of health care professionals and trained volunteers, providing a number of community and day therapy services within Wokingham.

Office manager Deborah Gadd said: “We were thanked for our team’s hard work. Everyone associated with Macmillan House was delighted with the results. It’s great that the Society gives its staff two volunteer days a year to support projects and charities.”

Left: Nick Croxford, Justine Ransom, Holly Webster and Deborah Gadd take a selfie while working

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8 | NEWS

Parish noticeboard Monday, June 13 Shinfield Parish Council full council meeting. 7.30pm.

Shinfield Parish Hall, School Green.

Wokingham Borough Council SACRE (religious education) meeting. 6.15pm. Borough Council civic offices, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN.

Tuesday, June 14 Barkham Parish Council. Planning meeting 7.30pm.

Council meeting 8pm. Barkham Village Hall, Church Lane, Barkham RG40 4PL. Earley Town Council planning committee meeting.

7.45pm. Earley Town Council Offices, Radstock Lane, Earley RG6 5UL. Sonning Parish Full Council Meeting. 7.30pm. Sports Pavilion, King George V Playing Field, Pound Lane Remenham Parish Council meeting, 8pm. Parish Hall, off Remenham Lane, Remenham.

Swallowfield Parish Council meeting. 7.30pm. Parish Hall, Swallowfield Street, Swallowfield RG7 1QX Winnersh Parish Council Full Council Meetings.

7.45pm. The John Grobbler Room, Winnersh Community Centre, New Rd, Winnersh RG41 5DU. Wokingham Town Council finance committee meeting. 7.30pm. Town Hall, Market Place RG40 1AS. Wokingham Borough Council schools admissions forum. 7pm. Wokingham Borough Council civic offices, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN. Woodley Town Council Strategy and Resources. 8pm.

Oakwood Centre, Headley Road, Woodley, RG5 4JZ

Wednesday, June 15 Finchampstead Main Council Meeting. 7.30pm.

Parish Office, FBC Centre, Gorse Ride North, Finchampstead RG40 4ES Wokingham Borough Council Audit committee. 7pm.

Wokingham Borough Council civic offices, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN.

Thursday, June 16 Wokingham Borough Council Health and wellbeing board. 5pm. Wokingham Borough Council civic offices, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN.

To advertise email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk A WOMAN from Winnersh is due to appear in court charged with assault and criminal damage.

Shirley Anne Lee, 25, of Reading Road, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on April 25 where she was charged with assaulting another woman in Wokingham on February 25 this year, and damaging a necklace, to the value of £100, belonging to the victim.

Mrs Lee was remanded on conditional bail until July 15 to appear at the same court.

A WOMAN from Earley is due to appear in court charged with assault.

Emma Alexis, 29, of Alder Close, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on April 25 where she denied two charges of assault.

The charges relate to an incident on January 3 this year in Reading when Ms Alexis is alleged to have assaulted a man and a woman.

Ms Alexis was remanded on conditional bail to appear at the same court on July 12, and prohibited from entering Malmaison Hotel in Reading.

A MAN from Wokingham is due to appear in court charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer.

Paul Gary Beresford, 32, of Tamar Way, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on May 16 where he denied assaulting two police officers on February 18 this year.

Mr Beresford admitted two other charges of criminal damage and being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

He was remanded on bail to appear at the same court on August 2.

Pop to

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 10, 2016

From the courts

A MAN from Lower Earley is due to appear in court charged with assault.

Charlie Thomas Burgess, 19, of Fleetham Gardens, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on May 16 where he denied beating a man in Wokingham on March 18 this year.

He was remanded on conditional bail until July 21 and prohibited from contacting the alleged victims directly or indirectly.

A 23-year-old man from Wokingham is due to appear in court charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

Arjun Singh Gill, of Pheasant Close, denied the charge, which related to an incident on April 7 this year, when he

appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on May 16.

Mr Gill was remanded on unconditional bail to appear at the same court on August 1 for the trial.

A MAN from Bracknell has pleaded guilty to theft and public order offences.

Alexis Adrian Knight, 42, of Bay Road, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on May 16 where he admitted stealing five bottles of alcohol to the value of £254 from Tesco in Finchampstead Road, Wokingham, on May 14 this year.

He also admitted possessing a kitchen knife in Outfield Crescent, Wokingham, without good reason or lawful authority on the same day.

Finally, Mr Knight also admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards a woman at Boots, in Market Place, Wokingham, on April 28 this year.

For the last charge, Mr Knight was fined £65 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30.

For the other two charges he was given a conditional discharge for 12 months.

A MAN from Earley has pleaded guilty to two motoring offences and for obstructing a police constable.

Raja Yousef Iqbal, 27, of Rosedale Crescent, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on May 16 where he admitted to obstructing an officer in the execution of his duty in Reading on March 17 this year.

He also admitted to one charge of driving on a public road without third party insurance, and one charge of driving without wearing a seatbelt.

For the motoring offences Mr Iqbal was fined a total of £250, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20, and costs of £85, and received six points on his licence.

For obstructing the police officer Mr Iqbal was fined £25.

A MAN from Earley has been banned from driving for 15 months.

Florin Nadasan, 29, of Pickwell Close, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on May 16 where he admitted driving while over the alcohol limit on April 24 this year.

He was £590, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £59 and costs of £85. He was also disqualified from holding a licence for 15 months.

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Mixed reaction to plans to build homes on Bell Farm plot

Tools stolen from van TOOLS have been stolen from a van in Wokingham.

Overnight Tuesday into Wednesday someone broke into the van parked in Barkham Road and stole tools that were left inside.

The offenders also tried to break into a garage as scratch marks were found on the door but they were unsuccessful.

Residents are reminded not to leave valuables inside vehicles, even if they are locked away and out of sight.

Anyone with any information relating to this incident should call 101.

Left: An artists’ impression of plans for the new Bell Farm development Above: Residents explore the plans at a public exhibition held on Tuesday

Hurst home targeted Mark Richards with Upton (3) at Guide Dogs fun day at Microsoft in Thames Valley Business Park, Pictures: Phil Creighton

Fun day is simply pawsome!

EXCLUSIVE

By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk A PUBLIC consultation into a new development in north Wokingham was met with mixed views this week.

Berkeley Homes, which is applying to develop land at the old Bell Farm, in Bell Foundry Lane, held the session at Cantley Park Hotel on Wednesday afternoon to display their proposals for the site.

The application, which is yet to be submitted to Wokingham Borough Council’s planning department, includes plans for 128 new homes within the 37-acre site, with more than 22 acres of land being developed as public open space, featuring ponds, wildflower meadows and informal play areas.

The developers will also look to contribute to improvements to the Bell Foundry Lane section of the North Wokingham Distributor Road.

The application has caused controversy, however, as while the area is within the Borough Council’s Strategic Development Location (SDL), the number of

houses is not.

Resident Molly Baller, who has lived just around the corner from the site in Milton Road since 1984, said: “My general concerns for the area are over the infrastructure.

There are all these houses being proposed here, along with those at the Matthews Green development, but no new doctors’ surgeries being planned. I recently had to wait over a week to get an appointment to see my GP and I worry it is only going to get worse.

“I have lived in this area for more than 30 years and have seen a lot of change. I suppose you could say that it is progress, but for some people it can be quite frightening.”

Marian Robertson, who lives near the Coppid Beech said: “The housing numbers for the SDL do not include this particular development, and you have to ask yourself what the point of having a plan is if developers are just going to come in and do what they like.

“I’m concerned about the flood plain as well, when it comes to water you have to be very careful.”

Howard Gell, a consultant civil

engineer for Berkeley Homes, was in attendance to ease any concerns over the flooding issues, by explaining how the site will be remodelled to direct the water from Ashridge stream away from the new houses.

Land director Elkie Lees who attended the consultation said the feedback had been mostly positive, with visitors saying they liked the design of the houses and the plans for the open space.

She said: “We would like to thank those that took the time to attend our exhibition on Wednesday. Those who attended were able to view Berkeley Homes’ proposal for 128 new homes at Bell Farm. These new homes will be delivered on the southern section of the site, to the south of Ashridge Stream.

“The remaining two thirds of the land will be provided as a new country park with walkways, woodland, new ponds and informal play areas for all to enjoy. The development of this site will also facilitate an improved NDR along this section of Bell Foundry Lane as land is provided to accommodate a new ditch and a foot and cycleway.”

A FUN day to celebrate the work of Guide Dogs was simply pawsome.

On Saturday, the charity’s supporters, volunteers and clients came together for an afternoon of fun activities, music and more.

Held at Microsoft’s campus in Thames Valley Business Park in Earley, the event included dog agility and guide dog displays, bands, exhibitions and stalls.

Mark Richards and his dog Upton (3) gave demonstrations of how guide dogs help visually impaired people navigate the streets in a special obstacle course.

He said: “We’re demonstrating how we teach guide dogs to do what they do. People wear a blindfold and walk around the course safely. It’s what the dogs do on the streets, helping people get round all the things we take for granted such as A boards outside shops.”

Nellie Cooke teamed up with her Dad Ian as part of their fundraising efforts for the charity, while hungry visitors could enjoy fresh cakes and teas from the Great British Tea Tent.

Elsewhere, children could try their hand at a hula hoop contest and all ages could meet guide dogs and try a sensory challenge aimed at helping people understand what life is like with a visual impairment.

Beware of cash upfront roofers

Judging date for In Bloom

MEN offering to do roofing work at a house in Woodley have been reported to police after demanding cash upfront.

On Wednesday, a resident in Purfield Drive was approached by the men offering to do some work to his roof, and asked for £600 in cash upfront.

The men drove the resident to his bank in Woodley, but the bank teller was able to speak to him and alerted the police after becoming suspicious.

The men, believed to be rogue traders, then drove off, leaving the man at the bank.

THE judging date has been announced for this year’s Wokingham In Bloom.

On Thursday, July 21, officials from the Thames and Chilterns in Bloom 2016 will walk round Wokingham town from Wokingham Methodist Church in Rose Street.

Then will examine flowers grown around the town before returning to the church’s Bradbury Centre for lunch.

Judging will last the full three hours and will be undertaken by two experienced horticulturalists

Police are reminding residents never to buy anything being sold at the door, and to consider the use of a door chain to make their property more secure. They are also urging residents not to accept maintenance work from somebody who they do not know, and to ensure workers they do hire are from genuine companies or businesses.

Anyone with any information relating to this incidents, or anyone who may have been approached by men fitting this description, are urged to call 101.

from the regional organisation of Britain in Bloom.

The judging route will take in Rose Street, the entrance to the library on Denmark Street, replanted raised beds by Windsor Ward at Wokingham Hospital, the improved pond at Woosehill Meadows, Latimer Road allotments, St Paul’s churchyard, Holt Copse and Joel Park. n To join Wokingham In Bloom, contact the Town Council’s Amenities Officer on 0118 974 0886 or visit www. wokinghaminbloom.org.uk

A HOME in Hurst was targeted in an attempted burglary this week.

Between 10.30am and 12.30pm on Tuesday, someone tried to force open the rear kitchen window of a house in Lodge Road. The offenders were unable to gain access and nothing was stolen.

Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious around this time should call the Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101.

Street party

Nellie (13) and Ian Cooke raising funds

Bradley (9) and Scott Hutton play a game

HUNDREDS of people are expected to descend on a Lower Earley shopping precinct for a tea party to celebrate the Queen’s birthday this weekend.

A joint initiative between local businesses and the Baptist Church, Maiden Place will be the setting of a huge birthday lunch in honour of Her Majesty, with festivities kicking off at 12.30pm and running until 1.30pm.

The Deputy Mayor of Earley, Cllr Michael Firmager, officially cut the birthday cake.

LET’S TALK HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE IN WOKINGHAM BOROUGH Join your NHS Clinical Commissioning Group and the local Council to learn about and discuss plans for services this year. Hear about proposed changes to GP practices and give us your views. Hear how we plan to work together to support older people. Tell us about issues that concern you.

Thursday 23 June, 3pm to 5pm The Oakwood Centre, Woodley, RG5 4JZ To register, call 01189 822 709 or, email ppiteam.berkshirewest@nhs.net

10 | BUSINESS

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Business PROPERTY INSIGHT wokinghampropertyblog.co.uk

£9,800 boost to Wokingham first time buyers First time buyers can get help to get on the property ladder.

Picture: Håkan Fröling / Freeimages. com

T

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

Dogs’ kennels get makeover thanks to building firm

Erica Townend

HERE’S a whole legion of wannabe Wokingham firsttime buyers keen to get on the property ladder and they now have a 3% price advantage over the previously quicker responding army of Wokingham landlords with cash at the ready.

Since the start of April, buy-to-let (BTL) landlords have had to pay an additional 3% stamp duty so, while demand from some Wokingham buy-to-let landlords has dropped away, in the interim, it offers Wokingham first time buyers (FTBs) a chance to fill the vacuum with less competition from cash rich landlords (over two-thirds of BTL properties were purchased without a mortgage in the last seven years) who could bid more and complete quicker.

Looking at the average value of a terraced house in Wokingham currently standing at £328,900, that means if our Wokingham FTB went up against a Wokingham landlord, the landlord would have to pay an additional £9,867 in stamp duty.

Early anecdotal evidence from fellow property professionals in the town is suggesting landlords are reducing their offers slightly on Wokingham properties to reflect the extra stamp duty.

While, on the face of it, it appears landlords are being punished by No.11 Downing Street, I actually believe this increase in stamp duty for landlords is a good thing for the Wokingham property market as a whole.

Since 2011/12, the Wokingham property market has performed very well indeed.

Over the last 12 months, £407,451,440 has been spent buying 943 Wokingham properties.

Figures from the Land Registry have just been released and month-on-month in our council area, property values are 2.5% higher, yet 14.4% higher year-onyear.

These figures are nowhere near the heady days of 2000 (July to be exact),

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 10, 2016

when Wokingham property prices rose by 27.4% in 12 months.

So as property values in Wokingham (and the UK as whole) start to stablise and come back to some kind of balance, I am beginning to see savvy landlords view the Wokingham property market in a different light.

Even with the Spring rush, gone are the days where you could make limitless money on anything that had a door, a few windows and roof.

This stamp duty change has made more and more landlords, after reading the Wokingham Property Market Blog (www. wokinghampropertyblog.co.uk), take advice on what or not to buy and what to pay, meaning Wokingham landlords are being more calculated with their Wokingham BTL purchases.

I am also seeing a variance between relatively brisk current price momentum and softer expectations in terms of property value growth in Wokingham.

This in part reflects uncertainty about the short term economic outlook (e.g.

Brexit, Issues in the Far East, etc).

Now I know a lot of Wokingham landlords brought forward their BTL purchases to beat the stamp duty deadline.

It is probable that hunger from Wokingham investors will return for the right Wokingham property later in the year, especially if it’s at the right price and offers a decent yield.

However, in the meantime, Wokingham FTB’s could and should, in the short term, make hay whilst the sun shines, plug the gap and grab a bargain. n If you want to read more articles on the Wokingham property market, whether you are a Wokingham landlord, Wokingham homeowner, first time landlord or a first time buyer – then visit the Wokingham Property Market Blog wokinghampropertyblog. co.uk Erica Townend is a director and co-owner of the Martin & Co estate agency in Wokingham and has been aligned closely to the world of property for almost 20 years. Opinions express in this column are her own.

DOGS at a well-known animal rescue centre will have kennels fit for a king, thanks to a donation from Bloor Homes.

The house builder has given 100 concrete blocks to Binfield Dog Rescue to enable it to refurbish its 24 dog kennels, which are falling into a state of disrepair.

The developer made the donation after sales advisor Natasha Seaborn-Davies, who is based at the Baker’s Place development in Woodley, spotted the rescue’s appeal on its website.

Formed in 1966, Binfield Dog Rescue takes in abandoned and stray dogs from across the area and tries to find them a loving home.

Owner Brian Johnson, who has been running the kennels for the past 18 years, said: “The kennels were second hand when we got them and because they have metal frames they are rusting quite badly and in urgent need of refurbishment.

“We are extremely grateful to Bloor Homes for their generous donation, which will enable us to refurbish all the kennels and extend their lifespan well into the future.

“We take in dogs that nobody else wants so it’s very satisfying get them into shape and to help find them a good home. We rely entirely on donations to carry out the work that we do so Bloor’s support is hugely appreciated.”

Bloor Homes sales advisor Natasha SeabornDavies and owner of Binfield Dog Rescue Brian Johnson with the concrete blocks which have been donated by the developer to enable the centre’s kennels to be refurbished.

Also pictured are Chihuahua Cross Buster, left, and Terrier Cross Super Ted

Natasha, who has two dogs of her own, said: “I have donated several items to Binfield Dog Rescue myself and I know what fantastic work the rescue does with limited resources.

“We were delighted to support their appeal for concrete blocks and we hope the kennel refurbishment will enable the centre

to continue delivering this valuable service for many years to come.”

Binfield Dog Rescue added that it is always grateful for donations of pet food and money to pay vet fees.

For more details, to offer help call the centre on 01344 421490 or email bdr@dogrescue.org.uk

Regeneration of Elms Field up for award

By JOHN WAKEFIELD news@wokinghampaper.co.uk PLANS to revamp Wokingham’s town centre park have been shortlisted for a prestigious award.

Elms Field has been nominated for the Planning Awards in the “Making Development Viable” category.

The plans, which have been controversial among some residents and only received planning permission in March, include a new boutique cinema, 100 homes and a new park to replace the existing Elms Field.

There will also be a larger play area, a hotel and restaurants installed.

It is hoped that a new entrance

to the park from Wellington Road will become a gateway to the town centre.

Work is expected to start on the scheme next year and is due for completion in 2019.

The scheme has been developed by Wokingham Borough Council in collaboration with a Coventry-based firm of architects, IDP. Speaking to Edge Magazine, IDP Design Director Ben Flippance expressed his delight at being one of four names on the shortlist.

He said: “I’m delighted for the whole team that this project has been recognised.

“It’s the culmination of a lengthy design development process with detailed engagement

with the local community, politicians, local authority stakeholders and the developers,” he said “Judges said they were looking for entries that had improved or were likely to improve the physical or environmental quality of a place or the economic or social well-being of a community.”

Also nominated in the category are Plymouth City Council’s scheme for Millbay, Southend on Sea Borough Council’s Heath and Carby House and the Wynyard Gardens and Visitor Centre organised by Cloud Content Solutions.

The awards will be presented at the Savoy Place hotel in London on June 23.

Real Business club meets THE next meeting of the Real Business Club takes place in Wokingham on Monday.

The networking event will be held, as ever, at Loch Fyne in London Road from 6pm to 8pm.

The event includes an opportunity to pitch ideas in 60 seconds and a chance to meet with other like-minded business people.

Entry costs £12, which includes a drink on arrival and a selection of light refreshments.

Places should be booked.

For more details, or to book, call 0118 968 0813 or log on to www. therealbusinessclub.co.uk.

Masterclass offered in understanding customer expectations A WORKSHOP will offer Berkshire’s businesses a chance to better understand, excite and grow closer to their customers.

Hosted by the Thames Valley Berkshire Business Growth Hub, the masterclass will be led by experts from X NPD. It aims to help understand the customer experience and journey as well as helping to “embed customer considerations in New Product Development processes”.

CX NPD director Jeroen Visser said:

“Customers are the most important stakeholders for any business, but all too often their needs and wants are overlooked.

“This workshop will help businesses of all shapes and sizes to develop truly great customer experiencesthat will surpass the offer of their competitors and the expectations of the people who buy from them.”

The Customer Experience Masterclass will be held at The Science & Technology Centre, University

of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights Road, Reading, RG6 6BZ, from 9.30am to 1pm on Thursday, June 23. It will be led by CX NPD director Jeroen Visser (pictured).

The workshop is free but booking is required. To reserve a place email natalie. truswell@berkshirebusinesshub.co.uk or call 0118 935 7115.

The workshop is part of the Thames Valley Berkshire Business Growth Hub’s ongoing commitment to push local companies with high growth potential to greater heights. n For more details on this and other seminars, log on to www.berkshirebusinesshub.co.uk.

NEWS | 11

Friday, June 10, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Martin’s close shave before he drives in Le Mans race

WINDOWS & DOORS

By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk A TRIP to France will be made a little chillier for one Earley resident next week when he shaves his beard off for charity.

Martin Clement, 43, has been growing the beard since February this year after deciding to raise money for Marie Curie in memory of his mother. Now, after four months of growth, he plans to shave the beard off at the world-famous Le Mans 24-hour race in France next week.

Martin, who is a business development director, said: “My life changed so much in December 2015, when my mum was diagnosed with advanced and aggressive pancreatic cancer.

“The support and care that Marie Curie gave was vital during this time and I really wanted to give something back. I'm a huge petrol-head and a group of us take the trip to Le Mans each year to watch the historic race.

“I can't bake, run far or jump out of planes for a sky dive, so I thought what about just stopping shaving and join the trendy youth of today and grow a big ginger beard, which I will ‘shave off’ on the day of the 24 hour race.

“I’m a middle-aged man now who should probably know better than trying to stay in touch with the young trendy crowd of today, and it’s safe to say the last few months have been a very itchy affair.

“I lost my mum on February 5 this year, just three days after joking with her about how I could do something for charity – this disease waits for no-one and we must continue supporting such wonderful charities such as Marie Curie.”

Crackdown on drink driving launched A SUMMER campaign to stop motorists driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs has been launched by Thames Valley Police.

This week, the force has been conducting a number of roadside checks and the campaign will continue during the Euro 2016 football championships.

Drivers who are found to be unfit to drive or over the drink or drug-drive limit will be arrested.

Sgt Chris Appleby, from the Roads Policing Department, said: “Driving after drinking is a major cause of death and injury on our roads. Alcohol impairs many of the functions necessary for safe driving and the risk of death or injury rapidly increases with alcohol consumption, it’s not worth the risk.

“This campaign will draw drivers’ attention to the risks posed by using drink or drugs while in control of a vehicle and the serious penalties which they will face when they are caught.”

Drink or drug-drivers can expect a fine of up to £5,000, a custodial sentence of up to six months and a mandatory disqualification of 12 months, as well as three to 11 points on their licence.

CONSERVATORIES

Martin Clement has raised more than £2,000 in aid of the charity that nursed his Mum before she died of cancer in February this year

At the time of going to press, Martin had raised an incredible £2,026 for the charity.

Fiona Turner, Marie Curie Community Fundraiser for Berkshire, added: “This is a brilliant idea to raise funds for Marie Curie and is a lovely way for Martin to give something back to the charity following the support his Mum received from our nurses.

“Marie Curie Nurses work night and day, in people’s homes, providing hands-on care and vital emotional support, and the Marie Curie hospices offer specialist round-the-

clock care. We really appreciate all the effort Martin has put in and look forward to seeing the pictures.”

The money raised from the challenge will help Marie Curie provide expert care, guidance and support for people living with a terminal illness, and their families, to help them make the most of the time they have together. n For more information about Martin’s challenge and to donate, visit: www. justgiving.com/Martin-Clement

BI-FOLD DOORS

Get ringing those bells…

HURST and Twyford bellringers are backing a campaign to get church bells ringing out more often.

A shortage of ringers means bells at the two parish churches, St Nicholas and St Mary’s, can’t be rung every Sunday morning.

But the ringers are hoping for a surge of interest when The Charmborough Ring, a portable belfry of six bells, is brought to Hurst Show and Country Fayre later this month.

Visitors can have a go at bellringing and then try it at churches later.

Graham Slade, tower captain at Hurst, said: “I ring at both churches.

Both bellringing bands have lost members in recent times and we have combined our teams to keep the bells ringing.

“We have eight bells but around five ringers at each church.

“We hold joint practices which means we alternate weekly practices and Sunday service ringing between Hurst and Twyford. Ringers from towers such as St Andrew’s in Sonning, help us out.

“We would love to have more ringers so we could ring for Sunday morning worship at both churches every week.

“The bells have been calling parishioners to both churches for more than a hundred years and we want to maintain that service and tradition.

“There is a lot of enjoyment from ringing. I would recommend

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anybody to discover more by having a go with the bells in The Charmborough Ring at Hurst Show.”

The Charmborough Ring is a scaled down version of the bells hung in over 6,000 towers where English-style ringing is practised.

In England there are about 40,000 bellringers.

Both the bells and ringers are fully visible in The Charmborough Ring. They will be in use on both show days, June 25 and 26 from 10am to 5pm.

The Ring is being brought to the show by Sonning Deanery Branch of Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers.

John Harrison, branch chairman and member of All Saints Church

in Wokingham, said experienced ringers would give demonstrations and show visitors how to do it themselves.

“Bellringing is a fascinating activity that engages the mind as well as the body. It evolved in England around 400 years ago,” he said.

“Although it has since spread around the world, England still has 95% of the towers with bells hung for English style ringing.”

After the show local ringers will run taster sessions on full size bells for those whose interest has been sparked at the show. n For more details, visit: www.HurstShow.uk and http://odg.org.uk/sdb/ events/2016charmborough.html

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12 | NEWS

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 10, 2016

The Queen at 90 Fair to honour Queen and the summer of sport EVERYONE is invited to celebrate the Queen’s Birthday at a school fair in Spencers Wood this weekend.

Lambs Lane Primary School, in Back Lane, will be holding the celebration to not only mark the Queen’s 90th birthday, but also the start of Euro 2016 and the Rio Olympics this summer.

The fair will feature a barbecue, a Royal themed photo booth, an afternoon tea bus, a football shootout and lots of stalls for visitors to browse.

The festivities start at noon and run until 3pm this Saturday.

Dress up for Her Majesty A ROYAL themed fete will take place in Swallowfield this weekend.

The event will include a children’s fancy dress parade with a royal theme, a ride-on royal train and live entertainment, all to honour the Queen’s 90th birthday.

There will also be traditional attractions including a Punch and Judy show, tombolas, raffles, children’s races, magic shows and stalls such as plants, books and bric-a-brac.

Mary Baylis, former Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire of Queen’s representative, will be the guest of honour.

The event, organised by Swallowfield Church, takes place at Mead House in Church Road, Swallowfield from 2pm to 5pm.

Donations for stalls can be left at Swallowfield Medical Practice from 10am to noon.

Join a tea-time picnic VILLAGERS from Remenham will be joining together to celebrate Her Majesty’s birthday with a special evening picnic on Saturday, June 11.

The event will take place on the village square opposite the parish church of St Nicholas from 6pm.

Guests are requested to bring their own picnic, but there will be tables and chairs provided along with teas and coffees. There will also be musical entertainment to enjoy.

People wanting to take part are encouraged to email hello@remenhamparish.org.uk to help organisers provide enough seats for everyone.

Church service in Earley ON SUNDAY, members of an Earley church will be holding a special celebration service for the Queen’s birthday.

The 45-minute event takes place from 3.30pm at Earley St Peter’s Church in Church Road.

Music at the service will be provided by a large choir of mixed voices, accompanied on the organ.

Afterwards, there will be afternoon tea to enjoy and entry to the event is free.

The church is accessible to the disabled and has a a hearing loop. Parking is available on site or in the neighbouring primary school.

For more details, log on to the church’s website, www.earley-stpeter.org.uk

Finchampstead parish to celebrate on Sunday ANOTHER special church service will be held on Sunday for Her Majesty’s 90th birthday.

Parishioners from the Parish of Finchampstead and California are invited to the evening of praise and thanksgiving to celebrate the Queen –and, the church adds, the King she serves.

It takes place from 6pm on Sunday at St James’ parish church in Finchampstead.

Afterwards, refreshments will be served. n www.parish.finchampstead.co.uk

New arts festival brings together amateurs and professionals

By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk THE streets of Wokingham town centre will be awash with art for a brand new one-day festival this weekend.

The very first ArtFest will be taking place in Market Place on Sunday, June 12 and will feature more than 50 2D and 3D artists selling original artwork to the public, including paintings, limited edition prints, ceramics and lots more.

As the festival coincides with the town’s celebrations for the Queen’s 90th birthday, Wokingham Art Society will be displaying a 36 metre-long frieze, painted for the Queen’s diamond jubilee but updated for her 90th

birthday, in the Town Hall.

Alongside the market, demonstrations by professional artists and opportunities to take part in lifedrawing sessions in the demo area will be on offer to members of the public.

There will also be a chance to win prizes by participating in activities.

Work from local schools will also be

on display throughout the day in a dedicated community area.

ArtFest co-founder Mick McNicholas said: “There’s a real mix of artists showing at ArtFest.

“From enthusiastic amateurs to seasoned professionals, exhibiting a myriad of subjects in a wide range of styles, and variety of media.

“With that in mind, there should be something to suit everyone's taste, and pocket!"

ArtFest takes place in Market Place between 10am and 6pm on Sunday, immediately followed by the International Street Party. Entry is free. n For more information visit www. artfest.org.uk.

Civic parade will see town leaders mark the big day AS PART of Sunday’s day of celebrations, Wokingham Town Councillors will take part in a special civic parade.

The Town Mayor, Cllr Gwynneth Hewetson said she is inviting everyone to join her and her fellow councillors for the parade, which goes from Rose Street to All Saints Church in Wiltshire Road They will be joined by other civic dignitaries for the event which starts from noon.

The civic church service starts at 12.30pm and members of the public wishing to attend should be seated in the church for 12.20pm.

The service will be led by the rector of All Saints, the Revd Canon David Hodgson.

The parade will form up outside Boots The Opticians and Strange The Jewellers in Rose Street, before making the short walk to the church.

The procession will be headed by Saint Sebastian Wokingham Band.

Cllr Gwynneth Hewetson said: “I would be honoured if residents from across the town could join me to be part of this special service.

“I look forward to welcoming you there.”

Afterwards, the street party on Broad Street will get under way, with live music, circus acts and more.

In the evening, there will be the International Street Concert – for more details, see page 13.

Sunday celebrations in Wokingham town centre 10am to 5pm – Queen’s Jubilee Frieze Wokingham Art Society’s Diamond Jubilee Frieze depicting key moments of the Queen’s reign. On show in the Town Hall.

10am to 6pm – ArtFest The inaugural Wokingham Annual Outdoor Art Festival in Market Place. Features 50 Artists selling original artwork

Noon-1.45pm – Civic Parade and Church Service See the civic parade leave from the muster in Rose Street led by Saint Sebastian Wokingham Band. Church service at All Saints Church, 12.30pm. All welcome.

1pm-5pm – Queen’s Birthday Street Party A fun packed afternoon full of free entertainment including children’s art and craft activities, face-painting, street entertainers and local musical acts, all in Broad Street.

Bring your chairs and tables and join in on the Street Party.

Food stalls will be nearby with a selection of world dishes and a taste of the Commonwealth

From 2pm musical entertainment on the main stage Acts will include Saint Sebastian Wokingham Band, Thames Valley Chorus, Bruce Neil and Rock Choir

6pm-10.30pm – International Street Concert Pauly Zarb’s annual International Street Concert. Food stalls will remain open throughout the evening.

Bakers showcase their talents for the Queen YOUNG bakers spent their half term getting busy in the kitchen to help mark the Queen’s 90th birthday in Wokingham.

Around 23 children and adults entered Wokingham Town Council’s inaugural Bake Off, which challenged bakers to create a royalthemed cake, cupcakes or biscuits.

The cakes were collected together at the Town Hall, in Market Place, on Thursday, June 2 to be judged by professional chefs Neil Bardo and Simon Genduso, along with Wokingham Women’s Institute members Anita Moisey.

The cakes were judged in four categories - under 12s, under 11s, 12 and over and adults - and decisions were made based on taste and design.

Town mayor Cllr Gwynneth Hewetson, who presented the winners with their prizes, said: “Thank you to everyone who took part in our very first Bake Off. The standard of the entries was very high and I am glad it wasn’t me who had to pick the winners.”

Town Mayor Gwynneth Hewetson with the judges, runners up and winners of the Bake Off Westende School pupil Sacha Saucek, 8, with his crown

Results: Town Mayor Gwynneth Hewetson with the judges and winners of the Bake Off at Wokingham Town Hall. Pictures: Gemma Davidson

Laura, Alice and Louise Burrows, whose One of the many fantastic cakes created entries were all runners-up in their categories for the Wokingham Bake Off

Waingels College student Sophie Holland with her 1st place cupcakes

Under 12s: 3rd – Isabelle Dixon 2nd – Mia Goodey 1st – Jasmine Kinsman Under 11s: 3rd – Emma Filsell 2nd – Alice Burrows 1st – Josie Bunce 12s and over 3rd –Tim Holland 2nd – Laura Burrows 1st – Sophie Holland Adults: 3rd – Louise Burrows 2nd – Emma Best 1st – Susan Brooker

Holding a street party, fair or special service to mark Her Majesty’s big birthday? We want to share your pictures from your happy day with our readers – send us your photos to news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

M fo

Friday, June 10, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

NEWS | 13

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The Queen at 90

Music takes to the streets for Wokingham’s big party

Beechwood’s Celebration for the Queen

Beechwood Primary School pupils wave their Union Flags at their special picnic.

They’re also pictured on our main front page picture this week

By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk

take on The Beatles’ single Ob-La-Di, Ob-LaDa. The street concert kicks off at 6pm and ALONG with everything else that is taking lasts until 10.30pm. Entrance is free and place in Wokingham this weekend, the attendees are encouraged to bring their own International Street Concert will also be chairs and tables – but no glass is allowed making its triumphant return on Sunday on the site. Food and drink stalls will be evening. serving throughout the evening and pubs Featuring a British, Irish, Australian and will serve drinks in plastic glasses.

Jamaican feel for this year, the concert will No gazebos or similar structures are feature a host of international acts, and allowed on the site, nor are barbecues, sky hosted by Wokingham music legend Pauly lanterns or naked flames.

Zarb.

“The preparations this year have gone The Street Party and International Pauly said: “It’s going to be really colourful really smoothly and it promises to be a Street Concert will go ahead, whatever the and beautiful, we are expecting typical really good day.” weather. Hopefully, it will be better than the British weather but I’m sure everyone The acts include FoxxUK, dubbed Britain’s current forecast suggests. will be prepared and will still have a great finest party band.

And during the event, the local loo time.

Trenchtown Experience are one of the scheme will once again be in use, with the “We have moved to Broad Street this country’s top Bob Marley tribute bands.

Red Lion pub taking part. There is also a year as the concert has been getting so big Australinarish sees Pauly Zarb team up portaloo being installed and the public toilet over the last few years. I can’t thank enough with fellow musical Frank Doherty. in Rose will be available. 18:14 blueprint_advert_190x137mm_TKT5119_07B_PRINT_READY.pdf 1 Street 22/03/2016 Wokingham council, Gwynneth Hewetson And also appearing will be Marmalade – a For more information visit www.qbiw. and everyone there for their support.

Scottish rock band who had a hit with their co.uk.

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ON Friday, May 13, at Beechwood Primary School in Woodley, we celebrated the Queen’s 90th birthday. She’s been ruling for many years and will hopefully be for many more to come. We all came to school wearing red, white and blue clothes, which was fun!

We celebrated by having a party with lots of food and the whole school was there. It was very sunny and hot in Woodley, so we got to enjoy lots of sun as we were outside in the big playground.

All the children were there and you had to sit together in your class. We all sat on the big tables from the hall, except for reception that sat on blankets and the year

three children that sat on benches.

Mums, dads, granddads, grandmas, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunties and uncles could all come to the Queen’s birthday picnic to celebrate.

The Queen didn’t come to the picnic because she was too busy in her castle.

We then all had to stand up and sing Happy Birthday to the Queen and listen to the National Anthem.

If the Queen could read this I hope she will enjoy her birthday.

Written by India Grainger Beechwood Primary School Year 1, age 6 ½

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The Queen at 90

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 10, 2016

Holding a street party? We want to share your pictures with other readers – send us your pictures to news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Joel Park residents gather for Her Majesty

David Provins from Friends of Woodford Park with Theresa May MP, Mark Postles, director of Just Tiles and John Hicks, the past president of the Loddon Vale Rotary Club at the opening of Queen’s 90th birthday garden in Woodford Park, Woodley

Members of the Sansom family raise a glass to Her Majesty

Clare Doyle and Jack Reacher with their family enjoying a picnic at Joel Park

Alana Vihithan (7) enjoys the sack race

MP May praises wonderful tribute to Queen TO CELEBRATE the Queen’s 90th birthday a new garden was given a VIP opening on Saturday.

Home Secretary - and local MP - Theresa May dug deep and planted the final plant in the garden which has been installed by the war memorial in Woodford Park, Designed by Bernadette Varilone of Unique Gardens, the garden commemorates the Queen’s milestone birthday and creates a new focal point for the park. Special touches include spelling out 90 and ER in plants.

It has been devised by the Friends of Woodford Park, a group that aims to help maintain and look after the popular recreation area behind the Oakwood Centre.

David Provins, from the group, gave a speech thanking people for coming.

“The park is one of the projects to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday,” he said. “This project demonstrates what the community group can do and achieve.

“It’s our first project but we hope it will be one of a number of them,” he added. “2019 will be the centenary year of Woodford Park, it would be really nice to do something for that.”

In a short speech, Mrs May praised the garden as a “great idea” adding that it was “something people can enjoy”.

“Congratulations to David for organising it, it’s a very good example of the whole community coming together in lots of different ways. It’s absolutely great,” she said.

“It’s a wonderful tribute to a woman who has dedicated her life to the service of the country.”

Left: Harvey Smith (3) prepares for the egg and spoon race. Right: Claire Worsfold, Annabel Yoxall and Sharon Ketley with some of the cakes on the Emmbrook PTA stall

ONE of the first street parties to take place to mark Her Majesty’s milestone birthday was held on Sunday in Wokingham’s Joel Park.

Members of the local residents association invited the community to come to the playing fields to enjoy some fun in the sun.

People brought picnics, enjoyed refreshments from the Emmbrook schools PTA including homemade cakes, and took part in a range of traditional games including sack and egg and spoon races, rounders and cricket. Children also enjoyed pulling each other in a small truck.

Some residents also brought barbecues to enjoy as the day wore on.

Held on the hottest day of the year so far, the event was a huge success and Steve Sansom, chair of the residents association was delighted with the turnout.

He said: “We’re holding our annual party this year in honour of the 90th birthday of the Queen. It’s our fifth year of holding a party and we like to reserve a Sunday every year to get residents to come together for a street party.

“We have been promoting it around town and in the community so I think we’ve had a really, really good turn out, particularly a lot of children here which is really good to see. Looking round, it looks as if it’s been our busiest one yet: we’ve probably got 200 people here, people have come far and wide.”

And Mr Sansom also had a special message for Her Majesty: “Happy 90th birthday, we hope you have many more years and we look forward to celebrating your 100th birthday in 10 years’ time,” he said.

To see more pictures and to order your souvenir pictures, log on to our website: wokinghampaper.newsprints.co.uk

Bikeathon • June 26

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We always need more helpers so should you want to help please contact us via the website: hhtp:\\twyfordbeerfest.co.uk There is no entry fee and all the beers and ciders are just £3 per pint or £1.50 a half.

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athon is looking for its The Wokingham Bike

be you? th 1000 rider! Could it

By SALLY BRYANT Last sbryant@wokinghampaper.co.uk place on Sunday 21 June. gham Bikeathon taking

2015 Wokin organisers are Entries are open for the and abilities and this year over 800 riders of all ages year the event attracted

WHEN the Wokingham Bikeathon gets off to a flying start on Sunday, June 26, Roger Holdsworth will be there to capture the moment.

He is one of five photographers from the Wokingham and East Berkshire Camera Club who will be lining the route.

And he will have to make sure two riders in particular are caught on his camera – his wife, Susie, and son Jake will be in the saddle.

Mr Holdsworth, from Edgcumbe Park in Crowthorne, has been involved in the Wokingham Bikeathon for a couple of years. He knows organiser Stan Hetherington and the link with the camera club was formalised for the first time last year.

And Mr Holdsworth, who is 69 and retired from the pharmaceutical industry, is a huge champion of the event.

“I think it is great, it’s very inclusive.

It is very good for Wokingham to have something happening right in the middle of it and it’s a very big event now,” he said.

“And it is very inclusive from a cycling point of view – there is a great age range, from someone on an old sit-up-and-beg bike to a little lad barely out of stabilisers!”

A back problem means Mr Holdsworth won’t be pedalling out there with the field.

. the first riders gham Town Centre with opens at 08:45 in Wokin The event registration centre and complete head north out of the town at 9:15am. The riders centre. Everyone crossing the start line town ing back in Wokingham finish route ar circul mile ously either a 15 mile or 35 bag which has been gener e a medal and goodie receiv will route are being who completes either otherapy. Drinks stops Roger Duckworth Physi ess, busin local by sponsored Studio. selling and The Physio provided by ARC Coun ation to many people thon has been an inspir Bikea “The said, n ringto Organiser Stan Hethe es alike. It’s a great g - individuals and famili runnin been has it over the past 7 years s, family and people the countryside with friend on your bike and enjoy opportunity to get out cycle itself and the start line, the thrill of the unity. The buzz at the comm the s acros from join in! are all great reasons to vement at the finish line enormous sense of achie fun of it, but also the for just take part, not that so many of the riders y We are also very proud orships. Riders have alread al charities through spons nation and local for y to raise mone Down2Us and The Link local charities including will be fundraising for who year this ed enter Society.”

Research and the MS al charities like Cancer Visiting Scheme and nation let that stop you! out for a while – don’t been t hasn’ bike your If you are worried that be on hand at the of Cycle Services, will Dr Bike, Steve Johnson who need it Wokingham’s very own safety checks for those maintenance and bike bike tial essen e provid start to

riders hoping to attract 1000

But his wife, who rides with the Breeze group, is looking forward to her second Wokingham Bikeathon.

Breeze is British Cycling’s programme to get more women out there on their bikes and it has helped Susie get bitten by the biking bug!

Mr Holdsworth and his team may not be in the saddle on the big day, but they will be making sure they record all the highs and lows and the atmosphere for posterity (final arrangements are being made, but the club will make the pictures as accessible as possible afterwards).

For keen amateur Mr Holdsworth, it is

One of Roger Holdsworth’s Bikeathon pictures – he will be supporting this year’s event by capturing the moments on his camera

a day to look forward to – after years of taking pictures of his children, he became “more serious” about photography three or four years ago.

He doesn’t specialise, his portfolio includes wildlife, landscapes and a variety of subjects. But he is really looking forward to the bikeathon’s biggest challenge, from a lens-eye point of view: “It will be nice to have a moving target,” he said. n Entries for this year’s Wokingham Bikeathon on Sunday, June 26 are now being accepted. For more details and to sign up, log on to www.wokinghambikeathon.co.uk.

15

Friday, June 10, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

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16 | VIEWPOINTS

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

90 years and still reigning over us THIS WEEKEND we will witness another piece of history from our record breaking monarch – she officially turns 90.

So it’s no wonder that we as a borough will celebrate in style.

From school fairs to the International Street Concert, from church services to street parties, every corner of the borough will be celebrating Her Majesty’s birthday.

Even though the forecast is currently looking every bit as wet as the Golden Jubilee celebrations four years ago, rain will do nothing to dampen our spirits as we gather to party.

Queen Elizabeth II has been labelled the Servant Queen – and with good reason. Even before she ascended to the throne she was busy serving her country, playing an active role in the Second World War. She has, in her own quiet way, served not just our country, but the Commonwealth too. She’s worked with numerous Prime Minsters, met countless American presidents and endured, no doubt, the odd duff ambassadorial dinner.

In 1966, she greeted the World Cup winning England team – wouldn’t it great to see the current football squad triumph in this year’s European championships, which you can watch from today?

Regardless on where you stand on the monarchy/ republic debate, you have to admire the example she has set – and continues to set – to us all.

As we gather on Sunday, wherever we gather on Sunday, we must all raise a toast to our Queen, sing the National Anthem with pride and celebrate this special occasion.

Happy birthday Your Majesty. May you be long to reign over us.

CHURCH NOTES

Summer creation is good

J

UNE should bring with it some good weather.

June makes me think hopefully of long hours of daylight, warm sunshine, strawberries at their best and Wimbledon.

Early summer is perhaps a time to enjoy the good things of life.

I love the long, light evenings that bring the opportunity to be outside long into the evening and summer weather also seems to make people more sociable and friendly.

So that’s why I think that this is the best time of year to enjoy the outdoors.

Those fortunate to go on holiday might be able to enjoy the seaside or amazing views from mountains, they might enjoy relaxing by serene lakes or being exhilarated by fast flowing rivers.

Even if the only available outside space is a small balcony or patio, summer is a good time to slow down a bit and enjoy life.

Whenever I’m able to be outside, I’m reminded of God the creator.

A superb panoramic view from a hilltop or views of the vastness of an ocean remind me of how enormous creation is and how insignificant I am.

The intricate beauty of a flower or an insect can show me of the beauty of creation. And the order and pattern in creation – how the seasons work and how the earth produces food for us to eat, tells me of how clever the created order is. I cannot see all this and fail to acknowledge the work of a creator. I am reminded of the Bible story of creation which records that God was pleased with what he had made and pronounced it to be “Good”.

Whenever we appreciate creation and particularly when we take care of it by tending the garden or be picking up litter we share in God’s creation. So enjoy the long days and the summer weather and see if you can appreciate the hand of the creator.

The Revd Catherine Bowstead is minister of Wokingham Methodist Church

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Your views

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 10, 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

Send your thoughts to letters@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Grassgate: your take on the new cuts As a result of public feedback, following a consultation in 2014, we changed our grounds maintenance contract so that it now targets grass cutting in areas of most importance to our residents, when needed and at lengths appropriate for each area.

This is the first few months of the new service and we are constantly reviewing and managing it together with our contractor.

I’d like to thank residents who have told us about a handful of specific areas and we are currently looking into them and, where possible, making modifications to the schedule.

We appreciate verges in urban areas should be cut and that there are open areas where children expect to have cut areas for ball games, etc.

We now also maintain grassland and wildflower meadows that have proved popular at Cantley Park in Wokingham, Ashenbury Park in Woodley, and on the Woosehill Spine Road.

We have experimented with 13 different wildflower seed mixes and have successfully introduced a variety of wildlife habits and improving the look of several areas across the borough. We believe, and many support us, that these areas do improve local environments, but appreciate not every resident is comfortable with this approach.

If any residents feel that an area has been missed or requires cutting, please do let us know by visiting our contact us page, emailing: customerservice@ wokingham.gov.uk or by calling (0118) 974 6000.

Cllr Angus Ross, executive member for environment, Wokingham Borough Council

It looks fantastic I do hope that the criticism, in last week’s issue, of the council’s grass cutting policy, does not result in the loss of all the beautiful wild flowers and pretty grasses which brighten my walks around Wokingham.

They are a pleasure to see.

Maybe there are a few places where the policy isn’t working, but, from what I’ve seen, there are areas mowed for children to play and paths cut for walkers to walk. I’m enjoying the natural beauty.

Pauline Simpson, Wokingham

Why aren’t they cutting it?

Further to your stories about grass cutting – in correspondence with Wokingham Council they state the grass not being cut is to improve biodiversity rather than saving money.

The grass is not being cut at all around the Manor

rollercoaster ride. I am a very proud father to four energetic girls. I’m incredibly lucky that my girls are all fit and healthy, although I know how helpless you can feel when one of your children is hurting even in a relatively small way: a knocked head; a broken bone or an achy fever. The dads feel it too.

As Father’s Day approaches I find myself considering that unimaginable situation of having a child with a life threatening or terminal illness. Not knowing if your child will ever get better, or knowing that they never will.

I am an immensely proud supporter of Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity, a charity that helps families caring for a seriously ill child. The charity provides emotional and The new grass cutting policy has attracted a range of practical support wherever and however it is needed. comments from you, some in favour, most against Fathers often feel a pressure to be the strong ones and and Gloucester Avenue in Shinfield and consequently act like they are coping as their world falls apart. Rainbow areas which were suitable for children to play on can no Trust can help by supporting every member of the family – longer be used, as the grass is around two foot in height. even the ‘strong’ silent dads.

Paul, Shinfield This Father’s Day please join me in supporting this charity and making a £3 donation by texting 70111* or Long grass does not look untidy visiting www.rainbowtrust.org.uk because the dads feel I wanted to write to put another opinion over the long it too. grass.

Austin Healey I agree that areas need to be kept short to avoid Former England Rugby player and Rainbow Trust hazards and allow people to play sport but my family Ambassador have enjoyed seeing the long grass and flowers that are now flourishing along some of the verges around £750 bed linen ‘lost’ by store Twyford.

Our story about a women who took her bedlinen to Obviously, this is a cost cutting exercise and the Johnsons to be dry clearned, only for it to go missing drew council have to keep making cuts unless we all want some comments on our Facebook page: to pay more in our council tax, or want other more n Why is lugging a massive armful of bedsheets important services to be cut. out of the house, into the car, back out of the car and However, there has been the additional benefit into Waitrose more “convenient” than bunging it in the of increasing biodiversity. I have seen so many more washing machine in her own house? Who even dry cleans flowers, which not only look beautiful, but which will their [spare room] duvet covers anyway? benefit our beleaguered insects, such as bees and Liz Johns, via Facebook butterflies. n It’s very easy to spend that sort of money on I am sure that there must be many more people who bedlinen in House of Fraser. Some of their sheets costs have also appreciated this and share my view that the over £300. It’s gone seriously upmarket. areas do not look untidy.

Regardless of cost, Johnsons had a duty of care and Gemma Alford, via email must cover the loss. If there is no receipt or credit card

Is the council being lazy?

slip, perhaps the shop could give a statement. The head of the department must remember the stock.

Kathleen Christie, via Facebook

You feel as if we are in a country where the economy is failing as you drive around and see all this unkempt verges! Is the council being lazy? Will we get a refund We should vote to leave, like John on our council tax????

It is a shame that we went in to the EU 40 years ago, Dan Gillmore, via email but now we know that it has never been any good.

The people should realise to vote on June 23 is to be Join me in my support of the positive and vote to leave, as the MP for Wokingham is Rainbow Trust John Redwood.

Victor Rones, Bracknell As any parent can vouch, having children is a

GOOD ADVICE

Living in shared accommodation: paying bills What can you do if one person does not pay their fair share of the bills Utility bills Usually in a flat share, you all agree to pay an equal share of the bills.

The most common situation is that one of you asks for a connection.

That person is entering into a contract for the supply and they will be legally responsible for the whole of the bill.

If your name is on the bill and the others won’t pay you their share, you will have to pay the whole of the bill and take legal action against the others.

Even if you move out, you could still be asked to pay the bill.

In some cases, the supplier can hold other people in the flat responsible but only if they can prove that the person who made the contract did so on behalf of the other residents.

So if you’re the person who asks for the fuel supply, it is best to get it accepted in writing by the supplier that you are asking for the supply on behalf of everyone else.

If an account has been set up using the names of all the residents, the supplier can legally chase anyone named on the account for any outstanding debts.

The situation is different again if no one actually enters into a contract for the supply of fuel.

You might just carry on using fuel that was already connected when you moved in. In this case, any adult living in the property can be held responsible for paying for the whole of the supply.

Phone bills The person whose name is on the account is responsible for the bill. Some phone companies will only allow one person

to be named on the account. Other companies allow joint names.

In this case each of the account holders is responsible and may be chased for payment. If you are the only person named and the others won’t pay their share, you will have to pay the whole bill and take legal action against the others.

Council tax Usually you all have joint responsibility for the whole of the council tax bill. This means if the whole of the bill is not paid, the council can decide which of you to take action against.

Remember that if you are in a house where only students live, you won’t need to pay any council tax. You will need to fill in an exemption form.

If you live in an HMO your landlord is liable for the council tax, by they may pass on the cost to you in their charges.

TV licence If you all live together as one household you only need to pay for one licence. This is the case even if you have TVs in your individual bedrooms. You normally agree to share the cost equally.

However, if you don’t live as one household, for example if you have separate tenancy agreements for your rooms and have individual TVs, you will need to get your own licences. If you only have a TV in a communal area, such as a shared lounge, only one licence is needed.

You can be prosecuted if you need a TV licence and don’t buy one. n You can get help, information and advice from your local Citizens Advice or visit www. citizensadvicewokingham.org.uk or contact Citizens Advice Wokingham at Second Floor, Waterford House, Erftstadt Court, Wokingham RG40 2YF. Tel: 0300 330 1189. email: public@citizensadvicewokingham. org.uk

VIEWPOINTS | 17

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Friday, June 10, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

NELLIE KNOWS

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Celebrating your photography

We’re continuing to feature pictures from reader Ray Little this week. He was capturing nature at Longmoor Lake in California Country Park a couple of weeks ago and, while doing so, caught this wonderful moment of a gull flying across the lake. Thanks for sharing it Ray. 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 Making a difference

H

OW many of us can honestly say to ourselves that we’ve made a positive difference as we make our way through life?

There’s one local person who probably won’t admit that they’ve done anything of the sort. Not just for their own life, but for the lives of the many they’ve come into contact with over the years.

Last night’s ceremonial appointment at an extraordinary meeting of Wokingham Borough Council recognises the achievements and the dedication that this modest and considerate person has shown in their public service to the Town, District and Borough of Wokingham over an interval of nearly 50 years.

Out of the public spotlight, away from his work at REME, the AA and the Territorial Army, his contribution has continued in much the same quiet, methodical and self-effacing way.

His activities have ranged far and wide from supporting the disadvantaged – young and old alike; collecting, researching and publishing books on military history; helping and sponsoring charitable organisations; wider and deeper knowledge than Google on all matters Wokingham; writing books on one make of car; supporting minorities; did I say books already?

What’s been remarkable is that everyone who contributed their comments this week gave positive insights into what this man has done for others.

Going back to his political roots when he was councillor in the late 1960s and early 70s, one of his political colleagues had this to say: “First rate man; got his head screwed on; wouldn’t mislead you; if he said something - you could rely on it”.

Coming to the present day and one of his

HAVE YOUR SAY:

councillor colleagues commented: “He was our first Champion for Older People.

He fulfilled this role excellently, having a great empathy with the older people of the Borough, initiating a series of most successful Older People’s Forums in all parts of the Borough”.

He arranged things so that “people felt free to put forward their thoughts … they trusted him implicitly and their ideas made a real contribution to new initiatives being put in place to help older people stay healthier for longer.

“People have always found him easy to work with, willing to listen and to consider all points of view, and to make people feel that their own opinions are important. His kindness and concern for others has always been huge. This has meant that the decisions he’s made have always been both sound and fair. I’ve always had great confidence in his opinions and conclusions”.

All this from someone who’s visited many other Councils throughout England, and who never saw Older People’s Forums work as well as ours did.

Another commented that “it’s a mark of how much respect we have for this man that a number of us have worked on the constitutional changes which now allow us to honour his contributions”.

His political opponents very much admire him too – itself also a rarity.

Away from politics and not one but two chairmen of Austin 7 car clubs commented that among the books he’d written about this car of the 1920s and 30s one is considered “the bible”.

This is partly due to his having rescued the old factory records when they were being chucked out in the 1960s.

Both men commented that while he’s often busy he still takes time to come to the meetings, as well as taking an interest to talk and listen to anyone who takes the trouble to contact him. He’s President of both clubs too.

His book collection literally has to be seen to be believed. His current house was built in the garden of his old one and it’s said that the double-depth footings were needed to support his collection of “one or two” books – around which the house was designed and built.

His love of books has made him a valued contributor to the Library Working Group which has helped increase footfall and borrowing at a time when closures are being experienced elsewhere in the country. His advice to local charity shops helps sift the interesting from the ordinary when it comes to raising funds from books.

He’s been instrumental in getting Wokingham’s Citizen’s Advice Bureau up and running; sponsoring CARITAS; helping to make The Link Visiting scheme work for older people and to get a shelter set up for younger homeless people.

His care for others extends far beyond what most of us would consider “good job”.

In saying a civic “thank you” for his many and varied works around the Town, District and Borough, yesterday evening the Borough was itself honoured that this man accepted our accolade: Lt Col Robert John William Wyatt, MB TD – now “Honorary Alderman Bob Wyatt” of our Borough.

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Nellie Williams www.nelliepompoms.co.uk Hay

After a sunny week in West Wales (yes really, all week, beach at 9.30am kind of sunny, with swimming thrown in!) we started the return home via Hay Festival and Crickhowell.

Hay was a fantastic treat at the end of a beach week though it took some encouragement to put on regular clothes and shoes but we managed it and got there in good time to have a wander around, bumping into Tony Robinson, before seeing the lovely Kate Humble and her dog Teg who was full of character. Miles Jupp was in conversation with her (Kate not Teg, because dogs can’t speak that well and might eat the microphone) and was very amusing.

He’s nothing like Archie the Inventor from Balamory by the way, I found myself watching his facial expressions which were very demonstrative, when you see him next on telly you’ll know what I mean.

We then had a spot of lunch and another mooch around before sitting down to hear Michael Morpurgo who I can only describe as heartwarming, witty, serious and spellbinding.

War Stories

Michael Morpurgo spent the first half of his talk on the war after warning the younger audience that it would be hard to listen to in places but would be jolly by the end.

He certainly delivered both.

As children we grew up on war stories, my maternal grandfather was missing presumed dead in Burma aged 24 and my paternal grandfather was in India where my father was born leading to Granny starting most sentences with “When I was in India ....”, many of my family were in the South Staffordshire Regiment and we played with lead soldiers recreating battles and coups based on what we were told and how long we were playing war for before we got hungry. My favourite toy as a child was a DUKW my Godfather bought me from some museum and Barbie had no place in our house that was firmly an Action Man zone.

But I digress. Being at Hay and listening to Michael Morpurgo I also had a touch of Nellish hay fever but nobody looked at me as I scratched my tears away, no children tutted and rolled their eyes, nobody saw because all eyes were on stage and the stage was owned by Michael Morpurgo.

The queue for his book signing was massive but sadly we missed out.

Getting lost

If you’ve not been to Hay then it won’t mean anything to you so I will illustrate as if in Wokingham. The book signing was in The Town Hall, the ice creams were at the Fire station, the loos were at the Bingo Hall and the strawberries were in Rose Street. We had planned to meet back at the book signing but the ice cream queue was too big so we wandered and then didn’t wander back. I texted. I phoned. I looked in my bag to find a child’s phone. Then I had a touch of panic until we were reunited. Phew. However the best thing about it was as we were leaving so was Michael Morpurgo so we got a chance to chat to him, he didn’t sign the books but he shook my hand and he was charming. I’m not suggesting a change of plan for every family outing but that was a winner.

David Walliams’ Ratburger

Talking of family outings Saturday was spent at Glanusk for the outdoor production of David Walliams’ Ratburger which was performed by Heartbreak Productions. They’re travelling all over the UK but are in Caversham in August and I can highly recommend going along to a performance.

David Walliams is another one of those authors whose books captivate and leave you thinking at the end.

Home Fires

Sadly the end has come for the ITV drama Home Fires based on Jambusters by Julie Summers who just so happens to be my cousin. She’s also written The Colonel of Tamarkan which is a very special book and worth reading if the Second World War is of interest to you. Anyway there’s been petitions to the ITV begging them to do a 3rd series but no.

I can appreciate wanting to make changes to schedules but Home Fires was good, decent and honest Sunday evening viewing, allowing those watching it to sink bank in the sofa and lose themselves in a time gone by with communities that taught us so much and for whom we should be grateful to.

Which brings me back to Michael Morpurgo – he made me think of the people that walked before us and I’m grateful that our world today was shaped by some who never came back.

Bless you for reading. See you next week.

18 | VIEWPOINTS

OH, MR SMITH!

A wry look at life

Cowards die a thousand deaths

T

HE previous generation expected to get on with life and cope with the knocks but now it seems we are encouraged to worry about everything especially our children and young teenagers.

There is, for example, a statutory requirement for schools to provide compulsory anti-bullying assemblies.

From what I’ve read these teach that psychological abuse in the form of teasing and exclusion are as bad as physical abuse.

The problem is when we focus on a discomfort the problem seems to become bigger and more unpleasant.

My old granny used to say “change the things you can and live with the things you can’t”.

One strategy is to focus on important goals and do not let problems overwhelm you. Maybe help someone else who is struggling with a similar problem.

Another adage says “worrying does not remove today’s problems only today’s joys’. Life becomes a tedious existence.

Don’t listen to those who encourage you to focus on the negative – it is going to compromise your ability to maintain a positive perspective on your future lives.

Which brings me to the Referendum.

When it comes to unravelling the torrent of information and statistics that is currently aimed at us I am utterly confused – juggling a thousand different scenarios.

Better off

I have come to the conclusion that we may be slightly worse off economically but better off politically if we leave and one of the great benefits of living in the UK has been political stability mixed with a reasonable amount of democracy.

It’s when I hear people telling me that terrible things are going to overcome us if we retain our traditional independence of spirit that I begin to distrust the Remain messenger.

Just another bully on the block trying to intimidate me.

Give me the facts if you can.

The Tudor queen, Elizabeth I wasn’t cowed by threats from the mighty Europe of her day and looked what followed.

Of course, past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The thought occurred to me when watching flexible Novak Djokovic dance his way around the raw fire power of Andy Murray.

When you reflect on life it seems we were designed to cope with the unpredictability of life.

This makes us creative.

Choose certainty and stability and you become, to quote Pink Floyd “comfortably numb”.

Better not to know what is always waiting for you around the corner.

To be alive we must embrace uncertainty and thrive in it.

Imagine living in a super state such as portrayed by Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World written in 1931 where every emotion was controlled with psychotic drugs – all in the name of happiness and social stability.

I don’t want to experience war or poverty but I do want to feel alive in a country that allows me to have dreams – however humble.

What do you think? Should we stay, or should we go? The editor would love to hear your views for the next issue. Send your thoughts to letters@wokinghampaper.co.uk

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 10, 2016

Wokingham people Signer of the times Spencer– or Spenny – Collins is a man with a mission.

Born profoundly deaf, he knows all about the problems those with hearing difficulties face, but he is passionate about breaking down the barriers. He is running free classes for hearing people to learn how to sign and communicate better with deaf friends and colleagues – and his dream is the idea will spread and make the world a better place for all. SALLY BRYANT explains

S

PENNY cites two examples of situations that are minor hitches for those of us lucky enough to hear, but so much more of a struggle for him.

The first is if your car parking ticket fails on the exit barrier – the instruction is to press the button and talk to a member of staff.

But Spenny can’t do that, so he would have to get out of his car and find someone while the cars build up behind and tempers flare.

The second is sorting out something with the bank.

He has wanted his mother to speak for him on the telephone, but this has not been allowed because of the Data Protection Act. He has to get in his car, pay for the petrol and go to the bank to do something that is much more straightforward for most of us.

It makes you think.

But this inspirational 41-year-old is convinced if everybody knew more about communicating with deaf people, everybody would benefit.

And that is why, between 7pm and 9pm every Monday and Tuesday, he is at Bracknell Open Learning Centre in Rectory Lane.

There is no charge, even the coffee is free, and people from Wokingham, Bracknell, Reading and even Fleet are learning to sign and lip-read and break down that barrier.

The group is called Make A Difference and that is exactly what the founder is determined to do.

Spenny says: “I am doing this to help everyone. I have got mothers

bringing their children – it is fun and signing is a beautiful language.

“I then want everyone to teach other people. My dream is it will sweep across the country and it is all about helping others make a difference.”

Spenny lives in Blackwater with his wife, Harriet, who is also deaf – she has a cochlear implant, which he describes as a “super hearing aid”.

He was born into a hearing family and says he mastered lip-reading from the word go.

He went to Meadow Vale Primary School in Bracknell, Ovingdean Hall School for deaf children in Brighton and then art college.

He is now an art consultant (his family had a gallery in Leeds), matching up buyers with the right works of art and dealing with lawyers over the sales.

He also dons “body armour” and acts as a polo goal judge.

It is an impressive CV, but it hasn’t all been plain sailing for Spenny, which is why he is so fervent about getting hearing people and deaf people working more closely together.

“With family and friends, communication was fantastic, but if you go to a hotel or somewhere in normal life there is always a barrier, people like me struggle,” he says.

“I always say get a pen and paper if you are struggling with a deaf person, they can read and they can write.

“You have got to make people feel comfortable and communication is

VOLUNTEER CORNER n The Trust House Reading provides a confidential counselling service.

They are looking to take on Volunteer Counsellors / Play Therapists for children and young people will be responsible for providing professional and confidential counselling / therapy to clients of Trust House Reading.

They work with children and young people who are victims/survivors of rape and sexual abuse.

Volunteers must be a qualified counsellor or in the final year of a Diploma course (or equivalent) that leads to being a qualified counsellor OR to be a qualified therapist or in the final year of a Diploma course (or equivalent) that

Spenny Collins wants to open your eyes to talking by sight – he runs free weekly communicating classes for lip reading and sign language on Mondays and Tuesdays

the most important thing.”

Spenny says when he first went to work it was hard for him, but harder for his employer who didn’t have the time to learn new skills from scratch.

But he is convinced if people in the business world communicated better with the deaf, their return would increase.

“It’s not about technology, it’s about people,” he said.

“If I had money, I wouldn’t invest in technology, I would pay for training for

every employee.

“I would like to see hotels and petrol stations doing signing, that would be a dream.”

Spenny’s deafness has stopped him fulfilling his dream of being an RAF pilot, but it isn’t going to stop him spreading the word about better communication between all of us.

“I am doing the group to help people and for them to be happy.” n If you want to learn more, just turn up at a Make A Difference session or email Spenny at deff@live.co.uk

With Helena Badger leads to being a qualified therapist.

Placements would include an induction course, regular supervision with a qualified, experienced supervisor and ongoing training. All volunteers must have a satisfactory DBS check. n The Wade Day Care Centre is a centre for over 60s in Wokingham.

They are looking to recruit a new Treasurer to join their board of trustees.

The role includes reporting income and expenditures and processing wages and other accounting activities.

The volunteer will need to have previous financial experience, ideally a qualified accountant if possible and be

able to give approximately 8 hours per week at times to suit the applicant. n Arthritis Care is the UK’s largest organisation working with and for all people with arthritis.

They are a membership organisation with a network of local branches and groups throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

They have a really exciting opportunity for people who have experience of arthritis whether personal or via family and friends – AND for those willing to learn – to provide peer support to others living with arthritis.

The role is a Community Champion

Volunteer and commitment is for a few hours each week – or less regularly if required.

The volunteers will be helping with the drop-ins in Wokingham. Volunteers should have experience with arthritis whether personal or via family of friends and must be friendly, helpful and approachable.

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

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

To advertise call 0118 328 2959 To advertise call 0118 966 6600

Friday, June 10, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, August 21, 2015 TheWokinghamPaPer

WokinghamRemembers

HERITAGE||17 19 HERITAGE In association association with with In

Exploring Exploringour ourheritage heritagewith with wokinghamremembers.com wokinghamremembers.com

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REVIEW

The past which has shaped our present...

Make a

That white building on the horizon as you drive on A329M towards Reading? Its BBC Radio Berkshire’s home and its This week ChuRChER reviews gardens areMikE all down to the genius of one man, Capability the Wokingham articlesof his birth, Brown.

In this, theRemembers 300th anniversary of theWAKEFIELD past four months discusses JOHN looksand at his local legacy some of the factors which contributed his first decade in business, he HINK of any BBC adaptation of to the making of Wokingham and its employed 20 foremen to carry out his an historical favourite and environment. work as well as ensuring he visited sites chances are you’ll recall country

T O

mansions grounds VER thewith pastsweeping months the including that lake from which a wet Wokingham Remembers page has shirted Mrbeen Darcy – playedan byearly Colinpicture Firth – providing emerged. of how a small market town and a They are the epitome ofathe 18th few villages on the edge of forest is today and 19th century affluent living and ranked as one of the country’s leading their styles all come down to one man: communities.

Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown.

Education, religion, industry, transport, It is no exaggeration to say that and social structures, national politics he changed the face of 18th century local government are all important England, country pieces indesigning building the great Wokingham estates and mansions, jigsaw. Here now is a summary of our moving hills and contributions to making date and a few ideas on flowing lakes and the next round of articles. serpentine rivers.

Education, Education, His influence was felt across the country Education andToday’s there are two sites is renowned as Wokingham within one ofthe theborough country’s– centres of excellence and third visible for aeducation; thisfrom is partly due to strong the A329M – that all owe school performance and the motivated him a great debt. parents who live in one of the most But who was he?

And why in the UK. highly educated communities doesIfhe today? wematter look into the history of Capability was born we in 1716, Wokingham’s schools can see making this yearishis 300th anniversary. how education woven into its DNA. The fifth of six children, his father Prior to the Great War, Wokingham was farmer whoby had worked on the wasasurrounded manor houses and Kirkharle Northumberland. membersestate of thein landed gentry who This possibly influenced the younger wanted to be close to the levers of power; Brown, work of asWindsor. a gardener i.e. the who royalstarted households there Inafter turn school. these upper echelons In 1741, he started sense designing both possessed a serious of duty architectural and landscaping and a responsibility to ensureworks their in Stowe, Buckinghamshire, before starting community received at least a basic work as an independent designer education.

Wokingham also had a inpowerful 1751, moving to Hammersmith in professional class, a strong London do so. church to community (including the nonHe wanted to design beauty: conformists) and together they shared comfort elegance that workedof with a strongand belief in the importance the style of the house it fitted in with. teaching.

ThisThe meant hewas created of the result withdesigns the skills, great variety,and although he also used a motivation the finance available, sunk – known as a ha-ha – therefence developed a culture of education so that still visitors could believe that which holds strong to this day. different piece of parkland were one Wokingham transport expanse, even if they were managed Transport is probably the single separately. most factor in Wokingham’s His important nickname of ‘Capability’ is development, both from its railhis and road thought to haveincome systems. landscapes as having describing Future articles will look at the “great capabilities”. introduction of the railways andof the Clearly successful, by the end

Capabili-Tea

himself. major impact they had on the town and Buthave he was also made a slightly eccentric we already a start with the businessman: would road system sometimes by mappinghe out the course of allow clients to pay what they thought the old Forest Road. his work was or left without While theworth building of the M4 had a leaving a bill. major influence on the introduction of the So what he do within high tech did businesses whichWokingham now surround borough?

Wokingham, it is the A329M which is Maiden Erlegh inNear 1975Sonning cut off the Forest Road and its House.

Sadly this is notbetween open toEmmbrook natural connections thevillages public to an and the of visit, Hurstbut andisBinfield.

The site. with our rail love and intriguing hate relationship The land itself had and roads continue to this day! been inhabited since Wokingham’s military 1362, and in 1781, was heritage purchased by Edward Golding, an EastofIndia As 2015 is the bi-centenary the Wokingham Railway Station viewed from Wellington Road looking towards St Pauls Church.

Company whoa Battle of Waterloo, there nabob have been become rich on the Subnumber of articles commemorating this historians, Sarah Huxford, also took its replacement: local government.

Continent. world changing event. us on a journey to the old battlefields Wokingham’s wild side eventually became The area hasHealways been noted for in search of their graves. This story Before we believe too much in the idea Lord oftothe its contribution theTreasury nation’s military reflects only a microcosm of the losses that Wokingham’s development was a during theArborfield’s premiership of his capability, with REME, around the county of Berkshire, but solidly sedate experience, May’s article neighbour, Viscountconnections Sidmouth. and the RFA and Remount affirms the importance of the wars in the told the story of the rioting in the town The houseand wasWellington demolished in 1960all Sandhurst Colleges centre during the time of the 1857 General development of our local character. and is nowvery a housing situated nearby.estate.

Election.

Wokingham and The borough’s second house is took to Even the Duke of Wellington Such events were a common sight in the Royal Forest more familiar: Stratfield – aka living in Stratfield Saye,Saye which today is the town and this short and bloody battle Looking at today’s community, it is Wellington Country Park,from which only 30 minutes away Wokingham’s between the Whigs and the Tories also difficult to visualise just how rural the straddles the border of Berkshire and town centre. highlighted the Bush and Rose hotels in area once was and in part explains the Hampshire.

Wokingham’s Market Place as the headquarters of these sometimes fragile relationship between It all dates back to around 1630, two feral groups. benefactor culture the old and new Wokingham; few when it was built by Sir William Pitt, The story was also able to reflect The area around Wokingham was areas in the UK have witnessed such comptroller to the household of King upon the national scene and the corrupt surrounded many remarkable extraordinary growth and change in the James I. Whileby the estate’s connections individuals they were instrumental in nature of general elections before the profile of its population. with the Dukeand of Wellington is more introduction of the private ballot. building the muchconnections needed infrastructure Although Wokingham’s history familiar, the area’s with Future articles will include further which underpinned the establishment of has always been intertwined with Capability Brown are lesser known. tales of anarchy and revelry in this old aHe strong community. the surrounding villages by providing worked on the sites between market town.

We will later be telling the story of the a market place for agricultural and 1756-57, but much of what he did was Walter family to Portrait produce, it was also a Forest Wokingham at War upgraded by theand firsttheir Dukecontributions when he of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, c.1770-75, by commercial Richard Cosway (1742-1821)/Private the building of Wokingham Town. The term ‘forest’ did not mean a There are watershed renovated in the 18th century,but andin April Collection/Bridgeman Image moments in first weekly issue, toldofthe story of the cluster of trees, but a system of laws laid history which mark the moment of great acquired by the firstwe Duke Wellington loved Arthur Hill, the 6th Marquess He letfor thethe parkland flowof up once a stately and it dates backWar to of countryside. down by royalty protection change in ahome society and the Great inmuch 1817, adding and expanding it to it of Downshire. theirtohunting grounds. close the house, with a ha-ha, which is 1914-1918 is one such time.

Norman times. over the years.

Although one of final Britain’s Theseits onerous restrictedaway local Therefore number ofCadogan centenaries still doing job, to rules keep animals It was boughtaby William in And the third and one?wealthiest landowners, HillA329M doubled as the the between people using vicinity large parts of the land 2014and andsold 2018towill from the from immediate 18th century his younger If you drive Arthur along the towards chief ofyou the may localhave Fire Brigade was a brother for andhistoric in part garden led to the commemorate great losses Itssustenance many-layered is Charles forthe £13,000.

It was of war Reading, seen theand white rise of local highwaymen general major financial contributor to this part of Charles which scarred the peopleCapability of Wokingham rarely opened to the public, and although it who commissioned building on the horizon and wondered lawlessness.

As alater result, the subsequent for thethe restgardens. of the 20th century.

Wokingham’s services. will be showcased this summer when to design Capability Brown what it was. It ispublic Caversham Park and Actofofthe 1723 came down heavily on May’s edition followed the story Later articles illustrate the anBlack edition Antiques Roadshow will kept the grand terrace, but did away is now home to thewill BBC’s written ‘Wokingham Blacks’ and resulted in ofthe twoformal brothers from Langborough demise of these great manorsand andBBC their with bethese filmed there. gardens and introduced archives, Monitoring services either their transportation or execution. in Wokingham of our incumbent social trademark look, thattown. of theOne English n www.capabilitybrown.org Radio Berkshire, butsystem it was and the rise of his Road

TO celebrate Capability Brown’s 300th birthday, people are being encouraged to hold a Capabili-Tea – an afternoon tea with an 18th century twist.

Working with Hudson’s Historic Houses and Gardens 2016, the Capability Brown Festival team has made a number of historic recipes available for anyone wanting to have their own Capabili-Tea. They can be downloaded from the Festival website and include: Sally Lunns – History leaves no evidence of a flour-dusted, apple cheeked baker named Sally Lunn, rather this English version of brioche was probably brought

by Huguenots fleeing persecution in 17th Century France and the name is a corruption of Solimemne, a sweet bread from Alsace Jumbles – A popular biscuit flavoured with aniseed, shaped into a knot which derives its name from gemmel or twin. A gemmel ring, fashionable at the time, was a ring with two interlocking sections The story was told in June, and also Seed cake – Modern raising agents commemorated the 800th anniversary have replaced the use of yeast which was of the Magna Carta, signed at nearby required for nearly every Georgian cake, Runnymede in 1215. and here it is flavoured with caraway seeds Shining a light on ground cloves Gingerbread – Nutmeg, and ground mace and‘Dark candied peel give this Wokingham’s Ages’ ginergbread a distinctive To bring us up to dateflavour the August Georgian Sandwiches – The Earl articles are focused on the kids who are of Sandwich’s washolidays. now entering legendary into their snack summer almost beefto and one myth for Whatcertainly better way use this month’s the originthan of mayonnaise in the editions to tell the places storiesitof Mahon inthe Menorca, an important British Romans, Celts and the Saxons Mediterranean forbefore most ofWokingham the 18th influence on theport area Century. was even a twinkle in old Wocca’s eye?

Ceryl Nash Evans,Ford Festival Director, said: David provided a set of“It was notand untilpuzzles the Georgian that tea articles whichperiod makes becamefun cheaper andyoung more easily available history for the and no doubt andalso it quickly the nation’s will catchbecame the interest of thefavourite parents beverage – served in cafes, coffee houses, who will be looking over their child’s tearooms and tea gardens, which reached shoulder. their popularity the round mid-18th Century.

Here’s to the in next of articles!

“Given tea at the time Thanks gothe outimpact to ourofcontributors: Steve of Capability Brown, weNash have Ford, created Bacon, Jim Bell, David Sarah Capabili-Teas as Long, a fun way for people to Huxford, Roger Trevor Ottlewski get involved in the Festival, whether they and Peter Shilham for all their continuing are visiting a Brown site or not and to get contributions.

All this workabout is provided by our times people thinking life in Georgian local historians of charge and ” by trying out thefree recipes for themselves. canShare be found the front page of the youron Capabilli-Teas stories on Wokingham Remembers website Twitter @BrownCapability and using the www.wokinghamremembers.com hashtag #CapabiliTea. Thanks also to Mark Ashwell at n www.capabilitybrown.org/capabiliTradeMark for supporting the paper’s teas commitment to this project.

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20 | HEALTH

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 10, 2016

Good health

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

HEALTH MATTERS with Nicola Strudley

Are GPs an endangered species?

E

XTINCTION is a natural phenomenon that occurs at a natural background rate of between one to five species every year.

What would you think if I told you that GPs are in decline and at risk of being a dying breed? In a few years time it will be the exception, not the norm, to see a GP. Demands on primary care are relentless with an aging population with more complex, long term conditions, alongside the fact funding has fallen by almost £300 million in a single year between 2012/13 and 2013/14. GPs now receive £76.51 per patient per year for their basic care irrespective of how many times that person uses the services.

Wokingham Medical Centre received almost 2,000 calls between 8am and 9am one morning in March.

Their phone system crashed as a result.

Many GPs are so stressed with the profession that they are leaving either through planned or early retirement, emigrating and a large number are choosing to work part-time. Some surgeries have almost 4,000 patients per doctor.

Wokingham Borough surgeries are repeatedly advertising for new staff but receiving no applications. Being in an area with a high cost of living and just outside London weighting does not help the recruitment crisis.

Surgeries are having to think creatively and are now utilising a skilled workforce mix; for example, a phlebotomist or Health Care Assistant can take blood samples, a Practice Nurse can carry out pre-diabetes clinic tests and checks, a prescribing nurse can give vaccinations and immunisations and a prescribing pharmacist can undertake medicine reviews.

Wokingham Medical Centre has just embarked upon an apprenticship course, in conjunction with Southampton University to train Health Care Assistants Primary Care will not survive unless patients begin to make radical changes. Entire generations have learnt to turn up to the NHS at the first sign of a symptom. We have gotten used to seeing the medical profession as experts and we respond as passive recipients of advice, therapy and treatment.

So how do we use the system more efficiently?

Well, if you are not sure but think something is urgent a good starting point is to call NHS 111 who will triage you and direct you accordingly.

There is increasingly strong evidence that patients who understand, take responsibility for and are involved in managing their conditions and involved in decisions about their care have better health outcomes.

So just before GPs become extinct we must all pull together and take this opportunity to create a society where self-care, from managing minor ailments through to taking greater control of long term conditions is the norm not the exception.

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

Olympic athletes James Goddard, Rosie Morris and Vicki Lucass shared their water knowledge with children at Carnival Pool last Friday Pictures: Phil Creighton

Olympians showcase swimming talents

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

OLYMPIC athletes swam into the borough last Friday to give children a half-term treat.

The trio of swimming specialists visited Carnival Pool and Loddon Valley Leisure Centre to offer training and life saving tips.

Fast Swimmer James Goddard, water polo expert Rosie Morris and synchronised swimmer Vicki Lucass all competed in the 2012 Olympics and were at the swimming pools to coach the youngsters in their sports as well as teach them basic lifesaving and CPR skills.

The Oceans of Fun event, organised by swimwear brand Zoggs, Total Swimming and 1Life, which runs Wokingham Borough Council’s Leisure Centres, started with a presentation before children got into the pool and tried each of the different disciplines.

The event ended with the youngsters enjoying a swimming race against one of the trio before posing for pictures with the stars.

1Life’s manager Martin Griffiths was delighted with how the events went.

He said: “It’s been a really good event, with lots of children coming in for the fun activities.

“It’s pleasing to offer something different for them, they’ve all been taking part in the exercises and it’s raising the profile of swimming.

“It opens the eyes of children as to what they can do in the water.”

To see more pictures and to order your souvenir pictures, log on to our website: wokinghampaper.newsprints.co.uk

HEALTH | 21

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Friday, June 10, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Team Tesco (even a mum-to-be) get racing for life

Walking back to happiness

A

The Tesco Wokingham team before the Race For Life and after (right)

A TEAM of 25 staff members from a supermarket in Wokingham travelled to Windsor last weekend to take part in the annual Race for Life.

The ladies from Tesco, in Finchampstead Road, donned pink T-shirts to tackle the 5km course, a task which was made all the more

harder for two members of the team who are currently seven months’ pregnant.

Tesco Wokingham People Manager Jo Brind said: “I ran the race last year, and my sister is now waiting for the all clear after her cancer battle, she has been really,

really poorly so I was determined to take part this year, even though I am seven months’ pregnant.

“I managed to walk round, but my doctor was not happy with me and I am now on crutches!”

The team have so far managed

to raise £2,000 for Cancer Research UK, and will be holding more events in-store over the coming month to get to their target of £5,000. n For more information on Race for Life visit www.raceforlife.cancerresearchuk. org.

Dom and Jon enjoy their own tour de France

By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk NOW that the weather is warming up, many people will be dusting off their bicycles for a leisurely jaunt into the countryside.

But for one man from Wokingham, and his colleague from Reading, there was nothing leisurely about their latest bike ride.

Jon McCann and his friend Dom Onions, who both work for local charity Get Berkshire Active, tackled the gruelling 300-mile London to Paris ride last weekend taking on cold temperatures, high speed and lots and lots of rain along the way.

Having never properly cycled before, the pair were dubious as to what to expect, but the thought of raising money to enhance sporting opportunities for local disabled people kept them

going during the three-day trek.

Dom said: “It’s great to have finally achieved the bike ride, it has been a huge commitment training for the ride. You really feel like you earn the donations, it was a very tough challenge but once complete it was thoroughly enjoyable.

“Myself and Jon had never really cycled before signing up back in March, so it’s really encouraging to show people what can be achieved with hard work and a lot of commitment.

“The money raised will make a huge difference to disabled people’s lives, giving them the opportunity to take part in activities that otherwise would not be possible.”

To sponsor the duo visit https://mydonate.bt.com/ fundraisers/gbal2p.

Pictured left: Dominic (left) and Jon after completing the 300-mile ride

Pharmacy team are good at what they do – official THE Royal Berkshire Hospital’s Pharmacy team are celebrating after receiving five “good” ratings out of a possible six, following an unannounced inspection by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC) in April.

The RBH said that Hospital Pharmacy is an integral part of the Trust’s clinical teams, supporting all aspects of patient care from admission to discharge in the safe, appropriate and effective use of medicines .

Jean O’Callaghan, the Chief Executive of the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, welcomed the report.

She said: “Peer reports from professional bodies are important and we would like to congratulate Sakeb Hussein and his team for the first class service they provide”

The pharmacy team at the Royal Berkshire Hospital received good ratings for its work at the Reading-hospital

WINNERSH man currently tackling one of the country’s biggest challenges should today be just 100 miles away from the finish line – which he should reach on Wednesday.

Chris Cottam is currently undertaking a 1,000 mile walk from John O’Groats to Land’s End to raise funds for three charities close to his heart: Cure Leukaemia, Breast Cancer UK and the Holt School in Wokingham.

The 57-year-old is tackling a route usually undertaken by cyclists. And as well as travelling from John O’Groats to Lands End, he has also climbed three of the highest peaks in the country: Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mount Snowdon.

En route, he has tackled deep snow and searing heat, earning huge blisters on the way and also walked through heavy traffic. Supporters told The Wokingham Paper that he has kept his spirits high throughout.

Chris began his journey on Friday, April 15 and has so far completed 922 miles at an average of over 19 miles each day. For ‘Fitbit’ lovers, Chris has walked approximately 1,722,468 steps in 298 hours of walking!

Support has come from a range of celebrities including cricketing legends Sir Ian Botham, Ian Bell MBE, Jonathan Trott and broadcaster and writer Adrian Chiles.

He’s also had encouragement from Cure Leukaemia funded specialist research nurse Kate Arthur and current 19-year-old blood cancer patient Jaymz Goodman who will directly benefit from the funds raised for Cure Leukaemia.

The reason that Chris has been walking is personal: his wife Hazel has successfully battled breast cancer twice hence his support of the UK’s leading Breast Cancer prevention charity Breast Cancer UK. Chris has lost a number of family, friends and associates to blood cancer culminating in the passing of his sister-in-law Ruxi last year so he has chosen to fundraise for Cure Leukaemia.

And, as a Governor of the Holt School, Chris is keen to help the school build a new sixth form centre hence the support for their charitable trust.

Chris said: “I am enjoying every second of this challenge so far. I have met some amazing people along the way and been touched by the great messages of support I have received.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has donated and shown support already. Whilst this challenge is tough, I know I am doing it for three wonderful causes, and that has kept me going.”

Speaking about Chris’s challenge, CEO of Cure Leukaemia James McLaughlin said: “After meeting Chris I was struck by his determination to not only take on this epic challenge but also raise significant funds for his chosen causes. Given the personal experiences he has had with blood cancer I am sure his story will strike a chord with the public.”

“Every penny Chris raises for Cure Leukaemia will go towards helping people who are battling this terrible disease every day, these funds will help save lives.”

Lynn Ladbrook, CEO for Breast Cancer UK said: “We applaud Chris’s ambition for this epic challenge and are proud he has chosen to support Breast Cancer UK. One in eight women in the UK will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some stage of their life. We believe prevention is possible.”

“Breast cancer is a preventable, not inevitable disease. The money Chris raises for us will be used to campaign for improvements in public health policies and raise public awareness about the links between exposure to harmful chemicals and breast cancer.

Chris’ journey aims to finish exactly two months on from the date he started – Wednesday, June 15.

Upon his return, Chris will be holding a celebratory dinner on July 1, as he aims to reach his £30,000 target for the three charities. n To donate, visit www.ChrisBigJogle.com. n To track Chris’ whereabouts visit yb.tl/BigJOGLE

22 | EDUCATION

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Press pack

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 10, 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. Left: LVS Ascot’s Year 13 Class of 2016 together at the Harte & Garter Hotel Far left: The students enjoy an inflatable It’s A Knockout competition

We know it’s been the hottest week of the year so far, but …

IT MIGHT be the start of summer, but a charity is asking schools to start thinking about December 25 and helping it raise funds in the process.

ELF-HATS, wintery walks and yuletide fun are all part of When You Wish Upon a Star’s (WYWUAS) Christmas fundraising campaign, Laps for Lapland, which will be taking place later this year.

The national charity grants the wishes of children living with life threatening illnesses and is appealing for local schools, nurseries, businesses and communities to take part in the scheme, helping to raise funds for a magical trip of a lifetime for seriously ill children.

Each year, it charters private flights to Lapland to help make dreams come true for some of its children –but it says these cost £90,000.

Regional fundraising manager, Nicola Brien, said: “Last year we had a fantastic response to Laps for Lapland, with people of all ages taking part in festive walks to raise funds for the Lapland trip, taking part in creative and fun ways.

“We love to see how communities, schools and nurseries come together to make their walks special and transform into Santa’s little helpers.

“To take part in the campaign, all you need to do is register your interest to us, receive your Laps for Lapland fundraising pack and find a time and date to bring everyone together and complete your festive lap in your elf hat! We encourage everyone to either donate or be sponsored when taking part in the laps – to help raise as much as they can for the Lapland trip.”

The Laps for Lapland challenges raises funds to ensure WYWUAS can continue to send children on the special trip to visit Santa in Lapland.

For each child and their guardian it costs £900 to send them to Lapland, so fundraising helps to make the trip tangible for the life-changing charity.

Nicola added: “The Lapland trip gives the children, who are living with a life-threatening illness, respite and time out from painful treatments to simply be a child for the day. It also gives parents a break and a chance to see their children smile, creating precious treasured memories which last a lifetime.”

WYWUAS can send a free Laps for Lapland information pack to any community which would like to take part. The information pack contains: an elf hat for each participant, an event information leaflet and, if applicable, a letter to guardians explaining Laps for Lapland. n To take part in your own Lap for Lapland, please contact WYWUAS directly through the post: When You Wish Upon a Star, Futurist House, Valley Road, Nottingham, NG5 1JE, or by email: fundraising@ whenyouwish.org.uk or call 0115 979 1720.

LVS pupils bid farewell in style

By JOHN WAKEFIELD news@wokinghampaper.co.uk STUDENTS at LVS Ascot celebrated the end of their exams in style last month by enjoying a full day of activities that ranged from the ridiculous to the sublime.

More than 80 students from the all-ability day and boarding school are leaving this summer, some having been at the all-through school since they were four, attending junior and senior school there before completing sixth form, and celebrated with a day that summed up the variety of an LVS Ascot education.

LVS Ascot staged its own version of It’s A Knockout’in the grounds of its 25-acre site in the morning, with students in fancy dress attempting a host of inflatable challenges in teams.

There was even a pugil stick duel between Mr Jarrett, Master of Gilbey boarding house, and the LVS Ascot Head Boy Brooke – which did not end well for Mr Jarrett.

After a barbecue to end the morning’s proceedings, students swapped their fancy dress costumes for smart dress to attend a celebration service at Windsor Parish Church led by the Revd Tracey Williams.

Hymns were sung and speeches were made

by LVS Ascot’s Head Boy, Head Girl and Head of Boarding.

Students, parents and teachers then made their way across to the Harte and Garter Hotel in Windsor for a grand leaving ceremony that included presentations and awards along with afternoon tea before some tearful goodbyes.

There were also speeches made by Head of Sixth Form Mr Jenkins and LVS Ascot Principal Mrs Cunniffe.

She said: “The Year 13 Leavers’ Celebration was a fine way to mark the end of a long and enjoyable journey at LVS Ascot for our students.

“We set out to create outstanding individuals by promoting social, communication and interpersonal skills, and looking at them today we have achieved our goal.

“They are all now equipped to go on and be huge successes in their adult lives, and we look forward to hearing about all the great things they will go on to achieve”.

The students will be back at LVS Ascot to pick up their A-level results on Thursday, August 18.

Luckley pupils break a leg

Pupils from Luckley House gather on the lawn to enjoy a special birthday party

Garden party for the Queen PUPILS from Luckley House held a garden party on Wednesday to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday.

A spokesperson said: “The whole school came together today to enjoy a delicious barbecue in the sunshine.

“Pupils and staff stood to sing God Save the Queen and Happy Birthday accompanied by the Luckley String ensemble. The special Royal Birthday Cake was then cut and enjoyed by all.”

Luckley House pupils performed The Fantasticks (above) and Burglars (below) to mark the launch of their new stage, The Whitty Theatre THE first plays to be staged in Wokingham’s new Whitty Theatre were, appropriately, from Luckley House pupils.

The new theatre is in the school’s grounds and features state-of-the-art equipment.

In the first half, the audience was treated to a performance of David Rudkin’s Burglars, while musical The Fantasticks was the second show.

Friday, June 10, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Leisure

LEISURE | 23

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Your guide to what’s happening around Wokingham

Smooth sailing for Rough Crossing Life on an ocean wave has never been funnier, thanks to Woodley Theatre. As their new play prepares to open, GEMMA DAVIDSON gets on board

Wokingham HERE will be fun and games on the

T

music

high seas next week as Woodley Theatre’s latest production opens to audiences.

Rough Crossing, a comedy by Tom Stoppard and directed by Ben May, is a fastpaced farce centred around the goings-on aboard the SS Italian Castle in the 1930s.

Due to dock in New York City in just a few days time, up-and-coming playwrights Sandor Turai, played by Barrie Armstrong, and Alex Gal, played by Frank Kaye, still haven’t finished their latest musical comedy, The Cruise of the Dodo.

With a shaky Act 2 still a work in progress, they struggle not only with the writing, but also keeping their composer Adam Ada, and stars Natasha Navratilova and the intellectually-challenged Ivor Fish, happy during the crossing.

When the married Ivor declares his love for Natasha, who is already partnered with Adam, all hell breaks loose, and the playwrights, along with the hapless cabin steward Dvornichek, have to hold it all together and convince their colleagues that the declaration was all part of the play.

Director Ben May is a huge fan of Stoppard’s works, having previously worked on Arcadia several years ago, and can’t wait to share this latest offering with the audience.

He said: “It’s hilarious, it is your traditional farce with lots of mistaken identities, lots of slapstick and running around.

“Stoppard is great because he manages to poke fun at traditional forms of theatre.

The play opens on the two writers halfway

Wokingham

club

music

club Wokingham

music club

through a conversation about how annoying they find it when a play opens on two people mid-conversation. It’s very clever and will have the audience laughing from the very beginning.

“My favourite scene has to be when the cabin steward Dvornichek, who is also known as Murphy, attempts to recall everything that has gone on so far, who is pretending to be who and where it all fits in within the play. The actor, Ashleigh Wells, has about two pages of monologue for that sequence and he pulls it off perfectly, it’s very funny and very impressive to watch.

Animal Corner

“It is a play within a play, but not only that, it is a play set on a cruise ship within a play set on a cruise ship. I don’t want to give too much away because I want people to come along and enjoy it for themselves, but we have all had great fun working on this show, and I hope the audience enjoys it as much as we do.” n Rough Crossing opens at the Oakwood Centre in Headley Road on Tuesday and runs until Saturday, June 18. Curtain up is at 7.45pm. Tickets are £10, £8 for concessions, £5 for balcony. To book call 07939 210 121.

For more,visit www.woodleytheatre.org.

with Gemma Davidson

Can you offer these adorable animals a loving forever home? Each week, we team up with the folk at Diana Brimblecombe Animal Rescue Centre in Nelsons Lane, Hurst, to try to find new homes for the animals currently in their care

LYDIA Terrier cross Lydia was found as a stray but was never reclaimed from the dog pound.

Although she is very sweet and a good little dog, she is also quite shy and tends to hide behind other dogs so nobody notices her.

She was spared a grim fate when a rescue worker stepped in to look after her until she could come to DBARC. Two-year-old Lydia will need a calm and loving home to help her rebuild her confidence, and would do well with another dog to bond to.

She is very sweet and cuddly once she gets to know you, but as she is quite timid we would not want to place her in a home

with children under 12.

She will, of course, need company most of the time.

He was brought into DBARC because his owner was moving house and unable to keep him. He would make an ideal addition to a loving family.

TESS

Summer fete

Poor Tess came to DBARC as she was scared of the young children and dog in her home.

At 10-years-old, this is quite an upheaval for a lady of her age so we are hoping she finds her new forever home very soon.

She is very affectionate, loves and cuddle and likes sleeping on her owner’s bed.

Can you offer this little darling the loving home she deserves?

DBARC will be holding their annual Fun Day on July 3 at their centre in Hurst.

The day will feature a dog show, with classes for Best Puppy, Best Rescue Dog, Happiest Dog and many more, a dog scurry, cake stalls, tombola and lots of fun and games.

The festivities kick off at 10am and run until 5pm at the centre in Nelsons Lane.

Admission is £1, entry to the dog show is £2 per class with registration starting from 9am.

Free parking is available. For more information visit www.dbarc.org.uk/funday.

POPPET Poppet is a male, neutered rabbit who is around a year old.

He is looking for a new home with a female rabbit for company.

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

The cast of Woodley Theatre’s production of Rough Crossing Pictures: John Gonzalez

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Your weekly puzzle challenge

24 | LEISURE

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Quiz Challenge

CROSS CODE 6 14

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1. Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane were the songwriting members of which influential 1960s band?

2. Algernon Moncrieff and the Rev Canon Chasuble feature in which play by Oscar Wilde?

3. The Mary Rose was a warship of which king’s navy?

4. Which 26-mile motorway in Yorkshire links the M1 and the M62?

5. Which grey horse won the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park four times?

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NONAGRAM

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 1

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SAGA OF STATION GIG

7. Which TV sitcom, created by Adil Ray, is set in Sparkhill, Birmingham?

8. Which is the longest line on the London Underground?

9. Which month of the Islamic calendar is observed by Muslims as a month of fasting?

10. Malcolm Rifkind, Donald Dewar, John Reid and Danny Alexander all held which cabinet post?

I

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

N E

L N

How many words of four letters or more can you make from this Nonagram? Each word must use the central letter, and each letter may be used only once. At least one word using all nine letters can be found.

Guidelines: 24 Good; 29 Very Good; 34 Excellent.

CB

LI

DA

OL

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EC

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ID

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

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CE

9 8 3 1

8 4

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Hard

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Here are two miniature fivesquare crosswords using the same grid – but the letters have been mixed up.

You have to work out which letters belong to which crossword.

EY

All puzzles on this page are supplied by Sirius Media Services.

To try more of our puzzles interactively online go to www.puzzledrome.com

7 1

5

8

6.

Y

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

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Place the four signs (add, subtract, multiply, divide) one in each circle so that the total of each across and down line is the same.

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ACROSS 1. Deaden bony case of blockhead (9)

EQUALISER 6 9 5 3 7 4 3 6 2 5 3 2

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SUDOKU

1

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

20

FIVE ALIVE

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

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

6. The 1993 film The Piano is set in which country?

WORD PYRAMID

E C R

Each number in our Cross Code grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. You have three letters in the control grid to start you off. Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters should go in the missing squares.

As you get the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and control grid. Check off the alphabetical list of letters as you identify them.

Easy

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 10, 2016

© Sirius Media Services Ltd

11.

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QUICK CROSSWORD 1

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SOLUTIONS

DOWN 1. No winter initially at the present time (3) 2. Agencies that inform me of Philippa’s seed? (3) assistance being brought Yawning gap? (4-4,5) up (5) 3. One might need a rest Glowing particle seen in a during this game (7) flash (5) 4. Uncomfortable and hard Present another treacherous presumably (6) person (7) 5. Second out of two to Household linen used by change roles (5) primate right inside New 6. Identify unpleasant smell, but York! (6) it won’t cure anything (7) 7. Ten fill up contraption in Back out with tears no abundance (9) longer available (3,3) 9. Then city’s production is The sand ruined part of the artificial (9) telephone (7) 12. Sharp information found in Drunken lord accepts the boat (7) nothing but drivel (5) 14. Original Liberal (7) 15. Dorset brew kept in reserve (6) Might it contain a heart of 17. Croesus hides contents of gold? (8-5) Japanese dish (5) Youngster’s bed in Scotland (3) 19. Once formed around a large area of water (5) None idle? Could be about 100 suffering from idleness (9) 21. Draw the cup game (3)

30 31

23. Tangy (4) ACROSS 2. Surgical knife (7) 26. Fruit (4) 7. Delicate fabric (4) 28. Employ (7) 8. Unfortunately (4) 29. Successor (4) 30. Ancient 9. Broad sword (7) character (4) 10. Finest (4) 31. Treat carelessly (7) 12. Swarm (4) DOWN 15. Military trainee (5) 1. Trim, shave off (4) 17. Large birdcage (6) 2. Religious faction (4) 18. Metal container 3. Off course (6) (3,3) 4. Heavenly body (6) 19. Condiment (6) 5. Final (4) 21. Soundless (6) 6. Make bread (4) 10. Animal enclosure 22. Italian staple (4,3) food (5)

11. Captain (7) 13. Eliminate from the body (7) 14. Computer screen (7) 15. Move stealthily (5) 16. Shinbone (5) 20. Classification (6) 21. Pace (6) 24. Affirm (4) 25. Rotate (4) 26. Saucy (4) 27. Female relative (4)

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EASY SUDOKU

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CROSS CODE

6 2 7 8 4 9 5 1 3

8 4 3 5 1 2 7 6 9

9 8 1 7 6 4 2 3 5

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WORD PYRAMID: Early settlement.

EQUALISER: Clockwise from top left – multiply; subtract; add; divide. Total: 8.

MAGIC SQUARE: fast; agio; sing; toga.

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QUICK CROSSWORD: Across – 2 Scalpel; 7 Lace; 8 Alas; 9 Cutlass; 10 Best; 12 Teem; 15 Cadet; 17 Aviary; 18 Tin can; 19 Pepper; 21 Silent; 22 Pasta; 23 Tart; 26 Pear; 28 Utilise; 29 Heir; 30 Rune; 31 Neglect.

Down – 1 Pare; 2 Sect; 3 Astray; 4 Planet; 5 Last; 6 Bake; 10 Bear pit; 11 Skipper; 13 Excrete; 14 Monitor; 15 Creep; 16 Tibia; 20 Rating; 21 Stride; 24 Aver; 25 Turn; 26 Pert; 27 Aunt.

7 Plentiful; 9 Synthetic; 12 Pungent; 14 Radical; 15 Stored; 17 ceil; celery; clerisy; cline; creel; crenel; cresyl; eely; eerily; else; ensile; inly; Sushi; 19 Ocean; 21 Tie. isle; leer; leery; lenis; lens; license; licenser; lien; lierne; line; liner; liny; lycée; lyre; lyric; lyse; lysin; lysine; nicely; recline; reel; relic; reline; rely; resile; riel; rile; seel; senile; silence; silencer; SINCERELY; sley; slice; slicer; slyer.

Down – Colic; Drake; Rusty.

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Numbskull; 6 Pip; 8 Wide-open space; 9 Spark; 10 (2) Across – Black; Acrid; Elate.

Down – Blaze; Aorta; Kedge.

Serpent; 11 Napery; 13 Cry off; 16 Handset; 18 Drool; 20 Treasurechest; 22 Cot; 23 Indolence.

NONAGRAM: Down – 1 Now; 2 Media; 3 Snooker; 4 Uneasy; 5 Loser; 6 Placebo;

QUIZ CHALLENGE: 1 The Small Faces; 2 The Importance of Being Earnest; 3 Henry VIII; 4 The M18; 5 Desert Orchid; 6 New Zealand; 7 Citizen Khan; 8 The Central Line; 9 Ramadan; 10 Secretary of State for Scotland.

(1) Across – Cider; Leads; Chewy.

FIVE ALIVE:

LEISURE | 25

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Friday, June 10, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Get ready to go to Woodley’s Wild West The frontier days of the United States forms the theme for this year’s amazing Woodley Carnival. It takes place tomorrow, starting with a carnival procession and features a host of fun until a firework finale at 10.20pm.

GEMMA DAVIDSON spurs you on

What’s on at the Carnival

T

HE Wild West will be coming to Woodley this weekend as the annual carnival rolls into town.

Hundreds of people are expected to attend the carnival in Woodford Park, which will feature a flower show, classic car show, fireworks and of course the carnival procession through the streets.

For its 56th outing, the carnival’s theme is Wild West Woodley, so visitors are encouraged to dust off their spurs, dig out those cowboy shirts and get ready for a hoedown lasting well into the evening.

Live music will be performed throughout the afternoon from Mike & The Rockbelly, Madison Heights, Ready or Not, Jazz Relics, Bulmershe Ensemble and the Woodley Light Operatic Society.

Even your four-legged friends are welcome to join in the festivities, with flyball demonstrations in the carnival arena.

Children will be kept entertained with a bouncy, inflatable world and a ride on the Smiley Train, while chuck wagons (food stalls) will keep everyone fed and watered throughout the day.

The procession will be starting in

Carnival Arena

Comet Way at midday and will travel through the streets of Woodley to reach the carnival field at 2.30pm.

Prizes for the best floats and walking displays will be on offer, and charity donations will be collected en route.

Children visiting the flower show, organised by Woodley Flower Club, will be encouraged to spot Woody who is hiding in the displays.

The motor display is hosted by the Hants & Berks Motor Club.

All proceeds raised from the carnival will go towards its four chosen charities: Camp Mohawk, Berkshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre, Me2 Club and Woodley PreSchool.

Entry to the carnival for the afternoon only is £4 for adults, £1 for children, for the afternoon and evening is £10 for adults, £5 for children. For more information visit www.woodleycarnival.org.uk.

12.30 TBA 12.45 TBA 13.00 Flyball 13.50 Starmaker 14.20 Procession arrives 15.00 Primary Schools 15.20 Bulmershe Gymnastics 15.40 Flyball 16.10 JG Dance 16.20 Kick Twist Cheerleading 16.25 JG Dance 16.35 Allied School of Dance

Music Marquee 12.30 Mike & The Rockbelly 13.45 TBA 15.30 Jazz Relics 16.00 Woodley Light Operatic Society

Evening Bands 18.00 Ready or Not 18.45 Mike & The Rockbelly 19.15 Ready or Not 20.00 Madison Heights 20.45 Bulmershe Ensemble 21.30 Madison Heights

Lots of fun in store at Woodley Carnival tomorrow including, from top, Madison Heights band, a carnival procession, a classic car show and a flower show. There will also be fairground rides, a smiley train and food stalls to enjoy.

Firework Finale Set to music 22.20

WIN! Tickets to the Homebuilding and Renovating Show at Esher up for grabs

rates

mates

Traditional & Contemporary Barbering Get expert advice at the Southern Homebuilding & Renovating Show in Esher later this month

IF BUILDING your own home, or just improving the one you already have, has always been a dream, then The Southern Homebuilding & Renovating Show will be right up your street.

Taking place at Sandown Park, in Surrey, between June 25 and 26, the show will feature more than 200 exhibitors, expert advice, masterclasses, seminars and everything you could possibly need to either build or renovate your home.

With 20 free masterclasses and 500 advice sessions on essential

topics such as funding a remodelling project to implementing the latest intelligent security systems, the event is set to help put visitors’ ideas into motion through a step-by-step approach.

Tickets are £8 in advance, or £12 on the door, children under 16 go free.

For more information visit www. homebuildingshow.co.uk/surrey or

call the ticket hotline on 0871 230 1086 (calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras). n We have two pairs of tickets to give away to The Southern Homebuilding & Renovating Show.

To enter all you need to do is email your name, email address and contact telephone number to news@ wokinghampaper.co.uk before midnight on Thursday, June 16 for a chance to win.

Good luck!

Our usual Terms and Conditions apply. Multiple entries will be bricked in.

SHOPS in WOKinGHAM AnD BinFiELD

tHELOcALBArBErSHOP.cOM

26 | LEISURE

To advertise email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk

What’s on Friday, June 10 FINCHAMPSTEAD – Library, FBC Centre RG40 4ES. Rhymetime for under fives.

11am. Details: 0118 908 8176.

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

READING –100 Longwater Avenue, Green Park RG2 6GP. Charity designer wear sale for Smart Works – helping women get back to work. 10am-3.30pm.

SHINFIELD – Shinfield Players Theatre, Whitley Wood Lane RG2 9DF. Agatha Crusty and the Village Hall Murders. 7.45pm. Details: www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk TWYFORD – Loddon Hall.

Twyford and Ruscombe Theatre Group presents ‘Allo ‘Allo. £7-£9. 8pm.

Details: 0118 328 2825.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Crochet Group with Gaynor White from Barkham Hookers. All abilities welcome. 9.30am-11.30am. £4. Cribbage and card games club. 10.30am. Local history surgery: drop-in advice with a local expert.

10am-noon. Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Crime and Thriller book club. Noon1pm. Details: 0118 969 0304.

Saturday, June 11 LOWER EARLEY – Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Dad and Baby Rhymetime. 10.30am11am. Details: 0118 931 2150.

MAIDEN ERLEGH – Library, off Silverdale Road RG6 7HS. Children’s Writing Group for ages 9-12. 10.15am-11am.

Details: 0118 966 6630.

PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. All Day Jazz Festival.

From 2pm. Details: 0118 969 9878.

REMENHAM – St Nicholas Church. Village picnic to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Queen.

Bring your own picnic,

tables, chairs and tea and coffee provided. From 6pm. Details: hello@ remenhamparish.org.uk SHINFIELD – Shinfield Players Theatre, Whitley Wood Lane RG2 9DF. Agatha Crusty and the Village Hall Murders. 7.45pm. Details: www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk SPENCERS WOOD – Lambs Lane Primary School, Back Lane. School fair in honour of Queen’s 90th Birthday.

Noon-3pm.

SWALLOWFIELD – Mead House, Church Road.

Swallowfield Church Fete including children’s royal fancy dress parade, ride-on Royal train, Punch and Judy and more. 2pm-5pm.

TWYFORD – Loddon Hall.

Twyford and Ruscombe Theatre Group presents ‘Allo ‘Allo. £7-£9. 8pm.

Details: 0118 328 2825.

TWYFORD – King George V Memorial Field RG10 9JA. Twyford Beer Festival in aid of Orchid Male Cancer charity. Live music from 2pm: The Scoops, The Secret Ukulele Band, The Jukebox Borthers, The Bear Blue Band, The Mighty Triple O Band, The People’s Front of Judea.

Noon-9pm. Free entry, all beers £3. Details: www. twyfordbeerfest.co.uk WARFIELD – Memorial Ground RG42 3AE. Village fete: hog roast, barbecue, beer tent and more. Noon4pm. Free parking and entry.

Details: 01344 307030.

WINNERSH – Church of St Mary the Virgin, Church Close RG41 5NA. Gratis Choir: Summer Is Icumen In. 7.30pm. Free, donations welcomed. Details: www. gratischoir.org.uk.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Teen writing group for ages 11-18. 10.30am-noon.

Poetry Writing Group for adults. 10am-11.30am.

Book binding workshop.

10am-3pn. £3. Details: 0118 978 1368.

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

WOODLEY – Memorial

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

The best guide for local, community events across Wokingham borough Field, Headley Road RG5 4JZ. Wild West Woodley: Carnival day. Procession from Comet Way from noon, arriving at Memorial Field for 2.30pm. Plus: flower show and car show.

Carnival field open from noon. All day entry from noon-10.30pm: £10, under 16s £5. Afternoon entry noon-5.30pm: £4, £1 under 16s. Last entry 4pm. Details: www.woodleycarnival. org.uk

Sunday, June 12 EARLEY – Harris Gardens, University of Reading RG6 6UD. Open gardens in aid of Harris Gardens/National Garden Scheme. 2pm-5pm. £3, under 12s free. Details: 0118 935 8221.

EARLEY – St Peter’s Chuch, Church Road RG6 1EY. Church service to mark the 90th birthday of the Queen.

3.30pm. Details: 0118 966 8575 EARLEY – Laurel Park. Six Sixty presents Go Kart racing day.

2pm-5pm. Details: www. sixsixty.org.uk EARLEY – Our Lady of PEace Social Club, Off Aldbourne Avenue. Queen’s Birthday Tea. 2.30pm-4.30pm.

Members £3, guests £4.

Dress up, hats encouraged.

FINCHAMPSTEAD – Memorial Park. Queen’s 90th birthday and a celebration of 50 years of Finchampstead Sports Club. 11am-3pm.

SONNING – Estoril, Old Bath Road RG4 6SZ. Open gardens in aid of National Garden Scheme. 2pm5pm. £3.50, children free.

Homemade teas available.

Details: www.ngs.org.uk.

SWALLOWFIELD – Handpost, Basingstoke Road RG7 1PU. Open garden in aid of Naomi House Children’s Hospice and NGS. £4.

2pm-5pm. Details: www. mycountrygarden.co.uk WOKINGHAM – Broad Street and Market Place. Queen’s birthday celebration event. Civic parade from noon. Service at All Saints Church. Street Party in Broad Street bring chairs and a picnic.

International Street Concert from 6pm.

WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. Afternoon tea for the Queen. 4pm. Details: 0118 977 6898.

WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. French Conversation Club for those with basic French knowledge. 2pm-3pm.

Details: 0118 969 0304.

Monday, June 13 BRACKNELL – Bracknell Open Learning Centre, Rectory Lane RG12 7GR. Bracknell Camera Club meeting: Annual exhibition judge’s evening and presentation of trophies. 7.30pm. Details: www.bracknell-cameraclub.co.uk.

FINCHAMPSTEAD – Library, FBC Centre RG40 4ES. Bridge and Table Games Club. 2pm-4pm. Details: 0118 908 8176.

WARGRAVE – Library, Woodclyffe Hostel, Church Street RG10 8EP. Storytime: stories and rhymes for under fives. 4pm-4.30pm.

MDetails: 0118 940 4656.

WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. SHSG support group: for families and carers of people who self-harm or have suicidal thoughts. 7.30pm-9.30pm.

Details: search for SHSG Wokingham on Facebook or email SHSG2016@gmail. com

Tuesday, June 14 EARLEY – Palmer Building, University of Reading Whiteknights Campus RG6 2AH. Reading Film Theatre presents: Demolition (15).

8pm. £5 members, £8 nonmembers, £7 concessions.

Membership £20. Details: 0118 378 7151 or readingfilmtheatre.co.uk.

LOWER EARLEY – Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Knit and Natter. Drop-in knitting group for adults All abilities welcome. 3pm-4pm. Details: 0118 931 2150.

SHINFIELD – John Heggadon Room, Shinfield Parish Hall, School Green RG2 9EH. Shinfield and District Local History Society presents: project discussion evening.

7.45pm. Details: 0118 988 3580.

TWYFORD – Library, Polehampton Close RG10 9RP. Twyford Reading Group. 2.30pm-3.30pm.

Details: 0118 934 0800.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Rhymetime for babies aged 18 months and under.

10.30am-11am. Storytime: rhymes and stories for ages 3-5. 2pm-2.30pm. Children’s Origami Club. 4pm-4.45pm.

UK Online: Help and support with computers and the internet for beginners.

2pm-4pm. Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOKINGHAM - Norreys Church, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UU. Norreys Church 50+ Group. An illustrated report on lifechanging, medical work on children in Uganda will be given by Richard and Brenda Simpson who have supported this impressive initiative for many years.

All over 50s welcome.

Refreshments provided from 2pm for 2.1 pm start.

Free admission. Details: 0118 961 9821 WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Crochet Group with Gaynor White from Barkham Hookers. All abilities welcome. Noon2pm. £4. Rhymetime for under fives. 10.30am. Crafts and Laughs. 2pm-4pm.

Details: 0118 969 0304.

WOODLEY – Bulmershe School, Woodlands Road RG5 3EU. Learn to Sing with Thames Valley Chorus.

7.30pm-10pm. Details: 0118 977 4257.

Wednesday, June 15 FINCHAMPSTEAD – Library, FBC Centre RG40 4ES. Book group 10.30am11.30am. Details: 0118 908 8176.

MAIDEN ERLEGH – Library, off Silverdale Road RG6 7HS. Colouring For Adults.

2.15pm-3pm. Details: 0118 966 6630.

SHINFIELD – Parish Hall, School Green. Shinfield Pound Green Women’s Institute meeting: Birds of Prey demonstration.

7.30pm.

WARGRAVE – Library, Woodclyffe Hostel, Church Street RG10 8EP. Crafts and Laughs. 1.30pm-3.30pm.

Details: 0118 940 4656.

WINNERSH – Library, The Forest School, Robin Hood Lane RG41 5ND. Colouring For Adults. 11.45am1.15pm. Details: 0118 979 7519.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Wokingham Folk and Acoustic Club. 7.30pm.

Details: Facebook.com/ WokFAB. WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Rhymetime for babies.

10.30am-11am. Rhymetime for toddlers: 18 months-3 years. 11am-11.30am.

Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOKINGHAM – The Cornerstone, Norreys Avenue. All Saints Fellowship presents: History of Salter’s Steamers on the Thames, a presentation by Simon Wenham. 7.45pm for 7.55pm. Visitors are always welcome cost £1.50. Details: Gill Sutterby on 0118 977 0223

Thursday, June 16 EARLEY – Palmer Building, University of Reading Whiteknights Campus RG6 2AH. Reading Film Theatre presents: The Brand New Testament (Le tout nouveau testament) (15).

8pm. £5 members, £8 nonmembers, £7 concessions.

Membership £20. Details: 0118 378 7151 or readingfilmtheatre.co.uk.

SPENCERS WOOD – Library, Basingstoke Road RG7 1AJ. Crafts and Laughs.

3pm-4pm. Details: 0118 988 4771.

WINNERSH – Library, The Forest School, Robin Hood Lane RG41 5ND. Keep Calm and Fly Casual: Club for players of the X Wing Miniatures Game, Star Wars and Armada. Age 16 and over. 5.30pm-7.45pm.

Details: 0118 979 7519.

WOKINGHAM – The Cornerstone, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UE. Wokingham and East

What’s on event submission form Holding a community event? Running a fun day? Organising a concert? Planning a friendship group? Get it listed in our what’s on guide by sending information to us. Use this form or email events@wokinghampaper.co.uk. Please note this service is for community

Name Address

groups, charities and not-for-profit activities. We cannot guarantee inclusion.

Date of event: Venue of event: What will happen:

Time of event: Contact number for readers:

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 10, 2016

Postcode Email

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

Berkshire Camera Club (WEBCC) meeting: Walkabout and social evening. 7.30pm. Details: 0118 977 5670.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Book chat for adults.

10.30am-11.30am. Classics Book Group: for lovers of Dickens, Austen etc.

6.30pm-7.30pm. National Careers Service: Advice sessions to help you with career planning, CVs and interviews. 9.40am-3.40pm.

Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOKINGHAM – Theatre, Twyford Road RG40 5TU. Wokingham Theatre presents Jessica Swale’s Blue Stockings. Details: www.wokingham-theatre. org.uk

Friday, June 17 EARLEY – Our Lady of Peace Social Club, Wokingham Road RG6 7DA (entrance off Aldbourne Avenue). Reading and Wokingham Spanish Circle meeting:Fiesta de Verano with music. Bring a dish for buffet. 7.45pm. £3. Details, 0118 977 2569 or 0118 979 2458.

EMMBROOK – Emmbrook Sports and Social Club, Lowther Road. Wokingham Music Club presents Steve Summers Band and Mark Harrison. £10. Details: www. wokinghammusicclub.co.uk FINCHAMPSTEAD – Library, FBC Centre RG40 4ES. Rhymetime for under fives.

11am. Details: 0118 908 8176.

LOWER EARLEY – Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Board Games Club. 10am-11am.

Details: 0118 931 2150.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Crochet Group with Gaynor White from Barkham Hookers. All abilities welcome. 9.30am-11.30am. £4. Cribbage and card games club. 10.30am. Local history surgery: drop-in advice with a local expert. 10am-noon.

Wokingham VIP group: book group for visually impaired. 2pm-4pm. Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOKINGHAM – All Saints Church, Wiltshire Road RG40 1UE. Emma Kirkby and Jakob Lindberg. 7.30pm. £15.00. Details: www. wokinghamconcerts.co.uk.

WOKINGHAM – Theatre, Twyford Road RG40 5TU. Wokingham Theatre presents Jessica Swale’s Blue Stockings. Details: www.wokingham-theatre. org.uk

Saturday, June 18 MAIDEN ERLEGH – Library, off Silverdale Road RG6 7HS. Children’s Writing Group for ages 9-12. 10.15am-11am.

Storytime for ages seven and under. 10.15am10.45am. Details: 0118 966 6630.

READING – The Great Hall, London Road campus, University of Reading, London Road RG1 5AQ.

Reading Symphony Orchestra: Mozart and Mahler. £15, £13 concessions, £5 under 18s and students. 7.30pm.

Details: 0118 986 0707.

TWYFORD – Loddon Hall, Loddon Hall Road, Twyford, Reading RG10 9JA. Salsa Party night. 8pm-1am. £10. Details: www. incognitodance.com.

WINNERSH – Bearwood Recreation Ground, Mole Road. Winnersh Summer Fete. 1pm-4pm.

WOKINGHAM – All Saints Church, Wiltshire Road RG40 1UE. Wokingham Choral Society presets Heroes and Villains: choruses from musicals and operas. 7.30pm. £15, £5 under 18s. Details: www. wokingham-choral-society. org.uk.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Teen writing group for ages 11-18. 10.30am-noon.

Wokingham Writers Group for adults. 10am. Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOKINGHAM – Theatre, Twyford Road RG40 5TU. Wokingham Theatre presents Blue Stockings.

Details: www.wokinghamtheatre.org.uk WOODLEY – Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way RG5 4UX. Woodley Concert Band summer concert, hosted by the Berkshire Federation of Women’s Institutes. 7.30pm. £10.

Details: 01628 633463.

Sunday, June 19 BINFIELD HEATH – Kiln House, Kiln Lane RG9 4ES. Tamesis Chamber Choir concert: Midsummer Music: A medley of medleys. £12, £6. 5.30pm (note start time).

Details: 0118 946 2990 or www.tames.is CROWTHORNE – Griff’s Cycle Lab, Duke’s Ride RG45 6DS. Carniva Cycle RIde: 35-mile marshalled route.

9am. £17.50. Details: www. bewitchedfancydress.com.

CROWTHORNE – Christopher Lee Theatre, Wellington College RG45 7PU. Crowthorne Choral Society Concert: Monteverdi: Beatus Vir, Handel: Acis & Galatea, Vivaldi: Gloria.

7.30pm. £12, £2 students.

Details: 01344 778185.

READING – Rivermead Leisure Cenre, Richfield Avenue RG1 8EQ. Reading Cigarette Card and Postcard Club annual fair and competition displays. 9.30am-4.30pm.

Details: 0118 969 5155.

WOKINGHAM – St Paul’s Church, Reading Road RG41 1EH. Choral Evensong sermon series: Horrible Heresies: Why What We Believe Really Matters. Guest speaker Bob Armstrong. 6.15pm. Details: 0118 979 2122.

WOKINGHAM WITHOUT – Pinewood Miniature Railway Society, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ. Pinewood Minature Railway . 1.30pm-4pm. £1 per ride, buy 5 get 6th free. Details: www. pinewoodrailway.co.uk

LEISURE | 27

To advertise call 0118 328 2959

Friday, June 10, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Whet your whistle … what’s in store at the Twyford Beer Festival

Charlie Dore is one of the artists appearing at the Wokingham Summer Music Festival, which launches at All Saints Church next Friday night

Dame Emma to launch music festival Ten days of fantastic music are coming to Wokingham from next Friday. JOHN WAKEFIELD previews the treats you can hear

T

HE third summer festival of concerts at All Saints Church starts next Friday with a visit from a very special soprano soloist: Dame Emma Kirkby.

Awarded a DBE in 2007 and, in 2011, the Queen’s Medal for Music, Dame Emma is truly an international performer. Her Wokingham appearance comes just before leaving for a brief tour of the United States.

An early music specialist, she will beperforming a programme of works under the title The Golden Age Revived.

Looking ahead, the festival closes with some more recent music, courtesy of What the Floyd.

With a state-of-the-art sound system and a blazing light show, the band gives electrifying performances of many of the Floyd’s hits including The Wall, Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here.

Festival timetable All performances start at 7.30pm unless stated Friday, June 17 Emma Kirkby Saturday, June 18 Wokingham Choral Society Sunday, June 19 Festival Evensong with St Paul’s Church 6.30pm Festival Eucharist: Missa Luba Friday, June 24 Charlie Dore Saturday, June 25 Tashi Lhunpo Tibetan music workshop 10am Saturday, June 25 Tashi Lhunpo concert 7.30pm Sunday, June 26 What the Floyd?

Tickets cost £12.50, except for services (no tickets), Emma Kirkby (£15) and the workshop (£5 at the door).

Tickets can be purchased after 8am and 9.30am services on Sunday, from the Parish Office during the weekdays, on the web (with a credit card) at www.wokinghamconcerts.co.uk/concerts.html or on the door.

The Wokingham town centre church has surely never seen anything like this before.

Between those two, the Wiltshire Road church will welcome the Wokingham Choral Society for its summer concert.

They will introduce audiences to a variety of heroes and villains as conjured

by Verdi, Gershwin, Bernstein, Mozart and

many others.

As regular visitors to the church’s ongoing series of concerts will testify to, there is wide variety of music across the festival week.

Highlights include a dramatic, entertaining and informative 90-minute performance of the majestic masked dances and the sacred chant from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery – one of the most important of Tibet’s teaching monasteries. They will give a workshop for people who wish to know more about their styles.

Also appearing is Charlie Dore, described

by Radio 2’s RocknReel as “honest, amusing and proudly English” and by The Guardian as having “a gift for melody …brave, poignant … entertaining and original”.

The Revd David Hodgson, rector of All Saints, said: “It is really exciting to be able to offer such a wide variety of music at All Saints Church for people in Wokingham, and indeed further afield.

“I am particularly looking forward to celebrating the Eucharist on Sunday 19th June when the setting will be the Missa Luba – a version of the Latin Mass based on traditional Congolese songs.” n www.wokinghamconcerts.co.uk

REAL ale fans are in for a real ale treat this weekend, thanks to the Twyford Beer Festival.

The annual event is returning to the King George V Playing Field tomorrow and once again fuses fine beer with food and music.

Unlike other beer festivals, entry to this one is free – and all pints cost just £3.

Many of the beers are from local breweries including Rebellion in Marlow and the Loddon Brewery, just up the road from the festival site.

Food is also local – Grumpy Goat cheeses will be a popular stall, while there’s a visit from Ray’s Smokehouse, serving brisket.

Music starts at 2pm with a performance from The Scoops. As the day goes on, there is something for everyone including The Jukebox Brothers, The Bear Blues Band and The Peoples’ Front of Judea.

Ian Wisdom, festival organiser, said: “This is our seventh year running the festival and each year we have had great beers, ciders and food for our customers, as well as brilliant music from our friends.

“All the staff and acts give their time for free to raise money for the male cancer charity - Orchid.

“Families and dogs are always welcome and access to the site is easy for those with special needs.

“We also have a selection of soft drinks at reasonable prices for those tasked as duty drivers.”

The Twyford Beer Festival runs from noon to 9pm.

At the theatre

Basingstoke – Anvil www.anvilarts.org.uk 01256 844244 Grimethorpe Colliery Band. Sat. Michael Messer’s Mitra. Sat. Clare Teal and her Hollywood Orchestra. Thurs. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Fri 17. Basingstoke Symphony Orchestra. Sat 18. Sam Carter.

Sat 18.

Basingstoke – The Haymarket www.anvilarts.org.uk 01256 844244 Some Guys Have All The Luck.

Thurs. Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs. Fri 17.

Swing Unlimited All Stars Big Band. Sat 18.

Bracknell – South Hill Park www.southhillpark.org.uk (01344) 484123 Twelfth Night. Thurs-Sat. Forbidden Nights: Male Variety Show. Fri. Comedy Cellar. Fri 10. Dancing Through The Decades. Sat-Sun.

Queen’s Birthday Weekend: Afternoon Tea. Sun. Creative Control Band Night. Sun. Mission Improvable. Sun. On A Lighter Note. Fri 17-Sat 18.

Artree Live: Folk and Roots Music. Sat 18. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Sun 19. Wilde Sundays. Sun 19. Creative Control Band Night. Sun 19.

FILMS: Despite The Falling Snow.

Fri-Sun. Spotlight. Sat-Sun. Shooting Stars. Tues. The Finest Hours. Wed, Fri. Teatro Alla Scala: The Temple of Wonders.

Thurs. Eye In The Sky. Fri-Sun. Zootropolis. Sat-Sun.

Camberley – Theatre www.camberleytheatre.biz 01276 707600 On Tour With Elvis, featuring Michael King. Fri. Lesley Carver.

Fri. Saturday Morning Theatre: My Pet Monster and Me. Sat. Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band and Friary Guildford Brass Band. Sat. Open Mic night. Wed. Virginia Ironside: Growing Old Disgracefully. Thurs. NT Live:

The Audience. Fri 17. Andrew Lawrence: Uncensored. Fri 17.

Dr Feelgood and Eddie and the Hotrods. Sat 18. Spotlight Dance Presents: Fairytale High and Music from the Movies. Sun 19.

FILM: Taxi Tehran (12). Tues.

Didcot – Cornerstone www.cornerstone-arts.org 01235 515144 Plantec. Fri. Think No Evil With Us: My Life With Kenneth Williams.

Sat. National Youth Folk Ensemble Day. Sun. Open Mic Night. Tues. Argentine Tango Night. Fri 17. Black Is The Colour Of My Voice. Sat 18.

Guildford – Yvonne Arnaud www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk 01483 440000 Main stage closed until Sept 16.

Henley – Kenton www.kentontheatre.co.uk 01491 575698 The Music of George Harrison.

Fri-Sat. Bad Girls The Musical.

Wed-Sat 18.

High Wycombe – Wycombe Swan www.wycombeswan.co.uk 01494 512000 Breakfast At Tiffanys. Until Sat. Up on the Roof: The Music of Carole King and James Taylor.

Sat. Best of Brass: Brighouse and Rastrick and Amersham Band.

Sun. Ladies Night 2016. Fri 17.

Mark Watson. Sun 19.

Maidenhead – Norden Farm www.nordenfarm.org 01628 788997 NT LIve: The Audience. Fri. Mark Dolan and Katia Kvinge. Fri. Oye Santanta. Sat. Sunday Stories At the Farm. Sun. Carl Donnelly and Naz Osmanoglu. Sun. Discover Arts: Leonardo Da Vinci: The Genius in Milan. Thurs. The Endellion String Quartet. Thurs.

The Small Fakers. Fri 17. Gyles Brandreth: Word Power! Sat 18-Sun 19. Christine Bovill’s Piaf. Sat 18

Loddon Brewery

Beers

Ferrymans Gold 4.4% Summer Snowflake 4.1% Forbury Lion 5.5% Hoppit 3.5%

Binghams

Admiral Crafy Hop 4.5% Calisto 5.0% Macchiato Stout 5.0% Space Hoppy 5.0% Total Eclipse 5.0% Doodle Stout 5.0% Twyford Tipple 3.7%

Ascot Ales On The Rails 3.8% Posh Pooch 4.2% Single Hop 4.6% Anastasia's Imperial Stout 8.0%

Downton Brewery

Bond Brews

Chocolate Orange Delight 5.8% Elderquad 4.0%

Wild Weather Thirty Lives 4.4% Shepherds Warning 5.6% Black Night 3.9%

Kennet & Avon Brewery

Exmoor Gold 4.5%

Windsor & Eton Park Life 3.2% Windsor Knot 4.0% 90 Glorious 4.0%

Blonde 4.3% Ipa 3.7% Armada 4.2%

Mr Whiteheads

Tutts Clump

Caramel Macchiato 6.4% Treason 5.8%

Rebellion

Ciders

Strawberry Cider 5.0% Boxing Dog 7.5% Heart Of Hampshire 6.0% Cirrus Minor 5.0%

Uprising Brewery

Sim Citra 5.0%

Little Beer Company

Cherrywood Road 3.8% Starship Fleet 4.2%

Harrier 3.5%

Brian Robson

Man On Remission 5.0%

Elusive Brewing

Cotleigh

Tba 3.9% Hoppy Harrington 4.7% Juicy Sheres 5.0%

Beta Rho Omicron

Little Haka 3.5% Little Kahuna 4.2%

Caen Hill Hop 5.0% Bruce 4.8% Savernake Stout 5.3%

SVB

Golden Goal 3.9% Best Of British 4.0% Railway Porter 4.5%

Special Reserve 6.5% Traditional Farmhouse 6.0% Black Berry 4.0%

Cidernicks Coombe Raider 6.5% Dab Hand 6.5% Ten Years After 6.5%

Food

Grumpy Goat Cheese Yules Sausages Yules Pork Roast Ray's Smokehouse brisket

FILMS: Demolition (15). Fri, Wed. Son of Saul (15). Sun, Tues.

Florence Foster Jenkins (PG).

Sat 18, Wed 22. Elvis and Nixon (15). Sun 19.

Reading – Hexagon

Sonning – The Mill

www.readingarts.com 0118 960 6060 The Proclaimers. Fri 17.

Newbury – The Corn Exchange

Reading – Concert Hall

www.millatsonning.com 0118 969 8000 It Runs In The Family. Until July 2.

The Searchers. Sun. Jazz In New York: The 1930s. Sun 19.

www.cornexchangenew.com 0845 5218 218 Graeme of Thrones. Fri. NT Encore: The Audience. Sat.Gareth Gates: Mad About The Musicals 10th Anniversary. Wed. Roald Dahl Literacy Project Showcase.

Tues-Thurs. Holy Moly and the Crackers. Thurs. Jongleurs Comedy Club. Fri 16. The Elvis Years. Sat 18.

FILM: Departure (15). Sat-Tues.

Love and Friendship (U). Fri 10-Thurs 16.

Newbury – The Watermill www.watermill.org.uk.

01635 46044 Untold Stories. Until Sat. Watership Down. Thurs-Jul 23. Painting Workshop. Wed.

www.readingarts.com 0118 960 6060 An Audience with Nadiya Hussain Sun 19.

Reading – Progress www.progresstheatre.co.uk 0118 384 2195 Humble Boy. Mon-Sat 18.

Shinfield – Shinfield Players www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk 0118 975 8880 Agatha Crusty and the Village Hall Murders. Until Sat. NEXT SHOWS: Youth Theatre presents The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. July 9-10.

Senior Youth Group presents: A Slice of Saturday Night. July 15-16.

Windsor – Royal www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk 01753 853888 One Man Two Guvnors. Until Sat. Deadly Nightcap. Tues-Sat 18.

Woking – Victoria www.ambassadortickets.com 0844 871 7645 Jane McDonald. Sun. Chaplain: The Charlie Chaplain Story. Tues.

The Proclaimers. Sun 19.

Wokingham – Theatre www.wokingham-theatre.org.uk 0118 978 5363 Blue Stockings. Wed until Jun 25.

Woodley – Theatre www.woodleytheatre.org 07939 210121 Rough Crossing. June 14-18.

28 | LEISURE

To advertise email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Gig guide EURO 2016!

England’s first game is on Saturday night – depending on how the team does during the tournament, some gigs may be re-arranged at short notice. If in doubt, check with venues before heading out.

Friday, June 10 BAGSHOT – The Cedar Tree, High Street GU19 5AG. The Bluescasters. Details: 01276 473160.

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. All About You. Details: 01344 303333.

CAMBERLEY – The Four Horseshoes, Frimley Road GU15 3EQ. After The Masons. Details: 01276 63842.

FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. Steve Brookes.

Details: 01252 519964.

FARNBOROUGH GREEN – The Fox, Chapel Lane GU14 9BN. Dan McHugh. Details: 01276 34735.

GRAZELEY – Gravelley Bridge Farm, Grazeley Green Road RG7 1LG. Reading MAG rally: Swallow, The Noyze and Total Misfits. Details: www.lionrally.com PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. Real ale and cider festival: Fleur Stevenson/Hugh Turner.

Details: 0118 969 9878.

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Bis. Details: 0118 959 5395.

READING – The Walkabout, Wiston Terrace, off Friar Street RG1 1DG. TWI Friday. Details: 0118 953 0000.

SONNING – The Mill at Sonning RG4 6TY. Glyn and Elaine in the Watermill Bar. Details: 0118 969 8000.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road

RG40 2AD. The Imposters.

Details: 0118 978 0918.

WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. Pink Fish. 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, June 11 BARKHAM – The Bull at Barkham, Barkham Road.

Jamie Sinatra. Details: 0118 976 2816.

BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Dancing Through The decades from 3pm. Details: 01344 484123.

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Hubba Bubba. Details: 01344 303333.

BRACKNELL – The Royal Oak, London Road RG12 2NN. NNU Music. Details: 01344 422622.

BRACKNELL – The Green Man, Crowthorne Road, Bracknell RG12 7DL. In Too Deep. Details: 01344 423667.

CAMBERLEY – Mr Bumble, GU17 9AP. Fuzz Universe.

Details: 01276 32691.

CAMBERLEY – The Royal Standard, Frimley Road

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 10, 2016

HOLDING A GIG, QUIZ OR GAMES NIGHT? SEND DETAILS TO EVENTS@WOKINGHAMPAPER.CO.UK GU15 2PP. Live band.

Details: 01276 27641.

FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. The Decade Duo. Details: 01252 519964.

FLEET – The Falkners Arms, Falkners Close GU51 2XF. The Mushrooms. Details: 01252 811311.

FLEET – The Harlington, Fleet Road GU51 4BY. Abba Fever. Details: 01252 811009.

FINCHAMPSTEAD – The Queen’s Oak, Church Lane RG40 4LS. Reflections.

Details: 0118 973 4855.

FRIMLEY GREEN – The Rose & Thistle, Sturt Road GU16 6HT. Avarice. Details: 01252 834942.

GRAZELEY – Gravelley Bridge Farm, Grazeley Green Road RG7 1LG. Reading MAG rally: The Ray Philips Band, Panic Station UK, Green Flame Embers, Beaver, Black Rose. Details: www.lionrally. com HURST – The Wheelwright’s Arms RG10 0TR. The Bowie Experience. Details: 0118 934 4100.

PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. All-day jazz festival.

Real ale and cider festival.

Details: 0118 969 9878.

READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Brit Pop Anthems.

Details: 0118 402 7800.

READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. DJ Dom. 9pm. Free. Details: 0118 958 6692.

READING – The Jazz Cafe, Shooters Ways, Madejski Stadium RG2 0FL. The Soul Tones. Details: 0118 968 1442.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Workshop: Twerking & Booty Shaking with Miss Kitty Pimms. 5pm. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – The Walkabout, Wiston Terrace, off Friar Street RG1 1DG. Saturday sessions. Details: 0118 953 0000.

READING – The Abbot Cook, Kings Road RG1 5DE. Dirtbag. Details: 0118 935 4095.

READING – O’Neill’s, Blagrave Street RG1 1DB. Live music.

Details: 0118 960 6580.

SONNING – The Mill at Sonning RG4 6TY. Tim Valentine. Details: 0118 969 8000.

TWYFORD – King George V

Playing Field RG10 9JA. Twyford Beer Festival in aid of Orchid Male Cancer charity. Live music from 2pm: The Scoops, The Secret Ukulele Band, The Jukebox Borthers, The Bear Blue Band, The Mighty Triple O Band, The People’s Front of Judea.

Noon-9pm. Free entry, all beers £3. Details: www. twyfordbeerfest.co.uk WEST END – West End Social Club, High Street GU26 9PL. The Funatics. Details: 01276 858501.

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. Keiran Acoustic.

Details: 01252 870648.

Sunday, June 12 BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Queen’s Birthday Weekend: Afternoon Tea. Creative Control Band Night. Details: 01344 484123.

PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. Real ale and cider festival. Classic Car and Bike Breakfast Club. Details: 0118 969 9878.

READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. American Old Time Picking session. 2pm-5pm. Free.

Readirockrevolution. 5pm10pm. Free. Details: 0118 958 6692.

SHINFIELD – The Bell & Bottle, School Green. Open mic and jam night. Details: 0118 988 3563.

SONNING – The Mill at Sonning RG4 6TY. The Searchers. Details: 0118 969 8000.

WOKINGHAM – Broad Street.

Queen’s 90th birthday and international street concert.

From noon. Details: www. qbiw.co.uk.

Monday, June 13 BARKHAM – The Bull at Barkham, Barkham Road.

Pauly Zarb will be presenting his International Street Concert in Wokingham on Sunday

Quiz night. Details: 0118 976 2816.

HURST – The Wheelwright’s Arms RG10 0TR. Berkshire’s Hardest Pub Quiz. Details: 0118 934 4100.

READING – The Walkabout, Wiston Terrace, off Friar Street RG1 1DG. Deadpool.

Details: 0118 953 0000.

STOKE ROW – Crooked Billet RG9 5PU. Richard Digance.

Details: 01491 681048.

SANDHURST – Sandhurst Community Hall, Yorktown Road. Yateley & Crowthorne Big Band Society (YCBBS): big band music from the golden age of swing. £3.50.

7.30pm. Details: 01252 661037.

WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. Karaoke. Details: 0118 978 0918.

Tuesday, June 14 HOLYPORT – The White Hart, Money Row Green SL6 2ND. Open mic night with Shaky Ground. Details: 01628 621460.

READING – Speakeasy Cocktail Bar, St Mary’s Butts RG1 2LG. Open mic night with Scott Lewis and guests. Details: 0118 957 3500.

Wednesday, June 15 CAVERSHAM – 8 Derby Road, Reading RG4 5EY. Jazz at Mander Court in aid of Heathermount School, Ascot. 8pm. Free, donations welcomed. Details: 0118 947 6504.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. BBC Introducing Live: Palm Honey / Yves. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Frost*. Details: 0118 959 5395.

HOPE & ANCHOR Free entry, fantastic beers & a great night out!

WEY THE GAS TRICK LIVE BAND MUSIC PLUS: Watch Euro 2016 here!

Sat June 17

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

Thursday, June 17 BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Park Opera presents On A Lighter Note.

Details: 01344 484123.

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Mirroball. Details: 01344 303333.

CAMBERLEY – The Royal Standard, Frimley Road GU15 2PP. Open mic night.

Details: 01276 27641.

CAMBERLEY – Mr Bumble, GU17 9AP. Jam Night.

Details: 01276 32691.

FLEET – Propaganda Music Canteen, Fleet Road GU51 3BU. Live music. Details: 01252 620198.

HENLEY – Magoos, Hart Street. Stars In Their Minds karaoke. Details: 01491 574595.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Dark Matter: Stone Collins & Sam Red. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – The Hexagon. The Proclaimers. Details: 0118 960 6060.

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Dream Men 2.

Details: 0118 959 5395.

WHITE WALTHAM – White Waltham and Shottesbrooke Social Club, Hurst Lane SL6 3JJ. Monthly Jam night with The Jukesters. Details: 0118 934 3785.

The BROAD ST TAVERN

TONIGHT @ 9pm

THE IMPOSTERS Rock and pop covers, songs old and new

READING – The Walkabout, Wiston Terrace, off Friar Street RG1 1DG. Karaoke.

Details: 0118 953 0000.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Wokingham Folk and Acoustic Club. 7.30pm.

Details: Facebook.com/ WokFAB. WOKINGHAM – The Queen’s Head, The Terrace. Ascot Ladies Day. All afternoon.

LIVE MUSIC EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT JUNE 10

JUNE 13

PINK FISH KARAOKE BACK AGAIN. GREAT MUSIC, FOOD & DRINKS!

HAVE FUN AND LET YOUR HAIR DOWN!

JUNE 17

KING LOUD

A GREAT BAND & A GREAT SOUND!

COME AND JOIN US! 29 Broad Street, Wokingham RG40 1AU 0118 977 3706 WWW.BROADSTREETTAVERN.CO.UK

YATELEY – Mumbai Kitchen, Reading Road GU46 7UH. Gary Roman is Elvis. Details: 01252 861151.

Friday, June 17 EMMBROOK – Sports and Social Club, Lowther Road RG41 1JB. Wokingham Music Club presents The Steve Summers Band and Mark Harrison. Details: wokinghammusicclub.co.uk FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. Will.i.an. Details: 01252 519964.

FLEET – The Fox and Hounds, Crookham Road GU51 5NP. The Looters. Details: 01252 663686.

READING – The Walkabout, Wiston Terrace, off Friar Street RG1 1DG. TWI Friday. Details: 0118 953 0000.

SHINFIELD – The Bell & Bottle, School Green. Red Aztek.

Details: 0118 988 3563.

SONNING – The Mill at Sonning RG4 6TY. Glyn and Elaine in the Watermill Bar. Details: 0118 969 8000.

WINNERSH – The Pheasant Inn, Reading Road RG41 5LR. Gary Roman as Elvis.

Details: 0118 978 4529.

WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. 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.

YATELEY – The Cricketers, Cricket Hill Lane GU46 6BA. Uptown Traffic.

Details: 01252 872105.

Saturday, June 18 ASCOT – Jagz, Station Road.

Bad Girls Groove. Details: 01344 878100.

BARKHAM – The Bull at Barkham, Barkham Road.

Beer Festival with live music.

Details: 0118 976 2816.

BLACKWATER – Hawley Bridge Working Men’s Club, Willows Lane GU17 9DL. Off The Record. Details: 01276 31037.

BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Park Opera presents On A Lighter Note. Artree Live: Folk and Roots Music. Details: 01344 484123.

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. !daft!

Details: 01344 303333.

BRACKNELL – The Boot Inn, Park Road RG12 2LU. Stone Thorn. Details: 01344 454532.

CAMBERLEY – Mr Bumble, GU17 9AP. Finish on 2.

Details: 01276 32691.

FARNBOROUGH – The Ivy Leaf Social Club, Cove Road GU14 0HF. Stealers Bluff.

Details: 01252 542962.

FLEET – The Falkners Arms, Falkners Close GU51 2XF.

Keely and the Dealers.

Details: 01252 811311.

FRIMLEY GREEN – Frimley Green Working Mens Club, Sturt Road GU16 6HX. Lady Blackwell. Details: 01252 835322.

READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. 90s Rewind.

Details: 0118 402 7800.

READING – O’Neill’s, Blagrave Street RG1 1DB. Live music.

Details: 0118 960 6580.

READING – The Walkabout, Wiston Terrace, off Friar Street RG1 1DG. Saturday sessions. Details: 0118 953 0000.

READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. The Highwasters. Details: 0118 957 6930.

SANDHURST – The Rose and Crown, High Street GU47 8HA. In Too Deep. Details: 01252 878938.

SONNING – The Mill at Sonning RG4 6TY. Tim Valentine. Details: 0118 969 8000.

TWYFORD – The Golden Cross, Waltham Road RG10 9EG. Said & Done. Details: 07946 342551.

WEST END – West End Social Club, High Street GU26 9PL. The Undecided.

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. Fat Men In The Bathtub. Details: 01252 870648.

Sunday, June 19 BARKHAM – The Bull at Barkham, Barkham Road.

Beer Festival with live music.

Details: 0118 976 2816.

BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Wilde Sundays.

Details: 01344 484123.

PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. Dog Day Afternoon in aid of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. Details: 0118 969 9878.

READING – Community Hall at Watlington House, 44 Watlington Street RG1 4RJ. Readifolk: Peter and Barbara Snape. Details: 0118 958 6692.

SHINFIELD – The Bell & Bottle, School Green. Open mic and jam night. Details: 0118 988 3563.

SONNING – The Mill at Sonning RG4 6TY. Jazz In New York. Details: 0118 969 8000.

WEST END – West End Social Club, High Street GU26 9PL. Darren Jones. Details: 01276 858501.

LEISURE | 29

To advertise call 0118 328 2959

Friday, June 10, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

AT THE CINEMA

The acoustic couch

War and my piece

You’ve got a friend in me

Kim Taylor-Foster

Upcoming music with Jody Mc

The law of attraction is really important writes NATALIE GAUCI. It’s clear that if you want to get ahead, you can’t do it on your own

D

UNCAN Jones has made a couple of great films, Moon and Source Code were both intelligent sci-fi movies and deserved the acclaim they received.

If anyone’s going to make something good come of a film version of fantasy video game phenomenon World of Warcraft, it’s going to be a director with the credentials and credibility of Duncan Jones.

Except in Warcraft, he’s made a horror – and not in the Nightmare on Elm Street sense. More nightmare up Jones’ street, he’s potentially seriously stilted his growing reputation for thoughtful, grown-up cinema in an arena that generally favours big bangs, high-octane action and paredback plot.

Of course, a preference for popcorn cinema isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes, pure, non-cerebral entertainment is just the ticket. But that doesn’t mean it has to be done badly.

I say “badly” – clearly, a lot of effort has gone into making this film look a certain way but it’s at the expense of more important things like characterisation, script and storytelling.

All things which are key to a successful movie – particularly if it’s to have a fighting chance of kick-starting a franchise, like Warcraft desperately wants to.

The story is interested in telling the origins of how the tension between orcs and humans began; and how they first encountered one another. When the orc world is found to be dying, Gul’dan (Daniel Wu) – a tyrannical orc who rules by fear and a mysterious source of magic – unites the orc clans to form an army called the Horde. He’s intent on taking over a new world, Azeroth, accessed through a magical portal.

Azeroth is a kingdom inhabited by humans and ruled by kindly king Llane (Dominic Cooper). They’ve got their own form of magic and are protected by a wizard called The Guardian (Ben Foster) and his young mage Khadgar (Ben Schnetzer), who get wind of something afoot. When the humans capture a half-orc named Garona (Paula Patton) who reveals Gul’dan’s plan, they hatch their own plot to thwart the Horde’s attack.

With unrest in the orc army – family man Durotan (Toby Kebbell) leads a rebellion – Gul’dan doesn’t only have humans against him to contend with. But the humans have their own problems within their ranks and it looks like things won’t end prettily.

Setting up for the next instalment, it leaves you with unanswered questions but you’re unlikely to care about the response a sequel might provide, such is the abject failure of this game-to-big-screen adaptation.

It’s a Lord of the Rings-lite meets sub-Game of Thrones hybrid and it’s unoriginal and unengaging, with nonsensical swords and sorcery silliness and some unaccomplished acting to seal its fate.

Vikings star Travis Fimmell is perhaps the only one to emerge with any credibility – he does a stand-out job of salvaging what he can and is the film’s likeable heart, convincing as the heartbroken father and husband bent on revenge.

If the devil is in the detail, the finer points are something they should have paid attention to. One character in particular, in fact: Garona, whose whole existence undermines the entire film as a result of her struggle with speaking through her stuck-on teeth.

With a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo from screen legend Glenn Close, you’ll understand as the credits come up why she withheld her name from the film’s final roll call.

T

path to success by giving me advice along the way.

I have so many stories like this! I call it law of attraction.

Try it!

If you get me and want to share your magical music “coincidence moments” tweet me @ ngauciofficial or facebook me @nataliegauciofficial as I would LOVE to know!

I will chose the best one and share it with readers of this very page!

STR8TS Easy

1 4 2 3

9 2 3 3 4 7 3 4 1

2 6

Previous solution - Medium

6

7 9 6

1 4 3 2 8

My song of the week THIS GIRL

I’m loving this tune right now. It’s funky and soulful and makes me wanna dance!

This Girl is by Kungs V Cookin on 3 Burners.

You can watch it on YouTube – click on to youtu.be/2Y6Nne8RvaA

SUDOKU

No. 285

5

n For Natalie Gauci official e-newsletter, please sign up here: http://bit.ly/natalie-phundee

9 7

You can find more help, tips and hints at www.str8ts.com

5 7 6

8 9 5 3 2 4 1 6 7

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

9 6 8 7 3 5 4

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

7 4 6 5

8 9

No. 285

Tough

7 2 6 8

Previous solution - Medium

7 4 2 3 1 6 5 8 9

8 5

6 7

5 3

3 7

9

7

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.

6

2

5

1

3

9 2 2

7

5 6 9

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

Stars: Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster, Dominic Cooper, Toby Kebbell

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

Warcraft (12a) «««««

HIS week I would like to focus on networking and building relationships within the community and how a string of events and being in the moment, can lead to the unexpected, where greatness is achieved.

I recently spoke as a guest lecturer at Bucks University and we had so much fun with this concept.

Each were given a role to play in the hypothetical music industry.

We focused on precise intention, purpose and outcome.

Within this came a learning, a new sense of confidence, they were inspired.

And, by the end of the class, everyone actually knew each other’s names and faces.

A string of fortunate events has recently happened to me which I would like to share with you!

I was asked to perform at The Boot Inn, through Facebook and me and my band had three days to get our act together to perform.

I needed help and purely by chance, a lovely gentlemen at the bar was expecting an “Australian Idol winner” who had “come all the way from Australia” and seemed very grateful to have me, asked me what I wanted and needed and I was very precise.

I said, “A P.A system and some food please, I’m starving!”

And literally, within 5 minutes it was sorted.

But there’s more… not only did I get a homemade ham and cheese sandwich, the kind hearted gentlemen who set up the PA System, happened to be a music manager and has been helping me along my

3 5 8 7 9 2 1 4 6

1 6 9 5 4 8 2 3 7

8 2 4 6 3 7 9 5 1

9 1 6 4 8 5 3 7 2

5 7 3 9 2 1 4 6 8

4 8 1 2 6 3 7 9 5

6 3 5 1 7 9 8 2 4

2 9 7 8 5 4 6 1 3

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

30 | CLASSIFIEDS

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The Order was made on the 31st of May2016 and will come into effect on the 6th of June 2016 Any persons wishing to question the validity of the Order or any of its provisions on the grounds that it is not within the powers conferred by the above provisions of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 as amended, or that any procedural requirement contained in an instrument made under that Act has been complied with may, within 6 weeks from the date on which the Order was, make application for that purpose to the High Court.

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ARNETT AVENUE Both sides From its junction with Gorse Ride North, eastwards for a distance of 11 metres BILLING AVENUE Both sides From its junction with Gorse Ride North, eastwards for a distance of 10 metres BUCHANAN DRIVE Both sides From its junction with Gorse Ride North eastwards for a distance of 11 metres GORSE RIDE NORTH East side From a point approximately 210 metres south of is junction with Barkham Ride, southwards for a distance of 27 metres From a point approximately 275 metres south of its junction with Barkham Ride, southwards for a distance of 19 metres West side

From a point approximately 245 metres south of its junction with Barkham Ride, southwards for a distance of 23 metres

GORSE RIDE SOUTH East side From its junction with Nine Mile Ride, northwards for a distance of 27 metres From a point approximately 100 metres north of its junction with Nine Mile Ride, northwards for a distance of 24 metres From a point approximately 239 metres north of its junction of Nine Mile Ride northwards for a distance of 13 metres West side

From its junction with Nine Mile Ride northwards for a distance of 27 metres From a point approximately 245 metres north of its junction with Nine Mile Ride northwards for a distance of 27 metres

KELSEY AVENUE Both sides From its junction with Gorse Ride North westwards for 11 metres NINE MILE RIDE Both sides From a point 24 metres east of the centreline of Gorse Ride South, then westwards for a distance of 52 metres WATKINS CLOSE Both sides From its junction with Gorse Ride North westwards for a distance of 10 metres WHITTLE CLOSE South side From its junction with Gorse Ride South eastwards for a distance of 44 metres North side From its junction with Gorse Ride South eastwards for a distance of 14 metres

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 10, 2016

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 3, 2016

WOKINGHAM SPORT

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

BRAZIL BID OVER FOR MEGAN: Judo ace is cruelly denied Olympic shot — Page: 40

BOWLS

Men secure slender lead in Trophy tie

Woodley Town Mayor, Cllr Jenny Cheng, prepares to open the new pitch with, from left, Ryan Scott, Scott Rodway and Owen Giles of Woodley Wanderers and Woodley Saints’ representative Archie Pyman PIctures: Phil Creighton

IN THE SPOTLIGHT...

Woodley’s new 3G pitch is town’s ‘jewel in the crown’ n Woodford Park facility a huge asset to grassroots football

By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk THE RESULT of delivering the perfect pitch to football bosses is now officially opened in Woodley.

Dubbed “the jewel in the crown”, a new third generation (3G) artificial grass pitch (AGP) was given its grand opening at Woodford Park in Haddon Drive last Friday.

Installed at a cost of £498,200, more than half of this amount – £277,200 – was secured

by Woodley Town Council from the Premier League and The Football Association (FA) Facilities Fund.

This provides grants towards developing new or refurbishing grassroots facilities, with the money being handed over to the authority to help construct a state-of-the-art facility aiming to meet the demands of the local football community.

The remaining expenditure has been footed by the council through a loan obtained from the Public Works Loan Board.

Town mayor, Cllr Jenny Cheng, was asked to officially open the pitch, which can either be used full length or split into three for 5-a-side fixtures or training purposes.

Ed Whitesmith, leisure services manager at Woodley Town Council, said: “I would like to personally thank the Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund, as without the grant this whole project would not have been possible.

“The new pitch really is the jewel in the crown for football in Woodley and will be a huge asset to grassroots football within our community for many years to come.”

The grant was awarded following work carried out by The Football Foundation in conjunction with the Berks and Bucks FA and town council, who between them produced a five-year Football Development Plan.

This forecasts how much sport is expected to be played on site as a result of the money secured from the fund.

Woodley United, Woodley Zebras and Woodley Wanderers will all use the facility regularly, as will local primary schools and the nearby Phoenix and Reading colleges.

The three partner clubs boast a combined 73 teams at present, but this figure is expected to increase by 30 during the duration of the plan, resulting in an uptake of around 905 new players.

A breakdown of these figures predicts a 71 per cent increase in participation through the development of new Under-15 and U18 teams and a whopping 197 per cent hike in female participation across the three clubs.

Other uses for the facility, which includes general fitness, tennis and badminton, are also anticipated to

improve by around 19 per cent.

Reading FC community trust, meanwhile, also intend to use the pitch for activities such as sports camps, among others.

The Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund, which aims to improve the experience for regular players as well as attracting new ones, is funded by the Premier League, The FA and the government, via Sport England.

Since its inception back in 2000, more than 14,000 grants totalling £540million have been handed out to help improve grassroots sport.

In turn, this has attracted additional partnership funding of around £787m, meaning more than £1.3billion has been pumped back into the game’s outset.

“I am delighted that a grant from the Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund has enabled Woodley Town Council to upgrade the facilities on offer at Woodford Park Leisure Centre,” said Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation.

“This development will provide a real boost to sport in the local area.

“This project in Woodley is the latest addition to the inventory of modern community sports sites we are developing that cater for the needs of local people who want to play sport purely for the love of it and to stay healthy.”

Pictured: A game between a team from Woodley Town Council (in green) and Waitrose commemorated was one of several played to mark the opening of the pitch.

WOKINGHAM Men will take just a one-shot lead into the return leg of their Jim Clarke Trophy clash with Suttons.

This is after the two rivals, who have fought for the trophy over the years, played out an epic encounter in the opening tie, which the club won 82-81.

Both teams won two rinks each on the day, but it was the one skipped by Jim Rudd and included Martin O’Connor, Alan Herbert and Eric Nathan which helped Wokingham to victory with a 12-shot triumph. n THE latest round of the County Mixed Double Fours competition pitted Wokingham with a game away at Island Bohemians on the River Thames.

It was another close affair, but the hosts would prevail, winning 47-46. n WOKINGHAM A beat both the opposition, Maidenhead Thicket, and horrendous weather conditions to make a swift return to winning ways in Division 1 of the Kennet League.

The visitors thought the game may not go ahead given the rain which swept across the county, so it came as some surprise when the green was declared playable.

Not that they would care in the end, though, after Wokingham sealed a hard-earned 75-69 success.

The club’s top rink on the day, with a victory margin of eight shots, was skip Neil Jones, Alan Symondson, Andy Franklin and Martin Brailey.

Ladies WOKINGHAM ACORNS proved far too hospitable when hosting Great Hollands, who took the points after outscoring the opposition by 67 shots to 43 in the Thames Valley League.

The home side were beaten on all

three rinks. n THE Acorns, however, made up for the defeat when edging out Maiden Erlegh 50-44.

Over-60s THE UNBEATEN start to the season is over for Wokingham A following a 51-46 reverse away at Prospect Park in the Kennet LX League.

The club picked up just the one rink win during the contest, which went the way of Paul Aylott, skip, Pat Cleary and Mike Drinkwater. n THERE was no joy either for the B team, who were comprehensively beaten 64-32 by Suttons at Reading Road. n WOKINGHAM C carved out arguably the result of the day in Division 2, where they stunned opponents and home side Woodley.

An impressive 46-42 success came about following victories on all three rinks. n SUTTONS C squeezed past Wokingham D in Division 3.

The final result was 52-49, but the outcome hung in the balance with just two bowls remaining, where Suttons managed to pull away.

Although a consolation in the end, skip Keith Roberts and his team of Terry Cornell and Hugh Morris were the club’s top triple.

Friendly A COMFORTABLE victory was what Wokingham Men secured when up against Woodley, taking the honours from a result of 111-79.

David Smith, skip, Gerry Deeves, Andrew Cullington and Clive Tarran was the highest up rink for Wokingham, outscoring their counterparts by 16 shots.

ICE HOCKEY

Antonov and Bendik say bye to Bees JAN BENDIK and Vanya Antonov, two popular figures within the Bracknell Bees camp, have decided to take on new challenges elsewhere.

Forward Antonov has accepted an offer to join reigning English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL) champions Basingstoke Bison, while defenceman Bendik is moving to Germany and EV Landshut.

Antonov’s departure was announced just hours after it was confirmed the committee looking to keep Bees in existence had been granted the club’s operating licence from owner John Nike last Thursday.

The 19-year-old Russian-born Great Britain Under-18 and U20 international worked his way through the ranks, turning out for the Stingers and Drones before promotion to the senior side during the 2013/14 campaign.

Vanya, who also skated for Bracknell Hornets, leaves the Hive after 106 appearances for Bees, where he racked up a combined 109 goals and assists.

Of these, 24 goals came last season, where the youngster was one of the leading lights during a campaign which saw the club finish bottom of the EPIHL standings.

Many will be saddened to see the player go, given his future potential, but

because of the club’s uncertain state, this opportunity was one Antonov felt he could not turn down.

It was then revealed on Monday import Bendik is off to continue his career in mainland Europe.

The 31-year-old has remained with Bracknell ever since making the switch from HC Hradec Kralove in his native Czech Republic in 2012.

Although a D-man by trade, Bendik was good for a goal too, with his blueline drives becoming something of a trademark at the club.

He would net exactly 30 times during 199 appearances and would twice help Bees to the end-of-season play-offs in 2013 and 2014.

“Everyone at the Bracknell Bees wishes to thank Jan for his four seasons in the black, white and gold in which his hard work and dedication had made him a firm favourite in the dressing room and with the fans,” said a statement on the Save The Bees Facebook page.

“We also wish him the very best for the future and hope to maybe see him back in Bracknell icing for the Bees at some point.”

Club officials also went on to say the door will always remain open for Antonov to return in the future, should he so wish.

SPORT | 35

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Friday, June 10, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

This week has been great for club and country - but not the physio!

W

HILE you were all rushing to the shops to pick up last week’s Wokingham Paper, Reading FC Women hosted our Sister Club event at the Madejski Stadium.

This was a two-day girls’ only soccer school exclusive to the players within our sister clubs; Tilehurst Panthers, Laurel Park, Berkshire County FC, Westwood Wanderers and Thatcham Tornadoes.

It was nice to see so many young girls enjoying football with their Reading FC shirts on.

One girl even had a signed Emma Follis number 7 top on. I wonder how much she paid her...

Last week ended with a team Nandos followed by a trip to our home ground to watch England Women play against Serbia.

It was an immense feeling walking into a packed Adams Park with the girls, the atmosphere was brilliant.

The crowd we welcome on game days are a little more modest. However, it gave us and the club future incentives and it

LOIS ROCHE The Reading FC Women’s midfielder writes exclusively for The Wokingham Paper was a massive positive for the women’s game to see yet another packed out stadium.

The England game played out as everyone expected and, funnily enough, as Emma Follis predicted in our half-time interview over the tannoy.

Unfortunately no one could hear her, or Brutes (Lauren Brutes) for that matter.

Although there were no issues hearing myself, my mum taught me well.

England sailed through the game with a 7-0 victory and a very dominant performance.

There was one very specific part of the game that stood out to me.

England had a corner and I think they

were already six up by now.

The Serbian No.2 on the back post got so caught up in the atmosphere she started to dance. I’ve never seen anything like it.. I’d have loved to see her celebration if Serbia managed to nick one.

Wales played Norway on Tuesday night live on BBC 2 Wales and some of our loyal fans made the trip to support the girls, displaying once again why we really do have the best in the league.

The girls put in a brilliant performance and started the brightest of the two teams but sadly conceded two goals in the second half with the game finishing 2-0 to Norway.

Grace Moloney’s Ireland team beat Montenegro 9-0 in their Euro qualifier on the same night.

While most of the girls were away on senior International duty, Molly Bartrip got her first call up to the England U23s squad for the Nordic tournament.

With impressive performances against Norway, Sweden and USA, the girls secured a second place finish, narrowly

missing out on goal difference.

Massive congratulations to all the girls who have been away this week, you’ve done us all proud but hurry up and get back now as you’ve got a lot of running to catch up with.

Follow Lois on Twitter @_Roche Got a question you’d like to put to Lois for her next column? Email sport@ wokinghampaper.co.uk or tweet @ WokinghamSport.

Shohaib Shah asked: “There are a few weeks to go until Reading’s next league game at home to Birmingham. How is the team’s mentality and mood in training?”

Lois: The mood in camp has been great for the past week or so since we’ve been back to full-time training after our break.

Everyone has come back refreshed and raring to go. The Birmingham home game is going to be a massive game for us. It’s one we all believe if we put in the performance we are capable of, it will hopefully be the first win of our campaign and gives us great momentum going into

the second half of the season.

“What steps have you taken to ensure you come back stronger from injury and refreshed after the Internationals?”

Lois: The injury I suffered was to my knee so I’ve managed to do a lot of strength work in the gym to get my legs stronger in order to prevent any re-occurring injuries.

With that said, Callum the physio will definitely come back stronger, mentally, as the things he’s had to put up with from spending too much time with me!

I think he will finally be glad to see the back of me and the feeling’s mutual, no disrespect, Cal. n READING Women have announced their Continental Cup clash against Arsenal will take place at The Hive on July 2.

The game will be part of a double header at the ground, kicking off at 5pm after London Bees host Chelsea Royals home at Adams Park is unavailable due to ongoing pre-season work to the pitch.

FOOTBALL

TENNIS

Girls go Mad Stad for holiday camp

The Davis Cup is coming to Cantley Park

A number of Reading FC Women’s first-team stars were present to hand out medals and merchandise Pictures: Phil Creighton

By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk OVER 70 girls spent their half term playing football thanks to Reading FC Women.

The club opened the doors at Madejski Stadium’s 4G pitch to players from their sister clubs to come and take part in a two-day training camp.

Thursday saw 74 girls from Tilehurst Panthers, Laurel Park, Berkshire County FC, Thatcham Tornadoes and Westwood Wanderers attend the event with 70 returning on Friday.

As well as being coached by Royals’ development squad head coach Adam

Jeffrey and under-16s academy head coach Elliot Allum, a number of first team players made guest appearances across the two days.

The girls practiced all aspects of the game including passing and shooting drills while also hopping across to the Madejski Stadium itself to enjoy lunch in the stands alongside club mascot Queensley.

Stars of the WSL 1 side Emma Follis, Laura-May Walkley, Lauren Bruton, Kayleigh Hines, Harriet Scott, Amber Stobbs, Zoe Cunningham, Lois Roche, Shelly Provan, Becky Jane and Kirsty McGee all paid a visit to hand out prizes and sign merchandise.

THE ACHIEVEMENTS of the Great Britain Davis Cup team will be celebrated during a Tennis Weekend taking place in the borough next month.

Andy Murray, his brother Jamie, James Ward, Kyle Edmund and Dominic Inglot comprised the first GB team to win the competition in 79 years when defeating Belgium 3-1 in the final of the 2015 competition.

And The Davis Cup by BNP Paribas trophy they won will be visiting Cantley Park on Saturday, July 16.

To celebrate the occasion, Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) chiefs came up with the idea of taking the cup on tour and it will soon be Wokingham’s turn to host the piece of silverware.

Not only is the visit a way of saying thank you to the tennis community, which includes players, coaches, venues and the volunteers who supported the team during its incredible and triumphant journey, but also aims to inspire a new generation to pick up a racket.

Open to all and free to attend, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see and be pictured with the trophy will take place between 10am and 4pm on Saturday, July 16.

The Great British Tennis Weekend, will continue on Sunday, July 17, running from 10am to 2pm.

This follows on from a similar event held last month, where more than 400 visitors enjoyed mini-tennis, cardio and family fun sessions.

“We are thrilled to have been chosen to be a part of this very special Davis

Cup Trophy Tour,” said Cllr Angus Ross, executive member for environment at Wokingham Borough Council.

“I am sure the event will be a huge success and will follow in the footsteps of The Great British Tennis weekend held in May at Cantley Park.

“It was such a fun event, and it was great to see so many smiles and happy faces as people played tennis, many for the first time which was encouraging to see.

“We received much positive feedback from all those taking part and many enquired what they could do next to continue playing.

“We have a number of courts for hire and more to come at Cantley.

“Also, there are a number of private tennis clubs throughout the borough.”

The trophy, which recently visited the University of Reading, is being showcased at more than 100 destinations across the country.

“Winning the Davis Cup was an incredible moment for me and all the team,” added Leon Smith, Davis Cup captain.

“Lifting the trophy on the court in Ghent was an amazing feeling and I’m eager to ensure a lasting legacy following this historic achievement.

“Taking the trophy across the country and being able to share this momentous achievement with the nation is an important part of this legacy.

“Sharing a bit of that passion we had on court will hopefully encourage others to get involved and choose tennis as part of their everyday lives.”

READING FC

Number of Reading fans renewing season tickets increases THE number of Reading fans renewing or purchasing season tickets for the 2016-17 campaign is up on the figure of those who did so this time last year, writes LEWIS RUDD. Although a percentage of the spike has not been revealed, the club say a direct comparison between the number of annual passes sold between now and the same point in 2015 shows an increase.

The renewal deadline passed at 5pm last Friday.

“We would like to sincerely thank all loyal Royals who have bought or renewed their season ticket and pledged their

support to Reading Football Club once more next season,” said the club in a statement.

“Our supporters continue to be the heartbeat of this football club. Thank you.” n ROYALS have added a friendly at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, July 23, to their pre-season programme.

The two sides last met during the summer of 2012, where the then-Premier League bound Reading netted seven goals without reply against the south London side during another close season contest.

Reading, however, should expect a

step up in competition this time around, with the Dons now preparing to debut in League One following promotion via a 2-0 play-off final victory over Plymouth Argyle last month.

The game at Kingsmeadow (3pm) will be the fourth of five friendly matches the club will contest ahead of the new Championship campaign.

Dates with Boreham Wood (A); Lincoln City (A); Swindon Town (A) and AFC Bournemouth (H) have already been announced.

Ticket prices will be announced in due course.

A successful Great British Tennis Weekend was held in May Right: The Davis Cup Picture: Stewart Turkington

36 | SPORT

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 10, 2016

BERKSHIRE CRICKET LEAGUE

More woe for Woodley as Woodward seals the spoils

By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk SEAN WOODWARD picked up four wickets and conceded just nine runs for an Emmbrook and Bearwood side which got the better of borough rivals Woodley in the Premier Division.

Richard Cole’s charges continue to adjust well to life in the top flight and now sit fifth with two wins after five games following this 43-run success.

It was Cole who got lucky with the coin toss and inserted his charges into bat at Lowther Road – but would not see the side trouble the scorers until Ollie Williams and Matt Smart arrived at the crease.

Williams, batting at five, would work up a top score of 39 while Williams, a position below him in the standings, contributed at the opposite end with 30.

Cole also made a vital 20 down at nine, and although Kashif Ali would interrupt the innings with 4-34, Woodley did not help themselves by giving away 27 runs in extras.

Jordan Goddard also struck three times for a side set 161 for victory.

Woodley have often scored well this year, but their work in the middle let them down on this particular occasion.

Faisal Ahmed would give them a platform to go on and try and win the game, hitting 40 when opening the innings.

Vinay Kumar, also at the top of the

order, added 27, but the scoring was to dramatically dry up, although this was down to some impressive work from Woodward, Chris Fletcher (3-11) and Callum Marshall, who racked up two scalps for the loss of no runs.

Between them, the trio went about unravelling the reply, with the away side falling from 79-3 to 117 all out, losing seven wickets for 38 runs.

Cole confirmed victory when cleaning out Abdul Khaliq in the 39th over, leaving Woodley to nurse a third defeat of the summer.

Jeff Cluett and Muhammad Shakeel Arshad each added three more wickets to their season’s totals thus far, but their work could not stop CROWTHORNE AND CROWN WOOD suffering a heavy 65-run loss at West Reading.

On their own track, Wests were anything but spectacular, yet would still muster up a match-winning 151 before the last man was taken.

With Sinith Chandran and Alex Sykes taking care of the four other wickets, securing two each, the Crows still had a chance, but Reading’s nouse would see them to the points.

Only Sunil Tiwari and Arshad put any pressure on the attack, both making 19, but the session belonged to Shary Tariq, whose 5-37 turned the contest very much the way of the hosts.

Cluett and Christopher Allwright swung hard down in the tail, but would

need some remarkable staying power if they were going to help the side see this out.

They would make 13 and 14 respectively, although their knocks would only help nudge the scoring up to 86, which is what Crowthorne would finish on when skittled out in the 23rd over.

BERKSHIRE COUNTY SPORTS (BCS) continue to lead the way in Division 1, meanwhile.

But they would need some fine death bowling and fielding to help them squeeze past Sandhurst by just 11 runs.

BCS would make 160 when stuck into bat, with the bulk of the scoring coming via opener Kashif Mehmood, who fell just three runs shy of a half century.

Question marks remained over whether they could protect what looked a lean total, and the answer appeared to be no as the Camels edged closer to the victory target.

But they would not prevail as the visitors hit back with aplomb, as a run out and some late dismissals completed the comeback with just six balls remaining.

Helping BCS home was Amir Aziz, who led the defence with 4-39.

Umer Chaudhary made three vital breakthroughs, with Barbar Butt’s 2-11 helping uproot the lower order.

Woodley’s Vinay Kumar flicks the ball away towards the deep square leg boundary during a knock of 27 against Emmbrook and Bearwood Pictures: Phil Creighton

Captain Richard Cole took the decisive wicket for Emmbrook, who won this Premier Division fixture by 43 runs Left: The hosts’ Charlie Sawyer looks for wickets

Twyford top after Musudi, Spence and Woodbridge rattle Ruislip

By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk TWYFORD and Ruscombe disposed of Ruislip Victoria 2nd by six wickets to go top of Division 3.

Spence Nichols and Kiran Musudi went about dismantling the innings of a Ruislip side which was stuck into bat at Stanlake Meadow, sharing eight wickets.

Nichols would finish with figures of 4-47 and claimed the scalp of Jatinder Virk, who threatened to keep things interesting through a top score of 74, while the majority of Musudi’s 4-20 came via running through the lower order.

The last man was removed in the 35th over, leaving the away side to defend a score of 166.

But the task became even more arduous as opening Twyford pair Marc Teal (29) and Oscar Woodbridge went about chipping away at the target with a stand of 52 for the opening wicket.

Woodbridge would go on to make a round half-century before he was clean bowled by Vijay Mulaparthi, but through stand-in captain Ken Cochrane’s unbeaten 28 and a further 27 from Raja Singh, it was a comfortable and celebratory afternoon for the home side.

WOODLEY 2ND sit not too far behind their near neighbours in third after negotiating a successful run chase during a high-scoring encounter with Warfield.

Almost 500 runs were witnessed at Woodford Park, of which the hosts hit 247 to triumph by four wickets.

Warfield were stuck into bat and almost made Woodley captain Uprenda Deshpande pay for the decision, with Dan Torry and Duncan Greeff producing an opening stand of 101.

Both would go on to notch 45, but it was Harvey Fuller who cranked up the scoring. The No.4 was finding the boundaries for fun, hitting 10 during a leading knock of 64.

In what was a damage limitation job, Anish Pandey picked up two wickets, with Gowtham Payavula, Deshpande and Harshvardhana Shastry each claiming a scalp.

Woodley would need to tick along at around six-an-over if they Oscar were to better Woodbridge led this competitive Twyford’s pursuit target. of runs, hitting Deshpande and 50 against Ruislip Anish Pandey Victoria 2nd in were up for the Division 3 fight.

The former got the reply in motion through a watchful 60 when opening the batting, but it was Pandey’s magnificent 74 – coming from just 68 deliveries and including 11 boundaries – which escalated the reply and increased the optimism within the camp.

Further contributions from Tajdar Jawaid and Adrees Afzal, who were unbeaten on 33 and 21, would seal an impressive victory with four overs to spare.

Despite being bowled out for just 130, KNOWL HILL would still go on to beat Purley-on-Thames by 33 runs and claim a first win of the season.

They were, however, indebted to captain Adam Brookman, who went

on to secure figures of 4-22, and Matt Crawcour’s 3-25, with the pair helping bundle out the guests for just 97 in the 32nd over of their reply.

Earlier in the day, Dave Gordon’s 31 was the top score for a Knowl side which struggled for consistency at the crease.

Crawcour made a quick-fire 26-ball 23 to help improve the total, but the final amount was looking a little lightweight.

But with Brookman and Crawcour dazzling with the ball, it was a score which proved more than enough.

Also helping break the duck was Nick Hopper, whose two wickets put and end to Purley’s disappointing chase.

FARLEY HILL strengthened their grip on top spot in Division 2 after outscoring WALTHAM ST LAWRENCE by 68 runs.

Paving the way to victory was Michael Sheridan, the opener who struck up 63 during an opening total of 179-6.

Nick Timms would then edge Farley closer to a fifth straight success with the ball, which he then secured in the 35th over with his fourth wicket of the afternoon (4-27).

Sheridan’s efforts were held up by middle order pair Chris Garrod (34) and William Nash-Wortham, who quickly got stuck into the Waltham attack and made

38 not out in 29 balls.

Chris England, Waltham captain, was the pick of the attack with 3-43, but the return counted for very little.

Ravi Sainani would start and finish the visitors’ innings and was unlucky not to at least record a half century (45no) as support from elsewhere failed to materialise.

Matt Connor contributed with 24, but Waltham’s chase was over after 111 runs.

EMMBROOK AND BEARWOOD 2ND were shot out for a miserly 27 when up against SHINFIELD, who were more than comfortable winners by 206 runs.

Their response with the bat was decimated by Richard Madgwick, who saw off seven opponents, conceding only 10 runs in the process.

It was a thoroughly miserable afternoon for Emmbrook, yet one of sheer jubilation for the opposition.

Despite losing two of the top four batsmen for ducks and another for just six, Shinfield were still able to blast their way to a healthy total thanks to two significant innings.

Fakhir Ali, arriving at three, would strike up back-to-back centuries after following up the 105 made during a winning draw against Waltham the weekend before with an unbeaten 100.

Atiq Javed would also club the ball around, making 82 before he was one of two victims to fall to Emmbrook’s Charlie Carter (2-42).

Mark Cobb also picked up a pair of wickets, but a punishing spell in the field would continue at the crease, where Madgwick was in an unforgiving mood.

While he understandably took all the plaudits, Sudhir Nair also helped out with

the demolition job (2-6).

Although only seven, Emmbrook’s top score still managed to be split three ways between captain Andrew Robertson, who was not out, Luke Wayborn and the extras column.

Julian O’Loughlin was the hero for CROWTHORNE AND CROWN WOOD 2ND, for it was his second wicket of the day which saw the side secure a slender win by just three runs against EARLEY. The result means the Crows double their win count for the season, while defeat was a second this term for the Knights, who have nothing to blame but a horrendous collapse for this reverse.

Pegging their opponents back to just 129 all out, Earley appeared to be going great guns with Owen Bye (29), Gary Shacklady (24) and Vinod Aduri all scoring well.

But Dan Partridge (4-21) and Nirav Upadhyay (3-33) began to rein the side in and 61-1 soon became 81-7 and 126 all out.

Seven batsmen would fall for single-figure totals, yet Earley were still in contention, only for O’Loughlin (2-12) to take the wicket of Aduri, who contributed to the drama with 44, and secure 32 points in the 37th over.

It would come as much relief too for the Crows, who earlier accumulated what appeared to be a vulnerable-looking total.

They were helped along by wicket-keeper James Whitehurst, who top scored with 32, while Nikhil Pande backed him up with 21, but it was an otherwise sauntered effort from the hosts.

Earley’s Prasad Gore had spearheaded an economical attack with 3-12, while Junnaid Khan also impressed (2-16).

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FINCHAMPSTEAD CRICKET CLUB

CHILTERNS LEAGUE

Tew offer very Little as Coetzee seals sensational win for Finch

A great day to be called Mike – but not for Binfield

n Seven wickets for overseas ace

By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk DAN MARLES heaped praise on “sensational” Jandre Coetzee after the South African bowler helped Finchampstead to an emphatic six-wicket win over Great and Little Tew. Overseas star Coetzee (pictured) tore through the Tew order, ending with figures of 7-16 with all his wickets being clean bowled to help dismiss the hosts for a meagre 41, following up on his bowling debut of 4-25 last week.

Finch chased down the target in under 12 overs to seal a second straight win which lifts them up to fifth in the Home Counties Premier League Division 1 table.

And captain Marles could not hide his delight at the club’s winter signing.

“It was a massive win on Saturday,” the skipper told The Wokingham Paper.

“It’s obviously about one man again.

“Jandre was sensational and one of the best I’ve ever seen as a cricketer.

“It was an awesome win.

“It was a massive shame for (Jandre) to miss out the first few weeks.

“You never really know what you’re getting but he is incredible.

“He swings the ball both ways at a decent speed and that’s the best spell I’ve ever seen in club cricket.”

Coetzee, 32, moved to Finchampstead from South Africa to replace Lockie Ferguson as the club’s designated

overseas player, but had to miss the first two games due to visa issues.

And Marles admits he is a little surprised at just how quickly the bowler has settled in.

“We just looked and he had 300 first class wickets and averaged pretty good with the bat,” the captain explained.

“He was a bit of an older lad which we were looking for, a bit of experience for our young side and he ticked all the boxes really.

“He’s fitted in really, really well.

“He’s doing coaching around the club and he’s just an excellent man to have around really.”

He added: “His first game was Tring last week and you could tell there he’s a serious bowler.

“You get the overseas and if they’re around every day, around the club coaching or training, it’s great to see.

“Everyone has welcomed him really well.”

After five 50/50 matches, attention now switches to the upcoming run of timed matches, something Marles’ men struggled to pick up wins in last year.

But the skipper feels his squad are better equipped to get over the line this time around.

“It’s harder because obviously it’s not win or lose because the draw does come into it,” he said.

“We’re a very attacking side so the 50 overs does suit us but obviously with

Captain Dan Marles, left, and his Finchampstead side were celebrating back-to-back victories on Saturday

Jandre and our spinners and Matt (Carter), I’m pretty sure we can still bowl sides out and I’m pretty sure we can still chase.

“That’s probably what we’ll look to do.”

The task could not be much tougher to start this run of fixtures with a trip to Henley on Saturday, a side who have won five out of five so far.

But Marles feels it will be a great marker to see how his side are shaping up.

“It’s a real, real test on Saturday,” said the captain.

“We’re looking to be in this league next year and keep building so as a side and as a club it will be really good to see where we need to be and what level they are, the good things they do and what we can improve on.

“I’m really looking forward to it.”

Marles has made one change to his

side with the returning Matt Jones regaining his place with Andrew House dropping down to the seconds.

Greg Smith, who started the opening game of the campaign in the firsts following his winter move from Hurst, hit his first century for the club in the seconds this week and Marles insists it has not gone unnoticed.

“It is a tough call but it’s always hard when you have to chase 40 as there’s not really a chance for anyone to get big runs,” he said.

“Greg Smith is knocking on the door.

“He’s a very, very good player and I’m sure if he keeps doing the same things then he’ll be in my side soon.”

FINCHAMPSTEAD XI V HENLEY: Dan Marles, Sukhi Kang, Matt Carter, Matt Jones, Max Uttley, Matt Stevenson, Andy Rishton, Jandre Coetzee, Adam Dewes, Billy Rogers, Dan Lincoln.

BINFIELD were unable to extend a two-game winning streak in Division 1 after going down to a five-wicket loss at Chalfont St Giles.

Opener Mike Allan-Canty fell two runs short of a half century and Mike Staves picked up three wickets, but the side was unable to make their efforts count at Bowstridge Lane.

Binfield were inserted into bat having lost the toss, where Allan-Canty would front up an innings which saw several players produce some useful knocks.

Most of the runs were engineered in the middle order, where captain Sean Ennis (33), Paul Edgington (31), Mickey Reid (27) and Tim Vines (25) chipped away at the Chalfont attack.

Through their work, the away side would go on to make 212 before the final wicket fell in the 48th over.

Despite Staves’ attempts to disrupt the reply, the target was one the home side would knock off relatively comfortably in the end.

He would finish with 3-50, with his return including the scalp of Alex Hardy, whose top score of 53 moulded Chalfont’s successful chase.

The other two dismissals went to Vines (2-51), but it was an otherwise tough afternoon in the field for Binfield.

Josh Dradge, with 33, and Chris Baumohi (30) also scored well for the opposition, while the unbeaten 24 made by Alex Heaney would seal victory for the Buckinghamshire outfit in the 47th over.

Binfield are on the road again this Saturday, where they are guests of Pinkneys Green (1pm). n THE 2ND’s were left with a free weekend after their fixture was cancelled.

The Division 2 strugglers were due to play Chalfont St Giles’ second string, but the opposition conceded the clash, meaning Binfield were awarded 30 points by default.

They play host to Taplow 2nd on Saturday (1pm).

LONDON IRISH

Paice: It’s a pleasure playing for Irish Staying fit is Fowlie’s aim LONDON IRISH’S longest-serving player David Paice has pledged his commitment to the club, despite relegation from the Aviva Premiership.

Exiles lost their place in the country’s top flight for the first time in 22 years this season but Paice, 32, says he has no plans to join the likes of Sean Maitland, Halani Aulika and Andrew Fenby in leaving the club.

And while the hooker acknowledges it will not be straightforward, he feels Irish are well equipped to bounce straight back.

“The Championship is very hard rugby week in, week out,” he said.

“The competition will test us to the limit.

“That said, there is huge potential at London Irish and we want to return to the Premiership at the first time of asking.

“Once back in the top tier, not only do we want to retain our status each year, we also want to thrive.”

Paice has spent 13 seasons at Irish, during which time the forward earned caps for England.

David Paice

And the Australian-born front-rower admits things have to change quickly, but says he still wants to be a part of it.

“Going down to the Championship allows us to take stock of where we are and what went wrong last season and the seasons before,” he said.

“We haven’t really progressed as a club in the last few years and we need to change that.

“This club is an absolute pleasure

to play for and I’ve met a lot of people during my time here that I will keep in touch with for the rest of my life.” n ALEX LEWINGTON has been named in the England Saxons starting line-up for their clash against South Africa A tonight (Friday).

The Exiles winger enjoyed a fine season for the club, despite relegation, and has been rewarded with a call-up to the national side’s second string.

Lewington starts against the Springboks in a game which will be shown live on Sky Sports 3 (6:10pm kick-off) from Bloemfontein, with experienced senior internationals Danny Cipriani and Kieran Brookes also involved.

The pair will lock horns again next Friday.

SAXONS XV TO FACE SOUTH AFRICA A: Mike Haley (Sale), Alex Lewington (London Irish), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Ollie Devoto (Bath), Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath), Danny Cipriani (Wasps), Dan Robson (Wasps), Alec Hepburn (Exeter), Tommy Taylor (Wasps), Kieran Brookes (Northampton), Dave Attwood (Bath), Charlie Ewels (Bath), Donovan Armand (Exeter), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester), Sam Jones (Wasps)

STAYING injury free and getting a good pre-season under his belt is the aim of the game for Tom Fowlie this summer.

This time of year has not been kind to the 21-year-old winger in the past, but the club’s Academy product is optimistic of being in good shape come the start of the Greene King IPA Championship in September.

“My main aim is to have a good pre-season and stay injury free as I’ve not had the best of luck with injuries at this time of year in the past,” said Fowlie, who has seven Exiles tries to his name thus far.

“When the fixtures for the new season are announced, that will be when I’ll be buzzing to get my boots on.”

In a week when team-mate Sean Maitland completed a move to Saracens, Fowlie looks set to stick it out and help Irish try and make an immediate return to the Aviva Premiership following relegation last term.

But he warned the club of getting ahead of themselves as they prepare for life in the second tier, adding: “It’s important that we keep a Premiership mentality in the camp whilst embracing the Championship.

“There is no point dwelling on the past – we just need to get on with it and start the season positively. Every team in the league will be targeting us and it will be their cup final in many respects.

“There are some tasty London derbies to look forward to and I’m sure we will have a strong fan base supporting us.”

Those clashes Fowlie alluded to include fixtures with Richmond, Ealing, London Scottish and London Welsh – a contest which just last year took place in the Premiership.

But before contemplating such battles, the player is more focused on helping the side – which he expects to be further strengthened in the coming weeks – make a winning start to the new season.

Fowlie added: “We need to start the season well and if we do that then I’m sure we will enjoy a fruitful year.

“I’m looking forward to joining up with the new guys that are coming in. They are a talented group of players who will considerably strengthen our squad going forward.

“I’m sure the club will be looking to add further signings ahead of the new season.”

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THAMES VALLEY CRICKET LEAGUE

Finches’ Smith returns to form with classy century

By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk GREG SMITH stole the show with an unbeaten 130 as Finchampstead 2nd thrashed Chenies and Latimer by 131 runs in Division 2A. Smith, who joined Finches from Hurst over the winter, made his debut for the first team on the opening day of the season.

But, after only scoring eight, he dropped down to the seconds so his first century for the club will come as a much-needed boost.

Batting first, Finch set about continuing their flying start to the campaign against the newly promoted side with another man who has also had appearances in the first team this season, Craig Hodges. He supported Smith with an unbeaten 41.

Andy Lazenbury was just behind on 39 as Finch declared on 265-6 and Chenies never looked like chasing it down.

James Woodford (5-41) was the pick of the bowlers while Matt Bell (4-25) also had an afternoon to remember as they bowled out the chasers for just 134.

Jack Ford hit 93 not out as EVERSLEY beat Harefield 2nd by 97 runs.

Ford was the lead batsman while Shane Ford (55no), Aftab Habib (34) and Ben Saville (31) helped Eversley reach 217-3.

And thanks to brilliant bowling of 4-13 from Lewis Sharp and 3-10 from John Turner, Harefield were bowled out for 120.

A five-wicket haul from Lewis Smith saw HURST earn a draw against Beaconsfield in 2B. Smith’s 5-22 saw Beaconsfield reduced to a modest 184 all out but Hurst could not chase the total with Usman Ijaz’s 43 not out the best score of the second innings as they closed on 159-5.

WARGRAVE slipped to a 21-run defeat against Royal Ascot thanks to a match-winning display from Andrew Murray.

The Ascot man scored an unbeaten 65, despite the best efforts of Huw Thomas who posted figures of 4-25, before tearing through the Wargrave innings with 6-41 as they were bowled out for 141.

Finchampstead’s Greg Smith made a return to form with the 130no he struck during the 2nd XI’s thumping victory against Chenies and Latimer in Division 2A

Zahid Mohammed continued his good form as SONNING eased past Cove 2nd by three wickets in 3A. Ghulam Abbas (6-48) led the way with the ball as Sonning dismissed Cove for 110 with Mohammed (3-20) also making an important contribution.

And, fresh from his century last week, Mohammed again top scored with the bat with 64 as Sonning picked up another win.

Sam Taylor and James Eaglesham were the key men as FINCHAMPSTEAD 3RD

Wokingham 2nd’s Dan Reddyhough

drew against Purley-on-Thames.

The pair got four wickets apiece to help bowl out Purley for 232 and were also the leading scorers in reply with 53 each, but Finch could only reach 202 before the overs ran out.

It was a week to forget for EVERSLEY 2ND as they were destroyed by 166 runs

by Aldershot.

Chasing 227 to win, Eversley were skittled out for just 60 to see them drop to eighth in the table.

Dan Reddyhough (pictured) was the pick of the batsmen as WOKINGHAM 2ND earned a winning draw over Fleet in 4B. Reddyhough’s 81 was a key part of the Oaks’ 238 as Craig Beales (55) also reached a half century.

But the game ended in stalemate as Fleet closed on 185-7 with Jacob Clark (452) doing his best with the ball.

Rob Dewey’s 89 helped SONNING 2ND to a six-wicket win over Falkland 3rd in 5B. Falkland batted well with Chandan Singh top scoring on 97 as they closed on 239-7 with Kevan Smith (3-47) the pick of the bowlers.

But Sonning put their foot down in reply with Dewey and Waqar Ahmed (74no) rattling the score along to victory within 36 overs.

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 10, 2016

INTERNATIONAL CRICKET

I will lead England into exciting new era– Knight

By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk

HEATHER KNIGHT says she cannot wait to get stuck into the challenges which lay ahead after being named England captain.

The 25-year-old all-rounder has been named successor to Wokingham resident Charlotte Edwards and will lead the country in all three formats of the game.

Knight, who has turned out for Wokingham Ridgeway during her career, had served as vice-captain to Edwards, who announced her retirement from the game last month.

She had been widely-tipped by many to make the step up, so her appointment last week came as little surprise, but is still nonetheless a huge honour.

“I’m hugely proud and honoured to be named England captain and can’t wait to face the challenges ahead,” said Knight, who is also captain of Berkshire in the Royal London Women’s County Championship.

“It’s a fresh, exciting time for the team and I’m looking forward to seeing how we can develop together at the start of this new era for England women’s cricket.

“All out focus is now on what we have to come, starting with the Pakistan series this summer.”

Knight will not have to wait long to put her stamp on the side, with England up against Pakistan in three Royal London One-Day Internationals and the same number of Natwest Twenty20 Internationals, which start at Grace Road, Leicestershire CC, on Monday, June 20.

She also used the announcement of her appointment to pay homage to the work carried out by Edwards, adding how she hopes to build on her successful foundations.

In 10 years as England skipper, Edwards’ reign yielded many triumphs, which included winning the 2009 ICC Women’s World Cup and ICC World T20.

She also presided over three Ashes’ victories.

“It will be no easy task to follow the remarkable success and impact that Charlotte Edwards enjoyed at the helm of the England team over the last

Heather Knight is the new England captain

10 years – she has been a wonderful servant to the game, an inspirational leader and truly world class player,” explained Knight.

“She is a true cricketing legend and it has been a privilege to share a dressing room with her for the first six years of my England career.

“But I am excited by the challenge and will look to utilise the incredible platform that Lottie has laid to ensure the England women’s team continues to grow and develop.”

Away from England and Berkshire duties, Knight also took charge of Hobart Hurricanes in the inaugural Australian Women’s Big Bash League, where they reached the semi-finals.

England head coach, Mark Robinson, meanwhile, said of Knight: “Heather embodies many of the traits needed to be a successful captain – a superb work ethic, integrity and commitment, along with good instincts and cricket intelligence.

“These assets combined with her undoubted ability as a player make her an excellent role model, both for the team and young aspiring cricketers everywhere, and I am looking forward to working with her as we rebuild and move the team forward together.”

Ascot just not at the races as Morton preserves Wargrave 2s’ fine start

By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk

SCOTT MORTON posted impressive figures of 4-14 as Wargrave 2nd continued their perfect start to the season with a six-wicket thrashing of Royal Ascot 3rd.

With four wins out of four, Wargrave cemented their spot atop of Division 6B with another comfortable afternoon’s work.

Royal Ascot won the toss and elected to bat, but must have been quickly regretting that decision as they lost a wicket without scoring a single run.

Slight resistance from Ralph Weeks, who top scored with 14, steadied the ship before Ascot went from 25-1 to 26-4 during a dominant Morton spell.

Ably supported by Sunil Kumar (3-11) and Mandip Sohi (2-13), Wargrave made light work of tidying up the tail, bowling out Ascot for just 63 in the 30th over.

League leaders Wargrave had little trouble in reply with Sohi (23) and Rob

Jones (19) doing the majority of the damage as victory was sealed in 16.1 overs. In the same league, HURST 2ND inflicted further misery on Aldershot 3rd with a seven-wicket win.

Aldershot, who sit bottom having lost every game thus far, batted first but could only make 63 before being bowled out with Mark James (4-7) and Tim Everitt (4-31) doing most of the damage.

Hurst lost three wickets in the chase but still comfortably collected just their second win of the campaign with Jack Wrigley top scoring on 36 not out.

Charlie O’Brien again was the stand-out man as WOKINGHAM 3RD beat Theale and Tilehurst 2nd by 114 runs.

Following his five-wicket haul last week, O’Brien first produced a solid knock of 38 as the Oaks reached 226 before being losing their final wicket.

But he also proved his worth again with the ball, taking three wickets for 35 runs, which was only bettered by Rakesh Patel (3-3).

O’Brien was not the only man to produce a decent knock with the bat for Wokingham as Ashley Cutts (39), Ross Bonnell (27) and David Pelczer (37) also made good contributions.

Steve West took six wickets as FINCHAMPSTEAD 4TH collected a threewicket win over Kidmore End 2nd in 7A. West was the key man for Finches with figures of 6-36 as Kidmore End were dismissed for 176.

And while the chase was not straightforward, top scores of 56 from Ben Fisher, 44 from Chris Ward and West’s 38 saw them over the line.

Robert Saunders was the pick of players as EVERSLEY 3RD defeated North Maidenhead 3rd by four wickets.

Saunders’ 5-47 and figures of 4-22 from Colin Webb saw Maidenhead dismissed for 155 and after knocks of 27 and 28 from Dave Howorth and James Berger-North respectively, along with and unbeaten 48 from Saunders secured victory for Eversley.

Ru Whelan’s half century came in vain as EVERSLEY 4TH were beaten by three wickets by Newbury 2nd in 8A. Still seeking a first win of the season, Eversley could only set a target of 162 to win with Whelan (57) and Henry South (35) top scoring, but Newbury picked up the win in less than 29 overs.

Rahul Patel was the pick of the bowlers as WOKINGHAM 4TH eased past Reading 4th by six wickets.

Figures of 3-19 from Patel and a further three James Stevens wickets saw Reading dismissed for 151 and the chase turned out to be little trouble as Jake Atkinson (39), Glyn Clements (43) and Raj Acharya (35) all proved difficult to remove as the Oaks sealed the win.

A century from Naqash Tahir helped SONNING 3RD to a winning draw over Windsor 4th.

Sonning batted first and had Tahir’s 103 to thank for helping them reach 250 with Steve Rayfield (68) and Imran Mehmood (28) also in form before the

side declared.

But Windsor looked solid in reply, albeit not getting that close to the total, as they closed on 179-5.

A 47 from Doug Scholes ensured FINCHAMPSTEAD 5TH clung on for a losing draw against Boyne Hill 4th in 9A. Cameron Ellis (3-38) and Ben Simmons (3-66) did their best with the ball for Finch but could not bowl out Boyne before they declared on 210.

Scholes and Simon Eldridge (25) provided the best resistance in reply as Finches got to the end of their innings on 165-9.

WOKINGHAM 5TH, meanwhile, were left frustrated at having to settle for a winning draw against Kidmore End 3rd.

Batting first, the Oaks reached 190-7 before declaring with Chris Coyne (41), Max Cable (33no) and Toqir Khalid (33) top scoring.

Despite the best efforts of Mark James (3-37) in reply, Kidmore held on for a draw on 119-9.

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Friday, June 10, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

MINOR COUNTIES

Wilkin whacks his way into Berkshire’s record books OLLIE WILKIN has blasted his way into the Berkshire CCC record books in spectacular style, writes DAVID WRIGHT. He produced two remarkable innings on his debut in the Unicorns Championship game against Herefordshire at Colwall, scoring a total of 322 runs.

There were also outstanding bowling performances from spinners Chris Peploe and Euan Woods as Berkshire completed a 269-run victory before lunch on Tuesday.

Wilkin, who had first-class experience with Middlesex before suffering a shoulder injury that kept him out of action last season, hammered an unbeaten 159 on Sunday.

He smashed five sixes and 20 boundaries in his innings where he faced 167 deliveries, scoring off 68 of them.

The 24-year-old opener shared a

seventh-wicket stand of 54 with Peploe (31) and 93 for the next wicket with Stewart Davison (38) as Berkshire improved from a shaky 107-6 to 276 all out in 61.4 overs.

And that was after he had been dropped in the slips first ball and offered another chance to the wicket-keeper two overs later.

Herefordshire were then dismissed for 239 with 17-year-old Woods taking 6-69 off 24.1 overs and Peploe 3-70 off 37.

Wilkin returned to the crease to crash 163 in the second innings.

He reached 50 off 27 balls, his century off 65 and 150 off 88.

The Ealing all-rounder was eventually

WOKINGHAM CRICKET CLUB

Parsons delivers with the bat, but Wokingham slip to another loss

By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk WOKINGHAM slipped to back-to-back defeats in Thames Valley Division 1 with a six-wicket loss against Stoke Green.

The Oaks had been looking to bounce straight back from their first loss of the campaign to Chesham the previous week and started well, reaching 168-2 with Stuart Parsons top scoring on 84.

But a late innings collapse saw Stoke Green set a total of 234 to win.

Two early wickets courtesy of a catch and then run out by wicket keeper Michael Bates gave Wokingham hope, but the visitors got over the line in the 48th over.

Tom Wood offered some runs in the lower order, racking up 20 at Sadlers End

The Oaks did gain seven points from the loss which moves them up to third ahead of a trip to second placed Cove this weekend (1pm).

After a shambolic first hour which saw them lose five wickets against Chesham, Wokingham won the toss and elected to bat to try and put right those wrongs.

And they did exactly that as openers Parsons and captain Stuart Hayter put on 70 for the first wicket, before Hayter was clean bowled by Hashim Hussain for 27.

Parsons was looking in finer nick, however, plundering 84 runs from 109 balls, including 11 boundaries, before he was eventually run out.

Bates (10) and Dan Housego (35) both also succumbed to Hussain as the middle order began to wobble.

Following ducks from Archie Carter and Jake Turner, Wokingham slipped from 168-2 to 170-6 and required some grit to rescue a previously promising innings.

Jack Fisher (24) and Tom Wood (20) provided exactly that to tick the score over the 200 mark as the hosts closed on 233-9.

And the Oaks made a strong start in reply as Luca Wade picked up the wicket of Hussain for just 10 before Bates ran out number three Karanpreet Singh (9).

But opener Nadeem Malik shaped what turned out to be a match winning innings from Stoke Green, making 74 before Housego removed him.

In stark contrast to Wokingham, Stoke Green’s middle order were proving incredibly tough to shift with six bowlers all having their fair share of overs to try and make a breakthrough.

Housego proved to be the man to find the mark again with his second wicket to trap Conrad Lough LBW (48) but knocks of 43 from Fahad Masood and Vishal Arjan’s 34 saw Stoke Green to victory with six wickets to spare.

bowled for 163, having spent 117 minutes at the crease, during which he clobbered eight maximums and 17 fours.

He and Waqas Hussain (50) put on 130 for the first wicket in just 17 overs, while Richard Morris helped him to add 129 for the next wicket in 15 overs.

Richard (69) and brother James (59no) kept the runs flowing before Berkshire declared on 411-5 after just 57 overs to set a demoralised-looking Herefordshire side an impossible target of 449.

The home side made just 179, collapsing from 76-1 to 101-8 before their tailenders decided to swing the bat, putting on 78 for the last two wickets.

Peploe took 7-66 while Wood had

figures of 2-70. Both spinners and Tom Nugent (1-22) were backed up by some smart catching, particularly from close-in fielders Dan Lincoln, Matt Carter and James Morris.

BERKSHIRE: Wilkin (Ealing), Hussain (Slough), R. Morris (Henley), Rogers (Finchampstead), J Morris (Datchet), Woods (Henley), Lincoln (Finchampstead), Peploe (Datchet), Davison (Henley), Carter (Finchampstead), Nugent (Henley). 12th man: Firth (Boyne Hill).

Berkshire’s next game is against Wales Minor Counties at Henley CC starting on June 19. n BERKSHIRE Women play Middlesex at North Maidenhead CC this Sunday (11am) when they will be led out by England’s new captain Heather Knight.

The full squad is: Knight, Smith, Potgieter, Rudd, Macleod, Rogers, Morris, Gerke, Bell, Brown, Hardy, Burr, Gardner.

Wokingham captain Stuart Hayter (27) put on an openeing stand of 70 with Stuart Parsons, who went on to make 84

Jack Fisher helped tick the score along with 24, but he and Wokingham would end the day beaten

Dan Reddyhough hit 81 for Wokingham 2nd

The Borough Honours board The team each player represents is listed first Batsmen

GREG SMITH: Finchampstead 2nd v Chenies and Latimer – 130* AMIT VIROJA: Emmbrook and Bearwood 3rd v Peppard Stoke Row –109 NAQASH TAHIR: Sonning 3rd v Windsor 4th – 103 FAKHIR ALI: Shinfield v Emmbrook and Bearwood 2nd – 100* JACK FORD: Eversley v Harefield 2nd – 93* ROB DEWEY: Sonning 2nd v Falkland 3rd – 89 STUART PARSONS: Wokingham v Stoke Green – 84 DAN REDDYHOUGH – Wokingham 2nd v Fleet – 81 WAQAR AHMED – Sonning 2nd v Falkland 3rd – 74* ANISH PANDEY – Woodley 2nd v Warfield – 74 STEVE RAYFIELD – Sonning 3rd v Windsor 4th – 68 ZAHID MOHAMMED – Sonning v Cove 2nd – 64 MICHAEL SHERIDAN: Farley Hill v Waltham St Lawrence – 63 UPRENDA DESHPANDE: Woodley 2nd v Warfield – 60 RU WHELAN: Eversley 4th v Newbury 2nd – 57 BEN FISHER: Finchampstead 4th v Kidmore End 2nd – 56 SHANE GREEN: Eversley v Harefield 2nd – 55* CRAIG BEALES: Wokingham 2nd v Fleet – 55 JAMES EAGLESHAM: Finchampstead 3rd v Purley-on-Thames – 53* SAM TAYLOR: Finchampstead 3rd v Purley-on-Thames – 53.

OSCAR WOODBRIDGE: Twyford and Ruscombe v Ruislip Victoria 2nd – 50 * Not out BOWLERS: RICHARD MADGWICK: Shinfield v Emmbrook and Bearwood 2nd – 7-10 JANDRE COETZEE: Finchampstead v Great and Little Tew – 7-16 STEVE WEST: Finchampstead 4th v Kidmore End 2nd – 6-36 GHULAM ABBAS – Sonning v Cove 5th – 6-48 SCOTT WALKER: Wargrave 3rd v Cove 5th – 5-19 LEWIS SMITH: Hurst v Beaconsfield – 5-22 JAMES WOODFORD: Finchampstead 2nd v Chenies and Latimer – 5-41 ROBERT SAUNDERS: Eversley 3rd v North Maidenhead 3rd – 5-47 SEAN WOODWARD: Emmbrook and Bearwood v Woodley – 4-9 KIRAN MUSUDI: Twyford and Ruscombe v Ruislip Victoria 2nd – 4-20 DAN PARTRIDGE: Crowthorne and Crown Wood 2nd v Earley – 4-21 ADAM BROOKMAN: Knowl Hill v Purley-on-Thames – 4-22 NICK TIMMS: Farley Hill v Waltham St Lawrence – 4-27 KASHIF ALI: Woodley v Emmbrook and Bearwood – 4-34 AMIR AZIZ: BCS v Sandhurst – 4-39 SPENCE NICHOLS: Twyford and Ruscombe v Ruislip Victoria 2nd – 4-47

WOKINGHAM SPORT

COETZEE IS JUST GREAT: Finch bowler takes seven wickets in demolition job — Page: 37

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 JUDO

Fletcher vows to fight on after being dealt cruel Olympic blows A CRUEL series of events have put a devastating end to Megan Fletcher’s chances of qualifying for this summer’s Olympic Games, writes LEWIS RUDD. The Wokingham judo ace and 2014 Commonwealth champion still had work to do if she was to make the Team GB plane bound for Rio, but illness and injury curtailed any hopes of representing her country in South America.

An emotional blog written by Fletcher explained how she had been feeling unwell for some time, and having sought medical advice upon the conclusion of the Cuban Grand Prix in January was believed to have an iron deficiency.

However, the results of further tests to try and detect any allergies came back as suggesting the former Emmbrook School pupil could have Coeliac disease, which was later confirmed following a “horrible” procedure at hospital.

While all this was happening, however, Megan was also trying to shake off a back

injury, but instead of taking a breather having suffered spasms, she continued to train, and because of this was struggling to move the next day.

Despite attempts to loosen up the affected area through swimming, massages, acupuncture and needle mats, the pain would not subside, which led to a dreaded conversation with her coach, Juergen Klinger, where it was decided she was not in condition to continue trying to seal a spot at the games.

Up until this point, Fletcher had been hot on the heels of current British No.1 Sally Conway, whom she had beaten when on the way to winning gold at the Commonwealth’s two years ago.

But she still needed to medal in five

more qualifiers to stand a chance of uprooting her rival, but a lack of progress with the injury would see her fail to make the first three events, which also ruled her out of the European Championships.

“Even though I knew how difficult the task was for me to qualify, I always had to keep that little bit of hope that there was still that chance,” she said.

“No matter how small, there was still a chance.

“I cannot explain the pure devastation when you realise the goal you have been working towards for the past 10 years is not going to be a reality.

“The pain I felt is that kind where you feel it ache in your heart so badly that it feels like it is dragging you downwards.

“The hardest thing for me to accept was that is wasn’t my decision to finish qualification when I did.”

Megan, who has been training with coach Klinger and the University of Bath for the past 10 years, had still not got to the bottom of her back problem.

One x-ray indicated a possible stress fracture, but this was ruled out by a CT scan – which sadly detected some degeneration in the joints.

Although this is expected in the sport of judo, a trip to the rheumatologist was booked to check for any signs of spinal arthritis.

While this initially began with good news and no sign of the associated gene, Megan was dealt another blow when told she has the rheumatoid arthritis called Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), a disease which causes the vertebrae to fuse.

This was causing her pain because it had started to fuse and the joints were inflamed.

ICE HOCKEY

Buzzing Bees start signing players as entry to the league is confirmed n Mettam rejoins to herald new era for the club, with Foord ready to commit

By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk THE GOOD news keeps on coming for Bracknell Bees, who this week have been accepted into the league for next season and also announced the first player to join the 2016-17 roster.

It was revealed on Wednesday the club has been re-admitted back into the English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL), where they will be among 10 teams battling it out for the eight available end-of-season play-off places, as well as honours in the cup.

This came exactly a week after the supporter-led Limited Company set up to try and keep Bees in existence was granted the operating licence from owner John Nike, which meant player head coach Lukas Smital could begin putting together a new team to take to the ice – and his work has begun in earnest.

His first capture is likely to delight fans, too, with the Czech tying down netminder Alex Mettam for another year.

Not only is the 28-year-old a favourite with the Hive faithful, but also picked up the Player of the Season award following a standout year between the pipes in 2014-15.

Consistently performing well during

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Alex Mettam has signed up for a fourth season with Bracknell Bees Picture: Bob Swann

a tough campaign for the club, Mettam has racked up an impressive 89 per cent save percentage rate during 113 appearances in the black and gold to date.

Published by Xn Media Ltd, Crown While keeping hold House, 231 Kings of Mettam is great for Road, Reading RG1 4LS. Printed at obvious reasons, his Newbury Weekly signing heralds a new News, Newspaper House, Faraday Road, chapter in Bees’ 29-year Newbury, Berkshire history.

RG14 2DW .© Xn Media Ltd, 2016 “The return of Alex is

a key signing for us and I am very happy to have him back in Bees’ colours one more,” said Smital.

“I feel he had another solid season last time and his stats were still impressive despite our final league position and goals against.

“He has a great work ethic and fantastic attitude on the ice.

“Netminders like Alex are not widely available and I’m confident that we will see the best of him again this season

and hopefully his efforts will make a major contribution for us as he can be the difference for us on any given night.”

It is understood Mettam will be joined in signing on the dotted line by Matt Foord, the club’s legendary captain.

The forward racked up his 100th league goal for Bees last term and also the 200th in his career, while earlier this year he also surpassed the iconic Matt Cote in becoming Bracknell’s all-time leading appearance holder.

His signing is expected to be announced later today (Friday), but retaining both represents significant strides taken by a committee who had just weeks to save the club following the decision of previous regime, Precision Sports Marketing (PSM), to withdraw running the club back in March.

As for the league, the constitution remains the same with each club facing one another in three home and away fixtures, with the first of these counting towards the EPIHL Cup. The league, however, has agreed to allow each team an optional extra non-EIHA trained player, if they so wish.

“I am satisfied the EPIHL teams are working diligently on challenges to improve aspects of this league,” said English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) chairman Ken Taggart.

“I anticipate another season where the unexpected provides us with another action-packed, fast games with great players, and team surprises along the way.” n MORE Bees news can be found on page 34.

Potentially, the whole spine can diffuse, but Megan is refusing to give up her quest and has been given a much-welcomed boost after receiving the all-clear to try and return to the sport, with the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo now very much on the agenda.

She added: “I am giving this thing my absolute best shot and trying to defy the odds and get back to competing and winning medals at the top level again.

“The doctor said to try not to get my hopes up again, but I am going to give this everything I have.

“I really do not feel I am done in my judo career.

“I may have had to give up on my Olympic dream this year, but I am determined to make that a reality in four years in Tokyo.”

Megan’s brother Ben, meanwhile, could still yet make it to Brazil, with those selected for the games being announced next week.

READING FC

Royals’ hunt for new manager continues THE WAIT goes on for Reading fans after another week of silence in the search for a new manager, writes TOM CROCKER. Royals have been seeking a replacement for Brian McDermott since sacking him on May 27, with Jaap Stam the bookies favourite after he left a coaching role at Ajax.

Reports earlier this week suggested a deal with Stam was close to being finalised, but the club refused to confirm that to be the case.

And it is now understood the search will enter a third week with no appointment in the pipeline.

Stam remains the hot favourite for the role with the bookmakers at 1/3, but those odds have become more conservative over the past seven days.

Former Watford boss Gianfranco Zola is now second favourite at 5/1 while previous third favourite Phil Parkinson is set to leave Bradford City to take the reins at Bolton Wanderers.

Avram Grant has drifted to 12/1 while Ryan Giggs and Dennis Bergkamp remain outsiders for the role. n FORMER Reading attacker Johnny Brooks has died aged 84.

Brooks made 49 appearances for the Royals, scoring six times from his position at inside forward between 1949 and 1953.

Brooks joined his hometown club of Reading aged 17 to begin his footballing career while also undergoing national service and playing for the army football team.

In 1953, Brooks was part of a cash and player exchange deal which saw him move to Tottenham Hotspur, where he helped them to a second place finish before playing for Chelsea, Brentford, Crystal Palace and Toronto City.

Brooks also won three caps for England, scoring twice.

He died at a care home in Bournemouth on Tuesday following a battle with Alzheimer’s, having moved to the south coast in 1997 following retirement.