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Rubbish shake-up planned for tips
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A RADICAL shake-up of the borough’s recycling centres will mean that drivers who visit without a permit will be turned away. Other changes will mean that households will only be allowed to take trailers in 12 times a year and there are also plans to introduce charging for DIY waste deliveries. The plans were announced after West Berkshire Council pulled out of
the re3 waste management partnership between it and Wokingham Borough, Reading Borough and Bracknell Forest Councils. It left the scheme with a £500,000 shortfall – and the closed signs to go up for tip users who don’t live within the three remaining councils in the re3 partnership. The new orange permits will be posted to every household in the borough at a cost of £65,000 and used from July 1. n Continued on page 4
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• Orange disc or no entry E L P recycling centre M • 12 trailer Sre3A residentʼs permit trips a year • DIY waste fees By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokinghampaper.co.uk
Friday, May 20, 2016 No. 57
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SAVE THE DATE FOR A ROYAL P6 CELEBRATION Deborah Thomas with her daughter Ava (8) and son Flynn (4) at the Dolphin School Book Festival in Hurst on Saturday Picture: Emma Sheppard
Happy reading: School’s book festival is a real page turner • p14
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This is Wokingham. We’re proud to cover it! WOKINGHAM borough is a large part of Berkshire. More than 156,000 of us live here – and countless more work here too. It’s a diverse area with pretty villages mingling with market towns and hamlets. In parts industrial, in others picturesque, it is a wonderful place to be. The Wokingham Paper was set up to ensure that the whole borough had its own newspaper. Our team has a mission to report on events and activities from the northernmost parts, which include parts of Henley and Cockpole Green, to the south including
THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, May 20, 2016
Slimmers old clothes help fight cancer
Swallowfield and Finchampstead. In between you’ve got Twyford, Woodley and Wokingham town itself. All have their own personalities and specialities and we aim to reflect that. Our strapline is “News with a heart for the borough” and that’s exactly what we do. We’re a truly local newspaper – we’re produced locally, printed locally and we live locally. No one else covers Wokingham the way that we do. So if you want to reach Wokingham, we’re the place to be.
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Thieves use bin to jump a fence A WHEELIE bin was used by thieves to jump a fence into a back garden in Finchampstead last week. At some time between Monday, May 8 and Friday someone used the wheelie bin to climb over the fence in Springdale, unbolted the garden gate and searched through unlocked sheds. Anyone with any information is urged to contact Thames Valley Police via 101.
Intruder disturbed during door raid THE front door of a house in Earley was kicked in while the resident was home. Shortly before 3pm on Friday, the resident heard voices coming from outside the front of the house in Durand Road. They went to investigate and found that the front door had been kicked open, breaking the lock. The offenders had run off as no-one was seen in the area. If anyone has any information relating to this incident they should call 101. If you ever suspect a crime is in progress you should always call 999.
Top honour for local hospital THE Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust was named as one of the country’s Top Hospitals last week. Trust Chief Operating Officer, Mary Sherry, was presented with the CHKS Top 40 Hospitals 2016 national award based on the evaluation
Nicki Ilbrey, Cindy Rowley, Claire Stradling, Gail Wheeler and Jane Ings from Wokingham’s Slimming World clubs with some of the clothes donated by their members – each purple bag is worth £25 for Cancer Research UK Picture: Gemma Davidson
having raised more than £3.8million across the UK in the last three years. Nicki Ilbrey, who leads the Wokingham branch, said: “A couple of weeks ago we started encouraging members to donate old clothes that they no longer fit into because they have slimmed out of them. “It is a great excuse for a clear-out, but it also carries a lot of emotional weight as the members are saying to themselves ‘I will not fit into these clothes again’.
“Each bag is worth £25 for Cancer Research UK, and over the last three years our members have really got behind the campaign. “As well as the Big Clothes Throw, we collect 5ps in group, our membership is £4.95 so we collect the change from all the £5s and donate it all to Cancer Research. “Over the last 12 months we have collected £150 so it really does add up.”
of 22 indicators around clinical effectiveness, health outcomes, efficiency, patient experience and quality of care. On receiving the accolade on Tuesday, May 10, Mary said: “I was very proud to collect this award on behalf of our staff in recognition of the very good work that goes on across the Trust.” The awards celebrate the success of healthcare and social care providers across the UK and internationally, and include categories for patient safety, quality of care and data quality. This year a new award category was introduced for excellence in delivering 24/7 emergency care.
A glorious exhibition, featuring works from across the years, will be showcased alongside demonstrations and displays detailing the group’s involvement in village life over the last 50 years. The special exhibition kicks off at 10am and runs until 4pm on Saturday at the United Reformed Church Hall in Church Street, Twyford. Admission is free. The group meets on the second and fourth Monday of the month during term time at St Mary’s Church Centre, Station Road, Twyford between 2pm and 4pm. During the summer months painting sessions are regularly held outdoors.
The Bradbury Centre in Rose Street will be the venue for a screening of The Good Dinosaur, an animated film released earlier this year. It starts at 5pm and entry is free but donations towards costs are welcomed. Popcorn and drinks will be available. For more details, call 0118 977 6898.
Art group marks jubilee year
Family showing of Disney Dino film
SLIMMERS across Wokingham have been celebrating their new slender figures by donating hundreds of items of clothing to charity. Members of the borough’s six Slimming World clubs joined forces to collect 93 bags’ worth of clothes to donate to Cancer Research UK, known as the Big Clothes Throw. This year is the fourth time the healthy living club has teamed up with the charity,
TWYFORD & Ruscombe Art Group will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in style this weekend.
JUNIOR film fans will be sent back to prehistoric times when they visit a pop-up cinema tomorrow night.
WIN £200 FOR YOUR GROUP THE Wokingham Paper and TradeMark Windows have teamed up to present Community Cash Tokens. The scheme is simple – cut out the tokens we’ll print each week. Send them in to us, as many as you like, and once every two months we’ll pull one at random from the editor’s hat. One lucky group will win £200, courtesy of TradeMark Windows. The more tokens that you and your group send in, the more chance you have of your group being picked at random. The Community Cash Tokens are open to charities and other non-profit making groups within Wokingham borough and offer a great way of boosting your funds. We’re able to offer Community Cash Tokens thanks to the generosity of Mark
Ashwell, managing director of TradeMark Windows. The Wokingham Paper’s publisher Phil Creighton said: “The Community Cash Tokens were a hugely popular ingredient of The Wokingham Times, and thanks to Mark’s support for the community of Wokingham borough, we’re delighted to be able to bring them back. “Whatever your group, charity or good cause is, Community Cash Tokens offers your supporters a fun way of helping you raise funds and awareness of your cause. “Make sure you don’t miss an issue.” Send your tokens to: Community Cash Tokens, The Wokingham Paper, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS. Please note, only original tokens can be accepted.
Death row men in focus at breakfast A LOOK at men who are on death row is promised to people attending a men’s breakfast tomorrow. Woodley Baptist Church is holding the event from 8am, which costs £3.50 for a Full English. The guest speaker is Natalie Stott, a psychologist in training. She will explore the subject Lifelines – the men on death row. To register for the event e-mail office@woodleybc.org
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Friday, May 20, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER
Man found guilty of child sex and rape A MAN from Lower Earley who was found guilty of rape and sexual activity with a child has been jailed for more than seven years. Brian Russell, 30, of Clevedon Drive, was found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of sexual activity with a child on April 25 following a week-long trial. The jury found Russell unanimously guilty of one count of sexual activity with a child, unanimously guilty of one count of rape, and returned a
majority verdict on the other count of rape. They heard how Russell invited the victims, two girls, to his property where the offences took place between August 11 and 12 2014. He was arrested on October 2 2014 and charged with the offences on May 15 last year. On Friday last week, Russell was sentenced at Reading Crown Court to seven and a half years’ for each count of rape, and four years’ for
one count of sexual activity with a child. Each sentence will run concurrently. Investigating officer, Det Con James Woodcock of Force CID for Berkshire, said: “Firstly, I am grateful to the victims who have shown immense courage when they gave evidence during the trial. “This result demonstrates
that victims should feel confident in reporting rapes to Thames Valley Police. We will then do all we can to support them. Please have confidence in reporting similar offences to us. “The easiest way to do this is by calling us at any time of day on 101. Alternatively, you can visit your nearest police station to speak to an officer.”
Sergeant who helped family wins award By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk A POLICE sergeant from Wokingham who had to deliver the devastating news to a family that their son had died has won a Community Policing Award. PS Tim Woolford, who joined Thames Valley Police in 1992 and is currently stationed at Crowthorne, won the Victim Support award after receiving a nomination from a member of the public, commending him for the work he did with them and their family during a particularly difficult time. He was honoured along with colleagues from across the force at Eynsham Hall, Oxfordshire on Wednesday. Now in their 15th year, the awards recognise the exceptional efforts of Thames Valley Police’s neighbourhood policing teams, including police officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), Special Constables and volunteers, for the positive impact they have on the local community they serve. The winners were chosen by a judging panel chaired by ACC Nikki Ross, and included Superintendent Richard James, Neighbourhood Policing and Partnerships, Acting Special Chief Officer Jason Morley-Smith and Police and Crime Commissioner, Anthony Stansfield. The nomination explained how PS Woolford offered comfort to the family and answered as many questions as he could, which in turn helped the family to cope with their grief.
To make the job harder, PS Woolford knew the family’s son as he had dealt with him before, suffering with mental health issues. The family even went so far as to reveal that the son had once said: “I was a real pain at times to you and the police but Sergeant Woolford has always treated me firm and fair.” PS Woolford continued to support the family at all times right up to the inquest, which the family said was an ‘enormous help’ and aided their grieving process. They said they would ‘never forget his kindness and support at such a difficult time for the family.’ PS Woolford said: “I was deeply touched by the award and that someone took the time to nominate me. “It is lovely to think that doing my job provided a little bit of comfort at such a tragic time for the family who I initially met through Neighbourhood Policing but are now lifelong friends.” Chief Constable Francis Habgood said: “It gives me great pleasure to be able to celebrate with our officers, staff and volunteers who have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to the service they provide for Thames Valley Police. “For many members of the community their only point of contact with Thames Valley Police is through their neighbourhood teams, all our recipients have demonstrated excellent skills in how they engage, work with and listen to the community. “I am proud of their continued service to Thames Valley Police.”
blaze and Great Western apologised to commuters for the delay. The RMT Union said that it was a guard on the train who helped prevent the blaze becoming a tragedy. In a statement, Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary, said: “If there had been no guard on this train the potential consequences would have been horrendous. “The incident once again emphasises the safety-critical role of the guard and exposes the dangerous
Fire breaks out at HGV training facility FIRE tore through a lorry at an HGV training facility in Earley on Wednesday night, with an electrical fault believed to be the cause. The alarm was raised at around 8.30pm, with Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service sending a crew from Wokingham Road station to the facility in Pitts Lane. Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a hose reel to douse the flames, which had taken hold of the engine and cab. They spent around 45 minutes at the scene. No-one was hurt during the incident, which is said to have written off the vehicle.
Toddler dies in M4 crash A THREE-year-old girl who was injured during a crash on the M4 earlier this month has died in hospital. The child suffered the injuries when the silver Ford Focus C-Max she was travelling in collided with a tree between junctions 11 and 10 on Saturday, May 7. A 37-year-old woman from Middlesex, named as Rebecca Taylor, died at the scene, while the little girl, a man in his late thirties and a second girl, aged five, were taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Police confirmed on Wednesday that the girl passed away on Monday, May 9. The man and the five-year-old girl have since been discharged from hospital. The collision happened at around 2.10pm on the eastbound carriageway. Thames Valley Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Bad parking crackdown THAMES Valley Police is to patrol the area around Maiden Place Shopping Centre in Lower Earley to crackdown on bad parkers. A spokesperson said: “He have received a number of complaints regarding parking on double yellow lines which are sited near the entrance. Delivery drivers are having problems getting through. “Over the next few weeks officers and PCSOs from our Earley neighbourhood team will be checking this whole area and anyone who has not parked lawfully will be issued with a ticket.”
Church cash box stolen PCSO Susie Carr with Rosie, who was found on Wednesday Pictures: Thames Valley Police
Left a little horse at lost property A PONY which was found wandering alone close to the M4 has been reunited with its owner. Shetland pony Rosie was seen by a member of the public wandering around the A33 close to Junction 11 in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Officers from Wokingham attended to retrieve the pony before taking her to Loddon Valley Police Station to await a reunion with her owner. A message was sent out on Twitter at 8.16am with a photo of Rosie which read: “Probably the strangest thing ever booked into
Found Property Register.” The post received 25 retweets from people trying to help locate the owner, who did eventually come forward to collect Rosie.
nonsense of trying to undermine and abolish these posts.” The union alleged that Network Rail deleted tweets that updated passengers on the fire and the guard’s actions and that the event co-incided with a day of campaigning in Westminster to defend the role of a train guard. Mr Cash added: “Why the Network Rail tweets were deleted is anybody’s guess, but with the incident coming on the day that RMT is stepping up the
A SECOND floor window was smashed in a break-in at Emmanuel Church in Woodley on Monday night. Thames Valley Police said that two men climbed on to a flat roof to gain access to the building in South Lake Crescent, stealing a cash box. Two televisions were removed from the wall, but not taken and they also tried to force a ground floor door. . If you have information on the crime that could help the police, call 101.
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Morning train carrying 500 catches fire A TRAIN carrying 500 passengers caught fire on Wednesday morning, causing severe disruption for commuters. Emergency services were called out to the Great Western Railways service which was on fire on track between Twyford and Maidenhead. It was caused by an electrial fault. The blaze caused four lines between Reading and Slough to be blocked. They were reopened just after 10am. No one was injured during the
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national fight to defend the role of the guard on our trains it clearly added weight to the evidence base that the guard is crucial to train safety.”
Flying Scotsman to visit ONE of the most famous engines of the steam age will be powering through the Thames Valley this weekend. It is expected to pass through Twyford Station around 10.10am on Saturday as it goes from London Paddington to Salisbury.
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Izzard to speak at EU debate ONE of the UK's biggest comedians is planning to speak at a European referendum debate next week. Eddie Izzard will be championing the Remain side in the debate, while Vote Leave will speak about why it wants you to vote to leave the European Union. It will be held at the University of Reading's students’ union on Tuesday. Places are free, but have all been booked. The debate’s organisers said that Eddie Izzard is proud to be a British European and strongly believes that Britain should fight for the UK’s right to remain in Europe. The Vote Leave campaign is arguing it’s safer to for the UK to quit the EU and “take back control”. It wants to negotiate a new UK-EU deal “based on free trade and friendly cooperation”, “end the supremacy of EU law” and “stop sending £350 million per week to unelected politicians in Brussels, and spend money on priorities, like the NHS”. On Monday, Mr Izzard will launch Stand Up For Europe, a campaign to encourage people of all ages across the UK to register and vote IN. Starting in Birmingham, Mr Izzard is visiting 31 towns and cities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, one a day over 31 days. His tour includes his visit to the University. The event starts at 6pm and doors open at 5.15pm.
Accordian music will help Christian Aid Week AN EVENING of a capella singing and accordion playing will be coming to Twyford on Saturday, May 21. Reading Accordion Group (RAG) will be joined by The Barberettes from 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church for the Springtime concert, raising money for Christian Aid. Tickets are £8 when bought in advance, or £10 on the door, £3 for children 16 and under. Tickets are available to purchase from Brighton’s newsagent, via the RAG website www.raggroup.co.uk or by calling 0118 934 0795.
Permits needed to visit the tip; charges planned for ‘DIY waste’ n From front page Under plans being implemented by re3, the company which runs the recycling centres in Reading and Bracknell, residents will have to prove that they live in the Wokingham, Bracknell or Reading areas to be allowed to use the facilities. To do this, residents will be sent an orange vinyl sticker, similar to a tax disc, to display in their windows when visiting the tip. From September, another new system will be implemented as part of a crackdown on trade waste. Residents who visit the centres in a commercial or commercial type vehicle, including trailers, will need to apply for a special permit before visiting – and only 12 of them a year will be granted per household. At the same time, a charge will be introduced for disposing of DIY materials including rubble, plasterboard and asbestos. Soil will also become a chargeable item. Critics point out that there is nothing to stop the permits from being handed to cars belonging to people who live outside of the boroughs and there are also fears that it will lead to a greater amount of fly-tipping. The councils say that the changes have been prompted by West Berkshire Council giving notice that it intends to stop paying the councils for waste delivered to re3 recycling centres by West Berkshire residents.
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Launching the new orange waste permit scheme were Cllr Angus Ross from Wokingham Borough Council, Cllr Liz Terry from Reading Borough Council and Cllr Dorothy Hayes from Bracknell Forest Council Picture: Phil Creighton
Wokingham Borough Council’s Executive Member for Environment Cllr Angus Ross said: “The decision to make these changes was thought about long and hard and taken in order to provide the most efficient, best value for money service to re3 residents. We’ve carried out research at other authorities around the country and similar changes appear to have worked well.” Cllr Liz Terry, Reading Borough Council’s lead councillor for neighbourhoods, said that the vinyl stickers were the simplest system in the time available to them – West Berkshire Council only announced their withdrawal at the end of March.
“We haven’t had time to put the technology in place. At some time in the future we might do,” she said. Once the access change has been implemented, there may be scope to review the situation and assess whether re3 would be able to admit non-re3 area visitors by charging a fee for them to deposit their waste at the Bracknell and Reading recycling centres. And more changes are being planned for the Bracknell site. Oliver Burt, re3 Project Manager, said: “Some bigger changes are planed at Bracknell to ease the flow of traffic. We do want these changes to be a positive thing.” Additional reporting: Gemma Davidson
Re3 has answered queries from residents relating to the planned charges. Here we look at some of them Why are these changes being introduced? The changes have been prompted by West Berkshire Council giving notice that it intends to stop paying the re3 councils for waste delivered to re3 recycling centres by West Berkshire residents. It is unfair to ask re3 area council tax payers to fund waste management services for residents in other local authorities. Staff at the centres will be enforcing this restriction and all visitors will be asked to prove that they are a re3 area resident before permission is given to enter the site. Will this cause a delay to my visit? We will carry out ID checks as quickly and efficiently as possible. These checks are vital to ensure fairness and that re3 residents are not paying for processing of waste that comes from outside of the re3 area. Is there a risk of fly-tipping as a result of the changes? Most people act responsibly when disposing of their waste. Fly tipping is a criminal offence and people who dump their rubbish illegally are liable to face prosecution and potentially even a prison sentence. Why will you be charging for the disposal of some nonhousehold waste, doesn’t my council tax cover that? By introducing small charges for items like soil, rubble, plasterboard and asbestos we can cover the cost of managing those types of waste. The savings can mitigate cuts in council funding. It would also act as a deterrent to those firms who try to dump trade waste for free at the recycling centres. Would I be charged for everything that I now take to the recycling centre? No. Smallmead and Longshot Lane recycling centres will continue to accept household waste free of charge including garden waste, white goods, large and small electrical items, wood, bric-a-brac and bulky waste such as furniture, carpets and mattresses. Adapted from the re3 website www.fccenvironment.co.uk/ changes-at-re3s-recycling-centres-faqs.html
Best foot forward! £2,000 raised at first Wokingham Walk
WOKINGHAM- WE NEED YOU!
WOKINGHAM’S newest registered charity
THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, May 20, 2016
Some of the walkers with their goodie bags and finishers’ medals at the end of the first Wokingham Walk on Sunday. Pictured inset: organisers Andy Slay and Stan Hetherington with borough mayor Cllr Parry Batth (centre). The event was held to raise money for the borough mayor’s charity, ARC Counselling
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
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
A NEW way to explore the borough’s great countryside was voted a smash hit after it raised £2,000 for charity. On Sunday, 171 residents gathered in Elms Field to take part in the inaugural Wokingham Walk. Participants could choose between a five mile or a 15-mile route, all carefully chosen to ensure that all ages could take part. The event was organised by Melanie Allen, Sue Jackson, Stan Hetherington and Andy Slay and sponsored by Richard Worth & Co estate agents, based in Rose Street.
Money raised went to the Wokingham Borough Council Mayor’s Charity Appeal, ARC Counselling and £2,000 was raised for the charity, chosen by outgoing borough mayor Cllr Parry Batth. Chairman of the organising committee Andy Slay said the weather had been on their side, and the number of people taking part made this first event a special occasion. He said: “What a great day. Everyone who took part enjoyed themselves and asked if the committee could make this an annual event.”
Richard Worth & Co’s Land Director Oliver Hicks joined in the event with his family. He praised the organisers for the event and choosing such an interesting route for the five-mile walk. Mr Hicks said: “My wife and I had a great day with our two children. We had no idea that the countryside on our doorstep is so varied. “As our children are young we did the five-mile route. They thoroughly enjoyed the Nature Trail competition and it was an honour to be in at the beginning,
sponsoring this great event whose popularity will, I am sure, grow and grow.” A team of volunteers from ARC Counselling, led by Paul Cassidy, helped with registrations at the start of the day and he was pleased to see so many people turn up. Mr Cassidy added: “We are very grateful to Andy and his team for all their hard work. The money they have raised will help ARC with its work helping local children who need help dealing with the pressure of modern life.” n For more details, log on to www.wokinghamwalk.co.uk
Friday, May 20, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER
By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokinghampaper.co.uk
‘If we all work together, it will work really well’
IN ITS annual dash of pomp and circumstance, Wokingham town welcomed its new mayor on Tuesday. Cllr Gwynneth Hewetson has been elected by her fellow councillors to be the new first citizen of the town. Her deputy will be Cllr Julian McGheeSumner. The lunchtime ceremony started with the assembled upstanding as the councillors, in their ceremonial robes, walked into the chamber. Their musical soundtrack, See, the Conqu'ring Hero Comes, came from the West Forest Sinfonia. They would also play the Wokingham Song later on. First, outgoing town mayor, Cllr Philip Mirfin ended his mayoral year with a short speech, Clockwise from above: the new town mayor and her deputy, in which he said “the past year Cllr Gywnneth Hewetson and Cllr Julian McGhee-Sumner; the had gone very quickly” and then new mayor holds the ceremonial mace; Emily St Clair performs; paid tribute to those who had outgoing town mayor presents flowers to town clerk Jan Nowecki helped him, including his MiniPictures: Phil Creighton and Tony Johnson Mayor George Bradley. year only we will be officially Cllr Mark Ashwell nominated A floral tribute to his wife, Gwynnethed!” Cllr Hewetson for her new role Kathy, was presented with a kiss. Town council leader Cllr with a warm tribute, praising her Then came his final presentation, blueprint_advert_190x137mm_TKT5119_07B_PRINT_READY.pdf Martin Bishop seconded 1 tenacity and skills. a cheque for £7,450 given to his the motion, saying that Cllr “She’s a force of nature,” charity of the year, Macmillan Hewetson is an excellent he joked, adding “for one Cancer Care.
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councillor “who cares about Wokingham” and has plenty of “ideas and enthusiasm”. 22/03/2016 18:14 While the new mayor was robed up, a musical interlude was performed by Year 7 St
Crispin’s student Emily St Clair accompanied by Emma Scammell. Cllr Hewetson – Madam Mayor as she was then known – came back into the room and made a heartfelt address, without notes, touched with humour, verve and enthusiasm. “The vision for the town is to keep the vitality,” she said, praising Wokingham and its people, talking through events and initiatives such as the Living Advent Calendar and the Bikeathon. She added that through all the various initiatives and seeing people come together “we form a community - we end up with a town fit for purpose”. “If we all work together, it will work really well.” She ended her address by saying, with a smile, “Have fun in the coming year”. That sense of fun was clearly displayed as she affectionately kissed her husband Tony on the nose while presenting him with his mayoral consort chain. Cllr Hewetson’s charity of the year is Soulscape, which works with school aged children. Her chaplain is the Revd Anna Harwood, associate rector of All Saints Church in Wokingham.
Woodley’s new mayor A NEW mayor has been made in Woodley. At the first meeting of the new politicial year last Tuesday night, Woodley Town Council appointed former deputy mayor, Cllr Jenny Cheng, as its new first citizen. She takes over from Cllr Dave Mills. The ceremony took place at the council’s meeting in The Oakwood Centre, Woodley.
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Discover your vocation INGHAM at volunteering fayre
S&&LANDSCAPING LANDSCAPING
Save the date: Sunday June 12 is Her Majesty’s 90th!
Dancing in the streets as borough plans a party fit for the Queen
OPPORTUNITIES to help make a difference in the borough will be on offer at a new volunteer recruitment fayre coming to Woodley later this month. Around 25 local charities will be9733414 exhibiting at the Tel: 0118 event, which is being organised by The Wokingham Mob: 07920 524500 Volunteer Centre. It will take place from 10am to By JOHN WAKEFIELD Email:1.30pm wokinghamdriveways@gmail.com on Saturday, May 28. Entry is free. news@wokinghampaper.co.uk The event aims to let visitors meet ad Road | Wokingham | Berks | RG40 3RB representatives from local groups and find out FOUR years on from a right royal how they can& help them. DRIVEWAYS LANDSCAPING celebration, another big party is being Helena Badger, Volunteer Development planned. Coordinator at the Volunteer Centre, said: “Whether On Sunday, June 12, the nation will you want to give something back to local community, celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday and try something new prior to a career change or build there will be a host of events taking Sarin perhaps you want to find aTel: 9733414 .Tony .toTURFING your CV; .if FENCING way0118 boost PATIOS & GATES place across the borough to honour our 07920 your self-confidence and make newMob: friends, then 524500 .volunteering . Monarch. SHED BASES BLOCK-PAVING is a great thing to try! Email: wokinghamdriveways@gmail.com One of the biggest will take place in . REPAIRS “There reallyOR is something for EXTENSIONS everyone and the Wokingham’s town centre. 436 Finchampstead Road DRIVE | Wokingham | Berks | RG40 3RB groups coming to the Recruitment Fair have some . GARDEN A day-long celebration will see Broad MAINTENANCE ngs fantastic and varied roles on offer.” Street turned into a party street. . PROFESSIONAL Members of the public will be able to speak DRIVEWAY CLEANING The Town Council is organising a directly to the charities that help in these areas and series of events including a civic service DRIVEWAYS & LANDSCAPING DRIVEWAYS & LANDSCAPING find out about the essential role volunteers’ play. leading up to this year’s International For&details, callprotection Helena Badger or Christine Knox tical illness income plans Street Concert in the evening and there tical illness & income protection plans on 0118 977 0749 or email at volunteer@wok-vol.org. will be something for all ages. n the convenience of your home uk n the convenience your home Sarin A spokesperson said: “Remember Tel: 0118 9733414 .Tony .of . TURFING PATIOS FENCING & GATES ngs & child trust funds Mob: 07920 524500 the Jubilee in 2012 and the fantastic ngs & child trust funds . SHED BASES . BLOCK-PAVING weekend we all enjoyed, celebrating performance.analysisEmail: wokinghamdriveways@gmail.com performance analysis REPAIRS Road OR DRIVE EXTENSIONS 436 Finchampstead | Wokingham | Berks | RG40 3RB the Queen’s 60 years on the throne? market options . GARDEN MAINTENANCE market options Well let’s party again and celebrate the . PROFESSIONAL pensions Life assurance, critical illnessDRIVEWAY & income protection plans CLEANING Queen’s 90th Birthday the Wokingham Life assurance, critical illness & income protection plans pensions THISreviews Saturday, Wokingham’s new Town Mayor will way.” Financial in the convenience of your home . . anning s@googlemail.com wokinghamdriveways.co.uk Financial reviews in the convenience of your524 home500 07920 anning be on0118 hand to973 cut a3414 celebratory ribbon to mark the The day’s activities will start with a Investments, savings & child trust funds Investments, savings &store childofficially trust funds nsfers new Specsavers open. special Civic Parade. Members of Saint nsfers With profits fund performance analysis Independent financial advice With profits analysis Independent financial advice Sebastian Brass Band will lead the Fromfund 9amperformance onwards, the new store is welcoming Annuities & open market options for a secure future Annuities & open market options residents to pop in and see the new space and its Town Councillors from the Town Hall to for a secure future Personal & group pensions latest innovations, plus The Dancing Grannies. All Saints Church at 12.15pm. Personal & group pensions . wokinghamdriveways.co.uk Inheritance planning an TheTax grannies, portrayed by three women from wokinghamdriveways@googlemail.com From 12.30pm, the church in Inheritance Tax planning Life assurance, critical illness & income be protection plans the Fizzogs comedy troupe,will performing their Wiltshire Road will hold a special ISAs & ISA/PEP transfers Life assurance, critical illness & income protection plans Authorised and regulated by the FSA ISAs & ISA/PEP transfers Authorised and regulated by the FSA Financial reviews in the convenience of your home ents Financial reviewsin inthe the convenience of your homestore, just a dance routine new Market Place service to commemorate the Queen’s Investments, savings & child trust funds Investments, savings & child funds 90th Birthday and welcome the new few doors down from itstrust previous location. With profits fund performance analysis With fund performance analysis town mayor, Cllr Gwynneth Hewetson. Theprofits celebrations will mark a new era for the Annuities & open market options Annuities & open market options From 1pm, festivities will get under improved Its larger size offers the team the Personal &store. group pensions Personal & group pensionsAuthorised and regulated by the FSA he Authorised and regulated ability to carry out more eye examinations. Theby the FSA way in Broad Street, with free family . wokinghamdriveways.co.uk Inheritance Tax planning wokinghamdriveways@googlemail.com Inheritance Tax planning entertainment all afternoon. ISAs & ISA/PEP rooms transfershave doubled from three to six sight-testing ISAs &320430 ISA/PEP transfers 3 Mobile 07768 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk 38978 Mobile 07768 320430 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk Children will be able to pretend to and there is a new dedicated hearing room. Mobile 07768 320430 , Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 6HS be princes and princesses thanks to , Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 6HS call For any enquiries please 0118 978 3525 or visit Ltd Tony Welsh of Susan Fleck Associates Tony Welsh of Susan Fleck Associates Ltd a pop-up activity tent organised in onywelshifa.co.uk the store online at https://www.specsavers.co.uk/ Authorised and regulated by the FSA Tel/Fax 01344 466173 Mobile 07768 320430and Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk Authorised regulated by the FSA Tel/Fax 01344 4661738978 Mobile 07768 320430 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk conjunction with More Arts and Circus stores/wokingham Tel 0118 402 Mobile 07768 320430 Address 5 The Paddock, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 6HS Address 5 The Paddock, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 6HS Scene. There will be crafts, colouring Email tony@tonywelshifa.co.uk and face-painting as well as a chance to Tony Welsh Fleck Ltd Independent Financial Adviser Tony Welsh of of Susan Susan Fleck Associates Associates Ltd pretend to be a court jester thanks to a Tel/Fax 01344 466173 Mobile 07768 320430 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk Tel/Fax 01344 402 466173 Mobile 07768 320430 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk Tel 0118 07768 320430 host of circus and clown activities. Address 5 The Paddock,8978 Crowthorne,Mobile Berkshire RG45 6HS 5 The Paddock, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 6HS AAddress SINGER/SONGRWRITER will be visiting two Street entertainers from Circus Email tony@tonywelshifa.co.uk borough churches this weekend. Scene will also provide entertainement Pete James will perform at Lower Earley Baptist in Broad Street: slapstick humour, Church tonight (Friday) from 7.45pm, entry is £7. juggling and balloon modelling will all nd regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority horised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, registration no. 447018 He will also appear at Brookside Church Earley horised and regulated byKent the Financial registration no. in 447018 be on offer. nville Road, Maidstone, ME14 2BJServices Authorised and regulated byAuthority, the Financial Conduct Authority Registration Number AJW00121 Susan Fleck Associates Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, registration no. 447018 nville Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 2BJ its 10.30am service. Susan Fleckfor Associates Ltd is authorised and regulated byKent the Financial Head Office: Granville House, Granville Road, Maidstone, ME14 2BJServices Authority, registration no. 447018A famous faces scavenger hunt will Registration Number AJW00121 Head Office: Granville House, Granville Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 2BJ For more details, call by 0118 935 3598. Authorised and regulated the Financial Conduct Authority
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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, May 20, 2016
Wokingham Town Council is planning to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday in similar style to how it marked the Golden Jubilee in 2012 Pictures: Wokingham Town Council
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Concert at churches
their own tables and chairs to enjoy their feasts. Then, from 6pm, the stage will be given over to Pauly Zarb’s International Street Concert. There will be live music all the way through to 10.30pm. As well as headliner FoxxUK – one of Britain’s finest party bands – the open air stage will play host to Marmalade, Trenchtown Experience, Irish musician Frank Doherty and, of course, the organiser Pauly Zarb. The MC for the evening will be Georgina Povey. For more information, log on to www.qbiw.co.uk n Wokingham Town Council said that it would like to offer its sincere thanks to its sponsors: Christie Digital Systems, Eden Hyundai Reading, Redwood Technologies, Complete Childcare, Herrington & Carmichael Solicitors, David Wilson Homes, Wokingham Society, Hall Hunter Foundation and the
Susan Fleck Associates Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, registration no. 447018 Susan Fleck Associates Ltd is authorised and regulated byKent the Financial Head Office: Granville House, Granville Road, Maidstone, ME14 2BJServices Authority, registration no. 447018 Registration Number AJW00121 Head Office: Granville House, Granville Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 2BJ
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bamboozle and delight all ages, while there will be a caricature artist on hand to create unique portraits and more serious pictures will be on offer in a Royal-themed photo booth. During the day there will be music and dance from a range of talented performers including another performance by Saint Sebastian Wokingham Band, Thames Valley Chorus, Wokingham Theatre, Wokingham’s very own Bruce Neil, and the Rock Choir. In addition to activities on and
around the stage in Broad Street, Wokingham’s first ArtFest! will be taking place in Market Place from 10am, with more than 50 artists exhibiting and selling their creations. Wokingham Art Society will be displaying its carefully made Diamond Jubilee Royal Freize depicting the Queen’s reign – and a new panel has been made to mark the Queen’s 90th Birthday. It will be on show in the Town Hall during the day. And in both Market Place and the Town Hall, there will be some great art projects for children at both locations too. The day would not be complete without food. A wide variety of food stalls, vendors and local restaurants will be offering a taste of the commonwealth throughout the day. But if you’d rather bring your own, then you can – guests are asked to bring
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Ground on Saturday, May 28 from 10am. The popular day attracts hundreds of visitors and there are a range of free activities for all ages to enjoy. Organisers say that it is particularly suitable for ages 10 and under. There will be farm animals, face painting, magic shows, fairground rides and more. Children will enjoy candy floss and balloons and there will be opportunities to clown around. Refreshments will be available to buy and families can also bring picnics to enjoy on the field. Part of Wokingham’s month of culture, the event is organised by the Town Council and will be officially opened by the new Town Mayor, Cllr Gywnneth Hewetson, at 10am. It runs until 4pm. For more details, visit www.wokingham-tc.gov.uk
Explore The Old Manor ‘s gardens and help charity
Magic in store at this week’s Sunny Saturdays
A GARDEN in Sulhamstead is being opened to visitors next weekend – and there’s the promise of music as well as plants. Mr and Mrs SandersRose are opening The Old Manor in aid of The Red Cross on Sunday, May 29. Visitors can explore the large ancient orchard, paddocks, parkland and an avenue of oak trees dating from the 18th century as well as enjoying a fun croquet lawn, large terrace area, a pond and fountain, a pergola and a knot garden. Musicians will play during the afternoon in this relaxed family-friendly garden of around five acres. There will be refreshments available. The event takes place at The Old Manor in White House Green from 2pm until 5pm. Entry is £3.50, under 12s get in free. For more details, log on to www.redcross.org.uk/ opengardens
THERE’S another double whammy of fun in Wokingham Town Centre this Saturday. Magician Matthew Garrett will be performing in Market Place from 11am. He has won close-up magician of the year and is a regular visitor to the Town Council’s Sunny Saturdays programme. His set is particularly suitable for children to enjoy. Then, in the afternoon, there will be a performance from Wokingham Choral Society. The group will be singing from 2pm to 4pm. Next Saturday (28), there will be a visit from medium Jane Shaw from 11am and then, in the afternoon, a chance to dance to the Cuban beat courtesy of Strictly Cuban Salsa, again from 2pm. The Town Council is organising a Sunny Saturdays event weekly until September, entry is free. For more details, log on to www.wokingham-tc. gov.uk
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8 | NEWS
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Parish noticeboard Saturday, May 21 Wokingham Town Council Councillor surgery. 7.30pm. Wokingham Town Hall, Market Place, Wokingham RG40 1AS.
Monday, May 23 Shinfield Parish Council planning and highways meeting. 7.30pm. Shinfield Parish Hall, School Green. Wokingham Town Council civic committee. 7.30pm. Wokingham Town Hall, Market Place, Wokingham RG40 1AS.
Tuesday, May 24 Barkham Parish Council. Planning meeting 7.30pm. Barkham Village Hall, Church Lane, Barkham RG40 4PL. Wokingham Town Council arts and culture committee. 7.30pm. Wokingham Town Hall, Market Place, Wokingham RG40 1AS.
Wednesday, May 25 Finchampstead Amenities Meeting. 7.30pm. Parish Office, FBC Centre, Gorse Ride North, Finchampstead RG40 4ES Wokingham Borough Council: planning committee. 7pm. Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN
Thursday, May 26 Wokingham Borough Council: Executive meeting. 7.30pm. Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN
Tuesday, May 31 Woodley Town Council Leisure Services. 8pm. The Oakwood Centre, Headley Road, Woodley, RG5 4JZ Wokingham Borough Council: overview and scrutiny management committee. 7.30pm. Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN
A MAN from Wokingham has been sentenced to 150 hours’ community service. Dariusz Pawel Sarota, 33, of Station Road, was found guilty of assaulting a man in Elms Road on October 12 last year. Mr Sarota was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months, to pay compensation of £60, and costs of £400. He was also handed a restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim directly or indirectly until April 3, 2017. A MAN from Hounslow has pleaded guilty to burgling a house in Earley in 2013. Mustaf Iidow, 23, of St Paul’s Close, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on April 4 where he admitted trespassing at the property in Ramsbury Drive on March 4, 2013, and stealing a laptop, camera and a set of house keys, to the value of £1,500. Mr Iidow was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months, pay a victim surcharge of £60 and costs of £85. A MAN from Wokingham has pleaded guilty to assaulting a man at a pub. Paul Richard Jenkins, 40, of Curl Way, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on April 4 where he admitted assaulting the man at the Molly Millars Pub in Station Road on March 10 this year. He also admitted causing criminal damage at the same pub by breaking a pane of glass. Mr Jenkins was ordered to undergo
THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, May 20, 2016
From the courts
alcohol rehabilitation treatment for six months, ordered to pay £250 compensation to the pub, and £25 costs. A MAN from Finchampstead is due to appear in court charged with failing to provide a breath specimen. Craig Andrew Edward Partridge, 26, of Nine Mile Ride, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on April 4 where he denied the charge, which related to an incident at Loddon Valley Police Station on January 30 this year. Mr Partridge was remanded on unconditional bail to appear at the
discharged for 18 months, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15, and costs of £85. A MAN from Earley is due to appear in court charged with assault. Adam Darrel Joyce, 50, of Swepstone Close, is due to appear at Reading Magistrates’ Court on June 20 charged with assault by beating. Mr Joyce denies the charge, which relates to an incident in Thatcham on January 14 this year.
same court on June 30.
A WOMAN from Reading has been found guilty of stealing money from a woman in Twyford. Karlena Shelena Greene, 27, of Wensley Road, was found guilty at Reading Magistrates’ Court of stealing £42 from a woman on June 9 last year. A separate charge of assault was dismissed. Ms Greene was fined £140, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and compensation of £32.
A MAN from Lower Earley has pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in a public place and obstructing a constable in execution of duty. David James Walter, 35, of Sage Close, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on April 4 where he admitted to disorderly behaviour, while drunk, in Gun Street, Reading on March 11 this year. He also admitted resisting a constable in the execution of his duty on the same date. Mr Walter was conditionally
A MAN from Wokingham has admitted stealing a television from Sainsbury’s and failing to surrender to custody. John Maughan, 39, of Blagrove Drive, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on April 5 where he admitted stealing the television, worth £145, from Sainsbury’s in King Street Lane, Winnersh, on February 29 this year. Mr Maughan was given a conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15, and fined £30.
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our own brand beard oil, ask your barber to try it. Guaranteed you will be popular when you get home. Why not treat yourself or someone else to a Hot Towel Shave, this is a fantastic relaxing experience. We have Shave vouchers available for gift ideas. In our Wokingham store we have a live cam, giving you a view of the shop to see how busy we are before you set off. Take a look at our website www. thelocalbarbershop.com to find out more
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Friday, May 20, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER
The fashion show in full swing – more than 100 women gathered for the event
Venetia Anderson with the models and the helpers pose before the start of a Sue Ryder Charity Fashion Show held at The Greyhound in Finchampstead last week. The event raised £1,624 for the charity Pictures: Emma Sheppard
It’s all smiles as the audience watch the models showcase spring and summer clothes
Fashion lunch helps Sue Ryder
Sarah Webster (left) and Aimee Morris modelling clothes by Barbara Easton
A FASHION show helped raise more than £1,600 for a local charity. Last Wednesday, more than 100 women visited The Greyhound in Finchampstead to enjoy a lunch and catwalk display showing items from the spring and summer collections of Barbara Easton of Bush Walk in Wokingham town centre. The event was organised by The Finchampstead Support Group of the Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice. The network has been active for 40 years, raising thousands in that time. Chris Markham, who helped organise the lunch, said: “More than 100 Ladies sat down to a delicious meal prepared by Marc Price and Oliver Skinner, head and
sous chef at The Greyhound. The Spring and Summer collections were shown to enthusiastic appreciation. “Special thanks go to Rick Parker of RP Deliveries in Wokingham who transported the clothes, hats and shoes to the event free of charge. He told us that Sue Ryder is such a special charity and he was pleased to help. “We also thank Vicki Curtis, the general manager of The Greyhound, who contributed enthusiastically to the success of the event.” n The group’s next fundraising event will be a quiz evening on Saturday, November 26. For details or to book call 0118 973 5781.
Scout leader jailed over historic sex offences By JOHN WAKEFIELD news@wokinghampaper.co.uk
A SCOUT leader from Earley has been given a four year jail sentence for indecently assaulting a boy more than 20 years ago. Peter Swynford, from Kenton Road, was found guilty at Reading Crown Court on March 8. On Friday, he was sentenced to four years for one count of indecent assault and two years each for the other three counts (to be served concurrently). He was also ordered to be placed on the registered on the Sex Offenders Register and a sexual harm prevention order has been made against him. The 52-year-old was arrested on September 17, 2013 and charged on April 8. There is just one victim and the abuse took place between August 1991 and 1994 in Reading. Investigating officer Det Con Helen Stone, from Reading Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “This was a difficult and complex case dating back more than two decades. “I commend the victim for his bravery in coming forward and continuing with this case until its conclusion. I am pleased for him and his family that Swynford faced justice after such a long wait. I hope this sentence will give Swynford time to reflect on the reality of what he did and how that affected the victim.” Adrian Foster, Chief Crown
Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: “This case involved sexual activity between a man, now aged 52, and a boy in Reading in the early nineties. “Peter Swynford took advantage of his status as a Scout leader to prey on the young boy, ply him with pornography, alcohol and drugs and then abuse him for his own sexual gratification. “It is only due to the great courage of the victim, and his feeling of duty to protect others, that the despicable behaviour of this man has been exposed. I would like to pay tribute to the victim for his strength, tenacity and selflessness in coming forward. “Swynford denied any unlawful conduct, admitting sexual contact with the victim, but denying it was without consent and that the victim was under 16. On 8 March 2016, at Reading Crown Court, he was found guilty of four counts of indecent assault on a male. “The convictions and today’s sentence serves as an important message to people who have been the victim of crimes such as these, or those who know such crimes are being committed, that they should come forward.
“The emotional impact, on the victim and his family, of the abhorrent actions of this man is impossible to quantify.” Simon Carter, from Berkshire Scouts, said that the movement works hard to vet all its adult volunteers before they come into contact with young people and have welcomed the verdict on Swynford. He said: “The Scout Association is aware of the recent court proceedings involving Swynford. “We have been assisting the statutory authorities during their investigation. We are pleased that he has been found guilty of his crimes. “Swynford was suspended from any form of contact with the Movement in September 2013. “His membership was subsequently cancelled and he will not be involved with The Scout Association ever again. “The Scout Association carries out stringent vetting of all adults who work with young people and requires them to work to a strict code of practice outlined in the Young People First Code of Practice.” n For more on the Scouts’ code of conduct, visit www.scouts.org.uk/ safeguarding
Venetia Anderson talks through the catwalk clothes
Families wanted for 83 children A NEW search is being launched to help find homes for 83 children and young people who are looking for families to love them. The borough council is holding Foster Care Fortnight until the end of the month and as part of its push for homes is holding an information evening next week. The council said that there is a shortfall of foster carers in the borough meaning that some children and young people are separated from family and friends. Foster carers are particularly needed for children aged seven and above, children on a permanent basis, and disabled children for short breaks. The borough council is also keen to hear from people who could offer supported lodgings for young adults aged 16 to 24. The information event is being held on Thursday, May 26 at the Bradbury Centre, Wokingham Methodist Church, Rose Street, in Wokingham. Two presentations are being held during the day: from 12.45 to 1.45pm, and 6.15pm to 7.15pm. Alternatively, people can simply drop-in between 1pm and 7.45pm. Cllr Charlotte Haitham Taylor, Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for children’s services, said: “We have a real need to find homes for children and young people in Wokingham Borough. I would like to encourage more people to act now and come forward to talk to us about becoming a foster carer.” n For more details, call recruitment officers Jackie or Alison on (0118) 974 6204 or email: fostering@wokingham.gov.uk.
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Erica Townend
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Rents in Wokingham rise by 2.9% in the last year Renting is the norm in many European countries, just as it's becoming in the UK Picture: Peter Galbraith / freeimages. com
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WAS trawling through the Sunday Papers (as you do…) and, when reading the financial pages, it was announced UK inflation had increased to its highest level in a year. Inflation, as calculated by the Government’s Consumer Prices Index, rose by 0.3% over the last 12 months. The report said it had risen to those ‘heady’ levels because of smaller falls in supermarket and petrol prices than a year ago. If you recall, in early 2015, we had deflation where prices were dropping! So what does this mean for the Wokingham property market ... especially the tenants? Back in November, the Office of National Statistics stated average wages only rose by 1.8% year-on-year, so when adjusted for inflation, Wokingham people are 1.5% better-off in ‘real’ terms. Great news for homeowners, as their mortgage rates are at their lowestever levels and their spending power is increasing, but the news is not so good for tenants. The average rent that Wokingham tenants have to pay for their Private Rental Properties in Wokingham (i.e. not housing association or council tenants) rose by 2.9% throughout 2015, eating into most of the growth. 2015 wasn’t a one off either. In 2014, rents in Wokingham rose by 2.2% (where salaries only rose by only 0.2%). However, it’s not all bad news for Wokingham tenants, because in 2013 rents rose by 1.8%, (but salaries rose by 2.2%). … and it must be noted that the private rents that Wokingham tenants have had to pay since 2005 are only 20.1% higher, not even keeping up with inflation, which over the same time frame, rose at 27.8% (although salaries were only 22.3% higher over the same time period). More and more, talking to 20 and 30 somethings who rent – it’s a choice. Gone are the days where owning your own property was a guaranteed path to wealth, affluence and prosperity.
THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, May 20, 2016
I know I keep mentioning Europe, but some of the highest levels of home ownership are in Romania at 96.1%, Hungary at 88.2% and Latvia at 80.9% (none of them European economic dynamos) and even Western European countries like Spain at 78.8% and Greece at 74% (and we know both of those countries are on their knees, riddled with national debt and massive youth unemployment). At the other end of the scale, while we in the UK stand at 64.8% homeownership, in Europe’s powerhouses, only 52.5% of Germans own a home and only 44% of Swiss people are homeowners. Looks like eating chocolate, sausages, renting and good economic performance go hand-in-hand. Joking aside, home ownership has not always been the rule in the UK. In 1918, only 23% of people were homeowners, with no council housing meaning, in fact, 77% were tenants. Tenants have choice, flexibility to move and they don’t have massive bills when the boiler blows up. It’s a choice. Wokingham rents are growing, but not as much as incomes. To buy or not to buy is an enormously difficult decision. For while buying a Wokingham home is a dream the majority of the 20 and 30 something’s of Wokingham have, it might not leave them better off in the long run and it isn’t necessarily the best option for everyone. That is why demand for renting is only going in one direction – upwards! 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 www.wokinghamproperty.wordpress. com 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.
Parents from Gorse Ride Schools enjoyed a Bubbles and Beauty event organised by Mimis Hair Salon and The Chequers in Eversley
TWO local businesses joined forces last week to raise money for Gorse Ride Schools PTA. Mimis Hair Salon and The Chequers at Eversley co-hosted a Bubbles and Beauty event. Guests were treated to a glass of bubbly on arrival before entering the salon via a red carpet for hair makeovers, manicures and massages. They also received goody bags to take home and free entry into a raffle. More than £200 was raised for the schools Jac Pluves, a spokesperson for Gorse Ride Schools PTA, said that the voluntary organisation is so grateful to these and other companies that support the schools and value the contribution the companies are making to our children’s educational opportunities.
Bus driver who assisted seizure passenger is a star By JOHN WAKEFIELD news@wokinghampaper.co.uk A BUS driver who helped a passenger during a medical emergency has been honoured by his bosses. Chris Van Niekerk, 66, of Spencers Wood, is one of two Stars of the Month for Reading Buses after helping a customer who had a fit while travelling on his bus. Reading Buses said that Chris demonstrated four of the company’s six key values, by showing ‘unrelenting customer focus,’ ‘being caring,’ ‘doing the right thing,’ and ‘staying safe and healthy’. The customer who nominated Mr Van Niekerk (pictured inset left) said that Chris, who has worked for Reading Buses for nearly 13 years, was an ‘absolute credit to the company’ who went ‘above and beyond’ to assist the customer. After the passenger recovered, she explained that she has a history of seizures and so refused an ambulance as she was going to meet her mother. Chris kept an eye on her and when he got to her destination, he even got out of the bus to ask people if they were the customer’s mother.
Sharon Austin, driver performance manager at Reading Buses, said: “Chris is a great asset to the company. “He went above and beyond to ensure that the customer was OK. Allied to this nomination is also the fact that Chris is very active in providing feedback from
around the network as well as ideas on how to make things better or easier for customers.” The second ‘Star’ is Adam Faiers, 27, of Earley, who has worked for the company for just eight months after moving across from First Group following the introduction of the Lion 4, which connects Wokingham to Reading and Bracknell. Mr Faiers (pictured inset right) won after
being nominated by a senior manager for his consistent ‘positive and can do’ attitude. He is also said to have a permanent smile and gives an excellent all-round performance. Ms Austin added: “Adam has been recognised as the scheme is not just about doing something extraordinary as a one-off, it’s also about rewarding and celebrating those who are show consistently excellent performance. “Adam has been fantastic since joining us and has really taken onboard the Reading Buses ideals.” Caroline Anscombe, Reading Buses HR Director, said: “Customers and colleagues can nominate anyone for doing great work because it is important that we continue to celebrate – and role model – people when they have done excellent work. “At the same time, we also want to encourage everyone to consistently be the very best at what they do which is why we are now making changes to how we recognise and reward employees.” n Nominations for the Star of the Month awards can be made online, through social media or by emailing customerservices@ reading-buses.co.uk
Fund win will help build future talent MP to remain at lunch THAMES Valley Berkshire LEP is celebrating after being successful in its application for funding to join the national roll-out of Enterprise Advisers programme The programme, led by the Government’s Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC), will see the recruitment of more business volunteers to advise schools’ senior leadership teams, with the aim to better equip young people (aged 12-18) with the skills needed to join the workforce. This programme is a key element to the LEP’s ‘Berkshire Future Talent’ project. To lead the scheme, the LEP has appointed a Careers & Enterprise
Co-ordinator, Allison Giles, who will be responsible for the development of a local Enterprise Adviser Network in Thames Valley Berkshire, funded by CEC. Allison is leading on strengthening links between schools and colleges, employers, and careers and enterprise bodies – building on existing, successful local models and supported by LEPs. Allison is initially focusing on recruiting volunteer Enterprise Advisers who will work directly with the leadership of individual schools to help them develop effective employer engagement plans. The Enterprise Advisers will be drawn from business and other employers, both large and small.
MEMBERS of the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce will hear a Conservative MP extol the case to stay in Europe at its latest business lunch. Neil Carmichael, who represents Stroud, will share his views on the European referendum at the event to be held on Friday, June 10. It follows on from a March lunch, where Daniel Hannan spoke in favour of the Brexit case. Mr Carmichael is Chair of the Education Select Committee and will speak at the event which will be held at the Microsoft Campus in Thames Valley Park, Earley. Places are free to Chamber of Commerce members or £24 for non-members. For more details, call the chamber on 01753 870500 or log on to www.thamesvalleychamber. co.uk,
Friday, May 20, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER
Chiles backs Chris’ Jogle BROADCASTER Adrian Chiles is the latest big name to back a Winnersh man who is currently walking 1,000 miles and climbing three mountains for charity. Chris Cottam (57), has passed the halfway stage of his epic trek which sees him climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, while walking from John O’Groats to Lands End. This week, Mr Chiles released a video of support, saying: “It’s probably gruelling, but do enjoy yourself. “It’s an unbelievable experience and a great effort to Cure Leukaemia.” Mr Cottam has completed 503 miles at an average of 18 miles a day. He is close to taking his 1 millionth step and has walked for 165 hours. He said: “I am enjoying every second of this challenge so far. “Whilst this challenge is tough, I know I am doing it for three wonderful causes, and that has kept me going.” He continued, “I am really keen to not only boost donations but also to encourage people to join me for the Snowdon climb on May 29. I’d really appreciate some company! Email chrisbigjogle@ outlook.com to join me.” Money raised from the trek, called a Jogle, will be shared between Cure Leukaemia, Breast Cancer UK and the Holt School, where he is a governor.
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‘Teacher bruised my son while restraining him’ EXCLUSIVE
By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk THE mother of a 12-year-old boy left with bruises after being restrained by a teacher at his school is urging other potential victims to come forward. The woman, who asked for her and her son’s identities to be withheld, spoke out after the year seven pupil returned home from Southfield School with large bruises on his arm. She said: “My son attends Southfield School because he has behavioural problems such as ADHD and I was told it would be managed effectively. “If anything, his behaviour has become worse since he has been there. He can be a handful, but when he sees other children acting up and getting sent out of class he thinks he wants to do the same. “This particular day he was sent to a classroom on his own to finish his work. He didn’t want to be in there on his own so he started getting angry and making a fuss, saying that he wanted to leave. The teacher put their foot across the door to stop him from leaving, but this just made him angrier. In the end he said they held his arm above his head to stop him from moving. “When my son was at primary school I asked the staff how they could restrain pupils if they needed to, and I was satisfied that there are ways of restraining them without causing injury. “When I saw the bruises on his arm, which were very dark and clearly showed finger marks, I just couldn’t believe it. To think that someone could do that to my
London bomb plot wife has jail sentence reduced A WOMAN from Earley who was jailed for plotting a terror attack on London has seen her sentence reduced by two years. Sana Ahmed Khan, 24, of Hutton Close, was found guilty of preparing terrorist acts with her husband Mohammed Rehman in December. Khan was sentenced to 25 years in prison, while Rehman was told he must serve a minimum of 27 years. But Khan’s sentence was reduced to 23 years on appeal this week as judges at the Court of Appeal said her ‘previous law abiding life’ was the only reason to reduce her sentence. They added that Mr Justice Baker, who sentenced the pair at the Old Bailey last year, “was clearly entitled to conclude both that Khan was dangerous and that a sentence of life imprisonment was required”.
£10,000 heart grants
Southfield School was temporarily closed last month due to a police investigation. Now one of the parents said that school staff left her son with serious bruising
child is just ridiculous.” The woman took photos of the bruises and immediately emailed them to the school, which was already undergoing an investigation following an inadequate Ofsted report in March. She said: “Shortly after sending the photos I got a call from a social worker saying that she needed to see me urgently. I didn’t realise how serious it was until she turned up at my house with a police officer. “The next thing I received was a text from the school to say it would be shut for the following two days. I was given the impression that this isn’t the first time this has happened, and I’m worried that
there may be other children who this has happened to who have been too scared to say anything or think they won’t be believed. “Needless to say I pulled my son out of the school immediately, but when I told them that was what I was doing they didn’t seem to care at all. It has now been five weeks and we haven’t heard anything from them at all. They haven’t followed up to see if he is OK, that is what I would do. “It’s horrible to think that they aren’t bothered about my son at all.” A spokesperson for Wokingham Borough Council said: “As investigations are ongoing, we cannot comment on this matter.”
A TASTY £10,000 is up for grabs for community projects that improve heart health. The grant is being made available from a partnership between Heart Research UK and sandwich chain Subway. The funding is available for groups in the Meridian ITV region and is for original, innovative projects that promote heart health and help communities reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Projects can address a variety of issues such as healthy eating, physical activity and smoking cessation, as long as the focus remains on heart health. Barbara Harpham, National Director at Heart Research UK, said: “This funding will help even more people learn how to look after their heart health and ultimately lead healthier, happier, longer lives.” Manaaz Akhtar, Regional Marketing Director for Subway, said: “We’re proud to be able to offer this grant in the Meridian region. “We want to support community projects that also place heart health at the top of their agenda.” Applications are accepted from Monday until July 1. n For more details or to apply, visit www.heartresearch. org.uk/community-grants
Biking? Tips to get you in the saddle Wokingham’s Bikeathon is back on Sunday, June 26 – if you’re getting ready, here’s some tips to help you get in top gear Get a bike that fits you Saddle position is most important. The saddle should be horizontal, and not tipped. The old rule taught children to put both feet on the ground from the saddle, but this leaves the saddle a bit low for adults. You are seeking a comfortable position where weight is not on the hands, but the body leans for additional support. Back and shoulder aches are actually as common in novice cyclists as leg aches, so you may find yourself experimenting for a while.
Pedal, don’t push The comfortable mile-eating rhythm that enables even unfit riders to cover long distances comes through practice, but the most notable feature is higher pedalling rates in lower gears.
Practise pedalling slightly Cycling shorts faster than feels comfortable Concentrate on those parts normally, and as you get used to of the body that contact the it up the tempo again. A range Date of media release: 19/05/2015 bike for maximum comfort. of 85-100 pedal revolutions per th important of all, the And most The Wokingham Bikeathon is looking for its 1000 rider! Could it be you? minute is normal for a smooth tender parts in contact with the cyclist. bike seat. Entries are open for the 2015 Wokingham Bikeathon taking place on Sunday 21 June. Last After shorts the other Reduce drag year the event attracted over 800 riders of all ages and abilities and this year organisers are priority will be cycling shoes, If you have a mountain hoping to attract 1000 riders. designed to be stiff, to transfer bike, ask your local shop to The event registration opens at 08:45 in Wokingham Town to Centre the first riders energy thewith pedals. replace the knobbly tyres
with road tyres. On all bikes things either a 15 mile or 35 mile circular route finishingCarry back in Wokingham townproperly centre. Everyone keep the tyres pumped to the who completes either route will receive a medal and The goodie bag which has been generously cheap, convenient manufacturers, recommended sponsored by local business, Roger Duckworth Physiotherapy. Drinksfor stops are being and safe place most items pressure. on a bike is behind you. The provided by ARC Counselling and The Physio Studio. crossing the start line at 9:15am. The riders head north out of the town centre and complete
Organiser Stan Hetherington said, “The Bikeathon has been an inspiration to many people over the past 7 years it has been running - individuals and families alike. It’s a great opportunity to get out on your bike and enjoy the countryside with friends, family and people from across the community. The buzz at the start line, the thrill of the cycle itself and the enormous sense of achievement at the finish line are all great reasons to join in! We are also very proud that so many of the riders take part, not just for the fun of it, but also to raise money for local and national charities through sponsorships. Riders have already entered this year who will be fundraising for local charities including Down2Us and The Link Visiting Scheme and national charities like Cancer Research and the MS Society.” If you are worried that your bike hasn’t been out for a while – don’t let that stop you! Wokingham’s very own Dr Bike, Steve Johnson of Cycle Services, will be on hand at the start to provide essential bike maintenance and bike safety checks for those who need it
voluminous rear pockets of cycling tops carry smaller items and snacks where they can be reached while riding. A rear rack can be used to strap things to, and there are a wide range of bags to suit all wallets that can be mounted on them. The rack also acts as a mud stop.
Regular riding By far the most important thing before your ride is to be comfortable with the bike you are using and have it well set up. Do not just go out for one long ride the week before. Mix cycling in to your weekly pattern in the weeks leading up to the event. The easiest way by far to get in regular cycling is to combine it with your daily journeys.
Ride with others There is nothing like riding with others to make cycling more fun. Go out with family and friends. It is also useful to have ridden with others before you ride a group events such charity rides. 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.
RECORDER VIRTUOSO URI SMILANSKY Early music specialist, multi-instrumentalist and virtuoso Dr Uri Smilansky gives a whirlwind tour through 300 years of recorder music. Wednesday 25th May, 8.00pm £12.50 Part of the Candlelit Baroque series
12 | NEWS
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Marvellous organisers hear residents’ concerns
THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, May 20, 2016
Woodley wears purple and pink to honour Lilly-May
Marvellous Festival director Steve Stanton, Hurst councillor Wayne Smith, resident Jacky Swaden, Marvellous director Peter Lincoln and resident Terry Swaden
By SUE CORCORAN news@wokinghampaper.co.uk WORRIED residents told of their fears about the controversial Marvellous Festival at Dinton Pastures at a face to face session with the organisers. Owners of the park on the Hurst/ Winnersh border, Wokingham Borough Council, also had representatives there for the debate over cups of tea on Tuesday. So many people have raised concerns they’ve been invited to address the sub-committee which will decide on granting the festival’s licence. The licensing hearing will be on Tuesday, June 7 at 2pm at the Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham. Davis Street Residents Association co-ordinator Mac Stephenson, said: “Residents had the chance to question people directly responsible for the festival. Their questions were answered. The proof of how the festival deals with concerns will be seen after the event.” Resident Gordon Lee of Davis Street was dissatisfied with Tuesday’s meeting. He said: “It was pretty well a waste of time, just a palliative.” He plans to go to the licensing hearing and is concerned about noise waking children and festivalgoers drinking too much near the park lake.
“Other concerns are about traffic and the possibility of crime and hooliganism,” he added. Jane Tweddle of Davis Street said: “I raised site safety and clearing up and was happy with the responses.” Jacky and Terry Swaden, both 63, were given assurances about getting to their home, but are still worried about potential noise and disturbance. Council executive member for environment Cllr Angus Ross said the council was listening to concerns and was working with the organisers and police on security, access, traffic, parking and noise. He added that there would be robust scrutiny afterwards into whether the festival should happen again. Marvellous Festival director Steve Stanton said residents’ concerns on security, parking, traffic and other issues would be dealt with under traffic management and other plans and through the licence. “Of all the kinds of events you could have here, Marvellous is exceptionally quiet and small,” he said. The licence application is for music until midnight on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 22-24. But Marvellous said it would stop at 11pm unless there was a rare hitch. The Friday welcome party for campers, local residents and other guests would start at 6pm.
Right: Claire Page, the mother of Lilly-May, with Evie Burrows, Lyla Burrows, Lexie Wicks, Taya Wicks and Meila Wicks. Above: Jodie Heffernan, Penny Boyd and Claire Page outside New Look in Woodley Precinct
By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk THE Woodley community came together last week to remember Lilly-May Page, two years after her sudden death. On Friday people were encouraged to wear pink and purple in memory of the five-year-old, who collapsed and died after suffering a cardiac arrest at Willow Bank Infant School on May 15 2014. Shops and businesses around Woodley precinct showed their heart by displaying
pink and purple balloons, and many collected donations for the Arrhythmia Alliance. The staff at Lloyds Bank got involved by wearing pink and purple, including branch manager James Tarrant who wore a pink tie. He said: “I have only worked in the branch for a couple of months, but everyone explained to me the sad story behind the pink and purple day. “This group has done a lot to support the charity by holding fundraisers both internally and externally, and we will continue to do so.” The anniversary was marked on Sunday Penny Boyd, Claire Page, Kelly Maguire and baby Luna Wicks Pictures: Gemma Davidson
Churches celebrate co-operation
Churches Together Wokingham leaders: from left: the Revd Nick Hudson (Chair, Baptist Church), the Revd Colin James (All Saints Church), the Revd Patrick King (Woosehill Church), the Revd Catherine Bowstead (Methodist Church), Catharine Newport (Kings Church), Louise Cole (Convenor, Woosehill Church), Father David O’Sullivan (Roman Catholic Church), the Revd Clare Hooper (Baptist Church) and Martyn Towle (Society of Friends).
by Lilly-May’s mother Claire Page, family and friends with a picnic, games and a bouncy castle in Woodford Park, close to where a cherry blossom tree was planted on the same date last year in memory of the little girl. Claire said: “Obviously last year was a huge celebration of Lilly-May’s life as it was the first anniversary, so things are a bit smaller this year but it is about maintaining the awareness of the campaign and the need for defibrillators. “I am constantly overwhelmed by the support shown to the campaign by the people of Woodley.” Ross Jacobs, Claire Page and Lloyds Bank Woodley branch manager James Tarrant
The Revd Nick Hudson writes: ON SUNDAY, a joint service was held in All Saints Church Wokingham to mark the beginning of Christian Aid Week. People from across the town’s churches gathered, and volunteer collectors were commissioned. Volunteer shave been walking the streets this week to collect donations for Christian Aid, a charity that supports some of the most needy and vulnerable people in the world. Immediately following the service, Churches Together in Wokingham (CTW) held its Annual General Meeting. Reports were received regarding some of the main things CTW has been able to achieve together through the past year, including ongoing support for Wokingham Foodbank (a CTW initiative); delivering welcome cakes to residents on the new housing developments; their part in the town’s response to the refugee crisis; and Open the Book, a project that provides dramatised Bible story assemblies for some of the town’s primary schools. CTW has recently changed its approach, moving away from a committee structure towards deeper cooperation based on growing relationships between the clergy and other leaders from all the town’s churches, who meet once a month for food, discussion and prayer. The new approach has been fruitful, enabling us to refocus away from agendas and minutes towards spending our energies working together on projects that make a difference in the town. The Revd Nick Hudson is chair of Churches Together in Wokingham and minister of Wokingham Baptist Church
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14 | EDUCATION
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Press pack
THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, May 20, 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. Benedict Slade, Emmanuel AduEssah, Jennifer Gampatsingh, headteacher Hester Wooller and Matilda Upton-Wheeler Picture: Gemma Davidson
Dolphin’s festival of words Children and parents listening to author Sam Gayton at the Dolphin School Book Festival in Hurst Pictures: Emma Sheppard
After 16 years, it’s Good for Earley school By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk
A PRIMARY school in Earley is celebrating after not only receiving its first ‘good’ Ofsted rating in 16 years, but also being selected to take part in a government review. Earley St Peter’s CE Aided Primary School, in Church Road, received the rating following an inspection on April 26 which praised the behaviour of students, the leadership of senior staff and the strong results in English and mathematics. Headteacher Hester Wooller praised the achievements of the pupils and teachers following the publication of the report on Monday, and thanked parents for their continued support. She said: “For the first time in 16 years our school has been judged to be good in all areas inspected by Ofsted. This is no mean feat since the criteria for these judgements have continued to rise significantly during this time and yet another Ofsted framework was introduced at the start of this academic year. “I would like to thank the whole staff team and governors as this Ofsted report is a testament to the continued commitment, dedication and determination to ensure that the children receive an education
which inspires them to learn and encourages them to be the best they can be. “Of course we were very proud of the children during the inspection but it is also the evidence of the children’s strong progress throughout the year in their books and displayed around the school, consistent in all classes, that formed the basis of their judgements not just the two days of inspection. “Our school is delighted by the Ofsted judgements but we are not at all complacent as we already have systems in place that will help us to continue our school improvement journey so that we are recognised as a centre of excellence which serves our local community. We agree with Ofsted that Earley St Peter’s ‘is a friendly school with high aspirations’.” The school has also been recognised nationally for its rapid improvement and been invited to join a government review. Ms Wooller said: “Given the rapid improvement of the school over the last two years, we have been invited to join other outstanding and improved schools across the country as part of a review. We are very proud to have been selected and look forward to showcasing the level of improvement and education here at Earley St Peter’s.”
Dulcie Valentine with daughter Chloe
Oscar (4) and brother Felix (6) Marriott get reading
Ulyana Roberts (9) with the bookmark she made
A HURST school enjoyed turning the pages as its biannual book festival returned last weekend. Children and parents from a number of local schools came together to meet authors, take part in workshops and enjoy live performances from local poet AF Harrold and from Puppetellers.co.uk, who performed the story of The Little Red Hen. It took place on Saturday at The Dolphin School. Special guests included Ross Montgomery, playwright Sam Gayton and new author Rachel Delahaye. Schools taking part included Sandhurst School, Holyport College, Westende Junior School, Binfield Primary and St Nicholas CE Primary School. Dolphin’s headteacher, Tom Lewis, said he was delighted with how the event had gone. He said: “A passion for reading is the foundation for a good education and we are thrilled that so many children attended the Book Festival and were inspired by the author visits and activities on offer.”
West End star Gary visits Woosehill theatre school
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STUDENTS at a theatre school in Woosehill were treated to a visit by a top West End star last weekend. Children at the Platform YP performing arts school, which meets at the Acorn Community Centre in Fernlea Drive, welcomed Gary Watson to their session on Sunday. Gary, who has starred in Les Miserables, Mamma Mia and Jersey Boys, taught the children routines from the hit musical Matilda, in which he starred as Rudolpho. Teacher Tracey Eley said: “The musical theatre world is such a small one, Gary and I have mutual friends so I was able to get in touch with him and ask if he would come along and lead one of our sessions. “We try to get someone in every term, and it’s great to have a male role model such as Gary come along so that the boys in the group have someone to look up to. “The children have had a brilliant time, a lot of them will go on to audition for Matilda so it’s great for them to learn the actual choreography from an original cast member.” Gary Watson visited Platform YP theatre school on Sunday and taught dances from Matilda n www.platformyp.co.uk.
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Friday, May 20, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER
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THE WOKINGHAM PAPER N E W S W I T H A H E A RT F O R T H E B O RO U G H
Let’s make it a right royal celebration! SUNDAY, JUNE 12 is going to be a day to remember. Throughout history, monarchs usually have shorter reigns so for Queen Elizabeth II to notch up so many milestones during her time on the throne. From the historic golden jubilee to this year’s 90th birthday celebrations, we are living through something that will not be repeated for generations. Throughout her 90 years, our Queen has been an inspiration to many and a thankless servant of our realm. She has brought together the Commonwealth, celebrated our diversity and encouraged our unity. Watching her annual broadcasts on Christmas Day always serve as a reminder that she has a desire to be the best she can be and wants us to do the same too. So as the call goes out to celebrate Her Majesty’s birthday, it is one we must all heed. Across the borough there will be parties and celebrations galore, from street parties to big concerts. While much of the focus will be on Wokingham Town Council’s big street party and concert on Sunday, June 12, there will be smaller events – they might not be on the scale of Wokingham town centre, but they will still be part of our united tribute to Her Majesty. By working together, we are going to make this birthday a really special one for Her Majesty. So, save the date in your diary, make sure you bake for Britain and come and join in what will be the biggest party our nation will see this year. Bring your grandchildren, save The Wokingham Paper’s coverage –it’s something for your grandchildren to tell their grandchildren. Let’s make it a right royal celebration!
CHURCH NOTES
By faith not by sight JIM O’NEIL, a 65-year-old pilot, was flying between Glasgow and Colchester when he had a stroke and his vision failed. “Suddenly I couldn’t see the dials in front of me. It was just a blur, I was helpless.” After sounding a Mayday alert he was joined by Paul Gerrard, an RAF Wing Commander who flew to him and began talking to the stricken Pilot. The commander’s instructions were reassuring and simple as he shepherded him towards the nearest runway. O’Neil could not see the landing strip and would have to land by faith and not sight. The Commander guided him down and on hearing his final instruction;” You are safe to land” he hit the runway and bounced up again. Eight attempts later however he managed a near perfect landing. Can you empathise with Jim O’Neil? Maybe it wasn’t a stroke that struck you – maybe it was a tragedy, a job loss, a sick child or a divorce. And with so many different voices shouting their truth claims at us, promising they will guide us and answer our problems, the world can appear a confusing place with little light to guide us. Of all the voices how do we select the right one? A more important question cannot be asked! There is one-one whose truth claim stands out above all others - Jesus. He claimed to be God (John 8;12, 8;58) and validated his claim by performing miracles to prove his identity and to help people. Today millions across the world testify that he is indeed the one who can “light our path,” (Psalm 119:105), help us to experience an abundant life (John 10:10) and guides us through this life until the time comes when he says to us: “You are safe to land,” as he leads us into his wonderful promise of Eternal Life (John 3 :5-16). Keith Saynor Pastor, Kings Church, Wokingham
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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, May 20, 2016
Your views
We love to hear from you! Send us your views on issues relatingto the borough (in 250 words or less) to The Wokingham Paper, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS or email: letters@wokinghampaper.co.uk We reserve the right to edit letters
Send your thoughts to letters@wokinghampaper.co.uk
Drivers need to slow down and take greater care As a very experienced cyclist I frequently cycle up and down Barkham Road and find the experience daunting although I cycle with a helmet, bright clothing and with front and rear lights blazing even in daylight. Too many Wokingham drivers travel too fast for the road conditions and are not aware of the Highway Code rules when passing cyclists or just do not care for the safety of users of cycles. Perhaps it would help if they realised that most senior cyclists are also car owners and drivers who take great care and do not overtake cyclists on narrow roads at bends. Cyclist Chris Luff was extremely lucky to have survived being hit by a driver moving at 40 mph. Extensive research and testing has shown that the plastic foam based cycle helmet may help to prevent serious injury in a simple low speed fall from a bike or from falling down a flight of stairs where most head injuries occur. But try hitting a cycle hemet with a seven pound hammer at a 40mph impact and see what happens. Then scale this experiment up to an impact by a ton of steel. We need to see more people using bikes as a form of transport to reduce the level of polluting vehicles on our roads and to achieve a more healthy life style but the speed of driving must be reduced on roads where people live and in town centres. Research demonstrates that a road traffic impact of up to 20 mph is usually survivable and this is the standard speed on selected roads in many areas of the UK and throughout the continent. Brian Morris, via emaii
Road safety MUST be a priority Chris Luff, featured on the front page of The Wokingham Paper (May 13), shows remarkable forgiveness to the person who drove into him on Barkham Road. Despite suffering serious injuries, he bears them no malice. The same edition of your paper reports two other road fatalities, and the sentencing of a drink driver who seriously injured two people. The main impact of crashes like these is the suffering and grief they cause to families but they also result in major disruption to Berkshire’s road network. I’m sure many of your readers’ journeys were delayed owing to the crashes. We must not accept the tragic toll of death and serious injuries on our roads as just accidents. Crashes must be thoroughly investigated to identify why they happened and to prevent them happening again by modifying road layouts and by educating road users. Where appropriate, road users who kill or seriously
Flooding in Winnersh As resident of the former village of Winnersh, I know just how King Canute felt when trying to stem the rising floods. In our case it is a rising flood of housing being built in the area with King Neptune, alias the borough council, brandishing his trident and taking no notice whatsoever of local opinion. We too have fought and lost in the battle to prevent yet more houses being built on the Hatch Farm Dairies site. An area that floods every year causing gardens in Welby Crescent, Chatsworth Drive, Greenaces and Jersey Way to be flooded. When Jersey Way was built, residents were told drainage systems had been put in place and included extra tanks for excess water. How come the playing fields on Jersey Way flood regularly, also gardens at the top of the road? The fields, where the road even now is going ahead, is, at the present time, waterlogged and floods every winter. However, we have been promised a country park … unfortunately with a busy road going alongside it and, Cyclist Chris Luff was saved by his bike helmet guess what, it is in the part that floods the most. How do we know that the promised drainage systems injure others must be prosecuted. being put in place will still be adquate in 20 years time? Anthony Stansfeld, the recently re-elected Police Builders sometimes cut corners on quality. I assume these and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, must drainage channels will go into the River Loddon. Once prioritise road safety and protect the traffic policing again, guess what? It floods at Winnersh, causing chaos at budget from cuts as a first step to reducing the number the Loddon Bridge roundabout. of road crashes and the costs that result from them. Well done Wokingham palnning department. Keep on Peter Howe, brandishing your trident. Reading Cycle Campaign. Glennys Dodge, Winnersh www.readingcyclecampaign.org.uk
We need better roads at Dinton Dinton Pastures Country Park has increased their car parking charges considerably, to much public complaint. I just hope the extra revenue generated funds better repairs to the paths than have been made recently. The material used seems to be crushed recycled tarmac. Unfortunately the surface has only loosely been compacted down with many large lumps in it (see photo) and very unpleasant and unstable to walk on. I’ve seen one little girl lose her footing on it and graze her leg. Please do better, Dinton, before somebody sues you. JL, Winnersh
Thanks for a great walk!
Just a quick note to thank the team who made last Sunday’s Wokingham Walk such a success. We walked the 15 miles, and saw so much beautiful countryside - I never knew was there! Really looking forward to next year. Peter Lucey, Wokingham
How long will Shute End last? Having gone through weeks of road closures on Shute End I thought you might like to see the messy job left where the new paving meets the old. How long will a bit of Tarmac last with lorries using that road? Jean Vaughan, via email Editor writes – we understand that the works have been paused while the Twyford Road is shut for construction works.
GOOD ADVICE
Travelling with pets Planning a grand tour? It’s just possible that your four legged friend may be able to come along too. Here we explain how
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F YOU are going abroad for a long time, you may be able to take your pet with you. The country you are travelling to will have its own rules about importing pets. For example, you may have to put your pet in kennels for a few weeks to check it doesn’t have any diseases such as rabies. This is called quarantine. To find out the rules of the country you are going to, contact the country’s embassy or consulate or contact the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) - email: pettravel@ ahvla.gsi.gov.uk enclosing your postal
address and daytime telephone number. You can bring your pet into the UK from any country without it having to be quarantined, as long as the country of origin abides by the rules of the PETS scheme. To find out which countries are covered, see the guidance from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (defra) on the GOV.UK website. Search “pet travel: quarantine”. The scheme applies to cats, dogs and ferrets. To be eligible for the scheme, your cat, dog or ferret must: n Be fitted with a microchip n Be vaccinated against rabies n Be issued with a pet passport by their vet n Be treated by a vet for tapeworm, not less than 24 hours
and not more than120 hours (1-5 days) before the scheduled time of entry into the UK (dogs only) n Travel into the UK on a PETSapproved sea, air or rail route. Pets from EU and listed countries must wait 21 days from the date of their first rabies vaccination before reentering the UK or travelling to another country. Pets from unlisted countries must: n Be blood tested at least 30 days after vaccinationwith a satisfactory result by a European Union approved laboratory n Wait three calendar months from the date the blood sample was taken before re-entering the UK.
Travelling with registered
assistance dogs The same PETS rules apply to assistance dogs as other dogs. However, where pets entering the UK on airlines must normally be carried in the hold, guide dogs or other assistance dogs are allowed to travel in the cabin with their owner on certain approved routes. Guidance for travelling abroad with your assistance dog can be found on the Guide dogs website: www.guidedogs. org.uk. Search on “travelling abroad”. 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, May 20, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER
NELLIE KNOWS
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
Celebrating your photography
Something a bit different this week – our columnist Nellie Williams was up with the heron earlier this week. You can find out more about it in her column on the right, but we love the serenity of this early morning scene, taken in Popes Meadow. 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 Fact or Faction?
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AST week it was Election Battlegrounds - this week it’s those “dodgy dossiers”. Some of the election communications deserved to be “sent up”. In one ward they were. But not in the way you’d have guessed from “Election Nearing” (my column in the April 7 edition). In 2016’s second “Battle for the Brook of Emm”, the political front line was in danger of ‘The Facts’ and ‘The Truth’ becoming the usual casualties. Here’s a recap regarding a single line of WBC’s 2016/17 budget. It’s worthy of note as it has wider implications than a single ward. The Yellow Army’s original leaflet said : £500,000 more on Station Link Road. It has been revealed that Tory-led Wokingham Borough Council budget includes £500,000 EXTRA to be spent on Wokingham Station Link Road. Imogen Shepherd DuBey told FOCUS, “I thought this road was finished! What on earth is wrong with it that it needs another half a million pounds spent on it!” This received a “sending up” of the first kind to the party leadership. The Blue C-in-C’s rebuttal was prompt as well as firm amd his “Message from the Leader of the Council” said: In the same leaflet, Imogen states that ‘£500,000 EXTRA’ is to be spent on Wokingham Station Link Road. Again, this is not accurate. As many of you will know, with any major highways project there is a risk of land compensation claims being made for up to six years after the scheme has been completed.
HAVE YOUR SAY:
We have prudently set aside £500,000 for this possibility but are hopeful that no claims will be made. At the end of six years the money is returned to reserves. A member of the public complained to a neighbour and the Yellow Team gave the message a “sending up” of the second kind – to the Umpire. This time the complaint was dismissed. So they put out a quick but more precisely worded rebuttal – just in time for postal voters to take note: We’re right to say that £500,000 has been added to the station link road project. The money was added to the Medium Term Financial Plan in February. Councillor Baker’s letter says he hopes it won’t be spent. So do we. But it is still money that has been put in the budget – which means someone in the council thinks they need it! So – were the communications truthful and factual? Well … yes (ish) – up to a point. It’s more interesting to ask questions and take look at what wasn’t said in the heat of battle. Has the money been spent? Is the money available to spend? No – at least, not within the current term of elected councillors*. What wasn’t laid out before the Emmbrook voters, let alone the Borough voters, were the possible consequences of this single budget entry. So let’s try to put put things in perspective**. £500,000 represents much of the capital costs
of the foundations to build a brand new car park. This will be sorely needed when the town centre regeneration starts attracting people and cars. Alternatively, £500,000 represents the employment costs for a year of one of the following groups: • up to 50 lower paid people (e.g. nursery staff, cleaners or care workers) • up to 20 average paid people (e.g. junior nurses / librarians / teachers) • up to 5 higher paid people (e.g. department directors of Wokingham Borough Council) So what are the consequences of setting aside the money – do we cut a vital infrastructure project; do we cut much needed employment; - or do we raise taxes or take on more borrowing and thus pass the cost (and the problems) down to our successors? All this is a “sending up” of the third kind, where the matter is laid out before the public. It’s an invitation for the politicians, who we elect and who invest a huge amount of their personal time and effort, to communicate difficult and sensitive subjects more engagingly for voters in future. Make no mistake – while Station Road is part of one Ward – £500,000 out of the Borough’s spending is serious. A sending up of the fourth kind isn’t appropriate. There’s more to this than meets the eye – Caveat ‘Lector ! * except on Station Link Road matters ** other consequences are possible
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Nellie Williams www.nelliepompoms.co.uk
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’M WRITING this column with a silly summer cold and “medical” hay fever which has floored me somewhat. I spent the weekend being busy around the house and quite probably burnt the candle at both ends so I am shelving all my plans this week and concentrating on getting back to good health and full steam. On Saturday a friend came by to pick up a low ridge beach cruiser bike I had bought on a whim. While it’s a great bike I rarely use it and every time I look for something in the shed I have to climb over stuff I have just thrown in. Amazing what you can find! Once I had cleared four bikes out I saw five boxes that I had not looked at for ages. 16 years to be precise and I know that as the newspapers were from 2000, when we moved here. Oh I had fun gingerly opening the boxes and getting quite nostalgic at the things I found. I now have extra plates and a large number of bowls, always useful as someone is bound to break something. I also found gazillions of beaker cups and plastic plates that are heading to the charity shop as well as an oil cloth that will do for the garden. Of course with loads of broken bits I had to go to the tip so went twice on Saturday. When I got back from the tip I found more stuff to take. Thankfully my insomnia was at full pelt so I was at the tip at 8am (some people had queued from 7.10am) on Sunday. Twenty minutes later I was at Popes Meadow walking the dog when I saw a majestic heron so quickly snapped it with my iPhone. I’m no photographer but I’m mighty pleased with the photo. Fiona from Frilly Pickers came over to help me with the garden and we worked for two hours which spurred me on to get cracking. Not easy with hay fever! My hayfever is two fold. I have “medical” hay fever and also “emotional” hay fever and the children noticed the latter when we were watching a dedication to the late and utterly brilliant Victoria Wood. Laree remarked I’d also cried at EastEnders but I said it was when Peggy was told she had a brain tumour. My darling best ever friend Clare Chauffepied had breast cancer which spread to her brain and she died in November and I miss her dreadfully. I support The Brain Tumour Charity and their brilliant brain tumour symptoms card campaign HeadSmart. To get your hands on a symptoms card you can either contact them direct or text SMART to 81400.
I also had hay fever when Will the Wokingham & Emmbrook Girls U11 manager presented the outgoing football coach John Lilley with a gift from us all. John has been coaching the girls for seven years and has been brilliant with our gaggle of girls. He will be missed but we are looking forward to Andy coaching. For more information on the club have a look at their website and Facebook page. If like me you have a Labrador you might be interested to know about the exciting weekend at Fawley Hill the home of The Hon. Sir William McAlpine Bt and The Hon. Lady McAlpine. Starting on Friday at 10am the Vintage & Steam Weekend (www.fawleyhill. co.uk) runs until Sunday and I promise you it is brilliant. Oh yes Labradors, well Ben Fogle will be there and there’s plans to set a Guinness World Record for the largest amount of Labradors in an open space. Should be fun! Lady McAlpine also organises the Traditional Boat Festival in July which is a great family event. My lot are all looking forward to half-term, they’ve been working very hard this term. Laree had SATS and Mook has had two GCSEs. I appreciate that for some this is a stressful time but thankfully it’s not been the case here. I have written about exam stress on the blog and have some reviews to add on that will make your life easier. After half-term it’s then downhill free wheel to the end of term and I can guarantee I’ll have hay fever. End of an era. After 14 years of junior school runs that’ll be it. I’m welling up thinking about it!
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OH, MR SMITH!
A wry look at life
No socks please we’re stylish
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OULD you Adam and Eve it! The British, I’m sure, are the only people to suffer acute social paranoia as so cleverly observed in John Cleese’s Basil in Faulty Towers. Do you remember a comedy sketch by the late Spike Milligan in which his worst fear was suffering an accident and going to hospital in dirty underwear – this being a far more humiliating and painful experience than breaking a leg, suffering a heart attack or falling off a ladder. Well something similar happened to me the other day. No, not falling off a ladder but falling down stairs and fracturing a metatarsal bone in my right foot. I thought it important to mention which foot because, although I am not David Beckham, like my right hand my right foot is more important to me than my left. Despite soaking the foot in cold water immediately after the fall it swelled and the only footwear I could fit over it was an oversized sandal. I had purchased the sandals in a sale some years ago but at least one of them now found a perfectly practical purpose. I didn’t want to offend the nursing staff by presenting a dirty foot on arrival so I wore some perfectly respectable black socks. Arrrgh. Now perhaps you realise the real source of my discomfort.
Scandals
Socks with sandals are a scandal as my wife and daughters continually tell me. I tried to arrive in the reception area of A&E unnoticed but as I flapped across the room in my oversized sandals I could feel every eye look in horror on my social faux pas. Never mind the reason for my limping across the room – what was I thinking? I expected the decorum police to arrive at any moment and escort me from the building. I was like the archetypical gauche featured in the famous series of H.E. Bateman cartoons entitled “The man who…” This time, however, it was, The patient who turned up in socks and sandals. If you’re interested, Google ‘A Cowes nightmare, the unwelcome guest’. Bateman’s ingénues were happily oblivious to their social gaffes and to the perennial onlookers who were given comically caricatured gasps of shockhorror. Unfortunately in my paranoia I was acutely aware of my sartorial offence. Nevertheless, maladroit feet apart, I was comforted by the existence of an A&E department that I could hobble into at eight in the morning and receive medical attention within two hours. The furore of the junior doctors’ dispute, concerns over spiralling NHS costs, the layer cake of management between the patient and the remedy and the financial burden of selfinflicted illnesses, did not prevent me from being quickly and efficiently X-rayed, diagnosed and treated. As I waited for my wife to collect me, I sat in reception and relaxed. Wearing only a left sandal with the right foot adequately packaged Bateman’s caricatured onlookers seem to fade into the distance. Of course, in our modern age these onlookers are likely to be invisible because it’s the unseen multitude on Social Media that are more likely to see our gaffes – a good reason why we should only self-medicate on it in small doses. Please tell us your social gaffes by writing to letters@wokinghampaper.co.uk TOM SMITH @WRYLIFEtomsmith
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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, May 20, 2016
Wokingham people Mya the dog is a real life-saver A tail about one man and his dog is sure to get your tongues wagging. SUE CORCORAN meets Mya, a pooch with a difference
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REMARKABLE dog credited with saving her ex-guardsman owner’s life has helped pioneer new help for veterans with post traumatic stress disorder. Two-year-old Mya, a black and white collie/spaniel, has just qualified as an assistance dog. She is one of the first four-legged graduates of charity Veterans With Dogs. The charity is the UK’s first to train dogs to help British ex-servicemen and women with service-related mental health problems, including post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The story of Mya’s relationship with her owner Mark Lawrence, 55, is inspiring. Mark has pledged to help Veterans With Dogs, with his biggest challenge coming up in June: “I will tell the crowds at Hurst Show and Country Fayre how the charity has changed, and saved, my life. “It can be a real struggle to be in a crowded place. But I will have Mya with me at the show. She senses if I am tense or nervous: her company and a lick on my hand gives me confidence and courage.” Mark, Mya and Mark’s partner Heather have promoted the charity at their favourite walking spot Dinton Pastures, Hurst, collecting funds and giving out leaflets. Mark, from Tilehurst, witnessed the horror of his comrades’ loss of limbs and life when he served in the Grenadier Guards in Northern Ireland in 1978-9 and 1981-2. “Many veterans take their own lives due to PTSD. I was nearly one of them. Mya has stopped me twice,” he said. “Once I had pills and a bottle of brandy ready. She sensed how I felt and jumped onto my lap and looked at
Mya, a black and white collie/spaniel, is helping owner Mark Lawrence cope with his post traumatic stress disorder
me, as though asking: ‘What are you doing that for?’ He said his PTSD became apparent after he gave up work as a logistics manager three years ago due to a long standing back injury. He is now registered disabled. “Apparently stopping work was like taking the lid off a pressure cooker – the PTSD came out and I went downhill rapidly. I had a complete breakdown. I was suicidal and drinking a lot. I wouldn’t leave the house. “Armed forces charity SSAFA were really good. A friend had given me a 12-week-old puppy, Mya. The SSAFA area officer noticed Mya and I had a special bond, so she contacted Veterans With Dogs about her becoming an assistance dog. “They accepted us on their first course in Devon last year. We did three long weekends and lots of homework. It’s all about the bond between the dog and its handler. “She was perfect to be trained. It is unusual for someone’s own dog to
VOLUNTEER CORNER n Children’s Centres provide a wide range of services, many of which are free, that support all parents and carers, enabling them to give their child the best start in life. Children’s Centres can offer help and advice on child and family health, parenting, money and employment as they work in partnership with other organisations and professionals such as health visitors, midwives, GPs and Job Centre Plus. They also work with individuals and community groups who provide care and early education, such as childminders, preschools and playgroups. The centres also run a programme of playing and learning activities suitable for
be suitable. One weekend we were filmed for the BBC and Channel 4. Mya has just passed her assessment and is fully qualified. She and I helped pioneer the charity’s training and she is one of the first to be qualified.” People with PTSD can suffer anxiety attacks and feel they cannot cope. The dogs are trained to recognise their handler’s individual behaviour and then to provide a distraction from that. They might put their head on the handler’s knee or give a friendly lick. Mark said: “Her help means I am much better than I was.” New Year’s Eve fireworks were a terrible reminder of explosions in Northern Ireland. “I was on the floor crying, trying to block my ears. Mya was licking my face and had her head on my shoulders. She’s almost human. I call her my comfort cloth. “At night when I have a bad flashback to an incident in the Army, she jumps on me in bed and licks my face to wake me up. I’ll be covered in sweat: she sits by me in the bathroom
while I have a wash.” Mark was diagnosed with PTSD by the NHS-funded South Central Veterans Service last November and still has treatment. So far three dogs have fully qualified as assistance dogs after training with registered charity Veterans With Dogs. A further 18 are in the process of training with six at the advanced stages about to qualify. The aim is to increase their handlers’ independence and quality of life. Craig MacLellan, founder of Veterans With Dogs said: “Mark and Mya are an amazing team and we are extremely proud of the hard work they have both put in to becoming qualified and of the fantastic partnership they share. Mark is a superb ambassador of just what can be achieved through our programme.” Details are at www. veteranswithdogs.org.uk/ n Hurst Show and Country Fayre is at School Road, Hurst, RG10 0DR on June 25 and 26, from 10am to 5pm both days. Details are at www.HurstShow.uk
With Helena Badger parents and their children aged five and under. The Red Kite Children’s Centre in Shinfield is looking for volunteers to support their play and learn sessions. This role will involve; supporting Family Workers with play activities, helping set up and tidy away (could involve moving chairs and tables etc) cleaning art and craft area, interacting with parents, carers, children and babies. Volunteers will need to be a positive role model throughout the sessions and be willing to get involved with whatever is needed. Safeguarding training level 1 is essential, but this will be provided. Volunteers are needed mornings, Monday-Friday.
n Cruse Bereavement Care in is the leading national charity providing bereavement support in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They offer support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies, and work to enhance society’s care of bereaved people. In order to support more people in the Thames Valley Berkshire area, Cruse Bereavement Care is looking to recruit an Area Chairperson. This will provide the perfect platform for you to get involved and use your wide range of skills. This role requires leadership, direction and strategic thinking. The Area Chairperson is responsible for ensuring that the Area is efficiently and
effectively managed in order to maintain the standards of service required by Cruse Bereavement Care. The Management Committee meets monthly, usually a Wednesday evening 5.30pm-7.30pm, in Bracknell. The volunteer must have Management, Leadership, Strategic thinking and Business skills and be passionate about the charity and their aims and objectives. These are just two 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
WELLBEING | 19
Friday, May 20, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER
Good health
You’re under doctor’s orders to read this page!
HEALTH MATTERS
How getting fit phsyically helped me mentally too
with Nicola Strudley
As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, HEIDI SANDFORD, 43, from Lower Earley, shares her experiences of depression and how exercise helped to turn her life around.
Art Works – the health benefits of creativity
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OREARTS. and Healthwatch have been working together to help the local residents at the Westmead Centre. The Westmead Centre caters for adults with physical disabilities, primarily those who have an acquired disability such as MS or a stroke, as well as providing services to those who are blind or have learning disabilities. Westmead implements rehabilitation and respite care with meaningful activities to help improve self-esteem and independence. Part of the Healthwatch programme includes visits to local health and social care services to hear the experiences of users/ residents. It was after one such visit to the Westmead Centre that a plan was hatched with morearts. to optimise the centre’s excellent art facilities. Both morearts. and Healthwatch Wokingham are fully aware that the use of creative activities can greatly enhance wellbeing and lead to a healthier, less stressful and happier lifestyle.
Expertise
After discussions with all parties the Train a Trainer scheme was born. The idea was to use the expertise of local artists to train the staff at Westmead so they could pass on the artists’ knowledge to residents as and when it was required. Morearts. was delighted to get involved and source and sponsor the artists to tutor the staff in a particular field of interest. To date the Westmead Centre has benefitted from the help of two local professionals, Nigel Griffiths, a wood turner, and Karen Greville-Smith, an artist, covering a whole host of skills from woodwork, painting, drawing, mixed media and mono printing. Westmead have been delighted with the visiting artists. Sam Jones, from Westmead, said: “We think the four sessions that Nigel ran were beneficial to all the staff, we have learned a variety of woodwork techniques, and found out better ways of doing various joints, and different finishes. “We are thankful to morearts. for getting involved.” Morearts. is now looking forward to supplying further artists in the fields of ceramics and photography over the summer and hope that the centre will continue to benefit from their new found skills. Healthwatch are keen to hear your latest experience of a local health or care services. Get in touch and tell us your story!
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
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WAS diagnosed with severe depression over 10 years ago. I was a mess. I didn’t take care of myself, I had no self-esteem, no confidence, I was suicidal, I was avoiding going out and seeing friends, I was anxious all the time and all I wanted to do was disappear. Basically, I was the ‘perfect’ list of symptoms of depression. You also become a very good actor too. When people ask how you are and you give the stock answer of ‘fine’ with a big smile and change the subject quickly when inside you’re screaming. I was immediately put onto anti-depressants which was wonderful because they smothered all the bad feelings. I grabbed any help I could get; Counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy etc. These all helped to some extent but the depression was still there. The anti-depressants probably saved my life because they suppressed the suicidal urges but they were also making me live a life on auto-pilot. It was almost like I was viewing life in a padded bubble; everyone else was in the real world, I was in a cocoon. Don’t get me wrong I never felt ‘drugged’ or ‘doped-up’ and I believe that anti-depressants do work but I just felt a bit removed from my emotions. I still had trouble getting enthusiastic about anything and most of my days were spent doing as little as possible. My weight ballooned and I got more and more lethargic. Then a couple of years ago I realised I needed to do something. This wasn’t a ‘eureka’ moment where I jumped up and decided to fight my depression and everything was fine and happy, it was a quiet inner voice, some kind of survival instinct that was telling me to stop giving in to depression. On the recommendation of a friend I signed up to Fast Track Fit Camp (FTFC) at Bearwood Recreation Ground, Winnersh. To say I was terrified at my first session was an understatement but everyone was genuinely nice and were so busy with their own exercises that they didn’t have
Need to budget for regular dental visits? Our membership scheme is available for only You do not need to be dentally fit to join BMS but a new patient examination is required before signing up. If treatment is needed during the 12 month contract a member discount of 15% is given.
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Our membership scheme is ava Our membership scheme is available You do notfor need to be dentally fit to join butaa new patienta examination onlyforBMS £21 month Our membership scheme is available only £21 month is You do not need to be dentally fit to join BMS but a new patient examination is required before signing up. If treatment is needed during the 12 month contract a member discount of 15% is given.
required before signing up. If treatment is included? needed during the 12 month contract What is a member (including discount of 15% is given. • 2 Examinations x-rays) • • •
2 Hygienist visits Accident & Emergency Insurance 15%For member discount on treatment please more information, (excludes specialist and implant treatment)
visit our website at www.beec You do notBeechcroft need to be dentallyDental fit to join Practice, 3 BMS but a new patient examination is For more information, please contact us on2AE 0118 3815, RG40 and978 speak with one required before signing up. If treatment
visit our website at www.beechcroftdental.com call into is needed during the 12 monthor contract member discount of 15% is given. Beechcroft Dental Practice, 32a Station Road, Wokingham, RG40 2AE and speak with one of our team. time to look and laugh at me.... under my duvet. which was just well because I was To anyone reading this atrocious! who has been diagnosed with I was so unfit and nearly depression or thinks they may passed out twice but a kind word have depression I know how from Heidi Strickland-Clark (the difficult it is to do anything for owner of FTFC) to ‘just keep yourself when you are feeling so moving’ kept me focused. low but just one small push to do At the end of that first session something just for you could be all I was beyond shattered but it takes. something changed in me that Don’t get me wrong, day, I felt properly alive again. So I still battle depression and I kept going back, again and again sometimes it still threatens to and again and I loved it. overwhelm me but I now have Within two months I was something to fight back with. forgetting to take my antiFast Track Fit Camp has depressants because I was feeling become part of my life, it’s so much more mentally strong. changed my life and I would I was losing weight and recommend it to anyone but I meeting some amazing people. that the form depression But, and I can’t stress this Ourknow membership scheme is available for a month takes in each sufferer is different enough, it’s not just about just as the weapon to fight it will physical fitness. In the two years What is included? You do need in to each be dentally fit to join be not different individual. I have been doing FC I have • 2 Examinations (including x-rays) It might be exercise or singing gone from a size 20/22 to a size BMS but a new patient examination is or crafting but whatever it is it • 2 Hygienist visits 12/14 which is great but more required before signing up. If treatment will be worth it. than that the mental wellbeing • Accident & Emergency Insurance is needed during 12 about monthMental contract To find outthe more and confidence I have gained • 15% member discount on treatment of Week 15% isvisit given. Healthdiscount Awareness has meant that I have set up my a member (excludes specialist and implant treatment) www.mentalhealth.org.uk. own hand drawn greeting card For confidential support 24 business (Heidi Made This!) and hours a day, 365 days a year, call taken my cards to a massive trade on 116123 or visitplease a fair in London, something which aForSamaritans more information, contact us on 0118 978 3815, local Samaritans branch, visit few years ago would have scared our website at or call into me silly and had me heading backvisit www.samaritans.org forwww.beechcroftdental.com details.
Need to budget for regular dental visits?
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only3815 £21 , 0118 978
visit our website at
www.beechcroftdental.com or call into Beechcroft Dental Practice, 32 Station Road, Wokingham RG40 2AE and speak with one of our team.
Beechcroft Dental Practice, 32 Station Road, Wokingham,
20 | NEWS SPECIAL
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Dubs at the Park
THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, May 20, 2016
Pictures by Matthew Lyford
Good weather attracted hundred of Volkswagen fans of all ages for the Dubs At The Park event
The ever-popular Love Bug … aka Herbie … made an appearance at Dubs at the Park, held at Easthampstead Park Conference Centre on Sunday
Herbie goes to Wokingham… By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk
HUNDREDS of car fans made the best of the good weather to celebrate all things Volkswagen last weekend. Members of the London Thames Valley Volkswagen Club (LTV-VWC) welcomed the public to admire their vehicles during at the Easthampstead Park Conference Centre while soaking up the sun on Sunday. The annual Dubs at the Park event sees VW owners travel from across the country to display their customised and vintage camper vans, Beetles, Polos and Golfs while
raising £1,500 for various charities. Bands and singers kept the crowds entertained during the day, while ice cream was served up to keep visitors cool. Posting on their Facebook page, the organisers said: “From everyone at LTV thank you very much for coming along and supporting Dubs At The Park for another fantastic year, and once again it would not be possible without David and Louise Higgs and the merry band of orange helpers, see you all next year!” Dubs at the Park will return on May 14 2017.
Entertainment included live music from a bandstand
Those with a sweet tooth were able to satisfy their cravings with a well stocked sweetie stall
Local musician Simon Williams performed a set to a rapt audience
VW camper enthusiast Steve Jemison shows off a vehicle he’s owned for just over a year. Originally a bus used by a religious hippy group, it hails from California
The Split Screen Ice Cream company served some impressive cold treats from its converted VW campervan
Friday, May 20, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER
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NEWS SPECIAL | 21
Newer models were welcomed … and allowed to park where normally they’re not!
Custom Beetles were on show
This VW was once in service as a fire engine
Camper Café, owned by Will and Beth from Pangbourne, served drinks to visitors. The couple have run the café for five years
Visitors enjoyed the opportunity to relax in the sun while displaying their classic campervans and cars
It now houses a small kitchenette area as well as some authentic signs
This 1971 VW Trekker was a German Military Jeep. It was imported from German, from the German Army, and is now owned by Jason Hobbs
Some of the many different types of vintage Volkswagens on display during Dubs at the Park, all owned by enthusiasts
Split Screen Ice Cream Company is owned by husband and wife team, Dan and Amy Dimbleby from Bristol
| HERITAGE 22 Friday, August 21, 2015 TheWokinghamPaPer
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WokinghamRemembers
THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, May 20, 2016
HERITAGE | 17
In association association with with In
Exploring Exploringour ourheritage heritagewith with wokinghamremembers.com wokinghamremembers.com
Wokingham’s ringer to be honoured with plaque The past which has shaped our present... REVIEW
On Sunday, a vicar who is buried in the town centre will be honoured with a blue plaque at the church where he spent This week MikE ChuRChER reviews most of his ministry. JOHN ANDERSON from All Saints the Wokingham Remembers articles Church will speak at the ceremony – here we look at the of the past four months and discusses distinguished ringer’swhich life and career some of the factors contributed
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was also a reformer and organiser. RINGING minister who is to theBELL making of Wokingham and its When a Diocesan Guild of Bellringers buried in a Wokingham churchyard environment. was proposed by the Revd Dolben Paul is to be honoured with a blue
plaque this weekend. VER the past months the St Peter’s Church in Drayton near Wokingham Remembers page has Abingdonbeen willproviding hold the an special unveiling early picture ceremonyofon Sunday 11.30am, how a smallfrom market town and a honouring life edge of the FEis today few villagesthe on the of Revd a forest Robinson. ranked as one of the country’s leading John Harrison, the tower foreman communities. of All Saints Church inindustry, Wokingham Education, religion, transport, –social wherestructures, Mr Robinson is buried – will national politics and speak at the occasion. local government are all important Mr Robinson lived 1833 and pieces in building the between great Wokingham 1910 andHere wasnow the is vicar of Drayton for jigsaw. a summary of our many years. Hetomoved to aWokingham contributions date and few ideas onin his thefinal nextyears. round of articles. The blue plaque honours his Education, Education, achievements, including being the founding Master Education of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of BellWokingham Ringers. is renowned as Today’s Francis Robinson was born one of the Edward country’s centres of excellence inforBegbroke, Oxfordshire ondue January 6 education; this is partly to strong 1833, and grew up inand Stonesfield. school performance the motivated His father a clergyman, but parents who was live in one of the most Francis Edward didn’t go into in thethe UK. highly educated communities Church If weuntil look his intomid the thirties. history ofPrior toWokingham’s that he worked at the schools weOld canBank see in Oxford. how education is woven into its DNA. For to the major his ministry Prior the Greatpart War,ofWokingham –was some 30 years –byhemanor was Vicar of and surrounded houses Drayton. in landed Berkshire butwho now in membersthen of the gentry Oxfordshire. wanted to be close to the levers of power; to Wokingham in 1908 i.e.He themoved royal households of Windsor. after illness persuaded Inserious turn these upper echelons him topossessed retire, but he made a remarkable a serious sense of duty recovery and becametoas activetheir as ever. and a responsibility ensure He learnt received change ringing a community at least after a basic visit to Appleton in 1859, where education. Wokingham also had ahe was taught by professional Alfred Whiteclass, (of Whites of powerful a strong Appleton Bellhangers, who rehung the church community (including the nonbells at All Saints Church in 2004). conformists) and together they shared He went on to one of the a strong belief in become the importance of most prolific ringers of his day. He teaching. rangThe in many record length peals, result was with the skills, the some takingand 8 orthe 9 hours, he motivation financeand available, became the first a person to ring there developed cultureever of education 1,000 peals, whichstrong he achieved on 9th which still holds to this day. August 1905. Wokingham He conducted it,transport and the method probably the single wasTransport Stedman is Triples, of which he was most important in Wokingham’s particularly fond.factor A hundred years development, in 9, both its members rail and road later, on August 2005, of systems. All Saints rang a quarter peal in his Future articles will look at the honour. introduction of the railways and the he He wasn’t just a practical ringer,
(one ofimpact the ringing clerics who hadand major they had on the town founded the Sonning Deanery Society we have already made a start with the of Change Ringers the previous year) of road system by mapping out the course itthe was Mr Robinson who rose to the old Forest Road. challenge by building presenting to its While the of the M4inaugural had a meeting in 1881 on a ready made plan of forthe major influence the introduction how should operate, withnow himself as a highittech businesses which surround key player. it is the A329M which Wokingham, became Guild’sRoad first and Master, in He 1975 cut off the the Forest its a post thatconnections he held until his death in 1910. natural between Emmbrook Robinson tried retire from the post and the villages ofto Hurst and Binfield. The several during his last 10our years love andtimes hate relationship with rail in office, he had several and roadswhen continue to this day! illnesses, but each time the committee persuaded Wokingham’s military him to stay on. heritage This pattern of long serving masters, Aswhom 2015 iswere the bi-centenary of the all of clerics, lasted for Battle of Waterloo,the there have been nearly a century: Revd CW O a number 1910-1933, of articles commemorating this Jenkyn Canon G F Coleridge world changing event.C E Wigg 19461933-1946 and Canon The area has always been noted for 1973. itsSince contribution to the nation’s military the 1970s however, Guild capability, with REME, masters have allArborfield’s been laymen – that RFA and Remount connections andthe the is non-ministerial positions with Sandhurst and Wellington Colleges all Church, and they have served for much situatedterms very nearby. shorter of office, with a further Even the Duke of Wellington to eight masters covering a periodtook of 40 living in Stratfield Saye, which today is years. only 30Guild minutes from Wokingham’s The listsaway Robinson as a life town centre. member from its foundation in 1881 until his death in 1910. For all but the Wokingham’s final two years of that time, he lived in benefactor culture Drayton, where he was Vicar, so this Thehave area around Wokingham wasFor would been his ‘home tower’. surrounded many remarkable the first fewby years the Guild did indeed individuals they were instrumental list him as aand member of Drayton, but in building the much infrastructure then he was listed needed for a few years under which underpinned establishment Appleton, and from the 1890 he was listedof a strong community. under Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford We will later be telling story of the – even after he moved to the Wokingham. Walter family and their contributions to the building of Wokingham but in April first weekly issue, we told the story of the much loved Arthur Hill, the 6th Marquess of Downshire. Although one of Britain’s wealthiest landowners, Arthur Hill doubled as the chief of the local Fire Brigade and was a major financial contributor to this part of Wokingham’s public services. Later articles will illustrate the demise of these great manors and their incumbent social system and the rise of
Wokingham Railway Station viewed from Wellington Road looking towards St Pauls Church.
its replacement: local government.
Wokingham’s wild side
Before we believe too much in the idea that Wokingham’s development was a solidly sedate experience, May’s article told the story of the rioting in the town centre during the time of the 1857 General Election. Such events were a common sight in the town and this short and bloody battle between the Whigs and the Tories also highlighted the Bush and Rose hotels in Market Place as the headquarters of these two feral groups. Why he should not be listed under his The story was also able to reflect home tower is unclear. upon the national scene and the corrupt Although he achieved his fame nature of general elections before the before coming to Wokingham, we at All introduction of the private ballot. Saints feel a special attachment to him. Future articles will include further His grave has been kept tidy by a tales of anarchy and revelry in this old ringer for the last 25 years, and key market town. anniversaries have been marked by Wokingham at War special ringing here. There are There waswatershed a peal on moments the day ofinhis history which markbythe moment of in great funeral, recorded a peal board the change in a society and the Great War of tower. 1914-1918 is one such time. There was another peal in February Therefore a number centenaries 1990, 80 years after heofdied, and a betweenpeal 2014(after and 2018 will quarter an unsuccessful peal commemorate the great losses of war attempt) in August 2005, on the day of which scarred the people of Wokingham the centenary of his 1,000th peal. forIn the rest there of thewas 20thacentury. 2010, peal on the May’s edition the astory centenary of hisfollowed death, and quarter of two brothers peal a few daysfrom laterLangborough (after another Road in Wokingham town. One of our unsuccessful peal attempt).
historians, Sarah Huxford, also took us on a journey to the old battlefields in search of their graves. This story reflects only a microcosm of the losses around the county of Berkshire, but affirms the importance of the wars in the development of our local character.
Wokingham and the Royal Forest
Looking at today’s community, it is difficult to visualise just how rural the area once was and in part explains the sometimes fragile relationship between theLike old and new Wokingham; fewwas seen John Harrson today, he areas the UK have witnessed as anin authority on bell ringing,such giving extraordinary growth and change in the advice on installations. profile of itshe population. In 1881, was the first Master of the Although Wokingham’s Oxford Diocesan Guild of history Bell Ringers, has always been intertwined remaining in office until hiswith death. He the surrounding villages by providing actively promoted the formation of aother market place forringing agricultural and territorial associations. commercial produce, it was alsotoaretire Forest Failing health caused him Town. TheDrayton term ‘forest’ didinnot mean from the living 1908 andahe cluster but a system laws laid movedof totrees, Wokingham whereofhe died in down 1910. by royalty for the protection of their grounds. tablet was erected Inhunting 1913 a memorial onerous cloisters rules restricted local in These the cathedral at Christ people using large parts of theBell land Churchfrom in Oxford by ‘The Church for sustenance and in partand led his to the Ringers of Great Britain friends’. riseMany of local highwaymen andmilestone general tablets record his lawlessness. As a result, the peals in St Peter’s tower, a subsequent place of Black Act of for 1723 came down heavily on pilgrimage ringers, and photographs these ‘Wokingham and resulted in of Robinson hang Blacks’ in many ringing either transportation or execution. towerstheir of the Oxford Diocese.
The Revd FE Robinson only spent three years in Wokingham before his death in 1910, but his life, ministry and love of bellringing had a big impact on All Saints Church in the town centre. Now his life is due to be commemorated with a new blue plaque which will be unveiled this Sunday at his former church in Drayton, near Abingdon
The story was told in June, and also commemorated the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, signed at nearby Runnymede in 1215.
Shining a light on Wokingham’s ‘Dark Ages’
To bring us up to date the August articles are focused on the kids who are now entering into their summer holidays. What better way to use this month’s editions than to tell the stories of the Romans, the Celts and the Saxons influence on the area before Wokingham wasAll even a twinkle in old Wocca’s eye? Saints Wokingham celebrated David Nash Ford provided set ofwith the centenary of his 1,000tha peal articles andpeal puzzles which makes a quarter on August 9, 2005 and history fun for the young andmarked no doubt the Oxford Diocesan Guild the will also catch the death interest of the parents centenary of his with peals in who will be looking over the theirdiocese. child’s many churches across shoulder. n Earlier this year, John Harrison’s latest Here’s toand theBellringing next round ofpublished articles! by book, Bells was Thanks go out to our contributors: Steve Shire Books. Bacon, Davida Nash Sarah TheJim bookBell, replaces similarFord, title published Huxford, Roger Trevor Ottlewski in the 1960s butLong, it is completely new and and Peter Shilham all their continuing aimed at the generalfor reader. contributions. John said: “Because the story of bellringing this workone, is provided bymore our people is aAll fascinating I would like local free of and charge and to behistorians able to appreciate enjoy it.” canThe be found on the frontand page of theis 978 book costs £7.99 its ISBN Wokingham website 0 74781 433Remembers 7. It is available to order from www.wokinghamremembers.com the borough’s local bookshops including Thanks in also to Mark Ashwell at Bookends Wokingham town centre TradeMark for supporting the paper’s and Chapter One in Woodley’s shopping commitment to this project. precinct.
Windows doors and conservatories that last a lifetime and beyond www.trademarkwindows.co.uk
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Friday, May 20, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER
Leisure
LEISURE | 23
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Your guide to what’s happening around Wokingham
Tell all the family, it’s funny
Who’s in the house?
It Runs In The Family The Mill at Sonning Until July 2 www.millatsonning.com
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PLAY about a play set at Christmas is not quite what you expect to see in the middle of May. But The Mill at Sonning has done just that with their latest production, Ray Cooney’s classic farce It Runs in the Family. Set in a busy London hospital where Dr David Mortimore (Harry Gostelow) is preparing to give the lecture of his life to a theatre full of neurologists, …Family tells the tale of one man’s attempts to keep the truth about his new-found illegitimate son from just about everybody, with hilarious consequences. When old flame Nurse Tate (Sarah Ogley) appears just in time for David’s speech, he thinks she is there to show her support, but instead she delivers the earth-shattering news that Dr Mortimore fathered her child 18 years ago, and the angry young man is stood in reception demanding to see his father. Desperately trying to keep his wife Rosemary (Lynette McMorrough) from discovering the truth, while juggling his formidable boss, Sir Willoughby Drake (John Arthur), and the madcap cast of the hospital’s Christmas panto, Dr Mortimore has his work cut out from the get go. In true farce fashion, ...Family is a non-stop, rip-roaring juggernaut of a performance, leaving the audience wondering how on earth the cast can keep their breath. From naughty innuendos to mistaken identity and plenty of slapstick in between, ...Family is full of proper belly laughs that will leave you clutching your sides and wiping away tears. Harry Gostelow plays the harassed doctor effortlessly, with perfect comic timing and lots of energy to keep
Wokingham
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It Runs in the Family by Ray Cooney is the latest show to be performed at The Mill Sonning Pictures: Geraint Lewis
the whole charade running as smoothly as possible. Elizabeth Elvin plays the typical Matron who tries to keep everyone in check, but when she accidentally receives a strong dose of tranquilisers leaving her in a paralytic state, no-one is safe from her advances. John Arthur’s Willoughby Drake delivers some hilariously sharp one-liners, and his nervous twitch had the audience in hysterics. Special mention must go to Brian Hewlett who plays the senile patient Bill Lesley. Heaping more silliness onto an already exhausted cast, he definitely commands some of the biggest laughs of the show. Nick Wilton has got to be the star of the show, playing Dr Hubert Bonney who tries everything he possibly can to keep
Dr Mortimore’s secret under wraps, from a spot of impromptu dancing on the window ledge to accidentally pulling Matron’s bloomers down! His delivery and energy is awe-inspiring and you genuinely feel for him as he desperately flings himself around trying to keep the stories from unravelling. Guaranteed to keep you laughing from start to finish, ...Family is the perfect remedy for anyone in need of a big injection of silliness: just what the doctor ordered. It Runs in the Family is showing until July 2. Evening shows are Tuesday to Saturday, with Saturday matinees every week, Sunday matinees from May 22, and Thursday matinees from June 23. Tickets start at £47.50 which include dinner, programme and show. To book tickets visit www.millatsonning. com or call 0118 969 8000. GEMMA DAVIDSON
Animal Corner with Gemma Davidson
Can you offer these adorable animals a loving forever home? Each week, we team up with the folk at Diana Brimblecombe Animal Rescue Centre in Nelsons Lane, Hurst, to try to find new homes for the animals currently in their care
Due to her past experiences we feel she would do best as an ‘only dog’ in her new home so she can have 100% of the attention from her family.
WOTSIT AND NIKNAK
TALA Tala, a one-year-old German shepherd, came to DBARC because she just wasn’t getting on with another female dog in her home. She is a typical, lively young dog, and will need experienced dog owners to take her in. She has missed out on a lot of early training, but is housetrained and not destructive.
These cute male guinea pigs must be homed together as they are brothers and can’t bear to be separated. They have previously lived with children, so would make an excellent addition to any family.
ROXY Six-month-old chihuahua/Jack Russell
terrier cross Roxy came to DBARC with a broken leg, but thankfully she has now fully recovered and up for re-homing. She is quite a character and although she is a very sweet girl, she is a typical terrier and can be quite feisty. She will need to go to a family of experienced dog owners who would be used to her strong will. Can you give Roxy a loving, new home? n Could you offer a forever home to any of these animals? If the answer is ‘yes’ then please get in touch with the centre on 0118 934 1122 to make sure the animals have not already been reserved. The centre is open everyday between 11am and 1pm, and 2pm and 4pm. For more information, and to view other animals in need of a home visit www.dbarc.org.uk
The cast of The House of Bernarda Alba, the latest play from The Russell Players. It’s performed in Swallowfield Village Hall this weekend
A DARK tale of family unrest, deception and repression opens in Swallowfield tonight. The House of Bernarda Alba, the last play by Spanish dramatist Federico Garcia Lorca before his murder in 1936, tells the story of a controlling mother and her five, downtrodden daughters. Set in Andalucia, the play opens shortly after Bernarda (played by Margaret Broadhurst)’s second husband’s death, setting the tone for the rest of the performance. The daughters, Angustias (Clare Pilgrim), Magdalena (Tessa Costin), Amelia (Sheila Partington), Martirio (Lynn Wright) and Adela (Juliet Devon) are to be locked away for eight years of mourning.
Having inherited a large sum of money from her father and Bernarda’s first husband, Angustias attracts a young, attractive suitor from the village, Pepe el Romano. Stirring jealousy among her sisters, the women turn on each other, and Adela reveals that she and Pepe are having an affair. Bernarda goes after Pepe with a gun, but does she kill him, and will the sisters ever escape the walls of the house? n The House of Bernarda Alba runs until Sunday. Performances are at 7.30pm at Swallowfield Parish Hall RG7 1QX. Tickets are £8 and available from Swallowfield Stores, The Crown Public House or by calling the Box Office on 07555 073597.
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24 | LEISURE
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What’s on Friday, May 20 EARLEY – Our Lady of Peace Social Club, Wokingham Road RG6 7DA (entrance off Aldbourne Avenue). Reading and Wokingham Spanish Circle meeting: Los Misterios de Tiwanaku and El Cocoliche with Agostina Tulloch. 7.45pm. £3. Details, 0118 977 2569 or 0118 979 2458. EMMBROOK – Emmbrook Sports and Social Club, Lowther Road. Wokingham Music Club presents Hank Wangford. £10. Details: www.wokinghammusicclub. co.uk FINCHAMPSTEAD – Library, FBC Centre RG40 4ES. Rhymetime for under fives. 11am. Details: 0118 908 8176. SWALLOWFIELD – Parish Hall, Swallowfield Street RG7 1QX. The Russell Players presents The House of Bernarda Alba. 7.30pm. Details: 07555 073597. WARGRAVE – Library, Woodclyffe Hostel, Church Street RG10 8EP. Crafts and Laughs. 1.30pm-3.30pm. Details: 0118 940 4656. 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 – Bradbury Centre, Rose Street RG40 1XS. Lunch in aid of Christian Aid Week. 12.30pm-2pm. £6. Details: 0118 977 6898.
Saturday, May 21 BIX – Village Hall RG9 6BS. Christian Aid Week walk. 8.30am-10am. £20 or sponsorship. Walks of 5, 10 or 15 miles. Details: 01865 246818. DUNSDEN GREEN – Dunsden Village Hall RG4 9QG. Whalebone seasons tour. 7.30pm. £8. Details: 0118 969 3633 or 0118 947 0339. EARLEY – Earley St Peter’s, Church Rd RG6 1EY. Erleigh Cantors in concert: music from England and Italy. In
aid of Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice and church. 7.30pm. Details: 0118 966 8575 EARLEY – Earley Radstock Social Club, Radstock Lane RG6 5UL. Bingo night. 8.30pm. Details: 0118 931 3965. READING – Concert Hall, Blagrave Street RG1 1QH. Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra Concert. 7.30pm. £12, £10 concessions, £5 under 16s, newbies free. Details: 07532 217325 or buy online at www. aldworthphilharmonic. org.uk MAIDEN ERLEGH – Library, off Silverdale Road RG6 7HS. Craft time for parents and children aged 2-5. 10.45am11.15am. Details: 0118 966 6630. SWALLOWFIELD – Parish Hall, Swallowfield Street RG7 1QX. The Russell Players presents The House of Bernarda Alba. 7.30pm. Details: 07555 073597. TWYFORD – St Mary’s Church, Station Road RG10 9NT. Springtime concert in aid of Christian Aid Week, given by Reading Accordian Group and the Barberettes. £8 in advance via the RAG website or £10 on the door. Children 16 and under £3. 7.15pm. Details: www. raggroup.co.uk or 0118 934 0795. WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Teen Writing Group. 10.30am-noon. Wokingham Writers Group for adults. 10am. Details: 0118 978 1368. WOKINGHAM – Market Place. Sunny Saturdays presents: Magican Matthew Garrett. 11am-1pm. Wokingham Choral Society. 2pm-4pm. Details: www.wokinghamtc.gov.uk WOKINGHAM – Bradbury Centre, Rose Street RG40 1XS. Family film night: The Good Dinosaur 5pm. Free, donations welcomed. Details: 0118 977 6898. WOKINGHAM – Youth Centre, Reading Road RG41 1EG. Monthly tea dance: Ballroom, Latin and Sequence dancing. 8pm. Details: 0118 978 3610. WOKINGHAM – Langborough Recreation Ground, Langborough Road. The Link Visiting Scheme friendship week: community
The best guide for local, community events across Wokingham borough picnic. 1pm-3pm. All welcome. Details: 0118 979 8019. WOKINGHAM – King’s Place, Station Road. The Link Visiting Scheme Friendship Week quiz night: teams of up to eight, or join a team. £5. Bring your own drinks and nibbles. 7.30pm.Details: 0118 979 8019. WOODLEY – Town Centre. Market .day. Details: 07861 654 674 or www. woodleytowncentre.co.uk.
Sunday, May 22 BINFIELD – Foxley Fields RG42 4EW. The Binfield 10k: running, walking and jogging. Stalls, tea tent, barbecue and events for children. 10am. £13, £15 non-registered club entrants. Details: www. binfield10k.co.uk EARLEY – Our Lady of Peace Social Club, Wokingham Road RG6 7DA (entrance off Aldbourne Avenue). Treasure Hunt. Details: 0118 935 2927. EARLEY – Earley Radstock Social Club, Radstock Lane RG6 5UL. Return of the Radstock Riders in aid of cancer charities and ECA. Includes bikers buffet, prize draw and Reading FC shirt draw. From 4.15pm. Details: 0118 931 3965. EARLEY – Harris Gardens, University of Reading RG6 6UD. Open gardens in aid of Reading Mencap. 2pm-5pm. £3, under 12s free. Details: 0118 935 8221. FINCHAMPSTEAD – Glenmere, Nine Mile Ride RG40 3PA. Open garden for NGS. 2pm-5pm. £4, children free or £4.50 for combined ticket with Oak Cottage. Details: www.ngs.org.uk. FINCHAMPSTEAD – Oak Cottage, Kiln Ride RG40 3PD. Open garden for NGS. 2pm-5pm. £4, children free or £4.50 for combined ticket with Glenmere Details: www.ngs.org.uk. KNOWL HILL – Bird in Hand, Bath Road RG10 9UP. Quiz night. 8pm. Details: 01628 826622. SINDLESHAM – Baptist Church, Bearwood Road RG41 5BB. Bring and Share Lunch following 10.30am service. Details: 0118 978 3022. SWALLOWFIELD – Parish Hall, Swallowfield Street RG7 1QX. The Russell Players
presents The House of Bernarda Alba. 7.30pm. Details: 07555 073597. WOKINGHAM – Wokingham Bowls Club, Reading Road RG41 1GE. Bowling club open day 10am-2pm. Try bowls, wear flat shoes, no shorts. Details: 0118 978 0242. WOKINGHAM – Baptist Church, Milton Road. Messy Church. 4pm. Details: 0118 978 7174. WOODLEY – Town Centre. Car boot sale. 8am-1pm. £10 per Car or £8 for table top pitch/ Walk on, bring own tables. Details: 07861 654 674 or www.woodleytowncentre. co.uk.
Monday, May 23 BRACKNELL – Bracknell Open Learning Centre, Rectory Lane RG12 7GR. Bracknell Camera Club meeting: Finals Day: best of the rest. 7.30pm. Details: www. bracknell-camera-club. co.uk. LOWER EARLEY - Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Poetry Reading Group. 10.30am11.30am. Details: 0118 931 2150. NETTLEBED – The Village Club, High Street RG9 5DD. Nettlebed Folk Song Club.presents Fairport Convention. 8pm. Details: www.nettlebedfolkclub. co.uk SPENCERS WOOD - Library, Basingstoke Road RG7 1AJ. Pages in the Wood: Book group. 6pm-7pm. Details: 0118 988 4771. WARGRAVE – Library, Woodclyffe Hostel, Church Street RG10 8EP. Storytime for ages 3-5. 4pm. Details: 0118 940 4656. WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Knit, Stitch and Natter. 2pm-3pm. Children’s Book Group: Kate Greenaway Shadowing Group. For ages 6-9. Booking essential. 3.45pm-4.30pm. Details: 0118 978 1368. WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. Lacemaking Open Evening with the Wokingham Lacemakers. 7.45pm-9.15pm. Details: 0118 973 3129. WOKINGHAM – 5 The Arcade (JAC Pad). Wokingham Life Drawing Society life drawing evening. 7.15pm-9.45pm.
Bring your own materials. Details: www.facebook. com/wokingham.life. drawing.society WOODLEY – Christ Church, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3LA. Network Fellowship group. 2pm.. Details: 0118 926 8143
Tuesday, May 24 EARLEY – Palmer Building, University of Reading Whiteknights Campus RG6 2AH. Reading Film Theatre presents: Dheepan (15). 8pm. £5 members, £8 nonmembers, £7 concessions. Membership £20. Details: 0118 378 7151 or readingfilmtheatre.co.uk. EARLEY – St Nicolas, Sutcliffe Avenue. Board Games Cafe. 10am-noon. Details: 0118 966 9080. EVERSLEY CROSS – The Frog & Wicket, The Green RG27 0NS. Quiz night. 8pm. Details: 0118 973 1126. LOWER EARLEY – Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Rhymetime for babies. 10.30am-11am. Rhymetime for ages 18 month to 3 years. 11.30amnoon. Details: 0118 931 2150. WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Storytime: rhymes and stories for ages 3-5. 2pm-2.30pm. Family history drop-in. 2pm-5pm. UK Online: Help and support with computers and the internet for beginners. 2pm-4pm. Details: 0118 978 1368. WOKINGHAM – All Saints Church, Wiltshire Road. Come To The Source: space for silent meditation and prayer. 8pm. Details: 0118 979 2797. WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Crochet Group with Gaynor White from Barkham Hookers. All abilities welcome. Noon2pm. £4. Rhymetime for under fives. 10.30am. Crafts and Laughs. 2pm-4pm. Details: 0118 969 0304.
Wednesday, May 25 MAIDEN ERLEGH – Library, off Silverdale Road RG6 7HS. Colouring For Adults. 2.15pm-3pm. Details: 0118 966 6630. WARGRAVE – Library, Woodclyffe Hostel, Church
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
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groups, charities and not-for-profit activities. We cannot guarantee inclusion.
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Send your forms to: What’s On, The Wokingham Paper, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS
THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, May 20, 2016
Holding a community event? Send your listings to events@wokinghampaper.co.uk Street RG10 8EP. Knit Wits: knit or crochet club. 2pm-4pm. Details: 0118 940 4656. WINNERSH – Library, The Forest School, Robin Hood Lane RG41 5ND. Colouring For Adults. 11.45am1.15pm. Details: 0118 979 7519. WINNERSH – Royal British Legion Scoial Club, Woodward Close, Winnersh. RG41 5LP. Quiz night with Play Your Cards Right. 7.30pm. £2 per player. WOKINGHAM – Methodist Church, Rose Street RG40 1XS. Contact friendship group presents: An African Nursery with Wendy Young, followed by an AGM. 8pm. Details: 0118 977 6898. WOKINGHAM – The Cornerstone, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UE. Mothers’ Union meeting: Beware Scams. 7.45pm. Details: 0118979 2797. WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Shared Aloud Reading Group for adults. 10.30am. Details: 0118 978 1368. WOKINGHAM – All Saints Church, Wiltshire Road. Wokingham Concerts presentsRecorder virtuoso Uri Smilansky. £12.50. 8pm. 7.30pm. Details: 0118 979 2797.
Thursday, May 26 EARLEY – Palmer Building, University of Reading Whiteknights Campus RG6 2AH. Reading Film Theatre presents: High-Rise (15). 8pm. £5 members, £8 nonmembers, £7 concessions. Membership £20. Details: 0118 378 7151 or readingfilmtheatre.co.uk. EVERSLEY CROSS – The Frog & Wicket, The Green RG27 0NS. Classic Car meet: show your car, admire others. 6pm. Details: 0118 973 1126. HURST – Dinton Pastures, Davis Street. Walking book group: explore Dinton Pastures, discuss books and enjoy refreshments. 10.30am-noon. Details: 0118 978 1368. SHINFIELD – Shinfield Baptist Chuch, Hollow Lane RG2 9BT. Coffee morning. 10am-noon. Details: 0118 327 3180 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 Berkshire Camera Club (WEBCC) meeting: best of the best. 7.30pm. Details: 0118 977 5670. WOKINGHAM -– Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Archaeology Finds Surgery. 10am-noon. National Careers Service. Advice sessions to help you with career planning, CVs and interviews. 9.40am to 3.40pm. Details: 0118 978 1368.
WOKINGHAM – Town Hall, Market Place RG40 1AS. Shakespeare: a talk by Wokingham Theatre’s Nicky Allpress. 7.30pm. £5. Details: 018 978 3185. WOODLEY – The Oakwood Centre, Headley Road RG5 4JZ. Woodley and Earley Arts Group meeting: Gouache and Pastels: creating colour paintings from black and white photographs with Sonia Bacchus. Details: 0118 969 3461 or 0118 969 3311. WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Reminiscence Club: discuss days gone by. 10.30amnoon. The First Editions book group. 6pm-6.45pm Details: 0118 969 0304. WOODLEY – Peacocks Crockhamwell Road. New store opening..
Friday, May 27 FINCHAMPSTEAD – Library, FBC Centre RG40 4ES. Rhymetime for under fives. 11am. Details: 0118 908 8176. WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. An illustrated talk on bats with David Endacott of the Bat Conservation Trust. 10.30am-11.30am. £3. Crochet Group with Gaynor White from Barkham Hookers. All abilities welcome. 9.30am11.30am. £4. Local history surgery: drop-in for advice. 10am-noon. Details: 0118 978 1368. WOODLEY – Christ Church, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3LA. NSPCC Big Games Day. 7.30pm. Details: 0118 926 8143
Saturday, May 28 EARLEY – Earley Radstock Social Club, Radstock Lane RG6 5UL. Quiz night. 8pm. Details: 0118 931 3965. LOWER EARLEY – Trinity Church, Chalfont Close RG6 5HZ. Church walk - around four miles, with optional pub lunch. Come dressed for weather. 10am. Details: 0118 931 3124. MAIDEN ERLEGH – Library, off Silverdale Road RG6 7HS. Elmer storytime day. For ages 7 and under. 10.15am10.45am. Details: 0118 966 6630. WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Teen writing group. For ages 11-18. 10.30am-noon. Meet the creatures: Activity morning with the Rangers from Dinton Pastures for the under 12s. 10.30am11.30am. £1. Elmer storytime day. For ages 7 and under. 11am-11.30am. Details: 0118 978 1368. WOKINGHAM – Grays Farm, Heathlands Road, Annual plant sale in aid of British Red Cross. 10am-3pm. WOKINGHAM – Market Place. Sunny Saturdays presents: Jane Shaw Cunningham: medium. 11am-1pm. Strictly Cuban Salsa. 2pm-4pm. Details: www.wokinghamtc.gov.uk WOKINGHAM – Langborough Recreation Ground. Wokingham Town Council
presents a family fun day: face painting, magic, petting zoo, fairground rides, food, fun and refreshments. Free entry. 10am-4pm. Details: 0118 978 3185. WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Elmer storytime day. For ages 7 and under. 11am-11.30am. French Conversation Club for those with basic French knowledge. 2pm-3pm. Details: 0118 969 0304. WOODLEY – The Pagoda, Shopping Precinct, Crockhamwell Road. Earley St Peter’s Church Choir charity sale: bric-a-brac, toys, DVDs, CDs, books and more. 9am-3pm. WOODLEY – Town Centre. Market .day. Details: 07861 654 674 or www. woodleytowncentre.co.uk.
Sunday, May 29 EARLEY – Aisha Masjid and Islamic Centre, London Road RG6 1BW. Family funday including barbecue, games room, rodeo bull, pony rides, sweets, clothes stalls, food court, bouncy castle, face painting, henna and more. £2. Noon-6pm. FARLEY HILL – Victory Hall, Church Road RG7 1TR. Classic and retro car and bike show. 11am-2pm. Free entry. Details: richard@ tvplex.com SONNING – Across village. Sonning Scarecrow trail, open gardens and displa of classic ars. Parking: The Mill at Sonning or Sonning Farm RG4 6TH. 11am-4.30pm. Trail map and entry to gardens £5. WOKINGHAM – Youth Centre, Reading Road RG41 1EG. Monthly tea dance: Ballroom, Latin and Sequence dancing. 2.30pm. Details: 0118 978 3610. WOODLEY – Town Centre. Car boot sale. 8am-1pm. £10 per Car or £8 for table top pitch/ Walk on, bring own tables. Details: 07861 654 674 or www.woodleytowncentre. co.uk. WOODLEY – Christ Church, Crockhamwell Road RG5 3LA. Games Afternoon: bring games to play, join in with others. Stay with picnic lunch after church or join from 2pm. Ends 6.30pm.. Details: 0118 926 8143
Bank Holiday Monday, May 30 SONNING – Across village. Sonning Scarecrow trail, open gardens and displa of classic ars. Parking: The Mill at Sonning or Sonning Farm RG4 6TH. 11am-4.30pm. Trail map and entry to gardens £5. WOKINGHAM – 5 The Arcade (JAC Pad). Wokingham Life Drawing Society life drawing evening. 7.15pm-9.45pm. Bring your own materials. Details: www.facebook. com/wokingham.life. drawing.society WOODLEY – Shopping precincnt, Crockhamwell Road RG5 4JZ. Children’s fun day with magic show and Punch & Judy. Live farm animals. Free. Details: www. woodleytowncentre.co.uk
Elgar’s Enigma at Aldworth concert A CLASSICAL music concert tomorrow night will be a bit of an enigma. The Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra is presenting its spring performance at Reading’s Concert Hall from 7.30pm. The group of amateur musicians usually rehearse in Sonning ahead of their shows and this season’s show features a performance of Elgar’s Enigma Variations, as well as Malcolm Arnold’s Symphony No.5, a piece of music that aims to remember “friends who died too young”. There will also be a second performance of a piece created for the orchestra’s Young Composers Award: Fumiko Miyachi’s Variation on Purcell/ Warlock Fantasia No.2 was first premiered by the group 10 years ago. Tickets cost £12, £10 for concessions and £5 for under 16s. For people who have never been to a classical music concert before, the group operates a Concert Virgins scheme, enabling free entry. For more details, log on to www. aldworthphilharmonic.org.uk or call 07532 217325.
Wokingham duo are in the dumps TWO Wokingham thespians will be returning to the area this weekend as part of a touring production of Stig of the Dump. William Pennington, from Finchampstead, attended St Crispin’s school before gaining a place at the prestigious Rose Bruford College where he gained a BA(Hons) in Actor Musicianship. Casey Jay Andrews, from Wokingham, stepped in to save the day after the actress playing Grandma broke her foot during a performance. Her theatre company Hook Hitch Theatre is an associate company of South Hill Park and has performed there a number of times. Directed by Olivier Award Winner Luke Sheppard, London Contemporary Theatre brings an exciting and innovative
www.anvilarts.org.uk 01256 844244 Kronos Quartet. Fri. Malcolm Holcombe. Fri. Nigel Kennedy. Sat. Singalonga Frozen. Sat 28. Singalonga Grease. Sat 28. Joel Savoy, Jesse Lege and The Cajun Country Revival - SOLD OUT. Sat 28.
Basingstoke – The Haymarket www.anvilarts.org.uk 01256 844244 Legally Blonde. Fri-Say. Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino. Tues. Girls With Balls. Wed. Graeme of Thrones. Fri 27. Judie Tzuke. Sat 28.
Bracknell – South Hill Park www.southhillpark.org.uk (01344) 484123 Stig of the Dump. Until Sat. What I Learned From Jonny Bevan. Fri. The Comedy Cellar. Fri. Wilde Sundays. Sun. Vielos (Flights). Tues. Americana Night with Corinne West. Tues. 1972: The Future of Sex. Wed. Shakespeare Rattle n Roll.
A new way to enjoy Shakespeare
THE three films being screened at this year’s Wokingham Open Air Cinema have just been announced. The annual event in Elms Field offers a fun night out for all ages, with films shown on a pop-up screen. Running for three nights from Friday, August 19 to Sunday, August 21 - and a week ahead of Wokingham Festival in the same place - guests are asked to bring something to sit on and a picnic to enjoy while waiting for the films to start.
production of this classic children’s story to the stage. Barney is staying with his grandparents when he falls over the edge of an old chalk pit and tumbles through the roof of a hidden den. He meets sees Stig, a caveman, with shaggy black hair and bright black eyes. The chalk pit is disused and full of people’s dumped rubbish, which Stig uses to make his home. Barney and Stig become best of friends and embark on exciting adventures together, causing a little mischief along the way. The trouble is, no one believes Barney, until they see something truly magical... Stig of the Dump runs until Saturday at South Hill Park. Tickets start from £11. To book visit www.southhillpark.org.uk or call 01344 484 123.
Thurs. An Audience With Anne Reid. Thurs. Buddy Holly and the Cricketers. Fri 27. The Comedy Cellar. Fri 27. Don’t Dribble on the Dragon. Sat 28. Night of the Guitar. Sat 28. Cinderella Auditions. Sun 29. La Boheme. Sun 29. Creative Control Band Night. Sun 29. FILMS: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Fri-Sun. High-Rise. Fri-Sun. Court. Tues. Secret In Their Eyes. Wed. Time Out of Mind. Thurs. Eddie The Eagle. Fri 27-Sun 29. The Revenant. Sat 27-Sun 29.
Camberley – Theatre www.camberleytheatre.biz 01276 707600 Camberley Youth Wind Orchestra. Fri-Sat. Dame Judi Dench Film Season: Mrs Henderson Presents (12), Tues. Shakespeare’s Globe and Seabright Productions present Shakespeare Untold. Wed. Mad About The Musicals 10th Anniversary Starring Gareth Gates and Michael Courtney. Thurs. Camberley Comedy Club May 2016. Fri 27. An Evening with Anita Harris. Sat 28.
Didcot –
knowledge of 300 years of recorder music. Dr Smilansky was born and brought up in Israel where he is well known as a performer on both recorder and viola da gamba. He’s lived in the UK since 2006 and majored in French music in the 14th and 15th centuries. The concert costs £12.50. For more details or to book tickets log on to www.wokinghamconcerts.co.uk
Three to see at the cinema under the stars
At the theatre Basingstoke – The Anvil
LEISURE | 25
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Friday, May 20, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER
The films chosen this year are 1968 classic The Italian Job, Disney Pixar animation Wall-E and 1980s romantic fantasy The Princess Bride. The Italian Job needs little introduction – the film, which stars Michael Caine and Benny Hill, is often described as the ultimate heist movie and sees a gang of scallywags use Minis to plan the raid of the century. Wall-E is a charming family film that focuses on a small waste-collecting robot lost in space and looking for love.
Children’s music takes the Mickey ON SUNDAY, children are invited to join in a magical classical concert. The programme includes a wealth of famous children’s pieces including Dukas’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice, a suite of music made famous by Walt Disney’s classic Mickey Mouse animation Fantasia. During the performance, narrator David Barrell will explain how the apprentice’s broomsticks go wildly out of control. Can they be tamed? The short concert also includes music from John Williams’ film score for Harry Potter. It takes place from 3.30pm on Sunday
Cornerstone www.cornerstone-arts.org 01235 515144 Richard Herring: Happy Now?. Sat 21. Curious. Sun. Light Show. Tues-Wed. FILM: Girlhood. Thurs. Science, Art & Spirituality: Exploring Fields of Human Endeavour. Fri 27. Mark Thompson: The Show At The End Of The Universe. Sat 28. Shakespeare Untold. Sun 29.
Guildford – Yvonne Arnaud www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk 01483 440000 Sweet Charity. Until Say. The 39 Steps. Mon-Sat 28.
Henley – Kenton Theatre www.kentontheatre.co.uk 01491 575698 Kast Off Kinks. Sat. Jekyll and Hyde 2016. Wed-Sat 28. David Starkey The King Is Dead. Sun 29.
High Wycombe – Wycombe Swan www.wycombeswan.co.uk 01494 512000 Shazia Mirza. Sun. Matthew
Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty. Tues-Sat 28.
Maidenhead – Norden Farm www.nordenfarm.org 01628 788997 Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman. Fri. St John’s Chamber Orchestra Summer Concert. Sat. ROH Live: Frankenstein. Sun. Woody Mann. Wed. Teatro Alla Scala - The Temple of Wonders. Thurs. Funmbi Omotayo: Legal Immigrant. Thurs. Spring into Jazz with Simon Allen (sax). Fri 27. Richard Herring: Happy Now? Sat 28. The Vinyl Frontier presents Castaway Vinyl. Sat 28. Dinosaur Park. Sun 29. FILMS: The Man Who Knew Infinity. Sun, Tues. Midnight Special (12a). Mon-Tues. Eye In The Sky (15). Sun, Tues.
Newbury – The Corn Exchange www.cornexchangenew.com 0845 5218 218 Anoushka Shankar: An Evening of Classical Indian Ragas. Fri. Mirthful Mish Mash. Fri Palisander. Fri. London Brass With Martin Baker. Fri. Rainer Hersch: Classic Greats, Comedy
And 1987 film The Princess Bride is the story of Westley, a farmhand who has to rescue Princess Buttercup from Prince Humperdinck and features Peter Falk – aka Columbo – as the narrator. The event is free, but donations towards costs are welcomed. It is being sponsored by three Wokingham businesses, Michael Hardy Property Estate Agents, The Eye People and Zappas. For more details, visit www. wokinghamopenaircinema.co.uk
at the church of Reading Minster of St Mary the Virgin in Reading’s town centre. Tickets cost £5 for adults and £3 for children and are available by calling 0118 986 0707 or 0118 973 5517 or visiting www.rso.org.uk.
Celebrate 300 years of the recorder AN EXPERT in early music will give a virtuoso performance in Wokingham on Wednesday night. Dr Uri Smilansky will present the latest in All Saints’ Church’s baroque music concerts from 8pm. The Wiltshire Road church will welcome the expert, who will share his
Gold. Sat. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Pinchas Zukerman. SOLD OUT. Sat. Flights of Fancy. Sat. NT Encore: A View From The Bridge. Tues. Circus of Horrors. Wed. Live and Lyrical. Thurs. The Best Thing. Thurs. Jongleurs Comedy Club. Fri 27. Teatro Alla Scala: the Temple of Wonders. Sat 28. The People’s Tower. Sun 29-Mon 30.
Newbury – The Watermill www.watermill.org.uk. 01635 46044 Untold Stories. Until Jun 11.
Reading – South Street www.readingarts.com 0118 960 6060 Sitelines: Handle With Care. Until Sun. Third Friday Blues: Zoe Schawartz Blue Commotion. Fri. Poets Cafe with AF Harrold. Fri. Double Dot Bash! Sat. Inspector Sands: The Lounge. Thurs-Fri 27. La Baracca-Testoni Ragazzi (Italy) Spot. Sun 29.
Reading – The Hexagon www.readingarts.com 0118 960 6060
A TALK at Wokingham Town Hall will explore the best way to experience the work of playwright William Shakespeare. On Thursday, Wokingham Theatre’s artistic director Nicky Allpress will shares ideas about immersing yourself in Shakespeare’s texts, taking a theatrical approach that entertains while covering the finer points of the Bard’s works. The event takes place from 7.30pm on Thursday, May 26 at the Market Place venue. Entry cost £5. For tickets visit the Wokingham Town Council Information Centre or call 0118 978 3185.
Look out for the scarecrows! OVER the bank holiday weekend, there will be no crows in Sonning. The village is being taken over by colourful scarecrows and everyone is invited to come along and visit them. Local residents are creating a host of characters and putting them up in their front gardens for people to enjoy. The bi-annual event also includes a range of open gardens and a selection of classic and vintage cars to appreciate. Entertainment will also be available in the Pearson Hall and Sports and Social Club. There is no entry charge, but trail maps cost £5 per adult and includes entry to the gardens. Parking is available at the Mill at Sonning and also at Sonning Farm. The event runs on Sunday, May 29 and Bank Holiday Monday from 11am to 4.30pm.
Puppetry of the Penis. Sat. Sainsbury Singers Present: Hot Mikado. Wed-Sat 28. Aliens Love Underpants. Sun 29-Mon 30.
Reading – The Concert Hall www.readingarts.com 0118 960 6060 Audience With Lucy Worsley. Sun.
Reading – Progress Theatre www.progresstheatre.co.uk 0118 384 2195 Suddenly Last Summer. Until Sat. Jazz at the Progress: Scott Wilcox Big Band. Fri 27.
Shinfield – Shinfield Players www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk 0118 975 8880 Next show: Agatha Crusty and the Village Hall Murders. June 8-11.
Sonning – The Mill www.millatsonning.com 0118 969 8000 It Runs In The Family. Until July 2. The Rod Stewart Experience. Sun.
Windsor – Royal www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk 01753 853888 Lotty’s War. Until Sat. Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers. Sun. Laila The Musical. Tues-Sat 28. The Bowie Experience. Sun 29.
Woking – New Victoria www.ambassadortickets.com 0844 871 7645 Menopause The Musical. Fri. Pasha … It’s All About You. Sat. The Carpenters Story. Sun. Tell Me On A Sunday. Tues. Buddy Holly and the Cricketers. Wed. Psychic. Sally: Call Me Psychic. Thurs. My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty. Sat 28-Sun 29.
Wokingham – Theatre www.wokingham-theatre.org.uk 0118 978 5363 Next Show: Blue Stockings. June 16-25.
Woodley – Theatre www.woodleytheatre.org 07939 210121 Troubled Times. Until Sat. Next Show: Rough Crossing. June 14-18.
Your weekly puzzle challenge
26 | LEISURE
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Quiz Challenge
CROSS CODE 7
17
15
6
23 20
13
12 6
12
22 10 11
2
10
5
12
24
1
14
11
6
13
13
24
2
20
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26
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15 19
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26
14
15
8
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2 9
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26 14
10
15
25
2
12
12
24
15
9 17
10
18 6
22 23 15
15
3
21
25
21
23
15
4 26
15
25
14
4 21
25
15
14 13
15 12
6 21
26 20
1. Which general defected from the Americans to the British during the American Revolutionary War? 2. ‘Men in grey suits’ is a slang description of which predators? 3. Who played the part of the writer Iris Murdoch (as an adult) in the 2002 film Iris? 4. According to the Bible, which food sustained the Israelites in the wilderness? 5. William Hague has written biographies of two Williams. One was William Wilberforce; who was the other?
10
14
15
10
20
23
14 20
2
6
15
10
14
15
11
25
10
15
14
14
2
14
15
21
10
16
25 14
6
14
6
10
23
10
NONAGRAM
15 21
26
R
10
2
3
4
5
6
14
15
16
17
18
19
R
A
7
8
9
10
11
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13
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26
P
I
D
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 D through openings in the walls. The S first letter may appear in any chamber. U O
S A Y
Each number in our Cross Code grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. You have three letters in the control grid to start you off. Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you get the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and control grid. Check off the alphabetical list of letters as you identify them.
MAGIC SQUARE
MARINE ASSORTMENT
How many words of four letters or more can you make from this Nonagram? Each word must use the central letter, and each letter may be used only once. At least one word using all nine letters can be found. Guidelines: 22 Good; 26 Very Good; 30 Excellent.
MT
RA
SO
IU
EL
LE
OA
2 5 1 5 6 7 9 4 8
1 3 6 7 3 8 4 7 1 5 7 2 8 6 6 2 4 1 5 2 7 3 6
6 2 7
EA
1 4 6
8 3
4 1
8 7
5
D
E
A T
V N
A
Here are two miniature fivesquare crosswords using the same grid – but the letters have been mixed up. You have to work out which letters belong to which crossword.
DL
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.
9 2
8
2
3
4
Perform the first calculation in each line first and ignore the mathematical law which says you should always perform division and multiplication before addition and subtraction.
6 5 4 8 1 9
5
All puzzles on this page are supplied by Sirius Media Services. To try more of our puzzles interactively online go to www.puzzledrome.com © Sirius Media Services Ltd
9
7
10 10
11
12 13
16
14
15 22
18
16
17
19
26
20
21 23
24
DOWN 2. Weakened Donald endlessly in the rush (7)
9. Supranational body expected to be unjustifiable (5) 10. Tory politician moved from Cremona (7)
3. Council exhibit only part of the tree (4) 4. A small gate on the pitch? (6) 5. Correspondence feature of a crossword grid (8) 6. Terrorists conceal the slip (5)
12. Soldiers have a vehicle on which to practise (8) 14. Was shifty when surrounded (6) 15. Thrifty girl removed fur first (6)
7. Look on the other side of the leaf? (4,3,4) 8. Stressing that the lackey is going round inside (11)
18. Wrap club around succession 13. Listen again to words of approval (4,4) of local visits (3-5) 20. Make a sharp point about suffering (4)
16. Angered another Spanish nobleman (7)
22. Well-bred fellow takes the fish (7)
17. I left idiot outside when it was almost dark (6)
23. Left port weighed down (5)
19. Benjamin is popular with African country (5)
24. One in France kept defenceless (11)
21. Boy removed lace (4)
QUICK CROSSWORD 1
2
3
4
5
7
6
10
10
11
11
12
11 13
17
14
15
16
21
22
22
23
25
24
26
23
28
29 29
14
13
18 19
20
7
8
9
32
SOLUTIONS
6
8
ACROSS 1. Cleared the head in the most comprehensive fashion? (11)
EQUALISER 3 10 5 2 6 1 2 12 8 5 1 2
Hard
7 9
G
AE
YS
Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box.
4
A
YR
LE
SUDOKU Easy
I
IO
GL
LU
1
7
32
S
TR
RE
GT
1
11. Devilish old cut? (4)
JU
IO
CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
22
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 luxury Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai is designed to look like what? 7. Which author wrote the novels The Hunt for Red October and Patriot Games? 8. Which James Bond movie starred Monica Bellucci as the widow of assassin Marco Sciarra? 9. Which company in 1948 became the first to introduce steel-belted radial tyres? 10. The board game Diplomacy is set in Europe before the beginning of which war?
WORD PYRAMID
K C T
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 1
THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, May 20, 2016
27
28
30 31 33
26. Fiend (5) ACROSS 1. Addictive drug (8) 29. Food fish (4) 30. Abandoned, in 6. Notion (4) ruins (8) 8. Female fowl (3) 31. The whole (3) 9. Demote (8) 32. Piquancy (4) 10. Cut (4) 33. Outside (8) 12. Stitched (5) DOWN 14. Gaze fixedly (5) 2. Peak (4) 17. At any time (4) 3. Intelligent (6) 18. Manual worker (8) 4. Journey (6) 20. Miming game (8) 5. Masticate (4) 24. Hang in balance (4) 6. In place (2,4) 25. Sweet, thick fluid (5) 7. Regime (anag.) (6)
11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 19. 21. 22. 23. 24. 27. 28.
Sailing vessel (5) Portable chair (5) Ventured (5) Female pig (3) Shakespearean forest (5) Wear away (5) Beam (3) Reverence (6) Say again (6) Covert (6) Aspen (6) Lazy (4) Reverberation (4)
8 6 9 2 7 5 1 3 4
4 1 3 6 9 8 5 7 2
2 7 5 4 3 1 6 9 8
5 8 6 1 2 7 3 4 9
1 4 7 9 8 3 2 6 5
3 9 2 5 4 6 8 1 7
6 2 1 7 5 9 4 8 3
9 3 4 8 1 2 7 5 6
6 5 9 7 4 1 8 3 2
7 5 8 3 6 4 9 2 1
EASY SUDOKU
E
R
O W
F
14 1
15 2
Z
16 3
CROSS CODE
2 8 4 3 6 9 1 5 7
7 1 3 2 5 8 4 9 6
5 9 8 4 2 6 3 7 1
4 7 1 9 3 5 6 2 8
3 6 2 8 1 7 5 4 9
1 2 5 6 7 3 9 8 4
9 3 7 1 8 4 2 6 5
8 4 6 5 9 2 7 1 3
HARD SUDOKU
U
17 4
V
X
18 5
C
K
19 6
A
P
20 7
Q
N
21 8
J
Y
22 9
B
WORD PYRAMID: Disadvantageous. EQUALISER: Clockwise from top left – multiply; subtract; divide; add. Total: 4. MAGIC SQUARE: Oman; mire; arts; nest.
G
23
S
10
H
24
M
11
25
I
T
12
D
26
L
13
QUICK CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Narcotic; 6 Idea; 8 Hen; 9 Relegate; 10 Snip; 12 Sewed; 14 Stare; 17 Ever; 18 Labourer; 20 Charades; 24 Pend; 25 Honey; 26 Demon; 29 Hake; 30 Derelict; 31 All; 32 Zest; 33 Exterior. Down – 2 Apex; 3 Clever; 4 Travel; 5 Chew; 6 In situ; 7 Emigré; 11 Ketch; 12 Sedan; 13 Dared; 14 Sow; 15 Arden; 16 Erode; 19 Ray; 21 Homage; 22 Repeat; 23 Secret; 24 Poplar; 27 Idle; 28 Echo.
the page; 8 Underlining; 13 Hear hear; 16 Grandee; 17 Twilit; 19 acid; acidy; acrid; asdic; cadi; card; cart; cask; cast; cist; city; crista; Benin; 21 Alec. cyst; dick; dicky; disc; drastic; icky; karstic; racist; rack; racy; rick; sack; satyric; scad; scar; scary; scat; scry; sick; stack; stick; sticky; tack; tacky; tick; track; trick; tricksy; tricky; yack; YARDSTICK.
Down – Mogul; Jelly; Royal. CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Brainwashed; 9 Undue; 10 Cameron; 11 Nick; 12 (2) Across – Trust; Tiger; Eased. Down – Title; Urges; Tired. Rehearse; 14 Hedged; 15 Frugal; 18 Pub-crawl; 20 Pain; 22 Genteel; 23 Laden; 24 Unprotected. NONAGRAM: Down – 2 Reduced; 3 Ilex; 4 Wicket; 5 Symmetry; 6 Error; 7 Turn
QUIZ CHALLENGE: 1 Benedict Arnold; 2 Sharks; 3 Judi Dench; 4 Manna; 5 William Pitt the Younger; 6 The sail of a ship; 7 Tom Clancy; 8 Spectre; 9 Michelin; 10 World War I.
(1) Across – Major; Gully; Loyal.
FIVE ALIVE:
LEISURE | 27
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Friday, May 20, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER
AT THE CINEMA
The acoustic couch
Angry Birds fly in
Remembering my dear friend Liz
Kim Taylor-Foster
Upcoming music with Jody Mc
This week, I had to say goodbye to a dear friend. Her massive zest for life will mean that she will be missed greatly. Here we pay tribute to her
Liz Bindley, a dear friend who recently died. Her funeral took place this week and this week I’m paying tribute to her
L Voices: Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Danny McBride, Kate McKinnon, Peter Dinklage Bill Hader and Maya Rudolph
I
T seems a while ago now when Angry Birds became a thing. For a relatively short moment in time, mobile users became obsessed with the addictive downloadable game, which involved flinging a variety of cartoon birds (angry ones) at a bunch of cartoon pigs against a variety of backdrops via a catapult. It spawned a batch of merchandise that’s still popular today. And so to the feature-length film, just released in cinemas. It takes a long time to make an animated film, and its producers must have been banking on the phenomenon still being a thing in 2016. That it became a games franchise, with six new versions released in 2014 and even more last year, has kept the brand in the public consciousness, even if interest has waned. Profits have significantly dipped year after year but there’s appetite enough still among its young target audience for a film to make an impact. Indeed, it’s likely to give the game itself the shot in the arm it arguably needs. But parents shouldn’t despair. Despite what you might think, the film is actually quite good. Its storyline is based around the basic premise of the game itself, and explains not only why these particular birds are so fired up, and why they’re attacking pigs, but also why they can’t fly. Red (voiced by Jason Sudeikis) is the angriest of the birds, who for the most part live in harmony on their island, which is their entire world. When Red is encouraged to join an anger management class, he is thrown together with fellow irate avians Bomb (Danny McBride) and Chuck (Josh Gad). Still the most irritable of the lot, Red is deeply suspicious when a pig population shows up promising fun and extending the hand of friendship. His instincts are right, but it’s not until the pigs have executed their secret plan that his feathered pals believe him. Cue operation revenge. They’re not going to take this lying down, so they take to the air (via slingshot) instead, with Red encouraging them all to harness their anger as motivation to carry out their bold attack. With a voice cast tailored to the adult audience – as well as funny guys Sudeikis, McBride and Gad, there’s Maya Rudolph, Peter Dinklage, Bill Hader and Sean Penn – you’ve some idea in advance of what to expect. As with the best animated films aimed at children, it’s designed to work on two levels, and The Angry Birds Movie delivers. There are jokes, references and voice performances meant purely for the grown ups, while kids will love it for other reasons – the colourful animation, the silliness, the gamebased storyline and, of course, the action and characters. Some animations are a chore for parents to sit through. Not this one.
was one of my best friends for a long time and I am truly sorry not to be able to see her again or have one of her huge hugs. Love you Liz xx
Anneka Higmam-Hook:
What a wonderful life taken away far too soon xx
Jonathan James Ashby:
This is the saddest day of my life so far, I will miss you so much Liz Brindley you meant so much to me! You will live on in my memory forever. Thank you for being a wonderful friend.
Gemma Harris
Rest in peace Liz Brindley, you were absolutely one of a kind. The amount of people who attended today was a testament to your generous spirit and impact on others. Thank you, sleep well and we’ll always remember you. xx
A few goodbyes… Kelly Ferris:
Liz and I have shared a lot of funny and happy memories and also shared our upsets. She was always able to make me smile and she had a wonderful laugh. She was so thoughtful and kind. I have lots of lovely things she has made for me over the years that I will always cherish. She couldn’t whisper LOL! It used to get us in trouble. When she was younger a vegetarian unless of course we had been out for a few drinks then of course the allure of meat was too much and we would hit the kebab van – we would always laugh about it. She
Hannah Fleur Mullan
Liz Brindley I’m sure you were looking down on us all, it was so overwhleming to see the huge crowd that was there supporting you! You touched so many people with your kindness, lovely nature and bubbly smile. Being back at South Hill Park today felt sad without you but was also so lovely to see so many old friendly faces... forever in our hearts!
STR8TS
SUDOKU
No. 282
Medium
9
7 8 6 7 8 6 7 5 4 9 8 1 6 4 3 5 2 1 3 3 2
3 7 5
2 5 6
4 5
8 9 1 4
6 7 5 7 7
2
You can find more help, tips and hints at www.str8ts.com
No. 282
Previous solution - Easy
2 3 4 4 3 2 1 5 1 3 3 2 2 4 6 5 7 5 8 9 6 1 7 8 9 8 7 8 9 4 6
8 2 1 3 4 6 7
5 4 6 3 2
Very Hard
3 4
1 5
Previous solution - Tough
3 8 2 4 7 9 1 5 6
6 5 7
4 4
7 3
9 3 5
4
How to beat Str8ts – Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These need to be filled in with numbers that complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order, eg [4,2,3,5]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to The solutions will be published here in the next issue. see how ‘straights’ are formed.
2
1 8
7
6 1 5
3
5 8
2 6
© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles
«««««
© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles
Angry Birds: The Movie (PG)
IZ Brindley. She was the Duchess of drama, the Butchess of Bracknell and a friend to so many in minutes. A dose of bonkers, A breath of fresh air, the tattoos and the hair! Then the piercings and the never-ending talents at making things. Liz Brindley was was so, so clever, bright, bubbly and full of passion. Liz was also that person; whatever was going on in her life she put you first. Others needs were far more important to her. Some of you will have known her as a drama teacher and actor, who volunteered at South Hill Park. She was looking forward to coming on board the Acoustic Couch to share her skills. This week, so many had to say “see you soon” to a dearly loved and exquisite human that was just the best at being. She was a girl that had the ornate ability to take the highs of life and share them with everyone. Her work in care and her care for all things performance highlighted her massive zest for life. I love and will miss my friend, as I know will many others. Please enjoy and share in the celebration of the most extravagant character I’ve know and called a friend, as you take a ganders through some pictures and tributes to Liz.
1 9 6 3 5 8 7 4 2
4 7 5 6 2 1 9 8 3
8 1 4 9 3 5 6 2 7
6 5 3 7 8 2 4 1 9
7 2 9 1 6 4 8 3 5
2 6 7 8 1 3 5 9 4
5 4 1 2 9 6 3 7 8
9 3 8 5 4 7 2 6 1
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
28 | LEISURE
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Gig guide Friday, May 20 BAGSHOT – The Cedar Tree, High Street GU19 5AG. Stealers Bluff. Details: 01276 473160. BAGSHOT – The Three Mariners, High Street GU19 5AW. Anna Nightningale. Details: 01276 473768. BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Barry White. Details: 01344 303333. CAMBERLEY – Mr Bumble, GU17 9AP. The Power of Soul. Details: 01276 32691. CAMBERLEY – The Royal Standard, Frimley Road GU15 2PP. Nevermind. Details: 01276 27641. FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. Zak. Details: 01252 519964. HENLEY – The Five Horseshoes, Maidensgrove. Rebecca Poole Trio with Hugh Turner.£25, includes supper. Details: READING – South Street. Third Friday Blues: Zoe Schawartz Blue Commotion. Details: 0118 960 6060. READING – The Red Lion, Southampton Street RG1 2QL. Open mic night. Details: 0118 958 2797. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Mighty Leap. Details: 0118 958 6692. READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. The Scarlet Vixens. Cubed with DJ Yoda, DJ Binge, Jim B Donovan, Whitehouse Studio and more. Details: 0118 959 5395. READING – Oakford Social Club, Blagrave Street RG1 1PZ. Black and White Music: The Black Tambourines, support and Groove Lab DJs. Details: www. oakfordsocialclub.com. READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. JUNCTION MUSIC: Hip-hop/ Grime – Faces
Of Death / Lemar / Borjad Luis / Skittlez. Dark Matter: Tim Sharpe/Shoon. Details: 0118 959 7196. EMMBROOK – Sports and Social Club, Lowther Road RG41 1JB. Wokingham Music Club presents Hank Wangford: the father figure of British country music. Details: wokinghammusicclub.co.uk SHINFIELD – The Bell & Bottle, School Green. Robbie Lee. Details: 0118 988 3563. SONNING – The Mill at Sonning RG4 6TY. Glyn and Elaine in the Watermill Bar. Details: 0118 969 8000. WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. Live Music. Details: 0118 978 0918. WOKINGHAM – The Molly Millar, Station Road RG40 2AD. 70s, 80s night with DJ Mally. Details: 0118 977 4548. WOKINGHAM – The Red Lion, Market Place RG40 1AL. Ultimate Party Nights. Details: 0118 979 5790. WOKINGHAM – Spin Nightclub, Alexandra Court RG40 2SL. Frisky Fridays. Details: 07415 354056. YATELEY – The Cricketers, Cricket Hill Lane GU46 6BA. Phill Aaron. Details: 01252 872105.
Saturday, May 21 ASCOT – Jagz, Station Road. Rob and the Retros. Details: 01344 878100. BINFIELD – Binfield Club, Forest Road RG42 4DU. Stealers Bluff. Details: 01344 420572. BLACKWATER – Hawley Bridge Working Men’s Club, Willows Lane GU17 9DL. Uptown Traffic. Details: 01276 31037. BRACKNELL – The Boot Inn, Park Road RG12 2LU. Stone Thorn. Details: 01344 454532. BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John
THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, May 20, 2016
HOLDING A GIG, QUIZ OR GAMES NIGHT? SEND DETAILS TO EVENTS@WOKINGHAMPAPER.CO.UK Nike Way RG12 8TF. Funky Funks. Details: 01344 303333. BRACKNELL – The Silver Birch, Liscombe RG12 7DE. Red Aztek. Details: 01344 457318. BRACKNELL – The Royal Oak, London Road RG12 2NN. Utter Madness. Details: 01344 422622. CAMBERLEY – Mr Bumble, GU17 9AP. Arachna. Details: 01276 32691. FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. DJ Sting. Details: 01252 519964. FINCHAMPSTEAD – The Queen’s Oak, Church Lane RG40 4LS. Daryl Gould. Details: 0118 973 4855. FLEET – The Falkners Arms, Falkners Close GU51 2XF. Hooky. Details: 01252 811311. FLEET – The Harlington, Fleet Road GU51 4BY. Comedy night. Details: 01252 811009. FRIMLEY GREEN – Frimley Green Working Mens Club, Sturt Road GU16 6HX. Will.i.an. Details: 01252 835322. HOOK – The Raven, Station Road RG27 9HS. Kieran Acoustic. Details: 01256 762541. READING – South Street. Double Dot Bash!. Details: 0118 960 6060. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. DJ Dom. Details: 0118 958 6692. READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. Forever Jackson and Dancers. Details: 0118 402 7800. READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. Highwasters. Details: 0118 957 6930. READING – Oakford Social Club, Blagrave Street RG1 1PZ. Chris Bound’s Rhythm and Blues Revue. Details: www.oakfordsocialclub. com. READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. SPEAKBEATS: Theresa Lola / Caroline Teague. Details: 0118 959 7196. READING – O’Neills, Friar Street RG1 1BD. Live music. Details: 0118 960 6580.
READING – The Walkabout, Wiston Terrace, off Friar Street RG1 1DG. Saturday sessions. Details: 0118 953 0000. SANDHURST – The Rose and Crown, High Street GU47 8HA. The Bite. Details: 01252 878938. SONNING – The Mill at Sonning RG4 6TY. Tim Valentine in The Watermill Bar. Details: 0118 969 8000. TWYFORD – The Golden Cross, Waltham Road RG10 9EG. Said and Done. Details: 07946 342551. WEST END – West End Social Club, High Street GU26 9PL. The Mays. Details: 01276 858501. WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Gigabit. Details: 0118 978 0918. WOKINGHAM – The Molly Millar, Station Road RG40 2AD. 70s, 80s night with DJ Mally. Details: 0118 977 4548. WOKINGHAM – The Red Lion, Market Place RG40 1AL. Ultimate Party Nights. Details: 0118 979 5790. WOKINGHAM – Spin Nightclub, Alexandra Court RG40 2SL. Essential Saturday. Details: 07415 354056.
Sunday, May 22 BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Wilde Sundays. Details: 01344 484123. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Readifolk: Singers Night. Details: 0118 958 6692. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Readirockrevolutions. Details: 0118 958 6692. READING – Oakford Social Club, Blagrave Street RG1 1PZ. Reading Swing Jam presents Sunday Swing. Details: www. oakfordsocialclub.com. SHINFIELD – The Bell & Bottle, School Green. Open mic and jam night. Details: 0118 988 3563. SONNING – The Mill at Sonning RG4 6TY. The Rod Stewart Experience. Details: 0118 969 8000.
Monday, May 23 STOKE ROW – Crooked Billet RG9 5PU. The Jar Family. Details: 01491 681048.
Tuesday, May 24 BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Americana Night with Corrinne West. Details: 01344 484123. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Ella Moretti-Chambers. Details: 0118 958 6692. READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Lonely The Brave. Details: 0118 959 5395. READING – Speakeasy Cocktail Bar, St Mary’s Butts RG1 2LG. Open mic night with Scott Lewis and guests. Details: 0118 957 3500.
Wednesday, May 25 FLEET – Propaganda Music Canteen, Fleet Road GU51 3BU. Live Lounge Sessions: Emma Kennedy. Details: 01252 620198. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Berkshire Jazz Jam with Ken Thompson. Details: 0118 958 6692. READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. BBC Introducing LIVE: Prose – live / Haize – live. Details: 0118 959 7196.
Thursday, May 26 ASCOT – Jagz, Station Road. Platform Live Jam Night. Details: 01344 878100. CAMBERLEY – Mr Bumble, GU17 9AP. Jam Night. Details: 01276 32691. EVERSLEY CROSS – The Frog and Wicket, The Green RG27 0NS. Classic car meet. From 6pm. Details: 0118 973 1126. FLEET – Propaganda Music Canteen, Fleet Road GU51 3BU. Will.I.An. Details: 01252 620198. HENLEY – Magoos, Hart Street. Stars In Their Minds karaoke. Details: 01491 574595. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Jamie Howell’s Evidence Bass. Details: 0118 958 6692. READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Beans on Toast. Details: 0118 959 5395. READING – Oakford Social Club, Blagrave Street RG1 1PZ. Black and White Music: Haus and support. Details: www.oakfordsocialclub.com. READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Ding
Dong Daddios – Rum, jiving, good times. DJ Andy Smith (Portishead/ Prodigy/Trojan/ Lack of Afro). Details: 0118 959 7196.
Friday, May 27 BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. MAYhem at the BEECH with Baby D. Details: 01344 303333. BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Buddy Holly and the Cricketers. Details: 01344 484123. BRACKNELL – The Green Man, Crowthorne Road, Bracknell RG12 7DL. The Vinyl Covers. Details: 01344 423667. FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. Tom Morley. Details: 01252 519964. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. High Grade Dub and Roots. Details: 0118 958 6692. READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Coldrain with Wage War and Counting Days. Carnival Boomtown Gatherings present: Slamboree Soundsystem, Dub Pistols featuring Rodney P and Dutty Moonshine. Details: 0118 959 5395. READING – Progress Theatre, The Mount RG1 5HL. Jazz at Progress: Scott Wilcox Big Band. Details: 0118 384 2195. READING – The College Arms, Wokingham Road RG6 1JL. Zipper Tongue. Details: 0118 935 1504. READING – Oakford Social Club, Blagrave Street RG1 1PZ. Video Killed the Gold Death Star. Details: www. oakfordsocialclub.com. READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Subfactory: Drum and Bass. Details: 0118 959 7196. READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. Steve Morano. Details: 0118 957 6930. READING – The Walkabout, Wiston Terrace, off Friar Street RG1 1DG. Saturday sessions. Details: 0118 953 0000. TWYFORD – The Duke of Wellington, High Street RG10 9AG. TwyFest presents: Friday Night Live at the The Twyford Palladium. Details: www. twyfest.co.uk. WOKINGHAM – Wokingham
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- Victoria Arms, Easthampstead Road RG40 2EH. Soul Dance Party DJs. Details 0118 978 3023 WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. Hawaiian Night. 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, May 28 ASCOT – Jagz, Station Road. Vince Dunn Orchestra. Details: 01344 878100. BINFIELD – Binfield Club, Forest Road RG42 4DU. Continuum Covers Band. Details: 01344 420572. BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. The Replays and MAYhem at the BEECH with Baby Dt. Details: 01344 303333. BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Night of the Guitar. Details: 01344 484123. BRACKNELL – The Green Man, Crowthorne Road, Bracknell RG12 7DL. Murphy James from noon. Details: 01344 423667. CROWTHORNE – The Crowthorne Inn, High St RG45 7AD. The Cherries. Details: 01344 530615. CROOKHAM – The Black Horse, The Street GU51 5SJ. Undercovers. Details: 01252 616434. FINCHAMPSTEAD – The Queen’s Oak, Church Lane RG40 4LS. The Turn. Details: 0118 973 4855. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Dy’n’omite. Details: 0118 958 6692. READING – Oakford Social Club, Blagrave Street RG1 1PZ. Nobodies Birthday album launch: Nobodies Birthday and support. Details: www. oakfordsocialclub.com. READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. Scarlet Vixens: Blues Burlesque Show in association with The Big Yella – 21st Century Blues-ish Weekender. BIG YELLA – Blues, Beer & Bourbon Festival, Details: 0118 959 7196. READING – O’Neills, Friar Street RG1 1BD. Live music. Details: 0118 960 6580. SANDHURST – The Rose and Crown, High Street GU47 8HA. Sound Mined. Details: 01252 878938. SHINFIELD – The Bell & Bottle, School Green. The Broken Stones Details: 0118 988 3563. SPENCERS WOOD – The Farriers Arms, Old Basingstoke Road RG7 1AE. Double Dubble Blues. Details: 0118 988 3132. SUNNINGDALE – The Royal Oak, Station Road SL5 0QL. Dukes of Rock. Details: 01344 623625. SONNING – Sonning Working Men’s Club, Pearson Lane.
Slim Pickings. Details: 0118 969 3939. TWYFORD – The Duke of Wellington, High Street RG10 9AG. TwyFest presents: Skool Disco. Details: www.twyfest.co.uk. WEST END – West End Social Club, High Street GU26 9PL. Whozdrivin. Details: 01276 858501. WOKINGHAM – The Two Poplars, Finchampstead Road. Uptown Traffic. Details: 0118 978 0590. WOKINGHAM – The Crispin, Denmark Street RG40 2AY. Beer festival. Details: 0118 978 0309 WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Live music. Details: 0118 978 0918. WOKINGHAM – The Molly Millar, Station Road RG40 2AD. 70s, 80s night with DJ Mally. Details: 0118 977 4548. WOKINGHAM – The Red Lion, Market Place RG40 1AL. Ultimate Party Nights. Details: 0118 979 5790. WOKINGHAM – Spin Nightclub, Alexandra Court RG40 2SL. Essential Saturday. Details: 07415 354056.
Sunday, May 29 BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. MAYhem at the BEECH with Livin’ Joy. Details: 01344 303333. BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Creative Control Band Night. Details: 01344 484123. BRACKNELL – Rugby Club, Lily Hill Park, Lily Hill Drive RG12 2UG. Bracknell Beer and Wine Festival: Toxic Sofa, Abi Powell, Saint Sebastian Wokingham Brass Band, Stomping Nomads, Hey El Federico, Flashback Band, Robert and the Remoulds. Details: 01344 424013. FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. Karaoke. Details: 01252 519964. LITTLEWICK GREEN – The Novello, Bath Road SL6 3RX. Gary Roman as Elvis. Details: 01628 825753. HURST – Castle Inn, Church Street RG10 0SJ. Beer festival. Details: 0118 934 0034. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Readifolk: Wild Geese. Details: 0118 958 6692. READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Dreading Poetry Slam. Details: 0118 958 6692. READING – The Abbot Cook, Kings Road RG1 5DE. Sunday jazz: Stuart Henderson Trio. 2.30pm. Details: 0118 935 4095. SHINFIELD – The Bell & Bottle, School Green. Open mic and jam night. Details: 0118 988 3563. TWYFORD – The Duke of Wellington, High Street RG10 9AG. TwyFest: Twyford’s Got Talent. Details: www.twyfest.co.uk. WOKINGHAM – The Crispin, Denmark Street RG40 2AY. Beer festival. Details: 0118 978 0309
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THE THEWOKINGHAM WOKINGHAMPAPER PAPER Friday, Friday, May May 13, 20, 2016 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 GOLF
Determined Robertson is out to challenge adversity TEAM ENGLAND captain and Wokingham resident Graeme Robertson is to undertake an 18-hole challenge later this month in an attempt to raise awareness for disabled golf. On Monday, May 30, the 53-year-old will take on 18 holes at 18 different courses across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Former St Crispin’s School pupil Robertson, who is also a member of the Disabled Golf Association (DGA), has been the non-playing skipper of England for the past five years. This is because Graeme was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (MS) back in 1998, while a motorcycle accident at the age of 17 left him with a completely paralysed left arm. Such conditions mean Robertson struggles to walk across a room unaided, so he will take on the Drive2Drive challenge using a golf buggy. “This challenge is not just about golf – despite disability you can still do what you want to do – where there is a will, there is a way,” he said. “I have devised Drive2Drive as a campaign to raise awareness and much needed funds to help fund Team England in internationals and support the Disabled Golf Association with their infrastructure costs to help spread the word that disabled people can play some awesome golf. “I can just about play 18 holes of golf, although my game is not as good as it used to be, but I enjoy the challenge.
O’Keefe and Gilbert go for Trophy glory SYMON O’KEEFE and Jeremy Gilbert will be looking to shoot their way to glory and a trip to Portugal when competing in the regional final of the Lombard Trophy next month. Sand Martins PGA professional O’Keeffe will pair up with Wokingham resident Gilbert for the event on Tuesday, June 14, at Camberley Heath Golf Club. This is after the latter, a 46-year-old service manager, won his club qualifying tournament with 41 points. The two will now go up against 64 other clubs vying to make the plane heading for the Algarve and the Pestana Vila Sol Golf and Hotel resort in particular, where the 36-hole Trophy final will be held in September. “Following the success of the Lombard Trophy in previous years, we’re delighted to once again be working with the PGA
SUCCESS ON THE SADDLE: Wokingham and Bearwood get 2016 off to a great start — Page: 34 to offer the opportunity for professional and amateur golfers to play in this very exciting competition,” said Ian Isaac, head of Lombard. “This year’s event will culminate at Vila Sol, one of the most prestigious courses in the Algarve. “We’d like to welcome all the golfers taking part in the 2016 Lombard Trophy and wish everyone the best of luck.” Gilbert has been playing golf for 30 years, during which time he has worked his handicap down to 20. While O’Keeffe has been a professional at the Finchampstead Road club for the past four years, where his expertise is used to the benefit of course members and its business. Europe’s biggest Pro-Am, The Lombard Trophy attracts more than 700 entries from across Great Britain and Ireland. Taking home the title last year was professional Jason Levermore and partner Ben Steed, who play out of the Channels Golf Club in Essex.
GYMNASTICS
Pinewood duo Stoked by National results
Graeme Robertson will take on the challenge on Monday, May 30
“I have met some very inspiring people with differing disabilities, who are using golf for therapy, rehabilitation and making new friends. “The DGA has given me that competitive spirit back and wanting to improve my game, so I’m taking part in this fundraising event to help Team England reach their goals and make more disabled people aware that this wonderful game is for everyone to enjoy.” The effort will also help raise
awareness of MS and “to show the power of the human mind to overcome adversity,” added Robertson, who plays off a handicap of 20. Local courses Hennerton, Sonning, Bearwood Lakes, Billingbear, East Berks and Sand Martins will be among those accommodating Robertson on the day. A fundraising page has also been set up to take pledges for the challenge, which can be found by visiting www. gofundme.com/jrrzq9jg
DIXIE LINDSEY and Helena Vinall flew the flag for Pinewood Gymnastics Club in Stoke-on-Trent at the weekend. The pair were representing team South at the British Gymnastics National Grade 4 and 3 Finals, with both competing at Compulsory Grade 3. Dixie would produce a clean routine on all five apparatus used, but would save her best performance for the bars, which saw her placed third in Great Britain in this particular discipline. This would help the youngster rank 10th overall among the 54 gymnasts across the country having racked up an All Around (AA) score of 61.300. Despite a couple of unfortunate, but costly falls, Helena still managed to recover well and score 40th overall with an AA of 55.450. Through their contributions the South, made up of five representatives, finished the competition in Dixie Lindsey (left) and Helena Vinall sixth place.
BOWLS
Searle is the star skip as Wokingham men get off to flying start VICTORY on three of the four rinks saw Wokingham Bowls Club begin the new Kennet League season with an 80-72 success against Desborough. Tom Searle skipped the top rink during what was an entertaining match. His team consisted of Trevor Gilmour, Colin Livingstone and Clive Tarran. Newcomer to the club, Gareth Colebrooke, would also enjoy a winning debut. Up next for Wokingham is games against Reading and Suttons. Along with Desborough, it is widely believed the title winners will emerge from this pool of four teams. Results (Wokingham skips first): Tom Searle 18 shots E.Orme 13 shots; Neil Jones 23 T.DevonaldBatt 20; Paul Melhuish 20 M.White 19; John Scowen 19 B.Hing 20
n WOKINGHAM B faced a tough start to the campaign against relegated Bracknell, yet would stun the opposition by winning the contest 82-73. Another new member to enjoy a successful start with the club was Barry Pither, who produced an assured performance.
Wokingham secured the points thanks to wins on two of the four rinks.
Results: Bob Hales-Owen 24 shots P.Hawkins 17 shots; Colin Cleverly 22 C.Peters 16; Ted Melber 18 P.Roberts 19; David Smith 18 J.Budworth 21.
n WARGRAVE proved too strong for Wokingham C, who were victorious by 15 shots. Despite Dave Hewitt playing well on his first competitive start, it was unable to inspire the home side. They would lose this local derby 79-64. Results: John Balkwell 22 shots P.Burton 15 shots; Alex Thomson 14 George Hedges 16; Ken Martin 16 Mike Pope 24; Paul Graham 12 Davis Smith 24.
Ladies WOKINGHAM Acorns quickly picked up from where they left off last season by beginning the 2016 campaign with a win. They comfortably disposed of Tilehurst in this Thames Valley Ladies League opener, outscoring the Reading side by 57 shots to 38. Anne Parker took the honour of skipping the highest up Acorns rink on the day. Flanked by Jill Thorne and Shirley Dutton, the triple won by an impressive
margin of 22 shots.
Results: Anne Parker 28 shots V.Ryan 6 shots; Sandra Thompson 19 W.West 11; Marion Evans 11 B.Wall 15
n A 57-38 reverse at Trentham, meanwhile, saw Wokingham Oakapples off to a disappointing start in Division 3. Results: Janette Kane 14 shots J.Strong 16 shots; Vidy Melber 14 B.Pearce 19; Jill Francis 10 S.Coxton 22
Over 60s THE FIRST game of the new Kennet League Division 1 campaign pitted Wokingham B up against the club’s A team – and the contest would not disappoint. No quarter was asked or given, but it was those playing for the first team which had the edge, taking the points in a 66-41 triumph. Skip Colin Cleverly, along with Tom Searle and Ron Swan made up the biggest winning triple on the day for the A team. They would get the better of their club-mates by a whopping 24 shots. The other two matches were much closer affairs. Results: Ted Melber 20 shots Paul Aylott 18 shots; Stuart Slocombe 15 Trevor Gilmour 18; Brian Hoare 6 Colin Cleverley 30.
n WOKINGHAM D made an encouraging start to their clash with Reading B, only to fade away and suffer a 52-46 defeat. This is a new team introduced by the club this year, and were in control of this fixture come the halfway point. But Wokingham were unable to contain the opposition for the remainder of the game, with the Reading fightback yielding them the win in this Kennet LX League 3 bout.
Results: Keith Roberts 18 shots J.Allen 10 shots; Ken Martin 12 D.White 21; Joe Strange 16 L.Robson 21
Friendlies TILEHURST’S trip to Reading Road proved to be fruitless one, as they were beaten in a men’s friendly. Wokingham won on three of the five rinks contested, with that of Malcolm Giles (skip), Martin O’Connor, Alun Hughes and Jim Rudd the best performing during an 82-74 victory. Results: Malcolm Giles 21 shots J Lainsbury 15 shots; Paul Aylott 19 P.Wall 14; Trevor Gilmour 16 T.Partridge 13; Roger Dollery 13 A.Turner 14; David Smith 13 L.West 18
n FLEET would leave the green
the happier of the two sides when entertaining Wokingham in a mixed friendly. Despite the guests succeeding on two rinks, it was the three won by Fleet which saw them to a 87-77 victory. Amid the final outcome, there was an excellent result for John MacGregor, who was ably assisted by Barbara Wooley and Cliff Carroway. The three of them would carve out a victory margin of 11 shots.
Results: John MacGregor 24 shots C.Burgess 13 shots; Sandra Thomson 15 D.Matthews 14; Martin O’Connor 12 D.Fox 22; Barry Woolley 12 B.Jesse 21; Colin Musto 14 B.Mortimer 17
Open Day on Sunday THE DOORS at Wokingham Bowls Club are being flung open to the public this weekend. An Open Day is being held at its home in London Road, which is close to the new traffic lights and junction for the Station Link Road, on Sunday, May 22, between 10am and 2pm – and all are welcome to attend. Visitors are asked to bring along a pair of flat soled shoes, such as trainers, while all other equipment will be provided.
34 | SPORT
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YOUTH FOOTBALL
THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, May 20, 2016
OBITUARY
Sumas pair Calum and Rhys join Royals’ elite CALUM WOODFIELD and Rhys Williams have seen successful seasons rewarded with promotion to the Elite Development Group within the Reading FC Academy. Woodfield struck an impressive 27 goals in all competitions for Wokingham and Emmbrook Under-15s – many of which were probably laid on by team-mate Williams, who topped the assist charts last term for the East Berkshire Football Alliance side. The pair have been playing together since their days at St Paul’s C of E Junior School in Oxford Road, and this partnership is now set to continue with the Royals, as both will be joining up Rhys Williams and Calum Woodfield will be training with the Elite with the development Development Group at Reading FC this summer programme until mid July. previously mentored both while with “Both boys have really excelled under Reading. He said the move up for both the high standard of coaching at Reading “was much deserved”, adding how FC and together with their own personal Woodfield and Williams deserve credit commitment to development are reaping for their application. the developments,” said Jonathan Hales, In another boost for the club, Casey senior vice chairman of the Sumas’ youth Starke and Michael Valdambrini are section. to attend sessions with the Advanced Jon Horton, who is now goalkeeper coach with the Wales Women’s FA, Development group
Local football remembers ‘remarkable’ ref Wratten By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk TRIBUTES have been paid to Brian Wratten, the ‘remarkable’ football referee from Wokingham who died earlier this week aged 83. Mr Wratten, who lived in Windmill Close, Woosehill, had been officiating in the game for some 67 years and was well known locally for taking charge of youth and school football, in particular. His work and passion for being a referee was also recognised on a global scale, with Brian having a big influence on the game not only here in England, but the United States and Switzerland, too. Brian, was also a referee tutor with the Football Association (FA) and had been the man in the middle only a week before his passing on Monday. He also recently presided over the Berks and Bucks Girls’ Under-16s Cup final, while he took charge of a national final during his career, too. “Brian was a remarkable guy, he just loved refereeing, said friend Dick Sawdon Smith of the Reading Referee’s Association, of which Wratten was president and former membership secretary and treasurer. “He started refereeing before taking it up properly and just carried on. “You would think he would take it
easy (in retirement) but he carried on refereeing and was an FA tutor. “He was still refereeing the week before he died – he and I were refereeing on the same ground just the week before, actually. “He just kept going and giving and was just a great lover of refereeing,, young people and football in particular. He first began officiating matches in 1949, but this was in a more informal position. It was not until moving to New Jersey when he became a qualified football referee in 1976 and began to exert some influence on the game. Here, Wratten would look after adult and youth football, while he was also a founding member of the North West Jersey Association of Soccer Referees. His work as director of a multi-billiion company would eventually bring him back to Europe and Switzerland, where he again found fixtures to officiate in the NW Swiss League. But off he went to the States once more, where not only would he continue to referee, but was soon running basic and continuation courses, as well as referee appreciation courses for clubs, leagues and community groups. Such tireless work to the cause would see Wratten enshrined in the New Jersey Youth Soccer Hall of Fame in 1993 – becoming the first referee to receive such
an honour. He would eventually return to the UK upon retiring, but refereeing was still high on the agenda. Upon joining the Reading Referees Association, Wratten would become membership secretary and treasurer. He was president at the time of his death. Brian was also a referee tutor with the FA and some 1,000 new match officials have benefitted from his training and guidance, some of which he would have worked with the past season. Wratten was also part of a five-man management consultancy team which helped reconstruct The Referee’s Association. But it is his work locally for which Brian will be remembered most, and he would become a familiar and welcome face within grassroots football. Among those to also pay tribute to Wratten was Stuart Greig, who is involved with the youth section at Wokingham and Emmbrook Football Club. “An excellent referee, liked and respected by all the girls, who he joked with before games and encouraged during,” he wrote on The Wokingham Paper’s website. “A big loss to local football, the local refereeing community and the Berkshire County Girls League. “My condolences to his family and friends at the loss of this true gentleman.” Brian leaves behind two daughters. At the time of going to press, no funeral arrangements were available.
EQUESTRIANISM
Show jumping for joy: Wokingham and Bearwood get off to stunning start By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk
THE NEW equestrian season has been awash with success for Wokingham and Bearwood Riding Club. Junior and senior members have been flying the flag in both show jumping and dressage, with triumph witnessed at both the KBIS Novice and British Riding Clubs’ Treehouse Sporting Colours Winter Intermediate Championships. The junior riders kicked off the year with victory in a local qualifier, which saw them progress to the KBIS Novice Winter Show Jumping Championships, held at the College Equestrian Centre in Bedfordshire. All competitors were between the ages of 12 and 15, with those representing Wokingham and Bearwood securing third place. This was after the team got through the opening round on a zero score, while in the second were only a pole away from jumping for first or second place. They would, however, come away from the event clutching sashes, rosettes, saddle clothes and other prizes from the competition’s sponsor. Lisa Oram, team chef d’equipe, said: “I knew we had a strong team and had my fingers crossed for a good result at the Championships. “The juniors are all very professional in their preparation and very focused on
the day at getting the best result. “The course was technical and up to height, all the teams have won their qualifier and so the competition is tough.” Those involved were Ele Sparkes on Bustin Bob, Maddison Peries on Humbug, Ella Stevenson on Davy and Lucas Peries, who saddled Killough Minefields. Bonnie Chivers was also present at the competition, taking part in the senior dressage category with her young horse, Diamondgraf Reign Dance. The pair were just out of the placings, but would benefit greatly from the experience. Winning the area six intermediate show jumping qualifier also saw the club book its place at the Winter Intermediate Championships. Held at Bury Farm Equestrian Village in Buckinghamshire, those riding for Wokingham would get their hands on sashes and rosettes, too. This is having finished in an impressive second place. Competition was fierce, with no teams finishing with zero points after two rounds. The eventual winner would finish with four faults, with Wokingham and Emmbrook back on eight. Making up the show jumping team was Lille Browne riding Petarco, Becky Storer on Halfpenny, Lucas Peries on Danielfab Seren and Abby Leather with
Lady Rossa. Three of these had also qualified for the intermediate dressage championships on the same day, who would be joined by Charlotte Pedley on Jazz. Browne would produce a fantastic routine which saw her finish level first in her arena. With the rest in or around the top ten, the club would rank eighth overall. “Intermediate championships are a very high standard and so both our junior dressage and show jump teams did extremely well to be placed,” added Oram, “As always, the juniors are well prepared by attending lots of suitable competitions to practice before the day and so often can hold their own at championships.” The senior dressage team at Wokingham and Bearwood also qualified for the Winter Championships, riding tidy tests. Committee member Amy Dale, saddling O’Reilly, scored fifth in her arena. Sarah Thomas and Davidoff were also involved, as was Bonnie Chivers (Diamondgraf Reign Dance) and Laura Wright, who would ride on her mum’s horse Zazzo following a last-minute change. The club is now preparing for the summer dressage, show jumping and horse trail qualifiers.
Wokingham and Bearwood had riders competing at the KBIS Novice Championships
Above: Lillie Browne, riding Petarco, tackle a jump, who were among the winners at the Winter Immediate Championships
ROYALS IN BRIEF
Duo receive call-ups OLIVER NORWOOD and Danny Williams are the latest Reading players to have received international call-ups. Norwood will link up with Northern Ireland ahead of their Euro 2016 campaign, while Williams has been named in Jurgen Klinsmann’s USA training camp squad prior to the Copa America Centenario. Midfielder Norwood was one of Reading’s standout players during the 2015/16 campaign and is set to add to his 29 Northern Ireland caps in a friendly against Belarus next Friday. Michael O’Neill has selected 28 men in his preliminary squad but will have to whittle it down to a final 23 for the European Championships by the end of May. Meanwhile, Williams is part of a 22-man squad to join a training camp and face a friendly against Puerto Rico before Klinsmann finalises his tournament squad. These call-ups come after Chris Gunter was selected in Wales’ preliminary Euro 2016 squad last week while Paul McShane and Stephen Quinn are in Republic of Ireland’s 35-man squad for a friendly against Holland.
Five picked by Wales FIVE PLAYERS from Reading FC Women have been called into the Wales squad for their crucial qualifier against Norway next month. Jayne Ludlow’s side are still able to reach the Euro 2017 finals, but will have to beat a Norway team who they lost 4-0 to in the reverse fixture. Reading regulars Rachel Rowe and Helen Ward are named in the squad alongside youngster Charlie Estcourt, fit again Melissa Fletcher and defender Kylie Davies, who has just returned from a spell travelling. There was disappointment for versatile Nia Jones, however, who missed out. Meanwhile, defender Molly Bartrip, 19, has been rewarded for her fine start to the season with a first ever call-up to the England Under-23 squad for the annual Nordic Tournament. England face Norway, Sweden and USA in a tough looking group at the beginning of June.
READING FC
Positive Tshibola says spell on sidelines is ‘part of the process’ By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk AARON TSHIBOLA says his spell on the sidelines will benefit him in the long run. Tshibola, 21, broke into the Reading first team at the start of the season under Steve Clarke after a successful loan spell at Hartlepool United. After making 15 appearances between August and October, the young midfielder’s season was halted by an ankle injury which would keep him out until January. But, just 10 minutes into his return in an FA Cup game against Walsall, Tshibola broke down again and his season was over following a serious hamstring injury. Now back on the recovery trail, Tshibola says he is on track to be ready for pre-season and is keen to use the injuries as a positive which allowed him to improve other sides of the game. “The injury and the time on the sidelines was part of a learning curve for me,” he said. “I’m young and I’m always learning, but it was a shame to recover initially from my ankle injury and then do my hamstring. “But it is all part of a learning process for me. “I’ve been on the sidelines for a while, watching the games and learning the ins and outs which can only help me in the future. “It also teaches me how to do things differently in the future so I take it as a positive.”
Tshibola, who came through the Reading academy before making his first team debut in August 2014, says the support of his team-mates was a big help during his recovery. “I’ve tried to show a really positive attitude throughout the injury and recovery,” he said. “I’ve had the full backing from all the lads and medical staff which has helped me get through the period of time I’ve been out and helped me not to dwell on the negatives. “Some days it has been time in the gym on my own, but you are born alone and sometimes you have to work alone.” He continued: “Obviously it is a shame sometimes because you want to be with the lads and mingle with them when they’re training and stuff, but at the same time I know what I’ve got to do. “If that means hours in the gym alone then I know I’ve got to do that and I have done that. “It can only mean positive things for myself.” And while many players dread pre-season, Tshibola says he is already looking forward to getting back into training and gearing towards the 2016/17 campaign. “The main focus for me now is to keep ticking over and have a good pre-season,” he said. “Next season is a big one for everyone at the club and myself so the important thing for me now is to look to the future and work hard to come back strong.”
Binfield’s Liam Ferdinand tussles for possession at Scours Lane
Picture: Peter Toft
Aaron Tshibola saw his season hampered by ankle and hamstring injuries
READING SENIOR CUP
Howell and Knight on target as Binfield set up a date at the Madejski Stadium Highmoor Ibis 0 Binfield 2
GOALS from Josh Howell and James Knight saw Binfield reach the Reading Senior Cup final for the second year running with victory over Highmoor Ibis. The semi-final, which was twice postponed, eventually took place at Scours Lane and the deadlock was broken on 20 minutes through a Howell free-kick. That advantage was doubled shortly after the restart when midfielder Knight found the net. Manager Roger Herridge spoke before the game saying that he did not know what to expect with so many players unavailable, but his charges turned in a professional job to secure their Madejski Stadium final against Henley Town.
Madrid date for U18s READING Under-18s are set to face Spanish giants Real Madrid as part of their 2016/17 pre-season preparations. Royals, who finished seventh in the country in the Premier League U18 league this season, will travel to Spain’s equivalent of England’s St George’s Park when the players return from their summer break. David Dodds, assistant academy manager, said: “We hope to head off on a two week tour to Spain where we’ll be playing teams such as Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Rayo Vallecano and Getafe. “It will be a great opportunity to pit our wits against top drawer continental teams this summer. “All these different experiences this summer will stand the lads in good stead, but of course I’m hoping a few will stay behind to train with the U21s and the first team.” Meanwhile, goalkeeper Luke Southwood has received his first England U19 international call-up. Aidy Boothroyd’s side will face up against Mexico in a double-header friendly at the beginning of June in the final preparations before this summer’s European U19 Championships.
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Friday, May 20, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER
LONDON IRISH
Goodbye Geoff! Cross retires to focus on medicine LONDON IRISH prop Geoff Cross has announced his retirement from rugby following the Exiles relegation from the Aviva Premiership, writes TOM CROCKER. Cross, a qualified doctor, has spent 13 seasons in rugby but will now take up a
career in medicine. After making 15 appearances during his first Exiles season in 2014/15, Scotland international Cross, 33, has not featured for the first team since a pre-season game against Harlequins in October. Tight-head prop Cross (pictured) made a good impact during his first campaign, scoring four tries in a run of five games shortly after his arrival from Edinburgh and also enjoyed
a glittering Scotland career, earning 40 caps and featuring in 2011 World Cup and numerous Six Nations tournaments. “I have enjoyed my time at London Irish,” said Cross. “But I feel the time is now right to attention towards returning to medicine which I intend to achieve by next summer. “London Irish is a club steeped in history and tradition
Carl Withers, Alex Walton, Danny Horscroft, Michael Walton, Chris Dean and Jack Broome were all unavailable, meaning it was a young looking squad for the Moles, but they came through with relative ease and could have made it 3-0 were it not for a great save to deny Howell. Henley, who have won promotion to compete in the Hellenic Premier League next year, booked their place in the final after beating Westwood United 3-2. The showpiece took place at the home of Reading last night with full coverage available in next week’s The Wokingham Paper, with Binfield looking to collect the cup after losing to Wokingham and Emmbrook 12 months ago. BINFIELD: Silver, Carlisle, Luis, McCarthy, Leonetti, Brown, Howell, Gibbs, Ferdinand, Etienne (Johnson 62), Knight. Subs not used: Brown, May, Adams, Vaughan
and the foundations are very much in place for it to make an immediate return to the Aviva Premiership.” Glenn Delaney, head of rugby operations at London Irish, added: “Geoff has had a fabulous playing career that has seen him play at the very highest level for Scotland. “He has been a great professional to have at London Irish both on and off the field. “I speak on behalf of everyone connected to the club in wishing Geoff and his family all the very best for the future.”
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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, May 20, 2016
BERKSHIRE CRICKET LEAGUE
Woodley Kash in on Ali’s top knock to claim first win Premier Division and Division 1 By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk KASHIF ALI and Jordan Goddard steered Woodley away from trouble and to a three-wicket success against Mortimer West End in the Premier Division. The hosts looked to be heading to a second successive defeat when crashing to 56-5 in reply to the 200 all out posted by the opposition. However, the half centuries struck by Goddard, who finished unbeaten on 52, and Ali’s top knock of 54 at six and seven respectively ensured it was a good day after all for Woodley. With Zain Raja later joining Goddard in the middle and totting up 22 not out, the home side secured victory – a first of the new season – in the 38th over. Credit also went to captain Amjad Ali, who made 38 when opening the batting. It was Ali who won the toss and asked to field, where good work from Adbul Khaliq saw him lead the line with 4-28. He removed Andy Johnson and Abrar Pewekar, who were looking dangerous on 38 and 32, while Amjad Ali stopped top scorer Steve Audsley in his tracks with a caught and bowled when the No.7 was on 45. Goddard and Naveed Aghar each took a couple of wickets as Mortimer were bowled out in the 44th over, but it was looking a comfortable total as the hosts began falling by the wayside. That was, however, until Goddard and Ali put their stamp on proceedings. EMMBROOK AND BEARWOOD are finding the going tough in the top flight. The newly promoted side were convincingly beaten when hosting West
Reading at Lowther Road, who won the contest by 101 runs. Richard Cole’s men started brightly with the ball and had Wests pegged back at 54-3, but Kazam Kamal’s unbeaten 57 and the 35 added by Shary Tariq down in the tail saw the visitors begin to pull away. A four-wicket haul from Mark Van Der, which came for the loss of just 33 runs, and two wickets apiece for Cole and Charlie Sawyer, would see Reading bowled out for 218 in the 41st over, however. At this point, Emmbrook were still in contention – but were quickly out of it as Usman Tariq and namesake Shary took control. The pair put paid to eight opponents in total, removing four each, as the home side fell to 39-4. Sean Woodward almost doubled the tally with a top score of 35 at four, but when he was removed with it went the game. Cole would later come in and play some tidy strokes during an unbeaten 27, which arrived from just 29 deliveries faced. But with team-mates continuing to fall Emmbrook were all out for 117 in the 30th over. A run chase which never really got going left CROWTHORNE AND CROWN WOOD having to settle for a losing draw at reigning champions Sulhamstead and Ufton. Jeff Cluett added another wicket to the trio he picked up on the opening weekend and Ravi Godbole notched up his first three dismissals of the season, but it was Sulhamstead who won this battle after choosing to bat. Led by Aaron Briggs’ 63-ball 73 and
further solid hits from Marc Thompson (48), Steve Belcher (42) and Ryan Brown (39) the home side made a competitive 251-6. Despite losing Richard Barron and Anthony Cluett early on, Joe Davies (42) and Godbole (30) carried out the repair work and took the Crows into three figures. But the scoring would dry up, with Mohammed Careem’s 22, which arrived from 56 balls a telling factor as the visitors chose to protect what they had already got. Instead of taking risks, the side saw out the remaining overs with little fuss and would close on 140-6. BERKSHIRE COUNTY SPORTS celebrated a first win in Division 1, and would do so having defended a score of 193 when entertaining Bradfield. Mubashar Aftab (24), Waqas Ashraf (29) and Sohail Chaudry with the second top score of 30 all made starts for the home side, but it was Salman Hamidi who once again bulked up the total. The No.5 hit a stunning 157 during a winning draw at Stratfileld Turgis the weekend before, but the 52 he made on this occasion would suffice. Bradfield never looked like toppling what looked a moderate target as wickets regularly fell. But with Tim Smith hanging around the draw was still a possibility. Unfortunately Smith, way out on his own in the scoring charts on 42, however, was the last man removed as the away side could only muster up 116 in reply. The batsman was dismissed by Muhammed Farooq, which meant he finished level with team-mate Tahir Nawaz in taking three wickets on the day as BCS took victory.
Emmbrook and Bearwood’s Charlie Sawyer (2-46) goes in serach of wickets during the Division 1 clash against West Reading at Lowther Road Pictures: Emma Sheppard Emmbrook look to stop a boundary
Mark Cobb picked up a wicket for the hosts
Sean Woodward in action
West Reading (batting) struck up a winning score of 218
Waltham wiped out after Emmbrook’s Jain and Webb score big Divisions 2 and 3
EMMBROOK and Bearwood 2nd are up and running in Division 2 thanks to Sanjeev Jain and Andy Webb. The pair orchestrated a successful run chase for the promoted side, with opening bat Jain hitting an unbeaten 79, while wicketkeeper Webb was only a few runs behind on 71 as the Lowther Road outfit defeated borough rivals Waltham St Lawrence by seven wickets. It was Waltham, beaten at Sandhurst 2nd last time out, who elected to bat, but their innings looked to be heading towards disaster at 36-4. It was not until Lee Capeling arrived at the crease when the score began to improve, with the No.6 running up 32, but it was Zaheer Gujjar who came to the rescue. Clever play saw the all-rounder put the opposition to work, with Gujjar finishing unbeaten on 69 and helping his side to a more respectable 200-7 when the session came to a close. Luke Wayborn led the attack with 3-30, with Josh Smart and Charlie Carter each picking up two wickets. Waltham’s score, however, looked a little stronger when Andy Maliff removed Emmbrook’s Henry Banning for no score, but this would bring Jain and Webb together at the crease, and they took the game to the opposition with a scintillating second wicket stand of 137.
Farley Hill’s Ali Jalil struck a top score of 72 during the win over Peppard Stoke Row
Webb would fall to Asif Ali, who also removed Tom McNelly a run later for a duck, but captain Ray Carter provided the necessary support for Jain. Carter would end the day unbeaten on 40, with the pair seeing Emmbrook to victory in the 43rd over. Ali Jalil was also among the runs for a FARLEY HILL side which chased down the target of 166 set by Peppard Stoke Row 2nd to record back-to-back victories. Home side Peppard stuck themselves into bat, but regularly saw their innings
interrupted, with Craig Jorey’s leading figures of 3-39 and a pair of wickets each for Thomas Hale, Johan Vorster and Michael Sheridan containing the opposition. Had it not been for some important knocks further down the order from Gerry Bacon (34) and Matt Ravden (25) the hosts’ would have been looking at an even smaller score. With Farley also struggling for stability on an unpredictable track, Jalil’s knock would prove pivotal. As team-mates fell around him, the opener kept his cool and some lofty strokes yielded a top score of 72 before he was bowled by Roy Haden. Still, there was enough batsmen left to see the visitors over the line and to a two-wicket triumph. A score of 166 was enough to see SHINFIELD claim a first win of the season, which came via a healthy margin of 82 runs against CROWTHORNE AND CROWN WOOD 2ND. The Crows just could not get going in their reply, although spellbinding work by an opposition attack led by Raja Rafaqat did not help their cause. Rafaqat put Shinfield firmly in control with 4-18, while Prashant Gandhi was equally as destructive with figures of 3-21. There was a dismissal too for Atiq Javed, Paamul Pai and Ankush Gandhi as the hosts were shot out for just 84.
The bulk of the runs from a disappointing chase came via Doug Charman, who accumulated 27, while Rowan Williams chipped in with 19. Shinfield had won the toss and elected to bat, but only Ankush Gandhi, top scoring with 43, and lower order pair Sabir Ali (31) and Andrew Prowse (26) made any inroads, but it would prove more than enough in the end. A return of 4-33 from Nirav Upadhyay was in vain for Crowthorne. Tajdar Jawaid racked up 10 boundaries during a blistering innings which yielded a top score of 76 not out when WOODLEY 2ND posted 211-9 at KNOWL HILL in Division 3. And through the No.7s watchful knock, the guests set a total which proved too much for their near neighbours, who were rolled over for just 125 and beaten by 86 runs. Prasad Kulkrani had been leading the field with 33 before Jawaid arrived at the crease, who battered an attack which saw Matt Crawcour finish with 3-51. The hit out would prove important too, as Knowl were probably shading the contest before Jawaid went to work. Dave Gordon saw the hosts off to a steady start, but his stand of 43 proved to be the only real contribution of note after the team slipped badly from 69-3 to 93-9, where late cameos from John Randall (14) and Tom Goodlock (13) took the score to three figures.
The Knowl collapse was caused by Uprenda Deshpande and Vinay Kumar, who removed six batsmen between them, while Ali Naeem ended Goodlock’s resistance and secured victory. A batting masterclass was witnessed by TWYFORD AND RUSCOMBE’S Angus Weir during their clash at West Reading 3rd. Weir arrived at four and would not be removed, making a stunning 128 not out in the process. He would lead a brilliant chase for the villagers, but it was one which ended in agonising disappointment, as Wests won the encounter by a solitary run. The away side won the toss and chose to field, yet it was a decision which backfired as Osman Mahmood (82) and Addel Rafique (59) piled on the runs for a Reading side which struck up a daunting 293-9. Stephen Walkland was the stand out bowler for a beleaguered Twyford attack with 3-52. He would later hit 34 as the side gave their hosts a mighty scare, while captain Stuart Barrable helped crank up the pressure with crucial 57. But it was Weir’s heroics which kept Twyford in contention, and he was unlucky to be on the beaten side, but losing the last wicket at the other end saw Reading squeeze home in the 44th over.
Manning the situation: Dan stars in Crows win Division 4 DAN MANNING and Marshall Miller played leading roles for a Crowthorne and Crown Wood 3rd side which saw off a depleted Falkland Development to record back-to-back wins, writes LEWIS RUDD. The Crows won the game by 43 runs, but would not have it all their own way against a side which took to the field with just eight players. Visiting Falkland won the toss and stuck the opposition into bat, making an encouraging start as opener Alistair Waner-Rowley (8) and Christopher Foxton for no score were removed cheaply. Manning, also at the top of the order, hung around and make a hard-earned top score of 34, which included just the one boundary, but it was an otherwise stuttering innings from the Crows. Helped by Dan Partridge’s 32 at six the hosts, for the loss of nine men, would set Falkland a victory of target of 144. While perhaps below par, it would still prove unreachable. Yet through the watchful 46 made by David Harrison, the guests remained in the hunt, with Andre Le Roux (21) and captain Wilson Carlisle (18) helping keep things interesting. The target, however, would prove just too much in the end, and the gallant reply was ended in the 37th over, where Falkland were dismissed for 101. Ensuring the Development side got nowhere near the required total was Marshall, who finished with 3-15. There was a pair of wickets for John Cartledge, while Partridge and Manning also got in on the act. SHINFIELD 2ND preserved their 100 per cent start to the new season when putting EMMBROOK AND BEARWOOD 3RD to the sword during a game they comfortably won by 120 runs. Opener Dave Aust and No.7 Kiran Alluri made telling contributions with the bat for Shinfield, striking 45 and 37 respectively for a side which lost the toss – but whether they could defend 175-9 remained to be seen. Emmbrook’s Oliver Vickers kept the opposition in check with 3-16, while Thomas Wells and Richard James shared four wickets between them as the contest remained in the balance. But such work would count for nothing, as brilliance with the ball from Alluri saw Shinfield run out comfortable winners. He destroyed the reply with a stunning return of 6-17, with the bowler ripping the top order to pieces. With Hassan Safdar, Nathan Henderson and Sandeep Bharat also claiming a scalp, the away side were removed for a sorry 55. WALTHAM ST LAWRENCE 2ND remain without a win after two games following an eight-wicket reverse at Bradfield 2nd. Asked to bate first, the visitors were much improved in the middle having been bowled out for just 56 the weekend before, making 143 on this occasion. But the bulk of the runs would come at the top of the order. Top scoring was opener Stuart Nock, who made 57, with Kenneth Simpson adding 40. The rest of the line up struggled, though, with the remaining eight batsmen adding just 16 more runs to the board before Waltham were dismissed in the 42nd over. Hamid Kiani and Chris Herbert took a wicket, but with Jim Chettlebrugh (42), Dave Balkissoon (33) and Daniel Filmer (32no) all scoring well Bradfield were never in any trouble. Also yet to taste victory this season is BINFIELD 3RD, who laboured with the bat during their chase at Peppard Stoke Row 3rd. Skipper Colin Canty stuck the opposition into bat but it may be a regretful decision, with Peppard whipping up 236 runs for the loss of only six wickets to take a firm grip on proceedings. Amelia Humphrey and Gary Smith each managed to pick up two wickets during a tough session for the guests, who saw Charlie Laing blast 61 for the hosts. Simon York (20) and Cameron Ireland (24) produced some encouraging moments during the reply – it turned out the pair would produce the best stands of the day for a Binfield side which crumbled to a fourwicket loss. Daniel Humphrey would give the visitors some temporary respite at seven, totting up 12, but the day belonged to Peppard, who bundled Binfield out for just 120 in the 42nd over.
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Friday, May 20, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER
HOME COUNTIES LEAGUE
Marles: Finch are still on a High
n Skipper remaining defiant after tough start, with the champions up next By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk “IF WE PLAY well we can beat anyone”. That was the defiant message from Finchampstead captain Dan Marles as his newly promoted side prepare to take on reigning Home Counties Premier League 1 champions High Wycombe this Saturday. Finches have found their return to the top flight tough with two defeats from their opening two matches so far after suffering a 24-run loss to Banbury on Saturday. But, as the 2015 champions roll into town this weekend, Marles says his side are capable of producing a result. “It is a tough one,” he admitted. “We’ve just got to play our cricket. “We know there are some good sides in the league and it’s just a normal game of cricket. “We played some good teams last year and we’ve also played a couple of good teams this year. “We know that if we play well, we can beat anyone.” Having lost on the opening day at home to Burnham, Marles’ men made the trip to last year’s runners-up Banbury and after losing the toss again, were put in the field. But it was the visitors who got off to a good start, removing opener Hugo Darby early for just four runs before fellow opener Craig Haupt (19) soon followed after being caught off the bowling of Matt Carter, to leave the hosts 25-2 in the ninth over. However, Banbury soon asserted their authority and left Finch with a mountain to climb following the partnership of captain Lloyd Sabin and Australia A left-hander Kurtis Patterson. From 25-2, Banbury jumped up to 173 before the next wicket fell, when Patterson was eventually caught behind off the spin of Max Uttley for 84 off just 95 balls, a knock which included nine boundaries. A crazy 47th over left the home side rattled as Sabin (70), John West (23) and William Hawtin (3) were sensationally all run out, but 19 off 11 balls from Karl Penhale helped
Finchampstead’s Max Uttley took the key wicket of Kurtis Patterson (84) during the defeat at Banbury
Captain Dan Marles says he will be looking for an improvment this weekend Pictures: Steve Smyth
Banbury close on 251-8. “We looked back at them going from 25-2 to 173-3 and said that’s where we lost the game,” said Marles. “They batted really well and that’s where we’ve got to improve from
the last couple of weeks, breaking partnerships. “We’ll try and work on that when we go against High Wycombe on Saturday.” He continued: “That 47th over was strange – there should’ve been five run outs! “It was obviously getting towards the end of the innings and it was a crazy over. “There was lots of strange running and some good fielding from us.” In reply Finches made a steady start before losing both Matt Jones (8) and Adam Dewes (6) in quick succession in the ninth over. Marles and Billy Rogers tried to pick up the pace, but only helped the score up to 68 before they were both also gone as the visitors looked to be bowled out inside the 50 overs for a second week in a row. But they put up a fight through a 50 partnership from Dan Lincoln and Andy Rishton. A knock which included seven boundaries for Lincoln came to an end when he was caught on the rope on
the back of two big sixes to leave the crease having made 47 off 37 balls. Sukhi Kang was quickly dismissed and when former Reading man Rishton was bowled for 41, hopes of a victory looked unlikely at 182-7. The Finchampstead tail wagged to keep the contest alive thanks to steady knocks from Carter (25), Max Stevenson (20) and Craig Hodges (18) before the latter was bowled in the 49th over to leave Finch 227 all out. “If you look back there are always times in a game where you win or lose it,” said Marles. “I think a few of our lads who got into 40s or 20s and 30s got out and that’s where we lose the game because you see Banbury’s men got 60s or 80s in their innings and we get 30s or 40s. “But that’s what we need to improve on. “We’ll get there, it’s just the first couple of games of the season. “It will take a bit of time and it’s quite a tough league. “The last two games have shown us where we are as a team and what we can improve.” Things get no easier for Marles’ charges this weekend against unbeaten High Wycombe, a side who won the league having lost just one game last season, hit over 300 runs on the opening day and only lost one wicket during their win last week. But Finch could be boosted by a debut for their designated overseas player, South African bowler Jandre Coetzee, who has missed the first two games because of visa issues. “It will show us where we are as a squad,” he said. “It’s a really good test and we’ve just got to go out there and play cricket like we did last year and hopefully we’ll start getting some results. “The only change will probably be the overseas that will come in.”
Finchampstead XI v High Wycombe: Dan Marles (c), Sukhi Kang, Adam Dewes, Dan Lincoln, Matt Jones, Max Uttley, Max Stevenson, Matt Carter, Andy Rishton, Jandre Coetzee, Billy Rogers.
CHILTERNS LEAGUE
Binfield edged out despite Paul’s blast with bat PAUL EDGINGTON’S top score of 73 was the highlight on an afternoon when Binfield went down to defeat against Penn and Tylers Green by four wickets. It was run machine Edgington’s biggest knock of the season to date, although he has only featured twice for the first team this term. Binfield would need this stand too, with the No.6 helping the hosts to a score of 172 all out at the FWE Goates Memorial Ground. This was after captain Sean Ennis won the toss and put his side into bat, only to see the line-up slip into trouble, with Mike Allan-Canty and fellow opener Chris Morgan falling cheaply to leave the team on 16-2. Adam Marshall has been the star of the show thus far, yet the No.3 was unable to follow up his recent exploits of a 56 on the opening day and 105
last time out after he was trapped leg before on just seven. Ennis tried his best to steady the ship, but would play a catch to Joe Dulieu when on 22. Quickly joining Ennis back in the pavilion was Mike Staves (4) and Tim Vines for no score, meaning Penn were in control of the fixture on 51-6. But their grip on the game was loosened somewhat by Edgington and Greg Simmonds, who enjoyed a maverick knock down in the tail and would finish 27 not out – a useful contribution which pushed the score up, but it was still a total which looked lightweight. Binfield, though, had a real good go with the ball and it was game on when Staves and Phil Davies combined to remove four opponents and leave the visitors looking precarious too on 42-4.
Staves would put paid to three of these innings, with Davies striking again soon after to have Penn five down and with only 85 on the board. But with Johnny Hughes sticking around, the away side would always have a chance, and it was his match-winning knock of 78no which dragged his team to victory in the 42nd over. Binfield will be looking to avoid a third defeat in four games when they are guests of White Waltham on Saturday (1pm). n AN IMPROVEMENT was made on the 98 all out Binfield 2nd mustered together the weekend before, but they were still dismissed for 108 and beaten by eight wickets at Taplow. The away side lost the toss and were stuck into bat, where they would produce a laboured innings. Openers Josh Simmonds (4)
and James Sackley (5) went without troubling the scorers, but replacements Kamal Gupta and Joe Sculley appeared to be leading the fightback with a shared top score of 28. But apart from the 14 made by captain James Wright, there was just no support or stability from elsewhere within the line up, and this would result in an alarming crumble, with the guests losing the last six wickets for just 16 runs. A wicket each for Bob Hughes and Steve Andrews would delay the inevitable, but it was a carefree run chase from Taplow who, thanks to the 58 scored by Ben Dalglish at the top of the order and partner Dale Barton’s 35, were celebrating victory in the 32nd over. Up next for is a trip to unbeaten Amersham Hill on Saturday (1pm).
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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, May 20, 2016
THAMES VALLEY CRICKET LEAGUE
Super Smith secures Hurst bragging rights Divisions 2-5 By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk LEWIS SMITH shone with bat and ball as Hurst eased to a five-wicket win over Wargrave in Division 2B. Hurst, who lost on the opening day, won the toss and put Wargrave in to bat. And while the hosts batted for almost 50 overs, they only managed to put 140 on the board. Imran Malik was the first to go for just four before fellow opener Luke Taylor quickly followed to leave Wargrave 26-2. Determined stands from Kam Hanif (34) and Arslan Yaseen (39) helped the score along to 97-3 before Smith took over, posting figures of 4-41 to help tear through the order, helped out by a three-wicket haul from Andrew Ruddock. The run rate from Hurst was also slow but they never looked in trouble from the moment opener Smith reached a match high 46 before getting stumped. Unbeaten knocks from Alex Kayser (27) and Connor White (32) saw Hurst over the line with five wickets in hand in the 46th over. Luca Wade took seven wickets as WOKINGHAM 2ND stormed to a 10-wicket demolition of Henley 3rd in 4B. After winning the toss, Henley chose to bat but may well have quickly regretted that decision as Wade posted astonishing figures of 7-10 with Ron
Waqas Khan strikes out for Wargrave
Pratley’s unbeaten 30 the only score of note. Chasing just 73 to win, the Oaks needed just two batsmen and 11.4 overs to reach the winning post through Dan Reddyhough (30no) and Simon Carter (40no). Three wickets from Chris Last helped recently relegated EVERSLEY grab their first 2A win of the season, easing past Chenies and Latimer by four wickets. A knock of 43 from Callum Cusak helped Chenies to 147 before they were
Hurst’s Andrew Ruddock (left) leads the appeals during an LBW call Pictures: Emma Sheppard
bowled out thanks in no small part to figures of 3-15 from Last. Without anything spectacular, Eversley reached the target inside 47 overs with Shane Green (26), James Magowan (36) and Last (30) the top scorers. In the same division, Russell Lane’s 78 guided FINCHAMPSTEAD 2ND to victory over Kidmore End. Finch, who top the early table with two 25-point victories, were set a total of 187 to win thanks to a 62 from Kidmore End’s Jeff Sheldon, supported by Guy Ashby’s 60. Matt Harper was the pick of the bowlers for Finch with 4-61 while in reply it took less than 50 overs to reach the total with five wickets in hand. Aside from Lane’s 78, Simon Bell (35) and Ed Oliver (29) also contributed important runs. A 93 from Peter Dean helped SONNING to a winning draw over EVERSLEY 2ND in 3A. Batting first, Sonning reached an impressive total of 242 with Zahid Mohammed (69) also enjoying a good day with the bat, but the hosts were bowled out after 47 overs as Rezaul Roni picked up six wickets. Eversley batted for the full 53 overs in reply for the loss of just four wickets as Gary Ford (57no), Matt Salter (42) and Michael Judd (36) top scored, but they were 17 short of Sonning’s total. A good all-round display from Andy Lazenbury was enough to give FINCHAMPSTEAD 3RD a 74-run win over Yateley 2nd. An innings high of 39 from Lazenbury, aided by a 36 from Marcus Bazeley, saw Finch set a target of 188 to win as Gerhard Pienaar posted figures of 4-53. But Yateley never got near the total as Lazenbury took four wickets to seal the win. A seven-wicket haul from Kevan Smith came in vain as SONNING 2ND lost to Boyne Hill 2nd in 5B. Amit Gokhaura’s 67 and a 34 from Raj Tiwana saw Boyne reach 195 but thanks to 7-18 from Smith, they were dismissed in the 50th over.
Wargrave’s Martin Smith is forced to make a defensive block against Hurst
But Sonning fell short in reply, bowled out for 144 despite a half century from
Matt Hill as Steve Abraham and David Goodman got three wickets each.
Lewis Smith was the star of the show
Ruddock gets his man
Ager and Anan make match winning contributions for Eversley Divisions 6-9
PAUL AGER’S top score of 53 and Anam Rahim’s three wickets helped Eversley 3rd to a comfortable 103 run triumph over Maidenhead and Bray 3s in Division 7A, writes LEWIS RUDD. The toss was won at Fox Lane by the Boars, who elected to bat, with opener Ager’s half century helping lay the foundations for a host side which posted an all-out total of 221 from 47 overs. Rahim then took charge with the ball, producing a lean return of 3-12 from seven overs as Maidenhead were dismissed for 105 to leave the opposition celebrating a second win of the season. Also unbeaten after two matches is FINCHAMPSTEAD 4TH after impressive work from Matt Eldridge and Liam Matthews left Thatcham Town 3rd nursing a 75-run loss. Eldridge was the star of the show, conceding just 10 runs during a three over spell which yielded four wickets. With Matthews helping himself to 3-31, the pair destroyed Thatcham’s reply, with the side bundled out for just 96 when chasing the 158 struck up by Finch earlier in the day.
Also top scoring for the home side was Eldridge, who racked up a halfcentury 51, as Chris Ward (30) and Sam Jenkins (37) provided useful support. In Division 6B, WARGRAVE 2ND’s perfect start to the season continued when they took the points, and bragging rights, courtesy of a seven-wicket success over HURST 2ND. Alex Orme followed up the unbeaten 104 he struck the weekend before when hitting a quick-fire 54 from just 46 balls, but it was the only score of note as Hurst were removed for exactly 100 in the 32nd over. Mandip Sohi was destroyer-in-chief of the innings, finishing with 4-31, while John Rimmer’s work in cleaning up the tail end yielded three scalps. A brief moment of joy would fall the way of Hurst’s Ian Harvey, who removed Razwan Hanif and Sunil Kumar in quick succession. Thanks to Hanif’s 34, however, and the 30 not out racked up by Toby Greatwood, Wargrave had the win wrapped up in the 25th over. The wait for a victory continues, though, for WOKINGHAM 3RD, who were
beaten by the margin of four wickets at Fleet 2nd. Oaks captain Ashley Cutts won the toss and elected to bat, only to see his side shot out for a meagre 74. Most of the runs came from Ashley Brinsford (17) and Cameron Gillespie (16), but the session belonged to Fleet’s Deep Desai, who tore through the line up, taking a brilliant 8-20. Wokingham gave as good as they got in the field, with Gillespie claiming 3-34 along with Duncan Atkins’ two wickets for no runs conceded, but the hosts had reached their target inside 20 overs. The club’s 4TH XI, meanwhile, preserved their unbeaten start to the new Division 8A season with a win by six wickets against Kew 4th. Through Toby Barker’s 4-27 and the three dismissals taken by Jake Staples, Kew were all out for a below-par 129 to give the home side the upper hand at Sadler’s End. Wokingham would seize on this advantage, too, but needed some patient batting to pick up the 25 points, which were secured in the 39th over. SONNING 3RD fell into trouble when chasing a victory target of 179 away at
Reading 3s, but avoided defeat when blocking out for the draw. The villagers were five down with only 30 runs on the board before Waqas Tahir came in and nudged the total up with an unbeaten 28, with Nick Ray (24) and Taylor Christopher (24) providing support. Six wickets for Jack Wright appeared to have Reading on the cusp of victory, but they would be denied by Tahir and Syed Naqi, who held out to salvage seven points for the visitors. Only opener Jonathan Last, who offered just 15 runs, ventured into double figures for an EVERSLEY 4TH side removed for a forgetful 29 when chasing 174 at Datchet 4th. It was painful viewing for the Boars, too, who were in the middle for 21 overs before being put out of their misery. The next best scorer was the extras column with seven. Bob Campion’s four-wicket return for the visitors was scant consolation. FINCHAMPSTEAD 5TH disposed of Maidenhead and Bray 4th by four wickets to complete a clean sweep of wins for the club in the league.
Engineering this Division 9A success was Steve West, who tore the hosts apart during a devastating spell with the ball which saw six batsmen fall – all for the cost of just 27 runs. In reply, it was Ahmet Tuney’s top score of 33 batting five which steered Finch towards their target, which was surpassed in the 44th over on a slow track. Phillip Norris put WARGRAVE 3RD firmly in the driving seat during their game with Kidmore End 3rd. His stunning figures of 3-5 helped removed the opposition for just 70, a small total Wargarve blew away inside 12 overs, thanks in part to Stephen Jeffrey’s 44. Prasad Kulkarni blasted an unbeaten 78 for a WOKINGHAM 5TH side which got their summer up and running in some style against Kew 4th. Toqir Khalid, with 58, also gave his average a boost as the pair laid the path for the home side to declare on a daunting 231-3. With Mark James going on to celebrate a five-fer (5-31) it was a great day for the side, who were winners by 50 runs.
MINOR COUNTIES
Berkshire exit Unicorns Trophy after loss to Devon BERKSHIRE made their exit from the Unicorns Trophy when losing by two wickets to Devon at Exmouth on Sunday, writes DAVID WRIGHT. Preparations did not go to plan as they were forced to make two changes to the squad named last week. Skipper James Morris discovered his injured left thumb was fractured and not dislocated as was originally told and is now in plaster, while Chris Peploe received a one-match ban from the Minor Counties Cricket Association following an incident which occurred during the win over Oxfordshire the previous week. They were replaced by youngsters Billy Rogers (Finchampstead) and Brandon Gilmour (Downend) with both making their Trophy debuts. Richard Morris (Henley) took over the captaincy from his brother and soon joined Gilmour at the crease, as openers Waqas Hussain (0) and Michael Roberts (2) were dismissed in the first three overs. Morris (60 off 70 balls) and Zimbabwe-born Gilmour (28) added 96 for the third wicket to take the total to 99, but both departed in the 24th over. This brought together Euan Woods and Rishton and they put on 28 before Woods fell for 13. Rogers joined Rishton and they put on 53 for the sixth wicket, taking the total to 181 after 44 overs. Rishton was dismissed for 35 and five runs later Rogers was bowled for 28. Their Finchampstead team-mate, Matt Carter, contributed nine runs and Berkshire were all back in the pavilion for 216, with Zak Bess taking 4-22 off 9.3 overs. Carter then opened the bowling and captured the first three Devon wickets, leaving the hosts 56-3. Devon skipper Rob Woodman improved his side’s position with a half century, but when they lost their eighth wicket at 174 with seven overs remaining, a Berkshire victory seemed possible. However, that changed as Dominic Bess, in particular, and cousin Zak Bess decided that attacking the bowling was the best course to take in a win-or-bust situation. Dominic, making his Trophy debut, smashed 56 off 44 balls, while the more patient Zak hit 16 off 21 in an unbroken partnership of 44 as Devon reached their target off the first ball of the final over. Berkshire can now concentrate on the three-day championship, which starts on Sunday, June 5 when they take on Herefordshire at Colwall CC.
Finchampstead’s Billy Rogers made his Berkshire debut on Sunday
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Friday, May 20, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER
WOKINGHAM CRICKET CLUB
Dewick puts Oaks’ winning start down to new set-up By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk PAUL DEWICK feels the new coaching set-up at Wokingham has had a big part to play in the club’s encouraging start to the season. The Oaks recruited former England county players Dan Housego and Michael Bates during the off-season and have won both their matches so far this campaign. The positive start continued against Windsor on Saturday, courtesy of a five-wicket victory. Wokingham got off to a flying start, reducing Windsor to 5-2 thanks to a wicket apiece from Tom Wood and Cameron Spence to remove openers James Mace and Adam Weston. James Lincoln soon followed for a duck, again off the bowling of Spence, and when Kristian Baumgartner (56) was trapped lbw by Housego, the Windsor challenge completely fell apart. Only Harry Jordan (19) reached double figures as Paul Dewick and Anthony Clapham got in on the act to bowl out the visitors for just 119. After a little wobble in reply with both Stuart Parsons and captain Stuart Hayter going early, an unbeaten 59 from Bates shaped the reply with the Oaks coming through after just 27 overs. “It’s been a very good start,” said spinner Dewick. “We haven’t batted as well as we wanted to but we’ve got targets. “It looked a bit shaky while we were chasing against Windsor but a five-wicket victory is a fairly comfortable win. “All the bowlers really hit the right areas. “We’ve been working hard on individual skills in training so the bowlers have been focussing on what they want to do in a game rather than just sort of turning up and having a bowl.” He added: “We’re bowling well at the moment as a team and with the new format it’s different because some bowlers, including myself, would tend to bowl 15 or 16 overs a game whereas now it’s a maximum of 10. “So other people who weren’t getting
Wokingham celebrate a dismissal during the win over Windsor
Cameron Spence picked up a couple of wickets during the victory
so much of a bowl are getting a bowl and stepping up to the mark.” One big change following the disappointment of missing out on promotion on the final day last time out was to bring in ex-Gloucestershire batsman Housego and former Hampshire wicket-keeper Bates. And Dewick says the decision to bring them in was a big shift in approach from Wokingham, but feels their impact has been immediate. “Basically training has been a lot more focussed this year which has really helped out the attack,” he said. “Rather than turning up for a bat and a bowl like you would, we’re focussing on bowling in particular areas and scenario based training.
Pictures: Emma Sheppard
Michael Bates led the reply with an unbeaten 59
“They’re experts so they know what they’re talking about so a lot more people are listening and more people are coming to training.” He continued: “Like most teams, we have historically gone for an overseas player who will play and coach. “But this year we wanted to focus on training for the strength of the whole club. “We spoke to a few companies, Dan’s being one of them and decided he was the best fit. “And we get the bonus of him and Michael playing for us as well. “It was a change of strategy really to focus on training more than just the playing side.” Wokingham step up their season this Saturday with a trip to fellow promotion chasing Kew (1pm).
WOMEN’S CRICKET
England consider Knight for captaincy HEATHER KNIGHT is a contender to replace Wokingham’s Charlotte Edwards as the next captain of the England Women’s cricket team, writes DAVID WRIGHT. Winnersh resident Edwards, 36, last week called an end to her England career, spanning 20 years, after being told by coach Mark Robinson that he wanted to build a new and younger squad. And Clare Connor, the Director of England Women’s cricket, has confirmed that 25-year-old vice-captain Knight is among the candidates to replace her. “That decision is out of my hands; it’s up to Mark,” was all Heather was prepared to say on her possible promotion. The Berkshire county skipper and former Wokingham Ridgeway player admitted she was “really sad” to hear of Edwards’ retirement, adding: “She can be immensely proud of what she has achieved in the game. “It has been a pleasure to play for her for the last six years. As a team we have
obviously got to move forward and look to the future, and we are really excited to do that. “In the short time Robbo (Robinson) has been involved with us, he has brought in fresh ideas and challenged us a lot as well, which is obviously great as it is what we need to get the best out of us.” Knight faces a busy year ahead with England, as they play Pakistan at home, followed by a tour to the West Indies. She was seen at her best at Wokingham CC last Sunday when playing for Berkshire against Warwickshire in the ECB County Championship, but still wasn’t able to prevent her side from slumping to a 14-run defeat. She returned excellent bowling figures of 10-7-13-2 in Warwickshire’s innings of 200 after they had been 123-7 with 80 runs coming in the last 15 overs. Berkshire also conceded 31 extras, which included 19 wides. In reply, Knight and Linsey Smith
put on 97 for the first wicket in 24 overs but the departure of Smith for 40 led to a major collapse and, of the remaining batsmen, only No 8 Sherisa Gumbs (13) managed to reach double figures. Knight was the last wicket to fall, being trapped lbw for 80 with the team total on 188 off 48.1 overs. She occupied the crease for a minute over three hours, facing 135 balls, six of which she dispatched to the boundary. This was Berkshire’s first defeat in three games and leaves them third in Division 1, which is headed by Warwickshire. Their next home game is against Yorkshire at Finchampstead a week on Sunday, May 29. In the meantime, if Miss Edwards CBE is looking to play more cricket then she would be most welcomed by the Wokingham club. The Oaks even devoted a full page to her in their match-day guide last weekend.
The Borough Honours board The team each player represents is listed first Batsmen
ANGUS WEIR: Twyford and Ruscombe v West Reading 3rd – 128* PETER DEAN: Sonning v Eversley 3rd – 93 SAJEEV JAIN: Emmbrook and Bearwood 2nd v Waltham St Lawrence – 73* RUSSELL LANE Finchampstead 2nd v Kidmore End – 78 PRASAD KULKARNI: Wokingham 5th v Kew 4th – 78 TAJDAR JAWAID: Woodley 2nd v Knowl Hill – 76 PAUL EDGINGTON: Binfield v Penn and Tylers Green – 73 ALI JALIL: Farley Hill v Peppard Stoke Row 2nd – 72 ANDY WEBB: Emmbrook and Bearwood 2nd v Waltham St Lawrence – 71 MICHAEL BATES: Wokingham v Windsor – 59* TAQIR KHALID: Wokingham 5th v Kew 4th – 58 GARY FORD: Eversley 2nd v Sonning: 57 STUART NOCK: Waltham St Lawrence 2nd v Bradfield 2nd – 57 STUART BARRABLE: Twyford and Ruscombe v West Reading 3rd – 57 ALEX ORME: Hurst 2nd v Wargrave 2nd – 54 KASHIF ALI: Woodley v Mortimer West End – 54 PAUL AGER: Eversley 3rd v Maidenhead and Bray 3rd – 53 JORDAN GODDARD: Woodley v Mortimer West End – 52* SALMAN HAMIDI: Berkshire County Sports v Bradfield – 52 MATT ELRIDGE: Finchampstead 4th Thatcham Town 3rd – 51 * Not out BOWLERS: LUCA WADE: Wokingham 2nd v Henley 3rd – 7-10 KIRAN ALLURI: Shinfield 2nd v Emmbrook and Bearwood 3rd – 6-17 STEVE WEST: Finchampstead 5th v Maidenhead and Bray 4th – 6-27 MARK JAMES: Wokingham 5th v Kew 4th – 5-31 MATT ELDRIDGE: Finchampstead 4th v Thatcham Town 3rd – 4-10 RAJA RAFAQAT: Shinfield v Crowthorne 2nd – 4-18 TOBY BARKER: Wokingham 4th v Kew 4th – 4-27 ABDUL KHALIQ: Woodley v Mortimer West End – 4-28 MANDIP SOHI: Wargrave 2nd v Hurst 2nd – 4-31 MARK VAN DER: Emmbrook and Bearwood v West Reading – 4-33 NIRAV UPADHYAH: Crowthorne 2nd v Farley Hill – 4-33 LEWIS SMITH: Hurst v Wargrave – 4-41 GERHARD PIENAAR: Finchampstead 3rd v Yateley 2nd – 4-53 MATT HARPER: Finchampstead 2nd v Kidmore End – 4-61
WOKINGHAM SPORT
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A battle of the borough - but who took bragging rights?
HURST and Wargrave clashed in Division 2 of the Thames Valley Cricket League last weekend – and The Wokingham Paper was there to cover the contest. For a full report and pictures, turn to Page 38
CRICKET
Determined Dewick sets his sights on promotion with Wokingham n Oaks stalwart urges side to use last season’s disappointment as motivation By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk PAUL DEWICK says Wokingham must target promotion this year after agonisingly missing out on the final day last season. The Oaks have made a perfect start to the 2016 campaign, following up their opening day win over Marlow with a comfortable five-wicket victory over Windsor on Saturday. Wokingham were just one boundary away from topping Thames Valley Division One on the last day in 2015, only to end up finishing fourth in an incredibly tight table and Dewick feels there will be a similar number of sides in the mix again this time around. “Promotion is always the goal at the start of the season,” the long-serving bowler told The Wokingham Paper. “There’s a few strong teams in it this
year. “I think in the next two weeks we’ve got two of the strongest sides in Chesham and Kew. “Also Cove, who came down (from Home Counties Premier League), I think they’re the main competitors for promotion this year. “There’s four teams from what I’ve seen so far that will be pushing for promotion. “It’s just about winning those games really and putting ourselves ahead of them.” After suffering such a bitter blow of missing out on promotion on the final day, many teams may have endured a next season hangover. But Dewick (pictured) says that while it was difficult to take, the side have fully moved on and are using it as motivation
to be in a better place by the final day of this weekend, but Dewick says the Oaks this campaign. are relishing the task. “It was a tough one but it was such a “It’s always good to play the better strange last day with the scores going sides,” he said. around, Kew only needing 120 to win the “We’re both unbeaten. Hopefully the league and not getting it,” he recalled. weather will stay, it’s looking a bit iffy “At the start of the game we didn’t around these parts but a bit better in think we’d be playing to win the league. Kew. “As much as it was a tough one, it was “It will be a good indication, not the just a very strange day really. end of the world no matter what the “It’s alright, we’re over that now and result, but it’s good to test ourselves we want to be in a position where we’re against the sides we think will be up in a lot stronger position than we were there towards the end of it. last year. “They were both very close games last “We ended up finishing fourth, year against Kew so we expect it to be which showed you how tight the league similar on Saturday.” was, from being a few runs away from n MORE cricket news can be found on winning it. pages 36-39 “But this year Published by Xn we hope to be in a Media Ltd, Crown ISSN 2058-5268 stronger position on House, 231 Kings 20 Road, Reading RG1 the last day than we 4LS. Printed at were last year.” Newbury Weekly News, Newspaper Wokingham face House, Faraday Road, undoubtedly their Newbury, Berkshire toughest test of the RG14 2DW .© Xn Media Ltd, 2016 season so far when 9 772058 526009 they travel to Kew
TRIBUTE: Local football remembers ‘remarkable’ referee Brian Wratten — Page 34 ICE HOCKEY
Bracknell Bees fans begin to snap up season tickets NEARLY 80 Bracknell Bees fans have so far filed application forms for 2016/17 Season Member Cards. Figures released earlier this week by the committee working tirelessly to try and keep the club in existence show 76 supporters have applied for the cards – which is just over a quarter of the 280 figure bosses had set ahead of a June 1st deadline. This is when a business plan needs to be filed with the English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL), who will have the final say on whether or not Bees will be re-admitted to the league. “It is vital that we reach the target of 280 Season Member Card sales as soon as possible to raise funds and gauge interest and the committee fully understands that with no players currently signed it is a big ask to commit to a Season Member Card,” said a statement on the Save The Bees Facebook page. “But we urge all Bees fans to please get behind the effort to raise the funds necessary to partake in the 2016/17 EPIHL season.” The committee, which includes player-coach Lukas Smital, remains busy in its efforts to try and pull together the £125,000 needed to help keep the club afloat. A crowd funding page, meanwhile, continues to pick up pledges, with more than £5,300 raised thus far. Between now and June 1, the committee, which is set up as a Limited company, will be present at The Honies Restaurant at the rink between 7.15pm and 9.30pm on Thursday evenings to answer questions and provide updates on the campaign. “We would like to place on record our thanks to everyone who has donated so far, we are truly humbled by the response thus far, not only Bees fans, but the wider community,” added the statement. People wishing to make donations can do so by visiting www.gba.podiumpartners.org/ campaign/75-save-the-bracknell-bees Should the rescue efforts prove unsuccessful, all money contributed will be returned.
FOOTBALL
Moles at Mad Stad BINFIELD were last night (Thursday) trying to get their hands on the Reading Senior Cup. The Moles were up against Henley Town in the competition’s final, which took place at Madejski Stadium. This will be a fixture in the Hellenic Premier Division too next season after Town won promotion from Division 1 East. The Cup will now be standing pride of place either at Hill Farm Lane or The Invesco Triangle. Wokingham and Emmbrook had won the competition the past four seasons, but were beaten by Binfield in the semi-finals last month.