Dancing queen Irene celebrates 105th birthday

Winnersh resident Irene Muggeridge celebrated a very special birthday recently when she reached the age of 105th.

Irene lives at Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh Court, in Sindlesham.

Originally born in London, she was married to Edward whom she called Ted who was a mason and they enjoyed ballroom dancing together. The couple had three boys, Brian, Alan and Dave and later moved down to Berkshire.

She spent the day with friends and family, enjoying a party with children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. They had giant balloons and cake to commemorate the event and she even received a birthday card from the King.

A spokesman for the care home said she thoroughly enjoyed all the attention. “She has a wicked sense of humour and enjoys getting involved in all the activities here. She is very chatty –sometimes you can’t get away from her – but she definitely needed a lie-in after all the celebrations.”

Tesco hands out grants to help life-enhancing community groups

Three good causes in Wokingham received a welcome cash boost when community-conscious colleagues at the Finchampstead Road Tesco Superstore handed out grants worth £3,000.

Proud pupils and staff at Oaklands Junior School were able to celebrate after receiving a cheque for £1,500 to help fund services provided by the school’s part-time Educational Psychotherapist and Parent Support Adviser, who support children and families that are experiencing difficulties.

Another educational establishment to receive funding was High Close School, which was presented with £1,000 to create a sensory garden.

The third good cause to be awarded funds was CLASP, an advocacy group for adults with learning disabilities in the Wokingham borough. It received £500 to raise awareness about its work.

Hazel West, Headteacher at Oaklands Junior School, said: “We are very grateful to Tesco for this funding. Without the Stronger Starts scheme, we would not be able to extend the specialised support we provide for many of our children and families. This is a fantastic scheme, and we are very grateful to receive the funding.

“Our Educational Psychotherapist supports children who have been affected by adverse childhood experiences such as family separation, loss or bereavement, and who may be neurodiverse, with diagnoses of autism or ADHD. This grant from Tesco will enable Oaklands Junior School to support more children and families with this fantastic provision.”

The Stronger Starts scheme, in partnership with the Groundwork charity, supports many Wokingham community projects and good causes, giving away thousands of pounds.

Wendy Gosling, Acting Principal at High Close School, said: “Thank you, Tesco. With this grant we are going to achieve our dream sensory garden. We could not do it without you. The funding is going to make such a difference to our students and the outdoor space they experience.

“It’s our fundamental belief that every young person – regardless of their background, previous life experience or the challenges they may have faced – should have the same opportunities as their peers, because every child matters.”

CLASP helps adults with learning disabilities with one-to-one support, and it aims to build awareness and use opportunities to address inequalities experienced by those with a learning disability.

Debs Morrison, Chief Executive Officer at CLASP, said: “We are really pleased that this funding has given us a lovely opportunity to spread the word about CLASP and to be supported by the community. Wokingham Tesco is just wonderful.”

Wokingham shoppers can use the Stronger Starts scheme to support local groups by dropping the Tesco blue token they receive at checkout into the relevant voting box as they leave the store.

Louise Jedras, Community Champion at the Finchampstead Road store, said: “It is a real pleasure for us to present these grants to three groups that do such fantastic work in our communities.

We really appreciate their tireless efforts to improve so many people’s lives.”

For further information about Stronger Starts is available at https://tescostrongerstarts.org.uk

Teachers strike over 'fire and rehire' threat to pension scheme

Teachers at an independent Ascot boarding school have taken to the picket line following pay disputes and disputes over their pensions, the first strike in its 139-year history.

The industrial action at the prestigious Catholic all-girls boarding school St Mary’s Ascot involves teachers who are members of the National Education Union (NEU), the largest education union in Europe. The strikes concern a dispute with the school’s governors about pension arrangements.

It involves threats by the governors to operate a ‘fire and rehire’ policy.

The strike action was planned to take place on 6th and 7th March and on 12th, 13th and 14th March. The school, in St Mary’s Road, released a statement to parents saying that ‘the school will remain open’ and that it has a ‘comprehen- sive plan in place for the continuation’ of pupils’ education. In an open letter to parents, teachers said: “We are writing to express the strength of feeling amongst teachers at St Mary’s School against the proposal to leave or undermine the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.

“The proposal to leave the scheme or reduce the employer’s contributions, has ramifications for the continuing success of the school. It will adversely affect the ability of the school to attract and retain high quality teachers.

“Significant damage has been done to staff morale by the threat to rip up contracts of employment. We have been told that unless we agree to this significant cut in renumeration, the school will fire us and then offer re-employment on inferior terms (so-called ‘fire and rehire’).

“We regret having to take this action but the strength of feeling amongst staff is running high. The irony of taking action on the eve of International Women’s Day should not be lost on anyone.”

On day two of the strike, one teacher said: “Great response from people in cars who give a hoot and conversations with passers-by, shocked and surprised by the attack on Teachers’ Pension Salary at the school.”

A spokesman for the NEU said: “Some great signs this morning on day two at St Mary’s. Pleased to hear of the support from members of the public. Solidarity with all staff members taking action to defend their pensions at St Mary’s on Wednesday and Thursday. Cheaper teachers is never the answer.”

Teachers at St Mary’s Ascot are members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), a government-run scheme which guarantees benefits based on career length and salary.

All state schoolteachers and most of those working in independent schools are members of the TPS, says the NEU. It claims that the governors of St Mary’s have proposed changes to the pension arrangements which are ‘unacceptable to the teaching staff’.