COVERING WOKINGHAM, FINCHAMPSTEAD, EARLEY, WINNERSH, SHINFIELD, WOODLEY, TWYFORD & SURROUNDING AREAS
THEWOKINGHAMPAPER
THE VOICE OF THE BOROUGH
WOKINGHAM.TODAY
Thursday, May 11, 2020 No. 261
70p
CALLS FOR NEW GAOL DECISION P22
£18,000 raised after father’s sudden death EXCLUSIVE By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokinghampaper.co.uk
MORE THAN £18,000 has been raised for a Wokingham family after the sudden loss of their Dad in late February. Husband and father, Prashant Singh died suddenly when he was on a trip to India. Without warning, Mr Singh collapsed with a pain in his back. He was then rushed to hospital for open heart surgery. But 10 hours later, the 44-year-old passed away — coming as a horrific shock to his family and close friends. Mr Singh’s close friend, Sona Olikara set up a GoFundMe page to support the family after his tragic death. He said: “I have known Prashant for the last 13 years, he was my closest friend. He had been in the UK for more than 15 years now, but our roots are in India. “I met him when he was on an assignment with British Petroleum and that's how our friendship evolved. “His death came as such a massive shock. This happened a couple of weeks before the whole lockdown situation. “In late February, the kids had a school term break and Prashant wanted to go and visit his elderly mother in India. “Just one day before he returned to the UK, he was walking from his room to the living room and suddenly collapsed. “He was in a state of shock and they found his pulse was weak. He was rushed to the hospital where he had a 10-hour open heart surgery, and unfortunately passed away. “It was so shocking to everyone because Prashant was super healthy and super fit. He was very active. He was a certified yoga instructor, and was the sole breadwinner for the family.” Mr Singh’s family and close friends said they have been humbled by the donations, which have already reached £17,000. � Continued on page 3
FIRE STATION CREW IN NEW HOME P2
KEEP THE ARK AFLOAT: Farm Park’s £30,000 fundraiser P23
PANDEMIC WILL CREATE NEW HOMELESSNESS
YOUR VE DAY P18 PARTY PICTURES
Charities warn of increasing vulnerability in lockdown EXCLUSIVE By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokinghampaper.co.uk
THE PANDEMIC will create a new type of homelessness, warns a charity founder.
Elaine Chalmers-Brown, who founded Bracknell-based Pilgrim Hearts Trust 20 years ago has warned that different people will become homeless due to the coronavirus pandemic. The charity has been running a night shelter each winter for the last five years in Bracknell, and for this first time this year in Wokingham.
And during the two-month pilot for the Wokingham centre, 26 homeless people used the facilities. But according to the borough council’s latest count, there were only seven rough sleepers documented across the borough. Mrs Chalmers-Brown said: “The count works by going out at 2am, finding, waking up and documenting each case. “But it's done in November when it's cold. “These people are less likely to be in areas like car parks, and may have found indoor places to stay, such as on
a sofa. “Not everyone is going to be outdoors, so it warps the count.” Recognising this, the council now have plans to carry out a second annual rough sleeper count in May. But Mrs Chalmers-Brown is concerned that there will be a new wave of people affected by homelessness due to bankruptcy, housing evictions, and domestic violence within the pandemic. “Under the coronavirus, people have begun to realise that Universal Credit is not a lot,” she added. � Continued on page 7
CREATING A UK HELP NETWORK P10 COUNTRY PARKS HAVE REOPENED P5