Wokingham Today, June 15, 2023

Life-saving defib taken from town phone box

EXCLUSIVE

By ANDREW BATT news@wokingham.today

A POTENTIALLY life-saving defibrillator was removed from its housing and dumped under a bag in Broad Street on Monday morning.

The incident, which is believed to have happened around 11am, was witnessed by a member of the public who took the unit to Wokingham Town Council.

It appears the offender may have intended to return to collect the unit later.

Katy Hughes, town clerk at Wokingham Town Council, told Wokingham Today: “I’d like to express my sincere thanks to the member of the public for acting quickly and bringing the defibrillator to us for safe keeping.”

The council has placed a sign at the location outside the former post office, directing people to the nearest alternative town centre defibrillator which is adjacent to Waitrose.

South Central Ambulance confirmed it was aware of the incident.

A spokesperson said: “The Defib itself is safe and in working order, and that the access code will be changed before it is reinstated.”

The equipment was donated in 2015 by The Wokingham Community First Responders, who provided a vandal proof casing and offered 10-year maintenance.

The defibrillator is aimed to be simple to use and available to any member of the public who attends a medical emergency involving potentially life threatening cardiac conditions.

Wokingham Town Council took on ownership of the phone box after BT decided it was of low use.

EXCLUSIVE

By ANDREW BATT news@wokingham.today

A WOKINGHAM restaurateur is urging business in the town to fight back against the parking charge increase which will be introduced next week.

Borough Council owned car parks will see new prices from Tuesday. The fees include charges for evening and

Sunday parking, as well as increases for short- and long-term stays.

It is the first rise in five years, and the council says it has no choice due to the financial pressures it is currently facing.

But Raja Majid, owner of Sultan Indian in Market Place, is hoping other businesses will join him in helping visitors to the town centre.

“While we understand the reasoning behind Wokingham Borough Council’s

Do you have responsibility for supporting older relatives and don’t know where to begin?

We can help

decision to increase parking charges, we also know our customers are facing difficult decisions every day,” he said.

“We have to do whatever we can to help them choose Wokingham over neighbouring towns.”

He’s urging other town centre businesses to join him to attract more people to Wokingham, either by offering to refund parking costs or other initiatives.

n Continued on page 3

v Family notices

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Flying Scotsman makes flying visit

BERKSHIRE rail enthusiasts and bemused commuters were treated to a rare sight last Wednesday.

The Flying Scotsman, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, passed through Twyford (pictured) and Reading on its way from Paddington to Cardiff.

It shot to fame in 1934 when it became the first steam locomotive to record a speed of 100mph

The Flying Scotsman is set to be seen against in Berkshire next week when it hauls the Salisbury Express through the royal county.

Network Rail have stressed the importance of remaining safe.

A spokesperson said: “Seeing The Flying Scotsman is an exciting event for many people and we want everyone to be able to enjoy the occasion”.

Government plans to extend local TV licence for 10 years

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today

LOCAL television service That’s Thames Valley will continue to operate for another 10 years subject to the outcome of a public consultation.

Last week, the government announced its intention to extend licences until 2034, once an Ofcom review of their output has been undertaken, in a bid to ensure they meet audiences’ needs.

When he was culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt announced the plans to allow a network of local stations to be set up across the country from 2013.

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They include Mustard TV in Norwich, London Live, and the That’s TV brand which has since become the dominant player.

They broadcast via channels 7 or 8 on Freeview, and they are required to show a set number of hours’ worth of local programming on a daily basis.

Under Ofcom’s rules, it must run 15 hours a week of local progamming, of which 10 hours should be broadcast between 6pm and 10.30pm.

From the third year, this requirement is halved.

It must also broadcast 13-and-ahalf hours of news a week, including a magazine programme on weekday

evenings. This reduces to seven hours a week from the third year onwards.

The rest of the time, it is showing repeats of comedy programmes from the 1970s including The Benny Hill Show, Till Death Do Us Part, and The Kenny Everett Show. It also features music videos from the 1960s and 70s.

However, the stations have not always found it easy to generate stable revenue streams, and therefore fund local content. It is with this in mind the government is running a consultation.

Media minister John Whittingdale said: “Local TV stations from Belfast to Birmingham help to support

& Daughters

local journalism, drive the creative economy and foster pride in communities.

“We want to see this continue, so we’ve set out plans for Ofcom to review all services to ensure they’re well positioned to continue serving local audiences with trusted and distinctive content for years to come.

“Ofcom will review each station’s proposals for the decade ahead to ensure they can maintain their current service and continue making distinctive shows which meet the needs of the local area.”

If a station does not wish to renew its licence, Ofcom will offer

the station in what the government says is a competitive process.

The license terms say a station should produce content that provides benefit to the community, caters to the taste and interests of those they serve and increases the amount of programming made in the area.

•

•

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Participants will be invited to submit innovative suggestions relating to how local TV could be used to enhance local journalism and democracy across the UK.

The consultation closes on August 30. Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the government plans to move forward with the necessary secondary legislation later this year.

GOLDEN AGE OF RAIL: The Flying Scotsman made a visit to Reading and Twyford last week

Picture: Andrew Batt

All smiles at Woodley’s carnival

‘We’ll pay your parking’ pledges restaurateur

n From front page

Mr Majid added: “I’ve mentioned our plans to a couple of businesses and they’re very keen to join us and get involved.”

The Sultan Indian restaurant will refund parking charges of up to £2.50 during the day, and £1 between 6pm and 10pm. Customers need to provide a receipt for their parking, or a photograph of the ticket.

The refund will be in the form of a deduction from bills in excess of £20 for all diners, and for those collecting takeaway orders from the restaurant.

By EMMA MERCHANT emerchant@wokingham.today

A BOROUGH town held its annual festival at the weekend, drawing thousands of visitors to the area.

Organisers were delighted with the turnout, and with the weather.

Matt Jacobs, Woodley Community Carnival committee chair, said: “It was another really successful event, and the weather was absolutely amazing.

“We could see rain over Tilehurst, but there wasn’t a drop on the carnival. It was wonderful to see so many people in the community out and about enjoying the day.

“A special highlight of the afternoon was the children’s choir drawn from five local primary schools, and led by Sarah Sharp.

“They really summed up what this event is all about.”

Afternoon carnival visitors were able to enjoy a funfair, live performances, charity stalls, and free attractions.

Children were able to bounce on an Inflatable World, travel by Smiley Train, watch Team M.A.D’ BMX stunts, and explore inside a Mobile Cave.

There was also a classic car show, a dog agility presentation, a photographic gallery and a flower display.

A Hawker Hurricane made a flypast: “It made three passes over the crowd,” said Mr Jacobs. “It came so low that we could actually see the pilot in the plane.”

The line-up in the Carnival Arena included The Barberettes, BPD Dance Company, Starmaker Theatre Company, and Kick Twist Cheerleading.

Also performing were: Advanced School of Dance, Anything Goes Theatre Company, Nive Indian Dance, Readiophonics, Woodley Girlguiding, Thames Valley Chorus, Voice Networking, and Primary School Choir.

JAC Outreach brought ponies and a collection of other animals, while transport enthusiasts were able to enjoy displays of traction engines and a model railway.

Evening carnival visitors were able to dance to the music of four bands: Vintage Sound Collective, The Side Project, Brick Top, and Soultrax.

“The evening concert was fabulous too,” said Mr Jacobs.

“Seeing the numbers of people dancing was great.”

The event, which was rounded off with a firework display, raises money for local community groups, societies, clubs and organisations.

“The committee would like to thank all the local volunteers and businesses who made this possible, for their time and their generosity,” Mr Jacobs said.

“Our team of 18 couldn’t have put this together without them.

“And we’d also like to thank our generous headline sponsors for supporting this community event: Woodleys Estate Agents, Lock Solutions, KJS Solicitors, Trademark Windows, LAX Events, and Woodley Town Council.”

n For more information visit: www. woodleycarnival.org.uk

Daytime charges in Wokingham town centre car parks are set to rise this week to £1.30 for up to an hour, £2.50 for up to two hours, £4.50 for up to four hours, £6.50 for up to six hours and £7 for over six hours.

Explaining the increases, Councillor Paul Fishwick, executive member for active travel, transport and highways on Wokingham Borough Council, said: “In our current financial position, we have had to make tough choices, and raising car park charges is one of them.

“There has been no increase to parking charges since April 2018, and so residents, businesses and visitors have enjoyed cheaper parking for longer, rather than the gradual increases seen in other areas.

“The time has now come though for the price to be raised, to cover the shortfall in the service area, so from next week, you will start to see the new charges being introduced.

"We are not immune to the cost of living crisis, and, like residents, are having to make difficult choices to make sure we can keep providing our most essential services.”

Woodley Light Operatic Society

Borough mayor Cllr Beth Rowland

Woodley and Earley Lions Club

The Allied Schools of Dance

A young explorer enjoying a mobile cave at Woodley Carnival, last weekend Pictures: Steve Smyth

Market set to return on Sunday

SPENCERS WOOD residents are invited to a summer market on Sunday, June 18.

With plenty of food, drinks and craft stalls available at the village hall on Basingstoke Road for visitors to enjoy, the event promises to be a great opportunity for families and friends to come together this summer.

The community market is still welcoming requests for stall bookings, with a table inside the hall costing £12.50 and £15 outside.

The event takes place from 10am-1pm.

For more details, email: liz@ spencerswoodvillagehall.co.uk

Church fete date

AN ANNUAL summer event in Shinfield is returning on Saturday, June 24.

St Mary’s Church will hold the event on School Green, with food, music and entertainment all set to delight visitors.

Activities include a dog show, bouncy castle and children’s races, tombola, games, crafts and a barbecue.

There will also be a £100 first prize in the raffle.

Live music will be provided by the Tadley Brass Band.

The community event will run from noon-4pm. n For more information, visit: www.loddonreach.org.uk

Supper club returns, after first date sold all plates ‘in no time’

EXCLUSIVE

By EMMA MERCHANT emerchant@wokingham,today

A community coffee shop is preparing to welcome customers back for a supper club after the success of its first event.

The five-star hygiene rated Kimel Café in Evendons employs a team of young neurodiverse staff, paying them salary and providing them with tailored stepping stone training.

The members gain valuable life skills, and benefit from transitional support to help them move onward into mainstream employment.

Paula Rogers, one of the group’s mentors said: “We held our first supper club before Christmas, and it was a complete success.

“We sold out in no time.

“We’re delighted to be able to host the long-awaited sequel.

“It’s a chance for us to give something back to our customers.”

The supper club serves a three-course meal in the intimate café venue, off Evendons Lane, to a cosy number of 18 guests.

“It’s like a community dinner party,” continued Ms Rogers.

EVENING MEAL: Kimel Café is reviving its supper club this month. Picture: Kimel Café

“People come along for a social evening with friends and neighbours.

“Everyone is served the same menu, with the courses served to everyone together, like a special meal in your own home.”

Diners can bring alcoholic drinks with them, or buy soft drinks, teas and coffees during the evening.

“We transform the busy daytime café into an intimate

restaurant venue, with candles and appropriate background music,” added Ms Rogers.

“It’s a lovely thing to do, and tickets have gone pretty fast, with only one or two remaining.”

By day the café serves hot drinks and homemade cakes.

“These are made by our staff members, along with toasted sandwiches and occasional specials, or signature dishes,

that staff and mentors particularly enjoy cooking,” said Ms Rogers. “And we now have a new slushie making machine.

“It’s great to watch our young team growing in confidence.

“It is really something, not just to make a cake, but to be able to bake 24 brownies that are good enough for people to want to come and purchase and enjoy.

“And they are learning about

food hygiene, kitchen safety, dealing with the public and lots of great life skills.”

Members of the team are encouraged to take part in fundraising activities to support the financial requirements of the café project, and other good causes.

They are currently raising money for Cyclists Fighting Cancer, a charity that has given a bike to the teenage son of one of the Kimel Café mentors, to help him build up his muscles after chemotherapy.

“He is overwhelmed by the gift, and wants others to benefit too,” said Ms Rogers.

“So we’ve decided to try to help the charity purchase another cycle for another young person, to pay it forward for the bike that he has received.”

“During June and July, we’ll have a collection tin on the counter, and 10p from every cake sold then will go to that organisation.

“We also have a raffle planned for the end of July, with more details to follow soon.

The supper club takes place on Friday, June 23.

n For more information, visit the Kimel Cafe Facebook and Instagram pages, log on to: www. kimelcafe.com or drop into the Evendons Lane coffee shop.

READY TO

PARTY: Bond Brews’ Dean Bond (centre) will welcome people to his tap yard on Saturday for an eighth anniversary event Picture: Steve Smyth

It’s great to be eight and celebrate

BEER lovers will be raising a glass or two this month as one of Wokingham’s popular breweries celebrates its eighth birthday.

Bond Brews was set up and continues to be run by Dean Bond whose weekly deliveries can see him notch up 200 miles around Berkshire.

After spending 10 years as a home brewer, Dean decided to go commercial in 2005 and, despite the covid pandemic which saw a tripling of the number of UK breweries going bust, Bond Brews continues to thrive.

“I try to keep it as local as I can,” he explained. “Most of my business is around 30 miles of the brewery but that still adds up to several hundred miles of

travelling to customers.

“I love what I do but it can be tough, not least during covid when the pubs closed as around 85% of my business was done through them.

“It is about adapting to the situation and it's easier for me to do that than a larger business.

“While we have a range of beers to suit all tastes, I tend to lean towards more traditional beers like bitter and porter which are very popular. Our onsite shop is very popular with customers able to click and collect.”

To mark the eighth anniversary, Dean is hosting a Beer Festival on Saturday, June 17, between noon and 8pm at the Heathlands Road premises.

There will be music and as well as Bond beers, local ciders, Pimm’s, Prosecco and soft drinks are also available along with food from the Rural Pie Co in Twyford.

“We've just received the fantastic news that our friends Amy and Phil at Rural Pie have won Bronze at the British Pie Awards for their Steak and Ale pie which happens to contain our Best of British bitter so congratulations to them,” Dean said.

Bond Brews holds a monthly Saturday tap yard outside the brewery between April and September, with different food vendors each month.

n For more details, log on to: www.bondbrews.co.uk

Rachel’s new salon keeps it in the family

EXCLUSIVE

By JAMES HASTINGS news@wokingham.today

HAIRDRESSER Rachel Harris has gone back to the future to launch her new salon.

The mum of two has moved into the shop which her grandparents opened 60 years ago as a florist and mini market.

Rachel’s dad, Paul, then joined the family business which he ran with grandmother, Bernie, for 45 years.

Now Rachel has taken over the London Road shop – which was most recently home to Funky Flowers – and, in the process, help local hairdressers set up their own businesses.

“I feel excited I have turned full circle in setting up a salon as the third generation of the Harris family where it all began,” she said.

“I have been a hairdresser for 17 years and I have always wanted my own place and where better than in the shop my grandparents owned and where my dad worked.”

The new salon which opened on Monday, June 5 is called Hair Space HQ. It has space for up to five self-employed hairdressers.

Rachel said she was keen to help stylists get started in the business without having all the overheads of owning their own premises.

“They will do what is known

as rent a chair with all the equipment they need supplied,” she explained.

“That way, they can get started without all the costs they’d normally have and they

Hard work to go on display Summer fair fun in Finchampstead

A GROUP of green fingered residents will be displaying their prized horticultural exhibits at their seasonal display.

Wokingham Horticultural Association will present their annual Summer Show this weekend.

On display will be a range of fruit, flowers and vegetables, with prizes for the winning entries. Following a presentation of awards, there will be a sale of show items.

Refreshments will be available.

The event will take place at St Paul’s Church, Wokingham, on Saturday, June 17. Doors open at 2pm, with a presentation of prizes at 3.45pm. Admission costs £2, children enter free of charge.

n For more information call Pauline MacBrayne on: 07941 352411, or visit: www.w-h-a.org.uk

A BOROUGH parish will hold its summer fair next month.

Fun is promised for all the family, with a bouncy castle for youngsters to enjoy, a grand draw, silent auction, lots of games and stalls, and prizes to be won.

Refreshments will include strawberries and cream, a barbecue, and ice creams.

The Parish of Finchampstead and California’s summer fete takes place at Finchampstead Memorial Park, on Saturday, July 1.

Gates will be open from 1pm to 4pm.

The Parish of Finchampstead and California includes: St Eligius Church, Arborfield Green; St James’ Church, Finchampstead; and St Mary and St John Church, Finchampstead.

n For more information, call the parish office on: 0118 973 0133.

Pre-school storytime sessions

A BOOKSHOP is rolling out new free storytime sessions for youngsters aged up to four.

The stories will be at Wokingham Waterstones store on Tuesday mornings. They will be read by staff member, Olivia Hunter.

“We’re really keen to make links with the local community,” she said. “We have an adult book club already, which is going well, but we didn’t have anything for youngsters.

“We’ve wanted to do something like this for a while, and there’s definitely a vacuum to fill.”

Ms Hunter has a four-yearold of her own, and has worked at the Peach Street store since August.

“There may be nothing scarier than a group of toddlers, but I’m really looking forward to sharing lots of stories with them,” she said.

“And whenever possible, we’ll have extra special visits from children’s authors.”

There will be different themes each term. This term is Animal Adventures, starting with a teddy bears’ picnic.

“In November, we’ve invited local children’s picture book author, Jo Lindley, to come and

can operate their own hours to suit their lifestyle. There are not many flexible opportunities like this in Wokingham so it works for both the salon and customers.”

Rachel’s grandparents moved from London and initially had a flower stall in Peach Street before buying the London Road shop which was called Harris Flowers.

Dad, Paul, later joined the business while also working as

a postman, something he still does. He has helped Rachel convert the premises which had been let out for the past 15 years, ready for the opening.

“Dad used to unload flowers at 2am, open up the florist then go on his post round and return to the shop to work until closing,” she explained.

“He has done so much work to transform it into a hair salon.

“He is amazing and no job

is too small or too big for him. I couldn’t have done it without him.

“My grandfather, Eddie, has passed, but my grandmother who is 89 is, like all of us, feeling very nostalgic.

“I feel honoured as the third generation of Harris’ working at London Road.

“I can’t wait to welcome customers old and new to what is truly a family business.”

dress our shop window with her art,” continued Ms Hunter.

Due to the size of the shop, numbers are limited each week to 10 children: “If the sessions prove to be really popular, we may add extra story times on Thursdays as well,” Ms Hunter said.

Sessions begin on Tuesday, July 4, at 10.30am. Places need to be pre-booked.

All July slots are now filled, but places are available from August onwards.

n For information and to book, call into the Peach Street bookshop, or email: wokingham@ waterstones.com

OPEN FOR BUSINESS: Rachel Harris Lloyd who has launched a “rent-a-chair” Hairdressing Salon in Wokingham called Hairs Space HQ Picture: Steve Smyth

Bikeathon was a tour de force

EXCLUSIVE

By ANDREW BATT news@wokingham.today

HUNDREDS of cyclists braved the high temperatures and threat of storms as they took to the roads around Wokingham for an annual Bikeathon on Sunday.

Jean Alder, speaking on behalf of the event organisers, told Wokingham Today: “We had more than 400 people taking part, with the youngest rider being just five-years-old.”

The event, which has Wokingham Foodbank as its

designated charity, included a longer 51-mile route for the first time. Routes for the event, which started and

ended at Cantley Park, took participants through villages including Hurst and Waltham St Lawrence.

She explained: “The Bikeathon is a family-friendly event that now also provides a challenge for the more experienced cyclists.”

The Kidical Mass ride also proved popular. The marshalled two-and-a-half mile route was well-attended by youngsters and their families.

Another feature of the Bikeathon event is the medals, for those who choose to take one, are made from recycled compressed wood chips.

Free bike checks at summer fair

CYCLISTS will be able to get their bikes checked for free at an upcoming community event.

Dr Bike will be at St Mary’s Church Fete on Saturday, June 24, to make sure people’s bikes are roadworthy and safe to use.

If there are any parts needed or repairs are beyond the scope of the session, he will let you know and advise you on next steps and potential options.

He will be at School Green, Shinfield, from 12.30pm2.30pm. Booking is essential.

n To book a place, visit: www. myjourneywokingham.com/ events

Bypass closure

MOTORISTS in Swallowfield may be required to find alternative routes late on Friday and in the early hours of Saturday as planned road works are set to take place.

The Swallowfield Bypass will be closed southbound between Mereoak Lane and Welsh Lane on the night of June 23-24.

The restrictions will allow Wokingham Borough Council to conduct resurfacing works.

The closure will be in place from 8pm-6am.

n For more information, visit: www.wokingham.gov.uk

GREEN FINGERS: Woodley Schools Cluster held a Year 1 Tray Garden challenge at Waingels College. Above are pupils from St Dominic Savio Catholic School Pictures: Phil Creighton

Green fingered Woodley pupils create tray gardens fit for the king

PUPILS from five primary schools showed off their green fingers and celebrated the coronation of King Charles III.

Last week, Year 1 pupils from Beechwood, Highwood, Rivermead, South Lake and St Dominic Savio Catholic primary schools came together at Waingels College for a Woodley Schools Cluster event. They were tasked with creating a royal-themed tray garden.

Using materials provided by a grant from Woodley Town

Council and donations from Hare Hatch Sheeplands Plant Nursery and Winnersh Garden Centre, they created some garden fit for … well, a king.

Pairs of children from each school were teamed up with another school, making twig furniture, paper insects and other decorations to accompany the donated plants.

The finished results were then judged by Brenda Milton from the Woodley Flower Club, Cllr Juliet Anderson the deputy mayor of Woodley Town Council,

and Cassie King from Winnersh Garden Centre.

They were presented with certificates and seeds in the afternoon.

Further projects, for years 2, 3 and 6, are coming soon.

A spokesperson for the schools clusters said: “These are wonderful projects enjoyed by pupils and staff alike, which strengthen the relationship between all our local schools, and help ease some of the pupil worries about transitioning to secondary schools.”

Film making duo picked up by Netflix

By ANDREW BATT news@wokingham.today

TWO Twyford-based documentary producers are set to receive funding and professional support as part of the Netflix Documentary Talent Fund.

Anna Snowball and Abofazi Talooni were one of 12 teams who were invited by Netflix to pitch their idea – having been selected from thousands of applications.

They will make a short documentary of the theme of ‘connection’.

Their idea, titled ‘Iranian Yellow Pages’ will focus on Iranians in London, trapped between two cultures and searching for connections by placing weird and wonderful adverts in the Iranian Yellow Pages.

These can be found dotted across London, in Iranianowned shops, laundrettes, and restaurants.

They all have newspaper stands stacked with colourful Farsi-language publications. Tucked within their pages are intriguing free ads called the ‘Iranian Yellow Pages’.

The documentary will see

Anna and Abofazi pick up the phone to discover the people and stories behind these adverts.

The duo say their discoveries including partying OAPs, former spies haunted by guilt, puppeteers looking for love, and refugee food delivery drivers dreaming of launching the next big restaurant.

They all want the same thing; to find connections in the lonely city they now call home and reconnection to the complicated country they’ve left behind.

To make the documentary, Anna and

Abofazi will receive £30,000.

The end result will be released on the Netflix YouTube channel next year, and they will receive advice and support covering all aspects of production including legal, creative, HR, production and finance.

The Netflix Documentary Talent Fund was created to break down barriers of access for emerging filmmakers, and provides a foundation to boost their career.

Kate Townsend, spokesperson for the talent fund, said, “Last year’s fund was a huge success with filmmakers really making the most of the opportunity and springboarding to other projects and even BAFTA nominations.

”The films we have selected to support offer a unique take on the theme of connection. From an amazing story about two mothers with a unique bond in Ireland, to uniting communities as part of the deaf rave scene in Hackney, we are very much looking forward to kicking off production on these documentaries and seeing what these filmmakers can achieve.”

n For more details, log on to: www.netflixdocfund.co.uk

Beechwood Primary School

South Lake Primary School

Highwood Primary School Rivermead Primary School

The winning team

Henry the Thirst: RABBLE teams with Elusive to unleash the Chaos

EXCLUSIVE

By JAKE CLOTHIER jclothier@wokingham.today

AS RABBLE begins the run of shows for its latest production in Reading, an adaptation of Henry I, it is also celebrating the launch of a new beer.

To mark the production, the company teamed up with Elusive Brewing in the creation of a new golden ale, Chaos of Succession, launched with a party at The Grumpy Goat on Friday last week.

A light ale of just under 4% volume, Chaos of Succession is described as having citrus and blackcurrant notes and is made from a mix of UK-grown Admiral and Mystic hops. It will be sold at the bar for performances of the play, which are taking place in Reading’s historic Abbey Ruins, as well as at a number of venues around the town.

Toby Davies, artistic director at RABBLE, says the beer came about after he was approached by Colin Pearson, a long-time follower of the company’s work with the idea.

“Colin approached me and asked if we’d ever thought about creating a beer to sell at our bar, and then he very kindly put us

in touch with The Grumpy Goat and Elusive Brewing.”

Henry I centres on the titular king, who has a number of connections with Reading, and is also thought to be buried here, though the location is disputed.

“Henry I is buried here, and it felt like a good subject matter for the collaboration – it’s a really nice lighter ale, and it’ll taste great in the sunshine at the show.”

Ruth Mitchell, managing director at Elusive Brewing, said: “Colin is a big fan of RABBLE’s

theatre and suggested that it would be a good partnership, and we were delighted to be involved.

“So with Chaos, it’s a slightly more traditional ale than our usual range. We wanted it to have a wide appeal where traditional tastes won’t find it scary, and non-beer-drinkers will still find it interesting.”

She explained: “Elusive is very collaborative – close to 50% of our beers are collaboration of some sort. We’re always happy to get involved with other businesses and bring some-thing

FOR

THE

KING: Elusive Brewing’s managing director, Ruth Mitchell, with Kane Preston from The Grumpy Goat at the launch party on Friday Picture: Jake Clothier

to a diverse range of people.

“The whole sector is being affected by all sorts of things, including Brexit, and the industry isn’t getting the support that it should do.

“It’s difficult, and everyone is struggling, so we try, as small businesses to support each other. More support from those in power would be a great thing.”

Colin, a retired engineer, is the man behind the original idea, and has been living in Reading since the early 80s.

He said at the launch party:

Serious injuries after collision

“I enjoy the theatre, and when I heard about RABBLE I jumped at the chance of going to see them back when they were ‘Reading Between the Lines.’

“They’ve got a strong local connection and put on some great productions and do some good work; Toby put on a talk at the town hall, which we attended, promoting the production.

“The idea just came to me of a special beer for Henry I; but I know that there are other people more expert in brewing choices.”

As for his verdict on the beer: “I think it’ll be very popular, and it pleases old people like me.”

Chaos of Succession is available at all of the performances of Henry I in Reading’s Abbey Ruins, which runs until Saturday, July 1.

It is also available via Elusive Brewing’s website and at their taproom in Finchampstead’s Hogwood Lane, The Grumpy Goat in Smelly Alley (Union St), and in venues around Reading.

n Details about Elusive are available via: elusivebrewing.com

n Details about Henry I performances and how to get tickets are available via: whatsonreading.com

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses to a road traffic collision which left a man with serious injuries in Earley.

A black Hackney Carriage taxi and a pedestrian, a man in his sixties, were involved in a collision on Wokingham Road, near Maiden Erlegh Drive, at around 12.20pm on Friday, June 2.

The incident left the pedestrian with serious injuries, and he remains in a stable condition in hospital.

No arrests have been made.

Investigating officer PC Thomas Dickinson, of the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, said: “This collision, which has left a man seriously injured, happened in the middle of the day on a very busy main road so I am sure there were many witnesses who we are yet to speak to.

“I would appeal any witnesses or anyone who may have dash-cam or CCTV footage to contact us by calling 101 or reporting via our website, quoting reference number 4323024202.

“You can also upload any footage that might help to this dedicated online portal.”

Grant will help cancer patients

By EMMA MERCHANT emerchant@wokingham.today

CANCER patients and their families will benefit from a £150,000 grant made by health charity Walk the Walk to Bristol organisation, Penny Brohn UK. It was founded by Wokingham resident Nina Barough CBE back in 1996, after she set out to power walk the New York City Marathon in aid of breast cancer research, wearing a decorated bra, Months later she discovered that she, herself, had the disease. Following surgery and radiotherapy, she survived and thrived.

Now, Walk The Walk funds cancer research and services, holds fundraising walking events, and raises awareness of healthy lifestyle choices.

Its Moonwalk events take place annually in London in May.

Cancer charity, Penny Brohn UK, will benefit from the £150,000 granted by Walk the Walk.

It will be able to relaunch inperson retreats, wellbeing days and complimentary therapy sessions for people with cancer, at its headquarters at Ham Green, Bristol.

These services were

suspended during the early stages of the covid pandemic, with the charity moving its entire programme of support services online.

Andrew Hufford, CEO of Penny Brohn UK, says: “After successfully switching to online-only services during the pandemic, we’ve been trying hard to restart in-person services at our centre in Bristol, so we can offer a hybrid service for people with cancer at Penny Brohn UK.

“Like many small charities, our capacity and finances have made this challenging, so it is incredible to be supported by Walk the Walk with a grant that will allow our in-person services to relaunch later this year.”

Penny Brohn UK will also be able to relaunch its well-being days, with advice to cancer patients on exercise, diet, and ways to relieve stress and anxiety.

Therapies, including ways to alleviate the physical and emotional impact of scar damage following surgery, acupuncture, and counselling will also be available.

Ms Barough said: “The past three years have been incredibly tough for everyone.

“While digital services now have their place and have enabled Penny Brohn to reach so many more cancer patients across the UK, nothing can quite replace the value of faceto-face support.

“We are just so thrilled to be able to help the charity bring this personal care back into operational service, as it is needed now more than ever.”

n Entries are now open for Walk the Walk’s MoonWalk London 2024 event, which will take place on Saturday, May 18. There will again be two routes: a marathon and a half-marathon For information and to sign up to walk, visit: www.walkthewalk.org n For information about the recipient charity, visit: www. pennybrohn.org.uk

Generous shoppers donate uniforms and stationery to First Days appeal

A WOKINGHAM charity that supports young people and families in financial difficulty, asked residents to donate good quality school uniforms at the weekend, writes Emma Merchant

With many more families falling into challenging times in recent months, First Days Children’s Charity says it has been overwhelmed by the number of people needing their help to provide basic school uniforms for their youngsters.

First Days has set up a new school uniform fund, but the charity also needs good quality second hand items.

Pre-loved uniforms were handed in to Tesco Wokingham store at the weekend, where First Days has a stall outside the Finchampstead Road store.

Shoppers were also able to donate stationery and baby related items they had purchased in the Tesco supermarket.

Lousie Jedras, Tesco Wokingham community champion said: “People were very generous.

“There were lots of donations of uniforms, cash, and in store items.

“People bought nappies, baby shampoos, lunch boxes, calculators, and there were plenty of £20 notes in the donation box.

“We were very pleased to be able to host the uniform donation point here.

“It was wonderful to see people being so generous.”

An orange donation bin remains inside the Tesco store,

near the food donation drop off point.

“Some people have said that they have to wait until the end of the summer term before they can donate items their child h as grown out of,” said Ms Jedras.

“The orange bin will continue to be here, for donations of good quality school uniform items, all summer.”

People can take First Days donations either to Tesco, or by appointment (see website for details) to the charity’s Wokingham headquarters.

To contribute £5 to First Days school uniform fund, text UNIFORM to 70560, or visit: www.justgiving.comand search for schooluniform2023 n For more information log on to: www.firstdays.net

Council applies for £6.3m funding for SEND education

CHALLENGES that pushed Wokingham Borough Council to apply for emergency funding are affecting local authorities around the country, its top official has said, writes Nick Clark, Local democracy reporter.

The council was recently given a £6.3 million grant as part of the government’s Safety Valve programme.

This fund is designed to tackle council overspending on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services.

Chief executive Susan Parsonage said Wokingham was one of more than 80 councils to have been

awarded the funding.

She pointed to an increase in both the demand for SEND services, and in the number of children with complex needs.

“We’re one of over 80 councils that have been part of Safety Valve,” she said. “This particular risk around SEND is something that’s been experienced right across the country where we’ve got an increase in demand, an increase in complexity.

“I think there’s a £2.3 billion national deficit in SEND, and the government have invested £986 million in their safety valve programme.”

Ms Parsonage was

speaking at a meeting of the council’s Audit Committee on Wednesday, June 7.

Council auditors have listed the outcome and cost of its SEND provision as being a “high-risk” concern due to the pressures on the service.

Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Smith asked why the grant – which will go towards building two new specialist schools – didn’t appear to have reduced the risk.

Ms Parsonage replied that the external factors hadn’t been reduced, and the new schools may mitigate the risk once they had been built.

Nina Barough, CBE, believes walking is the answer to better health. Picture: WalktheWalk.org

SUPPORT: Louise Jedras, Tesco community champion) and Emma Cantrell, chief executive of First Days Children’s Charity, at the First Days stand outside Tesco on Saturday. Picture: Steve Smyth

Party leader switches to Lib Dems

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today

THE LEADER of one of the borough’s political parties has joined Wokingham’s Liberal Democrats.

Louise Timlin, who has led the Reading and Wokingham branch of the Women’s Equality Party for the past three years, says the change has come about because of the electoral system used in UK elections.

During her time with the Women’s Equality Party, she has campaigned on multiple issues including the provision of local domestic abuse services, the gender pay gap at Wokingham Borough Council, and changing the culture that enables violence against women and girls.

And these, she feels, are issues that the Liberal Democrats also convey.

“There has been strong grass roots support in Wokingham for the values and policies of the Women’s Equality Party,” she said.

“I am incredibly proud of the influence that we have had, including the collaboration I established with the local Liberal Democrats in 2022 which led to tangible change.

“It’s clear to me that to achieve more across a wider range of issues

Summer show celebrates cream of the crop

EXCLUSIVE

By ANDREW BATT news@wokingham.today

THE cream of this year’s crop was on show at last weekend’s Summer Show, organised by the Twyford and Ruscombe Horticultural Association.

Diane Thirtle, secretary of the association, said the event last Saturday saw an increase on both visitors numbers and entries compared with the same event last year.

Steam to

and within our ‘first past the post’ electoral system I need to work as a part of a larger party. The values and policies of the Liberal Democrats are aligned with my own, and I am looking forward to working as a member of the Liberal Democrat team to best serve the community and make even more of a difference.”

The switch has been welcomed by the leader of Wokingham borough Liberal Democrats, and council leader, Cllr Stephen Conway, who said he was delighted.

“She’s a well-known campaigner who shares our values and will make a great addition to the Lib Dems in Wokingham,” he said.

“We have new members with talent and experience joining the Liberal Democrats locally every week, adding enormously to our ability to serve residents.”

The show included categories for fruit and vegetables, as well as crafts, photography and domestic, which included cake-baking and preserves.

The organisers were also pleased with the level of participation from youngsters.

Ms Thirtle explained how the Association provided children with potatoes and a grow bag at its Spring Show, and that the results were presented last weekend.

The ‘people’s vote’ categories were also popular, with visitors to the show able to nominate their favourites in several categories.

Twyford and Ruscombe Horticulatural Association is always looking to attract more members and volunteers.

Minehead

The West Somerset Steam Express

Saturday 22nd July, 12th August and 16th September 2023

From Slough and Reading. Enjoy a day out departing from Slough or Reading to the Bristol Channel coast by train featuring two historic steam locomotives.

This seaside special will be hauled by a magnificent steam loco along the scenic Kennet & Avon Canal and through the pretty Vale of Pewsey. Our train will join the West Somerset Railway and a WSR steam loco will take over for the stretch past Dunster Castle and into the resort of Minehead, where you can enjoy the sea and sand.

Price

• Standard Class £115 per person – includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

• First Class £185 per person – includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

£10 per person discount quote: DHQ

n Visit www.thra.org.uk for more information.

• Premier Dining £285 per person – includes a full English breakfast and a four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

Ms Timlin has stood in local elections for Evendons ward. 01553

A day out to Cornwall

The Royal Duchy Sunday 30th July 2023

From Slough and Reading. Step on board at Slough or Reading to enjoy a day out to Cornwall. We shall be joined by a magnificent steam locomotive at Bristol for an exhilarating run beside the Exe Estuary and along the famous Dawlish sea wall.

The Royal Duchy will stop at Plymouth, where you can explore the Hoe, ancient Barbican, seafront or National Marine Aquarium. Alternatively, stay on board for Cornwall to Par, where you can visit pretty seaside village Fowey or Charlestown, home to the Shipwreck, Rescue & Heritage Centre.

Price

• Standard Class £134 per person – includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

• First Class £209 per person – includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

• Premier Dining £309 per person – includes a full English breakfast and a four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

£10 per person discount quote: DHR

WINNER: Prizewinner Mandy Begeant at the Twyford Horticultural Show Pictures: Steve Smyth

your welfare is

Our travel procedures are available to view on our website. Refreshments available to purchase on board. Tables for two can be guaranteed in First/Premier for a £30pp supplement subject to availability. Junior and family fares available. Organised by The Railway Touring Company. The Railway Touring Company’s standard conditions of booking and travel apply – see website.

Bob Green

Bob Green

seaside

Cllr Stephen Conway welcoming Lou Timlin to the Liberal Democrats

Aurelia (4) making visitor choice decisions with the help of dad, Sam Griffith

Michael admiring a boat entry as mum, Yvonne Burke looks on

Making visitor choice decisions

Mick Yeates with his wining entry

DOORSTEP:

A trial of soft plastic recycling on the doorstep is expected to be launched in Reading from July. Picture: Pixabay

Doorstep recycling trial for soft plastics

EMPTY plastic bags, crisp packets and chocolate bar wrappers could soon be collected from doorsteps in Reading so they can be recycled, as part of a £200,000 trial, writes Nick Clark, Local democracy reporter.

The initial scheme will see 5,000 homes take part, then expanding across Bracknell Forest and Wokingham borough councils next year.

Under the scheme, people will also be able to recycle plastic sleeves, bubble wrap, cling film and net bags.

They will go into a blue single use bag which re3’s refuse collectors will send to a national processing centre.

Not all plastics can be taken: straws and cutlery, pills and tablets blister packs, disposable masks, and foam or polystyrene are excluded, while bottles and ready meal trays will continue to be placed in red wheelie bins as usual.

Reading has been chosen for the national trial, with the

Ritz to have new owners ahead of house build plan

EXCLUSIVE

By ANDREW BATT news@wokingham.today

AN agreement has been reached to sell the site of the former Ritz cinema in Easthampstead Road.

government indicating it could make it mandatory for all councils from 2027. It could start from Monday, July 10.

Today, a meeting of re3’s governing councils - Reading, Bracknell Forest and Wokingham borough – will be held, where councillors are expected to formally approve the scheme.

The scheme is part of a national research trial run by FlexCollect, backed by the government. The project asked re3 to be part of the trial because of Reading’s urban nature.

It will come with £200,000 worth of funding to cover the costs of implementing the scheme. Documents say taking part in the trial could give the three councils a head start in preparing for mandatory flexible plastics recycling.

Re3 is not currently prepared to process flexible plastics itself as it says converting its recycling plants could cost “upwards of £2 million”.

Staines-based property developer Montreaux Homes has revealed its intention to purchase the site and its existing planning permission for 22 apartments in Wokingham town centre from current owners Classicstone Properties, subject to additional planning permissions.

In a statement, the developer said it acknowledged the historical significance of the site, and is looking forward to working with the local authorities to ensure the new homes will contribute to the local vernacular.

James Rowntree, Managing Director of Montreaux Homes, said: “Like our site in Sidcup, Urban Picturehouse, we understand the importance of developing on the former site of a landmark building.

“We look forward to bringing our experience to the scheme that has been approved, and we are working with the local authority to deliver an amenity

that the community will be proud of.”

Richard Rowsell, Land Director of Montreaux Homes said: “This site perfectly suits our mantra to ‘Build Back Better’, and we look forward to introducing high-quality housing, sustainable technology and a biodiverse garden amenity to the area.”

The Ritz cinema was opened by then Wokingham Town Mayor Alderman F.J. Barrett in May 1937, and at that time it was considered to the one of the finest in the country.

As well as being a cinema, it has also hosted talent shows, church gatherings, council presentations and, more recently, pool and bingo, a gym and a video rental business.

Existing planning approval for the site was granted in January 2021 for 22 apartments made up of one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

Underground parking was also part of the original plans.

Wokingham real estate agent Mark Rath told Wokingham Today that demand, especially for town centre properties, is primarily driven by the

Charity golf day in Wargrave: Tee off benefits young and old

A CHARITY golf tournament raised funds for two borough charities at the weekend.

The event was hosted by Wargrave’s Hennerton Golf Club, and organised to support two Wokingham organisations, one that supports older people, and another that helps families with very young children.

WADE Day Care Centre, on Reading Road, supports older residents, providing care, lunches, services and activities in the town.

Home-Start Wokingham helps families with very young children, providing them with advice and support during challenging times

Chair of WADE trustees Philip Mirfin, said: “We had excellent

attendance at the Hennerton Golf Club.

“It was a great day, and there were some fabulous prizes to win.”

Silent auction items included a trip in a Tiger Moth plane.

“All proceeds from the event will be split evently between the two charities,” said Mr Mirfin.

“We’d like to thank all who attended, and to ask them to make sure to put next year’s charity golf tournament in their diaries.”

The 2024 fundraising golf day is planned for Friday, June 7.

n For information about the two charities visit: www.wadecentre. org.uk and www.home-start. org.uk

A CGI of the proposed development for the former RItz cinema site in Easthampstead Road, Wokingham

availability of parking. He said: “The first question from buyers and investors is often not whether a property has got parking, but ‘how many spaces does it have?”.

David Cliff, another Wokingham real estate agent, welcomed the news that developments on the site may finally be moving.

Noting the majority of units under the current approved plans comprise two-bedroom apartments, he said: “There is certainly a demand for these type of units, but there’s also an abundance of supply in the market currently.”

Dance the night away at Soulscape’s summer party

A WOKINGHAM young people’s charity is holding a fundraising summer party, with live music, dancing and Asian food.

Soulscape promises a relaxed evening of fun and dancing, with funds going to support the charity’s work with young people in the borough.

Entertainment will be provided during the evening by Flashback Band, and partygoers will be greeted on arrival with a complimentary drink and canapés.

South East Asian street food is included in the ticket price, and a licensed bar will be available for the purchase of drinks during the evening.

The event takes place at Hare Hatch, Sheeplands, on Saturday, June 24.

Doors open at 7pm, with entry costing £25 per person.

n For tickets, search for soulscape summer party, at: www.allevents.in

n For information about the charity, visit: www.soulscape. org.uk

FOUR FOR FORE: Golfers, including Philip Mirfin (second from left) enjoyed a tournament at Hennerton Golf Club, while raising funds for WADE Day Care Centre and Home-Start Wokingham. Picture: Phil Creighton

Still time to enter Wokingham in Bloom art contest

TIME is running out to enter the Wokingham in Bloom art competition, which will see the winning designs used to create a relaxing oasis for the town’s firefighters, writes Andrew Batt Wokingham in Bloom volunteers together with Wokingham Fire Station have recycled, reused, and repurposed pallets and old lockers to create flower and vegetable beds and a deck with seating.

To compliment the garden, an art installation will be created from the winning designs.

The competition is being run by Wokingham in Bloom in partnership with R Young Art Gallery and thefire station on Easthampstead Road.

Morag Malvern, Chair of Wokingham in Bloom, said: “The Wokingham in Bloom teams have really enjoyed working with firefighters at Wokingham Community Fire Station to create a wonderful area where firefighters can decompress and enjoy nature.

“We would like to get the community involved creating artwork for the walls within that space, and other external areas around the fire station.

”There are prizes to be won, so no matter what your age or artistic ability, we’d love you to get involved and create a piece of work around our nature theme.”

The closing date for entries in 5pm on Monday, June 19.

n For more details, log on to: www.wokingham-tc.gov.uk/artcomp2023

A look in the Black Mirror was inspiration for a rock garden

By ANDREW BATT news@wokingham.today

A CROWTHORNE house is set to be featured in a cult Netflix series that was released today, June 15.

Exterior shots of the house in Edgcumbe Park will be seen in an episode of series six of Black Mirror starring Salma Hayek and Annie Murphy.

Owner Jennifer Johnston told Wokingham Today that filming took place 18 months ago for the episode titled Joan in Awful, but that she has only now been able to tell the world.

She said: “We had a location scout visit but we didn’t hear anything for months.

“You learn not to believe anything until a contract is signed.

“After months of waiting since filming (due to a non-disclose agreement), Netflix posted a trailer, teasing the series and announcing it would be released this month. I can finally spill the beans about Salma Hayek being in my house. I repeat, Salma Hayek was at my house.”

The house was chosen to portray an American-style bungalow in the episode. Johnson, and her neighbours who allowed Netflix to install American-style postboxes in their gardens, will be watching the

episode together when it is released today.

Johnston has listed her house as a setting for television and movies, and Black Mirror is not the first show to be filmed.

She added that Edgcumbe Park has industry provenance, having been the setting for the original Fahrenheit 451 movie in the 1960s.

Aside from the prestige of having her house featured on screen, Johnson has acquitted a new passion as a result of Netflix.

She said: “Our bungalow was booked for a one-day shoot, with two days of preparation. Gardeners arrived and emptied a tonne of trees, shrubs, gravel, and fake rocks onto the garden.

“What they did in one day made our jaws drop.”

The Netflix team created a rock garden, but it was removed once filming was completed. But inspired by their efforts, Johnson set about recreating her own.

She said; “They were a hard act to follow but I grabbed the spade and got cracking.

“Thank you, Netflix, for the inspiration.”

STARRING ROLE: Exterior shots of the house in Edgcumbe Park will be seen in the latest episode in series six of Black Mirror starring Salma Hayek and Annie Murphy. Pictures: @American_bungalow

Weather was lucky for some

Vehicle in collision with house

A vehicle was in collision with a house in Wokingham earlier this week.

The incident happened on Arthur Road on Tuesday, June 13.

A neighbour told Wokingham Today: “I was having a lazy breakfast when I heard a loud bang.”

It appears the vehicle was exiting Caroline Drive onto Arthur Road and the driver may have lost control.

The car was badly damaged and remained embedded in the property several hours after the collision, awaiting the arrival of a structural engineer.

It is understood that no one was injured. Police and the fire brigade attended the scene to administer assistance.

Berkshire Fire & Rescue, in a statement to Wokingham Today, said: “At 10:25am on Tuesday, June 13, we received reports of a road traffic collision on Arthur Road in Wokingham.

“A Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service crew from Wokingham Fire Station was sent to the scene. Upon arrival, the crew discovered a vehicle had crashed into a house.

“Firefighters provided immediate emergency care at the scene before handing over to Thames Valley Police.

“The crew was on the scene for approximately 12 minutes.”

By ANDREW BATT news@wokingham.today

THE hot weather led to what the organisers have described as a record attendance for the annual Twyford Beer Festival.

The 13th edition of the event at Stanlake Meadow last weekend saw crowds enjoying a wide selection of liquid refreshments alongside food and music.

Beers, ciders and other drinks were sourced from local breweries where possible, and the event was staffed by volunteers.

Ian Wisdom, the organiser, told Wokingham Today: “We are on target to be able to make a nice donation to our chosen charity, Orchid Men’s Cancer.”

He added that plans were already being made for next year’s event.

The Pink Floyd tribute band Crazy Diamond, which drew rave reviews from this year’s crowd, have already been secured for a repeat performance.

Pictures: Steve Smyth

One for each hand ...

A representative from Orchid Male Cancer charity

The event was family friendly

Plenty of beer – and smiles – at the festival

Volunteers with organiser Ian Wisdom (centre)

There were many people attending

There were lots of raised glasses as people enjoyed the annual Twyford Beer Festival

Another view

Jane Holmes

Fighting for support is tough

WHEN my daughter was born, back in 2001 with severe disabilities, my biggest worry was curing her so that she could walk.

She had profound feeding difficulties and was tube fed so I wanted to make that better too.

Oh the wisdom of hindsight!

Now, at 21, she has still never walked nor eaten anything orally but I realise that those physical differences are of very little consequence. In short, disability doesn’t matter.

There is nothing wrong with it and it is not a bad thing, It’s just different. When we’re at home with the right support in place, we barely notice it.

What is often wrong and bad though, is society’s reaction to disability. Of course, there are kind people and, in general, we are warmly welcomed. But I think most parents of disabled children would agree with me, when I say that if I had to sum up the experience in one word, it would be ‘fight’. This is what people don’t see. They see disabled people being given benefits or being members of the Motability scheme and assume we’ve got it made.

Ever since the Government announced benefit cuts for disabled people back in 2010, there has been a discernible shift in society’s perception of what disabled people should or shouldn’t be entitled to.

What hasn’t changed though is the constant battling we have to engage in with the various service providers in order to get what our children really need. I sometimes wonder whether those providers we hassle day in, day out, think we enjoy it.

As if spending time chasing people up hour after hour, day after day is something we do as a relaxing hobby. Or perhaps they think that our Machiavellian strategies or our issuing of high-handed threats in order to get our children’s basic needs met is what we do to while away the boredom of full-time caring.

If there’s one thing we ask people to understand, service providers or the general public, it’s that we are not on the scrounge for the sake of it.

We do not have time to waste and in many cases, carers are pushed to the absolute limit. Fighting for support on top of caring is really, really difficult. Those that don’t complain are not all finding life easy, they are just finding it too impossible to fight.

Disabled people are not a drain, they are not a nuisance, they are not taking money away from anyone else.

They are living in a country that has committed to supporting them properly and in return they will enhance our society by contributing wisdom and a depth of experience rarely found anywhere else.

They keep our values sound, challenging our preconceptions. They are important and to be valued.

They just need to be given a chance.

According to Government statistics, 22% of our population is disabled. More than half of us will end up disabled before we die.

We are fortunate that we live in a country that has pledged to support us.

As a society we need to do everything we can to make sure that happens, for all our sakes.

Jane Holmes is the CEO and founder of Building for the Future, a Wokinghambased parent-led charity for children with additional needs, offering activities, support and therapies. For more, log on to: www.bftf.org.uk

New RAF memorial at Shinfield

By JI-MIN LEE jlee@wokingham.today

A RENOVATED monument was unveiled at a ceremony held at Shinfield Park on Tuesday.

Around 20 councillors, RAF personnel and representatives from local organisations were present to catch a glimpse of the new RAF Flying Training Command Memorial, which had been redesigned after concerns were raised about its positioning.

The roundel was installed 10 years ago, but many believed it had since been overlooked by passers by owing to the fact it originally lay flat on the ground a few metres away from the footpath.

It’s time to be thinking of winter (yes, really)

APPLICATIONS for pitches and stalls at the popular Wokingham Winter Carnival have opened.

The event, organised by Wokingham Lions Club, is set to take place on Sunday, November 26. It is a highlight in the town’s calendar.

First started in 1994, this year’s event will be the second year that Wokingham Lions Club has organised the Winter Carnival.

As well as providing an opportunity for local organisations to promote themselves and raise additional funds, the event itself supports many local charities.

Locations are being offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Winter Carnival Chairman Tim Hanton, said: “Following

the success of last year’s Winter Carnival, we are planning an even bigger event this year.

“We are looking to expand the spaces available for stalls, as they sold out quickly last year, and we would recommend that stallholders apply early to avoid disappointment.”

He added the Winter Carnival is a wonderful event for families and people of all ages, and that Wokingham Lions Club is working very hard to make it a success.

He also expressed his thanks to Wokingham Town Council for its tremendous support.

n For more details and to book a stall visit www.wintercarnival.co.uk

n For more information about Wokingham Lions Club, visit www. wokinghamlions.org.uk

Talks were held between residents and then-Shinfield North councillor Parry Batth, and David Wilson Homes, who carried out the Shinfield Park housing development, were happy to fund the refurbishment.

Phil Hurring, marketing manager at David Wilson Southern Counties, and former councillors Angus Ross and Mr Batth delivered speeches at the opening.

They were joined by former RAF Air Commodore Rick PeacockEdwards, Wokingham mayor Beth Rowland and Doreen Couzens, a resident who played a key role in organising the 2013 memorial installation and represents Fields Neighbourhood Action Group.

Mr Batth said: “It’s a fitting memorial to remember the RAF officers who were present here during the Second World War and it deserves the position it is in at the moment.

“Before, it was on the floor and noone recognised it.

“I’m really pleased and want to thank David Wilson Homes for bringing this about.”

Mr Ross had been present for the initial unveiling a decade ago and commented on the contrasting weather, with Tuesday’s sweltering heat a far cry from the bitterly cold conditions that day.

He described the new fixture as a ‘far better and clearer’ representation of the RAF’s presence in Shinfield, which will help future generations understand its significance.

Mr Hurring said: “We are incredibly proud to be a part of the restoration, especially with Armed Forces Day

Daring Warfield wing walker John, 95, will take to the skies

A BOROUGH man hopes to make it into the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s oldest person to do a wing walk.

John Symmonds wants to gain a place in record breaking history, and raise funds for Thames Hospice at the same time.

The palliative care organisation, where his beloved wife Ann was cared for two years ago, is very close to his heart, and relies on charitable donations to help fund its care.

Warfield grandfather, John, enjoys a very active social life, folk dancing, walking, and completing sudoku puzzles.

A cadet with St John Ambulance Brigade during the Second World War, he provided first aid cover at cinemas and took calls at Slough Ambulance Headquarters.

And after serving in the Army as a medic from 1946 to 1949, in military hospitals in England, Egypt

and Cyprus, he pursued a career in engineering.

A volunteer for the Berkshire Blind Society, now Berkshire Vision, he ran the Sough Branch for seven years, and served as a member of the society’s Management Committee.

John has also been a member of Datchet Morris, and Datchet Folk Dance Club for over 50 years.

The intrepid nonagenarian intends to make his wing walk this weekend, and has set up a fundraising page for people to support his endeavour in aid of Thames Hospice.

He says: “My beautiful wife, Ann, passed away in February 2021, supported by the wonderful Thames Hospice nurses.

“They not only gave Ann the most compassionate and caring support but also allowed my family to be her husband and her daughters.

“With their guidance and care Ann was surrounded by the love of her family when she passed.

“We cannot thank them enough.”

John says that he wants to try and pay back what he and the family received, and has decided to raise money at high altitude.

He says: “It’s the challenge of my life.

“I shall take to the skies, strapped to a small plane.

“At 95 years young I shall be the oldest wing walker in the world, and feature in the Guinness Book of World Records.

“As I ‘reach for the sky’, please sponsor my endeavour by donating what you can.

“Your generosity will ensure Thames Hospice are able to support many more families like mine and give others, like Ann, the dignity and compassion they deserve.”

Emma Andrews, community fundraiser at Thames Hospice knows John well.

She says: “John is such an inspiration, and his energy is incredible.

“He really is 95 years young.

“He is passionate about raising awareness and funding for us at Thames Hospice, and we are so proud of him.

“We can’t thank him enough, and will be thinking about him and sending him the best of luck.”

John, now known by the charity and his friends as #wingmanjohn, plans to take his aeronautical challenge at Rendcomb Airfield in Gloucestershire, on Tuesday, June 20.

n Anyone wanting to support his fundraising event, should visit: www.justgiving.comand search for 1680619177039.

n For information about the palliative care charity, visit: www.thameshospice. org.uk

YES, IT’S COMING: The Wokingham Winter Carnival, organised by Wokingham Lions Club, is set to take place on Sunday, November 26. Picture: Emma Merchant

NEW TRIBUTE: Around 20 people attended the David Wilson Homes

memorial unveiled Shinfield Park

Peak performance: Mark scales the summits

THE LOVELY Lake District & Bury Market

Departing Fri 1 Sep ‘23

Experience the scenic splendour of the Lake District and explore the region’s well-known market towns. With included visits to bustling Bury Market, Bowness-on-Windermere, Ambleside and Keswick, we enjoy the beautiful outdoors on this four-day break!

Your break includes

 Return coach travel from Wokingham, Bracknell & Crawley

A WOKINGHAM businessman has vowed “never again” after completing the arduous 24-hour three peaks challenge with just seconds to spare.

Mark Ashwell, CEO of Trademark Windows and President of Wokingham & Emmbrook Football Club, undertook the challenge earlier this week.

Mr Ashwell, his son, Matt, and colleagues from the Conservatory Outlet network scaled the United Kingdom’s three highest peaks– Ben

POETRY CORNER

Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon in aid of Macmillan Cancer Research.

Starting in Scotland at 5am on Tuesday morning, Ashwell and his team completed the challenge in Wales early on Wednesday morning.

Speaking to Wokingham Today on Wednesday morning, an exhausted Ashwell said: “Probably the toughest part of the challenge was the descents, and the fact we ended up running at the end to meet the deadline.”

 3 nights at a selected hotel in Bolton with dinner & breakfast

 2 for 1 bar (6pm-9pm) on selected drinks

 Excursions to Bury Market, Bowness-on-Windermere, Ambleside & Keswick

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SCARBOROUGH

Entertainment Weekend

taking place at the end of this month.

“We’d like to thank all those involved in organising the renovation of this memorial, most notably Parry Batth and Doreen Couzens who have been key partners with us in raising awareness of the memorial’s condition and facilitating its new plinth.”

The monument marks the site where the Flying Training Command headquarters (HQFTC) was located from 1940 to 1968.

During the Second World War, it was also the headquarters of RAF Technical Training Command.

It went on to become the Meteorological Office College in 1971, where British meteorologists were trained, as well as TV weather presenters from across Europe.

Seven years later, it turned into the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, which stands today.

The memorial can be visited at Shinfield Park, RG2 9FR.

An email from Qantas

The time of your flight has changed, Please ring our customer team ... but just trying to get through to them was like a lengthy-swim-upstream.

Eventually I did get through and Then came the second blow ... Very softly-spoken with an accent: Merging words in a side-to-side flow.

She said that one hour fifteen wasn’t Enough time between my flights, And I hastened to agree with her ... No ifs, buts, maybes or mights.

So she had a look at her system, And came back with this reply: Travel eight and a half hours earlier And pay an extra £700 to fly.

Apparently no economy seats going On that one hour connecting flight, Against the rules to swap the date, But it seemed neither fair nor right.

I asked to speak to a supervisor, But I was told that I could not, This was supposed to be the Australian airline ... not some low-budget lot!

At this point the call stagnated, Bearing in mind the huge sum ... Until she said I could keep my flight But I would have to properly run.

I said I can’t really cope with that ... It would cause me massive stress, But if I could get airport assistance, It might see me out of this mess.

So she said she’d request that, And I asked for an email to confirm, She said it would take a few minutes, But it never showed ... short or longterm.

So I kept on phoning them back,

All throughout a very long night ... Their computer system had crashed So nobody could look at my flight.

But next morning on the way back from a drop-off at the station, I had a sudden brainwave which Turned into a bit of a revelation ...

I logged onto the Qantas website, And I had a look what I could see ... I found several Qantas-owned Jetstar flights to suit my itinerary.

Loads of seats in economy ...

So I paid £70 for my ticket but I thought I’d better ring them back ..

“Oh no ... you can’t use that flight The system can’t cope with that.”

“And you’ll have to pay to cancel the original seat .. that’s how it works.”

“Ok ... so I wont bother to cancel it ... My brain ... was starting to hurt.

I must have worn her down ... She booked me a free Jetstar flight

So although I’d broken the rules In the end it turned out all right.

Pam Ski

We love receiving your poetry and print a selection every week. Email your verse to poems@wokingham.today

Departing Fri 1 Sep ‘23

Scarborough is the perfect destination for a long weekend away, beloved for its pretty beaches, fabulous attractions and classic charm! On this break, we also venture to the seaside town of Whitby and have the chance to visit the historic city of York.

Your break includes

 Return coach travel from Reading

 3 nights at the Grand Hotel, Scarborough with dinner & breakfast

 Entertainment every evening

 Excursion to Whitby

Optional excursion to York (£11pp)

4 Days by Coach only £199

TOP OF THE WORLD: Mark Ashwell (right) and his son, Matt, scaling one of the peaks. Picture: Mark Ashwell

the unveiling of the newly refurbished Shinfield Flying Training Command Memorial. Picture: Thames Hospice fundraiser, John, hopes to become the oldest wing walker at 95.

Picture Thames Hospice

Your letters

Still time to think again on fee rise

SHOPPERS across Wokingham next week will be in line for a rude surprise when the cost of car parking rises not by a little, but by a lot.

It’s been a long time coming, and aims to stem the loss of income caused by, among other things, the closure of the park and ride services, and the covid pandemic.

The financial situation the council is in has been worsened by rising inflation and pressure from central government to do more with adult social services and children’s services.

In short, there’s not a lot left in the kitty, and the cloth has already been cut –to the bone in some cases.

So it is us, the residents, who will have to pay a lot more.

Not just for shopping. But in the evenings to go for a meal, enjoy a film, or catch up with freinds.

It affects Sundays, hitting those going to church or leisure activities.

And it will affect those turning out to big moments such the May Fayre.

Few of us can argue against any price increase, but many of us would, we’re sure, welcome a much smaller rise.

It’s not too late to have a U turn on this policy. It’s not too late to admit the increases are too much and at the wrong time.

For all the time this has taken, another way should have been found.

CHURCH NOTES Rise and shine

MY mother used to encourage us out of bed in the mornings with a brisk opening of the curtains and the words, “Rise and shine” and it took me a long time to discover that she was quoting the Bible; Isaiah 60:1: “Arise, shine, for your light has come.”

I’m one of those who find rising and shining to be somewhat tedious effort in the winter. I would happily hibernate until the longer, warmer days of spring. I’m guessing that it’s how ancient people felt, as they struggled through the dark and cold months, conserving food and energy as much as they could.

Light brings blue skies and sunshine, warmth, activity, productivity, creativity. There is work to do, food to grow, fun to seek out; festivals and fairs, holidays and outings.

No wonder so many spiritual metaphors use the image of light or enlightenment, of shunning darkness, embracing knowledge and wisdom, or looking for new hope. God is light; to be without God is to be in the dark. And just as the sun and rain are there for the good and the bad (Matthew 5:45), God’s light shines for all.

Isaiah’s words came to people who had lived for many years in the shadow of military defeat and oppression; he encouraged his audience to look for God in the darkness and to look forwards in hope. Change was coming. Perhaps those are words we all need sometimes. Arise. Shine. Light is here.

Kim Tame is a member of Wokingham Methodist Church, writing on behalf of Churches Together in Wokingham

A response to last week’s From The Chamber by Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, “Clive’s Claims”: I was surprised and disappointed to read this column which was essentially a personal attack on the former leader of Wokingham Council. The tone, sarcasm and what came across ultimately as pettiness was not really fitting of the leader of any party. WE should strive to debate policy, attacking the flaws in the arguments, and not the people making them.

We should instead be having a proper debate, understanding an issue from all angles – not just how many potholes have been repaired, but also how many potholes were actually reported and then fixed on time.

Not just how much money is left in the usable reserves, but by how much they have increased or reduced (The funding surplus/gap!).

This provides true context and understanding of an issue, regardless of political views.

And as for bins - an independent analysis was commissioned in 2021 (undertaken by WRAP - Waste and Resources Action Programme), which recommended the system that is now being rolled out. Commissioned by Conservatives, rolled out by LibDems - Not because its political, but because its good business sense - and 85% of other English councils (regardless of politics) think so too.

Lets leave the personal attacks in

From the Chamber

Cllr Rachel Burgess

the bin please, and focus on the issues.

Bradley Kite, a Wokingham Resident.

Get busy refilling

16th June is World Refill Day – a global day of action to prevent plastic pollution. To cut down on single use plastic, a number of our local cafes, restaurants and other organisations have pledged to refill reusable water bottles for free. You can find these on the free Refill app – or look for a blue sticker in the window of participating businesses.

There are more than 340,000 places across the world listed on the app where you can can fill up with free drinking water, find plastic-free shopping options or save on hot drinks and food-to-go when you use reusables. On World Refill Day there will also be special offers and promotions to help you save money and live with less waste.

If you would like to find out more or would like your business to be part of the Refill movement, please go to refill.org.uk for more information.

Rachel Bishop-Firth, Wokingham Refill Scheme

A touch of hubris

A hubristic piece by Labour Councillor, Andy Croy (Wokingham. Today, Thursday, June 1st, 2023): “...a Labour government will empower local authorities to purchase land at the land’s current value - rather than its speculative value.”

This so that Labour, no doubt with

We love to hear from you! Send us your views on issues relating to the borough (in 250 words or less) to Wokingham.Today, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS or email: letters@wokingham.today We reserve the right to edit letters Views expressed in this section are not necessarily those of the paper

the aid of their Wokingham Borough Council Lib Dem chums, can easily expand building on Green Belt land by, in effect, requisitioning land as if we were in a type of wartime condition.

There are some lovely green areas that are left to build on locally.

There are plenty of green fields around Hurst, Twyford and Ruscombe to name but three areas.

I wonder what the Nimbys will make of this one. I’ll bet they didn’t factor this in if they voted Labour or Lib-Dem at the last Council elections!

It would seem that no amount of expensive Barristers would be able to save the green areas if Labour gains power.

The Lib Dems are hoping that Labour will fall short at the General Election and be invited to form a Coalition Government with them. So voters of Wokingham, take heed. Vote Lib Dem and get Labour for even more housebuilding it would seem!

But would Labour stop at that?

If properties have substantial gardens would Labour requisition parts of those gardens for house building once they get a taste for requisitioning? Where would it all end? Would Labour go on to requisition privately owned empty properties too?

There will be nothing to stop them if they get a majority, or if their Lib Dem mates help them!

As the Labour Peer Lord (John) Prescott once stated (even a horny

At a meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Management Committee earlier this year, a senior Conservative councillor and member of the committee stated quite clearly that the Conservative Group’s policy was to oppose the proposed changes to waste collections – despite the fact that the Council’s constitution clearly states that the party whip is incompatible with scrutiny committees.

handed Socialist loves a title), “The Green Belt is a Labour achievement and we mean to build on it”. How prophetic!

Paul Clarke, Wokingham Happiness

This Father’s Day (18 June), I’m thinking about the happiness that being a dad brings me.

One of my favourite things about having two little ones is seeing the joy they get from the simplest of things. Two-year-old Thomas and eightmonth-old Mary Anne love a trip to the local park, and they can’t get enough of peek-a-boo!

Thomas was given a toy kitchen around the same time I was doing some DIY in my own kitchen, and now he loves to play at ‘fixing’ his kitchen. Another amazing part of being their dad is watching how much joy they get from learning from what’s going on around them.

Sadly, for little ones in some of the world’s poorest countries, there isn’t the same opportunity to experience these simple joys of childhood and learning.

But, through my work at Mary’s Meals, I know the difference a daily school meal can make to change the story for these children.

Mary’s Meals feeds more than 2.4 million hungry children every school day in 18 countries around the world. The promise of a nutritious meal attracts these children into the classroom, giving them energy to learn and laugh and play with their

Nolan Principles of Public Life are part of all councillors’ code of conduct here in Wokingham.

Read through them and consider whether any of them can apply to former Prime Minister Johnson: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, leadership.

AS Councillors, the public rightly have high expectations of us and entrust us to fairly represent our local area.

This includes upholding standards and good governance, taking fair decisions and working openly and transparently.

Last week, I was delighted to be re-elected as Chair of the Council’s Audit Committee for another year. In light of recent high-profile financial failings in local authorities, most recently Woking and Thurrock, the work of the Council’s Audit Committee is as important as ever.

According to its Terms of Reference, the Audit Committee is “independent and objective” and, although it comprises largely elected councillors, we strive to be a genuinely non-political committee.

Last year we appointed a

politically-independent member of the committee to support this, and I hope we will appoint a second independent member this year.

The lack of an independent member of the committee in the past had been a weakness in the Committee’s credibility and I am pleased we are strengthening it in this way, in line with best practice.

The Committee’s role is to support good governance, effective controls, risk management and effective internal and external audit.

It can be hard to remove politics from politicians – however the committee has been genuinely collaborative and non-political over the last year.

Unfortunately, some of the Council’s scrutiny committees, which are also supposed to be non-political, have failed to do so.

I was sorry to learn that a newly-elected Conservative town councillor has recently resigned, just a month after being elected to Wokingham Town Council.

However, in stepping down, Cllr Danny Spencer has shown more integrity and honesty in taking this decision than one who held the highest political office in the land, the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

In Wokingham, the Audit Committee supports the aim for the highest possible public standards, so it has been shocking to learn of the recent somewhat Trumpian behaviour from our former Prime Minister. Having effectively been found guilty by the Privileges Committee of misleading parliament over “partygate”, his subsequent resignation statement contained a complete lack of contrition, and instead he aimed his fire at the work of the cross-party committee investigating the affair.

I doubt Johnson himself even believes his own comments. The

Johnson may be an extreme example of a failure to uphold high public standards but no-one is above the law. Even the widelyrespected Nicola Sturgeon, former leader of the SNP and First Minister of Scotland, was arrested this week as part of an investigation into SNP party finances.

As councillors, we would all do well to remember that we are public servants and to ensure that the Nolan principles guide everything we do to represent our residents.

We may have had some poor national examples set for us, but that does not mean we cannot strive for accountability, responsibility, fairness and transparency across the board. We have some excellent members on the Audit Committee, of all parties and of none, and I look forward to us working as a collaborative team for another year to support good governance and the highest possible standards in Wokingham Borough Council.

Cllr Rachel Burgess is the leader of Wokingham Labour, and ward member for Norreys on Wokingham Borough Council

Making claims into an attack

Hold us to high standards, as we represent you

friends – and hope for a brighter future.

This month, the charity is offering a range of beautiful gift cards for Father’s Day that will feed a child for a whole school year for just £19.15.

These gift cards are a special way to put a smile on dad’s face, while helping to give a hungry child the chance at joy that every little one deserves. To order yours, please visit marysmeals. org.uk/shop.

James Farrell, Mary’s Meals

From the Chamber

Cllr Paul Fishwick

Summertime blues

Summer is well and truly on its way, which means more opportunities to be outside with friends and family and listen to live music.

In all of the fun, we sometimes forget to look after our hearing health and how loud sounds are. A live concert or festival can often reach levels of 110 decibels. Repeated or long exposure to sounds at 85 decibels or above can cause hearing loss so it is important that whilst you are sipping

Active travel and Wokingham

WE know from the Department for Transport that over half of car trips are less than five miles and around a quarter are less than two miles. If we make it easier and safer to walk or cycle more people choose to do so, in the process freeing up the roads for those who chose to drive.

In 2017, to help ensure that money was spent wisely, government asked local authorities to write Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs).

Work on the Wokingham Borough LCWIP didn’t start until 2021 and regrettably was not prioritised by the administration of the time.

It sat dormant for many months until I was able to finalise and publish it when the Lib Dem led partnership administration took over the council last year.

From the council leadership

Cllr Stephen Conway

Seeking clarity on planning Y

OU will know that the borough council has been lobbying central government for a reduction in the number of new dwellings we are required to approve through the local plan process.

We have long argued that the system for calculating housing targets is flawed and should be revised to take closer account of local need. We also believe that the borough should not be penalised for building more than was required in the past; we have been pressing for this past overdelivery to be deducted from our new housing target.

In 2022, all local authorities were assessed on their technical capability and leadership approach towards enabling walking and cycling.

We have been rated at level 2 on a scale which runs from zero to level 4, one of only 2 authorities in Berkshire rated above Level 1 (the other being Reading, who started their LCWIP in 2017)

The first tangible recognition of our rating was the award of £606,000 from government to develop, consult and design a highquality active travel route between the BP garage at Winnersh, along the Reading Road to Broad Street Wokingham.

This route will connect the existing shared routes along the Winnersh Bypass and Lower Earley Way, a continuous safe route of over 10km, which we will look to upgrade further as and when we can.

that overpriced beer and singing along to your favourite artist you take care of your ears.

The good news is that there are some easy ways you can still enjoy yourself and keep your hearing protected: Carry earplugs with you and use them, the reusable kind designed for clubbers and musicians don’t muffle sound, just make it a bit quieter and can protect your ears.

Stay away from the speakers – the closer you are, the greater the risk

Our LCWIP lays out a vision for high quality walking and cycle routes across the borough, initially connecting major residential, education, employment and leisure centres and then branching out to give all residents easy access to a safe route.

You can read it at myjourneywokingham.com/ cycling/local-cycling-and-walkinginfrastructure-plan-lcwip/

This can’t be achieved overnight. European countries which are now reaping the benefits of large-scale active travel have taken decades to do so.

We have a plan and are getting started, but with Wokingham’s very low level of funding from central government we need Department for Transport funding to do the heavy lifting.

The government tells us it remains committed to its target of 50% of all journeys in English towns and cities being walked, wheeled or cycled by 2030, but in the most recent budget reduced by two-thirds the investment for the next two years which it had previously promised.

This is despite the National Audit Office in their recent report highlighting that every £1 spent on active travel is expected to deliver a benefit of £4.30 in return.

In these circumstances, I intend to pursue a two-track process – find

of hearing damage. And take regular breaks from the loudest areas to give your ears a rest. We want everyone to have a great summer – and at the same time keep your hearing healthy for the future.

It is important to check your hearing regularly so join over 250,000 people and take the free, online Hearing Check by visiting rnid. org.uk

Crystal Rolfe, Associate Director for Health at RNID

affordable practical changes which we can implement quickly, while continuing to seek out funds from government, developers and other bodies, and where possible within the council, to begin the larger schemes we need for the future.

Within the LCWIP we have identified a number of small improvements which can be implemented rapidly, and we are looking at which we can implement this year.

We are expecting to obtain new legal powers later this month which will enable us to implement safer School Streets, on which we are already working with a selected group of schools.

We are designing new schemes in Arborfield/Shinfield, Woodley and Winnersh/Wokingham Town and I am hopeful that we will agree joint investment with Network Rail for a new accessible bridge over the railway in Wokingham early next year.

In stringent financial times, when it may feel that no political party is able to differentiate itself, I am proud that Wokingham is pursuing a progressive agenda that will reduce congestion, clean up our air, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and help people adopt a healthier lifestyle.

In the months before the recent local elections, we felt we were getting somewhere. The government seemed to be proposing to make significant changes to the planning system. The consultation ended in March, and we were promised a government response, telling us what changes would be introduced, in ‘the spring’. Spring has come and gone, and we still have no word from the government on its intentions. Perhaps the government has got cold feet, succumbing to the arguments of the development industry, which, unsurprisingly, was strongly opposed to the original proposals. Perhaps ministers are trying to square the circle of pleasing their own backbench MPs who want changes, and pleasing the development industry, which does not. Whatever the reason, and whatever the government decides, we need clarity as we move forward on our own new local plan.

The emerging local plan has already been delayed by the government (some years ago) ruling out development at Grazeley, after the boundaries of the nuclear exclusion zone were expanded at the request of the Ministry of Defence. This required our predecessors at Wokingham to bin their original draft local plan and draw up a new one.

The length of time that process took inevitably meant that the timetable for producing a new local plan has slipped badly.

In February 2022, thanks to the delays and the over-delivery of new housing, the council ran out of the five-year land supply - a land reserve that government requires councils to have for new housing. Without one, we are exposed to the risk of losing appeals when we refuse planning permission for speculative developments outside the local plan process.

We inherited this difficult situation when we became the ruling group in May 2022 and the draft local plan prepared by our predecessors still needed much work to be ready to move to the next stage of the long-drawn out local plan process.

I want now to move forward as quickly as we can, but I also want the government to give us clarity as to the ground rules. At present, we have to proceed with the existing rules and target; if ministers allow us to take account of past overprovision, we can revise our number downwards, which we know is what most residents want.

We have been engaging with the borough’s MPs to ask them to use their good offices to press ministers for clarity as soon as possible. We recently met with Theresa May, who has undertaken to do what she can to help. We hope soon to meet the borough’s other MPs, especially Sir John Redwood, to request their support.

The current state of the government, with distracting in-fighting between different factions, does not help. But we will do all we can to impress on ministers that we need clarity on their intentions very soon, as we are at a crucial moment in the formulation of the new local plan.

Cllr Stephen Conway is the leader of Wokingham Borough Council and ward member for Twyford

Cllr Paul Fishwick is the executive member for Active Travel, Transport and Highways

Reader Ian Hydon was in Cantley Park and took this photo of a beautiful blue and sunny skies and the meadow buttercups

In association with Blandy & Blandy

Royals legend Mick is safe as houses with new sales manager

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today

Mamas & Papas returns to Reading

FORGET California and forget dreaming – this is Reading, and this is real. Marks & Spencer has launched a new partnership with Mamas & Papas, with the Ding one of the first locations.

The Broad Street clothing retailer is welcoming the nursery brand, with more than 700 different products in stock. The range includes pushchairs, car seats and nursery furniture.

Dedicated staff members with specialist knowledge will be able to help with one-to-one Buying for Baby appointments and car seat consultations.

It is one of four locations, and sees Mamas & Papas return to the town for the first time in eight years. They previously had a branch in The Oracle, but it closed in 2015.

James Devlin, the Marks & Spencer Reading store manager, said: “We’re delighted to have been chosen as the latest store to welcome a bespoke Mamas & Papas shop-in-shop, complementing our baby and kidswear offer.

“Families are such a big part of our community and we’re proud to be able to offer them a bigger, better shopping experience.

“We know how daunting welcoming a new addition can be, and we can’t wait to see customers faces when they visit and find everything they would expect at a Mamas & Papas store, with the added value of shopping at their local M&S.”

And Nathan Williams, chief executive officer at Mamas & Papas: “We are proud to be continuing to grow our partnership with the Marks & Spencer family as a Brand at M&S. With their focus on supporting customers throughout life’s firsts, the synergy with Mamas & Papas, as we support families through their important milestones along the parenting journey, is a perfect match.

“With our goal to be the most accessible nursery brand on the high street, we’re demonstrating our commitment to investing in bricks & mortar stores by expanding our successful concession business and, in doing so, make the positive step in supporting M&S on their journey into the nursery category.

“We’re excited to have opened our fourth M&S concession in the Reading store and to support local parents-to-be and their families.”

The 1,625 sqft store is open in the Broad Street branch of M&S from 8am-8pm Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm on Saturday and 11am-5pm on Sunday.

AN ESTATE agency has announced its new signing, as it seeks to improve its service.

Reading FC legend Mick Gooding runs Gooding & Co, and is welcoming Nicky West as a sales manager. She has been tasked with taking the business to the next level.

Mick needs little introduction to any Royals fan: a key player on the pitch, a stint as manager, and now a valued part of BBC Radio Berkshire’s commentary team.

Nicky has worked in real estate for 18 years, including with Rightmove, OnTheMarket and online agency Strike.

Now she’s turning her attention to the area where she was born and raised.

“When the chance arose to join Gooding & Co, I jumped at the opportunity to be part of a local and strong customer-focused business,” she said.

“One of the reasons we know the local market so well is because we all live in Reading. We’re very proud of our town and care about our

community so it is a real privilege to be able to sell our neighbours’ homes.”

Mick launched Gooding & Co in January 2021, and says he brings a fresh approach to estate agency, combining flexibility that comes from being a small independent firm with high-quality service.

“Despite the risk and challenges involved in setting up a business

during lockdown, Gooding & Co has continued to grow,” he said. “I’m incredibly happy that we are going in the right direction, and of what we have achieved in such little time. I am very positive about our future.

“During my time as a professional footballer, I moved around the country with different clubs and bought and sold many

properties. I came across some very poor estate agents.

“When I started my own business, I was determined to deliver a fresh approach and strive to be the best.

“Our core values are honesty, hard work and giving our clients an excellent customer service/ experience.

“Our job is to get the best possible price for our sellers, from the best buyer available.”

He says that this approach is what is helping him receive fivestar reviews from clients. These are posted on the allagents.co.uk website, and has seen the firm awarded silver in the Best Estate Agent in the RG2 postcode area.

Mick, who is currently enjoying the off-season, said: “We have always known that the key to our success at Gooding & Co is the customer service we provide our clients, which is why we are so thrilled to have Nicky on board.

“Her ethos is based on exceptional customer service and her extensive experience and proven track record in the industry make her the perfect candidate to help us grow the business.”

Jubilee tree planting session at Thames Valley Park

A PLATINUM jubilee planting session took place in Earley earlier this month to mark our former monarch.

Seventy birch trees were installed at Thames Valley Park to honour the Queen.

They have been installed at four roundabouts across the campus as part of the national Green Canopy scheme that formed part of her celebrations this time last year.

Seven species of birch tree, which originate from around the globe, have been selected to mark her reign and to symbolise the Commonwealth.

Each group of trees has unique characteristics and is being underplanted with UK native wildflower meadow grass.

Jonathon Adey, Thames Valley Park’s on-site ecologist, said: “We have been thrilled to see so many volunteers from businesses throughout Thames Valley Park come forward to do their part to support this fantastic initiative.

“Thames Valley Park is a real haven for nature and is becoming a diverse home to so many of our species of plants and animals.

“These new birch trees will not only enhance the park’s natural beauty while celebrating the late Queen’s 70 years on the throne, but as they mature will help to absorb 10,500 kg of harmful carbon dioxide emissions from traffic driving on nearby roads.”

The project supports the Wokingham-borough-placed business park with its ongoing strategy to better connect workers throughout the campus with the natural world.

And plans are also in place for further enhancements to Thames Valley Park, which will provide the business community and members of the public with a range of new features and amenities.

DIG IN: Some of the tree planting party from Thames Valley Park Picture: Stewart Turkington / www.stphotos. co.uk

The planting at Thames Valley Park comes after King Charles III expressed his gratitude to all those who have taken part in The Queen’s Green Canopy.

“This project has shown how simple, practical and positive gestures can make a big difference, and I can think of no more fitting tribute to her late Majesty’s 70-year reign,” he said.

TEAMWORK: Mick Gooding and Nicky West

CLASP to join Health Bus for Learning Disability Week

CLASP Wokingham, a self advocacy group for people with learning disabilities is planning a range of activities to showcase all the things that people with a learning disability can do, are good at, and are proud of.

Learning Disability Week, starting Monday, June 19, gives them an opportunity to explain, bust myths, and illustrate the many things that people with a learning disability can do.

They have a number of planned activities, including stepping on board Berkshire Healthcare’s NHS Health Bus.

The bus will visit Wokingham as part of its borough tour, and people will be able to meet the NHS Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities (CTPLD).

The team includes specialists in occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, psychology, psychiatry, community nursing and members of the intensive support team who work closely with the NHS In-Patients Unit.

Members of CLASP will join the team aboard the Health Bus when it visits Wokingham’s Peach Place, on Monday, June 19, from 10am to 4pm.

Then on Tuesday, CLASP members will discuss Life Planning at Wokingham’s Learning Disability Partnership Board Roadshow.

Wednesday is an opportunity for them to enjoy crafts, and a drop-in at Sedero Lounge, and on Thursday, CLASP’s Active Session takes them to a My Journey bikes session at Finchamptstead Baptist Church.

And they will end the week with a celebration picnic on Friday.

CLASP is a user-led organisation, run by its members.

It employs people with learning

Volunteer with The Link

Members of CLASP, here with Matt Allwright, enjoy regular events, talks and activities. They will join Berkshire Healthcare’s CTPLD team on its Health Bus during Learning Disability Week Picture: Emma Merchant

disabilities and offers voluntary opportunities.

Members are supported to have their say about how local services are developed, and receive one to one support, information, advice and signposting.

Their training group, Listen To Us, delivers learning disability awareness training, and the organisation also runs a campaigning group called Take Notice. n For more information visit: www. claspwokingham.org

n To find out about Learning Disability Week, log onto: www.mencap.org.uk

Music marathon will help children

A WINNERSH flautist and ex Welsh Guards musician, will perform a twoday long concert and hopes to raise up to £5,000 for charity.

Peter Lewis’s performance will support First Days Children’s Charity, and contribute to repairs to two local parish churches.

This is not Mr Lewis’s first mammoth concert, but it is twice as long as his previous event, when he performed a 24 hour carolathon at Christmas.

It raised over £1,000 and Mr Lewis enjoyed it so much that he decided to repeat, and even extend the experience, in a 48 hour summer concert.

Musicians from the area will join him for periods throughout the marathon, and everyone is invited to come along, not only to hear the concert, but to join in.

Anyone with singing voices and instruments is welcome to contribute.

Mr Lewis said: “I’m really looking forward to it.

“I’d be delighted for more musicians to come along.

“I’ve had some offers, which is great, but I’m hoping for more.

“Last time people didn’t tell me they were coming.

“They just turned up, so I’m hoping and trusting that will happen again.”

This concert may be enjoyed not just locally, but internationally.

“Some church members are hoping to arrange a live broadcast of the event, so that family and friends in Australia can join in the fun,” said Mr Lewis.

“I don’t know how that will happen,

my job is just to keep playing the flute.”

Money raised will provide much needed funds for First Days, and will contribute to repairs to St Mary’s Church, Winnersh, which has suffered leaks, and St. Catherine’s Church, Bearwood, which requires new heating.

First Days Children’s Charity supports families experiencing financial hardship in the borough, and provides clothes and necessities for youngsters.

“There will be a barbecue, and teas and coffees will be available.

“If enough musicians turn up to join in, I might even be able to take a few short breaks for meals myself,” added Mr Lewis.

But he is not overly concerned.

After 24 years with the Welsh Guards, often playing for eight

PLAY ON AND ON AND ON: Peter Lewis will play morning, noon, and night at St Mary’s The Virgin Church to raise money for children and churches, in a 48 hour concert that begins on Friday, June 30. Picture courtesy of Peter Lewis

A CHARITY that aims to combat loneliness in older people urgently seeks people to join its growing team of volunteers.

The Link Visiting Scheme helps senior residents to make friends and to enjoy engaging with the community.

The charity’s team of trained volunteers give up their time for a couple of hours once a week or fortnight, to visit an older person, to help improve wellbeing, develop friendship, and to have fun together. Loneliness and isolation can negatively impact people’s mood, stress levels, anxiety and confidence, says the charity.

But spending quality time with someone regularly can be transforming, especially when residents may otherwise see very few people.

The Link has 400 volunteers in Wokingham Borough who befriend older people, visiting them at home, or taking them out to local venues like garden centres or coffee shops.

And a programme of social events organised by the charity enables seniors to join social groups within a safe and friendly environment.

Gatherings include pub lunches, bowling, singing, and yoga.

hours at a stretch, this will be a walk in the park.

“You work on adrenaline,” he said.

The programme will include songs from the shows, gospel sounds, children’s music, and any requests that people care to bring along.

“If we can find the music for it, we’ll play it,” he added.

The event will take place inside St Mary The Virgin Church, Winnersh, and starts on Friday, June 30, at 5pm.

Mr Lewis will keep playing until Sunday, July 2, at 5pm.

All are welcome to come and listen, or to join in.

n To sponsor him, people should visit his just giving page at: www.justgiving.com and search for Peter Lewis.

n For information about the two parish churches, visit: www.winnershparish.org

Link core services manager Karan Pollard said: “There has been a huge influx of people needing one to one engagement, and we are looking for more volunteers to meet that need.

“Generally we receive around 35 new senior referrals each month, but only eight or nine new volunteers.”

People who sign up to help are able to learn new skills, and can contribute at times that fit in with their own schedules.

“We try to be flexible because we want them to be able to enjoy participating.”

Perhaps because of this, the charity has no problem retaining volunteers.

“Some people can contribute only at weekends,” she added.

“If they work full-time, this may be their only opportunity to get involved,

but it’s actually a great time to volunteer, as weekends are often the loneliest times for isolated people.

“They are also a great opportunity for volunteers new to the area to enjoy making new friends at our Community Kitchen.”

The kitchen meets once a month on a Sunday, at Wokingham’s Floreat Montague Park School, with volunteers collecting lunch guests, making food, or laying tables for a community lunch together.

Other supporters lead armchair yoga sessions or group meetings.

Active Minds is a social group run by The Link for people experiencing memory loss.

Specialist volunteers are trained to lead an eight week course where small groups enjoy quizzes, word games and discussions designed to help build confidence and friendships, while having fun.

“There is a huge delay in diagnosing people suspected of suffering from cognitive impairment, and we know that without intervention, mental deterioration can be rapid,” said Karan.

Volunteering can be very rewarding for both the receiver and the giver.

“One of our volunteers said that he had completely underestimated the positive effect giving his time could have on someone else’s life,” agreed Karan.

“Another said that they had learnt from their new Link friend how to be more patient, and how to slow down the very fast pace of their own busy life.

“Volunteering is such a gift.

“Giving just a small amount of time, can make all the difference to someone who is isolated.”

Volunteers are urgently needed throughout the borourough, but the charitiy is particularly seeking volunteers in Woodley, Earley and Twyford.

n Anyone interested in volunteering should call: 0118 979 8019, or visit: www.linkvisiting.org/volunteer

HELP NEEDED: Visitors enjoying time together at a Link coffee and friendship group.

Picture: The Link visiting Scheme

Enjoy Wokingham Theatre’s French farce, then buy the sofa

Laughs are in store, with slapstick, larger-than-life characters and comic timing, all thanks to Ding Dong –and there’s a chance to take home the perfect souvenir afterwards

WOKINGHAM Theatre’s latest light hearted French farce promises to ring bells, open doors, and may even sell you a new piece of furniture.

Ding Dong, by Marc Camoletti and Tudor Gates, is set in early 1990s Paris.

Like every good farce, it involves a ludicrous story, infidelity, cover-ups and mistaken identity as characters weave webs around each other at breakneck speed.

Wealthy Bernard discovers that his wife is having an affair with Robert, and invites the man and his spouse to an awkward dinner, with comic complications galore.

There are countless comings and goings, spit takes (the act of spitting out a drink when hearing something surprising), blackmail, and plenty of ringing doorbells.

Hence, the title.

“I have long been a fan of the author Marc Camoletti,” said director Fiona Rogers. “I was thrilled to get the opportunity to direct Ding Dong.

“Bedroom farce is a challenging genre to get right.

“It requires a very fast pace, and specific physical comedy skills.

“There are lots of slapstick moments, doors slammed in faces, and larger-than-life characters, all of

which require perfect timing.”

The play is set in Bernard’s very plush Paris apartment.

“Bernard and his wife are a very successful, wealthy couple, so the set had to demonstrate opulence,” continued Ms Rogers.

“We needed a sofa, but we couldn’t just bring any old piece of theatre furniture out of the theatre storeroom.

“This one needed to look amazing,

To be Frank, here’s a drama that will have you on the edge of your seat

and had to be robust enough for the action that would take place on it.”

The company bought a new sofa specially for the production.

“We intend to sell it at a reduced price after the show,” said Ms Rogers.

“The price tag’s still on it, and it will only have two or three weeks of wear, so if anyone wants to buy it afterwards, just let us know.

“Directing Ding Dong has been a joy. I have been very fortunate to work with a very talented cast.”

Ms Rogers says that while the story may at first appear quite misogynistic in a 1970’s way, she has enjoyed being able to hand over much of the power to the women in this production.

“They know exactly what they are doing, and it is they who are leading the action, “ she said.

Audiences can expect an evening of laughs, and possibly the purchase of a new piece of living room furniture.

Ding Dong runs at Wokingham Theatre until Saturday.

Performances are at 7.45pm every night, with tickets available for £15. The production contains scenes of an adult nature.

n For tickets and information call the box office on: 0118 978 5363 or visit: wokinghamtheatre.org.uk

Reading Haydn Choir to hold summer concert

A SUMMER concert will feature music from the composer of The Snowman.

The Reading Haydn Choir will be performing in Tilehurst Methodist Church on Saturday, July 1. Called Summer Cocktails, organisers are promising a mixture of traditional and lesser-heard folk songs, as well as some jazzy 20th-century pieces from the likes of Cole Porter and George Gershwin. The programme will also include a cantata by Howard Blake, The Song of St Francis. In this, the composer of The Snowman took early Italian words and turned it into a four-part chorus.

Joining the choir will be trombonist Sue Addison.

The event starts at 7.30pm at the School Road church. Tickets cost £15, £13 for concessions and £5 for under 19s, with a £1 discount for adult tickets bought in advance.

n For more, log on to: www.haydnchoir.org.uk

Jive and swing

AN EVENING of jive and swing is coming to Sonning this weekend, thanks to The Jive Aces. The band, who have previously performed on Broad Street as well as the Britain’s Got Talent stage, will be at The Mill at Sonning on Sunday, June 18 –Father’s Day.

Performing in yellow suits, their set list includes tunes of the swing era to the glitz of the Rat Pack with a dash of classic rock ‘n’ roll, with covers of artists such as Elvis, Louis Prima, Bobby Darin, Louis Armstrong, Sammy Davis Jr and Ella Fitzgerald.

And they even have their own compositions. The show starts at 8.15pm, with a two-course meal available from 6.15pm. Tickets cost £53.50, which includes the food.

n For more details, log on to: millatsonning.com, or call the box office on: 0118 969 8000.

A POWERFUL courtroom drama that inspired a multiOscar nominated film starring Paul Newman, is set to thrill theatregoers next month.

The Verdict tells the story of Frank Galvin, a washed-up veteran lawyer and an alcoholic. He is presented with one last chance to redeem himself when he is given an open-and-shut medical malpractice case that no one thinks he can win.

Up against the establishment, he refuses an out-of-court

settlement, believing it is negligence that has condemned a young mother. Smelling a coverup, he instead takes the case – and the entire legal system – to court…

It has been described by critics as ‘compelling’, ‘superb’ and ‘captivating’, and has a 15-strong cast, including Jason Merrells, who has appeared in Agatha Raisin, Emmerdale, Casualty, Waterloo Road, and Nigel Barber, Richard Walsh, Reanne Farley, Vincent Pirillo, Okon Jones,

Michael Lunney, Sarah Shelton, Jason Wilson, Teresa Jennings, Holly Jackson Walters, James Morley, Bruce Chattan, Anna Arthur and Dave Speck.

It will be performed at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford from Tuesday, July 4, to Saturday, July 8. Tickets cost from £28, with concessions from £12. n For more information or to book, log on to: Yvonne-Arnaud. co.uk, or call the box office on: 01483 440000, from 10am to 5pm daily except Sundays.

FUNNY TIME: French bedroom farce Ding Dong can be seen at Wokingham Theatre until Saturday Picture: Simon Vail Photography

Quiz Challenge

1. Astraphobia is a fear of what?

2. The stringed instrument known as a bouzouki originates from which country?

3. How many square metres are there in a square kilometre?

4. Which Italian dessert of sweetened cream thickened with gelatin is known for its ‘wobble’?

5. What, in terms of human medicine, is a renal calculus?

6. What is another name for the fodder plant lucerne?

7. In March 2023, Calvin Harris and which female singer had a UK top 10 hit with the song Miracle?

8. What name is traditionally given to the leader of a group of Cub Scouts?

9. Actress Nicole Kidman was born in which US state in 1967?

10. What is a rorqual?

Here are two miniature five-square crosswords using the same grid –but the letters have been mixed up. You have to work out which letters belong to which crossword.

1. Agree to attend school periods (4,2,5)

7. No tears at not having to pay for accommodation (4-4)

8. Girl taken in by a real man (4)

9. Welsh actor produces a resounding noise (4)

11. Entrance to close? This should prevent it happening (8)

13. Last without the right to bestow (5)

14. The werewolves hid a chopper (5)

16. African left one from southern Europe (8)

18. It is not us in the Marines (4)

21. Drink – if small, it’s unimportant (4)

22. I’d moved alongside harsh area (8)

23. Does it only flow for three months of the year? (11)

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.

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.

CROSS CODE CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

1. Wretch with ale spilt while doing gymnastics exercise (9)

2. Heavenly food mother gives girl when getting up (5)

3. Some flight of fancy for a well-dressed person (4)

4. Right to come up more confused by the vibration (6)

5. Sent mates round for an official enquiry (5,4)

6. A doctor with nothing in the pulpit (4)

10. Not the best cheese for catching vermin (9)

12. Limiting factor is the normal amount on a measuring device (9)

15. Robin’s girl will ruin a Scotsman (6)

17. Dies curiously in the middle of March (4)

19. Call to stop first lift (5)

20. The way we upset cook (4)

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 12345 D 6 L 78910111213

141516 A 17181920212223242526

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.

Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box.

SOLUTIONS

tart; tiro; torii; torn; tort; train; trait; trap; trio; trip; triton; trot.

73 9 42 2 9 8 59 3 8 7 5 6 8 342 937 268 5 3 7 4 2 5 5

EQUALISER:

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:

25 Good; 30 Very Good; 35 Excellent.

ACROSS 7341

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).

ACROSS DOWN

RaW Sounds Today

Chris Hillman

bit.ly/raw soundstoday

CAN YOU believe we’re nearly halfway through the year? Doesn’t time fly. Our playlist this week includes a track that will help you get ready for the midpoint in the year (and sadly, it’s all downhill from here when it comes to daylight).

It’s just one of 10 great tracks for your aural pleasure, and it’s available for free on Spotify. Our playlist is a mixture that will help you discover something new.

To hear this week’s selection, simply head to https://bit.ly/rawsoundstoday and enjoy the music.

There is also a Facebook page and group chat that bands and music fans can tap into. You can search for RaW Sounds Today and it will come up.

One Eyed Man – Been Up All Day

With the Summer Solstice being next week it’s a good opportunity to feature a song from this local musician’s Solstice EP that was released last year.

One Eyed Man, aka Stuart Hutton, is a very good indie folk singer-songwriter who has been going down well at festivals and gigs throughout the country. That’s no surprise with songs like this one and the others on the EP.

There’s a chance to see him live at Wokingham Festival in August so don’t miss that – https://www. facebook.com/TheOneEyedManOfficial

The Wave Machine – Break Away

Here’s one of our fave artists from the local area. Actually Angus Trott, aka The Wave Machine, currently lives in Cornwall but even though he’s far away from his home town you can hear his joyous sound of the sun and the sea in his music.]

This is his new single and it’s another good one.

There is something about the Wave Machine’s music that brings a smile to your face and makes you feel good. This new single certainly does that. He will be playing locally soon – https://linktr.ee/ thewavemachine One

Last Day – I’m Here To Stay (Acoustic)

As well as being an exciting rock band, One

Purple Grace

– When I’m Not With You

A good new indie rock band from Reading. They will be at Wokingham Festival in August – https:// www.facebook.com/purplegraceband

Picture: Andrew Merritt

Last Day show that they can also perform well acoustically with this new version of a song that was originally on their debut EP.

The band is building a good reputation with their live shows and recordings like this which should only enhance that. There is a chance to see a stripped-back acoustic performance from the band not too far away, at High Wycombe HMV on June 24, and their rock set at Wokingham Festival in August – https://linktr.ee/onelastday

The Two Ton Shoes – Weight of a Stone

This Reading-based trio’s debut single is an excellent slice of blues-based riff-laden rock. Watch out for more from them later in the year when they plan to release a full EP – https://linktr.ee/ thetwotonshoes

Echo Chambers – Lawnmowers of Suburbia

A blast of excellent anthemic melodic punk from another Reading band – https://linktr.ee/ Echochambersrdg

Leoni Jane Kennedy – Tears

Leoni was so good last year on Wokingham Festival’s second stage that she has been invited back to play the main stage this year. Here’s one of her wonderful versions of a Rush classic – https:// www.leonijanekennedy.com/

The Salts –Haul Away for Rosie

They played a great show at Norden Farm, Maidenhead last week. This is from their Brave album which was released on our Wokingham-based Braccan Records label – https://www.thesalts.co.uk/

Caravan –

In the Land of Grey and Pink

Title track of one of the best progressive rock albums. Caravan headline Wokingham Festival on August 28 – https://officialcaravan.co.uk/

Savour the Flavour –

Fish and Chip Song

They have released their new album Crikey! It’s Savour the Flavour and they will be live this Saturday 17 at a special gig in Wokingham’s Beyond the Download record store – http://www.flavoursong. co.uk/

Cocktails, beers and a terrific summer menu

The George and Dragon Church Road, Swallowfield RG7 1TJ 0118 988 4432

www.georgedragonpub.com

ASWALLOWFIELD pub has launched a new summer menu, which is perfect for well, any occasion really.

The George and Dragon, a familyowned, independent country pub, is a great base for country walks.

Dating back to the 17th century, it boasts many original features, including low beams. It has served many purposes over the years and is now an excellent gastropub, with fabulous gardens. This means it has a strong following from the village and attracts foodies from all over.

At the heart of any good pub is its beer, and here the anchor is a range from Finchampstead-based Siren Craft Brew.

My husband was recommended a Siren Ricochet, a crisp pilsner inspired by fresh lagers being produced in California.

From the cocktail menu, my entree was the Chambord Bramble cocktail. This is a fresh and fruity berry liqueur combined with gin and lemon to create a refreshing twist on this deliciously sweet and sour cocktail.

Garnished with freeze-dried raspberries, it looked beautiful and went down very well indeed.

For its food menu, The George uses local, organic ingredients where possible, with meat sourced from a Yateley farm.

For starters, the Baked Maida Vale Cheese is made in Swallowfield and is served with sourdough bread and

chutney. It’s £15.95, and is for two to share.

Utterly decadent, this is a rich creamy cheese, with a kick from its rind, which is washed with IPA soundwave ale. It was peppery and much more flavoursome than baked Camembert.

My son’s crispy fried chicken wings came from a new set menu, which offers two courses for £20 or three for £24. This was highly flavoursome, with tender meat.

Other starters include Siren steamed mussels, with garlic, cream, herbs and burnt lemon (£8.25), and Macadamia Nut parfait with a chicory beetroot puree and a black olive crumb (vegan and glutenfree) £8.50.

For my main course, from the specials menu came Flame Grilled Monkfish (£19). This was served with redang potatoes, lime creme fraiche seasonal green with a pineapple and tomato salsa.

This is really something special: the monkfish was perfectly cooked, meaty and tender with a delicious flame-grilled taste.

The new potatoes were spicy with an incredible aroma, and the seasonal greens were served al dente, counterbalanced with the sweetness of the pineapple and tomato salsa. This dish really did make my taste buds dance with joy.

My husband opted for the chicken burger (£15) with panko breadcrumbed chicken breast, crispy lettuce, garlic mayo and fries.

The airy, crispy breadcrumbs sealed in the juices of the tender chicken. The chips were lightly seasoned.

My son chose the 7oz fillet steak (£36.95) from the a la carte menu. It has been matured for 28 days and served

with loaded fries, salad and peppercorn sauce.

It was a tender, lean cut of meat, smooth and juicy, and everything a great steak should be. The skin-on fries were dusted in cajun seasoning and topped with a cheese sauce and green salad.

Other options on the a la carte menu include a Superfood Salad Bowl (£15.95), served with spiced butternut squash, and pomegranate, and Berkshire Venison (£19.85) served with crushed potatoes, black pudding, raspberry port sauce and crispy kale.

The children’s menu is two courses for £8.85, and my daughter opted for a dryaged burger with fries. This was a large portion, which delighted her.

The George & Dragon also has a terrific range of desserts.

From the set menu, we shared the Apple and Raspberry crumble with vanilla ice cream. The fruit made this moist and flavourful, while the topping was crunchy and crumbly.

The other sweet we tried was a Lotus Biscoff cheesecake. The base is made of crushed and caramelised biscuits.

On it was placed a smooth and creamy

cheesecake, which was rich without being too sweet. And the topping? A caramelised spread sprinkled with lotus biscuits. It was accompanied by a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream nestled in a shortbread crumb. Dessert heaven.

We all left George and Dragon feeling full and very satisfied. The setting, the service and of course the food were all first-class and highly recommended. The pub is open Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 11pm, and noon to 5pm on Sundays. For now, it is closed on Mondays.

A FEAST FOR THE SENSES: Clockwise from above: The Flame Grilled Monkfish, Baked Maida Vale Cheese, and the Biscoff cheesecake –just three dishes from The George & Dragon’s current summer menus Pictures: Claire Worsfold

Father’s Day health tips

Healthy heart tip

IN the lead up to Father’s Day in the UK, we wanted to shine the spotlight on the heart health of the men reading our tips, or the men in your life.

Coronary heart disease generally affects more men than women and it’s important to be aware of this.

It’s common for men to not prioritise their health until it stops them from living their life.

This Father’s Day, why not make a commitment to yourself or support a father figure in your life to take positive steps that contribute to the health of their hearts? Here are some ideas!

A heart-healthy breakfast

Treat yourself or the fatherly figures in your life to a heart healthy breakfast. Instead of a greasy fry-up why not provide a breakfast full of omega-3 such as poached egg, smoked salmon and avocado on multi-seeded toast. It’s easy to make, healthy and delicious!

A healthy gift

Father’s Day usually means buying gifts which tend to be not so heart healthy, like chocolates and alcohol. Choose a heart healthy gift option like an active day out such as paintballing, paddle boarding or even a set of cooking classes you can attend together to inspire you both to cook more from scratch.

Take up a healthy hobby together

Use Father’s Day as an opportunity to engage your dad or fatherly figure in a healthy hobby together, this could be walking, running, sailing or even climbing.

Everyone can benefit from being more active and you could buy lessons for an activity as a gift and make it something you do together long-term, which will also benefit

Hunt on for best amateur gardeners

THE HUNT is on for the best amateur gardeners from Reading and Wokingham boroughs.

Dobbies garden centres, which has branches in Hare Hatch and Spencers Wood, is inviting amateur gardeners, of all ages and backgrounds to enter its annual Not Your Average Gardener Awards.

A panel of horticultural and wildlife experts will crown four winners in the contest.

Dobbies’ senior houseplant buyer and recently appointed Royal Horticultural Society Chair of Assessors, Claire Bishop (pictured), will join Dobbies’ horticultural director and seasoned judge, Marcus Eyles, to crown the new Creative Indoor Gardener and Little Eco Gardener categories.

“It’s a real honour to be part of the Not Your Average Gardener Awards for its fourth year and I can’t wait to see the talent from our houseplant enthusiasts in Reading and Wokingham,” Ms Bishop said.

the Wildlife Friendly Garden category.

And social media gardening expert, Michael Griffiths, aka The Mediterranean Gardener, joins the panel to judge the Plant to Plate Gardener category.

your heart health.

n For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for weekly healthy tips at: www.heartresearch. org.uk/health-tips

“The awards have been designed with full inclusivity in mind, so we’re looking for people of all ages and skill levels to get in touch and tell us about their vibrant green space that they have a real passion for.”

RePollinate, a charity that conserves and enhances the UK’s threatened pollinators, will judge

Each winner will receive a £1,000 giftcard to spend in a branch of Dobbies, and the firm says team members will be on hand to help winners select the best sustainable products and plants for their space.

Entries close on Friday, June 30, with winners announced in early August n For more details, log on to: https:// www.dobbies.com/

FINCH HELD TO HIGH SCORING DRAW

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

Home Counties Division One

FINCHAMPSTEAD had to settle for a draw in their high scoring home fixture against Slough.

Finch opted to bat first and lost their first wicket with 17 runs on the board when Tommie Predgen fell for 13.

The next dismissal came around quickly when Ben Moffat was removed on six which saw 22-2 on the scoreboard.

Having lost their opening pair, Finch recovered to make their total look much healthier with the partnership of Chris Britz and Gregory Smith at the crease.

Britz picked up 22 runs, while. Smith lasted 99 balls and put 67 on the board.

Wicket keeper Jed Crerar managed to match Smith’s total as he also scored 67, while useful contributions from Zac Leonard (29) and Lewis Sharp (31*) ensured that

TWYFORD TOPPLED

the hosts moved onto 264 runs before their 64 over innings came to an end.

Looking to defend their score, Finch picked up the first wicket of the second innings when Rahim Akhtar was out LBW from the bowling of Liam Bulteel.

Bulteel claimed his second wicket with Slough on 51 when Taran Sohi was caught out by Smith for 19.

Bulteel picked up his third wicket of the match to see Slough on 61-3, but the visitors then proved to be a tough nut to crack as Wajid Shah built up an impressive total.

Slough’s number three batter collated 105 runs, while Lesbourne Edwards hit a half century.

With Finch unable to bowl Slough all out, the match ended in a draw with the away team on 262-5 from 54 overs.

The result leaves Finch in ninth position in the table on 38 points from their opening six matches, just one place off the foot of the standings.

WOKINGHAM stay in third position after they were dealt defeat for the first time this campaign at Aston Rowant.

Aston decided to bat first and built a sizeable first innings total of 306 from 61 overs before they decided to declare with three wickets remaining.

The Oaks knew they had to maintain a high run rate to try and clinch the win and started brilliantly with the opening pair of Andy Rishton and Imran Malik. Rishton top scored with 73, while wicket keeper Sukhmeet Kang contributed with half century. However, Wokingham fell short as they were all out on 228 which gave the hosts victory.

WARGRAVE remain at the bottom of the table after they lost for the third time in six matches.

Euan Woods took three wickets as Banbury scored 167 in the first innings. However, Wargrave were 61 runs short of taking the win as they were removed for 106 after 33.3 overs which gave Banbury victory.

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

BCL Division Two

TWYFORD AND RUSCOMBE lost out for just the second time this season which means they stay in third position.

In a tight contest, Twyford missed out by just 27 runs.

Outlaws batted first and scored 223 before they were all out after 39.5 overs as Twyford bowler Sathesh Polepaka picked up five wickets with a stunning performance.

Twyford ran their opponents close as scores of 75 from Ankush Jain and 47 from Polepaka helped them to creep up to the first innings total.

However, they suffered a narrow defeat as they finished on 196 from 40 overs.

BCM Championship

EMMBROOK AND BEARWOOD stay top of the table despite losing out in the league for the first time this season.

Ollie Williams (61) and Jason Middleton (70) totalled strong scores to help the Bears score 266 in the first inning.

Despite four wickets from Middleton, Penn & Tylers were able to seal the win after 42.5 overs with three wickets in reserve.

SHINFIELD moved up with a 35-point triumph away at CROWTHORNE & CROWN WOOD.

The Crows were all out on 165 before Shinfield managed to surpass that total after 29.1 overs with five wickets left.

BCL Premier Division

CROWTHORNE & CROWN WOOD

2s sit at the top after their three wicket success at Peppard Stoke Row 2s.

Andrew Baines bowled tremendously to take five wickets before 65 from Amit Puri made sure the Crows reached 198 to take the win.

READING UNITED amassed 38 points with a 76-run triumph over FARLEY HILL.

Suman Ganguly top scored for Reading with 84 runs to see them onto 216 and he then claimed four wickets to help his team to victory.

SANDHURST took the share of the points with a four wicket success over WEST READING 2s Sandhurst chased down the first innings score with four wickets to spare.

SHINFIELD 2s lost out at home to Stratfield Turgis by just two wickets.

BCL Division One

WALTHAM ST LAWRENCE are in fourth position after they missed out by 36 runs against Calcot. Waltham were skittled all out for 80 after Calcot’s first innings score of 116.

EARLEY totalled 35 points with an away success at Silchester.

Srini Yella collected four wickets before a century from Aravind Gururajan and a half century from Vish Shende ensured they surpassed the total with seven wickets left.

WEST READING 3s were beaten at home by four wickets against Checkendon.

Thames Valley Division One

EVERSLEY sit in pole position after they racked up an impressive

Twyford & Ruscombe suffered a narrow defeat to Outlaws Pictures: Steve Smyth

Finchampstead were held to a draw in their home fixture against Slough Pictures: Andrew Batt

NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS

TOPPLED BY OUTLAWS BUT STAY THIRD

HONOURS BOARD

BOWLING

Olliver Thilo: Finchampstead 2s v Harpsden – 5-17

Luke Beavan: Reading v Binfield – 5-32

Sathesh Polepaka: Twyford and Ruscombe v Outlaws – 5-36

Andrew Baines: Crowthorne & Crown Wood 2s v Peppard Stoke Row 2s – 5-37

Devesh Gauchwal: Shinfield v Crowthorne & Crown Wood – 5-41

Noah Vojinov: Eversley v Henley 2s – 4-9

Suman Ganguly: Reading United v Farley Hill – 4-13

Marvin Vohel: Crowthorne & Crown Wood v Shinfield – 4-23

Qaiser Butt: Waltham St Lawrence v Calcot – 4-26

Srini Yella: Earley v Silchester – 4-27

Haris Lone: West Reading 2ss v Sandhurst – 4-30

Jason Middleton: Emmbrook and Bearwood v Penn & Tylers – 4-33

Phil Higgs: Hurst v Sonning – 4-33

Ashish Singh: Reading 2s v Newbury – 4-35

Thomas Williams: Wokingham 5s v Maidenhead & Bray 3s – 4-35

Girish Nandwani: Earley 2s v Mortimer – 4-36

Prasad Mokashi: Woodley v Farley Hill 2s – 4-41

Lewis Hart: Farley Hill v Reading United – 4-44

Hugh Doyle: Wokingham 4s v Finchampstead 4s – 4-49

James Bozarth: Theale & Tilehurst v Windsor – 4-58

Cloudesley Long: White Waltham v Purley on Thames – 4-62

Andy Rishton: Wokingham v Aston Rowant – 4-69

Arvind Bhat: Wokingham 5s v Maidenhead & Bray 3s – 3-13

Connor Simpson: Emmbrook and Bearwood 2s v Haprsden 2s – 3-14

win over Henley 2s.

The Boars batted first and amassed a huge total from 47 overs, which included a astonishing double century from Oli Parsons not out.

Harry Maxcield and Tom Nichols also scored half centuries before Noah Vojinov (4-9) bowled excellently as Eversley had Henley all out for 86 to seal a 265-run triumph.

WOKINGHAM 2s are still waiting for their first win after they drew with Boyne Hill.

Boyne scored 258-4 from 52 overs before the Oaks totalled 160-7 from 48 overs which meant Wokingham picked up six points.

Thames Valley Division 2B

READING made it four wins from six matches as they defeated BINFIELD by seven wickets.

Reading bowler Luke Beaven managed to take five wickets.

CRICKET

WOODS KNOCKS CENTURY BEFORE RAIN STOPS PLAY

BY DAVE WRIGHT sport@wokingham.today

EUAN Woods scored a century but it was all in vain as Berkshire’s NCCA Trophy Group 2 game against Cornwall at Slough last Sunday had to be abandoned following heavy rain.

After the defending champions had posted 319-7 from their 50 overs, the visitors were 52 without loss when the players were forced off.

Woods reached his 100 off 111

balls with the help of 10 boundaries, only to be caught off the next delivery he faced.

The Wargrave all-rounder was well supported by Dan Lincoln with a quickfire not-out 65 and Archie Carter with 61.

Carter, however, was feeling well and, after more than an hour at the crease, he was forced to retire.

The Henley batter shared a third-wicket stand of 155 with Woods in 25 overs. Chasing a challenging target, Cornwall made a bright start with Chris Gibson and Ben Seabrook taking 52 runs from the first 34 balls of the innings.

But then down came the rain that left puddles on the Upton

Court Park ground, preventing any further play.

Berkshire stay third in the group behind Herefordshire and Cornwall, but have played a game more than their rivals and currently have an inferior net run rate.

With three points from three games, they must win their final group fixture away to Bedfordshire on Sunday, June 25 and hope other results go their way if they are to stay in the competition.

Santhosh Kundar: Shinfield 2s v Stratfield Turgis – 3-14

Liam Bulteel: Finchampstead v Slough – 3-17

Lewis King: Binfield 2s v Bracknell – 3-20

Pavan Deol: Wokingham 4s v Finchampstead 4s – 3-22

Saad Jaffary: Waltham St Lawrence v Calcot – 3-26

Harsha Gopal: Shinfield 3s v Mortimer West End 2s – 3-30

BATTING

Oli Parsons: Eversley v Henley 2s – 200*

Matt Furness: White Waltham v Purley on Thames – 111*

Aravind Gururajan: Earley v Silchester – 108*

Jeremy Wing: Royal Ascot 2s v Henley 3s – 101

Simon Longfield: Farley Hill 2s v Woodley – 94

Shiva Aruna: Reading Lions v Welford Park – 93

Rehan Hassan: Theale & Tilehurst v Windsor – 92*

Prasad Kulkarni: Wokingham 5s v Maidenhead & Bray 3s – 91*

Peter Emes: Crowthorne & Crown Wood v Shinfield – 85

Suman Ganguly: Reading United v Farley Hill – 84

Amol Lotke: Woodley v Farley Hill 2s – 84

Mac de Souza: Wokingham 3s v Boyne Hill 2s – 83

James Watt: Hurst v Sonning – 79

A Urath: Eversley 2s v Slough 4s – 79

Chris Metherell: White Waltham v Purley on Thames – 78

Mark Richards: Wargrave 3s v Thatcham Town 2s – 77*

Salman Hamidi: Bracknell v Binfield 2s – 76*

Ankush Jain: Twyford and Ruscombe v Outlaws – 75

W Reis: Eversley 2s v Slough 4s – 74*

Andy Rishton: Wokingham v Aston Rowant – 73

Jason Middleton: Emmbrook and Bearwood v Penn & Tylers – 70

Gregory Smith: Finchampstead v Slough – 67

Tajdar Jawaid: Woodley v Farley Hill 2s – 67

Michael Cowdell: Wokingham 2s v Boyne Hill – 65*

Amit Puri: Crowthorne & Crown Wood 2s v Peppard Stoke Row 2s – 65

Fakhir Ali: Shinfield v Crowthorne & Crown Wood – 64

Harry Maxfield: Eversley v Henley 2s – 63

Jordan Thomas: White Waltham 2s v Sulhamstead & Ufton 2s – 62*

Jack Fisher: Wokingham 3s v Boyne Hill 2s – 62

Ollie Williams: Emmbrook and Bearwood v Penn & Tylers – 61

Imran Zaman: West Reading 3s v Checkendon – 60*

Naveed Naseer: Shinfield v Crowthorne & Crown Wood – 60

G Loveday: Finchampstead 3s v Cove 2s – 57

Vish Shende: Earley v Silchester – 57

Harry King: Finchampstead 4s v Wokingham 4s – 57

Tom Nichols: Eversley v Henley 2s – 55

Kishore Naha: Reading 2s v Newbury – 52

Bobby Malik: Sonning v Hurst – 51*

Sukhmeet Kang: Wokingham v Aston Rowant – 50*

Satesh Poledaka bowling

Outlaws at the crease against Twyford & Ruscombe

Abhishek Mankar batting

Ankush Jain bowling

NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS

MOTOR RACING

RACING STAR EARNS PODIUM SUCCESS

By STAFF WRITER sport@wokingham.today

WOKINGHAM racing driver Bobby Trundley has kickstarted a new season of racing across Europe as part of Team BRIT.

Bobby, who was diagnosed with severe autism as a child, is a driver for Team BRIT which is the world’s only competitive team of all-disabled racing drivers.

In a change to the planned season, Bobby and his teammate Aaron Morgan are now competing in the McLaren Trophy Europe Series, with races taking place at European tracks throughout the year.

In the first race of the season held at Paul Ricard Circuit in France on June 3 and 4, the pair secured their first silverware of the season, taking second place in their class in both races.

The 23-year-old was diagnosed with severe autism as a child and went on to become a five-time national karting champion before joining Team BRIT in 2019. 31-yearold Aaron broke his back in a motocross accident when he was 15 and was the youngest ever disabled person to achieve a national ‘B’ race licence when he got back into motorsport following his accident.

Bobby and Aaron race the team’s Mclaren 570S GT4. The car is fitted with the team’s world-leading hand controls which enable Aaron

to drive with Bobby and on equal terms with his competitors.

After the first round of the championship, a decision was made to move to the McLaren Trophy Europe Series to provide a level playing field with classes specifically for the McLaren 570S.

Bobby said: “This is the first year of McLaren’s championship so it’s

incredible to be a part of it and to have the chance to race at these amazing European circuits.

“Despite taking home two P2 trophies, we’re actually disappointed we didn’t secure a win. We know we have the pace and the confidence, especially after qualifying for pole position in race two.

RESULTS

Saturday, June 10

CRICKET

Home Counties Division One

Aston Rowant (306-7) beat Wokingham (228 all out)

Banbury (167 all out) beat Wargrave (106 all out)

Finchampstead (264-8) drew Slough (262-5)

BCM Championship

Crowthorne & Crown Wood (165 all out) lost to Shinfield (168-5)

Penn & Tylers (268-7) beat Emmbrook and Bearwood (266-9)

BCL Premier Division

Peppard Stoke Row 2s (194 all out) lost to Crowthorne & Crown Wood 2s (198-7)

Reading United (216 all out) beat Farley Hill (140 all out)

Sandhurst (168-6) beat West Reading 2s (161 all out)

Shinfield 2s (157 all out) lost to Stratfield Turgis (159-8)

BCL Division One

Calcot (116 all out) beat Waltham St Lawrence (80 all out)

Silchester (235 all out) lost to Earley (239-3)

Welford Park (231-8) beat Reading Lions (220 all out)

“A technical issue meant we lost a lot of time, so it’s all credit to the crew who worked their hearts out to get us back in the race, and to my teammate Aaron Morgan who drove fantastically well again.”

Bobby races again for Team BRIT at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium from Thursday, June 29- Saturday, July 1.

RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL

RAMS CHAIRMAN ‘SADDENED’ BY

LONDON

IRISH’S ADMINISTRATION

By RICHARD ASHTON sport@wokingham.today

BERKSHIRE RFU and Rams

Chairman Andy Lynch has expressed his dismay at London Irish entering administration but is hoping to ensure a pathway for talented youngsters.

The Exiles were suspended from league competition by the RFU last Tuesday after a proposed takeover by an American consortium fell through, and worse was to follow a day later as the club went into administration. Having been based in Berkshire since their move to the Madejski Stadium in 2000, Irish have done a huge amount in nurturing players on behalf of the RFU’s Development Player Pathway (DPP) before returning to the capital at Brentford FC in 2020.

Chairman Lynch is hopeful a way forward can still be found.

He said: “Everyone at Rams

was deeply saddened to have seen the news about London Irish earlier this week.

“We as a club have enjoyed an excellent relationship with Exiles in recent years and have been delighted to be involved with the development of the likes of Ollie Allan (Hungerford), Lucas Brooke (St John’s Beaumont and Wellington College), Michael Dykes (Bracknell RFC and Maidenhead), Tarek Haffar and Caolan Englefield in the past two seasons, while further back, the likes of Jacob Atkins (Forest School) and Chunya Munga (Reading Abbey and Leighton Park) have also pulled on the Rams shirt.

“These young men were absolutely first class during their time at Old Bath Road, and our thoughts go out to them as well as all the other players, coaches, matchday staff, offfield employees, supporters, and everyone else involved with the club at this horrible time.”

CITYZENS

FORM

He continued: “Irish retained a place in the heart of Berkshire through the youth set-up, offering hundreds of children outstanding coaching as part of the Player Pathway programme.

“There will undoubtedly be questions about what lies ahead for these kids, but I will be doing my best as Berkshire chairman to ensure all the clubs in the county work together, in conjunction with the RFU, so no youngster, particularly those in state schools, is left behind.”

Rams CEO Gary Reynolds added: “As a boyhood Wasps fan, it was hard to see what happened there, but this is even harder as we know people, young lads, who are going to lose jobs at Irish.

“They are two great clubs who have both been going more than 100 years and it’s been a dreadful year for the sport.

“Hopefully lessons have been learnt.”

PARTNERSHIP WITH LAUNCHPAD

READING City Football Club has announced a new charity partnership with Launchpad who will become the club’s first official charity for the 2023/24 campaign.

Launchpad is Reading’s leading homelessness prevention charity, providing vital information and support for individuals, couples and families who don’t have a stable place to live, or are at risk of losing their home.

For every season ticket, membership, or general admission ticket the club sells, their online ticket partner Ticketpass will donate 50% of their booking fee to Launchpad.

Ryan Sheehan, Head of Marketing, Communications & Engagement at Reading City Football Club said: “As a club we’re really looking forward to our partnership with Launchpad.

“I’ve personally supported Launchpad in the past through volunteering and participating in their Big Sleep Out event so I know just how hard they work.

“At a time where the number of people in the community suffering from homelessness is sadly going up, we felt that we had to do our bit to help and following positive discussions with Launchpad we’re delighted to formally announce them as our first ever official charity.”

Theale & Tilehurst 2s (137-1) beat Bagshot 2s (135 all out)

FIXTURES

Saturday, June 17

CRICKET

Home Counties Division One

Harefield v Finchampstead

Wargrave v Aston Rowant

Wokingham v Datchet

BCM Championship

Emmbrook and Bearwood v West Reading

Ley Hill v Crowthorne & Crown Wood

Shinfield v Barywood

Chilterns Division One

Winchmore Hill v Emmbrook and Bearwood 2s

BCL Premier Division

Crowthorne & Crown Wood 2s v Shinfield 2s

Farley Hill v Peppard Stoke Row 2s

Goring on Thames v Reading United

Stratfield Turgis v Sandhurst

West Reading 2s v Woodcote

BCL Division One

Earley v West Reading 3s

Reading Lions v Rangers

Waltham St Lawrence v Silchester

West Reading 3s (243 all out) lost to Checkendon (180-6)

Rangers (206 all out) lost to Maidenhead Royals (207-1)

Thames Valley Division 1

Wokingham 2s (160-7) lost to Boyne Hill (258-4)

Henley 2s (86 all out) lost to Eversley (351-3 dec)

Thames Valley Division 2B

Hurst (213-8) drew Sonning (224-7)

Reading (149-3) beat Binfield (145 all out)

Harpsden (84 all out) lost to Finchampstead 2s (86-3)

Thames Valley Division 3A

Wargrave 2s (200 all out) lost to Falkland 2s (257-8 dec)

Windsor (203-4) beat Theale & Tilehurst (199-9)

Royal Ascot (162 all out) lost to Fleet (200-8)

Thames Valley Division 4A

Boyne Hill 2s (282-7 dec) beat Wokingham 3s (186-7)

Finchampstead 3s (195-9) drew Cove 2s (270-8)

Newbury (139 all out) beat Reading 2s (128 all out)

White Waltham (231-2) beat Purley on Thames (227-9)

Thames Valley Division 5B

Thatcham Town 2s (291-3 dec) drew Wargrave 3s (215-9)

Henley 3s (217-5) beat Royal Ascot 2s (213 all out)

Eversley 2s (287-9) lost to Slough 4s (288-6)

Sonning 2s (287-6 dec) beat Yateley (239-7)

Binfield 2s (143 all out) lost to Bracknell (144-7)

Thames Valley Division 6B

Sulhamstead & Ufton 2s (2249) beat White Waltham (198 all out)

Wokingham 4s (173 all out)

lost to Finchampstead 4s (243-9)

Thames Valley Division One

Eversley v Falkland

Thames Valley Division 2B

Sonning v Reading

Binfield v Harpsden

Sulhamstead & Ufton v hurst

Finchampstead 2s v Cove

Thames Valley Division 3A

Theale & TIlehurst v Bagshot

Peppard Stoke Row v Wargrave

Aldershot v Royal Ascot

Thames Valley Division 4A

Wokingham 3s v Finchampstead 4s

Reading 2s v Boyne Hill 2s

Thatcham Town v White Waltham

Thames Valley Division 5B

Wargrave 3s v Henley 3s

Royal Ascot 2s v Eversley 2s

Yateley v Thatcham Town 2s

Bracknell v Sonning 2s

Slough 4s v Binfield 2s

Thames Valley Division 6B

White Waltham 2s v Purley on Thames 2s

Finchampstead 4s v Aldershot 2s

Bagshot 2s v Wokingham 4s

Boyne Hill 3s v Theale & Tilehurst 2s

Thames Valley Division 7A

Wokingham 5s v Bracknell 2s

Binfield 3s v Slough 5s

Thames Valley Division 8A

Thatcham Town 3s v Theale & Tilehurst 3s

Eversley 4s v Fleet 2s

Royal Ascot 3s v Sonning 3s

Cookham Dean 3s v Reading 3s

Adam (pictured left) and Bobby (pictured right) in the McLaren Trophy

Bobby Trundley competing in France

Bobby Trundley representing Team BRIT Pictures: Adam Pigott

Bobby Trundley and Aaron Morgan on the podium

NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS

SUMAS LADIES TAKE TO THE FIELD IN PRE-SEASON ACTION

By STAFF WRITER sport@wokingham.today

WOKINGHAM & EMMBROOK

LADIES FC returned to the field with their first pre-season match as they gear up for competitive action.

The newly reformed team has been training since last October with a handful of players and has seen the squad grow considerably since its inception with a squad of 19 players, which is expected to increase when two further players join once they finish university in the summer.

The squad has an age range between 16 and 40, and is made up of one current W&E U17 player, with the rest of the squad split roughly in half between ladies playing football for the first time ever and the other half being players who are returning to the sport after anywhere between three and 18 years away from it.

As well as the current U17 player, one other player came through the youth section at the club, with the two due to join from university, also being former club youth players.

Showing there is now a way forward for girls currently playing in the youth section, to carry on their football journey within the club.

The team now prepares for their next friendly match in a couple of weeks time away at Wraysbury Village.

The side is managed by Stuart Greig, who is being assisted with the coaching by Shai Humphries, who was the first player to come along to the introduction sessions last summer and has gone on to recently complete her first coaching badge.

YOUNG FOOTBALLERS SHINE IN TOURNAMENT

By ANDREW BATT sport@wokingham.today

More than 1,000 youngsters descended on Wokingham last weekend for the annual Ashridge Park football tournament.

Players from more than 220 teams battled for honours at what is the club’s most important fundraiser of the year.

Among the teams competing throughout various age groups included: Ashridge Park FC, Woodley Saints, Eversley & California, Finchampstead and FC Bracknell.

Despite the heat on Saturday and the curtailment of Sunday’s matches due to storms, the event was hailed as a great success.

Speaking to Wokingham Today, a spokesperson for the club expressed thanks to the sponsors and supporters, and to the many referees who took part.

n To view a full gallery of pictures from the tournament, visit wokingham.today

ROYALS DEFENDER DEPARTS CLUB FOR QATARI LEAGUE

By ANDY PRESTON sport@wokingham.today

DEFENDER Naby Sarr has left Reading FC to join Qatari team Al Markhiya just one year after signing a four year contract with the Royals.

The 6ft 6in centre-back joined Reading last summer on a long term deal after leaving Huddersfield Town at the expiration of his contract.

However, after just one season in Berkshire, Sarr’s spell with the club ends after making 24 Championship appearances as the Royals were relegated from the Championship in the 2022/23 campaign.

Sarr said: “Thank you everyone at Reading for welcoming me and for everything. Sorry that it didn’t work the way we wanted to but I would like to wish the club all the very best for the future. I have no doubt that success will be back for the Royals.”

After a long saga that saw Sarr’s transfer to Reading delayed by the EFL for several weeks, he made a strong impression on his debut as he scored in a 1-0 win away at Millwall.

Sarr struggled with injuries throughout the campaign which meant that his game time was limited after making a promising start.

He picked up form towards the end of the season, but was unable to prevent the side from being relegated to the third tier.

Reading are still on the hunt for a new permanent manager with Chris Wilder strongly linked with the position as the club prepares for life in League One.

Meanwhile, Sarr’s new team finished in seventh position in the Qatar Stars League last season.

Reading defender Naby Sarr Picture: Luke Adams

Wokingham & Emmbrook faced Marlow Town Pictures: Andrew Batt

Ashridge Park FC hosted their annual tournament at St Crispin’s School Pictures: Andrew Batt

Classifieds

PUBLICNOTICES

DEFINITIVEMAPMODIFICATIONORDER2023

TheaboveOrdermadeon12thJune2023byWokinghamBoroughCouncil(“theCouncil”),ifconfirmedasmade,will modifyTheWokinghamBoroughCouncilDefinitiveMapandStatementofPublicRightsofWayfortheareain consequenceoftheoccurrenceofaneventspecifiedinSection53(3)(c)oftheWildlifeandCountrysideAct1981(“the Act”)namely,thediscoverybytheauthorityofevidencewhich(whenconsideredwithallotherrelevantevidence availabletothem)showsthatarightofwaywhichisnotshownineithermapandstatementsubsistsorisreasonably allegedtosubsistoverlandintheareatowhichthemapsrelate,beingarightofwaysuchthatthelandoverwhichthe rightsubsistsisapublicpath,arestrictedbywayor,subjecttosection54AoftheAct,abywayopentoalltraffic. TheeffectoftheOrderisdescribedintheSchedulebelowandwillmodifythedefinitivemapandstatementas describedintheSchedulebelow.

AcopyoftheOrderandtheOrdermaphavebeenplacedandmaybeseenfreeofchargeatWokinghamBorough Council,ShuteEnd,Wokingham,RG401WHfrom9.30amto4.30pmMondaystoFridaysinclusiveorobtainedupon requestfrom Andrew.Fletcher@wokingham.gov.uk

AnyrepresentationsaboutorobjectionstotheOrdermaybesentinwritingtotheMrFletcherortheundersignedno laterthan31stJuly2023beingnotlessthan42daysfollowingthedateofthisnotice.Pleasestatethegroundsupon whichtherepresentationsorobjectionsaremade.Pleasenotethatobjections/representationsreceivedcannotbe treatedasconfidentialandmaycomeintothepublicdomain.Copiesofanyobjectionsorrepresentationsmaybe disclosedtointerestedparties,includingtheSecretaryofStateforEnvironment,FoodandRuralAffairsshouldthe Orderbereferredtoitfordetermination.

Ifnosuchrepresentationsorobjectionsaredulymade,orifanysomadearewithdrawn,WokinghamBoroughCouncil mayconfirmtheOrderasanunopposedOrder.Ifobjectionsarereceivedandarenotwithdrawn,thentheOrdermay besenttotheSecretaryofStateforEnvironment,FoodandRuralAffairsforconfirmation.IftheOrderissubmittedto theSecretaryofStateforEnvironment,FoodandRuralAffairsthenanyrepresentationsorobjectionswhichhavebeen dulymadeandnotwithdrawnwillbesentwithit.Ifyourequirefurtherinformationpleasecontact AndrewFletcher at Andrew.Fletcher@wokingham.gov.uk or 01182378717

SCHEDULE-PARTI

ModificationofDefinitiveMap

Descriptionofpathsorwaystobeadded

AbridlewaycommencingattheboundaryoftheWokinghamBoroughCouncilownedlandknownasFoxHill(PointA, GridReference478915,168352),andproceedinginannorth-westerlydirectionoveraditchtofor2metrestopointB (GridReference478914,168353)beforeturninginasouth-westerlydirection122metrestopointC(GridReference 478835,168294)andcontinuinginagenerallysoutherlydirectionfor260metrestopointD(GridReference478726, 168309)andturninginasouth-easterlydirectiontotheboundaryoftheWokinghamBoroughCouncilownedland knownasFoxHill(PointEGridReference478970,168069)

PARTII

ModificationofDefinitiveStatements

Variationofparticularsofpathsorways

ThefollowingdescriptionshallbeaddedtotheDefinitiveStatementfortheParishofWokingham:

WokinghamFootpath40

From: FoxHill,N,SW,S,SE

To: FoxHill

LegalWidth: 2metres

Limitations: None

MapRef: SU76NE

NOTE:ALLLENGTHSAREAPPROXIMATE

Dated:15thJune2023

FrancescaHobson AssistantDirectorEnvironmentandSafety

WokinghamBoroughCouncil CivicOffices

WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL PLANNING APPLICATION

The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 AND/OR Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Regulations 1990 The following application(s) have been submitted and are advertised for the reasons below:

231196 Riseley Farm, Part Lane, Swallowfield

231351 171 Evendons Lane, Wokingham

Affects setting of listed building Application for Listed Building consent for the conversion of 1 no. existing curtilage listed threshing barn into 1 no. dwellinghouse and the demolition of 1 no. existing pole barn to facilitate the erection of 1 no. new dwellinghouse.

Major Application Outline application with all matters reserved except for access, for the proposed erection of a 64-bed care home (Use Class C2) with site access, parking, hard and soft landscaping, and other associated works following demolition of existing commercial buildings

The application is available to view online at wokingham.gov.uk  Planning  Search planning applications and typing in the application number above. Comments on the application can be made online from this web page. Any comments must arrive on or before the 06 July 2023. Any comments made are not confidential and can be seen by anyone as they form part of the public record. The comments, unless offensive, discriminatory and/or racist, will appear on the Council’s website within 24 hours and include the submitted name and address. Due to the high volume of comments received we do not provide individual responses.

Date: 15th June 2023

Learning Support Mentor required

Learning Support Mentor required

We are looking for an enthusiastic Learning Support Mentor to support students with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMH) to reach their full potential. You will be part of a dedicated and passionate team offering a dynamic learning experience via individual timetables.

We are looking for an enthusiastic Learning Support Mentor to support students with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMH) to reach their full potential. You will be part of a dedicated and passionate team offering a dynamic learning experience via individual timetables.

To be successful in the post/s, you will be able to build good relationships with students, support them in all aspects of their learning and personal development and enjoy working in a positive and supportive team. You will enjoy working holistically, making a difference and being part of an organisation that values student’s achievements academically, personally, and socially.

To be successful in the post/s, you will be able to build good relationships with students, support them in all aspects of their learning and personal development and enjoy working in a positive and supportive team.

You will enjoy working holistically, making a difference and being part of an organisation that values students’ achievements academically, personally, and socially. As part of the team, you can expect:

As part of the team, you can expect

* to access our pension scheme

* flexi start/finish times to support work/life balance – norm 37.5 hrs but will consider part-time

• to access our pension scheme

* paid school holidays

• flexi start/finish times to support work/life balance – norm 37.5 hrs but will consider part-time

* personal development opportunities

• paid school holidays

* a comprehensive induction

• personal development opportunities

* a competitive salary – Up to £25,000 DOE

• a comprehensive induction

*loyalty Scheme

• a competitive salary – Up to £25,000 DOE

• loyalty Scheme

Salary: Up tp £25,000 per annum depending upon experience and skills being offered (Term Time Only + INSET + 2 additional days / Actual Salary / will consider part time)

Salary: Up to £25,000 per annum depending upon experience and skills being offered (Term Time Only + INSET + 2 additional days / Actual Salary / will consider part time)

To start asap

To start asap

Further information, including Job Description, Person Specification and Application forms can be found on our website www.engagingpotential.com or email admin@engagingpotential.com

Further information, including Job Description, Person Specification and Application forms can be found on our website www.engagingpotential.com or email admin@engagingpotential.com

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. An enhanced DBS check is required. Engaging Potential aspires to equality of opportunity in its recruitment and professional practices.

Progress House, 79 Gaywood Drive, Newbury. RG14 2PR

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. An enhanced DBS check is required. Engaging Potential aspires to equality of opportunity in its recruitment and professional practices.

Progress House, 79 Gaywood Drive, Newbury. RG14 2PR

Having

FINCH HELD TO DRAW

BOBBY TAKES PODIUM PLACE

FUEL FOR SUCCESS

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

Trundley started the new season in style with a podium finish with Team BRIT.

The year started with the

OVER

KEY FIGURE SET TO DEPART ROYALS

READING FC’s head of scouting Jared Dublin is set to depart the club after just five months in his role.

Dublin joined as part of the hierarchy in a summer shake up last year that saw Mark Bowen return to the club as head of football operations and Brian Carey as director of recruitment.

However, Dublin is reportedly close to joining Championship side Stoke City after being approached by the Potters.

The Championship club are confident of having him in place as their new head of recruitment if he can secure a work permit.

The Potters finished in 16th place last season under manager Alex Neil who joined the club early last campaign after leaving Sunderland, who finished in the play-offs.

pair entering the British GT Championship, a series they made history in last year as the first ever all-disabled team to compete and finishing an impressive second in class.

Bobby said: “Wow, what a year it’s

been already. It’s been amazing to be part of the British GT Championship and we hope to return, but racing as part of the McLaren Trophy Europe Series is yet another privilege.”

Bobby and racing partner Aaron Morgan will be competing across

Europe this year in the McLaren Trophy Europe Series.

The Team BRIT pair next race between Thursday, June 29- Saturday, July 1 at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium.

n Full story on page 28

The American joined Reading’s recruitment team after a five-year spell with Sheffield United which saw him work alongside rumoured Royals managerial target Chris Wilder.

Reading are still seeking to appoint a manager as the club prepares for life in League One after relegation from the Championship last season.

WOKINGHAM RACING STAR Bobby

READING & WOKINGHAM 15.06.23