Wokingham Today, January 27, 2022

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26.01.22 WOKINGHAM EDITION

PACKED WITH NEWS, WHAT’S ON AND SPORT

YOUR BRILLIANT GRASSROOTS SPORT NEWSPAPER

27.01.22

ANOTHER DEFEAT FOR MEN’S TEAM

BEST FOR HOCKEY

WOMEN ENJOY FOURTH WIN

TRIBUTES PAID TO BINFIELD’S CHRISTIAN

TRIBUTES have poured in from the football community after the death of Binfield FC player Christian Rowe.

MASTERCLASS

FREE-KICKS HELP BOARS WIN DERBY CLASH

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

Wokingham elections once every four years?

RAMS LOSE OUT AGAINST LEEDS

He’s one of our most-love A pioneer, with a sharp witd comics. of the absurd. Now he’s the and a sense play from Private Eye edito focus of a new PHIL CREIGHTON looks r Ian Hislop. at Spike NEW play co-writt

A

en by the editor of Private Eye will look at the life of much-loved silly man Spike Milligan.

The Watermill in Newbury is premièring the work, simply called Spike, from Thursday this week.

Set nearly 70 years ago, it looks the life and times of the comedian at , as he pushes the boundaries of taste and decency, all the name of getting a laugh.

At the time, radio dominate d our homes rather than the gogglebo x, and the nation rushed home to listen to

Will Spike’s dogged obsession with finding the funny elevate The Goons to soaring new heights, or will the whole thing come crashing down with the stroke of a potato peeler?

Of course, with the benefit of history on our side, we know how the story unfolds: The Goons have become part of our national fabric, and Spike is still celebrated today, even though his gravestone sadly says, ‘I told you I was ill’.

Spike is co-written by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman, and it is directed

by Paul Hart.

the antics of The Goon Show, starring Harry Secombe, Peter Sellers, Michael Benetine and, of course, Spike.

While the rest of the team are happy being overnight celebritie s, Spike, the show’s chief writer, Spike finds himself pushing the boundaries of comedy, and testing the patience of the BBC. The cast includes Stephen Flanked by his fellow Goons Fry as the and BBC announcer, while Olivier bolstered by the efforts Awardof irrepressible winning actor John Dagleish sound assistant Janet, Spike is Spike. takes Joining him is TV comedian a flourishing nosedive off the cliffs Margaret Cabourn-Smith of respectability, and mashes (Motherland, up his Miranda, Buffering) as Janet, haunted past to create the George comedy of Kemp (recently seen in Bridgerto the future. n, and soon to star in Amazon’s Call My

maximum points again with a 3-1 victory at the Rivermoo r.

Singh put Eversley, but Woodley hit back and equalised through Caleb Lucas.

On the stroke of half-time, Singh repeated his set-piece to one of the brilliance and found the In theiconic secondvoices most top corner meeting of the two in modern to restore Eversley’s lead comedy. local sides before thecommem The season, orate playofwill 20 yearsAli Dickie sealed the match in the thesince Boars ensured they took his death (he’s still ill then?) second-half. and A FREE-KICK mastercla ss from Harinder Singh Hunjan helped Eversley & California to earn three points against Woodley United. and Nick on this homage

Agent) as Peter Sellers, Jeremy Lloyd (The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, Trial by Laughter) as Harry Secombe, James Mack (The Watermi ll’s The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Rivals, will be equally good fun Macbeth and Journey’s End) to those as Denis know the Goons and to audiencewho Main-Wilson / Peter Eton, s who Ellie Morris are new to Spike’s distinctiv (The Play That Goes Wrong, e brand of Mischief humour. And how we all Movie Night, The Comedy need a laugh at About A the moment.”

Bank Robbery for Mischief Theatre The show runs until March company) playing ‘June’ 5, and Robert and The Watermill has a Mountford (The Habit of number of Art, The measures in place to ensure Haunting of Alice Bowles the site is for Original covid-safe.

Theatre Company, House and Garden To help audiences to book for The Watermill) as BBC with Executive. confidence, The Watermi Ian and Nick said: “Writing ll operates a Spike flexible booking policy. In gave us the opportunity the event that to celebrate their booking is affected the genius of the founding

by Covid-19, father of audience members will be modern comedy, explore offered what inspired a ticket exchange, account him and steal all his jokes”. credit or refund.

And Paul Hart was thrilled to bring n For more details, or to the show to life. book, log on to www.watermill.org.uk, or “It’s been great to work with call the box Ian office on: 01635 46044.

Eversley stay in the hunt for the promotion places in fourth after their outstanding run of form.

Meanwhile, Woodley are down in 19th but with plenty of games in hand to play on the teams around them in the Combined Counties Division One table.

Eversley manager Matty Angell said: “We certainly weren’t at best but full credit to Woodleyour

Our Woodley showroom

0800 30 50 30

United who certainly made it difficult afternoon. Another a three points though and a sign of the resilience of this team but will need to be a lot better to keep up with the others.”

n The Boars face another local clash this weekend in the league when they host Berks County on Saturday (3pm kick-off). n Full football round-up page 19

The 19-year-old died following a road traffic accident.

Rowe joined Binfield on loan from Slough and played in a County Cup match at Long Crendon as recently as last week.

A statement released by Binfield FC reads: “It is with a heavy heart that we write to all our football friends, players, managers , members and volunteer s to share the devastating news that one of our current first team players, Christian Rowe, has sadly passed away while travelling home after our Berks & Bucks County Cup fixture on Wednesday evening last week.

“Christian had only recently joined up with our first team and represented the club five times.

“He was a hugely talented player and quickly earned the respect of his fellow players, fans and our management team here at Binfield FC. “A 19-year-old young man, Christian had quickly establishe d himself as an extremely popular and capable member of our first team here at Binfield FC. “We are all devastated by the news of his passing and we would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Christian’ s family, friends, Slough Town FC and all that knew him.

“A wonderful talent and popular young man, we will always hold a special memory of Christian here at Binfield FC.” The statement ends: “Our thoughts are with all of Christian’s family and loved ones at this difficult and hugely painful time.

“Sending you all our love and thoughts. Binfield Football Club.”

Thursday, January 27, 2022

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EXCLUSIVE

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today

JUST DESSERTS: P10 MAYORS OPEN SHOP

WOKINGHAM could see its elections switch from three years out of four to once every four years.

Members of the ruling executive committee will meet tonight (Thursday, January 27) to approve a consultation into the way in which residents vote.

The Boundary Commission has ruled that Wokingham borough needs to review its system to ensure that residents get the best representation.

This could mean a shake-up of the current wards, to make them match the evolving population of the borough.

New wards would have the same number of councillors and elected on the current system of a third of the council elected every year, with the fourth year being fallow.

Another possibility would be to have each councillor as an effective island, rather than being to a bigger ward.

And the consultation will also explore the frequency of polls.

There is a potential cost saving to be had, not just in the cost of the annual election, but in ensuring the council doesn’t go into purdah for a six-week period before the vote.

Council leader John Halsall welcomed the review.

“The Boundary Commission said we should have carried out a review some time ago as they should take place every 10 years, but this will be 20 years,” he said.

“Elections are very costly. We estimate it costs us about £1 million a year to do them, and it’s very disruptive.”

He added that councils were unusual for the system of elections in thirds – other polls were once every four or five years.

“We have to make a choice as to whether we’re going to change our system or not, and I have come to the conclusion that we have to have a consultation.”

This would be a simple majority decision, and if that is to switch to one election every four years, two-thirds of councillors would need to agree.

Whatever is decided, the 2024 elections will be an all-out situation, where every seat is up for grabs.

PERMANENT HOME FOR REFILLABLES P4

CAR WARS: Residents and drivers clash over meets • p2

SOCIAL CARE PLAN LEAVES £20M DEFICIT

Council left with funding gap to fill

EXCLUSIVE

By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today THE BOROUGH council could be facing an annual bill of £20 million if Government-proposed adult social care reforms are approved.

At the moment, the Government will fund around £20,000 to £25,000 in care, before residents with financial assets are left to foot the bill.

This has left many with

substantial bills, sometimes resulting in the sale of their home to finance the cost.

This image, which has caught national headlines, has inspired a reform based on the work of the 2011 Dilnot Commission set up under the coalition government.

These plans would introduce a spending cap of £86,000. Once a resident has paid this for their care, they will receive it for free, from the state. n Continued on page 8

350 FAMILIES LIVE IN OVERCROWDED SOCIAL HOMES P7

RICK TAKES ON SAHARA RACE P5 ISSN 2634-8330 04

9 772634 833019

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HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US Due to the coronavirus, our offices are closed to the public. The best way to contact us is by email Email news@wokingham.today Newsroom: 0118 327 2662 Advertising: 0118 327 2662 Write to: Wokingham.Today, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS Publisher • David Riley Editor • Phil Creighton Deputy editor • Jess Warren Reporters • Natalie Burton, Daniel Blackham Sports reporter • Andy Preston Graphic designer • Charlotte Simpson The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation. If you have a complaint about a Wokingham Paper Ltd publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance email: editor@wokingham.today. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk.

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CAR MEETS: Drivers gathered at Carnival Pool Car Park on Saturday afternoon in counter action against a resident protest All pictures: Dijana Capan

Car wars: Petrolheads’ EXCLUSIVE

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today A THREE-YEAR-OLD is one of the Wokingham residents suffering from anti-social car meets.

Theo was one of many residents and councillors who gathered outside Carnival Pool Multi-Storey car park on Saturday to express their anger at the late-night gatherings of petrolheads.

A counter demonstration took place at the same time as drivers gathered on the upper levels of the car park to show a strength of feeling about the need to drive on.

In recent weeks, cars have swamped into Wokingham town

centre late at night, gathering in car parks, revving engines, causing their exhausts to noisily backfire and also drive through the streets.

Poor Theo is, like many others, is struggling to sleep. And being just three, a growing lad needs his rest.

He said that the car meets makes him sad, and he feels the need to get his parents to stay with him overnight.

“I would like it to stop,” he told Wokingham Today of the car meets.

Other residents also shared their concerns over the meets, saying that the noise could be heard from quite a distance away.

Maria Gee, Lib Dem councillor for Wescott ward, helped organise the protest and said she was pleased with the turnout.

“It’s been really good,” she said, our interview interrupted by the revving of engines from several stories up.

“The car meets people’s noise shows up the problem that local residents have been having over the past two years.”

She called for a long-term solution to be found.

“The first solution for my residents is to stop this happening here,” she said. “Other people can enter into negotiations with the people who turn up at this car park and find somewhere else for them.

“I can’t do that. I don’t know where it could be, but I do think they should engage with the council, engage with the police, and perhaps find somewhere to go as long as

they behave, and not in a dangerous manner.

“There have been care meets where people have been killed or seriously injured… they have to understand the effect on themselves as well as the effects on people around here.”

Cllr Gee called for the police to do more, but understood their limitations.

“I appreciate the police turning up, they are responding within their resources, and those resources have been cut back,” she said. “I have sympathy that they can’t keep on turning up every time this happens in the middle of Wokingham.

“What we need is prevention: a solution to prevent this happening so that we don’t waste resources

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NEWS | 3

Tuition group sponsors 10 children on 10th anniversary Residents and councillors gathered outside the car park to protest the meets

Cllr Maria Gee is calling for action

fumes anger residents from the council, and from the police dealing with these incidents all the time.”

The police said in a statement before the protests that they have been taking action against antisocial drivers, using Section 59 of the Police Reform Act to hand out Community Protection Notices.

“Action against irresponsible, and antisocial drivers will continue to be taken,” the force said in a statement, citing that last week they moved on a car meet from Thames Valley Park in Earley, and also a second location in Reading.

They handed out 20 warnings to drivers, and seized a car as the driver had previously received a Section 59 warning for anti-social driving.

“We would like to remind all drivers attending these events that we will be issuing tickets, and when appropriate, vehicles will be seized.

Please think before you decide to drive anti-socially or dangerously and the potential consequences you may incur,” the statement added.

The petrolheads feel they are being unfairly singled out and if appropriate spaces were provided they would use one.

None of the drivers we spoke to wanted to be named, and many attending declined to be

photographed.

One young driver attended the protest after travelling from Kent, with two female friends.

The 21-year-old said: “If there was a place where everyone could go to show off their cars free of charge, or if they said can you pay £5, and you’re not gonna have any bother from the police or the locals, I’m pretty sure every single person will be happy to pay, just to go somewhere, whether it’s a massive closed-off car park, or an industrial park that isn’t being used.

“Everyone will be fine with that.

Happy days.”

He added that while he understood the frustrations of residents, there had only been sporadic meets.

“It’s not every weekend at this one,” he said. “It does get spread around quite a lot. It’s not causing too much distress, that’s the thing, it’s just noise at the end of day.”

He said that he came up from Kent as the car meets were “pretty good down this way”.

And the car meets were a community, he felt.

“Everyone sort of respects each other. Like, there’s no sort of damage to property occurring, It’s not like people come here and sort of graffiti the walls, or smash windows. That doesn’t happen at the car meets,” he said.

“The people at the car meets means you’re keeping them away from crime. If you said to me all the people here would be dealing drugs on the streets, what would you rather have – you’d rather lose a bit of sleep on a Saturday night, rather than have, say, 50-60 people dealing drugs on the streets, or knife crime.

“This is better in that perspective, you know what I mean?”

One of the organisers of the car meets protest was a teenager who enjoyed taking pictures of the cars, and said that he attended as “they’re my passion”.

As for turning up at the Wokingham protest, he said: “Some meets aren’t as extreme as this one.

This one is more politically driven.

“It felt like some people were taking this as a personal attack for there to be protests (against the meetings). Most of the time our meets are mostly chillax in a car park, talking to other people with the same interests. It’s a social gathering basically.”

He added that it was hard to find others with the same interests unless he went to a car meet.

“It’s hard to explain if you’re not into cars, but there’s a lot to do with the aesthetic of them, which people quite like looking at. It’s like when people go and see arts.”

Like the Kentish driver, the young photographer wanted somewhere safe to meet.

“Special facilities for this kind of thing would be perfect,” he added.

And a pair of Wokingham teenagers, both 18 and driving for just over a year, came down to see what was happening.

The first described themselves as neutrals.

“I can see why people don’t like it, but I think they give the car meets

a bad name,” he said. “They say it’s terrifying and scary, but I don’t know how it can be.

“They’re just parked up in a car park.”

But, he acknowledged, the meetings were late at night, when people were trying to sleep.

“I understand both points,” he added. “I don’t agree with how they make out to be.”

The pair had been to a couple of car meets, but said that a barrier to entry was the costs, such as insurance. “When you’re young, it’s pricey.

“But car meets gives you something else to do on a Friday or Saturday night. Everyone’s friendly, it’s all good.

“I’ve never been to a car meet and seen a fight. No one’s gonna get hurt.”

Drivers think they’re not causing any harm, but young Theo – and hundreds of other residents – disagree.

A TUITION company is marking 10 years in business by supporting 10 underprivileged children with their development.

Marie Redmond Tuition, which has a centre in Winnersh, has partnered with Sponsorstars, a charity that helps young people achieve their full potential by supplying them with school equipment, clothing and other essential items to level the playing field.

The company will be making a monthly donation throughout 2022 for stationery, clothing, sports equipment, books, feminine care products and any other items required.

Marie Redmond (pictured) said: “We’re incredibly proud of our achievements over the last 10 years and this is our way of giving back and supporting children who may be in need of equipment to assist with their education and development.

“We know that child poverty can have a long-lasting effect on a child’s future and as an education company this is a cause that’s very close to our heart.

“Sponsorstars is a fantastic charity, and their work makes a real difference to the lives of the children they support, especially when it comes to learning and development.”

Donations also pay for transport if needed, with the ultimate aim of reducing the impact that poverty has on education and opportunities.

Sue Laidlaw, co-founder of Sponsorstars, said that one in four children in the UK are affected by poverty.

“In our consumer-driven society, many children go hungry on a regular basis,” she said.

“They are cold in winter and many miss out on the benefits of education simply due to their lack of money.

“We’re delighted that Marie Redmond Tuition is supporting Sponsorstars. It’s partnerships such as this that ensure we can continue to offer vital support to underprivileged children across the country.

“A small sum of money can make a big difference. If you can sponsor a child with a regular donation, you can ensure that child won’t have to miss out on basic things.

“Our aim is to reduce the impact that this poverty has on education and opportunities – every young star needs to be able to fulfil their potential and shine.”

Ms Redmond has more than 20 years of education experience and now runs Ofsted registered tuition centres across Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. n For more information, visit: www.marieredmond. co.uk or call 01494 956809.

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, January 27, 2022

Shinfield residents submit claim for public access on blocked path EXCLUSIVE

By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today WALKERS in Shinfield have been going the extra quarter of a mile, after a footpath thought to have been used for around 60 years was blocked.

A short escape path connecting the western end of Leyland Gardens with a registered public right-of-way running between Hollow Lane and the eastern end of Leyland Gardens has been blocked.

The route can be seen on some house deeds dating back to 1962, explained resident Pat Smith, whose name has been changed.

Ms Smith said that the cut-through was blocked in November by the landowner, and residents have been pushing to have it registered as a public right of way.

“Anyone walking from Leyland Gardens to the Black Boy roundabout and beyond now has to make a considerable detour thanks to the closure,” Ms Smith said. “It’s about a quarter of a mile.”

A spokesperson for the borough council said that they don’t have any authority to remove the obstruction.

“The path is currently not recorded as a public right of way or an adopted

BLOCKED: The route now has a fence to close off walkers highway,” they said.

Ms Smith said that residents submitted a claim for public access to the land in February last year, before the

route was blocked, after the landowner said that they were planning on closing it.

“We heard nothing for months,” she

said.

Ms Smith said that part of the evidence submitted included an Ordnance Survey map showing the path.

She said that the land registry, however, does not include the route, as its map of the road was made when it was unfinished.

She believe that the borough council did adopt the route, as it has been tarmacked.

The council spokesperson said: “We are currently investigating the evidence submitted with the claim, along with any other evidence available, to determine whether there is evidence of any public rights.

“This process is a complex legal investigation and includes discussions with the landowner as well as an examination of all other evidence available to the council such as historical records.

“We are in the process of gathering and analysing the evidence that has been submitted regarding the path.”

Ms Smith said that she couldn’t understand what the delay was, and said that is has been almost a year since the claim was submitted.

“They’ve had 11 months and they’ve done — as far as I’m concerned — zero,” she said.

Earley-based course helps the newly divorced and separated CHARITY Divorce Recovery Workshop has just announced the dates of its new course to help overcome the pain of separation and divorce.

The course run by the Berkshire branch will be at Brookside Hall, Earley, over two Friday evenings and two Saturdays, on February 18, 19, 25 and 26.

Seamus, who is helping run the new workshop course, said: “We’re delighted to be back offering help again after a two year break due to covid.”

The charity’s workshops are for people whose relationship has broken down, whether they’re divorced or separated, and whenever the breakdown was.

At the course, videos are shown

which prompt confidential discussion in small groups.

All DRW’s volunteer leaders have been on a course themselves.

The workshops, run across the UK since 1992, are for both men and women. DRW is keen that more men should give them a try.

Graham, 63, of Reading, said: “Generally, I think men find it harder to talk about their feelings when separation or divorce occurs. DRW gives a safe, non judgmental, understanding and accepting place to do this — and to gain hope for the future.”

Other people have said: “There is emphasis on your wellbeing so you can have a better life, so you don’t spend

your future dogged by the unhappiness and disappointment of a previous relationship.

“It can be a horrible, tough, awful time. DRW showed me a way through.

I never imagined I could live life to the full again.”

A modest charge covers course costs including lunch.

The website, at www.drw.org.uk, gives tips for going through separation or divorce.

To find out how DRW can help, call Seamus on: 07887 800521 or email: info@drw.org.uk. Alternatively, phone the national enquiries line on 0333 335 0489. A female DRW representative, Susan, is available via the national line.

Earley residents awarded Covid Roll of Honour TWO EARLEY residents have been celebrated for founding a support hub during the pandemic.

Lyn Craddock and Ritesh Nigam have been added to the Earley mayor’s Covid Roll of Honour.

They founded Neighbourhood Needs, a social media group supporting residents living across Lower Earley, Earley and Woodley.

On March 7, 2020, a week before the UK’s first mutual aid group was launched in Lewisham, a resident posted on Earley Residents Discussion Board, creating a thread dedicated to helping others through the pandemic.

The response was overwhelming, and as a result, Neighbourhood Needs was created.

Mr Nigam said: “The whole community came over to help each other in a time of need.

“Everyone knew that it can be really hard to cope with such feelings, but all the more reason why they should come together and support each other.

“We would like to thank each of you for your generosity and kindness.”

Mr Nigam also thanked Ravikanth Vakada and Kajal Mathur for volunteering as moderators of the Neighbourhood Needs group.

Garden Forest

THE LAST few days remain for residents to apply to the Garden Forest Scheme.

Wokingham Borough Council received a grant of £300,000 from The Woodland Trust to buy thousands of trees, which are being given away to householders.

Applications to the scheme close on Sunday, 30 January. n For more information, visit: engage.wokingham.gov.uk

Town’s first zero waste shop to open WOKINGHAM’S first zero waste shop will be opening in this spring.

Maya Gheorghe, owner of Maya’s Refillables, is taking residence in Peach Place, and expanding her offering to customers.

Her business has grown since June 2019, when she started at Wokingham Market, and later Woodley Market.

In her first month trading, Ms Gheorghe refilled 375 containers with products such as detergent and toiletries. This has now grown to around 1,600 containers per month.

Ms Gheorghe said: “I turned my life around to set up my business from scratch. It’s been challenging but so rewarding at the same time.

“While I’m not going to say I’ve reached my goal, as

there could be so much more to come, I’ve reached a major target of opening my Refill shop here in the place where I first started.”

Ms Gheorghe thanked her loyal customers, who have embraced her business, tried her products and provided feedback.

She added; “Behind the scenes, there is a small network of great people helping me and I am also thankful for Wokingham Town Council who gave me an opportunity and supported me on my journey.”

The new premises in Peach Place will provide the space for Ms Gheorghe to expand her range of zero

waste sustainable goods.

She also wants it to become a sustainable community hub, where residents and other sustainability champions can get together.

It will also host talks and workshops on green initiatives.

Wokingham town mayor, Cllr Tony Lack praised Ms Gheorghe’s positivity, can-do attitude, and desire to help the planet.

The new shop is currently being fitted out, and Maya’s Refillables is continuing to trade at both Wokingham and Woodley Markets during this time.

She will also carry on with her online shop and zero emissions deliveries.

NEWS | 5

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Thursday, January 27, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

Reddam’s Principal takes on mega marathon challenge EXCLUSIVE

CHARITY: Reddam House Principal Rick Cross is raising money for two children’s charities Pictures: courtesy of Rick Cross

By NATALIE BURTON nburton@wokingham.today THE PRINCIPAL of a Sindlesham private school has signed up to an athletic challenge to raise money.

Rick Cross, who joined the school in September last year, will compete in the Marathon Des Sables endurance race at the end of March.

He is collecting sponsorship for two charities, First Days Children’s Charity and Camfed.

The event sees participants attempt to run 250km (155 miles) in a multi-staged race over seven days in the Moroccan Sahara desert.

Runners must be completely selfsufficient and carry their own backpacks containing food, sleeping gear and other items.

Mr Cross is no stranger to endurance events.

“I completed the Iron Man UK ultra triathlon last year,” he said.

“Of the three disciplines, I enjoyed the running element the most, so I started looking around for other challenges while the race was postponed due to lockdown.

“I was drawn to the event’s catchphrase ‘My Everest’ and felt that it was for me.”

The Marathon Des Sables takes place in stages. Runners complete three marathons — 26 miles or 42 kilometres — over three consecutive days, followed by a double marathon on day four. After a rest day, entrants attempt a final marathon.

“Once I had made the decision to enter and start training, the distances seemed less intimidating,” he explained.

“It’s amazing what the human body can do.”

The charities that Mr Cross has chosen support are both close to his heart.

As a teacher, he wanted to support organisations working with children. His sister-in-law, Lucy Lake, is an executive officer of Camfed International, a charity that works to advance the education of girls in countries across southern Africa. After researching charities who work in Wokingham borough, he found First Days Children’s Charity.

“Both do great work,” he said.

And Mr Cross has the support of both charities.

Ms Lake and Angeline Murimirwa, who are co-executive officers of Camfed, said that they are in awe of Mr Cross for taking on the challenge and using it as an opportunity to

TRAINING: Rick Cross is training to complete five marathons in four days support girls’ education in Africa.

“We wish Rick all the best,” they said.

“We’re thrilled that his run will open the door to many more girls in the most difficult circumstances to

be able to take up their rightful place in school.”

First Days spokesperson Monica Dunne also thanked Mr Cross on behalf of the charity, and said the team would be cheering him on from their office in Wokingham.

“The Marathon Des Sables is such an epic event,” she added.

“We would not be able to support as many children in Berkshire without the help of generous fundraisers like Rick.”

Nirvana Spa, also in Sindlesham, is lending Mr Cross its support too.

The spa is interested in supporting his chosen charities, and has offered use of its sauna facilities to help him to acclimatise to the 40ºC Saharan heat. n For details, visit: justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/rick-cross

Two children among injured as cars catch fire in four-car collision at Coppid Beech Roundabout TWO young children and a couple in their 70s were among those injured in a four-car collision at Binfield on Saturday.

Thames Valley Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, which closed the Coppid Beech Roundabout for much of Saturday afternoon.

They said that a grey Ford Focus, a Nissan Qashqai, a Polestar 2 and a red Volkswagen Polo were involved in the collision which took place on a slip road at the Coppid Beech roundabout around 1.20pm on Saturday, January 22.

Two children, aged seven and ten, a woman in her 20s, a woman in her 40s and a man and a woman in their 70s suffered minor injuries.

All were either checked at the scene or taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading as a precaution and released later that day.

PC Martin Danks, of the Joint Roads Policing Unit, based in Reading, said: “I want

AFTERMATH: Emergency crews tackled two cars which set on fire following a collision at the Coppid Beech roundabout on Saturday Pictures: Thames Valley Police

SOLAR POWER: Picture: Stewart Turkington

Shinfield school takes on solar MORE THAN 100 solar panels have been installed atop a Shinfield school.

Shinfield St Mary’s Primary School will be able to generate up to 43.5kw an hour, thanks to the technology.

This is enough to power more than four family homes.

It is also hoped that the 116 new panels will help the school tackle spiralling costs of energy, which look set to continue into this year.

Matthew Knight, head of sustainability and ecology at the school, said: “We are constantly striving to make our community more sustainable. We aim to teach our children skills that will help them to protect the planet throughout their lives and beyond.”

For the last two years, the school has been certified net carbon neutral, Mr Knight explained.

He said the borough council worked with the school to install the panels in August last year.

“Preliminary research by our students is showing our electrical energy consumption has reduced by over a third,” he said. “This is amazing news.

“Aside from the obvious benefits; children are also being taught first-hand the benefits of renewable energy. We are very fortunate to have been supplied with a display unit and solar investigation kits from the borough council’s energy team.

“These tools allow us to give children hands on experience of these great technologies.”

Cllr Gregor Murray, executive member for resident services, communications and emissions at the borough council said that schools like Shinfield St Mary’s are incredibly important for creating a net carbon zero future the borough.

He said: “They’ve made massive inroads in becoming greener, not just by making their property more energy efficient with projects like solar panels and LED lighting, but also by making sure their pupils learn all about the environment and how they can make a difference.

“From initiatives like their bio dome and tree planting, alongside pupil led activities such as biodiversity ponds and recycling, the school really sets an example to others as to what can be achieved.”

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to reach out to the public for any possible dash-cam footage people may have of this collision but to also thank those that stopped to assist before the emergency services arrived.

“The collision caused two of the vehicles to catch fire, and I understand a good number of people stopped and assisted in getting those involved, some of whom were injured, out of the burning vehicles.

“Unfortunately, many who had done the good deed left before leaving their details, likely because they did not see the collision itself and thought their bit was done.”

He added: “I would like to praise those that took the time to stop and help but please get in touch with us if you haven’t already.

“Anyone with information should call 101 or make a report online, quoting reference number 43220031808.”

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Balance the books: New course in Earley

To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today

Town’s oldest family-run Indian restaurant opens after revamp

AS THE cost of living rises, and inflation hits its highest rate for 30 years, a new course could help residents manage their finances.

The Earley Help Hub is organising a free, confidential CAP Money Course next month.

It looks at how to help with budgeting, saving and spending.

Sessions will be held online using the Zoom conferencing facility.

There are two courses.

The first runs on Tuesday mornings, from 9.30am to 11.30am, on February 1, 8 and 15.

The other is on Wednesdays from 7.30pm to 9.30pm on February 2, 9 and 16.

Members of Brookside Church are running the sessions. n For more details, log on to capuk.org

Surge in burglaries POLICE have warned that there has been a surge in burglaries across the area.

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police in Bracknell and Wokingham said that Earley and Wokingham are being targeted.

In a post on social media, the force spokesperson said: “Please remember to securely lock your house overnight or when you leave. Don’t forget outbuildings, sheds and garages.

“Where possible, purchase camera doorbells, CCTV cameras and alarms. These all become increasingly more affordable and typically easy to install yourself.”

They also urged residents to consider motion detection lights or leaving a light on inside or outside the property.

On Saturday, January 22, the Bracknell and Wokingham team were called out to four burglaries reported within three hours.

“We encourage you to call 999 if you see anyone acting suspiciously around a driveway or property especially during the hours of darkness,” the spokesperson added.

They said that burglaries have been happening during the daylight as well.

OPEN AGAIN: Award-winning chef Kuldeep Singh and restaurant owner Raja Majid Picture: Stewart Turkington

WOKINGHAM’S oldest family-run Indian restaurant is once again open for business after a £100,000 facelift and menu redesign.

Sultan in Market Place, formerly known as the Sultan Balti, is welcoming customers again after an 18-month closure.

The restaurant has brought in award-winning chef Kuldeep Singh to create fine-dining Indian food unique to the town.

To mark the occasion, the restaurant is offering guests a free glass of Prosecco on Valentine’s Day so that they can join in the celebrations.

Restaurant owner Raja Majid, who left Wokingham 16 years ago to open a restaurant in Las Vegas, has also returned as the face of Sultan.

He said: “Wokingham is where my heart is, and I’m so glad to back. I’m looking forward to seeing old faces and welcoming new ones to the brand new Sultan.

“Chef Singh has created an exciting, innovative menu and I believe you won’t taste anything like it anywhere else in Wokingham — it really makes

us stand out. We’re not a regular curry house.

“The menu is bursting with authentic dishes that many people may not have heard of, and you certainly won’t be able to get anywhere else locally. It’s proper Indian food with modern presentation.

“I’m excited for people to experience the food.”

Chef Singh brings a wealth of experience to Sultan, having achieved numerous prestigious accolades during his time at London restaurants such as Mela, Three Monkeys and Chowki.

The new menu features a culinary journey across India with a selection of authentic small plates and larger offerings.

Dishes feature duck, mussels and rabbit, together with a range of plant-based creations.

Mr Majid added: “Chef Singh’s exquisite dishes add a new dimension to the Sultan and combine with the refurbishment to offer a complete new experience for diners.” n For more information, call: 0118 977 4397, or log on to: sultanindian.co.uk

Wokingham’s cancer charity founder ‘optimistic’ on its future EXCLUSIVE

By NATALIE BURTON nburton@wokingham.today THE FOUNDER of a national charity said that she is “defiantly optimistic” about her organisation’s post-pandemic recovery, including this year’s MoonWalk events.

Nina Barough, of Walk the Walk, said that the pandemic has had a devastating effect on cancer patients and the charity sector.

Ms Barough has lived in Wokingham with her family for 20 years, arriving soon after she founded the charity.

Ahead of World Cancer Day, which falls on Friday, February 4, Ms Barough explained how the response to the pandemic has left cancer patients feeling isolated and anxious.

“Everyone’s focus was understandably on covid and it took people a while to pick up on the wider effects,” she said.

“For cancer patients, it was a perfect storm.

“Treatments were delayed or cancelled, and the support

One way plan for Woodlands Avenue PLANS to turn a busy Woodley road into a one-way street came as a bit of a surprise to the leader of the town council.

Residents in the town have been receiving letters inviting them to comment on a consultation over sustainable transport options that would try to make it easier for cyclists to use the roads.

This includes a phase

WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, January 27, 2022

expected to start in the summer, between Woodley town centre and Bulmershe Leisure Centre.

As a result, a stretch of Woodlands Avenue between Howth Drive and Lytham Road would be converted to both 20mph and one-way, to allow for a cycle track to be installed on the road. Footpaths would be unaffected.

networks which were in place prior to March 2020 suddenly weren’t there or much harder to access.”

The charity gave out emergency grants to several groups, which often enabled them to set up websites and online services.

“The costs involved in setting up these services were significant, and then there are the running costs,” Ms Barough said.

“For example, it costs around £55 per one-to-one counselling session, even online.”

At the same time as demand on the charity’s grant making pot was increasing, its income sharply declined.

Fundraising events which would normally be expected to boost the charity’s funds did not take place. This meant that, like many charities, Walk the Walk had to make redundancies in order to survive. The effect on services for cancer patients has also been severe.

“Many services which were situated in or near hospitals have closed,” she explained.

The project is being funded by a £576,650 grant from the government awarded in November 2020, and is part of a wide plan to improve pedestrian and cycling facilities between Woodley and Reading, and the A329 London Road and Wokingham town centre.

Other plans include making the London Road a 20mph zone, adding an off-road cycle track parallel to it, and improving connections with Thames Valley Park.

“It is vital that people support charities such as Walk the Walk to help turn this situation around.

“We are seeing that people are now determined to get involved with raising money for us again, which is fantastic.”

One of the most dramatic effects of the pandemic was that, by the end of 2020, approximately 60,000 people had not come forward with symptoms of cancer, compared to a numbers in a normal year.

This has meant that many have gone on to develop secondary cancers.

Their prognosis is quite different to what it would have been if cancer had been detected

earlier. This also puts additional demand on services already under pressure.

“A colleague of mine who researches cancer said that all the progress made into early diagnosis and treatment has been now put back by between five to 10 years,” Ms Barough added.

She set up Walk the Walk in 1996 after having the idea to power walk a marathon in a bra to raise money for breast cancer.

The charity organises events all over the world, including the famous MoonWalk which sees participants walk overnight marathons in uniquely decorated bras.

Funds raised by the charity are used to support research in to secondary breast cancer and smaller local charities across the UK which support cancer patients in their own communities.

Walk the Walk also provided grants to buy scalp coolers for Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and Wexham Park Hospital, Slough. Scalp

coolers help those undergoing chemotherapy to keep their hair while in treatment.

This year’s MoonWalk London live event takes place overnight on Saturday, May 14, to Sunday, May 15. The charity is also running a virtual event, so that people can take part in their community during Saturday daytime.

Ms Barough said that by running both events “everyone can get involved.”

“One of the few positives of the pandemic was that the platforms now exist to be able to offer a virtual option,” she added.

“It also got people out walking who had never really done it before, and they realised that they feel better for it physically and emotionally.

“Seeing people recognise the benefits of walking has been a joy.

“So I’m really excited for this year’s event, it’s the first one in two years and it’s going to be amazing.”

But Cllr Keith Baker, who leads Woodley Town Council, expressed his surprise at the proposals.

“I think 85% of the plan is fine. The 15% that is not fine is totally unacceptable,” he said.

“The one-way section will mean there will be potentially significant congestion not only on that road, but on the roads that it will spill out on to — traffic still needs to go the other way.”

Cllr Baker said that this plan hadn’t been consulted on

until now, and urged Woodley residents to take part.

“Let’s get hundreds and hundreds of people to say this part of the scheme is not acceptable,” he said.

“The response from residents, so far, almost universally is they think it’s bonkers. If (the borough council) had talked to us about it beforehand, we would have told them that section was unacceptable.”

He added that he felt the rest of the plan was

“quite good”.

Shirley Boyt, Bulmershe and Whitegates councillor, also had concerns over the plans.

In a social media post she said she had written to the executive member for highways, Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, calling for them to be on design in the Oakwood Centre and Bulmershe Leisure Centre “as a matter of urgency”.

She called for the consultation to be available on paper as well, as many of the road residents are elderly.

FOUNDER: Nina Barough

n For more information, visit: walkthewalk.org

Thursday, January 27, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

NEWS | 7

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CRAMPT: Borough council says more than 350 families live in overcrowded social houses

Spencers Wood mum sleeps on mattress in living room as leak drips from bathroom EXCLUSIVE

By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today A SPENCERS Wood family are desperately seeking help as they struggle with overcrowding in their council house.

And they one of hundreds of families in this situation.

Natasha Kelly lives in a two-bed maisonette with her partner and four children.

She moved into the council property a decade ago with her partner and then four-year-old, but following the arrival of her three other children, she has yet to be moved to a bigger home.

She said that she currently sleeps on a mattress on her living room floor with her partner, two-year-old James, and 11-month-old Jasmine after giving Joshua (13) and Jessica (7) the rooms upstairs.

As the four of them bed down each night, they are forced to dodge water dripping through the ceiling from the bathroom — in seven different places, she said.

Ms Kelly said that the living situation is putting a strain on her mental health, and she is

Leaks come through to the kitchen CROWDED: Natasha is having to sleep with two of the children on a mattress on the floor All pictures: Steve Smyth concerned about the impact it is having on her family.

“I’m really struggling because of this property,” she said. “There is nowhere that I can go to just breathe by myself.

“I sleep in the living room,

and live in it too.”

Due to the ages of her children, Ms Kelly is entitled to a four-bedroom property.

“They said I’m at the top of the list, but don’t say when I’ll be moving,” she said.

In Wokingham borough, more than 350 families are living in overcrowded homes due to a huge demand for social housing, said Cllr John Kaiser, executive member for finance and housing.

“Unfortunately the demand far outweighs the supply,” he said.

“Each case is assessed and awarded a priority banding in line with our allocations policy based on the applicant’s current housing situation and need.”

He also said that vacancies are unpredictable.

Ms Kelly said that her family have been moved out of the building three times for repairs.

Once, when the living room ceiling fell through, and most recently, when a hole around five inches wide and three inches deep appeared in her living room floor before Christmas.

She said that council contractors have found asbestos in the ceiling, and is worried it could cause a health hazard to her family.

“The people who checked the asbestos came in dressed like spacemen,” she said. “And there’s me and my children living in it.

“My aunt died of asbestos cancer. If it was just me, I wouldn’t care so much, but I’ve got children living in the house.”

Cllr Kaiser said that repairs have been made at the property, and a surveyor has made requests for additional work to be done.

Ms Kelly said that on Monday,

workmen arrived to repair her bathroom and the leaks.

“They pulled back the floor and said they hadn’t had a report for asbestos,” she said.

Ms Kelly said that the floor was left pulled back when the contractors left.

“I don’t see how they can leave me like that, with water leaking from my ceiling.”

Cllr Kaiser said there is an established repairs process.

“We ensure that our properties are kept in a good state of repair, comply with all relevant legislation and are fit for purpose,” he said.

Cllr Kaiser said that when a council house becomes available, staff look at its size and location, and then look to the housing register and consider the resident’s priority banding, their areas of choice, and size of the property required.

He added: “There is a limited number of council and partner housing association homes within the borough.

“We encourage households who are current social housing tenants to register for mutual exchanges so that they can be considered for housing association properties on Homeswapper.”

TEAMWORK: Lion John Cleary and Lindsay Browne from First Days Children’s Charity, collaborated to distribute Christmas food to those in need during the festive season last month Picture: courtesy of Wokingham Lions Club

Collaboration helps more than 1,000 residents to enjoy Christmas WORKING TOGETHER has allowed Wokingham organisations to help more residents.

In December last year, the Wokingham Lions Club collaborated with First Days Children’s Charity, SHARE Wokingham and the Wokingham Foodbank to collect food for those in need.

Members of the Wokingham Lions Club took donations outside the town’s Waitrose and Tesco throughout the month.

The Can Can Collection saw more than 3,500 food items collected, and more than £300 was also donated.

“We would again like to

thank Wokingham residents for their generosity, said Can Can organiser, John Cleary.

“We were able to deliver Christmas food hampers to more than 150 families and 100 elderly residents in the Wokingham borough.

“We also provided the Foodbank with more than 30 crates of food.”

The Can Can appeal was run in conjunction with the Christmas Presence Project in Elms Field.

Lions Club members and other volunteers sorted the food and assembled parcels at the venue.

These were then delivered to private homes and care

homes before Christmas Mr Cleary added: “The collaboration has been a great success. The sharing of ideas and resources toward a common goal shows what amazing things can be achieved.

“Together we have helped more than 1,000 families and individuals in the borough, supplying Christmas food hampers and children’s toys.

“The Christmas Presence Project has enabled us to reach more people who find themselves in need during the festive season.

“Something I hope we can repeat in years to come.”

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, January 27, 2022

Food charity opens new hub in Shinfield EXCLUSIVE

By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today A BOROUGH charity has expanded its support again, opening another venue in Shinfield.

Share Wokingham provides free, fresh food to any residents in need of a helping hand — without requiring a referral.

The charity began in Norreys

in 2020, and opened in Shinfield Baptist Church last week.

It has locations in Winnersh, Finchampstead, Woodley and Bracknell.

Claire Revie, Share volunteer, said that the Shinfield branch is being managed by Helping Hands, a community project launched by Sarah O’Neill and Rachel Walker before the pandemic.

Ms Walker said that both

her and Ms O’Neill had hoped to collaborate with Share for a while.

“When Share first came on our radar, it wasn’t quite the right time,” Ms Walker explained. “In the summer, we popped over to Norreys to have a look at how they run things.

We were really inspired.”

Ms O’Neill said that they met again in autumn, to discuss formally opening in Shinfield,

OPEN: Volunteers have joined forces to open another branch of Share in Shinfield.

Picture: Rachel Walker

and have spent the last new months preparing for last week’s first day.

Ms Walker said that within the 90 minutes it was open, residents had collected all of the food.

This included fresh bread, cakes, pastries, fruit and vegetables.

Each time that Share opens, the food that volunteers are able to give away varies.

This is because the charity works directly with supermarkets and shops across the borough to reduce food waste, re-distributing surplus stock or end of day items to anyone in need.

This includes food from Gail’s Bakery, Greggs, Co-op, M&S, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Lidl,

Aldi and food supplier Brakes.

“It was soul destroying to think that this food could have gone in the bin,” Ms Walker said.

“Especially when there are so many people struggling on your doorstep.”

Ms O’Neill added: “We really care about being part of the solution [to food waste]. We care about the planet, and this is excellent food that would otherwise be going in the bin.”

As part of Helping Hands, Ms Walker and Ms O’Neill have been part of the pop-up Foodbank at Shinfield Baptist Church in Fairmile Road, providing parcels to residents.

This is supported by Sallyann Hunt, the church’s associate pastor, and a team of drivers.

“With this new project with Share, it will allow people to

come out and choose what food they would like,” Ms Walker said. “It’s important that people have a choice.”

Ms O’Neill added: “It makes it more empowering, people can come and choose what they want and what they need.”

On Mondays, Share is at Shinfield Baptist Church from 12.30pm to 2pm, and at Emmanuel Church Centre, in Woodley, from 3.30pm to 5pm.

It is at the FBC Centre in Finchampstead from 10am to noon on Tuesdays. On Wednesdays, it is at the Rainbow Centre, in Winnersh, from 1.30pm to 3pm.

And on Fridays, it is at Norreys Church in Wokingham from 12.30pm to 2.30pm, and at St Andrews Church, Bracknell from 1pm to 3pm.

Social care costs leave £20 million deficit n Continued from front page

It would mean that local authorities are left with the bill thereafter, which is predicted to cost Wokingham Borough Council around £20 million each year.

And the Government is giving the council around £3 million to pay for it.

Cllr Charles Margetts, the council’s health, wellbeing and adult services executive, said that this is a worrying deficit.

He has written to the borough’s four MP’s asking them to challenge the Government on the plan.

It would affect all local authorities that have a high cost of care and high level of private payers, including the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, and West Berkshire.

Cllr Margetts said while the plan would give residents protection from vast bills, but has downsides too.

“The bottom line is someone has to pay,” he said. “And that burden is being placed on local authorities.

“The effort is welcome, but at the moment, it’s unaffordable.

“Finding £20 million a year would be hard. A certain amount of the services we have to provide are statutory.

“We would have to take bold steps, things that residents won’t like, such as put up council tax or cut other services. We think that would be very bad news for residents.

“On the ground, this is not going to work.”

Cllr Margetts said he believes this would affect all of the home counties.

“This is the start of a long campaign to get the Government to look at this,” he said. “My aim is to get a Berkshire lobbying group together.”

Cllr Margetts has penned a joint letter with Cllr Stuart Carroll, cabinet member for adult social care at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, to health secretary Sajid Javid.

In the letter, the councillors said: “We struggle to see how we can provide even our bare minimum statutory services if we have to absorb such staggering costs.

“Without addressing the wider issues, the Government’s vision of ‘solving the crisis, once and for all’ will not be realised and we urge immediate action.”

Cllr David Hare, Liberal Democrat lead for adult services, said that he would also like to see where the money will come from.

“The reform is focused on the headline-grabbing issue of care homes but does not look at the bigger picture,” he said.

“This reform does not seem to have been rationally thought through and the impact on councils such as Wokingham, with a high number of selffunders, considered.”

He added: “The

Conservative Government is hitting a Conservative local administration with increased costs to please those who have valuable homes, as well as savings or investments, and who, understandably, want to preserve their inheritance.

“If the Government continues with this reform as proposed, it might mean a rate increase of about 20% for each property in Wokingham.”

This could be £500 per home, said Cllr Clive Jones, leader of the Wokingham Liberal Democrats.

He called for the cost to be covered by general taxation, and said it should not fall to the local authority.

Cllr Rachel Burgess, leader of Wokingham Labour, said that it is clear that the Conservatives’ social care reforms leave councils way short of what they need.

“In recent years, the Conservatives have shifted the cost of social care from the fairer system of central taxation onto the council tax payer,” she said. “And it is council tax payers, and people who are denied care when it is inevitably rationed, who pay the price.”

She added: “Some councils are already having to ration care for older and disabled people due to lack of staff resources.

“Without full reform, and proper funding, these problems will only increase — and our [residents] deserve better.”

Thursday, January 27, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

Woodley Festival team delighted to return to live shows LIVE PERFORMANCES will be returning to Woodley again this spring, thanks to a much-loved festival.

In March, the Woodley Festival of Music and Arts will be back in action, following a virtual event last year.

It lasts for three weekends, from Saturday, March 5, to Sunday, March 20, with a finale concert on Sunday, March 27.

With entries now closed, more than 560 performers and 19 choirs have signed up to perform throughout the month.

It is a competition, however organisers are keen to stress that the aim is to enjoy the performances.

“Many schools encourage their pupils to enter the wide variety of speech and drama, vocal, instrumental and piano classes and the well-supported choir classes are always particularly popular with the audience,” said Kuan Ang, publicity officer for the festival.

He said that the festival has provided a platform for young people to develop their talents

during last 52 years.

“Last year due to the pandemic the festival was unable to run in its full format, but nevertheless organised a virtual festival for instrumental solo and ensemble performers,” he said. “It was a great success and a new experience for all of us which have allowed us to carry on the annual event.

“For this year there appears to be a greater sense of hope in the air and the Festival Committee are delighted to be able to focus on providing performers of all ages the chance to perform live.”

Throughout March, parents, friends of entrants and residents across the borough are invited to view performances.

Tickets are available for each day’s events on the door.

Mr Ang said that the success of the festival year-on-year can be attributed to volunteers and the event’s sponsor for the last 17 years, Ann Manning, managing director of Manning UK Insurance Brokers. n Organisers are now looking for volunteers. Anyone interested can email: admin@woodleyfestival.org.uk

NEWS | 9

To advertise, call 0118 327 2662

Petitioners hand in 1,100 signatures against homes EXCLUSIVE

By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today PETITIONERS have handed in more than 1,000 signatures against a proposal to develop on the border between Finchampstead and Barkham.

Peter Harper, who lives in Finchampstead, founded a petition against building approximately 270 homes on Rooks Nest Farm.

Mr Harper said that it gathered 1,100 signatures from residents living in his ward, as well as Crowthorne, Wokingham and Reading.

“A lot of people know the area well,” he said. “They go walking there.”

Mr Harper said that a lot of people feel strongly against developing on the farm, which sits on the Barkham side of the ward border.

“It’s a farm,” he said. “It’s country fields. It’s not suitable for a large number of houses.”

He handed the petition into the borough council on Friday with Cllr Rebecca Margetts and Cllr Simon Weeks, the two Conservative councillors for Finchampstead South, along with Cllr Charles Margetts and Cllr Daniel

SIGNATURES: From left: Cllr Rebecca Margetts, Cllr Simon Weeks, Bernadette Mitra, Peter Harper, Cllr Charles Margetts and Cllr Daniel Sargeant, hand in the petition to the borough council Picture: courtesy of Peter Harper Sargeant, Conservative councillors for Finchampstead North, and campaigner Bernadette Mitra.

“I think they were surprised by the strength of feeling,” he added.

“It won’t have any impact on Barkham. In Finchampstead... the whole area is puffing under the strain of development.”

In the petition, Mr Harper wrote: “The proposal would see [more than] 100 acres of farmland and sensitive natural

habitat given over for development, losing a critical local resource forever.

“The site is adjacent to a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and would remove a key habitat for Longmoor Bog. “Services are unable to cope with the current housing numbers and a housing estate on Rooks Nest Farm would add more traffic congestion on the roads, strain on local schools and increased waiting times at the surgery.”

10 | NEWS

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SELECTION: One of Dessert Maid’s young visitors enjoys choosing a flavour

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, January 27, 2022

A NEW dessert café opened its doors in Wokingham town centre last weekend, writes Natalie Burton.

Dessert Maid, on Central Walk, threw a party to celebrate the occasion on Saturday, January 22.

It is the town’s first late night dessert café. It is owned by Jagdeep Singh and Jagjit Kaur, who have been married for 19 years.

“It is my wife’s ambition to run a café, so we decided to go for it ahead of her 40th birthday this later year,” Mr Singh said “Opening a dessert shop in the middle of winter may seem odd, but we’re serving hot drinks and waffles alongside gelato and milkshakes.

“The opening went really well, and there’s been lots of interest and support, which has been great.”

And the business was welcomed to the town by a hat-trick of mayors.

Wokingham borough mayor Cllr Keith Baker, Wokingham town mayor Cllr Tony Lack and minimayor Joseph visited to officially open the shop and sample the gelato menu.

Ahead of the ribbon cutting ceremony, Cllr Lack thanked Mr Singh for showing confidence in the town.

Cllr Baker echoed the sentiment, and added: “We’re seeing more businesses opening than closing in the town centre now.”

Meanwhile Joseph, at his first official shop opening, chose to try a scoop of Oreo gelato in a waffle cone which he happily declared as being “all really nice.”

Dessert Maid is open from 1pm until 10.30pm, Tuesdays to Sundays. n For more information, visit: dessertmaid.com

Football pitch plan for Laurel Park prompts mixed views EXCLUSIVE

By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today A NEW football pitch could be on the cards for Earley, but its proposal has prompted a mixed response.

Wokingham Borough Council has identified Laurel Park as a potential site for a new 3G flood-lit, allweather football pitch.

And it could be installed by the end of the year, if plans are approved.

Bob Collis, chair of the Earley Environmental Group, said that the group is against a pitch on Laurel Park, especially if it is placed on the lower field, next to Maiden Erlegh Nature Reserve.

“This is very valued environmental woodland,” he said.

“It would be a loss of valuable green space.”

Mr Collis said that the group is concerned about the facility’s impact on wildlife, as well as noise and light pollution from the site.

“We are trying to preserve as much green space s we can in an urbanised area,” he added.

Cllr Caroline Smith, Liberal Democrat councillor for Hillside said that her support for a 3G pitch depends on identifying a site that fulfils a wide range of important criteria.

“A suitable site can be found in Earley, but the lower field of Laurel Park, adjacent to the Maiden Erlegh Nature Reserve, is not one of them,” she said.

“The impact on the environment could be enormous. I also share residents’ concerns about the

impact on their lives, and on traffic and parking in what is a residential street.”

Jean Hackett, chair of the Community Orchard said that she is also concerned about the plan.

She said that the orchard has been vandalised many times since it was established, and is concerned that flood-lights could be an incentive for “people to do mischief” in the area.

She said that in previous years, people have broken off branches and uprooted the trees.

Ms Hackett said that she is also worried that building a 3G pitch will bring more visitors to the area, causing an issue with parking.

“People already use Marefield as an overflow carpark,” she said.

Also concerned about parking is Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, Conservative councillor for Hillside.

She said that on Saturday, January 15, she spent time speaking to residents living along Marefield about the proposals.

“I talked to about 40 or 50 people and a lot of them said that they were worried about traffic and parking, and to be honest, I think they’re right” she said.

“That road shouldn’t be used for access, its too narrow. I’m going to have a conversation with the highways team. I’ve got some ideas and I think that there might be a solution that improves access and reduces the impact on residents.”

Cllr Jorgensen said that she would like to fix any issues with the proposals before it goes to planning, and said she would also like to discuss the evening opening hours and impact on the nature reserve.

In a letter sent to residents, the borough council said: “We are investigating options on access and car parking to reduce the parking challenges at weekends and with the associated midweek use.

“No decision has been made and this will be carefully considered.”

John Bland, Marefield resident, said that last week a neighbourhood group, MBOS, was formed to unite against the plans.

But he added that he was not anti-football, as both his daughter and granddaughter have played for Laurel Park FC. MBOS consists of residents living in of Marefield, Barkby, Owston and Sibson.

He said that around 40 people joined a Zoom call on Monday night to discuss the proposal.

“We can’t understand why councillors were opposed to developing Swallows Meadow, one mile down the road, but not this park,” he said. “Councillors should be fighting to keep it green.”

He said that during the pandemic, residents’ priorities had changed, and that parks had become more valuable.

“That space saved people,” he said.

Mr Bland said that solving the issue of parking would result in building over more green space, and suggested the 3G pitch be considered for another site, such as Chalfont.

Cllr David Hare, Liberal Democrat councillor for neighbouring ward

Hawkedon, said that he would like to see a full consultation.

“I am really disappointed that recently some residents received a letter confirming Laurel Park was the proposed site and that the 3G pitch could be installed towards the end of 2022,” he said.

“A consultation was mentioned, but no details were given. A poorly handled consultation, that does not allow other suitable sites to be considered, is not going to win the support the many residents who would welcome a 3G pitch, in the right place.”

Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure at the borough council, said that demand from grassroot football clubs is continuing to outstrip local availability.

“It’s important we can create new all-weather 3G pitches to meet demand and help people keep active and well throughout the year,” he said.

“We’re looking at where these could be located, with the council’s executive considering Laurel Park as a preferred option last summer.

“We’re currently carrying out feasibility studies to assess the site in more detail before making any decisions or starting design work.

“Should we decide to move forward with a new community facility at Laurel Park it would be subject to obtaining full planning permission, including engagement with local residents, and detailed environmental studies.”

BUSINESS | 11

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A business park that is changing

Construction of final plot begins WORK has begun on the final plot at a Bracknellbased business park, after a pre-let agreement was reached.

The SEGRO Park Bracknell, off Peacock Lane, will be completed once the final tennant moves in. They have signed a 15-year lease for an 83,000 sq ft unit, which will become a distribution hub.

Plans for the site include a four-storey parking facility that can accommodate more than 350 electric vans, while solar panels will be used, saving an estimated 19,700kg of carbon dioxide per year.

And SEGRO will install a range of biodiversity measures such as bug hotels.

It is hoped that the tenant will be able to start moving in from the spring, with the unit completed by the summer.

James Craddock, Managing Director, Thames Valley at SEGRO, said: “The signing of the pre-let and the start of construction on this final plot is a notable milestone both for SEGRO Park Bracknell and our broader aspirations in the Thames Valley.

“It is further evidence that there is strong demand for modern, sustainable warehousing and industrial space that is well-located in the Thames Valley.

“With SEGRO Park Bracknell fully let, we’re actively seeking new land and development opportunities in the Thames Valley to meet the needs of both our existing and potential new customers.”

Two into one: environmental companies join forces

T

WO companies have joined forces after being integrated into their Canadian parent company.

Specialist remediation contractor Celtic and soil treatment facility operator Biogenie, which have their UK base in Arlington Business Park in Theale, are now Englobe, and will work together to provide end-toend contaminated land, soil treatment, engineering and environmental solutions.

Celtic has more than 30 years of experience of solving a wide range of contaminated land problems, including complex contaminants, constrained site logistics and stakeholder challenges.

More than 1,000 sites in the UK have undergone remediation by Celtic,

including gasworks, petrochemical refineries, chemical works, waste lagoons, landfills, petrol stations, manufacturing sites, military sites and engineering works.

The Biogenie arm will continue its services at five treatment facilities across the UK, with a sixth planned.

As Englobe, the company says that it can reduce costs and traffic pollution while increasing sustainability and helps UK industries reach their net zero objectives.

Existing and new clients will see no change in the services provided and the internal management structure will remain the same. All current projects will be led by the same dedicated team of experts and executed to clients’ original contract

SITE: Aerial image of Redhill Soil Treatment Facility and Biffa landfill area restoration scheme. specifications.

Julia Roberts, managing director for Englobe UK said: “The renaming of Celtic and Biogenie is the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle for Englobe as we continue to build upon our international experience and reputation in the UK

after acquiring Celtic in 2008.

“Working under one name will enable Englobe to develop and grow by providing the full suite of engineering and environmental services to some of the UK’s most exciting

W

IN

developments.”

She added: “This is a very exciting time for our highly thought of employees, to grow and learn from our wider group of companies adding to their own continuous personal development and allowing us to give more opportunity and retain the very best talent that our marketplace has to offer.”

Englobe co-president Alain Robichaud added: “Englobe has always prided itself on delivering excellent work for our clients time and time again.

“We are delighted that Biogenie and Celtic will be continuing to deliver their award-winning projects and services under the Englobe name in the future and build on our already well respected reputation in the UK.”

W

IN

W

IN

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What will you see during the Big Garden Birdwatch?

Queen’s Head m for Lynne’s b

By NATALIE BURTON nburton@wokingham.today

Chipping away at January

A PAINTING by a borough artist of a much-loved Wokingham pub is available to buy as a print.

W

ELL January has flown by as I hoped it would.

I’m not one to wish away time but we can all agree this particular month is not one of the better ones. (I’m a Summer person, June and July hit the spot nicely.)

The most obvious reason for this being the weather.

My one irritation with January so far is not the cold itself, but what the cold is doing to my punctuality. It is harming it. The minutes it takes to de-ice the windscreen of my little Golf in the morning are minutes I do not have. (And despite this happening repeatedly, I have not learnt to factor them in yet).

I stand there, like a lemon, chipping away at inches of ice that won’t budge while resenting the fact Joel won’t let me pour boiling water over it.

“It’ll crack the windscreen,” he laments as I boil the kettle.

“We’re 15 minutes late. Crack away I say. At least I’ll have good vision.”

(A Google search revealed he is right, it’s not good for the glass, though my parents used to do this all the time and their glass seemed to survive.)

Occasionally, like this morning, he will bark remarks at me through an open window: “Angie!

You’ve got to really give it a good swipe. Put some welly into it. Big swipe.”

He’s dangling out of Maia’s bedroom unnecessarily miming the action, but on a large exaggerated scale, which only enrages me more.

“What? GO AWAY JOEL. GO AWAY.” The ice is rock solid and seemingly dense, no matter how much “welly” I put into it, it is in fact, frozen. My useless scraper is barely scratching the surface, literally.

Minutes pass by and Maia grows more and more restless in the back: “Mummy we’re going to be late. Mummy can we just go? You can drive in this Mummy, you can see.”

Sure, I can if I crane my neck to peek through the bottom 20cm of transparent windscreen. But no, I said, I could not safely drive in this.

“Sorry darling, we’ll leave earlier tomorrow, I promise...”

I have learnt to stop making promises I cannot keep. This has happened a handful of times now and can only be put down to sheer disorganisation and failure to get up on time. (Should I ever have to write on some kind of late-note at school, this is exactly what I plan to say.)

Somehow, we still made it to school on time.

By the time we’d got to school, more organised parents had left, freeing up spaces along the road.

Well, it worked out most of the time. Friday was not one of those times. I have blocked out the finer details of that morning, probably because of all the shame, but what I can recall is feeling immensely frazzled. And the anger, I can remember Maia’s sadness and anger very clearly. And her disappointment in me.

“It won’t happen again Maia. We will be on time on Monday.” (We were...)

“You said that last time Mummy.”

We were not “Quick, the gate is still open, go, go, go. Love you darling, bye,” kind of late. We were, “Please walk your child to the school OFFICE” kind of late. Which is every parent’s nightmare kind of late. A true parenting blunder.

It’s not completely unforgivable, it’s just… embarrassing. For everyone.

Though that wasn’t my main emotion. My main emotions were guilt and sympathy for Maia.

She does not like being in the wrong in any way.

And being this late was wrong, wrong, wrong.

I’ve promised myself I will not let it happen again… I bought some de-icer today.

WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, January 27, 2022

TWITCHERS: Will you see a long-tailed tit in your garden? Picture: RSPB/Matt Wilkinson TWEET tweet, chatter, cluck, cuckoo. A bird call or two has gone out to Reading residents to take part in the annual campaign to keep track of our feathered friends.

The annual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch returns over the weekend of January 28-30.

Hundreds and thousands of people are invited to watch and count the feathered visitors to their back gardens.

Last year, more than a million people took part and in Berkshire, it was 16,000.

The charity says that over the past year, the country has seen how important the natural world is to our mental health and wellbeing.

As a result, there has been a surge in interest in the nature on our doorsteps and many people have come to rely on garden birds to bring joy and comfort in these unsettling times.

Those taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch are asked to set aside an hour recording the birds that land as seen from their windows, balconies or gardens, and submitting their results to the wildlife charity.

Now in its 43rd year, more than 150 million birds have been counted giving the RSPB an astonishing amount of insight into how our wildlife is faring. It is the largest garden wildlife citizen science project going.

Last year, the house sparrow topped of Berkshire’s rankings as the most commonly seen garden bird. The house sparrow and woodpigeon completed the top three.

House sparrows and starlings are the UK’s most sighted birds, but a closer look at Big Garden Birdwatch data shows that numbers have in fact dropped dramatically since the Birdwatch began in 1979. House sparrows are down 58% while starlings are down 83%.

Beccy Speight, the RSPB’s chief executive, said: “We were blown away by the enthusiasm with

which people took part in the Birdwatch in 2021.

“We know that for many people, garden birds provide an important connection to the wider natural world and bring enormous joy.

“Over the last year, there has been a broad and much-needed realisation that nature is an important and necessary part of our lives especially for our mental health and wellbeing. But nature needs us too.”

She added: “By taking part in the Birdwatch, you are helping to build an annual snapshot of how our birdlife is doing across the UK. “It is only by us understanding how our wildlife is faring that we can protect it.

“We know that nature is in crisis but together, we can take action to solve the problems facing nature.”

To take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2022, watch the birds in your garden or local park for one hour at some point over the three days.

Only count the birds that land, not those flying over.

Count the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time – not the total you see in the hour.

Beccy added: “Whether you saw one blackbird, 20 starlings or no birds whatsoever, it is really valuable information as it helps us build a picture of how our garden birds are faring from one year to the next.”

The parallel event RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch is running until February 21.

Since its launch, more than a million school children and teachers have taken part. Further information can be found at www. rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch n For a free Big Garden Birdwatch guide, which includes a bird identification chart, top tips for your birdwatch, RSPB shop voucher, plus advice on how to help you attract wildlife to your garden, text BIRD to 70030 or visit www.rspb.org.uk

Lynne Bellchamber was inspired to paint the Queen’s Head after noticing the sun setting over the pub, on The Terrace, Wokingham.

Capturing light in her paintings is one of the elements Lynne enjoys most about the creative process.

“I do a lot of walking,” Lynne says.

“The light in that moment was just so perfect and it is such a picturesque pub, I had to capture it.

“Light makes a place look alive, and with the sunset and pub lights on, it was right.”

She says that she has been seeing Wokingham town centre with “fresh eyes” since her husband James Box passed away suddenly 18 months ago.

Last year, Lynne painted Wokingham Town Hall, a building which held special meaning for James, who was a town councillor.

She is considering painting more scenes around the town.

“I’ve been looking at some photos I took of St Paul’s Church on a frosty morning, and the light reflecting off of the windows is beautiful,” she says.

“James always encouraged me to paint and he loved Wokingham.

“And since the town hall piece, people have been asking whether I will be doing more.”

The painting of the Queen’s Head was sold to a private buyer who purchased it for their grandfather, who used to be a regular customer.

Carol Williams, landlady of the CAMRA award-winning pub, said that she is meeting Lynne for the first time this week.

“I really love the painting and I am looking forward to seeing her,” she says.

It is not the first pub which Lynne has painted.

She was approached by a brewery a few years ago to paint three of

Sand Martins golf coach Ben is in the country’s top 50 A COACH at a Wokingham golf club has been named as one of the top 50 in the UK. Ben Emerson of Sand Martins Golf Club was included in the list by Golf Monthly magazine, which was announced earlier this month.

It is the first time that the magazine have published a list of the nation’s best golf coaches for several years.

“It was a huge thing, the list being updated,” Ben says.

“When I was asked if I’d like to be included it was hugely flattering.”

Originally from Henley, Ben’s career took him to Bath before taking up the coaching role at Sand Martins in December 2020.

Ben is also one of a handful of professional golf coaches to be included in the UK top 50 for both Golf Monthly and Today’s Golfer magazines.

“There are thousands of pros who

can be considered for these lists, so the pressure is on now to stay on them,” he says.

“It’s a bit like a chef getting a Michelin star — they want to keep it otherwise people will believe that they’ve gone down hill.”

He finds the challenge of keeping his accolades an exciting prospect.

Lockdown was spent upgrading his teaching studio at Sand Martins and keeping up top date with latest golf teaching techniques and technology.

“We have motion capture cameras similar to those used on film sets, pressure mats and radars to track balls,” he explains.

“Golf is not an old-fashioned sport.”

Throughout his 20-year career in golf, Ben has enjoyed the challenge of adapting his teaching for each of his pupils. He is also grateful that he has a supportive club and family behind him.

“I work with really nice people and

NEWS | 29

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Thursday, January 27, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

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National Trust walks to make the most of winter

their venues as retirement gifts for landlords.

She has also worked on commissions, painting special scenes

of much loved people and places.

n For more details, visit: lynnebellchamberfineart.co.uk

TOP MAN: Ben Emerson of Sand Martins Golf Club has been named as one of the UK’s top 50 golf coaches

I am fortunate that people return for more,” he says.

“Sand Martins has a great club feeling, the members really make the community atmosphere.”

Ben Emerson Golf Academy is based at Sand Martins Golf Club.

n For more information, visit: benemersongolfperformance.com or log on to: sandmartins.com

THE NATIONAL Trust is encouraging everyone to make the most of short daylight hours during winter by getting out for a walk.

It has compiled a list of five walks in Berkshire at properties or land they manage, which it says will suit every mood and boost wellbeing this season. The National Trust hope that their list will help people to enjoy the outdoors, even when the days are grey and muddy.

The full list includes buggyfriendly winter wanders for little ones, long hikes over rolling hills for mindful meanders, or country estate walks for a little escapism.

Some of the walks are across countryside looked after by the National Trust which do not require membership to access, others require membership or an entrance fee.

One of the properties walkers are being encouraged to visit is Basildon Park, just outside of Reading. It has four marked routes from half a mile to three miles to follow, all on easy terrain. The shorter routes are suitable for buggies if it’s dry, and dogs are

welcome on leads. The woodland walks offer views across the Palladian façade of the house, with evergreen yew trees and cedars providing colour, as well as opportunities to spot birds and wildlife. Normal admission applies, and there is a café available.

For those who would like a challenge, Streatley’s chalk grasslands trail is a seven mile route over hills. This walk takes in three adjacent areas of National Trust land, Lardon Chase, the Holies and Lough Down and offers views over Streatley and the Goring Gap. Parts of the area were once used as a motorbike scrambling course, but the habitat has gradually been restored and now it is one of the largest remaining areas of chalk grassland in the country.

The other Berkshire walks are at Simons Wood, Finchampstead, Cliveden, just outside of Taplow, and the Wind in the Willows walk at Maidenhead and Cookham Commons.

n For more information,visit: nationaltrust.org.uk/lists/walking-inthe-south-east

POETRY CORNER Simplicity When I am old, I will walk slowly, while my grandchildren scamper and run, chasing the wind, until breathless.

Together we will sit on the ground, with our legs stretched out in front of us, and feel the sun on our faces, the rough-barked tree at our backs.

Together we will gravely examine an earthworm, a beetle, a leaf.

We will listen to the pigeons, the sparrows, (like the children they chatter and cheep), maybe hear a mellifluous blackbird.

We will listen to each other.

We will talk of small child things, and laugh together over funny words and silly jokes.

We explore the best of this enchanting region, from the windswept, heather-clad moorland of the North York Moors to the rolling hills and rugged valleys of the Yorkshire Dales.

Your break includes Return coach travel from Wokingham 4 nights at the Corn Mill Lodge Hotel, near Leeds with dinner & breakfast Interactive tour of Wensleydale Creamery Guided tour of Black Sheep Brewery Heritage train journey on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway Excursions to Richmond, Wensleydale Creamery, Black Sheep Brewery, York, Pickering & Goathland

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And when they ask: ‘What’s that mean?’

I’ll have to say: ‘I don’t know either’.

When its time for tea, with bread and jam, the children will haul me to my feet, mindful of old grandmotherly knees.

When I am old, I will walk hand-in-hand with my own childhood wonder, and simply be – with my grandchildren.

By Rosi MorganBarry

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30 | VIEWPOINTS

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THE VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

The wider issues are pushed aside

LAST Thursday, Wokingham’s ruling Conservatives presented their White Ribbon motion to the council.

What was presented at the council meeting used the name of the White Ribbon campaign without committing the council to joining it.

The campaign aims to educate men so that they can educate others on the casual sexism that pervades our everyday lives.

It focuses on helping moderate language, behaviour, interactions on social media and create cultural change to tackle male violence against women.

Under the title of White Ribbon, the council’s motion focused on domestic abuse.

It did not focus on ending violence against women and girls.

These are complex issues, and we have praised the council in recent weeks for taking domestic abuse trauma seriously, for acting swiftly and seeking solutions.

But the solution presented doesn’t complete the circuit.

We have now a starting point – and that should be applauded. But it could have been much better.

We hope that the council will commit to fully joining the movement.

CHURCH NOTES

How many of you have pets?

I

HAVE three cats, one who was given to me as a tiny kitten 18 years ago, one whom I adopted four years ago, and my little girl cat Rosie, who I took ownership of in September.

They all have very different personalities – Rosie is very affectionate and follows me around when I am at home.

Spike the eldest, spends a lot of time asleep now, but he too is affectionate.

The third one is independent, aloof and displays quite quirky behaviour.

They are all different, bit I love them dearly.

I am always amazed how astute these animals are, they know (winter and summer) when it’s 5pm, their dinner time, they suddenly appear and demand food.

If they are out in the evening they return home, each going to their own bed. They look to me for love, food and home comforts, and if they are under the weather they turn to me for help.

This reminds me of that wonderful verse Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”.

I don’t think my cats are heavily burdened or weary, but they certainly come to me for rest.

When you are burdened with the stress and strains of life, who do you turn to? These words of Jesus invite us to turn to Our Heavenly Father who wants to help carry our heaviness.

This in turn gives us real internal peace.

Of course, we have to sort out the worldly problems we encounter, but if God is with us we will never be alone.

The Revd Marina Brian is the community centre manager for the Wokingham Salvation Army Corps

Send your thoughts to letters@wokingham.today

The voice of Wokingham ONCE again the Wokingham Today newspaper shows us why it’s the voice of Wokingham by its excellent reporting on housing matters or which green fields to concrete over and which to not, along with the dubious political thinking of those leading the charge.

Pages 1 and 9 covers an exclusive story headed SHINFIELD AND ARBORFIELD TORIES OPPOSE HALL FARM. It is based on a circular put out by Wokingham’s Conservative office and promoted by a Woodley Conservative councillor.

The takes from Labour and the Lib Dems on this circular are interesting.

Both suggest there is a split amongst the Conservatives but I think Labour are nearer the mark when they suggest the Conservatives are trying to hoodwink residents by trying to bolster waning electoral support for May’s local elections.

My view is that Labour have got it right. Understanding how the Conservatives Group works is key. Wokingham’s 31 Conservative Councillors are affiliated to four different Parliamentary constituencies, Reading East, Bracknell, Maidenhead and, of course, Wokingham. Their ruling Executive has a majority of six Wokingham Conservatives on it and half of the 31 Conservative councillors represent Wokingham wards.

For the Executive to approve a public consultation on whose green fields the cement mixers and tree felling takes place to accommodate housing all these Wokingham Conservatives would have had to approve it. Why did they not stop it when they had the power? It can only be a cynical recognition that next May’s local elections they will pay the price. Their solution is to pretend that they are against the Houses in the hopes it will save their duplicitous skins. I believe our residents are wise to this.

Page 6 has two articles one

ON Friday, January 14, in the early afternoon I was walking home on Reading Road, after a visit to Wokingham Town Centre travelling in the Reading direction and walking on the right hand pavement.

I stopped to look at some trees when I reached the Oxford Road junction.

I suddenly heard some very loud birdsong. I did not know where it came from because the loud sound was all around me.

I did notice some movement inside the roadside hedge out of the corner of my right eye which turned out to be a male robin redbreast which was on the other side of the roadside hedge singing away.

I slowly reached for my camera and slowly pulled it out trying trying not to startle the robin.

I was able to do this because the robin and myself were on opposite sides of the roadside hedge and could not see each other.

I managed to take two pictures headed FRUSTRATION OVER LACK OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES AT ARBORFIELD GREEN. It covers residents disenchantment over promised community facilities and access to schools on sits. Promises broken again and again. No houses in Hurst or any Northern Parishes Conservative councillor Wayne Smith (the architect of no houses in the north of the borough’s Local Housing Plan) commented that we know residents are upset.

On the same page, no houses in Hurst or the Northern Parishes the same Councillor for Hurst Wayne Smith pleads NOT BUILDING ANY MORE HOMES IS A TERRIBLE IDEA when what he really meant was not building any more homes in Hurst and Remenham and the North of the Borough is a brilliant idea.

Page 33 is the final straw on an article headed COUNCIL MEETING WAS A TOXIC VICAR OF DIBLEY

Sir John Redwood

Will the National Security Council wake up to the gas threat?

N

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

Little robin redbreast

Westminster diary

ATO wishes to deter Russia from invasion of Ukraine. It also wishes to avoid a major war between NATO and Russia, as President Biden has stated clearly.

The response is to tell Russia

WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, January 27, 2022

that there would be a massive retaliation through a new level of tough sanctions damaging Russia’s trade and economy were Russia to break her word and invade.

The West will arm and advise the military in Ukraine to resist any Russian incursion.

without startling the robin.

Eventually the robin saw me through the roadside hedge and left.

The robin looked well fed but

that is an illusion, a lot of birds in the winter fluff up their coats to retain the maximum amount of body heat.

Harry Atkinson, Wokingham

EPISODE. The meeting was chaired by the Hurst Parish Council Chairman who is none other than the no houses in Hurst or the Northern Parishes councillor for Hurst, Wayne Smith.

Cllr Smith has been on record at a previous parish council meeting as saying he is against housing in Hurst so I think the campaigners against 15 houses there can rest easy in the beds.

With 97% of house building in the south of the borough over the last 10 years and only 3% in the north areas in the south that have escaped this time must not be smug as there time will come as long Conservative run Wokingham Borough Council.

May is the residents’ last chance to change that, as once May passes by the damage will be done forever and cannot be undone as the cement mixers and chain saws will be residing on green field’s near you until 2040 and beyond but sleep easily in your

bed if you live in Hurst or Remenham.

The USA and UK have visibly sent arms to help Ukraine defend against the mobile armour, rockets and batteries of the Russian forces marshalled near Ukraine’s borders.

The EU has not been present at the main talks and has been strangely silent on this big issue close to its borders.

The German-led grouping is very dependent on Russian gas to fuel its factories and homes as Russia is well aware.

Russia, Germany and the EU are locked in debates about the Nord Stream 2 pipeline but they are close partners in gas supply already via Nord Stream 1 and various land pipes.

This compromises their ability to resist Russian aggression.

The UK needs to understand that gas and energy generally is a crucial part of the power balance in Europe.

The UK needs to pursue a path of energy independence to keep its strength, just as the USA has

done. The USA produces more than enough gas for her own needs and has a gas price much lower than the European one as a result.

Russia cannot bargain her gas for other advantages with the USA. UK energy policy seems based on making us more and more import dependent for electricity , gas and coal on Europe.

This is a grave weakening of our position which the National security Council should correct immediately. Becoming import dependent on a Western Europe short of gas and all basic energy, with Germany closing her nuclear power stations and France struggling to keep her old stations in production is a very bad idea.

Policy should be redirected to allow production of more oil, gas and specialist coal in the UK. It is crucial strategically and it is also the greener option than importing the fossil fuel.

Sir John Redwood is the MP for Wokingham

Cllr Gary Cowan, Independent councillor for Arborfield

Scafell Pike Dear Matthew, I just couldn’t resist bragging that my Son Andrew has climbed the above mentioned twice, first time it was Ben Nevis then Scafell Pike then lastly Snowden all in one day.

I was so proud of him and I wish all those taking part good luck.

Janet Cook, Wokingham

Sir John — hands off the BBC

Is the licence fee really becoming more difficult to collect. And is the fee really being resented. And is support for the BBC really dropping?

Isn’t the real reason for your attack – the Government does not like tough questions, and an attempt to change the subject as the Government is

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Action still needed over White Ribbon status Following a review by the Equalities Working Group, of the proposal for Wokingham Borough Council to seek White Ribbon accreditation, Cllr Laura Blumenthal, who heads this group, brought forward a motion entitled “White Ribbon” to the council meeting on 20 January.

This motion makes no reference to White Ribbon, or indeed to its aims, which are to champion the culture change necessary to prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG) before it starts.

An amendment was proposed which would have rectified this, however Conservative Councillors voted against the amendment and the approved motion therefore contains no clear objectives or actions aiming to prevent VAWG. The cost of White Ribbon accreditation was mentioned twice during the meeting as a barrier.

This cost would be approximately £1,000, an absolutely negligible amount which I could crowdfund in a couple of hours if this was really the issue.

Duplication was also referenced, yet few specifics were given regarding how the actions going through a difficult time.

I recall that similar criticism was levelled at the BBC by Labour when they were in power.

To weaken the BBC would damage its highly respected independent voice not only in the UK but in the world.

Gagging independent media is a tactic adopted by authoritarian regimes in the world – to the damage of democracy.

Keep the BBC and its funding wholly independent of Government and let us support a service that is rightly the envy of the world.

Dennis Eyriey, Wokingham

The difference in violence and abuse

I want to clear something up.

Violence against women and girls is not the same as domestic abuse.

White Ribbon is a charity that engages with men and boys to lead the cultural change to end violence against women and girls.

White Ribbon is about ending all the unpleasant, upsetting and scary things that happen to women and girls day in, day out. White Ribbon is focused on getting men to take responsibility for helping to bring about the cultural change that’s needed, because it is from men that most of the violence against women and girls comes.

This is about sexting in schools, wolf whistles in the street, hands up skirts, rubbing up against you on the tube, inappropriate comments about how we look, sexist jokes etc.

We are afraid to go about seemingly normal activities due to the fear of assault, rape or murder.

Women are repeatedly objectified, and our bodies hypersexualised which has contributed to harmful gender stereotypes that often trivializes violence against us.

Put simply, men who kill women do not suddenly kill women. They work up to it. There is a direct correlation between the normalised objectification of women and girls and the harassment and violence we are subjected to. We want this to stop.

And yet society blames women for what we are subjected to. Maybe we were dressed inappropriately? Maybe we should have taken a different route home? Maybe we shouldn’t have left our drink unattended?

Stop victim blaming us.

The attention needs to be on the

WBC are taking would duplicate the work required for White Ribbon accreditation.

The real issue seems to be the lack of accountability WBC feels regarding prevention of VAWG. In public questions I asked what actions WBC are planning to prevent VAWG. Another member of the public asked for clarity on prevention tactics included in the council’s Domestic Violence strategy.

Repeatedly the answers given were focussed on support for domestic violence victims rather than prevention of all forms of violence against women.

Cllr Blumenthal stated that the most important part of the motion was communicating to the public what an excellent job WBC is doing with regards Domestic Violence support.

Brushing aside the egotism of selfcongratulation being the most important aspect of their domestic violence strategy, the public may wish to know that six months after being awarded the contract to provide domestic abuse support in Wokingham, Cranstoun still do not have a refuge in

perpetrators and how we can prevent this from happening in the first place.

Everything I am talking about is not happening in domestic settings. This is not domestic abuse. The murders of Sarah Everard and Ashling Murphy were not domestic abuse incidents.

This leads me to ask why, when we’re requesting that the council takes accountability for trying to effect a wider cultural change, do they feel that they have no responsibility to do this? I do not believe that Conservative councillors wish for women and girls to be treated badly.

I do think they haven’t thought this through though.

Under the title of White Ribbon, we were presented in full council with a set of recommendations that focused on domestic abuse and not about ending the epidemic of violence against women and girls.

A key line in the report stated that “it has been highlighted that the foundation of the work undertaken by the White Ribbon organisation work focuses on helping organisations that are at a starting point with changing their culture around domestic abuse.”

This is factually incorrect as outlined above.

I am fully supportive of the work the council is undertaking in relation to tackling domestic abuse and was proud to second the anti-abuse charter report in the same meeting.

That’s not what we’re talking about here though.

White Ribbon UK works with organisations to effectively do a gap analysis of things it could be doing to tackle violence against women and girls.

They help ascertain what organisations are already doing well and advise on what else organisations could do in creating cultural change.

There is no duplication of work. They are external, independent experts who effectively audit an organisation, and if an organisation is doing well, they receive an accreditation. And if there’s work still to do, they give advice on this.

The Conservatives claim the council are engaging with White Ribbon UK. The obvious question therefore is, if the council is engaging with White Ribbon anyway, why does it not want the accreditation which would assure the public that it’s being effective?

I can only conclude that it doesn’t

Wokingham.

Refuge continues to be provided by Berkshire Women’s Aid. Two women a week are killed by their partner or ex-partner in the UK. My ask of the council is to put party politics and personal grudges aside. VAWG is not a party political issue.

WBC alone cannot bring an end to VAWG but they can act as a role model, acknowledge the cultural and societal causes of VAWG, and put in place measures which are not just focussed on the council, but also demonstrate their commitment to cultural change in our community.

Lastly, as I asked Cllr Blumenthal, an easy first step would be for every male councillor to publicly take the White Ribbon promise to never commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women.

I can see no reason why they would choose not to do this.

Louise Timlin, Reading and Wokingham Women’s Equality Party

want to do the work to become accredited and therefore that means it does not feel they have a responsibility to effect wider cultural change when it comes to ending the epidemic of violence against women and girls. I do hope I’m wrong.

Cllr Sarah Kerr, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Evendons Ward

Ukraine Dear Mr Sunderland, you were an army man of high rank so you must feel as I do that Europe and Britain with France and other European countries must stop Russia invading Ukraine.

The Russians have always been bullies for many centuries from white Russia to red we must stand up to these bullies it also seems that US have a lame duck President the same as the Labour leader in Britain.

Bullies must be stopped in the world.

Please speak in Parliament on what I wrote. I have learnt about these people over the years.

Victor Rones, Bracknell

White Ribbon I was very disappointed to hear Cllr Laura Blumenthal’s comments at last Thursday’s Wokingham Borough Council meeting.

She assumed that all members of the working group were in agreement with the Conservative views on the White Ribbon motion?

I am a Liberal Democrat member of the Equalities Working Group and I thought I had made my views on the White Ribbon Accreditation very clear.

The White ribbon movement is about giving men and boys the confidence to speak up and call out others when they exhibit lewd and abusive behaviour towards women.

The accreditation would require the council to be audited externally by the White Ribbon movement and would give the public confidence that Wokingham is doing all it can to give men the support to stop unacceptable behaviour from escalating.

Instead, I was told that they were doing this work as part of their domestic abuse policies and did not want to put in a lot of work and spend the money on accreditation.

Well, it is not a lot of money and if it is really a lot of work, then I want to know what are they NOT doing?

If it is not a lot of work, then why wouldn’t you want to prove the good work that is being carried out with public money?

Cllr Imogen Shepherd-DuBey, leader of Wokingham Town Council and Liberal Democrat councillor for Emmbrook

Hall Farm Your long article in last week’s paper about the schism in the Wokingham Conservatives prompted by the Hall Farm proposals was very welcome.

There is no question but that this is locally unpopular.

People quite rightly believe that there is a long term Conservative policy of loading as much as possible of the borough’s housing quota onto the south and west of the borough to protect the north and east.

The Conservatives have circulated leaflets (so far as I can discover) in two wards only – Shinfield South and Arborfield — urging people to write in against the proposal.

A Mr Edmonds, who is plainly positioning himself as a candidate in the May elections, published a statement on Facebook declaring his opposition to the Hall Farm proposals and calling in support Councillor Rance.

He made the disingenuous argument that the return of Conservative candidates would enable them to argue against the majority view of the Conservative Group and so overturn the Hall Farm proposals.

The question, which I have put to Cllr Halsall in an open letter to which he has not replied, is whether the Arborfield and Shinfield South Conservative councillors will be allowed to vote against an important element in their own party’s Local Plan Update or whether they will be expected to lend it their support, no matter what they have said locally.

Your help in securing a clarification on this important point would be most welcome.

Only when we know can we assess the honesty of the Conservatives who, so far as I can see, are saying different things in different wards.

Richard Hoyle, Spencers Wood

From the vicechancellor Professor Van de Noort

We exist to be a University for Reading

I

ALWAYS like the start of a new year.

It’s a chance to re-focus our priorities after the Christmas break and look ahead to new opportunities on the horizon.

Despite the additional uncertainties around Covid towards the end of last year, I am pleased that we have been able to start the new term with students back on campus and the continuation of face-to-face teaching.

We are, of course, continuing to implement extra measures to ensure the safety of our colleagues and students. But we know that many students benefit so much more from in-person teaching, so it is important that we strive to make this possible where we can.

As we march on into 2022, one thing I am particularly looking forward to is hearing more about how our new Community Fund initiative is helping local communities in and around Reading and Wokingham.

We launched this scheme last year, in partnership with the John Sykes Foundation.

This is the first year of a two-year pilot which sees both organisations contributing financial support to projects that benefit the people and community of Reading and surrounding areas.

Last summer, we invited University staff members to apply for funding to support projects they are involved with either as part of their job, or in a voluntary capacity.

We received a great response with 29 applications for funding. It made the job of the funding award panel rather tough, but, in the end, we chose 12 projects covering a diverse range of areas, including art, music, education, sport and heritage, which are aimed at helping those with disabilities, the homeless, refugees, school pupils and many more.

A total of £50,000 was donated.

Among other projects, the money will help fund a refugee football team based in Reading, helping Reading’s homeless develop work skills and build confidence, and improve literacy in young children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

My personal favourite is a project to make Reading Old Cemetery, a wonderful place for contemplation and wildlife, more accessible.

We are working on a series of case studies of each of the projects so we can understand the impact the money has made and the benefits that local people have seen.

And we will open the funding round again later this year, so that we can help even more community projects. I hope that these initial projects will encourage others to participate in the future.

After all, as a University, we exist to be a University For Reading, as well as the University of Reading.

Of course, my thanks go to the John Sykes Foundation, without whom this initiative would not be possible.

I know that the work of voluntary groups and charities across Reading and Wokingham already does a huge amount to improve the lives and well-being of individuals and communities, so we really appreciate the ongoing support for this scheme.

It is a great example of what can be achieved when we work together.

Professor Robert Van de Noort is the vicechancellor of the University of Reading

32 | NEWS

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We welcome reports written by pupils for this section.

Email submissions to: news@wokingham.today

INTHECLASSROOM

Visiting Somerset

TRIP: Evendons pupils visited Mill on the Brue in Somerset. Picture: Evendons Primary School

Fantastic fun at Mill on the Brue On Wednesday the 17th November the excited children from Year 3 went, by coach, to Mill on the Brue in Somerset.

They went there to have fun, to do new activities, to challenge themselves and to increase their independence.

During their stay, they were so excited about the really, really, really long zip wire. In their groups they took it in turns to go on the super long zip wire. They were thrilled how long the zip wire was! They had to use a super long relay to get the equipment from one end of the zip wire to the other. Daniel said: “That his favourite was the zip wire because we got to fly over the river.”

On Thursday, they did super fun canoeing. They absolutely loved it! The green canoe had three seats and they paddled down the murky river and under the bridge. They all played a tennis ball game in the canoes, where they had to throw a tennis ball and it had to land in one of the canoes. If it didn’t land in one of the canoes

Creative writing from Bulmershe STUDENTS at Bulmershe School have shared their creative writing.

Once a week some of the school’s students take part in a creative writing class.

Below are two excerpts from two students.

When he exited the shaft he was in a room which had a control panel flashing white and red buttons, tempting him to press one, but he resisted he didn’t want to get fired for messing with some buttons, after all this was his only job, it paid the bills.

He wasn’t looking forward to being evicted… He decided to look around.

There were two figures on the counter. By the wide glass panel was a small magician, then

they had to start all over again!

At Mill on the Brue, they went on the enormous climbing tower. When they were at the top it felt like they were touching the clouds! They felt safe with their harness on and they had loads of ropes and equipment.

Quite a few of the children loved getting to the top!

Overall everybody loved it.

They didn’t want to go home but they wanted to see their family.

It should be recommended for next year’s children because the activities were brilliant.

Everyone should love it!

By Elyse

Mill on the Brue Ahoy!

On the 17th November, Year 3 children from Evendons Primary School went to the amazing, fantastic Mill on the Brue! The children went there to build their independence and to have fun! The classes were also completing lots of different and fun activities like the big zip wire, the tall climbing wall, the wonky crate stack and lots others.

For the activities there were hanging on some machinery was another figurine. He felt glad in a way that he wasn’t alone, but at the same time he felt that he was being watched.

Above the glass panel were some colourful lights. In the corner was a gas canister, after all this was an underground facility…

By Tadas Weightlessness is a strange thing and here I am, in the middle of it, the pea concealed in the folds of the mattress.

Out of place. I inhale deeply and force my eyes open. I am faced with the shimmering expanse of the galaxy.

Our oldest mystery that seems to have no solution, an impossible place that surpasses our imagination, designed to keep out fragile warm-blooded creatures like me.

4 great groups: Badgers, the Magpies, the Squirrels and the Swallows.

On Thursday, the Badgers did the amazing crate stack. The first people to go on the crate stack were Vera and Lexi, but unfortunately their tower of crates got knocked down before they could jump off! It was very funny when the Badgers instructor, Ewan, said “Part of crate stack is to be minions!”

But it was even funnier when Ewan let go of Mili’s harness so fast she fell on her bottom in one of the crates.

Her teacher insisted that Mili stay there until she took a photo!

Before going to the megasized Spider’s web, the Badgers visited the stinky, smelly compost bin where they learnt about what is done with food waste at Mill on the Brue. Then, the children had to go through the spider’s web without touching it, but Celia was smart and she went around it!

It was a marvellous experience and very fun. All of the next Year 3s will have a big delight!

By Mili Yet here I am. But I am not what is important here. No, I am merely a vessel providing a narrative.

There is no silence like space.

A silence so strong it feels as though your ears are being compressed, frantically searching for a sound to pick up on.

Space was not made for people like you and me who are limited to five senses. Our capabilities will never be advanced enough to experience all that space has to offer, its colours that aren’t quite colours but feelings instead… I am surrounded by lifelessness that feels so alive, I could reach out and touch it, climb on its back and ride into the sunset.

Except here the suns are always blazing. Here there is neither up nor down nor sideways. Here I am lost. Here I am alone.

By Zoé

NEXT STEPS: Cillian Manning celebrates Oxford offer

Forest School pupil celebrates Oxford success A pupil from The Forest School is celebrating success after gaining a place at the University of Oxford.

Cillian Manning received news of his offer of a place at Jesus College to study beginners Italian and linguistics earlier this month.

Mr Manning said that he was delighted at being told his application was successful.

“It is such a relief after a long wait since the interview,” he said.

“I am so pleased all of my hard

work and preparation has paid off.”

As part of his preparations, he wrote a 5,000 research essay on the geography of language. His future career ambition is to join the diplomatic services.

“It will mean I get to travel around the world, use my language skills and be constantly learning more throughout my career,” he added.

Staff at the school supported

Mr Manning with the application and interview process.

Headteacher Shirley Austin congratulated Mr Manning and said that he is a “credit to the school.”

“He helps run our Forest6 café , is deputy head boy, head of the student school council and a reading buddy,” she explained.

“He is a fantastic role model for our younger students and we wish him all the best.”

Hawkedon Primary School bids for £1,000 for play equipment A LOWER EARLEY school is calling out for votes to secure a £1,000 grant.

Hawkedon Primary School is bidding for a cash boost from the Tesco Community Grants initiative.

The retailer works with community charity Groundwork to give out grants of £1,500, £1,000 and £500.

Three groups are short-listed to receive the cash award and shoppers get to vote on who should take away the top grant.

Hawkedon Primary School is hoping to improve its covidsafe play activities with the money.

Nikki Gladwin-Stride, extended services manager at the school, said: “We are very pleased to find we have been

shortlisted for the grant we applied for in early 2021.

“The £1,000 that we have requested will be put to good use on acquiring play equipment for our children to enjoy during break and lunch times, as we are still operating in bubbles and maintaining social distancing.”

The Community Grants scheme has already provided more than £90 million to more than 40,000 projects across Britain.

Claire De Silva, head of community at Tesco, said that projects that support young people and provide food are closest to colleagues’ hearts.

Groundwork’s national chief executive, Graham Duxbury, said that the grants give

projects the boost they need to help their communities thrive.

“By funding services which support young people and reduce food poverty, we hope to facilitate positive change from the ground up across the UK,” he said.

“We are pleased to have been able to help so many good causes over the years and look forward to seeing what community organisations can achieve in the future with the right resources.”

Shoppers can vote for Hawkedon Primary School at Tesco shops across the greater Reading area.

This includes the Tesco Express on Shinfield Road. n For more information, visit: www.tesco.com

NEWS | 33

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INTHECOMMUNITY

Masons provide Philippines typhoon victims with supplies

HELP: Typhoon Rai, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Odette, struck the Philippines on December 16, leaving a trail of destruction. The strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year has left survivors desperate need of urgent supplies of drinking water and food. Picture: Plan International FREEMASONS from across the county have donated to a national appeal aimed at helping families hit by a typhoon in the Philippines.

The group has given £25,000 to Plan International which will share hygiene kits, including soap, shampoo, towels, toothpaste and brushes to 851 families to help them keep clean and healthy in the aftermath of the devastating typhoon.

Typhoon Rai hit the Philippines on December 16, leaving almost 400 people dead and causing massive damage.

Winds of up to 120mph, heavy rain and storm surges battered the islands, leaving entire villages submerged in floodwater, trees uprooted from the ground and hundreds of thousands of people seeking shelter.

The grant from the Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales.

Rose Caldwell, chief executive of Plan International UK, said: “We’re very grateful

for this generous grant which will allow Plan International to provide essential support to thousands of people in the aftermath of this terribly destructive typhoon.

“It’s critical that we act now to help those most at risk” And Les Hutchinson, Chief Executive of the Masonic Charitable Foundation, said the group were pleased to help.

“This is a desperate situation and Plan and the other organisations helping on the ground need all the support we in the outside world can offer.”

Wokingham Poppy Appeal launches new awards scheme THIS year the Wokingham Poppy Appeal launched a new award that is to be presented annually to a local group, organisation or business.

This is the Sue Lardge Memorial Shield.

The first recipient of this award is the Wokingham Rock Choir who, over the last few years, have given us so much support with their members collecting outside shops around the town.

Also the Wokingham Poppy Appeal is proud to announce that the winners of the outstanding achievement award goes to Frank and Kathy Burwood have been an amazing help for the last 14 years.

DAVID DUNHAM SHIELD: David Dunham presents the award to members of Wokingham Rock Choir

HELPING HAND: Volunteers are needed at Wokingham Community Hospital. Picture: Jess Warren

Residents asked volunteer at community hospital A VOLUNTARY organisation has asked for people join them by volunteering at Wokingham Community Hospital. And they can boost their own wellbeing by doing so.

The Royal Voluntary Service is encouraging residents to discover the joys of donating time while providing valuable support to the community.

Roles played by volunteers include offering a friendly point of contact for staff and patients in RVS cafés and shops at Wokingham Hospital and Wexham Park Hospital.

Others have been NHS

volunteer responder stewards at vaccination sites.

Helen Baylis, retail area manager for RVS in Berkshire said that volunteers make a difference in hospitals across the county.

“They provide more than just food and drink, they offer friendly faces, company and compassion,” she explained.

“By volunteering with us you can support your community, and you’ll meet some fantastic people along the way.”

Residents are also being encouraged to sign up for a new emergency response

volunteer role. They will form a standby team who will be ready to come to the aid of their communities and the NHS when urgent needs arise.

And an RVS survey of its volunteers found that 81 per cent of them reported better physical health, mental health and wellbeing as a result of donating their time.

They also reported gaining confidence, new skills and work experience, and a sense of connection to others in their community.

n For more information, visit: royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/ volunteering

Woodley Over 55s Club talks A WOODLEY club is planning a range of talks this season.

The Woodley Over 55s Club has planned a host of events up to the end of April.

It will begin with a look at Woodley’s Ancient Past on Friday, January 28.

The Pendon Museum will be covered on Friday, February 4,

and Policing before Radio and Computer will be discussed on Friday, February 19.

The last Friday of the month will feature a talk on Royal Women.

The Club is open to Woodley residents and meets most Fridays at Coronation Hall.

Doors open at 1.45pm with meetings starting at 2.15pm.

There is no admission charge for members and visitors are welcome with a fee of £2 per meeting. This can be paid on the door.

Tea and coffee are provided. n For more information, contact Jill Turner on: 0118 962 8631.

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COUNCILNEWS Review of council minutes

Extra time for meetings pledge

A CALL for a review into the way in which the council’s minutes of meetings are composed was called for by a resident.

Philip Meadowcroft had previously informed the council that written answers to followup questions were not recorded as the constitution didn’t make mention of this.

He argued that as the constitution referred to ‘any questions’, he considered the advice given to the borough mayor, who chairs the meeting, was “patently flawed”, and called on the council to review this so they would be included in future.

Responding, Cllr Stuart Munro, chair of the constitution review working group, said the council always strives for transparency and openness.

However, he added: “I do not agree with your assertion that the advice provided to the Mayor was flawed.”

He argued that supplementary questions can take longer to respond to “due to the often, complex nature of the subject matter” and that officers researched an answer.

“However, I am prepared to bring your query to the Constitution Review Working Group so Members can give this further consideration,” he said.

Mr Meadowcroft said he found the answer “remarkably complacent” and wanted to know if this reply was consistent with the standards expected in public life.

Cllr Munro affirmed his commitment to the review by the working group.

IF THE Lib Dems gain control of the council in May’s local elections, they would add another meeting to the municipal year.

The party’s Wokingham leader, Cllr Clive Jones, said that while their ongoing pleas for a January meeting had been met, councillors had not been able to get through all the business on the various agendas.

“Sadly, the ruling group on too many occasions have stifled debate and not agreed to an extension of time from 10.30pm to 11.00pm,” he said.

By adding the extra meeting, it would make it easier for motions to be debated.

“Residents are rightly frustrated at the antics of the ruling Conservatives,” he added.

Anti-poverty strategy update AN UPDATE on the council’s anti-poverty strategy was requested by resident Danny Errawalla.

Cllr John Halsall, the leader of the council, said it was going well with a hardship alliance formed with four charities and voluntary groups.

Other work includes a cross party working group and engagement with town and parish clerks.

A public consultation, lasting a month, will be launched soon with responses feeding into a draft strategy and an action plan.

“The strategy will be launched following the local elections in May,” he added.

Mr Errawalla wanted to know how charities were involved in the creation of the strategy.

Cllr Halsall confirmed that they had been “a very substantial part of the working group” in the set-up.

PHIL CREIGHTON reports on a meeting of Wokingham Borough Council held on Thursday, January 20

Festive market to be reviewed A REVIEW of the pre-Christmas market in Cantley is promised later this month.

The weather didn’t help the Christmas market and ice rink set up in Cantley last month.

Cllr Rachel Bishop-Firth said there were a number of issues with the venture, including the ice-rink “only really being suitable for small children”.

“It was a small-scale wellintentioned venture,” Cllr Parry Batth said, adding that it was a trial, that aimed to help promote facilities in Cantley as well as giving residents a good time, however covid didn’t help the situation.

He was to meet with officers for a review this week.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr John Halsall said: “Officers do really remarkable work, they organise all sorts of events which wash their face, make a profit.

“Cantley Park’s Christmas event was one of those events which didn’t really work for a variety of reasons.

“We shouldn’t be judged in totality on just one event which didn’t work.

“We know the ice rink didn’t work, that the shopping didn’t really go as planned either, but what I’ve tried to do in my three years as leader is encourage people to take risks.

“The last thing we want to do is to stop thinking about new ways of doing things.”

Primary schools in Arborfield Green

A REQUEST for updates on plans to build a second primary school on the Arborfield Green development was made by Cllr Gary Cowan.

The independent councillor pointed out that children living opposite the new Farley Hill Primary School had to be driven to other schools as they went not in its catchment area.

Cllr Cowan wanted to know how this fitted in with the council’s plans to tackle the climate emergency.

Responding, Cllr Graham Howe, executive member for children’s services, said the council made school provision a key priority that pre-dated its climate emergency policy.

“Relocating the Farley Hill Primary School to this site means that children living in these areas (the majority of the children on roll) attending the school have the opportunity to walk, scoot or cycle to the school,” he added.

“Previously only the very small number of children living in Farley Hill Village itself could easily travel to the school sustainably.”

The school will switch to a two-form year from September, which would help with the catchment area problem.

“It also addressed the long-standing issue of some undersized classrooms in the original Farley Hill School building,” he added.

Graffiti contract under review

THE COUNCIL’S graffiti removal contract is currently under review, with a view to introducing a more direct approach to remove or enforce removal across the borough.

Cllr Bill Soane, executive member for neighbourhood and communities, made the pledge

WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, January 27, 2022

while responding to a question from Cllr Sam Akhtar, who had been working with residents to get graffiti from his Charvil ward removed.

Plans to fix problem road A FIX is hoped for the first quarter of the year to road surfacing on Woodward Close.

Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, the executive member for highways and transport, shared the update during the meeting.

She was responding to a question from Cllr Rachelle Shepherd-Dubey, who wanted to know when a safety audit was expected to be completed and “the safety problems of the entrance finally fixed for the residents”.

The area is by the new distributor road and roundabout that was opened last year, taking traffic off the roads by Winnersh, but creating new ways in and out of the close.

The safety audit was completed in November and inspectors said there were no issues with the ramp.

“The purpose of the raised table is to highlight the busy shared use crossing and slow

traffic down as they get across.

The ramp up should not be changed as this is what dictates driver’s behaviour to slow down,” she continued.

“We acknowledge however that the down ramp from Reading Road to Woodward Close appears slightly more abrupt than others in the area and some drivers have reported experiencing a greater bump as a result.

“This aspect has been raised with the contractor and we are having ongoing discussions with them to find the best way to remedy this reported aspect.”

Call for action over Woodley homes RESIDENTS of a Woodley housing block were plagued by “intolerable noise and pollution” from nearby haulage yards, and when they raised their concerns with the management company “they were treated with contempt and told that they were ‘not allowed’ to complain’”.

This is the concerns raised

in the chamber by Cllr Shirley Boyt.

The Labour councillor was speaking about the Lilly May Court affordable development, with homes under shared ownership.

“It has emerged that these properties weren’t constructed in accordance with planning conditions and mitigation intended to reduce the impact of noise from haulage yards was not installed. Furthermore, a covenant regarding the yards and the mitigation wasn’t disclosed at the point of sale,” she said.

“It has finally been accepted that a breach of planning has taken place and the provider is now pressurising the residents to accept the mitigation.

“However, the majority of residents would never have bought into these properties had they been given the full facts at the point of sale and have requested the properties are bought back by the provider, who has refused.”

Cllr Boyt wanted to know if the council could do anything to encourage the provider, Housing Solutions, to buy back the flats from the shared owners.

Responding, Cllr John Kaiser, the executive member for finance and housing, said: “We have ensured that the developer is in a position to retrospectively take steps to comply with the original planning conditions to mitigate against noise.

“We have served Notice on the adjacent haulage company adjacent to the dwellings to ensure that best practicable means are taken, at all times, to minimise the escape of dust from the site and minimise air pollution.

“We have also installed air quality monitoring equipment adjacent to the property to ensure that the air quality is suitable, and we’ll be getting the results of that monitoring at the end of January.

“It would not however be appropriate for the Council to interfere with the contractual position between the residents and the Housing Association who are the joint owners of the properties.”

Refuge status

AN UPDATE of the status of a refuge for victims of domestic violence was requested by Cllr Sarah Kerr.

Thursday, January 27, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

COUNCILNEWS

PHIL CREIGHTON reports on a meeting of Wokingham Borough Council held on Thursday, January 20

Clash over White Ribbon plan A NEW anti-abuse charter was given unanimous cross-party support at a meeting of Wokingham Borough Council, after the chamber learnt that last year, more than 4,000 residents were victims of domestic abuse in Wokingham.

Held on Thursday, January 20, councillors came together to approve it, as part of its domestic abuse strategy to the year 2024.

Introducing the motion, Cllr Laura Blumenthal, the chair of the council’s equalities working group, said: “Its purpose is to be a declaration of this Council’s commitment to protect and support victims of violence and dedication to do more.”

It would, she added, be an umbrella that would list actions such as ensuring monthly training sessions are available, a sanctuary scheme, recruiting an officer who would specialise in supporting domestic abuse victims, and seeing the council work towards domestic abuse housing accreditation.

And, Cllr Blumenthal added, “It will act as a long-term reminder for officers and councillors of our commitment and is broad on purpose and continued scrutiny of progress will drive standards higher.”

She said that Vickie Robertson from the charity Kaleidoscopic had helped to devise this charter, and thanked her for her efforts, something backed by Lib Dem councillor, Sarah Kerr.

“She works tirelessly, putting others before herself, sacrificing so much to champion and be the voice of survivors of domestic abuse.

We are so fortunate to have Vickie working with us to guide this council and its partner organisations,” Cllr Kerr said, adding that it was crucial that the charter was “more than words”.

The report was welcomed by Labour group leader Cllr Rachel Burgess, who said they would vote in favour of it.

Cllr Bill Soane, executive member for neighbourhood and When Craunstoun took over the contract for Wokingham Borough Council from Berkshire Women’s Aid, it did not have its own safe space for people to go to.

Cllr Bill Soane, executive member for neighbourhood and communities, said that the group was still negotiating for a local property, which would add to existing local provision, with a property sourcing expert providing “specialist advice as a matter of urgency”.

“There has been no reduction or change in the offer of refuge support for victims of domestic abuse. Those victims who have come forward and contacted the Council requesting refuge space have been offered a place. Support for victims whilst they are in safe accommodation is essential and this also continues to be delivered.”

He added: “We can reassure victims of domestic abuse, who may need or require emergency

communities, said: “Abuse, destroys lives, families, communities, selfworth and, in extreme cases, costs lives.

“In the past year it is estimated 2,700 women and 1,500 men were subjected to some form of domestic abuse within Wokingham, a frightening figure.”

He hoped that the charter would help reduce the number of incidents.

“I fully support this charter in the hope that it will result in the reduction of abuse cases and the support that we are able to offer our residents will be of comfort to them.”

Later in the meeting, a motion on the White Ribbon accreditation was brought to councillors. This follows on from the previous gathering, where Conservatives voted against joining the scheme.

The revised motion called on the council to improve communication with residents on what it is doing to support domestic violence victims; explore accreditation schemes for the council to join; to write to schools on their actions; and the leader of the council commits to writing to the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, to urge her to make public sexual harassment a specific offence.

He would also write to the borough’s four MPs to ask for their support.

Introducing the motion, Cllr Blumenthal held up a copy of Wokingham Today’s front page from January 13, saying: “– our trauma training made the front page of The Wokingham Paper. This is why exploring how we can improve our communications on this important issue is one of the main recommendations.”

She added: “We’re an inclusive Council and need to provide for a wide variety of people. This led us to decide that although we support White Ribbon, its accreditation was too narrow, only covering male violence against women and didn’t show the quality of provision, and that a more comprehensive

accreditation would be more appropriate.”

As part of its research, both Cllr Blumenthal and leader Cllr John Halsall had met with White Ribbon leaders to explore how the council could draw on the organisation’s expertise for its own training.

Lib Dem councillor Sarah Kerr said: “I remain angry that the white ribbon motion proposed by Cllr Hare in the last full council meeting was not unequivocally approved. I am also angry that after a group of us collectively wrote to Cllr Halsall about the council taking action to address and eradicate the cultural norms in society that lead to violence against women, he has not had the decency to even respond.”

She felt that the council had to go further: “We are incredibly supportive of the actions suggested to tackle domestic abuse. Domestic abuse and the aims of white ribbon are not the same thing though. The recommendations in front of us are a case of whataboutery.”

She proposed an amendment, and the meeting was adjourned to allow other parties to consider it before resuming the meeting.

In an angry, but measured debate afterwards, Conservatives savaged the Lib Dem position.

However, first to speak was Labour group leader Cllr Rachel Burgess, who pointed out that the motion did not actually commit to the White Ribbon aims, and called for the council to go further Cllr Pauline Jorgensen expressed her frustration at comments made on social media made by opposition councillors following the previous White Ribbon debate: “It was outrageous then and it is outrageous now”.

Cllr Blumenthal, “On balance, we found that the Council is already advanced on improving internal culture and training and a more comprehensive accreditation would be more appropriate, not just focusing on male violence against women.

“We will still continue working with charities like White Ribbon to ensure that our response to tackling domestic abuse and harassment is the best that it can be.

“It’s unbelievably hypocritical for the Liberal Democrats to support this at the working group, but oppose it when it came to Council.

“That’s politics, I suppose, but frankly, residents deserve better.”

And as she ended her speech, visibly frustrated, she said: “How dare you use the name of Sabina Nessa and Sarah Everard to make a cheap political point” And Cllr Phil Cunnington also expressed his concerns.

He added: “I am pleased that the White Ribbon campaign is only one of the groups that the council will engage with in order to ensure that the training and strategy is as comprehensive and deep-hitting as it needs to be.”

Labour’s Cllr Shirley Boyt said that during the working group she had said there should have been more emphasis on education for young men and boys on misogyny, and this motion hadn’t gone far enough.

Lib Dem Cllr Prue Bray said that the Conservatives had come into this from a “position of ignorance” as their speeches were about domestic violence, but the White Ribbon campaign was about more than that, including men taking responsibility for “the nonsense that goes on”. She warned that the motion limited to just looking at domestic abuse.

“You haven’t thought this through, so I would urge you to think again,” she said. “It’s about changing our culture.”

Independent councillor Jim Frewin bemoaned the political point scoring in the meeting, while the cross party working group had been constructive. He bemoaned “the mess we’ve got ourselves into”, adding “I’m ashamed” of the debate.

In the vote, the amendment failed, but the original motion was passed.

accommodation and may be considering approaching the Council for help, that they will continue to be assisted.”

Democrats in the 2019 General Election, which included a national target of 300,000 new homes a year.

“You infer the Lib Dems support a target of 800 new homes a year locally. You know this to be untrue,” he said, adding the target was a maximum of 600 homes.

“Will you apologise for this error, and will you confirm that the costs of this party-political letter are being borne by the Conservative party and not the council tax payers of Wokingham?”

Responding, Cllr Halsall said “No”.

He said the letter was drafted in conjunction with the communications team of the council. “It was to ensure we got a good response to the Local Plan Update consultation,” he said.

And he was “baffled by the question” as the figures he quoted were correct.

“As leader of the council, I represent the council … and I’m perfectly entitled to put my name to

documents from the council … and I should, because I take responsibility.

Interestingly, the Lib Dems don’t.

They keep abstaining.

“I have done everything I can to ensure the response to the consultation will pass muster.”

Cllr Lindsay Ferris, the former Lib Dem leader, wanted to respond to the question, but the constitution prevented him from doing so.

Letter writing call

A LETTER sent to every home in the borough was judged to be a “political” missive by the leader of Wokingham’s Liberal Democrats, Cllr Clive Jones.

He wanted to know why the leader of the council had sent the letter out, which urged residents to add comments about the Draft Local Plan update. Although it was sent in a council capacity, it has Cllr Halsall’s home address and contact details on it.

“Was the Council’s communications team involved in the creation of the letter? I assume not because of the political nature of the letter,” he said.

The main issue was the letter referring to the manifesto commitments made by the Liberal

NEWS | 35

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BAME forum update

AN UPDATE on status of BAME forum was requested by Cllr Andrew Mickelburgh on behalf of a resident.

John Halsall: “A very good question.”

“We are determined that we shouldn’t be running the BAME forum, but it should be run by members of the forum,” he added.

Cllr Halsall said that he had asked them to organise themselves and they were waiting for the results.

“We’re still pressing for it,” he said.

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WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL PLANNING APPLICATION

GOODS VEHICLE OPERATOR’S LICENCE Grzegorz Bielawski trading as Underwood Car Centre of 63 Melrose Gardens, Arborfield, RG2 9PY is applying for a licence to use Unit 1, Milewood Industrial Esate, Old Wokingham Road, RG40 3BU as an operating centre for 1 goods vehicles and 1 trailers.

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: Application

Address

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214164

Mavis Cottage, 93 High Street, Wargrave

Works to a listed building

Application for Listed Building consent for the proposed insertion of a new front entrance door with canopy roof on the North elevation.

214191

Mavis Cottage, 93 High Street, Wargrave

Conservation Area

Householder application for the proposed insertion of a new front entrance door with canopy roof on the North elevation.

220014

Herons Creek, Station Road, Wargrave

Conservation Area

Householder application for the proposed conversion of ground floor store to habitable accommodation, removal of garage door, new and replacement doors, and windows.

Works in order to secure the use of the existing overflow habitable accommodation for future use of carers for the applicant.

220027

Paddock House, Part Lane, Swallowfield

Works to a listed building

Application for Listed Building Consent for the proposed painting of the exterior windows frames, doors and door frames, changing the colour from black to dark green.

220133

101 and 101A Pound Lane, Sonning

Major Application

Outline application for the proposed erection of a 4 storey 70 Bedroom care home with associated parking and servicing following demolition of the existing 2No dwellings and out buildings (Access, scale, Layout and Design to be considered).

Ownersoroccupiersofland(including buildingsneartheoperatingcentre(s) whobelievethattheiruseorenjoyment ofthatlandwouldbeaffected,should makewrittenrepresentationstothe TrafficCommissioneratHillcrest House,386HarehillsLane,Leeds, LS96NF,statingtheirreasons,within 21daysofthisnotice.Representors mustatthesametimesendacopy oftheirrepresentationstothe applicantattheaddressgivenatthe topofthisnotice.AGuidetoMaking Representationsisavailablefromthe TrafficCommissioner’soffice.

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The reason for these prohibitions is to allow BT contractors to undertake overhead network cabling work in safety.

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The restriction imposed by the Order shall only apply during those periods when traffic signs complying with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 are lawfully displayed.

Emai l u s to d ay f o r a p r ic e

No previous clerking experience is necessary but a desire to qualify is required!

Arborfield & Newland Parish Council The Parish Office, Arborfield Village Hall, Eversley Road, Arborfield, Berkshire, RG2 9PQ

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Works requiring this restriction will take place on 15th February 2022 between 09:30 and 15:30.

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If you are a confident communicator with excellent organizational skills please email parishclerk@arborfield.org.uk for a full job specification.

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The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A4130 White Hill, A4130 Henley Road. Henley Road, A404, A4 Bath Road, A4 New Bath Road and A321 High Street or by this route in reverse.

Trevor Saunders Assistant Director – Delivery and Infrastructure Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices Shute End Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1WL

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DOING COPYRIGHT, RIGHT

A321 Wargrave Road, Wargrave between its junctions with Wargrave Hill and Willow Lane.

Dated: 27th January 2022

£28,672 - £32,234 pa (pro-rata) depending on skills and experience Circa 28 hours per week

Closing date for receipt of completed applications is 4pm on Friday 28th January 2022.

NOTICE IS HEREBY given that Wokingham Borough Council as Traffic Authority proposes to make an Order under Section 14 (1) (a) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 the effect of which is prohibit any vehicle from proceeding along:

The restrictions contained in the Order shall come into operation on the 15th February 2022 and shall continue in force for a period not exceeding 18 months or until the works have been completed, whichever is the earlier.

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Any comments must arrive on or before the 17th February 2022. 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: 27th January 2022

Access for residents and businesses within the boundaries of these restrictions will be maintained at all times.

CLERK TO THE COUNCIL The role of Parish Clerk is extremely varied and you will become involved in every aspect of village life; from preparing monthly finances to ensuring the parish owned land is maintained; looking after the web, magazine and social media sites to minuting meetings; ensuring parishioners are listened to, to liaising with WBC on planning and environmental issues.

A d ve r t i se

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.

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (A321 WARGRAVE ROAD, WARGRAVE) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2021

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Home-Start Wokingham District is a local charity that has been providing vital support to families in need for more than 20 years. Our team of well-trained volunteers provide emotional and practical support to families in crisis across the Wokingham Borough.

We are seeking a dynamic and enthusiastic person to join our team to work with our volunteers to support families.

The ideal candidate will be someone who has experience of bringing up children and also has knowledge of the family support /children’s sectors.

HOME-START WOKINGHAM DISTRICT

As a key member of the Home-Start team, you will be responsible for identifying the support needs of referred families, training, matching and supporting volunteers and providing the overall guidance for the relationship between the family and the volunteer. You will also need to link well with other organisations across the borough to ensure families receive holistic support.

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CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 27TH FEBRUARY 2022.

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LEISURETODAY LEISURE TODAY

27.01.22

Your guide to what’s on across Reading and Wokingham

First rule of comedy

He’s one of our most-loved comics.

A pioneer, with a sharp wit and a sense of the absurd. Now he’s the focus of a new play from Private Eye editor Ian Hislop.

PHIL CREIGHTON looks at Spike

A

NEW play co-written by the editor of Private Eye will look at the life of much-loved silly man Spike Milligan.

The Watermill in Newbury is premièring the work, simply called Spike, from Thursday this week.

Set nearly 70 years ago, it looks at the life and times of the comedian, as he pushes the boundaries of taste and decency, all the name of getting a laugh.

At the time, radio dominated our homes rather than the gogglebox, and the nation rushed home to listen to

the antics of The Goon Show, starring Harry Secombe, Peter Sellers, Michael Benetine and, of course, Spike.

While the rest of the team are happy being overnight celebrities, Spike, the show’s chief writer, Spike finds himself pushing the boundaries of comedy, and testing the patience of the BBC. Flanked by his fellow Goons and bolstered by the efforts of irrepressible sound assistant Janet, Spike takes a flourishing nosedive off the cliffs of respectability, and mashes up his haunted past to create the comedy of the future.

Will Spike’s dogged obsession with finding the funny elevate The Goons to soaring new heights, or will the whole thing come crashing down with the stroke of a potato peeler?

Of course, with the benefit of history on our side, we know how the story unfolds: The Goons have become part of our national fabric, and Spike is still celebrated today, even though his gravestone sadly says, ‘I told you I was ill’.

Spike is co-written by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman, and it is directed by Paul Hart.

The cast includes Stephen Fry as the BBC announcer, while Olivier Awardwinning actor John Dagleish is Spike.

Joining him is TV comedian Margaret Cabourn-Smith (Motherland, Miranda, Buffering) as Janet, George Kemp (recently seen in Bridgerton, and soon to star in Amazon’s Call My

Agent) as Peter Sellers, Jeremy Lloyd (The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, Trial by Laughter) as Harry Secombe, James Mack (The Watermill’s The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Rivals, Macbeth and Journey’s End) as Denis Main-Wilson / Peter Eton, Ellie Morris (The Play That Goes Wrong, Mischief Movie Night, The Comedy About A Bank Robbery for Mischief Theatre company) playing ‘June’ and Robert Mountford (The Habit of Art, The Haunting of Alice Bowles for Original Theatre Company, House and Garden for The Watermill) as BBC Executive.

Ian and Nick said: “Writing Spike gave us the opportunity to celebrate the genius of the founding father of modern comedy, explore what inspired him and steal all his jokes”.

And Paul Hart was thrilled to bring the show to life.

“It’s been great to work with Ian

and Nick on this homage to one of the most iconic voices in modern comedy.

The play will commemorate 20 years since his death (he’s still ill then?) and will be equally good fun to those who know the Goons and to audiences who are new to Spike’s distinctive brand of humour. And how we all need a laugh at the moment.”

The show runs until March 5, and The Watermill has a number of measures in place to ensure the site is covid-safe.

To help audiences to book with confidence, The Watermill operates a flexible booking policy. In the event that their booking is affected by Covid-19, audience members will be offered a ticket exchange, account credit or refund. n For more details, or to book, log on to www.watermill.org.uk, or call the box office on: 01635 46044.

14 | LEISURE

Indie comes to Henley A NEW series of gigs highlighting emerging musical talent launches in Henley this Friday.

Ghost Lights promises to bring a mixture of genres from the independent music scene to the Kenton Theatre.

There are three bands on tomorrow’s line-up.

Reading’s Rocket Kings, described as a uke pop band, will be joined by Oxford-based electronica duo Means of Production and Enjoyable Listens, a solo project of Londoner Luke Duffett.

Tickets cost £7, including a £1 theatre restoration levy. The gig begins at 8pm, with three sets of approximately 40 minutes, and a 20 minute interval between sets. n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 01491 525050 or log on to: kentontheatre.co.uk

A wicked experiment

THERE will be strange things happening at Norden Farm next week.

Isosceles Theatre Company, also known as actors Pat Abernethy and Dave Marsden, will be performing their acclaimed adaptation of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde on Thursday, February 3.

Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale tells the story of Dr Jekyll’s experiment to separate virtue from wickedness. It results in Jekyll releasing his inner

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, January 27, 2022

demon, a malevolent force which eventually takes over his body.

The performance starts at 7.30pm Tickets are £15 adults, £13 concessions. Under 18s also get in for £13. n For more details, or to book, log on to: norden.farm or call the box office on: 01628 788997.

prevailing trends of 1990s electronic music, and beyond.

Tickets cost £16. The show will start at 8pm.

For more details, or to book, log on to: norden.farm or call the box office on: 01628 788997.

Pushing a piano up mountains

Quick step or miss out

BALLROOM dancing takes centre stage in Reading on Saturday.

Strictly Come Dancing professional Kevin Clifton joins international dance company Burn the Floor for their rescheduled Hexagon performance.

The show promises a mix of eclectic music, jaw-dropping choreography and groundbreaking moves. The company will be taking the audience on a journey through ballroom dance, from the intensity of the passionate Tango to the romance of the Waltz.

Final tickets remain, prices start from £36.

The show begins at 7.30pm. n For more details, or to book, log on to: whatsonreading.com or call the box office on: 0118 960 6060.

Stairway to Basingstoke

A ROCK tribute show will be making some noise in Basingstoke next Wednesday, February 2.

The Classic Rock Show at The Anvil will celebrate the very best of classic rock.

THE TALE of three generations of African women will be told at South Street on Wednesday, February 2.

Here’s What She Said to Me, written by Oladipo Agboluaje, follows Agbeke, her daughter Omotola and grand-daughter Aramide, three women connecting with each other across two continents and across time and space. Their lives from 1960s Nigeria to present day Leeds, and the factors which influence their decisions, are explored.

Together they share their struggles, their joys, Paying tribute to its favourite rock heroes, the show thunders through songs from the likes of Led Zeppelin, Dire Straits, Steely Dan, Eric Clapton, AC/DC, Queen, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, The Who and many more.

tragedies and broken dreams in order to find healing in the present.

The play, directed by Mojisola Elufowoju, combines drama with music, poetry and movement to explore adult themes.

Suitable for an audience 15 years old and over.

The performance starts at 8pm. Tickets are priced at £14.50. n For more details, log on to: whatsonreading.com or call the box office on: 0118 960 6060.

The show promises to bring original era defining recordings back to life, with a sound and light show to match.

For the show’s finale, musicians will battle it out in a guitar duel.

The show starts at 7.30pm, with ticket prices from £30.50. n For more details, or to book, log on to: anvilarts.org.uk or call: 01256 844244.

Family-friendly youth theatre

BALTIMORE comes to Bracknell next week, thanks to a community youth theatre.

Rare Productions will be taking to the stage at South Hill Park to perform the familyfriendly musical, Hairspray.

Set in 1960s America, it tells the story of dance-loving teen Tracy Turnblad (played by Nikki Blonsky) who auditions for a spot on The Corny Collins Show, and wins.

Tracy becomes an overnight celebrity, a trendsetter in dance, fun and fashion.

Will her new status as a teen sensation be enough to topple Corny’s reigning dance queen and bring racial integration to the show?

Evening performances on Thursday, February 3, and Friday, February 4, begin at 7.30pm.

There will be a 2pm matinee on Saturday, February 5, with the evening performance beginning at the earlier time of 6.30pm.

Adult tickets are £20.50, concessions £19.50 and children £18.50. n For more details, or to book, log on to: southhillpark.org.uk or call: 01344 484123.

Laugh away the January blues COMEDY from Just the Tonic Comedy Club’s Reading residency continues this Saturday.

As usual, four comedians will be hoping to tickle the audience’s funny bones at Sub 89 on Friar Street.

Award-winning comedian Dan Antopolski is joined by Stefano Paolini, described by critics as the best voice-merchant on the circuit, Welsh comic Jenny Collier, and cheeky bloke Robin Morgan.

Doors to the venue will open at 6.45pm and the show starts at 8pm.

Tickets cost £16.50, concessions £11, and include entry to Popworld afterwards.

Over 18s only. n For more information and for tickets, visit: justthetonic.com

Ziggy plays the Farm

ONE of the UK’s top tribute acts is coming to Maidenhead next month.

David Bowie tribute Pop Up Bowie will play Norden Farm on Saturday, February 5.

Fronted by Paul Anthony, the band scooped the prize for Best David Bowie Tribute Act at the National Tribute Awards 2016.

The group will perform two hours of Bowie’s biggest hits, taking the audience on a musical journey through every era of the revolutionary music icon’s career.

It will cover Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust and glam rock phase of the 1970s right through to Earthling, his 1997 album heavily influenced by the

AN ACCLAIMED film about a retired piano tuner screens at South Hill Park next week.

Piano to Zanskar is an eccentric film documentary which tells the story of Desmond O’Keeffe, also known as Mr Gentle.

Faced with retirement, Desmond decides to take on the most challenging and perilous delivery of his career – taking a 100-year-old upright piano from Camden Town, London, to a remote primary school in the Indian Himalayas.

Aided by a team of local Sherpas, Desmond and his assistants are tested to their limits as they cross the mountain passes to reach their destination.

The certificate 12A film was directed by Michal Sulima and has an original score by Werner Herzog.

Screenings are at 7pm on Monday, January 31 and Wednesday, February 2.

Tickets start at £7.50. n For more details, or to book, log on to: southhillpark.org.uk or call: 01344 484123.

How old is she?

THE LAST few tickets remain to see one of Britain’s most successful female comedians in Camberley next month.

Jenny Éclair reaches the Camberley Theatre on her rescheduled tour, Sixty! (FFS!), on Thursday, February 3.

She was the first woman to win the Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Festival and is a critically acclaimed novelist.

Having hit 60, but still a year younger than Madonna, Jenny confronts a new age of decrepitude by considering whether she should celebrate it taking 20 minutes to scroll down to her date of birth when she’s filling in online forms.

Her last stand-up show How to be a Middle-Aged Woman (Without Going Insane) sold out in venues across the UK and as far afield as Australia.

The show begins at 7.30pm, with tickets from £21. n For more details, or to book, call the box office on: 01276 707600 or log on to: camberleytheatre.co.uk

LEISURE | 15

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Thursday, January 27, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

February feast of the arts planned by South Hill Park

A

FEAST of arts is coming to Bracknell next month, thanks to South Hill Park.

The arts centre is promising a diverse mixture of theatre, live music, dance and family fun.

One of the first events of the month is a performance from music scholars of Farnborough Sixth Form College.

They will demonstrate their learning with an evening of live classical, jazz and rock music on Thursday, February 3.

There’s more music thanks to Wilde Sundays, on February 6. The afternoon event features folk, Americana, and acoustic tunes from Tu Kay & Ryan, Downtown Roundabout and Alex Seel.

Also on Sunday, February 6, is The Beautiful Game, a laugh-out-loud look at our national obsession with football, celebrating everything from weird match-day rituals to ridiculous armchair punditry. It may even attempt to explain the offside rule.

Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation will present the world’s largest youth drama festival at South Hill Park.

There will be an evening of live theatre, featuring a series of unique abridged Shakespeare productions by local schools on Tuesday, February 8.

Then, on Wednesday, February 9, through to Saturday, February 12, The Studio Theatre Company will present Road, a look at a scruffy, depressed road in a small town.

Classical music continues with the Conservatoire International Concert Series. Pianist Florian Mitrea performs on Friday, February 11, the annual visit of students from the Purcell School will be an evening solo instrumental and chamber music.

This takes place on Friday, February 25.

Pop Divas Live! is a pop concert tribute experience featuring favourite female pop stars on the same stage for

Coram Shakespeare Schools Festival the first time. It’s suitable for all ages, and takes place on Saturday, February 12.

West Forest Sinfonia are performing in the Recital Room on Sunday, February 13, with a concert of chamber music. The performance will include piano, flute, clarinet and more.

BARTA Theatre Academy as they revolt in their performance of Matilda the Musical Jr from Wednesday, February 16, to Saturday, February 19.

It features popular Matilda songs including Miracle, Naughty, and When I Grow Up.

A Blues and Roots Double Bill with Mark T and Ajay Srivastav will take place in the Cellar Bar on Wednesday, February 16.

These artists push the boundaries of the Blues at the same time entrenched in the tradition.

Tom Smith is this month’s Bracknell Jazz artist, appearing on Friday, February 18. The saxophonist was twice finalist of the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year programme in 2014 and 2016.

From the producers of the UK tours of The Goon Show and Hancock’s Half Hour comes another radio comedy classic live on stage on Sunday, February 20.

Round the Horne was one of the biggest and best radio comedy shows of all time, and still endures today, 50 years on.

An accidental meeting in the woods.

A spark of friendship, of connection – maybe even romance.

That’s the premise for Corner Shop Sweets, running from Thursday, February

24, through to Saturday, February 26.

It explores the relationships that young carers share and the struggles they face when growing up.

Same Time, Next Year charts the lives of Doris and George who met at a Californian Hotel in 1951.

Their chance encounter leads to a passionate one-night stand in which they promise to meet 12 months later. So begins a romantic love affair that lasts 25 years. This will be performed on Friday, February 25, and Saturday, February 26.

In time for half-term, The Twirlywoos are back for a great big adventure.

Join Great BigHoo, Toodloo, Chickedy, Chick and their friends as they discover the wonderful world around us.

Expect mischief, music and plenty of surprises as they set sail in their big red boat on Sunday, February 27. n For more details, call the box office on 01344 484123, or log on to: www. southhillpark.org.uk

PHIL CREIGHTON

Sea Power ready to sail with new album

A

BAND that formed more than two decades ago in Reading is preparing to release its 12th album.

And one of the singles has already been a hit with BBC Radio 6 Music.

Sea Power, formerly known as British Sea Power, met at the University of Reading in 2000.

They progressed from battle of the bands at their student union to Reading venues The Purple Turtle and The Rising Sun Arts Centre.

More than 20 years and many albums later, Sea Power are just months away from their next tour to mark the release their new album, Everything Was Forever, on Friday, February 11.

Guitarist Martin Noble, who now lives near Brighton, said that the album is a curated selection of tracks — some of which have been in the works for years.

His favourite, We Only Want To Make You Happy, features brothers Yan and Neil Wilkinson singing.

“It’s a kind of ballad-esque, post-rock duet,” he said. “It’s really uplifting and it’s nice to get the two brothers to sing together.”

Martin said that it was important for all of the songs to stand together, and be emotionally consistent.

The hope is that the 10 tracks will get listeners more in touch with their feelings.

“The two brothers lost both of

their parents in the pandemic,” Martin explained.

Some of the tracks have been influenced by their childhood memories, including Lakeland Echo, which was named after a newspaper that Yan, Neil and their father used to deliver in the Lake District.

“The tracks aren’t really trying too hard, or forcing anything,” Martin added.

The first single released from the upcoming album was Two Fingers, which has been featured heavily by BBC Radio 6 Music, and was premiered by the station’s former DJ, Shaun Keaveny.

The band said that Two Fingers is a potential anthem for troubled times, with symbols of both contempt and resolution.

It has been described as a rock song to talk back to “sundry self-serving figureheads of this era”.

Yet is also moves with hope and oppositional vigour.

One of the other singles released, Folly, is an “apocalyptic anthem” said Martin.

“Everyone [is] ambling down the road to a multitude of catastrophes,” he said.

“Party on.”

“You might find yourself standing up on the South Downs, up on the fells or the dales, looking down at the world, a world where we seem to avoid the decisions and changes to stop the rot. It’s

Sea Power are set to release their new album on Friday, February 11. Picture: Hollywood

all folly, but in this case set to some pretty life-affirming music ... maybe making you think it’s not all over, not quite, not yet.”

Martin said that their album is not shy on addressing things, and said that musically, it is fairly positive.

Last year, the group had a fortnightlong tour that had been previously postponed due to the pandemic.

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“It was weird for everyone,” Martin said. “I felt like I had never been on stage before.”

He said that the adrenaline alone was like nothing else.

“By the end of it, you felt like you had never been away,” he added. “You could tell that everyone was loving it. I was glad to be back, it was a long time coming.”

He has the same hopes for the band’s upcoming tour in April. They will be playing at seven venues across the country, throughout the month.

The nearest venues are in Southampton and London. n For more information, or tickets, visit: www.seapowerband.com

JESS WARREN

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16 | LEISURE

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, January 27, 2022

Hurst Panto gives people plenty to smile about

H

URST Pantomime Group performed their tenth production to sell-out audiences last week, gaining glowing praise all round.

A Lad in the Wild West told the classic Aladdin story but set in Nevada for a cowboy-themed twist.

Featuring not one, but two pantomime horses, and a large cast of adults and children, it proved to be a very entertaining outing for young and old alike.

Director Hannah Guile said: “We are so proud that we achieved our objective of giving the people of Hurst and the wider community something to look forward to and enjoy, and a way out of the really difficult past two years.

“It’s not been an easy road to get here, with the challenges of rehearsing and performing under covid restrictions, but everyone involved has been incredibly supportive of the additional measures we’ve had to take.”

I attended with family members who ranged from eight to 78; its Saturday evening show had something for everyone to enjoy.

My son loved the slapstick humour and audience participation, while his grandma tapped her toes to the excellent

SPEAKING UP: Black is the Color of my Voice stars Florence Odumosu and will be in Henley in March Picture: Peter Dibdin

Music and activism combine for Kenton Theatre show HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN: Hurst Pantomime Group returned to the stage with a Wild West take on Aladdin Picture: Michael Gribble

mix of classic and modern musical numbers from the band and giggled at the more adult jokes that went over his head. A perfect combination.

It was inspiring to see some of the main characters played so expertly by such young, talented actors – AJ Saliba, 15, playing Al and Hannah, 18, playing Jasmine alongside her directing role. The impressive vocal talents of both actors made for some stunning duets.

Experienced principals Joe de Mounteney and Keith Milner had

us in hysterics and booing loudly respectively at their portrayals of Dame Twang and villain Big Bad John, while Hope Lawrence’s Jeannie brought some marvellous Wild West sass to the traditional role.

We were so impressed that there were so many children in the cast, some as young as eight, all who seemed to be having a ball up on stage.

Watch this space for some future stars of pantomimes to come.

The performance ended with

Hurst Village Hall erupting into a rousing sing-a-long finale with the audience on their feet to both join in and give a well-deserved standing ovation.

The whole evening absolutely flew by for us, despite being over two hours long, and we loved every minute.

The show had such a fantastic feel-good factor - we left with big smiles on our faces, concluding that a night of music and laughter was just the tonic needed for a dark January evening.

VIKKI RANDLES

THE life of one of the most famous jazz singers of all time forms the backdrop for a new play coming to the Kenton Theatre this spring.

Black Is The Colour Of My Voice tells the story of a successful jazz singer and civil rights activist as she seeks redemption after the untimely death of her father. She reflects on the journey that took her from a young piano prodigy destined for a life in the service of the church, to a renowned jazz vocalist at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement.

The play is by Apphia Campbell, and is currently on a national tour following sell-out

seasons in Shanghai, New York, Edinburgh, and in the West End, and is inspired by Nina Simone.

She wrote Black Is The Color Of My Voice in 2013, making its West End debut in 2019, at Trafalgar Studios, while her next play, Woke, had a London premiere of Woke at Battersea Arts Centre.

It is performed by FLorence Odumosu, and is suitable for ages 12 upwards.

It takes place at 5pm at the Kenton Theatre in Henley on Sunday, March 6. n For more details, call the box office on 01491 525050, or log on to kentontheatre.co.uk

Independence party at Rising Sun

WPR_2022-01-24_ReadingToday_16x4 (1)_Just Go

Reader travel

TORQUAY

NEWQUAY

Departing Fri 11 Mar ‘22

Departing Fri 11 Mar ‘22

House Party

PLAY DAY: Tom Webber (Picture: V ictoria Holt) and Tomorrow Bird (below) are taking part in a celebration of venues that support live music

House Party

TorquayHouseParty_F.pdf

Your break includes

Your break includes

Return coach travel from Reading 3 nights at the Burlington Hotel, Torquay with dinner & breakfast Happy hour every evening before dinner Afternoon tea dance with tea, coffee and cake Bingo afternoon Entertainment every evening Excursion to Exeter

Return coach travel from Reading 3 nights at the Kilbirnie Hotel, Newquay with dinner & breakfast Happy hour every evening Entertainment every evening Movie afternoon Afternoon tea dance with tea, coffee and cake Excursion to Padstow

Optional excursion to Brixham & Dartmouth (£10pp)

Optional excursion to St Ives & Penzance (£10pp)

159

4 Days by Coach only £ Single Supplement £45

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4 Days by Coach only £ Single Supplement £45

Operated by Just Go Holidays Ltd. Coach package holidays and short breaks are subject to Just Go! Holidays terms and conditions.

Your booking is protected by Bonded Coach Holidays (BCH) and the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT); this is a government approved consumer protection scheme. Tours offered subject to availability and government guidelines.

Errors and omissions excepted. Prices per person, based on two people sharing a double/twin room. Calls to 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply.

For more information, or to book, please call

03332 342 527 Quote WPR

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TO MARK next month’s Independent Venue Week, a Reading independent venue is holding some independent gigs.

Club Velocity will be returning to The Rising Sun Arts Centre in Silver Street on Friday, February 4, and Saturday, February 5, for a double header of music.

The special week aims to celebrate and champion venues like the Rising Sun, which are run by communities.

Often, they give artists their first experience of playing live in front of an audience –and fans get the chance to discover someone before they were famous, ahead of the days when they swap the intimate

venues for festival main stages.

On Friday, February 4, there are three acts performing.

Nicky Booty is said to have a

voice of an angel, with her song Father earmarked as a stand-out.

Didcot-based Tom Webber is only 21 but already getting a lot of people in London very excited.

And Hatty Taylor, formerly of Vienna Ditto, is now a solo artist.

The Saturday date sees male/ female duo Tomorrow Bird perform their heartfelt songs.

Colours & Fire are said to have songs with a huge thumping heart; while One Eyed Man is a songwriter that is said to have a huge talent. n Doors for both evenings are at 8pm, with advance tickets costing £8. Search for Rising Sun on wegottickets.com

PHIL CREIGHTON

LEISURE | 25

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Thursday, January 27, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

LIVEMUSIC

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RaW Sounds Today

HOME TIME: The Paradox Twin will be performing a gig at The Facebar next month Picture: Andrew Merritt Photography

Chris Hillman

bit.ly/ rawsoundstoday

E

VERY week, we bring you a round-up of the best bands performing or from the Reading and Wokingham areas.

Some bands are so good we have to bring their latest efforts to your attention every time. And that’s the case this week, with a check-in from The Paradox Twin.

Fresh from topping our playlist of 2021, they’re back and raring to go with a gig at Reading’s Facebar next month.

It’s just one song from 10 great tunes that you can listen, for free, thanks to our Spotify playlist.

The RaW Sounds playlist is a terrific way to explore a wide range of brilliant artists, discover some new music and keep dancing – make sure you bookmark the Spotify page.

To hear this week’s set, simply head to https://bit.ly/rawsoundstoday and get ready to rock.

There’s 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.

The Paradox Twin – Perfect Circles They headed up our Top 20 of 2021 and appeared in many best of year lists around the world but despite this acclaim they have never appeared in their home town of Reading.

However that changes on February 4, when The Paradox Twin will be performing the whole of their Silence from Signals album, from which this track is taken, at a very special homecoming event at Reading’s Facebar.

Well worth popping along to see why so many

The Room – Run This band with members from the local area were invited as special guests at the Hammersmith Club in London on January 22, by a brand-new band, Little Finger, whose members are made up of Gary Numan’s backing band - https://theroom.band/

Penelope Isles – Have You Heard Penelope Isles are from Brighton and were due to be appearing at Reading’s Facebar on Friday.

Unfortunately, however, their tour has been cancelled but this is still well worth a listen - https:// www.penelopeisles.com/

Toyah – Levitate She’s an iconic performer who first came to fame with some classic 80s hits and she headed to Wokingham Music Club (WMC) at Whitty Theatre last week. Levitate is from Toyah’s latest album Posh Pop - https://toyahwillcox.com/

Sam Handy – Done

people are getting excited about this band - https:// www.theparadoxtwin.com/

Harriet – I’m Not in Love Harriet has a truly wonderful voice reminiscent of the great Karen Carpenter and we are going to be lucky to get the chance to hear her live when she visits Wokingham next month.

She will be performing her intimate piano sessions show for Wokingham Music Club at Whitty Theatre on February 18.

Have a listen to this beautiful version of 10cc’s classic and pop along to the show which promises to be a magical evening of quality music - https://www. harrietsmusic.com/

The Honey Pot – Somewhere Between Here and Anywhere The Honey Pot, who released their latest album, The Secret, on Wokingham’s Billywitch Records, will be performing in the legendary Half Moon Putney on Sunday - https://www.facebook.com/ thehoneypotband

Quantum Pig – Statement of Intent This Progressive Music Awards nominated duo will be supporting The Paradox Twin at Reading’s Facebar on February 4. The song is from their acclaimed debut album Songs of Industry and Sunshine – http://quantumpig.net

Sam is a singer-songwriter from Reading who has released a number of singles with a soulful alternative pop feel and Done is his latest.

It has a melody that sticks in your head, delivered

by Sam’s silky-smooth vocals - https://www. samhandy.com/

Wille and the Bandits – Solid Ground What a great live band this is, as shown by their headlining performance at Wokingham Festival. This is from their new album, When the World Stood Still, which gets a full release this month - https://www. willeandthebandits.com/

Rachel Redman (ft. Damian C Carruthers) – Obvious Rachel is a local singer songwriter who has appeared in our playlist previously and she has just released a new single with talented musician, Damian Carruthers - https://www.facebook.com/ rachelredmanmusic

No. 5398

Your weekly puzzle challenge

26 | LEISURE

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, January 27, 2022

TO ADVERTISE ON THIS PAGE, CALL CLAIRE ON: 0118 327 2662

Quiz Challenge

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1. The annual Royal International Horse Show is held at which venue?

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Each number in our Cross Code grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. You have three letters in the control grid to start you off. Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters should go in the missing squares.

As you get the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and control grid. Check off the alphabetical list of letters as you identify them.

MAGIC SQUARE

KEEN ON INK PROTEIN

P T

H L U 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: 26 Good; 31 Very Good; 36 Excellent.

Any word found in the Concise Oxford Dictionary (Tenth Edition) is eligible with the following exceptions: proper nouns; plural nouns, pronouns and possessives; third person singular verbs; hyphenated words; contractions and abbreviations; vulgar slang words; variant spellings of the same word (where another variant is also eligible).

Using all 16 letters of the phrase above, form four words each of four letters which will fit in the grid to form a magic square in which the words can be read both horizontally and vertically.

BI

OW

IG

WF

RE

UA

SR

NL

AI

EC

9 1 8

5

1

5 7 8

5 6 5

3 7

3

9 8 4

9 7 2 1

2 1 7 1 2 3 6 8 5 4 6 9 4 3 8 7

15

14

15

18

16

19

20

20 21

R M

G O

A

7. Endless regret of doctor having a dance (5)

N R

8. Officer ran out and fell down (9)

A

9. Keep a supply of goods for sale (5)

10. Not going to make a song about a Scottish flower (7)

Here are two miniature fivesquare crosswords using the same grid – but the letters have been mixed up.

You have to work out which letters belong to which crossword.

RE

23

ACROSS 3. Such speed could be fatal (9)

13. Got an arrangement for the dance (5) 14. Understand key file (5)

16. Document one takes from a letter (5)

17. Cover for a young goat (7) 21. Surprise take (5)

22. Notes main diversion from state (9) 23. Straight man in charge of government (5) 24. Hired an accountant (9)

3

4

5

11

10

11

13

14

26

6

7

7

8

10

11

12 15

16

This puzzle page is supplied by Sirius Media Services Ltd.

6

9

10

20

© Sirius Media Services Ltd

2

7

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.

To try our new puzzle, Zygolex, go to www.zygolex.com

DOWN 1. Angry words overheard on the telephone? (5-4) 2. Confined to exchanging ten cents with British currency inside (9) 3. Support record accumulation (7) 4. Give some to all moving round (5) 5. Quick, it is likely to bite! (5) 6. How one comes to confess (5) 10. Removed satin with a dirty mark (5) 11. Faint line sort of childish (9) 12. Raw youth finds a colourful instrument (9) 15. Notice return of a Swiss mountain holiday greeting (7) 18. Section of choir is hounded from the Emerald Isle (5) 19. US politician at a loss with Spaniard (5) 20. Question children (5)

QUICK CROSSWORD 1

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.

15

17

22

18

19

22

21

22

23

24

25 27

28 29

30

31 32

2 3 8 7 4 5 6 1 9

5 7 1 6 3 9 8 4 2

8 2 3 9 6 1 7 5 4

9 1 5 4 7 3 2 6 8

7 4 6 5 8 2 9 3 1

WORD PYRAMID: Orange marmalade.

EQUALISER: Clockwise from top left – multiply; subtract; add; divide. Total: 8.

SOLUTIONS

4 6 9 1 2 8 3 7 5

3 2 1 6 7 3 4 5 4 3 6 4 2 2 8 1

2 7

3 8 4 2 1 7 5 9 6

7 8

E

EQUALISER 4 12 3 3 1 4 6 6 2 5 2 2

Hard

1 5 2 3 9 6 4 8 7

4

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

18

14

12

24

A

EG

TE

13

21

M

DH

PD

6

11

24

TO

EI

5

22

OD

NR

SUDOKU Easy

17

FIVE ALIVE MA

4

13

WORD PYRAMID

AR

3

10

10. The name of which bird appears in the title of a 1992 novel by John Grisham?

Spell out a 15-letter word or phrase by moving from one chamber to another within the pyramid. You may only enter each of the chambers once and may only proceed E through openings in the walls. The D first letter may appear in any chamber.

A L

3

9

9. If you were served rollmops, what would you be eating?

5. Who composed the opera Hansel and Gretel?

21

9 3

9

2

8

8. Monica Galetti has been a judge on which BBC cooking show since 2009?

4. The Chinese crested dog is divided into what two varieties?

2

7

7. The Cape of Good Hope is on which continent?

3. What R is the title of a Beatles album and a type of weapon?

16

16 6

5

1

6. The horizontal rows of squares on a chessboard are called ranks. What are the vertical rows called?

2. The Kyoto Protocol was an international agreement that called for the reduction of what?

12

17

9

9

7

20

24

7

11 16

3

26

9

15

16

2

12

15

20

7

20 7

23

22 10

2

19

22 9

18

9

7

1

22

5

12

7

6 9 7 8 5 4 1 2 3

26

9

7

2 7 4 3 5 9 1 8 6

16

2

8

6 3 5 8 7 1 2 9 4

9

5

8 1 9 4 2 6 5 7 3

7

7

4 6 8 5 1 2 9 3 7

3

12

9 5 1 7 8 3 4 6 2

15

3

16

3 2 7 6 9 4 8 1 5

26

7 8 6 1 4 5 3 2 9

2

5 9 3 2 6 8 7 4 1

24

1 4 2 9 3 7 6 5 8

7

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

PZ1P5398

CROSS CODE

5398

ACROSS 1. Chastise (9) 9. Horn (6) 10. Competent (4) 11. River mud (4) 12. Mythical sea monster (6) 13. Time between (7) 16. Heathland (4) 17. Acute discomfort (4) 18. Greek letter (3) 20. Light brown (3) 21. Beat severely (4) 23. Rotate (4)

25.

26.

29.

30.

31.

Battlement (7) Plan of action (6) Cipher (4) Fruit peel (4) Commencement (6) 32. Sonority (9) DOWN 2. Pink-eyed person (6) 3. Move unsteadily (6) 4. Natter (6) 5. Speak (4) 6. Competitor (7)

7. Anti-aircraft fire (4) 8. Passing (9) 13. Copy (9) 14. Urban area (4) 15. Civic dignitary (5) 18. Developing insect (4) 19. Policeman (7) 22. Summerhouse (6) 23. Ancient Greek city (6) 24. Sarcastic (6) 27. Refer to (4) 28. Animal shelter (4)

QUICK CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Castigate; 9 Antler; 10 Able; 11 Silt; 12 Kraken; 13 Interim; 16 Moor; 17 Pain; 18 Phi; 20 Tan; 21 Flog; 23 Spin; 25 Rampart; 26 Tactic; 29 Code; 30 Rind; 31 Outset; 32 Resonance.

Down – 2 Albino; 3 Teeter; 4 Gossip; 5 Talk; 6 Entrant; 7 Flak; 8 Transient; 13 Imitation; 14 Town; 15 Mayor; 18 Pupa; 19 Officer; 22 Gazebo; 23 Sparta; 24 Ironic; 27 Cite; 28 Cote.

QUIZ CHALLENGE: 1 Hickstead, Sussex; 2 Greenhouse gas emissions; 3 Revolver; 4 Powderpuff and Hairless; 5 Engelbert Humperdinck; 6 FIVE ALIVE: Files; 7 Africa; 8 MasterChef: The Professionals; 9 Pickled herrings; 10 Pelican (The Pelican Brief).

(1) Across – Amigo; Fresh; Later.

Down – Awful; Inept; Other.

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: CROSS CODE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Across – 3 Breakneck; 7 Rumba; 8 Collapsed; 9 Stock; 10 (2) Across – Rabid; Weird; Niece.

G S P K D H A J E F Y I Q Staying; 13 Tango; 14 Grasp; 16 Lease; 17 Kidskin; 21 Catch; 22 Down – Rowan; Bride; Dodge.

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Minnesota; 23 Ruler; 24 Chartered.

W O R Z V M N C L X U B T Down – 1 Cross-talk; 2 Impounded; 3 Backlog; 4 Allot; 5 Nippy; NONAGRAM: armpit; harp; hump; impart; lamp; 6 Clean; 10 Stain; 11 Infantile; 12 Greenhorn; 15 Placard; 18 Irish; limp; lipa; lump; pail; pair; palm; part; MAGIC SQUARE: EASY SUDOKU HARD SUDOKU 19 Señor; 20 Issue. pink; iron; note; path; phial; phut; pilau; pita; pith; knee. plait; plat; plum; prahu; pram; prat; prau; prial; prim; primal; primula; pula; puli; puma; puri; purl; ramp; rapt; rump; rupiah; tamp; tapir; tarp; thrip; thump; tramp; trap; trip; triumph; TRIUMPHAL; trump; tulip; tump; umph.

Thursday, January 27, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

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LEISURE | 27

Clothespegs, Batgirl and Pink Diamonds come together for Rising Sun celebration It’s quirky, it’s loved and it’s very Reading.

On Saturday, a party helped The Rising Sun reach its fundraising target. PHIL CREIGHTON finds out more. Pictures: DIJANA CAPAN

I

T’S THE VENTILATION that love built.

A gig on Saturday night has been hailed as “fabulous”, and it also had a heart as it helped a Readingbased arts centre hit its fundraising target.

The Big Vent Event at South Street arts centre saw four bands perform to a capacity crowd. But the event wasn’t in aid of that arts centre, but its near neighbour just up the road, the Rising Sun. It was organised by members of Dolly and the Clothespegs, one of the bands performing. Joining them were Captain Batgirl, The Pink Diamond Revue, Daughter of the Water, Damien A Passmore, and The Mark II. They performed on the main stage and the studio stage, making it feel like a mini-festival.

Larry Watson, manager of the Rising Sun, was thrilled that the event helped it complete its goal of raising enough money to pay for a special ventilation system designed to filter air particles so it can be a covid-safe venue.

“The Big Vent Event went really well,” Larry said. “The event itself was fabulous. The bands that were playing were amazing. The atmosphere was amazing. It was a really nice event and everybody seemed really happy – there was a lovely feeling about the place.”

The event raised more than the £1,000 Larry needed to complete his target, so the excess – thought to be around £600 – will go to the Berkshire Cancer Centre.

And the ventilation is already in place meaning it won’t be too long before the Rising Sun rises again.

“We got to a point where we judged that the appeal was going to get there, one way or another,” Larry says. “We felt we could spend the money on installing it because we were going to raise it.

“We’re obviously really grateful to South Street for hosting it, and for Dolly and the Clothespegs for doing all the work to organise it.”

With so many people turning out for a great night of music, Larry was thrilled to see the vote of confidence for the Rising Sun, which supports local artists, musicians and the community as a whole. Regular events include a poetry night, music nights, dance lessons and open mic sessions.

“Something that came out from the event was a kind of feeling that

people were there for us. Some of the musicians on stage even said that was why there were there, and we were important to them,” Larry says. “That was great to hear, from our point of view, and really nice.”

Of course, now that the current Plan B restrictions are phasing out, eyes are optimistically on what’s around the future. And with the ventilation in place that means events can start to return again.

“We are now working towards gradually getting our programme back up to full speed,” Larry says.

“We’re looking at recruiting and training new volunteers, because we come out of lockdown with slightly less volunteers than when we went in.

“We’re really just looking at our capacity as a result. Otherwise, we’re set to go.

“We’ll do it slowly, we’ll come out of lockdown steadily. We’re on track and we’re getting there.

“We’re doing some great events, and there’s some stuff in the programme – it’s looking good.”

Above: Captain Batgirl sings Top right: The Pink Diamond Revue entertains. Right, and below: Fun at the Great Big Vent Event

n To see what’s coming up, log on to www.risingsunartscentre.org

Your packed what’s on guide will return next week

28 | LIFE

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Sweet chilli prawn stir-fry

Simple tips that could help save on your fuel bills this winter

In the kitchen

F

ANCY a stir fry that’s packed with seafood, chunky greens and just the right amount of spice?

Try Love Seafood’s sweet chilli prawn stir fry, a delicious meal which will guarantee clean plates for under £10.

Blanching the broccoli in advance is a great tip, allowing the rest of the ingredients to be quickly stir fried without overcooking for an easy weeknight win.

Love Seafood is focusing on how seafood can Bring on Better Living, showcasing how easy and tasty seafood is to cook at home.

It’s simple, budgetfriendly and encourages

A

S FUEL bills rise, a housebuilder has offered some tips on how to make homes more energy efficient – and environmentally friendly in the process.

consumers from across the UK to bring more balance into their diets with a high-protein seafood option.

Shop your local fishmonger for a great choice of sustainably sourced seafood and for more recipe inspiration visit www.loveseafood. co.uk.

Skill Level: Easy Serves: 4 Cooking time: 15 minutes cut into batons • 2 sachets (around 120g each) of sweet • 350-400g cooked and chilli stir fry sauce peeled king prawns • 1 head of broccoli, cut • 2 x 250g packs of ready-to-heat rice into bite size florets • 1 tbsp sesame or other • Sesame seeds, to garnish (optional) frying oil • 1 onion, sliced • 1-2 carrots (depending Method on size), peeled and 1. Boil or steam the

Ingredients

During the pandemic, working from home have meant domestic energy usage has increased and gas prices have more than quadrupled in the space of 12 months from December 2020.

Here are some ideas that could make a difference in the home:

Changing use of water habits

broccoli for around 2–3 minutes, then drain (if necessary) and set aside.

2. Heat the oil in a wok or large non-stick frying pan on a medium heat. Add the onions and fry for a few minutes, until they start to brown.

3. Add the carrots to the pan and stir-fry for a couple of minutes before adding the drained broccoli.

4. Next, add the prawns and the sweet chilli sauce, mixing together and heating for a few minutes

until the prawns are piping hot.

5. Prepare the rice according to the pack instructions and serve with the prawn stir fry, a sprinkle of sesame seeds, if desired, and your favourite condiments.

M

ANY of us promise to become more sustainable at the start of a new year, but how are we going to do that?

Whether it’s a tomato plant, lettuce, spinach, or carrots – opt for the New Year to be a year where you grow your own vegetables.

Not only might this knock some money off your grocery bills, but it’s also great to become more sustainable about what you’re eating.

Here are 11 steps from Sustainable Housebuilder of the Year 2021, Barratt Homes, on how to make your home and life eco-friendlier this year.

9. Looking for a new home?

An energy-efficient new-build will be a better option

1. Use bamboo toilet paper

2. Get better at recycling It’s hard to determine which items can be recycled and which items must go into the bin, so study the packaging closely to see what advice is given.

If you can’t find any answers, do a quick Google search to see if the item that you’re throwing away can be recycled.

For items such as clothes and household objects, if re-usable, donate them to a charity shop.

3. Unplug electricals when not in use Many of us are guilty of leaving lights and TVs on whilst we’re not around, or even having them on in

the background when not being used.

Not only is this wasting energy, but also adds to the cost of energy bills.

If you’re not around or not using an electrical appliance, then simply unplug it.

4. Turn off all plug sockets while you’re away

When it comes to going on holiday you could save energy by turning off all plug sockets completely. It could also help prevent a fire whilst you’re not around.

When it comes to the end of the month, you should have less money to pay for your energy bills too.

5. Hand wash clothes if you only have small pieces to wash Overusing a washing machine will simply add to your energy bills, especially if you are only washing a small handful of items.

Instead of putting a small load into a washing cycle, opt for handwashing

With the increase in people washing hands and sanitising to protect themselves from coronavirus, this leads to a direct increase in water usage, with hot water taking more energy to produce than cold water.

Research has proven that cold water is just as effective as hot water when it comes to killing the virus, so making the switch to cold water where possible will help to keep bills down.

Taking showers instead of baths can also make a tremendous difference when reducing how much water is used on a daily basis.

Other methods can also lead to reduced water bills, such as turning the tap off when brushing teeth, only using dishwashers and washing machines when they are full, throwing tissues in the bin rather than flushing them away and collecting rainwater to use to water any houseplants.

Switch-off, don’t stand-by

11 ways to live lightly

Using an alternative to toilet paper is something that most of us probably wouldn’t think of.

However, when it comes to trees and deforestation, lastobject. com said that to make 127 rolls of toilet paper (which is what one person in the UK uses annually), 27,000 trees are cut down to make them. Purchase bamboo toilet rolls instead of your supermarket-boughtbased rolls.

Bamboo is made from grass, and not a tree which means that bamboo paper is more eco-friendly.

WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, January 27, 2022

them instead, this uses much less water detergent and electricity.

With many people looking to move into a new home in 2022, a new build home will be much more energyefficient than purchasing or renting an old one.

An energy-efficient home might mean a cheaper mortgage, with some lenders offering ‘green mortgages’ to help with sustainability

6. Stop purchasing bottled water

10. Only use a dishwasher when its full

Instead, take a flask that you have at home, or re-use a plastic bottle.

If you’re at work for five days and purchase a bottle every day for lunch, that’s 240 plastic bottles you’re using a year. Instead, opt for reusable ones.

It takes 450 years for a plastic bottle to break down.

7. Contact places that send you letters rather than emails

Some shops and companies still bombard letterboxes with deals or reminders, but you can ask for them to be sent to your email rather than have them sent to you by post.

Having less junk mail sent to you is more environmentally friendly.

8. Start growing your own vegetables

Like a washing machine, you should only put on a dishwasher when it’s full, and even then, you should be putting it on an eco-setting.

A dishwashing cycle in an ecofriendly setting uses less water than washing up manually.

11. Eat seasonally and reduce food waste

Eat foods that are naturally in the harvest. For instance, this means eating sprouts in the winter and eating strawberries in the summer.

Purchasing leeks, parsnips, and swede are great winter harvest vegetables.

Equally, purchase wonky veg.

By doing so, you’re helping reduce food waste and become more sustainable.

Many may not realise but leaving electrical items on standby as opposed to turning them off completely can cost homeowners hundreds for items they aren’t even using.

Once the credits roll or the full time whistle blows and it’s time for bed, it may be better to start turning the plug sockets off at the wall instead of just leaving it on standby overnight until the following evening.

The same can be said for any chargers; even if the device is not plugged in to the charger, this will still use a little bit of energy and shorten the lifespan of the charger itself.

The worst offenders of all are games consoles.

Due to their built-in automatic standby modes, ‘quick start’ features and constant need to perform updates in the background, they will regularly consume a lot of energy when not being used.

Feeling the heat It may sound like something a grumpy parent may say, but putting on a jumper or an extra pair of socks instead of turning the heating up can make a huge difference to your monthly bills in the colder months.

This is not flawless – no-one can be expected to keep their heating off all winter on the coldest nights – but there are ways to make the most of the heating.

Ensuring radiators are unobstructed by furniture and bleeding them regularly can help rooms feel warmer at lower temperatures.

Rob Allen, Sales Director at David Wilson Homes Southern, said: “It can save residents money, help protect the planet and teach our children about being environmentally friendly.

“With many people continuing to work from home, finding this balance is tougher than ever.

New-build homes are proven to be more energy efficient than older properties and we are constantly developing innovative and sustainable practices when building our developments.

“Our properties are expertly designed to comply with energy efficiency regulations. They are built with superior insulation, ensuring the heat stays in your home and energy consumption is minimised, meaning modern living and working from home is easy and manageable.”

YOUR BRILLIANT GRASSROOTS SPORT NEWSPAPER WOKINGHAM EDITION

27.01.22

ANOTHER DEFEAT FOR MEN’S TEAM

BEST FOR HOCKEY

WOMEN ENJOY FOURTH WIN

RAMS LOSE OUT AGAINST LEEDS

TRIBUTES PAID TO BINFIELD’S CHRISTIAN

TRIBUTES have poured in from the football community after the death of Binfield FC player Christian Rowe.

MASTERCLASS

FREE-KICKS HELP BOARS WIN DERBY CLASH

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today A FREE-KICK masterclass from Harinder Singh Hunjan helped Eversley & California to earn three points against Woodley United.

In the second meeting of the two local sides of the season, the Boars ensured they took

maximum points again with a 3-1 victory at the Rivermoor.

Singh put Eversley, but Woodley hit back and equalised through Caleb Lucas.

On the stroke of half-time, Singh repeated his set-piece brilliance and found the top corner to restore Eversley’s lead before Ali Dickie sealed the match in the second-half.

Eversley stay in the hunt for the promotion places in fourth after their outstanding run of form.

Meanwhile, Woodley are down in 19th but with plenty of games in hand to play on the teams around them in the Combined Counties Division One table.

Eversley manager Matty Angell said: “We certainly weren’t at our best but full credit to Woodley

United who certainly made it a difficult afternoon. Another three points though and a sign of the resilience of this team but will need to be a lot better to keep up with the others.” n The Boars face another local clash this weekend in the league when they host Berks County on Saturday (3pm kick-off). n Full football round-up page 19

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www.trademarkwindows.co.uk

The 19-year-old died following a road traffic accident.

Rowe joined Binfield on loan from Slough and played in a County Cup match at Long Crendon as recently as last week.

A statement released by Binfield FC reads: “It is with a heavy heart that we write to all our football friends, players, managers, members and volunteers to share the devastating news that one of our current first team players, Christian Rowe, has sadly passed away while travelling home after our Berks & Bucks County Cup fixture on Wednesday evening last week.

“Christian had only recently joined up with our first team and represented the club five times.

“He was a hugely talented player and quickly earned the respect of his fellow players, fans and our management team here at Binfield FC. “A 19-year-old young man, Christian had quickly established himself as an extremely popular and capable member of our first team here at Binfield FC. “We are all devastated by the news of his passing and we would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Christian’s family, friends, Slough Town FC and all that knew him.

“A wonderful talent and popular young man, we will always hold a special memory of Christian here at Binfield FC.” The statement ends: “Our thoughts are with all of Christian’s family and loved ones at this difficult and hugely painful time.

“Sending you all our love and thoughts. Binfield Football Club.”

18 | SPORT

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, January 27, 2022

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Leeds Tykes v Rams Pictures: Tim Pitfield

RUGBY UNION

AGONISING DEFEAT RAMS LOSE LEAD AS TYKES PUNISH AT THE SYCAMORES Leeds Tykes v Rams Pictures: Tim Pitfield

RUGBY UNION

VISITORS TO TAKE THE POINTS

By RICHARD ASHTON sport@wokingham.today

DISAPPOINTED Rams Director of Rugby Seb Reynolds was left frustrated after his side were unable to back up an encouraging first-half display in a narrow 25-22 reverse at Leeds Tykes.

The visitors made a sensational start with tries from debutant Charlie Robson – with his first touch in National One – and Tom Vooght, added to by a Drew Humberstone conversion giving them a 12-0 lead.

Charlie Venables added the extras to a Jake Brady score to cut the gap, but Max Hayman and Connor Hayhow crossed to wrap up the try bonus-point and send Rams into the break 22-7 in front.

With conditions and an increasingly vocal crowd in

their favour, tries from Matt Burke and Alex Pleasants, along with eight points from the boot of Venables snuck Leeds in front in the 79th minute before they held on for the win.

Reynolds said: “I thought our energy was excellent early on and we started very well.

“We got into the game and took the platform of good field position and played some decent rugby, going out into a lead.

“I don’t know if at half-time we thought we had enough, because there was a lot of rugby left to be played and the slope is quite prominent.

“We perhaps didn’t play the rugby I’d have expected us to play in the second half – we needed to get a couple more scores and my one criticism of our game management would probably be we were

Leeds Tykes v Rams Pictures: Tim Pitfield

looking to see the game out with 15 minutes to go.

“It was a bit naïve, there are things to work on, but these things happen.”

He continued: “(Overall) I think Leeds thoroughly deserved it. They had good intent in the first half up the hill and into a little bit of a breeze, and they got a good score.

“At the scrum I thought they stayed in the fight well – we had moments of dominance, but they actually secured their side up pretty well.

“Our front row did a good job, and I thought Charlie was excellent all game, but it wasn’t to be.”

The game bore a frustrating likeness to the last-play 18-17 defeat at Taunton Titans back in October and Reynolds admitted his troops must learn to kill off possible home

comebacks before they gain momentum.

He said: “You’ve got to try and shut it down by continuing to do what you do well and we stopped doing that.

“We almost slowed our own game down at times and we’ve seen it before where sometimes you can have a platform at scrum and maul, and then breaking out from that is hard to do.

“There were moments in the first half when we did play and we looked good and we needed to keep doing that. But we weren’t able to and that’s the way it goes sometimes.”

Rams host Taunton Titans this Saturday (3pm) and supporters are asked to pre-purchase tickets through the club’s website – www. ramsrugby.com – in order to make entry to the ground as smooth as possible.

Leeds Tykes v Rams Pictures: Tim Pitfield

By RICHARD ASHTON sport@wokingham.today

RAMS slipped to an agonising 25-22 defeat as Leeds Tykes produced a rollicking second-half comeback to take the honours at The Sycamores.

The visitors made a dream start and took the lead in the opening minute as 19-year-old wing Charlie Robson scored with his first touch in National One, receiving the ball some 30 metres out following a brilliant Steffan James break before showing his terrific speed to touch down on the right.

Drew Humberstone landed an excellent touchline conversion, and things got even better for Rams shortly after as the outstanding Tom Vooght charged down an attempted clearing box kick and gathered the ball before running in on the left.

The conversion attempt drifted wide, and Leeds then responded as they gained strong field position with a rolling maul which was ultimately held up just short, only for second row Jake Brady to burrow over from close range.

Charlie Venables added the extras, but Rams then took a strong grip on the game with two tries before the break.

Firstly, having won a couple of penalties in the Tykes’ 22, they kicked to the corner and powered over with a maul, hooker Max Hayman the beneficiary for his second try in as many weeks.

The bonus-point was secured in somewhat bizarre fashion as a dominant scrum had Leeds retreating towards their own line,

only for the ball to squirt out into midfield.

However, Connor Hayhow chipped the ball behind the line and dived on it for a score which made it 22-7 at the break, both attempted conversions drifting left of the uprights.

Playing down the slope, Tykes came out flying and despite some good goal-line defence from the visitors, they eventually conceded a penalty in front of the posts which Venables kicked.

A magnificent break from Robson, who dashed 40 metres towards the line, was halted inside the Leeds’ 22 as the hosts breathed a sigh of relief, and they then clawed their way further into the game with a second try.

Having pounded away at the Rams’ line, the ball came loose and was hacked downfield by Caolan Englefield, only for Tykes to regain it in their own 22 and go the length of the field before Xavier Valentine barged over after a number of phases.

Another close range try from Alex Pleasants levelled the scores, only for a magnificent Ollie Cole charge down to stop Venables’ straight-forward conversion going over.

However, Leeds were not to be denied, and with the momentum behind them, were awarded a soft decision for a raised foot at a scrum in midfield.

They then won a penalty for not rolling away with a minute to play, and with Venables this time on target, took a lead which they saw out by claiming the restart and booting the ball out.

SPORT | 19

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Thursday, January 27, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY

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www.trademarkwindows.co.uk COMBINED COUNTIES

SINGH DOUBLE SEES BOARS BEAT KESTRELS

By MARK ROZZIER sport@wokingham.today

Joe Pantony strides down the wing

Eversley celebrate after restoring their lead Pictures: Richard Milam

Ali Dickie finds the net for Eversley’s third

Woodley defend a goal mouth scramble

Ross McKernan and Gary Smith in an aerial duel

AGAINST high flying Eversley California, United gave a much improved performance from that of the previous week only to go down to three goals conceded from set pieces.

Goalkeeper Max Reid was called into action as early as the second minute when he used his body well to block an attempted shot in a high tempo opening.

The visiting keeper, Henry Pidgeon, was called upon to clear the ball with his feet, Reid blocked another shot with Ben Anderson putting wide following a low cross from Ciaran Carolan, all in the opening 10 minutes.

Eversley took the lead in the 14th minute when Harinder Singh Hunjan strucka free kick from the left hand side that curled his inside the left top corner of Reid’s goal.

Anderson saw a tame shot easily saved by Pidgeon in the 24th minute before Caleb Lucas beat teammate Imani Likita to the ball to prod home from close range three minutes later.

Carolan beat Pidgeon in a one-on-one with the ball finding Anderson whose goal bound shot was cleared to safety by a covering defender.

Reid was called upon to save well for a corner as the half ended but could do nothing a minute into stoppage time when Singh scored with another sensational free kick.

Two minutes into the second half Anderson put over the cross bar from a Rafa Brandao cross but the opening period of the half saw Woodley slow to get into the game with the half-time break seeming to disrupt the team’s momentum.

The deciding goal came in 53rd minute when Ali Dickie reacted quickest to United clearing a corner and was allowed to control and fire a low shot inside Reid’s far post.

Woodley gradually got back into the game with Brando forcing Pidgeon to parry and then block the winger’s follow up shot in the 66th minute.

Carolan, Brandao and Anderson created a good chance that was cleared while Lucas had a low cross go across the visitor’s goal line and to safety as the ball narrowly avoided the oncoming Woodley forwards.

With the game nearing full-time Singh was denied a hat trick with Reid making a low one handed save for a corner but with Eversley retaining the ball well, United were denied possession as the game wound down to enable the Boars continue their long unbeaten run.

FOOTBALL ROUND-UP

FINCH OVERTAKE BURGHFIELD TO CLAIM TOP SPOT Thames Valley Premier League

FINCHAMPSTEAD soared to the top of the table after they beat Wraysbury.

Alex Woodhead, Ethan Simons and Connor Richardson got on the scoresheet to earn all three points for Finch in a 3-2 victory.

They now lead the division, one point in front of Burghfield and have a game in hand left to play.

BURGHFIELD dropped down to second after they were held by READING CITY U23s.

Teoman Atik netted for Burghfield to ensure they picked up a point to stay in the title fight.

WARGRAVE added a point to their tally with a 2-2 draw away at Marlow United.

Sam Wild notched a brace to help his team to a point to put them up to sixth in the standings.

READING YMCA fell to a 4-1 away defeat to Windlesham & Chobham, while WOODLEY UNITED ROYALS lost

out 4-0 at home to YATELEY UNITED.

Combined Counties Division One BERKS COUNTY went down to a heavy home defeat against FC Deportivo Galicia.

They scored a late consolation goal but the Swords were beaten 5-1.

Southern Region Women’s Premier Division WOODLEY UNITED stay at the foot of the table after they shipped three goals without reply away at Abingdon Town.

The Kestrels are in the midst of a difficult run that has seen them pick up just three points from 11 league games so far this campaign.

Southern Region Women’s Division One South

Ross McKernan challenges Woodley goalkeeper Reid EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA were edged out at home by bottom side Milton United.

The 3-2 triumph for the away side means that they are now level on points with Eversley with two games in hand to play.

Thames Valley Women’s Division One CAVERSHAM UNITED climbed up to sixth in the table after they picked up three points against Mortimer.

Luke Farrugia and Harinder Singh Hunjan compete

Stacey Butler opened the scoring for the Billygoats and Rosie Page-Smith wrapped up victory with a second late in the second-half to secure a 2-0 success.

TILEHURST PANTHERS conceded five without reply in their home loss to Long Crendon.

WARGRAVE came up short in a thrilling 10-goal contest against Penn & Tylers Green.

Millie Bilcliff, Sian Blissett and Hannah Sheehan scored for Wargrave but they lost out 7-3.

Thames Valley Women’s Division 3S

S4K BERKS COUNTY continue their domination at the summit of the division after they hit six past Thatcham & Newbury Town.

Megan Cox earned a hat-trick, Kiah Owen hit a brace and Grace Belstone added to the score to secure a 6-1 win.

EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA RESERVES were victims of a heavy 7-0 home loss to Rushmoor Community.

CAVERSHAM AFC stay in midtable after they earned a draw on their travels to Goring United.

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TWO DOWN, THREE UP: ROY WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE

HOW THEY RATED

READING 3 BIRMINGHAM CITY 2 GRACE MOLONEY

Had to be stretchered off after a nasty looking collision. Thankfully the club provided an update to confirm that she is ok.

FAYE BRYSON

A tricky start to the game as the Royals went two behind but got forward well when chasing goals to get back in the contest.

NATASHA HARDING

A much better collective defensive display in the second-half but was exposed particularly for Birmingham’s second goal.

GEMMA EVANS

Will be disappointed with the two Birmingham goals as Reading conceded early on from a set piece after failing to organise sufficiently.

LILY WOODHAM

Her brilliantly struck free-kick found the head of Vanhaevermaet who looped a header past the keeper to get the game back on track.

JUSTINE VANHAEVERMAET Got on the scoresheet with a towering header moments before the break which proved to be the turning point in the contest.

SANNE TROELSGAARD

Showed her experience that came into play when Reading took control of the game in the second-half after a shaky opening 45 minutes.

AMALIE EIKELAND

An energetic display down the left where she provided plenty of vigour in attack when the Royals had to chase the game.

EMMA HARRIES

Her tenacious work won the penalty and she sent a carefully placed volley into the top corner to win the match.

DEANNA ROSE

Her pace behind the Birmingham defence caused them all kinds of problems and her cross set up Emma Harries for the winning goal.

NATASHA DOWIE

Made amends after her missed penalty last week by stepping up to the spot and confidently dispatching her kick to level the game.

Subs Rhiannon Stewart 6

5 6 6 6 7 7 7 6 9 8 7

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today READING FC WOMEN overturned a two-goal deficit to make it four consecutive wins in the Women’s Super League.

The Blues took the lead inside three minutes through Gemma Lawley and the league’s bottom side shocked their opponents further when Jade Pennock netted.

But the Royals didn’t let that deter them and turned the game on its head with goals from Justine Vanhaevermaet, Natasha Dowie and Emma Harries to take maximum points.

Kelly Chambers’ team went in the game hoping to make it a clubrecord four wins on the bounce in the WSL, while Birmingham were looking to lift themselves off the bottom of the table.

Birmingham took a shock lead in the third minute with the first clear cut chance of the game when Lawley rose highest from the corner to power a header past Grace Moloney.

In a frustrating opening to the game for Reading, they were unable to forge too many chances to try and get back level as Birmingham bosses the game and enjoyed the majority of possession.

The Blues then added to their lead in the 35th minute when Pennock got on the end of Libby Smith’s through ball and poked the ball past Moloney to put Darren Carter’s side in an unfamiliar position of being two goals to the good.

Following the incident that led to Birmingham’s, there was great

Reading celebrate Harries’ winner

Dowie scores from the penalty spot

Amalie Eikeland flies into a tackle

Team stats Reading: Moloney, Bryson, Harding, Evans, Woodham, Troelsgaard, Vanhaevermaet, Eikeland, Harries, Rose, Dowie Subs: Stewart, Roberts, Lister, Baigent, MacDonald, Primmer, Poulter Birmingham City: Ramsey, Lawley, Quinn, Scott, Finn, Quinn, Murray, Sarri, Holloway, Smith, Pennock Subs: Robertson, Ewens, Whipp, Ryan-Doyle, Whelan, Jenner, Jones, Cowie, Worsey Goals: Lawley 3’, Pennock 36’, Vanhaevermaet 45+4’, Dowie (pen) 48’, Harries 55’

Vanhaevermaet scores with a header concern after goalkeeper Moloney stayed down after a collision with Pennock.

A long break in play followed as the Royals keeper received treatment from the medical team and had to be stretchered off the field of play and was replaced by backup goalkeeper Rhiannon Stewart.

With plenty of work to do to claw the game back in their favour, the Royals gave the home crowd at the Select Car Leasing

Reading Women made it four WS something to cheer as they grabbed a beacon of hope to get back in the game before half-time.

In the first minute of stoppage time before the break, Justine Vanhaevermaet towered above the Blues defence to latch onto the end of Lily Woodham’s inviting cross from a free-kick and looped a header beyond goalkeeper Emily Ramsey.

Reading came out all guns blazing afte the restart in search of getting back on level terms and

REACTION

CHAMBERS PRAISES TEAM’S ‘MENTAL STRENGTH’ READING FC Women’s manager Kelly Chambers hailed her team’s ‘mental strength’ after they came from behind to beat Birmingham City.

Despite the victory, Chambers was displeased with the performance from her team in the first-half after they went two goals behind before bringing the game back.

“The first half was nowhere near good enough, especially when you compare it to the last six or seven games,” said Chambers.

“Obviously the Grace injury was disappointing, but it gave us the time to regroup and try to find something in that little period before half-time.

“We were fortunate to get that goal which was massive for us at half-time.

“We didn’t match them in the first-half, the fight, grit, determination. All things we know we are better at, and that showed in the second-half.”

However, it was a contrasting second-half display from the Royals who made sure they extended their winning streak with goals from Natasha Dowie and Emma Harries.

Chambers continued: “Going into the second-half, we had to change a few things and fair play to the girls they absolutely delivered and got the three points we needed.

“The mental strength is what the group have got at the minute.

“They are a bunch of winners and show it every single day on the training pitch fighting for one another.

“After analysing the first-half, we managed to find a few areas we wanted to exploit, using those wide areas and when we are blessed with the pace of Emma (Harries and Deanne (Rose), they were brilliant running those channels and both were rewards in making the goals.

“Emma has come on leaps and

bounds, and it’s so good to see someone who has been with us since eight years old putting in the performances she has recently.

“She has always been someone who wanted to be the best version of herself on the pitch, constantly looking at ways to improve.

“After winning the penalty and scoring that goal, we are really starting to see how good she is and still can be.

“I said to her after the game her performances are outstanding and if she keeps going, she is going to be unplayable.”

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YALS COMPLETE COMEBACK Deanne Rose gets down the wing

From the middle Dick Sawdon-Smith

A diverse view on divers

I Dowie powers past her marker The Royals

SL wins in a row with a comeback win Pictures: Neil Graham they wasted no time in their quest.

Two minutes into the second half, the referee pointed to the penalty spot to award Reading a spot kick after Emma Harries’ tricky work in the box saw her tripped.

Having missed her last penalty at home to Leicester City, Natasha Dowie stepped up to make amends and did exactly that by confidently dispatching the ball into the right corner to level the game with plenty of time remaining.

With the momentum now firmly in their grasp, Reading took advantage of their intense start to the half and found themselves in front not long after the equaliser.

Completing a remarkable turnaround, Harries got on the Eikeland brings the ball under control

Vanhaevermaet celebrates her goal

Birmingham take an early lead

Emma Harries dribbles forward

scoresheet with the pick of the bunch in what turned out to be the winning goal.

Deanne Rose got down the left touchline and dinked in a cross towards the Reading academy product who connected on the volley with a sublime finish that found the top left hand corner.

The hosts could have had a fourth when Evans was first to meet Woodham’s corner, but she was denied by Ramsey in the Blues goal.

The next chance then came the way of Sanne Troelsgaard after Faye Bryson delivered a well placed

corner, but the midfielder got a tad too much on her header that flew over the bar.

Birmingham came close to grabbing a n equaliser when RyanDoyle looked to poach on a chance at the back post, but Troelsgaard was excellently placed to make a vital challenge.

Reading held onto their lead to take the points to continue their fantastic form to put them in sixth place on 19 points after four straight victories in the league.

The Royals are in FA Women’s Cup action next weekend away at Brighton & Hove Albion.

PREVIEW

UP FOR THE CUP: SEAGULLS AWAIT IN CUP CLASH READING FC WOMEN are looking to translate their league form into the cup when they take on Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.

The Royals take on fellow Women’s Super League side Brighton in the FA Women’s Cup fourth round.

Kelly Chambers’ Reading side have been in exceptional form in the league as they made it a record breaking fourth league win in a row on Sunday.

Reading are sixth in the Women’s

Super League table and face the side just two places below them in the standings.

The Seagulls are on 16 points from 12 matches after they made a promising start to the campaign, however their recent form has seen them slip down the table.

Reading instigated Brighton’s downturn in results when they defeated them 2-0 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in November with goals from Natasha Dowie and Emma Harries.

Going into last weekend, Hope Powell’s side six games on the spin in all competitions, including a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City and a disappointing 1-0 away loss at Leicester City.

Facing a tricky test at home to current WSL champions Chelsea, Brighton put up a resilient front to end their losing streak by holding the Blues to a goalless draw.

Despite Chelsea having 26 shots in total, they managed just five

on target and were subsequently frustrated by Brighton who put a dent in Emma Hayes’ team’s title hopes as they missed out on the chance to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal.

Reading have already been knocked out of the FA WSL Cup this season when they exited from the group stages after a penalty shootout loss to Lewes.

The Royals also fell out of the FA Cup at this stage last campaign when they were eliminated by Tottenham Hotspur 3-2.

’VE been reading a couple of books by two former England centre forwards.

My granddaughter gave me Chris Sutton’s book You’re Better Than That for Christmas and I treated myself to Peter Crouch’s How To Be A Footballer.

Two very different books.

Sutton devotes a whole chapter to diving, which he abhors, calling for the football authorities to properly punish the divers.

On his Radio 5 Live programme, they had a session called The Simulation Game, in which, Chris and his co-host, Ali Bruce-Ball, named and shamed the players, who by their theatrical tumbles that week, they felt had brought the game into disrepute.

Calling it simply cheating, he wanted a three-match ban, wondering why they hadn’t been caught on the VAR’s cameras.

Peter Crouch in his much-acclaimed book, doesn’t look much at playing the game, but at top flight players way of living, such as their cars, their weird haircuts and dodgy tattoos, as well as blowing the gaff on transfers, of which he had more than his fair share.

However, in his newspaper column, he claimed referees were responsible for the amount of diving.

Players knew if they didn’t go down after a tackle, referees would play on, so it was their way to get justice.

Of course, according to the law, it is a foul even if the tackle doesn’t bring the player down, as it says, ‘trips or attempts to trip’.

There is another aspect, which I doubt whether even many referees are aware of.

In the book containing the Laws of the Game, there is a Glossary with a 2020 addition stating, ‘a holding offence occurs only when a player’s contact with an opponent’s body or equipment, impedes the player’s movement’.

Should referees therefore only punish a trip, if it actually brings the opponent down?

Also, for diving to be an offence, the player must be attempting to deceive the referee.

Peter Crouch suggests that players only dive to influence the referee. Is this the same as deceiving?

I remember attending a training session with David Elleray of the IFAB. He invited a helper to walk across in front of him.

When he reached him, David stuck out his foot and the poor unsuspecting helper fell over it on to the floor. We all gasped, but David asked, did you notice what he did with his hands?. ‘He put them out to protect his fall’, we all cried out. Correct, said David but when they dive, players invariably put their hands above their heads. On so many occasions since, I have seen that proved correct.

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0800 30 50 30 George Puscas celebrates his first league goal of the season

Made an absolute mess for Huddersfield’s third goal. Dropped what should have been a routine catch at the feet of Danny Ward.

ANDY YIADOM

Back for the first time since returning from AFCON. Got forward well in the first-half but wasn’t always switched on defensively.

TOM HOLMES

Wasn’t at fault individually for any of the four goals but was part of a collectively poor defensive display from the team.

MICHAEL MORRISON

Made some vital blocks to prevent what could have been an even worse day at the back. Also got on the scoresheet.

JOSH LAURENT

Dropped into a back three as a centre-back where didn’t always look comfortable. An improved second-half and went close.

BABA RAHMAN

Got forward well early on and slotted a nice through ball to set up Lucas Joao’s goal. Defensively shaky, as were the entirety of the team.

DANNY DRINKWATER

Another disappointing display.

Didn’t provide enough cover for his defence.

ANDY RINOMHOTA

Making an impact since returning from injury. Works tirelessly regardless of where he’s asked to play.

JOHN SWIFT

A really nice through pass to Puscas who found the net. Had a couple of nice strikes at goal, much better than recent performances.

GEORGE PUSCAS

Easily his best performance of the season, Worked hard, made intelligent runs and finally got off the mark in the league with a fine finish

LUCAS JOAO

Showed the team what they’ve been missing during his absence.

Provided a physical threat and started the scoring in the fifth minute.

ROYALS FALL SHORT IN G SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP

How they rated

LUKE SOUTHWOOD

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3 5 4 6 4 5 4 6 6 8 8

READING 3 HUDDERSFIELD 4

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today READING fell to a fourth consecutive Championship defeat after a frantic goal packed match against Huddersfield Town at home.

Lucas Joao gave the Royals an ideal start by putting them in front after just five minutes.

But in a first-half packed with goals, Huddersfield twice had the lead but were snuffed out just before the break by Michael Morrison’s header.

One goal in the second-half was enough to win the game for the visitors as Danny Ward hit a sensational strike to seal his hattrick.

Reading are now winless at home in their last nine matches.

Lucas Joao was named up front alongside George Puscas in his first start of the season, while Andy Yiadom and Baba Rahman returned to the starting eleven after their early exit from the African Cup of Nations.

Veljko Paunovic’s side went into the contest without a win in their last eight home matches, leaving them just a place outside of the relegation zone, while Huddersfield were unbeaten in their last five away trips.

A change of shape from Wednesday’s defeat to Luton Town saw Josh Laurent drop into a back three with Tom Holmes and captain Michael Morrison.

The change in formation benefitted the Royals when Baba Rahman got forward and slotted a pass through to Lucas Joao, and the striker took a touch into his stride and then fired the ball in for the opener.

Huddersfield looked to hit back

Rahman and Laurent challenge instantly but Morrison got in the way with two vital blocks.

But with luck going against the Royals, Huddersfield found the net when Danel Sinani’s shot from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection off Morrison to find its way in.

The Terriers turned the game on its head with a quick turnaround when they took the lead in the 15th minute. Morrison got his body in the way of two shots but it wasn’t enough as the ball dropped for Danny Ward who stroked it past Luke Southwood into the corner.

But the frantic action continued at each end and it wasn’t long before Reading levelled the game.

John Swift opened up the Huddersfield defence to slide a through ball to Puscas who charged into the box and arrowed an excellent finish into the far corner to score his first Championship goal of the season.

Just two minutes after squaring the game, Reading found themselves behind again in a relentless opening 25 minutes at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Southwood came out to pluck the ball from the air from Huddersfield’s free-kick, but he dropped the ball on his landing straight at the feet of Ward who was left with an easy tap- in for his second of the afternoon.

The visitors were slicing open

John Swift looks to pick a pass

Reading suffer defeat after

Team stats Reading: Southwood, Yiadom, Holmes, Morrison (c), Rahman, Laurent, Drinkwater, Rinomhota, Swift, Joao, Puscas Subs: Holden, Bristow, Ashcroft, Bashiru, Hoilett, Camara, Clarke

Dele-

Huddersfield: Nicholls, Pipa, Toffolo, Pearson, Hogg (c), O’Brien, Koroma, Thomas, Sinani, Ward, Lees Subs: Bilokapic, Rhodes, Ruffels, Turton, Sarr, Rowe, Russell Goals: Joao 5’, Sinani 9’, Ward 15’,25’, 53’, Puscas 23’

the Reading defence at will and threatened to bag a fourth but Tom Holmes did superbly to protect his goalkeeper with a last ditch block.

The scoring wasn’t done yet for the half which saw the Royals net an equaliser just before the break in a breathless first-half.

Morrison got on the end of Swift’s corner and found the net via a deflection to wrap up an astounding first 45 minutes.

The goalscoring action was far from done and Huddersfield picked up where they left off in the firsthalf.

Just seven minutes after the restart, Ward scored a stunner

REACTION

PAUNOVIC: ‘THIS HAS BEEN A HORRIBLE MONTH’ READING FC manager Veljko Paunovic said there was ‘improvement’ despite his team’s defeat to Huddersfield Town.

The Royals went down to a fourth loss on the bounce in a goal packed game where they lost 4-3.

“Overall it was better than the last games in this horrible month,” said Paunovic.

“We improved our cohesion and were more aggressive from the start.

“But unfortunately our problems in defence and as a whole team are still here.

“The improvement we have seen in our team today is in attack.

“The guys that worked in the front line worked very well and that’s something we’re looking to build on.

“The whole block is still shaky.

When we close down one side, sometimes we are late to jump on their midfielders and late to close forwards.

“We have to be more solid and compact and that will come with a few more performances.

“This has been a horrible month.

We are competing with teams in a

better shape than us, and it’s looking like pre-season.”

Paunovic praised forward George Puscas after he found his first Championship goal of the season.

He continued: “It was his best performance today since I’ve been here with a good goal and a fantastic mentality to fight.

“He worked very hard and put a lot of pressure on their defence.

Paunovic also commented on the club captaincy situation at the club.

“It’s a fluid situation but he (Michael Morrison) is the next one we think is capable of leading this team because he knows the environment, the positives and negatives we have and knows how to deal with it.”

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GOAL-FILLED ENCOUNTER

From the Tilehurst End Olly Allen

A switch to two up top

V

Danny Ward nets his second goal of the game

a goal fest at the Select Car Leasing Stadium Pictures: Steve Smyth to notch his hat-trick. From just outside the box, he let fly with an unstoppable shot that flew into the top corner.

Reading pressed to find another leveller when Morrison and Holmes both came close from a corner.

With 20 minutes left, Andy Rinomhota crossed for Josh Laurent, but the midfielder miscued his volley that dribbled wide.

The Terriers had a chance to seal the game with a fifth goal on the break when Sorba Thomas burst down the right. But instead of squaring the ball to tee up his teammate, he struck for goal and was stopped by a strong Southwood

Baba Rahman assists the opener save..

Reading’s first switch saw Junior Hoilett replace Laurent as Paunovic’s men pushed hard to get a result with just 15 minutes left on

George Puscas finds the net the clock.

Puscas had another sniff at goal with a tricky chance but didn’t connect properly with a volley that sailed high and wide.

Tom Dele-Bashiru entered the pitch for the final five minutes.

The hosts dominated the ball in search of a fourth goal, but were frustrated as Huddersfield held on to claim three points.

Reading remain in 21st position, just three points above the relegation zone after their fourth consecutive loss.

The Royals are back in Championship action next weekend away at Queens Park Rangers.

Luke Southwood

PREVIEW

READING MAKE TRIP TO PROMOTION HOPEFULS QPR READING are seeking to end a miserable run of four straight Championship defeats when they travel to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

The Royals are struggling at the bottom end of the table and in the midst of a relegation battle where they sit just one place and two points above 22nd placed Peterborough.

However, Reading could be in further danger if Peterborough are able to take advantage of their game in hand.

Veljko Paunovic’s team are in dreadful form which has seen

them go eight games without a win with their leaky defence costing them points.

Reading have now conceded the joint most amount of goals in the entire division (51).

Meanwhile, QPR are fighting at the other end of the table and in the hunt for promotion after their impressive form of late.

Rangers have won their last four Championship matches which puts them up to fourth.

They are just two points off an automatic promotion spot with a game in hand to

play on all three sides above them.

Mark Warbuton’s team have won three away games on the bounce with the same scoreline, the latest being a 2-1 away victory at Coventry City on Saturday.

Albert Adomah secured the points with an 88th minute winner to continue their rise up the table.

Late winners have been a theme in recent games for QPR as Charlie Austin netted an 89th minute decisive goal in a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in

their last match at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium QPR snatched a last gasp point earlier in the season on their visit to the Select Car Leasing Stadium as late goals from Andre Gray and Stefan Johansen saw the points shared in a 3-3 draw after John Swift’s hat-trick wasn’t enough for Reading.

Meanwhile, it was Reading who enjoyed the jubilation of a late winner on their last trip to QPR when Michael Olise hit a stunning strike in the 89th minute to take the points in December 2020.

ELJKO Paunovic deserved credit where it was due last Saturday for naming the team he did for Reading’s clash against Huddersfield Town.

After four successive defeats, the Serbian had to change something in the way that the Royals set up. And so he did, naming two strikers – Lucas Joao and George Puscas – in the starting line-up. It was only the fifth time under Paunovic that the two had begun a game together.

Paunovic was also boosted by the returning Andy Yiadom and Baba Rahman at full-back, back from the Africa Cup of Nations earlier than expected after Ghana’s shock group stage exit.

In part, the change in system clearly worked. After two home games without scoring, Reading found the net inside five minutes against the Terriers through Joao, assisted by Rahman.

There was a goal for Puscas too – his first in 28 Championship games since April 2021 – highlighting how the Romanian performs considerably better in a front two than as a lone striker.

The problems came at the other end of the pitch, as four goals went past Luke Southwood.

The defence remained open and easily penetrable, as if Reading had learned nothing from their woeful display in this season’s reverse fixture when Huddersfield stuck four past them at the John Smith’s Stadium in August.

Thus, ultimately, Reading were beaten again.

And that is all that really matters.

Yes, there were signs of improvement, but right now the Royals just need to stop the rot results-wise and scoring three goals is futile if you’re going to concede four.

Until Reading win a game, or at the very least keep a clean sheet, the statistics are only going to point to a team in deep trouble.

We’ve seen Reading lose in every way possible this month. We’ve had the embarrassing cup exit to non-league opposition, the humiliating thrashing on home turf, the last-minute defeat after being ahead, the loss with a complete lack of effort and now the utterly chaotic seven-goal thriller.

With a trip to Queens Park Rangers to come this weekend – a side who have won four matches in a row and sit fourth in the table – it is no longer a question of whether Reading will lose.

It is by how many.

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HOCKEY

READING TAKE POINTS AGAINST SONNING Reading (red) and Sonning (blue) compete for the ball

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

South Central Women’s Premier 1 READING 2 collected three points after their short trip to face SONNING in a local derby.

In a five-goal contest, Reading ensured they maintained their lead at the top of the table with a 3-2 victory.

Reading are two points in front at the top having played a game more than second placed Oxford Hawks.

Meanwhile, Sonning are down in ninth with 13 points from 12 games.

Sonning are in seventh on 20, but remarkably just two points behind Reading in a tightly contested top half of the table.

READING 4s and SONNING 2s shared the points after they couldn’t be separated.

The 1-1 draw leaves Reading still in the hunt for the title where they trail league leaders Amersham & Chalfont 2s by just two points.

South Central Women’s Division 3 SOUTH BERKSHIRE 2s fell to their sixth league defeat of the season at home to Marlow.

South Berks are now in eighth position after collecting 11 points from 11 games.

Sonning Ladies 1s v Reading Ladies 2s Pictures: Steve Smyth

South Central Men’s Premier 2 SOUTH BERKSHIRE put a point on the board after their stalemate with Witney.

The 2-2 draw leaves South Berks in sixth on 16 points from 12 games.

South Central Men’s Division 1 SONNING suffered defeat at

TABLE TENNIS

Reading fight to win back the ball home to Wycombe 1s.

Despite the loss, Sonning remain in fourth position in the table with games in hand to play on all three of the sides above them in the standings.

South Central Men’s Division 2 SOUTH BERKSHIRE 2s added three points on their travels with a successful trip to Newbury & Thatcham 2s.

WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL

KINGFISHER EDGE CLOSER TO TITLE KINGS HEAT UP

By NIGEL MALTBY sport@wokingham.today KINGFISHER A all but wrapped up the division 1 title after a comprehensive 9-1 win against nearest rivals Our Lady of Peace A 9-1.

Hari Gehlot and Martin Adams both starred with hat tricks, Hari just holding off Sam Ricks 11-8 9-11 11-9 11-13 11-8. For OLOP Sam managed a 14-12 11-5 15-13 win over Darren Jones.

SONNING COMMON & PEPPARD B and TILEHURST RBL A battled out a 5-5 draw, Jamie Barlow with a treble for Sonning Common while for Tilehurst Keith Winter won twice, Jon Willis managed a win over Nigel Maltby and John Willcocks defeated Brian Meheux.

At the bottom SONNING COMMON & PEPPARD C boosted their chances of staying up by gaining a fine 7-3 win at KINGFISHER C, Ed Lush with a good treble, supporting by doubles from Matt Stone and Matt Isherwood.

Emanuel Sandu picked up

FOOTBALL Sky Bet Championship Reading 3-4 Huddersfield Town Combined Counties Premier North Sumas 1-2 Southall

Thames Valley Premier League Burghfield 1-1 Reading City U23’s Finchampstead 3-2 Wraysbury Marlow United 2-2 Wargrave Windlesham & Chobham 4-1 Reading YMCA Woodley United Royals 0-4 Yateley United

Reading come forward with possession

South Central Women’s Division 2

Saturday, January 22

Combined Counties Division One Berks County 1-5 FC Deportivo Galicia Woodley United 1-3 Eversley & California

South Central Women’s Division 1 SOUTH BERKSHIRE were on the end of a home defeat at the hands of Phoenix & Ranelagh.

South Berks are seventh in the table with 15 points from 11 matches.

RESULTS

two wins for the Kingfisher outfit.

In Division 2 KINGFISHER F beat club mates KINGFISHER G 7-3, climbing two places to take fourth spot, Ajai Kamath defeating Satej Jaywant then Mick Mitcham and finally Hamid Mohseni, to record his maximum, while team mates Roger Pritchard and Eapen John only lost to Satej.

Roger denied his treble in narrowly losing 11-13 11-7 11-7 9-11 11-13.

OUR LADY OF PEACE B defeated TILEHURST METHODISTS A 6-4, Dave Godfrey beating Eric Van Looy 12-10 11-13 13-11 8-11 11-7 but then losing his final set against Phil Jones, which denied him a treble, Alistair Richardson earning his win in a close contest with Phil, emerging victorious 9-11 10-12 11-8 11-7 12-10, Darek Kaminski beating Jes Eassom and Phil.

Methodists’ other point courtesy of Jes, who beat Alistair.

TIDMARSH B had a creditable 5-5 draw with

READING FC A, Dale Ballard and Barry Carter both losing to Mike Childs, although they each defeated Wayne Alleyne and Tony Alleyne, with team mate Mike Aistrop losing to Tony 9-11 8-11 11-5 11-2 7-11 but subsequently beating Wayne.

Despite Pradeep Desh recording a treble, OUR LADY OF PEACE C could only draw 5-5 with KINGFISHER E, Binit Bhaskar helping the points tally with a singles victory over Luca Bianchi and a doubles victory, with team mate Pradeep, while OLOP’s points were thanks to two wins apiece for Stephen Leggett and Clive Gold, with Luca’s 8-11 11-8 8-11 11-2 11-9 win over Arun Rajagopal crucial for the draw.

The third 5-5 draw of the week was between SONNING SPORTS A and SONNING COMMON & PEPPARD D, Nick Sears’ treble and Paul Savage’s double earning the points for Sonning Sports while, for the Commoners, Danny Dockree won twice, with Jon Abbott and Mark Jones each earning one win.

DIVISION THREE WITH ARROWS WIN

THE Thames Valley Kings teams were on the road this past weekend in British Wheelchair Basketball National League with the 2nd and 3rd teams in action.

A depleted Kings III team defeated Folkestone Arrows in Division 3 South on Saturday 40-35, to keep the face to the Division Three South league title wide open.

Kings only had six players available but managed to put in a stellar effort to keep the current Divisional leaders at bay for the entire match to grab a hard-earned five-point win.

Peter Rapley was the game’s top scorer for Kings with 16 points followed by Chris Nash with 10.

On Sunday, In the Division Two South game between Kings 2nd team and Woking Blackhawks. The game narrowly went Blackhawks way 51-41.

Up Next, Kings Juniors are next in action on Sunday, February 6 against London Titans and Warwickshire Bears in the final round of Junior League fixtures with the Kings 2nd team returning to action on Sunday, February 13, away to Cardiff Met Archers in Division Two South.

Thames Valley Division One FC Imaan Lions 3-7 Henley Town Holyport Reserves 5-2 Eldon Celtic Hurst 0-3 Westwood Wanderers Reserves Thames Valley Division Two Hurst Reserves 3-4 Datchet Berks County Swords 0-6 Hambleden Thames Valley Division Three Reading YMCA Rapids 0-0 Goring United Reserves SB Phoenix A 2-3 Reading City Development RUGBY UNION National League One Leeds Tykes 25-22 Rams South West 1 East Witney 12-24 Bracknell

Sunday, January 23 FOOTBALL Women’s Super League Reading 3-2 Birmingham City

Southern Region Women’s Premier Division Abingdon Town 3-0 Woodley United Southern Region Women’s Division One Eversley & California 2-3 Milton United Thames Valley Women’s Division One Caversham United 2-0 Mortimer Tilehurst Panthers 0-5 Long Crendon Wargrave 3-7 Penn & Tylers Green Thames Valley Women’s Division 3S Goring United 2-2 Caversham AFC S4K Berks County 6-1 Thatcham & Newbury Wallingford Town 7-0 Wargrave Development

Tuesday, January 25

FOOTBALL Esoteric Recordings Division One Challenge Cup Berks County v AFC Aldermaston Woodley United v Cove

FIXTURES

Saturday, January 29

FOOTBALL Sky Bet Championship QPR v Reading Isthmian South Central Binfield v Ashford Town Combined Counties Premier North Edgware Town v Sumas Reading City v Wembley Combined Counties Division One Eversley & California v Berks County Kensington & Ealing Boro v Woodley United Thames Valley Premier League Marlow United v Reading City U23’s Reading YMCA v Wargrave Woodley United Royals v Richings Park Wraysbury v Burghfield Thames Valley Division One FC Imaan Lions v Eldon Celtic Hurst v Henley Town HOCKEY South Central Men’s Premier 2 Fareham 2s v South Berkshire South Central Men’s Division 1 Marlow 2s v Sonning South Central Women’s Premier 1 Maidenhead v Sonning South Central Women’s Division 1 Reading 3s v South Berkshire RUGBY UNION National League One Rams v Taunton South West 1 East Buckingham v Bracknell

Sunday, January 30

FOOTBALL FA Women’s Cup Brighton & Hove Albion v Reading Southern Region League Cup Bournemouth Sports v Woodley United Cup Kidlington Youth v Caversham United Tilehurst Panthers v Easington Sports Wargrave v Ruislip Rangers Bletchley Shamrocks v S4K Berks County RUGBY UNION Women’s Championship South 1 Reading Abbey v Bath Ladies