RG10 Nov/Dec 2019

November/December 2019 | issue 80 | free

Special anniversary and Christmas edition

Loving local since 2009 www.rg10mag.com

Contact us now for a FREE sales and lettings valuation Visit our website for our current properties

www.wentworthea.com The Old Butchers, 15 High Street, Twyford RG10 9AB Sales: 0118 934 0027 twyford@wentworthea.com

Lettings: 0118 934 3886 lettings@wentworthea.com

Time for celebrations Welcome to this special 10th anniversary edition of RG10 magazine. I’ve been having fun looking back and enjoying some of the lovely reviews we’ve received from readers and advertisers alike. Thank you all! We’re taking a stall this year at the Twyford Christmas Fayre on 6 December – so do come and say ‘hello’.

Look out for several other local businesses in this issue celebrating a special anniversary: in recent months Kitchen & Bathroom Place marked 15 years in business and Thai Elephant restaurant 10 years; now RG10 and FastTrack Fit Camp are also 10 and Westgate Electrical Services double that age!

Congratulations to us all.

The team behind Twyford in Bloom are also celebrating after winning the first Gold award for the village – well done! See the Twyford Together news pages for more on this, as well as October’s successful Twyford Charity Family Fun Run.

Contents Business 6–7 9

RG10 magazine: Ten years old!

Blandy & Blandy: New Henley riverside office

Community 28–31 34–35 41–43 44 50–51

Local news What’s on Twyford Together news Thames Valley Police: Community update Environment: Make a difference

Festive season 17 18–23

House of Colour: Party style Christmas 2019

Charity 27

Twyford Volunteer Drivers: Meet and help others

Inspiration 12 39

FastTrack Fit Camp: Happiest year yet Liz Balmford Coaching: Your 2029 self

Once Hallowe’en and bonfire night are over, it will be time for celebratory thoughts to turn to the festive season. Within these pages you’ll find information about local events such as Christmas markets and church services.

House and garden

Your help is needed please: read about a small but incredibly worthwhile local charity helping older people get to medical appointments, which needs more volunteers to come forward. Twyford Volunteer Drivers presents the ideal volunteering opportunity if you’d like to make a big difference to others without giving up too much time.

15 24 43 45–46 47 54 55 60

Also kindly continue to read our articles on environmental initiatives in order to keep informed about what small steps we can all take to minimise our impact at a local level.

All that remains is to wish you all an enjoyable closing two months to the year 2019. And Merry Christmas, when we get there!

11 14 49

ABD Construction: Create more space Band Systems: Security at Christmas Waltham Place: Preparing for winter

Time out Children’s puzzle page Books: Local authors Spot the difference Puzzle pages General knowledge crossword British traditions: Pantomime Competition: The Jungle Book Puzzle solutions

Food and drink 57 58–59

Recipe: The Horns ginger/rhubarb crème brulée Local pubs, restaurants and cafés

Index 62 Nov/Dec 2019 Issue 80 Advertiser information RG10 is a bimonthly magazine reaching 7,500+ homes and busineses in Twyford, Ruscombe, Charvil, Hurst, Wargrave and Knowl Hill.

Copy deadline for pre-booked advertising is 1st of previous even month. rg10 also offers screen based advertising at Twyford Surgery and an online directory at www.RG10mag.com.

Sign up to RG10 Business Extra, our marketing newsletter, via www.RG10mag.com.

Contact information t 0118 907 2510 e nikki@RG10mag.com w www.rg10mag.com Join us on Facebook or Twitter @RG10mag Sign up via our Facebook page or website to receive RG10 Living, our occasional email newsletter.

Graphic design pulsefreelance t 01922 441546 e pete@pulsefreelance.co.uk

Disclaimer Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this magazine is accurate, the publisher cannont accept liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from any cause.

The publisher does not endorse any advertiser featured. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior permission of the publisher.

PB Decorating Interior and exterior decorating For discerning customers seeking an experienced decorator who will provide a top quality finish with exceptional service.

Paul Butler T 0118 932 0484 M 07812 155750 pbdecorating1@gmail.com

Visit us on the A4 Twyford for Farm Fresh Free Range Eggs The Egg box is open 7 days a week For more information visit

www.riverwaysfarm.co.uk

Thanks so much to all you wonderful people who support us by buying your eggs at our farm.

We enjoy your visits – and so do the assorted animals!

The Riverways reindeer are looking forward to seeing you at the Twyford Christmas Fayre on Friday 6th December. Â

Andrew, Claire and family 4 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

Congratulations

Twyford Together Awards: Business of the Year winner 2012 | Twyford Tradesmen Together award winner 2017

Proud to be a member of

Sponsor of the Twyford Together Community Awards

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5

business

RG10 magazine TEN YEARS OLD! What’s changed since then?

The regular community magazine has doubled in size from the original pagecount. It is published on a bimonthly basis and produced by a professional graphic designer specialising in A5 print publications.

It is printed locally in Henley – a move made over four years ago along with other measures to reduce our impact on the environment. For leaflet printing we now also use a smaller family run business in Bracknell.

The magazine and sometimes up to three leaflets are delivered to double the number of homes and businesses by a trusted and efficient team of around 18 local distributors managed by a Twyford resident.

Where to start? I can scarcely believe that a decade has passed since producing the first edition of RG10 magazine.

I’m proud to say that in that time RG10 has become a familiar and respected name in local marketing, apparently loved by the community it serves.

I have learnt a lot about what works in advertising and enjoy helping everyone from one-person start-ups to larger companies wishing to increase their profile in our area.

I probably spend even more of my time raising awareness for local groups and initiatives that I feel are important and supporting community events, all of which gives a great sense of purpose.

By far the best local magazine KC What did the first magazine look like?

I hope you agree, ‘my baby’ has come a long way since December 2009!

As may be apparent from the picture, in the beginning I did everything myself, from collating the content to selling the advertising, designing basic adverts and putting the whole publication together (in Microsoft Publisher!) – even delivering nearly 3,500 copies across the original distribution area of Twyford and Ruscombe. Which actually left very little time to get the January edition completed…

RG10 quickly became about so much more than the magazine. We work hard supporting advertisers and local community groups through regular posts on social media – follow @rg10mag on Facebook and Twitter – as well as keeping the events calendar and directory on our website up to date – see www.rg10mag.com.

This type of publicity makes such a difference JP What hasn’t changed?

It’s thanks to our advertisers that we are able to dedicate a large proportion of the magazine to community content. This has in fact increased over time: it’s what residents look forward to reading, and I firmly believe is essential for giving advertisers the best chance of having their message seen by their target audience.

RG10 remains committed to helping the smaller more local businesses, encouraging readers to ‘shop local’ as much as possible, publicising the work of local charities, and promoting initiatives that matter – whether it’s looking after our older residents, reducing the stigma around mental health or protecting the environment.

I could add: Our advertising rates have not changed… enough! Marketing with RG10 is very cost effective compared with similar services offered in surrounding areas. Our prices have only gone up once in the last five years – a rise negated shortly afterwards by an increase in printing costs.

5 star service, highly recommended DC

6 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

A better return than anywhere else TM Any plans for the future?

We’re working on a new media pack, seeking to minimise price rises to advertisers and offering bundled services to include digital with print marketing.

I’m interested in hearing from additional would-be ‘cub reporters’ among residents interested in representing the interests of different areas of RG10.

A real pleasure dealing with you CP I’d like to extend door-to-door delivery of the magazine into the few remaining areas of RG10 where magazines are currently only available in a central pick up point such as the pub. If any residents of Crazies Hill, Warren Row, Waltham St Lawrence and Shurlock Row feel that a delivery round is viable for them, please get in touch – it’s a great way to keep active and earn some extra money!

We couldn’t do it without you Finally, I must take this opportunity to shout out a huge ‘thank you’ to the following: All 500+ advertisers we have had to date, designers Pete at Pulse Freelance and Elle at Hey Magpie, Higgs Group and Advantage Print Room for printing, distribution coordinator Sue and her ‘foot soldiers’, the many, many contributors of news from local clubs and societies, all at Twyford Together and other community groups who work so hard to make the RG10 area such a special place, my contacts from networking groups such as Athena who never cease to provide inspiration and support, and last but not least, those individual readers and businesses who have taken the trouble to give RG10 such lovely feedback to make it all worthwhile.

Nikki Ochtman Finger on the pulse of all things local and community LB

Unlock your potential Promote your business in our magazine, on our wide screen at Twyford Surgery, and via our website thly magazines Over 7,500 bimon d es, businesses an delivered to hom across RG10 collection points Making your business everyone's business Call 0118 907 2510 | Email nikki@rg10mag.com | Visit www.rg10mag.com

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7

Boiler installation, Servicing and repairs, Fireplaces and cookers, Landlord certificates, LPG, Oil boilers Proud to be a member of Twyford Together and an approved contractor for John Lewis Home Solutions

PLUS: Boiler maintenance contracts for premises in RG10

Call 0118 938 0372 or 07796 955731 Or email sgreenplumbing_heating@hotmail.co.uk Based in Twyford

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• Quality framing at competitive prices • Local, friendly professional service with over 35 years' experience • Private, corporate or trade projects • Specialists in box frames: ideal for showcasing memorabilia/sports shirts • Extensive range of mouldings and mount-boards • References provided upon request

For more information or a quote please call 01628 825151 or visit www.abframes.co.uk 8

rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

business

Blandy & Blandy LLP Henley solicitors celebrate new riverside office Leading Thames Valley solicitors Blandy & Blandy LLP recently welcomed guests to the official launch of its new Henley-on-Thames office. The firm has relocated to 24 Thameside from Hart Street.

Blandy & Blandy’s chairman, Brenda Long, said: ‘It was a pleasure to see so many friends of our firm, as well as a number of newer faces, joining us to celebrate the occasion.

Councillor Ken Arlett said: ‘As Mayor of Henley-on-Thames, I welcome the further investment that Blandy & Blandy have put into their new offices at Thameside.

‘We are extremely grateful for the many very kind comments shared throughout the evening about our new offices, our team and our growing investment in Henley-on-Thames. It is very much a second home for Blandy & Blandy.’

‘I am pleased to say what an excellent job has been made of the refurbishment. With the array of specialist talent on offer at Blandy & Blandy, there is no need to travel outside of Henley for expert legal advice.’

Town centre manager Helen Barnett added: ‘We are delighted that Blandy & Blandy are moving to Thameside and we wish them every success in their new home.’

The award-winning firm, recognised in the top tier of both The Legal 500 and Chambers UK, provides a full range of legal services to individuals and businesses.

Blandy & Blandy also has offices in Reading.

For further information, please visit www.blandy.co.uk.

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9

house and home

ABD Construction Is it time to create more space in your home?

A loft conversion can add valuable extra bedroom, bathroom or study space. It’s an ideal solution for growing families, or those wanting to realise the potential of their home.

At ABD Construction we offer a consultation to see if your dream loft conversion is a viable option together with excellent ideas from our expert team to maximise the space.

Here’s a quick step guide for starting the process.

We can provide architect drawings, guide you through the planning process and deal with the application for you before we bring your loft dream to life.

• Focus on what type of space would best fulfil your needs • Get an expert builder in to survey and talk through options and budget • Obtain a detailed quote and agree a deposit and payment schedule with your builder • Have drawings made by an architect or builder • Planning permission may be required and can take a few weeks to process • Building work can then begin.

We strongly believe that you get what you pay for and at ABD Construction we deliver exceptional work with no hidden extras.

Give us a call now on 0118 903 4109 to request a quote.

For exceptional quality, thorough attention to detail and a beautiful finish, give us a call to discuss your next building project. We cover repairs, new builds, extensions, insurance work and more.

0118 9034109 / 01628 878628 info@abdconstruction.co.uk www.abdconstruction.co.uk Please mention rg10 when responding to advertisements

11

health

FastTrack Fit Camp Join us for your Happiest Year Yet

by Heidi Strickland-Clark

Congratulations

At FastTrack Fit Camp we’re heading into a period of celebration.

Much like Nikki at RG10, we, too are celebrating our 10th business birthday this November. Ten years ago I was introduced to Nikki through a mutual friend and we advertised a piece in the brand new RG10 magazine as a way to promote our new outdoor fitness business.

Ten years goes by very quickly. In that time I have: • Helped over 1,700 people across the wider Wokingham Borough area to get fit, stay fit and get even fitter with our outdoor group fitness classes.

• Moved from five outdoor sessions to 23 a week across seven locations.

• Run eight 100 Day Fitness Challenges.

• Held countless Charity Fundraising Fit Camps raising money for local and national charities.

• Delivered many talks on health and wellbeing at local community groups and schools.

• Published a book: Why Weight? How to be happy every day, whatever the scales say.

• Organised seven Fitness Weekend events, giving people the chance to try something new away from home.

• Seen many mums and babies come through our Baby Boot Camp, some more than once, and now the first babies are heading into school!

• Got people moving more in later life. (Did you know the average age of a Fit Camper is 52?)

• Helped people to take control of their health and wellbeing with regular outdoor fitness, enabling them to reduce or remove prescriptions from their lives and see the benefits of increased activity.

• Sponsored a netball team and walking groups, and supplied bananas for Ellie’s running events with Barnes Fitness.

• Hosted seven Happiest Year Yet events.

Our Happiest Year Yet events provide the kick start of all kick starts to a New Year. Our next one is on Saturday 4 January at the Hilton St Anne’s Hotel in Wokingham. It will be our eighth, and the biggest one yet.

We’ll be sharing with our audience, amongst other things • How to have more energy without exercise.

• How to think better by looking at how you were born and developed as a baby.

• How colour and sound can radically change your mood, perception and attitude.

All the details to secure an Early Bird price are on this link: https://hyy2020.eventbrite.co.uk.

We’d love to see you there, in celebration not just of our anniversary but to set you on the road for your Happiest Year Yet too.

Heidi Strickland-Clark is an outdoors junkie and wellness rebel who owns and runs FastTrack Fit Camp, a Social Enterprise running outdoor group fitness business based in and around the Wokingham area. FastTrack Fit Camp give back a minimum of 50% of their profits to environmental and nature restoration programmes in the community.

12 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

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13

house and home

Band Systems Security at Christmas with bad intentions what has turned up in your house, so break down the boxes and take them to the tip.

• Store manuals, guarantees and receipts away from the product boxes: it’s amazing how much value is added to a stolen tablet if the packaging and paperwork can be taken with it.

• Have your intruder alarm serviced before the festive season: the last thing you (or our engineers) want is that going off whilst you dish up the turkey.

As the nights draw in and thoughts turn to Christmas, the security of your property and also person needs to be considered.

• Get someone to check over any automated gates or garage doors and make sure your locks are working smoothly.

A very wise old policeman once told me that the dark is a burglar’s best friend, so we recommend taking the following steps to reduce the risk of any unwanted visitors this winter.

• Have a security and safety audit to ensure all bases are covered – this can be for your home or workplace.

• Ensure your external lighting is in good order.

Consider fitting some PIR activated lights but don’t make them so bright they annoy the neighbours. Suitable lighting will ward off burglars and also help you see your way home safe and sound.

Band Systems is a local, independent, Twyford based installer of security and safety systems.

We are more than happy to visit you to discuss your needs and the various options open to you.

We do not charge for this service and you have no obligation to place an order with us.

• Domestic CCTV can be relatively cost effective these days and infra-red lamps help you see what’s happening around your house at night.

All systems now have user friendly apps enabling remote viewing and notifications.

We can offer you a cost effective solution that you buy outright, without the need for ongoing monthly fees.

• Don’t post all over social media if you intend to go away for the festive period and don’t post pictures of the new diamond ring or latest mobile phone your loved one bought you. If an iPhone 11 turns up in your teenager’s stocking, make sure they keep it safe and don’t brag too much about it.

• Once all the festivities are over and everything has returned to normal, be careful how you dispose of any packaging. Leaving it out for the dustman just advertises to local snoops

Feeling secure and safe in your own homes is very important. Knowing and trusting the people who give you advice is essential.

Matt Shaw

Unit 3, Twyford Business Park Station Road Twyford RG10 9TU 0118 377 9000 www.bandsystems.co.uk

14 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

style

House of Colour

Step into the party season For some the Christmas and New Year party season is all about glitter and bling, or a dramatic look, but others prefer and suit a classic, elegant party look.

Whatever your style, here’s how to step out with confidence.

patterned or in block colours. It’s not a look for everyone though, no matter how comfortable or chic it may seem on someone else!

Materials Look for embellished details in high shine satin and luxurious velvet fabrics in party wear. From chiffon dresses and blouses to leather and knitwear and plush faux fur coats, take your pick – there is something for everyone. Create layers of texture for a contemporary feel.

Festive fellows

Beyond the LBD We were told in the 90s that everyone needed a Little Black Dress, the reliable staple to be dressed up or down to suit any occasion. However, as black only really suits ‘winter’ complexions, how about having a little burgundy, blue or brown dress? Alternatively, since everyone suits primary red, you could go for a beautiful bold LRD. Flexibility Whilst you might want a new outfit for your big night out, consider its flexibility. Could you wear this outfit in several different ways for all your festive celebrations, with different accessories and shoes, with a jacket or cardigan? If so, this will be a better purchase than a single use dress that sits in the wardrobe after one wear.

Details matter Use the Christmas season to try something more festive: a brighter lipstick, red nails, eye shadow with a sheen or glimmer, or a new colour and cut for your hair. Detail on accessories, coats and jewellery are game changers for any outfit. This Autumn/Winter 2019/20 season look out for stunning statement earrings and necklaces – choose sparkle levels according to taste!

Jumping Jack If you fancy wearing something different, try a jumpsuit if it suits your body shape and style personality. Jumpsuits can be fitted or loose-fitting,

For the gents, a great shirt with a jumper in a rich, opulent colour always make a winning combination, especially in the run up to Christmas. Patterned shirts are always on trend for men and create a statement for the party season. Pair with well-fitting formal trousers in a heavier weight fabric and invest in a well-cut jacket, and you’ll look great at that after-work drinks thing or festive get-together with the minimum of fuss.

Waistcoats are useful for adding party sophistication and look good in neutral shades or statement colours. Tweed is also making a comeback and works for those who suit a ‘country gent’ or sporty style. Some may want to try wearing it with jeans or chinos to vary the textures in the outfit. Gareth Southgate has made the waistcoat trendy again, so don’t be afraid to give it try.

For more Christmas style tips and gift buying opportunities, join me with other House of Colour consultants at our Step Into Christmas event from 1pm to 2.30pm on Saturday 30 November at Walter Infant School, Wokingham RG41 2TA. Linda Sujeewon Colour and Style Consultant 07717010128 linda.sujeewon@houseofcolour.co.uk houseofcolour.co.uk/lindasujeewon LindaHoCReading

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17

christmas

201 9

Festive events and shopping guide Charity Christmas cards The Cards for Good Causes pop-up charity shop returns to the United Reformed Church in Church Street, Twyford, opening every Friday and Saturday from the start of November to 14 December.

Staffed by a team of local volunteers, the Twyford pop-up shop is part of a network of more than 300 temporary shops run by the UK’s largest multi-charity Christmas card organisation. Over 250 charities are supported including Cancer Research UK, Barnardo’s, NSPCC, Alzheimer’s Society and RNLI, as well as a number of local charities such as Thames Valley Air Ambulance and Daisy’s Dream.

Cards for Good Causes has raised over £40 million for charities over the past ten years.

Shoppers will be able to choose from hundreds of different Christmas card designs, as well as traditional advent calendars and candles, wrapping paper, gift tags, napkins and stocking fillers created especially for this season.

The Twyford URC pop-up shop is open from 10am to 4pm on Fridays and from 10am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Singing Christmas at the Movies Calling all ladies who love to ‘la-la-la’… Join local music teacher and choir director Suzanne Newman for a fun singing afternoon on Saturday 7 December from 2pm to 4pm at Charvil Village Hall.

You’ll get to sing a Christmas medley arranged for two-part female voice choir, with songs including Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas; Snow; Santa Claus is comin' to town; Have yourself a merry little Christmas; and Believe.

The cost is £10 which includes a copy of the sheet music and refreshments.

Places can be booked by contacting Suzanne on 0118 934 0589 or suzanneynewman@btinternet.com.

18 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

Christmas shopping fairs Christmas Shopping Event at the River & Rowing Museum, Henley RG9 1BF Thursday 14 and 21 November, 5–7pm Eco Christmas Fayre at Foxes Den Community Café, Binfield RG42 4EW Saturday 23 November, 10am–3pm Christmas Artisan Fair at Henley Town Hall, RG9 2AQ Wednesday 27 November, 6–10pm Building for the Future Shopping & Pampering Event at Our House, Toutley Road, Wokingham Thursday 28 November, 6–9pm Henley Christmas Festival in the town centre Friday 29 November, 5–9pm Christmas Market at The Abbey School, Reading RG1 5DZ Saturday 30 November, 10am–2pm Etsy Made Local Christmas Makers Market at St Laurence’s Church, Reading RG1 1DA Saturday 30 November, 11am–6pm House of Colour Christmas Shopping Event at Walter Infant School, Wokingham RG41 2TA Saturday 30 November, 1–4pm Reading’s Indie Christmas Market at Double Barrelled Brewery, Reading RG30 6BX Sunday 1 December, 12–5pm Twyford Christmas Fayre in the village centre Friday 6 December, 6–9pm Dinton Christmas Fair at Dinton Pastures Country Park, RG10 0TH Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December, 10am–4pm Milestone Indoor Christmas Market at Milestones Museum, Basingstoke RG22 6PG Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December, 11am–4.45pm Christ Church Christmas Fair at Christ Church, Reading RG2 7AR Saturday 7 December, 2–5pm Gift and Craft Market at Burnham Park Hall, SL1 7HR Saturday 14 December, 11am–3pm Please mention rg10 when responding to advertisements

19

christmas

20 1 9

Church events Christmas events and services at the Anglican and URC churches in Twyford, Ruscombe and Hurst can be found on the facing page.

Christmas events and services at the Catholic churches of Twyford and Wargrave are as follows: Tuesday 3 December, 5 pm

Children's Quiz Night, St Thomas More parish hall, Twyford

Monday 16 December, 7 pm

Carols and Mince Pies, St Thomas More church, Twyford

Christmas Eve, 5pm

Children's Mass, St Thomas More, Twyford

Christmas Eve, 8.30pm

Carols at St Thomas More, Twyford

Christmas Eve, 9pm

Christmas Vigil Mass, St Thomas More, Twyford

Christmas Day, 9am

Christmas Mass at Our Lady of Peace, Wargrave

Christmas Day, 10.30am

Christmas Mass at St Thomas More, Twyford

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21

Perfect for Christmas‌ Locally made gifts that can be personalised for that extra special touch.

Beautifully scented hand poured soy wax candles, diffusers and room sprays.

Use discount code RG10 at checkout for 10% off your order. www.homeswithnomes.co.uk

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23

Books

Christmas gift ideas by local authors

Pets and Puppies – Monica Easton

Auntie Lizzie’s Bedroom Floor – Phil Gowler

The World Less Travelled – Nick Procter

Inspiration: Over 40 years living with a mixed bag of pets and Guide Dog puppies, and being told at a speaking engagement that she should write a book!

Inspiration: Two daughters with disgracefully messy bedrooms. They’re grown up now, but Dad (a Woodley based therapist and life coach) always vowed to get them back somehow…

Inspiration: A peculiar whirl of events over a few years creating almost accidental opportunities for visiting some unexpected places. Plus being challenged by his wife to use the experiences to write a travel book… (which now has a 5* rating on Amazon).

Story: Tales about the different animals – happy, sad, unusual, entertaining and sometimes challenging.

Examples: Dusty, the fastest stair-climbing hamster; Rusk, the wizard football-dribbling Lakeland terrier; Nero, the golden retriever puppy that liked to playfight with the tame bantam cockerel; the polecat who produced 8 kits the day after she arrived; one guide dog puppy that turned out to be agoraphobic; another that needed hydrotherapy twice weekly after leg surgery.

Ideal for: All ages – younger children would enjoy being read to, seeing over 40 photos of pets featured, and hearing the ‘verses’ describing their characters.

To buy: Available for £9.99 from Amazon or signed copies at HF Newberry in Twyford.

Story: A slimy sandwich lurking under Lizzie’s bed poisons a spider, bestowing it with certain evil powers.

The hero is the author’s granddaughter, who visits Auntie Lizzie’s room, is bitten by the spider and shrinks.

She has to battle through the Musty Mountains, climb the Bookcase Cliff, traverse the Used Tissue Swamp and combat the spider. On the way she meets talking toys such as the French Clown, the Glass Penguin and Handy the Sockmonster.

Story: Each chapter brings amusing observations about a different location, from tiny European city states to countries with odd traditions.

Examples: Meeting a world leader while carrying 17 cans of beer, or discovering that a team building exercise in Finland involved a naked sauna with work colleagues…

Apparently the colder the destination the more scope for interesting goings-on to write about!

Ideal for: Kids and adults wanting a fun, fairly simple and quick-paced read to pass the time on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Ideal for: Anyone who enjoys witty travel books by the likes of Tony Hawks or Bill Bryson.

(The author runs the Twitter account @QuotesBryson.)

To buy: Available for £9.99 from Amazon.

To buy: Available for £9.99 from Amazon or signed copies at HF Newberry in Twyford.

24 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

Proud to be a member of

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Call Andy Ward Tel: 07957 386008 Office: 0118 376 1467 Email: twyfordlandscapes@gmail.com Please mention rg10 when responding to advertisements

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TWYFORD ROOFING & BUILDING 0118 405 0019 07742 583905 07468 563497 ALL ASPECTS OF ROOFING AND BUILDING PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE NEW AND OLD ROOFS FLAT ROOFS FACIAS AND SOFFITS GUTTERING LEADWORK GENERAL ROOF MAINTENANCE INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PAINTING & DECORATING PLASTERING & RENDERING Email: twyfordroofing@gmail.com www.twyfordroofing.co.uk 22 GRANGE FARM BUSINESS PARK, HURST, BERKS RG10 0RR 26 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

charity

Twyford Volunteer Drivers Love meeting new people and helping others?

Twyford Volunteer Drivers is a small local charity that arranges for volunteers to drive older residents to appointments at hospitals and surgeries around the area.

Mike joined Twyford Volunteer Drivers 10 years ago and explains why he does it: ‘Now that I am semi-retired, I can make some space in my diary. This enables me to help people needing to get to appointments who might otherwise have to rely on taxis, at some expense and probably some inconvenience. It is satisfying to be able to help people and they are usually very grateful. Who knows, I may need similar support myself in the future.’

How does it work?

Passengers must be mobile enough to be able to travel without assistance. They contact the office in advance if they need help getting to a medical appointment at a local surgery or hospital.

Drivers registered with the charity, who use their own cars and are paid a mileage allowance, simply volunteer for the jobs that fit in with their schedule. These can be as many or as few as they wish.

Gillian, a Charvil resident and the charity’s organiser, explains: ‘We email drivers weekly with a list of jobs for the following week.

Drivers respond by email if they can help with any of the trips.’

‘The people I meet are so interesting and I’ve learnt a lot of local history and driving shortcuts that I would never have discovered any other way. For me it has been a brilliant way to give back: it really feels like a win-win.’

Bob, who chairs the seven-strong committee which runs the centre, says: Volunteer driving is ideal for people with some spare time who want to make a difference in their local community. We have approximately 300 people depending on us and demand is so high that we’re currently unable to register any new clients until we recruit additional drivers.’

The charity has helped people from not only Twyford but also Wargrave, Crazies Hill, Charvil, Sonning, Ruscombe, Waltham St Lawrence, Hurst, Knowl Hill and Shurlock Row. Volunteer drivers are not expected to provide mobility assistance or take responsibility for those needing extra support at appointments: in such cases clients are asked to have a friend or relative accompany them to help.

Those interested in volunteering should call 0118 934 3010 or email twadvc@yahoo.co.uk. www.twyfordvolunteerdrivers.org.uk

Karen, who joined the Volunteer Drivers three years ago, says: ‘I was worried at first that I might have taken on something too time-consuming, but nothing could be further from the truth. I can choose the job that suits me and there is never any pressure to do anything more.

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27

Local news Another minister retires After 30 years as a licensed lay minister, Twyford resident Paul Minton has retired at the age of 87, holding his final service in September at St James church in Ruscombe.

In retirement he looks forward to pursuing his hobbies of reading, walking and swimming, and may also do some travelling, having previously spent time working in Australia and Canada.

Rev Anna Harwood, the vicar of Ruscombe, Twyford and Hurst, praised Paul’s service to the Oxford Diocese, citing his ‘many years of caring, faithful and committed service to the community’.

Paul’s retirement came two months after that of Geoff Pugh, covered in the last edition of this magazine.

Curtain Up!

Photo: Tony Phillips He was licensed in 1989 at Christchurch Cathedral in Oxford after retiring from a career lecturing in civil engineering.

Born in Clapton in North London, Paul and his wife – renowned botanical artist Lorna – moved to Twyford in 1973. Their three sons joined the choir at St Mary’s church a few years later, and Paul was soon asked to read lessons during services, which formed the start of his later career…

This is the title of a joint concert by High Voltage Singers and Reading Accordion Group on Saturday 16 November at St Mary’s church in Twyford. The event is a fundraiser for Yeldall Manor, the Christian rehabilitation centre in Wargrave.

The collaborations between these two musical groups are always very entertaining. For this concert, they will also be joined by London cabaret singer Sarah Tun. Don’t miss out: contact Jacky for your tickets today, or purchase online from High Voltage Singers on TicketSource (see poster for details).

He spent 27 years as a senior lecturer at Imperial College London, ten of them commuting from Twyford, also serving 16 years as a warden of the student halls of residence.

Paul also found time to get involved in village activities. He is a former chairman of Polehampton Swimming Association and built props for Twyford & Ruscombe Theatre Group.

His main interest, however, has been flying: his exploits include being joint team champion at the National Gliding Championships in 1957, acting as chief flying instructor of the Imperial College Gliding Club at Redhill from 1959 to 1961, and then learning to fly Tiger Moths at White Waltham with West London Aero Club. He enjoyed flying to places including Corsica and Copenhagen.

On retiring he paid tribute to the vicars he had served under, naming Graham Hamborg, Simon Howard, Des Foote and Anna Harwood as providing particularly good support during his time as lay minister.

28 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

New home for Norman’s portrait Twyford artist Terri Jones and former station master Norman Topsom visited Didcot Railway Centre in September to present his original portrait for public display at the centre.

Norman was a familiar and popular figure during his long tenure in Twyford. Terri painted his portrait to mark his retirement in 2015 after 53 years’ service to the railways. A copy remains on display on platform 4 of Twyford station, nearest the ticket office.

The two are pictured with Didcot Railway Centre CEO Emma Jhita beside 2999 ‘Lady of Legend’.

You may even find the perfect Christmas present for someone! Refreshments will be available including homemade cakes.

The group meets at Charvil Village Hall on Wednesday evenings in term time and offers a friendly welcome to new members interested in joining. The group enables people who enjoy making art to get together to practise varied techniques and learn from visiting tutors. The membership fee is only £40 a year plus a small charge per session.

Charvil Art Group provides the ideal opportunity to develop an interest in art, with several different tutors each term. Members range in age from the twenties to the nineties and work in a variety of media. A mixed programme encourages artists to expand their skills by trying new methods and learning from each other.

To find out more, see www.charvilartgroup.co.uk, contact Hilary on 0118 934 3595 or just turn up at 7.30pm on a Wednesday evening during term time and meet other members. Charvil Art Group would love to see you!

Wargrave Women and Girls Football Club Huge congratulations to WWGFC on receiving the highest recognition for their outstanding work in the community: in September they received the Queen’s Award for voluntary services – equivalent to an MBE for an individual.

Chairman Bob Austen, other volunteers and of course club members are naturally delighted.

Receiving the Queen’s Award provides a welcome boost to the club’s efforts to encourage more young girls to take up the game, enjoy working as a team and have fun.

For more information about the club visit www.wargravegirlsfc.co.uk.

Photo: Frank Dumbleton

Charvil Art Group exhibition Members of Charvil Art Group invite you to their annual exhibition on Sunday 17 November from 10.30am to 5.15pm at Charvil Village Hall.

Visitors will be able to view a varied and interesting collection of art works, many of which will be for sale.

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29

Local news (continued) Charity quiz night Who doesn’t love a quiz night? Get a team of up to six friends or family together for a fun evening supporting local charity Understanding Dementia.

Their quiz night will be held on Saturday 9 November, 7.30 pm at Twyford District Youth & Community Centre.

Thames Valley Police so I wanted to help. I contacted them and offered to co-ordinate a collection for Twyford. After posting appeals on various social media and school groups, I’ve had plenty of donations – even some from ladies helped by the charity in the past.

‘Huge thanks to everyone who donated – it will really make a difference.’

The charity’s founder Shirley Pearce and volunteers look forward to welcoming everyone on the night. For more information or tickets please call Shirley on 07743 501149 or email info@understandingdementia.co.uk. In the meantime she’d love to hear from any more kind people willing to offer a prize, raffle item or auction lot!

Berkshire Women’s Aid works throughout Bracknell, Reading and Wokingham, providing support and refuge services to victims of domestic abuse.

See www.berkshirewomensaid.org.uk.

Berkshire Women’s Aid The kind people of Twyford have donated over 200 items of toiletries and cosmetics to Berkshire Women’s Aid after local resident Andrea Roberson spotted a plea for such items on the charity’s Facebook page.

As Andrea explained: ‘I am aware of the good work of this charity from my previous career with 30 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

The Mikado Gilbert and Sullivan’s popular operetta The Mikado will be staged by Woodley Light Operatic Society from Wednesday 11 to Saturday 14 December at the Alan Cornish Theatre, in the Oakwood Centre in Woodley.

The Mikado is a hilarious show packed full of classic songs, including Three Little Maids from School, the Lord High Executioner’s Little list and Tit Willow.

Performances start at 7:45pm with an additional matinée at 3pm on the Saturday. Tickets are priced £14 to £16 and are available online from woodleylightoperatic.ticketsource.co.uk (no additional booking fee), or by calling the box office on 0333 666 3366. For more information visit the society website: www.wlos.co.uk.

New faces at the florists

The Emperor of Japan, the Mikado, likes to make the punishment fit the crime. Which is unfortunate for several of the characters...

Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner of Titipu, is under sentence of death by beheading – but cannot behead himself! Yet Titipu faces relegation from town to village status if there is no beheading soon.

The Mikado’s son, Nanki-Poo, has refused to marry Katisha, an elderly courtier. He runs away, disguising himself as a second trombone in a music group, and falls in love with Yum-Yum, ward of The Lord High Executioner.

Yum-Yum returns Nanki-Poo’s love but his punishment for flirting with her is beheading – and besides, she is betrothed to her guardian.

The scene is set for a tangled plot of deceit and betrayal, until it seems that just about everyone on stage is due to be beheaded at some point!

Thankfully, all is resolved, and the story ends happily ever after – almost!

The Mikado has gathered many stories in its long history as one of the widely performed Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. For example, in 1907 the D’Oyly Carte theatre company was obliged by the British government to suspend performances during a visit by Japanese Imperial Prince Fushimi Sadanaru, for fear of causing offence. It is reported that the prince was disappointed not to see the show…

Twyford business VFB The Florist was acquired a few months ago by Frankie Jacobs and daughter-in-law Sammie Barton.

This is a dream come true for Frankie, who says: ‘Having lived in Hurst for the last 20 years, during which time we’ve always tried to support local businesses, it was a wonderful opportunity to acquire a successful local business and build on its legacy. We have had an amazing first two months and have been made to feel so welcome by everyone in the village and surrounding area.’

It was Karen Williams from the Duke of Wellington who got in touch with RG10 to sing the praises of the new owners. Karen is very grateful for their support in donating the table arrangements at the Rose Ball, her charity event in midNovember raising funds for Cancer Research UK and Thames Hospice in memory of her mother.

Rumour also has it that the translation of the one small part of Japanese in the operetta is extremely rude. Naturally it is performed with gusto by many an unsuspecting am-dram group across the country.

Frankie adds: ‘It’s so important that all the local businesses support one another. We must thank Karen from The Duke, who has popped in nearly every week since we arrived and has been so kind and helpful spreading the news. When she approached us about flowers for the Rose Ball we welcomed the opportunity to help. We hope everyone has a fabulous evening and raises lots of money for these amazing charitites.’

Woodley Light Operatic Society hope not to offend audiences, promising instead to send you home humming Gilbert and Sullivan’s melodies with a smile on your face!

The new owners have lots of plans for the future, starting with the refurbishment of the shop and a new name, further news of which will be announced in later issues of RG10.

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31

CMJ

insurance brokers

Recurring events Fitness Every Monday

Twyford Yoga

9:30–10:45 St Mary’s Church Centre, Twyford

Every Tuesday

Fit Mums Berkshire Mummy & Baby Pilates Twyford Badminton Club Twyford Yoga

9:45–10:45 or 11:00–12:00 Hurst Village Hall 19:45–21:30 Loddon Hall, Twyford 19:00–20:00 Sonning C of E Primary School

Every Wednesday

Twyford Yoga

19:00–20:30 The Colleton School, Twyford

Every Thursday

The Yoga Club

19:00–20:15 Charvil Piggott Primary School

Every Friday

Fit Mums Berkshire pre- and post-natal Pilates 19:30–20:00 Twyford Scout Hut

Libraries First Monday

Monday Bookworms Author book group

14:00–15:00 Wargrave 14:30–15:30 Twyford

First Tuesday Second Tuesday Third Tuesday Fourth Tuesday

Reminiscence Club Tuesday Reading Group Rhymetime Knit & Natter Storytime Home from Home book group

10:30–12:00 Twyford 14:30–15:30 Twyford 11:00–11:30 Twyford 14:00–15:00 Twyford 15:45–16:15 Twyford 10:30–11:30 Twyford

First Wednesday Second Wednesday Third Wednesday Fourth Wednesday

Crafts & Laughs Coffee morning KTOG Knitting Group iHelp Support Group

14:00–16:00 Wargrave 10:00–12:00 Wargrave 14:00–16:00 Wargrave 14:00–16:00 Wargrave

First Saturday

Read me, Make me: children’s crafts

10:30–11:00 Wargrave

Children Every Monday

Twyford Youth Club years 7/8

18:30–20:30 Twyford District Youth & Community Centre

Every Wed and Fri (term time only)

Twyford Toddler Group

9:30–11:30 Twyford District Youth & Community Centre

Every Wednesday (term time only)

Caterpillar Club

9:45–11:30 Charvil Village Hall

Every Wednesday

Twyford Youth Club year 9+

19:15–21:15 Twyford District Youth & Community Centre

First Sunday

T.A.C.T. Stay and Play session

10:00–12:00 Twyford District Youth & Community Centre

Every Monday Second Monday 2nd and 4th Monday Third Monday

Woodley Photographic Club Twyford & Ruscombe Local History Society Twyford & Ruscombe Art Group Twyford & Ruscombe WI

19:45–22:00 The Oakwood Centre, Woodley 19:30 The Piggott School library, Wargrave 14:00–16:00 St Mary’s Church Centre, Twyford 14:00–16:00 St Mary’s Church Centre, Twyford

Every Tuesday

Sing Your Pain Away (restarts 10 Sep) Twyford Badminton Club Twyford & Ruscombe Floral Art Club Knowl Hill WI Wargrave Local History Society

14:00–15:00 Loddon Hall 19:45–21:30 Loddon Hall 19:30 Charvil Piggott Primary School 19:30 Knowl Hill Village Hall 20:00 The Pavilion, Wargrave Recreation Ground

Second Wednesday

Charvil Short Mat Bowling Club Charvil Art Group Holly Cottage Bridge Club U3A Woodley Twyford Folk Music Workshop Live Traditional Jazz Club

18:45–21:00 Charvil Village Hall 19:30–21:30 Charvil Village Hall 19:30–22:30 White Waltham Parish Hall 14:00–16:00 Christ Church, Woodley 20:00 Loddon Hall 19:30–22:30 Reading Rugby Club, Sonning

2nd Thu and 4th Tue

Reading Cigarette Card & Postcard Club

19:30–22:00 Charvil Village Hall

Third Thursday

Bluebird Care Friends’ Café Knowl Hill CAMEO

11:00–12:00 Emma’s Kitchen, Twyford 15:00–16:00 Knowl Hill Village Hall

Every Friday

Twyford Bowling Club coaching

17:30–20:00 Wargrave Road, Twyford

First Sunday Every Sunday Last Sunday

Sunday Club Bingo evening Legendary Twyford Blues

14:00–17:00 The Twyford Centre, Polehampton Close 19:30 Loddon Hall 20:30 Waggon and Horses, Twyford

Third Wednesday

Woodley Farmers’ Market

9:00–13:30 town centre

First Saturday

RSPB guided walk Friends of Ruscombe Wood

9:00–12:30 Dinton Pastures 10:00–13:00 off Castle End Road

Clubs and interests

Second Tuesday Every Wednesday First Wednesday

Local area

34 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

Second Sunday

Lavell’s Wetland Trust bird walk Maidenhead Farmers’ Market Lavell’s Lake work party

9:00–12:00 Sandford Lane car park, Woodley 10:00–13:00 Grove Road 10:00–14:00 Sandford Lane, Woodley

First Monday Third Monday

Hurst Parish Council Charvil Parish Council

19:30 Hurst Village Hall 20:00 Charvil Village Hall

Fourth Tuesday

Twyford Parish Council

19:45 Loddon Hall

First Wednesday

Ruscombe Parish Council

19:30 William Penn Room, Loddon Hall, Twyford

Second Tuesday

Woodley Business Club

8:00–9:30 The Oakwood Centre, Woodley

Every Wednesday First Wednesday Second Wednesday

BNI (Regatta chapter) Athena (Reading East) 4Networking (Twyford)

6:45–8:15 Henley Rugby Club 12:00–14:00 Sonning Golf Club 12:00¬–14:00 Hennerton Golf Club, Wargrave

Every Thursday Second Thursday Third Thursday

BNI (Loddon chapter) 4Networking (Henley) Athena (Wargrave)

6:45–8:15 Doubletree by Hilton, Sindlesham 12:00¬–14:00 Henley Rugby Club 12:00–14:00 Hennerton Golf Club

First Friday Third Friday

First Friday Club, Reading Henley Business Partnership 3FM Ladies Who Latte

See www.firstfridayclubreading.com for times/locations 8:00-9:30 Phyllis Court Club, Henley 9:30–11:30 Bird in Hand, Knowl Hill

Fourth Sunday

Council meetings

Business networking

November events

Fri 29 Henley Christmas Festival 17:00–21:00 town centre

Mon 4 Reading Geological Society lecture: The Thames through time 18:45 Sorby Room, Wager Building, University of Reading Whiteknights

Sat 30 St Nicholas Hurst Christmas Fayre 11:00–15:00 Hurst Village Hall

Each Thu and Fri 29 Pots & Pinot: adult pottery painting 18:00–22:00 HaaHoos Twyford

December events

Fri 8 and 22 Twyford Autistic Carers Together (TACT) 13:00–14:30 Twyford District Youth & Community Centre

Mon 2 Reading Geological Society lecture: Survivors – the animals and plants that time left behind 18:45 Sorby Room, Wager Building, University of Reading Whiteknights

Sat 9 Quiz night for Understanding Dementia 19:30–23:00 Twyford District Youth & Community Centre Mon 11 and 25 Twyford & Ruscombe Art Group 14:00–16:00 Acrylics workshop, St Mary’s Church Centre, Twyford Mon 11 Twyford & Ruscombe Local History Society 19:30 Reading Abbey, The Piggott School library, Wargrave Tue 12 Twyford & Ruscombe Floral Art Club 19:00 Christmas demonstration, Loddon Hall Tue 12 and 26 Twyford Whist Drive 19:30–22:00 St Thomas More church hall, Twyford Wed 13 Twyford Over 60s Club 14:00–16:00 Chocolate Continental, St Mary’s Church Centre, Twyford Thu 14 and 28 Carers’ Coffee Mornings 10:00–12:00 For all carers and those for whom they care, at The Twyford Centre Thu 14 and 28 Golden Years Club 14:00–17:00 For over 60s, The Twyford Centre, Polehampton Close Sat 16 Curtain up! Charity concert 19:30 St Mary’s church, Twyford Sun 17

Reading Geological Society field trip

Sun 17 Charvil Art Group exhibition 10:30–17:15 Charvil Village Hall

Thu 5, 12, 19 and Fri 13 Pots & Pinot: adult pottery painting 18:00–22:00 HaaHoos Twyford Fri 6

Reading Geological Society field trip

Fri 6 and 20 Twyford Autistic Carers Together (TACT) 13:00–14:30 Twyford District Youth & Community Centre Fri 6 Twyford Christmas Fayre 18:00–21:00 village centre Sat 7 Singing Christmas at the Movies Festive singing afternoon for female voices 14:00–16:00 Charvil Village Hall Mon 9 Twyford & Ruscombe Art Group 14:30–16:30 Christmas party, Charvil Piggott Primary School Mon 9 Twyford & Ruscombe Local History Society 19:30 Christmas party, The Piggott School library, Wargrave Tue 10 Twyford Whist Drive 19:30–22:00 St Thomas More church hall, Twyford Wed 11 Twyford Over 60s Club 14:00–16:00 Christmas party, St Mary’s Church Centre, Twyford Wed 11 to Sat 14 WLOS present The Mikado 19:45 Alan Cornish Theatre, Oakwood Centre, Woodley

Sun 24 Alexander Devine Santa Dash 8:30–12:00 Bachelor’s Acre, Windsor

Thu 12 Carers’ Coffee Morning 10:00–12:00 For all carers and those for whom they care, at The Twyford Centre

Wed 27 Twyford Over 60s Club 14:00–16:00 St Mary’s Church Centre, Twyford

Thu 12 Golden Years Club 14:00–17:00 For over 60s, The Twyford Centre, Polehampton Close

Wed 27 Make & Take community café for over 50s 14:30 Bridge Court, Twyford

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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35

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business

Performance coach What would your ‘2029 self’ thank you for?

by Liz Balmford I sometimes ask my clients to look backwards in time two, five or ten years. I ask them what they’d say to that past version of themselves. Most say they’d tell their past selves to trust ... that they’re doing ok, they know what to do and they’ll be fine – even when life gets challenging.

I then ask my clients to connect to their future selves. I get them to vividly imagine a future version of themselves, who’s achieved the goals and is already living the life that the present version wants to live.

job was boring, sunscreen ... Without those things, our current selves would be a mess – ill-educated, unfit, poor, unhappy, with premature wrinkles! It’s our self-discipline and forethought in the past that have made us what we are today.

Castillo also recommends we time-travel ten years into the future and ask our 2029 self what we’re thankful for.

This act of looking forward and backward can have a profound effect on our daily choices and actions.

The brilliant coach Brooke Castillo suggests that she’s thankful to her past self. Her idea is that all the planning, practices, investments (in time and money) and hard work implemented by our past selves are what allow us to enjoy our lives today.

Think about it: revising for all those exams, exercising, showing up every day even when our Your assignment: • Look back ten years. In your imagination, vividly conjure all the stresses, worries, hopes and dreams of your 2009 self. What would you say to that past version? For what would you thank that past version? Write it down. Take some time to celebrate all that you’ve achieved and overcome. Relish the good feelings for five minutes – most of us want to rush this bit, so get a cuppa or a glass of wine and acknowledge these past ten years. You rock!

• Look forward ten years. What is your 2029 self thankful for? What does that future version of you say? What are they soooo happy you’ve implemented or changed? What do they say you should focus your attention on right now? What do they say you should do more of, do less of, keep doing? What do they say it’s time to let go of? Write it all down.

• Regularly reconnect to your future self. That version of you has all the answers and they are so very, very grateful to you for all that you’re doing for them.

If you’d like to work through this exercise (and others) with a coach, contact Liz at www.lizbalmford.com.

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39

THE COMMUNITY ORIENTED COMPANY

TWYFORD WINDOWS

WE’RE BETTER, CONNECTED

#Throwback Christmas Remember this?

Twyford Village Christmas Tree sponsored by Twyford Windows Rt Hon Theresa May MP switches on the tree lights

Check out the 2014 Christmas video starring the Twyford Windows Christmas tree at Bell Corner – and Home Secretary Theresa May. Enter this into your web browser: bit.ly/2BtXr2q Enjoy!

Merry Christmas from Kevin and Paloma

Contact Kevin Brown 0118 934 4600 | 0118 934 0254 | 07930 550001 kevinbrown4@btconnect.com 11 High St, Twyford, RG10 9AB

www.twyfordwindows.co.uk

twyford together

News update Twyford in Bloom wins GOLD

Twyford Parish Council clerk Lucy Moffatt said: ‘Gold is fantastic recognition of the hard work that the volunteers, local businesses and parish council put in throughout the year. It’s the “can do” attitude of Twyford residents that makes so many initiatives feasible. It is a real achievement to be presented the Managing the Environment award in recognition of work being done to reduce emissions in the village centre, reduce use of single use plastics and community work on wildflower areas.’

And the work doesn’t stop there. In October volunteers scythed the new wildflower areas in King George's Field and planted crocus bulbs and bluebells. We can’t wait to see them in the spring!

Colleton headteacher Caroline Norris said: ‘The school is very proud to have been recognised as the best in the Thames and Chiltern region. Children and adults have worked incredibly hard over the last year growing flowers and food, litter picking, recycling, selling their produce or cooking it to serve to the local community.’

Twyford in Bloom 2019 After hosting the judges in July for the regional Thames and Chiltern in Bloom contest, we finally learnt the results in late September and: We did it!!

Twyford was awarded GOLD overall – the highest accolade. Everyone involved is naturally delighted, having been so close for the past three years with Silver Gilt.

Paul Cassidy visited the Colleton in October to present the Mark Mattock Schools Gold Award.

Residents wishing to be involved in Twyford in Bloom 2020 should email info@twyfordtogether.org and if you’d like to see the judges’ full report, visit the Twyford Together website: www.twyfordtogether.org.

And that’s not all… Twyford was also named joint winner of ‘Managing the Environment’, and The Colleton School was the outright winner of the Mark Mattock Schools Challenge award.

Twyford Together’s Paul Cassidy coordinates the village’s ‘in Bloom’ effort, involving many local individuals and organisations.

Claire Clark, chairman of Twyford & Ruscombe Horticultural Association, said: ‘We are all over the moon that we cracked it this year! Twyford in Bloom brings us together with the primary schools, parish council, Twyford & Ruscombe Local History Society, Adopt-a-Street, Twyford Rethinks Its Plastics and many local businesses and residents to showcase the very best of our village. We are judged against standards that cover horticulture (40%), environment (30%) and community (30%), so to win gold demonstrates what a truly great community spirit Twyford has.’

Colleton School pupils at work Please mention rg10 when responding to advertisements

41

twyford together

News update (continued) Once again, we were blessed with clear blue sky for our annual October fun run and welcomed over 200 families back to our original location, The Piggott School.

Congratulations to all those who took part and especially to Twyford’s fastest street: Springfield Park residents achieved the three fastest cumulative chip times in our new 5k race. For all individual times visit https://my2.raceresult.com/139144/results.

As ever, this was a wonderful community effort. The races were expertly organised by Ellie from Barnes Fitness, with pre-race warm-ups provided by Phil of Twyford Yoga. Alongside the wonderful new seasonal and eco-friendly stalls mentioned in the Environment feature of this edition, visitors enjoyed the ever-popular breakfast BBQ from 1st Twyford Scouts, a core balancing skills challenge with Castle Royle, eco craft activities with Twyford Toddlers, and face painting with Happy Hours Pre-School.

Fastest street - Springfield Park

Photo: Chris Drew

Charity Family Fun Run

Warm up

Photo: Chris Drew

Photographer Chris Dew captured many great images from the races, from the toddlers’ event through the different year groups up to the 5k. He has kindly made the photo gallery freely available online: www.flickr.com/photos/chris-drew/albums.

Pedal powered smoothie Entertainment was provided by the fabulous Saxcelerate group from Windsock Music, and Twyford Comets ran a mini obstacle course with RG10 magazine providing the treats.

And they're off

42 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

Photo: Chris Drew

Watch this space for the date of next year’s fun run – and put it in your diary!

Christmas is coming!

Some key dates to note for the festive season…

On Sunday 1 December gather around the Christmas tree at Bell Corner for carol singing before our VIP guest switches on the lights at 5.30pm. Many thanks to Goodall-Smith Wealth Management for sponsoring the tree and to Parkers Estate Agents for the use of their electricity supply.

The parish council will put up a second tree at Jubilee Corner, kindly supplied by Treetop Landscapes, and many retailers in the village will also put trees over their shops – a real team effort to make Twyford look wonderfully festive.

The Twyford Christmas Fayre will be held in the centre of the village on Friday 6 December from 6pm to 9pm, with over 50 great stalls and lots of entertainment.

The Age Concern day centre will host Christmas lunches throughout the following week, supported by local businesses such as Bridge House, the Duke of Wellington, Haweli and Hare Hatch Sheeplands.

The next day, Saturday 14 December, we are holding this year’s ‘Be a Santa To a Senior’ tea party at the Colleton School. This very special festive event hosts over 100 older people from our community. Many thanks to all who make it possible: the David Brownlow Charitable Foundation, in association with Home Instead and TimeFinders, with Zoe Correa from AJ Making a Stamp kindly wrapping the presents.

Spot the difference

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43

thames valley police

Community update Leave a light on… and burglars in the dark!

Whenever you go out, it’s important to leave your home secure. Getting into an ‘exit routine’ can help ensure that you don’t forget obvious, but important things, like not leaving your valuables near windows, or no lights on if it will be dark before you get home.

Leave a light on... and burglars in the dark

• • • • •

Keep valuables out of sight Don’t advertise you are away from home on social media Register your valuables with www.immobilise.com For crime updates sign up to www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk

www.thamesvalley.police.uk

CC5399

Be bright and invest in a light timer switch this winter

Close and lock all your doors and windows when going out or to bed

Leaving your home checklist

Please visit our website for more advice: www.thamesvalley.police.uk/burglary.

Going away?

Here are five tips to help you keep your home and belongings safe while you’re away: 1. If you’re off on holiday and wish to post anything on social media, make sure your posts aren’t public and that they’re only seen by your friends 2. Leave lights and a radio on a timer to make the property appear occupied 3. Get a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your property or join a Neighbourhood or Resident Watch Scheme 4. Consider asking your neighbours to close curtains after dark and to park on your drive 5. Remember to cancel newspaper and milk deliveries.

Here’s what we recommend you do before you go out: • Close and double lock all your doors and windows, even if you’re only going out for a few minutes • Make sure any valuables are out of sight • Keep handbags away from letterboxes or cat flaps and hide all keys including car keys, as a thief could hook keys or valuables through even a small opening • Never leave car documents or ID in obvious places such as kitchens or hallways • In the evening, shut the curtains and leave lights on • If you’re out all day, it’s advisable to use a timer device to automatically turn lights and a radio on at night • Set your burglar alarm • Make sure all side gates are locked • Lock your shed or garage and lock your bike inside to a robust fitting bolted to the ground or wall, like a ground anchor • Consider purchasing a home CCTV or video doorbell system.

Contact us If you believe there is a crime in progress, please call 999; otherwise report your concerns on our website www.thamesvalley.police.uk or by calling 101.

Email the neighbourhood team on TwyfordNHPT@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk.

Please note this email address cannot be used to report crimes or for any urgent matters.

If you have information about crime or antisocial behaviour in your area but you do not want to speak to the police, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

44 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

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46 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

General Knowledge Crossword 1

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8 9 10 11

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13 15 16

17 18 19

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Across 3 Large, old, luminous stars (3,6) 8 Prophet (4) 9 Adult male horse (8) 10 Baby’s toy (6) 13 Make sore by rubbing (5) 14 Put under a military blockade (7) 15 Suppuration (3) 16 On the Origin of ___, work

by Charles Darwin (7) 17 Sign of the zodiac, the Ram (5) 21 Medicinal tincture used for bruises (6) 22 Government levy (8) 23 On a single occasion (4) 24 The spirit characteristic of an age or generation (9)

©puzzlepress.co.uk

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Down 1 Expel from a community or group (9) 2 Liquid resulting from the thawing of ice or snow (9) 4 Painting stand (5) 5 Spectacles (7) 6 Wheel shaft (4) 7 Archaic form of the word ‘you’ (4) 11 Inadequate in amount or degree (9) 12 Daily publication (9) 14 Public transport vehicle (3) 15 Persistently or morbidly thoughtful (7) 18 Public announcement of a proposed marriage (5) 19 Palm fruit (4) 20 Abstain from eating (4) Please mention rg10 when responding to advertisements

47

48 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

gardening

Tips from Waltham Place Preparing for winter If you have the space and do not have one already, why not create a designated pile for your leaves? Your leaf mould pile can be used for your soil in the years ahead. It is also a key ingredient should you be planning to make your own potting soil in the future.

Late autumn is the time to prepare for changeable weather and the winter to come.

The main bulk of this year’s harvest will be in and stored, with some root vegetables and hardy greens still growing in the garden.

Hopefully you have made your own compost heap this year. Now is a good time to turn it: in doing so, you will help the process of decomposition.

Mulching is a key task to complete before the onset of winter. Think of it as tucking your plants into bed to keep them warm and protected. Start by cutting back dead stems, remembering to leave some seed heads for the birds. Then use grass clippings, leaves or old straw to cover as much of the ground as possible.

Whilst adding some organic matter, this mulch does not contain many nutrients for the soil; rather it will help to retain what is already there and protect your plants and soil from the elements.

Should you wish to add any soft fruit, deciduous shrubs or trees to your garden, now is the time to plant them. Garlic, broad beans and autumn onions can also be planted outside.

As hardy plants drop their leaves, you could try your hand at taking cuttings. It’s a good time, too, to check on any produce you have stored: remove anything moulding or rotting so as to prevent any spread.

As the evenings draw in, there is nothing better than enjoying a hearty meal using some of your stored vegetables. My current favourite is stuffed pumpkin with kale, rosemary, garlic and cheese. You could use the evening also to clean any seeds you may have saved from the garden, make plans for next year and order new seeds for spring planting.

As your garden begins to die back and look bare, remember this a good thing. This is a time for the soil to rest, be nurtured and replenish itself for the next growing season.

This goes for the gardener too: approaching winter is the time for planning, and future garden design.

Best of all, this is a time for reflection on the bounty nature gives us, and our role in turn as gardeners to give back to it.

André Tranquilini Estate Manager

Waltham Place Farm, a 220 acre biodynamic and organic farm in White Waltham, is often known as ‘Berkshire’s best kept secret’. The estate welcomes visitors by appointment for garden tours, events, and school visits. For more information visit www.walthamplace.com.

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49

environment

Local update We can all make a difference

by Dave Lamont ‘The greatest danger to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.’ These words of polar explorer Robert Swan OBE featured on a slide at the Greener Wokingham event in late September, at which I was delighted to be one of the speakers.

I’ve heard and seen this quote many times, yet it always makes me sit up and think. What can we as individuals really do? Here’s one way to act.

Wokingham Borough Council is currently inviting input from residents via its Climate Emergency Survey, giving you a chance to have your say and to play a part in helping to shape the council’s strategy for achieving carbon neutral status by 2030. The plan will be unveiled in the New Year.

Please get involved if you haven’t already done so.

And get your partner, family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and anyone else who lives in the borough to participate. You can find the survey in the ‘Current Consultations’ section on the council’s website. (Shortcut: https://bit.ly/2AMceVP.) In terms of something already on the up, the recycling rate in the borough was 55% for the quarter ending June 2019, the first to include figures from the new food waste collection. This scheme, coupled with the greater recycling of plastics, has helped to push rates up from around 45% in 2018. Wokingham is therefore ahead of the game in meeting the current EU target of a 50% recycling rate for UK households by 2020.

Wokingham Borough Council collected an incredible 1,200 tonnes of food waste between April and June this year. That’s the equivalent of up to 200,000 sacks of rubbish, weighing the same as over 200 African elephants.

This year Heidi converted FastTrack Fit Camp into a social enterprise, with 50% of profits now donated to charitable and environmental projects, in addition to her impressive fundraising for a wide range of causes. A true force of nature, Heidi spoke passionately about her ‘wake-up call’ to environmental issues and the initiatives she has kickstarted, ranging from a trainer recycling scheme to tree planting at a local school. She has even managed to weave litter picking into some of her outdoor fitness classes. You can find out more at www.fasttrack-fitcamp.co.uk.

Maya founded her refillables business earlier this year and every week can be found at markets in Woodley and Wokingham. More recently she has become a regular at other locations including Holme Grange Craft Village and the University of Reading. Learn about the products, venues and dates at www.mayasrefillables.com.

Another great refillables business has started up a little closer to home: Laura Maratchi's Twyford Eco Popup sells a range of eco-friendly cleaning and bathing products at community events and local venues: find her on Facebook. Lauren Shields of www.fillfood.co.uk is seeking a new venue locally for her sales of dry food ingredients and household products. Best wishes to both.

The Millard & Lowe butchers at Hare Hatch Sheeplands now seal fresh produce requested at the counter in a biodegradable paper bag – an excellent step to reduce plastic waste.

If sent to landfill, food waste produces methane, a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide for warming our planet. According to National Geographic, around 20% of global warming so far can be attributed to methane.

It was a pleasure to be joined at the Greener Wokingham event by my fellow speakers, Maya Gheorghe of Woodley-based Maya’s Refillables, and Heidi Strickland Clark of Wokingham-based FastTrack Fit Camp.

Mark Lowe with biodegradable bag

50 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

Twyford Rethinks Its Plastic (TRIP) continues its excellent work as part of the campaign by Surfers Against Sewage to reduce single-use plastic.

Congratulations to HaaHoos pottery studio and Day Lewis pharmacy, the latest local businesses to gain Plastic Free Status.

TRIP took a stall at October’s Twyford Together Charity Family Fun Run to demonstrate Ecobricking technique, explain what items can be sent to Terracycle, and promote the Twyford Litter Pick being held the following week. (Well done to everyone who turned up in the rain to help at that!)

TRIP works with local businesses and schools seeking to reduce their use of plastics and invites others to get in touch for information. Mitali Kelly worked with Wargrave Brownies in a nationwide initiative to send a plastic free pledge to local MPs.

The TRIP stall also received unwanted inflatables to add to Holly McRitchie’s collection for Wyatt & Jack who convert them into handbags.

The more people that get into the habit of sorting their rubbish, the better – not only for council recycling but also for items that can be dropped off at the appropriate points for other schemes.

Twyford now has several Terracycle schemes up and running, so please support them.

TRIP stall at the fun run

The fun run had an eco-friendly theme this year: even the medals for the new 5k event were made of wood, to a design kindly provided by Julian Clark Creative.

Stallholders around the event included: Hare Hatch Sheeplands providing fruit for a smoothie making bike, for which 100% recyclable paper cups from Frugalpac were used; Twyford & Ruscombe Horticultural Association with a pumpkin rolling competition and bee friendly planting advice; Family Cook Share, with healthy bakes using local produce; Refill Reading promoting the Refill app for water bottles; and Twyford Eco Popup selling environmentally friendly household and personal products.

It’s clear how much the local community values working together to improve the environment in which they live: Twyford in Bloom was awarded Gold for the first time in the regional Thames and Chiltern contest, after three years of winning Silver Gilt. Huge congratulations to all who have worked so hard on this project.

Dave Lamont is the founder of Plastic Free Home, a popular and highly engaged not for profit online community focused on environmental issues. Follow www.facebook.com/plasticfreehomeuk and visit www.theplasticfreehome.com for news, ideas, debate and more.

Twyford Rethinks Its Plastic – TRIP: Join www.facebook.com/groups/TripTwyford and follow @ItsTwyford on Twitter.

Email triptwyford@gmail.com to offer support or ask for information.

Ecobricks: Visit www.ecobricks.org for information, PDF guides and videos.

Sign up at www.gobrik.com to join the Twyford Rethinks Its Plastic community.

Twyford Together: Visit www.twyfordtogether.org, follow @twyfordtogether on Facebook, email info@twyfordtogether.org Please mention rg10 when responding to advertisements

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52 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

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53

british traditions

Pantomime Panto: the UK’s quirkiest tradition?

Oh, yes it is!

Such is the popularity of pantomime that the best seats can sell out well ahead of time in a puff of fairy dust.

Pantomime is a British tradition that’s guaranteed to mystify anyone who is unfamiliar with our culture.

The name itself creates confusion: when US-based Baywatch actor Pamela Anderson received her first offer to appear in pantomime in Liverpool in 2010, she was convinced she would be ‘miming in a box’.

(Bizarrely, she agreed to do it anyway.)

Like most traditions, pantomime has grown from customs and practices that have been transformed over time by changing tastes and fashions.

The practice of men appearing as women on stage is deeply embedded in British culture. Until the law was changed in the early 1660s, it was illegal for women to act in theatres, so audiences were used to seeing men performing in female attire.

Copying Commedia Commedia dell’arte was a broad type of comic performance popular in Italy between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, which is said to be the forerunner of our traditional pantomime. Based on ‘stock’ characters, the plots generally featured a pair of lovers, a mischievous servant, a clown or pierrot character and a money-grabbing old man.

While pantomime’s young lovers have changed little from Commedia dell’arte days, some of the other characters have been reworked to fit different plots. The clown is still with us in the shape of daft but lovable Simple Simon or Wishee Washee, while Cinderella’s footman Buttons is a pale reflection of the Commedia’s high-spirited servants. Finally, the stock character of the old man appears variously as the foolish Baron Hardup (Cinderella), the villainous Fleshcreep (Jack and the Beanstalk) and the power-hungry Abanazar (Aladdin).

Harlequinade to pantomime

Hand coloured photograph of Widow Twankey, 1896 There’s nothing like a Dame One of pantomime’s best-loved characters is the ‘Dame’. Nearly always played by a man, the Dame is generally portrayed as a vain, foolish woman, determined to get a husband at any price. But, with the possible exception of the villainous Ugly Sisters in Cinderella, the Dame never fails to gain the audience’s affection.

In the seventeenth century, British theatre borrowed some of Commedia’s characters to create an early type of pantomime known as a ‘Harlequinade’. But pantomime as we know it today was created when audiences began to demand more and more spectacle. Canny theatre producers discarded the less popular parts of the Harlequinade but kept the transformation scene, where Harlequin waved his magic baton (nowadays a fairy wand) to show fairytale characters and scenes dramatically changing before the audience’s eyes. By the Victorian era the Harlequinade had become the two-act pantomime we would recognise today.

So pantomime goes on, changing year on year to suit current tastes, but in many respects remaining true to its earliest origins. It’s the one theatre entertainment that can successfully play to an audience aged between two and ninety-two, but will it continue to do so for centuries to come? Oh, yes it will!

Kate McLelland

54 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

Competition RG10 competitions are open to anyone living within the RG10 postcode area.

Winner(s) will be drawn at random from all valid entries received. They will be contacted as soon as possible confirming details of their prize.

Congratulations to the winner of our last competition, Alexandra Cartwright from Charvil, who won 4 tickets to Sleeping Beauty at the Kenton Theatre in December.

Enter online via the competitions page at www.RG10mag.com. For entries to be valid, you must: 1. Agree to the T&Cs on our website 2. Enter by the deadline 3. State which competition you are entering 4. Give your address with an RG10 postcode as well as an email and phone contact.

Tickets to see the Jungle Book!

Twyford & Ruscombe Theatre Group are kindly offering four premium tickets to the opening night of their festive family show on Thursday 16 January.

Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, adapted for the stage by Stuart Paterson, is suitable for all the family and will be presented at Loddon Hall from Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 January.

Enriched with song, dance, comedy and slapstick, this production will be a treat not to be missed.

Join the players in the jungle to enjoy the adventures of Mowgli and his friends Baloo the bear, Bagheera the panther and not forgetting the not very nice tiger, Shere Khan.

The perfect antidote to the January blues, The Jungle Book will bring oodles of sunshine, fun and music, delivered with all the usual panache of the Twyford & Ruscombe Theatre Group!

Competition entry deadline: 12pm on Friday 6 December.

The winner will be notified promptly by RG10 and provided with their tickets by email.

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55

food and drink

Recipe Ginger crème brûlée with poached rhubarb

About Dan My name is Dan Holloway and I am the Head Chef at The Horns in Crazies Hill.

I have chosen this dish as it is a great dessert to serve up at your dinner party. Ginger complements the tang of the rhubarb and as we have lots of locally grown rhubarb it was a natural choice to put on our menu. It is relatively easy to make and can be done in advance. You just need to crisp up the outer layer before serving.

Ingredients (makes 6 x 150ml ramekins): 750ml double cream 50g fresh ginger, peeled and grated 6 egg yolks 75g caster sugar for the brûlée mix, plus extra for glazing at the end 3–4 large stalks of rhubarb Juice of ¼ lemon 1 cinnamon stick 50g caster sugar for the rhubarb

Dan was a National Finalist in the John Smith’s Great British Pub Awards Young Chef of the Year 2018.

Method for brûlée: 1. Place the cream in a pan and add the ginger.

2. Place over a medium heat and bring to the boil.

3. In the meantime, cream the egg yolks and 75g caster sugar together in a large mixing bowl.

4. Remove cream from the heat and pour over the egg yolk and sugar mix. Whisk well.

5. Preheat oven to 105°C. 6. Set up a baking tray with 6 ramekins placed on a flat cloth and ½ an inch of water around them.

7. Pass brûlée mix through a sieve into a jug to remove the ginger.

8. Distribute mix evenly between the ramekins, leaving each roughly ¾ full.

9. Bake in the oven for 50 minutes, then check if set.

They should have a slight wobble like a custard; if not cooked return to the oven for 10 minutes, repeating the process until done.

10. After cooling place brûlées in the fridge to chill for at least 6 hours.

11. Before serving, lightly dust the surface area of the brûlées with caster sugar and blowtorch until a dark caramel is formed. Leave to harden for 1 minute, then place a generous tablespoon of the poached rhubarb on top.

The Horns is a traditional country pub serving homemade food. We cater for all sizes of appetites including a range of Petits Plats (£5 each; 3 for £13.50 or 5 for £20), a proper ploughman’s lunch and steaks where you choose your size (Rib-eye 10oz to 24oz: Rump 8/10/12oz). For our full menu go to our website www.hornscrazieshill.co.uk/menu.

Method for poached rhubarb: 1. Wash and trim ends off rhubarb, then chop into 2cm cubes.

2. Place in a pan with the sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice.

3. Place pan over a medium heat, stirring occasionally until the rhubarb is soft.

4. Set aside until required. Can be reheated before serving or used cold. * Tip to increase the ginger flavour: boil the cream and ginger a day ahead and allow to infuse for 24 hours before making the brûlée.

The Horns Crazies Hill Wargrave RG10 8LY www.hornscrazieshill.co.uk

Email

info@hornscrazieshill.co.uk

Phone

0118 940 6041 @hornscrazieshill

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57

food and drink

Local pubs, restaurants and cafés Twyford and Ruscombe Buratta's at the Royal Oak .................. 0118 934 5190 www.burattas.co.uk Costa Coffee .......................................... 0118 970 6857 The Duke of Wellington (Brakspear) 0118 934 0456 find us on Facebook The Fat Fish takeaway.......................... 0118 934 5591 La Fontana Italian restaurant .............. 0118 934 2698 www.lafontanatwyford.com The Golden Cross........................ find us on facebook Gaylord Tandoori.................................. 0118 934 5511 www.gaylordtandoori-berkshire.co.uk Haweli Indian restaurant .................... 0118 932 0939 www.hawelitwyford.co.uk Hong Kong takeaway .......................... 0118 934 0136 The Mita's Indian restaurant .............. 0118 934 4599 www.themitas.co.uk Oriental Wok takeaway ...................... 0118 934 1384 Sebastian's Café .................................... 0118 934 4214 www.sebastianscafe.co.uk Thai Elephant restaurant...................... 0118 934 9651 www.thaielephanttwyford.co.uk The Waggon and Horses...................... 0118 934 0376 www.waggonhorsestwyford.com

Charvil The Heron on the Ford .................... 0118 934 0700 www.heronontheford.co.uk

The Wee Waif (Greene King/ Hungry Horse) ...................................... 0118 944 0066 www.hungryhorse.co.uk

Hare Hatch and Knowl Hill The Bird in Hand (Wadworth).............. 01628 826622 www.birdinhand.co.uk The Horse and Groom.......................... 0118 940 3136 www.brunningandprice.co.uk/horseandgroom

The Royal Oak ........................................ 01628 822010 The Floral Café at Ladds ........................ 07580 226061 www.laddsgardenvillage.co The Restaurant at Dobbies .................. 0118 940 3933 www.dobbies.com The Sheeplands Café ............................ 0118 940 1600 www.harehatchsheeplands.co.uk

Hurst The Castle Inn........................................ 0118 934 0034 www.castlehurst.co.uk Dragonfly Café ...................................... 0118 932 1071 The Elephant and Castle ...................... 0118 934 0886 www.theelephantandcastlepubhurst.co.uk The Green Man (Brakspear) ................ 0118 934 2599 www.greenmanhurst.co.uk The Jolly Farmer .................................... 0118 934 1881 find us on Facebook The Wheelwrights Arms (Wadworth) .. 0118 934 4100 www.thewheelwrightsarms.co.uk

Waltham St Lawrence and Shurlock Row The Bell .................................................. 0118 934 1788 www.thebellwalthamstlawrence.co.uk The Shurlock Inn .................................. 0118 934 9094 www.shurlockinn.com

Wargrave and Crazies Hill The Bull (Brakspear) ............................ 0118 940 3120 The Greyhound .................................... 0118 940 2556 Hennerton Golf Club ............................ 0118 940 1000 www.hennertongolfclub.co.uk The Horns (Brakspear) ........................ 0118 940 6041 www.hornscrazieshill.co.uk The Old Post Office café ...................... 0118 940 4800 find us on Facebook The St George and Dragon .................. 0118 940 4474 www.stgeorgeanddragon.co.uk Weir Grove ............................................ 0118 940 1836 www.theweirgrove.com

58 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

News Thai Elephant Twyford Another celebration! Congratulations to the Thai Elephant restaurant, which has marked its tenth anniversary in Twyford.

Spanish-Italian restaurant The New Inn closed just as our last edition went to print and the premises in Knowl Hill remain vacant. The former occupants are concentrating on their other restaurant, Altamira in Crowthorne.

The Horns

Congratulations

Owner-manager Nikki Yomjinda wishes to thank all their regular customers and looks forward to welcoming back new diners who were attracted by their special anniversary deals in September.

Follow @ThaiElephantTwyford on Facebook for the latest news and offers, and look out for the Christmas party menus! If you are planning a group outing, be sure to book early for the best table. www.thaielephanttwyford.co.uk

Farewells

We are very sad that Emma’s Kitchen is closing on 1 November, after three years at the heart of the Twyford community.

The Horns in Crazies Hill was listed in ‘12 of the best restaurants in Reading’ by Berkshire Life in September – a great accolade for this traditional country pub.

The menu caters for all sizes of appetites, from a range of Petits Plats (£5 each; three for £13.50 or five for £20) and classics such as a proper ploughman’s lunch to a choice of steaks by weight: Rib-eye 10oz to 24oz or Rump 8/10/12oz.

For full details including Christmas party menus, visit www.hornscrazieshill.co.uk/menu.

The Horns is also known for its Sunday lunches and recently added a new Roast Rump of Lamb sharing board.

The pub is now taking bookings for your Christmas parties during December.

To make a booking email info@hornscrazieshill.co.uk.

Emma Saville quickly endeared herself to residents by giving everyone of all ages a warm welcome, putting herself out for local charities and good causes, and supporting local businesses – clearly running her own on ethical principles.

We wish her all the best as she now focuses her attention on her catering services.

Lamb sharing board Please mention rg10 when responding to advertisements

59

Puzzle solutions

Crossword

Quiz

Across: 3 Red giants, 8 Seer, 9 Stallion, 10 Rattle, 13 Chafe, 14 Besiege, 15 Pus, 16 Species, 17 Aries, 21 Arnica, 22 Taxation, 23 Once, 24 Zeitgeist.

1.

Children’s page

The Grinch (in How The Grinch Stole Christmas), 2. Cabbage Patch Kids 3. An alarm clock 4. A turkey 5. Gizmo 6. Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo 7. All I Want For Christmas Is You (by Mariah Carey) 8. Turbo-Man 9. The Hogfather 10. A ring (“Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a ring”)

Missing numbers: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66, 72, 78 Anagram: Rudolph

Spot the difference

Pictograms

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Down: 1 Ostracise, 2 Meltwater, 4 Easel, 5 Glasses, 6 Axle, 7 Thou, 11 Deficient, 12 Newspaper, 14 Bus, 15 Pensive, 18 Banns, 19 Date, 20 Fast.

1. Round Robin 2. One Step At A Time

Wordwheel SPIDER / SPIRED

Codeword

3. Box Of Tricks

Snow Flame Yellow scarf Eye missing Bobble Dots on blue scarf Leg missing Man's teeth Finger Ear gone

Su doku

60 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

CARTMELL GARDENS YOUR LOCAL FRIENDLY, RELIABLE PROFESSIONAL GARDENER GARDEN MAINTENANCE LAWN MOWING GARDEN DESIGN BORDER PREPARATION PLANTING TURFING JETWASHING FENCING AND MUCH MORE......

Introducing your local mortgage adviser Paul Duffield brings to the Twyford area the Vickers Young approach to mortgages and protection.

Friendly, expert advice on the most appropriate financial products for you to achieve your aims.

Call Paul: 07920 066174 Email Paul: vickersyoung22@gmail.com

www.vickersyoung.co.uk

CALL US FOR A CHAT AND TO ARRANGE YOUR FREE NO OBLIGATION ESTIMATE WE’RE ON FACEBOOK OR CALL JIM ON: 07879 442231 email: cartmellgardens@outlook.com

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A mortgage is a loan secured against your home. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debt secured on it.

How can we help?

• Bathroom re-fits

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• Cylinder and water tank replacement • Radiators, valves, thermostats fitting / replacement • Kitchens and tiling • Leak detection • Pumps

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61

Index Accounting 13 Starfish Accounting Advertising 6–7 RG10 Marketing Arts and crafts 8 Berkshire Bespoke Picture Framing 37 HaaHoos Painting & Party Centre Building services 11 ABD Construction 38 Boce Developments 38 The Loft Access Company Care providers 10 Bridge House of Twyford 56 Right at Home Carpets and flooring 63 The Floor Store Charities 27

Twyford Volunteer Drivers

Coaching 39

Liz Balmford

Cleaning 37 38 13 13

All and Good House Cleaning Services Oven Clean OvenU Peacock Carpet Cleaning

Community 44 Thames Valley Police 20 THRU-Christ 41–43 Twyford Together Education 21 The Abbey School Electricians 5, 64 Westgate Electrical Services Estate agents 2 WentWorth Estate Agents Finance, insurance and legal 48 Benedict Charles Financial Planning 9 Blandy & Blandy Solicitors 32–33 CMJ Insurance Brokers 36 Josephine Blythe 61 Vickers Young

Food and drink 22 Hare Hatch Sheeplands 57 The Horns in Crazies Hill 4 Riverways Farm 58–59 Pubs, restaurants and cafés Gardens and landscaping 61 Cartmell Gardens 25 Twyford Landscapes 49 Waltham Place Gifts and homewares 23 Homes with Nomes Health and wellbeing 23 Barnes Fitness 12 FastTrack Fit Camp 8 The Vale Clinic Kitchens and bathrooms 53 AHM Installations 16 Kitchen & Bathroom Place Painting and decorating 38 Cox Decorators 4 PB Decorating Plumbers 4 61 8 13 52

ADD Plumbing JJ & SJ Plumbing S Green Plumbing & Heating Walterworks Plumbing & Heating W Williams Plumbing & Heating

Roofing 37 26

The Rubber Roofing Company Twyford Roofing & Building

Security 14

Band Systems

Self storage 53 Sheeplands Farm Style and fashion 53 Can’t Sew 17 House of Colour Windows, doors and conservatories 40 Twyford Windows

For more local services see our online directory at www.rg10mag.com

62 rg10 November/December 2019. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

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