RG10 Sep/Oct 2018

September/October 2018 | issue 73 | free

inside | Local news | What’s on | Features | Puzzles | Food and Drink | Competitions

To sell or let your property, all the signs point to

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Celebrations, community and connections The beautiful work shown on our front cover is

by Shinfield artist Kate Findlay, one of many taking part in Wokingham Arts Trail on 22–23 September. You can visit Kate at venue 5, the Methodist church.

The last nominations are just in for the Twyford Together Community Awards – a cracking first year! I’m honoured to be part of the judging panel, and can’t wait to celebrate the winning individuals and organisations at Twyford Together’s joint Business and Community awards evening in a few weeks.

Contents Community 8–9 21 26–29 30–31 36 38–39

Environment 19

32 44

One local charity familiar to many of us – Camp Mohawk – shares news from its upgraded facilities and invites us to its ladies’ fashion show fundraiser in November. Another charity perhaps less well known to RG10 readers – Smart Works Reading – tells us about their work and invites us to a special event during Henley Literary Festival.

48–49

Our health and wellbeing is important: consider signing up to FastTrack Fit Camp’s 100 day fitness challenge and supporting Bluebird Care’s event to alleviate isolation in the community.

Nature notes: Autumn walks

Health and wellbeing

It’s a time of change as we move from a scorching summer into a new academic year.

Our wildlife is busy preparing for the colder season, offering us good opportunities to observe their activities in our autumn walks.

Local experts who can save you money include Benedict Charles Financial Planning for investment advice and CMJ for independent insurance advice.

Charity: Smart Works Reading Thames Valley Police: Community update Local news What’s on Twyford Together news Twyford Charities Together: Camp Mohawk

Spotlight: Bluebird Care Connected Care FastTrack Fit Camp: 100 day fitness challenge

Business and finance 14–15

Benedict Charles Financial Planning: The balance between risk and reward CMJ Insurance Brokers: Why use an independent insurance broker?

House and garden 37

Twyford Tradesmen Together

Puzzles and competitions 16 40 41 46 47

Children’s page Wordsearch, Su doku (easy and hard) Crossword Puzzle solutions Competition: Henley Literary Festival

Food and drink 52 53

Local pubs, restaurants and cafés Recipe: Beautiful butternut squash

Index 54 Sep/Oct 2018 Issue 73 Advertiser information RG10 is a bimonthly publication reaching 8,000 homes and businesses 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 new website to receive RG10 Living, our newsletter emailed out between issues of RG10 magazine.

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.

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Join our team!

Many of our distributors give years of service but we do sometimes need new people to join our trusted local delivery team. Get in touch for information about delivering our magazines in the RG10 area. · Good exercise · Get to know the area better · Earn some cash every couple of months

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6 rg10 September/October 2018. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

charity

Smart Works Reading Charity celebrates helping over 400 women find a job Sarah says: “When we opened two and a half years ago we didn’t know exactly what to expect.

One of the most surprising and interesting things is we see women from all walks of life going for so many different jobs in different industries – some that you may not expect, from a dentist to a hairdresser to an engineer.

Deborah Lane, 48, recently got her dream job in children's education. She’d struggled to find work, with long periods of unemployment causing her to lose confidence in herself. Then she heard about Smart Works in Reading, a charity which helps women back into work by styling them, giving them interview experience and providing a smart outfit.

She says: “I went to see Smart Works Reading, and it felt a bit like winning the lottery. They took time to talk to me and helped me find my style, little things like choosing the right colours. They gave me interview experience, helped me find my confidence and play to my strengths.”

Smart Works was first set up in London five years ago and the Reading Branch opened in 2015 covering the Thames Valley area. Smart Works Reading is celebrating the amazing achievement of helping their 400th client in to employment, an important threshold to have passed so soon.

Smart Works Reading has a professional team of more than 65 volunteers offering a wide variety of experience, support and practical help to the most vulnerable women. The Chair is Sarah Burns – see picture with Deborah.

8

Life can happen to anyone at any time and it can really dent your confidence; it could be ill health, a relationship breakup or redundancy. So it was good to see the support we offered Deborah paid off and she got her dream job. She was beaming with confidence and excited about the future.”

Almost 40 per cent of the women referred to Smart Works are single parents and some are victims of domestic abuse or unpaid carers.

Those helped have ranged in age from 16 to 67 years and have included refugees, long term unemployed, ex-offenders, vulnerable youth and women with mental health conditions.

Almost half have been out of work for over a year, yet more than two thirds succeed in their job interviews after seeing the team.

Once successful at a job interview, the women are offered a capsule wardrobe to see them through the first few months of their new job.

This is just as important as the support leading

rg10 September/October 2018. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

up to the interview. Many of the women go on to work in retail, marketing, the caring professions and technology, but there have also been an engineer, a planning officer and a company director.

The Smart Works objective has attracted support from some of the best known names in fashion, including Hobbs, M&S and Bobbi Brown. Donations of good quality clothing are also welcome from members of the public.

Smart Works would like to say a special ‘thank you’ to the following partners for generously supporting their 400th client celebrations: Electric Hair (Reading), Samantha Brownell of Bobbi Brown at John Lewis (Reading), and Jill White, founder of made to measure clothing brand Distinctively Me.

Sarah and her team are excited that Smart Works Reading is the nominated charity for this year’s Henley Literary Festival. Do join them for their ‘Smart Talks’ launch event on the evening of 5 October. The first in a planned series of talks, it will be held in the Festival Hub in Market Place, Henley.

For further information please contact: Sarah Burns

Chair at Smart Works Reading

Email

Call

0118 959 4245

Visit

reading@smartworks.org.uk or sarah.burns@smartworks.org.uk www.smartworks.org.uk

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Holly Cottage Duplicate Bridge Club

Interior & Exterior Decorating White Waltham Parish Hall Wednesdays 7.30–10.30pm

Calling intermediate level players with a reasonable knowledge of common Acol conventions

Enquire about vacancies at our friendly and good value Holly Cottage Bridge Club

Please email Andrew Thatcher (Chairman) on andrewchum1@gmail.com

No job too small Fully Insured Free Quotes Call Iain Tel: 01189 Mob:

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10 rg10 September/October 2018. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

Make a move this Autumn with

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The Painting, Pottery and Party Centre in Twyford

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Our very popular Pots and Pinot evenings make the perfect activity for groups or corporate Christmas Party outings.

Pottery painting can be just as much fun for adults, as it is for children, so these evenings give you the chance to relax with friends or colleagues and paint your own fantastic pottery masterpiece.

You can also enjoy pizza and a glass of wine or beer whilst with us!

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finance

Benedict Charles Financial Planning Robin Yeadon, local Financial Planner, explains

the balance between risk and reward Over the summer I was invited to give a presentation to a local networking group. There were several areas I could have talked about but I chose to concentrate on ‘risk versus reward’, because I find people sometimes misunderstand this concept.

A new client told me that his friend had got a great return on his investment. When he told me where it was invested I explained that it was high risk – to which he replied ‘Oh, I don’t want to take that much risk’.

From the adventures we have as children to the financial decisions we make as adults, our attitude towards risk becomes an indelible part of who we are. When it comes to investing, however, it is important to think about risk objectively and not let subjective emotions cloud our judgement, whilst still taking into account our own views and opinions.

Understanding your attitude to investment risk Generally, the greater return you want on your investment, the more risk you need to be willing to accept. There are four main things to consider when thinking about your own attitude towards risk: • your circumstances • your goals • your feeling towards financial risk, known as your attitude to risk • your capacity or tolerance for loss, i.e. how much you could afford to lose without affecting your goals.

What is investment risk?

Risk is a natural part of investing and we all need to find our comfort level. Being able to do this successfully means understanding both the different risk levels of investments available in the market and also risks related to the potential returns on offer.

Many people will say they do not want to take any risk whatsoever. However, all investments carry some degree of risk – even deposit accounts, as inflation can erode the buying power of your money over time. Some people want the highest possible return whilst taking the lowest possible risk, but sadly that is not always possible.

Your personal circumstances are more than simply how much you have right now; it’s also about how much you are willing to lose. Yes, I did say lose. Understanding and accepting that all investments will rise and fall is an integral part of investing. The timescales of your goals may influence how much risk you are willing to take on. Generally, having a longer timeframe gives your investment more time to grow and more time to recover if it falls in value during that time.

There is no escaping risk, but there are strategies for trying to reduce it. You can either make less risky investments or you can try and understand risk and work with it.

14 rg10 September/October 2018. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email info@rg10mag.com

portfolio’s risk and return. By using a blend of shares, bonds, property, cash and other assets we can create an investment portfolio that is right for you.

• We believe that ‘Diversification’ reduces risk and increases consistency of return. By holding a mix of assets, not just in the UK but globally, the volatility of the portfolio can be reduced. Different assets should rise and fall at different times, smoothing out the returns of the portfolio as a whole.

How Benedict Charles Financial Planning can help Many of the people I meet are not invested in the right portfolio of funds, particularly in their pensions. They are invested in funds that either do not match their attitude to risk or are not diverse enough.

Everyone’s attitude to risk is different and our investment strategy is tailored to suit your risk appetite. Through a series of discussions we will help you establish your attitude to investment risk.

To help you achieve your goals, Benedict Charles Financial Planning offers a suite of investment portfolios which have been designed to match differing levels of invest ment risk. Our portfolios are reviewed quarterly using a sophisticated independent analysis system. Each fund is analysed and adjustments to the portfolios are made, where necessary.

What next?

If you would like us to help you with your pensions and investments or have any questions about your financial planning, feel free to get in touch.

• We believe that ‘Asset Allocation’ is by far the most important determinant of a

Contact Robin Yeadon DipPFS 0118 391 3950 or 01628 876069 info@benedictcharles.co.uk www.benedictcharles.co.uk

Proud to be a member of

Financial Planning | Cashflow | Investments | Pensions | At Retirement | Protection Benedict Charles Financial Planning Ltd is an Appointed Representative of DEWM Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England no. 10398683

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Answers: The 10 differences are: 1. Microscope missing 2. Beaker contents changed colour 3. Thermometer missing 4. Teacher’s hair colour 5. Tubing missing on left 6. Top book colour different 7. Colour of top of safety glasses on pupil on left 8. Colour of shirt on boy on right 9. Teachers lipstick colour 10. Colour of contents of large test tube different.

Word Mix Up: 1. teacher 2. classroom 3. student 4. desk 5. book 6. homework. Extra Letter Answer: Lesson

Extra Letter Answer: Each one has an extra letter: Identify these to find the name of something you find in school.

Can you rearrange the following jumbled letters into words that are to do with school?

6) moornkhwe 5) okobo 4) sdkes 3) dustsnet 2) laosemrocs 1) crehealt

Word Mix Up

Extra Letter

Find the 10 differences between the 2 pictures.

Spot the Difference

BACK TO SCHOOL

Unlock your potential Promote your business in our magazine, on our wide screen at Twyford Surgery, and via our website

agazines delivered Around 8,000 m , s to local homes every two month collection points businesses and Making your business everyone's business Call 0118 907 2510 | Email nikki@rg10mag.com | Visit www.rg10mag.com

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18 rg10 September/October 2018. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

nature notes

Autumn walks Foraging, feeding and fattening up The autumn months see the days drawing in, the bright days of summer softening to the golden glow of fall. Although colder days are coming, for now it is still enjoyable to take twilight walks or sit outside at dusk just watching what our wildlife are up to.

night to sustain itself. How often do we all complain about the irritation of gnats, yet without them the bats we so enjoy watching would have nothing to eat!

For many animals, this time of year is all about preparing for winter. Whether getting ready to hibernate or facing restricted food supplies in a couple of months’ time, autumn is a great time for them to forage and feed, aiming to put on enough weight to ensure survival to spring.

With apples ripening and a host of seeds, nuts and berries available from the hedgerows, a good autumn should provide food for all. It is often a good time for fungus, and it can be great fun to see how many forms can be found sprouting from the ground or from fallen trees. Observant walkers will notice which varieties are nibbled or gnawed over the coming weeks, as badgers, foxes, squirrels and mice all enjoy this delicacy.

As the sun sinks low in the sky the Pipistrelle bats begin to flit around trees and buildings. An outside light attracting moths may become a valuable feeding station for bats. Small Soprano and Common Pipistrelle bats can be seen twirling through the sky, looping around catching insects in flight. So fast and lithe in the air, silhouetted against the fading light, they are a sight to behold. Each bat seeks out 3,000 gnats or other small insects each

Your neighbourhood may be home to five or more species of bat, each adapted to different habitats and feeding at different heights on different insects. For the bats it’s a race against time. They must lay down enough fat before the temperature falls and the insects are no longer available, then it’s time to hibernate through the colder months until the warmth of spring wakes them up along with the insects they feed upon. One of the most magical bats to watch are the Daubenton's bats which hunt over water. Using their tail membrane as a scoop they catch insects off the surface of the water – an incredible sight on a moonlit night.

One of the most eerie sounds on an autumn evening is the 'twit-twoo' call of a male Tawny owl. These night time hunters take a wide variety of prey, from small birds to rodents and rabbits or smaller prey like earthworms and beetles. In the woodland, Tawny owls may perch close to the ground and wait for their prey to appear, then pounce. Though rarely seen, their calls echo through the woodland reminding us we are never alone: that indeed our progress is being monitored by many woodland creatures.

Whether you’re a lark or an owl, I hope you enjoy your walks this autumn.

Niki McCann is the Education Officer at Waltham Place Farm, a 220 acre biodynamic and organic farm in White Waltham. 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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in the right direction?

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Josephine Blythe 17 Sheeplands Farm, Wargrave, RG10 8DL Tel: 0118 313 0270 Proud to be a member of Email: josephine.blythe@sjpp.co.uk www.josephineblythe.co.uk

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Musical Director – Helen Styles

Invite you to join them for a Come and Sing Day Featuring

John Rutter’s

Requiem Christ Church 78 Crockhamwell Rd, Woodley, Reading RG5 3LA

Saturday 6 October 2018

Tickets: £18 if booked before 31 August 2018. (£15 for bookings of 10+). £20 thereafter.

Available from:

07747 031440 Registered Charity No: 1035927 www..twyford-singers.org.uk

Charge covers music scores, tea/coffee and delicious homemade cake

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

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22 rg10 September/October 2018. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

thames valley police

Community update Twyford Neighbourhood Policing Team update PCSO Mike Soones

We hope everyone enjoyed the summer holidays.

The Twyford NHPT has been hard at work tackling issues within the community from anti-social behaviour to local thefts and robberies. We urge residents to report any suspicious activity to the Neighbourhood Team. If you believe there is a crime in progress, please call 999; otherwise please report your concerns via our website www.thamesvalley. police.uk or by calling 101.

Burglary prevention advice • Ensure all windows and doors are closed and locked when you are out.

• If you want to leave windows open while you sleep, fit window restrictors so they cannot be fully opened, or be sure that they are not large enough to allow access to a burglar.

• When out in your back garden ensure that windows and doors to the front of the house are secure; it only takes a second for someone to get into your home and take things without you noticing.

• Do not leave valuables on display in front of windows or in reach of open windows or doors.

• Ensure that all barbecue and garden equipment and tools are out of sight, ideally locked up securely in a shed. Tools and ladders can be used by a potential offender to break in to your home.

• Consider fitting outside security lighting, a visible alarm or CCTV cameras to deter burglars. Even using pea shingle or gravel on a driveway and spiky plants in flowerbeds can help.

• Don’t leave any keys near entry points where they can be ‘fished’ or ‘hooked’ out through the window, letter box or cat flap.

• Ensure any internal handle operated locks on UPCV doors are fully secured with a key.

Theft from motor vehicles We continue to see a rise in thefts from motor vehicles, most commonly with vans. We urge residents to report any suspicious activity to the Neighbourhood Team and to safeguard their own vehicles. Here is a reminder of the advice to follow: • Never leave your keys in the ignition while your vehicle is unattended

• Always take precautions and lock your car • Make sure windows are closed, even if you’re away from your vehicle for just a few minutes • Make sure nothing is left on display in your car • Never regard your boot or the back of a van as a safe place to leave valuables: someone might have seen you place them in there • Vans are easy to break into so be sure to add additional security, especially if you have high-value tools in the back • Try to park vans against a wall or garage door so that the back doors cannot be opened.

Parking We are still getting complaints regarding commuters parking in residential roads near Twyford train station. Wokingham Borough Council are responsible for parking enforcement; please report any problems to them on 0118 974 6000 or via www.wokingham.gov.uk. Thames Valley Police only have the power to issue tickets for dangerous obstructions – we cannot attend if there is no violation of any parking restriction in force.

Contact us Contact your local neighbourhood team at TwyfordNHPT@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk – please note this email address cannot be used to report crimes or for any urgent matters.

If you do not have access to email, contact us via the Thames Valley Police non-emergency number 101.

In an emergency, where a crime is progress or there is an immediate threat to life, always call us on 999.

Follow us on Twitter @TVP_Wokingham To receive free information updates about your area from Thames Valley Police, register for Thames Valley Alert via www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk.

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25

Local news Holly Cottage Bridge Club

Do you play bridge? There are currently vacancies at Holly Cottage Bridge Club, a friendly, good value club which runs duplicate bridge evenings on Wednesdays in White Waltham village hall. For more information and contact details, look up the club via the index of this magazine or on the RG10 website.

Let them eat books A mini travelling children’s library is coming to Twyford in September. The little yellow cupboard on wheels will be full of books aimed at children aged 0–6.

Up the tower

Sharon Harriott-Kerr enjoying the view (photo: Tony Phillips) Around 80 people took advantage of a rare opportunity to climb to the top of the bell tower at Ruscombe’s medieval church of St James the Great on Saturday 21 July.

The 60-foot high tower was opened to visitors as part of a patronal festival event. It houses two 17th century bells, and rewards climbers with farreaching views from the top over the surrounding countryside.

Those who visited were also able to look round the inside of the historic grade 1 listed building, which includes some rare 13th century paintings, and at other church treasures that were on display.

The day’s activities ended with an evening performance by Reading Accordion Group.

Do you love to sing?

High Voltage is calling you!

The cupboard will be based at various locations in and around Twyford for children to visit leave a book and take a book.

If you would like to host the cupboard for a book swap, StoryTime session or any other event, please contact Let Them Eat Books via Facebook @letthemeatbooks.

Twyford based vocal group High Voltage Singers are recruiting new members for what promises to be an exciting season ahead.

As if preparing for Christmas were not enough, High Voltage are currently also preparing for their trip in November to Twyford’s twin town Cuincy in northern France. They will be performing in a joint concert with Cuincy’s Melodie choir as part of a weekend of events marking the centenary of the end of WW1.

26 rg10 September/October 2018. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

High Voltage would like to invite any new members to join the choir – especially alto or male singers – whether just for the Cuincy event (for which numbers are limited) or on an ongoing basis. The only requirement is to have had some previous experience singing from written music in harmony.

High Voltage was formed in 2010 and sings all types of music including classical, modern, pop, jazz, Christian, and rock n’ roll – basically any song that everybody loves to sing or enjoys listening to.

A simple group voice test will ensure that each individual is singing a voice part that suits their vocal range.

Tea, coffee and squash will be available at the breaks but it is advisable to bring a water bottle to keep the vocal chords hydrated. Attendees should also bring a packed lunch.

The venue is the canteen at The Bulmershe School, Chequers Way, Woodley RG5 3EH.

They organise concerts, invite guest performers, hold charity events and perform at private functions, weddings, festivals, and for local clubs and groups.

For more information about the workshop and to register your place, go to the TVC website at www.tvchorus.co.uk/join.

High Voltage is a very relaxed and cheerful group, meeting once a fortnight on Monday evenings in the homes of two of its members. For more information, search for ‘The High Voltage Singers Twyford’ on Facebook.

Singing afternoon for female voices

Choir leader Jacky Crossman would love to hear from anyone interested in a musical adventure to France representing Twyford, or in becoming a new member of the regular choir (whether soprano, alto, tenor or bass).

Not to be outdone, the ladies can enjoy a singing event on the same day with local music teacher and choir director Suzanne Newman. She is leading a fun singing afternoon also on 15 September from 2pm to 4pm in Charvil Village Hall. You’ll learn a medley of songs by music theatre composer Stephen Schwartz arranged for 2-part choir, including Day by day, Colours of the wind, For good, Popular, Defying gravity and When you believe.

As Jacky says: singing is good for you in so many ways, High Voltage members have lots of fun, and they have many exciting plans in store for next year too! Contact her on 07780 580598 or 0118 934 5998 or email j.crossman@ymail.com.

To book your place, contact Suzanne on 0118 934 0589 or email suzanneynewman@btinternet.com.

‘Come and Sing’ Football anthems with Thames Valley Chorus

Twyford Singers invite you to join them for a ‘Come and Sing’ day on Saturday 6 October from 10am to 5pm at Christ Church in Crockhamwell Road, Woodley. Men and women are welcome at these fun events which attract many people enjoying the music – and the home baking!

Here’s one for the guys: a ‘Come and Sing’ event starring football anthems! Thames Valley Chorus is running a free workshop on Saturday 15 September for male voices to sing well-known football anthems in four-part close harmony.

The workshop will feature the well-known ballad You’ll never walk alone, originally from the musical Carousel but later popularised by Gerry Marsden in the 1960s before being adopted by the Anfield Kop. The workshop will also include the Neil Diamond classic Sweet Caroline, which became a favourite of Royals fans in Reading FC’s record-breaking 106 points promotion season.

No formal singing experience is necessary to take part, but sheet music will be freely provided to anyone requiring it on the day.

The workshop starts at 10am and will conclude with a performance at 4.30pm for family and friends.

‘Come and Sing’ Rutter’s Requiem with Twyford Singers

This year’s attendees will have the opportunity to learn John Rutter’s Requiem with the choir’s Musical Director Helen Styles. Spaces are available for £20, which includes music scores, tea and coffee and, of course, delicious homemade cake.

To reserve a place, book online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/twyford-singers or email secretary@twyford-singers.org.uk.

In the meantime, anyone wanting to learn more about singing with the choir is welcome to go along to the Twyford Singers open evening on Tuesday 11 September – or to any subsequent Tuesday reahearsal – from 7.45pm to 9.45pm at the URC hall in Church Street, Twyford.

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27

Local news (continued) Morris dancing taster sessions

Help for separating couples

Hurst Morris People are inviting everyone to their free and friendly taster sessions on Thursday 20 and 27 September, to be held from 8pm to 10pm at Hurst Village Hall.

These present a ‘no obligation’ opportunity to try a 500-year-old English tradition and have some fun.

The leader – or Squire – of Hurst Morris People is Karen Ricketts. She says: ‘There are many reasons for trying morris dancing with us. They include lots of fun, easy to learn dances, great live music and exercise that beats the gym. Then there’s homemade cake at the break and a pub visit afterwards.

‘Men and women, dancers and musicians are welcome. No experience of Morris is needed. We’re from all backgrounds and age groups. Few of us had danced or played folk music before.’

Holidays can be a stressful time for couples whose relationship is already under strain.

Being in close proximity in a small hotel room, chalet or tent can be the final straw, says John Kemp, who chairs the Berkshire based national charity Divorce Recovery Workshop.

Research has shown that more people file for divorce after holiday periods. DRW is standing by to support those people, as well as others who might still be struggling to come to terms with a break-up years ago.

The charity runs courses that aim to help overcome the pain that the end of a relationship can cause.

Courses are for everyone having experienced relationship breakdown, regardless of whether the couple were married.

New dancer Mel (pictured centre) adds: ‘When I went to the taster sessions last year I simply thought it would be a novel way to spend an evening. Little did I realise that several months later I would be dressed in full kit, dancing in front of the public!

‘For the first two or three months of practice I kept doubting my ability. However, the enthusiastic, patient and friendly welcome I received each week kept me going back.

‘If you are even slightly intrigued about Morris dancing, I would encourage you to come to one of the taster sessions. It's good fun, sociable and a great way of keeping fit!’

To contact the side, email Karen at contact@hump.org.uk or phone Sue on 07761 222390. For more details, visit www.hump.org.uk and find them on Facebook @hurstmorris.

The next local course is on 12–13 and 19–20 October at Brookside Hall in Earley. The complete course consists of four sessions: two on Friday evenings and two Saturdays during the day.

‘Everyone involved in running the course has been through it themselves,’ says John, ‘and can empathise with anyone struggling with the breakdown of a relationship.

‘People interested in workshops can now go to You Tube links on the website and see short clips of the videos we show at our sessions. The website also has people talking about how DRW has helped them.

The great majority of people coming on a course find they have been helped to rebuild their lives.’

For more information visit www.drw.org.uk, email reading@drw.org.uk or call Seamus on 07887 800521, John on 07880 702337, or Melanie on 07858 052383.

28 rg10 September/October 2018. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

Coming to the stage The autumn production of Twyford and Ruscombe Theatre Group is It Runs in the Family, a comedy by Ray Cooney, at Loddon Hall on 11–13 October.

‘Bearing that in mind, when I was looking for a comedy for the autumn slot, naturally I looked at Ray Cooney first. Standing in Reading library I found myself laughing out loud at the script for It Runs in the Family, and I was hooked.

‘Set in a doctors’ common room in a large hospital sometime in the 1980s, it is a delicious blend of mistaken identity, bluff and double bluff, and all that makes British farce great. Not only is the play funny but the incredibly complex knots in which the participants tie themselves are beautifully realised and are both a challenge and great fun to play.

‘We hope that the audience enjoy watching as much as we have enjoyed putting the play together.

Suffice to say that I have been watching the play twice a week for two months and I am still laughing.

We hope you will too!’

Twyford-Cuincy Twinning update As agreed at the last visit in June, a group of people representing the Twyford-Cuincy Twinning Association and several local organisations will be visiting Cuincy for their Armistice Centennial celebrations. They will join the residents of Cuincy as they mark the centenary of the end of WW1 on Remembrance Day, 11 November.

If you are a leading surgeon in London’s most prestigious hospital and you are delivering the ‘Lecture of the Year’ to a hundred of the world’s leading physicians, the last thing you want is a distraught mistress from 20 years ago turning up.

Well Dr Mortimer can cope with that, but when the erstwhile mistress says that the result of their union was a baby boy, he is stunned to say the least.

And when she then tells him that his strapping sixteen-year-old son is waiting outside to be introduced, there is only one course of action – send for faithful friend Dr Bonney.

The play will be directed by Beth Reynolds. She says: ‘Some years ago I was lucky enough to play a part in Ray Cooney’s Funny Money. It was a joy to do – his brilliantly well written dialogue makes the actor's job so much easier.

In the meantime, the Twinning Association has been helping a number of local clubs and associations to forge links with similar organisations in Cuincy.

Various projects have been proposed or are already under way. As previously mentioned, The High Voltage Singers are already connected with Melodie choir in Cuincy.

In sports, an Anglo-French table tennis competition is being planned for 2019, and the Twyford Comets U13 teams are visiting Cuincy in May.

It is hoped that scout exchanges and theatre group trips will follow. Cuincy is particularly keen to establish links involving more of its key activities, including a cycling club, art group and archery section.

The Twinning Association would like to hear from any individuals or organisations that would be interested in building further links with Cuincy and organising reciprocal events. The more people representing different interest groups that take part, the greater the benefits to both communities. To get involved, please email twyfordtwinning@gmail.com.

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29

September

Tue 11 Twyford and Ruscombe Floral Art Club 19:30 Roots, Charvil Piggott Primary School

Sat 1 RSPB guided walk 9:00–12:30 Meet in the main car park, Dinton Pastures

Tue 11 Twyford Singers open evening 19:45–21:45 URC Hall, Church Street, Twyford

Sat 1 Saturday Storytime 10:30–11:15 For children up to 5, Wargrave Library

Tue 11 Wargrave Local History Society 20:00 Wargrave Theatre Workshop, Old Pavilion, Wargrave Recreation Ground

Mon 3 Monday Bookworms 14:00–16:00 Book group, Wargrave Library Mon 3 Author book group 14:30–15:30 Twyford Library Mon 3 and weekly in term time Wargrave Library Rhymetime 16:00–16:30 For children aged 5 and under Mon 3 and weekly Twyford Youth Club session 18:30–20:30 School years 7 and 8, Twyford District Youth and Community Centre, Loddon Hall Road Mon 3 Hurst Parish Council meeting – www.hurstpc.org.uk 19:30 Hurst Village Hall committee room Mon 3 and weekly Woodley Photographic Club 19:45–22:00 The Oakwood Centre, Woodley Tue 4 Reminiscence Club 10:30–12:00 Discuss memories of days gone by at Twyford Library Tue 4 and 18 Twyford Whist Drive 19:30–22:00 St Thomas More church hall, Twyford Wed 5 and every Wed and Fri in term time Twyford Toddler Group 9:30–11:30 Twyford District Youth and Community Centre, Loddon Hall Road

Wed 12 Coffee morning 10:00–12:00 See what’s on offer at Wargrave Library Wed 12 Live Traditional Jazz Club 19:30–22:30 Reading Rugby Club, Holme Park, Sonning Thu 13 and 27 Pots & Pinot evenings 18:00 Adult pottery painting with wine at HaaHoos in Twyford Thu 13 and Tue 25 Reading Cigarette Card & Postcard Club 19:30–22:00 Charvil Village Hall Sat 15 Come and Sing with Thames Valley Chorus 10:00–17:00 Football anthems for male voices, The Bulmershe School, Woodley Sat 15 Twyford and Ruscombe Art Group 12:00–16:30 Annual exhibition, Loddon Hall, Twyford Sat 15 Singing afternoon with Suzanne Newman 14:00–16:00 Stephen Schwartz songs for female voices, Charvil Village Hall Sun 16 Maidenhead Farmers' Market 10:00–13:00 Grove Road car park, Maidenhead

Wed 5 and weekly in term time Caterpillar Club 9:45–11:30 playgroup from birth to pre-school, Charvil Village Hall

Sun 16 Sunday Club – www.ageconcerntwyford.org.uk 14:00–17:00 Offering older people company, tea and a good film at The Twyford Centre, Polehampton Close

Wed 5 and 19 Twyford Over 60s Club 14:00–16:00 St Mary’s Church Centre, Twyford

Mon 17 Twyford and Ruscombe WI meeting 14:00–16:00 Foot care, St Mary’s Church Centre, Twyford

Wed 5 Crafts & Laughs 14:00–16:00 Wargrave Library, Church Street, Wargrave

Mon 17 Twyford Library Writers Group 17:45–18:45 Share ideas and write with others

Wed 5 and weekly Charvil Short Mat Bowling Club 18:45–21:00 Charvil Village Hall

Mon 17 Charvil Parish Council meeting – www.charvil.com 20:00 Charvil Village Hall

Wed 5 and weekly Twyford Youth Club session 19:15–21:15 School years 9+, Twyford District Youth and Community Centre, Loddon Hall Road

Tue 18 Twyford Library Rhymetime 11:00–11:30 For children aged 5 and under

Wed 5 and weekly Charvil Art Group 19:30–21:30 Charvil Village Hall Wed 5 and weekly Holly Cottage Bridge Club 19:30–22:30 White Waltham Parish Hall Wed 5 Ruscombe Parish Council meeting www.ruscombeparishcouncil.co.uk 19:30 William Penn Room, Loddon Hall, Twyford

Tue 18 Knit and Natter 14:00–15:00 Drop in for knitting and a chat at Twyford Library Tue 18 Twyford Library Storytime 16:00–16:30 Fun storytime for children under 5 Wed 19 Woodley Farmers’ Market 9:00–13:30 Woodley town centre Wed 19 KTOG Knitting Group 14:00–16:00 Knit, crochet, chat at Wargrave Library

Wed 5 Folk Music Workshop 20:00 Loddon Hall, Twyford

Wed 19 Twyford-Cuincy Twinning Association 19:30 The Twyford Centre, Polehampton Close

Thu 6 and 20 Carers’ Coffee Mornings 10:00–12:00 For all carers and those for whom they care, at The Twyford Centre

Thu 20 Bluebird Care Friends’ Café 11:00–12:00 Emma’s Kitchen, Twyford

Sun 9 Friends of Lavell’s Lake bird walk – www.foll.org.uk 9:00–12:00 Meet in Sandford Lane car park, Woodley Mon 10 Twyford and Ruscombe Art Group 14:00–16:00 Own choice, St Mary’s Church Centre, Twyford Mon 10 and weekly Springfield Table Tennis Club 19:30–21:30 Polehampton Junior School, Kibblewhite Crescent, Twyford

Thu 20 and 27 Hurst Morris People taster sessions 20:00–22:00 Hurst Village Hall Sat 22–Sun 23 Wokingham Arts Trail www.wokinghamartstrail.co.uk Mon 24 Twyford and Ruscombe Art Group 14:00–16:00 Experiment with acrylics, St Mary’s Church Centre, Twyford

Tue 11 Woodley Business Club 8:00–9:30 The Oakwood Centre, Woodley

Tue 25 Twyford Parish Council meeting www.twyfordparishcouncil.gov.uk 19:45 Loddon Hall, Twyford

Tue 11 Twyford Tuesday Reading Group 14:30–15:30 Themed book discussion at Twyford Library

Wed 26 iHelp Support Group 14:00–16:00 User support for iPhone, iPad or tablet, Wargrave Library

Tue 11 Knowl Hill WI meeting 19:30 Knowl Hill Village Hall

Fri 28 LFM Breakfast Club 7:30–9:00 Business networking at Emma’s Kitchen, Twyford

30 rg10 September/October 2018. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

Fri 28 Building for the Future Giant Awards 18:30 Sonning Golf Club

Tue 9 and 23 Twyford Whist Drive 19:30–22:00 St Thomas More church hall, Twyford

Sat 29 Sep to Sun 7 Oct Henley Literary Festival www.henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk

Tue 9 Wargrave Local History Society 20:00 Smith’s of Reading, Old Pavilion, Wargrave Recreation Ground

Sun 30 Legendary Twyford Blues session 20:30 Featuring Jive Alive plus special guest at the Waggon and Horses, Twyford

Wed 10 Coffee morning 10:00–12:00 See what’s on offer at Wargrave Library

October Mon 1 Monday Bookworms 14:00–16:00 Book group, Wargrave Library Mon 1 Author book group 14:30–15:30 Twyford Library Mon 1 and weekly in term time Wargrave Library Rhymetime 16:00–16:30 For children aged 5 and under Mon 1 and weekly Twyford Youth Club session 18:30–20:30 School years 7 and 8, Twyford District Youth and Community Centre, Loddon Hall Road Mon 1 and weekly Woodley Photographic Club 19:45–22:00 The Oakwood Centre, Woodley Mon 1 Hurst Parish Council meeting – www.hurstpc.org.uk 19:30 Hurst Village Hall committee room Tue 2 Reminiscence Club 10:30–12:00 Discuss memories of days gone by at Twyford Library Wed 3 Crafts & Laughs 14:00–16:00 Wargrave Library, Church Street, Wargrave Wed 3 and weekly Charvil Short Mat Bowling Club 18:45–21:00 Charvil Village Hall Wed 3 and weekly Twyford Youth Club session 19:15–21:15 School years 9+, Twyford District Youth and Community Centre, Loddon Hall Road

Wed 10 Live Traditional Jazz Club 19:30–22:30 Reading Rugby Club, Holme Park, Sonning Thu 11 Festival of Business Woodley 17:30–20:00 Exhibition and speakers, The Oakwood Centre, Woodley Thu 11 and 25 Pots and Pinot evenings 18:00 Adult pottery painting with wine at HaaHoos in Twyford Thu 11 and Tue 23 Reading Cigarette Card and Postcard Club 19:30–22:00 Charvil Village Hall Thu 11–Sat 13 It Runs in the Family 20:00 Twyford & Ruscombe Theatre Group, Loddon Hall, Twyford Sun 14 Friends of Lavell’s Lake bird walk – www.foll.org.uk 9:00–12:00 Meet in Sandford Lane car park, Woodley Mon 15 Twyford and Ruscombe WI meeting 14:00–16:00 The role of the magistrate, St Mary’s Church Centre, Twyford Mon 15 Twyford Library Writers Group 17:45–18:45 Share ideas and write with others Mon 15 Charvil Parish Council meeting – www.charvil.com 20:00 Charvil Village Hall Tue 16 Knit and Natter 14:00–15:00 Drop in for knitting and a chat at Twyford Library Wed 17 Woodley Farmers’ Market 9:00–13:30 Woodley town centre Wed 17 KTOG Knitting Group 14:00–16:00 Knit, crochet, chat at Wargrave Library

Wed 3 and weekly Charvil Art Group 19:30–21:30 Charvil Village Hall

Wed 17 and 31 Twyford Over 60s Club 14:00–16:00 St Mary’s Church Centre, Twyford

Wed 3 and weekly Holly Cottage Bridge Club 19:30–22:30 White Waltham Parish Hall

Wed 17 Connected Care: bringing communities together 14:00–16:30 information event at Charvil Village Hall

Wed 3 Ruscombe Parish Council meeting www.ruscombeparishcouncil.co.uk 19:30 William Penn Room, Loddon Hall, Twyford

Wed 17 Twyford-Cuincy Twinning Association 19:30 The Twyford Centre, Polehampton Close

Wed 3 Folk Music Workshop 20:00 Loddon Hall, Twyford Thu 4 and 18 Carers’ Coffee Mornings 10:00–12:00 For all carers and those for whom they care, at The Twyford Centre Fri 5 Smart Talks launch event 18:30–20:30 Henley Literary Festival Hub, Market Place, Henley Sat 6 RSPB guided walk 9:00–12:30 Meet in the main car park, Dinton Pastures Sat 6 Come and Sing with Twyford Singers 10:00–17:00 Rutter’s Requiem, Christ Church, Woodley Sat 6 Saturday Storytime 10:30–11:15 For children up to 5, Wargrave Library Sun 7 Twyford Charity Family Fun Run 9:00–13:00 King George’s Field, Twyford Mon 8 Twyford and Ruscombe Art Group 14:00–16:00 Fungi, St Mary’s Church Centre, Twyford Tue 9 Woodley Business Club 8:00–9:30 The Oakwood Centre, Woodley Tue 9 Twyford Tuesday Reading Group 14:30–15:30 Themed book discussion at Twyford Library Tue 9 Knowl Hill WI meeting 19:30 Knowl Hill Village Hall

Thu 18 Bluebird Care Friends’ Café 11:00–12:00 Emma’s Kitchen, Twyford Sun 21 Maidenhead Farmers' Market 10:00–13:00 Grove Road car park, Maidenhead Sun 21 Sunday Club – www.ageconcerntwyford.org.uk 14:00–17:00 Offering older people company, tea and a good film at The Twyford Centre, Polehampton Close Mon 22–Fri 26

Half term

Mon 22 Twyford and Ruscombe Art Group 14:00–16:00 Fungi (cont’d), St Mary’s Church Centre, Twyford Tue 23 Twyford Parish Council meeting www.twyfordparishcouncil.gov.uk 19:45 Loddon Hall, Twyford Wed 24 iHelp Support Group 14:00–16:00 User support for iPhone, iPad or tablet, Wargrave Library Fri 26 LFM Breakfast Club 7:30–9:00 Business networking at Emma’s Kitchen, Twyford Sat 27 Twyford Round Table Bonfire & Fireworks 19:00–22:00 King George’s Field, Twyford Sun 28 End of British Summer Time Put your clocks back one hour this morning!

Sun 28 Legendary Twyford Blues session 20:30 Featuring Jive Alive plus special guest at the Waggon and Horses, Twyford

Tue 9 Twyford and Ruscombe Floral Art Club 19:30 Practice night, Charvil Piggott Primary School

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31

spotlight

Tackling loneliness Donating over £2,500 worth of care to reduce social isolation available to them or a loved one. It can be scary for any of us getting older and worrying about the future, so it’s important to know about the many groups out there that can help keep us connected.’

Residents from the Woodley, Twyford, Wargrave and Earley areas are invited to Connected Care – see details below. You’ll receive a warm welcome and helpful information from Bluebird Care and other groups coming together to make a difference to the challenge of loneliness.

Over the past nine months, Bluebird Care in Woodley has been organising regular Friends’ Cafés in and around Berkshire. One is run in partnership with Emma’s Kitchen in Twyford, from 11am to 12 noon on the third Thursday morning of each month (second Thursday in December).

Becki Hawkins of Bluebird Care says that hearing about the experiences of people has led them to take further action to reduce isolation.

She said: ‘We have taken our inspiration from Sheila, who has been attending our Friends’ Café for a little over two months. She told us that she and others were finding it very challenging to get information on social activities in the community as well as support and charity groups in the local area. We are therefore holding a special event on 17 October that we are calling Connected Care.

‘This free event aims to bring communities together in order for local residents to understand what support, guidance and social inclusion is The prevalence and health risks of loneliness · · · · ·

Over 9 million people in the UK across all adult ages are either always or often lonely.

Half a million older people go at least five days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone.

Two fifths of older people say the TV is their main company.

Lonely people are more likely to suffer from dementia, heart disease and depression.

Loneliness can increase the risk of death by 29%.

For sources and more information visit www.campaigntoendloneliness.org 32 rg10 September/October 2018. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

The Rubber Roofing Company therubberroofingcompany@gmail.com

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33

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

Your ideal cleaner ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

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ALL AND GOOD HOUSE CLEANING SERVICES 34 rg10 September/October 2018. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

twyford together

News update Twyford in Bloom The judges’ visit in July went as well as we could have hoped. They spent two hours touring around various places in the village, including the new garden at the Duke of Wellington, the pictures by schoolchildren in the alleyway by Tesco, and the Hurst Road allotments – where Graham Starkie told them all about growing willows in the Heritage Osier Bed and the local history of basket-making in the 19th century. We ended up at The Colleton School for discussions over sandwiches made by pupils using fresh produce from the school gardens. We will get the results in September – fingers crossed for a gold medal!

Community Awards At the time of going to press we are assessing over 100 nominations for our new community awards, sponsored by Westgate Electrical Services. The categories include volunteers, businesses, events, community groups and of course Citizen of the Year (jointly with Twyford Parish Council). The response has been excellent, with some wonderful nominations put forward.

We have assembled a panel of judges including Tom Toy from 1st Twyford Scouts, Pam Bromley from St Mary’s Church and Nikki from RG10.

Winners will be invited to the awards evening on 24 September at Buratta’s, following the presentation of the Edwin Ackers Business Awards for members of Twyford Together. All are welcome from 6.45pm, so put the date in your diary and come along to hear many examples of all that is good about our village.

Twyford Charity Family Fun Run As you can see from this year’s lovely poster design, we are holding the fun run on Sunday 7 October on King George’s Field. This is our 7th annual event and it starts at 9am with our wonderful Toddler’s Dash – lots of little ones running about 100 yards, often in different directions! In all there are seven races for all ages through the morning. Twyford Comets put on a special relay of football skills and we have an adults’ race too. It costs £6 if entering in advance via www.twyfordtogether.org, or £8 if you just turn up on the day.

Christmas already!

Yes – we have started to plan for Christmas.

The Fayre is on 7 December from 6pm, after we switch on the lights at Bell Corner at 5.30pm on 2 December – two more diary dates for you. We are again running our famous Living Advent Calendar from 1 to 24 December, offering events and activities for everyone to enjoy, including church services, concerts, a children’s quiz, Father Christmas at the Duke and much more.

So if you are organising an event and would like it included let me know. St Mary’s Church is running the Christmas Tree Festival again this year from 6 to 9 December, so it promises to be great month all round.

Gordon Storey www.twyfordtogether.org

All profits go to Twyford Charities Together and with your help we hope to raise over £3,000 again this year.

36 rg10 September/October 2018. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

Twyford Tradesmen Together

T: 0118 903 4020 M: 07973 173872

Email: services@jjandsjplumbing.com Website: www.jjandsjplumbing.com

Gene Walter Carpentry All aspects of domestic carpentry Joinery shop trained

07971 012185

Call Andy Ward 0118 348 6040 07957 386008 Design, Construction and Maintenance

twyfordlandscapes@gmail.com

Ongoing support for Twyford Together initiatives Many Twyford Together projects rely on the skills and generosity of our tradesmen. Here are just a few examples: Our network of public access defibrillators would not have been possible without Dave Chambers fitting them free of charge. He has recently completed his eighth installation.

Dave was also responsible for the vastly improved lighting in the alleyway by Tesco’s, complementing the enhancements made with the raised flower bed and artworks by school pupils.

awards side by inviting nominations from the public. The new Twyford Together Community Awards (sponsored by Westgate) have been very well received – winners to be confirmed soon!

In a further example of community support, heating engineer Stephen Green has just raised over £350 for Daisy’s Dream by donating £10 for every boiler service booked by readers of RG10 during July and August. This follows a similar amount raised last year for Building for the Future.

We’ve put a lot of work into revamping our Business and Community Awards this year, thanks to a suggestion by David Cox of Westgate Electrical to open up the community

Renovate

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37

twyford charities together

Camp Mohawk

Adventure playground

Camp Mohawk is a small local charity providing a day centre for families who have children with special needs and disabilities, and who find it difficult to participate in many mainstream activities.

Lots of the childhood experiences that most families simply take for granted are not an option for them, and they describe Camp Mohawk as their lifeline.

It’s been another busy year, and this summer all the warm weather and sunshine enabled our visitors to have fantastic childhood adventures in our ancient woodland site. Our outdoor pool has been especially popular, as has a new play feature – a pirate ship with wheelchair access, recently installed with funding from one of our wonderful corporate supporters.

will be accepted and have their needs understood and met by our wonderful team of dedicated, trained staff and volunteers.

Thank you for providing our daughter with fun, joy, welcome, acceptance, integration, belonging.

I cannot tell you how much it means to us that you all know our little girl by name and greet her and make her feel special and appreciated.

It's an unbelievable feeling to be made so welcome and wanted at Camp Mohawk, as elsewhere my children may be rejected by others for being ‘different’.

You are a lifeline to families such as ours – not only to the young people affected by disabilities, but also for their siblings, parents and carers.

Pirate ship We are a small charity with a BIG impact, according to those we support. A further 50 families registered this year, taking our total to over 500 families. We also provide facilities for around 45 special needs groups. Our families visit year after year, as they know it is impossible for them to have a relaxing day out elsewhere, or have the quality of experience they can at Camp Mohawk. Their feedback tells us they know they

Mohicans at Mohawk

38 rg10 September/October 2018. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

Putting the fun in fundraising We receive no statutory funding or government support, so it is especially important that we have a range of different fundraising activities.

This year we are looking forward to hosting a Fashion Show in conjunction with Travelling Trends on Wednesday 7 November – we’d love to see you there.

We wouldn’t be able to manage without their help, and it’s great to see their satisfaction at a job well done in maintaining play areas or building new facilities.

Teepees and team building We would love to hear from you, whether you’d like to learn more about our services or take part in any of our fundraising activities. We are always happy to show visitors around!

Annabel Hill Fundraiser

Camp Mohawk Highfield Lane Crazies Hill Wargrave RG10 8PU

Other ways in which you can get involved include our Charity Golf Day at Badgemore in Henley and our Annual Quiz Night. Contact us now for information and to register your team.

T: 0118 940 4045 W: www.campmohawk.org.uk E: annabel.hill@campmohawk.org.uk Follow us on Facebook @campmohawkRG10

Alternatively, why not join us for our annual Fireworks Display on Saturday 27 October – ideal for younger members of the family, as it is not as large as some other professional displays.

Many local companies also enjoy time at Camp Mohawk by holding team building days with a difference!

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39

Su Doku - easy

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Word search

Find the hidden words in the word search grid

fantasy drama action

fiction horror travel

history poetry art

40 rg10 September/October 2018. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

Please mention rg10 when responding to advertisements

41

Proud to be a member of

Both Tai Chi & Qigong can help you: • Improve your sense of well-being • Relax your body and mind • Reduce stress • Improve your balance • Boost your immune system • Strengthen your muscles and bones Monday 10.00 – 11.00am Friday 10.00 – 11.00am Twyford Scout HQ, Loddon Hall Rd, Twyford RG10 9JA Free Parking

www.taichi-for-well-being.vpweb.co.uk

Tel: Tricia 07870 912084 or 0118 901 6511

42 rg10 September/October 2018. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

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@hotmail.co.uk www.twyfordroofing.co.uk 22 GRANGE FARM BUSINESS PARK, HURST, BERKS RG10 0RR Please mention rg10 when responding to advertisements

43

health

FastTrack Fit Camp 100 day fitness challenge With the early signs of autumn after a stonking summer, our thoughts turn to the last few months of the year.

At FastTrack Fit Camp I like to use this time of year to create a positive and healthy focus on the end of the year. If you join me, you’ll feel the benefits and so will your family.

So how can you get involved?

Six years ago I came up with the idea of the 100 Day Fitness Challenge, a community event that got people moving through the weeks up to Christmas (in fact, the last 100 days of the year).

Starting on 23 September each year, I build a Facebook community of people all wanting to feel fabulous before the new year, rather than sluggish.

People who want to feel fit and well at Christmas, not tired and run down. And it's worked wonders.

This year, you get to try it too!

The principle is very simple.

From 23 September to 31 December inclusive (i.e. not missing Christmas Day) you commit to doing something active each day.

•

Last year I challenged the group to walk or run a minimum of one mile a day. The year before it was to walk for 30 minutes each day.

Join me virtually in our Facebook group – just search 100 Day Fitness Challenge 2018 and look for these little guys.

•

Join me in person each Sunday at our Sunday Wake Up! sessions at 9am at Bearwood Recreation Ground in Winnersh.

•

Find an accountability buddy who will walk each day with you for 100 days.

The impact is always the same: • • •

A sense of achievement A lifted and happy mood, even in the darker winter months A realisation that it doesn't take much consistent effort to make a difference to your health and well-being.

In previous years we’ve had members of the Facebook group sharing photographs of the stunning colours of autumn, and families discovering new walks near home that they never knew about before.

If you achieve only 95 days, accept this as a partial success rather than a failure – so much better than not taking on the challenge at all.

It’s our seventh year and every year we get new people converted to the little-and-often approach.

It works because it’s simple, fit-in-able and achievable.

Enjoy!

Heidi Strickland-Clark A Scotland loving, outdoor-not-indoor, wellness rebel, Heidi Strickland-Clark owns and runs FastTrack Fit Camp, an outdoor fitness business based in Wokingham with sessions in Twyford, Henley, Wokingham, Winnersh, Warfield and Swallowfield.

44 rg10 September/October 2018. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

Our new depot at Hare Hatch is NOW OPEN! Hare Hatch Depot: 01189 401890 Ladds Garden Village, Bath Road Road, RG10 9SB

www.rivarsandandgravel.co.uk *Discount is on standard retail prices and excludes skip hire & some deliveries. Ask for details.

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Puzzle solutions Crossword

Wordsearch

Su Duko

EASY

HARD

46 rg10 September/October 2018. 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 from all valid entries received by the closing date. They will be contacted as soon as possible confirming details of their prize.

Congratulations to our last competition winners, Wendy Cooper from Charvil and Jaime Sandall from Twyford, who each received two tickets to Marvellous Festival at Dinton Pastures on 22 July.

Enter via the competitions page on our website www.RG10mag.com. For any queries contact us by email or telephone. For entries to be valid, you must: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Read the T&Cs on our website Enter by the deadline State which competition you are entering Give your address with an RG10 postcode as well as an email and phone contact.

Good luck!

Win top tickets to Henley Literary Festival!

Now in its 12th year, Henley Literary Festival is established as one of the UK’s biggest book festivals.

This year's event takes place across town from Saturday 29 September to Sunday 7 October and features over 150 talks, Q&As and performances for all ages.

Ferdinand Mount, Louise Minchin, Tracy Borman, Fearne Cotton, Oz Clarke, Kate Humble and Robin Ince will appear alongside top novelists Frederick Forsyth, Kate Mosse, Sebastian Faulks and Louis de Bernières.

Family events include War Horse author Michael Morpurgo, wheelchair Olympian Ade Adepitan with his first book for children, The Tiger Who Came To Tea writer Judith Kerr, a Paddington storytelling and Horrid Henry creator Francesca Simon. Sports talks include Kevin Keegan, Moeen Ali and Rob Andrew, while politics is covered by Alan Johnson, Oliver Letwin, Angela Eagle and Isabel Hardman.

For information and tickets, visit www.henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01491 575 948.

Prize: The Festival are offering three lucky RG10 readers the chance to win a pair of prime seats to their favourite event*. * Subject to availability of tickets. Excludes 'book-and-ticket' events. Where possible, front-row seats will be allocated.

Competition entry deadline: 6pm on Wednesday 19 September. Winners will be notified as soon as possible.

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47

finance

CMJ Insurance Brokers Why use an independent insurance broker?

Buying insurance has been made easy by online comparison sites and call centres. Buying the right insurance for you or your business, however, is not so easy - and getting it wrong could prove costly!

By gaining a full understanding of your circumstances, CMJ Insurance Brokers will discuss the risks you or your business face and explain the full range of insurance and risk management solutions that we can make available to you.

We make a specific effort to ensure that our clients benefit from the various insurance products that are available, where the key differences in cover can be found, and what the implications might be in the event of a claim.

We regularly review insurers' policy wordings, thoroughly examine every quotation that insurers provide, and attend insurer training courses to guarantee that our clients are benefitting from the widest cover available – and from our knowledge and experience. We only deal with insurance companies that are financially secure and follow strict regulatory guidelines.

Insurance documents can appear complicated and it is easy to overlook the small print. CMJ highlight details that matter such as exclusions and limitations, and will advise you according to your individual needs.

Providing the right cover is vital, but being available to assist our clients when they need our help is equally important. We call this ‘hand holding’ and make every effort to deal with our clients face-to-face. This is of particular importance in the event of a claim, where we make sure we are actively involved in the process, rather than leaving our clients to liaise directly with insurers and loss adjusters.

It is essential to have a thorough understanding of both the workings of the insurance market as

a whole and, more importantly, the specific cover provided by an insurance policy in order to provide a client with appropriate and tailored insurance cover. This underpins the service CMJ offer to all of our commercial and private clients, and ensures that in the unfortunate event of a claim, our clients can be assured of receiving exactly the appropriate claims settlement.

We believe you only know the true value of your policy when it comes to making a claim.

With a broker, you have someone working on your behalf to achieve the best possible outcome for you.

Trying to get a claim settled can be very stressful. In the event of a loss, you will also be asked to produce inventories and paperwork proving the value of what you are claiming. A broker can help you ensure that this paperwork is up to date before a loss, and can also keep electronic copies if you wish.

CMJ Insurance Brokers, based in Hare Hatch, have been offering insurance solutions to individuals and businesses for almost 25 years.

With over 200 years combined insurance experience our experts are there for you every step of the way, not just once a year at renewal.

Don’t forget when you’re making decisions about insurance, price matching does not necessarily mean matching cover. Using an insurance broker is not necessarily more expensive. We can help you avoid any gaps in cover and the risk of not being paid in the event of a loss.

We have recently helped many local people with specialist private and commercial insurance arrangements.

For peace of mind and a no obligation insurance review please contact CMJ Insurance Brokers on 0118 940 6175 or visit cmj.co.uk.

48 rg10 September/October 2018. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

Your local independent insurance broker

0118 940 6175 cmj.co.uk

CMJ insurance brokers

1a Waltham Court Milley Lane Hare Hatch Reading RG10 9AA

PROUD SPONSORS OF RAMS RUGBY CMJ is a trading style of Cassey Miller James Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England No. 2801466

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How can we help?

• Bathroom re-fits

• General plumbing and repairs

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

• Waste repairs / blockages • Supply pipe repairs

T: 0118 903 4020 M: 07973 173872 E: services@jjandsjplumbing.com W: www.jjandsjplumbing.com

Proud members of

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To your door service We come to you

Or make an appointment to visit our workshop Friendly professional service

www.thepicture-framer.co.uk YE A EN R C S

Phone: 07969 958606 e-mail: David@thepicture-framer.co.uk

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1A Spring Meadows Business Centre, Highfield Farm, Highfield Road, Wargrave, RG10 8PZ.

50 rg10 September/October 2018. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

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51

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 Emma’s Kitchen ...................................... 07584 658872 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 Land's End (Brakspear) ................ 0118 934 0700 www.thelandsend.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 New Inn ............................................ 01628 822552 www.newinnknowlhill.com The Royal Oak ........................................ 01628 822010 The Floral Café at Ladds ........................ 07580 226061 www.laddsgardenvillage.co.uk The Restaurant at Wyevale ................ 0844 288 5107 www.thegardencentregroup.co.uk 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 Da Toni Italian restaurant.................... 0118 940 4036 www.datoni.co.uk The Greyhound .................................... 0118 940 2556 Hennerton Golf Club ............................ 0118 940 1000 www.hennertongolfclub.co.uk The Horns (Brakspear) ........................ 0118 940 6041 www.hornsatcrazieshill.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

52 rg10 September/October 2018. To advertise please call 0118 907 2510 or email nikki@rg10mag.com

Recipe

Beautiful butternut squash • •

Using a small paring knife or a teaspoon, scoop the seeds and stringy flesh out of the hollows in the bulbous end of the quarters.

Brush the flesh of the squash with the oil, plain or flavoured, and season to taste.

Roast in a baking tray until tender – about 40 minutes, or longer if the squash is large.

Serving ideas I love butternut squash. It has a sweet, nutty taste, is creamier in texture than pumpkin, easier to prepare than the more knobbly or ridged types of gourd vegetable, and so versatile that it lends itself equally well to roasting, steaming, chipping, puréeing or baking.

I’m an enthusiastic but slightly lazy and impatient cook, so my favourite approach is simply to quarter it, coat it in whatever flavourings I fancy, roast it skin on, and decide what to do with it afterwards!

•

Simply give each person a quarter of squash alongside some brown rice, scattering some cubes of feta or goat’s cheese and torn basil into the top of the rice.

•

To make a delicious soup, use a spoon to scoop the squash out of their skins and add to a blender together with some vegetable or chicken stock. Blend until smooth and optionally blitz in a few spoons of crème fraiche before serving.

•

Cut the cooked flesh into cubes to add to an autumn salad made of leaves such as pak choi, spinach and rocket together with crumbled goat’s cheese and black olives.

•

When you have a bit more time, try making a fabulous colourful tray of mixed roast vegetables by peeling the squash first (not as hard as you might think), cutting it into 2cm cubes and adding chunks of red peppers, courgettes, red onion, aubergine and garlic. This is absolutely delicious served slightly warm with a balsamic and mustard dressing, ideally topped with chopped mint and basil and crumbled feta.

Ingredients 1 butternut squash Enough olive oil to brush on quartered surfaces Flavour ideas to add to oil: crushed garlic, chopped herbs eg thyme or crushed spices eg cumin and coriander, seasoning

Method •

Preheat oven to 200°C (180° fan).

•

If choosing whole spices or tough herbs such as rosemary, use a pestle and mortar to blend with the garlic and salt before adding to the oil.

Otherwise you can keep it simple by roasting about 4 whole garlic cloves alongside the squash with a lick of oil to stop them burning, then squish the flesh out of the skins after cooking.

However, go easy on the oil if you are making soup.

•

Trim ends off squash and cut in half lengthways.

Placing cut side down, halve again into quarters.

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53

Index Advertising 6, 17 RG10 Marketing Accounting 42 Gisela Sharpe Accountancy 33 Starfish Accounting Arts and crafts 13 HaaHoos Painting and Party Centre 50 The Picture Framer Broadband 7 Gigaclear Building services 13 Boce Developments 6 Bondright Roofing 21 The Loft Access Company 33 The Rubber Roofing Company 43 Twyford Roofing and Building 22 Woods and Langton Joinery Care providers 32 Bluebird Care Carpets and flooring 56 Floor Store Charities 38–39 8–9

Camp Mohawk Smart Works Reading

Cleaning 34 13 42 50

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

Clubs, societies and interests 10 Holly Cottage Bridge Club 22 Twyford Singers Come and Sing Community 23 25 55 36–37

Thames Valley Police Twyford District Youth & Community Centre Twyford Bonfire and Fireworks night Twyford Together

Computer services 33 TW Computer Services Dressmaking and alterations 21 Can’t Sew Electricians 12 PJC Electrical Services 5 Westgate Electrical Services

Estate agents 2 Grapevine Estate Agents 1 Mullie 11 WentWorth Estate Agents Fashion 17

Get Ahead Hats

Finance and insurance 14–15 Benedict Charles Financial Planning 48–49 CMJ Insurance Brokers 20 Josephine Blythe 22 Vickers Young Food and drink 52 Pubs, restaurants and cafés * Gardens and landscaping 45 Rivar Sand and Gravel 51 Twyford Landscapes Health and wellbeing 34 BarreConcept 44 FastTrack Fit Camp 42 Tai Chi for Wellbeing Human resources 22 Oxfordshire Elite Private Staff Kitchens and bathrooms 35 Kitchen and Bathroom Place Painting and decorating 10 Cox Decorators 6 PB Decorating Pets 21

The Veterinary Centre

Plumbers 42 50 34 18

ADD Plumbing JJ and SJ Plumbing S Green Plumbing and Heating W Williams Plumbing and Heating

Property maintenance 37 Twyford Tradesmen Together * Self storage 10 Sheeplands Farm Windows, doors and conservatories 4 Amazon Windows 17 Garolla Garage Doors 24 The Sash Window Workshop * Denotes grouping of several businesses

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

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We’ve moved!

Book your no obligation consultation today, or visit our fantastic new showroom in Twyford!

7 High Street, Twyford, RG10 9AB clare@thefloorstorecompany.co.uk | robert@thefloorstorecompany.co.uk