Thursday, March 16, 2017 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER
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Sunday Times names Finchampstead as Berkshire’s best village to live in By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokinghampaper.co.uk A VILLAGE in the borough is one of just 15 places in the south east to be named as the best places to live in Britain. Finchampstead is the only entry from Berkshire in The Sunday Times Best Places To Live guide, which was published on Sunday, March 12. Judges assessed the whole country to decide on the definitive top locations to make a home in. Criteria included jobs, exam results and broadband speed to culture, community spirit and local shops. Wadhurst in East Sussex as the best place to live in the South East, but the remaining 14 south east locations are not ranked. The Sunday Times said the methodology used to compile the list relied on hard data and robust statistics on crime and education, but also on expert knowledge from its judging panel. The judges combined the numbers with their own experience of the villages, towns and cities, such as local pubs, ease of transport and the range of attractive property to ensure the chosen locations truly are places where readers and their families can thrive. And Finchampstead leaders have been quick to explain the reasons for the Wokingham borough village’s high ranking in the list. Roland Cundy, Chair of Finchampstead Parish Council, said: “We are so proud to hear this news about our beautiful parish. As the Parish Council we are at the heart of the community and it is great to know that we have played a part in Finchampstead receiving this accolade. “Finchampstead has great character and history. It is fairly rural, with lots of open space including National Trust land and a Country Park, and 26 miles of footpaths. It also has good schools and shops as well as great places to eat. “It really is a friendly and welcoming place to live and work, with great community spirit. “The FBC Centre – where the Parish Council is based – is a real hub for the community, and it and other community halls are always busy with many varied activities for all ages. “We are sure our residents will be as thrilled as we are to hear this exciting news.” Guy Shore, head of Waverley Prep School and Nursery, an independent school for under 11s in Finchampstead, said that the village’s rural setting meant that it can offer unique educational experiences for its pupils.
The Sunday Times Best Places to Live: South East Crowborough, East Sussex Farnham, Surrey Finchampstead, Berkshire Godalming, Surrey Hambledon, Hampshire Harpenden, Hertfordshire Hove, Brighton and Hove Lymington, Hampshire Margate, Kent Marlow, Buckinghamshire St Albans, Hertfordshire Stockbridge, Hampshire Tadley, Hampshire Wadhurst, East Sussex Wallingford, Oxfordshire
He said: “Situated in the heart of Finchampstead, we are finding an increased demand for places at our school. This is naturally partly because of our outstanding educational ranking – number one in Berkshire and number 14 nationally – but also because our location in Finchampstead allows us to teach curriculum subjects both in the classroom and outdoors. We use the local woodland and green spaces for ‘Forest School’ to offer children unusual and fun ways of learning in a non-classroom setting. “Finchampstead has a wealth of wildlife, quiet woodland corners, plenty of green spaces and excellent educational opportunities which more and more parents see as the perfect setting for a great start in life for their child.” And this view was backed by his colleague, Helen Taylor, the school’s marketing manager. “Education is a very important factor in where parents choose to live. We are finding families and ‘pre-nesters’ are moving out of London and choosing to live in Finchampstead based purely on educational rationale,” she said. “Parents choose Waverley as it offers children a broad curriculum in a familyfriendly school which has excellent educational results. Finchampstead then offers parents a wide choice of superb secondary schools which are either located in Finchampstead and Wokingham itself, or a short bus ride away in Reading.” Cllr Charles Margetts from Finchampstead North was pleased. He said: “I was not surprised that Finchampstead is rated so highly in the survey when you consider the natural beauty of the Ridges and Simons Wood for recreation. We have a wide array
And meet the new neighbours … A VILLAGE pub is to reopen on Monday after a refurbishment organised by its new owners. The Queen’s Oak in Church Lane, Finchampstead has been closed while Pierre and Cynthia Cudon (pictured above) gave the popular pub an upcycled makeover. And the couple are promising a good old English pub that puts the community first … even though he is French and she is Mexican/German. “This is our first pub together,” said Cynthia. “We’re going to keep it as a traditional English pub. “There will be traditional English food - it’ll be home cooked food done well and we’re hoping to use local produce.
“We want people to come and eat, come and drink and we’ll make them feel welcome.” Although they are making their debut as landlord and lady to the pub, they have a wealth of experience between them. “We love people,” Cynthia explained. “Pierre has been in the industry for 15 years and worked for [pub owners] Brakspear for the past five. He’s been in catering since he was 15. “I was a personal trainer for 20 years and then spent eight years as an activities co-ordinator for an old people’s home. I’ve always been around people.” And the couple have spent the past fortnight getting the pub the way they want it for the relaunch.
The floors have been sanded and revarnished, the kitchens deep cleaned and the furniture upcycled, a passion of Cynthia. “It will make us unique,” she said. As they settle in, they plan to improve the garden creating a children’s area and an outdoor bar. They will also welcome well-behaved dogs and walking parties, as long as they clean their boots before entering. The pub officially opens on Monday, March 20 from 11am, but they will be welcoming specially invited guests for a party on Friday, welcoming donations for Marie Curie Cancer Care. And on Mondays, it will offer half price main courses for women, while a quiz will run on Sundays.
of local facilities from the football and cricket club for sport. We have high quality local schools such as Nine Mile Ride and the new Bohunt Secondary School. “We have a variety of good public services such as the Finchampstead Medical Centre. “We have areas like California Country Park which can be used by all the family. We have several country pubs such as the Queen’s Oak and The Greyhound as well as high quality restaurants such as Xenuk. “Who would want to live anywhere else?” Cllr Rob Stanton, responding as Finchampstead North councillor, said that he is “delighted to see the village in such a positive reflection”.
He added: “It is a very varied area with some rural parts which demonstrate excellent countryside while large parts of the area provide very good housing across a range of needs and prices. “It is an a very nice area in which to bring up a family with very good primary schools, and the high standard of secondary schools nearby. “It has a very nice Country Park, an excellent facility in the local Baptist centre which provides a number of facilities including a very high level of youth activity. “It has so far managed to keep its separation in an area where there is much housing development.” Finchampstead South councillor Ian Pittock said: “No real surprise here, we
already knew it is a great place to live.” Richard Peat, church warden for the Parish of Finchampstead and California, said: “As the local parish church we are delighted to hear that our village has been named as one of the top places to live in the South East. “We know many of our parishioners enjoy living here, and value many of the factors The Sunday Times has listed that make this a great place to live. However, alongside this we must also remember that whilst it may not always be visible in a place known for its affluence, Finchampstead South is one of the top five wards in the Wokingham Borough for deprivation, and it is important that we strive to make our village a great place for everybody to live.”