The Wokingham Paper June 3

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COVERING WOKINGHAM, FINCHAMPSTEAD, WINNERSH, SHINFIELD, WOODLEY, TWYFORD & & SURROUNDING SURROUNDING AREAS AREAS

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Friday, 27, Friday,May June 3,2016 2016No. No.58 59

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By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokinghampaper.co.uk THE husband of a woman who injured herself in a Wokingham park said that the COUNCIL’S planned council THE has let them down overchanges its newto the way residents access recycling centres and its grass cutting policy. glass recycling haveto come under And approach scores oftoreaders are taking fire. in anger at the changes social media

Last week, we revealed that from July, which have seen weeds and stinging residents will need have orange permits nettles shoot up across theto borough. if they wantsaid to use Smallmead But the council thethe changes are in Reading and Longshot Lane in Bracknell. being “constantly reviewed”.

Newoncharges n Full story page 9 will also be introduced for

re3 recycling centre residentʼs permit

Ref. no.

DIY waste as well as restrictions on using trailers to bring waste for recycling.

And at last Thursday’s borough council meeting, Cllr Angus Ross revealed that kerbside collections for glass recycling would cost £600,000 a year.

But both decisions have been slated. n Full story on page 7

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WOKINGHAM borough is a large part of Berkshire. More than 156,000 of us live here – and countless more work here too.

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Our team has a mission to report on events and activities from the northernmost parts, which include parts of Henley and Cockpole Green, to the south including

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 3, 2016

Happy birthday! Grace celebrates her 100th Jane Elliott, manager of Wild Acres Care Home in Finchampstead celebrates the 100th birthday of Maisie Murgatroyd with Dr Phillip Lee MP. Inset: Fellow resident Grace Rudder with Dr Lee. She is the home’s resident Scrabble champion

Swallowfield and Finchampstead.

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Freedom honour for Councillor Peter A COUNCILLOR who served for almost 50 years has been honoured by being given Freedom of his Parish.

At the annual parish meeting for Wokingham Without Parish Council, Cllr Peter Sturgess was presented with the special award.

He was first elected on to the parish council in May 1967 and was elected chairman in 1977, serving in that role between 1977 and 1979, then again from 1981-1983, in 2003-2005 and again in 2013-2014.

In his citation, parishioners were reminded that Cllr Sturgess was instrumental in helping create the Pinewood Leisure Complex.

Discount offer for Henley Festival PEOPLE living in Remenham can get a discounted ticket for the Henley Festival.

The annual event, which celebrates arts and sees a host of big names come to the borough’s Oxfordshire neighbour, takes place next month.

Residents wishing to attend can get money off the general admission tickets, which includes access to the festival site bar the floating stage.

The RG9 Residents Season Ticket costs just £99 instead of the usual price of £140. n www.henley-festival.co.uk

Every dog has their fun day A FREE family fun day will take place this Saturday for Guide Dogs.

FINCHAMPSTEAD has a new centurion – but she is not the oldest person living in the village.

Last month, Maisie Murgatroyd celebrated her 100th birthday with a visit from local MP Dr Philip Lee. The birthday girl held a party with other residents of Wild Acres Care Home, enjoying tea and birthday cakes.

She told the Bracknell MP –whose constituency includes parts of Wokingham borough – that both her mother and sister lived well into their 90s and that she was looking

The event will be held at Microsoft’s campus at Thames Valley Business Park.

There will be demonstrations, music, a children’s area and a chance to meet guide dogs and puppies.

Visitors can also learn more about sight loss.

It runs from 11am to 4pm and entry is free.

For more details, log on to www. guidedogs.org.uk and click on About Us, Local To You and then Events and Collections.

Look out for an in tents experience AN OPPORTUNITY to explore life under canvas is coming to Hare Hatch from this weekend.

Ladds Garden Village in Bath Road will be hosting a tent show, giving visitors the chance to see the latest in camping technology.

forward to many more years.

However, compared to another one of the residents at the party, Maisie is just a youngster.

Grace Rudder was born before the outbreak of the First World War and will turn 103 on Thursday, June 16.

Janet Elliott, Wild Acres registered manager said that despite her years, Grace is showing no signs of slowing down and is still the Care

Home’s reigning Scrabble champion.

Dr Lee said: “It is encouraging not only that more people are living into their nineties and beyond, but that they are doing so whilst still living rich and fulfilling lives.

“With the baby-boom generation just starting to enter into their 70s, it is essential that, as a country, we start to plan now how we will look after increasingly large numbers of elderly people.”

Organised by PJ Outdoors, there will be a huge range of tents, awnings, shelters and camping accessories from top brands.

The event runs from Saturday until Sunday, June 19. It’s open daily from 10am, closing at 6pm nightly with the exception of Sundays, when the curtain falls at 5pm.

For more details, or to book, call: 0118 944 8883.

Time for tea with Alison Weir A TOP author will be coming to Woodley next week to sign copies of her book – and enjoy tea and cakes.

Local business Chapter One Bookshop will welcome Alison Weir on Tuesday, June 7.

She is celebrating the launch of her latest book, Six Tudor Queens: Katherine of Aragon, The True Queen.

Refreshments will be served from 3pm and, because of the special nature of the event, places should be booked.

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The more tokens that you and your group send in, the more chance you have of your group being picked at random.

The Community Cash Tokens are open to charities and other non-profit making groups within Wokingham borough and offer a great way of boosting your funds.

We’re able to offer Community Cash Tokens thanks to the generosity of Mark

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The Wokingham Paper’s publisher Phil Creighton said: “The Community Cash Tokens were a hugely popular ingredient of The Wokingham Times, and thanks to Mark’s support for the community of Wokingham borough, we’re delighted to be able to bring them back.

“Whatever your group, charity or good cause is, Community Cash Tokens offers your supporters a fun way of helping you raise funds and awareness of your cause.

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Send your tokens to: Community Cash Tokens, The Wokingham Paper, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS. Please note, only original tokens can be accepted.

Organic oasis focus for gardening club A TALK on organic oasis will be the subject of the next meeting of the California Gardeners’ Club next week.

On Monday, the group will welcome Becca Flintham who will give the talk and demonstration.

The group meet at the California Ratepayers’ Hall in Finchampstead Road at 8pm. Meetings are free to members or £2 for guests.

Paddling pool closed for repairs WOODFORD Park Paddling Pool in Woodley was closed due to a technical problem with the pump system. It will be fixed as soon as possible.

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Friday, June 3, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Carnival Pool car park closure from Monday

Man dies after two-car collision AN 82-year-old man has died following a two-car collision in Woodley on Saturday afternoon.

At around 1.40pm a grey Toyota Corolla collided with a grey BMW 318 in Headley Road.

The road was closed while emergency services, including the air ambulance, attended the scene.

The driver of the Toyota was taken to hospital where he later died from his injuries. His next of kin have been informed.

Investigating officer PC Gareth Miles, of Roads Policing based at Three Mile Cross police station said: “I would appeal to anyone who saw the collision to contact me via the Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101.

“If you don’t want to speak directly to police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.”

The promised land … the new Carnival Pool car park is due to open in Wokingham next March

Man arrested after runner hit by car and driver

By GEMMA DAVIDSON gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk WITH the closure of Carnival Pool’s car park just around the corner, arrangements are being put in place to provide customers with alternative parking.

The car park will close on Monday to allow Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) to start building a new multistorey car park.

Disabled parking will remain on the site at Carnival Pool adjacent to the leisure centre, and will also be available at the recently converted Wellington House car park.

All businesses on the site remain open throughout the construction period.

The Burger King customer car park and drive-through will also be unaffected.

Work on the new car park is expected to be completed in spring 2017, and will provide 529 parking spaces.

Cllr Mark Ashwell, executive member for planning and regeneration, said: “Knowing we were going to be closing the existing public car park during the work, we looked hard at how we could provide sufficient spaces elsewhere, but close enough,

to ensure people could continue to easily use the facilities.

“As part of the project we converted the old Wellington House car park to a public pay and display parking area in April this year.

“We also know there is capacity in the Elms Road multi-storey car park, which is in the process of being refurbished, and also in The Paddocks in the late afternoons, evenings and at weekends where demand for the leisure facilities tends to be higher.

“All of these car parks are only a few minutes’ walk from the Carnival Pool site so are ideal for alternative parking.

“This is an important project for the town as it helps address longer-term parking needs and helps pave the way for the second phase of regeneration at the Carnival Pool with improved leisure facilities.

“We’re hoping the measures in place, along with the signage directing people to alternative car parks, will help minimise disruption.

“People can also keep up-to-date with what’s happening and find out more about alternative parking on our website.” n For more, visit www. regenerationcompany.co.uk

A RUNNER was hit by a car and then assaulted by the driver in Woodley last week.

At around 12.30pm on Saturday, May 21, a 47-yearold man was running along Woodlands Avenue when it is alleged that he was struck by a vehicle which had mounted the kerb. The driver of the vehicle then got out of the car and assaulted the victim.

The runner suffered a broken arm and attended the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading but has since been discharged.

Thames Valley Police is calling on anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.

Investigating officer Det Con Alice Ashman, of Force CID based at Reading police station said: “I would like to appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information about what happened to come forward and contact me.

“If you have any information please contact me on via the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101.”

A 42-year-old man from Reading has been arrested and bailed until June 28.

Pub cat Maverick dies, aged 21 REGULARS to a pub in Twyford will be raising a glass in tribute to a familiar face who passed away this week.

Maverick, a Persian cat who had lived at the pub in the High Street for an incredible 21 years, was put to sleep on Tuesday in an act of kindness by landlady Margaret Vincent.

Margaret said: “His back legs gave way and he was in a bit of agony.

“I inherited him when we took over

the pub 12 years ago. He lived in the bar area and everyone knew Maverick. People would come in and ask how he was, not how we were, just Maverick.”

Maverick was buried in the pub garden on Wednesday morning, and Margaret said tributes will undoubtedly be paid to him at the weekend.

She said: “The regulars have said that they will raise a glass to him on Saturday night, he will be sorely missed.”

Sonning couple visit Pope A COUPLE who live in Sonning were given an honour by the Pope earlier this week.

The medals were given by Pope Francis to promote the work of Scholas Occurrentes, a foundation he is involved with.

The Foundation is an international project based in Argentina that brings together schools and educational networks from different cultures and religious backgrounds.

George and Amal Clooney joined actors Richard Gere and Salma Hayek at the event, held at the Vatican on Sunday.

Remembering David Butler, community stalwart WE WERE saddened to hear the news of David Butler’s death last month. David, a great friend of The Wokingham Paper, worked tirelessly at the Wokingham And District Association for the Elderly (WADE) over the last 15 years where he was Vice Chairman, and also Vice Chairman of the Wokingham Royal British Legion. Here, his colleagues from WADE pay tribute to him.

David Butler 12 Feb 1937 – 4 May 2016 DAVID BUTLER was born and grew up in Northolt, Middlesex, attended Northolt primary school and secondary school for boys and went on to become a junior clerk at Selfridges in London. He also attended Northolt Methodist church and at 14 joined the church youth club.

From 1955–57 David undertook National Service, firstly in the Grenadier Guards, and then transferred

to the Middlesex regiment. In 1957 he returned to his job at Selfridges, and stayed with them until he retired in 1995. He moved to Wokingham with his parents in 1969.

During his employment he became involved in organising charity events and became Assistant Manager, due to his charity work with Macmillan nurses and Sue Ryder.

He organised an event for the Princess Royal which raised over £10,000, and was invited to take part in the 90th Birthday parade for the late Queen Mother, due to the fundraising he had carried out for the Textile Benevolent Association, and also was invited to her 100th birthday celebration on Horse Guards Parade.

David took early retirement to look after his elderly mother, which

he did with great care and devotion until her death in 2001. David then joined WADE and soon became deputy chairman, with responsibility for fundraising, which he did with great dedication and success, persuading local businesses and organisations to donate gifts as prizes for events, or to make monetary donations, and also arranging quiz nights and jazz evenings.

He also supported other charities, the Royal British Legion, the NSPCC, the Red Cross and CancerCare, and was often seen in the town holding a collection box for one of these charities.

David received a well-earned Civic Award from Wokingham Town Council for his contributions to the community in 2005, of which he was very proud.

David became ill in July 2015 and was admitted to the Royal Berkshire

Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he stayed for nine days, before being transferred to the Sidmouth ward for five weeks, and spending a further five weeks in Wokingham hospital recuperating.

After a short spell back at home he became ill again and was readmitted to ICU on November 1. After 10 days he was admitted to the Berkshire Nursing Home for palliative care, where he remained until his death on May 4.

David will be sorely missed by the staff and members of WADE and by all the many people and organisations that he supported. n David’s funeral will be held at 2.30pm on Tuesday, June 7 at the Easthampstead Park Cemetery, followed by a memorial service at the Methodist Church in Rose Street at 3pm. All friends are welcome, donations to Cancer Research UK or NSPCC via Miles and Daughters, Isabella House, 498 Reading Road, Winnersh, RG41 5EX Tel: 0118 979 3004.

Call us today to arrange a free initial consultation Tel: 0118 418 1000 Email: info@kjsmith.co.uk Visit: www.kjsmith.co.uk

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 3, 2016

Man pulled from car & held at knifepoint A MAN was pulled from his car, tied up and threatened with a knife in Wokingham town centre last week.

At around 2.30am on Thursday, May 26, a 30-year-old man was in his car in Cockpit Path car park when two men smashed the window and pulled him from the vehicle.

The victim was tied up and threatened with a knife before the men, who were wearing balaclavas, stole his bag.

The men ran off towards Sturgess Road, jumping over the car park fence.

The victim suffered minor injuries during the robbery, and did not require hospital treatment. The offenders are described as short and spoke to each other in a foreign language.

Investigating officer, Det Con Nicki Wright, of Local CID based at Loddon Valley police station, said: “Although only minor injuries were sustained, the victim was understandably left very shaken as a result of this incident.

“I would like to speak to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in this area at this time. Anyone with any information can contact me via the Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101.

“If you do not want to speak directly to the police you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Maya (11) and Rosa Wastell (9) enjoy one of the rides

Wokingham Town Mayor, Cllr Gwynneth Hewetson cut the ribbon to officially open the Fun Day, with the help of some of the children attending the event at Langborough Recreation Ground on Saturday Pictures: Steve Smyth

A fun day for children

Attempted theft THIEVES came away empty-handed after breaking into a car in Ruscombe.

Overnight last Friday into Saturday, someone broke into the car in New Road and searched inside, including the glove box. Nothing was stolen during the incident.

Police are reminding residents not to leave valuables in their car at any time.

Anyone with information relating to this incident should call 101.

Great food was available on the 1st Winnersh Scout Group’s barbecue

WOKINGHAM IN NEED

was

launched in September 2015 with the grand opening of new kitchen facilities (following the successful wet room installation), at the Salvation Army Church and Community Centre, Sturges Road, Wokingham.

Founded by local resident Sue Jackson, the aim of

WOKINGHAM IN NEED

is to assist in the relief and prevention of poverty - assisting the homeless and vulnerable in Wokingham by providing support, grants, items and services to Individuals and other charities working in this field.

WOKINGHAM IN NEED

are currently raising funds to provide a drop-in centre at the Church and Community Centre. This will provide one-to-one support and workshops.

“This is just the beginning though”, said Sue Jackson, “and we want to include the whole community’s needs as we progress with this project and others. This is a wonderful opportunity to get involved in helping people in your community.”

The reason for supplying you with this information? ..We would like your support.. 

As an individual - Your donations, no matter how small



As a business - Your donations, no matter how small

Anything would be gratefully received.

Please donate : by cheque made payable to Wokingham In Need which can be sent/ delivered to Prospect Estate Agents, one of our valued sponsors, at their Broad Street Office in Wokingham. Alternatively you can donate by JustTextGiving.

Text: WOKY15 - State : the amount you wish to donate—Send To: 70070.

WOKINGHAM IN NEED –Look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Jackson WOKINGHAM IN NEED Telephone Number: 07340 301770 wokinghaminneed@gmail.com www.wokinghaminneed.com

Eva Hodgson (3) tries out the go karts

Claire Cohen & Liliana (15 months) look at young chicks

Late night nature trail opens in town centre churchyard

WOKINGHAM- WE NEED YOU!

WOKINGHAM’S newest registered charity

IT MIGHT not have been the warmest of bank holidays, but it was still a fantastic time for children, thanks to a family fun day.

Last Saturday, Wokingham Town Council held its annual child-friendly event in Langborough Recreation Ground and saw hundreds of people turn up to enjoy themselves.

A wide range of activities had been arranged for visitors including go karts, fairground rides and a petting zoo.

Members of the 1st Winnersh Scouts organised refreshments including a barbecue, cakes and drinks, while candy floss and ice cream were also on offer.

The Circus Scene team were on hand to entertain and give youngsters a chance to try out a range of fun circusthemed toys.

Face painting, balloons and other giveaways added to the fun.

It was opened by town mayor, Cllr Gwynneth Hewetson.

By JOHN WAKEFIELD news@wokinghampaper.co.uk TWO opportunities to explore nature on our doorstep will take place in Wokingham this weekend.

And the events give people the chance to discover everything from snakes to moths, all living in a town centre location.

Tonight, St Paul’s Church will host a moth watching evening in its churchyard, then tomorrow it is holding an open day for the Reading Road venue.

At previous moth watching events, 149 different varieties of moth have been discovered, including the Scarce Silverline and Elephant Hawk.

Georgina Spencer, St Paul’s Church’s Tree Succession Project Biodiversity Team Leader, said: “This is always fun and we never know what we will see; every time is different so even if people have been before there will probably be something new to discover.”

The event starts at 9.15pm tonight – but if the weather is wet it will be postponed.

Organisers ask visitors to check its website, www.spauls.org.uk/churchyard, before attending for the latest news.

The following day St Paul’s will be hosting a Cherishing Your Churchyard Open Day, from 10am to 4pm.

It is part of a national initiative taking place across the country from Saturday until

Sunday, June 12.

Members of the Tree Succession Project Team will be on hand to explain its work, sharing what it has done and its future plans.

Ms Spencer added: “There will be the wild flowers to see, that the children have contributed towards increasing bio-diversity in the churchyard, and also cordoned off areas where we are allowing plants to grow naturally to discover what grows there.

“There will be birds to watch, grass snakes and slow worms to look for; interesting trees including the cedar and ash which seem to be thriving in spite of die-back; lichens on grave stones, butterflies and insects to find.

“We will also have quiz sheets to guide people around and children to use.

“The event is free and it promises to be a really fun day.”

The events are part of the continuing project by the local volunteers to share its work. The team comprises members of St Paul’s Churchyard team, and other local, arboricultural and horticultural groups, who are keen to protect and maintain the heritage, open spaces, and tree-scape of Wokingham.

The Tree Succession Project originated in 2014 as part of the St Paul’s 150th anniversary of consecration celebrations.

Its purpose was to raise concern about the existing trees and the need to plan for the churchyard tree-scape for the next 50-100 years. Organisers said that it has since taken on a life of its own.

The initial motivation was a potential threat to an iconic Oak tree, heralding the entrance to Wokingham from the west. It had been infected

by Inonotus dryadeus (Oak Bracket fungus), which often indicates the rotting of the base of an old oak tree and is a precursor to a catastrophic failure of the tree.

However, further investigation proved this not to be a problem. A second tree,a Cypress was brought down in high winds, fortunately without causing damage, narrowly missing the Grade II listed lychgate, the main road and the public footpath.

These threats made the churchyard team realise that the trees were not all in good health and if we did nothing, the churchyard would, in all likelihood, be left with randomly placed trees and shrubs with no planning and certainly not offering the spectacular views of the church conceived at its consecration in 1864.

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Friday, June 3, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Hollywood beckons for Olivier award winner … but Wokingham comes first EXCLUSIVE

By SUE CORCORAN news@wokinghampaper.co.uk AN OLIVIER award winning playwright from Wokingham has revealed that her West End comedy hit is being made into a feature film … and that Hollywood is beckoning for her talents.

Jessica Swale, 34, is writing the screenplay of Nell Gwynn for the Working Title films, which produced hugely successful films like Bridget Jones and Four Weddings and a Funeral.

She is also in talks to make her play Blue Stockings into a film or television series.

The play is about Cambridge University women’s fight in 1896 for the right to earn degrees.

But before all that, there’s a production of Blue Stockings coming to Wokingham Theatre later this month – and to keep up with demand, an extra performance has been added to the schedule.

It’s the latest in a series of exciting developments for Jessica, whose family still live in Winnersh.

As we reported earlier this year, her West End show Nell Gwynn won an Olivier award for best new comedy.

“It’s lovely to feel people are excited enough by the work to want to share it with a wider audience,” said Jessica.

“I love to collaborate with other artists and making a film requires a far larger team than I’ve ever worked with, which is

both a challenge and a joy.

“It’s also a pleasure to write for television and film because people like my grandparents don’t have the facility to go to the theatre.”

She can’t go into details about two other films she is writing but the playwright is talking to Hollywood film producers and Broadway theatre producers about future projects.

Major producers are not the only ones beating a path to Jessica’s dramatic door.

Audiences were so keen to see Blue Stockings at Wokingham Theatre an extra performance was added to the schedule.

The Theatre’s artistic director Nicky Allpress said: “Tickets sold out within two weeks, it was unprecedented. We had to add a matinee on June 25: for tickets go to our website.”

The play opens on Thursday, June 16 and Jessica will be there to see it. She has also been helping with the production.

Nicky said: “Jessica has been really generous. She did pre-audition workshops with our actors, exploring the play and acting technique to help make the characters realistic and truthful.

“The play’s director is Pamela Barter, a

Jessica said: “There’s something particularly poignant about the play being on in Berkshire as the play is about the importance of education, and this is where I went to school, St Nicholas Primary in Hurst and Kendrick School in Reading.

“Both schools encouraged us to be creative students, and that made a marked difference to my confidence in pursuing what seemed like a hazardous career choice.

“It’s such a pleasure to be involved at Wokingham Theatre, The male cast of Wokingham Theatre’s where I’ve seen both young and older production of Blue Stockings, written by actors working so hard to learn new Jessica Swale (inset) Jessica picture by Justin skills and share their talents with Sutcliffe enthusiasm. very experienced director. She got “I believe passionately in local an insight into the play from the theatres – they’re a training ground for writer’s point of view. It is a huge honour new talent and allow people who love for us to have her here.” acting as a hobby to learn great skills and Jessica is to hold an Audience With build communities. It’s fantastic to know discussion after the Saturday, June 25 that that’s happening so fruitfully in the matinee. town where I grew up.”

A theatre ticket will give admittance to n The theatre box office is at www. this exciting event. wokingham-theatre.org.uk

Theatre plans to expand with extra seating WOKINGHAM THEATRE is so popular they are adding around 40 extra seats to the existing 145.

Artistic director Nicky Allpress said: “We need

Shop’s tree to help remember loved ones Gathered round the remembrance tree are (from left) Jo Brind Tesco people Manager, Izzy Da Silva Race For Life participant, Helen Duncan Tesco Community Champion, Sue Lovell Tesco Farm to Fork Trail Guide and Becky Carter race organiser for the store

SHOPPERS at a supermarket in Wokingham are being given the opportunity to remember loved ones fighting or lost to cancer.

A Remembrance Tree has been set up at the front of Tesco, in Finchampstead Road, not only to encourage customers to sign up for this year’s Race for Life, but to also take a minute to remember those affected by the disease.

Around 27 members of staff from Tesco Wokingham will be taking part in the race in Windsor this Sunday, with a goal of £5,000 to raise for Cancer Research.

People Manager Jo Brind said: “Over the past year have had colleagues or colleague family members pass away from cancer or are fighting cancer and we wanted to do something really special

both for the charity, colleagues and customers who shop in store.

“We just thought [the tree] was a nice touch to get our customers involved in something that touches all of our lives in some way.”

To find out more about Race For Life visit www.raceforlife. cancerresearchuk.org.

Every dog has their day at Dogton Pastures EVERY dog has their day and for owners of our four-legged friends that day is Sunday, June 19.

Dinton Pastures will become Dogton Pastures for a special canine day running at the Riverside Retreat area from 10am to 4pm.

During the event there will be displays in the arena from the

Royal Barks Agility Club, as well as from Berkshire Search and Rescue and a Flyball demonstration.

A micro-chip stall will be available for owners to have their dog micro-chipped following new legislation introduced this year.

Doggie goodies such as toys,

treats and accessories will be on sale and there will be specialists on hand offering owners advice and support.

Organisers say the aim of the day is to give families a chance to spend time with their dog and enjoy fun activities.

Dogs must be on leads unless in the arena.

the extra seats to cater for demand.

“It’s amazing but we never take it for granted.

“We want to make sure more and more people in the community, including

people with young families and schools, know about the theatre.”

Space occupied by the over-large sound and lighting technical room will be used for the extra seats.

Council parking spots to close BUILDING works mean that there will be temporary changes to car parking arrangements at Wokingham Borough Council’s Shute End offices.

From noon on Friday, June 3, parking will be suspending in the visitors’ area adjacent to the main building. Parking will be available in the staff car park until 6pm, when the exit will close.

On Saturday, June 4, if you are planning to take advantage of the free parking at Shute End you will need to enter via Station Road – the Shute End/ Reading Road entrance will be closed.

The car park will be open again as normal from Sunday, June 5.

Scarecrow set on fire A SCARECROW was set alight and garden tools stolen from an allotment in Earley last week.

At some time between Tuesday, May 24 and Thursday, May 26 someone broke into a shed at the allotment in Church Road, stole a rotavator and set fire to the scarecrow.

Door kicked in A BURGLAR kicked in a front door of a house in Earley last week.

Between 7.30am and 1.15pm on Friday someone forced the front door of a house in Delamere Road by kicking it and breaking the lock. The house was searched but it is not clear what was stolen.

Anyone with any information should call 101.

Land at Bell Farm, Bell Foundry Lane, Wokingham Planning Application Proposals Berkeley Homes will be holding a public exhibition to display the plans for the proposed development of the land at Bell Farm, Bell Foundry Lane, Wokingham.

The Public Exhibition will be held at: Briar Room, Cantley House Hotel, Cantley Park, Milton Road, Wokingham, RG40 5QG On Wednesday 8th June between 3.30pm and 7.30pm Representatives from Berkeley Homes and the Project Team will Land at Bell Farm, Bell Foundry be available at this event to answer any questions regarding theLane, Wokingham Planning Application Proposals development.

Berkeley Homes will be holding a public exhibition to display the plans for the proposed development of the land at Bell Farm, Bell Foundry Lane, Wokingham.

For further information, please call Berkeley Homes on 01753 257961 or email elkie.lees@berkeleygroup.co.uk

The Public Exhibition will be held at: Briar Room, Cantley House Hotel, Cantley Park, ​Milton Road, Wokingham, RG40 5QG On Wednesday 8th June between 3.30pm and 7.30pm Representatives from Berkeley Homes and the Project Team will be available at this event to answer any questions regarding the development.

We look forward to welcoming you.

For further information, please call Berkeley Homes on 01753 257961 ​or email sean.watson@berkeleygroup.co.uk We look forward to welcoming you.

6 | NEWS

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 3, 2016

Scarecrows help Sonning celebrate in style Over the bank holiday weekend, Scarecrows could be spotted all over a borough village. But that wasn’t the only fun to be had as GEMMA DAVIDSON explains

The “Incredibles Spanish” team in the Adult Dongola Final at Sonning Regatta Regatta pictures: Steve Smyth Scarecrow pictures: Gemma Davidson

H

UNDREDS of people took to the streets of Sonning to hunt for scarecrows last weekend.

Around 60 scarecrows of all shapes and sizes donned the route on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday just waiting to be found.

While Sunday had the lion’s share of the good weather, meaning the ice cream van did a roaring trade, a little drizzle didn’t put the crowds off on Monday.

As well as the colourful, playful and sometimes political scarecrows on show, vintage cars were also on display at Old Forge Yard, in Pearson Road, and several residents opened up their gardens for visitors to have a look around.

One of those was Sue Jacobs who lives at The Old Dairy in Thames Street. She said: “I am the fourth generation of my family to live here, and we have spent a lot of time renovating the garden into something beautiful.

“This is the first time we have taken part in the Open Gardens but it has been lovely seeing so many people coming and going, it’s a great event for the village.”

Vikings

One of the most extravagant scarecrows along the route was The Return of the Vikings in High Street, created by Carol and JJ Vizern.

Carol said: “We have just moved back to Sonning after living in Copenhagen for a number of years so it is our way of letting the village know that we are back!”

Trail organiser Barbara Carr said: “The Scarecrow Trail was a great success this year because of course we were so fortunate with the weather!

“A record number of people attended, being able to see an assortment of scarecrows made by the villagers, look round several very different gardens or have a classic car experience. The event will hopefully have raised funds for a variety of village amenities.”

The scarecrow which got the most votes during the trail was Whack-a-Trump in Pearson Road, which depicted US Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton wielding a mallet above rival Donald Trump’s head.

Saturday also saw dozens of boats take to the Thames at Sonning Lock to take part in the Regatta.

It is estimated that around 500 people and race crews came along to enjoy the fine weather and take part in the festivities.

Organiser John Hargrave said: “The event was very well attended with most people getting the ferry from Reading Blue Coat School boathouse across to the site.

“The Sonning Scouts cooked burgers and Charvil PTA provided cakes and sandwiches and the bar served beer and pimms until it ran dry – twice!”

Eileen Sheppard, Alison Bourne, Kathy Cottle, Gill Franton and Jane McIlroy enjoying the regatta

The Dingle Dangle Dongols team on their way to victory in the Adult Dongola Final

Nina Smith with Toby (4), Loula (8) and Suki (10) watching the regatta races

Call a Spade a Spade in Thames Street

JJ Vizern with his Danish scarecrow in High Street

A bright sunflower inspired creation

Whack-A-Trump saw Hillary take on the Donald

At Home With the Clooneys

Kim Krowdashian in Pearson Road Vintage bikes were also part of Sonning’s big weekend

Regatta Results: Adult Dongola – Dingle Dangle Dongols Junior Dongola – Demon Dolphin Dongols Canoeing – Tim and Gus Saunders Junior Kayaks – Dan Mussett Coxed pair rowing – Ross and Rachel Barnes Ladies coxed pair - Jo Burnage and Carol McDiarmid

Curried Trump at The Ivy of Sonning

Flowers in Long Acre’s open garden

Classic cars were on show at the festival

Peanuts was the inspiration for this clever scarecrow

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8 | NEWS

Parish noticeboard Monday, June 6 Charvil Parish Council village hall and amenities meeting. 8pm. Charvil Village Hall, Park Lane.

St Nicholas Hurst parish council meeting. 7.30pm.

Hurst Village Hall, School Road Hurst RG10 0DR. Ruscombe Parish Council meeting. 7.30pm. St James’ Church, Southbury Lane RG10 9UA. Winnersh Parish Council Planning Committee. 7.45pm.

The John Grobbler Room, Winnersh Community Centre, New Road, Winnersh RG41 5DU. Wokingham Without Parish Council meeting. 7.30pm.

Howard Palmer Room, St Sebastian’s Hall, Nine Mile Ride RG40 3BA.

Tuesday, June 7 Woodley Town Council Plans Committee. 7.45pm. The Oakwood Centre, Headley Road, Woodley, RG5 4JZ Winnersh Parish Council Recreation & Amenities Committee. 7.45pm. The John Grobbler Room, Winnersh Community Centre, New Road, Winnersh RG41 5DU. Wokingham Borough Council. Marvellous Festival licensing and appeals hearing. 2pm. Wokingham Borough Council civic offices, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN.

Wednesday, June 8 Finchampstead Roads and RS Meeting. 7.30pm.

Parish Office, FBC Centre, Gorse Ride North, Finchampstead RG40 4ES Wokingham Town Council Market Place working party meeting. 7.30pm. Town Hall, Market Place, Wokingham RG40 1AS. Wokingham Borough Council Licensing and Appeals Committee. 7pm. Wokingham Borough Council civic offices, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN.

Thursday, June 9 Shinfield Parish Council planning and highways meeting. 7.30pm. Shinfield Parish Hall, School Green.

Wokingham Borough Council extraordinary council meeting. 7.30pm. Wokingham Borough Council civic offices, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN.

To advertise email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk A MAN from Wokingham has been fined £220 for watching television without a licence.

Ray Hales, 23, of Oxford Road, was found to have used a colour television on October 26 last year without a licence. Mr Hales was fined £220, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £22 and costs of £120. He was not present at the hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on April 15.

A WOMAN from Wokingham has been fined for watching television without a licence.

Louise Hussey, 24, of Gorrick Square was found to have used a colour television on October 26 last year without a licence.

Miss Hussey was fined £220, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £22 and costs of £120. She was not present at the hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on April 15.

A MAN from Woodley has been banned from driving for two years after failing to provide a breath specimen.

Steven Wayne Cunningham, 51, of Addington Gardens, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on April 15 where he admitted to failing to provide a specimen for analysis on January 15 this year. As well as being banned from holding a licence for two years, Mr Cunningham was fined £400, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £40 and costs of £300.

A 35-year-old man from Woodley has been convicted of using violence to enter a premises and two counts of assault.

Craig Kevin Emery, of Vauxhall Drive,

Pop to

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 3, 2016

From the courts

appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on April 15 where he was found guilty of the charges, which all related to an incident on December 4 last year.

Mr Emery ordered to participate in rehabilitation activity up to a maximum of 25 days within the next 12 months; ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £60 and costs of £400.

A WOMAN from Woodley has been fined £80 for watching television without a licence.

Charlotte Gage, 25, of Bruce Road, was found to have used a colour television between September 14 and October 15 last year without a licence.

Miss Gage was fined £80, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £60. She was not present at the hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on April 15.

A WOMAN from Earley been fined

£220 for watching television without a licence.

Julie McCartan, 51, of Mallard Close, was proved to have used a colour television on January 29 without a licence.

Miss McCartan was fined £220, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £22 and costs of £120. She was not present at the hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on April 15.

A WOMAN from Lower Earley been fined £220 for watching television without a licence.

Angela Patricia Branch, 41, of Hornbeam Drive, was found to have used a colour television on January 29 without a licence.

Miss Branch was fined £220, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £22 and costs of £120. She was not present at the hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on April 15.

A WOMAN from Shinfield has been fined for watching television without a licence.

Holly Cresswell, 24, of Monarch Drive, was found to have used a colour television on October 20 last year without a licence.

Miss Cresswell was fined £220, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £22 and costs of £120. She was not present at the hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on April 15.

A WOMAN from Wokingham has pleaded guilty to driving while over the alcohol limit.

Jean Dunsmoir, 64, of Durham Close, admitted to driving while over the limit on March 26 this year. Mrs Dunsmoir was found to have 82 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

She was fined £280, ordered to pay £85 costs, and banned from holding a licence for 20 months.

Mrs Dunsmoir was present for the hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on April 18.

A WOMAN from Riseley has pleaded guilty to driving while over the alcohol limit.

Lucia Bernad Tervel, 24, of Part Lane, admitted to driving while over the limit in Reading on April 2 this year. Miss Tervel was found to have 67 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

Miss Tervel was banned from driving for 18 months, fined £120, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £85.

Miss Tervel was present for the hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on April 18.

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Friday, June 3, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

NAG meeting A MEETING of the Earley Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) will take place on Monday.

Officers from the neighbourhood policing team will be present to discuss issues such as street lighting. Rachel Hopkins from the Environment Agency will speak.

The meeting will take place between 7.30pm and 9pm at Earley Town Council Offices in Radstock Lane. Any items for inclusion need to be emailed to jw@ bankingadvice.co.uk by 3pm today.

EU debate WOKINGHAM MP John Redwood will be flying the flag for Brexit at an EU Referendum question time in Reading next week.

Residents are invited to hear Mr Redwood and Remain campaigner Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington in Greater London.

The meeting will take place at 7.30pm on Friday, June 10 at the Grange United Reform Church, in Circuit Lane, Southcote.

Door kicked in A HOUSE in Earley may have been targeted by thieves looking for Asian gold jewellery.

On Tuesday afternoon, someone kicked in the front door of the house in London Road and searched the property. Electrical items appear to have been ignored leading officers to suspect that gold jewellery was being looked for. The offenders may have been disturbed before they made off.

Anyone with any information which may be useful to police are encouraged to call 101.

Grassgate: woman injured while dog walking in park EXCLUSIVE

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokinghampaper.co.uk A COUPLE who had an accident while out walking their dog are fuming at the council’s new grass cutting policy.

Edwina Withe was exercising her beloved pet in Charwood Park last month when she slipped and fell in a hole that her husband said was obscured by the long grass. She only suffered bruising in the accident, which they reported to Wokingham Borough Council.

Earlier this week, her husband Ellison took The Wokingham Paper on a tour of the roads around the Wokingham park to show why they were dissatisfied with the new grass cutting policy, which is based on cutting according to need.

Weeds are growing through kerbs, tall stinging nettles are left in alleyways and parks that were once used by children to play football are now grassy meadows.

In an email to the Council, Mrs Withe said: “In the park there are deep hollows and holes which are now obscured by the long grass and these are hazards to young people and others who use the park on a daily basis. There are also many elderly people who use this area to walk their dogs. The whole park needs cutting before someone gets injured.”

Speaking to The Wokingham Paper, Mr Withe said: “She stumbled and just had minor bruising.

“We’ve complained to our councillor and they’ve done nothing.

“The council are just letting us down.”

He added that he was not happy about the height that the grass is being allowed to grow to: “It’s the worst its

Left: Ellison Withe in Charwood Park. Centre: one of the hidden hollows in the park Right: Stinging nettles growing in an alleyway in Norreys

ever been. It’s a park that children can’t play football in any more.

“They should totally scrap [the new grass cutting policy] and go back to the old one so we have a park that looks nice and is safe to walk through.

“It’s just not acceptable.”

But they’re not the only borough residents to complain about the new grass cutting regime. There have been many comments about the policy on a range of social media sites including StreetLife and Facebook.

Regular complaints are being made about the height of the grass, fears over ticks nesting in the grasses, the loss of playing areas for games like football and concerns that dog owners will be unable to clear up after their dogs who use the long grass.

One commenter on a Facebook page shared a picture they had taken of stinging nettles growing in the alleyway between Budges Road and Child Close in Wokingham.

Another, a mum from Norreys, said she had spoken to the council about the lack of grass cutting in Paice Green.

The Mayor of Earley, Cllr Jackie Rance visits the Daisy’s Dream Charity stand and volunteers, Martin Doyle, Stephen Hambleton and Claire Rhodes Pictures: Steve Smyth

Volunteers enjoy the fun of the fair WOULD-BE volunteers had the opportunity to be matched to local groups and charities last Saturday, thanks to a special fayre.

The Oakwood Centre in Woodley was the venue for the event which saw more than 15 groups exhibit, offering the chance for visitors to learn more about the work carried out by each of the groups and to connect with them.

Exhibitors included Daisy’s Dream, the Woodley Lend and Play Toy Library, the Me2 Club, the Stroke Association and Woodley and Earley Lions.

The event, held on Saturday, was organised by Wokingham Volunteer Centre, which operates a central register of volunteering opportunities across the borough and also has a weekly column in The Wokingham Paper.

Sarah Stuckey from the Lend & Play Toy Library

She said: “It means grass out there [is] now too long for the kids to play football and it looks a mess! Local kids use that green daily because they don't have to cross a main road (or three) to get to it, but because it is ‘approved policy’ all we can do is email our local councillor to complain!”

While another poster noted that the junction from the end of Baird Road on to Langley Common Road is “now blind because the verge is so overgrown”.

But the Borough Council has defended its new grass cutting policy.

Cllr Angus Ross, executive member for environment said: “We are very sorry Mrs Withe suffered a fall and will look into this now it has been brought to our attention.

“Our new approach is in its early days, and we are constantly reviewing and managing the new contract. We will be looking at customer concerns we receive, and responding where they are relevant as we move through our first growing season under this new system.” n Grass ‘em up – send us your tall grass pictures to news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Honour for library helpers MORE than 70 volunteers who help bring the printed word to life will be thanked at a special ceremony next week.

On Monday, Wokingham Library, in Denmark Street, will welcome the people who help deliver additional library services across the borough.

They include the Home Library Service, which delivers items to readers unable to get to a library and young people’s activities including storytimes, code club, origami sessions and a gaming club that meets in Winnersh.

Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for resident services, said: “The committed volunteers support a wide range of library services.

“We appreciate their hard work and enthusiasm and we are delighted to recognise the volunteers’ valued contribution at this event.”

Library volunteers have been invited to listen to a talk by local poet Jean Hill and receive certificates thanking them for their efforts. They will have an opportunity to meet other volunteers and library staff, and catch up on library news and enjoy afternoon tea.

The event is held during Volunteers Week which is a nationwide celebration of volunteering.

NEWS | 9 Share your memories of popular teacher A SCHOOL in Wargrave will be saying ‘au revoir’ to a member of staff at the end of this term after 30 years of service.

This July, Maggie Urwin, Deputy Head and Modern Foreign Languages teacher at The Piggott School in Twyford Road, will be bidding adieu to her 39-year teaching career, 30 years of which were spent at her current school.

Graduating from Bath University with a BA (Hons) in European Studies, Mrs Urwin took her passion for language forward into teaching, obtaining her PGCE from Bristol University.

She spent her first spell at The Piggott School between September 1977 and August 1994, before moving to Desborough School in Maidenhead to become Head of Modern Foreign Languages.

She returned to Piggott in April 2002 as Deputy Headteacher but continued sharing her passion for languages at classroom level.

Headteacher Derren Gray said: “Mrs Urwin is an inspirational teacher who succeeds in getting the best from every child. Her leadership has ensured that The Piggott School is a caring, calm and happy school where students know they are valued and respected.

“Daily, throughout the school, her influence is visible through excellent student behaviour, the flourishing flowerbeds and pots, and the lack of litter on site. She has also been instrumental in many students’ lives, particularly those who are vulnerable. She has supported many students and their families through traumatic and emotional times.”

A special retirement celebration has been planned by the school’s staff and governors, and past students, staff and parents are being asked to contribute their memories of Mrs Urwin to a book being made to commemorate the occasion. n Submissions for the memory book need to be emailed to retirement@piggottschool.org by July 1.

10 | BUSINESS

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Business PROPERTY INSIGHT wokinghampropertyblog.co.uk

Brexit and Wokingham property market – 22% more properties on the market What are the swings and roundabouts of the Wokingham property market?

A

Got a business story? Email news@ wokinghampaper.co.uk. or write to The Wokingham Paper, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS

Ikea takes to the waters to promote new store

Erica Townend

PRIL Fools Day was no joke for some landlords, as they rushed their buy-to-let property purchases throughout late March to beat the extra 3% stamp duty George Osborne imposed on buy-to-let properties after the 31st March 2016.

Because some investors brought forward their 2016 property purchases to save the extra tax, speaking to fellow property professionals in Wokingham, all of us have noticed demand to buy in April and May from these landlords has eased.

Then we have the Brexit issue, which is also having a tempering effect on the Wokingham property market – although if you recall I wrote about this a few weeks ago and while an exit will have an effect – it won’t be the end of the world scenario some commentators are suggesting.

In another article I wrote previously about the growth rate of Wokingham property values, and whilst the rate of growth is slowing, Wokingham property values are still 11.1% higher year-on-year, albeit the growth rate month-on-month has started to slow when compared to the heady days of 2014 and 2015.

Interestingly though, a very recent members survey of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors states that only 17% of members believed property values would increase over the next quarter compared to 44% who thought so at the end of 2015.

All this had led to increase in the number of properties for sale.

For example in the RG40 postcode, which mainly comprises Wokingham East and town centre, Finchampstead, south of Barkham and Wick Hill, there were 188 properties for sale in the postcode in December (of which 41 came on to the market for the first time).

In January, February and March, 250 properties came onto the market in that postcode (or an average of 83 per month), meaning by end of the first quarter, there were 230 properties available for

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 3, 2016

homeowners and landlords to buy in RG40 (i.e. a rise of 22.3% more properties for sale). These figures are mirrored in neighbouring postcodes throughout the Wokingham area.

Nevertheless, I believe this easing of the Wokingham property market is a good thing, as investment landlords won’t have to pay top dollar to secure a property because of the lower competition.

On the face of it, this easing should be bad news for the 34,975 Wokingham homeowners, but nothing could be further from the truth.

The majority of homeowners that move, move up-market, (i.e. from a flat to terrace/town house, then a semi and then detached), so while last year you would have achieved a top dollar figure for your property, you would have had to have paid an even higher top dollar to secure the one you wanted to buy.

The Swings and Roundabouts of the Wokingham Property Market!

However, all the signals suggest that whatever the aftermath of the approaching EU referendum, in the long term, the disparity between demand for Wokingham property and the supply (i.e. the number of actual properties) will still exercise a sturdy and definitive influence on the Wokingham property market.

It would surprise me that if by 2021, whichever way we vote in late June, assuming we don’t have another credit crunch or issues like a major world conflict, property prices will be 18% to 23% higher than they are today. n If you want to read more articles on the Wokingham property market, whether you are a Wokingham landlord, Wokingham homeowner, first time landlord or a first time buyer – then visit the Wokingham Property Market Blog wokinghampropertyblog. co.uk Erica Townend is a director and co-owner of the Martin & Co estate agency in Wokingham and has been aligned closely to the world of property for almost 20 years. Opinions express in this column are her own.

The Ikea Husbåt launch yesterday saw a Swedish band play a mixture of Abba classics and the Swedish national anthem, while the boat itself showcase some of the products that the new Ikea store will sell when it opens next month.

Pictures: Gemma Davidson

A LITTLE taste of Sweden made it to Berkshire this week at the launch of Ikea’s Husbåt.

The ‘house boat’ will set sail along the River Thames from Henley on Monday, visiting towns across the Thames Valley in the run-up to the new store opening in Calcot, Reading, on July 14.

Featuring exhibits of some of the store’s products, the boat will also host talks on sustainability issues for school children and as well as provide visitors with a chance to hear all about the new store.

Store manager Johanna Hueren, a Swedish native who has lived in the UK for four years, said: “We are really excited for the launch. We are proud that more than 90% of our workforce has come from the local area, and we have done a lot of research into what the people of this area want so we can tailor the store to suit their needs.

“We hope lots of people will come down to the boat to see what we have to offer, and of course join us on July 14 when we open our doors.”

The Husbåtwill be docked in Mill Meadows, Henley on June 6, 9 and 10; and Caversham Bridge, Reading on June 11, 28, 29 and 30. n For more information visit www. ikea.com/gb/en/store/reading.

Ex-Waingels pupil Andy has a new role on the buses

By JOHN WAKEFIELD news@wokinghampaper.co.uk A man who has lived in the borough for most of his life but worked away from the town has been appointed to a new management position within Reading Buses.

Andy Phillips, 35 and of Lower Earley, is the bus operator’s first Head of Commercial at its Great Knollys Street depot where he has a responsibility for looking after key commercial areas of the business and lead the team in various aspects to strengthen the long-term commercial strategy.

He will get to grips with the schedules, marketing and customer service departments as well as being responsible for revenue and pricing which will enable him to look for opportunities to grow the business.

Andy is delighted with the appointment and looking forward to ‘challenging opportunities’ that the new position offers, including the deployment of a new

anticipated website; a new mobile app and the ability of customers to pay for their bus journey by using contactless.

He already regularly travels on Reading Buses claret 21 service in Lower Earley and says one of the key messages he is anxious to get across to the public is how ‘cool’ the fleet is.

“I’m looking forward to building on what has been achieved and developing Reading Buses further to change the perception some people may have about buses and persuade them to give up their cars to take journeys into town by bus.

“Unlike even London, over 80% of the Reading Buses fleet offer wi-fi and have USB charging points and if more car drivers caught the bus they would help to ease traffic congestion, particularly around Reading town centre.”

He described his appointment as a ‘next step career progression’ which he said would broaden his horizons.

He takes up responsibility for Reading Buses commercial team, including revenue, network planning, schedules, customer services, marketing and operations support.

Previously, Andy spent 14 years in the travel, rail and airline sector.

He was most recently pricing manager at Heathrow Express where he had been employed since 2007 in various operational and commercial roles.

Prior to that he worked for United Airlines in an operational capacity and started his career as a member of the British Midland cabin crew.

Andy was educated at Waingels Copse School, Woodley, and Reading College.

Make a will and help raise funds for Sue Ryder in the process A WOKINGHAM town centre solicitor is looking forward to helping raise funds for the Sue Ryder charity during its forthcoming Make a Will initiative.

Clifton Ingram Solicitors, which is based in Broad Street, is to offer standard Wills writing for individuals in exchange for a donation to the charity, which provides specialist palliative care for

patients suffering with conditions such as cancer, heart disease and motor neurone disease, from various centres including the Wokingham Day Hospice.

The Wokingham solicitors firm – which also has a branch in Reading – is offering to draw up the legal documents free of charge, to support the Make a Will Fortnight initiative, which

begins on Monday, June 13.

Emma McCarthy, Partner at Clifton Ingram Solicitors, said: “We are once again pleased to take part in the Make a Will Fortnight, as it offers us an excellent opportunity to use our professional skills to generate significant charitable donations and at the same time encourage people to get their legal affairs in order.” n For more information contact Emma McCarthy, Partner at Clifton Ingram Solicitors, on 0118 957 3425.

Friday, June 3, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Councils to continue to share legal services

Son pays tribute to Mum who died in bank holiday accident

LEGAL services will continue to be shared between the borough council and its neighbour for another five years.

The partnership with the Royal Borough

By GEMMA DAVIDSON of Windsor and Maidenhead Council was gdavidson@wokinghampaper.co.uk approved last week at a meeting of the borough council’s executive committee.

THE woman who died following a crash in The Shared Legal Solutions (SLS) service Wokingham town centre last month has was set up five years ago to benefit from been named as Diane Trinder. economies of scale between the two Mrs Trinder, who was 74 and lived in authorities and the council said that during Sirius Close, Woosehill, was involved in that time the partnership has made significant the collision on Bank Holiday Monday May savings, attracted additional customers 2, and died at the John Radcliffe Hospital including schools and other councils, and can on May 16. offer an hourly rate much lower than market The collision between a black Mercedes levels.

A180 and a blue Vauxhall Corsa took place Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member at around 10.25am on the A329 Reading for resident services, said: “It makes excellent Road, at the junction with Station Road.

Diane Trinder: Photo courtesy of the Trinder business sense to share services between An inquest into Mrs Trinder’s death was family councils if possible, and SLS has more than wear whatever they feel comfortable in opened on Monday, May 23. proved this.

Mrs Trinder spent a lot of time working wearing.

“Putting financial benefits to the public “Mum wouldn’t want to make a fuss. as a volunteer, raising money for various purse, service resilience and creating better “She will sorely missed as a Mum, Sister, charities including the MS Society, Dogs career opportunities and support for legal Auntie and Friend.” for the Disabled and Dog’s Trust. staff, it also has a customer satisfaction rating Her funeral will take place at 12.15pm In a tribute, her sons Wayne and Mark of more than 90 per cent.” said: “Mum was a wonderful caring person on Friday, June 10 at Henley Road “By extending its contract until 31 May 2021 crematorium. Instead of flowers, the family who always put other people first. this successful and proven quasi-commercial has requested donations to be made to Mrs “Her funeral will be a celebration of her blueprint_advert_190x137mm_TKT5119_07B_PRINT_READY.pdf 1 22/03/2016 18:14 service will continue to benefit the borough Trinder’s favourite charity Dog’s Trust. To life. as well as the people and organisations that “All are welcome and are asked to donate visit www.bit.ly/1XOQD4w. already use its services.”

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Santina (8) and Aniella Russell (11) choose their plants from a Red Cross sale at Gray’s Farm. Below: Hannah Williams with Anita (4) and Bertie (1) pick the first of the strawberry crop Pictures: Steve Smyth

Colourful Grays A LOCAL pick-your-own farm opened for a new season of business on Saturday and celebrated by holding a charity plant sale.

Grays Farm, on Heathlands Road, welcomed fruit fans looking for strawberries and other locally produced foods – and they also welcomed a pop-up shop from the Red Cross.

On offer were a range of summer bedding plants, hanging baskets and interesting plants donated by volunteers. Bric-a-brac, books and other household goods were also on offer.

The sale was part of an ongoing Open Gardens scheme in aid of the charity. n For more on the Open Gardens, log on to www.redcross.org.uk/opengardens

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The Queen at 90 Two for one celebration TWO events are being planned in Finchampstead to mark a dual celebration.

Finchampstead Sports Club is 50 this year, and it is combining special events with the Queen’s birthday.

Next Friday, it will hold a special dinner and reunion, giving around 90 people the opportunity to come together and reflect on the first five decades of the club.

There will also be the opportunity to buy a book about the club’s history.

Then, on Sunday, June 12, there will be a celebration fair from 11am to 3pm at the sports club.

The event will see the community come together including local football, cricket and netball teams, the local school, churchyard trust and the village and parks committee.

The events include a dog show, fancy dress parade, stalls and a raffle.

A new sports club badge, designed for the 50th, will be unveiled on the day.

Community picnic A BIRTHDAY party will take place in Joel Park this Sunday.

The Joel Park Residents Association is holding the regal event from 2pm. Everyone is invited and should bring their own food, barbecues and drinks to enjoy.

There will also be children’s races, face painting and a royal themed cake competition.

The Emmbrook School PTA will also have a stall selling refreshments.

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 3, 2016

Award for choir preparing for Queen’s concert date

By JOHN WAKEFIELD news@wokinghampaper.co.uk A CHOIR from Woodley is celebrating after being awarded a prestigious honour in a national contest.

Members of the Thames Valley Chorus will be performing at Wokingham Town Council’s street party on Sunday, June 12, held in honour of the Queen’s 90th birthday.

They will be one of the acts appearing on a specially erected stage in Broad Street for a day of celebrations that includes the annual international street concert and a civic parade.

But for now the Woodley-based group are basking in the glory of winning the Cambridge Scroll at the recent British Association of Barbershop Singers annual convention.

The award was given for being the Most Improved Chorus in the competition.

It comes weeks after the chorus entertained football fans attending Reading’s last home game of the season against Preston North End. And now the group is inviting men to come and join them at a four-week learnto-sing event taking place in Woodley from Tuesday. The sessions take place from 7.30pm at The Bulmershe School in Woodlands Road.

The Thames Valley Chorus recently won an award at the British Association of Barbershop Singers convention

Entry to the course is free.

Philip Paine, from the group, said: “The course is suitable for experienced singers who would like to try out closeharmony singing as well as those with no formal singing experience.”

And the group’s appearance at the Wokingham Street party on June 12 is something they are also excited about.

Mr Paine added: “We are honoured to have been asked to sing on the main stage at the Queen’s Birthday Celebration Street Party.” n For more on the street party log on to www.qbiw.co.uk

MP to open birthday garden THERESA MAY MP will officially open a birthday garden on Saturday afternoon.

Organised by Friends of Woodford Park, the garden is one of a series of initiatives to improve the park.

David Provins, from the Friends, said: “This project is made possible by the hard work of local people with support from Woodley Town Council, Unique Gardens and our sponsors – The Hicks Group and Just Tiles Ltd.”

Fancy dress parade in Swallowfield A ROYAL themed fete will take place in Swallowfield on Saturday, June 11.

The event will include a children’s fancy dress parade with a royal theme, a ride-on royal train and live entertainment, all to honour the Queen’s 90th birthday.

There will also be traditional attractions including a Punch and Judy show, tombolas, raffles, children’s races, magic shows and stalls such as plants, books and bric-a-brac.

Mary Baylis, former Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire and Queen’s representative, will be the guest of honour.

The event, organised by Swallowfield Church, takes place at Mead House in Church Road, Swallowfield from 2pm to 5pm.

Donations for stalls can be left at Swallowfield Medical Practice from 10am to noon.

Evening picnic plan VILLAGERS from Remenham will celebrate Her Majesty’s birthday with a special evening picnic on Saturday, June 11.

The event will take place on the village square opposite the parish church of St Nicholas from 6pm.

Guests are requested to bring their own picnic, but there will be tables and chairs provided along with teas and coffees.

There will also be musical entertainment to enjoy.

People wanting to take part are encouraged to email hello@ remenhamparish.org.uk to help organisers provide enough seats for everyone.

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JEWELLERY and a laptop were among items stolen during burglaries in Woodley last week.

At some time overnight on Friday someone went into a house in Hudson Road Tel: 0118 9733414 by opening the front door and stole a purse and a laptop.

Mob: 07920 524500 The Leading Supplier & Installer of Window Dressings TheArea’s following night someone smashed Email: wokinghamdriveways@gmail.com the patio door of a house Godstow Close.

Serving the in Local Community for 10 Years The property was searched and electrical 436 Finchampstead Road | Wokingham | Berks | RG40 3RB items and jewellery were stolen.

DRIVEWAYS & LANDSCAPING Anyone with any information relating to either of these incidents should call 101.

Sarin .Tony BLINDS AND AWNINGS PATIOS . FENCING & GATES . TURFING

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Padlock cut during outbuilding raid

0118 973. 3414 .. 07920 524 500 .

Chequeing in … Members of the Reading Punjabi Association and (pictured right) Stan and Andy Slay from the Wokingham Walk present donations to former mayor Cllr Parry Batth Tony Sarin Tel:Hetherington 0118 9733414

PATIOS FENCING & GATES TURFING Mob: 07920 524500 . SHED BASES . BLOCK-PAVING Email: wokinghamdriveways@gmail.com TWO properties in Wokingham have been Independent financial advice .

Independent financial advice REPAIRS OR DRIVE EXTENSIONS 436 Finchampstead Road | Wokingham | Berks | RG40 3RB targeted by thieves.

BLINDS AND AWNINGS .

During the evening on Friday someone By PHIL CREIGHTON secure future GARDEN MAINTENANCE The Area’s Leading Supplier &for Installer ofa Window Dressings for a secure future news@wokinghampaper.co.uk cut the padlock on an outbuilding in Serving the Local Community for 10 Years . PROFESSIONAL DRIVEWAY Easthampstead Road. The building was WOKINGHAM CLEANING

£12,600 will ‘make a big difference’ to ARC DRIVEWAYS &&LANDSCAPING DRIVEWAYS LANDSCAPING . 07920 0118 973 3414 500 the biggest ever donation is celebrating524 after receiving

searched but nothing was stolen. ds . Curtains . Wood Venetian Early the following day someone stole copper.piping from the of a house in . Vision Roman . back Awnings

&

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 3, 2016

A CHARITY that helps young people navigate through life

Life assurance, critical illness & income protectionfrom plans Wokingham’s borough mayor.

Life assurance, critical illness & income protection plans Buckhurst Road which was undergoing Financial reviews in the convenience of your home On Monday, ARC Counselling received a cheque for External Shading Requirements Financial reviews in the convenience your home from former mayor Cllr Parry Batth. The gift is the Tel: 0118 9733414 .Tony Sarin.of . TURFING refurbishment.

A blue van was seen parked FENCING &£12,627 GATES Investments, savings & childPATIOS trust funds Mob: 07920 524500 result of his fundraising outside and two men were seen going in Investments, savings & child trust funds . SHED BASES . BLOCK-PAVING efforts during his term of office.

At the same presentation, held at the Council’s offices in With profits fund performance.analysisEmail: wokinghamdriveways@gmail.com and out of the premises.

With profits fund performance analysis REPAIRS Road OR DRIVE EXTENSIONS 436 Finchampstead | Wokingham | Berks RG40 3RB Shute End, the| Mayor’s fund received additional donations Anyone with information relating to Annuities & open market options . GARDEN MAINTENANCE Conservatory Blinds .

Curtains .

Wood Venetian Annuities & open market options of £2,000 from the Wokingham Walk and £1,000 from the either of these incidents should call the . PROFESSIONAL Personal & group pensions Life assurance, critical illnessDRIVEWAY & income protection plans Reading Punjabi Association.

CLEANING Thames Valley Police enquiry. centre on 101.

Roller . Vertical Vision . Roman . Awnings Life assurance, critical illness & income protection plans Personal & group pensions Cllryour Batth - who last month handed over the mayoral Financial reviews in the convenience of home . .

Inheritance Tax planning wokinghamdriveways@googlemail.com wokinghamdriveways.co.uk For all your Internal & External Shading Requirements Financial reviews the convenience of your524 home500 0118 in973 3414 07920 Inheritance Tax planning Investments, savings & child trust chain fundsto Cllr Bob Pitts - was pleased to end his mayoral Investments, savings & child trust funds ISAs & ISA/PEP transfers year on a high.

ISAs & ISA/PEP transfers With profits fund performance analysis Independent advice With profits fund performance financial analysis Independent financial advice “I’m absolutely delighted at the amount of money raised Annuities & open market options A CHILD’S seat andwww.blindsandawnings.org garden shears have for a secure future Annuities & open market options just over £12,000 and it’s going to a very good cause, a for a secure future Personal & group pensions been stolen from a shed in Wargrave. charity that helps young people through very stressed Personal & group pensions To see the quality and excellent range visit the At some time last week, someone went Blinds . Curtains . Wood Venetian . wokinghamdriveways.co.uk Inheritance Tax planning Conservatory wokinghamdriveways@googlemail.com times - and it helps their parents as well.

Inheritance Tax planning LARGEST the area: into the shed in the gardenSHOWROOM of aRoller property in in. Vision Life assurance, critical illness & income“ARC protection . Vertical . Roman . Awnings ISAs provides & ISA/PEP transfers Life assurance, critical illness & income protection plans Authorised and regulated by theplans FSAcounselling and help for children, it’s transfers Authorised and regulated byhome the FSA ” Financial reviews in the convenience of your High Street, and stole twoRoad, shears 90 Yorktown Sandhurst, GU47Shading 9BH RequirementsISAs & ISA/PEP For all and your Internal & External Financial reviews in the convenience of your home absolutely fantastic.

Investments, savings & child trust funds a child’s fold away seat.

Investments, savings & child trust funds Paul Cassidy, ARC’s Co-ordinator, said that the money With profits fund performance analysis Anyone with any information should With profits fund performance analysis would make a real difference to the charity’s work.

Annuities & open market options www.blindsandawnings.org open market options call 101.

Paul Cassidy from ARC receives his donation Annuities Pictures: &Phil Creighton “We’ve received a huge donation, I think it’s a record for Personal & group pensionsAuthorised and regulated by the FSA Personal & group pensions To see the quality and excellent range visit the and regulated by the FSA . wokinghamdriveways.co.uk Inheritance Tax planning Authorised wokinghamdriveways@googlemail.com Inheritance Tax planning LARGEST SHOWROOM in the area: ISAs & ISA/PEP transfers ISAs &320430 ISA/PEP transfers Tel/Fax 01344 466173 Mobile 07768 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk 90 Yorktown Road, Sandhurst, GU47 9BH Mobile 07768 Tel/Fax 01344 466173 320430 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk

Independent Independent financial financial advice advice for a secure future for a secure future

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y and excellent range visit the HOWROOM in the area: Child seat stolen oad, Sandhurst, GU47 9BH

Tony Welsh

Tony Welsh

Tony Welsh Fleck Ltd Independent Financial Adviser Tony Welsh of of Susan Susan Fleck Associates Associates Ltd Tel 0118 402 8978 07768 320430 Address 5 The Paddock, Crowthorne,Mobile Berkshire RG45 6HS Address 5 The Paddock, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 6HS Tony Welsh of Susan Fleck Associates Ltd Independent Financial Adviser Tony Welsh of Susan Fleck Associates Ltd Email tony@tonywelshifa.co.uk Tel/Fax 01344 466173 Mobile 07768 320430 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk

a mayor’s donation and I really would like to thank Cllr Parry Batth and the community for raising all this money for us. It will make a big difference to what we can do, It will enable us to see an extra 200 young people next year.”

Deni Aykar, general secretary of the Reading Punjabi Association, was pleased to be able to help the mayoral fund out.

He said: “Every year we make a donation from society funds. This year we decided to make a donation to Wokingham Mayor’s Fund as he was guest at one of our functions, so we decided to support his charity.

“It’s been a wonderful day and been a pleasure to donate to this fund, knowing it makes a difference.”

And the Wokingham Walk has been set up specifically to fundraise for the mayoral fund. At its first event last month, the participants raised £2,000 for ARC. Andy Slay, on of the organisers, said: “We’re really pleased to make this donation and by how much was raised.

“We decided it would be nice to have an annual charity walk for people in Wokingham to add to the social calendar for the year, including the half marathon and the bikeathon and we’ll just become part of the annual calendar.”

Bikeathon will be a breeze Tony Welsh for keen cyclist Carole Authorised and regulated by the FSA

Authorised regulated by the FSA Tel/Fax 01344 402 466173 Mobile 07768 320430and Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk Tel 0118 07768 320430 Address 5 The Paddock,8978 Crowthorne,Mobile Berkshire RG45 6HS Address 5 The Paddock, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 6HS Email tony@tonywelshifa.co.uk

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Tony Welsh Fleck Ltd Independent Financial Adviser Tony Welsh of of Susan Susan Fleck Associates Associates Ltd Tel/Fax 01344 466173 Mobile 07768 320430 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk Tel/Fax 01344 466173 Mobile 07768 320430 Email tony@independent-ifa.co.uk Tel 0118 402 8978 07768 320430 By SALLY Address 5 The Paddock, Crowthorne,Mobile Berkshire RG45 6HSBRYANT Address 5 The Paddock, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 6HS sbryant@wokinghampaper.co.uk Email tony@tonywelshifa.co.uk

King George V Playing Field CAROLE RICHARDS will be completing the Loddon Hall Road, TwyfordAuthorised RG10 9JA and regulated by the Financial ConductWokingham Authority Bikeathon later this month Susan Fleck Associates Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, registration no. 447018 Susan Fleck Associates Ltd is authorised and regulated byKent the Financial registration no. 447018 Head Office: Granville House, Granville Road, Maidstone, ME14 2BJServices Authorised and regulated byAuthority, the Financial Conduct Authority Registration AJW00121 19/05/20 release: Number Susan Fleck Associates Ltd15 is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, registration no. 447018 Date of media Head Office: Granville House, Granville Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 2BJ rider! Could it be you? for its 1000 and looking Susan Fleck Associates Ltdisis authorised regulated by the Financial Services Authority, registration no. 447018

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Roger , business sponsored by local ling and The Physio Studio. provided by ARC Counsel n to many people n has been an inspiratio gton said, “The Bikeatho a great Organiser Stan Hetherin ls and families alike. It’s been running - individua has it years 7 over the past family and people the countryside with friends, enjoy and bike your on itself and the opportunity to get out line, the thrill of the cycle start the at buzz The ity. in! from across the commun all great reasons to join ent at the finish line are enormous sense of achievem fun of it, but also take part, not just for the that so many of the riders We are also very proud Riders have already through sponsorships. charities national and local to raise money for Down2Us and The Link local charities including will be fundraising for entered this year who h and the MS Society.” charities like Cancer Researc Visiting Scheme and national – don’t let that stop you! hasn’t been out for a while bike your that worried If you are be on hand at the of Cycle Services, will Dr Bike, Steve Johnson Wokingham’s very own those who need it bike safety checks for l bike maintenance and start to provide essentia

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miles was a huge mountain to climb, mow she is just about to do 50 in the Three Counties Cycle Ride.”

Carole, now 57, passed her cycling proficiency at the age of 10, but really took it up again when she passed the big 5-0 and decided she should do a triathlon (she did three).

Now she cycles around 30 miles a week and her 22-year-old son, Michael, and daughter Sally, 21, have also been bitten by the bike bug.

Michael won last year’s Wokingham Bikeathon – much to his own surprise, says Mum. Carole’s rekindled love of cycling has led to her helping children, as well as other women. She is a Bikeability (the old cycling proficiency) instructor, working usually with youngsters in Years Five and Six. Breeze is one of the fastest-growing organisations, according to this enthusiastic champion, and the Bikeathon shows just how it is taking off locally. She says three years ago, they had about four ladies in the event. This year, the leaders will be covering both distances and they hope to have many more with them.

The Wokingham Bikeathon is on the Breeze Network website and any women who want to join in will be made welcome.

Carole says: “Breeze gives women a great way to make friends – and getting fit is a bonus!” n For more information on local Breeze activities, see the Facebook page Breeze Network Bracknell Forest & Wokingham. n The Bikeathon takes place on Sunday, June 26. For details or to register, log on to www.wokinghambikeathon.co.uk

15

Friday, June 3, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

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THE WOKINGHAM PAPER N E W S W I T H A H E A RT F O R T H E B O RO U G H

Government cuts means no cutting THE new grass cutting policy – known as grassland habitat creation at Shute End – is misguided.

On paper, it sounds great.

New pathways to explore in parks and other areas of public open spaces imply that the borough’s biodiversity will be enhanced and, as a knock-on effect, air quality will increase and our lives will be enriched.

But the reality is that this new 10-year contract is going to be a dead rubber unless major changes are made, and made quickly.

The policy was introduced, the borough council said, because it wanted a contract that put quality over frequency of cutting.

It came out after researching different ways of improving the service while not increasing the cost.

The Council added that with ISS Facilities Services it had “finally found a contractor who was willing to do things our way”.

As we have seen this week, accidents are occurring because tall grass is hiding uneven ground and holes. Children are being denied areas to play football on and there is a fear that dog owners will be tempted not to clean up after their pets.

But the worst aspect of the new policy that the grass verges, kerbs and pathways are not being kept tidy. This “biodiversity” means that weeds are everywhere.

It makes the borough look scruffy and creates an incredibly poor first impression to anyone visiting the area. It suggests that the Council doesn’t care, which is clearly not the case.

We understand that Government cuts are biting, but to not enable grass cutting to take place properly is wrong.

A rethink is needed. Urgently.

CHURCH NOTES

Being there for the needy

W

HEN Francis of Assisi turned his back on wealth to seek God in simplicity, he stripped naked and walked out of the city.

He encountered a leper on the side of the road. He passed him, then stopped and went back and embraced the diseased man.

Francis continued on his journey.

After a few steps, he turned around to look again at the leper, but no one was there.

For the rest of his life, he believed the leper was Jesus Christ.

He may have been right.

Maybe the words of Jesus’ sermon recorded by Matthew on the last Tuesday before Jesus’ crucifixion came to mind.

These are words that gauge a heart by a person’s concern for the undesirable: “I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house. I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me” (Matthew 5: 35-36).

One of the signs of those who follow Christ is their love for the least. Good people doing good things; for when we do good things for others we do good things for God. Jesus lives with those who are homeless, with the forgotten, isolated and with the ignored, among those who are ill or in need.

If we want to see God, we should go to the broken and those who are beaten down and there we will see him.

His promise is to “reward those who truly want to find him” (Hebrews 11:6) and his plan is described in verse 40 of that last recorded sermon in Matthew; “Anything you did for even the least of my people, here, you also did for me.”

Keith Saynor Pastor, Kings Church, Wokingham

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Your views

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 3, 2016 We love to hear from you! Send us your views on issues relatingto the borough (in 250 words or less) to The Wokingham Paper, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS or email: letters@wokinghampaper.co.uk We reserve the right to edit letters

Send your thoughts to letters@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Yes, 20 is plenty on urban roads Clearly I did not make myself clear to all readers in my recently published letter referring to cycling up and down Barkham Road.

The answer to making the perception of using bikes safer to get about does not simply involve wearing a plastic hat designed for, say, a 10mph impact.

Most of Wokingham’s roads were designed for horse and cart transport and there is limited scope for adding cycle lanes on the road surface. But Wokingham Borough Council is to be congratulated on the cycle lane provision recently created on the Reading Road.

Travelling into Reading by bus, it is encouraging to see the lanes being used by cyclists getting them off the pavements.

Such lanes cannot be introduced on the narrow Barkham Road and off road cycle lanes could only be achieved by purchasing a relatively narrow strip of land from the front gardens of properties.

Such as a solution is unlikely to appeal to our councillors, but a simple, readily affordable solution is to hand and is followed by councils around the UK. Make roads where people live signed 20 miles an hour to make the notion of cycling and walking more acceptable for all ages.

Speed humps and chicanes are no longer necessary for 20mph and this speed is plenty fast enough.

Of course, 20mph signs will be ignored by some drivers just as 30 and 40mph signs are from time to time.

But given time, the policy will become the norm, rather like no smoking in public places.

This 20mph investment will happen but, as we all know, change in Wokingham takes many years to implement. So, in the meantime, we can look forward to even more vehicular traffic used for short distance journeys from the new housings estates.

Brian Morris, Wokingham

Subnational population projections in Wokingham The recent official subnational population projections are concerning to say the least.

In Wokingham borough, the population is projected to grow by 13,000 (8%) from 159,000 (2014 based) to 172,000 over the next 10 years; and by 25,000 (nearly16%) to 184,000 by 2039.

Nationally, the UK population is expected to grow by from nearly 65 million now by over 4 million to about 69 million over the next 10 years, and by nearly 10 million to over 74 million by 2039 The impact of all of this will be enormous.

Both locally and nationally, population growth already leads to a rising cost of living, housing shortages, difficulties in accessing health and

asking individuals and communities up and down the UK to do what they can to make life that little bit easier for carers. Whoever you are, whatever you do, you can make a difference.

This year, we want to highlight the importance of Carer Friendly Communities – places where local people and services understand what it’s like to be a carer and do what they can to make life a little bit easier for carers.

As such, we’re asking people to visit the Carers Week website to recommend organisations, services and employers who are carer friendly, and to invite other organisations to use our checklist to commit to becoming carer friendly.

Would a 20mph speed limit help walkers and cyclists?

Carers Week is brought to life by the people and Picture: Andrew Beierle/freeimages.com organisations who pledge their support, run events and education, as well as traffic congestion. activities, share information, and get the conversation Globally, it has grave consequences for biodiversity, about caring going on social media. global warming and the environment.

Get involved in Carers Week today! Visit the Carers This planet’s resources are finite. In England, public Week website to show your support, and to find out what services are already stretched, housing provision is events are happening in your area and all the ways you beyond capacity and the greenbelt is disappearing. can take part: www.carersweek.org Indeed, England (not the UK) is already the most Carers Week is made possible by Carers UK joining densely populated country in Europe. forces with Age UK, Carers Trust, Independent Age, We really must educate, inform and take action now Macmillan Cancer Support, Motor Neurone Disease if we are to secure our locality, our country, the UK and Association and MS Society. the planet for future generations.

Carers are the mainstay of our communities.

Bill Dowling, Sandhurst Let’s make the most of Carers Week to show carers just how much we recognise and value the vital contribution they make to our families, communities and I couldn’t agree more with Erica Townend when she wider society. blames Margaret Thatcher for the crisis in the property Emily Holzhausen, Carers Week market (Wokingham property blog, May 27).

20 Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4LX Her policy of selling off council homes decimated the availability of affordable rental homes.

This political act which was designed to increase If local under 16s with heart problems, for example, were the “Working class Tory vote” has its repercussions told by the NHS that they could only be treated when now, when private rented accommodation is the only their situation became critical (and that even then only alternative to many who cannot afford to buy in places one in 10 could be treated) local folk would be outraged.

Yet shockingly and scandalously, only one in 10 of our like Wokingham. under 16s with major mental health problems currently What angers me most of all,though is that some of get any NHS help – and even these people, increasingly, the former council homes and flats that were sold at discounts to council tenants have since been sold on as have to reach a major crisis before even the NHS help is made available. buy to let properties for private andlords now.

Report after report has also confirmed that 50% of Meaning properties that would have been adult mental health problems first surface before the affordable rental homes are now being let at today’s sufferer reaches 14 and yet only 7% of the entire NHS inflated prices. Thanks Mrs T. Carole Skates, Wokingham. mental health budget ius allocated to the under 16s, and only 14% of the entire NHS budget is allocated to mental health care, despite sufferers representing 28% of the 6.5 million people in the UK care, unpaid, for a disabled, NHS’ users.

Over the years, we have heard much rhetoric about older or ill family member or friend. Whilst caring can parity of care and commissioning of NHS mental and be rewarding, without the right support, it can also take a serious toll on a carer’s health, relationships and physical health care. It is time rhetoric was replaced with reality. finances.

Paul Farmer, NHS campaigner That’s why, this Carers Week (6-12 June), we are

Council house sell-off

Under 16s mental health

It’s time to thank our carers

GOOD ADVICE

If you need to cancel a holiday, here’s how to do it

Y

OUR rights to cancel a holiday (or a particular part of a holiday like a flight or a hotel booking) usually depend on the terms and conditions of your booking, and your reason for wanting to cancel.

You might be entitled to cancel the holiday without a cancellation fee if the holiday company changes the holiday or puts the price up after you book.

You might be covered for cancelling a trip if you have travel insurance – check your policy or contact the insurance company if you’re not sure.

If you’ve changed your mind about a holiday or you can’t go anymore (such as an emergency), you should check the terms and conditions of your booking to see what your options are.

It’s likely that you’ll either have to pay a cancellation fee or won’t be entitled to any refund at all.

Contact the company if you can’t find your terms and conditions.

You have the legal right to cancel without charge if the company has made ‘major changes’ to the holiday after you booked it.

There’s no exact definition for what a major change is.

As an example: You booked a holiday including a large room at a resort. The company you booked with contacts you to say that your booking has changed to another resort with a smaller room.

You can argue that this is a major change.

Contact the company you booked with and explain to them why the original booking was important to your circumstances and explain why you think the changes are ‘major’.

Ask for a refund or to rearrange the holiday.

If the price of your holiday increases after you book you have the legal right to get a refund or book a different holiday if the company makes a ‘major increase’ to the price of the holiday.

There’s no exact definition for what a major increase is – the Association of British Travel Agents suggests that 10% or more is a ‘major increase’.

However, this is only a guide.

As an example: You book a package online holiday for £500. The company you booked with contacts you two weeks later and says the price is now £600. This would be considered a major increase because the price has gone up more than 10%.

If you think that the increase is major, you’ll need to explain this to the

company and ask to cancel without a fee.

If the price went up by £40 and you think it’s unreasonable, you could still try and say that the price is a ‘major increase’, even though it’s less than 10% – there are no strict guidelines.

Contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06 if you need more help – a trained adviser can give you advice over the phone. n You can get help, information and advice from your local Citizens Advice or visit www. citizensadvicewokingham.org.uk or contact Citizens Advice Wokingham at Second Floor, Waterford House, Erftstadt Court, Wokingham RG40 2YF. Tel: 0300 330 1189. email: public@citizensadvicewokingham. org.uk

VIEWPOINTS | 17

To advertise call 0118 328 2959

Friday, June 3, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

NELLIE KNOWS

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Celebrating your photography

Reader Ray Little returned to one of his favourite spots last weekend – and it was a perfect time to do so as baby birds start flapping their wings.

He had his camera to hand to capture a swan guarding her cygnets in a secluded corner of Longmoor Lake in California Country Park. It’s a touching moment and we’re glad you caught it Ray. We love to showcase your photos in our Picture of the Week feature.

If you have a picture – landscape in format, not portrait – email it to news@ wokinghampaper. co.uk. Pictures should be hi-res, landscape, 300dpi and taken by yourself, preferably within the Wokingham borough.

TONY JOHNSON

‘H

HAVE YOUR SAY:

and d**n impossible to persuade colleagues to modernise the campaign”.

“Despite the party telling me that the campaign teams are making a difference, I’m not sure I agree”.

“Too much focus on national / internal party dogma. Not very appealing to the under 30s”.

“If the party had made it’s mind up earlier, we’d have had a better campaign”.

“Working harder isn’t the answer, we need to work smarter if we’re going to win people’s interest and get their vote”.

“No wonder we’re getting even more out of touch with the general public”.

Though these sentiments were each expressed differently, they circled around a fundamental point. The effect of party politics and processes on the perceptions of the electorate at a local level.

From dialogue with parish and town councillors over the past year, it appears that division on party lines is rare. This has been repeated so many times by so many people that even I’m tempted to accept it as factually correct.

However things change when one gets to a political level which levies taxes; receives grants and income; decides spending priorities; employs permanent, temporary and out-sourced staff.

Party politics is very much present at election time and then in the Council Chamber afterwards.

Moving on – to look at what the nine had learned from their experience.

All commented on the value of their teams and the support they provided – before, during and particularly after polling day. Most felt that there was more to be done to mobilise the electorate.

Some felt that things were getting worse in the Borough. One observed the gap between what should be done and what is being done.

When it came to interviewees feelings about it all, there wasn’t a single point of view, but

O

H hello June, you’ve arrived and I hope you’ve bought summer with you!

We’ve had a slice of summer this week in New Quay, Wales and we’re all feeling a lot better for it.

We stay in a friend’s cottage that’s at the end of a tiny lane and it’s so tranquil and relaxing.

One thing I do like is the dodgy phone reception meaning we’re cocooned by nature and can enjoy family time without interruptions.

Of course, there’s no need for an alarm clock as the cockerel is up with the lark and when night falls there’s no street lights.

We’ve been at the beach bright and early, watched the dolphins from the harbour wall, walked to the brewery for tasting, eaten fish and chips on the beach and enjoyed the simple pleasures of a family holiday before Big Welsh took Mook to hospital for her knee operation.

Books

I’ve not made time for reading recently and my mind has been on other things not to mention my own writing however I did read and thoroughly enjoy Before I Met You by Lisa Jewell.

I’m obviously going to be in book heaven at Hay Festival which if you’ve not been is fantastic. I’m not a book worm per se but I would count reading as one of my favourite past times.

And eating.

In the kitchen

Out for the count

OW much?”

“Around 35%” “Hmm, that sounds reasonable.

Doesn’t it?”

These were the sentiments of local politicians after last month’s local elections for 19 seats on the borough council.

Feeling that 35% turnout was worryingly low, I asked members of the public for their views.

“Pathetic, what’s the point?” was one response from an ex-student who didn’t vote, but who asked why they should.

“What do you expect?” came from a more mature person who did, followed by some short sharp comments. “Pamphlets full of rubbish, broken promises, people we only see at election time, who ask my opinion but don’t actually DO anything about what I tell them. I only vote because I feel a duty to”.

Ouch – straight from the heart.

Rather than ask “The Elected” I felt that it would be more instructive to listen to the views of local politicians who’d stood but hadn’t won a seat. Nine were willing to speak about the inner workings of the campaigns, along with their learnings and feelings.

Overall, it was interesting to hear views which largely mirrored those of the general public.

Starting with the campaigns, wards and results: “Not terribly well coordinated, four different local branches appoint the candidates who then run separate campaigns”.

From this, I learned that in our borough, political parties are organised on parliamentary constituency lines. We’ve got four MPs representing different parts of the borough of Wokingham, not one as I’d previously thought.

“The party runs on ideas and methods generated in the 1980s and 1990s”.

“It’s somewhere between b****y difficult

Nellie Williams www.nelliepompoms.co.uk

the spectrum of feelings covered three broad groupings: Apprehensive; Shell shocked; Frustrating; Bruising; Disheartening; Disappointing; Regretful; Humbling; Annoyance (esp. with other’s campaigns); Felt rejected; Felt let down; Felt rather isolated; Felt I let the team down; Felt a bit guilty; Felt sorry for others too; Relieved; Surprised; Interesting; Invigorating; Exciting; A real test of personality and character; Good leadership; Not personal – unbeatable; Can’t wait for next time; But regarding turnout, it was interesting that more than one interviewee suggested that we switch to the Australian method for local elections – where voting is compulsory.

However for these 19 seats, over 80% of the political power in the Council Chamber stems from less than 20% of the electorate entitled to vote. This isn’t a good recipe for stability.

While the Reform Act of 1832 eliminated the rotten boroughs of the 18th and 19th centuries, compulsion seems a poor substitute for a vibrant democracy among an engaged electorate.

Caveat Elector! n The insights in this article are based on words and sentiments shared by local politicians who agreed to participate in confidential and non-attributable interviews. All either had represented or wished to represent one of the 19 seats being contested by 72 candidates in the Borough of Wokingham’s elections held in May 2016. Each interview covered the same basic topics.

Although there are gaps due to the limited sample size, the insights cover a range of political parties and are reasonably well balanced on age, gender, orientation and occupation. Words in italics in the above text indicate an interviewee’s words or sentiments.

Caveat Lector!

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@WOKYPAPER

I made a delicious meal by mistake last week. I was gong to make a Watermelon, Rocket, Parma Ham and Feta Cheese salad with a balsamic dressing but I forgot the rocket so shelved that idea and made what is now known at home as Chicken Barkham Bleu.

It may have been made before and I’m late to the table but it really was a tasty meal and I expect you’ll be wanting the recipe ... I used one chicken breast per person and for the fussy ones I grated some Parmesan instead of veined cheese.

Butterfly a chicken breast, lightly fry (I use RG17 Rapeseed Oil), pop a few slices of Two Hoots Barkham Blue, wrap in Parma ham and shove in the oven until the cheese has melted.

Serve with boiled new potatoes and some steamed greens.

Very tasty, mouth watering and moreish.

Picnics and painting…

Hopefully what with it being June the weather really will pick up and we’ll be enjoying picnics and outdoor living.

Having said I’m never painting again I surprised myself when I started painting the garden furniture, now that really is arduous with all the slats but once there’s bums on seats you won’t notice!

Have a great week.

18 | VIEWPOINTS

Meet Soulscape, the Town Mayor’s charity of the year

S

OULSCAPE is this year’s new Wokingham Mayor’s Charity! We sincerely thank new Town Mayor Gwynneth Hewetson for this special recognition, and we offer our warm congratulations on her appointment.

Soulscape is based in Wokingham.

We create space for young people to explore some of the difficult and complex issues that affect their lives.

In partnership with schools we lead workshops, create installations and present live theatre performances. Our projects are designed to encourage young people to ask big questions and to search for their own answers.

Young people tell us that their lives are complicated. Many say they feel judged and wonder how they will ever live up to others’ expectations of them.

They feel weighed down by the pressures of life; they talk about exam stress, sexual pressures, family issues, body image issues, pressure to conform and pressure to succeed.

Frequent media reports about young people, their mental health and stress related issues illustrate this.

But we believe in young people.

We believe that given the right opportunities to grow they will find positive solutions to the issues that currently affect their generation.

Our projects provide much needed time and space for young people to think, explore, and begin to make sense of their world. We reflect current research and we share feedback from the young people themselves. We strive to be relevant and to give young people a voice.

We don’t provide answers; we encourage conversation. We want young people to be able to listen, to share and to develop their own minds.

If you have children at school, you may know of one or more of our projects:

REAL

Workshops explore issues such as identity, self-esteem, decision-making and consequences of sexting.

Object

Theatre presentation and workshops discuss prevailing attitudes to pornography and sexual consent.

PAUSE

Installation with activities helps young people reflect, treasure memories, let go of regrets, and ignite their hopes and dreams.

Mind The Gap

Supports youngsters through transition from primary to secondary school.

Myriad

Installation and workshops enable young people to respond to issues of family breakdown.

Inside Out

Our next project will look at what it means to have a healthy state of mind.

A core team of five create and manage our projects. However, we rely hugely on, and are very thankful for, the generous support of our extended team of youth workers, volunteers, local churches and individual supporters.

Being Mayor’s Charity is a major encouragement to us all.

Wokingham is a great place to live, with a vibrant and caring community. This year we’d like to show the nation how well Wokingham supports our young people. We have big aspirations for them. Will you join us?

If you’d like to know more, to support us or to volunteer, drop a line to Michelle, our operations manager. You can contact us at: contact@ soulscape.org.uk Or visit our website at: soulscape.org.uk Thank you, from all of us at Soulscape.

To advertise email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 3, 2016

Wokingham people Carol’s the Queen of CAMRA

Carol Williams with her Camra Pub of the Year award 2015.

The Queen’s Head landlady is holding a beer festival this weekend, offering 18 real ales

The ale is flowing at The Queen’s Head today for the first day of a beer festival running until Sunday. But every day is a good beer day at the popular pub in The Terrace and landlady Carol Williams tells SALLY BRYANT why she is so proud her name is over the door

T

HE Queen’s Head has just been named pub of the year by South East Berks Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) for the second year running.

That’s quite an achievement – and landlady Carol is more than happy to be behind the pumps at such a popular watering hole.

She took over the pub just over three years ago, but she has been in the licensed trade for a decade, working in London pubs and The Beehive in Aldershot.

She says the career move “just happened” – she had spent so much

time in and around pubs, she thought she might as well get on the other side of the bar!

But it was a move she has never regretted and she loves every minute.

She says if she knew the secret of making a pub a success, she would bottle it – but she has a fair idea why the Queen’s Head, which is based in The Terrace in Wokingham’s town centre, pulls the crowds.

“It’s definitely all about the people.

And one of the things I love when you take over a pub is bringing it on and making it pay for itself, it’s very rewarding,” she explained.

VOLUNTEER CORNER n ABC to read is a registered charity which recruit, train and support community volunteers to give help to primary school children who need a little extra 1-1 help with reading.

Volunteers will visit a local primary school on a weekly basis and works with children individually seeing the same children on each visit, talking and reading and playing games with them.

The volunteers are supported by a field worker who is available to provide ideas and act as a link between the charity and the school. They are looking to recruit more volunteers in the Bracknell and Wokingham area.

“To improve a pub is great, especially at a time when so many are closing. And a pub’s place is at the heart of the community, bringing all the customers together to help each other.”

Traditionally, the pub has always been the social hub of any community and The Queen’s Head is a very traditional pub, complete with beams and an Aunt Sally target in the garden.

But serving the best beer with a smile helps, too.

Carol says the ale is good and so are her staff, they aim for excellence.

The Queen’s Head is a Greene King pub, but there are always six real ales on offer. These include gems from local breweries, such as Binghams Brewery in Twyford and Wokingham’s Bond Brews.

And if you drop in for this weekend’s festival, you can take your pick from 18 real ales – it’s a beerlover’s dream.

If you can’t make it this weekend, you might want to put a ring around Thursday, June 16, in your diary.

It will be ladies’ day at Royal Ascot, but the Queen’s Head will be holding its own right royal event, with everyone dressed to impress and all the races showing on a big screen.

The event will be in aid of the Wokingham and District Association for the Elderly (WADE) day centre.

Being a landlady doesn’t leave Carol with much spare time, but when she takes a break she loves the races – she used to be a bookie – and the seaside, “Brighton for fun and Lyme Regis for peace and quiet”.

But she really loves being in The Queen’s Head and she knows exactly what she hopes for the future.

“Just to keep on doing what we are doing. I love it being a proper pub, where people see each other – it’s never going to be a gastro-pub or anything like that!”

With Helena Badger n Do you have a few hours to spare each week? Maybe you are recently retired?

Perhaps you have children at school?

Maybe you are not in employment and would like to keep busy whilst looking for your next job?

Maybe you work shifts and would like a voluntary role which can fit around them?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then the Wokingham Transport Scheme is for you!

All you need is your own car – there is no cost to you, as we reimburse all your expenses.

The drivers take the elderly and vulnerable clients to local hospital,

doctors, dentist, optician and physiotherapy appointments and occasional shopping and social trips.

If you live in Wokingham, Winnersh, Finchampstead or Barkham and would like to help, please contact us. n Ravenswood houses an indoor hydrotherapy pool, a coffee shop, dance and art studios, riding school and a working garden all of which are developed to meet the needs of residents.

All residents are offered work-related training programmes with the appropriate levels of support.

There are 140 people with learning or

physical disabilities or both who live on site, 450 staff and over 100 volunteers.

Volunteers are welcome to help with any aspects of life at Ravenswood including; IT training, befrienders, sports and leisure, art, music, gardening, office/ admin work, helping at the stables etc. For more information on how you can help, please contact us.

These are just three of the roles we are recruiting for, but we have more than 100 different roles on our books.

To find out about these or any other roles, call us on 0118 977 0749, email wok-vol@btconnect.com or visit www. volunteercentrewokingham.org.uk

HERITAGE||17 19 HERITAGE

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Friday, June 3, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, August 21, 2015 TheWokinghamPaPer

WokinghamRemembers

In association association with with In

Exploring Exploringour ourheritage heritagewith with wokinghamremembers.com wokinghamremembers.com

Singing to remember our Great War fallen REVIEW

The past which has shaped our present...

A group of historians at a Shinfield church are working hard to ensure the memory of the village’s soldiers lives on This week MikEofChuRChER reviews through a series special events this year, including a special the Wokingham Remembers articles choral day later this month and the ability to trace your of the past four months andexplains discusses troops.

JOHN WAKEFIELD some of the factors which contributed series of events organised by members REQUIEM composed to to the making of Wokingham and its of St Mary’s Church after it received a remember the souls of the environment.

Lottery Heritage Fund grant for a series departed will be performed as the

A O

centrepiece of months a village’s VER the past thedrive to commemorate its First World War Wokingham Remembersfallen. page has On Saturday, June 18, an theearly church been providing picture of St Mary’s in Shinfield will welcome of how a small market town and a members of the University Exeter few villages on the edge of aof forest is today Chapel come andleading sing rankedChoir as onefor of the the country’s day, which will be conducted by Ralph communities.

Allwood MBE. religion, industry, transport, Education, Because the event is a come andand sing social structures, national politics experience, it means that anyone who local government are all important wishes partthe cangreat do so,Wokingham pieces to in take building regardless of experience. jigsaw. Here now is a summary of our The choir will be contributions to formed date and a few ideas on ofthe people with many next round of articles. different levels of Education, Education, singing experience and organisers are hoping Education thatToday’s people Wokingham will come is renowned as along fun centres of excellence one ofand thehave country’s while singing the moving for education; this is partly due to strong work. school performance and the motivated Gabrielwho Faure’s parents live Requiem in one of the most was written at thecommunities turn of the in the UK. highly educated 20thIfcentury, possibly we look and into is the historyinfluenced of by the death ofschools his father 1885.

Wokingham’s wein can see It comprises distinct choral how educationseven is woven into its DNA. movements lasts for around 35 Prior to theand Great War, Wokingham minutes.

Each movement comprises was surrounded by manor houses and Latin or Greek liturgical set to members of the landed texts gentry who music . The Offertory, wanted to be close tofor theexample, levers of power; includes the line “libera animas i.e. the royal households of Windsor. defunctorum” (“deliver souls of In turn these upper the echelons the departed”), while sense in the of Libera possessed a serious duty me section a baritone sings, in Latin, “Free and a responsibility to ensure their me, Lord, from eternalat death that community received leaston a basic terrible day Wokingham when the heavens will education. also had a move and the earth, when you come to judge powerful professional class, a strong the worldcommunity with fire.” (including the nonchurch The finishedand work, whichthey canshared be conformists) together performed by a in fullthe orchestra, wasof a strong belief importance premiered teaching. at the Trocadéro in Paris on July 1900, during The 12, result was with the the Exposition skills, the Universelle.

Taffanel conducted motivation Paul and the finance available,250 performers for thea concert. there developed culture of education At thestill time, Fauré said:to“As today. which holds strong this my Requiem, perhaps I have also Wokingham instinctively soughttransport to escape from Transport is probably single what is thought right and the proper, after most factor in Wokingham’s all the important years of accompanying burial development, both Iits rail and services on thein organ! know it allroad by systems. heart.

I wanted to write something Future articles will look at the different.” introduction of the railways and the The Come and Sing Day is part of a

ofmajor First World commemoration impactWar they had on the town and activities in the village. we have already made a start with the One system of the most visible events road by mapping out thehas course of been its Trace Your Troops service, the old Forest Road. where it has endeavoured to help While the building of the M4 had a families learn more about their major influence on the introduction of the ancestors duringwhich the Great high techefforts businesses now War. surround Ultimately, there willA329M be a book Wokingham, it is the which produced about Shinfield itsand roleits in 1975 cut off the Forestand Road during 1914 and 1918, chronicling the natural connections between Emmbrook men who were involved in the The and the villages of Hurst and Binfield. and morewith about the love and conflict hate relationship our rail village itself. and roads continue to this day!

The grant also enables Wokingham’s military of the enhancement heritage the First World War memorial roll inofthe As 2015 is the bi-centenary the Wokingham Railway Station viewed from Wellington Road looking towards St Pauls Church. church, film nights Battle of Waterloo, there have beenand a a finale flower festivalthis in number of articles commemorating The story was told in June, and also historians, Sarah Huxford, also took its replacement: local government. theevent. church. world changing commemorated the 800th anniversary us on a journey to the old battlefields Wokingham’s wild side The area hasBarbara alwaysFarrow, been noted for of the Magna Carta, signed at nearby in search of their graves. This story Before we believe too much in the idea writingtointhe thenation’s Loddonmilitary its contribution Runnymede in 1215. reflects only a microcosm of the losses that Wokingham’s development was a Reach magazine last year, capability, with Arborfield’s REME, around the county of Berkshire, but solidly sedate experience, May’s article Shining a light on said: grant is aconnections huge opportunity RFA“This and Remount and the affirms the importance of the wars in the told Farrow, the story of the rioting inEdward the town Barbara Barry Boulton and Farrow at the Trace Your Troops event held at Shinfield St Mary’s last December. The groupAges’ of historians Wokingham’s ‘Dark forSandhurst our village to Wellington come together and all and Colleges development of our local character. centre during the time of the 1857 General have been helping people learn more about their First World War ancestors thanks to a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant To bring us up to date the August create memories today which expand situated very nearby.

Election.

Wokingham and articles areset focused on thefor kids who are understanding of the of the warto to their work, they decorated a broken Even the Duke of events Wellington took of a wider of activities next year,” Fund grant to stage the commemorations Such events were a common sight in nowexplained. entering into their summer the Royal Forest and commemorate living in Stratfieldit.”

Saye, which today is Christmas tree with pictures of Shinfield she “We’re not aimingholidays. to be said that the efforts had been appreciated the town and this short and bloody battle Lookinglooking at today’s community, is What better to to userespect this month’s The 30 Trace Your Troops events have only minutes away from Wokingham’s jingoistic, we’re way trying the by visitors to find out moreitabout men who served in the First World War, between the Whigs and the Tories also difficult to visualise just how rural the editions than to tell the stories of the taken at St Mary’s over the past townplace centre. different nationalities and helping people their ancestors and seeing the tree. adding touches such as poppies and a highlighted the Bush and Rose hotels in area and in part explains the Romans, the Celts and local the Saxons few months, including a stall at the make connections.

“Weonce had awas really metal helmet.

Wokingham’s Market Place as the headquarters of these sometimes fragile relationship between influence on the area Wokingham Church Road’s Christmas Tree Festival “If before we don’t remember positive reaction to our Edward Farrow, who helped the church two feral groups. benefactor culture thedisplay. old andAnew Wokingham; few was even a twinkle in old Wocca’s eye? just before Christmas.

To draw attention apply successfully for a Heritage Lottery them, future generations tree lot of The story was also able to reflect The area around Wokingham was areasjust in the UK have such David Nash Ford provided a set of won’t.” people looked at it witnessed – upon the national scene and the corrupt surrounded by many remarkable growth and change in the articles and puzzles which it’sextraordinary completely different n The Comemakes And Sing event individuals and they were instrumental in nature of general elections before the profile of itsaverage population. history fun for the young andJune no doubt and not your on Saturday, 18 takes introduction of the private ballot. building the much needed infrastructure Although Wokingham’s history will also catch the interest of thewith parents Christmas tree.

They place from noon, the Future articles will include further which underpinned the establishment of has always been intertwined with who will be looking overstarting their child’s asked questions about it: concert at 7pm. tales of anarchy and revelry in this old a strong community. surrounding villages shoulder. it the works on so many levelsby providing Tickets for singers cost market town.

We will later be telling the story of the a market for agricultural and Here’s to the next of articles! and people place will interpret it fromround £10, £15 to include Walter family and their contributions to produce, it was also a Forest Thanks go out toafternoon our contributors: Wokingham at War incommercial different ways.” tea whileSteve the the building of Wokingham but in April Town.

The term Bacon, Jim Bell, David Nash Ford, There are watershed moments in He said that the‘forest’ did not mean a audience pay £5 orSarah £10 for first weekly issue, we told the story of the cluster of trees, but a system of laws laid Huxford, Roger Long, Trevor Ottlewski history which mark the moment of great tree featured pictures priority seating with fast much loved Arthur Hill, the 6th Marquess down by royalty forofthe protection of change in a society and the Great War of and and Peter Shilham foradmission all their continuing replica dog tags pass and seats of Downshire. their hunting 1914-1918 is one such time. contributions. closer to the choir.

Shinfield peoplegrounds. who Although one of Britain’s wealthiest These onerous Therefore a number of centenaries All this work is provided our fought in the war. rules restricted local For moreby details, landowners, Arthur Hill doubled as the people using between 2014 and 2018 will local historians free of to charge and “One offrom people onlarge the parts of the land log on www.universe. chief of the local Fire Brigade and was a forlived sustenance andtointhe part led to the commemorate the great losses of war can be found on com/events/come-andthe front page of the tree next door rise of he local highwaymen and general major financial contributor to this part of which scarred the people of Wokingham church,” Wokingham Remembers website explained. sing-with-ralph-allwoodlawlessness. a result, theFallow, subsequent for the rest of the 20th century. www.wokinghamremembers.com Wokingham’s public services.

Helping himAs was Barbara who tickets-170GKW Black Actabout of 1723 down heavily on May’s edition followed the story Thanks also to Mark Ashwell atattributed Later articles will illustrate the explained thecame church’s plans for the week’s article was mistakenly n Last these ‘Wokingham Blacks’ and resulted in to of twoteam brothers fromlast Langborough TradeMark supporting demise these great tree manors theirYour Troops The base ofof the Christmas that and the Trace organised year. Inset above: First World War commemorations. the wrong for author.

It was, inthe fact,paper’s

by John either their transportation or execution. in Wokingham town.

One our commitment to this incumbent social system and the risenew of comeRoad Gabriel Fauré and, right, the poster for the and sing day taking place later thisofmonth “The Trace Your Troops event is part Harrison.

Apologies forproject. our error.

Windows doors and conservatories that last a lifetime and beyond www.trademarkwindows.co.uk

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Friday, June 3, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

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22 | PROPERTY FOCUS

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 3, 2016

So on lo fo

The Brambles comes to Spencers Wood

CREST Nicholson has just launched its latest development, The Brambles, which will be coming to the sought-after area of Spencers Wood.

The development will comprise a traditional collection of stunning, properties on Basingstoke Road providing a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes, each with their own character.

Designed to cater for modern family life yet architecturally mindful of the rural nature of this beautiful location, the development will offer something for everyone, whether you’re looking for your first home or after something a bit larger to accommodate a growing family.

Christine Tiernan, Sales & Marketing Manager at Crest Nicholson’s South division, said: “The Brambles is set to be a truly exceptional development which offers something for everyone, and we are excited to become a part of this fantastic community.”

These new homes will be superbly placed for access to the University of Reading as well as the many successful businesses in the area.

The development is also close to the M4 corridor and a direct route into London.

Close to both Wokingham and Reading shopping centres and the Madejski stadium, The Brambles offers the best of Berkshire village life while retaining its cosmopolitan connections. n For details, call 0118 451 0930, or visit www.crestnicholson.com/thebrambles/

Consulatation over Bell Farm plans A CONSULTATION over plans for Bell Farm will take place next week.

Berkeley Homes has recently acquired the land on Bell Foundry Lane, Wokingham.

It now plans to share its ideas for any development at a special exhibition to be held on Wednesday.

The propsals will be on show at The Briar Room in Cantley House Hotel, Cantley Park.

The Milton Road venue will be open between 3.30pm and 7.30pm and experts from Berkeley Homes will be on hand to answer questions and talk through their ideas for the area.

Move over Bank of Mum and Dad… it’s time to get some Help To Buy

B

RITISH parents and grandparents are giving their offspring £5bn a year to help them get a foot on the property ladder, making them the equivalent of the 10th biggest mortgage lender in the country. In fact, the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ is so relied upon, that one in four property transactions are bought in this way.

Five star housebuilder Barratt Homes is encouraging those in Wokingham without the backing of the family finances to make the most of the various homebuying schemes available to them.

Help to Buy, for example, is a very popular equity loan scheme whereby buyers can purchase a home with just a 5% deposit.

Barratt sales director Lynnette St Quintin says: “It is true that the Bank of Mum and Dad is an extremely popular source of lending for many homebuyers today – and not just for first time buyers. However, for those not lucky enough to receive financial

support from family members, the property ladder might seem like an impossible task.

“Equity loan schemes such as Help to Buy are a great alternative for aspiring homebuyers – so instead of mum and dad stumping up the cash, the government will provide a five-year interest free equity loan.”

Help to Buy has helped hundreds of homebuyers in Wokingham purchase a home up to the value of £600,000 in the last three years. The success of the popular government scheme is down to its low deposit requirement and access to more affordable lending rates, typically associated with a 75 per cent loan to value mortgage.

The loan is interest free for five years and can be paid back then or whenever the property is sold, whichever the buyer prefers.

As a result of its success, Help to Buy has been extended until 2020 and Barratt is encouraging

homebuyers in Wokingham to make the most of it.

Ms St Quintin added: “For those frustrated buyers who might be struggling with the upfront costs of homeownership, Help to Buy might be just the answer. Not only will it help first time buyers onto the housing ladder but it can also help anyone looking to move into a bigger new home. Of course, unlike many ‘loans’ from the Bank of Mum and Dad, the equity loan will need to be paid back, but being interest free for five years this will allow plenty of time to put a plan in place.”

Barratt Homes is building new homes at its Montague Park development in Wokingham. There its new release of two bedroom apartments start from £305,995, meaning that a deposit of just £15,299 is required to buy with Help to Buy. n For further information about Help to Buy and its availability visit www.barratthomes.co.uk

New homes at Mulberry Grove

Superfast broadband is a big factor for buyers

CREST Nicholson has launched the next phase of homes at its Wokingham development, Mulberry Grove.

Six homes were sold on the initial launch weekend alone, demonstrating the strong demand for affordable and stylish new build properties in the area.

The new phase comprises a collection of three- and four-bedroom houses, all boasting traditional exteriors with stylish and contemporary fixtures and fittings, making them the ideal choice for first time buyers, growing families and downsizers.

Christine Tiernan, Sales & Marketing Director for Crest Nicholson, said: “We are delighted to be expanding our community in Wokingham and the exceptional sales we’ve achieved in the initial phases are testament to the high demand for new family homes in the area. We are one of only a handful of new build developments in the area, and thus expect to see consistently high demand.”

Three- and four-bedroom houses are available from from £494,950. For further details, contact the Sales and Marketing team on 0118 402 9321 or visit www. crestnicholson.com/mulberrygrove.

ACCESS to superfast broadband is among the most important factors for people looking to buy a house, according to Bloor Homes.

The house builder says that increasing numbers of buyers are identifying broadband connectivity as a priority when searching for a new property.

A recent survey for price comparison website Go Compare found that 70 per cent of home buyers ranked broadband as a must have, putting it in fourth place on the list of priorities, ahead of parking, a garden, and shops and amenities.

And Bloor says more and more people are enquiring about broadband when visiting their developments.

Kim Willcock, Regional Sales Director of Bloor Homes Southern, said: “Demand for fast and reliable broadband has grown considerably over the last few years, as people have become increasingly reliant on the internet in their everyday lives.

“As a result, broadband connectivity is now near the top of the average buyer’s checklist alongside other more traditional considerations such as the local schools, shops and services, and transport links.

“We are therefore planning to provide superfast broadband across our new developments in the Southern region, to ensure that our customers enjoy fast and reliable internet access in addition to all the other benefits of living in a modern, energy-efficient home.

“Our new Shinfield Park development in Shinfield is just one of the sites which will benefit from access to superfast broadband, enabling buyers to enjoy the twin benefits of living in a new build house and remaining fully connected to the outside world.” n For more information about new Bloor developments in the south of England visit Access to superfast broadband is among the most important factors for people www.bloorhomes.com. looking to buy a house

Friday, June 3, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

South East is one of least lonely regions for over 55s

A

NEW report highlights wide regional variations in the number of older people experiencing loneliness.

The South East emerged as one of the least lonely regions in the UK, with 81% of over 55s stating they had socialised often over the last year. In contrast, London is highlighted as the UK’s loneliest region, with four out of five (87%) Londoners aged 55 and over admitting to often feeling lonely.

The South East region reported consistently highly for socialising, with 44% stating they had access to age-appropriate social events in the local area and 53% felt a strong sense of community in their neighbourhood, suggesting local communities and neighbours may play a larger role in encouraging socialising than family and friends.

The report, Building Companionship: how better design can combat loneliness in later life, has been compiled by cross-party think tank Demos and commissioned

by McCarthy and Stone to better understand how loneliness amongst older people can be tackled.

Geographical location is shown to have significant impact on people at risk of feeling lonely.

Loneliness is a growing concern in the UK with over a million older people admitting to consistently feeling lonely – with those over 80 almost twice as likely to report feeling lonely in comparison to their younger counterparts.

The report highlighted evidence showing how loneliness can have a declining effect on a person’s health, with people who say they feel lonely more likely to suffer from high blood pressure and depression, and are more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease in later life in comparison to those with stronger social relationships.

In fact, researchers have estimated that loneliness has a comparable risk to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Results showed that the high levels of companionship found in purposebuilt retirement developments could be emulated in the wider community, with building design and town planning key factors to help address social isolation.

It found that 85% of those surveyed in McCarthy & Stone developments said there is a good sense of community in their development, compared to just 51% of those aged 55+ in the wider community.

What’s more, those who live in retirement housing tend to report feeling much less lonely than their peers in mainstream housing.

The report recommends a number of lessons that can be applied from retirement housing to wider neighbourhood design, including: n Place: The creation of ‘cities for all ages’ – areas incorporating transport,

housing, street furniture and green space which enable older people to remain socially, physically and mentally active.

The report highlights small scale schemes such as Gloucestershire Village and Community Agents, Rotherham Social Prescribing Scheme and Living Well Cornwall which help to address isolation among older people. n People: Local authorities should encourage active citizenship amongst the older generation, recruiting ambassadors to work with their peers to encourage social engagement and inclusion in the area. These ambassadors should also engage with private sector companies to help provide opportunities for socialising.

The report also recommends: n Increasing the provision of retirement housing: This is integral to the success of the fight against loneliness in older people given its many benefits. National and local policy makers are encouraged to help unlock supply and boost the development and availability of age appropriate housing for older people keen to downsize.

Neighbourhood planning strategies to have a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and Health and Wellbeing Strategies to match. Statutory guidance should ensure loneliness is identified as a public health risk and as such needs to be tackled as part of health and care commissioning. n Real social networks: Schemes that develop older people’s IT skills to prioritise education around activity which will result in ‘real life’ interactions such as joining forums and local groups.

Clive Fenton, CEO of McCarthy & Stone, the UK’s leading retirement housebuilder, adds: “We supported this report to explore the extent to which older people are less lonely in retirement housing, and whether lessons might be learnt for wider aspects of housing policy, such as neighbourhood planning.

“The findings are compelling – our homeowners are typically much happier and better connected than their peers in the community.

“In turn, this delivers significant cost savings for the NHS, social care and wider economy due to the link between not feeling lonely and better health.

“But building more retirement housing is just one solution to combatting loneliness – developers and local and national government should review the recommendations in this report and consider adapting how we design neighbourhoods more generally.” n McCarthy and Stone is building new retirement living apartments in Wokingham town centre, which will include a lounge, landscaped gardens and a guest suite. For more details, call 0800 310 0378 or log on to www. mccarthyandstone.co.uk/wokingham

PROPERTY FOCUS | 23

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Consultation into Tywford home plan

Fire exercise

A RETIREMENT housing provider will be holding a public consultation into a proposed development in Twyford next week.

McCarthy & Stone, which already has sites in Wokingham and Crowthorne, is seeking planning permission to develop land off of London Road into 30 age-exclusive apartments and residents’ parking.

CREWS from Wokingham Fire Station will respond to a mock ‘emergency’ call on Monday afternoon at the McCarthy and Stone retirement development in Wellington Road, Wokingham.

The exercise will creating a rescue scenario for the firefighters relating to the tower crane in place on the site, which will be known as Queen’s Gate when completed.

The exhibition, which will include details of preliminary proposals and a chance to submit feedback, will take place on Tuesday, June 7 at the United Reformed Church, in Church Street between 3pm and 6.45pm.

For more information visit www. mccarthyandstone-consultation.co.uk/twyford.

Retirement Living coming soon to Wokingham Register your interest today

Artist impression

Stylish 1 & 2 bedroom Retirement Living apartments coming to Wokingham A McCarthy & Stone retirement apartment is so much more than a beautiful new home. With mundane tasks like external maintenance taken care of, you can enjoy greater freedom to do the things you want to do.

Register your interest today and be among the first to receive up-todate information on this exciting new development in Wokingham.

• Spacious apartments • • • • • •

designed around you Concierge Club lounge Landscaped gardens 24-hour emergency call system Guest suite for your family and friends* Secure car parking^*

For more information please call us on 0800 310 0378 or go to mccarthyandstone.co.uk/wokingham

*Additional charges apply. ^Subject to availability.

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24 | HEALTH

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 3, 2016

Good health

You’re under doctor’s orders to read this page!

HEALTH MATTERS

This Girl Can do anything… Get walking

at lunchtimes

with Nicola Strudley

How can feedback from patients improve care?

R

ETAILERS are well used to gathering customer feedback and utilising mystery shoppers to get real time experience of how a service is being delivered.

The mantra “the customer is always right” is well known. For a business to survive it has to respond to customer needs. How responsive is the NHS or Local Authority to customer feedback?

The NHS gathers lots of feedback through NHS Choices, Friends and Family test and the Patient Record Outcome Measures among others, and has done so over a long period of time. The question is what has been achieved with the considerable resources, time and effort from patients, NHS staff, and others in undertaking this activity?

The reality is that speaking up about the care you received in your local hospital or inpatient facility is a bit different to writing a book review on Amazon or sharing your experience of a good meal on TripAdvisor. One woman received an automated Family and Friends text asking “How did we do today?” while on her way home after suffering a miscarriage. There is a risk that the human story is lost by using automated feedback mechanisms.

Positive change

People often say to us if they have had a negative care experience they don’t want other patients to experience the same. They speak up to make things better and want to know that their feedback will lead to some sort of positive change.

The more stories we collect at Healthwatch about local services, the more likely we will be to create a case for positive change. However, we are cautious of “consultation fatigue” and asking people for their opinions of local services just for the sake of it. People want to know what difference giving their opinion will make and most crucially what will change as a result.

So how does the NHS involve patients in authentic ways to help staff understand what it is like to receive care and then to work alongside them to find solutions to the problems they see.

Healthwatch Wokingham Borough is independent of the systems and people can speak to us in confidence or anonymously, removing the worry that their care may be somehow impacted by speaking up.

Healthwatch is only able to function with the support of our team of volunteers, Champions and Information Posties that help us engage with local people. We thrive on you telling us your story and looking at how this can be used to create improvements in a struggling system.

We publish quarterly on our website our “Intelligence Report” so you can see what people are saying – which services are they talking about and what happened as a result.

So what are you waiting for? Get in touch today and let us know about your last experience of receiving care – good or bad!

How to contact us : Facebook @healthwatchwokingham Twitter @HWWokingham Phone 0118 418 1 418 Website www.healthwatchwokingham.co.uk E-Mail enquiries@healthwatchwokingham.co.uk Walk in via Citizens Advice at 2 Waterford House, Erfstadt Court, Denmark St, Wokingham RG40 2YF. Nicola Strudley works two days a week as the manager for Healthwatch Wokingham Borough.

Opinions expressed in this blog are her own

Women were able to take part in a range of taster sessions for sporting activities at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre as part of a This Girl Can festival. It was co-ordinated by Anna Wijkman (pictured below)

A FESTIVAL celebrating active women in Wokingham came to a leisure centre in Lower Earley last weekend.

The This Girl Can Festival, which was organised in conjunction with the ongoing Sport England campaign to get more women into sport, saw more than 50 women of all ages try out activities such as Kettlercise, Boxercise, Zumba and Yoga at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre, in Rushey Way, last Saturday, May 28.

Representatives from local sports clubs and organisations joined 1Life staff to offer up a series of taster activities for attendees.

Cllr Angus Ross, executive

member for environment, said: “I am delighted that we have contributed to this great Sport England initiative.

I hope this encourages those who came on the day, and their friends,to find activities that they can both enjoy and benefit from for their health.”

Anna Wijkman, Sports and Leisure Activity Coordinator, said: “It’s great to see so many local girls and women involved in the day.

“This Girl Can is a fantastic project to encourage females to be more active and physical activity has so many physical and social benefits”.

Ms Wijkman added: “We are grateful to the team at 1Life who supported our event along with the host of sports clubs and instructors who made the session’s fun and engaging.”

A major charity initiative is urging workers in the South East to ‘down tools’ at lunchtime and get walking to help protect their wellbeing.

A UK-wide survey commissioned by the National Charity Partnership, a collaboration between Diabetes UK, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Tesco, found that heavy workloads, stress and workplace culture is stopping almost three in five office workers in the region (59%) from regularly getting outside for a lunchtime stroll.

More people than ever before are being diagnosed with either Type 2 diabetes or heart and circulatory disease. Being physically active is known to help reduce the likelihood of developing both conditions, but only 5% of working adults in the South East who were surveyed typically spend their lunch doing something active like going to the gym or for a walk.

The National Charity Partnership is concerned that this behaviour, combined with generally low rates of exercise, could be having a detrimental long-term effect on the health of thousands of people across the region. The partnership is encouraging office workers to use an online motivational tool it has produced to set simple, realistic goals to walk more.

Babs Evans, Head of Prevention for the National Charity Partnership, said: “When you’re under pressure at work it’s easy to forego a lunch break and instead grab a quick bite at your desk, but this isn’t healthy.

“Work-related stress puts a strain on your mental wellbeing and can have a knock-on effect on your physical health. People under too much pressure at work are more likely to eat unhealthily and stop being active: behaviours which are linked to a number of health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes and heart and circulatory disease. Both conditions are serious and affect millions of people in the UK, with millions more at risk. However, they are largely preventable and being active is an effective way to help reduce your risk.” n www.lets-dothis.org.uk/goals/

Fundraisers help RBH get cough assist machines TIRELESS fundraisers have helped a charity to give two more specialist machines to the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust for use by people with respiratory problems.

Lin Jenkins is out every weekend with relatives raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association which supports her inspirational brother-in-law Alec Jenkins.

She and her husband Paul have raised thousands of pounds in the last three years and wanted their hardearned cash to go towards two more “cough assist” machines costing a total of £6,000.

Lin said: “When Alec was first diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), like most people, we fell apart.

When we saw how brave he was we took our cue from him and we have turned his illness in our family from a negative experience into a positive one.

“I try to be out every weekend selling items at fetes and car boot sales. With my husband Paul and son Ross doing sponsored walks and runs it has almost become a family business. Our extended family donates items, money and help where they can.”

Two years ago the charity’s Reading and West Berkshire branch presented four cough assist machines to the Royal Berkshire Hospital after an appeal for donations towards the £12,000 cost.

The new machines will also be based at the Royal Berkshire Hospital and will be available for people to use at home. The Association hopes they will make a difference to the life expectancy of some people affected by MND and prevent distressing hospital admissions.

Jane Gilbert, from the Reading and West Berkshire

Lin Jenkins, Jan Gryglaszewska, Chris Jenkins, Paul Jenkins, Dr Grace Robinson, Jane Gilbert, with Alec Jenkins (seated) and Margaret Moss, chair of the MND Association’s Reading and West Berkshire branch. Lin, Jan, Jane, Paul and Margaret are volunteers for the charity. Alec, is living with motor neurone disease, and is married to Chris.

MND Association said: “We are hoping to prime pump these into the health service so it can see the benefits for people faced with respiratory failure and distress.

“This is a good example of collaborative working between two organisations to improve the quality of life for people in Berkshire who are living with MND – a devastating neurological condition with no known cure.”

Friday, June 3, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Leisure

Your guide to what’s happening around Wokingham

Solve this Crusty mystery You can experience death by laughter next week, thanks to the Shinfield Players. GEMMA DAVIDSON looks at the evidence

M

OVE over Agatha Christie - a new Wokingham super-sleuth is in town.

music

Coming to the Shinfield Players Theatre next week, Agatha Crusty and the Village Hall Murders is a playful take on the classic ‘whodunnit’ murder mysteries, centring around the village of Chortleby and the residents who are bumped off one by one. Agatha Crusty (pronounced Croosty) is a visiting crime novelist who decides to ‘assist’ the local police constable in his job of finding out who the murderer is.

Could it be the cheeky vicar, the caretaker, the identical twins, or the completely incompetent local bobby?

Director Lorraine Willis and co-director Martin Butler take to the helm for the Derek Webb comedy, but the rehearsal period has been far from funny.

Martin said: “The cast have been really good, with three weeks to go to the performance one of the cast members was rushed to hospital with appendicitis so we had to do some reshuffling.

“The programme this year has been very busy so we have had to fit in rehearsals alongside a musical and a youth production, and the hall is used as a polling station which set us back too.”

Lorraine said: “This has been my first time directing at this theatre, I used to be a teacher and was in charge of the year 5 and 6 school plays, but back then I had a cast of 30 children so this lot have been a lot easier to manage, at times!”

Martin said: “I am new to directing so it has been really good experience for me to work with Lorraine to see how she does everything, I have learned an awful lot from her.”

Lorraine added: “It’s been a bumpy road but it is finally coming together and the

Wokingham

club

music

club

The cast of Agatha Crusty and the Village Hall Murders. Back row: Christopher Alston and Mark McLeod. Sitting is Esme Waldron-Bates, Mel Sherwood, Donna Newmarch and Jessica Gardner

cast and crew are getting to see how it all looks together. It will be a really funny show.” n Agatha Crusty and the Village Hall Murders is at Shinfield Players Theatre, Whitley Wood Lane, Shinfield, from Wednesday (8) to Saturday, June 11. Tickets are £8. To book visit www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk or call the Box Office on 0118 975 8880.

THESE beautiful threeyear-old sisters have come to DBARC as the result of a relationship breakdown.

They are both housetrained, good with dogs and other cats, and great with children. They really are the perfect addition to any family and we are confident that they won’t hang around for very long!

A FORMER Emmbrook student will be playing his first gig in Reading in 13 years next week.

Blues musician Aidan Connell, who grew up in Barkham and worked for several years in his uncle’s hair salon in Wokingham, will be playing at Sub89 on Tuesday, along with renowned bassist Greg Sutton as support.

“I haven’t played in Reading since I was about 16 or 17,” said Aidan, who is now 30 and living in London. “When I was at Emmbrook they had a pretty good music department, and they just let us jam at lunchtimes. I played a few gigs in teenage bands but I’ve never played Sub89, it will be interesting.”

Aidan, who specialises in oldschool R’n’B, Blues and Rock’n’Roll,

has spent the last three years touring extensively across the USA, Europe and Asia, with a highlight playing a festival in front of 20,000 in South Korea.

“I am really looking forward to playing in Reading, I think a few old school friends will be coming down to watch.

“The music we play is inspired by the music of the 1960s, but we’re not like a retro covers band, we like to take the original sounds and give them a fresh, modern sound. It’s a celebration of classic British Blues.” n Aidan Connell plays Sub89 in Friar Street, Reading on Tuesday, June 7.

Tickets are £11 and available to buy from www.seetickets.com/event/aidanconnell.

TO CELEBRATE the 10th anniversary, Wokingham Festival is this year announcing a special offer –free entry to all.

The event, which runs in Elms Field from August 26-28, is a celebration of food, beer and music and offers residents the chance to make the most of the final weekend before September.

There will be food demonstrations, live music and the chance to meet local food producers.

We’ll be profiling and featuring the different entertainments over the coming weeks as we count down to

Friday, August 26.

However, the Festival organisers have announced that this year there will be free entry to all who arrive at the festival site between 10am and noon on Saturday and Sunday.

Discounted tickets are also on sale – £16 for the whole wekeend, £5.50 for daytimes and £7 for evenings. n For more details, and to get a sneak peak at what to expect this year, visit www.wokinghamfestival.co.uk.

Wokingham Above: Brian Nixey and Amy Spiller Left: Martyn Washbourne and Sandra Miall

with Gemma Davidson

JET AND JASMINE

Emmbrook student returns after 13 years

Wokingham Free entry to festival

Animal Corner Can you offer these adorable animals a loving forever home? Each week, we team up with the folk at Diana Brimblecombe Animal Rescue Centre in Nelsons Lane, Hurst, to try to find new homes for the animals currently in their care

LEISURE | 25

To advertise call 0118 328 2959

SNOWDROP AND BERTINA THIS adorable pair are looking for a new home because their previous owner could no longer cope.

Rabbits are a big responsibility and can take a lot of looking after.

This male and female are both neutered and have become very close friends, we would want them to stay together in their new home.

ZEUS MALINOIS Zeus has come to DBARC due to a marriage break-up.

At 11-years-old it is particularly sad, but he is not letting it get him down, he is a friendly, happy dog who is looking to find his retirement home as soon as possible.

He isn’t very socialised with other dogs, and doesn’t get on with cats, so would need to be the only pet in the home, and with owners would be able to cope with walking him away from other dogs.

DBARC are particularly keen to get him out of kennels soon, and would consider placing him with a foster carer for an interim period, with all food and other expenses paid for.

If you are interested in offering this lovely boy a home, either permanently or as a foster home, please get in touch. n Could you offer a forever home to any of these animals? If the answer is ‘yes’ then please get in touch with the centre on 0118 934 1122 to make sure the animals have not already been reserved. The centre is open everyday between 11am and 1pm, and 2pm and 4pm. For more information, and to view other animals in need of a home visit www. dbarc.org.uk

music club

music

THE HOME OF GREAT LIVE MUSIC IN WOKINGHAM

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26 | LEISURE

To advertise email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk

What’s on Friday, June 3 FINCHAMPSTEAD – Library, FBC Centre RG40 4ES. Storytime for ages 3-5. 11am-11.30am.

Craft time for ages 2-5: rabbits.

11.30am-noon. Details: 0118 908 8176.

LOWER EARLEY – Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Alice in Wonderland with Explore Learning for ages 6-7.

9.30am-10.30am. Captain Underpants workshop for ages 8-9. 10.45am-11.45am. Details: 0118 931 2150.

SHINFIELD – Baptist Church, Hollow Lane RG2 8BT. Landlubbers holiday Bible club for primary school children.

9.15am-12.15pm. £2. Details: 0118 327 3180.

WOKINGHAM – St Paul’s Church, Reading Road. Churchyard Insect and Moth Night. 9.15pm. If wet, postponed until summer holidays.

Details: 0118 977 5853.

WOKINGHAM – The Queen’s Head, 23 The Terrace RG40 1BP. Beer festival. Details: 0118 978 1221.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Meet Pets as Therpay dog Kali, and handler Sheila Cooper. For ages 6-10.

Donations welcomed. 10.30am11.15am. Crochet Group with Gaynor White from Barkham Hookers. All abilities welcome.

9.30am-11.30am. £4. Cribbage and card games club. 10.30am.

Local history surgery: drop-in advice with a local expert. 10amnoon. Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOODLEY – The Green, Southlake Crescent RG5 3QJ. Family fun days: free activities including inflatable obstacle course, giant slide, bouncy castle, play park, face painting , football, cafe, JAC Van, puppet performance. Charge for refreshments. Noon-5pm.

YATELEY – Citizens Advice, Royal Oak Close GU46 7UD. Open day. 10am-2pm. Details: 01252 878435.

Saturday, June 4 EARLEY – Our Lady of Peace Social Club, Wokingham Road RG6 7DA (entrance off Aldbourne Avenue). Summer ball. Details: 0118 935 2927.

EARLEY – Microsoft Campus,

Headley Road RG5 4JZ. Thames Valley Ancient Egypt Society lecture: The iconography and ideology of Nefertiti and the Amarna Royal Women. Lucia Gahlin. £3. 2pm-4.30pm. Details: 01491 838803.

WOODLEY – The Green, Southlake Crescent RG5 3QJ. Family fun days: free activities including inflatable obstacle course, giant slide, bouncy castle, play park, face painting , football, cafe, JAC Van, puppet performance. Charge for refreshments. Noon-5pm.

YATELEY – Yateley Manor School, Reading Road GU46 7UQ. Craft Fair. 10.30am-3.30pm. Details: 01252 266531.

Sunday, June 5 HURST – Dinton Activity Centre, Dinton Pastures Country Park RG10 0TH. Family fun weekend: try land and water activities including sailing and climbing.

Barbecue. £2 per 15 minute sesion. Details: 0118 974 4424.

SHINFIELD – Parish Hall, School Green. Landlubbers holiday Bible club for primary school children.

10am-11.15pm. Details: 0118 327 3180.

SHINFIELD – Baptist Church, Hollow Lane RG2 8BT. Messy Church: craft, games and food.

4pm-6pm. Details: 0118 327 3180.

WOKINGHAM – Holt Copse opposite Holt School. Joel Park Residents Association presents a Picnic In Joel Park in honour of the Queen’s birthday. Bring own food, drink and barbecues, royal themed competition, children’s races, face painting, Emmbrook PTA refreshments stall. 2pm-late.

WOKINGHAM – The Queen’s Head, 23 The Terrace RG40 1BP. Beer festival. Details: 0118 978 1221.

Monday, June 6 BRACKNELL – Bracknell Open Learning Centre, Rectory Lane RG12 7GR. Bracknell Camera Club meeting: AGM and Margaret Woods Trophy. 7.30pm.

Details: www.bracknell-cameraclub.co.uk.

FINCHAMPSTEAD – Library, FBC Centre RG40 4ES. Bridge and Table Games Club. 2pm-4pm.

Details: 0118 908 8176.

At the theatre

Basingstoke – The Anvil

www.anvilarts.org.uk 01256 844244 Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band. Sat. Jekyll and Hyde. Wed-Sat 11.

Show. Thurs-Fri. Americana Night with the Talia Simone Band. Thurs. Comedy Cellar.

Sat 10. Dancing Through The Decades. Sat 11-Sun 12. Queen’s Birthday Weekend: Afternoon Tea. Sun 12. Creative Control Band Night. Sun 12. Mission Improvable. Sun 12.

FILMS: My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. Fri-Sun. The Man Who Knew Infinity. Fri-Sun. Dheepan. Tues.

RSC: Hamlet (Live). Wed. Sunset Song. Thurs. Despite The Falling Snow. Fri 10-Sun 12. Spotlight.

Sat 11-Sun 12.

Bracknell – South Hill Park

Camberley – Theatre

www.anvilarts.org.uk 01256 844244 Bill Bailey. Tues-Wed. Leif Ove Andsnes (piano). Thurs.

Grimethorpe Colliery Band.

Sat 11. Michael Messer’s Mitra.

Sat 11.

Basingstoke – The Haymarket

www.southhillpark.org.uk (01344) 484123 One For The Road. Fri. The Wizard of Oz. Until Sun. Bracknell Jazz: Alan Barnes. Fri. The Comedy Cellar. Fri. South Hill Park Food Festival. Sat-Sun. Creative Control Band Night. Sun. Guided Countryside Walk. Tues. May Contain Food. Wed-Thurs.

Twelfth Night. Thurs-Sat 11.

Forbidden Nights: Male Variety

Holding a community event? Send your listings to events@wokinghampaper.co.uk

The best guide for local, community events across Wokingham borough

Thames Valley Business Park RG6 1WG. Guide Dogs fun day. 11am-4pm. Details: www. guidedogs.org.uk EARLEY – St Nicolas, Sutcliffe Avenue. People, Prayers and Potatoes for the young and young at heart. From noon. Details: 0118 966 9080.

HURST – Dinton Activity Centre, Dinton Pastures Country Park RG10 0TH. Family fun weekend: try land and water activities including sailing and climbing.

Barbecue. £2 per 15 minute session. Details: 0118 974 4424.

SONNING – St Andrew’s Church, Thames Street RG4 6UR. Sumer Is Icumen In: songs from around a world, a free concert from the Gratis Choir. Donations welcomed for the church’s New Hall appeal. 7.30pm. Details: www,gratischoir.org.uk TILEHURST – Victoria Recreation Ground RG31 6HT. League of Friends of the Royal Berkshire Hospital summer fete and dog show. £1 adults, 50p concessions, under 12s free. 10.30am-4.30pm.

WARGRAVE – Library, Woodclyffe Hostel, Church Street RG10 8EP. Saturday storytime for ages 3-5.

10.30am-11am. Details: 0118 940 4656.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Dad and Baby rhymetime for up to 18 months.

10am-10.30am. Code Club for ages 9-11. Booking essential.

10.15am-11.30am. Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOKINGHAM – Market Place.

Sunny Saturdays presents: Aldbrickham Clog and Step Dancers. 11am-1pm. Details: www.wokingham-tc.gov.uk WOKINGHAM – St Paul’s Church, Reading Road. Explore the wildlife of the churchyard: wildflowers, birds, insects, tree lichen, grass snakes and more.

Fun quiz cards. 10am-4pm.

Details: 0118 977 5853.

WOKINGHAM – The Queen’s Head, 23 The Terrace RG40 1BP. Beer festival. Details: 0118 978 1221.

WOKINGHAM – Holme Grange Craft Village, Heathlands Road RG40 3AW. Vintage day. 11am5pm. Free entry. Details: 0774 257539.

WOODLEY – Oakwood Centre,

www.camberleytheatre.biz 01276 707600 An Audience With Vienna Festival Ballet. Fri. Swan Lake presented

by Vienna Festival Ballet. Sat 4. Fairport Convention. Wed 8.

Nelson: A Sailor’s Story. Thurs.

On Tour With Elvis, featuring Michael King. Fri 10. Lesley Carver. Fri 10. Saturday Morning Theatre: My Pet Monster and Me. Sat 11. Brighouse and

Rastrick Brass Band and Friary Guildford Brass Band. Sat 11.

Didcot – Cornerstone www.cornerstone-arts.org 01235 515144 The Dreaming Spires. Fri. Boulevard Swing. Sat. Celebrating Stephane Grappelli with the Tim Kliphuis Trio. Sun. Fairport Covention. Mon. Plantec. Fri 10.

Think No Evil With Us: My Life With Kenneth Williams. Sat 11.

National Youth Folk Ensemble Day. Sun 12.

Guildford – Yvonne Arnaud www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk 01483 440000 After Miss Julie. Until Sat. Main stage then closed until Sept 16.

Henley – Kenton Theatre www.kentontheatre.co.uk 01491 575698 Bad Guys. Sun. The Music of George Harrison. Fri 10, Sat 11.

SPENCERS WOOD – Library, Basingstoke Road RG7 1AJ. Storytime for ages 3-5. 4pm.

Details: 0118 988 4771.

TWYFORD – Twyford Library, Polehampton Close RG10 9RP. Author book group. Booking essential. 2.30pm-3.30pm.

Details: 0118 934 0800 WARGRAVE – Library, Woodclyffe Hostel, Church Street RG10 8EP. Storytime: stories and rhymes for under fives. 4pm-4.30pm.

Monday bookworms book group.

Booking essential. 2.15pm3.15pm. Writers forum: share ideas and inspiration. 10.30amnoon. Details: 0118 940 4656.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Knit Stitch and Natter. Drop-in for knitting, sewing and a chat. All abilities welcome. 2pm-3pm. Details: 0118 978 1368.

Tuesday, June 7 EARLEY – Palmer Building, University of Reading Whiteknights Campus RG6 2AH. Reading Film Theatre presents: Mustang (15). 8pm. £5 members, £8 non-members, £7 concessions.

Details: 0118 378 7151 or readingfilmtheatre.co.uk.

TWYFORD – Library, Polehampton Close RG10 9RP. Reminiscence Club. 10.30am-noon. Details: 0118 934 0800.

WINNERSH – Library, The Forest School, Robin Hood Lane RG41 5ND. Winnersh Readers bookgroup. 6.45pm-7.45pm.

Winnersh Book Borrowers: book group for ages 7-11. Booking essential. 4.15pm-5pm. 50p.

Details: 0118 979 7519.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Rhymetime for babies aged 18 months and under. 10.30am-11am. Storytime: rhymes and stories for ages 3-5.

2pm-2.30pm. Children’s Origami Club. 4pm-4.45pm. UK Online: Help and support with computers and the internet. 2pm-4pm.

Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Crochet Group with Gaynor White from Barkham Hookers. All abilities welcome.

Noon-2pm. £4. Crafts and Laughs.

2pm-4pm. Details: 0118 969 0304.

WOODLEY – Bulmershe School,

Woodlands Road RG5 3EU. Learn to Sing with Thames Valley Chorus. 7.30pm-10pm. Details: 0118 977 4257.

WOODLEY – Chapter One Bookshop, Crockhamwell Road.

Alison Weir book signing and tea party. 3pm. Booking essential.

Details: 0118 944 8883.

Wednesday, June 8 MAIDEN ERLEGH – Library, off Silverdale Road RG6 7HS. Colouring For Adults. 2.15pm3pm. Details: 0118 966 6630.

WINNERSH – Library, The Forest School, Robin Hood Lane RG41 5ND. Colouring for Adults. 10amnoon. Details: 0118 979 7519.

Thursday, June 9 EARLEY – Palmer Building, University of Reading Whiteknights Campus RG6 2AH. Reading Film Theatre presents: Eye in the Sky (15). 8pm. Details as Tuesday.

LOWER EARLEY – Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Storytime for ages 3-5. 2.30pm3pm. Craft time for ages 2-5.

11am-11.30am. £1. Details: 0118 931 2150.

SHINFIELD – Parish Hall, School Green. Shinfield Allotment Holders and Gardeners Association meeting: Butterflies and Orchids of the Upper Thames Valley with Malcolm Brownsword. £1. 7.30pm. Details: gardenyoung@aol.com WARGRAVE – Library, Woodclyffe Hostel, Church Street RG10 8EP. Coffee morning. 10am-noon. Knit Wits: knit or crochet club. 2pm4pm. Details: 0118 940 4656.

WINNERSH – Library, The Forest School, Robin Hood Lane RG41 5ND. Keep Calm and Fly Casual: Club for players of the X Wing Miniatures Game, Star Wars and Armada. Age 16 and over.

5.30pm-7.45pm. Winnersh Book Group. 7pm-8pm. Details: 0118 979 7519.

WOKINGHAM – The Cornerstone, Norreys Avenue RG40 1UE. Wokingham and East Berkshire Camera Club (WEBCC) meeting: AGM and awards evening.

7.30pm. Details: 0118 977 5670.

WOKINGHAM – Whitty Theatre, Luckley House School, Luckley

High Wycombe – Wycombe Swan

Newbury – The Corn Exchange

www.wycombeswan.co.uk 01494 512000 Andrew Lawrence. Fri. The 39 Steps. Until Sat. Sons of Pitches.

Thurs. Breakfast At Tiffanys.

Mon-Sat 11. Up on the Roof: The Music of Carole King and James Taylor. Sat 11. Brighouse, Rastrick and Amersham Brass.

Sun 12.

www.cornexchangenew.com 0845 5218 218 Austentatious. Fri. Rat Pack Live.

Sat. Ballet Black: Triple Bill including Storyville. Wed. RSC Encore: Hamlet. Thurs. Graeme of Thrones. Fri 10. NT Encore: The Audience. Sat 11.

FILM: Zootropolis. Sat-Sun. Mustang. Fri-Wed. Departure (15). Sat 11-Tues 14.

Maidenhead – Norden Farm www.nordenfarm.org 01628 788997 The Specatcular Balloon Show.

Fri. Dominic Frisby and Will Duggan. Fri. The English Final of the All-England Theatre Festival. Sat. Tom Allen and Joel Dommett: Edinburgh Preview.

Sun. RSC Live: Hamlet. Wed, Thurs. NT Live: The Audience.

Thurs-Fri 10. Mark Dolan and Katia Kvinge. Fri 10.

FILMS: Miles Ahead (15). Fri, Sun. Our Little Sister (PG). Sun. Demolition (15). Fri 10.

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 3, 2016

Newbury – The Watermill www.watermill.org.uk 01635 46044 Untold Stories. Until Sat 11.

Summer Fair. Sun. .

Reading – The Hexagon www.readingarts.com 0118 960 6060 Killer Queen. Sat. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Dame Evelyn Glennie. Wed.

Reading – The

Road RG40 3EU. Wokingham Film Society presents: Theeb (15). £6.50. 7.30pm. Details: wokinghamfilmsociety.com WOKINGHAM - Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Beading Group. 10.30am-12.30pm.

Comic drawing event. 5pm-7pm.

Reminiscence Afternoon: The Queen’s Birthday. 2pm-3.30pm. £2. National Careers Service.

Advice sessions to help you with career planning, CVs and interviews. 9.40am to 3.40pm.

Details: 0118 978 1368.

Friday, June 10 FINCHAMPSTEAD – Library, FBC Centre RG40 4ES. Rhymetime for under fives. 11am. Details: 0118 908 8176.

LOWER EARLEY – Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Pass The Book Club. 10.30am11.30am. Details: 0118 931 2150.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Crochet Group with Gaynor White from Barkham Hookers. All abilities welcome. 9.30am-11.30am. £4.

Cribbage and card games club.

10.30am. Local history surgery.

10am-noon. Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Crime and Thriller book club. Noon-1pm. Details: 0118 969 0304.

Saturday, June 11 LOWER EARLEY – Library, Chalfont Close, Chalfont Way RG6 5HZ. Dad and Baby Rhymetime.

10.30am-11am. Details: 0118 931 2150.

MAIDEN ERLEGH – Library, off Silverdale Road RG6 7HS. Children’s Writing Group for ages 9-12. 10.15am-11am. Details: 0118 966 6630.

PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. All Day Jazz Festival. From 2pm. Details: 0118 969 9878.

REMENHAM – St Nicholas Church.

Village picnic to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Queen. Bring your own picnic, tables, chairs and tea and coffee provided.

From 6pm. Details: hello@ remenhamparish.org.uk SWALLOWFIELD – Mead House,

Concert Hall

Church Road. Swallowfield Church Fete including children’s royal fancy dress parade, ride-on Royal train, Punch and Judy and more. 2pm-5pm.

WARFIELD – Memorial Ground RG42 3AE. Village fete: hog roast, barbecue, beer tent and more.

Noon-4pm. Free parking and entry. Details: 01344 307030.

WINNERSH – Church of St Mary the Virgin, Church Close RG41 5NA. Gratis Choir concert. 7.30pm.

Free, donations welcomed.

Details: www.gratischoir.org.uk.

WOKINGHAM – Library, Denmark Street RG40 2BB. Teen writing group for ages 11-18. 10.30amnoon. Poetry Writing Group for adults. 10am-11.30am. Book binding workshop. 10am-3pn. £3.

Details: 0118 978 1368.

WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. Saturday storytime for parents and children. 11am.

Details: 0118 969 0304.

Sunday, June 12 EARLEY – Harris Gardens, University of Reading RG6 6UD. Open gardens in aid of Harris Gardens/National Garden Scheme. 2pm-5pm. £3, under 12s free. Details: 0118 935 8221.

EARLEY – St Peter’s Chuch, Church Road RG6 1EY. Church service to mark the 90th birthday of the Queen. 3.30pm. Details: 0118 966 8575 FINCHAMPSTEAD – Memorial Park. Queen’s 90th birthday and a celebration of 50 years of Finchampstead Sports Club.

11am-3pm.

SWALLOWFIELD – Handpost, Basingstoke Road RG7 1PU. Open garden in aid of Naomi House Children’s Hospice and NGS. £4. 2pm-5pm. Details: www. mycountrygarden.co.uk WOKINGHAM – Broad Street and Market Place. Queen’s birthday celebration event. Civic parade from noon. Service at All Saints Church. Street Party in Broad Street - bring chairs and a picnic.

International Street Concert from 6pm.

WOODLEY – Library, Headley Road RG5 4JA. French Conversation Club for those with basic French knowledge. 2pm-3pm. Details: 0118 969 0304.

Sun. Magic Night. Mon. The Searchers. Sun 12.

www.readingarts.com 0118 960 6060 University of Reading Choral Gala.

Sat.

Windsor – Theatre Royal

Reading – Progress Theatre

www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk 01753 853888 The Railway Children. Until Sat. One Man Two Guvnors. Tues-Sat 11.

www.progresstheatre.co.uk 0118 384 2195 Humble Boy. Mon 13-Sat 18.

Shinfield – Shinfield Players www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk 0118 975 8880 Agatha Crusty and the Village Hall Murders. Thurs-Sat 11.

NEXT SHOWS: Youth Theatre presents The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. July 9-10.

Senior Youth Group presents: A Slice of Saturday Night. July 15-16.

Sonning – The Mill www.millatsonning.com 0118 969 8000 It Runs In The Family. Until July 2. Magic: A Kind of Queen.

Woking – New Victoria www.ambassadortickets.com 0844 871 7645 Heartbeat. Until Sat. Jane McDonald. Sun 12.

Wokingham – Theatre www.wokingham-theatre.org.uk 0118 978 5363 NEXT SHOW: Blue Stockings. June 16-25.

Woodley – Theatre www.woodleytheatre.org 07939 210121 Rough Crossing. June 14-18.

LEISURE | 27

To advertise call 0118 328 2959

Friday, June 3, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

TwyFest: another week of fun coming up!

I can run a rainbow…

A LITTLE bit of drizzle was not enough to deter 300 people from taking part in the TwyFest Colour Run on Monday afternoon.

Hundreds of people descended on King George’s Field to take part in the 1k, 2k or 3k course, which involved runners being pelted at intervals with coloured cornstarch powder.

As well as being covered in multicoloured paint, participants also

Too cool for school On Saturday night the Duke of Wellington hosted a School Disco as part of TwyFest as, as you can see from our photos, everyone received A+ for dressing up and A+ for having fun. Pictures: Steve Smyth

Twyfest kicked off last week in spectacular style with a comedy night, school disco, and a colour run.

The festivities are continuing this week and GEMMA DAVIDSON looks at the chances to get involved.

3 2 1 4 1 2 4 3 5 6 6 7 7 5 6 3 7 8 9 9 8 4

9 6 8 1 6

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4 5

You can find more help, tips and hints at www.str8ts.com

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

5

7 8 3 2 1 1 2 3 3 4 4 2 6 4 5 7 5 6 5 6 1

8 9 6 7 6 9 8 7 7 8 2 5 1 3 9 1 2 4 3 3 2

No. 284

Medium

9 5 6

Previous solution - Easy

8 3 5 2 9 1 6 7 4

2 8 3

4 7 1 9 4 2

4

1 6 7 5 9

How to beat Str8ts – Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These need to be filled in with numbers that complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order, eg [4,2,3,5]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to The solutions will be published here in the next issue. see how ‘straights’ are formed.

5

4

4 3

9

9

1 2

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

8 7

7

BAND DAY FEATURING JESUS JONES The Duke of Wellington pub, High Street Doors: 1pm, first band onstage at 2pm Tickets: £20 British alternative rock band Jesus Jones will be headlining this full day of music. Other acts on the bill include The PFJ, Triple O and Skangsters.

CIDER NIGHT WITH THE WURZELS THE Duke of Wellington pub, High Street

Previous solution - Tough

7 4 6

2

7

Saturday, June 4

SUDOKU Medium

3

Doors: 7.30pm Tickets: £20, include a Cornish pasty and first pint Come along for some traditional West Country fun with The Wurzels. There will be live entertainment from the band, along with at least four different ciders from the region to sample.

Friday, June 3

STR8TS No. 284

1

received a medal at the end of the run.

All entry money was donated to the Twyford District Youth & Community Centre (TDYC), who organised the day.

A spokesperson for TDYC said: “We were delighted with the support from the community. There was a brilliant atmosphere on the field and the runners were covered in all different colours, they looked fantastic.”

Pictures: Martin Peck & Stuart Wylie

6 1 7 3 4 5 9 8 2

9 2 4 6 7 8 5 1 3

4 6 8 9 1 7 3 2 5

2 5 9 8 3 4 7 6 1

3 7 1 5 6 2 4 9 8

5 4 2 7 8 6 1 3 9

7 8 3 1 5 9 2 4 6

1 9 6 4 2 3 8 5 7

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org If you like Str8ts check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

Sunday, June 5 1ST TWYFORD SCOUTS’ DONKEY DERBY AND SUMMER FAIR King George’s Field Gates: 1pm

Thursday, June 9, Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11 ‘ALLO ‘ALLO BY TWYFORD AND RUSCOMBE THEATRE GROUP Loddon Hall, Loddon Hall Road Doors: 8pm Tickets: £8, £7 for concessions An evening of silliness , innuendo and suspenders, ‘Allo ‘Allo tells the story of René Artois and his cafe in Nazi-occupied France during the Second World War.

Sunday, June 12 DARTS TOURNAMENT The Duke of Wellington pub, High Street The semi-final and grand final of the darts tournament which has been taking place throughout TwyFest.

And don’t forget the Twyford Beer Festival taking place at Loddon Hall on Saturday, June 11!

28 | LESIURE

To advertise email advertising@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Gig guide Friday, June 3 ASCOT – Jagz, Station Road.

Ultimate Elton. Details: 01344 878100.

BAGSHOT – The Cedar Tree, High Street GU19 5AG. T Roze & Co. Details: 01276 473160.

BRACKNELL – The Crown Wood, Opladen Way RG12 0PE. Ash Lee. Details: 01344 867374.

BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. The Wizard of Oz. Bracknell Jazz: Alan Barnes. Details: 01344 484123.

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. One Direction. Details: 01344 303333.

CAMBERLEY – The Four Horseshoes, Frimley Road GU15 3EQ. The FBB Band.

Details: 01276 63842.

CROWTHORNE – Crowthorne Social Club, Wellington Road RG45 7LD. The Originals.

EARLEY – The Roebuck, Auckland Road RG6 1NY. The Vinyl Covers.

EMMBROOK – The Dog & Duck, Matthewsgreen Road RG14 1JT. Old Soul and Motown Night. Details: 0118 978 0544.

FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. Bright Shadows.

Details: 01252 519964.

KNOWL HILL – The Bird In Hand RG10 9UP. Gary Roman is Elvis. Details: 01628 826622.

PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. Unplugged night: acoustic music. Details: 0118 969 9878.

READING – The Turks, London Road RG1 5BJ. Somerset Slim. Details: 0118 957 6930.

READING – The Walkabout, Wiston Terrace, off Friar Street RG1 1DG. Saturday sessions. Details: 0118 953 0000.

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. The Bon Jovi Experience. Sub:Kulture

Presents: Mampi Swift, Spectrasoul, Annix, Xtrah and more. Details: 0118 959 5395.

READING – O'Neill's, Blagrave Street RG1 1DB. Live music.

Details: 0118 960 6580.

READING – The Walkabout, Wiston Terrace, off Friar Street RG1 1DG. TWI Friday. Details: 0118 953 0000.

SANDHURST – The White Swan, Swan Lane GU47 9BU. Riff Raff. Details: 01252 72444.

SONNING – The Mill at Sonning RG4 6TY. Glyn and Elaine in the Watermill Bar. Details: 0118 969 8000.

TWYFORD – The Duke of Wellington, High Street RG10 9AG. TwyFest: The Wurzels. Details: 0118 934 0456.

WEST END – West End Social Club, High Street GU26 9PL. Pub quiz. Details: 01276 858501.

WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. Gigabit. Details: 0118 978 0918.

WOKINGHAM – The Molly Millar, Station Road RG40 2AD. 70s, 80s night with DJ Mally. Details: 0118 977 4548.

WOKINGHAM – The Red Lion, Market Place RG40 1AL. Ultimate Party Nights.

Details: 0118 979 5790.

WOKINGHAM – Spin Nightclub, Alexandra Court RG40 2SL. Frisky Fridays.

Details: 07415 354056.

Saturday, June 4 ASCOT – Jagz, Station Road.

Whitelights. Details: 01344 878100.

BAGSHOT – The White Hart, Guildford Road GU19 5JW. Thunderhead. Details: 01276 473640.

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12 8TF. Remix.

Details: 01344 303333.

BRACKNELL – The Boot Inn, Park Road RG12 2LU. The Capo Thieves. Details: 01344 454532.

HOLDING A GIG, QUIZ OR GAMES NIGHT? SEND DETAILS TO EVENTS@WOKINGHAMPAPER.CO.UK BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. The Wizard of Oz. Details: 01344 484123.

CAMBERLEY – Mr Bumble, GU17 9AP. Forty45. Details: 01276 32691.

CROOKHAM – The Black Horse, The Street GU51 5SJ. Goldeneye. Details: 01252 616434.

EARLEY – Our Lady of Peace Social Club, Wokingham Road RG6 7DA. Uptown Traffic. Details: 0118 935 2927.

EVERSLEY – The White Hart, The Street RG27 0PJ. Dukes of Rock. Details: 0118 973 2817.

FARNBOROUGH – The Alexandra, Victoria Road GU14 7PH. Louise Harper.

Details: 01252 519964.

FARNBOROUGH – The Plough and Horses, Fleet Road GU14 9RG. Open Mic night: Prince tribute. Details: 01252 545199.

FINCHAMPSTEAD – The Queen’s Oak, Church Lane RG40 4LS. John James Newman and Sandy Newman. Details: 0118 973 4855.

FLEET – The Falkners Arms, Falkners Close GU51 2XF. Peter Pod’s Peas. Details: 01252 811311.

READING – Grosvenor Casino Reading, Rose Kiln Lane RG2 0SN. One Stop Boogie.

Details: 0118 402 7800.

READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. 4 Sound Movement. 9pm. Free.

Details: 0118 958 6692.

READING – The Jazz Cafe, Shooters Ways, Madejski Stadium RG2 0FL. The Soul Lounge. Details: 0118 968 1442.

READING – The Hexagon.

Killer Queen. Details: 0118 960 6060.

READING – The Walkabout, Wiston Terrace, off Friar Street RG1 1DG. Saturday sessions. Details: 0118 953 0000.

SANDHURST – The Rose and Crown, High Street GU47 8HA. Nevermind. Details: 01252 878938.

SONNING – The Mill at Sonning RG4 6TY. Tim Valentine. Details: 0118 969 8000.

TWYFORD – The Duke of Wellington, High Street RG10 9AG. TwyFest: Jesus Jones and The Triple O Band. Details: 0118 934 0456.

WEST END – West End Social Club, High Street GU26 9PL. MLC The Band. Details:

01276 858501.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. Gigabit. Details: 0118 978 0918.

WOKINGHAM – The Molly Millar, Station Road RG40 2AD. 70s, 80s night with DJ Mally. Details: 0118 977 4548.

WOKINGHAM – The Red Lion, Market Place RG40 1AL. Ultimate Party Nights.

Details: 0118 979 5790.

WOKINGHAM – Spin Nightclub, Alexandra Court RG40 2SL. Essential Saturday. Details: 07415 354056.

YATELEY – The Dog and Partridge, The Green GU46 7LR. Steve Brookes. Details: 01252 870648.

WEST END – West End Social Club, High Street GU26 9PL. MLCtheband. Details: 01276 858501.

Sunday, June 5 BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. The Wizard of Oz. Creative Control Band Night. Details: 01344 484123.

FLEET – The Prince of Wales, Reading Road South GU52 7SY. NRG. Details: 01252 614284.

READING – Community Hall at Watlington House, 44 Watlington Street RG1 4RJ. Readifolk: Mick Ryan and Paul Downes. Details: 0118 958 6692.

READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Dreading Poetry Slam. 7pm. Free.

Greg Mayston. 9pm. Free.

Details: 0118 958 6692.

SHINFIELD – The Bell & Bottle, School Green. Open mic and jam night. Details: 0118 988 3563.

SONNING – The Mill at Sonning RG4 6TY. Magic: A Kind of Queen. Details: 0118 969 8000.

WEST END – West End Social Club, High Street GU26 9PL. Open Mic Night.

Details: 01276 858501.

Monday, June 6 EVERSLEY – The Golden Pot, Reading Road. Steve Brooks, ex Jam. Details: 0118 973 2104.

READING – The Walkabout, Wiston Terrace, off Friar Street RG1 1DG. Movie Club: The Revenant. Details: 0118 953 0000.

Tuesday, June 7 ASCOT – Jagz, Station Road.

The BROAD ST TAVERN

LIVE MUSIC EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT JUNE 3

GIGABIT

COME & ENJOY YOUR FAVOURITE SONGS!

JUNE 10

JUNE 13

PINK FISH KARAOKE BACK AGAIN. GREAT MUSIC, FOOD & DRINKS!

HAVE FUN AND LET YOUR HAIR DOWN!

COME AND JOIN US! 29 Broad Street, Wokingham RG40 1AU 0118 977 3706 WWW.BROADSTREETTAVERN.CO.UK

Americana Night. Details: 01344 878100.

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Aidan Connell.

Details: 0118 959 5395.

READING – Speakeasy Cocktail Bar, St Mary’s Butts RG1 2LG. Open mic night. Details: 0118 957 3500.

SHERFIELD-ON-LODDON – The Four Horseshoes, Reading Road RG27 0EX. Equinox with Debbie Bracknell. Details: 01256 882296.

Wednesday, June 8 READING – RISC, London Street RG1 4PS. Folk at the Global. 8.30pm. Free.

Details: 0118 958 6692.

READING – The Purple Turtle, Gun Street RG1 2JR. BBC Introducing Live: Flashfire/ Thrones. Details: 0118 959 7196.

READING – The Walkabout, Wiston Terrace, off Friar Street RG1 1DG. Karaoke.

Details: 0118 953 0000.

STOKE ROW – Crooked Billet RG9 5PU. Wild Willy Barrett’s French Connection. Details: 01491 681048.

Thursday, June 9 ASCOT – Jagz, Station Road.

Platform Live Acoustic NIght with Ivan Chandler.

Details: 01344 878100.

BRACKNELL – South Hill Park, Ringmead. Americana Night with Talia Simone Band.

Details: 01344 484123.

CAMBERLEY – Mr Bumble, GU17 9AP. Jam Night.

Details: 01276 32691.

FLEET – Propaganda Music Canteen, Fleet Road GU51 3BU. The Firm. Details: 01252 620198.

HENLEY – Magoos, Hart Street. Stars In Their Minds karaoke. Details: 01491 574595.

SHINFIELD – Magpie and Parrot, Arborfield Road RG2 9EA. Jazz: Evidence Bass. £5. 8pm. Details: 0118 988 4130.

TWYFORD – Gaylord Tandoori, London Road RG10 9ER. Gary Roman is Elvis. Details: 0118 934 5511.

Friday, June 10 BAGSHOT – The Cedar Tree, High Street GU19 5AG. The Bluescasters. Details: 01276 473160.

BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid Beech Hotel, John

Nike Way RG12 8TF. All About You. Details: 01344 303333.

CAMBERLEY – The Four Horseshoes, Frimley Road GU15 3EQ. After The Masons. Details: 01276 63842.

GRAZELEY – Gravelley Bridge Farm, Grazeley Green Road RG7 1LG. Reading MAG rally: Swallow, The Noyze and Total Misfits. Details: www.lionrally.com PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. Fleur Stevenson/Hugh Turner. Details: 0118 969 9878.

READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1 1EP. Bis. Details: 0118 959 5395.

READING – The Walkabout, Wiston Terrace RG1 1DG. TWI Friday. Details: 0118 953 0000.

SONNING – The Mill at Sonning RG4 6TY. Glyn and Elaine in the Watermill Bar. Details: 0118 969 8000.

WOKINGHAM – Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU. Live Music. Details: 0118 978 0918.

WOKINGHAM – The Molly Millar, Station Road RG40 2AD. 70s, 80s night with DJ Mally. Details: 0118 977 4548.

WOKINGHAM – The Red Lion, Market Place RG40 1AL. Ultimate Party Nights.

Details: 0118 979 5790.

WOKINGHAM – Spin Nightclub, Alexandra Court RG40 2SL. Frisky Fridays.

Details: 07415 354056.

Saturday, June 11 BARKHAM – The Bull at Barkham, Barkham Road.

Jamie Sinatra. Details: 0118 976 2816.

GRAZELEY – Gravelley Bridge Farm, Grazeley Green Road RG7 1LG. Reading MAG rally: The Ray Philips Band, Panic Station UK, Green Flame Embers, Beaver, Black Rose. Details: www.lionrally. com PLAYHATCH – The Flowing Spring, Henley Road RG4 9RB. All-day jazz festival.

Real ale and cider festival.

Details: 0118 969 9878.

TWYFORD – Twyford Beer Festival, Loddon Hall, Loddon Hall Road RG10 9JA. The Bear Blues Band and The Triple O Band.

Details: 0118 934 5268.

WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD. The Imposters. Details: 0118 978 0918.

HOPE & ANCHOR Free entry, fantastic beers & a great night out!

This Saturday @ 9pm

GIGABIT

The best rock and pop covers around



Sat June 4 WE IMPOSTERS LIVE THE Rock and pop covers, IC S songs old and new MU

Station Road, Wokingham RG40 2AD 0118 978 0918 www.hopeanchor.co.uk

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 3, 2016

AT THE CINEMA

Kim Taylor-Foster

This tautly directed thriller never sags

Money Monster (15) ««««« Stars: George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O’Connell, Catriona Balfe, Dominic West

O

F LATE, Hollywood has been preoccupied with righting societal wrongs and championing the little guy – particularly where the world of finance is concerned.

Money Monster is the latest to tackle the moneygrabbing arena of investment banking and although it may not make its point(s) as cacophonously or as effectively as this year’s The Big Short, it’s the better film.

Where Adam McKay’s surprise Oscar contender is a fancies-itself, messy, sometimes impenetrable self indulgence, Jodie Foster’s political and social satire artfully points its barrel at both Wall Street and the way we turn news – and everything – into entertainment. It delves into the desire to broadcast the minutiae of our lives and ramp up viewing figures, hits and clicks. It may not say anything new, but what it does say it says smartly.

Slyly cloaking itself in standard Hollywood movie clothing – formula-driven action thriller – it sticks to the conventions of its form at the same time as drawing attention to itself, highlighting the fact that we love to consume the world through the lens of entertainment. All very meta.

So what’s the plot? Well, George Clooney is Lee Gates – a financial markets expert with his own daily live TV show dishing out money advice. Bursting into the studio with a couple of underdressed dancing girls, he’s a bit of a loose cannon, frequently going off-script and creating headaches for his weary director, Patty Fenn (Julia Roberts).

Today, though, isn’t his day. Today is the day that a disgruntled viewer who followed his advice and sunk his entire $60k inheritance into a bad investment fights back. Kyle Budwell (Jack O’Connell) sneaks into the studio armed with a gun and a bomb and takes Gates hostage in front of the cameras. But as the film starts to build sympathy for Kyle, we begin to see there’s more to the story.

On the surface, Money monster is a tautly directed thriller that never sags. With the balance of humour and satire just right, Foster has crafted a deceptively accomplished film. Brilliance abounds – albeit understated – and not just in the way the film is assembled.

Clooney’s performance is among his very best – you’ve rarely seen an actor portray a TV host more authentically – he’s endlessly credible, blending in Stanley Tucci’s exaggerated turn as the host in The Hunger Games in measured amounts to create something that we entirely buy into. He reveals layers to his talents that you may not have realised existed.

With good, meaty roles for both Julia Roberts and Catriona Balfe, and Dominic West in a bid for Bondvillain glory, there’s an equal mix of entertainment, quality and worthiness to Jodie Foster’s latest directorial effort.

Your weekly puzzle challenge LEISURE 29 Quiz Challenge

CROSS CODE 2

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1. Which New York street is known for its discount and bargain clothing stores?

2. By what name was the Green Party in the UK known from 1975 to 1985?

3. Pamplemousse is the French word for which fruit?

4. Bill Bryson first made his name as a writer of books in which genre?

5. In 1909 David Lloyd George described the House of Lords as “five hundred men, ordinary men, chosen accidentally from among…” whom?

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Spell out a 15-letter word or phrase by moving from one chamber to another within the pyramid. You may only enter each of the chambers once and may only proceed A through openings in the walls. The P first letter may appear in any chamber.

T E

Q U G E T S

Each number in our Cross Code grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. You have three letters in the control grid to start you off. Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters should go in the missing squares.

As you get the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and control grid. Check off the alphabetical list of letters as you identify them.

MAGIC SQUARE

MITIGATED SCREAMS

How many words of four letters or more can you make from this Nonagram? Each word must use the central letter, and each letter may be used only once. At least one word using all nine letters can be found.

Guidelines: 24 Good; 29 Very Good; 34 Excellent.

PS

OE

LA

PE

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AT

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UO

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4 8 6 9

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Here are two miniature fivesquare crosswords using the same grid – but the letters have been mixed up.

You have to work out which letters belong to which crossword.

SY

Place the four signs (add, subtract, multiply, divide) one in each circle so that the total of each across and down line is the same.

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ACROSS 1. Fielder who goes in to bat after the openers (5,3)

EQUALISER 7 4 1 2 1 5 3 10 2 2 4 9

Hard

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

5 6 4 6 7 5 9 8 1 8 3 9 5 4 6

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SUDOKU Easy

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CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

20

FIVE ALIVE

Any word found in the Concise Oxford Dictionary (Tenth Edition) is eligible with the following exceptions: proper nouns; plural nouns, pronouns and possessives; third person singular verbs; hyphenated words; contractions and abbreviations; vulgar slang words; variant spellings of the same word (where another variant is also eligible).

Using all 16 letters of the phrase above, form four words each of four letters which will fit in the grid to form a magic square in which the words can be read both horizontally and vertically.

6. Whom did David Haye beat in an all-British world cruiserweight title fight in 2008?

7. Founded in 1964, in which northern city is the Everyman Theatre?

8. Who played Olive Oyl in the 1980 film Popeye and Dixie in the 1987 film Roxanne?

9. Who played the young Iris Murdoch in the 2001 biographical film Iris?

10. Which festival, devoted mainly to classical music, takes place each June in Suffolk?

WORD PYRAMID

R O E

23

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

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|

To advertise call 0118 328 2959

Friday, June 3, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

Perform the first calculation in each line first and ignore the mathematical law which says you should always perform division and multiplication before addition and subtraction.

All puzzles on this page are supplied by Sirius Media Services.

To try more of our puzzles interactively online go to www.puzzledrome.com © Sirius Media Services Ltd

SOLUTIONS

DOWN 2. Sanctify the room before giving a shout of pain (6) 3. More trouble from French 6. Remove central part of a student having to display nuclear reactor (4) clothes again (7) 8. Fruit that’s well-rounded for 4. After short time compete the most part (4) with the film (5) 9. Visit our remarkable 5.

Stormy rain round front of musicians (8) heavenly place (7) 10. First person to be honoured 6. Hurtful ulcer burst (5) in the Olympics (4,9) 7. Another rise over the way to 11. It is evident I am not oppose (6) included in the project (4) 12. Express without any 13. Lady in banned section (4) punctuation (3-4) 17. Race conflict? It’s a 14. Such history is only to be continuous argument (7,6) expected? (7) 20. Fill to the limit and stop? (4,2,2) 15. Man with articles in South America (6) 21. Reportedly put up to destroy completely (4) 16. Show off a coat of arms (6) 22. Poet was not allowed in, we 18. Crept but didn’t start in the heard (4) nude (5) 19. With skeletal parts – or having 23. Said to be using a bicycle had them removed! (5) for selling door-to-door (8)

QUICK CROSSWORD 1

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ACROSS 1. Thin paper (6) 4. Wears away (6) 8. Hollowness, pretence (6) 10. Forge (6) 11. Cowboy show (5) 12. Move unsteadily (6) 14. Tauten (anag.) (6) 16. Uncommon (4) 17. Rip (4) 19. Reluctant (4) 22. Entreaty (4) 26. Mountain range (6)

27. Pilot (6) 28. Stadium (5) 29. Mean (6) 30. Rudder handle (6) 31. Oesophagus (6) 32. Water boiler (6) DOWN 1. Pacific island (6) 2. Bubble gently (6) 3. Moneylender (6) 5. Distant (6) 6. Circuitous way (6) 7. Fashions (6) 9. Clotted blood (4)

10. Chair (4) 13. Small drum (5) 15. Diminish gradually (5) 18. Requesting (6) 19. Pulse (6) 20. Hypnotic state (6) 21. Difficult (4) 22. Gasp (4) 23. Act as go-between (6) 24. Charm, talisman (6) 25. False (6)

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EASY SUDOKU

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CROSS CODE

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9 6 8 3 5 1 2 4 7

7 3 1 8 2 4 5 6 9

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WORD PYRAMID: Cricket pavilion.

EQUALISER: Clockwise from top left – add; multiply; subtract; divide.

Total: 3.

MAGIC SQUARE: gems; edit; mica; star.

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P

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Resist; 12 Non-stop; 14 Natural; 15 Guyana; 16 Blazon; 18 Naked; eques; euro; gesture; gout; GROTESQUE; grouse; grout; guest; 19 Boned. gust; gusto; oust; ouster; outer; outré; queer; quest; quester; quote; request; reuse; rogue; roque; roquet; roué; rouge; rouse; roust; rout; route; rugose; ruse; rust; segue; sour; souter; stour; suer; suet; sure; surge; toque; torque; torus; tour; true; trug; urge; user.

QUICK CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Tissue; 4 Erodes; 8 Humbug; 10 Smithy; 11 Rodeo; 12 Teeter; 14 Attune; 16 Rare; 17 Tear; 19 Loth; 22 Plea; 26 Sierra; 27 Airman; 28 Arena; 29 Intend; 30 Tiller; 31 Gullet; 32 Kettle.

Down – 1 Tahiti; 2 Simmer; 3 Usurer; 5 Remote; 6 Detour; 7 Styles; 9 Gore; 10 Seat; 13 Tabor; 15 Taper; 18 Asking; 19 Lentil; 20 Trance; 21 Hard; 22 Pant; 23 Liaise; 24 Amulet; 25 Untrue.

Down – Petty; Axiom; Saggy.

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Third man; 6 Core; 8 Plum; 9 Virtuosi; 10 Gold medallist; (2) Across – Solid; Armed; Moses.

Down – Spasm; Lambs; Dudes.

11 Plan; 13 Anne; 17 Running battle; 20 Pack it in; 21 Raze; 22 Bard; 23 Peddling.

NONAGRAM: Down – 2 Hallow; 3 Remodel; 4 Movie; 5 Nirvana; 6 Cruel; 7

QUIZ CHALLENGE: 1 Delancey Street; 2 The Ecology Party; 3 Grapefruit; 4 Travel; 5 The unemployed; 6 Enzo Maccarinelli; 7 Liverpool; 8 Shelley Duvall; 9 Kate Winslet; 10 The Aldeburgh Festival.

(1) Across – Pears; Thing; Yummy.

FIVE ALIVE:

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PUBLIC NOTICES ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (VARIOUS ROADS, FINCHAMPSTEAD) (PROHIBITION OF WAITING) ORDER 2016 Take notice that Wokingham Borough Council as Traffic Authority has made an Order under Sections 1(1) (a) and (c), 2(1) (a) and (b), 2(2) (c) and 4 (2) and Parts III and IV of Schedule 9 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effect if which shall be to prohibit waiting at any time along the length of roads during the periods specified in Schedules below.

The Order was made on the 31st of May2016 and will come into effect on the 6th of June 2016 Any persons wishing to question the validity of the Order or any of its provisions on the grounds that it is not within the powers conferred by the above provisions of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 as amended, or that any procedural requirement contained in an instrument made under that Act has been complied with may, within 6 weeks from the date on which the Order was, make application for that purpose to the High Court.

Dated this 3rd day of May 2016 Andrew Moulton Head of Governance and Improvement Services, Wokingham Borough Council, PO Box 151, Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 1WH

Reach local people

Regulated Entertainment, late night refreshment and Supply of Alcohol.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10am to 11.00pm, Friday and Saturday 10am to 11.30pm and Sunday Noon until 10.30pm to allow for Emmbrook Sports & Social Club, Wokingham Music Club and other community events.

Representations may be made in writing by any responsible authority or interested party in the vicinity of the premises to the licensing authority – Licensing Team, Wokingham Borough Council, POB 155, Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 1WW or by email to licensing@wokingham.gov.uk All representations made are open to public inspection Representations to be made by: 29th June 2016 (28 days from day after day on which application given to the licensing authority) This application has been made to the Licensing Team at Wokingham Borough Council where a register of applications is kept and a record of the application may be inspected. Contact 0118 974 6358 or www.wokingham.gov.uk Under S158 of the above act, a person commits an offence if he knowingly or recklessly makes a false statement in connection with an application. A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale

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Dated 1st June 2016 Signed Stanley M Hetherington.

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TUITION Wokingham Borough Council Licensing Act 2003 S17 Application for Premises Licence NEWSPAPER NOTICE Emmbrook Sports & Social Club of The Clubhouse, Lowther Road, Wokingham RG41 1JB proposes to carry on the following licensable activities at the above premises

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 3, 2016

Friday, June 3, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

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WOKINGHAM SPORT

Unrivalled coverage of sport in the Borough

Contact the sports desk: sport@wokinghampaper.co.uk | Log on the for latest sports news www.wokinghampaper.co.uk DARTS

Deller dazzles on a double-top night

By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk LEGENDARY darts star Keith Deller was in Wokingham at the weekend to celebrate the end of the Wokingham Independent Darts League.

Deller, 1983 World champion, was challenged to a leg of darts by a number of the league’s pub players and took them on at the Winnersh British Legion club.

Now manager of two-time world champion Adrian Lewis, Deller shot to fame in 1983 when he became the first ever unseeded qualifier to win the world title, defeating world number one Eric Bristow 6-5 in the final in Stoke-on-Trent.

As well as the first qualifier, Deller became the youngest winner of the event at the time, aged just 23.

After taking on some of the players, ‘The Feller’ also presented trophies to the variety of winners across the season including Division One champions Winnersh Royal British Legion.

Deller handed Winnersh Royal British Legion the Division 1 title

The special guest was well received at the event Pictures: Steve Smyth

Keith Deller shares a moment with Peter Davies at the Oche

Sean Kerry was among those to take on the 1983 World champion

BOWLS

Wokingham make top start to national competition A CLEAN sweep of wins saw the men at Wokingham Bowls Club get their campaign in the National Top Club Competition off to a great start.

Played over five disciplines, the club emerged victorious from all five matches away at Suttons, which has not been a happy hunting ground over the years.

Alan Symondson got the ball rolling when defeating his opponent in the two-wood singles.

Adrian Chipper followed this up when outscoring Simon Jones 21-19 in the four-wood singles before Gareth Colebrooke and Martin O’Connor triumphed in the pairs to secure victory for the club.

Further success in the triples and rinks completed the rout. n SUTTONS, though, would exert some revenge when they took on Wokingham A in Division 1 of the Kennet League – winning the fixture 91-80.

John Scowen, skip, Adrian Chipper, Sam Welsh and Clive Tarran were the highest up rink for Wokingham. n WOKINGHAM B, however, would take the points when paired against Suttons B in Division 2 of the Kennet League.

The final result was 87-80.

The biggest winners for the club came out of the rink skipped by Bob Hales-Owen. Alongside John Evans, Colin Musto and Mike Drinkwater, the quartet produced a victory margin of 12 shots.

Elsewhere, Colin Cleverly’s rink saw off their counterparts by just two shots in a much tighter affair. n PAUL DOLLERY’S return to lawn bowls could not inspire Wokingham C to victory against Maidenhead Town B in Division 3.

The visitors were comfortable 84-54 winners at Reading Road.

Joy for the home side would come via a victory for Alan Taylor and his rink of Les Allen, Bill Finnie and Alex Thompson.

Women PANGBOURNE proved too strong for Wokingham Oakapples, who were shot down 63-37 in Division 3 of the Thames Valley Ladies League.

Luck was in short supply on this occasion, with Wokingham beaten on all three rinks. n A TEAM of Berkshire Past Presidents was the opposition for the Ladies in a friendly last week.

Played in glorious conditions, it was Wokingham who would prevail, quite comfortably too, winning by 73 shots to 43.

Over-60s DEFEATING Three Mile Cross 51-42 secured a third win on the spin for Wokingham A in Division 1 of the Kennet LX League.

Tom Searle would marshall the club’s top triple, with the skip flanked by Colin Livingstone and Pat Clearly. n WOODLEY A got the better of Wokingham B in Division 1.

The hosts would double the total the opposition recorded on the day, with Woodley racking up a 76-37 victory. n WOKINGHAM C were out on the River Thames, where they were guests of Island Bohemian B in Division 3 of the Over Sixties League.

But they would return home beaten 57-50.

Despite the result, credit from a good Wokingham performance would come from Andrew Cullington, who skipped Dave Hewitt and Peter Coombes to a rink win by eight shots. n IN a reverse fixture of the above contest, Island Bohemian B were guests

of Wokingham D in a Division 3 bout.

And this was a fixture which would go the distance, with the outcome not settled until the very last bowl, which was where Wokingham snatched a slender 57-55 victory via a brilliant wood.

Friendlies WOKINGHAM were in great form away at Three Mile Cross in a men’s friendly – and this was reflected in the result.

Helped by a comfortable win by 14 shots for Trevor Gilmour and his rink of Bob Boswell, Andrew Cullington and Martin O’Connor, the visitors took the honours by 96 shots to 69. n THE University of Reading outscored their Wokingham counterparts in a mixed friendly.

Played at Reading Road, the away side were the better team on the night and were winners by 110 shots to 83. n SHOWING their strengths saw Wokingham emerge clear winners when up against Palmer Park in another mixed friendly.

The club won on all four triples, with the rink skipped by John Macgregor and consisting of Jill Thorne and Dora James boasting the biggest winning margin – 12 shots.

STAYING PUT: London Irish stalwart Ojo commits his future to the club — Page: 37 BADMINTON

Cann is returning to Woodley next week BADMINTON star Elizabeth Cann is returning to Woodley next week to host a second Sportivate session.

The five-time Commonwealth Games competitor (pictured) will be encamped at Bulmershe Leisure Centre in Woodlands Avenue next Thursday, June 9, where she will resume her badminton project.

Cann is back in the borough once again as part of her role as a Sport England Sporting Champion and is at Bulmershe once more following a successful session held at the complex last month.

The event is taking place through Sportivate funding, which has been provided courtesy of Get Berkshire Active.

Sportivate is a £56million National Lottery funded Olympic and Paralympic legacy initiative giving 11 to 25-year-olds not so active on the sports scene access to coaching.

It also helps participants find low cost ways to continue playing.

“Despite the lack of experience I was really pleased to see the young women throw themselves straight into whatever I set them to do,” said Elizabeth, who broke into the world top 20 during the peak of her badminton career and is also a two-time Commonwealth Games medal winner.

“I was really impressed with the improvements I could see in such a short amount of time.

“We worked on some technical parts of the game whilst making it active too, making it a good balance of having a good workout whilst learning new skills and keeping it interesting.

“I very much look forward to working with this group again soon and to see the progress they make over the next few weeks.”

Cann will be at the leisure centre between 6pm and 7pm.

RUGBY LEAGUE

Call us the Raiders READING RAIDERS will be the new name of Berkshire’s only open-age Rugby League club.

The decision as to what the newly-formed team will be called was thrown open to the public and Raiders was the overwhelming choice of those who voted, with the name winning by a margin of 63.

Kings was the next most popular name of the six thrown into the ring with 20 votes, followed by Wreckers (20), Troopers (12), Roar (11) and Rapids with five.

“It’s great to finally be able to finalise our name and this will allow us to create a new badge, build the Reading Raiders brand and register with the Rugby Football League (RFL),” said Andrew Belt, chairman.

The club, which previously played under the name of Reading Royals, is returning to action following a 20-year hiatus.

A new badge is to be unveiled soon, with it hoped the logo will be launched at the Brighton 9s tournament on Saturday, June 25.

For more information, visit readingrlfc. wordpress.com

IN BRIEF

READING FC

Benfica ‘ready to sell John for €6m’

Rediscover tradition says Cox in emotional message

BENFICA are reportedly ready to sell Ola John this summer for a fee in the region of £4.6million.

The Dutch winger (pictured) made a notable impression during a season-long loan with Reading last season, scoring four goals and setting up numerous more during 35 appearances in all competitions.

Reports emerging out of Portugal, however, claim his parent club now want the 24-year-old off their books following successive seasons away on temporary deals with Hamburg in Germany and Royals last term.

A fee of €6m for John has been mooted, but whether the Championship club would be willing to part with such money – which would be a record Reading transfer, eclipsing the £2.5m shelled out for Emerse Fae back in 2007 – remains to be seen. n ROYALS, meanwhile, are being heavily linked with a move for defender Bartosz Bereszynski.

The twice-capped Poland international is a full-back who currently plys his trade with Legia Warsaw.

Polish media claim the 23-year-old is attracting serious interest from the club.

Any potential transfer, however, may hinge on the appointment of Reading’s new manager and what plans they could have in the market.

Lincoln date added

READING will travel to Sincil Bank and take on Lincoln City in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, July 16 (3pm).

A game with the National League Imps is the latest to be announced by the club, who will also face Boreham Wood (A), Swindon Town (A) and a clash with AFC Bournemouth at Madejski Stadium during the close season.

It is the first time the managerless Royals and City have faced one another since the 1998-99 campaign, where the visitors won one and drew the other back in the old Division 2 (now League One).

Tickets for the game will be announced in due course.

By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk SIMON COX appears to have taken a parting shot at the Reading hierarchy, whom he accuses of showing disregard to club traditions.

The 29-year-old was one of four players told they will not be having their contracts extended at Madejski Stadium, meaning the forward’s second spell with his home town team will now come to an end next month.

Although not appearing to show any resentment towards his departure Cox, who netted just once in 17 appearances last term, says he is disheartened by the current state of the club.

Just hours after manager Brian McDermott was surprisingly sacked last Friday, the Royals Academy graduate took to social media, where he posted an impassioned message which included calling on the Thai owners to stop moving away from “the Reading way”.

He said: “Reading Football Club prides themselves on hard work and overachieving people who love the club.

Simon Cox

“At OUR football club they stay the test of time and bring success not only to the club, but to the town that supports it.

“In recent years this hasn’t been the case and we have diverted from the hard work policy that we love, and that the people of Reading desire.

“It only shows what success can bring when you bring in the right people that know the ‘Reading Way’ of playing football, not necessarily the

‘sexy’ footballers to the football club.

“As a supporter of the football club and former player it disheartens me to see the way the club is in its form today.”

Times do appear to be uncertain at Reading.

Although pushed, boss McDermott is among a number of recent high-profile departures, with assistant manager Chris Davis also last week leaving for Celtic, while club mainstay and Director of Football joined West Bromwich Albion at the end of the season.

All six loan players were shown the door, as was Cox, Anton Ferdinand and Hal Robson-Kanu, whose expiring contracts will not be renewed.

While up in the boardroom, long-serving director Ian Wood-Smith appears to have exited without as much of a goodbye following 21 years service.

Reading fan Cox, though, will not be turning his back on the club, adding: “This is MY club and I will follow it wherever my career takes me, but as a supporter of the football club, I feel this needs to be voiced – as much as it hurts me to say.”

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

A Royals rendezvous: Quartet are all off to Euro 2016 READING FC will be well represented at Euro 2016, with no fewer than four players competing at the tournament.

Stephen Quinn became the latest player to get the nod after the 30-year-old was named in the final 23-man Republic of Ireland squad which was announced on Monday night.

The Boys in Green kick off their Group E campaign against Sweden at Stade de France on Monday, June 13.

Team-mate and Royals captain, Paul McShane, though, did not make the cut and has instead been placed on standby.

Earlier on the same day, meanwhile, it was also confirmed both Chris Gunter and Hal Robson-Kanu have made the Wales squad for the tournament.

The pair played significant roles in helping the country qualify for a first major tournament since 1958 and have been duly rewarded with places in the touring party.

Wales have been drawn in Group B and will make their bow against Slovakia in Bordeaux on Saturday, June 11, before the eagerly-awaited clash with England five days later.

Robson-Kanu may well have played his last game for Reading, however.

The forward will be out of contract at the end of the month and has turned down fresh terms to extend his stay, meaning he is free to leave, with clubs from the Premier League said to be interested.

Oliver Norwood makes up the

quartet of stars representing their homeland in France.

The midfielder was the first Royal to have his involvement at the competition sealed, with Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill trimming down his squad last week.

They have been pooled in Group C alongside 2014 World Cup winners Germany, Ukraine and Poland, with their first game taking place against the latter in Nice on June 12.

Matej Vydra, however, will not be taking part in the finals.

The forward, who spent last season on loan at Madejski Stadium from Premier League side Watford, had been named in the Czech Republic’s provisional squad.

Vydra, though, has since been omitted from the team, which was also announced on Monday.

YOUTH FOOTBALL

Clarke and U14 Rangers complete the Challenge

Wokingham and Emmbrook U14 Rangers

SPORT | 35

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Friday, June 3, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

HARRY CLARKE was the match winner for a Wokingham and Emmbrook FC Rangers Under-14s side which got its hands on the Slough and Windsor Open Challenge Trophy on Monday.

Clarke settled the contest late in the second half, netting via an 18-yard volley to secure both victory and the winners’ shield.

It was likely to need something special to separate two sides who had finished runners up in their respective domestic competitions, and Harry produced exactly that, with the player sending Marcus De Souza’s precise through ball into the top corner.

This contest between the Thames Valley Football Development League Division 1 and North East Hants Sunday Premier League representatives was otherwise a war of attrition, with the defences on top for most parts.

Burnham asked plenty of questions after the break, but Rangers stood up to the task and would counter well, with one particular attack yielding the winner.

Marshalled well by man-of-thematch Kyle Moorcraft, Wokingham would hold out to take the honours, with triumphant captain Josh Harris going on to lift the trophy.

LOIS ROCHE The Reading FC Women’s midfielder writes exclusively for The Wokingham Paper

Reunions, rehab... and Marcus Rashford

D

UE to the great support I have received from last week’s debut piece, I am back!

Thank you to everyone who took the time out to read the column, it was greatly received by myself, the club and The Wokingham Paper’s profit margins, of course...

Tuesday night was our first session back after the mid-season break. Most of the girls went on holiday and used the break to their advantage; visiting Dubai, Crete and Croatia to name a few of the jaunts.

I decided to stay at home and work hard on my overall fitness and rehab for my knee injury.

Each to their own.

Although, I did regret this after seeing the glowing tans on the girls who had been abroad.

On the other hand, there are some you have to question if they actually went away with the milk bottles on show, you know who you are…. Lauren Bruton.

The first session back is always great to see the girls; to catch up, listen to the holiday stories and discuss what we thought was planned for the forthcoming weeks without any fixtures.

None of which sounded positive with running being the topic of discussion.

It was also nice to see the coaching staff and what they had prepared for us for the first session back.

Of course, we were eased back into training with a lovely light session consisting of fitness testing, it had to be done I suppose. Or did it?

Annoyingly, we have quite the talented bunch at Reading with Grace Moloney already on international duty with Republic of Ireland, currently in Finland.

Helen Ward, Rachel Rowe, Nia Jones, Charlie Estcourt, Melissa Fletcher and Kylie Davies were all selected for the Wales squad.

The girls left for camp on Wednesday, so it is safe to say the reunion was short lived.

Grace and the Republic of Ireland face Finland on Saturday and then Montenegro on Tuesday with both games being must-win if they are to qualify for the Euros.

Wales face Norway on Tuesday, who are the top seed in the group.

Helen, however, is remaining positive with the home draw and has promised me a hat-trick and a half decent celebration.

There was a lot left to be desired with her latest one, which I made her fully aware of.

With this being said it is great to see the girls representing their respective countries and we wish them all the best of luck.

Hopefully both nations put in the performances needed to come through their groups and seal a place for the 2017 Euros in Holland.

We can’t talk about international football without mentioning the squad selection by Roy Hodgson earlier in the week.

For me, I was gutted and a little disappointed to not see Danny Drinkwater in the squad after the season he had.

You have to question if there was any more he could have done?

But on the flip side a gutsy choice has been made with Marcus Rashford – but is one I think will pay off.

The 18-year-old has been in great form for Manchester United this season, to my delight as a Red Devils fan, and he will bring a fearless mentality to the Euros which will allow him to flourish.

It is easy to concentrate on the controversial decisions made by the management but I feel it is as important to focus on the squad that has been selected; a very young and talented group of players, so let’s get behind the boys and here’s hoping for a very successful Euro campaign. n Got a question you’d like to put to Lois for her next column? Email sport@wokinghampaper.co.uk or tweet @WokinghamSport.

You can also follow Lois on Twitter: @_Roche

36 | SPORT

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BERKSHIRE CRICKET LEAGUE

Jordan Goddard hits out during a top score of 49 during the six-wicket loss against Mortimer West End at Woodford Park Pictures: Steve Smyth

Barron’s blast moves the Crows up to a loftier perch PREMIER DIVISION AND DIVISION 1

By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk CROWTHORNE and Crown Wood sit among the early pacesetters in the Premier Division after comfortably disposing of Mortimer West End in a seven-wicket triumph.

The side sit third in the standings after chasing down a target of 180 set by the opposition, with Crows’ successful reply built around opener Richard Barron’s top score of 79 at St Sebastian’s Playing Field.

With Nick Outram coming in at three and totting up a half-century 53, the home side were celebrating a second win of the season in the 39th over.

Crowthorne captain Anthony Cluett won the toss and, fancying his side’s chances, stuck Mortimer into bat.

Three wickets were taken by Alex Sykes, with Ross Chalmers picking up a couple more, but the visitors would not be removed completely.

Steve Audsley was the lynchpin of the innings, with his leading knock of 59 helping bump up the score, but 179-8 from 45 overs proved too little a total to defend.

Barron was eventually dismissed when caught by Adam Telford to give Andy Johnson a wicket, but his sterling work with the bat had put the hosts in total control.

Despite Matt Howarth picking up five wickets and some watchful batting from Matt Smart and Richard Cole, EMMBROOK AND BEARWOOD finished on the wrong side of the draw at Welford Park.

It was Cole who got lucky at the coin toss and chose to field, where Howarth

justified the decision somewhat by removing half the line-up for the cost of just 44 runs.

Charlie Sawyer got rid of a couple more, but through a counter-attacking 83 from Will Herrington, Welford were able to bat through their allotted overs, posting a competitive 207-9 in the process.

Removing Matt Robinson (2) and Phil West (7) cheaply would only strengthen the hosts’ grip on proceedings, while losing Sean Woodward (10) and Ollie Williams (14) left Emmbrook staring into the abyss.

Sanjeev Jain, however, put some spark into the innings with a hit of 32 at the top of the order, but it was Smart’s 58, which included seven boundaries, that dragged the visitors back into contention.

And it was such a platform which allowed Cole to edge Emmbrook to within sight of victory, but his unbeaten 41 and the 20 not out struck by Howath would not be enough as the side fell 15 runs shy of the required target.

For their efforts, however, the Lowther Road side did pick up a useful 16 points.

WOODLEY could not build on the victory secured against Mortimer West End last time out when hosting Ruislip Victoria.

This was having posted a healthy-looking total of 230-9 after being stuck into bat, where Jordan Goddard, who led the field with 49, Kashif Ali (40) and Adeel Razaq (31) all scored well.

Abdul Khaliq put paid to Kashif Maan’s stay after just three runs, but success with the ball was in short supply for the home side.

Removing Mann would bring Richard

Lambie and Naveed Maan together at the crease, and they put on an impressive stand of 129 for the second wicket as Welford took charge of the fixture.

Lambie would fall to the bowling of Zain Raja ten runs shy of a century, but it was nonetheless a majestic knock from the opener, who cracked 15 boundaries during his time in the middle.

Naveed Maan, though, would lead the scoring for the visitors, finishing the day unbeaten on 92 when an impressive six-wicket victory was secured in just the 30th over of their reply.

BERKSHIRE COUNTY SPORTS (BCS) lead the way in Division 1 – but needed to hold their nerve to edge a low-scoring encounter with Hawley by three wickets.

Asking the away side into bat upon winning the toss appeared to be a great call from BCS captain Barbar Butt.

Three wickets each for Saquib Hussain, Amer Aziz and Saqib Hussain, who was the most cost-effective of the three having given away just 15 runs, had Hawley shot out for just 97 runs.

But the Sonning side failed to read the warning signs on an unforgiving track, losing the opening pair for just seven runs as the chase got off to a stumbling start.

Kashif Mehmood and Salman Hamidi, however, would wrestle back some control, with knocks of 22 and 34 respectively proving pivotal, yet they were among five other batsmen to be removed as Hawley put up a fight when defending a small total.

But it would not be enough, as BCS had the firepower remaining to knock off the required runs and clinch victory inside what was an extraordinary 24 overs.

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 3, 2016

Shakeel Bashir added 28 to the hosts’ total of 230-9

Reyhan-Ul Din looks to try and dispatch this delivery, but would only make four runs

Khokhar and Farley win joust with Knights to keep up fine start DIVISIONS 2 AND 3

FARLEY HILL are the team to beat in Division 2.

They preserved their 100 per cent start to the summer after annihilating borough rivals Earley by 78 runs.

It was the Knights who won the toss and chose to field, with an early breakthrough arriving when Prasad Gore removed Farley opener Ross Ditchburn for just three.

The scoring, though, was slow, with the away side totting along at around three an over – but although laborious, the innings did witness a fine partnership between Ali Jalil and Akeesh Khokhar for the second wicket.

The pair put Earley to the sword with a stand of 117 before Jalil was eventually gone for 37. He was soon followed back to the pavilion by Khokhar, who was the leading batsman by some way having racked up a watchful 78.

Through the pair’s work, Farley’s innings would later close with the side on 151-4.

Although looking a little lightweight, it would be a total which proved more than enough.

Earley just never got going during their reply and were soon eight wickets down with just 45 runs on the board.

The response was heavily disrupted

by Craig Jorey and Ben Cowdry, who removed six of the top eight, with the pair finishing with 3-14 and 3-26 respectively.

Gore would hold off the inevitable

when striking a top score of 16 down at nine, but Earley were finally put out of their misery when Dave Mapes was the last man gone at the end of the 31st over.

Mapes was the next best score, after the extras column (10), with nine, but it was a day to forget for the home side, who were skittled out for just 73.

Fakhir Ali was unable to celebrate victory alongside a century knock after SHINFIELD were left frustrated at WALTHAM ST LAWRENCE. Arriving at three, Ali regularly found the gaps during a scintillating stand which yielded 105 runs, with his hit helping elevate Shinfield to a commanding score of 250-8.

Hemant Mathur, meanwhile, fell five runs short of a half century as the away side took the game to their hosts.

The standout bowler amid a beleaguered Waltham attack was Andy Maliff, who put up some resistance with 3-64. There was also a brace of wickets for captain Chris England.

The tale of the home side’s reply was one of batsmen falling regularly and runs arriving intermittently, with Waltham on the brink of defeat having crumbled to 111-9.

Wasim Javed would finish the club’s top scorer with 22, yet it was the unbeaten 20 made by Sinith Chandran which saved the day.

The No.9 stood stubbornly at the crease, producing a combination of shots and blocks as he and last man Siva Kumar (3no) managed to negotiate a

Fakhir Ali’s century knock could not steer Shinfield to victory at Waltham St Lawrence

losing draw.

Shinfield’s Andrew Prowse finished the day with three wickets and Sudhir Nair two, but the guests fell agonisingly short of securing a second win of the new season.

CROWTHORNE AND CROWN WOOD 2ND were awarded the points after Stratfield Turgis/Hartley Wespall 2nd cancelled their scheduled fixture at The Green.

TWYFORD AND RUSCOMBE doubled their win count in Division 3 after edging out Purley on Thames 3rd by just eight runs during an absorbing contest at

Scours Lane.

Hamish Pringle led the way for a Twyford side which elected to bat with a patient 34 coming from 80 deliveries, while captain for the day Ken Cochrane made a quick-fire 22.

Chandra Cherukuri down in the tail would finish unbeaten on 19, and this stand proved pivotal as the away side went on to protect 143-9 in the field.

The villagers’ innings was largely thwarted by Sam Woodhouse, who finished with 5-32 to leave the contest hanging in the balance.

Cherukuri would follow up his earlier work with the bat by leading the Twyford attack, but his 3-35 was looking to be nothing more than consolation as Purley closed in on victory.

But Venkat Musudi and Ken Cochrane had other ideas, and in taking four wickets between them for the loss of just five runs would snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Cochrane did not concede a single run during a nine-ball, two-wicket haul, while Musidi gave away just six during his two over spell as the pair produced some clinical death bowling.

Impressive stroke play from middle order batsmen Anish Pandey and Adrees Afzal could not steer WOODLEY 2ND the way of victory over at Ruislip Victoria 2nd.

Pandey kept the scorers busy with a top hit of 81, while Afzal played well at the opposite end, making 64, with the pair providing the bulk of the runs for a

side which posted 211-7 from 45 overs.

Those who failed with the bat, however, made amends with the ball as the away side went to work on trying to bowl out Ruislip.

All-rounder Prenda Deshpande struck three times and Ananth Suraj twice as further scalps for Gowtham Payavula and Adrees Afzal, along with a run out, had the home side eight down.

Ruislip, though, were never in any real danger of losing the game outright and sensibly held out for a draw from which Woodley picked up 24 points.

KNOWL HILL’S wait for a win continues, but they did give their points tally for the season a boost with the 11 picked up from a losing draw at Mortimer West End 2nd.

A share of the spoils was probably all the side could hope for after being whacked for a daunting 269-5 in the field.

Mortimer’s Andy Hobart was a particular menace, cracking an unbeaten century (101).

Dave Gordon (28), Noel Darvell (35) and Anthony Stott (28) all scored well at the top of the order as the visitors got stuck into their task, but it was Matt Crawcour who kept things interesting.

He would score well despite the flurry of wickets which fell later in the session and was still going strong on 77 not out when the innings came to a close.

A lack of support later in the game, though, would result in the side ending the day some 53 runs behind their total on 216-6.

Emmbrook 3s win at Hawley, where bowler Cobb leaves his Mark

DIVISION 4 OUTSTANDING work with the ball helped Emmbrook and Bearwood 3rd secure a first win of the season.

Opponents Hawley 2nd were bowled out for just 53 in reply to the 158 posted by the away side, with eight batsmen being removed for no score.

The demolition job was carried out jointly by Mark Cobb, who took a devastating 4-9 from five overs, while Brian Swindley claimed three scalps for the cost of 10 runs.

It was a remarkable effort from Emmbrook, with Alasdair Mortiboys’ knock of 32 arriving at three going against the grain on this particular occasion.

Mike Tiley was the only other player to score, making three.

Visiting captain Andrew Robertson had earlier won the toss and stuck his charges into bat, where Stuart Fairhead and Tom McNelly totted up exactly 30 runs each, but top scoring was Amit Viroja with 40.

Emmbrook would also experience a collapse, but thankfully not as dramatic as the one witnessed later in the day.

Dave Aust and James Clark traded some big hits when SHINFIELD 2ND and WALTHAM ST LAWRENCE 2ND clashed at the Recreation Ground.

But it was Aust’s unbeaten blast of 90 which helped Shinfield to victory by the slenderest of margins.

He would hold up an innings which otherwise stuttered, batting through all 45 overs, with his score coming from just 119 balls.

Despite Waltham’s Chris Apps picking up 4-44 and Hamid Kiani finishing with 3-20, the hosts still managed to plunder 173-9.

With the exception of Clark and Kenneth Simpson, who was the next best batsmen with 34, the away side also found the going tough in the middle.

Clark kept his side in contention with a brilliant 86, only to be one of four players to fall within a 16-run window.

Yet in crashing from 155-6 to 171-8, Waltham still only needed three runs for victory, but Hassan Safdar and Dave Aust ensured the points stayed in Shinfield.

In removing the dangerous Clark, Safdar took his tally of wickets for the afternoon to 4-33, while Aust struck twice with his first two balls of the game – conceding no runs – to clean up the tail and secure a thrilling triumph by just two runs.

BINFIELD 3RD remain winless after four games following a five-wicket loss when entertaining CROWTHORNE AND CROWN WOOD 3RD at Sol Joel Park.

Host captain Colin Canty inserted his side into bat, but would see only Vineet Choulman with 31 and Robert Carson, who clubbed a leading 42 down at seven, make any inroads against a Crows attack boasting John Cartledge.

He was destroyer in chief of an innings which was over after 139 runs and 42 overs, taking 4-25.

Four other dismissals were shared between Marshall Miller and Aran Long.

Binfield’s Robert Carson tried his utmost to try and throw the reins on Crowthorne’s reply and would claim three scalps of his own.

However, with opening bat Tom Nash in great form and striking up 67 the visitors, albeit patiently, knocked off the winning runs in the 40th over.

SPORT | 37

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Friday, June 3, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

FINCHAMPSTEAD CRICKET CLUB

Marles: Now is a Great time to put a Little run together

By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk DAN MARLES says this weekend’s clash against Great and Little Tew is “crucial” for Finchampstead, after they picked up their first win of the season on Saturday.

Finches had struggled to adjust to life back in the top flight of the Home Counties Premier League with no wins in three but put that right with a resounding nine-wicket victory over Tring Park.

Put in to bowl, Marles’ men got off to a flying start with the pace of Matt Carter and new boy Jandre Coetzee causing mayhem, removing Andrew Dixon (12), Ben Abbott (19) and Saif Zaib (8) with just 50 on the board.

Overseas bowler Coetzee ended with four wickets while Marles also picked up three as Finch sensationally bowled out Tring Park for just 79 after 22 overs.

And the visitors made light work of the chase with Dan Lincoln top scoring on 43 as Finch cruised home in just eight overs.

And Marles admits it was nice to get the first win out of the way.

“Once you get that win it’s obviously a different feeling around the lads now,” he told The Wokingham Paper.

“It makes us realise how good a side we can be when we get our cricket right so it was good to get the first win.

“We really haven’t got it right before and everything just clicked into place on Saturday.”

He added: “It will send a message to the rest of the league.

“Some people might think after the first few results that we’re a pushover, but we’re not.

“If we play some good cricket then, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we can beat anyone on our day.

“It’s just getting it right and training hard to hopefully do it more than once every four games.”

The afternoon was a first chance for Finch to take a look at their South African bowler Coetzee, who missed the first two games due to visa issues while rain put paid to his chances of bowling against High Wycombe last week.

Dan Lincoln, above, saw Finchampstead to their required total with a top score of 43, which secured a first win of the season for captain Dan marles (left)

And Marles was pleased with what he saw as Coetzee led the bowling attack with figures of 4-25.

“He was awesome,” said the skipper.

“He’s a serious bowler.

“That’s what we were missing, we had three weeks without an overseas bowling and obviously that’s what he’s come over to do.

“He was really good on Saturday and

it’s really good for the club that he’s come and he’s settled in really well.

“It looks like he could be a very good player for us.”

Finchampstead are set to make one change to their side for this week’s clash with Great and Little Tew as Matt Jones, who is away on holiday, drops out for Andrew House, who is fresh from an unbeaten half century for the seconds.

“It should be a good game,” said Marles.

“It’s one of those games we look at before the start of the season and say that’s going to be a crucial game to where we finish this year.

“If we can go and get another win then we can get some momentum rolling and we can go from there.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to go two out of two and get into mid-table.”

FINCHAMPSTEAD XI v Great and Little Tew: Dan Marles, Sukhi Kang, Matt Carter, Jandre Coetzee, Andrew House, Max Uttley, Dan Lincoln, Andy Rishton, Billy Rogers, Max Stevenson, Adam Dewes.

LONDON IRISH

Stalwart Ojo commits future to Exiles

By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk

“I’m fully committed to rectifying what went wrong last season and I’ll be doing everything I can to make sure we get back TOPSY OJO is determined to lead London to the Premiership at the first attempt.”

Irish back to the Aviva For now, Ojo continues Premiership at the first his rehabilitation work as he attempt after committing his recovers from the arm injury immediate future to the club. suffered during the 12-6 loss The Exiles’ stalwart was at Worcester Warriors back unable to help steer the club in March. away from relegation last Now some eight weeks season after missing the end into the programme, the of a difficult campaign with player says the rehab is an arm injury. going well, with Topsy But the winger and starting to get some strength all-time leading Irish try back in the affected area. scorer is not prepared to give He is hopeful of being fit up on the cause, vowing to enough to return in time for the start of the new season, stick it out and help plot a one which he says Irish quick route out of the Greene Topsy Ojo has must not go into with any King IPA Championship in no intention of complacency.

2016/17. leaving Irish Ojo added: “We will “Relegation was the most Picture: Wikipedia have to embrace the painful thing I’ve had to go Championship and it will be through at this club and it a new experience for a lot of the players really hurt me,” the 30-year-old said.

– we are going to be going to some new places and mentally we are going to have to be switched on as we are going to be the target this year.

“A lot of clubs will want to knock us down and it is important that we maintain that Premiership focus and our performances stay high.”

Ojo’s desire to stay at Irish represents another boost for the club.

This is after Aseli Tikoirotuma recently revealed he too wishes to try and help Exiles make a swift return to the top flight.

“We need to maintain the majority of the squad and I’m sure that’s the case,” Ojo explained.

“It’s brilliant to hear that Tiks (Tikoirotuma) is committed and I’m sure he speaks on behalf of a lot of the boys in wanting to make amends for last season.

“It’s looking like we are going to have a very strong squad next season and hopefully we can achieve our goals and return to the Premiership.”

CHILTERNS LEAGUE

Paul has the edge as Binfield end Taplow’s fine start BINFIELD racked up a third win in four Division 1 games courtesy of a four-wicket triumph at previously unbeaten Taplow, where Paul Edgington (pictured) was the star with bat and ball.

The visitors lost the toss and found themselves in the field, but Alex Jackson was soon putting the shackles on the home side, removing three batsmen during a productive eight over spell which saw only 39 runs conceded to the opposition.

Likewise was Edgington’s work with the ball. In helping break up the lower order, the all rounder finished with an impressive 3-15.

With Adam Carson leaving a mark on the innings with 2-9 and Mike Staves and Eddie Lee each picking up a wicket, Taplow were removed in the 32nd over for just 111.

It was some effort to remove the early pacesetters so cheaply, yet this good work threatened to be unravelled as Binfield slipped to 45-4.

This is after losing openers Adam Marshall (4) and Chris Morgan for no score, while captain Sean Ennis would make just nine. Lee (16) offered some improvement, but was caught by Mohammed Yahiya Khan to give Habib Khan a second scalp.

Matt Humphrey and Edgington would revive the reply with a 35-run partnership before the latter fell on a top score of 28.

Edgington, though, would not be removed and had both Staves (12) and Mickey Reid, who finished unbeaten on four, for company when guiding the away side to victory at the end of the 27th over.

Edgington would make a useful unbeaten 23 batting at six.

Up next for in-form Binfield is a trip to Chalfont St Giles (1pm). n A HEAVY loss by 167 runs means Binfield 2nd’s winless start to the Division 2 season shows no sign of letting up.

Ian Goddard won the toss and asked opponents Harpsden to bat – and they duly obliged.

Opposite number Christian Whittaker produced a masterclass in the middle, plundering a swashbuckling 124 to put the away side in control.

He was eventually removed by Harry Lee, who was the top of the Binfield bowling charts with 3-78.

There was a wicket each too for Neil Jones and Tony Boad, who put paid to Horatio Cary, who was also striking well and was on 74 when removed.

Between Cary and Whittaker, the pair helped Harpsden tot up a daunting 2675 from 45 overs.

Binfield have struggled for runs this term, and their falterings with the bat would once again prove costly.

Opener Richard Higginson made a start with 17 and Harry Lee worked the guests with what was a top score of 25.

Boad, with 14, and Goddard (12no) ensured the tail wagged, but a lack of support from elsewhere meant the hosts were shot out for a hard-earned 100 in the 34th over.

The 2nd’s are at home again on Saturday, where Chalfont St Giles 2nd are visitors to the FWE Goates Memorial Ground (1pm).

38 | SPORT

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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 3, 2016

Sonning’s Ghulam Abbas picked up two wickets during his side’s comfortable win

Finchampstead’s Tom Tinsley gets away with swatting this shot down the offside at Pound Lane Pictures: Steve Smyth

...But No.9 Tinsley’s luck was out when bowled by Sonning’s Raja Rafaqat on 10

THAMES VALLEY CRICKET LEAGUE

Majestic Mohammed seals Sonning victory DIVISIONS 2-5

By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk ZAHID MOHAMMED hit an unbeaten century as Sonning beat Finchampstead 3rd by five wickets in Division 3A. The two sides went into the contest both sitting in the top three after strong starts to the season, but it was Sonning who quickly asserted their authority on the contest.

Winning the toss and electing to field, Raja Rafaqat removed both openers for a combined total of just four runs on his way to impressive figures of 6-66.

Sam Jenkins was the clear standout man for Finch, managing 88 before Rafaqat struck again as Sonning bowled out their opponents for 208.

In response, the hosts got off to a solid start thanks to Peter Dean (27) and Alex Ray (9) but it was the stand of 120 not out from number three Mohammed which shaped the match.

Jameel Ahamed supported with 29 but in truth Mohammed was the only man on the Sonning side to make a serious mark as Josh Lincoln (4-108) did his best with the ball.

It was not enough, though, as Sonning

Sam Jenkins’ watchful 88 proved to be in vain for Finchampstead 3rds away at Sonning

High-five! O’Brien sends Hurst 2s skittling to defeat DIVISIONS 6-9

CHARLIE O’BRIEN’S five-wicket haul helped Wokingham 3rd to a much-needed win over Hurst 2nd in Division 6B, writes TOM CROCKER. With just one win to their name this campaign, the Oaks dismissed Hurst for 121, only needing nine wickets thanks to an under-strength opponent.

O’Brien was the standout man of the Wokingham attack with impressive figures of 5-21.

In reply, Matthew Taylor and Edward Fox-Smith were the highest scorers in reply with 30 apiece as the target was reached inside 26 overs.

Mandip Sohi came agonisingly close to reaching a century as WARGRAVE 2ND hammered Purley-on-Thames 2nd by 146 runs.

Batting first, Martin Woods (40) and Oscar Gutierrez (25) gave Wargrave a good footing before Sohi took to the crease, only to be caught by James Denton off the bowling of George Clarke for 99, but the total of 265-9 looked tough to beat.

James Measham did his best in reply with 48 but fine figures of 5-17 from Razwan Hanif helped bowl Purley out for 119, well short of the target.

Figures of 4-34 from Ben Cole set FINCHAMPSTEAD 4TH on their way to a comprehensive victory over Henley 4th in 7A. Bowling first against the side bottom of the pile, leaders Finch eased towards a fourth straight win this season as Cole took four wickets while Nick West (2-8) supported to bowl Henley out for a mere 73.

cruised home after 45 overs to move top of the pile after four games.

In the same league, EVERSLEY 2ND were thrashed by Falkland 2nd.

Set a hefty target of 247 to win, Eversley never got close, bowled out for just 104 as Falkland collected a huge 142-run victory.

FINCHAMPSTEAD 2ND stay top of Division 2A after thrashing Tring Park 2nd by 10 wickets.

With the first team beating the same club by nine wickets on the same day, the seconds did not disappoint with a dominant performance from start to finish.

Tring Park were dismissed for 120 as spinners Matt Harper (4-25) and James Woodford (3-28) enjoyed prolific days with the ball and they made light work of chasing down the target.

While Tring Park lost all their wickets, Finchampstead lost none with openers Russell Lane (65no) and Andrew House (50no) completing the job themselves with half centuries in an easy day’s work.

In the same league, EVERSLEY came out on the wrong side of a draw against Marlow Park.

Matt Salter and Chris Last both took four wickets each as Eversley bowled out

Marlow for 267 but they could not chase down the total, closing their innings on 240-8.

Jack Ford (63) top scored in the second innings as Eversley collected eight points to the 10 earned by Marlow.

Phil Higgs took six wickets as HURST eased to victory over Royal Ascot in 2B. After winning the toss, Hurst took to the field and, led by Higgs, made themselves favourites for the match.

Ending with figures of 6-55, Higgs helped reduce Royal Ascot to 162, albeit without bowling them out.

But the target was never likely to be in doubt, especially after an unbeaten 65 from Lewis Smith, who kicked off the innings with a boundary, while 44 from Oliver Lovegrove ensured Hurst won in the 39th over.

Elsewhere, Huw Thomas took five wickets as WARGRAVE came agonisingly close to beating Slough 2nd.

Figures of 5-61 from Thomas and Martin Smith’s 3-80 helped Wargrave bowl Slough out for 197, who had Goutham Shrikrishna (48) and Omar Jamshad (36) mainly to thank.

Knocks of 46 from Imran Malik, 47 from Luke Taylor and Arslan Yaseen’s 30 appeared to have guided Wargrave

The run chase was straightforward for table-topping Finchampstead with Gareth Biggs (35) top scoring as the win was sealed with eight wickets in hand.

Robert Saunders shone with bat and ball as EVERSLEY 3RD jumped up to second in the table with a four-wicket win over Yateley 3rd.

Bowling first, Saunders posted figures of 3-68 but it was Andrew Hogston who was the pick of the bowlers with six wickets at the cost of just 35 runs.

John Garrett (47) top scored for Yateley but they were bowled out for 151.

The target always looked achievable and so it proved, despite the best efforts of Simon Herrington (3-49).

Supported by Robin Brooks (33), Saunders was the highest scorer of the match with an unbeaten 79 as Eversley leapfrogged Yateley with victory after 36 overs.

EVERSLEY 4TH not did fare quite so well in 8A, going down by 118 runs to Kew 4th.

Batting first, a number of Kew men

troubled the bowlers in Damian Judd (26no), David Morrey (48), Martin Hodgson (63) and leading scorer Jagath Rajapaksha (74) as they declared on 245-4.

Luke Casey’s 40 was the best Eversley could muster in response as all the wickets fell around unbeaten Andrew Perkin (39), who looked well placed to at least make a dent in the chase.

But they were dismissed for 127 after 35 overs.

In the same league, WOKINGHAM 4TH produced a fine batting display to see off SONNING 3RD by eight wickets.

Khuram Akram (57) and Nick Ray (54) helped Sonning set a respectable target of 203 before they were bowled out.

But the Oaks made light work of the chase, losing just two wickets as both Jake Atkinson (89) and Glyn Clements (30) ended the innings with their wicket in tact while Rahul Patel (52) also made a notable contribution.

An unbeaten knock of 86 from Gary Woodford helped FINCHAMPSTEAD

towards the winning line, only for time to run out with the score at 197-5, two runs off victory.

The draw saw Wargrave pick up eight points while Slough take 10.

An unbeaten knock of 90 from Dan Reddyhough ensured WOKINGHAM 2ND preserved their perfect start to the 4B season.

Coming into their game against Theale and Tilehurst, the Oaks had won three from three and they only lost two wickets as they chased down 184 to win for a fourth time.

John McDonald (3-38) and David Bishop (4-53) led the bowling as Wokingham dismissed Theale after Andrew Wigmore (50) and Simon Bond (42no) top scored.

Simon Carter fell for 28 in reply but Reddyhough and Jacob Clark (59no) stayed the course to fly over the line in the 36th over.

SONNING 2ND had an afternoon to forget with a 116-run defeat to Bracknell in 5B. Jatindra Kumar’s century and a 36 from Tyron Winter saw Bracknell set a target of 191 to win, but Sonning were bowled out for just 74, which leaves them eighth in the table.

5TH to a seven-wicket win over borough rivals WOKINGHAM 5TH in 9A. After winning the toss and putting the visitors in to bat, Ben Pickbourne’s 75 not out saw the Oaks close on 192-7 after their 47 overs.

But it took Finches just 39 overs to chase down that total thanks in no small part to Woodford, while Dave Marles (30) and Doug Scholes (60) also played their part.

WARGRAVE 3RD continued their solid start to the campaign by inflicting a first defeat of the year on leaders Boyne Hill 4th.

Hamza Butt (58) and Todd McKlintock (44) top scored for Boyne Hill as they closed on 145-9 thanks to fine bowling from Scott Walker (3-57) and Lewis Bowers (4-19).

It never looked like being enough to secure a fourth win from four, however, as Rob Jones (45) and Andrew Hattey (38no) helped Wargrave over the line in the 33rd over to keep the side fourth in the table.

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Friday, June 3, 2016 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

MINOR COUNTIES CRICKET

Dan the in-form Finch man is handed Berks debut

FINCHAMPSTEAD batsman Dan Lincoln and Ollie Wilkin from Ealing are to make their Unicorns Championship debuts for Berkshire against Herefordshire at Colwall in the three-day game commencing on Sunday (11am), writes DAVID WRIGHT. Former Reading FC Academy goalkeeper Lincoln, who celebrated his 21st birthday last week, crashed an unbeaten 43 off 23 balls when Finchampstead raced to 82-1 in just eight overs during their nine-wicket win at Tring Park last Saturday.

Wilkin, 24, has played mainly for Middlesex 2nds and Loughborough University.

In April just gone he hit 106 off 73 balls for MCC against the Minor Counties at Lord’s, a game that also included Berkshire professional Chris Peploe.

Wilkin, who will open the Berkshire innings with Slough’s Waqas Hussain, replaces Henley‘s Michael Roberts, who is unable to play due to work commitments.

Lincoln comes in for Finchampstead team-mate Andy Rishton, who has examinations at Loughborough University.

Club colleague Billy Rogers retains his place, having played well in the Trophy game against Devon last month.

The 12-man squad also includes Boyne Hill’s young left-arm spinner, Mark Firth.

Head coach Tom Lambert said: “We have had to make a few changes but with them come opportunities for some and increased responsibilities for others.

“We are more than happy with the team we are taking to Herefordshire and excited to get our championship season up and running as we look to build on last season’s runners-up position in the Western Division.

“The players are all confident as they are in good form with their clubs which is always hugely important coming into these (county) games.”

BERKSHIRE SQUAD: Wilkin (Ealing), Hussain (Slough), Richard Morris (Henley), Rogers

(Finchampstead), James Morris (capt, Datchet), Woods (Henley), Lincoln (Finchampstead), Peploe (Datchet), Davison (wkt, Henley), Carter (Finchampstead), Nugent (Henley), Firth (Boyne Hill).

Double woe for Women BERKSHIRE WOMEN suffered two defeats at the weekend, losing to Yorkshire by four wickets at Finchampstead on Sunday and by 15 runs to Somerset at Midsomer Norton on Monday.

They started well against Yorkshire, with Heather Knight and Carla Rudd taking the total from 41-2 to 121 before the latter was trapped lbw for 36.

Lissy Macleod was dismissed in similar fashion first ball and one run later Knight was caught for 65.

There was little resistance from the bottom order and Berkshire were all out for 155.

For the visitors, Hollie Armitage took 4-17 and England off-spinner Danni Hazell 3-35.

Another England player, Lauren Winfield, laid the foundation of Yorkshire’s victory with 76 off 72 balls with Hazell (9no) and Katie Thompson (18no) seeing their side home with more than 10 overs to spare.

On Monday, Berkshire restricted their hosts to 139-9, of which England’s Anya Shrubsole contributed 60 not out off 95 balls.

Only one other batter, opener Georgina Adcock (25) reached double figures, while Berkshire conceded 26 extras (23 wides).

Rachel Hardy (3-23) was the pick of the bowlers. In reply, Berkshire lost half the side with only 38 runs on the board inside 20 overs.

Macleod and Fi Morris added 46 in 11 overs for the eighth wicket to put the visitors in with a chance of pulling the game out of the fire, but Morris was dismissed for 24 and Berks were all out for 124 with Macleod left unbeaten on 54 off 89 balls, having batted for nearly two hours.

WOKINGHAM CRICKET CLUB

Hayter blames poor start after Oaks see winning run ended

By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk STUART HAYTER was left rueing a catastrophic first hour as Wokingham’s winning start to the Thames Valley Division 1 season came to an end against Chesham.

After winning their first three matches, the Oaks sat second in the table before taking on the only other side with a perfect record so far and faced an uphill struggle after falling to 39-5.

Hayter’s men battled back well to at least make the game competitive, but eventually lost by three wickets.

“Yeah it was disappointing,” the captain told The Wokingham Paper.

“We had a poor first hour really which put us on the back foot and after that we actually came back into the game pretty well and made them work for their victory.

“It wasn’t all bad.

“That first hour, the top five didn’t really have the best of days which can happen sometimes.”

After losing the toss and being put in to bat, Wokingham got off to a disastrous start, losing Stuart Parsons (8), Hayter (4), Michael Bates (12), Dan Housego (10) and

Tom Wood (0) cheaply as Gift Kwatsha and Jason Rance shared the wickets with three and two respectively.

From 39-5, the Oaks were indebted to patient knocks from Michael Cowdell and Jake Turner to steady the ship, more than doubling the overall tally before Cowdell was caught off the bowling of Pip France for 11.

Wokingham were all out for 168 in the 48th over but only after late rally of an unbeaten 40 from Anthony Clapham and 34 from number 10 Cameron Spence gave the visitors some hope.

Chesham started strongly in reply, putting on 80 before both openers Matthew Rance (28) and Mark Eteen (51) fell in quick succession, both to Clapham.

Wood picked up two wickets while Clapham and Paul Dewick also shared one more each but it was not enough to prevent Chesham from getting over the line in the 39th over.

“We bat all the way down and that showed with a few of the performances further down the order from us,” said Hayter.

“To get 168 all out from 39-5, we would’ve taken that definitely.

“Anthony (Clapham) did the business

Cameron Spence rescued Wokingham’s innings through a hit of 34. Left: Captain Stuart Hayter

and it was good watching him and Cam bat together towards the end of our innings.

“Jake Turner batted well in the middle, kind of stopped the rot and then with the ball again we performed pretty well.

“They were 80 odd without loss and for them to be seven down and chasing it was a good effort by the lads.”

Despite the loss to a fellow promotion favourite, Hayter insists he is pleased with the start his charges have made to this campaign.

“Yeah I am definitely happy,” he said.

“Even though we had a loss at the weekend, we didn’t come away thinking it was the end of the world.

“There were a lot of positives we could take out of it and that’s what we’re going to do.

“We’ll go hard again this week.”

Next up for the Oaks is a home clash against Stoke Green, who sit fifth after two wins and two losses so far.

But Hayter insists he is only focused on his own side, rather than being concerned about the opponents.

“We’re not worried really about who we play in the league to be honest,” he said.

“We know it’s a hard league to get out of and you don’t take opposition lightly, so we just want to get back on the horse this week.”

ROUND-UP

More magic with the bat from Michael sends Shinfield All Stars crashing to defeat MICHAEL COWDELL’S blistering form with the bat continued when guiding Wokingham Under-19s Velociraptures to victory against Shinfield All Stars.

The opener, fresh from his unbeaten century the weekend before during the Oaks’ victory over Sandhurst in the Bracknell Midweek League, cracked a top score of 44 not out during this eight-wicket triumph at the Recreation Ground.

Cowdell’s knock came from just

39 deliveries, with the runs helping Wokingham quickly surpass the modest target of 65 set by Shinfield.

The path to victory, however, was carved out by team-mate Callum Creighton.

The bowler was in bloodthirsty form with the ball, picking off five All Stars for the cost of the same number of runs – with his haul coming in just four overs.

Despite Creighton’s interference, Shinfield did manage to see out their

allotted 20 overs, but would not make a significant increase to their score until Scott Winton and Nathan Henderson came in further down the order and swung the bat around, making 16 and 19 respectively.

Andrew Prowse removed Wokingham duo Ben Myles and Rahul Patel cheaply, but big-hitting Cowdell ensured the points went the way of the visitors.

T20 WOKINGHAM were bowled out for a

disappointing 70 chasing the 160 posted by local rivals Finchampstead in the Bracknell Midweek League.

It is, however, played two, won two for the opposition after they set an imposing total in this T20 clash at the Memorial Ground and then backed it up in the field.

Needing to tick along at roughly eight an over, the away side were unable to keep up with the rate and were dismissed in the 15th over, losing the contest by 90 runs.

The Borough Honours board The team each player represents is listed first Batsmen

ZAHID MOHAMMED: Sonning v Finchampstead 3rd – 120* FAKHIR ALI: Shinfield v Waltham St Lawrence – 105 MANDIP SOHI: Wargrave 2nd v Purley-on-Thames 2nd – 99 DAN REDDYHOUGH: Wokingham 2nd v Theale and Tilehurst – 90* DAVE AUST: Shinfield 2nd v Waltham St Lawrence 2nd – 90* JAKE ATKINSON: Wokingham 4th v Sonning 3rd – 88 SAM JENKINS: Finchampstead 3rd v Sonning – 88 JAMES CLARK: Waltham St Lawrence 2nd v Shinfield 2nd – 87 GARY WOODFORD: Finchampstead 5th v Wokingham 5th – 86* ANISH PANDEY: Woodley 2nd v Ruislip Victoria 2nd – 81 ROBERT SAUNDERS: Eversley 3rd v Yateley 3rd – 79* RICHARD BARRON: Crowthorne and Crown Wood v Mortimer West End – 79 AKEESH KHOKHAR: Farley Hill v Earley – 78 MATT CROWCOUR: Knowl Hill v Mortimer West End 2nd – 77* BEN PICKBOURNE: Wokingham 5th v Finchampstead 5th – 75* TOM NASH: Crowthorne and Crown Wood 3rd v Binfield 3rd – 67 LEWIS SMITH: Hurst v Royal Ascot – 65* RUSSELL LANE: Finchampstead 2nd v Tring Park 2nd – 65* ADREES AFZAL: Woodley 2nd v Ruislip Victoria 2nd – 64 JACK FORD: Eversley v Marlow Park – 63 DOUG SCHOLES: Finchampstead 5th v Wokingham 5th – 60 JACOB CLARK: Wokingham 2nd v Theale and Tilehurst – 59* MATT SMART: Emmbrook and Bearwood v Welford Park – 58 NICK OUTRAM: Crowthorne and Crown Wood v Mortimer West End – 79 RAHUL PATEL: Wokingham 4th v Sonning 3rd – 52 ANDREW HOUSE: Finchampstead 2nd v Tring Park 2nd – 50* * Not out BOWLERS: ANDREW HOGSTON: Eversley 3rd v Yateley 3rd – 6-35 PHIL HIGGS: Hurst v Royal Ascot – 6-55 RAJA RAFAQAT – Sonning v Finchampstead 3rd – 6-66 RAZWAN HANIF: Wargrave 2nd v Purley-on-Thames 2nd – 5-17 CHARLIE O’BRIEN: Wokingham 3rd v Hurst 2nd – 5-21 MATT HOWARTH: Emmbrook and Bearwood v Welford Park – 5-44 HUW THOMAS: Wargrave v Slough 2nd – 5-61 MARK COBB: Emmbrook and Bearwood 3rd v Hawley 2nd – 4-9 LEWIS BOWERS: Wargrave 3rd v Boyne Hill 4th – 4-19 JANDRE COETZEE: Finchampstead v Tring Park – 4-25 JOHN CARTLEDGE: Crowthorne and Crown Wood v Binfield 3rd – 4-25 MATT HARPER: Finchampstead 2nd v Tring Park 2nd – 4-25 HASSAN SAFDAR: Shinfield 2nd v Waltham St Lawrence 2nd – 4-33 BEN COLE: Finchampstead 4th v Henley 4th – 4-34 CHRIS APPS: Waltham St Lawrence 2nd v Shinfield 2nd – 4-44 DAVID BISHOP: Wokingham 2nd v Theale and Tilehurst – 4-53 MATT SALTER: Eversley v Marlow Park – 4-71 CHRIS LAST: Eversley v Marlow Park – 4-80 JOSH LINCOLN: Finchampstead 3rd v Sonning – 4-108

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POOR START TO BLAME: Oaks captain Hayter speaks out after loss at Chesham — Page 39

READING FC

Stam is the man to replace axed McDermott, say the bookmakers

By TOM CROCKER tcrocker@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Brian McDermott’s second stint at Reading manager lasted just six months

JAAP STAM is the bookmakers favourite to replace Brian McDermott as Reading boss.

The former Manchester United defender has recently left his position as a coach at Ajax and earlier this year stated his intention to move to England to pursue a career in management.

Dutchman Stam (pictured) has previously worked under Reading’s new director of football Brian Tevreden during their time together at Ajax and is priced at 1/5 with bookies SkyBet. But The Wokingham Paper understands no appointment is likely until next week at the earliest.

This comes after McDermott was surprisingly shown the door by the club last Friday.

The former Leeds United boss only started his second spell in charge of

Reading in December and ends with a record of nine wins, eight draws and 13 defeats from his 30 games in charge.

A brief official club statement read: “After careful consideration, the board of Reading Football Club have taken the difficult decision to relieve manager Brian McDermott of his duties.

“We would like to sincerely thank Brian for all his hard work since his return to the club in December 2015 and wish him well in his future career.

“The board of Reading Football Club will now undertake a rigorous recruitment process over the next few weeks to identify the right man to lead the club forward into the 2016-17 season.

“The club will make a further

announcement to our supporters in due course.”

While the sacking came as a shock, the 55-year-old undoubtedly paid the price for a poor run of form towards the end of the campaign.

Despite leading the club into the FA Cup quarter-finals, McDermott presided over six defeats in the last seven games, which saw Royals finish the season in 17th place.

Reports suggest McDermott may not be out of work for long, however, with his name strongly linked with the vacant managerial post at Bolton Wanderers.

Stam is not the only man in the frame for Reading with ex-Chelsea and Portsmouth boss Avram Grant second favourite at 6/1, closely followed by

Gianfranco Zola at 8/1.

Former Atletico Madrid midfielder Milinko Pantic is next on the list at 12/1 with the likes of Phil Parkinson (20/1), Dennis Bergkamp (25/1), Ryan Giggs (33/1) and Gary Neville (33/1) among the outsiders. n READING, meanwhile, are calling on fans to rename Madejski Stadium’s North Stand.

The club say the time is now to break from the traditional compass points and come up with a new name with possible suggestions including names linked to a Simod Cup winner, a record goalscorer, cult hero or a nod to Elm Park.

To give your suggestions, contact Reading on Facebook, Twitter, email darathomas@readingfc.co.uk or send to Dara Thomas, Reading Football Club, Madejski Stadium, J11 M4, Reading RG2 0FL. The deadline for suggestions is Friday, June 10.

ICE HOCKEY

‘We can start to Bee-lieve’ n Huge boost for rescue effort as operating licence is granted

By LEWIS RUDD lrudd@wokinghampaper.co.uk BRACKNELL BEES are celebrating a big victory after the committee working to keep the club in existence was granted the operating licence.

The team is now a step closer to being able to take to the ice once again next season after John Nike, who owns the club, was satisfied enough to let the supporter-led taskforce take control of running the team.

Those looking after the 29-year-old Bees still have a way to go in their efforts to keep the side alive, however, with the next challenge being to seek approval of both the English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL) and English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) for readmittance to the 2016/17 competition.

More importantly, though, is the fact the tireless work of those picking up the pieces following the departure of previous licence holders, Precision Sports Marketing (PSM), earlier this year is now beginning to bear fruit.

Lukas Smital, who is part of the committee and Player Head Coach, can begin his recruitment plans in earnest, with it hoped the first player to join the roster will be unveiled next week.

The Czech is understandably delighted with this latest development, telling The Wokingham Paper how his gratitude for all those who have helped the cause goes beyond the imagination.

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It has been a good week for Lukas Smital and the Bracknell Bees Picture: Bob Swann

“I feel good – not so much relieved but appreciative for all of the help from everywhere,” he said.

“You go through stages where you start doubting yourself but I think over the last few days people stepped up massively, not just Bees fans, but the hockey community and it makes you feel like you want to go out there and repay them.

“The other two directors have made an outstanding effort and support has come in from as far as Manchester – the fans have been so Published by Xn supportive.

Media Ltd, Crown “We cannot get carried House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 away, though, because 4LS. Printed at there is still a lot of work Newbury Weekly News, Newspaper to do, but the first big House, Faraday Road, hurdle is behind us now.

Newbury, Berkshire “It is not just about the RG14 2DW .© Xn Media Ltd, 2016 off season, but during the

season too and to just keep reaching our goals, which is to make this club level footed – not just for one season, but to make some stability for future Bees as well.”

While overwhelmed by the levels of support shown to the club in recent weeks, Smital also paid homage to those players who have been patiently waiting for news on Bees’ future.

Some, he explained, also persuaded the forward to carry on playing for at least another season.

“The players have been outstanding and patient,” added 41-year-old Smital.

“A few have decided to go elsewhere but the others have been hanging on, and that shows they have trust in what we are doing and have great respect for this club, which is pretty amazing.”

The battle will resume next Wednesday (June 8) when the club will sit down with league officials.

Those rooting for the rescue effort to be a success come from far and wide, and will no doubt have everything crossed once again for another successful outcome.

Smital said: “If you don’t go through things like that then you will probably never find out how strong the support is.

“My thanks goes beyond everyone’s imagination.

“It is incredible to see just how much this means to them, not just here in Bracknell, but across the whole hockey family.”

A crowd funding page set up to help the effort now totals at almost £8,000.

If you wish to make a contribution, visit www.gba.podiumpartners.org/ campaign/75-save-the-bracknell-bees.

Further information, including Season Member Card forms, can be found on the Save the Bees Facebook page.

Special Guest Keith Deller (left) took on Paul Young of the Wokingham Independent Darts League at the Winnersh British Legion on Saturday night Picture: Steve Smyth

DARTS

For he’s a jolly good Feller!

Darts legend Deller drops by WOKINGHAM darts players enjoyed a double top night on Saturday as 1983 world champion Keith Deller paid a visit to the borough.

Deller, who famously became the first qualifier to win the world title by beating Eric Bristow in the final, led an exhibition night at the Winnersh British Legion

where he took on some of the Wokingham Independent Darts League players.

There were also some trophies to hand out to players and teams who came out on top during the recently finished winter season. n For the full story and more pictures from the evening, turn to page 34.