1 Surgery News - Snooker Club Leavers, Retirements and Newcomers Award

It has been a momentous time at She remembers with horror, one the Surgery in recent months. Mike Christmas Eve night, leaving a very Boyle has seen his last patient; we large aminophylline suppository on are all very sad to see him go and a Spanish lady’s bedside table wish him all the best for the future. saying she would come back. On returning, the lady gesticulated that We had lined up two doctors to take she had swallowed the whole thing. over from him (surely one doctor The next morning, shaking with fear, could not have replaced Mike!) but she confessed to Matron, who burst unfortunately one of the two has into fits of laughter and told her to pulled out as she realised that the go off and enjoy her Christmas time was not right for her to be and District Snooker Club holiday. joining us, along with her other has been awarded CAMRA’s Club commitments. Therefore we will be After finishing her training, she of the Year 2015, for the ninth time rather busy until Dan Alton joins us emigrated to Australia as a £10.00 in ten years. The award was in February. However we are very Pom and worked in a large public presented by local Wargrave grateful that Jackie Moncur is going hospital in Melbourne, and more resident John Robinson to Graham to be covering more sessions, and excitingly for the Air Ambulance (Bar Manager), Steve Sears another well-known doctor in the service. In 1972 she travelled back (Chairman) and Mel (mentor and ex village, Helen Casey, (Dr Crawley) to England overland, on the ‘Hippie Bar Manager). has generously decided to see what Trail’. She was able to pass through Shortly after the presentation, the practice is like to the north of the remote parts of Nepal, Afghanistan, Timothy Taylor Boltmaker ran out, A4, by helping out for a few Iran and other places which are and to celebrate the special sessions when we are really sadly no longer open to tourists. occasion, we were treated to some pushed. Brakspear Special - which Graham As well as Mike, we have also said had collected personally from The farewell to Maria Allen, who worked Bell Street Brewery in Henley. in the surgery in a number of roles - Steve Sears said ‘The Campaign for as practice manager, administrator Real Ale make the award for the and receptionist - since 1985, with quality of the club and the beer, the only a short break while employed friendliness of the bar staff and the in a hospital. She started working general ambience. It is a nice, for the surgery on the same day as friendly club.’ Julia Thurston thirty tears ago. Darren Stock We have lost two nurses too - (Press and Publicity for CAMRA Sherri Gregory, who has left us Reading and Mid Berks Branch and because of a family move to the Area Organiser for ) Midlands, and Judith Stephenson- 07808 802086 Hodges, who is well known throughout the village. However, Photo of Judith Nicola Oatley has joined us and is Stephenson- settling in well. Overall our nursing Hodges by Tim hours have increased. Hodges Judith She worked again at UCH, raised her children, and took various part- Judith went to Jamaica aged four time jobs until asking Sandra Swan and was educated there until, as a in 1992 if she had any jobs. So, 23 teenager, she moved back to live in happy years later, having seen Purley, Surrey. After A levels, she many changes and enjoying started her nursing training at At time of writing there are still a few meeting the lovely Wargrave University College Hospital in 1963. tickets available for the Twyford patients, she has decided to retire, if Singers’ Christmas Concert on She remembers that in those days that is what you can call a life full of Saturday 12 December. glass syringes and needles were running, kayaking, dongling and sterilized by boiling and re-used skiing. Our thoughts go out to her It is at St Mary’s Church in Twyford many times. The glass became husband, Tim, as he tries to keep and begins at 7.30pm. Tickets are opaque with calcium deposits, the up! £10 ‘on the door’ (£5 for under 16s) measurements were difficult to read or check availability by ringing in and the needles impossibly blunt! Drs Thurston, Puddy and Kennedy advance - 901 6175.

2 Contacts

Goodbye to Wargrave Editors: Dear Editors, [email protected] Through the Wargrave News, I would like to say goodbye. After living in Sue Ferguson 940 3032 my home for 47 years and working at the surgery for 30 years, I have got to know many people and sadly cannot get around to say goodbye to Sue Chamberlain 940 3648 everyone. Cath Forsaith 940 1895

I have so many happy memories with my wonderful husband, Rob, and Sharon Hewitt 940 2909 my two lovely sons, which will be with me for ever. Cynthia Coombes 940 2937 I will only be living an hour away and hope to visit often. Alex Limia Dieguez 940 4216 Best wishes to you all Pat Butler Website: Cath Forsaith 940 1895 Residents of Elizabeth Court proudly Advertising: introduce the new Guy in town Sue Ferguson 940 3032 18 Ridgeway, Wargrave [email protected] Noticeboard: Cath Forsaith 940 1895

Printed by: Greenhouse Graphics 01256 880770

Published by: Wargrave News, Wargrave

Treasurer: Graham Jones 940 6613 20 Ridgeway, Wargrave

Secretary: Sue Ferguson 940 3032

Distribution: John Coombes 940 2937 Mervyn Hardiman 07747 714847

The Editors would Front cover photo: courtesy of Sharon Hewitt like to take this Copy Dates The Wargrave News is not opportunity to wish published in January. The copy deadline for the February issue all our contributors, is Friday 29 January at 6.00pm. Please send articles and letters advertisers, to [email protected] distributors and readers a very Contents Merry Christmas Pages 4 to 7 Wargrave News 400th Issue and a Happy New Pages 9, 11 Church Services Year. Page 23 Panto Page 43, 44 The Piggott in China Page 47 Pizzas at The Greyhound

3 Wargrave News Celebrates its 400th Issue Peter Delaney writes:- For the first edition in 1978 After Roger Free resigned as editor in August 1982, Rosemary and Chris A Village Shop Promotion there were articles from the The Wargrave News was begun by continued as joint editors. The John Weatherlake in October 1978, Youth Club, Wargrave January 1983 issue, however, lists a in part as a way to promote his High Theatre Workshop, Hunter team of four as editors - Sue Griffiths and Mike Hopewell had joined Street Store. Douglas Goddard, Trials, Residents’ writing in 2008, commented that John Rosemary and Chris. A note in the had taken over the shop in an Association, Cricket Club, following month’s issue reported that 'attempt to breathe some life back Wine Circle, Wargrave the Wargrave News Management Committee had discussed a request into the High Street’. To publicise it Flower and Produce Show he hit on the idea of a newsletter from a local political party to use the which he arranged to have delivered and Badminton Club in the Wargrave News to distribute their to all Wargrave households - the Woodclyffe Hall. newssheet. Although the Wargrave Wargrave News was born. He and News would benefit from the income, they did not wish to 'be identified with Julie Lovegrove were named as the A stack of all 400 issues, with editors, and Leone Colgan dealt with the very first on the top! any one political party, for whatever advertising. Although the very first disclaimers we made this is what will page says ‘High Street Stores is happen'. backing the venture’, issues 1 - 30 A Whole Village Venture were officially published by the East The Wargrave News was entered Berks Boat Co. The first two issues into the Berkshire Village Venture were to be free, and then subscribers Competition in 1983, when it was would pay 5p for their copy, but by noted that although the team had issue 5 it was being freely distributed taken over editorial responsibility in to every household in the village. April 1981, they only took over full Also in issue 5, the editor wrote that financial responsibility in January 'it should really be run by a group of 1982. The paper reached the final people who represent the whole round of judging, and received £30 village, rather than just three as a consolation prize. individuals tied to one business concern'. * The editorial team remained the A Village Newsletter same, under ‘Rosemary Gray’s guiding hand'. John Weatherlake A Wargrave News Committee took retired from the management over at issue 31. The Management committee in November 1985. He Committee was named as Chairman said he had wanted it to 'keep people Douglas Goddard, Vice Chairman in touch with what was going on in John Ratings, Treasurer Bobby the village', but added that it 'didn’t Bramall and Parish Council stop him from using it now and then Representative Bob Gray; John to stir up a hornet’s nest or two'! Weatherlake also kept an involvement in the running of the More Pages, More Topics paper. The editorial committee had In September 1989 Barry Coward, Roger Free, one time headteacher at historian and lecturer at Birkbeck the Piggott Junior School, as editor, College, took a sabbatical to write a with Rosemary Gray and Chris Scott book; during that year he joined the as assistant editors, Tony Searby as editorial team, and set out his ideas sports editor, Ann Nono in charge of for the Wargrave News on the front advertising, Eve Goddard doing the page of the November issue - to try typesetting (computer generated and make the content reflect a wider articles being most unusual at that range of village topics, to include the time), and Pam Nash overseeing the ‘light hearted’ as well as the ‘more distribution. The following issue notes serious’, and to move to computer that the Wargrave Parish Council pre-production, rather than the literal budget had incl uded a sum of £500 cut and paste with scissors and glue. towards the costs of Wargrave News. In March 1991 an additional editor joined the team - Mal Evans. The

page count by this time was running * There had been a ‘one-off’ publication called Wargrave Times for at 16 or 20 - with 12 issues a year. the Jubilee Festival in 1977 - whether By 1994 publication had become ten this was the inspiration for John per year (omitting January and Weatherlake’s publication is not clear. August).

4 Wargrave News 400th Issue (continued) Those looking for issues 162 and 163 also to work hard as Treasurer. The will not find them -- by mistake they March 2015 issue, however, was to were numbered 168 and 169, so ‘ As the principal editors, be the last with Mal Evans leading those occur twice in the sequence! In Rosemary Gray and Sue the team - after 24 years as an 1993 Rosemary and Sue retired as Griffiths devoted many years editor she lost her fight against editors, after 13 and 10 years service cancer. respectively, and by this time there to the task. Congratulations More Contributors and More were usually 20 pages in each issue. to both of them for such Readers Scissors and Paste to New sterling work, which set the Many villagers have been involved Technology foundations for the magazine in the Wargrave News, co-ordinating Several people had done the typing the advertising, proofreading (Tony until this time, and on typewriters with it is today. ’ Evans continues his long service at different fonts - but during 1995 Russ Openshaw this) distributing the paper around gradually more and more was the village every month, providing composed with the same typeface, illustrations or cartoons, etc. Rather giving a more consistent appearance than articles being left in the to the paper. In 1988, John Ratings ‘Wargrave News envelopes’ around took over from Douglas Goddard as the village, most of the input now is Chairman of the Wargrave News submitted electronically, and issues Management Committee, Rosemary of the Wargrave News are also Gray remaining its Secretary. available on the internet, so ‘village news’ has a much wider readership. Colourful, and Still Growing The first ‘full colour’ cover (on glossy Some names feature for many years paper) featured a stained glass - whether running a club, society, the window design by Crazies Hill School public library or a sporting team, pupils in March 2002, (shown on the organising the Village Festival or right) by which time issue 202 had being involved with the parish or been reached. A further full colour district council. Many of the topics cover appeared in July 2003, this reappear quite often - planning time featuring work by pupils of the issues, car parking, dogs. Other Robert Piggott Infant School, whilst topics were of a particular time - the pictures of the Village Festival sewage works, the proposal for a provided the July 2005 colour cover. footbridge over the Thames. A regular Catch up with Crazies Hill In April 2008, the Wargrave News and Cockpole Green has been Village Diary appeared as a full page included since January 1988. Often calendar on the back page. Higgs a part column in the early days, it Group took over from Vallis Press, now is often a full two pages - Tess using a heavier weight of paper, so Dixon having taken over reporting the Wargrave News become rather from long-serving Selina Avent. The thicker (it was by then a 28-page Wargrave News also has regularly issue). It continued to grow - reported on village schools, clubs February 2012 saw the first 48-page It remains a very useful, and ‘ and societies, and carried issue. 2014 ended with 52 pages, the readable, record of village appreciations of those no longer with last to be printed by Higgs Group. life, and - remarkably - still us. The content also used to include The new year saw Greenhouse free of charge to all village features of a ‘lighter’ nature, such as Graphics take over the printing - a households. It has noted the Diary of a Wargrave Lady, the return to a lighter weight but better usual and the unusual, the planned twinning with Falpirolo (in quality paper that enabled a full routine and the controversial, April 1992), Picture Puzzle, the colour cover to be printed with colour column by R E Porter, Grumpy illustrations inside as well, and using and the changes in village Corner and Miss Demeanour. From environmentally friendly materials. life. ’ time to time pupils in our schools Peter Delaney. and other youngsters have The February 2015 issue reached a contributed stories and poems. new record page count of 56 - evidence of a thriving village with much to report or comment upon. The present editors wish to express their gratitude to Peter Delaney for The years 2014 and 2015 had also his research on the history of the seen changes in personnel - Wargrave News, and for frequently Graham Jones took over from John finding useful items from his archives Ratings as Chairman, continuing for our publications.

5 Wargrave News 400th Issue (continued)

Over the 400 issues there have

been nearly 30 editors: ʼ Tony Barker Catherine Birchall For the present, it is a Sue Chamberlain valuable aspect of the ‘village Cynthia Coombes community’, and for the Barry Coward future, a valuable resource for Shirley Coward those who will wish to write Gill Crossley Mal Evans about this period of the Sue Ferguson village’s history. Even its Silvia Fidler adverts reveal changes in the Cath Forsaith village - virtually none of Roger Free those firms appearing in the Rosemary Gray first year of publication still Sue Griffiths trade locally. Thank you to all Sharon Hewitt Angela Hodgson those involved in its Mike Hopewell production - you may not hear Howard Lamb it often, but your time, effort Alex Limia Dieguez and dedication are Julie Lovegrove appreciated by the village. Ann Nono (later Spicer) ’ Russ Openshaw Peter Delaney Chris Scott Tony Searby Hilary Thomas John Weatherlake and Nick Willson

This cartoon was on the front of the 200th issue

Over the years The Wargrave News has benefited from the talents of cartoonists such as Ali Clarke and Jim Waldron. On coloured paper, two cartoon front pages with a seasonal theme.

6 Wargrave News 400th Issue (continued) Advertising eventually it had to come. The new John Keast, whose role was technology is very efficient I’m sure, managing the advertising, wrote but I miss the old ‘cut and paste’. this for us:- I’ve tried to include everyone, but if ‘I was part of the Wargrave News I’ve missed you out please write to Committee when the printing was the editors and I’m sure they will being done by Vallis Press - acknowledge your contribution. And Maureen Fennemore’s son worked in any case, thank you from me! for them. I often took the prepared pages to the printing works in Russ Openshaw Henley ready for printing. We used to prepare the pages by cut and Pros and Cons of the Old Ways paste in those days. It was a really Sue Griffiths wrote this in Issue 200:- good social evening at one of the ‘It was fun, it did take time, I met committee members’ houses and some nice people, all of whom were some of us were very reluctant to willing to give their time to contribute, give in to desk top publishing with write, type or produce Wargrave everything done electronically. News. When I first joined the When I look at the layout now I Wargrave News I was working full- realise just how professional it The 120th edition even had a poem about the time but felt I really wanted to looks. I was responsible for the trials and tribulations of being a WN editor contribute something to the village advertising, I had no difficulty in that I only ate, relaxed and slept in. It getting sufficient advertisements. Delivery was a good introduction to the people My problems came if the advertiser Delivery of the News is of course an of Wargrave. went out of business, or the essential part of a successful opposite problem of too much magazine. When I first joined, Chris ‘And the missing two lines of text - work. This was because Vallis Scott was the organiser of the that made an article complete? Yes, Press used to make up the distribution service. He would recruit we did often find them the next advertising pages at the beginning adults and children (from 13 years morning, abandoned, on the dining of the year and print enough for all of age) to deliver, usually in the room floor!’ the year, therefore an advert could immediate vicinity of their home. Sue Griffiths not be taken out half way through. I The adults do it free of charge but felt it to be a great privilege to be the youngsters receive a small asked to help with this lovely little ’wage’. After Chris left for the west Public Toilet 1984-90 local paper which has now gone country in 1989 I took over the Finally, Douglas Goddard wrote in from strength to strength.’ distribution, though other editors number 300 many of his recollections John Keast helped as and when required. of major issues covered by the Commemorations Eventually I recruited Phil Wargrave News:- Past Editor, Treasurer and until very Blackshaw, who ran the service for ‘The lack of this basic amenity was a recently one of our very supportive a long time. He was followed by regular complaint during my election Management Committee members, Chris and Helen Perry who also campaign, and I innocently adopted it Russ Openshaw writes :- carried the flag for many years, and as a cause célèbre assuming it would then Bob Atkinson took it on. Thank In the 200th edition in December have universal appeal. How wrong I you all for such sterling service. 1995 there were 11 pages of was is shown by the fact that it took Delivery organisation is now in the reminiscences by past editors and six years to overcome scepticism and capable hands of John Coombes other officers, together with some opposition and identify a site and Mervyn Hardiman. spoof articles under the title Have I unobtrusive enough to placate the Got Wargrave News for You? By the Financing most hardened critic, who did not 300th edition the News was 32 In the early years the Parish Council suffer from prostate problems. pages, but the editorial team had helped to finance the News until it Opened in 1990 it was with smug shrunk to Mal, Sue and Hilary, and a had built up the advertising satisfaction that I noted a letter in the call went out for more help! sufficiently to cover printing costs News shortly after in which a regular and incidental expenses. Latterly we passing traveller expressed thanks Volunteers have been blessed with advertisers from the bottom (and I use the word So all in all many people have been who come back year after year and advisedly) of my heart to whoever instrumental in developing and the News has been self-financing instigated this boon to travellers. A expanding the News over some 37 for the past 15 years or so. number of critics also generously years, from a seven-page first edition admitted it was a convenience’ to, latterly, 50 or more pages, many As Treasurer I was always hesitant with colour photographs sent in by about investing in ‘technology’ (I am Is there anyone out there who’d like to readers or taken by editors. a well-known technophobe), but take up this cause again?

7 Have I Got Wargrave News for You?

Refuse Collection Amalgamation to Groundbreaking Points Celebrate WI Work by the Parish From April 2016 there will no longer Centenary Council be a weekly collection of refuse from each household. Domestic and Plans are proceeding nicely for the The next meeting of the Parish commercial premises will be amalgamation of the Mill Green and Council is likely to be a lively required to take their refuse, on a the Crazey Cockpole Green occasion. They have a number of fortnightly basis, to collection points branches of the WI. It was felt that planning applications to discuss. around the village. the combined branch would give a welcome boost to numbers, and The first is the preliminary The likely collection points will be :- would be a happier solution than the exploration of Loddon Drive for Opposite Wargrave Surgery, at the alternative, the admission of male fracking operations – the initial Recreation Ground end of East members, which, it was felt, would geological survey has been View Road, at the junction of diminish the quality of the delicious promising. Braybrooke Road with School Lane, teas that have always been the The second is a modification of a Mill Green (at the Memorial end), pride of both branches. The new previous plan to convert an existing Cockpole Green and Church Street. branch will be called the North commercial premises in the heart of It is expected that this will Berkshire Satanic Mills WI. Wargrave into a tattooist and nail considerably reduce collection costs bar. The Council had previously for Wakingham Borough Council, Free School objected to the 40 foot high neon and arises because Wakingham is An application has been received by sign above the premises, number the worst funded council in the 22 High Street, on the grounds that country. the Department for Education for a Free School to be set up in it would not be in keeping with the The idea came following a visit by a Wargrave. It will relieve pressure on rural nature of a village like delegation from WBC to the Costa numbers of applications to the Wargrave. del Sol, where a similar system has current over-subscribed Primary Thirdly, Crazies Hill and Cockpole been in place for some years. A Schools. Called the Luvvies Green Cricket Club have filed an spokesperson for the Council has Finishing School, it will specialise in application to add a second storey said ‘in view of the British climate theatre arts and will be housed in an to their pavilion in order to open a we do not expect there to a problem amalgamation of two houses in casino. This will only operate during of odours at the collection points’. School Lane. the winter months, out of consideration to neighbours, and HUG and WUB WGFC Stadium will be a welcome fundraiser for the Cricket Club. Make Progress The highly successful Wargrave Girls Football Club is fundraising Wargrave News is in a position to again. The new project is the Boating Club Joins be able to report the first real erection of a 5,000-seater stadium progress on the issue of services on on the site currently known as the the Jet Set the Twyford to Henley railway line. Woodclyffe Allotments. A new design of rolling stock has an Some concern has been expressed exterior platform which will enable WGFC Club Chairman Rob Boston at Wargrave Boating Club at the passengers at Wargrave and said ‘I have been losing hair addition of jet-skiing to the range of to board while the train is worrying about how we can water sports it offers, for a number still in motion. Trains will only need accommodate the burgeoning of reasons. At last week’s to slow down to a fast walking pace crowds at our matches’. Access to Extraordinary General Meeting it at these less important stations. the stadium, which is still subject to was agreed that the scheme would Passengers with wheel chairs and planning consent, will be via go ahead on a trial basis, to ‘see pushchairs will be able to telephone Hamilton Road, where there is whether members would be able to a helpline on the day prior to travel. plenty of roadside parking. act with restraint’.

8 Christmas Post Wargrave Baby and Toddler Group Once again the 1st Wargrave Scout It has been a busy term and we’ve all had lots of fun playing, drawing, Group will be providing a Christmas sticking, singing and eating biscuits! card postal service within Wargrave Wargrave Baby and Toddler Group is a fun and friendly group run by local village. parents. We meet every Tuesday morning during term-time in the Scout Until Tuesday 22 December, Hut, next to the Pre-School on the recreation ground (plenty of free parking collection boxes will be at: available nearby). Sessions run from 9.30am until 11.00am. Drop in any time! It costs just £2.50 for one child and £1 for each additional child, which  The Library, Church Street includes refreshments. Your first session is free and there’s no need to  Victoria News, Victoria Road book.  Lloyds Pharmacy, Victoria Road Email us at [email protected] or find us on The cost is 20p per card, or 15p per Facebook. card for senior citizens. We’d like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Scouts will deliver cards during the weekends of 12/13 and 19/20 Madeleine Murray December and after the final collection on Tuesday 22 December. Wargrave Baby and Toddler Group Christmas Party Please support the local Scout Group in this fundraiser/community Tuesday 15 December, 9.30-11.00 am service. But please restrict your Come and join us for lots of fun! cards to addresses within the village Games and music as anything further afield will not be Christmas crafts delivered: we cannot expect young Visit from Father Christmas boys to deliver cards along the A present for each child country lanes around Wargrave. Thank you, Helen Vonka Henley Branch WEA Music in Eighteenth Century London: new course starting on Our Lady of Peace Thursdays in January in the Hannen Room London was a centre for vibrant musical activity in the 18th century. This Christmas Masses at course will consider composers such as Handel and Haydn and works Wargrave and Twyford including The Beggar’s Opera. It will trace the astonishing changes that transformed London’s musical life throughout the 18th century, asking why

London became such a powerful magnet, attracting so many talented Christmas Eve Mass at Twyford Italian and German musicians. Among other things, it will look at the at 4.00pm and 9.00pm. development of the English oratorio under Handel, the rise of public Christmas Day Masses at concerts and the idea of the liberated composer. London was the city Wargrave at 9.00am and at where Mozart composed his first symphonies and where, some thirty years Twyford at 10.30am. later, Haydn produced his final symphonic masterpieces. The social background to all this musical activity was a fascinating mix of splendour We look and murkiness. forward to This course will draw all these strands of London’s artistic life together in an welcoming accessible way. Course tutor Anthony Short is a professional violinist, you. writer and literary editor who works with major British and Irish symphony orchestras and has written numerous articles for European record Fr Jim Joyce companies and the BBC. Parish Priest There will be ten meetings, on Thursdays from 7 January, from 10.00am to 12 noon (no class on 18 February or 17 March). The venue is the Hannen Parish office: 934 0854 Room, St Mary’s Church, Station Road, Wargrave, RG10 8EU. The fee is e: parish.office@catholic-church- £85.05: please pay by credit or debit card online at www.wea.org.uk or by twyford.org phoning 0800 3281060. www.catholic-church-twyford.org Contact me on 940 2389 or email [email protected] for more details. Lowri Cook

9 

NFU

10 Christmas Greetings from St Mary’s Church, Wargrave Vicar’s thought for Christmas Christmas Services at Sunday services at St Mary’s That Is How Much He Loves You! St Mary’s, Wargrave Every Sunday at 8.00am Holy Communion (in traditional “... but made himself Sunday 20 December, 6.00pm language) - a said service which nothing ...” (Philippians 2:7) Christmas Carol Service by lasts about 45 minutes. Candlelight Dr Maxwell Maltz, a prominent 20 December, 10.30am Sing all your favourite carols Holy Communion* plastic surgeon, tells of a man who together with the enhanced was very severely burned in 27 December, 10.30am St Mary’s Choir, followed by mince Morning Worship** attempting to rescue his parents pies and Christmas cheer. Come from a fire. Tragically he did not 3 January, 10.30am early to get a good seat! Holy Communion* succeed and they died. Depressed and disfigured, he isolated himself Thursday 24 December, 4.00pm 10 January, 10.30am from human contact and did not let Christmas Nativity Service All Age Worship*** anyone see him, not even his wife. Watch and listen to the younger 17 January, 10.30am children of St Mary’s perform the Holy Communion* His wife, desperate for help, came Christmas Nativity story, with 24 January, 10.30am to Dr Maltz. He told her he could popular carols. It will not be too long Morning Worship** probably restore her husband’s and children will get a Christmas 31 January, 10.30am face, but the husband was goody bag. Holy Communion* intransigent and refused treatment. 7 February, 10.30am Thursday 24 December, 6.00pm The wife came back to see Holy Communion* Dr Maltz, much to his surprise. This Family Carols 14 February, 10.30am time her question shocked him. She Specially designed for older children All Age Worship*** and adults, this service features an asked: ‘Can you disfigure my face, *Lasts around 70 minutes with St Mary’s so I can be like my husband and entertaining account of the Christmas story, with lots to sing Music Group, crèche and young share his pain? That way he may let people’s groups. The Twelve Days of me back into his life again.’ That including **Lasts less than 60 minutes with Christmas. St Mary’s Music Group, crèche and was how much she loved him. Thursday 24 December, 11.00pm young people’s groups. As a plastic surgeon, Dr Maltz was ***Lasts less than 60 minutes with familiar with disfigurement and First Christmas Communion by St Mary’s Music Group and crèche. trauma and was so moved he Candlelight Coffee is served after the 10.30am prevailed on the woman’s husband Follow the light to St Mary’s Church services at St Mary’s. to accept his help. The story had a for a service that will celebrate Holy happy ending. Communion at midnight. There will Services at St Peter’s be popular carols and music. The Knowl Hill The Bible says that before Jesus left service will use a modern form of heaven He ‘was in very nature God words easily understood by Thursday 17 December, 9.00am but made Himself nothing’. Our everyone. Knowl Hill School Christmas Service finite minds can’t begin to Friday 25 December, 8.00am Sunday 20 December, 4.00pm comprehend the world Jesus left. Family Carol Service Any homes we might covet on this Holy Communion A said service in the traditional Sing all your favourite carols, earth are but slums compared to the followed by mince pies and glory of heaven. The Bible says: language. Christmas cheer. Come early to get ‘The Word became flesh and dwelt Friday 25 December, 10.00am a good seat! among us ...’ (John 1:14). Christmas Day Celebration Friday 25 December, 9.15am A celebration of Christmas for the Why did this happen? Why did the Christmas Holy Communion God of the universe willingly leave Wargrave community. With a shortened Holy Communion Service A Celebration of Christmas for the the splendour of heaven, why was Knowl Hill community. With popular He born in squalid poverty and why and popular carols, this service is perfect for the whole family. carols, this service is perfect for the did He die on a cross? whole family. Why? Because that is how much He Sunday 3 January, 10.30am loves us! This why He was born in a For more information, please Village Praise cowshed and died on a cross. contact: Sunday 17 January, 9.15am John Cook, Vicar, 940 2202 Let me warmly invite you to join us Holy Communion at one of our Christmas services. Andy Ferguson, Lay Minister, 940 2925 My family and I wish you all a very Service at St Paul’s joyful Christmas. Jon Drake, Curate, 940 6857 Kim Moul, Administrator, Warren Row John Cook 940 2300 Sunday 10 January, 9.15am Vicar of Wargrave with Knowl Hill Or visit www.wargravechurch.org Holy Communion

11 :DUJUDYH'HVLJQ&RQVXOWDQF\/LPLWHG

  )XOOGHVLJQVHUYLFHIRUH[WHQVLRQVQHZEXLOGLQJVDQG UHIXUELVKPHQWVLQFOXVLYHRIDOOW\SHVRIVWUXFWXUDOGHVLJQ  )XOOSURMHFWPDQDJHPHQWVHUYLFHV  $OOSURMHFWVWDLORUHGWRVXLWLQGLYLGXDOFOLHQWV  7HO0RELOH HPDLOLQIR#ZDUJUDYHGHVLJQFRP ZZZZDUJUDYHGHVLJQFRP

12 Library Matters Cockpole Green WI

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our library customers. On 17 November President Please join the library if you are not already a member. There are many Adrienne Rance welcomed the benefits to having a library card, even if you don’t want to borrow books. members, guest Janet Manning and You will be able to access online reference material (brilliant for homework speaker Clive Williams. Mr Williams without resorting to Wikipedia), e-books, e-audio and e-magazines. All you gave us a fascinating talk about the need to do is complete a membership card and bring in some form of Nabob employees of the East India identity that includes your address, such as driving licence or utility bill. Company. Festive Fun – Thursday 24 December, 10.00am to 1.00pm Mr Williams explained how the title By way of a thank you to all our customers, please join us on Christmas ‘Nabob’ is derived from the Urdu Eve for mulled wine, mince pies or tea and coffee. Father Christmas will word ‘Nawab’ meaning deputy. India arrive at 11.30am. There will be a small charge of £1 per child. Everyone is was divided into provinces, each welcome. Yes, we really will be open on a Thursday as a special treat! with a deputy (Nawab) in charge and these Nawabs eventually Monday storytimes break for Christmas holidays became rulers in their own right. Firstly we must thank all our brilliant volunteers for covering storytimes for the past ten months. You have all been amazing and we couldn’t have In the late 18th century a few staff of managed without you. Chris is going to be quite out of practice so it’s lucky the East India Company became she keeps her skills up at Henley Library! The last Monday session will be immensely rich through various on Monday 14 December and it will restart on Monday 11 January. practices, some dubious. With their riches they were regarded as Bridge sessions Nawabs. The word became Our bridge sessions are now held in the Sansom Room every Thursday anglicised to ‘Nabob’ and shortened afternoon (except in July and August) from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. We have a to ‘nob’ and ‘snob’. super patient tutor called John. When he is not available we still play, but The major concentration of returning get told off less! Tutor-led sessions cost £6.50 per week, or £2.50 when we nabobs was in Berkshire, known in play without John. We’ve had a couple of new members recently who want the 18th century as the ‘English to brush up on their skills and we always welcome new faces. Hindustan’. It was a good location Book clubs as it was close to the Crown in Both our library book clubs are going strong but we can always start a new Windsor and to the House of one if you have a group of friends looking for a venue. Commons. Many Nabobs bought themselves seats in Parliament: National Libraries Day – Saturday 6 February Francis Sykes bought most of the This could be the ideal time to pop into the library and join if you haven’t property in Wallingford, which already and talk to us about what you like reading or which books you meant he controlled its two would like to see in the library. It will also be our normal Family Storytime at parliamentary seats. Mr Williams 10.30am, so please put this date in your diary. found 31 stately homes in Berkshire with Nabob associations. Chris Bookless He spoke about some of the

Nabobs, including Sir Francis Regular Library Events Sykes; Thomas Pitt (whose family Crafts and Laughs – first and third Wednesdays of the month, 1.30-3.30pm produced two prime ministers); Coffee and Cakes – second Wednesday of the month, 9.30am-1.00pm General George Hart (who bought Monday Bookworms – first Monday of the month, 2.15-3.15pm Rose Hill, Henley Road, altering it to Woodclyffe Book Club – third Monday of the month, 5.30-6.30pm reflect his love of Chinese things); Bridge – Thursdays, 2.00-4.00pm (in Sansom Room) Robert Clive (Clive of India); Knit Wits – alternate Wednesdays – 2.00-4.00pm on the second, fourth and Richard Benyon (whose descendant fifth (if there is one) Wednesday of the month and namesake, Richard Benyon, is iHelp – last Wednesday of the month, 2.00-4.00pm the current MP for Newbury) and Storytime – Mondays during term times, 4.00-4.30pm George Vansittart (who was Family storytime – first Saturday of the month, 10.30am educated at Reading School). Writers’ Forum – alternate Mondays, 10.30am-12 noon Our next meeting will be held at

Wargrave Library Crazies Hill Village Hall on Wednesday 20 January at 2.30pm Woodclyffe Hostel, Church Street, Wargrave, RG10 8EP, telephone 940 4656 Opening Hours: Monday 2.00-5.00pm when Mr P Hague will give a talk Wednesday 9.30am-1.00pm and 2.00-5.00pm entitled West Wycombe Park and Friday 2.00-7.00pm the Dashwoods. Saturday 9.30am-1.00pm Cockpole Green WI members wish You can check our catalogue or renew online at www.wokingham.gov.uk/libraries everyone a Merry Christmas.

Thank you for continuing to support Wargrave Library. Selina Avent

13 14 The Witches Can You Help? Pop-In Club Performed by Wargrave Theatre Recently we have had a number of Workshop Youth. Wargrave News deliverers who have been unable to continue their What a wonderful hangover after fine work. We therefore need others Hallowe’en! As soon as they lined to take on these important roles and up on the stage you could tell that also to cover temporary absences. their outward appearance of Teenagers are very welcome and innocent glamour masked a sinister get paid. Can you help? core of evil medieval malice; the At this time we specifically need a opening sequence was almost like a We have been preparing for the deliverer for Willow Lane. If no-one spell chanted on some misty festive season and were very is able to take on this role, then the Scottish heath. Roald Dahl's chilling pleased to welcome back Bob Wargrave News will be delivered to tale, cleverly adapted by David Whelton from Continental the Local Larder for collection by Wood for the stage, is moved along Chocolates who brought a individual households. There is also swiftly by a mix of Lily-Bea wonderful selection of Belgian a vacancy for part of Victoria Road. Wingate's narrative and lively acting chocolates and members were able The News is delivered 10 times a dialogue. Christopher Crook's to stock up with all kinds of goodies. year, missing out January and cheeky, resourceful Boy was ably August. On another morning we made contrasted against spoilt Beryl (and Christmas decorations - no, Lily Snell, you didn't look at all If you are able and willing to support centrepieces for the dining table. fat but the greed was almost our house deliveries then please Dry oasis was supplied together palpable); as for her pushy parents email me at with artificial greenery and flowers you would have to scour Wargrave [email protected] or phone and the resulting arrangements thoroughly to find lookalikes as on 940 2937. looked most professional. good as Jack Burke and Chloe If you did not get this issue through Kendall. And what boy (or girl) In December we will be having our your letter box please let me know would not want Libby Jones as their Christmas Luncheon at Hennerton and I can organise that for the next own kind, understanding Golf Club and the last meeting of issue. grandmother with the soul of a the year is on Monday 14 December child? Ella Lupton, Madeleine John when mince pies and non-alcoholic Bayley, Katie Doward, Charlotte Coombes mulled wine will be served and there Norman, Grace Atkinson – the very will be a free raffle. names are enough to strike a chill The club will reopen in January and into anyone meeting them on a dark members will be advised of the night; and surely all of them exact date. deserved to be annihilated by Kate Warren, the grandest of grand high If you would like to join us in the witches, in (what else?) a puff of new year in the lounge at Elizabeth smoke? Why did doorman Georgia Court on a Monday morning at Treadwell let them get in? Full 10.00am do please contact Ann marks to Head Waiter George Holland on 940 3582 or me on 940 Luckwell for his professionalism and 2267. keeping his cool in the face of gut- Pat Jones wrenching, manic screeching of

Amelie Devine McGovern and Sophie Errington's pantomimic double-act as the Chefs. Well done Neighbourhood Watch back-stage for all the effects and There has been a recent series of incidents whereby fraudsters either phone or congratulations to Wendy Roberts' attend the home address of elderly members of the public, claiming to be police home-made white mice for their officers. sensitive, life-like acting, especially The fake officer/s will claim that they are investigating a fraud which they in that final, poignant moment of believe the elderly person to be a victim of. The fake officer/s will then request resignation to their fate: this must the bank cards and personal identification numbers (PIN) of the victim and have been the greatest challenge to claim these are needed for investigation purposes. If the first contact was made Directors Joy Haynes and Emma by a phone call, the fake officer/s will tell the victim that someone will be over to Warren collect the evidence. In one case the victim was instructed to attend their local bank and withdraw all of the money from their account. The suspect was left Martin Lorenz alone in the victim’s house whilst the victim carried out the instructions.

If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud you can report it online http:// www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud or by telephone 0300 123 2040.

15 i.Plumber PLUMBERS & DECORATORS

Showers, Baths, Sinks, Repairs, Cylinders, Immersions, Taps, Washers, Pumps, Bathroom Suites, Toilets, Basins and Radiators fitted. Full interior and exterior decorating. Reliable and clean. Find us on Facebook. [email protected] Phone 07708602442



16 now no doubt even more excited Wargrave, You’re about Christmas. Wonderful! Pre-School has also been embracing all aspects of the weather this term and have made great use of the outside play area and open spaces nearby. The children have made paper kites for the wind, been in the muddy With Christmas nearly upon us, the puddles in their wellies in the rain children’s Christmas lists will no and have been looking at the doubt be winging their way up to seasonal changes that winter Father Christmas in Lapland. Also brings. travelling around the country to friends and family will be the Don’t forget to remind your children beautiful Christmas cards that the to leave the mince pies and carrots children designed. We had an array out on Christmas Eve for Father of colourful masterpieces’ that will Christmas and the reindeers; we September’s swimathon was a huge no doubt be adorning many a can’t have them going hungry as success, with the 120 swimmers mantelpiece. they visit Wargrave. completing 7,550 lengths of Polehamptons Junior School’s Lido We have now nearly completed the If you are a prospective parent and – the equivalent of crossing the year’s first term and it has certainly wish to secure a place at Wargrave English Channel 5.5 times! been eventful. Recent weeks have Pre-School, please contact our seen us run a couple of very Operations Manager, Alison Another staggering achievement of popular stalls at the Piggott Infant Wayland, on that day was the huge sponsorship and Junior Christmas Fair; both the [email protected], or if raised towards the Wargrave Lido photo booth and the craft stall were you would like to look around, campaign: a hit with parents and children alike please call our Supervisor, Melissa, and thanks again to all those on 940 3127. Our full admissions £4,669.60 parents and carers who volunteered policy and procedures and all our on the day. contact details can be found on our Thank you everyone who took part, website helped out and sponsored the The recent Pre-School production www.wargravepreschool.com swimmers. Also a massive thank and party was also a huge success you to The Bird in the Hand who if somewhat chaotic. Thanks also to donated their profits from the everyone who was involved, the Dustin Handcock barbecue on the day. children all had a great time and are Future fundraising events are being planned with the first one scheduled for Saturday 13 February – a December Picture Puzzle comedy quiz night at the Woodclyffe Hall. Please visit Poppies near the War Memorial -- but what are they made of? www.wargravelido.org or Facebook (search for Wargrave Lido Comedy Quiz Night with Elsie Crumpet) for more details. We’re also planning a family event in the sunny days of June by the banks of the river so watch this space for more information on this event. Lindsay Hammersley Date for your Diary Saturday 13 February Comedy Quiz Night Last issue's picture was of the footpath through Spring Walk Woodclyffe Hall

17 services

Garden Maintenance trimming, strimming, lawn care, clearing pressure washing etc phone Stuart 07758 957455 [e] [email protected]

Painter and Decorator City & Guilds Qualifications 30+ years experience Local Tradesman

References and Anthony McKay recommendations available Internal and external work 0118 934 0950 undertaken Please call for advice or a 07809 624 495 quotation 18 Wargrave Lawn Tennis Club

Firstly huge congratulations to the British Davis Cup The maintenance of the courts and clubhouse is Team for winning after 79 years. What an effort and extremely good; here again one has to give a big thank what inspiration not to mention excitement it has given you to Sheena Darke who looks after all this with great to all of us! efficiency. Altogether, the Tennis Club is a facility that Christmas Party 28 November at Badgemore Golf Wargrave should be proud to have in the village, Club alongside all the other excellent sports clubs that share About 58 members and better halves abandoned track the Recreation Field. New members are always suits and scrubbed up well for the occasion. In fact welcome and we play all year when the weather allows. sometimes it was hard to recognise them, elegantly Please note too that our coaching team are organising dressed and not clutching a tennis racket! Badgemore looked brilliantly Christmassy with masses Holiday Tennis Camps on Mon, Tues and Wed 21 – 23 of twinkling lights and a splendid tree to put us into the December at a discounted rate. To sign up or for more mood for the build up to December. Standing in the information email [email protected] spacious bar area we had the opportunity to greet each other and chat before we sat down to a pleasant One for your diary… evening with very good food. It was a chance to meet Christmas Tournament Monday 28 December, new members and catch up with old friends. One often 11.45am, bring your left-overs! doesn’t get time to chat properly on court, playing tennis obviously taking priority. For information on events, matches and membership or coaching, please see our website: Our chairman Dave Smith presented Michael Simpson www.wargraveltc.co.uk with his well-deserved prize for winning the Box League and welcomed everyone to the event. Luckily for us Sue Jones there were no more speeches and we ended the evening dancing to jolly music provided by Nick Flook. Congratulations to Adrienne Yentis for organising such Highest Cricket Score a good party. A link to the online album with photos Oscar Gutierrez had an unforgettable evening when he from the party can be found on the news page of our was invited to a presentation dinner in the Long Room website, http//wargraveltc.co.uk/wltc_news.php at Lord’s on 3 November to collect the ‘Walter Lawrence Schools Award’. This was for making the For the rest of December I’m sure there will be some highest score of any schoolboy against the MCC last mulled wine evenings after club sessions and our usual summer when he scored 134 as captain of Leighton Christmas coffee morning with mince pies on a Park School. Oscar received his award from Roger Wednesday before the big day. Knight OBE, former England cricketer and President of Hallowe’en/Bonfire Tournament 1 November the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) who play fixtures Not a big turnout, only 12, but everyone had fun despite against around 100 keen cricketing schools all over the it being breezy and chilly. Accordingly, there were no country. tea breaks and no final. The winners were the man and Oscar has developed his cricket at school and at lady with the highest score after 40 games. The winners Wargrave Cricket Club. He is a keen all-round were Alisha Watts, one of our up and coming Juniors, sportsman who also plays full-back for the Henley and Paolo Pederoda. After that the players were Hawks Colts and coaches tennis to juniors at Wargrave allowed a well deserved warming cup of tea. Tennis Club. AGM at old Cricket Pavilion 4 November: More information can be found at http:// We had our usual turnout of not that many people! The www.walterlawrencetrophy.com committee take this as a compliment implying that Gutierrez Family members are happy with the way things are being run.

They do thank those who make the effort to attend as it wouldn’t be the same without the members.

Generally, the club seems to be moving along well and has had a noticeable increase in the number of younger players joining. Club sessions are well attended and with coaches organising the evening ones, the play is now energetic and sociable. The club also enters four teams each of men, mixed and ladies in the Berkshire Leagues not to mention all the Juniors teams. These are all going well and so far the weather has been fairly kind. The Floodlit League we organise for other clubs to play a friendly match on our courts on Tuesdays under lights, is popular and many thanks to Eilish MacBean for organising it. Oscar receives his award from Roger Knight OBE

19 E 6KDXQ*XDUG Edwin James Heath fun and personalised, made-to-order prints Sa Michee Cla fourth august nineteen forty-two AV twenty-fourth june nineteen seventy-three OSCAR ALAN SANDRA CHRIS son brother husband dad grandpops 79$(5,$/6(59,&(6make perfect pressies for those special occasions winston Harrison daughter sister sister-in-law cousin aunt niece Blod Udders Ed Darling MARLBOROUGH SALISBURY PUTNEY twin colour blind drunk nutter funny Twentieth March Twenty Twelve caring loyal articulate fun 3RRU5HFHSWLRQ6ROYHG$HULDOVUHSDLUHG VXSSOLHG$HULDOVUHSDLUHG VXSSOLHG Dominic Amy Emily ARGR SON TO TOBES AND RENEE cycling skiing swimming

rugby golf skiing wind-surfing W 79V+XQJRQ\RXUZDOOIRU\RX$OVRVXSSOLHG WXQHG FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF DIRTY DANCING NODDY CHARLIE NOS WILLY BIG-TONE Sydney London Farnham Royal FREDDIE FISH HARRY HAMSTER MURPHY DOG POEMS JOKES SPEECHES MC-ING TRUMPET CHOIR ([WUD793RLQWVGet in touch)RUDHULDODQG6N\ ,Q+' )RUDHULDODQG6N\ ,Q+' with Emily LIVE, LEARN, LOVE, LAUGH Roast Chicken Unmouaka Pad Thai PastaLagerWhiteWine You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off bbqs oysters rosé crevettes 6N\79$OVR)RUHLJQ/DQJXDJH79$OVR)RUHLJQ/DQJXDJH79 sharing is caring BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN TAKE THAT 07710 197899 watching rugby strictly come dancing Triumph Mercedes Austin Bentley

personalised follow your dreams Slough Maidenhead Burnham Beeches v HOOKER CAPTAIN SECRETARY

&DOO+HQOH\RQ7KDPHVwww.giveaprint.com ADE IN BROTHER TO BE... lous  40 YEARS YOUNG

70 M $SDUWRI

6KDXQ*XDUG 79$(5,$/6(59,&(6 3RRU5HFHSWLRQ6ROYHG$HULDOVUHSDLUHG VXSSOLHG 79V+XQJRQ\RXUZDOOIRU\RX$OVRVXSSOLHG WXQHG ([WUD793RLQWV)RUDHULDODQG6N\ ,Q+' 6N\79$OVR)RUHLJQ/DQJXDJH79 &DOO+HQOH\RQ7KDPHV $SDUWRI

20 Henley Sailing Royal British Legion, Wargrave Branch Club Poppy Appeal 2015 The Poppy Appeal collection for 2015 raised over £12,300, which was a The regular sailing season reached great achievement for our village and surrounding community. its climax with the championship supper on Saturday evening, 17 The money was raised by door-to-door collections in Wargrave and Crazies October, and racing for the club Hill, collections at Hare Hatch Sheeplands and Wyevale garden centres, championship the following day. boxes placed in clubs, pubs, businesses and shops, collections on Remembrance Sunday in St Mary’s Church and on Mill Green at the For once it was the men who Memorial Service. Contributions were also made from the British Legion, undertook the kitchen duties for Wargrave Branch as a result of fund-raising events throughout the year. Saturday night’s dinner, led by the ever enthusiastic David Skinner. Many thanks are due to all who went out in the cold and dark, and With a high standard to meet, most inclement weather, to collect and to those who stood at the garden centres of the day was spent preparing, with to encourage members of the public to donate. Our grateful thanks are also only a few drinks imbibed. Diners extended to the many young people of The Piggott School who so were not disappointed: the motley generously and willingly gave their time. crew of caterers served an amazing Special thanks are due to John and Glynis Gothard who co-ordinated and meal. managed this year’s Appeal. They spent many hours organising the After a full summer honing their collections which reaped such great rewards for the Poppy Appeal. skills, the sailors were tested in Lastly, we thank members of the village communities for their generous Sunday’s championship racing by a contributions for which former and current members of our Armed Services twisty, intricate course and very light and their families will be enormously grateful. winds. Congratulations to the cup winners Roux Kerr, Steve Gent, Jeff Poppy Appeal 2016: Co-ordinator(s) Needed Manning and Tim Haigh and to We are seeking replacements for John and Glynis Gothard, our current everyone who finished the races. Appeal Co-ordinators, who are not able to continue next year due to family Thankfully there were rewards for all commitments. If you are willing to take on the role of Poppy Co-ordinator or involved as we tucked in to the last could be part of a group performing the role, we would be delighted to hear afternoon tea of the year. from you. To learn more about the Poppy Appeal or to volunteer your services, please contact David Smith, Chairman, on 940 4752 or Richard With the end of the regular season, Butler, Secretary, on 940 3707. We have a large number of collectors in the the very keen sailors have village and surrounding community, so you will not be alone in your efforts. continued to race in the Winter Series. Despite the title there was a David Smith complete absence of wind as Chairman competitors arrived for the first race of the series. Anyone would have thought club bosun Fergal O’Connor had made special arrangements in order to make an early start on the long list of maintenance jobs scheduled for after the racing – or Loddon Valley Ramblers he was simply keen not to miss the Thursday 17 December rugby! A moderate, circular walk to the north of Hambleden. Some fine views and Don’t miss the opportunity to make some steep climbs. Five miles. 10.30am at The Stag and Huntsman car the most of next year’s summer on park, Hambleden, RG9 6RP. Leader Bill B, 07881 816863. the river – please visit Thursday 14 January www.henleysailingclub.org to find Wildlife of Berkshire near Rotherfield Peppard. Four miles. 10.30am from out more. the cricket club car park, Stoke Row Road, Peppard, RG9 5JD. Leader Ian James Cox H, 947 1524. Thursday 4 February A farmland and riverside walk via Shiplake Copse, Spring Lane, Sonning Eye and the . Six miles. 10.30am from The Plowden Arms at Shiplake, RG9 4BX. (If not eating at the pub, please use the church hall car park opposite, across the A4155.) Leader Nigel K, 979 1740. Everyone is welcome to join us on our walks. Just turn up at the start or phone the leader for more details. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear. For more information, please visit www.lvra.org.uk Janet Readings Publicity Officer

21 6WRUP\ZHDWKHURQWKHZD\" ‹ƒŠ‹––ƒ ƒ”†‡ ƒ•’‡ ‹ƒŽ ‡”˜‹ ‡• —ŽŽ›—ƒŽ‹ˆ‹‡† ˆˆ‡”͇͚͔‘ˆˆ %XUQKDP)HQFLQJFDQKHOS ˆ—ŽŽ†ƒ› ‘”–‹ —Ž–—”‹•–ƒ†‡•‹‰‡” ‰ƒ”†‡ :LWKPRUHVWRUP\ZHDWKHURQWKH „ƒ•‡†‹™›ˆ‘”†‘ˆˆ‡”‹‰ ƒ‹–‡ƒ ‡ ZD\QRZLVWKHWLPHWRVHFXUH\RXU ‰ƒ”†‡†‡•‹‰ǡ’Žƒ–‹‰ †—”‹‰ ERXQGDULHV5HOLDEOHORFDOH[SHUWV ’Žƒ•ǡ‰ƒ”†‡ƒ‹–‡ƒ ‡ǡ ‡ ‡„‡” %XUQKDP)HQFLQJFDQKHOSZLWKWKHFRQVWUXFWLRQ –‹†›—’ǡ™‡‡†‹‰ǡ’”—‹‰ǡ DQGUHSDLURITXDOLW\IHQFLQJJDWHVDQGGHFNLQJ ˆ‡‡†‹‰ǡ•‘‹Ž ‘†‹–‹‘‹‰ǡ’Žƒ–‹‰Ȁƒ–—”‡’Žƒ–‹‰ &RQWDFW*HUDUG5RRQH\RQWR ƒ†Žƒ†• ƒ’‹‰Ǥ‡Žǣ͔͚͙͔͖͙͛͛͗͛͜ DUUDQJHDIUHHTXRWDWLRQ ™™™Ǥˆƒ ‡„‘‘Ǥ ‘Ȁ‹ƒ•‰ƒ”†‡‹‰•‡”˜‹ ‡•

 3,/$7(6&/$66(6&5$=,(6+,//9,//$*( +$//78(6'$<6$030  )5((7$67(5&/$66 )25025('(7$,/62572%22.$6/27 3/($6(&217$&7$/<7+<($//$1' DO\WK#SLODWHVDEFFRXN ZZZSLODWHVDEFFRXN  $//(48,30(173529,'('  22 Cinderella Singing Courses Courses for female voices at Charvil Village Hall Three-week course on Mondays, 25 January, 1 February and 8 February, 8.00 to 9.30pm. Songs of the Carpenters including For All We Know, We've Only Just Begun and Superstar. Course fee £20. Four-week course on Mondays, 22 and 29 February, 7 and 14 March, 8.00 to 9.30pm. Folk song arrangements including Over the Sea to Skye and The Turtle Dove. Course fee £20. For more information, please contact me on 934 0589 or email [email protected]

Suzanne Newman Some of the members of the Cinderella cast photographed in rehearsal

Wargrave Theatre Workshop’s online ticket office is now open for the 2016 pantomime, Cinderella, directed by Linda Daman, with musical direction by Rod Murray. We follow the well-known story of Cinderella, her step-sisters, the prince Hare Hatch and the grand ball. As well as some magic and a bit of love interest, we also manage to fit in a hunting scene, dancing forest animals – and a Sheeplands dancing horse – lessons in how not to bake or hang wallpaper, plenty of Christmas shows songs and a whole stack of awful jokes. Twyford-based theatre company As usual Wargrave Theatre Workshop will pull out all the stops with a The Enchanted Players is staging talented technical crew supporting a strong cast that includes plenty of two shows as part of Hare Hatch familiar faces and a few new ones. Sheeplands’ Christmas Tickets sell really quickly so do get online and buy yours as soon as celebrations. The Snow Queen is on possible. Performances, times and ticket prices are: Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December, with Alice in Neverland Thursday 21 January at 8.00pm; £9 and £8 (concessions) on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 Friday 22 January at 8.00pm; £14 and £12 (balcony) December. More information at Saturday 23 January at 1.00pm; £8 and £6 (children) www.harehatchsheeplands.co.uk. Saturday 23 January at 4.00pm; £8 and £6 (children) Tickets cost £5 and are available Saturday 23 January at 8.00pm; £14 and £12 (balcony) from Hare Hatch Sheeplands or Sunday 24 January at 2.00pm; £8 and £6 (children). www.enchantedplayers.co.uk Book online at www.wargravetheatre.co.uk Meet Father Christmas With the help of the Rotary Club of Linda Daman Maiden Erlegh, Father Christmas will meet children at Hare Hatch Sheeplands every Saturday and Sunday until 20 December, and then every day from Monday 21 December until Christmas Eve. The grotto opens at 10.45am. All children will receive a present. Proceeds will be donated to Rotary’s nominated charities. On Wednesday 23 December and Thursday 24 December there will be a party with Mother Christmas and lunch with Father Christmas. Brian Roach

23 Mill Green Wargrave WI

On 4 November Brian Clews centre and hundreds of fronds which each have tiny gave his talk, How Birds devices rather like Velcro, hooks on one side and eyes Work, to Mill Green members. on the other. When birds preen they are lining up all these little devices, which enable them to waterproof He began by asking how birds their wings. The feathers change in quantity, quality and survive in winter; whilst we sometimes colour throughout the year; colour usually in use our duvets to keep warm males to attract females in spring. He gave us two whatw do birds do to protect examples of the number of feathers a bird has; 10,000 themselves against the on a red kite and 2,500 on a robin. elements? He showed some amusing slides of how he Brian explained the skeleton of birds in great detail, the thought this should be accomplished. He reminded us different functions of all the bones and how important that birds are with us all the time, unlike vegetation the different sorts of feet are, webbed, clawed, and flat. which mostly dies down in the winter. Birds are there to The position and size of the eyes and how light their provide us with colour and interest all year long. bones are is also vitally important in the activity of flying. Taking us from laying the egg to the development and the hatching of the chicks, he explained that some The last section of chicks emerge fully feathered and some totally naked. the talk Brian Eggs, of course, can be used commercially and some devoted to nests, the are collected, such as guillemot eggs, which are also for different functions of human use. This takes place on islands such as St nests built in various Kilda and some of the remote Shetland Islands. materials.

Birds have very high heartbeats and higher He ended the evening with a lively question and answer temperatures to combat the cold; they also have a very session and an invitation to visit Mill Green again. efficient heat exchange system. In summer they have to keep cool especially when sitting on nests and do The next meeting on Wednesday 6 January is a this by flapping their wings or fanning themselves. The members’ social evening. amount of blood in birds is proportionally greater than in Mill Green Wargrave WI always welcomes visitors and humans and gives them the new members. Our meetings are usually held in the warmth which enables them to Hannen Room, Mill Green on the first Wednesday of survive. each month at 7.30pm unless otherwise stated.

Some birds have completely different Penny Hampton plumage for males and females and 940 3080 for winter and summer. Feathers are remarkable, they have a quill down the Christmas/Advent Windows

Thank you to all the contributors who, at the last minute, have agreed to do a Christmas/Advent window this year. This is the list at the time of going to press, but keep a look out around the village in case more windows appear!

Stitch in Twine, High St 1 December Robin’s Nest Gallery The Old Post Office Tinkerbell Cottage, 50 High St 6 December Library 7 December 63 High Street 8 December 161 Victoria Road 11 December Hunt & Nash, High St 26 Purfield Drive 3 December Wyatt Cottage, Church Street 15 December Hair Company 27 Langhams Way 18 December 6 Purfield Drive 20 December St Mary,s Church 23 December

24 2nd Wargrave Brownies We have had another great few weeks at 2nd Wargrave Brownies.

We had a trip to the woods where we had a scavenger hunt. Then each six made a residence for a fairy using natural objects that they found in the woods.

Here is Anu with Rosie Keevil (left) and Izzy Turner (right) talking about good and bad food. Anu also showed us how to brush our teeth correctly. This This photo shows the Leprechaun six with their fairy is Loula Smith house (left to right) Rosie Keevil, Sara Tawse, Issy practising brushing Kelly, Annabel Norman, Meghan Walke. teeth.

We celebrated fireworks evening by making edible Brownies have recently become sparklers and we created fireworks in a jar, with civil engineers! They created towers from newspapers fantastic results. and sticky tape. Some of them remained standing unaided! We also made some extremely creative We have also completed our Healthy Heart badge structures with spaghetti and marshmallows. Thank you which included a visit by Anu from Wargrave Dental to Amber for organising this for us. Clinic. Anu talked to us about dental health and also about healthy food. We learned lots of interesting The leaders have met and planned the programme for things during the evening. next term which includes lots of exciting activities. If you would like more information about 2nd Wargrave The Brownies were very proud to attend and take part Brownies, please contact us at in the Remembrance parade and memorial service [email protected] held at St. Marys Church, Wargrave. Fluffy Owl

Walking the Dog Photo courtesy of Marc Simmons

There is no Wargrave News in January; the volunteers all need a Christmas break! The next copy date is Friday 29 January, by 6.00pm please, so the February issue should be delivered to your home between Friday 12 and Sunday 14 February.

25

1st Wargrave 1st Wargrave Guides Rainbows 1st Wargrave Guides have had a very busy term so far, with one of the main activities being our Annual 1st Wargrave Rainbows have had an exciting couple of Awards Evening. We entertained family and friends months. We welcomed Caroline Dent as our new with photos from the past academic year and a few leader at the start of the term, and we decided to call songs too; for us it was a great opportunity to thank her Topaz at our meetings. Our young leaders are everyone for their continued support with everything Sapphire and Emerald. that we do. We also enrolled seven Guides and we are This term we earned very pleased to officially welcome them into our group. our Roundabout Seasons badge – we This year we presented awards to: made glowing Attendance – Avi Dhillon and Clodagh Malone dragonflies, learnt Best Dressed – Chloë Bradford and Imogen Wayland about surface tension Holiday Star – Ella Lupton by sending ‘magic fish’ 24 Hour Guide – Miranda Brown swimming across Leaders Award – Kate Warren water, played with Senior Section Award – Aimee Mortimer and Saoirse edible sparklers and Malone planted bulbs. Our Amara and Mia making painted flowerpots are As part of her Young Leader Qualification, one of our Christmas decorations outside the Guide Hut, Senior Section girls, Adele Brown, ran a super evening and we hope all users on the Expelliamus Challenge – it was an evening all of the Recreation about Harry Potter. Everyone came dressed up and Ground will enjoy the looked fantastic! We now have five (soon to be six) bulbs as they flower in Senior Section girls working towards their Young the Spring. Leader Qualification and also their Chief Guide’s Challenge. As part of this, they coordinated collecting gifts from the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides to pack into shoe boxes for the Shoebox Appeal; they managed to fill 44 boxes. Jasmine and Maia with their dragonflies

We have also had a visit by Anu from Wargrave Dental Practice, who came and talked to us about keeping our teeth healthy, and we all enjoyed practising brushing Saoirse, our teeth with her models and big toothbrushes. Adele, Aimee We were honoured to be invited to participate in the and Fran wrapping for Remembrance Sunday service this year, and the girls the Shoebox were very proud carrying their flag. We also took part in Appeal Operation Christmas Child with the Brownies and Guides, and we are looking forward to finding out where our boxes ended up. We participated in the parade and service for If you would like to join 1st Wargrave Rainbows, please Remembrance Sunday again this year. The Guides register your interest by visiting www.girlguiding.org.uk and Senior Section members all looked very smart and clicking on ‘Get Involved. You can contact the unit and were incredibly proud to be there. directly by emailing [email protected] We have done many other exciting activities (too many to name) and we have more to come this term too. In We are also looking for Unit Helpers to help with the a couple of weeks time we are having a Christmas Unit. Your involvement can be limited to coming along Sleepover and we already have plans for next year; each week or every other week to assist with the we are particularly excited about our holiday to Wales activities we do, or you can get involved further and in the summer. help plan the term’s events, or even train as a Guiding Leader. If you might be interested, please contact us If your daughter would be interested in joining Guides on the email address above. please visit the website www.girlguiding.org.uk and click on ‘get involved’. Caroline Dent (Topaz) Amber Owen

26 1st Wargrave Guides

On the left, from the top, Chloe and Imogen with the Best Dressed Cup Saoirse and Aimee with the Senior Section Award Avi and Clodagh, attendance award Mia, Rosie, Gemma, Neve and Rachel with their Attendance Medals On the right, Ella and the Holiday Star Award Miranda and her 24 Hour Guide Shield Katie, Heads Up Award

27 Camp Mohawk receives donation from local business

Argofield is an online retailer in Maidenhead specialising in children's bedroom items sold via its website www.pricerighthome.com Funds have been collected by Argofield for Camp Mohawk and another children's charity When You Wish Upon A Star. When a customer places an order of £100 or over, a percentage is automatically given by Argofield to the charities, resulting in the company raising £1,122 for Camp Mohawk. The money will go towards the charity’s 'Hawks' youth project for teenagers and young adults which is part of Camp Mohawk's short breaks programme. Richard says, ‘It is important to us as an organisation to contribute and give back to our local community. We have continued to support Camp Mohawk again (L to R) Argofield Director Richard Deamer of Backsideans, throughout the past year as it does such fantastic work Wargrave, Chris Wilcox, Camp Mohawk’s Centre Manager, for disadvantaged children and their families in and Adam Pratt, Marketing Director of Argofield Berkshire and . Customers can also take pleasure in knowing that while shopping for their own Camp Mohawk was delighted to receive a donation children, they are helping less fortunate children too.’ from Argofield Limited, a local family-run business, To date, Argofield has distributed over £12,500 through recently. Aimed at children with a variety of special its charity donation scheme. To find out more, please needs and situated in Crazies Hill, Camp Mohawk visit www.pricerighthome.com/content/charity.html and provides a range of activities, facilities and natural www.campmohawk.org.uk/ space to encourage children to play, socialise and learn in a secure and caring environment. Sarah Haunton

2016 Copy Deadline and Distribution Dates Please email your contributions to [email protected] Issue Copy Date (6.00pm) Distributed

February Friday 29 January 12-14 February As very few contributors use the Wargrave News March Friday 4 March 18-20 March wallet in Victoria News nowadays, the editors have April Friday 1 April 15-17 April decided to close this facility. If you prefer not to send May Friday 29 April 13-15 May your article/letter by email, please telephone one of June Friday 3 June 17-19 June us (our phone numbers are on page 3) and we’ll be July Friday 1 July 15-17 July happy to make an alternative arrangement with you.

September Friday 2 September 16-18 September Thank you to Fiona and Chris Keast at Victoria News October Friday 30 September 14-16 October for hosting this service for many years. November Friday 4 November 18-20 November December Friday 25 November 9-11 December The Editors

The Wargrave News is not published in January or August.

28 29 Wargrave Women’s Club Twyford and Wargrave Gardeners’ Club On Tuesday 17 November we held Ruscombe our AGM with Mrs Julia Freeman Horticultural Society Looking for the perfect Christmas taking the chair. Other members of present? Membership of Wargrave the committee were present. Mrs On Tuesday 28 January 2016 we Gardeners’ Club is just £10. Fennemore, the Secretary read her will be holding a Quiz Night with report which included many Cheese and Wine. It will have a Meetings are held in the Hannen speakers. Mrs Egan gave her horticultural flavour to the Room, Wargrave, on the last Treasurer’s report which showed a questions. A special evening to Wednesday of the month, with very healthy balance in spite of the start the gardening year. Members speakers on all aspects of gardens, high cost of speakers. All the and friends £5. Visitors very plants, and gardening. In 2016 we committee were re-elected. welcome. also have a garden visit, garden party, and trip to the A discussion was held regarding our On Tuesday 25 February 2016 we Hampton Court Flower Show in July. future. It was decided that we would have a talk by Ray Broughton titled continue in a reduced way, with Vegetable and Herb Gardens. Ray Members get a very useful 10% hopefully three meetings in the was trained at Wisley and is now discount at Twyford Mowers, as well Hannen Room, where attendance senior lecturer at Sparsholt as at both Hare Hatch Sheeplands had been much higher, together College and has been awarded a and Ladds Garden Centres. The with theatre outings, summer Fellowship by the Institute of weather was fine for our trips to garden party, and a Christmas Horticulture. Members £2, visitors Scotlands, Frogmore and Wisley, dinner. This was agreed by all. very welcome £3. Light and for our famous Plant Stall at the refreshments are included. Wargrave Festival Fete. Mrs Prince said we had many We have been entertained and enjoyable times together, and Mrs Both events will take place at educated throughout the Ball reminded us of amusing 8.00pm at St Mary’s Church year. Leaders and laterals events, including a coach trip to a Centre, Station Road, Twyford challenged the teams at a hands-on garden centre where the driver got RG10 9NT lost and a river outing when it got pruning workshop organised by a committee member. Various garden dark and we could not see the Details on 932 0315 or writers, horticultural journalists, plant scenery. www.trha.org.uk breeders, head gardeners and masters of horticulture have given Our Christmas Dinner will be held at Susan Pankhurst the Hennerton Golf Club on us a better understanding of the soil, Tuesday 15 December at 7.30pm of weed control, medicinal plants, and Mrs Freeman asked us to bring patios, pots and bulbs. Our a present value £5. chairman talked about the sinister relationship between propagation After the meeting we enjoyed a and propaganda, and we rounded delicious supper provided by off the year with our very sociable members. AGM. Barbara Ball If Santa is too busy hoe-hoe-hoeing Local Couple with Designs on Wargrave to fund your full membership, you are very welcome to any of our Local business owner, Eira Parry and her partner, Peter Beaumont moved meetings as a £2 visitor. to Wargrave in the summer with one sole aim in mind. They sold up both their properties and rented a house in a village that they loved, in order to Wargrave Gardeners’ Club is now try and build their own Grand Design. on Facebook. Like our page to keep up-to-date with events and seasonal Eira used to work for a self-build magazine, and ever since has dreamed of hints and tips. building her own home, and now things are coming together to make that a reality. There's just one sticking point – where to build. The January 2016 meeting, with Mughal Gardens of India by club Peter and Eira would love to stay close to Wargrave, ‘We have found a member, Peter Mayes, is on place with a real sense of community and a great spirit of village life and Wednesday 27 January at 7.30pm now we don't want to move!’ in the Hannen Room. Peter and Eira are looking for a moderate plot either with planning permission, or with the potential to obtain planning permission for a four Contact: Ian Bradley 940 6143, bedroom home. If you have a plot, or a section of garden that you would be [email protected] interested in selling, please contact them at [email protected]. Hilary Knight Eira Parry

30 dŽƚĂůůLJ^ĐƌƵŵƉƚŝŽƵƐ ”‘’‡”–›ƒ‹–‡ƒ ‡ ƒ”’‡–”›Ƭ ‘‹‡”› &ŽŽĚ ǤǤ‡–‘ ĞƐƉŽŬĞĂƚĞƌŝŶŐ ͹ͻ›‡ƒ”•‘ˆ‡š’‡”‹‡ ‡ ˜‡”͸ͶͶ›‡ƒ”•‘ˆŽ‘ ƒŽ ŽŶƚĂĐƚʹ^ŚĞŝůĂdŚŽƌŶĞ ˆƒ‹Ž›Š‹•–‘”›

ϬϳϵϯϰͲϲϮϰϴϭϮŵŽďŝůĞ  7HOHSKRQH  ϬϭϭϴϵͲϰϬϰϰϬϱŚŽŵĞ  ǁǁǁ͘ƚŽƚĂůůLJƐĐƌƵŵƉƚŝŽƵƐĨŽŽĚ͘ĐŽ͘ƵŬ RU  ƐŚĞŝůĂĞŵƚŚŽƌŶĞΛŐŵĂŝů͘ĐŽŵ

/DWHNHHSLQJYDULHWLHVRI

$33/(6 DOOJURZQRQWKHIDUP

&URVV/DQHV 6+23 )UXLW)DUP :HGWR6XQ 0DSOHGXUKDP DPSP 5*8: 7HO 3581,1*&2856(6 ERRNQRZIRU-DQ)HE ZZZFURVVODQHVIUXLWIDUPFRXN POVIURP&DYHUVKDPRII$2[IRUGURDG

dŽƚĂůůLJ^ĐƌƵŵƉƚŝŽƵƐ ”‘’‡”–›ƒ‹–‡ƒ ‡ To advertise ƒ”’‡–”›Ƭ ‘‹‡”› &ŽŽĚ ƒ”’‡–”›Ƭ ‘‹‡”› &ŽŽĚ ǤǤ‡–‘ on this page ĞƐƉŽŬĞĂƚĞƌŝŶŐ ͹ͻ›‡ƒ”•‘ˆ‡š’‡”‹‡ ‡ ˜‡”͸ͶͶ›‡ƒ”•‘ˆŽ‘ ƒŽ contact ŽŶƚĂĐƚʹ^ŚĞŝůĂdŚŽƌŶĞ ˆƒ‹Ž›Š‹•–‘”›

ϬϳϵϯϰͲϲϮϰϴϭϮŵŽďŝůĞ  7HOHSKRQH Sue Ferguson  ϬϭϭϴϵͲϰϬϰϰϬϱŚŽŵĞ  0118 940 ǁǁǁ͘ƚŽƚĂůůLJƐĐƌƵŵƉƚŝŽƵƐĨŽŽĚ͘ĐŽ͘ƵŬ RU  3032 ƐŚĞŝůĂĞŵƚŚŽƌŶĞΛŐŵĂŝů͘ĐŽŵ

H/DWHNHHSLQJYDULHWLHVRIate cleaning but need help in your

ho$33/(6use? Call us, we love cleaning and have worDOOJURZQRQWKHIDUPked in the are a for 10 years. Refere&URVV/DQHVnces available 6+23 )UXLW)DUP :HGWR6XQ 0DSOHGXUKDP fDPSProm satisfied5*8: customers. 7HO C3581,1*&2856(6ontact Maria  ERRNQRZIRU-DQ)HE 07ZZZFURVVODQHVIUXLWIDUPFRXN800 713429 POVIURP&DYHUVKDPRII$2[IRUGURDG

31 Wargrave Local History Society Anthony Poulton-Smith, author of a happened at Ashby de la Zouch. as it came from the word ‘shrope’, recent book entitled Berkshire Place meaning scrubland, and so should Names, explained the origins, The Saxons did not name their own be pronounced ‘Shrowsbury’. He meanings and changes of many place – to them it was ‘home’. They, recounted visiting Parwich in village and town names at the and later generations, could Derbyshire and asking residents Society’s November meeting. navigate using landmarks and so how their village name was did not need street names. In much pronounced. The villagers gave lots Anthony began with a general the same way we might say we are of different answers: they rarely history of place names. The written ‘going down to the village’, or give spoke the name, but talked of ‘the form of most place names began visitors directions to ‘turn by The village’ amongst themselves. with the Saxons. Although the Bull and The Greyhound’. They Romans had named places in may, however, need to refer to other Most place names are formed of England, these were normally just places. Fairly common place names two elements – the suffix saying the Latin form of the existing, include Norton, Aston, Sutton and what it is and the prefix describing it. spoken British names. However, as Weston – the ‘ton’ part coming from That could give rise to some odd the British language did not have a the word ‘tun’ for settlement, and examples, such as Pendle Hill in written form, there is little idea what the first part of the name indicating Lancashire. In earlier time it would these names actually meant, north, east, south or west have been ‘the hill called Pendle’ – although some clues can be found respectively. So, for example, the ‘dle’ part also meaning hill – as by comparing with Cornish, Welsh Sutton is the town to the south. did ‘pen’, so it means ‘hill, hill, hill’, or Celtic. The British were organised whilst Torpenhow Hill, in Cumbria, on a tribal system, each tribe being means ‘hill, hill, hill, hill’! a mini-kingdom, effectively an Anthony answered questions about extended, self-sufficient family the meanings of a variety of place farming the land. To them, the place ‘Wargrave means the names, including many local ones where they lived was ‘home’. The weir by the clearing in such as Reading – the ‘ing’ means Norse language of the the forest’ ‘associated with’ and Redda is the Scandinavians had much in name of the person after whose common with that of their Saxon tribe it is named (hence the ‘cousins’. Although there were pronunciation being ‘Redding’ and differences in pronunciation, they To try and work out the origins of a not ‘Reeding’). were mutually intelligible. In many place name, Anthony said if cases, the newcomers would ask, possible a record needed to be Wargrave means the weir by the ‘What is the name of that place?’ found every 50–75 years up to clearing in the forest. He explained and would adopt the same name, about 1800. Looking at old that, although the end part of the although with maybe a harsher documents such as the Feet of name in some spellings could mean pronunciation. For example, the Fines, Subsidy Rolls, Pipe Rolls and ‘a trench’, the first part of the name Saxon Deartun (named after the Anglo Saxon Chronicles and was a clue that this was not likely local deer, with ‘tun’ meaning comparing the phonetic spellings here, as a trench by a weir did not settlement) became in Danish going back in time, it was simple to make sense. Dearby (’by’ meaning farmstead) work out the derivation of the Ruscombe was probably the camp and ultimately Derby. place’s name. The problem was that belonging to Rot, whilst Sonning there were often gaps in the It might be thought that the Roman was associated with (‘ing’) Sunna, records. The reason for only taking names for places which end ‘caster’ so should be pronounced ‘sun-ing’. the records up to 1800 is that or ‘chester’ would pre-date the phonetic spelling was not used so Future meetings Saxon era, but the word had a much after that date, a result of the specific meaning of ‘a former (Tuesday 12 January production of English dictionaries by stronghold’. This explains why, for Phil Davis will talk about the people like Dr Samuel Johnson. example, Chester was called Deva families and aspects of the (or Deoua) from its location on the From this time, there was a ‘them’ history of Hennerton. River Dee by the Romans. In and ‘us’ way to spell and pronounce (Tuesday 9 February general, the Normans did not do words – which gave rise to the Ann Griffin will tell us about much to place names in England (a many ways to say ‘ough’ depending The Reverend James Austen notable exception being Belvoir, on the rest of the word. To find the Leigh of Knowl Hill and the from the French for ‘beautiful view’). origin of a place name, therefore, it building of St Peter's Church. They did, however, introduce is necessary to listen to it, rather (Tuesday 8 March hereditary surnames. When than read it. Anthony asked how Annual General Meeting. Normans became Lord of the Shrewsbury, Shropshire’s county Contact me on 940 3121 or visit Manor, they did not want to have a town, should be pronounced – as www.wargravehistory.org.uk for common name like Ashley (an ash with many counties, the ‘shire’ being more information about the Society. tree settlement) for their title, so added to the county town name. He would add their name to it, as said that it was never ‘Shroosbury’, Peter Delaney

32 33 HBUG News Theresa May Backs

Network Rail (NR) and the Department for Transport Wuggers’ Concerns (DfT) were severely criticised in a report published by Despite the upheaval created by recent terrorist action the Public Accounts Committee of the House of demanding her close attention as Home Secretary, our Commons on 20 November. MP Theresa May kindly agreed another meeting with The Committee found that the Great Western me on 27 November to hear WUGGERS’ continuing electrification project could cost as much as £2.8bn, up concerns over: from £1.6bn estimated a year ago. It called on  the progress (or lack of it) in the electrification of ministers to publish a revised and re-costed both the main line out of Paddington and, of electrification programme. Sir Peter Hendy’s report on particular WUGGER concern, our Twyford to the achievability of the current NR programme was Henley Branch Line. published on 25 November.  the pressing need for redevelopment of Twyford The good news items are Station.  confirmation that the GWR electrification Two days earlier the Chancellor had presented the programme will be completed Autumn Spending Review and later the same day issued a document by its new Chairman,  Henley Branch Line will be included in the Sir Peter Hendy. It therefore seemed a good moment programme to review with our MP (whose support for WUG has  Electrification of the lines to Cardiff, Bristol, never been less than wholehearted) where matters Newbury and Oxford will be completed by the stood. Easy to say, but incredibly difficult to work out. end of 2018 This is what we concluded:  GWR will introduce a fully electric-based  Our MP will continue her campaign on our behalf timetable in December 2018 to secure the best possible outcome out of the The bad news items are messy situation created by Network Rail.  She will stress the importance of having face to  There are no precise dates quoted - all face meetings between user groups with the completions are expressed in terms of the year movers and shakers in Network Rail and GWR. in which they will happen  She is also as deeply concerned as WUGGERS  The years quoted are all later than the plans that are in respect of the unacceptable lack of interest we have previously been given shown by GWR (the owners and operators of  Electrification of the Cardiff-Swansea line will not Twyford Station) in seeking improvements for car now take place until after 2019 parking, drop off, and the 500 extra passengers using the peak time trains when through services GWR have said that they will be producing a revised to/from Paddington cease to operate. I made her interim plan based on this report after consultation with aware that Twyford Parish Councillors oppose any DfT. We do not expect to see that plan until the new changes at Twyford Station on the grounds that year but will communicate it to you as soon as it is the car park is only used by outsiders because released. Twyford residents walk or cycle to the station. If you want to be kept aware of the latest news on Philip Meadowcroft issues affecting users of the Branch Line please Wargrave Users’ Group (WUGGERS) comprises 70 subscribe to HBUG. To do this, send an email to Wargrave households using peak and off-peak trains. [email protected] requesting To join email [email protected] addition to the group.

Michael Porter Wargrave Master Mind Hon. Sec. HBUG Though he is far too modest to tell us himself, the [email protected] editors would like to congratulate Owen Rees, of Victoria Road, on his appearance on Mastermind a couple of weeks ago. Mastermind contestants are chosen from about 3,000 applicants, so being on the programme is in itself a real achievement. Owen had a great time. It was really fun and the contestants all had a real laugh in the Green Room. His specialist subject was Martin Scorcese films. (and right now he's hoping never to have to watch another one of them ever again - a sentiment echoed by his wife Clare!).

34 D M King Plastering All types of plastering undertaken 25 years experience Walls and ceilings re-skimmed Skimming over artex Rendering Pebble dashing Plastering repairs Tacking Coving Tel 0118 944 2067 Mob 0778 053 7845

35 News from your Borough Councillors

As I considered what should be raised from 2% to 4%, if the Revolution included in my column, two increase is hypothecated on adult ‘This amounts to a big package of significant events occurred, the social care. WBC’s working new powers, but also new Autumn Statement and Spending hypothesis was that the 2% ceiling responsibilities for local councils. It’s Review which has been heralded as was likely to be the maximum a revolution in the way we govern the end of austerity and Sir Peter permissible; indeed it was this country.’ Hendy’s report on Network Rail. It is considered that this could be of course dangerous to comment lowered. Also the working Trains before the small print emerges. hypothesis is that the equivalent of Network Rail Chairman Sir Peter an increase equivalent to 3% of all Hendy has confirmed that the Local Government Finance money to be raised from Council majority of the five-year funding Currently WBC collects £57m in Tax would be needed to fund just programme (to 2019) enhancement business rates, quantum from this is the increases in adult social care. projects can ‘go ahead as planned determined centrally and then WBC with extra investment generated receives a grant of some £27m in The Statement goes on to state that primarily from the sale of non-core 2015/16. This has been reduced Asset Sales railway assets’. Hendy said: year on year and the expectation is ‘We’re going to let councils spend ‘Passengers and businesses are that in 2016/17 this will be £23m. 100% of the receipts from the already benefiting from the largest assets they sell to improve their investment by Government in our The Statement says ‘If we want to local services.’ railways since Victorian times, and shift power in our country, we have that will continue. to give all local councils the tools to Reserves drive the growth of business in their ‘Councils increased their reserves The extra investment secures a area – and rewards that come when by nearly £10 billion over the last Railway Upgrade Plan that delivers you do so……we will abolish the Parliament. We’ll encourage them to better stations, faster, more frequent uniform business rate. draw on these reserves as they and longer trains, and a safer and undertake reforms.’ more reliable railway for millions of ‘By the end of the parliament local passengers and businesses. ‘This government will keep all revenue Schools extra investment will come from from business rates. We’ll give ‘We will make local authorities Network Rail selling some of its councils the power to cut rates and running schools a thing of the past. property portfolio to provide £1.8 make their area more attractive to This will help save around £600m billion. The Government has also business.’ on the Education Services Grant. increased the limit on NR’s government borrowing by a further As business rates are a major ‘We will phase out the arbitrary and £700 million. ‘Working closely with source of redistribution, it remains to unfair school funding system that the Department for Transport we be seen how the Chancellor actually has systematically underfunded have ensured that no infrastructure implements this. Were it to be schools in whole swathes of the project has been cancelled and the implemented verbatim, then WBC’s country. bulk of the investment programme finances would be transformed. will be delivered by March 2019,’ ‘Under the current arrangements, a Homeless child from a disadvantaged And finally…… ‘The Temporary Accommodation background in one school can Have a really great Christmas, and Management Fee will no longer be attract half as much funding as a a Happy and Prosperous New Year. paid through the benefits system – child in identical circumstances in Please be in touch if we can be of instead, councils will receive £10m another school. help. a year more, upfront, so they can In its place, we will introduce a new provide more help to homeless national funding formula. I John Halsall 07939 041 227 people. commend the many MPs from all [email protected] parties who have campaigned for ‘Alongside savings in the public many years to see this day come. Bob Pitts 07768 107 070 health grant we’ll consult on [email protected] transferring new powers and the ‘The formula will start to be responsibility for its funding, and introduced from 2017’ elements of the administration of housing benefit. Local government Half the Wokingham Borough’s is sitting on property worth quarter schools are maintained schools and of a trillion pounds.’ our rural school is always under financial pressure. Adult Social Care The ceiling on Council Tax was

36 )HQFLQJVXSSOLHGDQGHUHFWHG)HQFLQJVXSSOLHGDQGHUHFWHG ZZZJDWHVDJULFXOWXUDOFRXNZZZJDWHVDJULFXOWXUDOFRXN

&ORVH%RDUG &ORVH%RDUG7HOHSKRQH 7HOHSKRQH 3DQHOV 3DQHOV  :URXJKW,URQ :URXJKW,URQ0RELOH 0RELOH :RRGHQ*DWHV :RRGHQ*DWHV  3RVWDQG5DLO 3RVWDQG5DLO

NIKKI’S NIKKI’S KITCHEN KITCHEN Nikki Alston Nikki Alston Professional Caterer Professional Caterer 07776 342837 07776 342837 0118 940 3788 0118 940 3788 [email protected]@googlemail.com

@Jf–f ° ¯½f° @Jf–f ° ¯½f°

°¾f°nf°½¾¯f °¾f°nf°½¾¯f ¯f¾Ŧ °¾ ¾ ¾  ¯f¾Ŧ °¾ ¾ ¾  f°– € €°–¾ nŦ f°– € €°–¾ nŦ ¾ţ ¯f°¾ţInf¾ţ ¾ţ ¯f°¾ţInf¾ţ I°f°¾f°¯ŦŦŦ I°f°¾f°¯ŦŦŦ

@ť @ť ,ť ­ €€€Ŧ€f–f°¾ŦnŦ‚ƒ,ť ­ €€€Ŧ€f–f°¾ŦnŦ‚ƒ

SPRING MEADOWS ASTP R ING MEADOWS AT HIGHFIELD FARM HIGHFIELD FARM OFFICES to Let on our RurOalF FBIuCsEinSe stso CLeentt oren our Rural Business Centre GIBSTORE AT CRAZIGESIB HSITLOLRE AT CRAZIES HILL Lockable dry heated STORLAoGcEkable dry heated STORAGE Various sizes of secure areVaasr aiovuasi lasibzlees of secure areas available for household or business for household or business Call Dick Bush 0118 940 C12a0ll5 D (iocfkf iBceu)sh 0118 940 1205 (office) 37 Parish Council Meeting Summary of Minutes of the Meeting held on 2 November. Planning and highways Matters arising from previous meeting: The Parish Council had no objection to six planning Changed date of Wokingham Borough Council’s Family applications including the one for St Mary’s Church, Fun Day to 4 August 2016 – noted Station Road, Wargrave. Listed building application for the proposed erection of a single storey self-contained The Horns Public House – decision about community annexe. Member of the public addressed the Council in asset status due on 15 December 2015. Any further support of this application. representations must be made in the next fortnight. It was resolved to contact the Borough Council with a Councillors informed about the Borough Council’s 50% request that a ‘Business as Usual’ sign be displayed premium on full Council Tax for empty property; intended during Culham Lane closure due to works at Henley Road to encourage their use for local residents. end.

Tennis Club electricity supply - a site meeting is being Mumbery Hill - Cllr Mrs Pope reported that overgrown sought with our electrician to clarify some points that have vegetation had damaged a vehicle. been raised as to whether the agreed course of action may not be appropriate. Recreation and Open Spaces - The matter of overgrown vegetation and fly-tipping on the Ferry Lane slipway to be Workplace pensions – meeting agreed for 30 November reported to the Borough Council. 2015. Woodclyffe Hall - Resolved that working party consider the Matters arising from this meeting necessary repairs and improvements to the hall and Borough Councillors’ report prioritise the schedule of works. Meeting with Borough Strategic Housing Assessment will have a huge impact on Conservation Officer arranged for 11 November. An the Borough. Status of the Green Belt protected, so impact Access Audit to be undertaken so necessary work can be on Wargrave minimal. included in the schedule. An inspection of the gas system in the hall has been completed and found to be safe. Railway: Western Study has been published. Includes electrification of the branch line with a shuttle service to Wargrave Library - an update was given regarding the Wargrave every 30 minutes. staffing of the library. Plans for multi-story car park at Twyford did not meet funding criteria. Borough Council considering fresh (Source: minutes of Wargrave Parish Council meeting of 2 strategies including possible park and ride schemes. November 2015)

Late Night Shopping in December

Beat the town centre crowds and join Jo at the Robin's Nest Gallery in Wargrave for her late night Christmas shopping events this month. The gallery will be open late (until 8.00pm) every Thursday in December, giving shoppers a chance to get home from work or put the kids in bed, then take a stroll out to browse the gallery's Christmas gift range at leisure, with a festive tipple in hand.

Gifts, cards and Christmas decorations are available from as little as £2, up to the bigger pieces of artwork at around £800. Everything in the gallery is handmade and bespoke, so gifts will always be unique and unusual, and can often be personalised or made on commission - just ask Jo for more details.

Customers have told me they have tried to get into Reading to shop and they've actually turned back, the traffic has been so bad. I wanted to make sure I could offer an additional service to my customers, on top of my usual opening hours, as I can appreciate how difficult it is to fit everything in in the run up to Christmas. Everyone likes some extra time to shop locally, and enjoy a little Christmas spirit with a mince pie or two at the same time. As a special Christmas thank you to the village, readers of the Wargrave News can present the 20% discount voucher to Jo at any time before Christmas (valid on one transaction only over £10 until 24 December). The perfect excuse to buy an extra present for yourself this year.

Merry Christmas from Robin's Nest Gallery

Jo Sinclair

38 GetFurnished-9cmx5cm-landscape-2015.pdf 1 08/01/2015 16:30

WKDWŝZRZŞORRN in your home

01491 640920 Mon to Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-3pm 7LPEHUV/DQH1XƬHOG5*6< ZZZJHWIXUQLVKHGFRXN 39

6WRUP\ZHDWKHURQWKHZD\" ‹ƒŠ‹––ƒ ƒ”†‡ ƒ•’‡ ‹ƒŽ ‡”˜‹ ‡• —ŽŽ›—ƒŽ‹ˆ‹‡† ˆˆ‡”͇͚͔‘ˆˆ %XUQKDP)HQFLQJFDQKHOS ˆ—ŽŽ†ƒ› ‘”–‹ —Ž–—”‹•–ƒ†‡•‹‰‡” ‰ƒ”†‡ :LWKPRUHVWRUP\ZHDWKHURQWKH „ƒ•‡†‹™›ˆ‘”†‘ˆˆ‡”‹‰ ƒ‹–‡ƒ ‡ ZD\QRZLVWKHWLPHWRVHFXUH\RXU ‰ƒ”†‡†‡•‹‰ǡ’Žƒ–‹‰ †—”‹‰ ERXQGDULHV5HOLDEOHORFDOH[SHUWV ’Žƒ•ǡ‰ƒ”†‡ƒ‹–‡ƒ ‡ǡ ‡ ‡„‡” %XUQKDP)HQFLQJFDQKHOSZLWKWKHFRQVWUXFWLRQ –‹†›—’ǡ™‡‡†‹‰ǡ’”—‹‰ǡ DQGUHSDLURITXDOLW\IHQFLQJJDWHVDQGGHFNLQJ ˆ‡‡†‹‰ǡ•‘‹Ž ‘†‹–‹‘‹‰ǡ’Žƒ–‹‰Ȁƒ–—”‡’Žƒ–‹‰ &RQWDFW*HUDUG5RRQH\RQWR ƒ†Žƒ†• ƒ’‹‰Ǥ‡Žǣ͔͚͙͔͖͙͛͛͗͛͜ DUUDQJHDIUHHTXRWDWLRQ ™™™Ǥˆƒ ‡„‘‘Ǥ ‘Ȁ‹ƒ•‰ƒ”†‡‹‰•‡”˜‹ ‡•

 3,/$7(6&/$66(6&5$=,(6+,//9,//$*( +$//78(6'$<6$030  )5((7$67(5&/$66 )25025('(7$,/62572%22.$6/27 3/($6(&217$&7$/<7+<($//$1' DO\WK#SLODWHVDEFFRXN ZZZSLODWHVDEFFRXN  $//(48,30(173529,'('  “We really enjoyed sorting foods into those which are good and not so good for our teeth, and practising how to brush our teeth with Anu's models and big toothbrushes. Thank you for coming to visit us." Before throwing away the mince We’re not ‘bah humbug’ about sugar pies and Yule log this Christmas, this Christmas. We love chocolate here are some top tips to ensure gold coins too. your dental hygiene continues into, A recent Public Health England and beyond, 2016: study warns the nation is ‘eating too • Little, not often: Remember it is much sugar’ fuelling tooth decay not just the amount of sugar that among children and an obesity crisis is eaten or drunk that causes costing the NHS £5.1bn a year. TV tooth decay, but critically how chef Jamie Oliver has been frequently. Bacteria living on the spearheading the ‘sugar tax’ teeth quickly convert sugar into campaign and it is expected in the acid and it is this repeated acid new year that the government will attack that dissolves the tooth introduce a strategy to combat enamel. childhood obesity. • Water, not wine, is your friend The management of sugar Although raisins are healthy, they this Christmas: It’s better to have consumption for both adults and are retentive and sticky like a sugary treats at meal times as children is entirely in our own hands. toffee so you will need to use saliva is more in abundance. The British Dental Association is dental floss out to help remove Saliva has antibacterial campaigning for public health any remnants. For help on trying properties and helps to buffer legislation that helps to limit the to reduce sugar in our diets Eat acidity in the mouth. Drinking amount of sugary food and drink Real Food, a Henley based water to dilute and wash away children in particular consume. company, offers nutritional any residues after sugar Dental cavities due to tooth decay advice and healthy consumption is great. Tooth are the number one reason why eating programmes. Their enamel begins to be softened children aged 5 - 9 are admitted to recipes do not contain any when acid levels in the mouth hospital in England. Exposure to refined white sugar and limit all are below 5.5pH. Water has a hidden sugars, inadequate cleaning free sugars www.eat-real- pH of 7. Coca Cola has a pH of and lack of fluoride exposure are all food.co.uk 2! Even if carbonated drinks are contributing factors. sugar-free, their acid properties • Watch out for ‘hidden’ sugars: Anu visited both the Rainbows and will still lead to tooth damage, by fruit juices can be healthy, Brownies in November providing erosion rather than decay. however the natural sugars can them with an entertaining and still damage teeth so are best • Brush and floss regularly: this educational chat on dental hygiene again consumed at mealtimes. helps prevent decay as the and how to spot food and drink with Sugars in whole pieces of fruit amount of acid generated is sugar in them. The children were are less likely to cause tooth dependent on the quantity of very receptive and commented: decay as they are combined with dental plaque on the fibre. teeth i.e. less plaque = less acid. Brushing Come and see us: regular check- alone will not remove ups can help spot any dental health the plaque in-between problems before they escalate into your teeth so flossing something more painful. or use of interdental aids are equally as If you’d like to visit us in the new important. near and maybe cross one of your New year resolutions off your list • Healthy snacks: then give us a call on 940 1057. breadsticks, nuts or Merry Christmas! raw vegetables are better alternatives to Wargrave Dental Clinic sugary snacks between meals, and after all that turkey who needs snacks anyway?

40 Catch up with Crazies Hill and Cockpole Green

Broadband Roll Out Meeting for Government’s Universal Service festive favourite is a great way to Residents Obligation (USO) initiative which will start the Christmas week. Singing Representatives of BT and give residents a legal right to begins at 7.30pm sharp (a revision Superfast Berkshire (SFB) are to request broadband speeds of to the time published in last month’s meet residents early in the new year 10Mbps. Wargrave News) and will continue to discuss when high speed in The Horns where keen choristers broadband might be available to the While the roll out of Phase III in two will be accompanied by Crazies village. BT are suppliers to SFB and years’ time means there are no Hill’s Tim Gould on piano. Just to BDUK, the funding body set up by short-term solutions to this issue, a round off this Christmas come early, the Government and together the medium term option might be to landlords Adam and Sandra will be three parties prioritise the order in have BT provide plans and costs for welcoming concert-goers with free which superfast broadband is rolled a roll out co-funded by the mulled wine and mice pies. See you out into communities. community. There are concerns, there! however, about the quality of It had been hoped that Crazies Hill superfast access in such an Spring Quiz and Cockpole Green would be arrangement and the RA is currently The first event on the Residents’ included in the recent roll out in canvassing the views of other Association social calendar is on Wargrave, but this was not the communities who have gone down Saturday 12 March, when the case. With Phase I of the process this route. committee will host a quiz in the now complete and the deadline for village hall. planning and funding of Phase II The meeting with SFB and BT now passed, the Residents’ provides another opportunity for The general knowledge challenge Association (RA) committee, with residents to press for priority will start at 7.30pm and supper will the full support of Wargrave Parish position in the Phase III roll out. be served in the interval. Quizzes Council, are focused on ensuring Details of this village hall meeting, are among the most popular events Crazies Hill is given priority in the which might be as early as January, in the village and places are limited Phase III roll out, which starts in will be circulated via the RA’s email so book early to avoid 2017, but won’t be completed until network as soon as dates are disappointment by contacting me on 2020. agreed. 940 2269 or at [email protected] New role at Camp Mohawk With an SFB deadline of the end of this month for clarifying issues RA committee member, Cath A tip from those in the know: one around Phase III, RA committee Reynolds, who lives in Crazies Hill, round will feature questions on members Phil Davis (who is also a has succeeded her husband Gary significant anniversaries, so start Parish Councillor) and Cath as chair of the board of trustees at revising those dates now.

Reynolds were delighted to have Camp Mohawk. Hennerton History the opportunity to meet the Project Cath, who is also a trustee of the Don’t forget that Wargrave Local Manager in November to push our village hall and has played a key History Society’s January meeting case for early access to superfast role in the development of will feature a presentation on the speeds. They took him through the Redingensians Rugby Club, was history of the houses at Hennerton results of our recent survey which awarded the OBE in 2005 for her and their inhabitants. For details shows 90 per cent of residents (60 work on London’s successful bid to check out the Society’s page. per cent of whom also use their host the Olympic and Paralympic internet connection for business) Games in 2012. The Horns found broadband speeds Boxing Day will see an equestrian inadequate and thought urgent It was Gary who set up the current ‘meet’ at the pub when horses and action was needed. structure of trustees at the centre. riders are invited up for a drinks and Manager Chris Wilcox said his work a prize will be awarded for the best The manager talked them through would have a significant and lasting festive attire. There will then be an the decision-making process, impact on the future of Camp organised hack or, for those without pointing out that the Phase III roll Mohawk. equine support, a Boxing Day walk. out is yet to be agreed and funded, for which it needs EU agreement. Festive Favourite Adam and Sandra will be hosting a He also said there may be monies Don’t forget our annual Carol New Year’s Eve party which will available from Phase I. Concert is Monday 21 December. offer dinner and dancing for those Always a hit with young and old as yet undecided how to see in The survey was also presented at alike, it will be held in the village hall 2016. They will also be open for an earlier meeting with directors of and as ever will be directed by lunch on New Year’s Day. BT hosted by Theresa May MP. She Bowsey Hill Kapellmeister, Paul has also met with SFB on our behalf Whitmarsh. Featuring soloists as Check out their website for details. and last month issued a press well as a choir, this interactive Please note: The Horns will be release supporting the

41 Catch up with Crazies Hill and Cockpole Green (continued) closed from Tuesday 4 January for four course dinner served at A Piece of Cake one week while the kitchen is 7.30pm. Tickets £35. Last month’s ‘Coffee and Cakes’ reorganised and Adam and Sandra afternoon at the school raised £260 snatch a well-earned rest. On Sunday 31 January, the club will for Macmillan Cancer Care. Cakes resume its monthly Sunday were provided by teachers and Hennerton Golf Club carveries and its regular bistro support staff. The team at the club has asked me evenings are back in February, to wish everyone a merry Christmas starting with an Italian supper on Making Music and a happy New Year. Friday 19 February. Last month, children from Crazies Hill took part in the annual Junior If your Christmas shopping plans To book call the clubhouse on 940 Music Festival at Reading’s mean you could do with a couple of 1000. Hexagon Theatre. Pupils from local hours without the kids in the pre- schools sang a selection of songs Christmas school holidays, why not School News Positve Feedback from the musicals and several went send them along to one of Parents of younger pupils at Crazies on to perform individually, including Hennerton’s golf camps on Monday Hill Primary School have been very Crazies Hill, who had 21 or Tuesday 22 December from complimentary about last month’s choreographed a dance to Revolting 11.00am to 1.30pm? Minimum age information evening. The positive Children from the musical Matilda. five years; feedback reflected the They had also hand-painted T-shirts comprehensive nature of the event. especially for the show. If your New Year’s Resolution will It began with a presentation about be to get outdoors and get fit, why the ‘Letters and Sounds’ process of As we went to press, pupils were not sign up for next month’s group teaching phonics, early reading rehearsing for their two golf lessons for beginners at progression and how parents can performances of Off to Bethlehem at Hennerton? The one hour sessions support their children’s reading the village followed by carol singing start on Tuesday 5 January and development. Parents were then at the WI Christmas lunch. There’s Saturday 9 January for a total of introduced to some of the many just time to catch them singing at four weeks. Courses cost £40 per changes to the maths curriculum the carol service and nativity on person and all equipment is and the implications this has had on Monday 14 December at St Mary’s included. the introduction of more challenging Church, Wargrave. Always a lovely mathematical topics. Headteacher, occasion; see them there at The Ladies Golf Clinics and Coffee Eileen Holmes concluded the 6.00pm. Mornings will also continue in the presentation with guidance on the New Year. The 90 minute sessions new assessment procedures as well Tess Dixon start at 10.00am on the second and as explaining the tests the school fourth Wednesday of every month continues to administer throughout and cost £8. No need to book. the academic year. Rotary Club

For more information on any of Tasty Tuck Fund Raising these sessions call 940 2269. The school’s new Tasty Tuck shop, The Reading Maiden Erlegh a bid to encourage healthy eating, branch raised £2,000 at a golf If you’re still looking for a festive got off to a great start last month. tournament in aid of the Air feast, Hennerton is offering a Children in year 5 work on a rota to Ambulance. Christmas à la carte menu Monday man the shop at break times to Friday from 12.30pm to 3.00pm alongside bursar Mrs Turnell. They Their annual Charity Art Fair and the last Christmas carvery is on then reconcile the money and do a raised £4,000. The main Sunday 20 December. stock take, taking their first steps beneficiary will be the Royal into the world of enterprise. Berkshire Ultrasound Scanner If you can bear to think beyond Appeal. Nearly 100 local artists Christmas, there’s plenty going on Poetry Please exhibited over 350 works of art, in the New Year at Hennerton. Last month saw the introduction of a which were available for viewing new initiative at the school to and purchase. First off, there’s the annual Burns encourage and develop pupils’ Night Dinner and Dance on enjoyment of the arts. ‘Pass the ABC to Read benefitted from a Saturday 23 January. In time- Poem’ will see a new poem bridge drive which raised £522. honoured tradition, the get-together introduced to children fortnightly, so The money will be used to support will feature the ceremonial parading that they can learn it and pass it on new volunteers with books and of the haggis accompanied by a to others. games to use with the children. Scottish piper, the Address and a wee dram of whiskey, all followed Chris Foley by a ceilidh. Arrivals at 7.00pm for a

42 The Piggott School - Chinese Exchange

Over October half term 21 students from Years 10 and 11 participated in an exchange programme to Luzhou High School in China. All of us study GCSE Chinese and for most of us this was our first trip to China. We flew direct to Chengdu on a long and tiring ten hour flight, which was then followed by a four hour coach journey south to the Sichuan Province, and to the city of Luzhou – an area seldom visited by tourists. We experienced an amazing reception on our arrival at the High School. As we got off the coach, hundreds of screaming, excited students crowded round to catch a glimpse of their new roommates and to take our photos – a scene to be repeated so often throughout our visit! Luzhou High School has 7,000 students equivalent in age to Years 11-13 and during our stay we were lucky enough to spend some time alongside them experiencing school life. We participated in English and Chinese lessons, as well as Tai Chi and calligraphy classes. We also took part in the School’s Flag Raising Ceremony and joined all 7,000 students in a whole school group dance – an experience we will always remember!

During the 11 days all the students who went enjoyed many unforgettable experiences. We all absorbed ourselves in the culture and the lives of the students, by the end of the trip many great friends had been made. Every day we had a different jam-packed schedule filled with exciting activities. On one of the days we visited Chinese families in small groups or pairs; we spent the entire day with our families experiencing the day to day life of the citizens of Luzhou. We all did different things with our families but in general: we visited our family’s home; took part in some sports; explored Luzhou; played some traditional Chinese instruments and ate some Chinese food. On the Monday we attended the Flag Raising Ceremony. We stood on a huge platform as all the students filed into their positions on the football pitch. Then, we watched as the Flag Raising Squad raised the flag and everyone sang the Chinese national anthem. After Mr Jones and the deputy head teacher had spoken, we all had the opportunity to speak in front of the 7,000 students in Chinese! It was an extremely nerve-racking experience but one we will never forget. One of the Chinese students said that they were all so shocked when we started speaking in Chinese.

43 The Piggott School Wargrave Hay for the Reindeer this (continued) Christmas On the last full day, we set off The Mumbery Nature again on the four hour coach trip Reserve Volunteers and arrived in Chengdu at about have found an original midday. We spent the next four solution to get rid of hours exploring the Chengdu excess hay and help panda sanctuary and had the them increase the wild chance to see lots of giant flowers and pandas. We were also lucky biodiversity at the enough to see some baby pandas Mumbery Hill Nature and there were six sets of baby Reserve in Wargrave. twins in the sanctuary. Later that The semi natural day, we visited the traditional grassland has to be Chengdu market where we reduced at the site to bought some presents and allow the wild flowers enjoyed our last night in China. and other plants to increase. Reducing the grass by regular mowing has produced a lot of hay but the volunteers had a problem as the wildflower All in all, so many happy content, such as ragwort, meant it could not be fed to horses. A visit to nearby Riverside Farm provided the answer - feed it to the reindeer there. memories have been made and we are sure that those who go to Andrew Cardy the owner of Riverside Farm is the Wargrave Parish Luzhou next time will have an Councillor contact for the Volunteers and he was asked if the reindeer he equally enjoyable time. keeps could eat the hay. He was happy to take it from the site. So does this mean Christmas will be more ecologically friendly as Santa’s Sleigh will be Isabelle Rees – Year 10 powered by hay from a local sustainable source?

Mumbery Nature Reserve Volunteers are a Wargrave community group and winners of the Dorothy Morley award from Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust. They meet every month to manage the nature reserve, which has a pond, hedgerows and foraging trails using countryside skills such as mowing with scythes and hedge laying. If you would like to know more then contact the group via email [email protected] for more details.

Ian Bradley

Wargrave RNLI News Thanks to all our Cooks At the time of writing, the Twyford Fayre has yet to take place but we want to thank the many people who have kindly agreed to donate items for our Produce Stall. It’s the best year ever for promises – we just have to hope that the weather will be kind to us on the night.

Larry the Lobster helps RNLI Funds Thanks are also due to Paul Wheston of ‘Fish, Glorious Fish’ at Sheeplands. When Paul took delivery of a giant lobster, rather than sell Larry (as he decided to name him) he ran a ‘guess the weight’ competition which raised £60 for the RNLI. Paul comes from a coastal community and has first-hand knowledge of the vital role that the RNLI plays in saving lives. Well done Paul!

Michael Porter http://rnli-wargrave.org.uk

44 If you own a local business and have a story to tell, let us know. If you are expanding, hiring staff, moving premises, have new products or services to offer, have received an award or won new contracts, please email your business news to [email protected]

New home meal delivery service from Bridges

Business partners Wendy James and Bonny Harrison, For your second course we offer delicious favourites and their professional team have been delivering such as apple pie, rhubarb crumble and sultana practical care to homes in Wargrave since 2003. sponge.

Now we are offering hot meals delivered to residents in We also deliver tea-time packs with the lunch time meal their own homes in Wargrave with the same high which include a sandwich, cake and yoghurt. standard of service quality, reliability and choice. Bridges will be delivering fresh hot meals 365 days a We supply meals for special diets such as vegetarian, year, 7 days a week, which can be just the boost gluten-free, and also for health conditions such as needed to maintain independence and quality of life. diabetes or dementia.

This service is for anyone who needs helps to cook A regular visit from a friendly delivery driver can be a wholesome tasty food either on a temporary or regular tonic for those who live alone and need support. The basis. A meal can be ordered when you need it. Every visit is also a well-being check, monitoring clients and day or once a week. supplying feedback which provides reassurance to their families. Delivery is free of charge and a long term contract is not required. An order can be changed or cancelled with All our drivers are professionally trained members of the just a phone call. team, wear our distinctive orange uniform, carry identification and have an enhanced DBS check. Bridges Hot Meals offers a wide range of hot two course menus, from the traditional roast, casseroles and Wendy James cottage pie to more adventurous curries. www.bridgeshomecare.co.uk

01491 578 758

45    !"# "$#"# "   ! "##$%                   ! "  #   $ %  & '  ( % )(  0(0 1 21  $  %" 032 $451 1$6 &'! # % 1( 7      "8 $  392@1!  " !7 (  3A2  % BC ($ D    " %D "! " %6 %&"  ' E   "      5"""7 "  16 0  E5 8()0(12100)) 45FG6

46 If you own a local business and have a story to tell, let us know. If you are expanding, hiring staff, moving premises, have new products or services to offer, have received an award or won new contracts, please email your business news to [email protected]

New Venture - Authentic Stone-baked Pizzas at The Greyhound

The Greyhound Inn would like to announce Nobby’s that we are now freshly Haircut preparing and cooking Barrel and Stone Remember the Pizzas on the premises fun and to eat in or takeaway. fundraising that This great new venture went on in The brings fresh, authentic Greyhound stone-baked pizzas to during the Wargrave. The summer, reported Greyhound Inn chose in the September Barrel and Stone pizzas issue? Well as they use only the here’s the highest quality Italian certificate ingredients to create showing the final great tasting 12-inch stone-baked pizzas, something amount raised by we felt our customers would enjoy, and an option not Brian and Nobby. offered elsewhere in the village.. Well done both, and thanks to all

The Greyhound offers the full Barrel & Stone range of who supported pizzas, including the classic ‘Rustic’, the tempting this excellent ‘Nice & Spicy’ , the artistic ‘Hockney’ and charity. the mightily meaty ‘The Works’. So, come and try our great range of tasty pizzas all made to order at your local. We’d love to see you. Our pizza service times are: Tuesday to Thursday: 5.00pm - 9.00pm Friday: 6.00pm - 10.00pm Saturday: 12.00noon - 3.00pm and 6.00pm - 10.00pm The Greyhound Inn, High Street, Wargrave Tel: 940 2556 Facebook.com /TheGreyhoundWargrave www.barrelandstone.co.uk

On behalf of the Church, Bob Austen would like to express his appreciation to Beechwood Tree Care and to the 30 or so volunteers who turned up on 5 December to clear the leaves from Mill Green and the churchyard. A special thanks to Ann and Helen for the lovely bacon butties and coffee which provided a much needed energy boost!

47 takkall_dec_2015_02.pdf 1 08/12/2015 11:41

takkall

websites, logos and a whole lot more...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Ye ar C thanks to all my lovely local clients - it has been great M Y to forge new links and strengthen existing ones! CM

MY CY L OOKING FOR W ARD T O CREATING MORE IN 2016 CMY

K

Takkall Design oers expert advice and solutions, in an aordable ‘step-by-step approach’

Emily is a creative and versatile graphic designer branding, brochures, infographics, producing marketing materials for print and web. web design, wordpress development, With over 15 years’ experience, Emily enjoys email marketing, digital presentations, working with a variety of local businesses. search engine optimisation, social media

Interested in working together on a project? Contact Emily Harris | 07710 197899 | [email protected] | www.takkall.com

48