H O L Y B R O O K A message from the Chairman JUNE 2008 Since our spring edition went to press our longest-serving councillor, Eddie Keep, has retired after over 34 years’ service. Eddie was a member of Theale Parish Coun- SUMMER EDITION cil, including nine years as Chairman, a Newbury District Councillor and a council- lor for Holybrook since its formation in April 2000. Eddie was instrumental in the planning and design of the Beansheaf and Holybrook Community Centres INSIDE THIS ISSUE: and drove the fundraising forward and both projects to their successful conclusion. Eddie’s health is not as good as it was and he felt it was time to stand down. On behalf of his fellow councillors and the Refuse Collections parishioners of Theale and Holybrook I would like to thank Friends of Linear Eddie for his faithful and unstinting service, and to wish him Park and his wife Doris a happy ‘retirement’! News Bites

We are now very close to the second Holybrook Festival to be held on 5 July. This one will be even bigger and better than Enjoy a Healthy Walk last year’s, and may I encourage you all to come and enjoy Family Fun Day yourselves as there is something to suit all ages. Further details are on the Holy- brook website. If anyone wishes to help, please come along early in the morning and 1st Theale & Calcot Beaver Scouts we will find a job for you. Bernard Gilbert

There will be a GENTLEMEN’S cake competition (there is no age limit!) at the Holybrook Festival on Saturday 5th July. To enter please follow the recipe be- low and bring the cakes along by 11.30am on the day. A pint tankard, which will be held for a year, will be given to the winner by the Rev’d. John Hudson. Women’s Institute Victoria Sponge Recipe Ingredients: • 175 grams (6 ozs) Margarine • 175 grams (6 ozs) Caster Sugar Holybrook Parish Office, • 3 Medium Eggs Beansheaf Centre, • 175 grams (6 ozs) Self-Raising Flour Charrington Road, Calcot, Reading • 2—3 drops Vanilla Essence RG31 7AW. • 1—2 teaspoonfuls hot water Clerk to the Council: Method: Mr David Baldock, • Pre-heat the oven to 180˚ (350F) Gas mark 4 Assistant Clerk: Mrs Rachel Buckingham • Cream the sugar and margarine until light and fluffy. Open to the public • Lightly whisk the eggs together and add to the mixture a little at a time. If there is Monday to Friday curdling add a little flour. 10am—1pm. • Fold in the rest of the flour. Viewing of planning • Add the vanilla essence and then enough hot water to give a soft dropping applications by consistency. appointment only. Tel: 0118 945 4339 • Place in two 18 cms (7 inch) sponge-cake tins. —24 hour answerphone. • Put in the pre-heated oven and cook for 20-25 minutes until the cakes are firm to email: holybrook the touch and shrinking from the side of the tins. [email protected] • When the cakes are cool remove from the tins and sandwich together with jam. www.holybrookparish Sprinkle the top with sugar. council.co.uk REFUSE COLLECTIONS There has been some confusion about Bank Holiday re- fuse collections under the new West Berkshire contract with VEOLIA. We had understood that collections due on a Bank Holiday Monday would be made the following day, with all other collections in that week falling back by one day.

However we are now advised by West Berkshire Council that collections due on a Bank Holiday Monday will in fact be made as a double collection the following Monday, in- cluding any excess.

Due to planning regulations West Berkshire Council is re- stricted in the hours it can use the current land fill site. Therefore a ‘catch-up’ system for refuse collection after a Bank Holiday Monday cannot be implemented.

photos by Abbie Buckingham FRIENDS OF LINEAR PARK

Volunteering Reading workers planted hedging in the sensory garden on 16 and 17 April. They also built up areas of the woodland path to reduce the mud. This vol- unteer group is for young people who are un- employed. They worked very hard and we hope to have them help the FOLP again.

The Beansheaf Pre-school group planted wild flowers on the 29th of April. Plants and seeds were planted by the children in the area set aside as the wildflower meadow.

An activity day was held on 17 May for the painting of Pooh Bridge. A poll was carried out by the Friends of Linear Park membership to decide on the colour brown for the bridge.

The Annual General Meeting of the FOLP will be held on the 9th June in the Beansheaf Centre at 7.30pm. All are welcome to attend.

The FOLP are using the notice boards to advertise our activities and to keep those who use the park informed NEWS BITES • Discussion regarding the Cow Lane footpath has been put to public consultation as to whether it stays open or shut. • Vandals have sawn down a copper beech and two silver birch trees in Linear Park.

Page 2 H O L Y B R O O K ENJOY A HEALTHY WALK On the 2nd Monday of the month (April—September) Join in on a Health Walk and benefit your health while ex- ploring your local green space! Walk starts at 10.30am outside the Beansheaf Community Centre, and last approximately 45 minutes. Refreshments at 11.30am Did you know that walking can…..? ◊ Reduce stress ◊ Improve weight control ◊ Increase energy levels ◊ Keep your heart healthy ◊ Increase your confidence ◊ Improve mental health All walks are led by qualified leaders and are suitable for eve- ryone. For further information please contact the Walks Co-ordinator on 01635 874381 or email: [email protected]

FAMILY FUN DAY Saturday 28th June 11am—4pm at Kennet Valley Free Church

FREE—For all! Crafts, Games, Bouncy Castle, Live Music, Face painting……..and much more. A whole host of activities and events, for all the family. All welcome Keep your eyes open for more details to come. Kennet Valley Free Church, Carters Rise, Fords Farm www.kvfc.org.uk For more information contact Pastor Graham Cooke 0118 954 2673 [email protected]

1ST THEALE AND CALCOT BEAVER SCOUTS

The 1st Theale and Calcot Beaver Scouts meet at the Holybrook Community Centre on Tuesday evenings from 6.15pm to 7.15pm. Girls and boys from the age of 5 and a half are welcome. If anyone is interested please call Catherine Wise on 07968 755857 .

Summer 2008 Page 3 YOUR HOLYBROOK COUNCILLORS

BERNARD GILBERT (CHAIRMAN) 0118 941 8051

CLAIRE TULL (VICE CHAIRMAN) 0118 941 8203

MARY BEDWELL 0118 942 0196 VAL BETTERIDGE 0118 941 1265 ROY BRUMPTON 0118 941 1858 TONY WARD 0118 941 4203 GLENN DENNIS 0118 941 8720 IAIN PATE DISTRICT COUNCIL MATTERS 0118 941 4226 PARTNERSHIP WORKING AND YOU CAROL HEDGES West Berkshire Council has been developing a programme of 0118 942 7193 partnership working with Sovereign Housing, parish councils and the police over the past 2/3 years. The benefits to our residents should CHARLIE CROAL become evident over the next few years. 07855 749876 One area which is already affecting Calcot Ward is community safety. You should be aware that we have a neighbourhood policeman, PCSOs and a team of neighbourhood wardens. DISTRICT COUNCILLORS: Also Neighbourhood Action Groups (NAG) have been set up to PETER ARGYLE represent Holybrook Parish and Tilehurst Parish. These NAGs are 0118 943 1148 formed with representatives from police officers, West Berkshire Youth and Highways, parish and ward councillors and members from BRIAN BEDWELL the community e.g. head teachers. NAGs will tackle issues brought 0118 942 0196 to their attention by you—the community. Some of you will already MANOHAR LAL GOPAL have been visited by a NAG member during one of the evening roll up sessions. These are held on a regular basis throughout Beansheaf Mob: 07900 372323 and Fords Farm. Issues tackled already include: dog fouling, youths on mo- THE MEMBER OF torbikes/scooters, speeding in Royal Avenue and Charrington Road, PARLIAMENT installation of a yellow box at the A4 junction with Langley Hill and damage to cars late at night. FOR READING WEST: There have been a number of burglaries where entrance has been MARTIN SALTER MP gained using the letter box. This type of burglary can be defeated by 0118 954 6782 locking the front door from the inside every night.

[email protected] WEST BERKSHIRE COUNCIL

MAIN SWITCHBOARD 0 1 6 3 5 4 2 4 0 0 THAMES VALLEY POLICE email: westberks.gov.uk 0845 8 505 505 OUT OF HOURS EMERGENCIES : Social Services: 01344 876543 All Other Services: 01635 42161 STREETCARE: 01635 519080 [email protected]