August 2017 No. 630 40p Caversham Nursery School ‘outstanding’ Children and staff at Caversham Nursery School are described as ‘very effective partners’ in developing said: celebrating after Ofsted inspectors increased their children’s learning, and inspectors say that pupils’ “I would like to congratulate the executive rating from ‘good’ to ‘outstanding’. The Amersham personal development and welfare are at the heart of headteacher, staff and children at Caversham Nursery Road school achieved the top ranking in all areas the school’s work. for the ‘outstanding’ judgement received from the following the inspection in May. The report continues: ‘Leaders, governors and inspection. This is a reflection of the dedication and School leaders, governors and staff were all praised staff are committed to ensuring that children receive professionalism of the staff and leadership at the for their outstanding contributions, as well as the personalised care, teaching and support that meets school, along with the hard work and commitment pupils and their parents. The effective support of their different needs extremely well. Staff celebrate of the children at the school. I would also like to Reading council was also highlighted by inspectors. differences and give children the confidence to congratulate the parents who have been so supportive The Ofsted report says: ‘Senior leaders, governors pursue their interests so that all children are very well of the school and their children. They have been a and staff are committed to ensuring that every motivated and flourish.’ credit to the community.” moment matters for every child. Leadership is shared The council’s commitment to continual Lisa Bedlow, executive headteacher of the school, widely so that this excellent provision is continually improvement in education for all children and said: developing. Continuous training and development ongoing support for all schools is also reflected in “We are delighted to have the full recognition of the for staff have secured very high standards in teaching, comments made by the inspectors. They said: ‘The outstanding commitment of all staff, as this follows learning and assessment. As a result, children’s local authority has provided a very effective challenge our rating of outstanding for the 0-3s extended care outcomes are outstanding.’ and support to senior leaders, reinforcing their high provision in December 2016. We strive to give the Inspectors also noted that children who have expectations of children’s achievement. This has children the best possible start to their early learning special educational needs and/or disabilities make facilitated further improvements to teaching, learning as we possibly can, creating independence and a love excellent progress and additional support matches and assessment.’ of learning that will stay with them as they continue their individual needs very closely. Parents are Councillor Tony Jones, lead member for education, on their education journey.” Oakfest Saturday Residents of Emmer Green and Caversham Park Village came together on June 17th for Oakfest at Clayfield Copse, celebrating one particular oak tree and all the beautiful trees around it. The sun shone, and in the shade of the tree, picnic rugs and folding chairs came out, Readifolk and Readipop musicians played, a ‘Green Spirit’ which reminded everyone of our relationship with the natural world, a story teller told tree tales and children raced their freshly made hobby horses around the oak. It was a simple, peaceful and relaxing afternoon. Thanks to Friends of Clayfield Copse and Econet, Outrider Anthems, Reading Scouts, the community police, the Lions, RBC parks dept. and the Island Bowling Club, who all contributed to the day. Talking Point ................................................................................... page 2 Tribute ............................................................................................... page 8 From the Lookout Post ............................................................ page 4 Happy Wanderer ......................................................................... page 9 INSIDE Amersham Road Community Centre ............................ page 5 British Legion ............................................................................... page 10 Churches ..................................................................... pages 3, 6 and 7 Clubs ................................................................................................ page 11 Page 2 CAVERSHAM BRIDGE, AUGUST 2017 Caversham Clergy SUNDAY ANGLICAN SERVICES St Barnabas TALKING POINT ANGLICAN Revd Derek Chandler, 20 St Barnabas Road. St Peter’s, St Peter’s Hill Tel: 947 8239. by Colin Ferguson 8.00am Matins 1st www.saintbarnabas.org.uk Holy Communion 2nd 3rd and 4th Sundays 9.30am Holy Communion 1st, 2nd and 4th Sundays St Andrews Service of the Word other Sundays Revd Nigel Jones, St Andrews Vicarage, 6.30pm Evensong Harrogate Road. Tel: 947 2788 It says ‘August’ but it is still the end of June when I am writing this and St John’s, Gosbrook Road www.standrewscaversham.org the music playing in the background is a new version of Bridge over troubled 9.30am Holy Communion 1st, 3rd and 4th Sundays waters. I still prefer the Simon and Garfunkel version but it is certainly a 9.30am All Age Worship 2nd Sunday St Peter, St Margaret, St John Fifth Sunday Services as advertised Revd Mike Smith, The Rectory, 20 Church Road, most appropriate song for this time. It has always been a song that spoke St Margaret’s, Mapledurham Caversham RG4 7AD Tel: 9479505 to me as I have spent most of my life trying to bridge the troubled lives of 11.15am Morning Worship 1st Sunday [email protected] those I worked with, including the last 12 years of my working life as a family Holy Communion 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sundays Revd Marion Pyke mediator. St Andrew’s, Harrogate Road Tel: 947 5834 One of the first things you learn as a mediator is that there are lost causes. 8.00am The Eucharist Revd John Dudley Tel: 9470265 One party is intransigent. “I am right and everyone else is wrong” is their 10.00am Parish Eucharist (Sung) First Sunday, Family Eucharist Revd Penny Cuthbert Tel: 07825 331810 attitude. They tend to be the bullies and the abusers of relationships. In the 11.30am The Eucharist first and third Sundays Revd Judith Ryder Tel: 9473783 extreme they are called Isis, there is no give or take, only take. Yet even here only, first Sunday BCP 6.30pm Evening Prayer (as announced) CAVERSHAM PARK ECUMENICAL the individual can be saved if they are caught early on. PARTNERSHIP The church cannot be too complacent in this as we too have our extremists, St Barnabas, Grove Road, Emmer Green Secretary: Dr Alison Johnston 8.00am Said Communion (BCP) not so much these days but our history is spattered with the blood of martyrs 9.30am Parish Communion Tel: 0118 947 5152 who dared to stand up to the bigotry of past dictators. There are still Christians 9.30am COGS for all ages (1st Sunday of Month) METHODIST TEAM MINISTRY dying for standing up for justice and equality throughout the world. RIVERSIDE CHURCH(READING) Revd Jenny Dowding, 72 Highmoor Road. It is therefore deeply troubling to find the hatred this attitude spawns here Meeting at Hemdean House School, Hemdean Road, Caversham 10.00am Morning Worship & Teaching Tel: 947 2223 again in the terrible actions in Manchester and on London and Westminster Revd D Jenkins Tel:0118 327 1592 Bridges and Finsbury Park. What has been so moving is the response of the CAVERSHAM PARK ECUMENICAL PARTNERSHIP Meeting at Caversham Park School CAVERSHAM BAPTIST CHURCH community shown even more after the devastating fire in North London. The Transitional Minister Revd Jonathan Edwards 11.00am Holy Communion (1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays) sight of that conflagration will be difficult to ever forget. I remember working Morning Worship (2nd and 4th Sundays) Church office tel 954 5353 All Age Worship (at Festival Times) Email Secretary: sue.cantwell@cavershambaptist with families in the tower blocks of South London and the fear a young church.org.uk mother had as she watched her children playing in the yard below and then CAVERSHAM BAPTIST CHURCH South Street running across a road. The council had a solution. They moved the families 10.30am Morning Worship each Sunday 8.00pm House of Prayer (praise and prayer) – RIVERSIDE CHURCH (Reading) out and did all the repairs they had wanted then sold them privately. So much www.riversidechurchreading.co.uk 2nd Sunday each month of what is done to save or to make money has an underlying immorality, a 3.45pm Messy Church – for all the family GRACE CHURCH carelessness of other people’s lives. When people feel powerless to change Fourth Sunday of the month (formerly Caversham Hill Chapel) things for the better, mediation struggles to help. GRACE CHURCH Old Peppard Road www.gracechurchcaversham.org.uk Tel 9474529 If anything needs mediation now it is in our political system, especially 10.30am Worship and Ministry, Children’s Church ROMAN CATHOLIC with the Brexit changes. The recent election made matters worse but at the THE METHODIST CHURCH IN CAVERSHAM Fr Paul Martin, The Presbytery, same time emphasised the fact that one party does not have all the answers. Caversham Heights, Highmoor Road 2 South View Avenue. 9.00am (first Sunday), 10.30am The one thing that is absolutely clear is that we are separating ourselves 6.30pm (second and fourth Sundays) Tel: 947 1787. from the European Council and Court