RON NEPALESE HEARING BRINDLEY CRAFTS DOGS Unsung local hero From Kathmandu to Doggy ears for P13 Sonning Common the deaf P14 P32 A NOTTAKWIRE CHRISTMAS SEE PAGE 4 FEB / MAR 2018 sonningcommonmagazine www.sonningcommonmagazine.org www.sonningcommonmagazine.org CARPET FITTER FEB / MAR 2018 Fitted Carpets & Vinyl Specialist Underlays & Fixings Supplied Re-Adaptions & Restretches FROM HIGHLIGHTS 4-7 Community news Measuring, Estimating & Planning 10-11 Noticeboard Carpets Vinyl Ceramic Tiles 13 Ron Brindley MBE THE EDITORIAL TEAM 14 Nepalese crafts 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE This issue commences with the good news messages we received from so many 15 Civil War part 2 MICHAEL HODGSON readers, congratulating us on the National Magazine Award. The production of 18-19 In Focus - Planning and SON 6 TEL: 0118 901 1777 / MOB: 07841 586003 the magazine really is a huge team effort with many volunteers playing a part 20-21 Church News and poem and they must share the honour. 23 Parish page 28 Tom Fort/ Cook’s corner In the grey days of February if you are feeling lonely and live in Sonning Common 31 Did you know? there is plenty to do. The library runs a range of clubs, there is a new exercise 32–33 Hearing Dogs class, the churches have lunch dates, FISH will be running their trips and there is a monthly film show in the village hall. If you are not able to leave your home, make 34 Diary Dates /Advertisers directory sure you have contacted FISH and someone will visit you. Interesting stories in this issue, include Hearing dogs for the deaf, the history of Nepalese crafts (thanks to the workers in the One Stop), the 17th century Civil Design & Artwork: Kevin Taplin TenSevenNine.com War’s impact on this area as well as the celebration of all the Christmas activities. [email protected] I am sure you will notice that on the Parish page the increase in work load for the 07887 902376 Council has incrementally grown to a considerable extent. They have taken on Print: Rick Peedell responsibility for additional buildings and activities, so these have added to costs. Xplor Ltd A breakdown is shown on page 23. [email protected] 07766 254422 / 0118 9471955 I hope the new year has started well for you. Please do continue to send in fascinating articles. Cover image: • Nottakwire by John Pearman While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information printed in this magazine, the editor and the publisher cannot accept any responsibility for the consequences of errors that occur. Diana Pearman Editor Email: [email protected] MEET THE TEAM ... Sonning Common Pre-school GROVE ROAD SONNING COMMON Christine Atkinson Hannah Rice Jo Stoves Joan Grummant Ros Varnes 0118 972 4760 We are a happy friendly pre-school Chairman: Geoff Adams Distribution: Helen Gavin welcoming children from 2 years 1 Woodlands Road, Sonning Common RG4 9TD [email protected] 6 months, to come and learn through USEFUL play. We have a purpose built building [email protected] Tel 0118 972 4680 & extensive play garden. CONTACTS: Tel 0118 972 2134 Visit our stunning showroom: Advertising: John Pearman 8b Portman Road, Reading RG30 1EA Morning sessions are 9.00am - 12.00pm Diary dates: Helen Barker [email protected] Tel 0118 959 9919 Afternoon sessions are 12.00pm - 3.00pm [email protected] Tel 0118 972 1241 Tel 0118 972 2381 2 www.elementskitchens.co.uk After School Club sessions are 3.00pm - 6.00pm 3 COMMUNITY NEWS COMMUNITY NEWS Save Our Edge Chiltern Edge School SAVE OUR EDGE www.saveouredge.co.uk protest against the JOHNSON proposed closure P4 MATTHEY REVEALED Three steps you can take to fight for the read about its work SLOWDIVE and research the story of an future of our community school... P16 amazing revival P20 Consultation Feedback Provide your feedback to the OCC consultation process by 15 electronically or in writing. th 1 June Find all the details here: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/chilternedge Scan me Contact Your Politicians... Write or email to our local MP and County Councillor to object: John Howell MP for Henley 2 email: [email protected] ON YOUR Rob Wilson MP for Reading East email: [email protected] Steve Harrod OCC Education Cabinet Member email: [email protected] …and Object To The Closure! Chiltern Edge has been a vital part of the community for 60 years many local organisation and sporting activities, stery, holiday club, cross country,BIKE squash, badminton, football for all ages 2017 name a few. Also the community joins in fund raisersorchestra, such dance,as bingo youth and. It club,quiz is home uphol-nights. to 3 Parents value the smaller community schoolTHIS feel for theirYEAR’S children enabling RECORD-BREAKING many to EVENT walk to school or have a short simple bus journey. This is a school where staff ensureto every child matters. There are no immediate places at other suitable schools and requirements will increase with the development of the counties building programme and expected bulge years in Caversham schools. This makes a sponsored academy vital for the students. All local primary schools are full and still growing, therefore Chiltern Edge SchoolSEE needs PAGE 5 to remain open to service these pupils. A SHARED DELIGHT THE EIGHTH The eighth annual Christmas Day Lunch Many congratulations to you and the We read in the Henley Standard yesterday of the Just read my copy & organise ticket sales, printing and the held in the village hall was well attended cooking. It is a very satisfying and fun day magazine committee on your top place in Magazine's recent, huge success. Congratulations are was DELIGHTED to read the national magazine competition. Not at with 52 guests and volunteers sitting despite the hard work. due to you and the whole team, for such an that the magazine won JUNE / JULY 2017 down together to eat a traditional all unexpected, but a splendid sonningcommonmagazine This year was particularly noticeable how outstanding achievement. We have always said that our the award this year. www.sonningcommonmagazine.org Christmas lunch. achievement nonetheless. important support in the community is for Village Magazine is excellent in both design and Congratulations Congratulations and thanks to Diana and content. Also, the fact that it is distributed free to so We are enormously grateful for all the those people on their own or with all those involved in the production and many households is marvellous. Many congratulations on being voted support that we receive both from local challenging debilities. ‘The Best Parish Magazine in Britain’. trusts, businesses, local shops and distribution. Many thanks to all our volunteers who Please extend our warmest wishes to Well done to you all for the continued individuals who support and who all help to make this day happen. Wow! Fantastic news! Well done all everyone involved - and long may you all hard work on behalf of Sonning make the day so enjoyable. • continue. Common. OMG OMG!!! That’s HUGE! Well done to A special thanks also to FISH volunteers Chrissie Phillips-Tilbury I’ve just seen about the award in the everybody – amazing who put their own celebrations on hold to paper, congratulations, you must be very The website now includes a banner for your award. Jill Vallis Congratulations on that achievement! bring guests to the hall. Great news hey? proud. YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST! MANY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL!! We are hoping to keep going until our Hopefully you'll be making a song and dance about it!! Have just seen the announcement on the SoCo tenth year in 2020 but if this event is to Get your regalia out for a very special tea Network! Well done for the It’s brilliant, SO exciting, so continue beyond that date we need party in the village hall to celebrate the national award. Thanks congratulations to all concerned. Congratulations to you and the team for younger people to come forward to Royal wedding on Sunday 20 May being voted First in the National Parish for all the work. Hope That's terrific news - I can't believe it - Magazine Competition in the A4 category. you have had a and just in time to announce the good Well deserved. celebration. news in the next edition! Well done on the 1st place! KENNYLANDS ROAD OWN WINTER A YEAR OF CAKES, QUIZZES, FAIRS AND WONDERLAND RAISES £3,500 THE OCCASIONAL GLASS OF WINE! The story of Sonning Common’s Christmas lights. 2017 was another successful year of fundraising for the Sonning Common Primary School PTA. Events have ranged from cheese & wine tasting, quiz nights, seasonal fairs and a GREEN SHOOTS WILL NOTTAKWIRE host of other activities held throughout the year. Each event during 2017 has contributed to raising a grand total of Nottakwire held it's Christmas Concert in the Village Hall on 9 £16,000 of much needed funds. This could not have been BE SEEN BY OCTOBER December. By a stroke of luck the snow held off until that night and a achieved without the generosity of the school children’s In the Summer Term of 2017, Moira Green Headteacher at Chiltern packed hall enjoyed a varied programme of not-so-usual Christmas families, local residents and the dedicated school staff. Thank music. This year our concert included three young people who live you for your support, donations and volunteer time, all of Edge School committed to ‘green shoots of improvement’ being which are vital in raising funds for our school. visible in the school by October of the same year. These ‘shoots’ were locally. Abby Geddes - singer; Michael Varnes - guitar & vocals and Jennifer Ellis - clarinet.