Twyford

Here is the latest Twyford neighbourhood policing update from Police Community Support Officer Jackie Daniels:

Since PC Glyn Wildey’s last Twyford update PCSO Jonathan Stanley is independent and is now pounding the streets of Wargrave getting to know and making vital links with his community. So if you see him please stop and have a chat.

PCSO Chris Caldwell will now be joining us in the New Year.

One of my main focuses has been the anti-social behaviour and criminal damage in Charvil (St Patrick’s Ave and surrounding areas) believed to be brought on by under-age drinking on Friday evenings.

I have been focusing my patrols on this area, seizing and disposing of alcohol, taking details of youths involved and if necessary visiting the parents and, hopefully without tempting fate, things seem to have settled down.

Halloween and Bonfire Night has come and gone and passed by very quietly incident wise – helped by the fact I seized 24 eggs of a youth whose plan was to sell them for 50p per egg.

The Christmas period is fast approaching and we are looking forward to attending the Twyford Christmas Fayre on Friday December 7. This will be my third year of attending the Fayre and I have really enjoyed the atmosphere and having a chat with so many people and of course being in the front of the queue to meet Santa.

Just in addition to PC Wildey’s advice about crime prevention at this time of year in his last update – I have noticed over the last couple of years that most households have their Christmas trees next to the window (invariably with the curtains open) and lots of lovely presents underneath. While this is both seasonal and pleasing to the eye, it is also a huge temptation for our burglars – please enjoy your Christmas and don’t let the burglars spoil it for you.

Finally from all the Twyford team a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The Twyford neighbourhood policing team can be contacted via 0845 8 505 505.

Thames Valley Police ~ Twyford

8th December 2007 10am-1pm
Twyford Scout Headquarters,
Loddon Hall Road,
Twyford,
RG10 9JA

Come along to Twyford for some festive fun with Peapods, the local parent-run charity supporting families of physically disabled children. There will be games, treats, a Christmas buffet plus a show!

David Jackson, renowned world musician, will be entertaining the children as well as getting them to participate in a musical extravaganza by using Tonewall, a specialist musical system that can help even the most severely disabled create beautiful sounds.

A Twyford occasion not to be missed.

Totally free event to physically disabled children and their families.

Contact: Melissa Ruel 0118 970 6704

The Mayor of Wokingham Borough Council, Councillor Annette Drake will officially declare Twyford’s newest foodies’ paradise open this Saturday (December 1) while also helping raise funds for two of Berkshire’s leading children’s charities.

Cllr Drake will cut a ceremonial ribbon at the recently refurbished Twyford Food Market, next door to Wyevale Garden Centre on Floral Mile in Hare Hatch, at 10am on December 1 and will invite people to come in and taste and test some of the products on sale for free.

Assistant Food Market Manager, Keith Jordan said: “We are delighted the Mayor is able to join us for this occasion. The first 50 visitors in the morning will receive a free glass of mulled wine to help toast our opening. Proceeds from a raffle we’re hosting on the day to win an organic hamper worth £100 will be donated to the Twyford charity, Daisy’s Dream, which supports bereaved children and their families.

“We will also be selling a collection of Christmas cards in support of the Mayor’s chosen charity for her year in office, ‘Building for the Future, Wokingham’, which helps the Borough’s disabled children and their families.”

Daisy’s Dream needs £165,000 every year to operate. Fundraising support is crucial to sustain the Twyford charity.

Vickie Randall from Daisy’s Dream explained: “The organisation has undergone a major period of growth. To meet the current level of demand we need help. This can be done in a variety of ways including donations, fundraising events or volunteering. Raffles like the one being held at the Food Market can make a real difference to the life of a bereaved child.”

The vision of ‘Building for the Future, Wokingham’, which is an umbrella body including five other charities, is to provide facilities, which not only include obvious adaptations, such as full disabled access, but also a sensory room for more individual needs. The sale of the charity cards at the Food Market will help raise invaluable funds for the project.

Keith added: “Our revamped outlet, which includes a deli counter and a coffee shop, complete with takeaway service, allows us to extend our organic, locally-sourced product range.”

The Twyford Food Market now offers organic baby and children’s food, and the opportunity to order organic turkeys for Christmas.

Keith continued: “We’re focusing more heavily on sourcing as many of our products as possible locally to reduce the food miles travelled. We think it’s very important to consider the environment and the local economy, and to keep as much of our purchasing as possible within the neighbouring communities.”

Also attending the official re-opening ceremony will be Wokingham Choral Society, which will entertain the crowds with carols and other songs, and the Maidenhead Drama Guild.

Guild members will be in costume, including a pantomime horse, to promote their show entitled ‘Panto at the Ok Corral’, which takes place at Maidenhead Town Hall from December 12. They will also be selling tickets for the show on the day.

A selection of suppliers from the Twyford area will also be on hand to chat to customers about their produce and offer free food and wine taste and test sessions.

“We can serve more people than ever before in the run up to Christmas, whether they are shopping or dropping in to the coffee shop for a mid-morning coffee and pastry, a freshly baked baguette for lunch or an afternoon cup of tea with cake.

“In the Deli we can advise on the best cheeses for dinner parties and the bakery offers artisan breads baked in-store. We stock the very best fresh, seasonal and organic fruits and vegetables. There are also organic and fair trade grocery items including oils, chutneys and biscuits, and a great selection of wines and local beer and ales.”

For further details about the Food Market, please visit the store, which is on Floral Mile at Hare Hatch, next door to the Wyevale Garden Centre, or call 0118 940 4563.

Here is the latest update for the Twyford areas from neighbourhood specialist officer PC Glyn Wildey:

Since my previous update Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Jonathan Stanley has now joined us, and following a short period of tutoring by our other PCSO, Jackie Daniels he will take up his role covering Wargrave and Remenham.

Some other news in relation to our team is that the PCSO Chris Caldwell, who will be covering Twyford and Ruscombe is due to arrive in the area on December 10.

I have also been told that we will be allocated a Neighbourhood Police Officer in the New Year. This is welcome news especially as a few concerns have been raised in relation to police numbers in the area since PC Stuart Loudwell left us in November 2006.

As the clocks have gone back and the nights draw in I’m going to give my usual crime prevention advice at this time of the year, as it’s not unusual for home burglaries to show an increase especially during the lead up to Christmas.

The shorter days inevitably bring the afternoon school run into play for burglars and even popping out for ten or fifteen minutes is sufficient time to become a victim.

It goes without saying make sure you’ve locked up, set your alarm (if you have one) and make use of your lighting including time switches if you are out all day.

Next time you go out during late afternoon/early evening have a look around and see how many houses you can see in darkness because - that’s what a burglar does.

Hopefully if you’ve all read this there won’t be many! It’s not foolproof, but please take as many security measures as possible.

And tell us about those suspicious people and vehicles that you see. If you see something that appears out of place then chances are it will be, report it us, and if does turn out to be genuine so be it. We would rather have that than no phone call at all, and you would too if hindsight came into the equation.

I shall be holding my next police surgery in Wargrave on Tuesday November 20 together with PCSO Jonathan Stanley.

The venue as usual will be the Parish Council Office, at the Pavilion in the Recreation Ground and we will look forward to seeing you there from 10am until noon.

You can contact any member of the Twyford team via 0845 8 505 505.

Thames Valley Police ~ Twyford