Twyford

Wokingham Borough Council’s youth service is holding an It’s a Knockout-style event on Saturday August 16. The day is being held to raise money for local charity, Berkshire County Blind Society.

Twyford Youngsters will be tackling a tough assault course, as well as sumo relay-racing and football penalty shoot-outs, all in the name of fun! Other attractions include a barbeque and other refreshments, a bouncy castle and a bucking bronco. Young people aged between 13 and 19 years-old are being invited to enter a team of eight. Team entry costs £10, but there is free entry to all spectators on the day.

Debbie Coleman, neighbourhood youth worker, said: “This is an event run by local young people from Twyford and they have done all the work, from arranging the funding to organising the equipment.”

Sue Gook, deputy chief executive for Berkshire County Blind Society, said: “Berkshire County Blind Society is ‘knocked out’ that the youth centre in Twyford has chosen to support our work. Usually it’s our staff who put their efforts into helping our members, but this time it will be our turn to be on the receiving end of such kindness and generosity.

“As an independent charity with no funding from central government, the health service or the RNIB, we rely on donations and our own fundraising efforts to maintain our charitable services to local visually impaired people, helping them to live as independently as possible.”

Cllr Norman Jorgensen, executive member for Twyford children’s services, said: “It is good to see young people taking an active role in organising an event that will raise money for a worthwhile charity. The challenge is on for local young people to organise a team and compete in It’s a knock out! It promise to be lots of fun!”

Wokingham Borough Council ~ Twyford

There was not a walking boot or blister in sight when residents and special guests celebrated the 10th anniversary of Wokingham Borough’s Health Walks at Dinton Pastures Country Park on Saturday.

More than 850 people have walked thousands of miles since the walks were launched in the borough in July 1998, and to celebrate the healthy walking scheme’s anniversary more than 95 people joined in a picnic at the Hurst country park on Saturday afternoon (July 5).

As well as the picnic there was an awards ceremony to honour several of the scheme’s stalwarts and walk leaders, and two of the volunteers were presented with engraved goblets by Mayor of the Wokingham Borough Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons.

Brian Martin, Brian Wooldridge and Brian Thornby have been honoured for their hard work in keeping the health walks afoot in the borough, alongside Wokingham Borough Council’s countryside service.

Other special guests included the founder of the international Health Walks scheme Dr William Bird – who had travelled to the Wokingham Borough from the USA especially for the celebrations and executive member for the environment Cllr Simon Weeks.

Nationally there has been a decline in the walking schemes, which aim to provide health benefits and reduce the chance of heart disease and osteoporosis through a variety of enjoyable walks, but the scheme in the Wokingham Borough is stronger than ever with more and more people pulling on their walking boots each week.

During the 10 years that the scheme has been running residents who have taken part have collectively:
· Burned off 18,304,000 calories - that is the same as eating 397,913 Jaffa Cakes!
· Walked 245,960 miles. That is the same as walking around the world 10 times and is further than walking to the moon!
· 52,000 cups of tea have been drunk during the walks, which is more than 10 per cent of the tea that is drunk at Wimbledon per year!

Additionally the walk leaders have given up a total of 4,754 volunteer days, which is the equivalent to 13 volunteer years.

Cllr Simon Weeks, executive member for environment, said: “Health Walks in the Wokingham Borough are a really popular way of exercising and so we wanted to commemorate the 10 years that it has been providing many residents, young and old, with an alternative way to keep fit and healthy.

“The celebration was really well attended and we were really pleased that Dr William Bird was able to attend – as he is the founder of the scheme, without him Wokingham Borough residents wouldn’t have been able to enjoy a decade of health walks.”

Mayor of the Wokingham Borough Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons, added: “It was a real honour to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the health walks and recognise the hard work of the walk leaders who volunteer their time to keep the scheme running. Without their dedication the popular scheme wouldn’t be able to continue.

“It is really important for people to exercise to enable them to remain healthy, and therefore independent, as they become older and it is never too early, or too late, to start. The health walks are also a marvellous way to make new friends."

Wokingham Borough Council

This summer, an open day is being held at Thames Valley Police Museum in Sulhamstead near Reading. It will take place on Saturday 9 August, between 10am and 4pm and will be a fun day for all the family.

This is the third annual open day and last years event proved a great success, with over 2,100 people attending. This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever, with up to 30 specialist departments attending and displays from the dog section and the chance to solve a murder mystery.

The open day is a chance for families to visit the Museum, with tour guides on hand to give extra information. Officers from some of the specialist departments will also be at the open day to give the public a personal insight into their role and work. Members of the Air Support Unit will be at the event with their helicopter, together with Roads Policing Officers and members of the Specialist Search and Recovery Team, (otherwise known as the police divers).

The open day is also part of the Thames Valley Police Museum’s contribution to a regional family friendly marketing campaign which promotes museums and makes them more accessible to families.

Thames Valley Police Museum, Sulhamstead House, Sulhamstead, Reading, RG7 4DU. Tel: 0118 932 5748

Sat 12 Earley Fun Day
Afternoon of family entertainment, with performances of BIG stage and free Hands-on-arts activities. 12-5pm.
           
Sun 13 Friends of Lavell’s Lake Bird Walk
Morning stroll around Lavell’s, meet Sandford Lane car park at 9am. £1

Fri 19 Junior Rangers Wildlife Watch Group, Beetle Bonanza
Wildlife Club for 8-12 year olds.  

Sun 27 Friends of Lavell’s Lake Work Party
Practical conservation, meet Sandford Lane car park at 10am
           
Mon 28 Tri Golf
Mini version of golf for 6-10 year olds. £12/ session, 9am-12. Book with Sports Development  Unit (0118) 974 6264.

Mon 28 Children’s Wet and Wild Watersports
Mixture of activities, including sailing, kayaking and canoeing. £39/ day. For more information and to book please call Black Swan Sailing Club on 07876 798090.

 

Lynn Yardley
Countryside Ranger (Education and Interpretation)
Wokingham Borough Council Countryside Service, Dinton Pastures Country Park, Davis Street, Hurst, Berkshire RG10 0TH
Tel: 0118 9342016, Fax 0118 9341987
Taking Care of Your Countryside

Police are appealing for witnesses following a road traffic collision that occurred near Twyford last night (30/06) at approximately 5.40pm.

A silver Vauxhall Vectra collided with a cyclist on the A4 at Charvil, near Twyford, Reading. The collision occurred on the roundabout on the A4 at the junction with the Old Bath Road near to the Texaco garage.

The cyclist, a 57-year-old man, suffered a fractured leg and serious head injuries and as a result currently remains in hospital undergoing treatment.

PC Simon Nelson from the roads policing unit said: “This stretch of road is very busy, particularly at this time of the day. I would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this collision, or who may have seen the silver Vauxhall Vectra prior to the collision.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact PC Simon Nelson via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. If you don’t want to talk to police and don’t want to leave your name call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Twyford