West Berkshire Council Parish Conference

On Tuesday 17 October I went along the the West Berkshire Council offices to the annual district/parish conference. Representatives from many of the parish councils in West Berkshire were there (there are over 50 parishes in West Berks). Newbury is the largest parish council in the district, and we therefore have close working relationships with many departments, and share five councillors.

The conference included a presentation about the Volunteer Centre West Berkshire, disussion about community safety (many comments on lack of police presence around the district), the latest on planning gain (s.106 agreements), and Parish Plan progess.

Talking Rubbish

Sunday 15 October was the long awaited date of the Mayor's Charity Concert, Talking Rubbish. The name encapsulates two of the main elements of the concert - talking representing the host Vodafone, and rubbish representing the recycling work of the Community Furniture Project.

I had attended a rehearsal with most of the primary school choirs taking part (Enborne, Falkland, Fir Tree, Greenham Court, Robert Sandilands, Shaw-cum-Donnington, and Speenhamland) last Tuesday; but the actual concert also included adult backing singers, a full orchestra of young people from Berkshire Maestros, professional rock musicians and the Castle School choir - a cast of hundreds!

The Vodafone Pavilion was a splendid setting - a huge 'tented' space which enabled us to fit in the massed primary school choir and the full orchestra simultaneously, as well as having space for the soloists to perform. The programme acknowledged the hundreds who took part front and back of stage - I was touched by the huge number of volunteers; many people commented afterwards what a lovely feeling there was at the concert - it was a true community effort.

We hope to have raised several thousands of pounds for the Furniture Project and the Mayors Benevolent Fund, but we also gave an oppurtunity for many young people to be part of an exciting and professionally produced event, and through using film footage and theming the concert around recycling I hope many more know about the work of the Furniture Project. I made a speech of thanks at the end - there were so many to thank, but key figures who made it all happen were my Civic Manager Joyce Lewis who produced the whole show, and the visionary direction of Angela Turton. The photo shows Angela and I before the show in the Vodafone HQ.

Michaelmas Fair

On Wednesday evening I went to open the Michaelmas Fair with Theo, Louis and their friends. It had been raining extremely hard on and off all day, so we went prepared with our boots on, but luckily the rain dried up as we walked to Goldwell Park from the Town Hall.

We were hosted by Charlie, the chair of the London and Home Counties Region of the Showmans Guild, the organisation that has been running the fair for many years. The Michaelmas Fair is the last surviving annual fair in Newbury's calendar, and has been a fixture since medieval times, though there isn't much that is medieval about it these days! It looked spectacular with a huge number of exciting rides.

Charlie and I made brief speeches to open the fair, then I rang the traditional bell to declare it open. I then chose a number of rides - most I was too scared to go on myself, but they were hugely enjoyed by the youngsters who followed me around. I went on the dodgems (twice!)and the big wheel. Afterwards we were the guests of the guild at a reception in the Northcroft Centre.

Victoria Park Nursery School

Yesterday morning I called in at Victoria Park Nursery School to present their cup for winning the 'Best School Garden Tended by Children' award in the Newbury in Bloom Competition. The Headteacher Fiona Bridger-Wilkinson asked me to come to the nursery to present the cup because the children were too young to attend the Newbury in Bloom prizegiving in September at the Town Hall, as it was held in the evening.

Its always a pleasure to visit the nursery school - Fiona and some of the other teachers are still there from the days my sons attended - its nearly six years now since Louis left. The lady on the right of the picture is another Gill - an ex parent who now comes to the nursery once a week to work with the children in the garden. Gill has been gardening there for a year now, and is making quite an impact with added colourful plants, a well stocked vegetable patch, and well maintained flowerbeds and shrubs.

25 years of NCH at Greenham House

Also tonight I attended the party to celebrate the 25th anniversary of NCH running the childrens centre at Greenham House in Newbury. It was much more than just an anniversary though - NCH were saying goodbye to Greenham House, as it is being transferred to the control of West Berkshire Council, and some of the staff will not be carrying on. It was also an evening to celebrate the work of the manager Rosemary who is retiring after 18 years in charge at Greenham House, and 42 years of social work (its hard to believe she has been working since I was born).

It was a real privilege to witness the speeches there tonight. I've never been inside Greenham House before, and not known what a lovely warm, friendly atmosphere it has. The staff and volunteers are obviously held in such high regard, and it was very moving to hear what they had to say about the last 25 years, and Rosemary's career. It brought home to me how important it is for community services like this to have staff continuity - it is a rare thing these days, and something we take for granted at our peril.

Pictured are Rosemary and Helen (Helen is staying on, and has worked at Greenham House for 25 years!).

Opening of Ripples Bathroom Centre

Tonight I helped to officially open the new bathroom shop 'Ripples' in Cheap Street, opposite the Post Office.

The owners, Diane and Richard Garnett are a local couple who are new to the world of bathrooms so they are setting out on quite an adventure and I wish them well. They have transformed what was a fairly uninspiring space into something light, bright and fresh. They have a range of bathrooms, from the ultra modern to the traditional, and it is well worth a look.

This is the 16th Ripples showroom to open - they are all in the south and midlands, and many like this one are run as franchises. The Director of the company was there tonight with his wife, he told me that he had started the business 18 years ago.

Crown Court Ceremonial Opening Service

On Tuesday 3 October Carol drove Stuart and I to the Civic offices in Reading for the ceremonial opening service for the Crown Court, which is held in the Minster Church of St Mary.

We had a tea and coffee in the Mayor of Reading's parlour, before lining up in alphabetical order (of town) to process to the church. There were about a dozen of us with chains on, in single file, following a mace bearer - its funny how some people carry on walking by as though it happens everyday, and a few stop and stare! It is quite a grand occasion - the judges all wear their wigs and gowns, and the High Sheriff is there in his velvet pantaloons. The Bishop of Reading, the Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell, gave a humorous and intelligent sermon based on the reading from the parable of the prodigal son, and we sang three good hymns.

According to the notes in the order of service, the custom of these annual services dates from the reign of Edward 1 (1272-1307), and records of such sermons have been kept since 1681, the most famous assize sermon being that preached by John Keble in 1839 at Oxford, which was a national sensation as he denounced the nation for turning away from God and began a religous revival (so no pressure on the Stephen Cottrell then!)

Braunfels - day 4

We attended a church service (we were late because Isolde and Walter's kitten escaped and took a while to get back indoors, and then we went to the wrong church!). After church our hosts took us to a restaurant by the castle walls and we had a delicious lunch.

We said our goodbyes after lunch and the minibus drove us back to the airport for the journey home. Gemma had been nervous before hand, but said she really enjoyed herself, and would do it again.

Pictured; me with Burgermeister Deiter Schmidt

Braunfels - day 3

Stuart and I walked around Braunfels, through the park and had a coffee in the market place cafe. It is very quiet - hardly any traffic noise.

Then we went to the Hessenpark museum, half an hours drive away, - as guests of the Burgermeister (Mayor) Deiter Schmidt. Deiter is retiring next week after 12 years as Mayor. In Europe Mayors are directly elected by the people, and it is a full time paid job - Braunfels has an election on 8th October. Hassenpark is an open air museum of buildings showing the history of this region of Germany (Northwest of Frankfurt). The buildings are taken apart bit by bit and carefully re-assembled and restored. You can walk into the houses, church and school house and have a look at how people used to live.

In the evening we attended a film show - home movies of Braunfels twin town activities in the last 25 years (the weekend was a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the town winning the European Prize for town twinning, a rare achievement). Gemma and Chris went to the nearby big town with some of the younger Germans and visitors and visited a local disco.

Braunfels - day two

The day began with a two hour discussion about the EU - this was in German, but thankfully translated into English! Prior to the weekend a questionnaire had been issued to the twin town associations of the towns taking part, and the responses were revealed at the meeting. It transpired that the Spanish and Italian twins were much keener on the expansion of the EU than the Germans were (who felt their jobs would be threatened), and from the discussion it was clear that the German teenagers taking part believed that their countrymen should be able to vote in a referendum on the new EU constitution - the guest university lecturers said it was not in the German constitution.

After lunch we toured the beautiful castle of Braunfels, which dates from the 12th century, and is a big tourist attraction. Part of the castle is still lived in by the decendants of the original Count who built it!

In the evening we visited an historic watermill, followed by a Hungarian evening, with entertainment by the dancers and musicians from Kiskunfelegyhaza (who visited Newbury in July). The buffet was delicious!

Twin Town Trip to Braunfels

Early in the morning of Thursday 28 September I drove Stuart and Junior Mayor Gemma Legg to Stanstead Airport where we met up with Garry Poulson, Kath Osborne and Christopher Harper for our four day trip to Newbury's German twin town, Braunfels.

Although the flight is only one hour ten minutes, we didn't arrive at our destination until 5pm. We were greeted at their Tourist Information centre, and presented with special umbrellas - an omen of weather to come?

Stuart and I were driven to our hosts home in a town 3km away. Our hosts were a lovely retired couple called Isolde and Walter, who made us most welcome.

Pentangle Dental Transformations

Last Wednesday evening I went along with Stuart and Rod to the opening of Pentangle Dental Transformations in Park Lane, Newbury.

As I work just around the corner, I was aware that this dental practice was being developed, I also recall several planning applications for the building coming to committee. However, this is no typical dentist - as its name suggests, the practice is for major dental work - implants and crowns. The space inside the two storey building has been totally transformed. There are walls of curved opaque glass, even a glass landing, plenty of stainless steel, and some very hi-tech equipment.

I had my picture taken sitting in one of the new dentist chairs, which has a camera installed above to relay pictures of proceedures into the room next door onto a wide screen, which can be used as a training facility. There is also a CAT scan machine for 3D imaging of teeth. All most impressive. The dentists in question, Steve Jones and Rob Oretti are both from local practices, and already well known for their skills. If these dentists can transform your mouth they way they have transformed their building then they must be good!

Alzheimers Society AGM

Yesterday at 2pm I went along to the Alzheimers Society AGM at the Desmoulin Gallery.

I remember going along last year as Deputy Mayor, so it was interesting to see how the local branch had progressed in that time. The West Berkshire branch does seem to be a bit of a trailblazer when it comes to innovations. Last year their 'singing for the brain' scheme was new and exciting, this year they have received grant funding to spread the word, set up two other schemes in the area and trained more people to deliver the scheme further afield.

Their latest idea is 'gardening for the brain' which is already a big hit with a number of members regularly gardening on a Friday. The branch support and development worker Chreanne Montgomery-Smith is responsible for creating and organising these schemes, and seems to be very popular with the members as a result!

The chair Karin Beasley stood down at the AGM, and as yet has not been replaced, which is a shame - I hope they find someone to fill her slot soon.

Beating the Bounds

There is an ancient tradition of sending the youth of the parish off to walk around the parish boundary once a year. Since becoming Newbury Town Council 9 years ago, we have done it twice, the last time in the Millennium year, so Joyce and I though it would be good to do it again.

Sunday at 10am a good crowd gathered by the canal in the centre of town to set off under guidance of Dave Stubbs, ex policeman, current Town Marshall and local history enthusiast. We walked Westwards along the towpath until we came to the boundary, then followed it round to the South, up hill to Wash Common. En route we crossed the battlefield of the first Battle of Newbury of 1643, and Dave explained how tens of thousands of men happened to spend the day of 20th September that year spearing, shooting, stabbing and blasting each other till 5,000 lay dead. Apparently cannonballs and other detritus are still found at ploughing time in the surrounding fields.

We stopped for lunch at the Woodpecker pub, - a traditional stop off for those beating the bounds in the early part of the 20th century. I chatted to most of those on the walk, and was pleased to discover two couples who have only moved to Newbury in the last two months who came along to find out more.

We made our way as far south as St Gabriels school, and then headed back along Deadmans and Pinchington Lanes to Greenham before descending into Newbury town centre for a cup of tea in the Town Hall. It was a very enjoyable days walk (8 miles) and we hope to do the shorter Northern part of the boundary in the spring.

Newbury Goes Pear-shaped

I was asked to open a unique event at the Town Hall on Saturday morning. Debbie Hearn, the food journalist with the Newbury Weekly News has been researching fruits famous and rare for some years now. She discovered that the country's most popular pear 'Williams' pear was bread by the headteacher of the Aldermaston primary school in the early 1700s.

To celebrate this event she organised a day of pear promotion, and assisted by Newbury Town Council and the Thames Valley Farmers Market an array of tempting pear dishes and rare fruits was on display to the public. shops and cafes around town were also encouraged to put some unusual pear recipes on their menus for the day.

Naomi House Open Day

After the Borders opening I drove down to Naomi House near Winchester with my friend Sally-Ann. Neither of us had been before, so we weren't sure what to expect.

Naomi House is a hospice for terminally ill children, which serves a huge area of central southern England, and is funded entirely by charitable contributions; - the majority raised by members of the public. Primarily they offer respite for the families of very ill children, but they also offer support and bereavement counselling for parents and siblings.

The hospice is nine years old and purpose built in beautiful landscaped grounds. It is superbly equipped, with hydrotherapy pools, hoists in all the bedrooms and an amazing adapted bathroom. And yet the 'medical' side of it is very discreet, as they are very keen to make it as homely and comfortable as possible for the families who stay there. Full time fundraiser June Tabor showed us around and introduced us to many staff and volunteers who are all lovely people. I can believe they bring real joy to children and families who have such a relentlessly tough time otherwise.

It made my day when one of their fundraisers came up and asked me if I was the Mayor of Newbury, as she recognised me from my blog!! Thats a first.

Naomi House has just started its own lottery - £1 a week payable by direct debit, with a much better chance of winning than the National Lottery - see lottery@naomihouse.org.uk
Pictured are June Tabor on the left and Sally-Ann on the right outside the front door.

Opening Borders Bookstore

Friday 22 September was the day I opened the new Borders at the retail park. A brand new store - when I arrived the staff were making the final touches to it - polishing banisters etc. It was decorated with colourful balloons and looked perfect.

At 10am I went to the front doors, where 130 children from Greenham Court School and St Gabriels were waiting to come in. The store manager addressed them all briefly, and I then welcomed them before cutting the ribbon and making a quick sidestep before being mown down by children charging in with balloons flying! I then leisurely looked around at the vast array of books and the Paperchase franchise of gift wrap, cards etc. I chatted to the directors of retail and property about the business - this is store number 38 in just 9 years, and they are aiming to have 100 in the UK. It is an American chain, which might explain why they have an instore Starbucks! The following day Adam Ant dropped by to do a book signing.

Age Concern Open Day

Age Concern Newbury and West Berkshire held an open day at St Nicolas' Church hall, to coincide with the very popular Thursday coffee morning.

I went along to 'open' the open day, and meet the staff and volunteers of Age Concern. I was most impressed with the huge array of services they offer: financial help (benefits and pension advice, insurance etc), befriending, hospital aftercare, gas and electricity price comparisons, free IT courses, and my favourite - the handyman scheme. This is a free service for the elderly who need small jobs doing around the house - new tap washers fitted, or a lightbulb changed that they cant reach for example. For more information see their website: www.ageconcernberkshire.org.uk

Newbury Vision Conference

Back at the Corn Exchange the next morning for something completely different!

The third annual Newbury Vision Conference - an opportunity to update stakeholders and business people about the progress of the 2025 plan for Newbury. The developers have now been chosen for the large Market Street development, and they came along to describe their outline plans for this large section of south central Newbury. There will be a new entrance from the railway station to the town, flanked by residential blocks, with restaurants etc on the ground floor. It will be interesting to see the artists impressions when they are developed.

Graham Hunt, CEO of the Town Council presented the progress to date on Victoria Park - something I have been involved in for many years. Frustratingly the plan for the park's enhancement has been delayed for a year, awaiting the results of the anticipated consultation on the wharf redesign. We will get there eventually!

Cine Club Premiere

The evening of Tuesday 19th September was the West Berkshire Cine Club film premiere. The invitation said to dress for the occasion, as there would be a red carpet! Indeed there was - and many local school children wore bow ties or evening dresses.

We gathered in the Corn Exchange auditorium to see the results of 12 weeks work by participating primary and secondary schools, and the Newbury Day Centre. Each had taken on the challenge of story-boarding, directing, filming and editing a four minute feature film, to include an homage to a movie. Those that fulfilled all criteria were awarded a 'cine club certificate', which appeared on the screen after their film. The movies varied enormously, but were all entertaining in their own ways! The two primary schools involved; Speenhamland and Whitelands in Thatcham were very different - Speenhamland's had a very experimental indie feel, and Whitelands was a comic take on Frankenstein.

After each film, some of the participants were interviewed by the organiser Christina Pepper of the Corn Exchange, and revealed some of their special effect secrets, or the problems they experienced in filming. There is no doubt the participants all loved to see themselves on the big screen, and can't wait to make more movies this autumn.