Bringing back joy
In our January edition, we provided a brief introduction to the Head Teacher at Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre, Laura Mathews.This month we learn a little more about the school and Laura’s vision for its future.
LAURA STUDIED AT Durham University and is, by training, an English teacher. She was familiar with Highdown before she became Head last January, having previously had a spell as Assistant Head at the school. One difference between Highdown and her previous school in Thatcham is the selective nature of secondary education in Reading. However, she emphasised the talent of the school’s students and the importance of helping them to find their passion and to aspire to do well. The size of the school means it can offer a wide variety of options in addition to the usual subjects, such as Hair and Beauty (it is one of the top 5% for this in England), and Music Technology, for which results are in the top 1%…Read More
‘ But February made me shiver With every paper I deliver…’
WE HOPE it’s not ‘Bad news on the doorstep’ with the Caversham Bridge! We have had a cold spell early in the new year, with the now unusual sight of snow on the streets, if only briefly. Our February edition leads with an article about our largest school, Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre (above). We have more news from the school inside the paper (p10-11), and we also look back at previous articles about it (p11). Local people are in the spotlight this month. From those involved in creative activities, such as Adrienne Black of Concerts in Caversham (p16) and milliner Liz Felix (p8) to the new Chair of Caversham and District Residents Association, Nick Haskins (p14) and Ken Potter, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday at Chiltern Court (p9)…Read More
The rewards for us of single tasking
Sunday 22 February has been called Single Tasking Day, an awareness day aimed at reminding us to stop doing multiple things at once.
MULTI-TASKING IS often used as a boast about superior efficiency and productivity. Yet research suggests it’s a myth. When we talk about multitasking, what actually happens is that we are just
switching between tasks – and doing it badly. Each time we change tasks, our brain has a ‘switching cost’ which slows it down and causes mistakes, thanks to mental tiredness…Read more
Generating an educational return
READING HYDRO hosted its 20th school visit in 2025. Some readers may have noticed a colourfully painted building while crossing the footpath on the weir at the Caversham Lock. This is Reading Hydro (RH), a hydroelectric scheme which has produced up to 46 kW of electricity since being commissioned in 2021. It was set up as a Community Benefit Scheme, and 750 people, mainly local, invested in it. As well as generating low-carbon electricity, it will re-invest any profits back into the local community…Read More
Four Bears Fest 2026
WE ARE SO excited about 2026 events, especially Fourbears Fest 2026. We have some cracking authors, although it is a little bit different from previous years. We found May a difficult time competing with other events, the weather, and the general business of May. Cramming all the events into one weekend potentially meant people who were away missed out. In 2026 we have spread the events over a month and moved it to February and March. Check out our website www.fourbearsbooks.co.uk/fourbears-fest for all the details…Read More
Nativity Live
Once again the churches of lower Caversham combined to bring the Christmas story to life on the local streets
THE EVENT was blessed with dry weather and there was a large gathering at the Fox and Hounds Pub at the start of the walk, despite the extreme cold. The crowd followed the star from the pub to St John’s Church, accompanied by shepherds with their sheep and goats. On the way they found the Wise Men at Gosbrook Road Methodist Church…Read More
For Your Bookshelf
NEILL CAMERON HAS always been a hit whenever he has visited Fourbears Fest, and he has a brand-new book out Donut Squad Make a Mess. The bagels are lying low, and now the Donut Squad are enjoying making their own malarkey. They’re off camping! And hiding from bears!
A sequel to Donut Squad, which was one of our 2025 bestsellers, this book is even funnier, and the perfect read for fans of the comic book style and are aged 7+.
For the adult pick, I have chosen the most recent (fifth) book in the Anthony Horowitz Hawthorne series. The title is Close to Death. For those who haven’t read any of the series it’s a slightly different concept, as one of the detective duo is the author Anthony Horowitz himself, providing insight and commentary on typical murder mysteries. It’s a bit tricky to explain, but it’s an enjoyable read and works really well…Read More
In the News
PERRY WALKER, who writes regular skin care articles for the Caversham Bridge, has been making news in the skin care world. She has been chosen as the winner of the SkinBase Transformation of the Year award. SkinBase is a UK-based company specialising in equipment, training and support for skin care professionals.
The Award celebrates the very best in skin transformations, where there is not only visible skin improvement, but the life-changing results which transform a person’s confidence. With over 200 entries, 72 finalists and five category winners, the judges faced an exceptionally difficult decision. However, they decided the overall winner for 2025 was Perry Walker of Perry’s Beauty in Caversham…Read More
Happy Wanderer Goes Public at Hill’s Meadow
IN AUGUST 1927, two Caversham men were arrested for playing a game of chance for money in a public place. The game was called Crown and Anchor, and the place was Hill’s Meadow. It was only six weeks since the public had been given access to the field, but there had been no official opening. In the magistrates’ court, the defence lawyer claimed that no offence had been committed, since this was not a public area. The case was reported in the local paper under the headline ‘Public or Private?’ The defence won the day, and the case was dismissed…Read More
Local artists go to the wall
SEVERAL CAVERSHAM artists took part in the creation of a new mural at the Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH), which was officially commissioned on Monday 15 December. The mural depicts a seasonal scene and now brightens the corridor leading to the bereavement and mortuary areas by the Bereavement Viewing Suite…Read More
King for the afternoon
ON THE AFTERNOON of Thursday 18 December, the residents of Chiltern Court in Emmer Green entertained a very special guest. Their longest running resident, Mr Ken Potter, who has been living at Chiltern Court ever since it opened in 1986, was made ‘King’ for the afternoon. The reason for the special celebration was because Ken was about to turn 100 years old. The residents had a spectacular throne made for him to sit in, on which the design portrayed a reference to his time in the Cold Stream Guards, with a replica of the regimental badge. Also, research found the Guards mascot was a Goose called Jacob, and they had dressed a concrete goose as a Cold Stream Guard soldier…Read More
Highdown School Celebrates
THE NATIONAL YOUTH Monologue Competition, delivered in partnership with the Ambassador Theatre Group and the Federation of Drama Schools, offers young performers the opportunity to showcase their talent on a West End stage. Highdown students rose to the challenge. Our students entered the competition in June, with several selected as finalists…Read More
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
THE SCHOOL’S Senior School production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time captivated full-house audiences on 9 and 10 December. It presented a blend of thought provoking storytelling with fast paced physical theatre, inspired by Frantic Assembly, a theatre company known for its innovative productions which blend physicality and storytelling…Read More
Another trying year
IT IS DECEMBER and outside the rain is merrily dripping down the window. But I must write about gardening in February, when the garden starts to come alive. One of my problems is lacking the ability to see into the future. My brain does a whirl; I haven’t a crystal ball. Will we have another drought? Will spring be even earlier? Will we have a bad frost in May? Who knows, not even the Met Office!…Read More
Setting Up Good Habits for Life
THE TEENAGE years can be tough on the skin — and on your teens’ confidence. Hormones start to fluctuate, oil production increases, and pores can easily become blocked, leading to congestion, blackheads and breakouts. But with the right advice and a consistent routine, teen skin can be managed successfully. As a skincare specialist who has suffered with acne my whole life, I often see teenagers using harsh products that strip the skin of natural oils, which only encourages more oil production and irritation. The key is to keep things simple: cleanse, protect and hydrate…Read More
Caversham Dry Cleaning Ltd
THE SUBJECT of Janina’s painting this month is Caversham Dry Cleaning Ltd, at number 56 Prospect Street. It occupies an oddly shaped site on the corner with Oxford Street, the last retail property before you reach the Last Crumb pub as you leave the centre of Caversham. The dry cleaning business occupies premises which have housed many different trades and shops over the years. I spoke to Glory Paudel, who owns the business today with her brother-in-law, Santos…Read More
Time for the walker to run!
THE ICELAND store in Caversham was the venue for an unusually fast appearance of a member of the Rotherfield United Walking Football Club in late November. One very early morning (before the shop opened) found one of our players, Dickie Quelch, racing through the store. Dickie had won the Iceland Supermarket Trolley Dash in the Club’s Charity Auction. He had done some careful reconnaissance and planning before the starter’s gun was fired and set off at a blistering pace straight to the meat aisle. Using three trollies strategically positioned around the store, the two minute challenge was completed leaving Dickie shattered and gasping for breath…Read More
Renewable energy investment opportunities
THERE’S A HUGE number of crowd-funded investments available which install community renewable energy systems across the country. Many are launched via Ethex, Triodos or Energy$All platforms, and others are independently marketed. They aren’t covered by the Financial Conduct Authority, and most are difficult to trade. You should anticipate a ten-year bond will be money locked away for the full ten years. Reading Community Energy Society (RCES) has installed and operates 23 solar photo voltaic systems on roofs of community buildings in and around Reading, with a combined capacity of over 600 kWp. All are crowd funded for the capital works and pay out interest annually to investors from income generated by selling electricity to the building owners (at below market rates)…Read More
Clayfield Copse – Noctule News
CLAYFIELD COPSE and Blackhouse Woods are ancient woodlands in Emmer Green which, in 1991, were designated as Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) first Nature Reserve. The Reserve is a haven for wildlife, including at least nine species of bat. The Noctule is the UK’s largest bat and is almost solely dependent on trees for roosting, favouring woodpecker holes. They can be seen on a summer evening hunting insects high in the sky, sometimes mingling with swifts as the sun goes down. The Noctule population, along with other bat species, has been closely monitored for 40 years by the Berkshire & South Buckinghamshire Bat Group, who have tagged trees where roosts are present to ensure preservation of these habitats…Read More
The Woman Behind Caversham’s Much-Loved Concerts
IF YOU’VE EVER stepped into St Andrew’s Church on an evening when the lights are low and the music is soaring, you’ve felt the magic that Adrienne Black brought to life in Caversham. A professional pianist with a sharp ear and a soft spot for community, Adrienne, along with her husband, the late Timothy Watts – an oboist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – launched Concerts in Caversham back in October 2011. The programmes lean towards classical music, but the breadth of music from many genres is always diverse and interesting and the evenings are delivered with a welcoming and informal local spirit…Read More
Crossing Grilling
IN DECEMBER, our student Journalism Club arranged a press conference with Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Lead Councillor for Transport and Security to investigate the Last Crumb Junction crossing campaign. The campaign, which requested a pedestrian crossing be put in at the Last Crumb Junction, was the subject of RBC’s traffic management sub-committee meeting in September, which concluded funding is not currently available. Interested in the council’s perspective, I organised the conference with local councillor, Mr John Ennis. He began by explaining Reading’s traffic puzzle. While our award-winning public transport system means only one third of residents travel to work by car, Reading’s status as a regional centre means main traffic arteries face pressure…Read More
Tapas and Tunes
VEGIVORES OPENED in St Martin’s Precinct in Caversham six years ago, bringing a unique offering to the local restaurant scene. They have since proved popular with vegans and non-vegans alike, and we have enjoyed many visits there. For us summer is a particular favourite time to go, whiling away a few hours sat outside with a glass of wine and some nibbles, but Vegivores provides a warm welcome all year round.
When we saw them advertising their Tapas & Tunes night, promising an evening of live music and authentic, plant-based tapas, we knew we had to go and check it out. On the evening we attended, we were lucky that Marisa Rodriguez of iconic local rockers, Marisa and The Moths, was appearing…Read More
What Cindy Lauper said! Fun!
WHEN WAS THE last time you did something physically playful; not for fitness, not for steps, not for heart rate, but just because it felt enjoyable, interesting or a bit daring? For many adults, the answer is… “I can’t quite remember”. Somewhere between childhood and midlife, play gets labelled as childish, silly or indulgent. A thing we ‘grow out of’. But our bodies don’t grow out of it. They simply stop receiving the kind of movement that play naturally provides: unpredictability, spontaneity, variation, curiosity, a little courage, and a lot more laughter…Read More