Our new neighbours –the Hong Kongers
HELLO EVERYONE! I moved to the UK from Hong Kong in 2021, and I am delighted to share with you a little bit about the vibrant Hong Kong community right here in Reading. If you have noticed more Hong Kong-style restaurants and Asian shops opening in our area lately, you are seeing a beautiful reflection of our growing community. By June 2025, around 166,300 Hong Kongers had arrived in the UK. Reading has become a key home for many, with an estimated 6,000 families (around 16,000 people) now living in the area…Read More
Past, Present, Future
NOVEMBER, A time for looking back at the past, for remembrance, for preparing for winter and for looking ahead. This month will, of course, see our annual services of remembrance at our churches and the War Memorial by the Thames. But we also remember those with strong local connections who have recently passed away, including Stan Eldon (p8) and Alan Wright (p17), who both contributed much to our community over the years. We also have a very personal article on bereavement and life for those dealing with loss (p4)…Read More
Now for something completely different – Slowtime Mondays
THERE IS a new business on the corner of Prospect Street which opened on 23 October. ‘Not a nail bar and not another vape shop!’ it proclaimed on the blanked-out windows prior to opening. Slowtime
Mondays is a men’s clothing shop selling ‘smart casual’ clothes and footwear. Or, as they put it, ‘proper clothes worn properly’. Behind the new store are locals Richard Nemeth and Lloyd Moore, who have a vision for the business based on their shared love of fashion, music and football.
With a slightly retro ambience and great music, they aim to make their store a destination for men to shop for quality branded clothing. It is great to see another, different, independent business setting up in Caversham…Read More
Making Progress
THERE’S NO stopping the indefatigable members of Progress Theatre whose 80th season continued with Dance Nation by Clare Barron in October, and Patrick Wilde’s What’s Wrong With Angry opening on 16 November. Both plays turn a spotlight on the complexity of growing up – theatre being the perfect way of examining aspects of what it is to be human in a way that challenges and resonates with performers and audience members alike. Dance Nation was directed by Imogen Lilley, who trained with Bristol Old Vic, and hoped that ‘twists, turns and strange things’ in the play opened up conversations…Read More
Scout Christmas Post
THE 89TH READING (Milestone Wood) Scout group are again providing a Christmas Post service for the delivery of Christmas cards to Caversham, Caversham Heights, Emmer Green and Caversham Park Village. We have run this service for over 45 years, raising funds for both the local community and the Scout group. Last year, with your help, we raised over £1000 to provide new tents for the scout group, used for the first time at the scout international jamboree in Windsor (WINGS) in July 2026. This year we are raising money for our local community and will be supporting the Weller Centre in Caversham so they can buy new equipment for their Early Years toddler groups…Read More
Caversham and the Normans: 1066 and beyond…
FOLLOWING ALL the excitement of the Bayeux Tapestry arriving in England, the Caversham and District Residents Association (CADRA ) Autumn meeting on the 18 of November will answer the question, ‘What did the Normans ever do for Caversham?’ John Painter (Friends of Reading Abbey) and Emeritus Professor Anne Currie from Southampton University will share their extensive knowledge of the links between Caversham and Normandy from 1066 onwards. Toby Davies, the Artistic Director for acclaimed RABBLE Theatre group, will then guide the audience through its current work, which will culminate in its much anticipated play William the Conqueror in 2027…Read More
My Bereavement Journey
A FRIEND OF mine – who had also been bereaved – once observed that, after a bereavement, life is never the same again. He was right! Losing my wife and best friend of over 40 years, Melanie, was
devastating. Shortly after Melanie’s funeral service, I was encouraged to come along to my nearest church, St John the Baptist, by Associate Vicar Penny Cuthbert, who had taken Melanie’s service. The welcome and support was marvellous, and I have not looked back since. Through St John’s, I have been on the Bereavement Journey course, which has enabled me, and other bereaved people, to put our losses into context and provide support and guidance. It has enabled me to re-connect with others, something which had been missing since Melanie’s passing…Read More
Food Pantry for Caversham
READING’S FAITH Christian Group runs a weekly drop-in at Caversham Baptist Church on Wednesdays, where the homeless or hungry are offered a free lunch. It also operates a network of nine food pantries across Reading. Building on the success of these, a new one is planned for Caversham.
Pantries are a place where those on low income or benefits can access subsidised food, advice, support and friendship. The new pantry will be at Gosbrook Road Methodist church and will be open on Thursdays between 15:00 and 17:00…Read More
Reading Golf Course Development
THE HIGH COURT has ruled against the challenge by developers Fairfax on behalf of Reading Golf
Club, who lost a planning appeal on the extension onto land in Oxfordshire. The judge upheld the
inspector’s decision to refuse the application. Fairfax have since taken up their right to make a plea before a judge in an open court, which would require a high legal threshold to succeed. A date for the court plea has still to be set…Read More
For Your Bookshelf
THERE’S ONLY one place to start this month, and that’s with the release of the first new Gruffalo book in over 20 years. When Julia Donaldson’s Gruffalo Granny was published in September, we held a launch party in the shop and a read-along event with our own Alex Forbes too. Ever since then copies have been flying off the shelves. In this third instalment of the series, the Gruffalo tells his daughter that Granny is coming to stay – and she has an enormous appetite!
For my adult pick I’m turning to Mick Herron, author of the Slough House books (serialised for TV as Slow Horses). Clown Town is the ninth full length novel in the series and it doesn’t disappoint. The plot and the characters are still as enjoyable as ever, but the fun is enhanced by spotting where Herron himself is having fun with the words…Read More
Nativity Live – Free Drumming Workshop (Age 8 – 108)
THE ORGANISERS of Caversham’s Nativity Live, a Christmas-Eve promenade performance around the streets of Caversham, will be holding a Drumming Workshop on Sunday 6 December, from 14:30 – 15:30 at St John’s Church, Gosbrook Road, RG4 5AN.
The workshop will start with fun drumming games, suitable for anyone from total beginners upwards. This will be followed by learning a short rhythm which will be used for an angelic WOW moment in the Nativity Live performance. Some drums will be provided but, if you are able, please bring a make-shift drum (for example a bucket, saucepan, toy drum and spoon) and/or shaker too…Read More
Happy Wanderer looks back at the Colebrook Family
FROM TIME-TO-TIME good things happen unexpectedly to me, and I hope it’s the same for you. A few months back I was given a collection of photographs taken in Reading, many of them in Caversham, between the 1970s and early 2000s. They show things that were closing down or under demolition. This one shows Colebrook’s shop at No 3 Prospect Street, Caversham, soon after it had closed. The Colebrook family were farmers and graziers, butchers and fishmongers, with 18 shops in and around Reading. Their flagship store was at 120 Broad Street, with a tall crow-stepped gable at the front. The building is now a branch of Vision Express. One side of the shop was for meat, and the other was for fish. The Caversham shop had the same arrangement…Read More
Kindness in Caversham – Meet Kevin Taplin
Caversham born and bred (and a Highdown School alumnus), Kevin has spent over 35 years in graphic design. He started out in agency work and has now run his own business for 17 years. His clients range from huge names like Howden Insurance Brokers to one-man bands, and he loves them all. Kevin’s passion is to help small businesses stand out, with branding, websites, social media, anything that boosts their presence. His work is proper, professional design and it’s affordable too. He loves getting close to his clients, helping them to find and shape their vision. A keen photographer, videographer, social media content creator and art director, one wonders what this man can’t do!…Read More
Artology Studio
IF YOU ARE feeling creative, or just needing a relaxed activity to take away the stresses of the day, or a fun activity to share with friends, then the Artology Studio is the place for you. Joan Harris opened the business in 2023, pursuing her passion for art. She spent many years in South Africa as an artist and teacher and now puts all her energy and enthusiasm into providing an amazing venue for people to engage in a wide range of artistic activities. Pottery painting, painting on canvas, mosaic and clay workshops, stenciling and decoupage are the main activities on offer, and the studios are full of colour and works of art to stimulate the imagination. Joan is inspiring and she is supported by a team of women who welcome young and old to Artology…Read More
Fox Payne Charity Walk Success
LAST MONTH we featured the story of Ben, a local boy living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and the support being provided by Fox Payne Associates for the charity. On Friday 11 September the Fox Payne team completed a 12 mile walk together along the Thames Path from Caversham to Henley. They would like to thank everyone who sponsored them and are delighted to announce the walk helped to raise more than £5,000 for Duchenne UK…Read More
The ABCs of Cafésham
FOR OUR fourth stop on the food trail around Caversham, it’s time to head into the centre of town. So far, we’ve seen Caversham Court Gardens for tea and cake, St Anne’s Well on the way to drinks in the courtyard, and Caversham Bridge to find some spicy options. The local history pick this time is right in the middle— Caversham Library. Worth a stop just for its own sake, the library sits on the corner of Church Street and Hemdean Road, and dates back to 1907. Outside is an illustrated heritage map of Caversham, which gives a good guide to exploring some of the local history, and includes illustrations and photographs showing how the town used to look. But save the map for later, because right now look up and enjoy the ornate beauty of the library’s swan weathervane and the Atlas-like figure of Father Time propping up the clock, before heading inside to pick up your next book…Read More
Supporting theatre behind the scenes
ANOTHER YEAR is looming and, with the arrival of a certain tapestry in London (not dissimilar to one permanently displayed in Reading Museum), few will have failed to notice that 2027 marks the Year
of the Normans. ‘Our’ Bayeux Tapestry may be a copy, but there’s nothing inauthentic about Reading’s Abbey, built by William I’s son Henry, giving Reading close Norman connections. Reading’s RABBLE theatre will be launching its newly written play, William the Conqueror, to tour the nation as a part of the European wide festivities. How does a small, regional theatre company get to punch so high, especially when financial pressures have meant severe cutbacks in the arts? I spoke to Caversham resident, Louise Gilmour, Chair of Trustees for RABBLE since 2022…Read More
Reading Cycle Festival
READING CYCLE FESTIVAL took place at Christchurch Meadows on Sunday 13 September. It had a real festival atmosphere, with live music and incredibly impressive stunt riding shows taking place throughout the day. All sorts of cycles were to be seen, from the very small (balance bikes) to the very tall (penny farthings) to the very wide (cargo trikes that can transport two fully grown adults in great style).
The latter were brought over by Cycling Without Age from Wallingford, a volunteer organisation that exists to bring the joy of being out on a bike to those who can no longer ride one themselves. If you’d like to get involved, they are looking for volunteers to help set up a Reading based group…Read More
Energy Saving Afternoon
THIS IS an invitation to join Draught Busters and EnergySavers on Saturday 7 November, from 2-5 at St Barnabas Church Hall, Grove Road, Emmer Green. Domestic fuel prices have just risen and are predicted to rise again by over 10% in January. The cut in VAT on electricity bills is useful but can’t match the rises in international energy prices. It’s time to review options for installing renewable energy systems and for minimising energy losses and maximising energy use at home.
DraughtBusters (www.draughtbusters.net) is a group of volunteers who provide draughtproofing free of charge for those in fuel poverty (we’ve draughtproofed more than 1000 Reading houses in the last decade), and free advice to all…Read More
Choosing a school
CHOOSING a primary school for your child feels like a massive decision (I remember that, though my oldest is now far closer to leaving primary school than joining it!). Let me start by reassuring you we have no bad choices here in Caversham – all of our schools are wonderful. However, there probably are
choices which will be a better or worse fit for your child and your family. The best way to get a sense for this fit is to visit the schools you are considering on their open days and see how things feel.
In terms of deciding which schools to visit, you might consider the size of the school (some children do better in a smaller group, others love a larger one)…Read More
More the merrier
I SHOULD NOT admit this, but I do have prejudices in the garden world. One is my failure to appreciate the worthiness of Alliums. Over the years I have occasionally popped a bulb in here and there and thought it was no better than the flowers of my vegetable onions. My birthday is in September, and I often groaned when, amongst my presents, one, two or three alliums arrived. I usually found room for them at the back of a border and that was all the attention they received. This year’s prolonged drought has made me reflect on what to grow and what not to bother with. I am thinking maybe I should give Alliums a better go and plant a goodly number of them to create an en masse show. Now is the time to do so…Read More
Reading Pride
AFTER THE event had suffered with a couple of years of less than favourable weather, the sun was shining brightly on Reading Pride 2026. The event is the largest of its kind in the local area, with thousands of people descending on Kings Meadow to celebrate pride in Reading. The day started on the main stage with a performance by Reading Rock Choir, which included me! It’s always so much fun and a definite highlight of our performance calendar. We were followed by a full line of varied acts such as Bronski Beat tribute, Small Town Boy, The Voice semi-finalist Ace, and longtime Reading Pride collaborator, Lolly, all hosted with professionalism and chaos in equal measure by some of our favourite local drag queens…Read More
From a headliner to homegrown
READING FESTIVAL 2026 — an audience of 100,000 excited fans is sharply interrupted by the soft crescendo of a piano cutting through the atmosphere. Headliner David Oroboso Omaregre — Dave to his fans — begins his set. All eyes turn towards his plainly dressed figure. A British-Nigerian artist catapulted into the spotlight at just 20 with his 2019 breakthrough album Psychodrama. Dave’s lyrics trace the weight of sudden success, and the responsibility he feels to remember the humility of the streets he grew up on, as he navigates a world in which he struggles to find a sense of belonging. His set offered a valuable moment of reflection amongst the excitement and chaos Reading Festival creates. His themes of family, responsibility and belonging connected with an audience spanning generations and backgrounds, providing a mouthpiece for our very own streets…Read More
Concert promises to be a cracker!
CHRISTMAS CAME early for Reading Symphony Orchestra, who have been rehearsing Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker at Queen Anne’s School this term. However, leotards and tutus will not be on display, as their concert at Reading Town Hall on November 28 will feature the score as an orchestral concert.
RSO conductor Cathal Garvey told me, “I’ve loved The Nutcracker from a young age – there are few works in the repertoire which are so perfect. The music stands up on its own without the dancers, it doesn’t have a boring bar in it. “So many of the melodies are instantly recognisable – the Waltz of the
Flowers, the Russian Trepak, and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. There’s a story to tell, and this will be helped along with surtitles, colourful images and some subtle lighting effects…Read More
Could you help a local child discover the joy of reading?
IMAGINE BEING a child and sitting in a classroom when everyone else seems to know what the words on the page say. You want to join in, but reading feels difficult. Perhaps you have fallen behind your classmates and, little by little, you have stopped putting up your hand. You may even start to believe that you are simply ‘not a reader’. This is where ABC to read can make a real difference. ABC to read is an award-winning local charity that has been supporting children who struggle with reading since 2004. Working with primary schools across Berkshire, we recruit, train and support volunteers who provide one-to-one reading support to children who need a little extra help…Read More
True Food funding award
EMMER GREEN’S True Food Co-op has been awarded funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to upgrade its premises to reduce its environmental impact and make sustainable shopping more accessible to local people.
The shop is a community-owned organic and zero-waste co-op, and the funding will mean it can create a more energy efficient, welcoming and environmentally friendly shopping environment, while expanding its range of unpackaged and zerowaste products. True Food Co-op is run by its members and volunteers, supported by a small staff team. Serving more than 1,000 customers each month, it offers organic food, locally sourced produce and eco-refill cleaning products and toiletries…Read More
Climate change – take action with your banking
OUR AUGUST edition led with an article about the climate and nature crisis, following the showing of The National Emergency Briefing film at several local churches. One of the actions which we can take as individuals to help tackle the threats posed by our changing climate is to move our money away from banks which finance the fossil fuel industry. Switching to a greener bank is one of the ways we can help shape a greener economy. Join the Big Bank Switch for individual current accounts and pledge to move your business to a greener bank. To find out how your bank is rated and find more climate friendly alternatives, visit https://bank.green/banks…Read More
Mindful Postures
YOUR POSTURE may subtly affect both emotional state and decision-making, according to new research from McGill University. In a laboratory study, participants who sat upright reported more positive feelings and performed better during a task involving risk and reward than participants who slouched or sat in the control condition. Researchers Changed Posture Without Revealing the Study’s Goal: Participants first completed tests using a computer monitor. They were then asked to perform another task on a tablet while being told the researchers were evaluating a mobile application…Read More