LEN MIDDLETON is a people-orientated person with a great sense of humour. Originally from Scunthorpe, in North Lincolnshire, Len is a graduate of the University of Bradford and has dedicated his career to software development and maintenance.
As of 2026, to quote his Linkedin page, Len has retired and is ‘on holiday for the rest of my life’. However, when one considers Len’s ongoing contributions as an active volunteer within the Caversham and wider Reading community, that statement doesn’t quite seem to hold up. He has served as Secretary and Treasurer of Thames Ward for Reading Labour Party, volunteers with refugees, and, on top of that, organises two local book groups.
“They send me the gay ones!” Len says cheerfully speaking of his role as a volunteer for Care4Calais, a UK-based humanitarian aid charity supporting people seeking asylum while they obtain refugee status. Besides the three half days that he officially volunteers with Care4Calais, Len works an additional number of hours providing both practical and emotional support to individual refugees, helping them to achieve the right to remain within the UK. Since moving to Reading, Len has advocated for LGBTQIA+ rights and carries this mentality into his time spent assisting refugees, of whom many have suffered persecution or injustice as a result of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
How long have you lived in RG4?
I moved to the RG4 area from Feltham in 1984.
Where are your favourite places to eat, drink and shop in our area?
Geo Café is a lovely place for coffee. Quattro is an enjoyable and long running restaurant I enjoy in Caversham. I would like to visit the Miller and Carter more often too! I often shop at Waitrose.
How do you think we can be more eco-friendly here?
The thing is to get people out of their cars. You only have to look at Caversham Bridge to see the catastrophic traffic!
How would you strengthen our sense of community?
I would end the existing social discrepancy between Caversham and Reading. Events where people from different communities, ethnicities and backgrounds can come together are very potent. An example of this would be English as a foreign language speaking groups.
If you could bring anything here, such as an event, experience or a shop, what would it be?
One of the best holidays that I had was an outward bound course. Maybe we could set up a zip wire across the Thames and abseil from the roof of Waitrose!
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