Fire crews quick action saves pub, charity gifted new van, and Maple returns home
APRIL brought not showers, but floods. With water levels in the borough rising, sewage was pumped into Wokingham’s rivers and streams.
Thames Water issued warnings as it carried out the controversial practice of releasing effluent, one of the biggest problems facing the countryside, according to the Berkshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
More flood stories included that of Hurst resident, Frank Whittaker, who went fishing in the newly formed river suddenly flowing past his front garden.
And on nearby Wokingham Road, also in Hurst, another resident, Pamela Naylor was alarmed to see waves of water surging towards her home as cars pushed through flood water at speed.
The sun wasn’t shining on Wokingham’s solar farm plans, as they heard the news that Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, signed up to connect the Barkham solar site to the National Grid, could delay connection by 11 years.
With Easter just around the corner, however, visitors wanting to experience the first joys of spring flocked to a Twyford and Ruscombe Horticultural Association show.
Around Hurst village pond, yarn-bombers Hurst Hookers surrounded the water, and entetained the ducks with a colourful display of crocheted chicks, hens, rabbits, and even a sheep.
Meanwhile The Victoria Arms in Easthampstead, about to hold a singing event, instead raised the alarm when a blaze broke out.
The emergency brought fire crews from Wokingham, Ascot, Crowthorne, Theale, and Bracknell to the scene, but by the next afternoon, the pub had re-opened for business, to the delight of regulars.
There was celebration in the borough, when the owner of a much-loved therapy pup was reunited with Maple, an auburn coloured cockapoo.
Maple had been stolen almost exactly a year previously, and an active social media campaign, and borough-wide posters, had touched people’s hearts.
So they were delighted when she was spotted at a vets in another part of the country.
At Easter, Churches all over the borough celebrated Holy Week with singing, services, and Palm Sunday processions.
Inspired by the story of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet, Revd Canon Richard Lamey of St Paul’s Church even took on some community shoe shining.
The Cowshed, a borough charity supporting people in need, was gifted a new van by CarComm Coachworks.
They called their new vehicle Ermintrude, after the cow in vintage children’s television show, The Magic Roundabout.
Smart motorways became front page news when Rishi Sunak said that 14 planned highway upgrades for the nation would not go ahead.
The AA called for the recently ‘smartened’ M4 that runs through the borough to be revamped, saying that the removal of motorway hard shoulders puts lives at risk.
Residents of a picturesque village in the borough faced different traffic problems.
Fed up with dangerous drivers jumping their crossroads, Wargrave locals staged a protest.
They warned that motorists’ thoughtlessness, and an expected increase in traffic from nearby housing development, meant that an accident was just waiting to happen.
Putting their boots on, and their best foot forward, walkers gathered in Wokingham to enjoy the Wokingham Walk fundraiser, organised by Wokingham Lions Club.
But in Hurst, people got on their horses.
Despite being refused permission to break the Guinness World Record for the largest hobby horse parade,
264 ‘riders’ staged a rebel record attempt at the Hurst Village Show, to the delight of onlookers.
Finchampstead man
Richard Thomas was invited to witness the crowning of
King Charles, in recognition of his efforts to deliver 10,000 prescriptions during the pandemic.
And tributes flooded in following the death of a former Wokingham councillor and war hero Raymond Eke.
Finally, as excitement mounted in anticipation of the King’s Coronation, preparations for numerous events, lunches, parties and performances were finalised.