WEEKS after a former Reading mayor changed their political spots, another one did… but not in the direction you might expect.
Cllr Chris Maskell decided he didn’t like the direction the national Labour party was heading in, so took the decision to become an independent.
But there was more to the story: the Reading party had launched an investigation into some posts made on his social media pages which were then deactivated.
Reading Labour leader Cllr Jason Brock said: “Cllr Maskell was suspended pending an investigation. He has decided to resign from Labour prior to this conclusion and will no longer sit as a Labour councillor.”
The issue of the climate emergency featured heavily in our pages across the year, and our first issue in February featured photos of the Extinction Rebellion group holding a protest over the M4. They erected a banner declaring ‘all new roads go to hell’ and ‘climate emergency’ on a bridge at Shinfield, and called on supporters to write to their MP or the then secretary of state for transport, Grant Shapps.
Pews were removed from a Reading town centre church as part of a makeover. Greyfriars opened its new Atrium, combining a coffee shop, community space and bookshop all in one modern area.
The church’s associate vicar, the Revd David Walker, said: “This project has been 20 years in the making, so we are delighted it is complete. It offers a light, transparent and welcoming space for everyone in the community.”
A pub regular was honoured with his own beer.
The Alehouse in Broad Street is home to all kinds of waifs and strays, including your editor, and among them was Meredith ‘Merry’ Gaultier. He died of throat cancer, but he had a dying wish for his friends: to toast him with his own ale.
Tywford Beer Festival organiser Ian Wisdom took on the challenge of creating the brew, with help from Finchampstead’s Elusive Brewing.
“He was a very private man, but the beer and its name, The Merry Gardener was his idea,” he said. “He was a horticulturist and gardener who once worked at Windsor Great Park.”
All proceeds from the sale of the beer went to St Richard’s Hospice in Worcester, which cared for Merry in his final days.
Christians from across Reading came together for an annual service to mark the week of prayer for Christian Unity. Held at St Matthew’s in Southcote, the event saw the Revd Dr Andre Andreopoulos, a reader in Orthodox Christianity at the University of Winchester, preach a sermon.
Michael Penny, the chair of Churches Together in Reading, said: “It was a lovely service and an international event.”
While plans to revive the Reading Beer and Cider Festival had been announced in January, in early February organisers were forced to pull the plug on the event. The easing of covid restrictions meant there was a rush on festival fixtures such as marquees and portable toilets. This meant the team couldn’t hire what they needed to ensure the event could go ahead safely.
Progress Theatre said its future hung in the balance after Reading Borough Council announced it was planning to change parking restrictions in The Mount. This would mean theatregoers would have nowhere to legally park in the evenings. No audiences would play havoc with putting shows on, as the amateur group rely on ticket sales to fund its activities.
2022 was the year of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and many special treats were planned ahead of the June celebrations. One of the first to get in on the act was Reading Buses, which unveiled its specially branded bus. It was pressed into service on routes in Reading, Windsor and even London.
The 76-seat double decker followed on from the firm’s special bus used in the golden jubilee 10 years ago, and was used primarily on its 702 Green Line service which passes Windsor Castle and finishes close to Buckingham Palace.
A cobbler in Tilehurst mended a zip… which led to him stitching up a horse. Richard Kemp, who runs The Tilehurst Cobbler in School Road travelled to Padworth to help mend a fake mare, Dolly, used in a breeding programme. He ended up making a new panel for her neck, a new ear and an additional five hours of patching and stitching, just in time for the breeding season.
“I have done this job for over 20 years,” he said. “I try and do every possible job I can think of. No job is too big or too small.”
Reading FC had been marking its 150th anniversary, but the celebrations were muted by on-the-pitch turmoil. The anniversary game was held in February and instead of gathering to celebrate, fans came together to protest and call for the then manager, Veljko Paunovic, to be sacked.
A chance to reflect on happier days on the pitch came courtesy of Reading Museum, which launched an exhibition celebrating the anniversary. It featured memorabilia from across the ages, including Huntley & Palmer biscuits, a ball from a 1927 game, and seats from Elm Park.
Sir John Madejski gave a speech to deliver the showcase open.
Reading Borough Council expressed concerns over plans to relocate the Royal Berkshire Hospital from central Reading to Shinfield, with Cllr Tony Page saying its existing location was “at the heart of the community”, while the proposed site at Hall Farm “did not currently have any public transport links available”.
And plans to knock down a busy retail park in Reading town centre were revealed. Forbury Retail Park, which is home to a number of sofa retailers as well as a drive-through KFC, could become 900 homes with some retail space if plans go ahead.
To mark Valentine’s Day, Broad St. Mall held a celebration of love. Sweethearts were serenaded by the Reading Male Voice Choir, there was a love seat set up and there was a chance for people to win gift vouchers for jewellers F Hinds.
The council announced its council tax rise would be 2.99%, below inflation, and seeing Band C homes rise by 91p a week, while 63,000 homes would receive a £150 rebate to help with the cost of fuel bills.
Weather is always part of our national conversation, and it was a winter storm that dominated February.
Shinfield Players’ theatre in Whitley Wood Lane was a victim of Storm Eunice. The roof blew off, leaving the interior badly damaged, and preparations for its 2022 programme left in disarray. It wasn’t the only problem caused by the storm, as trees fell down and power went off in a day of disruption.
Also affected was the sculpture of cartwheeling boys, which was a gift to Reading from the people of Dusseldorf. It is being restored.
Reading housing charity Launchpad has secured a £2,500 grant to run a new life skills centre, courtesy of the University of Reading and the John Sykes Foundation.
Launchpad’s Sian Walsh said: “The extra funding allows us to work with more people.”
And work by a mystery street artist was celebrated. Someone in Newtown had been busy decorating junction boxes with different designs, including a cow, a Pacman, Reading tiles and inspirational messages.
A Newtown resident said: “They’re brilliant, they really brighten the area up.”
