HUNDREDS of people from across Reading came together on Saturday with one cry – Save Reading Gaol.
Community groups, MPs, councillors, royalty and borough leaders joined forces to send a message to the government: the site should not be sold and turned into luxury flats or a hotel. Instead, it should be saved as an arts centre.
They gathered outside The Hexagon in Queens Walk, before heading down to the Abbey Ruins to hear speeches and show their support for the site.
Heading the procession was the Reading Beatroots samba band, ensuring the procession was heard as well as seen as it made its way down Broad Street and into the Forbury.
There were banners from all manner of groups, including Reading Pride, the Reading Guild of Artists, Rabble theatre, Progress Theatre, and a walking giant called Bob from Rising Sun Arts Centre.
Reading East MP Matt Rodda teamed up with his Reading West counterpart, Sir Alok Sharma, putting their political differences aside for the good of the town.
He said: “This weekend was a fabulous display of community power as we marched to Save Reading Gaol.
“It was a demonstration of the attachment that we have for the Gaol as well as its history and cultural impact.
“I am still 100% committed to seeing the Gaol maintained as a public space.
“I want to add my congratulations and thanks to the organisers and everyone who took part.”
In a tweet, Sir Alok said: “A huge thank you to everyone who organised and joined the #SaveReadingGaol event today to demonstrate their support for turning the site into a local cultural hub to celebrate Reading’s heritage.
“The campaign marches on.”
And the mayor of Reading, Cllr Rachel Eden, said: “I was delighted to attend the Save Reading Gaol March. The town was united in determination. This site is both an important piece of our town’s history, and could be a big part of the future of Reading.”
A member of the Oscar Wilde Appreciation Society said: “The Arts was so important to Oscar; think how wonderful it would be for somewhere he felt so wretched to be turned into something positive.”
