NOVEMBER bloomed into life thanks to the Holy Brook Nook in Coley.
Contributors, councillors, and community members gathered to celebrate the work of the community project on Saturday, November 5.
The space is working to improve the community as well as its spaces through conservation work, promoting and protecting natural areas, and providing learning opportunities.
Attendees were invited to see the wellbeing garden, meet the muralists and conservationists, and find out about how the project is helping children in Coley.
Natalie Ganpatsingh, a director at Nature Nurture, said: “It was just fantastic to see so many people turn out on a rainy day– from the council, the different groups who’ve worked on the project, and the Coley community.
“All celebrating the project so far, and we can’t wait to take it onto the next step.”
She said of Holy Brook Nook: “It’s a genuine grassroots community project– and, unusually, it embraces looking after a green space with volunteers, public art, education, all those things together in one place.”
Elsewhere in the borough, residents were continuing to struggle with the rising cost of living.
Rising fuel costs triggered an outpouring of support from community groups with projects launching to support residents, including the Whitley Community Development Association (WCDA)’s Winter Warming Wednesdays.
The Northumberland Avenue-based community cafe provides residents with a warm place to stay along with a free soup and bread roll.
One regular said they were delaying putting their heating on due to rising costs.
She said: “I don’t put my heating on, I put a sleeping bag over me. I’m waiting for it to get a bit colder before turning on my heating because of the electricity and gas going up.
“I’ve got a hot water bottle, which was helpful the other day when my hands got cold. I’ve got three pairs of gloves.”
She also praised the WCDA’s food surplus project, which gives hundreds of people access to fresh food and essential items at a fraction of the retail price.
Unlike many food banks, those using their service are not required to attend via referral, ensuring that more people can be helped with less hassle.
Although Reading missed out on the opportunity to become a city in May, it got closer to London in November as the Elizabeth Line connected to the Big Smoke, without the need to change trains.
While people had been able to use the new service for several months, it was now possible to get into central London without having to make a switch at Paddington.
Journey times from central London to Reading are now just over an hour.
Nigel Horton-Baker, chief executive of REDA (Reading’s Economy and Destination Agency), said: “The completion of the final phase of the Elizabeth Line project is a great achievement and is part of Reading’s 2050 Vision to become a smart and sustainable city of the future.
“The seamless transport link will bolster Reading’s position as a major commercial destination connected to the UK’s capital and global financial centres, as well as an exciting place to visit thanks to the short travel times and easy access via the Elizabeth Line.”
Once again Reading turned out in their hundreds for Remembrance Sunday.
The annual commemoration and reflection took place at both Reading Minster and The Forbury.
A service was held in the Chain Street church, attended by the mayor of Reading, Cllr Rachel Eden, as well as dignitaries and members of the 7th Battalion, the RIFLES.
During the service, readings were given by, among others, James Puxley, the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, and Major Robert Whittle, OC C (Berkshire) Company, 7th Battalion, The RIFLES.
Afterwards, a parade formed up snaking from the Minster through Broad Street and into Market Place where the mayor took a salute.
The procession then headed to the Forbury war memorial for the act of remembrance.
It included the laying of wreaths by dignitaries including the bishop of Reading, politicians including council leader Jason Brock, and Scouts and Guides.
Speaking ahead of the event, the Mayor of Reading, Cllr Rachel Eden, said it was an honour to lead the two-minute silence.
And Cllr Brock said: “The two separate Remembrance ceremonies taking place in Reading on Armistice Day and on Remembrance Sunday offer residents of the town the opportunity to join the rest of the nation in paying tribute to the courage shown by the brave men and women who gave their lives for our freedom.
“Reading will never forget the sacrifices that have been made by those who serve, past and present.”
Major Whittle said The 7th Battalion The RIFLES were honoured and proud to be part of the annual remembrance events.
The borough united for a further day of commemoration on Sunday, November 20, with a vigil for Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Reading Pride project MyUmbrella LGBT+ organised the annual event, this year inviting the general public to take part in observing the date.
The vigil saw recorded contributions from a number of organisers and trustees of Reading’s LGBTQ+ charities and support groups, as well as from organisations outside of Reading.
Tom Price, chief engagement officer at Reading Pride, added: “This event is vital not just to remember those in the trans community taken too soon, but to highlight the ongoing fight against discrimination and abuse faced by our trans family.
“There is no LGB without the T+.”
The countdown to Reading’s Christmas began as the town’s festive lights were switched on.
Shoppers heading to Broad Street were walking in a winter wonderland, thanks to the installation of some Alpine-style huts, offering roast chestnuts, mulled wine, German sausages and other seasonal treats.
And then there’s the lights … all 400,000 of them, including a ribbon-wrapped slimline tree.
To celebrate, REDA arranged for bands to come and play, including RASPO, and singer Natalie Gray.
It wasn’t the only part of town that was getting ready for Christmas.
Broad St. Mall welcomed Santa Claus as he took up residency to check who had been naughty or nice this year.
The Oracle welcomed a new store to its offering as lingerie specialists Boux Avenue opened their doors.
The opening was celebrated with a ribbon cutting event, carried out by the team’s chief design and product officer Zoe Price-Smith.
In our November 23 edition, our reporter Ji-Min Lee reflected on Black History Month with a special report after speaking to some of the borough’s most important black voices.
As attention shifted away from the month, undertones of subtle and overt forms of discrimination persist, while countless victories remain untold.
From Reading’s first female West Indian pastor to a domestic abuse survivor who’s helping young people access help, no two accounts are the same, but a common theme in all was a determination to fight for what is right.
The report, featuring Ken Gathere, Una Chandler, Paul Ince, Alice Mpofu-Coles, Louise Chandler, Kelvin Husbands, Jemima McKenzie and James Pyle can be read in full on rdg.today.
A Reading FC legend returned to the ‘Ding to share his moving story, one which few fans would have fully appreciated before his audience at Blue Collar.
In a talk entitled Winning, Losing, Mental Health and Finding Balance, former Royals manager Brian McDermott detailed the highs and lows of his career and his battle with alcohol addiction.
McDermott partook in a candid Q&A with an audience including former Reading assistant manager Steven Reid and musician Danyl Johnson.
He said: “It was great, to do the talk at Reading, it was like I was amongst real friends. There was a lovely atmosphere in the room and I had a lovely evening.
“I’ve done the talk a few times, but I haven’t done it to an audience which knows the story, they don’t know my story so much, but they know the story of Reading Football Club, they knew about losing the play off final and they knew we won against [Nottingham] Forest that night. They know the story a lot better than me, a lot of the people in the room.”
Despite only initially scheduling one night, such was the demand to hear from McDermott, that Blue Collar decided to add a further two nights.
November is often packed with school’s hosting fetes in the build up to the festive season but a fete of a different kind was taking place in Mapledurham.
Hundreds of campaigners gathered together for an event to support a family of seven on the day of their eviction from their home of 26 years.
Esme Boggart, a new arts collective who are campaigning against Section 21 no-fault evictions, threw a ‘resistance fete’ on Saturday at the Mapledurham property rented by Nick Garnett, Emma Bowen and their five children.
Visitors young and old were treated to an afternoon of entertainment which included a Punch n Judy show, art workshops, ceilidh dancing and book readings.
At the end of the event, a 6 metre wooden statue depicting the fictional Esme Boggart and the concept of no-fault evictions was lit on fire.
Many residents bought items of artwork to support the Garnett-Bowens.
Nick Hayes, a member of Esme Boggart, said: “There’s something about this story which has resonated not just with people personally, but also the feeling of the times. People are sick of the inequality of it all, the fact that one person, who doesn’t even live here, should have the right to uproot people who mean so much to us.
“It’s the notion that because someone owns the land on which the property is built, they can just deconstruct communities in whatever way they fancy is not right. We want to show people that it’s not shameful to stick your head up and say ‘not today’.
“The Mapledurham Estate, what have they actually contributed to this community? They’re rent takers. They were born with the inheritance of a lot of land. It’s not humane, it’s not ethical.”
