THE NEW year began with the feeling of a new era as we started 2023 under a new monarch for the first time in more than 70 years.
The King’s first New Year’s Honours List saw Reading West MP Alok Sharma knighted following his work chairing the COP26 conference.
The list also honoured Professor Paul Glaister of the University of Reading, and Reading-born trans rights advocate and Wiltshire councillor Helen Belcher.
January also saw the death of Ruth Perry, head teacher at Caversham Primary School, who took her own life just days before the school’s Ofsted rating was expected to be downgraded.
It sparked national concern about the effects of Ofsted inspections on school staff and their efficacy more generally, and members of parliament and Reading Borough Council would later call into question how inspections were conducted.
An inquest concluded in December that Ofsted “likely contributed” to her death.
Meanwhile Reading’s child services authority, Brighter Futures for Children, expanded mental health services available to school pupils in south Reading, following positive initial roll-out in west Reading.
Dr Alec de Sausmarez, senior educational psychologist in the Mental Health Support Team, said: “Mental health services meet the needs of children who are already quite distressed.
“The mental health support team provides guided self help to stop children getting to that level.”
Paralympic gold-medallist Graham Edmunds joined the mayor of Reading, then Cllr Rachel Eden, in opening the new leisure centre in Palmer Park, unveiling a plaque at the site.
This was followed by a demonstration by the Cygnets, a swimming club for children with learning disabilities, who performed synchronised swimming as a six-person team for the first time.
Mr Edmunds, who was born in Reading and would go on to perform at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 games, said at the event: “This place is amazing.
“I’m just so excited to be here, the outside is great-looking, and the inside is even better.
“I’ve been all over the world and I’ve seen some amazing, state-of-the-art places, and this is right up there with them.”
January also saw the inquest into the murder of James Furlong, David Wails, and Joseph Ritchie-Bennett in 2020 begin.
A pre-inquest review took place in the Royal Courts of Justice on Thursday, January 12, where the coroner heard details of the incident to determine how to proceed in the case of a full inquest.
Judge Coroner Martyn Zeidman KC agreed to give the issue consideration and the full inquest into the men’s deaths is now expected to take place early next year.
Reading Station was transformed for Lunar New Year celebrations, with performers joining dragons for stunning cultural displays, organised by the South Gloucestershire Chinese Association working with Great Western Railway.
The group’s Secretary, Rong Yang, said it was an opportunity to showcase Chinese culture.
“With the great support from GWR and Network Rail, members of South Gloucestershire Chinese Association headed to Reading station to perform in a fantastic flash mob,” she said.
“There was also a mix of traditional and modern dances, tai chi demonstrations, and a mighty dragon dance show.”
Reading Borough Council announced towards the end of the month that it had received nearly £20m in funding from the levelling up scheme for a major overhaul of the Civic Offices, Reading Central Library, and The Hexagon.
Plans were laid out to bring the dated Central Library into a new combined site on Bridge Street, and to add a new building to the Hexagon Theatre in Queens Walk featuring community studios and a new performance space.
Proposals are set to be submitted for planning application early in 2024.
