September in Reading began with the annual Reading Pride parade and festival, which saw more than 2,000 people make their way from Reading Train Station down towards the Oracle Riverside and back up towards King’s Meadow via Forbury Gardens.
It passed The Blagrave Arms, which was decked out in Pride regalia and spraying confetti into the air as the parade passed through.
After noon, the Love Unites Festival began with the mayor of Reading, Cllr Rachel Eden, addressing attendees and reminding those listening that the event: “is also a protest.
“We stand in solidarity with LGBT people around the world and here in this country who continue to face danger, persecution and discrimination.”
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Cllr Eden was followed on the Jan Bastable Main Stage by Jamie Wake, CEO of Club FOD.
Mr Wake hosted the stage as the day’s acts performed before he was presented with the Selwyn Jones Award, which was named after and dedicated to Mr. Wake’s late partner for his work as a Reading Pride trustee.
He said it was an emotional moment to have been given the award and added: “We don’t do what we do to be commended, we do it simply because it’s the right thing to do.
“I always say the we all need a Selwyn in our lives, and all I’ve tried to do is take on his legacy.”
It was his final Pride event in Reading, as he moved away after 18 years of work supporting Reading’s LGBTQ+ community.
Bentley Jones, Lolly, Carter the Bandit, and Ring the Alarm were among those who rounded out the line-up.
Nadine Coyle dazzled with a final headline show, and Wilma Fingadoo closed the main stage.
The Pride Xtra stage featured drag artists throughout the day, with RuPaul’s Drag Race UK alumnus Sum Ting Wong hosting, joined by Grace Anatomy and Amber Rose Turner, a group dance party with Big Jay, and a powerful routine which explored the levels of violence experienced by LGBTQ+ people by Powdered Sugar.
This year also saw the town’s first ever Trans Pride event, with Big Jay hosting an after party at the Rising Sun Arts Centre including Powdered Sugar, Meatgirl, DUAC, and Sheer Obsession.
Philli Mi Up also performed powerful poetry and lip-sync performances, with a DJ set by Ler-ka closing the event.
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The Mayor of Reading took part in a centuries old tradition for the first time in 100 years when she walked the boundaries of Reading Borough.
Raising money for the mayoral charities, Cllr Eden undertook two 16-mile walks around the borough, and was joined by MP Matt Rodda, Vice Chancellor of the University of Reading, Professor Robert Van de Noort, and RUSU president Sheldon Allen.
Early in September Reading joined the rest of the UK in turning its thoughts to Queen Elizabeth II, who died on September 8 at the age of 96.
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Reading West MP Alok Sharma was among those paying tribute, saying: “I rise to pay tribute on behalf of my constituents and myself to our late, great Queen Elizabeth.
The Queen was a comforting constant through our lifetimes. She was indeed a unique beacon of wisdom, grace, kindness and courage at the head of our country and the Commonwealth for seven decades”
Reading East MP Matt Rodda paid tribute to the Queen by saying: “ Queen Elizabeth was our longest-serving and arguably greatest ever monarch.
“She was deeply loved and admired, and we all feel a profound sense of personal sadness and a great loss at this difficult time.”
Former Prime Minister and MP for Maidenhead Theresa May joined members of parliament in paying her respects to the Queen, saying that her late Majesty was “the most impressive” world leader.
She also recounted an event at which she and the Queen were sharing in a picnic at Balmoral and during which the late monarch had seen her drop some cheese.
Ms May spoke of the moment she shared with Queen Elizabeth: “I looked at her, she looked at me, and she just smiled¬.”
Cllr Eden led floral tributes from councillors which were laid at the foot of the statue of Queen Victoria in Blagrave Street.
The Queen has made many visits to Reading both during her reign and before she became Queen.
One of the first was in April 1946, when she attended the circus which had pitched up in Hill’s Meadow for Easter.
The visit was kept a secret from both performers and spectators and they had a ringside seat for the show.
On March 22, 1957, she visited Reading for a civic reception, making her way to the town hall as well as a visit to the University.
In 1968, she opened the Ministry’s Social Securities new computer centre in Queen’s Road, returning in May 1978 to open the new Civic Centre.
The Royal Berkshire Hospital welcomed her in 2006 to celebrate the merging of the Battle Hospital with the main buildings.
The Queen opened Reading Station twice, first in April 1989 when she opened a new main entrance and most recently in 2014 when she opened the revamped station, posing for a famous photo of her in a turquoise blue outfit, surrounded by Network Rail worked in fluorescent orange uniforms.
Following the passing of the Queen, Reading also joined the rest of the UK in the ushering in of the new monarch, King Charles III.
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On Sunday, September 11, the High Sheriff of the Royal County of Berkshire, Alka Kharbanda, addressed members of the public to proclaim the accession of King Charles III to the throne, making a statement outside the Town Hall at 1pm.
She was joined by a number of councillors and politicians, including Cllr Eden, Alok Sharma MP, Matt Rodda MP, and Thames Valley Police’s Chief Constable, Sir John Campbell.
The address was followed by a chorus of God Save the King and three cheers, before Cllr Rachel Eden gave the proclamation of the accession of the King to residents.
Reading gave a final goodbye to the late Queen with a civic service, held a day before the funeral service.
It was an opportunity for the town to reflect on her service, and what she meant to each of us, presided over by the Bishop of Reading, the Rt Revd Olivia Graham at Reading Minster Church.
A ceremonial procession was headed by piper Angus Ingram and featured local dignitaries including Thames Valley Police deputy LPA commander, chief inspector Emma Tompkins.
Mace bearer George Friel walked ahead of borough mayor Cllr Rachel Eden and her consort Cllr Richard Davies, deputy mayor Cllr Debs Edwards, followed by aldermen and freemen of the borough including Sir John Madejski.
Cllr Eden read Floral Tribute, written by poet laureate Simon Armitage, with hymns including O Guide Me Thou, O Great Redeemer, and Immortal, Invisible.
The church choir sang anthems including Thou Knowest Lord The Secrets of Our Hearts, and Nunc Dimittus.
In her sermon, Bishop Olivia paid tribute, saying: “This is a time of profound national and international sadness.
“It has been said that there are two things that we cannot imagine. One is our own death. The other is the death of the Queen.
“I never imagined that I would be giving this address.”
She concluded her 10-minute address by telling the congregation: “We are deeply, deeply grateful for a queen who has served us like no other. Her work is done.
“May she rest in peace.”
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The service ended with the national anthem, now updated to God Save The King, before a procession out of the building.
Reading fell silent on the following day as the town united to watch the state funeral.
While many chose to tune in at home, surrounded by friends and family, others headed to Reading Biscuit Factory and Vue to watch on a cinema screen, and others headed to Forbury Gardens for an open-air, big screen event.
Members of the public were invited to take part in a national moment of reflection later that night on the steps of the civic offices with council leaders and staff.
