Community Yearbook 17012019

MAY

Newbury Weekly News

Thursday, 17 January, 2019

Runners Roc the town PEOPLE lined the streets of Newbury to watch 840 runners of all ages take part in the town’s annual 10k race. races and in the two team cate- gories. The overall winner of the 10km race was the club’s Callum O’Neill, who clocked 33 minutes and 53 seconds, while the

Festival’s teen cellist later to wow the countr y

For the first time in 11 years the event had a new sponsor – Newbury-based IT company Roc Technologies. It was supp- orted by The Good Exchange. There was a double win for Newbury Athletic Club as its runners claimed top spot in both the men’s and women’s

winner of the women’s race was Jessica Franklin, who crossed the line in 40mins 49secs. Miss Franklin’s win brought delight for her brother, Matt Franklin, who is chief execu- tive of Roc Technologies.

ALL eyes were on 19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason as he performed at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding service, but Newbury was first to experience the wow factor just eight days earlier when he played at St Nicolas’ Church to launch the 2018 Newbury Spring Festival. Winner of the 2016 BBC Young Musician Competition, Kanneh-Mason joined the Philharmonia Orchestra and world-renowned conductor Edward Gardner in a splendid opening concert, wrote N2 reviewer Helen Bomgardner . To celebrate their 40th anniversary, the festival had commissioned a new work by young composer Hannah Kendall. Baptistry, with its jazzy theme, pulsating rhythms and sparkling flourishes was a lively and dramatic piece, full of colour. To mark this year’s centenary of the 1918 Armistice, the programme included Elgar’s Sospiri, Op.70 , written at the outbreak of the First World War, and his Cello Concerto in E minor, Op.85 composed in 1919. Immensely assured, Kanneh-Mason gave an outstanding performance of the poignant Cello Concerto . From his opening recitative to the close of the finale, the audience was captivated. Conjuring a glorious rich tone from his 1610 Brothers Amati cello, he gave a most passion- ate account of the melancholy first movement. Throughout the concerto, his superb technique and wonderful sense of musicality impressed. Performing with rapt concentration, he was completely involved in the music. His playing was so expressive, eloquently phrased and displaying a magnificent array of colour. His awesome rendition of the Scherzo, performed with impeccable precision, was virtuosic. In his poetic and tender Adagio , his cello ‘sang’ out with spellbinding beauty. The first part of the finale was vibrant, dramatic and exciting, with bright orchestral sounds and colours. Later, Kanneh-Mason’s impassioned cadenza, aching with grief, was considerably moving. Rapturous applause greeted this young musician who clearly has a great future ahead of him.

Kingfishers are Wembley wonders

Newbury is top tech town NEWBURY was named as the top tech town in the UK in a national report. The Tech Nation Report 2018 placed the town ahead of Read- ing and London in terms of ‘digital density’, which measures digital tech speciali- sation in clusters compared to density in the UK. The report also revealed the rise of ‘digital suburbs ’ and tech towns across the UK, where the digital tech sector is growing in urban areas not usually associated with start- ups and tech businesses. The report said: “Locations of larger tech companies may explain some of these findings. “Vodafone and Micro Focus have their UK headquarters in Newbury, for instance, result- ing in a digital tech density that is around 15 times higher than the UK average. “These clusters are attracting more digital tech businesses, which is important for local economies given that the digi- tal tech sector is growing 2.6 times faster than the UK econ- omy.”

THATCHAM Town were celebrating after lifting the FA Vase at Wembley. Shane Cooper-Clark’s first- half penalty – his 62nd goal of the season – saw the King- fishers claim a 1-0 win over Stockton Town in the biggest game in their 124- year history. Thatcham’s average home attendance was 114, but more than 5,000 fans made the journey up to the national stadium. Outgoing mayor of Thatcham Ellen Crumly was among them and watched on from the royal box after being invited as a guest of the club. Handing over her chain of office a day later, she said: “It was an amazing day and what an occasion to end my two years as mayor.” Town manager Danny Robin- son said he was speechless after guiding his side Town to FA Vase glory.

Anna’s named No. 1 volunteer A WOMAN from Speen said it felt “surreal” to be named the MS Society’s Volunteer of the Year. Anna Holmes, who lives with multiple sclerosis (MS) and spina bifida, was recognised at the charity’s ceremony in London for her volunteer work supporting people affected by MS. The 41-year-old was diagnosed with MS 10 years ago. Her volunteer work has included supporting fundraising activi- ties and she has held various roles, such as social secretary, support volunteer and chair- woman. She said: “It hasn’t sunk in. None of it has – from being nominated, to attending the awards, to my name being called out – it’s just surreal.”

He said:“We’ve created history. I’ve never been speechless in all my life, but I am right now. “It’s unbelievable. To see so many people all wearing Thatcham colours, a lot of friends and family to cele- brate what we have done this year – the biggest double in Step Five – it’s just brilliant.” He added:“Look how far we

have come. When I first arrived we were getting between 50 and 60 fans every week and people might have forgotten that this football club was here. “As a manager it’s my job to make sure we drum up good interest, play good football and to be successful by show- ing people that there’s a fantastic club here.”

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