Community Yearbook 17012019

JANUARY

Newbury Weekly News

Thursday, 17 January, 2019

Torak leads police on a merry chase TORAK, the wolf who led

The Newbury Weekly News

press hall

police on a five-and-half-hour chase after escaping fromhis enclosure in Beenham, was back at home, seemingly unfazed by his adventure. The 12-year-old Alaskan timber wolf escaped from the UKWolf Conservation Trust Centre and an eight-mile search across West Berkshire to find himwas sparked after staff discovered he was missing from his enclosure. Sanctuary staff, armed police officers, two police helicopters and animal capture specialists carrying tranquillisers were deployed during the hunt. Schools were advised to keep children indoors, while people were told not to approach Torak if they spotted him. Children attending a forest school in woodland on Westrop Farm in Cold Ash had to head back to farm buildings after Torak was sighted nearby. The headmistress of Harriet

50s musical ar rives ahead of UK tour

End of an era for NWN FOR 150 years, the

The NWN board says it took the difficult decision as it was becoming increasingly difficult to remain competi- tive against larger, group- owned print plants. NWN chief executive James Gurney said: “A day of mixed feelings. Sad that we will no longer be printing our own

Newbury Weekly News took enormous pride in the fact that the paper was printed in the community it serves. However, it was with a great deal of sadness that the paper’s print plant closed down, resulting in 28 staf being made redundant. The NWN is now printed in Cambridge by Iliffe News and Media, whose organisation is run by Lord Iliffe, who owns Yattendon Estates. Benyon saw the funny side to a fundraising campaign that was set up to buy him a bicycle after he was banned from driving. Mr Benyon was disqualified for six months under the totting-up procedure after being caught using his mobile phone behind the wheel in London and West Berkshire Green Party chair- man Steve Masters couldn’t resist taking a swipe at his political rival by setting up the Just Giving page titled ‘MP Richard Benyon needs a bicycle’. The plan was to buy Mr Benyon a cheap second-hand bike from eBay and donate the rest to the Eight Bells for

“REMEMBER piling on the hair lacquer, slicking down the fringe, boys wearing brothel creepers and ‘Edwardian’ drape coats and continually combing back their Brilliantined quiff and most of all the music – ah, the music – remember that?”, wrote N2 reviewer Caroline Franklin. The Watermill rolled back the years and rocked into the new year with Teddy , by Tristan Bernays, taking the Bagnor audience back in time in “a musical revelation that leaves you wanting more”. It will tour nationally before a London run. “This is an action-filled evening, which includes tragedy and a dance so fast it will take your breath away merely to watch. Teddy meets Josie, who is on a girls’ night out, and suggests going to listen to Johnny Valentine. The problem is they don’t have enough cash to get in, so they find a pawn shop where they threaten the owner with an ex-army gun Teddy has taken from home. When the owner sneers at the couple, things escalate, there is a shot and eventually the couple find themselves being interviewed by the police. “While the music and dramatic story domi- nate the evening, there are also Dylan Thomas-like descriptions not to be missed in Josie’s and Teddy’s dialogue – the ruined church is a ‘battered ribcage’ of a building hanging on the back streets of London, just one example of Bernays’ ability to use words to conjure up pictures. “This new-look musical directed by Eleanor Rhode has outstanding performances from every actor, producing a vibrant, exciting evening.”

Torak, the adventurous wolf

titles on-site ourselves, but also exciting that our much- loved titles will continue to be printed by another locally- owned and family-run press.” Buy a bicycle for Benyon NEWBURY MP Richard

House School in Frilsham, Harriet Hathaway, said: “We were walking down to the woods and I looked to the right and there was the wolf. “It was a majestic, beautiful- looking beast just trotting along. It was an amazing sight.” Olly Warner, 21, also spotted Torak in the wild and said: “I was down in the woods planting trees when I sawMike running

up the hill. “He said ‘there’s a wolf out and we have to leave the wood, come on’. We got out a bit quick.” The pursuit team dashed to Hermitage Road after Torak had been spotted in woodland belonging to Downe House School and the wolf moved through Cold Ash to Curridge where he was recaptured unharmed by wolf trust staff.

Bridge to the future A BRIDGE between Newbury Station ’s past and future took shape. Network Rail said the new footbridge would improve access and allow it to install the electrical equipment necessary for the elec- tric trains that will run on the line to Newbury. The new bridge coincides with a £6m upgrade to the station. Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership earmarked funds for the revamp, which saw improved connections for pedestrians, cyclists and those using public transport, with office space also planned.

Mental Health charity in Newbury. Mr Benyon said: “I think it is very funny and very amus- ing. As the proposal is to give the majority of the money to Eight Bells, I have contributed £10 myself.”

The new footbridge at Newbur y Station

NEWBURY RECLAIM We have a policy of re-homing and re-using as much as is possible from each collection. We clear office equipment, computers, furniture. Commercial vacant possession can also include carpet and window dressing collection. We can prepare or clean a property for renovation or re-use after clearing out at a POA basis. This extends to outside buildings, units, sites, gardens, garages etc. We are discreet confidential with all our clients at all times. 07799 577 456 7 St Mary’s Rd, Newbury, Berks RG14 1ES paul339@btinternet.com www.newburyreclaim.com