Community Yearbook 17012019

MARCH

Newbury Weekly News

Thursday, 17 January, 2019

Villagers in school vote THEALE residents narrowly voted in favour of releasing the land needed to build a new primary school in the villa ge. West Berkshire Council wants to build the £8m The debate about where to put the new school divided the community, and as a result, a parish poll was held to gi ve both sides the chance to have their say. But the parish poll was only advisory and West Berkshire Council has called on Theale Parish Council to hold a vote

on releasing the land. Residents who went to the polls were asked to voted on the following question: ‘Should Theale Parish Council relinquish the lease on the land at North Street Playing Fields to allow a new primary school to be built on that site as per planning consent?’

A total of 2,357 people were eligible to vote and 940 votes were cast, a turnout of 39.8 per cent. And it was a c lose call as 499 residents voted in favour (53 per cent), while 440 voted against.

school on the Nor th Street playing fields. However, Theale Parish Council, which leases the land from the Engle- field Estate, did not feel it was the right site and had so far refused to relinquish it.

Camilla pops in to Fair Close NEWBURY’S Fair Close Centre gave a royal welcome to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The Duchess was given a tour of the newly-refurbished facilities, met The Duchess was greeted by patron of the centre Harry Henderson and his sister, chairwoman Josie Reed. The royal visitor was introduced to the centre-users who run the second- hand shop in the foyer, cooks in the kitchen and volunteers who deliver the meals on wheels. Head chef Sue Hayes said:“ It was lovely to meet the Duchess. For her to come here and recognise what we do here is lovely. ” Digger ’s miracle rescue THIS little hedgehog luckily survived after being trapped in an volunteers and spoke to those who use the centre, which celebrated its 51st anniversary in 2018. It wasn’t the first time it has received a royal visitor– it was opened by the Queen Mother in November 1967.

Made in Wash Common DAVID Hatfull, for more than 25 years a corporate and editorial photographer, exhibited a new collection of 20 black-and- white portraits in the foyer of the New Era Theatre, concentrating on those people whose work – voluntary or paid – helps to meld and strengthen the Wash Common community of which he is a part. “The work, taken on traditional film with a Hasselblad medium-format camera and lovingly hand-printed, is unmistakably Hatfull,” showcasing his unique ‘seeing eye’, his approach, his compositional sense and his printing skill,” wrote Lin Wilkinson. “Beneath an initial impression of a gentle discursiveness lies firm control and organisa- tion of subject matter; in the selection of nega- tives to print, in the cropping and framing of images – what is included or omitted paramount – and in the skilled and sensitive printing. Everything the viewer sees in each final print was intended. “Each portrait is set within a context that shows the subject’s specific contribution to their community. These are not candid, journalistic, ‘caught’ photographs. All are made, deliberately set up, a process that always induces some element of self- consciousness in the subject, so part of Hatfull’s skill lies in catching a transitory expression or a fleeting moment of light. “As well as being a fine body of work, this exhibition is an important social document: a visual slice of contemporary history and a testament to a vibrant community at the beginning of the 21st century.” Fish and chip shop owners Sarah and Rui Rentroia

Loann ’s new lease of life

THIS Thatcham boy is all smiles thanks to a 3D-printed hand which has made a huge differ- ence to his life. Loann Burton was born with symbrachydactyly, a condition charac- terised by limb anoma- lies, resulting in his right hand not forming properly. The nine-year-old Spur- croft Primary School pupil showed off his blue and black hand, which was printed by local community group Newbury and District Hackspace (NadHack). The youngster said:“It makes me confident. On the first day I brought it [to school], a lot of people surrounded me. “I chose my favourite

underground pipe for a week. Digger, as he has been named, was rescued and taken to a hedgehog rehab centre in Thatcham. It is believed the animal fell into a trench below a property in Marlbor- ough, Wiltshire, and then, being unable to climb out, took shelter under the building where the pipe went up through the floor. Digger’s rescue was only made possi- ble because the home owners had heard scratching noises coming from the vicinity of some recently-installed pipework. Swift excavation of the floor uncov- ered the sorry hedgehog, stuck in a tight space, having been entombed when the pipe trench was filled and

Loann Burton

colour, blue, and another colour. “ It’s made a difference. Thank you for doing my arm.” The family were made aware of Hackspace as Loann is a member of Reach, a charity that helps support children

with upper limb difer- ence. His mother Sylvie: “He doesn’t use it every day, but it’s been giving him a bit of a confidence boost. “It’s given him the abil- ity to do simple things, like pull a chair or hold something.”

landscaped. A phone call to Hedgehog Bottom, Thatcham, turned out to be the start of a miracle as local hedgehog carers Joy and Ian Hunt rescued the unfor- tunate creature.

KNIGHT & SPIERS Thurs 21 March 2019 | 8pm Tickets £15.00 JO HARMAN Thurs 4 April 2019 | 8pm Tickets £14.00 (Pictured) MARTIN TURNER EX WISHBONE ASH Fri 5 April 2019 | 8pm Tickets £17.00 NICK HEYWARD Wed 10 April 2019 | 8pm Tickets £18.00 GYLES BRANDRETH Sat 18 May 2019 | 8pm Tickets £20.00 THE LISTENING ROOM Wed 12 June 2019 | 8pm Tickets £12.00

LIVEWIRE Sat 2 February 2019 | 8pm Tickets £17.50 POP DIVAS LIVE! Wed 20 February 2019 | 4pm Tickets £15.00

HIGHLIGHTS

KINGDOM OF MADNESS: CLASSIC MAGNUM Thurs 7 March 2019 | 8pm Tickets £20.00 THE ANIMALS & FRIENDS Thurs 14 March 2019 | 8pm Tickets £22.00 THINKING DRINKERS Fri 22 & Sat 23 February 2019 | 8pm Tickets £15.00 CHRIS DIFFORD Fri 1 March 2019 | 8pm Tickets £18.00

WINTER SPRING

2018/19

A season full of exciting live music, vibrant theatre, creative comedy and local performing arts groups.