Community Yearbook 2020

Newbury Weekly News

Thursday, 16 January, 2020

Benyon’s a Brexit rebel NEWBURY MP Richard

Pippa raises lots of money PIPPA Middleton, sister of the Duchess of Cambridge, helped raise almost £30,000 at a charity auction in aid

Benyon’s political future was uncertain after he rebelled against the Government in a crucial Brexit vote. Mr Benyon joined 328 MPs, 21 of them Conservative, in a Government defeat to allow MPs to take control of parliamentary business, the first step towards delaying a no-deal Brexit. The Conservative MP denied he was now an independent, saying: “I’m still on the Conservative benches and still support the Government’ s agenda.” Mr Benyon said he had been in “a state of turmoil” during the build-up to the crucial vote, being a party loyalist and a

of the new Mary Hare Primary School for deaf children. She kicked off the proceedings at Donnington Priory in front of more than 100 bidders and the first lot, a bronze sculp- ture by Sophie Ryder titled Maryhare, raised the highest amount on the night at £8,000. It was one of 29 pieces of art from 25 artists on offer, many from local artists, including two Mary Hare pupils, Ruar- idh Lever-Hogg and Pollyana Begbie. COMMEMORATIVE stones honouring Thatcham’s three Victoria Cross winners could be moved to stop them being damaged. The three stones in the Broadway mark the heroic achievements of 2nd Lieutenant Alexander Buller Turner, Lieutenant Colonel Victor Buller Turner and Lance Corporal William House. The Victoria Cross is awarded for most conspicuous bravery, some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy. The stones were installed in 2015, but their location caused concerns about their deteriorating condition and a lack of respect. Town councillors debated moving the stones or placing them on a plinth in the Broadway to prevent people

Downton just down town

staunch opponent of no deal. But ultimately he said he could not support the Government in good conscience.

Fears for VC tribute THE daily routines of the Crawley house- hold finally made their debut on the big screen in this cinematic continuation of the hit TV show Downton Abbey – both filmed at Newbury’s own Highclere Castle.

In classic Downton fashion, the plot revolves around the King and Queen coming to stay at the estate on their Yorkshire tour. Both the family upstairs and the maids and servants downstairs prepare for the visit as we get re-introduced to all of the series’ beloved characters. “Just like the series, the film makes for a pleasant and gratifying viewing experience,” said N2 film reviewer Cameron Blackshaw. “Maggie Smith still steals the spotlight in most scenes she appears in with her humorous quips and classic one-liners. “The music is just as rousing and historically suitable as ever and the intrigue and fascina- tion towards life in one of Britain’s noble houses is still Downton’s main attraction. “The film’s props, costumes and sets are lavish, beautiful and highly successful in immersing viewers into the aristocratic world of 1920s Britain. The imagining of the period is better than on television. The camerawork is organic and fluid. In many of the dinner party and ballroom scenes it feels as if you yourself are a guest wandering through the different groups of lords and ladies and the establishing shots of Downton (Highclere Castle) are just breathtaking.”

Sewage leak kills fish

heads, over a 1.5-mile stretch. The Environment Agency deployed aeration equipment to combat the problem. The agency advised members of the public to keep themselves and their animals away from the watercourse. The leak was close to the Nature Discovery Centre, which is operated by the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT).

ENVIRONMENT Agency teams investigated the cause of a sewage leak that killed more than 100 fish in Thatcham. The “significant pollution incident” was declared following a burst sewer pipe near Moor Ditch, a tributary of the River Kennet. Surveys recorded hundreds of dead fish, including pike, perch, brook lamprey and bull-

walking over them Jeremy Cottam (Lib Dem, Thatcham North East) said: “We are all aware and proud of our VC stones, but equally I think a lot of us are very concerned about the state of them. “They are starting to

deteriorate. I have had reports of mopeds being ridden over them.”

The stones were placed in the Broadway owing to the site’s high footfall and the historic value of it being close to the original site of the war memorial.