Community Yearbook 2020

Newbury Weekly News

Thursday, 16 January, 2020

MFG lift top award SULHAMSTEAD-based

Banned Santa FATHER Christmas was banned from standing in the General Election. The ‘Grinches ’ at West Berkshire Council prevented 58-year-old Newbury resident David Yates from standing as Santa Claus as they said it would “ confuse and mislead voters”. Mr Yates was told by council chief executive Nick Carter that ‘Santa Claus’ would not be on the ballot paper. Mr Yates said he would contest the decision and it could force a by-election in February. SARA Vaughan was named as West Berkshire Mencap’s new chief executive. Ms Vaughan has had a career in the charitable and voluntary sector, and has vast experience in working with people with learning disabilities. She said: “There are excellent

Director off to Oz THE Corn Exchange announced its director and CEO Grant Brisland

MFG UK won the Training and Support award at the Newbury Weekly News Best in Business Awards. Managing director Mark Flinders said:“We’re amazed to win this award. We’re very proud of everybody in MFG. “This award is for all of us and we are honoured to collect this for all of them.” He paid tribute to the company’s business coach, Vikram Kumeria, whom he credited with helping it create a winning culture within MGF. “Without him none of this would have happened,” Mr Flinders said.“Vikram’s helped us build our culture and our values to help train and support our staff. “We are all over the moon, so

would be taking a two-year sabbati- cal from January. Grant joined the Corn Exchange in 2013 as general manager and has been a director since 2015. Katy

Griffiths, who was director from 2011 to 2017, is returning to lead the organisation during this period. Grant said: “I am enormously proud of everything the Corn Exchange has achieved over the last six years and I feel hugely fortunate to be taking a short break in the sunny climate of Australia.” “While I am away I will be able to reflect on our many successes, including the recent Save Your Corn Exchange fundraising campaign and the 10th anniversary of our outdoor events, but I will also have the headspace and time to think about the future of the organisation too.” Luke’s a world beater NEWBURY darts ace Luke Humphries was crowned World Youth champion for the first time. The 24-year-old secured a 6-0 win over the Czech Republic’s Adam Gawlas in the final of the event in Minehead. The Youth Championship is open to anyone between the ages of 16 and 23, and with Humphries being 23 when the tournament started earlier this year, he was eligible to enter. He said: “It feels like the best thing ever because I am world champion and it’s been my dream since I started playing darts. “Everyone dreams of becoming a world champion and I am happy to have that title around my name because for as long as I am playing darts, it will never leave me.” Humphries also faced world number one Michael van Gerwen in the first round of the Players Championship finals at Minehead. The Dutch ace, who beat Gerwyn Price in the final, secured a 6-3 win over Humphries.

Sara is new Mencap chief

thank you all very much.” The company offers managed IT services, including IT strategy, cyber security and IT migration solutions. The biggest award of the night went to Hungerford Bookshop owners Emma and Alex Milne-White, who

scooped the coveted Best in Business award. More than 300 people attended the awards evening at Newbury Racecourse. The evening was compered by the director of Greenham- based SAS Auctions Thomas Forrester, best known as an expert on Bargain Hunt .

services being run, which is testament to the work that’s gone on before by staff and trustees. “Our job now is to grow that and develop it so that we can offer more services and build on all the work that has been done so far.”

Church’s upgrade boost HGV warning HEAVY lorries are being allowed to trash Hungerford’s historic High Street, critics claim. The latest bout of damage TOWN councillors gave their full support to plans for a £5m expansion of

used by community groups, eight meeting rooms and office space. Roger Hunneman (Lib Dem, Wash Common) said:“It warrants upgrading. “It’s a very lucrative site, they’re going to support a lot of organisations and try and encourage the use of it. “To actually support the plans is an understatement.”

Newbury Baptist Church. If approved, the church will be turned into a state-of-the- art community hub with a lounge area with coffee shop where people can go to work or relax. There will also be a multi- purpose area which can be

wrecked a wall owned by Helen Armstrong, who said: “This is a Conservation Area – we are only custodians of the town for the next generation – yet huge articulated lorries are trying to turn at the mini roundabout by Atherton Road.” Mrs Armstrong said:“ We need to stop lorries using that mini roundabout to turn. “Schoolchildren cross the road there. Does there have to be a fatality before anything is done?” Thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused and the entire wall will have to be knocked down and rebuilt.

Evelyn’s manhole terror A FOUR-year-old girl was left with cuts and bruises after falling down a six- foot open manhole. Terrified mother Safron taking Evelyn to Mrs Bland’ s Infant School in Burghfield. She had parked on Abbot’s Road, where her sister lives when Evelyn tumbled down the manhole.

Walker rushed to rescue her daughter, who avoided seri- ous injury after managing to cling on to the lid. The drama happened when beautician Ms Walker was

Her foot jammed in the drain and Ms Walker said: “ She’s cut her knee open. She must have bruises coming out on her back, arms and hands.”

Happy Employees Make Happy Customers That’s why we have a 5-Star Customer rating on Google Reviews!

We’re extremely proud to have WON the Training & Support Award in 2019. Our best asset is our amazing staff, that’s why we go out of our way to take care of them and bring out the very best in them. There’s never been a better time to join the team! See our current career opportunities here: mfg-uk.com/careers

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