Community Yearbook

4 Thursday, 21 January, 2021

FEBRUARY Star of the silent era Newbury Weekly News

World ’s most stunning wildlife photography THE world-renowned photography exhibition Wildlife Photographer of the Year, on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, opened at The Base in Greenham. Wildlife Photographer of the Year 55 featured exceptional images that capture fascinating animal behaviour, spectacular species and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world. While inspiring curiosity and wonder, the images also remind us of the fragility of our planet and our responsibility to protect it. Corn Exchange director Grant Brisland said before leaving on his current sabbatical Down Under: “It’s a delight and privilege to bring this exhibition to The Base, particularly as the previous instalment launched the building last year and was enjoyed by more than 3,500 people. “It’s always a really beautiful exhibition and reminds us what an extraordinary planet we live on. “As we individually and collectively take steps to reduce the impact we have on the environment, these pictures remind us of what we’re aiming to protect for future generations.” Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious photography event of its kind, providing a global platform that has showcased the natural world’s most astonishing and challenging sights for more than 50 years.

A COMMEMORATIVE plaque was unveiled in Northbrook Street to mark the life and work of a silent screen legend. Stewart Rome, who appeared in 150 movies between 1913 and 1950, was born in Newbury in 1886. His father was an auctioneer and his grandfather served as town mayor

End of an era as court is demolished IT was the end of an era as Newbury’ s former magistrates’ court building was demolished to make way for flats. It was once a bustling courthouse operating five days a week, incorporating adult and youth courts and a county court. The building in Mill Lane was mothballed in 2016, despite a campaign to save it. At the time it was sug ested that victims and witnesses would be spared a journey to Reading by using a camera system in West Berkshire Council offices. However this never materialised and solicitor Mike Davis, of Newbury’s oldest established law firm, Charles Hoile, said there were fewer local magistrates as a result of the closure, as many did not want to travel to Reading or Slough. It’s a great place to live WEST Berkshire was been named in the top 50 best places to live in Britain in 2020. The Halifax Quality of Life survey ranked the district as the 41st best place to live, factoring in the area’s employment rate, earnings, housing affordability, health and wellbeing, education, traffic and crime rates. West Berkshire Council leader Lynne Doherty – who has lived in the area since she was 15– said it was a great place to live and raise a family. “In my opinion it’s the number one place to live,” she said.“It’s the opportunity to have good housing, good schools, nice town centres, low unemployment and great access to London and other parts of the country.” Other local areas that featured in the list include Wokingham, which came 10th, South Oxfordshire 21st and Wiltshire 28th, while East Hertfordshire was ranked the best place to live.

between 1869 and 1870. Christened Septimus Ryott, he attended St Bartholomew’s School, then a boy’s grammar. Though he trained as an engineer, Mr Rome ultimately became an actor, taking to the stage in Australia. After returning to the UK in 1912, he signed up with Hepworth Pictures, the produc- tion company of cele-

would adopt a warmer persona in his later, sound-era films. He died in his home- town in 1969.

working group, Anthony Pick, said: “The town council is pleased to commemorate this son of Newbury who achieved national prominence as an early major star of the British cinema. “This is especially so as, with the changes in the film industry, the names of its early stars are now not well known.”

Mr Rome’s life and work were commemorated with the blue plaque outside 58 Northbrook Street, the former site of a much-loved cinema. Chair of the town council’s heritage

brated filmmaker Cecil Hepworth. His career was characterised by reinvention. Whereas Mr Hepworth tended to cast him in unsympathetic – even villainous– roles, Mr Rome

Dennis the menace STORM Dennis caused severe disruption across West Berkshire and North Hampshire as heavy rain and strong winds battered the area. Homes were left without power, roads were flooded and trains were delayed in multiple locations. While the worst effects of the storm were felt in many of the rural villages, Newbury itself did not escape unscathed. Parts of Northcroft Park were submerged, while the A339 at Kingsclere, close to Sandford Springs, was virtually impassible. On Sunday, rail links between Newbury and Reading were suspended after the line became waterlogged. The River Enborne burst its banks, swamping a bridge along Ecchinswell Road in Bishop’s Green, while Theale was among the worst- affected areas in the district.

©Ralf Schneider - Wildlife Photographer of the Y ear

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