Community Yearbook

5 Thursday, 21 January, 2021

FEBRUARY

Newbury Weekly News

Tree-felling was ‘act of vandalism’

“The work you have carried out has had a devastating impact on this beautiful part of Newbury.” The route, just over half-a-mile long, runs from Speen – through Speen Moor Plantation and the flood meadows of the River Kennet – to the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal. Benham Estate rural operations manager

THE decision to cut down dozens of trees along a pathway was described as“ a disgusting act of ecological vandalism”. Speen Moors permis - sive pathway was closed for six months for restoration work, but upon reopening in January it was discov - ered that a significant proportion of ash trees along the pathway had been chopped down.

Searching for a bargain

least loss. The programme presen - ter was Natasha Raskin Sharp. Four local teams from Thatcham, Compton, Kintbury and Burghfield Common had bought items in Hungerford Arcade, with the help of Mr Forrester and his business partner Neil Shuttleworth, with any profits they made going to the Alexander Devine Children ’s Hospice. The eventual winners Bridget Lungley, from Kintbury, and her sister Rose Doe, made £30 profit on their three items. Mrs Lungley said:“We really didn’t expect that. It’s surprising how stressful it is watching as each item goes under the hammer.” well-known figure in Aldworth, as is her son, Hugh Macaulay. The Bell was last crowned National Pub of the Year 30 years ago and Mr Macaulay said: “It was a wonderful time then, as it is now – you just can’t believe it. When asked what the secret was to running Britain’s best pub, Mr Macaulay said: “Good beer, good customers, community spirit to the whole thing – there are lots of little things.”

IT was standing room only in the Special Auction Services (SAS) auction rooms where the crew from BBC1’s Bargain Hunt were filming five episodes of the programme. SAS director Thomas Forrester was in charge of proceedings in Plenty Close, Newbury, at the monthly Antiques & Fine Art auction as the lots chosen by the contestants went under the hammer– sometimes to cheers as a profit was made or to groans when the final bid fell short. Antiques experts Raj Bisram and David Harper were on hand to champion the blue and red teams as they battled it out to see who could make the most profit, or the THE Bell Inn at Aldworth was named Britain’s best pub by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). The inn, which has been run by the same family for 250 years, beat off competition from 47,500 other pubs from all over the UK. Judges hailed The Bell for its “strong community focus, relaxed ambience and great beer”. Owner Heather Macaulay is a

Izzy claims club’s first national medal IZZY FRY clinched Newbury Athletic Club’ s first-ever medal at the English National Cross Country Championship at Wollaton Park, Nottingham. The championships have been taking place since 1876 and the 19-year-old middle-distance runner claimed second place in the junior women ’s race. Newbury AC’s previous best performances came more than 35 years ago when Steve Smith placed fourth in the under-15 boys race and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Jon Solly finished seventh in the senior men ’s race. Fry’s career is on a dramatic upward curve. Earlier this month Fry, who is coached by Mick Woods, finished fourth in the Belgium Cross Cup on her senior England cross country debut, while last year she was placed fourth in the European under-20 Championships 5,000m in Sweden. She also helped Great Britain to victory in the under-20 team event at the European Cross Country Championships in Lisbon in December. Fry and race winner Amelia Quirk from Bracknell AC took on the race from the start, quickly separating themselves from the rest of the high-quality field. Quirk, last year’ s winner, managed to establish a small gap in the second half of the race in one of the muddiest nationals on record to take the victory from Fry by just four seconds.

Grant Baker admitted that the pathway looks unsightly, but said many of the ash trees were diseased, at significant risk of falling and posed a health and safety risk. Mr Baker said it was part of a project to provide a safe and enjoyable community area while maximising the potential for habitat creation and rejuvenation.

In a letter to the landowners, Benham Estate, Green Party district councillor David Marsh described the move as heart - breaking. He said:“For me, and many others, you have completely ruined the area. Much of it – for example the places where dogs like to swim– is unrecognisable.

Tributes paid to popular DJ

TRIBUTES were been paid to Newbury Town Council employee and Kennet Radio presenter Tony Hiller, who died aged 30. Mr Hiller’s sudden death sent shockwaves through the community that he did so much for. Whether it was around town at an event or behind the DJ decks at Document House, the 30-year-old was a familiar face to many in the town. Mr Hiller had a variety of technical roles at Newbury and Thatcham’ s community radio station, Kennet Radio, including DJ, co-presenter and producer. He worked as corporate services officer for Newbury Town Council, where his responsibilities included graphic design,

Bell is best pub in UK

marketing, social media management and website design. The council’s chief executive, Hugh Peacocke, said: “Tony was a great member of the team and had a huge amount to offer. He was well-liked by everyone for his sense of humour and his willingness to help. Tony will be remembered very fondly by us all.”