Community Yearbook

APRIL

8 Thursday, 21 January, 2021

Newbury Weekly News

Swan is shot by thug

Everybody loves Sammy! EVERYONE loves Sammy Wasuwa. He’s a keyworker, out in all weathers with his mobile sweeping gear, keeping our town centre clean and his work has never been more vital. Well-known for his ready smile, before the pandemic he was always happy to stop to chat to shoppers. He carried out his tasks in the pouring rain and was kitted up in protective clothing . Mr Wasuwa, who lives with his wife and two daughters, and has a son in Canada who is a doctor looking after Covid-19 patients.

“I regularly feed the swans, and these ones in particular I feed twice a day. It came to me for its regular feed and I noticed blood on its neck. “I was throwing it food and it couldn’t eat – it was struggling to pick the food up. “Then I noticed on one side of its face it was really swollen, and when I looked closer there was a black pellet. “People are alert and vigilant about what other people are doing at the moment, so I wanted to see if anyone noticed anyone with a gun.”

A SWAN was shot by an airgun in West Mills, Newbury, leaving it unable to eat and requiring surgery. The bird was found on the River Kennet by Emma Bateman and was taken to Swan Support in Datchet where it underwent an operation to remove the pellet. It remained at the centre for a few weeks to recover before being returned to the river. Mrs Bateman said:“ It’s a terrible thing – who would shoot a swan?

Home school success

centre to the public. The centre usually also relies heavily on the local community for donations of pet food and accessories, but that income streamwas also severed, which meant costs increased as their residents stayed with them for a prolonged period of time. With a virtual learning platform established, Mrs Wilson said staf, pupils and parents had adapted brilliantly. Mrs Wilson video-briefed staf on updates, as well as sharing their news through a weekly virtual presentation video. She hoped the weekly pupil update would “give them a chance to see what others are doing and remind them about some of the things we have been focusing on this term”. Mrs Wilson said that Trinity would support key workers of children from families in the Newbury Academy Trust.

A REHOMING centre in Great Shefford had to turn animals in need away for the first time. The National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT) at Trindledown Farm struggled to survive amid the coronavirus lockdown. THE headteacher of Trinity School, Newbury, spoke of how pupils, parents and staff adapted to teaching during the pandemic. Schools were closed down on Friday, March 20, in an effort to slow the spread of Covid-19. Exceptions were made for children whose parents are key workers like NHS staff, police and delivery drivers, who need to be able to go to work and children who were “most vulnerable”. Trinity headteacher Charlotte Wilson said the school had needed to adapt very quickly

Emily Ambrose

Timely delivery

NEWBURY bassoonist Emily Ambrose was making good use of the current enforced time at home by getting to grips with a brand new Mollenhauer contrabassoon. When The Cherubim Trust received a generous donation enabling them to buy this enormous instrument, they asked if the talented young musician would give it its first concert outing in the summer. Fortunately, it arrived in the UK from the German manufacturer just before the current lockdown began, meaning Emily could make the most of having extra time to practise while schools are closed. The Cherubim Trust loans professional- calibre instruments to aspiring musicians aged between 15 and 25, who cannot afford an instrument that matches their potential. Fifteen-year-old Emily, a member of The National Youth Orchestra and a student at the Junior Department of The Royal Academy of Music, plans to audition for Conservatoires after finishing school.

to provide pupils and the school community with a virtual education.

Clapping for carers

Centre is forced to refuse animals in need

and Clap for Carers. It came as the Covid-19 crisis intensified, placing even more strain on care workers. At around 8pm, there were emotional scenes in Gloucester Road, and people across the district applauded the carers for 10 consecutive Thursdays.

PEOPLE across the district stepped outside their doors and clapped, banged pans and rang bells in a nationwide celebration of NHS and care staf . It was the second time in a fortnight that West Berkshire and North Hampshire residents came out of isolation to show their appreciation

Having to close its doors to the public meant an abrupt halt to vital income from visitor entrance fees, the charity shop, café sales and rehoming fees. The West Berkshire centre was caring for 60 animals which could not be rehomed until staff were allowed to reopen the

AT THE HEART OF THE COMMUNI TY.

Photo credit Steven Marwick

Since May 2020 when we re-opened as a takeaway you have suppor ted us at the Café, and when we were able to open the Tower for visitors to the heritage site, you enjoyed our WWII exhibition. Sadly we had to close the exhibition in the later lockdowns. The year has been a challenge for all and we are very grateful you have continued to visit the takeaway.We are proud to be a par t of the community and we look forward to welcoming everyone back into the Tower for the café and exhibitions. Please check on our website for details of when we will be able to open our doors and welcome you back into the Tower. So in the meantime, please continue to visit the takeaway, which suppor ts the charity and helps keep the heritage site alive. We are open:- Wednesday 11:00 – 3.00 Thursday to Sunday 10:30 – 3:00 You can now donate by credit card at the café window, or visit https://app.thegoodexchange.com/project/18423/greenham-control-tower-ltd/greenham-control-tower---funding-for-2021 Full details on our website, where you can enquire about joining our volunteers. www.greenhamtower.org.uk