Park Lane Primary School’s playground bid

Karen Neville

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Caversham

Karen Neville

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Tilehurst primary school wants your plastic to help it win a new playground

Park Lane Primary School needs your help in its quest to win a playground with a frame made from 100 per cent recycled materials.

The Tilehurst school is taking part in the contest to win the resource made from recycled plastic food storage containers and lids, as well as reusable plastic water bottles and caps.

The school is asking people in the community to help in their efforts to win the playground, by bringing their used plastic food storage containers and lids, reusable plastic water bottles and caps to the school’s collection box. The school collection bin, next to the library at the Infant Site on School Road, is open to the public from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. The school which collects the largest amount by December 18th will win.

To participate in The Sistema® Recycled Playground Contest, primary signed up to the Sistema® Food Storage Container and Reusable Bottle Free Recycling Programme. This free programme is for all containers, lids, plastic bottles and caps, which cannot be recycled through conventional kerbside recycling collections and would otherwise end in landfill.

The recycled playground will include two slides, an approach ramp with rope and a large joining platform amongst other features. The winning and runner-up school will win a Sistema lunchbox and water bottle for each pupil.

Head teacher Mrs Browne said: “This really is a great initiative that will not only help our school but also our environment, whilst educating our pupils and the local community on the importance of recycling.”

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Fun & fundraising

Karen Neville

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Caversham

Karen Neville

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You’re all set for a great night out at Caversham Rock ‘n’ Ale Festival

Rock and ale – the perfect combination and the perfect way to enjoy a Saturday!

Now in its 13th year the annual Caversham Rock ‘n’ Ale Festival features three outstanding local bands, two bars, both provided by Caversham’s top hostelry, The Last Crumb, food including a hog roast and vegetarian food options as well as children’s entertainment at Our Lady & St Anne’s School Playing Fields, Washington Road/ Southview Avenue, Caversham RG4 5AA.

The event raises money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association and since its inception has raised well into five figures for the association.

It is a family and community event and people of all ages are welcome along to join in the fun and fundraising on Saturday, 7th September from 6.30pm.

This year’s line-up features Code Red who will be opening the evening with a set of indie, pop and rock songs to get everyone going. The Skavengers are back by popular demand with boss sounds and ruder than rude ska classics and originals skanks and Dino’s bring you all the banging 80’s classic rock covers you know and love to rock along to.

Tickets adult – £15 + £1.50 booking fee = £16.50, child (under 16) – £5 + £0.50 booking fee = £5.50. Under-5s go free (but still need a ticket),

Book at Caversham Rock ‘n’ Ale Festival 2024 (wegottickets.com)

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Readi for pop and more

Round & About

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Caversham

The three-day all-ages charity festival by the bank of the Thames in Caversham returns from July 12th to 14th raising funds for the local community

This year’s Readipop not only offers Ash, Echobelly, Republica, Fabio & Grooverider among many more but it is also set to be the most sustainable yet.

Joining the headliners are a diverse array of new and established artists including energetic festival mainstays Dub Pistols, Welsh tongue-in-cheek rappers Goldie Lookin’ Chain (playing a legends set), Manchester indie-dance pioneers A Certain Ratio, BBC 6Music favourites from Holland, Pip Blom and 1980s Reading punk band International Resque playing their final show together.

Readipop will be showcasing their valuable work across the weekend, including AAA takeovers, presenting an array of local talent who learn musical skills at the charity’s weekly AAA youth club alongside live sets from artists signed to their Riser Music label and their community bands. In addition, Readipop XOX Project Live will be performing a set of classic tracks to demonstrate the vintage drum machines and synthesisers that will make up part of Readipop’s upcoming XOX Project museum.

Festival Producer Molly Banbury says: “We’ve seen our highest ever ticket sales to date for this point and are so grateful to everyone that has already shown their support for this year’s event. Not only will it be our biggest Readipop Festival so far but also our most sustainable!”

She adds the small team “are determined to see our charity festival flourish with community and sustainability at the heart of everything we do. This year we created a sustainability ‘pathway’ plan. This pathway maps out our ambitions creating achievable steps for us to reach our green goals over several years, helping us to make continuous environmentally conscious improvements.”

Molly believes the location is one of the biggest positives for Readipop with its proximity to Reading station, a mere 10 minute walk, and less with nearby bus routes. She adds: “We want to continue to improve upon this by encouraging travel by bike this year and offering secure bike storage inside the grounds.”

BBC Introducing in Oxfordshire and Berkshire have selected three up-and-coming acts which they will host in the Purple Turtle tent on Friday 12th.

Readipop’s family area will be open on Saturday and Sunday afternoons featuring craft, music and dance workshops, story telling, immersive performances and other fun activities featuring local arts and music organisations including Jelly, Dance Reading, Tankata Percussion, MiniMixers DJs and more.

Reading’s Indie Market also comes to the site on Saturday and Sunday bringing all stalls full of locally produced festival-friendly arts, crafts and clothes stalls. Purple Turtle bars serve local craft beer and real ale all weekend alongside a selection of lagers, ciders, spirits and wine.

Tickets and more at READIPOP FESTIVAL

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Sweet sounds of Concerts in Caversham

Round & About

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Caversham

Hear the rich sounds of professional musicians on your doorstep with Concerts in Caversham

Concerts in Caversham are delighted to present two summer concerts featuring the sonorous rich sound of the cello contrasting with the haunting sounds of oboe and bassoon.

Programmes range from the core Romantic repertoire for cello and piano to French and English repertoire for wind and piano.

The versatile cellist, Naomi Watts (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra), will present a programme around the many aspects of love described through music including some beautiful arrangements and quirky pieces by Schumann, Brahms, Debussy and some other ‘surprises’. Accompanied by Alison Rhind on piano, enjoy The Romantic Cello on June 14th at the Baptist Church, Gosbrooke Road, Caversham.

Ewan Miller and Ben Hudson who were BBC Young Musician Finalists in 1996 and 2020, will include the two fabulous wind and piano trios by Poulenc and Madeleine Dring, along with solos by Elgar, Henri Dutilleux, Gordon Jacob and Piazolla. These two engaging artists will not disappoint! Don’t miss them accompanied by pianist Adrienne Black at St Andrew’s Church, Albert Road, Caversham on June 15th.

Attend both concerts and enjoy a saving a £6 on the price of two tickets. See concertsincaversham.co.uk for further details and to buy the ‘Two Concert Bundle’ or individual tickets per concert.

Email [email protected] for more information.

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Peppard writer’s inspirational love letter

Round & About

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Caversham

Peppard writer Glenn Bryant has just published his first novel available now in The Bell Bookshop in Henley and Fourbears Books in Caversham

What would you do to survive if you were suddenly arrested in your own home? That’s the question posed by local author Glenn Bryant in his debut novel, Darkness Does Not Come At Once.

Four years ago he began writing inspired by a lifelong interest in the Holocaust and the question: how could ordinary people do something, in the worst sense beyond imagination, so extraordinary? Glenn learnt specifically how people with disabilities were targeted and says he knew he always wanted to write about that in this psychological thriller set on the edge of Berlin, 85 years ago.

He explains: “That deeper societal question was my motivation. My inspiration was Juliet, my wife, who has a spinal cord injury and a level of paralysis. We’re so happy together. My novel, at its heart, is simply a love letter to her.”

A “love letter” which on many occasions Juliet was unaware Glenn was writing as he would take to his keyboard first thing in the morning while she was still sleeping.

“Setting out to write a book is a commitment. It’s unavoidable. But… You can commit to it on your terms. I wrote three days a week: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the days I wasn’t working,” he says. “I was most interested in how many words I had written. I was aiming for 1,000 a day. From my document history, I can see I was writing a touch over 10,000 words a month. And in eight months, I had reached 85,000 words and the end of a first draft. Then the hard work starts.”

But having always wanted to write since he was a teenager he wasn’t deterred by rejections and knock backs from publishers and literary agents despite constantly asking himself “is your work ever going to see the light of day?”

Glenn adds: “You’re really on your own, and you feel it, so you have to be your own life coach and therapist too, and pick yourself up from the lows. But once I was through those moments, I pretty much loved the whole experience. I’m at the beginning of my journey as an author.”

And while he has plans for no more at this stage and is 100 per cent focused on this first work, he concedes: “I’m sure I will one day. You just need that gem of an idea to lodge in your head and I will be away, starting all over again with a blank Word document.”

Join Glenn for a relaxed Q&A style talk about the book on Friday 7th June, 7pm-8pm at Fourbears Books, 20 Prospect Street, Caversham. Enjoy free entry and complimentary wine when you get there.

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GCSE success celebrated at Queen Anne’s

Round & About

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Caversham

Queen Anne’s School are delighted to be celebrating an excellent set of GCSE Results with 64% of grades at the coveted top grades 9-7 (A*-A).

English grades are among the outstanding GCSE results at Queen Anne’s School in Caversham.

A superb 44% of English Language students and 43% of English Literature students achieved grade 9 with Anna Spellman, Head of English saying: “This year’s English Literature and English Language results are outstanding! I am so proud of the students who have shown such commitment to English throughout their five years with us. Their success today, despite the disruptions of the pandemic, is truly remarkable. I cannot thank our exceptional English teachers enough.”

Four students achieved an impressive total of seven grade 9s, along with eight students receiving a full set of 9-7 (A*-A) grades. Keira Barton, from Warfield, achieved an exceptional seven grade 9s and three grade 8s, giving her a superb springboard to her chosen A Levels in Psychology, Geography and History. Joanna Ayeni, a full boarder from Essex, received seven grade 9s, one grade 8 and one grade 7. Joanna will be studying Computer Science, Physics and Maths at A Level. Issy Kelly, from Reading, is celebrating a fantastic set of results with seven grade 9s, one grade 8 and one grade 7. Issy is a member of Queen Anne’s School Twilight Dance Company who participated in several dance competitions in her time at the school and recently returned from the Queen Anne’s Lacrosse Tour to the USA.

Queen Anne’s students continue to deliver strong outcomes in STEM subjects with Maths results counting a total of 10 students at grade 9 and sixteen at grade 8. Biology excelled with thirteen students achieving grade 9 and eleven achieving grade 8. The creative arts also saw a set of excellent grades with 79% of students studying Drama securing grade 9-8. Among them is Ella Barker, from Surrey, achieving grade 9 along with other grade 9s in Biology, Physics, English Literature and English Language.

“I am very proud of this year’s GCSE cohort, who have overcome challenging times to achieve an exceptional set of results that will propel them into their next step in education".

Queen Anne’s School is known for its excellent music provision, with approximately two thirds of girls learning an instrument. The state-of-the-art Scott Music Centre with a professional recording studio, an ensemble space and two recital halls opened in 2019. Twins Jaey and Juny Suh’s GCSE results are one of their many incredible achievements since studying at the school, as both international boarders from South Korea were also awarded their post-grade 8 diploma (ARSM). Juny achieving her ARSM in violin and Jaey in flute; Jaey then went on to achieve her ATCL diploma, an achievement usually reached in the first year of an undergraduate degree. Jaey also accomplished a superb 98% in her Maths GCSE and Juny achieved 97%. They will be pursuing their talents in music and have received the Queen Anne’s Society Sixth Form scholarship. Lara Lancaster, from Wargrave, also received the Queen Anne’s Society Sixth Form Scholarship after achieving eight grade 9s and two grade 8s.

Linda McGrenary, Director of Middle School, said: “The students approached these exams with resilience and kept focused on the end goal. I am so proud of how hard they worked, and they are now in a great position as they move into Sixth Form.”

Many girls will be studying some of the six new A Level subjects at the school, now taking the total number of A Level choices to 29 plus the EPQ. Emily Day, from High Wycombe, who achieved a 9 in Biology, an 8 in Physics and a 7 in Chemistry, will be developing her scientific knowledge by studying Environmental Science at A Level. Lucy Triptree, from Lower Shiplake, achieved 100% 9-7 (A*-A) and will be one of the first to study A Level Media at Queen Anne’s.

“I am very proud of this year’s GCSE cohort, who have overcome challenging times to achieve an exceptional set of results that will propel them into their next step in education. They have shown dedication, determination and enthusiasm throughout their GCSEs and I look forward to seeing them flourish in their A Levels and beyond.” said Head of School, Elaine Purves.

Find out more

If you are considering Queen Anne’s School, find out more at our Annual Open Morning on Saturday 17th September. Details online at https://www.qas.org.uk/

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Congratulations to Queen Anne’s GCSE pupils

Liz Nicholls

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Caversham

Queen Anne’s School are delighted to be celebrating an excellent set of GCSE Results with 64% of grades at the coveted top grades 9-7 (A*-A).

Four students achieved an impressive total of seven grade 9s, along with eight students receiving a full set of 9-7 (A*-A) grades. Keira Barton, from Warfield, achieved an exceptional seven grade 9s and three grade 8s, giving her a superb springboard to her chosen A Levels in Psychology, Geography and History. Joanna Ayeni, a full boarder from Essex, received seven grade 9s, one grade 8 and one grade 7. Joanna will be studying Computer Science, Physics and Maths at A Level. Issy Kelly, from Reading, is celebrating a fantastic set of results with seven grade 9s, one grade 8 and one grade 7. Issy is a member of Queen Anne’s School Twilight Dance Company who participated in several dance competitions in her time at the school and recently returned from the Queen Anne’s Lacrosse Tour to the USA.

The English Department saw outstanding results with a superb 44% of English Language students and 43% of English Literature students achieving grade 9.

I am so proud of the students who have shown such commitment to English throughout their five years with us

“This year’s English Literature and English Language results are outstanding! I am so proud of the students who have shown such commitment to English throughout their five years with us. Their success today, despite the disruptions of the pandemic, is truly remarkable. I cannot thank our exceptional English teachers enough.” said Anna Spellman, Head of English.

Queen Anne’s students continue to deliver strong outcomes in STEM subjects with Maths results counting a total of ten students at grade 9 and sixteen at grade 8. Biology excelled with thirteen students achieving grade 9 and eleven achieving grade 8. The creative arts also saw a set of excellent grades with 79% of students studying Drama securing grade 9-8. Among them is Ella Barker, from Surrey, achieving grade 9 along with other grade 9s in Biology, Physics, English Literature and English Language.

Queen Anne’s School is known for its excellent music provision, with approximately two thirds of girls learning an instrument. The state-of-the-art Scott Music Centre with a professional recording studio, an ensemble space and two recital halls opened in 2019. Twins Jaey and Juny Suh’s GCSE results are one of their many incredible achievements since studying at the school, as both international boarders from South Korea were also awarded their post-grade 8 diploma (ARSM). Juny achieving her ARSM in violin and Jaey in flute; Jaey then went on to achieve her ATCL diploma, an achievement usually reached in the first year of an undergraduate degree. Jaey also accomplished a superb 98% in her Maths GCSE and Juny achieved 97%. They will be pursuing their talents in music and have received the Queen Anne’s Society Sixth Form scholarship. Lara Lancaster, from Wargrave, also received the Queen Anne’s Society Sixth Form Scholarship after achieving eight grade 9s and two grade 8s.

Linda McGrenary, Director of Middle School, said: “The students approached these exams with resilience and kept focused on the end goal. I am so proud of how hard they worked, and they are now in a great position as they move into Sixth Form”.

The students approached these exams with resilience and kept focused on the end goal

Many girls will be studying some of the six new A Level subjects at the school, now taking the total number of A Level choices to 29 plus the EPQ. Emily Day, from High Wycombe, who achieved a 9 in Biology, an 8 in Physics and a 7 in Chemistry, will be developing her scientific knowledge by studying Environmental Science at A Level. Lucy Triptree, from Lower Shiplake, achieved 100% 9-7 (A*-A) and will be one of the first to study A Level Media at Queen Anne’s.

“I am very proud of this year’s GCSE cohort, who have overcome challenging times to achieve an exceptional set of results that will propel them into their next step in education. They have shown dedication, determination and enthusiasm throughout their GCSEs and I look forward to seeing them flourish in their A Levels and beyond.” said Head of School, Elaine Purves.

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