Join a friendly gardening group for over-50s in Berkshire

Zoe Gater

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Twyford

Discover the joy of veg & company with Twyford Growers, as the group invites over-50s to get involved this spring.

Do you have green fingers? Would you like to, but don’t know where to start? Join Twyford Growers – a local gardening group that brings people together to enjoy gardening in the great outdoors.

Twyford Growers meets weekly to grow fruit, flowers and vegetables in a friendly, sociable setting. Whether you already love gardening or want to try it for the first time, the group welcomes you.

The group meets on Thursday mornings at Hurst Road Allotments in Twyford. You’ll find the site near the train station, with parking, seating and toilets available.

At the end of each session, everyone comes together for a well-deserved tea break. The group welcomes older people from the local area, supports those living with dementia, and encourages carers to join in too. To find out more, email twyfordgrowers@gmail.com or call 07718 882792.

Twyford Growers forms part of the wide range of activities that Age UK Berkshire runs to help older people stay socially connected. Developing interests matters at any age, especially as we grow older.

If you’re over 50 and live locally, you can enjoy a full calendar of events through Age UK Berkshire. The organisation runs social groups, seated yoga classes, choirs and much more.

Emily Lowson says: “Alongside activities, Age UK Berkshire delivers a range of support services. We provide free information and advice, a home help plus service, a handyperson service, and Home from Hospital, which helps you settle back at home after a hospital stay. We also offer a fully qualified one-to-one dementia support service, giving care to people living with dementia and vital respite to their carers and loved ones.”

Call 0118 959 4242, visit ageukberkshire.org.uk or email DementiaWokingham@AgeUKBerkshire.org.uk for more information.

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Reading Pancake Race 2026: £8,200 raised to support homelessness

Zoe Gater

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Twyford

Sunshine, sizzling pancakes and fancy dress filled Broad Street as Launchpad’s 29th annual Reading Pancake Race raised £8,200 to support people facing homelessness — with one team flipping their way to victory.

Broad Street was flipping fantastic this Shrove Tuesday 2026 as Reading’s much-loved Pancake Race returned, bringing sunshine, standout costumes and a sizzling £8,200 fundraising total.

Now in its 29th year, the annual event organised by Launchpad saw 21 teams from local businesses and community groups battle it out for the coveted frying pan trophy – all while raising vital funds to support people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Reading.

Crowds lined the town centre street to cheer on colleagues, friends and family as teams raced in a series of knock-out heats, flipping pancakes as they sprinted.

The grand finale drew plenty of excitement, with long-time Launchpad supporter Andy Briggs keeping energy levels high as compère.

The Mayor of Reading, Dr Alice Mpofu-Coles, presented the prizes to this year’s winners.

And the winners are…

Taking the 2026 crown were Air IT, whose Scooby Doo–inspired fancy dress helped secure them the title of Launchpad’s 29th champions. Alongside the iconic frying pan trophy, they won a cocktail masterclass for four at The Roseate Reading.

Second place went to Rowberry Morris, who received drinks and a day pass at Novotel Reading Centre, while Evoke Transport came third, winning afternoon tea courtesy of Crumbs.

There were plenty of additional accolades handed out on the day, too:

Top fundraisers include Abbey School, raising an impressive £874 and winning afternoon tea at Vino Vita, with second-best fundraisers, Davis Tate, winning pizza and beer from Zero Degrees Brewery.

Field Seymour Parkes won best fancy dress and were awarded a £60 voucher from Honest Burger for their Charlie and the Chocolate Factory–inspired costumes.

Evoke Transport were highly commended, scooping a £50 voucher for The Plough Shiplake thanks to their bananas-and-eggs outfits.

And best team spirit went to Field Seymour Parkes, winning cinema tickets to The Biscuit Factory.

Fiona Keyte, fundraising manager at Launchpad, said the atmosphere was better than ever.

“The Pancake Race never fails to be fantastic – especially as we managed to have a rain-free event! The costumes, laughter, crowds and community spirit were incredible this year.

We’re so grateful to the hundreds of supporters who lined the street, the generous local businesses who donated prizes, and our wonderful volunteers. This fun-filled event has a serious purpose: to raise funds and awareness for those in our community who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes.”

The £8,200 raised — and counting — will support Launchpad’s work providing advice, accommodation and tailored support to people facing housing crises in Reading.

Founded in 1979, the charity helped more than 1,800 people in housing crisis last year alone, including rough sleepers, sofa surfers and those facing eviction.

For more information about Launchpad or to donate, visit Launchpad Reading’s website.

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Join Twyford Together Charity run

Karen Neville

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Twyford

Photo: Barnes Fitness’ sports photographer, Chris Drew.

The Twyford Together Charity 5k and Fun Run is one of the village’s best-loved, annual events. It’s a chance to get active for a good cause, run with family and neighbours and perhaps be crowned ‘Fastest Street’… the ultimate accolade!

Put your trainers on this Sunday (10th) at The Piggott School and get running in one of four races, split according to school year groups (pre-school toddle (100m), reception and years 1 & 2 (1km), years 3 & 4 (1km), years 5 & 6 (2km) as well as a chip-timed, multi-terrain, 5K for those aged 11+ (see course map below).

You still have a few days to enter as online entry closes at midday on Saturday, 9th October. Register in advance by filling out the form on Barnes Fitness’ website. Early-bird entry helps us to avoid congestion at registration and to start each race on time. On the day entry is subject to race limits and costs an additional £2.50 for the 5K and £2 for all other races (cash only).

In 2019, the fastest street competition was introduced to the Twyford Together Charity 5K and Fun Run. Chip timing allows organisers to collect race times for individual streets in the 5K race. The street with the fastest cumulative time for three runners wins! So, get training with your neighbours if you want to beat the 2019 winners, Springfield Park! New for 2021 is the option of receiving a medal or ‘dedicating a tree‘. On the entry form, we’ll ask you if you want to plant a tree or receive a medal. After the fun run, you’ll be sent a certificate with a photo, the species and GPS location of your tree. You can even go and visit your tree if you want to! Prizes will go to fastest male and female in the 5K win one month membership to Castle Royle, the next 10 runners over the line earn seven day membership, the ‘Fastest Street’ in the 5K receives a voucher for a Wine Tour & Tasting at Stanlake Park (for three), top three fastest streets get vouchers towards a celebratory meal at either La Fontana, Buratta’s or Haweli (winner gets first pick!) and fastest boy and girl aged 11-15 and 16-18 in the 5K take home Up and Running, Reading vouchers. Plus, there are Decathlon vouchers for the fastest boy and girl in the school year group races as well as ‘Have a Go Heroes‘ (in the 5K, 2K, 1K and toddler dash). It’s the taking part that counts!

In addition to the spectacle of the race, you can enjoy Tash who will be there with Martha the Van aka The Refill Hub so bring some containers to stock up at this wonderful mobile refill shop, My Journey Wokingham will have their awesome smoothie making bike, Polehampton PTA is running a second-hand book shop and Camp Mohawk is bringing a pop-up toy stall. They’ll also be face painting, pumpkin racing and Halloween craft as well as a selection of homemade cakes from Happy Hours and refreshments from The Rural Pie Co. Plus, you can try out your footie skills with Twyford Comets and get in shape with Castle Royle. There is limited parking on site. For those who cycle, there are free bike checks with My Journey Wokingham’s Dr. Bike. And while you’re having all this fun, know you are helping Twyford Charities Together. The group was formed in 2011 to give local charities, often lacking their own fundraising team, a helping hand.

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Sentimental journey: Twyford singers in France

Round & About

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Twyford

Twyford Twinning has celebrated its very first project with its new ‘sibling’, the town of Cuincy in northern France.

The twinning groups achieved their goal of cementing their relationship before the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armistice and moving ceremonies were held in Cuincy to honour the war dead in November.

The weekend of 10th-11th was devoted to remembering those lost between 1914 and 1918 and began with an exhibition about the battles that took place in the region.

A visit to the British Cemetery to pay respects to those who fell left not a dry eye, accompanied by schoolchildren from Cuincy singing God Save the Queen, a truly emotional moment for all. This was matched by a similar tribute at the French war memorial where the children sang La Marseillaise.

Part of the inaugural project also involved a concert featuring High Voltage Singers from Twyford and Cuincy Melodie Choir. The Twyford singers received a “wonderful welcome” from their French counterparts and both Jacky Crossman, the leader of High Voltage and Marie France Ladent, president of Melodie gave speeches beforehand. And judging by the standing ovation given by the audience at the end it was a success all round with lots of friendships being made!

Jacky, who extended the offer of a return visit, said: “The High Voltage Singers look forward to inviting Melodie choir back to Twyford for another joint concert in the future.”

  Anyone interested in joining High Voltage can contact them on 07780 580598 or via Facebook. For more information about Twyford Twinning, contact them at twyfordtwinning@gmail.com

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Shining example: Twyford Christmas Tree Festival

Round & About

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Twyford

Between Thursday, 6th and Sunday, 9th December everyone’s invited to the Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s Church in Twyford.

This is the fifth biannual event of its kind with trees provided and decorated by local organisations, voluntary groups and businesses.

The festival opens on Thursday, 6th December, and runs daily until Sunday, 9th with St Mary’s doors open 10am-4.30pm. On Friday, 7th the church will stay open until 9pm to accommodate visitors to the always popular Twyford Street Fayre. Admission is free at all times. Refreshments are available throughout the festival with a special Christmas tea and entertainment on Sunday 9th until 4pm.

On Friday evening the entertainment includes Reading Accordion Group, Twyford Handbell Ringers and the Work in Progress barbershop quartet.

At 2pm on Saturday, 8th December, Berkshire Recorder Consort will entertain, followed by the Avenue Acapella Group until 4pm. One of the festival highlights will be a Taste of Christmas concert on Saturday 8th at 7.30pm. On Sunday 9th, by popular request, Bonnie The Bubble Lady will return followed by Twyford Glee Club at 2pm. The climax on Sunday is a carol service at 4.30pm.

Concert tickets £10 for adults, £5 children from the Floor Store in the High Street on 0118 934 3328.

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