CAVERSHAM & SONNING COMMON - RG4 - JANUARY 2011

For the sixteenth year in succession it’s my pleasure to wish you all
A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!
And it will be! Honest! It’s worked so far hasn’t it?... Mostly! …And may I say how much I’ve enjoyed your letters and e-mails over the years, even though I’ve had to brutalize them on times. Space you know! Anyway, it’s into January and I’ve got my long johns on, the garret candle is burning, and my 1912 Remington Imperial typewriter is all ready for action as soon as I find my fingerless mittens. Press on!
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And of course, I know that you don’t really need reminding, but it’s just as well to be aware that the recent cold snap has put large numbers of elderly people at serious risk, and reports of cold-related deaths are increasing. I know that some can appear independent and cantankerous, I’m practicing,  but really, some assistance with the shopping or a checkup on cold mornings cannot come amiss. New Year’s Resolution perhaps?
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And it’s Panto Season again!
Pinocchio is coming to Purley. And No! My noes get no longer. Purley Players present their pantomime Pinocchio at the Barn in Purley on 27th, 28th and 29th January, plus a matinee on the 29th.  You’ll me pleased to know that the Dame is as ugly as ever, the fools enjoy their custard pies, the young lovers are star crossed, the fairy is beautiful and there’s a scary demon to hiss at. The bar will be open to help you gird yourself and tickets at £8 are available from Anne Bolland on 0118 941 3259.  All seats are numbered so book early.
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Woodcote AmDrams invite your help in creating ‘magic and mayhem’ at the Village Hall on 29th/30th January and 5th February. Matinee performances on 29th January and 4th/5th February. It looks a goody! Camelot is under threat from the evil Black Knight; and King Arthur, his knights and Merlin seem powerless. A brave stable boy with dreams of becoming a Knight steps into the breach to rescue a Princess and save the kingdom. Tickets £6 from Joan Poyser on 01491 680 573.
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My friend Phil came around carrying a little box. He said that a little bird had knocked itself out by flying into a window, and as it was one he hadn’t seen before, he wondered if I knew what it was. I carefully opened the box and found a delightful tiny bird, now perky, looking around curiously. It was green on top, light underneath with a tiny little dark moustache and on its head was a gorgeous zigzagging golden crest. “It’s a Goldcrest.” I said knowledgably. ‘Cos I’m clever like that! We checked and found out that it was Britain’s smallest songbird and was widespread throughout the country. Then why have Phil and I never seen one? “It likes conifers.” I told Phil. “Got one in the garden.” said Phil. Problem solved.
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From the birds to the bees, and Steve Moll is the guest speaker at the Chiltern Edge horticultural Society meeting at Chilton Edge School theatre at 7.30 on the 12th.  He will explore many of the honey bees attributes through the eyes of a beekeeper. Hear about their sophisticated communication mechanisms, how the bee colony survives winter, and why they swarm. On a more sombre note he will look at some of the pests and diseases facing honey bee colonies throughout the world. Many fascinating facts will be uncovered - did you know that bees gather nectar from two million flowers to produce a jar of honey. Well you do now! Visitors welcome.
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Under the umbrella of Henley in Transition the ‘Be Well Centre’ has organised a complimentary therapy session at the Kings Barn for 2 hours each Monday from noon until 2pm. They have four therapists working at each session, and their service is completely free.  They do however support a charity called Give Africa and a donation would be appreciated. There are many types of therapy given, each week is different. If you need more information call 01491 414 344. Dunno why you need an umbrella though!
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‘Escaping the City’ is a major new exhibition at the River & Rowing Museum in Henley exploring the importance of the River Thames. The late 19th century boating boom is a popular period of Victorian history which is explored in an exhibition for the first time. With the Victorian class structure at its most rigid, the exhibition explores how the River Thames was a great leveler and open to all including the working classes who could escape the grime of London aboard “God’s Wonderful Railway” and enjoy a day out in the fresh air. One of James Tissot’s most famous works ‘On the Thames’ is on loan from The Hepworth Wakefield. This work shocked many critics in 1876 as it juxtaposed the leisurely activities of the middles classes against the harsh labours of working life. Critics questioned the respectability of the people depicted and thought the artist was alluding to some moral darkness.  Other highlights include paintings by renowned English landscape painter Frederick William Watts and work by artists such as George Dunlop Leslie and Myles Birket Foster and William Morris’ famous Kelmscott Press edition of ‘News from Nowhere’ which documents a utopian river journey from London to Gloucestershire.
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Reading Film and Video Makers starts the New Year at 8pm on 11th January at St. Andrews Hall on Albert Road in Caversham.  They welcome those interested, or just curious, even if you don’t have a camcorder.  Just drop in and try them out.  For their programme and more information visit: - www.ReadingFilmandVideoMakers.org.uk 
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Chazey WI meets at 7.45 on the first Tuesday of every month at Caversham Heights Methodist Church Hall, Highmoor Road, Caversham. Visitors and new members are always very welcome.
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The Caversham Allotment Association’s first meeting of 2011 will be at 7.30 on Tuesday 11th January and will feature Chris Chadwell on ‘Plant Introductions at the National Trust and other properties’.  Chris is a plant collector and botanist and a very entertaining and experienced speaker. The venue is the Church House, Caversham, next to Waitrose with the entrance at the rear.  Knock twice and ask for Carol!   Free entrance - all are welcome! More information on the Association from Carol Wheeler on 01189 475 802.
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Next around the back at Church House are the ‘Caversham Good Neighbours’ who are having their AGM at 7.30 on the 19th. With refreshments! Goodoh! Actually, I exaggerate, unusual for me I know, but the Good Neighbours are at Church house every weekday morning while they sort out advice, visits and help for the sick, lonely or housebound. They provide transport on essential journeys for the elderly and handicapped and it’s an entirely voluntary organisation that depends on the goodwill of the people of Caversham. A donation wouldn’t go amiss!
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Have you noticed that whenever the subject of the police and cuts in funding comes up in the news it’s illustrated with a picture of two police persons ambling along a street chatting away to each other? I was in town the other morning when four such happy couples passed me, quite oblivious of their surroundings. In fact, I overheard one lady type pair animatedly discussing their boy friends and two others were window shopping. In times that were, when there were visible police inspectors, patrol sergeants and policemen with presence, such behaviour was a disciplinary offence known as ‘gossiping on duty’, if not ‘neglect of duty’, as four other streets were not being policed. I cite an item from the archives. ‘Constable Corcoran was reprimanded for "gossiping on beat". He was also fined on two occasions for being "absent from beat", the first time for 2 shillings and the second time for 1 shilling and 6 pence.’ There you are Chief! Solved 50% of your front line costing problems.
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Emmer Green’s Townswomens Guild is down South America Way on Tuesday 11th January with Nick Brazil on a ‘Journey through Peru’. Hah! That’s one way to get to Peru. Through Brazil! Then, on the 8th February, Tony King will take them ‘Shopping with the Victorians’. Keep your ha’pennies and farthings handy! Meetings are held at 7.30 in St. Barnabas' Church Hall, and new members and visitors will be warmly welcomed.
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As a little Wolf Cub, I used to buy an ‘Oxo’ for a farthing to boil up on our camp fires to drink with our charred and largely raw potatoes. Come to think of it, we’d also get two penn’orth of sulphur and saltpeter from our Guy Fawkes pennies for making gun powder. The chemist always winked and said, “Mother’s killed a pig then has she?” Ah! The innocence of childhood!
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 Shirley and Peter Billings sold up in their mid 40's to sail for 3 years. It lasted 25! They wrote ‘Seize the Day’ and are guest lecturers on the new P&O Azura. Shirley will be the guest of the Henley Offshore Group at The Badgemoore Golf Club at 7.30 on Monday the 10th when she take you around the south Pacific. Sleepy lagoons, wahines beneath the palm trees? Yes it's all there, but so are sharks, stinging shells and unchartered reefs. Pineapples, papayas, pork and coconut crabs were shared by the generous remote island people although they have so little in the way of material goods. Hear the story of paradise and shipwreck. Then it’s into the untidy Indian Ocean from fabulous Phang Gna Bay in Thailand across to Sri Lanka, the Maldives, oil prosperous Oman, and war-torn Yemen. From Aden they sailed up through ‘The Gate of Tears’ into the Red Sea where they were arrested at gunpoint, interrogated and detained under suspicion of spying. Visitors welcome for a fiver, bring your own sun block!
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In 2008, Woodcote resident, Sam Peates, published a series of twelve ‘Woodcote Walks’ in monthly installments in the Woodcote Correspondent under the pseudonym of ‘Stilehopper.’ Now, with the assistance of other local residents, a book has been published with easy-to-follow directions, maps, colour photos and line drawings and informative notes on the local environment compiled by Woodcote Conservation Group. The twelve circular walks all begin and end at the Village Hall. The book retails at £5 with all proceeds going to local charities. More information by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 07710 858 366.
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The Ding Dong Daddios will be hosting an evening of jive, music and fun at Reading Irish Centre on the 22nd to raise money for local charity Medical Assistance Sierra Leone. They’ll bring you the most danceable tunes from the swing heydays of the '40s and '50s. Get ready to take a Choo Choo Boogie runaway train ride from Five Guys Named Mo all the way to Mac the Knife, passing through Istanbul on the way. Tickets at £15 or two for £25 on www.musicformedics.org.uk or from Anne Vicary on 0118 9623 404 There’s a free jive taster lesson for the first 50 people who book on the website.
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Readifolk, Reading’s Folk Song & Music Club is welcoming in the New Year on the 2ndh with an evening of ‘Party Pieces’ featuring your favourite music leavened with a lot of fun. The theme is continued on the 9th when Alan Franks appears with Patty Vetta to deliver a scintillating combination of Alan’s witty, pointed political and poignant songs and Patty’s beautiful voice. On the 16th, Singer’s Night features its usual combination of songs, tunes poems and hopefully a joke or two; and on the 23rd, Quality Street makes a welcome return with harmony singing and superb guitar accompaniment. Serious stuff on the 30th with ‘News of the World’. Songs of scandal or just the latest headlines. You decide. Sliding over into February, Acushla, a four piece band bring a touch of the Celtic World. Reading International Solidarity Centre (RISC), 35-39 London Street, Reading
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SOAG is one of the most active, independent archaeology groups in Oxfordshire and welcomes people of all ages and experience to take part in fieldwork, excavation, post excavation analysis, landscape investigation and geophysics. They also organise a full winter programme of lectures by professional speakers or experienced members at the Goring Heath Parish Hall, Whitchurch Hill. All are welcome with a £3 fee for non-members. On Thursday the 27th there’s a lecture by Gwilym Williams of the John Moore Heritage Services on 'Medieval excavations at Newington. To find out more see www.soagarch.org.uk.
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As you know, I like puns. Mine are dreadful! But here’s one that surpasses even my best efforts. Febru-hairy is Sue Ryder’s take on the month of February and there are plenty of ways that you can join in, just as long as it involves ‘hair’ in some way. You could grow a moustache or dye your hair or hold a themed day at your place of work or with your friends. A Bad Hair Day, a Crazy Wig Day, a Beard Day - and ask everyone taking part to make a donation to Sue Ryder. You could organise a head shaving or leg waxing day and ask your friends and family to sponsor you. You can even keep the hair! Or how about buying some fake fur and making pretend eyebrows and a moustache that you wear to the shops or on the bus and raise sponsorship money that way? Or get arrested! However you choose to raise money for Sue Ryder, just be sure to have as much fun as possible! If you’d like to join in with Sue Ryder ‘Febru-Hairy’ email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 01491 641 221.
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I remember a similar scheme many years ago based on the Red Cow pub, which involved growing a moustache or beard one month and then shaving half off for the next month, an eyebrow a month after and so on. The ladies joined in with vari-coloured hair dyes. They even persuaded the landlady of the pub to join them by dying her hair a virulent flaming red. It took some time or the penny to drop. She didn’t appreciate the joke!
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One of the best known names in the theatre organ world, Phil Kelsall, the legendary organist at Blackpool Tower will be in concert at 3pm on Sunday the 9th in Henley Town Hall. Phil having just returned from another successful season in the Christmas Show at Thursford guarantees an afternoon of foot tapping music couple with mirth and wit.
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You may like to know that thanks to your support, the Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir's concert at Compton church on 20th November raised £1680 for ‘Help for Heroes’.
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And an early shout for the Oxfordshire Welsh Society who this year have moved St David’s Day to Saturday 26th February. It’s for a concert at Oxford Town Hall in aid of Diabetes UK and Action Medical Research, for children, for life, with a 90 strong South Wales Male Choir. Competing against them is Claire Jones, Harpist to HRH Prince Charles; and Welsh Tenor Adriano Graziani who is returning by popular request. Don’t be thrown by the name Graziani. As Raldo Luigi Carpanini once said to me, “Us Welshmen must stick together like!” Tickets cost £18 or £25, including a pre-concert reception, from Oxford Playhouse or Wells Stores, Peachcroft Abingdon.
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Raldo’s mate was Irving Rapaport, who in moments of nationalistic fervour was prone to shout, “Vales for the Velsh!”
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Harking back to paired bobbies, years ago, the sure sign of a rough area was for one policeman to solemnly say to another, “It’s so rough up there that they patrol in pairs.” I heard that once in Cardiff’s Tiger Bay! Before the days of personal radios! If the coppers had been found together on the beat at night by the patrol sergeant there’d be a scathing denunciation and accusations of ‘Kippering’…… Two faced, no guts!’

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