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News Archive - Week Beginning 22nd Dec 2008
Buses
Reading Buses has joined with the RBC to provide free NightTrack night bus services on New Year's Eve. The six routes include a night bus running to and from Emmer Green. According to the 'Chronicle', "party-goers can text the unique 7-letter code found at bus stops to 84268, to find out the times for the next three buses departing from that stop". (Reading Chronicle 24/12/08 p9)
Caversham History
A letter from Reading Civic Society Chairman Richard Bennett comments on two 19th century photos (reprinted in the 'Post) of deliveries to The Griffin pub in Church road, Caversham, one of which had been published in the newspaper last January (21/01/08). Mr Bennett had obtained the other photo (dated 1880) from the archive of the Simonds brewery family - who used to own the pub. Although the photos are similar, Mr Bennett says that the one published last January is probably older - and is not in the Simonds family archive. (Reading Evening Post 24/12/08 p12)
Festivals
Under the shock headline "it took FOUR months to remove 34 toilets", the 'Chronicle' reports that "long after the fans had left town, some Caversham residents had to wait a lot longer for the last reeking reminders of the Reading Festival to be flushed away". Apparently it took until last week for the last of the Reading Festival toilets to be removed from the festival site at Little John's Farm. According to the 'Chronicle', CADRA member John Roach had "a perfect view of the offending conveniences" from his St Peter's Avenue home - the matter had been raised with festival organisers Festival Republic at an RBC meeting on November 27th. (Reading Chronicle 24/12/08 p8)
Gardening
A major feature in the 'Post' describes the sterling efforts of a Hemdean Road gardener, Colin Waters, in growing the largest ridged cucumber in Reading. According to the 'Post' "the 69-year-old's impressive vegetable measures a whopping 10 inches" (excellent), and has won a major restaurant competition. Mr Waters says that he gave his 10-inch cucumber "a lot of loving care and ended up with quite a nice one". (Reading Evening Post 24/12/08 p9)
River Thames
Caversham Road fire fighters, emergency crews from two other fire stations and a police helicopter joined forces on Friday, December 19th in order to save the life of a young woman who had fallen into the Thames near Reading Bridge. The heavy current dragged the woman to Caversham Weir, where she clung to ropes across the river. Because it was decided that a boat would not get to her quickly enough, fire fighters entered the river with lifejackets and ropes to reach the woman - rescuing her, and subsequently treating her for hypothermia. (Reading Evening Post 22/12/08 p3, Reading Chronicle 24/12/08 p3)
Shops
A news feature in the 'Post' comments on Reading East MP Rob Wilson's recent visit to the butcher Jennings of Caversham in St Martin's Precinct in order to promote the Federation of Small Businesses' (FSB) "Keep Trade Local" campaign. The MP bought his Christmas turkey whilst at the butcher. (Reading Evening Post 23/12/08
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