The Wokingham Word, March 2020

LOCAL EVENTS
Community News
Divorce Recovery
Valentine’s Day with all its hearts and
flowers was a tough time for administrator
Kate after her 20 year marriage broke up.
But now she can see renewed hope in those
spring blooms – thanks to a course run by
local charity Divorce Recovery Workshop.
Kate, from a village near Wokingham and
working in Twyford, was so grateful to the
course at Earley, Reading she will help lead
the next one. It consists of two weekends:
March 20 & 21 and March 27 & 28.
“Valentine’s is a tricky time for people going
through separation or divorce – or who are
coming out the other side of it,” said Kate
who is in her 50s with grown up children.
“Shops and websites have so much about
that day. They seem to assume you are a
significant other for someone when in fact
you are struggling and on your own. It all
magnifies the difficulties you are feeling.
“Going to DRW made me feel less isolated
and helped me have a different perspective.
I discovered I could be in charge of my own
recovery and how to move my life forward.
“Spring is a time for renewal. Things
may have been difficult but there can be
brightness coming.”
The next course is over two Friday evenings
and two Saturdays during the day, at
Brookside Hall, Earley. It’s for men and
women who are separating/separated or
divorcing/divorced.
DRW is a UK charity with its Berkshire and
Thames Valley branch based in Earley.
There’s a discount for early booking.
Contact: Seamus on 07887 800521 or Jane
on 07747 607861 or email reading@drw.
org.uk. The website is at www.drw.org.uk
Bel Canto Singers, Come & Sing sessions
Have you been pondering about joining a
local choir? Heard that singing in a choir
has proven health and well-being benefits?
Fancy a bit of “me time”? We are a friendly
social choir looking to welcome new
members, so why not come & give us a try?
We are a ladies’ choir for upper voices based
in Sonning and Woodley with members
from the surrounding area. Rehearsals are
split between Pearson Hall in Sonning and
Christ Church Woodley on Monday evenings
during term time. Our Musical Director is
Diane Prince and we sing a varied repertoire
of classical, folk, contemporary and
compositions and arrangements by Diane.
New pieces to include Bohemian Rapsody,
The Greatest Showman, The Military Wives
Where ever you are.
We are holding 3 “Come and Sing” events
on Monday 16th, 23rd and 30th March. If
you would like to try us out, no audition
required and the ability to read music not
essential, please come along. We look
forward to making you welcome. For further
details check out our Facebook page www.
facebook.com/belcantochorussonning or
contact info.belcantochorus@yahoo.co.uk
Wonder
Web
Archie is a spider who knows
about being knocked down, but he also
believes there must be more to life. When
a strong and determined new friend
encourages him to take charge of his own
destiny, Archie seizes the day! A charming
story of friendship, tenacity and teamwork;
Archie Wood-Knot is a hero for the next
generation of young readers and an
inspiration to all.
A contemporary rhyming story for children
age 0-6, Archie Wood-Knot’s Wonder Web
follows the adventures of Archie & Evie, two
little garden spiders with very big ideas! The
information page at the end of the story
provides the reader with some interesting
facts about garden spiders, and links the
charming characters in the book with real
life information relating to characteristics,
habitat & diet. It teaches children that
spiders are hard-working, resourceful and
ingenious little creatures and are certainly
not to be feared!
This timeless story is brought to life with
beautiful illustrations by the incredibly
talented Leah Rowe.
About the author: resident of Finchampstead,
Sonia hails from Irish origins and has grown
up with a passion for storytelling. This book
is her first published work, inspired by
her background in linguistics & language
development and her desire to immerse
children in the magic of reading.
Carmina Burana
Bracknell Choral Society Spring Concert
On Sunday 29th March 7pm in The Great
Hall of Reading University, RG1 5AG,
Bracknell Choral Society will present Carl
Orff’s Carmina Burana, one of the most
popular and exciting choral works of the
twentieth century. Although originally
written to be staged, the cantata will be
performed as a choral piece, with soloists
and a children’s choir, accompanied by two
pianos and a range of percussion.
The songs tell of the fickleness of fortune
and wealth, the nature of life, the joy of
Spring and the pleasures of drinking,
gluttony, gambling and love. Much of the
work is based on the turning Wheel of
Fortune, beginning with the dramatic ‘O
Fortuna’, which is well-known from its use
in many films and adverts. The songs were
originally based on 24 medieval secular
poems discovered in Beuren in Bavaria in
1803, and they are sung in a mix of Latin,
German and medieval French.
To complement this work, we are
performing Ahoy! a piece for adult and
children’s choir by Alexander l’Estrange. It
was commissioned for the opening of the
new state-of-the-art Mary Rose Museum
in 2013 as part of the annual Portsmouth
Festivities.
The concert will be conducted by our
Musical Director Greg Hallam, with Lucy
Morris conducting The Taplow Children’
Choir. Soloists are Elinor Rolfe Johnson,
soprano, Roderick Morris, counter tenor
and Geoff Williams, bass. Accompaniment
will be provided by Nick Austin and
Simon Dinsdale on piano with the Fusion
Percussion Ensemble.
Tickets cost £18 (accompanied under
-18’s free) to include a programme: www.
bracknellchoral.org.uk
The Art of Partying – The Arts Society
Wokingham
Who doesn’t love a party? Oxford based
Alice Foster is coming to The Arts Society
Wokingham to discuss the depiction of
parties in Western Art, where the party
has always been a popular topic. So if you
would like to know a little more about
parties in art, from Biblical weddings and
Greek mosaics, 16th century peasant
parties and 18th century harlequins
come along and feast on the colours of
merrymaking through the ages.
The lecture on Monday March 23rd will
take place at Newbold Church, Newbold
College, St Marks Road, Binfield, RG42 4AN
at 7.45pm. Visitors £8. All welcome.
To see details of our many activities pick up
a brochure at the lecture or visit our website
www.TheArtsSocietyWokingham.org.uk.
The Wokingham Word 17 MARCH 2020