The Parish Magazine July and August 2021

around the villages — 1
A letter from Reading Blue Coat's 'new' head . . .
Dear neighbours June 2021
It has been described as ‘a year like no other’, and the past months have
certainly brought challenges for everyone. As I write, the forecast is promising
improvements, athletes and rowers are training hard, the term is in full swing
and the Government’s road map heralds a welcome relaxation of restrictions
over the weeks ahead. We all hope for a rather different year to come!
My purpose in writing is two-fold. Firstly, I wanted to introduce myself as
your relatively new neighbour. My family and I moved into the Headmaster’s
house last August, having taken the reins from Jesse Elzinga who is now in
Sevenoaks. Busy terms and lockdown are not the ideal means to get to know
others living close by, but I look forward to meeting many of you in the weeks
and months ahead.
To be honest, any of you who are on Sonning Buzz might already be
aware of our slightly adventurous black lab, Arthur, who has been known to
wander to the far corners of the village with members of the Thomas family
in hot pursuit, thanks to Sonning Buzz leads. If you have provided particular
sightings, thank you!
CELEBRATIONS
Andrew Wilbey
I also wanted to flag up our planned end of year celebrations for the last
week of term. As you might know, the School’s Prize Giving moved online last
summer, so we are delighted that as restrictions ease we will be able to increase
the number of people who can safely gather on the school site for events.
Two of note in our final week are: ‘Swing into Summertime’ on Tuesday 29
June, which is an evening of music with various groups and styles represented.
This will be held on Way Hall Field in front of the main School House until
about 10pm. I very much hope that any sound that you hear will be pleasant!
The second event is on Saturday 3 July when we will have various leavers’
celebrations during the day, culminating in a leaver's party beginning at
7.30pm, to be held on Back Lawn. In previous years this has been the ‘Summer
Ball’, but restrictions at the time of planning (and committing resources!)
means this is not possible. What we are able to do is have some music and
we have arranged for a band to perform a number of cover songs during the
evening. They have been superb in previous years but I am sure that they will
also be audible to our near neighbours who, I appreciate, might not necessarily
agree! The evening is due to conclude with a 5 minute fireworks display starting
at approximately 10.15pm, and all guests should have left the school site by
10.45pm.
I very much hope that any disruption to the evenings of 29 June and 3 July
will be minimal for you, but also that any sound might also be quite enjoyable
and a hopeful reminder that we are starting to breathe again!
If you have any questions, please get in touch on hm@rbcs.org.uk and I look
forward to meeting you in due course.
Yours
Pete Thomas
The Parish Magazine - July/August 2021 27
Toys and Teens
charity wins
Queen's Award
Reading Family Aid has won the
highest award a voluntary group
can receive in the UK — The Queen’s
Award for Voluntary Service.
The award was created in 2002 to
celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee
and recognises the outstanding work
done by volunteer groups for the
benefit of their local communities.
Reading Family Aid started
in the 1950's when they helped a
handful of families. The first outing
recorded costs of just £10. It became
a registered charity in 1993 and
recently has been helping up to 1,000
families each year.
Despite the challenges of Covid,
Reading Family Aid was still able
to provide over 1,400 children with
gifts at Christmas and the charity's
generous supporters helped raise
over £33,000.
Garden party talks
Details of Sonning and Sonning Eye
Society's summer garden party being
held on 8 August can be found on its
website.
Following Simon Wenham's talk
on 25 June in Pearson Hall about the
pursuit of pleasure on the Thames,
the society will be holding two more
in the coming months: Owen Green
the map maker on 10 September and
John Painter, Reading Abbey, on 5
October.
For tickets or reservations contact
Penny Feathers on 0118 934 3193 or
penny.feathers@btinternet.com
FoStAC garden party
Friends of St Andrew’s Church
Sonning (FoStAC) invites readers
to its garden party on Monday 30
August from 3-5.30pm in Allan and
Wendy Williams' garden at 8 West
Drive, Sonning.
Entrance is by ticket which can be
obtained at £15 from Bob Hine 0118
969 8653, Sally Wilson 0118 979 3328,
or Keith Nichols 0118 969 4628.