Archives
Below are our archives for May 2013. If you are looking for a different month, please use the date search box feature below. To browse please choose from last month or try the News, Sport, The Guide or Opinion archives for this month.
Sainsbury's set for Wokingham town centre
The anchor food store on the redeveloped Elms Field site, in Wokingham, will be Sainsbury's.
THE Look In Community Cafe in Bracknell will close on Thursday - with no new home lined up. The popular over 50s cafe has to move out of its Broadway base because of the regeneration of the town centre but a planned move to Charles Square has been abandoned.
BUSINESSES are preparing to close their doors as Bracknell's regeneration begins - including a hairdresser who will close next week after 34 years in Broadway. Also, popular horse show must move after 20 years, Cable & Wireless office to close, trio avoids jail over drugs haul and a 20-page Lifestyle supplement.
Shed fire in Farnham Close, Bracknell
FIREFIGHTERS were called to extinguish a shed fire in the garden of a house in Farnham Close, Bracknell early this morning.
Firefighters battle for hours at Moss End computer parts warehouse
FIREFIGHTERS battled for four hours to put out a blaze in a warehouse storing computer parts.
Ascot: CCTV images released of suspects in connection with Royal Forresters pub brawl
THESE shocking images reveal the moment when three men brought firearms to an Ascot pub. Thames Valley Police has released CCTV images of people they would like to speak to in connection with a mass brawl which resulted in an air rifle being discharged outside the Royal Foresters Pub in London Road, Ascot.
John Lennon's gypsy caravan rediscovered in Ascot house
A KEY piece of Beatles memorabilia has been discovered in the garage of an Ascot house. John Lennon's 1967 Sgt Pepper's Gypsy Caravan has been hidden from public view for more than 40 years.
VIDEO: We chat to Suzanne Shaw about The Big Match
We caught up with Dancing On Ice champion and former popstar Suzanne Shaw at a practice session for The Big Match, ahead of the charity football match taking place at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday, June 8.
Free school granted approval to open in Wokingham
A NEW Free School has been given the go-ahead to help ease the pressure on school places in Wokingham.
Car fans including Uri Geller gather at Bearwood College in Sindlesham
CLASSIC car enthusiasts were in motoring heaven at a show on Saturday. Fans of all ages - including Kiran Fletcher, five, pictured - gathered at Bearwood College in Sindlesham.
Friendly pair of kittens seek new home
THIS dynamic duo is in need of a loving family to offer them a new home. Ace and Cola were found living wild last July by Bracknell and Wokingham District Cats Protection and have been tamed by one of their army of foster carers since then.
Fashion week to start in Wokingham later this week
ORGANISERS hope that Wokingham may be mistaken for Milan from Thursday when a fashion extravaganza arrives in town.
Inspectors praise changes at Bracknell nursery
A NURSERY and pre-school is celebrating after it received an improved Ofsted inspection - meaning it is now rated as 'good'.
VIDEO: Rajiv performs for Sunny Saturdays in Wokingham
R n B sensation Rajiv thrilled the crowds in Wokingham Market Place with his performance on Saturday.
VIDEO: Youngsters ditch cars to walk, cycle and scoot to school
PUPILS and parents will ditch their cars to walk, cycle or scoot to school for a national initiative this week.
Cyclists welcome new trails in Swinley Forest
A NEW bike network suitable for all the family has been opened in Swinley Forest.
No rail services at Bracknell, Wokingham and Winnersh stations on Sunday
RAIL users are advised that they will not be able to catch a train from Bracknell, Wokingham and the Winnersh stations on Sunday (May 19). Buses replace trains as a new footbridge and lifts are installed at Wokingham.
Lapland UK plans go on display
PROPOSALS for a Lapland experience in Swinley Forest go on display tomorrow (Saturday). This follows an aborted attempt last year when hundreds of people objected to a plan for a Christmas village at a nearby site.
Heatherwood governor to appear in court on child sex assault charges
A Governor of Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is due to appear before Reading Crown Court on Monday (May 20), charged with sexually assaulting a five year old girl.
Strictly Come Dancing Star Dani Harmer backs foster care campaign
BRACKNELL'S dancing queen Dani Harmer is backing a campaign to encourage people to become foster parents.
Russ Abbott drops into Sunningdale store for cash giveaway
FUNNYMAN Russ Abbott stopped off at his local Waitrose store in Sunningdale to dole out some charity cash.
A REVIEW of fire services that could see the scrapping of retained fire crews in Bracknell and Ascot is underway in east Berkshire. Also in this week's Bracknell News, Lapland UK could be coming to Swinley Forest, Bracknell's Got Talent finalists named, a horse rider pays tribute to her animal killed by a drunk driver and find out details of how to enter the search for Bracknell's top tot!
LOCAL MPs were among the 116 Tories who rebelled against the Government, by calling for a referendum on Britain's entry in the EU. Bracknell MP Phillip Lee, Wokingham's John Redwood and Adam Afriyie, whose Windsor constituency includes Ascot and Binfield backed a motion yesterday (Wednesday) that they "regret" the absence of an EU vote bill in the Queen's Speech.
Retained fire crews at Bracknell and Ascot face the chop
A REVIEW of fire services that could see the scrapping of retained fire crews in Bracknell and Ascot is underway in east Berkshire.
Bracknell Forest Council pledges extra action for children from low income families
BRACKNELL'S education chief says the council will narrow the gap in achievement between richer and poorer school pupils.
Communities secretary backs Local Newspaper Week
COMMUNITIES secretary Eric Pickles is backing Local Newspaper Week.
Fundraiser to support recovering Tony Calvert
A FUNDRAISING event in aid of a local football hero will take place on Saturday (May 18).
Elderly couple have car stolen from their Finchampstead driveway
A CAR has been stolen from an elderly couple's driveway in Finchampstead.
Easthampstead: Firefighters called to rescue elderly man from bathroom
FIREFIGHTERS were called to free an elderly man who had collapsed and fallen behind his bathroom door, preventing his rescue.
VIDEO: Boxing star Barry McGuigan opens new multi-million pound college facility
FORMER world champion boxer Barry McGuigan officially opened East Berkshire College's new multi-million pound sports centre at Langley College today.
VIDEO: Touring exhibition aims to bring the Bible 'alive'
A TOURING exhibition is promising to bring the Bible 'alive' with artefacts, costumes, models and talks.
St Crispin's students show off stunning fancy dress costumes
ROBIN Hood, a banana and a pair of ballerinas were among those roaming around a Wokingham school as pupils prepared to go on study leave ahead of their exams.
Wokingham school girls reach technology competition final
BUDDING entrepreneurs at a Wokingham school have beaten more than 350 rivals to reach the finals of a national competition.
Eight-year-old Wokingham schoolboy taken to hospital after fence accident
AN eight-year-old boy was taken to hospital after his finger got stuck in a fence.
Berkshire workers third most productive in the country for boosting the economy
BERKSHIRE workers are the third-most productive in the country for boosting the economy, new statistics have revealed.
Reporters battle it out in doughnut eating competition
FAMILIES are battling it out in a series of tasty competitions this week to celebrate National Doughnut Week with Warings Master Bakers.
Popular Fair will survive Elms Field revamp in Wokingham
ORGANISERS of the popular Wokingham May Fayre say they will "work around" the redevelopment of Elms Field - but warned it may affect the success of the Bank Holiday spectacular in future.
Sandhurst woman aims to walk 1,000 miles in aid of breast cancer charity
A TRIUMPHANT Sandhurst woman is over a third of the way through a 1,000-mile walking challenge.
Cash pot to help boost travel plan in Bracknell
RESIDENTS are being asked to have 'travel sense' in Bracknell as part of a £1.6m project.
Sunningdale war hero's grave is cleaned up
VOLUNTEERS and members of the Armed Forces joined together to clean up the long-forgotten grave of a decorated war hero.
Future stars set for Bracknell's Got Talent semi-finals
MORE than 20 singers have made it to the semi-finals of Bracknell's Got Talent, alongside a comedy singing act, street dancer and lyrical dancer.
Winkfield stunt sisters host movie drive-in
TWO sister stuntwomen who come from three generations of stunt people are to lay on a film festival to give something back to their village.
Battle Proms return to Highclere Castle, Newbury with a bang
For the 13th year, Battle Proms will go off with a bang when it returns to Highclere Castle, Newbury, on Saturday, August 3.
More children to learn life skills in Bracknell and Wokingham
THOUSANDS more pupils in the News's circulation area will receive first aid training, thanks to the renewal of a sponsorship deal.
Passenger in car that killed Simon Large sentenced to 15 months
A PASSENGER in a car where the driver was found guilty of murder has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for perverting the course of justice. It comes after Simon Large, pictured, died after being knocked down and killed in Ascot High Street.
Man in hospital following Fleet Hill car crash
A MAN is in hospital following a serious traffic accident near Finchampstead.
Mansion plans in ancient Ascot woodland delayed by Royal Borough
RESIDENTS and environmental protestors fighting the planned construction of a mansion in ancient woodland have persuaded the Royal Borough to delay making a decision on its future.
Royal Borough votes to fight Heatherwood decision
THE Royal Borough last night voted on four resolutions to fight transfer of services from Heatherwood Hospital.
England rugby sevens give expert training to Wellington College pupils
TWO of England's finest sevens rugby players have given Crowthorne's Wellington College a boost with an expert training session ahead of their appearance at Twickenham.
Gipsy Lane in Wokingham closed this morning
GIPSY Lane in Wokingham will be closed from 10am this morning to allow essential maintenance work to be carried out.
VIBRANT proposals to regenerate Market Street could transform it into the 'night spot hub' for Bracknell, say developers. Also in this week's Bracknell News, shops still looking for new homes away from Broadway, May Fair picture special, Bracknell's Got Talent semi-finalists named, win tickets for the BMW PGA Golf Championship and much more.
Mass brawl outside Royal Forresters Pub in Ascot
A SIX-MAN brawl ended with two people being shot outside an Ascot pub.
21-year-old man arrested in Sunningdale over early hours assault
A 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an assault at a property in Sunningdale in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Winkfield stuntwomen sisters to host American drive in movie event
TWO sister stuntwomen who come from three generations of stunt people are to lay on a film festival to give something back to their village.
Renovated grave of Sunningdale war hero rededicated by Victoria Cross Trust
VOLUNTEERS and members of the Armed Forces joined together to clean up the long-forgotten grave of a decorated war hero.
Bracknell Horticultural Association plant sale on Saturday
A PLANT sale will take place at the Bandstand, in Charles Square, Bracknell, on Saturday (May 11).
Football hero Tony Calvert out of coma
A LOCAL football hero who suffered a heart attack while on holiday has come out of a coma.
Public meeting to discuss downgrading of hospital
THE Royal Borough is to hold a special council meeting tomorrow night (Thursday, May 9) to discuss the next steps in the fight against the transfer of services from Heatherwood Hospital.
Have your say: Plan to scrap taxi surcharge in Bracknell put on hold
CONTROVERSIAL proposals to scrap a 50% surcharge for extra taxi passengers have been delayed.
Bracknell pensioner to appear in court over sexual assault of five-year-old
A 68-year-old man has been charged with sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl.
Campaigners locked in during Heatherwood protest
A DEMONSTRATION to show the difficulty Ascot residents could experience accessing healthcare services in Bracknell resulted in protesters being locked in.
Pensioner arrested over sexual assault of five-year-old in Harmans Water
A 68-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the sexual assault of a five-year-old girl in Bracknell. Officers from Thames Valley Police were called to Vulcan Drive, near Broad Lane, at around 6pm yesterday (May 6).
Great Hollands woman charged £125 for return of her dog
A WOMAN has been reunited with her dog - but has branded the £125 charge she has to pay as "ridiculous".
Thousands flock to Wokingham Fair
THOUSANDS of people took advantage of the warm weather to flock to Wokingham May Fair today (Monday). There was a wealth of entertainment for families, including dance, drama and music performances, plus fairground rides and stalls.
Mum backs plans for children's hospice
A MUM whose son was helped by a children's hospice service says a permanent base in Berkshire would be a great boost for families.
Thousands due at Wokingham May fair
MORE than 20,000 people are expected to attend Wokingham's May fair today (Monday). A variety of stalls, performances and events are planned in the town centre and Elms Field.
Diana Dors's son tells all in new book
THE son of legendary British film starlet Diana Dors has revealed all about his unusual upbringing at the sumptuous Sunningdale mansion he called home.
Wokingham man charged with dangerous driving
A WOKINGHAM man was charged with dangerous driving and criminal damage yesterday.
Views to be aired on Bracknell Town Council
AN OVERVIEW of the past year will take place at an annual parish meeting in Priestwood, Bracknell.
Generous Bracknell firm look to donate another £20k
A BRACKNELL-based estate agent has pledged to raise another £20,000 for children's hospice service Alexander Devine.
Ascot road to be shut for Royal Windsor Endurance horse race
A MAJOR route in Ascot is set to close during the morning rush-hour to allow the staging of an endurance challenge event.
Bracknell's new police inspector Dave Bryan vows to make town safe
"A CRIMINAL record will stick with you for 100 years" - that is the message to young people from Bracknell's new neighbourhood police chief.
High hopes for Wokingham community fair
ORGANISERS are hoping for more than 20,000 visitors at the Wokingham May Fair on Bank Holiday Monday (May 6).
Park and ride scheme for golf tournament
ORGANISERS of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club are introducing a park and ride scheme in a bid to ease congestion on local roads. One of the park and ride sites will be in Sunningdale.
Binfield: Village homes approved
COUNCILLORS given two options on how many houses should be built on a piece of land in Binfield chose the application with fewer properties.
Search launched for owners of jewellery stolen in raids across the Thames Valley
AN APPEAL has been launched to track down the owners of jewellery thought to have been stolen in burglaries across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.
Peter Andre spruces up Northcott home in 60 Minute Makeover
REALITY TV star Peter Andre was spotted in overalls with a paintbrush in Bracknell last week.
Ascot paedophile banged up for having thousands of indecent images
A 'LONELY' man who had nearly 20,000 images of child pornography on his computer will spend two years and four months behind bars.
Thieves steal digger from Winnersh park
THIEVES stole a digger and a dumper truck from a park in Winnersh.
Crowthorne: Elderly woman dies after being struck by Mercedes
A PENSIONER has died after being knocked down by a car in Crowthorne.
Heatherwood Hospital campaigners to hold march
A MASS march of people is expected to voice its opinion against the transfer of services from Heatherwood Hospital tomorrow (Saturday, May 4).
Look out for illegal raves this weekend
NEIGHBOURS are being warned to keep an eye out for illegal raves over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Volunteers to spruce up graveyard of VC hero
A WAR hero who had a price on his head by the German Gestapo is to have his grave restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
Deliberate fire burns hole through floor of empty Bracknell building
ARSONISTS set fire to a derelict building in Easthampstead last night (Thursday).
Drop into Bracknell surgery for some sound advice
HOUSING, children and the regeneration of Bracknell are the main issues brought up at councillors' surgeries in Old Bracknell and Wildridings.
Family's tribute to murder victim Simon Large
THE family of a man murdered when a driver deliberately ran him over have paid tribute to "a giant amongst men, our brightest star".
Driver jailed for Ascot murder
A DRIVER has been jailed for a minimum of 15 years today (Thursday) after being guilty of a pedestrian's murder in Ascot High Street. Ricky Clarke-Dilly - who was over the drink-drive limit - drove a car at Simon Large in Ascot High Street following a nightclub scuffle earlier that evening.
READ all about the inspiring tales of the winners of our Pride of Bracknell Awards, plus see lots of great photos, in this week's Bracknell News. There are also pictures from the Bracknell Half Marathon, with one runner telling us he carried on despite the pain of a knee popping out, because he was determined to finish following the recent death of a friend from cancer.
Win tickets to the Surrey County Show
WE HAVE six family tickets to the fantastic Surrey County show to be won in this week's News. Pick up a copy of the paper, on sale now.
Road closure in Nine Mile Ride
A SECTION of Nine Mile Ride in Finchampstead will be closed from tomorrow (Friday) for electrical work. The westbound carriageway of the B3430 will be shut between its junctions with A321 Sandhurst Road and B3016 until Sunday.
Forces Equine Games to show Berkshire military riders' skill
Military riders from across Berkshire are to participate in the Forces Equine Games this weekend (May 4 and 5).
Missing ornament prompts police search in Winkfield
POLICE are appealing for information regarding a stolen ornament - similar to the one pictured right.
Bracknell Forest Council 'doing all it can to help over bedroom tax'
EVERYTHING possible is being done to help people being affected by the so-called 'bedroom tax', Bracknell Forest Council says.
UPDATE: Trains running between Wokingham and Reading
TRAINS between Wokingham and Reading are now running again after they were suspended earlier due to a fault on the line.
Ricky Clarke-Dilly found guilty of murder
RICKY Clarke-Dilly has been found guilty of murdering Simon Large.
Judge tells jury to reach majority verdict in murder trial after eight hours of deliberation
A MAJORITY direction has been passed to the jury in a murder trial.
TRAFFIC UPDATE: M4 delays due to crash
THERE are currently delays on the M4 eastbound after a crash which has left one lane closed.
'Free from 3pm' parking promotion returns to Bracknell
A TEMPORARY parking incentive to drive people to Bracknell's shops has been resurrected.
Bracknell adventurer returns to the UK after Arctic disaster gets friend killed
AN INTREPID Bracknell explorer who was crossing a treacherous ice sheet in Greenland has suffered frostbite and shock after a deadly storm killed his colleague.
Parents' heartbreak as £17,000 jewellery stolen from Bulbrook home
THE daughter of a couple who had £17,000 of jewellery stolen has spoken of their heartbreak.
Roundabout way to help cyclists
CROWTHORNE has been taking cycle safety tips from the Dutch as the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) tests out an innovative roundabout.
