Richard Crowe
Stories by Richard Crowe
Below are recent stories by Richard Crowe
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Published: 9 Apr 2009 16:00
‘Someone gave me hope â€' now I want to give it’
A DISABLED engineer who fled a war-torn African country is taking a year off work to raise money for a charity which helps disabled people in his home country. Abs Dumbuya set up the Dorothy Springer Trust in memory of a British woman who funded his education. Now he wants to give something back to people in Sierra Leone by raising £20,000. The 35-year-old, of Rectory Close in Easthampstead, will be taking a break from his job as a research engineer at Crowthorne's Transport Research Laboratory to run a project in the west African country to help poor disabled people through education and vocational training with a focus on ICT. He said: "For me personally, setting up the charity is a way of giving something back, because somebody gave me hope. "If we, as a charity can support disabled people to achieve high-level education and vocational training in ICT which will lead to gainful employment and independence, then we will have made a big difference." Mr Dumbuya contracted polio at the age of five, which means he now has to walk using crutches. After getting an education in Freetown, where he was staying with poor relatives, he became interested in engineering and contacted a college at Market Harborough in Leicestershire. Although his application fell through due to lack of funding, college administrator Margaret Atkins took a keen interest in him and they kept in contact. With rising political tension and the illegal diamond trade funding the procurement of arms, the war in Liberia eventually spilled over to Sierra Leone in 1991. Mr Dumbuya managed to escape and came to Britain to teach African craft and became a classroom assistant in Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire, working with children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. He then went to America to continue teaching at Camp America. When he returned to England, Mrs Atkins's mother Dorothy Springer anonymously funded his A-levels and university degree and he eventually gained a PhD. It wasn't until after Mrs Springer's death in 2003 that he learned what she had done for him. He said: "Mine is a personal story but it is also a story about the desperate needs of the poorest of the poor in Sierra Leone - young disabled men and women who have limited access to basic services and economic opportunities and therefore are less likely to get out of poverty compared to other groups." The charity has already donated more than 100 computers to disabled organisations in Sierra Leone in 2007 and they are now being used by disabled people to develop their IT skills including designing invitations and wedding cards to earn some money. l For more information or to support the charity visit www.dorothy-springer-trust.org.uk or call 01344 302253.
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Published: 7 Apr 2009 16:00
A MUSIC group hit the right note when it presented cash to charities.
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Published: 6 Apr 2009 16:00
Parish says thanks to a special person
A COMMUNITY stalwart has been given recognition for all her hard work.
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Published: 5 Apr 2009 16:00
FAMILIES pounded the footpaths of Bracknell's Lily Hill Park to raise money for orphaned children.
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Published: 3 Apr 2009 15:55
System is wasteful and harmful
AN MP has called for a radical overhaul of the expenses system in the light of controversial claims by fellow public servants.
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Published: 3 Apr 2009 11:55
Eggcellent events for all the family
EASTER events will be springing up over the holidays as the new season is heralded in. The increased chocolate intake over the holidays is sure to leave youngsters with a lot of energy so this could be used up in Bracknell town centre with the many activities on offer through Bracknell Regeneration Partnership (BRP). From Monday to Saturday, April 11, children can make colourful masks, bonnets, painted eggs and bunny ears at the ever-popular Makendoo children's craft workshop on the top floor of Princess Square. It's free to take part and children can take home their designs. Children will also be in with a chance of winning one of 100 free Thornton's Easter Eggs if they are one of the first twenty-five children who attend every day (Monday through to Thursday). On Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11, Princess Square will be transformed into an exciting and interactive farmyard with real Easter chicks and bunny rabbits, lambs and pygmy goats. Children will have the chance to pet and feed the animals from 10am-4pm. It's free to take part and lots of fun for everyone. BRP spokeswoman Helen Barnett said: "We wanted to make sure that families could really celebrate the advent of spring and the Easter holiday by spending some fun time together in Bracknell town centre." - There will be an Easter Craft Day at REME Museum of Technology, Isaac Newton Road, Arborfield, from Friday, April 10 to Monday, April 13. The theme is 'Make it and take it home'. The event runs from 11am-3.30pm daily and costs £4.50 for adults, £3.50 for children with under 5s free. A family ticket is also available for £13 which allows entry for two adults and up to three children. - A range of activities have been lined up from Monday to Friday, April 17, at Charters Leisure Centre, Sunningdale, including arts and crafts, archery, football and inflatables. For more information contact charters.leisure@rbwm.gov.uk or 01344 628686. - The Bracknell branch of the National Childbirth Trust is holding an Easter Party from 2-4pm on Sunday at Farley Wood Community Centre on Turnpike Road, Binfield. There will be Easter crafts, Bumps & Babes corner and refreshments. Contact Liz on 01344 302752 for tickets, £3 for first child, £2 per sibling, parents and grandparents free.
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Published: 2 Apr 2009 16:00
It’s a fair way round for runners
A GROUP of golfers swapped their clubs for running shoes when they tackled the Reading Half Marathon on Sunday.
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Published: 2 Apr 2009 15:55
Final clearance as snooker club closes
THE sound of balls been potted has been silenced as Bracknell's Rileys Pool And Snooker club has closed with the loss of seven jobs.
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Published: 30 Mar 2009 08:00
A fair cop for cubs thrown in cell
A PACK of cub scouts found themselves locked up in a police cell - for all the right reasons. Members of the 2nd Bracknell cub pack visited Bracknell Police Station where they were they were met by Bullbrook neighbourhood specialist officer PC Jon Morris. Around 50 boys were shown around the police station on Tuesday and Thursday last week to help them pass their local knowledge badge in which they have to visit an emergency services station. PC Morris said: "It's always better to see youngsters on our side and take an interest in what we do rather than getting into mischief. Let's hope that having made contact with these 50 youngsters they won't be causing us trouble in the future!" Pack leader Collette Culross wrote to PC Morris requesting the visit to the police station. She said: "Many of the boys hadn't seen the inside of a police station so it was really interesting for them." l The pack, which meets in Freeborn Way, Bullbrook, has two sessions, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6.30-8pm, and currently has spaces for more cubs in the Thursday pack. Email kali@2ndbracknell.co.uk for more information.
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Published: 29 Mar 2009 12:00
CHILDREN brightened up an afternoon for pensioners by stepping back into the world of Victorian stage and song.
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Published: 27 Mar 2009 11:55
MEMBERS of Bracknell Royal British Legion may have to leave their base sooner than expected to help kickstart the town centre regeneration project.
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Published: 9 Mar 2009 08:00
Friends step up to help Cynthia visit loved ones
A SMALL army of energetic fundraisers are climbing one of the country's highest peaks to raise money for a grandmother who has been diagnosed with a debilitating disease. Doctors last year told sales administrator Cynthia Lynch she had motor neurone disease and that she could become terminally ill in three to five years. The disease leads to muscle weakness and wasting, loss of mobility and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing. Shocked colleagues at Bracknell-based engineering firm Honeywell, in Downshire Way, have rallied around Mrs Lynch since hearing the news last November and are raising money to enable her to fly around the world visiting friends and family before she becomes too frail. Around 70 people will be climbing Mount Snowdon in North Wales in May to raise money, with other funds being donated to the Motor Neurone Disease Association charity. Zimbabwean-born Mrs Lynch, 60, of Simmonds Drive in Priestwood, said: "The response from everyone has been amazing, I'm just incredibly touched by their reaction. "I think the prognosis I got was the most shocking thing. I'm a pragmatic person and when I went to the doctor's I thought to myself 'this is not going to be good'." Mrs Lynch, a widower with two children and four grandchildren, is hoping to visit her sister's family in New Zealand, her son in Connecticut in the United States, and some Zimbabwean friends in Australia. Her condition has deteriorated quite rapidly since her diagnosis and she has to be picked up from home by her manager every day instead of walking into work as she used to. Honeywell supply manager Katy Guess, who is spearheading the fundraising effort, said: "Cynthia is the life and soul of the party so it was quite shocking when we found out she'd been given this diagnosis. She used to exercise every morning and would walk to work. "It started with weakness in her arms and she couldn't swing a golf club. Cynthia really doesn't want to talk about it in a gloomy way though." The idea of climbing Snowdon came from Mrs Lynch's manager Damian Marsh, but Miss Guess has organised the challenge by using contacts with friends and family to recruit people from Amazon in Reading, BUPA, and Paypoint. The fundraising effort has already been kicked off by Honeywell sales person Dan Claridge, who has donated £200. Visit www.justgiving.com/katyguess or call Katy Guess on 01344 656889 to donate money.
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Last updated: 26 Feb 2009 15:05
Workers on right track as they transform a nursery
OFFICE workers rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in with some old fashioned elbow grease when they built a new play area for a nursery.
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Published: 2 Mar 2009 16:00
Workers on right track as they transform a nursery
OFFICE workers rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in with some old fashioned elbow grease when they built a new play area for a nursery.
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Published: 2 Mar 2009 12:00
Working out how best to support disabled youngsters
THERE was fun and games for all to enjoy at an information afternoon to promote awareness of a new programme for children with disabilities.
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Published: 1 Mar 2009 16:00
Weddings are fair-ing well through recession
THE credit crunch may be starting to bite most sectors of the economy but one area seems to have remained unscathed - weddings.
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Published: 28 Feb 2009 08:00
AN ENTERTAINMENT shop is hoping to beat the credit crunch and boost trade by encouraging customers to roll up and try their luck.
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Published: 27 Feb 2009 16:00
Family fights for hero's memorial
HOPE has been given to the family of a war hero who want his name included on a village memorial.
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Last updated: 29 Jan 2009 13:19
<a href="http://www.bracknellnews.co.uk/petition.php?pid=1">Click here to sign the petition</a>
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Published: 25 Jan 2009 16:00
'Funky’ new college emerges from the scaffolding
THERE has been an explosion of enquiries about Bracknell and Wokingham College courses in the light of its ambitious redevelopment project.
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Published: 24 Jan 2009 16:00
THE agent and close friend of children's TV presenter Tony Hart who died at the weekend has paid him glowing tributes.
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Published: 22 Jan 2009 08:00
Raising cash and spirits at hospice
RESOURCEFUL staff who dug deep into their pockets have helped raise more than £21,000 for their chosen charity.
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Published: 21 Jan 2009 12:00
THOUSANDS of pounds have already been raised for the "miracle baby" born two days after her mother died.
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Published: 21 Jan 2009 07:55
Learn while you earn and unlock hidden talent
RECORD numbers of young people are taking up apprenticeships, new figures show.
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Published: 11 Jan 2009 16:00
Marcia makes sure aid cash is put to good use
AN ADVENTUROUS teacher who swapped the comforts of her Bracknell classroom for a basic African school has been describing the experience.
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Last updated: 5 Jan 2009 16:11
WHEN Bracknell germinated into a new town in the late 1950s it soon became clear there was one essential ingredient missing - a truly local newspaper to satisfy a burgeoning population.
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Published: 18 Dec 2008 08:00
History is relived in the Great Fire
ONE of history's most famous fires was re-created in a dramatic playground demonstration.
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Last updated: 11 Dec 2008 17:05
A golden start to late night shopping
SOME of Santa's antlered assistants took a break from pulling his sleigh when they trotted into Bracknell's Princess Square shopping centre.
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Published: 16 Dec 2008 11:55
A golden start to late night shopping
SOME of Santa's antlered assistants took a break from pulling his sleigh when they trotted into Bracknell's Princess Square shopping centre.
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Published: 15 Dec 2008 16:00
Turning rubbish into Christmas creations
CREATIVE children used rubbish to make colourful Christmas decorations at a library workshop.
News from around Berkshire
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