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Welcome to this week's Penny Post celebrating local life in and around:
Newbury • Thatcham • Hungerford • Lambourn • Downlands • Wantage • Marlborough
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Local News
This week's round-up from across the area and a bit beyond including level-crossing debates, the ReadiBus, Sandleford revisited, colour-coded letters, literacy rates, hapless Dave, unauthorised activities, an ownerless dog, wildflowers, flags, naming a jab, a bumper newsletter and funking it up.
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Protesting the Bill
There have protests up and down the country against the government's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts bill. On 3 April, attention switched to Newbury where the Alliance Against the Bill made their points about an act which would make many such protests illegal...read more
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More News
• Penny Post Hungerford April Newsletter.
• Get a better elecricity or gas deal by registering for the collective enegy switch.
• Maternity update from Healthwatch West Berkshire.
• Shopmobility has re-opened in Newbury.
• If you don't want to vote in-person in 6 May elections, you need to fill out a postal vote application form here and send it to your local electoral office (usually at the local council) by 20 April.
• Have your say about improvement required for West Berks Public Rights of Way (footpaths, bridlepaths etc) by 30 May.
Pub Re-openings
The moment we have been waiting for – pubs can re-open for meals or just drinks from Monday (with outside table service only). Groups up to six from different households. Groups of two households can be any size. You must scan in for track and trace and wear a face mask when you’re not seated.
Lots of great local pubs to enjoy from 12 Apr:
• The Five Bells,Wickham has a new outfoor seating area. Book a table kids eat free 12-18 Apr..
• The Queens Arms in East Garston has just been put through its paces filming Four in a Bed and welcomes you back 12 Apr
• The Crown & Anchor in Ham will be open Thur to Sun from 15 April with an exciting new small plate tapas-style menu. Traditional roast available on Sundays. Booking essential online or email info@crownandanchorham.co.uk.
• The Ibex, Chaddleworth's beer garden will be open for meals and drinks seven days a week.
• The John O'Gaunt Pub Hungerford welcomes you to its new garden Tiki Tent. Booking essential.
• The Great Shefford will be open seven days a week.
• The White Hart in Hamstead Marshall open Fri-Sun. Hours will extend after 17 May.
• The Royal Oak Bishopstone will be open seven days a week (also their Flying Pig hot food and drink van on the Ridgeway).
• The Chequers Inn in Charney Basset will be open from Tuesday 13 April.
• The Hartley Arms, Donnington will be open Weds-Sun from 14 Apr. Outside tables and take-away.
• The Crown & Garter in Inkpen will be open from 12 Apr on a “room only” basis, with outdoor seating and takeaways from the pub & Honesty Coffee Shop.
• The Pheasant in Shefford Woodlands is re-opening in style 17 May.
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Gardening
• Seasonal tips to help you enjoy your garden, whether flowers or produce is your thing (including a tour round our neighbour Hilly Reem's veg patch and 100-year-old rhubarb plant)...read more
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Local Activities
• Calling local musicians - register by 23 Apr to perform at Wantage Music Festival 19 & 26 June
• Beginners Spanish Course 11.15am Thursdays starts 15 April in Kintbury (or Zoom if required).
• Emergency First Aid at Work or Basic Life Support First Aid 28 April, Hungerford.
• A new Sunday league team has just started in Great Bedwyn. Subs for AFC Bedwyn are just £10/week and they are also looking for sponsors. If you are interested please contact manager Oliver Sweeney on 07444 022463.
• Online courses guide.
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Recommendations
• Ben Savage recommends Marlborough Law: "Helped expertly guide us through some stressful legal issues making everything hassle free and clear. Very much recommended."
• Clare McKeon recommends Move Breath Personal Training: "Poppy is very professional and delivers a totally personalised routine that's always varied and tough! It's the best hour of my day."
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Charity & Voluntary Groups
• Please support Jon Shatford's Castaway Challenge in aid of The Royal British Legion.
• Latest news from Volunteer Centre West Berks.
• 5 local charitable organisations can raise up to £15,000 in June. Apply by 14 May to participate in Greenham Trust's Double Match Funding Days.
Staying Safe
• Tool security marking & crime prevention advice from neighbourhood police 10am-2pm Wed 14 Apr at Saddleback Farm Shop, RG20 7HR.
• How to set up a No Cold Calling Zone to deter 'Nottingham Knockers'.
• Neighbourhood Watch Guide to avoiding scams and making your community safer.
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Property
• Office space to rent in Hungerford
• For sale: five-bed house in Burbage. GP £680,000. Contact Brearley & Rich.
• For sale: one-bed maisonette in Hungerford. GP £250,000. Contact Brearley & Rich.
• For rent: four-bed house in Great Shefford. £1,575pcm. Contact Nina Clark Lettings.
• For rent: three-bed house in Marlborough. £1,100pcm. Contact Nina Clark Lettings.
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Local Jobs
This week's Jobs section includes: working operations manager, marquee riggers, housekeeper/FoH, part-time gardener, HGV mechanic, business development executive, front of house staff, kitchen porter, school attendance officer, sous chef, heritage attraction general manager, senior care assistant, youth and community centre director, vice-chair of trustees, dental nurse apprentice, mother's help, facilities manager, beauty therapist, hair stylist, early years team leader, secondary school science technician, nurses, laundry assistants, housekeepers and carers.
See also our section for volunteer positions.
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This Week with Penny
• What a week for weather. We lost a light green plastic cloche from our garden, despite it being weighted down by a brick. It might have been blown into the stream and floated halfway to Great Shefford by now. If anyone sees it please let me know and we will retrieve it. It's about the size of a tent for, say, a Labrador, if such things exist.
• I'm having a go at fermenting wild garlic buds, as you do when you have more time at home.
• The end of lockdown is certainly worth celebrating. But for some people the re-opening of the pubs, especially in such euphoric circumstances, risks them drinking to excess. Local drug and alcohol counsellor Stewart Kennedy shares some practical tips to drinking sensibly as we come out of lockdown (otherwise you might end up like Flo & Joan...)
• Thanks to Paul Shave at Newbury Theatre for his guide to productions to enjoy online while we wait for theatres to re-open on 17 May.
• Finally, here's another chance to read Heartburn, one of Brian's stories in which someone performs a casual act of generosity which has devastating results. (I'm pleased to report that in real life he takes a rather better view of doing good deeds than this story would suggest.)
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Thur 1 Apr - Mon 19 Apr
Easter Scavenger Hunt in Great Shefford
Tue 13 April
Author Talk: Rachel Joyce on Miss Benson's Beetle
Sat 17 April
Sun 18 April
Hungerford Food & Artisan Market
If you are still seeing cancelled events on our website calendar please try emptying the cache on your web browser.
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Local Radio
• Kennet Radio, on 106.7 FM and also online.
• 4LEGS Community Radio for the Lambourn Valley.
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