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Celebrities Push The Envelope with Pitney Bowes On Behalf of the National Literacy Trust
19th September 2006 Sonning resident Uri Geller and a host of other celebrities have been using their creativity to design envelopes and raise money for the National Literacy Trust in the third ‘Pushing The Envelope’ charity auction.

The campaign sees some of Britain’s favourite actors, writers, illustrators, musicians and sportspeople put pen to envelope in aid of the independent charity dedicated to improving the literacy of the nation. The envelopes will be auctioned on eBay starting 10th October at 11am and running for 10 days. All funds raised will be donated to the National Literacy Trust. Last year, ‘Pushing The Envelope’ raised £11,000 for the charity and this year sponsors Pitney Bowes hope to exceed this amount. With more celebrities committed to the cause and further entries yet to be submitted, more than 50 designs are anticipated to be available in total. For full list of contributors and their envelopes visit www.pushingtheenvelope.info.
The Continuing Saga of HGVs through Sonning
1st September 2006 After again asking SPC, at their July meeting,as to what progress was being made to replace the missing traffic sign at Thames Street mini roundabout that directed heavy goods traffic away from Thames Street and the Bridges, and receiving another unconvincing response, I had had enough. Next day I contacted WDC on behalf of myself as a Sonning resident and asked the right people there to kindly replace our missing sign and reminded them of their duty to do so. It wasn't just about excessive weight on the bridges, more importantly it was a Health and Safety problem with big trucks mixed up with lots of little cars and vulnerable pedestrians on narrow pavements - a recipe for disaster with more than likely a local authority being seen as being negligent. The bright chap I spoke to, the very same who repainted the road markings at the bottom of the one way section in the High Street after I pointed out that they were worn away, readily agreed to have a replacement made. It was screwed onto the existing post this afternoon! Overhanging branches have also been cut well back so there can't be any excuses that the thing is obscured. It's not that difficult to bypass bureaucracy if you've had enough of the stuff. Pat Doyle Sonning resident
Sonning Residents Becoming Honorary Chevaliers
17th July 2006 The entente was very cordiale in Sonning last weekend, when a group of vintners from the Haut Poitou region of France presented some of their wines and performed a special ceremony, known as the Tir Douzil. Members of both the Sonning Twinning Association committee, and its French counterpart in the twinned village of Ligugé, organized and hosted the event on Saturday, 7th July, at Sonning’s Pearson Hall. The evening took the form of the tasting of eight red, white and sparkling wines, which were provided by M. and Mme. Jacky Baudon of the Domaine Rotisserie, and M and Mme Raymond Girault of Domaine Girault – both located just north of Poitiers. The wines were accompanied by some French specialities, including meats, cheeses, a vegetable farci and Broye galettes – a type of sweet biscuit. The part of the evening that made the winetasting event unusual, was the ceremony of the Tir Douzil. This was performed by the Chevaliers d’Honneur des Vins du Haut Poitou – M and Mme Ganaye, M and Mme Girault, M and Mme Baudon, and M Jean Paul Branger – who are all members of the Confrerie des Tire Douzils de Marigny-Brizay, an association of wine growers and wine enthusiasts who gather together, resplendent in the robes of their particular brotherhood, to enjoy the wines of Haut Poitou. The association’s main aim is to ensure that their wines are of the best quality, and are appreciated and enjoyed by all. According to Grand Maître Henry Ganaye, you cannot smile if your throat is dry – a sentiment he expressed on many occasions throughout the evening.
Grand Maître Henry Ganaye leads the Tir Douzil ceremony with members of the Chevaliers d’Honneur des Vins du Haut Poitou. Photograph by Mark Green
What made this ceremony so special for Sonning was the invitation by the Chevaliers d’Honneur to a group of six local residents to join the Confrerie, an honour which had been bestowed last year in Liguge to a few other Sonning residents at the tenth anniversary celebrations of the twinning of Sonning and Liguge. All those invited were chosen because of their service to the spirit of the Twinning Association. Judy and Robert Baldwin, Carole Barnett, Mary Chapman, Ken Henderson and Lynn Woodhouse were all presented with their own Tire Douzils (the Order of the Bung), after swearing an oath, and drinking an impressively vast glass of Haut Poitou wine. The ceremony was loosely translated by Ligugé Twinning president, M Jean Poudou, his daughter, Amelie, and Sonning’s own Cathy Haill. More than 90 people attended the event. The members of the French contingency were hosted for the weekend by local residents, and on Saturday morning they were treated to a tour of the West Berkshire Brewery. The group was welcomed by owner Dave Maggs, who had arranged an 11 am beer-tasting that ensured a truly British lunchtime experience for all. Which begs the question: Does the cordiale in the expression entente cordiale perhaps refer to the beverages that are consumed in the process of creating accord between the two countries? Marjorie Thorne
Sonning Twinning Association Wine Tasting
6th June 2006 Sonning Twinning Association is organising a special tasting of Haut Poitou wines, in the presence of the Chevaliers d’Honneur des vins du Haut Poitou, on Saturday 8 July at 7.30pm in the Pearson Hall, Sonning. Three wine producers from the region are coming to Sonning to give a very special tasting of some excellent wines from the region and specialities such as the Poitou charcuterie, Fromages de Chevres, Tourteau Fromager and Broye du Poitou. There will be an opportunity to order wines directly from the producers. Tickets, on a first come, first served basis, are £12.50 each (£10 to Sonning Twinning Association members) and are available from Lynn Woodhouse (969 2206), Mary Chapman (969 7398) or David Bates (969 7753) or by completing the form by clicking HERE and sending it with a cheque to Mary Chapman at 15 Pound Lane, Sonning RG4 6XD.
Sonning Regatta 2006:
The original Sonning Regatta dates back to the early 1900s but sadly ceased upon the outbreak of the Second World War. It was reintroduced on the Thames above Sonning Lock in 2000 as part of our Millennium celebrations. It was so successful that it has now become a biennial event attended by several hundred people. Sonning is a relatively small community and the cost of mounting the regatta is significant with the hiring of boats, marquees, site clearance, etc. It is non-profit making and is supported by several local fund raising events in Sonning which meet part of the costs. We are seeking support from businesses and companies, particularly those with an association with Sonning and also within the Reading area. We hope that we can encourage you to support the regatta either by sponsoring an event, by advertising in the regatta programme or by supporting a team entry from your company with a donation to the event. Attached is a sponsorship form detailing the various races – new for 2006 are the Canadian canoe races. Completed forms should be sent to Sharon Auld at the address detailed at the foot of the sponsorship form which you can download by clicking HERE. Whether you can assist us in the promotion of the regatta or not, you would be warmly welcomed on the day. Steve Chapman Regatta Committee 2006
Sonning Scarecrows 2006:
30th April 2006 There is still time and room for you to get your character onto the list. The deadline for completing the artwork and getting the Map and list to the Printers is the 14th May so please, don’t miss out – ring NOW to get your character registered! Join in the fun of this lovely event - we are still looking for help to man the car parks and gardens, as well as for donations of cakes and plants to sell. Call Now... Malcolm Stansfield: 9341762 Barbara Carr (scarecrows): 9345886 Pam Glasspool (car park and gardens): 9692800 All funds raised in aid of the Village Playground Appeal



CHARITY AUCTION at the DUKE OF WELLINGTON, Twyford In aid of Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust 20th April 2006 Reading FC Shirt (framed) Autographed by 2004/05 Team Reading FC Football Autographed by 2005/06 Team James Harper Autographed Picture Reading FC vs Watford (11/3/06) Programme signed by Convey, Darius Henderson and Sonko Auction Items Kindly Donated By Key Windows, Twyford & Crowthorne
Success! South Oxon Parishes are out of the Western Corridor!
7th March 2006 The South Oxon Parishes are no longer in the Western Corridor Sub-Region! This completely unexpected development is thanks to a vote on March 1st at the Regional Assembly. SODC Leader Councillor Ann Ducker put forward a motion for our removal. This was in spite of SEERA fears that taking the seven parishes (and part of Sonning Common) out of the Western Corridor would 'open the floodgates' to pressure for similar boundary changes elsewhere. The vote went ahead nonetheless and was won 44 votes to 29, on the basis that there was no significant housing development currently scheduled for the area and that it did not therefore fit with being in a development sub-region. SEERA's boundary for the Western Corridor will not include any part of Oxfordshire. Our thanks to Cllr Ducker and to all the others who have been working so hard for this change. There are full details in a press release on the SODC website, which also confirms that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (John Prescott) still has a potential veto on the proposal: so vigilance will be vital, although the fact that the area was not due to yield any housing development may well be significant. Meanwhile it has been confirmed that the STOP! camapign will stand down with a recommendation that parish polls not go ahead.
Sonning Twinning Association Bursary for a young person to visit Ligugé
28th February 2006 A member of the Sonning Twinning Association has generously donated a bursary for a young person under 18, living in Sonning or an active member of a Sonning club or school, to cover all their travel costs and those of a companion, give them some pocket money and allow them both to stay for a week or so with a family in Liguge, near Poitiers. Their applications, which they must complete themselves and which should cover no more than one hundred words, should identify what they hope to achieve through the award. They should attach a supporting statement from a sponsor such as their teacher or club leader and send to David Bates, The Gatehouse, Sonning Lane, Sonning RG4 6ST by Friday, 17 March. The winner will be announced by Tuesday 18 April.
Join the 'Save The Oxon Parishes STOP' Campaign.
10th February 2006 Six parishes in South Oxfordshire are seeking their removal from South East England Regional Assembly's Western Corridor Sub-Region. What this means is that these rural parishes, consisting of unspoilt countryside and picturesque villages, wish to be under the control of South Oxfordshire District Council for planning and environment. If you live in Binfield Heath, Eye & Dunsden, Harpsden, Kidmore End, Mapledurham or Shiplake parish we think it is vitally important you find out more about the Parish Poll which we hope will be held on April 27, 2006. You can do this clicking HERE. Please let us know what YOU think by leaving your comments. You may also wish to sign up for a regular email newsletter fo the latest information.
We've Won! WDC confirms that work will start on the 'Barns Path' footpath from Little Court to the Sonning Farm Entrance 30th January 2006
Today sonning.net received, along with those Charvil Lane residents who participated in the campaign for Wokingham District Council [WDC] to build the long-promised footpath between Little Court to the Sonning Farm Entrance, a written committment to commence construction of the footpath on 6th February for three weeks. Obviously this will cause considerable disruption for those poor commuters forced to use our little village for a rat run over the river for the duration [particularly because the High Street will be closed for roadworks at the same time], but the benefits for walking along that short stretch of road out of harms way will safeguard generations to come. Apart from the unilateral sonning.net mailshot & web campaign, it is worth pointing out that WDC were separately pressurised into coughing up the money it had banked following the binding S106 agreement with the Little Court developer because of Sonning resident Pat Doyle's considered but vociferous campaigning of his own, culminating in his 'gatecrashing' a WDC & Sonning Parish Council survey of the road where he proved with a simple tape measure that the road had been allowed to narrow through negligence over many years &, as a result, had also completely concealed a mandatory road sign. The wording of the letter, signed by Tony Street, Special Projects Manager is as follows:
B478 Charvil Lane - Footway I am pleased to inform you that works to provide a footway from Little Court to the entrance to Sonning Farm are programmed to start on 6 February 2006 and it is estimated that it will take up to three weeks to complete. The contractor is Sherwood Bros & Burton (Maidenhead) Ltd with the works supervised by Mouchel Parkman, the Council's Highways and Transport Consultant. Please not that the traffic safety measures require temporary traffic signals with one way shuttle working between 9.00am to 4.00pm weekdays only. I enclose a location plan and scheme plan and if you have any queries please either contact my colleague Mark Smyth on 0118 936 7312 who will be managing the scheme or alternatively me. Yours Sincerely Tony Street Special Projects Manager
Stephen Humphreys: 'webmaster', sonning.net
Inaugural Annual Dinner of Sonning RNLI
By Pat Doyle 2005 saw the Inaugural Annual Dinner of Sonning RNLI take place on November 12th in Pearson Hall. Like Sonning RNLI's February Music Evening and July Garden Party, the event was a 'sell out'. Members and Guests at the 'Black-Tie' evening enjoyed a four course meal and a superb raffle. Chairman, David Bates, introduced the guest speaker, Richard Goddard, Secretary of Henley Royal Regatta, recounted highly amusing anecdoes of regatta life and was credited by David as being the individual rersponsible for some of the most memorable hang-overs ever experienced by regatta devotees. Having restored a rather dilapidated wooden sculling blade to its former glory, Sonning RNLI obtained the signatures of the 2000 Olympic gold medallist four (of Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Matthew Pinsent, James Cracknall, Tim Foster and their coach, Jurgen Grobler) on the newly painted 'spoon' (the wide, flat bit at the end of the blade shaft) on which David had painted a super Union Flag. The blade was auctioned following our main course, and following rapid bidding to £1,700, four sealed bids were opened to reveal one at a stunning £2,500. As previously agreed, the bidding was then returned to the assembled company and a further £100 was bid, bringing the total to a stupendous £2,600 for RNLI funds. The blade was purchased by a local Sonning family and thus remains in the village. Sonning RNLI is a very small branch and this result, together with our income for the evening, has enabled us to totally surpass our previous successes. Our next event, the Music Evening, is on February 11th 2006. Tickets sell fast. Watch this space.
A Special Message from Camp Mohawk in Wargrave
22nd November 2005 Camp Mohawk is a local Charity for children based in Wargrave giving support to children and families who have special needs. Children with special needs can put a lot of stress and strain on their families, so Camp Mohawk supports and helps them throughout the year giving them a safe relaxed environment for them to enjoy. Camp Mohawk relies heavily on fund-raising, and this year they are running a very special event called Winter Wonderland on the weekend of 10th - 11th December where they will turn their camp into a Christmas spectacular for a weekend. It will be open to all local children and their families. In order for Camp Mohawk to get this event off the ground they need to rely on the support from local people and local companies and are asking if you could help with sponsorship or donations in the form of money or prizes which can be used at raffles or as presents. Listed below are some of the things they need to make their event a success. Cash Donations Toys Christmas Trees Decorations Hampers Sweets Craft Materials Glasses for glass decorating Face Paints Food Vouchers Printing of raffle tickets Bric or Brac for our stand Volunteers to help with car parking and cafe area Anyone knows of a contact for a snow making machine Anything else you think would make this event a success. Camp Mohawk are also looking for sponsorship for two reindeers to visit on the weekend and a tractor ride to take some of the children up to the camp as access is quite difficult for some by foot. Camp Mohawk look forward to hearing from you very soon Please contact Dawn Dingwall at the Camp Mohawk Team on 940 4045 or email camp_mohawk@hotmail.com
Sonning Twinning Association Visits Ligugé to Celebrate 10 years of Twinning.
8th November 2005 “We are absolutely convinced that through our two communities knowing each other better and the various contacts which have cemented our friendship firmly together, we have forged a deep bond, making a secure protection against the ignorance and mistrust which can generate so much hatred and conflict.” These words were part of the speech of Monsieur Bernard Couturier, Maire of Ligugé, France, at a formal dinner on Saturday 23 October in Ligugé to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the twinning of Ligugé with Sonning. Having received in their homes in Sonning a party of French friends from Ligugé in July, 24 members of the Sonning Twinning Association, led by their Chairman, David Bates and the Chairman of the Parish Council, Steve Chapman, paid a return visit to Ligugé over the weekend of 21 to 24 October where they all were given a very warm welcome. They visited Poitiers where they were able to see the architecture of some beautiful churches. As part of a walking quiz around Ligugé, they checked the size of an oak tree which they had planted ten years ago in the Parque de Sonning. They enjoyed some excellent French cuisine at a lunch organised by the Ligugé Comite de Jumelage and at a dinner hosted by the Mairie at which the honour was bestowed on some of the group of becoming Chevaliers d’Honneur of the wines of Haut Poitou. On the Sunday, after visiting the newly excavated crypt of the Parish Church, members of the group were invited by the Brothers of the Abbey of Ligugé to take part in a moving service there. Later at a reception in the Mairie Steve Chapman, Chairman of Sonning Parish Council was awarded the Medaille d’Or de Vienne by Monsieur Jean Pierre Jarry, Conseiller General of the Department of Vienne and guests were able to see in pride of place the picture of Sonning Bridge painted by David Bates and given to Ligugé in July. The gifts from Sonning this time included a book of historic postcards of Sonning given to Marie-Therese Pinguet, President of the Ligugé Comite de Jumelage, and two bursaries, one from the Sonning Twinning Association to allow a young person from Ligugé to visit Sonning and the second, generously donated by John Edmonds in memory of his wife, Armine, to give a young person from Sonning the opportunity to visit Ligugé. More details of these bursaries will be publicised shortly. The Ligugé Twinning Association organised a very enjoyable evening where their guests learnt the intricacies of Breton dancing from a group of talented young musicians. Two very fruitful meetings were held to discuss joint plans for future contacts and exchanges, particularly between young people. The whole weekend was extremely successful and gave everyone the opportunity to enjoy warm friendships and forge new links. David Bates [Chairman]
Sonning Twinning Association - Press Release Sonning Celebrates 10 years of Twinning
3rd October 2005 Last weekend Sonning welcomed a group of 19 French friends from Ligugé, near Poitiers, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the signing of a twinning charter between the two communities of Sonning and Ligugé. The group was led by Bernard Couturier, Mayor of Ligugé, and the President of the Ligugé Twinning Association, Marie-Therese Pinguet. Thirteen years ago Maurice Girault, then Mayor of Ligugé contacted Nigel Rose, Chairman of Sonning Parish Council, to propose the twinning. That contact led in 1995 to the signing by Monsieur Couturier and Dr John Bowman CBE, the next Chairman of the Sonning Parish Council, of a charter pledging to foster friendships, promote cultural exchanges and encourage contact between young people in the hope that these would develop into lifelong friendships. Since then a number of visits have been made and links forged between the people of Sonning and Ligugé. The Millenium wall hanging in the St Sarik Room in Sonning contains the work of five Ligugé residents, among them Monique Lenfant, the past President of the Ligugé Twinning Association, and depicts tiles from the abbey in Ligugé. Events organised through the weekend by the Sonning Twinning Association, whose Chairman is Dr Ken Henderson, included a reception given by Sonning Parish Council, a treasure hunt round the village a gala dinner in the Pearson Hall and on the Sunday an informal barbecue attended by a number of local residents. The twinning associations were also very pleased to be invited by Royal British Legion to join the service of commemoration and celebration at St Andrew’s Church to mark the 60th anniversary of VE and VJ days. Gifts exchanged over the weekend included a watercolour of Le Parque de Sonning in Ligugé, presented to Steve Chapman, Chairman of Sonning Parish Council. A painting of Sonning Bridge by David Bates, who is also a member of the twinning association’s committee, was given by the twinning association to Monsieur Couturier and the people of Ligugé.. A number of Sonning residents are looking forward to a return visit to Ligugé over the weekend of 22/23 October and anyone wishing to join the group is welcome to contact David Bates (0118 9697753) or other members of the committee.

'Webmaster' throws himself out of aeroplane for charity - "Probably the most idiotic thing I've ever done"!
2nd October 2005 Well!! Along with some chaps from the IJP Group of Companies, the 'webmaster' finally made his jump for the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust at a small airstrip near Lewknor [It's actually a very large field rented from a farmer by the London Parachute School]. After waiting around ALL DAY for our jump, we were eventually called over to get kitted up, which we did & then waited for ages more. I, of course, was perfectly calm, prepared, & fully 'psyched-up', even as the very cramped Cessna left the ground. The weather was clear & the view was fantastic. We just seemed to be going up & up & up. It was only when we levelled off at 3500 feet & the door was opened that the full horror of what I was about to do really hit home! After that everything happened with frightening speed. My co-jumper Fred Clift was first to go & I was sitting on the edge of the doorway before I knew what was happening. I heard the word 'GO' & I was out of the plane. Somehow I knew I didn't have any choice! On leaving the plane you are supposed to arch & shout at the top of your voice "thousand one, thousand two, thousand three, thousand four - check canopy" - I honestly haven't got a clue what I did! All I remember was a rush & a yank as the canopy opened. After a stream of unprintable expletives I eventually managed to regain my composure & remembered to check my canopy & take control [yes - it was there!]. It was all so incredibly quiet except for the gentle fluttering of the canopy & a sort of far away noise like a radio hissing at very low volume. Actually it was a radio hissing at very low volume - it was mine & it was strapped to my chest! I managed to turn it up only to hear one of the trainers bellowing at me for ignoring him. Oh well, I eventually found the big orange cross I was supposed to be aiming for & was guided down to an effortless landing - not that I remembered any of how I had been taught to land. It was probably the most idiotic thing I've ever done, but it was absolutely brilliant, totally exhilerating & I would recommend it to everyone [except for Fred - who unfortunately broke his ankle as he landed]. All of my co-jumpers work for the IJP Group of Companies and the they are [from left to right] me, Jason Ashford, Fred Clift & Domonic Barrington-Groves. Other jumpers from IJP include the MD Ian Pritchett & his son James, Glyn Edwards, Colin McGugen & Matt Bradley - who has really been bitten by the bug & has made several jumps since. He is now ready to jump freefall! As a group we've so far managed to raise around £2000 sponsorship for the Air Ambulance Trust, but it's not too late if you would like to add some more!!!. Stephen Humphreys: 'webmaster', sonning.net & the IJP Group of Companies
	'sonning.net' Celebrates its' 1st Birthday! 1st October 2005
Following sonning.net's launch on October 1st 2004 it has gone from strength to strength & has already become a well-used resource locally, nationally, & even internationally. After its' launch sonning.net received 506 unique visits by individuals in the first month alone, reaching a current high of 1,586 visits in April this year. In the last twelve months this has resulted in a total of 13,374 individual visits. Not bad for a humble village website! Apart from extensive local use, visits have been from all over the world from too many countries to mention, but including far-flung places such as Chile, Australia, Japan, South Africa, Singapore, Canada & so on & so on... Perhaps the most interesting [& maybe worrying!!] are visits from the US Government & US Military. I wonder if, for some reason, they are spying on us in Sonning & Sonning Eye??? Ooer!! 'Search Strings' that surfers have used on search engines to find sonning.net have been telling, indicating that it is being used as the resource that it was intended to be. These include searches for local services such as doctor's surgeries, dentists, chemists, bus & train timetables, bars, & restaurants etc. Most surprisingly though, the most popular search by a long way, & consistently almost every month, has been for "Wurzel Gummidge"! This was the result of a photograph taken by Alastair Driver of one of the exhibits for the Sonning 2004 Scarecrow Trail on the Picture Gallery page - it shouldn't be too difficult to find him! I just find it amazing that such an old kiddie's TV programme is still so popular! After its' first year I am very proud of sonning.net & now probably consider it the flagship of my own web design company 'design-h5'. sonning.net is very much of 'design-h5' design instincts, but also does "exactly what it says on the tin"! The whole concept was scrupilously researched from scratch & has since been kept mostly up-to-date within 24 hours or so. I would like, however, to state my admiration & thanks for the pioneering websites Sonning Museophile Archive by Professor Jonathan Bowen - the original Sonning & Sonning Eye website, & to my 'guru' John Taylor[affectionately nicknamed by me as the 'Glasshopper'] for his support, advice, seemingly unending patience, & one of the first [& still very best] village websites www.wargrave.net. Stephen Humphreys design-h5 Sonning-on-Thames
Time is running out for Lafarge protests about Playhatch Triangle
12th September 2005 Have you written personally to protest about the proposed gravel excavation locally? Time is running out. It will be decided at an Oxfordshire County Council Planning Committee meeting on Monday October 17th, with a site visit that morning. Council officers are not listening to local opinion. SODC has given its support for the scheme (with conditions) and I expect the OCC officer to do the same – such is the pressure to find sources of gravel for the Government’s building plans locally. Lafarge's glossy publicity has covered up the nasty realities of this application. The concrete plant and gravel processing machinery currently at Caversham Marina moves close to people’s houses in Sonning Eye and Playhatch. Work starts at 7am. This is covered by an existing consent, which will only be viable if this application goes ahead. A beautiful landscape which has taken centuries to form will be replaced by ugly, noisy gravel digging with lorry movements switching from the Marina road to the B481 Sonning Eye road and out throughout the district. After 55 years of excavation locally, enough is enough. In spite of Lafarge’s proposals to screen the site it is clearly visible from some well-used hillside footpaths and the A4155 Henley Road. Threatened species including native crayfish and a significant iron age archaeological site will be lost. Around half of the hedgerows on site will also go for ever. Properties including Botany Bay, Homestead Cottages, The Gallery, Lakeside and the Flowing Spring pub will be directly affected by noise. There will be floodlights and dust. Screening bunds cannot be high enough to disguise the workings because if they did they would cause flooding. Flooding implications of the application have not been adequately assessed. This application is being dealt with under the ‘small extension scheme’ policy which states that they will not normally get consent for more than three years of working. Lafarge’s working method gives no indication of timing and the planning officer has said that the stated excavation period is capable of extension. It may go on for years. Lafarge expect the pretty looking restoration (a contrived landscape - not the same as the real thing) to be postponed once they get started excavating towards Shiplake, presumably with an overhead conveyor continuing over Spring Lane. There is potential for decades of excavation there. A very disruptive over road conveyor is not justified by the relatively small 370,000 tonnes of reserves on the Playhatch triangle site. Will you do something to stop this nasty scheme becoming a reality? Have you written to the Planning Officer, Joanna Freyther, Environment & Economy, OCC, Speedwell Street, Oxford OX1 1NE Joanna.Freyther@Oxfordshire.gov.uk Fax 01865 810 106? Will you turn out on 17th October to show local councillors how strong feeling really is? David Woodward, Sonning Eye Action Group 0118 969 3633

Sponsor sonning.net in association with the

Group of Companies
parachute jumping for the Air Ambulance Trust!

21st August 2005

Note: This event was originally planned for the weekend of 10th - 11th September, but had to be postponed due to poor weather conditions. It has now been provisionally rebooked for the weekend of 1st - 2nd October subject, of course, to the weather!

Yes indeed! The 'webmaster', in association with the IJP Group of Companies will be jumping out of an aeroplane at about 3500 feet & reaching a velocity of up to 120mph before opening a parachute on behalf of the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust, which provides an essential life saving service for the Thames Valley area covering Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire & some parts of Northamptonshire.

The Trust is a charity and is not funded by the National Lottery but relies on sponsorship, donations & fundraising activities to meet the running cost of £950,000 per annum.

Operated in daylight hours & on call seven days a week, the yellow liveried helicopter is based near Maidenhead at White Waltham Airfield carrying two fully qualified Paramedics & a full range of life saving & medical equipment. It can transport 2 patients with the ability to treat & care in the air. As a small flexible & highly maneuverable helicopter, the Air Ambulance can also reach areas that ground vehicles could not, such as remote rural areas, golf courses, railways, canals etc.

The value of the Air Ambulance is in being able to bring the benefits of rapid Paramedic intervention to a medical situation in order to give primary care & then airlift patients, if required, to the most appropriate hospital within the 'Golden Hour'.

The Air Ambulance lands at Wexham Park Hospital, Slough; Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading; John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford; Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury; Northampton General Hospital as well as Kettering, Milton Keynes & other specialist hospitals as necessary.

To-date, the helicopter has saved many lives answering at least 7325 emergency calls within the Thames Valley area.

To raise the necessary funds to maintain this life-saving service, the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust desperately needs your help. You can help by making a donation at the Trust's website & by sponsoring sonning.net & the IJP Group of Companies for the parachute jump on the 10th - 11th September. Sponsorship for the Parachute Jump is easy: Just email webmaster@sonning.net with your name, postal address [including your postcode] & the amount you would like to donate. Anything you can spare will be very much appreciated! As proof that we have made the jump you will be rewarded with photographs of jibbering nervous wrecks on this page after we have safely reached the ground!

Thank you very much in anticipation of your support

Stephen Humphreys: 'webmaster', sonning.net & the IJP Group of Companies

WHERE'S OUR PAVEMENT?
Recent developments on the proposals for the Charvil Lane 'Barns Path'

sonning.net recently received a letter from Sonning resident Pat Doyle who has been wonderfully 'vociferous' in the campaign for a pavement between Little Court Farm and Sonning Farm entrance. Wokingham District Council [WDC] have now been forced into action since Pat proved that they have been negligent in allowing the North bank to overgrow narrowing the road and completely concealing a mandatory road sign. Hopefully, because of Pat’s intervention you will have noticed the recently cleared bank and road sign that has probably been hidden for several years!

Maybe now we will get our pavement very soon.

An edited version of Pat’s letter appears below…

The recently revealed road sign & cleared embankment.
Before the clearance you couldn't even see the white line!

27th August 2005

Now that the Northern kerb and bank facing the converted barns and barn area has been mostly cleared with all the granite kerb revealed, it is clear that a lot of publicly owned land has been uncovered after years of total lack of maintenance by WDC.

Obviously the Land Registry plan would need to be checked, but an old iron boundary marker on top of the newly cleared bank is seven feet from the kerb edge. The previously hidden cattle sign is 30" from the kerb edge and would be on publicly owned land.

As a consequence of the meeting on 1st August [see the 7th August update below] and a survey on August 4th, WDC have produced two plans [now a matter of public record]. One shows a mighty 'pinch point', an alternate one-way working layout ideal for congestion and general mayhem if the results of a similar layout, since removed by WDC, are anything to go by.

The second plan clearly shows a 48" [1200mm] path running alongside the barns and farm property while maintaining a constant width 18ft roadway. The latter being achieved by re-profiling the road by using some of the publicly owned embankment to a maximum of 29" plus vertical concrete pave [angled back slightly] to shore up the bank over the contoured section.

The 1200mm dimension is interesting because although it is clearly shown on WDC's large scale detail plans as a minimum width, at the site meeting on August 1st Paul Turrell [Assistant Chief Executive WDC] and Mark Moon [Highways and Engineering] were adamant that 1600mm was the minimum.

There is absolutely no need to "borrow" any land to carry out a proper installation as per the second plan.

To suggest a path along the Northern side is palpable nonsense.

Clearly, for Sonning Parish Council's [SPC] Traffic Working Group to have been totally unaware that a simple solution to the 'Barns Path' was right under their noses is, to say the least, incompetent and very embarrassing.

Fortunately, WDC were so anxious to get their hands on the £15,000 from the developers that they omitted to check the practicality of building a regulation width path without 'adjusting' the road shape. So now they have the money and will need to spend a great deal more to accommodate the path.

But incompetence aside, compared to the chaos and lack of progress over the last three years [apart from WDC tucking £15,000 into their bank account] Sonning Parishioners now have WDC in a position where they cannot, in all credibility, back away from building the 'Barns Path'. That's progress, and coupled with those same Parishioners preventing SPC from building their proposed footpath along the rest of Charvil Lane, we have a result. We just need to ensure that more incompetence doesn't delay things further.

Anyone who wants the 'Barns Path' built should press for the work to start by attending the 13th September Parish Council meeting at the Pavilion, Pound Lane at 7.30pm.

WHERE'S OUR PAVEMENT?
Update on the campaign for a safe pavement from Little Court to Sonning Farm Entrance

7th August 2005

On Monday 1st August representatives of Sonning Parish Council [SPC] & Wokingham District Council [WDC] met for a survey of the proposed safe pavement from Little Court to Sonning Farm Entrance

SPC started by explaining the independence of the Little Court Barns pavement from the main Charvil Lane Path. Mark Moon of WDC started by saying that they would have difficulty putting in any pavement of less than 6' (1.8m), because of their public liability concerns. He was proposing drawing up two schemes: a narrow (23") path between the existing kerb & the barns; & a 6' path, that would involve narrowing the road to one-way working (probably with priority to traffic leaving Sonning; i.e. eastwards). These two would be sent out for consultation.

The SPC view was that one-way working was not desirable, & he was asked if an intermediate scheme could be drawn up, involving a pavement build-out & pinch-point in the carriageway, to give [for example] a 3'-4' pavement at the narrowest point, whilst maintaining two-way working. The argument turned on how much width of carriageway was needed for two-way working.

It was suggested that width could be 'borrowed' from the northern bank, where there is a very wide (16') hedge. Sonning resident & Parishioner Pat Doyle then showed a Cattle Crossing highway sign submerged 4' back into the northern hedge, & the original northern kerb - long since buried - about 2' in. This transformed the discussion.

Wokingham will now draw up three schemes:

A narrow footpath, along the existing southern kerb
A wide footpath, & one-way working
A mid-width (3-4') footpath on a build-out from the southern kerb, combined with cutting back the northern hedge & cleaning back the carriageway to the old northern kerb - or even further.

Depending on what they find when they dig out the northern bank, WDC may come back with a proposal to run the path along the northern kerb.

SPC have been promised the drawings of the three scheme proposals within the next month or so. There will also need to be one or two telegraph/power poles moved.

sonning.net is of the opinion that WDC is trying to fob us all off over this, & if Pat Doyle hadn't 'gatecrashed' his way into this 'survey' they just might have got away with it. WDC claim to have already surveyed this stretch of road, but have obviously not done it properly or haven't done it all. Otherwise they would have known that they have been negligent in basic highway maintenance by allowing possibly up to 4' of the carriageway to overgrow obscuring a statutory road safety sign where, should an accident occur, they would be liable as they have permitted the road to be narrowed by debris & undergrowth.

Two years ago WDC happily took £15,000 of Hicks' money to build this essential pavement when the Little Court Farm development cut off the old safe path through the farm but, clearly, have never really been interested in seeing this project through at all.

As sonning.net learns of any updates on this issue they will be posted here.

Stephen Humphreys: 'webmaster', sonning.net

WHERE'S OUR PAVEMENT?
Sonning.net campaigns for a safe pavement from Little Court to Sonning Farm Entrance

16th July 2005

Sonning.net was recently incensed to learn that, when the recent Little Court Farm development on Charvil Lane was completed two years ago, Wokingham District Council [WDC] was paid £15,000 by the developers to build a new pavement between Little Court Barns & the entrance to Sonning Farm but, despite the considerable danger in walking along this short stretch of road, precisely nothing has yet been done.

When Little Court was developed, there were two obligations imposed on the developer before planning permission was granted [S106 agreements]:

Ref:
S.438
S.465

Date:
20.09.02
29.04.03

Purpose:
Footpath/cycleway
Footpath/cycleway

Amount:
£7,500
£7,500

Conditions:

Repaid after 5 years if unused

Apparently the developers offered to build the pavement themselves, but were told to pay the money to WDC, so that they could do it instead.

This pavement has nothing to do with the proposed Charvil Lane path to the Wee Waif roundabout, & was needed before the path issue was ever raised. It was a requirement to provide a safe route of getting into Sonning once the way through Little Court & the old Crops Research Unit was cut off. It would also serve as access to the University Farm Cottages, Acre Field & August Field, the Aquatic Plants Research Station & Broadmoor Lane. So it is WDC's duty to complete it, whatever happens elsewhere. Indeed, it should have been completed & ready on the day the old way through was cut off.

Sonning Parish Council have been pushing for this to happen, but sonning.net have been told that WDC will not spend the money until after the Parish Council have built the Charvil Lane path, entirely at their own expense. Since the total cost of that is likely to be upwards of £25,000 [more than their entire annual Precept], this isn’t likely to happen any time soon.

Consequently, sonning.net has written to all the residents on Charvil Lane enclosing letters addressed to WDC Councillors Pollock & Chopping, & Tony Street, the Corporate Head of Highways. Every adult in each household has been asked to sign each letter & post them to WDC. You can also join the campaign by writing to WDC. Download the letters by clicking HERE, or by writing your own & sending them to:

Councillor A. Pollock, Portfolio-holder for Transport
Councillor D. Chopping, Chairman of the Highways Consultative Board
Tony Street, Corporate Head of Highways

All at: Wokingham District Council, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1WQ

Thank you very much in anticipation of your support

Stephen Humphreys: 'webmaster', sonning.net

Time Is Running Out For Objections To Lafarge Quarry Proposals

15th February 2005

After 50 years of quarrying in the Caversham & Sonning Eye areas, Lafarge Aggregates now plan to take out 370,000 tonnes of gravel in the 'Playhatch triangle' north of Sonning Eye between the Flowing Spring pub and the Playhatch roundabout. Once the site is exhausted of resources, Lafarge propose to turn it in to lakes, islands, and marshland to form a nature reserve.

However, the Sonning Eye Action Group [SEAG], argue that the expansion threatens local wildlife, especially as there has been evidence of a family of otters living on the site. Furthermore, a partial skeleton, a broach and flint arrowheads were found recently suggesting that there may be a pre-Christian burial site and possible settlement there, but SEAG claim that there is no plan to do any rescue archaeology at all.

SEAG are concerned that if Lafarge are allowed to develop the Playhatch Triangle, it opens the way for them to try and then develop a much larger area adjacent to it. Lafarge have confirmed that they wish to extend their activities along the river towards Shiplake once they have consent to quarry the Playhatch Triangle

The public consultation period for the Lafarge proposals finishes on Monday February 28th, and anyone wishing to object to should write to council officer Joanna Freyther, Speedwell House, Speedwell Road, Oxford, OX1 1NE.

Meanwhile, Lafarge Aggregates has set up an information line for anyone wanting to know more about the proposals on [01992] 512764.

[See the Reading Evening Post article 'Quarry protesters point to old burial site clues' by clicking HERE]

2-TEN FM Morning Crew Christmas Auction

8th December 2004

This Sunday, 12th December, tune in to 2-TEN FM and join in the Morning Crew Christmas Auction for 2-TEN FM Kids and you could help them raise thousands for local children and pick up a bargain at the same time.

Ollie, Sarah and Stew, the 2-TEN FM Morning Crew, will be kicking it all off at 9am with literally hundreds of fantastic items for you to get your hands on. You could be picking up anything from a combination TV/DVD, or a track day experience in a Ford Focus RS racecar, to loads of money-can't-buy signed celebrity items. For starters, they've got a Christmas card signed by the Busted Boys, a signed framed Kylie photo as well as one of David Beckham in his England strip. Listen in to find out what else they've got on offer.

This year the 2-TEN FM Kids Appeal Fund will be giving the first £15,000 raised to ABC to read, to help them with their fantastic work with local youngsters helping them develop both their confidence and reading skills. Help 2-TEN FM raise even more and they'll be able to help loads of other non-profit making groups across Berkshire and North Hampshire that nurture the talent of local children.

The Sonning & Sonning Eye Society Gets It's Own Website

5th November 2004

Courtesy of design-h5, the Sonning & Sonning Eye Society launched its own website at www.sonning.org.uk. For members with internet access this will become a most effective means of keeping abreast of Society news and staying in touch with new developments. While this is a cost-effective way for the Society to keep its membership informed, they also recognise that not everyone has this type of access, and so will maintain a dual system providing hard copy newsletters and other documents as need arises.

Initially pages will be built to provide a useful resource for members and non-members. The Society certainly plan to make key documents available for downloading, such as the Constitution, nomination forms, press releases, free publications, and the Newsletter. Later on they hope to have some interactive pages available, enabling, for instance, online booking of events or online membership.

Following the launch of sonning.net at the beginning of October, www.sonning.org.uk is the second of a planned three community websites for Sonning & Sonning Eye designed & maintained by design-h5. Hopefully a website for Sonning Parish Council will complete the network sometime in the near future.

Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve wins award!

14th October 2004

Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve has won the 2004 Dorothy Morley Community Conservation Award for Berkshire! Apparently the judges were very impressed with the large numbers of members on the Friends Group and the large number who actually volunteer for conservation work, as well as the rich variety of wildlife recorded at the site, the integration with the rest of the community, and the determination they have shown to restore the site since the travellers and fire damage of 2003.

It is a credit to the Friends Group and to the Parish and District Councils who have both supported the project since its inception in 1997, that they have won this award at the first attempt. This is even more noteworthy because competition was apparently much fiercer than in the previous two years that this award has been running. The Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust who run the award scheme, will be organising a publicity event in the village, probably on the weekend of 27/28 November, and the Friends of Ali's Pond group will be alerted by e-mail.

Launch of www.sonning.net

1st October 2004

Phew! After an unexpected technical glitch, sonning.net was finally moved to it's new permanent 'home' & launched on the evening of 1st October [it should have been the morning!].

Sonning.net is intended to be an interactive resource & it is hoped that the residents of both Sonning & Sonning Eye will not only benefit from these pages, but will also contribute with their own news items, diary events & pictures, of which Alastair Driver has already kindly contributed a substantial amount!

It's been a hard slog putting all this together, so I hope you find sonning.net a useful resource & help me keep it as up-to-date as possible!

Enjoy!

Stephen Humphreys
design-h5
Sonning-on-Thames

Launch of the Sonning & Sonning Eye Society

12th September 2004, The Mill Theatre, Sonning Eye, 7.30pm.

The Sonning & Sonning Eye Society was officially launched at the Mill Theatre on the 12th September, chaired by Canon Christopher Clarke with a presentation by Mrs Jane Balfour on the works of Gertrude Jekyll & Edwin Lutyens with particular reference to Deanery Garden in Sonning on which they collaborated with quite beautiful results.

A short presentation followed which outlined the Society's aims & objectives for the public benefit in the area comprising both villages and their surroundings.

You will want to join the society if:

You are interested in the natural environment where you live and want to see it protected.
You are concerned about the effects of traffic through the two villages and would like to influence decision-making about solutions.
You care about the many excellent buildings in both villages and want to see them preserved.
You would like to see high standards of planning and architecture in the two villages.
You would be interested in finding out more about the geography, history, natural history and architecture of both Sonning and Sonning Eye.

If you were unable to get to either the Sonning Show or the Inaugural Meeting you can still join the Society by contacting the Membership Secretary, Carole Barnett, on 969 6693.


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