Families, neighbours and friends of the residents of the Arthur Clark Care home in Caversham, Reading have taken action against a threat by Reading Borough Council to close the home. An online petition has been set up at http://chn.ge/YK83Bd and we are urging people to get involved and sign up to save many elderly and vulnerable pensioners from having to move out of their dearly loved home. We are simply asking for the local community and businesses of Reading (and beyond) to rally behind this wonderful home and its residents in a show of strength on behalf of those who are unable to defend their rights for themselves. Leaflets will be distributed and concerns can also be voiced through the online consultation questionnaire on the council’s website http://www.reading.gov.uk/council/Consultations/improving-residential-services-arthur-clark-care-h/

Please help us to save the residents (many of whom have lived in the local area all their lives) from a period of highly distressing upheaval, while unnecessary refurbishment takes place, with no promise of return. This amazing facility with such high standards of care could then be lost for all future generations.

“The care of our elderly is of outmost importance and the closure of yet another care home is awful. One day we will all be old and need a safe place and this home is wonderful.” Beverley Paterson, Berkshire (via online petition).

Please sign our petition http://chn.ge/YK83Bd and forward on to friends and relatives to spread the word.

A copy of the paper petition can also be downloaded from this website by clicking here

Time is short and we need all signatures to be delivered to the Arthur Clark Home, 1 Albert Road, RG4 7AN no later than 4/6/13 please.

For more information or to help our campaign, please contact savearthurclarkhome@gmail.com

The man and woman, thought to be in their 40s, were trapped in their overturned grey Vauxhall on Kidmore Road.

Fire crews from Wokingham Road and Dee Road stations received the call just after 2.30pm and were there until 4.50pm.

They had to remove all four car doors, the roof and tailgate to get the couple out on stretchers.

Two ambulances, an ambulance officer and an emergency care practitioner all attended, both passengers were taken to Royal Berkshire Hospital.

The road was closed for two and a half hours during sunday afternoon.

The Trail will take place in thirteen venues across Caversham with 29 artists taking part. This year there will be eight new artists and three new venues.

Work will include ceramics, painting, collage, stained glass, knitted textiles, prints, découpage, jewellery, sculpture and batik. The Trail gives members of the public the opportunity to meet the artists in their own studios and learn about their techniques (at the same time as having a snoop around people’s homes and gardens!) and buy work directly from them.

There will also be a silhouette cutting workshop run by Charles Burns, and a variety of demonstrations including tai chi by Debbie Page, silversmithing by Matt Hitch, Chinese brush painting by Jean Turton , slip casting and hand building ceramics by Lauren  Denney and poetry open-mike sessions with Robin Thomas. Last but not least refreshments (including home-made cake) will be available at some venues.

Admission is free and all venues are open from 11am–5pm.

More information about the event can be found on the Caversham Arts Trail website

Please see the flyer attached or by clicking here for ticket details.

Abbey Touraid is a venture in association with a number of local schools which will bring 4 junior teams over from some of the most deprived areas of the world on a life changing journey; we know from Touraid’s impressive track record that they come over for a week to enjoy themselves and play rugby, and then go home with the inspiration, determination and on going support to change their lives and those round them.

If you can make it then please do – everyone is very welcome to attend the launch, and you will now be hearing much more about Abbey Touraid going forward

Tickets are available here.

Conservative councillor Andrew Cumpsty, who is leading the campaign, collected signatures from more than 100 people living in the surrounding area of the Henley Road shelter.

He said: “Everyone we spoke to was shocked and signed our petition. Many people also said that it provides good shelter unlike more modern plastic designs which is its intended purpose.”

The campaigners are concerned that the 1930s bus stop at the junction of Henley Road and Lower Henley Road could be demolished and replaced.

At a full Reading Borough Council meeting in March the lead member for regeneration, transport and planning Tony Page was asked about refurbishing the shelter.

To which he said there were two options:

- Refurbishing the bus shelter which would, because of its concrete plinth, continue to be non-compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act.

- Or replace it with a standard modern bus shelter as part of the JC Decaux contract and the council would have to find the funds to supply the new shelter.

The campaign follows calls to save other historic features, such as the lido in the town’s Kings Meadow and a failed council bid for funding to preserve the 12th Century Reading Abbey ruins.

“The shelter is part of our historic past, it is unique and with a bit of TLC could look great,” explained Cllr Cumpsty. “Knocking it down is not going to save any money.”

Previously volunteers from the Caversham Freemasons, which meet nearby, had cleaned and repainted the shelter and may do so again in the future, depending on the decision of the Council on its future.

A statement issued by Reading Borough Council said: “A detailed report is scheduled to go to a meeting of the Council’s Traffic Management Advisory Panel (TMAP) in June which will include a review of all bus shelters across the town that are owned by the council and that report will be considered by the panel in the usual way.”

Reading Abbey RFC

Date: Mon 8th – Wed 10th April

Length: 3 days

Time: 9:30 – 15:30

Venue: Reading Abbey RFC, Rose Hill Peppard Rd, Emmer Green, Reading, RG4 8XA

Age: 6-16 Years

Details: Each player will receive a complimentary London Irish gift and ticket

Price: £99

If you are interested in booking then please contact London Irish direct.

http://london-irish.com/lirugbycamps.ink

McDermott who led Reading to promotion last season, but four successive Premier League defeats left them in relegation trouble – the 51-year-old lost his job on 11 March as a consequence.

Reading are currently seven points adrift of safety and second from bottom. It is a big task facing the new man.

Others linked with the role were Brighton boss Gus Poyet, who has opted to stay at the play-off chasing Championship side, while former Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio was also a target.

Owner Anton Zingarevich was delighted to welcome Adkins to the Berkshire club, and said it was an appointment for the “short and long term”.

“He has great respect within the game. His CV speaks for itself and he has many attributes as a manager, he is progressive, he develops players, his teams play attacking, passing football but most of all he knows how to win games at all levels. This is an appointment we have made both with the short and long term in mind and Nigel can take our club forward.” Said the Russian owner.