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Heritage Weekend takes place takes place this year on the 10th and 11th September. Wokingham Town Council are planning a full programme of events for all the family on both days. The theme this year is the 1950s, so make a note in your diary and visit the Town Hall for some first class free entertainment.
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The market town of Wokingham is situated in the Royal County of Berkshire about 30 miles west of London.

Wokingham town centre offers a wide selection of restaurants, cafes and pubs and is ideally located for easy access to its neighbouring towns of Reading and Bracknell.

It is within easy reach of the M4 and M3 motorways, with main line rail access to both Waterloo Station and Gatwick Airport.

Heavy rain has caused flash flooding across Berkshire, causing traffic problems in the borough of Wokingham. A Wokingham Borough Council spokesperson said it was “unlikely that the flood will subside before evening”.
Wokingham Borough Council is keeping people updated on its website at:
www.wokingham.gov.uk/safety/emergencies/borough-alert/

The Wokingham Food and Drink Festival is being held this year on Friday 26th to Sunday 28th August, 2011.

The Wokingham Food & Drink Festival 2011 has the added attractions of Music and Beer! The Festival is now in its fifth year and will have a wonderful line up of chef’s, demonstrators, food & drink exhibitors, restaurants and specialist market traders on Elms Field, Elms Road, Wokingham for a two day event this August Bank Holiday weekend. There will also be a demonstration theatre and sampling area.

A major attraction for this year will be the opportunity to meet Adam Henson the well known and respected presenter on BBC Countryfile and joint owner with his father of Cotswold Farm Park a rare breed conservation farm.

Venue: Elms Field, Wokingham, RG40 2LD.

Visit www.wokinghamfestival.co.uk for more information.

In conjunction with the Cultural Partnership, Wokingham Borough Council is looking for architectural or landscape photographs that define Wokingham Borough. The winning photographs will head up a More Arts exhibition in the Borough.

To enter, please read the Terms and Conditions. You can add up to twenty photos of 3 mega pixels or greater to the corresponding age group in the Wokingham Borough Council Flickr account, via your Flickr account photostream.

There are two age categories: 13 to 17 years and 18 years and over.

The competition closes at 12 noon on the 23rd September 2011

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The countdown to the Olympics in 2012 is well under way in Wokingham Borough with over 1,500 people attending a special event on Saturday (July 23).

The event, at Dinton Pastures Country Park in Hurst, marked one year to go until the London Olympics and Paralympics. And, hundreds of local people met Olympic rower Anna Watkins, who told them about her preparations for London 2012.

Families from all over the borough enjoyed a wide range of activities from an army assault course, water sports and Sumo wrestling to table top football, golf putting, and basketball. Wokingham Borough Council’s library service was also on hand telling tales and scintillating stories to families in the park.

Borough Mayor Cllr Dianne King opened the event and said: “This event promised to be a great way to celebrate the one-year countdown to the 2012 Olympic Games in London and it didn’t disappoint. It was wonderful to see so many families bringing along their picnic and soaking up the atmosphere of Dinton Pastures Country Park, seeing at first hand all it has to offer. Read More

From Saturday September 10, Inspire Wokingham is launching All play together. Every Saturday, between 10am and 11am and 11am and midday, families can enjoy sporting activities in a relaxed atmosphere a the FBC Centre in Finchampstead. These sessions give families an opportunity to try games to improve children’s basic development such as climbing, throwing, jumping and balancing. Sessions are free but booking is essential by calling (0118) 908 8158.

Wokingham Borough children will benefit from £10,500 raised during Borough Mayor Cllr Dianne King’s first term of office.

Cllr Dianne King recently presented the cheque to the Berkshire Community Foundation, who administer the Mayor’s chosen charity, Give a Child a Chance. Andrew Middleton, chief executive of the Berkshire Community Foundation, agreed that all funds raised last year will be ring-fenced for use in the Wokingham Borough.

Traditionally, the Mayor of the council chooses a charity to benefit from fundraising during their year in office. Cllr Dianne King wanted to support a charity that could benefit a broad range of young people and has decided to use her second term in office to continue to support Give a Child a Chance. Once again, all monies raised in the coming year will help children in the Wokingham Borough.

For over twenty years the charity has supported countless disadvantaged children across Berkshire reaching children in need including those with learning or physical difficulties; children with psychological and behavioural disorders and those living in areas of general deprivation or in care. The charity provides grants of up to £1,000 to individuals and up to £3,000 to groups who work with children. As many children as possible are reached to make a real difference to their lives.

Mayor Cllr Dianne King said: “I decided to support Give a Child a Chance once again as the charity supports such a wide variety of groups and individuals within the borough where there is genuine need. I am so pleased that the money we raised last year will be kept within the borough to benefit those who need it most.”

Groups wishing to apply for a grant should complete the expression of interest form on the Berkshire Community Foundation website at: www.berkshirecf.org. Applications can also be made on behalf of individual children, up to the age of 18. Applications will only be accepted from recognised support agencies working with the child, for example social services, schools or other support groups. Support agencies should contact the grants manager on (0118) 930 3021 to discuss the case in confidence before an application form is issued.

More information can be found at: www.berkshirecf.org

The Dingley Centre at Wokingham Hospital is holding it’s 2011 Annual Dinner and Dance Fundraiser on Friday 14th October at the Jazz Cafe, Madejski Stadium.

This fun event will include: a 3 Course Dinner; Dancing; Auction and a Raffle.

Dress code is formal and prices per person are only £30 for what promises to be a cool, jazz-filled evening.

Support even more children and their families across Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire by booking a table now at: www.dingley.org.uk/events/dinner-dance-2011

The exhibition featuring work by Diana Davydova and David Gainford is on view at Wokingham Cultural Partnership (More Arts) through Sunday 21st August. Wed-Sun 11am-6pm.

Diana Davydova is a Russian born, Berkshire based Fine Artist and recently graduated with an honours degree in Fine Art Practices from Plymouth College of Art that complements her previous classical studies in Art at University in Moscow.

David Gainford has spent his working life as a Designer and Painter. In 1977 he was elected as a Fellow of the Chartered Society of Designers. In the late 1980’s David studied and worked in the studio of Robert Lenkiewicz in Plymouth and has since then has worked extensively in studios in the South of France, the Czech Republic and here in the UK.

Wokingham Cultural Partnership (More Arts) 43 Peach Street, Wokingham RG40 1XJ

Councillors were paid £540,391.16 in total during 2010/11, which included their basic allowance and £5,012.16 for travel and other expenses, such as childcare, according to a report by Getreading.

“Petrol, public transport and childcare dominate the expenses claims made by members of Wokingham Borough Council during the last financial year.

The authority, which has 54 councillors, has published finer details of the expenses claims made by its members during 2010/11.” Read More