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Caversham Rallies Around Bakery After Break-In

WHAT STARTED as a heart-sinking moment for one of Caversham’s independent businesses quickly became a shining example of community spirit at its very best. BKRY, the cake shop on Church Street, was recently broken into in the early hours of the morning. For founder Jo Deacon – a former primary school teacher who poured her passion for baking and people into the shop – it was a horrible moment. Glass was smashed, the till was damaged and, with an all-female team, a sense of safety was lost.
Jo posted honestly about the break-in on BKRY’s Instagram account, and the response was immediate and overwhelming. Loyal customers and fellow business owners flooded the comments with kindness, encouragement, and promises to pop in for a slice of something sweet and a bit of moral support. “I couldn’t believe it,” Jo said. “It was such a horrible thing to wake up to, but the messages, the flowers, the offers to clean up – it just reminded me how special this community is…Read More

The Heat is On

THE RECENT HOT weather has left lawns and parks the colour of biscuit and gardeners trying to keep plants alive. But it has been good news for those with solar panels, and a new scheme to help householders install them is now available (p13). Several of our articles this month have their roots in the past. We report on the 60th anniversary celebrations of both Emmer Green Preschool (p10) and Caversham Good Neighbours (p11), and take a look at our own archive from 50 years ago (p15). Happy Wanderer reveals the history of View Island for us (p7), and we preview the events for the Heritage Open Day 2025 programme in Caversham this September (p13). We also look back at the life of Linda Dudley, which was celebrated in a memorial service in June (p17)…Read More

New Urgent Care Centre for Reading

ABOUT 18 MONTHS ago I was taken ill and in need of medical attention during a Bank Holiday. With the local surgery closed, I was advised to visit the recently established Urgent Care Centre at the Broad Street Mall. We drove to the Mall, and I was amazed to be seen so quickly. Within less than two hours I was home again with a course of tablets which sorted out my problem.
The Centre had been set up in an effort to cut the number of people turning up at the hospital for treatment and hence to reduce waiting times there. People with an urgent but not life-threatening
condition could receive treatment at the Centre with no booking, but patients could also pre-book appointments. Although it worked for me, the hoped for reduction in visits to A&E did not happen, and data from the first year showed that even when more people turned up at the Centre for help, there were similar increases at the hospital. As a result, the service is being moved to the RBH, with access via the Addington Road entrance at the southern end of the hospital site…Read More

A Vintage Event

WE INCLUDED a short article about the Reading Amateur Regatta and the proposed Regatta Vintage Fayre in Caversham Court Gardens over the weekend of 14 and 15 June in our June edition. The events were blessed with fine weather and were well attended. The traditional fairground games proved popular, as did the food stalls. Plenty of families made the most of the fine weather and the view of the regatta from the gardens…Read More

Family Fun at St John’s Church

ST JOHN’S CHURCH Caversham hosted a fabulous Community BBQ and Party on the afternoon of 22 June. There were activities in the church, including an inflatable soft play zone, face-painting and crafts, alongside a café offering drinks and homemade cakes. Outdoor fun included skittles and ball games, water fun in the community garden, and a BBQ co-organised and run by the church and 22nd St John’s Scouts.
The inflatable play zone was a new activity this year and went down a storm – though only those under 1m tall were allowed to use it. Those just over 1m have requested one for them next year – as did a few adults! A lively football game engaged some of the older young people (and the church youth worker), and people of all ages enjoyed the company of friends in the church café or on picnic rugs in the grounds…Read More

Behind the scenes at the Holiday Club

IT’S 02:34 AND my over-active brain has roused me from sleep for a mental ‘to-do-list reminder’. As it did last night at 03:14. And the night before at 04:56. I’m not normally a poor sleeper, but I have a lot on my mind at the moment – it’s Churches Together in Caversham Holiday Club week. I’ve been involved in the Club for the last twelve years, and overall organiser for the last three years. With 50 volunteer adults from 11 different churches, we are based at St Anne’s primary school in Caversham and run activities, drama, games and sports for 150 primary aged children each day from 10:00 to 15:00 in the last week in July. Last summer our theme was Champions, to tie in with the Summer Olympic Games. This year, it’s Deep Sea Divers…Read More

For Your Bookshelf

AN ADULT BOOK I would love to recommend is one of Anthony Doerr’s most popular hits, All the Light We Cannot See. This is a beautiful work of historical fiction, winning the Pullitzer Prize in 2015, and renowned for its lyrical prose and sweeping storyline. It centres around the intersecting lives of two children, Marie-Laure and Werner, navigating both of their worlds during World War 2.

The Princess Bride, a children’s classic which inspired the 1987 film adaptation, will catch readers between its pages with William Goldman’s hilarious wit and love for the absurd. A thrilling tale of adventure. Goldman claims to have selected only the ‘good parts’ of a beloved story, making for a fast-paced and completely unique book which reads like a child’s imagination… Read More

The Heart of the Matter

MY BEST FRIEND, Caversham mum Lauren Bilton and I, are pushing ourselves beyond anything we have ever attempted to raise funds for Heart Research UK, and to honour the memory of someone taken far too soon. On 9 August we start by climbing 10 peaks in under 10 hours across the rugged Carneddau Ridge in North Snowdonia, despite both of us being afraid of heights. Less than a week later, starting on 15 August, I will run 20 miles a day for 10 consecutive days, and Lauren will run 10km per day for 10 consecutive days. This is all to raise awareness of the devastating statistic that less than 1 in 10 people survive an out of hospital heart attack. This challenge is deeply personal. Lauren lost her brother, Ali, at the age of just 41 to severe coronary atherosclerosis. His heart attack was at home. His sudden death left an unimaginable hole in the lives of his family and friends, especially his fiancée, who was pregnant with their first child…Read More

Happy Wanderer Is A World Away On View Island

Situated between the River Thames and the Caversham mill stream, the island is a link on the old path from Caversham Lock, on the Reading side of the river, to Lower Caversham. This involves crossing the navigation channel using the walk-way attached to the lock gates, crossing the lock island, and crossing the river on The Clappers footbridge over the weir. From there you pass by the Reading Hydro which uses twin Archimedes screws to generate hydro-electricity as you land on View Island. From there you have to cross a couple more bridges near where the mill once stood, to reach Hill’s Meadow and Mill Road in Caversham. On the island, though it’s only a short walk from Reading Bridge and heavy traffic, it’s a world away, quiet, there are seats to sit and take a rest, and you are surrounded by nature…Read More

The Property Market – Semi-detached Houses

AS AN INDEPENDENT estate agent in Caversham for almost 18 years, I always get excited when I am going to do a market appraisal of a semidetached house in RG4. It is so interesting to see the different ways people have extended and changed the inside layout of what looks like a standard semi-detached from the outside. It makes my job really interesting. Caversham and Emmer Green have a wide range of semi-detached houses, making up a large share of our local market. They range from the Victorian era through the 1920s to the 1950s and some, in Caversham Heights, date back to Edwardian times. A good stock of 1930s semi-detached homes is found in some gorgeous locations, such as Balmore Drive – a great example of Haddock-built 1930s pairs of semi-detached houses, complete with a turning circle at the top of the cul-de-sac and even a residents’ tennis court!..Read More

Stamping butterflies and life-listing lepidopterists

DO YOU KNOW – or can you guess – how many insect species are estimated to be in the world? A thousand? Million – billion? What about how
many insects there are for every person on the planet – is it a thousand, million, billion? More? August brings the chance to count a few of them at least. The Big Butterfly Count runs until Sunday 10 August, and gives the opportunity to be a citizen scientist for the day, observing and recording butterflies and daytime moths for 15 minutes, wherever we are. Although bees are the current poster insects for pollinating and rewilding, it turns out butterflies are also important pollinators. And, like annual bird monitoring or other similar activities, the observations help track target species – or lack of them – to gain a better picture of current numbers and help to address declines…Read More

Pre-School at 60

ON FRIDAY 25 of June the staff, families and children of Emmer Green Preschool had a garden party to celebrate their 60th Anniversary. The Preschool was first established in 1965 and was originally based at St Barnabas Hall in Emmer Green. However, since 1990, it has been based at the community centre at Grove Road, opposite Emmer Green Surgery. At the helm for the last 34 years has been manager Wendy Robins. She commented, “Our preschool is a safe, friendly and happy space where children thrive. There is a large outdoor space for them to explore and learn through play.” Wendy is supported in her role by her dedicated team of ‘pink ladies’, who provide high quality learning opportunities for the children…Read More

How changes in your 30s affect your skin

AS YOU enter your 30s, your body starts to undergo subtle yet impactful changes. The signs of ageing, environmental stress, and lifestyle choices begin to show in different ways. Understanding how your skin changes during this decade can help you to take proactive steps to maintain a healthy, glowing complexion.
♥ Decreased collagen production – Collagen is a protein that provides structure, firmness and elasticity to your skin. In your 30s collagen production starts to decline; you may notice the first signs of fine lines, particularly around the eyes, forehead, and mouth. The skin may also feel a little less firm and youthful. Collagen-boosting skincare and treatment can help, as well as a consistent, protective skincare regime.
♥ Slower skin renewal – Skin renewal, or cell turnover, naturally slows with age. As a result, you may notice duller skin, more visible pores, and an increase in breakouts due to the build-up of dead skin cells. Ensure you incorporate exfoliation into your skincare routine…Read More

Caversham and District Residents’ Association (CADRA)

THE CAVERSHAM and District Residents’ Association (CADRA) held its AGM on 13 May at the New Testament Church of God. The meeting was attended by many local residents. Helen Lambert, in her last meeting as Chair, presented her report highlighting the work that CADRA had done during the previous year.
Jill Dibben, Malcolm Pemble and Nick Haskins were successfully nominated to the committee, and Suresh Sukul was co-opted to the committee. Continuing committee members are Sarah Stuffins, Vice-Chair, Linda Watsham, Adrian Godden, Neil Parker and Neil Tayler. Treasurer Jill Dibben presented the accounts which were accepted by the members, and explained why the membership fees would need to increase slightly to £12 for 3 years (or £5 for one year). This will be introduced later this year. Nick Haskins was announced as the new Chair of CADRA, and he duly proposed Helen Lambert as President of CADRA. Nick then presented his vision for CADRA’s future. This is aimed at ‘Keeping Caversham and Emmer Green great places to live’ by supporting events which positively promote our community…Read More

A 60th birthday tea party

CAVERSHAM GOOD NEIGHBOURS (CGN) celebrated its 60th anniversary on 2 July with an afternoon tea party at The Caversham Golf Club, in the company of the Mayor of Reading, Alice Mpofu-Coles. It was attended by around 50 of its drivers, office staff, former staff and some long standing clients. Leigh Furlonger, the Chairman of CGN, welcomed everyone to the celebration. She spoke about the founding of CGN in 1965 by a Caversham GP with the vicar of St Andrews. Did they imagine that their service would survive for 60 years?
It nearly didn’t!! The Covid-19 lockdown posed an enormous challenge, and CGN might have shut down completely, but somehow it kept going. The service continues to provide assistance where needed, helping 75 different people to get to their medical appointments so far this year, as well as to social activities. After thanking the Mayor of Reading for taking time out to join the celebration, Leigh finished by thanking our wonderful volunteers, saying she knew how much the people who use our service appreciate their help and hoping that we can continue for another 60 years…Read More

Vegivores, Caversham

THE TREND for vegan food was once considered eccentric, but today it’s mainstream and all part of the rich variety of food and drink that is on offer in St Martin’s Precinct. Many of us who are not vegan or even vegetarian enjoy the range of drinks and dishes on offer at Vegivores. Their menu of inspired dishes encourages us to explore new tastes and ideas. The fresh, bright, contemporary décor is inviting, and the staff are welcoming and happy to discuss ingredients and allergies. The business is owned by Kevin and Sarah, who started off with a food van. They opened the restaurant in Caversham in 2019 and, in 2024, opened a branch in Bournemouth. The space they now occupy used to be two retail units – one was a traditional café which became Vegivores. The other was once an interior decoration shop, selling wallpaper and paint, before becoming an optician…Read More

Eco Tip – Thinking of Solar Panels?

SOLAR TOGETHER is open again. This is a scheme arranged through the six Borough Councils in Berkshire for a joint tender for approved contractors to install solar panels and batteries on
hundreds of Berkshire roofs. All contractors will be MSC (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certified, and the guarantees offered will be checked by the councils, The households will get a reasonably priced installation and an assurance that they can sell any surplus energy generated back into the grid. The current end date is 9 August, but the council is trying to extend this deadline.
All adverts tell you the installation of solar panels will reduce energy costs, which is perfectly true. However, the payback period for you is entirely dependent on your house aspect, potential shading and your pattern of use of electricity. Signing up to Solar Together costs nothing and doesn’t commit you to progressing with the installation. Just go to www.reading.gov.uk/solartogether and sign up…Read More

Heritage Open Days in Caversham

THE HERITAGE OPEN DAY 2025 local programme starts with a day of events on Saturday 13 September, linked to this year’s theme of Architecture: Bridges, Buildings and Beehives, and adding Meteorology. In Caversham Court Gardens there will be drop-in events from 11:00-13:00 and 14:00-16:00, with workshops in the vinery for families suitable for children aged 5+, but all are welcome. This is part of the excellent Look, Draw, Build programme. Children are encouraged to look at shapes and patterns, draw their favourite view, and build imaginative structures inspired by what they have seen and drawn. All materials are provided.
From 12:00 there will be events in Caversham Baptist Church. The church, which was designed by Alfred Waterhouse, will be open for visits and tours from 12:00 to 13:00, followed by a series of three talks starting from 13:30…Read More

An Eye Opener

THE ROSES in our garden have been really gorgeous this year, all thanks to the enthusiasm of Eunice my wife. She loves her roses and is always studying catalogues and watching out for something new on television, particularly during the Chelsea Flower Show. A year or so ago, one of her roses growing in our front garden certainly attracted my attention. It had a number of single salmon-pink flowers with a deep red eye and looked great. When I told Eunice how much I liked it, she informed me it was called ‘For your eyes only’.
In June this year, my Royal Horticultural Society magazine The Garden arrived, and my attention was immediately drawn to the front cover. It was filled with a picture of a great many colourful single roses. Underneath was written, ‘The future of roses: what climate change means for the nation’s favourite flower’…Read More

Best in the County

CONGRATULATIONS TO The Last Crumb Pub on its recent triumph at the National Pub and Bar of the Year 2025 awards, announced 24 June 2025.
The pub was one of three nominated as the best in Berkshire, and took the award on the day. The awards, organised by trade magazine Pub & Bar, celebrate the ‘very best venues, people and service standards across the whole of the UK’. In addition to a UK-wide Top Ten, there are 94 county awards. The Last Crumb (formerly the Prince of Wales) brought the award for Berkshire to Caversham.
Area manager, Olly Brooks, and General Manager, Carlos Cruz, both live in Caversham. They were told about the nomination two months before the date and decided they would go along out of interest, given the ceremony was in London. They were not expecting to win and were amazed when they saw their pub name on the screen!..Read More

The Griffin of the Bridge

THE GRIFFIN of the Bridge likes The Heights, from where she can see her prey at a distance. She knows the way they will travel; there is only one track across the river, just below The Heights. Just one way for her two-legged prey to get food into their den. Their den of wood and stones. She watches her prey a lot but still she can’t really understand them. She has learnt to watch, really closely, for the stragglers. A mistake might be fatal, as it had been for her mate. But no success in the hunt means no food for the hatchlings. There are only three of them left now. At first, when she and her mate had built their nest on The Heights, hunting was easy. The prey would scatter and scream as the two of them struck from the skies together. Didn’t the prey know they could never hide while making that noise?..Read More

A window on the past

OUR EXPANDING archive of past editions provides a chance to see what has changed in our community – and what has stayed the same! We have just added the August/September 1975 edition. This edition featured work on the roof of the Baptist Church in the centre of Caversham on the front page. The church is still active and there have been many improvements since, including the new entrance area which we reported on in May 2022.
A regular Residents’ Viewpoint column written by Watchdog focused on traffic problems and the conflict between pedestrians and vehicles. Sadly, something which has not improved in half a century. In the same edition, Katy in Caversham reported on changes in local shops, including a clothes shop and greengrocer, both long gone. Katy also reported on plans for disruptive road works as a new sewer was laid between Westfield Road and Cromwell Road, and Prospect Street was to be closed for resurfacing for up to two months. Whilst many roads in our area are currently the scene of multiple road works as gas pipes are renewed, at least the recent reconstruction of Donkin Hill and Bryants Avenue was completed in just a few days…Read More

Flags of Freedom Fun

READING CARIBBEAN Nation (RCN) CIC* hosted a community event titled Flags of Freedom Carnival on Sunday 22 June 2025 at Thameside Promenade. Described as a Windrush Celebration, the event celebrated the rich heritage and contributions of the Windrush Generation and their descendants. Although free to attend, it was a ticketed event and was fully booked well in advance.
Despite an unexpected change in the weather from the previous days of the week, many local people came out to attend the event, proudly displaying their country flags. The day featured live music, DJ sets, cultural performances, food stalls, family-friendly activities, and displays of Commonwealth flags representing our diverse communities…Read More

Olly Murs at Palmer Park, 13 June

WE WERE BUZZING when we saw the advert for this one! X Factor legend and pop royalty, Olly Murs playing an outdoor show in our home town! We just had to get tickets. The show was part of Olly’s 15 Years Of Hits tour, marking 15 years since he first hit our screens on X Factor and the subsequent hit singles since.
The venue at Palmer Park is set up like a mini festival. with a huge, big top tent hosting the show, grass underfoot, bars and street food vendors. The balmy evening with the threat of rain added to the festival vibe! The crowd had clearly got into the festival spirit and dressed for the occasion too, with funky outfits and glowsticks galore! We had the amazing Funk Soul Orchestral warming up the crowd with a mix of classics from the 60s up to today, followed by DJ Martin 2 Smoove, spinning party classics and hyping up the crowd…Read More

Five AI prompts which will Ruin Your CV

AS ARTIFICIAL intelligence becomes increasingly popular for job applications, I’m seeing more CVs that scream ‘robot-written’ to recruiters. The wrong prompts are creating generic, lifeless applications that end up in the rejection pile. ‘Prompts’ are the instructions you give to AI tools. For CV writing, ChatGPT excels at quick edits and keyword recognition, whilst Claude offers better context understanding and maintains a more professional tone. The most effective approach combines AI efficiency with human insight.  Here are 5 prompts sabotaging job seekers and what to use instead:

1. ‘Write a CV for [job title]’ Creates a template that could apply to anyone.
2. ‘Make this sound more professional’ Strips away your authentic voice.
3. ‘Write a personal statement for my CV’ Produces instantly recognisable generic content.
4. ‘List skills for [industry]’ Creates ‘cookie-cutter’ skill lists everyone else uses.
5. ‘ Improve my CV’ Too vague to be useful.

…Read More

Unplug, Reset, Repeat

Staying connected to others using our smartphone, tablet or computer can have huge benefits. By always keeping in touch, we can manage relationships and stay connected with friends and family at the touch of a button. For some of us, this can feel tiring and like we are constantly tasked to keep up with messages, emails, and social media posts.
The subtle reliance we have on this technology has made it difficult for many of us to go even a few hours without using a phone, tablet, or computer. Thankfully, regularly taking a break from the digital world is an option. The way you choose to limit or reduce your tech time is completely up to you. Some people completely withdraw from all digital material during a detox. For others, a technology detox involves limiting time spent on social media and gaming applications…Read More