community yearbook 2018

FEBRUARY Wheel deal for Puffy Newbury Weekly News

Thursday, 25 January, 2018

Return of the moognificent Bongolian THE Bongolian, aka Nasser Bouzida, is a multi-instrumentalist, who has long been a local favourite. Known as the frontman of Big Boss Man, among other things, the former Newbury musician moves seam- lessly and effortlessly between keyboards and bongos/percussion and shifts between jazz, funk, soul and psych with ease. Truly a musician with talent to spare, wrote Brian Harrington, when Nasser returned to his hometown for a gig at Arlington Arts. “The Bongolian’s funky, mesmerising keyboards and percussion beats grabbed the audience and, within seconds, anyone who wasn’t dancing was tapping their feet. This was what the audience had been waiting for. “Tracks like Mr Woo and Jan Hammer Of The Gods, from his latest album Moog Maximus, were outstanding, while the use of slideshow images and a live dancer/fire eater added to the sense of spectacle. “The enthusiasm of the audience for The Bongolian was such that I was left wondering why we weren’t treated to a longer set. Here is a band that commands attention and really gets an audience moving. Hypnotic beats and funky rhythms a-plenty. Hugely enjoyable. Yet again Arlington Arts have succeeded in bringing great music to Newbury. We should count ourselves lucky to have a venue which features such huge range of artists to our doorstep.”

PUFFY, the paralysed dog looking for help with her recovery received her new set of wheels. The female Chinese Crested Powder- puff has been enjoying her new- found freedom after an appeal to help get her back on her feet. Puffy’s nerve connection in her hind legs was severed after she was struck by a car in a hit-and-run inci- dent two years ago. Puffy had been using home-made wheels, built from plastic plumbing, cart wheels and a harness. But the makeshift harness put a lot of pressure on her front shoulders and vets recommended a pedal cart to help Puffy’s rehabilitation. Her owners, Thatcham couple Mike and Danielle Cass, set up an online fundraising page to give their beloved pet the wheels she needed. Mr and Mrs Cass had raised £485 of the £1,500 needed for Puffy’s special wheels but the clock was ticking as their fundraising page would close on February 4. Following a Newbury Weekly News

It’s now 20p to spend a penny TOWN councillors approved plans to install turnstiles at the Wharf public toilets. The move meant a 20p charge to use the facilities. The turnstiles cost around £10,000 to install– covered by West Berkshire Council– and the town council will receive revenue of around £5,520 each year. Adrian Edwards (Con, Falkland) said:“To spend a penny isn ’t quite the objective, but I would recommend 20p. We can always change it if we are not breaking even.”

Puffy with her new set of wheels

report in January, more than £1,000 was donated in two-and-a-half days. Mr Cass said: “We were completely overwhelmed and humbled, not only by the number of donations we received, but how generously people were giving. “There seemed to be a real desire to

help and we’re so thankful for every- one’s support, they’ve made a really big difference to Puffy’ s life.” Indeed, Mrs Cass said that Puffy was loving her new wheels. “As soon as we put her in them for the first time her tail was wagging like crazy and normally she doesn’t wag her tail.” West Berks feels wrath of Doris WEST Berkshire felt the force of Storm Doris. Strong winds uprooted a tree on the A339 close to St Gabriel's School, leaving the road blocked until around 3.30pm. Gusts also blew the roof off one of Thatcham Town Cricket Club’s buildings. West Berkshire Council said that it received 94 calls regarding storm damage on Thursday while Thames Valley Police said it had received an extra 1,000 calls. At Benson, in Oxfordshire, the top windspeed was recorded at 57mph.

Bridge reopening eases traffic congestion AT last there was some good news for Newbury’s motorists as

one-way for the time being, and is trafic light- controlled. This is until land to the north of the bridge is developed by Amirantes as part of the Sterling Cables development. The road will be widened and the bridge should be able to accommodate two- way traffic by early 2019. Newbury MP Richard Benyon cut the ribbon to declare the bridge open. Mr Benyon said: “The impact of these works on Newbury has been huge, but also crucial.”

Boundary Road was officially reopened. The road, one of the town’s busiest through routes, was closed for 12 months from January 2016 to allow Network Rail to carry out essen- tial works to heighten the railway bridge ahead of electrification. However, there were cheers as the first vehicle to use the new bridge – a Newbury Tools van – passed over. The bridge is still only

Newbury MP officially opens Boundar y Ro d bridge

Express Way, Hambridge Lane, Newbury, RG14 5TU Tel: 01635 569510 Text: 07711 719517 Email: info@hermitageglass.co.uk www.hermitageglass.co.uk

uPVC, Timber and Aluminium Windows, Doors and Conservatories Composite and Bi-Folding Doors Secondary Glazing Solutions All products supply only or supply and install

Plus all your glass and glazing needs: Sealed Unit, Mirrors, Shower Enclosures, Painted Splashbacks and much more