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Representatives from the Ascot WRVS Darby & Joan Club, Thames Hospicecare and the Ascot Day Centre gathered at Broomhall Recreation Ground to receive cheques from the Sunningdale Area Carnival Committee, on Saturday May 25th 2013.  Chairman, Reverend David Uffindell made the presentation, saying that the Sunningdale Area Carnival is a superb annual community occasion Next Carnival - September 15th 2013, with the significant added benefit of raising much - needed cash for worthwhile local causes. Thames Hospicecare and The WRVS Darby & Joan Club received £750; Ascot Day Centre received £500.

  Lapland Uk abandoned plans for a Lapland at Buttersteep last winter but are back with new plans to relocate from Kent to Crown Estate land at  Whitmore Bog - to the west of Swinley Road, opposite Lavender Park Golf Centre - see map (click on it to expand). CLICK HERE for more BBC South report and video clip.

Photos Courtesy of Harding Photographics. Please click on the photos  to enlarge 
Mayor’s Charity Ball raises funds for Prince Philip Trust : Guards Polo Club venue for charity occasion
The Guards Polo Club at Smiths Lawn was the venue on Saturday evening (18 May) for the 2013 Mayor’s Charity Ball to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen’s Coronation – and with a special royal guest dropping in for the pre-dinner reception.

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh made the short journey from nearby Windsor Castle to support the glittering evening which raised funds for the Prince Philip Trust Fund – the charity of which he was chairman from its inception in 1977 until last year.

The 160 guests were greeted by the Mayor, Cllr Colin Rayner, and the Mayoress, Mrs Samantha Rayner, and included Home Secretary and Maidenhead MP Theresa May, Windsor MP Adam Afriyie, Lt-Col Toby Till, Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, and Jock Green-Armytage, chairman of the Guards Polo Club.

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RBWM Press Release: Pilot scheme makes planning simpler – but not ‘a free pass for anything goes’
Changes to the planning system to make it simpler, speedier and more flexible will give residents, businesses and the council more power to make a positive difference to the area – but it will not mean the ‘free-for-all’ that some people fear.

That’s the message from the council as it prepares for the launch of the government’s three-year pilot scheme, starting on Thursday 30th May, that will remove barriers to people creating new homes, developing new places and bringing disused or neglected land and buildings back into productive use.

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Mobile drug and alcohol treatment service moves to new Ascot location
The Royal Borough’s mobile drug and alcohol treatment service has recently moved to a different location in Ascot, courtesy of Ascot Racecourse.

It is now located in Car Park No 6   (corner Ascot High Street and Winkfield Road), which provides greater accessibility for people wishing to visit the drop-in service.

The outreach service – a specially kitted-out bus – is fully equipped to offer a safe space and privacy providing a range of services, including:

•    free and confidential advice and support from experienced and professional   workers to anyone concerned about their substance misuse
•    brief interventions
•    referrals and signposting to other parts of the SMART* recovery service such as groups and key working
•    referral and access to an alcohol detox nurse
•    advice and support for concerned significant others (family and carers)
•    access to a trained counsellor.

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Author Michael Scott Inspires Year 8 pupils: Charters School Year 8 pupils were very excited to welcome author and scriptwriter, Michael Scott to school today.  Michael spent the morning with Assistant Headteacher, Mr Darren Hartwell, members of the English Faculty and Year 8 pupils.  This event was organised by Mr Scott’s publisher, Random House, and Waterstones Windsor.  Today’s visit is part of a nationwide book tour.
Mr Hartwell, Assistant Headteacher said: “We were very fortunate to be asked to have Michael in school to talk to the Year 8 pupils as he was only in the UK for three days. His passion for reading and writing was obvious, and the pupils left the event buzzing. I would not be surprised if a number of them now have the desire to become writers in the future.”

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www.lavenderparkgolf.co.uk 

DRILLS. By David Johnson, Lavender Park

GRIP DRILL:
To check if your grip pressure is appropriate, hold the club with only the index finger and thumb of your right hand. Support the club underneath with the heel pad of each hand, then hit balls from a tee to feel the lightness in the hands and wrists.

Alternatively, put a towel around the handle and hit several balls and you will naturally hold the club lighter.

RIGHT ARM TOSS DRILL:
The motion of the right arm is similar to throwing a ball underarm. To develop that throwing motion, grip a club in your right hand only. Address a spot on the mat and with or without a ball, swing the club back about 3/4 of your normal swing. Start the forward swing-through as if you we're actually going to throw the club towards the target. Keep hold of the club and let it swing-through on its own momentum into a full relaxed follow-through. Repeat several times.

LEFT ARM CONTROL FOR ACCURACY AND POWER:
Using a 7 Iron address the ball holding the club with your left hand only. Make half a backswing allowing the club face to fan open. Now make a forward swing-through the shot ensuring the left arm folds immediately after impact and repeat several times.

A difficult drill to master as at first you will tend to hit to the right, but you will soon learn to square the club face and make reasonable contact. You may want to start hitting from a tee until you progress to the mat.

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Council pledges to fight on for services at Heatherwood Hospital : Campaign to be taken to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt

The Royal Borough has sent out a clear message that it will be relentless in its fight to save threatened services at Ascot’s Heatherwood Hospital – and councillors are to join with Windsor MP Adam Afriyie to seek a meeting with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to present their case at the highest possible level.

This follows the May 19th special council meeting, called following the NHS decision at the end of March to move Heatherwood’s minor injuries unit to Bracknell, replace Ward 8 with community and hospital-based rehabilitation services and permanently close the Ascot Birth Centre.

Members unanimously agreed that the plans represented a move from local to centralised services and were a ‘first step to closing the hospital completely’.

While the campaign continues to get the NHS decision reversed, the council also agreed recommendations to continue exploring two other options for maintaining local health services at Heatherwood:
•    meet with the Frimley Park Trust to discuss the future options for Heatherwood
•    work with other stakeholders to consider the viability of a non profit-making social enterprise* providing intermediate or other care facilities at Heatherwood.

More than 150 members of the public attended the council meeting at Ascot Racecourse. Also present was Mr Afriyie, who pledged his wholehearted support for the campaign and said he would do everything he could at government level to help achieve a secure future for Heatherwood.

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Click on the photo to enlarge The Chavey Down Association has received a letter concerning   a memorial and a blessing for Kenneth Warwick  - one of six Lancaster bomber crew members - who died on  a foggy night, on December 2nd 1943. Formerly of Keepers Cottage in Winkfield and the son of a local councillor, Kenneth has a grave in Winkfield, but will now be remembered at this memorial in the Duke of Newcastle's Mausoleum (near where the plane crashed) (CLICK HERE for more information on this) near Nottingham (postcode MG22 0PW)  at 11am on Sunday May 19th 2013. If there are any relatives or friends who would like to attend, they are asked to contact James Swindin on  01777 870828

Please click on the photo to enlarge it  www.papplewick.org.uk
Papplewick wins in friendly football with Argentine visitors
Papplewick’s 1st XI football team scored a 2-1 victory over their visiting friends from St. Catherines-Moorlands School in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 2 May.

In near perfect conditions on a beautiful summer's day, both Papplewick and St. Catherines-Moorlands played some very attractive football - on the school’s cricket pitches!
Papplewick just edged the encounter by two goals to one, including probably their best goal of the season, with Alvaro Garcia de Castro putting in the most exquisite cross for Seb Ekperigin to calmly finish off.

Headmaster Tom Bunbury said: “We always enjoy this annual visit, and the game is always very competitive.”

papplewick school ascot

  www.quinceplayers.co.uk     The Quince Players could never be accused (excuse the pun) of letting the dust settle!
Last weekend saw the final performances of The Accused, and for those keen to know the final outcome of the Guilty & Not Guilty votes there was a final count of 4 Not Guilty’s vs 3 Guilty’s –despite the beginning of the run suggesting Sherwood was going to get off scot free every night the balance was redressed and in the end was actually as equal as it could have been.
Thanks to all those who, having seen the show once, returned in the hope of seeing the alternate ending. For those unable to do so; The Guilty verdict saw Sherwood convicted and Jennifer Mitchell gloat that she had murdered Sherwood’s wife to gain revenge for being spurned by the eminent surgeon. The Not-Guilty verdict saw Sherwood acquitted and the foolish Jennifer Mitchell admitting to murdering Sherwood’s wife in order to free him from his marriage making way for her and Sherwood to walk off into the sunset –however, Sherwood makes it quite clear that he had simply used Mitchell in order to rid himself of his wife and benefit from the large life insurance policy - he unceremoniously dumps her outside the court.

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www.relayforlifeascot.co.uk  Click on the image to enlarge it    

Click on the photos to enlarge   The 2013 Winkfield May Day Fair took take place in glorious sunshine at Carnation Hall on Monday 6th May, expertly marshalled by Search & Rescue SEBEV.  The Bank Holiday crowds enjoyed  a large variety of stalls and traditional entertainment , including  intricate maypole dancing by the pupils of Winkfield St.Mary's School, music by the Winkfield Handbell Ringers, as well traditional roundabout and swing boats, bouncy castle,  Basil & Crew animal corner,  Splat the Bat, a Treasure hunt (with prizes such as a Lumix camera!) .

Scouts provided tasty burgers, while the Winkfield St.Mary's PTA served superb afternoon teas, and not forgetting the Pimms  tent.

A lovely range of stalls was selling  handmade cards by Pink Paw and  Crafty Little Devils UK ,  woodturned bowls, jewellery, plants, cat shoes,  cakes by Christine Vandervlist, fossils by Sunningdale Gifts,  homemade jams and relishes by the Chavey Down WI, and much more!. The raffle and lucky programme offered amazing prizes such as tickets for Ascot Racecourse, golf at Mill Ride, £100 gardening products, spa visits, meals at Don Beni and much more. 

Surplus proceeds will be given to a local charity and this year, for the first time, the fete will be supporting two local animal charities: the Bracknell & Wokingham Districts branch of Cats Protection (Registered Charity No.  203644) and Pine Ridge Dog Sanctuary in Ascot (Registered Charity No. 256728) - both pictured. CLICK HERE for more info or click on Read Article to see photos of a great day - truly a day for the community, by the community.

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.winkfieldrowfair.org

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Click on the photo to enlarge As is the annual tradition, 200 Charters pupils  congregated in fancy dress, at South ascot playing fields this morning (Friday May 10th 2013) at 7.30am -  to walk the rest of the way to school en masse. Always an emotional occasion, the ritual marks the pupils' last day at school together before the exams.  Photograph courtesy of an early -rising South Ascot resident!

Eating out? Getting food in? Check the food hygiene rating
Customers in the Royal Borough will be better informed when eating out, thanks to a new scheme which tells them about the hygiene standards of food outlets.

The council will switch to a new way of displaying the hygiene standards of food businesses to consumers with the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) which will operate from

This national scheme, developed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in partnership with local authorities, provides information on food hygiene standards to help people to choose where to eat out or shop for food. It builds on the success of the Scores on the Doors scheme which has been running since 2010.

Food outlets, such as restaurants, takeaways and pubs, are inspected by Royal Borough food safety officers to check that their hygiene standards meet legal requirements. The standards are rated on a scale from zero (urgent improvement necessary) to the top rating of five (very good).

Ratings will be available for anyone to view on the FSA website at www.food.gov.uk/ratings and the food businesses will be given a sticker and certificate and encouraged to display these at the entrance to their premises. This is so that they will be easily seen by their customers.

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Please click on the photo to enlarge it  www.papplewick.org.uk  Pictured: James Coyne (L), and Will Hopton. Photo courtesy of Tim Edwards.

James Coyne, an old boy of Papplewick school in Ascot (1992-1998) won the title of World Doubles Rackets Champion following the final at Queens Club in West London on Saturday 27th April.

James, originally from Bray, had a strong return from injury this season, reaching the Open Singles final when he was defeated by Alex Titchener-Barrett.  He also reached the Canadian Amateur Singles final and, together with doubles partner Will Hopton, won three US Open and two British Open Doubles crowns.

James is an explosive player, favouring power over touch, and he contrasted his partner’s style perfectly when they challenged the champions, Tim Cockcroft and Alex Titchener-Barrett to beat them two games to one in a very exciting finish.

papplewick school ascot

Pictured:  Neil James playing Jupiter (left) and Barrington Woodward-Roberts playing Pluto, King of Hades (right).

Click on the photo to enlarge it    CLICK HERE for  website

SUNNINGDALE SAVOY CHORUS AND “ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD”: THE SHOCK OF THE NEW : The Sunningdale Savoy Chorus will perform a radical and different production of Offenbach’s “Orpheus in the Underworld” at the Rose Theatre (part of St. Mary’s School) in Ascot from 25th – 27th July.
The story of the gods and goddesses up Olympus helping the musician Orpheus to rescue his wife, Eurydice, from her kidnapper, Pluto, the King of Hades remains the same. But how all the characters are portrayed will be refreshingly new: Orpheus becomes a celebrity musician and teacher with some very dodgy looking pupils, Eurydice is a WAG who loves the book “Fifty Shades of Grey”, and Jupiter, the King of all the gods, is never happier than when he is strutting his stuff up Olympus dressed as a pimp big daddy! All surrounded by a group of very down to earth gods and goddesses with very earthly passions.

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Click on the photo to enlarge Pictured L to R :Ben Clarke, Kola Odenyi, Kareem McKenzie,John Macauley, Jamie Ashwin, Bob Banks,Wesley Francis, Tayo Odulaja, Luke Sanders.
 Bracknell Cobras basketball club completed an amazing first season in the English Basketball Div 4 by winning the National Final fours in Leeds.  They are now  officially National Champions & have been promoted to Div 3.

The mens team led by captain & chairman of the mens section of the club , Bob Banks did not lose a single match this season , an impressive feat.  Bob was crowned coach of the year in DIV 4 by the England Basketball League (EBL).The team who play their games at Garth Hill school in Bracknell & train at Ranelagh school in Bracknell , are made up of some young & some very experienced players. One of these is Ben Clarke who grew up in Bracknell ,attending EP school ,he played at Thames Valley Tigers & Guildford Heat before joining the Cobras this season. Ben was voted MVP for Div 4 by the England Basketball League.

John Macauley (pictured) won MVP for his role in the finals in Leeds.

Anyone interested in playing for the Cobras as an adult should conact Bob on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or if you would like to know more about the junior programme please contact Ruth on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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Photography Competition Winners: The first round of the national RIBI Young Photographer Competition 2013 took place recently.  The photography Competition organised by The Rotary Club of Ascot had many entries from the talented Charters School pupils.  Students entered the competition at Junior, Intermediate and Senior levels, submitting three compositions/photos with no more than 50 words explaining why they felt their photos depict the theme ‘Peace’.

Organiser, Mark Courage of the Rotary Club of Ascot (pictured above, far right)  said, The judging was very tricky this year as we had so many excellent photos to choose from and we would like to thank all those students who took part.  We would also like to thank Ross Holmes, Art Teacher and Head of Photography at Charters for his continued support to Rotary and his tireless enthusiasm in motivating the students to come up with some incredible work.”

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Please click on the photo to enlarge it: Pictured: Rotary Scholars with Craig Staddon (Head of Sales at Ascot Racecourse), Rotary Club President Anthony Hatch and Rotarians and Partners from local Rotary Clubs.

Rotary Club Takes Overseas Scholars to the Races: The Rotary Club of Ascot this week (1st May) was pleased to be able to take a group of four overseas scholars who are following postgraduate courses at Oxford on their first visit to the races.  The occasion was the first day of the Flat season at Ascot Racecourse, and the scholars, accompanied by Rotarians and partners from the local Rotary Club and other Clubs in the Thames Valley area enjoyed the spring sunshine. Premier Admission Tickets for the scholars were kindly provided by Head of Sales Craig Staddon of the Racecourse.

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OLYMPIC LEGACY BRINGS TOP ATHLETE TO ASCOT SCHOOLS

The spirit of the Olympic Games returned to St Francis Catholic Primary School when the pupils had a hockey coaching session from Ladies Hockey Bronze medal winner Hannah MacLeod.
Hannah talked to the children about her experiences of trying to get into the Great Britain team and the ups and downs of team selection before she was selected for the 2012 team who went on to Olympic success. She spent a morning with year 4 and 5 pupils playing hockey and handing round her Olympic medal.
Hannah’s visit to St Francis was arranged by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s sports partnership as part of the Olympic Inspiration programme which aims to raise the profile of sport in schools by building on the success of the Games. As part of the programme, she also visited South Ascot Village School and St Michael’s Primary school in Sunninghill.

Click on the photo to enlarge it    Author Laura Dockrill Inspires Year 7 pupils
Charters School Year 7 pupils were very excited to welcome poet, illustrator, lyrist, writer and now children’s author Laura Dockrill to school today. Laura spent the morning with Assistant Headteacher, Mr Darren Hartwell, members of the English Faculty and Year 7 pupils.  This event was organised by Ms Dockrill’s publisher, Random House, and today’s visit is part of a nationwide book tour.
Mr Hartwell, Assistant Headteacher said: “Of all the author visits we have held, this one was the most fun and enjoyable.  Laura had every pupil and member of staff captivated from the moment she started. I would not be surprised if a large number of pupils left feeling inspired to write more, and perhaps aim for a future career as a writer.   We are incredibly fortunate to be welcoming Laura back to Charters in July as part of our inaugural children’s book festival which takes place at the School’s Summer Fayre on Saturday 13 July.”

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Papplewick walks for Daisy’s Dream

Papplewick School in Ascot held its annual charity walk this year in Windsor Great Park on Sunday 21 April.  Boys, parents and friends of the school walked in support of the charity Daisy’s Dream, which provides help and support to children in Berkshire.

The walk started at 10.00 with the younger boys, Years 2-6, getting started, shortly followed by Years 7 and 8.  Alexander James, from Year 7, was first to finish the 10-mile walk.

“It was a beautiful day, luckily for us,” said headmaster Tom Bunbury.  “We were all able to enjoy the weather and the scenery – and the picnic which followed!”

papplewick school ascot