Hundreds of Thames Hospice supporters took to the outside on Sunday 6th December 2020 for the charity’s annual Santa Dash.

Berkshire’s longest running Santa Dash is one of the highlights in the Hospice’s fundraising calendar and raises significant funds each year to support local people who need urgent hospice care over the Christmas period and beyond.

As the annual festive fun run was unable to take place at Swinley Forest this year, supporters were invited to ‘do it their way’ and take on their own local walking or running route, covering a distance of either 3k, 5k or 10k, whilst adhering to the UK Government’s social distancing guidelines.

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Highlights

- Turnover up 6% due to a strong performance from fine dining at Royal Ascot and Ascot Racedays, a full year’s income from the Bet With Ascot operation and increased income from broadcast and media rights;

- Further investment and capital expenditure in racecourse facilities including a new public address and sound system throughout the racecourse; the second phase of an eight-year box refurbishment programme; further investment in the wayfinding project; a new external escalator providing access to the parade ring and the continuation of the comprehensive Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) programme now that the Grandstand is over 10 years old;

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Last week The Japan Society organised a Virtual Sixth Form Japan Week for students in the U.K. and Charters School in Sunningdale were delighted to take part. The event, which ran from 1st to 4th December, gave an insight into all aspects of Japan from traditional to modern and included lectures, talks, demonstrations and workshops.

Year 13 student Erin Hornibrook was one of the participants from Charters and said, "I joined a story telling workshop. We learnt about an ancient Japanese tale by Ryunosuke Akutagawa called Kandata (The Spider's Thread). It was enlightening and an invaluable insight into Japanese folklore"Mr Greaves, who is a maths teacher at the school and has lived in Japan, is hoping to start a Japanese Club in 2021 to explore more aspects of Japanese language and culture with the whole Charters School community. 

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Consultation on public space transformation proposals in Windsor 

A four-week public consultation has launched around proposals to improve public spaces and pedestrian signage around Windsor and the area outside Windsor Castle.

The consultation aims to gather feedback from residents, businesses and key stakeholder groups on proposals to introduce the following two main elements, both of which aim to increase visitor expenditure, economic growth within the town and to improve the overall experience for residents and visitors: 

• Public space improvements within the proximity of Windsor Castle, including widening of the footpath on the southern side of Castle Hill, the timed closure of Castle Hill to vehicles and the implementation of a protective barrier near the Queen Victoria Statue for improved safety.
• Improved wayfinding and information signs in the town to help visitors navigate and explore the area on foot.

Councillor Gerry Clark, lead member for transport and infrastructure, said: “Windsor Castle, and the surrounding area, are major assets within the Royal Borough attracting many visitors from near and far. As a world class visitor destination, the castle attracts many visitors from all over the world who spend significant amounts of money while they’re here, and that benefits Windsor and the rest of the borough. 

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Click on RBWM_Christmas_Brochure_2020.pdf (windsor.gov.uk)

Visiting Windsor Castle this Christmas

This winter explore the Christmas display at Windsor Castle, including the magnificent centrepiece, the 20-foot-high Norway spruce tree in St George's Hall, taken from Windsor Great Park and dressed with hundreds of iridescent glass and mirrored ornaments. In the State Dining Room, the table will be laid with silver-gilt pieces from the spectacular Grand Service commissioned by George IV and still used today by The Queen and her guests at State Banquets. While in the Waterloo Chamber the pantomime pictures are still on display. On Saturdays in December there will be a mix of festive storytelling and craft activities for the kids. Children's activities are free with standard entry ticket. Free Windsor Castle Advantage Card entry is only available on the day and entry is subject to availability. If you want to guarantee a time slot, for example if you’re visiting with friends who have pre-booked, you can book your ticket by phone for a £2 fee. The Advantage Card free entry doesn’t allow priority entry, so please be prepared to queue. Please take along your Advantage Card for all those visiting including children, staff will check before entry. Please don’t attempt to use a borrowed Advantage Card, it will be confiscated. (If your image on the card isn’t clear, take along an additional form of photo ID). For pre-booked tickets, the ticket sales and information office’s telephone lines will be open from 10.30am until 6pm every day on +44(0) 303 123 7304.