Residents and visitors in South Ascot were alarmed last Tuesday, August 1st, by a serious disturbance which saw armed police and 4 police vehicles - including the forensics van - interrupting normal business in the vicinity of Hyn's corner, for much of the afternoon. One motorist said she was stopped by an armed policeman on Station Hill, by the Maclaren showroom. She was told the road was closed and was obliged to turn round and go all the way round via Sunninghill to get to South Ascot. Another witness described how she and her daughter were alarmed to be faced with an armed policeman, as she approached Brockenhurst Road, along Oliver Road.  Not much information has been released but, what there is, can be seen on Get Reading at http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/ascot-man-arrested-gun-drug-13438117

This year the Bracknell, Wokingham, Ascot and District SAMARITANS Run was held on Saturday 1^st July returning for the first time in over 31 years to Easthampstead Park Community School.  

The School’s generous support of the event was boosted by a special team of teachers and pupils who entered to demonstrate their support of the charity which offers listening services to those in despair, distress and having suicidal feelings.

In total, nearly 500 individual runners from the local community and those representing running clubs, entered the 5 or 10K event raising just over £7,500 which will go a long way to help with the £23,000 annual cost to run the local Branch, which is based in Mount Pleasant, Bracknell.

Race Director, Jackie Holland, explains,  “This year we were lucky enough to receive financial support from local corporate sponsors as well as over 60 volunteers who helped to make the day such an enjoyable event, acting as marshals on the course, cooking BBQ food,  serving teas, coffees and cakes. Next year we are exploring ideas of how to make the event even more successful. This will include encouraging runners to persuade friends and family to sponsor their efforts so we can raise even more funds. This year just 8 people did this and alone they raised an additional £1200.”       

 BBC2’s The Repair Shop are seeking damaged family and community heirlooms that have special significance during Christmas time for their upcoming Christmas special. The series follows a team of passionate and skilled crafts people who restore damaged objects of sentimental value. The experts work side by side in beautiful barn nestled deep in the British countryside as they fix, repair and breathe new life into objects brought in by members of the public. The experts are drawn from different disciplines such as furniture repairers, metal workers, mechanics, ceramicists, clock makers, picture conservationists, and up-cyclers, restorers and fabricators of every ilk.

A ragged teddy bear given to a grandparent decades ago, a damaged sleigh that once decorated the town square, a favourite train set a parent would like to pass on to their child Christmas morning, anything of personal sentimental value or importance to a community can be repaired and preserved for generations to come.

The team is especially eager to restore a sleigh that could decorate a town at Christmas time and to repair damaged items for the second series.

 If you have a precious object you’d like repaired please email repair@ricochet.co.uk or call 01273 224829

 Charters School  in Sunningdale opened its doors on 23^rd April 1958. This date is St. George’s Day and also Shakespeare’s birthday; the school emblem represents both of these facts with the red cross of St. George and a dagger, which was a theme in many of Shakespeare’s plays. 

This year, in celebration of Shakespeare’s birthday, Charters School held the first ever Charters School Shakespeare Week. The week included a wide variety of activities, both in lessons and during break-times. Most of the departments took part, using Shakespeare as inspiration for a wide variety of activities with Years 7, 8 and 9. From teaching students how to say ‘To be or not to be’ in Spanish, to choreographing Romeo’s sword fight with Tybalt in Dance, and holding competitions in Shakespearean recital in the school bandstand, students learnt facts and got to experience a more light-hearted side of Shakespeare. Years 7 and 8 also took part in a scavenger hunt to find Shakespeare’s bones which had been hidden around the school. The event was a success thanks to the efforts of teachers in a wide variety of departments who took part and planned lessons to encourage students’ enthusiasm when studying Shakespeare.

Pictured Above: The Newly Refurbished and Extended 'Bull'

THE LEXICON BRACKNELL MARKS ONE MONTH TO GO WITH A PREVIEW OF FENWICK’S SEPTEMBER COLLECTIONS

Today marks one month to go until The Lexicon Bracknell’s opening. Berkshire’s next generation shopping, dining and leisure destination, opens its doors for the very first time on Thursday 7 September, following a £240million regeneration. In celebration of the highly-anticipated milestone, a unique photoshoot has taken place, previewing some of the stylish ensembles that will be available to shop in the new Fenwick store from opening.

The Lexicon Bracknell is bringing 580,000 sq. ft. of new shops, restaurants and leisure to the area, including the first full line Fenwick store to be opened in 14 years. Its iconic building will be situated on The Avenue - The Lexicon’s premier fashion hub – and feature three-storeys of the most sought after fashion, beauty, and accessory brands in the UK.

Pictured L to R | Archie and Torben

 Charters School |Two Charters students have been selected to represent Berkshire in the final of the ESFA PlayStation U14 Inter County Cup on Thursday 4 May, following a superb 2 – 1 win over Lancashire in the semi-final which was recently played at Fleetwood Town FC.

Berkshire last made the final in 1984 so this is a huge achievement for both the boys and Charters School. Torben Francis & Archie Mills, both 14, play Left Wing & Central Midfield respectively and play weekly for Camberley Town Youth. Torben said, “I’m really excited as this is the first time anything like this has happened to me, ” while Archie added that it was “so good to be selected for the team.”

The final, which is always staged by the ESFA at a neutral venue, will this year be held at St Andrews Stadium, Birmingham, the home of Birmingham City FC. Anyone wishing to see the match which starts at 11.30am on Thursday 4 May can watch the live stream on You Tube, (www.youtube.com/c/esfatv).