PURLEY PARISH€¦ · If you don’t have internet access or you can’t manage video conferencing, try Daily Hope where you will hear a message, prayer and hymn. Purley Parish News

SERVING PURLEY ON THAMES AND TILEHURST BORDERS

PURLEY PARISHNews

July 2020 50p

Purley Parish Council P8

Purley Parish News Renewals P7

Easing Lockdown - Conquering Our Fear P11

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1 July 2020 Purley Parish News www.stmaryspurley.org.uk

St. Mary’s Purley CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH GOD

www.stmaryspurley.org.uk

Rector Revd Dr David Archer The Rectory, 1 Westridge Avenue 0118 942 4390 [email protected]

Associate Ministers Revd Brendan Bailey, 07828 953568 [email protected]

Revd Alan Gates, 07528 087733 [email protected]

Churchwardens Anne Bolland, 0118 941 3259 Geoff Williams, 0118 941 1788

Church Office 0118 942 4390 (Mon-Fri, 9-1) St. Mary’s Avenue, RG8 8BJ [email protected]

Church Bookings Fran Jones [email protected]

Baptisms, Weddings & Funerals All enquiries to the church office

Editor Brendan Bailey [email protected]

Editorial Support Team David Archer, Debbie Corrigan, Anne Bolland, Steven Corrigan

Distribution & Subscriptions Steven Corrigan 11 Mapledurham Drive 0118 945 1895

Advertising Debbie Corrigan [email protected]

Online edition during Covid-19 St Mary’s Purley

Cover Picture “Purley Sights 2020" © Leo Whyte

This Edition Published 27 June Next Edition Copy Deadline 15 August Next Edition Published 29 August

Purley Parish News first appeared in 1933 under Revd Ernest Skuse. Revived in the 1960s and adopting its current format in 1970, St. Mary’s have published the magazine since, always with the aim of serving both church and community.

This magazine is published on the last Saturday in the preceding month, except August and January. The price of each issue is 50p with an annual subscription price of £5.00 for ten issues.

Comments and opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor or the PCC of St. Mary's Church, Purley on Thames – nor is any endorsement of the products and services of our advertisers implied by their inclusion.

All contributions to this magazine are welcome, particularly on local issues and events. Copy can be delivered either in writing or by email. Please note however, we reserve the right to edit contributions, primarily to fit space and meet style guidelines.

Most common computer file formats are accepted, with the notable exception of Microsoft Publisher. When sending articles containing images, please send the images separately, to avoid email size restrictions, and ensure that they are scaleable.

Unless otherwise stated, all phone numbers printed in this magazine are for area code 0118.

http://www.stmaryspurley.org.uk


From The Editor’s DeskDear Reader,

This is my first contribution to the Purley Parish News. I introduce myself further on in the magazine. Now in retirement, I continue to serve as a priest. It may be that seeing the word priest leads to some misunderstanding, as many of us associate the word priest with the Roman Catholic Church. Church of England vicars (those wearing dog collars) are also priests. Some priests are called to serve in a parish setting, some as chaplains within the armed services, hospitals, schools, and other non-church settings. Priesthood is also for life whether or not you are able to continue in active service; that said, to continue to pray for the Church and for the world is something that most of us can do despite age or infirmity. Whatever our job description or calling most of us will respond to “Vicar” and most will engage in conversations prompted by the sight of a clerical collar.

As you might have guessed, I enjoy talking about my job as a vocation that has led me into all sorts of situations and adventures that I had not anticipated when I became a priest.

Becoming a Christian is, in itself, a great adventure. The Bible is crammed full of adventure stories about men and women who have responded to God’s invitation to go to the place he has chosen for us and to serve him. For some that invitation may come as a calling to leave the place you now call home and to serve God in another place. For most, our calling will be to serve God where we are, by telling others about his love for us in sending his Son Jesus to die for our sins and to rise again showing, once and for all, that good will always have the upper hand. As Christians we are also called to serve our neighbour when they are in need; more than this, we are called to search out for those in need and then to meet their need. Jesus gave us a model for this in his story about “The Good Samaritan”.

Nowadays I don’t wear my dog collar very often but that doesn’t mean that I’m either off duty or unwilling to chat. I am always willing to listen or to share stories of my adventures as a Christian and as a priest and to help you to begin the greatest adventure ever which is to become a follower of Jesus.

www.stmaryspurley.org.uk Purley Parish News July 2020 2

Alan Gates, Associate Minister

Sundays Guide


Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: Regrettably as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, all Sunday services and midweek activities usually held in St. Mary's church building are now suspended until further notice. However we are now streaming online services each Sunday morning, the details are below. More information can be found at www.stmaryspurley.org.uk.

Online Sunday Services Our Sunday services are now online and broadcast at 10.30am. These services have a mix of worship, teaching, prayer and contributions from different church members. The services are available to view at:

https://www.stmaryspurley.org.uk https://www.facebook.com/stmaryspurley https://www.stmaryspurley.org.uk/YouTube

Oxford Diocese offer a live-streamed Eucharist every Sunday morning at 10am, available at https://www.oxford.anglican.org/coronavirus-covid-19/livestream/.

Online Midweek Teaching Series We have now completed a series of short online teachings based on Paul's Letter to the Ephesians, entitled "Life At Its Best". They are available to view on our website in the "multimedia/recordings" section and also on our YouTube channel and Facebook page.

A new short series will begin soon and will be published on a Wednesday evening at 7pm. Do look out for details on our website, Facebook page and YouTube channel.




Event Listing Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: Regrettably as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, all Sunday events and midweek activities usually held in St. Mary’s church building are now suspended until further notice. The latest information can be found at www.stmaryspurley.org.uk.

TUESDAY LUNCH CLUB ***SUSPENDED*** Tuesday 7 July & 4 August | 12.30-2pm | St. Mary’s Church You are very welcome to join us for a light two-course meal, plenty of fun and friendship. For more information please contact Sheila Adnett on 0118 962 5760. Why not bring a friend too .…

OASIS ***SUSPENDED*** Thursday 2 & 16 July 6 & 20 August | St. Mary’s Church A get together for parents and others caring for babies and toddlers on the first and third Thursday in the month between 9.30-11.00am. We offer tea, coffee, cake and good company. There are toys for the children and a short story-time.

SINGING FOR FUN ***SUSPENDED*** Thursday afternoons in July & August | 2-4pm | St. Mary’s Church A welcoming group offering a fun afternoon of singing familiar songs, friendly repartee, tea and biscuits. Includes reflections. All welcome.

MESSY CHURCH ***SUSPENDED*** Sunday 5 July & 2 August | 4-5.30pm | St. Mary’s Church Join us for a fun way of being church especially with families in mind – includes a fun creative time to explore a theme from the Bible; a short celebration involving story, prayer, song and games; and a sit-down tea together at tables.

A Bit Of A Tell Rita Denman Hello again,

Covid-19 captives are slowly coming out of isolation and looking forward to freedom. In the course of the emergency we have learned that whatever our calling in life, society is closely linked, we all depend on each other and that we take many workers and services for granted.

In modern times we have convenient facilities for bathing and cleaning. We have been reminded of the importance of hand washing at all times not only during the pandemic. The Thames Water Company tell us that, as the hot weather coincided with the beginning of lock down, we used much more water than usual at home and that reserves were stretched.

The village school was built before piped water came to Purley and Phil Rawlins, one of the old villagers, recalled her young days at Purley School in the 1920s when a bowl of water for hand washing was provided at the entrance to the building.

In 1894 the Pangbourne, Tilehurst and District Water Company was established to provide piped water to the area including the Parish of Purley. In 1930 this company was taken over by the Reading Corporation Water Works. It was a slow process and for many years parts of Purley were still reliant on water drawn from a well or pump. The River Estate was without mains water until 1960 and by the end of that year about a third of the dwellings had been connected. Records show that a mains water extension of 150 yards reached Orchard Close in 1959, 336 yards to Home Farm in 1966, 73 yards to St Mary's Church in 1969 and 206 yards to Westfeld and Oxford Road in 1970. For more detailed information please visit the Project Purley on line archives.

I hope that by the next time we meet it will be under more normal circumstances but in the meantime, stay safe and enjoy the wealth of nature around us.

Mind how you go.




Berkshire Family History Society Catherine Sampson At the time of writing, the society’s Centre in Reading Central Library remains closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but much of the society’s normal activities and events continue online in the meantime. The society is using Zoom to deliver its talks, workshops and courses. The software and link required to attend each event is sent to delegates by email in advance, so pre-booking is required. No software purchase is required by attendees. To access Zoom, you will need a computer device such as a laptop or tablet which has a microphone, speakers and preferably a camera (latter not essential however). A small charge is made for most workshops and talks, although some are free. For more information and to book an event – see https:berksfhs.org. Berkshire Family History Society is a registered charity number 283010.

Coming up in July – we have a workshop on Thursday July 16 at 2pm on Parish Registers for Family Historians – probably the key resource most will use. On Saturday 25 July, 2.30pm Debbie Kennett will be facilitating a special interest group on DNA, aimed at those who have already had their DNA tested.

In August, the society’s new talk’s season begins with five talks on topics connected with World War Two, a timely reminder that the 75th anniversary of VJ Day is fast approaching. You can buy tickets for all five talks for the price of four, or individual talk tickets, as you wish. Topics include: Reading in the Second World War, Reading’s Home Guard, Women in the Second World War, The Battle of Britain and The Changing Army: The British Army 1939-1945. Each speaker is a topic expert and there is ample opportunity to ask questions afterwards.

The society’s new membership year has just begun and single membership costs £19, joint membership £23. This includes a whole host of benefits including regular newsletters, a quarterly journal, reduced price tickets for events (and many free), and currently free access to Findmypast Worldwide and The Genealogist whilst the society’s Heritage Centre remains closed. So now is an excellent time to join if you have been thinking about getting started or expanding your family history research.


Purley Horticultural Society Marion Dabbs The Trading Store is still closed. Please check our website on https://www.purleyonthames.org.uk/PHS/ for any further information.

Daily Hope Brendan Bailey If you don’t have internet access or you can’t manage video conferencing, try Daily Hope where you will hear a message, prayer and hymn.

Purley Parish News Renewals Debbie & Steven Corrigan

Thank you for your support of Purley Parish News (PPN). We have been so encouraged by the number of downloads on the St. Mary’s Purley website since we had to change to an on-line only magazine due to the Coronavirus pandemic. We had almost 700 downloads for the first on-line edition. Amazing!

We have also been in awe of those of you who have been printing off the on-line edition for your neighbours who do not have a computer or the ability to go online. Thank you!

The church has decided to revert to a hard copy magazine, delivered to your door for the next edition in September. We love producing this magazine for you and we especially enjoy the interaction we have with you when we do so. It is just another way of getting to know our neighbours in this wonderful place to live.

This year we are asking for the annual subscription for the PPN a little later than usual and in a slightly different way.

Because we have had to produce the magazine online for April to July, in order to mitigate the risks of Covid-19 for our distributors, we are now giving you 2 options:




https://www.purleyonthames.org.uk/PHS/

https://www.purleyonthames.org.uk/PHS/

a. to subscribe for the year April 2020 to March 2021 at a price of £4; or

b. to subscribe for April 2020 to March 2022 at a price of £7.

You will see that the price has been reduced slightly. This is to reflect the fact that for 3 of the 4 online editions we did not incur any printing costs. We did however pay for 1 edition (April) due to the late notice that had to be given to the printing company.

Please pay your chosen amount online and quote your house number and postcode as your reference. Eg 11 RG88BD. [If you have a house name please quote as much of the housename as possible]. You can always email confirmation of payment or any queries to [email protected]

CAF Bank details: PCC St Marys Purley on Thames. Sort code: 40-52-40. Account no: 00022872

If you are not able to pay online, please place either cash or a cheque made payable to PCC St Marys Purley in an envelope with your address on the back of the envelope and drop it off to 11 Mapledurham Drive by the 10 September.

Purley Parish Council Sue Briscoe I hope this finds you well? We have been so lucky to have this wonderful area to enjoy for our exercise. Since easing of the lockdown and the fine weather, many other people seem to have discovered beautiful Purley and the riverbank is covered daily with picnickers and sun bathers. This would be fine if everyone were considerate about noise, behaviour and litter but sadly this is not the case! The Parish Council is trying its best to cope with this unprecedented situation, but our powers are limited. We also alert West Berkshire Council and the Police to problems where necessary.

The roads on the route of the 16 bus have become a car park for visitors and the parking is far from considerate leading to suspension of the bus service occasionally. We have asked for the Crime Enforcement Officer from West Berkshire to patrol the area and parking tickets have been issued. If you have suggestions for solving our parking problem, please let us know!

With the easing of lockdown restrictions, some of the parish’s sports facilities are back in partial use. Football, cricket and tennis organisations are now offering some forms of training, following the guidelines of their national


mailto:[email protected]

bodies. It’s nothing like normality but is a start. Unfortunately we have not yet had permission to open our children’s playgrounds at Bucknells Meadow and Goosecroft which is frustrating to some but still deemed to be too risky. It is a shame that some people ignore padlocks and notices in order to do what they want. The Parish Council has had to pay for repairs to fences and gates such as the gate from Wintringham Way to Mapledurham Drive which has twice been removed and damaged.

The company that supplies the large waste bin that we put on Mapledurham Drive was very slow to deliver and I realise that some of you became irritated by the shortage of bins. Our apologies but this was not our fault. The bin is in place now and we have another bin on order for the River Gardens end of Blounts Meadow. We must say a huge ‘thank you’ to the small group of local people who volunteer to go out, at least daily, to clear up all the litter. They are among the many ‘heroes’ in our midst at the present time, helping others and the community. If you would like to volunteer in any way, contact Purley Residents Support Committee on their Facebook page.

At this time of year we would normally be inviting you to make nominations for Villager of the Year. However there are so many people offering kindness to others. Therefore we do not plan to have a Villager of the Year award 2020 but, when permitted, create an opportunity for people to come up to the Barn to write and display their messages of thanks. Hopefully we will have a community event to celebrate the many Villagers of the Year.

Parish business continues so if you need to contact us please use our contact form on the website, email the Clerk or leave a message on our answerphone and we will get back to you. Enjoy the freedoms which easing of lockdown offers you and keep well!

Easing Lockdown - Conquering Our Fear Brendan Bailey

This new edition of Purley Parish News is being put together in the week when shops started to reopen and other businesses and organisations were planning or discussing how they can begin offering their services again.

In the course of the last couple of weeks, though, I have had conversations implying that some people are very anxious about trying to return to




“normal” at the current pace. There is fear and concern about a possible “second wave” of infections that we would all want to avoid.

But are our fears justified or helpful? Although I studied microbiology at university, I am not an expert on viruses or epidemics, so I am really not qualified to offer an opinion on the scientific questions of easing lockdown. But as someone who suffers with anxiety, I can understand and empathise with those who are struggling with this whole lockdown area. Such anxiously considered concerns can easily grow larger than the problem itself.

There are two sorts of fears or anxieties at work – the real and the hypothetical. In the case of Covid-19, the real fears come from people’s susceptibility to infection. For those with underlying health conditions, these fears can be very real especially for those who need regular medical help. The evidence of the last few months has been clear that the greater the amount of exposure to the virus, the greater the chance of contracting it.

This sort of fear can be dealt with by thinking about the precautions that are in place to stop or slow the spread of the infection – social distancing, hand washing, face covering, self-isolation etc. In other words, the practical ways in which infection can be avoided can help overcome any real fears.

The challenge comes from the hypothetical fears or anxieties – the “what ifs”. These are the niggling thoughts that creep into the subconscious in the middle of a sleepless night or when we are engaged in different activities. They are often the hardest to conquer. When such thoughts come unbidden into our minds, they can easily run riot. A “what if” can escalate into a “when” type of anxiety. What will help to calm these fears or ease the mind?

Some of the followers of Jesus experienced these extremes of anxiety out fishing on the Sea of Galilee. A storm blew up and waves were starting to crash into the boat. Jesus was fast asleep on a pillow in the bottom of the boat. The fishermen, used to storms, were terrified and called for Jesus to save them. Jesus woke up and calmed the storm with a couple of words. “Be still!” he said to the wind and waves and they subsided immediately.

In the midst of our own storms, Jesus can come to still the winds and waves of the “what ifs and whens.” In fact, the Bible’s most common expression in


difficult times is “Do not be afraid.” There are 365 occurrences of the phrase in total. That’s one for every day of the year.

The title of the Guest Sunday service last weekend was “Where Is God In A Coronavirus World?” If the picture of God that we see in the Bible is any guide for us, then God is right in the midst of the crisis facing us at present. Just as Jesus was in the boat during the storm, so he is present here and now in our current experiences.

Jesus is present in the hand of the nurse comforting a sick patient, in the person delivering prescriptions and medication to the vulnerable and shielding. He is there in the smiling face of the people who step back to let us through on the pavement to maintain social distancing or the helpful shop assistant getting something from a high shelf. God is there in the birdsong and blossoming flowers, in the birds soaring in the air above, in the blue sky and the rain. God is all around us, if we are willing to look for signs of his presence.One of the names used for Jesus in the Bible is Emmanuel – which means God is with us. And Jesus himself promises his followers that he will not leave them alone, but will send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to lead them into all truth. And banish the mischievous “what ifs.”

If you missed the Guest Sunday service “Where is God in a Time of Coronavirus?” you can watch it on the St. Mary’s Purley YouTube channel. You can also join us on Sundays on YouTube at 10.30am for a time of worship and prayer, followed by virtual drinks and chat.

Project Purley Rob Wallace

Project Purley’s second Zoom meeting was held mid-afternoon on the 22nd May. Thirty one households (approx. 45 people) dialled in to hear Debbie Kennett talk on the latest addition to the genealogists tool box - DNA testing.

Commercial DNA testing started around 2000 but remained an expensive, niche product until 2014 when large scale testing dropped the costs and led to an explosion in use. Something like 35 million tests for geological studies have now been carried out. Debbie illustrated her talk with some well-known examples of the results of this work such as Richard III and TV programmes such as “Ant & Dec’s DNA Journey”. She also touched on the issues with NPE




– “Not Parent Expected” results – a risk you need to take into account when starting out!

We had a quick introduction to the science of DNA and the three main types of tests - Autosomnal DNA, Y-chromosome (male line only) and Mitochondrial DNA (male & female line). Debbie then reviewed the different companies offering tests and their strengths and weaknesses. Many people now have several tests done by different companies for this reason.

The critical point about DNA testing is that a test, on its own, is of little use. It only becomes a powerful tool when compared to other tests in a DNA database. Debbie illustrated this with examples from her own family tree showing how the DNA enabled both increased confidence in relationships documented from normal sources but also its ability to direct further research into places and people you would be unlikely to find by traditional methods.

She also made the important point that to be effective you need to capture a person’s DNA signature while they are alive. Her examples of what can be done in single family studies, name group studies and genetic communities were beautifully explained and illustrated and also reviewed what it can and can’t achieve.

It was one of the most interesting presentations I’ve seen and showed how new techniques can have a great impact on very traditional pursuits such as genealogy. The questions afterwards showed how fascinating everyone had found her talk.

Project Purley’s July meeting will also take place on Zoom. Mike Cooper will be talking about the history of Tilehurst. Any summer activities and September’s meeting will be announced nearer to the time, as circumstances allow.

Springs Farm Footpath

The Planning Inspectorate has adjourned the local Public Enquiry planned for 14 July because of Covid-19 restrictions. The latest time frame envisaged is muted as October to February. Follow the latest developments on https://www.facebook.com/purleypangbournepaths.


West Berkshire Conservation Volunteers Colin Layton

I hope you are keeping well under these very trying circumstances. Just to let you know, I've recently had the following from our Chairman, Tony MacDonald:

Until the government guidelines on group numbers are eased beyond the current levels or there is a vaccine or some other change to the situation then we have no plans for tasks, walks, etc to recommence in the immediate future. I appreciate that this is not such good news but we will keep monitoring the situation and as soon as it is safe to start back, we will let you know.

Very frustrating but thank you again for your continued support.

Tales From West Berkshire Rick Jones As I write this, lockdown restrictions are being eased – a relief to some, and equally a worry to others.

West Berkshire Council (WBC) is still fully engaged in the response to the pandemic, in terms of support and providing services. The Community Hub will be a new service that continues at least until the end of this year, possibly much longer. Everyone expects some form of second wave, though West Berkshire and the country generally will be much better prepared to mitigate its effects if that does occur.

In this ‘Response Phase’ the main focus has obviously been to support the shielded and vulnerable residents, both through direct means and through the many community volunteer groups and charities. This has been highly successful, though challenging at times. This has of course included much support to care homes - with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), advice and guidance, early testing, etc. Also, great support to schools as they look after key worker and looked-after children, and in getting ready to re-open. There has been massive financial help to local businesses, where WBC was amongst the first to process grants and loans to all businesses that applied for and were eligible for help. Hopefully, this will have reduced the negative impact of the crisis for many small companies.

The council’s response is moving now towards an outbreak management action plan, focussing on care homes, schools, businesses and town centres, to prevent or reduce any localised outbreaks and move towards the future




without increasing risk needlessly. We are already beginning work with parish and town councils on town centres and roads, to ensure safety when shops re-open more generally, and to enact measures to support the Government’s Active Travel initiative. This is where roads can be re-configured to some extent to facilitate more cycling and walking.

From now, however, the council will further be planning and managing the ‘Recovery Phase’ of the crisis. We intend to approach this to address the heath, social, economic and environmental requirements and opportunities presented by our situation. Running response and recovery activities in parallel will stretch the council, but doing so is clearly necessary if we are to recover ‘normal’ life as soon as possible.

There will be a dedicated recovery function set up within the council but working really closely with other authorities and partner organisations across Berkshire. Their mandate will be to make plans and take actions to:

In other words, recover to where we as a district were before all this began, BUT use the opportunity to retain some of the good that has emerged from the last three months. The environment has certainly improved, and many organisations are now benefitting from working at home, being more responsive and communicating better. That is certainly true of West Berkshire Council, and we would like to keep that.

Recover: •the health of the population •the quality of life of the district •the economic success of West Berkshire

and Ensure: •a strong and supported community sector •an environmentally focussed renewal •an enhanced openness, public engagement and sharing of information •a reshaped and more responsive council •West Berkshire quality of life for all our citizens equally


Introducing…… Alan Gates

As this is my first contribution to the Purley Parish News it would be a good idea if I were to introduce myself. I am Reverend Alan Gates. Until quite recently I was Vicar of three small parishes near Wallingford, and prior to this my wife, Margaret, and I lived in Majorca for two years where I worked with the chaplaincy there. Before that, I was Vicar of two largish parishes in Suffolk, where I also served as Rural Dean. Following my retirement from licensed ministry, my wife and I moved to Purley on Thames and we now live well within 100 metres of St Mary’s. Now, in retirement, I have what is called a “Permission to Officiate” which means that I can continue to serve as a priest both locally at St Mary’s and in the wider church in the Diocese of Oxford.

West Berks Council Home Efficiency Evangeline Hegarty A consortium of councils (Bracknell Forest, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Runnymede, Spelthorne and West Berkshire), in partnership with the HEAT Project and Happy Energy Solutions Ltd are working together to make homes healthier, warmer, and more energy efficient. Grants are available towards measures such as boiler upgrades, central heating systems, insulation, and renewable energy systems.

Central heating grants funded by the consortium’s successful bid to the National Grid’s Warm Homes Fund; are also available. These are for households who currently have no heating, such as open fires or plug in electric heaters, or those who wish to switch from electric storage heaters to a full radiator heating system. Grant funding can also be provided towards the cost of a new mains gas connection, or, in rural areas, the new heating system can be fuelled from LPG, and in some cases, by a ground source heat pump.

You may be eligible for a grant if your household income after tax, Council Tax and energy costs is less than £35,000 per year, or if someone in your household receives benefits. Residents looking to take advantage of any of these grants can call Heat the Home Counties on 01344 888930, or at www.heatthehomecounties.org.uk. All works are subject to survey, eligibility criteria and limited funding. NB property surveys will not take place until it is safe to do so, however funds are limited so get in touch to be survey ready for when surveying is able to restart.




A Coronavirus Quiz

Have you been paying attention to the news?

1. The first city to give news of the outbreak in China was Wuhan in which province: a.Hudei b. Hubei c. Wuhei d. Taipei

2. What is the population of Wuhan? a. 10 million b. 11 million c.12 million d. 15 million

3. When was the last global pandemic declared by WHO? a. 2004 b. 2009 c. 2013 d. 2016

4. What disease does WHO recognise as having the greatest number of outbreaks per year? a. Thyphoid b. Ebola c. Cholera d. Dysentery

5. When did the Government of the UK introduce a general lockdown? a. March 12 b. March 18 c. 23 March d. 25 March

6. What is the official name of the coronavirus? a. Covid-19 b. SARS-CoV-2 c. Cor-19-SARS d. Corona-19

7. The PM suggested how long we should sing Happy Birthday for when washing hands? a. 2 minutes b. 3 times c. 3 minutes d. Often

8. Sir Patrick Vallance is one of the 2 main scientific advisors, the other is … a. Chris Whatty b. Chris Whitty c. Colin Whitty d. Chris Watts

Quiz Answers: b,b,b,c,c,b,a,b

Well done if you got them all right – I’m afraid I ate the prize during lockdown!


Alpha - You’re Invited

We are running a course where everyone watches an episode about questions around the Christian faith, then chats about it together online. It’s called Alpha.

It is very informal. If you are interested please send an email to [email protected]




Government MP for West Reading Alok Sharma, Conservative 0118 941 3803 House of Commons, Westminster, SW1A 0AA [email protected]

West Berkshire District Councillors Rick Jones 0118 962 3793 Tom Marino & Andy Williamson

Purley Parish Councillors Sue Briscoe, Chairman 0118 945 6085 Tilehurst Parish Councillors Kevin Page, Chairman 0118 9012833

Emergencies 999 All non-emergencies 101 Floodline 0345 988 1188 Lock Keeper 0118 941 7776

West Berkshire District Council Main switchboard 01635 551111 (Out of Hours Emergency) 01635 42161 Streetcare 01635 519080 Planning applications 01635 519111

Purley on Thames Parish Council Claire Thomson, Clerk 0118 984 4507 Parish Office, Goosecroft Lane Mon 2.30-6.30pm, Thur 9.30am- 2.30pm

Local Amenities Purley Barn 0118 984 4507 Purley Sports & Social Club 0118 984 3061 Purley Park Social Club 0118 942 7047 Purley Memorial Hall 07772 129 187

Public Transport Rail Travel Great Western Railway 03457 00 01 25 National Rail Enquiries 03457 48 49 50 Bus Travel Reading Buses 0118 959 4000 Thames Travel 01865 785400 ReadiBus 0118 931 0000 Traveline 0871 200 22 33

Medical NHS Non-Emergency 111 Royal Berkshire Hospital 0118 322 5111 The Boathouse Surgery 0118 984 2234 Whitchurch Road, Pangbourne Tilehurst Village Surgery 0118 945 2612 92 Westwood Road, Tilehurst Lloyds Pharmacy 0118 984 2935 3 The Square, Pangbourne Manichem 0118 942 8990 5 The Colonnade, Overdown Road, Tilehurst

Advice and Support West Berkshire Citizens Advice Bureau The Broadway, Newbury 0300 222 5941 Pangbourne and District Volunteer Centre The Village Hall, Pangbourne 0118 984 4586

Schools Purley Pre-School 07504 831 149 Purley CE Primary School 0118 984 2384 Long Lane Primary School 0118 942 7187 Downsway Primary School 0118 942 1362 Pangbourne Primary School 0118 984 2315 Westwood Farm Infants 0118 942 6113 Westwood Farm Juniors 0118 942 5182 Denefield School 0118 941 3458 Theale Green School 0118 930 2741 Langtree School 01491 680514 Brookfields SEN School 0118 942 1382

Libraries Pangbourne 0118 984 4117 Purley Mobile Library 01635 519827

Sports Purley Cricket Club 0118 945 3117

Please note: While every effort is made to keep this information up to date, the editors of Purley Parish News are not responsible for any incorrect numbers.

Useful Numbers


Advertise your

business

Please contact Debbie on

debbie.corrigan@ stmaryspurley.org.uk

if you wAnt this spAce

Melanie Fox Homecare Tel: 07577 662589 & 0118 967 9130

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NVQ 2 Qualified. DBS Checked. 29 years experience. Fully Insured. Care for the elderly in the comfort of their own

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PURLEY’S LOCAL DRAMA GROUP We’re a friendly bunch and new members are always welcome. Come and join us. No experience needed. We do annual pantos, comedies and murder mystery dining evenings

We rehearse at the Barn on Wednesday evenings and we would love to see you. There is lots to do besides being on stage. Stage building, scenery painting, costume making, make up. Contact Chris 0118 9548052, Jean 0118 9424372 or email [email protected] www.purleyplayers.org.uk

PURLEY’S LOCAL DRAMA GROUP

We’re a friendly bunch and new members are always welcome. Come and join us.

No experience needed.We do annual pantos, comedies and murder

mystery dining evenings.We rehearse at the Barn on Wednesday evenings and we would love to see you.

There is lots to do besides being on stage. Stage building, scenery painting,

costume making, make upContact Chris 0118 954 8052

or Jean 0118 942 4372or email

[email protected]

LOCAL GARDENING SERVICEScalcot, Tilehurst and Purley

All garden maintenance, clearance and landscaping

We can set up a regular maintenance plan to keep your garden tidy all year round, or the occasional job

to help you out when you need usContact us for a free quotation

Shane - 07887 [email protected]

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19 years experience.

All domestic cleaning undertaken. Honest, efficient and a good service.

Pensioners speciality given. Call Lisa to discuss requirements.

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CurtainsPelmetsBlinds

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Competitive Prices

Call Caroline (0118) 954 2448

Mobile07815 610007

Purley Tots - a friendly & welcoming parent & toddler group for 0-3 year olds, based in St Marys church, Purley, Tuesdays &

Wednesdays - 9.45am to 11.15am.

For more details, [email protected]

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ORDER ON LINEZZZ�VDOW�GHOLYHULHV�RQOLQH�FRP�

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With minimum orderTablet and Granular Salt 25kg

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Harvey Block Salt��

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Collection also available fromUnit 2, 6 Portman Road, Reading

ARBOCARE TREE SURGERY LTD

Qualiȴed and Experienced Arborists

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Mobile: 07778811136

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22 years experience

All domestic cleaning undertaken.+RQHVW��HႈFLHQW�DQG�D�JRRG�VHUYLFH�

Pensioners speciality given. Call Lisa to discuss requirements.

07811 372459 [email protected]

Call 0118 954 17830797 188 4295

30 Ferndale Avenue, Reading, RG30 3NQ

Rob TurnerHandyman

Home & Garden MaintenancePaintingSticking DoorsShelvingLocks ChangedHedge CuttingFencing PondsRubbish Cleared

Phone: 0118 941 9534Mob: 07866 943 113

Ever wanted to build a website but don’t know where to start? Web-Tastic can help you register and setup your website and email. We can also offer ongoing support if required. Based locally. Web-Tastic offers:

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Ever wanted to build a website but don’t know where to start?

Web-Tastic can help you register and setup your website and email. We can also o!er ongoing support if required. Based locally.

Web-Tastic o!ers:t Basic through to Advanced sites.t Clear, non-jargon advice.t Prices from as little as £40 per year.t UK Charity Discounts.

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Mob: 07808 926 561

PuRLEy TENNIS CLub

Come and join us at our newly refurbished courts.

We are a friendly club catering for all abilities.

Come along to a club session on Monday/Thursday evenings from

6.30pm or Sat mornings from 10.30am.

Call Colin on 07495 271 906 or Trevor on 07562 597 969

for more information

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30 Ferndale Avenue, Reading, RG30 3NQ

Rob Turner Handyman Home & Garden Maintenance Painting, Sticking Doors, Shelving, Locks Changed, Shed Roofs and General Maintenance. Hedge Cutting, Grass Cutting, Fencing, Ponds, Rubbish Cleared. Phone 01189419534 Mob 07866943113

Rob TurnerHandyman

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Ever wanted to build a website but don’t know where to start? Web-Tastic can help you register and setup your website and email. We can also offer ongoing support if required. Based locally. Web-Tastic offers:

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Ever wanted to build a website but don’t know where to start?

Web-Tastic can help you register and setup your website and email. We can also o!er ongoing support if required. Based locally.

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Mob: 07808 926 561

Purley Tennis Club

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Come along to a club session on Monday/Thursday evenings from

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Care in your own homeLive in Care s Day Care s Dementia Care

BENEFITS:s Assistance with bathing, dressing, cooking and Medication etcs One-to-one personalised Cares Consistency of Carers Stay in your own Homes Peace of mind

WE OFFER:s 24hr Live-in Cares Day/night Cares Respite Care /**Holiday Accommodations Emergency Cares Nursing Cares Home from Hospital Rehabilitations Competitive and fair ratess *All inclusive social events for our clients and family members

*For Live-in and daily long-term clients. ** Subject to availability

We are a family run, independent, experienced, Care Provider. We support Independent Living for the Elderly and adults with disabilities at home. We provide quality, person-centred, individual Care.

T: 0118 942 9889 www.chrysaliscareathome.org

SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT LIVING

You Deserve The Best...We Provide It!

Documents

PURLEY PARISH€¦ · If you don’t have internet access or you can’t manage video conferencing, try Daily Hope where you will hear a message, prayer and hymn. Purley Parish News