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Events 2014

The launch of the Memories of Tilehurst booklet

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Pat Ager has been busy chatting to local, Tilehurst people about what it was like to grow up in Tilehurst. From these conversations she has produced a small booklet called Memories of Tilehurst. This booklet is now available at Tilehurst Library and it makes wonderfully interesting reading. You can get your free copy from the library.

On 12th December Pat formally handed over a bunch of booklets to Andrew at the library. A few of the contributors came to share in the event and they were also joined by Globe members. This was a fun occasion, especially since Ron turned up with his Tit Tat game and proceeded to demonstrate how they used to play when he was a boy. Andrew thought he might do better demonstrating the game outside, but in the event no damage was done. And you will have to read the book to find out why this was surprising, if you don't know! These recollections are also on a website, www.tilehurstmemories.org.uk where you can also see lots more about Tilehurst from our past. If you look at the website you will see that we would also like to have your recollections too if you have some to share.

Here are some pictures from the launch event.

The photos show Pat handing over the booklets to Andrew, Ron reliving his childhood and Andrew learning about Tit Tat.

Well done Pat.

Planting out the Trough by the Water Tower

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Pat and Jane, and a small boy (!) decided that the trough by the Water Tower needed planting out with some spring bulbs. This was later than usual since the summer flowers had lasted a lot longer than usual - apparently it was a good growing and flowering season. But as you can see from the photos, on the day chosen to plant out the bulbs, it was hardly possible to see across the road. But Pat and Jane did manage to get the bulbs planted in. And they didn't lose the small boy in the fog either.

Three old ladies making Tilehurst smarter

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The bit of School Road opposite the Triangle, by Corals, Dominos and Nat West Bank is often pretty scruffy. It is a bit weedy and is knee deep in cigarette ends. This is a subject that is often raised at Globe meetings. Well, on Monday 20th October, Ruth took the bull by the horns and set about tidying it all up. She was ably helped by Jenny and Liz came along too. The weeds in the planters were taken out - along with all the rubbish (thanks Warings for the bag to collect it all). Wallflowers and other flowers were planted as well as daffodil bulbs. Simon from Village Properties came and took photos (thankyou Simon) and Setfords gave us cups of tea (thankyou Setfords) and Corals gave us a huge bucket of water to make sure that the plants were well watered in (thankyou Corals).

The weather was warm and dry - just up to the minute when all the tidying was finished when we had quite a bit of rain, which would have helped settle the new plants wonderfully. And now that the area is a bit tidier, we would like to think that people will help to keep it tidy throughout the coming months, so that we can all enjoy the show.

And while we were in the mood we trimmed the plants in front of the Nat West Bank.

Thanks to everyone who helped, but especially Ruth for her enthusiasm.

Planting at the Triangle and at Halls Road

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We usually do two planting sessons a year. We plant bulbs that will come up in the spring and make Tilehurst pretty. This time we did two sessions in one.

The first was at the Triangle on the verge by Lloyds Bank. Last year we had planted out daffodils. These barely survived because of the number of cars that drove over the verge. However, nature is nothing if not persistant. Quite a few came up. So we thought it a good idea to plant a few more here to create a better show for the coming spring. The 9th Tilehurst Guides came and as usual were really helpful. So too children from Church End School turned up to help. They are working towards an award offered by Rolls Royce The weather was kind and so all in all we got a load of work done and look forward to the rewards of our efforts next spring.

In the meantime, at Halls Road where the junction is with the Meadway, the 79th Chieftain Scouts turned up to help with the planting session that was going on there. Again, bulbs had been planted last year and it was decided to enhance the show further, since this verge is really quite large.

Many thanks to everyone who helped.

Our Walk round the Troughs

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Each year, instead of a formal indoor meeting, we go for a walk. We pick somewhere local. This year, since we had had a quiz at the show about the drinking fountains and cattle troughs that had raised quite of lot of interest, we thought it would be fun to do a circular walk to each of the local troughs, starting at Armour Hill. It was a lovely evening, and not as hot and stormy as forecast. We heard about the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association and admired the flowers that had been planted out by a Tilehurst Globe volunteer (or two). We then walked down through the park admiring both the trees and the views across the valley. When we got to the bottom, we made our way to the Roebuck on the Oxford Road where Ray Clayton led us to the new bit of the Thames Path. He explained that it is the intention of Wes Berkshire to complete this part of the path sometime soon. He produced the map of the new part of the path and told us that the new open part runs only from H to I which you can see marked on the bottom right of the map. Volunteers from the West Berkshire Ramblers had built the splendid new gate that leads from the Oxford Road to this new stretch of the path which runs through Skerrit Woods. He also produced a copy of the thames path local access forum minutes which give some information about the progress of the plans for the new path.

We then went over the railway lines on the new footbrdge by the Roebuck, and then followed the path along the Thames to Scours Lane. We stopped by the trough in Scours Lane and heard about the history of the trough. By then we were just about done! Most of us jumped on a bus and went back up to Tilehurst and the very sturdy went and looked at the trough by the water tower.

It was a great walk, and we met old and new friends.

Planting out the Trough by the Water Tower

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Jane and Pat decided that it was about time to plant out the trough with summer flowers. The spring bulbs had died back and it was all looking a bit drab. So on Saturday, armed with trays of plants, tools, hazard tape and Hi-Viz vests, they set about getting the trough all spruced up. During the night there had been an amazing storm. Thunder, lightening and torrential rain. However, it was all over by the time they needed to get started.

Out came the old bulbs which have now been sorted and stored ready to be planted again when the time is right. And in went the salvias, and then the begonias.

What lovely, colourful flowers. What a super display it has made. Thank you Pat and Jane for your hard work and for making the trough look so pretty, and to Martin for taking the snaps.

And then it was time to tidy up and go home.

Our Stall at the Tilehurst Show

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Well they did forecast thunderstorms and lots of rain. Fortunately, as they said, if the storms were with us in the morning, it would clear up by lunchtime and we would get good weather later. And that is pretty much what we got on Saturday 7th June. That meant that we put the stall together in the rain - lovely. However, out came the sun and we hope people enjoyed Tilehurst Globe's offering.

As usual we had a free quiz - with prizes. This year is was about drinking troughs. In Tilehurst we have two that have been planted out by Globe volunteers and a big thankyou for that.

The quiz was quite tricky but some people made a good guess so prizes were given!

Just for interest the answers were:
1
Park Lane by the Water Tower
Armour Hill by the entrance to Arthur Newbery Park
Scours Lane (although someone picky said it wasn't in Tilehurst - that one is in Norcot)
2
Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association
3
1856
4
The Drinking Fountains were installed originally in poorer parts of London to provide a clean supply of drinking water. The troughs later became both Drinking Fountains for people and cattle troughs for animals - which is why many are inscribed with "Be kind to all God's creatures". These tended to be sited where cattle or sheep were herded to new sites or to market.
5
The Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association became the Drinking Trough Association and they in turn handed over the troughs to local councils. So our troughs in Tilehurst are now owned by Reading Borough Council.

For your interest, the trough at Park Lane is inscribed "George and Annis Bills - Australia". This is because they emigrated to Australia. On a visit back to England they donated money to the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association for the provision of 6 troughs. One of these is the one by the Water Tower. When they went back to Australia they also arranged for troughs to be provided there.

Don't say you don't learn anything with us!. If you want, you can see some of this information on the internet on our website www.walkontheweb.org.uk under the bit about Arthur Newbery Park. Also if you search for Drinking Troughs or Drinking Fountains you will find more information. Also look for Bills Troughs.

We also produced some more leaflets, sadly about threats to oak trees in our woodlands and copses and about Japanese Knotweed. These can now be found on this website under the heading Our New Leaflets .

And here are a few pictures.

Rescue 2014

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Planting snowdrops and aconites outside the library

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In 2011 we had planted some snowdrops and aconites in front of Tilehurst library, under the trees, on the left and side of the path. We thought it about time that the patch of grass on the right side was also planted out, to give balance to the view.

The night before we were due to meet up for the planting session was the night of the great storm - gales and rain had battered the area. However, we woke up to sunshine. Quite unbelievable. It wasn't even soggy. The guides turned up and so did many other volunteers. In no time we had put in the plants and gathered all the litter from the area too, just to make everything look smart.

Many thanks to all the people who turned up to help. As you can see from the photos, the sun shone down on us making it an enjoyable occasion. Let us hope that the pleasure we got from the planting extends to the good folk of Tilehurst.

Planting the trough at Arthur Newbery Park

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Tilehurst Globe volunteers, Ruth and Pat, came out in unpromising weather to get the Drinking Trough at Arthur Newbery Park a much needed makeover. Ruth had brought compost and plants, and Pat had brought her dog!

Making a start
Right - we are on our way
The dog gave his approval
In go the plants
Interested onlookers
Isn't it looking good!

Well done - a great job.

If you want to know more about the projects we are involved in contact us.

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