A postcard from… Reading
Sunshine, street festivals and a rave inside a medieval church
The sun came out – and so did Reading. We’ve had heatwaves, three festivals in one day, and a town in bloom.
PLUS: This week’s news review and culture picks, including the untold story of the Purple Turtle (part 2), the sale of Reading’s favourite pie shop, and a bonkers one-man band.
Greetings from sunny Reading!
The weather has been incredible. On Monday, Reading had its hottest May day on record: 32.8 degrees! That’s more than 15 degrees above the May average. There were frosts here only two weeks ago. Fancy coming to Reading in time for a heatwave – what luck!
The kids have loved it. There’s been ice creams and barbecues – and swimming at an outdoor lido. We also escaped to the beach one day to make the most of the sun. The amount of space on the sand at Southbourne was a pleasant surprise – enough to play cricket and only once hit a poor, unsuspecting sunbather on the head!
The only problem was the journey back. The whole of the south coast seemed to empty through the New Forest at once, so it took over three hours. Imagine living somewhere with such awful traffic. No thank you!
It’s amazing how different somewhere looks in the sun. I walked down Broad Street this week and had to stop and watch for a few moments. Dappled sunlight shone through the trees onto the red paving stones while people drank coffee outside cafes. There was live music, the shops were full and the streets were clean. It felt almost Parisian. Maybe it was sunstroke.
But it’s been the same since we got here, when we went to Are You Listening? It’s a music festival held across multiple venues in the town centre, from Sub 89 and Face Bar to the Purple Turtle, and more in between.
That’s when the sun came out and things started to look different. Everyone seemed to have emerged from hibernation. They were drinking outside pubs. They started smiling. They don’t seem to have stopped since.
No one was even bothered about the swarm of bees that engulfed a bollard on the corner of Minster Street. It’s the price of a pint that stings more these days.
The best venue was never in doubt though.
It’s not often you go to a rave at a 12th-Century church.
Inside St Laurence’s, a stage sat in front of the altar, surrounded by a sound system. Light shone through stained glass and illuminated the arcade’s giant arches while ravers danced to dance-punk band Adult DVD. It was quite a sight.
The pews were stripped out, with a bar set up in the nave. People packed inside. I set my beer down on that bar for a minute, only then to find it had gone missing. Whatever happened to Thou Shalt Not Steal?!
Good job Thou Shalt Not Dance To Industrial Techno isn’t among the commandments too.
The crazy thing was, there were two more festivals taking place in Reading that day.
There was a street food festival on Broad Street, hosted by Blue Collar, where over 20 vendors came and served everything from Peruvian steak to Korean corn dogs, while live music played.
But there was also a children’s festival in Forbury Gardens – and we never even knew about that one until after. Sounds like lots of other people didn’t know about the other two either. Reading does need to shout louder about these things.
Three festivals in one town, in one day. That’s quite something.
Local people shouldn’t need to ask on social media why on earth the town centre’s so busy. If more people knew how much was happening on their doorstep, they might not have to wait for the sun to cheer them up. They might see their town in a new light.
Anyway, must dash. I think I hear an ice-cream van coming – or maybe they’re just having another rave in the church.
Wish you were here!
Chris
P.S. Apologies to Andy, the inspiration for this postcard, who chose to go to Portugal while Reading began a heatwave – and did an understandable amount of moaning about it.
If this story made you see a different side of Reading, share it with someone else who loves this town.
REMINDER!
In case you missed it, here’s the second part of the Purple Turtle’s untold story. And yes, that is Liam Gallagher in the picture. Find out why here:
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ESSENTIAL READING
This week in Reading: The brutal choice for parents at St Joseph’s, an uncertain future for the town’s favourite pie shop – and Sonning pokes fun at Donald Trump.
A group of parents is calling for immediate support, including financial backing and professional advice, to prevent St Joseph’s College from closing, reports the Reading Chronicle.
Why this matters: 565 children, their families, staff, and a school community are at stake here. But what’s not said in this appeal is how parents are struggling to decide what to do next. Reading Borough Council has brought forward to June 15 the date it will review applications for pupils to start at a new school in September. But with St Joseph’s future not due to be decided until after a consultation period, parents are being forced to make a brutal choice now – or leave their child’s education in limbo.
Sweeney & Todd, the iconic Castle Street pie shop and restaurant, has been put up for sale after almost 50 years in business, reports the Reading Chronicle.
Why this matters: Sweeney & Todd is a true Reading icon, and not just loyal customers will now fear for its future. Now’s a good time to show your support to its owners, the Hayward family. Try the classic Five Nations pie, if you somehow haven’t already.
Olly Stephens’ father has said the prime minister’s vow to take “decisive” action to tackle the impact of social media on UK children is a “watershed moment” – the BBC reports.
Why this matters: Olly’s tragic death five years ago has left a scar on Reading – but his family continue to use his legacy to campaign for online safety and controls over children’s social media use. Stuart Stephens was at Downing Street this week to challenge the government and social media companies not only in Olly’s name, but on behalf of Emmer Green, Reading and families everywhere. It is vital work for parents who do not know where else to turn.
The first black female Mayor of Reading has reflected on her year, giving a powerful speech about supporting refugees, reports the Reading Chronicle.
Why this matters: Councillor Alice Mpofu-Coles represents what a refugee can achieve if someone is willing to offer help. Reading offered sanctuary to her, and she is repaying the town through public service, and messages of hope. “I am a Whitley girl now,” she says with real pride.
Sonning shows off scarecrows in an ex-straw-dinary trail, reports the BBC.
Why this matters: Where else can you see Donald Trump lampooned via papier mache? The scarecrows reflect what really matters to local people. Notice how often Trump is ridiculed and the pollution of our rivers with sewage is the focus. But thankfully there’s still room for simple fun, like Spongebob.
Do you agree? What do you think was the most important news in Reading this week? Let me know by leaving a comment below.
CULTURE PICKS
Elusive Brewing 10th Birthday Party
Saturday 30 May at Elusive Taproom, Finchampstead
“When I started Elusive, I never wanted it to be big. I wanted it to be good and do good,” says owner Andy Parker. Mission accomplished. There’s three birthday beers on tap, live music and street food from Funky Pickle.
ICHI
Saturday 30 May at South Street Arts Centre
The one-man band gets a trippy, bonkers, very Japanese makeover. ICHI’s madcap homemade instruments somehow include toys and ping-pong balls, so kids will love it. “What on earth is this?! It’s brilliant!” is Steve Lamacq’s verdict.
The past, present and future of animal research at Reading
Thursday 4 June at the University of Reading
Something a bit different. A thought-provoking – and potentially challenging – evening awaits at this public lecture exploring how current research continues to provide key breakthroughs while pushing boundaries yet placing animal welfare at its core.
Does your event deserve a place among the culture picks? Let me know by sending a message or replying to this email.
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