Body in Winkfield woods was missing banker

Huibert Boumeester, a 49 year old Dutch banker, who went missing from his Bdelgravia home has been found dead with gunshot wounds in an area of Berkshire woodland at Drift Road, Winkfield, near Windsor.

In a statement, Mr Boumeester’s family expressed their “great sadness” at Mr Boumeester’s death.

“We are deeply grieved by what we must now assume is a tragic outcome,” it said.

“We express our thanks to all those people who have been searching for Huibert these past days.

“We are left with great sadness.”

Mr Boumeester joined ABN Amro, in 1987. His body was found on Saturday morning.

It is not known whether he left the company voluntarily or was forced out but he was described by police as “feeling down of late” when he went missing on 22 June.

A 2007 takeover of the Dutch bank plunged the Royal Bank of Scotland into record losses.

A spokeswoman for ABN Amro said: “We are sorry for the news about Mr Boumeester. Our thoughts go out to his family.”

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said the investigation was currently being treated as “an unexplained death”.

Concerns grew for Mr Boumeester’s safety when he was reported missing after failing to keep a business appointment.

International club DJ joins the Radio Bracknell team

Mark Turner is a professional, versatile, DJ who has been playing his way through the international club scene for many years but the gifted entertainer is now turning his talents to radio broadcasting as he joins the team of Presenters at Radio Bracknell, Berkshire’s bright new 24/7 music internet radio station.

Mark has been lucky enough to play along side some of his biggest influences i.e. ‘Ratpack’, ‘Slipmatt’, Radio Ones ‘DreamTeam’ and many others, and has experienced playing for crowds of up to 2,500 people.

Mark spent a short time on the island of Guernsey playing for the islanders in the main club over there before travelling to Tenerife to hold residencies is ‘The World Famous Linekers Bar’ and the well known Tenerife cocktail lounge ‘Chinas White’. He also played in ‘Jumping Jacks’ keeping the party atmosphere electric and ‘Bonkers BeachBar’ whilst living on the island.

John Hicks, Radio Bracknell’s Station Director said: “Mark keeps the crowd entertained using his diverse and energetic personality to give that ‘WOW’ factor to his sets. We look forward to using those skills and music know-how to entertain the listeners across Berkshire.”

“Mark has now begun this new venture working with us here at Radio Bracknell and is looking forward to what the future holds. He will join our existing modern music team of local enthusiasts like ”Dan and Arf”, young upcoming presenters such as Dan and Clive Elkington (Radio Elkie) and professional DJ presenters such as Chris Reardon and DJ Shocker.”

“Mark hopes the people of Berkshire, and in particular the residents of Bracknell, will enjoy listening to his show to be broadcast at 11pm (2300hrs GMT) on Saturday evenings and repeated at 11pm every Tuesday and on Fridays at 5pm (1700hrs GMT).” John added.

Radio Bracknell can be heard on the internet on home or personal computers at www.radiobracknell.com, Sony PSP PlayStations, wi-fi radios, mobile phones, in-car hands free kits linked to car radios and on the new generation of internet car radio systems.

Tracy Beaker (Danni Harmer) loves the new Radio Bracknell tee-shirts

Here, television’s Dani Harmer (still fondly remembered by many as Tracy Beaker from the popular series of that name) proudly shows off the new Radio Bracknell tee-shirts with Station Director John Hicks

The new Radio Bracknell merchandise is coming on-line soon at www.radiobracknell.com so that you can support one of the liveliest internet music radio stations in the UK.

Dani kindly came along to the Radio Bracknell stand at South Hill Park’s Big Day out over the weekend and spent time with the team.

Andrew MacKay MP gets Bracknell into the news again

Yes, our illustrious MP gets Bracknell a mention in the national press again. Commentator Matthew Bell tells the world:

Following growing unease over the Tories’ links with some weirdo right-wing parties in the European parliament, David Cameron has swung into a charm offensive on the Jewish community. Last week he clocked up four separate engagements with top Jewish folk, including a visit to a centre for autistic adults in Berkshire. This happens to be in the Bracknell constituency of Andrew MacKay, who won’t be standing at the next election because of his rum expense claims. Normally when the party leader visits your patch, you jolly well show up. But MacKay was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps it suited Dave that he didn’t.

Editor’s note: Our “Honourable Gentleman” was spotted in the Commons for Prime Minister’s Question Time this week and he managed to submit his expenses claim last month so he is alive and well.

Radio Bracknell’s tribute to Michael Jackson

During Friday 26th June, normal programming will be suspended to allow for Radio Bracknell’s tribute to the late Michael Jackson.

Rather than just play endless tracks from the king of pop, we will celebrate his vast contribution to music and dance by broadcasting our popular Motown Memories series interspersed with some MJ tracks, news and comments.

After all the months of planning, Armed Forces Day in Bracknell is here!

The months of planning by a small, but dedicated committee, led by Cllr Bob Edger and Paul Bidwell, are about to come to fruition this coming Saturday (27^th June) when the town centre will be filled by the sights and sounds of Bracknell’s unique contribution to the national celebration of, and tribute to, our armed forces.

Event Coordinator, Paul Bidwell, a former Royal Naval Petty Officer and member of the Bracknell RNA paid tribute to the work of the Bracknell Armed Forces Day Committee, made up of the RAFA, RBL, Bracknell Borough Councillors, Town Council Councillors, who, Paul said have worked hard over the past 9 months to bring a remarkable event to the Town Centre in Bracknell,

Paul told Radio Bracknell that “the response and interest we have had from local residents is staggering. Armed Forces Day is to honour the UK’s Service personnel, past, present and future, and is a theme of celebration, and not so much remembrance, the ambience of the day is expected to demonstrate this”.

A parade, made up of uniformed cadets, the Life Guard band, Standard Bearers from local associations and veterans bearing medals and smiles, will march through the town centre from the Bracknell Royal British Legion Club to the Bandstand, holding their heads high, smiling for the camera, proud to be part of the first of many celebrations to come and most important part of a long awaited national celebration.

But Cllr Edger told Radio Bracknell reporter Mark Lynch that the personal highlight for him will be the presentation of Veterans’ Badges by the Mayor of Bracknell Forest, Cllr Bob Wade.

There will be 20 local residents collecting their veteran’s badges; these will be presented by the Bracknell Borough Mayor Bob Wade and Cllr Bob Edger, during the parade.

Sadly, the Borough has lost two brothers, who passed away within the past four weeks of each other William and Basil Hopkins, both ex members of the RAF and aged 94 and 87 respectively. Seven of their fellow veterans will be seated at the bandstand, while the lion share will be marching proudly from the Bracknell Royal British Legion, led by the Life Guards (pictured).

The veterans, many in their seventies and eighties, collecting their badges are: Gillian Marjory Hart (now Kelly), Keith Kelly, Patrick Joseph Glynn, Jack Lees, Norah Isabel Bishop, Colin Robert Farrar, William Sydney Albert Poole, Annie Harrison, John Kilbride, Alistair Anderson, Leonard Victor Charles Barrett, Gwen Parham, Raymond Simonds, David Samuel Barker BEM, Raymond Frederick Ackary, Iris Lilian Gough, Andrew Street, Edward Michael Sargeant, Felix Roy Chamberlain and Albert Deeks.

A very proud nephew of the late William and Basil Hopkins will collect the badges on their behalf.

During the day, from 9am onwards, there will be 16 organisations attending stands throughout the town centre, The Bracknell AFC and ATC cadets, along with the Berkshire Sea Cadets will be recruiting and providing demonstrations. The Bracknell RNA, RBL and RAFA Associations will be providing the veterans edge. WWII vehicles will be strategically located in the town to add a déjà vu to a number of the veterans attending the event, we maybe lucky to have some of their owners in traditionally uniform of the day.

 

Radio Bracknell will be manning a stand to add some suitable music for the day in between the parade and Cadet evolutions.

The Cranbourne and Winkfield RBL will be packing gift boxes on their stand for the troops in Afghanistan. Sara Lee Household & Body Care UK Ltd kindly donated six pallets of product to help with filling out the boxes, and the Bracknell Lions will be adding a cash gift to purchase confectionery to remind them of home.

 This is very much a community event and Radio Bracknell is proud to support it.

 

For more information please do visit www.armedforcesday-bracknell.co.uk

Less than half Bracknell Forest residents are happy with the way the Council run things

 

The government has commissioned a huge survey, taking in people’s feelings about their councils and communities and Bracknell Forest Council has fared reasonably well.

The 2008 Place Survey provides information on people’s perceptions of their local area and the local services they receive. This release summarises the headline findings for England and Government Office regions with results for individual local authorities shown in the accompanying tables.

The survey collects information on 18 national indicators for local government, used to measure local government performance for 152 county councils, metropolitan district councils, London boroughs and unitary authorities. While the Place Survey is primarily intended for use at a local level, national and regional results are provided for benchmarking purposes.

Across the nation, 80 percent were satisfied with their local area as a place to live. Here in Bracknell Forest, 83.4% of the public said they were satisfied. So, we were above the national average but not as good as the West Berkshire at 84.7% (and our neighbours down the road at Basingstoke & Deane 86.9%). Lower down the list were Reading at 75.7% and Slough 63.6%.

More disappointingly, in the poll where residents expressed their views about whether or not they were satisfied or fairly satisfied with how their Council ran things, only 49.9% of Bracknell Forest Council residents agreed. That is less than half. This compared with Wokingham 52.1%, Windsor & Maidenhead 52.7 and neighbouring Basingstoke & Deane 58.1%. Only West Berkshire fared worse in the Royal County, at a miserable 47.9%.

Whilst Bracknell Forest residents were generally happy with the way the Council kept public land clear of litter and refuse (60.9%), local waste tips (57.5%) and with doorstep recycling (60.4%), only 31.9% were satisfied with local transport information.

Older people were generally happy with their home and neighbourhood (84.4%) but, overall, only 24.5% of residents felt that older people in our local area get the help and support they need to continue to live at home for as long as they want to.

Only 15% of people felt that they had sufficient information about what to do in a large scale emergency. Editor’s note: obviously, residents would be advised to keep listening to Radio Bracknell in the event of a major civil emergency in Berkshire!

Under a quarter of the population locally felt that drug dealing or drunkeness was a problem in their local area. Obviously, for that 25% or so that did feel it was a problem this is an issue but the Council might take some comfort from the fact that three-quarters of residents do not see this is as a major problem. This compared with around 30% nationally.

Just over a quarter, 26%, agreed that the police and other local public services are successfully dealing with anti-socal behaviour and crime in their local area. This is an area addressed by the Council and Thames Valley Police recently at their public conference.

In an interesting anecdote, the poll reports that 82.2% of our local population said their health was good or very good.

These figures and their implications for the community, the Council and other statutory authorities will be analysed in detail over the coming months and will make interesting reading!

Bracknell’s fabulous free festival THE BIG DAY OUT is this coming Saturday!

Bracknell’s Big Day Out at South Hill Park is this Saturday and, for its fifth anniversary, the planners have come up with the very best free day out possible!

The Other Tent, located in the upper Italian gardens, is the place to drop your cushion and tuck into your picnic or enjoy some of the wide range of produce and drinks available from the refreshments stalls and bar.

 From 1pm you can listen to the dynamic harmonies of Willow, a duo made up of solo artists Phillipa Berry and Anna Crowley.

• At 1.50pm a soaring violin and a pulsating rhythm section greets you thanks to five-piece All Things Considered.
• At 2.40pm the bewitching Reading solo artist Ben Marwood with his lightly barbed lyrics makes a welcome return to the festival.
• At 3.40pm Reading’s Bidgie Reef & The Gas bring their quirky melancholy grandeur to the stage for a rare appearance.
• At 5pm impressive Reading eight-piece band Large Mammal deliver a summery slice of funk and soul.
• At 6pm La Morte Subite are on hand to create some irresistable Middle East-inspired funk.
• At 8pm Leeds’s Lunchtime Disco Club may be later in the day than expected but their catchy songs and witty arrangements are great any time of day.
• At 9.45pm headliners Jewels & The Jacuzzis from Reading come fresh from supporting The Wailers and offer cool reggae vibes with a mix of dread and pop.

If you love your rockabilly roll then head to the Fire Stage and yeehaw to Reading’s Dolly & The Clothes Pegs, who merrily mess with the back catalogue of Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. 

The day is free and runs from 1pm to 11pm with an after-show party til1am.

It all takes place at South Hill Park Arts Centre, Ringmead  and Radio Bracknell will be there so please do say “hi”.

New job vacancies in Berkshire posted on Radio Bracknell website (24th June)

Radio Bracknell’s Job Search website has been updated with new job vacancies across Berkshire, including Bracknell, Wokingham and Slough:

Online Sales Executive

We are looking for someone special.  Someone who has the skills to sell YourBerkshireJobs.net to recruitment agencies and small/ medium business in Berkshire. This is primarily a business development and sales role, working independently based at home and reporting back to our Managing Director. 

 

Credit Controller

The position is within a Credit Department and reports to the Credit Manger.

The successful candidate will be accountable for the timely collection of any outstanding balances as well as the management of Margin Collections and bad debts.

 

Bookkeeper

Opportunity to join a friendly high-tech Company in a part-time role, working 27 hours per week by mutual agreement. We are looking for a candidate with Management Accounts experience to trial balance, as well as Sageline 50 experience and strong inter-personal skills. 

 

Commercial Bid Manager

Great opportunity to join an award-winning Company in a highly commercial Business Development role. We are looking for a candidate who is currently (or has very recently) worked in a specialist Bid Management role.

 

Multi lingual Administrator

We are looking for a candidate who is fluent in English and at least two European languages, to join an expanding Company.

 

Sales Coordinator with German

A great opportunity for a candidate who is fluent in German to join an international company and make full use of their language skills

 

Customer Services Exec

A great role for a salesy Customer Service Exec with an enthusiastic and positive phone manner. Some previous sales experience is required, along with a proactive personality.

 

Waiter and Chef opportunities in Berkshire

Michelin Star Restaurant and Rosette Gastro Pub

 

 

Please click here for further details

Bracknell parking receives full marks

(l-r) Rob Morris, Mark Harling (LPA Commander), Sam Buckley (Deputy Operations Manager) and Ronnie Kendell (Operations Manger)

Princess Square Multi-Storey car park in Bracknell has been granted Safer Parking Scheme Award, endorsed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

ACPO’s Park Mark scheme recognises efforts to prevent criminal activity and ensure car park crime is kept to a minimum.

This award means that Princess Square car park is seen as a safe and secure place to park vehicles, motorcycles or bicycles. It also shows that Bracknell Town Centre staff are doing everything possible to keep crime at a very low level and ensure the safety of all those that visit the town.

This all adds to the attraction of the town centre by making parking safer and more appealing.

Princess Square is also investing in more signage giving information to motorists about how to keep their car as safe as possible when parked. Parking attendants are on hand during opening hours to offer additional advice and to maintain the security of the car park itself.

Rob Morris of Bracknell Regeneration Partnership commented: “This is really great news for the town centre; it is further proof that all our parking staff are dedicated to the safety of those visiting the town. Our high standards have been rewarded with the Park Mark Safer Parking Scheme Award and we hope this will attract more shoppers to the area.’