Reading Couple Die in Shed Fire

A woman and her partner have both been found dead at their home in Kennet Place, near Reading, after rescuers were alerted by a shed fire.

Police were called to the scene on Thursday 27^th August, where the couple in their 60s were found in a serious condition.

The male casualty, who was found inside the burning shed, was pronounced dead on the scene, whilst the woman was taken to Royal Berks Hospital. She later died from wounds to the head, believed to have been caused by a hammer.

Thames Valley Police have currently not confirmed the couple’s identity and have said there is nothing to suggest a third party was involved in the incident.

Get the latest local, regional and business news for Bracknell and the Royal County of Berkshire from Radio Bracknell on the hour, every hour, with reporters Mark Lynch and Caroline Cook,  or access our news website via www.radiobracknell.com sponsored by Mark Roach Public Relations.

For detailed stories, please listen in to The Sunday Show with Chris Brant for his weekly round-up, news and interviews plus the events listings for the coming week, sponsored by The Green Machine

Send us your news stories and photographs at news@radiobracknell.com or you can write to Mark at mark@radiobracknell.com or Caroline at caroline@radiobracknell.com.

Further Anxiety for Fujitsu Workers

Following an announcement that Futjitsu will be axing 1,200 jobs, the company has now proposed plans to close its main final salary pension scheme and to impose a pay freeze.

The Press Association has reported that the firm may now be facing strikes as workers respond to the plans.  Britain’s biggest union, Unite, who boast over 2 million members in every type of workplace, said in a news statement on their website that in response to the proposals,  87% of members voted in favour of strike action and 96% in favour of industrial action short of a strike.

The union estimates that the proposed pension scheme change would reduce the total pay package of each employee by at least 15%, causing further concerns for workers who are already anxious about their job security.

Futjitsu employs over 1,200 people at the Bracknell branch in Lovelace Road, raising questions about the recent changes will affect the local area.

Get the latest local, regional and business news for Bracknell and the Royal County of Berkshire from Radio Bracknell on the hour, every hour, with reporters Mark Lynch and Caroline Cook,  or access our news website via www.radiobracknell.com sponsored by Mark Roach Public Relations.

For detailed stories, please listen in to The Sunday Show with Chris Brant for his weekly round-up, news and interviews plus the events listings for the coming week, sponsored by The Green Machine

Send us your news stories and photographs at news@radiobracknell.com or you can write to Mark at mark@radiobracknell.com or Caroline at caroline@radiobracknell.com.

1960s Sex Abuse case in Maidenhead brought back to Court

A man has been charged with a series of sex offences against boys from a Berkshire children’s home from 1964 to 1970.

According to the BBC Berkshire News Website, 62 year old Denham Gilbart-Smith, from Buckinghamshire, faces charges for abuse which took place at Green Field’s children’s home in Maidenhead. Gilbart-Smith faces 5 rape charges involving boys under 16 years of age, one count of gross indecency and seven counts of indecent assault on boys under 14 years of age.

The accused is due to appear before Reading Crown Court on 29th October.

Get the latest local, regional and business news for Bracknell and the Royal County of Berkshire from Radio Bracknell on the hour, every hour, with reporters Mark Lynch and Caroline Cook, or access our news website via www.radiobracknell.com sponsored by Mark Roach Public Relations.

For detailed stories, please listen in to The Sunday Show with Chris Brant for his weekly round-up, news and interviews plus the events listings for the coming week, sponsored by The Green Machine Send us your news stories and photographs at news@radiobracknell.com or you can write to Mark at mark@radiobracknell.com or Caroline at caroline@radiobracknell.com

Last chance to buy advance tickets for Infinity Nites under 18s disco

Radio Bracknell Forest’s under 18s disco is this coming Friday, 4th September, and you have just a few days to buy your discounted advance tickets at www.infinitynites.com

Get Ready for the Neighbourhood Survey!

Bracknell Forest Council’s Neighbourhood survey is due to land on YOUR doorstep this week!
 
The survey, which aims to find out which areas of life in Bracknell Forest residents are happy with and where there is a call for improvement, will be delievered to every door in the borough by 2nd September.
 
Bracknell Forest Council have produced The Neighborhood Survey, in partnership with Thames Valley Police, to give local residents the opportunity to voice their opinions on issues such as speeding, parking, litter and anti-social behaviour.
 
All residents who complete and return their survey by the 31st October will be entered into a prize draw with the chance to win a fantastic selection of prizes including tickets to Coral Reef and the Downshire Golf Complex.
 
Keep an eye out for your survey arriving this week and be sure to return it in time for your chance to win. You’ve got to be in it, to win it!

Get the latest local, regional and business news for Bracknell and the Royal County of Berkshire from Radio Bracknell on the hour, every hour, with reporters Mark Lynch and Caroline Cook,  or access our news website via www.radiobracknell.com sponsored by Mark Roach Public Relations.
For detailed stories, please listen in to The Sunday Show with Chris Brant for his weekly round-up, news and interviews plus the events listings for the coming week, sponsored by The Green Machine
Send us your news stories and photographs at news@radiobracknell.com or you can write to Mark at mark@radiobracknell.com or Caroline at caroline@radiobracknell.com 

GCSE Success as Students Maintain the Status-Quo

Students across Bracknell Forest were celebrating yesterday as they achieved fantastic results, matching the record high of 2008.
 
The number of pupils scoring five or more passes at grades A* to C, including English and Mathematics, has remained at an impressive 51.5%, according to provisional results. The figure remains a steady 3.9% above last years national average which was 47.6%.  
 
Lesley Heale, director of Social Care and Learning at Bracknell Forest Council, said: “I offer my congratulations to all the young people who have worked so hard to achieve these results. Each of our schools has reported some excellent individual performances. A great deal of commitment has also been shown by the many teachers and other members of staff across the borough who have supported the students so well and I would like to thank them for all their hard work.”
 
One local school in particular has been hailed as a success after vast improvements were seen this year. Easthampstead Park School has been praised for its results this year after only 30% of students achieve 5 A*-C grades in 2008. This year the figure has risen to 43% and both students and staff are delighted.
 
Mrs Heale said: “We are delighted with the progress made by Easthampstead Park School over the past year, with these much improved results following the news that the school has been awarded specialist status.”  

Get the latest local, regional and business news for Bracknell and the Royal County of Berkshire from Radio Bracknell on the hour, every hour, with reporters Mark Lynch and Caroline Cook,  or access our news website via www.radiobracknell.com sponsored by Mark Roach Public Relations.

For detailed stories, please listen in to The Sunday Show with Chris Brant for his weekly round-up, news and interviews plus the events listings for the coming week, sponsored by The Green Machine.

Send us your news stories and photographs at news@radiobracknell.com or you can write to Mark at mark@radiobracknell.com or Caroline at caroline@radiobracknell.com 

10 Years of Teeing-Up

 

Staff and visitors at Downshire Golf Complex are celebrating this week after 10 years of  Bracknell Forest Council ownership.
 
Friday 21st August marked a decade long partnership with Bracknell Forest Council, who took over ownership in 1999.  The 72 par championship course has developed siginificantly over the years, becoming one of the first courses in the world to add new power tee-technology to it’s driving range. The location is also used for events throughout including a summer camp for children and a recent bandit and senoritas party, held on 22nd August.
 
Paul Stanwick, Downshire Golf Complex manager, said: “It is a testament to the hard work of the centre staff that the course has constantly been rated as one of the best in the area over the past decade.

“If you haven’t visited the Downshire in a while, why not come along and try our 18-hole championship course, our nine-hole pitch and putt course, or our 30-bay driving range.”

To celebrate the anniversary an event was held for current staff, although some old faces also joined in the fun.
 
Cllr Iain McCracken, executive member for culture, said: “Downshire Golf Centre enjoys a reputation as one of the top 10 municipal courses in the country and provides quality facilities for residents of the borough. Congratulations to all the staff at the centre who continually strive to maintain the high standards we have come to expect from Downshire.”

Get the latest local, regional and business news for Bracknell and the Royal County of Berkshire from Radio Bracknell on the hour, every hour, with reporters Mark Lynch and Caroline Cook,  or access our news website via www.radiobracknell.com sponsored by Mark Roach Public Relations.

For detailed stories, please listen in to The Sunday Show with Chris Brant for his weekly round-up, news and interviews plus the events listings for the coming week, sponsored by The Green Machine

Send us your news stories and photographs at news@radiobracknell.com or you can write to Mark at mark@radiobracknell.com or Caroline at caroline@radiobracknell.com

 

Summer Holiday Fun From Bracknell Forest Homes

28 local children were treated to some fun and games by Bracknell Forest Homes as part of a summer holiday event.

The youngsters aged between 7 and 12 took part in the day at Oakwood Youth Challenge, an outdoor pursuit centre located in Waterloo Road, Wokingham. The day was held as part of a community development programme established by Bracknell Forest Homes. 

Linda Wells, Housing and Community Services Director, said: “We are really keen to engage with young people in our community and to give them opportunities to try out challenging activities and meet new friends.  Oakwood offers wonderful facilities for all ages and we are fortunate to have such an excellent centre on our doorstep.”

The free event, which included lunch and transport, is the second of its kind this summer and was supported by Sovereign South and West and Mears Projects.  A variety of acitivites were on offer including rock climbing, abseiling and animal care and a raffle was drawn for a £20 prize voucher, donated by Tesco at Martin’s Heron.

Bethany Nicholls, aged nine, said: “I mostly enjoyed the rock climbing. I had a really great day, met some new friends and would love to go again.”

Get the latest local, regional and business news for Bracknell and the Royal County of Berkshire from Radio Bracknell on the hour, every hour, with reporters Mark Lynch and Caroline Cook,  or access our news website via www.radiobracknell.com sponsored by Mark Roach Public Relations.

For detailed stories, please listen in to The Sunday Show with Chris Brant for his weekly round-up, news and interviews plus the events listings for the coming week, sponsored by The Green Machine

Send us your news stories and photographs at news@radiobracknell.com or you can write to Mark at mark@radiobracknell.com or Caroline at caroline@radiobracknell.com

 

Anxiety for Bracknell workers as Fujitsu Announce Job Cuts

Today (Thursday 26th August) Fujitsu have announced that they are to cut 1,200 jobs across the country by the end of 2009.

With 1,239 employees at the Bracknell Branch, one of the four largest branches alongside Stevenage, Manchester and London, there are concerns for local jobs.
 
The cuts come a month after Tokyo-based Fujistu announced a net loss of 29.20 billion yen (307 million dollars) for the April-June period. The company has announced plans to reduce their workforce saying they make the cuts “reluctantly.”

The job cuts will be made from the companies service arm which employs staff on IT and in outsourcing to companies and goverments.
 
It is unknown at this stage which Fujitsu Branches will suffer most from the plannned cutbacks.

Get the latest local, regional and business news for Bracknell and the Royal County of Berkshire from Radio Bracknell on the hour, every hour, with reporters Mark Lynch and Caroline Cook,  or access our news website via www.radiobracknell.com sponsored by Mark Roach Public Relations.

For detailed stories, please listen in to The Sunday Show with Chris Brant for his weekly round-up, news and interviews plus the events listings for the coming week, sponsored by The Green Machine

Rock Legends Celebrate 30 years by chatting to Radio Bracknell Forest

Whilst many fondly think back to the 80s as a time of bad clothing and big hair, others think back to the birth of rock legends. From Blondie to Queen, the rasping sounds of rock musicians graced the airwaves, and none with quite the same soul and power of the legendary Marillion.

After original singer, Fish, left the band in 1988, Steve Hogarth stepped up to the mic, and proceeded to help Marillion become one of the great rock successes of the 80s and 90s. This year, Marillion celebrate their 30th year together and their 20th with Steve as vocalist. To mark the occasion the band are partnering with Radio Bracknell Forest for a special show with our very own Dominic Forbes, DJ of the regular ‘Soft Rock Classics Show’.

With nine albums under their belts, their own record label, and tours across the globe, Marillion are the epitome of success. Whilst other 80s bands have been and gone, think Queen or Pink Floyd, Marillion have continued to reach the charts well into the naughties with their 2007 album Somewhere Else reaching number 24 in the UK Album charts.

Well-known music magazine Kerrang defined the unique quality of Marillion when they said: ‘There are a million bands who kick ass, but just a few, like Marillion, who really move people’ and this is precisely what makes Marillion so unique and so iconic. Their’s is not only rock, but rock with a depth that resonates long after the final chord has been played.

Achieving success in three decades, do Marillion intend to make the set complete with hits in a fourth? It seems as if the only place to go is up, and Marillion will be chatting to Dominic Forbes about their past success and future ambitions during a special tribute show at 1pm on Sunday 30th August.

The show will also be repeated throughout early September, for more details visit http://radiobracknell.webs.com/marillionanniversary.htm.

Make sure to tune into Radio Bracknell Forest to rock along with the legendary Marillion!

Get the latest local, regional and business news for Bracknell and the Royal County of Berkshire from Radio Bracknell on the hour, every hour, with reporters Mark Lynch and Caroline Cook,  or access our news website via www.radiobracknell.com sponsored by Mark Roach Public Relations.

For detailed stories, please listen in to The Sunday Show with Chris Brant for his weekly round-up, news and interviews plus the events listings for the coming week, sponsored by The Green Machine

Send us your news stories and photographs at news@radiobracknell.com or you can write to Mark at mark@radiobracknell.com or Caroline at caroline@radiobracknell.com