Reading Roars!

You are browsing the archives of 2005 October.

The University of Reading is launching a facility designed to help people think ‘outside the box’. The Innovation Works, as this creative thinking space is to be called, will be unveiled to the world on Thursday 17 November by The Fat Duck superchef Heston Blumenthal (pictured).
The fourth facility of its type in [...]

The Christmas decorations are up in Boots. Other retailers, I see, are also gearing up for their busiest and most profitable period.
And, of course, it’s October. Halloween has not passed. We have yet to light our sparklers and bonfires. For Christmas, lest we forget, is two months away. That’s one-sixth [...]

Hundreds of rail commuters, myself included, were left stranded at Reading Station this morning due to “severe signalling problems in the Twyford area”.
As the minutes ticked by, I was closely observing other commuters on the platform. Some were predictably on their mobiles, saying that they were going to be late for work, others were [...]

Classy Reading FC have defeated Sheffield United 2-0 in their Carling Cup home encounter, with forward Dave Kitson scoring both goals.
In the Championship table, Reading are just three points behind leaders Sheffield, whom they have beaten already this season, and are in awesome form.
Leeds United next. Bring them on.

Another festival hits Reading (yawn).
Actually, it’s all very exciting, as the Slug & Lettuce at The Oracle is hosting the 8-week Blues Festival, described in the press release as:
the most amazing, electrifying Blues festival to hit the shores of Reading EVER!!
(Not only does Reading have supposedly city status, now it can enjoy island status, too).
The [...]

Topshop and Topman at The Oracle are having a student lock-in on Thursday 27 October from 6-9pm.
The funky retailers, popular with teens, are offering 20% off merchandise and will be providing free booze (Fosters or Archers - just right for the student crowd). They advise all visitors to bring ID.

It’s Black History Month this October.
Black History Month (BHM) was started in 1926 by Black American historian Dr Carter G Woodson in the US. Woodson established a month-long celebration in February for African Americans and their achievements (February was chosen for being the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass).
BHM [...]

Reading West MP Martin Salter (Lab) has called for the introduction of biometric identity cards.
Speaking at the Commons on Tuesday 18 October 2005, Salter rejected a claim that the cards would cost UK citizens GB£ 300 and said that they were quick to process. He continued:
I support identity cards. I campaigned for [...]

Simon Jones, Editor-in-Chief at West London & Bucks, is to replace Anthony Longden as Senior Editor-in-Chief at Berkshire Regional Newspapers, the Press Gazette reports. Jones will be responsible for the Reading Chronicle and midweek freebie, the Midweek, along with a number of other titles. Longden will become Managing Editor at the Watford [...]

The Reading International Festival 2005 has commenced! It is time to report.
On Saturday evening, my friend and I went to one of the more intriguing events of the RIF: the Dussera Festival celebrated by the Thames.
The Festival comprised a funfair, with your usual games and whiteknuckle rides, a large effigy of the evil Rawan, [...]