Alice Chaplin and Louise Ryan have qualified as solicitors in Blandy & Blandy’s leading Wills Alice initially joined Blandy & Blandy in 2021 as a legal assistant in the firm’s Wills before completing her training contract and qualifying as a solicitor in April 2025 Alice commented: “I am so pleased to have qualified as a solicitor at Blandy & Blandy following the successful completion of my training contract As a legal assistant and then as a trainee I had the opportunity to gain experience across multiple departments which has equipped me with the skills and confidence needed for qualification I am grateful to everyone at the firm for their continued support and I look forward to continuing to work with a wonderful team.” Louise joined the firm’s Dispute Resolution team as a legal secretary in 2016 before becoming a legal assistant in the Wills She has now qualified as a solicitor through the “equivalent means” route first introduced by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in 2014 Louise said: “I’m proud to have qualified as a solicitor at Blandy & Blandy It’s been a rewarding journey of growth and learning and I am grateful for the continued support and opportunities the firm has given me over the past nine years.” Partner Caroline Casagranda added: “I am delighted that both Alice and Louise have qualified into our busy Wills they have both demonstrated an aptitude for assisting clients with all their private client needs and I am excited to see them both develop and flourish in their new roles.” Tax & Trusts team is top ranked in both of the UK’s leading guides to the legal profession Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it RDG.Today – which is a Social Enterprise – provides Reading Borough with free Reading Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Reading existing to support the various communities in Reading Borough We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online If it is not resolved to your satisfaction you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220 Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed or need advice on how to frame a complaint Please enter your username or email address to reset your password © 2021 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved We can thank Sam Taylor for this week's run report: At his inauguration as president in 1961 JFK uttered the immortal words “Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country.” In 2025 to date I have tried to take these prophetic words and give something back I include the quotation marks because to date whilst I have racked up six volunteering credits they have all been through writing reports for parkruns as far and wide as Rome I’ll be honest I have thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to doing it each week but I am not sure I can honestly say how much it contributes to each parkrun and whether the race directors really appreciate me using them as a platform for my somewhat random opinions and observations This week I have decided to volunteer properly at the Henley-on-Thames parkrun and not only that I have roped a good friend in to helping and achieving his very first volunteering credit My wife is away this weekend visiting our daughters at university Twenty years ago that would have meant spending my Saturday morning in a hazy fog clearing up empty beer cans and kebab wrappers and using the Yellow Pages to find the emergency French polishers (anyone under the age of 45 will need to search for this on YouTube) Roll forward to the present day and I am leaving home just after 7.30am to get to Henley and meet race director Simon Lunn to help set up for parkrun Being honest I have probably picked a pretty straightforward gig to start my true parkrun volunteering career Henley is not a massive parkrun in terms of numbers (there are 54 runners today) and Simon knows what to do inside out This is his 57th time as race director and he often combines it with the event day course check I am on time and looking keen and having helped fish the equipment out of the tennis hut Simon quickly puts me to use assembling and erecting the parkrun flags and finish section alongside James Barr James is a veteran of more than 300 parkruns of which half (and almost all his recent runs) have been at Henley Still running incredible times in his 70s I ask James why he subjects himself to the hills and undulating paths of the Henley parkrun instead of doing what most other 70 year olds would be doing in Henley on a Saturday morning (I am imagining tea by the river followed by a very slow game of bowls) His response is that this is what he has always done Every week he runs he is only seven days older than when he did it the last time and therefore knows he can do it loves being surrounded by a community of like-minded people and most importantly James explains that Henley always attracts lots of tourists and only a small hardened crew are regulars One of these he tells to keep my eye on is local vicar Hugh Balfour who James explains is regularly first finisher in James’ VM70-74 category Once Simon gives us the nod that our preparation is done James disappears off to his marshalling point (he is not running today) and Tim has finally shown up We have enough time for a quick stretch and in the absence of toilets at the venue I have run at Henley once before and it stands apart from other local parkrun for one reason It is run entirely on glorious trail paths through the woods and on the border of 40 Acre Field (which I am convinced is the budget version of AA Milne’s Hundred Acre Wood) This is trail running at its finest and a really refreshing change from the largely flat courses locally Based on my last experience here in May I am looking forward to the run I realise when I was here last the course was in the reverse direction (which apparently is easier) This means all the hills I ran up last time will be downhill today It was also 20C warmer than the temperature today There is a genuinely warm round of applause for Dan Brock running his 100th parkrun and once Simon has reminded the field that this is the 21st slowest parkrun in the UK we are underway The limited numbers and wide open fields for the first 400 yards mean there is none of the chaotic scramble that is often the case at other parkruns wanting to leave something for the upcoming hill and work out I am in 7th place as we enter the woods This would represent my highest position at parkrun but I know it is very early days and as we hit the hill my thoughts very quickly turn only to survival It is brutal and my lungs are very quickly on overdrive I have a momentary thought of stopping to walk but fight to the top and the short out and back section before we begin a very welcome stretch of downhill I can see coming the other way that Tim is in second place but is losing ground on the leader I also see that whilst I have only lost one place going up the hill there is now a long queue of people very close behind My only hope is that they are struggling as much as I am we enter a very muddy downhill section and whilst I have opted for trail shoes it is really hard to run at any sort of pace By the time we reach the bottom of the hill I have lost five or six places to those with more experience of the terrain and as we head up the long track back to the bottom of the hill my thoughts remain solely on staying on my feet The path is muddy and uneven and just as it starts to open out It is no easier second time around and my hi-tech watch is telling me that my heart rate is at its highest level so far in 2025 My heart is telling me there are no more hills once I am at the top and my head is telling me that I am an idiot and should still be asleep in a lovely warm bed With the hill navigated again I am slightly more experienced on the second lap and manage to maintain my position throughout Despite a somewhat half-hearted sprint as we exit the woods for the final time I finish two places outside my coveted top 10 finish and my time is over three minutes slower than it was the previous week Tim is waiting at the finish and has found it similarly tough and despite finishing second has comfortably recorded his slowest ever parkrun I currently have no desire to run the 20 that are tougher explaining it is a similarly slick process to setting up I am only too happy to accept and head back for another chat to James It dawns on me that my volunteering today remains pretty much a token effort and that Simon Jackie and race winner Matt – who takes over scanning duties after his sub-20 minute run) are the real heroes I am not sure I could but at least I am making progress and would look impressive next to Tim We then head to the Chocolate Cafe where I demolish an incredible apricot and almond tart This has been my slowest parkrun of 2025 by some distance and without doubt has also been the toughest But because of the quirkiness of the course the sense of achievement just in finishing the genuine warmth of the runners and volunteers and more than anything else the opportunity to meet James this has been the one I have enjoyed the most © parkrun Limited (Company Number: 07289574) No part of this site may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner The Telegraph recently revealed the poshest towns in the country and topping the charts is a swanky spot within very easy reach of London As a girl who grew up in Margate I tend to steer well clear of anything described as ‘posh’ So when I saw that The Telegraph had recently revealed a list of the poshest towns in Britain folks – I would never let my aversion to boarding schools Barbour jackets and big old houses stand in the way of letting you know where to head if you do like the finer things in life it hosts a Royal Regatta every year – did anywhere else really stand a chance Nestled in the picturesque Oxfordshire countryside Henley-on-Thames is surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Chiltern Hills and culture in equal measure; Henley-on-Thames has many trophies in its cabinet having been given a comfortable spot on plenty of best-places-to-live lists over the past few years FREDDIE van Mierlo has urged the Government to help secure bathing water status for the Thames in Henley The Henley MP spoke in a Commons debate on Tuesday on bathing water regulations In November the Government launched a review of the current.. Delivering the news from Henley on Thames and South Oxfordshire for over 100 years In November the Government launched a review of the current criteria for bathing waters to improve monitoring of locations where large numbers of people swim Bathing water status places a legal obligation on polluters and government to test water quality during the bathing season and improve water quality a bid by the charity Thames21 to secure bathing water status for the River Thames at Mill Meadows was rejected by the Department for Environment which was supported by Henley Town Council and South Oxfordshire District Council was said to have failed to the meet the criteria Mr van Mierlo said the current system was “perverse” as it requires swimmers to brave “potentially dangerous water” before a site is cleaned up He said: “This topsy turvy thinking is all wrong That’s why I very much welcome the Government’s review of the status.” He said that “bonkers” criteria had stopped the Henley application from being successful Mr van Mierlo said: “Despite widespread use of the river only spontaneous immersed swimmers count as river users But being a paddleboarder does not mean you won’t end up in the water rowers are constantly exposed to spray and contact during their sport a fact that leads every year to reports of domestic and international athletes falling ill at Henley Royal Regatta after being exposed to our effluent “It’s embarrassing to know that during the regatta it may well be that it ends up having to be wiped down from the side of a boat “It is also bonkers that organised swimming events have been excluded from the criteria While I understand that one would not want to see events organised solely with the purpose of meeting the criteria Henley has enjoyed a vibrant organised swimmer culture for many years with four annual events put on by the brilliant Henley Swim “I urge the Government to replace the current bathing water designation with a recreational water designation with teeth taking into account the full range of river users.” The MP requested a meeting with the minister Henley or email letters@henleystandard.co.uk HIGGS GROUP Tel: 01491 419400 www.higgsgroup.co.uk HENLEY PAGES Tel: 01491 419419 www.henleypages.com HIGGS PRINTING & DESIGN Tel: 01491 419429 www.higgsprinting.co.uk HIGGS OFFICE SUPPLIES Tel: 01491 419499 www.higgsofficesupplies.co.uk HENLEY LIFE MAGAZINE Tel: 01491 419449 www.henleylife.co.uk © Higgs & Co (Printers) Limited 2016 | Registered in England number 1418717 Powered by Miles 33 The Terms of Reference and list of members is being drawn up by the Town Clerk and will be presented to the Town & Community Committee which it will report into at their meeting on 8 April. Mayor Rory said, “The new River Thames Sub Committee of the Henley Town Council is there is to discuss all matters relating to the river and to advise the Council on appropriate next steps wherever needed.  So for example, this is to co-ordinate discussions around the pollution, events that take place, navigational safety; to really create a forum for businesses, clubs and other river users.  Hobbs of Henley have expressed an interest in joining; it will be a really broad group. District Councillor and SODC River Thames Champion, Jo Robb (pictured far right) has also been invited to join the Committee. Comment *document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a7794de864201faa665b4017ff240de7" );document.getElementById("c08a1a06c7").setAttribute( "id" I agree to the terms and conditions laid out in the Privacy Policy. Please tick the box to leave a comment, this is for GDPR compliance. Please check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. 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You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page The true-blue constituency with a Lib Dem MP is split on whether the Tories’ new leader should take the party further to the right On a dreary Saturday in the pristine Oxfordshire town of Henley-on-Thames nearly 40 miles away from the standing ovations and gleeful commiserations of Kemi Badenoch’s leadership victory news was beginning to trickle through of the new shape of the Conservative party the Tories were defeated here by the Liberal Democrats – until then Henley had voted Conservative in every election since 1906 But peel back that thin yellow film and a deep blue concrete slab remains This is a boat-rowing Tory heartland dressed in bunting a wealthy area with a long history of conservatism (the constituency is a former seat of Boris Johnson and Michael Heseltine) People here are the voters Badenoch will surely have in her sights as the Tories seek a return to power But do the people of Henley-on-Thames think Badenoch can win back their vote “I think she will,” said 71-year-old Andrew Collins chair of the Henley and Thame Conservative Association “To be in the position where we’ve elected the first black woman of any major political party in the west as our leader is incredibly positive for the party and the country as a whole.” As a party member, Collins voted for Robert Jenrick as leader but admired Badenoch’s social conservatism “I particularly like her stance on overly woke issues,” he said “I think being a black woman will make it much much harder for anyone to criticise her views.” Deputy chair of the Henley Conservatives supportive of his desire to pull out of the European convention on human rights but ultimately felt Badenoch was a worthy winner Henley had been one of the safest Tory seats in the country until July, but the Lib Dems overturned the Conservatives’ 14,000 vote majority The concern for some remaining Tory voters is that the party could lean further to the right under Badenoch who runs an electrical engineering company that employs 200 people “You never win anything by being [too far] one way or the other We just need some middle-of-the -road politics which are sensible for everybody rather than this rhetoric of rightwing extremism.” John Clark: ‘We don’t want to lurch too far to the right’ Photograph: Andy Hall/The ObserverWhen asked if he would still vote Conservative in a general election You could put Coco the clown up there and I would vote for them.” “I don’t think they’ve lurched enough,” said Rod explaining that he expects Henley-on-Thames to revert to the Conservative party in due course but I’m disappointed with them all really,” he said He expected the town to pivot back to the Conservatives “The Liberal Democrats don’t know what they are All I know is that I’m not going to grow a beard and I’m not going to wear sandals.” was unimpressed with the rightward direction the party seemed to be heading in “Neither [Badenoch or Jenrick] would have been my choice Jenrick is a dreadful man with dreadful views Dave Potter in his antique shop Photograph: Andy Hall/The ObserverFor some the party has lost their vote and won’t be winning it back any time soon In Dave Potter’s antique shop hangs a sign that reads: “Vote for Guy Fawkes: the only person to enter parliament with honest intentions” “I’ve got no faith in anybody,” said the 73-year-old “No faith in the Labour party or the Tories Potter used to vote Conservative but now backs Nigel Farage and the Reform party Asked if a hard-right Tory party would persuade him to change his mind at the next election This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media Verso Group has strengthened its presence in the UK wealth-management sector by acquiring the Henley-on-Thames team from WH Ireland Group plc The move marks Verso’s expansion into the Thames Valley the Henley team has a strong reputation for advising high-net-worth individuals Verso ‘primed for growth’ after integration push Stephen Johnston and Gerald Key previously managed assets exceeding £150m and will continue to operate from Henley-on-Thames They will collaborate with Verso’s leadership to drive regional growth Verso has now completed and integrated seven acquisitions The firm aims to manage £5bn in assets by 2027 through organic growth You must be logged in to post a comment Thanks to Neil Lambert for the run report this week.... This was my 4th visit to Henley on Thames parkrun and the 2nd time it’s been sunny with a beautiful blue sky The other 2 times there was a sharp frost and torrential rain so there has been a good mixture of weather over my 4 visits and a totally different experience each time I parked in the town centre carpark (Greys Road) and walked the 10 or so minutes to the start and got there at 08:30 On reaching the sports field where the start is I remember my first visit here and panicking that I had got the wrong location I knew the mode of operation of the core team and they turned up in force moments later and within 10 minutes the course was set up the cones and signs on the other  parts of the course are placed by the marshals at their respective various locations so it saves so much time After meeting the RD Adrian and a lovely chap from Portrush in Northern Ireland called Colin I was on hand to help some of the first timers to Henley with an obligatory photo or two of them with the Henley parkrun sign Adrian gave the first timers brief and explained the layout of the course to the 25 newcomers at Henley followed by the all-important run brief I had been ill leading up to this event so decided to “take it easy” whatever that means – remembering the steep hill in the woods Trail shoes are a must here in the wet weather as it can get very slippery but road shoes are no problem on a day like it was for this event jogged and walked across the sports field and into the wood it’s essentially a 2-lap course containing a steep hill and a small out and back section at the top Especially when its sunny and the course is dry The section after the “out & back” where you run through the trees before the sharp descent is my favourite part but watch out for those pesky tree roots After retracing your steps at the end of the 2nd of 2 laps you run back across the sports field to the finish funnel in what seems like a never-ending approach (that finish funnel seemed to be getting further and further away) I was totally exhausted but was so pleased I had made the effort There were 25 first timers at Henley out of a field of 65 of which 13 got a PB Two of my very good park-running friends have yet to visit Henley so I will be back very soon with them and hopefully the weather will be as beautiful as it has been this time a massive thank you must go to the 14 amazing volunteers without whom this fantastic event would not be able to take place – thank you Adrian and the team I look forward to seeing you again very soon!" Results for this week can be found here. No part of this site may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner. Frameworks, 2 Sheen Road, Richmond, TW9 1AE Search Menu Menu Our 2024 Review3rd January 2025/in , /by Another busy year in Henley-on-Thames here’s some of the highlights of our coverage of the news over the last 12 months Annie Arscott and Rachel Herbert who have helped grow the coverage over the last year and to our sponsors who make it all possible We love being part of the Henley community January saw the River Thames break its banks with New Street and Riverside closed for the first few days of the New Year and saw the level go above that of the 2003 floods Olympic rower and former Chair of Henley Women’s Regatta Miriam Luke was awarded an MBE in this year’s New Year’s Honours List for her service to the sport Two more car meets took place in January in Tesco’s car park making a total of 15 since they started in October 2023 Residents asked the Town Council what they were going to do about them at a Council meeting Thames Valley Police finally put in a Dispersal Order Henley Town Council voted through an increase of 29% for the Town Council’s tax precept Taylor Wimpey Homes lost their appeal against SODC’s decision to reject their certificate of lawful use or development for ground stabilisation works at Thames Farm The Herald hosted their annual Community Champion Awards which were presented to Tim Dodd-Wilson (Charity Champion) Beth Evans (Top Teacher) Simone Wylie (Community Champion) and Elin Barr (Young Sporting Superstar) The party raised £1825 for Henley Music School The Schwarzenbach family announced withdrawal of the diversion across their land for Marsh Lock footbridge on 31 March 2024 The Herald blew holes in Oxfordshire County Council’s pothole repair process which states they take before and after photos of work. Under a FOI request they stated “there is no procedure for review” due to 30,000 defects across the County per year. Henley Town Council agreed that Tesco should be asked not to deploy Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) that was installed to deter the car meets after drivers visiting the sports club at Jubilee Park were issued tickets humps have been added to the car park by Tesco Jamie Furlong from Islington was charged with burglary after a lady who was walking from Tilebarn Close to Paradise Road had her handbag cut off with a knife Henley Town Council agreed to spend £5,612 for a feasibility study for resurfacing and formalising the Makins Recreation Ground car park next to the Scout Hut Bathing Water Status for Mill Meadows was rejected by DEFRA stating that the application had “not met the criteria” due to swimmers being counted during an organized event Honorary President of the Chiltern Centre and Chair of South Oxfordshire Mencap Paul Barrett was presented with a Town Medal for his volunteer work for over 20+years Henley Man Club launched to provide a safe space to listen share and support each other on Monday evenings at the Bull on Bell Street St Mary’s Church was burgled and the safe broken into Historian Ruth Gibson was presented the Town Medal for her incredible work in the researching and recording of historic buildings in and around Henley Henley Toad Patrol celebrated 25 years of helping toads to cross the Marlow Road on the Culden Faw estate. U10 Girls Hockey Club team were crowned County Champions Henley Town Council unveiled its 5-year strategic plan which is structured around five key pillars: developing vibrance Henley & District Housing Trust announced they would sell the Grade II listed Barnaby Cottages in New Street William Barnaby gifted funds for the houses for the poor in 1582 The Trust said they were now too difficult and expensive to maintain and they are more costly than modern houses for tenants to heat The Make Henley Shine (MHS) group looking at lighting up Henley Bridge complained to SODC and Wokingham BC as well as the Environment Agency about the handling of the planning application submitted in September 2023 The EA finally confirmed that they are legal owners of Marsh Lock Horsebridge in an email to MP John Howell’s office this week after chasing for a response as to what action they are taking to make the bridge safe after closing it in May 2022 A large length of riverbank (around 2-3 boats) on Marsh Meadows collapsed and was barriered off to make it safe by Henley Town Council who own the land The riverbank at Marsh Meadows has been in a long decline over many years with no work done on them since 2014 despite the Council having this project on their agenda for many years County Council reconsidered Town Weight Limit Restriction and agreed to an ANPR study to look at HGV traffic short cutting through the town Music legend Ed Sheeran returned to Henley after visiting in 2019 to do the Brakspear Ale Trail to enjoy a few drinks at Jacobini Wine Bar on Hart Street and Old Bell pub SODC overrode the Town Council’s recommendation by granting planning permission for 4 x 2 storey houses at the entrance to Newtown Road The Henley College rugby team won the AOC Sport Men’s U18 Premiership Final 33-12 to Bishop Burton College Make Henley Shine withdrew their planning application to light up Henley Bridge after both SODC and Wokingham BC belatedly confirmed that they were invalid as the Councils finally clarified with each other that they jointly own the bridge The Henley College won the National Football Youth League (NFYL) Final against Swindon Town Procision in a thrilling match winning 3-0 The U17 AFC Henley Hurricanes ran out 8-2 winners against Eynsham U18s in the Oxfordshire FA Joe Roughton U18 Youth Cup Final Councillor Rory Hunt was invested as Henley Mayor. At the age of 30 he is the youngest ever Henley Mayor. A team from Henley played England’s highest game of cricket (950m) on top of Helvellyn against a Helvellyn XI in aid of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) Research Foundation SODC approved the planning application to convert the old Nat West Bank building in Market Place into six residential flats with a retention of a retail unit on the ground floor despite Henley Town Council recommending it should be refused Henley’s War Hero Dickie Charlton died peacefully in his sleep at the Chilterns Court Care Centre just 4 days shy of his 104th birthday The 80th anniversary of D-Day was marked in Henley by the lighting of the beacon at Makins Recreation Ground and with parties at Bluebells Day Centre and Chilterns Court Care Home Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a surprise visit to Leander Club as part of his campaign trail the Prime Minister was photobombed by a boat on the Thames filled with Lib Dem campaigners Friends Matt Richardson and Bill Pollard rode their Penny Farthings from Henley to Paris in 5 days raising £17K for Macmillan Cancer Support Water quality testing by River Action citizen scientists revealed alarmingly high levels of E coli bacteria from sewage pollution ahead of Henley Royal Regatta Henley Town Council passed a motion of no confidence in Thames Water Taylor Wimpey submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening Opinion Application to SODC for Thames Farm following the loss of their appeal against the Inspectors decision that Taylor Wimpey’s proposed groundworks for the site requires a new planning application Henley open water swimmers Laura Reineke and Lee Saudan overcame huge challenging conditions sea sickness and obstacles to complete the Manhattan 20 Bridges swim (48km) in a brilliant time of 9hr 15mins Sally Tally from Shiplake scooped a whopping £821,990 in the People’s Postcode Lottery After over 2 years since the ‘H’ graffiti was sprayed on Henley bridge a listed building planning application was finally submitted by SODC to remove this along with repair work to the bridge Henley Dragons were part of a GB Team who won a medal stash at the European Dragon Boat Championships in Prague winning 4 golds Leander win four titles at the Henley Royal Regatta on a very wet and windy finals day Henley Festival saw Gladys Night, Dave Stewart, Nicole Scherzinger and Sam Ryder take to the floating stage along with a night of Ibiza anthems with Ministry of Sound and Ellie Sax. Taylor Wimpey escalated its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) application for Thames Farm to Secretary of State after SODC failed to make a decision on it within the deadline Henley Town Council agreed to fund a new Biodiversity Officer for 2 years at a salary cost of £25,000 for a 21 hour/week role However there were questions that the proper process had not been carried out to agree where the budget would come from to fund this Up to £8,000 was taken from allocated funds to upgrade the three day a week service to five Hart Street was closed for 3 days causing gridlock to the town due to a gas leak outside Giggling Squid Commuters took 2 hours to travel in from Wargrave and over an hour down Remenham Hill A record nine cygnets from one family on the Henley Reach were counted and marked at Swan Upping The Trad Boat Festival was enjoyed by hundreds of people enjoying the boats and other festivities surrounding it The coveted Best in Show boat was won by Dunkirk Little Ship Llanthony owned by Ross Ahlgren An order to record a Public Footpath on the Definitive Map was proposed by Oxfordshire County Council between 12 to 14 Lambridge Wood Road after evidence was submitted by resident Mr Ed Earl 23 Leander athletes set off for Paris 2024 Lola Anderson and Georgie Brayshaw won a first historic gold in the Women’s quadruple sculls (W4x) in a photo finish with the Dutch crew The Dutch crew led for the whole race until just before the line Leander rowers continued their medal haul in Paris.  Esme Booth and Sam Redgrave won silver in the Women’s four in a thrilling race. Becky Wilde clinched bronze with her partner Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne from Upper Thames in the Women’s Double Sculls Leander Men’s pair Tom George and Olly Wynne-Griffith were beaten on the line by Croatia to win the silver medal Leander athletes also made up a large part of the Women’s and Men’s 8 crews winning bronze and gold Henley Town Council’s application to build a new 3G football pitch at Jubilee Park was approved by SODC Despite the rainy weather crowds came out for the ‘Heroes Return’ event for Olympic rowing athletes with a row past and then a bus parade around town The third Illuminated Boat Parade built on their success with more boats and spectators The Popeye crew on board an old wooden sailing boat muscled their way to win the Best Boat in the Parade An astonishing find of pages from The Daily Chronicle newspaper dated 20 June 1881 were discovered behind the official warrant of the Thames Lodge of Freemasons when it was reframed by Henley Glass TV personalities and best-selling authors drew thousands of people to attend the Henley Literary Festival which included Dame Zandra Rhodes Traffic numbers were lower than expected for the HGV traffic study by OCC to assess whether an environmental Weight Limit is justified for Henley due to weather conditions  A report is expected from OCC in early 2025 Repair and cleaning works to the stonework of Henley Bridge and removal of the H graffiti were due to start this month but were halted after high river levels the bridge pavement was finally restored after 3 years with York Stones replacing the ‘temporary’ tarmac Town Council agreed to cut funding for a Police Community Support Officer in 2024/2025 budget The Government’s Football Foundation in partnership with the Premier League and FA award Henley Town Council and AFC Henley a substantial grant of up to £700,691 towards the new 3G pitch The proposal to extend the 20mph hour limit around the town was approved after a public consultation saw 65% of respondees in support. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care rejected objections to the closure of the step-down beds at Chiltern’s Court Care Centre stating “it does not meet the threshold of intervention” and he did not think “there was substantial change.” The town fell silent for the Remembrance Service in Market Place The EA finally objected to Thames Farm ground stabilisation works due to its “unacceptable risk to the environment.” Mary Berry switched on the Christmas lights at the Christmas Festival which saw Market Place bursting at the seams with thousands of people EA gave notice to families who have camped on Shiplake lock island for generations with a plan to introduce a commercial camping operation A fundraising campaign was launched for a baby loss memorial tree at the Sue Ryder Woodland in 40 Acre Wood (off Tilebarn Close). Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet members debated the motion to review the closure of beds at Chiltern Court Care Centre and agreed that a consultation was not needed although they acknowledged that better engagement should have taken place. "ac11db7ae122269d5bad68098c3952c6" );document.getElementById("c08a1a06c7").setAttribute( "id" For best viewing experience of this website Please enter a place name in the search bar After provisionally the warmest May Day on record in the UK higher than average temperatures will subside over the weekend Environment Agency Updated: 07:37 (UTC+1) on Tue 6 May 2025 it will turn increasingly cloudy from off the North Sea Some bright or sunny spells developing by evening Staying dry with some lengthy clear skies overnight Turning chilly with a touch of grass frost in places Largely dry with variable amounts of cloud and bright or sunny spells on Wednesday with variable amounts of cloud and bright or sunny spells throughout the period Dry across the vast majority of the UK with clear or sunny spells but also some patchy cloud Cloud will likely thicken across the far north and northwest during the weekend with some outbreaks of rain for a time There is also a small risk of some heavy showers in the far south or southwest high pressure will be dominant across the UK This will bring predominantly fine and dry weather for the majority of places Temperatures are likely to be slightly above normal for the time of year although there is a chance of some cold nights Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average The River & Rowing Museum is to cease its current operation due to financial pressures The museum’s board of trustees announced today that the venue’s current operational model is “not viable in the long-term” The institution has made at a loss for some time primarily due to the high costs of maintaining and preserving its purpose-built home on the riverbank in Henley-on-Thames The museum had put in place a “risky and expensive-to-execute” strategy to break even; however the board decided this week that moving ahead with this plan was “a risk too far” given the impending departure of the museum’s director announced last week that he was stepping down Museums Journal understands that the museum has no immediate plans to close but that “closure is undoubtedly an option” if nothing changes in how it operates River & Rowing Museum Foundation’s chair of trustees said the building is “simply too large and the galleries too ambitious in scale” for its location and subject matter the board said: “Ever since opening its doors in 1998 the museum has attempted to balance its revenue generating capability with the expenditure necessary to maintain a substantial landmark building and a collection of 30,000 objects spread across five galleries and storage facilities.” The board said the museum’s financial imbalance had been “sharpened by the pandemic” although emergency funding from Arts Council England had relieved some of that pressure good progress has been made on increasing visitor numbers and a stable income stream has been established from leasing office spaces to local businesses the stark reality is that even these improvements don’t match expenditure and despite recent investment in the building and the commercial model Trustees said they had looked at further options including converting more space into offices but described such initiatives as “expensive commercially risky and ultimately insufficient on their own” The statement added: “Sustainability remains reliant on a level of visitors and commercial income well in excess of anything managed since opening; a challenge made much harder by the impending departure of museum director the responsible course of action for the foundation is to now cease the current operation in a considered and managed way which preserves the public benefits in the assets we hold – namely our building the trustees have made the difficult decision to explore new options whilst the foundation still has the financial capability to make considered choices.” The museum still has half of its reserves remaining and has chosen to go public about the situation “in order to see who can help what options are open to us that we haven’t thought of and what partners may be brought in to assist” Staff and tenants have been informed of the museum’s change of direction The charity is committed to working closely with Henley Town Council the local community and key stakeholders to find sustainable ways forward O’Connor and Worthington said the board would now engage with partners and the wider sector to explore alternative approaches and “secure a meaningful and sustainable future for the museum’s collection The board said: “We remain of the belief that there is an important story to be told about Henley the river and its environment and the connection to our health and wellbeing “Our immediate and overwhelming priority is to support our staff and establish an ethical approach to securing a future for the collections and building for which we are responsible We understand that this will take both time and collaboration.” Worthington added: “This is a very sad day A remarkable project was dreamt up in the mid-nineties and launched to international and national acclaim it was always too costly for its location and subject matter and despite the efforts of the museum’s trustees and workforce from 1998 to the present day finding a sustainable solution has proved elusive “The unavoidable reality is that the building is simply too large and the galleries too ambitious in scale To secure the future of the foundation we will consider all options and given that we have taken this step now we have the potential to see our valuable assets re-emerge on a scale that is affordable and sustainable “Change is now inevitable and along with Henley Town Council the foundation will use this opportunity to bring fresh thinking to the future of the building and its collection ensuring that the important work it has done for the past 27 years continues.” the museum reported a record-breaking February half-term with people queuing outside the door and many events and activities sold out O’Connor is leaving the museum to become the general manager of Leander Club the Henley rowing club that has trained Olympic athletes including Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent he said it had been a “privilege to lead the museum” Worthington said: “Steve’s contribution has made a huge difference to the museum and we are very sad to see him leave but wish him well in his role at Leander His tenure has seen so many positive changes in a very short space of time was the first major project in the UK by architect David Chipperfield and has become a well-known landmark along the River Thames it was named the Royal Fine Art Commission Building of the Year and UK National Heritage Museum of the Year Chipperfield has since led on major international museum projects such as the redevelopments of the Neues Museum in Berlin the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg and the National Archaeological Museum in Athens Elevated on concrete stilts due to the flood risk, the River & Rowing Museum suffered minor damage during extensive flooding from Storm Henk in January 2024 Updated to include additional information from the River & Rowing Museum and to clarify that the museum has no immediate plans to close but is considering it as an option Most Museums Journal content is only available to members Join the MA to get full access to the latest thinking and trends from across the sector by | Tuesday, 29 October, 2024 | Pubs and Bars News It follows the opening of The Royal and The Coachmakers Arms The Duke, a 2,600 sq ft pub and restaurant, is undergoing an extensive refurbishment to create 65 covers, an enhanced bar area, dining room, and a small courtyard. The pub will feature Henley Pub Co’s signature style with a rich colour scheme of Naval blues and light blue alongside textures that reflect the history of the pub and the local area “The Duke is set to be a real foodie destination with the menu changing often to reflect the seasons,” said Henley Pub Co founder Henry Day “I want people to pop in for a really good pub lunch or for a quick pint or leisurely glass of wine in the bar and feel like the pub has always been part of Henley life.” It’s Beer Today’s 20th anniversary this month!I love updating this site, but it needs more Patreon supporters to survive into the future. Individual supporters are particularly welcome, and there are great options for commercial businesses which involve social media sharing, advertorial opportunities and advertising discounts. Find out more at patreon.com/beertoday Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns Thank you to James Howlett for the run report this week.. The start (and ultimately finish) field is a little lumpy and the rugby pitch at the far end in particular has a pronounced concave feel to it though this is probably exaggerated by the imposing treeline on three sides of it Through a narrow gap into the woodland and a little twisty bit round to a gate that sends you up the hill Abandon all cavalier thoughts of simplicity here - it's a trail run Should you come to Henley on Thames parkrun for the first time be prepared for a couple of false summits that might have you swearing slightly At the sort-of-the-top-ish junction you're directed right into a little extra slight incline bit for a short narrow out-and-back section Back to the junction to bear right again onto the high section which gradually starts affording you glimpses of rolling countryside to your left but which you really shouldn't pay attention to for more than a second at any one moment A sharp 160 degree right turn drops sharply downwards to the lower reaches of the course a perilous combination of easily-acquired speed and continuing ground hazard before a left turn onto a long flattish section between trees and housing A sharp left onto a long section of continuously uneven path tree-lined to the right with the start/finish field behind it At the end of this section you turn left through the gate again and thus commences the second lap starting with the beast-hill Having completed the second lap you bear right back through the short twisty bit before bursting out onto the start/finish field which suddenly looks about a kilometre long though it's probably less than three hundred metres to the finish from the treeline I was curiously alone as I plodded to the end a long way behind the previous finisher and long way ahead of the next Dark blue t-shirt man clocked me as I finished and he did indeed turn out to be Finbarr - my old rowing contemporary from Reading Rowing Club a decade ago A real pleasure to catch up briefly with him (only in a conversational sense mind you - he was first finisher!) and also a great pleasure to return and reacquaint myself with this beautiful lumpy gem of a course No one will ever run an overall PB here at Henley on Thames parkrun But the friendly team of marshals and all the volunteer team keep you motivated and smiling I was absolutely staggered to later discover that I'd gone round faster on this occasion than I had in April 2022 (I'm really not particularly fit right now) There were 76 finishers at Henley on Thames parkrun today of whom 39 were first-timers on this course and 10 new course personal bests were achieved About 13 or so different clubs were represented today and 5 of today's participants were in the 250+ parkruns club - with another couple closely approaching it Three of the first timers on the course were also first-time-ever parkrunners - your Saturday mornings have just changed forever folks Thank you Henley on Thames parkrun - give me a couple of years to catch my breath Freddie lives in Henley-on-Thames with his wife and young family Freddie is commitment to campaigning for better healthcare services for Henley and Thame He consistently speaks out against sewage dumping in our precious inland water ways As a Cabinet Member on South Oxfordshire District Council he championed Henley’s application for Bathing Water Status that would have forced Thames Water to clean up the river The Tory government rejected the bid and has suspended all new applications Freddie works as a consultant to healthcare companies and patient groups It gives him valuable insight into health systems and the issues they face He wants to bring this knowledge to improving health services in Henley and Thame The Liberal Democrats will use your contact details to send you information on the topics you have requested. Any data we gather will be used in accordance with our privacy policy at www.libdems.org.uk/privacy. To exercise your legal data rights, email: data.protection@libdems.org.uk Promoted by the Liberal Democrats, 1 Vincent Square, London SW1P 2PN.Website by Prater Raines Hospitality & Catering News Located on the corner of Duke Street and Greys Road the pub and restaurant will be a foodie bolt-hole for locals and visitors to Henley alike using the very best seasonal British ingredients where guests can expect great seasonal produce The menus sit neatly alongside a carefully selected wine list The 2,600 sq ft pub and restaurant is undergoing an extensive refurbishment to create 65 covers The pub will feature Henley Pub Co.’s signature style with a rich colour scheme of naval blues burgundy and light blue alongside textures that reflect the history of the pub and the local area The opening of The Duke brings the total number of pubs operated by Henley Pub Co and founder Henry Day commented saying: “The Duke is set to be a real foodie destination with the menu changing often to reflect the seasons I want people to pop in for a really good pub lunch dinner or Sunday roast with friends and family or for a quick pint or leisurely glass of wine in the bar and feel like the pub has always been part of Henley life.” Copyright © · Hospitality & Catering News A public consultation was open during October for residents to have their say.  534 responses were received via the online survey during the course of the formal consultation, comprising of: 124 objections (23%), 32 partially supporting (6%), 346 in support (65%), and 32 non-objections (6%). Of those objecting, expressing concerns or partially supporting, themes included concerns over the lack of compliance with the existing 30 and 20mph speed limits in the town and therefore raising queries the actual benefits of the proposals, and also queries over the geographic scope – some expressing that the current 20mph limit in the town centre was sufficient but with others requesting additions to the current scope of the proposals. Concluding the report, Paul Fermer Director of Environment and Highways stated, “The authority considers objections along the lines of it being unjustified, anticar, a waste of money, not enforceable or pointless to not warrant amendments to a proposal. As such the authority has not addressed any specific comments made of this nature in this report.” "a0dd381df8bff137010f17955a175d13" );document.getElementById("c08a1a06c7").setAttribute( "id" For more information about how we and our partners use cookies on our site, see our Cookie Policy These cookies are necessary for the Savills website to function Examples of this include: setting your privacy preferences Though these cookies cannot be switched off you can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies but please be aware that this will stop some parts of the Savills website from functioning as intended Find out more about strictly necessary cookies here These cookies are used to enhance the performance of the Savills website as without them certain functions of the website may not be available While they are not vital for the website to run they allow us to remember important information and your preferences such as previous location searches Find out more about functional cookies here These cookies record your activity on the Savills website and our partners may use that information to show you adverts that they think you will be most interested in when you visit other websites We may also use information recorded by these cookies to see how well these adverts are performing Find out more about targeting and tracking cookies here Find a property Find the property that brings your vision to life needs and aspirations and we won’t stop until we’ve found you the right fit From first homes to rural land and commercial opportunities we have a specialist expert that knows the market inside out Have a question? 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We're here to provide you with more information or connect you with the right people to help with your needs Earth Day 2025: the role of solar power in commercial real estate Earth Day is the world’s largest environmental awareness initiative 2025’s theme – ‘Our Power Our Planet’ – spotlights the urgent need to scale up renewable energy to triple clean electricity generation worldwide by 2030.  The eyes of the rowing world will be firmly fixed upon Henley-on-Thames this week and the town has been busy for months with the buzz of anticipation beginning in mid-March when the first boat tents started to go up along the riverside in many ways the coming days are as much about community as they are about sport Requests for days off work are lodged months in advance for the perfect opportunity to explore the riverbank catch up with old friends and meet some new faces rowing isn’t the only reason to love Henley Buyers and tenants are drawn to the town for its high quality housing wide range of amenities and proximity to the surrounding countryside Here’s our choice of some of the finest Henley homes – riverside or otherwise – currently on the market Contact Victoria Knight or Charlie Chavasse The site was included in 2016 and updated 2022 Joint Henley and Harpsden Neighbourhood Plan (JHHNP) for a mixed home/commercial site for 42 dwellings The site comprises of the Stuart Turner head office and small industrial units (approx 1.3 hectares/ 3.2 acres) stretching from Market Place/Gravel Hill to the north The proposals which can be viewed at empsteadworks.co.uk and commented on 2 x 2-bed maisonettes and 5 x 1-bed maisonettes with 1 car parking space allocated per home 1,638 sqm of commercial space (a convenience food shop at ground floor a gym at first floor and a nursery at second floor) and circa 1050 sq m of green space including a playground There is no mention of 40% affordable housing which is a policy of the JHHNP and SODC Local Plan 2035 on the proposals In the OCC 2022 ‘Parking Standards for New Developments’ it states that for 3+ bedroom dwellings The Green Regeneration Property Company (TGRPC) have met with Henley Town Council twice to discuss the site and present its redevelopment ideas; first in November 2023 and in October 2024 TGRPC has also carried out pre-application consultation with SODC last summer and has submitted its second pre-application enquiry to SODC last month (December 2024) which is running concurrently with the public consultation SODC have also shared their pre-application advice with TGRPC from 2019 prior to their involvement with the site TGRPC say that they have engaged with Design South East (an independent charity dedicated to improving the quality of design in the built environment) who undertook a design review of the proposals last month This was an independent review conducted by a mixed panel of experts who discussed the project with TGRPC and SODC and provided feedback on how it could be improved TGRPC say that they have explored the demand for commercial/town centre uses at the site as it is some distance from the retail centre of the town and are aware that there are some vacant retail units including in Gardiner Place nearly 4 years after completion They have appointed commercial agents to advise on the suitability and market demand for various retail They completed some research and soft market testing over several months which identified some potential interest from national operators for a food convenience shop The Herald understands that there are some waiting lists at local nurseries due partly however to recruitment of staff and are unaware of the many gyms in Henley that are at full capacity Planning policy requires new residential developments provide communal amenity and play spaces however there are 3 playgrounds in walking distance from the site (Makins “The proposed play area is in response to planning policy; however TGRPC will be reviewing the size and type of play space and specifically the balance between play space and provision of amenity space that would benefit a wider range of users in the next stage of the design development Providing play areas for children to play as well as open areas is important to meeting our commitments to planning policy as well as delivering new amenity spaces to support a growing community.” We asked Stuart Turner for their response to the plans and the relocation of their head office and their employees however to date we have not received a reply A spokesperson for the Community Communications Partnership who are managing the public consultation said “We are pleased to be working with TGRPC on their proposals for Empstead Works We are committed to delivering meaningful engagement with the local community in Henley-on-Thames so residents can voice their thoughts and comments.” “Our approach is guided by many years of experience in consultations For this consultation we have created an online portal that sets outs the plans a short video taking viewers on a virtual site visit a newsletter that was delivered to the local community and targeted social media adverts promoting the consultation.” “We welcome all comments on the proposals and encourage Henley Herald readers to get in touch.” The consultation is open for comments and feedback until 15 January 2025 at empsteadworks.co.uk I have never had any correspondence or leaflets through my door As fare as I know neither has anyone else who lives here "a581687087c57a927859269aab334a91" );document.getElementById("c08a1a06c7").setAttribute( "id" I want to take this opportunity to reflect on the year we’ve had in Henley and incredible community spirit and I’m proud of all that we’ve accomplished together It is the greatest privilege and duty to be Mayor of Henley — you have my oath that I will discharge the rest of my duties in 2025 to the very best of my ability This has been without a doubt the most exhausting and the most fulfilling year of my life and I’d like to thank you all for the support I have received from the town as mayor One of the standout moments this year was the big screen in Market Place for the Olympics Watching residents and visitors gather to cheer on athletes including our local heroes and now Olympic champions was a truly special experience that showcased the power of sport to bring people together Thank you to everyone who supported this initiative and made it such a resounding success and thank you to all those who contribute towards sport at all levels in our town I would also like to thank the sponsors who have sponsored the Olympics live event the Christmas festival and who sponsor the other organisations and clubs in our town Many wonderful events and activities could not take place without your generous support we also stood up for our environment and our town Henley wouldn’t be Henley without the river and the vote of no confidence in Thames Water sent a powerful message about the need for accountability in protecting our precious rivers and the environment in Henley We also need those who are charged with their care to be accountable for providing that protection It is a particular source of pride that Henley has led this initiative and I’m proud to see other councils following Henley’s lead including South Oxfordshire District Council and Oxfordshire County Council This clearly demonstrates that local action and leadership can spark broader change we’ve begun organising water testing initiatives for next year to ensure that we take control over our stretch of the river and give users the information they need to make their own judgements: is it we passed a motion of censure against the Environment Agency (the EA) highlighting the urgent need for better stewardship of our natural resources and public highways Our Thames Path is another precious public asset as well as a route of national significance The people of Henley have made it quite clear that they are disappointed in the Environment Agency’s recent failure to keep the path open and want action from the Environment Agency to put this These steps underline Henley’s commitment to protecting the environment for future generations and I thank everyone who has lent their voice and expertise to these efforts I’ve had the privilege of attending so many incredible events this year — from the Henley Festival to the many regattas and vibrancy that make our town so special It hass been a joy to celebrate with you all and to witness the community spirit that defines Henley we’ll continue to tackle the challenges we face and build on the progress we’ve made Thank you for making Henley the remarkable town it is — for your energy I have really enjoyed seeing first-hand that Henley is a very community minded town It has been a privilege for me to visit Bluebells which has shown to me that there are many residents in this town who are willing all year round give selflessly to the community of Henley We are an impressive town and we should all be proud to be a part of this great community I wish you and your loved ones a happy and healthy Christmas season and a wonderful new year Henley pub welcomes three new colleagues ahead of December opening bringing a wealth of experience from Michelin-starred and Rosette-awarded establishments across the UK His impressive accolades include earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand and two Rosettes at The White Oak in Cookham and being recognized as Estrella’s Top 50 One to Watch in 2021 “The food at The Duke will centre on small plates designed for sharing—or not we’re crafting a menu of modern British dishes that reflects both innovation and tradition.” Jason Herrington and James Connelly take the helm as Co-General Managers each bringing a wealth of local and professional experience to the team has over nine years of hospitality experience including managing renowned local restaurants welcoming spaces is matched by his expertise in opening new venues and building strong teams and I’m thrilled to contribute to a project that will bring something truly special to the community,” says Jason an accomplished beverage program curator and operations expert spanning management roles at establishments like Sika Inns and The Stag and Huntsman James has honed skills in sustainable beverage development crafting an innovative and sustainable drinks menu that highlights British-made spirits Our focus is on local and seasonal ingredients ensuring a menu that complements our food and champions sustainability,” James shares Jason and James will split managerial responsibilities ensuring that The Duke delivers outstanding service The Duke promises to be a hub for locals and visitors alike and a welcoming environment that embodies the spirit of Henley-on-Thames The Duke – 30 Duke Street, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 1UP – Website Research reveals consumer demands on UK food outlets to improve packaging THE December meeting of the Henley Archaeological and Historical Group featured a talk by Catherine Sampson a social and local historian based in Reading on lesser-known Berkshire and South Oxfordshire Churches including some of their fascinating back stories are set in isolated locations in the middle of a field They were little touched by Victorian restoration and often retain old Catholic elements They were not originally isolated but their villages became depopulated due to the Black Death of the 1340s and later through the use of the land for the more lucrative grazing of sheep features an access to the former rood screen through an opening placed high up on the wall of the nave and an interesting tomb to the Fettiplace family played a role in the location of the church in Nuneham Courtenay The Harcourt family built a new house in 1757 in a setting influenced by the landscape design fashionable at the time The main road and village needed to be moved by over a mile and a new Georgian church built near the house — all for the convenience of the family the villagers found this most inconvenient In the 1870s another church was built closer to their cottages and the Georgian church effectively became the Harcourts’ private chapel The first meeting of the year will feature a presentation by Peter Brown on Londoners in Henley before the Black Death This talk will focus on people involved in the corn trade between London and Henley in the Middle Ages MEMBERS of the Round Table Thames Valley Freemasons Lodge took part in the inaugural Great Henley Sack Race on Sunday The team took on the task of cleaning around the River & Rowing Museum and car park in Mill Meadows On the way back to the town hall meeting point the team continued to pick litter along the way before leaving their recycling and rubbish bags alongside the others contributed by the volunteer teams The two hours they spent made a worthwhile contribution to the overall effort and it was also a great opportunity to get together and have some fun The Round Table Thames Valley Lodge regularly raises money for many local and national charities Contributing to their local community is a core principle of masonry currently the worshipful master of the lodge said: “We were very keen to be involved in this valuable event we all wanted to give back to this great town “Masonry is all about helping others and this was a perfect opportunity to contribute alongside so many other people from Henley.” attended the spring clean event and about 300 bags of rubbish were collected half a shopping trolley and a kitchen countertop RESIDENTS have objected to plans to expand a retirement village in Henley wants to increase the number of care units from 37 to 54 It has submitted an application to Wokingham.. wants to increase the number of apartments from 37 to 50 It has submitted an application to Wokingham Borough Council to demolish part of a block of flats and build a three-storey extension to provide 17 extra apartments Fifteen of the apartments will have two bedrooms and two will have one The plans also include remodelling a central courtyard Other proposals include a library and active space new gardens and the refurbishment of the commercial kitchen is within the Remenham Henley Bridge Conservation Area and is opposite the Henley Conservation Area on the western side of the River Thames have submitted written objections to the borough council Janet Snell said: “I live directly opposite the proposed site This is a unique situation in that immediately outside the front of my home there is no road including a gravel walkway and flower beds that run alongside the boundary wall which separates us from Thamesfield This results in a distance from the boundary wall of only 16.6 metres “At present there is a single-storey building on the Thamesfield site that is visible directly from my home We can just see the top of the single storey building above the boundary wall The proposal is to replace this with a bulky three-storey building with large windows and balconies “Our main bedroom and bathroom (we are not allowed to have obscure glass in our bathrooms) would be unusable during the day unless a blind was pulled down and we would have to install sheer curtains in the lounge to protect our privacy “Thamesfield occupies a very large site and there is plenty of room to position extra units to the south of the plot This would then have no impact on Remenham Row and would not be visible from the Henley side of the river There are gardens and a croquet lawn to the south of the site “Despite what Thamesfield says the croquet lawn is underused and indeed the residents of Remenham Row were asked to play in order to make up the numbers.” Margaret Spratley said: “I write to register my complete shock and serious heartfelt objection to the proposed three-storey extension being proposed to Thamesfield that would sit hard up against the common boundary with my home “Our front elevations face directly at the proposed three-storey wing which you can see rises in these proposals from a modest single-storey existing development under pitched roofs to a vertical bulk under flat roof of three storeys “The riverside diagrams show that the grey ceramic tiled upper storey and the blank side elevation will show above the existing white Mansion House which will very much dominate the river scene as well as Remenham Row “If you were to sit in my living room and face the common boundary I currently have a clear view of the sky over the rooftop opposite This will be replaced by a red brick three-storey mass wall with grey ceramic tiles which is completely unjustified This development is totally unneighbourly and will make living in the units on this side of Remenham Row unbearable the site is already overdeveloped and I would ask the council’s officers to visit our side of the development and listen to the residents at Remenham Row who are the only members of the public to be directly affected by these proposals.” Derick Silver said: “The proposal to include windows and balconies directly facing numbers 1-5 Remenham Row would allow occupants of the apartments to look directly into bedrooms bathrooms and living rooms of these properties Retirement Villages Group held a consultation event in October and provided feedback forms prior to submitting the application About 62 people attended and a total of 25 people provided feedback said: “The proposed development will provide a high level of amenity to future occupiers and will not significantly affect the amenity of neighbouring properties “The supporting technical documents submitted as part of this planning application collectively confirm that the proposed development would not have any unacceptable adverse impacts subject to the recommended mitigation measures being put in place the proposal is in accordance with the development plan and should be granted without delay.” The borough council will make a final decision after February 13 was born at the Royal London Hospital on April 17 The family moved to Henley when he was young and he stayed there throughout his life After school he joined the army and was based in Cyprus for some time He then worked at Thames Carpet Cleaners until he married Sylvia Hickman in June 1961 who went on to give him many grandchildren and great grandchildren and he embraced his extended family Jack was a machine operator at Sydney Greens before he and a friend he worked at Jex & Arlett Construction as a site foreman and machine operator He then worked for Notting Hill Housing Trust as a clerk of the works where he remained until he retired Ellery Court in north-west London was named after him Jack participated in the Breakspear darts league in and around Henley for many years He was also the chairman of the Salisbury Club in Henley He loved to spend time with his family on camping and caravaning holidays He loved to fish and to tend to his koi carp in his garden pond A keen aviarist with a passion for breeding love birds he could always be found in the garden or hand rearing the next flock Jack won the best garden and outstanding garden awards in the Soha Gainsborough Hill best kept garden competition in 2018 He will be sadly missed by his family and all who knew him His funeral will be held at Reading Crematorium in Caversham on Wednesday followed by burial for family only at Fairmile cemetery in Henley A celebration of his life will be held at the Salisbury Club at 4.30pm A collection will be held in aid of Sue Ryder with contributions to be made to funeral directors Tomalin & Son VOLUNTEERS with the Rivertime Boat Trust are passionate about making the River Thames in Henley as accessible as possible was founded by Pat and Simon Davis and has since helped more than 30,000 disabled elderly or disadvantaged people on to the water which is moored close to the River & Rowing Museum in Mill Meadows it takes up to 12 people from special educational needs and disability schools local charities or families where a member has a disability on trips who has helmed the boat since the beginning and the activities allow guests to learn about the river and its functions in a relaxed environment Ms Herbert is assisted by a team of 30 volunteers many of whom live in Henley and some are qualified to help skipper the boat welcome guests and make them comfortable during the trips a retired clinical immunologist who lives in Henley She said: “I’m one of the crew volunteers who helps the skipper and the customers We greet the carers and those with disabilities “There’s a special metal rim that we put across the bank on to the platform which we use to then help them to board We then make sure everyone is settled in and we will make tea and coffee and “Usually there are two trips in the day and a two-hour cruising time so we have to get there early to get the boat ready and then we tidy it all up and prepare it for the next group told me that it was a really good thing to do I hadn’t heard of it before that but it is really worthwhile so you don’t need to have lots of experience to be a volunteer The skipper is always there making sure we know what we have to do they always tell us what to do in advance.” Ms Deacock described seeing the reaction in clients who had never been on the river before as “extraordinary” She said: “I am amazed at the difference that you sometimes see between the children and also some of the disabled adults from when they arrive to when they leave They may be quite frightened to board the boat or feel unable to speak to you looking out the window and pointing at things and saying ‘gosh “By no means is that everybody but for some people it is There are people who would hardly have the courage to get on to the boat when they first arrive but are almost completely changed by their trip so it works for the carers and for the people who are disabled.” is one of the longest-serving volunteer skippers having worked with Rivertime since the beginning He said: “I was previously involved with a charity called Power which provided prosthetic limbs for landmine victims so I have been somewhat familiar with the disability field and the disadvantages that people with disabilities face “Rivertime is the only boat that allows disabled people to access the river I think the most rewarding thing is seeing the delight that people who don’t usually get to go on the river experience “It brings fresh eyes to it when you’re trying to explain the wildlife and the things you see on the river “We’re taking adults and children with physical or mental disabilities but also the carers and care home teams get an experience for the day “You can see a real transformation in the time of a single trip I remember one child who was scared to even get on the boat It took a while to persuade them to come on but we were able to involve them in certain things “To us it might be trivial but to them it is fantastic there are certain signals on the horn you have to do and I always try to get one of them to do the signal for me I always explain that you have to do certain hand signals and we get them to do it and they just think it’s the most fantastic thing we couldn’t get this child off the boat and they said that when they grow up Trips on the boat create that sort of transformation.” He said that watching customers appreciate the river is the most worthwhile part of his work He said: “Our customers make it worthwhile it’s the only place on the river where lots of disabled people have access to the water “I was with some members of my walking group the other day and one of them asked me what I did and I said that I helped with Rivertime They replied saying they had been on the boat with their late mother going out from her care home and on to Rivertime in the summer It’s good fun driving the boat and going up and down the river.” Mr Spencer said that many of the trips he had made with clients have stuck in his memory and he is always pleased to see people return for another trip He said: “We had an amazing trip two years ago with teenage girls who had been excluded from school They were all very troubled and their lead teacher was pointing them all out individually saying “But we had a lovely day and they were so calm and so involved and chatty and interested in the river and the birds The headteacher came over at the end and said that she had never seen them so calm It’s a beautiful stretch of the river up towards Marsh Lock It’s interesting historically as well and there are all sorts of things to point out Mr Spencer started helping with Rivertime in 2016 but did not join the crew officially until a year later and he became a skipper in 2019 He said: “I was walking the dog along the river when I saw Rivertime and that was when I asked Lucy about helping out I was once a captain in the merchant navy and this was the nearest thing to that I had found so I wanted to get involved.” a former Remenham parish councillor who moved to the UK from America with his wife Suri in 1985 has volunteered as a crew member since 2023 He said: “I’ve known about Rivertime for years because I live on the river and Lucy would constantly be skippering past me My wife used to run the Bluebells dementia programme in Henley and its members used the boat a couple of times a year “I really love the idea of people making use of the river and I wanted to help in any way There are lots of people who go down and make use of the river But there are a lot of people for whom it’s difficult to get on the river and that’s one of the things that I really liked about Rivertime probably haven’t had any access to the river and it’s just lovely to see them enjoying what we all think is lovely about Henley David Guy has volunteered as a crew member since 2023 He said: “So many different groups of people are supported it’s such a broad range of people and that’s why it’s so interesting I manned the boat during the Regatta for the Disabled in Henley and the children got so much out of it We were handing out brochures because lots of them wanted to come back for other trips “I really like to work with people who are impacted by disability or other disadvantages and also like meeting their parents or carers who are looking after them I really like to support those people by making their trip engaging and enjoyable.” He added: “The other thing you realise is the real dedication of the carers looking after these people — they are amazing — they’re just so dedicated and so caring.” retired from her work as a pharmacist shortly after joining Rivertime in 2016 Although the charity only requires that trained volunteers complete five days of volunteering each year Ms Webb said: “I heard about it through a friend at a sailing club who was then a skipper and he often talked about his Rivertime trips and it made me interested “I had fun on the river through my dinghy sailing but I’d also done family holidays on narrow boats “ I started crewing in about 2016 and I really enjoyed it The rope work and the boat handling I really find quite easy It’s almost second nature because I do it a lot “At the beginning of every year Lucy will take out a small crew and helm on the river and everyone will have a turn at actually steering and driving Rivertime the crew can at least safely bring the boat into the shore and then call for help “I’ve learned more about how to communicate with people with additional needs because they do have different requirements and they respond differently to how able-bodied people do.” call 01628 780 700 or email manager@rivertime.org.uk Nick Ferrari At Breakfast is Leading Britain's Conversation A flypast and a military procession will take place in London on Monday to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe as celebrations begin across the country The King will lead celebrations as the country pays tribute to the sacrifices made to achieve Allied victory in Europe the flypast will begin 13:45 on Monday and will follow a military procession involving more than 1,300 members of the UK Armed Forces Viewing areas will be in place along the procession route on both sides of The Mall Organisers have advised spectators to arrive early if they want to secure a spot along the procession route The procession will begin in Parliament Square when Big Ben strikes midday and an actor will recite extracts from the iconic Winston Churchill VE Day speech It will see more than 1,300 members of the Armed Forces and youth groups march down Whitehall through Admiralty Arch and up The Mall towards Buckingham Palace selected from the UK armed forces' training programme for Ukrainian recruits Operation Interflex Actor Timothy Spall will open the celebrations in London on Monday when he recites some of Winston Churchill's victory speech from 1945 whose roles include playing Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter film series will read extracts from the speech in which Churchill told Britons: "This is not victory of a party or of any class The full flypast will being at 1.45pm and see 23 aircraft including the iconic Red Arrows and the Lancaster Bomber from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight as they put on a spectacular show over the city It will also include a Voyager transport aircraft The planes are due to go over parts of Norfolk The flypast route has been split into different zones each with a time slot when airspace is restricted The zones show the period of time when the planes are expected to be overhead: Area B: East Suffolk (Saxmundham) and Suffolk (East Bergholt) Area C: Suffolk (East Bergholt) and Essex (Colchester) Area G: Buckinghamshire (Denham) and Cheshire (Halton) Area H: Cheshire (Halton) and Oxfordshire (Brize) ✈️ RAF aircraft took to the skies over RAF College Cranwell, rehearsing for the #VEDay80 flypast.📅 Join us at 13:45 on Monday 5 May 2025 to commemorate 80 years since the end of the Second World War, subject to weather, serviceability, & operational requirements. pic.twitter.com/On8nzUbgsJ said: “We are very proud to be able to show the nation and His Majesty The King our capability and present that as a fitting and appropriate tribute for the millions of people who served in the Second World War "It should be a good spectacle for the nation and the Commonwealth." picnics and community get togethers are being encouraged to take place across the country as part of the Great British Food Festival led by the Together Coalition and the Big Lunch in partnership with the Department for Culture Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "VE Day 80 is a chance for us to come together and celebrate our veterans and ensure their legacy of peace is passed on to future generations "Whether by watching on TV or having a street party with neighbours This is one of the last chances we have to say thank you to this generation of heroes and it is right that we do just that." hundreds of buildings across the country will be lit up to mark the big day a service at Westminster Abbey will begin with a national two-minute silence Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "This 80th anniversary is a moment of national unity "A time to celebrate that hard won peace honour the memory of those who lost their lives and remember the sacrifices made by so many to secure our freedom "Their legacy lives on today in how we stand together in defence of the values they fought for and which bind us together as a nation we come together to salute their service." Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "Eighty years ago millions of people celebrated the end of the Second World War in Europe we will recreate this moment across towns and cities "We must do all we can to ensure that the stories and memories of this period in our history are not forgotten the heroics and the millions who lost their lives "We are here because of the sacrifices they made and the horrors they endured I urge the nation to come together and send a powerful message: we will remember them." See more Latest News See more World News See more More Topics THE Henley Mermaids staged a protest with two campaign groups opposing plans that could force households to bear the brunt of bailout of Thames Water Concerns have been raised that a proposed emergency £3bn loan for the company would require bill payers to pay an extra £263 a year based on figures from a Financial Times report Campaigners from groups We Own It and Windrush Against Sewage Pollution joined the mermaids on Monday outside the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) in London Wearing masks with the faces of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and minister Steve Reed the protestors handed over a giant novelty cheque to a fake Thames Water representative from a group of existing Thames Water creditors will cost £800 million in interest and fees Campaigners are calling for ministers to intervene before the offer goes before its initial hearing in the High Court on December 17 Two days later, Ofwat is set to rule on whether it will grant a 53 per cent customer bill hike which has been requested by Thames Water a Henley Mermaid and member of the Sewage Campaign Network said: ”Sixteen million people rely on Thames Water for their very survival for our fresh drinking water and sewage treatment but right now a deal is being agreed that could mean that cash-strapped bill payers are coughing up to keep Thames Water in private ownership “It is outrageous that struggling people should be expected to foot the bill for Thames Water's failure “It’s long past time that the scam of privatisation was ended and Thames Water is put into special administration and taken back into public ownership.” Laura Reineke said they joined the protest because “action is needed” This will allow them to limp on to the next cash crisis Action is needed to save the poor bill payer from having to pay for Thames Water’s epic mismanagement “The interest on this 2.5 year loan is 9.75 per cent my Thames Water bill is around £330 a year which is in addition to the requested 52 per cent increase in bills will increase my annual bills to around £800 “The Henley Mermaids are calling for Thames Water to be put into special administration We are one of only two countries in the world that have privatised water single resource that every living thing needs for life should not be privately owned It should be run for the benefit of nature with environmental targets set instead of financial targets lobby and challenge until we see our beautiful River Thames rescued “I’m sure everyone in Henley has looked at the river lately -— it is a sad our freshwater biodiversity is plummeting.” A Defra spokesman said: “The Water (Special Measures) Bill is placing water companies under special measures and strengthening regulation with new powers to ban the payment of bonuses for polluting water bosses and bring criminal charges against persistent law breakers “In the unlikely event of any company entering into a special administration regime new measures in the bill will protect taxpayers It brings the regime in line with special administration regimes in other regulated sectors.” Thames Water said the extra debt was an “interim funding solution” which would not change its proposal for customer bill increases over the next five years.  A calf has been rescued after it got stuck along a stretch of the River Thames in Oxfordshire The young cow was trapped in the water near Temple Island in Henley-on-Thames Fire crews from Oxfordshire and Berkshire were called to the scene on Monday 7 October animal rescue teams used expert techniques alongside local farmers to rescue the calf from the channel.A statement on Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service's Facebook page said: "We wish to thank the members of the public for calling this in and waiting with the animal until we arrived "It made locating it a lot easier for responding crews." Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.. Church Field in Fawley is spacious and magnificently well appointed Henley is one of the nation’s more famous towns occupying a prime position on the nice bit of the River Thames where people do lots of rowing and the people who watch the rowing do lots of drinking Henley and its environs is popular for a lot more than just rowing It is a glorious location in the home counties in the glorious Chiltern Hills National Landscape This five-bedroom home in the small village of Fawley is for sale with Hamptons for the sum of £4.5 million (Image credit: Hamptons)(Image credit: Hamptons)(Image credit: Hamptons)(Image credit: Hamptons)Originally built in the 1930s Church Field is set over two floors and offers a whopping 3,900sq ft of living space with a vast kitchen/breakfast/sitting room occupying the heart of the home On the first floor you will find the five bedrooms The property is finished to a sublime standard throughout with modern furnishing and fittings combining elegantly with period features such as open fireplaces and exposed beams Situated in three acres of gardens and grounds the property is just as good outside as it is inside and to the rear you will find a ‘competition-standard’ tennis court Further joy can be found in wildflower meadows Attached to the house is a large dining terrace Further accommodation can be found above the detached four-bay garage where a self-contained flat offers extra beds which are currently used to house rowers during the regatta week Church Field is for sale with Hamptons for £4.5 million. For more information and pictures, click here James FisherDeputy Digital EditorJames Fisher is the Deputy Digital Editor of Country Life A Grade II-listed former coach house in Henley-on-Thames featuring a Zizzi restaurant has been sold to a private buyer dates back to the 17th Century and is divided into a restaurant and two self-contained offices comprising over 7,500 sq ft of internal accommodation which owns Zizzi has been in residence at the property since 1998 Its lease is set to expire in October 2035 Although the selling price was not disclosed the property was listed seeking offers in excess of £2m Other national food and beverage operators on Hart Street include Côte whilst nearby retailers include the likes of Crew Clothing Henley-on-Thames is located in Oxfordshire and is renowned worldwide as the home of rowing and is globally recognised for the annual Henley Royal Regatta which draws in 200,000 visitors annually The town is located eight miles north of Reading and has a population of 20,000 It also has strong transport links to London Paddington and is located 23 miles from Heathrow Airport whilst FMX Urban Property Advisers acted for the purchaser a new Sri Lankan street food concept from the founders of Kolamba is set to open in London’s Covent Garden this summer Popeyes is set to join the food and beverage line-up at Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex The American fried chicken restaurant has taken a 1,750 sq ft restaurant on level.. Cotswolds Designer Outlet has signed two fashion brands to its retail line-up ahead of the centre’s opening this summer The outlet shopping centre has now agreed deals with Calvin Klein.. © 2025 Completely Property Technology Limited part of The Completely Group Limited The TimesSika Inns is a small group of pubs and cottages in and around Henley-on-Thames Its latest venture is the Tavern Townhouse a six-bedroom hotel on Henley’s busy Market Place It is boutique in name and nature: there are no permanent staff (entry is via a code that is changed for each guest) there’s no restaurant (guests get discounted food at its sister site 100m down the road) and design could be described as “chi-chi south Oxfordshire farmhouse chic” Checking in to one of the elegant rooms feels like staying with a well-heeled friend who lent you their annexe — but given the slimmed-down nature of the hotel it’s best enjoyed as a base for a weekend escape to Henley rather than a destination in itself Become a subscriber and along with unlimited digital access to The Times and The Sunday Times you can enjoy a collection of travel offers and competitions curated by our trusted travel partners Entrance is via a small courtyard next to Piccolino Italian restaurant citrussy Henley Naturals smellies in big bottles Shaker-style wall panels in muted greys and greens and king-size beds; some have four-posters Victorian fireplaces have been retained and there’s a clever use of space — built-in wooden nooks as wardrobes (with plenty of hooks and hangers) and the kettle coffee machine and mini cocktail shaker hidden behind a curtain a leather wingback chair and the fully stocked Teapig box on each level are a nice touch Bear in mind that rooms have single-glazed sash windows and therefore the noise of late-night Henley is hard to ignore — bring earplugs or book a room facing away from the street — and there are no interconnecting rooms or extra beds for children Guests get a 25 per cent discount at the nearby Hart Street Tavern which does a brisk business in its cosy floral-decorated bistro Highlights include steaks on the grill (including giant T-bones and rib-eyes for two to share) a good selection of fish and tasty Tavern Classic cocktails including a fiery Tavern Picante with chilli agave (from £10.50) including caramelised lemon tart and artisanal Henley gelato — flavours include honeycomb and salted caramel Breakfast isn’t included but there is a small menu available at the Hart Street Tavern: rolls with bacon sausage and egg; overnight oats; avo on toast the branch of Gail’s a few doors down may prove a more convenient and affordable bet • Best hotels in Oxfordshire• Best hotels in Berkshire It’s hard to find a better located hotel in Henley Tavern Townhouse is right by Henley Town Hall on Market Place The location is great in the daytime but noisy at night Price room-only doubles from £200 Restaurant mains from £16Accessible NFamily-friendly NDog-friendly N Cathy Adams was a guest of the Tavern Townhouse (taverntownhouse.com) • Best things to do in Oxford• Best hotels in Oxford Sign up to the Times Travel newsletter for weekly inspiration, advice and deals here Claire Irvin, Head of Travel, The Times and The Sunday Times Registered in England No. 894646. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. Win HappyPremiumSearch Rayogreatest hitsoxfordshirenewsMan from Henley jailed for multiple offences Alberto de Andrade Abreu's victim still suffers the affects of serious head injuries A man from Henley-on-Thames has been jailed for multiple offences including those against a woman over seven years The victim sustained serious injuries to the head and still lives with the effects Henley-on-Thames was sentenced on Friday 21 March at Oxford Crown Court to five years and five months in prison to two counts of actual bodily harm and one count each of coercive controlling behaviour witness intimidation and possession of a class B drug He was also given a restraining order against the victim the victim sustained serious injuries to the head and still lives with the effects De Andrade Abreu was arrested and charged on 22 July 2024 Investigating officer Detective Constable Sophie Hogg said: “The victim in this investigation was subject to horrific abuse and I am pleased that she finally felt able to come forward and see the investigation through to court “Thames Valley Police is committed to tackling all forms of violence against women and girls and we will relentlessly pursue and prosecute offenders and put them before the courts where they belong.” Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app. Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales VAT no 918 5617 01H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898)