The RG10 Podcast - featuring the people, places and events of interest across our area of the Thames Valley

In the early 1840s, a Belgian called Adolphe Sax invented a new musical instrument and decided to name it after himself.  Ignoring the opportunity to go with the ‘Adolphophone’ our hero decided he would use his surname instead and thus the saxophone was born. By the way, this was not the only example of Adolphe’s  self-reverential instrument naming. He also invented the saxotromba, saxhorn and sax...

From the 5th to the 7th of October, Twyford Drama are putting on a pair of one act plays that could not be more different.  'The Monkey's Paw' is a supernatural tale, with the perils of ambition at its  heart. In this chiller, a family is granted three wishes, all of which come true but in a macabre and unexpected way. Then there is 'Little Grimley Presents... Strictly Sex Fact...

There are a small group of places that are synonymous with history of rock and roll. Woodstock, Glastonbury, Strawberry Fields - and, of course, RG10.  In this episode we uncover Twyford, Wargrave and Sonning’s links to the royalty of rock and roll. Here are just a few of the names that come up: Paul McCartney and The Beatles David Bowie Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Page Frank. Sinatra The Beach Boys Cl...

What is Camp Mohawk? You may well have asked yourself that question if you have seen the signs in Wargrave pointing up towards Bowsey Woods. Essentially, Camp Mohawk is a place for children and young people with special needs in Berkshire and beyond. It also provides support for parents and families. In this episode of the RG10 Podcast you will find the answers to these questions: - How does Camp...

Mystery surrounds the origins of Springfield Table Tennis Club , Twyford’s number 1 ping pong establishment. Firstly, how did the club get its name? Secondly, beyond being formed in the 1960s, what is known of the club’s history? Have the secrets been lost in time? The RG10 Podcast headed down to the club’s  championships finals night to find out more, and also get word from Jason King, chairman a...

If you went you may still be recovering from it, if you didn't go you probably heard it anyway. The Twyford Beer Festival , surely RG10's biggest annual event, was held over the weekend. As per usual, there were dozens of local brews and drinks to quench the thirst during 3 days of amazing weather. All that plus a host of supremely gifted musicians such as local band Big Audio Twynamite...

109 years ago this week there was a huge fire at St Mary's Church in Wargrave. Here’s an excerpt from the Wokingham Fire Brigade Diaries from June the 1st, 1914: "Called at 3.40am to a fire at Wargrave Church, some 2 hours after the fire was started. The Henley & Wargrave Brigades were in attendance. Roof and belfry destroyed. Also bells, clock & all interior masonry, timber fitt...

The RG10 magazine has published its 100th edition! In this episode we hear from magazine founder, editor and publisher Nikki Ochtman as she reflects on a journey that started in 2009.   Nikki shares some of the initial aims she had for the magazine: “I've always been keen on supporting small local businesses and promoting themes such as shop local, protecting the vulnerable in society and doi...

In the days leading up to the coronation of King Charles III, The RG10 Podcast caught up with a couple of local initiatives that have been catching the imagination of residents.  First up, Ben speaks to Heather Howarth of the Hurst Hookers, the knitting and crochet group that has created a charming display around Hurst village pond over the past couple of weeks. The wooden posts have been converte...

Did you know that Twyford is twinned with the small town of Cuincy in northern France? The twinning only dates back to 2018, but strong connections have already been formed between the two locations. To mark the 5th anniversary in March, the Twyford Twinning Association held a 'soirée' at Loddon Hall. The RG10 Podcast went along to learn more. We catch up with the association's chai...

It’s been a big week for awards ceremonies. A day after the Oscars were handed out in Los Angeles, the RG10 Podcast went along to the Twyford Together Community Awards evening. Not quite as glamorous, perhaps, but much more meaningful for those keen to celebrate the individuals, groups and businesses in the local community who “go that extra mile and make a difference to people’s lives”. Members o...

How much do you know about the history, architecture and culture of Reading?  The RG10 Podcast talked to local legend Terry Dixon, a Reading native who has so far spent six years of his retirement running themed walking tours of his home town. Even those familiar with the county town of Berkshire are sure to discover something new on one of Terry's Reading Walkabouts. Terry has devised 16 dif...

From noon on Friday 27 January, a group of cycling enthusiasts led by Jenni Green, the founder of the Bia cycling brand, set out to cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats within 24 hours.  The RG10 Podcast went along to the Bia Hub in Twyford to witness some of the high spirits, hard work and collective effort put into the charity event. Ben spoke to several participants, including Jenni...

Last Friday (27/1/23) was the 70th anniversary of a tragic air crash on the border of  Charvil and Twyford. Two men died after their aircraft fell to the ground under mysterious circumstances. It may be that you are unaware of this horrific incident, but the accident has left a legacy that can be found in Charvil Country Park. This episode of the podcast uses eyewitness reports and audio from the...

Winter 2022-23: more people than ever are finding themselves struggling to make ends meet in the current cost of living crisis. Organisations such as parish and borough councils and charities including Citizens Advice are working hard to signpost individuals and families to the support available, from financial grants to food banks and the provision of clothing and other essentials. There is also...

It's the most wonderful time of the year.  A time for tradition.  A time for family.  A time for the Twyford and District Round Table to head to their lock up and retrieve Santa, his sleigh and all the reindeer. Anyone who has spent December in  RG10 will probably be aware of the Round Table's annual Santa sleigh run, where the man with all the presents trundles up various roads in Twyfo...

As the weather turns colder and we approach the festive season, the number of people finding themselves in financial difficulties is growing due to soaring energy bills and the rising cost of living. Despite Wokingham being one of the most prosperous boroughs in the UK, it now has over 5,000 children living under the poverty line. This figure was unimaginable to our podcast guest, Emma Cantrell, w...

Is there a girls football team in Twyford or Wargrave?   There certainly is. The biggest is certainly Wargrave Women and Girls FC. Wargrave Women and Girls FC was formed in 2000 and they are now one of the biggest female only football clubs in England.  Girls from school year 1 up to adult train and play every week in the club’s distinctive light blue strip, building skills, confidence and friends...

Where are the ghosts in Berkshire? In RG10! With Halloween creeping up on us, the RG10 podcast has unearthed some of the area's spookiest tales.  There is the story of a ghostly horseman named Herne the Hunter.  The legend goes that hundreds of years ago Herne committed an atrocity within Windsor Forest, and his tormented soul has on occasion been spotted in Twyford. He is easy to recognise,...

October brings one of the most popular annual community events. Even for the non-runners, the Twyford Charity 5K and Fun Run promises a great morning out, with activities for all ages, plenty of stalls and refreshments and the opportunity to support those taking part. The races start with the 'pre-school toddle', followed by several more children's races by age group, ending with th...

Have you ever asked "where can I learn to morris dance" or "what is morris dancing"? Well, it's late September, Strictly Come Dancing is back - and so are the annual taster sessions with Hurst Morris People! Ben didn't need too much persuading to head to Hurst Village Hall to find out more. We learn a bit about Morris dancing as an English folk tradition, the Cotswold...

Twyford Growers is a group of people who meet at the Hurst Road allotments in Twyford each Thursday between March and October. They may have been referred to the gardening scheme by NHS social prescribers to alleviate feelings of anxiety, depression and/or loneliness, or they may have self-referred to enhance their physical and mental wellbeing, or simply volunteered to help cultivate the plot spe...

Not a lot of people know this, but RG10 Podcast host Ben is also a musician who plays in a band - so sending him to check out this year's Marvellous Festival at Dinton Pastures was probably his ideal assignment! He has a chat with Pete Lincoln, local musician and one of the festival's founder-directors, before getting backstage with one of the tribute acts:  ReTake That and Robbie.  Marv...

Have you heard about Elsie Whip? No, not her (this is not that kind of podcast!) The L-C-WIP: Wokingham Borough Council's Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan...  The draft LCWIP has been formulated based on feedback from a public consultation carried out a year ago in July 2021. This summer, residents are being invited to review details of the plans, which are far-reaching and actua...

As is the case at many busy junctions, there's something in the air at the Twyford crossroads, and it's not good. The centre of the village has high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - over 40 micro milligrammes per cubic metre, which is detrimental to health. For the most part this is attributable to emissions from engines idling at the traffic lights. This is nothing new: the junction w...