2016 Activities

  • Tuesday 29 November  at 11am Professor Lorraine Farrelly, the Head of the new School of Architecture at the University of Reading,  welcomed us to their Department.  We heard about her plans for the department over the coming years.
  • In November Mr Arne Ringner hosted three very special visits for Civic Society members to Thames Lido, on Kings Meadow.   The Thames Lido website shows the progress which is being made to bring this building back to life. It is particularly encouraging to note the care and attention being given to this restoration. We asked Arne when the lido will open and he said that the aim is for it to be open in Summer 2017 but “..it will be opened when we are ready’ .  Images of one of the visits, taken by Chris Widdows, may be seen Here.    BBC South Today also reported a progress update on 6th January. 
  • Saturday 22 October  – at 2 pm in the Waterhouse Chamber of the Town Hall Mr Hugo Haig, MD of Lochailhort Investments, and his team gave a presentation about their updated plans for the BMW/ Cooper Site.   Changes have been made by the company following feedback from members of the public at the very recent public consultation.  This was an especially tailored event for us in which we will be shown the very latest “hot off the press” proposals.  Mr Haig is very interested to hear the views of Civic Society members to their proposals so we encourage as many members to come to this special event. Lochailort have also provided information to us separately from the following link;  Lochailort info about BMW site .

Further details of the planning application may be  – Major Development Sites

  • On 8 September 2016 we ran a new event for Heritage Open Days with Haslams Estate Agents.  The talk covered the conversion of  the historic building in which Haslams are based, 159 Friar Street, and the future shape of Reading’s Property Market.

Some 45 people attended the evening, a mix of society members and people who had seen the event advertised in the HODs leaflet.  Mr and Mrs Kruse who have just arrived to live in Reading from Birmingham, Alabama, attended the event gaining their first taste of exploring Reading’s Heritage.

Haslams posted details of the event, and that it was a “Sell out” on their TV Screens:-

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The event started with an explanation by Haslams Managing Director, Steve Woodford, about their journey to establish their stunning new offices and the History of Haslams itself, aided by historical images followed by a question and answer session.   Martin Shearn then described some of the trends in the Reading property market and what can influence them.  This was also followed by a Q+A session.  The discussions were supported by Claire Pulleyn (Market Analyst),  Paul Hayhow and Mike Shearn (Head of New Homes)  from Haslams Estate Agents and Steven Smith, Partner of Haslams Chartered Surveyors.

We are very appreciative of Steve Woodford and the Haslams team for making this event possible in this very special building and in a great space.

  • 2nd August 2016 members visited The Royal Holloway College.  Images of the visit, provided by Chris Widdows, may be seen HERE

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