South Reading Churches Fun Day is in Whitley on Saturday, July 8
Local churches, businesses and people will be coming together this Saturday to host the 12th Whitley Fun Day on the local park, Rabson’s Rec in Northumberland Avenue.
It runs from noon to 3pm and will see up to 5,000 people attend, including the new Mayor of Reading, the newly elected local MPs, local councillors, local schools, community police, andWhitley Wood Fire Station.
Organisers said that local residents really value the fun day, with one telling the team that “These events bring people together, they create a better atmosphere in the community and even after the event people are more likely to talk to one another”.
Indy Nottage a local Youth and Community Co-ordinator, who leads the planning team, said: “Fun Days and big open air events are an excellent way to give people a chance to mix, make new friends and break down barriers. Local people have said they want more opportunities to get together and celebrate and we are expecting another great day for the community.”
This year the popular Whitley Heroes presentations will be given to people who have given something special to Whitley and its people. One of last year’s heroes was Trisha Bennett who set up the Whitley mini-museum. This year, for the first time, the museum will have a stall and local people are invited to bring their old photos which can be scanned on the spot.
Contributions from Businesses, Charities, Grant Making Bodies and the Whitley and South Reading Churches all mean everything is free.
For the first time this year Barton Willmore the company planning the local Royal Elm Park development are contributing financial support.
Leon Collyer, a local vicar, said: “We appreciate the way that local businesses, churches and charities give to this event each year and make it free and accessible to anyone who wants to come. Families for their part tell us every year they appreciate this chance to come out and have fun and not be worrying about the cost. Most businesses want to make a difference in their surrounding area.”
Vernon Orr another local church leader added: “Year by year with us all working together and the community owning this event we see greater togetherness in the community. People of all faiths and many ethnicities mix and have fun together and contribute, the photos of the event demonstrate this.”
All are invited to one of the main events of the year! There will be something there for everybody, so the whole family can come.
It takes place on Saturday, July 8 at Rabson’s Recreation Ground in Whitley from 12 noon to 3pm. Entry is free.
