Reading News – 31/01/12

1 – Large amount of cash stolen in robbery

Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses to a robbery in Lilac Close in Purley in which a man had £6000 stolen
The incident happened last Thursday shortly after 12.30pm. The victim, a 40 year old man, had just withdrawn money from the Lloyds TSB in Tilehurst Triangle and driven home. As he got out of the vehicle two men approached him, demanded the money and punched him several times.
The two men were white, in their late teens or early twenties and were of medium build and 5ft 7 or 8ins tall.

2- UK university applications down as fees rise

University applications from UK students, for the first year of higher tuition fees, are down by 8.7%.
With fees rising to up to £9,000 per year, the impact has been biggest for England’s universities which are down by 9.9%.
There have been signs of an increase in UK students applying overseas.
Maastricht University in the Netherlands, where fees are £1,500 per year, is reporting a surge in applications. So far the university says it has received applications from 255 UK students.

3- MUSIC GIG FOR TEENAGE CANCER CHARITY

The Australian bar, Walkabout, in Reading Town centre is holding ‘Music for a Cause’ this Saturday to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
The event is being organised by Zoe Ansell, a final year Reading University student, who lost her 14 year old cousin Andre to cancer last year.
The event will feature music from up and coming local singer/songwriters, including Zoe herself and singer Bear Jones, recently tipped as one of Berkshire’s hottest new talents for 2012.
4- The Help triumphs at SAG film awards

Civil rights drama The Help has won three prizes at the Screen Actors Guild awards, including best cast, best actress for Viola Davis and best supporting actress for Octavia Spencer.
Whilst silent movie The Artist, which had been tipped to do well at the Oscar’s, only won best actor for Jean Dujardin.
Kate Winslet was named best actress for playing the title role in the TV series Mildred Pierce, having won the same award at the Golden Globes earlier this month.
The SAG awards are seen as a key indicator of which films and stars may come out on top at the Oscars.

5 – Reading Cow Lane Bridge opens to road traffic

A commuter route in Reading reopened yesterday following the installation of a new 1,600-tonne bridge.
Cow Lane has been closed since early December for Network Rail to remove and replace one of two bridges and lay a new road under the structure. The work has allowed for two lanes of traffic, a cycle lane and a pavement.
The bridge is part of the £850 million Reading Station redevelopment, with work on the northern Cow Lane Bridge due to finish in 2015.