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Reading prison home of Oscar Wilde, sold for £7m

Published

1 year ago

January 12, 2024

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The former Reading Gaol, where Oscar Wilde was once imprisoned, has been sold to the Ziran Education Foundation for £7m. The non-profit organization plans to develop the historic site into an educational center, including a museum and exhibition space open to the public. The foundation’s founder, Channing Bi, a Chinese-born businessman residing in Ireland, leads the initiative.

Reading borough council, supported by MPs and campaigners, had also bid for the site, aiming to transform it into a cultural hub. Banksy, the artist, showed support for a creative use by painting on the outer wall. The council welcomes the foundation’s plans, emphasizing the historical significance of the site but notes the significant planning challenges due to its Grade II-listed Victorian prison and buried medieval monastery ruins.

Despite the limited details about the foundation’s plans, the council expresses optimism, highlighting the need for collaboration to understand the intended use of the site. The government initially wanted to sell the grounds for housing, but a preferred buyer withdrew in 2019 due to planning concerns. Challenges remain, including the sensitive historic nature of the site, requiring extensive planning permission and considerations for the listed building and ancient monument. Campaigners, while cautiously optimistic about the foundation’s early indications of cultural and educational focus, continue to advocate for an accessible arts use and opening the site to adjacent abbey ruins and riverside areas. The Ziran Education Foundation, dedicated to promoting a compassionate world through education, has limited project listings on its website, including a Himalayan English teacher recruitment scheme.

Related Topics:Reading prison home of Oscar Wilde sold for £7m

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OLLY MURS plays READING – Palmer Park on Friday 13th June 2025!

Published

2 weeks ago

April 11, 2025

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Olly Murs fans, buckle up! The Palmer Park Summer Series is delighted to announce Olly Murs Live in Palmer Park, Reading on Friday 13th June 2025.

It’s 15 years since Olly exploded onto our screens, yet he is still more determined than ever about what’s next. With 7 successful albums, 5 of them reaching no.1, in excess of 2 million tour tickets sold, 7.6M monthly Spotify listeners & a combined following of over 27M across social media, Olly has so far had an incredible career as a singer, songwriter & TV personality.

2024 was also a busy year with Olly working 44 dates touring with Take That & finishing off the summer with a run of his own headliner gigs. Having just announced a summer tour in 2025,
Olly has another action-packed year ahead of him & will be celebrating his 15-year anniversary gigging all the hits as he travels down the road to Reading, Palmer Park with Legacy Live on Friday 13th June.

Don’t miss the chance to celebrate 15 fantastic years of Olly Murs in Reading! Book your tickets now at www.legacylive.co Limited Tickets Available!

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Host a Street Party This Summer – Apply Now for Free Road Closures in Reading

Published

3 weeks ago

April 4, 2025

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People are being encouraged to bring communities together this summer by holding their own street parties as part of The Big Lunch 2025.

This year’s celebrations are particularly significant, as they coincide with the 80th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day – a special opportunity to come together with neighbours in both celebration and commemoration.

Free Road Closures for Summer 2025 Street Parties

Reading Borough Council is once again supporting local events by covering the cost of road closure fees for street parties on any of the following weekends:

Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 June – The Big Lunch Weekend
Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 June – Armed Forces Day
Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 July
Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 July

How to Apply

To host a street party, residents must apply by Monday 21 April 2025. Applications must ensure the proposed road closure does not affect a main through-route or public transport route. Organisers are also asked to consult with neighbours, address any concerns, and ensure access for emergency services is maintained throughout the event.

You’ll need to provide:

Your name and contact details
The name(s) of the road(s) to be closed
The date and times of the closure
A list of the properties that will be affected
Details of how you will notify residents of the closure
Confirmation that neighbours are on board with the plans

So, roll out your bunting, get the trestle tables down from the loft, and start planning your perfect summer street party!

For more information and to submit your application, visit the Reading Borough Council website.

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MP for Earley and Woodley Yuan Yang shortlisted for women’s prize

Published

1 month ago

March 28, 2025

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MP for Earley and Woodley Yuan Yang among shortlisted women for the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction in 2025.

Yuan Yang, the MP for Woodley and Earley, wrote Private Revolutions: Coming of Age in a New China, while Oxford-based Dr Rachel Clarke wrote The Story of a Heart.

Ms Puri said the non-fiction works were “united by an unforgettable voice, rigour, and unique insight”.

The shortlist is rounded out by Dr Rachel Clarke’s The Story of a Heart, The Buffalo Stance singer’s A Thousand Threads, Chloe Dalton’s Raising Hare, Clare Mulley’s Agent Zo: The Untold Stories of Courageous WW2 Resistance Fighter Elzbieta Zawacka, and Helen Scales’ What the Wild Sea Can Be: The Future of the World’s Ocean.