Reading, Berkshire
43980
226088979
2008-07-16T19:49:53Z
Rjwilmsi
203434
gen fixes + link/fix date fields in cite templates (explanation [[User:Rjwilmsi#My_correction_of_citation_templates|here]]) using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]]
{{infobox UK place|
|country = England
|official_name= Reading
|latitude= 51.4541
|longitude= -0.9730
|static_image= [[Image:uk-reading-st-marys.jpg|240px]]
|static_image_caption= [[Reading Minster|St Mary's Church]] and market
|statistic=143,096 (2001)
|statistic_title = [[Population]] borough
|statistic1=232,662 (2001)
|statistic_title1 = Urban sub-area
| unitary_england= [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading Borough]]
| unitary_england1= [[Wokingham (borough)|Wokingham Borough]]<br>[[West Berkshire]]
| lieutenancy_england= [[Berkshire]]
|region= South East England
|constituency_westminster= [[Reading East (UK Parliament constituency)|Reading East]]
|constituency_westminster1=[[Reading West (UK Parliament constituency)|Reading West]]
|post_town= READING
|postcode_area= RG
|postcode_district = RG1, RG2, RG4, RG6, RG8, RG10, RG11, RG30, RG31
|dial_code= 0118
|os_grid_reference= SU713733
|website= http://www.reading.gov.uk/
}}
'''Reading''' ({{pronEng|ˈrɛdɪŋ}} {{Audio|en-uk-Reading.ogg|pronunciation}} as ''Redding'') stands at the confluence of the [[River Thames]] and [[River Kennet]], midway between [[London]] and [[Swindon]] off the [[M4 motorway]]. It is one of the contenders for the title of the [[Largest village in England#Similar claims|largest town in England]]. For [[Ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial]] purposes it is in the county of [[Berkshire]] and has served as the county town since 1867.
Reading was an important national centre in the [[Middle Ages|medieval]] period, as the site of an important monastery with strong royal connections, but suffered economic damage during the 17th century from which it took a long time to recover. Today it is again an important commercial centre, with strong links to [[information technology]] and [[insurance]]. It is also a university town, with two universities and a large student population.
==History==
===Middle ages===
[[Image:Reading Minster 1.jpg|thumb|right|St Mary's church was founded by the ninth century]]
The settlement was founded at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet in the [[8th century|eighth century]] as ''Readingum''. The name is probably from the [[Old English language|Anglo-Saxon]] for "(Place of) Readda's People", or (less probably) the [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] Rhydd-Inge, "Ford over the River". It was occupied by the [[Vikings]] after the [[Battle of Reading (871)|first Battle of Reading]] in 871, but had recovered sufficiently by its 1086 [[Domesday Book]] listing to contain around 600 people and be made a designated borough.
The foundation of [[Reading Abbey]] by [[Henry I of England|Henry I]] in 1121 led to the town becoming a place of [[pilgrimage]]. In 1253 Reading's Merchant [[Guild]] successfully petitioned for the grant of a charter from the King and negotiated a division of authority with the Abbey. The dissolution of the Abbey saw [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] grant the Guild a new charter in 1542 with which to become a borough corporation to run the town.
===17th century===
By the end of the 16th century, Reading was the largest town in Berkshire, home to over 3,000 people. Reading had grown rich on its trade in cloth, as instanced by the fortune made by local merchant [[John Kendrick]].
The town played an important role during the [[English Civil War]]; it changed hands a number of times. Despite its [[fortifications]], it had a Royalist garrison imposed on it in 1642. The subsequent [[Siege of Reading]] by the Parliamentary forces succeeded in April 1643. However the taxes levied on the town by the garrison badly damaged its cloth trade, and it did not recover.
Reading was also the only site of significant fighting in England during the [[Revolution of 1688]], with the [[Battle of Reading (1688)|second Battle of Reading]].
===18th century===
The 18th century saw the beginning of a major [[iron works]] in the town and the growth of the [[brewing]] trade for which Reading was to become famous. Agricultural products from the surrounding area still used Reading as a market place, especially at the famous Reading cheese fair but now trade was coming in from a wider area.
Reading's trade benefited from better designed [[turnpike]] roads which helped its establish its location on the major coaching routes from [[London]] to [[Oxford]] and the [[west country]]. It also gained from increasing river traffic on both the Thames and Kennet. In 1723, despite considerable local opposition, the Kennet Navigation opened the River Kennet to boats as far as Newbury. This opposition stopped when it became apparent the new route benefited the town. The opening of the [[Kennet and Avon Canal]] in 1810 made it possible to go by barge from Reading to the [[Bristol Channel]].
===19th century===
[[Image:800px-Forbury Gardens, Reading.jpg|thumb|right|The Maiwand lion in Forbury Gardens, an unofficial symbol of Reading, commemorates the [[Battle of Maiwand]] in 1880.]]
In 1801, the population of Reading was about 9,400. During the 19th century, Reading grew rapidly as a [[manufacturing]] centre. Reading maintained its representation by two [[Member of Parliament|Members of Parliament]] with the [[Reform Act 1832]], and the borough was one of the ones reformed as a [[municipal borough]] by the [[Municipal Corporations Act 1835]]. In 1836 the [[Reading Borough Police]] were founded. The [[Great Western Railway]] arrived in 1841, followed by the [[South Eastern Railway (UK)|South Eastern Railway]], in 1849, and the [[London and South Western Railway]], in 1856. The ''Reading Establishment'', an early commercial photographic studio, operated in Reading from 1844 to 1847 and was managed by Nicholaas Henneman, a [[Dutch (ethnic group)|Dutchman]] and former valet of [[William Fox Talbot|William Henry Fox Talbot]] (a pioneer of photography).<ref>{{cite web
| title = Fox-Talbot, William Henry (1800–77), pioneering photographer | publisher = Reading Borough Libraries | url = http://www.readinglibraries.org.uk/services/local/foxtalbot.htm | accessdate = 2007-05-21}}</ref> Many of the images for ''[[The Pencil of Nature]]'' by Fox Talbot, the first book to be illustrated with photographic prints, were printed in Reading.
In 1851 the population was 21,500. The town became the County Town (superseding [[Abingdon, Oxfordshire|Abingdon]]<ref>{{cite web | last = Ford | first = David Nash | work = Royal Berkshire History | publisher = Nash Ford Publishing | url = http://www.berkshirehistory.com/villages/abingdon.html | title = Abingdon | accessmonthday = July 6 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref>) in 1867 and became a [[county borough]] under the [[Local Government Act 1888]]. By 1900, the population was 59,000—large sections of the housing in Reading are [[terraced house|terraced]], reflecting its 19th century growth. The town has been famous for the "Three Bs" of [[beer|'''b'''eer]] (from 1785 dominated by the [[Simonds' Brewery]] - [[India Pale Ale]] was invented in Reading), [[bulb|'''b'''ulbs]] (1807–1976, [[Suttons Seeds]]), and [[biscuit|'''b'''iscuits]] (1822–1977, [[Huntley & Palmers]]). In the 19th century the town also made 'Reading Sauce', described as a sharp sauce flavoured with onions, spices, and herbs, very like [[Worcestershire Sauce]].
===20th and 21st centuries===
[[Image:Reading Trolleybus at Three Tuns.jpg|thumb|right|A trolleybus at the Three Tuns terminus, ''c.''1966. The Three Tuns is now the terminus for the number 17 bus]]
The town continued to expand in the 20th century, annexing [[Caversham, Berkshire|Caversham]] across the River Thames in [[Oxfordshire]] in 1911. This expansion can be seen in the number of 1920s built [[semi-detached]] properties, and the 1950s expansion that joined [[Woodley]], [[Earley]] and [[Tilehurst]] into Reading. [[Miles Aircraft]] in Woodley was an important local firm from the 1930s to 1950s. The Lower Earley development, started in the 1970s, was the largest private housing development in Europe. This extended the urban area of Reading up to the M4 motorway, which acts as the southern boundary to the town. Further housing developments have increased the number of modern commuter houses in the surrounding parts of Reading, and 'out-of-town' shopping [[hypermarkets]].
The local shopping centre, [[The Oracle, Reading|The Oracle]], built in 1999, is named after the 17th century [[workhouse]] founded by [[John Kendrick (cloth merchant)|John Kendrick]] which previously occupied the site. The original 'Oracle' gates can be seen in the [[Museum of Reading]] in the [[City and town halls|town hall]] but usual reside in the main hall of Kendrick School, a girls' grammar school set up from money from John Kendrick's Will. It provides 3 storeys of shopping and boosted the local economy by providing 4,000 jobs. Reading has also made itself more appealing to tourists by pedestrianising Broad street
==Governance==
{| border=1 cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="right" width="276" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" style=margin-left:10px
|-
!colspan=2 align=center bgcolor="#ff9999"|Borough of Reading
|-
|colspan=2 align=center|[[Image:EnglandReading.png|Reading]]
|-
!colspan=2 bgcolor="#ff9999"|Geography
|-
|width="45%"|Status:||Unitary, Borough
|-
|[[Regions of England|Region]]:||[[South East England]]
|-
|Ceremonial County:||[[Berkshire]]
|-
|[[Surface area|Area]]:<br>- Total||[[List of English districts by area|Ranked 318th]]<br>[[1 E7 m²|40.40]] [[square kilometre|km²]]
|-
|Admin. HQ:||Reading
|-
|[[ONS coding system|ONS code]]:||00MC
|-
!colspan=2 bgcolor="#ff9999"|Demographics
|-
|[[Population]]:<br>- Total ({{EnglishStatisticsYear}})<br>- [[Density]]||[[List of English districts by population|Ranked {{EnglishDistrictRank|ONS=00MC}}]]<br>{{EnglishDistrictPopulation|ONS=00MC}}<br>{{EnglishDistrictDensity|ONS=00MC}} / km²
|-
|Ethnicity:||86.8% White<br>5.2% S.Asian<br>4.1% Afro-Carib<br>0.7% Chinese.
|-
!colspan=2 bgcolor="#ff9999"|Politics
|-
|colspan=2 align=center|[[Image:ReadingBC.png|182px]]<br>http://www.reading.gov.uk/
|-
|[[Local government in England#Councils and councillors|Leadership]]:||Leader & Cabinet
|-
|Executive:||[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] (council [[NOC]])
|-
|[[Mayors in the United Kingdom|Mayor]] of Reading||Councillor Peter Beard
|}
===Local government===
Reading has had some degree of local government autonomy since 1253 when the local [[Guild|merchant guild]] was granted a [[royal charter]]. Over the years since then the town has been run by a [[Borough|borough corporation]], as a [[County Borough|county borough]], and as a [[Districts of England|district]] of Berkshire. The Borough of Reading became a [[unitary authority area]] in 1998 when [[Berkshire|Berkshire County Council]] was abolished under the [[Banham Review]], and is now responsible for all aspects of local government within the borough.<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1996/Uksi_19961879_en_1.htm Berkshire (Structural Change) Order 1996].</ref>
The borough council has bid for [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] in several recent competitions but, as of 2007, these have been unsuccessful. The application for city status is politically controversial, with some groups of residents strongly opposed, while others support the bid.
===Boundaries===
Since 1887, the borough has included the former villages of Southcote and Whitley and small parts of Earley and Tilehurst.<ref name=SOR>{{cite book | last = Phillips | first = Daphne | title = The Story of Reading | publisher = Countryside Books | date = 1980 | location = Newbury}}</ref> By 1911, it also encompassed the [[Oxfordshire]] village of Caversham and still more of Tilehurst.<ref name="HAB" /> A small area of [[Mapledurham]] [[civil parish|parish]] was added in 1977. An attempt to take over a small area of [[Eye & Dunsden]] parish in [[Oxfordshire]] was rejected because of strong local opposition in 1997.<ref name="HAB" />
Reading's municipal boundaries are particularly old and constrained; and proposals occasionally surface to expand the borough to include them. It is believed that Reading's chances of receiving [[City status in the United Kingdom|City Status]] would be substantially boosted if these suburbs were to be included within the borough.
However, the constricted nature of the borough also creates more serious difficulties for the town, as it attempts to develop and grow. The diminishing amount of suitable land within the borough's boundary can bring the council in to conflict with those neighbouring it, who in turn have their own priorities and requirements. The longest running example of this is the planned third crossing of the Thames. So far, South Oxfordshire's politicians and residents, whose primary concern is maintaining the non-urbanisation of their region, have successfully opposed this.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = South Oxfordshire District Council | url = http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/ccm/content/cmt/press-releases/june/third-thames-bridge.en;jsessionid=acqbaXTYT-gh
| title = Third Thames bridge | accessdaymonth = 3 August | accessyear = 2006}}</ref> As a consequence, the debate has at times become somewhat acrimonious between the opposing sides, and little progress has been made.
:''"However, the process has been painfully slow and it appears that, for every two steps forwards, there are three steps backwards—mainly because of the view of South Oxfordshire district council, which is being incredibly parochial about this matter. Meanwhile, Reading borough council is adopting strategies that prioritise local traffic in Reading, obviously to the detriment of through traffic. We have now reached the point at which we desperately need direct Government intervention to break the logjam between those local authorities."''
: —Mr. Rob Wilson MP (Reading, East), House of Commons debate.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = Hansard | url = http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060111/halltext/60111h04.htm
| title = Transport (Greater Reading), 11 January 2006 | accessdaymonth = 3 August | accessyear = 2006}}</ref>
===National government===
Reading has elected at least one [[Member of Parliament]] to every [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] since 1295. Historically Reading was represented by the members for the former [[Parliamentary Borough of Reading]], and the members for the former parliamentary constituencies of [[Reading (UK Parliament constituency)|Reading]], [[Reading North (UK Parliament constituency)|Reading North]], and [[Reading South (UK Parliament constituency)|Reading South]].
Today Reading and the surrounding area is divided between the parliamentary constituencies of [[Reading East (UK Parliament constituency)|Reading East]], represented by [[Rob Wilson]], and [[Reading West (UK Parliament constituency)|Reading West]], represented by [[Martin Salter]]. The whole of the town is within the multi-member [[South East England (European Parliament constituency)|South East England european constituency]].
===Town twinning===
Reading is [[Town twinning|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web | publisher = Reading Borough Council (2000-2006) | url = http://www.reading.gov.uk/communityandliving/towntwinning/ | title = Town twinning | accessmonthday = February 6 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Germany}} - [[Düsseldorf]], [[Germany]] (since 1947, officially since 1988)
* {{flagicon|Ireland}} - [[Clonmel]], [[Ireland]] (since 1994)
* {{flagicon|Nicaragua}} - [[San Francisco Libre]], [[Nicaragua]] (since 1994)
* {{flagicon|Barbados}} - [[Speightstown]], [[Barbados]] (since 2003)
==Geography==
Reading is {{convert|41|mi|km|lk=on}} due west of [[central London]], {{convert|30|mi|km}} southeast of [[Oxford]] and {{convert|40|mi|km}} east of [[Swindon]]. The centre of Reading is on a low ridge between the Rivers [[River Thames|Thames]] and [[River Kennet|Kennet]] close to their confluence, reflecting the town's history as a river port. Just before the confluence, the Kennet cuts through a narrow steep-sided gap in the hills forming the southern flank of the Thames flood plain. The absence of a floodplain on the Kennet in this [[defile (geography)|defile]] enabled the development of wharves.
As Reading has grown, its suburbs have spread in three directions:
*to the west between the two rivers into the foothills of the [[Berkshire Downs]],
*to the south and south-east on the south side of the Kennet, and
*to the north of the Thames into the [[Chiltern Hills]].
However outside the central area, the floors of the valley containing the two rivers remain largely unimproved [[floodplain]], subject to occasional flooding. Apart from one road across the Kennet floodplain, and the [[M4 motorway|M4]] looping to the south, the only routes between the three built-up areas are in the central area, creating road congestion there.
Reading has its own subregional catchment area, incorporating the towns of [[Wokingham]], [[Bracknell]] and [[Twyford, Berkshire|Twyford]], plus large villages such as [[Pangbourne]], [[Theale, Berkshire|Theale]], [[Winnersh]], [[Burghfield]] and [[Shiplake]].
===Definition===
Depending on the definition adopted, neither the town nor the urban area are necessarily co-terminous with the borough.
The borough has a [[population]] of 144,000 in an area of [[1 E7 m²|40.40]] [[square kilometre|km²]], while the [[Office for National Statistics]]' definition of the urban area of Reading is significantly larger at 232,662 people in an area of [[1 E7 m²|55.35]] [[square kilometre|km²]]. This latter area – sometimes referred to as Greater Reading – incorporates the town's eastern and western suburbs outside the borough, in the civil parishes of [[Earley]], [[Woodley]], [[Purley-on-Thames]] and [[Tilehurst]] (see below for further details). This urban area is itself a component of the [[Reading/Wokingham Urban Area]]. Reading is the 17th largest settlement in England, based on the population of the urban area.<ref name=popstats>{{cite web | url = http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D8271.csv | title = Table KS01 Usual resident population | publisher = Office for National Statistics | accessmonthday = July 6 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref><ref name=lovemytown>{{cite web | url = http://www.lovemytown.co.uk/Populations/index.htm | title = Population overview | publisher = LoveMyTown.co.uk. | accessmonthday = July 6 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref> Furthermore, except for [[London borough]]s, it is the most populous settlement that does not have city status.
Historically, the town of Reading was smaller than the current borough, and has had several definitions over the years. Such definitions include the old ecclesiastical [[parish]]es of the churches of [[Reading Minster|St Mary]], [[St Laurence's Church, Reading|St Laurence]] and [[St Giles' Church, Reading|St Giles]], or the even smaller pre-19th century borough.<ref name=HAB>{{cite book | last = Dils | first = Joan (ed.) | title = An Historical Atlas of Berkshire | publisher = Berkshire Record Society | date = 1998 | location = Reading}}</ref>
===Suburbs===
Besides the town centre, Reading comprises a number of [[suburb]]s and other districts, both within the borough itself and within the surrounding urban area. The names and location of these suburbs are in general usage but, except where some of the outer suburbs correspond to [[civil parish]]es, there are no formally defined boundaries. The borough itself is unparished, and the [[Ward (politics)|ward]]s used to elect the borough [[councillor]]s generally ignore the accepted suburbs and use invented ward names.
The suburbs and districts include:
* [[Beansheaf Farm]]
* [[Calcot, Berkshire|Calcot]], [[Caversham, Berkshire|Caversham]], [[Caversham Heights]], [[Caversham Park|Caversham Park Village]], [[Coley, Berkshire|Coley]], [[Coley Park]]
* [[Earley]], [[East Reading]], [[Emmer Green]]
* [[Fords Farm]]
* [[Holybrook]], [[Horncastle, Berkshire|Horncastle]]
* [[Katesgrove]]
* [[Little Heath, Berkshire|Little Heath]], [[Lower Caversham]], [[Lower Earley]]
* [[Maiden Erlegh]]
* [[Newtown, Reading|Newtown]]
* [[Purley-On-Thames]]
* [[Southcote, Berkshire|Southcote]]
* [[Tilehurst]]
* [[West Reading, Berkshire|West Reading]], [[Whitley, Berkshire|Whitley]], [[Whitley Wood]], [[Woodley]]
==Institutions==
===Religion===
[[Image:Reading Abbey interior.jpg|thumb|right|Reading Abbey]]
[[Reading Minster]], or the ''Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin'' as it is more properly known, is Reading's oldest ecclesiastical foundation, known to have been founded by the [[9th century]] and possibly earlier. Although eclipsed in importance by the later Abbey, Reading Minster has regained its importance since the destruction of the Abbey.
[[Reading Abbey]] was founded by [[Henry I of England|Henry I]] in 1121. He was buried there, as were parts of [[Empress Matilda]], [[William, Count of Poitiers|William of Poitiers]], [[Constance of York]], and Princess Isabella of Cornwall, among others. The abbey was one of the pilgrimage centres of medieval England, it held over 230 [[relic]]s including the hand of [[Saint James the Great|St. James]]. The abbey was largely destroyed in 1538 during the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries|dissolution of the monasteries]] and [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] had the abbot, [[Hugh Cook Faringdon]], [[hanging|hanged]].
The [[mediaeval]] [[borough]] of Reading was served by three [[parish church]]es. Besides Reading Minster, these were [[St Giles' Church, Reading|St Giles']] and [[St Laurence's Church, Reading|St Laurence's]] churches, both of which are still in use as Anglican churches. The [[Franciscan|Franciscan friars]] built a [[friary]] in the town in 1311 and after the friars were expelled in 1538, the building was used as a [[hospital]], a [[poorhouse]] and a [[jail]], before being restored as the Anglican parish church of [[Greyfriars Church, Reading|Greyfriars Church]] in 1863. There are several other Anglican parish churches in areas that are now part of suburban Reading.
[[St James' Church, Reading|St James' Church]] was built on a portion of the site of the abbey between 1837 and 1840, and marked the return of the [[Roman Catholic]] faith to Reading. Reading was also the site of the death of [[Dominic Barberi|Blessed Dominic Barberi]], the Catholic missionary to England in the 19th century who received [[John Henry Newman]] into the Catholic faith. The town contains many other churches and religious centres of varying faiths.
===Education===
[[Image:Reading school berks uk.jpg|thumb|right|Reading School]]
[[Reading School]], founded in 1125, is the tenth oldest school in England. It is based in Victorian buildings designed by [[Alfred Waterhouse]] on Erleigh Road. There are 6 other [[state school|state]] [[secondary school]]s and 37 state [[primary school]]s within the borough, together with a number of [[private school|private]] and [[independent school|independent]] schools, kindergartens and nurseries. Some of the designated schools for pupils in the borough's catchment areas are actually in the neighbouring boroughs.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = Reading Borough Council (2000-2006) | url = http://www.reading.gov.uk/educationandlearning/schoolsinformation/listofschools | title = List of schools | accessmonthday = February 23 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref> Besides mainstream schools the Reading area has a [[Waldorf school|Steiner-Waldorf]] school and an active [[Education Otherwise]] [[home schooling]] network.
The [[University of Reading]] was established in 1892 as an affiliate of [[Oxford University]], and moved to its [[London Road Campus]] in 1904. Reading was chartered as an independent university in 1926 and moved onto its new [[Whiteknights Park|Whiteknights Campus]] in 1947. It took over the Bulmershe teacher training college in 1982, creating its [[Bulmershe Court|Bulmershe Court Campus]]. All three campuses are still in use, although Whiteknights is by far the largest.
The more recent [[Thames Valley University]], which also has campuses in [[Slough]] and [[Ealing]], now runs what was previously ''Reading College & School of Arts and Design'' on two sites in east Reading.
===Libraries and museums===
The [[Reading Borough Libraries|Reading Borough Public Library]] service dates back to 1877. The Central Library which was opened in 1985 contains the Reading Local Studies Library which provides books, maps, and illustrations of the history of the town and Berkshire.
The [[Museum of Reading]] opened in 1883 in the Town Hall, parts of which date back to 1786. The museum contains galleries relating to the history of Reading and its related industries and to the excavations of [[Calleva Atrebatum]] (Silchester Roman Town), together with a copy of the [[Bayeux Tapestry]], an art collection, and galleries relating to [[Huntley & Palmers]]
The University of Reading runs the [[Museum of English Rural Life]], the [[Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology]], the [[Cole Museum of Zoology]], and the [[Harris Garden]]. In the suburb of [[Woodley]], the [[Museum of Berkshire Aviation]] has a collection of aircraft and other artifacts relating to the aircraft industry in the town.
===Healthcare===
[[Image:Royal Berkshire Hospital 1.jpg|thumb|right|The new entrance block for the Royal Berkshire Hospital]]
The principal [[National Health Service]] (NHS) hospital in Reading is the [[Royal Berkshire Hospital]], originally founded in 1839 but much enlarged and rebuilt since. Until recently there was a second major NHS general hospital, the [[Battle Hospital]], but this closed in 2005 with the patients and most staff moved to the Royal Berkshire Hospital. [[Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust]] runs a NHS hospital, [[Prospect Park Hospital]], that specialises in the provision of care for people with mental health and learning disabilities.<ref name=bhhist>{{cite web | url = http://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/news/book-launch-battle-hospital-history.php | title = Book Launch: Battle Hospital History | publisher = Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | accessmonthday = April 25 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref><ref name=pphosp>{{cite web | url = http://www.berkshirehct.nhs.uk/index.asp | title = Welcome to Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust | publisher = Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust | accessmonthday = April 25 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref>
Reading is also served by two private hospitals, the [[Berkshire Independent Hospital]] in [[Coley Park]] and the [[Dunedin Hospital (Reading)|Dunedin Hospital]] situated on the main [[A4 road|A4]] [[Bath Road]].<ref name=caprh>{{cite web | title = Capio Reading Private Hospital | url = http://www.capio.co.uk/Find+a+hospital/chooseyourhospital/CapioHospitals/Capio+Reading+Hospital.htm | publisher = Capio Healthcare UK | accessmonthday = April 25 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref><ref name=dunhosp>{{cite web | title = Dunedin Hospital | url = http://www.classichospitals.com/hospitaldetails.asp?article=90 | publisher = Classic Hospitals | accessmonthday = April 25 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref>
==Economy==
Reading is an important commercial centre in [[Southern England]] and is often referred to as the commercial capital of the [[Thames Valley]].<ref name=tvccctv>{{cite web | title = Vision for Reading Chamber of Commerce | url = http://www.thamesvalleychamber.co.uk/memberservices/readingvision.asp | publisher = Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce | accessdate = 2008-06-11}}</ref>
===Offices===
The town hosts the headquarters of major British companies and the UK offices of major foreign multinationals, especially in the IT industry, including [[Symantec]], [[ING Direct]], [[Microsoft]], [[Oracle Corporation|Oracle]], [[The Sage Group|Sage]], [[Xansa]], [[Cisco]], [[Symbol Technologies]], [[Websense]] and [[Yell Group|Yell.com]]. Several of these are at the [[Thames Valley Park|Thames Valley Business Park]]. The head office of the natural gas major [[BG Group]] is also at the [[Thames Valley Park|Thames Valley Business Park]]. Some of the others are located in Green Park, which is near the [[Madejski Stadium]]. This area has been developed a lot in the last 10 years.
===Retail===
[[Image:Reading broad street.jpg|thumb|right|Broad Street]]
[[Image:Union Street, Reading.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Union Street]]
Reading town centre is a major shopping centre. The primary catchment area for the town centre (the area for which the centre attracts the largest single flow of generated expenditure) for non-bulky [[comparison goods]] extends as far as [[Goring-on-Thames]], [[Henley-on-Thames]], [[Pangbourne]] and [[Wokingham]]. The secondary catchment area (the area where the centre attracts 10% or more of generated expenditure) also includes [[Ascot, Berkshire|Ascot]], [[Bracknell]], [[Camberley]], [[Didcot]], [[Farnborough, Hampshire|Farnborough]], [[Fleet, Hampshire|Fleet]], [[High Wycombe]], [[Maidenhead]], [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]], [[Tadley]], [[Thatcham]], [[Wallingford]] and [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]]. In 2007 an independent poll placed Reading as one of the top ten retail destinations in the UK <ref name=rbcrls>{{cite web | title = Retail & Leisure Study of Reading - Volume 1 – Chapters 1 to 3 | publisher = Reading Borough Council | date = 2005 | url = http://www.reading.gov.uk/Documents/servingyou/planning/Vol1_Chapters1-3.pdf | accessdate = 2008-06-13|format=PDF}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | date=[[2007-09-28]] | url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/2015/2015699/battle_to_stay_top_of_shops | title=Battle to stay top of shops | work=[[Reading Evening Post]] | accessdate=2008-02-03}}</ref>
The principal town centre shopping area is around Broad Street, which was pedestrianised in 1995. Broad Street is anchored at its east and west ends respectively by [[The Oracle, Reading|The Oracle]] and [[Broad Street Mall, Reading|Broad Street Mall]] enclosed shopping centres. The Oracle shopping centre regularly attracts over 250,000{{fact|date=June 2008}} people passing through on a Saturday alone. It plays host to a number of major retailers which had previously not been present in the town.
There are three major [[department store]]s in Reading: [[John Lewis Reading]] (formerly known as ''Heelas''), [[Debenhams]] and [[House of Fraser]]. There are also branches of the chains [[Marks and Spencers]], [[Bhs]], [[H&M]], [[Primark]] and [[UNIQLO]]. The booksellers [[Waterstone's]] have two branches in Reading. Their [[Waterstone's, Broad Street, Reading|Broad Street branch]] is of particular interest, as it is a remarkable conversion of a [[nonconformist]] [[chapel]] dating from 1707.
Besides the two major shopping malls, Reading has three smaller shopping arcades, the Bristol & West Arcade, Harris Arcade and The Walk, which contain smaller specialist stores. An older form of retail facility is represented by Union Street, popularly known as ''Smelly Alley'', a narrow pedestrianised [[alley]] lined on both sides by small independent stores, including open fronted [[fishmonger]]s and [[greengrocer]]s.
Other than Marks and Spencers, two small branches of [[Sainsbury's]], a new [[Somerfield]] and a few speciality shops such as those in Union Street, food retail has largely deserted the town centre. Large branches of [[Tesco]], [[Sainsbury's]], [[Asda]], [[Morrisons]] and [[Waitrose]] supermarket chains, with their associated car parks, can be found in suburban and edge of town locations.
===Utilities===
[[Image:Greenpark wind turbine arp.jpg|thumb|right|upright|The wind turbine at GreenPark produces enough [[green electricity]] for around 1000 homes.]]
Mains water and sewerage services are supplied by [[Thames Water|Thames Water plc]], a [[private sector]] water supply company. Water abstraction and disposal is regulated by the [[Environment Agency]]. Reading's water supply is largely derived from underground [[aquifers]], and as a consequence the water is [[hard water|hard]].<ref name=wateruk>{{cite web | title = Water and sewerage operators | publisher = Water UK | accessdate = 2008-06-11 |url = http://www.water.org.uk/home/resources-and-links/links/water-operators/sewerage-operators}}</ref><ref name=eawr>{{cite web | url = http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waterres/?lang=_e | title = Water Resources | publisher = Environment Agency | accessdate = 2008-06-11}}</ref><ref name=eawq>{{cite web | url = http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waterquality/?lang=_e | title = Water Quality | publisher = Environment Agency | accessdate = 2008-06-11}}</ref>
As with the rest of the Britain, the choice of commercial energy supplier for [[electricity]] and [[gas]] is at the consumer's choice. [[Southern Electric]] runs the local electricity distribution network, while [[Scotia Gas Networks]] runs the gas distribution network. One notable part of the local energy infrastructure is the presence of a 2 [[megawatt]] (peak) [[Enercon]] [[wind turbine]] at [[GreenPark Business Park|GreenPark]], which is wired to the local sub-grid. It was constructed in November 2005 just outside the borders of the borough in the [[civil parish]] of [[Shinfield]] and is owned by [[Ecotricity]]. This turbine can be seen from a large part of Reading, as well as from near junction 11 of the M4. The turbine has the potential to produce 3.5 million units of electricity a year, enough to power over a thousand local homes.<ref name=ecotricity>{{cite web | url = http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/projects/plan_greenpark.html | title = Green Park, Reading | publisher = Ecotricity | accessdate = 2008-06-11}}</ref>
[[BT Group plc|BT]] provides fixed-line [[telephone]] coverage throughout the town, and [[Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line|ADSL]] [[Broadband Internet access|broadband internet]] connection to most areas. Parts of Reading are cabled by [[Virgin Media]], supplying [[cable television]], telephone and broadband internet connections. The [[UK telephone numbering plan|dialling code]] for fixed-line telephones is 0118.
[[Mobile phone]] service is available throughout the town, from all the UK licensed [[Mobile network operator|network operators]] and using the [[Global System for Mobile Communications|GSM]] and [[Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]] standards.
==Transport==
Reading's location in the Thames Valley to the west of London means that it has always had a significant position in the nation's transport system.
===River transport===
[[Image:River Kennet and High Bridge Reading.jpg|thumb|right|High Bridge on the River Kennet.]]
The town grew up as a river port at the confluence of the [[River Thames|Thames]] and [[River Kennet|Kennet]]. Both of these rivers remain navigable, and the [[Canal lock|locks]] of [[Caversham Lock]], [[Blake's Lock]], [[Yale lock|Yale Lock]], [[County Lock]], [[Fobney Lock]] and [[Southcote Lock]] are all within the borough. Today navigation is exclusively leisure oriented, with private and hire boats dominating traffic.
Several scheduled boat services operate on the Thames, operating from [[wharf|wharves]] on the Reading side of the river near [[Caversham Bridge]]. [[Salters Steamers]] operate a summer daily service from just downstream of the bridge to [[Henley-on-Thames]], taking somewhat over two hours in each direction and calling at the riverside villages of [[Sonning]] and [[Shiplake]]. [[Thames River Cruises]] operate several different trips from just upstream of the bridge, including a service on summer [[weekends]] and [[bank holidays]] to [[Mapledurham]], taking 45 minutes in each direction and allowing two hours ashore for visits to [[Mapledurham Watermill]] and [[Mapledurham House]].<ref name="salters">{{cite web | publisher = Salters Steamers | url = http://www.salterssteamers.co.uk/readhen.htm | title = Reading to Henley Service | accessmonthday = April 30 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref><ref name="boatserv">{{cite web | publisher = Thames River Cruises | url = http://www.thamesrivercruise.co.uk/scheduled_trip2.asp | title = Boat service from Reading to Mapledurham | accessmonthday = April 29 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref>
===Road transport===
[[Image:Reading Bridge 1.JPG|thumb|right|Reading Bridge on the River Thames.]]
Reading was a major staging point on the [[A4 road|old Bath Road (A4)]] from [[London]] to [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]] and [[Bristol]]. This road still carries local traffic, but has now been replaced for long distance traffic by the [[M4 motorway]], which closely skirts the borough and serves it with three junctions (J10–J12).
Within Reading there is the Inner Distribution road (IDR), a ring road for local traffic movements. The council has put forward a plan to make the IDR one-way. This has proved highly controversial and the plan is now (June 2007) under review.<ref name=idrbttr>{{cite web | title = IDR on hold | url = http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/2011/2011410/idr_on_hold | publisher = Get Reading | accessdate = 2007-06-30}}</ref>
The A329(M), A33 and A4 national routes link the town with junctions 10, 11 and 12 of the M4 motorway respectively. The IDR is linked with the M4 by the recently constructed [[A33 road|A33 relief road]], which runs past the [[Madejski stadium]] and Green Park Business complex.
The Thames is crossed by both [[Reading Bridge|Reading]] and [[Caversham Bridge|Caversham]] road bridges, while several road bridges cross the Kennet. There has long been a desire to construct a third bridge across the Thames, to the east of the existing bridges. Some people believe that this will remove one of the town's bottlenecks and ease traffic congestion. Others believe that it will induce more traffic, move bottle necks and open up swathes of South Oxfordshire to unwanted development. However, the proximity of the county border means that any such route will have to pass through South Oxfordshire, and this development has so far been blocked by its residents and politicians.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = Reading Borough Council | url = http://www.reading.gov.uk/transportandstreets/transportstrategy/GeneralM.asp?id=SX9452-A7817040
| title = Local Transport Plan 2006-2011, chapter 6, figure 6.7 | accessdaymonth = 9 August | accessyear = 2006}}</ref>
=== Rail transport ===
[[Image:Reading station frontage.jpg|thumb|right|Reading station buildings. The orginal GWR building is now a pub: the main facilities are in the newer building to the right.]]
Reading is a major junction point on the [[National Rail|national rail]] system, and as a consequence [[Reading railway station|Reading station]] is a major transfer point as well as serving heavy originating and terminating traffic. There are current plans to rebuild Reading station, with grade separation of some conflicting traffic flows and extra platforms, to relieve severe congestion at this station.
Railway lines link Reading to both [[London Paddington station|Paddington]] and [[London Waterloo station|Waterloo]] stations in [[London]]. The route to Paddington offers both non-stop (taking around 30 minutes) and stopping services, whilst that to Waterloo offers only a stopping service. Long distance services also link Reading to [[Swindon]], [[Bristol]], [[Cardiff]] and [[South Wales]], [[Exeter]], [[Plymouth]] and [[South West England]], [[Birmingham]] and the [[North of England]], and [[Southampton]] and [[Bournemouth]]. Local services link Reading to [[Oxford]], [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]], [[Basingstoke]], [[Guildford]] and [[London Gatwick Airport|Gatwick Airport]].
Other stations in the Reading area are [[Reading West railway station|Reading West]], [[Tilehurst railway station|Tilehurst]] and [[Earley railway station|Earley]], but all serve local trains only. A new [[Reading GreenPark railway station]] is planned.
===Air transport===
[[Image:First B&TV SC23010.JPG|thumb|right|RailAir coaches in Reading awaiting their departure to Heathrow Airport]]
Historically, there have been two [[airfield]]s in Reading, one at [[Coley Park]] and one at [[Woodley]], but these have both long since closed. Today Reading is served by several nearby airports.
The nearest airport is [[London Heathrow Airport|London Heathrow]], which is 30 miles away by road. An express bus service named [[RailAir]] links Reading with Heathrow, or alternatively the airport can be accessed by changing at [[Hayes and Harlington railway station]], on the local rail service to Paddington, to the [[Heathrow Connect]] rail service.
[[London Gatwick Airport|London Gatwick]] is 60 miles away by road and is served by direct trains from Reading. [[London Luton Airport|London Luton]] is also 60 miles away by road, whilst [[London Stansted Airport|London Stansted]] is 90 miles away; both can be reached by rail by changing stations in central London. The airport at [[London City Airport|London City]], principally used by short-haul business travellers to and from London's financial district, can also be reached by a combination of rail services.
[[Southampton Airport]] also provides services to short haul destinations. It is 45 miles away by road and served by direct rail services.
===Local public transport===
[[Image:Reading Buses Number 17.jpg|thumb|right|A bus running on Reading Buses route number 17, and in that route's distinctive purple colour scheme, at the Three Tuns terminus.]]
Local public transport is largely road-based, and can be affected by the significant peak hour congestion in the borough. A comprehensive and frequent local bus network within the borough, and a less frequent network in the surrounding area, are provided by [[Reading Transport Ltd|Reading Buses]]. Other bus operators include:
* [[First Berkshire & The Thames Valley|First]]: Reading - [[Winnersh]] - [[Wokingham]] - [[Bracknell]] services
* [[Thames Travel]]: Reading - [[Arborfield]] - [[Wokingham]]; Reading - [[Wallingford]] - [[Oxford]] services
* [[Arriva Shires & Essex|Arriva]]: Reading - [[High Wycombe]] services
* [[Reading Transport Ltd|Newbury Buses]]: Reading - [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]] services
* [[Fleet Buzz]]: Reading - [[Fleet, Hampshire|Fleet]] - [[Aldershot]] service
* [[Motts Travel]]: Reading - [[Nettlebed]] - [[Watlington, Oxfordshire|Watlington]] - [[Stokenchurch]] service
==Culture==
[[Image:Reading ayuntamiento.JPG|thumb|The Town Hall, Reading]]
===Arts===
Reading has a number of arts centres, including concert halls, fine art galleries and general use spaces, with a vibrant arts scene.
In 2006 the [[Reading Fringe Festival]] was launched, striving to prove that Reading was "a hotbed of talent" worthy of city status.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = Reading Fringe Festival | url = http://s105424978.websitehome.co.uk/fringe/files/RFF06-press-release.doc | title = Reading Fringe Festival Press release, 24 June | accessdaymonth = 29 August | accessyear = 2006|format=DOC}}</ref> Local arts organisations, groups and individuals promote themselves at venues throughout the town in the run-up to [[Reading Festival]].
Reading is home to [[Remix Reading]], a [[Free Culture movement|free culture]] project with a particular focus on [[copyright]] and the local arts scene.
Reading is also the home to [[Gen Con|Gen Con UK]], a [[Games Convention (disambiguation)|Games Convention]].
===Music===
[[Image:Reading festival radio 1 tent 2005.jpg|thumb|The ''NME''/Radio 1 tent at the 2005 Reading Festival]]
Every year Reading hosts the [[Reading Festival]], which has been running since 1971. It is considered as the largest UK music festival after Glastonbury.
While [[WOMAD]] found a home in the town in 1990,<ref>{{cite web | publisher = Guardian Unlimited - Arts | url = http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,765215,00.html | title = WOMAD in Reading | accessmonthday = July 6 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref> it has been announced that after 17 years [[Womad Reading|WOMAD Reading]] is to find a new location, having outgrown the Rivermead site.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = BBC News | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/5403836.stm | title = Womad venue change after 17 years | accessdate = October 3 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref> Internationally, it is perhaps for these two events that the town is best known.
The town has had mixed fortunes in creating home-grown artists over the years. Perhaps most notable is [[Mike Oldfield]] of ''[[Tubular Bells]]'' fame. More recently, [[Slowdive]], [[The Cooper Temple Clause]], [[Stuart Price]], [[Morning Runner]], [[My Luminaries]], [[Laura Marling]], [[Does It Offend You, Yeah?]], [[Dan Le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip]], [[Pete & The Pirates]], [[SixNationState]], [[Pure Reason Revolution]], [[Exit Ten]], [[bennet (band)|Bennet]] and [[Mr Fogg]] have had some degree of success. [[David Byron]], first and most famous singer of [[heavy metal]] band [[Uriah Heep (band)|Uriah Heep]] lived his last years in Reading before he died in 1985.
Reading plays host to semi-professional and amateur choirs and choral societies. [[Reading Festival Chorus]] has just celebrated its 60th anniversary. RFC sings a diverse music programme, with works like [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]]'s Requiem, [[Karl Jenkins]]' [[The Armed Man]] in 2005 to [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]]'s Missa Solemnis and a summer programme of English and American Folk songs by [[Michael Tippett|Tippett]] and [[Aaron Copland]].
Reading also has orchestras including the long-established [[Reading Symphony Orchestra]] (RSO) and [[Reading Youth Orchestra]] ([[Reading Youth Orchestra|RYO]]). The [[Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra]] (APO), named after [[Richard Aldworth]], the founder of [[Reading Blue Coat School]] (where it rehearses and plays most of its concerts), was formed relatively recently, in 2002. APO's remit is to be as innovative as possible, giving more local people the chance to play by rehearsing exclusively at weekends, attracting a wider audience to classical music (especially younger people) through its 'Concert Virgin Scheme' & education projects, and championing the music of talented young composers.
===Theatre===
Reading has several theatre venues, including [[The Hexagon]] and [[21 South Street]], which are professional venues supported by Reading Borough Council. The Hexagon is a multi-purpose venue in the heart of Reading that provides a programme of events including rock, pop, comedy, classical music and dance as well as theatre.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=http://www.readingarts.com/thehexagon
|title=The Hexagon, Reading Arts}}</ref> South Street also presents a diverse range of performing arts from both the professional and community sectors, including fringe theatre, comedy, music, dance and live literature.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=http://www.readingarts.com/southstreet
|title=21 South Street, Reading Arts
|accessdaymonth=14 March
|accessyear=2007}}</ref>
Amateur theatre venues in Reading include [[Progress Theatre]],<ref>{{Cite web
|url=http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk
|title=Progress Theatre homepage
|accessdaymonth=15 March
|accessyear=2007}}</ref> a self-governing, self-funding theatre group and registered charity founded in 1947 that operates and maintains its own 97-seat theatre.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=http://www.readingarts.com/othervenues/theprogresstheatre
|title=Progress Theatre, Reading Arts
|accessdaymonth=14 March
|accessyear=2007}}</ref> Progress Theatre produces a yearly open air Shakespeare production in the [[Reading Abbey]] Ruins that has come to represent a highlight of Reading's cultural calendar.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=6&id=30&Itemid=50
|title=Progress Theatre Open Air Shakespeare
|accessdaymonth=14 March
|accessyear=2007}}</ref>
Reading also has [[Bohemian Night]], a weekly [[Open Mike]] event that many ameuters perform at.
===Media===
Reading has two local newspapers.
*The ''[[Reading Evening Post]]'' is an evening newspaper published on Mondays to Fridays.
*The ''[[Reading Chronicle]]'' is published weekly, on Thursdays.
Three local radio stations broadcast from Reading: [[BBC Radio Berkshire]], [[Reading 107 FM]] and [[2-Ten FM]]. Other local radio stations, such as London's [[95.8 Capital FM]], Basingstoke's [[107.6 Kestrel FM]] and Slough's [[Star 106.6]] can also be received.
Local television news programmes are the [[BBC]]'s [[South Today]] and [[ITV]]'s [[Thames Valley Tonight]].
===Sports===
[[Reading F.C.|Reading Football Club]], an [[football (soccer)|association football]] club nicknamed ''The Royals'', has played in Reading since 1871. Formerly based at Elm Park, the club has played in the 24,500 capacity [[Madejski Stadium]] home since 1998. Reading finished their second season in the elite [[FA Premier League|Premier League]] with a 4-0 win over [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]], however this wasn't enough to avoid relegation due to [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham's]] 1-0 win over [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]. Reading finished the season in 18th place meaning the club will play next season in the [[Football League Championship]]. The Town's second team, [[Reading Town F.C.|Reading Town]] play in the [[Hellenic Football League]] Premier Division.
Reading is a centre for [[rugby union|rugby union football]] in the area, with the [[Guinness Premiership]] team [[London Irish]] as tenants at the Madejski Stadium. Reading is also home to another three senior semi-professional rugby clubs; [[Reading Abbey R.F.C.]], [[Redingensians R.F.C.]] and [[Reading R.F.C.]]. The town plays host to a number of other [[football]] variants, such as [[Gaelic football]]'s [[St. Anthony's GAA]], [[Australian rules football]] team [[Reading Kangaroos]], and [[American football]] team [[Reading Renegades]]. The sport of [[field hockey]] is represented by [[Reading Hockey Club]].
The [[Reading Half Marathon]] is held on the streets of Reading in March of each year, with as many as 13,000 competitors from elite to fun runners.
The [[Reading Rockets]], are a basketball club that play in the [[English Basketball League]]. The Rockets were formed in 1997 by the owner Gary Johnson. The Rockets won the National Cup, and reached EBL Championship Final in 2005, and were League runners-up and Cup Finalists in 2006. In 2007 they won the National Trophy and were league runners-up again. They are thus already firmly established among the elite teams of the [[EBL]].
Like many Thames-side towns, Reading has several [[sport rowing|rowing]] clubs, representing both town and university. The local [[Redgrave-Pinsent Rowing Lake]] provides training facilities, although much rowing is also conducted on the river itself. [[Dorney Lake]], some 27 km (17 miles) to the east of Reading, provides a full international competition venue and will host the rowing events of the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. There are also several sailing lakes to the south and southwest of the town, the largest being Theale Lake close to junction 12 of the M4. These lakes are also popular with water-skiing and jet-skiing enthusiasts.
From 1984 to 1994, [[The Hexagon]] theatre was home to snooker's [[Grand Prix (snooker)|Grand Prix]] tournament, one of the sport's 'big four' Grand Slam events.
Britain's first-ever [[triathlon]] was held just outside Reading at Kirtons's Farm in Pingewood in June 1983. The [[Reading International Triathlon]] was revived by Banana Leisure in 1994 and 1995. Thames Valley Triathletes, based in the town, is Britain's oldest triathlon club, with origins in the 1984 event at nearby Heckfield. The British Triathlon Association was also formed at the town's former "Mall" health club in 1982.
Reading's [[Palmer Park, Reading|Palmer Park]] was also the host of the UK's first-ever outdoor Aerobics display; pre-dating the more famous Hyde Park (London) event by a year.
Reading is also in the history books of motorsport. Reading-born [[Richard Burns]] became the first Englishman to win the [[World Rally Championship]], in 2001.
The town is also home to [[Reading Greyhound Racing]] and the [[Reading Racers]] [[Motorcycle speedway|speedway]] team, and there is a [[velodrome]] at [[Palmer Park, Reading|Palmer Park]] where many of Britain's junior champions train and race.
===Literature===
{{seealso|List of residents of Reading, Berkshire}}
[[Oscar Wilde]] was imprisoned in [[Reading (HM Prison)]] from 1895 to 1897. While he was there he wrote ''[[De Profundis]]'', which was published in 1905. After his release he lived in exile in [[Paris]] and wrote ''[[The Ballad of Reading Gaol]]'', published in 1908.
[[Jane Austen]] attended Reading Ladies Boarding School, based in the Abbey Gateway, in 1784-86.
[[Thomas Hardy]] painted a rather disparaging picture of the town, lightly disguised as ''Aldbrickham'', in his 1895 novel ''[[Jude the Obscure]]''.
[[T. E. Lawrence]] lost the first draft of his ''[[Seven Pillars of Wisdom]]'' at Reading railway station.
[[Thomas Noon Talfourd]], the judge and dramatist was born in Reading and later became MP for the town.
[[Mary Russell Mitford]] lived in Reading for a number of years and then spent the rest of her life just outside the town at [[Three Mile Cross]] and [[Swallowfield]].
[[Charles Dickens]] was asked to stand as MP for Reading, but declined. He became president of the Reading Athenaeum. In his ''[[Bleak House]]'', Esther Summerson goes to school in Reading. His great-granddaughter [[Monica Dickens]] died in Reading in 1992.
[[Jerome K. Jerome]] did not warm to the town on his famous journey up the Thames in ''[[Three Men in a Boat]]'' (1888): ''"The river is dirty and dismal here. One does not linger in the neighbourhood of Reading"''. He does, however, recognise the historical significance of Reading in local history.
[[Jasper Fforde]] set his series of Jack Spratt novels in this town.
The comic novel ''[[A Melon For Ecstasy]]'' by [[John Fortune]] and [[John Wells]] is set in and around Reading.
The 1992 radio serialisation of [[Mark Wallington]]'s ''[[Boogie Up The River]]'' by the BBC (a modern-day ''[[Three Men in a Boat]]'') includes a spoof lament entitled ''O Caversham Man''.
===Other===
A Reading edition of [[Monopoly (game)|Monopoly]] is available (see [[Localized versions of the Monopoly game]]). Perhaps surprisingly, given its size and status in the South East, Reading is not yet officially a city, having missed out during the millennium celebrations when the Queen instead granted Brighton & Hove city status in 2000.
The interview show ''[[As It Happens]]'', which airs on [[CBC Radio One]] in [[Canada]], is notable for its mention of Reading. Frequently, after concluding an interview with someone in the UK, the host will describe the individual in relation to how far they live from Reading. For example, one might hear "That was professional bagpiper William J. Tweed from [[Biggleswade]], which is about 81 miles north of Reading."
In 1974, the BBC filmed ''[[The Family (TV series)|The Family]]'' in Reading. The show, considered to one of the first [[reality television]] shows,<ref name=thefamily>{{cite web | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/07/12/bvsarah12.xml | title = When reality TV was in the real world | publisher = Telegraph, UK | accessmonthday = July 12 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref> followed the lives of the Wilkins family.
The roadside chain of restaurants [[Little Chef]] began in the town back in 1958. Its first branch was a small eleven-seater venue.<ref name=littlechef>{{cite web | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,,1449073,00.html | title =
Little Chef, A65 near Clapham, Lancs. | publisher = Guardian Unlimited, UK | accessmonthday = August 9 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref>
When [[Ricky Gervais]] (who comes from Reading) used to perform a stand-up comedy segment on the British TV show ''[[The 11 O'Clock Show]]'', he would often (comically) describe the residents of the Reading suburb [[Whitley, Berkshire|Whitley]] as the lowest members of society. This turned Whitley into a household name for the duration of the series.
[[Reading, Pennsylvania|Reading in Pennsylvania]] and [[Reading, Massachusetts|Reading in Massachusetts]] are both named after Reading.
Soul singer [[Glen Goldsmith]] was born in Reading in [[1965]] and helped pen the massive [[1996]] record hit called "Mysterious Girl" by [[Peter Andre]].
In a 2007 poll by ''[[Readers Digest]]'', Reading was named the worst place to live for families<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/6564923.stm | title = Reading named worst for families | publisher = BBC News | accessmonthday = April 18 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref>
==See also==
*[[List of notable residents of Reading, Berkshire]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
{{Commons cat|Reading, Berkshire}}
* {{wikitravelpar|Reading (Berkshire)}}
* [http://www.reading.gov.uk/ Reading Borough Council]
* [http://www.readingpride.co.uk/ Reading Pride 2006]
* [http://www.reading-guide.com/ Reading Guide]
* [http://archive.museophile.org/reading/ Reading information]
* [http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/projects/plan_greenpark.html Reading's GreenPark windfarm]
* [http://www.berkshirehistory.com/villages/reading.html Royal Berkshire History: Reading]
* [http://www.readingfringefestival.com Reading Fringe Festival]
* [http://www.greenpark.co.uk Reading GreenPark]
* [http://www.polishcommunity.net.pl Polish community in Reading]
* [http://www.readingtamils.org Tamil community in Reading]
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