• Support Wokingham Today
  • Get the print edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Sunday, June 22, 2025
Wokingham.Today
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • All
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
    • Riseley
    • Shinfield
    • Sindlesham
    • Sonning
    • Spencers Wood
    • Swallowfield
    • Three Mile Cross
    • Twyford
    • Wargrave
    • Winnersh
    • Wokingham
    • Wokingham Without
    • Woodley
    • Woosehill
    • Yateley
    A carnival atmosphere at Abbeyfields Care Home in Winnersh delighted residents and locals. Pictures: Abbeyfield

    Abbeyfield’s fun-filled carnival was a community treat

    Members of Wokingham Catenian Circle marked their 500th meeting with a mass followed by a celebratory meal. Picture: Wokingham Catenians

    Wokingham Catenians celebrate 500th meeting

    See an artist at work at Woodley and Earley Art Group. Picture: Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay

    Watch an artist at work

    Melanie Curtis Accountants grand opening party Pictures: Bennetto Photography

    Melanie Curtis Accountants celebrates grand opening of new Wokingham office

    MP Clive Jones

    FROM THE MP: We must protect support for struggling families

    Jacalyn Richardson, a Professional Culinary Arts Level 2 student at Reading College

    Reading students cook up a storm at Royal Ascot

    Professor Andrew Charlton-Perez has been appointed OBE ? Officer of the Order of the British Empire ? in recognition of his exceptional contributions to climate science and education. Picture: University of Reading

    Climate education champion awarded OBE

    Reform UK's post on Facebook

    Bracknell Reform apologises for using picture ‘from Texas’ on campaign ad

    The couple will hold their wedding reception in the conservatory and garden at Dinton Pastures Country Park.

    Wedding winners announced

  • SPORT
    • All
    • Binfield FC
    • Reading FC
    Real Tennis

    Oratory School real tennis professional claims another title

    Andy Rinomhota

    Former Reading FC midfielder released by Cardiff City

    Amadou Mbengue

    Championship club close in on signing Reading FC defender Amadou Mbengue

    Willo Bicknell Picture: Ron Macdonald

    Rams RFC reveal third summer signing

    Andy Carroll

    Former Reading FC striker Andy Carroll reveals decision to leave France

    Paudie O'Connor Picture: Royals TV

    ‘Hopefully we can challenge at the top end of the table’: Reading FC’s new signing speaks on his ambitions

    Rams RFC Picture: Tim Pitfield

    Rams RFC to begin 2025/26 National One campaign at Sedgley Park

    Reading FC

    ‘Worst kit we’ve ever had’: Reading FC fans give mixed reactions to release of new home kit

    Jon Dadi Bodvarsson

    Former Reading FC striker released by League One club

  • READING FC
  • COMMUNITY
    A carnival atmosphere at Abbeyfields Care Home in Winnersh delighted residents and locals. Pictures: Abbeyfield

    Abbeyfield’s fun-filled carnival was a community treat

    Members of Wokingham Catenian Circle marked their 500th meeting with a mass followed by a celebratory meal. Picture: Wokingham Catenians

    Wokingham Catenians celebrate 500th meeting

    See an artist at work at Woodley and Earley Art Group. Picture: Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay

    Watch an artist at work

    The couple will hold their wedding reception in the conservatory and garden at Dinton Pastures Country Park.

    Wedding winners announced

    Hurst Show

    Hurst Show’s big heart for its visitors – and good causes

    The crossing on Easthampstead Road. Pic: WBC.

    “Lethal” crossing repainted

    Visitors to a Greener Henley event heard how projected CO2 levels and warmer air could affect the Thames and the town if fossil fuels continue to be burned at the current rate. PIctures: Greener Henley

    Reading scientist links rise in red board days to climate change, ahead of busy regatta season

    The final climate emergency newsletter was sent last week.

    Climate emergency still ‘front and centre’

    During a Nature Game session, participants learned about pollinators, invasive species, and what nature does for us for free. PIcture: Kathryn marshall

    How a nature game brought Wokingham locals together

  • LIFESTYLE
    • All
    • Food
    • Health
    • Obituaries
    • People
    Members of Wokingham Catenian Circle marked their 500th meeting with a mass followed by a celebratory meal. Picture: Wokingham Catenians

    Wokingham Catenians celebrate 500th meeting

    The couple will hold their wedding reception in the conservatory and garden at Dinton Pastures Country Park.

    Wedding winners announced

    The Two Poplars

    Wokingham pub, The Two Poplars, reopens after major makeover

    Heat Picture: Pixabay

    Expert advises on how to keep your home cool as temperatures top 32 degrees this weekend

    Visitors to a Greener Henley event heard how projected CO2 levels and warmer air could affect the Thames and the town if fossil fuels continue to be burned at the current rate. PIctures: Greener Henley

    Reading scientist links rise in red board days to climate change, ahead of busy regatta season

    The final climate emergency newsletter was sent last week.

    Climate emergency still ‘front and centre’

    During a Nature Game session, participants learned about pollinators, invasive species, and what nature does for us for free. PIcture: Kathryn marshall

    How a nature game brought Wokingham locals together

    Three important good causes in Wokingham receive much-needed funding. Picture: Tesco Wokingham

    Three important good causes in Wokingham receive much-needed funding

    Adoptive parents open up, in a new book, about their life-changing journey of adoption. MP for Earley and Woodley, Yuan Yang, was at the launch. Picture: Parenting Special Children

    New book lifts the lid on the highs and lows of modern-day adoption

  • WHAT’S ON
    • All
    • Arts
    • Entertainment
    Shaun the Sheep Picture: Pixabay

    Shaun the Sheep flocks to Reading town centre this summer

    The event is at Dinton Pastures Country Park..

    Celebrating dads with free family fun day

    More than 6,000 people are expected to attend the event.

    Woodley Carnival returns on Saturday

    A series of short horror films made by local filmmakers will be shown at Reading's Biscuit Factory on July 17. Picture: Alexander Krivitskiy via Unsplash

    Local filmmakers bring spooky horror shorts to Reading Biscuit Factory

    The summer show is happening on Saturday.

    Vote for your favourites at Twyford summer show

    Steam railways

    Steam specials to depart from Reading in railway’s 200th year

    BWCB, here in rehearsal, will perform a night of movie music in July. Picture BWCB

    Enjoy a film music night for charity

    An afternoon of jazz and afternoon tea will raise funds for The Cowshed in July. Picture: Zeno Aras via Unsplash

    Uplifting July jazz afternoon promises to fizz in Waltham St Lawrence

    The Bucket List Wishes Summer Festival is taking place at Highfield Park, Hook, from 2.30pm-10.30pm on Saturday, July 5.

    Bucket List Wishes Summer Festival to return in July

  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT
No Result
View All Result
Wokingham.Today
No Result
View All Result
Home Area Bracknell

Berkshire Rescue BLSAR: desperate search for a new home

by Emma Merchant
February 22, 2024
in Bracknell, Community, Featured, News, Uncategorised, Wokingham
BLSAR team uses 360degree sonar trace to search waters. Picture: BLSAR

BLSAR team uses 360degree sonar trace to search waters. Picture: BLSAR

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue (BLSAR) urgently needs a permanent home, with room to store its vehicles, boats and equipment.

The charity is the primary search resource for Thames Valley Police in Berkshire.

Its highly trained volunteers use their specialist skills to search for high risk vulnerable missing persons.

The organisation has been in temporary accommodation for some time, and its volunteers are now aware that they will have to move in late September or early October of this year.

Team secretary Richard Turner explained: “We’ve been semi-nomadic as an organisation for a while.

Related posts

Countdown is on for McDonald’s in Wokingham as opening date revealed

Man wanted in connection with three burglaries in Wokingham and Winnersh

“We were located in Easthampstead House, which was then sold.

“After that we were given space at Arborfield Garrison, but then that was built up and we had to move again.

“Wokingham Borough Council gave us space at Toutley Depot, but we’ve always known that the depot is just a temporary home.

“Now Toutley is being developed, once again our position is very unclear.”

There is a small possibility that BLSAR will be able to stay where they are if their current building is refurbished rather than demolished.

But even then the charity will still need to move out while work is completed.

“We’ve got four transit vans, two boats, and a fair amount of search gear and medical equipment,” explained Mr Turner.

“We’re in communication with Wokingham Borough Council about our position, but getting a definitive answer is difficult.

“They’ve been very good, but we just can’t stay in no-man’s land.

“We absolutely can’t wait until September to suddenly find that we have no home.

“We are caught between a rock and a hard place, and we crave certainty.”

The charity, which provides a round the clock rescue service for the whole borough, needs to find a permanent home soon.

Ideally, they would like to hear from someone who can offer them a small industrial unit.

“That, or a reasonably sized farm building is what we need – with a minimum of 1,000 square feet,” continued Mr Turner.

“One of our vans is 7.4m long, and we keep one of the boats on a trailer, so we do need a fair amount of room.

“Ideally we require a ground floor unit, with space to park the vehicles, and room to store all the equipment on racks at the back.

“We’d also need access to water, toilets, power, and above all, the ability to get to the equipment at any time of night or day.

“Wokingham and Bracknell are roughly in the centre of the county of Berkshire, and therefore the best locations to enable us to reach everyone who needs us.”

BLSAR volunteers are fully trained in search techniques and management.

“When a vulnerable person is reported missing, the police are notified first,” said research technician David Lorison.

“If they need further assistance, they contact us.

“Our on-the-ground control team works with the police and draws up a search pattern, starting where the person was last seen.

“We break into groups of four, each with a team leader, a navigator, a communications officer, and a medic.

“Hopefully, we will come across the vulnerable missing person, and when we do, we are immediately able to apply first aid or support, before getting them back to a place of safety.”

Teams can be called upon any time of day.

“When our phones go, we leap out of bed and get to the base as quickly as we can, continued Mr Turner.

“We arrive in our own three or four cars, leaving them parked while we take the rescue vehicles out.

“It can be 3am, when everything’s really icy, that we find ourselves on duty.

“Many of us work, and some are retired, but we’re all people who want to give something back to the community – It’s in our DNA somehow.

“We’re a great team, there’s a special camaraderie when you’re all focused on the same task.

“Suddenly all your own daily troubles fade away.”

Cllr Ian Shenton, executive member for environment, sport and leisure, said: “We are currently considering our options for carrying out necessary improvement works at Toutley.

“No decisions have been made and the project is not expected to start until much later this year.

“We are aware of Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue’s needs and will be keeping them under review but are unable to confirm more or make commitments at this point of time.”

BLSAR would like to hear urgently from anyone able to discuss a new home for the charity, ideally in Wokingham, or in a nearby location.

“We have access to some funding and resources, but this would need to be a philanthropic gesture of help.”

If anyone thinks they may be able to provide a suitable space, the charity would like to hear from them urgently.

For information, and to contact BLSAR, visit: www.berkshirerescue.org.uk

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Tags: berksBerkshireberkshire lowland search and rescueblsarLocal NewsToutleyUK NewsWokinghamwokywoky berkswoky berkshire
Previous Post

Wokingham welcomes the year of the dragon

Next Post

NHS gears up for more junior doctors strikes over pay and conditions from Saturday

FOLLOW US

POPULAR THIS WEEK

See an artist at work at Woodley and Earley Art Group. Picture: Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay

Watch an artist at work

June 22, 2025
Blandy & Blandy?s chair, Claire Dyer, a partner and head of the firm?s Family Law team, presented a cheque to both charities earlier this month.

Law firm donates to local charities

June 18, 2025
E scooters Picture: Pixabay

Politicians raise concerns about e-scooter crimes in Bracknell with PCC

June 15, 2025
Andy Rinomhota

Former Reading FC midfielder released by Cardiff City

June 21, 2025
A charity coffee morning at Squire's Hare Hatch, and Wokingham, will raise funds for each garden centre's chosen charity, on July 7. Picture: Squire's Garden Centres

Enjoy a garden centre charity coffee morning in July

June 21, 2025
The NHS has released a number of health warnings as the UK is set for a summer heatwave over coming days and weeks. Picture: Nicolas Leclercq via Unsplash

NHS releases advice amid heatwave health warning

June 20, 2025

ABOUT US

Wokingham Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Wokingham. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Wokingham Borough.

Wokingham.Today is a Social Enterprise and aims to ensure that everyone within the Borough has free access to independent and up-to-date news. However, providing this service is not without costs. If you are able to, please make a contribution to support our work.

CONTACT US

[email protected]

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Support Us
  • Book Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: [email protected], or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
  • COMMUNITY
  • LIFESTYLE
  • SPORT
  • READING FC
  • OBITUARIES
  • WHAT’S ON
  • JOBS
  • PHOTOS
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • CONTACT US
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION
  • SUPPORT US

© 2022 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.