• Support Wokingham Today
  • Get the print edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Thursday, May 29, 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
    Dalia's CoppaFeel Curry Night at The Tamarind Tree restaurant was another delicious success for the cancer charity fundraiser. Picture: Emma Merchant

    CoppaFeel Curry Night in Wokingham a joyful fundraiser

    Claire Revie, founder of SHARE Wokingham, helps to create the new brew.

    Special brew to benefit SHARE

    Entries are open for this year's event.

    Enter now for Wokingham Bikeathon

    Sonning bridge. Pic: Google.

    Fine for Sonning weight breach

    This year's event is being held on Saturday, June 14.

    Carnival fun is coming to Woodley

    The Forest School U15s football team

    The Forest School U15s make history with another National Elite Cup victory

    Brecon Road Food and Wine, Woodley Picture: Google Maps

    Woodley store has licence revoked

    Reading Today; 18th March 2023;  Thames Water HQ - Extinction Rebellion protest

    Thames Water issued £123M Ofwat fine–the biggest ever–over environmental breaches

    A banking hub in Yorkshire. Pic: Murray Scott/Link.

    Banking hub plans for village

  • SPORT
    • All
    • Binfield FC
    • Reading FC
    Sell Before We Dai

    Supporters’ Trust at Reading joins 21-group alliance calling for Football Governance Bill amendment

    The Forest School U15s football team

    The Forest School U15s make history with another National Elite Cup victory

    Sam Green and Megan Bartlett, who both took part in the Wokingham half marathon earlier this year. Pic: Harry McBain.

    Sam and Megan take Sumas supporters’ awards

    Reading FC

    Former Reading FC player announces shock international retirement

    Reading FC - Charlie Savage and Harvey Knibbs Picture: Luke Adams

    Reading FC star player linked with transfer to Wrexham

    Sam Hutchinson Picture: Luke Adams

    Former Reading FC reflects on heart attack suffered during match

    FC Bracknell

    FC Bracknell U10 Lions score dramatic winner to win the cup for second season in a row

    Ruben Selles

    Former Reading FC manager Ruben Selles linked with League One job

    Reading FC Picture: Luke Adams

    Reading fans – you can finally dare to dream again

  • READING FC
  • COMMUNITY
    Hands-up: Doreen and Lizzie Picture: WADE Day Care Centre

    Smiles, Songs and Good Company – The Wade Experience

    Dalia's CoppaFeel Curry Night at The Tamarind Tree restaurant was another delicious success for the cancer charity fundraiser. Picture: Emma Merchant

    CoppaFeel Curry Night in Wokingham a joyful fundraiser

    Claire Revie, founder of SHARE Wokingham, helps to create the new brew.

    Special brew to benefit SHARE

    Entries are open for this year's event.

    Enter now for Wokingham Bikeathon

    Sonning bridge. Pic: Google.

    Fine for Sonning weight breach

    This year's event is being held on Saturday, June 14.

    Carnival fun is coming to Woodley

    A grant from The National Lottery Fund will help volunteers at The Eco Skills Learning Centre in Arborfield to create more bird box kits for their children's workshops. PIcture: Spencers Wood Repair Cafe

    Grant means more homes – for the birds

    A banking hub in Yorkshire. Pic: Murray Scott/Link.

    Banking hub plans for village

    Retrospective plans have been refused. Pic: WBC.

    Vending machine plans refused

  • LIFESTYLE
    • All
    • Food
    • Health
    • Obituaries
    • People
    Entries are open for this year's event.

    Enter now for Wokingham Bikeathon

    A government push for more radiotherapy machines has been welcomed by ministers as the Royal Berkshire Hospital is among the services to benefit from them.

    Royal Berks one of 28 Trusts to see new radiotherapy machine investment

    A banking hub in Yorkshire. Pic: Murray Scott/Link.

    Banking hub plans for village

    Retrospective plans have been refused. Pic: WBC.

    Vending machine plans refused

    Mind in Berkshire, which provides support, advice, and signposting for mental health services in Berkshire, was commissioned to examine Black people's access to necessary services, as part of a wider drive from the Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to address inequalities in local services. Picture: PixaBay

    Mind in Berkshire report finds serious deficits in mental health provisions for Black people

    AB Walker

    VAUGHAN, David Raymond

    The Hope & Anchor. Pic: Rightmove.

    Historic town pub listed for sale

    Woodley Repair Cafe operates on the first Sunday of the month, at Christ Church, Crockhamwell Road, between 2pm and 4pm. Picture: Emma Merchant

    Get things fixed in Woodley

    Photography by: Summers Photography. Flowers by: Fletchers Flowers. Set up by: Crystal Hire.

    Get married and win a wedding at Dinton

  • WHAT’S ON
    • All
    • Arts
    • Entertainment

    REVIEW: “Three Hens In A Boat” at The Watermill Theatre

    Siren RG1

    Siren RG1 to mark first anniversary with weekender celebration

    Wellington Farm Shop

    Wellington Farm Shop celebrates its 20th anniversary

    Two concerts in one day from Reading's APO. Picture: Pexels via Pixabay

    An orchestral event in Wokingham promises evening of drama and contrast

    Eva Wong Nava will be at Trinity Hall Church on Monday from 4pm until 5pm. Picture: Eva Wong Nava

    Young writers can meet children’s author Eva Wong Nava

    Crafters can join a project  to decorate Twyford village centre with bunting Picture: Hello I'm Nik on Unsplash

    Get out the bunting for VE Day at Wokingham’s May Fayre

    Crowthorne Symphony Orchestra's performance of American music promises to be a fun and high energy evening. Picture: CSO

    Discounted tickets available for summer concert in Wokingham

    The Wokingham Lions Club has announced its new season of  #WOKY Comedy Nights at Wokingham Theatre, will begin on Friday, October 4. Picture: Wokingham Lions Club

    Enjoy the last of this season’s #Woky Comedy Night

    A concert at Wokingham Baptist Church will celebrate Ukrainian culture and support charity. Picture: Olena Romanovska

    Wokingham to host a concert of Ukrainian music and dancing

  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT
No Result
View All Result
Wokingham.Today
No Result
View All Result
Home Lifestyle Health Coronavirus

Why Winnersh man Christopher is now a zookeeper

by Phil Creighton
May 2, 2020
in Coronavirus, Featured, People, Winnersh, Wokingham
Christopher Elvin

Christopher Elvin with Sparkles the Unicorn Picture: Tony Johnson

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

ONE thing that a Winnersh man didn’t expect when the coronavirus lockdown was announced was to become a zookeeper. 

Every day, Christopher Elvin can be spotted taking one of his menagerie out for an evening stroll. 

His brood includes a flamingo called Agnes, a pig called Rasher and Dorothy the zebra. Oh, and there’s Sparkles the unicorn and Tommy the dinosaur. 

Each of them is taken for some exercise from around 5pm daily, except for Sundays. Christopher and his colourful costumes brighten up people’s days on 12 set routes, each one starting from Sainsbury’s in Winnersh. 

And it’s been so popular that he’s even started to take requests. 

“It’s all wonderfully barmy and quintessentially English,” the 54-year-old IT genius says, with a twinkle in his eye. 

Related posts

Man wanted in connection with three burglaries in Wokingham and Winnersh

Police provide update on minibus crash where six-year-old boy was killed

“I want to put a smile on people’s faces and I’d seen someone wearing a dinosaur suit on the news, so I thought I could do something silly like that. 

“It started with a flamingo suit and then a friend lent me a dinosaur.”

His collection is now eight-strong, with two new ones making their debut this week. 

“My wife’s favourite is Rasher the pig, but for me it’s horses for course, I have no favourites,” he said. 

“This week, we went to a home in Sadler’s Lane to help some three-year-old twins celebrate their birthday, it was the highlight of their day.”

And the costumes have been so popular that people wanted to support his efforts. 

“People stopped us and asked if we were collecting money, so we’ve set up a JustGiving page to raise funds for the Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS foundation,” he explained. 

He has set a target of £1,950 and already raised more than £700. 

Has Christopher been storing these costumes for that rainy day? Quite the reverse. 

“This is all new,” he said. “It is purely as a response to the current situation and allows me to let off steam.”

Christopher’s routes are usually posted to the Winnersh Community Facebook group, and on bit.ly/2y9Xsua

The Just Giving page, to make a donation, is at bit.ly/nhsflamingo

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: christopher elvincoronavirusRoyal Berkshire HospitalSainsbury'sWinnershWokinghamwokingham newswokingham people
Previous Post

Grub Club sees Norreys-based church feed the community thanks to donations

Next Post

Youngsters invited to join Wokingham’s virtual origami club

FOLLOW US

POPULAR THIS WEEK

Sell Before We Dai

Supporters’ Trust at Reading joins 21-group alliance calling for Football Governance Bill amendment

May 29, 2025
Sainsbury's Picture: Wikimedia Commons

Bracknell & Wokingham planning: More progress on new Sainsbury’s supermarket

May 27, 2025
Train station Picture: Pixabay

British Transport Police records ‘shocking’ rise in sex crimes that took place at Thames Valley train stations

May 27, 2025
Mike Forster

Councillor warns of ‘disinformation tsunami’ in Bracknell over resettlement scheme

May 26, 2025
Cockpit Path car park in wokingham. Pic: Andrew Batt.

Parking charges in Wokingham up – again

May 24, 2025
Trees at McDonald\'s The Keep, credit Isabella Perrin

Backlash against McDonald’s plans to fell six trees

May 27, 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.