Wokingham

The hijab to housing development, recycling to respect and diversity to declining birth rates were just some of the issues debated in a busy Wokingham District Council chamber last Friday (October 13).

There was also considered debate over the future of Wokingham district’s schools and whether there will be a black Prime Minister in 2020.

Question time came to the Wokingham district as part of the council’s Black History Month celebrations, and saw some 40 people - young, old, black, Asian and white - descend up the civic offices in Shute End Wokingham to join in lively debate with the conference keynote speakers on a whole range of black and minority ethnic issues.

Organised by the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Forum Wokingham, in partnership with Wokingham District Council, the question time conference also covered the achievements and contributions of black and minority ethnic communities and was chaired by Jeff Hinds, former long-standing organiser of the Reading Community Carnival and founder member of the Association of British Calypsonians (ABC).

The panel comprised MEP Nirj Deva, Thames Valley Police superintendent Stephen Kirk, Dr Prem Sharma, Reverend Beverley Browne and Alexis Wright from the Commission for Racial Equality.

The event was hosted by Cllr Bob Wyatt, co-chair of the BME Forum Wokingham, who said: “The conference promised an interesting and lively debate on a range of subjects – and it certainly didn’t disappoint, with panelists and delegates exercising their freedom of speech. It was a wonderful evening with a wide divergence of views which certainly put the panel to the test. It was good to see everyone coming together to enhance democracy.

Jeff Hinds said: “"Once again this forum produced most captivating questions and answers from the panel and it proved to be very informative."

Black History Month is a celebration of Caribbean, Asian and African and world cultures past and present, which is being held for the third year running in the Wokingham district. It provides an opportunity for young and old people from all backgrounds to learn more about the cultural heritage of black and minority ethnic communities.

Question Time was followed on Saturday night (October 14) with a fun-filled taster and performance at Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way, Woodley. Over 100 people enjoyed the cultural evening, sampling food from the Caribbean and Asia whilst getting into the rhythm of world music.

And to bring the celebrations to an end, AJ’s Calypso Tent will bring a carnival atmosphere to the Oakwood Centre on Headley Road in Woodley on Saturday October 28. Admission is by ticket only and these are on sale for £7.50 from the Oakwood Centre on (0118) 969 0356 and from AJ’s Caribbean Scene on 07930 907354.

A number of well-known artists including Notting Hill Carnival’s very own Brown Sugar, Dame Polly Falconer, Dave Batson, Rev B, Cereal and Music Man, to name just a few, will be performing. MC for the night is Wokingham’s BME Forum member Jeff ‘De Admiral’ Hinds.

Helping Jeff Hinds to coordinate the events are the district council’s social inclusion officer Ashwani Gupta and policy manager Josie Wragg.

Wokingham District Council