Berkshire weekly round-up: 27 April - 3 May 2024

The annual race typically starts at Boulters Lock in Maidenhead

A story about an annual swimming race being cancelled over sewage fears was among our most read this week in Berkshire.

A variety of local issues were featured on the BBC News website, BBC Radio Berkshire and South Today.

We have picked five stories to keep you up to date.

Bookmakers urged to step in to stop gambling addicts

Harj Gahley started gambling aged 23

A recovering gambling addict has claimed bookmakers are not doing enough to stop people from betting excessively.

Harj Gahley, from Slough, Berkshire, started gambling when he was 23 and said his problem "spiralled out of control and nearly destroyed my life".

He compared bookmakers' duty of care to that of a bartender being obliged to stop serving a heavily drinking customer from becoming too intoxicated.

The Gambling Commission, the industry's regulator, said protecting customers was "at the heart of what we do".

Unicorns inclusive rugby club 'provides a home' for members

The team went unbeaten in the 2023/24 season

"You don't have to hide any part of yourself," says Berkshire Unicorns RFC tighthead prop John Hamp.

The Unicorns are a fully inclusive rugby club - with the majority of their members being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Their full contact 1st XV team competes against other inclusive teams from across the world.

They recently won the International Gay Rugby (IGR) UK league for the first time in their seven-year history.

Annual Thames swimming race cancelled over sewage fears

Organisers said they were "unable to find any satisfactory way" that the river would be safe to swim in

This year's edition of an annual race that dates back to the 1890s has been cancelled because of fears about sewage in the River Thames.

The Boulter's to Bray Swim in Maidenhead involves completion of 5km (3.1-mile), 2.8km or 1.4km courses.

The trust that manages the event said it was "unable to find any satisfactory way" to be assured the river would be safe to swim in on 6 July.

Entries will be rolled over until the next event is held or refunded.

Brothers to tandem paddleboard 100 miles along Thames

Tim and Adrian will hope to raise £1,000 for Diabetes UK and their other brother Stephen will be cheering them on

Two brothers are planning to paddle 100 miles in the same paddleboard to raise money for charity.

On 11 May, Adrian, 58, and Tim Angell, 60, will travel down the River Thames from Lechlade in Gloucestershire to Windsor in Berkshire on a tandem paddleboard.

The pair, originally from Cumbria, hope to raise £1,000 for Diabetes UK.

Adrian Angell has raised more than £10,000 for the charity in multiple paddleboarding challenges across the world over the past six years.

Maidenhead couple help gadgets project after health scare

Chris Monk (left), was alerted to his atrial fibrillation by his sports watch

A couple have worked with scientists to find out how smartphones and sports watches can improve health after one of them was alerted to an issue by theirs.

Chris Monk, from Berkshire, finished a routine 10k (6.2 mile) run in 2019.

When his sports watch showed his heart rate was not slowing down, he was admitted to hospital and found to have atrial fibrillation.

Mr Monk's wife joined a group to help scientists work out how similar gadgets' data can help people's health.

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