The Purple Turtle was never meant to survive. But through friendship, music and sheer chaos, it became a Reading institution – and home to generations of stories too wild to make up.
This one was a lot of fun. It's free to read. Enjoy! And share your best tales from the Turtle...
Hi folks.
I've spent four months building The Reading Reporter: 32 in-depth stories about Reading that I hope have felt very different from the usual local news.
Today I'm launching paid memberships. But I'm really curious to know what people on here have made of it. What's worked? What's missing? What do you want to read next?
The subscriber numbers don't match the reader numbers, which tells me plenty of you are lurking! Come say hello. All feedback welcome.
Here's how to subscribe (for free or paid): https://thereadingreporter.substack.com/p/four-months-32-stories-now-its-your
Cheers,
Chris
Ever wondered what it's really like at an election count? Well, here you go...
Labour councillors lost their seats, the Greens celebrated, Reform unsettled the room and exhausted activists watched Reading’s political future unfold deep into the night at Rivermead Leisure Centre.
As Reading heads to the polls on Thursday 7 May, Green councillor Dave McElroy sets out a bold, sometimes radical vision for the town – and insists his party is focused on replacing Labour by next year.
Let me know what you think - and please subscribe on Substack for more!
Reading has only just become the unexpected headquarters of one of the world’s most ambitious military projects. Yet there are already doubts over the future of the Global Combat Air Programme.
Cheers for the support, everyone. News round-up and culture picks for the week are also included in this post. Have a great bank holiday weekend.
Hey folks, let me know what you think of this one!
An exclusive report, seen by The Reading Reporter, reveals how Reading’s City of Culture bid collapsed in just six days – and that key figures believed the town must “act as if it has won even if it does not make the longlist”.
I can only continue to do independent local journalism like this if you help support it! So please subscribe via the link - you'll get stories emailed direct to you.