SHINFIELD – THE TRAVELLERS ISSUE

At a recent UPSR meeting, the issue of a permanent site for *‘gypsies’ prompted a fractious debate amongst those present.

Concerns including petty crime, fly-tipping, anti-social behaviour and drunkenness were quelled by Chairman Tony Butoques who assured the *‘gypsies’ they had no more to fear in Reading compared to anywhere else, “especially Portsmouth where people get mugged on the way back from robberies”.

When put to the vote, the committee unanimously nominated one site most suitable for the *‘gypsies’ with good access to a main road and the Pack Saddle Public House in walking distance. The Chairman hoped that the people in Chazey Heath would not prove to be a bunch of nimbys.

*The caravaners around Reading are unique, proud people who should be cherished as an endangered race. 98.6% of the world’s ‘gypsies’ are descendants of the ‘Romany’ people originating from Eire circa 1,000 BC. Reading’s colony originate from the ‘Staymany’ people who are first found in the history books coming out of Colesius Parcus circa 499 AD.