Page 1141 - Reading Mercury

ground. Mr. Tallent vowed that he would not pay the £58 release fee and decided to
have a go at removing the clamp himself. But he was advised by police that if he
broke the clamp he could be charged with criminal damage. Next he decided to let
some air out of the tyre and jack the car up to try and ease the clamp off. But then the
police stepped in. After taking advice from their control room they asked the clamper
to remove the clamp or else face arrest for receiving property by deception.
This was because there is no warning sign on the wall of the shop. The strip of land
on which Mrs. Tallent was parked was believed to be owned by the landlord of the
shop. But a police spokesman admitted the whole clamping situation was “a very grey
area.”
Mr. and Mrs. Tallent, from Forest Park, Bracknell, said they would never have paid
the £58 release fee.
Community worker Tommy Elwood who works from the centre behind Montague
House became involved in the clamping dispute after he was told what had happened
by the caretaker, who witnessed the clamping. “The clampers just waited in their van
until she got out of the car and then clamped her. She wasn’t gone more than a couple
of minutes.”

HARRY WILL JUST BE ONE OF THE BOYS
Prince Harry, who joined his brother William at Ludgrove School in Wokingham on
Monday will be subject to just the same rules and regulations as other pupils at the
£2,100-a-term school.
The 102-year-old school in Luckley Road has a staff of 13 masters and four
mistresses. It is conveniently situated just 90 minutes from the Prince and Princess’s
Gloucestershire home, Highgrove, and within easy reach of Windsor Castle.
An average day starts at 7.15 am, when matron wakes the pupils and they visit the
communal bathroom to wash, before prayers and breakfast in the dining room.
Lessons begin at 9 am. These are in classes of about 14 and include maths, scripture,
French, history, art and geography, as well as practical classes like carpentry. Other
activities include riding, fencing and model aircraft flying. Later Prince Harry will
also do computer studies.
The third in line to the throne will not be exempt from the rules and discipline which
apply to the school’s 190 pupils. The boys are allowed £5 pocket money per term and
fruit every day—but sweets are rationed to three times a week and cake from home is
allowed only at matron’s discretion. Phone calls are banned except in emergencies,
but pupils are allowed to spend three weekends a term at home.
Spanking was banned at the school in 1985. Instead, punishments include weekend
detention, being sent to bed early or suspension of the sweet allowance.
As a new boy or “squit”—the school’s nickname for first year pupils—the seven-
year-old prince will share a dormitory with a handful of other boys. He will wear a
uniform of blue or grey corduroy trousers, blue shirt and blue V-neck sweater.
Boarders are allowed three home visits a term. William, now nine, joined Ludgrove
two years ago.

Thur 1st Oct
CLAMPERS ARE BOOTED OUT
The Wokingham Library wheelclamping storm is over. The private clamping firm
which angered scores of Wokingham motorists has been given its marching orders.
The company’s contract ran out on Friday and it will not be renewed. There will be no
more clamping.

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