Welcome to the Shaw-cum-Donnington parish web site. On this site we provide local information that we hope will be of interest both to residents of the parish and to visitors who come to take advantage of the many amenities that the area has to offer. Click here to see views of the parish.
Interested in joining the Parish Council?
People often wonder how they can get involved with the workings of the Parish Council and other community groups. If you are interested in joining the Parish Council, click here for more information. Visit our Local Info page for information about other groups in the Parish.
The Annual Parish Assembly is scheduled for Wednesday 23rd May at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall, Love Lane.
This is a good opportunity for you to meet the Parish Councillors and raise any issues that might be of concern.
Click here for a Word document (393 kb) with more information and details of how to raise issues (the Parish Clerk must be notified by no later than May 16th).
Click here for the Agenda (Word document 395 kb).
Do you want to put your spare time to good use in a satisfying and rewarding way?
Volunteer Centre West Berkshire has various opportunities to suit all. Click here to view the May bulletin (pdf 41 kb). This contains a variety of opportunities with contact details. Click here to visit the Centre's web site.
Seven water companies, including our provider Thames Water, have announced that they will impose a hosepipe ban from April 5th 2012.
This means that hosepipes may not be used on gardens, plants, houses, cars or boats, or to fill ponds or water butts, or to clean paths, walls, windows etc. Buckets and watering cans may still be used.
You risk a £1,000 fine of you contravene the ban.
Click here for links to the Thames Water website and leaflets that will provide more information.
Looking for help at home? Need to find care for a friend or relative? Want to keep active?
West Berkshire Council offers help through its Social Care Information Point (SCiP). Click here to download a leaflet (pdf 1.5 mb), or visit the West Berkshire Council website for more information.
The Three Horse Shoes pub in Donnington Village has developed a reputation for delicious Thai food and Sunday roasts. Give it a try!
Visit the pub's website for more details about the pub.
From the 14th November 2011 there will be a new national single non-emergency number to call the police which will replace the current 0845 8 505 505 number. The new national number is 101. Both numbers will run side by side until the end of March 2012.
In an emergency you should still dial 999.
A Shaw-cum-Donnington author, Anne Marie Brian, has had her second book published. "Toxic Ward - A Survivor's Story" can be ordered via your local bookshop or through Amazon. Signed copies are available direct from the author at annebrian6@aol.com.
This is Anne Marie's second published work, her first being "Don't Breathe a Word", which is a collection of poetry.
Age UK is providing an "easy shopping" service, with a choice of supermarkets and pre-arranged home delivery. Call 01635 522255 or click here (pdf, 130 kb) for more details.
The morning rain gave way to lovely warm sunshine just in time for the Abberbury summer garden party on Sunday September 4 2011. The event was well attended with a variety of stalls and activities, including a line dancing display, a puppet show, cream teas, bring and buy, a jewellery stall, tombola, raffle and competitions such as guess the number of smarties in the jar, name the bear, guess the cake weight etc.
Click here to view photographs of the event.
Councillor Bob Reed, who has been involved in the Shaw-cum-Donnington local council since 1960, has recently retired from the Parish Council.
Bob was elected as Chairman of the Parish Council in 1961, a post he held for 15 years. In 1965 he became Chairman of the West Berks District Association of Local Councils. He has been a lifelong supporter of the Labour Party and met Harold Wilson when the latter was serving as Prime Minister.
Bob has been married to Sylvia since 1949, and the couple recently celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary.
Bob has given a considerable amount of his time serving the community and will be greatly missed on the Council. We wish him all the best.
Click here for more details on the Parish Plan.
Grundon Waste is proposing to build an Energy from Waste (EfW), or Waste Incinerator Facility, at Old Kiln Quarry, Chieveley. No planning application has been submitted, but this is provoking considerable reaction amongst local residents and other interested parties.
Click here for links to the parties involved and also various background documents.
West Berkshire Council has teamed up with Ridgeway Care and Repair to improve levels of warmth, security and quality of life for vulnerable people.
Click here for more details and to see if you can benefit from this (pdf 1.8 mb).

The new play area on Donnington Recreation Ground was officially opened on April 17 2010 under glorious sunny skies by the Mayor of Newbury, Councillor Kuldip Singh Kang and the Chairman of Shaw-cum-Donnington Parish Council, Councillor John Edwards.
Click here for more details and photographs.
Funding for the playground has been provided by the DCSF Playbuilder scheme. Our chosen supplier for this important project is Wicksteed Playscapes - click here to visit their website.
A
Shaw resident, Sally Breach, has published her first novel, The Clearwater
Diamond.
The novel, over thirty years in the writing, was obviously a labour of love. For more information about the author, the book and where you can get it, please click here.