5 October 2023
CADRA joined the mayor and councillors as he unveiled a plaque commemorating a 100 years since Reading Bridge was opened. The event was on TV Meridian, ThamesTV (See link to their Story) and in the local press Reading Today, See more about how it was built and CADRA's leaflet.
7 September 2023
CADRA and the Conservation Area Advisory Committee jointly applied for Reading Bridge to have a Local Listing, so we are pleased hear that this has been accepted, and in time for its centenary on the 3 October 2023. The bridge has been added to Reading Borough Council’s list of Locally-Important Buildings and Structures. The CADRA team produced a small Booklet telling the story of the bridge to mark its centenary.
The Emmer Green Village Sign, situated near Emmer Green Pond, was
commissioned by the Emmer Green Residents Association and erected in 2003.
Crafted by the Berkshire Wood Carvers Association, it reflects the village's rich history, featuring imagery of early life and notable landmarks like the Mafeking Oak and St Barnabas Church. The sign includes plaques representing various local organizations, such as schools, clubs, and societies.
Over two decades, the sign suffered from weathering and damage. When EGRA disbanded in 2023, CADRA took over and restored the sign in 2025. The restoration involved cleaning, repairing, and replacing motifs with help from Reading Men's Shed and Blast Away, ensuring this cherished landmark remains a symbol of community pride. See the Full Report
The Noticeboard in the Emmer Green precinct has a long history. With the closure of EGRA, the CADRA
team expanded to include those looking after the board. The frame of the board was starting to fail, and enquiries began on how best to restore the board and what permissions would be needed.
Reading Men’s Shed, a charity formerly known as the Silvers Workshop, agreed to take on the restoration and MBC Fencing in Emmer Green removed the old posts and installed the new ones. Caversham Vehicle Hire helped with a van to transfer the board to and from the workshop. Vistry, the developers for the old Reading Golf Club land, donated a major part of the cost, with the balance met by CADRA.
It was a real community project, coordinated by the CADRA Committee.
The board was put back in May 2024, looking very smart with new posts and a new plaque
fitted. On 29 May, CADRA invited everyone who had contributed to the restoration to come and meet the team who look after the board, before gathering for a drink in The Bite café.
Reading Bridge opened on 3 October 1923. To mark the centenary and to provide a local resource, the CADRA team researched the history and construction of Reading Bridge. Working with local designer Anke Ueberberg, a small booklet was produced to tell the story of the bridge. Available for sale (Fourbears Bookshop) and free to Download.
Reading Museum's Blog posted CADRA's Reading Bridge 1923-2023.
CADRA, working with the Conservation Area Advisory Committee made a successful application to the Council for the bridges's Local Listing.
After EGRA was disbanded in March 2022, CADRA welcomed new members from Emmer Green and collaborated with the author to
reprint the captivating book Emmer Green Past and Present.
Assisted by Fourbears Bookshop, this initiative generated sales and heightened interest in Emmer Green, leading to the commissioning of a second printing. Learn more about EGRA and Emmer Green History.
With the expected disruption to a normal family Christmas due to Covid 19, CADRA
wanted to bring a little cheer. Helped by two local artists: Janina Maher and Liz Real, who responded enthusiastically and produced six black and white images each of Caversham with a Christmas theme, anyone could print copies to colour in and display in their windows and wish each other a very Happy Caversham Christmas!
At the end of March 2020, as the country went into its first lockdown life was 
very difficult for all sorts of reasons.
To try and make sense of the official and informal support available, CADRA developed a new web page. This included: what shops were delivering, takeaway services, staying healthy, keeping in touch and dealing with anxiety, how we as individuals could help, as well as updates from the Council about how their services had altered.
Initially things changed frequently, as ways were found to best help and make sure the most vulnerable were looked after, and so our web page had to keep up. This continued throughout the year, and will do so until the pandemic is behind us. We hope it has been useful and we have had some nice feedback. It was wonderful to see how our local community was able to pull together, and our thanks go out to the many individuals who put themselves out to help others. It really did make a difference.
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Stuart King, who carved the 2002 sign, repaired and repainted it. The sign commemorates the Golden Jubilee of H M Queen Elizabeth II, in 2002 and was designed and commissioned by CADRA . To find out more about the sign read: The Caversham Village Sign
This Richly Illustrated Panel (©CADRA 2019) was developed by CADRA, to commemorate 800 years 
since the death of William Marshal, in Caversham on the 14 May 1219.
He was one of the most influential figures in Medieval England and was lauded as the Greatest Knight who ever lived.
The panel is on the Caversham Bridge viewing platform, looking towards Deans Farm, where his home was thought to be and Reading Abbey, where his body was taken for a mass, before his burial at Temple Church, London.
The artwork is by Martin Andrews and the design by Anke Ueberberg. Dr Thomas Asbridge, who advised on the text, is the author of the well-respected book, “The Greatest Knight”, and an internationally renowned expert on the history of the Middle Ages.
The panel was unveiled on 7 November 2019, by the team who developed it and children from the Heights Primary School.
A celebration was held to thank everyone who supported the project, including Reading Civic Society and the generous donors who contributed to the project costs, exceeding £5000.
Following work between the Council and a number of voluntary groups, the new voluntary Reading Conservation Area Advisory Committee was formed in 2016. A number of the CADRA committee are also members of the CAAC, providing support on local issues including review of existing Conservation Areas and advice on Heritage issues for both the Local Plan and individual planning applications. Following an extensive piece of work, the report on St Peters Conservation Area was completed in November 2018 with the adoption of this Revised Appraisal. This also provides a model for work on the remaining 14 areas across Reading. Read more at: Conservation Areas
In 2017, CADRA marked 50 years since the association first started with a series of talks on 'What makes Caversham special', a special edition of the newsletter looking back over 50 years (Anniversary Newsletter), planting of a copper beech tree near the Caversham War Memorial and a celebration with members to toast 'the team past and present' and the 'next 50 years.
Building on the work from 'Caversham 100 Years On', CADRA compiled an exhibition for display in Caversham Library throughout August 2014. This is in three sections (all pdfs are ©CADRA 2014):
In November 2013, CADRA held a joint meeting with the Caversham Traders Association to open discussion on what might be done in Caversham to make roads more ‘friendly’ to non-motorists. From there, the ‘Sharing our Streets’ project has progressed, engaging local people and Reading Borough Council in how a proper strategy could be achieved, which uses more up to date methods to allow traffic to flow through smoothly and pedestrians to move around more freely. Work continues in preparation for funds becoming available from development in Caversham centre.
Read more at: Sharing Our Streets
For the 2012 Heritage Open Days, CADRA and the Friends of Caversham Court Gardens joined together to lead Heritage Walks of Caversham. The route was based partly on the heritage map, which is to go up outside Caversham Library as part of the Caversham 100 Years On project. CADRA has been responsible for the research and coordination of the map, working with local artists and designers
Visitors began their tour on Caversham Bridge for a brief glimpse into some of the early history of Caversham manor and the growth of industry, commerce and leisure as the village expanded. From a site of pilgrimage to a tourist destination and now to a thriving urban centre, Caversham has developed through the ages and still has examples of architecture from the 12th century to the 21st.
There are many hidden gems to please the eye, and many characters who contributed to Caversham's history. The walks sought to draw attention to some of these and to build on the legacy of the Caversham 100 Years On project. Visitors ended their walk in Caversham Court Gardens for tea by the river and further insights into the history of the area with a tour of this recently-restored site.
It was originally planned to take two groups of fifteen people but as these booked up so quickly, an extra two groups were arranged and all four tours were fully booked. The groups included people from Caversham, Reading and across the world.
Look out for local events over the Heritage Weekends each September at https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/about
A project to celebrate Caversham’s rich local heritage during the centenary year of the boundary change in 1911.
This was set up and managed by CADRA, working jointly with the Friends of Caversham Court Gardens and the Rotary Club of Caversham with support from Reading Borough Council.
More information can be found at: Local History
CADRA played a leading role in:
The Heritage Map was installed in January 2013. The leaflet is on sale in Caversham Library or can be viewed online here
An exhibition to mark 40 years since the formation of CADRA in 1967 and to bring together different organisations working for Caversham.
Ruby Anniversary Edition newsletter
featuring an account of some of the changes and CADRA’s campaigns over the past forty years.
CADRA Celebrates its Ruby Anniversary
a good crowd turned out and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves
Commissioned jointly by CADRA and Reading Civic Society and funded by their members, to commemorate the work of the late Molly Casey, founder member and Life President of CADRA.
Ruby Anniversary Edition newsletter
which includes an account of the dedication service of the Wind Vane.
