Reading, Berkshire
Reading [ ɹɛdɪŋ ] is a city in the UK. It is a unitary authority within the county of Berkshire and is located at the confluence of the Kennet and Thames, halfway between London and Oxford.
History
As the first inhabitants settled in Reading in the year 870, moving by ship was considerable: In Reading the small river Kennet flows into the River Thames. Nowadays, you can go over the river Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal by narrow houseboat, a so-called Narrowboat up to Bath or Bristol.
On January 4, 871 King Ethelred of Wessex fought here against a Danish invasion army and lost the battle.
The name Reading is derived from the Old English word read, the equivalent to the German red. The ea is spoken as a short e.
Economy and infrastructure
Economy
The city is today an important business location and seat of the British headquarters of Oracle, Verizon and Microsoft. But also one of the few British solar company, Suntaics, here is headquartered. Also headquartered in Reading have the Yell Group, Logica and the BG Group.
Education and Science
In addition to its economic importance Reading is also a center of education. The University of Reading is visited by approximately 17,500 students and is positioning itself in the national rankings at the top. The University Library is home to the world-famous Samuel Beckett archive.
In addition, located in Reading, the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecast, ECMWF. From him relate many national weather services the foundations of their predictions.
Traffic
Reading can be reached by direct train from London Paddington ( 30 minutes ) and London Waterloo. The city lies on the M4 Motorway.
Culture
Known worldwide, the city is above all by the " Reading Festival ". A held annually Rock Festival, which attracts tens of thousands of spectators usually.
In 1998 established Madejski Stadium to play the Football Club Reading FC and the rugby union club London Irish.
Twinning
Reading maintains partnerships with the following cities:
- Dusseldorf ( Germany ), since 1988, but there are already links between the two cities since 1947.
- Reading ( Pennsylvania), USA
- Clonmel, Ireland, since 1994
- And Beruwala, Sri Lanka; San Francisco Libre, Nicaragua (since 1994 ); Speightstown, Barbados
Sons and daughters of the town
- Hugh Allen, conductor, music teacher and organist
- John Barnard (Lord Mayor ), Mayor of the City of London in 1737 (* 1685 in Reading, † August 28 1764 in Clapham )
- Eliza Bennett, Actress
- Richard Burns (1971-2005), rally driver
- David Byron, singer of the rock band Uriah Heep 1970-1976, died 1985 in Reading
- Douglas Clarke, conductor, music teacher, organist, pianist and composer
- Mike Cooper, guitarist and singer
- Chris Cunningham, Film Director
- Natalie Dormer, actress, best known from The Tudors
- Ricky Gervais, comedian
- Richard Howitt, politicians
- William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury
- Daniel McKenzie, racers
- Sam Mendes, director
- Catherine Mountbatten -Windsor, Duchess of Cambridge, née Kate Middleton, wife of Prince William Mountbatten -Windsor
- Pippa Middleton, sister of the Previous
- Cormac Murphy - O'Connor, Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church - student of Presentation College ( now The Elvian School)
- Mike Oldfield, multi-instrumentalist and composer
- Ruth Picardie, journalist
- Luke Slater, Techno - DJ
- Elizabeth Taylor, writer
- Richard Vernon, actor
- Kate Winslet, actress
- Graham Young, Simon " Steele " Whenlock and Jon Hill, see No Connection