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Valerie Moncur is a delightful, long term resident of our beautiful village. Her modest demeanour belies the interesting career she had when she was working. She was a leading woman at a time when the business world was much more male dominated than it is today.

Rue Morency works on special effects in the movie business . If you've seen an exploding building or a 14th Century castle siege with burning boulders flying over the battlements then Rue may well have been behind it and it's not AI stuff it's real fire! He and his wife Olivia recently moved to our beautiful village. So have a listen to find out what their first impressions of Sonning are and also hear about the movie stars Rue works with.

Join us as we catch up with David Barber, His Majesty's Swan Marker, at the annual swan upping event on the River Thames. David shares the history of swan upping dating back to the 12th century, its evolution into a conservation and education activity, and the intricate process of safely capturing and marking mute swans. Learn about the involvement of the Worshipful Companies of Vintners and Dyers, and the efforts to monitor and protect these majestic birds along the 79-mile journey from Sunbury to Abingdon. Don't miss David's recount of his 32 years of service and the ceremonial aspects of this unique tradition. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:32 The Tradition of Swan Upping 01:07 The Process of Swan Upping 01:37 Ownership and Marking of Swans 03:28 Public Engagement and Education 04:26 David Barber's Role and Experience 07:01 Conclusion and Farewell

In this episode of the Sonning Buzzcast, host Rob Jones sits down with Max McNeill, a pivotal figure in the village and a successful entrepreneur. Max shares insights into his journey from working with Digital Equipment Corporation to founding his own business, Ultima. He also discusses the significant role of Reading in the UK's digital landscape, his deep-seated passion for horse racing, and his life in Sonning. Max delves into his family history, his early career challenges, his love for Blackburn Rovers, and how he came to live in our beautiful village. This episode provides a unique glimpse into the life of a man who has made a significant contribution to our community. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Nomination 00:27 Meeting Max McNeil 01:32 Max's Early Life and Career Beginnings 07:25 Starting Ultima Business 11:29 Involvement in Horse Racing 14:18 Horse Racing as a Business and Passion 17:22 Favorite Race Courses and Events 24:17 Football and Family 27:47 Proud Parents: Jack's Journey to Social Media Stardom 29:55 Falling in Love with Sunning: A Personal History 32:35 Building a Dream Home: The Story of Bishop's Close 39:50 Exploring the Gardens: From Cow Field to Country Garden 49:07 Future Plans and Reflections

The Sonning Twinning Association hosted guests from The Liguge Twinning Committee for a weekend which included The Elegant Picnic, a beautiful boat trip, walks, drinking at Loddon Brewery, a visit to Oxford and plenty of entente cordiale.

Join us in Belinda Driver's beautiful garden as she shares stories about our picturesque village life, the local university farm, and community events. Belinda reflects on her long marriage to Alistair, their life together. She also delves into her professional life as a psychotherapist, discussing the importance of mental health, trauma, and the transformative power of music. With anecdotes of community involvement and encounters with celebrities like George Clooney and Bill Murray!

Join host Rob Jones in this engaging episode of the Sonning BuzzCast, where he talks to Guy Falkson and Paul Etherington, the minds behind the Sonning Buzz Facebook page. They discuss the origins and growth of Sonning Buzz, a platform aimed at providing real-time updates and fostering community engagement in the village of Sonning. Learn about their experiences, the community rules, and their vision for the future of Sonning Buzz. Discover how this initiative became a cornerstone for village communication and community activities. 00:00 Introduction to the Sonning BuzzCast 00:47 Meet the Founders of Sonning Buzz  02:47 The Purpose and Rules of Sonning Buzz 04:25 Community Events and Advertising Policies 06:18 Challenges and Administration of Sonning Buzz 10:07 Personal Histories and Connections to Sonning 17:20 Reflecting on Past Events 17:54 Future Developments and Growth 19:26 Community Engagement and Activities 20:01 Local Issues and Concerns 22:22 Personal Interests and Hobbies 24:04 Challenges and Infrastructure 27:23 Interesting People and Stories 29:10 Closing Remarks and Thank Yous

A few podcasts ago we spoke to Richard Caines, Jonathan Crump and Jeff Barnes about the regular water quality tests they are doing in the river. This is an update and it's not great news.....

Professor Alistair Driver - the ex-London Irish player is now Rewilding Britain and of course, Sonning. Here Ali's story.

David Woodward has lived in the same house in Sonning Eye since he moved there from Australia at the age of 6. He's a mine of information about local history. He's Chair of Sonning Eye and Dunsden Parish Council, he sings in a choir, does yoga and goes wild swimming, and there's more....!

Trefor has lived in the village since the late 70's. He was a pilot with British Airways but since retirement he's become a real stalwart of every aspect of Sonning life. He's currently Chair of Sonning Parish Council. In this Sonning Buzzcast we'll find out exactly what he and the Parish Council do. We'll also hear about an upcoming event to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landing.s

Richard Caines has lived in Sonning since 2021. His work with the WWF means he knows a thing or two about our environment and with the regatta coming up we thought it would be a good idea to to talk to him about the river. We met on the wharf along with Jeff Barnes, who swims in the Thames everyday and Jonathan Crump who had a bucket.....!

Richard Brooks is an author and investigative journalist, primarily for Private Eye. Sonning dog owners may have come across Richard via Mutley his Patterdale terrier! You may be surprised where Richard started his working life.

Ric Lee, drummer with supergroup Ten Years After, recalls his time living in Sonning and playing at the two biggest pop festivals in history - Woodstock and the Isle of Wight (1970).

Although Phil knows the area and has lived here most of his life, he's the relatively new Head Teacher at Sonning Primary C of E School. Phil tells us about his plans for the school and, er, his pig - Pablo!