Life is sweet on Talfourd Avenue.

Residents get together every year for Bake Off competitions, Big Lunch street parties complete with odds vs evens tug-of-war, and coach trips to the seaside. It even has its own choir.

Their yearly music festival – Talfest – attracted 100 partygoers this year, with neighbours taking down fences and turning their street into a live music venue complete with local performers.

The vibrant community has been nominated for a Pride of Reading Award, in the Reading’s Best Street category, not by a resident, but by someone from a neighbouring street.

The Talfourd Avenue community choir in action at Talfest
(Image: Rachel Helsby)

Alex Brannen, who lives on Whiteknights Road, said: “Although we don’t actually live on the street, we’d like to nominate Talfourd Avenue as being an exemplar of what a real community street should be.

“This is a street with all the ingredients of a vibrant community which spans every age group, from students to families and retired people.”

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Alex highlighted not only Talfest in the nomination, but shared how Talfourd Avenue residents arrange picnics and rounders in their local park and host a film club for children in the University’s Wessex hall of residence on one Sunday a month.

Alex added: “The street has taken part in the Playing Out scheme for many years – Talfourd Avenue is closed to traffic one Saturday afternoon a month to allow children (and adults) to play in the street.

Local performers are encouraged to showcase their talent at Talfest
(Image: Rachel Helsby)

“Talfourd is one of the most popular streets in Reading to visit on Halloween as so many members of the street make a big effort to light up their windows and provide scary encounters.

“The street caters for lots of cultural interests with its own long running book club, film club, street choir and most recently monthly Album night.

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Pride of Reading 2019

“Furniture, beds, surplus of vegetables are just some of the things that are passed from house to house, generation to generation. One bunk bed has been assembled and disassembled four times and carried up and down the street in recent years.

“From feeding cats while people are on holiday to babysitting or providing a shoulder to cry on, it is the most supportive street we have ever come across.

“An appeal for emergency plumbing advice at 10 o’clock at night brought multiple offers of help and a speedy knock on the door from a neighbour.

“Neighbours who have been ill or injured have been able to rely on the street to do their shopping, cook their meals and even wash their hair.

A neighbour said that all streets should have the community spirit that Talfourd Avenue has
(Image: Rachel Helsby)

“A communal planter adorns one end of Talfourd. Somehow, magically, it gets planted, watered and maintained without any real need for a rota.

“New arrivals are welcomed with invites to events and offers of cups of tea, and this is what is so magical about the street.

“Of course, there are people who take the lead on street events but much of what happens is organic. No need for overt organisation, chivvying or three-line whips.

“Talfourd has a very gentle way about shaping its place, making it not only a better place to live but actually a home, a community and friends all in one.

“I think it should be an inspiration for other streets in Reading.”

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The Reading’s Best Street Award is sponsored by Haslams and is open to any street in Reading, Berkshire.

Nominate someone you know for a Pride of Reading Award

To nominate a person or business for a Pride of Reading Award fill out the form below and wait for our reporter to be in touch.

Please note there is no need to send in multiple nominations for the same person or organisation.

The judges’ decision on whether a nominee is shortlisted is based on each individual story – rather than the number of nominations each person or organisation receives.

Any details you have given on your nomination form may be used.

If you can’t see the nomination form above please click here .

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