Kirjahaku

Wokingham sits on the edge of Windsor Great Forest. Originally settled by the Wocingas, an Anglo-Saxon tribe, the town grew steadily – but its early prosperity was cut short when half of the houses were destroyed during the English Civil War. Wokingham has hosted bull-baiting, highwaymen and a multitude of beer houses. The town’s people have played their part in both world wars. Its rich history is interwoven with the history of England: a story of good times and bad, from the Beaker people to the Victorians to the present day. Wokingham is the quintessential English county town.

The Berkshire town of Wokingham has over 1,000 years of history, and this history is interwoven with the bigger story of England. Underneath the vestiges of the modern town, it is still possible to uncover Wokingham’s secret past, which includes bull-baiting and highwaymen, breweries and medieval fairs. This book looks at the history of the town from its founding through to the current day, covering, among other things, Wokingham Town Hall and its unique form of governance, provisions for the poor and old in the Lucas Hospital almshouses and the Old Workhouse, poaching in nearby Windsor Forest, and Wokingham’s first cinema, The Electric Theatre. Wokingham’s medieval Rose Street and surviving ancient houses are explored, as well as the town’s oldest pub and its brewing history. The transformation of the town with the arrival of the railways is also examined. With tales of remarkable characters, unusual events and tucked-away or disappeared historical buildings and locations, Secret Wokingham will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of this historic town in Berkshire.

The legal profession is going through a period of unparalleled change necessitated, in part, by the growth in criminalisation of matters which in a previous era may have been dealt with in the civil courts or even by way of commercial resolution. In part this has been fueled by the growth of the consumer movement and its reinforcement by the law, originally stemming from Europe but now very much enshrined in English domestic law.A Practical Guide to Criminal & Regulatory Proceedings in Consumer Protection Matters explains how the law has developed to the point it is now at and sets out how this is now enforced in English courts. Both sides of the civil and criminal landscape are examined as is the way in which the regulations are applied to traders and consumers.The book addresses the powers of investigation which are created by the various pieces of Consumer focused legislation now in force as well as the criminal offences which can arise. It also explores the steps in case preparation which lawyers may be advised to follow especially given some of the legal presumptions which apply in these type of cases.ABOUT THE AUTHORRichard Gibbs gained his original degree in Political Science and History at University College Dublin; he converted to law at Birmingham University before reading for the BPTC at the University of Law and then being called to the Bar by The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple where he won the Lawson moot.He is a practicing barrister prosecuting and defending in regulatory and criminal cases across England & Wales. He has a strong interest in non-CPS prosecutions and has extensive experience of defending individuals and companies in matters relating to Trading Standards and Health and Safety offences. In addition to his practice at the Bar, he is a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Law lecturing aspiring barristers and solicitors in law and the fundamentals of legal practice. He has been a regular contributor to legal journals since becoming a barrister in 2012.He has appeared on the BBC as a commentator on criminal sentencing and regularly delivers training to police in criminal justice matters. Richard lives with his wife and daughter in Worcestershire.