18/7/23: Steve Baker OBE Chairman of National Pubwatch presented Star Awards at a Reading Best Bar None Awards ceremony held in the Mayor’s Parlour at Reading Civic Offices.
During the ceremony Steve presented two National Pubwatch Star Awards to Robert Smalley the councils Licensing Enforcement Officer and George Friel the Townsafe radio officer. Both were commended for their outstanding contribution to Reading Pubwatch over many years.
Lft to right: Robert Smalley & George Friel
Robert and George had been nominated for the awards by Bill Donne the Honorary Secretary of Reading Pubwatch.
Robert Smalley has been a regular attendee at Reading Pubwatch meetings since 2018, representing the Council on licensing matters by briefing members on the changes in licensing law and Covid regulations. Robert conducts research in forthcoming legislation that is progressing through Parliament that may have an impact on licensed premises including Pavement Café Licences, Off sales and Temporary Event notices in order to brief members.
He has provided regular guidance on how an official licensing audit is conducted and what is the criteria that must be met and will provide the necessary forms to ensure compliance. Robert is an auditor for the Reading Pubwatch Best Bar None Scheme conducting inspections in the greater Reading area.
Whilst on official visits, Robert promotes the benefits of being an active member of Pubwatch and as a result has introduced new members to the town centre and regional schemes.
After each monthly pubwatch meeting Robert will remain behind to conduct a surgery for those members that wish to have a 1:1 consultation. Robert is also a regular contributor to the Night Time Economy group.
George Friel is the Town safe radio officer employed by the Community Partnerships Service with Reading Borough Council whose responsibilities include the issuing of two-way radios to licensed premises to facilitate communication between venues, the police, CCTV operators and street pastors in the Evening and Night Time Economy.
George is a member of the Reading Evening and Night Time (ENTE) group sharing his broad experience of Reading issues, including street beggars and shoplifters.
For the past fifteen years he regularly presents at the monthly Pubwatch meetings and is the author of the standard operating procedure for the use of the radios, radio protocols and guidance on subject profiling used by members.
Since 2008, at least once year, sometimes three events, George has organised an anti-terrorist training seminar, be it Project Argus, Project Griffin, SCaN and ACT formats. In some years George has organised two or three seminars in a year based on demand for the benefit of Pubwatch members. He will book the venue, confirm reservations and provide individual certificates of attendance to Pubwatch members.
He is extremely efficient in delivering replacement radios to venues where malfunctions have occurred in order that they always have a working radio.
George has also volunteered as an auditor for the Pubwatch driven Best Bar None scheme for the Reading area.
Steve Baker said: “I’m delighted to present these awards. The actions of these two deserving individuals shows just how important it is that stakeholders such as the police and council continue to support their local Pubwatch schemes”.
Steve also praised the work of Bill Donne and the Pubwatch Committee in promoting the Best Bar None Scheme. Reading Pubwatch were winners of the National Pubwatch Awards 2022.
The National Pubwatch Star Awards are sponsored by HIT Training www.hittraining.co.uk
