Teenager’s tortoise club marks first anniversary with show

TORTOISES of all shapes, sizes and ages were put on display in Emmer Green on Saturday.

Dozens of people visited the open day at St Barnabas’s Church Hall in Grove Road staged by the Berkshire Tortoise Club to mark its first anniversary.

The club was founded by 15-year-old Olly Staines, of Kidmore End Road, Emmer Green, who has had a passion for tortoises since he got his first one, a Horsfield’s called Flo, three years ago.

Visitors to the show had a chance to see and hold spur thigh and leopard tortoises which had been brought by other owners.

There were displays about tortoise care, fun activities and a presentation by veterinary expert Bruce McLean.



Olly, a pupil at St Joseph’s College in Reading, gave a talk about keeping Mediterranean tortoises.

Lorna Woodman, a member of the club, brought along her  40-year-old spur thigh Bert and eight-month-olds Marley and Quinn. Bert was rehomed with Miss Woodman, of Caversham Park, from the Norfolk Tortoise Club which members visited last year.

Brenda Purcell, who  co-founded the Berkshire club, said: “So many tortoises need homes and with them being an endangered species the club can actually help them, which is wonderful.

“We hope to have Norfolk here in July or August so we can be an outreach for them. We can do their home checks and adoption process.”

For more information about the club, email berkshiretortoiseclub @hotmail.com