Ascot, Berkshire
Coordinates: 51°24′30″N 0°40′15″W / 51.4084°N 0.6707°W
| Ascot | |
 Ascot Racecourse |
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 Ascot old fire station |
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  Ascot
Ascot shown within Berkshire |
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| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| Parish | Sunninghill and Ascot |
| Unitary authority | Windsor and Maidenhead |
| Ceremonial county | Berkshire |
| Region | South East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ASCOT |
| Postcode district | SL5 |
| Dialling code | 01344 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Royal Berkshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Windsor |
| List of places: UK • England • Berkshire | |
Ascot is a small town within the civil parish of Sunninghill and Ascot, in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. It is most notable as the location of Ascot Racecourse, home of the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting. The region is split into three distinct areas: Ascot itself, North Ascot (partially in the civil parish of Winkfield) and South Ascot.
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[edit] Governance
Ascot is part of the district administered by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, a unitary authority.
[edit] Amenities
Facilities tend to be geared towards the racecourse, although there is sufficient, if limited, shopping available in the wide High Street. Most of the expected facilities one would expect to find in a small town are here, including a supermarket, petrol station and many cafes (including a new Starbucks). Most buildings are post-war with flats above the ground floor retail space. Heatherwood Hospital is at the western edge of the town. Ascot has a station on a bi-section of the railway line from London's Waterloo station to Reading, Bagshot, Aldershot and Guildford, originally built by the London and South Western Railway and now operated by South West Trains. As a consequence of the frequent service on this line, Ascot is now a commuter centre with its residents in both directions (westwards to Reading and eastwards to London).
[edit] Local schools
Prestigious schools in the area include St. George's School, Ascot (a private girls senior school recently attended by Princess Beatrice of York) and Papplewick, one of the leading schools preparatory schools in Britain. One of the local schools in the Ascot area is Charters School, which recently achieved a 'Grade 1 Outstanding' from the Schools watchdog OFSTED. Also there is the Licensed Victuallers' School, which is located down the road from Ascot Racecourse, and is a private and independent school. Another prestigious school in the area is St. Marys Ascot, a catholic all girls boarding school, located in south ascot. The school is most well known for its Catholic ethics and outstanding academic results, coming in the top 20 schools nationwide in the past few years, and rated 5th for A-level results last year.
[edit] Royal Ascot week
The centrepiece of Ascot's year, Royal Ascot is one of the World's most famous race meetings, steeped in history dating back to 1711. The royal family attend the meeting, arriving each day in a horse drawn carriage. It is a major event in the British social calendar. Although this has placed Ascot onto the British social map, it has many direct effects on the local community, not least of which are the associated traffic problems.
[edit] Army Cadet Force
Ascot also has an Army Cadet Force unit, which is known as 4 Platoon Ascot. The unit, being badged as Irish Guards (due to the unit belonging to A Company, Berkshire ACF; a company currently badged to the Household Division), means that the unit regularly sees Irish Guards events such as the famed St. Patricks Day Parade, and even has the privilege of taking part in an Irish Guards ACF skills competition, run by the battalion. It parades at 19:15 until 21:30 on a Monday and Wednesday night at Licensed Victuallers' School and actively recruits from the local and surrounding area. The unit used to parade at Ascot Racecourse, however they were evicted due to an appeal made out by the Racecourse owners. They now temporarily parade at the Sixth Form centre inside the school until their new unit is built in the nearby village of Sunninghill.
4 Platoon competed in the last Arborfield Cup (2009), which is a testing weekend held by SEAE Arborfield Garrison, in which all of the units within Berkshire (18 Platoons/Troops) are tested by regular soldiers in military skills and fitness tests alike. Ascot came 5th overall, slightly behind their better position of 3rd in 2008 and again came second in Foot Drill, under the watchful eyes of Sergeant (SI) Molloy, the units drill instructor, and their new Detachment Commander U/O I Greenway (an ex Captain with the Royal Logistic Corps (TA) and Section Commander in 1RGJ as a soldier)
[edit] Other
Tittenhurst Park, the former home of former Beatles John Lennon and Ringo Starr is located in Ascot. Also, Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding was born here. Chris Evans is now a resident and is regularly seen in the local pubs.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ascot, Berkshire |
- Ascot Village Website
- Royal Berkshire History: Ascot
- Ascot Racecourse
- Royal Ascot
- Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead: Ascot
- Photos of Ascot
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