Ascot, Berkshire

Ascot
Ascot High Street
Population	5,100 (2001)
OS grid reference	SU925685
Civil 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
UK Parliament	Windsor

Ascot is a village 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.

Governance

Ascot is part of the district administered by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, a unitary authority.

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).

Local schools

Independent senior schools in the area include St. George's School (a private girls senior school recently attended by Princess Beatrice of York), St Mary's School, Ascot, a Catholic all girls boarding school, located in South Ascot and the Licensed Victuallers' School, which is located down the road from Ascot Racecourse. Papplewick, one of the leading preparatory schools in Britain is also based in Ascot. The local state secondary school in the Ascot area is Charters School in nearby Sunningdale, which received a 'Grade 1 Outstanding' assessment from the Schools watchdog Ofsted in 2009.

Royal Ascot week

Main article: Ascot Racecourse

The new grandstand at Royal Ascot

The centrepiece of Ascot's year is held in June: 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.

Economy

Ascot Racecourse employs over 70 full-time staff, which increases temporarily to 6,000 during Royal Ascot week. The village has a variety of businesses located at the Ascot Business Park, opened in 2008, including the UK headquarters of global toy manufactuter Jakks Pacific, in addition to numerous small and medium enterprises. The Chartered Institute of Building, a professional body for those working in the construction industry and built environment, is also based in Ascot.

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. The unit now has a new Detachment Commander - Staff Sergeant (SSI) Richard Pelling.

Notable residents

• Chris Evans, radio and TV presenter, lives in Ascot
• Sarah Harding, singer, Girls Aloud, born in Ascot
• John Lennon and Ringo Starr of The Beatles, lived at Tittenhurst Park, Ascot

External links

• Ascot Village Website
• Royal Berkshire History: Ascot
• Ascot Racecourse
• Royal Ascot
• Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead: Ascot
• Photos of Ascot
• Ascot Volunteer Bureau (provides transport to medical appointments for the elderly)
• Live and Do The Guide to Living in England