Reading–Basingstoke line Reading–Basingstoke line The Reading–Basingstoke line is a short railway link between the South Western Main Line and the Great Western Main Line, constructed by the Great Western Railway between 1846 and 1848. The line is served by Great Western Railway local services between Reading and Basingstoke, which stop at the intermediate stations Reading West, Mortimer and Bramley. The line is also an important through route for longer distance passenger and freight services: CrossCountry services from Bournemouth and Southampton to Birmingham and the North of England and freight trains between Southampton Docks and the Midlands use the line. The section of
R. O. B. Manley O. B. Manley did not actually enjoy the taste of honey. Faced with the problem of drips of honey running down the sides of jars, the 'production line' featured an ordinary vacuum cleaner to 'suck' the last drops away. Rumour has it that this was the domestic vacuum cleaner from the house and that Mrs Manley was entirely opposed to this, but this rumour appears to have been started by R. O. B. Manley himself, so may lack veracity and is included here rather more to provide an insight into the dry wit of this man. R. O. B. Manley