Who is Junior
Harpaul Singh Bola, known affectionately as Junior, a loving, caring, brave family man and a good friend to many. A Maidenhead resident for many years, Junior was born in a Derbyshire village, where his passion for retail began at a young age, taking his first steps as a toddler into the family shop, charming the locals.
Fast forward a few years, the family moved to Berkshire, where they owned a business in London. Junior would wake up extra early to accompany his dad, not out of obligation, but simply out of love for the family business.
Junior completed his education and earned a degree with honors in construction, yet his heart remained with the family business, where he worked alongside his father. The time they spent together helped forge an unbreakable bond. They both worked hard to grow the family business until the pandemic struck.
With the country in lockdown, Junior, now married with two adorable children, wanted to create something special for the local community that would allow him more time with his family. Thus, Ockwells Cafe & Soft Play was born.
Over several months, Junior and his father poured their hearts into renovating the cafe, drawing inspiration from the independent coffee shops in Shoreditch, Hackney, and Lambeth. Junior was passionate about serving freshly brewed coffee and high-quality food. As they put the final touches in place, the cafe was set to open in January 2021. Tragically, at this time, Junior was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and sadly passed away in March 2021.
The family was heartbroken and traumatized by this loss, leaving the cafe closed for several months. After much discussion, they felt it was only right to open the cafe in honor of Junior's vision—creating a welcoming family cafe and soft play area that he had worked so hard for.
It has been a bumpy journey and a steep learning curve, and we admit we haven’t always gotten it right, but our intentions are pure. We are committed to leaving a lasting legacy in Junior's name. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the freshly brewed coffee at Junior's Cafe & Soft Play (formerly Ockwells Cafe).
Junior's Cafe and Soft Play: Our Story
At Junior's Cafe & Soft Play, community support is at the heart of our mission to give back and further solidify Junior's name and legacy. We are proud to sponsor a variety of great causes that make a difference in our community. Locally, Junior's Cafe & Soft Play supports the Farnham Powerchair Football Club, a remarkable initiative run by parents and volunteers that provides the first-ever powerchair football club in the area. This club offers disabled adults and children the chance to engage in this thrilling and rapidly growing team sport.
Internationally, we have extended our community support to a village in Punjab, India, where we supplied a hydraulic water cooler system and provided land for a fully equipped gym, aiding the village in its fight against drugs.
Stay tuned for more updates on our family cafe’s initiatives!
