Page 23 - A History Of Food And Drink In Wokingham

1940

There was a big push in Wokingham for the use of allotments. It was reported that “School-
masters in these areas say they can quite easily pick out the children of allotment holders from
their other scholars because they are invariably better clothed and fed and are more alert and
attentive”.

1941
At the meeting of the Food Control Committee, held on Monday 12 March with Mr. George
Ford as chairman, the Food Executive Officer, Mr. Geoffrey Heath, in presenting his report,
informed the committee that since the last meeting the third issue of ration books had been
made, and the number issued to date was 36,352.

Mr. Henry Bowyer one of Wokingham's, and indeed Berkshire's, best known and most popular
farming personalities passed peacefully away. Henry had been associated with Ashridge Farm
for nearly 50 years. A member of the Wokingham and District Agricultural Association he was
an expert grower of root crops and specialised in mangolds for which he won numerous prizes.

Note: Mangolds are a beet with a large yellowish root, grown chiefly as cattle feed.

Wokingham’s Fruit Preservation Centre opened at Wescott Road School. The school was
available to receive fruit from 4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. every Friday, and wholesale prices were
given for apples, plums, blackberries, etc., and wild fruit.

1943

There were 2,000 Land Girls working in Berkshire.
1944

The Green Bough Café opened at 41Market Place (now Boots) and provided a service in
particular until 1957 to soldiers based in Arborfield..
1949

Sweets had been taken off rationing but then were put back by Sir Stafford Cripps, Chancellor
of the Exchequer. Sweets were rationed at 4 oz. per head a week. At the same time the sugar
ration was reduced from 10 ozs, to 8 ozs., the butter ration was increased by 1 oz. to 4 ozs
weekly, and the meat ration was increased from 1s. 1d. to 1s 4d. per week.

1950
Some 150 members and friends of the Wokingham Allotment Holders’ and Gardeners’
Association attended the Association’s first annual dinner. There had been a growth in
membership from 17 to nearly 300. The Town Council was thanked for ensuring that water
was available on at all allotment sites in the borough, and for dealing with a great influx of
rabbits on allotments.

1951

Food gift parcels, sent from Australia, were distributed on behalf of the Mayor (Cllr. W.J.
Willey) to many Old Age Pensioners in the town.

th
Wokingham’s oldest bequest, the Westende Charity, celebrated its 500 anniversary this
year. The inhabitants of the almshouses at the eastern end of Peach Street had eight tons of
coal shared between them annually, and they also receive grants of meat and bread.

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