Page 1005 - Reading Mercury

So far there has been little comfort for the residents from Borough Engineer, Mr.
H.G. Bathurst. He said the one-way system had been an even greater success than he
had anticipated and that”it benefits the majority at the expense of the minority.” He
said that Murdoch Road was a private road but it was also a public highway. People
must realise that if you are going to reduce the inconvenience in the town centre to a
minimum there must be elsewhere. Traffic counts and speed checks would be
introduced next week and the system modified in the light of factual information.

Thur 24th Oct
LEGION HONOUR FOR ALDERMAN
There was a pleasant surprise for Alderman S.L. Bowyer, president of the
Arborfield branch of the British Legion at the annual dinner and dance last Saturday.
He was presented with the Legion Gold Badge awarded by the National Executive
Council on the recommendation of Arborfield, Barkham and District Branch.
Making the presentation, the county chairman, Mr. R. Rainer, said it was a great
pleasure for him to do so. Ald. Bowyer had rendered great service to the Legion and
the award was well merited. In a letter to Ald. Bowyer, the general secretary of the
British Legion, Mr. D.E. Coffer, said: “I am so pleased that your valued services to
the British Legion have been recognised in this way.”

th
Thur 5 Dec
BAKEHOUSE AND GARAGE ARE DEMOLISHED
Demolition of the bakehouse and garage premises in Rose Street, Wokingham at the
junction with Broad Street began this week. Part of the land is to be used to provide a
wider access to Rose Street, and the rest is expected to be offered for private or other
development. The site belongs to Berkshire County Council.

MAYOR LAUNCHES SCHEME WHICH COULD MEAN DAY CENTRE FOR
WOKINGHAM
Target of an appeal to be launched in Wokingham in the New Year to raise funds
for the welfare of the area’s old people is likely to be in the region of £50,000—
£60,000. This would be the cost of a well-equipped Day Centre in a scheme
sponsored by the Mayor, Coun. Mrs. J.M. Davy, and endorsed by a packed public
meeting at the Town Hall on Monday night.
The meeting attended by about 300 people representing all walks of Wokingham
life, approved the formation of a new body—Wokingham and District Old People’s
Welfare Association. All organisations in the area are to be invited to have
representation on its committee and a meeting at which officers are elected has been
provisionally fixed for the evening of Monday, December 16th, at the Town Hall.
Opening the meeting the Mayor said she was overwhelmed by the attendance. She
had never seen the Town Hall with as many people in it. She thanked all who had
given her encouragement in the plan to form the association. She said: “It all began
last June when in Finchampstead I was told that workers there were delivering Meals-
on-Wheels in Wokingham. I found that Wokingham itself did not deliver a single
meal. I was shocked and decided to look further into the question of old people’s
welfare in Wokingham. I found that wonderful work was being done by statutory and
voluntary bodies and by individuals. All had plans for helping the elderly, but because
there was no master plan they were getting no further in their efforts. It was obvious
to me that an old people’s welfare association was badly needed to get all efforts

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