Page 1009 - Reading Mercury

Wokingham joins the growing number of towns this week where motorists can
serve themselves at modern petrol pumps. The chance comes with the re-opening this
week of the Southrold Service Station, in Broad Street, the town’s first self-service
station.
It is operated by Hurst Garages (Berkshire) Limited. The parent company, which
has other garages in Wokingham/ Twyford areas and the group has long standing and
close associations with the Cleveland Petroleum Company. The new self-service
station will be under the direct control of managing director Mr. Graham Bailey.
Motorists who have never served themselves before may be appreciative at the
prospect of filling their own tanks. Such questions as: “How does it all work?”, “Will
I have to calculate the cost myself?” immediately raise themselves.
They need have no worry however. Plenty of others have easily mastered the simple
controls and now prefer the quick service. There are always as many attendants as
customers.
The new pumps called blenders, serve four grades of petrol, which are clearly
marked by the star system and Cleveland’s own well known trade names. Petrol
prices are clearly marked. The selector control is marked with the star grades and
trade names. A fore court attendant will be available to help you and provide any
guidance you may require. A motorist wishing to serve himself will drive up to the
pump and turn the selector knob on the side of the pump to the grade he wants.
Another clearly marked lever switches on the pump, but even at this stage, you’re
not going to be drowned in a stream of highly inflammable petrol. The flow is
controlled by the trigger on the nozzle. The new do-it-yourself pump attendant merely
puts the nozzle into his petrol tank and squeezes the trigger to start filling.
On the face of the pump there are two registers of figures for each grade of petrol.
One clearly records the number of gallons sold, while the other equally clearly records
the cash value of the sale.
Shelter
At the same time the gallonage and cost of the sale are recorded on a control console
near the pay desk. A two-way intercom system between pump island and pay desk has
been installed for customer’s convenience. In case of difficulties help is always
quickly available, while Southrold’s pumps are sited underneath a large canopy—an
added amenity for self-service during bad weather.
The station is one of 2,200 operated in this country by Cleveland. This company’s
own brand of accessories will be on sale and the site will offer comprehensive
servicing facilities. Additional services such as credit card transactions, motor
insurance and self-drive car hire will also be available.
On the opening an introductory offer of 1s per gallon off cash purchases of four
gallons and over will be available. In addition the site will offer quadruple Green
Shield stamps on cash purchases of four or more gallons.
The site will operate bonus stamp offers on selected tyres, batteries and accessories
and will be open from 7 am-11 am daily, including Sundays. The opening hours are to
be extended to a 24-hour operation in the near future.

th
Thur 26 March
DEATH OF MR. ALAN PERKINS
“A man of strong calibres, a fine brain and high principles.” This was one of the
tributes paid this week to Mr. Alan Howard Perkins who died in a nursing home on
Thursday after a short illness. Mr. Perkins was 80, and is survived by his wife, a
daughter and two sons. His home was at 5 South Drive, Wokingham.

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