Page 1044 - Reading Mercury

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Thur 21 June
COUNCIL FINDS ITSELF WITH TIME ON ITS HANDS
What to do with a valuable gift has created a problem for Wokingham Borough
Council. They are faced with the disposal of an interesting clock on behalf of a local
charity but until a suitable “home” can be found they are left with a dismembered
timepiece on their hands.
The arrival of a Parliamentary clock which was once outside the home of Dr. P.P.
Pigott at 25, The Terrace, Wokingham, has posed something of a problem for the
Council.
Originally the intention was for the Parliamentary clock to be incorporated in the
new almshouse development of Wokingham United Charities in London Road, but
this fell through.
At Thursday’s meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee it was
reported that the clock was considered unsuitable for erection out of doors as part of
the almshouse scheme and there was no appropriate mounting for the clock elsewhere
within the development. In view of this the Trustees have ask if the council will
accept the clock for safe-keeping with a view to its possible inclusion in some other
scheme in the town, or alternatively, for mounting on some existing community
building.
The committee were told that the clock had some historic interest for the town in
that it had been part of the fabric of 25, The Terrace for almost 200 years and Dr.
Pigott’s wish was that it should remain in the town which could not be guaranteed
once she and her family had disposed of the property.
Mr. Nigel Butler, Town Clerk said that there were not many such clocks about.
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They got their name from the fact that when they were introduced in the 18 century a
specific licence had to be obtained from Parliament to display a timepiece where the
public could see it.
The council have agreed to take charge of the clock and although no suitable
position for mounting it is available at the moment, the Borough Engineer and
Surveyor (Mr. R.G. Gwynn) is investigating possible sites.

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Thur 28 June
‘TWINNING ASSURED’
Wokingham’s “twinning” with Aalten, Holland, is assured. That was the verdict of
members of Wokingham Chamber of Trade given at a meeting held at The Roebuck
on Tuesday.
Mr. Michael Drury, Secretary of the Chamber, reporting on the recent visit to Aalten
made by representatives of the group said that it was a success, not only from the
social side but in the number of people we met. Twinning is taking place in though if
not in deed. In this statement he was upheld by Mrs. Rene Field, a member who made
the visit. She said that no one would stop the visit now.
A film and slides taken on the trip were shown after the business part of the meeting
was concluded.

END OF A FREE ERA FOR WOKINGHAM DRIVERS
Parking space in Wokingham’s off-street car parks is no longer free. Unless drivers
purchase a ticket from the “Trust the Motorist” machine provided and display it in a
prominent position on their windscreens they are liable to a fine of 50p.
At a Chamber of Trade and Commerce meeting on Tuesday evening, Mr. Leyland
Jackson whose business overlooks a car park in Denmark Street, told of the

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