Page 1061 - Reading Mercury

Mr. Feather has contacted various societies, such as the Wokingham Players who,
before their own theatre in Norreys Avenue was built, staged some shows in the Drill
Hall; Woodley .Light Operatic Society; East Berkshire Operatic Society; Wokingham
Madrigal Society; Yateley Opera Group; the Felicity Morgan School of Dancing and
a possible Wokingham Operatic Society, who all agreed that such a theatre would be
welcome.
These groups, Mr, Feather believes, not only fulfil a major role in public
entertainment but also, through their internal activities, satisfy a substantial
recreational need for their membership.
“Should the Drill Hall not be acceptable as the basis of a theatre, perhaps the various
councils between them could find a suitable site, where a purpose built structure could
be erected,” he wrote.
Mr, Feather also outlined his ideas on how the money necessary to the scheme could
be raised with the help of the District Council, the Town Council and, perhaps an Arts
Council grant, with local firms being asked to contribute along with members of the
public.
To use the Drill Hall would mean a complete change in plans already passed for the
development of Denmark Street and. although the majority of the committee agreed
the idea would be a sound one, most felt this would not be possible. A theatre, too,
they thought would not be a viable proposition and suggested, instead, a Community
Centre, incorporating a theatre.
This had already been put to Mr. Feather, who said that none of the Societies
mentioned would be interested in performing in a hall where the auditorium would
have a flat floor. Cllr. J. Rankin said that he did not think it would be feasible to alter
the Drill Hall and that it would be difficult financially to make it viable.
Chairman of the meeting, Cllr. John Lewis, said that, although it would be a good
thing for the community to have a centre and that such an amenity was desperately
needed, it was a case of “what we can do with monies we have NOT got available.
He suggested the committee write to Mr. Feather to say they sympathise with his
motives, but feel they cannot provide a theatre in isolation, but that the District
Council would be informed of his proposition and their help asked in building a
community centre and a theatre as part of a complex, which would serve the whole
community and not just a small section.

th
Thur 19 Sept
WOKINGHAM SOCIETY IS TEN YEARS OLD
Ten years ago the Wokingham Society came into existence and on Saturday, at the
Community Centre, Broad Street, members met to celebrate its anniversary. The
Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr. and Mrs. John Tattersall, were there with the Chairman of
the Society, Anthony Cross, and two other founders members, Mrs. June Weber and
Desmond Duval.
Dancing to the music of the Wokingham band, “Sound Six,” was interrupted by
supper and the cutting of the cake specially made for the occasion.
A raffle provided one of the highlights of the evening when one of the prizes was a
4 lb. bag of sugar which had been chained and padlocked to a table.

th
Thur 26 Sept
WOKINGHAM VICAR STEPS OUT TO SIZE UP PARISH
Blistered feet he could have done without, and a pedometer that worked would have
been a help too, but both mishaps were disregarded by the Rector of St Paul’s,

1059