Page 1063 - Reading Mercury

“Apes” took over Wokingham on Saturday and for an hour the town centre was
theirs. The. Wokingham Chamber of Trade’s spectacular procession of Father
Christmas (Mike Drury), escorted by characters who could have come straight from
the “Planet of the Apes” as seen on television, brought thousands of delighted
youngsters (and oldsters) to line the route.
Father Christmas arrived at Wokingham Station at 2.30 p.m. to find a horse drawn
cart with an “Ape-man” driver waiting for him. After chatting to the many children
who had gone to the station to see his arrival, he climbed into the cart and escorted by
four “Apes” started his journey through the town. Their progress was announced by
the Thames Valley Police Band who led the way.
Sweets were thrown to youngsters as .the cart trundled up Station Road, along Shute
End and Broad Street, turned into Rose Street and came back to the town centre along
Peach Street to the Town Hall; and all along the way crowds waited to see and to
wave.
As soon as the cart stopped, “Apes” and Father Christmas were mobbed by
youngsters trying to talk to and touch the visitors.

SHOP FRONTS JUDGED
Shop windows in Wokingham town centre came under close scrutiny on Friday as
judges, invited by the Chamber of Trade, inspected them for attractiveness, colour and
originality. Professional and non-professional window dressing was taken into
account and prizes awarded for both sections in this annual competition.
The judges, including the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr. and Mrs. John Tattersall, found
their task difficult but enjoyable. Shops of all trades took part and it was surprising to
see how such mundane things as tools could look so colourfully attractive.
A new entry in the competition this year was a bar at The Olde Rose Inne in the
Market Place. The decoration was delightful but even more so were the two charming
“Molly Mogs” behind the bar. Grace Cook and Sheila Courtney. Their efforts gained
a special prize. Other winners were the “Wokingham Times” Jill Russell and Esquire,
who were all presented with their awards by the Mayor and Mayoress.

1975
th
Thur 9 Jan
WOKINGHAM LEGION’S AWARD
The Wokingham Branch of the Royal British Legion has again been awarded the
Cayley Cup given annually to the most meritorious of the 60 branches in Berkshire.
Now they have been notified that on February 15th at the Area Conference at
Eastbourne they are to be presented with an even more important award--the South
Eastern Area Merit Cup, after being chosen from 540 branches in the six counties
comprising the area.
Both cups were won by their endeavours in respect of Poppy Appeal. benevolent
work including visits to the sick, elderly and those in hospital, co-operation with other
organisations, activities within the community, attendance at conferences, forums and
various parades, regularity at meetings and arranging meetings with interesting
speakers or entertainments and maintaining increasing membership.
The Branch Chairman, Mr. A. Dunham, has also been awarded an Area Certificate
of Appreciation and this too will be presented at Eastbourne.

th
Thur 16 Jan
FORMER MAYOR RESIGNS

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