Page 1069 - Reading Mercury

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Thur 22 May

COMMISSIONER WILLIAM WYCLIFFE BOOTH DIES
Commissioner William Wycliffe Booth of the Salvation Army, and a grandson of
the movement, died last week at his Wokingham home, Happy Valley, Kiln Ride,
Wokingham. He was aged 80. He had lived in the area for about 19 years. He leaves a
widow and six children, four of whom are officers in the Salvation Army.
Commissioner Booth had led a colourful life, working abroad for many years and
was a major figure in the regrouping of the Salvation Army after the Second World
War. Before the war he worked in France and Switzerland and was second in
command of Scotland. He returned to France at the end of the war to regroup their
forces and much of his work was in evacuating prisoners from the notorious Devil’s
Island camp.
In 1949 he was sent to Norway where he stayed for six years before taking charge of
the Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda. He came back to England in 1954 and a
year later at their centenary celebrations he unveiled a memorial to his grandfather at
Westminster Abbey.
The funeral service was held on Friday last week at the salvation Army Hall,
Camberley.

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Thur 12 June
TELEVISION STAR JOINS THE LINE-UP OF JUDGES
Wokingham Carnival proved more of a success this year than ever before. The
parade of 46 floats—four more than last year—was judged by the Mayor and
Mayoress of Wokingham, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Skedgel, with television’s Blue Peter
favourite, Lesley Judd.
Their final choice was West Forest Townswomen’s Guild with their “Oakingham
Market” in the organisations section and the “Wokingham News” in the trade section.
Attractions
At the carnival was a variety of attractions including displays by sheepdogs and the
Thames Valley Police dogs, and dancing by the Kennet Morris Men. There was a
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marrow dangling contest, and music was provided by bands of the 2 Battalion
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Parachute regiment, R.E.M.E. Arborfield, and the 1 Woodley Girls’ Brigade.
Queening over it all was Miss Wokingham Carnival 1975, Margaret Huber and
Junior Queen Melanie Winslow.
This year’s carnival was organised by Wokingham Round Table who believe that a
record amount of more than £2,000 has been raised.
The only disappointment of the day was the non-appearance of the Strongbow
Skydivers, a free-fall parachute display, which had to be cancelled because of aircraft
trouble.

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Thur 19 June
RED DEVILS DROP-IN AT EMMBROOK FAYRE
The Emmbrook Secondary School’s summer fayre came to an exciting end with the
Red Devils free fall parachute team dropping in. The five parachutists made
spectacular landings on the small space roped off in the middle of the school’s playing
field which was lined with excited spectators. There, headmaster, Mr. C. Carter was
handed a baton by the team to commemorate the occasion as a fast moving small
plane skimmed the rooftop.

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