Page 1076 - Reading Mercury

least 20 dogs of varying breeds went home on Sunday with a rosette fixed to their
collar, testifying that they had completed the distance.
Youngsters who completed the distance included 10-year-old Claire Marriner from
Binfield, and l0-year-old James Cook, Gorse, Ride North. Thirteen-year-old Mark
Couper, of 183 Finchampstead Road, Wokingham, has almost £40 to collect from
sponsors for his successful day’s walk.
Anchor man for the Walk was, again Mr. David Spooner, whose job was to urge on
any who were simply lagging or to get help for those who just couldn’t go on any
further, although on Sunday there were very few in the latter category.

SECOND MATRON IN 300 YEARS
For the second time in its 300-year history Lucas Hospital, Wokingham, is being
administered by a Matron rather than a master and it is already evident, after only a
month in residence that Mrs. Gladys Walker has made a favourable impression on the
residents at the almshouses in Luckley Road.
A native of Reading--although she moved to London at an early age –Mrs. Walker
was attracted to the vacancy at Lucas Hospital because she felt the duties would
ideally combine her own training and ability as administrator and qualified nurse.
Mrs. Walker’s first nursing experience was with the Red Cross in London during the
blitz. From there she moved into commerce –although still in the medical field—and
eventually became assistant in charge of a 50-strong sales force with Johnson and
Johnson.
She has also held a government position which involved dealing with various health
Problems. She seemed to be drawn to medicine and people and it was the people and
their problems which drew her back to nursing—this time at Wrexham Park, Slough.
From there it was a short step to the National foundation for Educational Research,
also at Slough. Mrs. Walker’s last post, before taking over as Matron at Lucas on
Miss Doris Murray’s retirement at the end of the year, was at High Wycombe General
Hospital.
Sir Henry Lucas founded the almshouses on their present site at Chapel Green in
1663 and the Paladian building, constructed from Binfield bricks, was officially
opened in 1665, with 16 elderly men in residence. The Draper’s Company took over
as Trustees on the death of Sir Henry Lucas and have maintained the buildings and
administered the almshouses since that time.
From 1665 until 1938 a Master—an ordained priest—was in charge and had his
rooms in the east wing, which also housed the refectory for the residents. This is now
a cellar with the Matron’s drawing room above—a delightful room with some of the
original windows still intact.
In 1922 the Draper’s Company changed the residence qualifications to admit
married couples and widows or single women and men and altered the main body of
the building to form single or double roomed flats. Each flat is spacious and
comfortable and now has central heating, a modern kitchen and bathroom and the
added luxury of television.
The chapel on the west wing of the building, is the show piece of the hospital, with
the original oak benches on which the “old men” sat, the Chance gates which are also
the altar rails, the pulpit with an hour glass close by and the delicate iron work of the
priest’s stall.
The original stained glass window bears the Royal Arms of Charles II and depicts
the lilies of France as a quartering.

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