Page 1087 - Reading Mercury

by Sir Stanley Baker’s widow, Ellen, accompanied by their children, Sally, Martin
and Glyn.
Among the special guests were Harry Secombe, Elspeth March, film producers Sir
James Carreras, Mr. Cecil Bernstein and Monty Berman who endowed the hall along
with Mr. Jack Martin, manager at Glebelands.
Mr. Martin said that Sir Stanley had been interested in Glebelands for many years
and had put in a lot of work to raise money for its upkeep and maintenance.

1978
th
Thur 28 Sept
DOUBLE ARSON BLAZE HAVOC
An arsonist caused havoc in Wokingham town centre on Monday night in two
separate incidents. Gutted in one fire was the Old Brewery in Denmark Street—due to
be demolished to make way for the Tesco supermarket development.
In the second fire, in Wellington Road, £2,000 of clothes and bedding for Help the
Aged were destroyed in a house being used as a store. The house, owned by Berkshire
County Council was also badly burned.
On the following day a spokesman for Wokingham police said that arson was
suspected and added that both incidents were being connected.
The first was discovered shortly after half past eight. Four appliances from Reading,
Wokingham and Bracknell were sent and began to fight the blaze which is thought to
have been started in the basement. This was used by tramps and old bedding there
would have provided ample fuel.
Two hours later three more appliances had to be sent to Wellington Road to fight
the other fire. It wasn’t until well after midnight that both fires were brought under
control.
A spokesman for Wokingham District Council who are leasing part of the Old
Brewery to Tesco told the Mercury that the building was due to be demolished within
the next two weeks for superstore development. The fire would make no difference to
demolition plans. There was no point in adding up the cost of the damage.
A spokesman for Help the Aged confirmed that about £2,000 worth of blankets and
other donations had been destroyed—part of a stock for emergencies, collected by
local volunteers. The charity had a temporary licence to use the house, known as
Redtiles, from the county council. It was originally bought in connection with
Wokingham’s proposed Inner Distribution Road but long term plans for it are
undetermined.

th
Thur 26 Oct
WOKINGHAM HONOUR FOR GARRISON
A permanent link has been forged between Wokingham and the R.E.M.E. Corps,
Arborfield garrison, with the acceptance by the Corps of the status of Honorary
Townspeople.
At a special civic ceremony and parade in the town on Saturday, a message was read
from Prince Philip, Col. in Chief of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers,
stating, “I know that all members of the Corps very much appreciate this generous and
hospitable gesture by the Mayor, councillors and people of Wokingham. The men
who train so hard to provide Britain’s capacity to defend herself against aggression
have been known to feel their efforts are not always appreciated by their fellow
citizens. Conferring the status of honorary Townspeople of Wokingham to all
members of the Corps is a wonderful encouragement to us all.”

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