Page 1090 - Reading Mercury

special link with the Corps for, on joining the ATS during World War II, she was
stationed at REME Arborfield during its foundation. Later she saw service in Italy and
Greece.
Her two-day whistle-stop tour began with a visit to Army HQ in Northern Ireland, at
Lisburn, where she also presented a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal to
sergeant Bryan Probert who joined the Army as a boy apprentice in 1963 and has
served in Hong Kong, West Germany, Libya, Borneo, Bahrein and Gibraltar.
After a call on the Garrison Light Aid Department the Mayor drove to RAF
Aldergrove and chatted with REME soldiers supporting Northern Ireland Regiment
Army Air Corps and the Northern Ireland Electronic Workshop. She also visited 46
Command Workshop at Kinnegar on the Belfast Lough and the Northern Ireland
Roulement Workshop and its locations in Sydenham near Belfast and at Long Kesh.
On her one evening in NI the Mayor had the chance to meet REME officers serving in
Ulster and their wives as well as her counterpart Alderman D G R Green, Mayor of
North Down, and Mrs. Green.

rd
Thur April 23
WOKINGHAM TOWN HALL
The red brickwork of the town hall was cleaned and rubbed. Two new flags were
ordered – a Union Jack and a house flag. The total cost was £210 plus a new tea urn
costing £51.81.

th
Thur 7 May
Wokingham solicitor, Rupert Ingram, has retired from his practice after 26 years.
Mr. Ingram, 65, who joined Clifton Ingram in 1955, became a senior partner in the
firm which is based in Broad Street, soon after joining the company. The firm which
was established by former Town Clerk Elliston Clifton just before the Second World
War was run by Isobel Clifton, the founder’s niece when Mr. Ingram signed up.
At a special retirement reception held at the Tithe Barn Hotel last week Mr. Ingram
was presented with a video recorder to mark his departure. He also received two
plates to commemorate his years with the company. Mr. Ingram, who has lived in the
town all his working career, will be spending an active retirement with his wife,
Winifred

th
Thur 18 June
ARISE SIR BILL
Wokingham and Bracknell MP Bill van Straubenzee was awarded a knighthood in
the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. He was honoured for political services in his
22nd year as a Member of Parliament. He was one of four backbench Conservative
MPs to receive knighthoods in the honours list announced last Saturday.

th
Thur 9 July
NUNS SAY FAREWELL
The doors of St. Anne’s Nursing Home in Wokingham will finally be closed on July
31. That is the day when thy community of seven Bon Secour nuns leave the house
which has been run by the order for over 40 years.
They had to sell the 200 year old house, just off the London Road, earlier this year
after soaring bills and the start of work on the A329M extension threatened the future
of the rest home.

1088