Page 1100 - Reading Mercury

crowd. Activities started soon after mid-day, when more than 20 floats gathered along
the streets to be judged by Miss Wokingham and the Mayor, Cllr. Keith Cattran
before setting off for a grand procession through the town centre.
Cllr. Cattran was particularly pleased with the success of the event because it helped
to publicise the charity he is working for as Mayor for the next year—a renal machine
for the Royal Berks Hospital which will eventually be permanently placed in
Wokingham Hospital.
The procession itself was filled with an amazing array of float, on cars, lorries, and
even a double-decker bus which wound its way through the streets led by Carnival
Queen Michelle Winkley. The floats were based on the theme 2001 and no effort was
spared as the spectacular line-up of colours and ideas marched past the hundreds of
cheering and clapping people of the town.
Later the procession arrived at Cantley Field where, after the official opening,
ceremony there were shows in the arena by the Thames Valley Dogs Display Team,
the parachutists, music from the Reading Scottish Pipe Band and a training
demonstration by the Guide Dogs for the Bind Association.
Carnival chairman Mr. Lloyd Windust said: “We expect to make a profit of over
£6,000 for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.”
The lucky programme prize—a meal for two at St. Anne’s Manor was not claimed
on the day after being drawn out by Miss Wokingham. The number is 0439 and the
winner should go along to see the manager at St. Anne’s to arrange a date for the
meal.

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Thur 1 Aug
MUSIC AND MARCHING
Feet were tapping in the Market Place, Wokingham during a special visit from the
1st Battalion, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment. Lunchtime shoppers were
treated to a fine display of military music and marching from the regimental band and
corps of drums. Among the town notables present were the Mayor Cllr. Keith Cattran
and Deputy Mayor Mrs. Margaret Busst.
The 40-minute display, in the small area in front of the Town Hall, was a fitting
testament to the Army’s precision timing. Not a foot was out of place. The stirring
military tones were accompanied by a public exhibition of the regiment’s hardware
which made it clear that these were not just toy soldiers of the Grand Old Duke of
York variety.
The Wokingham Visit forms part of the county-wide goodwill tour and recruitment
drive which the regiment has undertaken this summer. It is part of the Keep the Army
in the Public Eye. (KAPE) campaign. Apparently most of the recruiting is done in
Berkshire. The aim is now to show people in the towns that they visit the local
regiment.

th
Thur 8 Aug
LANDSCAPE THEME
Wokingham Town Council have accepted a tender for the landscaping of the
Howard Palmer Park for which they have allocated £32,000 from this year’s budget.
A few extra items have been added to the plan. These include five lamp posts in a
mock Victorian style. They have special tough glass and photo sensitive cells which
mean they come on or off in response to light conditions. The lamp posts would have
added an extra £2,000 to the bill had not the council been able to make economies on
their £14,000 allocation for surfacing costs.

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