Page 1103 - Reading Mercury

Hall. He was met by Wokingham’s present Mayor, Cllr. Keith Cattran, who at 40
years of age is the youngest mayor ever to hold the office.
Honour
Cllr. Cattran said in a welcoming speech, “Being a mayor in this year of mayorality
is an exceptionally high honour.” He reminded the crowd of Wokingham’s past silk
industry and added that Howard Palmer Park was originally given to the town by a
member of the Lord Lieutenant’s family. Cllr. Cattran, the town’s 59th Mayor,
thanked the mayoral centenary committee and welcomed the deputy mayor of
Wokingham’s twin town, Erfstadt, Herr Adolf Kappes and town clerk Herr Johannes
Mrasek.
The Lord Lieut. said, “It is an enormous honour to be with you as you turn another
page in your history. I am very proud of the connection there has been over the last
100 years between members of my family and your town.”
Fifteen past town mayors were presented with commemorative pins and a
commemorative scroll was signed. The rest of the day featured many displays
including those by the corps of R.E.M.E., the Red Cross, St. John Ambulance and
Wokingham Rotary Club. Wokingham Fire Brigade turned out, not with a modern fire
engine, but a 110-year-old steam-powered engine.
The street entertainment included stilt walkers, a Wild West show, Morris dancing,
a Punch and Judy show and country dancing. Wokingham Theatre gave two
performances of an Olde Tyme Music Hall. Street vendors and many shops’ staff
joined in the fun by dressing in Victorian fashion and selling Victorian goods.
The day ended with a colourful fireworks display at the Wokingham firework
carnival field. Cllr. Cattran said, “The participation has been terrific. The Lord Lieut.
was delighted and we all had an enjoyable day.”

1986
th
Thur 20 Feb
DALEK PATROLLING THE TRAFFIC
Much has been said about the unsatisfactory traffic arrangements on view in
Wokingham. Locals as well as visitors have cursed the various one-way systems and
miniature roundabouts and in particular the junction of Broad Street, Rose Street, and
Market Place at the heart of the town has not escaped criticism. But with the help of
this photograph you might like to see what things were like twenty-five years ago.
Rather than pedestrian crossings, traffic islands, bus lanes and one-way signs the
whole junction was managed by one solitary police Dalek placed firmly in the middle
of the road.

PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ WITH EASTENDERS
It was a full house at the Ritz Bingo Club in Wokingham recently for the visit of
soap opera stars Douglas Fielding and June Brown better known as Dot Cotton and
Sergeant Quick from BBC’s Eastenders. The two stars took time off from their
regular evening haunt of the Queen Vic in Albert Square to spend some time at the
newly opened club which has just undergone a £150,000 revamp.
The Ritz, recently closed for three days, to enable a completely computerised and
refurbished game room to be installed. The officer and the lady stayed for the interval
when they signed their names for eager autograph hunters before heading back to see
Den and the lads at the Queen Vic.

th
Thur 27 Feb
1101