Page 1126 - Reading Mercury

enthusiasm and took the team over. Under his leadership the lads became founder
members of Wokingham Junior Sports and Social Club.
About now two historical events occurred. War broke out and George’s voice broke.
The next two years were terrible. His voice teetered about all over the place until it
settled down to baritone.
George was demobbed in 1947, after service in India. In April of that year the
TIMES carried an advertisement for a male to undertake the work of rating and
general clerk for Wokingham Borough Council. George’s application was successful
and he started work in May.
The icing on the cake in George’s life came when he was appointed choirmaster of
All Saints. The choir he had joined as a junior chorister back in 1931.
George met his wife, Norah in 1947 and they married in 1949. Today they have a
daughter, a son and four grandchildren.
After more than 36 years with the council George took early retirement in 1983. He
had retired from all Saints choir in 1976 after 45 years’ service and nowadays finds
life extremely busy with his growing family of grandchildren.

th
Thur 29 March
WILFRED BAILEY BAKERS SOLD TO SUPERMARKET BOSS
A bakery owned by the same family for 25 years has been sold to a supermarket
boss. John Williams of Streatley has resigned as a departmental manager at Sainsbury
to take over the Wilfred Bailey and Son shops in Wokingham, Crowthorne, Woodley,
Lower Earley and Reading. The Bailey family had been involved since Wilfred Bailey
joined Lees Bakery in Wokingham about 25 years ago and was made a partner when
the owner died
His son Graham, who lives in Rowan Close, Wokingham, took over on his
retirement 10 years ago and was partnered by his brother, Ray, a former Crowthorne
Parish Councillor who lives in Cambridge Road, Crowthorne. Their brother, Andrew
still owns five other Wilfred Bailey shops in and around Maidenhead.
Ray and Graham moved the bakery from Wokingham to Church Street,
Crowthorne, eight years ago where it bakes for the Baileys’ shops and others. The
brothers still own the site which has planning permission for three shops and offices.
Although the brothers say they had not been looking for a buyer, Ray told the
TIMES this week that changes would have had to be made because the new Uniform
Business Rate would have cost the firm too much.
He said, “the amount we would have to pay would have been the same as the profits
made by all the shops last year.” According to Graham Mr. Williams made an offer at
a time that was right for them. He decided to sell up and concentrate on the new
business service centre which he had just set up.
Ray already runs a high-class kitchen design and fitting studio in Yateley.
Mr. Williams who took control of the business on Saturday, says he has no plans for
change and the business will carry on as it has been. All the staff have been kept on.

th
Thur 5 April
BLUNDER COSTS TORY HIS SEAT
Two hours is a long time in politics—so a Wokingham councillor has discovered to
his cost. Long-standing Wokingham councillor and former town mayor John Green
has been beaten—not in the polls but by the clock.
Time ran out for John Green when his agent mislaid his nomination papers for the
district council elections in May. The stage was set for the veteran Tory to retain

1124