Page 1130 - Reading Mercury

and Palmer Junior Schools, the adults seized the opportunity of a building that was
virtually purpose-built for their needs. After a fair amount of labour, the Westmead
Day Centre was born a year ago.
Wokingham’s Town Mayor, Cllr. Fred Clark, paid his first visit to the centre and
after an hour said he was very impressed with the facilities on offer to the users. These
facilities include educational classes, computer courses, various crafts, a dining room
where a good lunch is provided, talks and advice sessions.
In addition, holidays and outings are arranged for members. For many of the users,
the most important “facility” is that of offering time out from their own homes. “If I
didn’t come here,” said one member, “I would be stuck indoors on my own, getting
really low.”

Thur 20th Sept
MAYOR FORCED TO CANCEL HIS CHARITY BALL
The Mayor’s charity ball, which was set to raise up to £1,000 for the district’s
elderly, was cancelled through lack of interest. Out of 150 tickets for the charity event
due to be held at St. Anne’s Manor last Friday, only 30 were sold and two of these
cancelled later. The tickets were priced at £32.50 and money raised would have gone
to WADE. The Mayor Cllr. Fred Clark said that if he had got just 50 people turning
up he would have run it.

GOWRINGS IS BEING SOLD
Gowrings, the Wokingham car firm is being sold. The Thatcham-based company
has too many sides to the business and needs to reduce borrowing, said deputy
chairman Alan Deal. The company has suffered a slump in profits and has decided to
sell its motor trade side.
Pre-tax profits were £163,000 from the six months to the end of June 1990,
compared to £510,000 for the same period a year earlier, at a time of general
depression in the national economy. The company is changing its strategy and moving
more into leisure activities and away from the motor trade. Gowrings of Wokingham
is one of our best companies. Also being sold is Gowrings of Newbury, a Fleet
contract hire company, and a major share holding of Fanford Springs Golf Club in
Kingsclere.

THE MOMENT WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR
After a year of fund-raising, last week saw the opening of WADE’s new extension.
Mayor, Cllr. Fred Clark, with his wife, Elsie, were guests of honour and the town’s
dignitaries and businessmen turned out in force to mark the special occasion.
Built by local developer, Peter Luff, the improvements include a bathroom with a
specially adapted bath for elderly people and extra rooms. The cost of the work was
£123,000—£69,000 of which has already been raised.—but now the centre is looking
to make up the other £54,000.
The mayor officially opened the extension and unveiled a commemorative plaque.
In all he managed to raise an impressive £13,000—well over his target of £12,000—
and this money was used to buy furniture and fittings for the new rooms. Any money
now raised will go to WADE’s general fund.

th
Thur 4 Oct
LORD PALMER LEAVES

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