Page 1138 - Reading Mercury

inadequate bur service made it impossible for them to continue attending meetings. In
addition, the W.I. For many years fought a constant battle to keep a very old and
dilapidated hall standing up and fit for use.
California and Binfield will be acquiring new members as a result of the closure of
Emmbrook.
Emmbrook members have been asked not to forget the W.I. Market, which is held in
the Community Centre behind the library in Broad Street every Friday at 9.15 am.
Customers are made very welcome and cups of coffee are on sale.

Thur 14th May
OAKFIELD OLD PEOPLE’S HOME SOLD OFF
Oakfield House, the former social services home for the elderly, has been sold. But
it will remain as a nursing home. Berkshire County Council has sold the turn-of-the-
century building in Barkham Road, Wokingham, for more than £625,000.
The land was declared surplus to requirements last June amid a storm of
controversy. Relatives and friends of the 26 elderly residents feared the move would
be too much for them to bear. But the county pressed ahead with its plans to close the
home as part of a programme to release funds to upgrade other social services homes.
Details of the sale have not yet been disclosed but agents Martin & Pole said that
there had been a number of different propositions for the sale. Prospective buyers
included developers wanting to change the building to a variety of uses, including a
school, a hospital, a conference centre, a hotel, flats and housing development.

Thur 14th May
NEW MAYOR PLEDGES TO HELP THE HOMELESS
Wokingham’s new Mayor, Cllr. Bob Wyatt, has chosen as his charity, Caritas, the
housing trust for Wokingham’s young homeless people. He pointed out that
Wokingham had one of the highest divorce rates in the country, “and this contributes
to the serious problem that we have with young homeless in the town,” he said.
Cllr. Wyatt brought up a young family single-handed. He realises many young
people from broken homes feel unable to “side” with either parent and opt to go it
alone. And there are also the youngsters who have been in care. Once the children
reach 18 the authorities have no responsibility for them. They have never had the
shelter of a loving family and need somewhere with support to help them learn to
cope with adult life.
Caritas, an initiative of local churches was formed to provide a permanent solution
to the problem.

Thur 21st May
STRIKE AS FIRM AXES 53 STAFF
Fifty-three staff lost their jobs at Radyne Holdings, Molly Millar’s Lane,
Wokingham on Monday because of the recession. The company which makes
machinery has suffered a serious drop in orders. Demand for the company’s products
had fallen off in key markets in Europe, North America and the Far East. In France
sales had dropped by three quarters and in Korea dozens of foundries had closed.
Managing director, Mike Garaway said that the redundancies had come from
shedding 28 staff from the shop floor, 20 office staff and five people taking early
retirement. Three were being transferred within the company. The firm was
transferring work to sub-contractors who could produce components cheaper than

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