Page 1157 - Reading Mercury

Song—E Glande Quercus (from the acorn grows the oak) from the top of All Saints’
Church tower.
Most of the town centre pubs, cafes and restaurants were open, and there were
refreshments all day long. For the peckish there was a hog roast and pancakes and for
the adventurous there was an aunt sally, darts and much more. The ears were titillated
by the Berkshire Youth Jazz Orchestra, an old-fashioned barrel organ and Morris
Dancers.
Bizarre creatures roamed the streets including a thing on stilts, a dragon woman and,
of course, the infamous Green Man. Mr. Aggett thought the charity and other stalls
had probably reaped in around £15,000.

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Thur 16 May
TINA EARNS RAPID PROMOTION
Tina Marinos took over as Town mayor. She became a councillor for Evendons in
1995. She was a teacher at Embrook School. She elected the Children’s Society as her
chosen charity for which she has been a collector for several years.
Albert Dunham, Ron Rimmer, George Rance, David Down and Maurice Chapman
were reappointed as Macebearer and Mayor’s Attendant, Town Crier, Honorary
constables and Honorary Parade Marshall respectively.

Thur 23rd May
CANADA PAYS TRIBUTE TO TOWN’S OLDEST RESIDENT
Canada paid tribute to Mabel Perkins who celebrated her 104th birthday yesterday
(Wednesday). She was the first lady of Wokingham from 1937 to 1938 when her
husband, Frank, was Mayor. She is believed to be the town’s oldest inhabitant.
She endeared herself to many by opening her home to evacuees and soldiers during
the war. At one time she had bunks in her attic for 20 soldiers and was caring for five
young girl evacuees from London. She prepared soup for Canadian soldiers stationed
thousands of miles from home and provided them with other very welcome home
comforts.
The Canadian High Commission also expressed their thanks and appreciation for
the many services she provided Canadian servicemen during the war and the
association she has maintained in the years since then. On Mabel’s 100th birthday the
Canadian Veteran Association UK planted a tree in her honour

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Thur 13 June
PLAQUES TO IDENTIFY HISTORIC BUILDINGS
Twenty years after the idea was first mooted, several historic buildings in
Wokingham have finally been marked with plaques. On Saturday Wokingham Town
Hall was graced with a blue plaque while another was placed on the NatWest bank
building to commemorate Rose Street. Chairman of the Wokingham Society, Donald
Macdonald, says the fruition of the plan can be attributed to the group’s dynamic new
treasurer, Roy Thomas.
Before plaques could be added to the buildings, Mr. Thomas had to go through a
time-consuming planning application process. Other plaques will be put on the
Queen’s Head pub, the oldest house in The Terrace and the overhangs in Peach Street.

MAYOR OPENS THERAPY CENTRE
Children in Wokingham who have development difficulties can now attend new
play therapy sessions in the town. Instead of having to travel to the Dingley Child

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