Page 230 - Reading Mercury

On returning, some rejoicings of more local interest took place, and, although
nothing had been done until the end of last week, a few earnest friends set to work and
collected sufficient funds to provide tea for all the school children of the town, and,
considering the short time for preparation, the treat was admirably carried out. The tea
party took place in the Market-place, and afterwards the children walked through the
streets in procession, carrying appropriate banners, and headed by an excellent band,
the bells ringing a merry peal.
Later in the evening a dance in the Town Hall concluded most satisfactorily the
amusements of the day—a day, which, we are sure, will long be remembered with
pleasure by all who participated in its enjoyments.

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Sat 27 July
CRICKET
We hear that a cricket match will be played on Monday next, at Mortimer, between
the Wokingham and Mortimer Clubs.

WOKINGHAM AND NETTLEBED
The first match played on the “Wokingham Wellington Cricket Ground” took place
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on Thursday, July 17 , and proved a very easy victory for the Wokingham gentlemen.
The Nettlebed eleven are acknowledged to be the best within miles of their
neighbourhood; the result of this match therefore speaks volumes for the Wokingham
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Club. The following is the result of the game:--Wokingham: 1 innings, 113; second
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ditto, 238; total 351. Nettlebed: 1 innings, 33. The sun having gone down, prevented
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the Nettlebed gentlemen from having their 2 innings; there were 318 runs for them
to go in against.

FIRE
On Wednesday morning last, about nine o’clock, a fire broke out in the premises
situate in Peach-street, in this town, formerly used as a silk factory, but now occupied
by Mr. Wescott, and used as a steam saw mill. The fire is supposed to have originated
from a spark from the chimney entering the roof of the building, which, on the alarm
being first given,, was burning very fiercely; however, in a few minutes, the town
engines arrived, and were soon very efficiently set to work. The inhabitants using the
utmost despatch in procuring water, and removing a large quantity of materials from
the inside of the building, and by these means fortunately the flames were subdued
before much injury was done. The loss, we hear, is covered by insurance in the
Phoenix Office.

During the past three weeks our town has been much enlivened by the presence of
several detachments of cavalry, which have arrived here en route to Aldershot. They
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consisted chiefly of the 4 Dragoons or Royal Irish, as they are more generally called,
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the 7 Hussars, and the 15 hussars, the last detachment of the latter Regiment having
their band with them, which performed in the evening in the Market-place before the
officers’ quarters.
Some of our inn-keepers complain much of the frequency of these visits, whilst
others think that the attraction of a narrative of Crimean dangers and glories told by
those who participated therein, not infrequently brings customers together and thereby
makes some amends for any loss from the billets.

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