Page 260 - Reading Mercury

assemblance adjourned to a spacious marquee, upwards of 100 feet long, to partake of
tea, and, despite the rain, which was at the time falling thickly, the company was so
numerous that not only were all the seats filled, but every inch of standing ground was
also occupied. The three tables which extended the entire length the tent, were loaded
with an abundance of cake, &c., and a great number of vases of flowers were placed
on them. The marquee itself was very tastefully decorated with evergreen and flowers,
by ladies and others, and the gathering was altogether such as had not been witnessed
in Wokingham for many years.
Further details follow….

th
Sat 6 April
ELECTION OF ALDERMAN
On Easter Wednesday, the Corporation attended Divine Service at our parish
Church, and then assembled in the Council Chamber, to elect an alderman and chief
magistrate for the coming year, when the Council unanimously chose Thomas Cooke
Esq. To the honourable office, and then passed a cordial vote of thanks to Mr. Ex-
Alderman Roberts, for the able and hospitable style in which he has, for the last two
years, filled the civic chair, and maintained the dignity of the office.

READING CHORAL SOCIETY’S CONCERT
We are happy to inform our fellow townsmen that a train will leave Reading for
Wokingham, at about half past ten on the evening of the concert (Tuesday) for the
convenience of visitors from Wokingham.

WOKINGHAM VOLUNTEERS
A meeting of the Sixth Berks Volunteers was held in the Town Hall, on Wednesday,
for the purpose of electing officers, a company of sixty men now being enrolled.
Captain Gower occupied the chair, and in opening the meeting, he said he came there
to meet them in consequence of their having formed a company, a fact which must be
very gratifying to every person in the town. The first thing they had to do now was to
nominate another officer and some other corporals. He thought that as a general rule
he could not do better than promote by seniority; and therefore lest they had any
particular objection to any one of the corporals they had at present, he would promote
them at once to sergeants, and leave them to select new corporals. (Corporal Kemp
and Dalley were the members referred to.) He might say the same with regard to the
officer, Mr. Soames, who had now become lieutenant, and they would have the
goodness to recommend other gentlemen for ensign and non-commissioned officers.
He did not intend that their appointments should be sinecures, for whenever an
opportunity occurred, he would endeavour to teach them what their business was, and
he hoped they would endeavour to perform those duties to the best of their abilities.
The company would be divided into two sub-divisions and four sections, and each
sergeant would take care of his own section and see that they were thoroughly
acquainted with the orders that would be issued from time to time. He read a letter
from the Lord Lieutenant, informing him (Captain Gower) that Her Majesty had been
graciously pleased to approve and accept the services of the Sixth Berks Rifle
Volunteer Corps under his command. He concluded by stating that they could not
elect any officer, but merely recommend; but he might say that that recommendation
would be supported by him.—It was proposed and seconded that Mr. Cooke be
appointed ensign. It was moved as an amendment that Mr. Benjamin Garrard be
appointed, and that the amendment was put and carried by a large majority. The

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