Page 342 - Reading Mercury

The Lancashire insurance Company has presented Mr. Caiger, Engineer of the
Wokingham Volunteer Fire Brigade with a cheque for £5 together with their thanks,
for his courageous conduct in entering a burning room some weeks ago at North
Court, Finchampstead, the residence of Mr. A.F. Walter, and extinguishing the fire,
which, but for his timely exertions, would in all probability, have destroyed the
mansion.

THE FIRE BRIGADE ENERTAINMENT
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From the proceeds of the entertainment given on the 8 inst. the Wokingham
Volunteer Fire Brigade have been enabled to carry the sum of £12 8s. 3d. to their
funds. The result is most satisfactory, and shows the esteem in which the voluntary
services of the Brigade are held in the neighbourhood.

1887

Sat 1st Jan
THE SNOWSTORM
Wokingham was, like other towns in the neighbourhood, visited with a severe
snowstorm which commenced Sunday evening shortly after five o’clock. The snow
lay very thick on the ground making locomotion very difficult and many tradesmen
complained that the Town Council did not take the necessary steps for cleaning the
thoroughfares. Owing to the violence of the storm a large number of trees in the parks
nearby were blown down while many of the telegraph poles and wires for a
considerable distance were broken. Up to Thursday night telegraph communication
was seriously impeded and the trains were very late. Fortunately little or no damage
was experienced in the town and no casualties were reported from neighbouring
villages. Great praise is directed to Mr. Trewren the energetic station master for the
way in which he manipulated the traffic considering the difficulties he encountered
with regard to signalling and no telegraphic communications except for Earley.

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Sat 8 Jan
THE WEATHER
Another heavy fall of snow took place on Monday night and Tuesday morning; a
thaw then set in, followed by a frost in the evening. It was freezing nearly all day on
Wednesday, and the streets and pavements were in a dangerous condition.
Telegraphic communication, which has been interrupted since Sunday week between
Reading, Wokingham and other stations on the S.W.R. was not re-established till
noon on Thursday last.

ENTERTAINMENT
The Ramsdale troupe of minstrels have given several entertainments in the Town
Hall, Wokingham, during the past week and have been well patronised. On Monday
evening the entertainment was under the patronage of the mayor, Aldermen and Town
Council.

SOUP KITCHEN
In consequence of the severity of the weather, work in the Wokingham district is
scarce, and considerable distress in prevalent. Under the able superintendence of Miss

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