Page 350 - Reading Mercury

ground in the rear. The whole was put up in one lot. The biddings started at £1,300,
and after a brisk competition, Mr. H.T. Roberts, solicitor, purchased the property for
Mr. William Churchman, (one of the proprietors) for £8,300 which was considered a
very good price. Two other properties in Broad-street and Barkham-road,
Wokingham, were offered for sale, but as they did not reach the reserve price they
were not sold. There was a large company present including many brewers.

th
Sat 7 July 1888
PRESENTATION TO THE DEPUTY MAYOR OF WOKINGHAM
th
A presentation of an interesting nature took place on Thursday afternoon, June 28 ,
at Wokingham, when the inhabitants testified their esteem and respect for this late
Mayor and Mayoress of theat ancient borough by presenting them with memorials of
their work during Mr. Wescott’s Mayorality of 1886-87. Alderman Wescott was
unanimously chosen the first Mayor of Wokingham under the new Charter of
Incorporation, and during his two years’ tenure of office he won golden opinions for
his conspicuous generosity and largess of heart with regard to all persons of every
shade and political opinion. His second year of office was memorable as the Jubilee
year of Her Majesty’s Accession to the Throne and right royally did he celebrate the
auspicious event. The admirable arrangements on Jubilee day were due to a large
extent to the indefatigable efforts of the Mayor, who was also instrumental in
providing two new almshouses and in making the great improvement to Rose Street,
to commemorate Her Majesty’s Jubilee.
The presentation took the form of a three-quarter picture of Ald. Wescott, painted in
oil by Mr. B. S. Marks of Fitzroy Square, London, and an excellent likeness; the gift
to Mrs. Wescott was a massive gold bracelet, set in diamonds, which was supplied by
Mrs. Player, of Wokingham.

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Sat 22 Sept
DESCENT OF A BALLOON
A large balloon “Olympia” from the Irish exhibition in London was brought to the
ground in the Nine Mile Ride on Thursday evening. The balloon contained two
gentlemen and Leon Dare, who, it is said hangs by her teeth to a trapeze attached to
the balloon. On Tuesday the same balloon passed at a very low altitude over the same
spot and after the occupants had inquired the name of the locality it again rose, and
was taken in the direction of Southampton.

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Sat 20 Oct
PROPOSED ENLARGEMENT OF THE CHURCHYARD
The available burial space in the churchyard attached to the Parish Church (All
Saints’) has become exceedingly small, and it is supposed to again enlarge it. The
“Parish Magazine” for October says that the Rector and Churchwardens have been
most kindly met by General Crutchley, the owner of the adjoining property, and that
there is every probability of the requisite land being obtained.

ARCHBISHOP LAUD’S CHARITY
The trustees met in the Town Hall on Thursday to elect two Wokingham boys to
receive apprentice premiums of 21l. each from this charity. There were several
applicants. The candidates chosen were, Ernest Cousins, Rose-street, and G. Adams,
Oxford-road.

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