Page 354 - Reading Mercury

Christian Victor played for Buckhurst, scoring 36, and P. Pope made 34, and P.
Dougal 30.

BERKS FRIENDLY SOCIETY ANNUAL FETE
The annual fete of the local branch of the Berks Friendly Society was held on
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August 28 , in a large meadow abutting on the Finchampstead-road, which was lent
by Mr. T.M. Wescott (Deputy Mayor), the energetic Chairman of the Society. The
members assembled at their club-room at noon, and after parading the town, led by
the Wokingham Town Band, proceeded to the meadow. The amusements consisted of
races and other athletic competitions for numerous prizes in kind, by the tradesmen of
the town and friends of the Society; shooting galleries, steam circus, &c. One of the
competitions which evoked much interest was the tug-of-war in which the members
eventually succeeded in worsting their opponents, the visitors. Dancing was provided
for and extensively patronised, Mr. A. Burrett proving a genial and efficient M.C.
The afternoon was beautifully fine, and a very large number of visitors passed the
gate, the fete altogether being one of the most successful of its kind held in the
locality this season. The prizes won in the athletic sports were distributed by Mr.
Wescott in the evening. The committee consisted of Mr. H.D. Wigg (hon. Sec) and
Messrs. Butler, Collyer, Cordrey, Hamilton, and Burrett, and they deserve great credit
for their efficient arrangements and excellent management.

THUNDERSTORM AND NARROW ESCAPE
In common with most places in the centre and southern counties Wokingham was
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visited with a severe thunderstorm on Saturday, the 24 August. The thunder which
was accompanied with heavy rain and vivid lightning, was heaviest between 4 and 5
p.m. But little serious damage appears to have been done in the neighbourhood except
to a house in the Waterloo-road, the property of Mr. James Searle, and tenanted by
himself and family. Mrs. Searle had a narrow escape; she was standing at the back
door when a neighbour, Mrs. Clacy, came in and the two went into the kitchen
together. Whilst there a flash of lightning apparently struck the chimney, casting
down a number of bricks, and taking off several of the ridge tiles. The electric current
passed down the chimney, dislodging the kettle and fire irons, passed through the
doorway and across the kitchen, over the very spot where Mrs. Searle had been
standing a few moments before, and found its way out through a brick wall near the
corner of the room. In its course it also damaged a bath, the water pipe and the
brickwork. It appears that same or a prior flash also struck the bedroom above, doing
considerable damage and breaking two panes of glass; it also destroyed some tools
and paper in a shed against the wall. The shock to the nerves of both women who
witnessed the catastrophe and so narrowly escaped injury was severe, and although
they evinced considerable presence of mind, it was some time before they recovered
from the shock.

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Sat 14 Sept
THE LIGHTING QUESTION
A special meeting of the Wokingham Town Council, to consider a report of the
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Lighting Committee, and other matters, was held on Thursday (12 Sept.), at the
Council Chamber. There were present Ald. Wescott, the Ex-Mayor, who presided;
Ald. Moorcock, councillors Sale Heron, Churchman, Watts, Evans, Mower, Hall,
White, and Stone.

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