Page 390 - Reading Mercury

The news of the Relief of Ladysmith was received with great enthusiasm on
Thursday morning and in a very short time the town was decorated with flags and
banners. A peal was rung on the bells of All Saints Church and a salute of twenty-one
fog signals was fired at the Railway Station. At night there was a torchlight procession
in which the town band, the Volunteer Band, the Fire Brigade and Boys’ Brigade took
part.

th
Sat 12 May
THE WAR
ANOTHER SEND OFF OF VOLUNTEERS
On Monday evening Privates Clacy, Musto and Gough, members of the L Company
of the Royal Berkshire Volunteers had a hearty “send off” by their comrades and
townspeople. Sergt. Benstead organised a smoking concert at the Bush Hotel, at
which Dr. Hessman presided, and a large company attended. Mrs. Alfrey presented
the three members with a pocket compass, and the past and present members of the
company gave them each a watch. The Volunteer band playing patriotic airs, headed a
large procession to the Station at 11.15 p.m. hearty cheers were given as the train
moved out of the Station.

th
Sat 26 May
RELIEF OF MAFEKING
This long looked for and happy event was celebrated on Monday evening. The
Mayor issued a handbill announcing a torchlight procession and inviting the
inhabitants to decorate and illuminate their houses. Flags, buntings and Chinese
lanterns were displayed from practically every house in the Borough. The procession
was timed to start at 0 pm but long before that time the streets were crowded with
people, and a great number of fireworks were discharged. The Mayor addressed the
crowd and called for cheers for the Queen and the Generals at the front. Capt. A. Hill
M.P. (who has recently returned to Wokingham from Natal) made a particularly
happy speech, and was loudly applauded. The Wokingham Town Band, and the
Volunteer Band joined the procession and played patriotic airs.
st
The members of the Corporation and the members of the 1 . Wokingham Company
of the Boys’ Brigade, also took part in the procession. Those employed at the
Wellington Brewery (Messrs. J. Headington and Son) joined with a nicely decorated
van. The greatest amusement was caused by an effigy of President Kruger, the white
flag being conspicuous. After the procession a bonfire was lighted in the Market-
place, and the effigy was consigned to the flames. The large crowd was particularly
orderly and the police had no trouble. The festivities were continued until the early
hours of the morning.
The sum of £11 15s 6d was collected towards the expenses of the celebration of the
Relief of Mafeking held at Wokingham on Monday. Any surplus will be handed over
to Lady Georgina Curzon’s Fund for the Mafeking sufferers. The following sums
have already been received:- Miss E. Wescott and the Misses Heelas collection,£1;
Miss Fountain and Miss Skerry’s collection: £2 1s. 5½d.; Miss F. Culver’s collection:
11s. 9d.

nd
Sat 2 June
PAY PAY PAY
The sum of £4 was handed to Mrs. Boddington, the wife of Mr. J.O. Boddington
who is serving at the front as the result of a street collection made on Saturday

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