Page 393 - Reading Mercury

Mr. Melville, one of the churchwardens, thanked the contributors, and Mr. W.B.
Mower also a churchwarden, expressed the desire of the meeting for the successful
completion of the undertaking.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the large party, at the invitation of Canon
Sturges, adjourned to the Rectory garden, where an “at home” was held by Canon and
Mrs. Sturges.
We learn from an official circular that the buildings proposed to be erected are from
the designs of Messrs. Morris and Sons, architects of Reading and will include a main
hall 45 feet by 30 feet, to seat 300, a committee room 24 feet by 16 feet, a store-room,
tea-kitchen, cloak room and offices. The hall will be available for mission services,
Sunday-schools etc. and the various meetings connected with the parish and diocese,
while the smaller room will accommodate committees, clubs etc. The store-room will
receive the various parish property now kept at the Rectory and elsewhere. The cost
will amount to £1,600 of which all but £500 is now promised. The Rector has very
generously guaranteed the amount needed.
The “raison d’etre” for the scheme will be evident when it is stated that the increase
in the population of All Saints’ Parish for the past ten years is 618, and that 141
houses were built in that period, most of them in actual proximity to the new rooms. It
is hoped that the scheme and the building may alike be completed in time, in the
words of the circular, “to secure to the parish as a Christmas gift for 1901 a Church
House complete, in full use, and free from debt.”
The treasurers of the scheme, who form the executive committee, are the Rector and
churchwardens, the bankers Messrs J. and C. Simonds and Co., and Mr. H. Benstead
the hon. Secretary. The general committee includes the whole of the church and parish
officers, also the following:- Mr. and Mrs. Arnold, the Rev. the Hon. A.G. Campbell,
Lady K. Eustace, Col. And Mrs. Ford, Mr. T.C. Garth, Mr. W.T. Hosler, Mrs.
Hughes, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd, Mrs. Melville, Mrs. Mylne, Mrs. Murdoch, Mr. and
Mrs. Nicholson, Mrs. Nixon, Mr. and Mrs. Rose, Mrs. Ward, Mr. T.M. Wescott, Mr
and Mrs. Weston.
The brilliant weather on Thursday contributed in no small degree to the pronounced
success of the gathering.

th
Sat 26 Oct
DEATH OF A WOKINGHAM VOLUNTEER IN SOUTH AFRICA
We are sorry to announce the death from enteric in South Africa, of Mr. T.W.
Walker, late a member of the Wokingham Company of Volunteers. The deceased,
before volunteering for South Africa, was employed in Wokingham Post Office.

nd
Sat 2 Nov
PRESENTATION TO THE BERKS VOLUNTEERS AT WOKINGHAM
In the Wokingham Town Hall on Wednesday evening the Active Service members
of the L. Co. Royal Berks Volunteers were presented with travelling clocks as a
recognition of their service in South Africa. Among those present were the Mayor and
Mrs Hughes, Alderman and Mrs. Wescott, Canon Sturges, Commander Gregorie,
R.N., the Rev. R. Tomlinson, Mr. councillor Phillips, Mr. councillor Ifould, the
members of the Volunteer Fire Brigade., &c. The Active Service members present
included Sergt. Binnie, Sergt. Barker, Privates Batt, Clay, Gough, Harrison, Hawkins,
Macbeth, Milam and Webb. The parents of Private Walker, who died at the front,
were also presented with a clock.

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