Page 395 - Reading Mercury

THE NEWS OF THE KING’S ILLNESS
Universal sorrow was manifested in Wokingham when it became known that the
king was so seriously ill, and all preparations for the celebration of the Coronation
were immediately suspended. The Press Association telegram, distributed from the
Reading Mercury Office, was posted in prominent places, and a large number of
people waited in the Market-place till a late hour for further news.
A meeting of the General Committee was called on Tuesday evening, but nothing
definite was arranged. A further meeting was held in the Town Hall on Wednesday
morning at 10 a.m., when it was decided, in accordance with the King’s wish, to give
dinner on Thursday at 1 p.m. to the poor and the children’s tea on the same day at 5
p.m., in a quiet manner. All the festivities are definitely postponed.
Services, it was decided, should be held in both Parish Churches on Thursday
evening. –Being Bank Holiday the shops would close on Thursday, but open again on
Friday.

DINNER IN THE MARKET PLACE
TEA TO THE CHILDREN
In deference to his Majesty’s wish that the arrangements for the Coronation should
be carried out in spite of his serious illness, upwards of 700 persons sat down to
dinner in the Market-place at Wokingham at one o’clock on Thursday. Grace was said
by Canon Sturges., The dinner consisted of cold joints, hot potatoes, salad, plum
pudding, beer and mineral waters being supplied. The meat was cooked by Mr. Alfred
Clarke in 100 joints, and members of the Volunteer Fire Brigade cooked the potatoes
in the Market-place.
The Market-place was filled with visitors during the afternoon. Cheers were given
for the King, and the National Anthem was sung. When the persons who had received
invitations had finished their meal all comers were served until the food was
exhausted.
At five o’clock the children of the parish of Wokingham were entertained to tea in
the tents erected in the Market-place, Mr. Chambers undertaking the catering.
Upwards of 1,200 children has a bountiful tea, and were presented by the Mayor and
Mayoress with a Coronation mug. At the conclusion of the tea the children marched to
the end of Broad-street where the National Anthem was sung, and hearty cheers were
given for the King and Queen and the Mayor and Mayoress.

nd
Sat 22 Nov
PRESENTATION
Mr. J Cook, manager of the Railway bookstall, Wokingham has this week been
presented by many of the influential residents with a purse of money. Mr. Cook has
removed to Basingstoke.

1903

rd
Sat 3 Jan
WOKINGHAM TOWN COUNCIL
NEED FOR INCREASED POSTAL FACILITIES
Mr. Evans moved that the Council petition his Majesty’s Secretary of the Post
Office for an additional delivery of letters in Wokingham at about 4 p.m., and further
call the Postal Authorities’ attention to the fact that though the number of letters

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