Page 405 - Reading Mercury

1,281 children, namely, 515 in Palmer School and 366 in St. Paul’s, the Council
School taking 400. The new school would in all probability be sufficient for the wants
of Wokingham for many years. Wokingham had reason to be proud of the educational
machinery it now possessed, namely three large schools all thoroughly equipped and
having the approval of the Inspector of the Board of Education. Let them hope that it
might be part of that new school to send out its scholars thoroughly equipped to bear
their part in the battle life, and in whatsoever part of the battlefield their place might
be. (Applause.)
Mr. W.C.F. Anderson (the Secretary of the Berks Education Committee) read
several letters of apology at non-attendance. That building, he said, represented the
latest views of the Board of Education on school architecture. It was admirably
lighted and sub-divided into class-rooms requisite to a good-sized class, but not too
large. The Board of Education laid very great stress on the point that classes should
not be too large. The staff was practically the same as at the old British School. With
regard to the management of the school, the County Education Committee had
nominated four managers, and there were also representatives of St. Paul’s and
Palmer School. The Education Committee regarded it of the utmost importance that
the school should work in the greatest possible harmony with the other schools. So far
as the County Committee was concerned it made no difference which school a child
attended. In planning the school the committee took into consideration that the
country and the people of Wokingham would be paying off the cost for 30 years, and
they arranged it so that no more buildings would be wanted for the next ten years. One
room would be specially devoted to evening classes, more particularly in regard to art,
so that a need much felt in Wokingham would be supplied.
Mrs. Murdoch then declared the school open.
(more speeches followed)

rd
Sat 3 Feb
The town hall was to be altered to include the office of the borough surveyor.

th
Sat 26 May Reading Observer
EMPIRE DAY
Thursday last, being Empire Day, the children of the elementary schools of the town
were given a holiday. Flags were hoisted on the Municipal and other buildings.
Special reference was made in the schools to the life and work of Queen Victoria, and
the progress of the Empire during her long and prosperous reign.

BAND “SOCIAL”
On Wednesday, another successful Volunteer Band “social” was held in the church
House. In addition to the band, the following contributed to the evening’s
programme:-Misses Holloway and Golds and Messrs. Funnell and Golds, Mrs. S.
Butler and Mrs. Hewett were in charge of the refreshments. A pleasant evening was
spent.

th
Sat 14 July
BAND OF HOPE OUTING
The members of the Wokingham Band of Hope had a pleasant outing on
Wednesday afternoon. Assembling at the British School a start was made about four

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