Page 419 - Reading Mercury

th
Sat 14 May
DEATH OF THE KING
The sad news of the King’s death cast a gloom over the whole borough and
neighbourhood. Flags floated at half-mast over the Municipal Buildings on Saturday
morning and throughout the week, and a short muffled peal was rung on the bells of
All Saints’ Church on Saturday evening. On Sunday muffled peals were rung at both
churches and sympathetic references were made in the sermons to the Nation’s loss.
The National Anthem was sung at both churches and the Dead March was played on
the organ.
In reply to a telegram sent by the Mayor (Mr. D.N. Heron) the following reply was
received:- “Buckingham Palace, The King sincerely thanks you and the inhabitants of
the Borough of Wokingham for kind sympathy and loyal message.—Equerry.”

th
Sat 14 May
ROBINS’S NEST IN A WATER CAN
Recently a robin built her nest in a small water can hanging on a brick wall at the
back of the “Three Brewers” public house in the Barkham-road. Here she laid six eggs
and sat contentedly on the nest until they were hatched, notwithstanding that the
landlord (Mr. Albert Surman) carried the can about the house to show customers. The
six young birds appear very comfortable in their queer abode.

THE KING PROCLAIMED AT WOKINGHAM
Residents of the ancient and loyal Borough of Wokingham assembled in large
numbers outside the Town Hall at noon on Thursday, to hear the proclamation of his
Majesty King George V. A platform, covered with red baize, had been erected in the
Market-place near the building, and as the Mayor, Ald. D.N. Heron (wearing his chain
of office) with the members of the Corporation, emerged from the Town Hall, the
Boys’ Brigade and the Cadet Corps drawn up outside gave a general salute. A general
salute by the Boys’ Brigade followed, after which the Town Crier (J. Taylor) rang the
bell and shouted: “Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! Let all persons keep silence while his Majesty
is proclaimed.”
Before reading the Proclamation the Mayor said:
“The honour has fallen upon me as Mayor to publicly proclaim in this loyal
Borough of Wokingham, in the Royal County of Berks, the accession to the Throne of
this great Empire of his Majesty King George V., and while I do so with all loyalty to
his person, I feel that none of us can obliterate from our minds the overwhelming
sorrow that has so suddenly and prematurely come upon the people of this Realm by
the untimely death of our late universally beloved King, his Majesty King Edward
VIII., whose beneficent and too short reign has been the wonder and admiration of the
civilised world. ”
The Mayor then read the Proclamation in a tone which everyone present could hear.
A Royal salute by the buglers followed, and the Wokingham Town Band, under Mr.
Farr, played the National Anthem. At the request of the Mayor the school children
present sang “God save the King.”
The proceedings, which lasted only five minutes, were most impressive, all the men
present standing with uncovered heads.

417