Page 425 - Reading Mercury

Corporation Committees attended All Saints’ Church. The service, according to the
form issued by the Archbishop corresponded as closely as possible, but in a shortened
form, to that used in Westminster Abbey, and included a shortened Litany, the recital
of the solemnities of the Coronation, the Common Service and the “Te Deum,” the
whole lasting about an hour and a quarter. The collection taken at All Saints’ Church
will be given to the King Edward Memorial Ward at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
At 10.30 to 12.30 p.m. selections of music were played by the Wokingham Town
Band, under Mr. W. Farr, in the Market-place.
THE ROASTING OF THE OX
The Coronation festivities were started at 10.30 o’clock on the eve of the
Coronation Day by Miss Mylne, daughter of the Mayor, in the absence of the Marquis
of Downshire, of Easthampstead Park, lighting the specially-prepared in the Market-
place to roast the large ox, weighing 90 stone, which had been given by the Marquis
of Downshire. The ox, on the spit, preceded by the Town Band arrived about eight
o’clock via Easthampstead-road, and was paraded through the town before it was put
down to the fire. The roasting was continued throughout the night under the
superintendence of the Fire Brigade and a strong committee of experienced helpers.
On such a great and important occasion of rejoicing as the Coronation of a Monarch
the roasting of an ox whole appeals forcibly to the British ideas of celebrating the
event, as in the olden time
DINNER TO AGED PEOPLE
The carving of the ox commenced about 11 o’clock on Thursday, and the dinner to
the old people was served in the Large Town Hall half an hour later. At one p.m.
dinner to a second party was served, making a total of between 600 and 700 people
fed off the huge ox. Each of the diners received a souvenir Coronation plate, whilst
owing to the liberality of the following brewers, each was supplied with a glass of
beer of aeriated water, from Messrs. Brakspeare (Henley), J. Headington
(Wokingham), H.G. Powell (Wokingham), and Wethered and Sons (Marlow) through
Mr. Boyton.
LOYAL DEMONSTRATION
At noon there was a general assembly of the Mayor and Corporation, the Berks
Imperial Yeomanry, Boys’ Brigade, Cadet Corps, and various public bodies in the
Market-place. The Union Jack was unfurled from the east flagstaff of the Town Hall,
while the Drum and Fife and the Bugle Bands of the Boys’ Brigade and the Cadet
Corps played. Accompanied by the Town Band all then joined in singing the National
Anthem.
The Mayor subsequently entertained the members of the Corporation, officials and
committees in the Town Hall to light refreshments. At the close the Mayor proposed
the health of the King and Queen, which was enthusiastically honoured, and Ald.
D.N. Heron proposed the health of the Mayor.
GALA FETE AND SPORTS
At 2.30 the children from the schools in the Borough assembled in the Market-
place, where they sang the National Anthem and then went in procession to a large
field in the Easthampstead-road, which was lent by Mr. W. Howard Palmer, and here
was a gala fete on a large scale, under the direction of a committee and stewards.
During the afternoon a programme of sports for the children was arranged on a
reserved track, whilst morris dances were carried out by a number of children from
the Palmer School, and fancy marching and Coronation quadrilles by children from
St. Paul’s School. Tea was provided for 1,200 children, the catering being undertaken

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