Page 433 - Reading Mercury

Previous to the opening of the bazaar members of the Wokingham Brigade were taken
round the town on it in charge of the Captain (Lord Downshire).
The following are the members of the Wokingham Fire Brigade all of whom were
present in their brass helmets and smart uniforms:—
Chief Officer, The Marquis of Downshire; Deputy Chief Officer, F. Caiger;
Lieutenant, A. Goswell; hon. Surgeon, Dr. T.B. Bokenham; engineers, F.G. Martin,
W.B. Martin, and F. Knight; firemen, W.R. Brant, F. Dearlove, G.A. Brown, H.J.
Painter, R. Herring, E. Hawkins, and the Earl of Hillsborough; hon. Secretary,
Fireman Harold Watts, 7 Broad Street, Wokingham.
The opening ceremony took place at two o’clock, and among those present were:
The Marquis and Marchioness of Downshire, the hon. Mrs and Miss Peel, Major
W.K. Bunting (chief officer of the Camberley Fire Brigade), Lieut. Colonel Fox (chief
officer of London Salvage Corps), Miss Gregorie, Mr. P. Sale, C.C., the Rev. H.M.
Walter, the Rev. J. Stratton, Mr. E. Watts, Fireman Harold Watts (hon. secretary),
Chief Officer Collins (Farnborough Fire Brigade), Dr. T.B. Bokenham, Mr. A.J.S.
Kennett (Reading, etc.
The members of the Wokingham and Farnborough Fire Brigades were lined up on
each side of the gaily-decorated platform.
Fireman Harold Watts announced apologies, with wishes of success to the bazaar,
from the Mayor and Mayoress of Wokingham (Mr. And Mrs. H. Mylne), Lord
Londesborough (President of the National Fire Brigades Union), Mr. Sydney A.
Hankey, Mr. And Mrs. Howard Palmer, Lady Bective, Mr. John Walter, Mr. S. B.
Joel, Captain Godsal, Colonel Seabrook (Chairman of the Council of the National Fire
Brigades Union), Chief Officer Halls (Windsor Fire Brigade), Mr. And Mrs. E.M.
Sturges, and the Deputy-Mayoress (Mrs. W.T. Martin). Mr. Watts announced that
£644 of the £725 required had been subscribed, and they were hoping that as a result
of that bazaar the remaining sum of £100 or more would be realised. (Applause.)
The Marquis of Downshire said he was there in two capacities—as High Steward of
the Borough of Wokingham and as Captain of the Fire Brigade,—and he was very
proud to hold both those positions, and he hoped he would always be able to serve the
true interests of the inhabitants. Applause.) He wished to most cordially thank all the
organisers, including the stallholders and helpers, and all those who had subscribed to
the stalls for that bazaar: the residents of Wokingham, Wokingham Without, and
those in the surrounding villages for their subscriptions and help to the motor fire
engine fund; to those in charge of the refreshment stall, particularly Miss Cooper and
Miss Rose; to Mr. Medcalf and his committee for organising the side shows; to Mr.
Maidment and the teachers of the Palmer Schools for arranging the morris dances; to
Mrs. H.B. Hall and party and Mr. F Ayers and party for arranging the concerts; to
Mrs. S. Butler (conductor) and the members of the Wokingham Red Cross Prize
Band; and to all those who had assisted in any way. He could only hope that they
would be able to get sufficient money to pay for their new motor fire engine, and then
the members of the Brigade would endeavour to make themselves proficient with the
gift that had been kindly provided. He wished to thank Colonel Fox for kindly
volunteering to come there that day in his smart Brigade uniform. He should also like
to thank the Captain of the Farnborough Fire Brigade for kindly coming over with his
men and showing the Wokingham people the kind of engine the local Brigade shortly
hoped to have. (Applause). He took that opportunity on behalf of the Brigade, of
thanking for all the great kindness and help they had rendered them. (Applause.)
Mr. P. Sale said that as County Councillor for that borough, and also as a member of
the Wokingham Town Council, it gave him great pleasure to be present that

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