Page 438 - Reading Mercury

PATRIOTIC CONCERT
The Drill Hall was crowded on Wednesday evening, when an excellent concert was
given in aid of the local patriotic fund. Throughout the greatest interest was
maintained by the crowded audience and appreciation for the excellent numbers
presented was shown by loud applause.
The programme was as follows:-
March, Selection, The Wokingham Orchestra: Song and Chorus, “England’s Battle
Hymn” (F. Sydney Smith); Dr. Nash: Song, “Queen of Nations,”; Miss Olive Crowe:
Piano Solo, “Chanson Triste” (Tchaikovsky); Major Adam: Songs, (a) “The Two
Grenadiers” (in French) and (b) “I’ll Sing Thee Songs of Araby” (Fred Clay); Mr.
Sydney Barraclough: Recitation, “Lasca” (Frank Desprez); Miss Nora Butler: Songs
(a) “See, Love, I Bring Thee Flowers” (Frank Lambert), and (b) “Now Sleeps the
Crimson Petal” (Roger Quinter); Mr. E. Croft: Song “Mother Machree”; Madame
Ellen Heron: Violin Solo, “Mazurka” (Mlynarski); Miss Marjorie Bower: Song “Up
From Somerset” (Sanderson); Mr. C. Powell Eastbury: Song “Awake Spring”
(Montague Phillips); Miss Dorothy Wescott: Song “Tis Jolly to Hunt” (Sterndale
Bennett); Dr. Nash: Monologue; Mr. C. Powell Eastbury: “Your King and Country
Need You” (Paul Rubens);
Madame Ellen Heron: An amusing one-act farce “Blatherwick’s Diplomacy” by
J.B. Trenwith, was produced under the direction of Mr. Sydney Barraclough. The
characters were:-
Adolphus Blatherwick, an aspiring but impecunious dramatist Major Adam
Mrs. Eliza Blatherwick, his wife Mrs. H.B. Hall
Gertrude, their daughter, a suffragette Miss Crowe
Arthur Chetwynd, her suitor Mr. McEwan
Gwendoline Mary, the cook Miss Olive Crowe
John Henry Stubbs, a broker’s man Mr. Ernest Targett
Aunt Matilda (a little deaf) Miss Dorothy Sale
Edmund Fitzclarence, manager of the Thespian Theatre Mr. E. Croft
The scene: A morning room in Blatherwick’s house.
“God Save the King” was sung by Madame Ellen heron, the well-known local
favourite. Mr. Staniland gratuitously printed the programmes and advertised the
concert and Mr. P. Sale very kindly sent plants for decoration.

MEETING OF SPECIAL CONSTABLES
On Monday evening a meeting of special constables was held in the county Police
Station. Supt. Goddard explained that it was proposed to swear in special constables
for the county this year, and not for the Borough of Wokingham alone. Admiral
Eustace said that the county had responded with a large number of special police
reserves. An Act had now been passed which enabled them to swear in special
constables, and the County Council had decided to swear in 2,000 to act anywhere.
They had heard from the War Office that Wokingham was one of the proclaimed
areas, which, although it did not mean it was under Martial Law, it was getting on that
way. Bridge guarding was most important. They did not want soldiers to do what they
could do themselves. There were 50 or 60 Germans in Wokingham and district, and
they must be ready.

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