Page 463 - Reading Mercury
P. 463

We  also  take  this  opportunity  of  asking  the  Mayoress  to  accept  this  silver  cake
                   basket as some recognition of our appreciation of her untiring efforts on behalf of the
                   community.”
                      The Mayor, who it could be seen, was deeply affected said the presentation came to
                   him  as  a  complete  surprise.  He  felt  he  could  say  very  little  in  return  for  all  their
                   kindness but for himself and the Mayoress he thanked them very much. The gifts are
                   the outcome of a proposal which emanated from the council, to which residents were
                   invited  to  subscribe  and  the  secret  has  religiously  been  kept  from  the  Mayor  and
                   Mayoress. The subscribers numbered about 200.
                      The  prizes  were  then  distributed  to  the  successful  competitors  a  capital  open-air
                   concert,  arranged  by  Mr.  Yould  following,  this  being  kept  up  till  midnight  on  an
                   illuminated  stage  in  the  Market  Place,  and  consisting  of  songs,  dances,  recitations,
                   glees  by  the  united  choirs,  etc.  At  the  same  time  a  very  spirited  company  had
                   assembled for the carnival ball in the Drill Hall. For such an occasion, however, even
                   this  commodious  building  was  found  far  too  small,  and  an  overflow  dance  was
                   quickly  arranged  in  the  Town  Hall.  A  considerable  number  of  houses  were
                   illuminated and midnight brought to a close a memorable day “never to be forgotten.”
                      The carnival prizes were then distributed for the following competitions:
                          Most effective motor car.
                          Trade car
                          Novelty on wheels
                          Decorated cycle
                          Men’s fancy costume
                          Ladies’ fancy costume
                          Grotesque costume
                          Decorated pram
                          Tableau car

                        nd
                   Sat 2  Aug
                                                    PRESENTATION
                      On Thursday evening in last week, at the Fire Brigade Station, Dr. T.B. Bokenham,
                   for  17  years  hon.  surgeon  to  the  Wokingham  Fire  Brigade,  was  presented  by  the
                   members  with  a  case  of  pipes  on  his  leaving  the  town.  Chief  Officer  Caiger
                   introduced the object of the assembly. There were present: The Mayor, the Deputy-
                   Mayor,  and  Mr.  A.T.  Heelas.  The  Mayor  spoke  in  terms  of  appreciation  of  Dr.
                   Bokenham’s work, and regretted the reason of his leaving the town, namely, the state
                   of his health.

                                      CHILDREN’S PEACE CELEBRATION DAY
                      The Peace celebrations for the children were attended with great success on July
                     rd
                   23 . The children from the town and district assembled at their respective schools and
                   marched to the Market Place with their flags and banners where they were received by
                   the Mayor who was stationed on the platform in his robes accompanied by members
                   of the town council, officials, and other leading residents of the town. With the Town
                   Band accompanying, the National Anthem was sung and the Mayor, addressing the
                   children, said:
                               th
                    “On  the  11   November  last  year  the  Armistice  was  signed,  following  the  most
                                                      th
                   terrible war in history, and on the 28  of last month Peace was signed—the event you
                   are  celebrating  today.  This  is  an  event  you  should  remember  all  your  lives.  You
                   children are the men and women of the future race and what that race is to be must

                                                                                                   461
   458   459   460   461   462   463   464   465   466   467   468