Page 471 - Reading Mercury

such excellent teachers, would more readily realise that they were having the best
time of their lives. Concluding, the speaker, in a happy manner, emphasised the truth
of the motto that, “What was worth doing was worth doing well.”
The children sang “There’s a Land,” (Allitsen), after which the flag was hoisted and
the salute given. Three cheers were given for the King, and the National Anthem was
sung. The ceremony concluded with the march-past and salute. The proceedings were
very picturesque, the playground being gaily decorated with flags of various nations.

PARADE AND INSPECTION
The local Boy Scouts and Girl Guides paraded in Rectory Road and proceeded to
the Recreation Ground, where they were drawn up for inspection by the Mayor (Ald.
P. Sale). The following were on parade: The Band of the Wokingham Lone Scouts
under Patrol Leader Grove; the remainder of the Lone scouts under Scout Cooney; the
Wokingham Wolf Cubs under Scout Culver; the Wokingham Brownies under Brown-
Owl Miss Smith, Lieut. Miss Finch, and Patrol Leader Powsford; No. 3 Wokingham
Company Girl Guides under Capt. Mrs. Welch and Lieut. Miss Harris; and No. 4
Company under Capt. Miss Spiers and Lieut. Miss Evans. The whole parade was
commanded by Troop Leader H.A. Byard.
The parade was inspected by the Mayor in the presence of a large company and Ald.
Sale also gave an address. He expressed his pleasure to see such a business-like
appearance and said he liked to see boys and girls voluntarily put themselves under
discipline, because the first thing they had to learn was to obey. If they did not learn to
obey they would never command properly. He liked the movement of Girl Guides and
Boy Scouts, because they aimed at doing something really useful, and not only useful
to themselves but to other people. The Boy Scouts aimed at doing one good action
every day. He hoped they did a good many more than that but he hoped they did one
at any rate, because as they did that they benefited themselves as well as other people.
After all, the great thing to be proud of in being citizens of this great country was in
the character they were building up. We might have the biggest army in the world and
the most powerful navy (and, he was going to say, the most money, but we had not
got that now), but if we had not got the character which had made the name of Great
Britain respected all over the world, we were going to leave our country much poorer
than it had ever been before. One of the finest things ever said about this country was
that an Englishman’s word was his bond. If they gave their word they must keep it, no
matter whether it was profitable or unprofitable to them, whether they gained or lost
by it. That was one of the things that made the name of this country respected
throughout the world. As long as our national character stood high—and after all our
national character depended on those young people—we need not mind, although we
had not so much money. Money was one of the last of the things to be considered. He
was sure he wished them every success and hoped that next year would see a great
many more Boy Scouts than were there that day. He thought their scoutmaster had too
much to do and not enough people to help him. He hoped some of the young men
would come forward and help him and some friends would be found to find anything
they needed. He urged them to attend their weekly meetings regularly, to do their
drills smartly and not to forget that one good deed a day.
The “General Salute” was given, followed by three cheers for the King, one for the
Queen, and three for the Mayor of Wokingham.
The parade marched back to the Market Place and was dismissed.

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