Page 488 - Reading Mercury

GIRL GUIDES
The annual meeting of the local association of the Wokingham Girl Guides was held
at the Church House. Miss St. Quintin, the district commissioner for Bracknell, was
introduced by Miss Cordes (county commissioner). The former is acting
commissioner for Wokingham vice the Lady Victoria Villiers, resigned, owing to the
new division of the county. Miss C. Robinson accepted the position of hon. treasurer,
and Mrs. Smith was appointed vice-chairman of the association. Financial, district and
company reports of a satisfactory nature were presented. It was noted that, owing to
lack of facilities, guides were unable to obtain first-class badges because they had no
opportunity to learn to swim. A resolution was passed strongly urging that facilities
for learning to swim should be provided for the town.

FIRE AT BILL HILL
Damage estimated at over £600
A serious outbreak of fire occurred on Sunday afternoon on the premises of Mrs.
Leveson Gower at Pikes Farm, Bill Hill, Wokingham, a moderate estimate of the
damage being £600. Three large hay ricks were completely destroyed and a shed
partly filled with hay was gutted. The outbreak was discovered by Ernest George
Simmons, of Forest Ride, Wokingham, who at 3.15 p.m. was walking past the farm
when he noticed flames emerging from the hay shed. He at once informed Mr. Fifield,
and the Wokingham Fire Brigade were summoned. The brigade received the call at
3.25 p.m., and within four minutes their motor fire engine was on its way to Bill Hill,
but on arrival they found that the fire had obtained a firm hold. A strong wind was
blowing, and flames were carried from one rick to another, until all three were ablaze,
and when night fell the glow of the flames was discernible for miles around. The
brigade were somewhat hampered through lack of water, the only supply available
being from a small pond near the rick yard., and this was husbanded in order to
preserve the farmhouse, which was so near to the flames that tar on the woodwork
melted and ran. Had the wind been in the opposite direction the house would have
been in a precarious position. The brigade remained on duty all night and for the
greater part of Monday, but towards the evening Captain F. Caiger considered it
necessary to return to headquarters in case the engine should be required locally. Guy
Fawkes’ nights, he remarked to our representative sometimes yielded a crop of
outbreaks. Two firemen were left on duty, and the ricks smouldered for some days.
Estimates of the amount of hay destroyed vary between 100 and 150 tons. The hay
was the property of Mr. W.A. Fifield and was insured with the Eagle and British
Dominion Insurance Co.

st
Sat 1 Dec
ROYAL VISIT TO WOKINGHAM
The visit of Her Highness Princess Helena Victoria G.B.E. to Wokingham on
Wednesday, was of a two-fold nature. In the first place Her Highness in the Lady
President of the League of Mercy for Berks and North Wilts, Bucks, Hants and Oxon;
and it was on behalf of the funds of this organisation that the entertainment was held.
Secondly she is the president of the Wokingham Choral and Orchestral Society whose
members, under their conductor, Mr. A. Yould, F.R.C.O., A.R.C.M., were responsible
for the programme presented to the large and representative audience which
assembled.

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