Page 498 - Reading Mercury

were also present, while Bandmaster A. Bradshaw was in charge of the band. In
addition to the officers, 75 of other ranks took part in the operation.

GIRL GUIDES CHURCH PARADES
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The 1 , 2 , and 5 Companies of Girl guides, the Brownie pack and the little boys
of the Wokingham Wolf Cubs attended Divine service at All Saints on Sunday
morning (Empire Day). The bodies assembled in the Market Place and marched with
their colours to the church. The Rev. B. M. Niblett preached an appropriate sermon.
During the service the colours, which had been dedicated, were placed within the
sanctuary. No. 3 Company (Wesleyan) attended Divine service at their own church,
Rose Street, having completed arrangements before receiving the order for general
church parade.
A SKIDDING BUS
Passengers in the Thames Valley ‘bus, which arrived around 10 p.m. on Saturday
night in Wokingham, had a somewhat alarming experience. In the middle of Broad
Street the ‘bus skidded as the driver attempted, we understand, to avoid a woman in
the road. The ‘bus crashed into and felled a lamp-post in the centre of the street, and
this wrenched the driving wheel out of his hands, so that the ‘bus swerved and crashed
into the large iron railings of Markham House (General Wilkinson’s residence).
About 18 feet of the railings were flattened, and the stone pedestals supporting them
were torn from their position, iron standards were broken, and the containing wall of
the area was damaged. Fortunately the ‘bus stopped on the pavement, whence it was
subsequently driven away. The passengers were a good deal shaken. Some two years
ago an exactly similar accident occurred at the same lamp-post, when a private motor
car crashed into the railings of Markham House.

MASQUE BY GIRL GUIDES
As an Empire Day celebration the Girl Guides of Wokingham gave in the Town
Hall on Saturday evening an excellent entertainment, styled, “Follow On,” a masque
for Empire Day, adapted and arranged by Miss R.C. Smith, and produced by Miss
D.M. Finch; both ladies hold the rank of captain of the Girl Guides of Wokingham.
“Land of Hope and Glory” was sung. Patrol Leader G. Welch recited “Victory and the
Soldier” (Rupert Brooke), in capital style, and Miss N. Tanner gave with dramatic
force, “England, a Garden,” A performance for children was given in the afternoon.
There was a large attendance, and the Masque, which was well staged and capitally
performed, gave every satisfaction. Hiawatha and the Red Indians were especially
well done. Canada and her productions received ample and effective treatment. India
was a charming display, while New Zealand and Australia were graphically
represented, specially effective being the Maori dance. The tousle-headed African
girls, with their quaintly-told story of the sun, wind and moon, met with enthusiastic
reception. The patron saints of the United Kingdom were accorded dignified and
impressive treatment, while Miss De Vitre as “England,” gave a noble rendering of
“This Royal Throne of Kings,” etc., from Shakespeare’s Richard II. Mr. E. Knight
ably worked the lime-light effects.
Admiral Eustace (the Mayor of Wokingham) contributed a happy speech, and said
that parents were well advised in putting their boys and girls in the Guides or Scouts.

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Sat 20 June
THE KING PASSES THROUGH WOKINGHAM

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