Page 539 - Reading Mercury

again impressively observed. Poppy Day arrangements locally were in the hands of
Mrs. J.B. Eustace, assisted by the Hon. Mrs. Corfield and Mrs. Murray (chairman of
the local women’s section of the British Legion) and Mr. A. Andrews (secretary,
men’s section). The result was, in view of the severe weather, intensely satisfactory,
the sum total of the effort reaching £148 3s. 2d., against £149 1s. 3d. last year. The
weather was most boisterous, and collectors had frequently to resort to shelter from
the heavy rain and fierce wind, the latter tearing flags to shreds on the Town Hall and
All Saints’ Church. Flags on the Town Hall parted from their attachments and were
not recovered for some hours.

1930

th
Sat 4 Jan
THRILLING FIRE RESCUES
Girls trapped at Old Wokingham Inn
FUMES AND GAS
Plucky Constable’s Fall From Ladder
Thrilling rescues were made at Wokingham early on Thursday morning by the
police and firemen when a fire occurred at The Queen’s Head, an old inn situated on
the Terrace, Reading Road, Wokingham.
In the house were the landlord, Mr. Alfred Dyer, his wife, their four daughters,
Hilda, Vera, Eileen and Edna, and Mrs. Dyer’s father, Mr. George Brooks, who is 87
years of age. The outbreak occurred in the tap room downstairs, a beam in the
chimney taking fire and burning its way into a cupboard by the side of the fireplace.
By this cupboard was the gas meter, and as the heat increased the pipes of the meter
melted and the gas started to escape.
Probably the beam had been smouldering for some time. When Mr. Dyer awoke he
smelt smoke, and at once aroused the rest of the household. The smoke was now
increasing in volume, and, together with the gas fumes, made it impossible to get
down the stairs. The alarm was given from the window, and the police informed. They
at once called the Wokingham Fire Brigade.
POLICEMAN’S PLUCK
P.C. Surman, a young member of the force, was one of the first on the scene, and
seeing the people at the windows he rushed to their aid with a ladder. Taking one of
the girls—all of whom were in their night attire—in his arms, he was bringing her
down the ladder when, while about half-way to the ground, the ladder slipped, and he
fell with the girl on top of him. Neither was injured, but although shaken the constable
again used the ladder to rescue another girl. Other policemen also ran to the scene and
gave assistance.
Within three minutes of receiving the alarm the Wokingham Fire Brigade, under
Second Officer F. Knight, were at the fire with their motor pump and escape. Bringing
the escape into immediate action the firemen carried down the remaining womenfolk
and Mr. Brooks. Mr. Dyer managed to get out by himself. One fireman dashed into
the house and prevented the possibility of a gas explosion by turning off the gas at the
main.
Dr. F. Curl, who is the hon. surgeon to the brigade, attended the rescued people, but
beyond shock and being dazed they were not hurt.

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