Page 544 - Reading Mercury

motor-coaches and visited St. Paul’s, Westminster Abbey and the Zoo, where they
had tea. All arrangements worked smoothly.

TEST MATCH BY TELEVISION
On Saturday All Saints choir members, with Mr. A. Yould in charge, journeyed by
motor-coaches to Brighton. The Rev. K. St. C. Thomas accompanied the party.
Cricket enthusiasts of the party spent a long time in enjoyment of the television
screen, which presented the Test match to an audience of some thousands.

SINGULAR ACCIDENT TO HORSE AND MAN
On Tuesday afternoon a workman was engaged in building up a manhole at a depth
of 12 feet in Finchampstead Road, when suddenly the light at the top was blocked and
a falling body descended upon him. The intruder was a carthorse, which became
wedged in the hole. Fortunately the man escaped serious injury, but was cut about the
face. He crawled out from the horse’s legs, mounted its back and emerged from the
hole. The horse was cut about the head, but not badly. Attached to a cart, with a man
seated in the cart driving, it seems to have walked into the hole, breaking the shafts.
The horse was extricated by filling in the hole until the animal was able to step out at
the top.

th
Sat 6 Sept
THUNDERSTORM
Wokingham experienced an unusually severe thunderstorm on Friday night last
week. Commencing about 10 p.m., it continued until past one in the morning. The
lightning was of intense brilliance, while the flashes continued with the briefest of
intervals throughout. The thunder was very loud. Rain fell heavily. Belated
pedestrians enveloped in nerve-trying forked lightning, were in an unenviable
position. The storm appears to have done no damage.

DOCTOR’S CAR ABLAZE
Driving his large Rover Six saloon motor-car near Ashridgewood, about seven
o’clock on Friday evening last week, Dr. E.F. Smith, of Wokingham, became aware
of trouble with the rear petrol tank, which burst into flames. The Wokingham Fire
Brigade was called but were hampered by there being no adequate water supply
available. The car burnt out by the roadside and a number of the doctor’s professional
instruments were also destroyed. Dr. Smith, fortunately, escaped injury.

NEW FIRE-FIGHTING APPLIANCE
On the leading Wokingham fire engine at the Carnival procession was one fireman
of the Wokingham Brigade, who was equipped with new peroxide rescue apparatus,
recently acquired by the brigade. This appliance enables its wearer safely to enter gas,
smoke or poison fumes and is therefore, invaluable for rescue work in sewers and
chemical works. When fitted and charged the apparatus, which is constructed of
rubber, is as impervious to the outer air as a diving suit and this condition will
continue for an hour ensuring perfect safety to the wearer.
A release of peppermint when approaching exhaustion of the peroxide, warns the
wearer to give the signal for recall or to retire from his post for re-charge. The
apparatus enables the wearer to submerge in water or liquid with perfect safety. The
Wokingham Brigade has acquired one of three outfits at a cost of £14.

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