Page 552 - Reading Mercury

conditions had prevented her from flying from Paris to Wokingham, as she had
intended, and eventually she had to travel by train and boat during the week-end,
arriving in Wokingham on Sunday, after receiving a great welcome in London at
Victoria Station.
With Flying Officer E.C.T. Edwards she was attempting to fly from Croydon to
Cape Town, when their machine fell into the sea off Southern Italy and she swam
ashore and obtained assistance for her companion.
SEATED ON THE FIRE ENGINE

Miss Spooner made the journey to the Town Hall on the Wokingham fire engine,
seated beside the driver and accompanied by Miss D. Wescott, the senior lady
member of the council, and with the firemen standing, on the side. Cheers from the
crowd announced her arrival, and she had to face a squad of photographers and
cinematograph operators.
The Mayor (Ald. A. E. Priest,) in his scarlet robes and holding, his cocked hat, in his
hand, advanced to meet her at the Town Hall steps and shook Miss Spooner by the
hand, The background was filled by aldermen and councillors, the sergeant at-mace
carrying the mace of the borough, and the Town Clerk (Mr. J.H. Elliston Clifton, all
wearing their robes. Room was also found for Mr. Arthur T. Heelas; who was mainly
responsible for the welcome. Miss Spooner all smiles, received a large and beautiful
bouquet of red carnations tied with scarlet ribbon.
The town crier having called for silence, the Mayor stepped forward to give, in the
name of the town, the welcome which had been arranged. The Mayor said:-
“The pleasure we have to-day has been long delayed, but we have now the
opportunity to honour our fellow citizen, Miss Winifred Spooner. It is with pride and
gratification we welcome one who has been rightly described a world’s heroine, and a
wonderful aviator. Miss Spooner’s name is a household word not only in our land, but
also in other parts of the world, and people in other lands have done what we are
doing today, but ours is the greater pleasure in giving this honour, because she is one
of us and a resident of Wokingham.

SHEER PLUCK AND ENDURANCE
In her recent great attempt to beat the world record flight from Croydon to Cape
Town, it was certainly no fault of hers she was unsuccessful, but Miss Spooner

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