Page 558 - Reading Mercury

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Sat 23 May
READING AERO CLUB (Extract)
Opening of New Headquarters.
A Ladies’ Race.
Director of Civil Aviation at Woodley.
Reading’s new aero club at Woodley was opened on Saturday by the Director of
Civil Aviation (Lieut.-Col F.C. Shelmerdine) in heavy rain. Lieut.-Col Shelmerdine,
who flew with Mrs. Shelmerdine from Heston, Middlesex, in a Puss moth, made one
of his first official public appearances. A large club-house has been erected by
Messrs. Phillips and Powis, and already the club has a good membership.
Lt.-Col and Mrs. Shelmerdine were met by the president of the club, Lord Northesk,
who was accompanied by Lady Northesk and the Mayor and Mayoress of Reading,
Councillor and Mrs. F.G. Sainsbury. Lieut. Col. Shelmerdine and his wife were made
life members of the club.
Over 40 machines arrived, and following the opening there was a programme of
aerobatics and stunt flying.

Lades’ Race.
Miss Amy Johnson, Miss Winifred Spooner and Miss Gower (daughter of Sir
Robert Gower, M.P.) were among those who entered for the ladies’ handicap race for
the president’s cup. The race was flown in two heats, and the course was from the
aerodrome to St. Paul’s Church, Wokingham, on to Twyford station and back to the
starting place. The competitors had to fly the course one in the heats and twice in the
final. The results were: Heat 1: Miss Amy Johnson, 88.5 m.p.h.; 2, Miss Aitken, 87.5
m.p.h.; Miss Crossley, 86 m.p.h. Heat 2: 1, Miss Burr, 78.5 m.p.h.; 2, Miss Gower, 93
m.p.h.; 3, Miss Spooner, 106 m.p.h.; 4, Miss Slade, 93 m.p.h.; 5, Mrs. Young, 90
m.p.h. Final: 1, Miss Aitken, 97.5 m.p.h; 2, Miss Gower, 95.5 m.p.h.; 3, Miss Amy
Johnson, 98.5 m.p.h.; 4, Miss Burr, 79 m.p.h.

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Sat 30 May
NO CARNIVAL THIS YEAR
The Mayor of Wokingham presided over a moderately attended meeting of the
townspeople to consider the possibility of holding a carnival again this year. Among
those present were Councillor Barrett and Councillor Wilson, supporting the Mayor
on the platform, councillors E.S. Whaley, F.S. Perkins and W.C. Fullbrook, Mr. J.H.
Elliston Clifton, Mr. G. Gough (hon. secretary, Wokingham Hospital Committee),
Mr. F. Butler (assistant hon. secretary, ditto) and many of the members of that
committee, Mr. T. Maris, Mr. F. Every (Town Band), Mr. S. Ayers and a number of
ladies.
The Mayor said the object of the meeting was to inquire what help would be
forthcoming in the event of a carnival being again held. The promise of £800 to be
raised for the Royal Berkshire Hospital through the local committee was a big thing,
and one proposal was to have a day set apart to assist that object. The question of a
usual carnival in face of that was a difficult matter.
By a considerable majority the meeting decided that a carnival be not held,
especially in view of the forthcoming big effort for the hospital.

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Sat 13 June
OPENING OF NEW GREEN

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