Page 590 - Reading Mercury

After some discussion both suggestions were accepted. It was agreed that the
proposed tablet to be fixed over the hospital bed would be of oxidised bronze, with
lettering in white enamel. It would show the Wokingham Borough arms and state
“Wokingham Bed.”

th
Sat 10 Feb
HONOUR FOR ALD. A.E. PRIEST
At their meeting held on Tuesday the board of management of the Royal Berkshire
Hospital unanimously appointed as honorary life governor of the hospital Alderman
A.E. Priest, J.P., in recognition of his work as president of the Wokingham Hospital
Committee, who have completed the endowment of a bed in the Royal Berkshire
Hospital. The letter to Mr. Priest in which the announcement is made speaks highly of
his leadership and enthusiasm. Naturally Mr. Priest is immensely gratified that such
an honour should be conferred on him, and which he considers his colleagues on the
Wokingham Hospital Committee are entitled to no small share.

th
Sat 24 Feb
WOKINGHAM’S ENDOWMENT FOR ROYAL BERKS HOSPITAL.
LORD LIEUTENANT RECEIVES TOWN’S GIFT AT A PUBLIC CEREMONY
CHEQUE FOR ONE THOUSAND POUNDS
First Borough Arms to be Placed Over a Bed; A Fine Example to Others.
The coping stone of successful endeavour was placed upon the magnificent scheme
of Wokingham’s Bed in the Royal Berkshire Hospital at a large and enthusiastic
gathering in the Town Hall on Sunday afternoon, when, on his first official visit to
Wokingham, the Lord Lieutenant of the County, Mr. J. Herbert Benyon, president of
the Royal Berkshire Hospital, accepted, in the name of its Governors, the tablet and
endowment of the Wokingham Hospital Committee bed from Alderman A.E. Priest,
President of the Wokingham Hospital Committee, through the Mayor of Wokingham,
Councillor the Rev. Charles Mansfield.
The presence of Mr. Benyon was highly appreciated by the people of Wokingham,
who felt that there was no one who more fittingly could have accepted the tangible
expression of their zealous exertions. High tributes to Mr. Benyon’s great public
services were made during the proceedings.
FUND OPENED AT TOWN HALL FIVE YEARS AGO
The Mayor wore his robes of office and the mace lay before him on the table. The
Councillors, fully robed, were also on the platform, also Mr. F.A. Lyon, secretary of
the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
The other members of the Council present were Alderman W.T. Martin, J.B.
Eustace, E.S. Whaley, M. Blake, P. Sale and A.E. Priest, Councillors H.F. Curl, Miss
D. Wescott, S.L. Bowyer, F.J. Barrett, D. Goddard, G.A. Cheeseman, C.R.P.
Henderson, D.E. Ward, E. Ward, C. Goddard and W.C. Fullbrook, with Mr. J.H.
Elliston Clifton (Town Clerk).
In the hall were the following officers of the Wokingham Hospital Committee:
Messrs. F. Moles (vice-chairman), G. Gough (hon. secretary), F. Carpenter (hon.
assistant secretary), G. Ballard, (ex-chairman), G.R. Frift, S. Gater, T. Douglas, g.
Clements, O. Jefferies (the oldest members), and the members of the committee, also
members of the ladies’ committee: The Hon. Mrs. Corfield, Mrs. Priest, Mrs. Thorpe,
Miss Benson, Miss Curl, Mrs. H. Stewart, Miss West, Mrs. G. Haye, Mrs. Henlé and
Miss Fletcher; Mr. C.W. Marks (borough surveyor), Mr. C. Sparkes (sergeant-at-
mace), Mr. R. Hosler and Mr. W. White.

588