Page 595 - Reading Mercury

Alderman W.T. Martin, in introducing the Mayor, said for over thirty years he had
been trying his utmost to get a swimming pool for the Borough of Wokingham. When
he went on the council 34 years ago it was one of the planks of his election address
that they should try to do something to teach the children to swim. They had gone on
from year to year, but all their schemes had fallen through. So he had now
endeavoured to find something off his own bat. He hoped they had succeeded in
producing a bathing place acceptable to all. (applause). They had taken a good deal of
trouble to find out the very best. They had the purest water for them to bathe in, so
that they could come here and feel absolutely safe. They had adopted one of the finest
water purifiers they were able to find. The whole of the designs had been got out by
his son. (Applause). They had found a very able man as contractor in Mr. Barrett, who
had spared no efforts to carry out the last letter everything so that they would have a
swimming pool that would be hard to surpass. Through the construction of the pool
they were able to find work for a large number of men, who had worked willingly.
They had put their backs into the job, and no hours had been too long in order to get it
finished by that day. He felt very proud of the whole of the workmen who had been
engaged on the job. (Hear, hear).
1.100 Tons Excavated
Mr. F.J. Barrett, the contractor, expressed his thanks to Alderman Martin for giving
such a swimming pool to Wokingham. He was very proud of the job, and he thought
he had some reason to be. He also thanked Mr. Cathrow Martin for his designing of
the pool, which had made his work so much better, and for the very happy way in
which they had been able to work together. He also desired to thank his own
employees for the good work they had put into the job and the goodwill with which
they had carried it out. They had worked long hours to get the job completed, so that
at two o’clock that day he was able to say that the job was finished. Actually 1,100
tons of soil had been excavated, and although they could not see it, this was still in the
garden. This was due to Mr. Martin’s excellent designing. The amount of shingle,
sand and gravel used was 650 tons. Other quantities included 110 tons of cement and
twelve tons of reinforcements. If the electrician’s wire used was measured it would
probably amount to the same mileage as that which they had covered in running round
looking at various swimming pools in the country.
Mr. Barrett then presented Mr. Martin with an inscribed silver-mounted ebony
walking stick on behalf of himself and the workmen. Mrs. Martin was handed a
bouquet of carnations.
A Man of Enterprise
The Mayor of Wokingham said the idea of a swimming pool had been a pet scheme
of Alderman Martin’s for many years, and as he could not get the council to spend the
money to put the matter in hand, he had, with great enterprise, undertaken the work
himself. (Applause). Alderman Martin was a man who had the best interests of the
town of Wokingham at heart, and they now saw one of the results of that interest.
They had a contractor in Mr. Barrett who had put his whole heart into the job, and it
was due to his energy and good management that the pool was ready to be opened that
day. The workmen, too, had carried out their job well. In designing such a pretty pool,
Mr. Cathrow Martin had done excellent work. He hoped the whole town and, indeed,
the neighbourhood, would take advantage of this provision for the health and welfare
of the district. The best sign of their gratitude would be for them to make as best use
of the swimming pool as they possibly could.
On behalf of Ald. Martin the Mayor then presented a packet of money, to each of
the workmen.

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