Page 597 - Reading Mercury
P. 597
Messrs. C.T. Barlow, A. Colombe, H.N. Jones, A.G. Lindfield, C.A. Mack and H.J.
Holmes (vice-chairman). The attendance numbered about 150.
Mr. J.F. Wood said their activities would not be restricted to Berkshire. They would
go into any area where they were demanded. They had several members from Oxford.
He further described the fattening, which he said would be in operation shortly. Here
400 birds could be fattened at one time under the expert judgment of Mrs. And Miss
Taylor, who carried off first and second prizes at the Smithfield Show in May. These
ladies were taking charge at once. The firm owned the 1½ acres of freehold land upon
which the station stood, and they had secured their market. At first they sent 80% of
their eggs to London and sold only 20%, locally, but now those percentages were
reversed.
Alderman Priest, after referring to the absence of the Mayor, said the aim of the
organisation seemed to be to bring something of the very best to the tables of the
public. He congratulated Mr. Wood and his friends who had been enterprising enough
to start the station.
Colin Hodgson, a little boy of 2½ years handed a bouquet to Mrs. Priest.
Alderman Priest then hammered home the last of eight nails in a silvered horse-shoe
over the front door of the station. The horse-shoe was taken from a depth of 4½ ft.
when excavating for the electric supply cable to the station.
Alderman Priest then opened the door with a special key and the company entered
the spacious building and inspected the plant, including “candling” (almost equivalent
to X-raying, by which defects, if any, are detected), also weighing and the subsequent
packing. Collection and distribution are made by the firm’s motor.
Figures supplied by Mr. Wood show that the membership of the berks Co-operative
Poultry Producers, Ltd., is 95, and capital subscribed is nearly £400. Four thousand
dozen eggs pass through the station weekly, and at the end of August, when contracts
expire, this will be increased to 6,000 dozen.
th
Sat 28 July
MISS FRANCES HENLEY CURL
Only daughter of Dr. H.F. Curl and the late Mrs. Curl of Wokingham. Her marriage
to Mr. Hugh St. Clair Stewart, older son of the Rev. M.J. Stewart and Mrs. Stewart at
Manuden Vicarage, Bishops Stortford, will take place quietly at St. Jude’s Church,
S.W. on Tuesday.
th
Sat 24 September
RENOVATING WOKINGHAM’S CLOCK TOWER
How a Local Firm Set About the Task
595

