Page 615 - Reading Mercury

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Sat 4 July
DEATH OF PILOT OFFICER SPENCER
The Funeral
Further information has come to hand concerning the death, near Aden, last week,
of Pilot Officer Eric W. Spencer, of Wokingham. P.O. Spencer, who was a member of
No. 12 Bomber Squadron, was only 20.
He was one of the youngest to attain this rank, and had a promising future. Only a
few days before his death he had deputised on a flight for his Flight Commander.
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When his machine was reported missing on June 24 , an extensive search was
carried out. Later the same night, as a result of a discovery by a native a further search
was made, and during the early hours of the next morning the wrecked aeroplane was
located by a flying boat at a point 25 miles north-east of Aden, 150 yards from the
shore. The body of Spencer was found on the beach about three miles from the place
of the accident and there was, the Air ministry state, every indication that death had
been instantaneous.
The funeral took place with full Royal Air Force honours at 7 a.m. (local time) on
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June 26 . It was attended by large numbers representing the three services and the
Civil Administration at Aden.

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Sat 11 July
Alderman Philip Sale, J.P., senior member and “father” of the council, received the
Freedom of the borough of Wokingham at a special meeting of the Town Council on
Thursday evening.

LORD MAYOR VISITS WOKINGHAM
Official Opening of Cinema Trade Home
SIR WILLIAM JURY’S LAVISH GENEROSITY
Many figures famous in this film world were present on Thursday afternoon, when
the Lord Mayor of London (Sir Percy Vincent) opened “Glebelands,” Wokingham, as
the convalescent and rest home of the Cinematograph Trade and Benevolent Fund.
The mansion, together with charming grounds of some 19 acres, has been given by
Sir William Jury, the president of the fund, and to date the trade has subscribed about
£28,000 towards a special maintenance fund of £100,000.
The Lord Mayor was accompanied by the Lady Mayoress, and by Colonel and
Sheriff J.D. Laurie and Colonel and Sheriff J.D. Waldron, and among others present
were Mr. Reginald C. Bromhead (chairman of the fund). Mrs Bromhead, Lieut.
Colonel and Mrs. A.C. Bromhead, the Mayor and Mayoress of Reading (Mr. and Mrs.
W.H. Bale), the Mayor and Mayoress of Wokingham (Alderman and Mrs. Barrett);
members of Wokingham Town Council, Alderman George Ford (chairman of
Wokingham R.D.C.) and Mrs. Ford, Mr. Arthur Jarrat (representing the
Cinematograph Trade Provident Institution) and members of the council of the fund.
Those who accepted invitations to be present also included: Julius Hagen, Robert
Garrett, Victor Saville, Walter Mycroft, Major Bell, J.C. Square, E.H. Lundy, Cecil
Hepworth, Captain Alfred Davies, Roy Simmonds, Ernest Verity, John Sutre, T.N.
France, R.H. Gillespie, Sinclair Hill, Sidney Bernstein, Cecil Bernstein Will Fyffe,
Margaret Scott, Edward G. Robinson, Jane Carr, and Gibb-McLaughlin.
Bouquets were presented to the ladies by the Misses Farth Brook (daughters of Mr.
Clive Brook), Patricia Hamilton (daughter of Mr. Neil Hamilton, and Barbara,
Gabrielle and Isobel Bromhead.

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