Page 640 - Reading Mercury

Berks V.A.D. (Mrs. Beale and Miss Finch), and Supt. T. Sadler, St. John Ambulance
Association. Although visited by many interested residents, the attendances should
have been larger.

AUCTION SALE
At the Rose Hotel, Wokingham, on Tuesday, Messrs. Nicholas, of Friar Street,
Reading, conducted an auction sale of land on the Oakfield Estate, Barkham Road,
Wokingham, two of the ten lots being sold. One was 220 ft. of building land with a
frontage to Molly Millars Lane, and realised £230. The other of accommodation
meadow land of 4½ acres, also with a frontage to Molly Millars Lane, realised £200.

RED CROSS FLAG DAY
The Red Cross Flag Day, held in the district on Saturday, resulted in £45 19s. 1d.
being raised, which was augmented by a further £2 10s. in donations. The area
included Wokingham, Bearwood, Winnersh and Finchampstead. Admiral J.B. Eustace
is the district secretary, and Mrs. Howard Palmer and Mrs. Oliver Young represent
different areas. Fifty per cent of the subscribed amount is allocated to the nursing
organisations within the contributory area.

REV. W.H. BRACKENBURY LEAVING
The Rev. W.H. Brackenbury, resident Methodist minister for the past 18 months,
preached his farewell sermon on Sunday evening, as he has been appointed to Bolton,
Lancashire, to fill the place of the Methodist minister there, who has had a
breakdown. There are four large churches in the district which will be under Mr.
Brackenbury’s supervision. The Rev. W.H. Brackenbury has done good and faithful
work during his short stay in Wokingham.

DEATH OF MRS. W.T. MARTIN
Widespread sympathy is felt for Alderman W.T. Martin in the death of his wife,
Mrs. Mary Ann Emma Martin, which occurred on Tuesday at a Reading nursing
home. She had been ailing for some time and passed away at the age of 66.
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Mr. and Mrs. Martin were married on June 6 1892, at the Baptist Chapel,
Wokingham. Mr. Martin started his business at the age of 16, and his wife-to-be,
while still at school, was his constant and ready helper. In his public career and
activities she was his inspiration. In the four years of his Mayorality of Wokingham,
1907, 1912, 1913 and 1920, Mrs. Martin won golden opinions as social hostess. Quiet
and unobtrusive, from her writing desk she was the working power behind the scenes
in the 14 years’ efforts of the family on behalf of the Wokingham Clinic, during
which time she arranged and brought to success a long series of efforts for that
institution.
During the war Mrs. Martin’s care was for the children, for whom three times
weekly she ran soup-kitchens. This and much kind thought was given to the soldiers
billeted in the district, were at her own initiative.
In municipal matters, one of her treasured possessions was a spade, inscribed: “This
spade was used by Mrs. W.T. Martin as Mayoress to cut the first sod in the Borough
Housing Scheme, July 1920.” Another spade recorded that Mrs. Martin “planted a tree
and gave a seat round it in the New Recreation Ground, Barkham Road.” The tree was
given by a friend.
Very many patrons of the swimming pool will remember their talks with Mrs.
Martin.

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