Page 642 - Reading Mercury

“The cinema in the early days,” said Mr. Welsh, “was regarded as a scientific toy,
rather than a form of entertainment. It is due to many of the pioneers, who began to
realise its value as an entertainment medium, that this great industry of today has
evolved.
In those days films were about 60 ft. in length; now, of course, they run into
thousands of feet. I was Colonel Bromhead’s assistant and then became general
manager when Gaumont was made a company.
I left it in 1916 to undertake official Government work in France. After that I
formed a film production company, which made ‘The Better ‘Ole.’ I introduced Betty
Balfour to the screen—she became one of the foremost names in this country.
Later I was co-producer of ‘Journey’s End’ with Michael Balcon, now of Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer, ‘The Good Companions,’ and other films.
The cinema is certainly the most popular entertainment in the world—it is, in a way,
a sort of safety valve, a national safety valve, in times of crisis. It is due to the
generosity of Sir William Jury that this beautiful place is devoted to the work of the
fund, and provides a home of rest for those who are in need of convalescence, or who
are getting on in years.”

nd
Sat 2 July
A MOCK AIR RAID
th
An unexpected test for the annual inspection of the 28 Berks V.A.D.—in the form
of a mock air raid—took place at Wokingham on Wednesday. The inspecting officer
for the most comprehensive test was Lieut.-Col. Dunbar, and the proceedings were
watched by a large crowd. The V.A.D.’s were under the command of Miss Cornish
(commandant), Scouts and other lads represented the casualties.
The Mayor (Councillor F. Stanley Perkins) and Mayoress were present, and others
included Sir. Archibald Campbell (Berks. County A.R.P. control officer), Miss
Waltham (county secretary), Mrs. Harman (county assistant secretary, British Red
Cross), Dr. Richmond (county medical officer of health), Admiral J.B. Eustace
(chairman Wokingham Borough A.R.P. Committee, and Hon. secretary, Wokingham
Clinic), Dr. Ward.
The clinic rooms had been fitted as a gas-proof first aid and hospital station. The
“victims” were given first aid and then placed on stretchers and carried by the
V.A.D.’s to the station.
At the close Colonel Dunbar said: ”In the time I have had to see you working, I have
found you extraordinary smart. I tried on you several test questions and I had got the
right answer in each case. I think your gas attack was very well planned, and I was
surprised to see the way in which you handled stretchers. You appear to have some
really good idea of de-contamination, and I think you are the best I have seen now for
some time.”
Sir Archibald Campbell mentioned them as the very best detachments in Berkshire.
The detachment had achieved very many successes, and all were doing their best to
maintain that tradition. He knew the work of their clinic and how the centre was
appreciated in that part of the county, and had conferred great benefits upon the
people of the town. He asked them to consider seriously whether they could not all of
them become mobile members of the detachments, as great demands might be made
upon him for the county. He spoke of the advantage of their taking up training in
military hospitals.
On the same day in Wokingham there was a demonstration of a public address unit
mounted on a small motor-cycle, the first experiment of that kind ever made. Having

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