Page 647 - Reading Mercury

declared that the education given under Mr. Maidment had been of secondary school
standard.
Councillor D. Goddard gave Mr. Maidment an album containing 299 names of past
pupils and parents who had subscribed to the presentation and he paid a tribute to the
value of his work.
Alderman Barrett said he had been a manager of the school for 19 years, and he had
always looked on Mr. Maidment as an upright, good living and sound man in every
way. He mentioned that the children of the school had made their presentation of a
chair to their head master earlier in the day, and he said it was a tribute to the affection
in which he was held by the children that the boys and girls had subscribed nearly £6
by their own efforts. That sum was made up entirely of pennies. Alderman Barrett
thanked Councillor Goddard and members of the staff who carried out the work of
gathering subscriptions from past and present pupils.
Replying, Mr. Maidment spoke of his younger days, and confessed that he originally
intended to be an engineer. He changed his mind when, at the request of his father—
who was head master of a council school in Sheffield—he took a class for one day.
He then decided to become a teacher. “I have had a happy time at Palmer School,” he
said, “and nobody could wish to serve under a finer body of managers. From everyone
I have had nothing but courtesy ad consideration. My staff have been most loyal and
willing, and the parents have been kind. I am particularly pleased about my relations
with the parents because no head master could get on without their co-operation.”
Mr. Maidment’s Career
Mr. Maidment was trained at Chatham College. Previous to his appointment at
Palmer School he taught at the Sharrow Lane School, Sheffield, under the late Sir
James Yoxall, M.P., the well-known educationalist and former secretary of the
National Union of Teachers; at the Higher Grade School, Ryde, under Colonel C.D.
Crisp, the present chairman of directors of Chelsea Football Club; and at Addison
Gardens L.C.C. School, W. Kensington, a school distinguished for its scholastic
successes and musical interests.
In his early days, Mr. Maidment was a keen footballer and cricketer, and, as centre
forward, he was chosen to play for Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Middlesex. On taking
up his appointment at Wokingham, he joined Wokingham Cricket Club, and, for some
years acted as treasurer. He was also treasurer for All Saints’ Freewill Offering
Scheme, and member of the Reading University Court.

The following articles have been taken from the Reading
Mercury and the Wokingham Times
1939 - 1941
NB Articles dated Friday indicate Wokingham Times articles. Those dated Saturday
are from the Reading Mercury.

1939

rd
Fri 3 Feb
WOKINGHAM RURAL DISTRICT
A.R.P. Preparations
In view of the times we are living in, and due to the many rumours that are being
circulated it might not be out of place if a few details regarding the activities that are

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