Page 658 - Reading Mercury

th
Sat 27 May
EMPIRE DAY FETE AT WOKINGHAM
“Mr. Penny” Performs The Opening Ceremony
Effort for the Hospital
Wearing a suit of the deepest black, and carrying a slender, gold knobbed cane, Mr.
Richard Goolden, better known as “Mr. Penny,” advanced to the platform erected in
the grounds of Tithe Barn, Wokingham, on Wednesday, to the applause of the large
assembly gathered there on the occasion of the Empire Day Fete.
“Mr. Penny” acknowledged the applause with the deprecating smile so well known
to cinema audiences, and he made a speech with that cheerfully-indulgent voice which
has captured wireless listeners all over the country.
The speech was a hilarious affair which happily rambled through a network of
incidentals. “Mr. Penny” apologised for the absence of “Annie,” who, he said, was
otherwise occupied at Epsom. He described in detail an unfortunate mistake he had
made while dressing that morning and he recounted his experiences while crowning a
May Queen in Surrey. Bringing his remarks to a close he made a determined effort to
be business-like, and said, “I have the greatest pleasure in declaring this building well
and truly laid.”
The fete was held to assist the Centenary Appeals Fund of the Royal Berkshire
Hospital, Reading, and it was held at Tithe Barn, by the courtesy of the Hon. Mrs.
Corfield. The stalls had been attractively arranged in the large and beautiful gardens,
and the organising committee had spared no effort to arrange a programme which
would attract and satisfy the people of the district.
£1,600 In Two Years
Ald. F.J. Barrett, chairman of the local Hospital committee, presided at the opening
ceremony, and said the committee was grateful to the people of Wokingham for the
support they had always given. The appeals fund had been running for about two
years, but they made no apology for asking for money for such a well-known and
worthy cause. About £1,600 had been raised in Wokingham for the appeals fund, and
that was a remarkable achievement. Nevertheless, it had to be remembered that the
everyday work for the hospital still had to go on, for such work was entirely
independent of special appeals. Mr. Barrett thanked the Hon. Mrs. Corfield for
placing the grounds of Tithe Barn at their disposal, and he also thanked all others who
had helped in organising the fete, among whom were the Mayor and Mayoress.
The Mayor, Cllr. J.E. Thorpe, mentioned that some £5M had been contributed to
hospitals in the British Isles last year. That was a huge sum but it was £500,000 less
than the total in 1937. There were many and increasing demands on the generosity of
the public but he commended to the people of the district the appeal which was being
made by the Royal Berkshire Hospital. The Hon. Mrs. Corfield had set herself to raise
£3,000 in the district in three years. That was an amazing sum of money to try to
collect in such a district as theirs, but he was sure that if anyone could do it, that
someone was the Hon. Mrs. Corfield. The Mayor thanked Mr. Goolden for opening
the fete and he also expressed thanks to the organising committee.
Mrs. Corfield said it was the first time she had been able to invite the committee to
hold the fete at Tithe Barn, and she said she was very pleased to do so. She was also
please that the fete was held on Empire Day because it gave the younger generation a
chance to take part in the celebration of such an important day. It was particularly
appropriate that the fete should be held on Empire Day because it was the birthday of
Queen Victoria, and Queen Victoria became patron of the Royal Berkshire Hospital in
1837, the year of her accession to the throne.

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