Page 690 - Reading Mercury

ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE
The Mayor went on to say that the council felt sure there were many outside that
body who desired to show their appreciation of the service given by Captain Martin.
The response made in these difficult days was a further proof of that. The name of
Martin had meant much to Wokingham. Mr. Martin’s uncle, Cllr. T.B. Martin, served
on the council and was Mayor in 1888. Mr. Martin’s brother, Ald. Martin, joined the
council in 1902, was Mayor on four occasions, and was still active and valued
member of the council. Another brother, Chief Engineer Martin, had been with the
chief officer in the fire brigade for many years. Captain Martin himself had been
justly recognised by his selection as chief officer.
Concluding the Mayor mentioned that the wallet, which was suitably inscribed, was
decorated with the crest of the borough. He paid tribute to the way in which Mrs.
Martin had contributed to her husband’s success. Cllr. Reeves also presented to Mr.
Martin, on behalf of the National Fire Brigades Association, a medal with bars
indicating the completion of fifty years’ service.
Chief Officer Martin, acknowledging the gifts and thanking the Mayor for his
complimentary references, said he hoped he might for long have health and strength
to continue to discharge the duties he had undertaken as chief officer of the
Wokingham Fire Brigade, of which he was very proud. In a lively and reminiscent
speech he mentioned how on one occasion many years ago when two horses were
retained for pulling the fire manual, it was discovered on an alarm of fire being given,
that one of the horses had been let out to an undertaker. It was Mr. Martin’s duty to
unhitch the horse from the hearse at the earliest opportunity. Fortunately the fire was a
small one, and the owner of the premises seemed quite satisfied with the brigade, for
he complimented them upon their smart turn-out. Later, when the brigade acquired a
steam fire-engine two fire brigade horses were brought from London, and Mr. Martin
described how on one journey these horses dragged the engine into a ditch. In 1937
the brigade found themselves in need of new equipment. They appealed for £1,000,
and within ten months £1,200 was subscribed. They bought a new machine, and that
machine and its crew had proved their efficiency before and during the present war.

st
Sat 1 Feb.
WAR WEAPONS WEEK
The dates for the proposed War Weapons Week in Wokingham and the Rural
nd
th
District are March 22 —29 . An inaugural meeting is to be held in the Town Hall on
th
Thursday, February 6 , at 2.30.

A NOTABLE RECORD
About a year ago we mentioned that the goal of the Wokingham War Savings
Committee was £150,000. They have now, in a little over a year, reached the quarter
million mark (£250,000). The committee are naturally proud of this result, which has
been achieved by the Borough of Wokingham only. The hon. secretary of the
committee is Miss M. Greenfield, of “Lockton.”

th
Fri 7 Feb
DEATH OF MR. THOMAS B. PITHER
Funeral at Wokingham
It is with regret that we have to announce the death after a long illness, of Mr.
Thomas Ballard Pither, which took place at his residence in Broad Street, Wokingham
January 27th.

688