Page 694 - Reading Mercury

MESSAGE FROM SIR KINGSLEY WOOD
When the inaugural meeting was held some weeks ago it was decided to aim at
£50,000, but the quick public response soon made it evident that a higher figure could
safely be fixed. Under the chairmanship of the Mayor, and with Mr. S. Lawrence as
hon. Campaign secretary, the committee has planned an interesting programme. On
Sunday there will be a procession through the streets of Wokingham, staring in
rectory Road at 3 p.m. The salute will be taken in the Market Place by Mr. A. T.
Loyd, Lord Lieut. of Berkshire. The procession will include Army and Air Force
units, civil defence organisations, Home Guard detachments, fire brigades and bands.
On Monday there will be whist drives held under the auspices of Wokingham
Emergency Hospital and Winnersh British Legion, both starting at 7.30 p.m., and a
rummage sale at 2.45 p.m. at Woodley Village Hall. At Church House,
Finchhampstead, on Tuesday, from 4 p.m. to 7p.m., there will be a first-aid post
demonstration. There will be a whist drive at Winnersh and a military band concert at
Wokingham Town Hall at 7.30 p.m.
Wednesday’s arrangements include a football match between Wokingham Juniors
and Metalair Sports Club at Wokingham, the Mayor kicking-off at 6 p.m. Whist
drives will be held in the evening at Woodley, Barkham and Twyford, and there will
be an additional drive at Woodley in the afternoon. On Friday there will be whist
drives in the evening at Woodley and Hurst, the latter being followed by a dance. A
football match will be held on Woodley Recreation Ground at 5.30 p.m. today (Sat),
and there will be an entertainment by Earley Players in the New Hall at 7.30 p.m.
There will also be a concert by children at the Senior School, Loddon Bridge Road,
Woodley.
All the week there will be a display of photographs, entitled “The Air Arm of
Britain,” in the vestibule of the Ritz Cinema.
A telegram received from Sir Kingsley Wood on Thursday stated: “I send you my
warmest good wishes for the success of the Wokingham War Weapons Week. The
fine result of the first year of the war savings campaign is the best encouragement we
can possibly have to redouble our efforts to meet the mountainous cost of the war. It is
becoming increasingly clear that all of us are duty bound to spend as little and lend as
much to the nation as we possibly can. Selfish spending today can only weaken our
war efforts. Civic effort is of outstanding value in this vital campaign, and I am sure
that the citizens of Wokingham will do their utmost during their War Weapons Week
to reach a total of which they may be justly proud.”
In a special message given to a representative of this paper the Mayor said, ”War
Weapons week is a call for practical patriotism, and I am confident that the people of
Wokingham will answer that call with the same eagerness and enthusiasm that they
have shown on other occasions in the past. We have set ourselves a distant goal, but
we will get there. It is up to every man, woman and child to do his or her bit to make
the week a success.
£30,000 RAISED IN 1918
The last time a War Weapons Week was held at Wokingham was almost 23 years
ago—in June 1918—when a total of £30,000 was raised. On that occasion the money
was earmarked for a gun. The secretary of that week was Mr. (now Alderman) A.E.
Priest, who is actively associating himself with the present effort. The 1918 week had
the object of raising £20,000, but that total was reached on the day before the last. The
daily totals were: Monday, £7,500; Tuesday, £12,000; Wednesday, £14,500;
Thursday, ££17,500; Friday, £20,000; Saturday, ££30,280. It will be interesting to
compare these totals with the figures realised in the present week.

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