Page 695 - Reading Mercury

As a memento of the 1918 effort an inscribed shell has stood ever since near the
entrance to the Council Chamber in the Town Hall, Wokingham. The suggestion has
been made that that shell which is of large proportions, should be handed back to the
nation to be used against the country which was responsible for the last war as well as
for this. It is a suggestion which merits the attention of the Town Council.

th
Sat 29 March
WAR WEAPONS WEEK
Wokingham Aim To Raise £75,000
AN IMPRESSIVE PARADE
With a procession claimed by many onlookers to be the finest of its kind yet held in
the county, Wokingham’s town and rural district War Weapons Week really got into
its stride on Sunday. The enthusiasm of participants and spectators was all the greater
because of the knowledge that even by that time something like three-quarters of the
total sum aimed at had already been realised.
The organisers set themselves to reach a figure of £75,000 during the current week
for the purchase of three bombing aircraft and three fighters. When the procession
made its way past the Town Hall it passed beneath a large notice, proclaiming that no
less than £58,521 had been raised on Saturday, the first day of the Week.
That excellent start did not escape the notice of Mr. A.T. Loyd. Lord Lieut. of
Berkshire, who took the salute at the Town Hall. He referred to it in his short address,
and he congratulated the people of the town and district on their rapid and patriotic
response to the appeal. Also on the platform were the Mayor of Wokingham (Cllr.
E.W. Reeves), Mr. George Ford (chairman of Wokingham Rural District Council) and
Viscount Caldecote, the Lord Chief Justice. Members of the Town and Rural District
Councils were also present, together with the Town Clerk (Mr. J.H. Elliston Clifton),
and the Clerk to the R.D.C. (Mr. G. Heath).
The procession assembled in Rectory Road and made its way through the principal
streets of the town watched by a large number of people. The six bands included those
of St. Sebastian and the Royal Merchant Navy School, Bear Wood. Military units and
equipment attracted much attention, and particular interest was shown in the Land
Army detachment. Dressed in their jerseys and riding breeches, the girls carried rakes
over their shoulders as they marched. Others rode in a farm cart. Boys and girls of the
Bear Wood school looked smart in their uniforms, and other young people on parade
were local Scouts, Guides and Cubs. Members of the Red Cross and St. John
organisations were present as representatives of all Civil Defence Units, the men’s
and women’s branches of the British Legion, and the Home Guard.
The Week began with the Mayor buying the first Certificate at Wokingham Post
Office on Saturday morning. Brisk business was done at the various selling centres
during the day.
THE DAILY TOTALS
The indicator at the Town Hall showed the following daily amounts: Saturday,
£63,960; Monday, £19,140 and Tuesday, £23,206, the total on Tuesday night being
£106,569. The sum of £10 has been received by the Mayor of Wokingham from an
anonymous donor.
The programme of the week included a military band concert in the Town Hall on
Tuesday, under the conductorship of Band Sergeant W.S. Connett, and compered by
Major C.G. Percy-Hardman. During the week 55 savings groups have been formed.
The proceeds of a football match between the Metalair Sports Club and Wokingham
Juniors, at Wokingham on Wednesday amounted to £7 15s., which will be devoted to

693