Page 707 - Reading Mercury

Out of the many present incomes (he said) and particularly OUT OF THE
GREATLY INCREASED INCOMES WHICH ARE NOW BEING ENJOYED BY
LARGE NUMBERS OF OUR PEOPLE, a 'great deal more can undoubtedly be saved
and lent to the State. I have heard it said that perhaps a third of our people are saving
on a scale that is fully adequate, that another third are saving on a moderately
reasonably scale but might well save more, and that a third are either not saving at all
or saving very small sums indeed.
We are confident that the residents of this district will not fail to answer the
challenge. Save to the maximum, SAVE TILL IT HURTS, and make our Warship
Week a success.
The Securities now available are 2½ per cent. National War Bonds—redeemable
1949-51 (no limit). 3 per sent. Savings. Bonds (A)--redeemable 1955-65 (no limit).
3 per cent, Defence Bonds—redeemable 10 years after purchase, at a premium of 1
per cent. (limit £1,000). National Savings Certificates (limit: 500 Units costing £,375).

th
Fri 27 Feb
WOKINGHAM WARSHIP WEEK OPENS
On Saturday afternoon the Mayor, Councillor E. W. Reeves performed the opening
ceremony for Warship Week, by speaking at an auction of gifts to the nation. In his
speech he urged everyone to give as much as they can to adopt that very fine
destroyer H.M.S. Garth. He expressed his thanks to those regular savers, and asked
everyone to save more than they could afford, and be really hard up at. the end of the
week. After referring to a message from the captain of the Garth, a copy of which '
appears in this issue, Mr. Reeves said it was up to us to do all possible to provide our
men with weapons. He also thanked those who .had sent gifts to be auctioned, for
their practical help. After he had expressed his appreciation to Mr. Harold Watts who
auctioned the gifts, the Mayor was handed a large bag of farthings by eight-year-old
Iris Fenn, of Wokingham, as a free gift. The Mayor then started the auction by selling
a large toy rabbit, which fetched 25/-.
Mr.Watts asked everyone present to be as generous as possible, and recalled
Nelson’s famous signal, “England this day expects every man to do his duty.”
The following is a list of prices fetched by some of the gifts: Currant cake l5/-,
Quarter Bottle of Whisky, l0/-, I doz. eggs, 12/-, Case of Dessert knives and forks,
30/-, 100 cigarettes, 11/-, A sack of potatoes was bought by Mrs. Cox, who handed
them back for re-auction when, they fetched 14/-. A George III 5/- piece was sold for
11/-, a bottle of sherry), 12/, three table cloths, 22/-, C.S.M. 'Blackman, of the Royal
Berkshire Regiment, sent in three Spitfire brooches made from a penny, and these
were sold for 5/- each. A box of onions was sold for 15/-, but the purchaser told Mr,
Watts to put ‘em up again, when they were, sold for l5/- once more. But the onion
buyers were very generous, and, they were again sold for l2/- and finally 10/-. Among
other gifts sold was a solid silver cigar case, given by Mr. John T. Mead of Denmark
Street. A 4oz egg was sold to Dr Smith for 6/-, but he handed it back for re-auction
together with six eggs. This lot then sold for l2/-.
Fairly good weather favoured the Wokingham Warship Week parade on Sunday,
when the salute was taken by the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, A. Thomas Loyd,
O.B.E. who spoke from the saluting base in the Market Place.
The Lord Lieutenant began by expressing his pride and admiration: for those doing
their part in many wide activities. He recalled the last time he had spoken in the.
Market Place, on the occasion of the War Weapons parade, and how well Wokingham
had responded to the call then. He was confident that the target would be reached, for

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