Page 711 - Reading Mercury

MAYOR STARTS SALVAGE CAMPAIGN
The Mayor opened the mile-of-books campaign in Broad Street, Wokingham, on
Wednesday. The Mayor, after outlining the importance of saving paper, then laid the
foundation stones for the pathway of books by placing his contributions on the
pavement. The Hon. Mrs. Corfield, O.B.E., followed the Mayor’s example, and added
a large, thick book. With amazing rapidity the pathway lengthened, and, at the time, it
did not appear unlikely that the target would be achieved.
The Mayor also started the mountain-of-metal in the Market Place. Details of
Wokingham’s salvage campaign were published last week.

LETTER
Southern Regional Commssioner’s Office
Marlborough House
Parkside Road,
Reading, Berks

st
21 July, 1942
Dear Mr. Mayor,
From now onwards American troops will be landing in England in increasing
numbers. Considerations for security will render it impossible for anything but the
shortest notice to be given of the arrival of American units at their destinations; nor at
this stage can the particular area be indicated in which they may be expected. Yet it is
obviously of the greatest importance that they should be given a warm welcome and
quickly made to feel at home in their new surroundings.
Preliminary local preparations are therefore advisable in the immediate future, so as
to be ready for sudden arrivals, and I should be most grateful for anything that you
can do in this direction.
The general responsibility for promoting accord between the American Army and
the civilian population falls upon the Ministry of Information, whose representative
will doubtless be making contact with you, if he has not already done so.
There is also the question of hospitality of a more continuing nature for any
American units which may be stationed in your neighbourhood. The Americans will
not expect lavish or formal hospitality. But they will deeply appreciate anything that
can be done to take them into the life of the community and allow them to share in its
amenities.

Yours sincerely
Sir Harry Haig

th
Sat 8 Aug
GIRLS’ TRAINING CORPS
The Mayor of Wokingham will preside at a recruiting meeting to be held at the
Town Hall on Monday at 7 p.m. In connection with the formation of a Girls’ Training
Corps Company in Wokingham. The immediate purpose of the Training Corps is to
meet the needs of the 16—18 age group—the majority of whom left school at 14—by
enabling them to continue their education on practical lines, and fitting them for entry
into H.M. Services, Civil Defence, and other forms of national service. Girls of 14—
16 are no less keen than their elders, and these, wherever desirable, will be admitted
to form special sections of their own. There are six subjects in which all cadets will be
trained:-- First-aid, hygiene, dispatch carrying, handy-women’s course, squad drill,

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