Page 754 - Reading Mercury

The large crowds in the square joined in the dancing which had spontaneously
commenced to the sounds of relayed dance music, the scene being illuminated by
flood lighting from the Rose Hotel.
The fact that the ‘dance floor’ consisted of recently laid gravel appeared to be no
deterrent to the dancers, whose numbers increased as the public houses closed.
Fireworks and ‘thunderflashes’, also made an effective contribution to this unusual
(for Wokingham), spectacle, and at midnight everyone joined in the singing of “God
Save the King”.
On the evening of VE plus 1 Day, presumably in view of the success of the previous
evening, relayed music was broadcast from the Rose Hotel, and another large crowd
assembled to dance outside in the square.
The Mayor took full advantage of this opportunity to go round amongst the people
with a large basin asking for contributions towards the “welcome Home” fund, and
collected £10 15s.
Whilst the festivities were progressing in the centre of the town other scenes of
festivity were being witnessed further afield. In Waterloo Road, almost all the
residents of the road, with many friends, joined in the dancing in the road, to the
music relayed by Johnny Goswell. The scene was illuminated by flood-lighting.
At Forest Road, Wokingham Without, fifty odd children of the district, having been
entertained to a sumptuous tea party arranged by residents of the district at the Changa
Service Station, completed their VE day celebrations by dancing madly round an
enormous bonfire. The occasion was made doubly exciting for the youngsters for the
burning of a Nazi effigy. We learn that this spontaneous treat followed a VE Day-eve
party in which most of the residents celebrated on the green outside the Warren
House, and terminated in the very early hours in the morning. Having had their treat,
it was felt that the children should receive one too.

th
Fri 8 June
EVACUEES’ FAREWELL PARTY
About fifty evacuee children and a number of their foster mothers sat down to a
farewell tea party at the Town Hall on Saturday afternoon. The Mayor and Mayoress
presided, and also present were the deputy Mayor, Cllr. Cheeseman; Cllr Reeves;
Mrs. J.E. Thorpe, wife of Wokingham’s first wartime Mayor, and many others.
The Rev. Kenworthy, Rector of All Saints’ said a few words to the children before
they commenced tea, and remarked that after so many years of unselfishness, he
hoped the foster mothers would now be really selfish and thoroughly enjoy the large
victory cake placed at their table.
Mrs. Gibbs of Toutley Road, Embrook, said she was glad the children were now
able to go home as she felt that they had been away from their mothers a long time.
Mrs. Webb, London Road, Wokingham, had a special reason for being glad her two
evacuees were going home because she knew that they had a good home to go back
to, and she would now be able to adopt two orphaned boys of five and seven years
old, who were waiting to make their permanent home with her.
All the children were in that state of excitement when they hardly knew whether
they were glad or sorry to go back, Phyllis Lucking of Dulwich, aged 13, was not
keen on leaving Wokingham, as she liked it down here, “but I want to be with
mummy”, she said. Sydney Hibbert of Welling, was not keen to go back, because, as
he remarked, “I’ve had a good billet”. Allan Baker, from Battersea, smiling shyly
through a mass of freckles, said he didn’t want to go back after living in the country.

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