Page 781 - Reading Mercury

Until July, 1941, he took part in the anti-aircraft defence of the United Kingdom,
including London and the Thames estuary, Bristol, Portsmouth, and Southampton.

th
Fri 7 Feb
SINGAPORE LINK WITH WOKINGHAM
News of Eggs—And a Crocodile
As many eggs as you want (about 3d. each) and plenty of other food without points
or coupons-
No. Not in Wokingham! This happy state of affairs exists in Singapore and the link
between this town and the Far East is L/C. William Marriner, whose parents, Mr. and
Mrs. A. E. Marriner, live at 22, Woosehill Lane, Wokingham.
Mrs, Marriner celebrated her birthday this week and her son cabled her: “Many
happy returns. Good luck. Keep Smiling.” William, who will have been in the Army
three years next October, two of which he has spent abroad, hopes to return home next
summer to be demobilised. He is in the Royal Singapore District Signal Regiment.
Enjoying Life.
He seems to be enjoying life out there. In a recent letter he said the temperature was
90 degrees in the shade and that he gets much better food than his parents get in
Wokingham. He has had as many as 15 eggs a week!
He also described how he saw in one of the main streets a crocodile, eight feet long,
that had been shot by members of a police radio car on patrol. It was just ambling
comfortably across the road when it was spotted. Six shots from a .88 revolver
stunned the monster and two more from a .303 rifle killed it.

th
Sat 8 Feb
WOKINGHAM TOWN COUNCIL
RESIGNATION OF ALD. A.E. PRIEST
Alderman A.E. Priest, senior Alderman of Wokingham Town Council since the
recent resignation of Alderman Sale, is to resign his seat on the Council. Members
heard of his decision at the February meeting on Thursday, when the Mayor
(Councillor N. C. Lawrence) read a letter from Alderman Priest expressing his regret
that he had found it necessary to take such a step. He felt that it was in the best
interests of the Council that he should do so, though he had hoped to be able to remain
until October 1948.
Alderman Priest, who was first elected to the Council in 1911, has been four times
Mayor of the Borough—in 1929, 1930, 1931, and 1932. He was made an Alderman
when the Borough was extended in 1927, and from 1921, without a break, he has been
chairman of the Lighting Committee. Alderman Barrett, who is now the senior
member of the Council, expressed the Council’s regret that Alderman Priest had
found it necessary to resign, and paid tribute to his valuable services to the town.

nd
Sat 22 Feb
BOWLING CLUB
The annual meeting of the Wokingham Bowling Club was held in the Club Pavilion
on Thursday week, Mr. P. Thorne presiding in the absence of Mr. H.E. Bennett
through illness. The treasurer presented the annual balance sheet, which showed a
credit balance of £89 12s. 6d., and pointed out that a considerable sum had been
expended on the improvement of the green. The following officers were elected:--
President, Mr. J.H. Elliston Clifton; chairman, Mr. F.J. Barrett; hon. secretary,, Mr.

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