Page 794 - Reading Mercury

Events during the afternoon included a display of vaulting and ju-jitsu by boys of
the Royal Merchant Navy School, Bearwood, and dancing displays by girls of the
R.M.N.S. and pupils of Holt School.
There were also donkey rides for the children, as well as various stalls and
sideshows. The prize in one of the competitions was a travelling clock presented to
the Wokingham branch of Her Majesty the Queen. Over £142 was raised by the
society.

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Sat 2 Oct
FILM STAR AT WOKINGHAM
Miss Anna Neagle’s Visit
“The sweetest person I’ve ever met” was how several residents described Miss
Anna Neagle, British film star, who visited Glebelands (Cinematograph Trade
Convalescent and Rest Home), Wokingham, on Friday last week.
Miss Neagle, who was welcomed by Mr. R. Bromhead, president, Cinema Trade
Benevolent Fund, last visited Glebelands three years ago.
Wearing a “New Look” creation of powder blue, Miss Neagle sat in the place of
honour at lunch, after which everybody gathered in the lounge, where Miss Neagle
told them that she always enjoyed her visits because everyone was so happy there.
“My only regret,” she added, “is that my visits are so fleeting and so few and far
between.”
Before leaving Miss Neagle presented the Matron (Mrs. W. Marshall) with gifts of
tobacco and cigarettes and crystallised fruits for the women.

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Sat 9 Oct
R.E.M.E.’S SIXTH ANNIVERSARY
Celebrations at Arborfield
The sixth anniversary of the formation of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical
Engineers was celebrated by the R.E.M.E. Training Centre, Arborfield, last week-end.
On Saturday morning Major-General Sir E Bertram Rowcroft, K.C.B., C.B.,
representative colonel commandant for 1948, took the salute at an anniversary parade.
Congratulating the men on their turn-out and drill, Maj-Gen. Sir Bertram Rowcroft
pointed out that in any future war the mechanical engineer would play a major part.
Those men now serving would, in a national crisis, be regarded as the nucleus of the
National Army, he added.
“Six years is not a long time, but our six years has been one of the longest and most
fateful in history. We were brought into being at the blackest period of the war, when,
although the seeds of victory had been sown, stout hearts, faith and a stubborn will
were needed to bring them to fruition.”
On Friday evening an officers’ ball was held at the Officers’ Club, Aldershot, when
music was supplied by the R.E.M.E. Staff Band. A brief-case was presented by Sir
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Bertram Rowcroft to 2 . Lt. J.B. Herman, the champion R.E.M.E. cadet at Sandhurst
during the last course.
At Arborfield on the Friday there was a variety show in the Garrison Theatre, at
which the guest star was the B.B.C. comedian, George Doonan. At a sergeants’ ball
on Saturday, a birthday cake was cut by Sir Bertram Rowcroft. Music was supplied by
Harry Lewington and his band, while at the Other Ranks’ ball, the dance section of
the Corps band played.
At the rugby match on Saturday, R.E.M.E. beat the Old Tiffinians.

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