Page 800 - Reading Mercury

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Sat 31 Dec
DR. BARNARDO’S HOMES
During the week before Christmas, Wokingham members of the Barnardo Helpers’
League went carol singing and collected £11 10s. for Dr. Barnardo’s Homes.

CHRISTMAS EVE DANCE
The Static Condenser Sports and Social Club held their annual dance and social at
the Drill Hall, Wokingham, on Christmas Eve. Music was supplied by Frank Tanner,
who is a blind pianist, and his band. Mr. J. North, one of the firm’s directors, was
M.C.

BASEBALL MEETING
The annual meeting of the Wokingham Monarchs Baseball Club was held in the
Town Hall, Wokingham, on Thursday. Mr. G. Moffitt, secretary, stressed the urgent
need for new players, particularly as so many were at present doing National Service.
The financial report showed assets of £4 1s. The election of officers resulted:
Chairman and treasurer, Mr. E.N. Sherwood; secretary, Mr. G. Moffitt.

CHRISTMAS PARTY AT GLEBELANDS
British film stars, Anna Neagle and Joan Dowling, sent presents and cigarettes for
residents of “Glebelands” Convalescent Home, Wokingham, this Christmas. Along
with many other presents these were placed upon a large Christmas tree and
distributed to residents and their guest on Tuesday. Father Christmas, Mr. Tebbitts,
was assisted by the matron, Mrs. Marshall. Everyone received three presents. Each
lady resident and member of the staff was given a hot water bottle and cover
presented by Mrs. Ditcham, wife of the vice-president.
Each evening, starting on Christmas Eve, there was dancing, and an entertainment,
provided, of course, by people at the home. The home is supported by the
Cinematographic Trade Benevolent Fund, and there were several telegrams and cards
from well-known personalities in the cinema world. Greetings came from such
faraway places as Nairobi and Australia.
Residents sat down to a Christmas Day dinner of turkey, Christmas pudding, mince
pies, and a quantity of nuts and fruit. Highlight of the Christmas period was a fancy
dress dance on Boxing Day, over 60 people taking part. Many of the costumes were
home-made but some were also provided by Denham Studios. The fancy dress
competition was won by the matron and Nurse Goddard, dressed as “The Ugly
Sisters.” One of the judges was the rector of All Saints’, the Rev. G. Kenworthy.

FESTIVITIES AT WOKINGHAM HOSPITAL
Christmas festivities at Wokingham Hospital were celebrated in the traditional
manner, all wards being effectively decorated for the occasion. Saturday was observed
as Christmas Day. In the morning each patient was presented with sweets, an orange,
apples, cigarettes, a Christmas card and a present. The Mayor and Mayoress, the Hon.
Mrs. H. Corfield, O.B.E., and Miss Corfield, Ald. E.W. Reeves, Dr. J.M. Smelos,
medical officer, Miss A. Howard, Miss E. Norris and the Ven. Archbishop
Thorndyke-Shaw, chaplain, assisted in the serving of Christmas dinner, and the
Mayor conveyed greeting over the microphone to all at the hospital.
Ald. E.W. Reeves on behalf of the House Committee, conveyed thanks to the Mayor
and Mayoress and other ladies and gentlemen assisting and to the hospital staff,
regretting that Ald. Barrett had been prevented by illness from attending for the first

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