Page 816 - Reading Mercury

After being announced by the Town Crier, Mr. H. Banks, the Mayor of Wokingham,
Cllr. W.J. Willey extended a cordial welcome to the visiting guests and he appealed to
the people to enter into the festive spirit of the memorable occasion.
Dressed in an ivory satin dress, with a purple cloak, and carrying a bouquet of pink
carnations, Miss Buckner was crowned queen by the Mayoress (Mrs. W.J. Willey).
In a pretty little speech, the carnival queen declared: “May I say how proud I am
today to be crowned Festival carnival queen, and how deeply I appreciate the honour.
It is my sincere wish that you will have an enjoyable day and may I appeal to you for
your generous support in order that the various charities will benefit.”
The queen officially opened the carnival fun-fair and after touring the many
attractions she made her way to the Carnival Field, where she declared it open for the
children’s races, fancy dress competition and baby show.
While music was being played by the R.A.M.C. Military Band and the Farnborough
S.J.A. Pipe Band, the queen’s party moved off to Wokingham Hospital, where Miss
Buckner met and kissed the oldest resident, Mr. H. Beasley, aged 104.
Fancy Dress Parade
No one was more surprised than the judges when they inspected 7½ years-old
Jeffrey Boocock, of 23, Barrett Crescent, Wokingham, who entered the children’s
fancy dress competition dressed as a snake charmer, for he carried curled round his
neck a live snake , 2ft. 6in. Long. The grass snake found by him whilst on holiday a
week ago, is now one of Jeffrey’s many pets.
Over 5,000 people paid to see the parade, Wokingham’s best ever, which attracted
over 220 entrants. After the parade, the carnival queen presented prizes and
certificates to the following:-
(long list of winners)
When the queen returned to the carnival field she presented prizes to the baby show
and fancy dress winners.
Boys from the Army Apprentices School Arborfield, gave a display of gymnastics,
and for the children a puppet show was presented.
The climax of the day was the procession which stretched for nearly two miles.
Milling crowds thronged the thoroughfares, and gasps of astonishment, sighs of
admiration and peals of unrestrained mirth greeted the tableaux, decorated vehicles
and trade exhibits. The history of fire engines was depicted by appliances from all
over the county, many of them of doubtful vintage. Cars that only just managed to
move rubbed shoulders with sleek-streamlined models, and even the corporation dust-
cart had donned new paint and carried gleaming bins. Motor-cycles, bicycles,
tricycles, tractors, prams and hansom-cabs travelled the route; pedestrians in fancy
dress, as everything from chickens to clowns, ambled and gambolled along, and even
Bo-Peep took her sheep.
Music was relayed through loudspeakers, and a judo display was given in the
Market Place by members of Reading Judo club.
The Prize-Giving
Later, prizes for the countless competitions were distributed in the Market Place. In
addition to the results already published the following awards were made:-
(long list of winners)

VARIETY CONCERT
A grand variety concert by the Legionaries concert party took place in the Market
Place. Dancing continued until 2 a.m. on Thursday to music by the R.E.M.E.
orchestra, at the carnival hall in the Drill Hall. For old-time enthusiasts there was

814