Page 822 - Reading Mercury

A large crowd gathered in Wokingham Market Place yesterday (Friday) morning to
hear the Proclamation of the Accession of Queen Elizabeth II, read by the Mayor
(Coun. W.J. Willey).
The Mayor and Corporation led by the mace-bearer and the town crier, all dressed
in their colourful robes of office, slowly mounted the purple clothed stage. On the
stroke of 11 a.m. the Mayor began to read the Proclamation with due solemnity.
While he did so the watching crowds stood in reverent silence, unbroken by even a
whisper.
The Union Jack and town flags, flying at full mast from the Town Hall, fluttered
wide in the breeze of the cold February sunlight. Through-town traffic halted around
the assembly crowds as the Mayor read on, to conclude with the words, “God save our
Queen”.
On the utterance of these words the band of the Royal Merchant Navy School, Bear
Wood, played the National Anthem while heads were bared in respect.
Also present for the Proclamation were the rector of All Saints’ Church (Rev. F.A.
Steer), the rector of St. Paul’s Church (Ven. Archdeacon Thorndike Shaw) and
representatives from local organisations. After the ceremony, the town crier, Mr.
Banks, reminded the Mercury that during his 27-years’ service this was the third time
he had been present at the Proclamation.

FENCING
Excalibur Fencing Club, Wokingham were soundly beaten on Sunday when they
visited the Nautical College, Pangbourne, losing by 15 fights to 5.

FIRST AID LECTURES
The first of a series of first aid lectures on “First-aid in the Factory and in the
Home” was attended by about 40 people in Wokingham Ambulance Room in
Easthampstead Road. The lecturer was Dr. Hargrove and practical demonstrations
were given by Mr. Burden an ambulance officer.

CRICKET CLUB BALL
Wokingham Cricket Club held their annual ball at Wokingham Drill Hall on Friday
last week. Dancing was to music by Norman Hackett and his band. Mr. Jack Soper
was M.C. Among those present were the Mayor of Wokingham, (Cllr. W.J. Willey)
and Miss Willey and Major Hurd, vice-president of the club.

FALSE ALARM
After receiving a call to a chimney fire in Grovelands Avenue, Winnersh,
Wokingham Brigade were notified before they left the station that the call was a false
alarm with good intent.—Wokingham court proceedings were held up on Tuesday
morning when the siren, which is on the roof of the police station sounded,
summoning firemen to a chimney fire in a flat in Peach Street, Wokingham.

th
Sat 8 March
FOOTBALL
Today (Saturday) Wokingham Reserves are at home to Rabson Rovers, kick-off 3
p.m. The selected team are: Pocock; Smith; Lawrence; Barker; Reed; Darby; Noyes;
Treacher; Fricker; Chalmers and Hill

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