Page 828 - Reading Mercury

covered and the laws state that “all necessary steps to protect food from dust, dirt,
mud, filth, dirty water, animals, rodents, flies and insects” shall be taken.
In all cases if an offence is committed the penalty is “a fine not exceeding forty
shillings.”

th
Sat 30 Aug
MERRY-MAKING AT WOKINGHAM
PROCEEDS FOR LYNMOUTH DISASTER FUND
Thousands of merry-makers from near and far streamed into Wokingham on
Wednesday. The population nearly doubled that day as visitors arrived by car, on
bicycles, in ‘buses, by rail or walked from neighbouring towns and villages. It seemed
as if the population of this part of East Berkshire was suddenly being poured into this
little market town. It was carnival day, and from 8 a.m. until early Thursday morning
people showed their intentions of enjoying themselves.
The exuberant, flag-waving, hooter-blowing crowds were greeted by decorated
streets and flag-bedecked buildings. But the main purpose of this year’s carnival was
summed up on posters with the words “All profits to Lynmouth.” This decision
reached by the carnival committee had the almost unanimous approval of the crowds,
and they gave even more readily than in previous years.
The day dawned brightly and at 8 a.m. the potential late sleepers were aroused with
a clatter and din from the Town Hall. The “raggers” had begun the work led by their
“Red Indian” leader Ald. W.C. Fullbrook. Throughout the day the Raggers paraded
the streets in comic costumes depicting pirates and pixies, devils and demons, masters
and musicians. They invaded gatherings of fun-seekers with their collecting boxes and
good humour.
Promptly at 10 a.m. the Mayor of Wokingham, Cllr. A.T. Ilott, signified the official
opening of Carnival Day by releasing the first of hundreds of balloons from the
Market Place. The famous Dagenham Girl Pipers began their parade of the borough
and later returned to the Market Square for a display of highland dancing.
CROWNING OF THE QUEEN
A guard-of-honour formed by the Dagenham Girl Pipers beat a slow roll on their
drums as the Mayor and Mayoress arrived in the Market Square prior to the ceremony
of crowning the carnival queen. There was loud cheering as Pauline Redgrove (18)
arrived with her maids-of-honour, Miss Shirley Abbott and Miss Irene Cummings,
and the two attendants, Miss Carol Collins and Master William Edgington. Pauline
mounted the steps of the decorated platform, in her dress of white poult with a small
gold flower design, with the new horseshoe neck bolero and white cloak, lined with
gold and fastened with gilt leaves. The two maids-of-honour wore ballerina-length
dresses of stiff gold net.
The Mayor (Cllr. Ilott) described the occasion as one of the highlights of the
carnival and then the Mayoress received the crown form the attendant, William
Edgington. With due solemnity the crown was placed on Miss Redgrove’s head.
In a brief address the queen declared: “I feel very honoured to be crowned queen
toady. I welcome the people who have come here, especially those from the
surrounding districts.” She appealed to the gathering to contribute all they could to
help the fund for Lynmouth.
After the ceremony the queen and her retinue proceeded by car to open the funfair,
and later to declare open the carnival field. While children joined in carnival sports,
parents watched and listened to the Dagenham Girl Pipers and the Central Band of the
W.R.A.F.

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