Page 829 - Reading Mercury

One of the lesser-publicised but perhaps the most moving scene of the whole day
was carried on at the Wokingham Hospital. A guard-of honour of nurses welcomed
the queen and her party to the hospital where she visited every ward meeting and
talking to the patients. Mr. Beesley, aged 105, received a special kiss from Miss
Redgrove.
THE GRAND PROCESSION
Later in the day the grand procession set off from Rectory Road. Led by the
W.R.A.F. Central Band, the parade took over twenty minutes to pass one point.
Spaced along the column were St. Sebastian’s Band, the East Berks Boys’ Band, and
the Dagenham Girl Pipers. Cars of doubtful vintage rubbed shoulders with sleek,
immaculate 1952 models. The borough dust cart looked spick and span as, instead of
picking up a cargo of rubbish, it received silver and copper coins into its open sides,
all in the cause of Lynmouth. The “Raggers” joined in the fun as they extended their
collection tins to a generous crowd. A word of praise is deserved by their leader, Ald.
W.C. Fullbrook, for up to eight o’clock that night he had collected £60 17s. 4 ¾d.
Floodlights illuminated the Market Square as the carnival queen presented the
prizes. Following this short ceremony, some people remained in the square for an
open-air concert and relayed music; others moved away to the fairground. For those
merrymakers seeking even later entertainment there were three dances, at California
for the Old Tyme dance enthusiasts at the British Legion rooms for modern music,
and at the Drill hall for the Carnival Ball.
“MISS BERKSHIRE” SELECTED
Six bathing belles from Berkshire waited at Martin’s Swimming Pool, Wokingham,
on Saturday for American actress Barbara Payton, one of the two judges billed to
select “Miss Berkshire.” This was to be one of the 1952 carnival highlights. British
star Ronald Howard also waited with his wife and so did the Mayor and the Mayoress,
carnival officials and the crowds that packed the lawns. They waited for over an hour
until Barbara Payton arrived with her producer and director.
Cries of, “Get on with it” from some of the audience went unheeded and the long
waiting period was filled in by children’s swimming events and lively remarks from
the commentator, Mr. C. Watkinson.
After explanation to the audience that Barbara Payton had been “unavoidably
detained” at the studio the long-awaited moment for the choosing of “Miss Berkshire”
arrived. Blondes and brunettes paraded in their one-piece expensive costumes before,
the judges. The judges did not have an enviable task in making their selection and
from the sixteen competitors seeking the title, five were recalled for a re-examination
and interview.
The crowd quietened for a minute as the judges conferred and when cheers greeted
the name of the winner, Miss Pearl Hedgecock, aged 17, a clerk, of 4, Course Road,
Ascot. Second was Miss Betty Symonds, 19, of 54, Marshall Street, Maidenhead, and
third was the married competitor, Miss Myrtha Froud, 26, of Larch Avenue,
Wokingham. The coveted royal blue sash was draped over the winner and a garland of
asters was placed around her neck by Barbara Payton.

th
Sat 13 Sept
THE CORONATION CELEBRATIONS
Representatives of various organisations in Wokingham packed the Town Hall on
Monday for a special meeting called to discuss plans for the Coronation in
Wokingham next year.

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