Page 841 - Reading Mercury

part of the war they became voluntary, and although many did attend, mainly for
something to do, the Wokingham lads ignored them.
th
The larger celebration will be at the Drill Hall, Wokingham on October 17 .

Fri 25th Sept
MRS. HOWARD PALMER DIES SUDDENLY
Mrs. Ada Morgan Howard Palmer, widow of Mr. W. Howard Palmer, J.P., died
suddenly at her home, Heathlands, Wokingham, on Tuesday night. She was 83.
During her more than 50 years’ residence at Heathlands, Mrs. Howard Palmer,
although for some years a victim of rheumatoid arthritis, took an active part in the
affairs of St. Sebastian’s parish, and her model farm with its prize Guernsey herd.
Since the death of her husband in 1923, she had been churchwarden of St.
Sebastian’s Church and gave a new altar and East Window to the Church in his
memory. During the war years Mrs. Howard Palmer turned Heathlands into a war
hospital, and also took a keen interest in the Women’s Land Army in Berkshire, of
which she was Director. When peace came she presented the family cricket ground
and pavilion to the village for use as a playing field, for thanksgiving for the return of
men from the war.
A similar gesture was made by her husband at the end of World War I when he had
St. Sebastian’s Memorial Hall erected and arranged for its maintenance by the family.
A few years ago Mrs. Howard Palmer gave the hall to the parish council together with
£1,000 for its upkeep and the caretaker’s cottage.
One of her greatest interests in the village was perhaps was her work as Manager of
St. Sebastian’s Church School, and she was much loved by the children.
AGRICULTURAL INTEREST
She was a past County President of the Berkshire Women’s Institute and was for
many years president of the St. Sebastian’s W.I. The name of Howard Palmer has
figured prominently in the activities of the Wokingham Agricultural Shows for many
years. Mrs. Howard Palmer was president of the Association on more than one
occasion and at the time of her death was president of the Guernsey Society and vice-
president of the Crowthorne, Finchampstead and St. Sebastian’s Horticultural Society.
She is survived by her only son Mr. Reginald Palmer, chairman of Huntley &
Palmers, Reading and president of the Wokingham Club.
A funeral service at St. Sebastian’s Church today (Friday) at 2,30 p.m., will be
preceded by a Requiem at 8 a.m., and private cremation.

th
Sat 10 Oct
PRESENTATIONS TO FORMER KOREAN PRISONERS-OF-WAR
The Mayor of Wokingham, Cllr. W.G. Jackson made presentations to Messrs. A.J.
Allum and E.S. Rose, of Wokingham, former prisoners-of-war in Korea, at
Wokingham Town Council meeting on Thursday.

th
Sat 17 Oct
ST. CRISPIN’S SCHOOL IS FORMALLY OPENED
On Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Miss Florence Horsbrugh, officially
opened the Wokingham Secondary Modern School and planted a tree.

Fri 23rd Oct
PRESENTATION CEREMONY FOR RETURNING POWS

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