Page 857 - Reading Mercury

Gymkhana Attraction
The gymkhana was managed by the High Beech Riding Stables, and attracted the
usual large crowd. During the morning riders of all ages displayed their prowess
before the judges—Mrs. David Bourne, Miss Sybil Smith, Lieut.-Col Isles, and Mr.
George Cazalet—in the best rider competition for the Starmead Challenge Cup. Mr.
R.D. Hensley, riding Jelbi, gave a cadenced display to win the trophy, whilst several
other riders provided strong opposition. Before lunch the children’s jumping was
filmed by the B.B.C. television newsreel, the winner being Miss Marion Hensley,
with Carol Barnes a close runner-up. To open the afternoon programme in the
gymkhana ring there was a first-class fancy-dress parade, which was also “shot” by
the B.B.C. One of the highlights of the day was the junior jumping. After several clear
rounds two riders and their ponies began to make their personality felt. Miss Tina
Adams, on the wonderful little jumper Sunday, and Miss Margaret Hunt on Romany
dominated the second round with their totally different styles, the latter winning after
a jump-off in which both rode well. The judges awarded a special prize to Miss
Marion Hensley for a clear first round, after she had taken the wrong course.
Providing novel entertainment during the afternoon were the Reading and District
Model Aircraft Club with their control-line flying display—and to further interest the
crowd, the Reading Archers showed their toxophilitic skill. Favourites at many local
shows, the children of the Le Roy School of Dancing gave an attractive performance.
An unusual, but appreciated attraction was the facility for having water-colour
sketches executed on the ground of horses and dogs, and for this Mrs. Dulcie
Vaughan had many clients.
For patrons who wanted a unique view of the show, the Blackbushe Flying Club had
arranged pleasure flights for 15s., and the noise of the Proctor aircraft circling
overhead became an accepted part of the day’s proceedings
Also on the programme were various sideshows, children’s races and the inevitable
bowling for a pig. Amongst those who attended were the Mayor and Mayoress of
Wokingham (Cllr. and Mrs. R.H. Brimblecombe).

WOKINGHAM GOES GAY FOR CARNIVAL
Revival Of Beating-The-Bounds Ceremony
LAUGHTER KEPT AWAY THE RAIN
All roads led to Wokingham on Wednesday for the main effort of the town’s
Carnival Week. From early morning until late at night gaiety and revelry was the
order of the day, and everyone joined in, including thousands of visitors for miles
around. Early in the morning the ceremony of beating the bounds was carried out after
a lapse of 19 years, and among the “victims” was the Mayor (Cllr. R.H.
Brimblecombe), who received a hearty bumping at the boundary post in Sandhurst
Road.
Two of the day’s outstanding attractions were the crowning of the Carnival Queen
(Miss Audrey Frost) and the procession through the streets in the evening. A carnival
ball wound up the day.
The carnival spirit had already made itself felt by Tuesday evening, when over
2,000 revellers thronged the Market Square to witness the “pub-to-pub” pram race.
Early on Wednesday the town throbbing with activity, and at the heart of it all—the
Market Square—a cacophony of hooters and squeakers, rattles and bells, whistles and
drums provided a deafening announcement of what was to follow during the day.
Raggers, in exotic costumes, were everywhere, persuading visitors to buy
programmes and to help fill their collecting boxes. As the day’s programme of events

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