Page 880 - Reading Mercury

Two local motorists had their cars destroyed by fire during the week. On Saturday a
car, owned by Mr. D. Kennedy, of Cherry Tree Cottage, Limmer Hill, Wokingham,
caught fire on his own premises, but could not be saved. On Monday, a Humber car,
belonging to Mr. L.J. Frost, of 582, Reading Road, Winnersh, was destroyed by fire,
also on private premises.

A LINK WITH THE PAST
Added to those curios which, if room was available, could form the nucleus of a
borough museum, has been the recent gift of a print of Thomas Chambers, mace
bearer, town crier and sexton of the town from 1826 until 1861. It was given to the
Town Clerk by Mr. William Chambers, of 8, Eastry House, Hartington Road, London
S.W.8. whose father was the last of the family to carry on the tradition. Thomas
Chambers is depicted as a portly man, in uniform and carrying the town crier’s bell.
Although a pillar of the local church, and a loyal servant of the council, it is reputed
that Thomas Chambers was in some ways “a law unto himself,” for he acted as “look-
out’ man at the bouts of cock-fighting that were then common in the district. Mr.
William Chambers himself has a connection with the town, for he was one of the
th
members of “D” Coy., 4 Bn., Royal Berkshire Regiment, who left the Wokingham
Drill Hall in August 1914.

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Sat 10 Dec
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
One case of acute poliomyelitis and two of scarlet fever were reported to the Medical
Officer of Health for the borough during October. One case of pulmonary tuberculosis
was notified, bringing the total of cases on the register to 64, in addition to eight cases
of non-pulmonary tuberculosis.

NO CLAIMANTS—FUND CEASES
“The Wokingham Patriotic Fund,” set up for the benefit of widows and orphans for
the South African War, has now ceased to exist—without one claim having been
made upon it. The Board of Charity Commissioners have ordered that the £100 3½%
War stock be transferred to the Wokingham United Charity Trustees, and the £1,068
3s. 4d. in cash at the Reading branch of the Trustees Savings Bank be invested. The
Charity Trustees are empowered to use the yearly income from both these investments
at their discretion for the benefit of widows or orphans of sailors, soldiers or airmen
residing in the parishes of All Saints’, St. Paul’s and St. Sebastian’s, Wokingham.

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Sat 17 Dec
FIREWORKS FACTORY EXPLOSION
Two Killed And Many Injured
ARBORFIELD TROOPS HELP IN RESCUE
Investigations as to the cause of Monday’s explosion at the Rainbow Fireworks
Factory, Finchampstead, when two men were killed and fourteen others were injured,
were being continued late this week. The explosion, heard clearly in Reading, was
described by one witness as “having the effect of a bomb.” It shattered many
surrounding windows.
The explosion occurred early in the evening, shortly before employees were due to
finish for the day. It is understood that it originated in a wooden hut in which the
deceased were working. The walls were blown out and the roof caved in.

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