Page 885 - Reading Mercury

Association at the time of its amalgamation, and was the first treasurer of the
Horticultural Association. Mr. Bennett expressed his regret at leaving, and said that he
and his wife wished to show their appreciation of the friendship they had received
from association members. He then asked Mr. Goodchild to accept a challenge cup, to
be awarded to the person gaining the highest number of points in the domestic section
in the four shows of the year.

th
Sat 19 May
SECOND EXPLOSION AT FIREWORKS FACTORY
Streatley Man Injured At Finchampstead
A second explosion within five months at the Rainbow Fireworks Factory,
Finchampstead, injured a forty-years-old worker on Tuesday afternoon, when the shed
he was working in was blown to pieces. On Wednesday Home Office explosive
experts and police sought to find the answer to this second incident.
It was only in December last that three people were killed and fourteen others were
injured in a similar incident at the fireworks factory.
It was soon after two when Tuesday afternoon’s explosion occurred. Mr. Alfred
Fuller of Manor Farm, Southridge, Streatley was working in an asbestos filling shed.
The terrific explosion shattered the building and fire broke out. Mr. Fuller managed to
stagger from the ruins as fellow workers ran to his aid.
He was taken to the Army Depot at Arborfield but his condition was found to be so
serious that he was taken immediately to Battle Hospital, Reading. There he was
treated for multiple abrasions, a badly damaged right arm and hand—his arm was
fractured—and for severe shock. The hospital refused to allow anyone to see him.
A director from the Rainbow firm, Mr. H. Nebbs, said after the accident that it was
certain that a worse disaster had been prevented because of the restrictions imposed
after the last explosion in December. They had them been limited to the amount of
composition that could be used in a shed at one time. “That is why the damage was
not more serious.” He said.
Cause A Mystery
Fire prevention officers from Reading came to Finchampstead after Reading and
Wokingham firemen had gone out only to find the small blaze that had broken out
already put out by the workers. They left without having solved the riddle as to what
caused the explosion. They felt that until Mr. Fuller was interviewed the problem
would remain unsolved.
Wokingham police officers joined forces with the Home Office inspector on
Wednesday morning for a survey. The cause still remained a mystery.
Mr. Fuller, a widower, with no family that could be traced, was still in hospital
when we went to press. On Wednesday he was said to have got over the initial shock
and was more comfortable. Visitors were all barred. The police were in contact with
the ward sister to find the first possible time that he could be interviewed.

th
Sat 9 June
WOMEN LEGIONNAIRES
Members of the women’s section of the Wokingham British Legion branch heard a
talk by W./P./Sergt. E. Payne at their meeting on Wednesday on the work of the
women police.

883