Page 896 - Reading Mercury

O.A.P. SONGSTERS
A coachload of pensioners travelled with the Songsters to Woodley Old Folks’
Club, where they gave a concert at the Coronation Hall. Items were given by Mrs.
Row, Mrs. Barcus, Mrs. Hockham, Mrs. McQuire, Mrs. Shorter Mrs. Hunt and Mrs.
Bishop. The last-named is the secretary and organiser. Mrs. Hunt was the pianist.

ON THE CARPET
The Mayor’s Parlour has been fitted with a carpet, at a cost of £51 14s 3d. Criticism
of spending this sum was made by Councillor E.H. Langley at last week’s council
meeting. The Town Clerk said that it had not been possible to buy a suitable carpet in
the town. The one that he did buy was priced at £53, but he obtained it for £47 10s.—
the balance was for the underlay.

PATH TO BE IMPROVED
The “cinder track” between London Road and Seaford road is to be taken over by
the Town Council, and will be improved this year, said Councillor E.W. Goodchild at
last week’s council meeting. Councillor E.H. Langley said he had known the track
since 1908 when he used it to attend school, and though it was time something was
done to improve it.

A NEW COMMITTEE
A suggestion that a new committee of the Town Council be formed to deal with
recreation grounds and open spaces, together with the swimming pool, and that it
should be known as the Parks Committee, was defeated by one vote at the last
General Purposes Committee meeting. At the open meeting on Thursday last week,
Councillor E.H. Langley gave notice that he would raise the matter again at the April
meeting.

NEXT WEEK’S FILMS
A gay, light-hearted musical set in the twenties—“The Best Things In Life Are
Free”—opens next week’s programme at the Ritz Cinema, Wokingham,” and stars
Gordon Macrae, Dan Dailey, Ernest Borgnine, with Sheree North providing the
glamour and romantic interest. At the end of the week there comes a taut American
Air force film, “Brink of Hell,” in which William Holden gives a fine performance as
a top-ranking pilot who loses his nerve and self-respect after becoming a prisoner-of-
war in Korea and yet fights his way back to become a test pilot of a rocket-plane.
Lloyd Nolan also contributes a good portrayal as the Commanding Officer. Written by
the author of “Twelve O’Clock High,” this is a worthy successor.

CLUB’S GOOD YEAR
“A most successful year,” was how Major C.H. Willing, president of the “D” Coy.,
th
T.A. and ex-service Men’s Club of the 4/6 Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment
(T.A.) described the past twelve months to members at their annual meeting on
Thursday. Financially there had been a considerable improvement in the club’s
position, due to increased bar profits and the success of the weekly dances. In his
report, the secretary, Mr. W.A. Binder, said the committee had found it necessary to
increase the subscription from 6s. to 7s. 6d.—the first increase since 1936.
During the meeting, Mr. Frank Starr said that the “canteen fund” of the Old
Comrades’ Association had been recently wound up, and on behalf of the trustees he

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