Page 930 - Reading Mercury

break from tradition will come into operation about 1963 when the school will be for
boys only, and not co-educational.
The scheme for admission now includes sons of serving members of the Armed
Forces, and Mr. Averill stated that this had already brought in more than a dozen
boys. By September at least one-fifth of the boys will have entered through this
scheme.
Speaking on this subject, the chairman, Mr. P.K. Devitt said that this change had
come from the increasing rarity of the circumstances through which they used to
accept boys. He added: “By saying this I hope you will not think we are squeezing out
these children.”
There was a notable change in the dress of the boys. Previously they wore naval
uniform, but at the speech day the majority wore blue lovat suits. The head master,
commenting on this, said: “I think you will agree that the ‘new look’ is at the same
time sufficiently distinctive to be identifiable as our own, and also by 1960 standards
attractive and appropriate.
Will grow in strength
Mr. Averill continued: “All these changes, though perhaps deplored by a few, have
been decided upon as the wisest and best ways of adapting the school to the
circumstances of the 1960’s. I am convinced that, with average good fortune, the
school will grow in the strength gathered from the wider range of pupils, and from a
broader outlook. Thus, the school will serve its original “purpose more fully than ever
before.
The guest of honour was Admiral Sir William Tenant, chairman of the King George
V Fund for Sailors. Prizes were to have been presented by Lady Tenant, but she was
unable to attend, so Sir William officiated.

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Sat 24 Sept
B.E.M. MEDALS PRESENTATION
A ceremony, unique in the history of Wokingham, will take place in the Town Hall
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on October 7 when the Lord Lieutenant, the Hon. David Smith, will on behalf of Her
Majesty, present British Empire Medals to Miss D. Wescott and Mr. A.F.B. Bridges.
Mr. Bridges is the former Civil Defence officer for Wokingham—and other
districts—and before leaving the town he devoted much of his time to work at the
Denmark Street C.D. headquarters.
Miss Wescott is the daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Manley Wescott who, in 1885,
became the first Mayor of the Borough. Miss Wescott herself served on the Borough
Council for 15 years—from 1928 to 1943—and was the second lady to be elected to
that body. In 1937 she became chairman of the Planning Committee, and in the same
year she presented to the council the chain which her father had worn as Mayor, and
which is now worn by the Mayoress. The awards of the B.E.M. to Mr. Bridges and
Miss Wescott were announced in Birthday Honours List.

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE
At a general meeting of the Wokingham Division of the St. John Ambulance
Brigade, held at the Easthampstead Road ambulance station on Wednesday, plans
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were made for the forthcoming ball, on October 21 , which will form part of a
recruiting campaign. The superintendent, Mr. W.E. Burden, also told members of new
training schemes. Thanks were expressed to Miss M. Squires, the retiring secretary of
the social club, and Mr. L. Saunders was elected as her successor.

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