Page 931 - Reading Mercury

THE WEEK AT THE CINEMA.
A spectacular film centred on the “big top” is the feature at the Ritz cinema,
Wokingham, on Monday. “The Circus of Horrors” has, as indicated by its title, an
“X” certificate, and this story of the perverted ambition of a brilliant plastic surgeon
certainly deserves one. Anton Diffring appears as the near-genius but mentally
unbalanced surgeon, and Erika Remberg as his first circus recruit and, later, victim.
Violent death is also brought to the screen in the supporting film, “Urge to Kill,” with
Patrick Barr, Howard Pays and Ruth Dunning. At the end of the week there comes to
the screen a well-made film of the trial by court martial, in 1881, of a negro soldier.
Jeffrey Hunter, Constance Towers and Billie Burke have the leading roles.
Light relief is provided by the supporting film, “Tall Story,” in which Anthony
Perkins and Jane Fonda mix college studies, romance and basket-ball.
st
Sat 1 Oct
LINK WITH CHARLES KINGSLEY
The widow of the man who was said to have inspired Charles Kingsley to write
“The Water Babies” died in the Wokingham Hospital on Friday last week aged 90.
She was Mrs. Fanny Seaward, widow of the late Alderman James Seaward, who
served on the Wokingham Town Council from 1891 until his death 30 years later. Mr.
Seaward had a chimney sweeping business in Rose Street, Wokingham, and as a boy
climbed through many chimneys in the way described by Charles Kingsley in his
book. The funeral of Mrs. Seaward took place at All Saints’ Church, Wokingham, on
Wednesday.

A CHANGE OF SCHOOL
It was announced this week that Mr. S.W. Meachen, now headmaster of St. Paul’s
Junior School, Wokingham, had been appointed to succeed Mr. P.R. Green, who is
relinquishing the headmastership of the Palmer Junior School to take up an
appointment in Southampton. Mr. Meachen came to Wokingham in 1934 as an
assistant teacher at the Wescott Road School, and in 1939 moved to Bucklebury on
being made a head master. After a 5½-years tour of duty in the Army, Mr. Meachen
returned to Bucklebury until 1952, when he succeeded Mr. B.F. Wilkins at St. Paul’s
st
Junior School. Mr Meachen will take up his new duties on January 1 .

WOKINGHAM ROLL OF HONOUR
The roll of honour, commemorating those Wokingham men who died during the
1914-18 and 1939-45 wars, will be restored in time for the annual service of
remembrance and wreath-laying ceremony. The new roll of honour will not be glass
covered, as it is being written on oak panelling. In recent months the annexe, in which
the roll will remain—despite a suggestion some months ago that it should be moved
to the Denmark Street Clinic—has been used as a workroom by the artist employed
by the council to restore the old paintings. These paintings have now been restored to
their former beauty, and although the work was expensive the money was well spent.

WOKINGHAM POSTAL OFFICIAL
The 46-years Post Office career of Mr. William H. Cousins—assistant postmaster at
Wokingham since 1947—ended on Monday when he began his final leave before his
th
official retirement on October 7 . To mark the occasion, the head postmaster, Mr.
E.A. Cole, presented him with a stainless steel tea service on behalf of himself, the
staff and the sub-postmasters from the district. Mr. Cole in wishing his late assistant a
long, healthy and happy retirement, referred to his wide experience in many offices.

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