Page 933 - Reading Mercury

Associated British Cinemas chain, and was for eight years at the Regal, Caterham,
before that.

RALPH WALKER
The many friends he made here during his two-year stay will miss Ralph Walker,
who handed over the Ritz Cinema to his successor on Thursday, on moving to
Worthing to take charge of the Plaza, near the front and three times as large as our
own local theatre. For Mr. Walker—as ex-navy man—this is a return to the coast, as
he came to Wokingham from Gravesend. During the past summer he took up the
game of bowls, and was a popular member of the Bearwood Bowling Club during one
of their most successful seasons.

Fri 14th Oct 1960
MISS WESCOTT GETS A B.E.M.
For a brief moment on Friday evening, the Wokingham Town Hall became very
much part of “Royal” Berkshire, when the Hon David Smith, Lord Lieut. of Berkshire
deputised for Her Majesty the Queen at the presentation of the British Empire Medal
to Miss Dorothy Wescott, of the Gate House, Wokingham, and Mr. A.F.B. Bridges,
former Civil Defence Officer for Wokingham.
The Lord Lieut. resplendent in his gold braided navy and red dress uniform, and
wearing four medals, was accompanied by Lady Helen. He was welcomed by the
Mayor of Wokingham, Cllr. A.G. Skedgel, who gave a brief resume of the work of
the two recipients.
He pointed out that Miss Wescott was the daughter of the late Thomas Manley
Wescott, Mayor of Wokingham in 1885, 1886 and 1891. Miss Wescott was herself
the second woman member of the council. Elected in 1928 she served until her
resignation in 1943.
Indifferent health
Throughout the war years she had been in charge of the clothing service of the
clothing service of the W.V.S., and still helped in this work despite her indifferent
health.
Mr. Bridges was a resident of Wokingham for many years and became its Civil
Defence Officer. For many years Resident of the Province of Nigeria, he had for two
years been in charge of Civil Defence in Lagos.
The Lord Lieut. Expressed his very great pleasure in presenting the awards on
behalf of Her Majesty. He then pinned the shining silver medal of the B.E.M. with its
scarlet ribbon on the coat of Mr. Bridges and handed him a sealed envelope
containing a personal letter from the Queen
On two sticks
Miss Wescott, who is recovering from an illness, then made her way painfully on
two sticks, to the table, where she, too, received her medal and the Queen’s letter. She
also received a bouquet of freesias from members of the W.V.S.
The letters from the Queen, signed personally, read as follows: “I greatly regret that
I am unable to give you personally the award that you have so well earned. I now send
you my congratulations and best wishes for your happiness, (Signed) Elizabeth R.”
A vote of thanks to the Lord Lieut. Was given by the Marquis of Ormonde, who in a
brief speech said “It is most important that he should get to know us well and share
the pride and tradition of this borough. We shall particularly value the interest which

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