Page 936 - Reading Mercury

Another ambitious feature of the beauty competition was a telephone tie-up with
film star Richard Todd all the way from Elstree. A hush came over the audience as he
came on the line into the Town Hall’s public address system, and spoke to the
audience wishing them a good evening. In order to achieve this the organisers were
fortunate to receive generous cooperation from the Town Hall electricians and Mr.
Ray Burford of Messrs. Hickie and Hickie of Reading.
At 2 a.m. dancers left the hall as the last strains of the National Anthem died away.
For them and hundreds of others the evening had indeed been one to remember.
It has just been announced that in addition to the first prize, the Summit School of
Motoring have offered Shirley Jones, the girl who came second, driving lessons until
she passes her test.

th
Sat 5 Nov
HISTORY AT THE CINEMA
For the first time in the history of the Ritz Cinema, Wokingham, seats may be
booked in advance next week, when the feature is “The Ten Commandments”—the
religious extravaganza by Cecil B. de Mille.

LEAVING WOKINGHAM
Having been curate of All Saints’ Church, Wokingham, for three years, the Rev.
A.C. Dowsett will be leaving in the near future to take up an appointment at St.
Peter’s and St. Paul’s Church, Warer Orton, near Birmingham.

RAIN—RAIN—RAIN
October’s rainfall in Wokingham was the third highest since records began in 1901,
and reached 7.38 inches. This was the highest monthly total since December, 1914
(7.42 inches). The highest monthly total on record was 7.46 inches in October, 1903.

METHODIST MEMORIAL
A memorial to the late Mr. W.P. Tucker was dedicated by the Rev. A.E. Emerson,
superintendent minister of the Reading Circuit, at Sunday morning’s service in the
Rose St. Methodist Church. The memorial takes the form of a new communion table
and was presented by Mrs. Tucker.

FORMER MAYOR IN HOSPITAL
Mr. David Goddard of Oxford Road, Wokingham—Mayor of the borough in 1945,
and a member of the Town Council for 21 years—was admitted to the Royal
Berkshire Hospital early on Thursday morning. Yesterday (Friday) he was said to be
“under observation and fairly comfortable.”

GIFT FOR THE CARETAKER
Mr. L. Blackman, for nine years caretaker of the Wescott Road School, returned
there last week to receive from the head master, Mr. M.B.H. Curtis, an electric drill—
a gift from the parents and teachers. Mr. Curtis thanked Mr. Blackman, not only for
the conscientious way he had carried out his normal work, but for the great deal of
extra work he had put in to help the school, and also for the service he had given as
traffic warden.

934