Page 957 - Reading Mercury

sell—Mr. Fenner said they were being delayed by the hold-up in the development of
the adjoining property, Beches Manor Hotel.
The club would be ill-advised, he said, to spend a great deal of money on the
preparation of a development plan if it were decided by a higher authority that the
bowling club site and the Beches Manor site should be considered as one unit for this
purpose. Consultations were being held, however, and a great deal of preparatory
work had been done by the officers.
From a playing point of view, reported the club captain, Mr. J.L. Langley, it was a
fine season. Any despondency he had over the curtailment of certain matches was
balanced by the fact that others were increased and, in many cases, players had “stood
down” to give others a chance. Of the 64 matches the club had won 42, drawn one and
lost 21. The Wednesday team had scored a total of 1,652 shots and conceded 1,325,
the Saturday team were 89 shots up, 1,714 to 1,625 and the Sunday team had scored
2,148 as against their opponents’ 2,078.
Many members had played in the majority of matches, Frank Beard topped the list
having missed only 13 matches, and P.W. Fry played in 43. Both G. Beales and H.C.
Allen put in 42 attendances with E. Harrison (41 and J.L Langley (39). G. Collyer and
W. Dorrell each played 37 times. Most successful skip was Frank Beard, winning 26
of his 44 matches, with G. Collyer winning 25 out of 35 skip appearances. G. Cox
also came out on the winning side with 16 victories from 30 matches.
Financially, said the treasurer, Mr. G.E. Ford, a quick look at the statement of
accounts showed a loss on the year of £112. But this was no cause for alarm; the new
kitchen and other improvements, a new shed for the groundsman, and a “face lift”
inside the pavilion had resulted in an increase of £315 in the amount spent on repairs
and extensions.
Bar profits were again the main source of income at £287. The ladies’ social
evening had proved a great success, and had contributed £40 to the funds.
The club decided—by a large majority—to break with a tradition as old as itself,
and to invite ladies to the 1962 dinner.
Mr. Harold C. Lee, a former president, was returned to this office in succession to
Mr. R.J. Fenner, and his place as vice-president was taken by Mr. E.C. Plumridge,
who also retains the secretaryship. Other officers were re-elected as follows:
Chairman, Mr. G.S. Reed; treasurer, Me. J.E. Ford; assistant secretary, Mr. R.A.
Ingram; match secretary, Mr. H. Blackman; captain, Mr. J.L. Langley; vice-captains,
Messrs. F. Beard and P.W. Fry.

th
Sat 10 March
PLANE CRASH IN JUNGLE
Wokingham man was the pilot
The pilot of the ill-fated DC-76 airliner, which crashed into a jungle swamp on
Sunday, was a Wokingham resident, Captain Arthur Henry J. Williams. He was one
of 111 people who died when the plane hit the ground at Douala, in the Cameroons.
Capt. Williams who lived at 29, Frog Hall Drive, was an experienced pilot, with
11,000 hours’ flying time behind him.
The cause of the disaster has been officially described as “a complete mystery,” but
it seems possible that the storms and appalling weather conditions in the area, at the
time, may have been a vital factor in the death flight.
The plane was leased by Californian Airways from Sabena Belgian World Airlines.
Mr. Williams was himself chief pilot and founder-director of the Caledonian
Company, which was formed late last year. A near-neighbour in Frog Hall Drive, and

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