Page 961 - Reading Mercury

The rifle challenge cup—the biggest prize of the day—went to Major A. Spackman,
of Priest Avenue, Wokingham. He scored 37 hits out of a possible 40. The Corporals’
and Trained Soldiers’ Cup went to Bracknell man, Cpl. E. Rose, from Ralph’s Ride.
The Recruits’ Cup was won by Private D. Grainger, from Fair Acres, Warfield.
Finally the Light Machine Gun Cup went to Private A. Byles, from Yately.

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Sat 30 June
COLOURFUL CEREMONIAL AT A COLOURFUL WOKINGHAM
A gaily-decorated Wokingham, hung with flags and bunting, welcomed the queen
and Duke of Edinburgh on their arrival in the afternoon. By a happy chance the Royal
visit coincided with the beginning of Carnival Week and a real effort had been made
by shop and house owners to present a colourful town to their Royal guests.
Peach Street was lined with waving crowds as the Royal car approached the ancient
market square. From a balcony of the Town Hall above the flower-bedecked dais
trumpeters of the Life Guards sounded a fanfare as the Royal car drew up.
After the National Anthem, played by the Band of the Regiment of the Royal
Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Sir William Mount re-introduced the Mayor of
Wokingham, Dr. Phyllys P. Pigott. The Mayor was preceded by the mace-bearer, Mr.
S.L. Callan, who, as a mark of respect carried a reverse mace for the occasion.
After welcoming the, the Queen and the Duke, the Mayor presented the High
Steward, the Marquess of Ormonde and Lady Ormonde, the Mayor’s chaplain, the
Rev. F.A. Steer, and the Town Clerk (Mr. L. Gordon Smalley). Afterwards
councillors, including the Deputy-Mayor, Cllr. A.G. Skedgel, were presented.
Following the presentations the Queen and Prince Philip signed the Distinguished
Visitors’ Book and autographed photographs for the Town Hall.
Before continuing to Maidenhead, the Queen was presented with a bouquet of
orchids and roses by Eleanor Cozens, the four-and-a-half-years-old granddaughter of
the Mayor.
The Duke of Edinburgh took an interest in the heavy, ornate mace and was told that
it was one of two similar ones in the country (Newbury has the other). The Duke
quipped: “The rest must have been melted down.”

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Sat 7 July
THOUSANDS FLOCK TO WOKINGHAM
Revived after a lapse of five years, the Wokingham carnival attracted thousands of
people to the flag-bedecked town on Saturday for a carnival that set many precedents.
A new day—previous carnivals have been on a Wednesday—a new procession
route and the crowning ceremony on Langborough recreation ground were all changes
that set people talking.
But despite the inevitable troubles that arise with new ideas, one thing was clear—
the vast majority of people thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and that was the
organisers’ ambition. If, it seems likely, they raise a considerable amount for local
charities they will be even more pleased.
The programme really opened with an amateur contest at the Rita cinema on
carnival eve, but the official start to the day was the opening ceremony by the mayor,
Dr. P.P. Pigott, in the Rose Street car park at 10 a.m.
Here the carnival patron, Mr. W.R. van Straubenzee, M.P., was master of
ceremonies, and he then went on the St. Crispin’s playing fields.
More entries would have been welcomed by the organisers, but the sports were a
model of efficient planning and went through smoothly and without a hitch. So much

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