Page 986 - Reading Mercury

To put up a new building today was not fashionable because of the low capital
allocation, but £17,000 had been spent in the last two years in re-wiring the hospital
and in the year 1963-64 running costs had amounted to £148,000.
To try to reduce the overcrowding the Hospital Management Committee had already
decided to remove the six children’s’ beds to Townlands Hospital, Henley, and make
the space available for two or three adults.
Expansion
In addition the committee were also considering the possibility of expanding the
number of long-stay beds at another hospital in the group with a view to transferring
patients form Wokingham within the next twelve months.
With regards to the financial difficulties involved, Mr. Archer remarked that as an
example, the £9,460 which the committee had asked for to provide urgent staff and
equipment needs at the hospital had been whittled down this year to £4,200.

th
Sat 15 May
CLINIC TO GO
The trustees of Wokingham Memorial Clinic have accepted a suggestion by the
town Council’s architect, Mr. John Freeman that the existing clinic should be
demolished and the site used for car parking and an ambulance service. This would be
in conjunction with a new clinic to be built on an adjoining site near the new
municipal offices.

th
Sat 10 July
TOWN CRIER APPOINTED
Wokingham’s new Town Crier will be ex-Company Sergeant Major Herbert Biddle.
The only problem—will the green and gold-braided uniform fit?
“I hope it does. I have always liked to be turned out properly,” said Mr. Biddle, who
is confident that he was all the right qualifications.
The Voice: “Let’s say that I managed to make myself heard on the barrack square.
The Bearing: Straight as a ramrod; military haircut.
The Time: No hobbies—“I am just domesticated.”
Mr. Biddle, who lives at 171, Waterloo Road, Wokingham was the army recruiting
sergeant major at Reading for 13 years until his retirement in January.
He holds the Long service Medal and clasp, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the
B.E.M., which he was awarded in 1960 for his service with the Royal Warwickshire
Fusiliers. He was in the army for 44 years.
When he puts on his new uniform the 55-year-old Mr. Biddle will be the first town
crier in Wokingham for five years.

th
Sat 24 July
STAR LANE CROSSING FAILURE
The automatic barriers at the Star Lane level crossing, Wokingham, failed last
week—in the “open” position for road traffic.
They were out of action for five hours, from 12.45 p.m. until 5.45 p.m., while
workers overhauled the electrical system. Flagmen from Wokingham station
controlled the traffic.
The installation of the barriers brought numerous protests—and fears for the safety
of the road users—after they failed in their first week. Attempts to have the barriers
modified met with no success.

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