Page 993 - Reading Mercury

At the Wokingham Hospital carols were sung by the nursing staff on Christmas Eve.
A service in the hospital chapel on Christmas morning was followed by a visit from
the Mayor and Mayoress of Wokingham. During Christmas Day a Salvation Army
band played in the wards. The hospital was open to visitors throughout Boxing Day.
Oakfields Old People’s Home in Barkham Road, Wokingham celebrated the
Christmas period quietly. The residents enjoyed a nativity play and the visit of concert
parties by the Brownies and the reading Magical Society. The Mayor and Mayoress
were among the Christmas Day visitors.
At Glebelands, Wokingham, the country home for retired theatrical, cinema and
television employees Christmas was spent in true “show business” style. A party was
held at the home on Christmas Eve and Father Christmas was there in the shape of a
well known person from the film world. After their Christmas dinner residents
watched the Walt Disney film, “The Incredible Journey.” Another feature was “The
Unsinkable Molly Brown” was also show on the home cinema during Christmas.
Among the Christmas visitors was the Mayor Cllr. W. Smith.

1967
st
Sat 21 Jan
SHOW RETURNING TO WOKINGHAM
At the annual meeting of the Wokingham and District Agriculture Association on
Tuesday it was announced that Wokingham Show will this year return to Wokingham
after an absence of several years, and be held at Woods Farm, Easthampstead Road,
Wokingham.
Mr. Richard Palmer, Joint Master of the Garth and South Berks Hunt, was elected as
president, the eighth member of his family to hold this position. Mr. Cyril F. Taylor
accepted the post of president-elect for this year. The chairman, Mr. D.S. Strang,
pointed out the value of Mr. Taylor’s help since he has a great interest in agriculture.
A considerable increase in expenditure at the 1966 show has made the committee
decide to raise the price of entry from 4s. to 5s. At the same time the question of
increasing members’ subscriptions from £1 to 30s. was discussed and it was decided
to put this into force for the start of 1968.
Mr. D.S. Strang was re-elected for another term as chairman, with Mr. J. Keen as
vice-chairman. Mr. F.A. Greader agreed to continue as secretary, assisted by his wife.
Mr. D.G. Cox was elected treasurer in succession to Mr. Jones.

th
Sat 18 Feb
DEATH OF FORMER MAYOR
A member of the Wokingham Town Council almost 17 years—and mayor of his
native town in 1957—Mr. Ernest William Goodchild of 3, Park Road, Wokingham,
died on Friday last week, aged 72.
From 1951 to 1954 he was chairman of the Highways Committee and was their
representative on the Wokingham Accident Prevention Committee, of which he was
for many years chairman.
For 12 years—from 1930 until his retirement in 1962—he was with Hughes and Co.
(Reading) Ltd., of which he was company secretary. A member of the committee of
the Wholesale Tobacco Trade Association, he was invited to become the national
president, but had to decline owing to ill health.
Locally Mr. Goodchild was president of the Wokingham Horticultural Association,
and seldom missed one of their shows. He held a similar office in the Kestrel Lawn

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