The Reading Mercury (see Arborfield Local History Society)
These articles are all taken from one of the area’s principal newspapers, “The Reading Mercury (also including Oxford Gazette, Newbury Herald and Berks. County paper)” Each week the towns and villages surrounding Reading had sections in this paper devoted to their news.
As early as Saturday the 8th August 1914 the paper showed a large map “The European War, showing the countries engaged in the great struggle and adjacent continental countries”.
The war had not greatly affected the communities yet and news from Wokingham concerned news from the Town Council:
“The Borough Surveyor submitted his final apportionments of the expenses incurred in the making-up of Wescott Road, Goodchild Road and School Road”. These roads would previously been only dirt.
Advertisements that week included:
“Life is not to live but to live well”, an advert for Beechams pills “an unequalled cure for many of the ills that afflict the human race”. Marvellous !
The Saunders-Hewitt Motor and Aviation Co. Ltd of Wokingham advertised: “The Renault- the finest car in the world from £208”
“The Belsize-the king of small cars £225-ready to drive away”
“The Ford….admittedly the best value ever offered, 4 seater (fully equipped) £135”
An advert for a local school: “Grosvenor House School, Wokingham. Boarding and day school for girls. Principal Miss Baker assisted by well qualified staff. Resident French Mistress. Special painting classes. Kindergarten and transition form under the management of a trained Kindergarten Mistress. Playing field, Tennis “
The school latterly became the White House School and had been situated in Montague House at one time.
Situations vacant included:
“An attendant with some knowledge of nursing wanted to attend an elderly Gentleman and assist with light household duties; personal character necessary. Mrs Gotlee, Wokingham”
Other items include “the abandonment of the Shinfield and Grazely flower show, on account of the war now taking place “
Hurst annual show was to take place however and would feature “Wokingham Red Cross band, dancing in the evening and exhibitions of poultry and rabbits. Sports including tug-of-war”