Celebrating temperance and royalty
Celebrations in Purley separated by more than a century are revealed by two programmes (D/EX2456). One is for the eighth annual United Band of Hope and Temperance Festival, which was held in the grounds of Purley Park Hall on 15 July 1891. Bands of Hope were for youngsters who had agreed to sign the pledge not to partake of any alcohol. The event included a procession from Pangbourne by the Bands of Hope from Aldworth, Ashampstead, Beenham, Pangbourne, Tilehurst, Theale, Lower and Upper Woolhampton, headed by the Stokenchurch Temperance Brass Band. This was followed by athletics races for members; gymnastics displays by the Reading Lads' Temperance Association; a Punch and Judy show; and balloon ascents. More recently there are programmes for the village celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
Music and drama
We have been given a small collection of theatre and concert (jazz and big band) programmes from the Palace Theatre and other venues in Reading from the early 1950s (D/EX3041). Material from 1947 to 2025 has been added to the archive of Wokingham Theatre (D/EX2083); and records from 1980 to 2025 have joined the Reading Festival Chorus archive (D/EX1225).
Dancing in the street
The Reading Düsseldorf Association collection has been added to with a video of the visit of ‘Reading Cloggies’ (the Aldbrickham Clog and Step Dancers from Reading) when the group visited Düsseldorf in 1998 (D/EX653, and in our online digital repository).
Deeds/House history
We have catalogued a small collection of deeds and documents relating to Castle Hill Lodge and the Castle Hill Estate, on the north side of the Bath Road, Reading, 1798-1882 (D/EX3080). It should not be confused with the other Castle Hill estate on the south side of the road, which included our neighbour Yeomanry House, or yet another Castle Hill House further down on the north side – it was a popular if unimaginative name! We have also catalogued a mortgage of the Castle Inn, Newbury, and a barn and land in Greenham, 1702, with a striking portrait initial of Queen Anne (D/EX3109); and deeds for houses in Star Lane, Knowl Hill, 1830 (D/EX3071).
High fliers
A rare glimpse into the early days of aeroplanes comes with a debenture issued by the Berkshire Aviation Company of East Hanney to secure a loan of £100 in 1922 (D/EX3103). This company was based at Yew Tree Farm, East Hanney, 1919-1926, and offered 'joy rides' to paying customers in the summer. It was founded by pilot brothers Fred (1896-1967) and John (Jack) (1898-1880) Holmes of East Hanney, who had served in the Royal Air Force and its predecessors during the First World War, with fellow pilot Alan (later Sir Alan) Cobham.
We have also received a letter from Eric Taylor written in 2002 reminiscing about working at Supermarine Aviation Vickers in Newbury during the Second World War. This was deposited with a presentation to T S Waite on his retirement as Post Office Superintendent at Newbury in 1915 after 38 years’ service (D/EX3107).
You can find out more about all these records by searching our online catalogue. Enter the collection reference given above in the Catalogue Reference field.