Category Archives: Jim Bell’s Wokingham History

Jim Bell is a well known researcher and writer of many aspects of Wokingham’s history. This category offers excerpts and often complete texts from books he has written over the past decade.

2013 Centenary: Wokingham’s First Cinema !

We have now mostly identified the names on the town’s memorial and have tried where possible to provide details of their short lives. We now have the opportunity to find out what life was like in Wokingham in the late … Continue reading

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Cecil Culver. Introduction by Jim Bell

Today we start a magnificent series of recollections by Cecil Culver, one of the great cornerstones of the Wokingham community. Sadly, Cecil died in 2009 aged 99, but we are fortunate in being able to receive  his memories of Wokingham … Continue reading

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Cecil Culver’s Wokingham. Two: On the move

Down to Business: Reeves Removals. Jim Bell continues with the magnificent series of recollections by Cecil Culver, one of the great cornerstones of Wokingham’s 20th century community. Cecil died in 2009 aged 99, but we are fortunate in being able to … Continue reading

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Cecil Culver’s Wokingham. Three: Fun, Friendship, Fraternity.

Jim Bell’s final instalment of the life of Cecil Culver tells us about how the Wokingham community organised its leisure and the important friendships which arose. The Cheerio Concert Party Despite onerous responsibilities at work Cecil found time to pursue various pastimes, one … Continue reading

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What was in the Wokingham news during the Great War ?

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 … Continue reading

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Bearwood Roll of Honour, St Catherine’s Church.

Every now again we come across seemingly small pieces of information, which suddenly provides insights into the changing attitude to the war. At first it was about glory, fighting for one’s country, beating the Bosch and still be back in … Continue reading

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