Welcome to Wantage Road community

If people are looking to dress up in 1940s style clothes for the Street Party then the Reading Museum website has some great ideas in their VE Day celebration pack: https://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/.../ve-day-celebration-pack. Maybe we'll see plenty of land girls and pilots!

The next time you are grumbling about having to walk down Oxford Road to access the nearest Post Office, think about how much easier life would have been when there was one on our street!

Wantage Road Post Office was housed at number 180 and was in operation until its closure in Spring 2008.

One of the early Sub-Postmasters was an Essex man with a French sounding name – William Buteux. Born in 1860, William found love in his early-forties and married Alice Maud Greenaway in Reading in 1903. Sadly, she would pass away in 1910 leaving William as a widower running the Post Office on Wantage Road. He was still there at the age of 60 in 1921 and continued to work up until shortly before his death in 1923, after which he was buried in London Road cemetery.

By 1939 the Sub-Postmaster was Ernest Cox, a local man who had been born in Reading in 1890. Ernest was living at the Post Office with his wife Nellie, whom he had married in 1924. After retiring from his job as Sub-Postmaster, Ernest and Nellie remained in the local area, moving the short distance up to live on Waverley Road. They lived their until they passed away, Ernest in 1971 and Nellie in 1979.

When passing 180 Wantage Road you can still see where the sign used to be above the bay window, and where the post box was on the right hand side where there is now a small fence.

Do you have any memories of the old Post Office or any of the Sub-Postmasters or Sub-Postmistresses that worked there?

We are now just a month away from our street party on July 5th where we will celebrate our community and the joy of peace in Europe. Victory in Europe (VE) Day marks the day that the allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi forces, thus bringing the 2nd World War in Europe to an end.

In Reading the Mayor formally announced the end of the war at Queen Victoria’s statue by the Town Hall and street parties were held all over town. You can explore photos of VE Day festivities across Reading on the Reading Museum website – but naturally, the Wantage Road party looks the most fun of all!

🙋‍♀️ What we need from you

To make this year’s celebration as vibrant and welcoming as the original, we’re looking for:

• Tables and chairs - any folding or outdoor furniture we can borrow for the day to create a long communal table.
• Tablecloths and festive decorations - especially homemade touches that add personality and charm.
• Helpers - to assist with setting up in the morning, decorating, and packing away at the end.

If you can contribute any of these - or want to lend a hand on the day - please get in touch

• Join our Facebook Group to stay updated and connect with other neighbours: Wantage Road Community Group
• Prefer email? Drop us a message here: Contact Form

See you there - and bring your best VE Day spirit!