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The Reading Care and Comforts Committee was set up in 1915 in response to the need for charitable support for the Reading War Hospitals.

As part of the town鈥檚 growing voluntary sector, it played an important part in providing necessities and luxuries for the war wounded as they recovered from their injuries and supplied items that the War Office was unable to fund.

Sub committees were formed to organise different types of help. Books, magazines and writing paper were provided by the Library Committee, the Games and Cards Committee sourced everything from gramophones and records to pianos, billiard tables and jigsaws and each patient received a quarter of an ounce of tobacco or five cigarettes a day from the Tobacco and Cigarettes Committee. Crafts were taught by the Handicraft Committee and there was even an Entertainment Committee which organised concerts and recreation including theatre and river trips for those well enough to leave hospital.

It was funded by donations and subscriptions. Goods were distributed from the depot at 62 Minster Street, lent to the group free of charge.

Location: Reading Care and Comforts Committee, 62 Minster Street, Reading, Berkshire RG1 2JB
Image: The Care and Comforts Committee, courtesy of Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre
Presented by Janice Hunter

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