CONCERTS AND FLOWER SHOWS 297 



of Kingsclere, and without him Kingsclere would 

 not be what it was. Should adverse fate ever 

 remove him, the immediate result would be a 

 decrease of at least one hundred of the population. 

 Probably Mr. Porter had done more than any other 

 man for Kingsclere, both with his public zeal and 

 with his pocket. In responding, Mr. Porter said 

 that during the twenty-three years he had been 

 with them he had always wished to do what good 

 he could for Kingsclere. The good of the parish 

 was always a pleasure to him, and he was glad to 

 give employment to as many as he possibly could. 

 He lived at Kingsclere as much as possible, as far 

 as his profession permitted. 



Ever since the house-warming of the Albert 

 Hall — which hospitable operation was, of course, 

 carried into effect by Mr. and Mrs. John Porter — the 

 place has figured prominently in the local records. 

 We read from time to time that ' the usual success 

 attended the annual concert given by Mr. John 

 Porter,' when ' the Albert Hall was prettily de- 

 corated,' and ' Mr. Porter entertained a large party 

 at Park House.' Also, praises of Miss Mildred 

 Porter's pianoforte playing, which, considering that 

 the young lady is a medallist of the Royal Academy, 

 is not surprising. The concerts have been esta- 

 blished long enough to have made Mrs. Charles 

 Greenwood and Mr. George Gardner Leader (Mr. 

 Porter's son-in-law) two admirable vocalists, with 

 other regular contributors to the annual programme, 

 first favourites at Kingsclere, The proceeds of the 



