The Library!
If you haven’t been to a public Library for a while, you’re in for a treat! Things have moved on a bit since “Shhhh!” and “No you can’t!” It’s free to join and, in addition to books, you can borrow eBooks, audiobooks, CDs and DVDs. Plus there’s free computer and Internet access, a coffee shop in the library itself, a big collection of maps, magazines, newspapers, and local and family history resources. And there’s a range of clubs, groups and activities, including bookgroups, regular events and talks, Storytimes and Rhymetimes. Oh and on-line and classroom courses in Maths, IT and English with the Wokingham Learning Centre. Wow!
Please note that the cache location is so secret that even the staff don’t know where it is, so don’t bother them by asking! Full permission has been obtained and many thanks are due to Heather Dyson and Rachael Burrows at the Library for their help, and to kevin_t_gerbil who made the final container.
Because it’s inside the Library, you can only get access during opening hours. Opening time is 9.30am. Closing times are: Monday – 7pm; Tuesday – 5pm; Wednesday 1pm; Thursday 8pm; Friday 5pm; Saturday 4pm. On Sundays the library is closed. Pay and display parking is available on site.
The Murder!
So yes, sadly, Dr Black has once again met his demise. But whodunit? Well, it wasn’t Rev Green with the Candlestick in the Library. That would be far too easy! This is the 1920s and Dr Black worked at the historic Wokingham Memorial Clinic, which you may have never discovered before. You'll need to go there first, to discover the who, how and where of his murder. (Please feel free to speculate in your log as to the motive - Cluedo doesn't seem to care about that!)
The Clinic!
At Waypoint 1 you'll find this fascinating little building. Once a Methodist chapel, it became Wokingham Memorial Clinic in 1923. Have a good look at it for clues:
- Count the number of windows on the front of the old building. This is the same as the number of letters in the room where Dr Black was murdered.
- Stand by the brown side-doors to the porch and look up. Where the porch roof meets the main building, you will see a zig-zag pattern. This is made of the same material as the murder weapon.
- Look back across the road at the Library. The Library windows are painted with the colour associated with Dr Black's murderer. If in doubt, there's also a familiar object next to the Library on the right. Same colour as that.
Now you should know the murderer, the weapon and the scene of the crime. But there's still a little more detective work to do!
The Order!
At Waypoint 2, outside the Library, you'll find a magnetic container, revealing the all-important order to put the clues in, so that you can find the cache. (Hint: It isn't really the statue that's important, but its history).
The Final Clue!
Go into the Library to find one final clue to locate the cache. For this you will need a 3-digit number, which you'll get by creating three alphabetical lists: rooms, suspects (full names) and weapons. Number those lists (1 to 9, 1 to 6, and 1 to 6, respectively). The 3-digit number you’ll need will be the number of the SUSPECT, the WEAPON, and the ROOM but in the all-important order you discovered at Waypoint 2!
Most non-fiction books for adults are given a 3-digit number to indicate their subject area (sometimes followed by a decimal point and then more numbers which you can ignore!). So you just have to find the section of books where you might find a book with the 3-digit number you have. It doesn't actually matter if there is a book with that number present - you just need to find where it would be shelved. Once there, looking at the bookcase, glance directly to your right and you will see another display of particular interest to geocachers. Under this display, you'll find a small magnetic container attached which will give you the details you need to locate the cache itself on a small card. Keep the card (unless it's the last one), and return the magnetic container where you found it, for the next cacher!
The Cache!
Inside the final cache you'll find: a logbook and pen, a set of Cluedo cards to see if you got it right (though presumably you did, or you wouldn’t be there!), some swaps, and a pair of bookmarks for the FTF. Congratulations! Now you can have a coffee to recover!
If you enjoyed this cache, you may enjoy Twyford Library’s cache too – GC8H4TZ ‘You go too fast for me, Crowley’
FTF – Congrats to Amberel and Factotem who came all the way from Surrey to nab a Joint FTF! And thanks so much for awarding this a highly-coveted TOP CACHE Geocoin!
