HISTORIC DOCUMENT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 37, 22 January 1946, Page 6

HISTORIC DOCUMENT

ARRIVES IN WHAKATANE

ROMANCE DELIVERS THE MAfL

The lives of the Right Honourable Winston S. Churchill and one of Whakatane’s citizens were linked momentarily together when Mr Patrick Kelley (who lias been associated with Mr John G. Cannell of Tc TeUo for many years) opened up his mail upon the WhaUatane Post Office steps today. Pat despite bis quiet, and unobIrusive manner lias been something of a globe trotter in his day. When lie was younger his footsteps lay imprinted in many well known — and lots of rarely visited—corners of both Hemispheres. Naturally life lias handed to him lots of memorial incidents' —both grave and gaj- : but a letter in today’s English mail convinced Pat that the bond of gentility, and the art of courtesy, still nourish with some of those who stand highest in the Empire.

Pat Kelley regularly writes to his sister Miss M. Kelley of Sanderstead near Croydon. England. In the letter that arrived at Home just before the British General Elections Pat tried to explain to bis sister the very deep regard that all the peoples of New Zealand held lor the Rt. Hon. Mr Winston Churchill regardless of kind or creed. Miss Kelley showed her appreciation of her brother’s sentiments by re-posting the letter direct to Mr Chiu chill.

All of which leads up to Patrick excitedly zooming up to the writer and saying, “Would you like to read the letter of a noble gentleman?” and flourishing the now historic missive under our nose.

Beneath plain “House of Commons” seal the Prime Minister of England said: “I thank you sincerely for your very kind message, to me ; which 1 have received and. read with great pleasure. Winston S. Churchill 1943.”

Calligraphic character readings are at best a chancy business;, but even an amateur observer can recognise in this note many Churchill attributes for which we British people may well be grateful. For he has something to say, and uses the minimum number of ideal words to clothe his thoughts.

Each word is boldly clear, but even in so short a message, the ingrained habits of economic thinking arc evidenced in unique and unmistakable contractions

That one of the world’s busiest men should have personally penned those lines is a great compliment to Pat Kelley,, but to our mind an even greater compliment to Mr Churchill himself.

“A noble gentleman” indeed !