Violinist Practises For Recitals In R.A.F. Comet

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28265, 1 May 1957, Page 13

Violinist Practises For Recitals In R.A.F. Comet

(ftec. 11 p.m.) MELBOURNE, April 30. A Royal Air Force Comet aircraft arrived at Melbourne today with the New Zealand-born Com-mander-in-Chief of R.A.F. Transport Command, Air Marshal Sir Andrew McKee aboard. The Comet came into Essendon airport to the strains of Vaughan Williams’s “Lark Ascending,” provided by Lady McKee, who is a concert violinist. “I practise in the plane while we are travelling about,” she commented on landing. Lady McKee, tall and fairhaired, is also a New Zealander, who gives recitals under her maiden name of Cecilia Keating. Lady McKee said flying, sometimes at an altitude of 43,000 ft, made no. difference to her playing. “There is a little noise, but not enough to worry me,” Lady McKee added. Her violin is a 1784 Gagliano, which she bought in London in 1935. Sir Andrew and Lady MpKee

will be in Melbourne until Thursday, when they will go on to New Zealand. While in Melbourne, Sir Andrew and Lady McKee will stay at Kew with Mr and Mrs Geoffrey Hillman. Mrs Hillman is a friend from Lady McKee's home town, Greymouth. Sir Andrew McKee was born at Oxford, New Zealand, and educated at Christchurch. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1927 and was senior air staff officer of Bomber Command from 1953 to 1955.

Interviewed at Essendon today he said the new British defence policy had given a much more important role to Transport Command. "We will have to be able to deliver troops and equipment to any trouble spot that may develop,” he said. Qn its flight from London, the Comet covered 12,454 miles at an average speed, including landings and take-offs, of 450 miles an hour, and reached 550 miles an hour at a height of 42,000 ft.