GIRLS' HOSTEL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 3, 4 July 1939, Page 14

GIRLS' HOSTEL

VISITED BY LADY GALWAY

PHEASANT "AT HOME"

Her Excellency Viscountess Galway who is patroness of the Girls' Friendly Society, visited the Girls' Hostel, 23 Vivian Street, for the first time yesterday afternoon. She was given a very delightful welcome. • The occasion took the form of an At Home. Many members of the G.F.S. Council and the clergy and their wives were among those present, and masses of spring flowers—jorfquils, violets, etc. —were arranged in trie sitting-room where a big fire was burning brightly. Upon arrival her Excellency, who was accompanied t>y -Lieutenant S. R. Le H. Lombard-Hobson, A.D.C., was met by Mrs. W. Bullock, president of the society, Mrs. R. E. Rawnsley, and Miss Barnicoat, vice-presidents, and Mrs. J. D. Magee, secretary. She was presented with a lovely bouquet of daffodils, freesias, violets, and daphne, and Mrs. Bullock made a short speech of welcome on behalf of the council, saying how glad she was that the opportunity had occurred for her Excellency to visit the hostel before leaving these shores. Mrs. Bullock also welcomed Miss Preston, of the Friendly Society, London, and went on to trace the history of the Wellington society since its inception in 1873. Its object, she said, was to provide friendship, and also to help with the intellectual and spiritual life of its members. It kept abreast with modern times and there were branches throughout the world. Before having tea Lady Galway was taken on a tour of inspection of the building, and was shown the new rooms on the-roof as well as many of the other bedrooms and the games room in the basement. There is accommodation for fifty people in the building. All the-bedrooms are single, have built-in wardrobes and dressing tables, and have individual furnishings in the way of rug%, covers, and curtains. The colour schemes differ and girls are permitted to make any addition or alteration they choose to their rooms. Her Excellency showed much appreciation of all she saw. Others who accompanied her on the tour of inspection were Mrs. Peter Fraser, Mrs. T. C. A ; Hislop,/ Lady Shirtcliffe, Lady Pomare, Mrs. Sprott, Mrs, E. W. G. Coleridge, Mrs. Wallis, Miss Isobel Biggar, and Miss Preston. On their return to the sitting-room tea was served and afterwards the Venerable Archdeacon Bullock mentioned that Lady Galway would be leaving the next day for her long trip to the Islands and that they were very glad she had been able to spare the time to pay the hostel a visit. In reply, her Excellency thanked Archdeacon Bullock for his kind words and the council for their welcome. She congratulated the society on its achievement and wished it luck in its future activities. ANOTHER EVENT. After Lady Galway's departure another event took place, Mrs. T. H. Sprott, on behalf of the society, presenting Mrs. R. E. Rawnsley with a beautiful standing lamp to mark the occasion of her golden wedding, which took place a short time- ago. Mrs. Sprott spoke very affectionately of Mrs. Rawnsley and all the work she had done for the society during the past 35 years; Miss Gleeson, matron of the hostex, also paid tribute to Mrs. Rawnsley saying that "in the twenty years she had been matron of the hostel Mrs., Rawnsley had been a true friend, guide, j and counsellor to herself and to the hostel. Mrs. Rawnsley made a short speech in reply. FESTIVAL ON SATURDAY. The Girls' Friendly Society also held a festival last Saturday which coincided ■ with the jubilee celebration in London. Following a service conducted by the Rev. F. A. Tooley at St. Peter's Church a tea and social was held in the church hall. Members of the Anglican Girls' Bible class, the Mothers' Union, and the Anglican Girls' Club were among those present. Tea was served by associates and members of the Girls' Friendly Society, and at the social items were contributed by members ■of ■ the three branches of the G.F.S.