A LAST REQUEST

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 23, 20 October 1937, Page 5

A LAST REQUEST

Our Owj» Qprrespondent.)

Coramunity Singing For Dying Woman

(From

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. In a Christchurch home last weck a yroman lay dying. Her sorrowing relatives wero clastered round hcr bcdside. It xias the day of tho week on which the sick woman had been accustomed to listen to the broadeast of the coniannnity slng. Tho woman whispered a request. Ono pf those in attendance hurried to the telephons. Soon she was talking to Mr F. Jacomb, the manager of the Civic Theatre, who waa formerly manager of the State Theatre, Napier. Mr Jacomb hurried round to the hack of the theatre where he passed the message on to Mr J. S. Buckler, the ebng leadcr, The xesult was that the hig crowd in thp theatre sang reverently ono verso of ^'Ncarer, My God to Thee.,, This had been the dying woman 's request^ and, although her name is not known, it is bplieved by Mr. Buckler and those who foliowed his haton in this impressive item of. Thufsday's progranime that the singing of a favourite hymn may have eased her last hours. According to the message Mr Jacomb received, the woman was not expect^d to liVe later than Thursday evening.