SANDHURST CHAPEL DEDICATION DESCRIBED BY MISS E. DUGLEBY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 29, 28 October 1937, Page 11

SANDHURST CHAPEL DEDICATION DESCRIBED BY MISS E. DUGLEBY

An interesting speaker whose address was listened to with much pleasnre by the members of the Hastings "Women 's Community Club at their meeting yesterday afternoon was Misis E. Dugleby,- who returned to Hastings rocently after an 18-months holiday spent in England, Scotland and on the Continent. Although Miss Dugleby was in England at the time of the Coronation stio spoko only briefly about this time because so much has already been said and written about the actual Coronation. She did. however, mention tnat the wonderful loyalty of all the people to their King and. Queen made one exceptionally proud to belong to such a splendid Empire. English people were paxticularly kind and generous in throwing open their beautiful old homes and having garaen parties, at-homes3 cocktail pavties and numerous other entertainments for the overseas visitors and these were all very much enjoyed aud their hospitality greatly appreciated. Miss Dugleby said that one of the most marvellous days which she had was arranged by Captain and. Mrs Kirkley who are lcnown to many Hastings folk. "The auspicious occasion was the dedication of the Sandhurst Royal Military College Memorial^ Chapel, ' •' said the- speaker, "and this* was done by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the presence of the King and Queen, Queen Mary, the Princess Royal and Lord Harewood, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Earl of Athlone. It was a truly wonderful ceremony, and I felt a most privileged person as tickets were very difficult to get and lc'ne was only made possible by Captain Kirkley having been a Gentleman Cadet at the collego. - "I spent the week-en'd with .Captaiii and Mrs Kirkley, and as the dedication began at 11 a.m. we were early in our chairs right opposite the chapel door i through which the Royal family passed. Oue hundred G.C. 's f ormed a guard of honour at the entrance gate to the beautiful, historic college which hae given to our Empire some of its magniiicent soldiers, men who have h'elped shape its destiny and added lustre to the traditions of the British race. ' ' Miss Dugleby describ'ed the impressive picture made by the Royal family as they approached the chapel on foot and the gracious way in which Queen Mary took her position as the second ladv in the land.

The new part of the chapel which was dedicated was a beautiful structure, tlie marble "panels having inscribed the names of 4000 cadets who fell in active service. An outstanding featuro was the doors "to commemorate the courageous reign of King George V.," and also the black marble paving in the sanctuary and marble steps, each of which was a memorial to a fallen cadet. Practically everything in the chapel was a memorial to a fallen cadet. King George V. prescuted a Bible bound .u blue leather which is constantly in use and Queen Mary gave a marble panui in inemory of the men of the two regiments of which she was Colonel-in-Chief. "The service was very line and the Archbishop preaehed a splendid sermon," continued the speaker. "He tooK as his textt 1 Though their bodies are buried in peace, their names liveth for evermore,' and he spoke eloquently of the gre.at sacrifices made by the 4000 G.C.'s who laid down their livcs in the Grcat War. "After the ceremony the King inspected the 200 Camberley members of Ihe British Leglon and later wo mado our way to th'o old building parado ground where His Majcsty inspected the battalion ef G.C.'s, 600 of thcm, and then took the salute. Their movements v/ere absolutely marvellous as they marched past, lirst in slow time, then in quick and iinally f ormed a solid bloek at the eud of the ground. Sandhurst is the linesl military coliege in the world an-d is open to British youths of any creed or colour. Among ihe numbers I noticed some colourcd youths, perhaps froin ludia. ' ' The speaker said that very rousing cheers wero given for Their Majesties as they drovo ofi' and ai'tcrwards Queou Mary was brought forward and special cheers were given for her. Miss Dugleby also told about a visit to a beautiful country liome, Eanhams HaU, Ware. the home of Anne, Lady Brocket, in Hertfordshire, the very picturesque county praised by Bacon as "Happy, homely Herls. ' ' The drive out to Fanhams Hall led through beautiful woods, beech, larches, oaks aud elm3 being very much admired as well as the

lovely wiidflowers, poppies, coruflowors, wild xoses, thyme, honeysuckle, harebells, foxglovcs aud meadow sweet. ' 1 Fanhams Hall is one of the solid old stately homes of England, set in Ine most beautiful surroundings aud Yvith the atmosphcre of rank aud diguity," continued Miss Dugleby. "AVo wero mct at Ihe entrance liall by a digniliod old butlcr and passed tlirougU tlie liail to the entrance oi' tbo enchanling garden where Lady Auuo recciAod us; our names and home country were aanounced auother butler. "Our noritess avus a charming woman with the natural gracc and diginly vequired to liead such a liome. Faunaius liall was her uwn ol-d liome which was iiihoi iled by her brother and as his income was uot laige enougii to enable Liiu to keep it up Lady Aiine decided to rent the place after her husbaud died. After being introduced overseas visitors were each given a whito carnation to wear while the local guests wore a red one and they chatted and talked to the strangers and told them anythiug • that they wished to lcnow. "The'day was a most perfect one and the gardens wefe looking very lovely. An Italiaa band^ dr?fcged in

their gay national costnmes played throughout the afternoon while we strolled about th'e gardens which I feel I can never really describe to you. First came tlie Italian garden, in the centre of which was a huge rectangular lily pond with a large circular black marble fountain from' which burst forth sprays of water falling over the waxen lilios below. Trim shrubs and. hedgea in tree sculpture, bowers" of blossomlng roses. and beautiful pieces of statuary completed the wonderful picture and froin liere steps led into th© Japanese garden, which was in striking contrast to the Italian garden. "Lady Brocket 's mother adored her garden and employed a number of Japanese for many years to lay out this part which is a true replica of a garden in Japan. It was on a very large scale and was perfect in the smaRest detail. Umbrella-shaped spreading cherry trees and miniature shrubs grew everywnero and quaint geisha houses stood on xises here and there. Smali stone pagodas of interesting degigns >peeped forth from among the shady trees and the scarict pillars of an artiptic bridge wero retieeted in the clear waters of a pond below. Long winding avenues of wisteria and shady walks of lime trees trained into bowers were a lovely sight as we strolled along. "Fromv the Japanese garden we passed to the oldest part of the garden, where on a stone path the date 1400 had been set in with bricks. This was ablaze with the choicest flowsrs of overy description, wonderful bowers of roses, delphiniums, quite eight feet tall. ' ' Miss Dugleby described the hoqse itself which was open to the guests, the quaint Queen Anne room with its period furnishings and wonderful old staircase, tehe said ihat Fanhams Hall was full of treasures, the loveliest old tapestfies, china and paintings w.,ch soft suiiused elcctric lignls beiow the family portraits while in the glass sun porch was to be seen beautiful statuary ainongst which was a particularly line statue from the exhibition of 1862 by Monti. In cohclusion Miss Dugleby said that the lovely sights which she had seen during her tiavels would live in her mind always and she only regretted that she could not have transported all her friends on a magic carpet to share her pleasures. Mrs H. W. C. Baird thanked the speaker very sincerely for giving her listeners such an enjoyable afternoon and said that she hoped that they would be able to hear more later on. • Afternoon tea was then enjoyed before the afternoon concluded. Among those present were: Mrs E.JC. Clarkson. Mrs W. G. Stead. Mrs

H. W. C. Baird, Mrs H. Stratton, Mrs H. Loveli-Smith, Miss Helen Ford, Miss Fitzroy, Mrs C. G. Wilkinson, Mrs W.'A. MacFarlane, Mrs H. Gilbertson, Mrs R. Puflett, Mrs K. E. Crompton, Mrs A. Lockie, Mrs Moorhouse, Mre N". Beamish, Mrs A. F. Glenny, Mrs A. E. O'Meara. Mrs W. B. Nicoll^ Mrs .T. Craig, Mrs D. H. Hooker, Mrs D. W. Hursthouse, Mrs R. Paynter, Mrs Paynter (Nelson), Mrs H. S. Robinson, Mrs L. J. Harvey, >Mrs Hedley Harvey, Miss Lewis,. Mrs W. E. Taylor, Mrs Recs Davies, Mrs Guy Rochfort, Miss Commin, Mrs J. D. Heaton, Mrs A. Giorgi, Mrs Lawlor, Mrs F. C. Cuming.