MEMORABLE DAY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 66, 10 December 1937, Page 9

MEMORABLE DAY

Miss Jean Batten's Reception at Palace TALK WITH KING AND QUEEN LONDON, Nov. 29. Aithough she has been carrying out an almost continual round of enga'gements ever since she Teached London after her record-breaking flight from Australia, Miss Jean Batten will remember Thursday, November 18, as one of her busiest and most interesting days. She was tendered a luncheon by the Holborn Ghamber of Commerce, a reception by New Zealanders iu London, and finally was Teceived at Buckinghaen Palace by the Kihg and Queen and by King Leopold of. the Belgians. The airwoman drew the largest attendance ever to attend a luncheon of the Holborn Chamber of Commerce. In the course of the function she revealed how she had once been refused a job in Sir Alan Cobham's f lying circus. In the afternoon the New Zealand Society tendered Miss Batten a reception at the rooms of the Royal Empire Society. She was presented with a bouquet of crimson carnations. A great many New Zealanders were present. The High Commissioner, Mr W. J. Jordan, expressed the Dominion's pride in Miss Batten's achievements, and a welcome was also extended by the chairman of the New Zealand Society, Mr R. S. Forsyth, , Greatest Thrill of Life After her visit to Buckingham Palace in the evening, Miss Batten described it as the greatest thrill of her life. She received a command to attend the Palace on the morning of the visit, and arrived at 6.45 p.m., driving her own car, Miss Batten was shown first into the apartment of King Leopold of the Belgians, who had expressed a Wish to meet her. She said subsequently that she was most impressed by his knowledge of aviation and amazed to find that he knew all the details of her flights. "He spoke' to me of his overseas travels, saying they were among ihe best experiences Of his life," she said. "He added that, owing to the vast distances covered by the Belgian colonial and ovefseas air services, the Belgian people had follewed niy flights with the greatest interest. He expressed tlie' hope that I would one day visit BruSsels." Queen and PrinceBs During the eonversation a message was brought from the Queen that she would liko to receive Miss Batten and slie was taken to Her Majesty's private apartments. "The Queen welcOmed me with a gracious smile and presented me to Prineess lizabeth," Miss Batten said. "Princess Elizabeth blushed and smiled like any other little girl would have done when I told her how much all the children in Australian and New Zealand love her. She sat quietly listening for some time and then said I must see her little dog. She wont out and brought him iu. "The Queen made me feel so conipletely at home that I qulte f'orgot to be nervous When the door opened suddenly and in walked King George. Her Majesty presented me to the King, and from the first moment I had no doubt that I was talking to an experienced airman-^and an enthusiastio one, too. Dominion Visit Recalled ."The King revealed an amazing grasp of overseas aviation conditions, and showed himself conversant with all the Empire air routes. He asked me many questions about the machine I used on ,my flights. "Both the King and Queen spoke at length of their visit, while Duke and Duchess of York, to Australia and New Zealand, and of the wonderful reception they had there. As a Dominion woman it warmed my heart to hear tho simple, deeply interested way in which their Majesties spoke of their subjects o i the other side of the globe. "