A Royal Blacksmith.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 April 1910, Page 4

A Royal Blacksmith.

THE QFEFX AXD I'M RR ELLA. The first couple ever married at Whippiiiigham Church, Xorfolk, Mr and Mrs Charles Groves, of Alverstoke, Gosport, recently celebrated their golden wedding. On Christmas Day, 1907, Mr Groves made his last appearance at Westminster Abbey as organ-blower, after twenty-four years' service, retiring on a pension granted by the Den,n and Chapter. Prior to his coming to London Groves was for another quarter of a century on the Osborne estate, where he was employed as blacksmith to the late Queen Victoria. He was also in charge of the household fire brigade, and was sent by I the late Queen to the headquarters at Southwark to undergo a course of drills. Mr Gorves recalls an interesting boyhood incident. On the day of the first visit of the late Queen and Prince Consort to Osborne they were overtaken by a rainstorm, and had to seek refuge beneath a bush until Groves' father (who was the local postmaster) provided them with ani umbrella. FIVE POUNDS FROM THE QITEEX. The Queen gave Mr Groves a £■! note, and afterwards took a keen interest in his family. The umbrella is still in the possession of the Groves family. Groves used to assist his father to shear the sheep, and the King and Princess Royal would come over to the farm to witness the work. While at the Abbey Groves was a prime favourite with Sir Frederick Bridge, who was greatly tickled by a retort which lie once made. "You can do inert things, Groves, but you can't play the organ," Sir Frederick ivmarke! ho encountered bin one r'ay in the cloisters. "Xo, sir, nniT you couldn't play it either," was the reply, "if 1 dad not look after the engine." One of Mr Groves' brothers celebrated his diamond wedding day at Leicester or Christmas Day, 1907, but both Mr and Mrs William Groves have since parsed away. Mr Charles Groves will be seventy-six next month, while his wife will bo seventy-six in July.