FAIRY SCENE AT CHARITY BALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1928, Page 1

FAIRY SCENE AT CHARITY BALL.

EGJIAM, SURIIY, June 22. Something quiet new and lovely was added to-night to the accustomed festivities of |the season. This was the scene at Great Fosters Hall, Egham where the ball for King Edward VII. Hospital at Windsor was held. The Prim-6 of Wales and Prince George were present, and people from all over the coutryside and Thamesside came to see the arrival of the Princes at the beautiful old manor house out-lined by high electric standards against the sky of a midsummer night. Great Fosters is a house in which Queen Elizabeth lived. It has recently been made into an hotel, retaining all its, ancient furnishings and carvings and stonework and its superb gardens; which are a true vision of 16th and 17th century England. Round these gardens illuminated with many lights, were placed the super tables of the dancers, and the reflections shone into the waters of the moat, an old Saxon moat crossed by bridges leading to bowling greens and fountain pools and arbours. Dancing took place in a grey-green and white marquee with trellis work of flowers upon the walls, in keeping with the green environing Nature. Upon tho. terrace at the foot of the gardens the baud of the Grenadier Gnurds played selections of music in a species of moonlight cast from more electric reflectors which threw into high relief the vivid uniforms of the band, a wide strip of lawn upon which were targets for archery practice, and a view of lines of trees fading into the dark. The moat was spanned by two bridges, one a lovely old bow-shaped bridge, festooned with briars and creepers, the other a spacious drawbridge specially built for the occasion by tho Royal Engineers.

No setting could have been more lovely than the spectacle of glittering tables and lanterns shining across the waters of the moat, dancers in bright cloaks and embroidered dresses, and men wearing orders aml decorations, moving along tho paths and between the hedges of the old gardens.

In the midst of the central topiary garden a table with gilded chairs was laid for the royal party, and not far away, over a sundial believed to have belonged to Sir Francis Drake, a platform was constructed on which a theatrical performance and a dross parade arranged by Mrs Hilton Pliilipson and Lady Cleveland were held after midnight.