RANCH TO PEERAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1929, Page 2

RANCH TO PEERAGE

iREDDiti; PERCIVAL’S CAREER. PEER’S ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND Wearing a tweed cap overhanging his forehead and a black coat, into the pockets .oh which his hands were firmly'' thrust, the Karl oJ: Egmont, who for year's'has been a rancher in \_anada, arrived in London late one night in March. He wont to Canada as a hoy of eight, living on a ranch at Priddis Alberta, and lie succeeded to the title in England on the death of a remote cousin last January.

The new carl’s ancestral home which he had never seen, is Arvon Castle, Ringwood, Hampshire. When a reporter saw the new earl at Eustou Station on his arrival from Liverpool, he shyly declined an interview.

Accompanying the earl, in a large tweed cap overshadowing his eyes was his 14-year-old son, who also could find nothing to say, and just glanced wonderingly about him, apparently dazed by the bustle of a big London railway station. “What is your name, sir? asked a rter. “I’m Mr Perceval,” replied the new earl. “Is that some of my luggager” Then, looking for all the world like an inconspicuous working man the Earl of Egmont busied himself in directing the porters quietly what to do with the numerous travelling cases, all the time keeping a furtive eye alert and answering “No” to all questions. He had fiot a word to say, even about his destination. Mr Trimmer, the postmaster ut Preddis, Alberta, and Mrs 1 rimmer, who accompanied the earl from Canada, were also in the party. A LIFETIME AS A CATTLE RANCHER. In Canada the earl and his son have always been known as Freddie Perceval and Freddie Perceval’s son. The earl was horn in 1873, and is a widower, his wife having died several years ago. All his life lie has been cattleranching. j On his arrival in England Lord Egmont stated that his succession to the earldom was not a surprise. He know Hint lie was the heir ,and would succeed to it some day. ‘‘l received the news of my cousin’s death on January 10 as 1 was about to go to work after breakfast,”he said. “I may say the in Iks of Priddis were more excited than, j was ,aml they were interested by the idea of ine, who had been a neighbour on a cattle ranch for 30 years, suddenly becoming a peer of the realm. “During all my years in Canada, I have had to rough it in the ordinary way. I hope to travel extensively, and through many parts of the world. 1 shall take my seat in the House ol Lords, whore 1 shall he the silent member until I make up my miiul regard-

ing the party I shall support. carl says he has no intention of giving up his ranch. “I scarcely dared to dream of it, and noiv it has come true,” Lord Egmont said to iii interviewer a few days later. For the first time ho put into words soine of those thoughts that overwhelmed him when ho went to take over his great possessions.

THE EARL’S “DEAREST HOPE.” The earl sat by the lire, his face, turned towards the blaze. I t was lined and worn. His hands were the hands of a working man. Even so, their powerful and sensitive lines could not, ho hidden ,nnd the nervous movements of the strong lingers betrayed the emotions of tlio, most reserved man the interviewer had ever met.

“it is like a dream, and I sometimes wonder if 1 shall wake up alter all, the new peer said. “I never expected this to happen in my lifetime, hut I always hoped that it might be the lot of my soil. I. am more suited to liTe in the oj>on air, or at least alter a life of hard work to try to carry on a tradition that even in Canada T never forgot. “] have always remembered that I am an Englishman, that England is my home country, and, of course,l realise that there are tremendous responsibilities attached to a position like mine. I always kept a picture of Avon Castle in the house ,ovon though 1 never saw it till the other day. that was for the sake of my son. It was my dearest hope that one day he should become Lord Egmont and lead a life quite different from that of a farmer in Canada.”