UNRULY WEDDING CROWD

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12619, 2 December 1926, Page 8

UNRULY WEDDING CROWD

EXTRAORDINARY SCENE “LIKE A FOOTBALL SCRUM.” Excited and unruly crowds of spectators caused an extraordinary scene at the wedding in St. George’s, Hanover square, London, recently, of the Earl of Cranbrook and Miss Bridget D’Oyly Carte. Long before the appoints ed time of the ceremony crowds began to gather in tho street. People were jammed together on the pavement and surged excitedly up to the church door. As soon as the bride had entered the church the spectators got out of hand, and the police were unable to prevent them getting into the' building. A number struggled into the gallery, and when the door downstairs had to be opened for a few latecomers among the guests, many of the public succeeded in getting in also. A considerable noise was caused bv the crowd outside and by those w"ho obtained forcible entry. A policeman managed to get into the gallery at last, and prevented any more invaders entering there. People were squashed behind the church doors. “It was more like a football scrum than anything else,” an eye-witness said. “The people seemed to have taken leave of their senses in their desire to have a glimpse of the ceremony inside the church.” One of the bridesmaids, Miss Finella Boyle, was unable to be present owing to sudden illness. She developed appendicitis, and an operation was found necessary.

Those present at the church and subsequently at Claridge’s included the Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos and the Earl and Countess of Glasgow. The bride, who is a daughter of Lady Dorothy D’Oyly Carte and Mr Rupert D’Oyly Carte, son of the “Gilbert and Sullivan” producer, is only 18. She and the bridegroom are cousins.