THE SPIRIT OF BRITAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24424, 9 October 1940, Page 9

THE SPIRIT OF BRITAIN

UNBOUNDED OPTIMISM FAITH IN THE MOTHERLAND A CLERGYMAN’S OBSERVATIONS Notwithstanding that the ship on which he was travelling from England narrowly escaped being torpedoed, the Rev. R. VV, Fursdon. who arrived in Dunedin yesterday afternoon, described the voyage as a happy and wondertul one. Mr Fursdon, who was formerly minister of the Baptist Church a Chenies Buckinghamshire, recently retired from his charge, and has come to New Zealand to make his home with his son, the Rev R. L. I Fursdon minister of the Caversham Baptist Church, and president-elect 0 f the New Zealand Baptist Union A Narrow Escape *• We were two days out frorn our port of departure,” he told a Daily Times reporter last night, ‘‘when our convoy was attacked by a U-boat, ana I later discovered that a torpedo which claimed as a victim a ship carrying 320 children who were being evacuated to Canada just missed our vessel by a few yards. It was about 10 o clock at night and, of course, we could not see anything but the explosion shook the ship from stem to stern. The morale of the passengers, who included a number of children was magnificent, and there was such a complete absence of excitement or confusion that it was difficult to imagine that anvthins untoward had happened. And desnite all this, we reached New Zealand only a day behind our scheduled time. Altogether, it was a wonderful and happy trip.” Mr Fursdon s charge was on the boundary of Buckinghamshire, about 18 miles from London, and consequently. while he did not actually experience the air raids, he was what might be termed in fairly close touch with them. Night after night, he said, he could see and hear the explosions of the bombs on the outskirts of the city, and planes were continually roaring overhead during the day. Nevertheless, the people were standing up to the raids with amazing courage, and in London, one could not help but be impressed by the bearing of everyone, from the workers in the factories to the typists in the offices. They went about their business calmly, and as if nothing were happening, and the spirit which seemed to imbue them all was one of optimism and an unbounded faith in the Mother Country. An Historic Pastorate It is somewhat of a coincidence that Mr Fursdon’s son should have become minister at Caversham, and that he himself has also come to reside there. The pastorate at Chenies is an historic one. and dates back to 1760. and in the garden of the manse stands an outbuilding which in late years has served the purpose of a workshop, toolshed and cycle-shed It was erected over 100 years ago by the Rev. Ebenezer West, who was minister of the church for 15 years, for use as a school, and the school was later transferred to Amersham, and subsequently to Caversham. near Reading Thus.* Mr Fursdon’s former pastorate has a direct link with his son’s present charge.