PERSONAL TREASURES

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 174, 26 April 1939, Page 4

PERSONAL TREASURES

HIS MAJESTY THE KING SOUVENIRS OF THE WAR EARLY KAYS IN 1 THE, NAVY ■ In a recent number t of. The Windsor' Magazine is an article of extraordinary. interest byya' ypryy; •,we.ll-in-formed writer- cohtaifnngvymuch vthat is new concerning the personal tastes and treasures of the King and Queen and Queen Mary. “It is said,” the writer reminds us, “that you can tell a,«.plan’s character by .the small .articles lie ,values. If that.is so, the personal treasures of the King prove that before lie is a monarch he is-a human being, a.-man much like tens of thousands of his subjects. . . . “The King’s noted skill at tennis, his favourite game, is aided by the fact that j he ; is left-handed, which makes him difficult to., f beat'.-: Naturally, therefore, tennis trophies are foremost- in his collection of treasures. There is the silver rose-bowl, one of the pair presented as prizes for the mixed doubles at Highgate •Charity Lawn Tennis Handicap, and won by the King (partnering Miss Peggy Bbuverie) in 11)19'. The Royal Air Force Doubles Tournament was

won by. the King and . Sir Louis Greig at Queen’s Club. Cherished Prizes. “His Majesty naturally also cherishes the silver cigarette boxes which were the prizes lie won at this event. But the fact that His Majesty still possesses the entry form and competitor’s pass for Wimbledon in 1926, when he andi Sir Louis Greig were knocked out in the first round by the. redoubtable A. W. Gore and Roper Barratt, is convincing evidence oi; his keenness and skill. How many of'us could even approach Wimbledon standards ? “It is not generally known that His Mhjesty, like hundreds of other undergraduates, rode a motor cycle, and he still possesses the license. he took out in 1920. The King still possesses the first badge which lie obtained., for joining the Royal Air Force and : the certificate of qualification as pilot after training at Croydon and solo flight. During the war, His Majesty saw service in France, at Nancy and other places, and he has several souvenirs of those days in the R.A. F. • Sentimental Value. “But .it is) true to say that, as with most members of the Ro.yal Family, the Senior Service is nearest King George’s heart. -The days lie spent in the Navy were among his happiest. The buttons ‘ from the naval cadet’s uniform which he wore at Osborne are among, liis most valued treasures.

Likewise, sea-shells and sea-weed—-ordinary enoiigh objects in his collection—have a sentimental value to His Majesty, as they were collected while on liis training-ship cruise.

“llow proud His Majesty must be of liis commission in the Royal Navy. This was granted in' 1914, when he. became a sub-lieutenant. As such lie .ser.ved in H.M.S. C'ollingwood! at the Battle ofl Jutland and was in number two fore-turret ‘A’, equipped with 12in. guns. The ship was struck by German shells and the King, still has pieces of those shells. “Handicrafts are the King’s greatest pleasure. The engineer-shops at Osborne and Keyham gave him a taste for tinkering with mechanical objects. At 145, Piccadilly, liis former house, be had a workshop complete with lathe and miniature furnace.* He makes, mends, and deyises gadgets- for wireless photography and television. He can tackle anything from a cigarette lighter to a. cinefilm projector, and is an expert at repairing and remaking watches. Two Press Cuttings. “His Majesty has a great sense of humour and! prizes his collection of press cuttings, which are often unconsciously funny about, bis life and its events. For instance, there is this cutting from a Mauritius paper stop press column: “The Colonial Secretary announces that Their Royal Highnesses cannot stand more than two. days in Mauritius.’ But that misprint of ‘stand’ for ‘stay’ fades beside an item on, the programme of a band performance on the night of Their Royal Highnesses leaving Gibraltar. ‘As HALS. Renown is about to move off —Hymn—“Now Thank We All. Our God!” ’ ” The article lias also much toi say concerning the private treasures of the Queen and Queen Mary.