A BUSY LIFE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 594, 27 July 1933, Page 7

A BUSY LIFE

HOTEL OFFICIAL SUPERYISES OYER 15,000 WEDDINGS. ' A man who has attended or supervised over 15,000 wedding breakfasts — and has never yet been late. These are two of the records claimed by Mr. John Marter Penny, who for 50 years has been master of wedding ceremonies at a London hotel. And this is another record. In his 50 years he has never had a bank holiday, Good Friday, Christmas Day, or a Sunday "off duty." Surrounded almost by church'es, the hotel in which Mr. Penny works has become famous for its wedding breakfasts and receptions. "During the 'rush' seasons I have superintended as many as four ceremonies in one day," Mr. Penny said recently. "W'edding breakfasts are now very simple affairs compared with those of 40 years ago. "In those days the 'breakfast' was a 'full blown' dinner. A moderate menu would include soup,i fish, joint, partridge and the ch'oice of several sweet dishes. To-day a sandwich and a glass of champagne seems to satisfy." One of Mr. Penny'-s diverse duties is that of acting as toast master. For the assistance of bridegrooms who are at a loss to find appropriate words to reply to the various toasts he sets suitable speeches. On handing the bridegroom one of these, Mr. Penny tells him to emphasise the word "Wife," because, being the first time he is able to make use of the word, it always "goes down well." On reeeiving these instruetions, one bridegroom blushed furiously and caught Mr. Penny by the arai. "Here, hold hard, Major!" he whispered hoarsely, "this is nuniber two!" Before joining the staff of the hotel Mr. Penny worked at the R'oyal Naval College, Greenwich.