AN EMPIRE HOME

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 422, 1 May 1937, Page 7

AN EMPIRE HOME

OVERSEAS LEAGUE Many Dominion Visitors The new he-adquar ers of the Ov rseas League in London, with 50 000 mernb rs scattered 1 in all parts of the world, ware completed and officially opened ' his month. For 15 or 16 years the club premises have steadily grown, num’ rous addiion,s having been 'made to Vernon House, Park Place, which was bought as a war memorial from the Dowager Lady Hillingdon in 1921. The last mansion to be incorpoa t‘ d for the ac of - .he league was No. 16, Arlington Street, he residence of Violet Duchess of Ru> land. Now, s.- ndwich d between the old * 1 renovated buildings, is a new club dwelling—the sixth since the Overseas League moved in o St. James’s. According to pn cedent the- new building has had -a Royal opening. On April 14 the Duke of Gloucester, following official visits in recent years of his father and bro.hers, performed th. ceremony r.nd read a 'message from he King. Fifteen years ago, the King, as Duke of York, opened Vernon House s the world headquart rs of. the league. The new six-storey wing will give greater accommodation To members enjoying a “Lohdon l ave,” for the bed? oom ’’‘.on has lb <en extended and the amenities' ir.c’ude more rec’ ption rooms and lounges, and a “Hall- of India” which wi-.l seat 350 people for lecturer. This hall has been panelled in silver grey wood from India —a b au.iful effect made possible by tlie generosity of a number of princes, including the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Gc* kwar of Baroda. It represents the Indian Empire's token of appreciation for all that the league has done to make Indians feel at horns in London. “Old World" Atmosphere. The Overseas Club has been recently the Mecca of visitors from all parts of Hie world who are to enjoy long-1’ ave until after the Coronation. Officers from the North-West Frontier, members from Canada, Australia and ;New Zealand, and from lesser-known parts of the Empire, have been among the gueets. Many have paid their firs! visit to London. An Australian she’ p farmer found at the club a firslt restful night, and was vastly pleased to hear, as London’s' first noise the .following mornmg, the call of sheep in the Grieen Park. All have been charmed with whalt is left of the “old world” atmosphere of the mansions which have become ■the 1’ ague’s headquarters. There remains in No. 16, Arlington Street, fur instance, the “looped skirt” staircase of more than 200 year s ago, and the original untouched “gold” decorations of William Kent are still brilliant in several of tffe rooms. Vandalism was miraculously averted when the old mansions were brought “under one r 002,” The Overseas League, once termed by Lord Baden-Powell as a kind of “grown-up boy scouts,” is now increasingly (busy rendering service to overseas members.