UNSTAGED COMEDY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 June 1938, Page 9

UNSTAGED COMEDY

PIGEON CAUSES MERRIMENT AT WINDSOR CASTLE. CHANGING OF THE GUARD. The changing of the Guard at Windsor - Castle recently was turned into a comedy by a pigeon. The bird flew into the sacrosanct Grand Quadrangle of Windsor Castle and created havoc, with King’s regulations. Guests of the King and Queen were watching the ceremony from the windows of the royal apartments. The pigeon circled round the battlements, swooped low over the band, and came to a graceful landing on a Guardsman's bearskin. The Guardsman paled, but not a head was turned nor an eye upraised.

The pigeon shifted a little and pecked into the mysteries of the bearskin. It was then that the watching crowd, gathered about the gates, laughed. And that was more than C.S.M. could stand. He waved his short military stick threateningly at the pigeon—only to drive the wild bird to another bearskin.

The C.S.M. muttered something and waved the stick again. The bird cocked its head and flew away. But in a moment, to the malicious delight of the watchers, ft settled on the grey rolled cape of one of the bandsmen. The crowd roared. The C.S.M. broke in to a double, and with a deft movement dislodged the gatecrasher.

It may have been only “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bearskin” that the sergeant-major said (no lipreader would agree); but the pigeon, with a mocking flutter then made for the drummerboy’s bearskin. It hovered for a moment; and, to the unutterable relief of the parade, decided to return to the battlements.