GAY CELEBRATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 June 1943, Page 3

GAY CELEBRATION

OF WHIT MONDAY HOLIDAY IN BRITAIN. IN SPITE OF TRAVEL & OTHER RESTRICTIONS. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, June 14. Most of Britain took a day off from war work and spent Whit Monday in the traditional, carefree atmosphere within the bounds prescribed by travel and other restrictions. Hundreds cf thousands in London watched the great United Nations Day parade and then thronged the parks, cinemas and restaurants. Various London boroughs provided galas as part of the nationwide policy to make holidays at home attractive. East Enders staged a traditional trek to the West End, exploring famous streets they had not seen from year to year. There were no extra trains, so it was generally a stay at home holiday throughout the country. Loud speakers at Waterloo Station endlcsssly warned would-be travellers to go home. The police made sure that motor-cars were not used foi Ascot racegoers, by whom every form of horse-drawn vehicle was pressed into service, including faim carts, barouches and coaches that had not been seen for twenty years. Thousands of people walked miles to the course, where enormous crowds gathered. The roads from London were packed with hikers and cyclists, the trek to Epping Forest beginning soon after midnight. A vast majority of the people had to make their own fun, but Britain generally will return to work tomorrow refreshed.