LYCEUM CLUB

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20988, 15 December 1939, Page 3

LYCEUM CLUB

JOLLY CHRISTMAS PARTY FESTIVE SPIRIT PREVAILS Concluding a year of happy activity, the Christmas party of the Lyceum Club was held on Wednesday night in the lounge, which was arranged with bowls of gladioli in glorious shades of pink. This function, which has in the past always been outstanding for its atmosphere cf informality and goodwill, was no exception to the general rule, the large attendance of members being enjoyably entertained with an original and varied programme in the capable hands of Mrs IT. J. McMullin.

Following a few words of welcome by the president, Mrs Hugh Douglas, the programme was commenced by a centenary parade presented in costume by Mrs F. Bullock, Mrs A. R. Brown, Mrs D. S. B. Heather, Mrs J. M. Horton, Mrs T. Simpson, Mrs Graham Taylor (Cambridge), Mrs A. H. Nicol (Cambridge), Mrs Gordon Smith, Miss G. Wyatt and Miss Brann. Each of the characters, who looked most attractive in picturesque period frocks, carried a large silver letter of the word centenary. A solo, the words and music of which were composed by Mrs McMullin, was sung by Mrs Heather, all the club later joining in the singing of patriotic songs. Two charming songs by Mrs Joseph Crawford, accompanied by Mrs Hubert Hammond, were thoroughly enjoyed, these being followed by a humourous competition arranged by Mrs Douglas, in which Miss Jeanette Ward, Miss Beth Muir, Miss Rae Robertson, Miss Molly Iggulden, Miss Rae Pomeroy and Miss Alison Gower, took part. The winner of this competition was Miss Rae Robertson. Many clever impersonations were presented by members of the Junior Circle, this competition being won by Mrs R. E. Conradi. Talk by Mrs Cranwell The members were fortunate to hear a short talk by Mrs R. B. Cranwell on her recent trip to England. Mrs Cranwell spoke of the fascination of the Eastern ports, commencing at Columbo, perhaps one of the most beautiful calls on the trip. The speaker dwelt more on small interesting items as to the natives etc., at this port, rather than on the wellknown aspects of the town and surrounding country, although the lovely drive to Kandy and the famous Galle Face Hotel were mentioned. The account of the trip to Cairo with its colourful bazaars and the visit to the Pyramids was most interesting and Aden with its heat and smells, its tunnel hewn out of rock leading to its crater-bound town, its salt works and its oasis, was vividly portrayed, as well as the sandstorm experienced on the ship in the vicinity. Mrs Cranwell touched lightly on wartime England with its mutilated parks, and gave a graphic description of her hazardous trip home through the Mediterranean, which at that time, was extremely dangerous. A glimpse was given of the conditions on a “blacked out” ship with the thermometer inside the saloon

registering 120 degrees, and also some humourous examples of the equipment thought necessary by various passengers in case of shipwreck. Mrs Cranwell was heartily thanked for her interesting talk. Following the serving of supper Mrs Douglas distributed Christmas gifts to the committee and the convenors of the various circles, and the evening concluded with an exchange of Christmas greetings. Mrs Douglas received the guests wearing a frock of navy georgette and navy and white needlerun lace. Large Attendance of Members Among those present were:—Mesdames H. T. Gillies, H. J. McMullin, F. Bullock, T. Burtenshaw, C. L. Mac Diarmid, J. F. Vercoe, G. W. Gower, D. Macdiarmid, A. F. Meldrum, H. G. Coombs, R. B. Cranwell, R. A. Johnston, A. H. Tompkins, D. Robertson, Joseph Crawford, O. R. Farrer, G. Grylls, T. C. Fraser, F. Powell, H. N. Hqllett, F. G. Wooller, G. Seifert, T. Simpson, J. M. Horton, Gordon Smith, Hubert Hammond, H. E. Harris, E. Belworthy, J. W. Connell, W. Lambie, N. Sutherland, S. Bennett, D. Andrews, W. G. Pountney, G. Boyes, J. E. Cowles, G. Hovey, A. E. Sandford, L. J. Livingstone, T. G. Reynolds, W. A. Schultz, N. Rawlings, Fred Pratt, J. Thompson, A. J. Law, Clive Henry, V. Chatterton, C. Armstrong, R. E. Conradi, L. J. Mark, L. Champion, T. Shaw, G. Salway, F. J. Seccombe, W. Adams, F. C. House, W. Dingle, D. S. B. Heather, A. R. Brown, Graham Taylor (Cambridge), A. H. Nicol (Cambridge). Misses E. Murray, E. Wilson, M. Bell, W. F. Murray, M. Shanahan, Ida Vercoe, E. Eggleston, G. Wyatt, G Eggleston, S. Eastwood, A. Drake, Alma Moore, Alison Gower, Lindsay Kendrick, Rosalie Seddon, Joan Williamson, J. Williamson, Annette Gillies, Beth Muir, Molly Iggulden, Rae Pomeroy, Jeanette Ward, Cecil Gaze, Barbara Rogers, Helene Clark, Rae Robertson, C. Devery, Alison McCutcheon, Gail Burtenshaw, Brann.