BRIDE ARRIVES TOO LATE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 142, 29 March 1948, Page 2

BRIDE ARRIVES TOO LATE

Wedding of Actress Postponed

AIRCRAFT DELAYED ON TRIP TO AUCKLAND

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, March 28. A wedding had to be postponed when a Pan American Airways clipper because of a diversion to call at New Caledonia reached Whenuapai nearly five hours after normal time on Thursday evening. Among her passengers was a young woman who was to have been married immediately upon arrival, but in spite of the best efforts of health, customs, police and airport officials, it was not possible for the couple to reach the offiiating clergyman before the regulation hour of 8 o’clock. Arrangements to be married shortly after the aircraft’s arrival had been made by Dr. N. Klein, director of the radiological department at the Green Lane Hospital. His fiancee, Miss Helene Luise Kalina, known in British radio and on the stage and screen as Helen Kennedy, was known to be a passenger by the aircraft and when he learned of the diversion from the usual schedule to make a call at New Caledonia, Dr. Klein realised that it would be impossible for his fiancee to reach Auckland before the registrar’s office closed. He therefore arranged to be married by the Rev. T. T. Garland, of the Friendly Road organisation, should the aircraft arrive in time. Help of Officials It was nearly 7 o’clock before the monoplane swept over Whenuapai. Once the clipper had landed and taxied to the tarmac, all officials co-operated to help Miss Kalina. With almost the speed of a Cabinet Minister, she was whisked through health, police and customs examinations. A representative of Pan American Airways presented a bouquet, and photographs were taken. Dr. Klein realised that his car could not carry them to the city in time, and the wedding had to be postponed. The ceremony was performed privately, in Mr Garland’s office, at 10 o’clock on Friday morning. Dr. Klein, interviewed while waiting at Whenuapai, said that Miss Kalina was a Czech by birth. She had lived most of her life in Austria, and had trained for the stage in Vienna, under Max Reinhardt. Miss Kalina had acted in films for the Ufa company ill Europe, but had gone to London in 1938 about the time of the German occupation of Austria, and had appeared in West End theatres, as well as in British films.. During the war she had broadcast regularly from the BBC, and also over the American broadcast- / ing network from London, as a member of the staff directing a radio propaganda to Europe. They had met in London two years ago, Dr. Klein said. “At that time I had just been offered a chair at Prague University,” he added. “I am pleased that I did not take it, particularly after what, has happened in the last (few weeks.” ; ‘ .