STATUE OF MR ROOSEVELT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 143, 30 March 1948, Page 3

STATUE OF MR ROOSEVELT

Unveiling By King CEREMONY IN LONDON NEXT MONTH (By E. G. WEBBER, Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.). LONDON, March 28. London's next big international event will be the unveiling Of the memorial to President Roosevelt, which is to be performed by the King on April 12, in the presences of Mrs Roosevelt and a distinguished gathering. The statue of Mr Roosevelt, which is the work of Sir William Reid Dick, Britain’s leading sculptor, is now being finished at a London foundry, and special gardens have' been laid out in Grosvenor square as a setting for the memorial.

Grosvenor square is a fitting site for this token of Britain’s gratitude to a great. American. In one of ,the houses overlooking the square lived John Adams, the first American ’Minister to Britain, and the second American President, and another wass the home of Walter Page. United States Ambassador to Britain during the First World War.

Both houses were damaged by bombing during the Second World War, but have been repaired. Mrs Roosevelt will be the guest of the King and Queen at Windsor during her stay in this country. Royal Anniversary The next big event will be the celebration of Their Majesties’ silver wed ding anniversary on April 26. General satisfaction had been expressed at. the decision to add colour to the procession by providing a Sovereign’s escort of Household Cavalry in full dress. It is not intended, however, that the Household Cavalry shall revert to full dress other than on special State occasions. Mounted guards at the entrance to the Horseguards’ Parade in Whitehall will continue to wear service dress. When the King and Queen, Princess Margaret, Princess Elizabeth, and the Duke of Edinburgh, drive from Buckingham Palace to St. Paul’s for the special service of thanksgiving they will observe the traditional custom by stopping at Temple Bar, where the Lord Mayor of London will receive them and present the Sword of State to His Majesty. The King and Queen and Princess Margaret will be at Windsor Castle for the next five weeks. Usually when Their Majesties go to Windsor they-do not stay in the castle but at the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park.. The Lodge is one of the few Royal residences which is kept strictly private. Guests are seldom/ invited there, and even the King’s private secretaries seldom go there. The lodge is never opened to the public.