VISITS PAID TO HOSPITALS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25243, 23 July 1947, Page 8

VISITS PAID TO HOSPITALS

Tour By Viscount Montgomery

CROWDS ALONG ROUTE

Impressive evidence of the over, v. helming admiration and profound respect in which he is held by fo e people of Christchurch was given Field-Marshal Viscount Mongotnery, Chief of the Imperial Genera! Stan, when he visited patients in the Christchurch Public Hospital, the Burwood Hospital, and the Coronation Hospital, Cashmere, yesterday afternoon. For his part, Lord Montgomery every, where made obvious that his popularity was based not only on his great, ness as a soldier, but on his complete courtesy, innate friendliness, and unaffected humility. Leaving the united Service Hotel in Cathedral square shortly after 2.15 o’clock. Lord Montgomery began a triumphal progress through city and suburban streets. His weicome was uniformly spontaneous on all sections of a fairly extensive trip across the city; and for the greater P'rt of the journey he stood in his car, acknowledging with evident pleasure the greetings of crowds which lined the pavements and often encroached on the roadway itself. At the hospitals visited formalities were soon dispensed with and all felt free to enjoy, as Lord ‘Montgomery himself enjoyed, the time which he spent there. Members of Lord Montgomery 1 ! party included the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones). Major-General N. W McD Weir, Chief of the New Zealand General Staff. Major H. G. Bur-nabv-Atkins, aide de camp to Lora MontgorSry. dhd Captain C. H. Williams. public relations officer for Lord Montgomery’s tour of New Zealand. Visit to Christchurch Hospital Lord Montgomery received a notable welcome as his car drew up at the main entrance to the Christchurch Hospital. He was met by the ctairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board (Mr L. B. Evans) Colonel Sir Hugh Acland, other members of the board, the medical superintendent (Dr. A D Nelson), the Isdy superintendent of the hospital (Miss G. Widdowson), and the board’s secretary (Mr A. Prentice). Members of the nursing staff lined the corridors of the hospitals Va^Tp" m foWard 5 aged from five to 12, were greatly thrilled when Lord Montgomery visited them lot a few minutes. Many of the children were fascinated by the visitors eight rows of medal ribbons, end were,unable to drag their gaze from them. Lord Montgomery chatted with each of the children. Afterwards he went to Ward 1, where the 20-odd soldier patients of the hospital were grouped. He spent some time talking to La men, and was then photographed with at his inability to visit all parts of the hospital was by Lord Montgomery in a one-minula broadcast over the public address system. He extended his good wishes to a Just e be?ore nt leaving the hospital, Lord Montgomery was ptiotographed m “J centre of a huge circle formed by members of the nursing staff. From the Christchurch Hospitsu, Lord Montgomery travelled along Oxford terrace to Colombo street, and thence along Bealey avenue, Wtutmore street. Hills road, Shirley road, Marshland road, and Reeves road to the Burwood Hospital Here a guard of honour comprising members of the nursing staff was drawn up at the entrance to the plastic unit. . Before beginning his inspection « the building. Lord Montgomery had to pose for innumerable photographs. He was then conducted on a tour o[ the soldiers’ wards by the medical officer in charge (Dr. W. M. Manchester) and the matron- (Mrs K. Compigne). Many of the 35 servicemen patients were former members ofthe Bth Army, and Lord Montgomery showed a lively interest in their service records, and the progress of they recovery from war injuries. Afternoon tea was served m a w ting-room of the hospital, among those present being several patients in the final stages of recovery. More photographs were taken before the official party left for the Coronation Hospital Crowds Line Route The route to Cashmere —along Burwood road, New Brighton road, North Parade, North Avon road, Stanmore road, Cashel street, Fitzgerald avenue, Moorhouse avenue, and Colombo street —was lined with spectators in almost unbroken succession. The most common cry seemed to be “Good old Monty. To all greetings, Lord Montgomery gave unwearied recognition. The crowds were especially dense at shopping centres such as those m Richmond and Colombo street, Sydenham. Children and adults waved small flags and paper streamers; and in at least two places, Lord Montgomery’s car passed under miniature arches of liny flags, supported on either side by schoolboys. At the corner of Tuam street and Fitzgerald avenue, some enthusiasts had stretched wide paper streamers across the roadway; as the official party approached, the streamers were drawn back and thrown about the wheels of Lord Montgomery’s car, W’hich carried them as festoons for half a mile or so. The medical director of the Cashmere Sanatorium (Dr. I. C. Macintyre) and the matron (Miss A. P. Watt) met Lord Montgomery at the Coronation Hospital. Lord Montgomery talked individually with bed patients in a soldiers’ ward on the ground floor of the building. Then he went out on the lawn in front and waved to other inmates who were on the balconies above. Finally, he stood in the midst of a group of children from the Fresh-Air Home while still more photographs were taken. Surrounded by a knot of ,red-caped, cheering nurses, he went to his car and left on his return journey to the city, by way of Colombo, Brougham, and Durham streets. The afternoon had been a memorable one, not only for the hospital patients with } V n On l . L°rd Montgomery actually talked, but also for every bystander.