VICTORIA LEAGUE IN SCOTLAND

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26969, 19 February 1953, Page 2

VICTORIA LEAGUE IN SCOTLAND

New Zealander Enjoys Hospitality HOSTEL MANAGEMENT PRAISED 1 [By MARGARET L. SALAS) s Mrs Salas is a daughter of Mr and Mrs J. L. Hay, of Christchurch. Her ' husband is a New Zealand doctor, who has been taking a post-graduate course in surgery in Edinburgh. 2 For those who do not know of the I activities of the Victoria League in ■ Scotland, or who are intending to r travel overseas in the near future, it . may be of interest to pass on some- ' thing of our experience of its hospif tality and kindness to us during our j stay in Edinburgh. When we arrived here some 10 j month’s ago, booked to stay at Victoria y League House, it was with some appre- ’ hension that I contemplated the . prospect of living in any hotel for any length of time with three young and j very vigorous children; and when I learned that the Victoria League was s making a special concession to us in - taking a family with small children at . all, my misgivings rose. As it happened, however, my fears t were quite unwarranted. From the t time when we were warmly welcomed . on a wet winter’s evening, with eight hours’ weary train journey behind us, . until we left some two weeks later. ■ we were treated with the utmost kindjtTiess- and help by all the excellent , ladies who supervise the running of > the hostel. The hospitality secretary helped us in our search for a flat by writing and telephoning lively people on our behalf; the warden catered specially for the children’s meals and time-table. One of the women who helped in the kitchen insisted upon taking the little girls to her own home one afternoon, so giving us a complete break until after 7.o’clock, when she brought them back. In addition to this pervading friendly atmosphere of the house, it was interesting to meet there people from all parts of the Commonwealth. Many of these were men and women doing postgraduate courses in medicine and other subjects, and conversations round the dinner table or the snack bar were invariably lively and stimulating because of the interchange of ideas and opinions from representatives of so many widely separated universities. One could stay at the league for up to six months at considerably reduced rates. This was the period specified in the rules for any one stay, but it could be repeated after a break of. say, a fortnight or a month, which suited the holiday requirements of many of the students staying there. On the first Saturday night we spent at the league, we were entertained by a party of bright-faced young Scots who comprised the Edinburgh Young Contingent. -We learned that these young people came regularly each Saturday to demonstrate and teach Scottish country dancing to the students and any other overseas people who cared to join in. The music is [good, the instruction helpful, and the I dancing very pleasing to watch and to take part in. Scottish Functions

Our association with the Victoria League did not end when we left the house to go and live in our own flat. From time to time, we were posted invitations to various social functions which were always most enjoyable;’ we went to a film evening, a piano recital, a sherry party, and an afternoon reception to the Queen’s Representative in Scotland for the Assemblv Week, Viscount Cunningham. On this occasion, our two little girls were given the honour of presenting Lady Cunningham with a. bouquet, which duty they managed to discharge without tripping over their curtseys. About a fortnight before Christmas, we received a card inviting us both and the children to have dinner at the league on December 25. so as we haa planned only a very quiet celebration, en famille, we accepted this invitation with alacrity. No pains had been spared to make the party a truly delightful one for the Commonwealth visitors, of whom there must have been about 55, children and adults, blackskinned and white.

We were welcomed at table by the vice-chairman of the Victoria League, who invited us all, irrespective of re*n. celebration of the Christian festival; and thereupon we proceeded to enjoy an excellent four-course dinner including turkev and plum pudding, fruit punch and nuts, with chocolates and crackers thrown in.

As there was such a large crowd present, some of the residents lent a hand m serving out the meal. I saw Dr. Dobson, of Christchurch, and Dr. Raymond, of Timaru, carrying round trays of soup-plates with somewhat anxious eyes, but remarkable efficiency withal. J

When we had all finished the dinner, the presents on the large Christmas tree were distributed— and very handsome presents they were, too all beautifully wrapped and named. Later we adjourned upstairs to the lounge, where we sang carols round the piano, or talked with old friends and new acquaintances while the children Played with their new treasures, until the time drew near 3 o’clock and we gathered round the wireless to listen to the Royal Broadcast. It was a moving experience to sit there alongside people from all parts of the Commonwealth and hear. the young voice of the Queen speaking to her family of nations; for me, it epitomised an example of one of the chief aims of the Victoria League: practical friendliness amongst the men and women who belong to the constituent members of the British Commonwealth of Nations.