VISITORS TO LONDON

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27097, 21 July 1953, Page 2

VISITORS TO LONDON

LETTER FROM MR AND MRS A. R. GUTHREY

Writing to relatives in Christchurch Mr A. R. Guthrey, a member of the City Council, and Mrs Guthrey, who are now in Britain, tell of many interesting experiences they have had, in addition to the Coronation, and many friends whom they have met. At an evening reception given by Sir Frederick Doidge (High Commissioner for New Zealand) and Lady Doidge, for Mr and Mrs Holland, Mrs Guthrey was introduced to Mrs Neville Chamberlain, who made a note of her name and address. About a week later Mr and Mrs Guthrey were invited to visit Mrs Chamberlain at her home and they found her most interesting and charming. She still takes a lively interest in politics and had just returned from Birmingham where she had been helping in a byelection in her husband’s former electorate.

At the High Commissioner’s reception, Mr Guthrey met Colonel Thornton (formerly of * Cashmere Hills) whom he had not seen for 20 years, and Mrs Thornton. Colonel Thornton is taking a course in London where he may be for another year. Some former prisoners of war from Canterbury will be interested, to hear of Mr Duncan Gray, who was in prison camp with Mr A. I. Cottrell, and for a time with Mr Neil McPhail, both of Christchurch. Mr and Mrs Gray entertained Mr and Mrs Guthrey at their country home and showed them a book of excellent cartoons done by Mr Gray while in prison camp. Both Mr and Mrs Gray are artists and have their own studio. Another former prisoner of war whom they met was Mr John Pryor, who was also in prison camp with Mr McPhail, and with other officers of the 20th Battalion, including Mr Charles Upham. He is a big landowner and lives with his wife and four daughters at Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

Another former resident of Christchurch whom Mr and Mrs Guthrey met was Mrs John Milner, whose hus- • ? s Present on a business trip m China.