EMPIRE BALL

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

EMPIRE BALL

CHRISTCHURCH GUESTS Mr A. R. Guthrey and Mrs Guthrey were among New Zealanders presented to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the Commonwealth and Empire Coronation ball, held at the Hurlingham Club early this month. Describing the ball in a letter to her parents (Canon and Mrs A. H. Norris, Knowles street), Mrs Guthrey writes that the Queen looked lovely in a dress of white tulle mounted on pink and bluish green taffeta, with white and pink roses on one shoulder and cascading down the skirt. She wore the blue ribbon of the Order of the Gaiter, long diamond ear-rings, a very beautiful old necklace, and a diamond tiara. The guests were received by the Countess of Leicester, and as the ball had been organised by the Royal Empire Society, the Victoria League and the Overseas League, members of these three societies, about 74 persons, stood in specially-appointed positions round the wall of the ballroom. The first to be presented to Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh was Mr H. H. P. Ballantyne (secretary of the Canterbury branch of the Empire Society) ana his daughter. Mr Philip Crawshaw (secretary of the Overseas League) presented members of his league, including Mr and Mrs Guthrey. While they were waiting for the presentation, Mr Crawshaw introduced Mr and Mrs Guthrey to Lord Althorpe, one of the Queen’s aides-de-camp, who will come to New Zealand with the Royal party. The Queen had a short chat with each person as he or she was presented sthd the Duke of Edinburgh spoke to chiefly ,of the beauties of the South island, of Mount Cook, the glaciers and the lakes, which he realised he would not see on his visit to New Zealand.

Mr and Mrs Guthrey went to the ball with Sir Arthur and Lady Sims and their son-in-law and daughter, Mr and Mrs Lewis Black. • Others whom the Guthreys met at the ball were Misses Nora and Noeline Nutt and Miss M. Oakeley, of Craighead School, Timaru.