Lady Mayoress’s Life In London

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28532, 11 March 1958, Page 2

Lady Mayoress’s Life In London

“Christchurch is a lovely city,” said Lady Welch wife of a former Lord Mayor of • London (Sir Cullum Welch) when she was interviewed on the last evening of her three-day stay. “We have been visiting so many friends and doing so much that we have not seen as much of the city as we would have liked,” she said.

Speaking of her life as Lady Mayoress of London last year, Lady Welch said it was hectic indeed. She had to attend numerous meetings and give many luncheon parties. Not a great deal of time was left for private life. Lady Welch has two children, a married daughter and a son who has just finished reading law at Oxford University. Lady Welch is accompanying her husband on a business trip to Australia and New Zealand. This morning they will travel by air to Auckland. Sir Cullum Welch and Lady Welch had only a very short time in which to prepare for their year in office because the Lord Mayor elect became ill six months before he was due to take office. Sir Cullum Welch, therefore, became Lord Mayor a year sooner than expected. They had to move from their home in Kensington, Lady Welch had to arrange her wardrobe and many other small details had to be attended to. Red Cross Leader

During the year in office Lady Welch was president of the City of London Red Cross Society With her husband she visited many organisations, schools and hospitals. Lady Welch said that the Mansion House had five floors. On one of them was the Egyptian Hall in which great banquets were held for about 400 guests. There were three state bedroom suites and also the suite of the Lord Mayor, which contained a dining room to seat 20 persons. The staff of the Mansion House was permanent, and one member

had been a footman for 50 years, she said. Another was in his eighty-first year. She affectionately called him the “dear little man.’’ Many New Zealanders would remember being made very welcome by that “dear little man’’ when they were on a visit to the Mansion House. Courtroom and Cells

The Lord Mayor’s parlour is known as the Venetian Room. Here he receives his visitors. On the lowest floor are the courtroom and cells, where offenders apprehended within the City square mile are taken. The Doges Palace m Venice was the only other place Lady Welch could recall which could boast a courtroom in a private residence. Unlike that at the Mansion House the one in Italy is not used now Magnificent gold plate is brought from the strongroom by the case when a big banquet is held. It is arranged about the Egyptian Hall in glass cases, and sometimes those present may eat from gold dishes. An extensive kitchen contains a centuries old table 15ft by 10ft, and a huge old wall clock. The head steward arranges menus, consults the Lady Mayoress over dishes to be served, and suggests what wines are needed. Of the 40 on the regular staff not all live in.

On their return journey to England Sir Cullum Welch and Lady Welch will go by way of Honolulu, Vancouver, and New York