MRS R. SHAW, OF FELDEN

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29016, 3 October 1959, Page 2

MRS R. SHAW, OF FELDEN

City Woman In England

Mrs Ronald Shaw, of Felden, Hertfordshire, writing to her parents, Mr and Mrs V. C. Browne, of Cashmere, mentions that her husband will accompany Mr Christopher Cockerell, inventor of the Hovercraft, on a lecture tour of America from October 12 to November 9. Mr Shaw is a director of Hovercraft Development, Ltd., subsidiary of the National Research Development Corporation. Mrs Shav;, who was born in Christchurch, will be remembered as Desiree Joan Browne, a former pupil of Christchurch'Girls’ High School. She was head prefect and dux of the school in 1941, and in the same year won a University National Scholarship. She obtained her honours degree in English at Canterbury University College, where she also studied music.

She left New Zealand in 1948 to marry in England. She had met Mr Shaw, an Englishman, In Auckland when he was on holiday from Australia.

After four years in Washington, where her husband worked with the British joint scientists’ mission, they returned to England and are now living at Felden. The pianist Benno Moiseiwitsch lives near Felden and Mrs Shaw was very thrilled to meet him last year. One of her chief interests is music. She had broadcast several solo piano recitals before she left New Zealand and had hopes of continuing her piano studies in Felden when her children were all at school. Her family was increased to five last Christmas, however, with the arrival o' twins, a boy and a girl. Between entertaining her husband’s business associates and looking after her family, Mrs Shaw still finds time for one of her favourite hobbies—French cooking. She is fortunate to have a French girl who helps her with the cooking and teaches the children French. Mrs Shaw has made several visits to France. Much of her husband’s work is secret. When he was working on the Hovercraft he did not talk about it, though she knew he was working very hard at something. He would say—“l hope it will be a good day today, we want to go to the Isle of Wight,” and news of the invention of the Hovercraft came as a surprise to his wife.

Her husband is chiefly interested in inventions, says Mrs Shaw, and his work with the Ministry of Supply gives him full range for research. He enjoys painting watercolours as a relaxation from work.

Mrs Shaw will not be able to accompany her husband on his lecture tour, but recently they were the guests of the VickersArmstrong company at the Farnborough air show, where the Hovercraft was on display. Mrs Browne visited her daughter last Christmas.