Lady Hay Interested In Welfare And Community Affairs

Press, Volume C, Issue 29536, 10 June 1961, Page 2

Lady Hay Interested In Welfare And Community Affairs

Bv maintaining a keen interest in community affairs and welfare organisations in Christchurch. Lady Hay has given full support to her husband's many public activities during their 43 years of marriage. Sir James Hay received the title of Knight Bachelor in the Queen's Birthday Honours’ list.

AlAough her family of four children and 13 grandchildren is her main interest today. Lady Hay still belongs to several women's organisation and does a considerable amount ot entertaining at •’Braemore.” her home at Riccerton. Born in Christchurch and educated at Christchurch G ris’ Hi£i Sriiool. Ladv Hay trained as a nurse at Christchurch Hospital. From 191 a to 1919 she served with the New Zealand Army Nursing Service as a sister, in Egypt and at No 1 and 2 New Zealand General Hospitals at Brockenhurst. England. During World War II she was in charge of a ward at the Military Emergency Hospital at Addington and for a short time was in change of the hospital when the matron (Mrs T. Telford) was ill. Lady Hay still takes part In the activities of the Overseas Women's War Workers' Association of which she was a vice-president. She joined the association during World War I. She is also associated with the Thurston Club and is an honorary life member of the women's section of the Christchurch Returned Services' Association. RECREATION Gardening has always been her main hobby and Lady Hay spends some time in her garden nearly every day. She has been a member of the Riocarton Garden Club for many years and has entertained its members many rimes at her home. "The Riccarton Club is really the foundation club of all those in Christchurch,” she said yesterday. The circles and women's activities in the Knox Presbvterian Church have had a great deal of support from Lady Hay in the past and she is still interested in the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union. She has been p-esident. secretary and treasurer of the union. About 30 years ago Lady Kay was president of the Home Service Association and was a member while the association existed. More recently she served on the com-

mittee of the Fendalton Free Kindergarten, and was a member of the Canterbury Travel Club. She is still a inember of the Canterbury Women's Club and particularly enjoys the literary circle’s meetings. She has been a member for about 20 years. FAMILY Sir James Hay and Lady Hay have two sons and two daughters. Both sons are in

Christchurch. They are Dr. D. R. Hay and Mr H. G. Hay. The 'daughters are Mrs John Louisson, of Hamilton, and Mrs J. R. Salas, of Wellington. Mrs Louisson’s daughter. Susan, made her debut at the Hamilton Diocesan School ball last evening, and her grandmother followed preparations for the event with great interest All the families and their children are music lovers and Sir James Hay and Lady Hay have always been enthusiastic followers of music and art in Christchurch. They enjoy meeting others with similar interests and their favourite form of entertaining is to give an evening party with the accent on music. Next March they plan to visit Adelaide with the Royal Christchurch Music Society, of which Sir James Hay is patron. They hope to take Mrs Louisson with them and visit Sydney and Melbourne at the same time. Lady Hay is a keen traveller and her last trip to England with her husband included a holiday in the United States en route. She prefers flying to sea travel. Next week. Sir James Hay and Lady Hay will leave for Tauranga for a winter holiday. They are planning to visit their two daughters and their families at the same time.