RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume C, Issue 29671, 15 November 1961, Page 26

RANDOM REMINDER

NAVAL OCCASION

If it is not too prejudicial to the maintenance of good naval order and discipline, the mannequin parade to be held this evening in H.hLN.Z.S. Pegasus may well turn out to be a memorable occasion, from both the sartorial and seafaring points of view. The parade is being staged to help raise funds for the sea cadets and for the girls’ nautical training corps; but there is no suggestion that the cadets or their officers will be required to mince up and down displaying the latest cut in bell-bottom trousers, or dinky new sequin patterns to replace the traditional braid of rank. The setting will cer-

taiiily smack of the sea— Pegasus is a large establishment, and it seems to be fully equipped with material for the training of sailors to fight any sort of war which has taken place since 1815, or any which might occur in the dimly forseeable future. And if what seems to be a collection of the flags of all nations is no more than a signalling system, husbands who take their wives to the parade will no doubt get the message in some other form. The ships models will be forgotten, briefly, in favour of the other sort—and a particularly comely ana talented group they make. They have some magnificent clothes to show, everything from Suzie Wong dresses, and Cheong Sams, to bathing suits,

cocktail and evening wear. It will be a glittering gathering, one which must have immediate appeal to every woman over the age of 12. And if husbands usually assume a pretence of indifference on such occasions, they would be wise to come too, if only to read the danger signs, and plan accordWtei it is all done, and routine training is resumed, there may be a little legacy for the cadets. It is just possible that one of the officers may, in a momentary day-dream, forget what the navy says about measured paces and methods of changing direction on the march in favour of the elegant carriage of the mannequin.