HOTEL REFURNISHED FOR ROYAL VISIT

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29907, 22 August 1962, Page 12

HOTEL REFURNISHED FOR ROYAL VISIT

With new furniture and furnishings being installed in the United Service Hotel, painters, plumbers, upholsterers, carpenters, electricians and fire precaution technicians have been busy over the last few days preparing the hotel for the visit to the city of the King and Queen of Thailand. “Everything will be ready tomorrow,” said the hotel’s manager (Mr L. Gregory), who, with has wife, has supervised all the preparations. Mr Gregory recalls his experience as manager of the Clarendon Hotel when the Queen Mother visited Christchurch and stayed there as a guide tb the present preparations; tyut finds that even more exhaustive arrangements are called for now.

The rooms of the Royal suite have been completely repainted, redecorated and lighted, and specially-made furniture is being installed. New furniture is in the bedroom of King Bhumibol and that of Queen Sirikit, as well as in their sitting-room and dressing-rooms.

In one corner of the Royal suite a television set has been installed and Their Majesties also have a large radio set.

Flowers will play an important part in the decoration of the hotel. The City Council's Director of Reserves (Mr H. G. Gilpin) has been called in for advice and will decorate the balcony of the hotel overlooking Cathedral square with plants and flowers. The balcony is also being carpeted. It is hoped that the Royal couple will appear there to acknowledge the Christchurch crowd's reception. Inside the hotel there will be masses of spring flowers, including freesias, daffodils and hyacinths.

Food will not present any problem, Mr Gregory said. The chef was still working on the menu, but generally it would be European foods that would be served. The Royal couple and all members of their party ate normal European foods, such as chicken, beef, fowl, rice and curry. A preference had been expresed against toheroa soup, lamb and mutton.

Drinks are also no problem His Majesty likes whisky and soda or a good French cognac. The Queen drinks only soft drinks or fruit juice. The private dining-room at the hotel has been redecorated and refurnished for the Royal visit. The Royal visitors and their entourage will take over the whole of the hotel during their time in Christchurch. For the public, the only parts of the hotel still open will be the public bar and the bottle store. The private bar has been taken over as a heavy baggage room. Passes will be necessary to get into the hotel during the visit, and all members of the Staff and visiting tradesmen are being issued with passes after checking by security officers and public servants involved in arrangements for the Royal tour.