Mrs Profumo Given Sympathetic Ovation

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30178, 9 July 1963, Page 2

Mrs Profumo Given Sympathetic Ovation

(N Z P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

DYMCHURCH (Kent), July 8. Mrs Valerie Profumo, the former stage and film actress. Valerie Hobson, was given a warm and sympathetic ovation by a big crowd at Dvmchurch yesterday. It was her first public appearance since her husband, Mr John Profumo, resigned as Britain’s War Minister a month ago. She was opening a new holiday home and research centre for mentally handicapped children, fulfilling an engagement she accepted last October. As her chauffeur-driven oar stopped at the school’s entrance the waiting crowd of nearly 3000 broke into applause and there were some cheers. In her speech she referred bluntly to the dilemma she had felt. She said: “The personal affairs of my family have been so greatly in the limelight these last weeks that

it has not been quite easy for me to decide whether I should fulfil this engagement today—in fact the invitation to perform this ceremony—which I accepted with the greatest joy last October. "I thought perhaps it was going to be rather an ordeal. “But when I see you ail so friendly and kind, as you always are, I know in fact it is one of my great joys. “I do hope you will please undersitiand and agree there are occasions when all personal considerations come second, and I know that this is one of them.”

Hit Traffic Island. —A woman on a motor scooter suffered minor cuts to one of her legs when she struck a traffic island in Moorhouse avenue, near Madras street, about 11.30 p.m. on Sunday. She is Sue Ccfic, of 142 Somerfield street.