Fire fails to stop wedding reception

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32461, 23 November 1970, Page 16

Fire fails to stop wedding reception

(N.Z., Press Association) AUCKLAND, Nov. 22. As the bride and groom walked into the Cheltenham Reception Lounge for a wedding reception last evening the kitchen bf the lounge was in flames. While firemen battled the blaze the celebrations proceeded. Some guests popped outside to watch the fire fighting but the show went on. So did the ball later in the night. The ball, attended by 160 guests, was held in candlelight until temporary electric lighting was arranged. The wife of the proprietor of the lounge, Mrs J. A. Radley, said fat in the kitchen had ignited just as the bridal party made its entrance. The flames damaged the roof :.nd walls of the kitchen and equipment, and cut the gas and electricity supplies. Mrs Radley said that after firemen quelled the blaze she was faced with the daunting prospect of trying to cater for the ball guests by 8.30 p.m.

The guests got all the food, apart from some mushrooms, right on time. Mrs Radley and three of her neighbours worked furiously at their own kitchen stoves to do the job. “The mushrooms were cooking when the fire started so they were ruined,” she said.