GOOD KING GEORGE

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33857, 31 May 1975, Page 11

GOOD KING GEORGE

The most loyal of loyalists must agree that King Edward VII was a man who enjoyed life. In addition to a meticulous regard for duty, and great diplomatic charm — which did more for the Entente Cordiale than many statesmen — he at the same time appreciated good company, male and female, good food, cards and horses. Indeed there were some who criticised his Majesty for these things; but hi’s son who became King George V was a man of exemplary character, whose behaviour never caused an eyelid to raise or a murmer to be uttered. He was a bluff sailor type, a great marksman with a shotgun; and a simple family man who desired nothing more of life than to be at home, after work, with his family and with his stamp collection. Leaving home It is reported that when his daughter Princess Mary was married, he went sadly back to Buckingham Palace after all the ceremonies and shed tears at. the gap in his family circle. I used to laugh at this story till my own daughter left home. There was a memorial service in the Cathedral for his father, King Edward VII, on May 7. 1910, and for his mother Queen Alexandra on November 27, 1923. But the great thing about George the Fifth was his visit to Christchurch in 1901. He was the first member of the Royal Family to enter our Cathedral. At that, time he. was the Duke of Cornwall and York, he was aged 36 and had been married for eight years. Bowring painting His elder brother, Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence, the heir to the throne, died the next yea'r. '■ Prince George and his wife Mary sat side by side near the k lecturn in the front of the Cathedral, when they attended the morning service. We "know what this looked like as we have the painting by W. A. Bowring showing them, and Bishop Julius preaching in the pulpit. The bishop to me appears slightly more than life-size as though viewed through a telescopic lens. A book was written about their tour in New Zealand, and we are told that on that Sunday afternoon they came back to the Cathedral to climb the tower and admire the view from the top.

Present given The next day was the seventh birthday of their eldest son, Edward, Duke of York, later to be Prince of Wales, Edward VIII, and Duke of Windsor. The Mayoress, on behalf of the women of Canterbury, presented the Duchess with a birthday present for her son. What was it? A toy battle-ship? A box of soldiers? A boomerang? Oh no! something far more suitable for a boy of seven. It was a “letter weight, made of a slab of solid gold, carrying an oblong piece of greenstone, with a gold rope about it, and a dog’s head handle of gold, with a greenstone collar, set with gold and diamonds.” It was inscribed: “PRESENTED TO H.R.H PRINCE EDWARD OF CORNWALL AND YORK BY THE WOMEN OF CANTERBURY JUNE 23, 1901”. Letter sent The Duchess was charmed and sent a letter of thanks the next day., Before George V

died his three sons visited New Zealand and attended Services in the Cathedral — the Prince of Wales in 1920; the Duke of York in 1927, having left the Duchess indisposed in Wellington (This was said to be his first official engagement without his wife being present to give him moral courage to defeat his stutter); the Duke of Gloucester in 1935.

Elaborate plans were laid to satisfy the wishes of Gloucester that the National Anthem be started just before he entered the cathedral. A system of signals and messages were laid on from his hotel to the Cathedral door, and from the door to the organist. Fresh start The message came, the organ started, the congregation rose, the choir sang But it was a false start and it all had to be done again. The Bible on the desk in front of the Duke had been there for his two elder brothers. It was inscribed “The Gift from Her Majesty" and had been presented by Queen Victoria to one of her servants, Hannah Hobbs, in 1842. Miss Hobbs had emigrated to New Zealand, and one of her descendants had sent the Bible to us from Auckland, on loan, for each of these occasions. The Duchess of York had been too ill to visit Christchurch in 1927, but years later — on April 24, 1966 — after her husband had unexpectedly become King George VI, and 14 years after his death, we saw her here in person, now our beloved and respected Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.