Captain and ‘king’

Press, 12 April 1978, Page 1

Captain and ‘king’

A Mangere tot, Colin MacDonald, had a word of welcome and a pat on the head for the GovernorGeneral (Sir Keith Holyoake) when he dropped by yesterday. Colin is one of 50 children who attend the Barnardo family-care centre at Mangere, and Sir Keith, as the patron of the centre, called in yesterday for a guided tour of the children’s domain. He got a right royal, tiny tot welcome. The youngsters were not quite pore who the regal gent was.

Some whispered that he was the “big man” and “the boss,” and one determined wee chap was adamant that Sir Keith was “the king.” But all agreed that he was definitely “a nice man.” Sir Keith, accompanied by Lady Holyoake, helped a giggly group of girls bath their dolls, and he sang a few verses of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” with the centre’s musical group. And then there was Colin. He was captain of the wooden ship in the adventure playground, and was not very happy about

the man in the big black car stealing all the limelight. But after a few words between man and boy, they exchanged handshakes and a pat on the head, and Sir Keith was welcomed aboard. An hour later, Sir Keith and Lady Holyoake boarded their gleaming Rolls-Royce and waved goodbye to a crowd of cheering youngsters. The “funny man in the big car” was gone; but the children will be talking about him, painting him, and singing about him for weeks to come.