Rugby folklore and royalty

Press, 29 April 1981, Page 26

Rugby folklore and royalty

The television series, “Edward and Mrs Simpson," has brought to light that the Ashley Rugby Club is holding a rare sidelight of royal and rugby history. After the Twickenham test against England in 1925, the touring All Blacks, the "Invincibles," were entertained to a farewell luncheon given by the "Sportsmen of the Motherland." One of the All Blacks, the late Jim Parker, headed his programme "All Black. 1924" and had the front of the menu autographed by the team members.

The menu is adorned by one other signature, that of the Prince of Wales, later to be Edward VIII. The Prince anticipated his accession to the throne by more than 11 •years by signing across the top left hand corner — “Edward 8." After his return to New Zealand. Parker, with Dick Kempthorne. founded the Loburn Rugbv Club to play irt f the North Canterbury competitions. At the club’s

golden jubilee m 1975, Parker gave the club his autographed menu from that farewell dinner held in the Piccadilly Hotel on January 21. 1925.’ Considering that the document was irreplacable. the club took the precaution of lodging the menu with a bank. When the club went to retrieve the document three searches by the bank staff failed to find what may have been the only extant copy of the Prince’s public indiscretion, anticipating his future elevation to his brief kingship. By way of compensation, the club received a grant of $lOO from the bank. Fortunately for the club, now merged with Kowai to form the Ashley club, it had had a photograph made of the original to' display in its club rooms. Perhaps the club may now consider having a photograph of the photograph made as another safeguard of its records for posterity.