For 8 read P

Press, 2 May 1981, Page 64

For 8 read P

The Loburn Rugby club might not have an example of right royal presumption on its W'alls after all. The widely 7 autographed 1925 menu, presented to the club by its All Black cofounder, Mr Jim Parker, contained the signature of the then Prince of Wales, later to be Edward VIII. It appeared that he had accelerated history by signing himself “Edward 8,” but two Christchurch men have taken issue with that claim. « Mr Bill Dailey, an All Black half-back and a teammate of Mr Parker's in the

1924-5 “Invinvibles,” also has an autographed menu from the dinner, which was held in the Piccadilly Hotel, London, at the end of the New Zealand team's unbeaten tour of britain. So, too, does Mr Russell Vine, an avid collector of rugby mementoes. The prince's signature on both menus is clearly “Ed* I ward P,” written in turquoise! ink with a fountain pen. The supposed “8” on the Loburn menu might well prove to e a sloppily written “P.” caused by the prince being Cramped" for room by the signatures of the 29 AU Blacks and their manager.