Reporter’s diary

Press, 23 April 1984, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Dwindling flock

“THE BIRDMAN of Cathedral Square,” Mr John Orr, is convinced that his seagulls are disappearing from the Square. “Three months ago there were up to 150 birds round the Square. Now there are about 20," said Mr Orr, who, with birds perched upon his person as he feeds them daily, is almost as much of a target for camera-happy tourists as the Wizard. He has a theory that the birds may be driven away by ultrasonic bird scarers. “The Press” has one of the devices on its building to deter pigeons, but a Christchurch City Council spokesman said he doubted that there were any others round Cathedral Square. Even if there were, their range would not extend far enough to disturb Mr Orr’s birds, he said. Popular venue MORE THAN twice as many wedding receptions will be held in the Christchurch Town Hall this year as in 1983. So far, 23 wedding receptions have been booked — 10 more than last year. The town

hall’s manager, Mr Ray Sleeman, said it was an extremely encouraging start to the year, with almost half of the available dates already booked. The main reason for the increase was the free hire of facilities for weddings and the considerable catering experience available, he said. The free rental policy for weddings will continue: a number of bookings for next year have already been received. Heater appeal KEEP THOSE heaters rolling in, folks. The “Mayor’s appeal” for heaters to warm the aged and infirm this winter is going well. More than 100 unwanted heaters have been left at the five Dowson’s shoe stores in Christchurch. All are checked by the Municipal Electricity Department. The appeal, organised by the Christchurch North Lions Club, will run for two more weeks at least. Not half slow A READER of the London “Daily Telegraph” recently asked British Rail if its trains, from Charing Cross to Deal were slow ones. He

was told by the inquiries clerk: “Actually, we prefer to use the term, ‘semi-fast’.” Cleaning up The Ritz

TEA AT THE RITZ will soon be no more. From May 1, that great British institution will be open to residents only. According to the management, riff-raff and nouveau riche have been giving The Ritz a “tarty” image, cocking their fat fingers in the elegant tea lounge. “We had to bring a halt to it,” insisted the assistant manager, Mr Julian Payne. “There was a time when you could tell a man by his shoes; now it is by his sneakers,” he said. In an effort to keep out “undesirables,” the price of tea was put up to $2O. It didn’t work. “It’s ridiculous. I now have to stand at the door like a marine, trying to get their feet off my £79-a--square-foot carpet,” said Mr Payne. “The Times” mischievously suggested that unless something was done, the clientele would soon be tying their greyhounds to the railifigs outside the famous hotel.

—Peter Center