WEDDING IN LONDON

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 172, 17 April 1937, Page 6

WEDDING IN LONDON

Cousin of Jean Batten

A recent mail from Loudon brings news of the marriage of Miss Alison Cooke, whose parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Laird Cooke, were for many years residents of New Plymouth. This New Zealander is a cousin of Miss Jean Batten and resembles her somewhat in appearance, being dark, petite and vivacious, with a smile like the famous airwoman’s.

Miss Cooke was married last month at the Chelsea registry office to Mr. George Simonek (pronounced Shemonek), the youngest son of Madame and the late Mr. G. P. Simonek, of Moscow and Paris. Mr. Simonek, who is an architect with the firm of Sir John Brunet, Tait and Lome, was a boy of 14 when the revolution broke out. He was separated from his family, and after terrible privations managed to find his way to Paris. It is H years since Mrs. Simonek left New Zealand. After her father’s death in 1926, she and her mother decided to go to England in order that she might study singing. On their way over they suddenly changed their minds and went to Paris, where Mrs. Simonek first studied and then sang professionally. She was in the choir of the American Church, and became passionately devoted to church music. She loved life in the French capital, with its gaiety and its interesting artistic people. After the death of her mother she went to London.

A particularly lovely material— a pale kowhai gold embossed crepe satin with splashes of nigger brown —builds a very attractive tailored evening gown with the new high neck. A robespierre collar, epaulettes and tailored belt of brown velvet enhance the lustrous material.—Wilma Swanson, Willis Street. —Advt.