WEMBLEY PAGEANT

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 148, 26 June 1925, Page 11

WEMBLEY PAGEANT

ROYAL OPENING, CERE-

MONY

HEARTENING MUSIC

TUB PEOPLE'S WELCOME.

(rßoa oon own cokrespondent.)

LONDON, 14th May. No one.ever wearies of a Eoyal-cum-military spectacle. These things are carried out to perfection in Eng- - land, and people from overseas who were in the Stadium for the opening ceremony of the New Wemb- ' ley—many of them witnessing.some- ; thing unknown to them—were thrill-" cdi' by the interest and beauty of the ever-changing scene. The same thrills of pride passed through ■" everyone present, for none can.'ever grow blase of these great Imperial occasions' of pomp and circumstance, ; even though the element of novelty i is missing. ; ; „ -, r The weather conditions were favourable early, and by 11- a.m. every; seat in the vast Stadium; was .taken. The massed of the Brigade of Guards were in. the centre of the', arena, brilliant in scarlet on a lovely green sward. Away in the south stands were the mass-' ed choirs;of St. George's Chapel. Windsor, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's, and bouthwark Cathedral, vivid in pure white surrounding the band of the Royal Military: School, of Music and a .dozen cornet players, who kept up constant responses to.the rolling music of the mili-tary-bands below. ; . ■J ■Precisely, at. : 1i.50 the; band of the Scots Guards entered the Royal tunnel and manoeuvred round the ground to -the ■: Royal ..Stand,; which was ablaze m scarlet, gold, and purple. The Duke of lork, as President of the Exhibition, was the;first to take up his position on. the.dais, to the strains of the! bagpipes and tha excited; shouts of the people who constantly rose-en masse.and cheered , Unfortunately, : theDuchess: was not, able to'be present, suffering from her throat. „-...'- '. :. v. " , ; In nomi sunshine-the.scene was macni-, ?^ ent- X ,T. he, flower, of British nobilitY reinforced by, the heads of 'the Army ' fi £l'?"**& Foree ' •»> full .uniform; filled ; ;the Stadium, .and,as;the sound of. the artillery salute signalled the' arrival of the; Kmg, ;.the : , cheering ..became deafeiimg. ■, ■ ■ : ' '■. ... .jTlieyßoyal, boxVwas filed with members of the Diplomatic Corps. The Viceroy of IncJia and the Countess of Readino-V were .present, : ; together .with : a- pa^rtv •l, an fP J i; lnCes 'iinc!udin 3 Mahara-; ;.iah [ Of Jodhpur -and his brother,' the were 1 st£ng! J^ r^t'' S<"viceli ,^ha vbeiri|^rf^attyf: Countess Beatty.v Earl; Jellicoe, Earl: Haig.;Md Lady, Haig, Sir William Birdwood Sir; William ? Thwaites, Sir JoluV .and.Lady Hanbury-WiUiams, Sir William Horwood ancl; Lady Horwood, Sir WilhanvKurse/and. Lady; Furse,' and Sir W.-R Nicholson.; Most of the men:'.were in_ evee. dress;or:full mifitary. uniform, with plumes and.much gold lace. '■: ;, ? he'.wonderful; stage was '■ set. Evervthmg,; was ;]n : perfect,order, as: it*alwavs ia on ] these ceremonial occasions.. Nine aeroplanes -patrolled , ,the surrounding Sn'f' f byi the mounted es-: cortaud heralded by ,a;fanfare of trum^ pets;auithe,leaping of the,whole:;assemblage to its-feet, the Royal coach with six bays, postillions, and, escort of LifeGuards, immediately preceded- by two carnages :; w ith ; the Royilj staff, turned into the Stadium.;v.:^ . •„.-,'-.;■■■ -„- ■■:.■■■ :■ KING WAS IN NAVAL ::-;-<;;-r:^ r^ uniform; y:;' K -^ .^"r^ / VA^-,^f:^ ing:an <i J Queen drove round; ihei ,Sta-dimn...to.'tho'l-.Hoyal dais at one end, the cheering, was thund"erous, as bock : by,block" was; reached, and eachblock m turn became-a flutter of white I handkerchiefs.' .The.'; Queen . seemed to take particular notice of- the surpliced hoys of th e ; massed choirs, who looked » solid bloct of white from 'the far. side of the arena. It was manifest that, the Ai^ig. and .Queen' alike were delighted with ;their reception, and -.they-'showed their pleasure by '.bowing continuously during their progress to the Royal dais, which was banked-with flowers and carpeted m scarlet. Gilt-pillars supported the : roof, from which were purple hangings. In the centre were two"< gilt thrones for the King and Queen, faulted bjrgilt chairs for members of the suite , Officers of the fighting services in full dress' uniform. distributed souvenir programmes to the. distinguished visitors /All around -the top of the Stadium young, sentinels -stood by the .bare flagstaffs waiting - for the 'great moment of the.breaking of the Union Jack, Dominion, and colonial flags, which took place when 'the King opened the Eihibition. ;■- ■-.-./.'-.■■■ r. . ; „ -„: ; ..-.-... ;, LESSON OF EMPIRE ; In the centre of "the dais was the-brc-ad-casting; apparatus .draped with, scarlet ' and; white,' and; most people seem to have heard very well the addresses of the King and the Duke of York. ; :i _.The benefits which flowed .to the Erri- J pire from (the holding of this Exhibition in 1924 were so marked that':it was decided, _after mature consideration, to continue it for a: second year, said the new president, hi his address asking his Royal father :,to declare the. Exhibition :open.! "Wo felt; that the work of education' ■a-hich the Exhibition represented could usefully bo continued; during a second season, and with your sanction and that of the Governments of the Empire, and with the generous aid of the guarantors, who renewed the credits they had provided for the 1924 occasion, it was de-. cided to continue that work in 1925. The Exhibition which you can see set out before you has integrally the same purpose as in 1924—t0 show how great are the resources available within the Empire;, but whilst the Exhibition thus maintains the; same character, it will present its lesson of Empire in a new manner. Careful thought and enduring energy have been devoted to the problem of fashioning our .display ,so''that it will imprqss not only the fresh observer, but those.>vho were fayiiliar vrilli the Exhibition of 1924, as being full of novel interest." - . -. .. .-'. KNOWLEDGE, AND MORE KNOWLEDGE The King, when reading his address, wore horn-rimmed-spectacles. In his strong voice, he agreed that the task undertaken by the Exhibition was too important to leave uncompleted when, at the close of the 1924 season, it became apparent that much useful work yet remained to be done. "The Council of the Exhibition.look a wise and patriotic step in deciding to keep in being for, another year what^you have rightly described as' a University of Empire. The British Empire depends for its security and .prosperity on goodwill . between its constituent peoples, and the one sure foundation for th.itgoodwill is a full knowledge of our mutual -aspiration's, capacities, and needs.-• To seek knowledge, move knowledge, and again mere knowledge of.the great heritage which has been entrusted lo ub in lho...£t:iii|-:Hcst ■Jnifiei.jii] tioljuy, J j'ccogmse tile. Bi'Wish Euiuire Esillji-

tlon as a successful instrument of that policy, and I trust that its achievements in 1925 will equal, if they do not surpass, those of 1924. . . . I trust that when in November this Exhibition closes, it will have completed the work so well begun in 1924; and will nave shown to our peoples and to the world at large a picture of the British empire, intent on aims of peaceful reconstruction, and of careful development of its resources, earnestly seeking peace both at Home and abroad." THE KING'S SIGNAL _An Empire Collect was said by the Bwhop of, London, followed by the Lord s Prayer. The massed choirs then fang "Kg h t the Good Bight " Sir 1 ravers Clarke next steppld forward and saluted,; and the King, by pressing a button, gave; the signal for th e P formal opening of the Exhibition , Simultaneously the Dnioii Jack and the Dominion and Colonial-flags were mlal?- on"-U^Stedium walls oler the pakces and pavilions, and throughout owed 1'01'!^- 1 Sal? te of 2lguns folnJ;- ihe edl° of artillery had not died away when a squadron of salute.to the lung. Lady Anne Cavendish, daughter of the Duke of Devon-' ofesr"^ to the Queen ab-^ The massed bands played a slow and a ..quick- troop,; and of all the evolutions o f ■troops,. ; pn parade, that counter march: •drl«^ % Gu?^ S) ln lines ' Perfectly jessed, and ;with a sense of time and balance superbly acute, is still surel y cSd VSin° ;Se°- Kw-^eredand The gathering was made to repi'esent stationed, to the south; and "on the oute r _ nan k s of both stood, nurses from the Eegular and Territorial Armies of° yY o >r R? yal Hos Pital a»d Duke from Phi.l P &C]T iS '' s<=arlet-^d veterans ■trom Chelsea,^Army, nurses, Boy Scouts Sea Scouts, Girl Guides. Tow,7fc close there' came a procession of men o? tl7e°T.- hat f tre# ed ir™ one-^nd: of the Stadmm to the other. We see these people every..day.of the week, and scarcely spare. them '■ a thought. Ph" t ■came the policemen, mountedandafoot-Kre'-Sd?^- "le" S f Lo»d ™> Order nf qt' Teu m<2n £ and women of «>e Sfh^C^So^yT^olS ;ways, the General Post Office, and the" I idress contrasted oddly, but "hey °^l ■^..al.who saw them.that, if the Em|;pire Jias been won and must be defendcan only be ke P t 6lby ; 7 A.GRACEFUL ACT ;_ Finally occurred one of tlioiA littlo :;jnc l denls^hich make all the duference : between complete, success anf E om e -thing >i just,alittle'short,of it A?the :;;gSS&g,£,S^LSS tLnl. ff^ Pei^ ted ""til the -last „ trooper of ..the -glittering escort-had L^the oT :Sight-- ;The?«n came out as.tne Older was g,v en , and the King .and. Queen, drove away amid cheers ]^A 6 ■mgh for' New Zea^ W^asnot^resent, being on his way a?id 9fL P rbl?t Lady Allen was there, and,a. great concourse of New Zealand ers over |00 of-whom obSLetSr quently entertained som e yfriends to luncheon at .the New Zealand Pavilion her guests consist ng chiefly of members of her^working "bee,? accompanied by their ly. ...Boberts, } M rs ., M'Naughtan Christie, Dr. Chnstu^, M ss D; Christie, Miss Pernn Mrs. W. H. Cruickshank, Mrs. H H. B v; Diw..Mr. Drew, Mrs B. Myers Colonel Myers Mrs. H. L. Friend^Mr' Friend Mrs Low, Dr. Low, Mrs. Sale: J- Sale, Miss Lola Myers, Mis, 0 Brien Miss N. Bloxham, Mrs. C J Wray, Mr.. Wray, Miss Stella MuiTay. MILLIONS OF LISTENERS IN ■ : MANY LANDS trhe.transmission of the opening cerely. heard and shortly : after the coriclusion of tho proceedings in the Stadium reports were received in London from many parts;of tho British Isles showing that-the^transmission had been highly successful. _In addition to the million? of isteners m Great Britain there were millions on ths Continent who heard the King s speech,, which was picked up and rebroadcasted from stations in different parts' of .Europe. _ The success achieved was largely dua to the close co-operation between the staff ot the' Broadcasting Company, who worked finder tho supervision of Ca.ptaiu Jickersloy,, the chief engineer, and the Post Office, Four lines connected the station of, the company at Savoy Hill Jxmdon, with the kiosk in the Exhibition grounds, which, linked with the mckmg-up posts used at different times for transmitting the ceremony, -was the clearing-house for all that occurred in' the Stadium. The control room at Savoy Hill is the meeting 1 point for all trans-mitting-wires, and this centre was connected by land lines to all the British broadcasting stations—to that in Oxford street for the purpose of transmission in the London area, and to the hiEhpower station at Chelmsford for givin" the ceremony the widest broadcast range! Twenty trunk lines.were handed over to tho use of tho Broadcasting Company, and at different points throughout the British Isles a close observation was maintained by officials of the Post Office in order to ensure an uninterrupted transmission. . THE PRINCE'S'MESSAGE The Prince of Wales, president of the Fellowship of the British Empire Ex-! hibilion, telegraphed from South Africa to the chairman of the Fellowship of the British Empire .Exhibition, Sir Henry M'Mahon, as follows: "1 trust that, tho Fellowship of the British Empire Exhibition, with its associate branch, will work to enlist all Empire enthusiasts to help tho season of tho Exhibition which opens to-day.—Edward P." THE GARDEN CLUB Those who possess tho Badge of the Fellowship are privileged, for an additional guinea, to become members of the Garden Club, which is one of the notable Features' of the Exhibition. Its decoralUriif <jr«.wtivtli s;oii->s o, long v«y In pc ' e . AUe cl«y «wsjst.s.o( » sjiaqigus yesUm:-,

ant, a series of private rooms which may be booked for luncheon and dinner parties, smoking rooms, reading rooms, ladies' rooms, etc. Dancing will be a special feature of the club, and will take place every afternoon and evening to the strains of the Midnight Follies Orchestra. On special occasions throughout the season there will be gala nights associated with the various Dominions and colonies in turn, and a number of ( house luncheons and dinners will provide the opportunity for distinguished guests to speak upon matters of Imperial and general) importance. In short, the club is to be the social centre of this year's Exhibition, as well as a delightful rendezvous on the lines of the most famous West End clubs. A WONDERFUL UNITY—A NOBLE TASK "It-is early yet for results to reveal themselves," says the "Daily Telegraph," "but no one can doubt that the Wembley Exhibition will be found to have inspired thousands of future emigrants with the first idea of pushing their fortunes overseas. If that be not so, then the character of the -British youth has changed from what itmsed to be, and the new education, instead cf stimulating, youthful ambition, must have deadened it and taught it to play for inglorious safety in sheltered conditions. We have-no such fears, however, and we hope that whatever policy is adopted for attracting visitors to Wembley this-year, that of drawing the school children will be continued, for it is they who have most to gain by what Wembley can teach them. As for the ' older visitors, what they will get at Wembley, if they go there with receptive minds, is understanding—political understanding above all. , .-' "We cannot conceive of anyone leaving Wembley without realising that the British Empire is a wonderful unity, and that its people'who speak his language are his own kith and kin. Nor can he believe that Imperialism is the hateful thing some people would persuade him it is when he enters,' say, the Indian pavilion,, or sees the 1 strange craftsmanship of men of different faith and colour who are! loyal, to the same flag as him--self. Still less, we should say, is he moved to lust of martial conquest by enjoying the stirring military displays in the Stadium which seem to . have disturbed so strangely the Socialist critics of the Exhibition in the House of Coin-' mons. Wembley will give us this year, as last, what the King well described as 'a picture of the British Empire, intent, on aims of peaceful,reconstruction and of careful development of its resources, earnestly seeking peace both at home and abroad.' That' is its loftiest purpose. Its other purpose is to provide a happy pleasure ground -for sightseeing and amusement. Wo hope that it will succeed in both capacities and realise to the full-the hopes of all who have devoted their best;energies to a.noble task. . "In the Empire^the' visible symbol, of the unity on which its corporate strength and life—arid: the; strength. and' life of each of its' constituent parts—is the Throne: In the self-governing Dominions, in India, in.the .Crown colonies and protectorates, and in the wholo widespread family 1 of the British nations, Parliaments; and Legislative Assemblies, and' Executive; Councils and the peoples ■and parties whom they.represent, though they may not always see eye to eye-with each other and the Mother Country,, all look, to-the King as:their official chief and the constitutional representative and guarantee of. their";, common liberties. Because of what-lie'represents—'the. will of the free peoples that are the real power behind the" Throne—it is the Sovereign, more .than any other agency, and in. a sense impossible for any other individual, who brings- and binds them together. ■' Historically it. is peculiarly appropriate that the Empire Exhibition should be ; held in the reign of King George. -Together with his : eldest''son and' heir, who is now winning all hearts, irrespective of party and racial origin, in the-TJriidn".-of South Africa, he has laboured far more strenuously than any of his predecessors dii the Throne to learn' for ;himself the conditions and aspirations of .his subjects beyond the seas,' and incidentally to bring about a closor mutual understanding between them and each other and the people of' this county; ■■ '■:■:. -,- •. ._'•■-■ -'■, ;.. ;. ..-.. .. : . ,- "The Exhibition is at once the outcome,, the ■'■ concrete expression, ■ and the greatest possible stimulus of that mutual understanding. Those who visited it last year were in a position to gather a far - : more; comprehensive, idea of what the Empire is and may become than could have been conveyed to them by any other means. In its palaces and pavilions the natural riches of those faroff lands, the countless products of the energy, and skill and initiative of our brothers overseas, were presented in tangible form, to be seen and admired and compared 'with; the fruits of our own home industries. . From. it a .large proportion of the inhabitants of this narrow and crowded island, and thousands of those whose pioneer fathers fought for generations with the forces-of Mature to win a hard living from the boundless spaces^ of prairie- and forest and veldttook^ back .to their, homes at least a beginning of the knowledge of itheir common heritage and.of its'possibilities."