HAPPY CELEBRATION

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 74, 29 March 1932, Page 10

HAPPY CELEBRATION

LONDON SILVER WEDDING There was rather a wonderful celebration of a silver wedding at Australia House, states "The Post's" London representative, when the Eev. W. Pennington-Biekford and his wife were entertained by a great number of parishioners. They received gifts from many friends, the presentations being made by Lady Exeter. Between six and seven hundred people attended, inSlutoig Leß?§wntativea of many organ-

ised societies. The church is that of St. Clement Danes, well-known as a wonderful centre of kindness and charity for the London poor folk. The church has also a special interest for Australia and New Zealand people on account of the Anzae Day service, which is always an extremely fine one. Mrs. Pennington-Bickford wore the frock which she wore twenty-five years ago, and wedding favours were distributed to the guests. Some of these were the girl flower-sellers from Covent Garden, called "girls" by courtesy, as many are elderly women. One of them presented the bride of twenty-five years ago with a lovely posy of lillies of the valley. They call her '/Our Louis," and regard her with the greatest affection. Cheerful speeches were made by the Marquis of Exeter (in whose gift is the living of St. Clement Danes), churchwardens, and the bridegroom and the bride. A letter was mentioned as coming from New Zealand, in which the writer exprfessed his admiration of some of the hymns written by Mrs. Pennington-Bickford, who 5s a wellknown hymn -writer. Her father was a former Eector of St. Clement Danes, and many of the parishioners remember her as a small child. She is greatly loved by the people, and hundreds of mothers helped to organise the meeting, which wag kept a profound secret. During the> evening there was a programme of music, orchestral and vocal, and change hand-bell ringing. One of the vocalists was Miss Eunice Meredith, who is well-known in New Zealand. She has a very fine voice and takes solos at churches where oratorios are given. Mr. Pennington-Bickford heard her first at Toe H Church, whose padre is the well-known "Tubby" Clayton, and asked her to sing at St. Clement Danes, where she has been a soloist ever since. Lady Wilford was among thoso present at the celebration.