ALDERSHOT TATTOO

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 22, 26 July 1933, Page 8

ALDERSHOT TATTOO

ATTENDANCES A-BECOED

THE CONCLUDING NIGHT

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, June 23.

The splendid natural arena of Kushnioor Common, Aldershot, where the Military. Tattoo annually' takes place, has been the Mecca of more enthusiastic .Tattoo-lovers than ever this year. The stand accommodation and th'o other seats have a capacity for 82,000 people. On the last night of tho Tattoo ' there was not a. seat unoccupied. All "previous attendance records for tho entire presentation have been beaten. The six evening performances and two dress rehearsals were seen by 424,000 people, an increase of 21,000 over last year and of 102,000 over 1931. These remarkable figures suggest that the growth in popularity of the Tattoo has still to reach its highest point. Cars parked totalled 52,000. For the last, night, forty special trains brought crowds from far and wide. Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol, Plymouth, Deal, Cambridge, Beading, Brighton, and London sent many "specials." The community singing for an hour beforehand is tremendously popular, and imparts a great advance feeling of camaraderie. Mr. T. P. Rateliff,. the conductor, had a choir of 70,000 on the last evening. The Tattoo provided many striking effects, , but none were more, beautiful than the well-carried-out torchlight display, with the formation of tho Union Jack as the finale of this section. There cannot be too many torchlight effects to please the people. The music throughout each evening by the massed bands of the Guards was superb. And no more effective setting for the conclusion could have been devised than the singing of "Abide with Me," with the illuminated Cross of St. George appearing as from the sky. The highest artistry characterised the entire pro. duction, and the lighting effects could not have been improved upon. In, this regard there were numerous new and 'striking results. On tho concluding night the Salute was taken from the Royal Box by General Sir Charles Harington, General Officer Couimanding-in-Chief, Aidershot Command, Governor-designate of Gibraltar. Sir Charles and Lady Harington entertained a part}-, and Lord and Lady Hailsham were host and hostess in the Army Council box, the guests including the Japanese 'Ambassador, the Prime Minister of New Zealand and Mrs. Forbes, Mr. and Mrs. "Walter Eunciman, Mr; and Mrs. S. M. Bruce, Sir Philip and Lady Cimliffo-Listcr, Sir Bolton and Lady Eyres-Monscll, Lord and Lady Londonderry, Lord and Lady Moyne, Brigadier-General Lord Lucan and Lady Lucan, and Sir Thomas and Lady Augusta Inskip. General Sir Leslie Bundle, who commanded a brigade at Omdurman, was present to see the Aldershot representation of the buttle.

Service Charities should benefit as the result of the big attendances at Kushmoor.

The entire arrangements reflect tho greatest credit on all concerned, everything being made as easy as possible for the visitors ■whether they travelled by road or by rail.