PIONEER CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 31, 5 August 1936, Page 17

PIONEER CLUB

CHEERFUL 'CELEBRATION

There, is always a very bright and cheery atmosphere -about the "birthday" celebrations at the Pioneer Club, and last evening the 27th anniver^ry was one of-the,pleasantest yet held. , The garden circle had arranged the entrance, hall and rooms charmingly w^th flowers ,and greenery, carpets being laid, on {he landing and tables wrth- Jmany' flbrightly'-tinted flowers, making a welcome at the outset of the party. _ Within doors, there were many glowing'hgaTjsrSjarTdi the members of ViS»-?? rde?'- .circle had excelled themseive^m their artistic arrangement of groups of flax, autumn foliage in red A&d.brcjrojin-fs^and. wide tropicallooking leaves. The mantelpiece had large' bowl££&£«lemon, and, orange poppies, arid round the room were many.-moreawith, poppies' ■■and also 'Ipng-swmm^ftyellaw' narcissi. Smaller vases; of dwy spring1- flowers were" alsolj-'used, effi^tivelyl fMuch aflnt|rMoii_was given to the nand-decotated programmes, some with quaint' and dainty • figures, etc., which .were,,, the work of Mrs. Fink, .while others * excellently done in illuminated, style-were the work of Miss1 Jourdain. and' other members'' of the art and craft circle.. The programmes set forth the' entertainment promised,' which included some glees (sung -by the musical circle), a play (by the drama circle) entitled "Sanc-tuary,"-a play founded on facts by Phoebe M. Rees, trios.(sung by Mesdames J. E. Ramsay, P. J. Townley, and Miss Nora Gray), piano solo (by Mrs. Hamilton Dixon), "songs (by Mrs. Anna Ginn), and songs in costume' (by Miss Helen Gardner). An amusing competition on the \names of magazines was won by Miss Turner. This wag arranged by the E.O.W. circle.

. When supper time came a great deal of admiration was given to the'birthday ,cake, which .had been decorated in Chhiese fashion, -inspired by the recent pjay-readihg, "Lady Precious Stream.", It.was a four-tier white-iced cake, WithY lozenges in Chinese" red centred with silver, and a good imitatioij of Chinese' writing around the sides in jade* grsen. .There was a little pagoda at the top, surrounded with 27 candles. The supper/ which was served I from trolleys, was, as usual with the club, delicious with sweets and 1 savouries.

Much- pleasure was felt at the presence of her Excellency Lady Galway, who was accompanied by Mrs. Purvis., Her Excellency wore a black sating frock, and her ornaments were ropes of pearls, and her long black satin coat ~wats t trimmed with monkey fur. Mrs.' Purvis -also wore a black frock and coat; -Charming bouquets of flowers were presented to them; also to Miss Amy Kane from the garden circle • ' '

Miss Kane, who was in. a handsome frock of shot black --and purple ring velvet, her- wrap being a scarf of striped Damascus' silk, welcomed her Excellency, and expressed the pleasure all felt at her having honoured their club birthday party. She explained that the programme consisted of items given by members of the various circles. It always gave great pleasure to 'members to prepare for the party, and the work of doing programmes and arranging flowers was part of the enjoyment. Mrs. C. J. B. Norwood (president of the Lyceum Club) was also welcomed, and Miss Kane voiced the regret felt'that Lady Elliott' (president of the Women's Club) had been unable to be present.

Lady Galway expressed her pleasure at being,able to pay a second visit to the Pioneer Club, and specially on an interesting occasion-like the celebration of: a birthday. She cordially thanked the. president and members for their kind, welcome. • '

After supper had taken place, with much cheerful conversation, there was some community singing, bringing to a close a very happy celebration.

Captain Emil Hugo Oscar Robert Ropnor, who married in 1913 Miss Lilian Rochfort Snow, daughter-of Colonel Rochfort Snow, of Christchurch, has succeeded his uncle, the late Sir John Henry Ropner, as third baronet. Sir John, who was 73 years of age,' died on July 13 at Hutton Rudby, Stockton-on-Tecs. - He was senior partner in Sir R. Ropner and Co., Ltd., -West Hartlcpool, managers of the Pool Shipping Co., Ltd., and the Ropner Shipping Co., Ltd. The new