"DECOR" IN LONDON

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 142, 17 June 1937, Page 19

"DECOR" IN LONDON

EXPENSIVE AND GRAND

Writing to a friend in Wellington Mrs. C. Tally remarks that part of the glory of the decorations' in London was iiie colouring. A number of firms must have spent hundreds of pounds in flowers alone for Coronation Day. Oxford Street was just like a wonderful flower show.from end to end, and Regent Street likewise. They all felt the bus strike terribly as they were prevented from going far from their "diggings" to see many delightful decorations in other parts of the big old town. She was fortunate in being only a few minutes from tube and Metro., yet had to join in queues for tickets, and then get into a pack of people which became worse at every stop. This, says the-writer, crippled everything a great deal, and probably meant a loss to the suburbs, where thousands would have gone to see the decorations had they been sure of

being able to get back. They did not j miss the buses in streets like Oxford Street as many more coaches were put on, and 40,000 more motors were "let loose." ,"I can tell you," says the writer, "you have to have your eyes all round you even walking on the palhsi and are lucky if you don't get a ladder on your head or rope round your neck, for thousands of men are working everywhere on decorations — there is something fresh and beautiful every day. When it is all lit up at night it is just glorious, like fairyland; Everything is to be left till May 26, so we are hoping to see a great deal later on. If you were put down opposite S.s you would say you were looking at a magnificent Russian palace. They have spent £25,000 on the place, and there are men working day and night. Pictures as big as a huge wall are there, first modelled in plaster and then silvered over, designed by good and well-known artists with figures more than life-size. Some of the subjects are "The Empire's Homage to the Throne" "Drake and the Armada" "Oliver Cromwell" "Britons Under Roman Rule" "King Arthur's Round Table" "Vikings Raiding the Coast" "William the Conqueror" "John Signs Magna Carta" "The First Prince of Wales" "The Wars of the Roses" "Merchant Adventurers" "Clive in India"

"Wolfe Captures Quebec" "Nelson at Trafalgar" "Wellington at Waterloo" "Cecil Rhodes in South Africa" "Armistice Day," and some groups of the Empire countries which are huge in size and magnificently designed.

"If you could only see Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. They just look like fields of mushrooms with the bell-tents, and 16,000 people are camped there, but only children are allowed in Kensington Garden part. The park seats go from. Marble Arch to Piccadilly all covered in red, white, and blue bunting.

"We had an awful 'to-do' getting back from Oxford Street—all tube gates locked at Marble Arch on account of the terrific jam of people there. We had to go back to Hyde Park entrance and file in rows of two nearly a mile long before we could get our tickets."

Mrs. Tully had met a number of New Zealanders in spite of the crush. She had been to see Mr. Justice and Mrs. Blair, who were enjoying their holiday very much, and were overwhelmed with invitations. Mr. and Mrs. John Hutton (their son-in-law and daughter) were moving to a charming new flat at Richmond, opposite the beautiful public park and near the river.

■ Mrs. Sheridan, formerly of Wellington, was Mrs. Tully's companion in her struggles about London during the exciting time, and although it was strenuous they had an immense deal of fun out of the crowds and various happenings. There was a wonderful freedom from accidents.