PLUNKET TRAGEDY

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 70, 24 March 1938, Page 11

PLUNKET TRAGEDY

.CRASH OF AIR LINER

GREAT SOCIAL LOSS

TWO HAPPY, USEFUL LIVES

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON> March 2.

London society has been deeply shocked by the tragic death in an air crash in California of Lord and Lady Plunket Lord Plunket, son of the fifth Baron Plunket, bears a name both famous and beloved in New Zealand. The marriage of his sister, formerly the Hon. Helen Plunket, to Captain Tahu Rhodes, of Christchurch, strengthened the link with the Dominion, and Lady Plunket's devoted and constant interest in Sir Truby King's Mothercraft Training Society made another bond between New Zealand and this popular young couple. Lord and Lady Plunket sailed for the U.S.A. in the Nornymdie three weeks ago to spend the remainder of the winter at Los Angeles. . "Wrapped up as they were in their ' family, their plans provided for their return in time for the children's Easter holiday," Captain Tahu Ehodes ex- ! plained. "They were frequent .visitors ■ to Hollywood, where they had a number of friends among the film stars, ; Both were enthusiastic about flying, and invariably crossed" America on '. their way to Los Angeles by plane. ' Lady Plunket was an .. experienced pilot," he added. Lord Plunket succeeded to the title on the death of his father in 1920. He 1 was educated at Wellington College and the Royal Military College, and served in France and Belgium during 1 the Great War. He was a noted artist ; and portrait painter, and'showed every 1 prospect of * reaching A.R.A. standard. ;He frequently exhibited at London galleries, and was deeply engrossed-in ! his work. Brilliant as his portraits ! were, they were in the opinion of his ; friends eclipsed by his caricatures, and few prominent figures in London- | society escaped the comment of his | pencil. THE PERFECT COMPLEMENT. ' Friends of Lord and Lady Plunket ■ say they provided the perfect complement of marriage. She had extraordinarily high spirits and a youth--1 ful outlook and enthusiasm. He was reserved and quiet, with a most attractive manner. - For many years -he suffered a great deal from ulcers in the ' stomach. He had to undergo two serious "operations, .diet strictly, and : live with the most rigid simplicity. : Lord Plunket was 39, his wife one year younger. • Lady Plunket was gifted in every sense. One of the most beautiful, and ; one of the richest women in England, she was also acknowledged to be the finest amateur dancer, a famous hostess, and "the best-dressed woman in society." Lord and Lady Plunket were close friends of various members of the Royal Family, including the King and Queen and the Duke of Windsor. The King is godfather to the youngest of their three sons. Lady Plunket.was the daughter of 1 Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lewis. Her father was a wealthy Trangyaal diamond magnate and mine owner, her mother Miss (Fanny Ward, the celebrated American stage and screen actress, from whom she inherited her beauty and charm. .At the age of 17 she married; Captain Jack Barnato, three years after he had first proposed- to her. A year later A ;She was :.a widow. Captain Barnato died in October, 1918,, from pneumonia, leaving her the bulk of his fortune, about £660.000. After her first husband's death, Lady ' Plunket developed a passion for speed. She learned to fly, and having done 40 hpurs' flying, was about to take out . her licence as a pilot when .the aeroplane in which her test was to be made crashed, killing all its occupants a few minutes before she was due to go up. Another of her enthusiasms was for prize fights, and she also became keen on motor-racing and skiing. A talented ballet, ballroom, and acrobatic dancer, she very often organised matinees and balls for charities and gave dancing' exhibitions. On one occasion Sir Julien Cahn promised £1000 to charity if she would give one single dance. '■ A TRAGIC PROPHECY. "The most important qualities in man —and the two I most admire—are loyalty and a real sense of humour," Lady Plunket once said.. "In my opinion they are of great importance as masculine attributes." . ■ Lady, Plunket- made a tragically , prophetic remark to a friend : on]y aj few months before her death. "It's •an. odd thing/that I always have the feel- , ing that I will die young," she said. "Life "so grand and I am; so happy j with my husband and my sons that I have a feeling it cannot last long. Such j perfect happiness is bound not to last." '. : . ■-•■■ -'■ i ' Congratulated once'upon her inexhaustible store of vitality, she said:: "The reason I never feel tired is because I enjoy life so much." ■ . ■ Three- sons ' are ■■ orphaned by 'the disaster. Patrick, aged' 14, the heir •to the title, was on' sick leave from Eton with a rriild attack of measles; Robin,: who isl2, is-at school atvßroadst'airs, and Shauri, aged only 7, is' at Lord I Plunket's town house. '

The nurse, who has, been with the family for 15 years, said today:- "We have always begged Lord and: Lady Plunket not to fly, but they were so keen on it. They were devoted parents, and the three children were devoted to therri." . :

Memorial services are being.held this week, both in London and in America. After cremation at Beverly Hills the ashes will be brought home, and the burial will be at Denham, Bucks. Friends wishing to send flowers have been invited instead to send donations to the children's nurse, "Nanny" James, These will be forwarded to the Mothercraft Training Society, in which Lord and Lady Plunket were interested.

"I am sure this is what Lady Plunket wbuld wish," said Mrs. James. "She has done a great deal for charities, particularly the Mothercraft Society. The trustees have entrusted the donations to me because I always helped her ladyship with her charities."

The double tragedy will probably raise an important legal maxim regarding the settlement of estates. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, Lord and Lady Plunket will be presumed to have died in order of seniority.