SEEING ENGLAND

Evening Star, Issue 22086, 20 July 1935, Page 25

SEEING ENGLAND

A tribute to the facilities offered to visitors to- England from this dominion by New Zealand House and the Victoria League is given by Miss Edna Reid, in a letter to her grandparents, Mr and Mrs H. W. Reid, of Peel street, Mornington. She thus describes a days outing:— Left here after breakfast and caught the 10 o’clock train from Paddington —in a special carriage for the Victoria League people. There were about 26 of ns. It was a cold morning and it rained long before we, got to Leamington Spa. Captain Little met us and a bus took us to Warwick Castle, where we looked round. Then we drove to Captain Little’s home, some miles out, a place called Newbold Pacey, a farm. Ho was A.D.C. to Sir Charles Fergusson, so knows New Zealand. He is at present living in a lovely old farm house, beautiful inside, shut ho is soon shifting to the big house where we went later. His mother and sister were there, and also Mr Eric Maxon, one of the Shakespearean actors, who had also been to New Zealand. There were huge log fires, and we all got warmed up, then got back into the bus and went along to the. big house and saw the wonderful gardens and greenhouses, even a Kowhai growing there. From there we drove to Chercott Park, the beautiful estate of Sir Henry and Lady Fairfax Lucy. The house was built iu. the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and is built to form an E. There is a lovely drive leading to the lodge then the house further on. They have Portuguese sheep there, strange looking animals, brown and white markings, and ever so many red and fallow deer, all playing round with the sheep, quite tame. We were taken round the grounds and then into the house, which has tremendous rooms. Sir Henry showed us round, and it was veil worth seeing, the walls are hung with paintings of all their family for generations back, and the most marvellous furniture. The dining room, with huge windows, looks out across lovely beds of tulips and wallflowers,. ancl over miles of marvellous country with lovely trees, chestnuts (pink and white), and May blossom all at'its best.

It was quite fine while we were there, but by the time we got along to Strat-ford-on-Avon, it was raining. We were met at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre by Lady Flower, who took us over the theatre. It is rather an ugly building from the outside, but great inside. We saw all behind the scenes, and sat in the best seats, etc.. The seats are all of rubber, and simply wonderful to sit in. There are no pillars in the theatre, it has a patent roof. The Prince of Wales was there on the opening night, about three years ago. Last year they cleared £4,000 profits-. From there we went to Lady Flower’s magnificent home. I think it is the most beautiful home I have ever seen. The house is perfect, and the view takes one’s breath away. The grounds are beyond description. After tea Lady Flower handed round a huge box of chocolates (the best brand in the world, somebody, said), which had been given to her by the Rumanian Ambassador. We left there at 6 p.m., and drove out to see Ann Hathaway’s Cottage, exactly as it was when Will Shakespeare went there to “ court ” Ann. There is a man in charge and he showed us over. After that wo drove all around 'Warwick, and saw historic Keniworth Castle and other interesting features of the countryside.