PRINCE OF WALES

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 February 1927, Page 12

PRINCE OF WALES

TOC H CELEBRATIONS.

Cheered by crowds of thousands, the Prince of Wales paid a “private” visit to Manchester to take part in the birthday celebrations of the Toe H. movement. The secret of his station of arrival had been kept very well. A blue light on the pilot-car was the only indication to the people in the city that, the Prince was driving through the streets. Amid ringing cheers from many thousands of people who had waited from an early hour in the afternoon in the avenue of Victoria Park, his Royal Highness reached the Toe H premises ten minutes behind scheduled time. He was conducted into the dining room to witness the unveiling of a memorial to the fallen of the 42nd Division (East Lancaashire Territorials) by Major-General A. S. Flood.

In the darkened room the Prince lighted the “Lamp of Remembrance” with a taper, and recited a short prayer to the memory of the “Old Brigade.” After admiring the unveiled memorial, the Prince chatted with many of the ex-soldiers who formed the greater part of the pai'ticipants in the ceremony. He singled out several who were still in hospital blue, some with crutches and others with bandaged limbs, and shook hands with them.

Corporal G. R. Flynn said afterwards that the Prince had remembered him after four years. “He last saw-vine playing in an army football match at Liverpool,” said Corporal Flynn. “He said to me: “I’ve seen you before, haven’t I?’ and I explained the circumstances. He’s a fine chap.” When the Prince went out to his motor-car the crowd, which had waited, cheered heartily, and the Prince acknowledged their welcome. The “privacy” of the visit was such that all along the route to the cathedral there were crowds of men, women and girls, who had to be content with the merest fleeting glimpse of the prince. For hours a crowd had waited at the cathedral, and thousands joined in the cheering as he entered by the main door.

Taking his place behind > the Dean of Manchester, the Prince walked slowly up the aisle. He was in the uniform of Toe H—a blue blazer and flannel trousers —over which he wore a grey overcoat. When he had taken his seat to the right- of the lectern, the quaintest service that has ever been held in the Manchester Cathedral commenced. It was arranged in the manner and largely in the words of John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress,” and two dozen people took part. Following the Birthday Hymn, in which over 2500 joined, came the Colloquy, which was opened by the evangelist, the Manchester padre. The congregation joined in the general responses. To the uninitiated it seemed strange to hear first one voice speak a few lines, then the congregation’s response, and then another voice. After the service the Prince drove to the Town Hall, where he presented his boxing shield to the Ist Manchester Cadet Battalion of the Jewish Lads’ Brigade. He then dined in private with the Lord Mayor Aiderman Swales. The Prince was given a tremendous reception at the Free Trade Hall, by a huge gathering of Toe H members from all over the world. While awaiting the Prince the great gathering sang songs and shouted greetings to one another. It was a scene of extraordinary enthusiasm —a gala gathering of war-time comrades. Before the masque “The Light of the Lamp” opened the Prince expressed his happiness at attending yet another “Bitrhday festival.” ‘Un choosing Manchester for our first venture outside London I do not think we have gone far wrong,” he said. ‘*We are testing the truth of the saying, ‘What Lancashire thinks to-day England will think to-morrow.’ We are experiencing a welcome from the Lord Mayor of this great bity which will be gratefully remembered wherever Toe H is known throughout the Empire.” The prince detailed the growth of the Toe H movement in Australia, New’ Zealand, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, and the United States, Philadelphia being one of the young branches.

“In that remarkable state paper, the Balfour Report, which places our Imperial relations for all the world to see. “we find it expressly stated that all are equal members under the Crown as the fundamental basis of our common heritage. “It should be the same with Toe H. We believe in service, and the duties of service. Our service is a common heritage.” '