WEDDING FACTOTUM

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 July 1933, Page 8

WEDDING FACTOTUM

ASSISTED AT 15,000 CEREMONIES. Attended or supervised 15,000 wedding breakfasts, and never' yet been late, are two of the records claimed by Mr. John Carter Penny, who for 50 years has been master of wedding ceremonies at a London hotel. And this is another record. In his 50 years he has never had a bank holiday, Good Friday, Christmas Day, or a Sunday “off duty.” Surrounded almost by churches, the hotel in which, he works has become famous for its wedding breakfasts and receptions. “During the ‘rush’ seasons I have superintended as many as four ceremonies in one day,” said Mr. Penny. “Wedding breakfasts are now very simple affairs compared with those of -10 years ago. “In those days the ‘breakfast’ was a ‘full blown’ dinner. A moderate menu would include soup, fish, joint partridge, and the choice of several sweet dishes.

“To-day a. sandwich and a glass of champagne seems to satisfy.” Ono of Mr. Penny’s diverse duties is that of acting as toast master. For the assistance of bridegrooms who are at a loss to find appropriate words to reply to the various toasts he sets suitable speeches. On handing the bridegroom one of these he tells him to emphasise the word “wife” because, being the first time he is able to make use of the word, it always “goes down well.” On receiving these instructions one bridegroom blushed furiously and caught Mr. Peny by the arm. “Here, hold hard, Major!” he whispered hoarsely, “this is number two!”