Closing of Wembley

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 277, 3 November 1924, Page 5

Closing of Wembley

Great Exhibition Over SIGNAL SERVICE TO THE EMPIRE. PRINCE OF WALES’S SPEECH By Cable— Preus Association—Qapyrtffh (Received 3, 10-20 a.m.) London, Nov. 2. Fifty thousand people were present at the Wembley stadium, which was a quagmire. Torrential rain fell throughout th© ceremony which wa a preceded by an hour of military music by the massed pipes and drums of the Irish and Scots Guards, who at first marched on the running track while workmen dug the ground with forks, in an effort to drain the pools of water. The massed, bands oS the Guards played, selections,, after which the Prince of Wales, in a speech, said that the Exhibition. pad been of signal service to the Empire, enabling a more sympathetic and reciprocal understanding between those living in the homeland and those overseas. The attendance had been 18,000,000 of which 5,000,000 were children. He concluded by saying that he understood negotiations with a view to reopening the Exhibition were now proceeding The Bishop of Willesden led the jrayer and the audience sang “OK God )ur Help in Ages Past.” The massed bands then sounded the “Retreat.” The flags of Britain and the Dominions and colonies, which throughout the Exhibition were prominent at the summit of the Stadium walls, were struck. The crowd sang “Auld Lang Syne” arul the “National Anthem.” The Prince of Wales then departed, encircling the Stadium amid a continuous roar of cheers.—(Reuter). THE CLOSING SCENES. (Received 3, 10.55 a.m.) London, Nov. 2. Wembley, presented a strange scene last night. Innumerable auctions attracted eager buyers, but many stalls and the kiosk had already been dismantled. This, combined with the bad weather, gave the exhibition a forlorn appearance. A great fireworks display, had to be abandoned.—(A. and N.Z.)