LOWRY HUT IN EGYPT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 6 August 1941, Page 7

LOWRY HUT IN EGYPT

OFFICIALLY OPENED BY MRS FREYBERG SAl’EttljAltDlNt; UII.IAUl; OF TROOr.S 1 (From lilt- Official War Con r.spmulent with 11 ic N.Z.E.F. in the Middle Fast.) Cairo, July 1(5. With every unit in the N.Z.E.F. re- ■ presented, and before representatives of many branches of the British . Forces in the Middle East, the Lowry Hut was opened yesterday afternoon ibv Mrs Freyberg, wile of MajorGeneral Freyberg. The institute, which will servo as a social and recreational hut for members <>f the N.Z.E.F.. has been made possible by the generosity of Mr and Mrs T. C'. Lowry, Hawkes Bay. through thendonation of a »: 10.000 fund. The Lowry Hut, which is situated on a prominent hill overlooking a great portion of the New Zealand base camp, is a development of the mobile tea van. which was operated by Mrs A. P. F. Chapman, in England. Mrs Chapman, who is a daughter of Mr and Air:- Lowry, has. with the co-operation of the Y.M.C.A.. attended to the establishment of the Lowry Hut in Egypt, and the institution will operate under t he* auspices of the Y.M.C.A. and Mrs Chapman. The importance of the occasion was . marked by the presence of Lieut.- ■ General Sir James Marshall Cornwall, G.O.C. British Forces in Egypt, representatives of various branches of the British Forces in the Middle East, and the diplomatic services. Nearly every senior officer of the New Zealand Force was present, and the assemblage also included a repre- • sentative gathering of padres, inI eluding the Rt. Rev. G. Y\ Gerard, senior chaplain with the N.Z.E.F. In introducing Mrs Chapman, Mr H. W. Shove. Y.M.C.A. Commissioner with the N.Z.E.F.. said that ever since : the Lowry family had made the magnificent gift, the Y.M.C.A. had been i anxious to make the fullest use of ; it. The troops had benefited by the tea van in England, and there was also the Lowry Lounge in Cairo. “Now we have this hut, and 1 am sure it will become a real home for the men of. the base camp.” said Mr Shove. “On behalf of the Y.M.C.A. I appreciate very much the trust that i has been placed in us by Air and Mrs Lowry. I feel sure that with the wise and friendly guidance of Mrs Chapman this hut will be a friendly place.” GENERAL FREYBERG S INTEREST General Freyberg had taken a special interest in the hut, added Mr Shove, and it was due to his kindly interest that the many difficulties . had been surmounted. It was another example of his genuine interest in the welfare of the troops. “In accepting this centre on behalf of you all, I wish to thank Air and Mrs Lowry for this magnificent gift,” , said General Freyberg. “We are for- ; tunate in having a representative of ! the Lowry family in Mrs Chapman. Some of us remember her driving that tea van in Sussex and Surrey. On behalf of the second echelon I thank Mrs Chapman for all she did for the ■ comfort oi' the troops in those difficult days.” The gift of £IO.OOO by Mr and Mrs Lowry was only history repeating itself, he added. Some of those present would remember what a boon the Lowry Hut established at Etaples was during the last war. In welcoming the visitors, General Freyberg made particular reference to the presence of Lieut.-General Sir James Marshall Cornwall. He also took the opportunity of thanking the ladies of Maadi whose work for the welfare of the troops in maintaining the Maadi tent could not be described in sufficiently glowing terms. “I also wish to express pleasure at seeing Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. F. Waite at this function,” added the general. “He is the Patriotic Funds Commissioner here, and I do not think we give as much thanks for the patriotic funds as we should. It is formed from a very large sum i subscribed by the generosity of the people of New Zealand.” Mrs Chapman said she wished her ; parents could have attended so large a gathering at the opening ceremony. She hoped the hut would always be nearly as full. Tf so it seemed that another hut would be necessary. In declaring the hut. officially opened Airs Freyberg said she looked np--lon it as a great privilege to be invited to perform the ceremony. The oeople of New Zealand would be very happy and satisfied if they could only see for themselves how the welfare of the troops was being safeguarded in this hut. After referring to the great generosity which made the gift possible. Mrs Freyberg paid a tribute to the work of the Y.M.C.A., whose organisation had participated in the shaping of the plans. Furthermore, the imagination. energy and good taste of Mrs Chapman had combined to make the hut a delightful centre. The building was then dedicated ( by Bishop Goran!.