FOOTBALL AND SONG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19657, 8 June 1927, Page 13

FOOTBALL AND SONG.

CUP TIE FINAL SC©fE. GREAT WAVES OF HARMONY, THE KING AND HIS PEOPLE. SINGING OF FAVOURITE HYMN, [from otrp. own correspondent, f]

LONDON. May 4. A memorable scene, that will live long in the memories of the large crowd of nearly a hundred thousand people present, was enacted at the Football's Association's cup tie final match, played at the Wembley Stadium. The community singing, in which the King participated, revealed f a remarkable outburst of emotion.

The first thing that caught the eye was the brilliant red of the uniforms of the massed bands of the Irish and Grenadier Guards standing out against a magnificently green stage, but assuredly the next thing was the strange spectacle of a white figure, plump but athletic, vigorously waving his arms about, on a movable, blackpainted platform. The whiteness of the figure and the blackness of the platform somehow suggested a scaffold and an execution, but that morbid thought was soon dissipated when the strains of the "Froth Blowers' Anthem" began to rend the air, and it was realised that this platform was the perch of a super-conductor, gymnastically as well as musically trained. Mr. T. P. Ratcliff, in fact, was $ former physical training instructor, and it was his knowledge of the well-swung arm, not too easily tired, quite as much as his sense of beat and time, that lured on the crowd to unbead-of vocal triumphs. The echo of the s'tadium, perhaps, helped the singers and their conductor to extract a out of the word "hallelujah** that would have been terrifying in an enclosed space. The King, standing in the Royal box, joined in the singing. Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, a. few seats behind, lifted up their voices and added to the great volume of majestic sound. Mr. Lloyd George, with whom hymn singing is a passion, revelled in the music. Mr. J. H. Thomas and Lord Derby sang. So did all tha chiefs of the Football Association. So did every person gathered in the vast Empire stadii/m. "Abide With Me." It was by the King's wish that "Abide With Me" was sung by the crowd. Ha had heard that, as tha community singing movement progressed, two football crowds had chanted the hymn. It was a favourite of his own. The King asked, therefore, that "Abide With Me" should be selected from the song-sheet, and- also "Land of My Fathers," this as a compliment to the Wales which he had just visited. The Welsh had beautiful voices. He wanted to hear.

The community singing had continued for an hour when the King arrived. Led by Mr. Ratcliff, the crowd had packed up, their troubles in "their old kit bags, 1 ' been a long way to "Tipperary," and kenned "John.Peel" and his coat so gay.' They had been with their true loves on the "bonnie banks Lomond." Then "John Brown*'? body had lain amould'ring in the grave." "The crowd was slower to start than usual," said Mr. Ratcliff. "The space was too vast, I.suppose. .When they gofc going, though .... I have never heard such singing! I was very nervous before it began. I had to stand np all alone on a high platform, and face nearly 100,000 people. For all I knew they would resent my" interference and chant, 'Sit down, sit down.' I soon got over that. They cheered! Community singing, it was soon obvious, had swept tha country." New Experience for the. King. For a few minutes the singing stopped while the King took his place. Ihsn even the National Anthem was sung with greater fervour than usual. The singing had loosened the throats, got the keys right, stopped all the bashfnlness. When "God Save the King" had been broadcast from 100,000 throats Mr. Ratcliff returned to his stand. "Good old Ratcliff!" was the shout that went up. The all knew him now.

Then, in the presence of their King, the crowd sang "Pack Up Your Troubles" again and repeated "Tipperary." Tha King looked on, wonderingly. Great spectacles are common in his life. Cheers and multitudes fellow him everywhere. Vast orchestras have played at his bidding; noble organs have thundered out their harmonies at the moving ceremonies of which he has been'the centre.

This was a new experience—chorussinging for which there had been no rehearsal, which sprang naturally from a nation's love of song. Then came an experience that, as the King said after* wards, will linger for long in his memory —a hymn at a football match. The crowd stood up and with bare heads- sang "Abide With Me."