DASH FOR GRETNA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21165, 23 April 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

DASH FOR GRETNA.

BOY AND GIRL ROMANCE.

MUCH TOO YOUNG TO MARRY.

INTERCEPTED BY PARENTS. Mr. Cecil ITandbury, M.P. for North Dorset, was in the country on March 12 when ho heard that his son, Tom, aged 17just left Eton, and Miss Joan Eve, aged 16, daughter of the late Captain W. H. Eve, had gone to Gretna Green to be married. Hurriedly returning to London, Mr. Hanbury chartered an airplane which was waiting for him whon- he arrived at Croydon with Mrs. Hanbury. The parents sped toward Carlisle, but darkness necessitated a landing at Blackpool and the journey northward was continued by car.

Tho discovery that tho young couple had gone away was made by Mrs. Ilan-

bury from a noto left by her son. By that time the young people were at Gretna, where they .arrived by train at 7 a.m. After breakfasting at a boarding-house, thoy set out for the smithy, which was reached about nine. What happened there was described as follows by Mr. Rennison, the proprietor of the smithy. " I explained that they must have lived in Scotland for twenty-one days before I could marry them. They said they were determined to marry, but could not stop in Gretna, as they were befng chased; they would go to Glasgow and after twenty-one days they would bo married there. Later the police called and said that Mr. Hanbury was only 17£ years old, and that the marriage must not take place." The young people proceeded to Glasgow. Mr- and Mrs. Hanbury did not go to the smithy but they went on to Glasgow, where they met the runaways. The young couple appeared still to be very happy when after breakfast they left with Mr. and Mrs. Hanbury for London. In London Mrs. Hanbury said: "It was a piece of youthful folly, lliey are very young. That explains their actions. They were much too hasty. Wo have no real' objection to their getting engaged except their years. The two families arc

neighbours in the country, .'ind Miss Eve ami my son have known each other since they were children. I hope nothing will bo done which may interfere with tlm young people's happiness. JMiss Eve is with her mother and is going hack to the country. She is just under 17 years old and consequently we thought it a littlo young for her to marry. "We are much pleased with the young people's idea, hut, we thought it desirable to postpone matters. They are holli too young to marry. There is no question of their having been married. Wc hope to lie. able t<> give an announcement of their engagement shortly, hut it is for Miss Eve's mother to decide." Miss Joan Eve and Mr. Tom Hanlmry are both well-known in the hunting licld and have followed hounds in North and Sf.."ith Dorset. Miss Eve, is a striking blue-eyed blonde. Her mother has lived at Avalon. Marnhull, for many years. Her father, Captain William Henry Eve, the son of a Mr. Justice Eve, was killed in Mesopotamia in 1918. After leaving school. Miss Eve went t<> I'Yance and Germany and studied languages. She returned to her home, about VA months ago. Mr. Tom Hanbury is very popular on his father's extensive, estate at Dorchester. Marnhull is in Mr. Ilanbury's constituency.