DUKE OF GLOUCESTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21938, 23 October 1934, Page 3

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER

VISIT TO HOSPITAL Paying a surprise visit to the Adelaide Children's Hospital, the Duke of Gloucester brought happiness to scores of little sufferers and won the hearts of the nurses and officials of the institution. states an Adelaide writer. The visit had been kept a close secret and only a handful of people were at the back gate ot the hospital when the Duke, in street clothes, and accompanied by Captain Howard Kerr, was driven in an open car on to the hospital lawn. A white-coated doctor "shot" a moving picture of the Duke as he was greeted by the president of the hospital. Dr. Henry Gilbert, and members of the board. In a burst of sunshine the Duke passed through a guard of honour formed by the nurses in their picturesque scarlet and blue capes. He then made a tour through the wards. First he looked through the Rose and Colton wards, smiling to the children (ail under 12), who were lying or sitting in their beds. Dr. McKay and Matron Knight told him about the children's ailments, and the Duke said many a cheery word to the tiny patients. A shy smile or a hesitant "Yes" or "No" was all the Duke could coax from the young ones, for they were too excited to do or say any more. But there were some bolder spirits. In one ward the Duke's appearance was a signal for the ringleader to pipe up a shrill ".Hip, hip!" and his mates joined in the "Hurray!" They gave three cheers, to which the Duke responded with some words of encouragement. There was still only a handful of people at the gate as the Duke was driven away after a 20 minutes' inspection. Typical of British Royalty, he had done good by stealth.