NO BRIDE APPEARS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22618, 5 January 1937, Page 14

NO BRIDE APPEARS

CANCELLED WEDDING A SOCIETY SENSATION | [from our own correspondent] LONDON, Dec. 9 j A few hours before her marriage to j Mr. John Claude Smiley, second son j of the late Sir John Smiley, was to have taken place at St. Margaret's, i W ?stminster, La civ Cecilia Welleslev | left for Paris with her mother, Clare j Countess Cowley. It is understood that Lady Cecilia j decided at the last moment to cancel | the arrangements. Many guests, some | of whom had travelled from the West j Country, gathered outside the church at the hour arranged for the ceremony. Many arrived in cars, which stretched a considerable distance round the church. Policemen told the guests as they arrived that the wedding had been cancelled. Flowers had been delivered at the church, and some of them had been placed in position before the officials were informed that there would lie no ceremony. It is understood that the information was conveyed by Sir Hugh Smiley, who was to have been best man to his brother. The ceremony was rehearsed at the church on Wednesday afternoon and in the evening Mr. Smiley and Lady Cecilia attended a party together. Lady Cecilia is 19 and Mr. Smiley 26. At the London residence of Colonel McGrath, where Lady Cecilia had been staying with her mother, it was stated that Lady Cowley and Lady Cecilia had left for Paris. "There is nothing to be said, except that the wedding is cancelled and is definitely off." it was stated at the home of Sir Hugh Smiley. News of the cancellation of the wedding reached Seagry. Chippenham, the residence of Clare Countess Cowley, yesterday morning. Arrangements had been made for the indoor and outdoor staff and their families to travel to London by motor-coaches. Ten disappointed children who would have been in attendance on the bride \\ere Jennifer Cardiff, Siegrid Musker, Catherine Ralli, Lady Mary Montagu-Stuart-'Wortley, little Virginia Beck, James Bock, John Smiley, Rqbin Dixon. Patrick Guinness and Christopher Lever. There were also to have been six' grown-up bridesmaids —Misses the Hon. Ncfertari Bethell, Zara Mninwaring, June Caple, Patsie Dixon, Pamela Grant. Sturgis and Bridget Smiley. A reception had been prepared for a great number of guests at Mr. Benjamin Guinness' house in Carlton House Terrace.