RETIRED MARINER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22823, 2 September 1937, Page 13

RETIRED MARINER

AUCKLAND REVISITED FATHER OF SCREEN ACTRESS • I Formerly associated for 36 rears with! shipping lines trading between New Zea-' land and England, Captain H. W. Robertson, of London, who is the father of the British screen actress, Miss Anna Neagle, arrived at Auckland yesterday by the Rangitane, in the course of a world holiday cruise. Captain Robertson retired from the sea in 1924 owing to a breakdown in health. "I first visited New Zealand in February, 1893, on the barque Peri as an able seaman just out of my apprenticeship," said Captain Robertson. "Almost every year after that, in many capacities, including that of commander of ships of the Federal Line, I returned to New Zealand or Australia, or both." Captain Robertson .was reluctant to dismiss his daughter, and his almost equally-famous son, Mr. Stewart Robertson, bass-baritone, known to radio audiences through the medium of recordings. He visited Australia with Madame Melba in 1927, and has since become a leading singer. Another son is a retired naval commander in South Africa. "I am blessed with talented children," said Captain Robertson. "Anna always had a flair for the theatre, and after stage experience entered British films in 1930. It is an arduous business, but she loves it. She is a girl of fine character, and success has far from turned her head." Captain Robertson said he saw portions of Miss Neagle's latest and, from all reports, greatest film, "Victoria the Great," before he left England. He said it would bo an historically correct picture, in which minute care for detail had been exercised. Captain Robertson said his daughter's screen name was her mother's maiden name, and was Irish ancl not Scandinavian, as commonly supposed. As "The Flag Lieutenant," in which his daughter appears, was showing there, Captain Robertson visited the Empress Theatre, Newton, last niglit. His presence became known to tho acting manager, who intimated this to the audience, which extended him a hearty reception.