LONDON GOSSIP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23129, 30 August 1938, Page 8

LONDON GOSSIP

[POLITICIANS' DEATHS ; ARCHERY IN THE CITY DANCING IN THE PARKS CAMPAIGN FOR FITNESS [from our own correspondent] LONDON, August 11 Two more'by-elections will follow the Heaths of well-known members of the House of Commons—Captain Robert C. Bourne and Mr. J. A. Leckie. Both were favourites in the House. Captain Bourne, who was 50, collapsed and died while walking with his sons in Scotland; Mr. Leckie died in a nursing home. He was 72.

Captain Bourne's career was unusually interesting. He stroked Oxford to victory against Cam bridge on four occasions, the first in 1909, when critics who had laughed at his staccato style were confounded. His last victory in 1912 was the year in which both boats foundered, and the race had to be rowed again. Ho was severely wounded at Suvla Bay in 1915, and was advised to lead an open air life. He took up hop farming near Oxford, and in 1924 was returned as M.P. for Oxford City. Since 1931 Captain Bourne had been Deputy-Speaker, and he established a reputation for being able to read outlong resolutions at well over 300 words a minute, a .gift that often proved useful. Amusing Effect of Deafness JMr. Leckie, who represented Walsall, was affectionately nicknamed "2LO" by honourably members, the old call signal for the London broadcasting station. This was becauso of the complex look of his hearing appliance which he used to aid his deafness. An attentive listener, for seven years he used to move about the Chamber, focussing his microphone on speakers. An amusing tale is told of Mr. Leckie's deafness. On the night of his election victory in 1931 a supporter came up, shook hands, congratulated him effusively. "Well, he is a splendid fellow," said Mr. Leckie. "I am almost glad he has got in." Then he led cheers for "our new M.P." Londoners' 3Tew Recreations 'Aided by the London County Council, London citizens are indulging in .two new recreations—open air dancing and deck tennis. On the city's parks and recreation grounds dances are being held in the evenings and they are open to all. There is no charge, and all people who care to can trip a light fantastic—if they can find the room. Everybody is doing the Lambeth Walk and various other steps, both ancient and modern. Who gets the most fun — the dancers, the onlookers, or the spate of übiquitous boys—is not yet clear, but the crowds of typical Londoners all appear to welcome the innovation. Deck tennis is slightly more strenuous and expensive, for the London 'County Council's courts are rented at 4d for half an hour. Here again, the council is making use of the parks and open spaces, and the game is becoming increasingly popular. Both recreations promise to compete fairly severely with the more established pastimes of kite flying and fishing for children, both particularly popular on Hamp*tead Heath. Back to Bows and Arrows Bows and arrows made London news this week. Archers for the eighth international championship arrived at the historic artillery grounds at Finsburv Square from all over the Continent and America, and declared it to be a "husky sport." It certainly sounds like it. When a man draws his bow he is •using power-equivalent tc raising half a hundred-weight. A woman's bow demands power equal to 301b. or 401b. The longest ' distance at which men shoot is 98 yards, and the women's longest distance is 76J yards. By the time the men have finished their shoot they have walked three and a-half miles, and in shooting 12 dozen times, the competition number, they pull colossal weights. A bow of yew costs about five guineas, and arrows of red deal tipped with turkey feathers are worth 3s 6d each. The equipment also includes a leathern armguard and a leathern shooting glove for protecting -the fingers when the twisted linen or hemp is released. The Cycle for Fitness The encouragement of cycling is the latest move in the fitness campaign. Enthusiasts declare that there is a lot to be said for it. People who cycle to and from work all the year round never catch colds'" or influenza —that's what they sav anvhow. It is generally accepted that there are 10,000,000 bicycles on the roads of England and Wales, and it is believed that the encouragement of cycling will have excellent results. • So, with Government approval, a national organiser is to be appointed by the National Cyclists' Union and the Cyclists' Touring Club "with a view to increasing the number of people who C3"cle- as a means to fitness. ' A grant js to be made by the Board of Education, and the organiser when appointed will find that he has a variety of work to do. The organiser will act as liaison officer between local cycling organisations and local fitness committees; investigate and report on schemes concerning cycling which involve applications for grant-aid, submitted to fitness committees; assist in the organisation of cycling units where the.v do not now exist; advise and assist officials ol existing local organisations with a view to extension of their activities; establish contact with adult institutes, epcial clubs, and. similar organisations to encourage cycling; lecture and givo talks and organise demonstrations of cycling as a means to physical fitness; and assist local organisations in providing training for all types of cycling events and in laying out tracks. Renovating a Library : One of London's interesting buildings is to be closed temporarily in the next few weeks—the library of the Society of Antiquaries. While its rooms are being renovated its 100,000 volume-*, representing the finest collection or archaeological works in Kngland apart from the British museum, will be shrouded. Here the student, the collector, or the browser may discover the wardrobe and household expenses of Edward J. and Edward 11., covering many pages of small, neat medieval script. The librarv is rich in manuscripts. It owns, for instance, the Winton Domesday; a 6urvey of the city of Winchester, dated 1120, in the original stamped leather binding; and the Lindsev Psalter, written between 1220 and 1222 for Robert of Lindsey, Abbot of Peterborough. A New Pepys Diary • From Cambridge comes a report that u new and complete translation of the Diarv of Samuel Pepys, the original of which is in the possession of Magdalene College, Cambridge, will be published in about a year's time. * The work has been undertaken by Mr. 'Francis Turner, Fellow and Pepysian Librarian of the college. It will be a voluminous book. Mr. Turner says that as the original is in a form of shorthand, the translation must necessarily occupy considerable time and eere. So far no complete translation of the Diary has been undertaken.