IN THE KING'S CAMP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23157, 1 October 1938, Page 9 (Supplement)

IN THE KING'S CAMP

An Inspiration to

At Southwold, an attractive watering place in Suffolk, King George VI. has a camp each year. His guests are 400 English boys, 200 from public schools and 200 from factories. This gathering was inaugurated by the King as Duke of York. We publish an account of this year's camp written fo_r "the Children's Newspaper by one of the boys who was amqng the happy band. THE coming together of 400 boys from public school and factory is bound to be marked at first by a certain feeling of shyness, and so it was the primary aim of the hard-working camp staff to conquer a rather natural reserve. A tour round the meeting place, the Royal mews, the sociability and close company of the long train journey, and finally a night of rollicking entertainment at the camp on Southwold Common saw the ice well and truly broken

anil henceforth the friendliness and I team spirit were felt in every activity. The games, of course, provided the] best opportunity for such feeling and co-operation. Iho- ferocious foot and hand rietball, affectionately known as Foot and Mouth Disease, called for the closest team work, and the results of other games (such as hurdles, landand weight carrying) were all •worked on a complicated team*basis. r - With the games and a bathe occupying the morning, the afternoon was left free for less formal companionship, and

finally, after a last bathe and supper, there followed ;i mad scramble for seats in tho entertainment tent. There the whole company remained until halfpast ten. listening with rapt attention to camp talent, to the mouth-organ band, to such films as "Boys Will be Boys" and "Dr. Sj'u,'' and cheering wildly the exploits of the "Phanton Eider" against tho villainous outlaw chief. Finally, with camp prayers, the company turned in aflfT sought a njuchneeded rest. . Thus Tuesday arrived, and the visit of our lioyal host. Landing from a small rowing-boat, the' King, surrounded by liis 400 grateful guests, wended his way up the beach and over the common to the camp'to the accompaniment of wild cheering and the repeated strains of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow.." • - A little later he had joined his guests at lunch, and we were conscious of that feeling of union and orieness which it is /

the camp's desire to foster. Amid scenes of terrific excitement the King'< visit came to an end, and as he one# more embarked in the" rowing-boat if was impossible to remain unmoved ol unaware of the great work His Majestj has set on foot here. Camp over, the train journey to Lon< don was an opportunity for happy re< miniscences and pledges of friendship, and with the final farewells at pool Street station we departed on oui varied walks of life with the inspiraJ [. tion of. new thoughts and • ideas.