DEATH IN LONDON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23284, 1 March 1939, Page 5

DEATH IN LONDON

LADY SANDEMAN ALLEN FRIENDS IN NEW ZEALAND WORK FOR EMPIRE SOCIETY Regret will be felt by the many friends in New Zealand of Lady Sandeman Allen at the news of her death in London, which was received yesterday by Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Spencer, of Herne Bay, relatives with whom she stayed 011 her two visits io the Dominion. Lady Allen was particularly notable for her charming and vivacious personality, and during hextwo visits to the Dominion, one of which was made with her husband, the late Sir John Saiuleman Allen, early in 1934, and the second one 111 19.'J6, after' her husband's death, she made many long-standing friendships.

A woman of wide interests, Lady Allen's first visit hero was made on behalf of the Royal Empire Society, for which organisation she was doing propaganda work in connection with the proposal to build new headquarters for the society in London. For many years she identified herself with the type of work which had for its ultimate object the closer welding together of the British Empire, and on her second visit to New Zealand she was working for the Children's Imperial Penny Fund, by which it was intended to give groups of children free trips to some part of the British Empire. Another of Lady Allen's interests was the Ladies' Imperial Club, an institution established fairly recently in London, and of which she was president. The purpose of the club was to offer a home for women workers from all parts of the Empire. Until the time of her husband's death Lady Allen worked with him in endeavouring in every way possible to bring the Dominions and England more closely together, and then she carried on alone. She had been ill prior to her visit to New Zealand in 19.'56 and came hero to convalesce before taking up more actively her many interests. Sonio time after her return to England, however, a second long illness proved fatal, her death occurring on Janilary ;io.