ALDERSHOT TATTOO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22023, 4 August 1933, Page 10

ALDERSHOT TATTOO

GREAT SUCCESS RECCED ATTENDANCE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, June 23. The splendid natural arena of Rushmoor Common, Aldershot, where the military tattoo annually takes place, has been the Mecca of more enthusiastic tattoo lovers than ever this year, ihc stand accommodation and the other seats have a capacity for 82,000 people. On the last night of the tattoo there was not a seat unoccupied. All previous attendance records for the entire presentation have been beaten. The six evening performances and two dress rehearsals were seen by 424,000 people, an increase of 21 000 over last year and of 102,000 over 1931. These remarkable figures suggest that the growth in popularity of the tattoo has still to reach its highest point. Cars parked totalled 52,000. . . For the last night 40 special trams brought crowds from far and wide. ManChester, Nottingham, Bristol, 1 lymouth, Deal, Cambridge, Reading, Brighton, and London sent many “specials.”The community singing for an hour beforehand is tremendously popular and imparts a great advance feeling of camaraderie. Mr T. P. Ratcliffe, the conductor, had a choir of 70,000 on the last evening. . , , .... The tattoo provided many striking effects, but none was more beautiful than the well-carried-out torchlight display, with the formation of the Union Jack as the finale of this section. There cannot be too many torchlight effects to please the people. The music throughout each evening by the massed bands of the Guards was superb. And no more effective setting for the conclusion could have been devised than the singing of “Abide With Me,” with the illuminated Cross of St. George appearing as from the sky. the highest artistry characterised the entire production, and the lighting effects could not have been improved upon. In this regard there were numerous new and striking results. On the concluding night the Salute was taken from the royal box by General Sir Charles Ilavington, general officer com-manding-in-chief, Aldershot command. Governor-designate of Gibraltar. _ Sir Charles and Lady Harington entertained a party, and Lord and Lady Hailsham were host and hostess in the Army Council box, the guests including the Japanese Ambassador, the Prime Minister of New Zealand and Mrs Forbes, Mr and Mrs Walter Runcimnn, Mr and Mrs S. M. Bruce, Sir Philip and Lady CunliffoListcr, Sir Bolton and Lady Eyros-Mon-Kcll, Lord and Lady Londonderry. Lord and Lady Moyne, Brigadier-general Lord Lucan and Lady Lucan, and Sir Thomas and Lady Augusta Tnskip. General Sir Leslie Bundle, who commanded a brigade at Omdurman, was present to' see the Aldershot representation of the battle. Service charities should benefit ns the result of' the big attendances at Rnshmoor. The entire arrangements reflect the greatest credit on all concerned. everything being made as easy ns possible for the visitors whether they travelled byroad or Tiv vail.