GREAT OCCASION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27572, 14 December 1950, Page 2

GREAT OCCASION

Commemoration Service In London

SETTLEMENT OF CANTERBURY

LONDON, Dec. 5. - Just over 100 years ago, on September 1, 1850, the bells of St. Paul’s on Ludgate Hill rang out to .announce, a special service for 400 English men' and women about to depart to the other- side of the world .to found the settlement of Canterbury; New Zealand..' 1 v ■ , v. At noon on December 15, 1950, their rich chimes will be heard again, this time to herald a service to commemorate the centenary of their safe arrival. As they toll a great congregation of 1,500 will be gathering below in what will constitute one of the biggest New Zealand occasions ever held in London. To it will be coming the Prime Minister, Mr Attlee, Princess Alice and the Earl of Athlone, representing the King and Queen, statesmen, politicians, and eminent personalities from all walks of life, as well as many descendants of the original pioneers. Those representing the Government and chief political parties will include, in addition to Mr and Mrs Attlee, the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, Mr P. C. Gordon-Walker, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Mr James Griffiths, the deputy-leader of the Conservative Party, Mr Anthony Eden, and the leader of the Liberal Party, Mr Clement Davies. At least one former Governor-

General of the Dominion will attend— Lord Newall, who held office from 1941-1946, and Lady Newall. Lord Bledisloe (1930-1935) will be there too if his health permits. Unfortunately, General Sir Charles Fergusson and Lady Fergusson (1924-1930), will be unable to attend. Sir Charles is now 85 and it was considered that the long journey from his home in Ayrshire would be too much for him. Two former United Kingdom High Commissioners, Sir Patrick Duff and Sir Harry Batterbee, will also be present. Other prominent people, whose names read like a miniature edition of Burke’s Peerage, include the Lord Chamberlain (Lord Clarendon), Marie, Marchioness of Willingdon, Sir Evelyn Wrench, founder the the Over-seas League,. Lady Worsley, chairman of the Victoria League, and Lord Chatfield, chairman of the Royal Empire Society, and Lady Chatfield. Civic dignitaries, who will wear full regalia, include the Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Denys Lowson, and the Mayors of Canterbury and Christ Church, Hampshire. Among the descendants of members of the Canterbury Society, who founded the settlement, will be the Earl and Countess of Shaftsbury, Viscount Cobham, whose forbear was Lord Lytellton after whom the port was named, Lord and Lady Norton, the Marquis and Marchioness of Cholmondeley, and Colonel Archer Cust.

The Godley Family Of even greater interest, however, are the many descendants of John Robert Godley, who led the original expedition. Almost every living member of the family is coming, including seven great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren. Already in Christchurch directly representing the family is a great grandson, Lord Kilbracken, who motored out especially for the celebrations. Unfortunately the only surviving child of John Robert Godley, Miss Francis Godley, now 96, cannot be present on account of her age, but s"he has recorded a message which will be later broadcast to New Zealand by the BBC. Three descendants of Edward Gibbon Wakefield are to be there including his only direct descendant alive, Mrs Priscilla Williams. The other two are great neices, Mrs Swynfen Jervis and her sister Miss Mary Freeman. Several eminent soldiers who have connections with either the Canterbury Regiment or the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, have accepted invitations. Major-general W. P. Olliver, Colonel of the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment which is affiliated with the Canterbury Regiment, will be there and so will Brigadier J. A. Churchill, Colonel of the Durham Light Infantry which is also allied with the Canterbury Regiment. Lord Birdwood, G.0.C., of the Australian and New

Zealand Corps in World War I and who is Colonel of the CYC cannot attend but he is being represented by Brigadier A. F. Fisher, deputy colonel of the 12th Lancers and of the CYC. The full choir of St. Paul’s is to sing at the service which will be conducted by the Bishop of London, Dr Ward, assisted by the Dean of Christ Church and the Vice Chancellor of Oxford University, Dr Low, the Dean of St. Paul’s, Dr Matthews, and the Archdeacon of London, the Ven. O. H. Gibbs-Smith, who is the Commissary in England of Archbishop WestWatson. The lessons will be read by the High Commissioner, Mr W. J. Jorda Clergymen from Canterbury, New Zealand who will be attending in robes are Canon Nelson Wright, Canon of Christchurch Cathedral, the Revs. Merlin Davies, S. E. Woods, and Peter Sutton, all of whom have parishes in ethtef-So twelv Kdk—GETA ETA EE After the service, the Lord Mayor of London is giving a lunch for about 100 of the most promininent members of the congregation at the Mansion House. Later in the afternoon the Master and Wardens of the Girdlers Company are giving a reception in the Vintners’ Hall, one of the oldest and loveliest of the Livery companies hails in London. At this reception a tribute to the founders will be given by Sir James Shelley (former Director of Broadcasting in New Zealand) and it will be replied to by Lord Bessborough (President of the Church of England Advisory Council for Empire Settlement), by Mr Jordan, and by representatives of the Wakefield and Godley •f or-Ail i QC

farfulies. To be Broadcast The whole service is to be recorded and broadcast the following day m the Overseas Service of the BBC which is also broadcasting a play in its Home Service written by Miss Ngaio Marsh on the founding of the Canterbury Settlement. The Times is also to pub-/ lish an article on its leader page on the same subject. . .. Early next year it is hoped that the Prime Minister, Mr Holland, will be able to unveil a memorial plaque on the house where John Robert Godley used to live at 48 Gloucester place, Marylebone, , , , • It is also hoped to despatch next week by the BOAC plane on which the athletes for the Canterbury Centennial Games are travelling, a piece of stone from St. Paul’s which was dislodged by the wartime bombing. This is to be presented to Christchurch Cathedral. . ... , The enthusiastic committee of exCanterbury residents which has been responsible for all these arrangements was headed by Sir James Shelley, Mr Trevor Campbell, Public Relations Relations Officer at New Zealand House, and Mr Anthony Curnow.