FUNERAL PLANS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18924, 28 January 1936, Page 6

FUNERAL PLANS

LONDON CORTEGE ROUTE OF FOUR MILES EMPIRE CONGREGATION WOR LD- WIDE SYMPATHY FLORAL TRIBUTES SENT (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 1.45 p.m.. RUGBY. Jan. 27. Tiie procession at the funeral of King George to-morrow will follow a route extending over four miles from Westminster Hall, by way of Whitehall, the 'Horse Guards 'Parade, ihc Mall,' St. James street, Piccadilly and Hyde Park to Paddington station for Windsor. ]f the earefully-prepared schedule is kept the last words of the Archbishop of Canterbury when the coffin is being lowered beneath the floor of the. chapel al Windsor will he .spoken exactly as the two minutes of silence begins in Great Britain. Gradually the coffin will sink from view, while (he British Empire will become an unseen congregation about the grave.

Most elaborate preparations have been made to (leal with the vast crowd." which will mass themselves along the route of the Royal funeral procession. All parts of the route, will he closed to vehicular traffic from 8 a.m. and the police have arranged for carefully-plan-ned traffic diversions covering areas reaching out to the suburbs. A description of tile procession, as well as the funeral service, will be broadcast to home and Empire listeners and commentaries will also be made in five languages for the benefit of foreign listeners. After the service, the British Broadcasting Company will close down all home stations for Ihc. rest, of the day.

Cinemas will not open till 6 p.m., by which lime it is expected the principal houses will be showing newsrcels of the day's ceremonies.

Wreaths from mourners in every part of the world and of every degree, from Kings to the poorest of the late King's subjects, have reached Windsor Castle and all day hundreds more have been arriving.

Queen Mary went to Westminster Hall again this evening and stood before the coffin of the late King for some minutes. The Queen Mother was accompanied by members of her family as well as foreign royalties who are .staying at Buckingham Palace. While the Royal party remained the procession of the public was interrupted. DEVOTION TO DUTY The A rchbishop of Canterbury, in his broadcast address, referred to King George's unswerving devotion to duty, and gave a touching account of the King's last official act "Twelve hours before his death tin King, sitting very thin arid frail on a chair, held a meeting of the Privy Council," said the Archbishop. "To the order constituting the Council ol State he gave, in Ins old clear voice, the 'approved.'

"He was asked whether he wished to sign the order with his own hand. 'Yes,' he replied, 'I have always I signed myself.' His hands, however. I could not grasp the pen tor several moments. They moveo to and fro across the paper and then, with a most moving act of his old courtesy, he turned to the Council and said: 'I am very sorry to keep you waiting so long.' "After a pause he added: ' Vou see [ cannot concentrate.' For sonic moments more his hands renewed the attempts, most gallant and pathetic. to sign. At last he was content to make a mark. Then, with his old. kindly and kingly smile, he ibnde the Council farewell." The 'Primate also recalled a conversation last year in which the late King spoke about Ihe overwhelming evidences of loyalty which the Silvci Jubilee called 'forth. "lie used some words so characteristic of his honesty and humility that 1 can not. refrain from repeating them, even in these surroundings." continued tin Archbishop, "and seem to heal' him say them now. 'T am sure I cannot, under stand it. for. after all. I am only a ven ordinary sort of fellow,' he said.

"There was a truth in those simple words which he himself could not discern for the secret of the power of his per sonality over his people was. I think, that, they came, to see in him just the sort, of man each of them instinctively would wish to be—simple, sincere, frank, a lover of bis home and of healthy sport, loyal to his friends, setting a. high stair third of personal life and public duty. steadfast- in service and mindful of his Ood. Such a. man his people understood. They saw in him the simple sterling virtues which each of them knew to be right for himself.

"This was the personality which, moi'i and more fully as the years passed, coin municatcd itself to the people."