MEMORIAL GATES ARE OPENED AT WILDING PARK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18339, 16 December 1927, Page 7

MEMORIAL GATES ARE OPENED AT WILDING PARK.

TRIBUTE PAID TO MEMORY OF FALLEN TENNIS PLAYERS. Erected as a memorial to the tennis players of Canterbury who fell in the Great War, 1914-18, the beautiful entrance gates to Wilding Park were officially' opened this morning by Mr J. If. Kirk, president of both the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association and of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association. Mrs Seay, wife of Mr XV. N. Seay, for many years president of the Canterbury' Association, unveiled the memorial. Of white stone, the supports give a striking effect, and with the green-col-oured iron gates bear an imposing appearance. The splendid grounds at Wilding Park now have a beautiful approach, and the idea of the Canterbury Association was a happy one. On account of the uncertain and unfavourable weather, there was only a small attendance at the opening. Mr A. Borrows, chairman of the Memorial ; Committee, presided, and those asso--1 dated with him on the platform were Mr J. 11. Kirk. Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P., *Mr R. Browning (secretary of the Cani terburv Lawn Tennis Association), and ;Mr and Mrs W. N. Seay. The Mayor j (Rev J. Iv. Archer) sent an apology for ; his absence, and Mr and Mrs F. Wilding also notified their inability to attend. An apology for absence was rei ceivcd also from Mr J. I. Royds. A MISAPPREHENSION. After explaining the reason for the erection of the memorial, Mr Borrows said that there existed amongst many people a misapprehension regarding Wilding Park. Many were under the impression that the park was a memorial to the late Anthony Wilding, bat this was a mistake, as the park was dedicated to the memory of all Canterbury tennis players who fell at the Great War. The misapprehension occurred easily, as the name of Wilding was so closely connected with tennis that the Canterbury Association had named it after that great player. The memorial for Wilding was expressed in the memorial gates, as it was for all tennis players. The gates had cost £4OO, said Mr Borrows, the whole of which sum had been raised by voluntary subscriptions and donations. The gates were opened free of debt. The thanks of the association were due to Mr Kirk, who had generously assisted, Mr G. T. Lucas, the architect, and to all who helped in such a fine project. The association hopes that all parents and guardians of tennis players who fell at the Great War will send in photographs, which will be hung in the pavilion at Wilding Park.

Mr Kirk said; — “ Ladies and Gentlemen, —I might almost address you as fellow tennis players, for probably nearly everyone here is, or has been, a player of the great game. In my dual position as president of both the New Zealand and Canterbury associations, and also perhaps because I am an old man who has the interests of the park very much at heart, I have had the honour conferred on me of opening the handsome gates which have been erected in memory of the tennis play'ers of Canterbury who gave their lives for their country in the Great War.

“ When the park was first acquired, it was resolved by the association that some sort of memorial to the soldier tennis players should be erected, and, when the question arose as to what kind of entrance we should have to the park, the committee decided that the memorial could not take any more suitable form than a pair of handsome entrance gates.

“ Many of us liked the idea of dissociating altogether the cost of this memorial from the general funds of the park, and I am happy to say that the whole sum required has been specially contributed. Some quite good friends of tennis have expressed the opinion that, as we already had the Bridge of Remembrance, no further memorial was called for. Now, many of the lads were personal friends of mine, and some of those present have lost sons, brothers or intimate friends, and I like to think of all tennis players as members of one big family, and this memorial as being just a family tribute to our boys. “ It has been suggested that the expression, ‘ the tennis players of Canterbury',’ might read like excluding Anthony Wilding, but that could never be, when we all think of Anthony as Canterbury’s greatest player. In this case he is just one of ourselves, the same as the youngest recruit, but certainly, without any doubt, he was first and every' time a Canterbury player. “A Roll of Honour.” “ You will observe that the wording of the inscription is general, without any names being specially mentioned. In this connection. I may say that we thought at one time of having all the names put on the stone, but, when it was pointed out that some name might inadvertently be omitted, the committee decided to make the inscription general. Nevertheless, I hope in the near future that it will be feasible to have a roll of honour prepared and put up in the pavilion. “It gives me great pleasure to announce that Mrs Seay, who did so much for the boys at the front during the

whole course of the war. has consented to unveil the inscription tablets. Valuable Help. “ Before I close, I should like to say how much we appreciate the services of Mr Borrows, the chairman of the commtitee; also the valuable assistance given by Mr Seay, who has been president of the Canterbury association ever since Wilding Park was purchased; and the help given by Mr Goss, chairman of the Works Committee, whose assistance and professional help we could not have done without; and by Mr Reg. Browning, our popular secretary, who is ever ready to help in any' way, and whose work is above criticism. The other members of the Ground Committee have also given their time and advice ungrudgingly. 1 think also that Mr Lucas, the architect, is to be congratulated upon the excellence of his work. “In formally opening these gates (and with all reverence I say it), I earnestly' express the hope, which will be echoed in all hearts present, that the dear lads of whom we are thinking bo much to-day know that wo have done this so that, as one generation of tennis players succeeds another, the memory of the soldier boys shall never fade.” Mr Sullivan said that the gates were a worthy memorial to those players who gave their lives in the Great War, and who demonstrated their heroism and self-sacrifice. The public had shown their appreciation by embodying it in a permanent memorial. Mr Seay paid a tribute to the memory of those who had made the supreme sacrifice. Mr Kirk then opened the gates, and a verse of the National Anthem was sung by those present. After the ceremony the grounds were thrown open for inspection,