THE BEST MAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19443, 31 October 1925, Page 17 (Supplement)

THE BEST MAN

PRESSMAN AND SIR JAMES BABEIE. It is interesting to recall that Colonel B. C. Freyburg was married at St Martha’s —a very small church perched on a high hill in a romantic part of Surrey—south of Guildford. Extraordinary efforts to keep the marriage secret were exerted, so that not even the choir which were engaged knew the place of the ceremony until they arrived at the hill in taxis. One Guildford journalist managed to “smell a rat,” and, taking a taxi, and waiting outside the house of the organist, he followed him and the choir as soon as their taxis had gone. Even when St Martha’s was reached no one knew who were marrying. The pressman approached a lady and questioned her. “Go to that gentleman over there,” said the lady (who turned out to be the bride’s mother), “and he will tell you all there is to tell.” The gentleman obliged with names of the bride and bridegroom and of the guests. “And who may you bet” then queried the pressman. “Oh!” replied the gentleman, “I am nobody.” Later, the pressman learned that his informant was Sir James Barrie, the eminent author, who was acting as the bridegroom’s best man.