EIGHTY-FIRST BIRTHDAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 275, 19 November 1937, Page 6

EIGHTY-FIRST BIRTHDAY

MR HOPE GIBBONS HONOURED PRESENTATION FROM FRIENDS Mr Hope Gibbons, of Wanganui, was met at Foster’s Hotel yesterday afternoon and presented with a silver mug, engraved with 1 the names of 60 of his closest friends, the gift signifying their good wishes on his 81st. birthday. Some few weeks ago those friends were entertained at dinner by Mr Gibbons on his actual birthday and yesterday’s gathering was in the nature of some small reciprocation. The names of two of Mr Gibbons’ sons appear on the gift. Mr J. Siddells presided and expressed the regret of all present that Mr C. W. Poynter, who had been one of those present at the dinner gathering, had since passed away. Mr Fred I. Jones, in characteristic vein, made the presentation. In age, he is just a fortnight younger than

Mr Gibbons. Mr Jones had been unable to attend the dinner on account of being in Samoa. Handing Mr Gibbons the gift, Mr Jones said that the guest would be able to look back on it in years to come as a reminder of the enjoyment he had experienced throughout life and the friendships he had made. “I don’t know that words can express one's feelings at receiving a gift like this,” said Mr Gibbons, in reply. “I thoroughly enjoy the dinners we have every year and will go on enjoying Them. Gatherings of that sort do a great lot of good, creating goodfellowship and companionship that is good for us. all who are connected with us and the city as a whole. What a lot of the joy of life people miss when they do not get together every now and again and enjoy the pleasure of one another's company.”