MISS JEAN BATTEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 276, 20 November 1937, Page 9

MISS JEAN BATTEN

TALK WITH ROYALTY KING LEOPOLD'S IN I ERF,ST (By Tdeg: aph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, Nov. 18. King Leopold of Belgium specially requested Miss Jean Batten, the New Zealand flying woman, to visit Buckingham Palace this evening and give a personal account of her record flights. Miss Batten had -a long audience with King Leopold, who was most interested in New Zealand and complimented her on her achievements. Before going to the Palace Miss Batten was accorded a reception by 500 members of the New Zealand Society. Those present included Mr. W. J. Jordan, High Commissioner for New Zealand, and Mrs. Jordan. Subsequently Miss Batten had a talk with Queen Elizabeth and King George, and she also met Princess Elizabeth. Interviewed by the Australian Associated Press, she said:—“l was first presented to King Leopold, and found him most charming. I was very impressed by the fact that he knew so much about my flights. He knew even the record times, and showed a wide knowledge of the countries over which I have flown. He expressed the wish that some day I should visit Brussels. I said I hoped the opportunity would arise to do so. “I was then taken upstairs by the Lady-in-Waiting and presented to Queen Elizabeth, with whom was Princess Elizabeth. The King came in shortly afterwards. He questioned me closely about the 'plane and my routes. I was astounded by his technical knowledge of aviation. Their Majesties recalled the “wonderful reception” they received on their visit to New Zealand. “It was the first time I had been presented to Their Majesties, and I consider it was a great honour to myself and my country.” REFUSED JOB BECAUSE OF HEF. SEX LONDON, Nov. 18. Miss Jean Batten was once refused a job in Sir Alan Cobham’s flying circus. Referring to this as a guest of the Holborn Chamber of Commerce, she said: “I was left with the impression that pilots thought I ought to go away and get married. In fact, one of the pilots gave me that impression so much that I asked him if this was a proposal. He did not repeat the statement.” Sir Alan Cobham said: “My pilots were a lot of he-men, and I felt that if I took on Miss Batten there would be a riot, so I had to tell her reluctantly that the arrangement would not work.”