DUKE OF GLOUCESTER.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19462, 29 December 1934, Page 9

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER.

SOME AMUSING STORIES. OLD LADY'S MISTAKE. COULD PASS FOR THE PRINCE. V ~ The Duke not long ago attended incognito a news reel showing a picture of himself opening a boys club. An elderly lady sitting beside him in the stalls nudged him hard ana said: “If you were a little thinner in the face, young man, you could pass for the Duke of Gloucester himself. A Doubting Driver. At 1 o’clock in' the morning . trie Duke hailed a London taxi-cab driver and asked to be driven to Buckingham Palace. He had been opening a boys club in the East End, and afterwards had toured the neighbourhood. “You want to see the Kins’, I suppo3e,” said the taxi man, looking rather suspiciously at his fare. “I’m afraid i’ll be too late to-night, blandly replied the Duke. A passing police sergeant reassured the doubting driver. Wag of the. Family. ' The young Prince Henry was' the wag of the family, a tendency that often scandalised his elder brother. On one occasion, shortly before the dbatli of King Edward, the four children were allowed as a special treat to sit in the gallery of a banqueting hall, where they could see their Royal grandfather take the head of the table. The occasion was an important one, and gravely and silently the children watched the distinguished company assemble. When at length King Edward appeared, the sight of him was too muoh for Prince Henry, who waved a joyful hand and called: “I see you, Grandpal” , . Prince Edward's expression of horror had to be seen to bje believed! "(Jetting Too Old.” Tennis is a game or which HI? Royal Highness is extremely fond, although he is not as proficient at it as he would like to be. He is, however, a vastly improved player since his Cambridge days. The Queen likes to watch the Duke at play, and recently, when he made rather a slow recovery on the court, she gently'- chided him. “I am afraid I am getting too old,” solemnly replied the Duke, and Her Majesty was not altogether pleased at the answer. Like all mothers, the Queen regards her four sons as mere boys. “A Municipal Siamese Twin.” When he was made a Freeman of the City of Edinburgh in 1925 his dry humour made its appearance in his speech. He said he doubted whether the citizens of Edinburgh realised the awkwardness of his position, for he was also a Freeman of Glasgow, and was therefore “a kind of Scottish Siamese twin." “I feel a bit anxious about the perilous possibilities of the situation,” he said. “I understand that there is a certain degree of rivalry between the two oitles, and I hope the rivalry will not develop in my direction. The possibility seems fraught with danger, and I like a calm and tranquil life.” INTEREST IN YOUTH. "BIG BROTHER” MOVEMENT. IMPORTANCE OF EMIGRATION. Ills Royal Highness is alive to the importance of youthful emigration, and Is particularly interested in the “Big Brother” movement, of which the Prince of Wales is the head. In 1924 the Duke made a moving appeal on behalf of the Child Emigration Society. The occasion was a lunchebn given by the .chairman of the society, Sir Arthur Lawley, who in his speech paid a high tribute to the founder of the society, the late Mr Fairbrldge, who started the Fairbridge Farm School, Pinjarra, Western Australia. Like his brother, the Duke of York, the Duke of Gloucester Is keenly interested in all movements connected with the welfare of lads of the working classes, and his .speeches on this subject reveal not only a sympathetic mind hut a real knowledge of a boy's needs and the problems connected with the difficult period of adolescence. His interest in the welfare of hoys and lads just leaving school brings him letters from all parts of the kingdom. Ho is president of the National Association of Boys’ Clubs, and regularly inspects the various centres. A Potential Leader. "Every boy is a potential leader. Think big and act big,” he said when (Continued In next column.)

inspecting the Central Lads’ Club at ’ .Huddersfield in 1929. f • His interest in the younger people is t shown by a conversation which took 2 place when ’the ( Prince of Wales and i he happened to be discussing what they would do if they were not Princes. ' “I should go to sea,” said the f Prince of Wales. ! “The army for me,” said the Duke 3 of Gloucester. The Prince of Wales raised a quizzis cal eyebrow. i “The army? Why, Fred, lam cer--1 tain you would have been much more i successful as a broadcastiiig,uncle.”' > The Duke does act as "unole” to ! hundreds of boys,' especially those i who through unemployment are more r or less stranded when they leave i school., He-makes- -many-presents-of • boxing gloves,' cricket bats, pads, and t other gear for games to deserving ’ clubs in poor districts, and many a lad enjoys a game of cricket through the Duke’s “uncle-llke" qualities. ' For the same reason the Duke of Gloucester is interested in hospitals for crippled children. In order to assist the Royal National Orthopaedio Hospital he associated himself with it and worked hard on its behalf. THE DUKE’S GENEROSITY. “THE PRINCE OF BEG;GARS.” ! RAISED £15,000 IN FEW MINUTES. The Duke of Gloucester has always ’ taken a keen interest in hospitals, and ; has frequently been their unobtrusive friend. Indeed, the Duke lias always been ready to help a good cause by giving his patronage, presiding at meetings, and opening subscription ’ lists. Such work has always been done ' without ostentation, but, like all members of the Royal Family, the Duke | undertakes a personal investigation to \ make certain that the money is being ! wisely spent in a good cause. A friend dubbed him “the Prince of I Beggars” when he raised £15,000 In a few minutes for a favourite hospital.