HUNDREDS WELCOMED

Camp News, Volume 3, Issue 146, 30 October 1942, Page 4

HUNDREDS WELCOMED

City Service Clubs Have / Busy Weekend

Crowds of servicemen on leave found a ready welcome awaiting them at Wellington’s many service clubs at rhe weekend. Here they could have a hot meal, a rest, write letters, or dance, these organizations, between them, supplying all or part of such facilities. Merchant Navy men introduced a new dance at the Victory Club. .It is called the “Hokey Tokey,” a novel dance, which is the rage of London at the present time’ It proved so popular that it was repeated at both dances. The masters of ceremony were Staff-Sergeant R. Sloan and Sergeant R. E. Robb. The helpers during the weekend included Mesdames Slack, Jeffs and Baker, Misses M. and J. Rae, M. McCabe, J. Day, T. Brearley, G. Moir and Messrs. Henderson and Wade.

The Cinderella Club again entertained a large crowd of servicemen and men of the Merchant Navy.' Mrs. Allan and Mr. and Mrs. Koskela supplied music for dancing on Sunday night. The club had its annual meeting recently and a new committee was selected for the year. Mrs. M. Henderson was re-elected president, and the following is the committee : Misses A. McConchie, M. Henderson, J. Spillane, «E. Rowband, L. Atkinson, D. Higgins, N. Mitchell, L. Ford, J. Finney, J. Brunt, M. Walsh, J. Handscombe, D. Jamieson,, A. Aribow ,A. Kelly. Many servicemen on leave who had difficulty in finding weekend board, had accommodation found for them through the Toe II Club, a * gesture which they much appreciated. Last night’s concert was given by Taylor’s novelty band and the Te Ropu Maori entertainers. Later supper was served by the women’s auxiliary, who also dispensed supper at the popular Friday night dance, the fare provided being received through the kindness of interested friends. Gifts of jams and pickles would be welcomed in this connexion. There was a record crowd present on Friday, those not dancing finding amusement in the lounge, where games were played. Two servicemen played for dancing. The Y.F.H. Club of the Y.M.C.A. entertained servicemen at its weekend entertainments. Members of the Wellington canteen group of the W.W.S.A. and of the de Havilland „ Aircraft Company helped in the cafeteria, and girls of the Y.W.C.A. residence lent assistance at the cloakroom. Gifts of vegetables were received from the Russell Terrace and Lower Hutt land groups of the W.W.S.A. Yesterday’s service was conducted by the Rev. C. E. Perkins and Mrs. A. Lane and>her concert party provided the entertainment.

The AJN.A. Club • had an- extremely busy week and the numbers of men dining in the cafeteria are increasing. Through the good offices of Mrs. E. Clere and Miss Ralston, the clubrooms have been de-

corated with spring flowers. The dancing accommodation is proving all too limited for the large numbers attending. An innovation in the ballroom is the in- ! stallation of electric suction fans which have proved efficacious in purifying the atmosphere and keeping it cool. Special entertainment was provided on Sunday by members of a visiting service orchestra. During the week music for the dances was played by A/c. Allen Brown, Ohakea, Sergeant R. Cumber and F, C. P. Kirkbright, Mesdames J. L. Allen, P. M. Dickson and Miss Chalker. The cafeteria committee thanks friends who, last week, sent’ gifts to. the club. They are as follows: —Carton of jam, Mrs. G. Monk, Reikorangi; boxes of cakes and eggs, Otaki and ,Te Horo women’s emergency committees, per Miss M. Clarke and Mrs. H. Blackburne ; two carcases sheep, Te Apiti Station, Havelock North; one carcase sheep, anonymous, Whakatu, Hawke’s Bay ; sack of vegetables, W.WjS.A., Hutt Valley, per Mrs. L. Pickard. Sincere thanks are extended for t-he continued help and co-operation given to the club by city business firms who give foodstuffs every Saturday mornI'losts and hostesses at the Y.M.C.A. tea last evening were members of the Y.M.C.A. board of directors and their wives, with Mr. R. FI. Nimmo as chairman. There was an overflow of guests who were accommodated in - the lounge. The tea tables were all decorated with a profusion of pink poppies. _ The programme was: Songs, Mrs. Wilfred Andrews, Mr. V. Jones, ’cello solo, Mrs. Aspey, violin solo. Mr. L. Charley Walker, elocutionary items, Miss Flack. Mrs. Wakelin was the accompanist. Mr. Hindle led community singing with Mr. Mann at the''piano.