THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL 18, 1988.
VICAR, 72, WEDS
HIS THIRD BRIDE, 32-YEAR-OLD BRUNETTE
U.S. SAILORS, CIVILIANS SPAIN OFFER TO
ROWLY MISS BEING INVOLVED IN "INCIDENT”
Jovial seventy-two-year-old Vicar of Alvaston, Derbyshire, the Rev. William Webb, has been married to his third bride, Miss
Another incident” was nearly soldier went back to the Sybil Pearce, a thirty-two-year- old brunette, at the old parish precipitated in Chapei recently returning with part of
wooder grave marker. church at Pulham market. Nor-while a group of civilians and U. folk.
S. sailors were viewing the bombed
The marriage, which took place
took place areas under Japanese escort, says before 9 a.m., was licence, there were only a hand-the "China Fress." ful of people present, and the ceremony was over
a few minutes.
in
*
RAF OFFICER "Could Have Easily Deserted"
-COURT-MARTIAL
STATEMENT
A RAF officer stated before a trench, court-martial at Mount Batten Air flimsy Station, near Plymouth, that he had been offered 64 a month to fly in Spain.
In a statement made after his
It then developed that one of the He is Flying Officer Percy Henry visitors had broken off the upper Richmond, 24, who admitted being half of the marker to keep for a absent without leave from Dec. 28 souvenir. It was finally produced, to Feb. 5. It was stated that he The touring party, riding in three while the soldiers stood literally was granted 46 days' leave to go to The visi South Africa, and should have re- trucks and three private vehicles, shaking in their anger, had viewed the places of interest tor said he had not known it was a turned on Dec. 27. Miss Pearce, who comes from permitted by the Japanese and was Japanese grave marker, and after Oakham, Rutland, helped to nurse: on its way back to the International profuse apologies had been given, Mr. Webb's second wife, who Settlement when a tire blew out the party was allowed to proceed died three months ago.
on one of the cars, bringing the on its way. Among the few in church were entire caravan to a stop far out on Mrs. Annie Newell, a friend, and the North Szechuer Road. the bride's sister-in-law, Mrs. Vera Pearce."
A
Some of the visitors got out to The bride wore a blue dress, inspect a nearby trench which had and after the ceremony she beat lately been occupied by Japanese her husband by five yards in the force. Presently the guide of the race for the waiting taxi.
party blew his whistle and the After ten minutes stay at visitors began to assemble to con- Wakefield bungalow, Mrs. New-tinue the journey in. ell's home, about three-quarters
away.
two
:
of a mile from Pulham, the cou- While they were all seated and ple re-entered the taxi and drove wafting for the caravan to start, Japanese soldiers standing Seaside Honeymoon guard at the trench came running Mrs. Pearce said they were go-over, after first being observed to ing to Felixstowe for their load their rifles. There was a honeymoon.
rapid exchange of conversation be My young sister-in-law has tween one of the soldiers and the known Mr. Webb for about four Japanese escorts, while the other years," she said. "She helped to nurse Mr. Webb's second wife, who was an invalid. There is
no truth in the suggestion that would be very happy with my sister-in-law was Mr. Webb's third wife. niece."
Her brother, she added, Mrs. Albert Webb, sister of Mred at Woolwich Arsenal Webb, of Gothic House, Fulham, the war, and entered the said she thought her brother try about twenty years ago.
Age-Old Tea Houses Serve New Purpose
arrest Richmond said he went to
of Johannesburg. because
his father's serious illness, and shortly after arriving there applied for an extension of leave. He added:
KING'S PORTRAIT land before I did because of my
DEFACED
South African Cinema Incident
"I was unable to return to Eng-
father's continued ill-health, and because I did not have sufficient funds to pay my steamship fare.
"I did not report at once on my return to England because I want- ed to attend a reunion dinner of my last squadron at Worthy Down on Feb. 4."
-
The controversy in South Africa over the national anthem has taken FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES
“I am in financial difficulties, and a new phase. While "God Save the King" was being played in a Pre-in all probability shall not be able toria cinema two receptacles filled to carry on my Air Force career," with ink were flung at the King's he added. "I do not want lenient portrait exhibited on the screen, punishment, but à punishment over which the ink splashed. which will not affect my future in-
The news of this insult to His civilian life. Majesty has aroused considerable indignation.
"It would have been the easiest thing in the world, had I wanted to A minor political crisis. was leave the Air Force, to desert. I his caused in the Union recently when am well known in South Africa. I
the playing of the Afrikaans song had three years' fiying there, and work-Die Stem" "The Voice of South could easily have got employment. before Africa") at the opening of par- "Instead I came back to face minis-liament gave the impression that bundle of trouble. On the way "God Save the King" had been su-home, at Las Palmas, I was offered perseded. Subsequently, the Pri-164 a month to fly for the me Minister (General Hertzog) an-Spaniards. That was good pay, but nounced that "God Save the King" I preferred to come back and face would be played as usual, but the music.".
The tempest of war in China has scaling over the wall, these sing- reached evea the tea cup over song girls relate how bravely General which people in this country used Chi Chi-kwang of the Ming Dynasty to chat and while away their had fought the Japanese." leisure hours in idleness.
The pictures painted in the beau-
Tea in China is now not with tiful silk scrolls of fair story-tellers war flavour. People thronging the which attracted Wang Lung, the tea houses do not gossip of idle farmer, in Pearl Buck's Pulitzer topics. They talk about the war.prize-winning novel. "The Good They exchange views and news on Earth," however, are absent from the present situation.
the walls of the tea houses. In
They frequent 1,048 tea houses their place are seen China's war- in Hankow, 299 in Wuchang and time cartoons and slogans en- ∙180 in Hanyang. Amidst the eat-couraging patriotic feelings of the
ing of water-melon seeds and the Chinese.
drinking of tea, they read Chinese One of the oldest tea houses in tabloids containing war news. Wuhan is located in the Kwang There are hawkers of peanuts Ho Lou or the Power of Yellow and sweets, but it is those with Stork which stands on the bank bundles of China's war-time pub-of the river on the Wuchang side. lications-newspapers, periodicals In that tower. more than 1,600 and other magazines--that self the years ago two famous generals of best in the tea houses. They are the Three Kingdoms met in arms. more than ordinary hawkers, for To-day the tea house, which was they boost their sales. by giving opened more than 20 years ago in. patriotic speeches.
the historic tower, serves tea and
C
would he supplemented by "Die The court's decision will be made Stem
known.
Call
Perfection
Scots Chic
MCCALLUM'S
Among these people from dif- water-melon seeds to customers, PERFECTION
ferent walks of like in the tea among whom are men in military houses are found members of wari- uniforms. ous war-time service corps busy at The names of some of the tea work. They go there to preachhouses in Wuhan cities have been China's righteous war, distribute re-christened. Thus one has dis- handbills and raise funds in the played a signboard reading “One interest of many waraid and relief Determination," while another one campaigns that have been launched hangs out "One Heart," indicative in Hankow, Wuchang and Hanyang. of the general emphasis on the Some of the tea houses in Wuhan solidarity of the people in China. have engaged comely sing-song Another tea house has for its name girls as story-tellers. Instead of "Great Revival," in tune with the telling the story of Mr. Chang cour-war-time solgan for national re ting the daughter of a premier by construction from the ruins of war.
SCOTS WHISKY
DEIM CALLUME- EDINBURGH
IMITATED
BY MANY
PERFECTION
SCOTS WHISKY
EQUALLED BY
NONE
Sale Ager
(ALSO IN PINTS)
GANDE, PRICE & CO., LTD. Telefluiding, 2, Ice House Street
St.
Hong Kong.