1958-10-13 — Page 4

ZANIES

HONEST JOE'S

"When can weapest some dellar tourists

The Perfect EXTRA

WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT?

THE CHINA MAIL, MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1958.

Duke Had Curtain Ring

For His Bride's Finger

Other couples were married in prison for a dram of gin

FROM about 1616 until the Marriage Act of 1754, marrying couples was

a profitable occupation for dubious clergymen. It was an unsavoury period in English history, when thousands of clandestine marriages were conducted at almost any hour of the day or night. The ceremonies were valid and binding, but very irregular. They took place without a licence, publication of banns or the consent of parents.

A notorius scene of thousands of such weddings was the Fleet Prison in London. Many took pince in the prison chapel, others in rooms of the prison and even in taverns just out- side.

Often, as many as 30 couples 1 day contracted a "Fleet marriage", nd In the four months ending February 12, 1705, no fewer than 2,954 were jolned in unholy wedlock.

or

NO

land, as they were performed

who lived in by partons btside Fleet Prison, and were not under the Jurisdic- tion of the Bishop of London.

The Fleet clergymen were ready to marry any couples for fee in proportion to their circumstances.

Sometimes,

A

tiram of gin war thought sum- cient, although more often the fee was exorbitant,

Curlously enough, accurate re Day And Night gisters were kept of tho' nuptials and a collection of these recorda was purchased by the Government in 1021.

This comprised aver 200 large registers and more than 1,000 smaller books.

These strange marriages were no fault of the Church of Eng

But when Lord Chancellor Hardwicke's Act came Into force, a mob paraded through the streets declaring that their Ilberties were being taken away, There was a big rush to the pri- on the day before marriages there became illegal, and 217

ROUND-UP

BUTTERFLY SANCTUARY

0 a hillside, near Otford in Kent, four acres have been fenced

in to become a sanctuary for rare British butterfics, moths

more ceremonies were entered in the register.

Bu il was not only the Fleet Parsons who were affected by the Act. Clandestine marriages had brought a anil fortune to the infamous Reverend Alexon- der Keith, who was prepared to work day and night to marry anyone for a guinea a time. He had a small private chapel in Mayfair and made no secret of his cervice to impatient lovers. In fact, he adverilsed regularly in the Presa, giving direcilo:is on how to get to his chapel.

So popular was this 18th cen- Green" that in tury "Gretna

than 700 weddings 1742 more took place there, compared with only 40 at St George's Hanover Sqaure. Angry at Keith's fr reverence, Dr Trebeck, rector of Bult St. George's, brought a against him. Keith was ex- 'communicated in April, 1743, and committed to the Fleet Pri- son itself.

But even this did not stop the irrerular marriages, as one of Keith's four assistants started them again in 1744. They went on until the Marringe Act in 1754, and like with the Fleet

DUA

GOMST

"Blast their champagne corks!”

The man who

loves the

Comet

marriages, there was a Tast WHY HE SHUNS

minute rush by 01 couples.

and plants. For Mr Emest Murray, 37-year-old lighterman, af Famous. Names

Evelyn-street, Deptford, It is the fulfilment of an amblilon that for years was beyond his grasp because of the cost, Then, last year, he answered the "84,000 Question" on Independent Tele- vision and won a total of £3.800. His subject? Butterflies. He bought the land at Otford with the money, built two large insec- taries, lald out a flower garden, planted rare British orchids and other flowers and left the rest of the site wild. His primary ambition, is to save the Large Blue butterfly from extinction in Britain. At present it is only found in parts of Cornwall. This Eummer he and a colleague went the Central Pyrenees, where the Large Blue is more numerous, and "conxed some to luy their eggs in his cages. Then he returned to Otford to hatch the caterpillars in his inscctories. Mr Murray, whose hobby dates from childhood, goes to Otford three times a week to keep in eye on his charges.

ICELANDIC GIFT

JULL Finance Committee have decided to add nearly £10,000

For Your Davy to the Iceland Government gift of £28,000 to build 27 houses

NESTUM

PRE-COOKED Nestlé's BABY CEREAL

From the fourth month onwards or according to doctor's advica. an addition to the milk diet ly #saantial to meet the needs of baby's growth development. Supplementery feeding ensures satisfactory progress and sounder sleep.

and

The early introduction

of a mixed diet pramolas healthy bowal action and reduces tendency to constipation.

NESTUM

ENEN FOR

for fishermen, The City Treasurer, Mr C. Pollord, said the Icelandic gift was made some years ago as good will gesture and with a request that the money should be spent rehousing Achermen. It was thought better for the Corporation to ad about £10,000 and provide a more satisfactory unit of dwellings thea would otherwise be possible.

FAIRY STORY

As

S the best all-round athlete in the regiment Corporal of Horse Thomas Hudson, Royal Horse Gunfus, will rescue an Imaginary princess imprisoned in a castle. When his horse is shot from under him, Hudson, armed with pistol and sward, continues to ran seross difficult terrain and swim a river before.fighting his way into the castle. This is the concept of the Modern Pentathlon for which the world championships are being staged at Aldershot The Pentathlon was pnd Camberley between October 13-17. incpired from the ancient Greek Olymple Games when they attempted to discover the best warrior. The preceni sport con- ists of running, swimming, shooting, fencing and riding. Britain will be represented by Corporat of Horse Hudson, a Oft. 21. Yorkshireman of 22 who will be competing against representatives from 15 countries.

AUCTION OF V.C.'S ANOTHER V.

C which has been bought for £650 for a private collection is that won in 1855 during the Crimean cam- palgn by Private John Alexander. of the 10th Regiment. The dealer who successfully bid for the cross at a Glendinings auc- tion sale, in London said his client has a private Brush col- lection. The medal will remain in Britain. The V.C., one of the carliest awarded, was won by Private Alexander who had advanced gone out with on working party and under heavy Are rescued a wounded officer. For the same sum, last February, ut a Christies sale in London, sold another Victoria Cross was plus several other medals, in- cluding the Military Medal, All had been awarded to a Lance- Corporal Roland Elcock, of the 11th Batalion, the Royal Scots. That Victoria Cross was shortly after the auction placed Regiment, by the Royal Scots which bought it, in the Regi- mental Museum at the Glencorne Barracks, Midlothian,

WAR MEMORIAL

Finst

CANTERBURY'S 220.

World War memorial 1x

50 that being dismantled

com- three-feet stone, plinth memorating the 390 City people who died in action in World War I can be built, The plinth bears the names of the 380 and also a short inscription in their honour. The memorial will be 're-crected""by Armistice Day. The work will cost £1,100.

Keith published a pamphlet

on the new Act. He said he was responsible for it "beenuse

ROMANCE

the compliers thereof, haveXTHY does a man stay a bachelor? done it with the pure design of

What particularly makes John suppressing my chapel, which makes me the most celebrated Cunningham how the most famous though as well as the most glamorous test man in this kingdom, not the greatest"."

pilot in the world - stay bachelor?

Among the famous names ta appear in Keith's register was that of James, fourth Duke of Hamilton. He was married to benutuul Elizabeth Gunning in 1752 with the ring of the bed- curtain at half an hour past twelve at night".

The one woman in his life, his mother, let the secret out the other day while the Comets which her son has put on top of the world were making fresh history over the Atlantic.

JOHN CUNNINGHAM and ala mother

by

Alan Brockbank

In the garden outside in the rain and wind a scarlet pro- peller whirred.

"That's one of the propellera John made when he was R

boy. We use it as a bird scarer," said Mrs Cunningham.

He was never fond of athletics 715 games. When he wasn't making model aeroplanes ho used to go bird-watching.

When he was 18 John Joined the City of London Auxiliary. Air Force, and he joined the de Havillands Training School at Haineld.

And at 21 he was, with Geoffrey de Havilland, one of the company's test.pilots. It was to this job that he re- turned after his war service.

"HO doesn't seem to have time for social parties" Mrs Cunningham said, "but he is a lovely dancer, I've danced with him. He used to go to, Buck- Ingham Palace to dance at the royal birthday parties. Poter Townsend invited officers of the 004 Squadron."

She knows

Nomance has just bruslied bim. In 1947 he fell in love with lovely Ellen Stefansson, of Oslo, But' in a year the engagement was called off

"Perhaps it was best," said MrA

is Cunningham. "John really in love with his Comet. Не doesn't mix much with young people except his pilots and the youngsters at Radlett when he judges their model aeroplane show."

cateful about his

·

Mrs Evelyn Cunningham, who looks It is claimed that George III,

Prince of Wales, was a robust 60, and confesses to being 74, when married in the chapel to Han-is reconciled to the situation. Recon- rah Lightfoot, A pretty ciled also to flying being the chief, Quakeress. But this legend is not likely to be true, as the often the only, conversation; to having Prince was still under 18 when

her son leap up from the dinner table Keith's chapel was closed down, to catch a glimpse of a jet

to the old Hendon When he was at school at

At 40, John Cunningham hâs that is streaking across the took him Publicly-minded Keith, never

Gromunar still got the alim lines air pageants, although really I Croydon's Whitgift

tho overlooked a chatice of exciting garden of their Harpenden, suppose one ought to go back, he made scores of model planes, pilot of the war years. Ho pubile curiosity. He even usod Hertfordshire, home; to to his very young days when And his brother William, who weights Just undar ten stone his wife's death in 1750 for having a tough, mature, man he was fascinated by the flight was three years younger, used and he's advertising purposes, by having dissolve into the enthusiasm of birds,”

to sell them to the other boya Agure. and make

Kor embalmed,

more capital corpse

#tid of a schoolboy at the drone

at John to buy balza wood and stating in "The Daily

The Cunninghams lived

Mrs Cunningham liloes flying. She clasic and paper.

Downl vertiser that she would remain of a propeller or the whine Croydon when John was + "I used to buy the balsa wood counts to Zurich ("a lovely únburled until Mr Kelth can of a jet engine.

ramall boy. His father was 'a for him from a local shop," aircraft" but her pet plane attend the funeral".

"He's been like that all

surretary with the Dunlop firm. anys his mother. "While other is, of course, the Comet. his But Mr Keith never did at-life" shc.

Father and son used to walk boys were playing John used fold me, "and

to carve propellers and shave "It's the best airliner. In the tend, as he remained in prison expect he always will be, it round the Croydon Airport and unt his own death in 17650. I began 30 years ago when we watch the planes landing and down the balsa wood for the world" she says.

Laking off.

fuselage and the wings. Even

His first light, however, was at Straford, where he was at prep school. John never forgot his night in an old biplane.

her

DISENCHANTED EVENING

LABOUT

TURK

ERIAMPOC

Ad-

"WE'RE GONNA WASH THAT MAN RIGHT OUT OF OUR HAIR!"

WIT

hor

Vis

then he had a fanatical desire And sho should know. Sho's for accuracy. the same sort flown in it. And her son has safest of meticulous care which, they helped to make it the tell me, he expects at de jet aircraft in the world to

day. Havillands today."

GHOST CLUB

BARS

VITH the evenings THE FAKERS

drawing in and Hallowe'en nearly here,

it is appropriate that those who make a hobby of studying psychic

phenomena should be sharpening up their

BY ALAN BESTIC

phoney phantoms.

extra perceptory senses. The host club accepts no

Though it is 90 years old London's Ghost Chib la off Members meet

every few the mark smartly this year with weeks to hear a lecture by some an announcement that sessions distinguished psychic authority resume this month.

on hauntings, telepathy, fire

Anxious to keep abreast with walking, winter spine-tingling prospects, hypnotism.

I called on the club socrulary,

Mr A. Peter Underwood, who

Hves at Twickenham. His house

is sufficiently contemporary to',

yoga,

or

Footsteps

perhape,

for instance, he heard footsteps near the Nun'a Wall.

"It could havo been a heavy- footed cat, of course,” he said. He took part in the first investigation

haunting ordered by a local authority.

A mon Em Bedfordshire claimed

n reduction in rates because, he said, his houbo Wal haunted.

give any self-respecting ghost "Our members include acien- "A"medium," said Me

21 years of age goood Liata, righ÷rankling "Army officers,

over

sold

Dimples. A thoughtful man in his several filed people, writers and Underwood, "told us a faxi- middle thirties, he would shake lawyers, with a heavy sprinkling nating story of thwarted love, the confidence of oven the most naturally enough, perhape of sudden death and Dick Turpin, but we registered nothing. Tha antisceptic gaychic phenomenon. doctors and clergymen,"

Mr Underwood, who works for rates were not reduced."

The moral of the "story fa The club does not investigato clear. Chaillea, ghoulies-- Kad paychic phenomena, Most mem- long loggedy: bonaties, who crus

Heavy boots

a London publishing arm. "

Hp belloves that things that go bers, however, have had paychle not prove their olatuta should bump in the night can be traced experiences, including ⠀⠀ Mr steer clear of the Ebest olub. too often in a neighbour hauling. Underwood,

Only genuine,' Property Son Mis

off a heavy boot and that quali» At Borley Restory, reputedly - eð phantomın need apply. fes him splendidly for his post. Britain's most haunted house.

-{London Express Service)i

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