134 The Ypres Times. It is a source of great pleasure to us to state that our appeal, promoted by a special Appeal Committee, of which H.R.H. Princess Beatrice most graciously consented to be Chairman, met with a greater success than we had cause to anticipate, especially as the General Election, coming at the eleventh hour, lost us the assistance of many Territorial Units, whose Commanding Officers had originally expressed their willingness to help. It is a task quite beyond the space available to make individual mention of all those who helped in various ways to make the appeal a financial success, and our apologies are due to any whose names are inadvertently omitted, but real difficulty has been experienced in securing the list of names which we publish below, owing to the reticence and modesty with which we have had to cope. The bedrock of our appeal is the picture theatre. But for the courtesy and personal interest of proprietors and managers, and the wonderful support accorded the Ypres League by the Screen generally, and by the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association of Great Britain and Ireland in particular, an appeal such as ours would not be possible. That we were able to depend with the utmost confidence on the generosity of the Screen, is in itself a tribute to the splendid patriotism of this influential body. Our readers will remember the support we received from the Cinema Theatres in the selling of our song, A Corner in Flanders," in London last year, a full report of which appeared in the J anuary issue of The Ypres Times. Owing to the success which attended our initial effort, it was decided to extend the appeal this year beyond Greater London to certain of the Provinces, where we had either Corresponding Members, or could obtain the generous and personal help of Officers Commanding Territorial Units which had served in the Ypres Salient during the Great War. That this experiment was entirely successful, the following accounts will show. In connection with the sale of the song, Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice visited Finsbury Park Cinema at 6.30 p.m. on Ypres Day, accompanied by Mr. Victor Corkran and Miss Cochrane. A large crowd had assembled and a guard of honour, consisting of members of the League, and Sergeant O. Brooks, V.C., under the command of Mr. Boughey, secretary of the London County Committee, were drawn up at the entrance to the cinema. Her Royal Highness personally expressed her gratitude to the men for coming out on such a bad night to receive her. In the vestibule the Princess was received by Kathleen, Viscountess Falmouth, Vice-Chairman of the Appeal Committee, Mr. S. W. Kent, Manager of the Cinema, Mr. Jenkins, Deputy-Mayor, Captain Davies, representing the London County Committee, and Mrs. C. Edwards, the Honorary Organiser they all had the honour of being presented to Her Royal Highness. H.R.H. Princess Beatrice, to whom a beautiful bouquet was presented by little Miss Nellie Coverdale, proceeded by the grand staircase to the gallery, and stayed for one and a half hours. Her Royal Highness afterwards expressed her gratification at the pleasant evening she had spent. We were fortunate in securing permission to sell in the 75 cinemas controlled by the Provincial Cinematographs, Ltd., of which Lord Ashfield is Chairman. Public companies are supposed to possess no soul," but we found this company possessed a very generous heart." Thanks to the interest of Mr. Arthur J arratt, Assistant to the Managing Director, Mr. Raymond Perrier, the London Circuit Manager, and all the Managers of their various cinemas, we had a splendid sale. The Ilford Super Cinema was visited on Ypres Day by Kathleen Viscountess Falmouth and Mrs. Lionel Bulteel. They were received by Mr. Robinson, the Manager, and his staff. Bouquets were presented to both ladies, and they spent a most delightful evening in one of the finest cinemas in Greater London. The song was beautifully sung and the sales effected were excellent. Mrs. Van Neck and the Hon. Alice Douglas-Pennant visited the Super Cinema, East Ham. They were received by Mr. Cannon, Manager, and other gentlemen. Mr. Cannon apologised for the absence of the Mayor, owing to Municipal Elections. A beautiful bouquet was presented to each lady and the Hon. Alice Douglas-Pennant said a few words on the aims and objects of the League. The song was sung by a very charming soprano, and during the week Air. Cannon arranged for a repetition

HISTORISCHE KRANTEN

The Ypres Times (1921-1936) | 1925 | | pagina 24