Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 15 November 1941
Princess Royal at Mexborough
Appeal On Behalf Of A.T.S.
Gracious Visit to the Montagu Hospital
Mexborough gave a cordial welcome yesterday to the Princess Royal. Loud cheering echoed through Bank Street when the Princess’s car drove up to the Majestic Theatre. The visit was the principal event in connection with the A.T.S. recruiting campaign which has been held in the Mexborough district this week. It was Her Royal Highness’s first visit to the town.
As the result of a special request on the part of those responsible for the arrangement of the visit, the Princess later paid a visit to the Mexborough Montagu Hospital.
Enthusiastic Reception
The visit aroused much enthusiasm and large crowds, including many school children, lined the pavement. Many flags were in evidence. The A.T.S. girls billeted in the town formed a guard of honour at the theatre. The Royal visitor was greeted by Mr. A. R. Martin, secretary of the local Information Committee, who introduced to her Coun. G. S. Morley, Chairman of the Committee, Coun. J. Harrop and Coun. B. Roberts, Chairmen of Mexborough and Conisbrough Urban Councils respectively,
Miss A. M. Hillier, Sub-Section Leader of the Mexborough branch of the Women’s Voluntary Services, Chief Commander Ainsworth, Commanding Officer of the A.T.S., Northern Command, and Mr. J. J. Woffinden, proprietor of the theatre. Others present included Senior Commander Quinn, Recruiting Officer of the A.T.S., Northern Command, Junior Commander Dyne, Mr. R. K. Bacon, N.E. Regional Officer of the Ministry of Information, and Miss E. Toms. of the Ministry of Information. Leeds. Before the speeches all in the Theatre stood in silence in memory of the fallen of the last war and the present war.
Coun. Morley said the Information Committee had held several meetings and had been addressed by many speakers, but they had never been visited by such a distinguished person as, the Princess Royal.
Memorable Occasion
Coun. Harrop welcomed the Royal visitor, who, he said, had turned aside for a few hours from her work for the Red Cross Society and St. John Ambulance Brigade. Not since 1939 had Mexborough been visited by a member of the Royal family and this would be a visit that would be remembered by everyone.
Loud applause greeted Her Royal Highness as she rose to speak. She said girls over the age of 18 were urgently needed for the A.T.S. She made an eloquent appeal to mothers of girls over that age to let their daughters Join the Service, instead of keeping them at home. Mothers could say that they had brought up their daughters and now wanted to keep them at home. This was a perfectly natural point of view, but the country was in danger.
“I want you to say to yourselves,” continued the Princess, ” that I can do a few odd jobs and let the children go. I have sent the boys and I can send the girls. If I do that I shall have done something for my country ‘.” If the German’s won everything that Britain stood for would be lost. Women capable of joining the A.T.S. between 18 and 43 should join now and they would be able to learn a trade. They could join any of the Services, while others would be useful in hospitals, munition works, factories and the Land Army.
Chief Commander Ainsworth supported the Princess Royal’s appeal. When a girl joined the Services she was first and foremost doing a job for her country and while she was doing that job she was properly looked after. A girl was given opportunities of continuing her education and learning new trades. She learned self-control and self-discipline, which were very important in modern life. People in Mexborough and surrounding districts had had A.T.S. girls living among them and she hoped that during the past week the public had taken advantage of the opportunity of learning something about the Service. She hoped the women of Mexborough would answer Her Royal Highness’s appeal.
Fighting For Freedom
Miss Toms said to-day women were fighting for the life they wanted, which was the opposite to Hitlerism. Britain was going to win this war for freedom and the decent and human life it wanted because there was a deeply rooted conviction in the hearts of men and women that Britain could not be beaten. That unwavering faith carried us through last spring, and the, Battle of Britain, but unless that spirit was guided along, positive constructive lines could also have a demoralising effect. When Russia came is many thought everything was over and that Hitler would be weakened and unable to invade this country. This complacency of ours was one of our greatest dangers, and we at home had to fight against it as hard as the men were fighting at the front. In this fight for freedom women were vital: women with courage, spirit and enthusiasm and a spark of adventure in their souls. In no services were they needed more than the A.T.S. and they would do jobs ”’thereto done by men, thus reserving men for fighting. Before the war women complained that the men were given all the opportunities. In the A.T.S. every girl had an opportunity of doing the job to which she was best fitted. Coun. Roberts, moving a vote of thanks to the Princess Royal, said he was sure everyone would take heed of her appeal. He hoped that not only would mothers encourage their daughters to join the A.T.S., but that the men too, would help in the home.
At The Hospital
After seeing a short film programme the Princess Royal, who was attended by Lady Lloyd as Lady-in-Waiting, proceeded to the Montagu Hospital. The Princess was welcomed by the President, Mr. W. P. Turner, and a guard of honour formed by members of the nursing staff, and the Chairman of the Board (Mr. W. A. Lewis), Matron (Miss M. J. O’Callaghan)
Secretary- Superintendent (Mr. A. Laycock) ‘ and Resident Surgical Officer (Mr. J. G. Mar) were then presented to her, and accompanied her on a tour of the wards. Her Royal Highness showed the greatest interest in all aspects of the Hospital’s work and visited the bed of every patient and had a cheerful word with most of the occupants. She had quite a long chat with a Hull evacuee who is a patient in the maternity ward, having been billeted at Swinton after having her home destroyed in an air raid. Later the Princess adjourned to the Board Room for afternoon tea with the President of the Hospital ant members of the local Information Committee. The Board Room had been beautifully decorated with autumn flowers under the supervision of Mrs. Turner, wife of the President, and on leaving the Princess sent a gracious message saying how delighted she had been with all the arrangements made for her visit. Mr. Bacon, who conveyed the message, was asked to assure Her Royal Highness, on behalf of the patients, how much her kindly interest had been appreciated. Considerable satisfaction with the arrangement of the entire afternoon’s programme was expressed by the Ministry of Information representatives present, who were well pleased with the capable manner in which the local Information Committee had discharged their responsibilities on this important occasion.
After tea, hostesses of the A.T.S. girls were presented to Her Royal Highness. The. hostesses were: Mrs. Gething, 8, Cemetery Road; Mrs. Flower, The Bungalow, Church Street; Mrs. Jackson, 39, Harlington Road; Mrs. Greeves, 3, Oxford Street, Roman Terrace; Mrs. Waddington, 32, Chaucer Road; Mrs. Dobson, 7, Cowper Road; Mrs. Cranidge, 104, Doncaster Road; Mrs. Wakefield, 15, Kelvin Street; Mrs. Ashton. 14, Genoa Street; Mrs. Clayton. ” Mourino,” Princess Road; Mrs. Pattison, 26, Addison Road; Mrs. Redman, 14, Auckland Road; Mrs. Brookes, 28, Harlington Road; Mrs. Lee, ” Churchgates,” Church Street Mrs. Cramp, 13, Church Street Mrs. Blagg, 5, Alexandra Road Mrs. Chappell, 34, Tennyson Avenue; Mrs. Padley. 17. Kelvin Street; Mrs. Howlett, 26, Harlington Road; Miss Fletcher, 162, Doncaster Road; Mrs. Jackson, 37, Harlington Road; Mrs. Goodman, 15, Genoa Street; Miss Mitchell 51, Highwoods Road; and the Misses Fletcher, 164, Doncaster Road.