DLA096-0183  Transcription

‘Lord and Lady Willingdon’, Times of India, 19 January 1923

LORD & LADY WILLINGDON

THE STUDENTS’ HOSTEL DINNER

(From OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, January 1.

A signal service of Lord and Lady Willingdon in their Bombay days is recalled by an invitation which has reached me to view a couple of portraits which will be on exhibition at the Agnew Galleries in Old Bond Street for a fortnight from Monday next. Since return [sic] to this country Viscount Willingdon has given sittings to Mr. Oswald Birley and Viscountess Willingdon to Mr. P. de Laszlo. The portraits are being presented to them “by all ranks of the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force, in appreciation of all they did for the benefit of that Force during the War, 1914-18.” The invitation is issued by Lieutenant-General Sir William Marshall on behalf of the subscribers.

The sympathy and understanding of Lord and Lady Willingdon were in evidence at the Indian Students’ Hostel on Monday night, when they were the guest [sic] of honour at the annual dinner. There was uproarious merriment, and Lord Willingdon made an impromptu speech which was both apt and significant.

There were rounds of cheering when Lord Willingdon described the hostel as admirably conducted, under the charge of Mr. Ranganadhan. He went on to express surprise at finding on his return this country a somewhat pessimistic feeling abroad in regard to India. For himself he had always been an optimist and he now ventured to prophesy that in the course of 1925 the feelings of trust and confidence between British and Indians would develop and the relations between the two races would be better than they had been for many years past. He sincerely trusted that his young friends would work in India not only for the attainment of responsible government for their country but also for the unity, solidarity and contentment of India as part of the great British Empire. In his judgement it would be a tragedy for both countries if the partnership between them were to be severed.

MD

16/03/2008