Category: Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour

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Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 30 April: Train and steamer to Brussels

Friday, 30 April 1937

Buses all went on strike today

Left Victoria Station at 10.30. 8 of us in the party; Halls, Hills, Everett, McCabe, and myself. Got to Dover 12.30, took steamer, Leopold, across the English Channel to Ostend [Belgium]. Good smooth trip over, then train to Brussels, there about 6.30. Out to Madame Maas to stop, beautifully furnished. Mrs E & I had a lovely room, with private bath, good meals, make us very comfortable. After dinner, which we finished at 9.30, all went to town with madame to see the shops. Got back about 11. All done and very tired off to bed.

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Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 27 April: The Royal Mint

Tuesday, 27 April 1937

Nice morning, met the N.Z. folks at 12. Had lunch at 12. Had lunch at Lyons, then bus out to the [Royal] Mint – opposite the Tower of London. Long walk, all very tired. Had afternoon tea there and went back to St Margaret’s Hotel to dinner and had a game of bridge at night. Raining heavy as I left, borrowed umbrella from Mrs Everett.

Went to several churches in the morning, the Temple and Temple Bar.

 

[St Margaret’s Hotel was situated at 26 Bedford Place. Thirza’s New Zealand friends were based there. After her visit to the Continent, Thirza relocated from 130 Belgrave Street to St Margaret’s.]

Bedford Place outside the former St Margaret's Hotel (Mar 2013)

 

Looking towards 26 Bedford Place, the former St Margaret's Hotel (Mar 2013)

 

Entrance to 26 Bedford Place, formerly St Margaret's Hotel (Mar 2013)
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Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 26 April: Sherry party at Eaton Square

Monday, 26 April 1937

Nice sunny morning but very cold. Called at Australia house for letters. Met Mrs Carter & Miss Dunbar. All had lunch together then to Overseas Club, where they joined up. Had afternoon tea at Lyons at Marble Arch. Left them at 5 – had to race back to dress for sherry party at Lady Barron’s in Eaton Square. About 40 there, met lots of Lords & Ladies. Lady Swadling drove me home in her Rolls Royce. Asked me to tea on Friday, had to refuse as I am going to Holland. Met young Lord Jersey, nice boy, very chatty.

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Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 24 April: Tunbridge Wells

Saturday, 24 April 1937

A nice morning met 6 of the N.Z. crowd at Australia House at 10. Had lunch, then took green car to [Royal] Tunbridge Wells – a nice run over 2 hrs. Had tea at the wells. Mrs Hill asked me back to dinner – feeling knocked out. Came home and went to bed early. They all think I am doing too much racing around – and that I am not  looking well so I must take things quieter.

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Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 23 April: Windsor Castle

Friday, 23 April 1937

A nice day but cold – went down to Russell Square to meet the N.Z. folks, not having seen them for a week – had lunch, bought new coat, brown, then took green car to Windsor Castle. Lovely drive, walked all around the grounds, great crowd. Feeling very tired after dinner. Went down to the flat to spend evening with the Davidsons & Mr Hyland. Arrived home about 12.

Round Tower, Windsor Castle; 23 April 1937
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Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 22 April: Tower of London

Thursday, 22 April 1937

Went to Australia House. Met Ethel Kingdon & her husband. Had a chat then Miss Dunleary and I had lunch. Met Mr Cockrane [sp? Possibly Cochrane], who took us to his hotel, the Imperial, then out to the Tower of London, at 5.15. A long walk back at 7, but too tired to go to an at-home, at the overseas club – so went to bed. Doing too much.

Tower of London (Mar 2013)

 

[The Imperial Hotel was located in Russell Square and was demolished after the second world war. It had a sister hotel designed by the same architect, The Hotel Russell, which still stands.]

Hotel Russell, Russell Square, London (Feb 2013)
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Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 21 April: Regent and Bond Streets and Mayfair

Wednesday, 21 April 1937

First bit of sun today but very cold; nearly frozen. Met Edith Rotherham. Took her to lunch at Lyons Brassiere, then did the shops in Regent & Bond, back to the overseas club for afternoon tea then out to Miss Cuhh? in Mayfair to cocktail party at 6.  About 100 there, left at 8 when the young people started dancing. Had no dinner, too cold, feeling very tired. Had a big day, writing letters to Sydney tonight, feeling very tired and easy.

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