Sunday, 28 March 1937
Went to 8 o’clock communion with Leonard and Gwen. Very cold today. Rested all the afternoon; too cold out on deck. Played bridge at night, won 8. Had supper in Mrs Webb’s cabin, then to bed. Very cold and swelly.
Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 27 March: At sea
Saturday, 27 March 1937
Easter Saturday, very cold, everyone inside. No outside sports, played bridge all the morning, rested in the afternoon, then had win with Mr Webb. Played quoits and ball game; beated in both. Played bridge at night, had beer and sandwiches in Mrs Webb’s cabin. Leonard gave me an Easter egg.
Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 26 March: Marseilles
Top of page Miss [I] Leonard [age 34] gave me one Easter egg
Friday, 26 March 1937
Mr & Mrs Spriggins left the boat for the continent.
Arrived in Marseilles at 6. 6 of us went up to Notre Dame, wonderful position. Go up in a cage, then a great number of steps to the church. Went through and saw everything, had our photos taken, a glorious view. Came back to ship for lunch, and then 9 of us went for a lovely trip over ? efenest ? Mts, through vineyards and potteries.Had coffee at seaside then back to town. Place full of French people. Rather good looking crowd, we caused great fun making ourselves understood. The money came quite easy to me, 1 franc 2 ½. Played bridge at night, won 1.
Photo/postcard in hand: Inscribed: Taken at Notre Dame, on Good Friday 27th March, 1937
Signatures of Mrs F. E. Everett, Thirza Pidgeon, J.H.H. Hill (Mr), J.J.J.? Hill [Mrs E], Mrs E M. McCabe
Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 18 February: Start of trip
Thursday, 18 February 1937
Start of trip. Had a lovely send off. Tons of flowers, presents and streamers, every one happy. Mrs Simmons came as far as Hobart, paper said best send off on record. Beautifully calm at sea. Very crowded in cabin, Cabin mates Mrs [V] Sutherland [age 48], Miss [L] Leonard [age 34, clerk, from NZ], Miss [M] Woodhouse [age 36, teacher].
8 large bottles champagne and biscuits in cabin – all laughing & happy – Gin, brandy & champagne presents. Quite a lot of drink.
Notes:
Information on passengers contained in square brackets [ ] was determined from the Incoming Passenger list for the Moldavia’s arrival in the United Kingdom.
Source: Class: BT26; Piece: 1124; Item: 69; Ancestry.com. UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Inwards Passenger Lists. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA). Series BT26, 1,472 pieces; <http://search.ancestry.com.au/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=1518&path=London%2c+England.1937.04.Moldavia.17&sid=&gskw=T+Pidgeon>
The departure of the Moldavia was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald. The ship had a full complement of passengers travelling to London for the King’s coronation and it was noted that there were so many flowers for the women passengers that they had to lay them on the decks to wave goodbye.
1937 ‘SHIPS SAIL.’, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), 19 February, p. 4, viewed 16 February, 2013, <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17305005>