Royal Tour, HRH Prince Philip, 1956 - Royal Eve
A series of interviews made on the Chatham Islands ahead of the visit on 19 Dec 1956 by HRH Prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburgh.
[This recording is of a feed of recorded material transmitted by shortwave from the islands - poor audio quality with interference. Includes several breaks of silence, instructions from Lyell Boyes, the broadcaster making the feed and abrupt ends.]
Introduction on the Duke's visit to the Chatham Island, called Royal Eve. [restarts]
Waitangi is the main community and the ship 'Port Waikato' is its life link to New Zealand. Captain Rainbow talks about the trip, mentions 'fairly bad sea'. They are some 60 miles from Waitangi out at sea.
The Britannia will not be able to berth alongside the Port Waikato and the Duke will be ferried to land from where she berths at sea.
Captain Rainbow gives some history of the Chathams.
[Attempt to set up an interview with Wellington and establish a link. Lyell Boyes mentions he will attempt to play the prerecorded taped nterviews. Rolls the tape.]
Mr. Hilton Dynell [?], headmaster and heads the organising committee for the visit. Working bee, put up flags, describes main street, the hall where the official ceremony will take place, preparations by the children, picnic luncheon & hangi preparations, dependent on the weather.
Women on the island; Mrs. Pat Collins, talks about doing last minute painting on the island, all women have been painting, new dresses arrived on the Port Waikato for the women.
Two presentations will be made, one for the Duke and one for the Queen. Describes the map, island. Moriori carving.
[ Lyell Boyes says that the last recording was running slow. ]
Mr. S.W. Hunt, President of the Jockey Club, explains the club's 82 year history. Special meeting being run for the Duke and there will be four races. The Duke will start the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes. Track is wet and have had to put sand over it. Grandstand holds 100 people.
[Repeat of Captain Rainbow's recording. Attempts to establish clearer link.
Royal Eve introduction repeated. Changing frequency.]