5th
June 1942
Princess Royal Tours Pontefract Among Serving Girls
The
Princess Royal spent some hours in Pontefract on Monday, when she made a
tour of inspection of the Auxiliary Territorial Service training depot
at the Pontefract Barracks, and later visited rest centres and canteens
in the town which cater for the needs of girls in the Forces. Her Royal
Highness, who is the Controller-Commandant of the A.T.S., wore the
uniform of the Service.
She
was accompanied by the Colonel commanding the West Riding District;
Chief Commander Wagstaffe, A.D., A.T.S., Northern Command; and Lady
Lloyd [lady-in-waiting]; and was received at the Barracks, where
officers of the Yorkshire & Lancaster Regiment were presented to her
by Mrs Wagstaff. Before inspecting the three training companies of the
A.T.S., who were on ceremonial parade, the girls Chief Commandant, Mrs
Baker, and other officers of the A.T.S., were presented to her.
The
parade was followed by a display of country dancing on the Barracks
Square, and the Princess then inspected the quarters of the Depot,
including the dining hall, kitchen, officers mess, day room, cookery
school, recreation room, hospital, and so on. She also took great
interest in a handicraft exhibition, which was the outcome of a course
taken by some of the girls at a local technical institute; and an
example of their work-- a pair of slippers, was presented to her. The
Princess was entertained to lunch in the officers mess, and when she
left the girls lined the route from the mess to the gates.
In
the afternoon her first call was at the Catholic Women’s League Rest
House for Girls of H.M. Forces, in Tanshelf Drive. There she was
received by Mrs G.C. Vaughan, Chairman of the Committee, and the
Reverend W. Fitzgibbon, who were presented by Mrs Baker; and Mrs Vaughan
presented the following helpers; Mrs Robinson, Mrs Haile, Miss Poskit,
Miss McKay and Sister Lovelady.
The
Princess Royal questioned the helpers about their work and the catering,
and about the number of girls who visited the Rooms, and she expressed
great satisfaction with all she saw.
1942 INDEX
