The Henson Journals

[196]

Wednesday, May 13th, 1931.

Charles went with me to Darlington, where I took the early train to London. On arriving at Kings Cross, I drove to the Athenaeum, & then went to the hairdresser, & having been capitally civilized proceeded to the Wesleyan Central Hall at Westminster for the meeting of the Royal Lifeboat Institution. The hall was not quite filled, a fact which surprised me as the Prince of Wales was in the Chair. H.R.H. looks bronzed and fit, but he still fidgets ceaseless with hands & feet. He seemed to be in an ill temper & read his speech badly, like a schoolboy doing an exercise. My speech was a complete failure. It never got hold of the audience at all, & though prepared with some care, was quite unsuitable for the occasion. I went to the club, and got tea. Then I made my way to Kings Cross, & returned to Durham. My compagnon de voyage was Mr White of Newcastle, by conversing with whom I relieved the toedium of the journey.

At Darlington I met Ella & Fearne, who had returned from Scotland, and we all came back to the Castle together in the car.

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