The Kingdom of Tonga

[Richard Quartermaine]

The report in Tonga crowns King Tupou VI in lavish public coronation, parties - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) brought back memories of my eight and a half years from June 1959 living and working in the beautiful South Sea Islands.

Based in Suva, Fiji the mode of travel was by De Haviland Heron or Drover, maybe a Polynesian Airlines DC3 from Apia, Samoa, small inter-island ships and the MV Matua and later the MV Tofua of the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand that serviced the Fiji, Tonga towns of Nuku'alofa, Ha'apai and Vava'u along with Niue, American Samoa and Western Samoa. It is Tonga that is in the news this week with the coronation of King Tupou VI.

I was privileged to have visited Tonga from time to time and to have ambled up to our office in Nuku'alofa from Bella Reichelson's Guest House (before the first hotel) and on passing the Royal Palace getting a wave from that grand lady Queen Salote of Tonga. I will add some photos I took in those days and write some more later.

Richard

[Roger Dyer]

Hi Richard,

Your mention of Tonga's Queen Salote brought the memories flooding back. As one of the millions who (courtesy of television) watched Queen Elizabeth's Coronation in 1953, I shall never forget the beaming smile and wonderfully warm presence of this great lady that day. Travelling in an open carriage as part of the Royal cortege she captured the hearts of us all. Later in life, I had some experience of the Tongan people and although there might be some Samoans who would disagree I generally found them to be a warm, friendly people, much like their former Queen. Seems she set a good example.

Roger

[john walker]

I was lucky enough to visit Nukualofa in the late sixties. My lasting memory of the South Pacific is of walking by a junior school and of all the children coming up to the perimeter fence and smiling and saying hello/good morning etc. The Tonga islands are known as the friendly Islands and that is exactly as I found and remember them.

[Richard Quartermaine]

Roger and John, being there in that era was really something to remember. I sat next to Queen Salote's son 'Tungi' at the Club Hotel, Suva and while his Mum was 6'3'' he was even more. He became King Taufa'ahau tupou VI. Aggie Grey who had her namesake hotel in Apia, Western Samoa reckoned she had to be sure she stocked up the larder when Tungi was visiting.
It is late here and for now here is the Wiki link to that great lady: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C4%81lote_Tupou_III
Also, a few more photos that I took in those days. TAPU is no entrance to traffic as it is Saturday which is Market Day.

Richard

[Frederick Lacey]

Brings back memories, was in Suva December 1953 on the "Port Napier" about a week or so before the "Gothic" arrived
with the Queen on board, then went onto Auckland and saw her there, was myself in the crowd when she went to see the
premier of "The Million Pound Note" with Gregory Peck, Quite a party atmosphere in Suva at the time. Fred.

[Richard Quartermaine]

That's a coincidence Fred. I was on the my final trip as a member of the crew on the 'Gothic'(14/11/52 - 12/3/53 Victoria Docks - Liverpool) and called at Suva. Only time we called at Fiji on my six trips on her. Little did I know that less than six years later I would be taking my bride of two years there to live and have our children. If you haven't seen my 'Home Page' this may bring back some memories as it so happened that we were there for the next Royal visit.
Royal Occasions
Richard

[happy daze john in oz]

On Coronation day Queen Salote was in a carriage with a very small man from India I believe. One commentator questioned who was the man with the Queen of Tonga.?

Her lunch came he reply.

[cappy]

On Coronation day Queen Salote was in a carriage with a very small man from India I believe. One commentator questioned who was the man with the Queen of Tonga.?

Her lunch came he reply.

####ah not a very long LONG PIG then....cappy

[Roger Dyer]

On Coronation day Queen Salote was in a carriage with a very small man from India I believe. One commentator questioned who was the man with the Queen of Tonga.?

Her lunch came he reply.

John (Happy Daze), for many years this quip has been widely, albeit wrongly, attributed to the late, Noel Coward. Although, dear Noel later confessed that the original remark had been made by a fellow member at White's Club (an exclusive 'gentleman's' club in London), at the time it so perfectly suited his image that he happily took responsibility for the witticism. However, it did necessitate a change of travel destination for, Noel, who had planned to visit Tonga in late '53 or 54' Prudently, he realised that to proceed with his original plan might well result in his own devourment in a manner with which he would be totally unfamiliar.

N.B...... For younger members who may not know, Mr.Coward had 'known' many men during his colourful career. Batting for the other side (as they say), he was the popular creator of stage musicals, a dramatist, singer, songwriter, author, stage and film actor and one who possessed a great, if sometimes 'biting', wit. Makes you wonder how he found the time doesn't it?

Roger

[Richard Quartermaine]

So small Cappy that he would have been like a CANAPE to a main course as opposed to a CANOPY that would have kept them dry had she not ordered that the carriage should be open.
Richard
AND:
As King George of Fiji (as claimed by his grandson) was on the captain's table on his voyage to meet Queen Victoria in relation to the Deed of Cession to Britain the steward presented him with the menu. King George waved it away and asked for the Passenger List. Incidentally, it was the marauding Tongans' activity in the Eastern Fiji Lau Group of islands that gave rise to the desire for protection.