December 23 - 1935 All Blacks meet NZ Society in London

After their 12-13 test loss to Wales the 1935-36 All Blacks return to a foggy London and meet New Zealand miler Jack Lovelock. Disappointingly, the fog prevented photogenic New Zealand aviatrix Jean Batten from attending.

From ”The Tour of the Third All Blacks 1935” by C J Oliver and E W Tindill. Pub. 1936 by Sporting Publications. P.161.

The team left Cardiff at 10.20 a.m. on Monday, December 23rd, and arrived at London at 2.15 p.m. There we had our first experience of a real London fog. In the afternoon the New Zealand Society entertained, and presented each of us with a silver casket. We also received a silver ash-tray each from Lord Bledisloe. J. Lovelock, the champion mile runner, was also present, but, much to our disappointment, Miss Jean Batten, the aviatrix, was prevented from attending through the fog. Tuesday was a free day, and gave us another chance of seeing more parts of London. On the morning of Wednesday (Christmas Day) some of us went to see Streatham and Mitcham Rugby League team play, Nepia, Holder, Smith, McDonald, and Harrison—New Zealanders—being the attraction. We attended a dance at the Metropole in the evening.

Jack Lovelock - champion NZ runner