Fundraising Gallery

A Day in the Life of the Debutante - Miss Margaret Whigham

A scene from a number of tableaux staged at the London Hippodrome in May 1931 in aid of the Highway Club for Boys and Girls in the east end of London - it was attended by the Duchess of York. The theme in this scene was A Day in the Life of a Debutante. On the left, Miss Cynthia Pratt wears the crinoline of the Victorian deb whereas on the right, Miss Margaret Whigham played the modern deb. Margaret Whigham was hailed deb of the year in 1930 and was the darling of the society columns both before and after her marriage when she became Mrs Charles Sweeney. She subsequently married the 11th Duke of Argyll and gained notoriety during their scandalous 1963 divorce case. Date: 1931

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Royal Cornwall Museums trade stand at the Royal Cornwall Show, Royal Cornwall Showground, Whitecross, Wadebridge, Cornwall. 8th June 2018

Royal Cornwall Museum's trade stand in the heritage tent at the Royal Cornwall Show. One of a series of digital images documenting the Royal Institution of Cornwall's participation in the Royal Cornwall Show held by the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association on 6th to 8th June 2018. The Royal Cornwall Museum and Courtney Library were outside the walls at the Royal Cornwall Show and took part in the Prince's Countryside Parade to celebrate their patron, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall's 70th birthday which included over 70 dancers from the Truro based dance academy Jason Thomas Dance performing for the museum to great acclaim. There was also a pop up exhibition in the heritage tent with a new "Trunk of Curiosities", alongside hands on activities. The museum also had the opportunity to highlight the photographic collection to evoke memories of shows gone by with pictures of the Royal Cornwall Show from 1908 onwards. The parade was organised by The Prince's Countryside Fund, a charity established by the Prince of Wales in 2010 which aims to enhance the prospects of family farm businesses and the quality of rural life. In total, 70 patronages came together in a unique and colourful parade highlighting their work and achievements to date. The event showcased broad themes including wildlife and conservation, native breeds, food and farming, and heritage and skills. The event was attended by both the Duke of Cornwall, who became patron of the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association in 2002, and the Duchess of Cornwall, who became vice president in 2011. Photographer: Nicki Foley

© RIC

Lady Drogheda - An Aerial Propagandist

The Countess of Drogheda, born Kathleen Moore Pelham Burn married the 10th Earl of Drogheda in 1909 and divorced him in 1922 to marry Guillemo Delanda a polo player. A keen sportswoman she played tennis at Wimbledon, learnt to fly and worked helping refugees during the First World War. Pictured in The Tatler in a flying airsuit - she was known as the Flying Countess - at the time her aviation exhibition had raised over 6000 in London and In Ireland. She arranged the exhibition initially at the Grosvenor Galleries aiming to raise funds for charity and to encourage men to join the Royal Flying Corps (RAF). It later travelled to the United States. During Tank Week in 1918, she flew over London with the Squadron-Commander, the Master of Semphill (the Hon. William Francis Forbes-Semphill) and dropped leaflets in Trafalgar Square exhorting the public to buy war bonds. Date: 1918

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans