27 JULY 1934, Page 6

In connexion with the Slave Emancipation Centenary luncheon which I

mentioned in this column last week, I hear, incidentally, of another slavery celebration of much personal interest. As many of the descend- ants of the Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton of emanci- pation fame (they are numerous and all of philanthropic bent) as can be collected are to assemble on September 10th at Northrepps Hall in Norfolk, where Sir Thomas, on September 10th, 1834, had put into his hands despatches from the West Indies bringing the first news of the actual freeing of the blacks some six weeks earlier. What they will do when they get there I am not so sure.