As we have seen from our previous posts the Caird Hall was open for performances and events from September 1921. There were discussions about holding an official opening in that year but arrangements seem to have been difficult. As the Duke of York (later George VI) was visiting Scotland in November 1921 a request was put in to have him open the hall. Sadly he couldn’t make it. This was probably a good thing, as the main entrance and the collonade wasn’t finished yet. So for all of the events in 1921 and probably most of 1922 the audience entered from Shore Terrace and up what is now a fire exit. In early 1922 the King and Queen were asked to open the building they had laid the foundation stones for. Although they could have visited whilst at Balmoral, they declined.
In May 1922 an invitation was extended to the Prince of Wales. The Prince was being made the captain of the Royal and Ancient in St Andrews in the autumn, and he would be required to “play himself in”. The Council hoped that he would make a quick detour to open the Caird Hall. They waited with baited breath until August 1922, when the Prince’s secretary replied stating that he couldn’t possibly open the hall in September as he wasn’t doing any more official functions until October (although he still managed to find time to play golf and get an honorary degree from the University of St Andrews). The reply did add that if no alternative could be found by autumn of 1923 then he would do it then. As the King and Queen had laid the foundation stones, the Council seems to have been hell bent on getting them of one of their offspring to open the hall.
Then 1923 rolled around and no alternative was found (or possibly even sought). In July the Prince of Wales confirmed that he would come to Dundee to open the Caird Hall. The proposal was for 25th or 26th October – he wouldn’t be able to do an earlier date as he would be on holiday in Canada. Early proposals for other things for the Prince to do included opening the Caird Park Golf Course (which he , unveiling a memorial window to Mary Slessor, opening the Seaforths Club on Park Place and visiting some jute works. It was also proposed that the Prince be given the freedom of the city. However the Prince refused this offer in August, stating that he already held far too many freedoms from much larger cities.
The date for the official opening was eventually decided as 26th October 1923. The day, as you probably expect for a day in October was grey and rainy first thing in the morning. However luck was with the organisers and the sun came out. The Prince arrived by train from Edinburgh at the Tay Bridge Station (now the main Dundee Station) where he was met by a guard of Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves. He wore a grey suit and overcoat with his signature bowler hat. He had asked others to wear a bowler too, but it appears this request wasn’t met by the councillors and other dignitaries (the Courier even noted that one man was bear headed!). Accompanied by Lord Provost Spence the party made their way on foot across to Crichton Street where they headed up the steps to the entrance to the Caird Hall. Here the guard of honour was made up of members of the 4/5th Bttn of the Black Watch. The Councillors and Magistrates were assembled on the stairs of the Caird Hall, along with James Thomson the Hall’s architect. Here the Prince of Wales was shown designs for the Central Improvement scheme and what was planned for the rest of the are (what is now City Square). It should be remembered that there was no grand square in front of the hall just a small strip of a platform. The Prince was then duly handed a golden key whereupon he “opened” the hall.
A meet and greet of local dignitaries took place in one of the smaller halls behind the stage area. The Prince was presented to the Lord Provosts of Glasgow, Edinburgh. Aberdeen, Perth and St Andrews – the latter of which he recognised following his golfing trip the previous year. Edwin Scrymgeour MP was also present as part of the platform party. Back in the main hall there were 3,300 people awaiting the Prince’s arrival. They were being entertained by Mr W Peddie Petrie, the organist for the day. Everyone then took their positions on the stage for the speeches.
The first to speak was Lord Provost Spence, who outlined how there had “long been a need for a hall of sufficient size” in the city and he went on to relay the process of designing and building the hall, making sure to pay homage to Sir James Caird, who he claimed had had the idea of building the hall. Mention of his sister, Mrs Marryat, and her kind donation of a further £75,000 to the project, got a big reaction in the hall – so she was clearly popular. The Town Clerk then read the formal address to the Prince, which was rolled up and presented to him in a gold casket.
The Prince of Wales of gave a speech. He praised the Council and their scheme. He also mention the generosity of local citizens, a clear nod to Sir James Caird. He then alluded to the fact that he was visiting the Logie Housing Scheme later in the day by saying that he was glad to be able to visit the new houses that the Council had built in an attempt to improve the lives of Dundonians. He also mentioned projects in the city to tackle tuberculosis and taking care of the welfare of mothers and their young children. The Prince was keen to hear of the progress of the ring road (the Kingsway) and how it would open up development of the north end of the city. He then stated that he had a “very real” interest in the country’s centres of industry such as Dundee.
After the speeches a banquet was held in the Marryat Hall. At 2.00pm the Prince bade his farewells to the diners and left to the sound of “Will ye no come back again” and the bells ringing at St Mary’s. Along with his small entourage, including the Earl of Strathmore, the Lord Provost and James Thomson, he headed back down to Crichton street where a convoy of cars waited. They then proceeded to the Esplanade which was lined by children from the Dundee schools, girl guides, boy scouts, boys brigades, the Salvation Army and boys from the Mars. Each child had a small union flag which they dutifully waved. The cars headed along the Esplanade to Magdalen Yard Road, up Windsor Street (appropriately), right onto Perth Road to Sinderins, left up Blackness Avenue and across to Balgay Road.
Here the procession halted at the Logie Housing Scheme viewpoint. The Prince admired the new homes and their situation, being particularly taken with Balgay Hill. After being talked through the features of the homes by James Thomson and chatting to the Lord Provost, he lit a cigar (and the Lord Provost’s cigarette) and they moved on. I hope that the workers who had been up since 5.30 that morning clearing the autumnal leaves from the roads and gardens thought that it was worth it for just a few minutes. It was the down Sycamore Place to Logie Avenue, Glenagnes Road and back to Blackness Road. The next destination was Ashton Works, Caird’s factory.
I had thought it strange that Emma Marryat was not at the Caird Hall for the ceremony (or at least none of the papers referred to her being there) but she was at least met by the Prince at Ashton Works. A few other members of the Caird family were also present. The prince spoke to a few mill workers and observed their actions operating the machinery. A copy of a specially made brochure was presented to the Prince of Wales, which he dutifully signed, despite a troublesome pen. He then went on to visit Seaforth Highlanders club on Park Place, made an impromptu stop at the Ex-serviceman’s Club on the Nethergate, visited the Royal Infirmary and also went to Lord Roberts Memorial Workshop, which provided work for disabled servicemen. After the visit was concluded he drove up to Glamis Castle to dine with the Earl of Strathmore, his brother’s father-in-law.
The day was considered a great success, with crowds lining the entire route of the procession. Crowds particularly turned out a the bottom of the Hilltown, on Park Place (where the Prince had trouble getting back to his car) and on the Esplanade. The day was marked with the Prince’s relaxed attitude, from his wearing of a bowler hat, to his smoking of cigars but most notably the amount of people, particularly ex-servicemen that he stopped to speak to on his journey. The Prince of Wales left a message with the Lord Provost stating:
I an absolutely delighted with my reception. I have never enjoyed myself better anywhere. There has not been a single discordant note and I shall certainly pay a return visit to Dundee
Prince of Wales, 26th October 1923
The Dundee City Archives Blog 
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