FILM SHOWS GUEST ARRIVING AT THE HOTEL FOR THE PARTY AND THE ARRIVAL OF LORD BEAVERBROOK. IT ALSO SHOWS LORD BEAVERBROOK REPLYING (SOF) TO THE TOAST TO HIS HEALTH.



TRANSCRIPT: LORD BEAVERBROOK: "AND HERE I MUST SAY THAT IN MY 86TH YEAR I DO NOT FEEL GREATLY DIFFERENT FROM WHEN I WAS 85. THIS IS MY FINAL WORD: IT IS TIME FOR ME TO BECOME AN APPRENTICE ONCE MORE. I HAVE NOT SETTLED IN WHICH DIRECTION, BUT SOMEWHERE, SOMETIME SOON".




Initials DS/VIS-TR/WH/JG



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: MORE THAN SIX HUNDRED NEWSPAPER MEN, POLITICIANS AND LEADERS OF NATIONAL LIFE IN BRITAIN TONIGHT (MONDAY) ATTENDED A BIRTHDAY PARTY AT LONDON'S DORCHESTER HOTEL TO HONOUR LORD BEAVERBROOK ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 85TH BIRTHDAY.

ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL FIGURES ON THE BRITISH POLITICAL SCENE IN THE PAST HALF-CENTURY, THE OCCASION BROUGHT A FLOOD OF CONGRATULATIONS FROM NATIONAL FIGURES AND POLITICAL FIGURES AROUND THE WORLD.

IN THE FOYER OF THE HOTEL, FOUR ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICEMEN AND FOUR INDIAN CHIEFS FORMED AN HONOUR GUARD FOR THE NEWSPAPER MAGNATE AND ONE-TIME CABINET MINISTER. THEY ALSO SERVED AS A REMINDER TO HIS BIRTH IN THE PROVINCE OF NEW BRUNSWICK IN 1879.

THERE WAS ALSO A SEVEN TIERED BIRTHDAY CAKE -- EACH TIER MARKING A MILESTONE IN LORD BEAVERBROOK'S CAREER AS A POLITICIAN AND A NEWSPAPER PROPRIETOR.

THE PARTY WAS GIVEN BY ANOTHER CANADIAN NEWSPAPER MAGNATE, LORD THOMSON OF FLEET, WHO PROPOSED THE TOAST TO WHICH LORD BEAVERBROOK REPLIED.