On November 15th, 1931, Chaplin took part in an open-air Thanksgiving service held at the place where the pilgrims embarked on their voyage to America. He attended as the guest of Lady Nancy Astor, who represented Plymouth as a member of Parliament.
So dense was the crowd which listened to Mr. Charles Chaplin when he spoke at an open-air Thanksgiving service held for fisher-folk at Plymouth to-day, that women and children were forced to the edge of the fish quay, the scene of the service, and one ten-year-old boy was pushed over, falling 20 feet into the sea.
A young man at once dived in after him but got into difficulties. Another man, also fully dressed, then jumped in and brought the boy safely ashore.1
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| Charlie is mobbed in Plymouth |
Ten thousand people crowded on the quay and surrounded a truck bed that was used as a platform. On the truck stood Chaplin, Lady Astor, and the Bishop of Plymouth.
Chaplin was asked by Astor to address her constituents. Holding a megaphone, he told the crowd that he sympathized with fisherman in their arduous work. "Still, we all have our tribulations," he said. "Even millionaires have their tribulations, and we must just put up with them."1 He went on to tell his fellow countrymen that "the more I see of England, the more I love her. But the only thing I can do for her is to make her laugh."2
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| With Lady Astor |
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1Leeds Mercury, November 16, 1931
2Milwaukee Sentinel, November 16, 1931