Clothes, shoes service welcomed

HUNDREDS of mourners turning up at Sanam Luang without proper black dresses and shoes yesterday continued to rely on garments loaned by generous individuals and companies to enable them to pay their respects before His Majesty the King’s body.
The government allowed mourners from across the nation a chance to pay homage to the King in front of the Royal Urn since Saturday, but they needed to adhere to dress rules. 
Men were required to wear black-sleeved shirts and trousers, with a dress code for women of black blouse, skirt and black shoes. 
The instruction was later relaxed to “polite dresses” or ethnic attire, but still many mourners from upcountry did not have appropriate clothes to enter the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall.
To help them out, some companies and philanthropists joined forces to provide clothes and shoes for people in need to borrow.
“We started at 100 pieces of clothing on the first day. And today [yesterday] many Good Samaritans joined us, donating more and more clothes and shoes,” said Pattraporn Bangpran, managing director of 3.14 Creative House & Event Organiser Co Ltd.
She voluntarily began providing black dresses on Saturday when the Throne Hall opened to the public.
According to a source at Pattraporn’s company, she realised the need and sympathised particularly with the predicament of people from upcountry. So she and her colleagues initiated their charity in coordination with Bangkok’s Chana Songkhram Police Station.
From 8am to 5pm, a long line of mourners yesterday formed in front of Pattraporn’s booth.
Before entering the gate of the Grand Palace, authorities inspect the appropriateness of clothes worn by people queuing. Those wearing sandals, shorts or any clothing against the guidelines are asked to change their dress.
Besides Pattraporn, some other companies and individuals also loan out clothes and shoes. 
At Pattraporn’s booth, people are issued with queue cards and have to deposit their identity cards in exchange for garments or shoes. All are returned.
Many female mourners did not realise they were required to wear long skirts, so they had to borrow them.

Waited for seven hours
“I have waited for my turn to enter the Grand Palace for seven hours. I thought trousers were allowed, so that’s what I wore. It’s good that there is this kind of service, otherwise I would have to go back home and would not know when I can could come here again,” said Nuannapa Asawiset, a 23-year-old Bangkok resident.
Boonnam Boonhong, a 77-year-old mourner from Prachuap Khiri Khan province in the South, said she too only brought trousers.
“As my turn was about to come, the authorities asked me to change to a skirt here. I feel thankful for the service,” said Boonnam, who had already been waiting in Bangkok for four days to pay tribute to the King.