ANNUAL REUNION OF STUDENTS.
There was a veritable invasion of the spacious entertainment rooms of the Grand Hotel, Birmingham, on Wednesday evening, when a crowd of young people bubbling over with excitement and with keen anticipations of holidays and festivities, took possession. They were pupils – present and past, with a sprinkling of parents and friends – of Lawrence’s College, Birmingham. Dancing was catered for in the Grosvenor Rooms, and the young folk had a hectic, but thoroughly enjoyable time. Dances – ancient and modern – were heartily applauded, and Mr. T. W. Bent’s band provided excellent music.
The non-dancing folk had a delightful and informal entertainment in the Windsor Room. Messrs. Frank Thompson and Charles Albert, with Miss Kirby, provided humorous selections, whistling solos, and impersonations, many items of which were received with vociferous applause. A conjuring and ventriloquial turn by Mr. Lawrence Gay was watched by lynx-eyed youngsters anxious to find out the “how” and the “why.” Pianoforte accompaniments were rendered by Mr. Neville Bosworth, who was quite indefatigable, while Mr. Stanley Lane sang some well-known songs.
It may be interesting to our readers to pass on some information which we gathered of the start and development of this “lively” educational institution. Started in January, 1900, in Steelhouse Lane – with modest furniture and equipment and a staff of one – it jumped at once into the public eye by securing first place at the Birmingham Post Office examination. In a short time it came to be said “You must go to Lawrence’s if you would enter the postal service locally,” and indeed until their cessation, in 1915, the College gained nearly all the first places, and once swept the board, capturing all the vacancies.
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(Walsall Observer & South Staffordshire Chronicle, 1st January 1927)
Our Family 2 