Duke of Gloucester in Birmingham: Chance for all to Help: Tribute to City as Birthplace of Boys’ Clubs: “Charity in True Sense”: The Duke of Gloucester, speaking in Birmingham last night as President of the National Association of Boys’ Clubs, emphasized that one way in which people, anxious to respond to the recent appeal by the Prince of Wales, could give very valuable social service was to help the Boys’ Club movement. … (description of his visit) … on arrival at the Council House the Duke, who was accompanied by the Lord Mayor, was met by a distinguished company with included the Bishop of Birmingham (Dr. E. W. Barnes) and Mrs. Barnes, Mr. O. H. Jones (chairman of the Federation of Boy’s Clubs), Mr. Norman Smith (hon. secretary), Mr. Roy Pinsent, Mr. P. J. Hannon, M.P. and Mr. Peter Johnstone (Warden of the Birmingham Boys’ and Girls’ Union), all of whom were presented to the Royal Visitor by the Lord Mayor. … Mr. Roy Pinsent explained the beginning of the movement in Birmingham: Birth of Movement: They founded one club 25 years ago, he said, in a small clubroom in Swallow Street. Today they had a membership of 3,000 boys and girls and a staff of 300 voluntary workers trained from those who had had a public school or university education. Like most voluntary philanthropic and social institutions, they were badly crippled by debt and unless they could raise £1,000 or £1,500 by the end of the financial year in March they would be faced with the necessity of closing down or greatly restricting their work. Happily, since entering that room, he had had handed to him two cheques for £50, with the promise that any donations received that day would be doubled. That was a practical constructive work. “We are out to prevent and not to cure some of the blackest evils of the present day” he added, “and a donation to our funds is the most paying, and at the same time the most patriotic investment you can make.” Thanks to the Duke of Gloucester were proposed by Mr. O. H. Jones, seconded by Mr. Peter Johnstone, and carried with acclamation. …
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0738 Devonport: Richard Alfred Pinsent: 1852 – 1948