On This Day, 1 July 1916

Birmingham Daily Post

Saturday 1 July 1916

SERBIAN VISITORS TO BIRMINGHAM.

During their stay in Birmingham in connection with the Kossovo Day celebration, Mons. Antonievitch (First Secretary of the Serbian Legation), Mons. B. Popovitch (Professor of Literature at Belgrade University), and Madame Ivanitch were the guests of the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress (Aldermen and Mrs Neville. Chamberlain) at their residence, Westbourne, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston. They left Birmingham on Thursday afternoon. They were delighted with the warmth of their reception, the Lord Mayor said yesterday, and were profoundly impressed by everything they saw, but more especially by the local patriotism and public spirit of the citizens. On the morning of their departure, in company with other members of the Serbian party, they drove to the Council House and, accompanied by the Lord Mayor, visited the Art Gallery, where they were received by Sir Whitworth Wallace, who conducted them through the galleries. They displayed much interest in the art collections, and were particularly attracted by the portrait of Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, the father of the Lord Mayor. They then proceeded to the Free Library in Ratcliff Place, where they were welcomed by Alderman Pritchett (chairman of the Free Libraries Committee) and Mr. W. Powell (Chief Librarian), who showed them many of the treasures of the Shakespeare collection. Leaving the library they drove to the works of the Birmingham Small Arms Company, and were conducted over the factory by Mr. Baylay (the works manager) and Capt. Kenneth Davis (the secretary). After taking luncheon with the Lord Mayor, the party attended an “At Home” given by Dr. and Mrs. Gwynne Maitland, and subsequently returned to London.