On This Day, 1 May 1917

Birmingham Mail

Tuesday 1 May 1917

MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS IN BIRMINGHAM.

SERVICE AT THE QUEEN’S HOSPITAL.

May Day opened in brilliant fashion in Birmingham, the weather being ideal. Owing to the war there were few celebrations. At the Queen’s Hospital an early morning service was as held as usual in the Roof Ward, and was well attended by and staff. The dresses of wounded soldiers added to the picturesqueness of the scene. Under the guidance of Miss Humpherson, of the resident staff, assisted by Mr. Wood, of the Dispensary, a small choir of soldiers led the musical portion of the service, and also rendered Jackson’s “Te Deum.” The service was conducted by the chaplain (the Rev. G. H. Moore), and an appropriate May Day address was given by the Rev. R. J. Campbell.

At the Somerset Road Wesleyan Church, Handsworth, a May Day service was conducted by the Revs. W. F. Howard (minister) and E. Ewbank.

At Sutton Coldfield the old Bishop Vesey ‘bequest of poor maidens’ portions were distributed to four young women who had been married during the year, and there were the usual decorations of heavy draught horses belonging to the railway companies.

Warwickshire possesses a fairly large number of permanent Maypoles, but there were no demonstrations, nor was there any Morris dancing in Shakespeare’s country. There will, however, be Maypole dancing in the Square at Warwick on Saturday on behalf of soldiers’ charities.

To-day is the 400th anniversary of the great London riot, the result of which was that fifteen London apprentices were hanged for their barbarous treatment of foreigners, and it is the 300th anniversary of  the famous “Book of Sports” issued by James I., who directed the restoration of May games, Whitson ales, and Morris dancing, so long as they did not interfare with church services.