On This Day, 27 September 1917

Birmingham Mail

Thursday 27 September 1917

HELP FOR BLINDED HEROES.

BIRMINGHAM LICENSED TRADES HANDSOME COLLECTION

The handsome contribution of £1,550 collected by the Greater Birmingham Licensed Trade for the Fund for the Training and After-Care of Blinded Soldiers and Sailors was handed over to the local representatives of the fund today.

The ceremony took place at the Liverpool Chambers, Cherry Street, and Mr. W. J. Elwood, who presided, said the Greater Birmingham Licensed Trade Committee had entered into the work with great enthusiasm, and not a halfpenny had been deducted from the amount collected for expenses.

Mr. W. Waters Butler, speaking as a brewer, said the movement had been solely due to the retail trade in Birmingham, and that section of the trade was to be heartily congratulated upon the result. He added that there were no more charitable persons than the patrons of public-houses, and no more liberal-hearted people than the working-men of England.

Lieutenant-Colonel G. G. Ray, acknowledging the gift, said there were 876 blinded soldiers and sailors in this country, of whom 454 were at St. Dunstans, 251 had been placed in positions as a result of the training, and with others waiting to enter the institution and abroad there were upwards of 1,000 blinded heroes for whom help was needed.

Mr. Charles C. Macaulay (provincial organiser to the fund) expressed his warm thanks for the magnificent gift, which he described as “a ray of Birmingham sunshine going up into the London fog.” It was very gratifying to him to state that £30,000 had been collected in Birmingham and the surrounding districts on behalf of the movement within the last few months.

A letter was read from Sir Arthur Pearson, Bart., expressing regret at his inability to attend the gathering, and expressing his sincere and cordial thanks for the handsome contribution to the funds.