A Concert for the Belgians

Park Street Baptist Chapel 1908 [Z1306/75/10/52/6]

Thursday 10th December 1914: A concert was held yesterday evening in the lecture hall of Park Street Baptist Church, Luton to raise funds for seventeen Belgian refugees from Malines now living at Leagrave and being supported by the members of the Church. The refugees themselves attended the concert and were given some of the front seats. To ensure there was at least a part of the concert that the guests could understand the second half began with the Belgian National Anthem. The choir sang a verse and were followed by a young Belgian woman who received almost deafening applause. A Belgian man joined her on the platform and started an impromptu rendition of “God Save the King” which he ended with a shout of “England for ever” in his French accent. The main focus of attention for all the women in the audience was a young baby whose father was fighting with the Belgian Army.

Source: Luton News 10th December 1914