Monday 25 December 2017

Christmas Dinner Table Collection



Children’s ward at Bedford Hospital with Christmas tree, c.1910 [Z1306/10/6/15]

Tuesday 25th December 1917: The Mayor and Mayoress of Bedford, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Browning, have organised a Christmas dinner table collection in aid of the Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops Fund. These workshops teach soldiers and sailors who have been disabled in the war to make useful articles, enabling them to feel that they are earning their wages and are not dependent on charity. The workshop products include woodwork of every kind, furniture, brushes, baskets, metal goods, tinware, wooden and metal toys, stationery and printing of all kinds. These are made in light, airy factories, where crippled men are turned into valuable citizens. They are specially equipped with adapted machinery for the use of the men.  The aim of Mayor and Mayoress’s appeal is that a collection will be made at every dinner table in Bedford today. Every house in the town has been provided with an envelope, which will be collected over the next two days.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard, 21st December 1917

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