Old “friends” for dinner

When one thinks of Christmas, we are often drawn to “the works” do, or the office party. With a Quaker company originally like Albright and Wilson, one could hardly think that in times past these would have been riotous affairs, (except with one another’s cousins maybe 😆 ), though maybe some grog was served with the roast hog.

Two accounts of “festive” occasions are given in this blog post. The first is an invitation card to The 8th Worcester Oldbury Home Guard dinner held on December 1st 1944. In context the home guard had now been disbanded the month before, when it was clear that Britain was now amongst the allies that would win the war very shortly; not that Albright and Wilson had much to do with this however. It is clear, from some of the names within this battalion that they played a major part in the local home guard organisation.

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The menu that evening served tomato soup as a starter followed by roast chicken and ham, Brussel sprouts, Cauliflower, and roast and boiled potatoes.

Afters were Christmas pudding and mince pies served with coffee and tea.

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What a line up of entertainment was on offer that night. The Broadwell air must have turned blue that night with Dick Lawler’s jokes. And of course The Langley band were on hand to pump out a few sharps and flats.

At this point in their history, the company were in what was known as “care and maintenance”– basically dumping all the shit from war production down the road in Tividale.

Fast forward to the works centenary dinner in April 1951, and a very different festive air appears to take place. The 100 years of phosphorus making volume outlines what took place then after the company had become a public company. At this point the managing director of the company was one W.B Albright. Chairman was Kenneth Wilson. Both were grandsons of the founders.

This dinner at the Savoy Hotel in London was attended by over 400 guests, including a future Prime Minister Anthony Eden who was then Chancellor of their Edgbaston mates at the University of Birmingham. Entertainment that day was provided by renowned pianist Eileen Joyce, (perhaps the LPB couldn’t afford the trip to the capital.)

Of note that night is a line of the Chairman’s speech

“White phosphorus, besides behaving intemperately if parked in a dry place, IS A POISON,; and people working in match factories were subject to a frightful disease, phosphorus necrosis.”

A lesser do was then held for some of the staff in Birmingham, though no doubt the menu would have been less appetising. Perhaps Louisa Merrifield was doing the catering.

WISHING EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU CONSUME THIS CHRISTMAS- I’M HAVING AN OLD FRIEND FOR DINNER.

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Sgt Wilson’s lonely Hell club band

 

 

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