Between four and five o'clock a company of upwards of three hundred noblemen, ladies, and gentlemen, sat down to a sumptuous luncheon at the Exchange, on the invitation of Sir John Morris, the Mayor. The room was neatly ornamented, the orchestra being filled with plants and exotics from the nursery of Messrs. Lowe, and an efficient band and several male and female vocalists were stationed there. Robes and uniforms were worn, and the company looked very brilliant. In addition to the ladies in the body of the room, the galleries were occupied with members of the fair sex, who were supplied with tea and coffee.
The Mayor presided at a cross table, supported on the right by the Countess of Lichfield, the Recorder, the Earl of Dartmouth, the Bishop of the Diocese, Lady Bagot, the Right Honourable C. P. Villiers, M.P., W. O. Foster, Esq., M.P., the Rev. A. B. Gould, the Mayor of Birmingham, Mr. Thornycroft (the sculptor); and on the left by the Earl of Lichfield, Lady Morris (the Mayoress), the Earl of Bradford, Miss Lonsdale, Lady Waterpark, the Earl of Harrowby, Mr. T. M. Weguelin, M.P., Mrs. W. O. Foster, the Mayoress of Birmingham (Mrs. Dixon), and General Garvock. The other tables were headed by the ex-Mayor, Councillor Mander, Alderman Ford, and Councillor Thurstans, who were faced by Councillor Sidney, Mr. Edward Griffin, Mr. A. Morris, and Councillor J. E. Underhill. A copy of the bill of fare, the list of toasts, and of the National Anthem, was placed before each guest. The luncheon was provided by Mr. Reynolds, of High Green. This was followed by a programme of toasts and the band played ‘Grace Choral’ which was composed by his late Royal Highness the Prince Consort. ‘God save the Queen’ was followed by other songs and the band played a selection of music.
|
