Dr. Brown in the Chair

THE LADY MAYORESS AT THE GRAVEL LANE SCHOOL.

Last Wednesday evening the prizes were distributed at this successful Board School by the Lady Mayoress. The present number of pupils is 371 (girls and infants), of whom all save 89 are Jewish. Dr. Gordon Brown (the divisional surgeon for the City Police) was in the chair, and among the audience were Miss Davenport Hill, Mrs. Newton, Mrs. E. Davidson, Mrs. P. Cohen, Mrs. L. Lucas, Mrs. B.E. Moccata, Mrs. Rutson, Dr. Hermann Adler, Mr. B.L. Cohen, Mr. Rutson, the Revs. Mr. Martin, W.F. Nash, and R.H. Hadden, Mr. Sheriff Newton, &c. The chairman said this was the third anniversary of their birth. At first they had two large rooms with exactly two pupils. With the coming of Miss Meyers everything changed as if by magic. The rooms became so crowded that they had to apply to the Board for an extension. But now even this new wing was outgrown, and by the kindness of Miss Davenport Hill - (cheers) - they were going to build for two hundred more children, so that the school might hope to become one of the largest in London. In Miss Myers they possessed a splendid head-mistress, who ruled not be fear but by love. Three infants then gave a dramatic recitation of "The Spider and the Fly," and were followed by four tiny little girls dressed and provided with flowers to represent the four seasons respectively. Each of the "little seasons" spoke its words very prettily and ingenuously, and the whole of this part of the proceedings, including the cantata which followed, was thoroughly charming, reflecting much credit on those who had trained the little ones so well. The platform occupied by the pupils, most of whom bore or wore baskets or chaplets of flowers, was a pleasant sight, and there was a happier look on the faces of the children than could have been got up "for this occasion only." The chief parts in The Queen of the Seasons (which was ably conducted by Mrs. Goodman, Miss Rae Barnett accompanying with her usual efficiency) were taken by the Misses Hettie Lipman, Alice Alvarez, Ray Lipman, Dinah Levy, A. Rutland, E. Dowley, E. Jacobs, A. Paice, and Alice da Silva. The performance will be repeated by the children at the King's College Hospital next week - a new and commendable departure, by which little Jewish children will be able to give pleasure to those outside their circle.

Source: The Jewish Standard, December 21, 1888, Page 4