Academic adventures in Bloomsbury / [Thomas Lloyd Humberstone].

  • Humberstone, Thomas Lloyd.
Date:
1951
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Academic adventures in Bloomsbury / [Thomas Lloyd Humberstone]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The University of London Club was opened in August, 1914, in premises at 19 and 21, Gower Street. The Chancellor of the University, Lord Roseberv, was President, and the Principal, Sir Henry Miers, Chairman. There was a distinguished list of Vice- Presidents and 860 original members. The Club had been formed on the basis of the following Resolution of the Senate adopted on March 29th, 1911 :— “ That the Senate would welcome the promotion of a Club for Graduates, Teachers and Officers, and would be prepared to consider an application for an annual subvention if the premises provided satisfactory accommodation for the meetings and business of Undergraduates’ Societies and for other University 4 purposes.” The formation of the Club was also approved by Convocation on January 17th, 1913, when the following Resolution was adopted :— “ That this House, recognising the great advantage to the social side of the University which would attend the establishment of a successful University Club, learns with satisfaction that the matter has been actively taken in hand, and commends the proposal to the favourable consideration of the University.’.’ The premises in Gower Street had been adopted for the purpose of the Club by the Landlord, the Duke of Bedford, and included a large Conference Hall, to satisfy the requirements of the Senate. To settle the location a referendum of those intend¬ ing to join the Club was taken. The choice of Bloomsbury was justified by general topographical considerations. I had done the preliminary work as Organising Secretary without any payment, and in 1914 was appointed Resident Secretary at ;^100 per annum, payable from October 1st, 1914. This was, in my view, an allowance rather than a salary. On March 14th, 1921, when prices were at their highest and conditions generally most difficult, the Committee, without notice on the agenda paper or any sort of warning to the Committee as a whole, appointed the Woman Steward of University College, whose metier was to prepare cheap meals for students, ” to examine the Club’s catering department and wages and other expenditure,” a fee of ten guineas being offered. Regarding this as an insult not only to the Staff but to the Club as a whole, I at once tendered my resignation as Secretary. The circular to members signed by the Chairman, Mr. Clifford Edgar, M.P., wasted no appreciation on the retiring Secretary who had risked his career to get the Club established and had seen it safely through the first seven years, including the war period : The Committee are strongly of opinion that no further increase in the sub¬ scriptions should be proposed until every other means has been tried to make income balance expenditure. They accordingly resolved to take the advice of an Expert on the question of the Catering of the Club and of the management generally. Mr. Humberstone, who has been Resident Secretary, at the same time offered to give up his work if that should appear to be in the best interests of the Club. “ After very careful consideration of the matter and of the Report of the Expert, the Committee came unanimously to the conclusion that the interests of the Club would be best served by substituting the appointment of an Hon. Secretary and of a Resident Stewardess for that of a Resident Secretary. They accordingly accepted the resignation of Mr. Humberstone, and Miss Nora Cowper, a lady of long and special experience, has been appointed as resident Stewardess. Mr. L. F. Wintle, an old and valued member of the Committee, has consented to act as Hon. Secretary.”
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