Page 10 Advertisements Column 3

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22832, 17 March 1936, Page 10

Mr If. C. Welch, who has just retired from tlie post of principal assistant at the Guildhall Library of London, knew many of to-day’s loaders when, 40 years ago, they spent the lunch hour among the books. One of them was Mr Ramsay MacDonald; he often sat in an alcove, munching a sandwich. A second was Francis Thompson, the poet-author of “ The Hound of Heaven.” Thompson was then so poor that the attendants on occasions shared their lunch with him. Mr Welch recalled their visits in an interview: “I’ve often heard how Mr Asquith, as a schoolboy at the City of London School would come in to study the Hansard debfifes.” he added. It is 47 years since Mr Welch joined the Guildhall staff, and at one time he coupled his library office with that of mace-bearer.