Mexborough and Swinton Times December 1, 1917
Mexborough Canadian’s Work
Mr. Albert Downing, of Toronto, Canada., formerly a resident of Mexboro’, whose musical talent has won him considerable distinction in the Dominion, writes to say that he notes with, sadness and regret that a number of men with whom he was formerly acquainted have recently figured in our casualty columns.
Mr. Downing is musical director of the Dover-court College of Music, Toronto, and he informs us that he is at present working on a programme which he hopes to present under the auspices of the National War Work Council of the United States. He has been engaged for a tour of the military camps as a soloist, and this tour will probably take him as far as Texas, and perhaps through California.
He adds: “Concert work is coming thick and fast, and although last season was the busiest I have experienced since coming to Canada nearly seven years ago, this season bids fair to eclipse it. I sang at the annual concert of the Sons of England here on Oct. 20, in Toronto’s largest music-hall, and fully four thousand people were in attendance. Canada is tremendously patriotic, and has the cause of the Allies at heart. Toronto raised 750,000 dollars for the British Bed Cross Society in three days.”