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39 U.N.B.L.J. 238 (1990)
Lord Beaverbrook and the University of New Brunswick Law School

handle is hein.journals/unblj39 and id is 244 raw text is: LORD BEAVERBROOK AND THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK LAW SCHOOL Adrian B. Gilbert* Lord Beaverbrook had been very generous to the University of New Brunswick before the Second World War. He built the Lady Beaverbrook Residence and the Gymnasium, which have been in constant use ever since. He had been a stu- dent in the King's College Law School in Saint John in the 1890's and obviously absorbed a good knowledge of contracts and corporation law to fit him for the business world into which he was about to plunge. In 1948 when he was Chancellor of the University of New Brunswick, he questioned me, I was then Secretary of the Faculty and had been a volunteer lec- turer for nearly thirty years, about the suitability of our lecture rooms which were in the old Provincial Building on the corner of Princess and Canterbury Streets in Saint John. These rooms were dark, dusty and too small. The library of the Saint John Law Society, which our students were at liberty to use, was also inadequate. He was shocked at the appearance of the building and said he would provide a new building. A year later Mr. Thomas Drummie, who acted as agent for Lord Beaverbrook, purchased or obtained an option on two buildings on Germain Street. The residence of the late F.P. Starr on Coburg Street was purchased through the efforts of Alexander Knox, then manager of Eastern Trust Company, and Miss Mary Louise Lynch, then of the firm of Gilbert, McGloan & Gillis. On one of his visits to New Brunswick, Lord Beaverbrook invited all members of the Law Faculty, as well as Brigadier Michael Wardell, who was with him, to a lavish dinner at the Admiral Beatty Hotel. Starting with cocktails and ending with champagne, he soon got his guests pretty high. When the table was cleared, he produced his plans for the Starr House for our inspection. Unfortunately, some of the guests became somewhat critical of the plans, which had been prepared by the late Garnet Wilson, Architect. The Dean, having noticed a large vacant room on the lower floor, inquired: What is this room for? I do not see any book shelves but, is this the library? Lord Beaverbrook replied, Oh, no, this is a reception room for the common council of the City. We will have a grand piano and beautiful paintings on the walls. The Dean then went on: Oh, I thought this was to be a law school - we don't want the City Council in here. One or two others agreed with him. Suddenly Lord Beaverbrook rolled up the plans and said, You are unworthy of the Starr House. We will use other buildings. The meeting is adjourned. We all said good night and started home. I joined the Dean and offered my arm to steady him. He shook me off but accepted my offer to drive him home. I assisted him to the door but he could not find his key, so I located it in a coat pocket. I then offered to assist him upstairs but my offer was refused with, You may NOT. The next day I heard that he had broken his 'MA., 1919. Secretary of the University of New Brunswick Law School, 1923 to 1951 and Lecturer, 1923 to 1940. Mr. Gilbert, Q.C., D.C.L died in 1986.

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