THIS STONE WAS LAID BY THE HON CLAUDE G HAY M.P. (DATE) (MAY 21?) 1903. JOHN DAVIS ESQ JP MD CHAIRMAN. Claude George Hay-Drummond (1862-1920) was Conservative MP for the Hoxton division of Shoreditch (elected 1900) and there is an internet notice to the effect that in 1904 he made a proposal in Parliament that free breakfast and dinner be provided to necesssitous school children, a move which would be provided by a 1/2d in the pound rate. Mr Hay also had an interest in children's nurseries for working mothers and he sat on the Committee of the Day Nurseries, the very first one being opened in 1905 in Myrtle Street Hoxton, the Hoxton Nursery. A very interesting Tory MP. From the diary of R.D.Blumenfeld (online)dated 1908. He was succeeded as MP by Dr. Christopher, later Viscount, Addison (Liberal) in 1910 who eventually became a socialist and MP for Swindon.

"I saw Claude Hay, brother of Lord Kinnoull, in Dover Street sitting in a large motor-car with a tonneau body. He informs me he is off to Leicestershire to help a friend in the election, and has adopted this novel vehicle as a method of taking people to the polls. A motor-car maker tells me that he will not be surprised if motor- cars are used in future as much as horses. The Daily Express has issued a warning on the dangers of motoring, for these machines are not to be handled on a casual acquaintance. The man who is taking a precious load of voters to the poll in support of a candidate ought to be above suspicion as to sobriety and skill in working the