Page 10 - L&T William Avery

Redditch Heritage William Avery

‘Poor’s Fund’

Soon after their marriage in 1855 William and Maria Avery established a ‘Poor’s Fund’ for
the village of Headless Cross. One of the ways of raising money was the annual ‘concert
for the poor’. As WA had a wide reputation as a musician, from time to time many
professionals assisted. These concerts attained a high reputation throughout the
neighbourhood, attracted large and influential audiences, and brought substantial aid to
the fund. They continued until about 1885 when, owing mainly to advancing years, Mr and

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Mrs Avery felt unable to continue them. Thus, in 1863 a ‘grand concert of sacred music’
was held in Headless Cross, ‘the proceeds being devoted to the poor’. The music was
selected by ‘Mr. William Avery, a gentleman whose valuable services’ were ‘often
bestowed upon the cause of charity’. He was assisted by several performers of Redditch
and the neighbourhood, and was both pianist and conductor. In 1865 demand for tickets
was so great that there had to be a second performance. In 1867 again ‘Mr. W. Avery ably

presided at the piano’. 23

The Averys also established a clothing fund in 1857 in connection with the schools. The
‘School Clothing Club’ encouraged saving by adding a bonus of 2d. for each shilling
deposited under 5 shillings. In 1859 194 people benefited. Maria Avery’s contribution to
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the community was recognised in an obituary, as her ‘faithfulness in visiting the poor and
afflicted was greatly appreciated’. She also seems to have played a major part in
establishing funds for the needy in Headless Cross as the ‘Benevolent Society and the
Clothing Club were founded by her nearly 40 years ago’. 25

Sport interests

Dr. Page stated that at one time William Avery ‘could hold his own with the bat’. Avery
played for the Headless Cross cricket team, and was one of the team chosen to play
against the All England Eleven when it visited Redditch. He was later the President of the
Redditch Football Club and of the Headless Cross Football Club for many years. 26

Interests in Education

He became a member of the first School Board for the Feckenham district which included
not only Headless Cross but also Astwood Bank and Crabbs Cross. ‘Mr. W. Avery, Headless
Cross (Nonconformist)’ became member of the Board in November 1874. He withdrew
from the School Board election in November 1889 having been chairman of the Board ‘for
fifteen years, ever since the formation of a Board.’ In 1891 he confirmed this when he
wrote to the Birmingham Daily Post stating that he had been chairman of the School Board
for fifteen years. In 1892 he was nominated, but he did not gain enough votes to become

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a member of the Board. William Avery was always strongly in favour of ‘unsectarian’
public elementary education. He said that it was in the rural districts, ‘where bitter
sectarian State-teaching’ was ‘indulged in to its full’. He stated that the School Board

should provide teachers who would give the best secular education possible. 28

In 1872 Avery took an active part in the establishment of the School of Art at Bates Hill,
and was an active member of its committee for many years. In October 1849 he was one
of those who originated the movement which led to the establishment of the Redditch
Literary and Scientific Institute in 1850. He was the Institute’s librarian for several years,
and for eight years he was a member of its committee. He was one of its vice-presidents

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