Page 14 - L&T William Avery

Redditch Heritage William Avery

purpose of discussing and adopting a method of meeting the deficiencies of the late
secretary, J. E. Laugher’. William Avery took the chair and proposed that the deficiencies
be met by charging 4 per cent on money borrowed, rather than employing a lawyer with
the probable consequence of the Society being wound up. The motion was carried. 37

William Avery was a staunch Liberal and was at the meeting in 1874 that formed the local
Liberal Association. On that occasion he was appointed President, and he was also elected
President in 1890. He was still a member of the Association’s Executive Committee in 1892
as was Samuel Allcock, manufacturer of fish hooks and fishing tackle and another Wesleyan

Methodist. In 1893 William Avery was one of the subscribers to the newly incorporated

Redditch Liberal Club. 38

The Saturday Evening and other Entertainments
William Avery saw what an evil
thing it was to have a lot of
insanitary houses and nowhere
for the people to go but the
public house. For some time he
had inaugurated magic-lantern
and other entertainments for the
children, and they always played
to full houses. The idea then
struck him that they could do
something of the same kind for
men. On 1st November, 1861 he
issued a bill stating that he
proposed to establish a Working
Man’s Reading Room in Headless
Cross and, in connection there
would be lectures, readings,
musical and other
entertainments given. The
Headless Cross Saturday
evening entertainments were
open to anyone ‘who thought
well to put a penny in the slot’.
These entertainments continued
for two or three seasons, and
then it was decided to try
something of the same kind in
Redditch. 39

A start was made in the Rifle
Room, in January, 1863, when
about 230 attended. In a few
weeks the numbers increased to
nearly 600, and for many
seasons the room was not large

Page: 14