Page 113 - WHO'S WHO OF DUDLEY ROTARY

365 Alexander (‘Alex’) WILSON (1921-2002) (Inducted 26.1.1959; left in 1968
on moving to Coventry.) Education - Librarian. Borough Librarian of
Dudley from 1952 to 1968. He expressed pride in becoming chief librarian
at Dudley in succession, once removed, to George Chandler who became
Australia's National Librarian. He moved to become director of Coventry
libraries, arts and museums 1968-72, followed by Director of Cheshire
Libraries and Museum 1972-80, and then Director General of the British
Library Reference Division 1980-86. From 1978 he made a major
contribution to the development of the state library in Malaysia. He was
made a CBE in 1986 and President of the Libraries Association the same year, and received an
Honorary DLitt from the University of Sheffield in 1989. The international journal Library
Management continues to make an annual Alexander Wilson Award for the best paper
published. He grew up in Bolton, Lancashire and started as an assistant at the Bolton Public
Library straight from school. He then served for five years in the RAF, 1941-46; after which he
was in turn a librarian at Bolton, Harrogate, Taunton and Swindon before coming to Dudley in
1952.

366 Harry Bailey RIDGE (1932-2016) (Inducted 21.3.1959, aged only 26; resigned 8.7.1971.) Edible
Fats - Manufacturing. He was Works Manager of the family firm H Ridge & Sons Ltd of Shaw
Road, Dudley. The business was started by his grandfather as bone and fat merchants in
Netherton. It was acquired by the Croda chemicals group in the 1960s and formally wound up
in 1976. He also had an interest in Cox’s Lane Garage, Old Hill, which trades as S & S Services
Cradley Limited and is now run by his sons, and as a director of S & S Supplies (Edible Fats & Oils)
Limited. He lived in Stourbridge Road, Holly Hall for many years, moving to Kinver in the early
2000s.

367 Frederick (‘Fred’) William BAKER, JP (1914-1983) (Inducted 21.3.1959; President 1968-69; died
2.11.1983 whilst still a member.) Motor freight transport. Managing Director of T Baker & Sons
(Transport) Ltd, haulage contractors based at Trindle Road, Dudley until about 1970 and then in
Groveland Road, Tipton. The firm was founded by his father Thomas in 1918, then based in
Cross Street, Wall Heath from where he delivered coal around the district by order of the Earl of
Dudley. Fred and his younger brother Tom joined the firm from school and started as lorry
drivers. The business transferred to Dudley in about 1960, with Fred and Tom in charge. It
continues today, now based at Cakemore Road, Rowley Regis and run by Fred junior and his son,
the fourth generation of the Baker family. Fred lived in Albert Street, Wall Heath from the mid-
1950s.

368 George William Blunson BEASLEY (1926-2004) (Inducted 11.5.1959; President 1971-72; left
during 1978/79.) Ladder Manufacturing, later changed to Joinery Manufacturing. He was a
Director of the Grovewood Ladder Co., presumably from its incorporation at the end of 1957.
The firm had a factory in Northfield Road, Netherton until about 1965, and then in Tipton Road,
Dudley. He was previously a member of Bilston Rotary Club so may have worked at the
Grovewood kitchen and furniture company at Dudley Port. He left the ladder company in 1973
and set up George Beasley (Joinery) Limited on the Ounsdale Industrial Estate, Wombourne.
This traded until 1999. Between 1977 and 1996, with his sons Graham and Stuart, he also
operated as the Timballoy Ladder Company Limited at Ounsdale. He lived at various addresses
in Wolverhampton: at Penn, Goldthorn Hill and Tettenhall. He was a prominent freemason in
Dudley.

369 Harry NIGHTINGALE (1916-1984) (inducted 13.7.1959; resigned 15.2.1965 on moving to
Trowbridge and to Trowbridge Rotary Club; rejoined Dudley March 1971; left during 1974/75.)
Steel Bearing Manufacturer. Owner of Alpha Bearing Co. Ltd of Kingsley Street, Netherton,