Page 14 - WHO'S WHO OF DUDLEY ROTARY

27 Rev. Arrowsmith Hide SHELLEY (1862-1942) (presumed to be a Founder
Member elected May/June 1922 and left after 1925) Unitarian Minister in
charge of the Old Meeting House, Wolverhampton Street, Dudley from
1893. In 1902 he moved to the Park Lane Chapel at Netherend, Cradley,
where he remained until retiring in 1924. He was a member of the old
School Board, Dudley Literary Society, the Book Society and a co-opted
member of the Library Committee. He grew up in Newbury, Berkshire, then
studied theology at Carmarthen College and St Mary Hall, Oxford. He was
appointed to the ministry in 1884 and posted to Templepatrick, County
Antrim. He then served in Maidstone, Kent from 1890-93 before coming to Dudley.
(He is not recorded as a member but ‘Mr Shelley’ and his wife were on the organising committee
of the Rotary Club flower stall at the 1925 Guest Hospital £10,000 fund-raising fayre along with
other Dudley Rotarians’ wives so it is reasonable to assume he was a member at that time. It is
also relevant that the Rev. Robert Henry Hawkins was elected 21.8.1922 as an Associate member
rather than a full member in the classification Parish priest, suggesting there was already a
member with that classification. That would strongly support the idea that Rev Shelley was the
existing member.)

28 Rupert Arthur Rutland LETT (1886-1929) (Associate Member, elected at 1st meeting, 12.6.1922;
membership terminated 19.3.1928.) Wine and Spirit Merchant. Director of Rutland & Lett Ltd
of High Street, Dudley, with his older brother Harry (club member #16).
Their father Edgar Henry Lett founded the firm but died when Rupert was
a youngster. His widowed mother sent him to Dudley Grammar School for
4 years and then to Stratford Grammar School for a year or two. He
appears to have joined the business straight from school because he was
already in charge at the age of 24. During the First World War he served
with the Royal Army Service Corps and was discharged with the rank of
Lieutenant. He died of pneumonia on 10.7.1929 aged just 42 years, his
health having been badly affected by his military service in Italy. He was a
great supporter of the Guest Hospital, particularly as Treasurer of the Hospital Efforts
Committee, and was vice-chairman of Dudley Cricket Club and Dudley Swimming Club.

29 William (‘Will’) HILL (1873-1961) (Elected at 1st meeting,12.6.1922 but
regarded as having joined 7.6.1922; President 1935-36; excused
attendance from April 1958; made an Honorary Member May 1960 but
died 8 months later.) Cabinet Maker and House Furnisher. Director of
Samuel Hill (Wordsley) Ltd., retailer of house furniture and furnishings,
with a showroom in High Street, Dudley and works at Wordsley. He
appears to have joined the firm before 1900 but at 1911 was still only a
‘shop assistant’. He was Chairman of the Dudley Traders Association in
1934 & 35 and President of the Dudley and District Chamber of Commerce
1943-44. He was born and lived in Kingswinford throughout his life.

30 Sydney Frederick COOK (1885-1957) (Elected at 1st meeting, 12.6.1922; resigned 30.3.1931.)
Draper. Son of the founder President F W Cook and, with his brother Geoffrey, a director of the
family firm F W Cook Ltd, drapers, furnishers and outfitters of High Street, Dudley. After his
father’s death in 1938 he became head of the firm but following his own death in 1957 Geoffrey
took over as chairman and managing director. Sydney lived in Park Road (alongside Grange Park)
until 1930 and then in Himley Avenue, Dudley. He was a member of the Dudley Castle masonic
lodge.