Page 6 - WHO'S WHO OF DUDLEY ROTARY

Dudley; the Bell Hotel, Stourbridge; The Button Factory pub in Halesowen; and, perhaps the
finest, The Fairfield, Hurst Green, Halesowen. He was a Trustee and member of the Board of
Management of Dudley Guest Hospital; a prominent freemason in the Perseverance Lodge,
Halesowen; one-time National President of the Men’s Own Brotherhood Movement, related to
the Congregational Church; and in his younger days played cricket for Halesowen 1st XI. He lived
at Melbourne Road, Halesowen. His architect son Bertram (club member #90) maintained the
successful practice after A T Butler’s death.

4 Percy Lane CROOK (1883-1963) (Intended founder member but withdrew before first meeting
because unable to attend on Mondays.) Provision Merchant. Director and later Chairman and
Managing Director of the family firm T W Crook & Sons, Wholesale Grocers, Abberley Street,
Dudley. He lived at The Limes, St James’s Road and later Rosegarth, Priory Road. (Brother of
Frederick Howard Crook, club member #169.)

5 Frederick William COOK, JP (1861-1938) (Founder member and first President, elected
22.5.1922; member until he died on 5.10.1938.) Draper. Owner and
Managing Director of FW Cook Ltd, drapers, furnishers and outfitters of
High Street, Dudley from 1884 until his death. His grandfather established
the Dudley store in 1819. Frederick greatly expanded the firm to become
the largest drapery business in the Midlands, with branches at Brierley Hill,
Cradley Heath, West Bromwich and Upper Gornal as well as the High Street
store. One of the town's most progressive public business men he travelled
extensively overseas to bring back new ideas for his business and the
betterment of the town. He held many public offices until his death,
including: member of Dudley Council continuously from 1897 and alderman from 1908 - being
Mayor of Dudley 1906-07 & 1907-08; Magistrate from 1903; governor of Dudley Grammar
School, Girls’ High School, Technical College and Training College; leading member and for a time
President of the Chamber of Commerce; and chairman of the National Health Insurance
Committee from 1911. He was for many years Chairman of the Council’s Housing Committee,
instrumental in slum clearance and the building of the Priory Estate.
“He was a man of vision and experience, progressively minded and devoted his entire life to
worthy ideals for public welfare and enlightenment. Indeed his great powers of administration
and his foresight were turned to the services of the community through so-many channels that
it is not an easy matter to try and enumerate them. In politics and public affairs in commerce
and industry alike he was a leader. No man did more to put Dudley on the Map. He was a widely
travelled man and commanded a vast knowledge of public administration in most parts of the
world and he was never tired of blazoning our towns name wherever he went, while on his return
from abroad he was always eager to give Dudley the benefit of his experiences. His greatest
ambition was to elevate Dudley in the eyes of the Government and in many spheres of activity
he was successful in spite of strong party prejudice and opposition.
“Politically he was a staunch Liberal throughout his life and in 1924 he sought Parliamentary
honours, was unsuccessful contesting Blaydon (Durham) Parliamentary Division. In the world of
commerce he was for fifty four years head of the firm who bore his name and who was
recognised as one of the most progressive businesses in the Midlands. For many years he was an
ardent member of the Chamber of Commerce and represented that body at conferences all over
the country while he visited many parts of the world as a member of the later National Chamber
of Commerce.”