Retro: A society to keep the spirits high

David Cliffe • Published 5 Nov 2009 07:00 0 Comments

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OVER the years there seem to have been a number of organisations to which licensees in Reading could belong.

In the 1890s there was the Reading and District Beer, Wine and Spirit Retailers' Protection Society.

The President and Vice-President were Henry Bilson Blandy of Wokingham and Blackall Simonds of Bradfield. Both were magistrates, and both were members of brewing families. The Treasurer was Arthur S Cooper - who, of course, gave his name to The Coopers in the Market Place.

It was very much a 'Reading and District' society, with committee members coming from as far afield as Abingdon, Wantage, Crowthorne and Camberley. About 1912, the society seems to have been re-formed as the Reading and District Licensed Trades Protection Society. All the officers were licensees - there were no justices or brewers on the committee - and Arthur Cooper remained as secretary.

The colourful enamel plaque in the photograph can be seen at The Retreat public house in St John's Street and shows that the establishment was at one time a member of this Licensed Trades Protection Society.

The landlord and landlady emailed to ask me what happened to the society, and I'm afraid I've not so far been able to tell them - hence this article.

The last information I've found is the rulebook, annual report and list of members of the Reading and District Licensed Trades Protection and Benevolent Association for 1960, in the library's collection. Note the slight change of name - one of the objectives now was "to give financial assistance to members who shall fall into necessitous circumstances".

The main objective was the protection of its members "against frivolous, vexatious or malignant prosecutions, information and actions".

Did this society merge with the Licensed Victuallers' Association, which I seem to remember being around in the 1970s and 80s? Perhaps some licensee of longstanding can enlighten us as to what happened - please get in touch if you can.

I would guess that there will also be photographs around of the meetings - I expect they knew how to ensure that the evening was a convivial one!

l Email ahewitt@berksmedia.co.uk or call 0118 955 3303

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