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Welcome to the Home Page of The Dudley Book Society
The Dudley Book Society was founded well over 250 years ago by Protestant Dissenters at a time when individuals were often persecuted for their religious beliefs or liberal thinking. At the time Dudley was a small market town at the northern end of the county of Worcestershire near the centre of England, long before the rise of what is now the nearby city of Birmingham.
A small number of similar societies had been founded during the preceding few decades but most had disappeared before the end of the 18th century. However the Dudley society continues to flourish with around 30 members and is believed to be the oldest continuing book club in Britain.
Although the rules of 70 or 80 years ago provided for the admission of women, it is not known whether there have ever been any ordinary female members. (The Viscountess Dudley & Ward was a 'member' about 1800 but maybe hers was honorary membership.) Certainly the membership today is all male. Perhaps that will change in time!
Those who founded the society believed passionately in Civil and Religious Liberty for all. This theme has been the subject of the principal toast at successive annual dinners down the centuries.
The society proceeds with the minimum of organisation, rules or formality. The principal, and often the only, meeting is the Annual Dinner and sale of books, the proceeds of which pay for a new supply of books to be auctioned and read. Members are fined if they do not buy a book at the Dinner, even if they are not present in person!
David ThompsonThe President of the society is David Thompson, Chairman of Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries plc, and the Honorary Secretary is Colin Knipe, an engineering geologist. (See Contact page)
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