Francis Hinde, a local printer, first proposed the creation of the Society (his firm printed the 1977 history) and business commenced at the offices of the Secretary at 5 Princes Street where it stayed for 19 years Early stated objectives were “to help working men who wish to become their own landlords” and” the encouragement of thrift”.
[3] The Secretary who ran the Society on a part time basis was a local insurance broker and estate agent called John Brotherton Annan [4] and he performed that role until his death in 1931.
For the whole of John Annan’s tenure, he received a fee for running the Society out of which he provided and paid for the clerks who handled the administration.
Sir Richard Paget had ambitions to build a garden suburb on 400 acres of land on the Cannock Road.
In 1919 John Annan told the directors that his firm had bought premises at 34 Princes Street and the offices were opened in 1921.
In 1922 the Staffordshire bought the building, leaving Annan paying rent but still carrying on the Society’s business.
Following the retirement of Alex Annan as Secretary, Malcolm Deaville was appointed as the Society’s first full time manager.
[3] The Society’s official history finished in 1977 by which time there were 38 branches in Staffordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, west midlands and Clwyd, plus a further 26 agents.