WITH the current building work going on at Malvern Library, it's appropriate that this week sees the 100th anniversary of the laying of the library's foundation stone.

This auspicious event took place on February 9, 1905, and the Malvern Gazette celebrated with a two-page supplement describing the ceremony.

"Yesterday was an important day in the history of Malvern," it began. "The foundation stone of the new Free Library to be erected on the site in Graham Road, given by the Lord of the Manor, was laid, Sir Henry Lambert, Bart., performing the ceremony in the absence of Lady Lambert, who was prevented from attending owing to the recent death of her aunt, the Countess of Stamford."

"The event was anticipated with the keenest interest by the people of the whole town, as shown by the great crowd present, a large proportion coming from the outlying districts."

The ceremony was preceded by lunch at the Imperial Hotel for all the VIPs, followed by a procession to Graham Road. After the ceremony, the Lyttelton Rooms were the venue for a lecture by distinguished resident Professor Knight, entitled Free Libraries: Their Uses and Ideals.

"Books ought to be provided for the people, just as light and water are supplied to them, and police protection given; so that all citizens should have unrestricted access to the best books in the world," he said.

But one dissenting voice was that of the Hon Ernest Pomeroy, "whose views on various topics are so well known and have been so often rejected", as the Gazette noted.

Mr Pomeroy objected to libraries on the rates, and he tried to interrupt the professor's lecture to put forward his views.

At the end of the meeting, Mr Pomeroy again tried to make himself heard but was shouted down by the audience.