Preceded by Frederick C. Passau Name William Fletcher Spouse(s) Louise (nee Moore) Role Accountant | Occupation Accountant Died 1931, Sydney, Australia Religion Methodist | |
Succeeded by Ellison Wentworth Quirk Alma mater Ipswich Grammar School and Newington College Education Ipswich Grammar School, Newington College | ||
William Horner Fletcher (1851 – 1931) was a New Zealand-born Australian accountant and mayor of Manly Council. He was a pioneering player of rugby union in New South Wales.
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Early life
Fletcher was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He was the second son of Kate (née Green) and Joseph Horner Fletcher (1823–1890), who was a Methodist minister and the Principal of Wesley College at the time of his birth. In 1861, the Fletcher family moved to Queensland and whilst his father was serving in Ipswich, Fletcher attended Ipswich Grammar School. When his father was invited to succeed John Manton as President of Newington College, Fletcher moved with his family to New South Wales and completed his high school education at his father's new school. He was a younger brother of Joseph James Fletcher (1850–1926) and older brother of Norman Vyner Fletcher (1867–1889).
Rugby
Fletcher's father, Joseph, was a pioneer of rugby union. He was instrumental in 1869 in organising the first game of school-boy rugby to be played against the University of Sydney, and of inter-school rugby being played in Australia, between Newington and The King's School, Parramatta in 1870. William Horner Fletcher played in those games and then post-school played as a quarter back for the Waratah Rugby Club. He became the first secretary of the Southern Rugby Football Union in 1874.
Mid-life
As an accountant from the 1880s, Fletcher worked mainly in the area of insolvency as a partner in the firm of David Fell and Co. In 1887, Fletcher married Louise Moore (d.1922), the daughter of Lewis Moore of Tramore, Darley Road, Manly. They lived in Manly until 1919 in a house named Erlsdon and remained childless. Long involved with the Old Newingtonians' Union, Fletcher served as its President in 1903.
Manly Council
Fletcher first served on Manly Municipal Council as an alderman in 1892 and was the Mayor in 1899–1900, retiring from council in 1901. With his accounting background, he was mainly concerned with the Council's accounts and ensuring that Manly Council did not require any form of Government subsidy during his period in office. He was also a founder and treasurer of Manly Cottage Hospital, and a considerable fund-raiser for the hospital.
Retirement
On leaving Manly in 1919 he was presented with an illuminated testimonial from Manly Methodist Church and moved to 27 Wycombe Road, Neutral Bay, New South Wales. He served on Newington College Council and for 17 years, until his death, he was Honorary Treasurer. He died on 15 March 1931, aged 79, and since that time the William Horner Fletcher Prize for Public Spirit and Service has been awarded in his honour at Newington.