David Spencer

David Spencer, the son of a ribbon manufacturer, was born in Foleshill, Coventry on 19 November 1805. After his schooldays at a small private school he was apprenticed to William Browett, a general draper who owned a shop in Cross Cheaping. Two years after serving his time Mr Spencer set up his own business in Hay Lane with capital of just £30. He was keen, extremely honest, and his courtesy to customers was legendary. His business flourished.

Over the years he gradually discarded the drapery side of the business and concentrated on woollen goods and carpets. He was a man of strong religious beliefs — a Congregationalist — and throughout his life he was involved with charitable institutions: the Provident Dispensary, Philanthropic Societies, the Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital and so on. But it was in connection with the youth of the city that he was most interested. He gave land and money to establish a technical institute in two vacant ribbon factories in Earl Street. The Technical Institute was opened in 1887 and later became Coventry Technical College.

Towards the end of May 1888 Mr Spencer suffered a severe stroke and died a few days later at his home in Warwick Row. His wife Tabitha had died just the year before. His funeral at London Road Cemetery was attended by thousands of mourning Coventry people, so many of whom had benefited from his generosity.

At the time of his death at the age of 82, he was said to be earning £10,000 a year. In his will he left £250,000 — a fortune — which apparently surprised many. After legacies of some £75,000 to family members and friends, the bulk of his considerable fortune was left to charities. £20,000 was left in trust as the Spencer Industrial Arts Trust, which paid for a considerable extension to the Technical Institute in 1894 and created a scholarship in 1908.

David Spencer has given his name to two Earlsdon roads, but it was for his generous gift of Spencer Park — created from his gift of land in 1852 and formally opened in 1883 — that he is best known.