the services of a dental surgeon and the purchase of a dental chair. The brief report states: (a) 51 necessitous cases in the parish have been assisted and the Honorary Almoner had made 600 visits; (b) the Dental Clinic had served a useful purpose and at the request of the Vicar of Kemsing, children from that parish had also participated; (c) the Clinic had treated 68 from Otford, 29 from Kemsing, for extractions and fillings. The Clinic’s operations were discontinued from May 1913.
It is quite clear that the work and finance of the Committee has resulted mainly from the administration of Sir Thomas Smythe’s Charity from which the Village has benefited since 1620. Sir Thomas was a leading figure in Elizabethan times – Chairman of a government Committee which was in charge of equipping and victualling of the ships taking part in Sir Francis Drake’s expeditions. He lived in the Darenth Valley and was very much a Kentish man. Twenty-six parishes benefited from his will, including Tunbridge Wells, Wilmington, Sutton-at- Hone, Otford and Dunton Green. Tonbridge School also benefited. The Charity is under the management of the Skinners Company, one of the twelve great City Livery Companies. From time to time schemes have been made by the Court of Chancery and Charity Commissioners creating some variation in the charitable trusts, in order to meet changing demands and to ensure, as far as possible, the full use of the income which, as the years went by, was and is still increasing.
Unfortunately, there will always be in towns, villages and in country areas, personal needs to be provided for and services to be met, which the state does not or cannot properly satisfy. Consequently our Society, which is always searching for outlets of fulfilment, should enjoy a very long future.
The present day functions of the Society are the provision of small grants to tide over some emergency or sudden requirement, to provide coal, special food and other necessities, and at Christmas, to make gifts of £10 and upwards, income permitting. This administrative work is an almoner, assisted by a secretary and treasurer. The Society meets three times a year, under the Chairmanship of the Vicar.
OUTRAGED of OTFORD
I am incandescent with rage – why is it that some dog owners are such “expletive deleted” people who can’t be bothered to clear up after their pooches!
A few days ago, it was a bright sunny morning and so I decide to stroll down to the village. I was walking along the foot path just past Wickham Field with the sun shining in my eyes when I saw a young lady approaching with a buggy. The foot path there is very narrow due to the intrusion of detritus from the hedge row and protruding briars (and that’s another rant) and so I stepped off the path to let the young lady through.
As soon as I stepped onto the grass I feel that horrible sinking feeling as by shoe started to sink into a pile of putrefying pooch pooh but it was too late to withdraw my foot. I bit my lip and waited for the young lady to pass before I looked at my shoe and swore gently to myself. My shoe was encased in smelly pooh and so I had to return home to wash it off.
If “expletive deleted” dog owners can’t be bothered to clear up after their beloved pooches pooh we should give them doggy ASBO’s preventing their dogs from going more than 50 feet from their homes.
The build up of pooh will soon teach them the errors of their ways.If “expletive deleted” dog owners can’t be bothered to clear up after their beloved pooches pooh we should give them doggy ASBO’s preventing their dogs from going more than 50 feet from their homes. The build up of pooh will soon teach them the errors of their ways.
If that doesn’t work how about doggy nappies and if all else fails bring back the village stocks for the errant owners.
Outraged of Otford !
Editors Note: If you would like to rant, rave, or just gently bleat about things that outrage or irritate you, please submit your thoughts to the editor. Please do not mentions names or other information that
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