GOOD INHERITANCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 198, 4 June 1934, Page 2

GOOD INHERITANCE.

UNIVERSITIES FOR VILLAGES. ORIGINAL. £6O A YEAR LEGACY. Three hamlets in the Hitchin district of Hertfordshire have one of the richest private educational charities in Britain. 'lt enables children to enter a university, go to any school for which they can pass the examination, and learn any trade they like.- And it is all due to a legacy of under £6O a year. . More than 150 years ago John Rand left the hamlet of Hulwell, near Hitchin, to start in business at Greenwich. When he died he left his property to help the young people of Hulwell gain a start in life. Years passed. Greenwich from being a town near London, became part of the Metropolis. The value of Mr John Rand's property increased until some years ago the income became too great for the hamlet of Hulwell alone. It was extended to the neighbouring villages of Ickleford and Stondon. The income is now more than £3OOO a year. "So far," Mr Lindsell, the secretary of the fund, said recently, "four village halls, almshouses, endowments, scholarships and grants to 20 children a year are made out of it. "Hitchin Grammar School, village schools at Ickleford, Pirtou, Hulwell, and Stondon benefit from the fund. Twelve almshouses in Hulwell are maintained from the charity and the occupants given an allowance each week. "Children are sent from the elementary schools to secondary schools, from there to technical schools or universities. Grants from £lO to £2OO a year, are made to the youths of the villages who enter universities. This must be one of the best-educated districts in the country."