CLERGYMAN’S CURIOUS WILL

Taranaki Daily News, 30 December 1929, Page 11

CLERGYMAN’S CURIOUS WILL

£3OO A YEAR FOR BOYS’ KNICKERS. A clergyman’s bequest of about x7OOO for the provision of knickers for the boys of Farnham and .neighbouring parishes of Surrey caused considerable amusement in Mr. Justice Eve’s Court in the Chancery Division recently. The clergyman was the Rev. John Gwyon, the bachelor rector of Bisley, and the matter came before the Court at the instance of the Public Trustee, who, as sole executor under the will, desired a ruling as to its validity. The defendants were the Attorney-General, the chairman of the Farnham Urban Council (the trustees of the foundation), and the Treasury solicitor, who claimed for the Crown to be entitled to the estate if not legally disposed of by the will.

Mr. W. M. Hunt, for the Public Trustee, said that Mr. Gwyon died last December and left a will and a large number of codicils. The question was whether the trust formed by the will was valid, for if there was an intestacy the estate would go to the Crown. The will provided that the foundation should be known as Gwyon’s foundation for clothing boys, and it was to be used for the provision of knickers for boys. Black boys were barred, and no trousers were to be allowed. (Laughter.) The will gave exact details how the garments were to be made and provided that the words “Gwyon’s present” should be clearly marked on the linings. Each boy should be entitled to a new pair every year provided those words had not been obliterated from the old pair, Mr. Gwyon expressed the hope that no legal' or technical point would ever be raised with a view to defeating his intentions, and the will went on: “As in some Parliamentary enactments the term male includes females, it shall always be understood that the term boys means exclusively boys only, and does not include girls or other females.” (Laughter.) In subsequent codicils, said Mr. Hunt, Mr. Gwyon provided that boys from 15 to IS should be allowed to have trousers, but he was careful to say that no sporting or fancy garments, including Bey Scouts’ knickers, were to be included. The estate was worth about £7OOO, and would produce about £3OO a year.

An affidavit put in by the chief clerk to the Treasury solicitor stated that the number of boys eligible would be so large that the scheme would be impracticable.

An affidavit by the chairman of the Farnham council, however, expressed the opinion that the bequest would be of considerable benefit to the poor of the district. The hearing was adjourned.