HAPPY INVALID PEER

Waipa Post, Volume 43, Issue 3354, 29 September 1931, Page 2

HAPPY INVALID PEER

£1,000,000 GIFT TO A CITY

Behind the romantic career of Lord Trent, the famous chemist and merchant prince, who died at his residence in Jersey, at the age of 81, was concealed a remarkably poignant story. As founder of the firm of Boots Cash Chemists, his medicines gave relief to and cured thousands, yet he could not cure himself. For years Lord Trent (better known as Sir Jesse Boot), who was operated upon a fortnight before his death, was the victim of a terrible and crippling form of rheumatism, but despite his suffering he was a singularly happy and contented man, with high philanthropic ideals. As a boy Jetese Boot, at his father's death, assisted his mother and had his first lessons in business in a small herbalist's shop in Nottingham, which supplied old-world remedies.

From such humble beginnings grew the mighty chain of shops known everywhere in 'the kingdom and the medicine factories and laboratories which give employment to thousands-.

The maker of modern Nottingham, Lord Trent gave from his great wealth with a lavish hand. He presented to the city its new university buildings and site at a cost of nearly £1,000,000. When the King opened the buildings, Sir Jesse (as he was then) listened to the King's speech by wireless on his invalid chair.

In 1920 he gave a large park to the city " in gratitude for a happy life," as he put it. The heir to the title is the Hon. John Campbell Boot, born in 1889, who is chairman of Boots Pure Drug Co., and there are two daughters, both of whom are married.