A STRANGE BEQUEST

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1929, Page 5

A STRANGE BEQUEST

£BOOO FOR, KNICKERS FOR BOYS. LONDON, April 5. A bequest of nearly £800!) to purchase knickerbockers for hoys, “and for no other purpose whatsoever, whether educational or otherwise,” has been left by the Rev. John Gwyon, Hector of Risley, Surrey, for 33 years. Mr Gwyon’s estate has been sworn at £1)5)70 gross, with net personality £7971. By his wiM he left the whole of his estate for the foundation of a charitable trust, to he known as •‘(Jy won's Foundation for Clothing Boys,” the trustees to be members of Farham District Council. “The yearly income of the foundation shall he applied for the purpose of providing hoys who are eligible with knickers.” Benefits of the fund are confined to boys between 13 and 18, the sons of parents residing in I*arnham or within three miles of the Farnham Urban District boundary. Black boys are disqualified. as are also boys who arc inmates of or supported by any charitable institution or whose parents are in receipt of parochial relief. As to the making and distribution of the garments, Mr Gwyon directed: The committee shall in Easter week each year appoint a tailor who shall, in the opinion of such committee, give the best value for money consistent with durability. He shall either make the garments to measure or shall provide ready-made garments. Every boy who shall be cligiblc'shall send his name and address, with his exact age to the tailor not less than six weeks before Wliit-Sunday in each year, and the tailor shall forward all particulars to the chairman of the committee of the said foundation, who shall then, within five weeks convene a. meeting of the committee to select eligible applicants. '“SHORTS” BARRED. Sporting or fanoy knickers of any kind are not to be supplied, “and in no case shall the knickers he of the pattern known a.s shorts.” Air Gwy-

on suggested a strong, soft, and dark b ro wn cord as being very becoming •for bovs. adding, “hut I desire to leave the kind and colour open for discreet choice.” . The gift is not confined to a single year; a”hoy may make a second application. As to the garments themselves, the Vicar provided: The words “Gwyon’s Present” shall he written in capital letters by the tailor with black marking ink on the lining of the right waist of each pair of knickers, which lining must be of unbleached material', and no hoy shall tear away the words or obliterate the so tliat they become undecipherable by the time ho applies in the following year. A hoy, if he prefers, may choose a pair of trousers, “which shall he strong, serviceable, and durable mator>°l. lined tliromrhiut to the ankles with strong, unbleached material, which shall ho sown to the trousers, and not allowed to lliing loose,”