Category talk:People from Saffron Walden

Latest comment: 9 years ago by Edwardx in topic George Stacey Gibson

The following text was placed on the Cat page; if anyone wants to write an appropriate article, fine. Rodhullandemu 02:22, 9 April 2009 (UTC)Reply

George Stacey Gibson

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Quaker philanthropist born in Saffron Walden on 20 July 1818, died in London on 11 April 1883, and subsequently buried in Saffron Walden. Gibson was a town councillor and alderman for 24 years and was twice elected Mayor. He was treasurer of the local British Schools for 45 years, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Guardians, and Chairman of the Management Committee of Saffron Walden Hospital. He was prominent in bringing the railway to Saffron Walden. He was a distinguished botanist and author of the 'Flora of Essex'. He was a leading member of the Society of Friends both locally and nationally. He is remembered as Saffron Walden's greatest benefactor. There was hardly any institution in the town which did not benefit from his liberality. Gibson when he died in 1883 left a substantial estate of £342,456, worth more than £23 millions in today's money. This was distributed to the hospital, the museum, the literary society, the Grammar School, the British Schools, the Friends' School, the training college for female teachers, the almshouses, as well as causes outside the town. See Jeremy Collingwood, 'Mr Saffron Walden: The Life and Times of George Stacey Gibson (1818-1883), published by Phillimore and Co. Ltd., Chichester, 2008, ISBN 978-1-86077-587 -1