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The
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George Stacey Gibson 1818-1893
RICHMOND’S COACHES
Fabulous 42nd Street!
A member of the notable Quaker family
of Saffron Walden, whose wealth was
accumulated through brewing, banking,
and land ownership, George Stacey
Gibson was born in the town in July
1818 and died in April 1893 after a
lifetime of public service, scholarship
and philanthropy. As well as being a
town councillor and alderman for 24
years and twice elected Mayor, he
was also treasurer of the local British
Schools for 45 years, Vice-Chairman of
the Board of Guardians, and Chairman
of the Management Committee of the
Saffron Walden Hospital. He played a
prominent part in bringing the railway
to Saffron Walden, took a keen interest
in the early development of electric light
and photography and as a distinguished
botanist, was the author of the “Flora
of Essex” which remained the standard
work on the subject for many years.
The Saffron Walden and North Essex
Bank, of which he was the founder,
proved to be a profi table business
venture and, after his death in 1896,
was joined with others to form
Barclay’s Bank. Gibson’s imposing
premises, built in 1874 to the design
of Eden Nesfi eld, house the current
local branch of Barclay’s and the main
façade contains carved bas-reliefs of
storks, taken from the family’s coat of
arms.
As a local philanthropist, there was
hardly any institution that did not
benefi t from George Stacey Gibson’s
generosity and, on his death he left
a substantial estate of £342,456,
equivalent to £25m today. 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, and the
alms houses, as well as worthy causes
outside the town. Building uses may
have changed, but the physical legacy
of these institutions is still a very
visible reminder of his contribution to
the history of Saffron Walden.
42ND STREET, Broadway’s biggest
show, has tap danced it’s way on to
the West End’s biggest stage at the
Theatre Royal Drury Lane. 42nd Street
is the song and dance, American
dream fable of Broadway.
Young Peggy Sawyer is fresh off the
bus from small-town America and
just another face in the chorus line on
Broadway’s newest show. But when
the leading lady gets injured, Peggy
might just have the shot at stardom
she’s always dreamed of…
Featuring the iconic songs “42nd
Street”, “We’re In The Money”,
“Lullaby of Broadway”, “Shuffl e Off To
Buffalo”, “Dames”, and “I Only Have
Eyes For You”.
Grammy Award
winner Sheena
Easton joins
an all singing,
high-kicking
cast as Doroth
Brock, with Tom
Lister as Julian
Marsh and Clare
Halse as Peggy
Sawyer.
Take a trip with Richmond’s Coaches
with easy boarding points from Saffron
Walden High Street or Newport
and glide into London on a modern
air-conditioned coach with great
leg-room and reclining seats. You will
be dropped off outside, or very near
your theatre, with time to get some
refreshments before your show. Take
your seats in the theatre (we get great
discounts but only offer excellent seats
in the stalls or dress circle) and enjoy
the show. Your coach will be waiting
outside again to whisk you home. No
more taxis, tubes or trains!
News from the Rotary
Club of Saffron Walden
Members of the
Rotary Club of
Saffron Walden
have just completed
three urgent
trips to Yorkshire
with unwanted
wheelchairs, Zimmer frames
and crutches collected for the
Knaresborough-based charity
PhysioNet.
For the past eighteen months, the
Rotary Club has been supporting
PhysioNet which collects unwanted
mobility and physiotherapy equipment
for distribution to developing
countries.
After collection and delivery to
PhysioNet’s Yorkshire depot, the
equipment is checked and where
necessary refurbished.
The three recent
deliveries were
to help fi ll a
container of
urgently-needed
equipment
due to leave
for Harare in
Zimbabwe in
the middle of
April.
John Tapscott, chairman of the club’s
International Committee said, “Over
the past eighteen months, members
of the local Rotary club have collected
almost 40 tons of equipment from
hospitals, special schools, residential
homes and other charities for delivery
to Yorkshire.”
P le a s e m e n t i o n ‘ T h e F l yer ’ wh en r esp o n d in g t o ad ver t isements
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