TWO pillars of local society have been honoured for their dedication to charities that have an important place in Basingstoke’s history.

Joan Mussellwhite and Eileen Spicer served on both The Basingstoke Charities and the Aldworth’s Educational Trust for well over 30 years.

A special presentation evening was recently held at Church Cottage to thank them for their work and to mark their retirements.

The stories of Joan and Eileen’s involvement in The Basingstoke Charities and Aldworth’s Educational Trust are interlinked.

Eileen served on The Basingstoke Charities from1978. She started on the strict understanding that it would be for a maximum of five years. However, 18 years later she was still there and was made a trustee. She also has served on the Aldworth’s trust since 1979.

Meanwhile, Joan was already a member of the trust, having joined it in 1975, and rose to become its chairman. In 1978, she joined The Basingstoke Charities and was recently its vice-chairman.

The current chairman of The Basingstoke Charities, Criss Connor, presented the ladies with commemorative plates to mark their retirement.

The former Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane said: “There is no shadow of a doubt that both organisations will miss Joan and Eileen immensely. We wish them every happiness in what they go on to do since I really cannot see them just fading away.”

Eileen said: “It’s been a happy time and I’m pleased that I have been involved.”

A highlight for Eileen was instigating the annual mayor’s tea party, when the borough’s first citizen paid a visit to the Deane almshouses in London Road.

A highlight for Joan was the 400th anniversary celebration of the almshouses in 2008.

Speaking about the retirement celebration, Joan said: “It was a wonderful evening and we were very appreciative of all the lovely gifts we had and it is a most beautiful plate, something that I will always treasure.”

Among those full of admiration for both women is Debbie Reavell, who is a trustee of The Basingstoke Charities and clerk to the Aldworth’s Educational Trust.

Shedding some light on the history of the charities, the local historian, who is also secretary of the Basingstoke Heritage Society, said: “Most charities go back to the Reformation. The Reformation really changed the way people gave money – suddenly it became fashionable to leave money in your will or to set up a charity.”

Even though Basingstoke was a small town, plenty of charities were set up.

In 1960, 28 of these old charities were brought together under one umbrella as The Basingstoke Charities, under the chairmanship of George Willis, the founder of The Willis Museum.

Debbie said: “These old charities, some from the early 17th century, included the charity of Richard Aldworth for gowns, and two charities to give bread to the aged poor, which was distributed at the porch of St Michael’s Church.

“The trustees of The Basingstoke Charities administer the Deane Almshouses which have been in the town since 1608.”

The trustees consist of the vicar, two churchwardens, four appointments by the council and eight who are co-opted.

In 1646, a merchant called Richard Aldworth left money in his will for the “education and bringing up of 10 poor male children, being the children of honest and religious poor men of the town of Basingstoke for their meat, drink and clothing.”

Debbie said: “During its long history, the trust has helped with the schooling of Basingstoke children and prior to the Education Act of 1944, it helped clever children with the expense of getting an education at the Queens School, later known as Queen Mary’s, and at the High School for Girls, in Crossborough Hill, where Costello Technology College is today.”