Spalding Town Husbands pays tribute to ‘much valued’ clerk Richard Knipe

Tribute has been paid to a ‘much valued’ clerk and trustee of a housing charity.

Richard Knipe had helped to increase the number of almshouses during his 30 year involvement with Spalding Town Husbands.

Mr Knipe has sadly passed away in February at the age of 75.

A statement from the charity described Mr Knipe as a ‘much valued’ clerk for 25 years who went onto become a trustee after his retirement from Knipe Miller, the organisation’s administrators.

It goes onto say: “During Richard’s time with the charity he has overseen the number of almshouses increase by 40 from 31 to 71 as well as the refurbishment of the older ones.

“Richard was an active board member of The National Almshouse Association since 2014 and chaired their Finance and General Purpose committee for a number of years.

“He also had a leading role as an ambassador and champion in Lincolnshire and Norfolk and helped many struggling almshouse committees in the region. For a decade he was also a member of the awards committee, travelling the length of Britain visiting new almshouses.

“Richard’s commitment to the Town Husbands and the Almshouse Association was enormous. His knowledge, expertise and calm and caring manner are hugely missed by both organisations.”

The Spalding Town Husbands have been in existence for over four centuries.

Since 1971, it has been responsible for administering The Spalding Almshouse Charity and The Spalding Relief in Need Charity. The amalgamation of the original 33 separate charities in the Spalding area providing either almshouses or relief in need.

These charities had been established by the wills of various local benefactors, the earliest recorded will being in 1591. In 1971 the Charity Commission passed a Scheme amalgamating all these charities into The Spalding Almshouse Charity and The Spalding Relief in Need Charity.

Under the terms of the scheme, The Spalding Town Husbands were appointed as Trustees of both Charities.