When Paul Smallwood stepped back, in 2024, from active participation in the management of our charity, he had been involved for 30 years. In 1994 he founded the Trust Fund – Kent Men of the Trees – which became the Kent Friends of the Trees CIO in 2023. For all of this time Paul was the driving force in organising the visits to arboreta and gardens, whether as a day trip locally or during the long trip further afield. His enthusiasm for trees drew many new members in to the charity, and for many years the hospitality that he and Patricia showed allowed the charity to effectively use The Old Rectory in Stanford North as an operating base.
Considering this legacy, your Trustees agreed that such dedication and service to the charity should be marked in a way that Paul would appreciate – and he flatly refused any gift as acknowledgement.
We agreed that a tree, planted in Stanford North in thanks for his untiring work, would be appropriate. Patricia, his wife, advised us that Paul was especially fond of Whitebeam trees; Michael Warren a longstanding member and tree expert adviser to the Trustees, selected the variety Sorbus hemsleyi John Bond.
On Tuesday 24th March, in glorious sunshine, a group comprising Smallwood family, friends, members of our charity and local neighbours attended the planting by Patricia Smallwood, ably assisted by Michael Warren, George and Julie Kirby. A small plaque was placed by the tree to inform casual passers-by.
At the kind invitation of Richard and Virginia Latham, a number of the attendees joined Patricia to travel the short distance to Stowting for afternoon tea and conversation.