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The Grand Old Man
Bridge is justly proud of Mr Charles Wills, the village's Grand Old Man, who will celebrate his 84th birthday
next week. He has earned the gratitude of the residents by reason of his long career of useful public service.
As a boy, he attended the Commercial School at Canterbury and later the Dane John Academy. He then
entered his father's bakery business, of which he assumed control on his father's death in 1896.
Of charming andsympathetic disposition, he has prominently identified himself with nearly every phase of
the village life. For some 70 years he assisted the St Peter's Church choir, and in the years gone by was
always a popular entertainer in the district.
Perhaps, however, Mr Wills’ chief claim to distinction is his connection for over 50 years with the Bridge
Fire Brigade, of which he was Chief officer for over 30 years. Upon his retirement he was elected Hon. Chief
Officer. At the recent Fire Brigades Tournament at Canterbury his health was enthusiastically honoured by
the officers of the South Eastern District.
Among his official activities may be mentioned his long service on the Bridge RDC and the old Board of
Guardians, his chairmanship of the Parish Council, of which he had been a member since its inception, and
his secretaryship for nearly half a century of the Bridge Gas, Coal and Coke Co.
During the [first] war he was nightly on duty at the canteen run at the Reading Room for the benefit of the
troops stationed at Bourne Park.
In his youth he was a keen cricketer and turned out for the local club for many years, while upon his ceasing
to take an active part in the game, he assumed the duties of scorer. Despite his 84 years, ‘Old Charlie’ is
remarkably active and vigorous. He comes of a long-lived family. His aunt, the late Mrs. Hayzen, who lived
with him, was a centenarian, and it is the sincere hope of everybody in the village that he himself will keep
up his wicket and run into three figures.
(Kentish Gazette May 28 1932. Williamson 172-3)
[Mr Wills died aged 94 in 1943]
Mr Charles Wills, of The Terrace, Bridge [ie Albany Terrace], near Canterbury, is affectionately referred to
as Bridge's ‘grand old man’. His records of long service in village affairs which earn him the title are as
follows: - 68 years member of Bridge church choir; 51 years member Bridge Fire Brigade; 36 years Vicar's
Churchwarden; 42 years Secretary of the Bridge Gas Coal and Coke Company, and a member of the Parish
Council, of which he is now chairman, ever since it was formed.
Born in the year 1848 he attended the Commercial School, Canterbury, now known as the Simon Langton
School. On leaving he assisted his father in his baker's business, which he took over upon his father's death
in 1896. A man of charming manners an genial disposition, Mr Wills has been closely connected with nearly
every branch of sport and social life in Bridge. He has been a member of the St Peter’s Church choir for 68
years and has a fine falsetto voice. In his younger days he was in great demand in the district at concerts. He
has also been the Vicar's Churchwarden for the past 36 years. For 51 years Mr Wills has been a member of
the Bridge Fire Brigade, and for the past 28 years he has been its Chief Officer. These years of fire service
must surely constitute a record. Mr Wills has always been a keen cricketer, and played for Bridge CC for
many years. He remembers playing in such good company as Mr C Howard (the local veterinary surgeon),
who on one occasion played for Kent, Arthur Webb, who afterwards became one of Hampshire's leading
professionals, and Tom Kersley, who later qualified for Surrey, and was on the ground staff at the Oval for
several seasons. Even now Mr Wills does not forsake the game, and can always be found scoring for his old
club. Although 79 years of age he is still a very active and busy man, being a member of the Bridge Rural
Council and Board of Guardians, Chairman of the Parish Council and Secretary to the Bridge Gas Coal and
Coke Company, a position he has held for the past 42 years. Those who during the Great War were in camp
at Bourne Park or any of the [other camps] that were around Bridge will recognise [in] Mr Wills the old
gentleman who assisted every night without a break at the canteen that was run by the late Mrs E Wilson for
the troops at the Reading Room.
Mr Wills comes of a family noted for longevity and is the nephew of Mrs S Hayzen who celebrated her 100m
birthday on February 25th, and who lives with him and his two sisters. The combined ages of the four people
living in that house total 335 years. That Mr Wills, or ‘Old Charley’, as he is affectionately known, will live
to celebrate his 100th birthday is the Wish of all in the village. They are proud of him.
(Kent Messenger March 12 1927. Williamson 192)