GEORGE RALPH STEVENS ESQ. JP

Picture of George Ralph Stevens as Mayor of Queenborough, Kent

Special Training: 2 years practical course in mill-wrighting and general engineering under Mr. R.E. Maunsell, Chief Engineer, Southern Railway, at Ashford Kent.

Constructional and engineering drawing by correspondence course and night school.

Employment: Assistant Works Manager and Works Engineer With firm of Fertilizer and Glue Manufactuers - 1922 to 32

General Works Manager and Director - 1932 - 1966

Director of 3 subsidiary companies - 1932 - 1966

 

Public Services Rendered

Member of Territorial Unit, Royal Horse Artillery - 1920 - 22

Founder and Captain in Charge Boys Brigade Unit, Borough of Queenborough - 1924 - 31

Assistant Commisioner of Boys Scouts, Sittingbourne - 1930 - 32

Founder and Hon. Secretary Small Bore Rifle Club - 1925 - 30

Vice President - 1930 - 39 Founder and President Isle of Sheppey Small Bore Rifle League - 1926 - 39

Vice President St. John's Ambulance Division, Queenboro' - 1927 - 32

President - 1932 - 54 Hon. Member & Vice President Queenborough Branch British Legion - 1934 - 54

Member of the Sitttingbourne & Milton Urban District Council - 1931 - 33

Chairman of above Councils sewage committee - 1931 - 33 (N.B. During this period the new £75,000 sewage scheme was conceived and completed)

Member of Sittingbourne & Milton Joint Hospital Board - 1931 - 35

Member of Queenborough Borough Council - 1932 - 47 (NB) Returned unopposed at all subsequent elections. Elected Alderman by the Council 1940 Elected Mayor of the Borough 1933 and re-elected each year to 1947. Retired from Council in 1947

Chairman of Queenborough Fishery Trust - 1933 - 47

Member of the Queenborough Charity Trustees - 1933 - 47

Ex Officio Justice of the Peace - 1933 - 45

Member of the Isle of Sheppey Joint Medical Officers Health Committee - 1932 - 47

Head Earden Borough of Queenborough R.A.P. - 1937 - 40

Chairman of Emergency Committee, Borough of Queenborough Civil Defence - 1939 - 45

Chairman of Borough of Queenborough Triumvirate Committee - 1940 - 45

Chairman of Isle of Sheppey Repairs Priority Committee War Damage - 1944 - 45

Panel Representative No. 7 Area Isle of Sheppey No. 12 - 1940 - 45

Region Emergency Services Organisation (N.B. Reponsible for the issuing of licences and organisation of repair parties and carrying out of first aid repairs to maintain production of factories on essential war work, under Ministry of Aircraft Production, War and Supplies

Representative Ministry of Food, for buffet food depot, and Emergency food supplied for Isle of Sheppey. (N.B. Devised scheme which was adopted for the emergency feeding of the Isle of Sheppey civilian population in the event of complete Isolation from mainland). - 1940 - 45

Joint representative of Ministry of Supply for the disposal of War damage Glue producing supplies No.12 region - 1940 - 45

Appointed Assistant Commissioner of Taxes for the division of the Upper Scray - 1940 - 49

Member of the Ministry of Transport Rating Agricultural and Industrial Fixing Committee, No. 12 Region - 1940 - 52

Appointed General Commissioner of Taxes for the division of the Upper Scray - 1949 - 70

Chairman of above - 1963 - 70

Elected member of the Council of Kent County Agricultural Society - 1946 to date Elected Chairman of Finance Committee of above (N.B. Commencing in taking office with invested capital of £7,000 and liquid assets in the form of office furniture of £34. According to Balance Sheet to 1951, the invested capital then stood at an excess of £18,000 with other asset such as buildings, plant and equipment , of some £4,000 - £5,000 - £3,500 of which approximate was being paid off by instalments from the Maidstone Corporation and would have been cleared by 1958. - 1946 - 62

 

The Society financially now being in a position to make a complete Cancellation of their Annual Show at the shortest possible notice.

Responsible for the layout of permanent showground at Maidstone for the Society. (Mote Park) - 1948

Elected life Vice President of Society - 1948

Freedom of Borough of Queenborough - 6 Nov. 1947

 

Chairman of Finance K.C.A.S. - 1946 - 62

Vice Chairman of Council - 1955 - 63

Chairman of Council - 1963 - 69

Responsible for lay-out. Planning permission at Detling. Men of Kent - member - 1923

Chairman of the County & Treasurer of the County - 1964 - 70

Kent County Playing Fields Committee - 1952

Representative of Sittingbourne - 1959 - 68

Secretary Tickham Point to Point - Nov 1954 - 1963