The following article was published in The East Kent Gazette on the 9th of November, 1940. The photos are from the Hartlip archives.

Worthy residents of Hartlip in the persons of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Miles of Step House, Hartlip, are to-day celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding day, which took place at Hartlip Church on November 8th. 1890.

Neither of them was born in the parish, but both were quite young when they first came to reside at Hartlip.

The husband, William Barns Miles, who is seventy-seven years of age, was born at Hunton, Maidstone, but after a brief residence in London, where his parents had moved, he came to Hartlip, when six years of age, to live with friends.

He attended Hartlip School during the mastership of the late Mr. Edward Stevens, and then went "on to the land" for a few years.

As a youth he was a keen gardener, and at eighteen years of age he went to Snodland in that capacity. Not long after he returned to Hartlip as gardener to the late Mrs. Fausett-Osborne at Hartlip Place, where he remained in charge of the gardens for twenty-eight years.

Leaving there he took over the small-holding known as Underlynch, which he conducted successfully until nine years ago, when he gave this up to become verger at the Parish Church.

Mrs. Miles, who comes from an old and well-known Rainham family, was Miss Jane Kitney, formerly of Station-road, Rainham. She is seventy-eight years of age, and came to Hartlip as a girl to act as maid in the household of the Misses Webb, of "The Parsonage," Hartlip. When these ladies removed to Canterbury in 1890, the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Miles took place at Hartlip Church, the officiating minister being the Rev. F. Scott, then vicar of the parish.

Thus for over sixty years the old couple have been closely identified with the village life of Hartlip, and have earned the respect of the parishioners during this long period.

Perhaps Mr. Miles is best known as a horticulturist. He has won many prizes in shows in this district, and in later years his services have been in great demand as a judge in which capacity he has operated over a wide area. He was a cricketer of no mean ability, and continued turning out regularly for the village club until comparatively recent times. He is also an expert change-ringer, and was a member of the Kent County Association of Change-Ringers. He was regularly seen in the belfry at Hartlip Church until the war put an end to bell-ringing. Yet another accomplishment of Mr. Miles is that he is a player of the violin, and was a regular member of Miss C. Fausett-Osborne's village orchestra.

Hartlip Village Band.
It is not known if one of the violinists is W.B. Miles but it is thought that the violinist on the left is Harry Miles.

Mr. and Mrs. Miles have been blessed with a family of seven children, and all are living to-day. They are Mr. William Henry Miles, of Hartlip; Mr. Walter Sydney Miles, of Farningham, Kent; Mr. Tylden Miles, of Hartlip; Mr. Percy Miles, of Sheerness; Mr. Arthur James Miles, of Roehampton; Mrs. Winifred Musselwhite, of Battersea, S.W.; and Mrs. Ivy Andrews, of Lambeth. S.E.; and there are eleven grandchildren. Messrs. Tylden and Percy Miles are unmarried.

The old couple continue to enjoy good health in the evening of their days, and that they may be long spared to each other will be the general wish of their many friends in the Hartlip district.

However, Mr. Miles' life had two other incidents in it, both were reported in The East Kent Gazette. The following was published on the 25th of January, 1941, only two-and-a-half months after the report of his silver wedding anniversary.

"BLACK OUT" OFFENCES

Heavier Fines Promised

One of Hartlip’s most respected parishioners appeared at Sittingbourne Petty Session on Monday when William Barns Miles, of Step House, was summoned for contravening the lighting regulations at Hartlip on January 4th last.

Defendant admitted the charge.

Police Constable Goldsack stationed at Newington said that in consequence of a complaint he went to Hartlip School at 7.15 on the evening in question. At the rear of the premises he saw two bright lights, which were unscreened, proceeding from the windows. No one was on the premises at the time, and he went and found the defendant, who was caretaker, and who admitted that he had forgotten to cover the windows. Witness told him he would have to report him.

Defendant said the had to admit that he had committed an offence. He lighted two lamps and placed them in a position near the school cistern to stop it becoming frozen. He left the premises in daylight and forgot to "black out" the windows. He knew he ought to have done this, but it was a lapse on his part. He had no intention of contravening the regulations.

Inspector Broughton said nothing was recorded against the defendant, who was very respected in his parish.

The Chairman (Mr. W.F. Wood) remarked that the authorities took a very serious view of the continuance of these lighting offences, and it was the intention of the Bench to increase the penalties. "We see this as a pure oversight," said Mr. Wood, "and we are going to deal leniently with you." The public, however, must take notice that the Bench intend to deal much more severely with this class of offence, and future the fines will be much heavier.

The Chairman added that the Bench had taken in consideration all of the facts of this case, and the find would be £1.

It seems highly likely that Mr. Miles' life also had a tragic element. Although not identified as William Barns Miles in the following, it seems highly likely that the incidents did involve him. This was reported in The East Kent Gazette for 15th January 1898.

SHOCKING GUN ACCIDENT

The parish of Hartlip was shocked by an accident which occurred on Saturday afternoon in Warren Woods. William Miles, gardener to Major Jerome, was out rabbit shooting, accompanied by George Sone, aged fifteen, whose father is coachman to Mr. Webb of Hartlip. Miles and Sone sighted a rabbit, and the boy darted forward and made a grab at it, while Miles raised his gun and instantaneously fired. Each was so intent on what he was doing that the perilous position of the boy was lost sight of. The contents of the gun lodged in Sone's right arm, just below the shoulder. The lad was placed on a hurdle, and carried in to the village, receiving every attention, while a messenger was dispatched to Rainham for Dr. Penfold, who speedily responded to the call.

It was found that the arm was shattered, being suspended by a piece of flesh only. Efforts to stop the bleeding were partially successful, and, as Dr. Penfold saw that amputation was imperative, the poor lad was placed on a conveyance, without being removed from the hurdle, and was taken direct to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, Chatham. On arrival there the mutilated arm was amputated and the youth was reported to be going on favourably. Subsequent inquiry elicits the information that Sone is getting over the effects of the terrible shock. Had the gun been aimed an inch nearer the charge would have entered the lad’s head. Miles was very much upset at the injuries which he was the unfortunate means of inflicting on his companion.

Later in The East Kent Gazette for 22nd January 1898, one week later, the following was reported.

THE RECENT GUN ACCIDENT

The boy George Sone, who was severely wounded on Saturday week, is doing well. Thomas Sone, father of the injured lad, writes, with reference to the accident:-

"It should have been stated that Major Jerome and William Miles (his gardener) were out rabbit shooting, accompanied by George Sone. Miles and Sone were standing about ten feet from a rabbit hole (having turned in the ferrets) when a rabbit bolted. Miles shot, and wounded it. The rabbit turned and made for the hole, when the lad Sone darted forward to secure it, and Miles most unfortunately fired again. Had it not been for the knowledge and prompt attention of Major Jerome, the lad would most probably have bled to death. Besides losing his arm, Sone was struck by several shots on the side of the head just over the ear.