If you’ve attended a meeting at Swale council’s offices in East Street, Sittingbourne, you will no doubt have seen the four

portraits that hang on the wall in the chamber.

You may have even asked yourself who are they.

Now we have the answer… The oil paintings are of four
important townsmen.

As you look at them, the one on the far left is of doctor of divinity and JP the Reverend John Poore (1773 to 1861).

He was the rector of Murston from 1814 to 1861 and a local magistrate from approximately 1819 to 1849 as well as the vicar of Rainham.

The portrait by Sir William Boxall was presented by public subscription out of regard and affection by the people.

It originally hung in the
Sittingbourne Magistrates Court, but was removed to the town hall when it was acquired by the local board in 1878.

Dr Poore was active as a magistrate at the time of the last armed uprising in Britain, which took place in east Kent in 1838 and was led by a certain Sir William Courtenay, whose name is commemorated by the hotel of that name at Dunkirk, Faversham.

Next is Henry Payne, JP and county councillor, who was chairman of Sittingbourne Urban District Council from 1903 to 1910.

The portrait, painted by Arthur Hacker in 1908, was presented to Mr Payne in recognition of his services to the town and district. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1908.

Mr Payne was a banker, and a member of the county council from 1902 to 1917. He died in 1930.

Alongside him is his father, also a banker, George Payne, who was the first chairman of the
Sittingbourne local board and served from 1874 to 1890.

His portrait was presented to the town in 1889 by artist
Barnard Rook, of Sittingbourne.

Last but not least is George Smeed (1812 to 1881), founder of brick and cement makers Smeed Dean. He is described in the picture as ‘Merchant Sittingbourne’.

His portrait was Painted by Eden Upton Eddis in 1878, and was handed to him and unveiled at a public dinner on the occasion of the local board acquiring the town hall, which was formerly a corn exchange.