One of the leading auctioneers and valuers in the town during the 20th century was George William Knipe and the firm he founded late in his career continues today. He was born at Northorpe in 1917 and after attending Bourne Grammar School, joined the firm of Hodgkinson and Son whose offices were then in West Street, although they also had branches at Billingborough and Stamford, qualifying as a chartered auctioneer and valuer and eventually becoming a senior partner.

During the Second World War of 1939-45, he served with the Royal Air Force as a navigator, reaching the rank of flight-lieutenant but resumed his professional career on demobilisation, playing an active part in the life of the town and holding a number of public appointments.

Mr Knipe was chairman of both the Lincolnshire and Wisbech branches of the Agricultural Valuers Association, secretary, treasurer and a committee member of the annual Deeping Ploughing Match and clerk to the trustees of the Thurlby Causeway Estate Charity, a position he held for 40 years, treasurer of Bourne Rotary Club and a member of the Hereward Lodge of Freemasons.

He was also deeply interested in education and involved with local schools, serving as clerk to the governors of the Robert Manning Secondary School in Abbey Road [now the Robert Manning Technology College], and the Abbey Road and Westfield primary schools. Mr Knipe was keenly interested in sport and was treasurer and later chairman of Bourne Cricket Club.

He died on Wednesday 15th March 1995, aged 78, and the funeral service was held at the Abbey Church before a packed congregation of relatives, friends and business associates. The firm of chartered surveyors, agricultural valuers and auctioneers, Stephen Knipe and Company, which he founded with his son Stephen in January 1987, continues from their offices at No 1 Abbey Road.

See also The White Bread Meadow