The Day Family have been connected with Ash since 1887. The late Mr George Day and his family lived at North Ash Farm. Mr Day farmed its 500 acres for about 50 years, 100 acres of this produced fruit. In 1933 Mr Day sold his land to a Mr Ansell, who leased part of it to Mr Ewbank of "Cherry Orchard", son-in-law to Mr Day, and the rest to Mr M.J. Fullford of "New Hayes", Hartley. He retained the old farm house however, until his death in 1942.
   Mr Ewbank bought the rest of the field known as "Butlers" on the Tithe Map. Part of this field had been given to the Dartford Rural District Council by Mr G Day as shown in the article on "General Housing". In an interview in 1939 Mr Day said "Today, as ever, agricultural labourers are the worst paid workers in the world. I told my men so to their face in times past, and I can quite understand any man deserting the land for a post in town. Mr Day went on "A labourer’s wage in 1887 was 15s a week" but he goes on to add that "today a farmer is lucky if he can find three men to do the work done by two in the 80s and ‘90s. In fact, everyone worked harder then is the case nowadays". Mr Day was a highly successful farmer, but he was not the first to admit that the farmer’s road is by no means a smooth one. Again quoting "I should say that more money has been lost in agriculture than in any other sphere in this country". He said that in his opinion the future prospects are by no means bright, it is however very likely the darkest hour before the dawn. "When things get into a bad enough plight people become disgruntled, and demand that something be done. That is happening now, I believe that the Government is willing enough to do something to help the farmers, but the difficulty is, they are ignorant of what is required".
   Mr Day emphasised the vital role played by machinery in modern farming. And now of course, nearly 20 years afterwards, the farms are almost entirely mechanised, and the machinery greatly improved. The farm labourer is earning a wage which compares

favourably with other occupations, especially when the concessions given by many of the farmers are taken into consideration.
   At the outbreak of the war the Government were forced to come to the aid of the farmers, and much was done to increase the productivity of the land. Subsidies were granted for certain crops and where land was badly farmed, the Agricultural Committees which were set up had the power to take over control. also many acres were ploughed up which had never been under crops before.
   Mr Day not only controlled his farm but also led a very active life of public service. In the days before the birth of the Dartford Rural District Council he was a member of the old Board of Guardians and when the Council came into being Mr Day became an original member. He was vice Chairman for 10 years, and Chairman for 15 years, resigning in 1936. In 1938 he resigned from the Council and the Public Assistance Committee. During the 1914-18 war he was Chairman of the Tribunal of all the Parishes, and also Chairman of the Agricultural Committee for the Dartford Rural area. He worked German prisoners on two farms. The prisoners were supervised by one of his daughters.
   Mr Day was a magistrate at Dartford for 25 years, and for several years Chairman of the Licensing Committee.
   He served on the Kent County Council for 18 years during which time he was on all the road Committees, and he remained a member of the County Mental Hospitals and Leybourne Grange Committee.
   He was a member of Ash Parish Council for a number of years, and remained a School manager until his death. Mr Day’s family consisted of two sons and three daughters, the eldest of whom, Mrs Ewbank is still living in the village as also are her married son and married daughter, 11 members of the family in all.
   Reports of the work done in the Village by Mrs Day and Mrs Ewbank appear under other headings.