No idea who H.G Hobbs was or with whom he associated, though he appears to have written a handful of books.
Tuesday, Mar 12, 2013 : 15:44
CG said ...
Hobbs was a builder who in 1942 became the leader of a small group of Christians based in Long Melford, Suffolk, and the author of numerous items, some of which are listed in the Christian Brethren Archive, John Rylands Library, University of Manchester. After his death, one of the members of the group with which he was associated attempted to set up a charitable trust, which had as its aim the continued publishing of his work. The charitable status of the trust was challenged, and expert advice concluded that "the intrinsic worth of Hobbs’ writings was nil." Justice Plowman nevertheless recognised the charity; In re Watson deceased, Hobbs v Smith and others [1973] was reported in the All England Law Reports in 1974.
The case is widely discussed in legal textbooks, and is analysed in Matthew Harding, ‘Trusts for Religious purposes and the Question of Public Benefit,’ Modern Law Review lxxi (March 2008) p. 165; cf. Richard Clements, Ademola Abass, Equity & Trusts: Text, Cases, and Materials 2nd ed. (Oxford 2011) p. 399.
