richard3330
Cirque Fan
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From AOL News -
The meanest towns in Britain have been exposed, along with the most generous, by new research.
Market researchers Claritas Acxiom revealed that the residents of Erith in Kent are the least willing to dig deep and give money to charity, while those who live in upmarket Marlborough in Wiltshire are prepared to give the most.
The research, which asked residents of 600 towns whether they give to two or more charities a year, showed that less than 44 per cent of people living in Erith do so. In Marlborough, almost 77 per cent of residents donate.
Erith resident Derek Fisher, 68, defended his town's reputation: "It's not that we are tightfisted. People round here don't have much but they do what they can," he said.
Pub landlord Cliff Sparks joked: "We beat the Scots to the title of the meanest people in Britain - now that's what I call an achievement."
At the other end of the scale, Debbie Cummins, manager of the Wellington pub in Marlborough, said: "It is a pretty wealthy place so people can afford to be generous."
"But not all rich people are generous, so it must have something to do with the community spirit here."
Ten Meanest Towns
1. Erith, Kent
2. South Shields, Tyneside
3. Morden, Surrey
4. Barking, Essex
5. Stanley, Co. Durham
6. Jarrow, Tyne & Wear
7. Chessington, Surrey
8. South Ockendon, Essex
9. Alfreton, Derbyshire
10. Shildon, County Durham
Ten Most Generous Towns
1. Marlborough, Wiltshire
2. Pulborough, West Sussex
3. Amersham, Buckinghamshire
4. Reigate, Surrey
5. Dumbarton, near Glasgow
6. Alton, Hampshire
7. Twickenham, Middlesex
8. Fleet, Hampshire
9. Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
10. East Grinstead, West Sussex
The meanest towns in Britain have been exposed, along with the most generous, by new research.
Market researchers Claritas Acxiom revealed that the residents of Erith in Kent are the least willing to dig deep and give money to charity, while those who live in upmarket Marlborough in Wiltshire are prepared to give the most.
The research, which asked residents of 600 towns whether they give to two or more charities a year, showed that less than 44 per cent of people living in Erith do so. In Marlborough, almost 77 per cent of residents donate.
Erith resident Derek Fisher, 68, defended his town's reputation: "It's not that we are tightfisted. People round here don't have much but they do what they can," he said.
Pub landlord Cliff Sparks joked: "We beat the Scots to the title of the meanest people in Britain - now that's what I call an achievement."
At the other end of the scale, Debbie Cummins, manager of the Wellington pub in Marlborough, said: "It is a pretty wealthy place so people can afford to be generous."
"But not all rich people are generous, so it must have something to do with the community spirit here."
Ten Meanest Towns
1. Erith, Kent
2. South Shields, Tyneside
3. Morden, Surrey
4. Barking, Essex
5. Stanley, Co. Durham
6. Jarrow, Tyne & Wear
7. Chessington, Surrey
8. South Ockendon, Essex
9. Alfreton, Derbyshire
10. Shildon, County Durham
Ten Most Generous Towns
1. Marlborough, Wiltshire
2. Pulborough, West Sussex
3. Amersham, Buckinghamshire
4. Reigate, Surrey
5. Dumbarton, near Glasgow
6. Alton, Hampshire
7. Twickenham, Middlesex
8. Fleet, Hampshire
9. Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
10. East Grinstead, West Sussex