By the sudden death of Mr. Alfred Thomas Watson, at Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire, on Sunday, the Rushden and Higham Ferrers District Gas Company has lost a progressive and popular manager whose quiet and kindly manner was appreciated by all who knew him.

During his late wife’s long illness Mr.Watson devoted most of his spare time to the home, and her death last December was obviously a severe blow to him, from which he had never recovered.  He had been unwell since Whitsun of this year, when he was overcome with pain after mowing a lawn at Henley-in-Arden, where he was staying.  He returned to Rushden after being attended by a doctor, and was spending another short holiday at Henley last week-end with the Mrs.Watson’s uncle and aunt, Mr. and Miss Southerton.

At 11.45 p.m. on Sunday Mr.Watson was having a chat before retiring for the night when he collapsed, and death was instantaneous – evidently the result of a heart attack.

Born at Gibraltar in September, 1881, Mr.Watson was the son of the late Mr. Thomas Watson, a Glasgow man, and to Glasgow he went at the age of ten.  Patterning his career on his father’s, he served an apprenticeship with the Manchester gas engineering firm of Dempster’s, and in 1900 be became assistant engineer to the Wellingborough Gas Company.  In the meantime his father had become engineer and manager to the Rushden and Higham Ferrers District Gas Company, and in December, 1924, following Mr. Thomas Watson’s death, the son was appointed to that position.

A few years ago Mr.A.T.Watson’s only son, Mr. Tom Watson, was installed as assistant manager, and so three generations have served the company.

The late Mr.Watson saw many improvements made to the works and plant, and under his guidance the business of the company made notable developments.  A few years ago he was overcome by gas and rendered unconscious when a mishap occurred in main-laying operations at the junction of High-street and Station-road.  Members of his staff had been taken out of the trench unconscious, but Mr.Watson had took his turn in the attempts to stop the leakage.

An experienced Freemason, his presence will be greatly missed by the Pemberton Lodge, in which he held the office of Inner Guard.  He was also secretary of the Alpha Association.  In addition he held offices in various other lodges, and was a member of the Knights Templar.

A staunch Nonconformist, Mr.Watson had held office in the Wellingborough Methodist Circuit.  He attended the Rushden Park-road Methodist Church and was a founder member of the Rushden Rotary Club.

There are four sisters, Mrs.Thompson, widow of the late Rev. T.E.Thompson, Miss Christian Miller Watson, Miss Grace Rundle Watson and Miss Helen Watson.

Wor.Bro.I.Haigh, Past Master of the Pemberton Lodge of Freemasons, whose work brought him into constant contact with the late Mr.Watson, described him as “a true friend, and one of the Lodge’s most valued brothers; most quiet and unassuming, and always ready to relieve one of any burden where work was concerned.  A more honorable brother could not be found, and his death is a great blow.”

Councillor J.Rowe, chairman of the Gas Company’s directors, said: “It is with a great sense of loss that we have heard of Mr.Watson’s death.  He was appointed the Company’s engineer and manager as on December 1, 1924, in the place of his father, and during the time of his managership the Company has grown very considerably – chiefly through his efforts and personal supervision.  He was a man of sterling character.”

The funeral took place at Rushden early on Thursday afternoon, the Rev. L.Marsden Allen, of the Park-road Methodist Church, officiating at a service held at the house in Shirley-road and at the committal at the cemetery.  The coffin, which arrived by car from Henley-in-Arden during the morning, was bourne into the house and out again, before and after the service, by four employees of the Rushden and Higham Ferrers Gas Co., Messrs. J.Fursey, A.Darlow, W.Brown and F.Green.

Around a grave lined with marigolds and lilies a large company, including Gas Company directors, Masons, Methodists and Rotarians, attended to pay their last respects.

The family mourners were: Mr.and Mrs.T.Watson (son and daughter-in-law), Mrs.T.E.Thompson, London, Miss C.M.Watson, Miss G.R.Watson and Miss H.Watson (sisters), Miss O.Southerton and Mr.A.Southerton (cousins), Mr.A.D.Michell, Hayle, Cornwall (brother-in-law), Mr.A.G.Larkinson, Mr.T.A.Tomlinson, Manchester, Mr.A.S.Campbell and Mr.C.C.Wood (Wellingborough Gas Co.), and Mr.V.H.Davies, Birmingham (friends), and Miss E.Anniss (housekeeper).

Gas Company directors: Mr.J.Rowe (chairman), Mr.A.O.Groome, Ald.F.Walker, Ald.H.R.Patenall, Mr.A.L.Sanders and Mr.R.F.Knight, with Mr.J.C.J.Simpson (secretary).  Mr.J.W.Radburne (vice-chairman) was unable to attend.

Gas Company staff: Messrs. A.T.Chambers, W.H.Spicer, H.Mitchell, H.Holman, S.Goodwin, H.Jaques, F.Mitchell, A.Neville, J.Bollard, G.Wood, E.Jacobs, W.Thake, S.Sackett, J.Cox, L.Knight, A.Green, F.Pearson, C.Neville, A.Davies, W.Wooding, E.Lines, F.Craddick, A.Wakes, F.Fowell, L.Smith, A.Cooper, S.Cleaver, H.Richardson, P.Richardson, F.Dickens, R.Magee, S.Cox, E.Darlow, Miss A.Lowe, Miss E.Garley and Mrs.H.Hewlett (former employee).

Representatives of other gas companies: Mr.T.Maddocks (Kettering), Mr.G.E.Smith (chairman of directors), Mr.W.Bolton, manager (Raunds).

Methodist Church: Ald.C.W.Horrell, J.P. (Circuit Steward), Mr.and Mrs.G.W.Battersby, Higham Ferrers, Councillor W.E.Capon, Mr.and Mrs.A.W.Head, Mr.J.Dickens.

Pemberton Lodge of Freemasons: W.M. S.Richardson, Bros. O.A.H.Muxlow, F.W.Margetts, H.Timpson, G.Lee, S.C.Brightwell, B.C.Thomkins, J.J.Page, A.J.Sturgess, A.Neal, F.Tassell, senr., E.Linnitt, E.Wodsworth, H.C.C.Knight, R.O.Bailey, W.L.Beetenson, L.Woodley, L.J.Desborough, I.Haigh, G.Haigh and T.W.B.Muxlow.

Other Lodges: W.M. J.H.Carratt, Bro. G.W.Brown (Croyland Mark Masons, Wellingborough), Bro. T.Burnett (Wentworth Lodge, Wellingborough), Bro. G.McCartney (Dublin Garrison Lodge).

Rushden Rotary Club: Rotarian C.H.Blunsom (president).

Others present included: Mr.W.J.Horne, Wellingborough, Mr.S.Saint, Mr.W.G.Partridge, Mr.and Mrs.L.F.Norman, Mr.J.Hornsby, Mr.J.Cook, Mr.and Mrs.H.Veal, Wellingborough, Mr.S.J.Bennett (representing the Canister Works, Northamptons), Mr.V.Crawley (representing Messrs. George Hands and Co., London) and others.

Wreaths were sent by the following: Tom and Margaret; Your four Sisters; Olive (Henley-in-Arden); Ralph, Betty, Norah and Donald; Alan; Uncle and Auntie (Henley-in-Arden); The Misses Knapton (Leeds); Aunt Annie and Cousins (Ivybridge); Ethel; The Masonic Brethren (Wellingborough); Mrs.Pearson (Wellingborough); Mr.and Mrs.Veal (Wellingborough); Mr.and Mrs.Edgar Linnitt; Mr.and Mrs.Broughton; Mr.and Mrs.A.Sanders; Mr.and Miss Claridge; Staff and Employees of the Gas Coy. (Wellingborough); Mr.and Mrs.A.M.Arnott (Wellingborough); His Companions in the Pemberton Chapter 3039; Chairman, Directors and Secretary, Rushden and Higham Ferrers Gas Company; Methodist Church (Park-road); Mr.and Mrs.Spicer; Mr.and Mrs.Battersby; Rotary Club of Rushden; The W.M., Wardens, and Brethren, Pemberton Lodge; Mr.and Mrs.A.G.Larkinson; Mr.and Mrs.R.H.G., and Mr.and Mrs.R.W.Gollings (Peterborough); J.Perks, Ascot Water Heater; Employees of the Rushden and Higham Ferrers District Gas Coy.; Mr.and Mrs. Robert Marriott; Theo and Sidney; Arthur, Violet, and Jack; Leonard and Kathleen (Wellingborough).

Messrs. Ambler Bros., Birmingham, conveyed the coffin to Rushden, where Messrs. A.Sanders, Ltd., took over the funeral arrangements.