One of the most highly-respected residents of Rushden, Mr. W. Wood, headmaster of the Alfred-street Boys School, passed away on Saturday evening very suddenly, and the sad event created a profound impression.

The deceased gentleman, with his wife and daughter Miss Kate Wood, had been spending the afternoon at Northampton and returned to Rushden by the 6.42 p.m. train. They were proceeding to their home in Essex-road by way of Beaconsfield-terrace and Rectory-road, when Mr. Wood, shortly after leaving the station, complained of feeling cold. Mrs. Wood took her husband into the Queen-street Co-operative Stores, where he rested for a few minutes. Then Mrs. Wood remembered a personal friend who was living near – Mrs. Chamberlain, the wife of Mr. C. Chamberlain, housepainter, etc., of Rectory-road – and said to Mr. Wood, “Do try and get as far as Mrs. Chamberlain’s.” Mr. Wood then went on as far as Mr. Chamberlain’s shop. Here Mrs. Chamberlain helped Mrs. and Miss Wood to assist the deceased up the steps from the shop into the living-room, and the sufferer was placed in an arm chair. Dr. Owen, who was sent for, found the patient to be in a critical condition, suffering from heart disease, and though every effort was made to ward off the attack, the deceased succumbed about 7.30, half an hour or so after being removed into Mr. Chamberlain’s house.

Mr. Wood, who was 53 years of age, leaves a widow and one daughter. He was held in the utmost respect in the town, and throughout the district. In the year 1877 he moved to Rushden from Lymington, Hampshire, where he had been teaching for two years after leaving the Borough-road Training College for Teachers. At that time the Rushden School Board had recently been formed, and Mr. Wood had charge of the school in the Old Temperance Hall in Newton-road. A year or two afterwards the Alfred-street schools were erected by the Board, and Mr. Wood assumed the headmastership of the boys’ school – a position which he occupied to the day of his death – while Mrs. Wood took charge of the infants’ department. Many of the young men of Rushden passed through Mr. Wood’s school, and the universal testimony from his old scholars is one of grateful appreciation of his moral worth and his educational attainments. The teachers and scholars of the three departments of the Alfred-street schools are joining to purchase an enlarged photograph of the deceased, and the portrait is to be placed in the boys’ school.

About four years ago Mr. Wood had an attack of heart disease, since which time he has never been in quite his usual health, and he has since then been under occasional medical treatment. It was while Mr. Wood was away ill, in July, 1901, that the disastrous fire took place at the factory of Messrs. John Cave and Sons, Ltd., by which the house attached to the Alfred-street schools, and up to that time occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Wood, was seriously damaged, resulting in the house being pulled down and opportunity taken to extend the Alfred-street schools.

Mr. Wood was very unassuming, and was ever ready to do an act of kindness. He was a regular worshipper at the Park-road Baptist church, and he will be much missed in Rushden.

Shortly after his death the body was removed to Essex-road in the ambulance litter by four members of the local corps.

A striking testimony to the respect and sympathy felt for the deceased was to be found in the great crowd which attended the funeral on Wednesday afternoon. The first portion of the service was held at the Park-road Baptist Church, which was filled with those who had attended to give silent expression not only to their regret at the loss the town has sustained but to their sympathy with the bereaved widow and daughter.

While the mourners took their places in the church, Mr. Geo. Farey, the organist, played “I know that my Redeemer liveth.”

The mourners were:- Mrs. Wood (widow), Miss Kate Wood (daughter), Mr. and Mrs. J. Wood (brother and sister-in-law, London), Mr. and Mrs. G. Hustwaite (Higham Ferrers), Mrs. Mugbridge (sister-in-law, Melton Mowbray), and Mr. and Mrs. A. G. C. Vann (Higham Ferrers). Among those also present wither in the church or at the graveside were:- Messrs. G. Denton (Chairman of the Education Sub-committee), J. T. Colson (chairman of the Council Schools managers), W. Wilkins, J. Noble, B. Vorley, F. Corby, W. B. Sanders, and W. Chettle (school managers), and A. Mantle (clerk to managers); Mr. E. J. Jenkins (assistant secretary to the County Education Committee) and Mrs. Jenkins, Mr. J. Shelmerdine (Raunds), the Rev. M. E. Parkin and Mrs. Parkin, Mr. F. Ballard, Dr. Owen, Messrs. C. L. Bradfield and G. Miller (formerly members of the School Board), Messrs. W. H. Whitehouse, A. T. Bliss, E. Finlay, H. C. Freer, and E. L. Brightwell, and Miss C. Gadsby (assistant teachers at the Alfred-street Boys’ School), with the following head teachers of the various schools:- Mr. L. Perkins (Newton-road Mixed), Mr. W. H. Brown (National Mixed), Miss Myers (Alfred-street Girls), Miss Scott (Alfred-street Infants’), Miss Nash (Newton-road Infants’), Miss Strickland (Moor-road), Mrs. Tye (North End), and Miss Taylor (National Infants’). All the assistant teachers in the town were also present.

The service was conducted by the Rev. W. F. Harris in a very impressive manner. In the course of an address, Mr. Harris said it was difficult to realize that the friend they had with them as recently as Saturday, and whose figure was so familiar by reason of his long service and long residence in the town was now but a shadow and a memory. Their friend’s departure had been spoken of as painfully sudden, and so it must have been to those who loved him most. The blow came without notice and death could never be anything but painful for friends and loved ones left behind, but was it not better to die in harness and to be spared weeks and months of suffering? It was God’s doing, and, depend upon it, it was the wisest and best. Now their friend had gone from them, what were they to say? To say much by way of eulogy would be out of keeping with the deceased’s character and disposition. Into the sanctity of the domestic circle, they could not intrude, but they knew that he was a faithful husband and father. His life seemed to be divided between his school and his home, and they could but commend the widow and daughter to the tender mercy of Him Who was a Husband to the widow and a Father to the fatherless. For the rest they might simply say of their departed friend that he was one of the world’s quiet workers, modest, and humble-minded. The teachers’ work, being rather of a foundation character than prominent in the world’s eye, was largely unappreciated, and how much their friend had done in the last 27 years in moulding the character and influencing the lives of the citizens of the town none could tell. Rushden owed much to Walter Wood, and it was well that Rushden’s citizens should recognize their indebtedness. Their friend lived his life and did his work in a quiet, unobtrusive way, but his memory was a sweet fragrance and a lasting benediction. Surely, in him were the fruits of the Spirit. He was among the immortals that day. Many years ago, be identified himself with the church and though not in fellowship with them he walked consistently and they all admired his character. So they commended to God those who were bereaved and might the message of their friend’s life be the message of quiet, faithful, and unobtrusive work.

As the mourners left the church, Mr. Farey played “The Dead March.” The funeral procession was reformed and proceeded to the Cemetery, where Mr. Harris read the committal portion of the service. A great crowd had assembled, but under the direction of Inspector Onan, Police-Sergt. Slaughter, and constables, excellent order was kept. The elder boys and old boys of the deceased’s school maintained a large ring for the mourners, and at the close of the service filed past the foot of the grave.

The coffin, which was of polished oak, with brass furniture, bore the inscription:-

From his sorrowing Wife and Daughter. After life’s fitful fever he sleeps well.

In loving memory of our esteemed friend and chief, Alfred-street Staff (Boys).

A token of affection and respect from the scholars of Alfred-street Boys’ School.

North End School. In token of esteem and respect from the teachers, and in loving appreciation of his goodness to “Little Ones” from the scholars.

With deepest sympathy, from the teachers and scholars of Moor-road School.

A token of great respect and sincere sympathy from Mr. and Mrs. A. Packwood.

In affectionate remembrance of our dear friend, from Mr. and Mrs. Hustwaite and family, Higham Ferrers.

A token of respect and esteem from Harry H. and Amy E. Darby.

In sympathy from T. and C. Linnitt and family.

A tribute of deepest sympathy and respect, Mr. and Mrs. E. Scroxton and family.

In affectionate remembrance, M. V. and P. Burrows.

In loving remembrance, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Darnell.

With deepest sympathy from an old teacher, A.C.

With deepest sympathy and loving memory of a kind master, from an old scholar, Albert Clark.

With deepest sympathy J. and M. Wood (London).

As a last tribute of respect, from an old scholar, Mrs. S. Elmer.

With deep sympathy from the teachers of the Newton-road Infants’ Council School.

With deep sympathy from head teachers and staff of the National Schools.

In loving sympathy from the teachers of Newton-road (Mixed).

In affectionate remembrance, from the teachers and scholars of the Alfred-street schools (girls’ and infants’ departments) and Mrs. Knighton.

Mrs. Wood and Daughter wish to tender their sincere and heartfelt thanks to all who have sympathised and helped them in their extremely sore bereavement.