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| Rushden Echo & Argus 14th March 1941 |
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Mr Eric W Bignell Killed In Raid
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Rushden Boot Director and Companion – Victims of London Incident |
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Mr Eric Bignell, managing director of Bignells Ltd., boot manufacturers, of Rushden, Kettering, Wellingborough and Raunds, has lost his life in London as the result of enemy action. Mr Bignell and his close friend, Mr Robert C Clarke, of Sywell Hall, were spending a few hours in London when a bomb made a direct hit on the building in which they were, killing a number of people. Mr Bignell’s parents, Mr and Mrs A J Bignell, visited the scene on Sunday in company with Mr Oswald Lawrence, general manager at the Rushden office of Messrs. Bignells Ltd. They ascertained that Mr Clarke had been killed outright, but it was not until Monday that the death of Mr Bignell was established. Mr Eric Bignell was 34 years old and resided at “Kingswood”, Billing Road, Northampton. He had played a great part in the progress of Bignells Ltd., whose factories at Rushden, Kettering, Wellingborough and Raunds give work to a large number of employees, and he took a particular interest in the Spitfire Fund effort last autumn and in the establishment of a contributory fund for the welfare of employees who join the Services. A keen sportsman, he was especially fond of golf. Mr Bignell was born at Stoke Newington, spending most of his youth at Leicester, and other members of the family are with him in the business. He had arranged to join the Army to-day (Friday). His wife and two children, Dianne and Judith are in Cape Town, South Africa. The funeral will take place at 11a.m. on Saturday at St Andrew’s Parish Church, Totteridge, London. |
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21st March 1941 Last Tributes to Mr. Eric Bignell Staff and Friends at Manufacturer’s Funeral at Totteridge More than a hundred wreaths were sent for the funeral of Mr. Eric William Bignell (34), managing-director of Bignells, Ltd., boot manufacturers, which took place last Saturday at Totteridge Parish Church, Herts., the service being conducted by the Rev. J. Edger D. Pratt. Mr. Bignell’s death by enemy action in London was announced last week. Of three friends who were with him at the time, celebrating his impending departure for service with the R.A.F., two were killed and the other seriously injured. He was educated at Mercers School, Holborn, and was married 11 years ago at Muswell Hill. A keen all-round sportsman, he won several golf championships and was a keen amateur aviator. In recent years his home was at “Kingswood,” Billing-road, Northampton, but at the beginning of the war his wife and two children were evacuated to South Africa. The family mourners were Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Bignell (father and mother), the Misses Gladys and Evelyn Bignell (sisters). Mrs. Yeeles (mother-in-law), Mrs. F. G. Claremont (sister-in-law), Mr. G. Bignell and Mr. G. W. Harrison (uncles), Mr. W. J. Bradley, Mrs. Knudson, Mr. H. R. Church, Mrs. E. A. Gailer and Mrs. A. R. Lawson (cousins). Bignells, Ltd., was represented by Messrs. A. W. and G. Gilbert and J. Forrester (directors), Mr. O. L. Lawrence (manager), Mr. J. J. Colson (cashier), Mr. W. G. Johnson (export manager), Miss Hart (secretary to Mr. A. J. Bignell, the chairman), Messrs. H. H. Lipscombe, E. Bryon, R. Bradfield, S. T. Beal, E. and W. Preston and other members of staff. Among other present were Mr. S. C. Brightwell (Rushden Boot Manufacturers’ Association), Mr. W. Chamberlain (Higham Ferrers), Mr. L. Miller (Rushden), T. Swindall (Rushden), F. Eaton (Wellingborough), and F. H. Lawrence, Mrs. O. L. Lawrence, and Mr. and Mrs. Leslie T. Hales (Kettering). Among the donors of wreaths were the committee of Bignells Services Fund (of which Mr. Eric Bignell was chairman), central office staff of Bignells. London office staff managers, staff and employees at Station-road, Rushden, High-street, Raunds, Clare-street, Raunds, Crabb-street, Rushden, the Kettering branch, York-road, Rushden, Wellingborough Branch, T. Swindall and Sons (Rushden), directors of Peck’s Transport, Edward Woodley and Sons, Ltd., Seddons and Arlidge, Ltd. |
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