With regret we have to chronicle the death, which took place unexpectedly on Saturday evening last, of Mr. Thomas Brightwell, of High-street South, Rushden. The deceased, who was highly respected, caught a severe cold on Feb. 19th. He was present at the Park-road Baptist Church on Sunday morning, Feb. 20th, but he subsequently developed an attack of bronchitis and took to his bed on the following Thursday. On Friday night he was taken with an apoplectic seizure and passed peacefully away at 6. 12 p.m. on Saturday, at the age of 71. He leaves a widow and two sons – Mr. S. C. Brightwell (secretary of the Park-road Baptist Sunday school) and Mr. E. L. Brightwell (teacher at the Alfred-street Boys school).
Deceased was born in Harrowden on Dec. 24th 1838, and removed to Wellingborough when he was 10 years of age. Afterwards he came to Rushden, and worked for his uncle, the late Mr. B. Denton, in the firm of B. Denton and Son, boot manufacturers. He removed in 1860 to Powick Asylum, where he was an attendant, and at this time he met his first wife, who bore him one son. Afterwards he was a constable in the Worcestershire Police Force. Subsequently he removed to London to take up an appointment with the firm of Homan and Co. His wife and son both died whilst he was in residence in London.
Mr. Brightwell joined the Victoria Park Congregational Church, London, in 1866, and was appointed secretary of the Mission School in connection therewith in 1867. Deceased came back to Rushden in 1872 to take up a position in the factory of the late Mr. John Cave.
At Rushden he married his second wife, a daughter of Mr. William Sherwood (who was one of the first boot manufacturers in Rushden, and for whom the late Mr. John Cave worked in his younger days).
The late Mr. Brightwell was one of the founders of the Rushden Industrial Co-operative Society, and was secretary of the same from its commencement in 1876 until 1898. He was the first secretary of the first Band of Hope formed in Rushden – in 1855 – and was one of the founders of the Rushden Temperance Band and an active member of the band until 1887.
A member for many years of the Rushden Fire Brigade, Mr. Brightwell retired in 1901, and was presented with a long-service medal on August 23rd 1895.
For over 20 years Mr. Brightwell was secretary of the “Morning Star” Tent (Rushden) of the Independent Order of Rechabites. For 38 years he was a member of the Park-road Baptist Church Choir. He did good service as a collector for the Rushden Nursing Association for the last few years.
On his retirement from the service of Messrs. John Cave and Sons he was presented by the firm with a marble clock, suitably inscribed, in recognition of his 20 years’ service as foreman.
It is interesting to note that his father, Mr. Samuel Brightwell, laid one of the foundation stones in the old Independent Wesleyan Chapel at Rushden.
On Sunday morning, before the service, the members of the Park-road Baptist Choir moved a vote of sympathy with the family.
took place on Wednesday, the Rev. J. H. Lynn officiating. A service was held at the Park-road Baptist Church, and the interment took place at the cemetery, the funeral arrangements being efficiently carried out by Messrs. Clark and Sanders.
The mourners were:- Mrs. Brightwell (widow), Mr. S. C. Brightwell and Mr. E. L. Brightwell (sons), Mrs. S. C. Brightwell (daughter-in-law), Mr. James Sargent (brother-in-law), Mrs. W. H. Pingstone (niece), Mr. James Brightwell (cousin), Miss Lily Sargent (niece), Mr. Arthur Sherwood (nephew), Mrs. Woolley (niece), Mrs. Arthur Sherwood (niece).
The following representatives of various organisations also followed:- Messrs. T. T. Clark, T. Tailby, W. Flood, D. Darnell, M. Stringer, W. S. Skinner, and G. Farey (Park-road Baptist Choir) ; Mr. C. H. Blunsom (Rushden Nursing Association) ; Mr. C. White and Mr. J. G. Perkins (Rechabites) ; Mr. W. Hobbs (President of the Rushden Co-operative Society) and Mr. W. J. Cure (secretary) ; Messrs. D. Darnell, F. Sharwood, F. Ballard, and F. Cowley (deacons at the Park-road Baptist Church) ; Mr. Amos Cave, Mr. George Selwood, and others.
were received as follows:-
In loving remembrance, from his sorrowing wife and Ernest. “sleep on, Beloved.”
In affectionate remembrance, from Lillie and Sydney. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace.”
To dear Grandpa, from Gwendolen.
In affectionate remembrance of Cousin Thomas, from Leon and Ellen (Wellingboro’).
With deepest sympathy, from the Park-road Baptist Choir.
In loving memory of an old friend, from Clara and Will. “And they sang the New Song of Moses and the Lamb.”
With fondest love to dear uncle, from his nieces and nephews.
With deepest sympathy, from Mrs. Sherwood and family (Wollaston).
Mrs. Thomas Brightwell and the family desire to thank the many friends for their kind expressions of sympathy with them in their bereavement.
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