A respected inhabitant of Rushden, Mr Ernest Catling, died on Saturday at his residence, 40 Newton-road. Seventy-three years of age, Mr Catling was the son of the late Mr Charles Catling, of Northampton and Chesham, and was born at Northampton, being educated at the Waterloo College. He spent 20 years at Kettering, and had lived in Rushden since 1911. At both Northampton and Rushden he had been in business as a boot and leather factor. He was a good worker for the Rushden Liberal Association, a member of the Pemberton Masonic Lodge, and a very keen player in the ranks of the Rushden Town Bowling Club. A lecturer on boot and shoe manufacture at the Technical Schools of the district from 1888 to 1900, he was a first-class medallist in the Honours grade of the City and Guilds of London Institute. Some 12 months ago Mr Catling underwent a serious operation at Northampton General Hospital, but he never recovered his health, and his illness was very painful. He leaves a widow, Mrs Helen Catling, a daughter, Mrs S P Sanders, and a son, Mr E C Catling, who is in Ceylon. The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon, when the Rev T W Gill, minister of the Park-road Baptist Church, conducted a service at the home in the presence of the following mourners: Mrs E Catling (widow), Mr and Mrs S Sanders (son-in-law and daughter), Mrs E Ward (niece), Mr and Mrs A Reynolds, Northampton (nephew and niece), and Mr C Putnam (cousin). At the cemetery the Pemberton Lodge of Freemasons was represented by W.Bros. F W Margetts and L Perkins, Bros. Bernard Tomkins and A J Sturgess. Mr John Tompkins was also present. [a list of floral tributes follows] Messrs T Swindall and Sons were the undertakers.