With painful suddenness, yet not entirely unexpected, the death took place just before 11p.m. on Monday of Mr John Clark, aged 61 of ‘Heatherbreea,’ Rushden. Mr Clark had been ailing for some time with heart trouble, but had been out as recently as Monday morning. He suffered an attack on Monday night. Dr Davies, the family doctor, under whom Mr Clark had received medical attention recently, was summoned, and soon arrived at ‘Heatherbreea,’ but the patient was beyond human aid, passing away shortly afterwards. Mr Clark leaves the widow, and four children—Misses Thurza, Frances, and Kathleen, and Mr Eric Clark—to mourn their loss.

Deceased was the second son of Mr and Mrs John Clark, of Higham Ferrers, where he was born. Surviving are five sisters and four brothers, Messrs William, Charles (Rushden), Harry (Ald. H Clark, of Rochdale), Arthur (Wellingborough), and Fred, and Mesdames Andrews, T Wheeler (Rushden), H Ballard (Kettering), and A Neal (Rushden).

Over 40 years ago Mr Clark was in the employ of Mr William Colson as a clicker. Mr Clark saw the great possibilities of boot manufacturing in the district and decided to make a venture. His brother-in-law, Mr James Jaques, had opened a business in Victoria-road in 1885, and in the next year Mr Clark joined Mr Jaques. Manufacturing was carried on in shops at the back of Gladstone-terrace, Wellingborough-road, as well as in the Victoria-road premises. Twelve months later, such was the expansion of the business, larger premises were required, and the factory in Fitzwilliam-street (now the Premier Boot Works) was built by the firm. The introduction of machinery in a few years made it necessary that the firm should have still more room for manufacturing, and when the factory which divides Midland-road and Station-road became vacant (up to the being the works of Messrs Austin and Bond) Messrs Jaques and Clark bought the factory, and in 1901 they enlarged it, successfully carrying on operations there and in a factory in Station-road (since destroyed by fire) until 1910, when Mr Jaques went out of the partnership and set up business in the Station-road factory under the name of Jaques and Son. Mr Clark controlled the business in the larger factory until his death, the original name of Jaques and Clark being retained. Deceased had been a member of the Rushden and District Boot and Shoe Manufacturers’ Association, once occupying the position of vice-president.

Mr Clark successfully worked limestone quarries above the St Crispin Estate, constructed a light railway from there, past the allotments, across the Wellingborough-road, through the Rushden Brick and Tile Company’s fields, to a railway siding which he rented from the company. In 1911 Mr Clark took over the Brick and Tile Company from the original directors. He also carried on farming at Eastfields Farm, fields near Knuston, and Shirley Park, and bought the Rectory Farm. He was from the beginning a director of the Rushden and District Electric Power Supply Company, had for some time before his death been a director of the Southill Ironstone Mines (near Wellingborough), and was formerly a director of Messrs Barratt & Co., Boot Manufacturers, Northampton.

In religious life the late Mr Clark has been a zealous worker for the Wesleyan Reform Union for about 44 years, his first association being with the then Queen-street Church. He was admitted a member in 1886. The opening-up of the Wellingborough-road district led to the project of another Church, and the members decided in 1893 to form the nucleus by holding a Sunday School (originally 29 scholars) and Sunday evening public services in the Moor-road Schools for members who lived near. Mr Clark, having been deputed to take charge, was president of the new offspring Church and superintendent of the Sunday school, which latter office he continued to hold for the rest of his life. He was also the Church president since Mr Joseph Mackness gave up the office on leaving the town. After two years at the Moor-road Schools the members of the new branch Church erected the little “iron” chapel (in 1895) in Station-road. The constantly increasing number of scholars, together with the crowded condition of the building at the public services, made it absolutely necessary to provide a large building, and the Wellingborough-road Mission Hall, seating a total of 550 persons was the result of the scheme embarked upon in 1900. It was erected at a cost of £3,250, which has now been paid off some considerable time. Mr Clark had a great deal to do with the organising work entailed by the building of both new premises. He generously presented the fine two-manual organ in the Mission Hall, and by the free gift of the use of a field on Irchester-road he materially helped found the first Church sports club in the town, thus keeping together the young folks connected with the cause. The members of the club have always unanimously elected Mr Clark as their president. Another presidency which Mr Clark has held without a break is that of the Mission Band (formed 26 years ago during the time the “iron” chapel was being used). The Mission Band of Hope (of which he was president until twelve months ago) and the Christian Endeavour have claimed much of his time and energies; he was greatly devoted to both. He was general treasurer of the Wesleyan Reform Union, with which the Independent Wesleyan cause locally is connected, and in 1916-17 he was President of the Conference.

A liberal in his political opinions, Mr Clark always lent his assistance at election times and at public festivities arranged in aid of the Rushden Liberal Association. He was one of 29 candidates at the Rushden Urban Council election in 1913, and when the poll was declared his name appeared exactly in the middle of the list. He did not seek office on any other public body.

The funeral took place this afternoon, the first part of the service being at the Mission Hall.