Dr. James Henry Crane, M.B.E., B.A., Medical superintendent of Rushden House Sanatorium, collapsed and died at the Rushden Ritz Cinema at around 9 o’clock on Friday night. Dr. Crane, who was aged 61 years, was in the cinema with his wife, Mrs. Ethel Maud Crane, Mrs. S. D. Rieley and Mrs B. W. Paine, both the wives of well-known Rushden doctors. They were seated in the balcony when Dr. Crane collapsed, and with the help of the audience, the ladies assisted him to the balcony foyer. When Drs. Paine and Rieley, who were attending a meeting a short distance away, arrived, they pronounced life extinct. Dr. C. Campbell, who was assistant to Dr. Crane, was also called. A Father to Patients Born near Belfast, Dr. Crane went to Rushden Sanatorium when it was opened in 1921. Since that time, under Dr. Crane’s guidance, extensive new buildings have been erected in the ground, greatly increasing the accommodation. It is no exaggeration to say that patients regarded him as a father. Until recently Dr. Crane was Deputy County Medical Officer of Health. He was also an ardent worker for the Rushden After-care Committee, and had been chairman of the Visiting Committee since its inauguration 11 years ago. He also sat on the Finance and Executive Committees. During the last winter Dr. Crane devoted a good deal of his time to training a class of Rushden factory girls for A.R.P. first aid work. Normally he did not take part in activities apart from those of the After-Care Committee. Local Associations Dr. Crane had for several years been a vice-president of the Rushden Branch of the British Legion, and was a vice-president of the Query Motor Club. There are no children, but Dr. Crane has brothers who are also engaged in the medical profession. The East Northants Coroner (Mr. J. Cairns Parker) was informed of Dr. Crane’s passing by P.C. Watkin, but no inquest was deemed necessary. On Tuesday morning the coffin was conveyed by motor hearse to Welling borough railway station, but owing to the early hour there was no large gathering there. The burial took place on Wednesday morning at Hillsborough, in Dr. Crane’s native county, County Down, Ireland. At the same time as the interment was taking place in Ireland, a memorial service was held at St. Mary’s Church, Rushden. Rector’s Tribute The service was conducted by the Rector of Rushden, the Rev. E. A. Green, who was assisted by the Rev. J. P. Mathers (Curate). AT the organ was Mr J. Lindsay Clipson, A.R.C.O. , who was deputising for Mr Alfred Clarke, A.R.C.O., and he played “O Rest in the Lord,” the hymns being “The King of Love my Shepherd is” and “Brief life is here our portion.” In addition the 23rd Psalm was sung. The Rector said that they were gathering in memory of one who, for a good many years, had been a familiar figure in Rushden. To all who knew him, Dr. Crane was more than a familiar figure, he was a beloved friend. “I was impressed” said he Rector, “by his good nature, his quick Irish wit and his devotion to his work”. The best possible memorial to Dr. Crane stood in the Sanatorium grounds. Dr. Crane had been a man of vision, but not a visionary, and he saw the need and the possibility of a fine sanatorium. He lived to see it almost completed. Dr. Crane’s work was not confined to the precincts of the hospital: he made it his business through the After-Care Committee, to see that the work done there was not undone when the patient returned home. He did all that was in his power to prevent the spread of the tuberculos’s scourge. The patients loved Dr. Crane. He was more than a doctor to them – he was their counsellor and friend. Those Present Included amongst those who attended the memorial service were the following nurses of the Sanatorium: Matron Miss Williams: Sisters Baker, Gabe and O’Brien; Nurses Levy, Mead, Murray, Morgan, Coles and Doyle. Others present included Lord Henley, Alderman H.R. Patenall, C.C., Mrs G.E. Lloyd, C.C, Dr. C. Smith (County Public Health Committee); Mr F.J. Sharwood, C.C., Miss A.M. Sharwood, Rev. P.F. Boyd, Mr C.W.S. Green, Mrs R.Callaby Samet, Councillor A.C.A. Colton, Mr S.A. Lawrence, Mrs F. Durham, Miss W. Abrams (Rushden Tuberculosis After-Care Committee); Mr and Mrs Robert Denton, Mr E. Bennett, Mr A. Knight, Mrs W. Robinson (British Legion); Councillors E.A. Sugars, J.P. (chairman), J. Roe, W.E. Capon, Mrs O.A.H. Muxlow, Mr W.L. Beetenson (clerk), Dr. D.A. McCracken (M.O.H.) (Rushden Urban Council); Rev. E.E. Bromage (Free Church Council), Mrs W. L. Beetenson (Wellingborough-road Sick Fund), Miss W.M. Clipson (St. John Nursing Sisters), Mr G. Knight (Query Motor Club), Miss O’Neill (Matron, Wellingborough Isolation Hospital), Alderman A. Joyce, J.P., Dr. O. B. Lean, Alderman C.W. Horrell, J.P., Dr. Lord, Dr. Smartt, Dr. Leonard, Dr. Perry-Walker, Dr. and Mrs W.W. Lundie, Mr J.E. Baxter, Mr A. Prigmore, Mr A. Wills, Miss Mason, Mrs D.G. Greenfield, Mr and Mrs E.A. Black, Dr. and Mrs R.A. McCabe, Mrs Norman Barrett, Mr and Mrs Leo Claridge, Mr G. Ambridge, Mr W.G. Holloway, Mr H. Burfield, Mr Cr.W. Geary, Mr W. Hind, Mr A. Sanders, Mr J. Knight, Mr G.W. Marriott, Mr S.C. Percival, Mr W. Mobley, Mr H. Neville, Mr. J. Carratt, and Mr W. Bailey.