An ex-boot manufacturer and well-known Conservative, Mr William Herbert Davison, aged 73, died on Saturday at his residence, 21, Griffith-street, Rushden. His health broke down some years ago, and in recent times he could only go out in an invalid chair, spending a good deal of his time in the grounds of Rushden Hall.

Mr Davison was born at Kettering and came of an old Kettering family. He became manager for Thorpe and Co., a Kettering boot firm, and was then manager for the Northants Productive Society at Wollaston.

Moving to Rushden in 1913, he set up business with the late Mr W L Duncan as Duncan and Davison, the factory being in Sartoris-road. Later he was head of W H Davison and Co. Ltd, using the factory at the junction of Station-road and High-street, and ultimately taking over the Sartoris-road factory as a branch works. In 1933 he retired with the reputation of having always preserved very good relations with his employees.

Mr Davison was a member of the Pemberton (Rushden) Lodge of Freemasons and for many years was a director of the Rushden Conservative Club, also being one of the original members of the Rushden Town Bowling Club. He was a churchman.

A widow is left, and there are two children, Miss Davison and Mr W E (Ted) Davison.

A large number of friends attended the funeral service at St Mary’s Church on Wednesday. The Rector (Rev E A Green) officiated, and Mr A Clarke, A.R.C.O., at the organ, accompanied the hymn “Abide with Me”, also playing “O rest in the Lord” and Handel’s “Largo”. After the service the coffin was conveyed to the Kettering Crematorium where the Rector conducted the final service.

Among the mourners were Mr W E Davidson (son), Miss E J Davison (daughter), Mrs A W Miller, Mrs H Clark, Dr R W Davies, Mr F Tomlinson, Mr Brawn, Mrs D Burr, Miss N Groome, Mrs F Fursey and Mrs S Clark (friends) and Mr F Green, J.P. (representing the Conservative Association).

Mrs Davison (widow), Mrs Sawyers, Mrs R Pritchard and Mrs A Phillips (sister-in-law) were unable to attend.

The wreaths were inscribed as follows: To the best of husbands from his sorrowing wife—At Rest; To the dearest and best of fathers, from his loving son and daughter; A token of sincere sympathy from Mr and Mrs Owen, Rushden; With deepest sympathy from M S Haigh; With deepest sympathy from R R Brown; With deepest sympathy from Mr and Mrs Burr.

Messrs Whittington and Tomlin carried out the funeral arrangements.