Singing Blacksmith Dies - Mr. W. N. Ginns, of Rushden Mr. William Norwood Ginns – Rushden’s tenor blacksmith, who had sung in St. Mary’s Church choir for more than 60 years – died on Wednesday. He was 68. His father – from whom he took over the forge – and his mother were in the choir for 60 years too. His mother sang in the choir ten days before she died; the son also sang in the choir for the last time ten days ago. Mr. Ginns was born at 8, High Street South, and never lived anywhere else. On his eighth birthday in 1889, his parents took him to the Church just across the road, and that was when his interest in music was awakened. From that time he was the one little boy among a group of adults, for the most part women, who were in the choir stalls each Sunday. At ten he was singing solos. He started singing on the stage for a year or more before that and was in the Operatic Society and the Choral Society. Clock Winder For more than half a century, Mr. Ginns has had the task of winding up the Parish Church clock. He collapsed on Friday and on Monday night his absence from duty resulted in the clock’s chime striking a quarter of an hour slow – an occurrence that caused much comment in the town. He passed away at 7 a.m. on Wednesday. The smithy is closed until further notice. The funeral service is at St. Mary’s Church on Saturday morning and will be followed by cremation at Kettering. There is a request for no flowers, but the relatives would appreciate it if, in lieu, donations were sent to St. Mary’s Church. A widow, Mrs. Mary Ginns, and two sons – Mr. Harry Ginns, of Shortlands, Kent, and Mr. Dennis Ginns, of Welwyn Garden City – are bereaved.