At the early age of 33, Mr Harold J. Gould, Surveyor’s Assistant on the staff of the Rushden Urban District Council, died on Wednesday at his home, 53, Park-avenue, Rushden.
In the course of a long illness Mr. Gould entered hospital and recovered to the point of being able to resume his official duties, but after a short period a relapse occurred and he had lain in a critical condition for several weeks.
The son of the Rev. G. C. Gould, now of Clacton-on-Sea and formerly superintendent minister of the Higham Ferrers Methodist Circuit, Mr. Harold Gould leaves a wife (nee Miss Kathleen Goodband) and two small children.
Appointed to his Council post in March, 1928, he was greatly esteemed for his pleasant and courteous disposition. A sensitive musician, he deputised as organist at the Higham Ferrers and Rushden Methodist Churches and ultimately succeeded Mrs. W. J. Craker as organist at Rushden, continuing in that service until his health began to fail.
The funeral took place at Rushden this morning, the service being held at the house.
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Biographical Notes by Brian Shelton
Harold Gould 1906-1939
Harold Gould was born in Erith, Kent, in 1906, where his father was a Methodist Minster, so his education may well have been at various locations; the only place known was Rotherham, Yorks. The family moved to Higham Ferrers when his father Rev G. C. Gould became the minister of the Methodist Church.
In 1932 Harold married Barbara and they lived at 11 High Street, Higham Ferrers, before moving to 53 Park Avenue, Rushden - the house he designed. Harold was also musical, playing the organ and piano.
Harold was employed by Rushden Urban District Council, as an Assistant Surveyor where he worked on various projects from 1927. These included: Private Street works, Sewer extensions and House drainage, Water Mains extensions, Surveying and Levelling of Recreational and Pleasure grounds, Road and Street improvements, erection of Public Conveniences and the Reinforced Swimming Baths. Harold was also involved in the Housing Estate which covered 60 acres of land and on which 500 homes where built. This estate covered Irchester Road, Tennyson Road and Highfield Road. His family kindly donated Harold's copy of these plans to Rushden and District History Society.
Harold and his wife Kathleen had two daughters, Ruth who was 6-years-old and Barbara who was 23-months-old, when he sadly died, aged 33 years, in 1939 from cancer. Kathleen was a life long member of Park Road Methodist Church, Rushden.
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Below: Letter written September 1935, stating that Mr Gould had worked for 8½years in the council surveyor’s department, and for 7½years he was assistant to Mr J W Lloyd, who wrote a letter of reference stating:-
“During the time that Mr Gould has been with me many important schemes have been projected and carried out including, inter alia:- Private Street Works, Sewer extensions and House Drainage, Water mains extensions, Surveying and Levelling of Recreation and Pleasure Grounds, Road and Street Improvements, Erection of Public Conveniences and Reinforced Concrete Swimming Bath, and the lay-out of 60 acres of land for Housing Estate, upon which we have erected since he came over 500 houses. Further schemes are now under consideration.
He has had considerable experience in setting out and measuring up work, also in the inspection of new streets and buildings under the Model Bye-laws, the working of the Private Street Works Act Road Construction, Maintenance and General Administration Work.
He is a good Surveyor, Leveller and Draughtsman.
He has also been responsible for the supervision of the keeping of the various books and accounts incidental to a Surveyor and Water Engineer’s Office.
I have a high opinion of Mr Gould and have always found him to be thoroughly trustworthy. He is of a most obliging disposition, steady in his habits, very industrious and methodical.
I have every confidence in recommending him, as I fully believe he will bear out all that I have had the pleasure of saying in his favour.”
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Above: letter dated August 1934 was from Mr W L Beetenson, Clerk of the Council sates “I unhesitatingly recommend him
for the position he is now seeking although this Council will be very sorry to lose his services.”
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Mr Lloyd's letter
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