Formerly one of Rushden’s best known footballers and one of the most popular sportsmen in the town, Mr. Charles James Hobbs, of 110, Portland-road, Rushden, passed away yesterday week, at the age of 52 years. He had been ill for about six weeks.

A footballer of great capabilities, Mr. Hobbs was for many years associated with the Rushden Town Club and the Rushden Fosse Club, and was for a number of years, captain of the latter club. He was well-known as a fine player who could be a support and strength in any position on the field.

Mr. Hobbs was also an enthusiastic cricketer and bowls player, and had been for a number of years umpire to the Rushden Mission Cricket Club, and a member of the Rushden C.W.S. Bowls Club.

A native of Rushden and life-long inhabitant, Mr. Hobbs came of an old Rushden family, and had been employed at the Rushden C.W.S. boot factory where he had distinguished himself by gaining a 25 years’ long-service medal as a C.W.S. fireman. He was the sub-captain of the Rushden C.W.S. Brigade.

The funeral took place at the Rushden cemetery on Monday afternoon, Mr. James Bennet, of Rushden, officiating. The family mourners were :- Mr. J. Hobbs and Mrs. A. Hobbs (son and widow), Mr. H. Hobbs and Mr. C. Meadows (father and cousin), Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Hobbs, of Sandbach, Cheshire (brother and sister-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. G. Stevenson (brother-in-law and sister-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. T. Dunmore, of Kettering (brother-in-law and sister-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. R. Stevenson (brother-in-law and sister-in-law), Mrs. Durham and Mr. W. Stevenson (sister-in-law and brother-in-law).

The representatives from the Rushden C.W.S. Fire Brigade were Messrs. J. Wildman (captain), G. Deane, T. Booth, T. B. Smith, T. W. Ladds, R. Smith, W. J. Robinson, and G. W. Coleman; and from the Mission Cricket Club, Messrs. E. C. Bandey, O. R. Bull, J. S. Shortland and B. Ette.

The floral tributes were:- In ever loving memory of one of the best husbands and fathers, from his wife and children; In loving memory of Charlie from his sorrowing sister and father, “Sometime we’ll understand”; In ever loving memory of one of the best of brothers, from Will and Phoebe, Ernest and Elsie, “Our life is but a fading dawn, Its glorious noon has quickly passed, Lead us, O Christ, when all is gone, Safe home at last,”; With deepest sympathy of a dear old pal, from the C.W.S. Fire Brigade; With deepest sympathy, from his fellow workers, Making Department, C.W.S. Boot Factory, Rushden; Peace, in loving memory, George and Clara; In loving memory of Uncle Charlie, from Mrs. Durham, Jan, Betty and Kathy; In loving memory, from Bob, May and family; In fond remembrance of Uncle Charlie, from Mabel and Eric, also from his brother Harry, of Gilbert Plains, Manitoba, Canada; With deepest sympathy, from Cousin Wag and Ede, “Prince of Wales,” Wellingborough; In ever loving memory of dear Charlie, from Walter and Janet; With sincere sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. Houghton, Mr. and Mrs. Coles, and Monda; In Loving memory, from “Roy,”; With deepest sympathy, from Tom and Emma; From Ruth, Tom, and Harry; With deepest sympathy, from Frank and Kit, Elsie and Jim; With deepest sympathy, from the Mission Cricket Club; With deepest sympathy, from A. Sumpter and family.