In the lamented death on Saturday, at 5.45 a.m., of Mr Tom William Cheney Linnitt, aged 72, Rushden has lost an ardent social worker and a member of important public bodies in the town. The late Mr Linnitt was a native of Rushden, and with the exception of 18 months spent at Fareham in Hampshire 40 years ago, he had lived in Rushden all his life. For many years he was a departmental manager at Messrs B Denton and Son's factory. Leaving there, he and Mr W Clarke (Moor-road) commenced business as boot manufacturers in Church-street. Mr T W C Linnitt The Argus Newspaper Mr Linnitt retired 25 years ago through ill health, and for a long time he benefited in that respect very considerably. He leaves a widow and two children (by his first wife, who died 18 years ago) - Mrs G H Parkin and Mr E C Linnitt. The late Mr Linnitt was an overseer of the parish, for 22 years until the last election a Guardian of the Poor, being chairman of the Boarding Out and Cottage Home Committee, and a member in turn of all the other Committees; a member of the Rushden War Pensions Committee, the Belgium Relief Committee, and Rushden ("May's") Charity Committee. He was also associated with the Rushden Liberal Association. His main interest was centred in the welfare of poor children. He has helped in life many scores of children who have come from poor families, has watched their progress as they were trained under the Guardian's authority and placed in life as useful citizens, and has been invited to more than one wedding which he attended with much pleasure, and in a few cases he attended the funerals of some of his "adopted" children. Mr Linnitt had letters and photographs from so many of those whom he had befriended that they form a veritable budget. Many are the letters of kindly greeting which have been sent to Mr Linnitt during his illness from the inmates of Wellingborough Workhouse. Mrs Linnitt, who was also a valued member of Wellingborough Board of Guardians, retired at the last election to devote her time to nursing her husband. It is two years since Mr Linnitt's health began to fail appreciably, but he kept on his public work as long as he was able. Mr Linnitt had been attended by Dr H S Baker, and everything possible was done for him, but he passed peacefully away in his sleep, having kept to his bed altogether only about three weeks. THE FUNERAL took place on Wednesday, a short service being conducted at the house by the Rev. R C Law. The ceremony of interment was conducted by Mr Herbert Lack, and prayer was offered by the Rev. R C Law. Mr Lack spoke of the way in which the late Mr Linnitt had worked hard and faithfully to make the world a little better than he found it. The deceased gentleman had found the social work in which he interested himself a congenial task. God never failed to reward man according to the deeds done in the body. The immediate mourners were Mrs Linnitt (widow), Mr E C Linnitt (son); Mrs G H Parkins (daughter), Mr Frank Parkin (grandson); Mr Bert and Mr Ray Parkin (grandsons); Mrs E Linnitt (daughter-in-law), Mr Tom Young, of London, (cousin); Mr John Linnitt (brother), Mrs S Linnitt (sister-in-law); Mrs T Tailby (sister-in-law), Mr George Bayes (brother-in-law); Mr C E Bayes and Mr W Clarke (brothers-in-law); Nurse Billingham (friend). Mr F Bayes (brother-in-law) was unable to attend through illness. The Wellingborough Board of Guardians were represented by the Rev. C B Jennings (Bozeat), Mrs Hacksley, Miss Clark (Wellingborough), Miss Harlock (Finedon), Mrs J H Waring, Mr T F B Newberry (Rushden), Mr E R Ball (Wellingborough), Mr Whiffen (master), Mr G R Turner (relieving officer), and Mrs Brown (superintendent of the Irthlingborough Children's Home). Mr B Ladds, unable to attend through being at a Guardians' conference in London, was represented by Mrs Ladds. The Rushden Liberal Association representatives were Mr W C Capon, Mrs H Durham and Mrs Paragreen. Mr John Claridge J P, C C, Mr J T Colson and Mr I Baxter (overseers) were present, as also were the following: Messrs George Denton, G S Mason, J S Mason, B Vorley, A Wilmott, A Wright, C Smith, T Tailby, J F Knight, D Darnell, W H Darnell, W B Sanders, Geo Selwood (Rushden), S Powell (Wellingborough), and Geo Parsons (Irthlingborough). The body was enclosed in an elm shell and the out coffin was also of elm, white enamelled. There was no nameplate, and there were no flowers, by request of the deceased gentleman.

Rushden Echo 30th September 1921, transcribed by Susan Manton Sale John S. Mason has received instructions to sell by auction at the Coffee Tavern, Rushden, on Tuesday October 18th 1921, by order of the Exors of the late Mr. T.W.C. Linnitt, the following properties:- 12 Freehold dwelling Houses in Grove Road, Rushden; 8 Freehold Dwellings Houses in Manton Road Rushden; 2 Copyhold Dwelling Houses in Bedford Road, Rushden. Further particulars in bills and next week’s papers. Auctioneer’s Offices: 30 High Street Rushden.