Rushden’s first medical practitioner, Dr Charles Richard Owen, MRCS, LRCP, passed away on Saturday morning at “Highfield,” his residence in Park-road. He was 85 years of age, and had been in ill health for just over a year.

Greatly esteemed by his patients, both for his personality and skill, the doctor was admired by all for the physical and mental energy he continued to command long after he had seen the passing of four-score years. Until the breakdown already referred to he could claim never to have had a day’s illness. He did not retire until he had completed his 80th year, and even then his energy was sufficient to keep him active in sport and in his hobbies, which included sketching and painting.

The ending of this career severs a very striking link with the time when Rushden was little more than a village, for Dr Owen began his work in this town as far back as 1881, visiting his patients on horseback. He was, as has been noted, Rushden’s first physician.

Originally Rushden was served by picturesque Dr Starling, of Higham Ferrers, who was followed by the late Dr Crew, senior. It was a very large district for one man, and Dr Crew took Dr Owen into a partnership, which was dissolved about 30 years ago, when Dr Owen set up practice on his own at “Highfield,” Park-road. He was joined by Dr R W Davies in 1912, and retired towards then end of 1928.

He was a Welshman, and qualified at St George’s Hospital, London. For a number of years he was Surgeon to the Rushden St John Ambulance Brigade, was parish doctor, and for many years was Certifying Factory Surgeon for the town. A keen sportsman, he played golf with the original Rushden Club in the Hall fields, and later was a member of the Rushden and District Club at Chelveston. He golfed until he was 83 years of age, and friends marvelled to see him driving up in his car, and going round the course with the vigour of a young man. He played tennis until well into the seventies.

In 1883 Dr Owen married an Irthlingborough lady, Miss Lilley, whose sister founded the Irthlingborough almshouses. Besides Mrs Own, there are left a son, Mr C J Alexander Owen, of Nottingham, and a daughter, Winifred, who married Dr Davies.

The funeral took place at Rushden on Monday afternoon, the Rector (the Rev Travers S Stoney), assisted by the Rev G Brooks Hunt, conducting a service at the Parish Church.

Mr A Clarke, ARCO, was at the organ, and played appropriate music before the service. At the close he played “I know that my Redeemer liveth.”

The family mourners present were Mrs Owen (widow), Mr C J A Owen (son), Dr and Mrs R W Davies (son-in-law and daughter), Miss Ruth Brewer (niece), Mr T Lilley, Northwood, Mr and Mrs E Lilley, Colchester, Mr and Mrs A J Rickett, Wilby, Mrs W Lilley and Mr J Lilley, St Albans, Mr W Skinner, London, Mr John Skinner, Ealing, Mr and Mrs Dudley Church, Northampton, Miss Goodacre and Miss Margaret Payne (nurse).

Also present were Dr C C Holman, Northampton, Dr Arthur, Wellingborough, Dr Baxter, Wollaston, Dr Crew, Higham Ferrers, Dr McCabe, Dr and Mrs Crane, Dr Muriset, Rushden, Mrs Greenfield, Rushden, Mr and Mrs R Smith, Wellingborough, Mr and Mrs H R Patenall, Higham Ferrers, Miss Sanders, Mr and Mrs G S Mason, Miss Mason, Miss Stevens, Mr and Mrs C F Tall, Mr J Bennett, Mr H Holland, Mr J Roe, Mr R Tusting, Mr W H Brawn, Mr H Holland, Mr W Webb, Mr G E V Fleeman, Mr Wheeler, Mr and Mrs O Claridge, Mrs Marriott, Mr C H Knight, Mrs Nichols, Mr and Mrs A Newell, Mr Newell, junior, Higham Ferrers, and others.

[A long list of floral tributes follows.]

Messrs Whittington and Tomlin carried out the funeral arrangements.