The news of the sudden death of Mr. George Henry Parkin, of Bedford, formerly of Rushden, a member of the Eighty Club, which sad event took place on Sunday evening last, caused a feeling of deep regret throughout the town of Rushden and the district. Deceased was the second son of the late Rev. M E Parkin, for many years a Congregational minister in Northamptonshire (first at Yelvertoft and later at Rushden), and Mrs M E Parkin, ex-President of the County Union of the B.W.T.A. He was 41 years of age. Death was due primarily to aortic valvular disease and secondarily to syncope. In both January and December elections in 1910 Mr Parkin was the Liberal candidate for the Stamford Division of Lincolnshire, and he worked with almost superhuman energy to wrest the seat from the Unionists, but unsuccessfully, the division having ever since its formation been consistently Conservative. For many years prior to that, he had suffered at times an affection of the heart, and it is most probable that the stern struggles in which he found himself engaged in the two contests in 1910, in such a widely scattered district, seriously undermined his health. Soon after the contests he had a nervous breakdown, from which, however, he apparently recovered. Three weeks ago he was in Rushden on business, and, feeling very unwell, he went to consult Dr. H S Baker, who ordered him at once to return home and take to his bed. This Mr Parkin did, and he was never again able to leave his room. Mr Parkin leaves a widow (the daughter of Mr T W C Linnitt, of Rushden, a member of Wellingborough Board of Guardians), one girl and three boys. The eldest, Frank, is 15 years of age, and the youngest, Kathie, aged 5. Mr M E Parkin, boot dealer, of Northampton, is a brother of the deceased, another brother, Mr W R Parkin, enlisted in the 8th Northamptonshires some time ago and was recently gazetted second lieutenant in the battalion. A third brother, Mr S M Parkin was drowned at Phipps' Baths, Northampton, some 18 years ago. His sisters are Mrs Walter L Sargent, of Rushden, Mrs W Matthews, of Nottingham, and Miss Gertrude Parkin, now of Wellingborough, and until recently of Rushden. His mother, the widow of the Rev. M E Parkin, lived at Rushden for many years, and lately removed to Wellingborough. Deceased, who was born in Sheffield on March 29th 1874, was educated at Silcoates School, Sheffield, a well-known Free Church school. On leaving school he entered the office of Messrs. Lilley and Skinner, leather merchants, Rushden and afterwards became their traveller. Subsequently he travelled for Mr. John Anderson, of Leicester, and then for Messrs. J W Morton and Co., of Leicester. For the last five years he was the Northampton and Leicester district representative of Messrs. Walker Ltd., tanner, of Litherland, Liverpool. Until December 1912, he resided at Rushden, but he then removed to Bedford and soon became closely connected with the public life of that town. Parliamentary Candidate As a politician Mr Parkin was known far and wide, and was a most eloquent platform speaker for the Liberal party. During the South African War he entered into political work with zeal and enthusiasm. He became well-known throughout Northamptonshire by the election of 1906, and his platform work played no small part in securing the return of Mr (now Lord), Channing for East Northants by a majority of over 3,500. It was about this time that the League of Young Liberals was formed, and in the foundation of that body Mr Parkin played a big part, nationally and locally. As a popular speaker he had few rivals in the Midlands, and such time as he could spare from business and home life he freely gave to the Liberal party. He was a member of the executive of the League of Young Liberals. In 1900, a short time before the election on the famous Budget, he was adopted as the Liberal candidate for the Stamford Division of Lincolnshire. He made a gallant fight, and the Conservative party had to strain their activities to the utmost to retain the seat. The figures at the election of January, 1910, were: Hon. Claude Willoughby ............4606 Mr Parkin .................................4310 In December, 1910, Mr Parkin again contested the seat, but was again unsuccessful. The figures were: Hon. Claude Willoughby ...........4525 Mr Parkin ................................4206 After the illness subsequent to the election Mr Parkin intimated that, owing to the state of his health, he would be unable to again contest the seat. Mr Parkin's ready wit is illustrated by a retort he made at one of his election meetings. He told one of his audiences that he had worked on a farm. A Conservative farmer called out that he would find a man who would do more than three times the work Mr Parkin could do in a day, "If the man you meet" retorted Mr Parkin, "is the Hon. Claude Willoughby, I readily accept the challenge". Social Work Mr Parkin was an active Adult School worker. For some years he was a vice-president of the Rushden Adult School, and had been a welcome speaker at the Northampton Men's Own, the Raunds Brotherhood and similar meetings. He worked on the Rushden Guild of Help, which, in fact, he inaugurated in the period of depression in the shoe trade following the South African War. He was an outspoken temperance advocate. Deeply interested in social questions, he some years ago, took a very unusual but particularly enlightening method of studying life in the lowest strata. He donned the dress of an ordinary tramp, and, with a fellow Adult School worker, Mr James Gibbs, of Rushden, tramped a part of Yorkshire and Derbyshire, staying at the common lodging houses and in every way living the life of the casual. The experience thus gained was of enormous value to him in his social and political work. In 1896 Mr Parkin was elected hon. secretary of the Rushden Liberal Association and worked with conspicuous energy. Subsequently he was chairman of the association for two consecutive years, and his services were greatly appreciated. Mr Parkin was a very active member of the United Kingdom Travellers Association and his untimely death probably robbed him of the honour of the chairmanship of the association. He had been nominated by several branches for that post, and his supporters confidently expected him to be elected at the Conference next week. He was a member of the Kettering branch, of which he was one time chairman, and he took a keen interest in that side of the work relating to providing for sick members. Deceased in his earlier days was in great demand as an elocutionist, his recitals being greatly appreciated. He was an ardent billiard player, and had many social qualities. Cricket and golf were his main outdoor sports. He was a good bat, frequently playing for the Kettering Commercials and other teams. Latterly he had devoted himself more to golf, of which game he was very fond. On his removal to Bedford he attached himself to the Liberal cause there, and he was associated with the Congregational Church in that town. In 1913 he was elected a vice-president of the Bedford Liberal Association and subsequently president. Recently he was re-elected president, but he believed that honours should be shared, and on accepting re-election he stipulated that he would not accept the presidency next year. He was a member of the Bedford Recruiting Committee and of the Soldiers Recreation Committee. He was a section-commander of the Red Cross Society, and a recent photograph in the "Rushden Echo" showed him in command of his section. The funeral took place yesterday at Bedford. In his will he expressed the desire that no one should purchase black for his funeral. A service was held at the deceased's residence attended by relatives and friends. The body was conveyed to the Bedford Cemetery. The services were conducted by the Rev. S J Coates of Bunyan Meeting. The coffin was of polished oak with brass fittings and bore the inscription on the breastplate: "George Henry Parkin, died May 16th, 1915, aged 41 years" Mr Kellaway, M.P., gave a brief address at the graveside. The mourners were Mr Linnitt (father-in-law), Mrs Parkin (mother), Frank, Bert and Raymond (sons), Mr and Mrs M E Parkin, Mr and Mrs W L Sargent, Mr and Mrs W Matthews, Miss G and Mr W Rennie Parkin (sister and brother), Mrs Linnitt, Mr Minnery, Mrs Garforth, Mrs Brooks, Mr Jackson (cousins), Mr Davis (representing Walker Bros. Ltd.), Mr and Mrs Caswell, Mr and Mrs Sargent, Mr Colin Croall, Mr F Kellaway M.P., and the Rev W J Coates.