The death occurred on Saturday afternoon of Mr. George Selwood, of Newton-road, Rushden, at the age of 72 years. He had been ill for some ten days, an asthmatical cough straining his heart. A widow is left, with one son, Mr. H. B. Selwood, and one daughter, Mrs. Tom Sanders. Mr. Selwood was the senior partner in the firm of Messrs. G. Selwood and Co., Harborough-road, Rushden. Born at Portsmouth, he came to Rushden as a lad, and was employed as a clicker by some of the oldest boot firms – first by Messrs. Denton, then by Mr. Fred Knight, and also by his uncle, Mr. Samuel Skinner. He founded his own business about 35 years ago, using a small factory in Harborough-road. Mr. Frank Sharwood, C.C., joined him 32 years ago, and a wing twice the size of the original building, was added to the factory. The business was transferred to the present factory, at the top of Harborough-road, on August 4th, 1914 – the day when England entered the Great War.

Mr. Selwood, whose wife was a Miss Maddock, a member of a well-known Rushden family, would have reached his golden wedding anniversary in another two years. He was highly respected in the town, as in the trade, but led a very quiet life, taking but little part in public affairs. He was at one time associated with the Salvation Army, afterwards joining the Independent Wesleyan Church, and was a Rechabite and life-long abstainer. Mrs. Selwood is devoted to the Park-road Baptist Church.

The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon, and a large number attended to pay their last respects to the late Mr. Selwood. Several hundred employees of the firm were present, in addition to trade and public representatives.

Before the interment at the Newton-road Cemetery, a brief service was held at the home of the late Mr. Selwood for the widow and relatives, and was conducted by the Rev. C. J. Keeler (Independent Wesleyan Church minister) and the Rev. T. W. Gill (Park-road Baptist Church minister), who also officiated at the graveside.

Attending as family and principal mourners were Mr. Harry Selwood (son), Mr. T. Sanders (son-in-law), Commander J. B. Johns, of Surbiton (nephew), Mr. Frank Selwood (nephew), Mr. Sprake (nephew), Mr. Jaques (nephew), Mr. F. J. Sharwood (partner, Messrs. G. Selwood and Co.), Mr. Jack Maddock (brother-in-law), Mr. Johnson, Sharnbrook (cousin), Mr. W. Shorley (brother-in-law), and Mr. L. Perkins, M.B.E., J.P., B.Sc. (friend).

Others present included Messrs. C. W. Horrell, C.A., W. M. Horrell (C. W. Horrell, Ltd.), W. B. Sanders (Sanders and Sanders), A. O Groome (A. Groome and Sons), director, with the late Mr. Selwood, of the Victoria Leather Co., Higham Ferrers, C. W. Green (Wm. Green and Son), A. Sudborough (A. Sudborough and Son, Ltd.), R. F. Knight (F. Knight, Ltd.), T. W. Cox (Coxton Shoe Co.), A. Sargent (A. Sargent and Son, Ltd.), W. E. Sargent (Walter Sargent and Co.), H. Wright (Horace Wright, summit Works,), J. E. Dilks (Dilks and Martin), S. C. Brightwell (Rushden and District Boot Manufacturers’ Association), J. Knight (J. Knight, York-road), F. Corby (F. Corby, Ltd.), W. H. Pingstone (Phipps and Son, Ltd.) White (H. W. Chapman, Ltd.), Allett (J. A. Braendli and Co.), Northampton, H. Fisher (A. O. Miller, Northampton), H. E. Sparrow (B.U.S.M.Co.), L. Brawn (Barrow, Heburn and Gale, Ltd., Kettering), P. Bree (B. B. Voss and Son, London), Lilley (R. and A. Kohnstamm, Northampton), C. F. Tall (Lilley Leather Co., Irthlingborough), A. Cochran (Cochran and Souter, Northampton), Clark (G. H. Frecknall and Co.), A. Beesley and Son), W. Rock (Standard Engineering Co.), F. Dowing (Mobbs and Lewis, Kettering), Bishop, Northampton, C. Webb (A. W. Durrant and Co.), F. Hawkes and J. Hornsey (H. Spavins).

Among others attending were Dr. D. G. Greenfield, Messrs. G. S. Mason, Robt. Marriott, T. Willmott, C. Collins and Misses Collins, Messrs. Herbert Lack, R. Tusting, A. F. Weale, and J. Sykes Senr. Messrs. E. Wrighton and W. Lack represented the Independent Wesleyan Church, Mr. J. T. Mackness the Independent Order of Rechabites and Mr. E. Harris, the Park-road Baptist Church.

The wreaths were: From his sorrowing wife and son; Grace, Tom, Tony and Gerald; G. Selwood employees; The Staff of Geo. Selwood and Co., Ltd., The maids and gardener at Newton-road; Victoria Leather Co., Ltd; Rushden and District Boot Manufacturers’ Association; Mr. and Mrs. Sharwood and family; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Selwood; Jim, Edith and Hilda; Aunt Annie and family; Tom, Charlie, Lizzie and Rose; Emmie, Will, Gladys and Phyllis; Jack, Rose, Will and Annie; Mr. and Mrs. Perkins; Eliza, Joe and Frances; Mr. and Mrs. Goodfellow, Kettering; Mr. Pingstone; Miss Jenny Fuller; Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Sargeant; Miss Abbiss; Mrs. Cave and Doris; Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Sanders; W. Mac and Mrs. Horrell; Mr. and Mrs. Ballard; C. J. Desborough and Co., Ltd; Messrs. Harris, Northampton; Mr. and Mrs. Hawkes; F. J. Lilley; Messrs. W. Packwood and Son; Mr. and Mrs. Harry Penness; Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Bull; The family of the late Mr. and Mrs. P. Collins.