Known to older people in Rushden as “The Irish Lady”, Mrs Annie Sharp, of 8, Harborough-road, Rushden, who died on Friday, January 13, aged 79, was buried at the Rushden cemetery on Tuesday after a service at her home, conducted by the Father F C O’Gorman, priest at the Rushden Catholic Church. Mrs Sharp died after a long illness. A number of children in Rushden and district are bereaved. Mrs Sharp was a native of County Clare, Ireland.

Her husband, the late Mr C J Sharp, a native of Olney, was for many years in the King's Royal Rifles, and he and his wife travelled all over the world with the regiment. Three of their children were born in India while Mr. Sharp was on service. On their return to England Mr and Mrs Sharp lost everything when the troopship, Warren Hastings, was shipwrecked forty-one years ago.

In England Mr Sharp worked as a carpenter, and died nine years ago. Mrs Sharp had lived in Rushden over forty years.

The mourners at the funeral were: Mr C Sharp, Rushden (son), Mrs B Jeffs, Wellingborough (daughter), Mr and Mrs W Sharp, Toddington (son and daughter-in-law), Mr and Mrs B Letts, Rushden (son-in-law and daughter), Miss I Sharp, Rushden (daughter), Mr and Mrs F Sharp, Rushden (son and daughter-in-law), and Miss Rita Sharp (granddaughter).