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The Rushden Echo and Argus, 6th April, 1934, trascribed by Gill Hollis
Death Follows Councillor’s “Good-Bye”
Rushden Mourns for Mr. Tom Swindall
Fifty Years of Useful Public Service
A Council Member Since 1897
Easter brought a heavy loss for Rushden, and on Saturday morning the town was saddened by the news that Mr. Tom Swindall had passed away. The civic life of the town, the ambulance and allotments movements, the Independent Wesleyan Church and the Town Bowling Club will all miss the work and usefulness of one who, although not a native of Rushden, had been consistent in useful and practical service over a period of nearly 50 years.
It was a strange trick of Fate that closed Mr. Swindall’s career at the very time he had chosen for retiring from public work. All through the winter he had been in somewhat delicate health, and found it advisable to cancel evening engagements. He had to miss several meetings of the Urban District Council, and as there was reason to fear a recurrence of ill-health next winter, he decided that he would not compete in this year’s election.
On March 21st, when the outgoing Council met for the last time, Mr. Swindall surprised his colleagues by motoring to the Council Buildings. A member since 1897, he had a longer record of continuous service than any other member, and it was his wish to say “Good-bye.” His work for the town was acknowledged by the Chairman and others, and Mr. Swindall replied:
“I am very sorry to say good-bye. It has been a great pleasure to me to serve for so many years, and if I had my time over again I should be only too pleased to carry out the same kind of work.”
Swift Illness
On the following Friday a new illness began. Pneumonia developed, and death occurred at 9.30 a.m. last Saturday.
Mr. Swindall was born at Northampton 70 years ago, and was still in his youth when he came to Rushden and set up in business as a builder and contractor. The business to which funeral furnishing, coal and shipping agency departments were added, always had his close personal attention, and has been steadily successful.
In 1897, after ten years’ residence in the town, Mr. Swindall became a candidate for the Urban Council, and was elected. He never failed to gain re-election, and from the time of Rushden’s division into electoral wards he represented the West Ward.
He became chairman in 1906, the year in which Sywell waterworks and the Council Buildings were opened; in 1915, when war organisation gave him many responsibilities; in 1922, when the War Memorial Garden was a special care; and in 1928.
At the time of his death he was still a councillor, for the present Council does not go out of office until April 15.
Mr. Swindall was also a member and past-chairman of the Higham Ferrers and Rushden Water Board, on which he had served for 26 years. In politics he was a life-long Liberal.
Ambulance Career
The name of Mr. Swindall has long been associated with the Rushden St. John Ambulance Division, of which he became a member in the same year that he was first elected by the Urban Council. In 1899 Mr. Swindall was appointed first officer, and he became superintendent in 1901-2. The work claimed much of his time, and he raised a considerable sum of the money required to build the Ambulance Headquarters, which, opened 22 years ago, was shortly afterwards free of debt.
The long and faithful services which he rendered were recognised by the general headquarters of the Order when he was made an Honorary Serving Brother of St. John of Jerusalem and was the recipient of a handsome medal. On retiring from active ambulance work he was made honorary president of the Rushden Division. Since its inception Mr. Swindall has been actively associated with the Rushden Motor Ambulance Committee, of which he was for some time secretary.
Northamptonshire had no greater worker for the allotments and small-holdings movement that Mr. Swindall, who joined the Rushden Permanent Allotment Association in 1894, and became president in 1895, remaining continuously in the presidency until February of this year, when he resigned. He had then been on the committee forty years, and during that time the membership had risen from one hundred to over a thousand. A few years ago the members presented him with a gold watch and illuminated address.
Religion and Sport
In his early days Mr. Swindall attended the Northampton Commercial-street Congregational Sunday School and Church. When he came to Rushden he joined the Congregational Church and was for some years Sunday School and Band of Hope secretary. Afterwards he transferred to the High-street Independent Wesleyan Church and served there as a sidesman, holding the position to the last. A strict teetotaller, he was for a long time on the committee of the Rushden Temperance Society.
Very fond of a game of bowls, Mr. Swindall was one of the enthusiasts who so well and wisely established the Town Bowling Club at its premises in Kimbolton-road. For several years he was vice-president of the club, also acting as chairman of the committee, and on the retirement of Mr. Owen Parker he held the presidency for twelve months. He was also a vice-president of the British Legion.
A compliment that Mr. Swindall well deserved was paid to him at the Urban Council’s annual meeting by Mr. John Spencer, who pointed out that if the retiring member had remained outside the Council he could have tendered for many profitable public building contracts. Instead, he gave the public the benefit of his ability and experience, and in so doing disqualified himself from competing for building work. Shortly after he came to Rushden Mr. Swindall married Miss Margaret Purvis, of Northampton, who survives him. There are four sons, Messrs. Thomas James, Frederick William, Herbert Charles, and Alexander Swindall. Purvis-road, Rushden, was so named by Mr. Swindall in honour of his wife.
The flag at the Council Buildings flew at half-mast over the week-end, and reference to Mr. Swindall’s passing was made by the Rev. C. J. Keeler at the Independent Wesleyan Church on Sunday.
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