A Striking Career

  For some time Mr. Willmott was a member of the Rushden Urban Council, and he took keen interest in the question of a water supply, propounding a scheme which even to-day many people prefer to the Sywell scheme and which, it is said, would not have cost one quarter of the present works. He retired from the Council nine or ten years ago.

  About 12 years ago the deceased was seized with a paralytic stroke, and since that time he has lived in practical retirement. He was a man of very genial and kind-hearted disposition, and was much respected.

  The deceased, who was

A NATIVE OF RUSHDEN

belonging to a well-known and highly-respected family, resided in the town until he was about 20 years of age.  He was one of those employed on the construction of the main line of the Midland Railway Co. in this district, and it was while working in that capacity that he gained the practical experience which afterwards proved to be of such service to him.  On the completion of the line he left Rushden and went up to London, looking for work.  There he saw a number of men engaged in making one of the underground railways, the contractors for the work being the well-known firm of Messrs. Baring.  While watching the men he noticed that, from his standpoint, they were making a big mistake.  “That’s not the way to do the work,” he said, “it should be done in this way.”  This remark proved to be far-reaching in its result.  It was at once seen that Mr. Willmott was a practical man, and he was immediately engaged, becoming the head ganger of the great firm.  In this capacity he was

SENT OUT TO HUNGARY

and worked for a time on the construction of the Hungarian Railway. While he was in Hungary he unfortunately contracted the ague, from which disease he subsequently suffered at intervals for years. Messrs. Baring had great confidence in Mr. Willmott, and sent him at different times to many parts of the world to assist in railway construction. Among other countries he worked for them in Italy, France, Germany, Russia, Austria, Bulgaria, and Turkey. The experience he thus gained was of the greatest value to him in after-life.

  Whilst he was living in London he had a narrow escape. Accidentally falling down one of the ventilating shafts of the Underground Railway, he received

SERIOUS INJURIES

through which he was laid up for several months, eventually, however, recovering completely.

  For some time he was engaged in the building of the Thames Embankment, and at this period he worked strenuously in the temperance cause. He ever afterwards took the keenest interest in temperance work in London, and became a constant subscriber to the funds of several temperance organisations.

  At one time he resided at Kettering and was employed in the making of the Midland line from Kettering to Thrapston and Huntingdon.

  Nearly 30 years ago he returned to Rushden and settled down here. He started in business for himself as a builder and contractor, and the town to-day contains many a monument to his industry. Among other work he laid out Alfred-street and Church-street. he made the Harborough-road and other streets in the town, and he built and bought a great deal of property. Mr. Willmott had a great share in

HELPING FORWARD RUSHDEN

on its wonderful career of growth and prosperity.

  Like most of the leading residents of Rushden in the last generation, Mr. Willmott was a total abstainer. It is only a few weeks ago since he mentioned to a relative that he had been teetotal for 47 years, and a member of a Christian Church for the same period. One of the temperance pioneers of Rushden, Mr. Willmott was for many years a member of the Rushden Temperance Society, and he retained his membership up to the time of his death.  Only last Monday, at the annual meeting of the society, an old friend of his – Mr. D. Darnell – referred in feeling terms to the illness of Mr. Willmott, and it was unanimously decided, on Mr. Darnell’s proposition, seconded by Mr. John Claridge, that a letter of sympathy should be sent to him in his illness.

  The deceased was a member of the Rushden Congregational Church, and was one of the most generous and most loyal of its supporters.  He had a very deep affection for the late pastor of the church – the Rev. M. E. Parkin – whose untimely decease affected him profoundly.

IN POLITICS

Mr. Willmott was an ardent Liberal, and was a member of the Rushden Liberal Association.

  Deceased showed a keen interest in the purchase of the Old Temperance Hall by the B.W.T.A. and promised to have photographs of Rushden’s veteran teetotallers placed in the hall when renovated.

  The late Mr. Willmott leaves a widow and three sons to mourn his loss.  Mrs. Willmott was a native of Somersetshire.  His sons are – Mr. Thomas Willmott, builder;  Mr. William George Willmott, contractor, who some few years ago succeeded to his father’s business;  and Mr. Walter Willmott.  Three of the deceased gentleman’s brothers survive him – Mr. John Willmott, boot manufacturer, of East-grove, Rushden;  Mr. Smith Willmott, currier;  and Mr. Arthur Willmott, boot manufacturer, of High-street South, Rushden.  His sisters are Mrs. James Clayton, Mrs. John Brown, of Victoria-road, Mrs. Edwards, of High-st. South, Mrs. Joseph Sears, and Mrs. W. H. Darnell, of Church-street.