We regret to report that Councillor Tom Wilmott of “Woodville,” Newton-road, Rushden, passed away suddenly at his home on Saturday evening at the age of 64 years. On Wednesday evening, when he presided at a meeting of the Plans and Highways Committee of the Rushden Urban Council, he was apparently in his usual health. He was then compelled by a cold to stay indoors, but on Saturday he remarked that he felt much better, and volunteered to get tea for his wife, while a daughter who lived with him went out of town.

Immediately after serving the tea, however, he complained of pain and collapsed. Dr. Muriset, who was summoned at once, found that a stroke had occurred, and Mr. Wilmott passed away shortly afterwards.

A native of Rushden, Mr. Wilmott was a son of the late Mr. Tom Wilmott, who worked as a ganger on railway construction and travelled from district to district until he was able to establish himself in business as a road contractor. Settled in Rushden, he made Alfred-street, Church-street, Moor-road and many other streets in that part of the town. Younger Tom Wilmott was apprenticed to a builder, and early in life became a master builder, conducting his business with steady success.

In 1913, Mr. Wilmott was elected a member of the Rushden Urban Council, being at the head of the Conservative poll. He was vice-chairman of the Council from 1916 to 1918, and in the following year (1918 to 1919) filled the important office of chairman with dignity and success.

On recent years his name has been associated in Council work with the Plans and Highways Committee of which he was an energetic member. His expert advice on building and road making was of great value to the committee and to the Council and he will be greatly missed.

A few years after his election to the Council he became a member of the Higham Ferrers and Rushden Water Board, of which he was chairman on two or three occasions.

Mr. Wilmott had been for ten years a director of the Rushden Conservative Club, where he was a popular figure, and he also took his share in political work, appearing on Conservative platforms at election times.

A widow, two sons, and five daughters are bereaved. Two young brothers are well-known in the town; they are Mr. W. G. Wilmott, of Wellingborough-road and Mr. Walter Wilmott, both retired road contractors. Councillor Arthur Wilmott is the deceased gentleman’s uncle.

THE FUNERAL

The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon, when a large and reverent congregation filled St. Mary’s Church to pay their last respects to the deceased gentleman. Representatives of the Rushden Urban Council, Rushden Master Builders’ Association and the Conservative Club and Association attended, together with many other friends of the late Mr. Wilmott. The cortege entered the church by the west door, the congregation standing in silence; the Rev. Travers S. Stoney (Rector) afterwards conducting a brief service. The Rector also officiated at the subsequent interment at the cemetery.

The family mourners were: Mr. and Mrs. A. Wilmott (son and daughter-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. S. Wilmott (son and daughter-in-law), Miss Doris Wilmott and Miss Kitty Wilmott (daughters), Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Bayes (son-in-law and daughter), Mr. and Mrs. G. Hyde (son-in-law and daughter), Mr. George Miller (son-in-law), Miss Lorna Miller (grand-daughter), Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wilmott (brother and sister-in-law), Mr. Arthur Wilmott and Mr. H. Darnell (uncles), Mrs. Haynes (sister-in-law), Mr. J. H. Walker, Mr. Eric Harris, and Miss Hilda Holiday (friends), Mr. and Mrs. G. Minney (brother-in-law and sister-in-law).

Mrs. Wilmott (widow) and Mrs. L. G. Miller (daughter), Mrs. E. Walker (sister-in-law), and Mr. W. G. Wilmott (brother), were unable to attend owing to illness.

Members of the Rushden Urban district Council who attended to pay their last respects were Messrs. L. Perkins, M.B.E., J.P., B.Sc. (chairman), J. Roe (vice-chairman), A. Allebone, C.C., C. W. Horrell, C.A., D. W. Coles, J.P., J. Spencer, J.P., J. Hornsby, J. T. Richardson, W. E. Capon, C. Claridge, T. F. B. Newberry, J. Allen, and T. Swindall. Officers of the Council who were present were Messrs. G. S. Mason (Clerk), J. W. Lloyd (Surveyor), F. S. F. Piper (Sanitary Inspector), H. Lack (Rating Officer), and W. L. Beetenson.

Representing the Rushden Master Builders’ Association (of which Mr. Wilmott was a member and past president), were Mr. F. G. Lilley (representing Mr. A. Sanders, Secretary to the Association), Mr. R. Marriott, Mr. Tom Swindall, jun., Mr. H. Wilmott chairman of the Association (representing his father, Mr. W. G. Wilmott) and Mr. W. Packwood.

On behalf of the Rushden Conservative Club and the local Association there were present Messrs. H. Golesworthy (secretary of the club), W. Warner, J. Tomlin, W. H. Moody, E. Perkins, W. Packwood, sen., W. Ballard, and D. Baldrey (steward), while others present were Mr. W. C. Tarry, Mr. O. Claridge, Mr. W. C. Small (Rushden Electric Supply Co., Ltd.), Mr. C. J. Ward, Mr. F. Reynolds, Mr. George Bayes, Ald. J. H. Johnson (Higham Ferrers), Mr. J. Wells, Mr. J. Jones, Mr. Saint, Mr. and Mrs. W. Robinson, Mr. F. Webb.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Whittington and Tomlin.

[A list of wreaths follows]