Mr. and Mrs. J. Tompkins

A Golden Wedding at Rushden

Mr. and Mrs. J. Tompkins’s Fifty Years of Married Life - Religious and Social Workers

We associate ourselves with many congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. John Tompkins, of Queen-street, Rushden, on the attainment next Sunday of the 50th anniversary of their wedding day. Mr. Tompkins was born at Great Houghton. He lived there when he meet his wife (also a resident of the place). They were married at Great Houghton Church on June 2nd. 1879, the Hon. and Rev. W. H. Spencer officiating. Soon after the marriage they went to live at Northampton, where Mr. Tompkins became active in the Boot Operative Union, rising to the presidency of the Northampton No. 1 branch – a position he held for some years.

Mr. Tompkins later held positions as departmental manager with Mr. A. E. Marlow and Messrs. Crocket and Jones. On leaving Northampton, where he had interested himself in Church work, he became manager for Messrs. Thomas Bird and Son, Globe Works, Kettering, holding that post for four or five years. In 1909 Mr. Tompkins came to Rushden as manager for Messrs. William Green and Son, boot manufacturers, Queen-street.

He has been prominent in the Kettering and District Boot Trade Managers’ and Foremen’s Association, being keen on technical and industrial education. He has held the presidency and is at present the senior trustee. His appointment last year as a governor of the County Council Boot and Shoe School at Rushden was well-deserved acknowledgment of his abilities.

For a good number of years Mr. and Mrs. Tompkins have been associated with the Rushden Park-road Baptist Church. Mr. Tompkins was at one time a Baptist deacon, and his two sons hold similar offices. A Liberal in polities, Mr. Tompkins has rendered valuable service for the Rushden Liberal Association, of which he is an ex-chairman.

The surviving children are Mr. Reginald W. Tompkins, who is on the teaching staff of the East Ham educational authority; Mr. P. J. Tompkins, manager of Messrs. Pell and Co.’s brush factory, Northampton; Mrs. Preece, of Southend; and Mrs. James of Leicester.