On Monday last, April 19, Mr. William Manning who had been a resident of the village of Castlethorpe for more than 40 years, passed away at the age of 67 after a short but painful illness, leaving a widow, son and two daughters. Always a willing and vigorous worker and a man of kindly disposition, it was noticed with regret by his many friends and family in the early part of this year that his health was failing, and after treatment for heart trouble he was finally compelled to retire to his bed on Easter Tuesday.

Mr. Wm. Manning was a staunch churchman and had held with distinction the position of choirmaster at the Parish Church for a period of 33 years, and in recognition of his devoted services he received shortly before his death, from the hands of the Vicar, a Bible inscribed:- “Presented to Mr. William Manning by the choir and congregation of the church, as a mark of esteem and respect, and in appreciation of his services as choirmaster for thirty-three years.” He was, in his early days, a member of the Northamptonshire Volunteers (Daventry Company), and during the great war did duty, with many others of his age, as a special constable. He also took an active interest in parochial matters and was a member of the first School Board in 1888, and subsequent occasions; later becoming a school Manager, which office he held at the time of his death. A Parish Councillor on a number of occasions, he at one period held the position of chairman. In politics Mr. Wm. Manning was a Conservative and gave every possible assistance in support of his views.

The funeral took place on Wednesday last,.

The service, which was choral, was conducted by the Vicar (Rev. W. J. Harkness, M.A.), assisted by the Rev. E. J. Fenn, M.A. (curate). The hymns, “O let him, whose sorrow,” and “On the Resurrection morning,” and the “Nune Dimittis” were rendered by the choir. The “Dead March” from Saul was played by Miss Gregory, who for the whole period of his choirmastership had been organist at the Parish Church.

The floral tributes included the following: In loving memory, from his sorrowing Wife and Daughters; In loving memory of dear Dad, from Will, Olive and Muriel; In loving memory of dear Uncle, from Kit and Harry; With sympathy from all at Litchborough; In affectionate remembrance, from his sorrowing mother-in-law and sisters, Annie and Janie; In ever loving remembrance, from Tom, Jenny and Dorothy, Wolverton; With loving sympathy, from Arthur and family (Ashford Kent); In affectionate remembrance from Steve and Maggie and family (Southampton); A token of esteem and sincere sympathy, from the Clergy, Church Council and the Choir, Castlethorpe Parish Church; With respect and much sympathy, from the Managers of the Castlethorpe Council Schools; With deepest sympathy from Mr. and Mrs. G. Coey; With sincere sympathy from Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Beesley (Wolverton); With deepest sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. Williams (Bedford-street, Wolverton); With deepest sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. Farney Brown and Mr. J. J. Cannon, “The Holmestead,” Castlethorpe; With deepest sympathy, from Mrs. Beesley and family(Manor Farm)[Hanslope]; In affectionate remembrance, from Mr. and Mrs. Barford; With sincere sympathy, from E. and N. Flaxman; With sincere sympathy, from Mrs. Jones and family; In remembrance and with deepest sympathy, from Lizzie and Joe; With deepest sympathy, from the family of the late Thomas Rainbow; In ever loving remembrance, from S. Compton and Joe; With deepest sympathy, from Moss Ross (Crewe); In kind remembrance from Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Bavington; With loving sympathy, from Harriet and Liz (Wolverton); With deepest sympathy, from Emmie and Kate (Hanslope); With loving sympathy, from the Misses Phillips, of Dudley; In loving remembrance from Will and Donald Bullas< Baintrice, Canada.