The death took place early to-day (Friday) of Mr. John Willmott, of Manor Farm, Rushden, a farmer and landowner well known throughout the county. About a year ago Mr. Willmott underwent a serious operation at Northampton Hospital, and several more operations were necessary. He went into a Northampton nursing home some weeks ago, but for the past fortnight he had been at home. His death was a happy release from great pain.

Mr. Willmott, who was 58, was a native of Rushden a farmer and the son of a farmer, the late Mr. George Willmott. When his father died he and his brothers, Alfred and George, worked together for a while on the farms. They had always been great dairymen, and at one time had almost the monopoly of the milk trade in Rushden.

In time, however, the brothers took farms of their own; George went to Knuston, Alfred to Turnell's Lodge, Irchester, and John took Manor Farm. Alfred died just over a year ago, and now Mr. George Willmott alone is left of three "born" farmers, who always had the reputation of being hard workers and level-headed men of business.

Church Work.

Apart from farming, it is in connection with the Park-road Baptist Church that Mr. John Willmott was best known. He joined the Church when he was in his 'teens, forty years ago, and at the time of his death had been a deacon for many years. He used to take the duties at the door, and had a very happy way of welcoming members and visitors.

He was a local preacher, often visiting Chelveston and Higham Ferrers, and was closely connected with the Baptist Laymen's Missionary Movement. He was treasurer of the Rushden Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and the day before he died a vote of sympathy in his illness was passed at the open-air meeting of the Society at Knuston.

Helped  Everybody.

He was a man with a ready wit, who always had a kind word for everyone. A prominent member of his Church said of him this morning:-

"John Willmott's death is a stunning blow, and we cannot fully realise it yet. It is an incalculable, loss to the Church. Not only was he a substantial supporter, but in the expenditure of time and energy to promote the cause he was unstinting.

"Every door was open to him. He was asked to serve everywhere. There was no one more welcome at the Y.P.O., or at the Sunday School, or at the Band of Hope. He was welcomed in every sphere, and everyone made use of him. He was so adaptable, and he had such a cheery nature that he took sunshine wherever he went. In the most gloomy surroundings he would say some sparkling word which would bring happiness."

The family that is left is Mrs. Willmott (his widow), three daughters, Mrs. Jones, Miss Lucy Willmott, and Miss Winnie Willmott, and five sons, Messrs. Len, Harry, George, Hugh, and Roland Willmott. A brother, George, and two sisters, Mrs Lack, of Chelveston, and Miss Ellen Willmott, of Rushden, are also living.

The funeral will take place at the Park-road Baptist Church, Rushden, at 11.30.

Man of Rich Courage.
Funeral Tribute to Mr. John Willmott, of Rushden.

A fine tribute to "a man of rich courage" was spoken by the Rev. T. W. Gill at the funeral of Mr. John Willmott, of Manor Farm, Rushden, which took place on Monday morning. Before a large congregation the coffin was laid on the rostrum of the Park-road Baptist Church, the service opening with Mr. Willmott's favourite hymn, "Guide me, O thou great Jehovah."

"We come here this morning," said Mr. Gill, "to pay our last tribute to the mortal remains of a friend and brother who possessed one of God's most gracious gifts to mankind—a choice spirit who seeks to follow in the way, of God his King.

"It was the genius of John Willmott to be possessed of a rich personality—rich in the things of God; to be possessed of the spirit of charity, of goodwill and of generosity . It is the lot of some men to serve God in political life and in social life. John Willmott directed his activities to the agencies of the Christian Church, and it was there that he made his greatest contribution to the welfare of humanity. He was for 40 years a member and for many years a deacon, and there was no deacon to whom we turned for judgments and opinions that were more wisely given than those of our brother.

A Countryman.

"He had many activities, but perhaps above all others he will be remembered in connection with the work of the villages. He loved village life and the churches of the villages. In rural life, agricultural life, of course, his business interests ran. He was a man of level-headed judgment, great energy and diligent, hard work.

"Prominent amongst his gifts was his cheerfulness. Wherever he went he spread the spirit of radiancy and good cheer. Even to see him in hospital or on his sick bed was a benediction to the visitor, because our brother possessed his cheerful spirit right to the end. He was a man of rich courage, and his courage was never more strongly displayed than during the last six months of his trying illness."

The congregation stood while Mr. Cyril Groome, A.R.C.O., played Handel's "Largo" then, as the mourners left the church, the music was Mendelssohn's "O rest in the Lord."

At the cemetery the Rev. J. A. Sutherland, of Luton, a former minister of the Rushden church, assisted in the committal service.

The family mourners included: Mrs. Willmott (widow), Mr. Len Willmott, Mr. Harry Willmott, Mrs. Jones. Miss Lucy Willmott, Miss Winnie Willmott, Mr. George Willmott, Mr. Hugh Willmott, Mr. Roland Willmott (sons and daughters). Miss Nellie Willmott, Mr. and Mrs. E. Lack (sisters and brother-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. George Willmott (brother and sister-in-law), Miss Bessie Partridge (sister), Miss Lucy Abbott (sister-in-law), Mrs. Len Willmott, Mrs. H Willmott (daughters-in-law), Mrs. Cyril Abbott (sister-in-law), Mrs. Mayes (niece), Mr. Will Willmott (nephew), Mr. John Boddington (friend), Mr. and Mrs. Beaumont, Mr. Hillson (cousins), Mrs. Bird, Miss Hillson, Mrs. Billingham (aunts).

Among many others present were the deacons of the church, Messrs. C. A. K. Green, P. Corby, H. Lack, J. Sykes, E. Harris, H Wright, W Makeham, S L ….

The congregation stood while Mr. Cyril Groome, A.R.C.O., played Handel's "Largo;" then, as the mourners left the church, the music was Mendelssohn's "O rest in the Lord."

At the cemetery the Rev. J. A. Sutherland, of Luton, a former minister of the Rushden church, assisted in the committal service.

The family mourners included: Mrs. Willmott (widow), Mr. Len Willmott Mr Harry Willmott, Mrs. Jones, Miss Lucy Willmott, Miss Winnie Willmott, Mr George Willmott, Mr. Hugh Willmott, Mr. Roland Willmott (sons and daughters) Miss Nellie Willmott, Mr. and Mrs. E. Lack (sisters and brother-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. George Willmott (brother and sister-in-law), Miss Bessie Partridge (sister), Miss Lucy Abbott (sister-in-law), Mrs. Len Willmott, Mrs. H Willmott (daughters-in-law), Mrs. Cyril Abbott (sister-in-law), Mrs. Mayes (niece), Mr. Will Willmott (nephew), Mr. John Boddington (friend), Mr. Bird Mrs. Beaumont, Mr. Hillson (cousins) Mrs. Bird, Miss Hillson, Mrs. Billingham (aunts).

Among many others present were the deacons of the church, Messrs. C. A. K. Green, P. Corby, H. Lack, J. Sykes E Harris, H. Wright, W. Makeham, S. L Hunt, G. E. Bayes and H. Abrams, Miss Williams and Mrs. H. Bayes; Messrs. J. Tomkins, H. M. Seckington, E. Newell (representing Mr. W. C. Tarry), R. Richards, W. T. L. Flood, J. T. Bettles, J. L. Clipson, O. Claridge, W. Webb, R. Tusting, J. Blunt, C. H. Blunsom, J. Jones. J. Hornsby, C. W. S. Green, G. S. North, E. Wrighton, G. W. Coles, J.P., J. Knight, Police-Inspector A. Knight, Dr. R. W. Davies, Messrs. L. Newell, J. Bayes, P. Collins, C. W. Wing, Brawn, T. A. Barker, Wootton, H. E. Clifton, S. Clayton, John Drage, A. short, L. Tusting, E. Newell, D. Hunt, S Peck, C. Hanger, E. Wright and A. Coleman, Mr. and Mrs. E. Lack, Mrs S. Sharman, Mrs. T. Brittin, Miss A. Willmott and Mr. George Brittin.

The Chelveston Chapel was represented by Mr. J. Mayes, Mrs. Hudson and Mr. F Parker; the Higham Ferrers Baptist Mission by Mrs. Woods, Mrs. Pack, Mrs Feazey and Mrs. Blackmore.

Among the employees present were Messrs. F. Foster, W. Cross, F. Wykes, F Allen, H. Evans, Mayes and A. Thurlow.