Bill Wood

THE man who founded the Rushden branch of a woodworkers' union has died, aged 87. Mr Bill Wood died at his home in Fitzwilliam Street, Rushden, on Friday. Mr Wood started the Rushden branch of the Amalgamated Society of Wood­workers during World War One, after he had spent three years as a member of the Wellingborough branch. The society has since become part of the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT), and now has 300 members in the Rushden area. During the last 60 years, he had held every office in the branch, and was awarded life membership in 1961. Throughout his life, he had maintained a constant interest in all union activities around the area. He only retired from his own union 17 months ago, at the age of 86. At the time of his retirement, branch secretary Mr Dick Hobbs paid this tribute: "Bill was active at a time when it was a sin to be a member of a trade union. He laid the foundations for the branch today."