Text copied from Northampton Chronicle & Echo
Monday December 19th 1932
A FRIEND OF THE SCOUTS
DEATH OF MR. HENRY LINEHAM
TRAMCAR INCIDENT
Northampton has lost one of its most beneficient residents by the death, which occurred this morning, of Mr. Henry Lineham, of The Drive. He was 81 years of age.
Mr. Lineham had been ill for a considerable time in a Northampton nursing home, and recently underwent an operation.
Mr. Lineham’s generosity extended in many directions, but in recent years his chief interest had been in the welfare of the Northampton Boy Scouts, who honoured him in 1930 by making him their President. His practical interest in the work of the Scouts was evidenced by his gift to them, several years ago, of a camping ground and swimming pool. He will be greatly missed by the Scouts, to whom he was a real and valuable friend.
Mr. Lineham’s interest in the Scouts was aroused a few years ago as the result of an incident which occurred on a tramcar on which he was travelling at a South Coast resort. Some Scouts with the word “Northamptonshire” on their hats boarded the same car, and Mr. Lineham inquired of the Patrol Leader in charge where they came from, and received the reply “Northampton”.
Mr. Lineham naturally became interested, and as a circus was visiting the town at that time he inquired whether the boys had been to see it, to which they replied that they had not. Mr. Lineham therupon told them he would like them to see it, and taking the necessary money from his pocket offered it to the Patrol Leader, who to his amazement refused to accept it. The boy’s action so impressed Mr. Lineham that, to use his own words, “it took me some time to get over the shock”. At the same time, however, he began to realise that there must be something very fine in the Boy Scout training and he made it his business to find out more about it.
GIFT OF SWIMMING BATH
On his return to Northampton he became more and more interested in the Scouts and eventually purchased and presented to them 14 acres of ground at Blackthorn Wood, afterwards installing in it a very fine swimming bath 70 feet long and 30 feet wide with dressing rooms at one end and seats either side – a magnificent gift which cost hundreds of pounds.
At the official opening of the Wood and swimming bath by the Mayor of Northampton on August 22, 1931, Mr. Lineham was decorated with the Medal of Merit of the Boy Scouts Association, which had been awarded to him by the Chief Scout (Lord Baden Powell) in recognition of his kindness and generosity to the Northampton Scouts.
The last official duty which Mr. Lineham performed was on November 24, when he presided
at the Scouts annual meeting. At that meeting he was presented with a morocco bound
gilt-
Henry Lineham opening the swimming pool 22 August 1931
INTEREST IN LEGION
When Mr. Lineham was 80 years old, he celebrated it at Christmas by sending £1 notes to 80 needy and deserving cases through the Benevolent Committee of the British Legion.
For many years Mr. Lineham was interested in the Legion, and during the war organised motor drives, which thousands of wounded soldiers enjoyed, in his capacity as Motor Transport Officer to the Northamptonshire V. A. D.
Mr. Lineham was a Londoner. He was articled as a draughtsman, but he took to an open air calling by joining the Pearl Assurance Company. After nine months with the company he was given a responsible position. Later he went to Cambridge, where he had charge of many divisions and over 600 men. In appreciation of his work there, the division was divided, a new Northampton district being formed. Mr. Lineham was made manager of this.
Mr. Lineham was fond of making balloon ascents, and was one of the earliest of motorists.
Mr. Lineham sat on the Town Council before the war, after taking part in several contests. In 1908 he was beaten by seven votes in the Kingsthorpe ward by the sitting member, Mr. G. W. Beattie. It was a three cornered contest, Mr. C. J. Scott being the other candidate.
The funeral service will be at St. Matthew’s Church on Thursday afternoon.
No date, but assume Chronicle & Echo on the day of the funeral
SCOUT’S LAST TRIBUTE
FUNERAL OF MR. H. LINEHAM
“I have gone home” – a message conveyed by the Scout’s sign of a circle with a dot
in the centre – was symbolised by a wreath of white lilies, lilies-
The wreath was from the Boy Scouts’ Association, of which Mr. Lineham was the honoured president.
From the house to St. Matthew’s Church the coffin was borne by Scoutmasters Sewell, Willis, Stewart and Bird, Rover Leader Chamberlain, and Rovers Bunker, P. Greystone, and Slater.
The cortege was met at the church by Canon J. Rowden Hussey, and the principal mourners
were: Mr. And Mrs. W. M. Moody, Cambridge (son-
A large number of Boy Scouts from the various troops in the town were present, and
other leaders of the Scout Movement were: Mr. Alan T. Page (vice-
FREEMASONS
The Kingsley Lodge of Freemasons were represented by: Messer’s. J. C. Power (W.M.), G. H. Nelson, J. Peach, T. T. West, G. W. Prickman, and G. Robinson (Tyler).
The British Legion representatives included: Colonel John Brown (national chairman), Messer’s. A. V. Jones, P. Richards, W. L. Tennet.
Others present were: The Chief Constable (Mr. J. Williamson), representing the Good Samaritan Society; Supt. P. Thompson (Borough Police); Inspector Afford (B Division); Mr. L. Benbow (Northampton Conservative and Uniost Association); Mr. H. St. John Browne, Mr. G. C. Wells, the Rev. C. J. Watkins, Mr. And Mrs. A. E. Rodhouse, Mr. E Haselwood, Mr. And Mrs. C. F. Onley, Mrs. Brentnall, Mr. And Mrs. A. Walker, Messer’s. J. C. Garrett, B. C. Smith, A. H. Barry, A. J. Marks, E. A. Lacey, F. Hardwick (of the Pearl Assurance Co.).
Mr. C. J, King was at the organ and played Chopin’s Funeral March at the close of the service. From the church to Kingsthorpe cemetary Boy Scouts, representing the troops of the town, headed the procession.
THE LAST POST
Following the committal sentences Scout W. Bell (Towcester) sounded the Last Post at the graveside.
The motor-
Two sons of Mr. Lineham in Canada and a daughter in Ireland were unable to be present at the funeral.
From a booklet “Overstone-
During the annual camp of 19th St. James at Broadstone Warren, Kent, in August 1929, one of the Patrol Leaders was out for the day with his Patrol when they were approached by a gentleman who asked if they were from Northampton. He had recognised the hatband!! He asked them if they would like to visit the circus, and in reply, the PL stated: “It was very kind of him, but if he wished to give some money to the Scouts, perhaps he would like to give it to all Northampton Scouts”. This was how Henry Lineham was introduced to the Northampton Scout Association, HOWEVER, what still remains a mystery is the name of the Scout who said those immortal words which impressed Henry Lineham so much.
At the 18th Annual General Meeting of the Northampton Scout Association in 1930, Henry Lineham made the offer of £25 if three other gentlemen would do the same in order that a hut or pavilion could be erected in the camping field. Weeks later, plans were made and a pavilion 30ft by 22ft was built by Mr. H. Cross for £100.
It was on Saturday 24th May 1930, when 300 Wolf Cubs and Scouts paraded in the camping field to witness the official opening of the Pavilion by the Mayor of Northampton, Councillor Ralph Smith. Within days, Major W. Hughes, District Commissioner in 1911, offered the Association loose timber from a wood that was part of his property at Billing Gate. In September, he went one step further when he offered to sell the Association this land, Blackthorn Wood consisting of some 14 acres. At the Annual General Meeting in November 1930, Alan Page stood down as President.
Gregory Roberts (DC), during his report, spoke of the camping ground and gave the news that Henry Lineham had purchased and given Blackthorn Wood to the Northampton Scout Association. Mr. Lineham also offered the Scouts £100 for a swimming pool to be made. Gregory Roberts then continued with the news that the Chief Scout had awarded Henry Lineham the Gold Thanks Badge. Amidst vociferous acclamation, Mr. Lineham, who was 80 years old, was elected the Association’s new President.
On All Fools Day (1st April) 1931, Blackthorn hosted the first Patrol camp. During the same year, the foundations were laid for the swimming pool, and again, all the work was carried out by the Rovers, Leaders and Scouts of the local Association.
On August 22nd 1931, the Headquarters Commissioner, Mr. Piers Power, and the Mayor, Councillor E.J. Ingham, officially opened the swimming pool and then presented Henry Lineham with the Medal of Merit, in recognition of his efforts towards the Camping Ground.
As a token of recognition of one man’s kindness, Henry Lineham was presented with
a morocco-
Just three weeks after the AGM, Mr. Lineham died. His pall-
