Braughing
Funeral of Mr Joseph Chalkley
The funeral of Mr Joseph Chalkley, whose very sudden death we recorded in our last issue, took place on the 29th ult. The coffin containing the remains was removed by motor hearse from Bedford to Braughing Congregational Church, where the first part of the funal service was impressively conducted by the Rev. W.T. Hailstone.
Bearers then carried the coffin to Braughing Churchyard, where the Rev. W.T. Hailstone took the committal portion of the service, the deceased being interred in the same grave as his wife, who died in 1890.
The immediate mourners were: Messrs. Charles, Thomas, Joseph and Francis Chalkley (sons), Mrs L. Collarbone, Mrs W. Mardell and Miss May Chalkley (daughters), Mr Edgar Chalkley (grandson), Chalkley, Mrs C.S. Hollands and Miss Doris Collarbone (granddaughter), Miss Chalkley (niece), Messrs. James and Wildfrid Chalkley (nephews), Mr and Mrs G. Sutterby (London), and Messrs. J. Bird and Mardell, from Ware.
There was a number of old friends present to pay a last tribute of respect to the member of the deceased, and there was also a number of floral wreathes.
When he left home, on what proved to be his last journey, in bidding his daughter a cheery goodbye, he said, knowing her anxiety as to his travelling so far at his great age of 81, "Don't worry about me wherever I am, I am in God's keeping."
In his last sermon preached at Haynes on the Sunday before his death the following day, from the Psalmist's words, "His name shall endure for ever, &c.," he seemed to have a premonition of death, and spoke of the joy of nearing heaven. To have never failed in any of his preaching engagements for the long period of 30 years, established a beautiful and unbroken record of devoted effort in a good cause.
The funeral arrangements at Braughing were carried out by Mr E.J. Marshall, of "The Dells," Braughing.