LAID TO REST

Franklin Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 47, 27 April 1942, Page 2

LAID TO REST

THE LATE MR JAMES BLAKE LARGELY ATTENDED FUNERAL The remains of the late Mr James (“Jimmy”) Blake, who received fatal injuries when the cycle he was riding and a van, collided at an intersection at Epsom on Wednesday morning, were laid to rest in the Pukekohe cemetery on Friday afternoon. Deceased, who was the second son of the late Mr David Blake, and Mrs E. Blake, formerly of Manukau Road, Pukekohe, was horn in Pukekohe 45 years ago. He was educated at Pukekohe schools and later entered his father’s blacksmithing business. He saw service id the Great War, and returned to Pukekohe and with his brother, Mr D. Blake, jnr., -set up in the smithy business in premises where Knowles’ building now stands. They later disposed of this and the brothers took up other occupations. For some years Mr Blake was on the staff of the Franklin Power Board and the Pukekohe Post and Telegraph line construction staff. He met with a serious accident some years ago which necessitated several severe and painful operations to his head, hut he finally made a remarkable recovery. He resigned from the P. and T. Department and took up a position with the Power Board, and recently took up his residence in Mount Eden. Mr Blake was a prominent Rugby player in his younger days, and was one of the stalwarts of the now defunct Ramblers club. He gained Pukekohe representative honours as a three-quarter and proved himself a great scoring man. The esteem in which he was held, was demonstrated at his funeral on Friday afternoon, which was very largely attended. Beautiful floral tributes were numerous. The service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. F. E. IT. Paton, and the returned soldiers’ burial service was read by Mr Ivie Brown, vice-president of the Franklin Returned Services’ Association. while returned soldiers dropped poppies into the grave of their deceased comrade. The pall hearers were Messrs IT. Fausett and S. Cummings (Post and Telegraph, staff), V. L. Harvey and J. F. P'aton (returned soldiers) and A. Mayes and R. Reid (Power Board staff).