A STRIKING TRIBUTE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 75, 25 February 1938, Page 10

A STRIKING TRIBUTE

LATE MRS W. FRANCIS. BANDSMEN PARADE. A striking and impressive tribute to the memory of the late All's W. Francis, of Wanganui, \who passed away in Palmerston North on Wednesday evening with tragic suddenness, was paid this morning by bandsmen and officials attending the Dominion brass band contest,. when the funeral left the mortuary chapel of Alessrs Thomas Griggs and - Soil for Wanganui, where the interment took place this afternoon. Thousands of people lined the streets, and the scene was undoubtedly unique in the history of band contests in New Zealand.

All the bands competing at the contest paraded in uniform, wearing white gloves and white arm-barfds. The long procession was led by the Palmerston North Garrison Band, which played the “Dead Alarch” (Saul), while the Wanganui Garrison Band, to which three members of the Francis family belong, and of which the late All's Francis was regarded as the “mother,” took up a position immediately in front of the hearse and also played the “Dead March.” The route followed was from Main Street into Princess Street, thence to Broadway, to - Rangitikei Street. From the Grey Street intersection the. bands, in turn, opened formation and the cortege passed through the two lines of bandsmen, who extended almost to Featherston Street. The hearse, with the large number of relatives and friends following in cars, then proceeded to Wanganui, The pall-hearers were Alessrs E. Palliser (president of the New Zealand Brass Bands’ Association), J. G. Osborne (secretary), W. P. AlcLachlan and A. G. Homer (supervisors at the contest), A. E. Atansford (chairman of the local contest committee) and E. P. Kerry (contest adjudicator). There were many beautiful wreaths, including tokens from the Brass Bands’ Association and various bands. Among the thousands who paid their tribute in the streets and at the mortuary chapel were numerous Wanganui people, including the Alayor of that city (Mr W. J. Rodgers) and the deputy-Mayor (Cr J. Si cl dells), and the town clerk (Mr G. Murch).