| Notes |
- Obituary
Alderman C. Bassett
Chairman of Housing Committee
(Picture included)
A wide circle of friends have heard with profound regret of the sudden death of Alderman Claude Bassett of 63 Queen Victoria Street, Rochdale, who passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning at his home. He was 63 years of age and is survived by Mrs. Bassett and one son, Mr. Roy Bassett, who is a trombone player in the B.B.C. Northern Orchestra and lives at Blackpool with his wife and 11 years old daughter.
Alderman Bassett had not been well collapsed at a meeting of the General Purposed Committee and had to be taken home. Since then he had, under orders from his doctor, curtailed his Council activities and he was apparently making a gradual recovery. On Saturday night his wife retired to bed, leaving Alderman Bassett watching television, and she had the distressing experience of finding him dead in the lounge early the following morning. It was only about a week ago that Alderman Bassett and his wife removed from Norman Road to Queen Victoria Street.
Town Council Service
Alderman Bassett, who was a native of Rochdale, became a member of the Town Council in May, 1950, when he defeated the sitting Liberal councilor for Brimrod (Mr. Wilfred Holt), polling 1,183 votes against 1,070. When he sought re-election in May, 1953, he increased his majority against Mr. Holt to 340, polling 1,421 votes, and in May, 1956, against the late Councillor (then Mr.) Frank Fitton (Liberal), he was again successful, receiving 1,371 votes against 1,107 cast for Mr. Fitton.
He was due for re-election in May this year but was elected an alderman at the end of April to fill the vacancy on the aldermanic bench caused by the death of Alderman Dennis Clegg.
All the time he had been on the Town Council, Alderman Bassett had served on the Housing Committee and he succeeded ex-Councillor Edgar Brierley as chairman of the committee on the latter’s resignation from the position in September, 1954. In addition to the Housing Committee, he had served on the Education, Welfare Services, Baths, Parks and Cemetery, Cleansing and General Purposes Committees. He was of a quiet, unassuming disposition and although not taking part a great deal in Council debates he was always sincere in his desire to help his fellow citizens, and he was deeply respected and admired by members of all political parties.
\Alderman Bassett was a representative of the Council on the North-Western Gas Consultative Council (East District Committee), the Rochdale, Bacup and District War Pensions Committee, the Rochdale Blind Welfare Society, the Rochdale District Advisory Committee of the National Assistance Board, the Rochdale and District Disablement Advisory Committee, the Local Employement Committee, the Rochdale Local Advisory Committee of the Ministry of National Insurance and the Rochdale Local National Insurance Tribunal.
One of his main interests was in the hospital services. He gave valuable service to the former Infirmary Work people’s Committee, of which he was president in 1945, and he had always been a most enthusiastic worker for the Infirmary, having sat on the former board of management and the house and contributory committees, and doing what he felt he ought to do to acknowledge the nursing and medical care he received when in hospital himself.
Trade Union Activities
All his life Alderman Bassett had been connected with the cotton industry and his union activities extended well over 40 years. At one time he worked as a stipper and grinder at the Sparth Mill and the Dunlop Cotton Mills, and since 1940 he had been the assistant secretary of the Rochdale and District Card, Blowing-room and Ring Spinners’ Association.
His political allegiance had always been with the Labour Party and for a considerable number of years he had been a delegate to the Rochdale Trades and Labour Council, either from his union or from the Brimrod Ward Labour Party, of which he had been a vice-president since about 1947.
In the First World War, Alderman Bassett served with the Lancashire Fusiliers and was severely wounded in France, his injuries including a badly shattered left elbow which frequently caused him some pain. In the last war he carried out Civil Defence work.
The funeral will take place at the Rochdale Crematorium at two o’clock tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon.
Alderman Bassett’s death was reported to the Rochdale County Coroner (Mr. A.S. Coupe), who dispensed with an inquest.
Alderman Bassett trophy
A silver cup to be awarded annually for the best kept garden on the Shawclough estate has been offered to the Corporation by Mrs. Annie Grindrod, formerly Mrs. Claude Bassett, and she wishes it to be known as the “Alderman Bassett” trophy.
The proffered gift was accepted with much pleasure by the Estates Committee on Tuesday night and a formal presentation of the cup will be made at the next meeting of the committee in July.
Alderman Bassett was chairman of the Housing Committee from September, 1954, until his death in December, 1959.
1901 British Census of 60 Lanchead, Norden, Lancashire, England
Henry Bassett - 27 - M - Head - Soho, Birmingham - Labourer Waterworks
Mary E. - 27 - F - Wife - Rock Savage, Cheshire - Household Domestic
Florence J. - 6 - F - Daughter - Middleton, Lancaster - School Girl
Claude - 4 - M - Son - Hollingwood, Lancaster - Infant
Dorris - 1 - F - Daughter - Healey, Lancaster - Infant
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Bassett Family Association Database
1896 - 1959 (63 years)