OBITUARY

Chronicle (Levin), 7 January 1947, Page 3

OBITUARY

MR. WILLIAM CLAYTON There passed away at his residence.in Grey Street on December 23, following a short. illness, Mr. William Clayton, one of Shannon's leading and most respected citizens, Born at Woodend, Canterbury, 71 years ago, the late Mr. Clayton was educated at Ashburton and Mt. Cook, Wellington. He learned the drapery trade at the D.I.C., Wellington, and later spent four years in London furthering his experiences in the trade. Upon his return to this country, he came to Shannon in 1907 and was employed as a drapery assistant with the firm of W. H. Gunning and Co., Ltd., later becoming drapery manager. He was a shareholder ' and a director of the firm until the time of his death. The late Mr. Clayton was a tire"less worker for the betterment of Shannon, and had served on the Shannon Borough Council since 1931. He held the office of Deputy Mayor and was chairman of the library and building committees. In 1929 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace. He was also an elder and a valued member of the Presbyterian Church. A keen follower of sport, the late Mr. Clayton was a founder of the Shannon Bowling Club, being a shareholder in the former Shannon Bowling Company. In his younger days he played football for the Poneke Club in Wellington. He was captain of the Pirates Cricket Club in Napier and right up until the time of his passing was a willing worker for cricket in this town, holding the office of patron of the local club. He also took an active intcrest in swimming and hockey. .The late Mr. Clayton is survived by his wife, a son (Mr. B. Clayton), and a daughter' (Miss A. Clayton), all of Shannon. The largely-altended funeral left his residence for • the Shannon cemeterv following a service at the Presbyterian Church. The pallbearers at the. church were the Mayor (Mr. R. E. Downes), Crs. E. Perry and J. A. Roacli, and Messrs J. T. Bovis, C. M. Cronquest and H. Norris. At the graveside the pallbearers were Mcssrs E. J. Gunning, J. P. McNeile, W. Bain, B. Clayton, Z. McLeod and R. Murrell. The services at fclie church and at the graveside were coiid'ucled by the Rev. Mr. Martin./The many beautlful floral tributes' bore; testlmony to the very high esteem i'n which : the late geptleman was held in Shannon and tlitC diftfricfc. ;■ j ~: f\ $ * •