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From the Wednesbury
and Darlaston Chronicle :
SATURDAY,
DECEMBER 11th 1926
MR. F. W.
HACKWOOD
Although
he had not lived in our town for several years, Wednesbury is very
much the poorer by the death of Mr. F. W.
Hackwood, which occured this week. His name to our citizens,
especially the older generation, was proverbial, inasmuch as he
probably did more than any other person to keep Wednesbury in the
forefront, particularly by his literary
work, which will be handed down to posterity, and which will
keep future Wednesbury well informed of the noble history of which
the town is proud. For well nigh half a century he had been more
or less identified with this journal, writing under the names of
"Old Woden" and "Muz," and his articles were
always read with a great deal of interest. A few weeks ago his health
broke down and bronchitis of an aggravated type laid him aside.
A fortnight ago, however, there was much improvement in his condition,
but unfortunately this was only of a temporary character, and he
passed away full of years and full of honours. He was regarded as
one of the strongest and most intellectual of men that Wednesbury
had had for a generation and what he did not know about our town,
its history and its customs, was not worth knowing. He had a great
regard for Wednesbury, and whenever any slur was cast against its
name he was always ready and eager to bring his fluent pen to work
in defence, and upon every occasion he "laid his rivals low."
Indeed he did so much for Wednesbury that many of us had thought
that it would have been gracious, even years ago, if the town had
conferred upon him the Freedom of the Borough, as a mark of appreciation
for the services he rendered to literature as an author, his work
of research and his archaeological knowledge of which he gave us
so much. But "this generation knows no justice" and it
is only those who have lived four score years and ten who can tell
of the work that was accomplished by him and the thoroughness of
his service to the town. Perhaps one of the most outstanding events
of his life in the history of Wednesbury was that connected with
the Charter of Incorporation. For this he did much and the official
account contains the following statement - "There was a spontaneous
movement on the part of the inhabitants, a movement with which the
names of Mr. Charles Southern and Mr. F.
W. Hackwood will always be honourably associated." This
alone will stand as a memorial to him. He has generally left an
impress upon the town which cannot easily be effaced, and his passing
will be regretted by all. |
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