Canon J. Dunford

After at long period of failing health, due to eye trouble and other causes, Canon John Dunford, rector of St. Patrick's, Soho Square, W., died last Saturday at the age of seventy-one. Some weeks ago he entered the Hospital of SS. John and Elizabeth. He was then in an enfeebled state, and as time passed his remaining strength declined.
By Canon Dunford's death the Soho church and parish lose a pastor whose rule, during thirteen years, had been noteworthy in a number of ways. His interest in the fabric itself was shown by much in the way of added adornment, some of it completed not long hefore his final illness. He brought many distinguished preachers to the pulpit of St. Patrick's; nor were their words confined to the English tongue, for in addition to the addresses in Italian for the nationals of Italy living in the parish, there was the annual pOlyglot course by which sermons were preached in Latin and other languages. On the titular feast-day each year he. saw to it that, the attraction of the celebration should make Soho Square a rendezvous in devotion for Irish Catholics from many pails of London.
Education, and social service, likewise engaged much of the late Canon's energy. He promoted the interest of his parochial schools With constant solicitude. He developed the usefulness of St. Patrick's Club Room so that many guilds and other bodies now have their meetings in that assembly place. He was largely instrumental in bringing to Soho the Italian sisterhood who now have their convent in Greek Street. He was an encouraging friend in the work of the Interval Club.
It is a pathetic circumstance that Canon Dunford has not lived to see an event to which he was looking forward with much
pleasurable expectation the opening of the new school-chapel in Seaton Street, off Hampstead Road. When, in 1924, he was appointed Administrator of the centre in Little Albany Street, N.W., to which humble chapel he restored the original dedication, St; Anne's, he set about making provision (or carrying on, in that district, a work which conditions in Little Albany Street itself prevented. The site in Seaton Street was acquited, and there the new St. Anne's nears completion: but its opening day must now be saddened by the thought that death has taken its chief inspiring figure.
This note has dwelt upon Canon Dunford's main work in his latter years, after his appointment to Soho. But the record would he incomplete which did not recall also his pioneer service to two North London parishes : the Blessed Sacrament, Copenhagen Street, and St. Joan of Arc, Highbury, Both those parishes he started, in 1916 and in 1920 respectively. His work still earlier, after his education at the English College at Lisbon and his ordination in 1892, took him successively to Soho, under the late Canon Vere, whom he was later to succeed; to Lincoln's Inn Fields, to Hampstead, and to St. John's, Islington. His canonry was conferred in 1924.
Canon punford was the author of several small books: Holy Mass and Benediction for Children; Practical Suggestions for the NeWly Ordained; St. Anne's Parish —this last a short account of the Little Albany Street centre. A man of wide acquaintance and retentive memory, he was a ready source of information on much connected with Catholic history north of the Thames during the past half century, and his help, when asked, was never lacking.
The Archbishop of Westminster assisted and gave the absolution at the requiem Mass at Sti. Patrick's, Soho, last Tuesday. previous tp the interment at Old Hall Green. The Bishops-Auxiliary, Mgr. Butt and Mgr. (Myers, were present, together with members of the Chapter and many other clergy. The Mass was celebrated by the Rev. William Attree, who also officiated at the gracside, assisted by the Revv. N. Burrett and W. G. Wood.
Lady Tredegar
While spending a holiday tour at Budapest, Lady Tredegar has died with tragic suddenness. She was staying with her friend Mme. Louis Cartier, born Countess Abnasy, and was about to dress for the evening when she collapsed.
Like her husband, Lady Tredegar was a convert to the Catholic faith. She was the Hon. Lois Seurt, daughter of the second Lord Aiington and sister to the present peer. Her marriage to the Hon. Evan Morgan, who in 1934 succeeded his father as Viscount Tredegar, took place at the Brampton Oratory in 1928. She leaves no issue.
Hon. T. C. Fitzherbert, A.M.
Captain the Hon. Thomas Charles Fitzherbert, brother and heir presumptive of Lord Stafford, died suddenly on Monday last at 'Swynnerton, in his sixty-ninth year. The funeral takes place this (Friday) morning.
The fourth son of Mr. Basil Thomas Fitzherbert, by Emily Charlotte elder daughter of the Hon. Edward Stafford Jerningham. Captain Fitzherbert was educated at Oscott. In the South African War of 1900-2 he served with the Imperial Yeomanry; and in the Great War he was with the Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry. The rank of a baron's son was given him after the death of the eleventh Lord Stafford, in 1913, and the succession of his brother to the title.
A very gallant action performed by Captain Fitzherbert in the war years was rewarded with the Albert Medal. While acting as a bombing instructor, in 1916, he picked up a live bomb, thus saving many lives.
In 1925 Captain Fitzherbert married Beryl second daughter of Mr. John Waters, of Hill House, Farnham, Surrey, and widow of Major Henry Brougham. Ills elder son, Basil, now a boy at school, becomes heir presumptive to the barony.
Captain C. E. Constable, O.B.E., M.C.
Captain Clifford Edward Constable O.B.E., M.C., late R.N., died on the 13th inst. at the age of sixty-one, and has been buried at Vittel, in France. The deceased officer, a convert to the Catholic faith, was the son of Marmaduke Constable, of Milbrook, Southampton. He was educated at Eastman's Royal Naval Academy, H.M.S. " Britannia," and the Royal Naval College, and was formerly a Sub-Lieutenant in the Navy.
During the Boer War Clifford Constable served with the British South Africa Mounted Police. After the outbreak of the Great War he became a trooper in the
second King Edward's Horse. In 1917, in which year he was attached to the Welsh (38th) Division, he was given Captain's rank and also was made Adjutant.
Two guide-books for Catholics attest Captain Constable's interest on the literary side. The first of these was his Pilgrim's Guide to Rome, brought out in 1933, and the second the Pilgrim's Guide to Catholic London. which he published in the following year.
Captain C. P. Myers
Captain Charles Patrick Myers, who died recently at his residence in Fleet, served thirty-three years with His Majesty's Forces, and campaigned in the Boer War and the Great War, at the termination of which he was severely wounded and remained disabled for the last twenty years of his life. lie bore heroically his inability to take a more active part in life owing to the loss of one of his limbs. His family must have been well known for their charity to the thousands of troops who passed through Bookm Camp during the Great War. The many priests, officers and men—Catholics all, who were entertained and befriended by Mrs. Myers, are asked in their charity to pray for the repose of the soul of the officer now dead. Captain Myers, during the time of his active service, generously responded to every call on his energies and his purse for help in all charities in the Army.
Mrs. Ada M. M. Wilberforce
At Markington Hall, Ripon, the family seat, Mrs. Ada Mary Margaret Wilberforce died on Friday last, aged seventy. The deceased lady, youngest daughter to the late Robert Sadlier Moody, married Mr. William Basil Wilberforce, of Markington, in 1899 and was widowed about twenty-four years ago.
The funeral took place on Tuesday at St. Joseph's, Bishop Thornton.