Funeral of Admiral Sir WG Luard KCB

This photo shows the funeral of Admiral Sir William Luard KCB on 24th May 1910. As you can see from the photo, the whole town closed for his funeral and everyone turned out to pay their respects.

Admiral Sir William Luard was born in 1820. The Luard family lived at Witham Lodge and were prominent members of the town. William served in the Navy for a number of years and was awarded the KCB (Knight Commander of the Order of Bath) by Queen Victoria in her Diamond Jubilee year. William married Charlotte Du Cane and they went on to have 11 children and celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.

Upon retirement, William served in the town as a Justice of the Peace, as his father has also done. He died, aged 90, in 1910 after his horse bolted, throwing him from his trap, when it hit a telegraph pole outside the Swan Public House. He is buried in the Closed Churchyard behind Holy Family Church.