Peldon People John Linnett Clark
OLD INHABITANT'S DEATH
A ZEPPELIN'S FALL RECALLED

Peldon has lost an extremely popular old inhabitant in the person of John Linnett Clark who passed away on Saturday June 5. Quick at repartee, 'sharp as a needle' of a generous and merry disposition, he went about counting his blessings and was frequently heard to say 'We're not half thankful enough'. Mr Clark was a native of Salcot, having moved there at an early age, but considered himself a Wigborough man He started work when only 10 years old, and for the first month took charge of 700 sheep in a 44 acre field, being on duty from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. and receiving a weekly wage of 4s. Although he never travelled far, the whole of his 85 years being spent within a radius of five miles, he met with a great adventure on his 65th birthday, which was on September 24 1916, when a Zeppelin fell at Little Wigborough barely a mile from the house he was occupying on the Abbot's Hall estate, being then in the employ of the late Mr Charles Hutley. On the same day, a nephew and his wife, Mr and Mrs George Clark also of Wigborough had the gift of a daughter, who was fittingly named Zeppelina. A link between age and youth was formed by the dual celebration, year after year, of this historic birthday, and the old gentleman was received into the home of these relatives on the death of his wife, some 14 years ago.

Later however, his thoughts turned to Peldon, where he had many friends, and he finally settled at Sunnyside with Miss Claydon and her brother, Mr. H Claydon. Here he found it easy to fraternise with 'the people called Methodists' who gave him a hearty welcome. A member of the Church Of England, he would set out in good time for morning service at the parish church, and in the afternoon and evening he would put in an appearance at the little Wayside Chapel. On certain special occasions he deemed it fitting to attend his own parish church at Great Wigborough, notably on harvest festival and Armistice Sundays.

Mr Clark was a well-known figure at Colchester Market, where he watched the sheep sales with a large measure of understanding having held several posts of responsibility as a shepherd. His two chief interests outside working hours were books and music, and until too infirm to do so, he toured the village at Christmas time as a solo carol singer, playing his own accompaniments on a concertina. It was noticed that his health began to fail about 18 months ago, and he went out very little during the winter. His popularity was evidenced by the large number of friends who visited him. Rectors of two parishes, churchwarden, Methodist stewards and class leader, relatives and neighbours, all were welcome, and Peldon and Wigborough residents by whom he will be greatly missed, will have many happy recollections of contacts with him. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Powell and Mason of Abberton.

From Essex County Standard.

John Linnett Clark married Selina Mary Coldham at Great Wigborough 26 November 1875. They were both from Great Wigborough.

Date: 12 June 1937