DEATH OF THE TOWN SERGEANT
The funeral took place in the Cemetery on Friday morning of Mr. Henry Dodd, who died

last week after a short illness. Mr Dodd who had just passed his seventieth birthday, had for quarter-of-a-century, occupied the position of Town Hall keeper, mace-bearer and town sergeant, having succeeded to the latter post on the death of Mr. Perry.

He was a native of the borough, and when a boy attended the Lancasterian (sic) school. Previous to his municipal duties he was for many years in the employ of

Messrs. Bodman and Jones, who carried on the business as tailors, drapers and undertakers in Northbrook-street.

Mr. Dodd, for many years, acted as tyler1 and serving brother to the Masonic lodge, which held its meetings in the Council Chamber.

As mace-bearer he was a familiar figure at all municipal functions, and likewise at Quarter Sessions, where he faithfully performed his part of the official routine.

Mr. Dodd was quite a local celebrity, and his widow has received many expressions of sympathy in her bereavement.

Amongst the numerous wreaths at the funeral was one from the Mayor of Newbury2 . Mrs. Dodd will temporarily carry on the duties of care-taker at the Municipal-buildings.

Death of Mr. Dodd.—Another well-known and respected inhabitant has passed away from us this week in the death of Mr Henry Dodd, who, for the last quarter of century, has been hall keeper and one of the Sergeants-at-Mace of the Newbury Corporation, as well as officer to the Borough Recorder.

Dodd had reached his seventieth year, and until within the past fortnight was in his usual health. A rather acute attack of bronchitis took him off, at last, after a few days’ illness. Dodd was good servant to the Corporation.

NEWBURY HEROES 

To the editor of the NWN

SIrs,—While the whole civilized world has re-echoed with a noble enthusiasm at the deeds of that humble but gallant band of volunteers who faced every danger in the successful endeavour to release the imprisoned and exhausted colliers in Wales, it is to be hoped that the same abnegation of self which prompted Henry Dodd to jump into the river at Newbury to try to rescue the two little children shall not fail to be duly acknowledged in some public form beyond a mere local pecuniary reward. Although no swimmer, Dodd succeeded in saving the little girl : and then the boy of eleven years grasped his would-be deliverer's hand, but un-fortunately they both got into deep water in the middle of the stream, and death would have been inevitable had not Alfred Lipscombe appeared on the scene, and like another brave Englishman as he is immediately plunged to the rescue of the sinking Dodd, and the lad who had clung for dear life to the saviour of his sister.

All honour to these Newbury heroes. Probably Lipscombe little imagined when he jumped into the river and grasped poor Dodd, that yet another life depended upon his efforts. Happily for our common humanity, heroes are found in every sphere of life—where duty, or danger, or rescue from peril points the way ; be it on the battle-field, in the coal mine, on the high seas. or wherever else occasion may call forth the energies of the brave in saving the life of a fellow creature. It was for these reasons that the Royal Humane Society was established. Other rewards attend exceptional bravery on the battle-field ; and even the Albert Medal has, I believe, lately extended its sphere at the desire of her most Gracious Majesty ; but the above society's object is to reward gallantry in saving life wherever deserving cases occur, and are brought under its notice.

The efforts of Henry Dodd in saving one life, and the timely and double rescue effected b Alfred Lipscombe, are just such cases which, I believe, the above society delighteth to honour, either with its bronze medallions or its scroll of I parchment. There can be but little doubt that if his Worship the Mayor of Newbury would duly represent the above facts to the Royal Humane Society some recognition will be officially received on behalf of the "Newbury Heroes." I trust you will excuse my intrusion upon your space, but the case is one that deserves and warrants attention.

I remain , sir, yours faithfully

Chelsea, May-Day, 1877   W. FRY