On this day, in Coventry . . .

That's a fantastic list AD, and will nicely reduce the outstanding number - thank you so much! (I'll fill them in later.)

One quirky little "fact" that I found somewhere and added under the 15th August was "1901: The first funeral for a person killed by a motor car.". The trouble is, I've not found any verification for this, so I wonder if any kind member with access to old newspapers is able to find out if this really was the case? If it's unable to be proven then I'd better remove it, as we already have that date more than covered. I've also updated the list of outstanding days in the first post of this thread - only 35 days left to fill in now, thanks to you so far! Cheers, Rob

From the Globe 15th August 1901 Rob

Brilliant stuff Anne - many thanks again to you, and the wonders of the internet !

Great find Anne! William Drakeford (all one word according to his death certificate) (who at the time lived at 7 Swan Street) was buried on the 15th of August 1901 (age 67). He is buried in the north/ 'old' part of London Road cemetery in square 76, grave 251.

Rob, I have just reread the article. I does not actually say he was killed in a motor car accident, it was the first funeral in a motor car. Are we interpreting it wrong? Just found another article in a Shrewsbury newspaper for the 24th August which says he had died and his relatives gave their consent to a proposal by his old employees, The Daimler Motor Car Company, that his remains should be carried to his grave in a motor car.

More good stuff, thank you! I just thought, the original source that I copied the wording from said "1901: The first funeral for a person killed by a motor car.", which makes it appear like he was actually run over.... whereas the newspaper clipping makes it sound like it was the first time a car had been used as a kind of "hearse". Any idea how William actually died?

Ah.... I was writing my post at the same time as you.... I wonder if Luke can shed any light on it?

And Anne comes to the rescue once again!!! Excellent, thank you!

He was 67. Beyond life expectancy in those days, I would suggest

Hi Rob & Anne, No sorry I only have a reference of his Death Certificate in an index. But I would have thought that had he passed away due to an accident involving a motorcar it would have been in somewhat bad taste to carry his coffin in the first ever motorised funeral procession(?). By the way - thanks for sharing this story - I've found it really interesting.

I totally agree with all of the above, William's age and the "lack" of what was said about the circumstances completely suggest a normal passing from old age. An interesting motor-related fact all the same though.

That must have been a good day for Daimler! Their funeral cars have come a long way since then. Rob, perhaps to further the idea of your list, is there some way of discussing the happening of each day on the forum every day for the next year?

Hey, why not, nice idea Anne. I'll start a new topic for that now - let's see if something can be added for each day.