Death of Mr. James Wood
photo of James Wood [poor quality].
We regret to record the death of Mr James Wood, which took place rather suddenly at his residence, Yetthouse, Whitburn, on Tuesday. Mr. Wood had been attending to his duties much as usual on Monday, but during the night he felt ill, and Dr. Simpson, Bathgate, was sent for on Tuesday morning. He chatted with the doctor about the state of his heart, which he said, had served him for 67 years, but it was now troubling him, and shortly after the doctor left, he fell asleep and passed quietly away about one o'clock in the afternoon. By his death, Whitburn loses one of the Town's best known and most worthy citizens. The sudden call came as a great shock to the entire community, which has suffered a grievous loss. His passing will leave a blank in the life of Whitburn which it will be difficult to fill to forget.
A native of East Whitburn, Mr. Wood was born in the year 1850. His has been a particularly successful career, and he is in possession of a very successful bakery business, viz., the Yetthouse Bakery, Whitburn. After serving his apprenticeship as a baker in Bathgate, Mr. Wood returned to Whitburn as a journeyman baker, and in 1878 started business in Harthill. A year later he returned to Whitburn, securing business premises in a shop situated close to the commercial Bank in West Main street. Here he remained for sixteen years, and laid the foundation of his present lucrative and extensive business. Thereafter Mr. Wood re-moved to more commodious premises, viz., Yetthouse, having purchased the property, and here he built an up-to-date bakery, replete with all the latest baking accessories. The high reputation of Mr. Wood has gained as a baker in the very front rank of his profession and ensured and consolidated his success, and at present his business extends all over the country. This fact gains great emphasis when it is known that Mr. Wood has within the past years gained no fewer than 18 medals, in addition to a cup for the best Scottish loaf, at the bakery exhibitions held in London.
Lately, owing to the shortage of labour, due to the war, he added additional machinery to the bakery, and did hid best to carry on under difficult and trying circumstances.
For many years Mr. Wood has manifested a keen interest in local, parochial, and county administration affairs. He entered the Town Council in 1882, and after a lapse of a year or two, he again secured a seat on the Board. In all questions he displays marked intelligence, and and took a commonsense view. In 1909, on the retiral from the Provost's chair, of Mr. Alex. Craig, Mr. Wood was unanimously elected Provost, a postion for which his wide business experience and long service on other public boards eminently fitted him. He retained the chair for about two years and discharged his duties in a thouroughly satisfactory manner. He was the Burgh's representative on the County Council, and was a member of the old Parochial Board for some years, and his tact, shrewdness, and reasonong faculties proved of much value to these respective Boards. Some years ago he was appointed a J.P. of the County Limlithgow, and at the time of his death he was a member of Whitburn Burgh Tribunal.
Mr. Wood will always be remembered with gratitude for his work on behalf of Whitburn U.F. Church. His removal at this time will be keenly regretted by the congregation and by the lately placed minister - Rev. Mr. James. He was undoubtably a 'stoop o' the kirk', a staunch and generous supporter at all times. he ws the oldest elder of the Church, having been an elder for over forty years. He was superintendant of the Sunday school for some years and always showed interest in the work among the young of the congregation in a practical way. He and Mrs. Wood took an active part in connection with the erection of the hall of the church, and on all occasions he showed his keen interest in the affairs of the church. Indeed it might be said that the church was an obsession with him. He also held strong temperence priciples and was a Liberal in politics.
Of a genial and kindly disposition, he was held in the highest esteem by all with whom he came in contact. In his own modest way he often acted according to the Biblical injunction not to let your left hand know what you right hand doeth. Many Whitburn lads serving at the front will hear of his death with something of a shock and recall the parcels he received through Mr. Wood's generous thoughtfulness. He always manifected great kindness to those who left the town on active service. He himself has two sons in His Majesty's forces, one James, in Palestine, and the other (John) in Berwick. The greatest sympathy is felt for Mrs. Wood and family in their sad bereavment. The funeral was private, in accordance with the desires of the deceased.