Mexborough and Swinton Times April 13, 1928

Final Procession and Burial

The service over, the funeral procession wound its way to the Wombwell Cemetery through streets lined with thousands of people. Not one tenth of the people who wished to gain admittance to the cemetery could have been found room for, and a wise precaution was taken in closing the gates except for those immediately connected with the funeral.

As it was they must have been a thousand people inside. In spite of this arrangement thousands witnessed the graveside ceremony, the walls immediately around that portion of the graveyard in which Roy has been laid to rest been quickly thronged.

All through the ceremonies complete silence was observed.

There was a tense moment as the Yorkshire players walked up the path towards the open grave bearing their fallen comrade. The choir assembled on the platform left standing from the previous service on Sunday, and after brief committal ceremony they led the singing of “Now, the labourer’s task is o’er.” Then for a few moments relatives and intimate friends gathered round the flower and ivy lined grave. Tears were released, and there was deep sobbing in the crowd.

Meanwhile, Roy’s colleagues of the County XI stood a few yards distant – a pathetic little knot waiting to offer their old friend the last greeting. Unobtrusively they walked up to the grave one by one, then turned away sadly. Their lips were firm, but their eyes were streaming. Sutcliffe, particularly, seem to feel the parting keenly.

The mourners quickly dispersed, but for several hours and even after nightfall, people with whom Roy will always stand for cherished memories filed past the grave. The coffin was of wainscot oak, the body being enclosed in a leaden casket. The grave is only a few yards distant from that in which Roy’s uncle, Irving Washington, is laid to rest. The next row was occupied by cousin of Roy’s, who died with equally tragic suddenness two or three years ago.

Mr H Marrison carried out the funeral arrangements

From YouTube (Words and Music to “Now the Labourers Task is Oer”: