George Kennedy was part of a sad sequence of deaths at the club in the 1910s and 1920s. George had only recently taken over as Club trainer and was killed in fall of stone at Hebburn No. 1 mine. Sid Grant writes, "George played his senior football with Abermain and twice won inter-district honours. A great optimist, George was liked by all," a fact borne out by his funeral procession.
George's obituary, published on page 5 of the Maitland Weekly Mercury, Saturday 15 September 1923, seems a remarkable document. Though maybe for its time it was little beyond the norm. What strikes me is how useful it is for researchers. It places Kennedy at the centre of several cultures, the primary one of which is "British Football", specifically the "Weston Soccer Club". But more than this, his union and club affiliations are revealed, as is his role as a bandsman and his love of music. The length of his procession is a measurement of his importance to the community.
For me the most important aspect is the list of names at the bottom. First his "pals": two sets apparently; and a subsequent list that will be useful in triangulating with the Weston Club. A poignant little moment lies in the names "Mrs. Coppock, Cliffie, and Ralph", remembering that George was the one who drove with William Beaney to inform her of Peter Coppock's death. We learn their sons' names, which would usually be quite difficult information to find.
OBITUARY.
On Saturday afternoon, the remains of George Main Kennedy, who was killed by a fall of stone in Hebburn No. 1 mine on Thursday, were laid to rest in the Methodist cemetery (writes our Kurri Kurri representative). The procession, over a mile long, was headed by the massed bands of the district playing the "Dead March." The cortege included Hebburn Miners' Lodge, Hebburn colliery officials, representatives of the British Football Association. Weston Soccer Club, Soccer players from other clubs, and a large number of motor cars and other vehicles. A bandsman's tunic, and a football with club colours, rested on the coffin. At the graveside the deceased's favourite hymns were sung to the accompaniment of the massed bands. Rev. E. H. Wilson officiated at the graveside. A large number of beautiful floral tributes were placed on the grave, including those from Weston Band, Weston Soccer Club, Hebburn and Pagans Clubs, Northern District and South Maitland British Football Association, his pals (R. Hall, J. Finley, J. Browell, and J. Gallagher), pals (T. Martin, T. Dixon, G. Liddle, W. Liddle and R. Varty), Mr. and Mrs. J. Avis and family, Ella and Luke, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Fisher, Mr. and Mrs. Rob Fisher, Mrs. Thirlwell, F. and R. Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Prescott, and family. Mr. and Mrs. McMillan and family. Mr. and Mrs. Stansbury, Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson. Mr. and Mrs Horsfield. Mr. and Mrs. and Nellie Marchant, Mr. and Mrs. J. Powell and family. Mrs. Coppock, Cliffie, and Ralph, Mr. S. Lloyd, Mr. and Ms. Beaney. Mr. and Mrs. and Myra Kelly, Mr. and Mrs. Cullis, Mr. and Mrs. Tyler and family, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner., Clarrie and Flo. Mr. and Mrs. Mills and family, Emma and Harry and little Emma. Mr. and Mrs. Rudd and family, Mr. and Mrs. Norris and family, Mr. and Mrs. Egdell and family.
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