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The cortege outside the Town Hall, for more images of the funeral search on the words Irving esteem.
David “Dan” Irving, died on 25th January 1924, aged 69. He had retained his seat as Burnley's Labour M.P. in December of 1923, but on returning to Westminster came down with pneumonia, suffered a heart attack, and died.
His death was greeted by political friend and foe alike, with great sorrow, and a public funeral was arranged for Saturday 2nd February 1924. The massive public turnout shows the esteem in which Irving was held.
The coffin was brought back to Burnley by train, and taken to his home at 80 Glen View Road. The cortege with family and friends was joined at Burnley Town Hall by representatives of civic authorities and public bodies in vehicles, three landaus with flowers, the Municipal Brass Band, and representatives of socialist organisations and trade unions carrying their banners, who followed on foot. The newspapers list the large number of organisations represented, the many floral tributes and messages of condolence, including from the new Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald. Crowds lined the route to the Cemetery. Weavers had been allowed to finish work early at 10 a.m. that Saturday to attend. Businesses were closed for the duration of the procession. A 4 page memento was distributed. (Selina Cooper, one of the mourners, kept hers, it’s in her archive at Preston.)
The landlord of the Griffin pub, near the cemetery, asked for an hour’s extension from 3 to 4 on the day of the funeral, but was sharply rebuked as being disrespectful and the application dismissed.
The manager of the Savoy Cinema arranged for the funeral to be filmed and it was shown the following week, (plus film of Burnley v Fulham.)
The crowds almost got out of hand at the grave side, but the police made sure order was kept. The Canon Winfield, vicar of St. James’s Burnley, officiated, accompanied by Father McDonnell, former curate at St. Mary’s. As a committed atheist this might have made Dan stir in his grave, but the ceremony concluded with graveside speeches by Labour MPs Tom Kennedy and Ernest Marklew, and a rendition of The Red Flag.
Both local newspapers the Burnley Express and the Burnley News dedicated several pages and many photos to the event in their editions of 6th February 1924. The Express displayed photos of the funeral in their windows, and copies could be purchased for two shillings each.
The attached images are scanned from the newspapers, however an original of this first photo can currently be found on the Red Rose Collection of Lancashire Archives. (link : https://redrosecollections.lancashire.gov.uk/index.php?a=ViewItem&i=274566)


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