Blackburn, Saturday. - Brief silence was observed in cotton mills in Blackburn, Preston, and Darwen to-day in tribute to Brig.-Gen. Arthur Birtwistle, one of Lancashire's cotton kings, who died at Billinge Scar.
There were remarkable scenes at Blackburn Cathedral, where hundreds of people were unable to gain admission to the funeral service.
In the packed congregation were hundreds of ex-Servicemen, by whom Gen. Birtwistle was admired, as well as civic representatives and representatives of the cotton employers and trade unions.
Not long ago Gen. Birtwistle, who gained many distinctions for his gallant war services, succeeded his father in control of the large firm of cotton spinners and manufacturers which bears the family name.

(Published in the "News of the World" in May 1937)