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Rotary Club

News & notes

Rushden Echo & Argus, 30th May 1941, transcribed by Kay Collins

Rotary’s Part in A.T.C. Scheme
War Service reviewed at Rushden Club’s Annual Meeting

Wartime work of Rushden Rotarians and their wives was described at the Rotary Club’s annual meeting, held on Tuesday at the Green Dragon Hotel, Higham Ferrers, Rotarian Arthur Neal presiding.

Reviewing the last 12 months, Rotarian A S Knight (sec) said that in July, as their adopted trawler “Dulcebell” had been put out of action, they adopted the “Strathughie” and many of them started a correspondence with members of the crew. The ladies began to knit garments for the new trawler, and it was arranged that, 1,400 cigarettes should be sent each month, with packs of cards and games when possible.

In order to organise concert parties the “R.A.D.S.E.C.” was formed, and during the year excellent concerts had been given, often at very short notice.

A large sum had already been given over to the wool fund, and a further sum of £23 12s. 6d. had been placed in a separate fund to form the nucleus of a big effort later on.

Rushden Echo & Argus, 6th June 1941

The new president is a founder member of the club and was its first secretary. Born at Leamington Spa, he came to Rushden from Long Eaton in 1905. He is a keen sportsman, fond of golf and bowls, and won the Allebone Cup at the Town Bowling Club’s green in 1939. In Freemasonary he is steward of the John Pyle Lodge and member of the Wellingborough Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and Croyland Lodge of Mark Master Masons. He is a member of the Park-road Methodist Church and of the Northampton branch of the Merchant Tailors’ Federation.

J J Page
President of the
Roatary Club - in 1941

Rushden Echo & Argus, 16th January 1948, transcribed by Kay Collins

Oldest Lady (90) Won Prize

Really to enjoy an ice-cream in mid-winter apparently one has to be over 80. For ices figured prominently on the menu at a Rushden old folks’ party on Tuesday, and of over 100 present, only one or two declined the delicacy.

The informal party for some of the “grandpas and grandmas” of Rushden was sponsored by the Rushden Rotary Club “Inner Wheel,” and in the Masonic Hall the ladies of Rotary were competent hostesses.

Many of the more infirm old folks were met at the doors of their homes by Rotarians in cars, a good deed made possible by a special ration of basic petrol.

Others arrived on foot and as representatives of old Rushden gathered together beneath the red, green, blue, and white Christmas decorations, old friends met and exchanged reminiscences.

Tongue rolls, tomato rolls, cream and fruit cakes soon appeared on the four daffodil decorated tables. On the tables as well were some of the prizes—bottles of fruit and jams, and tobacco.

Aged 90

Among the winners was the oldest lady of the party, Mrs. Ellen Mitchell, of Wellingborough Road, who was 90 last September.”It’s a very, very nice party. I have a lot of old friends here,” she told us. It was a view supported by her niece, Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Waller, of 5 Elm Street, Higham Road.

“It is nice to have a bit of company,” commented Mr. Charles Payne, of 78 Crabb Street, who is 85, and was one of the “fathers” of the company. His prize was a bottle of gooseberries.

After cigarettes, oranges, and ices had appeared, Mr. and Mrs. H. Robinson led community singing with Mr. S. T. Beale at the piano. Recitals were given by Miss Lily Dickens and Mrs. C. Blunsom.

The arrangements for the party were made by an Inner Wheel sub-committee.
Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire Life Magazine Dec. 1979, transcribed by Susan Manton

Old Rushden in Pictures

For several years various organisations in the town have been entertained with slide shows of Old Rushden.

The Rotary Club of Rushden, through their vocational committee, decided to produce a book containing old pictures of the town.

The Chairman of the committee, Mr. D. Gibson, was given the task of compiling the book. Mr. Gibson formed a sub committee with Rot. J. Osborne and with Mr. E. G. Fowell, Mr. A. J. George and Mr. C. Wood of the Rushden Amenities Society and every Friday for the past year, the five men have met at Mr. Gibson's home to work on the book.

Many local people contributed pictures after an appeal was made for shots of Old Rushden. So many pictures were received in fact that five authors had to sift through over 700 photographs and select around 400 for publication.

Mr. Gibson and his helpers then embarked on a great deal of research work, tracing descendants of people in the photographs and talking to elderly residents of Rushden who could provide them with valuable information.

"As time goes on" explained Mr. Gibson, "we realise that old photographs might become harder to get so we thought it would be a good idea to produce a permanent pictorial record of Old Rushden."

Although they had no idea what form the book would take they first began work on it, they soon found that they had collected enough photographs and information for more than one book, although there are no plans in hand at the moment for a "follow-up"

The book gives a brief history of Old Rushden, the church and Rushden Hall. There are pictures of both the exterior and the interior of the Hall and pictures of many of the residents of Old Rushden. Also J. Cave's factory fires.

The book is being printed by S. L. Hunt (Printers) Ltd and it should be in the shops before Christmas. Also from any of the committee members.

The cost of printing the book has been met to some extent by donations from local firms, backed up by Old Rushden slide evenings, held to raise funds.

The price of the book will be £5.75.



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