‘Ride in a patrol car on M1’
What A Challenge Wish Week Was

Rushden Round Table Wish Week closed on Monday, and what a challenge some of the wishes have presented to Tablers. Nevertheless, at the Round Table meeting on Tuesday it was decided that an attempt should be made to carry out every wish received.

Probably the most unexpected one came from a young lady, her dearest wish, to ride in a police car on the M1.

On a more serious note there were two very heartrending wishes, and in each case it had not been submitted by the person who would benefit but by a friend or relative.

One asked for a chiming clock for an elderly blind person living in the district.

The other was submitted on behalf of a polio victim who cannot find a small spare part for his car.

Even the Round Tablers, enthusiastic and enterprising as they are, may have difficulty in granting this wish, for the car in question is a 1932 Lanchester 12 and the missing spare part – so small you would hardly realise it existed – is an oil seal for the flywheel.

As a disabled motorist the man concerned has had the Lanchester specially converted. It has a pre-select gearbox, a foot cup on the brake pedal and the accelerator is operated by his knee.

Local Owner?

Spares are no longer produced and the only hope of finding an oil seal to fit is to locate another per-war Lanchester.

The Round Table hopes that an owner will either give or sell the part, and anybody who can help should contact Mr. David Hamilton, of The Mount, Victoria Road, Rushden.

Wide Area

Surprisingly, the wishes were not confined to the Rushden and Higham Ferrers area. Some were received from Kettering, Wellingborough and Irthlingborough.

The chairman, Tabler Derek Johnson, told the “Echo” that some wishes had already been granted. In fact, he said, one – to overhaul a television set – had been granted within minutes of being received.

Several people asked for odd jobs such as gardening, painting and repairs to electrical and oil appliances, to be done.

Pointed Shoes

There was a request from a local organisation to sell flags on their flag day; another person said he would like a car ride on a Sunday afternoon.

Other wishes included a holiday at Skegness, a pair of pointed shoes, and one lonely person merely asked for people to visit him occasionally for a chat.

The Wish Week Committee is investigating the possibilities of carrying out all the wishes and will report back to the Table.