As part of a government initiative funds were made available for councils to set up a room where older people could gather to share a warm room and so save on home heating. At the time electriciy bills had gone up well beyond the reach of some of the poorest pensioners.

Here in Rushden each church set up a warm room to provide warmth and a simple lunch, and each church provided this on different day of the week. This enabled pensioners to meet at a different venue each day, and perhaps make a new friend.

Some of the pensioners brought their knitting, some did puzzles, and others just chatted.

This has been continued by some venues, and in 2024 the group meeting at Rushden Hall on Friday afternoons. They worked together to create a scene from WWII of a beach landing on on June 6th 1944, to commemorate the DDay 80th Anniversary.

The display was also on show at the VE Day Anniversary in 2025:-

The beach landing scene and Churchill and the bull dog below.

VE Day 80th Anniversary

The group also worked together during 2025 to create another scene — a Street Party Tea to commemorate VE Day 80th anniversary on May 8th 1945.

Rushden Commorating VE-DAY 80 - 8th May 2025
80th Anniversary VE Day Service RUSHDEN WAR MEMORIAL 09:00 Flag Raising 09:01 VE Day Tribute 09:05 Exhortation The Last Post Two minutes silence observed Reveille Kohima 09:10 Laying of wreaths at War Memorial David Coleman, Rushden Town Mayor to light the 'Lamp Light of Peace' Attendees to be given candles to light	HALL PARK – Beacon Lighting 19:30 Hall park open for Street Party picnics 20:00 Rushden Mission Band Music 21:10 Standards march in Welcome Address by David Coleman, Rushden Town Mayor Events History presented by David Hawker Readings and Prayers Exhortation Last Post Two Minutes Silenced Observed Reveille Kohima The Tribute by Deputy Lord Lieutenant 21:30 Beacon Lighting

Table-top display of a Street Tea Party

Details of the tiny sandwiches and jam tarts created

We have a few pictures from VE Day Street Teas, but would welcome others! So if you have one from YOUR street, please share a copy with Hearts and Soles.