On 1 June 1930 Tony Helsdown was born to Bruno, a boot and shoe operative, and his wife Constance, in a house on Tennyson Road (later Tony became known as Bruno like his father). The family were poor, short of clothes, always cold in winter and lived on bread and dripping, aside from this his memories were always happy. He and friends played in the street and made trolleys (apple boxes on pram wheels) and at Christmas each year Bruno was given an orange and a tin car!

Bruno went to Alfred Street School at 4 and regularly ran away! About that time Rose Avenue was under construction, so he was up there when he should have been at school. The builders asked him why he wasn't at school and he explained he was recovering from diphtheria (not true!). They were kind to him and let him play in the digger. One day mother and the headmistress came looking for him and he couldn't escape.... Years later when Bruno mended the headmistress's ceiling she said, "You were always a naughty boy," to which he replied, "I still am!"

At 8, due to a house move to Blinco Rd_, Bruno went to Newton Rd School and he fared well there (never running away). When he moved to the Seniors at 12 he was delivering papers from 7am to 8am and meat from 8 till 9am and after school 5 ’til 6pm stacking shelves in the Co-op! Also the headmaster asked him to keep the boiler going during winter and in summer he was able to go farming. For many years Bruno belonged to the Boys Brigade too.

At the age of 14 Bruno left school and was allowed to wear his first pair of long trousers. He started work at builders, Marriott's, (where Asda is now) as an apprentice bricklayer, staying there ’til he was 17. He then caught the bus to Northampton and volunteered for the Navy. He spent the first two and half years in the Mediterranean, minesweeping. “During that time I had six weeks leave and went to a dance at the Drill Hall in Wellingborough” where he met Peggy. Bruno was very tanned and handsome and Peggy was a very attractive girl and he fell for her hook, line and sinker!

Bruno returned to Portland and joined a small ship as the ship's butcher. The "Butchers' Block" was on deck which was a bit ‘dodgy' rough weather. This boat always appeared at Navy days as she was a very smart ship! He thoroughly enjoyed his life at sea and during this time he wrote to Peggy to ask her to marry him and in April they married at Finedon church two years later Jacky was born.

First they lived with Peggy's mum and dad in Finedon while they put their names down for a council house eventually moving to a house in Allen Road. They only had the basics in those days and nothing on HP. [hire purchase]

Bruno was always doing jobs for people and eventually had enough work to start his own business in 1963. He bought a piece of land in Quorn Rd and built his own bungalow, finished and furnished for £2000, and they lived there till 1980. During his working life he built the extension to the Wesleyan Chapel, 52 houses and bungalows, a twelve storey block of flats and 12 swimming pools to mention but a few jobs.

The piece of land at the corner of Washbrook and Higham Rd came up for sale (it was Mr Peck's vegetable garden). Bruno managed to buy this and built his bungalow entirely himself - a one man job. Years later Asda wanted to buy it but Peggy and Bruno decided it didn't matter how much they offered them they were not moving because they love living there so much?

In 2000 Bruno joined Rushden Town Council, hoping to put back something into Rushden as it had given him a good life. He later became Mayor, which he thoroughly enjoyed and it gave Bruno a good insight into what goes on in Rushden.

Even as a child Bruno went to church, first to the Mission Church and then Methodist and attended Bible Class till he joined the Navy. He and Peggy started attending Evensong at St Mary's about 1985. Alan Smith asked him to do some work in the church and when it was finished Bruno asked Alan if he'd get into heaven now? Alan replied, "There are some things I can't do!"

Bruno feels he has always been blessed and continues to say his prayers each night.

Roving Reporter

THOSE QUESTIONS!

People with the biggest influence in my life? ; Robert Marriott — a wonderful man, and Ian Botham for all the money he's raised.

Hobbies: Gardening and enjoying my three grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Guest to Dinner?: Prince Philip, I met him several times when he came aboard our ship — he was always one of the lads and very relaxed.

Favourite meal?: A Sunday Roast.

Biggest treat?: Life for me is one big treat.

Proudest moment?: Being married and receiving my call-up papers.

Code by which I live: To always look on the bright side.