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Wartime - snippets WWII
A queue for ice cream after WWII
A queue for ice cream after WWII

Rushden Echo & Argus, 3rd March 1944, transcribed by Kay Collins

Last season, volunteer collectors throughout Britain’s countryside gather 500 tons of rose-hips from the hedgerows, sufficient to manufacture 2,5000,000 bottles of natural rose-hip syrup—equivalent in Vitamin C content to 25,000,000 oranges.

Rushden Echo & Argus, 10th March 1944, transcribed by Kay Collins

Message After Two Years - Rushden Man’s Brief Note from Jersey
After a silence of two years, Mr John R Morris, youngest son of Mrs L Morris, 10, Oswald-road, Rushden, has managed to communicate with his relatives from Jersey, where he was working as secretary of the Co-operative Society when the Germans seized the Channel Islands. The message is typewritten on a Red Cross form, and reads: “Regret sad news. Geoffrey was much too good in every way to die so young. Please write more often. Love to all.” It is dated October 15th 1943.

Mr Morris thus refers to the death of his brother, The Rev Geoffrey Morris, at Liverpool in air raid in September 1940, and it is presumed that this news has only recently reached him. The reason why he has been debarred from correspondence with his relatives is not explained.

Before going to Jersey, Mr Morris, who is unmarried, was on the staff of the Market Harborough Co-operative Society, and at an earlier period was a clerk in the office of Messrs W H Davison and Co., boot manufacturers, Rushden. After the German occupation of Jersey his mother received one or two brief messages from him, but the correspondence then ceased.

Rushden Echo & Argus, 9th June 1944, transcribed by Kay Collins

With funds provided by American workers through the British War Relief Association, members of the Women's Land Army visiting London can now enjoy accommodation at a hostel established in Chesham-street.

Rushden Echo & Argus, 9th June 1944, transcribed by Kay Collins

HIS HOPEWith the hope that it will help him to get home sooner, Tommie Williamson, an evacuee from London who resides with Mrs. R. Warner in High-street, Stanwick, came to our office with 3,314 milk tops.

Rushden Echo & Argus, 9th June 1944, transcribed by Kay Collins

RED CROSS—Rushden's Red Cross "penny-a-week" house-to-house collection in May amounted to £109 2s. 8d.

FLORAL FREAK—Mrs. Ward, of "Hartswood," Hall-avenue, has plucked from her garden a cornflower stem with eight flowers growing out of one calyx.

POSTPONED—After news that the invasion of France had begun the meetings of the Salute the Soldier Campaign committees arranged for Tuesday evening were postponed until Thursday.

M.T.—Brian Walker (9), of 14, Brookfield-road, Rushden, has collected 1,300 milk tops. Two Sheilas have made a combined contribution of 1,400—Sheila Tite (8), of 3, Park-road, and Sheila Badham (8), of 4, Newton-road.

GIRLS' EFFORT—Three little girls—two sisters and a friend—presented a tin at our office on Tuesday afternoon containing the sum of £1 5s., which they requested we gave to the Red Cross Prisoners-of-War Fund. The three are Irene Cooper (11) and June Cooper (8), of 158, St. Margarets-avenue, and Marie Puddefoot (11), of 9. Rose-avenue. The money was obtained through a competition they ran, with four eggs and other goods as the prize.

PARENTS—On Wednesday evening, after a short business meeting dealing with A.R.P. matters, the Rushden Parents' Association held a Spelling B. under the direction of Mrs. Gilbert, "B" team beating "A" team by a narrow margin.

MEN'S SCHOOL—Councillor J. Allen was the speaker at the Men's Adult School on Sunday, and his subject was "Communication of thought," which evoked a good discussion, Mr. E. Freeman presided and Mr. P. Bridgment accompanied the hymn singing at the piano.

Rushden Echo & Argus, 9th June 1944, transcribed by Kay Collins

Mr. John White’s Call - Resuming Chairmanship of Fete Committee

(To the Editor)
Sir,—At the request of a deputation that I believe represents the great majority of the people of Rushden and in response to letters I have received from very many people, including secretaries of those charities which have benefited from proceeds of fetes in previous years, I have decided to withdraw my resignation as chairman of the Fete Committee.

It would be to me a matter of very grave concern if any action of mine should detract from the success of the fete, or adversely affect the funds that may be raised. Having made my decision to carry on, I will put everything I can into it to make it a success, and I trust I may rely upon the generous support of the public in endeavouring to make this holiday successful and to raise all the money we can.

A large proportion of the proceeds go to our serving men. Bearing in mind the events of the present week, let us as a community try to show our appreciation of what they have done and of the sacrifices they are now making on our behalf by a wholehearted attempt to raise as much money as possible. But for these men we could not even be contemplating the holding of a fete after five years of war. We have only two days this year in which to raise funds, but with the same co-operation as on former occasions I am hopeful good results may be obtained.

As regards the games, I shall recommend that the fete be carried on as before, and, in addition a very good concert party has been engaged together with several first-class variety artistes, so I can in advance assure good entertainment to those who patronise our efforts.

I hope that there will be no further criticism, unless of a constructive nature that will help towards the success of the fete, which will, as usual, be conducted in such a manner that the susceptibilities of conscience of no normal person could be ruffled. Even if this were so, can we not remember that we have the highest authority for assuming that "charity shall cover the multitude of sins"? With many thanks, believe me, yours faithfully,

John White
“Ferrers Mere”, Rushden
8th June 1944


Rushden Echo & Argus, 9th March 1945

Leon Writes To Dorothy
Belgian Boy and Rushden Soldier's Daughter

Here is the letter of Leon Van Loon, a Belgian boy, to Dorothy Lumbers, of Rushden.

Leon & Dorothy
Leon & Dorothy

"Dear Dorothy, I have the pleasure to write you this short letter. I know you by my friend, your father, whom I see every day. He is always speaking of you and of your dear mother. Let us hope that he is soon by you.

"Enclosed I am sending you my fotograph. Keep it in remembering of a Belgian boy to the daughter of a man who has helped at the liberation of my dear Belgium.

"I should be obliged if you would kindly send me yours together with a short letter. Please send it [by] your father. He shall give it me. This letter is very short because it is my first English letter. Also excuse me if there are some mistakes in. Kindly remember your mother of me."

Dorothy, aged seven, has already forwarded her picture. She lives at 192 Wellingborough-road, and her father is Dvr. Horace Lumbers, R.A.S.C., who served in the Home Guard for four years and worked for Messrs. Eaton and Co. boot manufacturers, joining the Army 11 months ago.


Rushden Echo & Argus, 9th March 1945

Doll For Child Raid Victim

A lovely dressed doll, with a package of other beautiful doll’s attire has been received by 12-year-old Eileen Jupp, of 19, Pemberton-street, Rushden, who has been paralysed down her right side since the bombing of the Alfred-street School over four years ago.

Eileen
Eileen
Eileen is the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Jupp, and her father who is now in Italy, has been abroad for 2½ years.

The doll has come from America and was forwarded through the Ministry of Pensions. A note stated that it was one of the dolls dressed and donated by Miss Margaret Gleason, of 5,200 Durant-avenue, Berkeley, California, U.S.A.

An invalid herself, it was Miss Gleason’s wish "that the dolls be given to the dear little girls of England who have been crippled by the war."

Eileen is still receiving treatment and expects to go shortly to the Manfield Convalescent Home, Northampton.


The Rushden Echo and Argus, 27th April, 1945

Black-Out Ends - But Rushden Was Not Excited

  Contrary to all the popular predictions of earlier war years, Rushden people showed hardly any excitement over the final elimination of the black-out.  The great majority just drew their curtains as usual on Monday evening.

  Streams of light poured out from a few licensed houses, flats and ground-floor living rooms, but in general the old promises about switching on every light and celebrating the occasion were forgotten.

  Some people explained that the recent atrocity news from Germany had made them too sad for any thought of rejoicing.


Rushden Echo & Argus, 4th March 1946

GIFT PARCEL—Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Swann, of 9, John-street, have received a second Australian gift parcel, containing 1 lb. of sugar, 1 lb. of sultanas, a tin of meat and a tin of peaches. Their son, Gnr. J. L. Swann, has served in India and is now with the Allied Commission in Vienna.


Rushden Echo & Argus, Jan 21st 1949, transcribed by Kay Collins

No Rabbit Pie for Rushden

HAVE you seen a rabbit in Rushden? Coun. Mrs. A. U. Muxlow has not, and on Monday she asked Wellingborough Food Control Committee why rabbit pie was off the menu at Rushden.

During the discussion it was revealed Rushden was not classed as an industrial area and did not, therefore, come in the scheme for the distribution of rabbits.

Mrs. Muxlow was indignant when she heard this, and demanded to know under what category Rushden came. She brushed aside the suggestion that it might be a village and there was a challenge in her voice when she asked; "Is it a place for the idle rich?" And as an afterthought added: "Rushden is the third largest town in the county." Mr. T. W. Cox, the vice-chairman, gallantly supported Mrs. Muxlow, and said that a protest should be made to the appropriate authority. The Food Executive Officer (Mr. A. W. Merrill) will investigate the complaint and get a ruling on Rushden's status.



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