Making Socks and Mufflers for the Troops

A Labour of Love - Photo by C F Chapman

Wymington is but a small village, but every woman and lassie in the place is doing her best to fight the enemy by providing our own soldiers with socks and mufflers. For long hours the nimble fingers of all the fair workers shown in the above photograph have been busily employed in knitting those comforts, which count so much in keeping the men in the best of health.

A scarf knitted by Phyllis Mason, aged 11, was sent to the front with some other scarves and socks by Mrs. J. W. Reynolds, of Wymington. Miss Mason enclosed a packet of cigarettes and a letter asking the recipient to reply to her. She has received a cordial letter of thanks from Company Quarter-Master-Sergt. J. E. McArd, of the Black Watch, now in France.

Wymington “War Shrine”—The Rector, the Rev. C. L. Drew, with the assistance of some of the inhabitants, have collected money for the erection of a “War Shrine” for Wymington. Some inhabitants considered there should be a box for collecting funds, but this was not in accord with the Rector’s opinion. Consequently a meeting is to be held with the idea of raising money in some way for the Wymington lads who are serving.

The children attending Wymington school commenced this week to gather blackberries for jam for the sailor’s and soldiers. The result of their efforts was 1cwt. 1qr. 17¾lbs. of the fruit. Many thanks are due to Mr C G Ward, grocer, Rushden, for providing many of the receptacles for the fruit, and to Mr Arthur Stratton, of Wymington, for conveying the fruit to the district centre.

Collection—A collection has been made during the week by the Wymington school children in aid of the Blinded Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Children’s Fund. The children were most indefatigable in their efforts. They themselves contributed and were most kindly helped by their parents, brothers and sisters, and many friends. Miss Rutter, head teacher, has forwarded to Sir Arthur Pearson, on behalf of the fund, the sum of £8 and takes this opportunity of thanking all who so kindly helped.

A Huge Gun, mounted on two railway wagons, passed through the village on the Midland Railway goods line towards London on Tuesday afternoon.

The Railway Strike—Wymington’s fortunes are wrapped up in those of Rushden, and as the strike affects the latter town so are Wymington people directly affected. Every householder in the village gas to get supplies of food and coal from Rushden, although Wymington is in Bedfordshire for most administrative purposes. Rationed foods are not sold in Wymington. During the whole time of food and fuel rationing, Wymington has felt the pinch of hand-to-mouth living through being so far away from supplies. Consequently the present stocks of coal in the village are in a seriously low state. A good many of the villagers are factory hands working at Rushden. Therefore general unemployment is not likely to prevail at Wymington as long as Rushden boot manufacturers can keep going. Two or three trains—mixed passenger and goods—passed through Wymington on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday on the passenger line. In normal times trains go in both directions every few minutes.