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In 1998 Susan Hollowell sent out letters to all past and present members of the group, to arrange a lunch in celebration of the
group's 40th Birthday. Susan made a scrapbook of the day's events and also added a poem by life member Madge Desborough.
A photograph is included in the scrapbook, with a note "Young Wives -1960? where?"
At the back of the book there are several letters of thanks, to Susan for organising the event,
and her daughters Sarah & Rachel who had prepared the lunch. Also from those unable to attend.
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| The announcement in the local paper:
Evening Telegraph 1998
Reunion is planned
RUSHDEN Park Road Baptist Wives' Group is planning a reunion in April next year to celebrate the group's 40th anniversary.
The event, at Rushden Park Road Baptist Church, is being planned for Saturday, April 17, and members are hoping to contact women who once belonged to the group.
Anyone who was a member of the group over the past 40 years and would like to attend the reunion should ring ******
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Pictures right: The cake being cut by Madge Desborough, watched by all the guests who were able to attend.
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| The letter sent to all past & present members who could be located:
Dear ....
On Saturday April 17th 1999, the above group will be
celebrating 40 years of Christian fellowship (formerly
Young Wives).
A reunion lunch is planned at Park Road Baptist Church
Hall for 12noon, and we are hoping our founder
member Mrs Edna Evans of Worthing will be present
We are hoping to contact 90 past members, and would
love you to join us on this special day.
Please, if you are interested in coming along and would
like further details (the cost for lunch etc., will be £5.00)
ring me on ****** or write to me at the address
below.
Yours Sincerely
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And after they replied:
Dear ....
We are delighted that you are joining us for our 40th reunion lunch on Saturday
April 17th at Park Road Baptist Church Hall
Final Details are as follows,
| 12 noon |
Arrive |
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| 12-30pm |
Lunch(prompt) |
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| 2-2-3Opm |
Presentation etc. |
(if you would like to say a few words at this time,please ring me) |
| 2.30pm-3.30pm |
Time for renewing friendships |
| 3.30pm |
Cup of tea and celebration cake |
| 4pm |
Depart |
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I would be pleased to receive your £5.00 before the day at the above address.
You will be given a warm welcome next day at the Sunday Morning Service held at
10.30am.
If you have any queries, please ring me on the above phone number.
Yours Sincerely
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Photo Caption: 1960 Three Legged Race c 1960 but where?
Left - right : June Harris, Mrs Sprigs, Mrs Bartlett, Sue Willmott, Angela Knight, Susan Hollowell, Julie West, Sadie Windsor, Margaret Barnard, Margaret Elmore, Doreen Willmott, Bertha Ellis, Peggy Tapp, Madge Desborough.
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| Park Road Baptist Wives Fellowship. (report thought to have been written by Susan for a Church history day)
Members of Rushden Park Road Baptist Wives Fellowship celebrated their 40th Anniversary with a re-union held in the Church Hall. The afternoon was organised by Susan Hollowell and 70 ladies were present and one man, Rev. Nigel Brown, Minister of Park Rd. Church. The afternoon began with a buffet lunch prepared and served by Sarah Peacock and Rachel Roberts and this was followed by greetings from absent friends and messages from Mrs. Edna Evans, Mrs Mollie Misselbrook, Mrs. Shirley Whittaker and Mrs. Lorraine Martin, all wives of former Ministers of the church. Mrs. Marjorie Desborough, a founder member, read a poem and reflected on the 40 years since the formation of what began as the "Baptist Young Wives". As the years progressed it was obvious that the name had to be changed, and so it became The "Baptist Wives Fellowship". Mrs. Margaret Johnson who had travelled from Birmingham, and Mrs. Diana Moore paid tribute to the Fellowship then Susan proposed a toast to all the guests.
During a break the ladies mingled together and renewed many old friendships and memories. There was quite a lot of "Do you remember?". A celebration cake was cut by Mrs. Desborough and shared among the ladies before Rev. Nigel Brown who was the only man present, with his wife Joy, lead a short devotional time. Leader of the Fellowship Mrs. Phyllis Fletcher, gave a Bible reading and the afternoon ended with an enthusiastic singing of a very appropriate hymn - "Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian Love" accompanied by pianist Doreen Wilford.
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Evening Telegraph, April 1999
CATCHING up on the news was the order of the day when a women's group celebrated its 40th birthday.
The Rushden Park Road Baptist Church Wives Fellowship, formerly known as the Young Wives group, invited past and present members to the celebration.
About 70 women gathered at the church hall where they caught up with each other's news. Organiser Susan Hollowell said: "Some of the women hadn't seen each other for 30 years.
"We were very pleased that so many members were able to attend and we are looking forward to hopefully seeing one another again in ten years' time."
The Young Wives Group was founded by Edna Evans, who was the wife of the Baptist minister of 40 years ago.
The group meets once a month on Tuesdays at the Park Road Baptist Church and also organises social events.
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PAST MEMBERS ATTENDING.
Diana Moore.
Diana Brook.
Peggy Stanway.
Maureen Hunt.
Pam Tilley.
Lilian Robinson.
Margaret Baker.
Shiela Lawman.
Julie West.
Joan waring.
Ann Bryant.
Doreen Willmott.
Sue Willmott.
Freda Willmott.
Greta Neville.
Ann Brown.
Margaret Johnson
Enid Cheasman
Kath Moisey
Evelyn Rye
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TABLE PLAN.
1. Hazel Sands. Joan Barley. Joyce Burgess. Margaret Johnson. Julie West. Margaret Baker. Susan Hollowell.
2. Peggy Tapp. Eva Clayton. Margaret Clayton. Doreen Warren. Doreen Willmott. Sue Willmott. Freda Willmott.
3. Rene Raynor. Nora Marriott. Peggy Gramshaw. Olive Birtles. Kath Griffin. Kath Moisey. Betty Swatham.
4. Margaret Odell. Mrs Young. Bertha Ellis. Ann Bryant. Greta Neville. Sandra Boddington. Eileen Wills.
5. Christine Reeve. Rev Nigel Brown. Mrs Joy Brown. Mrs Shirley Whitaker. Kath Smith. Diana Brook. Sylvia Speak.
6. Doreen Wilford. Barbara Mortimer. Maud Whitworth. Gwen West. Gwen Prickett. Diana Moore. Pam Tilley. Enid Cheasman.
7. Madge Desborough. June Harris. Cynthia Leeding. Vera Tompkins. Betty Smith. Lilian Robinson. Evelyn Rye.
8. Mary Underwood. Edna Underwood. Roma Derham. Shiela Findley. Maureen Hunt. Peggy Stanway.
9. Phyllis Fletcher. Hester Rollings. Lilian Neal. Peggy Gray. Joan Waring. Ann Brown. Shiela Lawman.
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TIME to Celebrate - life member Marjorie Desborough cuts the anniversary cake for
Park Road Baptist Church Wives Fellowship
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Above : Some of the members who enjoyed the day.
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A poem written by Madge for the day.
Welcome to a day of celebration
Welcome to a day of celebration
Happy memories to recall
Cast your mind back over four decades
When we mostly met in this very hall.
Our minister's wife, Mrs Evans,
Realised the meeting fulfilled a need
To give young wives an hour's break
From the busy lives they lead.
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Then we really were young wives
With children round our knee
Willing helpers manned a lively creche
For an hour we felt quite free.
The children in the creche were so excited
Making ginger bread men for Dad
Currants supposedly meant for the eyes
Were eaten by many a lad.
Dad awaited with bated breath
To see what he had in store
If only he had realised
Most had been dropped on the floor.
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We Mums enjoyed our quiet time
Flagging energy restored.
Listening to talks on various themes
We certainly were never bored.
We wouldn't have missed those happy days
Although at times felt a little stressed
Precious memories we still retain
We felt so very blessed.
And now our membership is still quite strong
But we finally had to admit
We couldn't pass as young any more
So we are now Wives Fellowship. M E D
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Note: Sadly, Susan died suddenly in 2002.
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