The present Bandmaster, Kevin Leach, is the sixteenth leader and from the previous leaders four of them led the band for more than ten years, one of them, Bandmaster Arthur Chapman, had the position for 25 years.

The first girls came into the band in 1979 and more have followed since and they have been a great asset to the section. There was one female player some years before, that being Maisie Wiggins, who was then part of the trombone section.

Although the band is now smaller than it was some years ago the fellowship and purpose is as great as ever.

W. A. "Bill" Scholes, on February 20th, 1991, aged 85 years

As a 9-year-old Bill heard the sound of Salvation Army music for the first time as Rushden Band .held an open-air stand outside his home in Queen Street. It was evident that he had a love for music from an early age, attending the junior corps and really enjoying his music within the Army. On becoming a senior soldier he became Singing Company Leader at 16, later Songster Leader for 25 years and Deputy Bandmaster for 19 (much of this concurrently).

It was in 1947 that he became an adjudicator and teacher with top class bands but his Salvation Army service brought him greatest satisfaction. Everyone knew of his Christian standards and this was evident from a tribute paid to him by Mr. Tom Knowlton, representing Towcester Studio Band, who spoke of Mr. Scholes' sincerity and influence with those he came into contact with in the "banding" world. "Note I say Mr. Scholes," remarked Mr. Knowlton, "We would never think of Christian name terms, we all had so much respect for him."

Rushden Temperance Band, Kibworth and Towcester Studio Band personnel were in evidence and the packed hall for the funeral service on Friday, March 1st was in itself a tribute to the respect that Bill had commanded over the years.

In 1945 he gained the diploma of L.G.S.M. with honours and this was followed in 1946 with the diploma of B.B.C.M.

In his Salvation Army service Bill was also a vocalist of some repute, engaged by both Wollinyborough and Kettering Bands in their weekend campaigns and of course with Rushden band too. Among his compositions were the march "Rushden Citadel", fittingly played at the commencement of the funeral service, and the cornet duet "Captain and Lieutenant".

It was also quoted during the funeral service that music can mellow the hearts of people and can bring people together in a oneness. How true this is, especially with Salvation Army music. Bill was able to share his faith with a wide audience. He was enthusiastic in all he did, a great encourager, who truly loved his Lord. How he must be enjoying the music of heaven!

Five new junior soldiers were enrolled by Commissioner Ian Cutmore, the Sunday morning of our Anniversary, ranging from 7-year-old Hayley Barnes 1 14-year-old Kelly Fox. The others were Kimberley Eaves, Dean Peer and Ruth Prince. Kelly shares her testimony with us:

The More I Came To The Army - The More I Wanted To

I first came to the Salvation Army through an invitation from my school friend Julie Spence, who was already a junior soldier. I was very nervous as I didn't really know what a Salvation Army meeting was like or ;he peopl in the Army. I needn't have worried, everyone made me feel welcome, especially the young people who asked me to share in their youth fellowship with them.

I soon became a regular member of the evening meetings and found myself enjoying them each time I came. The more I came to the Army the more I found myself wanting to 'become more involved. I got my chance by being asked to come to the Sunday School which I now go to every week.

I also took part in some plays that the young people performed in the meetings. Still I wanted to do more so I decided to become a junior soldier. Being a junior soldier to me meant that I made a promise to God and could do more for Him. Now I can also thank Him and praise Him for what He has done for me through singing in the Singing Company and, hopefully, to learn to play an instrument so I can play in the YP Band.

Having friends who were so involved in the Army made it easier for me to become involved, too.

Bridget Maguire and Camelia Richardson

New Senior Soldiers

Mrs. Mary Groves and Mr. Joe and Mrs. Annie Shortland

March 2nd/3rd, 1991 was a special weekend for the Corps with its 108th Anniversary Celebrations and especially so for our friends as commitments were made by them.

Late News - A Splash-In Time!

Beverley and Leanne Fuller, Stephen, Graham and Bram Prince and Alistair Austin took part in a swim organised by the Rushden Rotary on Saturday, January 26th, for local charities, raising over £100 between them in sponsorship. They swam 100 lengths of the Rushden Splash Pool in 40 minutes, a commendable effort considering two of them went to the Wei 1ingborough Baths and wondered where the others were. They missed the first 15 minutes! Altogether a total of £4,500 was raised.

News

Congratulations to Bert and Phyllis Flawn on their Golden Wedding Anniversary, Sunday April 14th.

We Also Celebrate Two Pearl Wedding Anniversaries Just a week apart :

Glen and Stan Turnbull on the 25th. March;
Pat and Dennis Munro on the 1st. April!

Here Is The Weather News!

One of our Junior Soldiers, Timothy Oughton, aged 8, is also a "Badger", a junior member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade.

Over the Christmas holiday he and his mum sat down and entered all the competitions they could find. Timothy did one in "Badger Buzz", a special newsletter for the St. John youngsters, about the weather. This was a national competition and there were two prizewinners. The postman brought good news! Timothy was a winner. He received a weather-kit, which will enable him to give the local weather forecast at Raunds, where he lives. BBC weatherman Bill Giles presented it to him at the St. John ambulance HQ in London on Wednesday, April 3rd. It was a special day out for the family too, Mum and Dad, brother Michael and sister Kylie Ann going too. Timothy, his brother and sister attend the Higham Ferrers outpost Sunday School where Mum is a teacher. They then come to the morning meeting at Rushden. At least before setting out on the 9-mile round trip they'll know what the weather will be!

You may have seen in the "Evening Telegraph" on Wednesday, March 13th, 1991 mention that Jean Chapman, who is one of our Adherents, compiling a poem on the Risdene home where she has worked for 20 years. Over that time Jean has many memories and thoughts and it seems appropriate at this time of closure of the County-run home, a part of Rushden, that she shares them with us. Incidentally Jean has in her possession a letter from the White House, Washington DC, a thank you for a poem that she wrote when "Challenger" was launched. The newspaper said she was looking for alterna¬tive work, this is not so, perhaps more poems will be written!

RISDENE

Risdene is a grand old place,
and on a bank it stands.
It has charm all of its own
and is manned by caring hands.
There are staff to clean, staff to care;
Residential Social workers are also there.
Officer in Charge and Deputy too,
Cooks, Laundry and Gardener to name but a few.
But our aim is to do our best,
for the residents every one.
Their old life style has come to an end,
and a new one has now begun.
It must be confusing for them
getting to know all the staff.
But each one of us tries very hard,
to please them and make them laugh.
Because that is what life is all about,
it's no good being sad and down,
when you can be cheerful and wear a smile
it's far much better than a frown.
A different personality each one has got.
We have to be able to adjust and know,
the very best way to serve each one,
and gain knowledge from which they show.
They tell of their past, how sad it has been,
when they have worked from dawn till night.
So we are lucky that we have not seen
Wartime, when they were all in a plight.
When their husbands went away to war
and so many never came back again.
It left many homeless and fatherless too
destruction - poverty and pain.
It must have been hard to rebuild their lives
and to start their life all anew,
without their loved ones for whom they cared.
But time is a great healer too
they must sit and think of all that is past,
of all the ups and downs they have had,
of their husbands and children and families too,
and of the wartime which was very bad.
So as another generation , its all up to us,
till one day their lives come to an end.
To give our love and help and joy
and do all we can for our resident friends.

It was Saturday, February 9th, 1991 and the outside world was covered with snow. When I woke up I said to myself, "What a great day for sledging!".

In the afternoon I went to the big hill at Melloway Park, by the side of my house. My friend and my brother Ben came with me. I was just about to slide down the hill when someone came up behind me and said, "Hello, Zoe". It was our YPSM, Bram Prince, and he scared the life out of me. When I came back up the hill I noticed that behind Bram were his nieces Ruth and Amy Prince. Not far away Simon and Yvette Richardson were with their Dad and Captain's daughter, Tracy. Philip Hill was also there with his Mum and sister. Well already there was a crowd of us there from Sunday School and I'd only been there 10 minutes but then I stopped counting and went on my sledge again.

At one point my brother came running up to Mum and asked her to push him, so she did. The sledge suddenly changed course and bumped into someone. The person flew in the air and landed on Ben's sledge, laying on the back of it, half on and half off, as it went speeding down the hill. "Oh, no!" exclaimed Mum. But when the person stood up at the bottom of the slope she saw their was no need to worry because it was good old Simon Richardson. Both my bpo.ther and Simon could hardly get up because they were laughing so much.

Well then I moved over to another part of the hill and there I saw some people from the Youth Club. Now there were loads of us from the Salvation Army and it was like an unexpected Sunday School outing.

Zoe Billingham, aged 12.

'SURPRISE, SURPRISE'

After a photograph session with Commissioner and Mrs. Cutmore, our new junior soldiers and their families after the Sunday morning meeting of our 108th Corps Anniversary Weekend I mentioned that the community centre and charity shop site were previously the home and business premises of Mr. and Mrs. Cutmore and family. Apparently not a common name, Mrs. Cutmore was intrigued to learn of this.

Coming from his home country, Australia, three years ago, to become Chief Secretary, the Commissioner had no knowledge of his family history. A family tree was discovered through the work of a Mr. Terry Cutmore who the Commissioner made contact with. Suffolk area was much in evidence and the family was traced back to the 1600's.

It was not until after the final meeting on Sunday that I was able to contact Stuart Cutmore. Speaking to his wife Jackie on the phone they did have a family tree with East Anglian connections, way back to the 1580's. Within 10 minutes of the call the Commissioner and Mrs. Cutmore were introduced to their namesakes in their Rushden home. The family tree was looked at. "This is it!" exclaimed Commissioner, "that's me and that's my father." Somewhat dumbfounded, Stuart replied, "Well, as I look at you I can see my grandfather standing there."

Although their return trip to London was delayed the Commissioners were thrilled to learn of their Rushden connections and to think that the Sunday afternoon seminar which they had led in the Community Centre, would have been on the spot of their relatives garden!

Ed.

Bishop Woodford House Ely 22nd. to 24th. February 1991

A Salvation Army Corps going into retreat; sessions held in mufti; surely this is not the way forward, before we realise what has happened we shall only be an Outpost and the next thing the corps will close.

No it is not like that at all, just a chance to take time out from the mainstream events in comfortable surroundings, not just contemplating the future but actually planning for it, and, taking steps to see that it develops the way we want.

After leaving various places of employ on Friday evening a number of cars left Rushden; occupants full of expectation and wonder. This is the first time anything like this has been planned by, and for the corps.. All arrived safely to be met by our hosts, visitors and leaders for the weekend.

Bishop Woodford House Retreat and Conference Centrt is part of a purpose built suite of buildings dedicated on 23rd. May 1973 by "Edward" Bishop of Ely. It stands in part of the grounds of the old Bishop Woodford House which was originally a Theological College. This still stands and is now part of King's School. The Chapel, a disused school chapel was moved piecemeal some four hundred yards for incorporation into the complex.

Dinner was served and this was to set the standard of excellence provided for all of our bodily needs during the weekend. The opening devotional period was led by the Divisional Commander, Major William Main, who with Mrs. Main were to share the evening with us. His theme 'Relax in the Holy Spirit1.

So to our first session. Major and Mrs. Dangerfield our leaders, informed us that we would be studying the Person to Person course, planned as ten sessions of two hours each. We were to condense this into ten forty five minute sessions. Relax indeed.

Saturday dawned blustery with a cold wind, and for some, as they drew the curtains of their room a first glimpse of the Cathedral, with its Lantern Tower standing proud. After morning prayers Person to Person continued, but, two hours of free, time in the afternoon to visit the Cathedral or to explore the city. Unfortunately, after raised hopes it was discovered that there were no stalls on the market square. At evening prayers many were able to renew acquaintance with Rev. and Mrs. Alan Barbie.

Sunday commenced on a sombre note, for we learned from bhe box in the corner, yes TV is provided at a rebreat centre, that the Ground War against Iraq had commenced. Our programme continued through to the closing act of worship led by Mrs. Dangerfield using as a basis for her challenge Paul's letters to Timothy. Just prior to our final meal we listened to the broadcast by Her Majesty The Queen.

A happy and blessed time shared together had come to an end. Back home at Rushden we became uniformed Salvationists again, the corps sharing a Salvation Meeting led by Major and Mrs. Dangerfield.

Was it right to hold a Corps Retreat?

A time of slowing down, standing back and observing:

Earlier during that week the Annual Appeal had been completed.

Are we who attended refreshed and recharged, have we started to advance?

Well, some of you are joining with us on Sunday afternoons to study in more detail the first five sessions of the course.

Personally I believe it was. Thank you to all who in any way helped with the organising; it didn't just happen.