Rushden Present Buying is Booming

Rushden people are this year using a great deal more forethought in buying Christmas presents. That is the general feeling of the shopkeepers, whose sale of Christmas present goods is booming.

Many shopkeepers have already arranged their window displays and backed them with stocks of goods suitable for all types of gifts.

Parents have evidently begun buying gifts to fill their children’s stockings and pillow-cases on Christmas Eve, for local toy shops have reported a “good sale” in children’s games and toys.

“Trade is definitely better than last year,” said one shopkeeper, who added that he thought it was due to people’s forethought that they were not leaving their Christmas shopping until the last minute.

A similar situation exists at the town’s stationery stores, where orders have been placed for Christmas annuals of various well known periodicals and children’s magazines.

A Rushden printing works received orders for specially printed Christmas cards in late October and early November.

The beginning of December is well known to local poultry dealers as the time when there is a rush to order turkeys and chickens.

Poultry

“December is the beginning of it,” said Mr. Jim Bugby, who keeps a poultry shop in the High Street. He said he thought the demand for poultry was about the same as in other years.

At various schools, homes and churches in the town and district arrangements have been made for parties, pantomimes and Nativity plays.

Rehearsals are, at the present time, well under way for the annual Nativity play performed by the children of Podington Voluntary Primary School, where it is part of the school’s tradition.

Parties

At Hinwick Home for Seriously Crippled Boys arrangements for two parties for the boys have already been made for December 13 and 16.

Children of the Eastfield Children’s Home, Victoria Road, Rushden, will be taken to a party at Croughton Air Force Base on December 16.

The Senior Citizens Goodwill Committee has been busy for two months or so compiling lists, with the aid of street wardens, of pensioners so that they can take them their annual Christmas gifts.