Your photograph in the “Rushden Echo & Argus” of November 29th is of Rushden’s old Volunteer Fire Brigade. It was taken near the lake at Knuston Park, about thirty-nine or forty years ago. The gentleman seated on the engine is the late Mr. Fred Ette, then the proprietor of the Feathers Inn, who used to supply the horses to the brigade.

1890 at Knuston Park

Standing, top row; from left to right; Captain Fred Knight, J.P., boot manufacturer, who held the captaincy of the brigade for a number of years; Second Officer, the late Mr. C. E. Bayes, for a number of years builder and contractor in the town. First Engineer, the late Mr. J. T. Colson, who for a number of years served on the School Board; the late Mr. T. Brightwell, then Secretary of the Rushden Co-operative Society; the late Mr. A. Treen, joiner, apprenticed at the late Mr. Samuel Knight’s (Mr. Treen died at Croydon); Mr. H. Knight, carpenter and joiner, whose business premises were the old Temperance Hall (now the B.W.T.A.); Mr. A. Wilmott, a prominent boot manufacturer of Portland-road.

Kneeling, second row : The late Mr. W. Woodward, who for many years held business premises in Moor-road as plumber and glazier; the late Mr. W. Goodwin, who held business as plasterer; Mr. W. J. Wood, senior, joiner, now residing at Fitzwilliam-street; Mr. C. Green, still a serving member of the present fire brigade holding position as chief engineer; the late Mr. W. Spencer, who held business in the town for many years as plumber and glazier (Mr. Spencer died at Felmersham).

Lying in front is Mr. G. R. Turner, for many years Relieving Officer to the district (now residing near Lowestoft).