Enterprising youngsters raised cash for charity by organising games and competitions during their mid-morning break at school.

The £538 has now been passed on to the NSPCC by pupils from Denfield Park Junior School, in Rushden.

Head Bob Whitworth said: “Before Christmas the children were raising money for the charity.

“They devised various activities during their mid-morning break.  This has brought the total amount we have raised for the charity over recent months to £1,200.”

The children had earlier been given a talk about the work of the organisation.

Call him Sir! Liam’s off to a headstart - Evening Telegraph, February 3, 1994

Master of all he surveys!  Schoolboy Liam Goodwill took over as head at his Rushden school for a day.

Liam, 11, a pupil at Denfield Park Junior School, was the second highest bidder for the right to become head for the day during a recent auction of promises.

Bob Whitworth, who usually fills the head’s chair, said: “A parent actually bid the highest amount at the auction but then discovered he did not have time to take it up.

“Liam’s bid of £13 was the second highest.”

The youngster began the day by greeting staff, sharing playground duty with Mr Whitworth, and reading the notices in assembly.

Top gymnast Hayley Price gave pupils at Denfield Park Primary, Rushden, a treat this week.

Hayley, captain of the women’s Olympic gymnastic team, delighted pupils with a demonstration of her own skills.

Head teacher, Bob Whitworth, said: “The children were very keen to learn some new skills. We have had a top trampolinist and a male gymnast visit the school before. It is all part of a scheme called Super Schools in which top athletes try and promote sport in schools.”

Rushden’s new Safeway superstore was opened on Tuesday wth a fanfare by musicians from Rushden School. It was officially opened by Harold Gregory, chairman of East Northants Council, with a helping hand from nine-year-old Scott Murdin, who won an art competition. Pictured is store manageress Fay Manvell with Scott, front, delicatessen supervisor Bryan Bonham, and delicatessen manageress Amanda Campbell.

An opening wave from Safeway store manager Fay Manvell and Scott Murdin, nine, a pupil at Denfield Park Junior School, Rushden.

Scott joined the chairman of East Northants Council, Harold Gregory, in cutting the tape to open the superstore on the outskirts of Rushden yesterday. Scott was the winner of an art contest run by the store for a picture entitled My Favourite Food.

Young musicians from Rushden School provided a fanfare as the supermarket opened in Northampton Road.

It has brought about 200 jobs to the area.

The Rushden Job centre was swamped with applications when the vacancies were first advertised in the ET.

A first-class performance!
Pupils from Denfield Park Junior School, Rushden, gained two firsts, a second and a third placing at the Northampton Festival of Music and Drama.
Members of the 11 and under choir took a first in the set pieces class with a performance of Three Unlucky Men and a round entitled Let Us Sing Together.
They also took a first in the hymn class.  Accompanists were violinist Katherine Wills, 11, who is a pupil of the school, and county head of keyboard music Richard Holloway.
The school’s choir for nine-year-olds and under got second and third places in their classes.
School music Co-ordinator, Clare Bunker, said she was delighted by their success.  She said: “The children practised after school and at lunchtimes.”

An impassioned plea for peace in Bosnia has been penned by a county schoolgirl. The letter, by 11-year-old Helen Crevel, was used as a basis for a special assembly at her school.

Helen, who lives in High Street, Irchester, took part in a class exercise at Denfield Park Junior School in Rushden to write a letter of peace. She was so moved by scenes of violence, hardship and upheaval in war-torn Bosnia she decided to express her feelings on paper.

Head Bob Whitworth yesterday said the letter would be forwarded to the Bosnian Embassy in London.

Helen wrote: “Dear Government of Bosnia: Why are you fighting when you can have peace and harmony everywhere? “You can gain nothing from fighting and everything from peace.  Why take away a life for your own way? “Why not let the bird of peace bring back the love and care that people shared before war and fighting struck like a bolt of lightning? “When peace knocks you’ve got to open the door.  Why don’t you sit down and think it over.  It is not worth fighting until there is nothing left worth having. Put some peace in your heart.  Yours peacefully, Helen Crevel, Denfield Park Junior School, Rushden.”

Deputy head Ian Beaver said: “We asked the children to write a letter of peace.  Helen’s was so beautiful and well-written it was decided to read it at an assembly.

A spokesman for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in London said he was delighted by Helen’s message and interest.

The spokesman said: “Our work with refugees – and there are several million in the former Yugoslavia – depends on the support of the general public and in particular young people like this.”

Fashion-conscious parents took a look at new styles in a fund-raising school parade.

The show at Denfield Park Junior in Rushden was organised by Zoom Fashions and the School Association. 
Proceeds will go to Association funds to help meet expenses such as school trips.  Deputy head Ian Beaver said: “The fashion show is an annual event now and becomes more popular each year.  It was very well attended.”

Young check-mates at a Rushden junior school have mastered the art of playing chess.

A lunchtime chess club was set up at Denfield Park Junior School three years ago and the players are notching up successes.

Head Bob Whitworth said: “We were delighted earlier this month with the team’s success in a county tournament.”

Jeff Owen, a member of Rushden Chess Club, runs the sessions.

The youngsters were runners up in a Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen’s Families Association contest in Rushden.
They were beaten by Little Harrowden team in the under 11s section.