Rushden Echo & Argus, 4th February 1938, transcribed by Kay Collins

American Scholarship for Rushden Girl
Boot Worker Who Won Praise from Margaret Bondfield

An American scholarship—one of two which have been offered annually to British women industrial workers during the last nine years—has been won by Miss Grace Webb, of 48 Cromwell-road, Rushden, a member of the Rushden W.E.A. Branch and a boot closer in the company of Messrs William Green and Son.

Miss Webb will be attending a summer school from June 11 to July 31. The course deals mainly with industrial and economic problems, but time is also given to music, art, science, literature, dramatic work, physical exercise and games.

Twenty-one years old, Miss Webb takes a prominent part in the work of the Boot Operatives’ Union and the Rushden Labour Party. In February last year she presided at a Rushden meeting that Miss Margaret Bondfield addressed. Impressed by her ability, Miss Bondfield expressed the hope that she would win a Rushden College scholarship, and that a great deal would be heard of her in the future. “I have seldom heard a better chairman’s address,” she declared.

Only Two Offered

Only two of the American scholarships are offered to Britain, and the other winner this year is Miss Rose Terry, who has spent all her working life as a machinist with a wholesale clothing firm at Bristol, and has devoted her leisure to work for her trade union and to educational work with the Bristol Folk House and the W.E.A.  If funds permit the British committee representing the scholarship promoters hopes to send Miss Marjorie Pollitt, a London stenographer, to a similar school which is run for office workers at Evenston, Illinois.

Miss Webb’s success was announced by Mr E Freeman (secretary) at Tuesday’s meeting of the Rushden and Higham Ferrers W.E.A. Branch. Alderman A C Allen, who presided, expressed hearty congratulations and wished Miss Webb pleasure and profit from her visit to America, adding that the branch would look forward to her report on the tour.

Miss Webb said in reply that she had no doubt that the W.E.A. had promoted her good fortune.

Mr Freeman mentioned that scholarships which facilitated visits to Denmark and Oxford were also available. Miss M Fletcher, assistant secretary, gave a report of the W.E.A.’s annual conference at Leicester and Miss C Bennett reported on the Eastern District Council’s meetings at Cambridge.