New clothing centre already in action

The new W.V.S. Clothing centre at Rushden Hall has already fitted up several applicants.

This was stated after the county organiser, Lady Hesketh, her deputy, Mrs. E. I. Daglish, and the county clothing officer, Miss W. Mahon, visited the centre on Wednesday afternoon.

Under the district organiser, Mrs. C. G. Perkins, the W.V.S. arranged for painting and the installation of electricity to bring the first room into use since Rushden Urban Council acquired the Hall.

The new centre will be open from 2.30 to 4.30 every Wednesday to meet the requirements of those wanting clothes. Applicants must have a letter from some official or responsible person stating their needs. Judging by the good stock, no one of either sex or size will go away empty handed.

Clothing officers Mrs. Frank Brown and Mrs. A. G. Crowdy are probably in for a busy time. There are only two similar centres in Northamptonshire.

W V S ‘ladies in green’ are 21

Tuesday’s picture of the WVS at work at Rushden. The ‘meals on wheels’ service has reached Spinney Closes, where Mrs Alan Allebone (left) and Mrs T H Wood are unloading dinners for old people.

It was Mrs. Alice Muxlow, Rushden’s first woman urban councillor, who dominated the early history of the unit and supervised a fine spell of service during the Second World War. There was then a lapse which continued until 1954, when the organisation was revived under the leadership of Mrs. C. G. Perkins.

Today the branch has 63 members, of whom 53 are active in various services, the others being on the roll for duty only in emergency.

Meals Served

Perhaps most prominent in the public eye is the “meals on wheels” service, providing about 40 dinners a week for old people who, for the payment of a shilling, get a meal which is not only cheap at the price but an event in the week’s routine – one that brings friendly visitors.

Fifteen private cars, lent and driven by women volunteers, are on the rota for this service and well over 2,000 meals have been served since the scheme started.

A clothing store at Rushden Hall gives much greater service than the public may realise. It occupies a large room in the old mansion, and the staff is rather proud of the stock of clothing from which items are issued frequently to help in cases of need. The steel shelves now contain a good selection of shoes, baby clothes, men’s clothes and underwear, but the centre’s officers are always grateful for fresh gifts of good clean clothing. The depot opens each Wednesday afternoon and has its own rota of helpers.

Library Books Delivered

Darby and Joan Club members appreciate a Friday afternoon library service and take out 40 or 50 books each week from a trolley provided by the centre. They think it wonderful to have the books brought to them and to be relieved of visits to the public library.

“Risdene” the old people’s communal home is also supplied with books – resting on shelves provided by the centre.

Magazines are sent each week to troops overseas, the centre having “adopted” two military units for this purpose. “We get many grateful letters from the boys,” said Mrs. Perkins, “and a lot of Christmas cards come in from them, too.”

The WVS members also organise Rushden’s part in the County Council’s cheap holiday scheme for old people. This year they are arranging for 45 veterans from the town to enjoy a week at Clacton (May 22-29) this £5 holiday including hotel and travel costs.

Several members are connected with Civil Defence.

Visiting the sick and advancing Anglo-American relations are the other duties for which there is no lack of volunteers.

Members meet regularly at the Council chamber on the first Friday of each month, and Mrs. Perkins told us: “We are always delighted to see any more who may wish to come along and join us.”

Generosity has paid dividends

The generosity of Rushden people in providing the Women’s Voluntary Service with a “meals on wheels” van has not only helped to bring about an extension of the service, but has made life much simpler for the WVS generally.

In a conversation with the “Echo” Mrs. C. G. Perkins, the Rushden WVS organiser, outlined some of the changes that have taken place since the van was presented on June 21.

Extension

The immediate reaction was that five new drivers volunteered and are now helping in an extended service whereby deserving cases receive two dinners a week instead of one.

Meal deliveries are being made four days a week instead of three and, in addition, all the needy folk who were not receiving meals are included in the service.

Mrs. Perkins said the van was also proving a great help in another sphere of WVS work – collecting and distributing clothing to people in need.

Wide Area

The clothing store at Wellingborough was closed down last year, which means that the Rushden workers had to collect clothing over a wide area.

“We have been given a tremendous lot of clothing just lately,” she added.

She also spoke of the part Rushden people had played in enabling the WVS to perform its increased duties. “The van has made life much simpler,” she said.

Since the “Meals on Wheels” scheme started in Rushden five years ago well over 12,000 meals have been delivered.