Extract from a 1928 obituary
Since its opening in Rushden Mrs. Webb had been a member of the clinic which has been opened at the Y.M.C.A. on alternative Fridays. |
Rushden Echo & Argus, 19th February 1932, transcribed by Kay Collins
Infant Welfare—The second annual winter tea-party of the Rushden and Higham Ferrers Infant Welfare Centre was held at the Queen-street Schools, Rushden, on Wednesday afternoon, when a large number of parents and children spent a thoroughly enjoyable time. Tea was provided, also crackers and toys.
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| Rushden Echo & Argus, 27th July 1934, transcribed by Kay Collins |
| Rushden Infant Welfare Centre, which won national recognition by retaining the Parentcraft Shield and winning the Rhondda Shield, held an "open afternoon" for those interested in its activities. Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow (Chairman) is seen holding the Parentcraft and Mrs. E. Desborough the Rhondda Shield, which she secured for the Centre by her essay. The president (Mrs. F. J. Sharwood) is in the centre of the picture. |
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| Rushden Echo & Argus, 1935/6 |
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Parentcraft Awards - Rushden Sets Up Great New Record
Winning Essay by Mother of Twins
Two Shields Held
Rushden Infant Welfare Centre has set up a wonderful record by winning the National Parentcraft Shield for the third year in succession and the Rhondda Shield for the second time running.
The shields are awarded by the Association of Maternity and Child Welfare Centres—the Parentcraft Shield for the most proficient team, and the Rhondda Shield for the best individual essay.
Last year, Rushden broke records by taking both trophies in one year. This time it has repeated the "double" and completed a brilliant hat-trick in regard to the Parentcraft Shield.
England's Best
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Mrs Houghton
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Mrs. Houghton, of Highfield-road, is the member whose mothercraft paper—the best in all England—has won the Rhondda Shield. She is the wife of Mr. Ben Houghton, Scoutmaster of the 1st Rushen Boy Scouts, and the mother of twins. Last year she was a member of the Centre team, and her specimen of family mending won high marks. The Rhondda Shield winner last year was Mrs. L. Desborough, wife of a boot operative.
Mrs. Houghton's mothercraft paper counted towards the team effort, but all the other competitors are first year students, who have entered for the first time. The eight sections in which Rushden competed are as follows: Mothercraft paper, Mrs. Hcughton; Centre medical and health records; needlework, Mrs. Leeson; knitting, Mrs. Head; reconstructed garment, Mrs. Chapman; family mending, Mrs. Cook; girls' class, Betty Barringham; fathers' class (woodwork), Mr. H. Leeson. Six of these entries, including the mothercraft paper, count towards the shield, but the actual markings are not yet known.
The Happy Tidings
News of the Centre's success reached Rushden this morning (Monday), and the Parentcraft Shield was expected to be presented in London today at the opening meeting in connection with the National Baby Week. In the absence of a Rushden Centre officer, the shield would be received by one of the county health officials.
The officers of the Centre are Mrs. P. J. Sharwood (president), Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow (chairman), Mrs. E. W. Mann (secretary), and Nurse Wilkins.
"Much of the success depends upon Nurse Wilkins," said Mrs. Muxlow this morning, "because she gets the members to work, and they do work tremendously hard." The team will go to London on Saturday, with Mrs. Mann, to receive the certificates. Rushden will now be debarred from the Parentcraft competition for three years.
A Special Honour
The Centre has also entered the non-competitive examination of the Association of Maternity and Child Welfare Centres, the entrants in addition to the Shield team being Mrs. Barfoot, Mrs. Haynes, Mrs. Perkins, Mr. Houghton, and Mr. Cook.
At the beginning of the year the Centre had the honour of being asked to supply copies of health records of normal infants and toddlers attending the Centre to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. These were duly dispatched and accepted.
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The Rushden Echo, 17th October 1947, transcribed by Kay Collins
2,700 Babies Weighed
Infant Welfare Centre activities at Rushden over the past 12 months were outlined at the 17th annual meeting held at the Waverley Hotel, with Coun. Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow, C.C., presiding.
The secretary (Mrs. C. A. Sanders) reported that the centre had been open for 47 sessions. The total number of weighings was 2,761 and the doctor had been consulted by the mothers 941 times.
Each week voluntary helpers were present for the sale of baby foods, cod-liver oil, orange juice and cups of tea; other duties included regulating the perambulator traffic and supervising the toddlers at play.
Expenses during the year included the cost of taking 75 mothers to the Ritz cinema to see the film “Life with Baby”; a New Year party for 150 mothers and children, and the purchase of new toys and another pair of scales.
Dr. Goodchild thanked all the helpers for their interest and regular services. It was stated that the centre was now being held again at Queen Street Independent Wesleyan Sunday School after its temporary transfer to the Moor Road Scools.
Mrs. Muxlow was re-elected chairman and Mrs. C. Faulkner succeeded Mrs. F. E. Hutton as president.
Present were: Mesdames A. Muxlow, Faulkner, Hutton, H. Burfield (registrar), D. Draper, W. Flood, D. E. Foster, L. Perkins, C. A. Sanders (secretary) and E. Sugars, with Dr. Goodchild (the Centre M.O.), Miss Millgate and Miss Shiel (health visitor).
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