January 1950

Dr Dudley George Greenfield MD MRCS died, at his residence, 76 Wymington Road, Rushden.  He had been a prominent figure in Rushden for forty‑seven years.  He had more than a local reputation in the medical profession and, as a townsman of Rushden, had taken the lead in many matters, being Chairman of the Council in 1929–30.  He was a native of Kent and came to Rushden in 1903.

“Ditchford Operatic Society” paid a surprise visit to the New Year Party held by the Rushden Operatic Society at the Masonic Hall.  The visitors were even more rural than might have been expected and their interpretation of “Sweet and Low” had more comedy than musical value! – in fact it was an excellent farce.

Another all-Rushden broadcast, featuring the Temperance Band and the St.Cecilia Singers, occupied twenty‑five minutes of the Midland Home Service transmission.

According to ex-footballer Mayor Solomon Upton, the only time that Higham Ferrers and Rushden had been unfriendly towards each other was when they met at football.  He was speaking at John White’s staff dinner at Higham Ferrers.

A Ministry of Fuel and Power inquiry into the case of erection of overhead electricity cables in two roads in Rushden opened.  The RUDC were objecting to overhead cables in the town (in Bedford Road and Kimbolton Road).  The proposal for the erection of these cables was a case of reducing costs of installation.

John Cave & Sons, the Rushden shoe makers, celebrated their centenary.  For more that half of the 100 years of the firm, a family dominated the story and its head was John Cave, remembered as a striking figure with a long white beard.  His father came to Rushden in the early 19th century to farm at “Bencroft” in Bedford Road.  There were three factories over the years.  Two factories in High Street were destroyed by fire, in April 1877 and on July 19th 1901, and two bombs fell on the third in College Street on Thursday October 3rd 1940, killing four of the clickers and injuring about forty other workers.

February 1950

The honour of giving the first recital on the rebuilt organ at Park Road Baptist Church fell upon Mr Alec Wyton of St.Matthew’s Church, Northampton, who played to three or four hundred people.

Two buildings erected during the Elizabethan period and at one time part of Squire Sartoris’s estate were selected as buildings of architectural and historical interest and were to be protected under the Town and Country Planning Act.  They were a shop in High Street South, then occupied by Miss Florence Simpson – modiste, which was the first shop to be opened in Rushden village, and Manor Farm, Bedford Road.

Messrs John Cave & Sons Ltd, celebrated at the Windmill Hall.  Councillor W.E.Capon, the Managing Director, told of the scheme to award the employees with tax-free gifts ranging from ten shillings to five pounds, according to length of service.

The main Rushden to Bedford Road was blocked for four hours when an elm tree in the churchyard was blown down.  Council workmen were called out by the Police and they were working from 11pm until 3am to clear the road.

March 1950

The winning silver-grey buck at Rushden Fur & Feather Society’s Show was from the stud founded at Rushden by Mr & Mrs C.Underwood in 1946.  Their Gladwood Stud, then at Westcliff-on‑Sea, had won 600 awards during the last two years.

Crocuses and celandines merging through the spring sunshine into golden carpets over the Rushden Hall grounds heralded yet another transformation at the town’s favourite park.  The rehabilitation of the grounds from wartime devastation was continuing.

There will be no one‑way traffic in Rushden High Street.  The Ministry of Transport announced that it would not proceed with the making of the Order, suggested by the County Council, and the long‑standing controversy came to an end.

When the Irchester Wheelers were returning home from a cycle‑ride from Norton, near Daventry, the leader found they had taken the wrong road at crossroads in the dark.  He decided to press on along the ‘unknown’ road which degenerated into a narrow uphill lane and eventually curved round to pass closely by a large house.  It was too late to turn back, so they sped on still into the ‘unknown’, to reach a wider road and found themselves in Moulton.  They later realised that they had been through the grounds of Moulton Grange. 

John Hyde, then a trooper in the Royal Tank Regiment, played for the Army Rugby XV against the French Army at Twickenham.

April 1950

Because of objections by local Clergy and residents in the village, Yelden was no longer the scene of Rushden Query Motor Club’s thrice‑yearly Sunday Scrambles.  The season’s first Scramble had been cancelled and a new course was being sought.  The Rector of Yelden, the Rev Francis White had no intention of complaining about the Scrambles, until he was pressed to do so.  “To the best of my knowledge,” he said, “most of the objections came from Rushden and Higham Ferrers.  There had been no organised complaints from Yelden itself.”

Councillor J.Allen advised the Urban Council that Rushden Hall grounds should be locked after dark as there was a possibility of undesirable people getting into the park at night.

A ring road to connect roads in the south and west of the town was advocated by the Highways Committee of Rushden Council and was suggested by the Planning Authorities, as part of the local development scheme.  The route in mind ran from the former Isolation Hospital in Bedford Road, following the old bridle road to a point near Ditchford turn in Wellingborough Road.

May 1950

Representatives of the newspaper trade were present at the funeral of Mr Charles Robinson, newsagent, of 79 Wellingborough Road, which took place at St.Mary’s Church, Rushden.  Mr Robinson died at the age of 69.  In recent years, the business which Mr Robinson started in a small thatched cottage had been run by a company, with Mr Robinson as Managing Director.  He was a member of Rushden, Higham Ferrers and District Chamber of Trade and was very well known in the town.

Another attempt to solve Rushden High Street’s traffic problems was made when the Urban Council favoured the introduction of no‑waiting regulations.  The Highway Committee recommended a three months’ trial period, from Victoria Road to a point opposite the War Memorial.

June 1950

Overshadowing the enthusiasm of Rushden cricket followers for a match at Newton Road, between Northants and Somerset, was one big doubt – would the suspect Rushden wicket stand up to three days of first‑class cricket?

Dr B.W.Paine presented the prizes at the annual sports of Tennyson Road County Modern School.  He said that Mr Howitt, its first headmaster, had laid the foundation of a tradition.  The prizes were a cup and three medals, given by Mr Howitt.  House Champions were Chichele and runners‑up were Sartoris.

July 1950

Twenty-four “No Waiting” signs had sprung up like mushrooms in Rushden High Street, from Station Road to the War Memorial.  They indicated “no waiting between the hours of 9am and 6pm from Monday to Saturday.”  At the narrowest point, near Coffee Tavern Lane, the street was only 18ft 2ins wide.

A Rushden branch of the US & Canadian Brides Association had been formed.  Its inaugural meeting, at the Adult School, gave an opportunity for the parents to ‘swap’ stories and photographs of their daughters, whose homes ranged from Winnipeg to South Georgia.

Rushden’s new Stationmaster, Mr H.Steel, had worked at 250 stations in his 38 years’ service.  He had worked as a relief Stationmaster and was a native of Keighley, Yorks.

The redecoration of Rushden Windmill Club would make it one of the smartest looking halls in the county.  The colour scheme of cream and maroon was very attractive and at the same time easy on the eye.  The floor had been scrubbed by machine and would be smoothed and polished prior to being danced on again.

A draft order for making Coffee Tavern Lane a one-way street had been submitted by the County Council to the Ministry of Transport for their suggestions.

The ‘appalling’ state of the major roads in Rushden after tarring was a matter raised by a delegate at the monthly meeting of Rushden & District Trades Council.  Describing the Bedford Road, he said, “Houses, their doors and the windows were splashed.  It is a month since the job was completed yet there are still eighteen inches to two feet of chippings at the sides of the road”.

August 1950

Mr L.J.Wilce was to succeed Mr S.Howitt as headmaster of the Tennyson Road County Modern School.  At South End County School, Mr Frederick C.Astle would fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr O.L.Ash, shortly before he was due to retire.

Rushden Central Townswomen’s Guild staged a pageant of women’s fashions throughout the ages from the Roman to the post‑‘New Look’ era at their annual garden party, held at ‘The White House’, Grove Road.

Gordon Inwood, well-known Rushden footballer who was on Hull City’s books, was also playing cricket for his new team.

Rushden Fire Brigade and Townsend’s Garages Ltd were both called out to “Eastfield” in Newton Road, to rescue a horse.  Trucking about in an adjoining field, the animal had had the misfortune to slip down into a well.  The firemen did some manipulation work with ropes.  With a breakdown lorry and crane at the other end, they managed to hoist the horse out between them in about an hour.  After resting on the ground for a few minutes and after the mass of ropes had been removed, the horse rose and walked away unconcernedly from its unorthodox afternoon “dip”.

The Fire Brigade turned out to a fifty-ton stack fire at Poplars Farm, Wymington.

Just after he had hit his wife on the head with a 5lb flat iron, a Rushden leather worker went and gave himself up to a police sergeant.  The sergeant accompanied the man to his home in Oval Road where he found the wife sitting in a chair suffering from head injuries.  On the night in question the man had tried to make up a quarrel with her, but she would not.

Rushden people took part in a moving ceremony at Wareham, Dorset, when the ashes of Mr O.I.Ash, who had been headmaster of Rushden South End School, were scattered on the waters where he spent many years as a yachtsman.  The act of committal was carried out by Mr Sidney Hawkes, who was President of the Rotary Club at the time of Mr Ash’s death.

Rushden people reported angrily that their ash-bins had not been emptied for three long weeks.  They were angry because of the smell and difficulty when garbage overflowed.  The popular version of the affair was that the Council’s workmen had been on holiday more or less “en masse”.

September 1950

Not since the Armistice of 1918 had the bells of St.Mary’s really rung out over Rushden.  Eight 14 to 17 year‑olds attended a forty-five minutes practice chime.  Their ambition was to peal the bells each Sunday.  They received instruction from Mr Stanley Hodgkins.

The three months’ trial period of a “No Waiting Order” in Rushden High Street, which was soon to expire, was described as an unqualified success.  “It had achieved all that the authorities wanted it to achieve and I am sure it will be confirmed,” said Mr A.C.A.Colton at a meeting of Rushden, Higham Ferrers and District Chamber of Trade.  Members reported that some shop keepers had raised protests at the alleged hustling they had received from the Police.  “A tradesman should be able to unload his goods,” was the unanimous verdict.  It was agreed that the Chamber of Commerce should request more courtesy from the Police in this matter.

Mr Bernard Palmer, President of the Chamber of Trade, praised the courtesy of Rushden shop assistants.  “They are much more courteous than the usual run.”

“Mr Cobbler”, writing in the Rushden Argus and Echo, said, “The lights of Rushden are on again, as all you night birds must have noticed, and the late hour of switching off is a great comfort and convenience.  There is a feeling that Rushden is moving, definitely toward a brighter, of not better, era.”

Mr Albert E.Bates of 15 Essex Road, the father of Mr H.E.Bates, the distinguished author, died.  He was 70.  He was formerly associated with Messrs Knight and Lawrence, boot manufacturers, and with Rushden Park Road Methodist Church, where he was choir master and a member of the male voice choir.  The Essex Road home is where his son, resident in Kent, wrote his early works.

A tangerine leather sling‑back casual was exhibited at the week’s Shoe and Leather Fair by Messrs C.W.Horrell of Rushden.  Tangerine was the Paris‑dictated fashion colour of the year.

160 members of Rushden Derby and Joan Club had a coach tour followed by tea at Wicksteed Park.

The price of “Rushden Echo and Argus” was to be increased from 2d [twopence] to 3d [threepence] on and after October 6th.

October 1950

Rushden’s biggest clock, the 1879 giant at St.Mary’s Church, had its first ‘wash and brush up’ for ten years.  The clock face overlooking the High Street is about five feet in diameter and the hands were driven by a ten foot iron connection-shaft.  The clock was wound up every day by the verger, Mr W.H.Tuson.

Roads of a new council housing estate off Queen Street were nearly complete.  The first of the proposed 250 houses would be ready for the inspection of the UDC Housing Committee.

Rushden Rotary Club was planning a picturesque event through its Community Service Committee.  A large Christmas tree was to stand in the “Garden of Remembrance”, which surrounds the War Memorial, and each evening, in the pre‑Christmas week, choirs would sing carols there.  During the same period, Father Christmas, driving his sleigh through the town, would collect gifts for sick children, old people and the occupants of hospitals, sanatoria and children’s homes.

Mrs Mary Wills was to play the lead in Rushden Operatic Society’s production of “Magyar Melody”.

Mr A.Norman Groome was the speaker at “Highfield Men’s Fireside” meeting, his subject being the 700th Anniversary of Higham Ferrers, associated with the “Festival of Britain”.

November 1950

Rushden Men’s Adult School celebrated its Golden Jubilee with a supper and special meetings.  The Adult School Movement was started in 1798 by the Society of Friends to enable the working people to learn to read in order that they may get to know the Bible.

Rushden had already fixed dates for certain main features for the “Festival of Britain” celebrations in 1951.

Members of Rushden Town Tennis Club, who had a successful first season, were planning to buy land and provide their own courts.  In the past they had been playing on the courts at Spencer Park.

Higham Ferrers and District History Society, which had lapsed since 1947, held a meeting with suggestions for the combined “700th Charter” and “Festival of Britain” celebrations which were to take place in 1951, including an exhibition in the Bede House and a garden party at which a Pageant of Dress through the 700 years would take place.  The secretary, re‑elected, was Mr A.Norman Groome.

Ten gallons of milk (about 100 bottles) was lost, when a van hit a tree in Wellingborough Road, Rushden, and was completely wrecked.  The milk delivery van belonged to Messrs C.Summerfield & Sons.  The driver had an amazing escape and was unhurt.

Number “13”, banned by RUC in street numbering schemes, cropped up again at a meeting.  The surveyor, Mr A.Millar, had submitted proposals for numbering houses in Windsor Road, Denton Close and Balmoral Avenue and, in accordance with the ruling of 1947–8, he had omitted number “13” in each case.  The Housing Committee recommended, however, that the surveyor be instructed to include number “13”, where appropriate, in future street-numbering schemes.  The resolution was adopted.

Mr Ted Bunning of Rushden received the First Prize in the local heat of the “Donald Peers Singing Contest”, from Mr R.Davison, manager of Wellingborough Lyric Cinema.

A “Friends of Rushden Sanatorium Society” was formed at Rushden, the object being the provision of comforts to patients, which were not obtainable under the National Health Act.  Mrs E.M.Hensman was the first Chairman and Miss A.M.Sharwood the first Secretary-treasurer.

A Service at the War Memorial, for many years a regular observance on November 11th, was re-introduced at Rushden for Remembrance Sunday.  The service led up to a two-minute silence, during which the colours of the British Legion and RAF Association were lowered.

Two inches of rain fell on the Rushden area, leading to the cutting off of power by the Electricity Board.

December 1950

An annual institution of entertainment on Rushden’s Court Estate, the local concert party’s winter programme, drew full houses.  Mrs Helen Thompson was the producer and sixteen other artistes contributed to a variety programme.  The cast had a full three months’ booking to entertain in the locality.  The proceeds benefited the local church.

No members of the public attended the County Council Inquiry into the proposal that Rushden should have four Wards instead of three.  No objections were made and the hearing lasted only fifteen minutes. There was North, South East and West Wards, each with approximately three thousand voters.

The proposed bypass of the A6 road would eventually form a barrier to development on the east side of both Higham Ferrers and Rushden.  The road would take a high proportion of the heavy traffic which passes through the centre of both towns.  There was also a proposed by‑pass to the A45 road from Skew Bridge on the Wellingborough Road to the Kimbolton Road junction.

Rushden’s programme for the Festival of Britain included a dance to select a Festival Queen, possibly a Cricket Match with the County XI, a Swimming Gala, a Fancy Dress Parade and Fete, a Festival of Music, a Dance Festival and a Pageant of Rushden.  Religious Services were to be held.

Jean Spencer, the Rushden singer, won the “Opportunity Knocks” contest on Radio Luxembourg and had recorded for an all‑winner programme.  Her victory was decided by a postal vote of listeners.  Escorted by Mrs Jane de Neumann, Jean gave much pleasure by her singing of “My Thanks to You”.

Averaging one for every four or five houses, Christmas gifts for sick children and old people had poured into the pool organised by Rushden Rotary Club and the Round Tablers.  The sleigh, made and staffed by Round Tablers, had carried Father Christmas through every street from 7 to 9 each evening, with the sound of bugle and hand‑bell.  The attendance at the carol services by the Christmas tree on the “Green”, in spite of cold weather, was two hundred, increasing evening by evening.