January 1961

The recently introduced One‑Way road signs in Rushden were under criticism from the district Road Safety Committee.

February 1961

The Royal Theatre was likely to close.  Two motor engineering companies were interested in buying.

March 1961

The words “Rushden Station”, which are laid in bricks, were excavated from the overgrown bank outside the railway station by pupils from Newton Road Primary School.

W.W.Chamberlain Ltd stopped the manufacture of leather this month.

April 1961

Mrs Louie Rawlings, aged 96, said “TV is too fast”.  She started lacemaking at the age of 7 and had made lace for the altar of St.Peter’s Church.

May 1961

It was reported that Rushden Temperance Band would represent the County at the National Brass Band finals in October having won the Midlands area competition.

June 1961

When a new type of maggot was being bred at Chettle & Sons, near Rushden, Mr Jim Knight, a fishing tackle supplier believed “all anglers will want them”.

July 1961

Rushden was the 220th town visited by the “Down Your Way” Radio programme.

August 1961

John White and his wife Nancy celebrated their Golden Wedding and were presented with two silver gilt fruit baskets by their employees.

Chelveston US base was reduced from 1,100 officers and men to about 60.

September 1961

Big expansion plans were announced for Nene Valley Caravans.

Kilburn Place was demolished.

Park Road Baptist Church celebrated its Diamond Jubilee.

October 1961

Parking restrictions which had been introduced in Rushden town were being ignored said police.

Rushden Urban Council applied for the compulsory purchase of about 10 acres of land near Wymington Spinney for use as allotments.

Rushden Urban Council declared they had enough houses to deal with any demand.

November 1961

A plan was being prepared for an A6 by‑pass to cut out 8 towns from Rushden to Desborough.

Dr Lord retired from Rushden House Sanatorium where he saw 45,000 patients in his 30 years there.

December 1961