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January 1977
‘Cinderella’, produced by David Edwards a local teacher, was staged at the Ritz.
The Ward White Group returned to the 7‑figure profit league. Pre‑tax profit of £437,000 was made in the first half of 1976.
Another £150 was raised towards the £20,000 needed for the new Community Centre based at the Salvation Army in Church Street.
Knotting Green Farm, near Rushden, was sold for £465,000 – at a premium price of £933 per acre.
February 1977
Advert: ‘Three Fives’ king-size cigarettes still 44p.
After 31 years with A & S (Footwear) Ltd, Harborough Road, Mr.B.Turnock retired. Mr.P.M.Allebone presented him with a retirement cheque.
Tall boys aged 14 to 15 were auditioned for the part of Friedrick in the Operatic Society’s production of the ‘Sound of Music’.
It was estimated that a family renting a 3 bedroom semi-detached council house and running a small car needed £3,556 a year income to keep pace with inflation – £97 below the national average.
John White Branded Footwear showed their “softest and most comfortable” shoes at the Harrogate Autumn Shoes Exhibition. There were three styles at £12.99 per pair.
Rushden Round Table was planning a special event for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in the Hall Park. It would feature a donkey derby and an Arts and Crafts exhibition.
March 1977
Two Guides, Helen Gwynne and Catherine Brook, were presented with their Queen’s Guide certificates and badges – the highest awards in guiding.
Mr David Kelsey of the Rushden Temperance Band was presented with a certificate at the Windmill Club to mark his 50 years in the service of brass band music.
‘Evening Telegraph’ journalists continued their strike and the National Union of Journalists decided to increase strike pay to £40 per week.
April 1977
Police set up road blocks after a thief snatched 20 wage packets containing £440 from an employee of R.Tarry & Co of College Street.
A petition was organised opposing the proposed routes 1 and 2 of the bypass for Rushden.
John White’s Silver Jubilee catalogue was mailed to more than 4,000 retailers.
Rushden Operatic Society celebrated its 30th Anniversary. Bill Patenall, who was at the inaugural meeting, produced many of the Society’s shows.
May 1977
Geoff Capes, Olympic Shot Putt gold medallist, was the celebrity guest judge when Helen Burgess was chosen as Carnival Queen.
The Waggon & Horses, High Street South, had a change from its usual entertainment when Colin Garner underwent a “sponsored shave” at the hands of Rushden barber Barry Miller.
After nearly 20 weeks, the longest dispute in provincial newspaper history, the strike by journalists at the “Evening Telegraph” was over.
Mr.J.T.Tate of Wymington celebrated his 102nd birthday. He was a founder director of Strong & Fisher.
Postman Terry Smouton caught a baby girl when she was thrown from an upstairs window of a blazing house in Fosse Green, Rushden.
It was planned to reduce the number of beds at Rushden Hospital from 79 to 48, thereby saving an estimated £400,000 per year.
June 1977
A plan to take a Silver Jubilee procession through Hinwick was abandoned because of the threat of massive traffic jams around the Santa Pod drag race track.
The Town Council pressed the County Council to give priority to both the A45 and A6 bypass schemes.
Staff at Skew Bridge Ski Club took the drama in their stride when a wartime practice rocket was dug up during excavation work. This was their second surprise in 6 months. In December, 3 members of staff had seen a UFO hover over the club for 5 minutes, then shoot off silently towards Higham.
About 3,500 people flocked to the Hall Park in the rain to watch the giant Jubilee celebrations organised by the Round Table. They were hoping to reach their £1,000 target which was to be split between the Silver Jubilee Appeal and local charities.
A reader had to pay a £1 fine to Rushden Library for keeping a book too long. It was called “1001 Ways to Save Money”.
McAslan Lullam & Co Ltd of Irchester road allayed fears of a shortage of Wellington boots following the recent heavy rains. They had a full range available.
Fire swept through Bedford Way Motors, Higham Road, and caused more than £¼ million worth of damage.
During a raid, corned beef and 4,000 cigarettes, valued at £118, were stolen from the Hove Road Co‑op.
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July 1977
Business at Rushden Sports Centre was so good that it was expected to be breaking even at a time when most centres in Britain were suffering huge losses.
Anglian Water Authority reported that February had been the wettest for 77 years.
Footwear exports at Ward White Group were running at more than 50% above 1976.
Allotment holders in Wymington were waging war on rabbits which were eating everything in sight including polythene.
The county’s Planning and Transport committee approved a £235,000 plan aimed at cutting traffic in Rushden’s High Street.
Teacher, and former Mayor of Higham Ferrers, Ron Williams, retired after 23 years at Rushden Boys’ School.
The black and white television licence fee went up to £9, and colour to £21.
August 1977
Heat caused a spate of grass blazes around Rushden.
The House Martins Over 60s Club had more than 135 entries for the Silver Jubilee handicraft exhibition.
Farmers warned ‘that unless we husband our resources, the food situation by the end of the century could be more critical than the fuel situation’.
Chettle & Sons Ltd asked permission to extend its premises at Goosey Lodge, Wymington.
Derrick Leigh, chairman of Rushden Federation for the Self Employed, condemned VAT as a “totally unworkable” tax.
A downpour left 4 feet of water in Eaton’s factory, College Street. Mr.Cutmore’s shop in Alfred Street was under a foot of water. Matrix Toy Manufacturers had floods in the bottom floor of their factory.
September 1977
Twenty two people sent in a petition objecting to Hamblin Group’s plans to convert the former St.Peter’s vicarage in Wellingborough Road into offices.
Ford’s new Granada went on sale at prices ranging from £4,143.96 to £6,973.75.
Local pubs were reaching crisis point as their beer supplies dried up due to an overtime ban by draymen.
The road safety situation at Denfield Park School, Rushden, was being kept under review. The school’s access from Victoria Road had been the subject of an 18 month battle.
Night porters at Rushden CWS abattoir ended their 11 day strike. They were paid £3.20 per week less than the day shift.
October 1977
Girls collected rubbish in Spencer Park and the High Street and raised £58 for Rushden Hospital with their sponsored clean up.
Mrs Perkins, teacher at Alfred Street School, appealed for breeding pairs of tropical fish to replace ones that had died. Their hamsters were managing to replace themselves.
Rushden & Higham 13, Stewarts & Lloyds 6. Rushden’s victory suggested better times were coming for the rugby team.
It was likely that an empty Rushden High Street supermarket would soon become an indoor market.
The average weekly attendance at the Child Welfare Centre had increased to 166 during the previous year.
Plans for a third Comprehensive School at Rushden were going ahead despite claims that it faced the axe. The County Council said plans for the £900,000 school were top of their list for 1978/79.
November 1977
Power cuts, due to the electricity workers’ strikes, hit the region.
Chettles faced the prospect of having to close down its Wymington plant if it was unable to cure a smell problem.
Four months ahead of schedule, the key of the last house on a new development at Northampton was handed over by Mr Eric Brook, Chairman of Rushden builder Robert Marriott Ltd.
Mr Edward Locke of Kilsby Leather Ltd, Higham Ferrers, estimated he had lost hundreds of pounds due to the power cuts caused by the electricity workers unofficial strike.
Cllr Clive Woods reported there was not 100% support for Crabb Street to change its name to Lea Way because of its “notorious past”.
Rushden firemen turned their backs on striking colleagues and returned to work.
December 1977
The town’s community centre, converted from the rear of the Salvation Army Citadel, Church Street, was nearing completion at a cost of £23,000.
About 20 ‘flying pickets’ headed for Rushden in a bid to stop rebel firemen working.
Rushden Windmill Youth Band, under their Musical Director Mr Peter Kneale, gave its first performance with the audience sitting at tables and the bar open throughout the evening.
The Round Table sent our cheques totalling £770 to various organisations. The money had been raised from the Jubilee spectacular in Rushden Hall Park.
St.Mary’s Church organisations discussed plans for the £100,000 church hall following a decision to go ahead with the project.
The Bakers Union overtime ban brought panic buying. Baker, Mr Arthur Keech said, “I think we small bakers have got to be careful. If we bake extra bread, and people have stocked up their freezers, we could be left with it on our hands.”
Mr George Marriott, director of Eaton & Co (Rushden) Ltd was awarded the CBE in the New Year’s Honours List.
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