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January 1980
Eastfields Children’s Home which had been empty for two years was being offered for sale by N.C.C. The Council was open to offers for what would probably become a private house.
February 1980
Houses at the junction of Crabb Street and High Street South had become unsafe and were demolished. One had formerly been a shop, and items with prices on, and posters were found inside. The area would be fenced off and converted into a garden.
March 1980
Repairs to the bandstand in Hall Park were expected to cost £3,300 and plans were in place to raise the money by a public appeal.
Doug Smith, a member of Rushden Collectors’ Circle, wrote to The Soldier magazine to try to discover facts behind his collection of postcards, many sent from former POW camps.
April 1980
It was decided to close St.Mark’s Church in Highfield Road and to amalgamate the congregation with that of St.Peter’s.
May 1980
Prints of historical buildings were sold in aid of the bandstand restoration. Pictures by Mac Craker, a local artist, showed St.Mary’s Church, Rushden Hall and Knuston Hall. The appeal had reached £1,700.
June 1980
Ten families were evacuated from their homes in York Road and Grove Road when fire swept through Rushden Upholstery in York Road. They were allowed home after standing in the street for two hours.
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July 1980
John White’s Newton Road factory closed.
The firm of Strong & Fisher received one of the longest telegrams to be sent to the Rushden Post Office.
August 1980
Skew Bridge Ski Club hosted a cricket match between Godfrey Evans’ “Old England XI” with Denis Compton and John Edrich against the “Lords Taverners XI” with players including Brian Rix, Billy Wright, Jimmy Greaves and William Rushton.
September 1980
A scheme to spend £160,000 on renovating Rushden Hall was described by one local councillor as “immoral”. Plans to move the Chief Executive’s department to the Hall to give more room to other employees at the Council Offices in Newton Road were voted 2–1 to be put back for further consideration.
October 1980
The County Council’s refusal to put a Zebra Crossing on Grangeway was met with anger by concerned parents. A 500+ petition was rejected.
November 1980
On Rushden Lions 7th Charter Night, held at the Tudor Gate Hotel, Finedon, banners were exchanged with a Zimbabwe Lions Club. Mrs Phoebe Speedie, whose late husband was President of the club, would return to Zimbabwe with banners from Rushden, Wellingborough and Kettering Lions.
December 1980
Trevor Wilkins, present of the Higham Ferrers and Rushden Chamber of Trade, described the plan to close the car park behind the Co‑op shop in the High Street as a serious threat to trade in the town. The car park, owned by East Northamptonshire Council, was to be closed to save money.
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