January 1988

Denis Prowse was appointed Commercial Manager of Rushden Town Football Club.

Over 400 residents signed a petition to improve Wellingborough Road.  Fifty-seven people had been injured in accidents during the previous three years.

February 1988

A police dog handler, PC Paul Arch, needed fifty stitches after being attacked with broken glass.  He had confronted an intruder in the boiler house at Totectors.

March 1988

George Green, aged 93, a well-known local lay preacher, died on the very day his son Bernard was inducted into office as Moderator of the Free Church Federal Council.

April 1988

Plans were unveiled for a £270,000 extension to the Salvation Army HQ in Church Street.  The new community centre would provide shelter and comfort for Rushden’s elderly citizens and for the jobless.

May 1988

The Historical Transport Society’s Cavalcade churned up the grass in Hall Park leaving massive ruts of mud.  The Cavalcade Chairman promised that damage would be repaired by the end of the month.

June 1988

Despite three advertisements, no one had applied for the vacant post of park-keeper at Spencer Park.  Councillors agreed to cut the rent of the house which went with the job by 30% in the hope of attracting the right person.

July 1988

Plans were announced for a new retail and industrial estate on Northampton Road.  Local traders opposed the plans, saying that such a development would affect trade in Rushden and Higham shops.

August 1988

Percy Albert Francis, aged 70, was murdered at his bungalow in Upper Park Avenue, where he lived alone.  So far, his killer has not been caught.

September 1988

Homes for the elderly were to be built on the site of the old Co-op Dairy in Newton Road.

October 1988

Inventor Tony Smith, of Barnwell Drive, was presented with a plaque in Washington DC.  His invention, the Precision Approach Path Indicator, is now installed at major International airports and military bases.  It also helps to bring American space shuttles safely back to earth.

November 1988

Jim Bugby closed his High Street fish and poultry shop.  The business had been in the family for 109 years but there was no one in the family ready to take over.  Apart from gas having been replaced by electricity, the shop had stayed almost the same.  All the original slabs remained.

December 1988

A new pelican crossing was installed on Rectory Road, to the delight of campaigners.