January 1995

Fire crews rescued two girls, aged 2 and 5, from the second floor window of their home in Cromwell Court, after a fire had been started deliberately.

Readings of nitrogen dioxide in Rushden were 40 parts per billion.  (The World Health Organisation quoted a safety level of 15 parts per billion).

The former care home for the elderly, “Risdene”, was offered for sale at £165,000.

A new company with two balloons were offering commercial flights from the Lakeside complex off Northampton Road.

Kinloch’s Bakery took over the Anglo-Swiss Bakery shop in the High Street.

February 1995

Arsonists were believed to have been responsible for a fire at Totector’s factory which destroyed 30,000 leather boot and shoe uppers.

During a fracas outside the Cheers Bar in Queen Street the landlord was pushed through a plate‑glass window.

March 1995

The first Police Inspector since 1983 took responsibility for the Rushden Police Station.  It was to be staff by two Sergeants, 16 Constables, ten Specials and two enquiry-desk staff.

The restaurant of the Lakeside County Club was severely damaged by fire.

A report on the future of the Hall Park bandstand was drawn up by East Northants Council officials.  The historic bandstand was slowly being destroyed by vandals.

April 1995

The shoe machinery, plant, equipment, stock-in-trade, furniture and a van belonging to the Frank Robinson factory in Crabb Street were sold off.

May 1995

In the Local Government elections, an independent candidate “For Rushden’s Own Town Council” polled 611 votes.  The campaign to restore a Rushden Town Council had commenced.

The Rushden & District History Society compiled the “Wymington Walk” and “World War II Walk” leaflets, published by East Northants District Council.

June 1995

Eighty doctors of North Northamptonshire began an emergency service of “Out of Hours General Practitioners” based at the Adnitt Road Medical Centre.

When a float at the Rushden Carnival broke down an AA man was called who was unable to repair the fault instantly, so he towed the float himself.

July 1995

The cable network commenced under Rushden’s streets, for cable TV and telephones.  Serious disruption was caused for road users and pedestrians.

To commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a special parade and service called “Rushden Remembers” was organised.  There was a ‘drumhead service’ held in the Hall Park, a march past and an International Veterans salute.  Children released balloons.

Robbers broke into Rushden Hospital on Wymington Road and took patients’ confidential records and computer equipment from Crane Ward.

August 1995

Strong & Fisher Limited applied to the National Rivers Authority for permission to abstract an increased amount of water from a private well, 18 feet deep, at 100 Irchester Road, Rushden.

The Rushden Historical Transport Society purchased the former railway station from the County Council.

Bewise Limited took a ten year lease on the shop at 50 High Street originally purpose-built for the Co‑op.

One of the fire crew called to a road accident in Rectory Road found that his own six year old son had been killed.  The disqualified driver who caused the accident was later imprisoned for six years.

September 1995

Two men raided the RP Stores in Trafford Road, and threatened the shopkeeper with a wooden plank.

October 1995

Vandals caused a black-out in 350 houses when they pulled down power cables in fields near the Northampton Road.

November 1995

A customer waiting for his order in a High Street Kebab Shop was stabbed in the neck when a fight started.

Great Mills opened its big new showrooms in Crown Way.

The long-awaited Higham Ferrers and Rushden by-pass was given the green light.  With an expected start date of 1997/98, it would be funded by private investment rather than government money.

Rushden town committee considered an estimate for the renovation of the vandalised Bandstand in Hall Park.

December 1995

Four waiters ran out of a curry house in Church Street and attacked a group of youth who had broken a window by throwing a coin at it.