January 1996

The West Street Association was formed at the old Auction Rooms with the intention of investigating the history and original purpose of the cul-de-sac.

A masked gunman raided a shop in Cromwell Road, but fled when the shopkeeper activated the alarm.  One the same night a different masked gunman held up Townsend’s Garage in High Street South.  Three days later gunmen robbed a newsagent’s shop in Purvis Road.

Vandals poured detergent into a bulk storage tank in Hayden road, contaminating 140 gallons of milk.

Rushden Heritage Centre opened in the Council Buildings in Newton Road.

February 1996

Application was made by East Northamptonshire District Council for Rushden Hall to be approved as a venue for civil marriages.

A masked raider armed with an axe attempted to rob the Park Road Stores, but fled when the alarm was activated.  Exactly a week later  four men in balaclava helmets raided the Spar Shop in Church Hall Road.

Patricia Abbott, Funeral Director, was interviewed on the BBC2 “Public Eye” programme about her award for being “Funeral Planner of the Year”.

March 1996

Three days after suffering a fire, Clifford Collins Ltd, leatherware store was robbed of leather jackets by “ramraiders”.

Sir Peter Fry MP called a meeting with the Police in view of the number of violent attacks in Rushden.

New road signs showing “Other Routes” were leading confusing drivers all around the streets of Rushden when they were trying to get to Wellingborough.

It  was announced that the Bandstand in Hall Park would have a copper coating on its roof.  The proposal to use the bandstand as a tea shop was rejected by the Rushden town committee.

April 1996

At a special open day at the Splash Pool, there were water activities, demonstrations, competitions and water polo.

Controversial plans to move a Doctors’ practice to a site at Foxhills Farm off Northampton Road were turned down.

May 1996

The first “Rushden Town Meeting” was held at the Pemberton Centre, to enable townsfolk to express their concerns to County and District Councillors and officials.  Sixty people attended.

June 1996

A new hairdresser’s shop opened in Newton Road.  Its name was the usual instruction given by customers in barbers’ shops of the 1940s: “Short Back and Sides”.

July 1996

Robert Knight’s off-licence shop in Victoria Road was robbed, not for the first time, when he was assaulted with a hammer.  The Judge, when sentencing one of the robbers to six years imprisonment, awarded Mr.Knight £250 out of public funds for his bravery.

August 1996

Not far from the High Street, a pregnant woman on crutches was knocked down by three would‑be robbers.

September 1996

A boxer dog and a rottweiler savaged a teenager in the Station Road car-park.  It cost the owner £730 in fines, compensation and costs.

The Serve organisation put on an exhibition to demonstrate the good work it was doing to help the elderly and the disabled.

The Rushden & District History Society arranged the unveiling of a plaque provided by “Cinema 100” and the British Film Institute on the High Street shop which was the site of the entrance to the old Palace Cinema.

Messrs Strong & Fisher advertised for a “chauffeur/shipping assistant”.  The actual salary offered in the advertisement was “£4,2697 per hour”.

October 1996

Vandals smashed forty-seven window panes at St.Peter’s Church Hall by throwing lumps of coke at them.

2,500 black and brown lambskins intended for making jackets were stolen from a warehouse belonging to Strong & Fisher.

November 1996

A month of violent crimes and disorder in Rushden: Four men armed with wooden stakes and an axe, burst in on customers at Cheers Wine Bar; The BP Garage, Steel King Footwear, Bedford Road Post Office were robbed; a teenage cyclist was attacked with a starter gun, which was actually discharged, for a prank; Peter Crisp’s department store was robbed of porcelain and crystal worth £10,000; and a “drop‑in centre” for young people opened in College Street, but closed again eight days later because it was a focus for anti-social behaviour.

December 1996

The Rushden Town Band purchased smart new green uniforms with black lapels and braiding, following a year of success in musical competitions.