Town Rallies to Help Social Services - Lady Nunburnholme Opens Fete at Rushden Hall Grounds
Nine Funds to Benefit from Record Receipts of £1,250

A procession and fete on Saturday formed the annual effort on behalf of the Rushden social services, and the town, though limiting its programme in accordance with the times, responded better than ever before for the sake of nine essential funds.

The whole town turned out to see a big and representative parade; and the fete at Rushden Hall, opened by Lady Nunburnholme, of Arthingworth, was equally well supported. By Tuesday the treasurer had about £1,250 in hand, and record proceeds were anticipated.

The procession took the “long” route from Spencer Park and formed a striking picture of Rushden in its war mood. It was largely a replica of the War Weapons Week parade in February, with the Air Training Corps cadet as a new feature and making a great impression, though still in “civvies,” by their smartness in their first public parade.

Three cars carried the three queens, Miss Edwina West (Navy), Miss Marjorie Fensome (Army) and Miss Eileen Rennie (Air Force). Each queen sat side-by-side with her deputy, the three assistants being Miss Ivy Gibbs (Navy), Miss Doris Smith (Army) and Miss Edna Gordon (Air Force). The six girls were decked in very dainty attires of white, with trimmings based on the colours of the Services, and the queens were identified by their broad sashes. In attendance on them were Mr. C. G. Perkins (who had organized the feature on behalf of the Query Motor Club), Mrs. Perkins, and Mrs. Sidney Hawkes, wife of the Query Club president.

Capt. J. Marshall Bailey, M.C., newly announced as a recipient of the M.B.E., led the A.R.P. section, in which the fire Brigade and A.F.S. again made an impressive display of their equipment, and in the mobile section were also seen the first-aid trailers which were presented to the town a few weeks ago.

Walthamstow Banner

Scouts, Guides and other young people’s brigades made one of their best turn-outs, and a Walthamstow banner was noticed in this section. The Methodist B.B. sported a drum-major.

Rushden’s four brass bands combined to make two strong instrumental bodies, and Mr. A. J. Sturgess, now the automatic choice for chief marshal, walked with Police Inspector Valentine and Special Inspector Chamberlain at the head of the leading band.

The Urban District Council was represented by Councillors T. W. Cox, J.P., (chairman), W. E. Capon, J. Allen, E. A. Sugars, F. Green, A. Allebone, J.P., C.C., J. T. Richardson, H. Waring, A. F. Weale, J. H. J. Paragreen, T. J. Swindall and A. H. Bailey.

Councillor Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow led a small W.V.S. group; Flight-Commander A. H. Whitton and other officers the A.T.C., Mr. Robert Denton and Mr. E. Bennett the British Legion; Mr. Malcolm Boyd and Mr. Frank Deane the Air Raid Wardens; Chief Officer A. P. Timpson the fire services. Some of the friendly societies were also on parade. Nursing sisters were on duty along the route, and there was a host of collectors, usefully reinforced by A.R.P. girls whose tin hats made effective “boxes.”

There were crowds all the way, reaching peak point along Church-parade and near the Hall.

Ceremony at Hall

Lady Nunburnholme drove to the Hall with Mr. and Mrs. John White, saw the procession arrive, and walked with the Council, the Service Queens, and fete officers and others to the platform in the grounds. The marchers then made a ceremonial approach, and all the colours and banners were ranged in a line facing the platform. They were dipped when the National Anthem opened the meeting.

Councillor T. W. Cox presided, and with him on the platform were Lady Nunburnholme, Mrs. Cox, Mr. and Mrs. John White, Councilor and Mrs. Sawford, Councilor A. C. A. Colton and Mrs. Colton (Mayor and Mayoress of Higham Ferrers), Major Taylor, Capt. Binney, Councilor and Mrs. Allen, Councilor and Mrs. Capon, Ald. C. W. Horrell, J.P., Councilor Allebone, Mr. Cyril Faulkner, C.C., and Mrs. Faulkner, Mr. and Mrs. Walter C. Tarry, Mr. W. L. Beetenson (Clerk to the Council) and Mrs. Beetenson, Mrs. Walter Robinson, Capt. Bailey, Mr. G. W. Marriott and Mr. W. A. E. Sherwood (general secretaries) and Mr. O. A. H. Muxlow (treasurer).

The chairman said that in these difficult days it may have been in the minds of some that there was no time for social service work on top of the many civil defence duties they had to perform. He knew, however, that it was those who had been most busy in civil defence work who had done most.

M.B.E. Congratulated

“We are all very proud of our civil defence services,” said Mr. Cox, “They have proved themselves on more than one occasion to be of the highest efficiency. Indeed, we have reason just now to be doubly proud of our civil defence services because, as you have learned this week, it has pleased His Majesty the King to confer on one of our townsmen, Capt. Bailey, our A.R.P. Officer, the Order of M.B.E. as a signal honour for the great service that he has rendered to this town and county. I know that you will regard this honour as a tribute to all his workers as well as himself, but I feel you would like me publicly to voice our appreciation of all the work he has done, and to congratulate him upon this award from His Majesty.”

They could not all be civil defence workers, and their social service must go on. They had shown by their splendid turnout that the people of Rushden did not forget their obligations to the men serving in H.M. Forces or to their hospitals and kindred services.

The needs of the social services were as great to-day, if not greater, than ever before, and he knew they would not appeal in vain to Rushden’s traditional comradeship and good neighbourly spirit.

Welcoming Lady Nunburnholme, Mr. Cox recalled the grand send-off she gave to the War Weapons Week in February.

Beating the Germans

Lady Nunburnholme began an excellent speech by referring to the same occasion – “a very great occasion” when Rushden, Higham Ferrers and Raunds came out with flying colours. Now at least nine different organisations were waiting for whatever money they were able to give them, and each was as worthy as the others.

“In these days we are always being called upon to give money, and sometimes I am reminded of the lesson in the Bible against worshipping the golden calf; but we are not a money-grabbing nation, and there is no doubt that it is the Germans who are to-day forcing us to think of money with an urgency that we would not otherwise do.”

Every penny of the money was going towards beating the Germans and winning the war. Their parade was just a bit of a change from saving stamps in a book for the Chancellor.

“You all know Hitler’s partiality for bombing hospitals,” continued Lady Nunburnholme, “and you know the good they do. They need support and help more than at any time in their existence.”

Brave Nurses

Lady Nunburnholme said she had been asked by the Royal College of Nurses to try and organise in the Midlands a scheme by which war-weary and bombed nurses could be given a rest. She had plenty of homes to put them in, but there was a difficulty in obtaining the nurses, and she had been told in a letter: “The nurses do seem singularly reluctant to use help offered to them. They always think there is someone more in need than themselves.”

That was the spirit which Rushden was working to support.

“Take your minds off the war this afternoon,” urged the speaker. “Forget the queues you have to stand in for sausages. Forget that your elbows will soon be out of your coat and you will want a new one, and spend the money to-day on people who are much more in need than you and I.”

Lady Nunburnholme received a bouquet from the Navy Queen; the Army Queen handed one to Mrs. Cox and Air Force Queen had one for Mrs. White.

Proposing thanks to the opener, Councillor Capon said they appreciated the magnificent work she did in many spheres. Her charming manner and her speech were characteristic of her and just right for the occasion.

A Famous Hat

Councillor Allen, who seconded, held out his hat as “tangible evidence” of the War Weapons Week triumph in which Lady Nunburnholme assisted.

“I believe,” he said, “the Mayor of Higham also has tangible evidence in the form of a garment which modesty would forbid me to disclose at this meeting.”

It was a great pleasure, he added, to have Lady Nunburnholme with them in a delightful spot which was so typical of dear old England and the things they were fighting for.

Councillor Sawford, who proposed general thanks to the organisers, and Mr. Muxlow were the other speakers.

Fete Attractions
Stirrup Pump Contests, Boxing and Man Hunt

For the next few hours the grounds teemed with people. There was a non-stop round of events, and one of the central features was an Olde English Market – a whole row of stalls organised by Mrs. Walter Robinson with the assistance of Mrs. Beetenson and Mrs. W. Hewitt as secretaries and Mrs. H. V. Ingram as treasurer.

Mr. W. Gore occupied a popular tent with his celebrated miniature fair, and a fine range of side shows and amusements, with “thousands of cigarettes” offered as prizes, was managed by the Clubs’ Blind and Crippled Committee. Miss E. Pollard, backed by Messrs. Eaton and Co., did big business with a buried treasure hunt, and two palmistry booths, each indicated by a queue, were under the management of Mrs. A. F. Weale and Mrs. Arthur Allebone.

There was a roundabout for the children. The Town, Temperance, Mission and Salvation Army bands kept music going at the bandstand. Scores of people sold tickets for all kinds of competitions.

Variety Shows

From the stage excellent variety programmes were put on by Mr. H. Hales, the artistes including Pat Woodhams and Tony Faulkner, Tom White, Little Mona, Betty and Eric, the Burns Sisters and Archie Tear, with Mr. R. Clayton at the pianoforte.

Early in the evening the St. John Ambulance men and nurses gave an impressive demonstration in which four “casualties” were treated. Later a team of men entertained a huge crowd with a display of physical training and gymnastics.

Organised by the fire Brigade, the contest for stirrup pump teams, who had to run with buckets, unroll the hose and dislodge a light target, was a great success. It brought amusing incidents, but the average performance was quite smart. The results were: Men (12 teams), 1 Grove-road “A” (16 4.5 sec.), 2 A. Sargent and Co. “A” (19), 3 co-operative-row “B” (10 1.5). Ladies (2 teams), the St. Mary’s Girl Guides (23).

The three winning men’s teams afterwards did a simultaneous test, won by Co-operative-row. Chief Officer Timpson, 2nd Officer J. Whiting and Patrol Officer A Green were in charge. Messrs. C. Green and L. Britchford were timekeepers.

Boxing Bouts

A big audience was drawn to a boxing show, consisting of six three-round bouts.

The first bout, at the 9st. limit, was between Duncan and Savage, who were both fairly light on their feet and finished in good condition, Duncan winning on points.

Stevenson was the winner of a fight at 10st. 6lb., beating Penny, who was shorter and slower and depended chiefly upon sudden and heavy rushes. This was a very good fight, and the loser was congratulated by the referee.

Easily the best fight in the show was the welterweight bout, when Clayton, a visitor, beat Bateman. Bateman drew first blood, but Clayton was more active and muscular.

Two lightweight bouts followed, Lumsden, another visitor, beating Burgin, and Prestidge beating Hamlin.

The last fight, between middleweights, was won by Nesbitt, who beat Marlow in a very close affair.

After the show Councillor T. W. Cox thanked the men for their performance, and presented the winners with prizes.

Search for Bill

Rushden’s first man-hunt was the chief thrill of the evening. It could hardly be otherwise when innocent and guilty alike were subject to approach and challenge in the universal search for two mysterious characters known as Spitfire Bill No. 1 and Spitfire Bill No. 2.

Each fugitive had an hour in which to give away two half-sovereigns. Clues were provided in the programme, and the challenge had to be made in a specified manner.

No. 1 was lucky. He sold competition tickets and had only two challenges, both made correctly. Miss Irene Goode, of Westfield-avenue, relieved him of his first half-sovereign, and Mr. W. Martin, of St. Mary’s-avenue took the second. Altogether Bill the First was at large for 10 minutes.

Bill No. 2 was not so lucky. He was tackled at every point during his colleague’s hour of office, and when his own hour came he was tackled again. He lost his first half-sovereign in five minutes to a Girl Guide, Doreen Green, an evacuee from Walthamstow and living at 16 Crabb-street. The other coin went five minutes later to Mrs. W. J. Lamb of 101, Spencer-road. Fifty more coins would hardly have met the challenges which came too late.

No. 1 was Mr. Harry Bailey, of the Boot Operatives’ Union staff and secretary of the Rushden and District Trades Council. No. 2 was Mr. L. V. Elliott, of the “Echo and Argus.”

Other Events

In connection with the fete a flag day was organised by the British Legion and a big prize draw by the Hospital Week Committee and the Trades Council. The Y.M.C.A., and Adult School manned the gates, Girl Guides sold admission tickets and the After-Care Committee sold programmes. Lady Supt. Miss W. M. Clipson was in charge of the St. John nurses.

A barrel-organ collection was the successful contribution of Mr. B. V. Page and A.T.C. cadets under Mr. S. Hawkes.

Donations were received from the Boot Manufacturers’ Association (through Mr. Walter Tarry), the clubs and others.

At night the Urban Council chairman and Service Queens attended the Query Club’s dance at the Windmill Hall, and M. E. Bennett ran a whist drive at the Legion Hall. Mr. W. Harrod’s amplifier provided music for dancing in the Rushden Hall grounds.

The capable general officers were assisted by finance, entertainment and publicity committees. Mr. Muxlow (chairman) and Mr. H. Rice (secretary) led the entertainment section Mr. John W. Cooke and Mr. ‘Tom Sanders planned the Spitfire Bill feature.

The Rushden Echo and Argus, 25th July, 1941, transcribed by Gill Hollis Councillor “Ashamed” of Rushden Trouble Over Fete Grants Clothing Fund Proviso Called Scandalous A warm interlude in which a councillor declared he was ashamed of the town marred Thursday’s winding-up meeting of the Rushden Social Services Effort. In the end, however, differences about the claims of various funds were removed, and a record allocation of £1,250 was made. Coun. T. W. Cox, J.P., presided over a large attendance and was supported by the hon. Secretaries, Messrs. W. A. E. Sherwood and G. W. Marriott. The trouble arose after the reading of a list of grants recommended by the Finance Committee. Unworthy of Object In a vigorous appeal Coun. W. E. Capon said the £50 proposed for the Boot and Clothing Fund was not worthy of the object at all – he was surprised at it being mentioned. “I cannot see any relevance at all between the £50 and what the fund has done and is doing,” he declared, “We have been helping these children for nearly two years, and we pledged ourselves to clothe and shoe them as occasion requires. Wherever there has been a case of need the committee has done what was necessary, and are we not proud of the fact that to-day these children compare with any of our own?” “How can we continue on £50?” asked Mr. Capon. The Chairman said it was the conclusion of the Finance Committee that the fund was fairly well off. Speaking as secretary of the Boot and Clothing Fund, Mr. W. A. E. Sherwood said there was in impression that under a new Government scheme the evacuee children were well provided for. There was so much waiting for Government help, however, that but for the committee’s work some of the children would be walking about in inadequate clothing. “I am Ashamed” Mr. Leslie Miller suggested that the Finance Committee had attached a proviso to the proposed grant of £50, and Mr. Sherwood replied: “There was a proviso that it should be for Rushden children.” “That is scandalous,” declared Coun. Capon, “and I take strong objection to it. I am ashamed of the town – ashamed of it! Never in my 25 years of public experience have I heard anything like it!” The Chairman said that since the finance meeting he had heard it suggested that the proviso should be removed and he thought that could be done. “At the inaugural meeting,” said Mr. Robert Denton, “one or two gentlemen were fighting against the fete and thought they could get through without it, but now the time has come they need more.” He thought there had been some misunderstanding about the proviso. Mr. F. J. Sharwood, C.C., said he could not see why such a proviso should be attached to this particular contribution. If they were going to do it in one case they must do it in all. Mr. A. Allebone said the question at the financial meeting was whether the local children would be included. Risk of Fete Miss D. Hill described the work of the Boot and Clothing Fund, mentioning that about 30 fathers had left for war service during the last week, and their wives would be going to the fund for children’s boots. The evacuees and the natives, she said, were treated alike. Mr. Sharwood said he had never known a charity that was run on such good lines. “It has been thrown up,” he continued, “that at the inaugural meeting the fete was opposed. I don’t think that is exactly the right word to use. Some of us thought it was a mistake to hold the fete, but we worked as hard as anybody else. I thought myself that we were running a tremendous risk; thank God it didn’t come off! I don’t think it right for an organisation to suffer financially because some of us held a different opinion from other people.” The Chairman : It would be wrong for the impression to remain that the £50 has any bearing on the attitude or opinion expressed by anyone at the beginning. After further discussion Mr. Sharwood proposed a reduction of £50 in the grant to the Clubs’ Fund for the Blind and Crippled Children, enabling increases of £25 to be made to the Boot and Clothing fund and the Rushden Auxiliary of the County Blind Association. Mr. V. B. Page seconded. Two Claimants “This happens every time,” observed Mr. Harry Rice, the Clubs’ Blind and Crippled Children’s Fund secretary, who pointed out that in years when no town fete was held his fund ran its own fete and relied upon it for an income of about £160. He offered, however, to accept a reduction of £25, instead of £50, on the original proposal of £150. Coun. Capon suggested that the Hospital Week Committee should accept £175 instead of £200, but the chairman, while not opposing, said the Hospital Week Committee had been very considerate in not asking for more than £200. Coun. J. Allen said it was a pity that Mr. Capon could not have been present at the Finance Committee meeting to put the information before them. A compromise was finally arranged by which the Boot and Clothing Fund and County Blind Association each gained £25 at the expense of the Hospital Week Fund and the Clubs’ Blind and Crippled Fund. The allocations, then made unanimously, were as follows : Serving Men’s Parcels Fund £500, Children’s Boot and Clothing Fund £75, Hospital Week Fund £175, Nursing Association £50, After-Care Committee £50, Clubs Blind and Crippled Fund £125, Manfield Hospital £100, County Blind Association (Rushden Auxiliary) £50, Red Cross Fund (Rushden section) £100, St. John Ambulance brigade £10, Boy Scouts £5, Motor Ambulance Association £5, and £1 5s. to each of the four bands. These made a total of £1,250. Another £12 10s. earmarked for the Red Cross, was handed in as the result of a competition at Messrs. John White’s factories, and it was understood that any further balance would be divided between the Hospital Week Fund and the Red Cross. Workers Thanked The Chairman warmly thanked “everybody who did such grand and great work throughout the effort,” specially mentioning the “marvellous” Entertainments Committee, the Query Motor Club, Lady Nunburnholme and Mr. John White. He also acknowledged the excellent work of Messrs. W. A. E. Sherwood and G. W. Marriott as secretaries. Of the financial result, he said it was a record and far better than they could have anticipated in these difficult times. The financial statement showed an income of £1,478 7s. 1d. the larger items including £213 from the Service Queens’ collections, £195 from donations, £118 from the hospital prize draw, £85 from the flag day, £76 from the Query Club dances, £95 from side-shows and competitions, £270 from admission tickets and programmes, and £231 from the Old English Market. Expenditure totalled £230. Mr. O. A. H. Muxlow, who presented the figures as treasurer, said they had received a bill for £21 0s. 10d. for erecting the platform, and were disputing it with the Urban Council. The principal officers received hearty thanks on the motion of Coun. Capon, and Mr. Sherwood paid a special tribute to the work of Mr. Harry Rice as entertainment secretary.

The 1941 Service Queens