There should be no queues of people waiting to travel away from Rushden in August Week, because a week’s holiday fare is to be provided in the town. A united charity fete on these lines was planned at a town’s meeting in the Council Chamber on Tuesday evening, when it was agreed that one of the days should be set aside for the children.
The first hint of the change from the usual form of fete was made by the chairman, Coun. W. J. Sawford, J.P., (chairman of the R.U.D.C.), who pointed out that the Government did not want people to travel, “but rather to enjoy themselves in their own sweet way.” “I think it is a very good suggestion,” he added.
The proposition was made by Mr. Harry Rice, who wanted to begin the fete on August Monday and also to incorporate a flower show.
Coun. W. E. Capon, however, pointed out that they would not be able to hold a fete in the Rushden Hall Grounds on August Monday – a point clarified by the Clerk, Mr. W. L. Beetenson – and thus it was decided to hold the opening on the Tuesday.
Children’s Holiday
It was then pointed out by Mr. Sidney Hawkes that the school-children would only be on holiday on the Monday and Tuesday. Various suggestions were made in the light of his remarks. Coun. Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow thought it would be a good plan to have the children’s day at the Town Sports Ground – they could not have sports in the Hall Grounds – while other ideas included holding the children’s day on the Saturday before or the Saturday after the opening day.
Mrs. Muxlow’s suggestion was turned down owing to the difficulty of transferring from one place to another.
Coun. Capon proposed that all the plans for the young people should be left in the hands of the Youth Groups, pointing out that they would then know for future use, who among the young people had organising ability.
Mr. Hawkes objected that the Youth Groups would have their representatives, the same as the other organisations.
Coun. Sawford: Personally I think that it is a very good idea.
Coun. E. A. Sugars: I thing it would be wiser to ask the teachers for their opinion. You have got to have the assistance of the head teachers.
A club representative said that he thought the clubs would feel very hurt if they were left out, as they had always had so much to do with the children.
Mr. R. T. Saint said that the Youth Group only wished to be associated with the schemes.
List Of Charities
Mr. F. C. Rise asked if a youth committee could not be formed to work with the other committees, and on Mr. Hawkes’s proposition it was decided that the Entertainments Committee should be left to form a sub-committee, principally of youth, to take charge of the children’s arrangements.
It was decided that the question of a subscription list should be left to the Finance and General Purposes Committee.
The charities which will benefit by the effort will be the Rushden Serving Men’s Parcels Fund, Children’s Boot and Clothing Fund, Hospital Week Fund, Clubs’ Blind and Crippled Fund, Rushden After-Care Fund, Manfield Orthopaedic Hospital, Rushden Nursing Association, Rushden Branch Red Cross and the Northampton Town and County Association for the Blind.
Mr. H. C. Allen and Miss E. M. White were elected as secretaries, with Mr. O. A. H. Muxlow as treasurer, and the committees which served last year were all re-elected, being given power to co-opt.
There was a good representative gathering from the town organisations.
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The Rushden Echo and Argus, 19th June, 1942, transcribed by Gill Hollis
Rushden’s Holiday At Home - Preparations for Fete in August
Rushden’s Holiday Fete – the title is now official – is taking shape as a remarkably interesting experiment in communal holiday-making. The double purpose is to keep the principal local charities in funds and to provide August Week amusements at home in place of the now almost impossible seaside holiday.
Since the idea was broached at a public meeting the committees have made a lot of progress, and many smart notions have been taken up.
The programme now encompasses four days of pleasure-making at the Rushden Hall Grounds – the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday – with a variety of supporting events at various halls in the town.
Mr. John White has accepted an invitation to open the fete in formal manner on the Tuesday, and with his employees he has undertaken to provide the entire programme for the Wednesday. Further amusements and competitions will occupy the Thursday, and the arrangements for the Saturday – Children’s Day – are being planned by a committee on which the schools and Rushden Youth Council are strongly represented.
There will be at least one procession – on the opening day – and the events already known include a fur and feather show, a band solo contest and a dog show. The Windmill Club hopes to be able to stage a good show of boxing, and the F.F.S. has agreed to organise contests.
A Star Turn
The Impregnable organisation has set to work with real enthusiasm under Mr. White’s own leadership and a committee with Mr. Harry Rice as chairman is busy putting many suggestions into shape. A sports programme is proposed, and the “Show Boat” which was so popular at local fetes a few years ago may reassemble its talented musical crew.
For the Saturday there are hopes of securing a real “star turn” – a performance of “Twelfth Night” by a Northampton company, assisted by London players, under the direction of Mr. Osborne Robinson, of the Northampton Repertory Co., and Mr. Lawrence Baskcombe, of the Old Vic.
Dances, concerts and whist drives in the town will reinforce the Rushden Hall programme – they will be organised by factories, clubs and other organisations – and Mr. Leslie Miller is promoting a concert at the Ritz Theatre on Sunday, August 9th. The Swimming Club will run a swimming gala on the Thursday evening.
Leading up to the fete will be the Query Motor Club’s popular “annual,” the election of a carnival queen – to be known this time as “Miss Britannia.”
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The Rushden Echo and Argus, 3rd July, 1942, transcribed by Gill Hollis
Holiday Queen - Six Rushden Ladies Competing for “Britannia” Role
Some difficulty was caused during the week by two of the six girls chosen to compete for the title of “Miss Britannia,” the carnival queen who will reign over the Rushden Holiday Fete, withdrawing from the competition.
Their places have now been taken, however, and the revised list of beauties with their campaign colours is as follows :- Miss Jean Denny (tangerine), Miss Margaret Wright (green), Miss Iris Cornwell (pink), Mrs. Ethel Perkins (yellow), Miss Hazel Brown (white), and Miss Rita Joyce (red). The two ladies who withdrew were Mrs. Gladys Dennis and Mrs. Jean Spencer.
The candidates were chosen from 17 entrants at a dance in the Windmill Hall on June 25 by Mr. and Mrs. Don Bugby, assisted by two Army officers, Lieut. Higgs and Lieut. Hickman, and with the assistance of their personal staffs they will sell favours in Rushden to-day and to-morrow. Each will have a separate pitch in High-street already chosen by lot.
They will then be given a fortnight in which to raise more money, the one who is most successful becoming “Miss Britannia” and the runners-up becoming the attendants – in this case “Midship-maids.” All the girls will receive gifts of War Savings Certificates.
The dance was arranged by Mr. C. G. Perkins, assisted by a Query Motor Club committee, and the Black Dominoes Band was in attendance.
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The Rushden Echo and Argus, 10th July, 1942, transcribed by Gill Hollis
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Aspiring to a Title
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Saturday’s picture of the six candidates for the Rushden Holiday Fete title – “Miss Britannia.” The girls worked hard all day selling flags. They have another fortnight in which to raise more money, after which the biggest total will decide the contest. In the meantime the amounts raised on Saturday are a secret. In the back row (left to right) are Ethel Perkins, Jean Denny and Rita Joyce. Front Row: Hazel Brown, Margaret Wright and Iris Cornwell.
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| Note: Photo taken from a microfilm reader by digital camera |
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| “Miss Britannia” |
The Rushden Echo and Argus, 31st July, 1942, transcribed by Gill Hollis
Britannia from Boot Office
Patriotic Characters for Rushden’s Fete
Girls Raise £160
“Miss Britannia,” chosen to grace and inspire Rushden’s Holiday Fete next week, is Miss Jean Denny, a young lady from the Crabb-street office of Messrs. Bignells, Ltd., boot manufacturers. She will be attended on her ceremonial appearances by Miss Margaret Wright, who is in the office of Messrs. P.X., Ltd., and Miss Rita Joyce, employed by the Rushden Heel Co.
The three girls are the youngest group that has ever held carnival honours at Rushden, but with the three other candidates for this year’s title they raised a total of £160 13s. 4d. for the Holiday Fete funds by means of a flag day recently and through personal efforts. Honours have gone to those who raised the largest sums, but the individual figures will not be made known.
Excitement ran high at a dance in the Windmill Hall on Monday when the girls were named by the Council Chairman (Mr. W. J. Sawford, J.P.), who had received from Mr. C. G. Perkins (organiser on behalf of the Query Motor Club) a slip showing the result of the election. Trumpeters led by Mr. M. J. Roberts announced the ceremony with a fanfare, and four of the six girls who held “office” last year were seen on the stage with this year’s candidates.
“Miss Britannia” and her attendants received rosettes from Miss Edwina West, the retiring “Navy Queen,” who also handed them savings certificates which were the gift of the Query Club. There were similar gifts for the other three candidates. Bouquets and other presents were proffered by friends and admirers.
In hearty terms Coun. Sawford congratulated and thanked the girls, adding praise for the Query Club whose enterprise, so often helpful to local charities, had given the Holiday Fete a strong financial foundation.
The Black Dominoes Band played for the dancing.
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