The object of a Townswomen’s Guild is to advance the education of women, irrespective of race, creed and party so as to enable them to make the best contribution toward the common good, and to enjoy themselves in friendship at the same time.
There have been two Guilds in Rushden for the last 55 years, one of which was St.Crispin’s Townswomen’s Guild and the other Rushden Central Guild – both are part of the Nene Valley Federation of Guilds.
The Central Guild came into existence in 1948 at a meeting in a classroom at Alfred Street School and began to hold regular meetings. There were about 100 members to begin with and a long waiting list. Because of this, in 1949, the Guild members decided to separate and thus the St.Crispin’s Guild was formed. The first President of the St.Crispin’s Guild was Councillor Mrs.Muxlow, with Dr.Pickhard as Vice President. Right from the beginning there were several different activity groups within this Guild; Handicraft Group, Drama, and Civics Group for local information and education. They had a choir and even an old time dancing group which, we understand, was held in Alfred Street schoolrooms. Over the years many of these groups have faded out due to age and health problems, but the Civics Group has now become the Social Studies Group and is still very popular.
Until recently the St.Crispin’s Guild meetings have been held in the Community Room of the local Salvation Army. Many Guilds are able to raise a great deal of money for various charities but as St.Crispin’s Guild meets in the Salvation Army room we are unable to hold raffles, etc, so have to find other means, such as ‘faith teas’, sales of harvest goods and Coffee Evenings to raise money to assist the needy.
Over the years the members have enjoyed so many interesting outings and holidays, actually as far as Russia, usually organised by Joy Case. During latter years most of the holidays have been in the British Isles but so many of our ladies have memories of happy times in Paris, Italy and Spain, in fact quite a lot of places in Europe have been visited by St.Crispin’s T.G. members over the years.
The most important meeting of the T.G. year is the National Council Meeting, often held in June in the Royal Albert Hall, London, when our Patron the Princess Royal is present. Each Guild is represented and hundreds of ladies gather to discuss and vote on national problems. Each Guild Federation has its own banner and each year one fortunate lady finds she is honoured to carry the banner for her own area. It is a very awe-inspiring sight to see all different areas of the United Kingdom represented and the ladies from each Federation stand to acknowledge their presence when their own banner is called.
Unfortunately, at the beginning of this year [2004], St.Crispin’s Guild was obliged to close, but the spirit of friendship of many of the ladies has remained and will continue for a very long time.
