Rushden Research Group: Toc H memories

Memories from Mavis Sharpe, 2008

Toc H - Memories


The tiny building was sold in 2007 & is now a bungalow	Side view showing just how small the building is.

Toc H. Rushden - I know that among the founder members were Norman Groome (Solicitor) and John Skeeles (who died during the War), Jock Tweddle, Eric Randall and Jack Allen brother of Bernard.

Toc H. Womens Association - Was formed with Margaret Lawrence and Vera Thornton; I think Freda Parker joined shortly afterwards - because she took Eileen Maddams and Alma Witts and myself early in 1945. In those days we met at the Congregational Chapel in Church Street - now Salvation Army - then to a room at the Factory at George Selwoods in Harborough Road - during the winter we had to go at 5.30 p.m. to put the heating on (no cars available so I used to walk from Portland Road to Harborough Road back home to Quorn Road and then back to Harborough Road for 7.30. The Rushden Darby and Joan Club was formed by this Branch - I think in 1951 - Peggy Lawrence ran it until it closed. Meetings were held on Tuesday Evenings but every 6 weeks on a Monday with the Men's Group.

Toc H branches didn't really need to get beyond 20 members - fellowship was very important so in 1957 the Members who were living on the new Queen Street Estate left the Rushden Branch and joined up with Members of the Court Estate Branch - we were called the Royal Branch - the older Branch then called itself the Oakley Branch because they were meeting at the Oakley Arms . Earlier in 1952 the Rushden Branch had helped form the Higham Ferrers Ladies Branch. Again later members split from the Oakley Branch and formed the Pytchley Branch a few years later an Afternoon Branch was formed - so at one stage we had 4 Womens’ Branches and 1 Men’s Toc H Branch in Rushden.

In 1986 all Branches bought the Free Gardeners Office in Portland Road which was used each night, and we let other Charities use it very cheaply to help them. Sadly the Toc H Asssociation forced this to be closed in 2004/5.

Rushden 'Royal' Toc H Branch. 7^th October 1957.

The Branch was formed because the Oakley Branch had grown too big (in those days 15 was the number of Members before forming another Branch). Also the Court Estate Branch was finding it difficult to meet - and Peggy Lawrence had also held a few afternoon meetings with "girls" who now lived on the Queen Street Estate so we decided we would try to form another Branch (I belonged to the Oakley but could only go when they held a joint Meeting with the Men's group on a Monday evening rather than Tuesdays - but I was the District Secretary of the Ise District - we had needed to split the Northampton District into 2)

I am finding it difficult to remember names but have spoken to Peggy Pack who was a founder Member and Court Estate Member and got the following names from her: From the Oakley Branch, Peggy Lawrence, Mary Hollis, Joan Morrice and her Aunt ? Robinson. Mary's husband was a Fire Officer, so we also had at 3 Firemens' wives, Doreen Hughes, Gladys Cresswell who had come from Kings Lynn, and Kings Lynn Branch had asked us to visit her, and myself.

Other original new members were Margaret Sayer, Mrs Rickard and Jean Marriott. The name ROYAL was chosen because of the names on the Queen Street Estate.

We met on Wednesday evenings down stairs at the Independent Wesleyan Church - we met there for quite a while but got shifted to a smaller room - mentioning this to the British Legion Leader (lived in Queen Street) he immediately said use the B.L. - hardly charging us anything for rent - that went on until 1986 when we moved to the Toc H Room, mind you we did an awful lot to the Room and when the Secretary became ill - I found myself taking bookings for the Hall.

After a few months Peggy went back to the Oakley Branch and we coped on our own. Somehow Royal always managed to raise far more money than any other branch and also did most of the catering for any events organised by the Town's Branches. Doreen Lumbers joined just after she moved back to Rushden and lived next door to me. Pauline, June Holland, Jackie, Judy, Gill, Anne, Rita joined later as "younger" members which is why the Branch has got to 50 years.

From the beginning we did Services at "Park Hospital" once a month - when the Beeches opened we did the same, our members helped with the Mentally Handicapped Society - was great - although we lost some members who spent more time with them. The job they did, did so much for the Society - we still went as a Branch once a month.

In the 70's Janet Dunn and Pauline decided we would hold an Annual Ball - this raised so very much for Charities especially the Diabetic Association, who eventually helped to organise it - the wonderful Coffee Evenings were the follow up of the Ball. One other member who did so much for us was Mrs. Rickard; even when she was too ill to join us she always folded the Raffle Tickets and this gave her great pleasure. Margaret Sayer always belonged to the Area Group at Leicester and we had many happy Saturdays there and met so many other members - the sadness of not having District and Area Meetings means you don't meet other members.

When Nippendale and Cordwainers were opened, Royal Branch as usual, offered to ENTERTAIN once a month. June Holland did a lot by teaching us what to do - as really none of us were actresses - this went on for many years and kept the Residents in touch with other people in the Town.

I'm still managing to do a lot of things in Stamford - funnily enough they are just what I was doing in Rushden - although not Toc H. I still miss Toc H so much - the Fellowship is something that doesn't happen elsewhere - last year Joan Tweddle (who used to be a member of the Oakley when I joined in 1945) had landed up in a Nursing Home in Stamford so I regularly visited her. Her daughter who I didn't know rang me with the news of her death - and then when she was coming to organise the funeral - her daughter who was driving her had just had a new baby so I suggested they came to me for her to feed the baby and have some lunch - when they came in it was just as if we were great friends - and Toc H Fellowship certainly rang through my brain that day.

To think fairly, to love widely, to witness humbly, to build bravely are what made Toc H. I wish you all a Happy 50^th Anniversary and may the Branch continue for as long as possible.

Mavis Sharpe, 2007

Evening Telegraph, Jan 23rd 1986

RUSHDEN Toc H branches have been pooling their resources to create their first headquarters for 50 years. They have bought the former Free Gardeners' building in Portland Road for £10,000.

TocH committee members (from left) : Mrs Graham, Hazel Facey, Margaret Sayer, Phyllis Gregory, Ron Lawrence, Ron Mackenzie and Doreen Denny

In the past eight months the branches have been able to raise £1,500 towards the building fund. Now a series of extra fundraising activities are being planned.
The group is making plans for a jumble sale with a difference shortly. Shoppers will be invited to pay £1 for as much jumble as they can squeeze into a dustbin liner.

But members are anxious the fundraising for the building does not detract from regular activities. These include providing light systems for elderly people and visiting and entertaining at the town's sheltered housing complexes.

Anyone who would like to contribute to the building fund should contact Mrs Megan Graham, at 7 Upper Park Avenue, Rushden.

The Free Gardeners have owned the building for many years and will now rent an office on the premises.

Note: Toc H was closed in 2004/5 and the building was sold in 2007. It has been converted into a bungalow in 2008.