Club is ‘kicked out’ of HQ by Army

Castleans, the Rushden Badminton League champions, are without a home for next season. After 12 years at the Drill Hall, Victoria Road, they have been given notice to quit because the Ministry of Defence require the hall for Air Training Corp and Army Cadet Force exercises.

Mr. John Spavins, secretary of Rushden Badminton League and a member of the Castleans club told the “Echo” this week that some club members heard recently from unofficial sources that they were going to be “kicked out.”

The secretary of the club then wrote to the East Midlands Territorial Officer commanding the hall, Lieut. N. A. Woods. Lieut. Woods – now a captain – confirmed that they would not be able to play there when their new season opened in September.

Mr. Spavins said that Lieut. Woods had said the only time they could possibly use the hall would be on a Sunday night – but this was completely unacceptable as league matches could not be played on a Sunday.

Mr. Spavins said they had had little advance notice of the move and were desperately looking around for accommodation. One offer had been made but it had yet to be confirmed.

Captain Woods, the Drill Hall Officer Commanding, said he wrote to the Castleans Club secretary regretting the decision but explained that it was Ministry of Defence policy. He said that the Air Training Corps – which was started there in April – met on Mondays and Wednesday and the Army Cadet Force on Tuesdays and Fridays. On Thursdays the hall was hired out to the local dog training classes.

Were the dog training classes which met on Thursday night getting preferential treatment? “Not at all,” said Captain Woods. “They hire the hall for a year at a time. The badminton club will only hire the place for a season in advance. As it is the dog training classes have had one night cut – they used to meet twice a week, too.”