Belgian Colour Day was celebrated at Rushden on Saturday and was an unqualified success. Undeterred by every prospect of rain, enthusiastic young ladies had commenced the sale of Belgian favours as early as 6 a.m., and so successful were their powers of persuasiveness that by mid-day it was a difficult matter to find anyone who had the temerity to walk along any of the thoroughfares of Rushden without a red, yellow, and black “receipt” in his button-hole. The town was appropriately decorated with flags and bunting, the Belgian national emblem as befitted the occasion, being in preponderance.

The whole function was admirably organised by the ladies of the Red Cross Society, the secretarial duties being capably discharged by Mrs. Walter Robinson. We also desire to pay tribute to the valued work of the president, Mrs. A. H. Sartoris, to whose wholehearted interest the success of the effort was largely due. During the afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Sartoris visited each of the various districts in their car, which was effectively decorated with the Belgian colours. Another feature of the effort worthy of special mention is that the whole of the favours were made by the ladies of the Red Cross Society, the material having been bought locally.

About 200 ladies were afforded an opportunity of demonstrating their powers as saleswomen, and to facilitate the work of collection the town was divided into eleven districts, each being in charge of one or more superintendents as follow:- No. 1 district, Mrs. Tomlinson and Mrs. Dawson; 2 Mrs. Woodward and Mrs. Colson; 3 Mrs. W. Robinson; 4 Mesdames J. F. Knight, C. L. Bradfield, I. Haigh, and A. T. Chambers; 5 Mrs. John Clark; 6 Mrs. Berry; 7 Mrs. H. J. Horn; 8 Mrs. J. Claridge; 9 Mrs. G. Denton and Mrs. Brawn; 10 Mrs. Nicholls and Mrs. Miller; 11 Mrs. Perkins and Mrs. Allen.

The Takings

The seat of custom was situated at the Vestry Hall, and her, throughout the day, Messrs. H. O. Miller, W. Robinson, A. T. Nicholls, and A. T. Chambers were busily engaged emptying the collecting boxes and checking the receipts. By midday £10 had been handed in and by tea time the amount taken had reached the gratifying total of £45, and excellent augury of a successful day. The final result totalled £86/14/9, being £20 in advance of the amount raised recently on Rose Day.

A fitting finale to a highly successful function was a torchlight procession under the direction of Second Officer G. R. Turner, of the Rushden Fire Brigade, who was responsible for the organisation of this attractive feature of the day’s programme.

The order of procession was as follows :- The pipers and drummers of a Highland Regiment from Bedford; Rushden Fire Brigade with Steamer No. 1, under Capt. F. Knight, J.P., 2nd Officer G. R. Turner, and 3rd Officer R. F. Knight, the Co-operative Fire Brigade under Capt. Wildman and 2nd Officer C. Hobbs; the Rushden Boy Scouts, under Scoutmaster F. E. Preston; the Rushden Rifle Band, under Mr. E. E. Whitworth; Steamer No. 2, manned by members of the Rushden Fire Brigade; the Rushden C.L.B., under Lieut. S. Bailey.

After the procession an adjournment was made to the fire station, where refreshments were provided for the pipers. The King was proposed by Capt. F. Knight, the toast being loyally honoured.

Second Officer G. R. Turner proposed thanks to the Pipers, the C.L.B. the Boy Scouts, etc., for the part they had taken in the proceedings, and response was made by the Drum Major and Sergeant in charge of the Pipers.