Rushden Research Group: Life Boys

Lifeboys

Evening Telegraph, 28th July 1950, transcribed by Kay Collins

Lifeboys’ Special Weekend

Rain-drenched Lifeboys at Rushden on Saturday evening ended the first day of their annual week-end with a ramble instead of the sing song, which under drier circumstances would have rounded of the programme.

Five Rushden and Higham Ferrers Lifeboy teams took part in the special week-end which began on Saturday afternoon with a parade from St. Margaret’s Avenue to the Tennyson Road sports field to games and sports followed by tea at the Highfield Baptist Hall.

On Sunday afternoon a parade was headed by the Highfield Baptist Boys’ Brigade band and preceded a combined service with the junior departments of the Highfield Baptist Sunday School.

Sister Freda conducted the services and the lesson was read by Richard Green who received a book for collecting the largest amount of money among his team towards the cost of a recently launched motor boat. A letter of appreciation for the boys contribution, was read during the service, from the Baptist Missionary Society.

Mrs. G. Wildman, Yelden, was the speaker and Miss M. Summerfield was the pianist. The collection was for the district Lifeboys’ fund.

Evening Telegraph, 12th October 1963

Life Boys' road safety quiz at Rushden - Won by Higham Brigade

Audience appreciation could not have been better at Tennyson Road Secondary School, Rushden, last night, for the final of a road safety quiz among Life Boys, organised by Northamptonshire's Road Safety Organiser, Mr. H. Valvona.

The competition, the first of its kind in the country, has been run throughout the year among Life Boy Brigades in the Nene Valley Area. Last night's finalists were the 1st Higham Ferrers Brigade and the 7th Wellingborough Brigade.

The quiz was won by the Higham Ferrers Brigade with 48½ points to 45½.

A welcome to Rushden was given by Mr. A. Allebone, vice-chairman of the Rushden Urban Council.

Partisan

From the start it was obvious that there were fierce partisan feelings among the audience. This was roused further by the quiz master, Mr. Valvona, who often consulted the audience when one of the teams had failed to give the answer.

Not all of these were on road safety. Questions such as "What colour are the stripes of a zebra or pedestrian crossing, and name two other things which mark a pedestrian crossing?" were mingled with biblical questions like "Who was the first king of Israel?"

Three points were given for a correct answer, two for a good try and one for an attempt.

Fountain pens were presented to members of both teams at the end of the quiz, by Mr. E. R. Stanisford, editor of the Life Boys' paper. "Life Boy Link", and a member of the Boys' Brigade headquarters executive.

Prayers

Prayers at the beginning and a benediction at the end, were said by the Rev. Arthur Thornton, chaplain of the Higham Ferrers Brigade and Minister of Higham Ferrers Methodist Church.

A cheque for the proceeds of the evening was handed to Mr. E. Lovekin, a vice-president of the Nene Valley Area, to go towards the building of a new training centre in Northampton.

Other guests present included Mr. W. J. A. Peck, chairman of the county road safety committee, and Mrs. D. E. Shrive of Rushden B Safety Group.

The teams were: 7th Wellingborough; Stephan Nowak, Delbert Brown, Michael Lawman, David Lawman. 1st Highham Ferrers; Peter Austin, David King, David Cobley, Robert Ambridge.