Rushden Research Group: Physical Culture for Ladies

Based on newsclips and poster at NRO, by Kay Collins, 2008

Physical Culture for Ladies

A physical fitness group was started by Mrs Queenie Brittain of ‘Cromede’, Billing Road East, Northampton in the early 1930’s.

In 1933 Miss Margaret Hobbs had established the ‘Health and Rhythm Movemnet’ at the Cambridge Rooms in Wellingborough and they moved to Central Hall soon after. The branch leader was Mrs Audrey Perkins (of Rushden) and assistant Miss Winifred Orton. Miss Hobbs was leaving the area and wrote to Mrs Brittain to ask if she might come to Wellingborough and by 1934 a class was established at Salem Hall, and they put on a display at Wellingborough Carnival in July 1934, in aid of the Wellingborough and Northampton Hospitals. The drill tunics were a sleeveless, rather like a blouse with shorts attached, and buttoned through.

In September the same year Queenie took a group to Little Houghton Fete, and the vicar wrote to thank them for attending “our fete last Thursday”.

1936 saw Mrs Brittain writing to Gaumont Co. Ltd, asking them if they would film her girls in action, but the reply declined saying “we do not go such distances, when it means taking lights”.

The following year this advertised a display at Rushden:

and this Poster was displayed:

Grand Display of Femininity !!!

Come to :-

R u s h d e n Congregational Schoolroom

Women - Women - Women - Women

Note The Date – Gentlemen!

October 4th. 1937 At 7.30 P.M.

For Bachelors and Men fed-up with wives only

E V E

By The Britannic Ladies Physical (Form) Culture Classes.

(Presented "by the only woman who has kept her husband:-
Mrs.Brittain of Northampton)

PROGRAMME

(Gentlemen are requested from using strong expressions, offering
marriage, declaring love, and comparing sums, [figures])

1. Deportment.............By Miss I.L.Carryhew

2. Erect Exercise..........By M.Y.W. Ife

3. Bar Bell Exercise......For Gentlemen only - 2 pts. and one Belle

4. Mat Set...................By Miss. Ingkey

5. "Greek Movements"..Miss Brittain in ‘How I Kept him'

6. Arm Swinging.........ByTheMarriedWomen

7. Beach Ball...............Featuring the rolling stone

8. Bar Bells.................For Gentlemen Only - 4 pts. and two Belles

9. Mat Set...................By Miss. Ingkeyfound

10. "CHEERIO"..............By Miss Loveandleaveem

A Demonstration will be given in the

Congregational School Room

Church Street

Rushden

Monday, Oct. 4 at 7.30 p.m.

The BRITTANIC Classes for Ladies

of all ages are already well established

in Northampton

and Wellihgborough.

Specializing in GRACEFUL HEALTH-GIVING movements

including

BEACH BALL

and

BAR BELLS

A RUSHDEN Class

will be formed and held

in the above Hall each

MONDAY EVENING

Silver Collection to defray expenses

A news clip from Rushden Parish Magazine:-

Physical Culture – On Monday a demonstration of physical culture by the Wellingborough Brittannic Physical Culture Class, which was led by Mrs Queenie Brittain was held at the Congregational Schools. Several people watched the display, the purpose of which was to form a branch of the club in Rushden.

In September 1938 the Northampton Borough Council wrote to ask Queenie if she would run classes on Thursday Evenings. In June the following year she wrote to The Central Council of Recreative Physical Training, saying “I have been practicing Physical Culture for 10 years and running classes at Northampton and Wellingborough for 8 years”, and they sent her a ‘volunteer’ form to fill in. On September 11^th 1939 she had a letter from them stating the “increased need” in time of war, and asked her “If you are willing to assist………”.

Did you go to these classes? Do you have memories or photographs to share with us? Please contact us.

Was the mens' group started after this visit? Click here to see the men

NRO Ref: ZB1245