Challenge to Youth - Clean up your poor image

The image of Rushden’s teenagers has been badly tarnished in recent weeks. Now a Rushden woman is challenging young people in the town to join her in an attempt to clean it up.

Teenagers were blamed for the terrible state of the Jubilee Park playground where broken glass and damaged equipment were found.

Teenage hooligans were blamed for ruining a charity fund-raising attempt by members of a Rushden youth club only a week ago.

People living near the Rock Foundation Youth Club, Little Street, where 18-year-old Phil Underwood was carrying out his successful attempt on the world DJ marathon record talked of sleepless nights, minor vandalism and foul language.

Mrs. Phyllis Tew, of 7 Little Street, complained of people tearing round the block on motor bikes and standing in the street shouting.

Mrs. Betty Allen, who lives next door to the club, said that her newly-painted gate had been marked with black ink.

“These roughs are just a plain nuisance,” commented Mrs. Joyce Brew, whose house also overlooks the club.

Gatecrashed

Back in April teenage toughs gate-crashed the Moor Road Youth Club and beat up a 16-year-old Higham Ferrers youth.

Teenagers were involved in the police raid on the West End Club recently.

These are some of the recent incidents which have caused their image to become dulled.

Now Mrs. Pauline Leer, wife of the proprietor of a Rushden nursery school, is challenging teenagers in the town to “prove that youth is not completely inconsiderate and irresponsible.”

Mrs. Leer, who with her husband runs the White House Nursery School, Grove Road, is asking interested young people to get in touch with her.

Commenting on the condition in Jubilee Park, she says: “It is alarming enough to realise that these conditions exist. But it is still more alarming to see the blame placed upon the shoulders of teenagers, those frequent scapegoats for such unpleasant incidents.

Respect

“Rushden must have some self-respecting, decent living young people amongst its population apart from those who have worked at the recently completed adventure playground.”

Mrs. Leer says it is them that she is challenging.

“It is not their responsibility to remedy the present state of the parks, but there are other ways in which they can show their consideration and respect towards others.

“In this town many old and needy folk would appreciate a few kind words, a bit of help in house or garden each week or someone to take a personal interest in their lives.”

Next week we shall be showing just what is being done already by young people in the town to help others.