A unique honour has been conferred on Rushden in the appointment as chairman of the Wellingborough Board of Guardians of Mr. B. Ladds, of Rushden, this being the first time the position has been held by a Rushden member.

Mr. Ladds has served on the Guardians for about 37 years continuously. He has always expressed himself as greatly interested in the work, and he has preferred it to seeking election on other public bodies, though urged to do so on different occasions. Following the removal of Mr. C. S. R. Palmer, then of Higham Ferrers, to Bournemouth, Mr. Ladds was made deputy vice-chairman. He held the office of vice-chairman for some time under the chairmanship of Mr. C. Dunkley, whose death created the vacancy to which the Guardians appointed him at their usual meeting on Wednesday.

On the death of Mr. T. W. G. Linnitt Mr. Ladds was appointed an Overseer for Rushden, and on the death, of Mr. J. T. Colson he was elected chairman of the Overseers, which office he held until the offices of Overseers were abolished.

Mr. Ladds has been a member of the Council of the Northampton Chamber of Commerce for ten years and is also treasurer and on the Executive of the Rushden Liberal Association.

Mr. Ladds founded the boot manufacturing business of which he is head in 1891, and it was turned into a limited liability company in 1919.

In the position of chairman of the Board of Guardians Mr. Ladds follows some able men—Mr. Orlebar, Mr. N. P. Sharman, Mr. J. Brown, and Mr. C. Dunkley.