Doris Elizabeth Shrive (nee Line) was born to Caleb and Elizabeth Line (formally of Earls Barton) at the family home of 116 High Street South Rushden on June 12th 1908. There were 15 children born to the family of which 11 survived. The four boys that died were actually reared for about a year, she was the 14th child. One of her brother's Fred (Tay) was killed in World War I. Doris went to school at South End.
In 1927 she married Stanley Shrive and they lived at 34 Little Street. They had 5 children, Peggy, being the first, died at an early age. Then Norma was next followed by Colin, Peter and then Brian. Colin was a boy Soprano and made several records, one being "The Holy City".
They moved to Highfield Road and when Doris became a Councillor in 1955 they moved to a house with a "parlour" so she could hold her meetings there. When Stan died on December 4th 1967, Doris moved in with her daughter Norma and family at Whitefriars and gave up her council work.
She later moved to Southfields and in 1974 she married a widower, Sidney Tompkins an old family friend. They went to America several times to visit Sid's family. Sidney died in 1982, and Doris died in September 1996 aged 88.
Northamptonshire Advertiser, Friday, March 6, 1964
Personalities in Local Government
NECESSITY OF KNOWING A FEMALE VIEW
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Mrs. D. E. Shrive, a member of Rushden Urban Council for the past nine years, has been pressing for the council to culvert the stream which runs through Rushden since she was elected. She is hoping that the council will undertake the work in the near future.
A mother of four, and grandmother of seven, she feels that the uncovered stream is a danger to the health of the public – in particular to the children of Alfred Street School, where the stream runs a few yards from the playground wall.
Necessity
Mrs. Shrive believes that the woman’s point of view in local government affairs is a necessity, because women have “far different outlooks from men.”
This was especially so on the housing committee, where a woman’s observance on such items as heating and drainage were of great importance and use to the authority.
She feels that more women would take an interest in local government if they had time. The demands of family life kept would-be councillors at home.
Labour party
Rushden-born Mrs. Shrive is a member of the local Labour Party and she has served on the council’s housing, health and library committees. She has at times served on all but the highways committee.
Chairman of the Higham Ferrers and Rushden Road Safety Committee, she is a member of the County Council Road Safety Committee, Rushden TB After Care Committee, Rushden Infant Welfare Committee and is a manager of Rushden Primary School. During the war she was a member of the WVS committee which helped evacuees.
As a girl she attended the Park Road Baptist Sunday School, and is now a member of Highfield Baptist Church, and also of the church’s Women’s Pleasant Hour. Her home is 131 Westfield Avenue, Rushden.
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Rushden Echo, 12th June 1964
MRS. SHRIVE SPEAKS OUT
More people must be attracted to Rushden, and the town must be developed – and redeveloped – with this in mind.
The future of the town is uppermost in the mind of Mrs. Doris E. Shrive, vice-chairman of Rushden Urban Council. Unhesitatingly attacking any steps which she feels would be a retrograde step in obtaining a “nice Rushden,” she is acutely aware of the town’s shortcomings.
Aware, too, of its assets, Mrs. Shrive spoke of Hall Park. “It is a wonderful park, with a wonderful tea room there,” she said. “But I would like to see it developed a bit more.
“Something like Wicksteed Park at Kettering,” Mrs. Shrive agreed, would attract the people to the town. The beautiful flower beds would remain though. “You have to speculate to accumulate,” she added.
Mrs. Shrive spoke out against the plan to put a roof on the swimming pool, as she has done on previous occasions. “If we have a covered pool it should be started from scratch. Of course, it would have to be undertaken by a voluntary body so as not to be a burden on the rates. But Rushden people are most generous when they want something. At present the pool is not adequate to warrant a roof.”
On the question of shopping facilities she said: “I would like to see a shopping centre that acts like a magnet to the surrounding towns and attracts people to it,” she added. One criticism she had heard of the town was that all the shops were in one street. Would she agree that Rushden was a “one horse town” then? “No, I would not like to say that,” she said, adding that she had been born here.
Traffic problems is another field of interest for Mrs. Shrive, as she also serves on the Road Safety Committee. One of her great concerns is the fact that heavy vehicles use the High Street instead of keeping to the signposted diversion.
She supported a plan publicised by the “Echo” recently for Duck Street to be used as a north-bound by-pass for the High Street.
ROADS
With redevelopment she would like to see rear entries to all shops, eliminating parking in the street forloading and unloading. But in general, the state of the roads left a lot to be desired, she said.
The future of the town is closely linked with that of Higham Ferrers, she feels. Amalgamation was inevitable, but which would amalgamate with which she would not like to guess, she added.
With a possible jump in population of 30,000 through overspill, Mrs. Shrive sounds a note of caution about employment. New industry, other than boots and shoes, should be brought with overspill and not try to fit them into existing industries.
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Road Safety Committees Dinner
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Among those present at Northamptonshire County Council Road Safety Committee’s dinner at Wicksteed Park on Monday were (left to right) Mr. E. H. Cooper (County Road Safety Officer), Mrs. D. E. Shrive (chairman of Rushden and Higham Ferrers Road Safety Committee), Mrs. W. V. Slinn (County Road Safety Committee), and Mr. R. H. Parsons (Wellingborough Rural Council Road Safety Committee).
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COUNCIL DRIVERS RECEIVE SAFE DRIVING AWARDS
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Another 21 drivers have already been awarded safe driving diplomas.
Local drivers who received awards yesterday were Mr. W. H. Denner (Oundle), Mr. H. S. Higginbotham (Market Harborough) 17 years; Mr. F. C. Bray (Desborough) 11 years; Mr. L. W. Copson (Oundle) 13 years; Mr. H. B. White (Oundle) ten years; Mr. A. R. Purcell (Desborough) ten years; Mr. C. H. Walker (Oundle) seven years.
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Mrs. D. E. Shrive presents Mr. H. S. Higginbottom
from Market Harborough with his 17-year bar for
safe driving at the presentation of driving awards
at County Hall, Northampton, yesterday.
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Ten drivers for the roads and bridges department of Northamptonshire County Council were presented with safe driving awards yesterday at a ceremony at County Hall, Northampton.
Another 28 drivers were entitled to awards, but they were unable to attend.
One of these was Mr. P. W. Burbidge (Desborough division) who earned himself a gold bar to the 35 years cross for completing 37 years of safe driving. All the drivers had taken part in the national “safe driving” competition.
Mrs. D. E. Shrive, chairman of the county council Road Safety Committee, who made the presentations, said: “I am most enheartened that so many drivers take part in the competition. I would like to say how proud and delighted the committee are."
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BETTER DRIVING CONTEST BIG SUCCESS ONCE AGAIN
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Mr. H. Almond, of Barton Seagrave (second left), winner of the
“Evening Telegraph” trophy, and Mr. T. Tomkins (right), of
Wellingborough, winner of the “England Cup”, talking to
Mr. E. H. Cooper, County Road Safety Organiser (left), and
Mrs. D. E. Shrive (chairman of County Road Safety Committee),
who presented the awards in the Northamptonshire Better
Driving Competition at Northampton last night.
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The presentation of trophies to the 1968 winners of the Northamptonshire Better Driving Competition were made at the County Hall, Northampton, last night by Mrs. D. E. Shrive, chairman of the County Road Safety Committee.
Mrs. Shrive said that the competition’s aim of promoting a better standard of driving had once again been successful and she thanked Mr. E. H. Cooper, County Road Safety Organiser for his work in planning the event.
The overall winner of the competition held in Northampton in May was Mr. D. M. Turbayne, who won the Peck Bowl. Runner up and winner of the “Evening Telegraph” Cup was Mr. M. H. Almond of Barton Seagrave.
The “Chronicle and Echo” Cup for third place went to Mr. D. G. Brown, of Higham Ferrers and the Licensed Trades Trophy for fourth place was collected by Mr. G. T. Major, of Sywell.
Mr. B. A. Bigley, of Wellingborough, won the Valvona Cup for the best car club entrant while the Organising Committee Trophy for the best non-club entrant went to Mr. C. W. Moore, of Bletchley.
The Snelson Trophy for the best car club was won for the third year running by the Corby Car Club, represented by Mr. B. H. Smith, Mr. J. W. Jones and Mr. J. E. White.
The Northants County Council Welfare Department entered in the non-car club team, and won the Veteran Motorists Shield. Their team was Miss P. Willcox, Mr. H. M. Baily and Mr. W. Dawson.
Cup
The Timken Cup for the best female entrant under 21 went to Miss L. Quarterman, of Nether Heyford, and the England Cup for the best male entrant under 21, was awarded to Mr. T. Tomkins, of Wellingborough.
The Kettering Rotary Trophy was awarded to Miss P. Willcox, of Rushden, for the best entrant who passed the driving test after May 11, 1967. The best entrant driving a B.M.C. car was Mr. J. E. White, of Corby, who won the Gott Trophy.
The final award, the Tooty Cup for the best entrant over 60, was won by Mr. T. R. Wilcox, of Northampton.
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COMMITTEE ENTERTAINS
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Some of the Committee members with Mrs. D. E. Shrive, chairman of the county road safety committee (left).
Others in the picture are (left to right): Mr. R. Frankham, Mr. E. H. Cooper, county road safety officer,
Mr. M. Campion, Mr. A. L. Smith, Mrs. J. Billington
with Mr. J. Smeathers in the centre.
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Members of the organising committee of Northamptonshire annual “Better Driving” road safety rally, which is sponsored by the county Road Safety Committee, were entertained to dinner at the George Hotel, Kettering, last night.
All the guests were representatives of the motor clubs and organisations in the county which assist in the planning and running of the event. It attracted about 140 entries this year.
Mrs. Shrive and Mr. Cooper expressed thanks to all the helpers and paid tribute to all the enthusiasm which was shown in running the event.
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| Unidentified newspaper RUSHDEN DRIVER WINS CONTEST |
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Overall winner Mr. L. Jones and his navigator wife
receive their rose bowl from Mrs. D. Shrive.
They are members of Rushden Query Club.
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Out of nearly 140 drivers, most of them family motorists, who took part in a Northamptonshire Better Driving Competition yesterday, Mr. L. Jones, of Rushden, emerged the overall winner.
A team of Corby bus drivers and conductors also took a major award.
The first half of the 30-mile course was completed before lunch and driving tests at Kettering cattle market. The competition finished a Billing Aquadrome with a questionnaire based on the new Highway Code.
Cars were scrutinised before the start to make sure that they complied with the law and any that failed – perhaps through faulty indicators – were penalised.After this, drivers were given their route cards for the morning stage and were sent away at one-minute intervals.
Observers were stationed along the route often out of sight of the competitors, to make sure that they obeyed the Highway Code. Any mistakes lost the driver marks.
Six times in the course of the rally drivers found themselves faced with 30 seconds in which to give a Yes or No answer to a Highway Code question.
Judgment
The driving tests at the cattle market gave drivers a chance to prove their judgment and their ability to handle their vehicles in tight corners. Many people failed the tests simply because they did not follow their instructions carefully. Marshals who had been scoring out on the route reported that 95 per cent of drivers had failed to position and signal correctly on roundabouts.
A free headlamp alignment check that carried no penalties was carried out at the lunch stop by a three-man Lucas team based at Cambridge. They found that 85 vehicles were safe and 42 had their lamps set high enough to dazzle oncoming drivers – fairly typical figures.
Saloon Cars
The majority of the entries were saloon cars but there was a five-strong contingent from the Northamptonshire group of the Disabled Drivers Association, who were competing in the same overall category.
The last of the competitors arrived at the aquadrome soon after 4 o’clock and officials immediately began the formidable task of compiling the results.
The competition was promoted by Northamptonshire Road Safety Committee and was organised and run by the main motor clubs in the county.
Presenting the prizes, Mrs. D. E. Shrive, chair of the committee, said: “I am very proud of everyone who competed, there are some very good drivers in Northamptonshire.”
TROPHY WINNERS
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Mrs.S.Veevers, of Desborough (left),
and Mrs.G.Bailey, set the drivers on
the right road once they reached
Kettering cattle market.
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Peck Bowl for the overall winner: L. Jones, Rushden and District Query Motor Club; runner-up, “Evening Telegraph” Cup, M. J. Hulbert, Northampton; third: “Chronicle and Echo” Cup: D. M. Turbayne, Blackbird Auto Club; fourth, Licensed Trades Trophy:
P. E. Wedgbrow, Kingsthorpe.
Valvona Cup for best car club entrant: J. Watts, Rushden Query, and R. V. Bradford of Blackbird AC; best non car club entrant, Organising Committee Trophy: G. Jones, Duston; best car club team, Snelson Trophy: Blackbird AC; best non car club team, Veteran Motorists Shield: Corby PSV.
Best female entrant under 21, Timken Cup: Miss S. White, Whittlebury; best male entrant under 21, England Cup: D. A. Campbell, Bletchley; best entrant who passed MOT driving test since 11/5/68, Kettering Rotary Trophy: A. J. Combe, Mears Ashby; best entrant over 60, Tooty Trophy: R. Wilcox, Northampton; best entrant driving BMC car, Gott Trophy: Miss M. K. Simmons.
Stewards of the competition: Mr. R. G. Howe, Editor in Chief, Northamptonshire Newspapers; Mr. A. B. Andrews, Royal Automobile Club, South Midlands county manager; Mr. H. Valvona, Clerk of the course; Mr. H. E. Loasby, Blackbird Auto Club. Secretary of the meeting: Mr. E. H. Cooper, county road safety organiser. Assistant secretary: Mrs. Billington. Chief Marshal: Mr. A. Hawke, Blackbird Auto Club. Results audit: Rushden Query Motor Club.
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YOUTH GROUP’S GIFT FOR HANDICAPPED
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Neil Burton, Chairman of Rushden of
Rushden Youth Council, presents a
cheque for £400 to Mrs.D.E.Shrive,
President of Rushden & District Society for Mentally Handicapped Children.
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A cheque for £400 was handed over to Mrs. D. Shrive, president of Rushden and District Society for Mentally Handicapped Children, on Saturday afternoon.
The cheque was presented by Mr. Neil Burton, chairman of Rushden Youth Council, and is the result of a sponsored Easter Walk, organised by the Youth Council.
The money will go towards the new social centre for the mentally handicapped, to be built in Rushden.
Earlier in the afternoon Rushden Mentally Handicapped Society along with St. Ives, Bedford and Kettering Societies took part in their annual sports day at Rushden Secondary School for Boys.
About 60 boys and girls took part in a series of novelty races, and the county youth organiser, Miss P. Tupholme, presented the prizes.
During the afternoon army cadets from Northampton put on a trampoline display and also gave a demonstration in unarmed combat.
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Doris Shrive was my Mother-in-Law Kate's sister, so she was Aunt Doris to me.
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