|
Parentcraft Awards - Rushden Sets Up Great New Record
Winning Essay by Mother of Twins
Two Shields Held
Rushden Infant Welfare Centre has set up a wonderful record by winning the National Parentcraft Shield for the third year in succession and the Rhondda Shield for the second time running.
The shields are awarded by the Association of Maternity and Child Welfare Centres—the Parentcraft Shield for the most proficient team, and the Rhondda Shield for the best individual essay.
Last year, Rushden broke records by taking both trophies in one year. This time it has repeated the "double" and completed a brilliant hat-trick in regard to the Parentcraft Shield.
England's Best
 |
|
Mrs Houghton
|
Mrs. Houghton, of Highfield-road, is the member whose mothercraft paper—the best in all England—has won the Rhondda Shield. She is the wife of Mr. Ben Houghton, Scoutmaster of the 1st Rushen Boy Scouts, and the mother of twins. Last year she was a member of the Centre team, and her specimen of family mending won high marks. The Rhondda Shield winner last year was Mrs. L. Desborough, wife of a boot operative.
Mrs. Houghton's mothercraft paper counted towards the team effort, but all the other competitors are first year students, who have entered for the first time. The eight sections in which Rushden competed are as follows: Mothercraft paper, Mrs. Hcughton; Centre medical and health records; needlework, Mrs. Leeson; knitting, Mrs. Head; reconstructed garment, Mrs. Chapman; family mending, Mrs. Cook; girls' class, Betty Barringham; fathers' class (woodwork), Mr. H. Leeson. Six of these entries, including the mothercraft paper, count towards the shield, but the actual markings are not yet known.
The Happy Tidings
News of the Centre's success reached Rushden this morning (Monday), and the Parentcraft Shield was expected to be presented in London today at the opening meeting in connection with the National Baby Week. In the absence of a Rushden Centre officer, the shield would be received by one of the county health officials.
The officers of the Centre are Mrs. P. J. Sharwood (president), Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow (chairman), Mrs. E. W. Mann (secretary), and Nurse Wilkins.
"Much of the success depends upon Nurse Wilkins," said Mrs. Muxlow this morning, "because she gets the members to work, and they do work tremendously hard." The team will go to London on Saturday, with Mrs. Mann, to receive the certificates. Rushden will now be debarred from the Parentcraft competition for three years.
A Special Honour
The Centre has also entered the non-competitive examination of the Association of Maternity and Child Welfare Centres, the entrants in addition to the Shield team being Mrs. Barfoot, Mrs. Haynes, Mrs. Perkins, Mr. Houghton, and Mr. Cook.
At the beginning of the year the Centre had the honour of being asked to supply copies of health records of normal infants and toddlers attending the Centre to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. These were duly dispatched and accepted.
|
