When Coun. J. H. J. Paragreen assumed the chair of Rushden Urban Council on Wednesday he fulfilled a boyhood dream.

As soon as he left school he took up the study of citizenship. In 1937 Mr. Paragreen became a member of the local authority. In 1939 he became chairman of the Housing Committee, and in 1943 the Health and Sanitary Committee. Three years later, he was chairman of the Parks and Baths Committee.

Co-op Work

Mr. Paragreen has been for 16 years on the Co-operative Board of Management and for seven years on the Co-operative Education Committee. In 1941 he became a member of the Higham Ferrers and Rushden Water Board and last year was chairman.

Mr. Paragreen, who came to Rushden from Northampton 50 years ago, served from 1914 to 1918 in the Royal Naval Sick Berth Reserves, and still retains an interest in the welfare of ex-Service men as a member of the British Legion.

He is a member of the Cottage Hospital Committee and a member of St. Peter's Church.

Mr. Paragreen was a clicker for 28 years with Messrs. Robinson Bros., and for the past 18 years has been working as a sorter in the clicking department of Messrs. John White Ltd.