The Rushden Echo, 3rd January 1964, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Personalities in Local Government - A Woman’s Point of View

Mrs. Audrey Perkins, who is in her ninth year as a member of Rushden Urban Council and has served on all council committees, believes that a woman’s point of view is an important factor in the machinery of local government.

Mrs. Perkins, who lives at Ridgemont, Wymington Road, Rushden, has been chairman of the Public Health, Housing and Library Committees.

She told the “Echo” that she enjoyed all council work, in particular her work for the housing committee, where she feels that women have important contributions to make.

She is organiser of the local Women’s Voluntary Service branch, and is very interested in the welfare of the elderly people of the town. She has been attached to the WVS since its re-formation ten years ago, and is chairman of the meals on wheels committee, which has been organised under the auspices of the WVS.

Another contact with the town’s pensioners is as vice-chairman of the Risdene old people’s home management committee.

School Governor

As a governor of Wellingborough County High School and Wellingborough Grammar School, she is in touch with the younger generation too. She is also chairman of the Primary School managers in Rushden.

Mrs. Perkins is treasurer of the Nene Valley Federation of Townswomen’s Guilds and serves on the Central Council of TWG’s in London.

Her leisure time activities include playing badminton and tennis. She is a member of St. Mary’s Church, Rushden. Mrs. Perkins was born at Rushden, lived at St. Albans for about a year, and returned to Rushden where she has lived ever since, in 1929.

She has a 21-year-old daughter, Judith, who is now teaching physical education at Northampton Trinity High School.