Hearty congratulations are extended to Mr. and Mrs. G. R. Turner, of High-street South, Rushden, on the celebrating of their golden wedding on Tuesday.  The festivities, though quiet, were very happy, and Mr. and Mrs. Turner received many nice presents from numerous friends and relatives.

  Mr. Turner was born at Brompton on April 29^th, 1851, and Mrs. Turner was also born in London.  They were married at Putney Church, Surrey, and came to Rushden on March 31^st, 1885.  Mr. Turner worked at the Civil Service Stores in London until 1875, when he was appointed Poor Law Officer under the South Kensington authority, which position he held for ten years, when he removed to this locality, receiving the appointment of Relieving Officer to the Wellingborough Board of Guardians in succession to the late Mr. G. F. Packwood.  Having completed 39 years, Mr. Turner recently resigned from his position as Relieving Officer and Registrar of Births and Deaths.

  The old Rushden Volunteer Corps was founded by Mr. Turner, who secured the officers and got the corps going, then handing over the command.  He himself had had his €œgrounding€ of military drill in the 2^nd Middlesex Volunteers.  On the outbreak of war in 1914, Mr. Turner again offered his services and was given the command of the Rushden Company, 2^nd Battalion, Northants Volunteers, himself being made lieutenant.

  It is interesting to us, in this connection, to recall the fact that the first meeting, to appoint a committee to consider the formation of a Volunteer Corps for Rushden, was held at the office of The Rushden Echo €“ then in Queen-street €“ Mr. Turner being the convener.

  In fire brigade work Mr. Turner has rendered many years of voluntary service.  Fireman Turner was first attached to the Fulham Fire Station under Engineer Nimrod Bates, and he also worked under Supt. Palmer and James Wickenden, of the Queen€™s Own Station at Brompton.  In those early days the firemen not only gave their services, but provided their own uniforms.  Mr. Turner has more than once responded to six calls in one night at Fulham.  The most stirring call he remembers was in 1870, when, in the siege of Paris during the

Franco-German War,

the fire brigades of the Metropolis were wired for to render any service they could.  Many fire engines were mounted on railway trucks ready to start, when the order was countermanded.  Fireman Turner was present when Her Majesty€™s Theatre, at the bottom of Haymarket, was burnt down.  It was in mid-winter, and a tank containing some thousands of gallons of water at the top of the building failed to act, as the water had frozen almost solid.  The building was destroyed before the heat melted the ice.  Other great fires which Mr. Turner attended were at the Grand Theatre, Islington, the Duke€™s, Holborn, and the Alhambra.  He was a member at different times of volunteer brigades at Walham Green, Brompton, and Sloane-square, and was one of the last volunteers under the old Metropolitan Board of Works Fire Brigade.  The volunteers assisted the paid brigades at most fires.  His earliest recollection of fire brigade work was at the Great Tooley-street fire, which lasted for three weeks, though, as he was only ten years of age, he does not claim to have rendered services beyond the capacities of a boy.  Supt. James Braidwood, formerly of Edinburgh, then in charge of the London Fire Brigade service, lost his life by a falling wall at Cotton€™s Wharf.  The first brass helmets were used in the funeral procession of the dead officer.

  Mr. Turner rendered voluntary services to the Rushden Fire Brigade from the time he came to the district (he first lived at Irchester), and has been an active member for over a quarter-of-a-century.  Before the present Fire Station was built (at a cost of £2,500) the headquarters were at the back of Mr. Hedley€™s shop in High-street.  Mr. Turner was for many years secretary of the Rushden Brigade, and also held the rank of Second Officer.  He retired from active service a year or two ago, and was made Hon. Second Officer.  He has received two medals from the National Fire Brigades Union, in recognition of long service.  Mr. Turner has a wonderful physique and active mental powers for a man of 73.  He recently took up motor-cycling to get over his large district more easily.

  Mr. and Mrs. Turner have three sons, three daughters, and four grandchildren.  The family are naturally very proud of Mr. Turner€™s record of service.