A wonderful record of service to her church, and to the welfare of young people, is that of Miss A S Williams, of 123 Newton-road, Rushden, who celebrated her 80^th birthday on Wednesday.

With the exception of four years when she was away from Rushden, Miss Williams has been for 52 years leader of the Bible Class for young women at the Park-road Baptist Church, and is also a preacher on the local Baptist plan. Still in the best of health, Miss Williams has never been attended by a doctor, and will this winter travel, as usual, to preach at Raunds, Stanwick, Wollaston, Burton Latimer, and other places in the county, as well as at the Wellingborough Poor Law Institution.

On her birthday Miss Williams was visited by past and present scholars of her Bible Class, who presented her, as a token of their affection, and in appreciation of her work, with a handbag containing 86 shillings. It had originally been intended to collect 80 shillings, to represent the 80 years of her life, but—such is Miss Williams’s popularity—the supply exceeded the demand.

Miss Williams told a reporter that she had no intention of giving up her work yet, and her scholars wanted her to keep on for another ten years. The accompanying picture was taken on the occasion of the 79^th birthday of this truly remarkable lady.