Rushden’s Wardens Top of County

  Rushden Wardens Service distinguished itself at Rothwell on Sunday by winning the county Incident Control competition and thereby gaining a handsome cup presented by Lord Hesketh.

  Rushden’s performance was quite outstanding, as the markings show beyond doubt, and the team will now go into the North Midland Region A.R.P. competition along with the winners of the Northamptonshire rescue party and ambulance competitions, which have yet to be decided.

  Competing on Sunday (in order of appearance) were Kettering, Rushden, Desborough, Brackley and Corby, each the winner of a divisional contest.  The Civil Defence School at Wicksteed Park, Kettering, was used as a base, but the work was carried out at Rothwell, which was neutral territory.

Complex Task

Chief Warden Deane (holding cup) with his Rushden team and the county officials after Sunday’s victory in the County Incident Control Competition.

  The incident staged was most elaborate and embraced fire bomb control, high explosives, casualties with first aid and rescue work, mustard gas and U.X.B. reconnaissance, post routine work and incident control.  The services employed included the N.F.S., rescue parties, ambulances, mobile first aid units, decontamination parties and the police.

  Major E. C. Smith, the County A.R.P. Officer, was chief umpire, assisted by the divisional officers, with Mr. Taylor, the Kettering A.R.P. Officer, as chief assistant.

  Results were: 1 Rushden, 193½ points; 2 Kettering, 187; 3 Desborough, 175; 4 Brackley, 155½; 5 Corby 153.  The maximum number of points was 250.

  Rushden’s team comprised Messrs. F. G. Deane (Incident Officer), G. C. N. Fountain, W. Layram (Post Wardens), Peachey, Clayton, Mason, Dilley, Harris and Clark, together with King’s Scouts Crane, Elsigood and Wilson, three members of the Rushden Civil Defence Messenger Service, who won special praise for a very smart performance.  The Incident Officer, who could win or lose a high percentage of the total marks, carried a heavy responsibility.

  Wardens Dickens and Lack travelled with the team as first reserves.  No special training was undertaken excepting the usual revision work, the team relying on the basic training they had received.

Congratulations

  Mr. J. Alan Turner, County Controller, presided at the presentation ceremony, and Major Smith summed up the work of the teams.  Presenting the silver trophy to Mr. Deane, Mr. Charles Mason, the Senior Regional Officer, offered warm congratulations, these being endorsed by Coun. Ewart Marlow, of Desborough, on behalf of the County Emergency Committee.

  Mr. Mason spoke of the marked improvement in the county’s A.R.P. organisation which had been apparent since the appointment of Major Smith.

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