35 auxiliary nurses had been trained.

Housewives Service Scheme was being considered. They were to aid the Wardens.

Possible duties would be endless but to include:-

allaying of panic
giving aid to neighbours
care of invalids and the elderly
sending home children found playing in the streets
provision of hot drinks

Miss Clipson was arranging a short First Aid course for workers under this scheme.

Salvage of food for feeding of pigs - suggested one bin to 50 houses.

New Penny-a-week Red Cross Scheme started.

A meeting of the executive committee of the Rushden W.V.S. Centre was held at the Waverley Hotel last Friday afternoon. Councillor Mrs. 0. A. H. Muxlow, Centre Organiser, presided, supported by Miss Putnam, acting as secretary.

The Centre Organiser gave a comprehensive report of vhe summer's work, stating that the present membership was 329, showing a gratifying increase on the numbers for the corresponding month in 1940 find 1939, which were 235 and 103 respectively. Several younger members had resigned on joining the various Services.

The equipment and number of Rest Centres had been increased in co-operation with the County P.A. Dept. Difficulties arising between householders and evacuees had in many cases been smoothed out and solved by the visit of a W.V.S. member, who had called at the house on the request of the Billeting Officer. Help had been given at the "Beeches" Hostel and the Agnes Parr Babies' Home, and with the Penny-a-Week Red Cross Scheme. Toddlers' respirators and babies' gas helmets had been fitted and issued each week as usual.

Work in Ballroom

Mrs. L. Perkins reported on her attendance as W.V.S. representative at meetings of the National Savings Committee. A report on the Red Cross Hospital Supply Depot and Work Party was given by Mrs. W. Robinson, who also stated that owing to the kindness of Mr and Mrs. John White in placing their ballroom at her disposal, if would now be possible for the Rushden Depot to help with the work of garnishing camouflage netting. The continued usefulness of the Clothing Depot was reported on by Mrs. Weale, who explained the working of the clothing coupon scheme with regard to this depot.

The Individual Knitting Wool Scheme was explained, and Mrs. F. S. F. Piper was thanked for undertaking the responsibility for the issuing of these vouchers. A very successful meeting closed with a report on the vork of the Canteen in which W.V.S. co-operate with the Y.M C.A., this being given bv Mrs. S. Knight.

Rushden Echo & Argus, 1st May 1942, transcribed by Kay Collins

Women's Part In Civil Defence - Lecture Course for Rushden W.V.S. Members

Gloves For Russia

A general review of the Centre activities during the winter was given, a new activity being the establishing of a rota of helpers to attend each day at the school canteen. Mention was made of special duties undertaken, including distribution at Christmas of the sweets and biscuits provided for "under five" evacuees, issuing of the Points Ration Books, assistance at the Sales Centre during Warship Week, and the recruiting of 72 salvage stewards.

The head of the Hospital Supplies and Soldiers' Comforts Work Party (Mrs. W. Robinson) reported steady progress and mentioned that the 200 pairs of gloves and 100 pairs of mittens that the party undertook to make for the Russian Forres were almost completed.

Mrs. Weale, who is in charge of the Clothing Depot, stated that an average of 200 clothing coupons a month were returned for new clothing, in addition to the second-hand clothing issued.

According to particulars given by Mrs. Piper, 1000 individual knitting vouchers have been issued since the commencement of the scheme, and more are aoplied for each week.

Miss Putnam, who has acted as secretary, was thanked for her continuous service to the Centre.

The Chairman welcomed Mrs. Hardy as a member of the committee from Lewisham,London,and she had undertaken the formation and working of a Toy Unit at the Court Estate.

The membership was now 565, two workers Mrs.Dyke and Mrs. Bugby had died and one or two who had been lost from the School Canteen and the Y.M.C.A. had been replaced.

Training: 108 members had been trained under the first course, A further series had begun, for Rest Centre members and some Housewives, and under this 56 more would be trained, making a total of 164 members, or 29%.

The work of giving out vitamins and gas-masks had gone on week by week as usual. Highfield and Eastfield nurseries had be visited, and each time the Chairman had been asked for toys and also to get toys mended. The Eastfield nursery could do with three or four more bed covers.

From June 7th - 30th the W.V.S. had helped with ration books. In August they had held the Old English Market. From September 29th to October 9th there had been a window display in the High Street of Red Cross hospital supplies and knitted goods made for the forces and for Russian relief.

On September 27th, in connexion with the Make do and Mend campaign a slipper-making class had been started at the Boot and Shoe School, with 16 members. This was the only class of its kind running in the county.

Evacuation. There were 156 evacuees still in the town. They had lost a good worker in Miss Cripps, who had gone back to London. Occasionally new billets had to be found, as in one case of two children from London whose mother had had to go into hospital.

The Boot and Clothing committee were arranging a Christmas treat for the children, for which the L.C.C. had allocated 1/- per head. The committee had given out 91 new garments since May 1st, including 8 part layettes and 21 yards of materials, for which 431½ coupons had been received. 89 second-hand garments had been given out. Mrs Walker and Mrs John Clark had made some splendid buster jackets for the boys, who were often measured and fitted up within a week. Mrs Weale described a Make do and Mend competition in which a pair of women’s combinations had to be cut up and made into children’s garments, and stated that Mrs Tingey had made two babies’ vests and two pantees out of one pair. She stated they were considering the formation of a clothing exchange where garments would be valued in points and could be exchanged for others of equal point value, or the member could be credited with the points value.

Rushden Echo and Argus, 14th April 1944

Nearly 600 In Rushden W.V.S. - New Enrolments from the Newton-road Estate

Reporting to the committee of tht Rushden W.V.S. Centre at a meeting held in the Wardens' Headquarters, Coun. Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow (Centre Organiser) said the membership had increased to 582 despite several resignations - owing to removals, etc. The Centre had now fifteen day-to-day activities, besides "Stand-by" services such as "Housewives", Rest Centre helpers, emergency feeding helpers and Mobile Squad. With the co-operation of the Wardens, fifteen new "Housewives" had been enrolled on the Newton-road housing estate, and it was hoped to begin training talks in May.

Reports were also given by the Clothing Officer (Mrs. Weale), the secretary of the Parents' Association unit (Mrs. Norman), the leader of the Toy Unit (Mrs. Hardy) and on Vegetables for Minesweepers by Mrs. Beetenson.

The meeting concluded with a report from the Red Cross Working Party leader (Mrs. W. Robinson), who is also in charge of the garnishing of camouflage nets. Mrs. Robinson said that they would welcome new workers any Friday afternoon. She also gave a very interesting account of a W.V.S. three-day Regional School which she had recently attended at Nottingham, and paid a great tribute to the inspiring speech and leadership of the National Chairman (Lady Reading), who was present during the session.

Mrs. Muxlow presided, and was supported by the secretary, Miss Putnam.