Leader of the first Northamptonshire party of Air Raid Wardens to help London during the flying bomb blitz, Mr. Francis George (Frank) Deane, of Rushden, was listed on Wednesday as a recipient of the British Empire Medal.  He is Rushden’s popular Chief Warden and has held this position since the beginning of 1943, though his service goes back to the first days of the movement when he was made Group Warden of Group 2.

  In November, 1941, Mr. Deane did excellent work on the scene of the Roberts-street bomb incident.  He was actually on patrol in the street when the bomb shrieked down.  Early in 1942 he became Deputy Chief Warden under Mr. Malcolm Boyd, now in the R.A.F.

  As Chief Warden he has been leader of about 260 men and in successive years had the satisfaction of seeing Rushden teams win the Hesketh Cup for best work by Wardens in the Northamptonshire A.R.P. Competition.  In the first year he led the team himself.

  Last year the Rushden Wardens enhanced their reputation by leading the county offers of service in London, many of them doing duty at Deptford in July, August and September.

  Mr. Deane was chosen to represent Northamptonshire in the Battle of Britain parade which was reviewed by the King and Queen in London in September, 1943.  Born in Rushden, he has been with Messrs. George Selwood and Co., boot manufacturers, since leaving school, and is now factory manager.  An original member of the Query Motor Club, he became its treasurer and sports secretary.  He has been chairman of the Rushden Serving Men’s Parcels Fund from its inauguration in 1939 and is a past chairman of the Rushden Trades Hospital Fund.  His home is at 34, Essex-road.