Rushden Echo and Argus, undated newsclip

“You Opened Your Arms”
London Teacher’s Glowing Message - Rushden Thanked for “Royal Welcome”

Gratitude to Rushden for its care of the evacuees has not been lacking among the staffs of the London schools, and the following letter, addressed to the “Echo and Argus” by a Walthamstow teacher, will be read with pleasure by residents of the town.

Sirs, As an evacuated teacher from Walthamstow may I claim the privilege of a space in your paper to pay my tribute to the People of Rushden?

I know that much space has been occupied already in dealing with the vexed question of Evacuees and Reception Areas, but I may claim to have been particularly well-placed to view the position from many angles.

Here in Rushden you have a clean little town whose inhabitants are very industrious and “house-proud.”

I have enjoyed, thoroughly, your fine open spaces and the picturesque and well-planned gardens belonging to local residents.

And yet, in the first days of the War, you were rudely disturbed by hordes of London youngsters and mothers, who came along to upset the serenity of sylvan September.

How did you re-act to this invasion? You opened your arms wide in a lovely homely welcome to us all.

A Strange Land

Can you realise the excited nervousness of the little boys and girls when they left their London homes to journey into a strange land? Can you appreciate the dread and apprehension of the evacuated mothers with their little ones, and the worries and anxieties left behind? And can you realise what your truly regal welcome meant to us all?

I know there have been a few “misfits,” and I also know that many mothers have returned home to London and Walthamstow, but believe me when I state that the causes have been far removed from Rushden.

Your patience in dealing with the pranks of some of our London lads has only been exceeded by your tolerance of some of their habits which greatly differ from those to which you are accustomed.

We teachers appreciate to the full the many kind acts bestowed upon the little ones committed to our charge. We remember the generous way in which you paid for articles of clothing for some of them, and how many workers in the factories, after a hard day’s work, were not too tired to repair some boots for a youngster who had thoughtlessly kicked pieces out of them.

“Hats Off!”

We remember the local Council and all its officials, the many Billeting Officers, the ladies of the W.V.S., the Sunshine Circle and its band of gallant workers, and what your kindness has meant to us.

And last, but not least, we remember the splendid spirit of comradeship shown by the local teachers, who have made us feel very welcome and very happy.

Not satisfied with all this generosity, you are determined to outdo even yourselves. You have formed a representative body of men and women, from the highest to the lowest, to see that the necessitous little children in Rushden, whether locals or visitors, shall be warmly clad and adequately shod during the coming winter.

Wonderful Welcome! Wonderful kindness! Wonderful Sacrifice! Wonderful Christianity!

Hats off to the people of Rushden.

Wm. E. Taylor
5 St Mary’s-avenue,
Rushden