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The Rushden Echo and Argus, 3rd March, 1944, transcribed by Gill Hollis
RUSHDEN BANDS PLAY TOGETHER
GALLANT RALLY ASSISTS FEBRUARY FUND
Though each of Rushden’s brass bands has been greatly depleted by service calls, the four in combination made a gallant showing at the Park-road Baptist Church on Tuesday evening. They gave a concert for the Rushden February Campaign and themselves formed the framework of the programme.
It was impressive to find veterans and youngsters side by side in good strength and equally good spirit, able to go through some fairly stiff numbers with credit. A soldier and an airman were in the ranks, and the only serious shortage was in the trombone department.
Four conductors shared the direction, and Mr. W. Scholes, deputy conductor of the Salvation Army Band, called upon to open the concert with his own march, “Special Constabulary,” set an example in regard to vitality. The march is a good one for keeping all parts of the band alert and moving, and this mass performance placed a well-deserved emphasis on the merits of a local composition – not the only one that Mr. Scholes has done for brass bands.
DRAMATIC OVERTURE
Under Mr. Thomas Young (Temperance Band) the overture “Napoleon” (Manuel Bilton) made much of its intended effect in the portrayal of striving and stormy elements. There were some thin places, and the bull of drama was not always taken by the horns, but the cornets pulled out some fiery work at the climax and the baritone and bass section played some good round chords.
Mr. Young also conducted a “Lilac Time” selection which, on the whole, seemed rather slow and tentative. Denis Wright’s “Iennese Memories of Lehar,” under Mr. M. J. Roberts (Town Band), was very well played and went brightly along in spite of its lengthiness. A rather fussy arrangement of “Deep Harmony,” also by Wright, was directed with a sympathetic touch by Mr. W. Giles (Salvation Army), and Mr. Roberts conducted the familiar air varie, “Eventide,” which probably holds the local record for long and regular service.
’CELLO MUSIC
The special solo artiste was Miss Joy Hall, of Raunds, who brought a beautiful Stradivarius ’cello and played it worthily, though the crowded rostrum was anything but a favourable soundboard. It is evident that Miss Hall has a wealth of temperament which is coming gradually into her bow, though for the present she maintains a judicious general discipline. Her action, especially with the stopping hand, is a delight to watch, and her wrapt concentration promises well for the future.
With her father at the pianoforte Miss Hall played two movements from the Handel Sonata in G minor, and the Allegro was notable for some admirably fluent phrasing. The formidable Rondo of Boccherini was attacked with spirit and revealed a wide range of technical attainments. “The Swan” (Saint-Saens) was more than broad and graceful; the wistfulness of the closing lines came as a subtle piece of art.
As an encore Miss Hall played the “Londonderry Air” with smooth simplicity against a piano part full of modern harmonic notions.
OTHER ARTISTES
The Salvation Army Songsters, under Mr. W. Scholes, sang two simple anthems very agreeably, and were particularly careful never to force the tone. Mr. Scholes gave some baritone solos, Godard’s !Angels Guard Thee” and Ketelbt’s “Sanctuary of the Heart,” and Miss Elsie Gomm won much appreciation with her elocutionary numbers, both humorous and serious.
Mr. J. L. Clipson, A.R.C.O., accompanied the vocal music and showed very good judgment in his use of the organ for the choir.
Introduced by Major S. Richardson, of the Salvation Army, Mr. A. F. Weale, J.P, Chairman of the R.U.D.C., presided over the concert and asked the townspeople to do their best for the February Campaign, especially mentioning that one of its three objects was to help the prisoners of war. The Red Cross, he said, had saved the lives of tens of thousands of our soldiers, and nothing gave the prisoners greater heart and confidence in victory than the receipt of parcels from the Motherland.
Coun. Weale also thanked the trustees of the Baptist Church and all who took part in the concert. A large number attended, and the arrangements were made by Mr. A. F. Dickenson.
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3rd March, 1944
Over £700 - Rushden February Fund Still Mounting
Rushden February Fund had risen to £714 7s. 3d. on Wednesday morning, and a good deal more is expected to come in. The passing of February does not mean that the accounts are complete. The receipts list is to remain open until March 15th, and a flag day (Saturday, March 11th) and some smaller supporting events have still to be held.
Latest figures of income are as follows: Manufacturers and traders £127 17s., factory collections £297 71s. 1d., whist drives, etc., £49 7s. 4d., concerts and dances £20 7s. 9d., donations £27 14s. 9d., competitions, etc., £13 14s., house-to-house collection £132 9s. 4d., local organisations £45.
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The Rushden Echo and Argus, 14th April, 1944, transcribed by Gill Hollis
February Fund Over £1,500
Successful Outcome of Rushden Campaign
Rushden February Campaign has finished with a balance of £1,504 14s. 7d., 50 per cent. of which will be given to the Red Cross and St. John Fund (for the benefit of prisoners of war) and the remainder divided between the Rushden British Legion Benevolent Fund and the Rushden Cottage Hospital Development Fund.
The income totalled £1,537 13s. 9d., and was made up as follows: Traders’ donations £209 7s. 6d., manufacturers’ donations £132 1s., individual donations £56 2s. 5d., factory collections £534 11s. 2d., British Legion whist drive £45 9s. 1d., other whist drives £5 5s. 9d., socials, concerts and dances £96 18s. 11d., sloop competition £10 11s., sale of flowers, groceries, etc., £8 18s., donations from organisations £211 16s. 5d., flag day £90 3s. 2d., house-to-house collection £132 9s. 4d., American exhibition £4. Expenses were £32 19s. 2d.
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The Rushden Echo and Argus, 21st April, 1944, transcribed by Gill Hollis
New Scheme for Fire Guards
Sector Plan Welcomed by Rushden Personnel
Leaders of Rushden’s volunteer Fire Guard have agreed to the adoption of a modified form of the Fire Guard Plan so that any street party can be reinforced in time of need.
That the rank and file will gladly agree to the simple and sensible arrangements now being made was apparent on Monday when at the first of a series of meetings which are to cover the whole town the personnel of several parties in the Moor-road and adjacent area accepted them unanimously. The meeting was held in the British Legion Hall, and Mr. R. W. Norman introduced the Deputy Fire Guard Staff Officer, Mr. G. C. N. Fountain.
Mr. Fountain advanced reasons why the Fire Guard might be needed more than ever before. There were circumstances, he said, in which the Fire Guards might be the mainstay of defence against incendiary attack, yet through calling-up and other factors the organisation had become very short of personnel in some areas of Rushden. Some streets might well find themselves in need of help from the neighbouring street parties, and this need would be met by establishing in each area a sector point where there would be a competent man who would know the location of other teams and how to contact them quickly. One sector might have five or six parties.
It had happened time and time again that people in one street had had their hands full with incendiary bombs to put out, while those in the next street had been blissfully ignorant, until too late, of what was going on.
It was now proposed that each street party in Rushden should have an assembly point. The leader would know how many parties were available, and would inform the Senior Fire Guard. When reinforcements were needed the party leader would send to the sector point. The Senior Fire Guard would inform the party leaders of any particular dangers that were to be prepared against.
“There has been a sort of feeling in the town,” said Mr. Fountain, “that you are a kind of lost tribe. We have got to work with the Wardens Service, and I think you will find it is the best arrangement for Rushden.”
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The Rushden Echo and Argus, 21st April, 1944, transcribed by Gill Hollis
Large Gift for Cottage Hospital
Happy Wind-up to Rushden February Campaign
A large anonymous donation was a surprise feature at the “winding-up” meeting of Rushden February Campaign in the Council Chambers on Thursday week.
Given through Dr. R. W. Davies, the amount is to go towards the Cottage Hospital development. This disclosure was met with enthusiasm by the general committee, who asked that a hearty vote of thanks be extended to the donor.
The financial statement (already published) showed a balance in hand of £1,504 14s. 7d. It had already been decided to allocate 50 per cent. of the proceeds to the Red Cross Fund, and a decision was called for to determine the division of the remainder.
Legion Gives Lead
The treasurer of the British Legion Benevolent Fund (Mr. R. Denton) suggested that £400 go to the Cottage Hospital and the remainder to their fund.
This was seconded by Mr. F. J. Sharwood, C.C., and was adopted. Coun. T. W. Cox commented that the British Legion were taking a very generous and wise view, which would not be regretted.
In reply, Mr. Denton thanked the committee, and said that the British Legion would be pleased to assist the Cottage Hospital at any time.
The allocations were finally passed as follows: £755 to the Red Cross Fund, £400 (plus the anonymous gift) to the Cottage Hospital, and £349 14s. 7d. to the British Legion Benevolent Fund.
On the suggestion of Mr. A. H. Whitton (treasurer) and Mr. W. E. Capon (hon. secretary), it was resolved that the money for the Cottage Hospital be handed over to the Cottage Hospital Governors specifically for the purpose of procuring electrical and other equipment.
Seeing It Through
Coun. A. F. Weale, J.P., who presided, said that it was their intention to supply the equipment and then finish with the job. Rushden people, however, would want some say in the matter, as their interest was there, and he suggested that the Emergency Committee of the campaign retain sufficient control to see that the equipment was procured.
It was then agreed that the Emergency Committee be given power to make such arrangements as would be necessary until the equipment was installed.
Thanks to the joint secretaries, Mr. W. E. Capon and Mr. T. L. Watts, the treasurer, Mr. A. H. Whitton, the financial secretary, Mr. B. W. Williams, and everyone who had helped to make the campaign a success, were extended by Mr. Weale, who commented on the remarkable organisation of the factory collections, and the success of the house-to-house collection under Mrs. W. Robinson.
The Chairman in turn was thanked for his able leadership of the campaign.
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The Rushden Echo and Argus, 21st April, 1944, transcribed by Gill Hollis
Donor Revealed
It became known yesterday that the large gift to Rushden Cottage Hospital which was announced at the winding-up meeting of the Rushden February Campaign was from Mr. Walter Tarry, of “Durlands,” Bedford-road, principal of the Tecnic Boot Company.
The amount of the gift was £400. A similar sum was given from the February Fund, making £800 available for the Cottage Hospital developments.
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