Rushden Research Group: Wartime in Rushden November 1943

The Rushden Echo & Argus, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Wartime in Rushden
November & December 1943

19^th November 1943

Rushden’s Food Bureau Opens
Lady Councillor’s Praise for Ministry

“We must admit that the job the Ministry of Food has done during the war has been the best job of the lot,” declared Coun. Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow at Rushden on Wednesday afternoon. “It has been simply marvellous how we have been kept fed in spite of the U-boats and enemy action of every description. I don’t think we shall realise what a good job it is until the war is over.”

Mrs. Muxlow declared open a food advice bureau which the Ministry of Food has set up at the Rushden and District Gas Company’s showroom in High-street. Demonstrations will be given daily during the present week, and thereafter on every other Wednesday. At all times, however, Miss Lowe, of the Gas Company’s staff, will be able to supply enquirers with valuable information.

Miss Mather, the Ministry’s young demonstrator, told Wednesday’s audience of women that she had come along from Kettering, not to teach them how to cook – they knew how to do that – but to give them a few new ideas.

Mrs. Muxlow said she was always interested in cooking as a practical housewife, and as a member of the Council she was pleased to give the bureau an official send-off, because the Council was interested in anything that was for the good of the town. Those who visited the bureau would be able to get to know things and brush up their knowledge.

The Little Things

English women were very conservative. They looked on dried eggs and dried milk with suspicion, but they found out that they could do a lot with them. At the bureau they would see the little things that made all the difference. She was certain that they could do much better than they had been doing with the things at their disposal, and it was their duty as women of England to make the best of every bit of food they could get hold of.

Miss Mather, after thanking the opener, devoted her first skilful demonstration to jam squares, which serve either as pudding or cake, chocolate pudding, made without fat and economical in every way, and cheese and potato galantine, a savoury supper dish. She told our reporter that her work will be to show how to make the rations go as far as possible. The public could see the dishes made and taste them; they could also learn the food values of the various recipes.

On one of her visits Miss Mather will make a Christmas pudding and other Christmas fare.

Mr. Tom Watson, the Gas Company’s manager, was among those present on Wednesday.

The Rushden Echo and Argus 3^rd December, 1943, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Rushden W.V.S. Work Expanding
Court Estate Women Are Making Toys

Two new activities, toy-making at the Court Estate and the provision of vegetables for mine-sweepers, have been taken up by the Rushden W.V.S. Centre.

The committee of the Centre met on Monday at the Wardens’ Headquarters, High-street, the Centre Organiser (Coun. Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow) presiding, and Miss Putnam acting as secretary.

The chairman welcomed to the committee Mrs. H. Hardy, of “The Pines,” Bedford-road, who has had much experience of W.V.S. work in London.

A review of the previous six months’ work was given by the Organiser, and showed that all the branches of work were being steadily maintained, the basic training numbers having increased by 54 since the last meeting.

The Red Cross Working Party report was given by the Leader (Mrs. W. Robinson), who also reported on the garnishing of camouflage nets. The Clothing Depot was reported on by the Clothing Officer (Mrs. Weale), and both Mrs. Weale and Mrs. Robinson were congratulated on the window display in October which had aroused much interest amongst the general public.

Mrs. Hewitt, of the Parents’ Association, in the absence of the secretary (Mrs. Norman), gave particulars of the making of comforts for merchant seamen, and the weekly mending party at the Beeches Hostel.

New Unit

A new unit, to make toys for war nurseries and hospitals, has been established at the Court Estate under the leadership of Mrs. Hardy, who gave an interesting account of the progress made, and was thanked for the loan of her dining room for the meetings held every first and third Thursday.

The “Vegetables for Minesweepers” scheme was outlined by the Organiser, and it was decided to try to send one sack of vegetables per month to Grimsby. The vegetables are to be collected on one Tuesday in the month at the Y.M.C.A. Work Party. Mrs. Beetenson undertook to superintend the packing and dispatching of the vegetables and hopes to send one sack before Christmas.

Rushden Echo and Argus, 17^th December, 1943, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Rushden Looks to Home Needs
Month’s Campaign for Red Cross and Legion

Rushden is to hold another of its all-out money-raising months – February of next year. Two main objects, as decided at a town’s meeting in the Council Chamber of December 9^th, will be to help the Red Cross (including the work for the prisoners of war) and the Rushden British Legion Benevolent Fund.

There may be a third, because the meeting revealed a great interest in local facilities which would obviate the need for many out-patient journeys to Northampton General Hospital.

Coun. A. F. Weale, J.P., who presided as chairman of the Urban Council, introduced wide terms of reference from the Council, and Coun. Capon recalled the success of month-long campaigns in 1942 (Aid to Russia, over £2,000) and early this year (Aid to China, about £1,600).

It was soon agreed that the town might well aid national and local causes this time. Opinions varied as to whether Rushden was doing enough for the Red Cross, but in view of recent appeals from Lord Southwood and others, it was unanimously decided to help this cause through the campaign. The needs of the war prisoners were emphasised by several speakers. The local Benevolent Fund of the British Legion was chosen for support without discussion.

Clinical Needs

Mr. F. J. Sharwood, C.C., introduced the subject of electrical apparatus and other facilities of a clinical type, speaking strongly about the inconvenience, cost and waste of time encountered by local outpatients of Northampton General Hospital.

Mr. C. Baxter said the members of the Boot Operatives’ Union felt strongly that Rushden should have a service of this kind, and Coun. T. W. Cox agreed that Rushden people were put to some inconvenience by the present arrangements.

Mr. A. H. Whitton said he would like to know how much an electrical installation for the Cottage Hospital would cost, and whether it was available.

Mr. J. M. Bailey, M.C., M.B.E., speaking as a member of “that dim, nebulous body, the Cottage Hospital Committee,” said it had already voted a sum to be devoted to violet ray and infra-red ray treatment, and one of the nurses was to be trained for that work. He pointed out, however, that certain electrical treatment was now a team job, and could not be given by one person.

Other complications were pointed out, and the Chairman ruled that the committee must make inquiries and come to a decision about including this in the aims of the campaign.

All agreed that the campaign needs a good title, and this also was referred to the committee.

Leaders and Committee

An Executive Committee was then appointed comprising Mr. A. C. Allen, Mr. F. J. Sharwood, Coun. T. W. Cox, Mrs. W. Robinson, Coun. E. A. Sugars, Coun. Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow, Coun. J. E. Dilks, Coun. W. J. Sawford, Mr. W. J. Groome, Mr. J. M. Bailey, Mr. R. Denton, Miss W. M. Clipson, Mr. H. Rice and Mr. L. V. Elliott.

Coun. Weale was appointed chairman of the committee; Coun. Capon, Mr. T. L. Watts and Mr. B. W. Williams agreed to act as joint secretaries; and Mr. A. H. Whitton was elected treasurer.

Wartime in Rushden 1940 - 1945