Eli Wright takes a good look at the box of groceries presented to him by Mr. H. Bailey, president of the Rushden Co-operative Soci-ety. Looking on are Mr. R. R. Griffiths, the secretary of the society, and Mr. H. Bradshaw (left), a branch manager.

Co-op's gifts for 'golden members'
INSTEAD of its usual old people's party, the Rushden Co-operative Society is giving all its "golden members," 191 of them, a parcel of food. These will be delivered on Wednesday and Thursday.

But last night there was a special presentation of the first one to Mr. Eli Wright, the oldest member of the society.

The president, Mr. H. Bailey accompanied by the secretary, Mr. R. R. Griffiths, and Mr. H. Bradshaw, branch manager of the Park Road grocery store, made the presentation at Mr. Wright's home in Harborough Road, Rushden.

Was on Board
Mr. Wright, who was 97 in June, is not only the oldest member of the society, but the oldest man in Rushden. One of a family of nine, he was born at Dean and moved to Rushden while in his teens, to work in the leather trade, which he left at the age of 77. He joined the Co-op 64 years ago and at one time I was on the board of management.

Mr. Wright now lives with his daughter, Mrs. P. Robinson and her husband. He has six children, 15 grand-children and two great-grandchildren.

For nearly 40 years he was a teacher at the Park Road Baptist Sunday School. He is still incredibly lively, goes out alone and has an unimpaired memory.

Christmas Parcels
Pleasant Christmas surprise for 201 members of Rushden Society who have 50 years or more membership of the society, was the delivery of gift parcels from the society. Containing fifteen items—all but one made by the C.W.S.—the parcels were delivered by members of the society's management committee.

Two birthday takes for Rushden Centenarian
Mrs. Ellen Hensman, a resident at Risdene Old People's Home, Rushden, celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday with friends and relatives. She received numerous flowers, cards, and birthday presents from many well-wishers who called during the day. Mrs. Hensman also had the traditional telegram of congratulations from the Queen.

A widow who has lived in Rushden all her life, she was visited by her sister, Mrs. Aida Durham, sons Frank, William and Frederick, granddaughter Mrs. Gladys Watts, and 17-year-old great-grandson Tony Watts.

Her daughter, living in Bournemouth, was unable to attend because of illness. A daughter-in-law made Mrs. Hensman a special birthday cake, and there was another from the Vicar of St. Peter's, Rushden, the Rev. W. Gordon Muir.

Others who called to wish the first centenarian at Risdene a happy birthday were Mr. Cyril Freeman, chairman of Rushden Urban Council and his wife: Mr. Ewart Marlow, County Council chairman: Mr. W. J. A. Peck, chairman of the home's house committee and Mrs. Peck, Dr. B. W. Paine and his wife, Dr. D. Crockett, and Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Marriott.

Rushden WVS, the town's contributory fund, and the county welfare committee, represented by Mr. W. H. Abbott, gave presents.

Mrs. Hensman—believed to be the first centenarian in the town, apart from slight deafness, is in full possession of all her faculties. She reads without glasses.

Yesterday she laughed and joked with her visitors in her first floor room at the home.

Her guests were given a dinner by the Rushden Co-operative Society, to which Mrs. Hensman has belonged since 1895—making her the oldest member in its history.

Co-op member since 1895
ONE of the country's oldest co-operative society members has died at Rushden, six months after her hundredth birthday. She was Mrs. Ellen Annie Hensman, of Risdene 0ld People's Home, Rushden, and a member of Rushden Society since 1895. Until her final illness and her move to the old people's home five years ago she still did some of her own shopping.

CO-OP MEMBERS QUEUE FOR ‘Divi’
THOUSANDS of Co-operative Society members in Rushden, Higham and Irthlingborough were collecting their half yearly dividends from Co-op offices in the three towns yesterday.

Today it is the turn of Co-op members in Irchester the other major industrial place served by Rushden Industrial Co-operative Society—to collect their "divis".

Half-year meetings at the four-places over the past week approved a recommendation that 5p should be paid for every £2 spent—2p of it in vouchers which members will be able to exchange for goods in most of the society's shops, except food stores.

The society has 15,400 members.