During a presentation ceremony at the Rushden Council Chamber on Wednesday evening Mr. William L. Beetenson looked back on 40 years’ service in the Clerk’s office and told of the town’s progress since the days of “mud-larking.” Rushden’s advance, he said, was the envy of the county.

Mr Beetenson

The Council Chairman (Coun. W. J. Sawford, J.P.), who presided, said he was glad that the word “farewell” would not be so final as it sounded. Mr. Beetenson would be able to meet them in the town, and although he was leaving them in his official capacity he would still be with them as a friend.

Many of them had reason to appreciate Mr. Beetenson’s genial and friendly manner, and some could remember the days when he was the very able assistant to the late Mr. G. S. Mason. Always of punctual habits, he was now going to sit back with his slippers on and let someone else do the timekeeping. They wished him all the best of this world’s amenities and good health and prosperity to the end of his days.

Wise Counsel

Coun. A. Allebone, J.P., C.C., recalled that he was chairman of the Finance Committee a little more than nine years ago when Mr. Beetenson was appointed as the Council’s first full-time Clerk. At that time the Council had also to appoint a Financial Officer and build offices in which to accommodate the newcomers. It needed much consideration, but they could now say that they could not at that time have done better than to appoint Mr. Beetenson.

They had had some difficulties to face, and they had not always seen eye to eye with him, but Mr. Beetenson had nevertheless brought sound judgment to bear on their deliberations and had given them wise counsel. In the long run his advice had proved sound and had built up for them with the various Ministries a name of which they could be proud.

“I have a philosophy,” said Mr. Allebone, “that everybody ought to retire while they have the capacity to enjoy that retirement, and I congratulate Mr. Beetenson on taking that wise step. If more people would do that it would leave room for some others and make for better advancement in some spheres than we see.”

Mr. Allebone concluded by pointing humorously to the empty public seats and inviting Mr. Beetenson to pay an occasional visit.

Well Trained

Coun. J. Allen, twice Chairman of the Council within the last eight years, paid tribute to Mr. Beetenson’s judgment, geniality and tact. The Clerk, he observed, was fortunate in learning Local Government under the late revered and respected Mr. G. S. Mason, and as assistant Deputy Clerk or Clerk had served the Council with outstanding ability and dignity. They wished both Mr. Beetenson and his good wife health and happiness.

Coun. J. T. Richardson said that Mr. Beetenson had helped to build the town’s reputation and character, and they had come to admire him. They could not recompense him in kind, but they trusted that the structure he had helped to build would continue to be worthy of the reputation that Rushden had established in the district.

Ald. Frank Walker, J.P., of Higham Ferrers, spoke for the Higham Ferrers and Rushden Water Board and pointed out that he was the only remaining member of the Higham or Rushden Councils who belonged to the Board when it was formed about 40 years ago. They had some very anxious times in those early days, especially when the bank of the dam slipped, and for many years they had a lot of money to pay. Had it not been for the two dry seasons when they had to provide an auxiliary supply from Wollaston they would now have been paying their way.

Ald. Walker described Mr. Beetenson as “exact and courteous.”

Wallet of Notes

The Chairman then handed Mr. Beetenson a wallet of notes (from all the members of the Council and Water Board) and wished him “Good luck all the way.”

In his reply Mr. Beetenson said the members had set him the most difficult task he had ever had to perform. He appreciated to the fullest extent everything that had been said, and he would also like to acknowledge the kindness and consideration he had received for many years from the members of the Council and Water Board, both present and past. No servant of the Council could have been treated with better confidence and respect than he had been, and he was thankful for it.

Forty years was a big slice out of one’s life, but he had enjoyed almost all of it ever since he attended his first meeting in the old Vestry Hall 40 years ago. At that time Mr. George Denton was in the chair, Mr. J. S. Clipson was vice-chairman, and the other members were Messrs. Frank Ballard, Charles Bates, William Bazeley, John Claridge, Jack Green, Joseph Hornsby Fred Knight, John Spencer, Tom Swindall and W. H. Wilkins. Messrs. Bates, Bazeley and Hornsby were still alive, and he would like to pay tribute to each of them for the encouragement and help they gave him in those early days.

Great Improvements

Mr. Beetenson mentioned that the Council had made one other presentation to him – on the occasion of his marriage nearly 30 years ago – and he still possessed and treasured the gift. He recalled that at his first meeting the Surveyor was authorised to employ an office boy at a wage of 3s. 6d. a week. When the report came before the full Council for adoption one member moved that it be 5s., but this was defeated. It just showed that even then the Council looked after every penny! (Laughter).

When he first came to Rushden there was only a primitive water supply which was cut off every night at six o’clock. The majority of the houses were not connected with the sewer. Among the greatest improvements he had seen were the removal of the Newton-road bottleneck at the point where a pawnshop used to protrude and the raising of High-street near the Co-operative shop, where the pavement was at least four feet above the road.

At that time College-street had not been made up, and in the winter-time was a muddy lane. That rather got Rushden a name as a town of mud-larkers, and Rushden was rather looked down upon as being a dirty spot. To-day, however, Rushden was a clean town, it was the envy of most in the county, was progressive, and had made greater headway, he thought, than any other town in Northamptonshire.

Future Tasks

Mr. Beetenson said he claimed no credit at all for these improvements, but just mentioned them because they had happened during his term with the Council.

Future problems for the Council would be the sewers and a new main to bring the abundant water supply from Sywell, but before they got on with these the paramount demand would be for houses.

In saying “goodbye officially” Mr. Beetenson offered to give any advice that the new officers might desire.

Dr. D. A. McCracken, Medical Officer, followed with a presentation of notes from the staff and acknowledged that Mr. Beetenson had given him many lessons on the history of Rushden and local folklore, explaining, for example, who St. Crispin was.

One thing that impressed in these days of bustle, push and red tape was that Mr. Beetenson had always insisted that Local Government set a standard of etiquette. Mr. Beetenson had always carried this out, though sometimes it had been irksome to him, and because of the uncommon amount of sense he possessed it had always turned out for the best. The fact that he enjoyed the confidence of so many people in the town was due to his high degree of personal integrity.

A Proud Memory

Replying, Mr. Beetenson said his association with the officers generally had been of the best. Their ready carrying-out of his requests would remain in his memory as something to be proud of.

During the meeting the Chairman welcomed the new Clerk, Mr. T. L. Watts, LL.B., and expressed the hope that he would be very happy in his work.

Those present were Couns. W. J. Sawford, J.P. (Chairman), A. F. Weale (Vice-Chairman), A. H. Bailey, J. Roe, A. Allebone, J.P., C.C., T. W. Cox, F. Green, J.P., Dr. R. W. Davies, Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow, J. Allen, W. E. Capon, J. George, T. J. Swindall, J. H. J. Paragreen, H. Waring, E. A. Sugars and J. T. Richardson, J.P., with Ald. F. Walker, J.P. and Mr. G. W. Battersby, both of Higham Ferrers, representing the Water Board, Mr. J. W. Lloyd (Surveyor), Dr. McCracken and Mr. Watts. An apology for absence was received from Mr. E. J. Wright, Higham Ferrers, Chairman of the Water Board.