Rushden merrymaking in abeyance

Apart from a civic and carnival procession which defied the hazards of a bleak and chilling day, Rushden's rejoicings for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth on Tuesday were mainly indoors. They were hearty and extensive, but from mid-afternoon the official programme collapsed. Sports, platform shows and a torchlight rally leading to fireworks and a bonfire were postponed pending a change of weather.

Devoted chiefly to televiewing parties, the morning seemed remote from an English June. By early afternoon, with cold rain swirling over the empty streets, the odds were all against a procession. Then the storm abated, and in a matter of minutes people engaged in the parade were at Spencer Park. They mustered according to schedule, moved-off according to timetable, and found, on the route to Rushden Hall, that thousands had hurried out to see them.

Bands Lead

Joining forces, the Town and Temperance bands marched ahead of councillors, ministers, an American Air Force contingent, local ex-Service and uniformed groups, grown-ups and children in fancy dress, and several vehicles bearing tableaux and carnival novelties.

From a platform at the Hall the chief citizen, Mr. A. A. Allebone, thanked organisers and paraders, with special compliments to the Americans, and asked the town to keep in mind the spiritual significance of the day. His wife presented prizes and received a bouquet.

Part of the procession reformed and moved off to visit the grounds of Rushden House Sanatorium. By this time rain appeared to be setting in and the wind was colder than ever. The fete was called off and the crowd filtered away with little sign of reluctance.

There were some street parties - under cover, in the main - and in one way or another most of Rushden's 16,000 managed to make the evening convivial.

Other than communion services, the day's first event was a service for Sartoris Road residents, conducted by the Vicar of St. Peter's (the Rev. E. T. Hughes) on the lawn of Mr. H. Knight's residence, 100 attending.

Sartoris Road was also adjudged Rushden's best-decorated street. The Hedges securing a consolation prize. The judges, Mr. F. E. Brown, Mr. R. W. Abbott and Mrs. G. Johnson, particularly admired the window decorations in many of the houses.

Among the larger television audiences were those at Highfield Baptist Hall and Exeldia Hall (Messrs. Eaton and Co.).

Prizewinners

Prizewinners in Rushden's fancy dress parade: Fancy costume (boys and girls), 1. Annette Linward (Geisha Girl), 2. Elizabeth Marsden (Walkie-Talkie Doll), 3. Dorothy Crouch (Japanese Girl), 4. Janet Whyman (Pierrot); patriotic (boys and girls), 1. Anita Stafford (Coronation Flower Girl), 2. Clive Hammond (Beefeater), 3. June and Vallene Cooper (Bride and Groom), 4. Carol Maddams (Soldier of the Queen).

Groups of children: 1. Marylin Bloor, Daren Boyce, Diana Cherry, Robert Cherry, Paul Crowdy, Norma Dickens, Francis Jackson, Rosemary Perkins, Joan Boyce (Queen of Hearts tableau), 2. Form 1B Tennyson Road Boys' School (Pirates), 3. Form IV Tennyson Road (The Crazy Gang), 3. Olga's Juveniles ("Bless the Bride").

Fancy costume (adult): 1. Mr. and Mrs. J. Bird (Pearly King and Queen), 2. Mrs. Bathurst and Mrs. Coltman (Darby and Joan), 3. Jean Dennett (Annie Get Your Gun); youth organisations (girls), 1. St. John Nursing Cadets; youth organisations (boys), 1. Rushden Companies Boys' Brigades, 2. St. John Ambulance Cadets.

Works groups: 1. Walter Sargent and Co., Ltd. (Drake's Departure), 2. John Cave and Sons, Ltd. Clicking department (Eastern Court); tradesmen's vehicles, 1. John Cave and Sons, Ltd. (Elizabethan House), 2. John Cave and Sons, Ltd. (Queen of the Commonwealth).

Judges were Mr. and Mrs. W. J. A. Peck, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Capon, Mr. and Mrs. R. H. S. Greenwood, Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Griffiths, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. T. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. C. Ginns, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Wills, Mrs. A. U. Muxlow, Mr. J. Allen, Mr. and Mrs. G. Bazeley, Mr. and Mrs. W. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Faulkner, Mr. H. Waring.