The artwork by Clive Wood.

Three groups have tried to work together for several years, with ideas that the wider public could participate. A town trail, a shop window 'find the items', quiz, etc.

A suggestion was made for Rushden to create a mosaic to commemorate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022. After much deliberation, the decision was made that we would create a mosaic, and invite anyone who wanted to add a piece, to visit one of the venues, or indeed all three : Rushden Museum, Rushden Library, and Rushden Historical Transport Museum.

The first step was the design, which Clive Wood kindly agreed to sketch, and then paint in the suggested colours.

The first section shows the Train and the iconic Birch's bus garage for transport of the day, and the boot and a piece of leather for the town's main industry. The middle section shows the Platinum Jubilee emblem, and the third section the pride of Rushden being the Hall and Park, birds for the Rushden Lakes nature, the football back at Rushden Hayden Road, a poppy for Remembrance.

After approval of the design the tiles and boards, etc were purchased. Peter Field, chair of Rushden Museum, kindly cut some boards and assembled each section with a frame. Clive then painted the design onto a thin board, which was then divided into the three sections, and added to the framed boards.

Each of the venues had a portion to complete, and were allotted the appropriate coloured glass tiles, a tub of glue, a tile cutter. Over the summer of 2022 work continued to add all the glass tiles. By the autumn there was a lot still to do, so each venue completed their part "in house" before returning the completed boards to Rushden Museum. Jane Demet of the Railway Museum, Liam Dorney of the Library, and the whole team at Rushden Museum all did work to get this done.

Finally Ken Smith took on the grouting, and Peter Field then joined the sections together.

A mammoth task to commemorate the mammoth reign of Queen Elizabeth.

In 2024 Rushden Town Council agreed to display the Mosaic, and it has now been reframed and affixed to the wall of the diabled toilet block next to Rushden Museum. A suitable plaque is to be added.

The mosaic awaiting the plaque.

It is with sadness that we record Clive Wood died in early 2023, and Liam Dorney died in early 2024. So neither saw the finished mosaic sections assembled, and affixed to the wall.