Rushden in June 1925

Not a lot was happening in Rushden in June 1925.  There had been the Whitsun break, so the factories were closed for from three to ten days.  Some people had gone away for a few days, there were also works and club outings, and several sporting events were held including bowls, tennis and cricket competitions. 

The Temperance Band gave a concert in Spencer Park on the Whit Sunday afternoon under the conductorship of Mr. Fred Robinson, and followed it in the evening with a concert at the Windmill Hall.

On Whit Monday Rushden Fire Brigade were very successful in the annual competition of the North-Eastern District of the National Fire Brigades Association, held at Spalding.  They won the hose-cart challenge cup, the escape challenge cup, second prize in the dressing hose-cart competition, and third place in the junior steamer and fourth place in the senior steamer competition.

At the Council Meeting held on 10 June, the Surveyor, Mr. W. B. Madin, reported that the total amount to be provided for the 38 houses on the Irchester Road site, including streets and sewers and the purchase of the site, was £18,338.  The Finance Committee was asked to make the necessary arrangement for a loan.   It was also resolved to provide gas fires for the heating of the coppers and to allow the Electric Light Company to wire the houses on the Irchester Road site and provide six lights for each house at a cost of £5 per house.

It was also decided to negotiate with Mr. Sartoris for the purchase of the whole frontage as far as Knuston Spinney.

Mr. Madin reported that, as instructed at a previous meeting, he had advertised for temporary help in his office and submitted six applications.  It was decided to recommend the Council to engage Mr. E. J. B. Mulligan, of Edinburgh, at a salary of £2 15s. per week.

The Rushden Echo dated 12 June reported on the funeral of William Alfred Patenall, a leading boot manufacturer in the town.  He lived at 48 Higham Road, and the business of W. A. Patenall and Sons, Ltd., founded in 1890, was in North Street.  He was aged 61 years, and left a widow, two sons, two daughters, and one grandchild.  The funeral at Rushden Cemetery was conducted by the Rev. C. J. Keeler.

On 22 June there was an accident at the factory of Messrs. Fred Corby, Ltd., when Mr. George Evans of 73 Duck Street, was operating a leather-dressing machine.  Dr. Davies was called and ordered Mr. Evans to be taken to Northampton Hospital, where it was found necessary to amputate the fingers of his left hand.  Transport was provided by the Rushden Motor Ambulance, Staff-Sergt. A. Prigmore being transport officer.  The next day Mr. Evans was reported to be ‘comfortable.’

On 23 June a special meeting of the Rushden Education Committee was held to discuss the request for a Central, or Intermediate, school in Rushden.   The mixed schools in Rushden had been inspected and it was thought that the North End School was the most suitable.   Mr. Holland explained that the school was a modern building, self-contained, well-arranged, and, with seven class-rooms, it gave the necessary accommodation.  The adjacent infants’ school which was closed the previous year for the purpose of converting it into a Special Subjects Centre, could be transferred into a very suitable centre without incurring any considerable expense. 

Mr. Holland explained that the children to be admitted would be those who were successful in gaining promotion marks at the annual schools examination in 1924 and in 1925, the number being approximately 100.  There would be about 50 scholars from the present upper standards, making about 150 to commence with.  It was then unanimously decided that “after a conference with the chairman of the elementary Education Sub Committee and the Secretary of the Northants Education Committee, the meeting recommends that the North End Mixed and Infants’ School premises be transformed into a Central School, and that the Northants Education Committee be requested to take immediate steps for its formation at the beginning of the next school term.”