July 2025 has been busy for us at Rushden Museum. Party in the Park brought us about 200 visitors so that was a very good afternoon. We put our gazebo up and raised a bit of money for our funds by selling some local books, etc. We had a Spot the Ball competition, and guess the number of marbles in the jar, but they weren’t over successful so will be carried over to Classic Car Show day on 3 August 2025. On 10 July we met our work experience student who will be joining us in September on our Thursday workdays. This is a new experience for us, so we are looking forward to it. He is very enthusiastic.
Visitors on Party in the Park day 12 July 2025
We have had several items donated to Rushden Museum during July. They include a large, framed photo of the Mission Silver Band 1925, including names, and a large, framed photo of the Mission Cricket Club 1921, including names. We have also received several bottles and stone jars from local companies, two of which are pictured below.
A green glass bottle embossed Chettle Rushden
A stone jar from J. W. Bright Rushden
Our Thursday workdays have continued with two of the mornings being taken up with committee meetings. One to make plans for Party in the Park day and the other for the Classic Car Show to be held on 3 August, although we did have other items to discuss. Sorting and cataloguing have been taking up most of the time, and problems with the touch screen have been ongoing and causing a lot of frustration for our IT man. That is now sorted, having discovered that our minimal internet connection was the cause of the trouble. It still takes a while to load up but it is working. Changes have to be made but not urgently. Something to work on in the background. The two items below can be found on our touch screen ‘Crockery’ presentation.
A mug with a picture of the Rushden Mission Band
A mug to celebrate the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
Whilst going through a collection of photographs recently bequeathed to us, we came across this one taken by Vic Childs (1917-2000), a Rushden photographer. It is obviously Remembrance Day as both the gentlemen are wearing poppies and medals. There is no information with the photo, so can anyone tell us who the gentlemen are, please?
A photo taken by Vic Childs, a Rushden photographer
The most popular photo on Facebook during July is this one of Peter Crisp’s store on the corner of Church Street and Church Parade. The store closed at the end of 2009.
Peter Crisp’s store on the corner of Church Street and Church Parade
The most popular photo on Instagram during July is this one of High Street showing shops of the 1960s and 1970s. On the left of the picture are Webbs, Co-op, Knight Jewellers, Roe Bros., and the Fine Fare supermarket, at the bottom of Coffee Tavern Lane.
Rushden High Street