An advert from the Rushden Echo
This photograph of a WWI soldier was taken by Perrott and Lacey. The name on the back is Pte. White and it is addressed to Miss Wilson.
The Rat Week organised by the Ministry of Agriculture was not very successful in Rushden. Only two men brought in any dead rats, one man named Bailey who brought in 63 rats, and J. F. Clarke who had captured 39. The Council decided to award the first prize to Mr. Bailey and the second to Mr. Clarke.
The miners had held a ballot as to whether to accept the Government’s offer or to continue the strike. The miners’ Executive recommended that they accept the offer and 338,045 miners voted in favour. However, 346,504 voted in favour of continuing the strike, a majority of 8,459. It was pointed out that they needed a two-thirds majority to continue the strike, so after a long discussion the strike was declared ‘off’, and the men advised to resume work as soon as possible.
As a result of the restrictions put in place to cope with the shortage of coal, the Rushden boot manufacturers decided to run the factories from 8 a.m. to 12.30 and 1.30 to 4.0.
The factory of William Green and Son, Cromwell Road, Rushden
On the 11 November, two minutes silence was observed at 11 a.m. in the town, in memory of the hundreds of thousands who made the great sacrifice in the war. In the factories the employees stopped their machines and stood still, and in the streets people stood. Practically all business was suspended. A communion service was held at St. Mary’s Church at 10.45, and the many worshippers knelt in silence during the two minutes. The Rector (Rev. P. E. Robson) officiated, the service taking place in the Memorial Chapel.
St. Mary’s Church, Rushden
The Old Age Pensions committee met in November when eight applications were received. Six were granted at the maximum rate of 10s., one was raised from 8s. to 10s., and one was disallowed, the applicant not having reached the statutory age.
On the 12 November 1920 the Rushden Echo reported that an amateur dramatic and operatic society had been formed in Rushden, with Mr. R. J. Butland as the stage manager and Mr. Bernard Tomkins as musical director.
Mr. R. J. Butland
The Council received a letter from the secretary of the Rushden and Higham District Friendly Societies’ Council drawing attention to the distress in the town caused by unemployment and short time working. They were asking the Urban Council to call a town’s meeting to consider the matter, and suggesting that a fund could be opened to alleviate the distress. Although the councillors were aware of the unemployment in the town they did not think it was as bad as the letter suggested, and it was decided that the Friendly Societies’ Council should be asked for more information.